Skirmish on Lowick

In the year 3 ABY, a minor battle unfolded on the lush world of Lowick. This conflict arose after 4-LOM and Zuckuss, both bounty hunters, successfully tracked down Beilert Valance, also a bounty hunter, to a rebel outpost situated on Lowick. Valance's presence at the base was due to injuries sustained from an encounter with Zuckuss at the Spur Orbiting Market. Seeking aid, he turned to Yuralla Vega, a former romantic partner, to safeguard Cadeliah. Cadeliah was the heir to both the Unbroken Clan and the Mourner's Wail Syndicate. General Vukorah had placed a bounty on Valance and Cadeliah, tasking 4-LOM and Zuckuss with their capture, dead or alive.

Upon Valance's arrival at Vega's residence, a 2-1B surgical droid was summoned to provide medical attention and stabilize his condition due to significant blood loss. Simultaneously, Zuckuss and 4-LOM landed on Lowick accompanied by a squadron of B2-series super battle droids. They observed the presence of a military facility, absent from the Galactic Empire's records. Zuckuss informed his partner that the Empire would greatly reward them for adding the installation's location to their database. Subsequently, they deployed the battle droids. Once Valance's condition improved and he regained consciousness, Lieutenant Kondra received news of the ongoing assault. Kondra promptly ordered his troops to arm themselves with blasters and confront the intruders attempting to invade their base. Valance cautioned the lieutenant that the attack was merely a distraction, with the true target being Cadeliah. Kondra acknowledged Valance's past contributions to the base, made before Kondra's tenure, but insisted that he leave the defense to the military personnel. As Kondra departed with other rebel troopers, he instructed that a guard be stationed outside the house, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

Following Kondra's departure, Valance used a table to barricade the door, hoping to create more time for Vega and Cadeliah to escape. He inquired if there was an alternate exit from the house. Vega revealed the existence of tunnels beneath every hut, a precaution taken due to their fear of Imperial discovery. Valance urged her to take Cadeliah and use the tunnel, believing the hunters were already en route to capture Cadeliah. At that moment, 4-LOM eliminated the guard outside and breached the hut's door, demanding that Valance surrender Cadeliah, promising a swift and merciful death in return. Valance refused, destroying 4-LOM's blaster with his own and instructing Vega to flee, as he could not withstand the hunter for long. 4-LOM retaliated by striking Valance with his blaster, prompting Valance to punch the droid. 4-LOM then lifted Valance and slammed him against a wall, stating that while he was not programmed to enjoy violence, his sensors registered the event as a positive experience. Annoyed by 4-LOM's monologue, Valance told him to be quiet and unleashed his palm blasters, damaging the droid's armor. 4-LOM countered that as he remained operational, Valance had failed, before smashing Valance's face against a wall and preparing to deliver a fatal blow. Valance pulled out a knife and stabbed the droid, severing his motor functions. Despite his defeat, the droid began to laugh, confusing Valance, who demanded an explanation. 4-LOM revealed that the battle droids were only the initial distraction, and that he partnered with a Gand, referring to Zuckuss, for a specific reason. Valance understood the implication and rushed to find Vega and Cadeliah.

Vega and Cadeliah emerged from the tunnel, believing they were safe, but Zuckuss had sensed their route and was already present to seize Cadeliah. Zuckuss ordered Vega to hand over Cadeliah, promising to spare her life. Vega countered by drawing a blaster and firing at the Gand, telling him to leave and she would let him live. Zuckuss informed Vega that a Gand was impossible to surprise and used his rifle to strike Vega in the head, knocking her unconscious, before he stunned Cadeliah and abducted her. Simultaneously, Kondra and his troops engaged the super battle droids, and after destroying one, the troopers proclaimed that the Rebellion was superior. Kondra sensed something amiss and hurried to Vega, his wife. Upon arrival, he found Vega injured but alive. Valance arrived soon after, declaring he would not lose her again and that he did not want her to pay for his mistakes. Kondra informed Valance that Cadeliah had been captured and that Vega was alive, assuring him that she would recover with his care. Valance then departed to locate Cadeliah.

Valance eventually caught up with Zuckuss, who expressed surprise at the hunter's survival against 4-LOM. Valance retorted that the Gand was slow, and that carrying Cadeliah must have been difficult for his lungs. He then declared that he could not allow Zuckuss to leave with Cadeliah. 4-LOM arrived and informed Valance he would not let Valance stop Zuckuss from taking Cadeliah. Frustrated, Valance voiced his hatred for droids, lamenting that 4-LOM had repaired himself so quickly after being stabbed. 4-LOM simply pointed out that Valance had made several miscalculations and had also left the rifle of the guard behind. Valance then proposed that they all walk away from the situation, but that Cadeliah remain, offering a worthwhile compensation to the two hunters. Zuckuss responded by stating the bounty for both him and Cadeliah, dead or alive, and that if they reneged on a bounty, it would be bad for the reputations of both him and 4-LOM, before asking Valance what he was offering to them and what he wanted. Valance then presented a fire ruby, deeming it invaluable to himself but extremely valuable to the hunters. He then informed the two all he wanted was a head start on an escape. 4-LOM confirmed Valance's assessment of the fire ruby's value, adding that it, combined with the sale of the base's coordinates to the Empire, would more than compensate for a slight delay in collecting the Unbroken Clan bounty.

Zuckuss accepted Valance's terms, granting him three standard rotations before resuming the hunt for him and Cadeliah. The two hunters then departed from Lowik, promising Valance a future encounter. With the hunters gone, Valance returned to Vega and Kondra, informing them of the agreement he had made with 4-LOM and Zuckuss. Upon hearing that the hunters would inform the Empire of the base's location, Kondra questioned Valance's awareness of the difficulty of evacuating the base, to which Valance simply responded by saying that he had better get packing. As he left, Kondra told Valance that he was less than impressed with having to clean up Valance's mess, even if he had helped to set up the base, and that he now owed him a favor, one he intended to call in. Vega then promised Valance she would Cadeliah safe, and the two former lovers said their final goodbyes. As he left, Valance asked Vega to hide Cadeliah in a place even he could not find, and when Vega asked what he would do, he told her that he would lure hunters away. Valance also asked Cadeliah to look after Vega as he believed she deserved a better life than he could give her, and then departed aboard his ship.