Battle raged all around them. Boba and Leia pressed their backs together so that their enemies could not surround them. There were quite a few more than the ten who'd snuck their way into the Senate chamber itself. Another fifteen had been outside, including a few that had been guarding the Slave I. Now, they were all attacking the duo.
Fett took a shot in the abdomen, and returned his attacker's fire. He was completely silent, concentrating only on the battle. Leia didn't have a jetpack yet, and she wouldn't know how to use it if she did. It was best he stay on the ground to protect her. Another Mando fell, helmet visor shattered through by a carefully-placed blaster bolt.
Other soldiers, guards from the senate, had joined into the battle. But they weren't nearly as well-trained as the bounty hunter. One got himself roasted by a flamethrower. Fett roasted a Mando with his own, rolling his eyes. They really shouldn't fall for that. And it didn't kill him. It was just a distraction to give the hunter time to fire a precisely-aimed blaster bolt into one of the weak spots of his armor.
"Boba, there are too many of them! We need to get out of here!"
He gave a snort. "I don't run away from battles I know I can win."
"You are seriously optimistic about our chances, I think."
He grabbed her, and spun, so he was now taking her targets. There was only carnage on his side now. "I think you are underestimating my abilities, love."
"But we're fighting your own people… does this not seem at all wrong to you?"
"We're fighting a terrorist group that uses my people's armor to instill fear. While I respect that fear should be retained for it, I do not agree that these people are Mandalorians." He sighed. "I'm not exactly the perfect Mandalorian either, you know."
"You're a bounty hunter, love. I suppose you're right." She gave a pained sound as her armor was hit. It hurt, but not nearly as much as it would have without it. This was amazingly protective.
Fett took out the one that shot Leia. "Aim for their visors, or between the plates on the chest. You're just wasting ammunition hitting the plates themselves. Or even aim for their packs, if you can."
"You make it sound so easy…" She shot one's jetpack, sending them spiraling out of control into the city below. "Good call, though."
"Jet packs are testy when hit by anything. Your former husband taught me that the hard way."
She had to laugh. "You did sort of attack us."
He rolled his eyes, and continued fighting. Finally, they got air support. Now that there were only six left.
The armed police vessel fired at the Death Watch Mandos, taking them out with ease. Mandalorian armor didn't stand a chance against turbolasers. It was tough, but it wasn't that tough. All six of the remaining group were killed with relative ease, but the vessel hadn't done most of the work.
Out of twenty-five adversaries, Fett had scored twelve. Leia had killed three. The guards killed four, collectively, and the transport took out the remaining six. All in all, Fett had very nearly single-handedly taken out the entire force of Death Watch. He was certainly not a force to be reckoned with.
When Leia caught sight of him again, there were a few new scuffs and dents in his armor, but he seemed relatively unharmed. Aside from a blaster hole on his left arm. It was bleeding underneath, but it had just grazed him, and he didn't appear to even notice it.
"You're as tough as a Gundark, love."
"Gundarks are amazingly easy to kill. I have gone into the maw of a Balyeg, and came back out with its tooth."
She stared at him blankly. "You're either crazy or brave."
"Some say both." He gave a shrug, and looked down at his arm. "Those Death Watch barves can't aim worth a damn."
Leia had to laugh, even as she slid off her helmet. "I'm sure you've had worse." She looked down at all the scoring that was now in her armor, along with a dent from a straight-on blast. It was still sore as Hell underneath. Poor Jango's poncho was full of holes and covered in carbon scoring from near-misses. It had certainly seen better days. "Sorry about the holes.."
He chuckled softly. "It served its purpose well." He gently tapped at her dent. "And I see you've discovered my love of the armor."
"It hurts like Hell."
"But you're alive."
He had a point. She nodded. "I think my rib's broken, though."
A few of the Senators came over out of their hiding places. Mon Mothma frowned, her own robes scored from a near-miss of a flamethrower. "I think I owe you both an apology. You just saved the Senate."
Fett gave a shrug. "I did not defend your petty house of lies, Mothma. Death Watch was after Leia. It was her I fought for."
Leia blushed. Boba was a warrior as much as he was a hunter. He could just as easily fight for the Republic in the army, and still be a nearly-unstoppable force. Scary, but she was very glad he was on her side.
Mon frowned. "The Senate is not a house of lies, Fett…"
"If you truly believe that, then you are blinder than I thought. Half of your Senators are corrupt, and those are just the ones I can prove indefinitely."
Leia looked up at him in shock. "I think we need to have a chat about that, love."
He shrugged a little. "As you wish."
"Of course, Senator Organa, you're welcome to remain on the Senate. I'll recall the vote to have you removed from office.."
"Fett." Leia corrected.
"Excuse me?"
"Senator Fett."
Mon frowned. "You never adopted the Solo name in your position…"
Leia smiled, and wrapped an arm around Boba. "I never had a reason to. Fett is a name that should be respected, as well as feared. Solo never wanted his name associated with politics. Fett was a name once synonymous with a great ruler of Mandalore. If any name belongs as a member of the New Republic, it's his."
Boba gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. He was proud to include her in his family line. He was certain his father would be just as happy to welcome her. That she was honoring Jango in her desire to have the name Fett associated with honor in the Senate meant a lot.
Mon sighed. "Of.. course." She was obviously unhappy with this as she returned inside, followed by the other two. Fett was still hiding in his helmet, despite her showing his face to everyone in the Senate. She had no idea why he bothered, but figured it had something to do with intimidation. After all, that visor was cold and unfeeling. No emotion could ever be shown upon it. Not frustration, not anger or remorse. She didn't know if he even felt any of those things, but if he did, it would never show with that thing over his face.
"You can prove all of this, Fett?" Mon Mothma was a bit taken aback at all of the names and crimes he was giving her. Some of them had even tried to hire Fett to take out other Senators. One had offered him over one million for herself.
"Of course."
She rubbed at her temple. "I would appreciate all of the information you have on this."
"Naturally. I will give it to you, for a price."
Leia quirked a brow at him. "Bounty hunters.." She gave a little sigh.
Mon glared at him. "What's the price, then?"
"Allow my wife to live by her own reputation. Not by mine. And help spread information that the picture you took of me is a clone that took the name of the former Mand'alor, Jaster Mereel. That is all I want from you."
Both of the ladies gave him strange looks. It was Leia who finally spoke after a long silence. "Boba, why? I don't care about being associated with you anymore."
"Principle, love. My reputation has nothing to do with you. Walking my path or not, it is not your burden to carry."
She smiled and leaned against him. "You're sweet."
"Only to you."
Mon Mothma rolled her eyes. "You will never know how disturbing that is.." She sighed again. "But I'll agree to your terms, Fett. Though I'm not sure why you care."
"She's my wife, Mothma. That doesn't make her my keeper. My actions belong to me alone. And the mystery behind my identity helps me in my job."
Leia had to giggle a bit. "Though you bought me Mandalorian armor."
"You asked for it."
"Yes, but I thought you would be insulted."
"Hardly. You have the potential to be one of us."
She blushed. "You certainly know what to say to a girl."
Mon rolled her eyes, and shook her head. "Get a room. I'll take that information now, Fett."
Boba nodded once, and went over to a data port to transfer the files from his ship's computers. Once finished with what she needed, he erased any trace of the link. He simply left after this.
Mon Mothma set her hands on her hips. "You have a funny taste in men, Leia. I'm still not fond of this union of yours. But if he's willing to cooperate with the Republic on future endeavors, I suppose I can tolerate it. Boba Fett as an ally to the Republic could certainly be useful."
"I'm not going to use my husband like that, Mon. He'll do what he feels is right, and I'm not about to tell him that he's only allowed to take jobs we agree with."
"He worked for the Empire enough."
"Yes, but we don't accept his job title as readily as the Empire did."