The Book Of Boba Fett - Vol. 2: Eclipse

[Coreworld]

Inside the vast Hutt citadel, a door into a small anteroom slides open and in walks Mosep Bineed.

Across the room, tail impatiently tapping on the floor is Durga Besadii Tai. His booming voice fills the small chamber.

Durga: <Well?>
Mosep: "Mighty Durga, all shipments to and from Tatooine have been halted, it's new Daimyo has decreed a new order, no more Spice."
Durga flies into a rage, tail thrashing wildly which smashes nearby furniture.
Durga: <The insolence! That world is mine, Fortuna knew never to cross me, Fett has overstepped his mark and will pay for this!>
Mosep: "A contingency plan has been put into place, Mighty Durga, one which guarantees no trace back to the Hutt cartel."
Durga ceases his wild thrashing.
Durga: <Explain.>
Mosep: "If I may, your eminence...I present the answer to your Tatooine problem - Garrik Rune."
A dark armour clad figure enters the room.

Runes visor settles on the Hutt.
Durga: <You will eliminate my little problem?>
Rune: "For a percentage of the action."
The Hutt's eyes narrow.
Durga: <How much?>
Rune: "Ten percent of the total planetary output."
Durga mulls over the figure, the corners of his mouth forming into a smile.
Durga: <Very well mercenary, we have an agreement, I'll have Bineed draw up a contract.>
Rune: "Consider your problem dealt with, Mighty Durga."



Tatooine, Slave One exits hyperspace.

Inside the cockpit, Boba Fett eases back in his seat.
Boba: "We're home."
Fennec Shand looks at the rapidly approaching desert planet.
Fennec: "Some home."
Boba: "Still not settled into your new role?"
Fennec: "It wasn't at the top of my career choices."
Boba suppresses a smile.

The Firespray class ship races towards Tatooine.

Boba: "Lets take a route back over Mos Espa, let the people know their Daimyo has returned."
Fennec: (Mutters) "All hail the conquering hero."
Boba: "What?"
Fennec: "Static."
Boba: "I see."
Slave One heads over the sprawling city of Mos Espa.

As the ship flies over....

Unfriendly eyes follow its trajectory. A Snivvian keys his comlink.
Fozen: "He's here."

From out of one of the Docking bays, a sleek starfighter rises.

Inside Slave One, alarms sound.
Fennec: "We've got company!"
Boba: "Not the kind of company I was looking for."

In the Starfighter's cockpit, it's Weequay pilot targets Slave One.

Fett guns Slave One, dust and debris are flung into the air as cannon fire rakes the ground.

Fett guides his ship into the dangerous ravine known to locals as 'Beggars Canyon', the two ships twisting and turning within the deadly course!

Boba: "Is he still right on us?"
Fennec: "Like a Kryt on a Womp Rat!"
Boba: "Good."

Fett pulls back hard and sends Slave One into a steep climb..

Swooping overhead, Fett activates his Ion Cannons and hits the Ship dead on!

Electrical energy dances over the ship, shorting out all systems and sending it crashing into the desert floor.

Fett lands Slave One nearby and descends the ramp.

The Weequay falls from the cockpit, still stunned from the energy weapon as Boba approaches.
Weequay: "Ey Chuta!"
Biting down on a capsule in his mouth, poison seeps into his system, killing him instantly.
Boba: "Zealot."
Boba: "Fennec, search the ship, see if you can get any answers."

Fennec's hands deftly move over the console gaining access to the dying ship, getting whatever information she can.

Fennec: "Not much there, but I got what was left."
Boba: "Let's get back to the palace, Jawa's will deal with his ship, the desert'll take care of him."

The massive door on the palace grinds open as Slave One approaches.

Fennec: "I'm impressed, we haven't even set foot on this dustball and somebody's already made an assassination attempt on us."
Boba: "Comes with the job."

Settling into his throne, Boba looks at one of his Gamorrean guards.
Boba: "Get me the Droid."

8D8 appears from one of the entry ways into the main audience chamber.

Pistons whirring, the Droid positions himself before the throne.
8D8: "Welcome home Daimyo."
Boba: "Cut the pleasantries Droid, tell me what's on that datapad."

Studying the pad, the hatchet faced Droids face could almost be seen to look grimmer.
8D8: "A huge bounty has been placed on your head, dead or alive, although preference has been given for your head to be delivered on a platter."

Boba: "Where to?"
8D8: "Sadly that information is not present."
Boba: "Sounds about right, anything else?"
8D8: "The bounty is here in holographic form."
Boba: "Let's see it."
A hologram springs to life to reveal...

Fennec: "The Skull of Kressik! Someone wants you out of the way bad it they are paying with that."
8D8: "That is not the payment, a map to its location is the reward."
Boba: "Word has it the Skull is hidden in a temple filled with traps."

Stepping down from the throne, Fett looks up at the hologram.

Boba: "If we got this, it would make the Spice losses insignificant."
8D8: " I calculate a 97 percent chance that this is a trap. "
Boba: "Of course it's a trap, the convenience of all this hasn't escaped me."
Fennec: "Common sense seems to have! We'd be walking into who knows what."
Boba: "I thought you wanted to get away from all this."
Fennec: "I do, but more slip back into our old profession of bounty hunting, pick up some easy jobs."
Boba: "This is bounty hunting, with a reward no other job has offered, prepare the ship...we're leaving.

To be continued....

 

[Coreworld]

Hyperspace.

Boba: "What do we know of Servellan?"
Fennec: " A forest world, dense jungle...perfect place to hide a valuable artifact."

Fennec: "Do you think we'll run into trouble?"
Boba: "I'd guarantee it, either way...we'll soon find out, we're here."

Slave One emerges from hyperspace into the Servellan system, the lush world dead ahead.

Boba: "Give me the coordinates from the pad."
Fennec: "Inputting...pretty, isn't it?"
Boba: "Hadn't noticed."

Slave One glides amongst the majestic mountain ranges.

Boba: "According to the position, it should be just over that rise. I'm setting down in that clearing."
Fennec: "That's going to be some trek."
Boba: "Rather that than flying into a trap."

The Firespray angles between two high peaks and descends towards the thick jungle below.


Landing in a clearing, the duo descend the ramp.

Fennec studies the datapad.
Fennec: "Through that thick brush over there."
A sound to the rear makes Boba turn.
Boba: "Let's get there quick, I've got a bad feeling about this."

Moving through the tough jungle, something slithers through the undergrowth...


Boba: "We're not alone."
Crouching, Boba activates his helmets sensors.

Boba scans around.
Fennec: "Anything?"
Boba: "Nothing."

The attack comes from above!

The Rathtar catches Boba off guard, Fennec falls back into the forest floor.

The Rathtar advances, it's open maw salivating at its upcoming meal.
Boba: "Eat this."
Extending his arm, Boba launches his wrist rocket...

With explosive results!

The forest suddenly comes alive with Rathtars!
Fennec: "I hope You've got lots more of those things!"
Boba: "I have a few more tricks up my sleeve."

Stepping up on a nearby rock, Boba activates his knee darts turning the unfortunate creature into a pin cushion.

Seeing a Rathtar rapidly advancing on Fennecs rearside, Boba engages his flamethrower.

Turning the Rathtar into a writhing mass of flame!

Boba and Fennic cover each other as more Rathtar's emerge from the jungle.
Fennec: "They're never-ending!"

Boba cocks his head to one side...
Boba: "Fennec, hold on!"
Fennec grabs into Boba as he engages his rocket pack, the duo accelerate at a tremendous velocity!

As another armoured figure jets into the brush, launching a wrist mounted incendiary rocket.

The jungle floor erupts in flames, the high pitched screams of the burning Rathtars fill the air.

As the jungle burns around them, the trio gather and regard each other coolly.

The mysterious saviour lifts her helmet off.
Ailyn Vel: "Hi Dad"

To be continued....

 

[Coreworld]

Servellan. Boba regards his daughter coolly.
Ailyn: "Nothing to say? It's only been, what? Ten years? Not even going to show your face?"

Boba: "This is my face."
Boba turns away.
Ailyn shouts after her retreating Father.
Ailyn: "Good talk Dad."
Boba spins around.
Boba: "Why are you here?"
Ailyn: "There's a bounty on your head...a sizable one."
Boba: "Come to claim it have you?"
Ailyn: "I'm sorely tempted now."
Fett grunts and moves off.

Fennec catches up to Boba as he makes his way through the dense jungle, Ailyn follows behind.
Fennec: "After all this time together, you've never mentioned you had a family out there? Were you ever going to say anything about them?"
Boba: "No."
Fennec: "With communication skills like that, there's no wonder things are a little tense."

The trio break through into clearing, their destination revealed.

Fennec: "That's it."
Boba moves carefully up the ancient stairway.

Boba uses the sensors built into his helmet to scan the doorway.
Boba: "No visible way in."

Ailyn: "I can get us in there, easy."
Boba: "Be my guest."

An explosion blasts the entryway into rubble.

Boba: "Subtle."
Ailyn: "I got us in didn't I?"
Boba: "Stay behind me."

The group moves along warily.

Passing an ancient statue, unaware a tripwire had been sprung.

The trio enter an anteroom with a plinth at its centre, atop sits the Skull of Kressik emitting an otherworldly glow.

Boba hands his rifle to Ailyn, quickly running a scan over the alter.
Ailyn: "You trust me now?"
Boba: "No, I do trust Fennec, whose covering you now."

As Boba reaches over, the Skull changes colour to blood red and the wall cracks open...

To reveal a nightmare!

Falling back, the group open fire.

The blasts ricochet harmlessly off the creature as he advances on Fett, a vicious backhand sends him sprawling on the floor.


The Skull rolls along the floor, just beyond the threshold.

The creature staggers and falls against the plinth, Ailyn throws Boba his rifle.
Ailyn: "What happened?"
Boba looks at the ailing creature and at the Skull.
Boba: "It's linked to the Skull! It's drawing its power from it, get out of here!"
Ailyn: "What about you?!?"
Boba: "Go!"

Boba: "Time for you to go back to Hell"
Boba launches his backpack missile at the ceiling.

The resulting explosion brings rubble crashing down on the creature, Boba quickly grabs the Skull and dashes for the doorway, the room behind filling with a blinding white light.

The light reaches a critical mass just as Fett exits the temple.

And after a blinding flash...The temple is no more!

Boba turns the Skull over in his hands
Boba: "There's more to this thing than meets the eye."

Fennec: "This place gives me the creeps, the sooner it's behind us, the better."
Boba: "Agreed, let's get back to the ship."
As the group are greeted by the welcome sight of Slave One, they are confronted by a most unwelcome one.

4-LOM: "Freeze!"

Boba: "It's been an age since I last saw you 4-LOM, now where's that little bug you used to hang around with?"
The whine of a carbine activating answers Boba's question.
Boba: "Ah, there you are."

To be continued....

 

[EddieU]

GREAT shot, Rich!

 

[Coreworld]

Servellan, the sound of the respirator that sustains the Gand fills the air.
Zuckuss: "Zuckuss says lose the weapon, nice and easy."
Boba slowly extends his rifle outwards...

And while all eyes follow the rifle, in a blur of motion draws his pistol and fires a snap shot.

Hitting 4-LOM square in the chest.

Fennec moves fast, grabbing a branch and knocking the Carbine from Zuckuss hand.

Followed by a roundhouse kick sending the Gand reeling!

Boba advances on the fallen bounty hunter.
Boba: "Who hired you?"
Zuckuss: "Zuckuss will not speak."

Boba holsters his blaster, leans down and pulls out the respirator hose.
Boba: "Now talk!"

The cocktail of gasses that keep the Gand alive spill out into the Servellan atmosphere. Zuckuss crawls along the floor, gasping for breath.
Boba: "My patience is running out faster than your supply. Who hired you!?!"

In between laboured breaths, the Gand whispers...
Zuckuss: "The Wheel"

Boba: "The Wheel?"
Fennec: "The space station in the Besh Gorgon system."
Boba: "Who's in charge?"
Fennec: "It used to be under the administration of a Senator called Greyshade, that was during the war, I don't know who's calling the shots now."
Fennec leans down and attaches the life giving hose.

Fennec: "What about him?"
Boba's response is interrupted by a Rathtar bursting from the undergrowth!

Boba: "Back to the ship, move!"

Zuckuss struggles to his feet, too slowly.

Aboard Slave One, Boba powers up the ship.
Fennec: "The forest is swarming with those things!"

As Slave One lifts off, a Rathtar leaps aboard, the sudden extra weight causing the ship to list.
Boba: "Get that thing off!"
Fennec: "I'm on it."

Using the targeting computer, Fennec takes aim and fires.

Hitting the Rathtar squarely! The creature goes limp and falls from the craft.

Slave One roars away from the forest.

Ailyn: "Where to now, the Wheel?"
Boba: "Tatooine, we're going to get that Skull into a safe place, then plan our next move."

Tatooine, the Palace.

Inside the audience chamber 8D8 secures the Skull inside a lokbox and summons a Gamorrean guard.
8D8: "Take this to the vault."

Ailyn finishes her research on the Wheel.
Boba: "What have you learned?"
Ailyn: "There was a big incident happened there involving the Rebel Alliance during the last war, after that the Casino was shut down and it became a data processing centre under the control of the Empire, it was also a high security facility used to house political prisoners."

Boba: "I need to go there and get answers."
Fennec: "Straight into the Gundarks nest?"
Boba: "I'm going in undercover. Droid...I need a new identity forging."
8D8: "Yes Daimyo."

Fennec: "I don't like the thought of you going in alone without me covering your back."
Boba: "You'll be there, you two and the droid are going to do a light follow in Slave One, just in case."

Inside the garage, the large gate grinds open as Boba looks over his replacement ship.

8D8: "This is the only ship suitable for your journey...the Armoured Sentinel Transport."
Boba: "And my identity?"
8D8: "You are now Jaster Mareel, a journeyman protector seeking repairs, your ship has been appropriately damaged just enough to give your story credence."

Clambering into the cockpit, Boba takes in his new ship.
Boba: "I just remembered why they called this the coffin fighter."

8D8: "Good fortune sir."
Boba guns the engine and the ship blasts away into the sky.

To be continued....

 

[Coreworld]

Hovering above the world of Besh is the space station known throughout the galaxy as 'The Wheel'.

Boba approaches the gargantuan structure in his starfighter, his comm crackles to life.
Comms Officer: "Unknown Starfighter, state your business."
Boba: "I seek repairs, my ship was damaged in a raider attack."

Comms Officer: "Stand by for security check."
Boba: "Understood."
Tense seconds tick by until..
Comms Officer: "Protector Mareel, you are cleared for docking at Bay Twelve."
Boba: "Copy that."

Boba guides the starship towards the docking bay.

Boba: "Into the Sarlaac's maw..."

Boba climbs down from the cockpit as a KX droid appears.

Boba: "How long will the repairs take?"
Looking over the battered fighter, the Droid issues it's estimation in an ice cold tone.
KX: "Two hours."
Boba: "Two hours it is."

Making his way out of the Docking ring, Boba activates his hidden comm.
Boba: "Alright, I'm in."

On the far side of Besh, Slave One lies waiting.

Inside the cockpit, Fennec releases the breath she'd been holding.
Fennec: "Droid, you're up."

8D8: "I have the schematics to the Station, stealth will be needed as the shortest route to the main hub passes through some sensitive areas."

Boba moves through the myriad corridors, carefully avoiding several patrols.

8D8: "The second catwalk to the left will take you to your destination."
As Boba enters the huge production facility, his presence draws unwelcome attention.

Drawing his Gaffi stick, Boba warily circles the Droid.
KX: "You are not permitted in this area."

The Droid brandishes it's cutting tool menacingly.

Boba parries the blows that reign down on him, deflecting strike after strike.

Boba ducks as the staff sweeps over his head missing by mere millimetres!

The Droid brings the staff down, Boba just managing to stop it from cracking his head open.

The Droid moves fast, sweeping his staff around sending Boba over the edge of the catwalk, he just manages to grab onto an overhang.

The Droid stands ready to deliver a final killing blow as Boba quickly draws his pistol....

And shoots the nearby fuel pods, causing them to explode.

The explosion distracts the Droid, using this to his advantage, Boba swings upward using his leverage to slam into the droid!

Sending him flying off the catwalk, to land on the electrified floor below, sparks dance all over the Droids body as his photoreceptors fall dark.

8D8: "Are you still functioning Sir?"
Boba: "I'm fine, moving on to target."
Leaving the production facility, Boba enters the Command Hub to find...

Boba: "A Lobot."
The Lobots eyes focus on Boba, his sensors immediately identify who the intruder is.
Lobot: "Boba Fett...File: One One decimal Three Eight."
Boba: "You have information I need."
Lobot: "Threat assessment level Three, you will not leave here alive."
Boba pulls his pistol.
Boba: "Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough."

Boba: "Droid, what do I need to have?"
8D8: " A functioning CPU will suffice, Daimyo."
Boba: "Close enough."
The Lobot moves with blinding speed, sending Boba flying.

Reeling, Boba sees the Lobot advancing...

Hurriedly grabbing his Gaffi stick, Boba swings at the rapidly approaching form with such force it tears sinew and flesh!

The Lobots decapitated body falls into the floor.

Alarms fill the air, sparks burst from computer banks, as Boba scoops up Lobots head.
Boba: "What's happening?"
Lobots eyes swivel up to lock with Boba's.
Lobot: "My decapitation has led to a cataclysmic system breakdown, this facility will self destruct in five minutes."
Boba: "Fennec! I need you here now!"
Fennec: "We're on our way!"

Boba: "No time to get to the Docking Bay...Droid, where are the escape pods?"
8D8: "Two junctions away from your current position, Sir."
Boba races through the flame filled corridors as the Station goes through its death throes, arriving at the pods.

Slamming the hatch shut and punching the launch switch, the pod blasts out into the void.

As Slave One arrives, locking onto the pod.

Fennec: "Ailyn, did we get him?"

Ailyn: "We got him, let's get out of here!"
Slave One blasts away as the Station explodes.
Boba takes the head and connects it to the ships computer.
Boba: "Access the CPU."

Ailyn scans through The Lobots files.
Ailyn: "There's thousands of files on here, where do we start looking?"
Boba: "When he figured out who I was, he mentioned a number, try one-one-three-eight."

Ailyn resumes the search.
Ailyn: "Got it, the bounty originated from a place called Geonosis."
A haunted look crosses Boba's face.
Boba: "Geonosis."

To be continued....

 

[Coreworld]

Besh System.
The mention of Geonosis sends images of that fateful day flash through Boba's mind, the day his Father was murdered.

Ailyn notices the haunted look on her Father's face.
Ailyn: "Dad? What is it?"
Boba: "Nothing."
Ailyn: "Stop shutting me out! Tell me what's going on!"
Boba turns to leave the cabin, then pauses.
Boba: "It's where your Grandfather was killed."
Ailyn: "I'm sorry...I didn't know."
Boba: "How could you? It's not like we've ever talked about him."
Ailyn: "I'd like to learn."
Boba: "After we're done, we'll have a chat."
Ailyn: "Sounds good."

Ailyn: "What's our next move?"
Boba: "We go to Geonosis, with a small detour to Tatooine."
Ailyn: "Back to the Palace? What for?"
Boba: "Something that could prove useful."
Some time later, Slave One exits hyperspace, Geonosis lies dead ahead.

Boba: "Back to this barren rock, time for some answers."
Fennec: "I'm not reading many life forms."
Boba: "What life is there hides underground in catacombs."

Slave One glides over the rocky terrain.

Landing the ship inside a Crevasse, the trio pick their way cautiously through the landscape until a huge arena comes into view.
Boba: "That's our destination, Petranaki Arena."

Once inside the Arena, Boba kneels and takes off his helmet, laying it on the desert floor and bows his head in silent reverence.

Above, in the area designated for esteemed guests and royalty, Garrik Rune watches, keying a switch on his wristcomm.

The double doors to the Arena grind open, hot and untreated gears complain noisily in the arid air.

Boba: "Looks like we've been expected."
The group head inside, the doors closing behind with an ominous slam.
Ahead lies the darkened Droid Foundry. Hundreds of Battledroids standing obsolete since the conclusion of the Clone Wars.

Boba moves over to inspect the inert Droids.
As light flickers in the Droids photoreceptors!
Boba: "They're awake!"

Arms raising in unison, the Battledroids advance, Fennec shelters behind Boba and Ailyn as the blasts hit their Beskar.

Boba shouts at Ailyn.
Boba: "Ailyn, now!"
Ailyn reaches into her pack and lifts out the object they had retrieved from Tatooine...The Skull!

Ailyn: "I hope this works!"
The Skull begins to glow in Ailyns hands.
Ailyn: "Dad?!?"
Boba: "Keep going!"

A surge of energy shoots from the Skull reverberating around the whole foundry, Battledroids are lit up and fall to the floor!

Boba: "That did it!"
Leaping out of the shadows, Rune grabs Ailyn around the neck, the Skull drops to the floor.

Ailyn: "Dad!"
Rune: "We meet at last, Fett."
Boba: "Am I supposed to know who you are?"
Rune: "Your Father did...after all, it was him who put me in this stinking mask!"
Boba: "And you want revenge against me?"
Rune: "That's right...now, tell your daughter she's going to be alright."
An uneasy feeling fills Boba's stomach.
Boba: "Your quarrel is with me, let her go."

Fennec: "My weapons fried."
Boba: "So's mine."
Rune: "Tell her!"
Boba: "Ailyn...it's going to be fine...if you hurt her..."
And with that, Rune twists Ailyns head, a harsh snap is heard and she goes limp and falls to the floor. Runes gaze never leaving Boba.

Whilst Boba's helmet betrays no emotion, inside a cauldron of grief and rage is forming.

Boba unclips his Rocket pack, drops his useless guns and helmet to the floor, facing his opponent.

Boba launches at Rune with a primordial fury.

The pair seem evenly matched...

Until Boba gets the upper hand, with a downward pull, bringing his knee up full force, snapping his opponents spine!

Boba carries Rune through to the viewing balcony and casts his body over the edge into the Arena below.

Returning to his daughter, Boba picks up her lifeless body and heads for the door, Fennec manually cranks it open, the harsh Geonosian light fills the foundry.

Laying her on the ground, he carefully removes her helmet.

Fennec lays a reassuring hand on Boba's shoulder, he looks upwards with cold eyes.
Fennec: "What next?"
Boba: "Revenge."

Nal Hutta. A severe storm rages, thunder and lightning are frequent visitors to the humid world.
The Servomotors of a Droid whir as he moves through the Hutt Palace.

Durga is in his chamber, hearing the clanking sound of the Droids approach, his stomach growls in anticipation of his upcoming meal.

Durga: <You are not my usual service Droid?>
8D8: "I'm here with a special delivery."
Durga: <What special delivery?>

8D8: "It was the head on a platter, wasn't it, Sir?"
The Droid tips the serving tray to reveal....

A sudden lightning strike outside illuminates the doorway.

Panic begins to form in Durga's stomach as the armoured form steps into his chamber.
Durga: <Fett.>
Boba moves to face the Hutt.
Durga: <This intimidation tactic will not work on me boy! You cannot risk a war with the Cartel, you will lose everything!>
Boba: "I already have."

The thunder drowns out the screams.

Elsewhere.

Morgan Elsbeth snaps out of her meditation.

Sensing the power unleashed by the Skull, she summons a nearby Droid.
Morgan: "Inform the Mercenaries...I have a task for them."
HK-87: "Yes Mistress."

A smile forms on her lips.
Morgan: "Soon Grand Admiral....Soon.

The Saga Continues....

 

[EddieU]

RIP Ailyn!! Uniformly great action shots throughout, and lovely reference to the esteemed Senator Simon Greyshade!

 

[Coreworld]

RIP Ailyn!! Uniformly great action shots throughout, and lovely reference to the esteemed Senator Simon Greyshade!

Thanks Eddie! I do like to get some nods in back to the golden age of Marvel, it formed a huge part of my younger days, so a nice tip of the hat is well deserved. This acted as not only a follow up to BOBF, (which a third chapter is being plotted now!) but also a prelude to what comes next year, which is going to be epic!

 

[Coreworld]