Author Note: Ok guys, I'm still working on an excuse for why Anakin and Padme have gone AWOL, but you can guess that Obi-Wan probably isn't too happy with him at the moment! Poor Padme, I feel sorry for her now! She's gone from the frying pan into the fire with a coward who I end up losing halfway through the story for some unknown reason! Well, things are gonna change from now on!

Thousands of Imperial soldiers on the landing platform watched as the Nubians retreated, many of the snipers riding on the bikes behind their Theed saviors.

Obi-Wan ran down the temple steps and mounted his bike, eager to rejoin his men back at the city. He couldn't wait to get his hands on Anakin.

The coward left me to fight on my own! He starts a war then expects everyone else to fight it for him! He won't hear the end of this!

As he kicked the bike into motion, he heard a roar from behind and turned to see the crowds of Imperials cheering him away. Jango stood at the top of the temple, watching him.

A little later on, more ships landed on the platform and spilled over onto the sand. From the landed ships, cranes were already beginning to lower boxes of provisions, military material, and vehicles onto the platforms.

Jango walked back across the beach, carrying his helmet under his arm, accepting the congratulations of the troops. Dooku, his black cape flowing behind him, strode over.

"Jango!"

Jango halted and for a moment there seemed to be tension in the air. Everyone watched, and then Dooku lunged, grabbed Jango round the waist and gave him a bear hug.

"You're as fearless as a god," he remarked.

"The gods are immortal. What do they have to fear?" Jango replied and Dooku laughed, releasing him.

"I'm honored to go to war with you."

Jango nodded and continued his walk down the beach, where he saw Maul walking down a gangplank from his ship to the beach.

"If you travelled any slower, the war would be over," he called out.

"I don't mind missing the beginning of the war -- as long as I'm here at the end," Maul replied.

"And besides, it doesn't matter how slow you go, just as long as you don't stop!"

Jango smiled and kept walking. A while later he arrived at the Kaminoan's newly established base. Boba, Nute and the other surviving Kaminoans greeted Jango.

"We have something to show you," Nute announced, beckoning for Jango to follow him. Jango did so and Nute and the grinning Kaminoans led him to a large tent twenty yards inland from their ship. A few Kaminoans were hammering in the last tent pegs deep into the sand.

Nute held open the tent flap for Jango, who looked at him for a moment before entering.

No rugs had been laid down yet, so loot from the temple had been stacked on the sand: gold chalices, black amphorae, woven tapestries, goatskins filled with sacred wine.

But Jango didn't look at this plunder. He was looking at someone bound by the wrists to the center pole of the tent, dressed in white robes. Beru.

Terrified but trying to retain her composure, she returned Jango's stare. Despite the fact that her robes were torn, her hair was disheveled, blood dripped from her lip: she still possessed her innate dignity and strength. Something changed in Jango's eyes when he looked at her.

"The men found her hiding in the temple. They thought she'd... please you," Nute informed him.

"Leave us," Jango replied, so Nute bowed and left. As soon as he was gone, Jango pulled the stolen Sith blade from his belt, which Beru stared at worriedly. He walked over to her, ignited the blood red blade, then cut the ropes that bound her. She sat back, rubbing the sore skin of her wrists, still watching him as he put away the blade.

"What's your name?" Jango asked. Beru continued to stare at him but didn't answer. Jango at last became aware that he was covered in blood. Wiping a hand across his sweaty he caught Beru looking about the tent as if searching for an escape.

"You're safer in this tent than out there. Believe me."

"You killed priests," Beru spoke at last.

"I've killed men in five countries. But never a priest."

"Then your men did. The Sun God will have his vengeance."

Jango was busy removing his grieves when she said this, and he didn't even look up when he answered.

"What's he waiting for?"

Beru was stunned by such blunt blasphemy but she couldn't take her eyes off him, because Jango, after all, was Jango.

"The right time to strike."

Jango removed his breastplate.

"His priests are dead and his acolyte's a captive. I think your god is afraid of me."

Beru laughed bitterly.

"Afraid? The Sun God is master of the sun. He fears nothing."

Jango nodded and made a point of looking around the dark tent.

"Then where is he?"

For once Beru had no answer. Jango smiled and she looked away. A bucket of hot water sat beside a washcloth, which Jango wet and began to scrub the blood from his body.

"You're nothing but a killer. You don't know anything about the gods."

"You haven't seen twenty summers and you think you know my heart? I know more about the gods than priests could ever teach you. You're royalty, aren't you?"

Beru stayed silent and Jango smiled again.

"You've spent years talking down to men, you must be royalty. What's your name? Even the servants of Apollo have names."

"Beru," Beru said at last.

"Are you afraid, Beru?"

Beru was quiet for a moment. She watched Jango with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

"Should I be?"

"My lord --" Nute called from outside.

"What is it?"

Nute stuck his head inside the tent.

"Lord Sidious requests your presence."

"Why would I want to look at him when I can look at her?"

"All the kings are there, celebrating the victory."

At last Jango stood.

"Give me a moment."

Nute nodded and withdrew. For a long while Jango studied Beru as she sat in a corner.

"You don't need to fear me, girl. You're the only Nubian who can say that."