Chapter 3 A Piece of Silver Metal

Once the craft was free of the hanger, Obi-Wan turned the controls over to Zak. It had been their routine for some time, and Obi-Wan could not see any reason to change it now. He could feel Zak's enthusiasm swell as he took the ship higher and higher until they were clear of the atmosphere and into space. Obi-Wan entered the coordinates for Alderaan into the nav computer and Zak punched the button that sent them into hyperspace.

"Well done, Padawan." Obi-Wan complimented.

"Thank you, Master; I learned from the best." Zak answered.

"Yes, I would say Master Anakin is certainly the best." Obi-Wan replied.

"Well, one of the best." Zak said. "I learned from you too."

Obi-Wan smiled at him, "You never asked." He said.

"Asked what, Master?" Zak wondered.

"If I would have taken Del if you had not recovered completely." Obi-Wan answered.

"Oh, that; I didn't need to." Zak told him.

"No?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"No, I already knew you wouldn't." Zak explained. "You promised."

"So, you have finally learned to trust me." Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, Master." Zak answered.

"That's good." Obi-Wan replied.

As they settled in for the trip, Zak pulled out one of the lessons Jocasta Nu had sent along for him. To his delight and complete surprise, it was about Alderaan, "Did you tell her to do that?" He asked.

"No; I don't think anyone can tell Master Nu what to do. She asked me where we were going, so I assume she decided that a lesson about it was in order." Obi-Wan answered.

"Well, I'm sure glad she did." Zak replied as he began to study the data pad.

Obi-Wan smiled and after a few moments, slipped into meditation. Zak turned to look at him for a few moments; he could not think of another Jedi he would rather be apprenticed to.

Apparently sensing Zak's eye on him, Obi-Wan, without opening his eyes, asked quietly, "What are staring at, Padawan?"

"Nothing; I was just thinking." Zak answered.

"Ah." Obi-Wan murmured, "Thinking is always good."

When they came out of hyperspace, Obi-Wan allowed Zak to take the ship down and he made a near-perfect landing on the platform assigned to them. After securing the ship, they grabbed their belongings, lowered the boarding ramp and joined Boba and the Chancellor waiting for them. Obi-Wan led the way down and bowed, "Chancellor." He said.

"Welcome, Master Kenobi. I trust you had a good flight?" Bail asked.

"Yes, no problems at all; I must thank you again for the invitation." Obi-Wan replied.

"It was my pleasure." Bail answered and then turned his attention to Zak, "You are looking much better, Zak."

Zak bowed politely before answering, "I am feeling much better too, Chancellor; thank you for asking."

"Well, that is good because Boba has a busy schedule planned." Bail told him. "Starting this afternoon, isn't that right, Boba?"

"Yes, sir; just a little hike into the foot hills; about 10 Kilometers round trip." Boba said. "What you're wearing is fine for now, but tomorrow, when we go higher, you'll need something a lot warmer. We should be able to find you something."

"You won't have to; I brought warmer clothes with me." Zak replied.

"I didn't know Jedi had warmer clothing." Boba said.

"Even Jedi get cold, Boba." Zak answered.

"Well, I know; I thought maybe you just had to either put up with being cold or borrow someone else's clothes." Boba replied a little defensively.

"That's alright; I didn't even know we could wear warmer clothes until yesterday." Zak assured him.

Bail, who had been listening to their conversation smiled and then ushered them into a waiting shuttle, "Well, I have arranged for our lunch to be ready when you arrived; shall we go?" He asked.

"Of course, Chancellor." Obi-Wan answered.

"Then you and Zak can get settled and he and Boba can start exploring." Bail replied as he took his seat.

The ride to the Chancellor's residence was brief; but Zak marveled at the beauty of the place during that short trip. Boba pointed out the places he had been and planned to show Zak during their stay and Zak became even more eager to begin. A member of Bail's staff greeted them as they exited the shuttle, offering to take their duffles. Obi-Wan politely declined the offer and followed him into the large palatial mansion that Bail and his wife called home. Breha was waiting for them in the entrance hall, "Master Kenobi, I am so glad you could come." She said, extending her hand.

Obi-Wan bowed first and then took her hand, "Thank you, Your Majesty; it was kind of you to invite us." He replied.

"You and your apprentice are always welcome here; you have done so much for my husband….and for me." Breha answered, "Zak, I am so glad are feeling better than the last time I saw you."

Zak bowed to her then, "Thank you, Your Majesty; I am feeling much better."

"Ready to follow Boba on one of his little expeditions then?" She asked.

"Yes, Ma'am; I'm looking forward to it." Zak answered.

She laughed lightly and said, "Well, be prepared, he gives the Chancellor quite a work out when he goes with him."

"Shall we get you settled now? And then we can go in to lunch." Bail suggested. "Micah, show Master Kenobi and Zak where they will be staying."

"Yes, sir; gentlemen, follow me." Micah answered and started up the staircase to one side of the hall.

Boba walked up with them, "This is going to be great; Bail has…."

"Bail? You call him Bail?" Zak interrupted incredulously.

"Well, sure; that's his name. He said it was ridiculous for me to keep calling him 'Chancellor'; the only time I have to do that anymore is when we're in public." Boba explained.

"Oh." Zak answered.

"Anyway, Bail gave you the room next to mine." Boba said excitedly.

"Wait; I have my own room here? That's not necessary; I can stay with Master Obi-Wan." Zak replied.

"Why? There's plenty of room." Boba told him. "Master Kenobi, it's alright if Zak has a room to himself, isn't it?"

"Boba…" Zak started.

"This is the Chancellor's house; if he wishes to give Zak his own room, then it his right to do so." Obi-Wan answered.

"See, I told you." Boba said.

Micah led the way down a spacious hallway and stopped before a door to his right, "Master Kenobi, the Chancellor has requested that you stay in this room; however, if it is not suitable, we can make other arrangements." He said.

Without even looking Obi-Wan answered, "No, this will be just fine, thank you, Micah."

"Very good; I will take your apprentice to his room if you no longer need me." Micah replied.

"No, I can settle myself in, thank you again." He assured him and then turned to Zak before going in, "I will meet you downstairs when you are settled." He told him.

"Yes, Master." Zak answered and then followed Micah and Boba further down the hall.

Toward the end of the hallway, Micah stopped and opened a door on the right, "This is your room; Boba specifically asked that yours be close to his." He said.

Zak peeked in; two large windows framed the mountains outside. A large bed and nightstand stood in the corner; a dresser stood along one wall and a chair sat in another corner. Two other doors flanked each other on opposite walls. Micah walked in and opened one of the doors, "This door leads to Boba's room. The other is your bathroom." He explained.

"I…I can't stay in here." Zak said.

"Why? What's wrong with it?" Boba asked, "Don't you like it?"

"No, it's not that; I'm a Jedi, staying here just wouldn't be right." Zak answered.

"Why not?" A voice said behind him.

Zak turned to see the Chancellor standing out in the hallway, "Because it's…it's just too much." Zak explained.

"Oh; well if you would rather sleep on the floor, that can be arranged." Bail assured with a touch of amusement, "I would not want to make you uncomfortable."

"Zak, stow your things; it's alright. The Chancellor has been very generous; don't offend him by refusing his hospitality." Obi-Wan instructed.

"Yes, Master." Zak replied and then looked up at Bail, "I'm sorry, Chancellor; I didn't mean to offend you."

"That is quite alright, Zak; now just put your things in your room and come downstairs so that we can have lunch. If I ruin Boba's schedule, he will not be happy." Bail answered and then winked at Obi-Wan.

Lunch was a relatively casual meal served out in the outdoor garden since the weather permitted it. Gemma hugged Zak when she saw him, "I worried 'bout you, Sackie; you got hurt to so bad." She said. "All better now?"

"Yes, Gemma, all better." Zak told her.

Talk varied from the state of the Republic, to the culture of Alderaan before turning to Boba's plans for Zak while he was there. When the meal was finished, Boba excused himself and Obi-Wan indicated that Zak could join him. Gemma pouted at being left out until Bail explained to her that Boba and Zak were going much too far for her to go along and Breha offered to take her on a little walk around the estate gardens. Bail and Obi-Wan retired to Bail's study and Zak went upstairs to retrieve his cloak. When he returned he stood in the doorway to the study, "We're leaving now, Master." He said.

"Very well; have a good time, but be careful." Obi-Wan replied.

"Yes, Master." Zak answered.

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It was only a short hike to the place where Boba planned to begin, "I thought we should do this one first, and kind of gradually ease you into the upper heights; the air is thinner the farther up you go, so you have to get used to it." He said, "Just follow me; I did this one a lot when I first got here."

"I'm right behind you." Zak replied as he climbed up after Boba.

They had been hiking for nearly half an hour when they heard it, a sharp crack off in the distance, "What was that?" Zak asked.

"I don't know; I hear it every now and then." Boba said nonchalantly.

"Aren't you the least bit curious about what it is?" Zak asked.

"No, I…" Boba was interrupted by another crack, this one a little closer.

"I have a bad feeling about this; maybe we should head back." Zak said.

"Why? It's nothing; it's just a noise." Boba replied, "Come on."

"But you have no idea what it is. I don't…" Zak stopped when another crack sounded.

"Umm…maybe you're right." Boba decided when that crack was followed almost immediately by one that sounded very close.

"You won't get an argument from me; I thought we should have turned back two cracks ago." Zak said just as a loud report sounded followed by something striking a rock in front of his feet, "Did you see that?"

"Uh huh; what was it?" Boba wondered.

"I don't know; but I don't know if we should stick around to find out." Zak answered and starting walking swiftly the way they had come.

"Just a minute." Boba protested as he bent down to pick up something near the rock, "What…ouch; it's hot."

"Forget it, Boba; we have to get out of here." Zak told him, "Come on."

"Hang on, I've got it now." Boba replied as he used the end of his tunic to pick it up, "Got it; let's get out of here."

The boys moved as quickly as they dared on the rough terrain even though they heard no more of the cracks. Boba sighed with relief when they finally reached the place they had started from and they stopped to catch their breath. He had managed to keep hold of the thing he had picked up in his tunic and now he opened the edges to reveal a piece of silver metal.

"What do you suppose this is?" Boba asked.

"I don't know; is it still hot?" Zak asked.

"No, not anymore; maybe Bail will know what it is." Boba suggested.

"Or Master Obi-Wan;" Zak added.

"Yeah, maybe; come on let's go home." Boba replied.

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"You two are back early." Bail said as they burst into the house.

"We umm…something happened." Boba began.

"What?" Obi-Wan asked as he came into the entrance hall.

"Noises, cracks." Boba answered.

"You came back because you heard noises?" Bail asked.

"Something wasn't right, Master; it just didn't feel right." Zak added.

"Alright, alright; slow down and start from the very beginning." Obi-Wan instructed.

"I have a suggestion; take off your coats, get something to drink and come into the study; then you can explain the whole thing." Bail advised.

Twenty minutes later, Zak and Boba had together explained what they saw and heard while they were hiking and Boba produced the piece of silver metal for Bail and Obi-Wan to examine.

After examining it, Bail shook his head, "I have no idea what that is; Master Kenobi?" He admitted and then handed it to Obi-Wan.

"I do." Obi-Wan said.

"What is it then?" Bail asked.

"It's called a slug; Zak, you are very lucky this didn't hit you." Obi-Wan replied.

"Why? What would it do?" Zak asked.

"Imbed itself into your foot. It would be painful and crippling until it was removed." Obi-Wan explained.

"But where did it come from? It just sort of flew threw the air." Boba wondered.

"It came from a weapon called a slug thrower; it's a primitive weapon, but very dangerous. If one of these hits you in the right place, it could kill you." Obi-Wan answered, "Or at the very least, cause a great deal of pain."

"You sound like you speak from experience." Bail told him.

"I do; trust me, if you get hit with one of these, it is going to hurt." Obi-Wan said.

"Is that the cracking noise we heard?" Zak asked.

"Yes; the report of the slug thrower does sound like a crack." Obi-Wan confirmed.

"Boba said that it's not the first time he's heard it." Zak informed them.

"Boba, you never said anything to us." Bail said.

"I didn't think it was that important; it was always so far away before." Boba replied.

"Well, whoever has this slug thrower could hurt or kill the next person who hikes up that way. I will have to send for a Clone squad to hunt for this person before someone gets hurt." The Chancellor decided.

"In the meantime, I would like to have a look around up there. Maybe I can turn something up." Obi-Wan said.

"If you are going to do that, Master Kenobi; I hope you are very careful." Organa said.

"Oh, I intend to be." Obi-Wan answered.