A/N: Like the last chapter, this one has "familiar" elements as well, but it can't be helped. It is needed for later. Things will change, you'll see.


Chapter 50: Tracking the Bounty Hunter

"R4! Scramble code five to Coruscant care of the old folks' home!" Obi-Wan yelled as he pulled his cloak tighter around him to block out the falling rain. He had just finished meeting with Jango Fett, and had left to contact the Jedi Council. Obi-Wan knew Jango was the assassin he was looking for. The bounty hunter had tried to hide it, but Obi-Wan had caught a glimpse of a set of armor in one of the bounty hunter's room that resembled the armor worn by the bounty hunter that had killed Senator Amidala's assassin.

Obi-Wan's meeting with Jango Fett had been brief and tense, and Obi-Wan did not need the force to feel the man's agitation and fear at being confronted by a Jedi. Obi-Wan would have arrested Jango during his visit, but he had to follow Jedi protocol and contact the Council for permission first. This frustrated him, and he was beginning to understand his former Master, Qui-Gon's, irritation with the bureaucracy of the Council.

Jango had claimed he had never heard of Master Sifo-Dyas who the Kaminoans said instigated the clone project. Instead, Jango stated that a man called Tyranus had hired him. Obi-Wan could vaguely remember hearing the name Tyranus in the past, but he was not sure where. It was possible he had heard it in his Jedi studies or from the Star Wars movies Aila had shown him, but he could not recall the source. Obi-Wan figured he would ask Aila if the detail did not reveal itself in time.

"Knight Kenobi." Master Windu stated in greeting to Obi-Wan's transmission.

"What news do you have?" Master Yoda asked politely as Obi-Wan's image appeared before them in one of the Jedi Temple's meditation chambers.

"I have successfully made contact with the prime minister of Kamino." Obi-Wan stated getting straight to business. "They are using a bounty hunter named Jango Fett to create a clone army. I have a strong feeling that this bounty hunter is the assassin we are looking for."

"Do you think these cloners are involved in the plot to assassinate Senator Amidala?" Master Windu inquired.

"No, Master." Obi-Wan's relationship with Master Windu was tense after how the Jedi Council had treated both him and Aila, but Obi-Wan did not forget his place and used the formal title. However, he used the title because it was expected of him, not out of respect. "There appears to be no motive."

"Do not assume anything, Obi-Wan. Clear your mind must be if you are to discover the real villains behind this plot."

"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan stated in agreement even though he was sure his hypothesis was correct. Unfortunately, he could not inform the Jedi Council that he had seen evidence three years ago to back up his current investigation. Too many questions about Anakin would arise if the Council knew about the content of the Star Wars films. However, he would do his best to clear the Kaminoans in the eyes of the Council. "They say Master Sifo-Dyas placed an order for a clone army at the request of the Senate almost ten years ago." Obi-Wan paused while he watched confused expressions cross over both Master Windu's and Yoda's faces.

With no one acknowledging his statement, Obi-Wan added, "I was under the impression he was killed before that. Did the Council ever authorize the creation of a clone army?"

"No." Master Windu stated sternly. "Whoever placed that order did not have the authorization of the Jedi Council."

"Bring him here." Master Yoda stated, indicating Jango Fett. "Question him we will."

"Yes, Master. I will report back when I have him." Obi-Wan finished with a slight bow before ending the transmission.

Back in a meditation room in the Jedi Temple, Master Yoda stated, "Blind we are if creation of this clone army we could not see." He shrewdly glanced at Master Windu when he spoke.

Master Windu sighed before saying, "I think it is time we informed the Senate that our ability to use the Force has diminished. It will be difficult for us to aid Chancellor Itappa in reuniting the Republic with our weakened abilities."

Master Yoda shook his head in the negative as he said, "Only the Dark Lord of the Sith knows of our weakness. If informed the Senate is, multiply our adversaries will. Bring greater conflict to the Republic, it may."


Aila had been extremely busy since Obi-Wan's departure, but she was enjoying herself. Chancellor Itappa had been able to clear some time on his schedule the day after she accepted the position as his charity coordinator, so they were able to have their luncheon and discussion of the charities early. After the luncheon, she had finished reading the background material on the charities she was now in charge of and immediately set to the task of contacting the staffs that worked on them respectively. She had contacted the Galactic Wildlife Preservation Fund on Roon, The Scholarship for Future Democratic Leaders on Naboo, The Universal Education Trust on Alderaan, and the Society for the Protection of Galactic Welfare on Corellia.

She was pleased with the people working for her. It seemed that Chancellor Itappa had picked good people to work on his various charities. In general people seemed willing to work with her, but Aila wanted to meet them in person to solidify her relationship. However, this meant that she would have to travel off planet to do so. Aila had not left Coruscant since moving there with Obi-Wan. Over the past three years, she had stayed planet side, preferring to be where he was.

However, Obi-Wan was not here now so the only thing stopping her from her trip was her fear of flying. For the trip from Earth to Coruscant, Obi-Wan had used a Jedi mind trick to put her to sleep so that she would not have to deal with her fear. Since her arrival on Coruscant, she had flown in a speeder from time to time, but she had never flown in an off planet transport. She tried to tell herself that it was the same as the speeders on Coruscant, but the butterflies in her stomach told her this was not true.

Aila chided herself for her silliness. She did not know why she had this ridiculous fear of traveling by air or space, but this did not seem to ease her discomfort either. These trips might have been easier if Obi-Wan was there to go with her, but that was not possible. She would have to do this alone.

Aila had been given a luxurious Nubian cruiser from Chancellor Itappa to use for her travel needs along with a crew to pilot it for her, if she so desired. Aila had tried to refuse the lavish gift, but conceded after the Chancellor's insistence that she accept it. In the end, Aila decided that she would only use the transport for her job as Itappa's charity coordinator and in cases of an emergency. She reasoned that the Jedi Council would not let her have a transport of her own and that Obi-Wan would be furious if he found out that she had traveled on unregistered transport, alone. Obi-Wan always worried for her safety and by accepting the Nubian cruiser, Aila would be able to calm his nerves and prevent any further deterioration of his relationship with the Jedi Council.

With her transportation settled, Aila spent the next few days trying to think of other things than her upcoming space flight. She tried to picture the new sites she would see on the planets she would visit. She also tried to create detailed itineraries of her plans. However, this could not abate the nervous tension that she felt. So, on the morning when she departed for her first set of appointments on Corellia, she did not eat any breakfast in the hope of settling her stomach.


Obi-Wan snuck back into Tipoca City and made his way to a landing platform near Jango's apartment. He had first gone to the bounty hunter's quarters, but had found them vacated. Several drawers were left open and empty, indicating that the occupants had left in a hurry. Obi-Wan had called upon the Force to help him locate his quarry and immediately set in that direction to intercept Jango Fett before his departure.

Thunder rumbled and lightning streaked the stormy skies as Obi-Wan ran towards Jango's ship. The Jedi Knight could see his target standing just at the entrance of the ship and in full Mandalorian armor. Ideally, Obi-Wan would have liked to sneak up on the bounty hunter, but Jango's young son and clone, spotted him and alerted the bounty hunter of his presence. Sensing a fight, Obi-Wan quickly pulled his lightsaber from his belt and ignited the cerulean blade which sizzled as the cool rain droplets fell upon it.

Jango fired several blaster bolts at Obi-Wan, which the Jedi was able to deflect away with ease. Realizing that Obi-Wan was getting too close to him, Jango fired up a small rocket pack strapped to his back and pushed himself up and out of the way of the Jedi's attack range as he continued to fire his blasters. Normally, Jango was an excellent shot, but he rarely faced an opponent who was as strong in the Force as Obi-Wan.

However, with a few well placed shots from both himself and his son Boba on his ship, Jango was able to subdue Obi-Wan who lost his lightsaber during the barrage of attacks.

Unfortunately for Jango, when he went to kill Obi-Wan, he ended up losing his blasters after Obi-Wan gave him a violent kick to his chest. With the wind knocked out of him, Jango staggered upright to continue the fight. From that point on, both Obi-Wan and Jango engaged in a hand-to-hand brawl, both punching and kicking at one another to subdue their opponent. Neither had any success in this struggle. In the end, Jango lost his rocket pack and both he and Obi-Wan were nearly killed after they lost their footing on the rain soaked building and almost slid off the domed structure and into the raging sea below them.

However, Jango was spared by the use of a series of claws inset into the forearms of his armor. He was able to stop his fall and claw his way bock towards his ship. Obi-Wan fell further than Jango, but was able to use the Force to swing himself and land on a nearby walkway. Obi-Wan then sprinted back to the landing platform several feet above him.

Jango had not checked on the fate of the Jedi when he had pulled himself back onto the landing platform holding his ship. Instead, he immediately ran to his ship and fired up the engines. His decision not to check whether Obi-Wan had fallen to his death was a mistake, because he failed to spot the Jedi approach his ship from behind and toss a small homing beacon onto its hull.

"This is not finished." Obi-Wan murmured to himself as he watched Jango's ship take off into Kamino's stormy sky. "I will go after you soon, but for now I am needed on Tatooine."