In the scorching heat of Tatooine's twin suns, Xander ventured near an undisclosed cave, which was nestled between two sand mounds and hidden from view.
The cave's dark opening beckoned him, inviting him to explore the mysteries it held within. Armed with his makeshift binoculars, something he equipped from the tent he first woke up in and crafted from scavenged parts, Xander carefully approached the cave entrance.
Xander's eyes darted back and forth, searching for any signs of movement. The desert landscape was harsh, and the heat waves distorted his vision, but he was determined to accomplish his goal. As he scanned the area, his mat black hair blew gently in the warm breeze,
From a distance, Xander could see the cave's shadowy interior, and his imagination ran wild with thoughts of what might be lurking inside. His mind was filled with stories of Tusken Raiders, Jawas, and other creatures that were said to inhabit the desolate planet.
But what intrigued him the most was that his target frequently visited this cave. A piece of information he had been privy to thanks to his 'Target Live Tracker Perk'.
However, reaching this location had not been easy.
After traversing a few hours through the harsh environment, Xander arrived at his current location. Xander was draped in a sandy cloth to remain concealed, blending into his sandy environment.
The unforgiving heat of the twin suns weighed heavily on him as he then spent the next few hours observing his target's movements in and out of the cave. Of course, the body of a 7-year-old wasn't holding up well under these harsh conditions, though the aide of his new powers was defiantly aiding the task.
Aided with the live map, Xander waited till his target left the cave, something he had observed the target do frequently, and used these live updates to move and position himself accordingly.
As Xander inched closer to the cave, he became more cautious, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the rough sand beneath his feet and the warmth of the rocks surrounding the cave entrance. This would be the beginning of his first encounter and despite his usually calm and collective personality, his nerves began to run wild, despite Xanders attempt to restrain them.
Peering through his binoculars, Xander squinted to adjust to the harsh light. He observed the cave's mouth, looking for any signs of movement or clues that might indicate any traps or other dangers.
With cautious steps, Xander ventured deeper into the cave. The darkness enveloped him, and he could feel the temperature drop noticeably. His eyes began to adjust to the dim light, revealing the shapes and contours of the cave's interior. He moved quietly, listening intently for any signs of life even though he knew his target had left.
After safely moving inside, Xander spread his gloved hands, opening his palms. A subtle buzzing noise resonated through the surroundings, as an invisible and intangible force embraced all the surfaces inside the cave. Xander's mental energy rapidly drained as he used the Force to analyse the cave's interior.
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After a few moments, the sound of movement filled the room as Xander removed an inconspicuous boulder, revealing a hidden room behind it. With his Force powers, he easily sensed the presence of a wire hidden within the sand at the bottom of the doorway—a wire connected to a thermal detonator that hung close by.
Skilfully stepping over the wire, he entered a vast room filled with a variety of articles, including weapons, armours, and clothing. Among the items, a few, in particular, caught his attention.
A sleek and nimble hoverbike, exquisitely designed for traversing the unforgiving terrain, lay on one side. Its vibrant orange and silver colour scheme seamlessly blended with the sandy landscape, a testament to the ingenuity of its creator.
On the other side of the room, a tall pile of silver credits reflected the incoming light, producing a glimmer that couldn't be ignored.
However, the most eye-catching item lay in the back of the room, cocooned by various blaster rifles and other supplies lay an egg. The egg was large, easily dwarfing most objects around it.
Its surface was rugged and textured, resembling weathered and ancient stone, with layers of sandy-coloured scales forming intricate patterns across its shell. The egg's size and weight were imposing, indicating the immense creature that would one day hatch from within.
Its shape was elongated and slightly tapered at one end, giving it an organic, almost serpentine appearance. The rounded, thicker portion of the egg housed the potential life growing within, protected by the hardened shell. The egg's colours blended harmoniously with its desert surroundings. Earthy shades of sandy beige and light brown dominated, seamlessly camouflaging it against the arid landscape. Subtle golden highlights accentuated the edges of the scales, catching the sunlight as it filtered through Tatooine's twin suns. The egg radiated an aura of ancient mystery and power, hinting at the immense force of nature that the creature within it possessed.
As Xander stood before the egg, a mix of awe and trepidation washed over him. He knew that within this shell rested the potential for something extraordinary.
Snapping out of his stupor, Xander quickly moved around the room filtering through the available items in order to equip himself for his upcoming assault.
He knew his target, Jordan Smith, was a force sensitive and was quite heavily equipped with blasters and lightsabres.
The last thing Xander wanted was a close encounter with a plasma blade that could very quickly eviscerate his insides, and thus Xander decided on a ranged approach.
Xander removed his own equipment for the better options. He had armed himself with a blaster from the tent he woke up in, but he preferred swapping it out for these brand new larger rifles.
After satisfying himself by fingering the various triggers and cartridges, Xander equipped a medium size blaster that his small body could wield well.
However, after another thought about the Star Wars universe's blaster experience, he also pocketed a few thermal detonators, in case his aim proved less than favourable.
Having never handled a gun in this life or his previous and needing to remain covert to avoid detection by his target or the planet's natives, he hadn't had the opportunity to try out any ranged weapons and so he lacked confidence in his marksmanship.
With his preparation complete, Xander moved out of the smaller cavern, carefully using the Force to cover his tracks and move the boulder back into place. Finding a crevice within the rocky wall, Xander lowered himself into it and began his wait.
The next few hours would decide whether the decision to reincarnate had been worth it.