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Poof has a love-hate relationship with the Saga. On the one hand, it’s where he has his shinning moments as a Jedi Knight on the Jedi Council. On the other hand, he dies during the Saga era, and that wasn’t much fun at all.

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Author	Topic: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - New replies Sept. 9
Wilhelmina Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 8/26/04 12:50am Subject: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - New replies Sept. 9 - Date Edited: 9/9/04 8:55pm (2 edits total) Edited By: Wilhelmina
	Hello, thanks for dropping in! I hope you enjoy. Timeframe: About three years before AOTC; Boba is ten years old. Characters: Boba Fett, Taun We, Jango Fett. Summary: One of Boba's literature lessons doesn't go quite as planned. Notes: I don't read EU, and I therefore don't write EU. If there's already something out there about Boba Fett's childhood, I haven't got any idea what it is. It's much more fun to make it up. Disclaimer: Star Wars is not mine. It was created by and belongs to George Lucas. Thank you, George. Feedback: Much appreciated. (For those of you who've been waiting for an update on Hajii's Children, fear not! It comes apace. This is just a one-shot to see if I can still write Star Wars after being out of practice for nearly a year.) ~~ "What's this?" Boba asked, scowling but taking the proffered datapad from Taun We anyway. "A selection of poetry for your studies," said Taun We. "Told you I don't like that stuff," said Boba, tossing it onto the table. "I think perhaps that beginning with the epic love poems of Kashyyyk was a misjudgment on my part," Taun We responded calmly. She always responded calmly. "I have chosen a more suitable subject matter for today. One with which you are more familiar." She reached down and slid the datapad soundlessly back across the table. Boba snorted doubtfully. "You must include poetry in your studies, Boba," said Taun We. "Poetry illumines the symmetry of the galaxy, and is itself symmetry. If you allow it, it will enlighten you." She traced a circle in the air with her long fingers, half with each hand. Perfectly symmetrical. Easy for her, thought Boba. But he picked up the datapad again, and started scrolling through its contents, hoping Taun We would be satisfied and leave. She was, and did. It wasn't that he disliked Taun We. She'd always been kind to him, looked after him when his father was gone and supervised his education, and smelled faintly of salt water, which was sometimes better than the sterile non-smell of his quarters. It wasn't that he disliked learning, either. Not in general. Just lately. His father had always told him--as soon as Boba had learned about the clones--how much smarter he was than any of them. How he was braver and quicker and had a stronger will than they could ever hope to have. Usually, Boba believed it. But Taun We's curriculum had begun to include more and more galactic literature lately, and it was hard. Hard to read and harder still to understand. The epic love poems of Kashyyyk were entirely too much. If he was so smart, how come he didn't get it? "Bloody poetry," he muttered to himself. Today's batch was as bad as yesterday's. Most of it was in languages he didn't know. Not a single one was in Huttese. The rest, the ones in Basic, might as well have been Wookiee. He didn't know half of the words and the sentences were put together all wrong. What was the point of having more suitable subject matter if he couldn't even tell what it was? What was the big deal about poetry, anyway? He slowed at one of the last poems in the bunch. It was short--just a single verse--and the words looked easy. According to the heading it was a translation from the old Alderaanian by somebody who'd died too long ago to care for. Force be with the motherless boys The little mouths that never nursed Whose wails we're cursed to keep Who never heard a mother's voice Singing them to sleep Slumber born of stranger's song O fitful squall! And when your motherless boy Is a motherless man, Force be with us all. Boba's brow furrowed. He read the thing again. What was the matter with being motherless? He'd learned that his kind, and many others, came in male and female varieties and that when these had children they were father and mother. But he'd learned also that some people only needed one parent to reproduce. He had a father. Wasn't that all he needed? He looked up at the sound of the door sliding open to see his father walk in. "All right then, son?" asked his father. "Learn anything new today?" "Dad," said Boba, "what's the matter with not having a mother?" "What're you talking about?" asked his father. "Nothing's wrong with it. You know that." "It's my lesson for today," Boba explained, holding the datapad out to him. He took it and scanned the verse, brow furrowing in a likeness of Boba's as he did. He tossed the datapad on the table. "It's trash," he said. He banged on the comm for Taun We and started pacing the room. "Don't you let stuff like that get to you, son. All you need is me. You're smarter, you're braver, you're quicker and stronger than any flower-faced mama's boy in the galaxy, got that?" "Yeah," said Boba, a shade uncertainly. A buzz and a swish announced Taun We's arrival. His father paced to the door. "Do you require something, Jango?" she asked, inclining her head graciously. "I require," he growled, "that I take over my son's education from now on. Got that?" "Certainly," replied Taun We, not perturbed in the least. "Will that be all?" "That will be all." Taun We left, not making a sound as she strode down the corridor; his father clomped across the carpeted floor and took the seat across the table from Boba. "Tomorrow," he said, "we'll start with the history of Nails Nollet, who singlehandedly defeated an army of mercenaries. Without his mother. All right?" Boba put on a smile, for his father's sake. It wasn't entirely a lie. He did feel a little better. "All right." ~~ nibbles fingernails Rusty? What do you think? -----signature----- Questions about the Archive? Ask me! http://fanfic.theforce.net/
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Amidala_Skywalker Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Jul '01	Date Posted: 8/26/04 1:37am Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC )
	Nice to see you again, Mina . I enjoyed your piece. Honestly, I don't think you're rusty. You still have a very pleasant style. Good characterisation and a lovely shortie. Amsie -----signature----- Amsié, Crest of Handmaidens . ___ TF.N Archive Reviewer ___ Battlestar Galactica is the new way.
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Fate Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 8/26/04 1:41am Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC )
	grins Loved it. I clicked on this as soon as I saw it, and I'm glad I did. You've done a wonderful job of painting not only Boba and his father, but Taun We as well. I seriously doubt that you have been, are now, or could ever be 'rusty' - not with this skill. "What's this?" Boba asked, scowling but taking the proffered datapad from Taun We anyway. "A selection of poetry for your studies," said Taun We. "Told you I don't like that stuff," said Boba, tossing it onto the table. beams Yep - this is definitely Boba, the little rebel. He's just so adorably obstinate. "I think perhaps that beginning with the epic love poems of Kashyyyk was a misjudgment on my part," Taun We responded calmly. She always responded calmly. "I have chosen a more suitable subject matter for today. One with which you are more familiar." She reached down and slid the datapad soundlessly back across the table. Hmm... now that I've finished this, I wonder what Taun We's motives were in giving Boba this. What did she hope to accomplish? And I love the fact that you added, "She always responded calmly." That sentence alone is enough to convey a clear idea of her character. "You must include poetry in your studies, Boba," said Taun We. "Poetry illumines the symmetry of the galaxy, and is itself symmetry. If you allow it, it will enlighten you." She traced a circle in the air with her long fingers, half with each hand. Perfectly symmetrical. sighs She's trying to show him a better world, but I can't help wondering whether that'll do him much good, especially given the fact that he was basically born to fill his father's shoes. Would he have been better off never knowing of the light, that he might not long for it in the darkness? His father had always told him--as soon as Boba had learned about the clones--how much smarter he was than any of them. How he was braver and quicker and had a stronger will than they could ever hope to have. sighs I feel bad for the little guy - from babyhood, he's had these enormous shoes to fill, constantly being told about what he was capable of, and what he was destined to accomplish. That's a lot of stress for a little boy. He slowed at one of the last poems in the bunch. It was short--just a single verse--and the words looked easy. According to the heading it was a translation from the old Alderaanian by somebody who'd died too long ago to care for. nods It would be an Alderaanian to come up with something like this. winces Oh, my goodness, I just thought of something. Anakin - after the events of AOTC, Anakin became a motherless boy. And for this poem to be written by one of the people whose world he would eventually have a part in destroying... that's what I call tragic irony. Force be with the motherless boys The little mouths that never nursed Whose wails we're cursed to keep Who never heard a mother's voice Singing them to sleep Slumber born of stranger's song O fitful squall! And when your motherless boy Is a motherless man, Force be with us all. This is beautiful. The last three lines gave me chills. Did you write this? It's so... can't even think of the word Foreboding - there we go. It's incredibly foreboding. "It's trash," he said. He banged on the comm for Taun We and started pacing the room. "Don't you let stuff like that get to you, son. All you need is me. You're smarter, you're braver, you're quicker and stronger than any flower-faced mama's boy in the galaxy, got that?" Ooh - you sure have these Mandalorians down. A buzz and a swish announced Taun We's arrival. His father paced to the door. "Do you require something, Jango?" she asked, inclining her head graciously. I've said it before, but I'll say it again - you've written Taun We beautifully. I can see her in my mind's eye, taking her graceful steps. Taun We left, not making a sound as she strode down the corridor; his father clomped across the carpeted floor and took the seat across the table from Boba. grins Nice contrast. I bet he threw a booted leg on top of it, too. "Tomorrow," he said, "we'll start with the history of Nails Nollet, who singlehandedly defeated an army of mercenaries. Without his mother. All right?" "Without his mother." I loved how you isolated that sentence - you've really got their terse way of speaking down. And then, it's heartwrenching, too, because Jango really does love Boba - he's showing his love by trying to raise him to be as fiercely independent as he himself is - tough enough to take on the galaxy. Again, this was wonderful - I love reading about the Fetts, especially when it was done well - it definitely was in this case. Lovely, lovely, lovely, Wilhelmina. For freedom. For justice. Viva la Rebellion. -----signature----- "Lord Sidious promised us a reward! A-a handsome reward!" "I am your reward. You don't find me handsome?" - ROTS WARNING: Only misery lies beyond this link. http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/20040924 Destiné, Handmaiden of the Crest.
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VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 8/26/04 3:48am Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC )
	I liked this on so many levels! On the surface, it was a very well written story of a little boy forced to learn about "boring" stuff that he doesn't like and that he doesn't think will ever help him anyway. I used to teach high school English and I' very familiar with this! But on a deeper level, there a foreshadowing here not only for Boba Fett but for Anakin Skywalker as well. VERY nicely done! And if you're rusty I can't wait to see what you write when you're not rusty. This was beautifully done! -----signature----- If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories. Army Mom! HOOAH! Adopt a soldier: http://soldiersangels.org/
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Shaindl Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 8/26/04 9:02am Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC )
	Mina, it is such a pleasure to see you here again! Your writing has lost nothing, don't worry. I loved how Taun We was trying to show him something that he could possibly relate to, but Jango totally eradicated the possibility. Great job! Have to admit though that I was Boba as a kid. It's only lately that I've come to enjoy some poetry. Shaindl PS: Can't wait to see Hajji's Children back up and running. Definitely the most original fic to grace these boards. -----signature----- Halfway Moment - Qui, Obi, Anakin AU - http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/20110461/?0 - UPDATED JULY 3!
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Jedikma Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 8/26/04 9:16am Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC )
	Interesting little story. I loved the poem, it was sad and sadly foreboding. Nicely written. -----signature----- Twice in a Lifetime 7/31 http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16813029 A Quiet Afternoon http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/23305946 follow up vig to: A New Order http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/17525231
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Wilhelmina Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 8/28/04 4:24am Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - Author replies Aug. 28
	Amsie: It's great to see you too! Glad you liked it. Fate: Ooo, long reply. I clicked on this as soon as I saw it, I can tell why from your icon. I think I'll have to hie me over to your story. Hmm... now that I've finished this, I wonder what Taun We's motives were in giving Boba this. What did she hope to accomplish? I had vague ideas about this, but you've forced me to come up with a Theory of What Taun We Was Thinking. (Bear with me.) Okay. Taun We is used to dealing with clones, whose growth and learning rates are accelerated. Boba's not accelerated, but as a very young child he probably would have picked things up pretty quickly, as most young children do. Now he's slowed down somewhat, but Taun We hasn't. She's probably slowed the lessons to match his ability in maths and sciences, where it's harder to fake comprehension, but Boba's probably been hiding the fact that he doesn't understand everything language-related he's being given. He thinks he should understand it, and he doesn't ask for help. Boba not comprehending the epic love poems of Kashyyyk might have been Taun We's first indication that she needed to revise her lesson plans. First she's trying something she thinks he can better relate to (motherlessness as opposed to romantic love), in case that's the problem. (If she'd had another chance to recalibrate, she'd probably have gotten it right.) The poems she gives him this time have a common theme--motherlessness--and some of them probably put a positive spin on it or at least aren't so foreboding as the single one Boba chooses to read. I think she meant to give him a broad spectrum of views on a single topic. I don't think she meant to upset him. Whew. Does that work? That's a lot of stress for a little boy. No kidding. It would be an Alderaanian to come up with something like this. Want to know a secret? I wrote the poem months ago as a challenge to myself to come up with GFFA poetry. Once it was written, I knew it would have been done by an Alderaanian for the very reasons you mention. When I came back to write a vignette, the story sprang up around the poem. Ooh - you sure have these Mandalorians down. Hehe -- thanks! Thank you for the entire review--you're very insightful. I think that's the first time someone has picked up on every nuance I purposely wrote into a piece, and then some. VaderLVR64: A new face! I used to teach high school English and I'm very familiar with this! You're very, very brave. But on a deeper level, there a foreshadowing here not only for Boba Fett but for Anakin Skywalker as well. VERY nicely done! I'm glad that was apparent. I wondered if it would be. Thank you very much! Shaindl: Lovely to see you again! Have to admit though that I was Boba as a kid. It's only lately that I've come to enjoy some poetry. Thanks for the review! (More Hajii in September. ) Jedikma: Thank you very much! -----signature----- Questions about the Archive? Ask me! http://fanfic.theforce.net/
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cleveland1000 Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 8/28/04 9:02am Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - Author replies Aug. 28
	very nice job! and i would like to correct that poem when the motherless boy becomes a father and motherless boy force help us all. Boba and Aniken Skywalker are both wonderful examples of that dont you think -----signature----- "There is no emotion there is peace. There is no ignorance there is knowledge. There is no passion there is serenity. There is no death there is the force." fanfic Open Your Eyes http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=20335319&start=20614766
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Wilhelmina Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 8/28/04 5:41pm Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - Author replies Aug. 28
	cleveland1000: Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. -----signature----- Questions about the Archive? Ask me! http://fanfic.theforce.net/
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Jedi_of_Imladris Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 9/8/04 3:16pm Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - Author replies Aug. 28
	Very nice story! Your story has a very good flow to it, reading it was very enjoyable. -----signature----- God Bless America To Be an Organa: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22397215/p1/?6
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AnakinsHeir Registered: May '04	Date Posted: 9/8/04 3:19pm Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - Author replies Aug. 28
	I just noticed this, and I must say "well done!" I would never guess you were out of practice. I'm jealous. -----signature----- Let Me Go http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/18359174/?2 Master to JediCallista_1_6_e54 A Mother's Wishes http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/20272243/?0
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Jedi_Chani Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 9/8/04 3:23pm Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - Author replies Aug. 28
	"Tomorrow," he said, "we'll start with the history of Nails Nollet, who singlehandedly defeated an army of mercenaries. Without his mother. All right?" Boba put on a smile, for his father's sake. It wasn't entirely a lie. He did feel a little better. "All right." That was simply beautiful. -----signature----- "I've got a bad feeling about this..." "The enemy to be feared the most is the one who wears the face of a friend."
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Wilhelmina Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 9/9/04 8:55pm Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - New replies Sept. 9
	Jedi_of_Imladris: I'm glad you think so. AnakinsHeir: Awww, thanks! Jedi_Chani: Boba's got his problems, but he does love his father. Thanks for the reply. -----signature----- Questions about the Archive? Ask me! http://fanfic.theforce.net/
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red_rose_knight Registered: Sep '01	Date Posted: 9/10/04 5:44am Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - New replies Sept. 9
	I really enjoyed this piece. It was an interesting look into Boba's "upbringing". Lovely poem. -----signature----- The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon. – Robert Cromier
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Fate Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 9/10/04 2:55pm Subject: RE: Motherless Boys ~@~ ( Boba Fett vignette, pre-AOTC ) - New replies Sept. 9
	sighs in disgust My computer has been being a royal pain, Wilhelmina - otherwise, there's no way I'd have waited so long to reply to your kind reply. Anyway. Fate: Ooo, long reply. As I tried to say weeks ago, this is a habit I've picked of from two of my most awesome readers, solojones and Terr_Mys. They've been so dedicated with their feedback, and always had such insightful things to say, I've lately found myself doing the same. I clicked on this as soon as I saw it, I can tell why from your icon. I think I'll have to hie me over to your story. grins That would be wonderful, Wilhelmina - I'd love to have you over there, and I think you'd enjoy it. I had vague ideas about this, but you've forced me to come up with a Theory of What Taun We Was Thinking. (Bear with me.) I always love the "what-were-they-thinking-and-why-did-they-do-that" theories. Okay. Taun We is used to dealing with clones, whose growth and learning rates are accelerated. Boba's not accelerated, but as a very young child he probably would have picked things up pretty quickly, as most young children do. Now he's slowed down somewhat, but Taun We hasn't. She's probably slowed the lessons to match his ability in maths and sciences, where it's harder to fake comprehension, but Boba's probably been hiding the fact that he doesn't understand everything language-related he's being given. He thinks he should understand it, and he doesn't ask for help. Oh, this is definitely Boba - you obviously understand him very well. And once again, I feel bad for the little guy, growing up under so much pressure. He's convinced that he's the best - he knows it, so when he feels that he isn't quite keeping up, it must be a terrible thing to bear. Boba not comprehending the epic love poems of Kashyyyk might have been Taun We's first indication that she needed to revise her lesson plans. grins I really laughed at that part, because it made it obvious that for all her solicitude, Taun We knows nothing of little boys. First she's trying something she thinks he can better relate to (motherlessness as opposed to romantic love), in case that's the problem. giggles Because the fact that he simply 'doesn't like that stuff' is clearly unacceptable. The poems she gives him this time have a common theme--motherlessness--and some of them probably put a positive spin on it or at least aren't so foreboding as the single one Boba chooses to read. I think she meant to give him a broad spectrum of views on a single topic. I don't think she meant to upset him. Naturally, this makes me wonder whether he was 'meant' to read that particular poem. grins and points to username Because, after all, if he hadn't confronted his father about it, Jango wouldn't have yanked him from the tutelage of Taun We. Whew. Does that work? grins Beautifully. Want to know a secret? I wrote the poem months ago as a challenge to myself to come up with GFFA poetry. Once it was written, I knew it would have been done by an Alderaanian for the very reasons you mention. When I came back to write a vignette, the story sprang up around the poem. Oh, my goodness - you wrote this? I was sure it was the SW equivalent of some other famous piece of poetry that I'd simply never heard of. But... wow. Poetry's pretty hard for me to write deliberately, like just sit down and decide to do it, and now I have a new appreciation for yours. Ooh - you sure have these Mandalorians down. Hehe -- thanks! grins No problem. Thank you for the entire review--you're very insightful. I think that's the first time someone has picked up on every nuance I purposely wrote into a piece, and then some. Oh, thanks very much! I don't reply nearly as often as I should, so when I do, I try to make them meaningful. Because I know, as a writer, what 'good' feedback, or even just detailed feedback, can do to boost creativity, and keep the Muse happy. Thanks for taking the time to reply to my reply, and sorry it took me so long to get back to you. For freedom. For justice. Viva la Rebellion. -----signature----- "Lord Sidious promised us a reward! A-a handsome reward!" "I am your reward. You don't find me handsome?" - ROTS WARNING: Only misery lies beyond this link. http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/20040924 Destiné, Handmaiden of the Crest.
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