3: Anger
(A/N: Time skip of one year, just to let you guys know. Apologies for the really, really long delay, I've been busy.)
Boba, behind you! Upon hearing his Master's warning, Boba wheeled around and deflected a number of blaster shots, killing two of the mercenaries easily. The last survivor retreated back into the storage warehouse, shooting blindly at the two approaching Jedi. Boba strode towards the locked door and smashed the security number pad, and the door slid open immediately. Before he could have a chance to enter, Plo held him back, his hand on Boba's arm.
"What is it?" he asked, slightly agitated. Plo Koon shook his head in disapproval.
"Calm yourself, Boba. They would have formed a trap for both of us," Plo reminded him, "Remember your training. Instead of charging right into the trap laid for us, what is the alternative?" He could feel Boba's anger dissipating slowly, and watched as the boy thought hard.
He looked up with a strong confidence in his eyes. "I'll go look for a back door, then," he answered. Plo nodded and gestured for him to go another way.
"Be careful, Boba," Plo called out after him. Boba turned around and nodded. You too, Master. He then continued on, circling the warehouse slowly, carefully avoiding the security cameras surveying the area and assassin bots patrolling the area as well. Swiftly, he quickly hid behind a cargo ship, waiting for the assassin bot to pass by the area.
Ever since his promotion to the rank of just a Jedi Apprentice, Boba had been paying much attention to Plo's teachings. The Jedi Master had taught him the skills and secrets of stealth, and now Boba was almost as efficient as Plo Koon himself. It surprised even him that he had grown to like being a Jedi, but it did not mean that his hate was gone forever. Being fourteen, he was already one of the most skilled Apprentices in the Jedi Temple. All the other Masters—including Yoda—had developed a certain respect and interest in Boba, except Mace Windu.
Boba could not care less about Mace Windu, though. He had to concentrate on his missions and tests, and once he gained the title of Jedi Knight, he could execute his plan that had been hatched ever since two years ago.
He took a quick glance at his surroundings and then proceeded to the back door of the warehouse. Surprisingly, it was not locked, and Boba entered before the next assassin bot had come.
"…Sidious won't be pleased when he hears of this," said a harsh voice.
"My Lord, we have the new shipment arriving this evening—"
The second man had stopped speaking, and he had begun to choke and gasp painfully. Boba could only guess that a Sith was behind it, although he had never heard of one in a long time, except this mysterious Darth Sidious.
"Don't lie to me…" said the voice again. "Nobody lies to Darth Tyrannus. I'll give you a second chance. The shipment must be delivered to Sidious immediately upon arrival, is that clear?" A loud thud was heard and the second man started to cough and gasp for air.
"Thank you, my Lord, thank you!"
"I'll take my leave now. I sense a Jedi Master in the warehouse, and his apprentice somewhere nearby," Tyrannus said. Boba could feel his heart beat fasten as the footsteps of this Darth Tyrannus got louder. He's leaving by the back door!
Boba looked around in panic and realized that there was no cover for him to hide behind. Before he knew it, Tyrannus had stepped into the room. The two looked at each other for a long moment before Boba ignited his green lightsaber.
Tyrannus smiled. "If it isn't the apprentice I sensed earlier on," he said with a hint of mockery. "Where is your Master, young one?"
"He'll come," Boba said, feeling slightly afraid.
"You are young… and if I were to battle you, you'd die within five seconds." Tyrannus took a step forward.
"You're that Sidious' apprentice, aren't you?" Boba accused, his grip tightening on his lightsaber. "You're here to do something. What is it?"
Tyrannus, to Boba's rage, laughed. "Did you really think I would tell you, young Jedi? You are nothing but a weakling trained by a weak Jedi Master. Join me, and join Sidious, and experience great power," Tyrannus said, taking yet another step forward. "I sense troubles in you… but you have blocked them off from reality. I could help you achieve what you want, Fett."
Boba's heart skipped a beat. "H-How did you know my last name?" he asked, stepping backwards.
"I see the resemblance between you and Jango. Was he your father?" Tyrannus asked him, ignoring Boba's last question. Boba nodded slowly, and the images of Windu killing his father flashed through his mind. His grip tightened even further.
"Are you angry at Mace Windu?"
Without hesitation, Boba answered, "Yes."
"I could help you kill him."
"You can't. Sith are not to be trusted. I can do things by myself!"
"You remind me of young Anakin Skywalker," Tyrannus commented, observing Boba. "He's always independent, never wanting the help and aid of his Master Kenobi."
"What has he got to do with anything here?" Boba said, raising his lightsaber. "I don't need the Sith's help. You're the crook here, and I'm going to arrest you!"
"Charge me," Tyrannus challenged, "Try and stop me, boy."
Before Boba had started to attack, a voice from the room behind echoed loudly. "Boba, don't!" Plo Koon rushed into the scene, igniting his lightsaber and striking Tyrannus down. The Sith Lord had been too fast, and had already parried Plo's attack easily. The two broke away from the saber lock, and Plo immediately went over to Boba.
"Are you all right?" he asked Boba.
"Yeah," Boba replied, still eyeing Tyrannus suspiciously.
"Master Plo Koon! What a pleasure to see you again," Tyrannus said, as though he was greeting an old friend. Boba narrowed his eyes. What was the connection between the Sith and the Jedi?
"Dooku," Plo answered grimly. "I see my apprentice has stalled you long enough for me to come."
Tyrannus smiled. "Oh, I think we've had a good chat," he said. "The boy is an odd choice for an apprentice…"
"I believe he'll be a good Jedi," Plo said, "But you, you have failed."
"I hardly think it so," Tyrannus replied, "I've succeeded more than even Yoda himself!"
"Your lackey is dead, Dooku. How is the shipment going to be delivered here?" Plo Koon said, his voice undeniably filled with disdain and hate.
"The shipment is not going to be delivered here. It will be another secret location, one which I will not disclose." There was a sense of triumph in Tyrannus' voice, and also a hint of arrogance.
"Give in. You must try, Dooku… I still sense some trace of good in you."
"There is no more. Don't think too much, Plo Koon. I am now part of the dark side."
There was a long and undisturbed silence, as Plo Koon and Tyrannus stared each other down. "Then I would have to kill you."
"Killing me does no harm to Sidious. He'll still get the shipment, and he'll find a new apprentice in no time," Tyrannus said, "But I hardly think you will be able to."
Anger rose within Boba. "Don't insult us like we're weaker," he growled, clutching his hilt tightly.
"Angry, now, are you?" Tyrannus said, smirking slyly. "I'm afraid I will have to cut short our conversation—I have much better matters to attend to. It wouldn't make much difference if you two were dead or alive… you're not important, or deadly." With that, Tyrannus made his way swiftly out of the warehouse with incredible speed, leaving a fuming Boba Fett with his master.
"Why'd you let him get away?" he yelled, deactivating his lightsaber. "We could have killed him! I know it!"
"What use is there?" Plo rebutted calmly. "Like he said, we would not discover anything even if we did kill him."
"So you're letting the enemy get away!"
"That is not important. We must report this to the Council immediately," Plo said, deactivating his lightsaber. "Come, Boba."
"No!" Boba shouted, his face contorted with rage. "I don't know what it is with you Jedi, but if violence isn't your weapon, I don't know what is!" With that, he stormed out through the back door. Within a matter of minutes, Plo Koon heard the loud roaring of Boba's ship engine, and as it flew away, he knew that it would take at least a week before Boba could calm down—or before he could track down his apprentice.
"Boba left on his own accord? Again?" Mace Windu stared incredulously at Plo Koon, who merely nodded.
"No respect for his master, he has," Yoda said, scratching his chin. "Track back your apprentice, you must. Another mission, I am giving the both of you."
Plo Koon nodded again, but this time, said, "With all due respect, I would like to give him a few days of cooling down before requesting for his return…"
"What's the use? He'll still leave again in pique and then the whole process repeats," Mace said moodily, "It is best if he stops his training now."
Obi-Wan looked up in shock. "But Master Windu, it has already been two years… won't it be a waste of our efforts, training and teaching Boba the way of the Jedi?"
"If we continue to teach him, we will waste even more time," Mace retorted. "I suggest we let him go."
"No," came the soft but determined reply. Everyone looked up at Plo Koon in surprise. "No," he repeated, "I will not let my student go to waste. Without us, he has no home. Without us, he will grow without a family."
Mace scowled. He glanced at Yoda, looking for an answer. The Grand Master closed his eyes and meditated for a while, before opening them again, and sighed.
"On the planet of Kamino, he is. Retrieve your student as soon as possible, Plo Koon," he instructed Plo.
"Yes, Master. I will."