Chapter 99: Rise of The Mandalorians Episode II

[Myrkr System, Myrkr, Van Personal Bar]

(3rd Person: POV)

As he stepped through the doors of the bar, Jango Fett noticed all the patrons inside pause and then turn their gazes in his direction.

[Insert Image of Jango Fett Here]

But it only lasted for a few seconds before all the patrons went back to minding their own business.

Jango not even flinching, nor reacting to the gazes directed at him.

For he had experienced it numerous times before during his career as a bounty hunter/mercenary for hire.

Taking a moment Jango scanned the entire layout of the bar himself. Then once he did he headed up to bar itself and took a seat on one of the stools.

The second after he did so the bartender, a female Zeltron, came over and stood in front of him. Giving Jango a generous view of her cleavage.

Which he took in, but still kept his wits about him.

Since he is still a man after all.

"Hello there, what can I get you?" The bartender asked.

"I'm here for a meeting with someone called Moriarty." Jango said. "I was told to meet them here." He explained.

The moment the bartender heard Moriarty's name her eyes turned serious. She then pointed to a door located on the far back right of the bar. "Go through that door, and then keeping walking until you see the first door on your left. That's where Moriarty is waiting." She explained.

"Right." Jango replied.

He then stood up and began following the bartender's instructions.

While he did so Jango began to wonder why someone like Moriarty wanted to hire him.

From the information Jango had been able to uncover about Moriarty they were a reputable mercenary in their own right, and was the leader and founder of a mercenary squadron called Dominicus. Which had been steadily growing in reputation and members since it was founded only three years ago.

Jango even knew Dominicus employed Arwen Cohl.

One of the few mercenaries he could say he genuinely respected.

So he once again asked himself why someone like this Moriarty he was about to meet had contacted him for a job.

'Just what could this be about?' Jango thought.

The bounty hunter having said question rolling around in his head until he reached his destination.

Then once Jango found himself standing outside the door where the meeting with Moriarty was going to take place he cleared his mind and stopped thinking unnecessary thoughts.

Since he had no idea what he was talking into, and he wanted to be prepared for anything.

Especially now that he had someone who needed him.

His son, Boba.

A clone that had been created by a race called the Kaminoan's.

A race Jango had met two years ago, when he decided to become the genetic template for a clone army.

Which he did after completing a 5 million dollar bounty job that had Jango eliminate the dangerous Bando Gora cult. The bounty hunter having been hired by a Weequay who called himself Rorn.

A Weequay Jango soon discovered was a Jedi.

For a few months after he agreed to become the genetic template for the clone army the Kaminoans were creating, after they agreed to create an unaltered one he would raise as his own son which is Boba, Jango learned the army he was the template for was going to be employed by the Galactic Republic.

Then shortly after Jango learned this members of the Republic government, and even some Jedi came to Kamino and began overseeing the clone army alongside him.

A fact that made Jango extremely uncomfortable.

Seeing it was the Republic and especially the Jedi's fault he lost his companions, his friends, no his family years earlier and ended up as a slave.

But considering the amount of money Jango was making working in overseeing the development of the clone army for the Republic he pushed his emotions aside and simply focused on the job at hand.

Even after soldiers from the various branches of the Republic military and governmental agencies came to Kamino to begin developing a training program for the clone army in conjunction with Jango.

Yet still he endured and did the job he was hired too.

Jango had even begun compiling a list of associates he had met over the years he would call to Kamino to assist him and the Republic in training the clone army.

Though before he could finish the list and begin contacting the names on it, and asking them to come to Kamino, Jango had been contacted by Moriarty about a job and now here he is.

Centering himself Jango entered the room.

The moment after he did so he spotted a table in the middle of it, where two chairs were.

One of them already filled.

Jango knowing exactly who was sitting in it, due to the images he had seen of said individual.

Moriarty.

"Welcome Mr. Fett. Please, come in and take a seat." Moriarty spoke.

Jango Fett doing exactly that.

The door closing behind him, and locking after he did.

Though Jango didn't notice this.

"So, what kind of job are you looking to hire me for?" Jango asked, after sitting down.

"I'm actually not looking to hire you." Moriarty replied. "I actually called you here to help you deal with some unfinished business of yours Mr. Fett. And to help you become what what fallen friends and Jaster Mereel knew you could be."

Even before Moriarty finished speaking alarms bells were going off inside of Jangos' head.

So he began reaching for his two customized WESTAR-34 blaster pistols.

Though the second Jango touched them three parts of the ceiling in the room slid open and in an instant Jango was surrounded by three dual cannons on his left, right, and back side.

"Don't move another inch Mr. Fett." Moriarty spoke. "You do, and the three cannons pointed at you will kill you faster than you can draw your blaster pistols and attempt to kill me. But since I know you're a smart man I know you wouldn't try something like that. Especially since doing so would result in your death, leaving your son Boba all alone."

"Who are you?" Jango asked.

Feeling fear, anger, and determination. Along with numerous other emotions at the moment. But due to his training and experience Jango didn't let his emotions overwhelm him, and kept calm.

The bounty hunter beginning to try and figure a way out of the situation he now found himself in.

His first step, gathering more information.

Hence his question to Moriarty.

After Jango asked his question Moriarty reached up and removed his helmet, revealing Van's face underneath it.

Once Van did this he placed his helmet atop the table.

"To answer your question Mr. Fett my name is Van Sunrider. A member of the Jedaii order and a Jedaii knight." Van explained.

"I see." Jango mused. "And, what do you want with me?" He asked.

For Jango knew if Van wanted to kill him he would've done so already.

Unless he wanted to torture Jango for information.

But Jango's instincts were telling me that was not what Van wanted with him. No, there was some other reason. Though what it was Jango couldn't fathom.

"Like I said earlier I want to help you deal with some unfinished business, and become the man your comrades and Jaster Mereel knew you could be." Van replied. 

He then took a mini holoprojector out of one of the pouches on his belt, placed it on the table, and activated it.

The moment after Van did so various holographic images and information displayed itself in the air.

Looking it over Jango Fett clenched his fists, and felt his anger skyrocket. "What, what is this?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"Exactly what you see Mr. Fett." Van replied. "The 'Death Watch' you thought you destroyed is alive and well. Now led by Tor Viszla's younger cousin, Pre Vizsla." He explained. "Who has managed to gain possession the darksaber. And with it in his possession he plans to destroy the New Mandalorian government and become your people's new leader. The new Mand'alor. Unless someone stops him. That person being you, Jango. For Pre Vizsla has no right to claim the title of Mand'alor when the person who currently possesses the title is sitting right before me."

"Be quiet!" Jango shouted. "You know nothing about me, so stop talking like you do." He spat. "Don't think you can use me as your puppet Jetii. If you want to get rid of Viszla and his 'Death Watch' then don't be a hut'uun and do it yourself. I have nothing to do with them, nor Mandalore and its people any longer."

(A/N: The words Jango spoke are Mando'a. I'm not making them up. Just look on the Star Wars wiki to find them)

"Really?" Van asked. "Are you really going to throw away the hopes and dreams Jaster and your comrades placed in you?"

"Stop speaking of them!!" Jango furiously shouted.

Recalling the memories he did his best to bury. The death of his second father, and his comrades.

"I won't." Van calmly replied. "For they gave their all so that Mandalore and the Mandalorians could have a bright future. Not the predicament they are currently in. And I truly respect them for that, even if I never met any of them. Also, you're right Jango, I barely know the first thing about you. But here is what I do know. You were a man who once fought for something you believed in, and I believe that man is still buried somewhere deep inside of you. A man who values honor in battle, a man who tries his best to follow the 'Supercommando Codex' that was created by Jaster Mereel, a man who is the Mand'alor." He spoke passionately. "So be that person, and show your people a better way lest they destroy themselves or are destroyed by others."

Hearing Van's words Jango wanted to retort, yet a small whisper in the back of his mind was agreeing with everything Van was saying.

Deep down Jango still believed in Jaster's rules, creed, and mission. And he wanted to honor the man he called father.

Yet despite this he still had many reservations.

"I'll admit, some of what you say is true Van Sunrider." Jango spoke. "But I also know you are not sitting here trying to help the Mandalorian people out of the goodness of your heart. So, what else are you after?"

"Right now I am in the process of helping establish a new governmental body separate from the Galactic Republic that calls itself the Galactic Systems Alliance." Van explained. "And I am hoping with this act to have the Mandalore Sector and its people become a member state of the Galactic Systems Alliance, or at least form an alliance with the GSA." He spoke.

"So, you want to use me as a puppet to control Mandalore and its people after all." Jango spat.

"Once again, I don't." Van replied. "While I do have other goals that I hope reach fruition, the reason I am ultimately doing this is to help Mandalore and its people." He explained.

"Why?" Jango asked.

"Because I truly admire the Mandalorians and their culture." Van said. "I love the way you conduct yourselves in battle. I love the way you value family bonds, and I love the badass weapons and jetpacks you all employ" He explained.

Van speaking truthfully.

He had always admired the Mandalorian's and their culture in his previous life, and that admiration hadn't diminished in his new life. In fact it had increased, since Van could now meet real Mandalorians face to face.

Honestly if Van wasn't reborn as a Jedi he would've liked to have been reborn as a Mandalorian.

Hearing Van speak Jango knew he was telling the truth.

Which made him chuckle to himself a bit.

Since Jango never though he would see the day when a Jetii would openly admit to admiring Mandalorians.

"You are an unsual Jetii." Jango spoke.

"Yeah, I get that a lot. And also I am not a Jedi, but a Jedaii." Van said. "There is a difference." He said. "But I'll explain that later. Right now, there are actually some people who would like to speak to you."

Raising his right arm up to his mouth Van activated the comlink atop it. "You can come in now." He spoke.

A moment after Van did so a section of the wall behind him slid open, and two people stepped up to the table.

It was Komari and Dooku.

Seeing this Jango's rage spiked and he lost all control.

"You!!!" He roared. "I'll kill you!!!" Jango snarled.

He then moved to pull hit blaster pistols out of his holsters and kill both Dooku and Komari, his own death be damned.

But before Jango could inact his plan he found he couldn't move an inch.

Which was courtesy of Van, who was using telekinesis to hold Jango in place.

"Ugh!!!" Let me go!!" I'll kill these kriffing Jetiise!!!!"

Ignoring Jango's rage fueled words Van continued holding him in place, until eventually he calmed down.

Yet Van still didn't let up his telekinesis, since he sensed the large amount of hatred and murderous intent Jango still held toward Dooku and Komari.

Which he expected.

Considering their shared past on Galidraan.

But if Van's plans for the Mandalorians and Jedaii Order, along with the Galactic Systems Alliance, to become comrades are to happen. Then the issue around Galidraan needs to be settled.

Which Dooku and Komari agreed with, hence why they are in front of Jango right now.

"So, you came to finish the job you did years ago huh?!" Jango roared.

"No, we did not." Dooku spoke.

"Actually, we came to say. We're sorry." Komari said.

"Sorry, sorry. Is that all you have to kriffing say?!" Jango shouted. "After taking away my vod's all you can say is sorry?!!" The bounty hunter shouted in anguish.

"Yes." Komari replied. Looking right at Jango as she did. "I wish we could do more, I wish I could take back everything that happened that day. I truly do."

"As do I." Dooku added. "My former apprentice and I do not expect your forgiveness. We know you will likely hate us for the rest of your life, and that is absolutely your right. But despite this I would ask you work with us to help ensure what happened on Galidraan that day never happens again."

Hearing the words of Dooku and Komari, Jango became stunned.

Jetii, Jetii were in front of him admitting their mistakes and apologizing.

Completely stunning Jango for the second time today.

So much so he just sat for five minutes in utter silence.

Komari, Dooku, and Van not saying a word to him.

Since they could all sense the swirling emotions inside of Jango Fett.

Finally after five minutes passed Jango spoke up. "So, even after all this what if I still refuse your offer to take up the position of Mand'alor? What will you do to met then?" He asked.

"Nothing." Van replied. "We'll release you, pay you a nice sum of money for your time, and to keep your mouth shut about the Galactic Systems Alliance, reunite you with your sister, and handle the situation of the Mandalorians in some other way."

"Sister, what the kriff did you just say?" Jango asked.

"Your sister, Aria Fett. She's alive." Van said.

Stunning Jango for the third time today.

Since such things happen in threes.

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A/N: To be continued in the next chapter.

If you want to find out what happens, then you must stay tuned in to read it.