CHAPTER 2

"Ninety-Nine." Boba nodded at the old, crooked clone janitor.

"Ah, Boba Fett, so nice to see you well." A crooked grin spread over 99's face. "You've gotten so big! Your father'd be proud."

Boba nodded slightly. "Yes. I'd hope that he would've been."

99's smile vanished slightly and he placed a hand on the young Mandalorian's shoulder. "There is no doubt that he'd have been proud of you." He cocked his head slightly. "And if my perspective means anything to you, I'd like to say that I am most proud of the man you are."

Boba slightly inclined his head to the old clone. "Thanks for that, Ninety-Nine." He said as he slowly removed his helmet in respect of his old friend.

99 nodded as he began to lead the way down the familiar halls of Tipoca City.

"What's the mission?" Boba asked, wanting to get straight to the point.

Looking over his shoulder at him, 99 shook his head, face suddenly saddened. "Four clones have gone missing. Four out of the five of Domino Squad."

Thinking through the statement, Boba spoke again. "Where were they last seen?" He asked, calculating where the four missing clones may have run.

99 looked away and sighed. "They are thought to be dead." The old clone answered sadly.

Boba stopped walking, causing the crippled clone to pull up beside him, craning his neck to look up at the young Mandalorian bounty hunter. "Was it confirmed?" Boba asked, annoyed.

Shaking his head, 99 looked up at the young warrior. "It was enough for it to be confirmed. But no one ever saw or found the bodies." He answered, looking up at the younger man with worried, hopeful eyes.

"No one saw or found the bodies, yet it's still confirmed?" Boba asked skeptically, beginning to walk again, calculating this new change of events. "So they're all sure that they died?"

99 turned faster than anyone would've expected him to have, denial written across his features. "Yes! But I'm not sure, Boba!" He cried, anguish and grief in his voice.

Boba stood silently, watching the crippled man turn away and look out the windows at the stormy seas of Kamino.

"These waters... So unpredictable, powerful." 99 was nearly whispering as Boba stood at his back, listening patiently. "Confusion. It reminds me of Hevvy."

Boba waited silently as the old clone spoke his heart and mind, nearly oblivious to the young Mandalorian warrior. "But then, it's in turmoil, constantly stirring with anger and unforgiveness. In that way, it reminds me of you, Boba." 99 looked over his shoulder at him now, and Boba straightened.

"That is a strange conclusion, Ninety-Nine." Boba answered, annoyed and beginning to feel anger rise up in him. "I.."

99 ignored him and looked back out at the waters. "Think, Boba. They swirl with anger and hatred. It's powerful and cold."

Boba came up next to him and looked out and the angry seas, then down at the crippled clone as a mutated hand was placed against his chest, pushing slightly.

"Yet..." 99 looked up at him. "Yet, if it allows all the emotions to leave... releases these terrible spirits, it finds peace and happiness. Calm. In the storm."

Boba looked away from the old clone, who grabbed his arm. "Hevvy found that place, Boba." He cocked his head and gave that crooked smile of his. "It's time that you found yours."

Shaking his head, Boba turned away from the old clone. "I will find that place when Mace Windu is gone, Ninety-Nine. Not before."

99's head drooped as he shook it sadly, the sound of the boots belonging to the grown version of the boy he once knew, echoing down to him. An innocent boy, that had perished many years ago, and was replaced with it's dark twin. The day a father had died, and a son had watched.

The echoing footsteps stopped for a moment, and Boba looked back at him. "Upload all the information you have on the four missing Dominoes." He ordered. "And I mean everything. Even what they like and dislike to eat."

99's crooked smile creased his face again as he nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Boba."

Boba inclined his head slightly and began to leave when he turned back. "And 99," he said, waiting until he was sure he had the older clone's attention before continuing. "Who, in all of Kamino, is the fifth?"

99's smile faded. "The fifth, Boba, is Fives." He responded, sobered by the poor Domino Squad survivor's grief and anguish. "And he's not doing well, wish is why I ask you to hurry."

Nodding slightly to himself, Boba turned his cold visor onto the janitor. "Does he know of this?"

99 shook his head. "No. No he doesn't."

Boba looked at the ground as he slowly turned and disappeared out into the rain again, glad for the freezing rain to wash away his feelings of confusion. Confusion that 99 had caused. The old clone was too wise for his own good.