Author Note: Oh dear...Jango escaped, what a shame...what will Naboo do now that their Prince has been kidnapped?
As Jango reached the main bulk of the army, it parted like a white sea, solemn and silent.
On he rode, into the encampment where Imperial soldiers gathered round to stare at Obi-Wan. Jango didn't look at anyone as he untied the rope from the back of the speeder and hauled him, by hand, across the sand to his tent.
Maul stood nearby, amongst the men. A few of the men laughed as they saw the Nubian prince laid low.
"He doesn't look so glorious now!" one soldier laughed, but then he stopped when Maul turned to glare at him, his yellow eyes showing anger and the soldier shut his mouth. Maul walked away as Jango dragged Obi-Wan to his tent and dumped him outside, before walking inside.
Obi-Wan lay in the sand, dazed and dissorientated. He was mumbling to himself, not sure of what was going on. Pain ripped through his body from the wound in his shoulder and the rough ground that he had been dragged across. Sand had now got into the wounds and he could feel the course grains digging into the soft flesh and tissue. He was grazed and torn, and his robes were ripped beyond repair.
oOo
Beru was waiting for Jango when he walked in. She saw Obi-Wan's blood splattered across Jango's breast plate. Then she looked at Jango's face and saw that he was more beast than man.
"Is he...dead?" she whispered.
"No, but he'll soon wish he was," Jango growled and for the first time Beru's strength deserted her. She wanted to rush out and care for Obi-Wan...tell him that she was there for him...but she couldn't. Instead she dropped to the floor and began to cry.
Jango regarded her for a moment and notted that she looked very young and very childlike.
He said nothing as he went to his bed and threw himself onto it.
oOo
Everyone but the sentries were asleep in the Imperial camp that night. No fires burned, and the only light was from the moon, high up above.
Jango, now clean of the blood, sat in the center of the tent, sharpening a dagger. Beru sat in a far corner. She'd been crying for hours, her eyes red and swollen. Jango had refused to let her go out to her cousin, and had even resorted to tying one of her wrists to one of the support poles.
"You lost a loved one. And now you're taking one of mine. When does it end?" she whispered at last.
Jango didn't look up from what he was doing.
"It never ends," He replied at last.
Beru stared at him for a moment before tucking herself down under the covers of her makeshift bed so that Jango was alone. Now there was nothing but silence, nothing but his dagger for company.
oOo
Jango still sat alone, his eyes empty, many hours later. He had tried calling to Beru a few times, but she didn't answer, and the rhythmic rise and fall of the blankets told him that she must be asleep. Then he heard a rustling at the tent flap. A tiny hooded figure hobbled inside and pulled his hood down.
"Who are you?" Jango asked curiously.
Yoda seemed physically hurt by the sight of Jango. For a moment it seemed he would collapse again. But he willed himself onward, walking to Jango's chair. He sank to his knees, took Jango's hands, and kissed them.
Jango observed all this with growing curiosity.
"I have endured what no one on earth has endured before. I kissed the hands of the man who has stolen my son," Yoda said at last, and now Jango realised who it must be.
"Yoda?"
Yoda nodded and Jango stood, helping the old man to his feet.
"How did you get in here, old king? The sentries --"
"I know my own country better than the Empire, I think."
"You're a brave man. If Sidious knew you were here, he'd have your head on a spit," Jango said in mild fasination.
"Do you really think death frightens me now? I watched my eldest son fall, watched you drag his body behind your ride."
Yoda stared at Jango, and for the first time in his life, Jango looked away.
"Give him back to me. He deserves to live. You know that. Give him to me," Yoda pleaded.
"He killed my son."
"He thought it was you. He defended his country. How many sons have you killed? How many fathers and brothers and husbands? How many, brave Jango? I knew your father. He died before his time. But he was lucky not to live long enough to see his son fall."
Jango didn't respond. His expression was unreadable once more.
"You've taken everything from me. My eldest son, heir to my throne, defender of my kingdom. I can't change what happened. But give me this small mercy. Let my son live to see another day?"
Jango looked into the old man's eyes as Yoda tried to blink back his tears but failed.
"I love my boys. Let me cure his body. Let me clean his wounds. Let me watch him grow healthy again. Let me watch him become a King."
"If I let you walk out of here, if I let you take him, it doesn't change anything. You're still my enemy in the morning," Jango sighed.
"You're still my enemy tonight. But even enemies can show respect."
Jango nodded in agreement.
"I admire your courage, old man. You're a better king than the one leading this army. Meet me outside in a moment."
oOo
Jango, carrying a torch and white bandages, walked to the spot where Obi-Wan lay. He crouched beside the dying prince and noticed that Obi-Wan's face had not been robbed of its dignity.
A small sand crab approached the Prince and Jango shoed it away. He shoved the butt end of the torch into the sand and rubbed his eyes, taking several deep breaths.
His eyes were wet with tears. For a moment, he seemed unsure of what to do, but finally he began to dress the wounds as Obi-Wan stirred and gazed up at him with a glazed expression in his eyes.
Jango knew there was only a fifty percent chance of the Prince lasting the night, but strangely, he found himself wanting the Prince to live, despite everything that had happened.
"Forgive me," he muttered as he wrapped Obi-Wan in a cloth to keep him warm.
oOo
Yoda was sitting inside the tent, wondering what Jango could be doing. Then he heard noises outside and went out.
Jango had gently loaded Obi-Wan's body into a speeder and motioned for Yoda to come over.
Four Kaminoans kept a respectfull distance, but kept guard to make sure they were undisturbed.
"Your son was the best I've fought. I want you to know that. I hope he lives to fight another day...and I hope one day we shall cross paths as friends once more, like in the days before this war."
"I hope we will too," Yoda replied as he climbed into the chariot.
"Wait," Jango suddenly remembered something else. Drawing a dagger and walking back inside the tent, he re-emerged with Beru.
"Beru?" Yoda exclaimed. He jumped down and threw his arms around her, thrilled that she was alive.
"We thought you were dead, little swan."
Beru said nothing, but turned to look at Jango, who gently reached out and removed the cord from around her wrist. Nobody spoke, and tears shone on Beru's cheaks.
"You'll be safe behind the Nubian walls," Jango said at last, reaching into his tunic and pulling out the shell necklace that Boba had worn. He fastened it round her neck, wincing as he spotted the still visible bruising. He whispered in her ear, too softly for Yoda to hear.
"If I hurt you -- it's not what I wanted. I'm sorry."
Beru wanted to say something, but couldn't form the words, so decided to remain silent in the end. Jango turned back to Yoda.
"Go. No one will stop you, you have my word."
Yoda climbed back in the speeder, but Beru still looked at Jango.
"Come, my girl." Yoda said, reaching down to help her in the speeder aswell. He started the engine and the Kaminoan guards on their speeders escorted them safely away from the camp. Jango stared at Beru until she was gone.