LOTF: Dark Matter/Chapter 1

21 BBY

''Arron found himself in a dark room, the only illumination being the red light on the ceiling. He was "Now, let's see what we have here." The menacing voice came from behind him; it was his target, Arek Saris. He felt a gloved hand touch the back of his head, and the years flew away, leaving just a world of white. It gradually faded, giving way to a bright sky full of stars and nebulae, the most he'd ever seen while on a planet. ''

''"He's out there kid," a grown man's voice said next to him. Arron looked to his right and saw a figure in his probable mid-thirties, forties at most. He had pale skin and dark brown hair, and deep blue eyes- just like Arron. "Right now, Ganner Slarwalker doesn't even know he has a brother. Maybe one day he'll come home and he'll come home and meet Mom and I and you, Cade, and we'll all be happy." Arron had never been called that before, but it felt just... right. Like it had always been his. Then he realized- it had. These were repressed memories.''

''Now the memories skipped ahead. He was out in the grassy fields around midday, picking up little blue ball. A shadow fell over him, and he turned to face it. There stood a tall figure clad in golden armor- Mandalorian armor. "Hello, you," a voice whispered through the helmet. The figure reached out a hand towards him, and as it got closer, the world faded into darkness once more.''

...

Present day, 19 BBY

It was a chilly Coruscant night, and in the opinion of Hans Novastar, befittingly so. The wind rushed through his hair, and nipped at his face and hands. Perched on a rooftop across from Dylan's apartment, he watched the scene before him through the scope of his sniper rifle. His finger was off the trigger, begging to shed blood. Hans wanted nothing more than to satisfy that craving, but his gut told him it was too dangerous. His mind particularly agreed with this instinct- everyone knew that the head of the Brotherhood was no one to be trifled with. In fact, most people even in the Brotherhood never even met him or learned his name. Or, he pondered, Maybe they never lived to tell the tale.

Through the scope, he could see Cade, passed out from drinking, and Dylan. Cade was in some brown civilian clothing, while Dylan was again dressed in his blue and purple robes. Dylan was carrying Cade as he approached the door. "Looks like he's heading out," Hans whispered into his comm.

"Copy. Don't engage." Ranulph replied.

Just one shot... Hans couldn't push the thought from his head, no matter how much he knew what had to be done. Dylan made the trip on foot, and Hans grappled between rooftops to keep watch. Finally, Dylan turned and walked into another apartment building. "You seeing this?" Hans asked.

"I see it. Building is just civilians."

"Copy. I'll get him."

After a few agonizing minutes, Dylan finally walked out, alone. Hans once more put the scope to his head. It would be so easy... Once again, he resisted the urge as he watched the crime lord walk away. Surely it was a trick of his mind, but he swore he saw the slightest smile on Dylan's face.

...

21 BBY

''The highlights of Mandalore did not include its cantinas, Cade decided. There were only a few others to be seen, all humans drinking quietly from their cups. Cade briefly wondered what had brought them there, but the entrance of his contact quickly stole his attention. He was a Devoronian, dressed in a tall black coat. His eyes shifted quickly across the bar as he made his way over to Cade. Word in... well, everywhere, is that you're dead, 'ya know," The man muttered as he sat down. ''

''"Keep it that way, Garrick." Cade replied. As the man sat down, Cade poured some purple Corellian ale into a cup and offered it to Garrick. He accepted.''

''"This drink might be cheap, but my time ain't." Garrick started, taking a sip. "What is it you want, Arron?"''

"I'm looking for the owner of a custom-made set of armor."

"You never struck me as the type. What kind of armor we talkin' about here?" 'Is it enough? ''Cade wondered. He'd poured a serum into the drinks to lull him,, but Garrick had barely drank any of it.''

"Mandalorian."

"Mandalorian? What did you get into?"

''"Believe me, you do not wanna know." Or, more precisely, Cade didn't want him to know.''

"Lemme guess, this about revenge?"

"Pretty much."

''"Ah, nothing like a little payback." Now was his chance. Cade raised his cup.''

"To payback?"

''Garrick followed suit, their cups clinking together. "To payback." They both drank.''

"Now, the thing about this armor is, it's made of gold. Ever hear of anything like that?"

"I..nothing I could tell you."

''"Who'd it belong to?" Cade felt the tension rising in his voice, and tried to cool himself down.''

"Blast it..... It belonged to the boss."

''The boss. Anyone who was part of the Brotherhood knew that name. Few knew his true identity, but everyone knew one thing: No one in the whole galaxy was more powerful than the boss. ''

"What'd he use it for?"

''"Gee, I don't know! Why not just ask him yourself?" This wasn't going to get any further.''

"Good idea. His name?"

''Garrick leaned in, eyeing everyone else suspiciously. "Listen, you have to promise that you will tell no one it."''

''"Promise." Cade didn't mean it, but he barely even remembered a world where promises could be trusted anymore.''

''Garrick's voice became almost impossible to hear as he uttered the words that would seal the fate of millions. "His name is Dylan Antiunknown."''

Present day, 19 BBY

Click.

A blindingly white light suddenly pierced into Cade's eyes, and he found himself squinting for several seconds as they slowly adapted to reveal his surroundings. As this happened, a silhouette walked in front of him, and raised a weapon towards him. As his vision returned, he made it out to be Hans, holding a DC-17. Cade tried to move and found ropes tied to his hands and legs.

"Long time, no see," he started, his voice incredibly hostile. Cade tried to speak, but quickly learned his mouth had been taped shut. "Don't even bother, least not 'till I ask you something. How's Ganner doing?"

As Cade now began to understand the gravity of the situation, a single bead of sweat began trickling its way down his forehead. Hans lowered his weapon, and spun Cade and his chair around to face Ranulph, holding a syringe. Behind him was a table with a small computer on it, displaying a security camera feed of Cade's apartment

"You see, after we found out you were still in town, Ranulph and I did some digging. See that syringe he's got there? Some heavy truth serum. Stuff they found in Garrick Clyine outside that cantina you met him in after you left us." Cade struggled against the ropes as his eyes searched the bland apartment for anything that could help him, but both actions were to no avail. Out of the corner of his eye, something flew by in an instant- a shadow.

Hans ripped off the tape as Ranulph approached him. Hans pulled up Cade's right sleeve, exposing the vein in his arm. "Let's see just how good it is."

From above, a series of rapid, high-pitched beeps grew from inaudible to an ear-piercing screech in a matter of seconds. Hans yelled something inaudible over the noise as he and Ranulph both ran back. Ranulph pushed over the table, and the two quickly ducked behind it, as the wall caved in to an explosion. Cade's chair was knocked by the blast, and he hit the wall, painfully landing on his side. A loud ringing in his ears blocked out any subsequent noises, but Cade watched as a figure dropped into the room amongst the smoke. The figure turned and threw a small knife at the ropes that bound Cade's hands. It cut through, and Cade quickly used the knife to slice through the ones on his legs. He stood up as the figure was struck by a shot through the smoke. Cade ran to the figure- a purple-skinned Rodian in heavy armor, he'd taken a shot to his right eye- and quickly grabbed his pistol, returning shots as the dust slowly began to settle. The Rodian stood up, grabbed Cade, and extended his left arm towards the sky. As a green speeder flew over, a cable shot out and latched on to it, quickly dragging Cade and the Rodian into the sky behind it.

The speeder approached the roof of the nearest building and slowly landed on it. As they touched down, the Rodian said something to Cade, who simply responded by pointing to his ears and saying "Can't hear." The Rodian nodded knowingly. Finally, the speeder was on-level with them, and Dylan stepped out, saying something to the Rodian that was also inaudible. Finally, his hearing slowly returned.

"... get you to a medic, and get this guy safe offworld. You've done very well, Praxon." Dylan gestured for Cade to get in, and he did, along with Praxon.

They zoomed off into the Coruscant sky.