Solo poured himself a drink, his gaze settling on Sheldon's bloodshot eyes. "You don't necessarily have to face him in combat yourself. You want revenge, but years of training have taught you that provoking him would be suicidal."
"But I've found a way to get revenge, even for someone like you."
Sheldon leaned back in his chair, his voice hoarse. "You know?"
"I've uncovered his identity and discovered his weakness. Our operation on Zhai Planet, and the explosion that followed my live burial." Solo set down his glass and explained slowly, "It was the Tyrant's Sacrifice technique, derived from the Tyrant series of techniques created by a descendant of the Matukada Founder. One of these techniques can instantly boost all physical parameters—strength, agility, endurance—by sacrificing internal damage to bones and muscles. The Tyrant's self-sacrifice, however, involves gathering the body's Force and igniting it using the soul as fuel. The body is completely destroyed, and the soul, unable to merge with the Force or fall into the void, achieves true annihilation."
Sheldon picked up the Wookiee Wine on the table and drained it in one gulp, the wine spilling down his chin. "Master Tydor sacrificed his life so we could survive."
"It's also to make that Sith pay," Solo said, his voice carrying a chill. "Do you really think his sacrifice was just so you could seduce Twi'lek girls in Lylos?"
"What do you know about him?" Sheldon scoffed. "Master Tydor always wanted what's best for me."
"What's best for you?" Solo chuckled, downing his drink. "To cower like a beaten dog, hiding in your den and licking your wounds? I remember you differently—a Matukada warrior, a proud fighter. But now, you just sit here, drowning in drink, crying for revenge while lacking the courage to stand. I don't know if Taidor wanted you to avoid conflict or become a warrior unafraid of death, but what I see is a coward who doesn't even know what he wants."
Sheldon's face paled, then flushed, finally settling into a bitter expression. "So you think following you will help me find myself?"
"I can't guarantee anything, nor will I force you." Solo picked up the nearly full bottle of liqueur, glancing at the Twi'lek girl beside him who tried to stop him. "This is your payment."
Using his ionization ability, Solo deactivated the slave collars around the Twi'lek girls' necks. "I'll speak with your Master."
As he stepped out of the bar, the owner immediately approached. "Well?"
"We'll know soon enough." Solo's gaze shifted to the doorway, where Sheldon was emerging, his breath still carrying the scent of alcohol but his eyes now clear. He carried a new war pike on his back.
"Solo, I've decided," Sheldon said, his voice resolute as he stepped forward. "That bastard will pay. Where do I sign?"
"No need for signatures. Just get on the ship. We'll plan the operation." Solo turned and nodded at the two Twi'lek girls. "You're coming too."
"Jira? Lola?" The bar owner hovered in the air, his voice furious. "You've stolen my waitresses! Who's going to work now?"
"Your former master was a stingy miser," one of the girls retorted softly.
"You should reconsider your business model," Solo said coldly. "Jedis oppose slavery, even in places where it's traditional. Sheldon appreciates your 'compensation,' and he won't smash up your bar again."
"But I never agreed to this!" The owner trembled with rage.
Sheldon stepped forward, his gaze sharp. "If you don't understand, I won't hesitate to cut off your wings."
Solo stopped him. "You promised a reward to whoever took him, and we never specified the form of that reward."
Ignoring the boss's complaints, Solo led Sheldon and the two girls to the hangar.
They stayed there for two more days, waiting for the Mandalore Bounty Hunter Squad to assemble on the ship.
The leader, Logan, clad in the distinctive Mandalorian armor, approached. "Sheldon... long time no see."
"Long time no see, Logan!"
"What's the job?" Logan asked bluntly.
"We have a lucrative job for you," Solo said, stepping forward. "Infiltrate and destroy a complex with both above- and below-ground structures. It may contain clones and a large number of artifacts. The loot is yours, plus I'll pay an additional high credit fee. You'll also need Frigate-level firepower support for the surface portion."
The other three members of the bounty hunter squad—Hori, Wanda, and Bomur—gathered around.
"A job for Force-sensitives?" Hori asked with a grin.
"The target is a thousand-year-old Dark Force-sensitive being, and the compound's defenses are formidable."
"No problem. We need two days to prepare."
The Mandalore Squad members departed. During the wait, Solo went to repair his armor. When they were ready to return, the Mandalore Squad was already waiting at the Star Falcon's docking bay.
Logan sat cross-legged at the foot of the boarding ramp, Wanda pacing nearby. Hori and Bomber were conversing with a Rodian.
The Rodian was slender, with green-tinged skin. Two blasters hung at his waist, and he wore a dirty brown outfit topped with a jacket. His sharp eyes swept over Solo's group before locking onto Sheldon and the two girls.
"Holding that kind of misconception is the real foolishness," Hori said with a smile, making the introduction. "This is Logan Iriyan."
The Rodian bowed slightly. "So this is the Jedi?"
"Good afternoon, Solo," Logan said, turning to face him. "I hear you have a job for us: blow up a facility with turbolaser cannons, then clean up the wreckage."
Solo signaled the ship, and the boarding ramp slowly lowered. "Let's discuss inside. I'll explain why we need a Mandalorian—and you and your team."
"Hold on, my men are on their way," Logan said, raising his hand to communicate.
Five minutes later, forty heavily armed and well-equipped team members arrived, instantly crowding the ship, which was never designed to accommodate so many.
Finally, Logan's seven core team members, Mandalore Squad, Sheldon, and Solo gathered around the holographic projector.
Logan's team members wore uniforms in varying states of wear, but each was armed to the teeth, their eyes sharp with battle-hardened intensity.
Solo took a deep breath, imbuing his voice with the Force, and called out in a commanding tone, "Attention!"
The noisy cabin fell silent, all eyes focusing on him.
Solo activated the holographic projector. The screen revealed the Sith from Zhai Planet, cloaked in a black cape and wielding a scarlet lightsaber.
Sheldon's face twisted with anger, while the others scrutinized the target with curiosity.
"He's called Seth Hart, a Sith whose power rivals that of a Sith Lord," Solo explained, switching to an image of Seth in his youth. "This is how he appeared a thousand years ago, after the Seventh Battle of Ruusan."
"A thousand years?" Logan leaned forward, startled. "Your enemy is formidable."
"The rewards for challenging him are substantial," Solo said, looking at them. "The payment from the Jedi alone would be enough for your descendants to live off for generations. Moreover, all the spacecraft, resources, and artifacts he's accumulated over nearly a millennium will become spoils of war. A portion will be turned over to the Warrior Order, but the rest will be yours. The Warrior Order will compensate you for any artifacts you surrender. More importantly, according to my plan, you won't need to confront him directly."
"Tell us your plan," Wanda urged. "So far, we've only heard about a mountain of trouble."
"The plan is simple, divided into three parts," Solo said, switching the holographic projection to display a schematic of Set Manor on Royce VIII. "First, I'll publicly attack Set, drawing his full attention. Thirty seconds after the battle begins, half the galaxy will know he's a Sith. A minute later, the message will reach the Unknown Regions as well. He's been hiding under his true name for nearly a millennium. I reviewed old files—the Warrior Order once sent Jedi Shadows and Jedi Guardians to investigate whether he was the same immortal Seth Hart from a thousand years ago. Many returned empty-handed. His family claims to be his descendants but has never reported his whereabouts to the Jedi."
"How did he manage to deceive you?" Hori asked. "Tricking a Jedi isn't easy."
"I believe it's all due to the chaos following the Ruusan Reforms," Solo continued, his gaze sweeping across the assembled group. "At that time, no one had the resources to pay attention to him. By the time the Warrior Order could focus on him, the only record of anyone named Seth Hart was that of an ordinary noble with no connection to the Force. As for why he's resurfaced now, the answer lies with the Matukai."
He turned to Sheldon. "Recently, Jedi archaeologists have discovered a wealth of Matukai artifacts. A traitor within the Warrior Order has been feeding him information, which has piqued his interest."
"Is Matukai knowledge truly that valuable?" Logan asked Sheldon, his tone skeptical.
Sheldon merely scoffed, offering no explanation.
"Regardless, Seth Hart has emerged and is now active," Solo said, switching to a holographic projection that displayed a schematic of Darth Andeddu's holographic projector. "Nearly a millennium of accumulation has given him deep connections and abundant resources, but it's also made him arrogant, causing him to reveal his presence. His core advantage lies in the knowledge stored within this projector, but that's also his fatal weakness—the clone."
"Explain clearly," Logan said, tilting his head. "Please."
"For tens of thousands of years, countless Force-sensitives have explored the boundaries of the Force—Visieret, Revan, Exar Kun, Zailin... Both Sith and Jedi have attempted to use clones to transcend the limits of mortality." Solo's voice was steady and authoritative. "But a Force-sensitive's body is utterly unique. Genetic cloning can replicate appearance, but not the connection to the Force. Artificially creating a Force-sensitive is impossible, and transferring consciousness to another body would inevitably face rejection. Even Seth's perfect clone cannot sustain his powerful connection to the Force for long before it begins to degrade."
He paused, his gaze settling on Sheldon. "The Tyrant's Sacrifice technique Taidor used on his deathbed severely weakened Seth. Given the technique's effects, he must now switch to a new clone. In his prime, he could effortlessly defeat a team of three Jedi and two Matukai. But after the body transfer, his strength will plummet, leaving him at most as a Dark Jedi with exceptional power. Eliminating such threats is precisely the Jedi's duty."
A member of Mandalore Squad interjected, "That sounds far more realistic."
"I'm more concerned about whether the rewards are realistic," Logan murmured. "But why not call for Jedi reinforcements? Is it because of the traitor in the Warrior Order?"
"Exactly," Solo nodded. "I can't reveal details about the traitor, but you only need to understand the nature of our opponent."
"Do you have proof he's planning to transfer his consciousness?" Bomber suddenly asked. "What if you lure out the same peak-performance Sith who had you pinned down before?"
Sheldon clenched his fist, all eyes focusing on Solo.
"Though the Holonet is chaotic, once information is uploaded, it can't be completely erased." Solo manipulated his data pad, projecting a news headline: "The Hart Family to Host Successor's Debut Ceremony. New Seth XXXI Hart—biological age fifteen—to make formal appearance next week. Guests include royalty, nobility, and military from Royce VII."
He smirked. "Under Jedi Law, I can publicly expose someone as a Sith and then attack. I'll broadcast the entire event live. This will either vindicate us, or, even if I fail or he escapes, it will utterly ruin his plans."
"I still don't want to get involved," Logan said, shaking his head. "Your plan is solid, and the rewards are tempting. My two Kumelk-class fighter/transport ships can easily destroy the surface structures of Set Manor, and the landing party from our crews can attack the underground levels. But if his soul escapes and transfers to a new clone body, we'll face retaliation eventually."
"That's where the second part of the plan comes in, with the Mandalorian Strike Team and Sheldon forming the assault squad," Solo said, nodding at Logan and the others. "Sheldon is Force-sensitive and can detect hidden threats. He'll help you destroy all of Set's stored clones. With your forces combined with Logan's squad, you'll be able to cut off all his escape routes while I engage Set. If the clones are destroyed and he's cornered, he might try to seize my body, but I know how to resist that."
"And if we lose?" Logan asked sarcastically. "Are we just supposed to go down with you? You exposed his identity and drew the entire galaxy's wrath upon him, yet you might die on the battlefield before he does."
"I've considered the possibility of death," Solo said, his voice cold. "But Captain Logan, when you chose to become a mercenary, you should have understood that risk and reward are inseparable. If you fear challenges and death, you should sell your ship, find a corner of the galaxy, and open a toy factory instead of questioning the plan here. Either agree to join, or leave now. I don't have time to waste on persuasion."
Logan's officers all turned to him. After a moment, the Rodian gritted his teeth. "Go to hell, you Hutt! I agree."
Solo handed him a data chip. "This contains the coordinates for Royce VII and the rendezvous time. The only remaining issue is the planet's air defense. They have twenty-four planetary defense fighters. They're not elite, but they can still cause trouble."
"Trouble doesn't always require a violent solution." Logan beckoned to a hunchbacked man. "Garretton, go talk to their commander and have him stall."
"Yes, Captain," the man replied in a raspy voice.
"What is he going to do?" Solo frowned, worried that this might complicate things.
"Have them choose a better residence," Logan said calmly. "There's no need to attack the command center directly and risk worse consequences. This way, we can destroy the ground structures at Set Manor before the fighters intervene and deploy our landing team."
"My spacecraft can assist you with robotic control and is equipped with shock bombs—"
"Don't use those things near my ship!" Logan interrupted sharply.
"As you wish."
"Let's summarize," Logan said, standing up. "Solo, you'll directly attack Set during the inheritance ceremony, drawing the entire galaxy's attention with the live broadcast. The Fleet will handle ground targets at Set Manor, while my squad provides fighter cover. Afterward, the landing team, Sheldon, and we'll clear the underground levels, destroying all clones and facilities that survive the bombardment."
Solo tossed Logan another data crystal. "This contains the underground layout."
"How did you get this?" Wanda asked curiously.
"I met a lady. We got it out of her over drinks." Solo smiled faintly.
"You're a little young for this, aren't you?" Wanda's tone sharpened.
"She didn't complain. She seemed to enjoy it." Solo glanced at her visor.
Wanda snorted. Logan chuckled from the other side. "You've got some spirit, kid. Just make it through this battle first."
"Good luck to all." Solo's gaze hardened. "Meet here for the inheritance ceremony next week. Don't be late."
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