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Chapter Text

The first time it happened was when she was just six years old. It was a subtle pinch followed by pressure on her upper arm. It reminded her of the doctor’s appointment her mother had taken her to for her vaccinations. But when she looked at the spot, there was not a drop of blood to be seen. It confused her but she didn't have the time to think about it as the transport shook and sent her tumbling into her father. An alarm rang. Pirates!

°•°•°•°

Time passed and time didn’t care about questions, like where her weird pain stemmed from. Neither did any of the overseers care enough to investigate. So, she learned to deal with the pain that sometimes surged through her head or her knees. Yes, it was weird. But she couldn’t let anybody know. What if someone thought she had a strange illness? They would surely shun her. Or worse! Her Master could throw her out and to live on the streets, begging for food and shelter, was a fate far worse than living with her Master.

°•°•°•°

Full of pain, the fourteen-year-old woke up from her slumber. She could practically feel the rough hands grabbing at her shoulders and neck. Fearfully she looked around the room. But except her roommate, no one else was present. She yelled out as invisible forces pulled her hair. In her bed, she curled into a tight ball. Pulling her legs close to her chest, as her heart raced as fast as it could. Those hands, why, oh why, did they feel like the hands of slavers?

These sensations were gone just as fast as they had come.

But then another large hand, painfully grabbed her wrist. With a thud she fell out of her bed and screamed a second time. “Shmi, what’s going on?”, asked her roommate. Tears began to run down her face, and she didn’t quite know if they were her own. “It’s nothing Brana.”, she tried to soothe her friend, “Just a nightmare.” Brana stood up from her bed, sat down beside Shmi and pulled her into an embrace. “Don’t say that. It’s never just a nightmare when you’re crying.” Those were the last words uttered that night. Partially out of fear that someone would find them not sleeping in their beds, and partially because no one wanted to pry.

°•°•°•°

The following evening someone cut up her shoulder from the front to the back. Like always there was no visible injury, nor was there any blood. There was just the pain. Although, no, not quite, this time something was different. Grieve and sorrow, interlaced with seething anger and just a hint of fear flowed from the non-existent wound and pooled in her heart. Slowly, but surely, she got an inkling that those sudden surges of pain she got so often, had nothing to do with an illness.

“You! Slave Girl! Hand me the drinks.”, bellowed her Master. She snapped out of her musings and almost dropped the tray she was carrying.

°•°•°•°

Shmi recoiled and clumsily landed on her bum. The Hydrospanner, that she had been holding, clattered onto the floor. She felt stupid. Whenever that foreign pain came over her, she had tried to ignore it and usually it worked. But the punch to the face had come out of nowhere and hurt horribly.

Pi-Lippa immediately hurried to her side and gently held the young woman’s hand. “What happened my dear?”, asked the old Kerkoiden with worry. “I just bumped my nose.”, lied Shmi. But her words had the reverse effect of reassurance, as her mistress became even more worried. She closely examined Shmi’s face and began to gently press around the bridge of her nose. “Does this hurt?” ~ “No”, she replied truthfully and shifted to sit on her knees, so she’d be on eye level with Pi-Lippa.

Just then a surge of pain went through her face, as if someone had tried to fix a broken nose. Shmi cried out and doubled over, burying her face in her hands. But when she removed them there was still no blood on her hands. Pi-Lippa gave her a worried look, gently patted her shoulder and said: “Come, let’s take a break and drink some tea with me.” Shmi was puzzled but followed the lady as she slowly tottered away. The ship, that she was currently repairing, was left behind in the hangar bay.

“Thank you”, said Shmi and took a tentative sip of the tea that Pi-Lippa had served her. This sort of generosity was still quite alien to her, as none of her other masters had shown her such kindness. The blue grey Kerkoiden smiled at her with friendliness or at least she gave her something that Shmi could only interpret as a smile. The long snout and the tusks made her quite difficult to read. But despite her dangerous appearance and even though Shmi was owned by her, she quite liked the old lady. Because over the last few months, it had turned out that her mistress was a kind, but lonely soul.  

“My dear”, asked Pi-Lippa carefully, “These pains, they come quite often, don’t they?” The Girl lowered her head. “Yes, for ten years now.”, she admitted. “Have you ever thought about whether you might have a soulmate?”, she continued to ask and suddenly a lot of things started to make sense for Shmi.

°•°•°▪○▪°•°•°

“Osik”, he cursed under his breath. He had lost his footing. Jaster gave him a stern, but at the same time fond look. Instantly he got back up on his feet and fell back into a defensive stance, even though he was barely supressing a yawn. His nose still hurt horribly, after he had been punched in the face two days ago. But he couldn’t allow that to hold him back. His soulmate had to live with this pain too and he couldn’t just freeze up and cry like he had done in the past. He had to grow up and become a real Mandalorian so he could face Tor Vizla.

He blocked Jaster’s jab at his ribs and went into the offensive. Left, right, block and a kick. But his buir eventually got the upper hand and knocked Jango off his feet again. With a thud, he landed on the mat. This time he stayed down, panting, trying to catch his breath.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”, sounded the deep booming voice of Montross from the doorway, “Is Jan’ika having his period again? Or why are you guys up so early?”

“Usen’ye shabuir!”, hissed the boy. He would much rather be asleep right now, but the images in his head were keeping him awake. “That's none of your business Montross," Jaster defended, "And anyway, I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing here at this hour? I don’t remember you being on night watch." Montross just scoffed and Jaster went on to pull up his son. But by now Jango was so exhausted that he just fell into his fathers’ arms, fast asleep.

°•°•°•°

He shouldn’t be here. His verd’goten was due next year and after that he’d be an adult. An adult wouldn’t snuggle with his buir like he did right now. Just then his lower abdomen cramped again, and he held on tighter. “Why can’t I share a cool tattoo with my soulmate like you buir?”, he whined, which earned him a chuckle from Jaster as he continued to gently run his warm hands through Jango’s hair.

“Well, everyone is different. That’s just how it is.”, Jaster mulled over his next words, “Also, a deep bond like yours is very rare. I wouldn’t even recognize my Soulmate until I’ve seen their bare back.” Jango looked up and grinned: “You’re right, telling someone to strip when you first meet sound really weird and embarrassing.” Jaster laughed out loud at the thought and ruffled his son’s hair affectionately. With a grimace Jango wriggled away.

“You know”, he said after a while, “I believe she is really kind.” Jaster looked up from his datapad and peered over his reading glasses. “What gives?” Jango smiled: “I’m not quite sure, but … very often … when she was still getting beaten, she … she never fell into despair. She always thought that this was protecting someone else.”

“That really sounds kotyc.”

“I know, right. When I’m all grown up, I’m going to find her. And then I’m going to serve her the heads of her tormentors on a silver platter. After that we’ll swear the riduurok.” At the thought of this future, he glowed from pride and the drive to make it a reality became even stronger. In his mind it was the best idea that ever existed.

Jaster gave him a doubtful look: “Do you really think she would like such a mandalorian gesture? Or customs are often very strange for aruetii.”

“The ka’ra wouldn’t promise me a riduur that isn’t mandokarla. I’m very sure of that.”, Jango retaliated full of conviction, “And I’m sure she’ll make a great Mando’ad.”

“Well, if you say so Jan’ika, then it must be true.”, a mischievous smile was on his fathers’ lips, “Just so you are aware. I expect some bu’ade when the time comes.” He sputtered with outrage, and his eyes became as big as jorgans. But Jaster didn’t let him live it down: “Five would be quite nice. But I’d also be happy with just two.”

Heat creeped up Jango’s face. “You’re insufferable “, he huffed and crawled out of bed, “I’m going to sleep in my own room!”

“Good night, ad’ika”

“Night, Jas’buir. “, he quickly mumbled. Jep, he definitely was too old to sleep by his buir.

°•°•°•°

His hands were stinging, stiff and cold. Loneliness had settled in his heart. For quite some time now, hyperspace had this effect on him. Because when he was alone, with all the stars streaking by, his mind always began to wander. In those moments he thought of the farm. Of Arla, who had looked so similar to his mother. Of his mother’s cooking, that he couldn’t quite remember the taste of, and of his fathers’ face, that more often than not blurred together with images of Jaster.

Jas’buir, would he be proud? Would he agree with the way he was leading the Haat Mando’ade? The war with Kyr’tsad was still in full swing. But what was he supposed to do when it was over? Afterwards, would he still be able to be a good mand’alor? Even though he had been leading his people for five years now, he still felt inadequate and far too young. Why had they even given him this throne?

What would she think? His dear riduur. He hadn’t come closer to his goal, of finding her by even a click. Where would he even start? Should he raid slave markets? Upturn smuggling rings? Or should he overthrow Kessel, just for the slim chance that she was there? He looked down at his hands. What was she doing right now? Why were her hands so cold? How was she able to feel happiness and almost contentment, while in this state?

“Who are you?”, he whispered to himself, and his heart skipped a beat. Who was this woman, that apologized to him, even though she was the one who was being treated unfairly? Who consoled others even though she was being starved herself? He witnessed her mandokar firsthand and it differed so much from any he had seen before. His heart yearned to meet her.

The door opened and closed with a hiss. Jango turned around and found a mischievous pantoran girl standing in the middle of his quarters, with a familiar grin on her lips. Even though she was a foundling, everyone could tell that she truly was Myles’ ad. Without hesitation the girl quickly assessed the room and then scrambled to hide under his desk.

Just a few seconds later another kid stormed in. From top to bottom his face was covered with scribbles from a black marker and the boy was correspondingly angry. Until he saw Jango standing at the view port, and he started blushing from shame. “What brings you here Mavin?”, asked Jango. Embarrassed the boy answered: “N’e-N’eparavu takisit, alor. I didn’t mean to intrude; I’m just searching for Nandia. I had thought she came in here.”

Jango tried not to laugh, as the scribbles on the boy's face grew funnier with each passing moment. “No, I didn’t see her.”, he lied. Quickly Mavin nodded and left in a hurry. It didn’t take long until Jango could hear someone giggling under his desk. “You can come out. He’s long gone.”, he said and tentatively the girl came out of her hiding space. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and said: “Osi’kovid isn’t a nice word. We don’t write that on people’s forehead. Who is teaching you all this stuff anyways?”

With a saccharine smile she replied: “Oh you know, just the best ba’vodu in the galaxy.” Jango huffed proudly. “Anyways”, she continued, “Today buir wants to start teaching me how to use the beskad. Will you come and watch?” Only to tease her he pretended to contemplate it, but ultimately agreed. Nandia glowed with happiness, grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hallway: “Great, I’m holding you to it. Buir always says that you hole yourself up too much and that we should help you with that.”

“Does he now?”, Jango scoffed, but in truth he was glad that his ori’vod worried so much.

Chapter Text

She woke from the impact. But when she looked around there was no panic in the eyes of the other Slaves aboard the Smuggler Ship. Most didn′t even wake up from it. It must have come from her Soulmate then. She could feel their dread from across the Galaxy. She turned over. Trying to go back to sleep.

Determination and desperation replaced it. Wakeing her fully and makeing her worry.

Then Hell broke loose. Grief and torment boiled over and her whole body shook. Shmis stomache churned, makeing her scramble to stand up. But she couldn't make it to the Bucket that replaced the toilet in the cramped Room, so she emptied her innards in the corner instead.

Rage unlike any she had felt before spiked up in her and Tears spilled from her eyes. Shmi was reduced to a trembleing, sobbing mess. The other Slaves looked at her in bewilderment but she couldn't care less. Her whole body felt like it was on fire. She wanted to scream so badly but she had lost the ability to do so ages ago. So she just sat there, her meager Dinner beside her on the Floor, shakeing and shivering. What had happend to them?

°•°•°•°

Smuggleing Slaves through a bustleing Space Harbour was not an easy task. But it was a profitable affair and far more timesaveing then takeing the long rout. Paying off a few Officers was their least poblem as well. So the small group, made up of four Slaves and one Smuggler, made their way from one end of the Harbour to the other.

The Hovertrain they were takeing was still relatively empty. It was too early for the droves of workers to arrive and too late for those who had worked the Night shift. Shmi softly brushed a still trembleing Hand over the lekki of the turquoise Twilek girl sitting on her lap. Her Father and the Smuggler across of them eyed her up with worry and distrust respectively. The girl to her right nervously traced the Patterns of her lent Robes.

The elder Man to her left scoffed at his Datapad. "Can you believe it. Those damned Mandalorians. Look at this." He shoved the Pad unasked into her vicinty. *Mandalorians wreak havoc to Galidraan! Hundreds dead!* read the Title and a picture of a man in handcuffs accompanied it. "Who knows what else they would have done if the Jedi didn't intervene on Time." By now Shmi was genuinely interrested as well. "Really? Do tell.", she asked the Man, who happily continued: "Yes, apparently they slaugtered some peaceful Aktivists and then went on to bombard a City. The Govenor called for aid from the Jedi who quickly took care of them and managed to apprehend their leader, Jango Fett. In my opinion they deserve it."

Shmi's heart skipped a beat at the Name. "Yes, I agree. Such violent People shouldn't roam free in the Galaxy.", she said while trying to avert a smile. The Man looked at her and the little Girl on her lap and asked with a kind look on his face: "Anyway what brings such a ragtag group of People to Lianna?" Shmi perked up and laid a Hand on the shoulder of the girl next to her who had flinched at the question. "Oh, my husband, my sister and I are just traveling through to Jaminere. Were visiting a mutual Friend.", she answered. The Smuggler nodded in approval as the Tiwlek across from her added: "Yes, my family lives there as well." The Man next to her smiled: "Ah, then you are in for a treat. I studied there in my younger years. You can believe me when I tell you it is absolutely beautiful this time of the year."

But there weren't really off to Jaminere. The Hyperspacelane over Columex was faster by far when you wanted to go from Zygerrian space to Hutt territory. Wich was where Shmi found herself this evening. On a Slave freighter with a double Ration of disgusting Soup. Gone were the soft, patterned Robes that shimmered in the white lights of the Train. But her Heart still beat faster when she wispered the Name of this horrible man in Armour. The Universe must hate her to pair her, a Slave, up with someone who would lead his Men to do such atrocities.

But she couldn't help it, even on the next day the Image of his intense eyes glowering into the Camera was still burned into the back of her mind. There also was this nagging feeling, that told her he wouldn't do such things. That it contradicted nearly everything she knew about him. He was some sort of fighter or warrior, that she was shure of. But the protectiveness, dutifulness and shere determination he had so often shared with her reassured her that there was more to him than the Monster the Article had depicted.

She jumped when the sensation of a Baton colliding with his ribs hit her for the first Time. She finally connected the dots that he had become a Slave as well when she felt the activation of a shock collar on his neck. She didn't have it in herself to find satisfaction in the thought. They were halfway to Sy Myrth when she got the sense of someone shoveing something up her Nose followed by numbness. It felt weird to have the pain and all the raw Emotion that had accompanied her for the last weeks subdued so suddenly. But her heart still beat the same and her thoughts sometimes lingerd on him. A tiny part hoped that she would meet him on one of the many freighters.

°•°•°▪○▪°•°•°

The first Time it happened to him it was the weirdest senastaion he had felt in a long Time. It felt like someone had kicked him right in the bladder. It had hurt, but weirdly wasn′t concerning. The emotions that came with it were just as confuseing. Surprise, Happines, Hope. But he wasn't quite shure as the raw spice still fogged up all his senses.

Jango was free again when he finally realised what was going on. Small feet kicking his innards, back pain that he had mistaken for something else and a sore chest. She was pregnant. They were going to have an ik'aad. To his own surprise the thought of their Future Child filled him with happyiess and hope. It gave him determination to find her. His riduur and his ik'aad.

He locked up the other thought, that she might have a husband already, that she might be building a family without him.

°•°•°▪○▪°•°•°

When her Master learned about her Pregnancy she was sold faster then she ever could have expected. The Planet Boonta hadn't been a good place but she had learned how to fix Pods, wich made her more valuable in their eyes. She wasn't shure if that was a good thing or not.

The Pregnancy itself came beyond unexpected to her. Her Master had been a Toong and to them Human Women were quite unattraktive. She also didn't have that kind of relationship with any of the Slaves either. Yet somehow she still was expecting. That it didn't scare her would be a lie. But she loved the new Life growing inside of her all the same.

So when someone stabbed her in the abdomen she screamed. After a long time she actually screamed.

Her Child.

She got stabbed.

Her Child was dead.

No.

NO.

NO!

... ni ceta ...

NO!

... ni kar'taylir darasuum ...

NO.

... udessir, haluur, cyare ...

No.

... ni ceta ...

... ni kar'taylir darasuum ...

"Shmi! Look at me!", someone grabbed her Hand. She looked into the face of a very concered Rodian. "Shmi, breathe with me. In ... out ... in .... and out."

"Someone Stabbed me. Someone stabbed me.", Shmi continued to mutter. "No one stabbed you. Your Child is fine Shmi.", a Chandrafan assured, "You need to breathe."

... haluur, cyare, ni cetar ...

Someone stabbed her, someone stabbed her, ... someone ...

... udessir ...

Someone stabbed him.

Slowly everything became clearer. Relieve spewed in her chest as her Heart slowed down. The Rodian, Louma, yes Louma was her Name, still held onto her hand. She gave her a smile "Are you alright? how do you feel?" Shmi gathered her thoughts. Her ankle hurt. She brushed a hand over her Stomache and a wave of calm came over her.

"My ankle." she finally said, "I think I twisted it." The other two quickly started to tend to it. Shmi hoped it just wasn't too bad, she couldn′t afford to be more out of comission then she already was. Her thoughts started to drift as they worked on it.

She had heard him, kind off . Her mind had formed words around the emotions that he had directed at her. She didn't know those words per se but the meaning had been clear to her.

She closed her eyes and smiled.

He loved her.

°•°•°▪○▪°•°•°

He was quite glad that he had the Legacy back. Because Jango was pretty shure he would have made quite the pitiful sight to anybody who would have seen him. But he hadn't felt any pain quite like it. It was as if someone was ripping him in half very very slowly.

It had started a few hours ago with cramps in his lower back. He hadn't thought much of it at first but then it became worse. So much so that he ended up on the Floor. There was nothing but the intense pain as his Inside wanted to be out. Jango lost his track of Time. Somewhere he could feel Pride and Happyness interlaced with worry.

... Akaan ...

no that was the wrong word

... an akaan ...

... Anakaan ...

... Anakin ...

An'ika

The Name Rang in his head.

...All war.

...Yes, he would Start a war if it meant they would be together.

Then deep, black, nothing

When he waked again he looked up to an unfamiliar ceiling. He sat up. Haar'chak. His Armor was missing. Inspecting the Room from his bed he noticed he was in a Hospital Room of sorts. A dingy one at that. The Door opened with a swoosh and a pinkish Orange Toydarian flew in. "Ah good your awake. We found you ...", but she didn't come any further as Jango interrupted her. "Where is my Armor?", he said. "Relax Mandalorian.", she tried to appease, "Your Armor is in the locker over there. It's not the Toydorian way to rob guests." Jango growled.

"So tell me Sunny, how did you end up passed out on your Ship, floating to nowhere, eh?", she continued. He didn't think about it and said: "I think I just gave birth." The Toydorian looked at him shocked. Realizeing what he had uttered he tried to clarify: "Well not really me. More like my Soulmate. She gave birth ... I only ... felt the whole shebang."

She laughed and put forth her Hand in greeting. "Now that makes more Sense. My Name ist Rozzata. Friends just call me Roz. Say, Mandalorian, would you be interrested in a Job." He shook her Hand. "The Name is Jango. Jango Fett. What kind of Job are you talking about?"

Chapter Text

Anakin, like a lot of human babies, had been born with bright blue eyes. Only for one to turn a beautiful, deep brown within an hour. From that Moment on Shmi knew he shared a similar fate to her own. She pressed a kiss on his little head and tucked him into the warm folds of her dress.

°•°•°•°

Anakin was three when Gardulla the Hutt bought them and he started to tell her about the dreams he had. Dreams about freeing Slaves and Men with glowing Swords. There was one with a man in a shining suit of silver armor and many men with the same face following him into battle. Another was about a beautiful girl in lavish dresses that carried the weight of the Galaxy on her Shoulder. A fourth one was about a cackling man with evil eyes who had three Puppets. A Demon, a Slave Master and a Skeleton all the while a black Skull loomed behind him. Others were more immediate. They were about Slaves, those who would come and go, and about mishaps that would soon transpire. Shmi taught him to keep silent about those kind of dreams. Just like the other Slaves taught her. They gave her and Ani a name as well, Skywalker. The one her Father had was long since forgotten.

°•°•°•°

Anakin was five when they were lost to Watto in a bet. Hate was the wrong word to describe her feelings for the Master. He neither hit her or Anakin. Nor did he did he refuse them food or made her provide special services. But she wouldn't mind if the Toydarian didn't wake up one morning or ended up with a blaster Bolt between his eyes. The first time he made Anakin participate in the Podrace something in her died. There was a reason Humans never took part in the dangerous Sport and she surely thought she would loose her son. Watto only laughed when Ani crashed the Pod in the second round. Her boy laughed as well when he crawled from the wreckage and Shmi nearly cried in relief when she held him in her arms again.

°•°•°•°

Anakin was six when he asked about his Father for the first Time. He sat at their kitchen table and happily munched on a Pallie. "Kitster says his dad is a Smuggler, you know. Is my dad a Smuggler too?" Shmi turned to look at her son: "No, your Father isn't a Smuggler." ~ "But, wouldn't it be Wizard if he was tho? He and Kitsters dad could be Friends. Just like me and Kitster." She smiled at the thought. Ani's childlike imagination was always wonderful. "That sounds like a very big Adventure.", she said and sat down across him, "But you don't have a Father, it was always just you and me." Anakins face scrunched up in confusion: "Is my dad dead then?" ~ "No, there just never was a man." ~ "That′s not how Babys work. Wald says that everyone has a mom and dad." ~ "But that is how you work, my little Ani.", Shmi answered and reached across the table to brush a stray strand of hair from his eyes. Sadness took hold his young Features and he sheepishly admitted: "But I would like to have a dad." It broke her heart to see her son like this and decided that she couldn't just leave him like this. "Ani, just like you I have a Soulmate.", Shmi said and Anakin gave her an intrigued look. She continued: "His Name is Jango Fett and he is a Mandalorian. He knows about you and I know he would love you very much." A hopeful but questioning look was on Ani's face: "Then why isn't he here for me?" Shmi's heart became heavy as she continued: "The Galaxy is big. I don't know where he is and I think he doesn't know where we are either. But I believe if he knew he would come and free us." Anakin stood up, rounded the Table and wrapped bis arms around her in a hug. "Mom," ,he said, "You really think so?" She nodded and held him close.

°•°•°•°

Anakin was seven when a new Slave came to their District. He was tall and well-fed. His hair was like spun Gold that reached well past his shoulders and his words were like honey. He was a pleasure Slave, who left his quarters late in the evening, returned in the middle of the Night and slept till early in the morning. They welcomed him like they would welcome anybody else, with as much compassion as they were able to give. The Kids liked him especially as he often brought them little treats. He had lived among them for a few months when Anakin told her of a Dream he had. About a Garden with beautiful Flowers and Trees. About someone destroying it with ill intent. A sense of dread formed in Shmi's chest at what Ani told her. He had never just dreamed. There always was something that foretold Future events in them. She looked into his dichromatic eyes, something truly bad would happen soon.

When he pointed at the new Slave the next day, with the words: "Look Mom, It's the dress from my dream." The dread turned into worry. On the same evening she voiced them to the others by the bonfire. Anakin had started to avoid the man during the day and Shmi was proud of her son. It didn't even take a week until Malis came forth and told everybody that the man had "behaved like a Master" towards her daughter. The same night they waited for him in his quarters. When he returned they ambushed him and while he managed to punch her in the face and wound some of the others he was finally bound and gagged. Then they tore off his clothes an dressed him burlap. The mob took him to the edge of their Chips and pushed him over the border. Watched as his leg exploded. Shmi threw the first Rock when he made a Comment about Anakin and the others followed soon. They didn't spit on his corpse as they would not waste water on someone so vile.

°•°•°•°

Anakin was eight and softly sniffing when she came back late at Night. Meanwhile he was working intently on some droid part. It was rare that he cried, every desert child learned early that it wastes water after all. So she knew something had gone wrong. Shmi put away her bag and sat down beside him. "What happend Ani?", she asked. "Nuthin.", he mumbled and wiped bis nose on his sleeve. "Really?", she asked, "I doesn't seem like nothing to me. You didn't even say Hello." Anakin looked up from from his work. His eyes were puffy and red. "I'm sorry mom ... Hi.", he said, "It's just ... Seek and Melee said some dumb stuff today." Shmi nodded and started to rub circles on his back. "And what kind of dumb Stuff?", she continued to question. Anakin sniffed again. "They said...", new Tears welled up in his eyes, "they said that your Soulmate isn't real and ... and that even if he was it wouldn't be Jango Fett. And that he wouldn't even love me because I'm just a rape Baby." Shmi pulled him on her lap and let him bury his head in her Shoulder. She knew those words did not come from the children themselves. Seek and Melee probably had picked them up from someone else. She was very much aware of every one elses theory regarding Anakin′s birth Father and she had given up on trying to clarify the rumors ages ago. Should the People think what they wanted to think. "Do you think he would Love me?", Ani whimpered and she hugged him tighter. "He is a Mandalorian, Honey.", she answered, "I would be more surprised if he didn't love you already.", and after a while she added, "You know what I learned?" Anakin looked up at her and shook his head. Shmi booped his nose. "I recently learned that he is a Bounty Hunter." His eyes grew big at that and Shmi continued, "I am going to save up money and when we have enough I am going to hire him so that we will be free." ~ "But what if he only wants to free you?" ~ "Then I won't go with him. Because if he doesn't want you he won't be worth my time. Ani, you and I are a package deal no matter what." Anakin giggled and it made her heart soar with happiness. She wished that she would never have to leave her son behind. Even though she knew deep down that their paths would part sometime soon.

°•°•°•°

Anakin was nine when a tall Jedi, a regal Handmaiden and foolish Water creature came Home with him, trying to find shelter from the Storm. Her son trusted them, so she did as well. Even though they agreed to that ludicrous proposal of his. She always hated it when Anakin was racing. Just the thought of her son endangering himself like that put her on edge. Until then nothing seriously bad had happend to him but that could change with every new Race he starred in. The Offworlders were crazy to trust him in that regard. The Handmaiden at least seemed a bit more reasonable. Even if she was appearing quite naive.

"Who was his Father?", the kind man asked while they were watching Ani work. Of course he would ask this question, everybody did after spending just a bit of time with her son. "There was no Father.", she answered truthfully, "I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him. I can't explain what happened." Hope had started to bloom in her chest the longer the ragtag group stayed with them. So Shmi asked: "Can you help him?" ~ "I don't know.", Qui gon replied, "I didn't actually come here to free Slaves." There was regret in his voice, though it didn't keep her heart from dropping.

On the evening of the same day Anakin confessed to her: "Mom, I think Padmé is my Soulmate." Shmi continued to tug him in. "Really what makes you think so?", she asked and he carried on talking: "It's weird, I just know ... you know. But also my heart is skipping a beat every time our eyes meet and I feel like everything is just so much clearer now. How does it work for you?" She thought about the time when she first heard her own soulmates name. How just the thought of it had given her strength for everything to come. To continue on in the hope that they would find each other some day. A reassurance that her condition wasn't just a strange illness that plagued her. "I guess it is similar for me too Ani. I heard his name one day and just knew.", she said, looking into her son's eyes. They were blue, completely and utterly. Not a trace of brown anywhere. So it must be true then. "But now it is time to sleep my little Ani.", she said and pressend a soft kiss to his brow. Her son was growing up so fast, too fast. She knew it would break his little heart when the Handmaiden would leave. She had seen it before after all.

He was so exited when he returned home and presented her with the money from the Pod. She couldn′t help but feel the same way, they could save it up maybe buy ... "He has been freed.", said Qui gon as he had followed Anakin into the hut. "What!", the boy exclaimed and Shmi didn't know whether to be happy about it or not. The Jedi would have told her directly if he had been able to free them both. But he had not. So she knew that the same fortune was not extended to her as well. Ani turned around and said: "Did you hear that?" He was so exited and she didn′t want ruin his mood so she put up a brave face and said: "Now you can make your dreams come true Ani. Your free." She sniffed. At least she hoped that her boy would be able to make his dreams come true. If he were to remain on Tatooine ... she didn′t even want to think about it. They would enslave him again, or worse. So she turned to the Jedi and asked: "Will you take him with you? Is he to become a Jedi?" The man nodded and it eased at least some of her worries. She watched as Qui gon knelt down in front of Anakin. If he were to train him, take him under his wing, she knew that Anakin would become someone truly great. Maybe he could be the Father Anakin had so often dreamed of of having. She had dreaded the day that he would leave. But she hadn′t been able to stop the day from coming. Just like she couldn′t stop the suns from setting and she told Ani as such when he realised that she wouldn′t be able to join him in this Adventure.

It all really settled in when she had returned to the hut. It felt so empty now. Shmi was proud of her son. He hadn′t looked back the second time, just as he had promised. She knew that he would keep his other promise as well. They would see each other again. A mechanical whir could be heard from Anakin′s room and when she looked inside she saw the wiry, metallic form of the Protocol droid that Anakin had worked on for her. She felt like crying.

°•°•°•°

Anakin was gone for five Months when Gardullas Pet Krayt escaped and destroyed the Palace. A foreboding feeling had settled in her chest as her body flared with pain the last few weeks. Two days before the incident someone from Mos Gamos had come by Wattos shop and complained in colourful words that someone had shot up the entire town. Or at least the Gang that had been terrorising them over the last month or so. Shmi couldn′t explain why the news had excited her so much.

The Sound of Blaster Bolts filled the Streets and everyone was scrambling to hide somewhere. Shootouts weren′t uncommon, but still quite the disruption of daily life. Watto had left for the back room to secure the money and left her to watch out for any thieves that might come their way. That her Soulmate was currently in a battle somewhere on the other side of the Galaxy didn′t help her already fraying nerves. A Crash could be heard from the road to the front and washed over her Body at the same time. That had certainly never happend before. Shmi didn′t know why, but something told her to go over to the Door. She was just about to peek outside when a Man and a Boy stumbled into the Shop. "I hope I am not intruding. We are just looking for shelter from all the Chaos out there.", he said breathless. Shmi didn't know what to reply and just stared. The Man looked flustered. "We ... er... can go if we are bothering you.", he stammered. It broke her out of her stupor. "No, It's fine. I'm sorry for being so rude. How can I help you." The Man smiled and the boy peeked shyly at her. "I am Clieeg Lars.", he said, "and this is my son Owen."

Chapter Text

Work was good, it distracted him. The emptiness couldn't take hold of his heart when the thrill of the Hunt rushed through his veins. Roz always wanted him to take it easier, to take a vacation of sorts. But time off meant facing his Demons and to accept that he was slowly falling apart.

So job after job it was then. He had a career and a reputation to think of.

"Not trying to swindle me. Are you?", he accused his Toydorian handler when she cut him short again. She just continued to ramble about a finders fee and the damage her Station had sustained. If it were anybody else he might have shot them a long time ago. But it was Roz and he didn't need the Money per se. Yes, fuel, repairs, weapons and other essentials where costly, but he didn't know what to do with the rest in the long run. There was no Clan to feed. He had seen enough of Spice for three lifetimes and investing in Farmland or Mines didn't appeal. He may have been born a vhett but couldn't tell you how to take care of a Cornfield for osik. On good nights he told himself he was saving up for the time when he would finally find his riduur and his ad.

In the meantime Roz presented him with a personal transmission that revealed a man wo was somewhat familiar. Now if he could place where he knew him from.

°•°•°•°

Rozatta′s warning about Montross still rang in his head as he entered the Carbon Freezing Chamber in Coruscant′s underbelly. During his career he had come across that aruetyc huttun more often then he would have liked. It had developed into a unfriendly rivalry of sorts. Even though Jango would argue that it had always been like that. The other Bounty Hunter had a knack for following him around and swooping in to claim bounties as his own. Much to the younger ones chagrin. It wasn′t much of a surprise then that he encountered the older one at the top of the Carbon freezing unit. "It′s been a long time Jango.", he said and Jango retaliated: "Not long enough." Despite that it was long enough ago that the others hair had turned completely white. Montross pressed a Button on the control Panel to his left activating the crane of the chamber, wich pulled up a frozen corpse. "You came here to question this Gangster.", he mocked, "I′m afraid he doesn′t have much more to say. He just froze up to me." Jango′s blood began to boil and Montross′es deep taunting laugh told him everything he needed to know. Without another word he opened fire. Montross halfheartedly returned a few shots, only to open a maintenance shaft. "I don′t have time for games Jango. I′m on a hunt.", he scoffed before disappearing into it. Leaving Jango behind with his thoughts.

He took a deep breath. Being riled up while hunting never yielded good results. Jango looked at the corpse of the guy that had been thrown into the Carbon Freezer and sighed. There was a reason why no one used it on living things, even though some might claim that it could be a possible solution for transporting Prisoners. But the Technology was still too unreliable for it. Most experiments with it ended in the death of the test subject.

Montross was barbaric. He turned away and started to search the other Rooms. Sometimes Jango thought that he and Montross weren′t much different from one another. That he was just as much dar′manda as him for abandoning the Haat Mando′ade after Galidraan. But then he would come across something like this. It always reminded Jango that he was still better then that traitor and Kyr′tsad. His comm sprang to life.

°•°•°•°

Coruscant glimmered in the back of his ship. As it seemed Malastere would be the next stop on his search for Vosa. "So what can you tell me about this Sebulto, Trell mentioned?", Jango asked, the Senator had been as dirty as they come. Probably had more skeletons in his closet then just the Death Sick deals. Jango certainly wouldn′t miss him. "Sebulto′s one of the Doug Kings and a big Figure in Malastares Underword.", Rozatta answered, "If he is working with the Bando Gora he′s been keeping a low profile about it. So now what? Knock on his door and ask him to give up Vosa?" ~ "When he hears that his partners are dead, he will be wary of uninvited Guests. Let′s be more subtle this time." Roz smirked at that. "Weeeell I shouldn′t mention it. But if you want an invitation. I just came across a Bounty Sebulto himself posted." Jango had to repress a quiet laugh. Roz really had a good eye for those kind of things. A stopover by Oovo IV to pick up a gift seemed like a good idea. "What about competition.", he asked. 50000 Credits must attract quite a few Bounty Hunters after all. "It′s a hefty sum.", she admitted and got that concerned look again when she continued, "But we are talking about a maximum Security Prison. Nobody in their right mind would try to break someone outa there." He knew what she was alluding to. He had taken more and more dangerous Bounties as time went by after all. "It′s just another Job Roz. I′ll slip in and out before anyone will notice he′s missing", he said and already started to type in the coordinates for the Hyperspace jump. "Any sign of Montross?", he inquired. "Checked around a bit. Heard he is in the Gazzari System.", she answered. Roz always knew where to look.

That was only one of the reasons he considered her a good Friend. Without her he wouldn′t have made it this far and she was good company as well. Even though she could be too mothering sometimes. So it didn't surprise him when she started again. "Ya know Jango. You got money.", she said, "Why don't you meet a nice girl. Settle down. Have a kid. You won't live for ever you know. Not in this business." He frowned. "I already have." She scoffed, "I know, I know. Your Soulmate. But tell me where is she? Have you really tried finding her over the last few years? Many people settle down without ever meeting their soulmate. Why don't you?" His heart clenched at that thought. "Not in this lifetime, Roz.", he dejected. She just gave him a concerned look. Hyperspace started to streak by and scrambled the Transmission. Jango leaned back into his seat.

His Soulmate always was a sore conversation spot for the two of them. Roz, like many people, didn't have one and in her eyes he was just obsessed with a Phantom on the other side of the Galaxy. She had tried to set him up on dates before but for him it just wasn't it. They weren't her, they hadn't been slaves and they didn't have a litte Anakin clinging to their side. He had looked of course. Had gone over Slave Markets, despite the fact that they repulsed him, and had looked out for Mothers, single or not. But over the years ... over the years his hope and determination had started to dwindle. "She has a kid Jango. Face it she has settled down.", Roz had said so many times that he had started to believe it. If it weren't for the emotions she was still sending him. The love and care she was exuding every single day. Mostly directed at their ad′ika. It was interlaced with pride so many times as well. It had soothed Jango's heart many times, even through the pain. He didn′t deserve her. He was glad that the lashings had stopped five years or so ago. But he still recognised the sting of paint stripper on her hands and the burning of overworked joints and muscles. Jango knew she wasn′t free yet and it made him apologize to her so many times when he got wounded. She didn′t deserve to endure his stupid escapades. Even though she never directed annoyance towards him in any way and it made him marvel at her even more. Atin, would be the word to describe her with.

Jango was ashamed that he still hadn't found her. He didn't want to admit it but Roz was right. He hadn't searched much the last few years and she deserved so much more. More then him and his nibral shebs. What Mand′alor got his whole ramikad killed? What Mand′alor in the history of the Mando′ade had ever been enslaved? Could he still be called Mando′alor at all? Even when he was free again he hadn′t returned and instead had left the field wide open for the Nu′mando′ade and their poisonous Ideology. She would be disappointed in him. Would be crestfallen that he was half the man he once was. His blank beskar′gam a memorial to his shame. Jango hadn't dared to paint it again. Why vorpan for duty when he didn't deserve one anymore? Why ne′tra or ve′vut when gra′tua and tor were served? Why ge′tal when Jaster's Legacy had died on Galidraan? The only color he still dared to display was kebiin. It was a promise to his customer that he was ruusanyc and he wanted it to be a promise to her as well. Even though he hadn′t been able to prove it to her yet. Jango could picture her disgust when she would finally lay eyes on him. She would hate that he had taken so long. Her child would probably wouldn't want anything to do with him either. How could he even dare to claim her ad as his own when he was still this shell of what he once was? They both deserved so much more then him.

Huttun, a tiny voice in the back of his mind whispered.

They deserved to be free of this life. Deserved to walk among the stars and be as mev as senaar. Kaysh Mandokar hettyc as dral as Kara. He had felt it, the Mandokarla. Her burning anger, the protectiveness over their son. It had happened during a game of Sabacc with Roz and a few others. Someone had punched her in the face and he would have sworn the riduurok right then and there if she had been present, so strong had her Mandokar burned. He hadn't been able to concentrate after that, resulting in him losing the round. Jango smiled at the memory and stood up. He would be in Hyperspace for the next few hours, he could use the time to catch up some sleep.

°•°•°•°

Jango looked up to the Skies as he left Jabbas palace. The Twin suns were beating down mercilessly.He was practically being boiled alive in his Armor. How someone would want to live on the Planet was beyond him. Especially Hutts. They were Swamp dwellers, why were they even on this osikyaim? "Murishani." Jango looked to his left and into the pale face of Jabba′s majordomo. "Jabba ja Grancha, naga foonta Makacheesa che he Moulee-rah.", he said. Jango nodded, that ge′huttun and his stupid grin were already getting on his nerves. He entered the Slave I and seated himself inside the Cockpit. Zam was currently working on infiltrating Garullas Palace. He would wait just a bit until she called him on their agreed time.

It was way past their agreed upon time and just before Sundown when Jango decided that he had have enough off wating. There were only two possibilities. Either Zam had been dumb enough to get captured or she had betrayed him. He suspected the former as she had already proofed herself to be reliable on Malastare. So Jango decided that he would just have to try infiltrating the Palace by himself, as he set down the Slave I at the edge of the Jundland Wastes. Any closer and Gardulla probably would have known about his presence. 

The Canyon leading up to the back of the palace was no problem with the help of his Jetpack. Jango just had to steer clear of the Tusken′s hunting Party that had decided to settle there for the night and the occasional Patrol that the Hutt had placed there. But he had managed to avoid most of them. Jaster hadn`t trained him in the ways of werdla akaanir for nothing. A ventilation shaft had finally granted him access to the complex. He had wandered the many halls for quite some time until he bumped into a green twilek. She seemingly had been sneaking around as well. He quickly set his blaster to stun, there would be no need to ... "Jango, what are you doing here?", she asked, interrupting his thought process. If he looked at her a bit closer she seemed to resemble ... "Zam?", he asked. The twilek smirked. "The one and only." ~ "Where did you get your disguise from?", he continued to ask. Those lekki were really convincing. Was that holo technology? "I´m a Clawdite.", she quickly clarified. Well, that certainly explained how she had managed to break into Oovo IV. "What are you doing here? I was just about to call you." ~ "Well if you haven′t noticed already you are kinda late for that." ~ "Very funny Fett. Do you even know how hard it is to get into a Hutt′s palace? It took hours until I finally found the right person to imitate." ~ "As you can see I am here and did not have to disguise myself as a twilek." She harrumphed at that. 

"Anyway as you are here already we can proceed with the plan.", she said. "Do you even have a plan? According to Jabba she keeps her information inside of her vault", Jango asked. Up until then her plans hadn′t been that well thought out. Her eyes sparked with anticipation as she went on to explain: "Well, the key to the vault is in Gardulla′s necklace. That would be really hard to get. But why don′t we create a distraction by releasing her Krayt Dragon and then when everybody else is occupied we brake into her Vault." ~ "Bad idea. We should try to be more stealthy about it." ~ "Whats with you and your stealth? I thought Mandalorians were all shoot first ask questions later." ~ "Only if we know our enemy well enough. Recon is half the battle." He didn´t dare to mention that he had made bad experiences with shooting first and asking question later. "Well what is your plan then?", Zam argued. 

°•°•°•°

He had been able to steal Gardullas necklace when she was fast asleep, by dangling himself off the ceiling of her Throne room by an ascension Cable. Breaking into the Safe with it′s help and retrieving the data was a pice of uj′alayi. The problem arose when Zam had the bright idea to help herself to some of the other Treasures that the Hutt stored in there. "What did you do?", he accused as red lights flashed around them and sirens blared all around them. "Nothing.", she retaliated, "All I did was look at some stuff." He doubted that statement.

Jango and Zam barely made it out of the Vault before it went into complete lockdown. A bunch of guards came running from their right so the duo turned left. Sporadically returning a few shots with his Westar. Gardullas Palace was, despite that it was made for a Hutt, a Labyrinth of narrow hallways and tight corners. But it still didn′t take long for Jango to figure out what kind of Game the Guards were playing. "They are pushing us back to the Throne Room.", he yelled at Zam over the deafening hail of Blasterfire. "What?", the Clawdite yelled back. "Maybe it is time for your distraction. Where do we have to go?", Jango suggested. "Oh I can do that right here.", she chirped and presented him with a detonation button. Another thought came to Jango′s mind. He still had his arrangement with Jabba to think about. "Should I detonate it now?" ~ "No, let′s keep playing their game for now. So leg it." They rounded another corner and came to a halt in front of Gardulla herself. 

"Chuba tinka uba kavaa koocha Gardulla jah Granee? Dopra nopa Maya.", She laughed tauntingly while she sat atop of her throne like some stranded Cartusion Whale. "Apparently not, since we are back here now.", Jango said and threw her necklace in front of her non existent feet, "You can have your tassel back." A look of shock was on the Hutt′s face. "Da wanka!?", she asked, "Chuba konkee du moocha je?" ~ "Not exactly.", He said and gave Zam the signal. First an explosion rattled the Palace, then a bone chilling cry. "Haku uba do?", Gardulla screeched but got quickly interrupted by the Krayt Dragon bursting trough the Roof. Jango smirked under his Helmet. "Jabba sends his regards.", he said and the Dragon dove straight for the Hutt swallowing her whole. 

Jango activated his Jetpack and took off with Zam through the new Window of the throne room. They sat down outside of the Palace walls and took off north with a stolen Speeder Bike followed by a bunch of Gardullas chakaar'ise. A stray Baster bolt managed to graze Zam and the Clawdite fell off. Jango continued on, if he was honest he didn't have it in him to care. She was the one who had gotten them in this mess in the first place. The constant looming threat of death also just came with the job description. They chased him up to Mos Espa where his speeder died and far into the City. How Gardulla had managed to evoke that much loyalty was a mystery to him. Jango crash-landed in an alley next to a repair shop and watched as a Man and a boy quickly scurried inside. It could be a safe Place for him to hide out as well, he thought. But then the yells of his pursuers reached the Audio receptors of his helmet again and Jango decided to hide out somewhere else. He took the path to his right and left the Shop far behind. 

From there he had made it to the towns outskirts where he called his newly gained Slave I to his side.

When he found himself in the Planets Orbit his gut was churning, telling him to go back. Almost like he forgot something very important down there. Or like he had taken a wrong step in his mission. Jango sighed. Normaly his instinct was right about things like this. But he couldn′t let himself be distracted, he had a job to do. So, hailing Roz it was then. No turning back. He hoped she would have the coordinates of Vosa by now.

°•°•°•°

Jango sighed, Roz was dead, beaten till near Death and left to die by Montross. Montross was dead too crippled by Jango′s own Blade and then torn apart by Vosa's creatures. The darjetti herself lies before him as well, neck bent at an unnatural angle. Kyram followed him where ever he went. It was just typical. Everyone he ever cared about died because of him or Kyr'tsad. His Parents, Arla, Jaster as well, Miles, Silas, Mavin who had just passed his verdgoten before Galidraan and now Roz as well. All dead because of him. Because he wasn't good enough. Her fate would probably be a similar one. Huttun. Nibral.

He turned around and looked into the gaunt face of Tyranus. He still didn't know why he seemed so familiar. A headache started to form in his frontal lobe.

°•°•°•°

Jango rushed down the too white halls, nearly colliding with one of the Kamini′ise. He couldn′t miss this. wouldn´t miss this. He had witnessed the birth of his first ad firsthand and he would not miss out on the birth of his second one. He pressed the button to open the Lab′s door. Wateing for it to open felt like ages. Ko Sai and Nala Se were standing inside and watched him with their steely eyes. "You are right on time, Jango Fett.", Ko Sai said with her sing songy voice, "We were just about to decant Alpha." He nodded even though the name sent a shiver down his spine. Jango stepped up to the tube with the clear almost blueish liquid inside and put a hand on the glass. This was his son. "Are you shure you want a fully unaltered Clone?", Nala Se asked, "I could give you something ..." ~ "Don′t you ever mention something about enhancements again.", Jango snapped at her. "Of course.", she snarled back equally. 

Jango′s eyes trailed back to the boy. The Liquid inside was almost completely drained. "Would you please step back, so we can lower the glass?", Ko Sai asked and Jango complied. It was the most unspectacular birth he had ever witnessed. No screaming Mother, no blood and no excrutiating hour long labor. There hadn′t even been a real Pregnancy. Shure he had visited the white Room with the Tank. But in between recruiting the Cuy'val dar, preparing Training Modules and giving Blood samples for the Future clone troopers, he hadn't truely realised that Jasters legacy was slowly growing in that tube.

But when Ko Sai turned around and handed him the wailing ik′aad, Jango smiled. He was perfect, even with the red scrunched up face and the wet body. Jango dried him off with one of the soft towels he had brought with him. Soft black hair covered his small head and tiny fists punched at everything around him. "Haluur, ner ad.", he said with a smile and marveled at the boy when he seemed to recognise his voice. He had an ad and he couldn't help the Love and Pride that blossomed in his Chest. "Ni kar′talyr gai sa′ad. Boba Fett.", he softly whispered into the newborn′s ear. Just like all the times before when he had said the gai bal manda and the riduurok to himself in preparation for the day to come. The day when the remaining missing pieces of their family would finally join together to form one.

Jango hadn′t even noticed that Ko Sai and Nala Se had left the room, so absorbed was he in his child.

Chapter Text

Cliegg Lars wasn't a Warrior King or a Bounty Hunter, nor did he know the pain that she felt. But Cliegg Lars was a kind man with a heart of Gold under a Shell, that had been hardened by Sand and the twin Suns.

The first thing he did after he bought her was getting the Chip out of her and granting her freedom. All he had asked from her in return was that she would stay one harvest. Shmi had stayed gladly, because he had asked and hadn't demanded it. He treated her like a Friend and along side the other Moisturefarmers of Anchorhead welcomed her with Open arms. Rafen and Kaia Whitesun gifted her a beautiful Box when they visited her for the first time. "As a Slave I had nothing.", Rafen told her, "But now you will have to have something to keep your belongings save." Shmi smiled at that and thanked him.

°•°•°•°

If someone had asked her what a moisture Farmer does Shmi would have told them that they provide Water on arid planets. It was what most people knew about them and Shmi never would have guessed that there was more to the Profession. After all moisture Farmers were a close-knit group of people, they did not interact much with others outside of their communities, except for business. It took almost a month after she had come to the Homestead and many upgraded or repaired Evaporators until Cliegg finally showed her the other Part of the Farm. 

"This is it.", he told her with a proud smile as they stood in front of a heavily armed, round door. "Behind these locks lie the most important resources of any Planets." Shmi evaluated him without words. There were next to no things that would be considered valuable in both the eyes of a man on Tatooine as well as some Offworlder. It made her curious as Cliegg Lars didn′t seem like a Spice trader. At least she hoped that he was no Spice trader. Looks could be deceiving and Spice was worth it′s weight in Aurodium on some Planets, it wasn′t too far-fetched of a thought. "Oh come on Dad, don′t keep her in suspense. Show it.", whined Owen. The boy was almost vibrating with excitement. Cliegg chuckled: "Alright I′ll open it." He went on to punch in a key code on the panel next to the gate and then unlocked the three older looking Locks that kept it secure. The massive Rock that made up the door rolled aside with another press of a button and cool air escaped from the room behind. But a heavy-looking curtain still blocked her view of the room. Owen grabbed her hand and pulled her inside, Cliegg followed them with a smile.

The inside of the room took her breath away. The air inside was cool, at least for Tatooine standards, and humid. What her eyes beheld was not so much a room but rather a hall. Ceiling lights, supported by lamps and mirrors illuminated it in dim light. Plants graced the ground of the Room. Tomatoes, Tubers, Lettuce and something that she thought could be sprouts of grain. "Do you like it?", Cliegg asked. "This is amazing.", Shmi whispered. An underground Garden was sprawled before her and it seemed to be thriving. The man laughed. "I am glad you think so. Hope you don′t mind learning about how to take care of all this for the foreseeable future."

Shmi smiled and admitted: "I never would thought that I would learn how to garden on a desert Planet." Owen laughed at it full hearty.

°•°•°•°

At the end of the first harvest she took the money she had saved from the Time when Ani sold the Pod, as well as the money she had earned and bought a long range Communit. She made the call to Coruscant and after many hours of waiting and being shuffled around, she was finally connected to the Jedi Temple. The face of a young Woman greeted her. "I am Senior Padawan Pia Moreel. How can I help you?", she said. Shmi smiled at her and said: "I am Shmi Skywalker. Could you Please connect me with Jedi Master Qui gon Jinn." The Woman looked crestfallen. "I am sorry to inform you that Master Jinn died about three years ago on Naboo." Shmi's heart dropped. She hadn't known Qui gon for long but he had been a kind man. Another thought wormed itself into the back of her mind. When he died three years ago, then what happened to her Ani. "Can I help you in any other way?", Padawan Moreel asked, shaking Shmi from her musings. "Could you Please connect me with Anakin Skywalker then?" The young Woman at the other end of the call gave her a Stern look. "I am sorry but we don't give out Information about our Padawans." Shmi frowned, nodded but pleaded again: "Please Master Jedi he is my only son." The Jedi sighed with sympathy, but said: "Miss Skywalker, the Order prohibits contact with any family members. Haven't they told you this?" She let out a quiet "oh" as her heart ached and answered with a sad smile: "Thank you, Master Jedi." Then she hung up. She didn't cry. At least Anakin was still at the Temple. That was good. Right? Cliegg was there and laid a reassuring Hand on her Shoulder. Shmi sighed as her heart clenched at the thought that it should be someone else′s Hand.

°•°•°•°

Planting season was approaching soon, wich meant that it was busier then usual. Hydration systems had been updated, seeds had been exchanged amongst each other and fertilizer had been stocked up. The only break that the Farmers of Anchorhead allowed themselves came in the form of the Whitesun′s slaughtering two of their Banthas. They had invited many Families to their home and the gathering had turned into an full out feast. In Shmi′s opinion it was quite an decadent affair. Not because there were lavish dresses or because of rare expensive wines. But because of the sheer amount of food that was consumed by everyone. 

The Marstrap′s had brought sweet fruit cakes and nut breads with them, while the homemade Beer of the Darklighter′s flowed without end. Lars himself had contributed a lot of vegetables that were expendable for them. But the thing that alienated Shmi the most was the amount of meat that was eaten. The whole Bantha would have been able to feed nearly half of the Slave population of Mos Espa. Instead a lot of it was being consumed by this group of maybe forty to fifty people. Shmi felt sick to her stomach. It smelled and tasted heavenly but all she got down was one Sausage. After that she stood up from her seat and joined Rafen by the wall, who looked equally lost.

"How do you do it?", Shmi asked him with a sigh. "You just get used to it.", he answered. One of the Farmhands of the Loneozner′s threw up in the corner. She wrinkled her nose. "This is Food wasting." Rafen nodded in agreement. "But it is traditional and how are you going to teach a Hutt how to run it′s business?" ~ "True words my friend, true words." Shmi sighed and they went back to watching the others indulging in the foods. Someone had started to Play music while they were watching. It was a jovial tune that she didn′t recognize, but certainly a traditional one that was not from Tatooine. 

Kaia came up to them. Her face was flushed from the copious amounts of Alcohol she had consumed over the last hours. "Dance with me my love.", she said and dragged Rafen off by his hand. The man just had time to shoot her an apologetic smile and to put his glass in her hand before he was gone. Shmi smiled. They were lucky, she thought and she was happy for them. Because they had found each other even without being soulmates. A part of her envied them for that. That they were free to fall in love like that without a predestined connection. The other Part of her thought of Jango and her heart sparked with Joy. She missed him. Owen ran up to her. "Shmi, will you come dance with me?", he asked in ecitement. She blushed at the request. "But I don′t know how to dance." ~ "I don′t care. I don′t know either and no one will really care."

So she indulged the boy and followed him to the courtyard. A fire had been lit in the middle and the stars had already come out to watch the merry group of people. What Owen had said was true, no one cared that the two of them couldn′t really dance as they just twirled to the music. It was fun. She couldn′t remember the last time she had laughed this much. On the third song Owen lost his grip on her hand and with a surprised yell she crashed into a broad chest. When she turned around she looked up and at the gentle face of Cliegg. The man steadied her and let her catch her breath before asking. "Would you dance with me as well." Shmi observed him a bit cautious. His hair was a mess and his face was red, as if sunburned. She would probably have to drive them home in the morning. But his genuine smile convinced her to take his hand. His other hand wrapped around her waist. It felt foreign there. But that feeling was soon forgotten as he swept her towards the makeshift dance floor. 

°•°•°•°

The second Harvest had passed and Shmi sold the Communit. She had tried calling the Temple a few times but it always yielded a similar result. It was disheartening to say the least. But she decided that she wouldn't sit by idling. If she couldn't reach her son then maybe she could reach her other half. He was a Bounty Hunter after all.

Hiring him couldn't be that hard. Right? 

So she took heart and went with Kaia to Mos Eisley to vistit one of the Bounty Agencies. The Mirilaran behind the counter eyed her with contempt. "What do you want?", he asked with his nasal Voice. "I would like to hire a Bounty Hunter.", she said and the man retaliated with a bored: "What else is new? So how much do you have and who do you want sacked?" He opened his Hand urging her to place the money in his Palm. But Shmi didn't budge instead she said: "I would like to hire a specific Bounty Hunter. Not just some run of the mill novice." He scoffed: "Lady, tell me how much you have and I can assign you one that is not only in your price range but also qualified for the task. No one just hires Cad Bane or Jango Fett for petty Change." Shmi glowered at him but ultimately agreed with a deep sigh: "Fine, I have about 500 trugut at my disposal." There would have to be a change of plans then. The Mirilaran quickly typed in the Info into his console. "Alright Lady, who would you like to place your Bounty on?" ~ "Jango Fett." ~ "What?"

"How did it go?", asked Kaia when Shmi left the Office. "Not good.", she answered, "We will have to go somewhere else instead."

When she returned to the homestead in the evening she collapsed on her chair. They had to go to three more Agencies before someone had posted her Bounty. Why was it so hard to just hire him? Why couldn't he just be a Bounty Hunter and not the best of the trade? Someone knocked on the door frame and Shmi looked up. Cliegg stood there and with a sheepish smile said: "We have something for you, will you come to the Kitchen?" She smiled and nodded.

°•°•°•°

It was a few weeks after she posted the Bounty that she was wide awake at Night. Shmi had startled awake because someone had brought down a blunt object on his upper Arm. It hurt like hell and she hadn't been able to sleep after that. She looked up at the starlit Sky and the three moons that Illuminated the in-ground courtyard of the homestead.

It had been so long since she had felt this way as a lot of the Fighting had seemingly stopped around his vicinty over the last three or four years. There were just the occasional burst of violence here or there but never quite as bad as this one. Shmi wondered what had brought upon this Change and sincerly hoped it was a good one. For all she knew he could be in Jail or something. But that thought was rejected as soon as it had come up. The Mirilaran had seemed quite shure that Jango was still working as a Bounty hunter after all.

Her Arm had started to pulsate. If she had to guess it was probably broken. An apology bloomed from the wound and Shmi smiled. He hadn't stopped doing that ever since the haze of Spice had lifted. She liked that about him. That he still cared even though he had never met her. Shmi concentrated on her gratitude and hoped some of it would slip through to him.

She had been concerned about him as well. Not just because of the regular injuries he got but because of the other emotions that flowed through to her. This sort of self-loathing. Like waves on the shore of an ocean the thoughts came and went. Sometimes strong waves of self-deprecation, sometimes just shallow brushes of grief. She wished she could be there for him. Wished she could be by his side to tell him that there was still more to him. Wished she could tell him that she still loved him.

Shmi sighed. She still hoped that she would be able to tell Jango all that in Person one day. It would work out someday. They would meet and then what? Would he take her off this dust Ball? Would they travel the Galaxy together? Living Bounty for Bounty? Would he like to meet Anakin? It all felt so impossibly far away. Even felt like a childish Dream from Time to Time. What if all of the things she thought were True about him were just figments of her imagination.

She shoved that thought back down as soon as it had sprouted in her mind. There was still hope that he would come for her. He would see her pathetic Bounty, her small beacon, and would investigate. Shmi hissed softly as someone touched his wounded Arm. She couldn't give up hope. But the seeds of doubt had already started to take root in her heart.

°•°•°•°

On the eve of the third harvest Owen called her Mom by accident. The whole table of three froze at that. The by then teenage boy blushed in embarrassment, Cliegg looked a bit helpless between the two and prepared to lecture his son. But Shmi smiled and put a Hand on the mans arm. "It's fine.", she said and turned to the boy, "I am flattered you feel this way." Owen looked up, hope glistened in his eyes. "So you don't mind if I call you that from now on?", he asked. Shmi nodded and answered: "You can call me whatever you feel like." Clieggs gaze on her was filled with adoration, as he put his Hand over her own. It made her heart jump in a familiar way.

°•°•°•°

When the third harvest came to a close she thought about leaving Tatooine. The young Handmaidens words about a green Planet where water filled the Core and Slaves where a thing of the past, still rang in her head. Naboo sounded like a dream. But unlike the dream by the Name of Jango Fett it was much realer and much closer. Even though the Bounty had been posted over a year there hadn't been a sign of anyone willing to accept it. Not to mention that he had seen it and come to investigate. She crossed her arms as she watched the twin Suns set over the Horizon beyond the Homestead. Perchance she could meet the girl again, if she left Tatooine and everything behind.

Familiar footsteps approached her from behind. She turned to the man who had become a close friend to her. "Will you leave this year?", he asked softly as sorrow swayed with his Voice. She sighed. "Maybe. I don't know yet." Cliegg nodded. After a while he took a step towards her. "Shmi.", he said, "I know it is presumptuous to ask this of you. I know you have someone out there who is yearning for you as much as you are for them. And you have been stuck on this dust ball for quite some Time." He paused and she nodded at him to continue "But Owen and the others would miss you just as much. I would miss you. It is selfish to ask Shmi but, will you stay with us? With me?" He brought his Hand up to her face and softly tugged a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I Love you Shmi Skywalker, will you marry me?"

Shmi's heart skipped a beat. He was right she would miss Owen and her Friends. All of them who had welcomed her in their midst with open hearts. But especially Kaia whom had done so much in the first few months for her. Her daughter Beru, who was Friends with Owen, was such a nice girl too. She would miss Cliegg a lot too. She would be eternally grateful to him for freeing her and not asking for anything in return. She valued the friendship they had developed over the last three years and of course she had noticed the feelings he harboured for her. But becoming his wife?

For a long time she had thought that she would only ever call Jango her husband. Despite that she knew it was quite delusional to dream of a man in shining Armor who would descend from the Sky. Who would call her shar-ee-kah and Ree-door. Who would take revenge on her Master. She had waited patiently for the last twenty years and she had taken an opportunity to reach out to him. If it weren't from the ache in the knees she had started to feel sometimes, the sting of old wounds and the occasional fistfight she would have thought he was dead. She was tired of waiting and her friends offer started to sound better by the Minute.

Cliegg Lars wasn't a Warrior King, nor was he a Bounty Hunter. But Cliegg Lars was a kind man who had offered her a Home and a stable place in his family. Love wasn't the Problem here. It would come with time. So she took his Hand in her own and answered with a smile: "I would be honored to be called your wife." In the distance the suns had vanished behind the dunes.

°•°•°•°

Shmi sighed as she laid awake at Night. She had sprained her ankle while working. Wich put her out of Kommission by orders of Anchorheads Doctor. Even after nearly four years of being free, it still put her on edge not to able to work and for the first Time in six months after being married to Cliegg Lars Shmi's mind had drifted off to ones Jango Fett. The guilt had dissipated after just a few weeks and had been replaced with indifference. She didn′t like that she was indifferent. But a selfish part of her mind told her that this was the right way. That she had given him enough chances to come for her. That what she had here was better then anything that Jango could ever offer her. 

She opened her eyes and looked out of the window. Where was he right now? Was he alright? What was Anakin doing? Was he learning well? It was futile, she thought. She would probably always look up to the sky and hope for a ship to descend next to the homestead. No matter if it would be a Jedi one or that of a Bounty Hunter. 

Chapter Text

He was strolling through the Halls of Tipoca City. Sleep had evaded him in the evening until he finally did fall into an drowsy half-sleep. But that hadn't lasted long either. So he stood up, made his way through the too white Apartment, quickly checked on Boba on his way out and entered the too white Halls of the City. His Armor was left behind. White flowed into more white as he made his way through the corridors. He didn't really have a direction where to go and just let himself meander until he found himself on one of the many transparisteel walkways overlooking the Training grounds and Mess halls.

He stopped to look at them. Shut down for the Night they were still completely deserted Just like they used to be a few years ago. Back then everything had still seemed so easy. He didn't even dare to admit that he had felt a bit exited at first.

Demagolka
The back of his mind whispered.

No, he wasn't Demagolka, the Kaminiise where the Demagolka'se. They were the ones who decommissioned hundreds of clones, because of minor Mutations like eye or hair color. They were the ones who experimented on the children. The Nulls, as well as 99 and this batch of Nala Se that had suddenly turned up one day. He had put a stop to it. But what did matter in the end. He had still agreed to the Programm. He was still at fault. But if he had not agreed to it then someone else would have been the template. As it seemed everything was futile.

Lama Su had asked him a few weeks ago if he was proud of his clones. The audacity. How could he proud? He wasn't raising an Army. He was raising cannon fodder. All this training that he had supervised it would amount to nothing. He could see it in their eyes. They were lacking in so many ways. They weren′t ready and wouldn't be ready for many years. Their accelerated ageing bothered him in general. As in his opinion expierience was far more important then genetics or training. But the longnecks still insisted on the ten year Marker that was approaching fast. A lot of them would die faster out there then they could raise their blasters. He could see it coming already.

Huttun

His brain whispered and a small part of him agreed. He hated it. Hated that he wasn't doing more. No real Mando'ad would have agreed to this Programm. Or would have let it grow to the extend at wich it now was. The Kaminiise still argued that they weren't sentient. He pretended it too, even though he knew better. It was true that they were hollow husks, that there was no Love in their eyes. At least not for any of their Trainers. But they loved each other with the heat of a thousand suns instead. They gave each other names. Cody, Fox, Wolffe, Doom, Monk, Keeli, Rex. He probably had named half of them by accident.

He would not use the Names.

It was just a Job and numbers were far easier to deal with.

Their awed whispers of "Prime" haunted his sleep. There was this sort of thirst in their eyes. A thirst he could not, would not satiate.

It was just a Job.

Nothing more.

Just a Job.

But they have Soulmarks.

NO, just a Job.

Just a Job. He told himself as he moved on from his spot above the salles.

Dar'manda,
His mind accused instead.

The thought hurt the most of all. Because it was True. Soulless. There was no Mandokar inside of him anymore. No Mandokar in yelling at a little Girl. Omega, Nala Se had called her Omega. Similar to how she had called Boba Alpha when she and Ko Sai had introduced him. He had yelled at the little, three year old girl. She had just grabbed the leg of his Pants and he had yelled at her. The little Girl with her round, brown eyes and her curly blonde hair. So much like Arla before she had made a habit of staightening it. His whole World had flipped in that Moment and for once he had lost his cool. But no haat Mando'ad would have yelled at a little Girl to get away from them. No matter if they reminded them of their long dead Sister or not. Soulless, Dar'manda, indeed.

Jango stepped through the door and outside. It Rained. Of course it did. It always Rained. He looked up to the Sky. The thick droplets stung his eyes and soaked into his Shirt. He had forgotten to put on shoes he realised. Looking over the Platform he noticed that the edge was really close. But he was nauseaous, felt really clammy and had to get back to Boba. So Jango turned around and walked back to his Apartment, leaving a wet trail behind himself.

°•°•°•°

"Buir.", Boba yelled with exitement when their eyes met in the Hall. Jango smiled. "I was looking all over for you.", the boy said as he crashed into his stomach, "Ewww, you're wet. What were you doing outside?" ~ "Sleepwalking" ~ "You do that a lot lately." ~ "Really? Hadn't noticed.", he sighed and ruffled his sons hair. "Come on lets get back Home.", Jango said and started to walk back to their Apartment. "Can we have flat cakes for early meal?", Boba asked. "Isn't too early for that?", Jango replied. Boba looked up at him and said with the most serious face that he had ever seen on a six year old boy: "Buir. It's never too early for Flat cakes." Jango burst out laughing. He couldn't remember the last Time his heart felt so much at ease.

He didn't deserve that.

°•°•°•°

"Dad, can I go play?", Boba asked him with pleading eyes. Jango had noticed that he had become exedingly fidgety as time went on and had kept staring over to a bunch of other Kids who were playing a game of Bolo-Ball. They were in negotiation with a Client right now. This was a important opportunity for Boba to learn. But ... This was only the second Time Boba had accompanied him to Meeting a Client. He would have plenty of other opportunities. So Jango nodded and immediately the Boy shot up, running over to the other Kids.

Jango watched as Boba approached them, asking to join their game and like Kids usually do they let him in. Boba was good at the Game. Gracefully outmaneuvering the others. boloing with him in the Training halls seemed to have helped in that regard. Jango couldn't help the Pride that welled up in him as Boba passed the Ball to another kid who in turn scored a goal. The Boys cheered and embraced each other. Boba′s grin spread from one ear to the other. It reminded him of his own youth, playing the Game with Jas'buir, Myles and Silas. There was a reason it was called Meshgeroya. Jango quickly made a few holos with his helmet. Maybe he could take Boba to a game one of these days. There was nothing better the atmosphere of Stadium full of Mandalorians cheering on their respective Team after all.

His Client cleared his throat in annoyance and started to snap his Fingers impatiently next to his Audio receptors. Jango turned his attention back to the man, who said: "As much as I enjoy watching your kid play with these Street-rats.", loathing was dripping from his words, "Can we Please get back to more important matters. Like my Bounty?" Jango didn't know what could ever be considered more important then Boba. But decided to keep his mouth shut and instead humored the man. Occasionally taking a glace back at the Kids.

Boba was still playing with the others when he was finished negotiating with his Client. The Man had taken his leave as soon as everything was settled. Jango decided that they could just take a little more time as Boba was still busy. So he ordered himself a Caf and relaxed in his chair. His mind started to drift again. Boba wasn't getting enough interaction with age mates he knew. There weren't any other Kids for him on Kamino. But he also couldn't fly Boba to a neighbouring Planet each day to attend School, or something. The Clones would be the next best bet. But he refused to do that to his son as well. They weren′t like Boba. They grew up way too fast for him and would die even quicker. How would he explain to him that all of his Friends were dead when they would finally be deployed? Boba had him and that would have to be enough for now.

You are isolating him,
Demagolka
His mind whispered.

No

He was doing the best he could. A True Demagolka would cut up his kids and keep them in a jar for their own sick pleasure.

Are you not doing that to your other Clones?

He was NO Demagolka.

"Are you giveing your wife a break for the day? ", the waitress asked as she set down his cup of caf. "What?", was all Jango got out in confusion. What had his Soulmate to do with his son? She was somewhere on the other side of the Galaxy. She probably didn't even know that they had a second kid. "I just meant to ask if you are takeing care of your son for the day.", she said flustered for some reason. "Oh no, it is a full time thing.", he replied. "So your a single Father.", she stated, "That is really admirable." Her blush deepened. What was going on with that girl? "He looks a lot like you.", she said with a smile. "Thanks, but he actually takes after his mother.", Jango replied and quickly took a swig of his caf to hide his impending grin. The waitress just looked a bit confused.

"Hey let me down.", a familiar Voice exclaimed. Jango′s gaze returned to the Kids. The Scene before him got his Blood boiling. Three Teenager had started to harass the kids and the tallest of them was dangling Boba by the scruff of his neck. Jango knocked back the Rest of his Caf and handed the waitress a few credit Chips. "Keep the change.", he told her when she started to stammer something unintelligible. He put his helmet back on made his way over to the group of children.

He would have to start teaching Boba more Hand to Hand combat Techiniques soon.

°•°•°•°

Jango was on his way to the Training grounds, when a foot slipped in between the closing doors of the turbolift. They opened again and in came Kal Skirata. "Moring.", he said and Jango returned the greeting, watching as the other man pressed the Button for the Floor above his own. Jango crossed his arms in Front of his Chest. He just hoped that Skirata wouldn't get the bright idea to Talk to him. Boba had a nightmare and woke him up at 0300. He had been awake since then. He didn't want to Deal with Skirata gushing about any of his clones right now. That he had been thinking about them all night hadn't helped in that regard too.

The turbolift came to a halt on his floor and Jango stepped out. He said goodbye to Skirata and continued on his trail through the City. But even though the doors had closed behind him he still felt as if his eyes were burning into his back. Accusing him of all the worst crimes imaginable. He knew he was dar'manda and the others knew it as well. He could see it in their eyes. Behind their masks of concern. Huttun, Dar'manda, Demagolka, Nibral. At least Dread Priest didn't disguise his hate. At least one of them was honest. But could he blame them? He had failed them after all. Had abandoned them when they needed him most. Abandoned the haat Mando′ade in the wake of the Mandalorian civil war and handed them over to the Nu'mandoade. Let Kryze subjugate them under the ideals of Arasuum. Those who had resisted were lost to Kyrtsad. There was just his home world left now.

Concord dawn was still the shining beacon of Justice that it had been 20 years ago. Jango had picked up Fenn Reau there. He pitied the young man who had been so eager to follow him. He had grown up with storys of the haat Mando'ade and of their Kote. Had idlolized him of all People. Jango didn't understand how he was able to do that. He had got the boys Parents killed on Galidraan. There was nothing great or honorable about that. Why had he still called him of all People Mand'alor?

The door to the Training Room opened and the group of Teenagers quickly scrambled to a Parade Rest.

Right he had a Job to do. No more pondering about his state of dar'manda'la.

°•°•°•°

Boba never really asked the awkward questions, like where Babies came from. Jango had breached that subject himself as he had started to suspect that Boba might think that all kids were cloned from their Parents. But despite all that it didn't stop Boba from asking one particular question. The question he had feared far more then "where do Babies come from?"

"Buir?", Boba asked after accompanying him to one of the training sessions with the CC batches, "Buir, what were those golden markings on CC-5052's cheek?" Jango had nearly chopped off his fingers at the question. Meal Preparation had to wait. "They're not Tattoos.", Boba added after a while. Jango agreed: "You're right, they are not. They are Soulmarks. They indicate that the Kara destined someone as your riduur." Boba's eyes got big at that and Jango continued to chop the vegetables for late meal. "Do I have a Soulmate?", the boy asked. The Father thought about it. "I'm not shure.", he admitted, "It works different for anyone and sometimes a Soulmate can be a lot younger then oneself. But a lot of People don't even have a Soulmate and that is not a Bad thing either." Boba nodded.

Jango was glad that he had already moved on to sautéing when his son asked the next question. "Do you have a Soulmate?" He had thought about the day that question would come long at Night. What he would tell Boba about her? Should he even tell his son about her? He had thought whether he should deny it or tell him the truth. "I do.", he admitted, because he had landed on the decision that it would do Boba no good to shield him of something like this. He wasn't shielding him of other things either, his Soulmate wasn't the worst thing in that regard. He never wanted to lie to his son, no matter the topic.

"Really?", Boba exclaimed, "Can I see your Soulmark?" Jango chuckled. "I don't have a Soulmark. As I told you it works different for a lot of People. My Riduur and I, we share each others Pain." Boba had an expression of disbelief on his face. "Really?", he asked, "That sounds like a pain in the Shebs." Jango had to laugh out loud at that. "Oh it can be, Bo'ika. But thats not the only thing we share. We share emotions and sometimes small thoughts. It′s kind of nice." Boba looked aghast. "Is something wrong Bo′ika?" The boy shook his head. "You love her don′t you?" Jango nodded. "How? You never even met her." ~ "I just do." ~ "Thats a dumb explanation." He shrugged at that. Bobas expression darkened.

"She′s kind.", Jango told Boba over Dinner, "Tenacious, protective and caring. She′s a good mother. She has a kid too you know. Your big Brother." Boba pouted and answered a bit snippy: "Great, so why have you not found her yet." Jango′s heart dropped at that. Huttun. Nibral. Because she deserves better then me. Because she would not want me. Because she has freedom and settled down without you. "Because I don′t know where to look anymore.", he told his son instead, "But I will look for them if you want. Would you like that? To have a Mother and a Brother?" Boba threw his spoon across the Table and missed Jango by a hair.

It left him stunned, he had not expected him to do that. Tears welled up in the boys eyes. "I don't need a mom,", he burst out, "I have you. That′s enough. And I don′t need a big brother either." By then he was full out bawling. Snot came out of his nostrils, as he was all out hiccuping. Jango stood up and took him in his arms. "Udessir, Haluur ner ad′ika.", he whispered in his ear as he rubbed circles on his back. "You want to replace me.", his son sniffled. "I would never replace you Boba.", he tried to reassure. "No, you want to replace me. With your stupid riduur and your other stupid son.", he insisted, "You would replace me with ... with a clone too." Jango sank down to the floor still holding on to him. Pressing a kiss to his brow. "Thats not true ad′ika. No one can replace you. I wanted you and no one else." ~ "Promise me you will not look for them?", Boba asked. Jangos heart cried out in pain. Wailed just like Boba at the thought of never meeting it′s Counterpart. But he would do everything for Boba. So he promised and rocked him in his arms until he was fast asleep. 

Haluur, Breathe, he continued to whisper more to himself as time went on.

"You know Buir.", Boba admitted when he tucked him in the next evening, "I don't ever want a Soulmate." Jango just smiled and pressed a kiss on his head. He would never wish it on him either.

°•°•°•°

Jango startled as a whip snapped across her back. He looked down at the training Hall. It was one of the first Tests runs for the CC batches. Another Lash traveled up his back. They had put them together with normal CT Units for the first time and were running a larger Scale battle Test.

Snap.

CC-1010 was running the Simulation quite well actually.

Snap.

If the young commander would ...

Snap.

Haar'chak. His concentration was out of the Viewport.

Snap.

She hadn't been beaten in such a long Time.

Snap.

He thought ... He thought she was free.

Snap.

What happend?

Snap.

Haar'chak.

Snap.

Haar'chak.

Snap.

A scream rattled Jango from his thoughts. One of the Clones gotten himself injured.

Snap.

He should ... do something about it.

Snap.

Jangos Hand hovered over the Button to stop the Simulation. But 1010 had already adapted to the Situation and directed others to help the wounded trooper.

Snap.

There was a reason why he considered Fox one of his faveorites.

No he shouldn't care.

Just a job

Snap.

So he let the Simulation continue.

Snap.

Just a Job

°•°•°•°

Jango paced up and down his Apartment. He hated it. Hated it so very much. She was being tortured and he could do nothing about it. The nerves in his Back twitched every time the whip connected with her's and the inflammation was worse each day. Sleep was impossible by now as her screams echoed in his mind. Screams for help, for Beru, for Owen and for Cliegg. Pleas to Anakin and worst of all to him. He hated it. Hated that his Name was on her lips. Hated Kamino.

The watery Planet had never felt so much like a Prison before.

Had he just searched more.

Huttun.

Had he searched better.

Huttun.

Then she wouldn't have to endure this.

Huttun

Huttun

Huttun

The words Rang like a war drum inside his head.

Huttun

Huttun

Huttun

She hurts because of you,
Huttun

Jango's comm beeped. He couldn't use any of that right now. But he answered anyways. Tyranus's familiar face presented itself to him. It only added to his already developing headache. "I have a Job for you.", he said. Right, a Job, that was a good idea. Jobs meant work and work was good. As it kept him from falling apart.

Chapter Text

"I want you to be careful Beru, always take a firearm with you when you go out in the morning. The Tusken's are more active lately.",

Owen had said to his fiance only five days earlier. Or had it been more? Shmi could no longer remember exactly. No matter if it had been days, weeks or months everything was blurring together. Her back stung from the lashings she had received. Shmi had forgotten how painful it could actually be. 73 she did count before it became too much. Shmi closed her eyes and pressed her Face closer into the beam. She missed Home. She missed her Ani.

When she opened her eyes again she was back at the Homestead. The twin suns cast their twilight over the plains. They had been stuck in that position for quite some time now and she knew she somehow had to get them moving again. That was her purpose. But how could she accomplish such a feat? She was just a woman. There was nothing special about her and the one who stopped them in the first place had to be truly powerful. How could she stand up to someone who could enslave the Suns?

Screams shook her out of her musings. They came from inside of the Homestead and reverberated across the salt flat. Fear clenched at her heart and she turned around to run back inside. But just as she wanted to take the first step down she got pushed back. Owen stumbled over her and fell to his knees, clutching his face in his hands. Beru followed him and grabbed on to her wrists. "Do something, please help us.", the young woman pleaded with her as her skin started to turn red and blisters slowly formed. "Please, make the suns move. Save us.", Owen begged her while not faring any better. His Fingers, that were tugging her skirt, started to char and crumble away. Beru let go of her and fell forward. When she hit the ground there was nothing left but her still smoking Skeleton. Shmi opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out.

Frantically she looked around, hoping to find something, anything, that could fix this. Then her gaze landed on a familiar silhouette by the two tombstones farther out. Cliegg was there, seemingly indifferent to what just had transpired. He sat on a hover-chair and she made her way over to him. She startled when she saw him. His eyes were glassy and his sight was fixated far beyond the horizon. Her heart ached at the sight of his emaciated form. He opened his dry lips and with a raspy voice said: "Go Shmi, find the cure for the twins, then we will be free of this curse." ~ "Where Cliegg, where can I find this cure to save you?", Shmi asked. Cliegg coughed and his whole body shook, making dusty flakes of dry skin fall from his face. With his voice barely above a whisper he answered: "Behind the Jundland Wastes and far across the Dune sea, find your heart it will guide you." She nodded. "I love you", he breathed with his last breath and then his body crumbled into dust. 

She fell to her knees and wanted to cry. But there was no water left inside of her. After a while she stood back up and went inside of the Homestead. All she took was a Flask of water. And so she made her way into the Desert. She did not look back at the Homestead, or the skeletons, or the chair that stood abandoned outside. Someone was cutting into Shmi's cheek and her eyes burst open at the pain. Warm, viscous liquid dropped down from a second cut along her brow. It ran into her eyes and painted her Vision red. Shmi threw up.

°•°•°•°

She was making her way over the Mountain ridges and took a tentative sip from her Flask. It tasted dusty and somewhat woody. The suns were still stuck in the same Position. No matter how far she wandered, they neither lowered, nor rose in the Sky and cast her surroundings in an ethereal purple glow. She came up to a ledge and looked over a vast ocean of Sand. The Mirages in the distance made it almost look like water. Usually there were no mirages at twilight. She climbed down the ledge and continued on her trail. The suns still burned in her back, sending a tingling pain down her spine and into her legs.

She had wandered quite a bit into the Sea of Sand when the grains under her feet had stopped flowing away from her feet. She stood at the highest point of the dune. The wave made up from Sand stood still just like the Suns. She took another sip from the Flask and shoved down a dry Cracker as well. Then she took a Step forward and half slid half tumbled down the side of the dune. Only to hike up the next one, wich stood equally as still. So it went on and on. Up and down the sandy billows until a splashing sound made her stop in her tracks.

She looked down, there was water sprouting up from under her. Soaking into her Skirts and Boots. She took a step back. The water was surprisingly clear and started to Pool all around her. Mesmerised she scooped it up in her hands and tasted it. It was salty, metallic and warm on Shmis tongue and she resisted the urge to spit it out. When she looked up from her hands, she found that the ocean of Sand had turned into an ocean of water. Deep, blackish, blue Water. Just as the Dunes before the Sea was frozen in motion. Giant waves that wanted to swallow her on her little Patch of Sand, petrified. White foam and little droplets of water were stuck in the Air. The twilight of the twin Suns illuminated them. Made them glisten like the expansive glass sculptures from a Hutts Palace.

Shmi gulped. Wherever she looked, Water surrounded her. It frightened her. Even before she had been to Tatooine she had never seen so much Water and she didn't know if she could still swim. The Suns still hadn't moved, how was she supposed to continue her journey now? Going down into it was not the Solution she knew. So she looked into the distance. She thought she could make out some sort of shape far back but wasn't sure what it was. It definitely wasn't a natural structure.

Something got launched from there and came closer. It turned out to be a man in a suit of Silver Mandalorian Armor. He silently sat down behind her and she turned to look at him. The twin Suns lighted him from behind, making his armor blaze with their golden light. He evaluated her without word and reached to take off his helmet. A mop of curly black hair was set free. Arched eyebrows framed his pair of dark eyes, wich bored themselves deep into her soul. A bruise was forming on his left cheek. She knew that youthful face with the broad nose, it had burned itself into the back of her mind years ago. She couldn't help it and his Name escaped Shmi's lips in a whisper. "Jango"

"I am here my Love. Do not dread anymore." He reached out and gently cupped her cheek. His gloved Hand felt coarse like Wood against Shmi's skin. But she couldn't deny the comfort it gave. She looked up into eyes that were pools of grief. "I am sorry can not help you with this task. Wait for our son he will be of assistance to you. Wait for Anakin. Then we will be reunited." It only sparked more questions and she reached out to touch him as well. But he stepped away from her and put his helmet back on. Fear took hold of her heart. "Please Jango, don´t go.", Shmi pleaded with him, "I don´t know how to go on without your help. I will sink and there is nothing for me to find down there." He cocked his head to the side and answered: "Don′t worry, my heart. The way will become clear. But I have to go. If I don't, an akaan can not come to pass as it's supposed to." She let the thought settle and nodded in understanding. He ignited his Jetpack, taking back to the skies. She watched him leave. The touch of his hand still lingered on her cheek. Then pain exploded across her back and the ocean vanished around her.

°•°•°•°

She was on the Plains again. Gone was the deep blue Sea. The suns had moved she noted. Not by much but they were closer to setting now. The Structure in the distance was different, but still present. So she decided to make it her destination. As she came closer she started to recognize where she was heading. She hadn't been there in years, as Cliegg had held much closer relations with Anchorhead and Mos Eisley, but she could never forget the outskirts of Mos Espa.

The town was completely and utterly deserted. No human or other Sentient were to be seen anywhere as she was navigating the Town. Not even a breeze dared to graze the Streets. She hadn't even realised that she was making her way to Watto′s Shop until she stood in front of the Door. She took a deep breath and entered. It still looked the same as before. Dust collected on the shelves and flimmered in the Air. The crashing of Metal startled her. "3P0 I told you to be careful with that." ~ "Oh, I'm sorry Master Ani it wasn't my Intention." ~ "Don't worry about it. I'll just ask Mom about it. She can fix it." Shmi called out to her son: "Ani, is that you? Where are you?" The sound of small feet made their way from the back room and soon her son stood in front of her. Nothing had changed about him. He was still a little boy. Just like the day he left her. Blond Hair that was just a bit too long, sparkling blue Eyes and a smile that was worth more then anything in the World. "Mom, you are finally here. That's so great, we can go Home now."

She smiled and nodded as her words failed her in the moment. Her son let out an exited yell, just like he always used to, and ran ahead. Even the steps back to the Slave quarters felt familiar. "I know why you are here Mom." ~ "You know how to get the Suns moving again." ~ "Jup, the man with the Cloak told me how. He's really wizard you know. He's been teaching me all about the galaxy." ~ "That is so great Ani, you really are living your dream." Anakin nodded with enthusiasm, his hair whipping all around his head.

They came to stand before the Hovel and the Boys face sombered. She noticed his expression and dropped to her knees to look him in the eye. "What is it Ani.", she asked. " You... you will have to die, if the Suns are to move again.", he admitted. Her stomach dropped at the news. She took a deep breath and then said: "If that is what is takes. Then I am willing to give it." Tears appeared in his eyes: "But then we will never see each other again." ~ "Oh Ani.", she reached out to cup bis cheek but the boy stepped away from her and her Hand fell to her side. "The Suns are meant to move. Because if they don't nobody can truly live. I know it will be hard but you will have to let go. Don't look back Ani, please." Anakin nodded and wiped the Tears from his eyes. His gaze fell on the Horizon. Seeing something that was hidden to her. "It's Time.", he said and entered the Hovel. She stood up, brushed the Sand from her skirts and stepped over the threshold. Someone was standing in the middle of the Kitchen. Just as the cloaked figure turned around the floor dropped under Shmi's feet.

°•°•°•°

Shmi opened her eyes and looked into the face of a young man. Ani? Was the first thought that came to her. Was it really her son? "Ani, is this you?", she asked. "I'm here mom.", her son replied, "You're safe." Her heart jumped at the confirmation while her mind still struggled. "Ani?, Ani" A smile tugged at the Boys lips. It really was her son. She would recognize that smile anywhere. Shmi reached out and caressed his cheek. He didn't flinch away. His skin was still so soft, but his hair was darker then she remembered. Pride welled up in her. "Your so handsome.", she said and he pressed a soft kiss to her wrist. "My son, oh my grown up son." ~ our son ~ a small Voice in the back of her head commented, "I am so proud of you Ani." "I missed you mom.", Anakin admitted as his Features twisted with despair. He probably felt what she already knew to be True. Shmi was dying. "It is done.", she whispered, she had fulfilled her purpose. The suns would move again. Had already moved, as she could see one of the three moons through the hole at the top of the tent. She had to tell him one last Time. "I Love... " The words were like lead on Shmis tongue. "Stay with me mom.", her son pleaded. "I Love.... y

°•°•°▪○▪°•°•°

She was gone. Dead. Lost to the Manda. Marching far away. He felt empty. Not even the familiar sounds of the Slave I could lull him back to sleep. She was gone and with her the pain had vanished as well. The Pain that had accompanied him for the past month or so. She had been hurting, had been tortured. Had cried out to him and to their son. For an akaan Anakin. She had been enduring all this because of him, because he hadn't been there for her. Because he hadn't searched enough. Because he was to hut'uunla to face her. His biggest fault on the long list he possessed. Now it was too late. Now she was dead.

He stood up from his cot, sidestepped the hammock he had installed for Boba and made his way to the Cockpit. He took one of his Westars and started to clean it as he sat in the pilots chair. It was weird. He felt lighter and not in a good way. A long time ago a constant ache had settled in his bones. Haarchak, her pain had followed him for all of his miserable life. Now it was gone. Until then he hadn't realised that it had grounded him. That it had reminded him that she was still out there. That he still shared the same Universe as her. Now she had joined the shabla manda.

Jango looked down at the Pistol in his Hand. Sometimes he felt like kyr'am was following him around wherever he went. Maybe it was better that he had never found her. Maybe he would have gotten her killed earlier. She probably wouldn't even have looked at him. How could she ever have loved him? She had been such a kind, compassionate Person. She would have hated him, a hut'uun, dar'manda, demagloka. Mand'alor be nibral. Someone who knew nothing but death.

skanah

The Westar in his Hand suddenly looked very enticing. It would be quick. Probably painless. A hut'uunla death for a hut'uunla Person. No glorious final battle alongside vode. No last stand against an almighty enemy. No funeral. No aay'han. Just the Westar, Hyperspace and his own hut'uunla shebs. 

A thump could be heard from behind him. Boba. Osik. Boba was here. Right, he almost forgot. "Buir?", came the sleepy voice from behind him, "are we there yet?" The boy slowly padded his way over. Jango looked at him. He had completely forgotten that his ad was there. Dar'buir his mind whispered. How could he even have thought to leave Boba behind like this. "Buir, are you crying?", asked the boy. Jango rubbed away at his cheek to find it wet. He hadn't realized. When he thought about it, he couldn't even remember the last time he cried.

Boba climbed into his lap and looked at him in concern. "Did you have a bad Dream?", the boy continued to ask. Jango only nodded. His tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth. Boba searched his eyes worriedly. Then he stretched out his arms and fell around his neck. Jango reluctantly returned the hug. It felt nice. He didn't deserve nice. But right then and there he didn't care. "I miss Zam too you know.", Boba whispered in his ear. He couldn't tell the boy that this had nothing to do with the demise of his surrogate aunt. That he still was not shedding a single tear for the other bounty hunter. But rather for someone that Boba despised with all his might.

The Westar laid discarded on the floor. Maybe he didn't deserve to live anymore. But Boba needed him. He couldn't just leave him to the same fate he had endured. What kind of Father would he be if he did? Hyperspace flew by them. Only a few hours until they reached Geonosis. They should get up, get dressed, have a meal. But this was nice. Hugging a bit longer wouldn't hurt.

°•°•°•°

Geonosis wasn't his first Planet of choice when Jango thought of a good Place to escape to. But he still had business with Tyranus, so Geonosis it was then. He watched with pride as Boba steered the Slave I out of the Asteroid belt and on to the red Surface of the Planet. It had been his son who had launched the missile that ended the Jedi, so Jango had allowed him to fly his ship. The landing approach would usually have been too difficult for a kid. But his ad'ika was not a normal boy. It would be fine with his guidance, even though it was still a bit jolty. They maneuvered over the Planet surface. Past huge red stalactites and over ocher plateaus, into the zone averted from the sun. 

"Is that an LH-1740 Control Core?", Boba exclaimed with exitement as they started to approach their designated landing Area. "It is.", Jango confirmed with a smile. At least nine of the spherical Trade Federation Ships were docked in the ground. "They're so big.", the boy said, "I always imagined them to be smaller. The pictures in the books make them look so tiny." ~ "That's why hands-on experience is so important Boba." His ad nodded vigorously which made his hair fly all over the place. It would need a trim sometime soon. "Now fly over to that ledge, we have a landing platform over there." Boba did as told. As they came closer a circular landing platform lit up. Jango instructed him how to conduct the landing. Around them the Slave I rattled and moved in just the right way as the cockpit shifted on it's rails. Under them the Platform opened up to reveal a shaft that they descended downwards.

The Ship sat down at the bottom of the chasm with a jolt. "You did good.", Jango praised and gave a gentle squeeze to Bobas shoulder. The boy practically beamed and Jango could imagine to keep living if it meant that this smile would not fade anytime soon. They just took the bare necessities with them. His Helmet was back on it's secure place atop his head. A Protocol droid of Geonosian design greeted them at the bottom of the ramp and took them to their temporary apartment. Jango didn't know why it was necessary as he did not intend to stay for long. But it was somewhat classy with the red stone walls and the carved decorations. A big window gave them a view over the plains where the Control Cores where situated. "Count Dooku awaits you. Please report to him in the Morning.", the robot instructed. He just nodded and when the droid finally left, Jango took his helmet off. 

He stared at it for a while and with every passing second the T-visor started to judge him more and more. The growing hole, this empty chasm where his heart once was returned as well. The Adrenaline of the chase through the Asteroid belt had briefly filled it up. But now he was even more aware of it. If he had ... "Buir", Boba called, "come over here." Jango looked up. The boy had perched himself by the window and was searching the horizon with a pair of Macrobinocuars. "What is it?", he asked and all he got as a reply was a demanding "Come, quick." So he went over to his son, who handed him the device. "Two klicks west of the right most Control Core, up on the Plateau.", Boba instructed, "Buir, what are those?" Jango lowered the binoculars again. "A pack of Massiffs.", he answered.

°•°•°•°

As ordered Jango reported to Lord Tyranus when Morning arrived. Not without leaving Boba with the direction that he should still be there when he returned. Geonosis was a dangerous place for a small boy like him. Even though Jango doubted it would truly keep him from getting into trouble.

The older man greeted him in a circular conference room. "It is good to see you, Jango Fett.", he greeted, "I trust everything went as Intended?" ~ "Yes, Count Dooku. The Senator was taken out of the Picture. But a Jedi had followed me to Kamino and subsequently has tracked me over here." The Sith seemed contemplative and then answered. "Very well, that is not ideal. But we will work it out. Is the Jedi currently on Geonosis?" ~ "He was killed in the Asteroid field." Dooku nodded. "Walk with me Jango Fett.", he said and rounded the Table.He accepted the invitation and followed the older Man into the hallway.

"Why don't you take off your Helmet Jango. We are trusted business partners are we not?" The suggestion didn't sit quite right with the Bounty Hunter. But he followed the counts request nontheless. His head briefly twinged but he barely registered it. "So Jango, what are your intentions going forward?", Dooku asked him with his usual, knowing smile. It sickened him. "I want to lay low for a while. Take more time for Boba, continue his education." ~ "A noble goal. The Boy seems promising." Jango couldn't keep the smile from his lips. But it vanished as soon as it appeared. "It seems he was a good investment.", the Count added. The statement confused him and sparked a bit of anger in, but he didn't ponder on it. 

They came to stop before a door. "Very well Jango. I have other obligations to attend to so I will leave you here." Jango nodded and said: "No worries just transfer the money and I will no longer be in your way." Dooku frowned. "That is the thing my friend. I am terribly sorry but I have to ask you to stay just a bit longer." Jangos discontent with the Situation only grew larger. Tyranus must have felt it, or whatever Jetii'osik, because his frown deepened. A headache was already starting to brew. He shook his head. "I'm sorry Count. But I have to decline. As I told you ..." ~ "Your Job will be quite simple.", Tyranus interrupted, "You will stay here for just a few days longer and you will act as head of security for the Seperatist meeting as well as my personal bodyguard. Is that clear?" The headache now was in full swing. Tyranuses words rang around his head as if someone had struck Beskar to Beskar right next to his ear. On second thought it was not a bad idea to take this last job. "As you wish.", was all he got out. There was a gleam in the Counts eye and an unsettling grin split his face. "Very well Jango Fett. I will see you later then.", he said slowly and triumphantly. Jango nodded and watched as the older Man left him standing in front of the door. Only now he realised that it was the door to his and Bobas Guestrooms.

°•°•°•°

Shabla Jetii and their Shabla Jetii'osik. Jetii'kad lo'shebs'ul narit! Why was that osi'kovid still alive? Rangir!

The Jetii had been quite stealthy actually that much credit Jango could give. But still. There also was this creeping feeling that Tyranus had known about the Jetii. That shebs had tried to send out a Message and he would have gotten away with it. If not for some falling rock that had flashed in just the right way to alert the Security Drones in that sector. Actually it was quite unlikely that it had been just some randomly falling Rock. But that didn't matter as the intruder was currently being apprehended and Jango was following the Droidekas that were being dispatched. He watched as they rolled outside to make their way over to the target. Just as the last of them went through the door a small figure scurried inside. What was Boba doing here? So his suspicions had been confirmed.

The boy hadn't seen him yet and just wanted to relax as Jango put his gloved Hand on his shoulder. His son didn't flinch much and turned to look at him. "Where are you going ad'ika?", Jango asked, "And where were you?" ~ "Er, Outside?", he replied somewhat sheepish. Jango was glad that his smile was hidden by his helmet right now. "Let's go upstairs. We need to talk.", he said firmly and took the lead back to their temporary Apartment. On their way back a Com-message appeared on his hud. Apparently he was dismissed until further notice, for now at least.

Back in their quarters Jango took off his Armour. He just needed to be rid of his Beskar shell for a few hours. It was not like he still deserved it anymore anyways. Still the missing weight made him acutely aware that the ache he now felt in his knees and bones was just his own. That he was missing his soul. Dar'manda  To get his mind off things, he turned to the tea maker of the room. "Do you want a cup of shig too?", Jango asked. Boba, who had previously just been sitting on the couch looking a little embarrassed the whole time, perked up and nodded briefly. He worked fast and then set down the steeping tea on the living room table. 

"So another Adventure?", Jango asked with a slight smile and sat himself down across from his son. "I'm really sorry.", Boba said, "Really, really sorry" ~ "What are you sorry for." ~ "That I disobeyed you." The boy adverted his eyes. Jango sighed. "And that is it?" ~ "I ... I think so." ~ "Then why did you lie to me?", Jango asked. Startled Boba raised his head again. "I did not lie to you. I admitted that I was outside." He shot the boy a serious glare. "Would you have admitted to it if I hadn't caught you red handed?" ~ "I ... I guess not. I'm sorry for that too." Jango nodded. "Apology accepted. But you will have room arrest for now." His son visibly deflated at that. 

"Drink your shig, Bo'ika. It's getting cold.", Jango softly said, reaching for his own cup and leaning back in his chair, "You know I owe you one." This gave the boy new life. "Yes?", he questioned. "Thanks to you we were able to catch that Jetii. You've done the right thing, alerting the guards. And you did it in a clever way too. Like a true Bounty Hunter." ~ "Thank you, Bu.", Boba replied with a grin. Jango returned an identical one. "Tell me what other adventures have you been up to?", he asked and continued at the suspicious look is son gave him, "Don't worry, I'm not mad, but proud. It would be more concerning if you never disobeyed me." With that Boba took a big swig of his shig and started talking all about the Adventures he had on Geonosis. And with time it gently lulled Jango into a deep dreamless sleep

°•°•°•°

It was the second time now that some or'dinii Jetii had infiltrated the shabla compound in just one rotation. If even one other Jetii would show up anytime soon he would kiss his helmet goodbye. Jango was glad that he had been awake again when the alert of intrusion came up on his Comm. With practiced motion he put on his Beskargam and left for the Droid factory where the infiltrators had been sighted. A small team of Soldier Drones awaited his arrival. The Culprits apparently had been split up and so did the soldiers. 

Jango spotted the Jetii quickly as he was swirling around his Jetii'kad to defend himself against the onslaught of the Geonosians. The Beskar of his Armour would hold against the deadly blade but he decided against engaging just yet. The moving parts of the assembly line were far too treacherous of a battle ground. So Jango just watched from above for now. There was a braid hanging from the Jedis head. So it was a Padawan then. A Jetii'ad, a Jet'ika. When he looked at him closer he noted that the boy could not be older then twenty.

The kid dispatched of two other Drones and then jumped on another assembly line. With a swift stroke he cut through an robotic arm only to get knocked over. He landed on one of the plates and got himself stuck. Jango watched as the boy struggled and writhed to free himself. Admittedly he felt a bit of sick pleasure at watching him squirm. Simultaneously a small part in him felt disgusted at himself. She would have hated you, it whispered. There it was again, the emptiness. Meanwhile the Boy freed himself, or rather got freed as the Machine cut trough a part of the Assembly plate. He wanted to continue on his path of destruction only to get halted by his now broken Kad'au. So instead he stood still and looked around for his companion.

Jango saw his chance. He halted the conveyor belt and with six Droidekas confronted the kid. "Don't move Jedi.", he ordered and went on to put Binders on him. The Padawan glowered at him all the while. It was curious to him. Usually all Jetii had this impassive, stone like facade that always creeped him out. "She's dead, because of you!", the Jetii'ad accused. "Who?", Jango asked. "My Mother, Shmi Skywalker. You're the reason she's dead." The Name meant nothing to Jango. Maybe he had taken a bounty on her a long time ago? No, he would have remembered a Name like that. Or had it been an accident that he had caused? And since when did Jetii'se have Mothers? "I have never met anyone with that Name. Now shut up and get a move on.", he ordered the Teenager. The boys expression briefly slipped into disappointment and then it soured again, sending him a glare that promised of a million ways of death coming to him. Jango honestly wasn't impressed, he had killed far worse adversaries then this kid. But in the end the Jet'ika did as told and let himself be taken away without further complaints.

°•°•°•°

Based on the Invitation of Count Dooku, Jango had brought Boba to the Arena. "Are you exited to see the execution?", the older man asked and gave Boba a smile that didn't sit quite right with Jango. "Absolutely.", his son replied with an innocent smile, "I am so exited to finally see the beasts." The Count nodded. From outside, the noise of the cheering crowd reached his ears. Poggle the lesser motioned for the party to follow him. Boba was walking beside him, his small chest puffed out and his arms behind his back. He looked all the parts of a verd'ika. When everyone was at their designated space the Geonosian Archduke declared the execution as starting.

Three new cries, the cries of the beasts, filled the arena and the crowd only cheered louder. Boba looked up at him with begging eyes and Jango nodded at him. In an Instance he was up at the railing. All of the regalness he had displayed before was gone and replaced with his usual curiosity. He softly mouthed the names of the Animals. Acklay, Reek, Nexu. His ad looked back at him with sparkling eyes. Jango knew the boy wanted to tell him everything he knew about them. "Later", Jango signed at him and satisfied Boba returned to watching the games.

The Jetii who had come to Kamino, Oafy Han Benobi or something, Jango hadn't cared to remember his name, nearly got crushed by the pole he had been chained to just seconds ago. The Jetii'ad too had freed himself and now was riding around the arena on the back of the Reek. He was taking out the Picadors on their Orrays, only to fall off in the process. But he was still attached to the Beast so it dragged him all around the Arena. Meanwhile the Senator was still struggling with the Nexu. Actually she was faring better then Jango would have imagined. She swung down from her pole and kicked the Feline in the Ribs. "She can't do that!", Nute Gunray complained, "Shoot her or something!" Count Dooku let out an resigned Breath.

Kenobi, right that was his Name, picked up a spear one of the Picadors had dropped and now was fighting the Acklay with it. Why couldn't that Jetii just die. Boba apparently had the same thought as his brows crinkled at the development. Meanwhile the Padawan managed to get back on the Reek after doing some Jetii'osik with his hand. Then he immediatly came to help the Senator by ramming his mount into the Nexu, killing it. She joined him on it and the little kiss she gave him didn't go unnoticed. So that was where all the glowering had come from. The other Jetii also climbed up on the beast and now the three of them were parading themselvs around the arena. "This isn't how it's supposed to be.!", the viceroy complained again and then ordered him in an imperious tone, "Jango! Finish her off." Jango glared at him. He wasn't  some attack dog to be ordered around. "Patience, Viceroy, patience. She will die.", Count Dooku tried to assuage him and then multiple Droidekas rolled into the arena. Boba let out a tense breath and Jango put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

A pleased expression settled on his face. Finally, when the three were dead and this whole farce would be over Jango could go and concentrate on ... A blade, a glowing one, purple in colour and just millimeters away from his neck. Out of reflex Jango flinched back and then his eyes met with the Jetii ones. The dark skinned Jedis eyes were intense and challenging him. He would kill that shabuir himself if he would get the chance. "Master Windu, how pleasant of you to join us.", Tyranus greeted. Windu slowly adverted his eyes and then declared, "This Party is over." In that instance countless other Jetii'kad'se ignited on the ranks of the Arena. Internally Jango wanted to rip out all of his hair. Had he not predicted this just a few hours before? 

"You are terribly outnumbered." taunted the Count and the Jetii retaliated with amusement, "I don't think so." But the clanking of Metal feet disproved his notion. Dooku and the rest of the Delegation quickly retreated and Jango motioned for Boba to hide. The Super Battle Drodis opened fire and the Jetii reflected the bolts with his Blade. Jango put his helmet back on. Then he gave Windu something he couldn't deflect as literal fire spouted from his wrist mounted Flamethrower. The long Robes accepted the flames with vigour and if the Jetii Master hadn't jumped down from the Balcony he would have been burnt to a crisp. Jango wanted to pursue the arrogant shabuir but Tyranus motioned for him to stand by and watch instead.

Several hundreds of Battledroids poured into the Arena and the Jetii'se faced them head on. It was carnage. For every Battle Droid that fell another two took it's place. Already Jetii were being killed. Their Blood painting the Arena floor a different red. It felt a lot like Galidraan with the odds reversed and it made Jangos trigger finger itch. Geonosians joined the fight too, bringing out heavy sonic based artillery to the fight. The canon Pulverized the remaining Stone Pillars and liquefied Jetii Innards on the spot. A brave reptilian Jetii, with a big head fin, jumped back on the balcony and raised his Blade against Dooku. Jango got his chance, with just five well placed shots he was downed. The last bolt of his Westar landing in a way that tipped him over the Railing. Satisfied, he twirled his Blaster and put it back in his holster. From his side he could see Bobas awed gaze. 

The dark skinned Jetii was battling back to back alongside the red haired nuisance. But the tactic was broken up by the Reek wich, now uncontrolled, charged around the Arena. The beast split up the two Jetii. Jango saw his chance and Dooku gave him the permission with the wave of a hand. "Stay there, Boba. I'll be back", he instructed his son and let himself be carried down by his Jetpack. The Reek rammed the Jetii, wich lost his grip on his Lightsaber hilt. It flew in a wide ark and landed mere meters away from his feet. Jango used the opportunity to dive headfirst for it. But the Jetii was faster and pulled it to his hand with the force. Jetii and their Jetii'osik. This resulted in Jango floundering on the Arena floor and being run over by the Reek, who did not discern between friend or foe. 

His hud blinked with all kinds of warnings but the most concerning was probably the one about his Jetpack. As useful as these Rocket packs were, Jango knew of enough Mando'ade who at least lost a limb, an eye or their life to the treacherous tool. For now the notice was not as concerning as the charging Reek though. But with just one well placed shot the Beast was felled and Jango rolled out of the way. Only to have to devote his attention to another charging person. The Jetii, Windu, was coming at him with his raised Jetii'kad.

A foreboding feeling of Death settled in his Chest.

one, two.

The Jetii deflected the Bolts.

NO, he couldn't die yet.

three

deflect

four

deflected

He tried starting the Jetpack again.

five

deflect

Ossik

six, seven

The Jetii sliced through his Westar.

No, what about Bo...ba