Location: Slave 1 on the planet Mandalore

"This is a first, Fett."

She said with her trademark mix of danger and smokey seductiveness.

She continued:

"Usually I'm the one calling on you for backup."

Normally, Fett would have replied with something succinct yet non-committal, but not now. He found himself doing something he loathed: Explaining himself.

"Officially, Mando's don't need help from anyone... But...My people... Well.. We are about to go all in on... a little project..."

He trailed off.

"Well, you don't seemed too thrilled about this... project."

She interjected.

"When have you ever known me to be thrilled about anything ." He asked

"Fair enough." she conceded, then continued: "Look Fett! For decades, you've always been there for me, no questions asked... Of course I've got your back! Just tell me when and where.

"When: Is best possible speed. Where is... Naboo!"

There was a pause on her end of the transmission and then in a voice as cold as Hoth, she uttered just one word: "Skywalker!"

On the view screen, Boba could see the edges of her lips begin to curl upward in a small smile. After a slight inhalation of air, she spoke again; this time with a voice that burned with the heat of Mustafar.

"I do so love it when business is mixed with pleasure." She had that look in her eye that was not so dissimilar from the look his own people got when war was on the horizon.

That's the effect affect Luke Skywalker had on the galaxy: Half the beings out there, worshiped him. The other half used a holo of his face for target practice.

Fett and Skywalker had a precarious relationship throughout the years, but there was always an unspoken respect between the two heavy weights. They had, at times, found themselves on opposite sides of a conflict. Even then Fett knew it was just business.

The woman on the other end of this transmission, was different. Luke... No! Not just Luke. The very idea of Luke Skywalker was like poison in her veins. Even if she would just be there as "backup", she couldn't pass up the chance, no matter how small, that she could truly and finally end him.

"Just give me an hour to make preparations... I'll be there with bells on." She said in a voice that eerily reminded Fett of an eager young school girl."

"Thank you." he replied . And while reaching for the channel's cut off switch, he added. "Oh, and Dalaa..."

"Yes Fett?" She responded

"When you get there, check in with Goran Beviin."

He said, almost as an afterthought.

"Your Lieutenant?"

"Yeah, that's him. His word is as good as mind."

"Whatever you say Fett. I better get going and see to those preparations. Oh, and Fett... Good Hunting."

That was it. The last piece of the puzzle. He may have been setting his people on the path of their destruction, but he would see to it they had a fighting Chance. Admiral Natasi Daala was the ultimate backup; An Idiot's Array.

After all there was no real choice in the matter.

Boba Fett may have led Mandalore, but he would only be allowed to lead his people in a single direction: Towards conflict. Even if that conflict was bad for the galaxy... Even if that conflict was bad for Mandalore. History was clear on this!

There had been a Mandalore whose name would never again be spoken: Satine Kryze. She had led her people to peace and prosperity... She had led her people to the slaughter. By the time the Empire came, Mandalorians were so divided and confused, they didn't stand a chance.

It was not going to go down like that. His people wernt going to go down like that. Boba knew Malgus was up to something, and in the end, he'd rather his people face that future, not as a hobbled Bantha but as a Rancor bull in his prime.

They would just have to face that future without him. He had spent a lifetime watching, first his father then himself, be used by the likes of Dooku, Sidious, Vader and now this... Malgus.

It wasn't that these men were just Evil... Boba Fett was no righteous monk.

No.

These creatures of Darkness had actually damaged the galaxy in their wake. He had been fighting back doubts the last couple weeks, but Malgus's sudden appearance had solidified those doubts. He knew deep down in his gut, that with Malgus running loose, killing off Luke Skywalker could damage the galaxy beyond the point of no return.

A true Mandalorian would never think like that, then again, Boba Fett had never felt like a true Mandalorian. He couldn't let his heretical awareness turn his people into something they were not. Yet, at the same time, he couldn't endure watching another generation of his blood be born into a galaxy that was stuck in a never ending loop of pointless loss. Inside him the desire for peace had sprouted and now was on a ruthless campaign of conquest, silencing every other desire and need.

His helmet, which had loyally protected him these many decades, could not shield his mind from the roar of conflict that raged inside.

His torment was momentarily put aside as he could hear someone walking up the ramp of Slave 1 behind him. Without turning around, he said: "I didn't know if you were actually going to come!"

The footsteps continued right up behind him, until he felt a long forgotten touch on the back of his arm.

"I was honoured, Bo." Said Sintas Vel.

Without resistance from him, she lifted his helmet off his head, and stared at him with that dreaded pity Fett had expect from everyone who gazed upon his lonely battle scared face.

But he didn't turn away from her pity.

Her Kiffar abilities amplified that pity. As Sintas held onto his helmet, she could sense everything the helmet's wearer had experienced in his long and tortured life, and understood how vital and sacred her role was in giving him his illusive relief.

Frozen in Carbonite for over 40 years had left her, an ageless woman in her 70's. He felt it unlawful, somehow, that such beauty should be in the presence of such ugliness. But as hard as he tried, he couldn't find the slightest trace of disgust in her eyes.

All the while, her hand delicately probed the unprotected seams of his green breastplate. When she had found what she was looking for, she leaned in close and kissed him. That one simple kiss transported them both to a more uncomplicated age. For those brief years of marriage, Boba had been happy. As hard as he may try, the broken pieces of that life were too many to find and stitch back together.

No, she couldn't repair him or his past. If it were at all possible, she would have. There was only one thing she could do for him.

With a sharp inhale, he realized... It was done. Her one hand still held onto to his helmet, the other... The other hand was releasing the hilt of the small stiletto that she had skillfully plunged into his heart.

The pain was surprisingly fleeting. It quickly morphed into soothing warmth... Warmth that radiated out from his core and bathed him in peace. His fading vision was blessed with the image of Sintas staring back at him with pure unadulterated love.

However, at the twilight of his consciousness, an intrusive thought threatened to shatter his newfound peace.

Sinta's must have seen his thoughts in the changed expression on his face.

"Mirta will be fine! I'll always have her 6, Bo." She assured him.

Fully loosening his grip on the tortured reality of life, he mustered up barely enough strength to utter his final words: "Shoo... Shoot... Shoot straight... Sin..."

And he was gone.

Sintas didn't move for what felt like hours but was probably only seconds. She was struck with the irony that his eyes, in death, looked more vibrant and alive than they ever did in life.

"I need a little help here." She called out behind her.

Several heavy foot falls up the ramp later, Mandalore's new leader was there, helping her place Fett's body in Slave one's pilot chair.

After strapping him in, Goran Beviin placed that infamous green helmet back upon it's proper home.

"Sleep well old friend." Was his final farewell to his brother in arms. After punching coordinates into the ship's auto pilot, Goran and Sintas left Slave 1 for the last time. They watched on in solemn silence as Fett's ship rose into the sky and headed off into the black void. Once the Fire-spray cleared the planet's gravitational well, it made the jump to hyperspace. Destination: The Galaxy's frontier and beyond! Eventually, the ship would run out of fuel and energy, but the nature of deep space would ensure a never ending journey for a man finally... At peace.

Goran and Sintas stood there staring up into the sky for several minutes, then they headed back to town on his speeder. A great battle loomed on the horizon and he would make sure that His people would take their rightful place as the galaxy's premiere warriors: Centre Stage! Ground Zero!

Today would be Legendary and Glorious!