Chapter 1: The Girl

Boba Fett looked into the hole again. The little girl was still there, hair so matted and dirty that the original colour was unintelligible, but the bright silvery eyes were like shining stars in the darkness of her have.

Swearing softly to himself, Fett forced his shoulders further into the small hole as a memory assaulted the cloned Mandalorian.

*Memory*

A much younger Boba Fett sat with his eyes clenched shut and arms wrapped around his knees as the image of his father's decapitation replayed over and over in his mind. Always more vividly than the last.

Boba tried to push it all from his mind, subconsciously aware that the sound of battle had faded away long ago.

"Buir...buir..." The young boy kept uttering the cherished word in hope that the owner would suddenly appear to comfort him, tell him that it had not actually happened... that it had been a mistake.

Finally, as the sun began to set over Mustafar, Boba made his way toward his father's body, still lying where it had fallen in the Colosseum.

Boba stood above his father's body, alone in his grief with no one to comfort him.

He finally mustered up the strength to work his father's head free of the helmet. It was a task no eleven-year-old should have to carry out, but Boba Fett had no one else to do it for him.

For a short while, the Mandalorian clone hoped that one of his brothers would find him, but they had all abandoned him to the mercy of fate and destiny.

Finally finished his horrible task, Boba held the helmet to his chest, fresh tears leaking down his face onto the silver surface.

"Buir... buir..."

*Memory Ends*

Boba broke from his memories. He was no longer that young, hurting boy. He was now Manda'lore of the Mandalorian race, focused on one thing at the moment: saving the girl.

"Manda'lore!" The voice of Yitax Orlann called to him from behind, outside the cramped tunnel. "The Yuuzhan Vong are returning with the bombers!"

Hearing this, Boba Fett worked himself further into the hole until it was no longer an option, his armour scraping against the debris, sending a shower of sparks toward the girl, who drew away from him.

He could make it no further.

Kamino! Boba swore as he strained one arm toward the girl, trying vainly to reach her. Come on! Come on!

The girl withdrew just out of reach.

"Come, adi'ka, you are not safe here." He murmured soothingly. "I want to help you."

The silver eyes looked at him fearfully and she made no move to obey him.

"Manda'lore!" Yitax shouted. "I'm sorry, sir, but I am going to have to get you out of here!"

Boba Fett knew what his friend was going to do and quickly responded by pulling his legs into the hole, cramming his boots against the stone and debris to lock himself into place. I'd like to see him try to pull me out now! He grinned grimly to himself.

"Shab'la! Sir, they may find us! And then you're as good as dead." Yitax shouted into the hole.

"I'm not leaving an innocent child to the mercy of the Vong." Boba answered, watching his friend in his helmet's 360 degree view. "You can leave if you wish."

Yitax was on hands and knees next to the small tunnel, looking in as he shook his head. "You know I wouldn't leave you, vod." He responded, looking over his shoulder. "I'll keep watch."

Boba ignored him, gently speaking to the girl, although any sense of it being gentle was removed by the helmet synthesizer.

"Come, adi'ka!" Boba ordered, knowing he wouldn't reach her unless she came closer.

"Here they come, Fett!" Yitax shouted as blaster fire sounded.

Boba ignored the noise. Yitax was a Mandalorian. He could trust him to watch his back.

The silver eyes widened in fear at the sound of blaster fire and the grunting of Vong warriors.

Boba Fett pushed his helmet off of his head, hoping that the sight of a face might cause the child to calm down and trust him.

"It's all right, I'll protect you." Boba said gently, holding out his hand, smiling as the girl slowly began to reach for it. That's it... good girl...

"Fett! I'd hurry up if I were you!" Yitax shouted, causing the girl to try to jerk her hand back, but Boba Fett, with years of reflex and split-second decision making, reacted faster, grabbing her hand before she could draw it out of reach.

"Got her!" Boba shouted, pulling the child closer to himself and holding onto her tightly as he pushed himself out of the hole.

The girl was screaming and crying, but the Mandalorian leader refused to let go.

"Great to see your face, sir." Yitax shouted above the noise as he fired off his blaster rifle.

"Shut up." Boba growled, snatching up his pistol. "Let's go."

Yitax nodded, backing up slowly with Boba to his right as they cautiously made their way backward until they were around the corner of a ruined building.

Boba the turned and ran, holding the little girl in one arm, her head, covered by his helmet, bumped against his shoulder as her small arms wrapped around his neck.

She looked funny wearing the large helmet, but if it kept her quiet, there was no way in hell that he would try and take it back now.

The two Mandalorians watched all around for danger, although they paid more attention to their rear, where the core threat still lingered a short distance away.

Boba felt relief for a moment when they reached the ship safely.

"Anyone, sir?" Vel Num, the pilot of the small fighter, asked as they hurried over.

"Just a small girl." Yitax answered, the pilot shaking his head sadly. "Those Vong are cruel and merciless. I wouldn't have been surprised if you hadn't found anyone."

"Well, the Manda'lore refused to leave her, even when the Vong showed up." Yitax answered, glancing back the way they had come. "They're actually still nipping at our heels."

"Vong? Well, why didn't you say so?" Vel asked, jumping into the ship where he settled into the pilot's seat, starting the fighter.

Yitax jumped up next and Boba passed the girl up to him, relieved that she was safe now, whether the Vong showed up or not.

Boba grabbed the side of the fighter and was about to climb in when Yitax shouted a warning.

Turning his head to look over his shoulder, Boba's eyes picked up a large Vong warrior swinging at him with it's claws. Realizing that he didn't have the time to dodge, Boba jumped, pulling as much of his body upward as possible.

The Mandalorian felt the venomous claws puncture the unprotected section right above the back of his knee.

Clenching his teeth against the pain, Boba dropped to his feet, and turning on the warrior, head butted the Vong in the face. He had forgotten that he was no longer wearing his helmet, the blow causing him to fall back against the ship as the Vong staggered backward several feet.

"Fett!" Yitax's voice shouted to him.

Boba looked up at his friend with blurred eyes, vaguely noticing Yitax's outstretched hand. Slowly and painfully, he reached up and grabbed his friend's hand, allowing himself to be dragged into the fighter.

Once he hit the floor of the fighter, Yitax released Boba's hand and shot the Vong that tried to climb in after them.

"Go!" Boba shouted at Vel, who began to move his fingers over the consoles with speed only a veteran pilot could. "What are you waiting for?" Boba shouted, the sound of Vong warriors approaching reaching his ears.

"You and the girl need to be secured!" Vel shouted back.

Boba grabbed the dozing child, wrapping her in his arms. "Go! She's fine, just go!"

Vel looked unsure, but obeyed anyway.

Yitax grabbed the co-pilot's chair, hanging on tightly.

Boba sled backward on the smooth flooring, his back his the wall, and he clenched his teeth as his injured leg hit, but still kept his hold on the girl.

But then, his head hit, causing stars to flash before his eyes. "Shab'la!" He shouted.

Yitax looked back at him and let go as the ship completed entering hyperspace, making his way toward his fallen leader.

Vel finished whatever else he was doing before hurrying over.

"Take her." Boba ordered, pushing the child toward the pilot, who took her into his arms.

The small child had pulled off the Manda'lore's helmet, staring in confusion at Boba, who lay on his back, propping himself up with both elbows.

"Here, I'll get you to a room." Yitax reached for him, but Boba shook his head.

"No." He answered, breathing hard. "Do it here."

Yitax pulled his helmet off and looked at Boba. "I'd rather that..."

"No, do it here." Boba growled through clenched teeth. He was sweating.

Yitax looked at him silently with his clear blue eyes before shrugging and cutting at the cloth near the wound. "Hell. What am I doing?" Yitax muttered, ripping the cloth until it was out of the way so that he could inspect the wound without it hampering his vision.

"Two of the claws got you."

Boba remained as he was, subconsciously taking in the information.

"And the third gave you a nice gash."

"Just shut up and pull them out!" Boba growled, a wave of pain washing over him, aware of the all knowing silver eyes that watched him alertly.

"I don't think I should pull these out without medical help, Boba." Yitax answered, looking at him seriously.

Boba opened his eyes and looked up at his friend. "Do we have a medical team? There's no help, Yitax." He answered, shaking his head. "And I don't want to leave them there to keep pumping their venom into me."

Yitax looked at him silently before placing a hand against Boba's leg while the other hand grabbed a protruding section of claw. He looked at Boba, and the Manda'lore nodded one. The blonde Mandalorian pulled on the claw, but his gloved fingers slipped in the blood, causing him to lose his grip.

"Shab'la." Yitax swore, ripping the bloody glove off with his teeth.

Boba shut his eyes and clenched his teeth. Fiery pain burned up his leg as Yitax pulled one out. He swore, breathing hard as he waited for Yitax to get the other.

"Now."

At the word, Boba sucked in the breath he had and held it as the pain assaulted him again.

"Shab'la!" Boba cursed loudly, clenching his teeth hard enough to taste blood.

"Sh*t." Yitax swore as the claw came loose, with it, the blood. It came out quickly and in large quantities.

The small girl screamed loudly, horror etched in the haunting silver eyes as she began to claw at Vel, forcing the pilot to release her.

"Do something, dik'ut!" Vel shouted, allowing the child to run off as he turned to the more important matter of his Manda'lore's life.

"Get wrappings!" Yitax shouted, but the voice was dim to Boba's ears as his vision began to swim.

He was dying.

Bleeding out.

"If I die..." Boba grasped Yitax's arm. "If I die... Replace me as... Manda'lore..."

Yitax stared down into his eyes and nodded silently, refusing the deny that his leader may lose his life at any moment.

Reassured, Boba lay back and allowed himself to slip into the darkness.

Comforting, painless darkness.

But... but he could still hear the little girl's screams.