A Billion Lightyears From Here Now

It's difficult to tell how much time passes, without a window, but the guards switch more times than Dia can count. Some are friendlier, even chatting with Dia – though Boba remains sullen and silent the entire time. They are fed ration bars somehow worse than the slop Dia used to eat on Nal Hutta, but it could be worse. Dia wonders how it will compare to prison on Coruscant.

Finally, Dia and Boba are taken from their cell and brought to the hangar. Windu waits beside a transport, uncrossing his arms to gesture for Dia and Boba to step into the transport.

They fly down to Coruscant, and step out as the sun is rising over the planet.

Dia stops in his tracks, jaw dropping. They stand on a landing platform high in the sky, surrounded on all sides by towering, shining buildings. Speeders swarm around the sky like insects, and the rising sun casts a warm glow over everything.

"Are you alright?" Boba murmurs next to Dia, the most he's spoken to him since Dantooine.

Still stunned, Dia nods. "I've just never been to a city-planet before."

"This way," Windu says, motioning for Dia and Boba to follow him down the steps of the landing pad.

Dia waves goodbye to the clones staying with the transport, and hurries after Windu and the other handful of clones. The Jedi general leads them to a speeder on another landing pad, which takes them into the air alongside the thousands – no, it must be millions – of other ships buzzing around the city.

"Is it true the entire planet is a city?" Dia can't help but ask.

"Yes," Windu says. "The structures run deep beneath the crust of the planet, as well."

"Whoa…" Dia peers over the edge of the speeder in awe.

The speeder stops at a huge building, passing through several security checks before they're close enough for Dia to read the sign declaring it the "Republic Center for Military Operations."

Boba frowns. "Why are we here?" he demands.

Windu doesn't reply, but steps out of the speeder when it lands. "Remain here," he tells the clone escort.

"Yes, sir."

"Goodbye," Dia says to the clones. A couple of them wave as Dia tugs on Boba's arm, dragging him from the speeder.

The main building looms over them, a massive Republic symbol emblazoned above the entryway. Dia stares up at the red flag with the same symbol, fluttering high above him.

Windu brings them across the plaza, bustling with clones marching in perfect formation. These clones' armour is painted red. Dia wonders if it symbolizes anything, like with Mandalorian armour. He doesn't have a chance to ask Boba before they reach the entrance to the main building.

Inside is busier than outside, with clones all but sprinting around, carrying stacks of datapads or shouting commands over comms.

One un-helmeted clone skids to a stop in front of Windu. "General Windu, sir! How can I help you?"

"I have a meeting with Commander Fox," Windu says.

"I'll bring you to him, general." The clone's eyes flick to Dia, then widen when he sees Boba. "Are you – ?"

Boba looks away with a scowl.

"Can the children wait here?" Windu asks.

"Uh… yes. Yes, on the bench there is fine," the clone answers, pointing to an unoccupied bench near the door. "Please follow me, sir." With one more shocked glance at Boba, the clone leads Windu away.

Dia drags Boba with him to the bench. Boba keeps his gaze on his knees, hugged to his chest. Dia wishes he could shield his friend from the clones' stares and whispers, but all he can do is sit beside him.

After what feels like hours, Windu finally returns, with another clone. This one is older than most Dia has seen, or perhaps just more tired. He has dark shadows under his eyes, and grey tinges the dark hair around his temples. Every clone who passes by stops to salute him.

"Dia, Boba, this is Commander Fox," Windu says.

"I know," Boba grits out, glaring at Fox.

The commander spares an appraising glance at Dia, but his attention is mostly fixed on Boba.

"I didn't think I'd see you again," he remarks, his expression even and his tone neutral.

"Well, here I am," Boba spits.

They've met before? Dia still doesn't understand just what Boba's history with the clones is, but he doesn't want to press Boba if he doesn't want to share.

"I've arranged with the Jedi Council and with Commander Fox," Windu cuts into the conversation, "for the two of you to be absolved of prison time."

Dia lets out a breath of relief. "Really?"

Windu nods. "Instead, you will work with the Coruscant Guard for the equivalent of your prison sentence."

"Ha! Just give me the prison time," Boba sneers.

"Boba!" Dia hisses, startled. "Don't say that."

"Consider it community service," Fox says, undaunted. "You'll assist the Coruscant Guard with simple tasks and jobs."

Dia grabs Boba's wrist before he can say anything else. "We understand. For how long?" 

"Five years," Windu tells them. "Unfortunately, that's non-negotiable."

It takes a moment for Dia to absorb. "Five years," he repeats, his hand loosening around Boba's wrist. "That's…" That's more time than I was a slave, he thinks but doesn't say.

Boba's hand laces with Dia's. "Fine. What now?"

"I'll be leaving you under the commander's care. But the Jedi Temple is always open to you, should you need anything," Windu says, his expression sincere.

"Thank you," Dia murmurs, clutching Boba's hand like a lifeline.

Windu leaves the Center, and Fox watches him for a moment before turning back to Dia and Boba. His expression softens slightly.

"Hound?" he calls.

Another clone appears at his elbow. This one's helmet is different, with fabric flaps over his cheeks, painted to look like a toothy maw. "Yes, commander?" He must spot Boba, since he takes a startled half-step backwards. "Um, sir?"

"Take these two on patrol while we prepare their quarters," Fox orders. He leans to whisper something in Hound's ear, and the other clone nods.

"Right away, sir." Hound removes his helmet, shaking out curly dark hair that reaches his stubbled chin. He tucks his helmet under his arm and smiles warmly at Dia and Boba. "Hi, Boba. And it's nice to meet you. What's your name?"

"Um…" Dia glances at Boba, who gives a small nod. "I'm Dia."

"I'm Hound." He holds out a gloved hand, which Dia hesitantly shakes. "You two have been stuck on a destroyer for the past few rotations, right? Would you like to go for a walk?"

Dia nods. That does sound nice.

"Then, right this way." Still smiling, Hound leads Dia and Boba out of the foyer and down a corridor. "Just going to stop by the kennels," he says, taking a turn down a side hallway.

"Kennels?" Dia echoes curiously.

He soon sees what Hound means: a side room is lined with stable-like enclosures, and the sound of growling reminds Dia of the mastiffs on Tatooine.

Taking a leash from a hook on the wall, Hound walks to one of the kennels and unlocks the door.

"They are mastiffs!" Dia exclaims with a smile, seeing the scaly, toothy animal in the kennel.

Boba stiffens beside him as Hound steps into the kennel, making cooing noises and clasping the leash to the mastiff's collar.

"Aww, so cute," Dia whispers as the mastiff affectionately bumps its nose against Hound's legs.

"This is Grizzer," Hound says brightly, leading the mastiff from the kennel. "He's friendly, don't worry."

Grizzer sniffs Dia and Boba, dripping drool over their boots. Boba tentatively pats Grizzer's head, and he presses up into Boba's hand happily. A faint smile ghosts over Boba's face.

Hound brings them outside through a side door, and leads them in a ring around the Center. They pass a few clone patrols on the way, who nod to Hound and stare at Boba. Grizzer is especially affectionate towards Boba, always bumping into his legs and begging for head scratches.

Boba doesn't seem to mind – Dia figures Grizzer must remind Boba of the Tuskens, and is hit with another wave of guilt.

They reach the front of the Center, and Boba pauses, eyes locked on something in the distance. Dia follows his gaze to the large monument of orange stone across the plaza.

"What is that?" Dia asks.

Hound looks up from petting Grizzer, and his expression falls. "Ah. You can go over if you like, Boba. I'll just… I'll wait over here."

Dia doesn't understand, but he starts to step back to give Boba room. Boba grabs his hand before he can.

"Come with me," he says gruffly.

"Okay." Dia lets Boba hold his hand too tightly, and walks with him to the monument.

It towers above them, engraved with numbers Dia doesn't understand. Boba stares up at it, still clutching Dia's hand. Dia says nothing, reading through the numbers. There are so many of them, and a suspicion starts to form in Dia's mind.

"They're clones," Boba says after a moment, his voice raw. "The numbers are their designations."

Dia winces. His inkling had been right. "I'm sorry," he murmurs.

"They were killed on Geonosis."

"I remember hearing about the battle of Geonosis."

A tear drips down Boba's cheek. "My father was killed on Geonosis."

"Oh, Boba." Dia's heart aches for his friend. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," Boba mutters, letting go of Dia's hand to swipe angrily at his tears.

"Maybe not that, but this is my fault. And I'm so sorry." Once the words start, they don't stop, and soon Dia is choking on sobs. "I-it's my fault we were caught, I let the hostages go, a-and now you've lost everything!"

"Dia..."

Dia wipes at his tears, not daring to look up and meet Boba's eyes. "I- I tried to fix it, b-but maybe it would've been better if we were in prison. I just… I just hope I didn't make things worse."

"Dia."

"Y-you can… you can hate me, if you want. It's my fault." Dia takes a shuddering breath. "Please, hate me."

Arms wrap around Dia suddenly, enclosing him in warmth. "I don't hate you," Boba whispers against his ear.

Sobbing, Dia clutches at the back of Boba's shirt.

"It's not your fault," Boba continues, hugging him tightly, grounding him to the moment. "I'm glad you freed the hostages. I'm just sorry you can't go back to your family. It's not your fault," he says again, his voice trembling. "It's mine, for dragging you into my revenge."

Dia shakes his head fervently. "No. No, I swore a life debt. I'm with you, Boba, until the end. Whatever you do, wherever you go."

Boba draws back slightly, his expression drawn with concern. "Are you sure?"

"More sure than I've ever been of anything," Dia promises with a teary smile. "I'm glad you don't hate me."

Boba leans forward and presses his forehead to Dia's. "I could never hate you, Dia."

"We're gonna get through this," Dia whispers. "Five years will be over in a flash, you'll see."

Boba chuckles, drawing back. "It'll definitely be easier with you."

They look up at the Republic Center for Military Operations, looming above them in the light of the rising sun. Hands joined, they stand together against whatever their future might hold.