Suddenly, the ships began to lift off into the sky, and a gnawing sense of suspicion gripped me as I noticed the clones emerging from the shadows. Their armored forms were unmistakable, but their presence here was a puzzle. I tilted my head, confusion settling in. "What happened?" I asked, my voice laced with uncertainty.

Obi-Wan flashed a small, knowing smile, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "I called for backup," he replied, his tone calm but resolute.

And as if summoned by his words, a wave of Jedi poured into the fray, their lightsabers igniting with brilliant flashes of blue, green, and purple. They moved as one, slicing through the hordes of monstrous Geonosian warriors with the grace and precision of a well-oiled machine. The battle was on, and I was more than ready to join.

My gaze shifted to Jango Fett's sword, still clutched in his hands. With swift, practiced motion, I drew it, the blade gleaming in the sun's fading light. He yelped as the sword's edge sliced into his palm, the red blood quickly staining the metal. Armed now with two swords—one silver, one gold—I stepped into the heart of the battle. The metallic clang of blade meeting chitinous armor echoed as I moved with fluid grace, cutting down the monstrous Geonosians who dared to stand in my way.

But even in the chaos, Jango's glare pierced through the noise, his cold eyes locked onto me. He lowered his helmet with grim determination and unsheathed his blaster, pointing it directly at me. Without hesitation, I dodged his shot, a grin playing on my lips as I danced around him with ease.

"I didn't want it to come to this, bounty hunter," I called over my shoulder, my voice calm, but carrying the weight of unspoken challenge. "But you've left me no choice."

In a swift, powerful movement, I grabbed Jango and slammed him against the nearby drywall. The force of the impact caused his blaster to slip from his grip, clattering to the ground. His face twisted in anger and disbelief as he struggled, but he couldn't break free.

And then, from above, a small voice cut through the tension. A child, perhaps no older than ten, with curly brown hair peered over the balcony above, his wide eyes filled with shock and fear. "Father!" he cried out, his voice high-pitched and trembling.

A heavy weight settled in my chest at the sound. The thought of taking Jango's life with his son watching made my stomach twist. Morally, it just wasn't right.

Before I could think of a way to diffuse the situation, Mace Windu—one of the Jedi Masters I had only heard stories about—leaped down from the balcony, his purple blade slicing through the air with blinding speed. In one smooth motion, he cut a deep wound across Jango's abdomen. The bounty hunter screamed in agony, slumping down to the floor in a heap, his life force rapidly draining away.

I winced, the sight of such raw violence too much to bear. It was brutal, messy, and ultimately unnecessary. I turned away from the grisly scene, trying to push the image from my mind. Mace gave me a subtle nod, acknowledging my presence, before moving off to handle the remaining Geonosians.

I muttered under my breath, "Hey, take it easy," as I rushed to Jango's side. His breath came in shallow gasps, his body trembling in the aftermath of his wound. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the dusty floor of the arena.

"Don't," I said softly, my hand pressed over his open wound. Despite the severity of his injuries, he still made an attempt to shoot me, his arm trembling as he reached for his blaster. "Please, I want to help you," I continued, my voice pleading now, desperate to do something, anything, to ease his suffering.

Jango's eyes flickered with disbelief as I held his gaze. There was a flicker of something in his expression, something that hinted at confusion, perhaps even gratitude. But time was running out for him.

The battle raged on around us, but in this small moment, I couldn't help but wonder if I could do something to make this war—this endless cycle of pain—stop.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

In the end, after what felt like an eternity of chaos, I managed to bind Jango's wound tightly with whatever cloth I could find, securing it with care. My hands moved with practiced precision, even though a part of me questioned the very nature of what I was doing. I helped him into the shadowed recesses of the inner corridor, where the battle couldn't reach us—at least, not yet.

"You'll be safe here," I said, my voice calm and steady, though my heart raced. "If anyone finds you, tell them not to touch you or to take you to the medics under the order of the Queen of the Universe." My words were firm, leaving little room for doubt or questioning. The tone in my voice left no room for misunderstanding, as if I had issued a decree that could not be ignored.

Jango's breath came in heavy, ragged gasps, his body still fighting to hold on despite the damage done. He looked at me, his dark eyes filled with confusion and disbelief. "Why...?" he asked, his voice hoarse, struggling with the weight of the question. "Why do you help me? I tried to kill you. I wanted to buy you."

I smiled softly, a serene yet somber expression taking over my features. I reached out and gently rubbed his dark hair, my fingers brushing through the strands in a motion of almost maternal care. "I'm not a killer, Jango," I answered, my words simple but true. My eyes softened as I stood up, slowly moving away from him.

Before I could turn and leave, a small figure approached—the curly-haired boy, the son of the bounty hunter, standing on shaky legs, still absorbing the violence and confusion around him. His wide eyes watched me carefully, as though unsure of what to make of my actions.

I couldn't help but glance back one last time at Jango, his expression caught somewhere between gratitude and wariness. With a final glance toward his son, I turned on my heel, heading back into the fray. The battle was far from over, and I knew my place was still out there, among the chaos, fighting not just for survival, but for something greater—something worth fighting for.