CHAPTER TWO: A SON FROM THE MOST UNEXPECTED PLACE
Vernon Dursley lay wide away in his bed as he recalled that day's events. His four year old son Dudley was in his room snoring loudly as he slept in an extremely comfortable bed that cost a small fortune to purchase, while his wife Petunia snuggled against his right side. His bastard of a nephew was currently locked up in the cupboard underneath the staircase, no doubt nursing his injuries that he received from his daily beatings. The plump man gently untangled himself from his wife and quietly left the room to head towards the house's basement. As he gently crept down the stairs, he could hear the faint sobbing of his nephew underneath him. At the sound of his freak of a nephew crying, Vernon couldn't help but smile and give himself a mental pat on the back for his accomplishment.
"Here's hoping that the freak learns his place when he is in the presence of his betters." Vernon darkly thought to himself as he entered the basement of the house.
As he looked around the basement, he noticed the large safe that he had secretly installed when his wife was at the hospital giving birth to their son. The safe had several security features that weren't found anywhere else in the world, not even the American Bullion Depository had the type of security that this small safe had. Without hesitation, Vernon imputed the code that bypassed all of the safe's security features and allowed him access to the safe's contents.
"The freak is starting to remind me of those worthless Jedi. Something must be done about it before he starts to act like them or worse." Vernon thought to himself as he opened the safe to reveal a dark olive grey uniform hanging from a metal hook attached to the right side of safe.
How sitting peacefully in a small compartment was a weapon that nobody had ever seen outside of a Sci-fi movie. The weapon was known as the SE-14r blaster pistol and was the standard issue sidearm of the Imperial officer corps. More importantly, the blaster had been his personal sidearm during his time as an Admiral for the Galactic Empire. That was until he discovered the hidden plans of Confederacy of Independent Systems for something called the Death Star. He immediately went into hiding on this backwater planet after brutally killing the worthless Xenos that had purchased the stolen information that he had given them.
However, recently his family that he left back on Coruscant had notified him that the Empire or more particularly Darth Vader had picked up on his trail. With this news, his already staggering restlessness and paranoia skyrocketed to new levels and the only thing that was keeping him from having a mental breakdown was his daily exercise of beating the freak out of nephew.
Staring at his old blaster, he contemplated killing the worthless freak currently locked up in the cupboard under the stairs. Should he do it thought? It would be simple enough for him to do it as he just needed open up the cupboard and pull the trigger. After that he just needed to dispose of the ungrateful brat's body in some trench somewhere out in the country. The only people that even knew that he lived here are the freaks that left him here and could always tell them that he simply dropped the boy off at some force forsaken orphanage somewhere.
Yes, killing the worthless freak was starting to become more and more appealing to him by the second. The fact that said freak was starting to disturb him each passing day also greatly influenced his decision. Even after five years of constant beatings and other intolerable punishments, the boy seemed to flat out refuse to break and remained defiant of their attempts to "normalize" him. Every so often, he would catch out of the corner of his eyes the freak giving him an angry and hateful glare. That was even including the bone chilling aura that the boy unleashed on occasions. The only times Vernon had felt something similar was when he was in the presence of the Emperor and Darth Vader. That particular reason itself was the very reason why he didn't like the freaks or as Petunia liked to call them witches and wizards.
These magic users were similar to the two Sith Lords that currently ruled the galaxy and to a less extent to the now extinct Jedi for that matter. They believe themselves above everyone else and treated people without their so called magical powers with contempt. It reminded him of the days of the old republic when many Jedi viewed non force-sensitives with disdain and disgust. However, Darth Vader took that contempt to a whole new level with his constant killing of imperial officers that displeased him. Vernon Darsy or as he was called Vernon Dursley had seen many a imperial officer forced choked to death at the hands of Darth Vader. The human made monster would simply clench his hand into a fist crushing his victim's windpipe, killing them instantly.
"Yes, this world and the universe will be better off without that freak. I cannot allow the boy to become like him." The former imperial officer thought to himself as he picked up the blaster and steeled himself to carry out the dark task he decided on.
Meanwhile a young five year old Harrison "Harry" Potter let out a silent sniff as he ended the three hour crying session that he had just had after his uncle and cousin viciously beat him because he asked them for some food. He hated his relatives so much for their constant abuse. They would always call him a freak of nature or an abomination that shouldn't exist. Every time he asked about his dead parents, his aunt and uncle would simply told him that they were nothing more than dead beat drunks that died in a car accident after a heavy night of drinking. But for some reason, he knew what they were saying were lies and he detected a great amount of hatred and jealousy from his aunt.
"What did I ever do to deserve this treatment?" Harry muttered to himself as he huddled into a corner of the cupboard that was his room in private drive.
However, whatever idea he might have had was quickly destroyed when his uncle ripped opened the cupboard door and grabbed him by his hair. The next thing Harry knew was that he was being dragged out into the backyard by his uncle, who was wielding a weird looking object.
"You're going to die tonight, you ungrateful monster!" Vernon insanely proclaimed as he pointed the object at his nephew's head like it was gun.
Only to be disappointed that the boy didn't start begging for his life like most normal people would do when a gun was point at their heads. Instead, Harry only flinched slightly before shooting his uncle a hateful and angry glare.
"Go ahead and glare at me all you Freak! In a few seconds, you'll be dead." Vernon smugly as he slowly began to squeeze the trigger of the blaster
As he was just going to pull the trigger, he heard something that sent shivers down his spine.
"Vernon Darsy, I come to collect that bounty on your head." A dark familiar monotone voice spoke out from behind him.
Vernon instantly went pale at the voice knowing who it belonged to. During his time as an Imperial Officer, he had come to fear the voice's owner just as much as Darth Vader and the Emperor. Very slowly, he turned around and was greeted by the sight of the T-shaped visor belonging to the dreaded Boba Fett.
Boba Fett could only watch in satisfaction as his prey started begging for his worthless life. It would have been extremely funny in Fett's eyes, if it weren't such a pathetic display of cowardice.
"Please bounty hunter, I only did what I had to in order to survive. I-I- couldn't t-t-take it a-a-anymore. I-I-I ha-v-v-e a wife and son, who'll take care of them if I die, please just tell who ever hired you that I'm already died, I can pay you." Vernon begged.
The beefy man went so far as try to try bribe the infamous hunter with earth currency causing Harry to snort in disdain for his uncle. The young five year old couldn't take his uncle's hypocrisy and decided to speak out.
"Why should he spare you because you have that waste of space, you call a family? YOU are my last living relatives and you just admitted that you were going to kill me. You piece of shite!" Harry spoke with utter contempt for his uncle.
Harry turned towards Boba Fett with a fiery glare filling his eyes. The green battle scared armor and helmet with the T-shaped visor, coupled with the way the man carried himself greatly impressed him for some reason. The man was clearly extremely dangerous as he was like a predatory animal that was more than capable of stalking his prey for as long as it took to get the perfect kill.
"Please sir, kill him. He's nothing more than a spineless coward that believes that he's the center of the universe." The five year old spoke with the steely will that allowed him to stay alive for last five years was burning stronger than ever before.
Boba Fett for his part was taken aback by Harry's iron will and determination to never give up in face of difficult hardships. In many ways, the boy greatly reminded the Bounty Hunter of himself when he had been at that age. The boy's eyes burned with the will to continue fighting no matter what the odds, and the thirst of battle probably burned just as brightly.
"You impress me kid, what's your name?" Boba asked as he took in the appearance of the young child in front of him.
The boy had various cuts and bruise covering all of the parts of his flesh that wasn't covered by clothing. The kid's right arm was being cradled gingerly in the boy's other arm indicating that it was broken, while fresh blood stained his the yellowing white t-shirt. As Boba looked over the boy more and more, it became increasingly clear that the boy was being abused by his relatives. This fact made the cloned son of Jango Fett enraged at the sight. While his father had always been hard on him, it always served a greater purpose to toughen him up for living in an extremely harsh galaxy. This was simply unnecessary and unneeded violence towards a defenseless child.
"It's Harrison potter, sir." Harry answered truthfully as he watched the unknown man backhand his uncle with armored fist.
Vernon went flying backwards from the strike causing him to accidentally pull his blaster's trigger and fire up into the air alarming the few people in the neighborhood who were still up. Boba Fett simply walked over to the downed man who was trying to get up off the ground without much success, and pointed his EE-3 Blaster Carbine's barrel down at Vernon's head. The moment the former Imperial Admiral felt the cold durasteel barrel touching the back of his, he began to whimper in fear. But before the large man could say anything, Boba fired a single blaster bolt into the back of his head, killing the traitor instantly.
Boba turned his attention back to Harry, who had watched everything unfold in front of him with a grim sort of fascination. The Bounty Hunter was satisfied with the fact that Harry didn't flinch at the sight of him killing his uncle.
"Kid, if you want you can come with me and leave this rock behind. I'll teach how to become a Bounty Hunter, how to become a Mandalorian." Boba Fett offered surprising both Harry and himself.
At the offer, harry almost did a double take at the offer. It sounded almost too good to be true for him to believe. He would leave his terrible relatives and
"R-really, you mean it?" Harry barely managed to ask as his voice nearly failed him.
Boba Fett silently nodded his head in confirmation. Despite the fact that he didn't mean to say it out loud, he actually meant what he said when he made the offer.
"I actually mean what I said, Harry. However, I must warn you that once you leave with me there's no turning back. I will train you in the same training regime that all Mandalorian children are put through since the time they can walk. But when I'm done training you, you'll be one of the greatest Bounty Hunters that the universe has ever seen. If you still want this then follow me." The Mandalorian spoke in his ever serious voice that sent shivers down even the most harden of criminals before turning around and leaving the backyard to head back to his ship.
Harry simply gave his uncle's dead body one final glare before limping after his new hero. A few minutes later, he found himself in the nearby park where he stared at a strange looking vehicle resting in the middle of the soccer field. Boba could only chuckle at the reaction that Harry was having at the sight of Slave I. Granted, he had expected this type of reaction due to planet not having sustainable space flight capabilities.
"Impressive, isn't she." Boba commented off hand as he walked up the ramp to begin take off preparations.
Harry could only nod his head in agreement as he followed Boba into the ship. A few minutes later, Harry found himself strapped into one of the four seats that were located in the cockpit.
"You just need hang on a little while longer, kid. I'll have your injuries treated once we leave the planet's atmosphere. In the mean time, you just need to bear the pain until then." Boba spoke as he started the takeoff sequence for Slave I.
Two Hours Later
Boba sat in Slave I's pilot seat as he carefully flew the ship to the nearest Holonet relay to notify Darth Vader of his hunt's success. As he flew the ship back into civilized space, he remembered what the ship's onboard medical droid told him about the extent of Harry's injuries. The amount of injuries that the child had sustained had alarmed the normally emotionless Bounty Hunter. By all accounts, the kid should have died a long time ago for various reasons. Fortunately enough, all of his injuries including his past injuries could be fixed after spending a few days within a Bacta tank.
"The kid must have some higher being smiling upon him for being able to survive that type of abuse for so long." Boba mused to himself as he began trying to patch a line with Darth Vader.
After few minutes of trying, a miniature holographic image of the infamous Sith Lord. Despite Boba Fett's reputation for being absolutely fearless, every time he dealt with Vader the hair on the back of his neck would always stand straight up.
"I trust you were successful in eliminating Admiral Vernon Darsy, Fett?" Vader commented in a way that showed he would not tolerate failure from anybody, including Boba Fett.
The mechanical breathing of the Sith Lord sent a small amount of chills down the legendary Bounty Hunter's spine.
"I killed the man like I promised, Lord Vader." Boba Fett answered as he mentally steeled his resolve as he focused on the task at hand.
For a few seconds, Vader said nothing. Boba Fett knew that the giant of a man had sensed something.
"Yet, something has changed during your hunt. Yes, I can sense it even now as you return to Imperial space." Vader spoke causing Boba Fett some alarm.
How was it possible that the Sith Lord could detect Harry so far away? Boba was well aware that Vader was capable of using the force like the now defunct Jedi Order, but to be able detect a young child on the other side of the galaxy shouldn't be possible.
"The boy that you found on that Backwater planet and brought back with you carries a great power within him. You will bring him to me as he will fit perfectly into my plans." Vader ordered as he felt the potential within Harry that would go to waste if he wasn't trained properly.
At being ordered to hand over the boy that he had practically adopted as a son. What he did next was probably the dumbest thing he had ever done in his career as a Bounty Hunter.
"What you mean, Vader? The kid is coming with me in order to become a Mandalorian because only I can teach him the ways of his new heritage and culture." Boba Fett angrily commented as he thrown any civility out Slave I's nonexistent windows along with his cool demeanor.
Vader for his part remained calm and did nothing but allow Boba to vent his anger.
"You misunderstand me, Bounty Hunter. I do not intend to take him away from you as he is your son in the eyes of your people. I simply plan on teaching him in the ways of the force so he may become my apprentice. I will only teach him about how to harness the force and saber fighting, while I need you to teach everything that he needs to know about being a Bounty Hunter." Vader calmly explained in a highly unusual display of compromise.
For a moment, Boba was caught completely off guard by what he just heard. Vader had just openly admitted that he himself was going to teach the kid about the ways of the Force. While the bounty hunter hated the Jedi and constant gibberish, he couldn't deny their abilities. It was at this moment that Boba realized that his adopted son was going to be the deadliest bounty hunter in the galaxy within the next decade.
"I initially planned on taking him with on my hunts so that he could observe and learn the skills of being about bounty hunter. I was also planning on training him, when I wasn't out hunting someone." Boba admitted as he simply planned on replicating the training that his father had put him through when he had been a boy.
While the clone of Jango Fett would admit in private that his training with his father was incomplete, he had learned enough that he understood the legist of what his father was trying to teach him.
"The Empire will be willing to pay you substantially for every year that you stay under my employment and stay out of the trade. It's just like what you said bounty hunter, only you have the means of turning the boy into a Mandalorian, just like only I have the means to train him in the ways of the force." Vader offered knowing that Boba Fett could possibly turn down the offer.
Boba sat in his seat in silence for a few minutes as he pondered Vader's offer. It wasn't as if Vader could do anything if he turned the offer down as the two of them had reached a good understanding with each other. Vader would turn a blind eye towards his other activities and in return he would go out and kill whoever Vader wanted dead. The Bounty Hunter knew that Vader could easily declare him a criminal and put out a massive bounty on his head. As skilled as he was, he was also extremely realistic about his capabilities and knew for a fact that he couldn't hold out against the legions of people who would go after him if that happened. With that in mind, Boba had only one thing to say to the Sith Lord.
"Very well Lord Vader, we'll arrive at your ship in two standard days." Boba spoke before turning off the hologram project and plotted Slave I's course to rendezvous with Vader's personal flag ship that was still under construction.
With the chosen course punched into the ship's navigation computer, the bounty hunter launched Slave I into Hyperspace leaving the Sol System behind him and Harry.
Okay, a brand new chapter for you guys. The next chapter will be about Harry's training. Now here's something for you guys to decide think on, What type of ship do you want Harry to have? So please leave a review with your thoughts about the chapter.
Until next time readers, Hoorah to Ashes!