This story features my character, Kein Rei, and Ruby, who belongs to . This is a collaborative story between the two of us, and it will span over a series of parts. All parts will be added to DOM and I believe Valarous may be featuring the full story on their account as well. (Don't quote me on that cause I'm not for sure 😂)

Kein squared his shoulders and strode into the dark compound. He hadn't been on Centax 1 in years. It wasn't like coming home. It was like coming back to a prison.

That's all it had been when he had trained here. It was a prison meant to keep him, Cyana Otsan, and Ania Bonteri from escaping while Vader trained them to do his bidding. Kein gritted his teeth as he walked.

Ania hadn't even remembered him the first time they were reintroduced. He wasn't exactly surprised; it had been several years since they'd met and she'd only known him a week or so. Still, back then, she'd known him well enough to nearly kill him. It was nice to know that he could now return the favor, or, almost, anyway.

Kein entered another room with a holotable sitting in the center of it. He dropped to a knee as a hologram of Darth Vader appeared. The Sith Lord's foreboding mechanical breaths thundered through his head.

"You have disappointed me, Bounty Hunter," Vader sneered. "I thought I trained you better than this. It should not be this difficult to take down your old rival."

"She's more skilled than you may remember, my lord," Kein boldly stated. "She has many powerful allies."

"And you do not?"

Kein flinched at the harshness in the words. Allies. He didn't even know what that word meant anymore. All he had were enemies who kept him alive for their own purposes. Still, he painted his signature smirk across his face.

"I know I can capture her. Now that the Twelfth Sister isn't here to slow me down, I..."

"You have a new objective."

Kein broke off abruptly and dared to lift his head. A few of his lekku fell over his shoulder. "A new objective?"

"Ania Bonteri is still a priority, but until she chooses to surface again, you will not be able to find her. In the meantime, my master has another assignment for you." Kein waited for Vader to continue. "There are rumors of a powerful Force user roaming the galaxy. Our spies have gathered what intel they could. She is female and a Togruta. She was once a member of the Jedi Order. We believe she survived the Purge and found a new mentor."

"Who is she?" Kein prompted.

"That information is not available. Find her and bring her to me." The hologram flickered for a moment, replacing Vader with an image of a young woman. Kein took a moment to memorize her face, before Vader's image returned.

"Do we know where she is now, my lord?"

"Our spies tracked her to Cantonica before she disappeared. Begin your search there."

Kein bowed his head once more. "Yes, Lord Vader."

"And, Boy, if you fail, there will be severe consequences." Vader's hand tightened into a fist. Kein forced himself not to shake as he nodded. He didn't rise until the hologram had switched off.

Kein quickly made his way back to his ship. The Scorpion was a red and black Kom'rk fighter that he'd recently purchased. It was easily the best ship he'd ever owned. Kein slid into the pilot's seat and took off, leaving the dreaded moon behind. He didn't dare look at Coruscant as he flew past, although its millions of lights tempted him. He activated the hyperdrive and was soon soaring towards Cantonica.

One month. The 'nameless apprentice' Ruby had been on Cantonica for a whole month. Staying in one place for long was a rare treat the Togruta was able to experience. Even if the empire didn't know of her existence yet, she didn't trust anyone enough to stay in one place too long.

Traveling was not just about staying out of trouble, however, as she herself held a second goal. She had been searching for her old master. He had disappeared without a trace and had been out of contact for years.

She looked into the illuminated mirror as she fixed her headdress she had fashioned to honor her master and father figure. She stood, straightening her jacket as she looked in the mirror. Her cinnamon red skin had been covered in black tattoos, some of her own design, some inspired by her master and his culture. One of the few things that made her more identifiable, especially to her fans.

She picked up her red guitar and slung the strap over her shoulder, leaving the room. Standing backstage, she watched her temporary team setup for their performance. She took a deep breath, taking her position at the front. There was a cheer from the crowd as the lights came back on.

No introduction needed, she thought as she began to play her instrument. It was an easy crowd for the most part. Most people in these types of places like the classical calm music to drink their fancy beverages and their expensive food, but something that surprised her was the amount that enjoyed her upbeat music. Ruby gave herself completely to the tune, wringing more cheers from her ever growing fan group.

A short time later, he landed on a landing platform attached to a casino. He was beginning his search in Canto Bight. It seemed like a good bet, seeing as crowds of Imperials, performers, gamblers, and all other manners of rabble often frequented the city's illustrious casinos. This one happened to be the largest.

Kein tossed a few credits to the guard standing near the platform's exit. "Don't let anyone near that ship," he instructed.

The guard nodded, but moved his spear in front of Kein. "I'm afraid you can't enter with weapons on you."

Kein crossed his arms and stared at the guard. "Oh really?"

"I must ask you to leave them on your ship," the guard replied.

"Yeah, that's not happening." He never went anywhere without his blasters or plasma blades. He kept the blasters mostly for decoration and in case things got messy. Kein preferred a more direct approach when it came to his hunting methods. His plasma blades had served him well so far.

"Then I can't allow you to enter."

Kein narrowed his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he had a blade angled at the guard's exposed neck. "When Lord Vader orders you to do something, you do it and you do it armed. I will not part with my weapons," he growled.

The guard gave a sharp nod and swallowed. "All right. There's no need for...this. Go on in."

"If you turn me in, I will not spare you next time," Kein hissed. He sheathed his blade and entered the casino.

Music thumped through every inch of the building. Everywhere he looked, people roamed. Most of them were dripping in expensive jewels and clothing. Their servants were easily recognizable. Many of the patrons were sipping sparkling drinks or eating the strange delicacies that server droids offered them.

Kein kept his senses honed, searching for anyone who might resemble his target. A droid rolled past and offered him a tray of drinks. He took one wordlessly and carried on. Another droid rolled past and he set the untouched drink on its tray.

A few people seemed to have noticed his blasters. They were staring, completely unfazed by his appearance. Kein flashed them a dangerous smile and they looked away. A few shouts caught his attention. Kein looked to the gambling tables and grinned. They were in the perfect position for his surveillance.

He made his way over to them and sat down. The gamblers took no notice of him as they played another round of sabacc. Kein watched them for a few rounds, then looked away when he realized they were playing Corellian Spike. That particular game had never appealed to him.

He scanned the crowd once more. There were a few Togrutas present, but none matched the image he'd seen. Applause erupted from a corner of the room, catching his attention. There was a live band performing. Their leader was quite familiar. Kein quickly schooled his features into a neutral expression and watched his prey with interest.

She had been keeping an eye on the people watching while she played. This was one of those times she was thankful for her ability to multitask. There had been whispers building over the past few minutes. A bounty hunter was here. It was during the last song that she felt a specific pair of eyes on her. She scanned the room quickly, her gaze landing on a male Nautolan.

The first thing she noticed was that he was not dressed like others in the casino. Yes, there were some people who looked decrepit and rough, but he seemed to be dressed well. Although, not well enough to be a frequent guest at a casino like this one.

Not like she was either, but her audience helped her blend in. It was simply another costume to match her music style and help her remain undetected. The next thing she noticed was that he had been allowed in with weapons. Ruby narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

She was playing an instrument that he was unfamiliar with. Still, Kein had to admit that the tune she played was good. He examined her closer. The markings on her montrals and lekku were different than he was used to. Her facial markings were unique as well. He found their design intriguing.

Kein turned his attention to her headdress with some curiosity. It looked as though she had made small horns and attached them to it. For a moment, he wondered if they were meant to model a Zabrak's horns. As if sensing his gaze, the Togruta whipped her head towards him. Even from across the room, he could see wariness in her brilliant green eyes.

"She's good, isn't she?" Someone said.

"What?" Kein pulled his gaze away from his target. One of the gamblers had taken the empty seat next to him.

"She's good at playing," the man clarified. "That song is supposed to be hard to play, especially on her instrument. I reckon she's good at playing."

"Most likely." Kein rolled his eyes disinterestedly.

"She's very pretty, too." The man laughed and slapped his knee. "Good luck with that one. I've heard she's got a nasty temper."

"Don't you have a game to play?"

"I lost. They took everything of value that I had." The man shrugged, seemingly uncaring about that fact.

Kein took a moment to think over the man's previous words. "You say she has a bad temper? Where did you hear that from?"

"Oh, I just picked it up. I don't know who told me. She's been here for a while."

"Months?"

The man furrowed his brows and shook his head. "Not that long. Maybe a few weeks to one month, I would guess?"

"What's her name?"

The man shrugged again. "Folks call her Ruby."

"Hm." Kein turned his attention back to Ruby as she finished her song. She dropped her instrument and made a beeline for the nearest door. Kein smirked and took after her.

"Hey! Are we friends now?" The gambler shouted after him. Kein didn't bother with a reply.

He reached the door just as it hissed shut. He slid one of his newer, longer plasma blades into his grasp and ran outside. It was far more quiet than inside. Kein crept further into the open, searching for her.

There was a flash of movement near a set of fathier stalls. Kein walked over to them and continued to look around. He spotted a set of footprints in the dust. From the skidded look of them, he knew they belonged to Ruby.

He sensed her movement a second before she reached him. She locked an arm around his neck. Kein felt a blaster digging into his back. He checked his holsters, realizing that one of his was missing. He didn't release his plasma blade, but he made no move to use it.

"Hello, Sweetheart," he drawled.

"Don't call me sweetheart," she hissed. "Who sent you?"

"I'm insulted. You don't even want to know my name?" Kein looked over his shoulder and smirked.

"I don't care." Ruby drove her foot into the back of his knee. Kein buckled and hit the dirt with a grunt. He flipped onto his back just as she moved to kick him again.

He grabbed her foot and gave her leg a sharp twist. She cried out in pain and surprise as she joined him on the ground. His blaster flew from her hand. Kein flipped back onto his feet and dropped low, reversing his long plasma blade in his grip. That was a trick he'd stolen from Ania. He drew another blade as well.

Ruby picked herself up and pulled a long slender object into her grasp. Kein recognized it as a lightsaber, although he'd never seen this particular kind before. She ignited the duelsaber, casting a furious red hue over them both.

"Mm, that is a very nice weapon," Kein inclined his head. "I hope you're skilled enough to impress me with it. I have high standards."

Ruby bared her teeth and leaped. He recognized the use of the Force in her jump. Kein sheathed one of his blades, waiting. She flew back towards the ground. Kein somersaulted beneath her and planted a kick in her back as soon as she landed. Her lightsaber clattered from her hand and Kein leapt onto her.

She flipped onto her back, raising her hands. Kein pinned one of her arms to the ground and angled his blade at her throat. "Come quietly," he barked.

"That's an impossible request," she retorted. "I have a very loud mouth." He waited to see if she'd scream. She didn't. Instead, she grabbed his wrist with her pinned hand, catching him off guard. In the next second, she used his weight against him and flipped him over her head.

Ruby flared her hand towards her lightsaber. The metal weapon landed in her grasp and she ignited the blade. Kein dropped his plasma blade just in time. Her saber dug into the hilt, destroying it. He would be unable to use that blade again unless he wanted to cut off his own hand.

"Tell your master to send better fighters after me," Ruby snarled. "You were not a challenge."

"Oh I disagree," Kein taunted. "You wouldn't be breathing so hard if I wasn't." Ruby narrowed her eyes. Kein simply smirked once more. "Or maybe you're just overwhelmed by my irrefutable handsomeness." He had enough time to laugh before she grabbed his blaster and stunned him.

When he woke, Cantonica's twin moons were at their highest points. Kein lifted a hand to his head and groaned. He hated the side effects of being stunned. His head was on fire and his limbs were leaden. Kein managed to sit up. His destroyed plasma blade was right where he'd left it.

Ruby had left his blaster close by. Kein grabbed it and holstered it, then checked to make sure his other one was still there. He checked over his second long plasma blade, as well as the smaller ones. Everything was accounted for, except his target.

Kein pushed himself to his feet and braced a hand against the fathier stall for a moment. "Great," he muttered to himself. "She's already got a long headstart on me. I can guarantee she won't be back here anytime soon."

He glanced back towards the casino. He could still make out the Scorpion's silhouette on the landing platform. Kein sighed, hoping it would still be there when he returned. He couldn't waste any time going after it. He'd need to track Ruby from the ground and find her before she left Cantonica. He started off, unaware of the green eyes that followed his every move.

Centax 1: 3 BBY

Imperial Compound

Kein Rei

Kein squared his shoulders and strode into the dark compound. He hadn't been on Centax 1 in years. It wasn't like coming home. It was like coming back to a prison.

That's all it had been when he had trained here. It was a prison meant to keep him, Cyana Otsan, and Ania Bonteri from escaping while Vader trained them to do his bidding. Kein gritted his teeth as he walked.

Ania hadn't even remembered him the first time they were reintroduced. He wasn't exactly surprised; it had been several years since they'd met and she'd only known him a week or so. Still, back then, she'd known him well enough to nearly kill him. It was nice to know that he could now return the favor, or, almost, anyway.

Kein entered another room with a holotable sitting in the center of it. He dropped to a knee as a hologram of Darth Vader appeared. The Sith Lord's foreboding mechanical breaths thundered through his head.

"You have disappointed me, Bounty Hunter," Vader sneered. "I thought I trained you better than this. It should not be this difficult to take down your old rival."

"She's more skilled than you may remember, my lord," Kein boldly stated. "She has many powerful allies."

"And you do not?"

Kein flinched at the harshness in the words. Allies. He didn't even know what that word meant anymore. All he had were enemies who kept him alive for their own purposes. Still, he painted his signature smirk across his face.

"I know I can capture her. Now that the Twelfth Sister isn't here to slow me down, I..."

"You have a new objective."

Kein broke off abruptly and dared to lift his head. A few of his lekku fell over his shoulder. "A new objective?"

"Ania Bonteri is still a priority, but until she chooses to surface again, you will not be able to find her. In the meantime, my master has another assignment for you." Kein waited for Vader to continue. "There are rumors of a powerful Force user roaming the galaxy. Our spies have gathered what intel they could. She is female and a Togruta. She was once a member of the Jedi Order. We believe she survived the Purge and found a new mentor."

"Who is she?" Kein prompted.

"That information is not available. Find her and bring her to me." The hologram flickered for a moment, replacing Vader with an image of a young woman. Kein took a moment to memorize her face, before Vader's image returned.

"Do we know where she is now, my lord?"

"Our spies tracked her to Cantonica before she disappeared. Begin your search there."

Kein bowed his head once more. "Yes, Lord Vader."

"And, Boy, if you fail, there will be severe consequences." Vader's hand tightened into a fist. Kein forced himself not to shake as he nodded. He didn't rise until the hologram had switched off.

Kein quickly made his way back to his ship. The Scorpion was a red and black Kom'rk fighter that he'd recently purchased. It was easily the best ship he'd ever owned. Kein slid into the pilot's seat and took off, leaving the dreaded moon behind. He didn't dare look at Coruscant as he flew past, although its millions of lights tempted him. He activated the hyperdrive and was soon soaring towards Cantonica.

Cantonica: 3 BBY

Canto Bight

Ruby