When he was nineteen years old he and his master were tapped for an emergency mission to a planet in the outer rim territories. According to the mission report a group of Mandalorians were slaughtering innocent protesters and the Governor had called for aid. Master Dooku had been chosen to lead the mission and Jango wanted to sigh when the man's padawan, Komari Vosa, loudly asked why they were allowing 'someone' along who was 'clearly biased.'
"Would you assume I was biased if we were to return to my planet of birth and oppose a group of criminals there?" His master asked the young woman lightly, presence calm and questioning in the force. To her credit the older padawan looked ashamed of her pointed question and quickly apologized to him. Jango nodded in acceptance and turned to regard his master. There was something scratching at the back of his mind, like a warning from the force, but he wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Jango wasn't known for his connection to the Unifying force.
"Master… there's something wrong with the report." He said, trying to keep his agitation under wraps while he voiced his concerns. "They don't mention what faction of Mandalorians are attacking their citizens. No colors or markings, no clan affiliation." He shook his head. "It doesn't feel right, Master. What if there is more than one faction of Mandalorians on the planet? We could end up hurting an innocent party by mistake." Jango worried that he was, in fact, letting his own affinity for his people color his perception of the situation but Master Di just placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly.
"That is a valid concern, padawan mine. I also find the lack of details quite worrisome. I will go and speak with Master Dooku about this." He smiled, shoulders relaxing. "But ready yourself, padawan, if they are truly killing innocent civilians then you cannot falter. Your blades and skills are meant to protect others. Don't let sentiment blind you." Taking a deep breath he let it out slowly and nodded once he felt more balanced.
"Of course, master. I think I'll meditate a while on this." Master Di smiled at him, sending a feeling of pride along their bond.
Jango might not have been strong in the Unifying force but his affinity for the Living force more than made up for it. It had always been obvious that his talents lay in his instincts, the ability to act and react instantly without conscious thought. It was why he had trained his body just as hard as he had trained his mind. Being able to move wherever the force needed him required strength and agility. Right now everything in him was screaming at him that something was wrong with the mission- and it had nothing to do with his interest in his birth culture.
He wasn't certain what Master Di had said to Master Dooku but when they arrived on the planet they were ordered to stay back and wait for a signal. "Master Di, would you and your padawan accompany me? I wish to speak with these Mandalorians myself to confirm they are the criminals we are searching for." Jango was surprised and looked to his master for guidance. Master Di smiled at him.
"Your knowledge on Mandalorian language and culture will be of great help to us in this endeavor." Jango smiled back at his master, more than ready to act as an ambassador to the two groups he had grown to respect.
It was a long trek over snowy ground but they eventually came upon the Mandalorians' camp. Immediately weapons were drawn and he could feel the sharp spike of wariness in the force. Looking up at his master he nodded and took a careful step forward. "My name is Jango Fett. We are not here to fight you. We wish to speak with your leader- peacefully." The Mandalorians stiffened when they heard the accented Mando'a, looking at one another in confusion.
"Did you say Fett?" The first one asked, dark blue helmet trained on him.
"I did." Carefully reaching into his tunic he pulled out the medallion he always wore and held it up before tossing it to the warrior. "Jango Fett of Clan Fett. I was born on Concord Dawn." There was a feeling of recognition in the force as the first Mandalorian handed the necklace to the second. There was a flurry of hand signs between them before the second one dashed off toward the camp, taking his medallion with them.
"One of our leaders will be out to speak with you in a moment. Stay where you are." Jango relaxed and nodded politely, stepping back toward the two masters.
"They said that one of their leaders will be out to speak with us in a moment. I think they recognized my clan emblem." Master Dooku frowned slightly but chose to remain quiet as they waited. It wasn't long until two Mandalorians came striding out of the camp toward them, the guard a few steps behind.
The first was wearing primarily black armor with red vambraces and golden pauldrons. Jango wondered who had been killed that this warrior would want to avenge. The second was wearing a deep brown set of armor with bright red pauldrons, the colors leaning more towards valor and defiance.
Jango stepped forward and bowed when they came closer, expecting the warriors to stop and speak with him. Instead the one in black kept coming toward them, getting faster as they came closer until they were practically running. Behind him Master Di and Master Dooku reached for their weapons. Jango threw out his arm, holding them back, as a familiar feeling came over him. The warrior reached up and threw off their helmet three steps from him before throwing their arms around him in what was clearly a hug.
"Vod'ika! I never thought I would see you again!" Smiling he hugged the shorter blonde woman to him, joy radiating from the both of them in waves. A minute or so later Arla stood back, eyes watery, and looked up at him. "Stars, you look so much like our buir!" He chuckled.
"How are they?" The woman's expression fell and she looked down at the medallion clutched in her hand before holding it out to him.
"They're dead. They were killed a few years after they sent you away. Kyr'tsad raided the farm, the cowardly bastards." Jango felt her grief and rage in the force and shuddered at the strength of it.
"They are not gone, merely marching far away… I'm sorry." His sister watched him quietly for a moment before sighing and taking his hand. She handed him back his medallion and closed his hand over it.
"That's in the past. The man who saved me adopted me into his clan and I've been with the Haat Mando'ade since then. We fight Kyr'tsad whenever we can but we have to earn a living somehow. That's why we're here working for the governor. He's been having some trouble with local insurgents and hired us to take care of it." She frowned. "Is that why the jetiise are here?" Jango had no words.
"Master, Arla says that she and her group were hired by the Governor to fight against insurgents." The woman picked up her helmet and clipped it to her belt, watching the three of them. Jango had no doubt she understood Basic just fine and was listening in intently.
"That conflicts quite perfectly with the report we received from the Senate. Is this young woman their leader?" Jango turned to his sister who shook her head.
"I am the third in command. Arla Fett of Clan Mereel, Jango is my younger brother." Master Di sent him amusement-curiosity along the bond and he responded positively. Even after all these years he would never mistake his sister for anyone else. Force signatures didn't lie.
"Who is your shadow?" Master Dooku asked pointedly, looking at the brown and red clad warrior who was hovering behind Arla.
"Obi, vod'ika, get your skinny ass over here." The other warrior stiffened for a moment before huffing and stepping closer. "Helmet off, vod. Greet our guests properly." Jango felt a spike of offense-annoyance in the force before the warrior complied. Beneath the helmet a redheaded teen, not much younger than himself, glared at them with stormy blue-green eyes.
"I am Obi-wan Mereel, of the Mereel Clan." The teen had a strange accent, as if Mando'a was not his original language, but he clearly spoke it fluently. There was a stubborn tilt to his chin and a sharp intelligence in his eyes. Jango couldn't help but to stare at him. There was something about him that felt almost… familiar. Shoving the sensation away for the time being he turned back to his sister.
"Arla, the Senate sent us to stop a group of Mandalorians who are killing unarmed civilians. The Governor reported it to the Senate, who asked the Order to act immediately. They told us they had already investigated the matter." The woman's eyes went wide before her expression turned thunderous.
"Fucking bastards! The Mand'alor is headed for the Governor's mansion to receive our pay for this job as we speak! We've been set up!" Turning to the redhead she grit her teeth. "Obi, alert Myles and try to contact Jas'buir. This whole thing is a fucking trap!"
"Padawan?" Jango turned to his master.
"They're trying to contact their leader. He went to the Governor's mansion to receive their pay. It's a trap." Master Di and Master Dooku shared a look of alarm. "We need to investigate the Governor." He said firmly, feeling the truth of it all the way to his bones. Master Di put a hand on his shoulder.
"I am proud of you, padawan. If you had not insisted we speak with the Mandalorians we might never have learned of this betrayal. Master Dooku?" The other master blinked, scowling heavily.
"We will reconvene with the others. Arla… Mereel, is it?" His sister turned to regard the man carefully, eyes hard.
"Fett. Commander Fett." Master Dooku nodded politely.
"Would you be interested in a joint mission, Commander Fett?" A small smile crossed her face.
"That depends, jetii, what did you have in mind?" Master Dooku gave her a superior smile of his own.
"I believe it is time we had an audience with the Governor. I have been led to believe your people use jetpacks and have advanced scouting technology? Perhaps you would be interested in hearing what the Governor has to tell us about these… criminals." Arla's smile was as bright as a star and as feral as a nexu.
"I think that sounds like something I can work with." She held out her arm and, in place of either master, Jango clasped forearms with her, grinning in excitement.
The Governor wasn't going to know what hit him.
Current character ages;
Arla- 25
Jango- 19
Komari- 18
Obi-wan- 16