A/N - Well, I've had this chapter ready for while now, but thanks to the site, I have been unable to upload it until now. Thank you FanFiction.
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The Coming Dawn




Ganner looked down at a sleeping Keilana. She was curled up, laying on her side, with her arm resting over her stomach as if he had never left. Wisps of dark hair had fallen into her face over the night while the rest was spread out over her pillow like a dark halo. How peaceful she looked. How unlike the tough woman she had grown to be, the woman the Jedi now knew. Flexing his hands, Ganner simply looked, but did not touch.

He was standing over her, the pale light before dawn washing over the room, highlighting Keilana's soft features. Sighing, Ganner finished buttoning up his tunic and turned away from the bed to retrieve his robe from the single chair in the room. This was the time of day the Jedi hated the most. The time between night and dawn when women still slept as their lover's left. Before, he had never felt guilt or any emotion of the like when he left a woman's bed, but this time was different. This time he longed to climb back in bed and fall asleep once again. He wanted to feel her body in his arms and her breath as it escaped her coral lips. But most of all, Ganner just wanted to watch Keilana as she slept curled up next to him.

Reluctantly pulling on his robe, Ganner turned to look at Keilana once more. He even bent to touch her cheek and run a hand over her hair. Keilana stirred slightly and a smile spread across her lips, but she did not wake. Straightening and turning away, Ganner hit the door release and exited into the quiet hall. Even the lights here were dimmed for the night. Looking both ways down the hall, Ganner moved toward the nearest lift to return to his own room.




Rolling over, Keilana expected to bump into Ganner. She found a warm spot, but not the man. Reaching out with her hand, she expected to find him sitting at the edge of the bed, but when she could not find him, her eyes fluttered open. He was gone. Sitting up and pushing the blankets off her body, Keilana stood up and looked around the room.

That ass, she muttered under her breath as she flopped back down onto the bed. Pouting and pushing a strand of hair out of her face, Keilana curled back up and pulled the blankets up to her chin. It was still that time before dawn and the last thing she wanted to be was awake. Well, that was the second to last thing she wanted. Least of all, Keilana wanted to be left alone; to feel abandoned once again. But that was what had happened. All her life it had happened. First it was her mother, than her father, and now the man with whom she had fallen in love.

Wiping away a stray tear, Keilana curled up tighter and closed her eyes in hopes to lose her pain in the labyrinth of her dreams. Perhaps seeing her mother again would kill the pain raging through her body, or perhaps she could once again become that shell she now longed to be.

Never get involved, Keilana, she heard her father say. Never get involved, you will only get killed or worse. My father did that and he lost his head no more than a week later. Remain a shell, remain unattached from the universe and they will never get you. Nothing will ever be able to catch up with you.

There was suddenly logic in all of the teachings and lectures her father had given her throughout the years. Had she only watched Skywalker from the outside then she never would have grown attached, she never would have felt the pain of rejection.

God dammit, she muttered into the pillow. She said no more. Instead, she just laid how she was, her knees pulled up to her chest and the side of her head buried in the pillow.

After at least an hour, sleep still had not claimed Keilana. Not only was she alone, now she was irritated. It seemed as if nothing was going her way. She only hoped that did not carry over to her job.

Suddenly turning over, Keilana bent over the side of her bed and looked underneath. Blowing a sigh of relief, the bounty hunter pulled forth her blasters wrapped in the sheet. Ganner had not found them. Once she had pulled them out from under the bed, Keilana sat up, crossed her legs and placed the blasters lovingly in her lap. She then carefully unwrapped them, silently apologising for shoving them so harshly under the bed. To her relief once again, not one of the blasters looked harmed. Nothing was out of place and there was not a single broken piece.

Thank the gods, she breathed as she placed the blasters next to her, throwing the sheet once again over them. Standing up, Keilana started to take off her clothing as she made her way to the refresher. After spending a day and a night in the same clothing, Keilana felt that it was due time for a shower. So, as soon as she made it to the refresher door, she turned on the shower and stepped inside.

The water was steaming hot, but Keilana did not notice for as soon as she had entered the shower, she had curled into a ball at the bottom. Tears were flowing down her cheeks, tears that she could not stop. Her entire world had crumpled around her. She lived hating to love her father, but now he was not there. There was nothing to hate, nothing to love. There was only a memory of Boba Fett, the man no one could take down. He had always found a way to bounce back, but not this time. This time there would be no bouncing, there would be no coming back.

Then something touched her mind. Looking up, Keilana wiped water and tears from her eyes. The presence lingered there for a moment before disappearing and then reappearing once again.

She muttered. There was something familiar about the presence, but, much to her dismay, that was not the familiarity. Slumping her shoulders, Keilana pushed whatever it was out of her mind and found the strength to stand up. She then washed herself and exited the shower, turning it off behind her.

Wrapping a towel around herself, Keilana walked back into her room, only to have that presence touch her mind again. Frowning and trying to push it away, she had to fight it. It wanted to linger longer, to stay attached to her mind, but that was not what Keilana wanted, not at the moment at least. All she wanted was to be unattached from anyone, especially through the mind. So, after a short battle, the presence retreated, but not completely. It was still there, Keilana knew, but it was no longer annoyingly there.

After getting dressed, Keilana walked out of her room, her hair still dripping, and found her way to the dining room and kitchen. When she walked in, there were only a few other occupants. They were all Jedi and there was not a single one she recognized. They all looked up at her and followed her with their eyes until she looked up, her brow furrowed. Scowling and shoving her hands into the pockets of her leather duster, Keilana walked into the kitchen to find something to eat. There, she happened to find Ganner.

she said. His back was turned to her and he actually looked surprised to hear her voice.

Oh, Key, I I didn't notice you come in, he said, running a hand through his overly long black hair. Keilana just scowled at him.

So when did you leave? She asked, getting right to the point.

Right before dawn. I had things to get to and—

Keilana did not let him finish. What things?

Look, it's not like we're married or anything, Keilana, Ganner said only slightly lighter than a growl. I don't have to stick around and wait for you to wake up. At that, Keilana's eyes widened and shoved her hand toward the door. It shut with a loud crack that forced Ganner's eyes to look in that direction. A large crack had appeared in the old-fashioned wooden door.

I don't think they needed to hear that, Keilana gave as an explanation.

You don't have to be so sensitive.

You're telling me not to be sensitive? I just lost my father, Ganner. What do you expect me to be? Overjoyed about losing the only member of my family who actually gave a shit about me being alive? My mother didn't care. According to her, I ruined her life. She gave me up and actually expected my father to get rid of me first chance he got.

And than you told me you loved me. Right now I'm doubting your sincerity. Keilana's upper lip was raised in a snarl so feral Ganner was actually afraid she was ready to kill something. In fact, she was and her eyes were set on her target of choice.

I didn't mean to toy with your emotions, Key, Ganner said, stepping forward with his hand outstretched.

Well you did, Rhysode, you did.

And I do love you.

Don't say that.

I do.

If you expect me to forgive you like that, Keilana paused to snap her fingers, than you have some major rethinking to do, Jedi.



Don't call me that.



Don't call me that either.

Ganner sighed and shook his head. Than what do you want me to call you?

Nothing. Don't even talk to me. Keilana turned around to head out the door. Before exiting, the bounty hunter turned to look at Ganner. She knew her argument was petty, she even admitted it to herself, but she did not care, not at the moment at least. She was simply to disgusted by both herself and by Ganner to care about anything except her job. Opening her mouth to say something more, she apparently changed her mind because she turned in a whirl of her duster and left Ganner's sight.

Ganner did not turn away from the door for a long while. He was not quite sure what had just happened. He knew he had done something wrong, but was it really as big of a deal as Keilana was making it? Ganner sure did not think so.

So, turning back to the food he was preparing—to bring to Keilana, in fact—Ganner flexed his hands and slowly started to put food back. Perhaps it was wrong to be a hopeless romantic, Ganner mused. Perhaps trying to keep a new relationship a secret—one he was sure Keilana wanted to keep quiet—was wrong. Shaking his head, Ganner decided that, ultimately, he would never understand women. Nice gestures were wrong and so were compliments. Nothing he had ever done seemed to mentally please a single woman, thus resulting in break up.

Maybe someday I'll understand, he said out loud to no one. However, that little voice of reason said no.




Qern scowled as he worked. Being the informant for a spoiled diplomat was not easy work, especially since he was no longer in her favor. Añaa kept putting him on futile, menial tasks that required the intelligence of a mynock to do. First it was cleaning out her room, making sure not to touch a single one of her gowns—not that there was much to the gowns to touch—then it was checking up on the pilot and other officers, making sure they were doing their jobs at the best of their skill, and now, now it was helping the cook with dinner's preparation. Pulling the shells off of tiny sea crustaceans was not what an informant was supposed to do. He was supposed to be gathering information, not preparing food.

Enough was enough.

Standing up, Qern dumped the shells on his lap on the ground, tore off his apron, and ignored the chef's protests.

But the Lady told you to help me, the little man said, chasing after Qern, his legs moving twice as fast as the larger man's. You won't make her very happy by ignoring her orders and then ignoring mine!

Having enough of the little man, Qern spun around, his blaster pistol in hand. He shoved it in the cook's face and stopped the man's protest immediately.

I'm done here, you got that?

yes, sir, he muttered.

Qern said, replacing his blaster. Turning around, he disappeared from the little man's view within three strides.

It did not take the informant long to find Añaa. She was in her sitting room watching a holodrama. The woman looked up, surprise and anger flashing across her face.

What are you doing here, Qern? I thought I sent you to help the cook.

Yeah, you did. He doesn't need me anymore.

Añaa said, her gaze shifting to the ground. Well then, in that case—

I want to do my job, Lady.

I was getting to that, Qern, Añaa said, her eyes narrowing. I want you to gather some more information about Keilana. I am going to be meeting with her tomorrow, or so the Jedi Master told me.

Don't you have enough information about her? Qern spoke up. This only made Añaa angrier.

Do you want to do your job or do you want to do some other task I can think up for you to do?

No, I'm good, Lady. Thank you, Lady, Qern said, his mood sour. He turned and left the room to head to his own cramped quarters. Once there, he set up in front of his computer and brought up his extensive file on the bounty hunter Keilana. He had much more on her than the Lady Añaa knew and he now just had to pick and choose what information he was willing to give up this time. There was already the thing about being Boba Fett's daughter, thanks to Alt Gurqi, and the fact that she was now training at the Jedi Academy.

What else, he muttered to himself, what else. There is so much here that I can give her.

After a moment, Qern found himself looking at the file titled Aena Lytio. He had never ventured so far as to open that file for it was highly classified. He did not know the password nor did he know who that woman was. But she had to have something to do with Keilana. Hovering the curser over the file, he clicked on it and was surprised when it did not ask for a password, as it had every other time he had tried to open it. Rather, the file opened up and smaller documents became available for him to read.

Clicking on the first one, a page full of text popped up on to the screen and he started reading, his mouth hanging slightly ajar.




It was late at night on the Smuggler's Moon when Jikala went in to check on the man. He was sound asleep on his back, having not woken up from the sleeping serum her mother had given him that morning. The breath that escaped his lips was soft, if not slightly ragged, and his chest moved at an even pace.

Sliding into the room, Jikala silently closed the door behind her and crept across the floor. She tried to avoid the squeaky floor boards, but missed one. The man jolted in his bed and moved his head to look in Jikala's direction. She was impressed.

Who's there? He growled, his voice rough.

Jikala, sir, she stuttered.

Speak up, girl, I can't hear you.

she said with more confidence this time.

he repeated. The man did not speak for a moment longer. Eventually, he sat up, with a grimace, and placed his hands on either side of his hips. You are the older woman's daughter.

Yes, yes I am.

Tell me, Jikala, how old are you?

Twenty-four, sir, she answered, moving closer.

Don't move, Fett snapped.

Of course, sir.

No, rather, sit, there, he pointed. To Jikala's dismay, he did not point at the single chair in the room.

Wouldn't you rather have me sit in a chair, sir?

Fett growled. I want you there because I will know where you are. And once you are there, don't move.

Jikala nodded, even though Fett's bandaged eyes could not see it, and moved to sit against the wall as he had instructed.

Fett muttered to himself, dropping his hand. Why are you still living with your mother?

Because there are no decent men who come to this planet, Jikala squirmed slightly, but stopped when the momentarily blinded eyes moved to stare sightlessly at her.

Why not just leave to a distant part of the galaxy?

Because my mother needs my help, she answered, shivering.

Stop shivering, girl, I'm not going to hurt you, not in this condition.

Jikala swallowed and bit her lip. She did not speak for awhile out of pure fear of the injured man. She was not sure why she was afraid, for she had never been afraid of men on this planet before, but this one was different. There was something simply in his presence that made her fear him. Perhaps it was his confidence, perhaps it was the amount of scars that decorated his body.

Or perhaps it was because he could sense what she was doing without being able to see her.

A question suddenly popped into Jikala's mind and, before she could stop herself, she muttered it: Are you a Jedi?

Jikala did not know what to expect, but Fett's reaction certainly was not on the top of her list. He was sitting on his bed, roaring with laughter, holding his injured stomach. Eventually the sound stopped with a grimace and Jikala was worried he had broken several stitches.

Me, a Jedi? Fett asked. He started to laugh again, this time slightly more subdued.

Well, you don't have to be so rude about it, Jikala snorted. The man stopped laughing to look sightlessly at her again. He did not say a word and the only sound in the room being the crackling of the fire.

What makes you think I am a Jedi, girl?

You seem to know what I am doing without being able to see me. You know where I am in the room and how I feel. You must admit they are all traits of a Jedi, Jikala explained.

They are also traits of a trained killer, girl, Fett said. Jikala shivered more severely this time and a wide, cruel smile spread across Fett's face.

Is that what you are?

Would a trained killer allow himself to get beat up as bad as I did?



Then there's your answer, Fett nodded. He did not care about lying outright to this girl. If she believed every word he said, than she was worthless, at least in his eyes. Those were the traits of a woman who sold herself, one who had little self-confidence, one who needed men to lust after her to know she was beautiful, even if she was not.



At that moment, Jikala's mother walked into the room. She looked concerned, at first, but then surprised to see her daughter sitting against the wall, her knees held against her chest. Fett moved his head to look in the direction of the door, but Caitern did not even flinch.

Jikala, is everything all right?

Yes, Mother, Jikala squeaked. Shaking her head, Caitern walked the rest of the way into the room and approached the bed. Fett let her do so without protest.

Are you sure? I heard this awful sound and was afraid something had happened.

He laughed, Jikala said, pointing at Fett, but that's about it.

That was laughter? Caitern looked at the man and he shrugged, his mood suddenly lighter. This woman was strong, as was obvious by raising two children in such a harsh environment, and he had to respect her for that, even if it was only slightly. And why did you make him laugh? Doing that can only split his wounds further open and break his stitches.

I didn't mean too, Mother, Jikala said, finding the strength to stand up. With her mother in the room, she knew Fett would not order her around like he had a moment ago. I asked if he was a Jedi.

A Jedi? Now it was Caitern's turn to laugh, but it was not as loud as Fett's laughter had been. Jikala set her lips, irritation pulsing through her veins. Now what would make you ask that?

I don't know, some childhood wish that should be long dead, perhaps, Jikala said with a wave of her hand. She suddenly felt her age again. Being alone with the man had made her feel perhaps eight or ten years old, but with her mother around, she was stronger.

And that is exactly what annoyed Fett about Jikala. She was like one of those cronies who was tough around their bosses but lily-livered the moment they are cornered by themselves. In Fett's opinion, they were the people who deserved little respect, if any at all.

Caitern's voice interrupted his thoughts, go get a bowl of the stew and a spoon. I'm sure our patient is famished.

Yes, Mother, Jikala said as she shuffled away.

As Jikala left, a thought suddenly surfaced in Fett's mind. Perhaps having such a weak person around could work to his advantage. It was already obvious that Jikala was afraid of him and that she did what he wanted. If he could get her to run errands for him and do other little odd things, she could become quite useful indeed. Satisfied with his new plan, Fett settled against the pillows and waited to be feed. What a good life this was indeed.




It is done, sir.

What is done? A dark haired man looked back at the small woman who had addressed him. He pulled a worn toothpick from between his teeth and passed it from one finger to another as one might do with a coin.

Qern, he has opened the file.

the man nodded while turning back to the viewport. Outside the stars moved slowly as his ship moved through real space. Yes, very good.

He will know soon enough and our work will be nearly complete.

he agreed. If you don't take in account the work we have beyond this.

The woman nodded and looked back to the screen in front of her. Do you think he will tell the Lady Añaa?

Possibly, but that is not important. He knows. That is what needed to happen. He knows about her. Inform our Mistress of this and do not speak to me again until it is done.

Yes sir.

Good, now go. The man turned to watch the woman leave his dark quarters out of the corner of his eye. Sighing, a smile spread across his face as he went back to chewing on his toothpick and staring out at the stars around him.