Cypher Bos Respect Thread

[Darth Durin's Baneling]

Cypher Bos is one of the bounty hunters to attack Han Solo on Ord Mantell between ANH and ESB. He's got some pretty cool stuff. Respect him!

General

C-Canon

1 ABY

Lando Calrissian lists Cypher as one of the galaxy's "more successful bounty hunters", alongside Boba Fett and Valance.

"You found nothing, I'm sure," she replied coolly.

"Not one scrap of data, which intrigued me. The more successful hunters--Fett, Valance, Cypher--they're usually the ones with the fearsome reputations and getups. All they have to do is walk into a room and people tell them whatever they want." Lando paused, eyeing the scowling woman before him. "But not you. No one's heard of you, you hardly carry any weapons and you dress like you're going out for lunch at the Biscuit Baron. It's pretty unusual for a bounty hunter. And yet, the way you took apart the Cobra without killing me or Lobot, the way you saw through our little drama at the casino... that tells me you're just as good as the high-profile guys. Maybe even better. Plus, you managed to stick a tracer on my ship without Lobot or Mungo's best techs finding it. That concerns me, because eventually you're just going to come back and try again."

3 ABY

Cypher, like Skorr and Boba Fett, was among the bounty hunters "much more talented" than Greedo that took notice of Han's bounty after the Battle of Yavin.

Greedo was a minor league bounty hunter – impressive as far as Tatooine went, but not much of a challenge for the experienced smuggler. However, as Jabba's bounty grew, much more talented bounty hunters took notice. People like Skorr, Cypher Bos, and of course, Boba Fett.

Solo's fame caught up with him on manyworlds. After barely escaping a close encounter with Fett and his companions on Ord Mantell, Solo decided it was time to finally straighten out his problems with Jabba.

The residents of Ord Mantell are visibly terrified of Cypher's presence, and give him a wide berth. Nalrithians in general are feared throughout the galaxy, but Cypher is a notorious bounty hunter besides.

The polluted atmosphere of Ord Mantell casts strange hues across its surface as the sun sets on another dreary day. A black vessel slowly descends from the sky and lands in a dilapidated hangar bay. From the vessel, a Corellian transport, a walkway is lowered, and a lone figure disembarks. A small group of locals looks on, but one glimpse of the ominous being sends them scurrying. That’s not an unusual reaction to Cypher Bos, a notorious bounty hunter. Indeed, the entire Nalrithian species of insectoids is generally feared throughout the galaxy.

Cypher strides through the streets of Ord Mantell, his mind focused on his destinations. He parts the sparse foot traffic with his very presence. As he approaches a pair of Chadra-Fan, he can sense their fear. The bat-like beings exude a scent that echoes the terror on their faces. Cypher grins, obviously proud of his ability to inspire fear in others.

Phoedris Bos is much less concerned over the stormtroopers on Ord Mantell than he is about Cypher.

With dusk quickly approaching, the robed figure has no trouble hiding from the Imperial stormtroopers who march past the alley. He waits for them to go by, then warily continues toward the Bantha. As any good Rebel knows, getting caught now would surely lead to his execution. After all, he is carrying stolen information about an Imperial shipment of credits. The Rebellion plans to intercept the shipment and use the funds to outfit its new secret base on Hoth.

Even so, the mysterious Rebel isn’t nearly as concerned with the stormtroopers as he is with Cypher Bos. He’s certain Cypher is here also seeking credits, though in the form of Imperial bounties on Rebel spies.

Cypher maintains that he is a much better bounty hunter than Greedo or any of the other bounty hunters Han has killed before. Han knows Cypher by reputation.

[Han:] Well, I’ll be. What, does everybody dream about being a crummy bounty hunter?

[Cypher:] Oh, but I am one, Solo. A better one than Greedo, or any of the others you’ve killed.

[Leia:] Phoedris, what are you doing? You’ve been loyal to the Rebellion since it first began to–

[Cypher:] Not Phoedris. I’m his brother, you see? His egg-mate.

[Leia:] But… but Phoedris killed his egg-mate!

[Cypher:] You’re wrong. Phoedris talked too much, and I realized that something profitable was going on when I heard Solo’s name. So, I forced Phoedris into mind link, but he died in the process.

[Leia:] And you took his place.

[Han:] Hold on! You had the passwords. You knew the recognition signal!

[Cypher:] What Phoedris knew, I know. Now, Solo. Carefully, toss your blaster aside. Use two fingers only. I wouldn’t hesitate to kill you.

[Han:] I’ll just bet you wouldn’t. There. Now, do you feel safer? What’s your name anyway, bounty hunter?

[Cypher:] Have you ever heard of Cypher?

[Han:] So, you’re Cypher.

[Cypher:] That’s right. Poor Phoedris felt so guilty about having an egg-mate who sides with the Empire that he joined the Rebellion! He never did care enough for money.

Cypher Bos nearly captured the the heroes of Yavin and ruined their plan on Ord Mantell.

About three years after the Battle of Yavin, the Rebel Alliance was in need of money and capital to supply their base on Hoth. Before the Galactic Civil War, the Organa family owned a large interstellar shipping company that was seized by the Empire. Shortly before the Battle of Hoth, this company was shipping a large cash tribute to the Empire. The inconspicuous shipment was intercepted by the Rebel Alliance on Ord Mantell. Leia Organa, who still had access to the master code of the computer on Ord Mantell, switched the loading instructions of the money shipment. This plan nearly failed due to yet another bounty hunter, this one named Cypher Bos, who tried to capture Han Solo.

24 ABY

Han Solo remembers Cypher Bos decades later as one of the most troublesome bounty hunters on Ord Mantell (the gauntlet, all told, also included an unnamed gunslinger, Gribbet, Skorr, Alfreda Goot, Dengar, Bossk, and Boba Fett).

“I ended up there pretty often when I was a smuggler. Seems like every time I went to Ord Mantell I ran into one bounty hunter or another, and every one of ‘em meant trouble. One of the worst was an insect creature named Cypher Bos, a mercenary, as vile and self-centered as they come. He was impersonating his identical hatch-mate brother, who was a Rebel sympathizer. But all those bug-people look alike, and I couldn’t tell the difference. Cypher Bos sold us out and almost captured your mom and Luke and me. Then the three of us nearly got fed to the Imperials by a cyborg bounty hunter named Skoff. They just never learn.” He shook his head.

S-Canon

3 ABY

Cypher has 12 Character Points. Before taking Phoedris's memories, he had 2 Force Points, but after, he has 4. He has 4d6 Intimidation.

Combat Skill

C-Canon

3 ABY

Cypher overcomes his brother, Phoedris, in a short battle, catching him in the shoulder with a blaster before killing him in hand-to-hand combat. He takes all of his brother's skills and knowledge for his own through their mindlink as he kills him. He then effortlessly outdraws Baajik, a rebel agent, even though the other got the drop on him.

Suddenly, a baster shot beams from the shadows and catches Phoedris on the shoulder. If it were not for his flowing cloak, the shot would likely have landed in the center of his chest. The pain is still excruciating as Phoedris turns, expecting more fire. Instead, he is tackled and wrestled to the ground by his attacker – Cypher.

The air crackles with energy as the eggmates struggle, physically and mentally.

“I hope you understand, brother, that your death will serve a greater cause,” Cypher shouts telepathically. “The Rebel dogs will never suspect that I have taken your place among them.”

Both eggmates feel the excruciating pain of Phoedris’ wound as they fight, but Cypher has planned well. “I have prepared for this with cybernetics,” he tells his dying brother. “The wound is a mere tingle to me, while it bleeds you of your life.”

The struggle is short. As Phoedris’ lifeless body slides to the ground, Cypher unemotionally rips his eggmate’s cloak free and fastens it around himself. He also possesses all of Phoedris’ knowledge, skills, and memories – including the secret  location of his Rebel hideout. Still, there is one element missing from his plan to single-handedly bring down the Rebellion as Cypher heads toward the hideout.

He noislessly enters through a secret doorway into the heart of the Rebel Alliance’s intelligence headquarters on Ord Mantell. His motions set off a humming sensor, alerting the two Rebels in the dimly lit room ahead. Not wanting to alarm them, Cypher quickly steps into the light and draws back his hood. “I have the information we need regarding the Imperial shipment,” he says. “There should be more than enough credits onboard to pay for the Hoth base.” With all his eggmate’s memories, Cypher continues to recite the details of the mission.

A moment later, the sensor hums again as Baajik enters the hideout. He immediately sees the Nalrithian, although he is not fooled by the mere change of clothing. His heightened senses tell him that this is not Phoedris before him. Baajik draws his blaster, but Cypher reacts and fires first, knocking the small bat creature back into the darkness where he falls into a smoldering heap. With his last gasp, Baajik whimpers, “Cypher Bos…”

“He must have mistaken me for my brother, Cypher Bos, the bounty hunter,” the murderer says, laughing to himself as he continues his charade and tries to look concerned. “But Cypher ambushed me on my way here. Fortunately, I blasted him and escaped.”

Cypher holds Han Solo, Leia Organa, and R2-D2 at gunpoint. Han disarms Cypher by throwing his gunbelt at him. Cypher remarks that this shows him how Han got his reputation, as he has never before been disarmed by any of his marks. However, he's confident that "even" Han can't get to the blasters on the floor before he can. He's proven wrong on that count.

[Han:] Hurry it up, will ya, Artoo? Not much time left before we–

[Cypher:] You haven’t got any time left at all, Solo.

[Leia:] Han, look out! He’s got a blaster!

[Cypher:] Keep your hand away from your weapon, Solo. You’re more valuable to me alive, but I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot you.

[Artoo:] Beeping

[Han:] Well, I’ll be. What, does everybody dream about being a crummy bounty hunter?

[Cypher:] Oh, but I am one, Solo. A better one than Greedo, or any of the others you’ve killed.

[Leia:] Phoedris, what are you doing? You’ve been loyal to the Rebellion since it first began to–

[Cypher:] Not Phoedris. I’m his brother, you see? His egg-mate.
[[Leia:] But… but Phoedris killed his egg-mate!

[Cypher:] You’re wrong. Phoedris talked too much, and I realized that something profitable was going on when I heard Solo’s name. So, I forced Phoedris into mind link, but he died in the process.

[Leia:] And you took his place.

[Han:] Hold on! You had the passwords. You knew the recognition signal!

[Cypher:] What Phoedris knew, I know. Now, Solo. Carefully, toss your blaster aside. Use two fingers only. I wouldn’t hesitate to kill you.

[Han:] I’ll just bet you wouldn’t. There. Now, do you feel safer? What’s your name anyway, bounty hunter?

[Cypher:] Have you ever heard of Cypher?

[Han:] So, you’re Cypher.

[Cypher:] That’s right. Poor Phoedris felt so guilty about having an egg-mate who sides with the Empire that he joined the Rebellion! He never did care enough for money.

[Leia:] Wait, Cypher. There’s even more money in this for you if you help us. The Rebel Alliance will pay you well if you’ll let us complete our mission.

[Cypher:] The Rebel Alliance is very short on funds, your Highness, or you wouldn’t be here. And, the Empire will be very generous with me once you’re back in its custody, while Solo here has a rather unpleasant appointment with Jabba the Hutt.

[Han:] You have it all worked out, huh?

[Cypher:] Why, yes I do. Oh, and while I think of it, Princess Leia, have your droid disengage from the computer.

[Artoo:] Beeping

[Han:] Better do it, Leia. That bug’ll only blast Artoo if you don’t.

[Leia:] You’re right. Artoo, disengage from the terminal.

[Artoo:] Beeping

[Leia:] R2-D2, I order you to disengage from the computer at once!

[Artoo:] Beeping

[Cypher:] And you can stop hoping for your friend’s escape. Even if the money container is loaded, there will be no signal to release the cargo carrier’s landing gear! It’s not going anywhere.

[Han:] You’re so sure, huh?

[Cypher:] Yes, I am. And while I think of it, you might as well hand over your comlink. I wouldn’t want you warning your accomplice out there on the freight dock. In fact, perhaps you’d better throw your gun belt away, just to avoid any surprises.

[Han:] Sure, anything to oblige. Where do you want it Cypher?

[Cypher:] Don’t try to stall me, Solo. Just throw it over here, to me.

[Han:] Here you go!

[Leia:] Han!

[Han:] Stay back, Leia.

[Cypher:] Clever. That was very clever, Solo. No one has ever disarmed Cypher before. Now, I can see how you came by your reputation.

[Han:] Let’s just say I’ve had some practice with that trick, Cypher. Comes in handy sometimes. Keep away from your blaster!

[Cypher:] My weapon is closer than yours. You can’t win!

[Han:] I’m warning you, Cypher.

[Cypher:] Even you aren’t that fast, Solo.

[Han:] You don’t wanna find out.

[Cypher:] You can’t bluff me, Solo!

[Leia:] Han, look out!

[Cypher:] Aghhh… you haven’t won, Solo. You’ll never get off Ord Mantell alive! Ughhh…

[Leia:] Han, are you all right?

[Han:] He didn’t even singe me, Princess. Artoo, get back to that terminal! You gotta release the landing gear on Luke’s cargo carrier.

S-Canon

3 ABY

Cypher has 7d+2 to blaster use, 5d+2 to grenade use, 5d+2 to brawling, 5d+2 to melee combat, 5d+1 to brawling parry, 5d to melee parry, and 5d to dodge.

Physical Ability

C-Canon

Cypher's physical might is characterized as rivaling his sizable ego.

Perhaps no throwaway movie comment has inspired as many fictional yarns as Han’s offhand reference to “that bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell” in The Empire Strikes Back. Where? What? Who? Immediately, wheels started turning in the heads of Star Wars authors everywhere.

Brian Daley, writer of the National Public Radio dramatizations for all three films, produced a read-along record in 1983 called Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell. Here, the bounty hunter was a ticked-off tick named Cypher with an ego to match his insectoid brawn. Listeners learned that the planet possessed a large starport, but, due to the audio-only action, learned very little else. Marvel Comics did their own take on Ord Mantell in their thirty-seventh issue, in which Han shot it out with a nameless attacker in a nondescript alleyway. Even West End Games joined in on the fun – in the solitaire adventure Scoundrel’s Luck, Han grappled with the Mandalorian-armored manhunter Alfreda Goot on Ord Mantell, which had been recast as an opulent high-stakes gaming haven.

Cypher's cybernetic pain inhibitors reduce the excruciating pain of a blaster shot to the shoulder to a "mere tingle".

Both eggmates feel the excruciating pain of Phoedris’ wound as they fight, but Cypher has planned well. “I have prepared for this with cybernetics,” he tells his dying brother. “The wound is a mere tingle to me, while it bleeds you of your life.”

The struggle is short. As Phoedris’ lifeless body slides to the ground, Cypher unemotionally rips his eggmate’s cloak free and fastens it around himself. He also possesses all of Phoedris’ knowledge, skills, and memories – including the secret  location of his Rebel hideout. Still, there is one element missing from his plan to single-handedly bring down the Rebellion as Cypher heads toward the hideout.

S-Canon

3 ABY

Cypher has a 4d+2 dexterity and 3d+2 strength. He has Body Armor from his exoskeleton that reduces any damage that he is hit with by 1d6+1 damage. Atop this, Cypher has equipped himself with cybernetic pain inhibitors that prevent him from suffering any loss to his battle prowess as he takes damage. As a Nalrithian, Cypher also has acute physical senses.

Telepathy

C-Canon

3 ABY

Cypher immediately senses Phoedris's presence through their mindlink, and pursues him. He used this same technique to hunt and kill their other two siblings, which was far easier for him.

There is a mental link shared by Nalrithian eggmates that allows them to think and act as a single entity. The link’s range, though, is limited to no more than a dozen meters. For the last 20 minutes, Phoedris Bos – the robed Rebel – has managed to suppress the thought link between himself and his eggmate, Cypher Bos. But now the shock of Baajik’s betrayal has broken Phoedris’ concentration, and his one powerful thought (“No!”) reverberates across the Drunken Bantha.

Of course, Cypher immediately detects the panicked presence of Phoedris and recognizes his eggmate’s fear. He’s sensed it twice before – while hunting down their other two eggmates. Compared with Phoedris, however, they were rather poor game and not much of a challenge. Phoedris is more than clever enough to evade Cypher indefinitely, yet now his allegiance to the Rebellion has given away his whereabouts. Perhaps the two might have even teamed up, Cypher thinks, but then quickly reminds himself that bleeding-heart Phoedris would never have gone for that.

With less grace than usual, Phoedris pushes past the throng of pirates and smugglers. He tries to persuade himself that Cypher did not detect his mental outburst, knowing, though, that the chances are slim. Phoedris’ outrage was so intense, it could have traveled a kilometer between eggmates.

Cypher takes all of Phoedris's memories for his own as he kills him.

Suddenly, a baster shot beams from the shadows and catches Phoedris on the shoulder. If it were not for his flowing cloak, the shot would likely have landed in the center of his chest. The pain is still excruciating as Phoedris turns, expecting more fire. Instead, he is tackled and wrestled to the ground by his attacker – Cypher.

The air crackles with energy as the eggmates struggle, physically and mentally.

“I hope you understand, brother, that your death will serve a greater cause,” Cypher shouts telepathically. “The Rebel dogs will never suspect that I have taken your place among them.”

Both eggmates feel the excruciating pain of Phoedris’ wound as they fight, but Cypher has planned well. “I have prepared for this with cybernetics,” he tells his dying brother. “The wound is a mere tingle to me, while it bleeds you of your life.”

The struggle is short. As Phoedris’ lifeless body slides to the ground, Cypher unemotionally rips his eggmate’s cloak free and fastens it around himself. He also possesses all of Phoedris’ knowledge, skills, and memories – including the secret  location of his Rebel hideout. Still, there is one element missing from his plan to single-handedly bring down the Rebellion as Cypher heads toward the hideout.

He noislessly enters through a secret doorway into the heart of the Rebel Alliance’s intelligence headquarters on Ord Mantell. His motions set off a humming sensor, alerting the two Rebels in the dimly lit room ahead. Not wanting to alarm them, Cypher quickly steps into the light and draws back his hood. “I have the information we need regarding the Imperial shipment,” he says. “There should be more than enough credits onboard to pay for the Hoth base.” With all his eggmate’s memories, Cypher continues to recite the details of the mission.

A moment later, the sensor hums again as Baajik enters the hideout. He immediately sees the Nalrithian, although he is not fooled by the mere change of clothing. His heightened senses tell him that this is not Phoedris before him. Baajik draws his blaster, but Cypher reacts and fires first, knocking the small bat creature back into the darkness where he falls into a smoldering heap. With his last gasp, Baajik whimpers, “Cypher Bos…”

“He must have mistaken me for my brother, Cypher Bos, the bounty hunter,” the murderer says, laughing to himself as he continues his charade and tries to look concerned. “But Cypher ambushed me on my way here. Fortunately, I blasted him and escaped.”

[Leia:] Phoedris, what are you doing? You’ve been loyal to the Rebellion since it first began to–

[Cypher:] Not Phoedris. I’m his brother, you see? His egg-mate.

[Leia:] But… but Phoedris killed his egg-mate!

[Cypher:] You’re wrong. Phoedris talked too much, and I realized that something profitable was going on when I heard Solo’s name. So, I forced Phoedris into mind link, but he died in the process.

[Leia:] And you took his place.

[Han:] Hold on! You had the passwords. You knew the recognition signal!

[Cypher:] What Phoedris knew, I know. Now, Solo. Carefully, toss your blaster aside. Use two fingers only. I wouldn’t hesitate to kill you.

S-Canon

3 ABY

Bos can mindlink with eggmates, and take their knowledge or Force Points through physical contact. He can also communicate words via telepathy, and has a bonus +1d resistance to mind control.

Summary

Cypher Bos has a reputation as one of the most skilled bounty hunters of the era. He has great skill with the blaster and in hand to hand combat. He has strength well beyond most humans, and is even faster than he is strong. His exoskeleton allows him to better withstand attacks, and his cybernetic implants prevent him from feeling any pain, allowing him to function at 100% until his death. The Nalrithians are one of the scarier species in the galaxy, and Cypher has defeated and taken the knowledge and skills of all three of his eggmates. He can use his acute physical senses and his telepathy to give him the edge over opponents, and to give him added resistance against any mind control attempts against him (a Jedi mind trick, for example).