[Boba Fett] - 6(9)

Inside the ship, a low, warning note signaled the arrival of an intruder. The young bounty hunter disengaged the alarm, then opened the exit bay.

One hand resting lightly upon his weapons belt, the other poised above his blaster, Boba Fett strode out to meet Anakin Skywalker.





CHAPTER SEVEN


The surface of the moon was chill and stark - nearly as cold and relentless as the gaze of the young man who awaited Boba Fett. As the bounty hunter descended, he sized up the Jedi. Like Boba, much of Anakin Skywalker’s youthfulness had been burned away by combat and hardship. He was taller than Boba, clad in a young Jedi’s distinctive tunic, modified to suit his tastes, and knee-high boots, with unkempt hair down to his shoulders. He had a Jedi’s bearing and discipline, a Jedi’s skill, and a Jedi’s lightsaber at his side.

But the arrogance that Boba saw in Anakin’s eyes was not the mark of a Jedi. Nor was Anakin’s impatience. Boba kept his own dark eyes alert and mistrustful, and left one hand on his blaster as he walked down from his craft.

The two were well-matched. Boba was strong and powerfully built, if lacking somewhat in Anakin’s agility. Nor did the young bounty hunter have the Jedi’s extreme pride. Pride took energy - energy better invested in concentration and cunning. In this matter, at least, Boba had the upper hand.

“That was good flying you did back there,” Boba said. His expression remained aloof, but he inclined his head slightly, acknowledging Anakin’s skill. “You probably saved me.”

Anakin looked slightly taken aback. But he recovered quickly.

“‘Probably’?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “More like definitely.” He looked past Boba to Slave I’s starboard wing. “You took quite a hit,” he said, then added grudgingly, “but you put up a good fight, too. Asajj is a deadly enemy. Not many have survived an encounter with her. You were lucky - Boba Fett.”

Now it was Boba’s turn to look surprised.

His

body

tensed instinctively, ready to spring into action if he had to.

But Anakin only continued to regard him with the same cool, appraising gaze. “Yes. I know who you are - and have for a long time. My Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, has spoken of you.”

Boba felt his stomach clench. Obi-Wan Kenobi! Boba and his father had escaped from the hated Jedi back on their homeworld, Kamino. Could Kenobi have been the one to order Wat Tambor’s assassination?

Boba looked warily at Anakin. He half-expected to hear the young Jedi speak of Boba’s failure to capture the Separatist mastermind.

Instead, Anakin was looking at Boba thoughtfully, as though he were a chess piece on a playing board.

“Yes, I have heard of you,” Anakin went on at last. “And I have seen you, as well - back there on Xagobah, when you saved Glynn-Beti’s apprentice. That was brave. And reckless.” The slightest smile tugged at Anakin’s mouth, and he released his hold on his lightsaber. “Nice work.”

“Thanks.” Boba felt himself relax a little. He turned, glancing under Slave I to see what damage there was that he had missed.

“It mostly seems to be the wing,” said Anakin. He strode past Boba and crouched to inspect it more closely. “See here? Looks like the struts were weakened to begin with. And this - “

Boba watched, amused, as Anakin crawled under his ship. The Jedi pulled a small toolkit from his tunic.

” - this really should have been taken care of a long time ago. How long has it been since you’ve had this ship serviced?”

Boba shrugged. He thought of Qinx, his mechanic back on Tatooine, and Boba’s longstanding request to have Slave l’s shield upgraded and his exterior weapons systems overhauled. “Too long, probably,” he answered.

“That’s for sure.” Anakin shook his head. He ran his hand along one of the ship’s thruster nozzles. “You’ve done a lot of the work on this yourself, haven’t you?”

“I’ve made some improvements.”

“Quite a few, it looks like.” Anakin flashed Boba a rare look of admiration. “This is good work. It’s a good ship. And you’re lucky the damage wasn’t worse. I can probably get this wing straightened out without too much trouble.”

Anakin hesitated. Probably wondering what Obi-Wan would say of this.

A Jedi should never let down his guard, Boba answered in his head. A Jedi’s loyalty is to the Order first, then to the Republic….

Abruptly, Anakin’s keen blue gaze fixed on Boba. “Don’t try anything, Fett. I’ve got full backup from Glynn-Beti.” Anakin ran a hand along his lightsaber. “Not that I’d need her help.”