Chapter 29 Fresh Beginnings
The next day, Anakin took Zak and Boba to the place where Boba had left Slave I.
"Couldn't I at least fly with you, Captain Skywalker?" Boba asked. "I'd feel better if I were at least with her."
"Well then Zak would have to bring the speeder to the base by himself to meet us." Anakin answered.
"That's alright, Master Anakin; I can do it." Zak assured him.
"I don't know if Master Obi-Wan would like that, Zak." Anakin protested.
"You don't trust me." Zak said.
"It's not about trusting you, Zak; what if something happens?" Anakin explained. "How do you think I'd feel if you were hurt or worse? Master Obi-Wan trusts me to take care of you."
"I can do this; I know I can." Zak insisted. "I'll be very careful; I promise."
Anakin hesitated for a few minutes before finally giving in.
"Alright; but I'm doing this against my better judgment. You had better not end up dead." He finally said. "Do you know the way from here?"
"Yes, I think so." Zak answered.
"You think so?" Anakin asked with trepidation. "'I think so' is not good enough."
"I'll find it." Zak replied confidently.
"Well, you'd better or Master Obi-Wan will have my head." Anakin told him.
"I will." Zak answered.
"Good, now that that's settled, can we get out of here?" Boba asked impatiently.
"Be careful, Zak; may the Force be with you." Anakin said before he followed Boba up Slave I's boarding ramp.
"I will and may the Force be with you." Zak answered.
Zak watched as the boarding ramp closed before getting in the speeder and heading toward the base.
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When Anakin entered the cockpit, Boba was already in the pilot seat.
"This is not what we agreed to." He said.
"Well, I figured since I already know how to fly her, that it would be easier if I did it." Boba explained.
"You're not licensed to fly." Anakin objected.
"So; neither was Zak and you let him fly." Boba argued.
"Well, that was different; it was a trainer and I could take over if I needed to." Anakin countered.
"Then there is no difference; you can do that here too." Boba said.
"I've already altered our deal by letting you come with me in the first place." Anakin replied. "And now I see that you've tricked me."
"Tricked you? No, Captain; I would never do that." Boba denied innocently.
"You have; and I know this because I can read your thoughts." Anakin said.
Boba eyed him for a moment, trying to decide whether Anakin was telling him the truth or trying to con him; but Anakin sensed what he was doing.
"And you now consider Zak your friend; your only friend." He added.
The young bounty hunter's eyes grew wide and his mouth gaped open; he said nothing for a moment.
"Well, alright; I tricked you, but I just wanted to fly her one last time." He admitted finally.
"And I can understand that; but all you had to do was ask, Boba. Master Kenobi could have come with us instead of Zak; you certainly didn't have to try and trick us." Anakin replied.
"I'm sorry; I'm just so used to doing things that way." Boba said.
"I know that, but you've put Zak into a potentially dangerous position." Anakin told him.
"He'll be alright." Boba answered with certainty.
"He'd better be." Anakin said.
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Zak maneuvered the speeder around and through the heavily forested area surrounding the base. After an hour and a half, however, he had to admit to himself that he was lost. He stopped for a moment and hopped out of the speeder; he had been so sure he knew where he was going.
"Don't panic, Zak." He said aloud to himself. "Now, what would Master Obi-Wan do?"
He glanced around, hoping to find something, anything familiar.
"Well, that's no good; now what?" Zak told himself.
He could try to reach out to his master, but that would only land Master Anakin in trouble; no, he had to do this himself. "Wait a minute; reach out?" Zak voiced his thought. "Of course."
He closed his eyes, reached out through the Force and…there it was. He had not been far off.
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Anakin paced nervously; Zak had not been that far away, he should have been here by now.
"I knew I shouldn't have let you talk me into this." Anakin said, fuming.
"Relax, Captain; give him a little more time." Boba replied, calmly.
"More time? What if he's wrapped that speeder around a tree? More time won't help him then, will it?" Anakin answered, trying very hard not to completely lose his temper.
"You worry too much; he probably just got a little turned around, that's all." Boba said.
"Well, that better be all, or you'll have to answer to Master Kenobi." Anakin warned.
Boba did not answer, but scanned the tree line at the edge of the tarmac. I'll have to answer to myself too, he thought.
"I know." Anakin said, laying his hand on Boba's shoulder.
Half an hour later, Anakin caught site of the speeder through the trees coming from quite a different direction than it should have.
"Where have you been?" Anakin demanded when Zak pulled up beside him.
"I got lost." Zak admitted immediately.
"I thought you said you knew where you were going?" Anakin asked.
"I thought I did; but I was wrong." Zak answered.
"What did you do; just drive around until you found it?" Anakin asked.
"No, when I finally realized I was lost I used the Force." Zak told him.
"Well, that was good thinking." Anakin replied. "Oh, and, Zak?"
"Don't worry, I won't tell Master Obi-Wan." Zak promised.
"What's this; you can read minds too?" Boba asked.
"No, I didn't need to. I just know Master Obi-Wan would be better off not knowing about this." Zak answered.
"You're right; I'd rather not have to explain why I left you to find the base on your own." Anakin agreed. "Now, you two wait here, I have to let someone know what I want done with this ship and that I will be gone for a couple weeks."
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"I've put Boba Fett's ship in hanger four; there's not much in there anyway. When he's been cleared to fly, he'll come to get it." Anakin told Dav.
"Yes sir. When will you be coming back in again? I understand your family and Lady Padme's family are safe; so what are you waiting for?" Dav asked.
"Not for a couple weeks at least. I have some business to take care of on Coruscant." Anakin answered.
"Sir, far be it for me to say, but rumor has it that Command has voiced some concern over your recent absences." Dav informed him.
"You're right; it's not for you to say. If command has a problem with me, then they should talk to me about it." Anakin said with a slight amount of irritation.
"I'm sorry, sir; you're right, of course." Dav replied. "When will you be leaving, then, and I'll have the yacht ready to go."
"We're taking the Nubian; the queen has already given us permission to use it." Anakin told him.
"Very well, I will have it ready for you…?"
"The day after tomorrow." Anakin finished.
"Very good, sir; the day after tomorrow it is." Dav promised.
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Two more days were almost more than little Gemma could handle. She was constantly asking anyone who would listen how much longer she would have to wait. Boba watched this quietly, feeling just a little jealousy toward the Organas; it seemed to him that Gemma had forgotten all about him.
Padme was busy putting things together for the trip, arranging for the grounds to be taken care of and letting her family know when to expect them back. Anakin decided that this time, the droids should come along too. There was more than enough room in the Nubian and the Chancellor, who had contacted them personally, made arrangements for them to stay in one of the government suites. With the threat of Amedda and his followers gone and the New Trade Alliance defeated, it was once again a safe place to stay. Anakin knew he would be spending a great deal of time at the Temple, but Padme had many things she needed to do while they were in Coruscant in preparation for her new position as Governor Bibble's aide. She understood his need to consult with the Jedi, and did not resent the time he would need to do it.
Those last two nights, as had been their custom throughout Obi-Wan's stay, these two brothers of the Force spent out in the dark watching the stars. Parting, it seemed, was becoming difficult for both of them. Even the knowledge that it wasn't quite over did not make it any easier. On the last night, they sat out on the veranda together in silent contemplation; there did not seem a need for words.
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Anakin was surprised when they arrived at the base the following morning; he would not be piloting the Nubian as he had planned. Ric Olie sat in the pilot's seat awaiting their arrival. The queen, he informed Anakin, had decided that Olie would take them to Coruscant and bring the Nubian back home immediately. When Anakin and his family were ready to return, he would come back for them. Anakin was confused at this change in arrangements, but had no other recourse but to accept it. When all their gear had been stowed and the children settled, Ric Olie lifted off; moments later, he made the jump to hyperspace.
For Obi-Wan, this was a strange experience; he had not been in the Nubian for nearly fifteen years when he had traveled to Naboo with Qui-Gon Jinn before their fateful meeting with Darth Maul. Anakin, waxed nostalgic; he had given Padme her first gift, a Japoor snippet, which she still wore on a chain around her neck. Gemma would not settle; all she could think about was meeting her new parents and she prowled all over the ship until she finally fell asleep exhausted. The twins, always good travelers, entertained themselves by playing a game only they knew the rules to as Padme watched in amusement. Boba and Zak talked of what it would be like now that Boba had decided to work for the Chancellor. However, the time passed quickly and sooner than any of them suspected, they had come out of hyperspace and were preparing to land.
When they touched down on the landing platform, Gemma was the first one waiting as Ric lowered the ramp. Padme had to react quickly by taking her hand to prevent her from running headlong down the ramp before it had reached the ground completely.
"Wanna go now!" She cried as she tried to pull away from Padme.
"Not yet, sweetie; you'll fall." Padme told her.
At last, the ramp was down and Padme allowed Gemma to drag her down to the platform. Waiting for them were the Chancellor and his wife, Masters Yoda, Ki Adi Mundi and Adi Gallia along with the healer, Declan. Breha bent over and spread her arms as Padme let go of Gemma and the child ran straight into her waiting arms, "Are you my mommy?" She asked.
"Oh, yes; sweetheart." Breha said as she scooped her up and hugged her tightly then turned her so that she could see her husband. "And this is daddy."
"Hullo, Daddy." Gemma said.
"Hello, Baby." Bail answered, smiling and then turned to Padme as she walked up with her twins in tow. "I can't thank you enough, Padme."
"Well, she needed a home and you needed a child so now you're both happy." Padme replied.
"Oh, yes; it's what we've wanted for a long time." Breha told her. "Thank you, so much."
"You're welcome; you're both so very welcome." Padme answered.
As they were talking, Anakin walked down the ramp followed closely by Obi-Wan and Zak. The Jedi waiting for them took a sharp intake of breath as Anakin moved closer to them.
"Strong you have become, Anakin." Master Yoda said. "Glad it makes me to sense this."
"Thank you, Master Yoda; but I don't know what I should do now." Anakin replied.
"Just meet with us, Anakin; I must say that I was nearly knocked off my feet when you first appeared." Adi Gallia added. "I had no idea you had become so powerful."
"Yes, Anakin, meet with us; just being around you makes us all stronger." Ki Adi Mundi concurred.
"Told you I did that many felt it when it happened." Yoda said. "Anxious we are to meditate with you."
"What did happen, Anakin?" Declan asked.
"A matter this is to discuss with the Council." Yoda decided before Anakin had a chance to answer.
"Master Kenobi, you look so much better." Adi said as Obi-Wan joined them.
"Well, I feel much better; thank you, Master Gallia." Obi-Wan answered.
"And Zak; how are you feeling these days?" Ki Adi asked.
"Much better, Master." Zak replied.
"Yes, good it is to see that, young Perrin." Yoda said, "No thoughts of rejection, I think."
"No, Master Yoda, I know better; I should have already known better." Zak answered.
"Perhaps, but learn by our mistakes we do; agree with this you do, hmm?" Yoda asked him.
"Yes, Master." Zak replied.
Boba exited the ship after a few moments and approached the Chancellor.
"Ah, and you must be, no I don't even have to guess. You're Boba." Bail said in greeting.
"Yes, sir; Boba Fett, bounty hunter." Boba said proudly.
"Well, that is fine; but you must understand that I have no use for bounty hunters. What else are you good at?" Bail asked.
"Oh…well, lots of things; we can talk about this later." Boba answered, evasively.
There was a republic private shuttle waiting for them, so as the Nubian rose in the sky, they turned to board the shuttle. The first stop was to the Temple where Obi-Wan, Zak and the Jedi greeting party departed. Anakin promised to return to the Temple as soon as he had his family situated in the suite Bail had arranged for their use. The shuttle's next stop was to the government housing building where the Skywalkers were dropped off before continuing first to Bail's Coruscant home where they left Breha and Gemma. The final stop was the Senate building where Boba and the Chancellor would talk about what Boba's duties would be in his new position.
At the Temple, Declan had taken charge of Obi-Wan, ordering the Master to accompany him to the healers' quarters for a complete examination. He had to assure himself that Obi-Wan's health had finally been restored. Zak decided he was hungry and headed for the kitchens to see if he could get something to eat.
"Meet we will when Anakin arrives. Contact you then we will, Master Obi-Wan." Yoda said as they parted, Yoda heading for his own quarters and Obi-Wan following Declan to the healers'. The other masters also returned to their private quarters to meditate before the meeting with Anakin.
Obi-Wan laid face down on raised bed as Declan and his apprentice assessed his state of health through the Force.
"Well, as far as I can tell, you are back to full strength. Your shoulder will take a little more time; but I'd say a week or so and it will be 100 percent." Declan declared.
"100 percent? No scarring then?" Obi-Wan asked, a little surprised, had Anakin been wrong after all?
"You know, I fully expected that, but I can't detect any." Declan answered.
"Well, Anakin…" Obi-Wan began only to be interrupted.
"Anakin? How would he know?" Declan asked.
"He's been rubbing it down, trying to ease the stiffness. And he said that he felt scarring." Obi-Wan explained.
"Well, there's nothing here now." Declan replied.
"It's Anakin again; isn't it?" Obi-Wan suggested.
"Oh yes; I have no doubt about that." Declan answered.