Chapter 13 Poggle the Lesser
Anakin joined Obi-Wan who was cleaning the little gash on Zak's head, "How're you doing, little brother?" He asked.
"Alright, I guess." Zak answered.
"Well, you did catch Boba Fett." Anakin said.
"I guess so." Zak replied.
"He would have gotten away if you hadn't gone into that shed. Master Obi-Wan told you that." Anakin continued.
"I know." Zak said quietly.
"Zak, we should have checked that shed; Master Obi-Wan told you that too. In this case, we were wrong and you were right." Anakin told him.
Zak started to nod his head.
"Keep still, Padawan; I'm nearly finished." Obi-Wan said gently.
"Yes, Master." Zak answered.
"Anakin, there is a possibility that Poggle might actually succeed here; maybe it's time to contact Boss Nass. He may have to rally the Gungans." Obi-Wan suggested.
"Already thought of that; I'm going to call a meeting as soon as you're finished here. He trusts Padme; she should be able to convince him of the danger here." Anakin replied.
"Gungans? Do you mean like Jar Jar Binks?" Zak asked.
"Yes, Zak." Obi-Wan answered.
"Oh." Zak replied.
Zak had met that Gungan on several occasions and did not imagine a whole army of Jar Jars would be very effective, "Oh, Zak; they're not all like Jar Jar!" Anakin told him as he read his thought.
"Well, that's good." Zak said.
As Anakin stood in the middle of the group, Obi-Wan could not help but think how much his former Padawan had matured. Since the death of Palpatine, Anakin had become more sure of himself than he had ever been.
"Padme, I want you to contact the governor and have him arrange a meeting with Boss Nass; there is still a possibility that we might not be able to stop this in time…he should be made aware of this." Anakin said, "Dav, I want you to take her to the palace once that meeting has been set."
Both Padme and Dav nodded wordlessly.
"Talme, you will come with us to meet Poggle; and Killian, you stay here and be sure these fighters are ready to go. I have already put the rest of our pilots on alert; they should be here within the hour." Anakin continued. "Any questions?"
"When will we know whether you've been successful?" Killian asked.
"We will contact you one way or the other as soon as we can. Hopefully, this whole thing can be avoided, but we can't be absolutely sure." Anakin answered. "Alright, if that's it, I wish you all luck."
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"Governor, I think we should meet with Boss Nass; there is a possibility that my husband and Master Kenobi might not be able to prevent this invasion and I think he should know that. We do know that the invasion will be at the same place it was fifteen years ago; the Gungans should be ready just in case." Padme said.
"I hate to think we might have to go to war again, but I fear you may be right, Padme. We have a Gungan official here at all times, and I will have him contact Boss Nass to have him arrange a meeting as soon as possible." Sio replied.
"I don't want this either, Sio; but we should be prepared for the worse. When you have arranged the meeting, let me know. Anakin is leaving one of his pilots here to bring me to the palace when the time is set." Padme answered.
"I will contact you as soon as I know." Sio told her. "Good luck to Captain Skywalker."
"Thank you, Sio; I will be waiting to hear from you." Padme concluded as the governor's image faded.
"The governor is going to have the Gungan official contact Boss Nass and the meeting should take place very soon." Padme informed them. "I just hope we don't need the Gungans."
"We do too, Padme, but we can't be caught off guard; the Gungans should be ready." Anakin replied.
"When are you leaving?" Padme asked.
"Right now; I just wanted to hear what the governor had to say before we left." Anakin answered.
"Well, please come back in one piece." Padme said, a little tearfully.
"I intend to, my love; don't worry." He assured her as he pulled her close, lifted her chin and kissed her deeply. Then he wiped a tear that had fallen down her cheek. "I love you, Padme."
"I know; and my love goes with you." Padme answered.
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All during the preparations to leave, Zak had stayed back out of the way. He was certain that he would not be going with his master to meet with Poggle after disobeying him earlier. Once Anakin had given the instructions out, he had gone back and sat down on the bench along the wall. Now that they were ready to leave, he had no doubt that he would be left behind, and this time, he would not ask to be included; he had proven himself unreliable.
"Zak, what are you doing? Come on, we're ready to go." Obi-Wan called from the doorway.
"But I thought…." Zak began.
"You thought 'what'? That I would leave you here?" Obi-Wan wondered. "Why would I do that?"
"Well, because I…" Zak began again.
"We talked about that and I thought you understood. But we don't have time to talk about it again right now." Obi-Wan told him. "Come on, we must go."
Zak quickly joined them and followed Obi-Wan out the door.
"Be careful." Padme called after them.
Two speeders sat ready and waiting for them; Obi-Wan turned to Zak, "I nearly forgot, Zak; I think you lost this." He said as he held out Zak's lightsaber to him.
"Oh, I thought it was lost in the fire; thank you, Master." Zak replied gratefully as he accepted the weapon.
"Yes, well; just try not to lose it." Obi-Wan told him.
"I know; this weapon is my life." Zak said.
"Yes." Obi-Wan answered.
Anakin shook his head and smiled, "Where have I heard that before?" He asked.
"Give me a good blaster any day; it's better than that thing." Boba interjected.
"Blasters are crude." Zak replied.
"Alright, never mind; let's just get going." Obi-Wan told them both.
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With Boba guiding them, they arrived at the place where Boba said he was to meet with Poggle.
Neither Obi-Wan nor Anakin could sense any deception; Boba seemed to be telling them the truth.
They hid the speeders and concealed themselves behind a small stand of bushes; only Boba remained in view, waiting for Poggle to appear. They did not have to wait long.
A speeder came into view and as it drew nearer, it was clear that Poggle was a passenger in the vehicle being driven by a human; a small female child was with them. Boba stood quietly as the speeder pulled up next to him. Poggle gave a series of clicks and other wordless sounds that had no meaning for anyone there.
"The Grand Arch Duke, Poggle the Lesser says that you have failed in your effort to cripple the fighter fleet here. He is very disappointed." The human said without ceremony.
"Tell the Arch Duke that I crippled those fighters as instructed, but a Jedi discovered the damage and fixed them." Boba replied.
The human gave a series of clicks and sounds, followed by another set by Poggle, "Arch Duke Poggle says that this was your fault for not concealing your work." The human answered.
"My work was just fine; I wasn't told there was a Jedi in the Corps." Boba argued.
Again, the human translated Boba's words and Poggle responded, "He says you were incompetent and will have to do an additional job for him if you want to see your little sister again." He interpreted.
"That wasn't the deal; I want my sister back." Boba insisted. "I should have been told there was a Jedi there."
The translation process was repeated, "He says you should have done your own homework, Boba; you're supposed to be a professional." The human said.
"No, when I do a job, I expect all the information to be given to me. Give me my sister now." Boba replied.
A pause as this statement was translated and answered by Poggle, "You will do as he says, or he will kill her." The human said, without emotion.
"You would let him do that?" Boba asked, directing the question at the human.
"It is not my place to decide what happens to her." He answered. "Do you have anything further to say the Arch Duke?"
"Tell him if he tries to kill my sister, I will kill him." Boba threatened.
The translation of this statement resulted in what Boba thought might be laughter from Poggle followed by more clicks, "Your puny threats mean nothing to him." The human said.
"Well, they should; he underestimates me." Boba replied.
Once more, the human translated and received an answer.
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Anakin and Obi-Wan decided it was time to act. Without words, they formed a plan and sent this plan to Zak. Zak nodded in understanding to his part in their plan. A small hand signal to Talme was enough to tell her to stay put until they called for her. Zak crouched in place as Anakin went in one direction and Obi-Wan in the other.
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"The Grand Duke says that you overestimate yourself, Boba Fett." The human said as Poggle climbed out of the speeder grasping the child's arm and dragging her out with him. "He will now show you what happens when he is defied."
"I can't believe you are just going to stand here and let him do that; stop him!" Boba cried out.
"No, it is not my place." The human answered.
Poggle dragged the little girl the rest of the way out the speeder and put his pinchered claws around her neck.
"NOOOOOOO!" Boba screamed and threw himself toward Poggle and his captive.
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"Wesa ready to do our part again. Da Naboo are friends of da Gungans." Boss Nass told Padme.
"Thank you, Boss Nass; we hope this won't happen, but we are grateful for your help once again." Padme answered.
"Da Gungans and da Naboo musta work together." Boss Nass told her. "Wesa friends."
"Good; now, our source says that the invasion will start on the plain, just like before." Padme said.
"Den Da Gungans be waitin' for dem. Wesa no let dem in yousa city." Nass promised. "Mesa go now; wesa must be ready."
"Thank you again, Boss Nass." Padme repeated as he left.
Padme turned to Sio Bibble.
"Well, we've done all we can; now we just have to wait…and hope that Anakin can stop this before any fighting begins." Padme said.
"Yes, did you want to wait here; or go back to the base?" Sio asked.
"Back to the base; Anakin will return there and I want to be there when he does." Padme answered.
"Alright then; let me know as soon as you learn anything." The governor replied.
"I would like to let Chief Killian know what's happened here; and maybe he's heard from Anakin already." Padme said.
"Yes, of course." Sio complied.
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"Lady Skywalker, how did the meeting go?" Killian asked.
"Quite well; the Gungans will be ready if they are needed." She answered. "Any news yet?"
"No, nothing yet. The rest of our pilots have arrived, so we will be ready." Killian told her.
"Well, that's good, anyway. Dav and I will be returning shortly. If we have to fight, he should be up there with the others." Padme replied.
"Yes, I agree; I will see you soon." Killian said.
Padme now turned to the governor and Dav.
"Let's get back to the base, Dav. Governor, as soon as I hear anything, I will let you know." She said.
"Very well, Padme; I hope it is good news." Sio Bibble replied.
"Me too." Padme answered.
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Hearing Boba's cry, Zak knew the time to act was now; calling on the Force, he leaped over the bushes he and Talme had been hiding behind. Talme's mouth gaped in surprise; this, she guessed, was what Padme had meant when she talked about the Force in action. No ordinary boy, or man for that matter, could have made a leap like that.
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The human drew forth a blaster as Boba dived toward Poggle, intent on preventing the Geonosian from harming the little girl he called his sister. He aimed the blaster at the young bounty hunter; however, just as he fired, another body somersaulted from behind a stand of bushes.
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Poggle lost his grip on the girl when Boba hit him, but he could see that his translator and bodyguard had pulled his blaster and was about to execute this traitorous boy. Then, in a blur, another body flew from out of nowhere, covering both Boba and the girl who had been his hostage.
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Hearing Boba's protest, Anakin coming from one side, and Obi-Wan from the other, rushed forward to witness the near death of the bounty hunter and/or his adopted sister. Obi-Wan leaped at the human in front of him just as the man got his first shot off. Anakin made a similar leap at Poggle just as Zak made his leap.
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Zak did a forward roll over the bushes and threw himself on top of Boba and the little girl. He felt the heat of a blaster bolt as it passed close to his head, singing his hair; Boba struggled beneath him.
"Stay down, Boba." He ordered.
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Everything happened at once; Obi-Wan tackled Poggle's bodyguard, but the he managed to retain his blaster and struggled to shoot the Jedi. Anakin easily tackled Poggle; the Geonosian might have been bigger than most of his species, but he was old and fat: no match for the very young, strong Force sensitive Anakin. Boba Fett, being bigger than Zak managed to squirm out from under him, dragging his 'sister' with him and started to stand up. Zak tackled him again, dragging him to the ground.
"I told you to stay down; are you deaf or stupid?" He said.
This time, Boba stayed on the ground, and said nothing. Obi-Wan continued to grapple with his opponent, now drawing on the Force to call the blaster to him.
"Now, Talme." Anakin called.
Talme responded immediately and came quickly through the bushes to take control of Poggle so that Anakin could help his brother. Obi-Wan, however, had gained control of his adversary and was hauling him to his feet when Anakin reached him. By the time they had secured the bodyguard's hands behind him, Talme had done the same to Poggle. Anakin pulled the human over and shoved him down next to Poggle.
"Can I get up now?" Boba asked sarcastically.
"Yes, now you can." Zak answered neutrally as he stood and then put a hand down to help Boba to his feet.
Surprisingly, Boba took the hand offered and let Zak help him stand; then he, in turn, pulled the little one to her feet. Then he did another surprising thing.
"Thank you." He said.
"What?" Zak asked; he had been expecting another sarcastic remark.
"Are you deaf? I said thank you." Boba repeated. "I tried to kill you and you just saved my life; why did you do that?"
"I'm a Jedi; that's what we do." Zak answered.
"Well, thanks, anyway." Boba replied. "And this is Gemma."
"She needs a bath, Boba." Zak said.
"Yeah, I know; heh. Maybe your lady friend can do that for her." Boba suggested.
"I'm sure she'd be happy to." Zak answered.
Obi-Wan came up behind Anakin, rubbing his arm, "Are you alright?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, I just haven't had to do that since before Champala." Obi-Wan answered.
"I'm sorry, brother; this was supposed to be restful for you. I didn't plan on this." Anakin replied apologetically.
"I know; don't worry about it." Obi-Wan told him lightly.
Poggle clicked several times.
"What did he just say?" Anakin asked.
"You may have captured him, but it won't stop the others." The human said.
"It might if they know we have him." Anakin replied.
Poggle clicked again, "The Arch Duke doesn't think it will matter." The human told them.
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway. We're ready to stop any plans you have for invasion." Anakin said.
More clicks, "Poggle the Lesser says he will fight to the death." The human said. "Naboo will soon be in the hands of his allies."
"Not if we have anything to say about it." Talme said.