Hello everyone,

I have resumed work on The Book of Boba Fett Reimagined at last. However, I suspect it will be months before I finish writing the book. For now, I will leave you with a preview of the triumphant return of this reimagining of Boba's legend.

Best wishes,

-Benedict Sky

Chapter Eleven: The Return

Life; no longer such a short, brutish, and nasty thing for Emir Boba Fett. While those who still followed the path he once did wandered the Galaxy alone, from the Core to the Rim, Fett had more to live for. He had allies, from Fennec Shand, the Gamorrean duo, and the Shavamo Pack, Santo, and Bossk to the Bandits, the other freed slaves, Jahnara B'ram, BZ-56, and even the people of Freetown. And perhaps most of all he had discovered that the found family he had lost in the I'Ka Tuskens were not entirely decimated, especially A'Kagri. For once, Boba could envision a life where he wouldn't end up beheaded in the dust or in the stomach of a sarlaac.

And with A'Kagri alive, perhaps Tatooine itself could be returned to… Boba stopped himself before he got too far ahead. Snapping back to the present, within the hangar of the Fett Palace, he gazed upon his old mentor in the Tusken ways, A'Garrha, having the arm of an IG-100 Magnaguard he had destroyed being welded to the stump where hers should have been. Flanking him is A'Kagri, the two of them gazing upon the Doctor, a giant Jawa who had saved Fennec, working on the Tusken Warrior.

"A'Kagri," Boba whispered to his old friend, signing. "It's good to have you back."

The now adolescent Tusken warrior is silent, not even a sign back. The sight brought images to Boba of himself shortly after the beheading of Jango Fett.

"It's the one who killed your father and our Tribe," Boba deduced. "Isn't it?"

"He'll be dead when I see him," A'Kagri signs.

Boba had assumed the Pykes were responsible for the attack. It was obvious; the spice-dealing snakes had quarreled with the I'Ka for the raid on the train. They wouldn't want to pay to use the Tusken's land as their spice route. Yet, something seemed… off.

"One thing's for sure, my friend," Boba snarls, "He's signed his death warrant."

Vaerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooo!

From the distant skies outside the hangar, Boba catches sight of a tiny silver streak zipping towards the palace.

She's done it, Boba notes, slipping his helmet back on.

"Greetings Mando!" Fennec announces from the side of the throne.

The silver-armored Mandalorian, stands before Fett's throne. When Boba last saw him, the Mandalorian had been trying to recover his companion… was the kid's name Grogu? Grogu had been kidnapped by the forces of an Imperial Remnant on the planet Tython. Emir Fett had done research on said remnant, learning it was run by one Moff Gideon Saxon (he himself wondered if there was any relation to the old Mandalorian Clan). Afterwards, he sent Fennec to aid in Grogu's rescue, as debt for Mando reclaiming his armor.

Back then, he knew Mando to be a proud warrior of a cultish sect descended from the Death Watch, which had destroyed his father's comrades. Yet, Mando was… different to put it lightly. Images flashed in Boba's head of stories Mando had told him. Of the little orb that Grogu had played with. Of the youngling lifting a gigantic Mudhorn with only some mysterious power wielded by sorcerers known as Jedi. (Boba had enough encounters with the Order in one life). Then came the memory of Mando's declaration to Moff Gideon Saxon…

"Moff Gideon," he had declared. "You have something I want."

Boba was standing by, watching silently in the shadows of his ship, as his ally made this speech.

"You may think you have some idea of what you are in possession of," he had continued with a voice that, while stoic, was sizzling with determination. "But you do not."

Boba gave a curt nod, from out of range of the hologram's scanner.

"Soon, he will be back with me," Mando concluded that speech. "He means more to me than you will ever know."

Now Boba gazes upon his old ally again. The Mandalorian stands awkwardly before the throne. His hand is fiddling with something in his utility belt, his gaze, judging from the position of his visor, angled at the dust below.

"Mando, my friend," Boba pipes up.

A'Kagri, who had been flanking Boba alongside Fennec, turns in surprise.

"I thought you didn't speak to people you didn't trust?" A'Kagri signs.

"I don't," Boba signs back, stepping off his throne, as U'Kag his pet scurries off.

Striding off the raised dais of the throne room, and towards Mando, he holds out a hand.

"There is no need for such formalities between us," Boba says to Mando warmly.

"Right," the Mandalorian grunts, as if snapping out of a daze.

As the armored warriors shake hands, the Emir couldn't help but notice his ally's free hand was still fiddling with something in his belt. And his gaze is still somewhat lowered.

"Something wrong?" inquires Boba.

Mando whips his gaze up up, seemingly startled.

"Nothing?" he replies.

The Emir cocks his head.

"You need help, Emir Fett," Mando continues past Boba's observations.

"Friend, just call me Boba," corrects the Emir. "And yes, the Pykes have been increasing their strikes against the Emirate."

"And you need a warrior," notes Mando.

Boba nods. Turning to lead his ally away, he beckons Mando to join him.

"The Shavamo Pack have been my eyes on the streets," explains Boba.

Boba, Mando, A'Kagri, and Fennec are standing before a hologram projector. Displayed in the faded blue light are several individuals linked to the Pyke's operations on Tatooine The central spotlight of course was on Vram Krim, the Viceroy of the Pyke Syndicate's Expansionary Corps. Highlighted as well were the leaders of local crime syndicates from Huk Syndicate leader Lady Zaiyuka to Taga Durand to the Klatooinian and Aqualish bosses. Additionally, Mayor Mok Shaiz of Mos Espa was among them.

"They have been saying all these players have been awfully quiet," explains Boba. "Something big is coming."

"The I'Ka Tribe's remnants have proven useful in disrupting their operations," Fennec notes, turning to A'Kagri. "Boba's young friend has definitely been trained well."

A'Kagri lowers her head in thanks.

"As for-" Fennec attempts to continue.

"Boba, Fennec!" cries Zeyma, rushing into the room.

All gazes turn to the young Zeltron.

"What is it Zeyma?" sighs Boba, shaking his head.

"Bossk and Santo are brawling again!" Zeyma explains. "I need backup in breaking them up!"

Fennec rolls her eyes.

"I'll go," she says.

Boba's right-hand rushes with Zeyma down the stairs, leaving Boba, Mando, and A'Kagri alone.

"What happened to the rest of her tribe?" asks Mando.

A'Kagri tenses up, as Boba sets a calming hand on her shoulder.

"It's a long story," answers Boba.

He explains how he, as the Warrior from the Great Maw, had become accepted by the I'Ka Tuskens. He explains how they had put up a resistance against the Pykes. And then, he came to the fateful day, when he returned from a meeting with the Pykes and found their camp burned.

"I always assumed the Pykes were responsible," explains Boba. "That they sent a strike team and burned everything to the grounf. They had every reason to."

Then Boba went silent, turning to his young friend.

"But A'Kagri, you had told me that there was only one attacker, right?" he asks.

A'Kagri nods.

"I've done jobs for the Pykes," notes Mando. "They're treacherous snakes and not to be crossed. But…"

Mando goes silent as well for a moment.

"No one Pyke could have done the damage you described," concludes the Mandalorian.

As U'Kag scampers into the room and onto Boba's shoulder, he stares blankly into space, replaying the sight of the I'Ka camp in scorched ruins. With a firm nod, he turns to Mando.

"Mando, will you help me return to the camp?" inquires Boba. "I need answers."

Boba watches Mando take a step forward.

"You're in my debt after," quips the Mandalorian.