Self-sufficiency was all about using the opportunities that presented
themselves. The Jedi wanted orphans - so Boba Fett would be Orphan Teff!
CHAPTER TEN
Boba stared out the narrow viewscreen as the powerful gunship 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 ship, Boba
felt pangs of jealousy: He yearned to get his hands on the controls of a
ship. 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
ship 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 cockpit 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.
Space, cold and empty as it was, felt like home.
The gunship soared in silence through the void until an assault ship
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 ship he had ever seen - as big as a city, floating
in space.
"Starship Candaserri," CT-4/619 reported. "Republic troopship,
Acclamator-class. 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
Kenobi, 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 identity, 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 space. The rear docking bay was filled with gunships
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-class 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.
"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
&nbs
p; 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 refreshing 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 ship. 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 associated 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 glass.
Ulu pressed his palm against the glass, and the meat pie made itself
in a swirl of laser light, then floated out, released temporarily from the
ship'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 ship, 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 friendships 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 starship 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 shining 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.
"You am what?" a voice said with a laugh. "Holding on," said Boba. But
there was nothing to hold on to. The beast was gone.
Boba sat up and opened his eyes.
He was in the dorm, the Orphan Hall. The noise was now a low hum,
still obnoxious but bearable.
Most of the kids were playing games or sitting and rocking their toys
or dolls. All but one, who was sitting at the foot of his bed.
"Wake up," he said - or was he a she? It was hard to tell. The kid at
the end of the bed was a humanoid, like Boba, but with darker skin and
shorter hair - and very merry eyes.
Boba smiled. He couldn't help it. "Who are you?"
"The only reasonably mature kid in this zoo. And I'm exactly what you
need."
"Which is what?"
"A friend."
CHAPTER TWELVE
"I'm Garr," said the visitor sitting at the foot of the bed, extending
a hand.
Boba took it cautiously. "'Teff" he said, remembering the name he had
conjured up for the Jedi. (He wished he had been more creative.) He sat up
and rubbed his head. "I must have fallen asleep. How long was I sleeping?"
"Days," said Garr. "A standard day, anyway, according to the ship's
chronos. We all notice when there's someone new: You had been in the bacta
bath, but you still smelled a little ripe. Where did they pick you up,
anyway?"
"Rexus Prime," said Boba.
"Ugh. Is it as bad as they say?"
"Worse," Boba confided. He decided to change the subject. "Where were
you, uh, picked up?"
"Excarga," said Garr. "My parents are ore traders. When the
Separatists arrived to take control of our ore-processing facilities, they
took everyone prisoner, so my parents hid me. Later, when the Republic
counterattacked, they picked me up, but I couldn't find my parents. What
about your parents?"
"My parents?"
Garr pointed around the Orphan Hall. "All of us are here because we
were separated from our parents. Sometimes I think that's why they call
them Separatists. What about your parents? Were they captured or, you know.
.."
Garr was reluctant to say the word. Boba wasn't. "Killed," he said.
"My father was killed. Cut down. I saw it. I watched it."
Boba looked down and saw that his fists were clenched. He wondered if