Chapter 18 Boba Fett Revisited

Two days later, Obi-Wan, Zak and the entire Nabbierre family were gathered at the Skywalkers' home. The twins and Zak were Force pushing a ball in turn to Sola's two girls and Gemma. Boba sat alone watching from a short distance.

"Poor Boba; he's never had a proper childhood." Padme observed.

"What will happen to him?" Ruwee asked.

"I don't know; I guess that's really up to him." Obi-Wan answered. "He's been given an opportunity; we could try to force him, but he'd probably just run away."

"And what about that poor little orphan? Her parents are dead, aren't they?" Jobal asked.

Anakin and Obi-Wan both smiled. "We've already taken care of that." Anakin said.

"Yes, she will be well looked after; the people who are taking her cannot have children of their own." Obi-Wan began.

"And they have been thinking of adopting a little girl." Anakin continued.

Now it was Padme's turn to smile.

"Well, don't keep me in suspense; who is it?" Jobal asked.

"Bail and Breha Organa." Padme answered.

"The Chancellor! Oh, how wonderful!" Jobal exclaimed, then frowned and looked at Boba. "But what about him?"

"He already knows and realizes that she will be better off with a proper home." Padme said.

"The Chancellor has offered him a job, too; so he can still see her sometimes." Anakin added.

"But he hasn't decided what he wants to do yet." Obi-Wan said.

"Anakin, I almost forgot; when the children and I were hiding during the siege, we could hear fighting upstairs. Then it became quiet and I did not know whether we or the droids had won, but the twins did." Jobal said.

"They are very Force sensitive, Lady Nabbierre; because Anakin is." Obi-Wan replied.

"Yes, but they're so young; and Luke knew Zak was hurt too. Remember, Ruwee?" Jobal answered.

"Yes, he did. I hadn't thought of about that until just now." Ruwee agreed.

"Really? Hmm…Obi-Wan does that mean he has…" Anakin began.

"Yes, he's become connected to Zak." Obi-Wan confirmed. "Did Leia sense this too?"

"No, I don't think so." Jobal answered. "No she didn't; it seemed as if she was surprised when Luke said it."

"That's interesting, because younglings don't usually connect to other younglings like that." Obi-Wan explained. "Younglings form friendships, but not connections; not like that."

"I don't think it works the other way in this case, though; do you, Obi-Wan?" Anakin said.

"No, I don't; Zak has become connected to me, but he's never said anything about a connection with Luke. He would have told me if he had it." Obi-Wan answered.

"But how did the children know the droids had lost? Don't they have to be taught to do that?" Jobal asked.

"Well, they have been; just by watching Anakin and being with Zak." Obi-Wan replied. "That's how Jedi younglings learn too. The difference here is that they are almost as sensitive to the Force as their father."

"In other words, Mother; they learn much quicker. You see?" Padme added.

"Mother, didn't you tell me that they knew Gemma was afraid and tried to comfort her?" Sola remembered.

"Yes, she was frightened, but she was crying and shaking; so anyone could have noticed that." Jobal countered. "But they were so calm, as if they knew it would be alright."

They were quiet again and turned their attention to Zak and the children playing; as they watched, Luke Force pushed the ball past the waiting hands of Sola's daughter, Ryoo. The ball then turned and rolled to where Boba was sitting and bumped his leg.

"He did that on purpose." Anakin whispered.

"Why?" Sola asked.

"Probably so Boba would not feel left out." Padme answered quietly. "Let's see what Boba does now."

Boba glanced down at the ball resting against his leg for a moment and then looked over to Zak and the children. Luke smiled at him invitingly and he picked up the ball and rolled it back to them. Sola's other daughter, Pooja stopped the ball and rolled it back to him and then gestured for him to join them. He shook his head; he was not ready for that, not yet. He rolled the ball back, this time back to Luke. Luke stopped the ball before it reached him and pushed it toward Gemma who pushed to Ryoo. Ryoo then sent it in Zak's direction, but before it had gone more than a few centimeters, he directed it out of their circle and back to Boba. Boba blinked, and felt a strange lump form in his throat. He brushed his sleeve over his eyes. It would not do to cry when people could see you. Crying was a sign of weakness; was that not what his father had told him? Instead of rolling the ball, he picked it up and threw the ball back to them; then he got up and ran to the side of the house. Zak watched him go with disappointment; he had wanted Boba to join them. He looked to Master Obi-Wan and wondered whether he should go after him. When his master nodded, Zak stood and trotted after Boba.

"What was that all about?" Sola asked.

"Boba's still fighting what he learned from his father, I think." Obi-Wan answered. "You cannot have friends and never show any sign of weakness."

"Weakness?" Ruwee asked.

"Yes, like crying; that's why he took off so fast." Anakin said.

"He's such a mess, that boy." Jobal said sadly, as she watched Zak disappear around the side of the house.

"Such a contrast to Zak."

"Well, they were brought up differently." Padme replied. "And they were taught different values."

Zak rounded the corner of the house; Boba was nowhere in sight. Zak closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. He did not have any connection to Boba, but he knew he should be able to sense some presence within the Force…and he found it. He looked up and there was Boba sitting in the crotch of a shade tree.

"Why did you run away, Boba?" He asked.

"Go away, Jedi." Boba answered miserably.

"I don't understand; I thought we were becoming friends." Zak said. "What did I do?"

"I don't have any friends; I don't need them." Boba replied. "Go away."

"Everybody needs friends. Come on down." Zak requested.

"Friends can be dangerous. You can't trust anyone in my line of work." Boba said.

"Then maybe you should change your line of work." Zak replied.

"I like it." Boba answered, unconvincingly.

"Do you really? It doesn't sound like it to me." Zak said.

"I do; I get to go where I want, do whatever I want when I want." Boba replied. "I don't answer to anyone but myself. And now that the little brat is taken care of, I don't have to worry about her anymore either."

"You don't have to answer to anyone? What about Poggle, he had a pretty tight leash on you." Zak answered. "As far as Gemma goes, you're not fooling me; you risked your life for her."

"Just leave me alone. You think you're so much better than I am just because…" Boba trailed off.

"Because I'm a Jedi; but I don't think that at all. Boba, you have a great opportunity to work for the Chancellor. Now, come on down and join us, please." Zak said.

Boba said nothing further, but Zak could hear him trying not to cry in front of him.

"Master Anakin says it's alright to cry; and so does my master." Zak assured.

"Never cry when people can see you, it shows you're weak." Boba replied. "My father told me that."

"Then he was wrong. Didn't he also say that you should hate us? And that you shouldn't have friends?" Zak said. "That sounds like a very lonely life to me, Boba; now come on down."

When the silence persisted, Zak spoke again. "Alright, have it your way; I just want you to know that I like you, Boba Fett."

There did not seem to be anything else to say, so Zak turned back and went to speak with Obi-Wan.

Boba sighed as Zak turned the corner out of his sight. So much of what his father taught him seemed wrong somehow. The Jedi were not at all what Jango had made them out to be; and Zak had been right, he was lonely. He had not even thought about that until he had happened upon little Gemma. Yet, he still could not bring himself to join the others quite yet; he stayed up in the tree until Gemma came and begged him to come in for dinner.

"He's sitting up in a tree and he won't come down." Zak told Obi-Wan. "He says he doesn't need any friends."

"That's his father talking, Padawan. Give him time." Obi-Wan replied.

"I know; but I just feel so sorry for him." Zak said.

"Well, you keep doing what you always do, Zak, and he'll come around. Be patient." Obi-Wan answered gently.

"Yes, Master." Zak answered.

When Pooja came out to say that dinner was ready, Zak sent Gemma to tell Boba.

"Very wise, Padawan." Obi-Wan said.

"Well, since he wouldn't talk to me before, I didn't think he would this time either." Zak answered. "At least not yet." He added with a small smile.

"That's it; don't give up on him." Obi-Wan replied encouragingly.

"I have to admire you, Zak; two days ago he nearly killed you and today you want to be his friend." Anakin said. "I don't think I could do that."

"He needs friends, Master Anakin." Zak replied as they walked into the house together.

A few minutes later, Gemma joined them with Boba in tow. He would not look anyone in the eye and remained silent throughout the meal despite numerous attempts to draw him into the conversation.

"Zak, why don't you and Boba help me clean up here?" Padme suggested.

"Alright." Zak agreed, readily.

"Boba? What do you say?" Padme asked.

Boba looked down at the floor.

"Boba?" Padme asked again.

"What do you want me for? I'm not good for anything." He mumbled.

"You mustn't think like that; you can do anything you put your mind to." Jobal told him.

"I can't do what he can do." Boba replied pointing his finger at Zak.

"I'm sorry, Boba; I didn't mean to make you feel bad." Zak said. "If I could give you my abilities, I would."

Boba looked up from the floor, eyeing him suspiciously, "Why?" He asked.

"Because it would make you feel better." Zak answered.

"I don't understand. I tried to kill you." Boba said.

"But you didn't." Zak replied.

"But I would have." Boba countered.

"But you didn't." Zak repeated.

Boba opened his mouth to say something and closed it again.

"Besides, you could have just let the battle droids take me, but you didn't." Zak added. "Why was that, Boba?"

Well, I…um…I guess I wasn't thinking." Boba answered.

"Oh, well, alright; are you going to help us here, or not?" Zak asked.

Boba shrugged, "Why not; I don't have anything better to do." He replied.

"Good! With the three of us, this shouldn't take long at all." Padme said triumphantly as she handed Boba a stack of plates. "Just take them into the kitchen, Boba."

"I know where to take dirty dishes." Boba answered sarcastically as he carried the dishes out of the room.

Zak just shook his head and smiled; that, he thought, was Boba Fett as Lady Padme handed him the dessert dishes and flatware. They exchanged knowing looks before he too headed for the kitchen.

"Well, that went rather well, I think." She said. "I'll just leave to two of them alone in there for a few minutes."

"You are very sneaky, my wife." Anakin told her.

"I know. But I really think this might work." Padme answered.

"It just might." Obi-Wan agreed. "Zak can be pretty stubborn when he wants to be."

Sola got up to leave.

"Well, it's getting late and I must get the girls home." She said. "Come girls."

"I'm glad you could come; maybe next time Darred can make it." Padme replied as she hugged her sister and kissed each of the girls.

"Yes, or next time, you can come to our house." Sola suggested as they walked to the door together.

"Oh, yes, of course." Padme answered as they hugged again before Sola went out.

When she returned to the dining room, she found it empty. She peaked out the veranda window to see Obi-Wan seated outside as he had done each night since they had come to Naboo. Anakin came up behind her and put his hands around her waist.

"He seems so sad, Anakin." She said.

"No, not sad; just reflective." He corrected. "He's so much better than he was when we came here."

"What's he thinking about?" Padme asked.

Anakin paused, closed his eyes and smiled, "How good it felt to be working with me again." He told her.

"He's missed you, Anakin." Padme replied.

"Yes, I know; but he also understands why I have to stay here." Anakin said.

"Why is that?" Padme asked.

"Oh, Padme; why do you think. I have a family now." Anakin answered.

"And, as you have reminded me many times, you also have a brother." Padme told him. "And your talents belong to the Jedi."

"Who have you been talking to?" Anakin asked.

"Master Windu." Padme admitted.

"Mace? And did he say that I should leave you and go back to Coruscant?" Anakin asked.

"Well, no…but…" Padme began.

"No, I didn't think so. I've already discussed all this with the Council more times than I can count. My marriage to you and my children are the will of the Force." Anakin told her. "Anyway, they still consider me a member of the Order; I just don't live there anymore. Their only wish is that I share these new gifts with them, that's all they ask."

"And Obi-Wan?" Padme asked.

"Can come here as often as he likes; and when I go to Coruscant I can see him." Anakin answered. "He's like my brother, Padme; nothing can change that and Obi-Wan knows it."

Padme was silent, content to be in the arms of the man she loved.

"Well, I had better check on those two in the kitchen." She said after a moment or two.