Their Hope
Chapter Twelve
(Takes place at the same time the 501st go to help Aayla Secura)
'Coming out of hyperspace now,' Tech says, smoothly dropping them out of hyperspace.
'Now we just have to find them,' Allie says. 'This is where Boba sent the signal from, start there and we'll work our way outwards.'
'Sounds good,' Hunter says as Tech brings the shuttle into land in a small clearing. Walking out of the shuttle carefully Allie pushes the Force out trying to feel for Boba.
'Boba,' Allie calls quietly and drops to her knees as the young boy runs to her.
'Ba'vodu,' Boba drops into her arms.
'Which way is your buir?' Allie asks, watching as Boba points behind him. 'Right, you are going to stay here with Tech, alright. The rest of us will find your buir. Is your ship still flyable?'
'No, they've trashed it,' Boba says sulkily letting go of Allie who nods.
'Alright, stay here sweetie, Tech will look after you,' Allie kisses his forehead and stands. 'Let's go boys,' Allie smirks.
'Yes Ma'am,' Crosshair rasps back.
'I deserve that,' Allie nods in agreement.
'Quiet, let's move,' Hunter commands, taking the lead being the best tracker. Hunter follows Boba's trail back through the jungle on the moon they have landed on. 'Over there,' Hunter says stopping taking cover behind some of the flora.
Peaking over Hunter's shoulder, Allie spots Jango tied up, on his knees, with four bounty hunters around him.
'Anyone recognise any of the bounty hunters?' Allie whispers, but receives shakes of the head in response. 'How are we doing this?'
'I could take them out from here,' Crosshair says simply, raising his rifle.
'What if there's more hidden?' Allie says.
'Take the risk, spread out, I'll start shooting, take out who I can, you mop up the rest,' Crosshair states.
'Agreed, Allie with me,' Hunter says, motioning for her to follow him.
'I don't need protecting,' Allie informs him. 'I know Rex worries, but I am capable of defending myself,' she says before walking off in the opposite direction.
'She is a Jedi,' Crosshair defends.
'Right, let's go,' Hunter tells Wrecker, who nods at him.
Allie hides behind a tree waiting for Crosshair to take the first shot.
'Did you find the brat?' the Rodian asks as another bounty hunter enters the clearing.
'No,' the Twi'lek grunts, making Jango smirk.
'Oh I don't know what you're smirking at, we'll find him and you can watch us kill him,' Jango fights his bonds but Allie sees red. Snarling she moves as Crosshair fires the first shot taking down the Twi'lek, quickly followed by another bounty hunter, before the remaining dive for cover.
Allie charges forward as Hunter and Wrecker take care of two more of the bounty hunters, leaving Allie to deal with the Rodian who threatened Boba, disarming him with the Force, making him scurry backwards.
'Hey, we can split the bounty,' he tries to bargain with her.
'I'm not here for the bounty and you just threatened my nephew, I don't take kindly to that,' the Rodian scrambles further away from her.
'Hey, we didn't mean it, we wouldn't have hurt the kid.'
'You're a shit liar and I'm a Jedi,' Allie snaps, before igniting her sabre and taking his head off.
'Remind me to never threaten Boba,' Hunter jokes as he, Wrecker and Crosshair join Allie.
'Is Boba alright?' Jango asks, once Hunter removes his gag.
'He's fine, left him at the ship with Tech,' Allie smiles. 'Are you alright?'
'Nothing some bacta won't fix,' Jango assures her, taking Crosshair's hand to help pull himself to his feet.
'We best get moving,' Allie points in the direction their ship is. 'Hunter want to take point?' Hunter nods leading them through the jungle back to the ship. 'How the haran did that lot get the drop on you?' Allie asks in disbelief.
'Don't, not my finest moment,' Jango sighs, as Allie laughs.
'You're a di'kut,' Allie smirks running ahead next to Hunter as Jango tries to grab her. 'Too slow,' she sticks her tongue out at him.
'Buir!' Boba shouts once they enter the clearing, Boba and Tech waiting on the ramp of the shuttle, but as Boba spots his father he jumps up and runs to him.
'Boba,' Jango sighs in relief, dropping to his knees and hugging him close. 'I'm sorry.'
'It's okay, you're okay,' Boba whispers back. 'My ba'vodu kicks shebs.'
'Boba language,' Allie scolds lightly, flicking him gently on the forehead.
'Sorry ba'vodu,' Boba mumbles sulkily.
'Right where's what's left of your ship?' Allies asks.
'Oh I can show you,' Boba says excited to help with something.
'Let Tech know sweetie, he's flying,' Allie pushes him back towards the ship. 'So did you ever make the call?' she raises her eyebrow at Jango, already sure she knows the answer.
'No,' Jango says not looking Allie in the eye as everyone boards the ship.
'I swear, men. You are making that call, you can't keep this up, someone is going to end up dead Jango, you need somewhere safe,' Allie places her hand on Jango's shoulder squeezing tightly.
'No one will answer,' Jango mumbles, not wishing to get his hopes up.
'I need less stubborn aliit,' Allie shakes her head as Wrecker laughs.
'Sorry vod'ika you're stuck with us,' Wrecker booms.
'And I wouldn't have it any other way,' Allie smiles. 'Well maybe, less headaches that way,' she laughs seeing the fake outraged looks on their faces.
'That so,' Crosshair narrows his eyes and grabs her.
'No Cross let me go,' Allie tries to wiggle out of his arms but Hunter grabs her legs. 'Oh this isn't fair,' Allie pouts, causing the men aboard to laugh, even making Jango smile slightly, thinking that yes, she is good for his boys.
'How Rex puts up with you, I'll never know,' Crosshair shakes his head.
'Because I am lovable,' Allie smiles sickly sweetly at them.
'Wait Rex?' Jango asks, feeling he is missing something.
'Oh, you don't know, this one,' Wrecker says pointing at Allie, 'and Rex are…'
'Together, they are together,' Tech interrupts before Wrecker says something not for younger ears, as he lands their shuttle near Jango's.
Jango raises his eyebrow at her but says nothing, walking off towards his and Boba's ship, they all gather around quickly realising there is no way for them to fix the ship.
'Right, that settles it. Make the call,' Allie says pushing Jango down into the pilot's chair.
'No one will answer,' Janog sighs but puts out the call and is surprised when it picks up nearly immediately.
'Jango?' Silas whispers in disbelief. 'Oh shab, Myles get your shebs over here, it's Jango,' Jango is still too shocked to say anything, so Allie leans forward so she is in view as another appears on the holo call.
'Oh look, it's no one. You di'kut,' Allie says sarcastically as she gently taps Jango on the back of the head, snapping him out of his trance.
'Silas, Myles. I, I thought you were dead,' Jango whispers, still not quite believing his eyes.
'We thought you were dead Mand'alor,' Myles smiles. 'It's good to see you.'
'I don't know if you'll say that once I tell you what I've been doing,' Jango replies solemnly.
'Hey, no pity party,' Allie punches his arm. 'Don't mind him, but he does need a safe place to stay, his ships pretty much, well destroyed and I'm his ride off this moon but I can't take him back to the GAR soooo,' Allie smiles sweetly. 'You wouldn't happen to be able to send some coordinates for us would you, please. Then he can explain everything.'
'Well at least you found someone who keeps you in line,' Silas laughs.
'What! No, no, she is not,' Jango tries to deny, embarrassed by his aliit's behaviour.
'Ba'vodu!' Boba shouts.
'Riiiiight, I'm going to go sort out your son, ori'vod. Good luck,' Allie pats his shoulder before walking off in search of Boba, who is in his and Jango's cabin. 'Need help?'
'Please,' Boba asks as he packs his things.
'Of course Bo'ika,' Allie smiles ruffling his hair.
'We will see you soon vod,' Silas says before ending the holo call.
'Should only take a few hours to get to where they want to meet, I'll go programme the hyper drive,' Tech says before he and Crosshair exit Jango's ship.
'All packed buir,' Boba says coming out of their room.
'Wrecker catch,' Allie says throwing two bags at him, which he easily catches.
'Got 'em, come on kid let's get all this to the shuttle,' Wrecker says to Boba leading him out.
'How did you know?' Jango asks.
'The Force,' Allie replies as Jango scoffs at her answer. 'You may think it's jetii magic, but it's real Jango. It lead me to you on Geonosis, the Domino's on Rishi and to staying with the 501st, to the Batch. I listen to it and it listens back.'
'Right, I'll be a few minutes, need to get a few more things,' Jango says, clearly dismissing the two and not wanting them to see what he is about to get.
'Yeah, yeah, keep your secrets,' Allie says casually, wrapping her arm through Hunter's and pulling him off Jango's ship and into theirs.
'We can take off once Jango is on board,' Hunter tells Tech, who nods in return as Allie throws herself into the seat next to Crosshair.
'Here, eat something,' Crosshair says nonchalantly passing her a ration bar.
'Oh I didn't know you cared Cross,' Allie smiles gratefully taking the offered bar and slowly eating it.
'Whatever,' Crosshair mumbles but smiles slightly when Allie rests her head on his shoulder, before looking across at Hunter, who nods at him.
'Right let's go,' Jango says entering the ship and shutting the ramp behind him. 'Let's go introduce you to your aliit,' Jango smiles at them all as Tech takes them into space and activates the hyper drive.
'Here we are,' Tech says as he lands at the given coordinates.
'Vod'ika time to wake up,' Hunter says quietly as he shakes her shoulder softly.
'Five more minutes,' she mumbles sleepily.
'Nope now,' Crosshair says standing up causing her to jerk awake and nearly fall out of her seat.
'Careful Allie, I've got you,' Hunter says holding the young woman's shoulders and glaring at Crosshair, who shrugs at him. Hunter helps Allie to stand, moving back once he's sure she has her balance, as she slowly stretches.
'You ready?' Allie asks Jango, feeling his nervousness in the Force.
'No and yes. Let's go,' Jango holds out his hand to Boba but he goes to Allie who picks him up.
'Go, we'll be right behind you,' Allie urges him.
Jango walks off the ramp, stopping momentarily seeing Silas and Myles for the first time in years stood in front of him, before regaining his ability to move and striding forwards quickly, embracing the two of them.
'Welcome home vod,' Myles whispers. 'You have been missed.' The others stay back giving Jango a chance to reunite with the aliit.
'Now who do we have here?' Silas smiles looking around Jango to the people behind him.
'My Aliit,' Jango says easily.
'She's a jetii,' Myles states wearily.
'A good one,' Jango states back.
'Excuse me, I'm the best,' Allie laughs walking forward with Boba. 'And this is Boba.'
'He looks just like you Jango,' Silas says, causing Allie to burst out laughing.
'Oh, I cannot wait until you explain that,' Allie says struggling to catch her breath. 'Wish we could stay around to watch.'
'You have to go ba'vodu,' Boba sulks.
'Sorry little one, place to be, younglings to save,' Allie states, hugging him close. 'Now be good for your buir. Wait what am I saying? Don't be good, create chaos then call me and tell me all about it,' Allie laughs sticking her tongue out at Jango.
'Someone is going to cut that off one day,' Jango mumbles taking Boba from her.
'Who are the rest?' Myles asks.
'Some of my boys. Hunter, Crosshair, Tech and Wrecker,' Allie introduces.
'I'm Myles and this is Silas, good to meet you all,' the Batch nod back in acknowledgement.
'You need me, you call me,' Allie tells Jango seriously, before hugging both him and Boba.
'Of course vod'ika,' Jango smiles, this young woman has saved his life twice now and reunited him with his aliit.
'Oh and don't be too harsh on him once you hear his story. He is doing much better and I'm fixing some of his mistakes,' Allie tells Myles and Silas. 'Hopefully the next time we meet it won't be a flying visit or because someone is in trouble,' Allie smiles clasping forearms with both men. 'Akay vi urcir tug'yc.'
'Akay vi urcir tug'yc,' the men all reply to her.
'Be safe out there vod,' Myles smirks.
'Never am,' Allie laughs walking back to the ship with the Batch.
'Bye ba'vodu,' Boba shouts waving.
'So, guess you have quite a story then,' Silas laughs.
'You have no idea vod, let's get somewhere comfortable and I will explain everything,' Jango motions to their ship.
'So where to Allie?' Tech asks.
'A Trandoshan hunting ground on the Wasskah moon. They've been kidnapping younglings to hunt for sport,' Allie growls.
'You didn't want to go there first?' Crosshair asks in confusion.
'No, Jango and Boba needed us first. Now we go save the younglings,' Allie states.
'And smash some Trandoshan heads in?' Wrecker asks cracking his knuckles.
'To your hearts content,' Allie smirks evilly.
'I don't know if I like that look,' Crosshair whispers to Hunter.
'Neither do I,' Hunter agrees.
Mando'a translation
Ba'vodu- aunt/uncle
Buir- father/mother
Haran- hell
Di'kut- idiot
Shebs- butt
Aliit- family
Shab- fuck
Mand'alor- sole ruler
Ori'vod- big brother/sister
Vod'ika- little sister/brother
Akay vi urcir tug'yc- until we meet again