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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟔
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑

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After watching the clone army marching around for another moment, Taun We led the Jedi down another white hallway. Aurora and Obi-Wan were on their way to meet Jango Fett, who had recently returned to Kamino. The Kenobi man was hoping to get some answers from the bounty hunter about what happened with Padmé on Coruscant, but Aurora wasn't so sure. Even if they had a decent conversation with Jango Fett, the Jinn woman was certain he wouldn't admit to anything. But she also knew that Obi-Wan had ways of getting the answers he sought, something that Aurora hoped to learn in the future.

It wasn't long before they found themselves standing in front of a door that looked like all the rest. If Taun We wasn't with them, Aurora was certain that they'd get lost. The Kaminoan soon pressed a button near the door, causing a faint beeping sound to cut through the air. What felt like an eternity passed before the door finally opened, revealing a young clone standing in the doorway.

"Boba, is your father here?" Taun We asked, earning a small nod in response from the boy in front of her, "may we see him?"

"Sure," Boba said before looking over at the Jedi and sending them an uncertain look. The Fett boy then turned around and led them into his home. "Dad, Taun We's here."

A strange feeling washed over Aurora as they walked further into the small apartment. Despite looking like most other rooms they'd be in, there was something about this one that felt unwelcoming. And by the serious look on Obi-Wan's face, she knew he felt it too. They continued to walk further into the apartment until they were standing in the main living area. There was a large window that overlooked the restless sea and had a clear view of the storm covering the planet. The Jinn woman took a moment to watch the lightning flash across the sky before she heard the sound of footsteps.

Aurora immediately turned toward the source of the sound to find a man dressed in blue approaching them. He looked just like all the mature clones they passed on the way over here, but the Jinn woman knew he was different. After all, the clones spent every moment of their lives together according to Lama Su. They didn't get private apartments. And that was enough to tell Aurora that the man standing in front of her had to be the one who started it all.

"Jango, welcome back," Tawn We greeted while Obi-Wan respectfully bowed toward the man, an action that Aurora was hesitant to copy, "was your trip productive?"

"Fairly," Jango responded without taking his eyes off the Jedi standing in front of him.

"This is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan, Aurora Jinn. They've come to check on our progress," the Kaminoan explained while the Jinn woman did her best not to cringe after being referred to as Obi-Wan's Padawan.

"Your clones are very impressive. You must be proud," the Kenobi man said with an expressionless look on his face.

"I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe," the Fett man responded before slightly shifting on his feet. That simple movement was enough for something shiny behind him to catch Aurora's attention. However, before she could get a good look at it, Jango shifted again.

"Ever made your way as far into the interior as Coruscant?" Obi-Wan asked, drawing the Jinn woman's attention back to the situation at hand.

"Once or twice."

"Recently."

"Possibly."

"Then you know Master Sifo-Dyas," Aurora said without thinking, drawing Jango's attention toward her. The Fett man just stared at her in a way that made it seem like he was assessing her. It made her uncomfortable, but Aurora didn't let it show. She wouldn't let this man get the best of her.

That continued for what felt like an eternity before Jango turned his attention to his son. He took a few steps toward the boy, giving Aurora a clear view of the object in the other room. As soon as she saw what it was, a wave of dread washed over her and her blood ran cold. But she refused to let it show, just like Yoda had taught her. She quickly turned her attention back to Jango, not wanting him to know what she discovered.

"Uh, Boba, rood eht so-heeck," the Fett man spoke in a language that neither Aurora nor Obi-Wan had ever heard before. It wasn't long after that when Boba walked down the small hall. The Jinn woman simply watched as closed the door to the adjoining room, locking the object behind it. What felt like an eternity of Jango studying the Jedi duo passed before he finally opened his mouth to speak. "Master who?"

"Sifo-Dyas. He is the Jedi who hired you, isn't he?" the Jinn woman responded while continuing to hide all the emotions flowing through her. She was grateful that the only one who seemed to notice her emotional turmoil was Obi-Wan.

Jango just stared at her for a long moment before walking toward the Jedi until he was standing a foot away from them. "Never heard of him. I was recruited by a man called Tyranus on one of the moons of Bogden."

Silence surrounded the trio once again as they kept their eyes locked as if challenging the other to speak first. That lasted for what felt like an eternity before the Fett man broke the tension. "Do you like your army?"

"I look forward to seeing them in action," Obi-Wan responded.

"They'll do their job well. I'll guarantee that," Jango declared.

"Thank you for your time, Jango," Aurora said with a false smile on her lips.

"Always a pleasure to meet Jedi."

The trio shared one last look before Obi-Wan and Aurora followed Tawn We out of the room.

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"Tell your council that the first battalions are ready," Taun We told the Jedi duo as they stood in front of the door that would take them to the landing platform, "and remind them, if they need more troops, it will take more time to grow them."

"We won't forget, and thank you," Obi-Wan responded with a smile before he and Aurora respectfully bowed toward the Kaminoan.

It wasn't long after that when the doors behind them slid open, bringing the sound of thunder into the room. Aurora and Obi-Wan didn't hesitate to put on their hoods before making their way into the pouring rain. They did their best to pretend everything was normal as they made their way toward their ships. But all that changed when they heard the faint sound of the doors closing behind them. The two of them continued walking toward Obi-Wan's ship before he began shouting over the storm.

"What did you see?" the Jedi Knight asked, only to be met with a confused look from Aurora. He simply rolled his eyes and continued speaking. "Your whole demeanor changed before the boy closed the door. Now, what did you see?"

The Jinn woman just stared at him for a moment before letting out a sigh. "I saw armor in the closet that looked like the same armor the bounty hunter who attacked Padmé wore. I'm probably wrong though. I have been before."

"Your instincts are strong, Aurora. Don't doubt them," the Kenobi man told her, earning a somewhat shocked look in response. It wasn't long after that when Obi-Wan's attention landed on the droid connected to his ship. "R4. Scramble code five to Coruscant, care of the old folks' home."

Not even a second after that passed when a small satellite came out of the ship's wing to begin the transmission. Aurora and Obi-Wan stood in silence while the rain continued to drench them. They waited for what felt like an eternity before R4 finally made a connection. Once they got the go-ahead from the astromech, the Kenobi man began speaking.

"We have successfully made contact with the prime minister of Kamino. They are using a bounty hunter named Jango Fett to create a clone army. Aurora has a strong feeling that his bounty hunter is the assassin we are looking for. And I agree with her."

"Do you think these cloners are involved in the plot to assassinate Senator Amidala?" Master Windu asked, his voice barely audible over the Kaminoan storm.

"No, Master. The Kaminoans don't seem to have a motive," Aurora responded, pulling her robe tighter around herself.

"Do not assume anything, Aurora," Yoda told her, making his Padawan unconsciously stand up straighter as she took in his words, "clear your mind must be if you are to discover the real villains behind this plot."

"Yes, Master," the Jinn woman said after letting a long breath pass over her lips.

"They say Master Sifo-Dyas placed an order for a clone army at the request of the Senate almost ten years ago," Obi-Wan continued explaining their findings while Aurora tried her best to clear her mind, "I was under the impression he was killed before that. Did the Council ever authorize the creation of a clone army?"

"No. Whoever placed that order did not have the authorization of the Jedi Council," Mace responded, confirming Aurora's previous thoughts about the clone army.

"Bring him here. Question him we will," Yoda added.

"Yes, Master. We will report back when we have him."

They didn't waste a second after ending their transmission with the Jedi Masters. Aurora and Obi-Wan soon sprinted into the Kaminoan building and made their way back in the direction they came. How the Kenobi man knew where to go in a building where everything looked the same, the Jinn woman didn't know. But she trusted him and knew he would take them to their destination. And she was right. They soon found themselves standing in the apartment where they met Jango Fett, but it seemed abandoned.

Just as Aurora was about to voice her thoughts, she spotted a landing platform out the window. Confusion flowed through her veins as she moved to get a closer look. To her surprise, she was able to make out movement through the pouring rain. It looked as though someone was loading supplies onto a ship. Obi-Wan soon joined her at the window and studied the scene below them. That only lasted for another moment before they exchanged a look. It only took a second for the Jinn woman to know he was thinking the same thing as her. Their instincts soon took over as they ran out of the room and down the hall toward the platform.

It didn't take long for them to reach their destination before they found themselves standing in the pouring rain once again. They barely had a second to think before Jango started blasting at them. Aurora and Obi-Wan didn't hesitate to unsheathe their lightsabers to deflect his attacks. As the Jedi blocked the bounty hunter's attacks, they pushed forward to get closer to their attacker. But just as they were about to reach him, Jango flew into the air using his jetpack. Aurora and Obi-Wan could only block the aerial assault for a moment before having to roll out of the way. The duo were quick to get back on their feet, only for Boba to shoot at the landing platform in front of them with the ship's blasters. The explosion sent the Jedi flying through the air before landing on opposite sides of the platform.

Aurora groaned as she slowly got to her feet and turned back toward the situation at hand. Her attention immediately fell on Obi-Wan and Jango fighting near the Fett's ship. Just as she was about to rejoin the battle, the bounty hunter flew into the air and used a rope to tie the Kenobi man's arms together. Shock coursed through Aurora's veins as she watched Obi-Wan get dragged across the platform. Luckily the Jedi Knight was able to find his footing and use a pillar to wrap the rope around. The force caused Jango to slam onto the landing platform, sending his jetpack flying through the air before it exploded. Just as the Fett man was able to get to his feet, Obi-Wan charged at him and landed a kick to the former's stomach. That was all it took to send Jango over the side of the platform. But to the Jedi's dismay, the Kenobi man was dragged along with him.

"No!" Aurora shouted as she sprinted toward the edge of the landing platform. Panic coursed through her veins as she watched Obi-Wan disappear over the edge with Jango close behind him due to the rope still wrapped around the Jedi Knight. The Jinn woman's instincts took over before another thought could go through her head. Her arms shot up without a second thought before she used the Force to keep the bounty hunter and Obi-Wan from falling any further.

A shaky breath passed over her lips as she began pulling the men toward her. But that only lasted for a moment when she noticed Jango slam one of his arms onto the landing platform, creating a mist of sparks. The next thing Aurora knew, the bounty hunter pressed a button on his opposite wrist, detaching the rope from his armor. The Jinn woman barely had time to think about Obi-Wan's fate when Jango aimed his wrist at her and fired a missile, hitting the platform near her. Aurora was sent flying before she slammed into the ship and fell onto the platform. The last thing she saw before falling unconscious was Jango walking toward her.

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Unknown to those above him, Obi-Wan used Jango's rope to lasso onto a railing. He had to use what remained of his energy to swing through the air and onto the nearest platform. He used the Force to open the closet door before sprinting into the Kaminoan building. The Kenobi man ran as fast as he could through the halls until he arrived back on the landing platform, only to find the Fett's ship beginning to take off. Obi-Wan didn't hesitate to grab a tracker from his belt and threw it at the ship with all of his strength, causing it to attach to the wing. It wasn't long after that when the ship took off.

Obi-Wan watched it fly away until it was out of sight before he began looking around for Aurora. Panic coursed through his veins when he realized he was alone. The only sign that the Jinn woman was ever there was her lightsaber sitting near the edge getting drenched in the rain.

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