Those Who Need Others

The night sky over Onderon was never completely dark. Its four moons shined brightly each night and made it easy to see all the jungle around the wild planet. The planets one lone city, the great walled city of Iziz, was bathed in the four moon's light as it rested.

Lux Bontari was up in the study of his home, reading by moonlight another intelligence report on his datapad detailing Separatist movements in nearby star systems. He's been getting reports like them for weeks and his growing fear of an invasion may just come true.

Ever since Onderon broke away from Confederacy of Independent Systems there has been a sharp increase in Separatist warship sightings near Onderon system. Anyone could guess an invasion was around the corner, no doubt spurred by Lux's foolish attempt to assassinate Count Dooku by using Death Watch.

The young senator blamed himself for the events that are to come. If only he had controlled his anger and grief, if only he hadn't sought out revenge, if only he had listened to his friend.

A sudden tapping at the window startled him and made him drop the datapad on the desk. He jumped out of his chair to face the long window with moonlight spilling out of it. Perched just outside the glass frame was the silhouette of a person, crouching on the ledge and staring right at him with stunning green eyes.

Lux didn't know what to make of the crouching figure until he saw the lightsaber hanging from her belt.

It was not a Jedi, it was an assassin!

Lux dived for cover behind the desk and drew a concealed holdout blaster from the sleeve of his tunic. He fired over the desk blindly at the window. The window shattered and the assassin jumped in, using amazing acrobatic skills to dodge blaster bolts in midair. She vaulted over the desk and landed on the other side of the room with Lux clear in her sights.

Adjusting aim, Lux opened fire again and this time the assassin drew her crimson lightsaber. She, a young Togrutan, danced with it, batting away bolts of blue with striking fluency.

Where have I seen that before? Lux wondered but shook the thought away as he continued to fire at the strangely familiar person.

The look on her face was that of concern, not fury. It seemed strange to him but still he had his own life to worry about. Assassins have come for him before and they all have failed just like this one will.

Still firing, Lux moved around the desk to put it in between him and her and reached into a drawer to pull out a fragmentation grenade. Even lightsaber wielding assassins couldn't avoid the explosive shrapnel it produced.

"Stop!" The assassin called out in a voice he did not recognize.

"Why should I?" Lux kept firing his blaster as he got ready to prime the explosive and take cover. But then his blaster seized firing and every time after he pulled the trigger all it did was squirt out harmless sparks.

Empty? Blast it! He had forgotten to count his rounds and now the clip was empty. He didn't have any spare ammo with him.

Suddenly the assassin raised a hand towards Lux and the whole desk in front of him lurched forward and smashed him in the gut. He let out a cry of pain as he went sprawling onto the floor. He tried recovering but the assassin had deactivated her weapon, jumped clear across the room and pinned him against the rugged floor. Lux jerked hard against her but she kept on top of him, their faces less than a foot apart. Out of desperation Lux tried to thumb the activation switch on the grenade, thinking he'd die and take the assassin with him. But the assassin has sensed his intent and squeezed his wrist until he lost his grip on the grenade. It rolled away as the assassin simply looked at it.

It took Lux that long to figure out that the assassin was also a Force user and that he didn't have a chance of surviving.

"Tell Dooku he won't get away with this." Lux growled with fury in his eyes, but none was in the assassins'.

The assassin looked down at him, her body parallel over his, still pinning him to the floor. Her eyes were still stunning. She looked so familiar but Lux couldn't remember who she reminded him of.

Then, to his complete surprise, she let go of Lux's arms and slowly got off him. "I do plan on telling Dooku just that," She offered a hand. "But not for, well, whatever you think this is."

"You're not here to kill me?" Lux asked, dumbfounded and unwilling to take the assassin's, or whoever's, hand.

"No you nerf herder." She rolled her eyes. "Is that why you were shooting at me?"

"Umm…" This had to be a trick. She had to be toying with him. "Who are you?" He asked as he pushed himself up from the floor and backed away a few feet.

"I'll give you a hint." She moved towards him slowly, causing Lux to back up against the wall. She reached out and punched him in the shoulder, hard.

"Ouch!" It hurt of course, and no doubt left a bruise, but it still felt like the kind of punch only a friend would give. It was the kind of playful one that was shared when two friends were upset about something.

"That was for what you did to me on Carlac." She said, putting both her hands on her hips. "I still haven't forgiven you for that."

"Carlac?" That was the planet he had met Death Watch on. Was she amongst them? "I honestly don't know what you're talking about."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes you do, think about it. I've forgiven you knocking me out and kidnapping me, I've forgiven you for getting me involved in an assassination plot, I've forgiven you for nearly getting me killed. But the one thing I haven't forgiven you for is the time when you had to shut me up in the enemies' camp."

Lux's mind was bussing. "What? I don't know you, I've never seen you before, and you mean to tell me I did all those things to you? And just what do you mean by that last one?"

She threw hands up and slapped them on her sides. "The kiss Lux! Is it that easy for you to forget? I mean you just… when Vizla was about to walk in on us arguing… I didn't like it!" She blushed furiously, crossed her arms and looked away.

It then hit him harder than a ship going through hyperspace. "Ahsoka?" He shook his head in disbelief. "What are you doing here? Why are you dressed like a bounty hunter? And why is your skin purple?"

"One question at a time please," She sighed. "Let's talk this over somewhere else." She looked around the room at the shattered glance sprayed across the floor, the turned over desk, and the dozens of scorch marks dotting the walls. "And sorry about the mess," She added sheepishly.

"It's alright," Lux led her downstairs to a parlor area decorated in lavish paintings, red silk rugs, couches, and chairs. To Ahsoka it looked completely similar to the rooms in Lux's old home on Raxus, back when his mother was still alive.

Lux sat on one of the couches and gestured for Ahsoka to sit next to them.

"So, question one, why are you here?" Lux asked anxiously. He still couldn't believe she was really here. His next question would have to be how she found him.

Ahsoka set down next to him, just a foot of space in between the two. "I need your help for a mission."

With a flash of light the Slave I burst out of hyperspace over Geonosis. The unique ship swung around a vectored towards the red and orange plant's atmosphere. From high above the desert landscape was cratered and scared from several battles since the very beginning of the war. This was where it all had started for Bob Fett, the beginning of the war, the start of his career as a bounty hunter, the death of his father. He came to the graveyard world to visit his father's resting place, to pay homage to the man who raised him and taught him to be who he was.

He wanted to be alone for the trip before participating in the Great Hunt but Aurra Sing insisted on coming. Boba would've told her to get spaced but she had just as much right as he had to see Jango Fett, she's known him for long before Boba was ever born, or rather cloned.

"Do you think any Geonosians are left or the Republic wiped them all out?" Aurra asked from the copilot's chair next to Boba. All this time together and still refused to remove his helmet in front of her.

A quick life reading scan from the ships' sensor array gave a Boba a guess. "Most are either bug juice or hiding underground. Either way, bring a copious amount of weapons."

Aurra laughed. "Boba, bounty hunters always have a lot of blasters on them."

"Bring more than usual then," He wasn't going to let any bug brains get the jump on him while they were groundside.

The Slave I made a smooth decent into the atmosphere and flew over the planet's surface. There were signs of battle everywhere. Rusting shells of tanks, clone skeletons, droid carcasses, impact craters and downed starfighters littered the surface. They paid no heed to the gruesome sights and flew on to the abandoned Geonosian arena, the very spot where the war broke out almost three years ago.

Setting down and locking up the ship just outside the arena, the two hunters entered through the main entrance gates. Orange sand from outside had leaked into the building and can be found in every crevice. The walls of the interior were cracked and falling apart at a slow rate. With no one around to maintain it, the once glorious structure was now slowly dying, just like the rest of the planet.

They entered into the arena pit, an area surrounded by walls on all sides with seats and booths capable of seating thousands all around them. The decaying bodies of destroyed battle droids were still where they had been left and the Jedi that were killed had been recovered by their brethren and given a proper burial. And in the exact center was a mound of dirt sticking upwards with a stone placed on top of it.

Boba walked slowly through the former battlefield. Memories of that day three years ago came rushing back to him. He remembered the joy he felt of seeing a live arena match for the first time. The alien cheers and roars of dangerous beast had excited him. His father had been right by his side, hand on his soldier and smiling, saying that one day all the cheers he heard would be for him when he became the best bounty hunter in the galaxy.

But that heartfelt moment was shattered when hundreds of Jedi stormed the arena and began fighting with droid forces. Jango had told him to stay hidden so that he can watch and learn how to kill a Jedi. Jango Fett had blasted off into the mist of the fight, targeting one Jedi in particular. Mace Windu. He fought bravely but the Jedi was strong, he was fast and he had killed Jango with one sweep of his lightsaber across his father's unprotected neck.

Boba came to a stop before the mound. He drew away from the painful memory and kneeled before it. He was eleven at the time, heartbroken and scared with nowhere to go. But he knew the first thing he had to do was burying his father and not leave his body on the battle field, headless and undignified.

"About twenty years or so ago when I first met Jango he told me he would never die." Aurra said with a somber tone. "He also told me he never wanted kids. Looks like he changed his minds on both accounts,"

He had nearly forgotten Aurra was with him. "If he never wanted children then why did he ask the Kamminoans for a clone to be his son?"

"Simple," Aurra said with a shrug. "The man was lonely, after forty years on the hunt he felt that his life was empty. Sure he had fame and credits but that doesn't buy you genuine companionship. He also wanted someone to carry on his legacy, be as great as he was. That is what he had in mind when he requested that the first of his clones would be his son."

Made sense, but still why did he have to die? It wasn't long after he was orphaned that Aura Sing had found him and took him under her wing. "Is that why you took care of me? Out of respect for Jango Fett, the greatest hunter in the galaxy? Or was it to repay a debt you owed?"

"Both actually," Aurra traced three finger across her skull. "On a job a year after you were cloned, I took a shot in the head. It was a graze but still left me seeing nothing but stars. Lucky for me I was working with Jango at the time. He dragged me through a firefight while at the same time killing everyone in his way. When I recovered enough to see straight he told me that I owed him a debt that can't be repaid in credits."

"And what kind of debt is that?"

"The kind that made sure someone was around to take care of his little boy if anything happened to him."

The realization strike Boba like a blaster bolt. "He made you promise to take care of me if he died?"

"Yes," Aurra looked down at the grave and lamented for the man. "Rather I agreed to do it because he didn't leave me for dead like a bantha with a broken leg. You know, he's been thinking about you ever since he's held you in his arms for the first time."

"Yeah, I know," Boba said in a low voice. He moved his hands to his helmet and popped the seals that held it in place. Removing the helmet he then made a silent vow to win the Great Hunt and continue the Fett legacy. To be the better than the last and live on as a legend, that was his father's path and now it was his.

Aurra starred at Boba's face for a long while. It made her feel a thousand years older to see how much Boba has changed in such a short period of time. His head was shaven with furious eyes that looked exactly like Jango's. Of course he would look like Jango, he was his clone for blasted sakes.

"Let's go," Boba said and downed his helmet once more. Aurra remained behind for a few seconds to give the grave a nod of assurance, as if to let Jango know his son was on the right path…

"I see," Lux said calculatingly. "To go through all this effort to hide his plans, Count Dooku must have something big in store for the Republic and the Jedi."

Ahsoka nodded. "That's exactly what the Jedi Council said and all the more reason for you to join the team."

"More like all the more reason for me not to join. If Count Dooku is planning something then I want to be with my people when it happens. Then I can lead them and hopefully survive."

"But if you help us then that plan will never come to fruition," Ahsoka pressed.

"You mean 'might' not come to fruition." Lux added. "There's no such thing as a guarantee during war. My assistance on the mission does not assure the Republic's safety or Onderon's,"

She sighed heavily. "I knew you were going to be stubborn,"

Lux looked offended. "I'm not stubborn, I just have responsibilities to my homeworld," Responsibilities he wished he had considered when seeking out revenge.

"Fine," Ahsoka folded her arms. "But I still think you're stubborn."

"How so?"

"You just tried to blow the both of us up just a few moments ago," She gave him a sly look. "Or have you already forgotten about that little detail too?"

"No I remember just fine and I do remember the, um, other detail." He of course was talking about the kiss back on Carlac. "I am sorry for that… and everything else..."

"Apology not accepted," She grinned. "I rather you repay me by joining the mission."

"That's not fair Ahsoka," Lux felt embracement creep into his cheeks.

"It is so," She remarked, smirking.

"But I'm the Senator of Onderon." He complained. "I can't just simply drop everything and go on escapades whenever I choose. There's so many things that I have to keep up with and watch over. Food rationing, procurement of more armament, building up our space naval forces…"

Lux stopped his ranting when Ahsoka took hold of his hand. "You're not just a Senator, you're also my friend." Her voice was no longer cocky but instead serene.

Long minutes passed without a word shared. Lux had a war raging within himself over the issue. The sense of duty he felt towards his world was great but the urge to help his closest friend was even stronger. Yes, she was a friend at the moment, even though the last time they had parted left him with a heavy heart. Leaving her just as suddenly as he met her, what kind of friend does that? If anything, this mission may be a chance for him to make up for his past mistakes.

"If I go, will you agree to forgive me?" Lux asked, breaking up the silence and conflict within him.

Ahsoka nodded, "But I'm still going to get you back for Carlac eventually." She said with the corners of her lips slightly turned upward.

"Could you give me a heads up first?" He said a little sheepishly.

"Not a chance,"

Lux returned the grin. "Wow, this is coming from the Jedi who told me revenge was not worth pursuing."

They bother laughed at that.

Later that evening the Lux and Ahsoka left on the Twilight and headed for Tattooine. Lux, now wearing his own bounty hunter disguise, sat in the navigator's seat located behind Ahsoka's pilot's seat and the copilot's seat which was occupied by the tallest Wookie he had ever seen.

Once the Twilight was in hyperspace Ahsoka swiveled around in her chair to address her now complete team. "Now that we're all assembled I can go over the finer details of the mission," Ahsoka unstrapped herself from the chair to stand p and walk around the cockpit.

"We'll be in deep with some of the nastiest hunters from all over the galaxy with no backup. This a Jedi mission but only a handful of masters know about. So don't expect an army of us coming to the rescue if we get into too much heat." Ahsoka explained.

From the co-pilots seat Chewbacca let out a bold growl.

"What did he say?" Lux asked.

Ahsoka nodded at the Wookie. "He said we won't need any help." She shrugged. "Wookie's are as tough as they are stubborn."

Chewbacca let out an agreeing growl with what looked like a grin of amusement. Understanding him was easy enough for Ahsoka who used the Force to understand Chewbacca's speech. Lux and Artoo will have to learn how to pick up on the meaning of the ambiguous growls eventually.

"Also," Ahsoka continued. "As of now we're all bounty hunters. To further sell that guise the Jedi Order as assigned bounties on all of our heads. This will make anyone who confronts us know that the 'Jedi Order's most wanted' is not to be trifled with."

Artoo beeped a question. The droid was secured into a frame that he could roll and lock into for space flights that involved a lot of maneuvering. This kept him from flying all over the ship. The astromech also sported a new paint job, gray for the body and lines of crimson that match the Twilight's newhull color.

"Yes, there's a bounty even on your little domed head Artoo," She gave the droid a reassuring smile.

"What about names?" Lux asked. "You and I are well known to the Confederacy and undoubtedly to many bounty hunters as well,"

"That's true which is why you and I need name changes. Chewy and Artoo are as anonymous as a Wookie and astromech could ever be."

Lux put a finger to the side of head and thought. His disguise consisted of a long duster with tattered endings, flexible body armor underneath the black shirt that was visible through the opening the duster presented and finally a hat that looked reminiscent of another bounty hunters hat that Ahsoka has come to dislike. She didn't tell Lux that though. Within his long duster coat was a multitude of hidden weapons. Holdout blasters, vibro blades, assortment of grenades and other gadgets Ahsoka never knew Lux would own. He really has become a better fighter since the last time she saw him.

"I take it that the Jedi Order already assigned us names since there's a bounty on them." Lux stated observingly.

Ahsoka nodded. "Right you are Jet Howler,"

"Jet Howler?" Lux shook his head. "What a ludicrous name."

"I know, I picked it out," She said with a grin that told him that she was enjoying herself. Chewbacca and Artoo let out little laughs of their own. "All bounty hunters have names that are so simple and ridiculous that no one would ever forget them."

He rolled his eyes, "Oh all right, as long as it keeps my cover intact." He said. "What will you be going by?"

"Sinya Kar," Ahsoka said. "It can be loosely translated from my people's language as 'swift darkness'."

"Ostentatious, but clever," Lux commented with a grin of his own.

"Watch it Jet," Ahsoka teased. "I'm not a Jedi right now. Just a deadly force sensitive, lightsaber wielding bounty hunter with a very short fuse,"

"Oh I see, you're going for the 'incredibly-short-tempered-and-dangerous' type of bounty hunter." Lux said.

"Right you are and I suggest you start developing a persona of your own. And also we'll use are disguise names from now on, even when we're on the ship. It'll give us practice." Ahsoka said.

Chewbacca growled out a question.

Ahsoka responded. "We'll be arriving on Tattoine the day when all the hunters are to gather at Jabba's Palace. We can expect no less than a several thousand people to be there."

Lux grimaced. "That sound's encouraging." He said sarcastically. "At least there's going to a crowd for us to merge with."

"Get a good night's sleep boys. It might be the last chance you'll have to get one for a while."…

So here's a question for you all. Do you see Aurra Sing as a mother figure to Boba Fett? Even though she is a sadistic assassin/bounty hunter?

I like to think she can be something other than a killer, which is what I'm aiming for.

Next chapter is going to have every hunter you can think of and more gather at Jabba's Palace. I can guarantee a run in between our two main hunter teams.

Oh and If you caught the Han/Leia reference, good for you!