Beckett 1

Summary by the Publisher

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEADLY! HAN SOLO learned everything he knows about surviving in cantinas full of thugs and on remote planets from TOBIAS BECKETT. But what are the origins of this career criminal, and why is ENFYS NEST—one of the most dangerous and ruthless marauders in the galaxy—so determined to eliminate him once and for all? Discover the answer in this original story about a man who has conned star system after star system, but at a price that no amount of theft can compensate for.

Plot Synopsis

First Chapter

Tobias Beckett, Val, and Rio Durant constitute a group of outlaws sought after by law enforcement. On the aquatic world of Hovun IV, Rio is engaged in a sabacc game with several local individuals at a cantina. Rio's gameplay is subpar, as he initially mistook the game for Neerok. Suddenly, a Death Priest clad in black enters the cantina, instilling fear in the patrons. Rio addresses the Black Priest as his master and apologizes for pilfering his credits to use as gambling funds. The Death Priest extends his hand, and Rio feigns being in the throes of a Force choke.

This frightens the other patrons, including a Selkath, who then flee the cantina. Val plays along but subtly inserts a tracking device into the pocket of the Pantoran Dvorad's coat. After the customers have left, Beckett removes his hood, revealing himself. Beckett expresses gratitude to Rio for his performance. When Rio inquires about Beckett's recurring role as the evil wizard, Beckett explains that he possesses greater charisma and that Rio can utilize his four arms to gather the loot.

Val verifies the tracker's placement and compliments Beckett on his "death wizard scam." Beckett expresses no reservations about exploiting "superstitions," but Val cautions that even superstitions may contain elements of truth. While walking, Val clarifies to Rio that Dvorad holds a monopoly over blank identification chips in the local system, a valuable commodity with the Galactic Empire increasing control over planetary trade. Dryden Vos has tasked them with acquiring the ID chips for Crimson Dawn. Rio expresses relief that Vos still trusts them following their previous failure.

Dvorad attempts to escape on a maritime repulsorlift at the pier, piloted by a Tognath driver. Beckett successfully leaps onto the fleeing speeder and engages in combat with Dvorad. Simultaneously, Val and Rio search for an alternative speeder. Following a physical altercation, Beckett manages to force Dvorad towards the engine intake. With Dvorad's cloak ensnared in the machine, he instructs the driver to halt the engine. Val and Rio promptly arrive on a tub. Despite his defeat in combat, Dvorad refuses to relinquish the chips. Shortly thereafter, Dvorad's ship emerges from the ocean, converging on the two speeders.

Second Chapter

With the guns of his starship and henchmen aimed at Beckett's gang, Dvorad demands to know who betrayed him before executing them. Val responds that they heard Dvorad is a man who can help people get lost and claims they are seeking his services. While Val distracts Dvorad, Beckett bites his left wrist, causing blood to drip from his sleeve into the ocean below. A giant tentacled monster picks up his blood scent and seizes Dvorad's ship with its tentacles. While Val and Rio provide cover on their speeder, Beckett forces his way into Dvorad's ship, gunning down his crew. Dvorad is seized by a tentacle and thrown into the sea monster's maw. Beckett discovers Dvorad's cache of ID chips inside a chest in his personal quarters. While exiting the stricken ship, he exchanges gunfire with a Talpini henchman, killing him.

Beckett returns to the surface, rejoining Val and Rio, who have been battling the tentacled monster. The tentacled monster breaches the cockpit of Dvorad's ship, eliminating the pilot. While the monster drags Dvorad's stricken ship beneath the ocean, Beckett remarks that he dislikes this planet. Val responds that nobody discovered Dvorad's ship because they did not bother to search underwater. Beckett muses that the late criminal's ship would have yielded a substantial fortune. Val suggests negotiating with the new owner. When Val asks Beckett if they nearly died for no reason so that he could get the package, Beckett replies that he almost died.

The criminals deliberate their acquisition. When Rio proposes pilfering some of the ID chips for themselves, Val retorts that deceiving Vos does not seem like a favorable path to freedom. Beckett reminds them that they must settle their debts. When Val suggests that dying is another way of paying off their debts, Beckett responds that they need to look out for each other. He instructs their starship computer D-1G to summon their starship Rampart, which retrieves them.

Once aboard, Val announces her intention to return Vos' coded transmission. When Beckett inquires whether they intend to steal some of the ID chips, Rio reiterates Val's warning that stealing from Dryden is detrimental to one's health.

Third Chapter

While journeying through space, Beckett and Val discuss stealing from Vos to settle their debts. Beckett seeks a means of escaping Crimson Dawn, but Val asserts that they have accumulated excessive debt on their ledger. Rio transports the gang to Munt Ontdal, a space station renowned as a haven for criminals. The gang docks the Rampart at Pad Nineteen. Beckett descends the gangplank on a 74-Z speeder bike only to be ambushed by several Cloud-Riders. A firefight erupts, and Beckett manages to eliminate some of the Riders. He runs over one of the Cloud-Riders with the speeder bike only to be pistol whipped by Enfys Nest. She demands to know the location of the ID chips. Beckett attempts to intimidate Nest by claiming that his friends are still manning the ship's big guns. However, the Cloud-Riders have captured both Rio and Val.

Beckett and Rio attempt to intimidate the Cloud-Riders by claiming that Vos is en route. However, Val points out that Vos is not coming since Enfys managed to mask their communications and trick them into thinking that they got the mission from Dryden. Enfys concurs and informs Beckett that if he had perished attempting to recover the blank ID chips, they would have eliminated some competition. She demands to know the location of the hidden ID chips. A defiant Beckett responds that he hopes she has brought a broom before detonating the Rampart.

The explosion disperses Beckett's gang and the Cloud-Riders. Beckett seizes a blaster and seeks vengeance against Enfys Nest for compelling him to destroy his beloved ship. However, Val retorts that he will cherish the next starship they steal. With security arriving, Rio suggests they finish this fight but Val responds that they should live for another payday. When stormtroopers arrive, Beckett claims that a ship using dangerous black market fuel exploded and warns them it might be radioactive.

The stormtroopers permit Beckett and his companions to depart. While traversing a market, Beckett remarks that the positive aspect is that the stormtroopers are not pursuing them. However, he fears that Dryden may execute them for botching a job that he did not actually assign them. Rio replies that Dryden can shoot them for any reason. Devoid of funds or a starship, Val points out that they will need to resort to Beckett's "wizard scam."

Beckett procures a dark robe from a Sullustan child. When Beckett inquires about Rio's scheming voice, Rio grumbles about having to reprise the role of the victim. Beckett dons his hood and says let's get to work.

Media

Different Editions

• UPC 759606090587; August 15 , 2018 ; Marvel Comics [1] 00111; Cover A; John Tyler Christopher 00121; Cover B; Lucasfilm Ltd. 00131; Cover C; Rachel Dodson, Terry Dodson

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