Hey all! And chapter number 11 is done! Thanks to all of you who take the time to stop by! This story is proving to be so much fun for me to write!

Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable, only my OC and her story.

Chapter 10

The Beast

The Jundland Wastes felt like it went on endlessly. Heated air rose in shimmering waves off the barren desert sands, sometimes creating phantasms of the eye and mirages of glimmering pools of water. Kiya had studied the rock formations as they raced through rocky canyons and across barren desert flats. She had seen a pack of massifs running along the top of one of the canyons. If Fett had noticed, he was unconcerned. Kiya had turned in her seat, watching them. Something told her there was no if he saw; he wasn't the type who missed anything, no matter how trivial it may seem to her. That was the only way a creature with his reputation had stayed alive as long as he had.

Finally, Mos Eisley began to grow out of the desert landscape. Its buildings first looked like the pale spires of another rock formation. Her companion remained as silent now as he had since they left Jabba's palace. Before they left, the idea of being alone with him was far more intimidating than she was willing to admit to herself. He had, however, appeared not to remember she was in the seat next to him. Again Kiya was positive that was not the case, but it made it easier for her to relax a little with his main focus engaged somewhere else. Kiya watched a small freighter come in low; the yellow and white hull showed its disrepair even from this range. It covered the distance to Mos Eisley's much more quickly than them. Moments later, it stopped moving forward and descended, vanishing behind the city's buildings as it landed. Another ship took off just seconds later.

Mos Eisely did not have a main docking facility like the bigger cities. Still, it was a bustling spaceport that housed over three hundred and fifty hangers. It was one of many melting pots strewn across most of the worlds in the galaxy.

They crossed the remaining distance quickly enough. Fett slowed down following the main thoroughfare; the crowd shifted and ebbed, moving out of their way. After half a kilometer, they turned off the main road. He took a narrow street; awnings hung from the building aloft; empty crates sat stacked against the walls. They reached another main thoroughfare, and Fett turned left. After two more turns, Kiya was reasonably sure they were headed for the old market area, near the waterworks. Kiya had belonged to Ordo when she resided here, but three years was a long time to live in a place and not get the lay of the land, even for a slave.

The streets grew more crowded and run down in this direction. It made perfect sense that their errand took them to the dirtiest part of the city. There were, after all, Hutts involved.

As they neared the old market, Boba Fett pulled the speeder to the side and climbed out. Kiya hesitated for a moment, uncertain if she was supposed to get out or not.

He didn't look at her or give her any indication she was supposed to. Deciding for herself, Kiya stood up. She placed her hand on the wind guard and stepped out.

Pulling her hood further forward, she turned just as he picked up his jetpack from the back seat, lifting it behind him with one hand. The pack quickly attached to his armor. He grabbed his blaster rifle from the front seat next, finally lifting his helmeted visage in her direction.

"This way," he said. Stepping back, he made a quick survey of their surroundings as he waited for her to move around the front of the speeder.

His attention returned to her as she reached him.

He said nothing else, just started walking through the market crowd. Kiya didn't need him to tell her to stay close to do so. She had heard stories all her life, from all over the outer rim planets that spoke of sentients who couldn't defend themselves and even sometimes ones who could, finding their way to the slaver's pens. If she were armed, it would be one thing. She wasn't however, he was her protection. For Kiya, the worst that would happen was she would go back to Ordo, and he would send her back to the Hutt. Well, maybe she supposed. There was no guarantee he would send her back to Jabba. It was just as likely he would sell her to someone else and sell Bib Fortuna, another slave, rather than return her. That would be the more lucrative choice.

When she was a child on Nar Shaddaa, her grandfather and parents had rarely let her near the promenade unless she was with one of them. They were also adamant she go nowhere alone. Kiya had remained mindful of the promenade and never went near the redlight sector even when she was older. Her cousin had even been uncomfortable there when he abandoned her it hadn't been on the promenade.

It always had, in ways, felt ironically funny to Kiya that when Verten Shesh sold her freedom, he had done so on the promenade. And from there, she'd been taken to a slavers pen in the redlight sector.

Fett turned down an alley, leaving Kiya to wonder how he could be so sure she followed him. She contemplated if she stopped how long it would take him to realize she wasn't there. The idea was far more tempting than it probably should be.

They only went a short distance further, and he stopped beside an open door; he turned, his attention moving to her. Kiya paused for a moment, looking up at him, then moved past him. He followed her inside the building's dark interior.

Stopping just inside the door, Kiya pushed the hood of the cloak back, Fett stepped past her, moving toward the counter. Kiya gave her eyes a moment to adjust then looked about the cluttered room. Barrels and crates of varying sizes sat around the space; a long counter dominated the wall opposite her.

A large weequay appeared a moment later. His frame filled the doorway behind the counter. His eyes narrowed, drifting down, Boba Fett.

"Haku bal uba huujah?"

"Hotsa," Fett said, drawing Kiya's attention.

The Weequays eyes passed assessingly over Fett again before they landed on her. His expression turned into something akin to a leer.

Kiya held his gaze directly, not looking away despite the urge to recoil. "Whooh asking?" He asked in Huttese, his attention returning to Fett after he finished.

"Uba oon't huujah keekah she."

Kiya didn't need to understand Boba Fett to hear the warning in his voice.

Neither male said another word. The cocky expression slowly slid from the Weequays face under Fett's silent regard. Kiya herself had felt the effects of trying to stare down that black void that was Fett's visor. The color seemed drained from his thick skin.

He finally turned, hurrying in back.

Kiya let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Fett moved toward the door, looking outside before he turned back around. Kiya's gaze drifted around the space again, taking in the stacks of crates and barrels. One crate sat open, brightly colored tapestry spilled out of it.

Kiya moved toward it. She lifted the edge of the tapestry, running her thumb along the silk threads.

"Something pretty for the pretty lady?" a new voice asked, in basic. A set of dark eyes watched her intently. For some reason, color stained her skin under his regard.

"Jee-jee wata ladee Jiliac," Fett said, drawing the Zabrak's attention from her.

"Always business with you, Fett."

Kiya's attention returned to the newcomer, drifting over his face. His skin was tan and with dark brown markings; the small horns sticking up around his head were pale. Kiya had no doubt many women found this particular male attractive.

Fett said nothing, only watched the other male.

"I'd ask if you had a new friend, but I know the answer to that," the Zabrak said, nodding in her direction.

"Just get what I came for," Fett said in that harsh voice of his. Kiya's attention moved between the two males. There was no irritation in Fett's voice when he spoke; actually, there was no emotion at all. It was just flat.

The Zabrak leaned on his elbows against the counter; Boba Fett stood across from him. The Zabrak appeared unconcerned.

"Always the charmer, eh Fett?" Hotsa said, pushing away from the counter. "I'll be back."

Kiya's attention followed the Zabrak as he disappeared into the back. Boba Fett moved back to the door, paying no more attention to her now than he had since they left.

Kiya watched the bounty hunter for a moment curiously. The Zabrak appeared to know Fett and wasn't intimidated. That was something rare, or so Kiya would assume. Her attention returned to the folded tapestry for a moment before she moved toward the middle of the room.

"Here it is."

Boba Fett stayed near the door, nodding in her direction.

The Zabrak made his way from behind the counter. He handed her a long narrow box, maybe a foot in length and wooden. It was ornately carved, with an inlay of some sort of white stone on top. "Milady," he said.

"I would offer to open the package for your inspection, but her Ladyship is the only one who can," he said, staring down at her. He brushed the back of her fingers with his thumb. "Her Ladyship has good taste in her handmaidens; it would seem, eh Fett?"

Kiya pulled her hands away, uncomfortable with the familiarity. She was positive she was caught in the middle of something.

XxX

Boba Fett watched Hotsa hand the girl the box, his fingers slowly slipping along hers. She pulled away, obviously uncomfortable. The Zabrak purveyor stared down at her, a slight smile pulling up the edge of his mouth. Boba Fett had no time for such nonsense. He also knew Hotsa did this for his benefit, not the girls, just as his question was. Boba Fett would in no way react.

The girl held the Zabrak's eyes a moment more before she pulled her attention away and moved toward him. If she were intelligent, she would run out of here as fast as she could. Hotsa might appear the harmless charmer, but Boba Fett knew better. He was a monster. Capable of anything, including selling her into a far worse place than she was now. There was nothing he wouldn't do. This was coming from another monster who was as equally capable of anything.

Boba Fett stepped outside, giving their surroundings a lookover. She followed him out the door, the hood of cloak still pushed back from her face. He noted the red tint in her hair; he hadn't before. She held the small casket close to her chest. Boba Fett followed her.

"Nice to see you again, Fett," Hotsa called from the doorway. "Your friend is welcome to come back anytime she wants." laughter followed his words.

Once they were out of sight, the girl stepped to the side, waiting for him to step past her.

They made it back to the speeder without incident. Boba Fett took off his jetpack, settling it in the back behind the slave girls' seat. He opened the compartment behind the seat pulling out the macro binoculars he had stowed in there earlier.

They left Mos Eisley heading north rather than northwest toward Jabba's palace and further into the Waste than before. Boba Fett hadn't told anyone about this detour. Only the stupidest of sentients made his plans public. Boba Fett was not stupid. The guard in the motor pool had watched Boba Fett stow the E-5 rifle behind the rear seat along with the macro binoculars. He knew that meant Fortuna was alerted the moment he was out of sight. It was also likely Fortuna had placed a tracker on the craft to see precisely where he was going.

Boba Fett agreed with Bib Fortuna about one thing, keeping Jabba Desilijic Tiure happy had its advantages.

If this panned out, Boba Fett would be another one hundred thousand credits richer. He would include locating a lesser krayt dragon in the two hundred and fifty thousand credits Jabba had already paid him. When Boba Fett delivered the beast, it would cost more.

XxX

Kiya watched as he produced what looked like a leather belt from the back seat. Three shiny metal clips were attached to the length. He wrapped it around his chest and along the left side of his jetpack, tightening the strap before he fastened it. Next, he grabbed his blaster rifle, lifting it over his left shoulder. There was a clicking sound, then his hand moved away, and his rifle stayed put.

Finally looking at her, he said, "wait here."

Kiya watched as he walked toward the rock formation and started up the steep path. As he navigated the terrain, she found herself questioning why he didn't just use his jetpack rather than climb. But again, she thought as he disappeared from view over the rise, she had no idea what he was doing.

They had traveled due north for many kilometers into the Waste before Boba Fett headed east. There was nothing here besides Tuskens and beasts. The terrain was much more inhospitable than what they traversed on their trip to Mos Eisley, and the heat grew more intense the closer to midday it became. Kiya didn't relish the idea of being out here in the Waste during the hottest hours of the day.

However, it would seem that Fett was fine with it. Kiya knew very little about Mandalorian armor, but it wouldn't surprise her to find out it kept him cool or warm, whichever he needed.

The thought did occur to her that he had left her with the tools she needed to run. He had a jetpack, but she was alone; he was out of sight. Still, she didn't know how far he had actually gone into the rock, but she could tell from here they went on for a distance. She had transportation. She might be able to get back to Mos Eisely. She could sell the speeder and purchase passage on a ship headed off world.

However, she was not stupid. She was not foolish enough to believe that Fett wasn't aware of all of these things. Just like two nights ago when he had let her hear his approach. Fett was unconcerned. If she tried, he would catch her. A chill swept down her spine with the thought. He would hunt her down.

Kiya let out a deep breath. She picked up her flask from the floor near her feet, taking a small drink of the warm water. She screwed the cap back on and pulled her legs up into the seat beside her. Her attention returned to the rocks where he had disappeared. She had the strangest feeling he was testing her, like the other night.

Suddenly Kiya was angry. Angry with him for dangling freedom in front of her. Angry with him leaving her here to bake in the sun. Angry that he always seemed to be lurking somewhere. But mostly, she was angry because he was unconcerned. He knew she wouldn't run. Or if she did, he knew he would catch her.

XxX

Boba Fett pulled the macrobinoc's from one of the large pockets on his thigh and got down on his belly, crawling the last few feet. He could hear the soft growling noises from below.

Boba Fett peered over the edge, bringing the macro binocs to his eyes. They whirred away softly as he focused on the beast that brought him here. A krayt dragon laid sunning itself on a large outcropping across the canyon, body flattened out to absorb more heat. Its eyes were closed in its broad heart-shaped head. Two long horns grew from the crown of its head of its scaly head, extending backward at a forty-five-degree angle. One tip was broken off. The beast was old, at least fifteen feet long; small spikes ran down its sides and around the edges of its face. Scars covered the thick brown and tan skin on its back. It had several broken claws.

Boba Fett had been studying maps of Tatooine since Jabba offered a reward the first time. He had scouted this location in Slave 1 before he went after Solo and found recent evidence.

Krayts were a territorial creature. They had hunting grounds they roamed over; unlike their cousins, the great dragons, the lesser krayts, traveled and hunted above ground.

Boba Fett still was not sure how he would capture it. Tranqing or stunning the beast, then hoisting it with a ship and flying back to Jabba's palace would be the best and most efficient way. He couldn't transport it with Slave 1, but he could find another ship. He would have to have help. Not that he liked that idea. Boba Fett did not work well with others.

He was sure Dengar would be willing, despite their recent partnership, if you could call it that. Dengar would have done the same to Boba Fett if given a chance. But the cyborg was practical enough to put feelings aside for a cut of the money involved.

Other problems would ensue once he got the beast back to Jabba's palace, like moving the creature into the rancor pit, but that was not Boba Fett's department.

He moved backward, standing once he was out of sight. He put his foot on a rock, bringing the macro binocs up again. He scanned the terrain.

The gorge where the beast lived was close to a kilometer long. He could temporally trap it by bringing down part of the canyon at both ends. Though that was likely overkill. Tranquing or stunning a beast this big wouldn't be easy either. He had already decided the efficient way was to feed it to the creature.

Boba Fett tucked the macros back in his pocket and headed for the speeder and the slave girl he'd left there.

He had left her with a choice. One he was sure she saw. She could take the speeder and run, or she could stay put. He had left her with the necessary tools. She had the speeder. The rifle he had left behind the seat. Jiliacs gift would fetch her money. She could sell the speeder and the gun. All she had to do was be stupid enough.

Running was futile. Boba Fett would catch her. Instinct told him she would realize all of that and be right where he left her. It was better for everyone if she realized now, he was in control.

Boba Fett crested the top of the ridge. She was there. Not in the speeder. She leaned against the other side of it, her back to him. Her cloak was gone. The desert wind lifted a fine sheen of dust from the ground. Boba Fett looked up at Tatooine's suns. It was later than he thought, Jiliac wouldn't be pleased. With these thoughts, he started for the speeder. He would need to make haste.

Thanks for reading!