The air in the cantina was filled with a thick cloud of smoke from other patrons and their death sticks. It was a smell Pak Seba knew he would never grow accustomed to no matter how much time he spent in these grimey establishments. He knew he could avoid them but he also knew that would greatly lower his chances of snatching up a quick and easy bounty to cash in while they were too drunk to put up a fight.
As the thought was processing the door to the cantina slid open and vibrant rays of light flooded the dimly lit interior. A shadow blocked out some of the light as a new patron walked inside. The man was skinny and wore ragged clothes covered in dirt, oil, and other questionable stains. The man made his way to the bar and sat with his back facing Pak.
Pak used this time while the new patron ordered his drink to double check the bounty information he had received.
-Garren Dex
-Male
-Wanted for multiple counts of fraud and malicious slicing of a government banking system.
Pak checked the photo again and glanced up towards the bar. He was 100% sure this was the guy. As he watched the man sit and drink his drink something else on the other side of the bar caught Paks eye. Another patron in the bar walked past. This was nothing. It was the helmet that caught his eye. The helmet of a Mandalorian. The dark colors in the helmet almost disappeared into the shadows of the cantina but the orange trim stood out and as he was moving sent a grave feeling down Pak’s spine. Deep down he knew that anyone with a Mandalorian on their trail was done for.
Pak snapped out of his distracted thoughts and back to his target. The man was slouching over the bar with several empty glasses fallen over and strewn about. Pak knew it was just a matter of time before the bartender tossed Garren outside and he would be able to make his move.
Then he saw it. The Mandalorian with grey and orange armor was sitting just past Garren and looking directly at him. Pak’s heart dropped. Was this Mandalorian after his bounty. If so he knew there was no way he would outshoot him.
Pak stared into the T shaped visor of the Mandalorians helmet and another chill went up his spine. This time it was because the more he watched the more he felt like the expressionless gaze of the Mandalorian was directed at him.
A nervous sweat began to form just above Pak’s brow as his mind raced with scenarios on how he could claim this bounty before this competitor. He glanced at Garren in time to see the bartender was dragging him from the bar and towards the door. There was only a moment of loud disagreements from the now drunk bounty but he calmed down and staggered towards the door with his guide. Pak began to stand and noticed something or more specifically a lack of something. The Mandalorian had vanished during the small commotion caused by the yelling.
Pak stepped outside and had a moment of relief when he saw that his bounty had not already been acquired by the Mandalorian. There was still hope for him to get paid.
Garren staggered down the walkway attempting to whistle as Pak grew closer.
Fifteen feet. Pak continued to move in.
Ten feet. He could smell the alcohol from the drunk.
Five feet. Pak’s heart began to race.
When he was just an arms length away everything changed. He saw the Mandalorian standing in the center of the street just ten feet ahead of the drunk. Pak took a deep breath and grabbed Garren by the collar.
“Under authorization of the Bounty Hunters Guild I claim this bounty as my own. Get out of here.” He called out at the Mandalorian.
Garren fell backwards onto his hind end and just accepted that he was staying there. Meanwhile Pak stared into the visor of the Mandalorian before him. Silence filled the street all around.
When the deep and almost mechanical voice called out from the Mandalorian it startled him.
“Pak Seba. Wanted for wrongful acquisition and execution of an innocent. 10,000 Credits alive. 25,000 Dead. It is rare to see the death price higher than alive. Who did you piss off?”
Panic. Desperation. Confusion. Emotions flooded Pak as he heard the Mandalorian speak. Thinking quickly he drew his blaster and fired several shots in the direction of the armor clad hunter that had just declared him as prey.
Pak ducked down the nearest ally and turned left into another. Then right. Then left again. He was hoping that he could easily lose the Mandalorian in this unfamiliar back city area. He pressed himself against a wall and tried to collect his thoughts. He held his breath and listened for the sound of heavy boots running after him but only heard silence.
The silence was broken as a brilliant white streak crossed just in front of Pak’s face. The blaster bolt struck a pipe protruding from the wall and sent an eruption of sparks and steam into the air. The steam made it hard to see anything in the dark and narrow alleyway as Pak strained his eyes to find his attacker.
Then seconds later a rushing sound filled the alleyway as the Mandalorians jetpack brought him down just feet from the terrified hunter.
Pak gripped his blaster tight and began to raise it into the air towards the terrifying figure. A sharp pain surged through his wrist and he lost his grip on the blaster. Before the weapon had hit the ground Pak felt the solid strike of the Mandalorian again, this time across his face. The amature hunter fell to the ground and panic set in at the deepest levels. He began to weep on the ground as he accepted his fate.
He was startled as an almost gentle hand rested on his shoulder and began to help his to his feet. The Mandalorian spoke in his deep voice once more.
“Get on your feet. You are better than this. That bounty out there is yours. Did you want to cash it in or not?”
Pak let the words stumble out of his mouth as he tried to control his sobbing.
“You. You're going to let me live?”
“Go get that bounty.”
Pak attempted to compose himself and stand tall. He reached down to pick up his blaster. He knew the moment he touched it he was dead. Instead as he stood up the Mandalorian turned around and began to walk away.
Pak quickly aimed the blaster at the Mandalorians back and fired. A burst of sparks erupted as the bolt glanced off of the beskar armor and into the wall. Pak saw the movement of the Mandalorian reaching for his blaster and spinning in a fluid motion.
“I knew you would fight.”
Paks last sight he saw was the bright white blaster bolt soaring in his direction.