Chapter Eight

Author's note: While I positive reviews are nice and negative reviews are annoying. When reviewing please be verbose. What did you like? What didn't you like? And Why? Recently I had a chance to go back and forth with a reviewer in 24-hour time span. It was a negative review and when I reviewed their profile, they did not have any work posted on this site. So, I gave my standard and very arrogant response put up or shut up. That lead to a discussion of what we both meant to be able to review.

Let me be clear here the review process is actually critical in the creative process for me in that I want more than just a compliment or criticism. I want I want your questions and your thoughts on where a scene may lead. Please Continue to read and review.

Yaddle, who had been enjoying the goings-on here with the Skywalker clan noted that Senator Amidala's craft was halfway outside the perimeter of the wards. Raising a hand reaching out with the force she lifted the ship a few feet off the ground and moved it completely into the shielded area. "Unwise it is to threaten our young, Master Fett." she spoke ominously "Perhaps that message you would ferry back to your Employer for me."

Fett looked thoughtful. "I will deliver your message. Believe me, I am not keen on trying to kidnap or kill a child. I am a father myself." That was all he said before activating his jetpack flying out of sight.

Harry followed his mother and master out of the house. He noticed the noise of a jetpack; he looked at the retreating form of Jango Fett before turning to Cassandra who was crying on his mother's shoulder. He reached out and gently calmed her before turning to Obi-Wan. "Knight Kenobi, what happened?"

Obi-Wan related the progression of events and Harry frowned turning to his master. "I will view the disc alone and then I will speak to my parents and master."

Harry entered his quarters on Fay's ship. Slid the card into the reader and activated it. The device powered up and a small recording began to play. "Young Skywalker I have been patient to this point but my Master's forbearance has limits." The scene shifted to pictures of his family out in Mos Espa the images were very clear and very close. Then they showed times where he was training with the various Jedi. The images faded as Bib Fortuna once again appeared. "I have use of one such as yourself in my organization; if you will not come willingly one of your loved ones, or even your precious Jedi master will pay the price. You have one week to answer; if you do not answer or the answer is not to my liking … well use your imagination."

Harry bowed his head and tears began to stream down his face as sobs ripped through him until his exhaustion overcame him and he fell into a troubled sleep.

Half an hour passed and Harry had not emerged. Fay having had enough she felt the pain her padawan was in. "Shmi come with me; everyone else to bed. We will deal with whatever it is in the morning with a clear head." Fay demanded.

"Shmi?" Cliegg asked.

"Head in Cliegg." Shmi Said motioning for her children to head off to bed. "I should not be more than 5 minutes."

Cliegg nodded his head he did not like what was happening to his youngest; he saw that the lad had stopped eating as much to make sure there was enough for everyone. More than once Harry had done all of his chores, then went on to complete Owen's portion, and half of his father's.

"Fay He is not eating enough, he is doing the lion's share of the chores, and his training schedule. I understand that he is training to be a Jedi." Shmi said as they came into his quarters and found him passed out leaning against his bed. "He is pushing himself too hard. He needs to remember to be a boy he has had precious little of that."

"I agree and part of that is our fault." Fay sighed heavily. "He is soaking material up at an astounding rate; he is soft on theory; but he makes up for it with practical application. I will meet with the other masters and Knight Kenobi in the morning. In the meantime; let's see what Jabba the Hutt has to say."

They both silently watched the holo-recording. Fay broke the silence. "I had a hard enough time keeping Harry from ending Cad Bane. I won't be able to stop him this time Jabba threatened all of us."

"First of all; he is grounded for his own safety while we as a family come up with a plan." Shmi said darkly. "But that is for the morning."

Obi-Wan went and joined Sabe staring at the moonrise. Anakin had walked off toward the other end of the pad, and was sitting staring at the stars. When he felt her hand caress his neck he groaned and leaned back. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked sitting in front of him placing his arms around her.

"I remember being a slave very well, and Gardulla used to rub Jabba's nose in that. She had a superior mechanic, and Jabba could not get Watto to bet me." Anakin spoke his posture rigid belied his feelings. "Harry has endured enough things in his life. I do not want him to be enslaved by the slug!"

"You are not at all as I remember you Anakin!" Padme spoke softly in his ear causing him to shiver which in turn caused her to shiver as the night air descended on them.

"How do you remember me? "Anakin asked his curiosity piqued.

"I remember this little boy who thought I was an angel." Padme said with a smile. "Am I still an angel?" She twisted around until she was facing. "I am going to kiss you now…" And so, she did for five minutes they barely took a breath.

Anakin broke the kiss. "Force yes you are an angel." He declared. "You are my angel."

"Come with me." She said getting up, and pulling him into her ship and her room. She pulled off her robe revealing a white pair of pajama pants and a tank top. She then pulled down the covers crawled in, and motioned for Anakin to join her. "Stay with me until I fall asleep."

"As you wish my angel." He whispered with a smile running his hands through her hair closing his eyes he drifted off to sleep as well.

Jango Fett walked through Jabba the Hutt's Fortress. All manners of depravity were in evidence. It was a side of his job he did not like, and he did not want Boba to follow his example. His contract with Tyranus was nearing completion. He had no illusions that Tyranus would try to kill him. Just as he knew Jabba would react badly to Master Yaddles' warning. He steeled himself as he walked into the throne room and saw the thing he would rather never think about.

"Master the bounty hunter Fett has arrived." Bib Fortuna said getting his master's attention.

"How are the Skywalker's Fett? Did your visit terrify them? How did the boy take my message?"

Deciding not to sugarcoat it he stated. "The Skywalker clan and their Jedi allies are fine. No, my visit did not terrify them as I used stealth to get in, and was still caught by the Sith killer. The boy had not viewed the message by the time I left. But Master Yaddle sends both her greetings, and a message. She told me it is unwise to threaten Jedi younglings; as she was moving something the size of your sky barge with the force."

Jabba's temper flared, and he hit the button drop making Fett fall into the pit. Fett for his part activated his jet pack. Hovering in place. Pulling out and activating the thermal detonator. "Jabba you know better than to try that with me! Your obsession with the younger Skywalker is going to be your undoing. He is more than a Jedi. He is something else. I know you had Fortuna threaten his family. I want you to remember something; you may be immune to the mind tricks of the Jedi, but your skin will burn when a lightsaber strikes you. Now there is the matter of my payment, which has now doubled in light of poor behavior on your part. I want it on my ship now!"

Jabba was shocked no one had ever spoken to him like that and lived. He looked around the throne room. All he had for hired guns were a few newcomers to the bounty hunter scene, and Aurra Sing. "Aurra what is your take on what Fett say?." Bib Fortuna asked.

Aurra looked at Jango. "Fact Harry Skywalker bested me in a fight because I hurt his older brother. Granted I misjudged him greatly. Fact he has defenses that injure or kill anyone we send to bring him in as evidenced by Bossk. Fact he life wiped Cad Bane so thoroughly that even the best in memory recovery biz have been unable to recover any cohesive memories of his former life." Aurra Sing said in a bored tone. "That was with only three months of Jedi training. From the reports; he has Master Yaddle, Master Hett, Master Fay, The Sith Killer, Anakin Skywalker, and his adopted sister Thantas seeing to his training. From what the watchers are seeing he is soaking up the training like a sponge. I think it is going to blow up in your face, and yours will not be the only death that occurs as a result. You don't pay me enough to even think about it." She sneered as she walked by Fett. "Don't think I have forgotten about the incident three months ago you tried to kill me!"

Aurra sing followed Fett out of Jabba's Palace. "You did not try to kill me. If you wanted me dead; I would be. What was up with the pilot of that fighter?"

"There are other interested parties who want to either enslave or eliminate Skywalker the younger." Fett looked at the other bounty hunter she was easy on the eyes. "Where are you off to now?"

"Nowhere special." She replied coyly. "Would you like some company. How is Boba?"

Now several hours later Aurra asleep in his quarters, and on his way back to Kamino he could not wait to get home to his little boy. It reminded him of the stakeout at the Lars homestead. He wondered if he could get Shmi Skywalker to take in Boba, he would learn something other than this trade. 'Something to consider.'

For two weeks Harry watched the message that was sent daily, and each day his indignation grew. Finally, on the fifteenth day when he woke noticed his mother and master asleep on either side of him. Fay was holding the Holo-message meaning she had seen it. He knew what his course of action was going to be. He knew what the consequences of his action would be when he went to move his mother, and Fay both grabbed him.

"Not so fast my young Padawan we need to talk before we discuss this with the rest of the clan." Fay demanded fiercely. Her eyes bright with an emotion he had never seen before. "Shmi if you would?"

Harry froze as his mother wrapped an arm around him. "I am sorry whatever else I have done I am sorry." He babbled as his mother gently took her youngest into her arms held him tightly for a moment before pushing him back out to arm's length.

"Harry, the last few months we have failed you on a basic level. We know you are eating less than is healthy. In some cases, you are skipping meals entirely while working longer, and harder on top of both your studies in magic and Jedi training." Shmi said a note of steel crept into her voice. "That ends now. You will eat a decent amount of food, and you will do a reasonable number of chores for the next few weeks of your training in both disciplines. Your Master will be monitoring you. No more than an hour a day unless allowed otherwise. Instead spend time working on your speeder bikes, flying in your T-16, maybe go into Mos Espa, and mingle with kids your age."

"I thought this was going to be a different kind of talk." Harry said running his hands through his hair. "I thought you were going to ask me to leave because I bring way too much trouble and attention in general. Given the threat that Jabba made it would make sense for you to want me gone."

"That is the mark left by your aunt and uncle." Fay said her normally serene demeanor cracking as she thought about the harm wrought upon her apprentice. "Need reminders of them you do not."

"What did I tell you the day I adopted you?" Shmi asked wondering if he remembered she did not have long to wait.

"Mom I honestly don't remember much of what was said." Harry admitted blushing with embarrassment. "What I do remember was that you held me. For the first time I felt wanted; Loved even."

"Oh, my sweet boy. You are wanted and loved!" The petite woman declared. "I told you I will not hurt you nor let anyone else hurt you unchallenged. You are a gift my son because of you I have a full house. Full of children, grandchildren, and most of all love!"

"My presence now brings possible harm to all of you. You have watched this; yes!" He asked pointing at the disk. Seeing the grim looks on both of their faces. "Then you know I cannot let this pass. As much as you want to protect me this time, I have to protect you."

"Harry, let us gather everyone and discuss our options."

Sorenno Dooku Ancestral estate.

Tyranus, Sat in an office hidden under his home having just finished a particularly grueling training session with his erstwhile apprentice. The Holo Projector activated, and his master's from resolved.

"Master!" Dooku bowed. "How may I serve?" He asked quietly schooling his features.

"Send your Acolyte to Tatooine Have her find and attract the attention of the younger Skywalker Padawan. I want him distracted." Sidious sneered. "I want the brothers separated, and at odds with one another. Summon your acolyte I want to see for myself if she is worthy of being counted amongst the Sith Ranks."

"Yes, my master." Dooku grabbed his comm unit. "Assajj report to my office." The communication close and Tyranus turned back to his master. "She will be here momentarily."

Coruscant

Lord Sidious sat in his secret lair waiting for the acolyte. He had been reading his apprentice, and though his anger and hate-fueled his power. He did not let it consume him. If Sidious were to be honest, Tyranus was closer to being a grey Jedi. That was a disappointment but not monumentally so. He was relieved when she came in and could immediately see that she would be a distraction for the boy. Skintight bodysuit, and curves in the right place places. Her hair short and spiky, but they could manipulate the hair to grow out quickly. Yes, she would do nicely. "Acolyte Ventress I have a mission for you."

Assajj had been longing for her first solo mission. She could not believe her luck, and she responded. "I live to serve my lord. She kept her eyes averted; what she did not know she could not give up if captured.

"You may serve me now by looking at me while I speak to you so I can ascertain that you understand." Sidious said his tone disapproving.

Assajj for her part looked up and noted that so she could not see anything that would help her identify the Sith lord. What she did not know was that her lord was reading her. He felt her rage It had had nearly consumed her. At its core the loss of her first master she had no resistance as he inserted a shadow personality into her. She would be perfect. "I need of you on Tatooine this young man…"
Showing her a picture of Harry he saw her nostrils twitch, and her body sway just a bit. This would be so very sweet for him. "He is a Jedi Padawan to Master Fay. He is fast-tracking through the training. I estimate in two years he will be ready for his trials. He is a threat to all we wish to accomplish."

She tore her eyes away from the picture. "You want him neutralized?"

"Distracted! This is a long-term operation. You will go in as Assajj Narec; Former padawan of your master Ky Narec." Her rage spiked she wanted to punish the Jedi for something that was beyond their control. "You took his last name after burying him to honor him. Lean heavily on the fact you were his padawan for a decade. It will allow you to infiltrate the group and get close to Harry Skywalker. At the appropriate time I will give the order, and you will eliminate Master Yaddle and Fay. In the meantime, avail yourselves of the master's experience. Thereby preventing the rise of a threat to our work. Succeed and you will be rewarded handsomely fail and…"

"I understand my lord…" She said distractedly looking at the boy whose eyes seemed to see through her. Try as she might she could not maintain her rage as she looked at him. She could see the lines of pain; something had happened to this boy, and she had to find out how he could remain so good while she fell so far. Tyranus handed her a cred chip. She looked on the chip and balked. That was a lot of money, a decent cargo ship, and a list of cargo runs to be done in the next three months putting her on Tatooine.

"Come Assajj; we have work to do to make you presentable for your mark." Tyranus said as he turned and left the room. In thought he intends to kill Yaddle and Fay both of who I have been friends with for years. Not for the first time he wondered if his path was the correct one.

Tatooine the same time

"You have all seen the holo-recording?" Harry said to everyone in the room. "He is not threatening me he is threatening you." He broke off looking lost for a moment. "I am sorry I cannot sit here and do nothing while he threatens Mom, Beru, Cassandra, and Master Fay. As soon as he finds out about Padme and Sabe he will find a way to bring harm to them as well."

Padme wanted to say something but a look from Sabe silenced her as she left Obi-Wan's embrace. "Harry it is not all on you. All of us here except for Cassandra can defend themselves to one degree or another." The woman said looking him dead in the eye. "Thank you for wanting to stand on the bridge between me and evil. Taking away our choice in the matter only serves to leave you alone when you may need us most."

"Wisely Sabe speaks young padawan." Yaddle spoke her disappointment clear on her face. "Masters and knight train to teach, and protect youngling and padawan alike. Here we have a padawan seeking to protect the masters. Such has not occurred in living memory. Signs there have been that a Knight Protector you may be. Concerned for you we are. The star that burns twice as bright only burns half as long. 10 years of training have you accomplished in the span of a short while. A sponge you are, but lack experience in some areas you do. Falling I do not fear for you. Your perception of success and failure could lead you to die sooner; if not curbed it is."

Anakin, who had been holding onto Padme had drifted off feeling the force he felt an undercurrent of darkness, and it was roiling around Harry. Kept at bay by something about his brother.

Fay and Master Hett Approached; knight and padawan and in hushed tones. They discussed her and Shmi's decision to limit his training time some. "I am all for it." Anakin said happily. "The only place Harry is lacking is his lightsaber skills, and even there it is not so much lacking as it is confidence and belief."

"True he and by extension, we could use the break." Obi-Wan said. "Maybe we should ask if the council could intercede with Jabba."

"Yoda or Windu." The older master stated bluntly. "But only one of those two the rest of the current council does not have a presence outside the force; let alone in the force to make Jabba back off."

"The question is how will we respond? Hmm?" Asked Yaddle. Harry interrupted the aged Master.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry incanted. And rather than Prongs coming out; it seemed that after everything his Patronus had changed into Fawkes. It would seem he then spent a long 5 minutes whispering to the flying firebird of positive energy before it flamed away.

A moment later the holocomm beeped they had an incoming signal. When it was resolved they saw it was Jabba the Hutt, and his majordomo Bib Fortuna. "Have you asked for this call to give us a favorable answer?"