Author Note: Ok, it may take me a while to write the next few parts because I'm adding my own little twist...changing to story a little...but hopefully you'll thank me for it. Well, we'll soon find out, but for now, I've added this chapter aswell so that you'll have something to keep you going until the next chapter!

Enjoy!

Nute walked up to Slave 1 a little while later, took a few deep breaths then called out.

"Jango!"

Jango emerged from the ship's cabin and walked down the ramp. Beru followed behind.

Nute bowed and Jango examined his captain. Nute was sweaty and dirty, his hands caked with dried blood. His helmet was off but he still wore his armor.

"You've been fighting." Jango said angrily.

"My lord --"

"You violated my command."

"No, my lord. There was a mistake."

"A mistake? I ordered the Kaminoans to stand down. You led them into combat?"

"I didn't lead them." Nute couldn't meet Jango's gaze now.

"Then who did?" Jango snapped.

"We thought you did."

Now Jango could tell, from staring at his captain's face, that something was very wrong. He looked around the encampment. All the men returning from combat avoided looking at him.

"Where's Boba?" he asked anxiously.

"We thought it was you, my lord. We -- he wore your armor. Your shield, your grieves, your helmet...He's dead, my lord."

"You're lying!"

"Never, my lord. Never. He looked like you. He even moved like you. We all followed --"

"Lies!"

"He fought well, my lord. With great courage. But Obi-Wan came after him."

Jango's nostrils were flared and his eyes were narrowed.

"If I could have saved him --"

Jango hit Nute hard in the mouth. The captain fell to the sand and Jango loomed above him, fists clenched. Nute held his mouth. Blood was already beginning to stream out.

"Liar!" jango screamed.

"My lord, I saw him fall."

Jango seized Nute by the throat and hauled him to his knees. He snatched a dagger from nearby and raised it, but Beru grabbed his shoulder.

"Don't!"

Letting go of Nute's throat, Jango grabbed hers instead. She clawed at his wrist and her kicked as she dangled, inches off the ground.

Eyes bulging, she stared at him. Whatever kindness she'd seen in his eyes before, whatever tenderness, it had gone now.

Jango dropped her and she sagged to the ground, gasping for breath, beginning to sob. Jango also dropped the dagger, but Nute remained on his knees, watching his lord.

"Dead?" Jango asked, as though he hadn't heard right.

"Obi-Wan cut his throat," Nute whispered.

oOo

Obi-Wan, carrying a torch, led Sabe through the lower garden of the palace, down a staircase to a door half-hidden by climbing vines. He opened the door and Sabe followed him in.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked. Obi-Wan didn't answer, but led her to a huge door that opened up to reveal a large tunnel.

"You remember how to get here?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Next time you come, follow this tunnel. There's nowhere to turn, so you can't get lost. Keep walking."

"Obi-Wan --" Sabe wasn't sure where this conversation was heading, but she didn't like the sound of it.

"When you get outside you'll be on the south side of the river. Follow it until you see Mount Ida. Keep Ida to your west, walk south, and you'll get to Varykino. The Empire won't go that far inland."

"You're frightening me," Sabe whispered. Obi-Wan said nothing but stared into the darkness of the tunnel.

"Obi-Wan? Why are you telling me this?" Sabe asked at last.

"If I die --"

"No --" she interupted.

"If I die, I don't know how long the city will stand."

"Don't say that."

"If the Empire get inside the walls, it's over. They'll kill all the men. Doesn't matter how old..."

"Please --" Sabe begged, but Obi-Wan wasn't finished.

"Doesn't matter how young. They'll throw the babies from the city walls. Even young Ben."

Sabe closed her eyes, not wanting to hear any more.

"The women they'll take for slaves. And that will be worse for you than dying."

"Why are you saying these things?"

"I want you to be ready. I want you to get our boy, get him, and come here. Save as many others as you can, but you get here, you go down these stairs, and you run. Do you understand?"

Sabe nodded.

"I killed a boy today. He was too young. Much too young."

oOo

Jango was standing by the burning pyre, watching his son burn. Beru sat nearby, watching Jango watch the fire.

oOo

Obi-Wan was standing by his son's crib, watching the boy sleep.

oOo

Padme was lying in her bed when she heard the noise of a pistol being shot, repeated over and over at brief intervals. She rolled out of bed and walked to the arched window.

Down below in the palace garden, Anakin practiced his aiming, shooting a target again and again by moonlight.

oOo

Jango, still standing in the same place, watched the remaining wood of the pyre collapse. Then he walked back to his tent. On the way, he passed Beru. She had fallen asleep on the sand some time ago.

He saw the bruises on her throat where his hand had throttled her. As usual, the expression on his face was unreadable. He stared at her for another moment before walking away.