Jedi Insurgency 161

The twin suns of Tatooine had begun to dip over the horizon, signalling dusk, when Boba Fett planted himself in front of Jabba’s palace gate. Crossing his arms, and crinkling the plates of his green painted beskar armor, the young teen stared at the giant rusted structure as if he could shoot lasers out of his eye. The desert wind whipped dust around his boots, but he didn’t move an inch. He stood there for minutes on end. Some might call it sulking, but this was the diligence of a Mandalorian warrior! 

Behind him, Aurra Sing-covered in heavy clothing so as to protect her milky white skin from the sun-leaned casually against a weather-eaten pillar, a smirk tugging at the edge of her pale lips.

“Stars above, kid, even Bosk looks more comfortable than you.” She said with a smirk, and pointed an extremely long digit back as the reptile man. 

The Trandoshan shifted his weight with a low, irritated rumble, and his eyes narrowed at her words. His hand tightened around his chest, where a lightsaber had killed him once upon a time, and he maintained his silence. 

Boba whipped around, and pointed a finger at her, his posture radiated anger, and his words were spoken with the fiery heat of youth. 

“Why would I be comfortable? Jabba’s dead. Dead! And we’re supposed to act in his place. Like that’s normal!”

Aurra’s laugh was soft and merciless. “Isn’t this the dream of every bounty hunter? Power. Territory. Fear. Why so glum, Fett?”

“I wanted to build my own legend, surpass my father on my own terms, not be handed the keys to the kingdom from the start!” Boba replied, most definitely not sulking. 

“The Scorekeeper would praise such a beliefff.” Bosk hissed his approval. 

“You stay out of this.” Aurra huffed at the scaled Trandoshan, then turned back to Boba. “It is not as if you cannot make your own legend, but the great do not shirk responsibility when greatness is thrust upon them! When Dooku came to your father for the cloning program, do you think he wavered?!” Aurra demanded. 

“No…” Boba said, looking down. 

“Then tell me honestly, Boba, why are you acting like this, when you should be celebrating?” Aurra placed her hands on her hips, and began to get slightly heated herself. 

“I’m not acting any sort of way. Besides, Bosk agrees, people like us, we're meant to seize greatness, not have it handed to u-” Boba snapped, and began to explain himself, only to be waved off, and interrupted. 

“-it's because you’re scared.” Aurra confidently declared. “Scared of him. Scared of Revan.”

Boba froze. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles whitened beneath his gloves. He looked away, refusing to meet her eyes. The name alone twisted something cold in his gut.

Behind them, Bosk hissed in grudging agreement. “We serve…because honor demands it. Because he spared us. Not by choice.”

They all remembered it, the masked figure, the effortless power, the way death had hovered over them before being withdrawn. Bosk himself had been drawn back from the great beyond, no less! Confident in assassinating a Jedi at the racetrack, little did they ever expect the most wanted man in the galaxy to make an appearance! And unlike other Jedi, this one didn't pull his punches! Within less time than it takes for a grown man to finish a piss. Revan had taken them all down! 

To spill salt into an open wound, and make matters worse, Revan had let them live, but only under a single command: Act as my lieutenants, he had demanded. Shape the criminal underworld in my stead.

The weight of this order had weighed on their minds this entire time. Bosk was worried how he would keep up the hunt, Boba didn't know how to live up to the legacy of his ancestors, and Aurra…she was actually quite pleased with the authority she was about to wield, it was everything she'd ever wanted. 

The thought of being bound, of being used, it made Boba sick. As far as he was concerned, a job was a job, as soon as the conditions were met, his relationship with the client was over. But what Revan wanted, nay, had coerced out of him was a stain upon his honor! For a Mandalorian to follow anyone but his clan brothers, or the Mandalore was like a betrayal to one's own people! Honor demanded that he slay Revan at every chance he could get…yet that very same honor demanded he abide by Revan’s commands! 

“Damn that bastard, how could he possibly know about the Taung blood duel?!” Boba shouted to himself. 

“Probably because he's that ancient General? Weren't you waxing lyrical about his ‘brilliant’ success after researching him on the holonet during the trip here?” Aurra sarcastically remarked. 

“Hiss mask is taken from your people as a trophy of war. At one point, he could have claimed the throne according to your ruless, correct?” Bosk scratched his chin in confusion. 

Boba clenched his fist, and turned his visor to regard Aurra. “And you are certain you know nothing more about him?”

Aurra sighed, and pinched her brows. “We've been over this, Boba. I was a trainee in the Order, and wasn't even a Padawan. What legends could I possibly know about a 3,000+ year old man?” 

“...fine. The pressure may be getting to me, but my father's teachings have prepared me for leadership.” Boba sighed, and began to regain some of his morale. 

Glancing at his companion's displeased expression, he nodded at her. “And of course, the trusted advice of my favorite Palliduvan is welcome, as always.” 

“You really have a way with words, kid.” Aurra said in a monotone. 

~~~another gust of wind came by, blowing sand onto them, and making Bosk cough up a storm. 

“How long is the nerf herder going to make us wait?” Boba kicked the rusty gate with his boot. 

And then, to the surprise of all three hunters, the door shuddered, groaned, and began to rumble open. Acting in parody with this motion, Tatooine's twin suns finally past over the horizon, and the vast, desert land became bathed in the cool darkness of night. 

Aurra arched her brow in amusement.

“Well, looks like the kid has the magic touch.”

Boba didn’t respond. He simply stared into the widening darkness beyond the gate, and saw the object of his obsession. 

Where torchlights flickered, a masked man bathed in shadows appeared for a split second, and then vanished. 

Come. 

Boba instinctively drew his blaster, and took aim. 

“You okay, kid?” Aurra asked. 

“Hss, this one is hardly worthy of being tallied.” Bosk voiced his displeasure. 

Boba blinked again, and saw that where the door had opened up, a pale Twi'lek male was waiting. Following his father around, he easily recognized the Twi'lek to be Bib Fortuna, Jabba's sensechal. 

Reluctantly holstering his blaster, Boba glanced at Fortuna, and noted his servile posture. “So the old man has roped you in too?” 

Although his words were somewhat caustic, Boba reveled at the spine shaking wiggle Fortuna did when he heard Boba's disrespect. 

“Do not be so cruel to the help, Boba. Afterall, the man has less spine than a Hutt, what use is there in insulting him?” Aurra cruelly smiled, and gestured for Boba to take the lead. 

Bosk shook his head, and flicked his tongue in amusement. Ah, the cruelty of a spurned woman. There was a story between the two of them, Sing and Fortuna, but he would keep such thoughts to himself. 

Fortuna had an ugly smile, and dabbed some sweat from his forehead as he bowed, and then began to lead the way. 

“I wouldn't disparage the master like that, if I were you. I understand that he has plans for your little outfit, but make no mistake, no one is irreplaceable.” Fortuna glanced at the Bounty Hunters-at their scruffy sandstained outfits-and theatrically sniffed. 

“See? He's only followed Revan for less than a day, and he's already bent so far backwards, his nose is touching the floor.” Aurra said to Boba with venom in her voice. 

Boba ignored his companion's naked hatred, and decided to ask Fortuna a question or two before they reached the throne room, and feel out the situation. 

“You work for me now, don't you?” Boba asserted. 

“On a technicality…yes.” 

“Are you aware of his tastes? What he plans to sell to disrupt the Spice market?” Boba tentatively enquired. 

“Ahhh, it truly is something.” Fortuna smacked his lips, and slowed his stride. Looking up at the ceiling, his expression was like that of a man recalling a particularly fond memory. “To lift double your own weight without strain, to match speed with a Vornskr, or have the stamina to spend all night with a harem of girls, the master's inventions can accomplish all this, and more. Truly, he is revolutionary.” 

Aurra and Boba exchanged glances at the almost fanatical look that Fortuna was expressing…it was almost like the way he spoke of these new drugs, like he was proselytizing. 

“If I didn't know better, it feels like you have been serving the old man longer than Jabba.” Boba pressed, and sought an answer quickly, as they were fast approaching the throne room. 

Fortuna smiled without a word, gestured towards the door, and stepped away. 

“The ssmell of death is potent.” Bosk murmured, and tightened his grip on his blaster, as if it were some sacred relic that would protect him. 

“If you truly feel fear, it isn't too late to pull out~” Aurra taunted. 

Boba didn't spare Fortuna or his companions a second glance, and strode forward with confidence. Aurra was right. Legends seized destiny with their own hands. Tatooine, and Jabba's criminal network may be his to oversee, but that didn’t mean he couldn't make it greater than ever before. 

When the door hissed open, he saw the faceplate of a Mandalorian helm staring down on him from a raised dais. Revan's posture was languid, as if he had been here all along, and kept them waiting in the heat for his own amusement. 

Silent rage boiled in Boba's veins, and he defiantly marched forward without a word, and deliberately stepped over the trap door. He didn't so much as bow, kneel, or even nod at the man in acknowledgment. Instead, he crossed his arms, and awaited his enemy's decree. 

“Oh my. The hatred wafting off you is as apparent as a heat mirage in the Dune Sea. I never once would have imagined that the fiercesome Boba Fett would one day sulk in my presence~” Revan teased. 

“...” Boba remained silent, although his blood boiled at the insult to his honor. A Mandalorian warrior does not sulk! 

“Lord Revan, what Boba means to say, is thank you for your hospitality, we are-” Aurra began to speak, but was cut off by Revan's open palm, and her words were caught in her throat. 

Boba unfurled his arms, and drew his blaster as Aurra fell to her knees, and grasped at her neck. 

Revan stared at his hand for a second, and then chuckled. “Interesting.” 

“Release her.” Boba demanded. “Release her, or our compact is void! Honor or not, a man who swears fealty must not have those who serve under him face disrespect!” 

“Well said.” Revan inclined his head, and lightly clapped several times. “What a lovely performance.” 

Boba frowned, he felt like Revan was treating him like a kid, or some kind of idiot. 

“Now that you are here, Fett, I can rest easy knowing that the honor of the Mandalorians shall be upheld.” Revan stated meaningfully. 

“I shall uphold my end of the bargain, do you dare uphold yours, old man?” Boba growled. 

“Maintaining Jabba's territory will not be a simple task. Although I have somewhat made things easy for you by eliminating all of his officers, and saved both the steward & the accountant, that doesn't mean it will be smooth sailing. I reiterate, boy, do you think you have what it takes to uphold the honor of your ancestors?” Revan answered Boba's growl with one of his own. 

“A Taung blood duel once I have satisfied my oath.” Boba declared. 

“Naturally.” 

The two masked men seemed to bore holes into one another, as neither of them seemed to be prepared to back down. 

“I can see you aren't convinced…well neither am I!” Revan said, and then jumped down from the dais with a thud. 

“What are you proposing we do?” Boba coldly asked, feeling the blood surge around his ears, and his eyes dilated as he psyched himself up for a kill. 

“Boba, no!” Aurra tried to dissuade him, but this time it was the Mandalorian's turn to hold up his hand. 

“I'll give you another chance at my life. Take this vibroknife, and meet my fists. I want to see the resolve of my future partner in crime. I want to see to what lengths you'll go to survive. To make sure you have what it takes to satisfy your vaunted warrior's pride!” Revan shouted, and tossed a weapon which fell into Boba's waiting grip. 

“You're dead, Jedi.” Boba grunted, and lunged forward.