1 Chapter 1

-- 178 BBY, Planet Lok --

 

A blue Feeorin that looked to be a young adult stood over the body of another Feeorin, blood covering his hands. All around the pair were dead bodies of various other species, each with either a blaster wound or a sharp cut on their body.

 

Jial was breathing heavily, sweat pouring down his face. He and his crew had encountered another Feeorin that had planned on making this part of Lok their territory and a battle broke out. Both sides fought with everything they had and it was Jial who came out on top but at a large cost. 

 

All of his crew as well as their ship had been destroyed in the battle along with their enemies. 

 

'Damn. If I knew that it would lead to me being stuck on this damn planet, I would have just surrendered to Nym and killed that bastard later,' Jial complained to himself while going around the bodies and picking up anything that had some value. 

 

'About 7,000 credits and a few decent blasters. Not bad but I'm going to have to find one of the other settlements if I want to live.'

 

Lok was one of the most dangerous planets in the Outer Rim. Not only was the planet barren with little water but there were also countless sulfur pools that populated the place and made life even more difficult. With a new blaster rifle slung across his back and two pistols on his hips, Jial was about to start making his way across the barren landscape of Lok when a sudden blue flash appeared before his eyes.

 

[Greetings, Owner. Welcome to the Choice System. This system has been given to you based on your personality and goals. At certain points in your life, you will face choices where you can walk down one of several paths. By choosing a certain path, you shall be able to obtain a reward.

 

There shall also be times when the system assigns you a mission to accomplish which shall grant you bonus rewards. These missions can be anything from hunting down a particular person or participating in a war. Unlike paths, missions must be completed before the rewards are given.]

 

Jial read over the words while holding his hand to his chin. 

 

'Interesting. I have never heard of anything like this. Must be what the Jedi use to become so powerful,' Jial didn't even try to understand why the system had chosen him. Instead, he was already focused on the benefits. 

 

[Host has a Welcome Gift. Do you wish to accept it?]

 

"Of course. Why would I turn down a free gift?" Jial asked the system aloud

 

[Host has accepted the Welcome Gift. The host has received 1x Bio-Mask of the Yautja, 1x Wrist Gauntlet, and 1x Beskar Combistick. Equip items?]

 

"Yes," Jial wanted to see just what he had been given

 

Without any other words, a metallic mask appeared over Jial's face, already shielding him from the harsh winds that were blowing around him. He also felt some additional weight on his left wrist as well as something appearing on his lower back. 

 

'Interesting. I wonder what this can do.'

 

Jial began to cycle through the various systems of the bio-mask but another blue window appeared while he was doing so.

 

[Name: Bio-Mask

 

Description: The Bio-Mask is a tool used by the Yautja during their hunts and a staple part of their culture. It is the most symbolic item and important piece of technology that the Yautja have created

 

Functions: Normal Vision, Thermal Vision, EM Vision, Neuro Vision, Universal Translator, Audio Recording, Video Recording, Communicator, and Advanced Targeting System.]

 

'Interesting. What about the other items, System?'

 

[Name: Wrist Gauntlet

 

Description: The wrist gauntlet is a small computer device worn, as its name implies, on the wrist, and features numerous controls for various items of Yautja technology, as well as a digitized, apparently numerical display. The gauntlet is linked directly into a Predator's bio-mask and governs many of its functions, including its alternate vision modes

 

Function: Bio-Mask Control, Cloaking Device, Sat-Com, and Computer]

 

[Name: Combistick

 

Description: The Combistick is telescopic, making it relatively small and easy to store when not in use but extending to its full length when required in combat. It is made of incredibly light, sharp, thin but strong material. It can be used both as a close-quarters hand-to-hand weapon and thrown like a spear.]

 

'These Yautja are dangerous. Each of these could be sold for a few million credits, especially the wrist gauntlet. Just what else does this system offer?' Jial couldn't help but admire the system even more. 

 

The young Feeorin began to play around with all of his new equipment for a few minutes to get the hang of them. The more he used each of them, the more attached he got. Jial could already tell that he would be using these items for a long period of time.

 

While he was testing the different visions, something came up when he was using his neural vision mode. Jial saw several figures in the distance approaching who were hostile, hungry, and cautious. 

 

Jial didn't hesitate to unsheath his blaster rifle from his back and take aim in the direction before switching to his thermal vision mode. In this mode, he could see the figures approaching more easily. 

 

'7 canines. Not too large. Most likely a pack of Kusak then,' Jial swiftly determined what type of for he was about to face before climbing atop a nearby cliff. Kusak were canine native to Lok and were known for their ferocity. They had some armor on their bodies which made them resistant to glancing blows but they could easily be taken out by a well-placed shot. 

 

While he waited on the cliff, the Kusak quickly made their way to the battleground. Kusaks were between .6 to 1.1 meters tall. They looked like coyotes but also had something similar to an armadillo shell on their backs. The pack began sniffing around for any prey that may interrupt their meal but the smell of burnt flesh and the destroyed starships made it difficult for them to get a good grasp of their surroundings. Because of this, Jial's hiding spot was not exposed. 

 

With no known predator around them, the Kusak started eating the bodies of all the dead pirates and bounty hunters. While the creatures were enjoying their meal, Jial took aim with his rifle at the one closest to his position. 

 

*Pew*

 

A red bolt of energy soared through the air before piercing through the skull of the Kusak. The sound of the blaster made all of the others become alert, each stopping their meal before the body of their comrade fell to the floor. Several more blaster bolts soared through the air, killing several more of the Kusak. 

 

With over half of their pack wiped out, the Kusak did not even try to fight back or continue eating. They ran off toward the north, leaving the proud Jial sitting atop his perch. With the Kusak threat taken care of, Jial jumped down from his cliff and took apart the bodies of two Kusak to use as rations. With nothing left to do, he decided to head south in hopes of finding a crew of pirates that had a spare ship for him.

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