I do not own star wars-just my characters and storyline. I have this fic posted on other websites so don't worry if you see it someplace else.
Asana Portrayed by Melissa McBride
Asana had taken up the profession of a Bounty Hunter because of the family business. Her father was originally a Bounty Hunter until he paid off his debts and retired, giving the ship and the business to his children, only his oldest son turned it down and joined the rebellion while the youngest son didn't want to be part of the family business. Which left Asana to take over her family's legacy within the star systems.
Everything started off rather well when it came to teaming up with Bounty Hunters every now and then while searching for bounties across the galaxy. One of the most memorable assignments came when the Empire was calling forth Bounty Hunter to find the ship; The Millennium Falcon, who was being flown by the one and only Captain Han Solo who had a large bounty on his hand from Jabba the Hutt.
She could recall watching the way Admiral Piett looked at each and every signal of one of the Bounty Hunters that Vader assembled on the bridge of the Executor.
"Bounty Hunters." Piett muttered to two Imperial controllers on the bridge's lower level in distain. "We don't need that scum."
"Yes, sir." Agreed one of the men at the control station.
"Those rebels won't escape us." He adds before turning away from the controllers. He was immediately distracted by a low and soft growl from above. His eyes slowly drifted upward to see Bossk, a tall humanoid reptilian who's long, clawed arms stuck out from an ill-fitting suit, which one could guess had once belonged to a long since deceased human pilot. The hunter stared down at the admiral from the upper level, sending him a blanket stare with white sharp fangs showing.
Piett started before hesitating to make a move that the creature would interrupt as suddenly. But the staring contest came to an end when another controller approached Piett and tells the male; Sir, we have a priority signal from the Star Destroyer Avenger.``
"Right." he answered, moving his eyes away from the gaze of Bossk before following the controller to a console on the other side of the ground level.
It wasn't the admiral's choice about the company Vader chose to make dealings with or among. Bounty Hunters were considered the most reviled among the galaxy's inhabitants, his class of amoral money-grubbers included members of every species. A repellent occupation many have claimed over the many star systems, and it often attracted repellent creatures to its fold.
Asana took interested in every other Bounty Hunter within the room besides Bossk there was Dengar, a brutal-looking man with a bandage head who wore Imperial surplus armor; IG-88, a battered and tarnished chrome-colored assassin droid that resembled nothing more than an ambulatory arsenal; Zuckuss, an insect like alien whose face was partially concealed by a breathing mask, and his partner 4-Lom, a late-model protocol droid.
Finally, the one that caught Asana's eye, a hunter who was widely regarded as the most dangerous Bounty Hunter of all; Boba Fett. The most notorious Hunter that Asana had ever interacted with a few times over the years, with a small connected past because of their fathers knowing and visiting each other for jobs a few times before Jango Fett's death.
Fett still wore his father's armor, but it had been changed slightly, clad in old green battle armor that he wore over a pale-gray reinforced double-layer flight suit. His head was completely concealed by a great Mandalorian helmet with a T-shaped macrobinocular view plate and a retractable targeting rangefinder that allowed him to view his surroundings without turning his head in any direction. Fett still carried numerous concealed weapons, even though he was openly holding a modified EE-3 blaster rifle. On his back, he wore a missile-firing jetpack.
Every Bounty Hunter gathered within the room kept their full attention on Darth Vader. It wasn't the first time Asana had laid eyes on the Sith Lord that many spoke held power of a fire planet, she for meet Vader a few years ago with Fett when they were given a task to find the person that destroyed the Death Star, neither of them catch the human male, but discovered his name; Skywalker. Delivering the name to Vader, who nearly destroyed his Star Destroyer with the Force?
Only that was about three years ago. Now Vader was calmer.
"There will be a substantial reward for the one who finds the Millennium Falcon. You are free to use any methods necessary, but I want them alive." Vader extended a black gloved finger at Boba Fett, making his point clear on the matter, and stressed; "No disintegration."
Fett only answered in a nasty rasp; "As you wish."
Every one of the hunters, especially Asana, knew that Boba Fett was already on retainer for Jabba the Hutt, the Tatooine-based gangster who'd place a bounty on Han Solo. Jabba also wanted the Falcon's captain brought to him alive. Fett had no intention to kill Solo because if the hunter did he wouldn't get paid. Now if the bounty Hunter played the long game he'll be getting paid by both Jabba and the Empire.
But there was another reason why Boba Fett was here along with another reason for catching Han Solo before any other Bounty Hunter had the chance, too. Asana could recall the message Boba Fett left to recruit her in hopes of getting Han Solo and Boba Fett's perfect record for getting the job done back into place. Any job, no matter how tough and dirty it sounded, Boba Fett got it done until several weeks earlier, Fett made a giant mistake; Another assignment had left him temporarily unable to follow a tip on Solo's whereabouts, so he subcontracted Dengar, Bossk, and another Bounty Hunter by the name of Skarr to search for Solo. The Hunter's not only found and captured Solo, but delivered him to the planet of Ord Mantell, where Fett had arranged to meet them.
But shortly after Boba Fett arrived on Ord Montel, Skorr was dead- and Han Solo was gone. Both Dengar and Bossk had failed enough bounty hunts to assure that neither would ever have a perfect record, but Boba Fett was different. He had his reputation to maintain. Which was why he called in Asana for help.
The admiral Piett adventures toward Vader, excited. "Lord Vader. My Lord, we have them."
Asana looked at Boba with an eyebrow raised, a black face covering her lower face but not her eyes and a small red hood hiding her hair. "So they might not need us now." She wondered out loud.
Boba shook his head. "No. They'll still need us hunters." Han Solo had skills that made sure he can outsmart a Hutt and outrun the Empire and Bounty Hunters. He didn't believe for a second that Solo would allow himself to be caught this easily by the Empire.
Fett had been proven correct within a few moments later. The Empire had lost all sight of the Falcon. Which lead to Asana and Fett walking down the hallway toward their ships.
"The Falcon doesn't have a cloaking device." The female hunted stated, unless Solo was able to program one into the Falcon's many systems over the last few years.
"No. It does not." Boba Answered. "But they also scanned for it."
The Empire had tried tracking and scans for the falcon's whereabouts several times over the last few hours. The Empire hadn't been able to find the rebel's ship in any space. The Falcon didn't have hyperdrive according to a few Imperial reports which means that ship couldn't have gotten far within outer space.
"Do you remember the story of the Jedi that hid on a meteor, letting both yourself and your father believe he was deceased?" Asana asked, looking toward Boba.
Boba seemed to understand what was being said. "In other words you believe the Falcon attached itself to the destroyer."
The hunter's both got into Slave 1, having been working together a few hours before discovering that the Empire was looking for the Falcon. They followed the Star Destroyers and stayed hidden a while until the destroyers ion engines flared brightly, then the ship launched forward and vanished in the distance as their trash lingers within space as sub light engines started to veered away from the debris and heading in the opposite direction of the Imperial ship's trajectory.
The Falcon sped away from the debris trail, Slave 1, a highly modified firespray-class patrol-and-attack ship, equipped with numerous hidden weapons began to follow after them. The two hunter's had been proven correctly at that calculation that the Millennium Falcon never escaped the Empire's ship, and only avoided detection.
Slave 1 had long-range sensor scopes and an illegal masking-and-jamming system that made it virtually invisible on most scanners. The special technology had allowed Boba Fett to infiltrate the Imperial Fleet, located the Millennium Falcon, and maneuver Slave 1 into the Avenger's debris trail without alerting anyone of his presence. Fett was so confident in Slave 1's supreme stealth that he kept the escaping Falcon within visual range
Asana already knew that the Falcon wouldn't be able to outrun them, but the plan was not to attack the ship, just follow and report to the Empire about where the Falcon was headed. She was already looking through files about Han Solo's old connections. "Lando. He now owns Cloud City."
"An old connection to Solo." Boba stated. Lando and Han went way back because the Falcon was once Lando's ship before Han Solo won it with golden dice. "He'll be going to the Bespin system. Time to message the Empire." The Falcon was traveling only at sublight speed and there was nothing wrong with Slave 1's hyperdrive, they'll be able to react Bespin before Solo.
But, they sent a transmitted code message to the Executor because the Empire had the firepower to make sure one of them got their first. With that being done, Slave 1 ventured into Hyperspace toward Cloud City only to realize, one they arrived, the Empire had already arrived and was taking care of getting Lando to work with them.
Asana was glad she finally got to step foot on the founded Eccentric Industrialist Lord Eccelssiss Figg of Corellia, Cloud City was originally known as Floating Home Mining Colony. Hovering at some 59,000 kilometers (37,000 miles) from Bespin's core, the installation is designed to extract rare tibanna gas from the lower atmosphere of the planet, which is then processed and packaged for shipment off-world. The facility is small by galactic standards, with its administrator, Lando Calrissian, hoping to turn a profit while avoiding scrutiny from the Mining Guild and the Empire. In recent years Lando has invited casinos to Cloud City, hoping to line his own pockets while providing further cover for the tibanna gas business.
"Lando," She greeted once she saw the man, keeping her unusual charm toward him activated. The two always had a flirty relationship when Lando was among the smugglers and criminals of the world. "It's so lovely to see you again."
"Lovely?" Lando questioned in a spat. "You and Fett brought the Empire to me. They threaten my people and city."
Asana rolled her eyes. "Oh Lando, look at you being responsible after all these years." You're finally looking out for others rather than yourself. She wanted to respond before giving a smirk. "Just follow their rules and help us get Han Solo, and I'm sure nothing bad will happen to you and your people."
That was her only response to Lando on the matter at hand before she walked off to the room both Boba Fett and herself had been given for the time being. All they had to do was wait a few days for Solo to arrive. That would be when the trap and plan would spring within a matter of moments.
Han Solo, Princess Leia, the Wookiee, and a droid arrived on the Falcon a few days later. The Empire had easily caught them but Vader seemed to want the man named Skywalker, who was not with the group. Vader decided to go with Carbon freeze to get to Skywalker by sending out the pain of Han, Leia, and Chewie in small waves to Luke to bring the boy to him, but someone had to test out the chamber-which would be Han Solo.
Asana was with Lando and Fett on how outraged Vader's idea for Han was. Jabba the Hutt wanted Solo alive-not dead. This only caused a small problem because Han could die from the freezing process. But they all went through with what the dark Lord suggested to do because neither wanted to die at Vader's hand.
Han Solo had survived it.
That was all that mattered at the end of the day.
Boba Fett was able to deliver Han Solo to job and Asana and he divided the money between the two of them.
"We'll work together again, right?" Asana wondered.
Boba looked at her behind his mask. "Maybe."
That had been the last words spoken between the two before they both went separate ways. They would never work together again because Asana heard months later that Boba Fett died around the time when Jabba the Hutt was killed.
A few years later
Takodana is a popular departure point for star travelers of every type. Its location in the Tashtor sector offers access to major trade routes that connect the Inner and Outer Rim. For those willing to brave the lawlessness of the Outer Rim or Western Reaches, Maz's Castle has stood at the shore of a freshwater lake for millennia, and is a peculiar blend of ancient and current. Sensor arrays and communication gear help keep Maz connected to the wider galaxy, but a short walk from the castle plunges visitors into a primordial forest seemingly never touched by technology. Maz enjoys the contrast. To her, it is yet another manifestation of a cosmic balance. The relaxed formality of the castle attracts a motley assortment of outlanders from all across the galaxy.
Maz's castle was a place that stood for thousands of years on the ancient battleground between Jedi and Sith, neutral territory, spies can find sanctuary here. Most fugitives avoiding law enforcement have their pick of escape routes, provided they have the credits to pay for transits and the skill to negotiate proper terms. But there was one rule passed down to everyone that dared to enter; a simple warning posted in numerous galactic languages; No Fighting. Unless you wanted to end up in the castle's dungeon for a night and those that violate it will be turned away within their next visit to the castle, Maz has a really long memory.
"Remind me again why you're here and not at home with your wife?" Asana asked the old smuggler Han Solo that sat in front of her at the round stone table the two were sharing. Two plates of Baked Cushnips with Fral were in front of them along with a Fresh fruit platter in the middle of the table for the both of them to eat along with two large glasses of Spice Runner Hard Cider beside them.
Han let out a small breath, everyone knew that Han Solo had gone straight and was no longer lawless or even considered a Smuggler because he was now one for the rules that many in the criminal underworld disliked. "We got into another fight." A fight about Ben's future once more, he knew the kid overheard the whole fight.
"About Ben?" She wondered, taking a sip of her drink.
"He's mine, my kid, too. I should have more of a say then just what Luke and Leia planning out his future. Let the kid decide." Han grumbled to himself, annoyed. His hand moved toward her Baked Cushnips and took a large bite out of it in anger.
Asana gave a small laugh at the childish way Han was acting. "That still doesn't explain why you were kicked out of the house for a week." There was more to the whole fight between husband and wife which would lead to Han staying at Maz's castle for the next week before Leia would let male back into the house again.
Han let out a small grumble. "Look. I was calling Vader a monster, but Leia thought I was calling Ben that so she kicked me out."
"Really? What were the words?"
"Doesn't matter." Han mumbled, looking down at the metal plate of food that sat out before him.
"Maybe both you and your wife should get couples counseling." Asana suggested only to take notice of a small light from Han's bright eyes, she shook her head. "I'm not gonna be your counselor." That would not be her job anytime soon. The only reason she could still talk to Han Solo, after he had a place in Boba's death, before the Bounty Hunter code.
If a Bounty Hunter was to die on a job, then no revenge was allowed to be taken in place of their death. Everyone knows what happens with Bounty Hunters most of the time. It was Fett's own fault to stay at Jabba's palace for a higher paying job-Asana warned Fett not to do it but he didn't bother to listen to her because Jabba paid well. The Hutt used to rule everything with the Bounty Hunter Guild until the Hutt's were all killed by Vader, with Jabba being the only Hutt on the council still being alive, until Leia killed him.
That's what caused Qi'ra to come to power with Crimson Dawn. Until they planned to follow Maul's last plan to get rid of Darth Vader, who she said was Anakin Skywalker, and the Emperor. That was the organization's downfall by trusting The Knights of Ren and Ochi.
"Whatever." He mumbled.
"Maybe you should stop bringing up Anakin to your wife." Asana answered, eyeing Han.
Han looked at Asana in bewilderment. "You know his real name." he hissed in a whisper at their table. "How?"
"Qi'ra once asked me to help kill Vader and the Emperor with a few others. It was good plan until it wasn't." That was all Asana would say on the matter of what took place within the past. "I know about Ochi and the Knights of Ren as well-they used to work for Qi'ra."
"Great. More craziness she started craziness." He grumbled, putting his face in his hands.
Asana took notice of Maz walking into the room with a few more treasures that Alien will add to the curio box, which stays within the deeper parts of the castle. Maz collected many treasures over the centuries not to sell but to protect. Since the alien has seen the tide of dark and light ebb and flow across the galaxy, and believed that a relic from the past may someday make a difference in the future. Keeping all of the objects within the box and waiting until the Force calls to anyone within the galaxy to take an object within the box.
Asana called it foolish. Not even believing in the Force, regardless of hearing about the Jedi path because the Jedi that existed before Order 66 believed they should always walk the ways of the force when others believed in the here and now when it came to the living Force. That was the disagreement which helped lead to their downfall.
Maz did have the Force. Though she never walked the Jedi path regardless of knowing a few in the decades of her long life. Instead the older alien relayed on the connection of the force to keep her out of danger.
"You've heard right." A Bounty Hunter was talking a little loud among the music that rang out within the castle. "Boba Fett is alive."
Asana raised any eyebrow as Han looked up.
"On Tatooine."
One Hunter gave a laugh. "You're listening to ghost stories."
"Maybe. But it could be true."
Han looked at Asana with an eyebrow raised. "Is he?"
"I don't know." This was the first time Asana has heard of the matter or name of Boba Fett from anyone's mouth in years.
"If he is, you don't think he'll try to kill me?"
Asana looked at Han with a smirk on her face. "I don't know. I guess I'll find out."
She'll travel to the desert planet where Jabba the Hutt used to rule over with an iron fist to discover if the rumors of Boba Fett's return were true.
I am planning a few flashbacks to explain the whole Boba and Asana relationship. Along with what happened with Qi'ra and a few others within the criminal underworld.
Asana, I named her after the character from Yu Gi Oh Sevens. I liked the name.