4: Return
Boba Fett threw his belongings against the smooth, white wall of his room and lay down on his bed. Even though he was still extremely angry at Plo Koon, he was tired after the long journey, and soon, he fell asleep easily.
Fear was growing wildly in Boba's heart, as he scuttled over to the room opposite his—where his father was sleeping soundly in his bed. "Dad!" he said frantically, hopping into bed and shaking the older man. "Wake up, please!" His father opened his eyes immediately at the sound of his son's voice, alarmed.
"What is it?" he asked, slightly groggy. "What happened?"
By now, tears were coming to Boba's eyes. "I… I had a nightmare, Dad. It was scary, really!" he answered, as though he was trying to prove to his father that he was not lying. His father smiled and patted Boba lightly on the head.
"It's going to be okay, Boba. It was just a dream," he said. "Why don't you sleep here with me tonight? I'll make sure no harm comes to you."
"Promise?"
"Yeah, promise." He wrapped his arms around his son and held him close, feeling the boy's rapid breathing slow down into one that was calm.
"And Boba," he said softly.
Boba looked up at his father. "Yeah, Dad?"
"You know I'll always be here to keep the monsters away from you."
The moment Boba opened his eyes; he was greeted with the loud thunder rumbling in the distance. He brought his hand to his face, and realized that there were tears in his eyes. He had been crying in his sleep, and he knew why. The dream was almost as though he was really just five all over again, and that he was still leading a good life with his father. There were so many memories he treasured in his heart about his role model, his hero—even though he had always known that his father was a bounty hunter.
Boba remembered that he'd aspired to become just like Jango Fett—strong, brave and particularly lethal in weaponry.
But you're not. He sighed, and shook his head. You're not like Jango Fett yet.
He glanced out the window, looking into the raging dark sea blankly. Tipoca City did not feel the same anymore, without his father. It felt like it was just yesterday, that his whole life had changed when he witnessed his father being beheaded by Mace Windu. Boba missed seeing his father walk into this very room, always asking whether he wanted to head out for a ride or just stay in. He missed seeing the different systems and planets with his father in their ship, whenever they had the chance for a week's freedom, or more.
"Dad," he whispered, "I miss you."
"And I am sure he does too," said Kamino's Prime Minister, Lama Su, from behind him. Boba turned around slowly, his face void of emotion, even though he was fighting the tears inside.
"Hello Lama Su," Boba said coolly. "I haven't seen you in a while."
"I've heard of your arrival… and I thought maybe now would be a good time to visit you," said the Prime Minister thoughtfully. "What is going on, Boba? I thought I had heard of you and your new life as a Jedi on Coruscant."
Boba grunted. "Where did you hear that from?" he asked the taller being.
"Jedi Masters Plo Koon and Obi-Wan Kenobi informed us a year ago," Lama Su said, "I was not expecting a visit from you so soon."
"I'm not here for just a visit," Boba replied. "I'm staying here for a while, I guess."
"Having troubles being a Jedi Knight?" inquired the Kaminoan.
Boba chuckled mirthlessly. "I'm not a Jedi Knight, Lama Su. I'm only an apprentice."
"I had the impression that during a Jedi's training, there was no opportunity for any sort of vacation whatsoever," Lama Su said, sitting down on the bed next to Boba.
"Not a vacation I'm on," answered the teenager. "I always leave the Temple and my Master whenever I'm… angry."
"Angry?" repeated a surprised Lama Su.
Boba nodded. "I don't understand why the Jedi are so bent on using negotiations and peaceful methods of solving the problems the enemy has created," he said, feeling his frustration rise again. "My Master let the Sith go."
"Perhaps killing that Sith was not the best choice for now," Lama Su said. "No two people can think exactly the same way, Boba. Your Master must be searching for you."
"I bet he knows where I am," mumbled Boba. "He always tracks me down within two days."
"You mean you always leave in anger?"
"Yeah," Boba said. "I… I don't approve of their ways."
"And they do not approve of yours," Lama Su said, his tone neutral. "But you must learn how to work with your Master and the other superiors, Boba. Rebelling against them is not the way to bond closer with them."
"I'm not planning on getting close to anyone there." This time, Boba's tone was filled with disdain.
"Why not?" asked Lama Su. "Are they treating you well, Boba?"
"They are," the younger boy admitted, "But I'm just… I'm just angry at one of them."
"Because of your father…?"
Again, Boba nodded. "He… Mace Windu killed Dad."
"I'm sure whoever that man is, he had not wanted to come to that only option," Lama Su said soothingly. "Your father was a good man, helping out the Republic… and I know he did not deserve to die."
"Then why did he?" Boba asked angrily.
"Boba, your father was a bounty hunter… he was aiming for the Senator of Naboo," Lama Su replied, "How could the authorities not want to arrest him?"
"They could have just arrested him, then! Put him in jail—at least I can see him, and at least he wouldn't be dead!"
"Calm yourself, Boba," Lama Su said. He thought for a while, before saying, "Goodnight, Boba. I think it is best if I leave you time to think…"
"Yeah," Boba muttered. "Whatever."
As soon as the Prime Minister left his room, Boba felt the tears roll down his cheeks as he curled up on his bed, wishing that his father was holding him tightly, protecting him from all the monsters that attacked him.
Days later, Plo Koon landed in Tipoca City, and was immediately greeted by Lama Su and Taun We.
"Master Plo Koon," Lama Su greeted, "Have you come to bring your apprentice back to Coruscant?" Plo Koon nodded.
"It has been far too long, his absence from the Temple. There is an urgent matter at hand, and I need him," Plo Koon said, removing his hood once the three entered the warm interior of the building Boba was staying in.
Once Taun We let Plo Koon into the room, they were both greeted coldly by Boba Fett.
"Master," he muttered.
"I have come to take you home, Boba," Plo Koon said. "We have another mission at hand."
"Home is where I am now," Boba said, "I don't want to go back."
"But you must," Plo Koon insisted calmly, "Take it as though I am begging you, Boba. The Jedi need you—the Republic needs you. Tyrannus is making another move; this is now our chance to arrest him."
Boba looked up once at his Master, and then looked back down at the lightsaber he was holding in his hands. He turned it around in his palms, contemplating about returning to the Temple or not. If you don't, he told himself, you won't get to kill Windu. You won't get to avenge Dad's death.
He let out a sigh, and then took his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Fine," he said, "I'm coming."
He glanced at Lama Su and Taun We. "I'll come back for another visit soon, I promise," he said, waving to the two Kaminoans as he followed his Master out towards their ship.
"How was your stay here?" asked Plo Koon, once the ship had set off.
"Fine," Boba replied, "I wanted to visit them."
"Good choice," Plo Koon said. "They must have been happy to see you."
"They're like family, sort of," Boba muttered, "Of course they were." Plo Koon nodded and continued to concentrate on flying the ship back to Coruscant.
"They must hate me for this," Boba said, indicating to the Jedi back at the Temple.
"Not at all," Plo Koon said. "They are worried for your safety, Boba."
"Mace Windu wouldn't even look at me twice, how can the rest be any different?" Boba asked. "I know he doesn't like me. It's obvious."
Plo Koon didn't know what to say to that. It was true that Mace Windu had greatly disliked the boy, but he didn't want it to affect Boba's training in the Temple.
"In time, he will accept you," Plo Koon reassured Boba. "If I know Mace Windu enough, he just needs to know you a little bit longer and then he'll trust you fully."
"I wonder when that will be," mumbled Boba.
"Soon," Plo Koon said. "Very soon."