Chapter Text
One isn't simply born into the life of a bounty hunter. It is a choice, a choice my father Jango had after being hardened and surviving the Mandalorian Civil Wars:
Jango fett is seen fighting off members of Death Watch alongside a group of True Mandalorians-
My father for a time led the Mandalorians to victory- until the intervention of the Jedi cost him everything. Left with nothing but his armor and weapons, it was an easy choice to become a mercenary for hire.
Jango is alone as he is surrounded by a unit of Jedi on a battle torn snowy mountainous range, many dead Mandalorians and Jedi spread around-
But the life of a bounty hunter comes with many obstacles, a great one being the competition from others- in time Jango Fett became known as the greatest bounty hunter of his time.
Jango is getting out of the Firespray-31 starship, Slave I alongside fellow bounty hunters Cad Bane and Aurra Sing on the planet Nar Shadda, with the denizens moving aside as the trio walks past them-
A great competition gave Jango a greater reward grander than credits- me.
Jango is given an infant by a Kaminoan nurse within a clear room of Tipoca City-
Among the creation of millions of clones for the purpose of war, my father had me- an unaltered one to call a son- he taught me everything he knew: how to survive against the odds, fight the impossible and maintain a code of honor... however years of training cannot prepare you for everything-
Jango, fighting against the Jedi, Mace Windu in a geonosian arena is decapitated and falls to the ground lifeless as ten year old Boba Fett watches in the sidelines-
As the galaxy changed forever in the Clone War, I had to change too. A fruitless effort for revenge only taught me the harsh reality of life: I have to look out for myself- however I would not be alone. In my early career as a bounty hunter I had a team I could rely on.
Boba Fett, now clad in his father's repainted armor, leaves the equally repainted Slave One alongside bounty hunters, Bossk, Dengar, Latts Razzi, Highsinger and Embo along with his pet anooba, Marrok onto the forest grounds of Serenno.
Once the Empire emerged after the war, the amount of opportunities became too great to share and my allies and I parted ways. During this time I was at my greatest- the galaxy would learn to fear the very name of Fett once more.
Boba Fett, now older kills a gang of slavers and helps to free a group of Twi'leks from a burning house on Ryloth-
The goal of any respectable hunter is to get the best paying jobs to stay on top- this often meant those I worked for were not always the most respectable-
Boba drags a captured neimoidian before Jabba the Hutt who sits lazily on his massive throne surrounded by his many cronies and slaves-
For decades I fought, bled against both I would consider allies and enemies. In the end it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of me. It's just another job to complete.
Boba engages in a battle with the dark clad warrior, Darth Vader over a fiery world, and the Sith lord stops and looks to Fett with an almost impressed glance-
Eventually I became a legend- and every legend comes to an end. For a time, many believed my fate was decided in the bowels of the Pit of Carkoon-
Flashes of Boba Fett's jetpack being hit and the bounty hunter is sent flying before ramming into Jabba's sail barge and tumbles down into the mouth of the Sarlacc-
It is not so.
...
Within a dark and tentacle covered stomach of the Sarlacc, Boba Fett lets out a muffled gasp as he awakens in the tight spaced insides, and once he activates his night vision on his Mandalorian helmet, he looks around in horror at the sight of tentacles wrapping around his arms and legs, with dozens of others struggling around, with some already have digested against the stomach walls-
Breathing heavily, Boba tries to release his arms from the Sarlacc's internal tentacles holding his against the wall, and once the tendrils begin to hold his tighter, he activates a flamethrower on one of his arms, with sets the tentacle ablaze, which writhes in pain before releasing him-
Boba then growls as he uses his free hand to grab the tentacle and pull it against his jetpack- immediately, it clenches down and makes the jetpack activate and it begins to fly upwards-
Boba screams out as he uses his flamethrower on the other three tentacles holding his down, slightly burning himself as they let go and he aims his other arm upwards, and launches a wrist rocket which blows a hole in the Sarlacc's stomach, which makes the whole stomach shake as the mighty beast bellows in pain-
Taking advantage of the opening, Boba flies upwards into the hole, and once he runs into more internal Sarlacc blocking his way, he uses the flamethrower to burn his way out until sand spills out and covers his view-
As the twin suns of Tatooine begins to set, a hand pops out of the sand not far from where the Pit of Carkoon and wreckage of the Sail Barge remains, and soon Boba, covered in sand and digestive juices from the Sarlacc Pit crawls out before falling over onto his back and becomes unconscious...
...
A sandcrawler rolls up upon the destroyed remains of Jabba's sail barge with a light as night fills the dune sea of Tatooine, and soon a flurry of short, brown robed Jawas emerge, letting out little cackles and whispers as they investigate the remnants in search of any usage junk to salvage-
While many of the Jawas searched through the sail barge, a few noticed something further away and soon they stumble across the still unconscious form of Boba Fett-
Unsure if he is dead or alive, one of the Jawas taps him, and once they sense no movement, they begin to chatter between themselves before they grab at Fett's weapons and armor plates, hastily removing it all-
Once one of the Jawas removes his helmet, Boba's eyes open up and he coughs - before moving his head up aggressively- only for one of the Jawas to hit him hard in the face, knocking him out once more...
...
In the early dawn, a sandstorm blows over the vast dune sea, covering everything including a still unconscious Boba, now only clad in his dirty white jumpsuit when a group of figures emerges out of the storm- coming closer reveals them to be a group of the native tusken raiders, who stop before the unconscious bounty hunter riding upon their furry banthas-
Boba wakes up as a tusken ties his hands to a rope attached to a bantha's saddle, and he grunts out in pain as the sand storm continues to blow onto his face, and he begin to march behind the tuskens as they push forward-
Eventually the storm subsides as the tuskens arrive at their tented tribe, many of the members and their domesticated massifs look in interest at the new arrival brought in by their returned warriors-
The leader among the group of arriving tuskens, a black clothed female speaks to the Chieftain who stares at Boba with interest before he barks something out to a few others-
Two tuskens prepare to drag Boba to a large pole with chains attached to it, but once given the opportunity to move, Fett tugs on the rope tying his hands together roughly, making the two tuskens let go, allowing the captive bounty hunter to make a run for it-
It is quickly ended once the female tusken warrior pounces on Boba from behind, and he falls to the ground as she holds her gaffi stick over his head-
Boba sighs in exhaustion as he is chained to the pole, and he watches the twin suns set as the sand people gather around a campfire nearby...
...
"You said you trained under my father-? He never told me about that."
A young Boba, wearing his red and armor sits beside Duros bounty hunter Cad Bane by a campfire in the night around the vast desert of Tatooine.
The older hat hearing bounty hunter lets out a grizzled scoff, "Your father taught me something invaluable about being a hunter: let the weak do the talking and get the job done."
The younger Boba looks out into the endless sands, "And you're sure this plan's a good idea-? From what I've heard these raiders-"
Bane lets out an agitated sigh as pulls out a bottle of spice ale, "Kid, if you want to be a professional, stop listening to rumors and figure out things for yourself- since this tribe captured the target, there's a chance they'll take you as well."
Boba fidgets as he grips his blasters, "Chance-? How exactly do I get myself captured without putting up a fight?"
Cad drinks some ale as he looks into the fireplace, "Just don't overdo it- these tuskens have their own code of honor and strength- the key is to earn their respect by showing your own strength-"
Boba glances at Bane with uncertainty, "And if I don't-?"
The Duros bounty hunter leans back, "Then I'll have to go looking for somebody else who might have a chance."
...
Boba Fett wakes up to the jabbing of a stick as a Tusken younglings takes a hold of his chains and begins to tug on it to get him moving-
Any thoughts on fighting back stop once Fett finds a massif hovering over his face along with half a dozen tusken watching cautiously nearby-
The young Tusken leads Boba followed by the massif into the vast jundland wastes where the tusken stops before turning around and pointing at the sandy ground with a huff-
Boba stands there in confusion until the youngling begins to dig down and after some time he finds a black melon, and he cracks it open to reveal a watery milk substance which he quickly drinks up as the scorching suns rise-
Once the tusken points to the sandy grounds again and the massif growls at him, Boba lets out a dry sigh before getting on his knees to dig through the hot mounds below-
Some time passes until Boba finally manages to get a black melon, but before he can open it for himself, the tusken youngling quickly grabs it out of his hand-
Fett gets up to retaliate, but backs down once the massif goes in front of the tusken and growls at Boba-
The captive bounty hunter then grimaces as he watches the tusken youngling open up the melon and pour the water into the massif's mouth- Boba then returns to his knees and continues to dig for more...
The day goes on as Boba gathers more black melons, which the tusken youngling gathers into a pouch while the massif watches Fett at all times-
Fett then begins to dig up another more scaly shape- he quickly back away as the shape reveals itself to be a massive lizard like sand beast, which rises out of the mounds on its three pairs of limbs and screeches-
Still chained, Boba dodges as the sand beast swipes at him, before turning it attention to the tusken youngling and the massif-
The massif lets out a growl before pouncing, but it whines in pain as the sand beast knocks it aside before returning its gaze to the tusken youngling-
The young tusken attempts to fight off the beast with his stick, but the creature quickly knocks his wooden tool away and rises over him with its claws bared-
Fett suddenly climbs onto the sand beast's back and wraps his chained hands around its scaly neck, and its growls in anger at its struggles to wrangle Boba off-
Boba grits his teeth as he tightens his grip on the beast until a bone crack is heard and the creature collapses to the ground lifeless-
The massif helps the little tusken get back on his feet before they turn to the victorious Fett who clenches his chained fists together over the sand beast-
...
The twins suns begin to set as the tusken chieftain and the rest of the tribe watch as the youngling returns, carrying the head of the sand beast followed by Boba still chained and the massif-
While the tribe gathers around the young tusken to hear his riveting tale and collect from his bag of black melons, the chieftain gives slowly walks up to Boba and hands him a black melon before nudging his head to follow as he walks back to his tent, and Fett follows as the female warrior tusken walks behind him-
Upon entering, the chieftain and Boba sit down as the female warrior keeps watch from the side, and after Fett takes the time to enjoy the black melon, he turns to the chieftain and begins to do some tusken sign language,
I thank you for your kindness-
The chieftain, somewhat surprised, quickly moves his own hands to reply,
Not many know our ancient dialect. Not many would return once free. Why have you come back?
Boba motions his hands carefully,
I do not know these lands like your people do. I would not survive without your aid.
The female warrior lets out a proud huff as the chieftain nods,
Since our oceans dried, many different tusken tribes came to be. Some, like us, hide from outsiders. Others have survived by killing. What kind of outsider are you?
The female tusken warrior grips her gaffi stick carefully as Boba responds,
I am a hunter like you. I hunt to survive.
The Female warrior then walks in front of Boba and moves her own hands,
Where is your tribe?
Boba looks down in contemplation before returning his gaze to the chieftain,
I owe you my life. What must I do to earn my freedom?
The female tusken shakes her head as the chieftain ponders this offer before moving his hands swiftly,
You outsider know other outsiders more than us. There are some out here who offer us nothing but death.
The female warrior then hands Boba an armor plate with a familiar skeletal gang symbol, and Fett quickly replies,
I know these outsiders. The Kintan Striders- they are raiders- they should not be out in the dune sea this deep.
The Chieftain continues,
They come riding your metal beasts and drive us off our sacred grounds- many have died to defend our tribe- help us deal with them and you will have the honor of being one of us.
Boba looks deeply at the chieftain with a determined gaze,
When will they attack?
...
Many weeks pass as Boba trains the tuskens to prepare cover around the tribe grounds from swoop and speeder bikes, and at the same time the female tusken warrior slowly helps Boba train using a gaffi stick, offering him a long stick to practice with-
Boba and the youngling tusken continue to dig for black melons, but now Fett enjoys some of the melons himself while cloaked in some darkened robes-
During one campfire night, Boba finishes telling stories of his past hunts to the tribe which excites the youngling tuskens, and soon as the rest of the tribe return to their tents, the female warrior leads Boba back to the chieftain tent, where the tusken stands up and moves his hands,
Never in our many generations has such an outsider shared such understanding and stories. It is time for you to become one of us. You must go on your journey to receive the blessed gift. You must open your eyes to the path.
The chieftain indicates to the female warrior, who pulls out a small horned gekko and holds it up to Boba's face and it quickly spits out sticky fluids which goes over Fett's eyes.
...
Boba opens his eyes and finds himself alone in the darkness of the dune sea... until the sands below him before to turn into clear water as rain pours down from above-
Fett, noticing a lone tree in the far distance begins to move forward even as he becomes drenched in rain and struggles to walk through it-
Once Boba gets close enough, he noticing something odd about the wortwood tree- He looks closer at the trunk and lightning from above reveals the reflection of his face- but in Jango's armor-
Fett looks up at the endless branches coming out of the trunk as another lightning flash reveals more of his faces- one in each branch, none sharing any difference from the trunk- until-
The moment Boba reaches forward and desperately grabs at the branch with his current face, he closes his eyes as the branch snaps off and the storm stops.
Boba opens his eyes and finds himself carrying the wortwood branch in the quiet sands of the dune sea, the wortwood tree above no longer shining like the windows on Kamino...
With an exhausted sigh, Boba wipes his eyes before looking forward and spotting the small light of the tusken tribe in the far distance and begins to make his way over there, wortwood branch in hand.
...
Boba meditates within his tusken tent holding his wortwood branch when the female tusken warrior enters and sits down in front of him. Once Boba opens his eyes she moves her hands,
What did you see?
Boba slowly puts down the wortwood before responding,
I saw my father...as myself. For once I wish to see myself differently.
The tusken female warrior runs her hand over Fett's wortwood before getting up,
Come- it is time to make your gaderffii.
Boba follows her towards a closeby makeshift workshop, where a tusken craftsman greets him before showing him how to make a gaderffii stick, before allowing Boba his own chance to craft his own using the branch he brought-
The craftsman gives Boba a sharp adze and soon Fett manages to carve out a slender gaderffii stick with a dark brown edge and a sharp end- right as Boba swings it around to test out its speed, he spots a fast moving force moving across the sands in the far distance-
Immediately, Boba turns to the female warrior tusken,
They are coming!
Gathering around the tribe, the massifs create a protective circle around the huddling together women and younglings as the rest of the tribe prepare to pull up large rocks to use around the encirclement as cycler rifles are passed around, and the youngling tusken that Boba saved gave him a rifle before huddling into the protective center-
Right as Boba and the rest of the tusken warriors get into position, over a dozen niktos riding on speeder and swoop bikes zoom by and begin to surround the rock protected tribe-
Fett notices a few give him an almost curious glance, but it doesn't stop them from hollering out huttese cries before a few take out blasters and begin to shoot at the armed tuskens-
Once the Kintan Striders opened fire, the tusken raiders let out their own warlike howls before firing back, managing to hit a few speeders which collide into each other-
Boba takes aim and blasts a nikto which almost shot close to the protected tents- even the chieftain and female warrior manage to take down a few more gang members before one of the niktos throws a thermal detonator at one of the fortified rocks-
An explosion echos out which incinerates two tuskens before the kintan striders stop to begin firing into the new opening with their bike's weaponry, killing three more sand people before the rest take cover-
Boba picks up his gaffi stick and launches himself over the fortified rocks and bludgeons a nikto rider in the face as three others get off their bikes to charge at Fett with long vibroblades-
Fett manages to avoid a swipe from one and impale a rider before kicking the other in front of the opening, and he is peppered with blaster fire from the rest of the kintan striders-
Boba grunts in pain as the last standing nikto whacks Fett over the side with a mace, and before he can deliver a deadly blow, the female warrior tusken stabs him in the back of the head with her gaffi stick-
One of the nikto riders lets out a hoarse snarl before throwing another thermal detonator at her- before it can land, Boba launches forward and quickly tosses it back at the unsuspecting niktos-
A greater explosion occurs as six niktos, including the leader are completely blown to bits- The last two niktos quickly flee in terror as the tuskens fire out shots-
The female tusken helps Boba get back onto his feet as they reenter the tribe, which lets out victory howls as the massifs, women and children emerge to celebrate and mourn the aftermath of their final battle with kintan striders...
...
That night, a great funeral pyre is given to the five fallen tusken warriors to celebrate their sacrifice to the tribe, and Boba sits alongside the tusken youngling and the female warrior and enjoys the delicacies of some hubba gourd melons while the chieftain gave Fett a respectful nod.
The next morning, Boba prepares to back some supplies into a bantha as the chieftain, the female warrior and the youngling tusken walk out to talk to Fett as he prepares to leave-
The female warrior gives Boba a weathered map,
This will guide you through our sacred lands... It was an honor to fight beside another desert warrior.
After Boba gives her a respectful bow, the chieftain steps up and moves his open hand,
May the sky brothers protect you in your journeys... you will always be one of us no matter where you are.
Boba faintly smiles before he moves his hands to respond,
I have come to realize something after my stay. All of my life I have fought and hunted in order to survive like my father before me.
Boba climbs onto his bantha mound before turning back to move his hands one last time,
I no longer seek to hunt to survive. I want to live.
Before Boba begins to depart on his bantha, the tusken youngling runs up to him before holding up a final gift: a black melon.
Boba Fett carries the black melon with pride as he guides bantha forward into the vast dune sea as the twin suns above rise...