Star Wars - Aliit Nehutyc

Chapter 8: Reintroduction

After the battle, Boba Fett gave a rather formal, but somewhat awkward, invitation to the palace for a banquet. They accepted the offer and walked over to their ship. Boba pulled a data pad from his belt and sent coordinates to Kad's ship. He then walked over to the Slave I Fire-spray Gunship and walked into the cockpit. Fennec Shand was sitting in the co-pilot's seat staring at the viewport through her helmet's slit visor. The chair swivelled around to face Boba as he sat down in the pilot's seat.

"I saw six Mandalorians out there, including Din Djarin and yourself. Who were the others?" she asked, pulling off her helmet. Boba plugged coordinates into his navi-computer and looked up.

"My son. And his friends," he said. He looked away again and started up the engines. The gunship rose slowly from the ground and the cockpit reoriented itself as the ship went vertical.

"You have a son? Don't seem like the family type honestly. No offence," she said staring at the horizon. Boba grunted and smiled under his helmet. He pushed a lever on the dashboard and shifted his hands to the controls. The ship sped forward towards the palace that loomed on the horizon.

Meanwhile, Kad and the others used their jetpacks to fly to the roof of the building on which their ship had been parked. They walked up the ramp and inside the ship. Kad sat down at the controls and started the ignition. Atin took the co-pilot seat and handled the controls. Kad's mind was racing. Now that he had a moment to think, he realised there was much he needed to know. Questions filled his mind in a torrent. Where had his dad been? How did he escape? What was he doing in a palace? Did he know that Kad was still alive? Did he try to make contact? And how on Tatooine did he get a rancor? He rubbed his face as he sat thinking, then sighed and pulled up on the stick. The ship rose smoothly and turned in the direction of the palace. Darra sat in the galley and fingered her dark sabre in her hand. Jaya sat with her arms crossed and leaned back in her seat.

"So, how long have you known Kad?" she asked icily.

"Not long," replied Darra, a bit puzzled at the tone of voice, "We met a few years back after I was kicked out of my clan."

"Oh, and what clan was that?" asked Jaya, quite curious.

"The children of the watch," replied Darra softly. She was not sure where this was leading, but she sensed it was no good.

"Ah, isn't that a sub-clan of the Death Watch?" asked Jaya. Darra narrowed her eyes.

"It is, but it isn't as bad as the Death Watch," she replied.

"But it was still part of Death Watch," said Jaya with a sneer. "Don't you know what killed Kad's family?"

"Now wait a minute," replied Darra, her blood boiling, "Kad trusts me, and I would do nothing to bring harm to him or this clan."

"Maybe so, but you are still Death Watch. You said yourself that once a Death Watch, Cin Vhetin does nothing. Why would it be any different for you?" asked Jaya silkily. Darra was very angry at this point.

"How do you know my thoughts?" she asked in a low voice. Jaya lifted her chin and stared down at Darra.

"Child, I know everything about you. You have had your number in battle," she leaned in close, "but you are a pure killer at heart. Now tell me, would Kad trust a killer?" Darra swallowed.

"I suppose not," she responded unnerved.

"Now you see where the trouble lies," said Jaya smiling evilly. "Kad does not trust you as completely as you think. He asked you on the mission to keep an eye on you. He is afraid of you."

"No," responded Darra through clenched teeth. "It can't be true."

"Your refusal to face the facts will hurt you, Darra Jade. Kad doesn't need you, and you are a potential threat to the clan." said Jaya with a curled lip, "Perhaps you should just leave."