Coruscant, Old Market Quarter…
HK-51, the infamous and deadly protector of the Zoiji line, ran quickly down the enormous alleyways and vendor stalls that made up a now decrepit section of this planet. Three Inheritor soldier squads were attempting to flee through ancient markets and he intended make them fail.
"Freeze it, droid. They're mine." a figure in green-red Mandalorian armor threatened. Within seconds the squads appeared, and HK-51 held back. The first squad fell to a thermal detonator in their haste, and were enveloped in the blast that followed. The other three, more cautious this time, attempted to flank their attacker, taking cover and roadie-running towards him in synchronized movements. However, no amount of tactical brilliance would save them here. The Mandalorian launched rockets from his jetpack at the rebels, taking them out with two loud BOOMS! From this assault, one survivor used the last of his strength to aim his blaster at the Mandalorian. However, a quick blaster shot between the eyes quickly spelled doom for him.
"Query: While I admire the efficiency with which you deleted these rebels, who are you, Mandalorian?" HK-51 asked the figure.
"I'll tell you, HK: Boba Fett!" a voice from the shadows answered.
Both the Hunter-Killer and the Mandalorian turned to look at the speaker. He was clad in a grey-on-black suit of fabled RIS armor, with two KDY-21 blasters holstered at his side, a vibrosword sheathed at his knee with an onyx jetpack. The helmet possessed a voice changer, giving the warrior's voice a gravelly feel to it. Boba Fett, taking this in, asked gruffly,
"Who the kreff are you?"
"You'll find out soon enough, Fett. I hear you're planning to leave the Confederacy. Care to explain why?"
"Emperor Orono's a coward." Fett answered bluntly. "He leaves known space and makes his followers do all the work. Anyone who doesn't lead his forces into battle is no true leader."
The warrior clenched his fist in response and Fett smiled beneath the T-shaped visor of his helmet. Good. Now he's angry, it'll be easy to kill him.
"Then I challenge you to an honor duel, right here, right now. If I win, you stay with the Confederacy. If you win, the Mandalorians can leave, no questions asked." the warrior said defiantly.
Instead of answering, Fett drew his EE3 carbine and let loose a series of blaster shots. The warrior had barely enough time to get behind a stand for cover. Drawing his KDY blasters, he fired a volley of bolts, their shrill sound echoing through the market quarter. Despite being hit by the greater part of his opponent's shots. Fett brought a jet of flame to bear from his his flamethrower. Dropping one pistol, the warrior activated his jetpack and went up into the sky like a shot. Not one to give up, Fett did the same and doggedly gave pursuit. The chase ended near the remains of statues dedicated to bygone Senatorial big wigs. Upon landing, the RIS-clad warrior drew a sleek serrated blade. After Fett unsheathed smaller blades from his crimson wrist gauntlets, a rapid series of jabs, thrusts, parries and feints followed. The two warriors exchanged and received several blows until the RIS-clad warrior's helmet was knocked off. Boba Fett was poised for the finishing blow until he saw who he was actually fighting.
"Orono Zoiji?" Fett said with an unusual amount of surprise.
"Yes, it's me, Fett." the grey bearded old man replied. "And I hope you realize by now that I am NO coward!"
In a single fluid motion, he leapt over Fett and slashed his blade at his jetpack's igniters. The pack's engines roared to life, sending the Mandalorian in a sharp upward spiral, before finally slamming into the remnants of the first Supreme Chancellor's statue with a loud BOOM! Boba Fett, leader of the Mandalorian people, lay sprawled on the ground in a sea of rubble, as Orono approached him, blaster drawn. He fired a shot, and just before feeling its sting, Fett closed his eyes, expecting to feel death's embrace. Instead, he opened his eyes just as his own helmet was being removed.
"So this is your real face." Orono said with a tinge of awe. "I've been around a long time, but I never thought I'd be privileged enough to see it."
Unconcerned at his defeat, or the fact that someone knew what he looked like, Fett asked,
"Why didn't you kill me?"
"I respect you, Fett. You've survived everything the galaxy's thrown at you, stared death in the face and blown its brains out." Orono replied, 'Which is why I'm doing this for you."
He waved his hand, and suddenly, all of Fett's wounds had healed.
You're immortal now, Fett." Orono said, "Because in my world, the legend never dies."
An hour later...
After some deliberation, the two leaders solidified a permanent place for the Mandalorian people as long as Clan Fett ruled...
 |
| Boba Fett |
 |
| Orono's RIS armor |
 |
| One of Orono's KDY blasters. |
