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Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Twenty-Five – Rebels Prologue V: Farewell to Tatooine

By

Celgress

13 BBY

Tatooine

Katooni hated watching the twins. Why couldn't Yoda do it, he was only off meditation in the deep desert. Something he did regularly. Surely he could take a break? All things considered Katooni would rather be in Mos Espa seeing what trouble she could get into. Here 'parents' didn't know it but Katooni had earned a reputation as a Sabacc shark, though she usually only played for fun giving away most of her winnings.

"Katooni I wanna go inside Leia used the Force to throw sand in my eyes again." Luke whined rubbing his blood shot eyes.

"Leia", Katooni sighed. "Don't use the Force to throw sand in Luke's eyes."

"It isn't my fault he's a big baby." Leia said sticking her tongue out at Luke.

"am not"

"are to"

"am not"

"are too"

"3-CPO can't you and R2-D2 help me control these two?" Katooni asked looking at the two droids who were standing nearby doing nothing.

"They are most dreadful mistress Katooni." 3-CPO said. "They do not follow my instructions. As a result I have given up attempting to correct their aberrant behavior mistress." R2-D2 beeped his agreement.

"You two are useless." Katooni said her face contorted in distain. "I'd rather be alone with the twins out here than have you two for 'help'."

"Hello" said an unfamiliar voice in basic.

Whirling around Katooni saw a man fully clad in modified imperial guard armor. The last rays of the setting suns gleamed off his polished gray & black attire. Katooni noted the silver hilt of a lightsaber strapped to the right side of the figure's belt. In spite of the ever present heat of Tatooine Katooni's blood ran cold. The lightsaber could only mean one of two things; either the individual is an imperial guard of a type she's unfamiliar with or far worse he is a Sith.

"I am Boba Fett only son of Jango Fett, favorite Sith assassin of Emperor Darth Plagueis. My targets are the children. Step aside I won't harm you, resist me you shall die." Boba Fett said.

Katooni's own lightsaber levitated into her right hand. With a snap-hiss the sapphire blade sprang to life. Boba Fett did likewise, swinging his crimson blade around lazily.

"Could it be a worthy challenger at last?" Boba Fett said. "Are you a Jedi Knight, a Padawan perhaps, or a mere pretender?"

"3-CPO R2-D2 get the twins out of here, now!" Katooni ordered.

"At once Mistress Katooni", 3-CPO said. "Come along children."

"We don't want to go." Leia said.

"Let us stay we can help." Luke pleaded.

"You run" Katooni commanded. The droids herded the twins away while Katooni squared off with Boba Fett.

"It is admirable you are attempting to save the children." Boba Fett said. "You consider them your siblings no doubt. Think how they'll feel once I kill you. Your actions are causing them unwarranted pain."

"Shut up and fight." Katooni said through gritted teeth.

"Have it your way." Boba Fett said.

For the first time in six years the blades of a Jedi and a Sith clashed. The two teenagers dueled upon the outer sands of the Dune Sea. Obi-wan and Siri Tachi had taught Katooni well her style was based upon Soresu with a peppering of Ataru offensive elements. Boba Fett on the other hand learned from the best pure offensive duelist in the galaxy today, General Darth Grievous. Boba Fett's resulting style was a brutal hybrid of Juyo and Djem So with elements of Makashi for precision blade work. Around the immediate area the two fought until Boba Fett overwhelmed Katooni with a flurry of powerful, randomly angled strikes. Katooni lost her footing sliding down the dune they were on.

"You were a worthy opponent Jedi." Boba Fett said placing the tip of his red blade next to Katooni's throat. "Now you die."

Before Boba Fett could strike a massive wave of force energy smashed into him throwing the unsuspecting Sith several thousand feet away directly through a series of dunes leaving him embedded deep in the last one. Siri pulled Katooni to her feet hugging her. "Are you okay? Did he hurt?"

"I'm fine mom." Katooni said retrieving her lightsaber with the Force. "The Sith, Boba Fett, said he was here to hurt the twins."

"We have to get off the planet." Obi-Wan said. "Let's retrieve the twins and the droids."

"What about Yoda?" Siri asked, releasing Katooni.

"I'll try contacting him through the Force. If we can't find him I'll have to leave him a message somehow before we depart Tatooine."

The three Jedi jumped onto the two speeders and raced for home. Several hours later Obi-wan, Siri and their makeshift family, minus Yoda, stood before Zorba the Hutt. Obi-wan had hoped the Hutt Lord would help him and his wife get their family off planet. He was sadly mistaken.

"Lord Zorba we humbly request your assistance." Obi-wan said in Huttese.

"On one condition", Zorba said raising a stubby finger. "Assassinate Aruk the Hutt."

"We can't do that." Siri said in Huttese stepping forward.

"You have no choice." Zorba said narrowing his eyes, his booming voice lowered audibly. The room was filled with the sound of clicking. Dozens of weapons were aimed at the twins and Katooni. "Do as I command or I'll order your children executed."

Obi-wan and Siri knew there was nothing they could do. They couldn't risk a stray blaster bolt hitting the twins or Katooni. Struggling to contain his boiling rage Obi-wan restrained Siri with one hand while he pointed towards Zorba with the other.

"What exactly do you want Zorba?" Obi-wan said in a low voice. Zorba's henchmen grabbed the droids, the twins and Katooni. They took Katooni's lightsaber.

"Aruk dead do it and I'll help you leave Tatooine, fail your children die." Zorba said. "I think your eldest would look appealing in a dancer's outfit." Zorba said eyeing Katooni as he licked his fat lips. Katooni shudder in a combination of fear and revulsion.

Obi-wan leaned in close. "Listen carefully Zorba. Katooni and my other children will not be harm or interfered with in anyway. If they are I'll see that you suffer more than you can imagine."

"I can imagine an awful lot Jedi. How do you plan on making me suffer so?" Zorba laughed.

"It'll be a surprise, use your imagination Zorba." Obi-wan said never raising his voice. The look in Obi-wan's eyes bothered Zorba more than the Hutt Lord would dare show.

Obi-wan and Siri then told their children they loved them and to behave before receiving their instructions from the treacherous Hutt Lord. Siri shoot Zorba an icy stare before departing the palace. Once outside the pair stopped beside their speeders to talk.

"What are you thinking Obi-wan!?" Siri cried pounding her fists against her husband's chest her eyes full of tears. "We can't leave the children with Zorba and his hired army of scum."

"We aren't, I just need Zorba to think we are." Obi-wan said. "I managed to contact Yoda through the Force he's on his way once he arrives we'll get them out of there, I promise you."

Before dawn Yoda snuck into Zorba's palace along with Obi-wan and Siri. The three Jedi Masters killed most of Zorba's guards and guests before they awoke. Siri then retrieved the children and the droids.

"Walk up Zorba!" Obi-wan said holding his blue lightsaber in front of Zorba's massive, bearded face.

"You", Zorba said narrowing his eyes the moment they fluttered open. Sitting by his grandparent's tail Rotta squealed in distress.

"Me, I'm back Zorba don't bother calling for help your guards are dead. We are taking your space yacht off your greedy hands. Come after us at your own risk." Obi-wan said jumping over the Monster Pit Zorba opened in vain on Obi-wan's way out of the palace.

The family of Jedi then left the desert planet forever. Their adventures together were only just beginning. Where would they go? What would they do? Find out in the next chapter which will begin the saga before the final part of the main saga, Star Wars Rebels.

To Be Continued