WPRT 14 (updated 2021)
Panem et Circenses
Jo:
I woke up to unsettling silence. The bed was so comfortable, though, I briefly forgot where I was. I cleared my throat loudly to try to start the fan in the bathroom. It is on a sensor back home. It didn't work, and I stood up.
I winced at the cold floor.
Why is the floor so cold? Did I spill water on my carpet last night?
I forced my eyes open, and remembered all at once that we weren't at home. We were in the Spire on Geonosis. We were brought here by Jango Fett, who I thought was someone we could trust.
I can't believe I had a crush on a mass murderer.
I can't believe that I honestly talked myself into liking him.
I can't believe that he had the gall to ask us to watch after Boba, like we know the first thing about raising kids...has he not figured out we are adults in name only?!
I put on my glasses and stretched.
As I started getting dressed, I noticed two pieces of paper on the desk that weren't there the night before.
That's not unsettling.
One was in the format of a letter, and another was in the format of a notice.
Unfortunately, they weren't in English.
How helpful.
Aaron appeared in the doorway of the fresher.
"Jango wants to leave just after the executions. He suggested you wear the armor and bring everything with you."
"Should I bring the dress from Dooku?"
"Maybe if it will fit in your pack. Get dressed."
It did.
I put on my last outfit that was clean- excluding church clothes. I put on black leggings and an asymmetrical grey tunic. Then, I put my hair in a trusty french braid. Whether or not it looked good, I have no idea. Once I was satisfied, I pulled on my boots. It looked somewhat silly, but functionality was key.
I realized I had three weapons and only two hands.
I made Eugene's shotgun fit in my pack. The seams were pulled. Nothing else could possibly fit.
I slung on the pack.
Gawsh, this is heavy.
Next, I slid on the black shoulder piece and then put on the gauntlet.
Lastly, I put on the ear piece and hung my sunglasses on my collar.
I carried the Raider's rifle in my right hand, and the new one from Jango in my left.
Realizing, I had forgotten about the papers, I put the guns back down, folded the papers, and put them inside my bra. I prayed that my perspiration wouldn't blur the words. I needed to know what they said.
I opened the door and entered the hallway.
Aaron was leaning against the stone wall across from the door, wearing khaki cargo pants and a navy blue t-shirt. He had on the opposite gauntlet and ear piece. He also had on a belt and wore his sunglasses perched on his head like our uncle did sometimes.
I almost laughed at his outfit. He was wearing the colors of a Meijer work uniform.
"What?"
"I think you mean 'Welcome to Meijer.'"
"Shut up."
"Are you two ready for breakfast?" Jango asked as he approached us, Boba at his heels. He was wearing a loose tan shirt and tan pants. He was wearing soft shoes.
Boba wore the same blue shirt and pants he was wearing the day before.
"Yes, we are," I said, fighting the edge in my voice.
"Good."
"Jo, about last night…"
"Forget it. I kind of understand. Though, why did you think Boba would be safe with a twenty-three and twenty-five year old looking out for him, I'll never know."
"You guys are only twenty-three and twenty-five?"
"Yes?" I said.
"I didn't...I mean...I'm not sure if you're older than I thought or younger than I thought."
"Ah. Well, people usually think I'm thirty if that makes you feel better," I said flatly.
Aaron didn't agree and opened his big fat mouth, "...30?"
None of that thank you very much!
"Ok Mr. 'I look like a 12 year old without a beard!'"
"Uhhhh…." Jango couldn't even begin to answer that statement.
"It's fine. Look, I understand you want Boba to be cared for, and we will do our best. Okay? It just... scared me a little bit."
"I understand, but we should get going. The Count likes his people to be punctual."
"Right…"
We all walked a piece toward the banquet hall, and I suddenly remembered the papers.
"Boba, hold this. Jango, what do these say?" I said as I handed the long rifle to Boba and fished out the folded papers from my bra.
With a slight blush, Jango unfolded the papers and looked them over.
"The notice is just reminding you about the scheduled festivities this afternoon. The second one is kind of personal, and it's from me. I don't want to talk about it right now."
"Okay."
"If we make it through this afternoon, I'll tell you."
"Okay Jango."
"Now, let's get breakfast! Count Dooku is waiting."
Boba came and took my hand, which I thought was kind of odd, considering that back on the ship he was so standoffish and rude.
I gave him a funny look.
"Dad told me last night that you and Aaron are my godparents."
"Ah. Well, kinda. And once we get to the dining hall, Aaron is Guns and I'm Roses. Those are the names we gave Dooku."
He gave it some thought before replying, "I understand, Roses."
"Good."
The large wooden doors outside the dining hall were closed and a winged beast stood on each side.
"We are here for breakfast. I know we are a little late, but he wanted us to eat after the others had left to go freshen up for the executions," Jango said.
They opened the doors.
Dooku sat at the head of the table flipping through something that looked like a tablet.
"It's okay that you're late. My mentor sent me this file to examine. Please help yourselves to the bounty of the table. Don't be shy. It is rather late for a meal."
Aaron and I said our thanks, silently prayed, and then tucked in as quickly as we dared. There was a coffee-like substance, a sweet roll of some kind, a small variety of fruits, and a meat that smelled like bacon. There were also eggs.
Something I know that I like. At least there is something here that's like home.
The eggs were fluffy and delicious, as well as the fruit. I ate some of the bread and the bacon thing as well.
"Jango, I need to speak with you before I go meet with Poggle," Dooku said.
I wonder what this is about…
Jango stood and walked up to Dooku, where they talked in hushed tones.
Boba didn't seem concerned, though, and ate everything he put on his plate with a smile on his face and a song in his heart.
I sipped the coffee-like drink, and was pleased with the rich flavor. I noticed a little pitcher of cream, and put just a little in the cup. It improved the flavor and cooled it just enough.
I looked at Jango's mannerisms and how he was fidgeting uncomfortably and seemed distant as Dooku was talking. Dooku definitely noticed his odd behavior, and he did not look happy about it.
I think Jango just made it onto Dooku's bad side.
I didn't want to be caught staring at our host, and I turned my attention back to the food.
A winged beast appeared and handed Dooku a note. He snatched it from the beast rudely and read it quickly.
He immediately rose and said, "I will expect you on my personal pavilion for the executions. See you then."
He swept from the chamber, his cape billowing behind him.
Bossk walked in after Dooku left.
"Where's he going?" he asked.
"We don't know. Why are you late?"
"I don't know. I almost just skipped breakfast, but I decided that I should probably eat, considering I don't know when I will be able to eat next."
"Uh-huh," Jango said as he sat back down at his plate. I watched as he moved the eggs around listlessly, nibbled the bread, and took a few sips of the drink, but he was obviously no longer committed to his task at hand.
Too stubborn to ask, I just ignored the behavior.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
When we were done eating, Jango went back to his rooms to do one last sweep and put on his armor.
Bossk also left.
"We will be back in about an hour to get you to head for Dooku's pavilion. Stay here and don't make too much noise," Jango warned before he left the hall.
It was too quiet.
"How about we play a game?" I asked.
"What game?" Boba asked excitedly.
"Yes, dear sister, what game?"
"Well, not a real one, but…" I took off the shoulder guard and then took off my backpack. In a side compartment, I had hidden a very thin pouch that contained Q-tips, potential quotes for someday wedding vows, and dice. Not just any dice- D&D dice. I also happened to carry around three extra d-20's.
Aaron watched me and took off his own shoulder guard and pack.
We all stood, stretched, and walked to the long side of the hall. There was just enough space for all of us to stand three abreast.
I handed Boba the green die, Aaron the blue die, and I kept the black die.
"Whoever rolls the highest number wins," I said.
"There has to be stakes, or it isn't fun," Aaron said.
Boba nodded in agreement.
I thought for a second.
"Okay. Winner gets to pick the first 5 songs we play when we get our phones and music working again."
"And the losers?"
"Have to listen to Patrick saying 'Leedle leedle leedle leeeee' on repeat for four hours, followed by 'Taking the Hobbits to Isengard' for twelve."
The blank look on Boba's face reminded me that he had no idea what we were talking about.
"I don't think that's really a real consequence," Aaron said.
"Loser has to polish Jango's armor?"
"That's more like it," Boba said with a grin.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
We pitched dice across the hall. We were not quiet. We were not gentle. We pushed, shoved, and dove for our dice, securing our losses and victory. We all had to polish Jango's armor at least fifteen times apiece.
We were in the middle of a (mostly) friendly discussion about what constitutes as "cheating" when Jango came back standing in full armor. Behind him was Bossk in his flight suit.
"What's going on here?" he asked.
"We were just playing, Dad. With these dice. Nothing crazy," Boba said.
"We need to leave. The arena is on the other side, and the ship is all loaded and everything. We will be ready for take-off when the time comes."
I collected the dice and put them back in the draw-string bag, and then put it back in the pouch.
Too bad we don't have the rules for Dungeons and Dragons. I think Boba would really enjoy that.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After Aaron and I had re-donned our packs and armor (and re-burdened ourselves with our weapons), we followed Jango toward the arena. My heart was pounding in my ears.
I don't want to watch people die, but what can I do? What can we do? Can we do anything? There is something we haven't figured out about Dooku yet, and I wish I could put my finger on it.
We climbed several flights of stairs, and the weight of my pack was starting to get to me. But the stairs kept coming.
When we finally made it to the top, Dooku and Poggle the Lesser were smoothing out their clothes, preparing to make a grand entrance to the droves of Geonosians that had gathered in the stands. I heard them cheering wildly.
They must have brought the prisoners out…
After another moment or two, Poggle the Lesser and Dooku stepped from the shadows into the incredible light of the sun. The crowds roared with pleasure. We all followed them out on the pavilion.
Obi-Wan was chained to a stone pillar, arms above his head. Two other people were chained to two more stone pillars in the same manner, though I caught a glint of something in the woman's teeth.
Or maybe her teeth were that white.
Through a series of clicks and grunting, Poggle the Lesser addressed the crowd. They were pleased with whatever he said, and three gates opened.
A dinosaur, a rat-cat, and a spider-crab were all coaxed into the arena.
Boba, who was standing between Aaron and I pointed to each creature and gave us names for each. The dinosaur was called a reek; the rat-cat was called a nexu; and the crab-spider was called an acklay.
The reek was easily provoked to charge at the man that was not Obi-Wan. The acklay, while not happy about being jabbed by pointy sticks, didn't fight back. The nexu was irritable, and turned on it's...handler?. It tore that guy off of its mount and killed it.
I looked down, and the men were talking.
I glanced at the woman, and I could see her picking her cuffs.
It took all of me not to point or laugh.
One wrist sprang free from the cuff, and commenced the climb to the top of the column she was chained to.
At that moment, the acklay engaged Obi-Wan, who dodged with expert precision.
The man in the middle was bracing himself for the reek, who was dragging his paw on the sand like bulls on Looney Toons in the matador segments. My heart jumped to my throat, but he jumped and landed on the reek's back. Reek was not happy with this arrangement.
The acklay managed to use his claw and break Obi-Wan's chain; however, his hands were still bound.
The woman was crouched on top of the column, intent on freeing her other wrist, and the nexu was trying to climb the column, determined to get her. Noticing the creature clawing its way up, she grabbed a long length of the chain and hit it in the face.
The nexu barely lost his grip.
It climbed back up and swiped her across the back, leaving deep gashes and tearing off a large section of her shirt...leaving her midriff bare. I heard her yelling, even as far away as we were. One could not help but cringe.
I wanted to look away, but I was unable to do so.
Satisfied it had injured her, the nexu leapt back down to the ground and circled viciously.
The chaos was mesmerizing.
Obi-Wan continued to dodge the acklay no matter how viciously or quickly it struck at him with its big meaty claws.
Boba looked down from the pavillion, and Jango looked on sullen.
Aaron and I looked at each other briefly, horrified at what we were seeing.
The man that wasn't Obi-Wan was riding around the arena, being chased by Geonosians mounted on something. They managed to dismount him and dragged by the chain he had wrapped around the reek's nose horn.
I looked back at the woman, only to see that the nexu was climbing back up.
In a stroke of genius, she held onto the chain and jumped; swinging around, she managed to deliver a kick, squarely on the nexu's torso. Whining, it fell to the sand. The woman scrambled back up the column as fast as she could.
The acklay knocked over the column, and it broke into three pieces.
The reek- now unprovoked- stopped running, giving the man that wasn't Obi-Wan a chance to stand up.
Obi-Wan grabbed a spear from a mounted Geonosian, flinging the creature over his head into the sand.
Spear in hand, Obi-Wan re-engaged the acklay.
The other man was trying to...calm the reek. The reek stopped being frightened and fidgety.
With what can only be described as a Superman heighted leap, the other man managed to remount the reek. The reek didn't like that at all. But while it was braying, he managed to throw his chain around the creature's head and into its mouth.
Reins!
The nexu was once again up and circling the woman's column, while she continued desperately picking the remaining lock. She finally managed it just as the nexu was gearing up to scale the column once more; however, just before it leaped, the reek trampled it.
The woman jumped off the column and landed on the reek's back, just behind the man. I saw her kiss him on the cheek.
Obi-Wan was now closer matched with the acklay, but threw the spear into its shoulder joint.
Screaming, the aklay stopped briefly, but turned it's head and ripped out the spear.
Holding the spear between its teeth, the acklay crunched, and the spear snapped in two.
Resources exhausted, he ran.
Obi-Wan just managed to mount the reek as it ran next to him. The acklay was irritated. The nexu still lay motionless in the sand.
Shiny, round- I wasn't sure what they were- somethings rolled out onto the sand and then sprang to life.
Droids.
Shielded droids.
They surrounded the reek.
A loud buzz just to my left caught my attention. A purple stream of light was being held to Jango's throat. The light was being held by a handsome dark-skinned man. His teeth were white, but the look in his eyes was deadly. His robes were a soft brown.
Jango swallowed hard.
"Master Windu, how pleasant of you to join us," Dooku said, almost with a snide air.
The man's voice had a sharp edge.
"This party's over."
END CHAPTER FOURTEEN