Chapter Five: Taking Root in the Desert
"The Emir thanks you all for accepting his invitation and coming to his court today," announced Grand Vizier Fennec Shand.
As Boba sat on his throne, U'Kag coiled upon his shoulder, elevated on the sandstone dais that once belonged to Jabba the Hutt, he took a survey of the guests from behind his t-shaped visor. Among them, guarded by Jabba's old torture droid, 8D8, were: a tusked, furry Aqualish delegate and a wrinkle faced Klatooinian delegate, the former known for being part of the Separatist Alliance during the Clone Wars and the latter known for being henchmen of the Hutts for generations. Others that caught his eye included a lizard-like Trandoshan delegate carrying a wookiee pelt, who was scrawnier than Fett's old associate Bossk, and a wolf-like Shistavanen delegate who seemed awfully eager. However, not everyone seemed to respond to his invite.
"As for those who have not shown up today," Fennec began, a twinge of passive-aggressive disappointment in her tone, "Those would be the Devaronians, the Huk, and… most troublingly the Mayor of Mos Espa, capital of Tatooine. They will be dealt with later. Now, shall we begin the proceedings?"
The Shistavanen delegate immediately stepped forward, kneeling before Boba Fett. The Klatooinian delegate snickered, along with the Aqualish. Boba signed his directions to Fennec.
"So you pledge your allegiance to the Emir, delegate?" inquires Fennec, translating Boba.
"I am no delegate, Lord Fett," explained the Shistvanen. "But considering the others, I can understand why you think so."
Boba signed a question to Fennec who translated, "Then who are you?"
"I am Don Filon Shavamo, leader of Mos Eisley's Shavamo Pack," replied the Shistavanen. "I came to see you myself, rather than send a delegate to speak for me."
Boba tilted his head before signing more directions to Fennec.
"Why come here yourself, Don Shavamo?" Fennec inquires for Boba.
"Because you seek what the Shavamo Pack has been advocating for our entire existence," replies Don Shavamo, "Honor within this ruthless Underworld. Under Jabba and Fortuna, the oppressed were preyed on by the powerful. The Shavamo stole from those in power to serve those who could not help themselves. And we have heard you wish to protect the oppressed."
Boba tilted his head again, as a skeptical look formed beneath his helmet. He dictated his next words through hand signals.
"And why should the Emir and I trust you?" inquired Fennec.
Standing up and baring his fangs, Don Shavamo answers, "Because I give you a blood oath!"
Boba watched Fennec and several of the other delegates, especially the Trandoshan jump in alarm as the Shistavanen bites his hand, drawing blood, spilling it onto the floor of the Palace's dark, dusty throne room.
"By the light of Uvena and the blood of my pack!" Shavano promises, "I will give my life to you Lord Fett, so long as you give your life to the oppressed."
This was a time honored cultural tradition of the Shistavanen wolf-men, that Boba knew of from his time as a Bounty Hunter. The I'Ka tribe would have loved this one. Boba signed his reply to Fennec.
"And by the memory of the Warrior with a Thousand Sons, we give our lives to the oppressed," replied Fennec, translating for Boba, as he delivered the same message in his head.
Don Shavamo bowed again, with gratitude, before stepping back. The Aqualish immediately walks out on the meeting, something Boba takes note of. The Trandoshan delegate, certainly a youngster, steps forward tentatively, a golden-hued wookiee pelt in his scaly arms.
"Lord Fett," he nervously hisses. "You seem like a nice guy-"
"The Emir wouldn't put it that way," Fennec interrupted the delegate.
"Right," he replies. "I was sent here by the bosses to give you this offering."
Boba tilted his head at the sight of the pelt. Back in his days as a Bounty Hunter, he wore a few Wookiee braids on his armor with no qualms. However, the I'Ka tribe had taught him so much about the value of life. He signed his reply to Fennec.
"Emir Fett no longer finds favor in such barbaric gifts," she explained. "Neither should you."
The Trandoshan sighed.
"To be honest, I don't," explained the youngster.
Though no one could see it, Boba raised an eyebrow under his helmet, tilting his head. A trandoshan who didn't enjoy hunting?!
"Me and a few others agree on this," elaborated the delegate. "But the bosses hate us for it. So please accept this gift so I can keep my head."
Boba sighed, gesturing for the youngster to hand the pelt over to 8D8. The scrawny trandoshan did so and stepped back.
"Hmph," grumbled the Klatooinian delegate.
Boba looked him right in the eyes, signalling his words to Fennec.
"What do you wish to say to the Emir?" she inquires.
"You were once a bounty hunter, Boba Fett," the Klatooinian snarls. "Yet you give all this talk of protecting the oppressed and the weak. How can a killer with such a trail of blood do any favors for the weak?"
"Enough!" snapped Fennec. "Like your gang even cares for the weak! The Emir will have 8D8-"
Boba raised his hand, signalling his Vizier to cease her threats. With a sigh Fennec backs down.
"He's right about one thing," Boba signs to Fennec. "I do need to clean myself up."
The Klatooinian grumbles.
"Be thankful my bosses declare neutrality," growled the delegate.
The Klatooinian storms out of the throne room, up the stairs into the main hallway of the Palace. As the Klatooinian left, a thin peach-skinned Twi'lek in ornate green robes walked into the room. Boba eyes him carefully before signing to Fennec.
"Who, may I ask, arrives to the Emir's throne later than requested?" inquires Fennec.
"The majordomo of Mok Shaiz, Mayor of Mos Espa and its surrounding plateaus," answers the Twi'lek, playing with his head tails.
"We invited the mayor to pledge his allegiance," Fennec utters in disbelief.
Boba glares at the majordomo from behind his helm.
"Ah, indeed," the majordomo replied. "My apologies. You must understand the mayor is a very busy man."
Boba scoffed and signed his next orders.
"Now bow, as the mayor should have," translated Fennec.
"Well, about that," replied the Twi'lek, "I only came to bring a warning from the Mayor."
Boba tilted his head, while Fennec leaned forward.
"There are some, well, how should I put this?" began the majordomo, "Other interests on Tatooine. So the Mayor suggests you watch yourself."
Was that a threat? Boba signed his words to Fennec.
"Very well," she translates, a cold tone to her voice, "Now get out of Emir Fett's sight if you know what's good for you."
The Twi'lek bows before making a swift exit. Boba looks at Fennec, giving a nod.
"Court adjourned!" she declares.
In the dank underbelly of the Palace were the dungeons where prisoners of all sorts were kept. Under Jabba, it was those who displeased him or did not have the strength to fight back. Under Boba, it was those who held power under Jabba and later Bib Fortuna. Standing with Fennec before 8D8, the Emir had come to investigate some claims he heard from the notorious torture droid. In fact, he was standing in front of two green, horned, pig-like Gamorrean guards, locked in a cell.
"Presenting Kriic and Athmot, as requested!" declared 8D8, gesturing into the cell. "These swine served as guards under Jabba and as Captains under Bib Fortuna! They refused to surrender even after the death of their patron."
Boba examined his old friends, as Fennec looked on. They looked as tough as they had ever been, though Kriic appeared a bit more nervous from the twitching of his snout.
"You sure about this?" Fennec whispered. "Could be a bad idea."
Boba looked on.
"Their tortured squeals shall send a powerful message to potential challengers to your throne," continued the droid gleefully. "Show your strength to gain acceptance as Lord of Tatooi-
Boba raised his hand, signaling the droid to stop. He then gestured his words to Fennec.
"Both of you were loyal to your previous bosses and the greatest among Gamorrean warriors, Kriic and Athmot," translated Fennec. "And both of you were once friends of Emir Fett, when he was but a mere bounty hunter. He offers to free you, if you would support an old friend."
The Gamorreans stand up and immediately bend the knee, kneeling to the ground, pledging themselves to their former associate. Boba nods and 8D8 opens the cell, releasing Kriic and Athmot. As the two walk out, they both give a gracious bow and Fett leans in closer.
"Glad you are willing to help, old pals," he whispers.
Mos Espa, capital of Tatooine, was a sprawling city, stretching from the edge of the desert into a massive sinkhole at the core of the settlement. Once famed for the grand Boonta Eve Podraces under the Hutt Clan's reign, Espa, though always a city of sin, had descended further into chaos after the fall of Jabba the Hutt.
The outskirts were composed of white sandstone buildings with domes and stairwell-like structures of all kinds. Said outskirts were said to have once been the home of the legendary Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker, who Boba had encountered a few times in his youth. Flanked by Fennec and the Gamorreans, Fett walked down the sandy streets having checked in with an elderly Toydarian junk dealer named Watto to collect tribute. They were now headed downtown, though not before the flying old shopkeeper left a warning.
"I tell you, things have been goin' crazy in these parts," Watto had explained, ominously. "The loss of Jabba has left a huge power vacuum."
Boba, cradling his blaster carbine, was thinking back on these words when Fennec interrupted his reflection.
"Who might the 'other interests' be?" inquired Fennec, referring to the warnings of the Mayor's majordomo. "That Watto guy's got me thinking."
"I have a few ideas," tersely replied Boba.
As they climbed down the steep steps into the city's central sinkhole, the location of Mos Espa's core, Fett could fully appreciate the vast expanse of the downtown. Domes remained near the ground, while spires towered into the air, with one standing nearly the height of the sinkhole itself. Boba made his way down the sandy streets when he heard children crying in Huttese.
Looking to his left, he caught sight of a human child dragging desperately at his father, who was headed toward a shadier looking man, evidently a spice dealer. Before Boba could intervene, the boy's father tossed a few credits and the dealer grabbed them before slinking into the alleyway, leaving behind a packet of spice.
"E Chu Ta, wermo!" cursed a Rodian's voice.
"Poodoo!" the voice of an arm-walking camel-faced Dug cursed back.
Boba turned to his right, catching sight of the Rodian and the Dug in a vicious brawl, clawing at each other's faces and pounding each other into the sandy streets. The reason: a silver-tubed spice stick, apparently loaded with the last of one brawler's supply of the accursed narcotic.
"Nerra!" cried a little Twi'lek girl from the side of the street.
Boba looked forward, catching sight of the girl, her twin lekku head-tails shriveled from hunger, her body but a mere skeleton, draped in skin. She held a sign, inscribed with Aurebesh letters.
"Mother left me for the Ryll," was what her sign read. "Need money for food."
Evidently, this girl was left by her mother, who had apparently taken up snorting Ryll spice to the point where her own daughter was a liability. At least her fate was marginally better than Zeyma, that Zeltron girl Boba had seen in Mos Eisley a few years ago. Turning to Fennec and mounting his carbine over his shoulders, he signs his orders. His Vizier nods and heads over to the Twi'lek girl offering some credit chips. Eying the golden chips, the girl looks to Fennec, who nods in affirmation. The girl then tentatively grabs the credits and runs off for a nearby stand of meiloorun fruit. Boba eyes her carefully as she exchanges those credits with a Talz vendor for a fruit, immediately taking a bite out of it.
At least she'll have a meal, Boba mused.
By nightfall, the four soon enter a bustling nightclub near the center of town through an entrance flanked by tropical plants imported from a distant world. Playing in the background is a club-style remix of the Huttese song, Lapti Nek, ringing like bells, as the famed musician of the elephantine Ortolan species, Max Rebo, plays. The dining hall is massive, almost three times the size of Jabba's old throne room and is lit by lights that could be straight out of the clubs of Coruscant. Many are sharing a drink with one another and some are playing the card game sabacc, with cards being dealt by an old pilot droid.
From what Boba could recall from his research and his sources, this establishment, the Sanctuary, was a new business here on Tatooine, having been established during the reign of Bib Fortuna by some offworld interests. Whoever established this place, Boba needed to ensure their loyalty to him.
An astromech droid rolls to Boba and Fennec, beeping and chirping, as it carries drinks on a plate attached to its shoulders.
"The Emir is not here for drinks," explains Fennec, "He wishes to speak with the benefactors of this place."
The astromech gives an affirming beep, and rolls towards the back of the Sanctuary, as Boba, Fennec, and the Gamorreans follow.
"Welcome to the Sanctuary, Lord Fett," greets a formal woman's voice from a comlink, resting upon a desk in the backrooms of the establishment. "Here for business I presume, Lord Fett?"
Boba and Fennec stand by the desk, where the owner of the bar, a tattooed, horned female Iridonian Zabrak, is seated overlooking the comlink from which her employer, the Lady, is speaking from.
"Indeed he is," explains Fennec, speaking in Boba's stead. "Emir Boba Fett has replaced Bib Fortuna on Tatooine."
"Emir?" muses the Lady from her comlink. "That's an old title here in the Outer Rim."
"Yes," replies Fennec, before shifting to a skeptical tone, "It means Lord Fett intends to rule… with respect."
Boba looks at Fennec, his visor masking his emotions.
"Well," chuckles the Lady. "I will certainly look upon your reign with great interest. Thank you for the gracious introduction and for making the long journey to visit our establishment. And you are always… welcome to stay."
Boba tilts his head, as the Lady cuts off the call.
As Boba, Fennec, and the Gamorreans enter back into the dining hall of the Sanctuary nightclub, the armored Emir turns his head to survey his surroundings, as the sound of the remixed Lapti Nek echoes throughout. He sees a Twi'lek male getting high on spice through a pipe on his right and a Gran winning the score on a game of sabacc on his left.
Looking forward he catches sight of a few humanoids eying him carefully. Boba turns his helmet's antenna down. As he thought! The sensor showed that, beneath their holographic projections, the humanoids were all from the bright-eyed humanoid Kage species of the planet Quarzite. These ones were wearing red jumpsuits with black hoods over their faces. He looks back and finds that many of the guests of the bar were also Kage disguised under a hologram. He readies his blaster carbine, looking to Fennec and the Gamorreans to signal them. Fennec and the guards nod, as Boba turns to look one Kage in the eyes.
"Nice trick," he quips, out loud.
The warriors dissolve their holograms, as one of the warriors, armed with an electro-baton, leaps toward Boba. With a single blast of his carbine, the Kage is taken out. The Nightclub's regulars take a brief glance, before returning to their activities, with Max Rebo even continuing to play music. Fennec then leaps into action against another Kage, stabbing him in the throat.
"Night Wind Guild," she notes. "These guys are overpriced."
Boba nods and watches, as Kriic beheads an assassin with his vibro-sword and Athmot bisects another with his vibro-ax. These are truly loyal friends.
Clank!
Boba's carbine is sent flying by the kick of a Night Wind Assassin. However, as the Kage tries to drive his vibro-dagger into Boba's neck, the Son of Jango grabs his wrist. Wrestling the blade out of the Night Wind member's hand, Boba readies it and plunges it into the enemy's forehead, piercing his brain. As the assassin falls limp to the floor, Boba is then surrounded by a few more.
Boba readies himself, as three warriors leap for the kill. Boba grabs one by the neck and head and makes a swift twist, snapping the neck of the hapless assassin. He then elbows another in the groin, knocking the warrior on his back. With a quick stomp, Boba crushes the assassin's ribcage, with the audible sound of bones shattering. The last one eyes Boba carefully. The son of Jango readies his hands, of the same caliber as those that killed several Jedi on their own during the Battle of Galidraan.
The assassin, armed with an electro-scythe, charges at Boba. Fett grabs the guild member's head and slams it into a Trandoshan guest's drinks, shattering the glass cups.
"Hey!" hisses the guest.
Ignoring the guest, Boba slams his fist repeatedly into the Kage's face, hearing a crunch as the assassin's nose breaks. Kneeing the warrior in the groin, Boba lifts him with his hands and flips this member of the Night Wind Guild on his back, slamming him into a table, shattering it. The Kage attempts to get up, staggering onto his hands, only to collapse, too weak to fight, but live.
The Zabrak owner of the club emerges into the scene, only to find the place destroyed by Boba's fight with the assassins. Fennec, Kriic, and Athmot themselves had been fighting their own assassins, with an equal amount of damage to the bar. Boba signs to Fennec his message. She turns to the club's owner.
"The Emir apologizes for the destruction caused to your establishment," she translates.
"We get it all the time, Lord Fett," sighs the Zabrak woman.
Perhaps, thought Boba. But an assassination attempt came so soon.
Suddenly, the words of the Mayor's Majordomo flashed back to him.
The Mayor suggests you watch yourself, the Twi'lek had warned.
Bang!
The next morning, Emir Boba Fett blasts open the door of the ornate throne room of Mos Espa's City Hall, pushing aside the Twi'lek majordomo. Accompanying him are Fennec, Kriic, and Athmot who drag the last surviving assassin of the Night Wind Guild's attack force from the night before. Sandstone pillars, adorned with royal purple curtains laced with gold weave, support the ceiling of the throne room, sheltering Nikto guards, armed with blaster rifles. Etched into the walls are Huttese characters, detailing the history of Mos Espa. On an elevated dais, under sunlight filtering through a window screen, rests a throne upon which an elderly, hammer-headed Ithorian sits, cloaked in ornate purple robes with golden silk woven in; Mayor Mok Shaiz of Tatooine's capital city.
At other times, Boba would have admired the craftsmanship of the room, as he had with Jabba's Palace. However, this wasn't Boba during other times. He had come to demand answers. He glares from behind his t-visor right into the eyes of the hammer-headed politician.
Mayor Mok Shaiz grumbles from the two mouths on his neck into a gilded translation device, which monotonously drones, "Who is this who stands before me uninvited?"
Boba doesn't even need to sign for Fennec to deliver his message.
"You know damn well who Emir Boba Fett is," snarls Boba's Grand Vizier, holding her rifle. "Who sent the Night Wind Guild?!"
Crunch! Zap!
Everyone in the room turns to the Kage assassin, whose corpse lies limp on the floor, the jaw crackling with electric sparks.
"Fett," begins the Mayor. "Surely you know that the Pyke Syndicate's Expansionary Corps has been conducting an expedition on this world since the death of Jabba the Hutt."
Boba tilted his head, audibly snarling beneath his helm.
"They have finally gotten Oba Diah's approval to stake their claim," continues the Mayor. "And their interests are protected by the one the Underworld calls Her."
Boba glares at the mayor.
"You should have notified Emir Fett about this," growls Fennec.
The Mayor makes a guttural rumbling sound that could only be described as laughter.
"Don't fault me," explained the Ithorian. "I warned him to watch himself."
Author's Note:
Hello everyone!
Sorry for the long delays for the posting of these chapters. I will do my best to post more frequently. We have finally reached the present day of The Book of Boba Fett Reimagined. I hope you are all excited to see how Boba will reign as a crime lord and the Emir of Tatooine. I have a lot in store (about fifteen more chapters-worth). Speaking of all of you, I would like to thank my viewers for all the support you have been giving. This Chapter's shout-out goes to shirex773, who, almost immediately after my posting of this chapter, wrote a review that is the first I have received for chapters after the second one. It goes like this: "Great to see another chapter of this story. I have really been enjoying seeing this reimagined version of The Book of Boba Fett and I can't wait to see where you take the story from here on out." Thanks very much shirex! Your support is very much appreciated. And don't worry, this reimagining will have quite an interesting direction.
Thanks so much for all the support guys!
Best wishes,
Benedict Sky