Chapter Twelve


The door slide open to reveal Taun We outside.
"Hello," she greeted. "Jango Fett is available to see you." Obi-Wan nodded at her.
"Can you give me a moment?"
"Of course." Taun We stepped aside, allowing the doors to close again.

Obi-Wan spun around, pulling Everett back into his arms.
"I want you to stay here," he ordered. His voice was quiet, full of authority.
"Is that safe?"
"I'd rather you here than where someone can recognize you. Do you understand?"

The Senator sighed but nodded. Obi-Wan pressed a kiss to the top of her head, breathing her in.
"I'll be back as soon as I can, Evy." His mouth found hers again, drawing her in close. "You get harder every time to walk away from," he whispered, lips brushing against hers with every word.
"Then, I'll help you."

She stepped away, giving him a small, shy smile. Obi-Wan smiled back at her before following Taun We out the door. He was led through the corridors of the city until they reached a door.

Taun We waved his hand, the quiet sound of a bell reaching Obi-Wan's ears. The door was opened and a boy, identical to the clones, opened the door.
"Boba, is your father here?" Taun We asked.
"Yep," Boba nodded.
"May we see him?"
"Sure."

The boy stepped aside, allowing them inside.
"Dad! Taun We's here!" From around a corner, a man walked in, butting the cuffs of his shirt. He was tall, with dark black hair. Identical to the grown clones just a short walk away from them.
"Jango, welcome back. Was your trip productive?"
"Fairly," Jango nodded.

He eyed Obi-Wan closely.
"This is Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He has come to check on our progress."
"Is that right?"
"Your clones are very impressive. You must be very proud."
"I'm just a simple man, trying to make my way in the universe, Master Jedi."
"Aren't we all?"

Looking away from the man momentarily, Obi-Way spied a half-opened door, through which he could see a few pieces of armor. Familiar armor. Jango stepped in front of the door, causing Obi-Wan to look back up.
"Every make your way as far into the interior as Coruscant?"
"Once or twice."
"Recently?"
"Possibly…"
"Then you must know Master Sifo-Dyas."

Without taking his eyes off Obi-Wan, Jango barked an order to his son.
"Master who?" Jango asked.
"Is he not the Jedi who hired you for this job?"
"Never heard of him."
"Really?"
"I was recruited by a man called Darth Tyrannus on one of the moons of Bogden."
"No? I thought…"
"Sifo-Dyas told us to expect him," Taun We said. "And he showed up just when your Jedi Master said he would. We have kept the Jedi-s involvement a secret until your arrival, just as your master requested."
"Curious…" Obi-Wan mused.
"Do you like your army?" Jango questioned.
"I look forward to seeing them in action."

Grinning, Jango nodded.
"They'll do their job well, I'll guarantee that."
"Thanks for your time, Jango," Obi-Wan told him.
"Always a pleasure to meet a Jedi." Obi-Wan bowed his head, then followed Taun We out the door.

Outside, Obi-Wan looked to Taun We.
"I have to contact the Jedi Council and then Moteé and I will be on our way."
"Tell your Council that the first battalions are ready. And remind them that if they need more troops, we will need time to grow them."
"I won't forget. And thank you."
"Thank you. Shall I inform your companion that you will return shortly."
"If you would."

As Taun We left to speak with Everett, Obi-Wan stepped out into the rain outside. He pulled his robe tight around himself as the rain immediately drenched him.
"Arfour! Relay this, "scramble code five," to Coruscant."

Arfour beeped and whistled. A transmitter disc emerged from the top of the starfighter. In a moment, Obi-Wan was staring at the holograph versions of Yoda and Windu.
"I have successfully made contact with the Prime Minister of Kamino. They are using a bounty hunter named Jango Fett to create a clone army. I have a strong feeling that this bounty hunger is the assassin we're looking for."
"Do you think these cloners are involved with the plot to assassinate Senators Amidala and Alvera?" Windu questioned.
"No, Master. There appears to be no motive."
"Do not assume anything, Obi-Wan," Yoda cautioned. "Clear, your mind must be if you are to discover the real villains behind the plot."
"Yes, Master. They say a Master Sifo-Dyas placed the order for a clone army at the request of the Senate almost ten years ago. I was under the impression he was killed before that. Did the Council ever authorize the creation of a clone army?"
"No," Windu answered. "Whoever placed that order did not have the authorization of the Jedi Council."
"Into custody, take this Jango Fett," Yoda ordered. "Bring him here. Question him, we will."
"Yes, Master. I will report back when I have him."

Closing the communications, Obi-Wan headed back inside. He debated telling Everett his plans first but thought otherwise. There was no need to worry her. Once he had Jango Fett apprehended, then he would let Everett know about it.

Arriving back at the apartment, Obi-Wan reached out a hand, using the force to unlock the door. He waked inside, finding the room in complete disorder. The bedroom door was wide open, showing signs of hurried departure.

Moving to a computer screen, Obi-Wan managed to get a live feed of Jango and his son working on unhitching the lines securing their ship to the landing platform. He cursed under his breath and took off towards the ship.

Upon reaching the landing platform, Obi-Wan rushed outside. He drew his lightsaber, flashing it on as Jango drew his gun, firing at him. Obi-Wan deflected the blast, swing at Jango.
"Boba! Get on board!" Jango yelled to his son.

The bounty hunter used his suits rockets to go over Obi-Wan, handing on top of a nearby tower. He fired at Obi-Wan, the Jedi easily deflecting them back. Suddenly, Jango launched an explosive, sending Obi-Wan diving out of the way.

He lost contact with his lightsaber, the hilt skidding across the wet surface of the landing platform. Jango dropped from the tower, landing in front of Obi-Wan. Getting to his feet, Obi-Wan threw himself at Jango.

The Jedi and the Bounty Hunter wrestled each other, both trying to get the upper hand. Jango tried to get away with his suit's rockets, managing to get up into the air with Obi-Wan holding on. Jango kicked Obi-Wan loose, the man crashing to the deck of the platform, sliding towards the edge.

Obi-Wan struggled for a handhold on the slick surface. He reached out his hand for his lightsaber, but a thin wire wrapped around his wrists, tying them together. He cursed under his breath as Jango rocketed into the air, dragging Obi-Wan behind him along the platform surface.

As he slide towards some columns, he managed to maneuver himself into a roll, avoiding collision by leveraging the wire against the structure and pulling himself to his feet. Obi-Wan pulled with all his weight against the momentum of the wire, causing Jango to drop and crash into the ground. His rocket-pack broke free, exploding behind him.

Still connected by the wire, Obi-Wan charged at Jango, kicking him over the platform edge, Jango slid down, pulling Obi-Wan with him. Together, they plummeted down towards the raging sea below. At the last moment, Jango released the wire, Obi-Wan shooting off the edge, falling down.

Using the force, he caused the wire to wrap around a pole, swinging just above the waves. He hauled himself to his feet and took off running. He reached the landing platform just as the Jango's ship began its ascent. He pulled a tracker off his belt, throwing it up onto the hull of the ship before rushing back to the city.

Running inside the rooms he shared with Everett, he stopped mid-stride. It was torn apart, destroyed. There was no sign of Everett, her presence nowhere.
"Blast it all," he breathed, realizing, in that moment where she must have been taken.


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