"You do not know?" Monts gasped in surprise. How was she supposed to know?

"I only know he is Boba's dad." She shrugged at the old Weequay.

"Oh frick, Jango was the best bounty hunter back in his day. Boba here was trained by him," he looked at her as if she should know. She hadn't known, but… it made sense? Though why would a bounty hunter be killed by a Jedi? Surely he must have resisted any peaceful settlement?

"So Jango was a bounty hunter, but… I don't understand why this is so important?"

"You were once a Jedi youngling." How did he know? Her mouth had fallen open. Surely this was not that well known? Why would Boba tell him that particular detail? A Jedi killed his dad, that was what he said. In front of him. She closed her mouth. But… a bounty hunter? Surely he committed a crime then?

"Why does it matter?" She had to ask, she only had assumptions. Something concrete would be nice. Maybe for once she could… get a grasp on the person that was Boba.

"A Jedi killed his father," he answered. She had to sit back against the back of the chair. Oh Force. It was true!

"In front of Boba and left him, a nine year old, alone in the middle of a warzone," Monts continued. She had to grasp at her throat. A Jedi left someone in need alone in danger? Just like Master… She shook her head. There was no way that the Jedi she had grown up and heard about later were capable of such… An outlier. It must have been an outlier. Certainly, right?

"Surely the Jedi was punished accordingly?" She protested. It had happened, but it didn't mean all of them were such… monsters .

"No." What? She shook her head harder. That could not be right!

"Altharya, have you ever heard about Galidraan?" Galidraan? No. All her studies were on the more well-known core worlds. Before her world had gone up in flames.

"What happened there?" She whispered hoarsely.

"Genocide. One the Jedi participated against a group of Mandalorians, in a civil war they had no business meddling in," Monts had this guarded look in his eyes as he finished. It was like someone rammed an ice cold spike into her spine. Genocide? Something the Jedi committed?

"How can I trust you?" It was the only defense she could bring up. The only thing… she could make sure the both of them were not lying to her, to make her doubt the Jedi, to be… malleable.

Monts sighed. Something rustled and clanked when it landed in front of her. She looked up to see a datapad lying there.

"If you don't believe me, see for yourself," he sounded weary, his rifle now laying across his knees now. He kept his eyes on her though. Right. She could look for herself. Hesitating slightly, she reached for the small datapad. She needed to confirm, to see if she was being lied to.

Her fingers shook as she opened up the holo-net application. Galidraan. Alright. Time to see what happened. Jedi were supposed to seek the truth. She typed in the keyword in and… a lot of results popped up. Government, general information. Right. Maybe it was in the history section?

Civil war? The year was way before she was born. Civil war… Mandalorians against Mandalorians. One contacted the Jedi and the Jedi…

Oh no.

No no no no no.

They hadn't lied. The Jedi had killed them all! All… except… Jango Fett. Boba's father. Who was killed by a Jedi later. The Jedi had left the child in a war zone…

Monsters ….

Were those tears running down her face? She hadn't noticed. Sniffling, she put down the datapad, wiping numbly at her eyes. What did that make her? A Jedi youngling. A murderer in the making.

"Do you see now?" Monts asked now, gently. Aye, she understood. Understood perfectly.

"The Jedi were supposed to keep the peace," her voice was as weak as she felt right now.

"You were but a child when the Jedi were killed, I cannot blame you for their actions. However, do you see why no one stood up for you?"

"Yes," she understood. Why stand up to people who fought in a war, committed genocides… who killed parents in front of their children? All the while spewing their intent on keeping the peace.

She felt sick. Downright sick. Her nose was burning and her stomach clenched. By the Force. She had idolized monsters ! More tears poured out… it was embarrassing. She couldn't control it. Monsters… All of them! Was Master Renstan the same? Had he done this too? Had he left her on Teth because he didn't care ? Just a whiny youngling who cried too often?

He had left her and he didn't even care to check up on her. Just like Boba said.

A large hand patted her shoulder awkwardly. Monts. His wrinkly face looked concerned. She didn't deserve that level of consideration at the moment.

"There," he handed her a large white piece of cloth and she took it gratefully.

"I thought…" She began, a hiccup interrupting her and she had to cough. Monts sighed.

"You were a kid. Kids idolize their families," he shot her a sympathetic smile she could not answer. It felt all so wrong. The Sith were the monsters, it had all been paraded around back in the temple. The Sith did that… they did this! All a lie? A lie to make sure they didn't question anything they'd ultimately could do… had done?

All was a lie. There was no peace. Peace was just a lie !

Monts left her there, with a tissue and her tears. Though, there was nothing really he could say to make it better. He had not been a Jedi, he had not been raised to look up to them as paragons of justice. Only to see that they had not been better. How could she be so naïve?

Boba had said so though? Naïve, foolish… A Jedi, in his eyes, who treated him when she could have left him to die. No wonder he thought she had an ulterior motives by treating him. Then again… she had said she was not a Jedi. She had said that she was a medic. A medic was what she was trained to be, had grown up to be. As soon as Master Renstan left her on Teth, she had stopped being a Jedi.

Maybe that had been a mercy. Small mercies ….She released a shuddering breath.

But… did that mean she should apologise? For something she had not done? Something a Jedi before her had done to him? Who was most likely dead at that point? Though he did deserve an apology. From her? She hadn't done anything. But he wouldn't get it from anyone else. Clearly he saw her as a Jedi.

It would either mean everything or mean absolutely nothing to him. She could try. Though, would it even be genuine if she did it? Whatever she felt right now … the sympathy. The feeling of grief for him, it all stemmed from the fact that someone she had been associated with had done to him. The apology would have to come from the one who committed all of that, one who was most likely dead. Her? What would her apology even mean?

She looked down on her hands. They had never held a lightsaber; all they had held were syringes, scalpels, needles… A medic who apologized on behalf of an extinct order? That just screamed genuine. Not …

"Monts?" She asked, finally feeling like she could stand again.

"Yes?"

"You said that I publicly chose a side… Does that mean the Arions will regard it as such too?"

Monts frowned.

"They would. Though," his frown deepened, "the last time something like this happened, the people died shortly after."

She swallowed heavily. Hence her being watched by him. Someone who knew how to handle a rifle. A cantina owner…. How did that compute?

"You are not from here," it blurted out from here before she could reign herself in. Monts twitched violently. She flinched at the reaction. Had that been a touchy subject? Shit…

"Aye, I am not from here. How could you tell?"

"A cantina owner who knows how to handle a rifle? It's not really something that I'd consider usual."

Monts chuckled briefly, taking a sip from his bottle.

"Observant. I used to be a bounty hunter. I knew Boba from those days. He visits sometimes in between bounties," he flashed her grin while looking back to the door.

A friend. Someone he trusted enough to guard her. Guard and contain. But a friend he trusted nonetheless. When had the lines she had hoped would never blur blurred nonetheless? She kept silent. If she said anything more, she'd see more of Boba as a person and not… the monster she was running from. Oh kriff. That line had been blurred as soon as she soothed him back on the ship. Blurred? More like completely obliterated. Groaning she threw her head back in frustration and held her head. She was screwed on so many levels, it was practically impossible to dig herself out on her own. So they waited. Either for Boba to return or for the assassin to find them. Right now she'd rather have Boba return. An assassin would definitely kill her, Boba she could maybe escape from. Easy choice. Really.

A knock on the door made her shoulders tense up briefly. She turned around to stare at the door. Stay or flee?

"Just Boba," Monts grumbled as he got up to open the door. Her shoulders fell. Right, just Boba. He stomped in, no words said in greeting, Definitely in a foul mood. Could she blame him? Not really.

He looked in her direction briefly before turning to Monts again.

"The Brents did this," he took off his helmet, "the assassin has gone underground for now."

Did that mean they were safe? She stared at Monts now. Maybe she could see the answer in whatever he was going to say? Though… her stomach sank- the worried expression on his face meant they were not safe. Underground meant in hiding right? So no danger for now?

"Kriff, you need to get her out of the city," Monts hissed, pointing at her now. Hey! She was right there! Bristling at being so openly ignored, she looked to the two bounty hunters having a stare down.

"Everything is barricaded, blocked. We would most likely be seen as the assassin fleeing," Boba argued back. He looked tired, mostly annoyed though. She looked away, to the small window at the back of the room, above the couch. It must be late afternoon by now. The light filtering in had more orange hues than in the morning. A shadow passed over it. Really quickly. Her skin prickled and the hair on her neck stood on end.

The assassin was out for them. For her specifically. All because she managed to stabilize the girl? An outsider. They were out there. Maybe the shadow was them… No. At least, not necessarily. Could have been anything. She could not swallow anymore, her throat constricting in fear. Could Boba go up against an assassin?

Of course. Sure ?

Suddenly she sensed Boba's presence near her. It was imposing, even without the Force with her. She looked up to him as he quietly regarded her for a moment. Then he went on a knee next to her, so his eyes were level to hers. His eyes locked with hers, deep brown on her grey ones. Something was about to be asked, something she might not be comfortable with.

"We are going to lay a trap," she opened her mouth to respond, but shut it again immediately. She had nothing to say. Lay a trap? Really risky.

"Did Monts fill you in on the situation?" At least he didn't sound accusatory anymore- one thing going for her, for once. Sighing, she nodded slightly.

"We both will lie in wait in our room," he lowered his voice more and she had to lean in to actually hear him.

Too close! She could smell him and… he was too close. He occupied the most of her field of vision. She felt trapped, but she couldn't help but stay where she was.

"And when he comes, we will be ready," Boba finished explaining, retreating, leaving a cold space in front of her. What in the frick just happened? Her emotions were all over the place. That was it. Nothing else.

"I will keep watch downstairs. Poor Kertan has not had a quiet minute since the whole debacle," Monts sighed and walked towards Boba.

"My comm link is activated, all you need is to beep," he looked serious now as he motioned for her to get up. Her knees wobbled slightly as she walked to where Boba was standing. How were they even setting up this trap?

"Come," Boba laid a hand on her shoulder and guided her out of the door into a staircase.

"Our room is one up," he pushed her towards the first few steps and she climbed them in front of him until they reached the door they had come out this morning.

As soon as they were inside, he strode over to the window and checked the lock. She stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. Alright? What was she to do? Stand still and be as obvious as possible? Instinctively she looked to Boba for … direction? Boba was tapping at the lock.

"It will have to do for now," he muttered before turning around to her, looking at her for a moment. His helmet was in between his arm and waist, waiting to be put on again. When had he been last out of his armour? Then he strode past her to the light switch, dousing them in relative darkness. The afternoon sun angled away so that practically no light fell into their room. All she could see was a grey outline where he was when she turned around to where he currently was.

"What will I do?" she asked him directly. If she was to do something, she would need some direct instructions. Boba hesitated, at least it seemed like it. His body stilled for a moment before stepping towards her again. If she stretched out her hand she'd touch his chest, he was that close.

"We will hide," he said simply and stepped closer still.

She took a step back and his hands shot to her elbows holding her in place. Hang on… we will hide? Them both? Being close to him? Oh no, no. She was not prepared for that! Throwing her weight against Boba only made him grip her elbows tighter. Well, here went nothing. She threw herself down on the floor.

Tried .

He practically stepped forward to prevent it. Cursing, he yanked her up roughly, one of his arms going around her waist. Her right hand flew to his side, punching him in the side.

Ow. She had hit the armour plate. He did not even twitch a muscle.

"I will cuff you if you keep resisting," he hissed into her ear and she froze at how close he was. When had he gotten so close? His arm around her waist tightened and she kicked feebly in the air as she was promptly lifted off ground. Her arms gripped at his shoulders so she would not tip over to the side.

"Now listen, I am only saying this once," he growled and his breath washed over her face. She squeezed her eyes shut. Do not think of how close he was now.

"You and I will hide in this closet and wait. And you will be quiet," he finished as his other arm wound around her shoulders and lifted her shortly to toss her into the closet, not two feet away from them.

She impacted hard against the wooden panels, her lungs briefly not being able to catch any air. Then he was pressed against her and closed the door to the closet. Silence fell over them and she had to focus on breathing. He was practically pressed against her completely. If she moved, she'd brush his waist or legs depending which limb she'd move. By the Force this day was getting better and better!

Dropping her forehead against his chest armour, she groaned in defeat. Fine, she'd sit still in a cramped closet with Boba. She tried to shift, her arm settling in a small space that their bodies left in between. Right no dead arm in a few hours, the other stayed on her side. It would not touch him at all. The same could not be said about her legs, they were practically smashed in between his.

So they waited, silence hanging over them like a curtain. It was almost as if she could pretend he wasn't near her. Even if his breathing was about audible near her ears, she could tune it out. The rising of his chest could easily be felt as her own movements. Frankly, it was not as bad as it could have been.

Almost. If only her thoughts had remained on that. Nope. They all focused on what she had seen on that datapad. Galidraan. So Boba had not lied.

Sure she had known before. Though, how could she have believed him then? She had grown up with the Jedi and lived with people who never talked about them. Had she blinded herself to her happy memories in the bad year before settling on Teth? It was plausible. Many abuse victims sometimes put the blame on themselves, not on the abuser, citing that their partner was good and could do no wrong. Was that what she had done with the Jedi, a group she barely remembered anything about? She only remembered Kine clearly. Much else was hazy.

Night fell shortly after, the last bit of light disappearing, drowning them in absolute darkness. Only his smell and his breathing were reminding her she was still in a room. On Drog II. Was the sound amplified? It was as if he was whispering to her with it. No, he was breathing. There had been no change in it… She was thinking too much. Plain and simple.

When had her cheek landed on his chest? It was definitely on his chestplate, rising and falling with him. Her eyes fluttered on their own. Stay awake. She couldn't be dead weight when the assassin came.

To be honest, however, what could she do? Get in the way?

She was staying right here. It was safest so far, even if it meant that she was wedged uncomfortably between a wooden wall and Boba with his armour. Safe. His breathing was even and steady, not like a few days ago… when she actually had feared for him dying underneath her. Comforting, in a sense, as if nothing was wrong.

She slipped into a dreamless sleep, lulled into it by Boba's calm, steady breathing.

There was no telling how long she had been asleep for when she finally opened her eyes again. It was pitch black, still. Was she still inside the closet? The wood pressing against her back confirmed it, as well as the painful cricks in her back that sparked up as soon as she moved a muscle. How long had it been? Hours? She felt like an old person! Ow…. Her cheek was resting against cool metal, like before. They had not moved in their position for hours now. How long did they have to wait for this assassin?

If he even turned up at this stage. Maybe Boba and Monts had assumed wrong? Had he decided not to attack tonight? Especially with Boba Fett near her? She huffed slightly. Who was she kidding in the end? If she or Boba were in the way for an assassin they will try to get rid of them. No matter how great one's reputation was.

Should she say something though? They hadn't talked, and they were practically on top of each other. Her face suddenly burned up when she remembered how close they were again. Quietly, she sighed… Her mind really was not the greatest ally sometimes. By the Force, if this continued, she might consider sticking around Boba for whatever reason.

This was her sympathy speaking! She remembered what she found out about Galidraan, about Jango Fett. If she could just get it out of her system, she could go back to resenting him properly .

"Boba?" She whispered quietly into the darkness, waiting with a held breath for any reaction. There was a tiny pause in his breathing rhythm. She had startled him. Silence grew heavier and she bit the inside of her cheek. Why was he not answering?

"Yes?" He asked quietly. Releasing the breath she had been holding, she moved her cheek further up so she probably looked at his face. Probably didn't, but with the darkness she could pretend.

"I … was told about your dad, Jango."

He stilled. Completely. Her stomach dropped. Was he angry? Was she about to die? Not a single muscle twitched, not that she would have felt it, but his chest didn't rise anymore. Was he holding a breath? Her fingers gripped his chest plate tighter. Her lower lip trembled. She shouldn't have said anything, idiot !

"Monts?" He finally said something, his chest falling as he breathed out.

"Yes," she closed her eyes concentrating at the small movements underneath her face. Not that they were of much use anyway.

"What did he say?" He sounded strained, as if he was holding something back. The memories. Memories of how he died most likely. She couldn't blame him, after all she saw Kine dying in her dreams sometimes. So she waited a moment. There was nothing she could do with memories that were not hers.

"He only said who he was…" she drew a breath, tensing. Galidraan. She had to say it.

Otherwise it made no sense why she even brought it up. It was still hard to admit that the people she had spent a childhood with had not been what she was remembering. Suddenly a hand was on her back, between her shoulder blades. What was it doing there? What was he doing? She tensed even further when the hand moved to her shoulder, shifting her body more on top of him. What? Her fingers lost their grasp on the chest plate, sliding down until he stopped shifting her. Right, now where was she positioned? She moved a finger and… was that his helmet? He had shifted her further up. So he could hear her better…. Of course. No more excuse to keep stalling on her part. Damn.

"He mentioned Galidraan," she said quickly and gripped the cloth around his neck tightly. Something to hold on. The hand on her shoulder stilled and the neck underneath her fingertips turned. Metal touched the tip of her nose. His visor?

Shit they were close. Any closer and her mouth would be touching the helmet. A shiver ran down her spine.

"You believed him?" He sounded skeptical, his hand on her back digging painfully into her. Her muscles tensed and she had to bite down a hiss.

"He let me look it up," she offered and then finally his hand relaxed.

He didn't say anything else, but he didn't push her away either. Waiting for something she'd say. Right. For her to apologise. If that was what he was after.

"I am sorry for what the Jedi did," she said it slowly and she could not help the cautious tone. Would he accept it?

"For?" She groaned and dropped her forehead against his visor. Fine. Play that game!

"For… murdering everyone, for meddling. For your dad," she was rambling she knew. But there was not a lot she could pinpoint! How did one apologise for a genocide ?! Anything meant nothing at all!

She wasn't done. There was one she had to mention.

"And I am sorry for you," she added lifting her forehead from his helmet and stared up. She'd see the closet ceiling if there was any light here.

He jerked when she said it, and she lost the strength in her arms holding her up. Her face smacked into his helmet, her chest impacted hard on his chest plate. Hissing, she tried to curl inward, as her nose and ribs throbbed in dull pain. Though, he kept her from doing much in that regard. He had his arms under her armpits, holding her slightly off of him.

"Me?" He sounded… Expressionless? No emotion. Frowning she looked down, settling her hands on his chest plate again.

"Yes, you."

No answer and he set her down again, making her wince slightly.

"An apology will not bring them back."

"I know. But no apology is worse."

"Your apology is worthless to me," his voice was like steel when it cut through her chest. Shocked, her mouth fell open. Hang on… What just happened? Her heart twisted painfully. Worthless? Why?

"Why?"

"The Jedi responsible for all of this are dead," his voice had gone so cold that she had to shiver from it.

"Then why hold me responsible?"

"You were once one of them," he said and she shut her mouth.

"Guilty by association?"

"You have not proven to be nothing like them. So I will go with what I know, and I know Jedi are corrupt and the galaxy burned for it," he hissed and she froze. So much hatred. How could she not have seen it? Did he mean the war between the Republic and the CIS? She knew that Jedi had fought in it. But… they hadn't caused it.

"The Jedi are better off gone," it was like a punch in the gut when he bit it out and… she could not even argue back. An organization that willingly went in and killed off a group for opposing ideas on government. The War had been that, in essence, hadn't it? Opposing ideologies; and the Jedi, instead of pursuing peace, had jumped right in the war effort.

"What about me then?" She had to ask. Did he consider her a Jedi nor or still viewed her as such. Did he think she should die?

He hesitated. This time she felt his eyes on her face, like invisible fingers prodding on her skin. Goosebumps rose on her skin along her forearms. It was as if he was searching for something in the darkness. Had she thrown him off guard?

"Should I have died with them?" She pressed on. Why she felt the need to know was beyond her, but it was burning underneath her skin. Prickled in the back of her mind. The longer he waited the worse it all got. What was going on?

"I thought you said you are no Jedi?" She practically saw the raised eyebrow in the darkness and underneath his helmet. A snort stopped short in her throat. Turning her words against her like this. Why was she not surprised… Sighing she looked to the closet doors. This was going nowhere it seems.

"I wouldn't have cared if you had," it was quiet, but resolute. But she had heard it. She snapped her eyes back to where she knew his face would be. Oh right. Once a Jedi always a Jedi? Even if one hadn't never been one, only an Initiate?

That was enlightening…. She felt herself deflating and put her head back on his chest plate, facing away from him again. Silence hung over them again, suffocating her.

His hand on her shoulder remained, rising and falling with her chest.

Why did it feel like something had changed, when nothing had? Was she looking too deeply into his touch right now, as pressed for space as they were? He said he didn't care, or ever would. Now she knew what he thought about the Jedi, and as an extension, what he thought of her.

Something clicked., so quietly that she almost was sure that it had been her imagination, if Boba hadn't tensed up as well. It had sounded like a tiny needle dropping onto a tile.

The assassin. Her muscles froze. Someone was in their room. Specifically to kill her. Her breath caught in her lungs and she wanted to scream. Ice ran over her spine and she felt herself shrinking away until her face was buried in Boba's armpit. For once she was glad she had no access to the Force; otherwise she'd feel the person in their room now, feel how they were searching for her.

Her hand, clutching the edge of his chest plate, tightened its hold, her knuckles protesting against the strain.

She was safe. Boba was there and he didn't need her dead. Otherwise the big money bag he was getting would be gone. His arm around her shifted and she felt him taking aim. How had he taken his blaster out? She hadn't even felt him do it. The hair on her neck started prickling. Definitely not the Force, but what was it? Gut instinct? Was this how people knew someone was nearby, out to get them? A creak of the wooden door made her heart burst with fear. Her eyes squeezed shut tightly. That had been the closet door. Why was Boba not doing anything?! Her throat prevented a whimper breaking the deafening silence, it was constricted so forcefully.

She felt the recoil before the sound of a blaster going off registered in her mind. Then, a yell. Had she screamed? Her body rocked against Boba and… she waited for the pain. Had the assassin gotten them? Had Boba failed? Her throat didn't feel raw. Definitely not her yell, then.

Nothing. No pain. Her eyes flew open just as the slamming of the window shattered the silenced around them, and she felt herself tipping out of the closet, Boba dragging her outside with him. Had he been hit?! Frantically she tried keeping a grip on his armour plates. It was all too dark.

He was moving, though, not groaning in pain, nor was he curling in on himself from wounds. Good? Not hit? What was going on? Why had they come out of the closet?

"Kriff," he muttered, repositioning his hands to underneath her shoulders to lift her slightly off him. Footsteps stomped behind the door to their room and she froze. Who…

Suddenly the lights were turned on. Oh bloody… Ow! It was like needles were stabbing her retinas, and she had to shut her eyes again to make the spots go away.

"Monts," Boba said, sighing while shifting her off of him. Slowly she opened her eyes again. There he was, Monts. Rifle drawn, still in the doorframe.

"He escaped," Monts stated drily when he saw a trail of blood on the floor. She got up on her knees, breathing out, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. It was just Monts. They were safe for now. Boba had injured the assassin. No injuries. All was well, for now.

"Aye," Boba agreed while getting up, "Definitely not an amateur. Professional. Knew the layout of the room."

"A native?"

"Probably."

"We also have more problems," Monts sighed, pointing down the stairs with his thumb.

"What is it now?" Boba sounded exhausted and annoyed. She agreed, for once. What now? They had enough on their plates!

"I suggest you come down," Monts motioned for them to follow him and before she could take a step forward, Boba gripped her left forearm and dragged her up.

"Right," he looked over her briefly, as if assessing her. She swallowed. Was there something he was looking for? She frowned up at him. What are they to do with an assassin out and about? Someone who was professional?

He tugged her with him, down the stairs to the main room of the cantina. Which was relatively empty. Odd. Weren't there more people around during the night? Unless it was a quiet night? The chatter from the patrons was soft background noise, easily missed. Most of them were sitting in the booths towards the darker corners of the room. She nearly missed the group standing at the bar.

No. Those were not patrons. Uniforms, black, with blue pins.

The enforcers of the city.

Five people waiting for them, weapons ready as if they were expecting trouble. A large woman stepped forward, her eyes fixing on her briefly, before settling on Boba. What did they want? Monts said that she had chosen a side in this conflict she had no clue about. She pressed herself closer to Boba's side, the uninjured one. Whatever they wanted, she felt safer with Boba still. Her gut twisted when she looked at the pin and the five people who built themselves up in front of them. Threat? She threw a glance to Boba, who looked fairly relaxed. Was she missing something?

"I come on official orders from the Arion family. You are to follow us."


AN: Hope you enjoyed reading the new chapter. Thanks to SapphiraBlue (who can be found on AO3) for editing this chapter.

I am currently in the middle of exam season (it will be over in middle of June so please bear with me). Do tell me what you thought in a review, follow or favourite, any of those are very much appreciated.