Part 5 (2/2)

His father shot him a stern, disapproving look as the three men walked into the apartment's kitchen for their conference.

Boba felt ashamed. He had been rude. The chill must have been his imagination. Count Tyra.n.u.s was Jango Fett's main employer. Boba owed him not only respect, but trust.

You'll be a great bounty hunter someday. The Count's words rang in Boba's head. He hoped someday they would come true.

His father's battle helmet was hanging by the door. Boba took it down and carried it into the bedroom.

He wanted to see what it looked like from inside. He wanted to feel how it felt to be Jango Fett.

He shut the door behind him and pulled the helmet over his head He opened his eyes and - ”Wow!”

Boba had expected it to be dark inside the helmet, but it wasn't.

There were all sorts of displays scrolling down the inside of the faceplate. Most of them were for weapons and survival systems: ROCKET DARTS SONIC BEAM.

WRIST GAUNTLET.

JET-PACK.

BOOT SPIKES.

COMLINK.

RANGEFINDER.

It was like being in the control room of a very small, compact, efficient s.h.i.+p. But it was too heavy. Boba could hardly move his head. He was just lifting it off when Click.

Boba heard the bedroom door open. Uh-oh. Now he was in big trouble!

But no - Jango Fett was laughing as he lifted the helmet off Boba's head. ”Don't worry, son, your own armor will fit you better.”

Boba looked up into his father's eyes. ”My own?”

”When you are older,” Jango said. ”This battle armor was given to me by the Mandalores. You will have your own someday, when you become a bounty hunter.”

”And you will teach me to use it?” Boba asked ”When that day comes, I may not be there,” Jango said. ”You may be on your own.”

”But...”

”No buts,” said Jango. He attempted a smile. ”Don't worry. Your time is yet to come.”

He reached out and patted Boba on the head. This time, there was no chill.

Later that night, Boba heard a strange noise. It was not the booming he had heard before. It was not his father's snores, which came from the next bed.

00W0000!.

It was something far away and incredibly lonely.

He went to the narrow window and looked out. The night on Geonosis was as bright as day had been on cloudy Kamino. The planet's orange rings shed a soft light over the desert sands.

There was a red mesa right below the stalagmite city. It was crisscrossed with faint trails that glittered, as if they were paved with diamonds.

The mesa looked interesting but it was strictly off-limits. Jango Fett had said that there were fierce beasts called ma.s.siffs that prowled the rocks and cliffs.

00W0000!.

There it was again - that lonesome, mournful howl. A ma.s.siff, thought Boba. It sounded more forlorn than fierce.

He knew the feeling.

He wanted to howl back.

CHAPTER TEN.

When Boba woke up, his father was gone. On the table there was breakfast and a note: Be here when I get back.

Boba was out the door.

He heard the distant booming but he went the other way, down to the landing platform. Slave I was no longer the only stars.h.i.+p. It looked tiny compared to the other, which came in all shapes and sizes, but were mostly bigger.

Boba made sure no one was looking, then climbed up the ramp into the c.o.c.kpit of Slave I. The seat was a little low, but other than that, it felt right. He had already memorized the flight controls for both s.p.a.ce and atmosphere. He already knew the weapons systems, the multiple lasers and torpedoes. His dad had taught him most of it, and he had figured out the rest for himself.

Boba knew how to start the s.h.i.+p, program the navcomputer, and engage the hyperdrive. He was sure that before long his father would let him try a complete takeoff and landing. He wanted to be ready.

He imagined he was piloting the s.h.i.+p while his father was mowing down his enemies with the laser.

”Beware the wrath of the Fetts!” he cried in triumph as he zigged and zagged through the enemy fighters....

”Hey - ”

Boba sat up - he must have fallen asleep! He must have been dreaming.

”Hey, kid!”

It was a Geonosian guard.

”It's okay,” Boba said. ”It's my dad's s.h.i.+p.”

He got out of Slave 1 and closed the ramp.

The Geonosian had a stupid but amiable expression.

”How come there's nothing to do around here?” Boba asked, just to be friendly.

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