Disclaimer: I own nothing…zip, zilch, nothing…and it sucks :( I don't own Star Wars or its wonderful characters or my favourite bounty hunter (starts crying, causing her roommate to give her odd looks).
Iile
Kish kept to her word and returned every now and then to visit and every time Boba felt the same thrill, knowing that she was partly there to see him. She often arrived during the afternoons when the weather was at its best and stayed until dark, for then she would have to leave for her job. Boba found himself wondering what sort of life she led being an assassin. Was it much like the one his father lived? He knew that Jango once in a while accepted bounties where the quarry was wanted dead and after each one Boba had caught his father sitting by the window, a tired look to his face. Jango often told him that killing was a complicated issue, unnecessary death was a waste and not worth your time. The money is what changed it and made it into just another job.
Since his whole life had been spent living with a professional bounty hunter, Boba had witnessed his far share of death and pain when accompanying Jango on some of his hunts. He had seen the look in their quarry's eyes just before his father had closed in to ensnare them in his grasp. He had seen the panic fill their faces when they were handed over to the bloodthirsty sentiments who had posted the bounty, itching to exact their revenge for the mistakes caused by the ill-fated creature before them. In this lifetime Boba had learned that when it came down to it, it was either kill or be killed and since life looked a lot better, the statement made sense. Of course he had never actually pulled the trigger and took someone's life away from them. He was nervous for the day when Jango would expect him to, but until that day came Boba continued on, studying his lessons and mastering the fighting techniques that his dad taught him.
One day his father was about to set off on another hunt when he noticed Boba looking more bored than usual. Kish hadn't been around for over a week and Jango had noted the depression that her absence had on his son. A small mutual friendship had seemed to form between the two and to Boba that was a great deal, since he was alone for most of the time. Also he seemed to have fallen behind in his training, getting easy questions wrong and failing when it came to defending himself against Jango in combat exercises. It's time to bring the kid's head out of the clouds, Jango thought.
"How would you like to come with me tonight?" Jango asked, startling Boba from his thoughts. A grin spread over his son's face and in less than a moment he was beside Jango ready to go.
Jango smiled, "I guess that means a yes."
He told Boba to go and prepare the Slave 1 for departure, while he finished gathering his equipment. Boba raced on ahead to the docking station where the ship was kept when it wasn't in use. He punched in the access code and the hatchway hissed open and he went inside to the cockpit. The Slave 1 had a unique control unit; it ran vertical since the view port was at the top of the ship when it was in its landing position. You had to climb into the seat and lay back with the gravity. It was somewhat awkward when you were in a hurry but that's what practice and training was for.
The engines hummed to life and Boba sat patiently for his father while trying to contain his excitement at being able to get off of Kamino, even if it was for a few hours and even if he didn't actually participate in the hunt. Just to switch surroundings was good enough for him, to see other people, to go to a place where it wasn't raining all the god damn time. The sound of footsteps against the metal floorboards signaled that his dad was on board. Boba quickly hit the controls to activate the main thrusters and sent the ship up into orbit. Jango slid into the seat next to him and took over; giving his son a quick pat on the head for doing a good job before punching in coordinates into the navicomputer.
As the streaks of hyperspace filled the view port Boba finally turned to Jango.
"Who are we hunting?" he asked.
"A man called Ia RwaTyan, and we're not actually hunting him just yet. I have to get some information on him from a source on Nar Shadda since the guy just seemed to have disappeared into thin air."
Boba nodded. He had been to Nar Shadda before and found it to be an exciting place, full of weird sights and sounds and brimming with a vast assortment of creatures. Nar Shadda was the moon of the Hutt based planet of Nal Hutta, which supposedly meant Glorious Jewel in Huttese. However Jango had told him that it was nothing more than a bog, full of gas, stench, and corruption. His father preferred the Smuggler's moon, as Nar Shadda was often referred to, for at least the beings there were often worth something and one could easily make a profit if you knew where to look.
"What is my job?" Boba wondered out loud.
"You," Jango said, turning to face him, "are to remain at the docking platform. Under no circumstances are you to leave the bay area, but you can however roam about it if you so wish."
Boba had expected just as much since this had been a short notice invitation. He sat back in the chair, not the least bit upset by the instructions. Getting out was getting out, no matter what way you looked at it, and that, to Boba, was the greatest thing in the world.
It took about two hours for them to reach their destination and to break into real space. The gray orb of the moon appeared in the view port and Jango piloted towards it. Boba could see many other starships heading to and from the moon, most of them were unmarked vessels, used by creatures not wanting to draw attention. The atmosphere of the planet was clear, a refreshing change from the ever cloudy Kamino and Boba could make out cities in the distance, their lights twinkling in the dimming sunlight.
They headed for one of the smaller cities of Nar Shadda and docked in one of the many bays that sat on its outer edge. Boba leapt out from his chair and went outside as fast as he could. The loading bay was full of customers at the moment, some fixing their ships, while others just lounged about, waiting for someone or just resting. Jango came up behind him, now fully clad in the Mandalorian armour. Immediately his appearance sent a tremor through the crowd as almost every pair of eyes turned their way to watch him nervously. Jango looked down at Boba,
"Remember, stay here," he told him one last time before moving off towards the exit. Boba watched his father leave then began circling the docking bay. He ambled over to some of the starships, watching the repairs and making mental notes of how they were done. He attracted a few curious glances, since Boba had been seen with the infamous Jango Fett, and a few creatures even backed up as he walked past. Boba felt a small thrill run up his spine at realizing the effect he had on them, even if it was just a little one.
After completing a full circle of the compound and about to go around again he suddenly noticed his father returning. Jango's strides were swift and he clutched at his blaster as he headed straight for the Slave 1. He immediately recognized that his father was angry and quickly ran over to the loading ramp and into the ship, not wanting Jango to have to retrieve him, therefore possibly fueling his bad mood. Boba sat quietly in the cockpit as Jango sent them back out into space and into another hyperspace jump.
"The source wasn't there," Jango said coldly, giving him an information chip to hold. "It seems that he had made other plans."
"Where did he go?"
"Benduraw."
Boba had never heard of the planet the Jango was referring to, but he didn't say anything else, he didn't want to irritate his dad with further questions.
Benduraw, it turned out, was only a short jump from Nar Shadda. Jango set the ship down on a rundown and dingy landing platform, a far cry from the one they had just been at. Boba watched from the hatchway, his orders remaining the same, as Jango disappeared behind the filthy buildings, intent on finding the person who had deceived him. Boba knew that it was deadly to lie to his father like that, especially when it concerned a hunt and credits. He wondered what the fate of the person would be when Jango caught up to him. He rubbed the disk idly between his fingers…the disk!! He had forgotten to give it back! Boba quickly ran after his dad, hoping to catch him before he got too far from the ship. He turned around the corner of the building only to find that Jango was gone. He sighed and knew that he would be in trouble when his father returned; it was due to his own carelessness after all. He shoved the disk into his pocket and turned to go back to the ship when suddenly a pair of rough hands grabbed him from behind. His startled cry was cut off as one of them clamped over his mouth and he was pulled into a dark alleyway. He was thrown against a wall and two large men stared down at him with cruel smiles and evil glints to their eyes. Boba immediately sensed the danger and grabbed the man's right hand in his and jerked it up and twisted it suddenly under with great force. The man screamed in pain as the popping of his joints could be heard and released Boba. Realizing he was free, Boba tried to race past the men and back to the ship where he would be safe but the other man's hands grabbed onto his collar with surprising speed. His fist connected with Boba's face and he was thrown back against the dirt. He managed to roll into a defensive stance and tried to maneuver some distance between himself and his attackers. The other man grunted as he inspected his hand then turned on him.
"Fucking brat! You're gonna pay for that!!" he screamed at Boba before leaping at him. Boba evaded the main force of the attack but the guy side kicked at him and connected with the back of his legs. Boba tried to get back into control when he was suddenly shoved up against another wall, the other man behind him pinning him face first against it. The rough stones cut into his cheek and he gasped, the weight forcing the air from his lungs. The attacker grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked back hard.
"I'm gonna enjoy this," the man sneered down at him, specks of his saliva hitting Boba in the face. The man ground his hips against him, his arousal pressing against Boba's lower back.
Boba realized what was about to happen and his mind screamed at him to escape. He shoved his free hand upward and caught the man's chin, which sent the guy staggering back. The other attacker punched him in the stomach and Boba doubled over. The man then slammed his arm against his back and kicked him as he hit the ground. Boba tried in vain to rise to his feet when the man pulled out a vicroblade from his back pocket, grabbed him by the throat and slashed through the left side of his pants, making a deep gash in his thigh. Boba gasped in pain at the sting of the knife and managed to twist away from his grasp while giving him a swift kick in the ribs. He scrambled to his feet only to be faced by the other man again. He was grabbed by the arm and it was twisted behind him before the man threw his weight on top of him and slammed him back into the ground. Boba's head snapped back as it connected with the ground and blood began to pour down his face. A boot pressed down on top of his head, pressing it against the dirt, which filled into Boba's mouth and nose, making it difficult to breathe. He choked, trying to regain his focus but the beating had taken its toll. His arms ached as they were practically pulled from their sockets, immobilizing him completely. He heard the unclasping sound of their belts and the man on his back began to roughly pull Boba's pants down his legs. His blood mixed with the dirt, obscuring his view of the other man as the guy bent down and pulled back on his hair before grasping his chin and forcing open his mouth.
"Bite down and I will carve you up into shreds," the man threatened and kneeled before him.
Suddenly the man looked up upon hearing a noise and a fist connected with his face. The other guy on top of Boba was thrown off and into the wall. Boba scurried back away from his attackers. Jango immediately turned on the first guy and applied a series of sharp hits to vulnerable spots on his body. The man crumpled beneath the blows, unable to defend himself against the powerful attacks. The second guy pulled a blaster but before he could fire Jango turned and a dart imbedded itself in the guy's skin. He collapsed against the ground. Jango jabbed his elbow into the other man's belly then smashed his fist against his face, breaking his nose. The man's eyes rolled back into his head and he joined his partner in the dirt. Not once did Jango take out his blaster and Boba realized that both men still lived. His father strode up to him and knelt in front of him.
"You…you didn't kill them," Boba croaked through cracked lips. Jango ignored his words as he checked him for life threatening wounds. Finding no immediate ones he gently pulled Boba to his feet.
"Why?" tried Boba again, hot anger washing over him.
"Death would be too good for them," Jango said coldly. "I have something else in mind." He punched in a command to Slave 1 and the ship moved out from its docked position to set down at the end of the alleyway. Jango helped Boba inside then went back to retrieve the two men. When he returned, dragging one in each hand, he moved past Boba and into the holding cells where he threw them into separate cages. The hatchway shut and the ship moved off planet. Boba slid down the metal wall in the cargo hold, his remaining strength failing him.
Jango completed in locking the prisoners up and he hurried back to find Boba sitting on the floor. At the sound of his father, Boba's head snapped up and he looked at him angrily.
"You didn't kill them," he repeated.
"I'm taking you to a med center," Jango told him.
Boba shook his head, "No! I want to see them pay for what they did!" His voice quivered in exhaustion and he found he could hardly keep his eyes open. Jango stared down at him.
"Alright…" he said softly seeing the desperation in Boba's eyes. He took off his helmet and gloves, placed them on the floor, and gently picked his son up and headed for his quarters. "However right after, we are returning to Kamino and your wounds will be treated by the med center there."
"But what about your hunt?" Boba whispered as his eyelids began to shut.
"You are more important than any hunt, this comes first."
Boba smiled slightly at the words before being overcome by the darkness.
*** (sobbing) Poor Boba Fett!!! I'm so mean!!! (continues sobbing unable to write anymore) Sorry to you die hard Boba Fett fans, I should've warned you ahead of time to bring tissues. Don't forget to review (sob sob) :*( and please don't kill me…