HONJ TENUTO…SITH LORD???

“Stay where you are!” Honj rose and called out to the approaching guards. “I’ve found the device! I must disarm it first. I’m not sure yet what may trigger it. It could be on a timer, or voice activated, motion activated…”

Indy didn’t understand the last statement, and whispered his concerns to his companion. “If it’s motion activated, wouldn’t we have set it off by now?”

“Tenuto whispered back, “you’re not helping.” Then he turned his attention back to Jabba’s lackeys, who had now stopped their forward motion. “I’m still trying to ascertain if the device triggers an explosive, chemical, or biological agent. Who knows, it may contain the long dead Rakghoul plague!” With that, the thugs put in a hasty retreat for the safety of the hallway. The Jedi turned and winked at Indy. “Works every time!”

“Okay,” Indy replied. “Now how do we find what we came for?”

“I’m sure it’s hidden somewhere within the pieces of the Star Map, I just can’t figure out how to access it.”

“Well, whatever you’re going to do, you better do it fast. I doubt your ruse will keep Jabba’s cronies away for long.”

“Honj knew the Professor was right. He had to produce results, and now would be a good time for that, but turning to the Dark Side? It went against everything the Council had taught him. From the time he was a young Padawan, he had been instructed to avoid the temptations of the Dark Side, but there didn’t seem to be any other way. Surely with all his experience, he should be able to venture into “enemy territory” as it were and return unscathed, couldn’t he? But, how to harness it? Anger. Anger seemed the easiest and quickest path.

He sat down again near the pieces and let his mind drift back to the start of this adventure: his Padawans under attack from the Bounty Hunter, The Wookie cubs captured by the Trandoshan slavers, some yet unknown and unseen power capturing and bringing Indy here, most likely with no intent of ever returning him to his own galaxy. Focusing on all these events made his blood boil. Perhaps, the Dark Side could somehow aid in returning Indy home? Honj could become the first Jedi Master ever to be able to harness and control the Dark Side successfully without completely succumbing to its effects. He could become the most powerful Jedi of all time, stronger than Cin Drallig, Mace Windu, and Master Yoda combined. But he would only use his newfound powers for good, unless the situation warranted a severe thrashing with Force lightning, or perhaps mastering the Force crush, where he could use his powers to break every bone in his opponent’s body. As he let his anger grow and fester, he felt dark things he’d never felt before. He was assailed with feelings and sensations he never dreamt possible, and it felt good! He couldn’t believe it! Never had he felt more alive, more in touch with the living force. He had taken his first step into a larger world. It felt wonderful!!! He could almost reach back across time and become one with Darth Malek as he placed the next piece of his secret, Sith lightsaber somewhere within this Star Map while it still remained within the confines of the cave. Oh, the things he could do once he was able to assemble that magnificent blade. Senators and Jedi alike would bow…

“Hey! You did it!”

Enraged that Indy had interrupted his delusions of grandeur, he raised his hand and flung the archaeologist across the room and into a wall. The aggressive action, so unbecoming his true nature, brought him back to reality with a blinding, painful flash. He jumped to his feet and ran to attend to his companion, who was trying to get to his feet.

“What the hell was that for?!!!” Indy shouted as he was being helped up.

“I am so dreadfully sorry, friend Indy. I was concentrating so hard on locating our next piece, your sudden comment took me such by surprise that I acted in defense without thinking. This whole mission is getting the best of me at times, I fear. Perhaps, I’m not such a qualified Jedi Master as I’ve led myself to believe.” He didn’t want to let on to the true reason behind his actions, more out of shame than anything else. “Are you alright?”

“I…think so.” Indy replied as he rubbed his back. “Boy, have you got some arm!”

“Thanks.” Tenuto replied sheepishly. “I sometimes don’t know my own strength. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Nothing a nice back rub wouldn’t fix, and possibly a good, stiff drink or two.”

“Well, Our host is quite well stocked for inebriants as I’m sure you’re aware. Plus I’d be more than happy to pay to have one of Jabba’s Twi’lek slaves give you a…”

“Let’s just get what we came for and get out of here. You can by me a drink once we’re someplace less…dark and slimy.”

Honj shook his head vigorously,“Agreed!” and slapped Indy in the back. Jones dropped to his knees, wincing in pain. “Oooh. Sorry.”

“Just grab the…whatever it is we’ve found. I’ll work on returning feeling to my back, and legs.”

The Jedi nodded slightly, then ran back to the base of the Star Map. Sure enough, a small hatch had opened on one side. He bent down, reached in, and pulled out a small cloth bag. He opened it and dumped out the contents of it into his hand: A lightsaber power cell and a rolled up piece of parchment. He wanted to unroll the parchment to see what words of wisdom it contained, but thought better of it as he saw that the guards were peeking around the corner of the entryway, and in greater numbers than before.

Upon announcing to the gathered onlookers that the bomb had been found and dismantled, Indy and Honj were immediately brought before Jabba to give a full report of their findings. Knowing the Jedi mind trick would probably not work here, Tenuto had to rely on his wits, skills, and ability to toss around the Bantha poodoo.

“Never fear, oh mighty Hutt. The bomb has been found and the detonator removed, it will trouble you no more.”

Jabba wasn’t entirely convinced. “So, what kind of explosive was it? Incendiary, chemical, or biological, I heard from one of my men you mentioned the Rakghoul plague?”

“Oh, that. Strange thing though, we found the casing that would hold the explosive, and the detonator that would detonate it, but the explosive itself was nowhere to be found.”

Now Jabba was really suspicious. “What kind of fool would put a detonator in place, yet forget to attach the explosive?”

“Perhaps those that wish to do you harm are long on funds, and short on brains. Nevertheless, I will see that there is a full investigation started upon my return to Coruscant. We will get to the bottom of this, I assure you.”

The Hutt simply waived his hand. “That will not be necessary. I am more than capable of handling my own affairs. This matter will be dealt with…internally.”

Honj profusely objected. “Oh no, Master Jabba. It is no trouble at all, as I said before, we Jedi are here to promote peace within the galaxy, and you…”

The gangster’s booming voice overrode the Jedi’s. “Silence! Do you take me for a fool, Jedi? I do not know the true reason for your visit, but I’d be willing to bet my entire fortune that it has nothing to do with bombs, or attempts on my life. If your business is concluded here, so be it. You wore out your welcome the moment you stepped across my threshold. If you leave at once, and vow never to return…you may go in peace. Defy me, and you will not get off this planet alive.”

“Now it was Honj who gave the Hutt a steely glare. “It is not wise to threaten a ranking member of the Jedi Order.”

Jabba calmly replied, “nor is it wise to upset someone of my stature in his own domain. Especially when you are so very far from home. You know my reputation, Jedi. My reach goes far beyond this palace, even beyond the twin suns. It is only on the advice of…wise council that I am letting you and your friend go, unharmed and unscathed. Either accept my terms, or die where you stand.”

The Jedi Master wanted to know who this “wise council” was that could pull Jabba’s strings. Who did this slug think he was anyway? Honj could take out Jabba and his entire court without even raising a sweat. No one here was a match for the power of the Force, and if he tapped into the Dark Side once again, it would require even less effort for him. No! He couldn’t go down that route. The first, and last time he attempted that, he could have seriously injured his friend. He couldn’t let that happen again. He might be able to take out most, if not all of the scum that surrounded him, but what about Professor Jones? He could no doubt hold his own in a fight, as he had done so before, but he didn’t belong here. The Force had brought the two of them together so Honj could keep an eye on him and do his best to get him back to his own world. He had to put Indy’s needs ahead of his own. Wasn’t that what being a Jedi was all about?

Tenuto acquiesced. “Agreed. We’ll grab our things and depart.”

Shortly thereafter, the adventurous duo were in their landspeeder, speeding away from Jabba’s palace as fast as the craft would allow.

“It’s good to be out in the sun again,” Indy commented. “Even if there are two of them.”

“We now have the power cell,” Honj replied. “All that remains is to find the Sith crystal. There was a piece of parchment along with the power cell, and once we get back to the ship, it’ll hopefully tell us where we need to go next.”

Indy shouted to be heard over the roar of the speeder’s engine. “Hopefully it won’t tell us to go back to Jabba’s palace!”

“Agreed!”

The two continued their trek back to Anchorhead. About halfway between Jabba’s palace and their destination, they came under attack from above by some mysterious figure dressed in armor and sporting a jetpack. There was no place to hide, so Honj brought the speeder to a screeching halt, vaulted out of the craft, ignited his lightsaber midair, and landed on his feet in a defensive stance.

“Get to some cover!” Tenuto shouted to Indy, knowing full well there wasn’t any to be found.

“Nothing doing! We’re in this together!” Indy disembarked from the speeder, grasped his blaster in one hand, and the handle of his whip in the other.

Their attacker landed a few feet away from them, pointing a pair of blasters in their direction. “All I want is what you found in Jabba’s palace, along with the items you discovered on the other worlds you’ve been to recently.”

Honj wasn’t fazed in the least. “And what do we get in return?”

“You get to live. Unfortunately, you’ll have to do it out here in the middle of the desert without your speeder, but your odds of survival are surely greater than if you attempt to oppose me.”

Tenuto decided to stall. “Do you know who you’re up against?”

“I know you’re a Jedi, and your friend is from a galaxy far, far away. Plus you’re both rather far from the safety and security of Anchorhead. Not that it would provide much relief when you’re being hunted by the likes of me.”

“And who exactly might you be?”

“The last person you’ll ever see if you don’t meet my demands. Now hand over your findings!”

Just then, a rather large form blotted out the sunlight. Jango glanced up and saw a huge ship descending on their position, a Mandalorian warship!

Darth Danno