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AN: Here's chapter 7! Sorry the delay. We hope you enjoy this latest chapter.

Under the Setting Sun

By Lilac Moon and PyramidHead 316

Chapter 7: Chasing the Darkness

The Jedi exited the cloning facility and bowed to the Prime Minister. Lama Su had seen them out, ensuring them that the first battalions of clones were ready for battle, and that they would be able to supply many more, provided they were given the time. Siri and Obi-Wan nodded, though really, the ongoing progress of the unfinished clones was the last thing on their minds.

"Thank you for your time. We look forward to future dealings with you," Obi-Wan said.

The Jedi threw on their hoods as they walked towards to their starfighters. They immediately set about sending a message

"Arfour, ready a transmission to Coruscant, care of the old folks' home," Siri told the astromech on her fighter.

The droid readied the transmission dish and gave the all-clear.

"Let me do all the talking," Siri stated. Obi-Wan frowned, but refrained from commenting, not wanting to get in an argument in the freezing rain.

The holographic projector came online. Obi-Wan stepped aside, allowing Siri to take the helm. Soon enough, she had contact with the Jedi Council.

In Master Yoda's private quarters on Coruscant, Jedi Master Mace Windu and Master Yan Dooku were meeting with the great Jedi Councilor when they received a transmission routed from the Council chamber. The three exchanged a sharp glance after checking the origin of the transmission – this could only be the message they were waiting for. The hologram of Siri Tachi appeared before them.

"Master Tachi, what have you to report?" Yoda questioned.

"Master Yoda, we have made contact with the Prime Minister of Kamino. They are using a bounty hunter called Jango Fett to create a clone army, supposedly for the Republic" Siri reported. "I believe that this is the same bounty hunter responsible for the assassination attempt on Senator Amidala."

Upon that declaration, Mace Windu's stomach plummeted to the ground. What? He asked himself silently, not daring to believe what he'd heard.

"An army?" he blurted out, the surprise audible in his voice. Looking at his two comrades, he could see that they were equally shocked.

"And that's not all," Siri went on. "I have it on good authority that these clones are Force sensitive. They have been engineered to be unusually resilient to the Force and mental manipulation."

There was a wave of shock shared amongst the Jedi. Clones that were resistant to the Force? What kind of abomination was this?

"Hmm…disturbing, this is," Yoda said, his face reflecting a deep concern for the galaxy. "Much more going on on Kamino that meets the eye, there is…"

"And if that weren't enough, it appears that the late Sifo-Dyas was the one who ordered the clone troops in the first place," Siri added, oblivious to the looks of shock on the Council members.

"According to them, Sifo-Dyas placed the order around ten years ago. I was under the impression he was killed before that," Siri said to the Councilors. "Did the Council authorize the creation of a clone army?"

"No. Whoever placed that order did not have the authority of the Jedi Council," Mace responded immediately.

"I didn't think so. Masters, what should I do? We need to apprehend Jango Fett, but I'm not sure we should leave these beings unsupervised. They've already engineered Force sensitivity into the clones. Who knows what else they're planning?" Siri asked.

"Go after Jango Fett. He's the main priority at this point," Mace ordered.

"I agree. Interrogate this Fett, we must. Bring him before us, you will," Yoda concurred.

"Yes Master." With a bow, the hologram of Siri disappeared.

Turning away from the projector, the Jedi shared a look that spoke of a growing sense of dread. An army being created right under their very noses…it was almost impossible to believe. How could they not have seen this? Were they that blind to what was going on around them?

"Blind we are, if creation of this army we did not see," Yoda commented. His companion nodded.

"I think it's time to inform the Senate our ability to use the Force has diminished," Mace Windu said.

"No. The Order has many enemies in the Senate. If we reveal to them that the Jedi have been weakened, it will be a signal for them to pounce," Dooku disagreed vehemently. "Unless we determine the identity of the Sith Lord and eliminate him as a threat, we cannot allow anyone to know of our weakness."

"But we cannot keep them in the dark about this," Mace argued.

"On the contrary, that is what we must do. The risk is too great to reveal what we know," Dooku countered.

"I agree," Yoda said. "Too many enemies we have, to entice them with this knowledge. A secret it must remain."

No one said anything for a long moment. Mace looked annoyed by this, but there was no argument on his part. Deep down inside, the Korun Master knew that Yoda was right.

"What about Sifo-Dyas? Do you really believe he could have ordered the clone army?" Mace asked Yoda and Dooku.

"I don't know," Dooku said. Looking at Yoda, Windu saw he had no response either. He appeared to be meditating for an instant, looking into the Force for a possible answer.

"Wasn't Sifo-Dyas your friend?" Mace turned towards Dooku. The other Master looked visibly unsettled.

"I don't know," Dooku responded. He and Sifo had drifted apart several years ago, just before the Jedi Master's death. Sifo-Dyas wanted to take a more proactive role in opposing the corruption that plagued the Republic. Dooku refused to accept his offer, and that was pretty much the rest of it. They had had a falling out sometime afterward, and they rarely spoke with each other. "I would hope that he wouldn't be involved in something like this, but there was a lot he didn't share with me in those last few days."

Mace was not satisfied with the Master's reply, and it showed. Dooku wished he had an answer to give him, but he himself was confounded by the turn of events this investigation had taken.

The question was obvious: What to do next? As they contemplated that, Dooku wondered if this claim of Sifo-Dyas being the one behind the clone army could possibly be true. He thought he'd known his friend well before their falling out, but apparently there were secrets his friend was keeping from him that were not at all trite. Could Sifo-Dyas have ordered the clone army? Was he truly involved in a plot against the Republic?

Or was someone using his old friend's name to place the blame on the late Jedi Master? That seemed a plausible option. Or was it the other option that presented itself as an alternative? That this was an army for the Republic with no negative stigma attached to it? But then, why the enhanced sensitivity to the Force?

There was something off about this situation. Dooku wasn't sure what it was, but it was something he could most definitely feel. It was a feeling; something that told him there was more to this than met the eye. Something his senses struggled to perceive, but found almost entirely out of their grasp. It was an instinct, and Dooku had learned to trust his instincts early on. They had never led him astray. Right now, they were telling him that there was more to this than just a Jedi Master's possible manipulations. Nothing about this seemed to add up. And it led Dooku to conclude that he had only one recourse at his disposal.

"Masters, I request that I be allowed to launch an investigation into this matter," Dooku stated to the two Council members.

"Hmm. Suspicious of your old friend, are you Dooku?" Yoda questioned.

"Masters, something is going on here. And I intend to find out what." Dooku's face was determined as he declared his intentions. "I intend to get to the bottom of this."

Mace and Yoda traded a look. When the old Jedi got it in his head to do something, he would follow it through to the end. If they told him no, he would simply do it anyway.

"Permission granted," Yoda said. His eyes shone with curiosity as he regarded the man he had trained from youth as a Jedi.

"Find the truth behind this, you will."


It was one of his earliest memories. He remembered being in his mother's arms, not much older than four, when Gardulla the Hutt had lost their ownership to Watto. Jabba was outraged at losing them, stating that he was valuable, for reasons Anakin didn't want to think about. He hadn't understood what was going on at the time, but he remembered being scared of the giant slug. His mother had held him close, telling him everything would be all right. And he had felt safe again. Now…his mother was in danger, in pain somewhere, and it was Anakin's turn to come to her rescue. He was feeling a lot of things this morning, as he finished composing a message to his Master, telling her where he and Padme were going. The last thing he wanted was for her to worry. He was scared for his mother, scared that he would be too late. And Anakin hated being scared. It was only a few hours until they arrived on Tatooine, and he had no idea what they would find there.

"It's okay to be scared, young one, as long as we do not let that fear control us," he heard Siri's voice in his head.

Anakin was also nervous. He'd been to visit his mother once or twice, but not in the last three years, as his training had intensified. Shmi was very adamant about not disrupting his training, but they corresponded through data letters. It was Siri's belief that allowing him contact with his mother could only strengthen him, thus helping his training. Other Jedi would argue the opposite, sighting it as a weakness. But in Anakin's case, Siri was right. Anakin was grateful to have a Master that understood him so well.

Siri wanted to free his mother; had ever since she learned about Anakin's plight. But she didn't have the resources to do so. Neither did Padme. Although Naboo was a very wealthy planet, much of that money was going towards the reconstruction of the areas the Trade Federation left behind in ruins. To withdraw a very large amount to free Shmi, she would have to run it by the Parliament first. And that would not be approved. Neither could she rely on her own finances. As Queen, Padme's every need was taken care of, which meant that she could not withdraw large amounts of money from her own accounts without arousing great suspicion. If there was one failing with the Naboo cabinet, it was that they were not terribly concerned with other people outside their system.

Back to reason he was nervous, however, didn't really have anything to do with seeing his mother again. That only made him excited. No, he was nervous about seeing his new family, whom he had only met once. Two years ago, he and Siri had returned from a successful mission and Padme had presented him with his latest data letter. And his mother's news shocked him to the core. She had been freed! A moisture farmer had noticed her plight and made it a personal goal to get her out of there. And that wasn't all. She had fallen in love with him and married him! Anakin now had a step father and a step brother. Siri decided that they would travel to Tatooine and meet his new family. He remembered both of those days clearly.

Fifteen-year-old Anakin hopped out of his Jedi starfighter in the Theed palace hanger. It was late in the evening and the palace was fairly quiet. He looked around for the only person he was anxious to see.

"She'll be here, young one," Siri whispered. Anakin's cheeks reddened, making Siri laugh. At fifteen, his hormones were raging…especially around the beautiful Queen he was in love with.

"I don't know why she bothers. It's not like she'd ever be interested in me," Anakin mumbled.

"You're such a pessimist, Ani. I happen to know that she adores you. And when you get a little older, I think she may surprise you with the way she feels. I'm just glad I gave you the sex talk sooner rather than later," Siri teased, watching Anakin's cheeks flush crimson.

"Don't remind me. That was the most embarrassing moment of my life," he griped.

"It's all for your own good, young one," she said, patting her shoulder, as they heard soft footsteps. Padme rounded the corner, dressed in a handmaiden's dress, with her hair down in loose curls. Anakin's breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful as Queen, but he much preferred her like this: with no face paint or elaborate hairstyles. He much preferred Padme over Amidala and fortunately, it was the same way for her. She shed the garb of the Queen every chance she got and especially when she was with Anakin.

"You're back. I trust the mission went well," she said.

"Very well. I leave you two to talk. I have to report to the Council over the comm. station," Siri said, winking at Anakin. The twenty-year-old Queen smiled at her as she left.

"I received a data letter for you while you were gone. It's from your mom," Padme said, with an excited smile. His face lit up.

"Really?" he asked, as he accepted the datapad from her.

"Thanks. Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go read it," he said. Padme smiled, feeling excited that he wished to share it with her.

"Okay. I'll understand if you wish to read it alone, though," she assured him, though she hoped beyond hope that he wanted her with him. He smiled.

"Are you kidding? Come on, let's go out into the gardens," he said, taking her hand. The gardens, by the fountain, were one of their favorite places to just sit and talk sometimes. They arrived and sat down, as Anakin switched on the datapad. He smiled at Padme as she sat close to his side. Force, he loved her. He just wished he could get up the courage to tell her. He broke his gaze from her mesmerizing brown eyes and turned to the letter, reading aloud.

"My Dearest Ani,

I apologize for the delay in my letter this time. So much has happened in the last two months and there is much to tell you. Ani, I have been freed! I no longer belong to Watto. A man bought me and freed me, bringing me to his moisture farm. He is a wonderful man and I fell in love with him. He loves me very much too and we have been married, just a few weeks ago."

Anakin stopped reading at that section. "Married?!" He burst out in astonishment, sounding complete flabbergasted. He couldn't believe what he was reading. Never in the nine years he had lived with her had his mother gone on a date. And now she was married

"Keep reading," Padme told him, wanting to hear the rest of the letter.

Against his better judgment, Anakin went on with the letter.

"I have enclosed the coordinates of my new home in this letter for the next time you are able to visit. When your Master sees fit and it does not interfere with your training, I would very much like to introduce you to your new family. They are wonderful people, my son, and I know they will love you as much as I do. Your new step-father is named Cliegg Lars and he has a son too, around your age. His name is Owen and I think you two will get along famously. Padme and Siri are welcome to come as well. I love you so much Ani and I hope you know how proud I am of you. You have become such a wonderful young man and even though we are apart, I know that you are doing what you were born to do. Master Siri has been a wonderful role model for you and has taught you to follow your heart, just as I always have as well. Be safe, my sweet boy and I know I will see you as soon as you are able. Goodbye for now, my son.

Love, Mom"

Anakin was stunned to speechlessness. His mother was married. He couldn't believe it. It was only a few years ago that he had left her behind on Tatooine. He'd thought he would be leaving her alone on an unkind planet, which was why he worried about her so much. His mother had never been with a man in the all time he'd lived with her, that he could tell. He couldn't be sure, of course. He preferred not to think about such things now that he understood the mechanics of a relationship. But from what he understood, his mother's life had always been focused around him from his birth. And now she was married! And not only was she married, but he had a brand new family to get accustomed to!

"Oh Ani…that's wonderful that she's been freed!" Padme exclaimed.

"Yeah…I can't believe it. I have…a family now," he said in disbelief.

"I'm so happy for you, Ani. And for your mother. I think we should find out when we can clear some time to go see her…that is if you wish for me to come as well," Padme said. He smiled at her.

"Of course I want you to come. You're a part of my life, as much as my mother and Siri are. And…I always want you to be," he replied. She blushed and looked down, very aware of the feelings that had been swelling between them. Oh, why did love have to be forbidden for him? She wondered this in anguish.

"I…always want to be too," she replied, swallowing her tears.

"I should go find Master Siri," he said, breaking the awkward silence between them.

"Yes…and I suppose I should retire for the evening," Padme said, hiding her sadness. She looked up at him, as he took her hand.

"At least let me escort you inside then," he said. She smiled at the simple joy of holding hands. She nodded, as they went inside and slowly made their way to her quarters.

"Thank you, Ani," she said.

"You're welcome. I'll let you know when Master Siri and I decide to go," he said. She nodded.

"That will be wonderful. Goodnight," she said. In a moment of sheer boldness, very uncharacteristic of her, she leaned in and pecked him on the cheek, before quickly hurrying inside her room. Anakin held his cheek in amazement, as he retreated from her door, with what he was sure was the dumbest grin ever on his face.

After discussing the letter with his Master, a visit was arranged three weeks later.

He had wondered often during their voyage – what would they think of him? He had worried that they wouldn't like him, even though Padme and Siri had assured him that no such thing was possible. His step-father, Cliegg, seemed to like him well enough. He was even interested in hearing about Anakin's adventures as a Jedi Padawan. He seemed genuine too and not just attempting to learn about him for his mother's sake. Owen had been a different story, however. The stocky boy didn't take to him as well. Anakin sensed he was a little jealous of the attention Anakin was afforded by his mother. He guessed that Owen believed he was not a very good son, since he had left his mother to be a slave and gone off to be a Jedi. He too had felt like that at times. But his mother assured him that he had done exactly what she had wanted and assured him that Owen would warm up to him over time. Anakin wasn't so sure, however. He always felt like he was being judged in Owen's presence. And if something terrible had happened to his mother, he knew Owen was going to blame him. What if Cliegg blamed him too?

"If they blame you, Ani, then they will be wrong to do so. You're a wonderful young man and if anyone can save your mother, from whatever possible danger she is in, then it's you," Padme said, coming beside his chair in the cockpit. He looked at her with questioning eyes.

"How did you know what I was thinking?" he asked.

"I guessed," she replied, as she let him pull her across his lap. She wore an airy selection, perfect for Tatooine's climate. It consisted of a light blue cropped top, leaving her midriff bare, and a shin length matching skirt, with slits up the sides.

"Are you sure you're not a Jedi?" he asked, with a tone that was teasing.

"No, I'm not a Jedi. But I am deeply in love with you," she said scooting closer and combing her fingers through his hair.

"A woman as deeply in love as I knows when the man she loves is scared. She knows when he's nervous. She knows when he's feeling less than certain of himself. And then it becomes her duty to make sure he knows how much she loves him and how she's here for him, ready to face whatever they have to together," she replied. He stared up at her in awe, as their hearts touched and their souls entwined. The connection between them was so very magical and intoxicating that sometimes, he still couldn't believe that she was his.

"Force…whatever did I do to deserve you?" he wondered.

"I think I should be asking that question, for your love has turned a cold, stoic politician into a woman so deeply in love that she feels like two completely different people at times. I don't like Amidala very much sometimes. But I love Padme Skywalker. The person she is, when she's with her beloved, who is the very best thing that ever happened to her," she said. She was content to drown in him, as he captured her lips in his own, moving them over hers in a passionate rhythm. Oh, how she loved him. Never had she felt so alive…so loved. She pressed her forehead to his, as he pecked her lips softly a few times.

Force…when had he become like air to her, so vital to her existence? Not that she minded of course, Amidala and the Jedi be damned, they belonged together. Anakin lifted her hand and kissed it, as her engagement ring glittered on her finger.

"I thought it would be okay to wear it and show your mother," Padme said. He smiled.

"She'll be thrilled. She loves you and thinks you're good for me. Mom's are always right, you know," he replied, with a smile. She beamed back, before planting another kiss on his swollen lips.

"Now, the question is, when are we going to tell your family?" he asked.

"Hmmm…" she pretended to think for a moment.

"How about never?" she replied.

"Angel…they'll be happy for us. You'll regret it if we exclude them and they'll feel hurt," he reasoned.

"Ani, my sister has a big mouth. People actually say that if you don't want people to know something, don't tell Sola Naberrie-Janren," Padme replied. Anakin laughed.

"But Padme, if she understands how imperative it is to keep our relationship a secret, then she will," he replied.

"Ha…knowing her, she'd fly to Coruscant and tell the Jedi Council the many reasons why they should let us be together instead of following their silly, outdated code," Padme half joked.

"Now that I'd love to see. But in all seriousness, we should tell them. Think of how hurt they will be if we don't," he reasoned. She sighed and looked into his big blue pleading eyes.

"Okay…" she relented. "You will get a chance to tell them, Jedi. But be prepared, for we might have to lock my sister up to keep it a secret," Padme joked. He chuckled and kissed her cheek.

"Don't worry angel. I'll make sure they all know how important it is to keep it secret," he said, as he gazed at her with the satisfaction of winning, mixed with a hungry stare.

"Don't look at me like that," she playfully scolded, even though his gaze made her weak all over.

"Like what?" he asked innocently.

"Like you want to eat me alive," she replied. He smirked devilishly.

"Oh, but I do," he replied, in a husky tone that sent chills down her spine. She felt herself melting in his arms, as he kissed her wantonly. Their ship sped through hyperspace toward its destination, with neither occupant knowing what awaited them, but trusting enough in their love to know they could handle whatever it was together…


The Jedi walked the halls of the Kaminoan cloning center. They were on their way to arrest Jango Fett, the bounty hunter responsible for the pattern of the clone army. Jango Fett still hadn't left, from what they detected on their ships' sensors, which meant there was still time to apprehend him. They moved quickly, but not enough to alert the Kaminoans. The last thing they needed was for their hosts to get suspicious.

Still, there were no illusions that he was not readying to leave the planet at this very moment. They hoped he would come with them peacefully, but both Siri and Obi-Wan were well aware that he might resist their arrest. If push came to shove, they were ready to take him by force.

Feeling the need to say something, Obi-Wan made an off-hand remark. "Well, I think we did a good job of fooling him earlier, don't you?" he said casually, quite proud of himself that he had not tipped his hand during that confrontation.

Siri stopped short. She stared at him with an incredulous look, making Kenobi wonder what he had done now.

"What the HELL is wrong with you?!" she burst out. Obi-Wan was puzzled at her outburst.

"Hm?"

"Why would you tell the Kaminoans what they were doing is illegal? We are trying to convince them that we know what's going on around here, and you almost blew our cover. Is your brain permanently switched on off or something?" she accused, amazed at the man's stupidity. Obi-Wan frowned darkly.

"Calm down, they'll hear us," Obi-Wan advised, looking around cautiously.

"Oh, now you care about us getting discovered?" she asked in disbelief, folding her arms across her chest. Obi-Wan sighed in frustration.

"Look, I made one mistake, all right? You don't have to bludgeon me over the head with it," he exclaimed.

"Do you realize why the Council doesn't like you?" she questioned pointedly. She knew she was taking a risk, stopping in their mission like this, but it wasn't a large one. She could sense Jango's presence nearby, so there was no danger of him getting away.

"It's because you don't use your head. You don't think before you act. Hell, you're still holding onto that stupid grudge from years ago," Siri told him harshly.

"Hey, that 'grudge' is a perfectly valid grievance against the Council," Obi-Wan retaliated. Siri was about to retort with a particularly nasty response, when suddenly, she sensed something amiss. Looking back, she saw something that immediately set her into action.

"Get down!" she told Kenobi, hauling him down by the tunic.

Where they had just been standing, a barrage of blaster fire sailed over their heads. Siri winced at the sparks from the explosion that rocked the corridor. She thought of how to get around it, when the blaster fire stopped, the machine unable to target them at the low level they were at.

She heard a grunt from below her.

"Comfortable?" Kenobi asked dryly, eyebrow raised. Suddenly she realized she was laying over Kenobi, their bodies in a rather compromising position.

"Get off me!" she pushed off Obi-Wan, even though she was the one on top of him. Kenobi smiled to himself briefly, though he quickly turned serious. Standing up, Siri ignited her saber and saw a rounded module with a blaster perched right above the door where Jango Fett's room was. The blaster started to fire. Siri blocked the incoming shots and deflected them towards the machine, getting three of them to strike it. The weapon exploded in a shower of sparks, causing Siri and Obi-Wan to shield their eyes.

And when the sparks cleared, sure enough, there was Jango Fett on the other side, running towards the exit that led to the landing dock.

The helmeted bounty hunter was in full battle armor, obviously having anticipated their arrest attempt. Siri immediately went after him, with Obi-Wan following closely behind.

Moments later, they emerged onto the landing platform. The torrential rains were still pouring, but Siri charged full swing into the battle. Twin blasters at the ready, the bounty hunter took aim. Siri blocked the shots Jango Fett was directing at her, and Obi-Wan ignited his own saber in response. The odd ship Jango Fett commanded was starting to lift into the air. No doubt Jango's 'son' was at the helm, ready to extricate his father from their grasp. Jango began to rise with it, using his jet pack to try to gain a possible advantage. Siri nonetheless blocked the shots from above. Siri noticed the laser on the hunter's ship start to aim and immediately adjusted her tactics.

"Kenobi, cover me!" she ordered, while she attempted to take down Jango Fett.

Kenobi heeded the order, setting to work on protecting his comrade from the weapon targeting her. He blocked the shots unleashed by the spacecraft easily, despite the force that nearly sent him back reeling. Both the ship's cannons were aiming at Siri now, but Kenobi deflected all the shots, determined not to let one through.

Siri charged at Jango Fett, who continued to fire desperately at his target. Firing this up-close was a risk – he ran the risk of one of the shots deflecting into his leg or arm, but if he did not shake off this Jedi, he was not going to be going anywhere except as a prisoner to Coruscant.

Up in the cockpit, Boba ceased his firing, afraid of hitting his father now that Siri was up close. Sensing his hesitation, Kenobi started to close in on their target.

Siri advanced on Jango, who by now had sheathed his twin blasters. Siri attempted to swipe at his limbs, but Jango avoided the swipes. They traded blows, Siri aiming for the parts that were not covered in armor, until Jango delivered a kick to her chest, sending her flying back. Jango attempted to use a weapon on his gauntlet to disable the Jedi, but a swipe from Obi-Wan immediately sent him back. He traded blows with Jango Fett, hoping to get him in a position where he could pin him on the ground. Jango unleashed a low sweep of his leg, sending Obi-Wan toppling to the ground, but Obi-Wan quickly leapt back to his feet and performed a sweep of his own, sending Jango toppling this time.

While the combatants wrestled with the upper hand, Siri struggled to regain her footing amidst the slippery terrain. Noticing the laser on the ship beginning to aim, Siri threw her saber at the laser cannon. The effect was more overwhelming than she hoped for. The weapon exploded in a slight burst of sparks as the lightsaber cleaved entirely through it, effectively disable the laser cannon. Jango cursed audibly at the explosion, but Siri grinned quietly to herself – the ship now had only one laser cannon to rely on. And if it dared to attack them, it would lose that one just as easily. Siri retrieved her lightsaber with the Force and engaged Jango Fett. They had him now.

They went in from both sides. Her on the left, Obi-Wan in the right. Desperate to hold off the Jedi, Jango recovered his blasters from their holsters. Siri and Obi-Wan held their sabers at the ready, holding the tenuous stalemate. He was proving to be a formidable enemy, but there was not much more he could do if he wanted to evade them.

Out of the corner of her eye, Siri noticed the missiles on the ship arming. Sensing danger, they jumped back just in time to avoid a missile exploding on the surface between them and Jango. The explosion barely singed them, but the shower of sparks temporarily blinded them from their target. Jango Fett had jumped back too, landing with ease from the small flight with his jet pack.

Again, Siri and Obi-Wan came at Jango. This time they were determined to capture him, even if they had to use their lightsabers to subdue him.

And then Jango unleashed his flamethrower.

The weapon shorted out under the downpour, but the initial burst was enough to send Siri and Obi-Wan backwards from the flame. They landed hard on their backs thanks to the slippery terrain of the landing pad. By the time they looked up, Jango Fett had already flown up to the entrance ramp. He went into the ship, safely away from harm.

The ship slowly ascended towards the sky. Siri cursed the exasperating situation, but she was already thinking ahead. She reached for an item in her utility belt. Obi-Wan's voice stopped her, knowing what she was concerned about.

"I threw a tracking device at his ship," Obi-Wan responded.

Siri looked at him in surprise, the astonishment evident. Perhaps Obi-Wan had his uses after all.

But before they could ponder that thought, the roar of Jango Fett's ship blazed through the area as it lifted off for the atmosphere.

They made their way back to their fighters, determined to catch Jango Fett before he made the jump to light speed.

The chase was on.