Disclaimer: In no way at all do I own any of the original character, locations, ships, or anything else mentioned in Star Wars. They are all owned by George Lucas. I only own my OC. Any similarities between this story and another are purely accidental.
Masked Masquerader: Oh…I didn't know that. Where do you get this stuff? It sounds really cool!
Sica Meni: Yay! I'm glad you loved that scene. It was the closest thing to romance between those two that I could think of…
Jousting Elf with a Saber: I'm glad you like it, and I'm glad you think Lyra is believable. I hope you don't mind, but what swearing? Is it when Dex said, "They're cloners. Damned good ones too?" Because if it is, then I'm sorry, because that's the line in the movie, and I can't really do anything about it, can I? By the way, I read your profile, and I know you don't like reading about people who have sex before they're married. If that's the case, please do not read the last few chapters of this story.
Randomness: You got kilig over that scene? Wow!
Liz: Here's an update!
Spice9: I know that story. That was actually the first Star Wars fiction I have ever read. I'm sorry if it is somewhat similar to that story, but I assure you, all similarities are completely accidental.
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Two hyperspace transport rings carrying starfighters approached the large system, looking exactly like the view on the star map. The two starfighters disengaged from the transport rings, headed for Kamino.
"There it is, Lyra," said Obi-Wan over the commlink, "our missing planet Kamino."
Lyra stared at the nearing planet, which was a deep pearl-gray from the constant storms. "Those files were altered," she muttered.
"Who could delete the files on this planet?" asked Obi-Wan. "Like Master Yoda said, only a Jedi could have that kind of access to the Archives."
"If we knew the why, we'd know the who," Lyra replied simply. "But I wonder…what was so important about this planet that files on it had to be deleted?"
"I suppose we'll know soon enough," said Obi-Wan as the two starfighters entered Kamino's atmosphere.
Heavy rains and hard-driving winds lashed at the platform as they neared the grand Tipoca City, which rested on great stilts that kept it above the pounding and ever-present waves that covered the surface of Kamino. It was early morning, yet the storm clouds blocked the warmth and light of Kamino's sun.
The ships touched down on the landing platform, and the two Jedi exited their starfighters. Pulling the hoods of their Jedi cloaks on, they made their way through the howling wind toward a tower on the far side of the platform. A door slid open, allowing a shaft of brilliant light to pierce the swirling rain. Obi-Wan and Lyra passed through it and went inside, pushing their hoods off.
"Master Jedi, so good to see you." A long-necked pale-skinned alien with luminous almond-shaped eyes approached them, speaking in an airy and melodious voice—though a male. "The Prime Minister is expecting you."
Obi-Wan wiped the water from his eyes. "We're expected?" he echoed.
"Of course!" the alien exclaimed. "He is anxious to meet you. After all these years, we were beginning to think you weren't coming. Now please, this way."
Lyra and Obi-Wan gave each other a side-glance, both hiding their surprise well.
During the walk to the Prime Minister's office, Lyra curiously studied the interior of Tipoca City. Everything was a brilliant white, exuding a calming aura. And unlike most of the alien's Lyra had seen, the Kaminoans were extremely elegant—even beautiful.
Finally, they reached the Prime Minister's quarters. The door—also pure white—slid open in a majestic fashion, and the three entered the large room. Waiting for them was an alien similar to the one who accompanied them.
"May I present Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino. And this is Master Jedi…" he trailed off, not knowing their names.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," he said, bowing. "This is my partner and fellow Jedi, Lyra Sanome."
"I trust you are going to enjoy your stay," said Lama Su amicably, rising from his ladle-shaped seat, which, like everything else, seemed to be made of pure light. "We are most happy you have arrived at the best part of the season."
"You make us feel most welcome," replied Obi-Wan politely.
"Please," said Lama Su, gesturing to two more chairs shaped like the one he sat on. "And now to business," he began as the two Jedi sat down. "You will be delighted to hear we are on schedule. Two hundred thousand units are ready, with another million well on the way."
"That is…good news," said Obi-Wan, improvising.
"Please tell your Master Sifo-Dyas that we have every confidence his order will be met on time and in full. He is well, I hope."
"I'm sorry," began Lyra, confused. "Master…?"
"Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas," replied Lama Su. "He is still a leading member of the Jedi Council, is he not?"
"I'm sorry, Master Sifo-Dyas was killed almost ten years ago," said Lyra, briefly remembering attending his burning before leaving for Tatooine.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," stated the Prime Minister. "But I'm sure he would have been proud of the army we've built for him."
"The army?" asked Obi-Wan.
"Yes," replied Lama Su, "a clone army. And I must say, one of the finest we've ever created."
"Tell me, Prime Minister," said Obi-Wan, "when my Master first contacted you about the army did he say who it was for?"
"Of course he did. This army is for the Republic," he said. "But you must be anxious to inspect the units for yourself."
"That's why we're here," Obi-Wan said.
The two Jedi and Lama Su rose and walked out the door.
---
The two Jedi were led out onto a balcony, where thousands of clone troopers, faces covered by helmets, were marching and drilling in formations of several hundreds.
"Magnificent, aren't they?" asked Lama Su.
Slowly, the two Jedi nodded.
Lama Su took Obi-Wan and Lyra through the clone center, continuing through a hallway that passed over a large classroom filled with identical young boys.
"We take great pride in our combat education and training programs," said Lama Su. "This group was created about five years ago." He gestured at the boys in the classroom.
"You mentioned growth acceleration…" Obi-Wan trailed off, folding his arms in front of his chest.
"Oh yes," replied the Prime Minister, "it's essential. Otherwise, a mature clone would take a lifetime to grow. Now, we can do it in half the time."
Lama Su conducted the two Jedi through a large eating area. They walked past hundreds of clones who looked exactly alike, all about twenty years old, dressed in black, and seated at tables, eating. "You'll find they are totally obedient, taking any order without question," he explained. "We modified their genetic structure to make them less independent than the original host."
"And who was the original host?" asked Lyra curiously.
"A bounty hunter called Jango Fett." Lama Su looked at Lyra. "We felt a Jedi would be the perfect choice, but Sifo-Dyas hand-picked Jango Fett himself."
"Where is this bounty hunter now?" Obi-Wan asked, to which Lama Su answered, "We keep him here." Good. He could be the one who hired that Clawdite assassin back on Coruscant.
To his surprise, a voice in his head answered him back. Or he could not. There are millions of bounty hunters spread across the galaxy, Obi-Wan, not counting the thousand or so divided between Coruscant and the Outer Rim.
He looked at his fellow Jedi, who had a small smirk on her lips.
Force-speaking is convenient, isn't it?
The tour continued through a long corridor filled with narrow, transparent tubes into which clones were climbing. Once inside, they went to sleep.
"Apart from his pay, which is considerably, Fett demanded only one thing," stated Lama Su, "an unaltered clone for himself. Curious, isn't it?"
"Unaltered?" Lyra asked.
"Pure genetic replication; no tampering with the structure to make it more docile and no growth acceleration," replied Lama Su.
"We should very much like to meet this Jango Fett," said Obi-Wan.
"I would be most happy to arrange it, for you," said the alien who had greeted them.
---
Lyra, Obi-Wan, and their alien guide stood in front of a door. The long-necked alien waved a hand, and a muted bell rang. The door slid open, revealing a ten-year-old boy who looked just like the ones in the classroom they had seen previously.
"Boba, is your father here?" asked the alien.
"Yep," replied the boy, observing the two Jedi with hostility.
"May we see him?"
"Sure." Boba stepped aside, allowing the two Jedi and the alien to step through. He led them through an apartment, calling for his father. "Dad, Taun We's here."
A dark-haired man came in from the bed room, eyeing the two Jedi with suspicion. He was mean-looking and unshaven, his face pitted with scars from old wounds.
"Jango, welcome back," greeted the alien—Taun We. "Was your trip productive?"
The bounty hunter looked at Taun We. "Fairly," he replied before turning his gaze back to the two Jedi. He and Obi-Wan sized each other up, leaving Boba and Lyra to study each other.
"This is Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Lyra Sanome," said Taun We, both Jedi bowing their heads. "They've come to check on our progress."
"That right?" Jango asked, eyeing the two of them coldly.
"Your clones are very impressive, you must be very proud," replied Obi-Wan, returning the cold gaze.
"I'm just a simple man trying to make my way into the universe, Maser Jedi," replied Jango, folding his arms over his chest.
"Aren't we all?" Obi-Wan responded coolly.
Lyra, meanwhile, was eyeing the half-open bedroom door, through which some pieces of a silver-and-blue body armor could be seen through the door. She discreetly nudged Obi-Wan, who followed her gaze and spotted the armor as well. Jango, registering their look, moved in front of them to block their way.
"Ever make your way as far into the interior as Coruscant?" questioned Obi-Wan.
"Once or twice."
"Recently?"
Jango eyed Obi-Wan carefully. "Possibly."
"Then you must know Master Sifo-Dyas."
"Boba, close the door," muttered Jango in Huttese. The boy closed the door of the bedroom, blocking view of the armor, before returning to his father's side.
"No need to speak Huttese around us, Jango," replied Lyra coolly, "unless you have something to hide."
Jango and Boba looked at her in surprise. "You speak Huttese?" asked Jango disbelievingly, ignoring Obi-Wan for the moment.
"I grew up on Tatooine," said Lyra. "The planet is controlled by the Hutts."
Jango threw Lyra a dirty look before giving a thin smile to Obi-Wan. "Master who?"
"Sifo-Dyas," answered Obi-Wan. "Is he not the Jedi who hired you for this job?"
"Never heard of him," replied Jango. "I was recruited by a man called Darth Tyrannus on one of the moons of Bogden."
"Sifo-Dyas told us to expect him," replied Taun We, reminding everyone that he was still there. "And he showed up just when your Jedi Master said he would. We have kept the Jedi's involvement a secret until your arrival, just as your Master requested."
"Curious…"
Jango turned to the Jedi. "Do you like your army?"
"We look forward to seeing them in action," replied Obi-Wan coldly.
Jango gave them another thin smile. "They'll do their job well, I'll guarantee that."
"Thanks for your time, Jango," said Lyra.
"Always a pleasure to meet a Jedi."