Darth Vader: Hero of Naboo

Chapter 28

"So, we're really back."

Vader sat in a seat aboard the Slave 1, not even glancing to the Mandalorian entering the area. "I take it we are already outside Coruscant's atmosphere."

"And on autopilot. We'll arrive in less than twenty minutes," came the response, the bounty hunter keeping his attention fully on the injured Sith Lord. "Not going to explain anything?"

"What is there to explain, Boba Fett?" Vader retorted.

"Let's start with how we, apparently, time-traveled," Boba retorted pointedly.

"You've been aware of this for several days now," Vader retorted knowingly, his eye glancing to meet Boba's visor. "But you couldn't accept it until you saw it."

Boba stood there for an instant, body tense and coiled. Without warning, he turned and punched the metal wall of his ship, the bang echoing throughout the room.

Vader regarded the outburst with patient disinterest.

"You're telling me, that you have no idea what this is? That this isn't the work of your precious Force?" Boba spat out. "And that you just so happen to appear on Naboo, right then and there?"

"Calm yourself, Fett," Vader said firmly. "You are not taking this situation well, I see."

"Vader, I am not you," Fett reminded sharply as he looked toward Vader again. "I don't have the Force. I have no way of knowing this is real, that this isn't some illusion or chemical hallucination."

Vader sympathized with that to some degree. The situation was surreal beyond belief, even with the Force confirming it was all real. "And yet, you remained. You continue to aid me."

Boba picked up on the question and sighed. "If this is real, this means everything I've ever done, ever worked for is undone," he said, tilting his helmet to Vader meaningfully. "I can guess that someone like you welcomes something like this, giving you a chance to change your past. Even if you don't get to live it."

"But it is far more bitter than sweet for you," Vader said in understanding. "Still, you remain."

Boba finally seemed to regain his usual self now, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "If this is reality, I have to either make the most of the situation or find a way back. You're my ticket to either of those, I imagine," Boba reasoned. "I'm still expecting my payments until then."

"And I expected nothing else," Vader assured. "Do you not wish to save your father?"

"I came to terms with that a long time ago. And changing things here doesn't seem to affect anything for us," Boba answered, tilting his head down. "That said, if the chance comes up somewhere along the way, maybe I can convince Jango Fett to play it safe and have a few more years with his son."

"You may have to rename this ship after you two meet," Vader commented idly.

"Slave 1, Slave 2, who cares," Boba said dismissively, observing the Sith Lord's condition. "You look worse than I've ever seen you. I guess it's fortunate I was never stupid enough to take a bounty on the Emperor."

Vader didn't comment on that.

"Last question: Without the Emperor, does this mean the Clone Wars won't happen?" Boba questioned curiously.

Vader gave him a searching look. "How much about the true nature of the Clone Wars do you know?"

"Nothing official, per say, but I put the dots together," Boba answered with a shrug. "The Chancellor created the war, or at least helped it along, so that he could become Emperor."