[Boba Fett] - 2(21)

I wonder what she would think if she knew I was on board.

The ship’s corridors were filled with crew members hurrying to their stations. Planetary approach was an exciting event to all hands-except, of course, to the clone troopers. One planet or another, it was all the same to them.

Boba wouldn’t miss them. His brothers - so much alike, and yet so different. They had no interest in where they were going, or where they had been. They were interested only in their weaponry, in their assignments, or in their chain of command. The clones were pure military.

So when he arrived at the docking bay, helping Ulu and Garr herd the younger orphans onto the lander, Boba was surprised to see his old friend CT-4/619 hard at work. He was painting out the emblems of war and the military numbering on the little lander that was going to take the orphans down.

“Remember me?” Boba asked.

“Not really,” said CT-4/619. “Should I?”

“No, just wondering,” said Boba. “What are you doing?”

“De-militarizing,” said the clone.

“How come?” Garr, who was always curious, asked.

“Bespin,” said CT-4/619. “They want no signs of war.”

“The rulers of Bespin want to preserve their planet’s neutrality,” said Glynn-Beti. The Bothan Jedi had approached unseen. As always, she made Boba nervous. “We are allowed to bring you orphans down, but not to carry any weapons or engage in any military activities.”

“Not even your lightsaber?” Boba asked, indicating the Jedi’s weapon hidden under her robe.

“The weapons of the Jedi Masters are not subject to local ordinances,” Glynn-Beti said with a haughty scowl. “Now come aboard!”





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN


The Lander dropped free of the Candaserri and fired its retros, slowing it for atmospheric entry. The twenty-one younger orphans, strapped into their seat, shouted with glee and excitement as the lander encountered the first wisps of air.

The faint whistling sound grew to a roar as the little ship dove into the sea of clouds. It was terrifying and exhilarating. The orphans oohed and aahed as the clouds whipped by, all reds and yellows, oranges and browns.

Far off, Boba saw the flash of lightning. “A storm,” said Garr, who was, as usual, full of information. “The storms on Bespin are the deadliest in the galaxy.”

But the storm was soon left behind as the little ship sailed down, down, down… into the middle levels of the atmosphere, where the inhabitants of. Bespin all lived.

Boba usually liked planetfall - descending to a new planet. But this time he had mixed feelings.

He was eager to begin the search for Aurra Sing, who could not be far away.

At the same time, he knew he would miss life on the Candaserri. He had been forced to live a lie, as “Teff.” But in return he had been granted, for the first and only time in his life, a friend. Someone to spend time with, to explore with, to talk to and share secrets with (only up to a point, of course).

It had all been a great pleasure - but now it was time for Boba to return to his real identity.

He was the son of Jango Fett, the toughest bounty hunter in the galaxy.

And he intended to get his ship back!

They landed at Portside, in the teeming central levels of the city. Uniformed officials appeared at the opened ramps of the ship and asked Glynn-Beti for documents.

Glynn-Beti handed over a holopad, pointing at the younger orphans who were lined up at the doorway - and then at Boba.

She whispered something to the officials, and they looked at Boba. One shook his head; another nodded.

What is she telling them? Boba was alarmed. He had planned to wait and make his escape from the orphanage as soon as no one was looking; but what if he never got there? What if Glynn-Beti was telling them to check his identity first?

Boba edged toward the open ramp. The Jedi and the officials had their backs turned. If he slipped out now he could disappear into the crowd before anyone knew what was happening. It might be several minutes before they even noticed he was gone.

There was only one problem. How could he leave without saying goodbye to his first, and still only, real friend?

The choice was between friendship and freedom.

Boba chose freedom.





CHAPTER NINETEEN


“Teff!”

He couldn’t believe it - Garr `had betrayed him! His best friend was yelling, alerting the Jedi!

Boba ducked his head and ran, darting through the crowd.

Portside was a maze of narrow alleys, lined with shops where stolen goods and weapon’s, illicit spice, and phony documents; all were on sale to anyone with credits.

It was a perfect place to disappear.

Boba looked back and saw an official running after him. But she was easy enough to lose - a couple of sudden reversals, a turn down a narrow alley, and Boba had faded into the milling polyglot crowd, where a hundred languages filled the air with a low buzz.