Nearby, in Mos Eisley, the wind fell still as the last remnants of light began to fade. Suddenly, a blue flash pierced the darkness, and a large electrical orb materialised, crackling with energy. As quickly as it appeared, it vanished, leaving behind a muscular, naked man crouched on the sandy ground. It rose slowly, its cold eyes scanning the surroundings. Where the orb had appeared, a small crater formed in the sand, its edges glassy and fused from the intense heat.
The faint sounds of music and chatter caught the Terminator's attention. Identifying the source, it emerged from the glowing, red-hot crater, and began to move toward a cantina, renowned as a refuge for those seeking to evade the law.
Inside, the dimly lit room was filled with a strange mix of alien patrons who drank and chatted as a lone figure entered. The bar fell silent as the imposing figure stepped into the light, its powerful physique commanding attention.
The Terminator scanned the room, its vision tinted red as it processed the unusual patrons. Suddenly, it stopped; the data confirmed a physical match. The Terminator approached the counter, its expression cold and unblinking.
"I need your boots, your clothes, and your speeder bike," the stranger said.
Jaz Vex, a towering Zygerrian slave trader, leaned forward, his scarred feline face twisting into a sneer as he sized up the stern stranger. His expression shifted from serious to smug. "You want my speeder bike? The one I took from Dax Vos after I killed him?" he boasted, ensuring everyone nearby heard.
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Dax Vos, a feared law-man on Tatooine, had recently disappeared, leading many to claim they had killed him for their own notoriety.
He glared at the stranger, taking a slow drag on his death-stick, and the cantina fell into a tense silence.
He slowly exhaled the smoke into the stranger's face, adding, "Well, you can't have it 'cause you didn't say 'please.'" Everyone erupted in laughter. Seizing his chance, Jaz lunged forward, but the stranger reacted with extraordinary speed, gripping his wrist and flinging him across the room with shocking strength.
A group of Rodians stood up, aiming blasters at the naked figure. They fired, striking it multiple times, but it kept advancing, relentless. One Rodian found himself hoisted by the throat, feet dangling helplessly. With inhuman strength, the cyborg hurled him through the air.
Momaw Nadon, known as "Hammerhead," sat at a nearby table, his tall, upward-bending head and two mouths giving him a distinctive appearance. As the Rodian sailed through the air, Nadon deftly snatched his drink from the table just before the unfortunate creature crashed onto it with a sickening thud. Casually, he took a sip from his glass while the cantina erupted into chaos around him, patrons scrambling to avoid the unfolding violence.
Within moments, the remaining Rodians lay lifeless on the ground, their bodies scattered across the floor. Onlookers stepped back as the stranger calmly approached the unconscious slave trader and began to undress him. The cantina buzzed with whispers and exchanged glances—this was just another night in Mos Eisley.
Outside, now fully clothed, the Terminator mounted Jaz's speeder bike. It activated the on-board computer and input Anakin Skywalker's details. The screen flickered to life, displaying an image of Anakin and his mother, Shmi, along with their location. The readout confirmed their status as slaves owned by Gardulla the Hutt.
The speeder bike shot forward, narrowly missing a towering Wookiee. The creature growled, swinging his arms in anger as the bike vanished into the distance.
