Chapter 14:

The apartment complex was surprisingly spacious, Angela noted to herself as she stepped across it's threshold. Making his way through his quarters, Jango politely gestured with his head over at the plush, charcoal grey couch that resided in what could be assumed as the living area.

"Please have a seat..." he spoke as he carried on moving, "I'll go fetch us something to drink."

Angela complied silently, walking with a casual stride over to the piece of furniture where she then proceeded to take a seat. "Live here alone, do you?" she asked with mild interest as she took a moment to quickly and thoroughly scout her new surroundings.

The room wasn't decorated by any means. White-washed from ceiling to floor, the room also appeared to be in immaculate condition. It was almost as though the space was barely being used.

The man named Jango appeared a moment later carrying two black porcelain cups in his hands. "With my son actually." he replied.

"Oh, you have a son?"

Jango nodded as he approached the couch and took a respectful seat on the far side, opposite to where Angela sat. "Boba..." he stated his son's name with a subtle proud smile. Then he extended one of the cups he held out for Angela to take.

Angela nodded her head and accepted the offered beverage politely. "Thank you."

"He's in bed sleeping at the moment...my poor boy is still tired from our last trip. We only just recently had come back from it."

"Understandable." Angela answered before sparing a glance down at the cup she held. Inside the porcelain vessel, held a rich blue liquid. Turning the cup in her hands, Angela watched as the blue fluid stirred itself, and revealed faint swirls of silver.

The differentiating colors were fascinating to look at...but equally so, the young woman immediately became aware of something. The cup produced a growing chill, which emitted into her hands. The feeling reached her bones and left them aching.

Angela knew what that meant as she brought her eyes back up to Jango's and found him watching her rather intently. The force was telling her-no, warning her to not drink the contents of this cup. But why?

Without breaking eye contact, the young woman delivered a tiny smile. "Do you travel often?"

Jango nodded his dark head before raising his own cup up to his lips for a drink. "Indeed." He answered, "...it's all part of the job." Then, he took a deep swig.

"And what job would that be, if you don't mind me asking?" She inquired with a growing curiosity.

A moment's silence fell between them as he lowered the cup from his mouth. Then, a slow smile began pulling at Jango's lips before they parted with his answer. "Bounty Hunter."

"You don't say..." Angela subtly straightened in her seat. At the information, the force's warning began to strengthen. "A unique profession to have around these parts, I'm sure. Are there many of you?"

Jango shook his dark head 'no'. "Just two...myself, and my son who's learning the trade."

Trying as hard as she could to keep her face unreadable, Angela's eyes narrowed gently. Now that, she thought to herself, is either a major coincidence, or perhaps another red flag. "Has your 'work' ever brought you to Corescant?"

Jango's smile widened at its corners. "Have we transitioned into an interrogation now?"

Before Angela could reply, the sound of a sliding door reached their ears. And so, the two both found themselves turning their heads towards the sound and were met with sight of a young boy coming into the room.

"Ah...Boba..." Jango spoke, "You're finally moving, son."

The boy indeed looked like he had just awakened from a deep slumber, Angela mentally distinguished as she assessed the young boy with her eyes.

He looked no older than twelve years of age, and he dressed in blue. His skin carried a bronze coloring while his head displayed a mass of dark neck-length curls. His eyes were equally as dark-just like his father.

"Yes, dad." The boy replied before turning his gaze onto Angela. Instantly, the boy frowned with suspicion. "Whose this?" he inquired rather defensively.

"A guest..." Jango answered slowly, "This lady's name is Angela. She's here on an investigation."

"Oh..." The boy named Boba said, giving Angela a hard look over before walking over to the giant window that nearly made up the entire back wall of the apartment. Silently, the boy kept to himself as he stared out at the black storming skies and falling rain.

"He's an interesting fellow..." she thought to herself as she pulled her eyes away from the kid and brought them back to his father. "Your son is the spitting image of you." she voiced aloud.

Jango smiled again, "That was the idea..." he answered, "Now...this investigation you're here on...what's it concerning?"

Sitting on the edge of her seat, Angela brought a single finger up to trace the rim of the glass she held.

"A couple assassination attempts on a Senator belonging to our Republic."

"That is quite the case..." Jango returned, "It's no wonder then why the Black Rider got involved."

At once, Angela arched a neat brow, "So you know who I am?" she threw back calmly.

Jango chuckled lightly, "Let's just say in the Bounty Hunter community, you are no mystery to us."

"Well isn't that heartwarming." the response was as cool as the cup she held. "But let us get back on track. Has your work ever brought you to Corescant?"

"Back to that question, are we?" Jango spoke in such a carefree manner, Angela couldn't help but find herself growing impatient.

"Could you please quit stalling and just answer me?" In that moment, it became evident that an increasing tension was beginning to surround the two of them.

Though Jango showed seemingly played it off by shrugging a shoulder, "It's possible...I do work all over. But why would that matter to you?"

Angela gave a curt, unfeeling laugh, "Surely, you know the answer to that? I am currently on the hunt the Bounty Hunter who's been threatening not only the life of a Senator, but of a good friend of mine. And so, that makes this case very personal.

"You truly think it was a mere Bounty Hunter that tried taking that person's life? A simple Senator?"

"Oh, I don't think...I know, Jango. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."

"And what was your lead?"

Angela sighed heavily, "If you must know, it was a uniquely crafted poisonous dart that had been left behind at the latest scene. My partner traced it's origins to this system."

"I see..." Jango fell silent in thought as he continued watching Angela with an unwavering gaze. "You're not touching your drink." he noted out loud.

"Probably shouldn't be drinking while on the job..." Angela answered coolly, "I'm sure you can understand."

"Oh, of course..." Jango returned with obvious agreement, "No doubt, Senator Amidala has entrusted you to solve the case quickly.

At once, Angela held her breath though her face remained perfectly expressionless. As her hand tightened around the cup, the young woman slowly rose to her feet. "You know...it's funny that you should mention that, Jango..." she started off with a deceiving air of calmness about her. "...because I never once said that I was here for Senator Amidala in the first place."

Jango gave a half smile before lowering his eyes to the cup he held in his own hand, "Ah..." he spoke in a quieter tone, as though realizing his own mistake. "What a careless slip of the tongue." In a practiced motion, Jango swiftly used his free hand to reach behind his back.

Following his movements, Angela dropped the cup from her hand and reached for her saber that was clipped securely at her hip. The cup hit the floor and shattered, spilling its contents over the floor just as Jango pulled forth a unfamiliar gun and fired one shot, point-blank at her.

The shot didn't land but instead bounced neatly off of her blade which Angela had brought across her own body for protection. "So it's been you..." Anger immediately flooded her senses.

Taking a sure stance of defense, Angela narrowed her eyes as she twirled her saber with her wrist. "You know, I've been looking forward to this..." she voiced as she readied herself for the fight that was just moments away. "But are you ready for what's coming next?"

To her utmost surprise, Jango lowered his weapon and chuckled. "Are you?"

The threat in his words were as evident as the bolt of lightning that suddenly flashed from outside the window.

"Pssh...I'll wipe that smile right off your fa..." Angela's words were cut short when she felt a stinging jab connect with her spine from behind. Arching away from the sensation, Angela's free hand instantly reached around to the base of her back where her fingers found a small protrusion of metal that had penetrated through her black cape, dress and skin.

Turning her head around as she pulled the dart from where it had been lodged, her eyes came to rest on Jango's son, Boba, who had his own gun out and pointed at her. Just like his dad, the same arrogant smile was now etched onto his young face.

Angela's grip on her saber tightened. "Oh, you little brat..." She had completely forgotten about that kid...

Movement then caught the corner of her eye, followed by Jango's closed fist which connected squarely with her left jawbone.

Angela could taste blood in her mouth as she was knocked cleanly off her feet only to hit the ground hard a moment later.

Without relinquishing her weapon, Angle willed herself to get back up and win this fight. And so, she rolled herself onto her side.

But then, she realized a big problem.

"I...I can't feel my body..." her head screamed inwardly. What was worse, she could no longer move. It was like in that passing second, her entire body had gone numb and each limb had been packed with sand.

Poison wouldn't be having these kind of effects on the human body, she thought to herself. So that left really only one thing...

"You're going to be feeling out of sorts for a little while." Jango announced as he approached Angela's immobile form. With his booted foot, he stepped on her hand which still clung to the hilt of her saber before dropping into a crouch beside her. "That's a powerful tranquilizer you've been hit with."

Despite the crushing pressure she felt in her hand, Angela remained completely stoic. "Tranquilizer?" she repeated, "...and here I had hoped for a fight to the death."

Jango laughed openly before he reached down and took hold of Angela by her hair, forcing the young woman to look directly up at him. "Ah, I'm afraid you're too valuable for me to kill, Angela." he informed, "See, I know quite a few folks who would pay a fine price for your pretty, little neck."

Unable to look away from his eyes, Angela frowned. So that was his angle. "The only neck you should be worrying about right now is your own, Jango."

"And why's that?"

"Because the man I came here with will kick your ass for this."

Jango smirked as his hand gripping her hair tightened. "We'll see...until then, allow me to ask you a question now, Angela..."

"What?" the word came through gritted teeth.

"How's it feel starting out as the hunter only to become someone's prey? "

At his intimidation tactic, Angela rolled her eyes softly, "I am simply delighted..." the sarcastic tone couldn't be missed, "What a turn of my evening."

"Indeed." Jango agreed, "Glad your spirit still has a kick to it...you're going to need it for what's in store for you, I bet."

"Wow, is that all you can say right now?" The woman threw back rather venomously.

"Well when you put it like that, there is something else I should probably state."

"I'm listening..."

Leaning down, Jango whispered his last three words right into her closest ear. "Nothing personal, Angela."

Before Angela could further process his meaning, Jango delivered a crushing blow to her temple with a closed fist. The woman found her vision engulfed by a blinding white light...only then to be thrown into absolute darkness.