Star Wars: Outlander, encompassing issues 7 through 12, served as a subseries within the larger comic book series Star Wars: Republic. The narrative centers on Sharad Hett, a Jedi who transitioned into a Tusken Raider, and his offspring, A'Sharad Hett. The storyline was compiled into the Outlander trade paperback.
Whispers circulate across the Tatooine deserts regarding Tusken uprisings, spearheaded by a singular, unifying warlord. The populace is on high alert, acquiring weaponry, while the Jawas are rapidly selling their antiquated "slug-throwers". Meanwhile, on Coruscant, the Jedi Council scrutinizes surveillance footage of a Tusken assault, pinpointing the Tusken warlord as the errant Jedi Master Sharad Hett. The council resolves to dispatch the recently appointed Master Ki-Adi-Mundi to assess the situation on Tatooine. Concurrently, the Dark Jedi bounty hunter Aurra Sing is contracted by local authorities to neutralize Hett.
As Ki-Adi-Mundi makes preparations to depart Coruscant for Tatooine, he receives a visit from a longtime companion bearing a cautionary message: the dark side is intensifying, and the events unfolding in the desert will indelibly alter Ki. Upon arriving on Tatooine, Ki engages with Jabba the Hutt, who grants him secure passage through the desert and provides him with a speeder. Regrettably, Ki discerns that Jabba has orchestrated a setup, directing him into a sandstorm accompanied by a band of assassins.
As the crew of the speeder, provided by Jabba, gradually closes in on Ki-Adi-Mundi, he retaliates, eliminating them all, but causing irreparable damage to the speeder. Marooned in the desert with a fractured arm, Ki embarks on his seemingly futile quest to locate the missing Jedi Master. In the meantime, elsewhere in the desert, Aurra Sing is actively tracking both Jedi.
While attempting to evade a pack of elusive womp rats, Ki-Adi-Mundi inadvertently stumbles into the midst of a Krayt Dragon's lair, and, into the middle of a Krayt Dragon hunt orchestrated by former Jedi Master Sharad Hett. Ki is relegated to observing as Master Hett's son, A'Sharad Hett, performs the ritualistic slaying of the colossal beast. During their conversation, Hett voices his suspicions regarding a certain Hutt crimelord, implicating him as the potential instigator of the conflicts between the Tusken and the settlers.
As Aurra Sing draws nearer to her Jedi targets, they appear to be making little progress toward mutual understanding. Hett recounts his tenure as a Jedi, his master Eeth Koth, his service as a galactic peacekeeper, and the heartbreaking demise of his parents. Hett further elaborates on his subsequent crash landing on Tatooine and his ascent to a position of influence within the Tusken tribe. In accordance with his mission, Ki then implores Hett to return to Coruscant to aid in the impending struggle against the Sith. At that precise moment, Aurra Sing materializes with Gardulla the Hutt's army.
As Aurra Sing eliminates a Tusken scouting party, Jabba the Hutt's scheme to provoke war is unveiled. Precisely as he had anticipated, the Tusken warriors initiate their confrontation with Gardulla's mercenaries. Sharad Hett commences strategically deploying his Tusken warriors, just as Sing launches an assault on Ki-Adi-Mundi and the younger Hett, scattering them across the battlefield. Overwhelmed, Gardulla orders a retreat. Unbeknownst to her, Sing has been operating as a double agent for Jabba, who arrives opportunely to reinforce her troops. Ultimately, Sing locates her target, and a lightsaber duel ensues, leaving Sharad Hett on the verge of death. Ki-Adi-Mundi arrives in time to drive off the assassin and to hear Hett's final request: that he complete his son's training on Coruscant.
- Star Wars: Outlander (TPB)
- Star Wars Omnibus: Emissaries and Assassins
- Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Menace Revealed Vol. 1