CHAPTER EIGHT
The Dark Jedi Temple on Dromund Kaas had long since been abandoned, with its previous residents either rejoining the Jedi Order or going their own way. Either way, it left it free for its new orders to move in.
Twelve beings, all clad in dark cloaks and masks, convened at the center of the meeting chambers, forming a circle. For a long time, the endless rain outside was all that could be heard. Then, one of the twelve spoke.
"What, exactly, prompts our meeting here?"
Lysira Naris lifted her veiled gaze to the old man who had spoken. "Surely you have been following the news, Lord Kallus."
He snorted. "Why should I be concerned with others' affairs that do not affect me?"
"Because they just might, Kallus," a male Snivvian said. "The Imperial Remnant has forced more territory from the Galactic Alliance."
"And?" a male Cerean asked, bushy eyebrows arched. "How does this influence us?"
"I sense that there is something else at work here, Lord Versutus," Lysira murmured. "Has anyone heard from their apprentices lately?"
No one answered.
Breaking the silence, Lady Saarai said, "You don't suppose they're... up to something, do you?"
"Some of them are radical in their thinking," said a white-haired man. "My own apprentice is a shining example of that."
A male clad in all-concealing armor folded his arms. "In that case, Lord Paxis, you should track him down and find out what he has been up to."
"I concur, Lord Tyran," said Su Koda, fully-clad as well. "I suggest we all do the same."
"In that case," Lysira said, "consider this meeting adjourned."
* * *
Very few bore witness to Boba Fett's return to Mandalore. Arriving with Kadar, Mirta, and his frozen wife at night, he went straight to the home of Goran Beviin and Medrit Vasur, the latter whom knew a doctor.
After assessing the carbonite slab's condition and confirming that it was undamaged, the doctor began to thaw out its inhabitant. Once the carbonite had melted away, a black-haired woman rose out of the slab, looking around with wide eyes, unable to see with them due to the effects of the carbonite.
For the first time in fifty years, Boba Fett smiled. "Welcome back, Sintas."
She turned to look in his direction. "Do I know you?"
Fett grimaced. He should have figured that being in carbonite for nearly forty years would do more than simply render Sintas blind. Before he could say anything, Mirta stepped forward with her Heart of Fire pendant.
"Remember this, grandma?"
Sintas Vel took the jewel and felt it around in her hands, no doubt applying her psychometric abilities to it. She then looked back up at her only remaining family.
"Bo?" she whispered.
Fett smiled again as he took her other hand in his. "In the flesh. I just wanted to say... I'm sorry I left you and Ailyn. I've never regretted anything more than that. Will you forgive me?"
Sintas stared at him before squeezing his hand, the hint of a smile on her face. "Always."
For a time, the three of them stood in silence while Kadar, Goran, and Medrit looked on. Then, after having a whispered conversation with his wife and granddaughter, Fett turned to Kadar.
"Let's go for a walk outside."
Something in his tone unsettled Kadar slightly, but he nonetheless complied and the two men stepped out into the night. Once they were well away from the Beviin residence, Fett turned to Kadar and held up a syringe.
"I want you to inject this into my arm."
"Why?" Kadar asked, taken aback by the request. "What will it do?"
"It will kill me; quickly and painlessly."
"But why would you want that?"
"I've heard the stories from... my brothers. The degradation that eventually kills us clones is a slow and painful process. I don't want to suffer through that."
"But...." Kadar gestured back to the Beviin home. "You still have a family."
"A family I abandoned and left to fend for themselves," Fett retorted. "Sintas and Mirta may have forgiven me, but I can never forgive myself. Honestly, it's taken me until now to realize I don't need to cheat death."
Kadar sighed. "Why ask me then? Why not use it on yourself?"
"Because suicide is the coward's way of doing it. You, however, have a reputation for killing renowned people. How about another one to add to the pile?"
"That reputation is what I want to turn away from."
"Then consider me your swan song." Fett put the syringe into his hands. "Do it. Do it or I'll make you regret it."
With a sigh of resignation, Kadar took Fett's arm and plunged the needle into it. Fett winced slightly before a wave of calm crossed his face.
"Sure beats... falling into a sarlacc...."
As the infamous bounty hunters closed his eyes to welcome an eternal sleep, Kadar could not help but envy him....
* * *
It is done.
Tral was admittedly surprised when he received the message on his datapad, sent to him by his brother. Those three simple words convened to him the news that would shake the galaxy.
Boba Fett was dead.
Tral smiled. Two down, one to go.
He forwarded the message to his boss before turning to his Togorian comrade, who sat with him at the Oyu'baat tapcaf.
"Savor your drink, my friend. Now the real work begins."
Morgot snorted. "What do you call what we've been doing?"
"Preparation. Like our accomplice said to us, this is only Phase One. Phase Two is where the fun begins."
"So until then, we wait?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
Tral smiled as he leaned back comfortable in his seat. "For the fires to start."
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