5: Worthy
Boba's return to the Jedi Temple was a quiet one, but the fellow Jedi were all aware of his presence. His notorious reputation as a Jedi even more defiant and stubborn than Anakin Skywalker earned him very little trust from the Council, with the exceptions of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Plo Koon. However, he was well known for his good skills, and his rapid progress through his training. But he could never be up to par with Anakin—and that was a fact all the Jedi were aware of. Days before the mission to track down Tyrannus, Boba had finally got the opportunity to meet the Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker.
"Hello," Anakin greeted, outstretching his hand, "Anakin Skywalker."
Boba took it and shook it, nodding in acknowledgment. "Boba Fett," he replied coolly, "Pleased to meet you."
"Well now, I think the both of you will do fine in today's training," Obi-Wan said with a smile. "We Masters need a break, too, and I think that this will be a good chance for us to observe both of your skills so far."
Anakin grinned. "Master, are you taking this as a chance to slack?"
His Master chuckled in response. "Not at all, I'm just taking a rest from all that incessant nagging while I can," Obi-Wan replied.
"We'll let you two spar for a bit, and then we'll separate for our individual pair training," Plo Koon said, "You may begin when you are ready."
Boba glanced at Anakin; needless to say, he was nervous. He had always heard of Anakin's great skills as a Jedi prodigy and a Force-sensitive. It would be hard, but he hoped that Anakin would not put his full ability to the test. The two ignited their lightsabers and went into their primary fighting stances.
"Ready when you are," Anakin said, a determined look etched on his face.
Boba nodded, taking a deep breath, and then charging forward. He swung his lightsaber strongly towards Anakin's torso, only to have it blocked within a blink of an eye. He's fast! Boba thought alarmingly. He quickly broke the lock and slashed below at Anakin's legs. Anakin parried it easily, and began to strike back. Boba was shocked to see that Anakin's slashes and swings were extremely strong—yet despite that, he was also fast in his movement.
You can do this, he told himself firmly. Boba twirled his lightsaber and struck when he saw an opportunity, managing to just cause a cut in Anakin's sleeve. The older boy cast him his roguish grin, and nodded, as though praising Boba for his alertness.
The training continued for twenty more minutes, before Anakin ended with a mighty Force push and sent Boba sliding backwards. "I'm tired," he said, glancing at his Master, "Boba's stronger than I expected. I think I'd prefer your lectures, Master!"
Obi-Wan chuckled. "Very well, Anakin. Let's go," Obi-Wan said, standing up. He looked to Boba and smiled heartily. "Good work Boba."
Boba nodded and approached his Master, who seemed quite pleased with his performance as well. "Well done," Plo Koon said, "I never thought you'd be able to keep sparring for thirty minutes or so."
"Is Anakin that overestimated?" Boba said, smirking slightly, "I think he's pretty strong, but I can keep up."
"Indeed," agreed Plo Koon. "You two were both at your best."
Boba wiped the sweat off his face and sat down next to his Master. "We'll be meeting Master Yoda very soon for the mission briefing. Are you ready?" asked his Master.
"Yeah," Boba said, feeling energized after the training. "Tyrannus won't run away this time."
"I certainly hope so," Plo Koon said.
"Master, do you think I'll become a Jedi Knight by next year?" Boba asked, "If I train hard enough?"
"I've seen younger apprentices rise to the rank of Knight," Plo Koon said, "I believe you can. You deserve your gift, Boba. Your father would be proud."
"He wouldn't want me becoming a Jedi," Boba said, unsure. "He'd want me to become like him—a bounty hunter."
"But a bounty hunter will have no particular goal in life," Plo Koon said, "He will just have to kill people every time he is hired. Would you want that, Boba? Killing lives for money?"
Boba shook his head. "No," he said, "I don't think I would."
"Then you are worthy," Plo Koon said wisely.
"Worthy of what?" Boba looked up at his Master in surprise.
"Becoming a Knight, and soon, a Master," Plo Koon said. "You are my most promised apprentice yet, Boba."
I won't get to Master, Boba thought. I'd have killed Windu by then, and I'd have left.
"Thank you," Boba said, surprised at the genuine gratitude in his voice. "I will try hard."
"Boba Fett… Plo Koon's apprentice?" repeated Sidious, slightly amused. "What kind of Master would want such a Padawan, the son of a bounty hunter?"
"Plo Koon is magnanimous," Tyrannus said, "He has taken in many Padawans… and I believe Fett is special."
"Special?" Sidious muttered, "How so, Darth Tyrannus?"
"I believe he is Force-sensitive, even though his father, Jango Fett, was not. I believe it has got to do with their family line," Tyrannus explained, "Even though we have never heard of a Jedi named Fett."
"And how have you discovered this?" Sidious asked.
"I've sensed his power, the Force runs within him strongly," Tyrannus said. "I am curious, Master, of his family line." Sidious nodded and scratched his chin lightly.
"Yes, he is an interesting Jedi," Sidious said, "I would have expected him to become anything else, but a Jedi? It is surprising."
Tyrannus smirked. "He plans to kill Mace Windu," he said, "I know it."
"Mace Windu?" said Sidious, "Why the unlucky man?"
"Mace Windu killed Jango Fett, on Geonosis. I should think it is Boba Fett's only reason to want to become a Jedi," Tyrannus said, "It is only my guess, however."
Sidious nodded in approval. "Find out more," he instructed his apprentice. "He will be a worthy ally, if we get him to the dark side."
"Agreed," Tyrannus said, bowing. "I am laying a trap for him, on the planet of Tatooine. There will be a shipment arriving soon, my Lord, and I am giving false clues to lead them there… but the shipment will arrive here, as scheduled. I will be able to manipulate the boy from there."
"What about Plo Koon?" asked Sidious.
"I can deal with him easily," Tyrannus said, "Plo Koon is weaker than he once was."
"I have realized," said Sidious. "Go forth, Tyrannus, and make sure you bring Boba Fett back a Sith!"
Boba strode into the briefing room and stood across his Master and Master Yoda. He looked around; there was no one else.
"Entrusting the both of you this mission, I am," Yoda said, coughing slightly at the end, "Important, it is, to stop Tyrannus once and for all."
"Understood," Plo Koon said.
"Into the system of Tatooine, the new shipment will be arriving," Yoda said, "Retrieve it, you must. Defeat Tyrannus, you must."
"Kill him?" said Boba. "Master, how can my Master and I—"
Yoda raised a hand. "Believe in the both of you, I do," Yoda said. "However, too easy this has been discovered. A trap, this may be."
"All the more we must be cautious," Plo Koon said warningly. "Tyrannus may be waiting for us there with other intentions, other than to receive the said shipment."
"We'll be ready then, won't we?" Boba said, clenching his fists. "I know we can defeat him. I've been training hard, and sometimes with Anakin. I know I'm stronger now, Masters."
Yoda surprised Boba with a hearty laugh. "Changed, you have," he commented, "Rise to the rank of Knight soon, you will. Sooner than expected."
Boba nodded with a small smile. It surprised him to know that he was really happy hearing the old Grand Master's words, and that he had completely forgotten his primary plan through the days of training as a Jedi. But he pushed the thoughts away, and decided that he would train faster, pass the trials and then execute his plan. I can't like being what I am now, Boba told himself, you're here because of Dad, and not anything else.
"We will leave immediately," Plo Koon said, "Come, Boba."
Boba nodded and followed his Master out, feeling Yoda's eyes on him the whole time.
"This will be your chance to prove yourself to Master Yoda and Master Windu," Plo Koon told Boba firmly. "If we succeed, they will know you are ready to become a Jedi Knight."
"I'm only fourteen, Master," Boba said, "Surely it wouldn't be so fast?"
"True," Plo Koon said, "But the future is unpredictable. Perhaps, when you are Skywalker's age, you may become a far more powerful Jedi than me."
"Thank you, Master," Boba said, "I'll put in my best efforts to make you proud of me…" Something in Boba, however, told him to stop speaking like that. It was against his priority, and that was to kill Mace Windu. But he had meant all his words, and he had truly wanted to hear Plo Koon's words of praise. What's wrong with me?
As they boarded the ship, Boba had already pushed away his feelings toward being a Jedi, and the respect he held toward Plo Koon. He only had one goal, and it was not to become a Jedi Master or a Knight.