(This is a very mini-series starting from at the end of episode five from The Book of Boba Fett. It's a continuation of my other two stories, Mando's Charge and Mando's Quest. Also told from Saoirse's point of view, it's about everything that happens to Mando's wife (aka replacement for Grogu/Baby Yoda) in the Boba Fett series. Admittedly there won't be much of Boba Fett in this story, but it's just a follow up of what happened after Mando and Saoirse left with Luke at the end of the Mando's Quest (Mandalorian season two). This is setup for a continuation of the story when season three of the Mandalorian comes out. If you haven't read my other two stories, this won't make any sense.
For those of you who are still following along, enjoy!)
I sat cross-legged on the ground opposite Luke Skywalker. My new master was training me in meditation that would help me better hear the Force. We did this while his droids worked on constructing us a new house; Ahsoka was with them. My husband, Mando, was off doing some business. He was seeing Peli about something before he was coming back here. My beloved left me in Luke's care, and I couldn't be in better hands.
Luke's deep breathing could be heard from here. His eyes were shut, and he was in meditating position. "Breathe…." He told me in a hushed tone. "Do you sense Mando? Where he is?" I inquired, interrupting the lesson for a minute. Luke didn't even open his eyes. "He will be back soon. Have patience, Saoirse." My eyes fluttered open, resting gently on my master. "He's not alone. Someone wants to see him; I sense someone there with him." Luke let out a sigh but still remained in position. "You are right. Fennec Shand is with him now." My gaze grew a little. "Fennec Shand? That woman with the scarred-face man?" "You mean Boba Fett? Yes." Boba Fett… Only then did my eyes lower ever so slightly. I hadn't seen either of them since they helped Mando rescue me from Moff Gideon's ship. Though we hadn't seen one another, Boba Fett- I assumed to be his name- was someone I still cared for.
Glancing back up at Luke's contented face, I parted my lips a tad. "What does she want?" "She's asking Mando to assist Boba Fett in an upcoming war." My heart immediately skipped a beat. What? What war? How long have we been in this forest for? And knowing my husband, he'd agree to help Boba Fett with anything he asked. He did help Mando save me, after all. Still…..
"Close your eyes and concentrate, Saoirse. All will be well, if you listen to the will of the Force." Doing as I was instructed, my eyes re-shut. They shut and I sucked in a deep, long inhale. That familiar ringing started vibrating in my ears. I could hear it, I could sense it….. It was the same buzzing as before; that same sound that drew me out and led me straight to the scarred face man back on Trask. A few of strands of hair tickled in front of my face a bit, like there was some mild motion around me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was surprised- but not shocked- to see that I was back in the form of a Force ghost. Heh, just like the first time I met Luke. Only this time I hoped I didn't stay like this for months. This wasn't a vision the Force was showing me; I was really part of this place and time, wherever and whenever that was. Well, my spirit was; my body was still safely back in the forest with Luke.
After examining both of my hands, I took a look around the room. More like cave, I think. I was in this domed area with rocks for walls and a large hologram map in the centre of everything. Standing in front of the map and carefully examining it with his hands clasped behind his back was a familiar face. It looked like he was preparing for an upcoming meeting of some sort. I gasped a little when I saw him. Him- the man who saved me from dianoga. The one whom I owed my life to; you know, besides Mando, and Carl, and Luke, and several others.
I spotted him, gasped, and that made him turn back toward me. He couldn't have looked more stunned either. "Saoirse….." He uttered under his breath in disbelief. My mouth opened, closed again, then gradually reopened, adding on a smile. "Hello, Boba Fett. Remember me?"
The man blinked at me wildly. "Remember you….? How could I ever forget…..? What's happened? Why have you come here like….. like this?" I think that's about as panicked as he could bring himself to sound under any situation. This only made my smile blossom even more; I knew I liked this guy. My grin didn't last long, however. As it faded, I walked up closer to where he was standing by the map. "I needed to see you, to hear your voice again. It was the will of the Force…. that I come see you now, my friend."
Boba Fett's eyes narrowed onto me scolding and unimpressed. "Do not speak to me of such things. That still doesn't explain why you are here….. Even if it only your spirit," he felt the need to tack on under his breath. My smile returned. "Would you have preferred I come in-person?" Oh, he did not like this suggestion, shooting me a look which said it all. It said 'you'd better not come here'. Awe, I love it when he's protective over me; probably because he was the absolute un-protective type. Boba Fett would protect me, even if he'd never admit it out loud.
He fired off one more glare my way. "I won't ask again. What are you doing here?" My own expression suddenly grew serious as well. "You've asked my husband to fight in a war….." "Your husband will be fine; he's a Mandalorian," Boba Fett instantly brushed me off, but I wasn't about to relent. "Are you in need of some assistance?" "Not from you. You've taken a vow against violence anyway. No offence, but you're of more use to me where you are," his eyes met mine again.
Boba Fett and I stared at each other for a long minute. Eventually the edges of my face softened; my eyes lingered on his. "Mando will help you, though I think you already know that." He hesitated to reply momentarily. "He will be compensated handsomely….." "He will not take the money. You and him are kindred spirits… and I wish to be of help to you both." "Saoirse….." He began before I stopped him. Flashing him the kindest smile, I stepped forward.
"I never did ask you….. Why did you save me, back on Trask? That night….. You could have left me; you could have abandoned me to their mercy. But you didn't. You chose to save me—the great niece of a Jedi—instead." Of course I wasn't expecting an answer, which he did not offer me one. He simply stared at me, as I anticipated. The corners of my grin widened. "Mando will help you, and so will I. Should you ever need me, just call. I will come….." My translucent hand raised up the brush across his scarred cheek. Our eyes locked again; his stoic and mine tender. "Let me be of service to you, my friend. It is the least I can do….." "I don't want you here, child. Stay where you are….. away from me and out of harm's way," he stressed. But I responded with a light shake of the head. "I may stay away, but that doesn't change anything. Our fates are intertwined: yours, mine, and Mando's….. There is nothing we can do about it now but be there for each other. You want me to be safe…..
But it is the will of the Force that we be drawn to help each other."