[Solved] Episode III pt. i: A Deal on Darkknell

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  There was nothing quite like looking through old droid and spaceship parts in the outskirts of Xakrea. Here, on the edge of the city, it was like a whole different world, many old run-down ships had been turned into buildings, which loomed overhead like strange monuments. Old Stormdrivers from an age long past. But here on the ground, the buildings were low, many were small simple houses, mashed together wherever there was space. In this part, what had once been alleyways, had been turned into buildings years ago.

  Hayk was here partially for business, and partially to investigate a strange message he'd received. Officially, Hayk was here to buy a bunch of processors and motivators and other do-dads to bring back to Celanon, but on the other hand, unofficially, he was here trying to find a Mandolorian he had once met: Torak Staans. Hayk didn't know Torak very well, but he was aware of him from some of the conflicts the Mando'ade had fought in in recent years. Torak had contacted him, but the transmission had been fairly garbled and static-y. He had only managed to decipher a few words and phrases: ...I know we don't know each other well... ...don't kn--... ...can trust... ...there's something happeni--... ...on Darkknell... ...please tell the council... This gave way to static, but mixed in with the static, Hayk swore he could hear blaster fire.

  Hayk had informed the council immediately, but then he decided to go investigate for himself.

  Hayk was thinking deeply about those words when he stopped dead in his tracks and ducked behind a pillar of a small building. He had acted before he realized why, but then he realized what he had heard just a little ways up the street. A snippet of conversation. Someone in front of the next building had just said the word Mandalorian.

  'The Mandalorian was taken offworld yesterday.'

  Hayk leaned around the pillar to see where the voice came from, and there immediately in front of him was an old man with goggles and a long beard; he hadn't been the one speaking. Hayk gave the man an awkward smile. He made no reaction, so Hayk looked past him.

  Behind the old man, there were two people talking, one was a pale-skinned near-human with a robotic arm, and the other was dressed in sleek black armour with yellow markings on his helmet and right arm. Hayk instictively unholstered his blaster when he saw the rifle that the black and yellow guy was holding.

  'Good. UniStar doesn't like delays. And you know how they get when someone is out running around when they know too much.' The black and yellow soldier/security/whatever-he-was must have been talking about Torak.

  The pale-skinned guy spoke in a gutteral voice, that seemed to match his figure all too well:

  'I know all too well. At least you work for them. Me, I'm the one sticking my neck out by dealing with you guys. The UniStar folk aren't exactly subtle in a place like this,' he said, gesturing to the armour the soldier was wearing.

  'Well, as long as you remember who you work for, we protect those that are loyal to the company... even in backwater slums like this.'

  At that moment, a scuffle broke out down the street, and the two men turned to see what was happening. Hayk could feel how tense this meeting was, and figured there was much more to hear, but he took the opportunity of the distraction to inconspicuously continue walking down the street.

  UniStar... Hayk had heard something about these guys after the Battle of Bakura. Oh, Torak, What did you get yourself into?

  Then after a moment, he muttered under his breath: 'Hayk, what have you gotten yourself into?'