Star Wars Infinities: The Warrior
By Christopher W. Blaine (darth_yoshi@yahoo.com)
DISCLAIMER: The characters and situations contained in this story are ©2003 by George Lucas and are used herein without permission for fan-related, non-profit entertainment purposes only. This original work of fiction is ©2003 by Christopher W. Blaine and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.
CHAPTER 30
Boba could hear the party ahead of them as they slowly made their way through the only temple with signs of life. On the outside of it was a makeshift camp that to the untrained eye seemed to show signs of recent use. The bounty hunters had noted that some of the local grasses had started to grow up around some of the equipment that was thrown about, indicating a lack of use.
The real work was being conducted in the largest of the temples, a giant black structure covered in glyphs of a language even Jango couldn't quite identify. Somewhere in its depths, the mysterious alien man was doing something that had attracted the attention of Mara Mothma.
While Boba wanted to strike immediately, Jango was being more cautious, explaining that maybe something could be learned by holding off for a few moments. Together, the two bounty hunters moved along the passageway, their fingers on the triggers of their blaster rifles.
The buzzing in Boba's head had gotten worse the closer he got to the temple, but he figured it might be some sort of radio interference with his helmet. That would explain the voices he was hearing if he was picking up Rebel transmissions. "I don't like this," Boba complained for the hundredth time.
Jango wondered if maybe he should heed his son's advice. Was he purposely going against Boba just to prove he still knew better? Was this the price of middle age and maturity, sitting back and watching as another generation surpassed your accomplishments? "Five more minutes and then we take them all down," he told him.
Boba shook his head and stopped to confront his father on the subject when the floor underneath him opened and he fell. Jango called out his son's name and reached out too late. He stopped and immediately stepped back, expecting Boba to launch the short-range missile in his backpack.
Fifteen seconds passed and he knew something was very wrong. He tried to get his son on their private channel, but the stone of the temple prevented it. Cursing, Jango started running down the passageway where their prey had gone.
Talon heard the footsteps behind them and he half expected to see Chewbacca. That would have been a welcome sight, especially compared to the obsidian stone of the temple. The place was like an ornate tomb; but that was probably true he mused. More than likely they were treading on an ancient burial ground and would be cursed to a thousand deaths for such audacity.
What he saw immediately filled him with dread, but in that split second, he could not understand why. Later, when he had time to reflect on it, he would realize that Mandalorian armor was designed to inspire both fear and awe upon first sight.
Jango skidded to a stop and brought the blaster rifle up not bothering to adjust the setting. A blue stun field shot out, catching Talon full quarter and sending him spinning onto the cold floor. He was peacefully dreaming before his jaw shattered upon impact.
Threepio let out an alarm and Mara dropped to a defensive crouch, pulling her blaster out and getting a good shot in. The blaster she was carrying though had a bad power pack and the weak bolt was absorbed by Jango's chest plate. "Run Mistress Mara, I shall attempt to cover your exit!" Threepio cried out. The loyal protocol droid, arms raised, purposely put himself into Jango's line of fire.
The bounty hunter didn't have time to deal with an insane droid. Somebody in this temple had his son and Mara Mothma was his only bargaining chip. Resetting the blaster to a higher setting, he fired a quick succession of shots at the droid, effectively cutting him into smaller pieces.
Before the photoreceptors of Threepio died out, Jango was moving again, chasing Mara down another passageway. He said nothing, as he was sure by her rate of movement that he would eventually catch up. She was in good shape, but not fantastic. Being slim and attractive did not mean athletic.
They moved through and entire concourse of passageways and tunnels, a spider-web of tunnels that wove their way through the temple having no rhyme or reason. Jango wanted to hurry, but he didn't want to take a chance of damaging the merchandise. There were too many bends for him to line up for an accurate shot and he didn't feel like wasting the charge on his blaster rifle.
Mara didn't even bother to look back and she didn't hesitate and Jango got the distinct impression that she knew exactly where she was going, though he would have laid every credit he had down that she had never been in here before. Maybe she was a telepath?
"Very perceptive," a voice bellowed as Jango suddenly entered a grand chamber with a high ceiling. The strange glyphs carved into the stone of the chamber were glowing faintly, a purple shimmer. Jango recognized the glyphs but said nothing. "Yes, bounty hunter, I can read your thoughts," the voice said.
Jango stopped and scanned the room, shifting his helmet visor into infrared. In the corner he saw Mara, standing perfectly still, straight and tall, like a statue. Her eyes were glazed over and he realized she was under some influence that did not seem to affect him.
"You have no Force-sensitivity, Jango Fett," the voice said, "or else I would control you now. As it is I am not strong enough in my current form to bring you under my influence."
"Who are you? Where is my son?"
There was a laugh and Jango saw a side wall fall away and an old woman entered, helping a younger man with one arm limp in. It was the one they had identified as Malakie. "So, you're the voice of a Jedi?" Jango asked, taunting the voice. The glyphs were in the ancient tongue of the Sith, required reading for the Mandalorians of Jango's day. It wasn't until they started glowing that he could actually read them.
"Yes, do read aloud," the voice urged him.
Jango didn't mind because it gave him more time to assess the situation. "'Only through fear can power be maintained'." Jango watched as Gethzerion put her son down on a stone bench.
"You're a strong one, a mighty warrior," Gethzerion said with a cackle.
Jango fired and blasted Gethzerion's skull into a thousand pieces. The cloud of burning blood and burnt flesh covered Malakie, but he seemed oblivious. His eyes were wide and Jango guessed he was in shock. Jango called to the voice. "Lost your hands, didn't you Exar Kunn?"
The voice again laughed. Jango didn't like it a bit. Sith were never supposed to be that happy. "Oh, but I've gained so much more, Jango Fett. I'm glad that my name is still remembered after all of these years."
"Don't flatter yourself; it's etched up and down the walls." He walked over to the stupefied Malakie and drew down on him. "It would be a real shame if I killed your apprentice as well."
Malakie's eyes suddenly flashed with recognition, as if a light had been turned on inside his mind. The young man reached for the blaster, but Jango kicked out, catching him in the chest and sent him sprawling across the stone floor. "Mind tricks; is that what the glorious Sith have been reduced to?"
There was no immediate response but it seemed to the bounty hunter that the light within the chamber dimmed. The glyphs lost their hue and a cold wind started blowing through the chamber. Malakie was again out cold and Jango got a good look at the stump of his left arm. It was an unsightly mess of crispy flesh and singled cloth. Only a lightsaber made wounds like that, but the damage seemed too great for a simple cut of the blade.
It was a Wookie strike and Jango, despite the situation, could not help but feel a bit of respect for the one called Chewbacca. His mistress, Mara, remained motionless in the tempest that was starting inside the temple and Jango realized that she was not that important to Exar Kunn. He had been distracted while the Sith Lord went after his real goal.
Boba.
Jango marched against the winds and ejected the power pack from the rifle, slamming a new one home as he stepped over Gethzerion's body. He then activated his armor's internal life support and moved to where the witch and her son had entered.
Before he could reach it, however, the wind stopped and an eerie silence slammed down on the entire area. Jango stopped, convinced he heard something…strange. It was a moan, a gasp of pain and revulsion and he recognized the tone. His son was in front of him in the darkness he was sure. "Boba?" he asked, lowering his blaster rifle.
Boba's form stumbled out of a chamber and Jango noted that there was another entrance to the same chamber in the far wall. Boba looked disoriented, but otherwise seemed fine. "Son, let's go," he ordered.
Boba nodded and then brought his rifle up, pointing it at his father. The voice that spoke sounded like Boba's, but it was Exar Kunn's words that came from the lips. "Thanks, dad, but I'm afraid you won't be coming along."
Jango dropped with the blast of blue fire, his last thoughts before the darkness consumed him was that he was going to kill Exar Kunn.
Exar Kunn lowered the blaster rifle, amazed by the reflexes the body he now inhabited had. If only this perfect specimen had Force talent, he thoughts. It didn't matter, the body of Boba Fett, whose spirit was now trapped in the temple now, would serve him well in the coming months as he put together a plan worthy of the greatest Sith Lords.
He stepped over to Malakie and checked him for a pulse. He was relieved his apprentice still lived, the Sith healing trance he was in would take a few days to completely give him strength back. The boy wanted to succeed so badly and Exar was reminded of himself as a youngster. The arm was a complete loss; there was no way to regrow one for him and Kunn hated using droid parts. "Next time let the Wookie go, Malakie," he whispered.
In the corner was the slumped body of Mara Mothma and Kunn's new body reacted immediately upon spying her tasty form so helpless. Yet, she was Malakie's interest and he certainly had no chance of defeating the Dark Apprentice in the body he had at the moment.
He patiently waited until she came around, which was only a few minutes later. Before she could even ask where she was, he spoke to her. "Your mother lied to you," he said. "You have powers beyond those of normal humans."
She saw the Mandalorian armor and backed away, reaching for her pistol, but shocked to find it missing. "Tell me, Mara, what are your plans for the future? Will you return to your rebellion? Will you serve the cause of liars and deceivers?"
"I sure as hell won't serve the Empire!" she hissed. She then saw Malakie and without thinking went to him. He was covered in blood and Kunn indicated the dead body of Gethzerion. A shame, really, she would have been so much fun and an old woman always added to the cover story.
"You have special talents, Mara, but how will you learn to use them?"
She held Malakie's head. "See what your ways have done?" she asked, knowing instinctively that the person speaking to her was the mysterious master Malakie had described. "He's hurt!"
"He will grow stronger."
"He could die."
"I haven't."
She couldn't argue with him and she started to cry. For months she had been strong, she had tolerated her mother's demands that she work with Talon Karrde, a man who wanted to bed her more than listen to her. She had learned from a complete stranger that she had inherited something great, something that her mother had tried to hide.
She now knew that her sister wasn't her sister and her father wasn't her father. She was all alone in the universe, except for this young man who had shown her interest above all others. "And what do I get out of all of this?'
Kunn smiled behind his helmet. "You will never be alone again. Through the Dark Side, you will be joined with a powerful legacy. You will never fear again, for ultimate power will be yours. You will know the love of a man who thinks of you as the center of the galaxy.
"I offer you the chance to never feel pain again."
"And all that you want is my soul…"
"A minor thing, you will come to see."
