Title: Empire Earth

Author: Sythe

Rating: NC17 (just incase *eg*)

Characters: Original Female, SW characters

Category: What if, Het, Smut (well duh!) blah, blah, blah…

Feedback: Yes please! Iridonian_Moon@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just borrow them for my fics. I received no money in its creation.

~Part X~

All I feel as consciousness returns is pain. I don´t want to open my eyes, I just want to fall back to sleep and hope that everything I've been through the last 15 days is nothing but one crazy nightmare. But I know better. And I slowly begin to recall all that had taken place…before I blacked out. Or, more truthfully…I fainted…right in front of the most infamous and cunning Bounty Hunter to ever live – Boba Fett.

I feel my pride receive a nasty blow, and embarrassment seeps in to fill the new space. No one would want to faint the way I did – the coward's way, but it happened nether the less and I cannot change what happened. Yet I can try to make up for lost time. I have to move, now. It's time I continue on my journey, and this time in a new land – England. But first…I must get up.

Without opening my eyes, I shift slightly, stretching aching muscles before I attempt to sit up… Suddenly I gasp, feeling an instant sharp stabbing pain in my left shoulder when I move it, and as a result…my eyes snap open…only to find my sight falling upon the last thing I ever expected to see in my room – Boba Fett! I find, once again, I cannot not move. Fear explodes throughout my body as my heart beats wildly within my chest, my wide-open eyes locked to the black visor of his helmet.

He does not react, does not move, only stands silently near the main door, his EE3 rifle cradled in his arms like a treasured thing, his hidden eyes watching me. Only now, being this close, I can sense him, yet I cannot touch his mind for he blocks me with a power and will I have never encountered before.

Noticing the throbbing of my shoulder, I glance down, wincing slightly with surprise and pain at a stitched up cut covered in a thick coating of clear jelly, and left to heal. I was hurt…and I did not even notice.

I return my eyes to the silent Bounty Hunter, finding his demeanor slightly relaxed, feet set just apart, shoulders loose and giving no sign of threat. It is a deception. He would have his blaster aimed at me faster than I would be able to stand. He is always prepared, never letting down his guard. Yet…he…he saved my life, and he has taken care of the cut upon my shoulder.

“Thank you,” Is all that will come to my lips, all I can say since my mind is not fully working yet. He has saved me, given me medical aid – the least I can do is show some gratitude! But, he says nothing, does nothing…except turns his head to the left, and following his gaze, I almost feel my heart burst through my chest when I find my suit, armor, jet pack and bag lying out and together upon the floor across the room.

“*Oh…no…*” I am instantly filled with horror, not knowing what to do except leap from the bed and race out of the room for my life and never look back… “*I've been found out!*”

“Who are you?”

I almost choke when I hear him speak, utterly in disbelief and surprise, not quite sure if I should believe my ears or not.

“Answer me, woman.”

“I am no one…nobody.” I remark somewhat cryptically, turning my eyes from my suit, back to Boba Fett´s visor before dropping them to the blanket covering me. It is then when I realize, to my shock, the blanket is the ONLY thing covering me – I'm totally naked! “No one worth your trouble, bounty hunter.”

There is a sudden wave of irritation in the air. My answers are not to his liking, from what I sense of him. My defiance in giving a straight answer is part of my recently learned tactics - if I don't really give an answer, but dance about it, I can anger my captor or opponent. Anger that will cause him to make mistakes and mistakes, in turn, I can use against him. But I fear…this certain Bounty Hunter will get the better of me.

“Do what you want to me – I will tell you nothing you wish to hear.”

The room is dead silent for a few long, lingering minutes, and when the silence is abruptly broken, I almost call my lightsaber to my hand in instinctive reaction.

“You have nothing to fear from me,” Boba Fett takes a few steps forward, lowering his rifle into a more relaxed position in his arm. “I will not harm you, that is not my intention.”

I find myself at a loss for words, confused by what he has just said and the fact that I saw him leading Imperial Stormtroopers down the center of Chicago only a few short days ago. But slowly…my surprise begins to turn to weariness…and all that he has said and will say is nothing but lies. Yet…something…tells me that he is being as sincere as he could ever possibly be. And the thought…frightens me.

“How…how do I know that? How do I know I can trust your word?”

I sense hesitation, choosing his words carefully before speaking once more, his helmet cocking ever so minutely forward.

“I do not lie. You know this – you can feel the truth in my words…Force user.” Boba Fett answers with just a note of spite, now standing at the foot of the bed, ever so much closer to me than I would like.

“Maybe I do, but what's to stop you from…changing your mind anytime soon?”

“Nothing.” Fett turns his head to one side, his attention upon my Mandalorian attire, before returning his attention to me. And with a movement of his arm, he tosses something upon the bed beside my feet. “I believe this is yours. Maybe it will change your mind about my honor.”

My eyes look from Boba Fett to the object upon the bed, finding a long silvery metal object… My lightsaber! Quickly I call it to my hand, finding a sense of relief from the impact it makes against my palm. I look it over, checking for damage and any possible…alterations that might have been done to it. And with surprised eyes, I look up to Fett, not quite believing what he has just done.

“My lightsaber? But…”

“To return a sense of control, and trust.” He answers my unspoken question, lowering his rifle to his side to lean against his thigh, and taking a few steps back from the foot of the bed, he turns his back to me, peering out the window, hiding within the shadows of the room. “Now rest…Solara Sarin.”

“H-“

“Shh…rest now. Questions later.” Fett suddenly cuts me off, not once turning his masked eyes from the window before him. He is dead serious – I can feel it in the currents of the Force. I don't dare attempt to try and talk to him; but he is right, I must sleep. I can feel how the dull pain of my body drains the energy away and I find myself yawning. With a soft sigh I lie back upon the bed, rolling carefully onto my side…my lightsaber in my hand beside me.

The night is long. I can only manage a restless sleep, knowing the Bounty Hunter watches and listens so near by. It is near dawn and the early morning light is slowly beginning to filter into the room through the gaps between the curtains. I keep finding myself thinking and wondering about Boba Fett and why he is helping me…and how…he knows my true name.

Slowly I wake to feeling something touching my arm, shoulder, upper chest and neck. It feels…good and I cannot help the soft moan that escapes. Whatever it is…it feels strange but good and I don't want it to stop. But I open my eyes and almost scream in instant fear as I find Boba Fett sitting upon the bed beside me, his bare hands touching, massaging and inspecting the areas surrounding my sutured wound. Not only can I not speak, I cannot move as I watch his long fingered hands work, and while one hand holds to my lightsaber, the other grasps hold of his upper arm in an almost deathgrip.

“Do no fear, I am only inspecting your wound. When I brought you here and laid you on the bed, I found the gash upon your shoulder. Your clothing has been destroyed by those who attacked you; I just removed what was left and covered you with the blanket.”

Once more, he answers unspoken questions, providing a reason as to why I am lying before him as naked as the day I was born…and how I got here. I find I cannot create a sentence coherent enough to convey my thoughts, and when I do, all that comes out is silence.

I then notice that his hands no longer move but remain lying upon my upper arm and just above my half exposed breast, and turning my eyes, looking up to him, I see his helmeted head turned in a certain direction toward me, watching me. His eyes, though absolutely hidden, I can see them looking me over but not far from my own eyes…I can see them with my senses and my mind's eye.

“You must rise and dress.” Fett exclaims, abruptly pulling away, changing my sense of him completely as he stands and moves away from the bed…and away from me, returning back to the window to keep a look out. “I believe you were looking for something, were you not?”

“I...eh…yes,” I am confused – and not only by his sudden change. “I don't understand. You…you are letting me go?”

“You were never my prisoner. You are free to go as you wish. But know this, I will know where you are and what you are doing at all times. For your own protection.”

Though still baffled, I hesitate a moment before rising from the bed, holding the sheet about my naked body with one hand and my lightsaber with the other. Quickly I enter the adjoining bathroom, despite knowing Fett will not turn and look, and shutting the door behind me, I lock it as quietly as I am able.

I lean back against the door, letting out a deep sigh, thoughts racing in my head about the Bounty Hunter in the other room.

“*Of course…for my own protection. Does this man think me incapable of defending myself?*” I think with a soft grumble as I step away from the door, dropping the sheet to the floor and step into the shower. “*One of these days, someone is going to surprise him…and it might just be me!*”

The water feels so good and I just stand there under the showerhead, letting the falling water cascade and run over me, letting my worries and bad thoughts be swept away with the grime from what has happened this past night. Letting everything flow from me with the water…and down the drain.

Leaning about against the wall, the water falling down on me, I catch myself almost falling asleep again, startling myself awake. Reluctantly, I turn shut off the water and step out, wrapping a towel about me as I turn to stand before the mirror. And raising my eyes a gasp escapes my mouth as I look upon the woman standing there before me on the other side of the glass.

She looks like me in everyway…and yet…she does not. She is me…but…there is something about her that makes her different. Her eyes…they are darker than my own. Her skin is much paler…and there are hints of scarring upon her almost unblemished skin. There is a harsh seriousness to her…and a strange darkness surrounds her like an aura. For some reason, I know I should fear her…but I do not. And suddenly, she speaks.

“Do you know who I am?”

“I…you are…me…”

“That I am and more…so much more.” The woman grins a dangerous grin, but her eyes seem to know something for they glitter with deviousness and…something else...

“What do you want?”

“I have come to give you a message, and a warning.”

A chill suddenly races down my spine as I-she completely changes her demeanor. I feel a pang of fear creeping through me, bringing a rush of goosebumps to my skin…and I know…I should be very afraid.

“You must be strong for you are nearing the hardest and most despairing part of your journey. Soon you will come to a pass in the road…and you must choose. But choose wisely…” Suddenly she begins to fade into the darkness behind her, and before she is gone I hear her last fading words. “Beware the paths you take, the decisions you make. Trust no one.”

My eyes snap open with a jerk and I cry out in confusion, disorientation and fear as I find Boba Fett hovering over me, holding me carefully in his lap. I am still in the bathroom…but I find myself lying upon the tiled floor. Immediately I try to sit up only to groan aloud in pain.

“Easy, do not move.” Boba Fett says in a surprisingly soft, low voice as he looks me over with his hidden eyes. I can sense his concern, though he does his greatest to keep all emotions locked away behind a wall stronger than titanium.

“W…what happened? Why am I on the floor?”

“I heard something happen. I broke the door down and found you lying unconscious upon the floor.”

“How…how long was I out?”

“Several minutes.”

“And…you've been here all this time?”

Boba Fett is silent for a few lingering moments, sensing as he chooses his words carefully before answering. “I have.” Is all he says before turning his attention away, looking about the small room, then returns his attention to me.

Before I can ask anymore, he abruptly slips his arms under me, lifts me from the floor as he rises to his feet and carries me from the bathroom to the bed where he carefully lays me down. I find I can´t speak, looking up at him as he stands over me so close that I can almost hear him breathe…I can almost reach out and touch him.

There is hesitation in his presence, a caution and the instant raising of an emotional wall is erected between him and I. Guarding himself. I sense he is weary – not of me, but of my Force abilities. But despite all that I feel from him, he carefully looks me over with highly trained eyes as his special helmet scans for any injuries.

“I´m alright,” I exclaim as reassuring as I can, trying to sit up, only to be pressed back down upon the bed, Boba Fett´s gloved hands upon my shoulders.

“No, you have injured your head. It would be best for you to remain where you are and rest.”

“I have things to take care of! And as you said, I am not your prisoner.” I try to sit up again, but Boba Fett holds me down, putting his weight upon my shoulders, not letting me get up.

“I did say such a thing, but I can hold you here against your will if I so wish,” Fett returns, noticeably irritated yet calm in composure. “I will-“

He is suddenly cut off as a soft sound is heard from within his helmet, catching his immediate attention. Expecting him to stand and begin talking, he looks back down at me pinned down under his hands, his hidden eyes looking over my face as he answers the signal.

“Boba Fett. Yes, Father, my mission goes well. I am unsure as to how long I will be away. I will contact you in 3 days time. Out.”

“*Things are just getting weirder and weirder…*” I cant help but think, keeping silent, knowing that if I say a word, I might be found out by someone other than the Bounty Hunter lingering over me. And when the transmission is complete, I can´t help but wonder what that was all about.

“Fett…I…” A loud sound rumbles through my middle, from one side to the other, immediately accompanied by a soft chuckle coming from under the T-visor helmet looking down where the growl had come from. And I feel an instant rush of flushing heat travel up my chest to my face.

“It seems, someone is warning us of it's need for nourishment.” Boba Fett exclaims, seeing the blushing of my skin out of embarrassment. Abruptly, he stands from the bed, turns toward the front door and heads toward it. “When I return, I hope to find you still upon that bed, resting. I shall not be long.”

Then he is gone, the door closing behind him. And as I lie here, my eyes looking at the door across from the bed, my surprise and shock doubles as it hits me…Boba Fett laughed!

~Continued in Part XI~