Ryndellia, 2 ABY
It was his job. He had been dedicated to it for years since the death of his father, more dedicated than many that he had met of the same profession. He wasn't the compromised bounty hunter that some tended to be: he was fearsome, and once he had his sights on his bounty, he wasn't leaving without them. He'd worked for his title of becoming the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy and he wasn't going to let anyone take that title from him.
Boba Fett's presence in the small Ryndellian town was unwelcome from the few who had survived the previous week's attack. The buildings of the town were crumbled to bricks, scorched wood, and ruined furniture. There was silence in the ominous place, and no matter where he turned, there was no hint of color among the landscape. Like many places across the galaxy, the Empire had stolen any trace of color there to replace with ashy gray.
The people kept their heads low as he watched them, curling tighter into themselves and their clothes. Many of them were still covered in ash with haunted looks upon their faces that he had seen many times. Some turned and walked in the other direction the moment they saw him standing at the edge of the town, close to where a cantina once stood.
Boba took pride in the effect he had on the town. It had taken many years to reach that point in his life, to become so feared and abominable. His armor had become iconic across the galaxy – deep green beskar made up the majority of the set, with Mereel's sigil over the right breast. Two red gauntlets adorned his wrists, each containing a different weapon. At the knees, two yellow metal plates were strapped securely that matched the right spaulder adorned with the mythosaur skull. The most important pieces of armor, however, were the ones that made him so distinct from other hunters. He wore a red and green helmet to shield his face from view, carried an EE-3 carbine rifle, and had a jetpack strapped to his back. Underneath the armor was a layer of think gray clothing with a green cape over one shoulder, which had burnt spots from the jetpack (not that he cared), and a variety of braids over his right shoulder.
He was the brightest color in the entire landscape. He didn't mind the attention it drew to him – in fact, it only served to make his pride swell.
He held his hands in front of him, the rifle tucked close to him. He never trusted anyone he had to meet, even if they had no grudges against him.
He'd been waiting ten minutes for the man nicknamed D.J., and he was beginning to grow agitated. He'd arrived exactly on time at the proposed meeting place to fetch the slave girl. While not his boss by any means, Boba and Jabba the Hutt had a partnership – Boba would fetch any bounties for Jabba, and in return, Boba would be paid for the time and effort.
He glanced down at the bag of 15,000 credits sitting at his feet, then back up at the silent street. He hadn't wanted to collect the slave for Jabba by any means – in fact, he had initially refused the job. He had only agreed when Jabba promised a payment by his standards. That is, a payment that Boba chose, either in credits, labor, or whatever he wished (so long as it was within reasonable terms). It was valuable to have that hold over Jabba, and so he agreed. He would deliver the slave to the palace.
A small splash of color caught Boba's eye immediately. It was like a bright, neon color against the landscape despite it being a very pale shade of blue. It was a little girl's dress, dirty with mud and ash.
Boba's eyes landed on the face of the child, which looked dirty as well. Her hair was messy and tangled as if it hadn't been cared for in days, and big, bright blue eyes struck against her pale complexion. In one hand she held a satchel, and in the other, a man's hand.
The man had a scowl on his face as he tugged the little girl along, the polar opposite of the girl's, who didn't have any discernable reaction to the landscape around her. The man had the shadow of a beard on his face and brown eyes sunk deep into his skull from the lack of sleep. His dark hair was ruffled and dirty, just as his hands. He looked in better condition than the little girl.
They walked closer and the man's eyes caught the vizor of Boba's helmet. Immediately, he began to walk in his direction. Boba held tighter to his rifle and watched him approach.
He wasn't caught off guard, but he was slightly surprised by how young the new slave was. He'd expected someone older instead of a little girl still learning about the galaxy. He wasn't shocked that Jabba would purchase a child for a slave at the palace – Jabba was always saying his rancor needed younger flesh.
The thought of a child being fed to the rancor under the palace disgusted Boba to no end, even if he would never do a thing to stop it from happening. He couldn't – it wasn't his place, and he wasn't willing to risk anything for the infamy.
"Fett?" The man stopped a few feet short and the little girl's eyes finally fell on him. She looked slightly amazed by him, like she'd never seen anyone quite like him before.
"You're late," he said. The little girl's eyes went wide as he spoke, and the man's hand tightened over hers.
"I know, I know. Look, you got the money or not?" Boba used the foot of his boot to kick it across the dirt path. The man released the little girl's hand in order to pick up the bag. He opened it greedily, peering inside at the abundance of credits. "This all of it?"
Boba said nothing – instead, he tilted his head at the man. He seemed to understand.
"Alright. Good."
"What's that for, daddy?" the little girl asked, looking up at the man. Boba watched the man stare at her for a few seconds, blinking, then lower to his knees with a heavy sigh.
"Alright, Lili-Bell. I'm gonna explain something to you, and I want you to listen, right?" She nodded. "Sometimes, parents have to do what they think's best for them and their kids. Sometimes that means making some tough decisions."
"Okay."
"I've made some decisions, and you have to go with this man now." The little girl looked at the man with confusion before she turned her gaze to Boba. "He's gonna take you to your new home."
"But what about momma? What about Meira?" she asked, turning her wide-eyed gaze to the man, who had no reaction.
"They're – They won't be joining you. They're busy." The girl blinked.
"But I wanna stay with you."
"Well . . . you can't. You have to go with the nice man, kid." He stood straight and began to walk away. He'd taken one step before she latched onto his leg tightly.
"Don't go! I wanna stay with you!" The man sighed again, then looked back at Boba.
"You mind?" Boba remained silent as he took the little girl by the shoulders and pulled.
She was stronger than he expected, but within seconds he had easily overpowered her. He held her tightly by the shoulders as the man turned, holding his credits affectionately, and walked from them.
"Daddy! Daddy, come back!" the girl cried, and tried to move out of his steel grip. "Come back! Daddy!"
Boba wrapped an arm over her shoulders as she tried to run, pinning her against his legs.
"Daddy, don't leave me! Daddy!"
"Come on," Boba said gruffly, not wanting to witness anymore of the scene.
"No! I wanna go with daddy!" She was still fighting against him with all she had. Boba sighed, grabbed her thin arm with one hand, and began to tug her along.
He didn't understand how a father could be so cruel to their child, but it wasn't his place to judge or even understand. The only thing he understood about fatherhood was from his own father, who he knew would never sell him off as a slave. Deep within, Boba felt mild empathy for the child – the orphan, now.
She began to dig her feet into the ground as he pulled her along as she cried and screamed. Nobody on the streets bothered to help.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
"You're father's gone, kid. He sold you," Boba said.
"No! No! Daddy, don't leave me!" she screamed, watching his silhouette fade into the distance. Her hand landed over his gloved one and began tugging at his fingers. "Daddy!"
Nearby, they both heard the distinct sound of a building collapsing. Boba wasn't fazed at all by it as he quickly moved in front of the girl, taking her by the shoulders. As if she could feel the glare behind the helmet, she shrank away.
"Shut up." Her lower lip began to tremble and her eyes began to fill with more tears.
"Where's my daddy going? Why'd he sell me?" He loosened his grip on her arms.
"Far away. You won't see him again." She started to cry again as big tears rolled down her cheeks, washing away the dirt and ash. "He's gone, kid. He isn't coming back to Ryndellia."
"But he has to! He loves me!"
No, he doesn't. Boba was immediately struck with the thought, but he found that he couldn't say it to her. Not when he knew she did, and not when he knew his father would've never left him in a situation like that.
"Come on, kid. We have to get to Tatooine."
"I don't wanna leave. I wanna stay here."
"Don't make me force you." She looked frightened as she looked into the helmet vizor, uncertain and sad. He remained on one knee in front of her. "Look, kid. You're coming with me one way or another. Let's make this easy for us both."
"But my daddy isn't here!" Boba sighed.
"Maybe he'll end up on Tatooine, kid."
"My name is Lili," she replied, and tried to wipe the tears away with her hands. Without knowing why, Boba lifted one gloved hand to dry them. She seemed to find comfort in the act, and the uncertain look left her eyes. "Daddy might come back?"
". . . Sure, Lili." She nodded, mostly to herself, and Boba stood up. He kept one hand on her shoulder as he began to walk.
"What's your name?"
"Call me Boba. Come on." He began to walk but stopped as she remained planted in place. "Well?"
"Can we hold hands?"
". . . What?"
"My momma told me holding hands keeps me safe." He tilted his head as he looked down at her, rolled his eyes, and held out a hand. She took it in her own with a little smile. "Why does your helmet look like that?"
"It's Mandalorian armor."
"What's that?"
"A people."
"Are you that? A Mando?"
"Why do you ask so many questions?" Lili fell silent. "I'm not."
She nodded, looking pleased.
"Where's Tatty?"
"What?"
"Tatty-ween. Where's that?" she asked.
"Tatooine. It's not far."
"Why do I have to go there?"
"For a job."
"Is your job there? What's your job?"
"Bounty hunter."
"What's a bounty hunter?" she asked, and Boba was about to throttle the kid before he saw his ship in the distance. Unfortunately, so did she. "Why is your ship so big? Why does it look like that?"
"If you ask me one more question, I will lock you—" He looked down at her, but she looked scared again. She remained silent as they came closer to his ship.
Lili looked around in wonder as they entered, a soft 'whoa' passing her lips. She took in the various machinery and the cockpit ahead with curious eyes. Boba was directly on her heels as she went to the cockpit.
"What's all these buttons do?"
"Don't. Touch. Them." She recoiled immediately. "Sit down and be quiet."
He swiftly sat down at the controls with Lili to his left. She strapped herself into the chair with relative ease. As they lifted from the ground, she spoke.
"I wanna go home," she said quietly.
"That's where we're going." Boba enjoyed the quiet that accompanied the takeoff. Lili didn't speak a word as they left and still hadn't by the time they were off the planet. Wondering why she hadn't asked any questions, he turned to look at the seat beside him only to see pure fascination in her eyes at the abundance of stars. Boba had never seen anybody so fascinated by the presence of stars in his life, and it was as if it was the first time she'd ever seen them. It was then he realized she'd never left Ryndellia before.
He knew she was ignorant to the ways of the galaxy immediately and had no idea what was in store for her the moment she left the ship. He turned back to enjoy the silent journey.
She didn't speak again until Tatooine came into view.
"Mr. Boba?"
"What now?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"I have to tinkle."
"You have to what?" He looked over to see her squirming in her seat. "Hold it."
"I can't hold it!"
"You are trying my patience, and it is wearing dangerously thin." They both stared at each other, then Boba stood angrily. "Come on."
He grabbed Lili by the upper arm, tugging her away from the cockpit. They arrived at a vacc tube and he pushed her inside, waiting outside. When she eventually came back out, he turned on his heel to begin walking back to the cockpit, unaware that the girl had been carrying a small wrench.
"Mr. Boba? What's that blinking light?" He turned, following her gaze to a panel across the ship, blinking red. He clenched his hands into fists.
"Damnit. I'll fix it when we land."
"What is it?"
"The disintegrator chute. Did you do something?" he asked, turning around quickly. Lili nearly lost her footing, but her fearful gaze revealed nothing. She shook her head and followed him back up to the cockpit.
"Can you teach me how to repair it?"
"No." She frowned.
"Why not?"
"I'm not letting you damage my ship."
"I won't damage it! I promise! I'll be good."
"Maybe if you remain silent until we land, I'll consider it." She didn't speak the rest of the journey as her eyes wandered over Tatooine and its sandy landscapes. She was staring at the vast, towering palace belonging to Jabba when Boba stood. Her eyes landed on him expectantly.
"Come on." Lili's toothy smile revealed an adult tooth growing in the front row of the top. She stood excitedly to follow throughout the ship until they arrived at the chute she had stolen the a nut from. Boba retrieved a tool case from a nearby cabinet. "Don't touch anything unless I ask you to."
She gave a small nod, trying her hardest to look responsible. Boba didn't pay her much attention as he worked, instead listening to her footsteps carefully. As she began to walk towards the cabinet his tools were from, he gruffly said, "Don't touch it."
"But what is it?" Boba looked back at Lili, whose eyes were set on the gold-colored, indestructible case. Etched into its surface was the mythosaur skull that matched the one on his armor.
"Don't touch it." She frowned, looking between him and the case. When Boba began to stand, she walked back towards him.
"What's the symbol on it?"
"It's none of your business what it is." She fell silent. Her footsteps stopped directly beside him, and he could hear her soft breathing.
"You're too close." She looked at him with a little smile. "Back up."
She took a step back and Boba frowned beneath the helmet, seeing that one of the nuts had mysteriously disappeared.
"Show me your satchel." Lili furrowed her brow.
"Why?"
"Don't make me ask again." Lili shrugged, then handed it over. The only item inside was a small, smooth pebble and a dried flower. He thrust it back into her hands, but remained suspicious of her as he worked to replace the lost nut. When he had finished, Lili asked, "Can you teach me more?"
"I can be my own mechanic."
"Please?" He stood up and returned the tools to their proper place. He felt a tug on his cape and looked down to Lili's face. "I wanna help."
"It's time for delivery." He put a hand on her shoulder, pulling her from his ship. Warm, humid air hit them both in waves. It didn't bother Boba, but Lili shielded her eyes from the bright light and intense heat. "Get used to it, kid."
As he began to walk, he felt Lili's hand slip in his again, but she said nothing. She had gone back to studying him as they walked closer to the large palace in the distance.
"Who lives there?" she asked as they began to walk the steady path up towards the grand doors.
"Jabba. He's your owner." Lili didn't reply. Instead, she gripped his hand a little tighter and didn't speak again until they were in front of the palace doors.
"It's pretty." Her hand left Boba's and she turned to look at the landscape ahead. Boba's hand flew out to catch her shoulder, keeping her in place. As he saw the look on her face – the hope and the friendliness in the gaze, which had replaced the fear – he decided to let her look at the landscape for at least a little while. He was certain it would be the last time she'd be hopeful.
What Lili didn't understand as she took a few steps towards the edge of the cliff was that years of slavery, abuse, and a bounty hunter would accompany her at her home, where two suns lingered high in the sky.