Brotherhood

Chapter 11 - A New Mission

The moment is broken when the door to the hallway opens, the bang echoing through the hall. "Why is he here?" Anakin perks up when he hears Boba's voice filled with indignation.

"You can ask him yourself," Dooku replies, stopping in front of his cell and opening the ray shield. Boba stands next to him, arms crossed, glaring at the shield until it disappears.

"Vader!" he exclaims happily, throwing his arms around Anakin.

Anakin snorts, ruffling his hair. "You're the only one who says that name with so much affection, you know that, vod?" he teases, hugging him back.

"Why're you here?" he demands, frowning. "You shouldn't be in here."

"Master's orders," Anakin tells him, meeting his dark brown eyes. "He's upset with me."

"But you didn't do anything!" objects Boba.

"I attacked a Jedi when I tried to save your father," Anakin reminds him, "I'm so sorry, Boba. I did everything I could."

The child stares down at the floor, scuffing his shoe on the metal. "It's not your fault," he says finally, though Anakin can clearly feel his grief in the Force. He wraps his arms around Boba, holding him comfortingly. "I want revenge," he mumbles.

"We'll get it," Anakin assures him. "I'll make that Jedi suffer for what he did. I swear it." He glances at Dooku who is watching them with an inscrutable look on his face. "You'll be going to stay with my mother," he tells Boba, "She'll take care of you."

"I want Dad," he whines, clearly struggling not to cry.

Anakin feels pain lance through him. He should have done better. He should have tried harder. He should never have let Jango die. Boba has been a lot like a younger brother to him. Over time, Anakin has come to enjoy spending time with him and teaching him how to fight. Now, the future is so uncertain.

"I know," he manages to say, "I know." He ruffles his hair gently.

Boba stiffens, gaze going behind him, and Anakin belatedly realizes that Obi-Wan just moved closer. Because of the dark, Boba hadn't noticed him before. "That's a Jedi. He came to Kamino," he states, face twisting with distaste.

"He was a Jedi," Anakin replies, "But he's not going to be one anymore." He gives Obi-Wan a stern look, silently ordering him to keep his mouth shut. "He's joining me."

"I don't like him," pouts Boba.

"He's nice," Anakin tells him gently. "I like him, and I think you would to, if you could talk to him. He never would have let your father die if he'd known." He runs his fingers through Boba's hair, keeping the boy calm. To his relief, the grief and pain don't convert to rage.

Dooku clears his throat pointedly, and Boba glances back at him, a silent conversation taking place. "I need to leave now," Boba says dejectedly, hugging him quickly. "I'll miss you, vod."

"I'll miss you too," Anakin assures him as he leaves the cell and heads down the hallway.

"I got a message from Sidious," Dooku murmurs, expression pained. "He wants you to make a recording and send it to him, so it removes any lingering suspicions from him."

"Pretending to be the dutiful son," Anakin mutters bitterly, expression twisting.

Dooku dips his head, putting out a datapad and holocommunicator. "Here. He wrote what he wants you to say." Anakin takes them gingerly, swallowing hard. Even now, his master's grip is tight. "You can send a message to Senator Amidala if you wish," Dooku offers.

Anakin brightens. He knows that Padme must be worried – if not upset – over everything. Maybe he can explain himself, so she won't hate him. "Thank you," he says gratefully, stepping back into the cell and sitting on the floor as he looks at the message on the datapad. He clenches his jaw, forcibly unclenching his mechanical fingers so he doesn't break it. How could Sidious dare ask him to say something like this?