Part 3 (2/2)

CHAPTER TEN.

Boba stared out the narrow viewscreen as the powerful guns.h.i.+p rose above the slag heaps of Raxus Prime and into the clouds. He was glad to see then last of the galaxy's most toxic planet!

A droid fighter closed in on them, but the craft's automated turret targeted it and annihlated it with withering turbo fire. Below, skirmishes continued as clone troopers cleaned out the slave droids and continued their work in the Count's compound.

As he watched the clone troopers work together to fly the s.h.i.+p, Boba felt pangs of jealousy: He yearned to get his hands on the controls of a s.h.i.+p. He missed flying; it was all he had ever cared about or wanted to do.

”Entering high orbit,” said CT-5/501. ”Request permission to approach Candaserri.”

”Permission granted.”

The clones worked well together, executing the small tasks of maneuvering and communications with hardly a word among them. They flew the s.h.i.+p skillfully, avoiding fire and making precise judgments, but without any particular joy or style.

Boba found them fascinating, but slightly repellent. It was just too weird. They were his brothers, though they didn't know it. Like him, they were clones of Jango Fett, but they had matured at twice the normal rate. They looked and acted twenty years old, not ten.

Their rushed maturity and other engineering meant that they were very narrow in their interests and enthusiasms. They seemed to have no fear, and no excitement, either. They weren't the least bit interested in Boba, which suited Boba fine.

The less I see of these guys, the better.

Boba retreated to a back corner of the c.o.c.kpit and he opened the black book his father had left him. He needed some advice. He needed to feel that he wasn't entirely alone.

But there was no new message. Only the message that had brought him here: Self-sufficiency you will learn from the Count.

The Count who had wanted to kill him? Who had stolen his father's credits and cheated and betrayed him?

Yes. Boba suddenly understood what his father's cryptic message meant.

The Count had taught Boba never to trust anyone again. The Count had taught him that he could rely only on himself.

The Count had taught him self-sufficiency. And with that came confidence.

Boba returned to the viewscreen. Stars! He greeted them like old friends, with a fierce joy. He hadn't realized how much he had missed them on Raxus Prime, which was so polluted that the stars were never visible.

s.p.a.ce, cold and empty as it was, felt like home.

The guns.h.i.+p soared in silence through the void until an a.s.sault s.h.i.+p came into view - first as a single far-off dot of light, one among millions; then as a galaxy, spinning slowly; then as a dagger shape, larger and larger, festooned with dozens of turbo lasers. ”Awesome,” said Boba. ”What's its name again?”

It was the biggest s.h.i.+p he had ever seen - as big as a city, floating in s.p.a.ce.

”Stars.h.i.+p Candaserri,” CT-4/619 reported.

”Republic troops.h.i.+p, Acclamator-cla.s.s. Seven hundred fifty-two meters long.

Crew seven hundred, military and support personnel fifteen thousand five hundred.”

”And Jedi?” Boba asked.

”Only a few. They are in command, usually on the command bridge.”

”Any names?” Boba wondered if they would include the hated Obi-Wan Ken.o.bi, or Mace Windu, who had killed his father.

”Glynn-Beti is the Jedi general who works with us,” said CT-4/619.

”You will meet her or her Padawan, who is in charge of the orphans as well. ”

”Padawan?”

”A Padawan Learner is an apprentice Jedi.”

Oh, thought Boba, remembering the young Jedi, Anakin Skywalker, who had also been present at Jango Fett's death.

Boba felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension as they drew closer to the Candaserri's rear docking bay.

Tiny figures could be seen behind the ports and windows: crew members going about their duties, clone troops drilling.

And somewhere, on the bridge perhaps, the hated Jedi.

Soon, Boba knew, he would face a stern test. If he could conceal his true ident.i.ty, the Jedi could help him by taking him far away from Raxus Prime. He could then begin the task of tracking down Aurra Sing and recovering the stolen Slave I.

After a few more maneuvers, they were ready to land. Airlocks hissed, ramps dropped, doors slid open. Boba followed the two clone troopers out into a huge enclosed s.p.a.ce. The rear docking bay was filled with guns.h.i.+ps and starfighters, lined up in neat rows. Clone troopers in fours and sixes walked among them, guarding them or servicing them - it was hard for Boba to tell.

Boba heard footsteps approaching. ”Where is the orphan?” a serious voice called out. ”Let's see!”

”Over here,” said CT-4/619.

Boba saw two robed Jedi approaching. Both were small, no taller than he was.

This was it. Boba turned to CT-4/619 and CT-5/501. They had saved him from Raxus Prime. He wanted to say good-bye, and thanks.

But they were already gone. Was that them, in the clone group servicing a Cord-cla.s.s starfighter? Or were they among the four walking out the door in formation?

There was no way to tell; the troopers all looked exactly alike.

”Orphan Teff?”

Boba nodded, looking down.

The Jedi who stood in front of him was only about a meter and a half tall, but radiated power and command. Boba would have felt it even if he hadn't seen her in action on the battlefield. She had violet eyes and a pointed beard. Boba was not surprised by the beard. He knew her as a Bothan, and all Bothans, male and female alike, were bearded.

The younger Jedi, the Padawan, had three eyes and horns, but a friendly look.

”We didn't expect to find orphans on Raxus Prime,” said the elder Jedi. ”I am Glynn-Beti. This is my Padawan, Ulu Ulix.”

The younger Jedi bowed. Boba bowed back.

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