AJA: The Birth of a Bounty Hunter

[Aja]

[glow=red,2,300]CHAPTER 1[/glow]

Aja’s first memory was that of his parents dying. He thought of that moment often in his life, for it fueled his ambition. He’d hoped one day he could hunt the galaxy for the rebels as a bounty hunter. With each confirmed kill, he’d edge closer to vindication or perhaps just personal satisfaction. But he still hadn’t taken the first step. The crossroad still lay before him; the road that would lead him towards a life of just vengeance, or the one leading to a life of uncertainty and possibly unrealized destiny. He could climb back out through the window from which he came; or, he could proceed with his intentions.

A man by the name of Breetar Cyrunner had his arms raised and back turned as he sat in his office chair at his desk. Aja’s blaster pressed lightly against the back of Breetar’s head. Aja could see himself as a boy again. He was in a marketplace, holding his mother’s hand and smiling up at her. For some reason he fell, or he was pushed. He could see blaster fire zipping past his face—red streaks of light, so close he could feel the heat. Breetar plead for mercy. Explained that he was just a business man. That he worked for the Empire at times, but if the Rebels want guns, why not. “Its just business, money. You want money? I’ll give you doub… no, triple of what the Empire’s paying you. Just…” Aja’s father fell before him. Then his mother. He couldn’t remember hearing anything. His mother’s mouth did move as she lay there for a moment--her face struck with anguish. How many times had he wondered what she may have cried? Somehow Aja’s past and present combined in his mind, into a surreal confirmation of his purpose. His anger turned into rage. Aja pulled the trigger, catching Breetar in mid-sentence. After a moment of dead silence, his mind began to wander as a fine wisp of smoke arose from his blaster barrel. Aja stood motionless as he pondered. It wasn’t as messy as he’d thought. Point blank. Perhaps with a higher power blaster… Realization dawned upon him. His blood boiled as a stream of emotions flooded through his mind. He had killed-for the first time. A rebel lay dead before him, and he felt not even the slightest twinge of regret. His breathing quickened, and his whole body was washed over with exhilaration. He’d finally chosen his path, and never before in his life had he felt so much relief and deep-rooted satisfaction. His course was set, and there was no turning back.

Without another glance to look over his handy-work, Aja climbed back through the window, walked up the dank alley and onto an unlit street in Mos Eisley. As he walked, he looked up at the stars, smiled, and spoke softly, “One down..." He gazed across the night sky, wondering if their sheer number was comparable to the number of rebels that will die at his hand.

After a few twists and turns, Aja found the recruiters office and the Imperial mission terminal that had previously offered Breetar’s fate into Aja’s hands. He perused the new missions, selected two, and walked back out into the night.

[glow=red,2,300][to be continued--will tie in with LoM next chapter][/glow]

[Aja]

[glow=red,2,300]CHAPTER 2[/glow]

Aja spent many of the following months, completing missions for the Empire. These times were sometimes arduous to say the least. Oddly enough, on many occasions, it didn’t appear as though his targets were all that willing to allow for an easy bounty collection. Regardless, if it wasn’t easy money, Aja was convinced the experience gained from the occasional challenging prey would boost his own abilities and offer a slight change of pace from the rigors of his new found profession.

Aja actually had not yet been certified as a bounty hunter. He found this slightly frustrating considering he was competing for missions with other actual bounty hunters who had years of experience over him but doing the same work, or so he thought at the time, and receiving much less pay.

On a particularly hot morning in Bestine, perhaps the heat adding to this growing frustration, Aja decided to accept a mission for which he was convinced he was ready. “I’ll show those overpaid braggarts…” Vi Dustrunner, a novice but certified bounty hunter, was waiting at the mission terminal behind him, and looking over Aja’s shoulder, gasped slightly at his selection.

Immediately after Aja completed the transaction, he began to walk out into the street that headed north and into the sweltering desert. He almost didn’t hear Vi calling out to him due to the roar of an intercity shuttle landing nearby.

“Aja, hold up a moment there buddy!” Vi seemed almost out of breath. “What’s your rush Aja? I’d figure with a mission like the one I saw you take, you’d be stocking up on heavy weaponry. Some C-12 frags perhaps? Something?”

Aja glanced fondly at his friend of twelve years, but seemed unconcerned. “Look Vi, I’m sick of waiting. I can hardly keep myself in armor with the pittance I get paid for these missions that just take me from sand dune to sand dune. It’s time I took a chance… and I think this mission could be my big break. 1400 credits will square me with Greelo, and I’ll finally be and independent hunter.”

“But a Tusken camp? Are you crazy? Look man, please, let me… well hell, even the both of us isn’t enough. Just abort the mission Aja, or let’s at least hire a few Jawa as spotters—“

“Whoa, no. I think the Jawa might have a little problem with helping me unless it’s scratching my back with a laser knife.” Vi and Aja both chuckled. “Those Ion Blasters of theirs fetch a nice sum of credits at the Bazaar Terminals. I’ve noticed the Jawa in town are starting to scatter when I approach. I don’t think they appreciate me dispensing with their stragglers over on the merchant routes.”

“Well…” Vi seemed reluctant to offer his help if his was all there was to be.

“Don’t worry Vi, I’ll be fine. I’ll see you tonight. The report says three Tusken Raiders and a captain. I’ll come at them with the sun at my back. I’ll have two down before they even knew what hit’em.”

“Okay Aja, be careful. I’ll see you at the cantina tonight,” though his expression was sick with doubt.

Aja turned again towards the north and out of town. Vi watched his old friend walk off for a moment, and then also turned away and headed back towards the market.

The trek was a long one. It always seems the better missions are further from town. Aja had plenty of time to contemplate the probable reasoning behind this reoccurring phenomenon. He finally concluded, after the fifth hour of trudging through sand and rock, that the extra money was just because of the walk, and actually had nothing to do with the difficulty of any particular bounty. Perhaps that’s why all the experienced hunters invest so much in their boots. That particular theory came to mind as he stopped to sit for a while and empty his boots of sand and pebbles.

All 30 years of his life was spent on this dust cloud of a planet and to the heat he had become accustomed, but not to this intensity. He removed his goggles for a second to wipe his face with a wet rag that was dampened from his flask.

Perhaps in his delirium from the scorching weather, Aja began speaking to himself. “Damn this heat. I doubt even the Raiders will be out in this. I should have waited until nightfall. Though, they sleep during the hot part of the day. With the sun at my back, I’ll be sure to…” Aja thought for a moment, “with the sun at my back…”

Almost instinctively Aja turned towards the brighter sun which lay low in the sky already, but was too late. His trek, which had taken him further into Tusken territory than he had ever been, was long overdue for heeding caution. With the blaze of the sun concealing the Tusken Raider from Aja’s view and taking full advantage of the human’s recklessness, the desert nomad had ample time to carefully aim the antiquated rifle and bring it to bear. Aja did not even have a chance to react. The single shot from the rifle was incapacitating, and the projectile glanced across the side of Aja’s head.

The following moments, minutes, or hours were a muddle of blurry attempts to come to consciousness—slipping in and out. Occasionally Aja’s sight would allow him to partially focus on the approaching Tusken, who, after realizing his prey was helpless, had given up his perch and appeared to be walking over to Aja for the kill. Aja frantically tried to gain control of his body, which only managed to either jerk spasmodically or lay still from exhaustion in the blistering sun. Finally, after much futility, his body lay completely still. Aja accepted his defeat.

He decided to allow himself a few moments of peace before the end. Perhaps in this final restful moment, he’d think of some profound thought that might benefit all of humankind… Nothing came to mind. Just as well. He was already about to die--sick with shame for not heeding Vi’s warning. He certainly didn’t feel up to taking an amazing truth that could benefit everyone to his early grave. More than likely, the Tusken wouldn’t pass the word along. Aja then began to wonder if Sand People even spoke basic, but it didn’t take long for him to start laughing a little at what he’d been contemplating the past several moments. So, for what seemed like an eternity, Aja just lay there… watching the blurry image of a Tusken approach—the sun at the nomad’s back stinging Aja’s eyes to tears.

Aja, perhaps, had several more moments of consciousness which appeared more than sufficient for him to witness his own demise. The rifle was poised above Aja’s head. The shadow of the Tusken now cast over Aja, offering him a final moment of relief from the smoldering inferno. But the sound of a distant blaster caught the soon-to-be victim’s attention. The Tusken’s rifle fired, but was suddenly off target due to an impact of a blast, sounding as if from a Scout Blaster, that impaled the Tusken squarely in the chest. The Raider fell back and landed with a soft thud in the sand, kicking dust up into Aja’s already searing eyes. The shade tree now lay next to him, and he was somewhat disappointed that he was again facing the full brunt of the sun.

Muffled steps approached Aja from behind, for he lay on his side. Then a man stepped over his body and into view. The savior wore Ubese armor, good for this climate Aja thought. The man kicked the Tusken to verify the outcome of his marksmanship, and then turned back towards Aja. Aja sighed, for he was again in the shade, but this time he was in the shadow of a man who would soon change his life. Aja passed out just as the man began to speak, “Chaji. Chaji! Damn it! I told that blasted thing to follow me…”

[glow=red,2,300][to be continued--will tie in MORE with LoM next chapter][/glow]