Part 4 (1/2)

”You sure you're an orphan and not a Separatist spy?” asked Glynn-Beti gruffly. She didn't seem to expect an answer. ”Teff, huh? Account for yourself, Teff! How did you get on Raxus Prime?”

Boba put his hands behind his back, so she wouldn't see them trembling. This was harder than he had thought!

”Speak up, Orphan Teff! What are your parents' names? What's in the bag there? Open it, please.”

Boba panicked. If he opened the flight bag and the Jedi saw the Mandalorian battle helmet, they would know he was Jango Fett's son. They would arrest him immediately. He didn't know what to do. Self-sufficiency, don't fail me now!

Instead of opening the bag, Boba decided to burst into tears. He covered his face with his hands and began to sob.

”Oh, bother!” said Glynn-Beti, visibly uncomfortable. ”Ulu, take him to the Orphan Hall. But stop by the bacta baths first - he stinks of Raxus Prime, and who knows what contagion breeds there.”

She turned on a tiny, pointed heel, and was gone.

”Come with me, Teff,” said the Padawan, putting a gentle arm around Boba's shoulder. ”Don't cry. Let's get you some clean clothes and something to eat. You'll feel better then, I promise. You don't seem like a spy and we'll hear your story later.”

Boba sniffled as he followed Ulu Ulix. He kept his face covered to hide his true feelings. It worked! he thought.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

Boba figured that taking a bacta bath was one of the galaxy's most intense experiences. He breathed through. a mask while he was submerged in a synthetic gel that did a search and repair over every centimeter of his body, inside and out, healing, restoring, and refres.h.i.+ng every organ.

It took hours.

It made him tingle all over.

And it got rid of the stink of Raxus Prime.

Much better, Boba thought as he allowed the air scrubber to dry him. He put on the clean coveralls that had been set out for him by Ulu.

He was glad to see that no one had opened his flight bag.

”You look like a new person,” said Ulu when he returned. ”As you can see, Teff, there's no need to cry. Lots of kids have been separated from their parents during this war. Most of them will be reunited, I am sure. Meanwhile, all you orphans, temporary orphans - are being taken to a temporary clearing site in the beautiful Cloud City of Bespin.”

Bespin! Boba perked up. The gas giant was fairly remote but a minor hub of the galaxy, and a good place to start his search for Aurra Sing.

Things are looking better already.

Boba and Ulu walked through the halls of the vast s.h.i.+p. It was like Coruscant, levels and levels interlocked with ladders and chutes. But the halls were not teeming with hangers-on and tourists from all over the galaxy, all in different brightly colored outfits. Rather, there were only two basic types: the crew, who represented every sentient race or life- form. Diverse in color, stature, and shape, they were united by their magenta tunics. And the clone troopers, all looking alike, whether they were in their white battle armor or their red coveralls. With their helmets off, their blank faces showed neither emotion nor interest in anything outside their own ranks.

I hope I don't look that blank when I'm twenty, Boba thought with a shudder.

Ulu Ulix was very friendly, for a Jedi. He seemed to lack that aggressive arrogance that Boba a.s.sociated with the order.

He'll probably flunk out, Boba thought.

They went into what must have been one of many small kitchens set up to feed the around-the-clock patrols. ”The other kids will be at dinner,” said Ulu Ulix. ”You must be starving. What would you like?”

All the food was unfamiliar. Boba pointed to what looked like a meat pie that was sitting behind a pane of gla.s.s.

Ulu pressed his palm against the gla.s.s, and the meat pie made itself in a swirl of laser light, then floated out, released temporarily from the s.h.i.+p's artificial gravity.

”Thanks!” Boba said, catching it. It tasted better than good - it had been a long time since he'd had a full meal.

Boba didn't like Jedi - at all! - but it was hard to hate Ulu. He was different. Almost cordial. ”Aren't you going to eat some?” Boba asked. ”You can have a bite of mine.”

”Not hungry. I just ate the day before yesterday.”

At the end of a long hallway in the depths of the s.h.i.+p, they found a dormitory. It was empty of people, but filled with beds, all of them short.

”Grab an empty bed, Teff,” said Ulu. ”The other kids will be back from dinner soon. They'll tell you the drill. It mainly involves staying out of the way.”

”That's it?”

”That's it,” said Ulu. ”I'm in charge of the Orphan Hall. It's part of my training. I try to make things as easy for you kids as possible. If there's anything you need, just let me know.”

Ulu smiled and left, and Boba lay down on a bunk by the wall. This was going to be something new: a roomful of kids. Was he finally going to have a chance to make some friends? That would be something new for sure!

His father had warned him about friends.h.i.+ps and making himself weak to so- called friends. But Boba was still curious.

For now, Boba was too tired to think about it. He lay down and closed his eyes. It seemed that his head had barely hit the pillow when he was awakened by a hideous cackling noise, as if he were being attacked by a flock of birds.

He sat up, terrified. A nightmare?

He opened his eyes. No nightmare. It was kids - shouting, screaming, laughing, jumping on and off the beds. Boba looked at them and groaned. They were incredibly loud, and diverse. The only older kids (his age) he saw were separated into two groups, a small group of girls, looking suspiciously at a small group of boys.

The rest of the kids were squalling, laughing, and crying. The chaos was unbelievable. Boba groaned again. This was far worse than he had imagined. Boba Fett, the bounty hunter's son, who could fly a stars.h.i.+p and survive a Count's attack... stuck with a bunch of underage brats!

I don't belong here! Boba put his pillow over his head, hoping he would go to sleep before he went crazy.

And he got lucky.

He did.

In dreams there is no past and future, only a s.h.i.+ning endless now.

In dreams there is no gravity, no hunger, no cold...

”Hey.”

Boba groaned. In his dream he was riding a great beast around and around in an arena, trying to catch up with his father, but he kept slipping off...

”Hey!”

”I am,” said Boba.