Chapter 13 Captive

Boba struggled against the ropes binding him as he sat in the corner of the shed; sheer, blind hate and rage coursed through him and he swore he would kill Micah with his bare hands when he got the chance. They had no idea who they were dealing with; they might think they had abducted a boy, but they were dead wrong. In fact, soon they would all be dead if he had anything to say…well, he was not able to say anything at the moment, but that would change; they would all soon regret the day they tangled with Boba Fett. Strangely, he was not so much angry with what they had done and planned to do with him; it was what Micah had done to the Chancellor and what his collaboration with these hunters had done to Master Kenobi. He hated the idea that they planned to use him as bait to lure a man he now considered a friend to his death. Well, he was not about to let that happen; one way or the other, he would get them, every last one of them.

He had been conscious when that traitor had turned him over to the keeper. Micah had dragged him out of his speeder and thrown him into the keeper's; he glared hatefully at Micah, who only smiled wickedly back at him, and then removed the gag, "I'm going to kill you, Micah." Boba had threatened, causing both Micah and the keeper to laugh before Micah replaced the gag. He continued to glare at Micah until Moran slipped a hood over his head and shoved him down on his side in the back seat of the speeder. He had heard words exchanged between the two about the hunt and how their plans had to change now because of him. They would lure the Jedi out using him as bait, kill him in front of the Jedi and then kill the Jedi; after that, they would be free to take the 'cub'. Boba surmised that the cub they were referring to was Zak. Soon afterwards, the he felt the speeder get underway; he was not sure how far they traveled before the keeper stopped and dragged him out of the speeder and up onto a wooden porch; he heard a door open and he was dragged inside and deposited on the floor. The rope binding his legs to his hands was cut and he was pulled into a sitting position. He caught the scent of a woman's perfume; one of the hunters must be woman and that surprised him a little. He lunged toward her and landed on his face and she laughed at him as she hauled him up and pushed him back against the wall, "Stupid boy; what were you trying to do?" She asked.

Boba mumbled through the gag and lunged toward her again and felt her foot hit him in the chest driving him back against the wall; she laughed again, "Well, this is fun; would you care to try again?" She asked.

Boba sat there for a moment, mumbled at her again and this time kicked out at her and then gave a muffled laugh when he felt his feet make contact and heard her land on the floor in front of him. He heard laughter around the room, "What's the matter, Devan? It looks like the boy handled you pretty good." Someone said.

"Why you little brat; you'll pay for that." He heard the woman, Devan, say.

Boba mumbled something back at her before blindly kicking out and connecting again. There was more laughter, "I think you need some help there, Devan." Another one said.

"Shut up, Kien; I can handle this kid." Devan answered.

Boba laughed through the gag, mumbled again and this time swept his legs sideways, feeling them hit her legs and hearing her grunt as she hit the floor followed by another round of laughter.

"Oh yeah, you're doing a real good job; are you sure you don't need some help?" The unidentified voice asked.

"No." She said and Boba felt her boot hit him in the side.

He reacted quickly by leaning toward her, falling on her legs so that she toppled over. He mumbled and laughed as she struggled to get from underneath him until someone grabbed him by the collar and dragged him off. Boba protested loudly through the gag and struggled as his legs were brought up behind him again. He managed another good kick sending his captor flying hard enough so that Boba heard him hit the wall.

"Enough," The voice of the keeper said, "Bring him over here."

Someone grabbed his collar again and dragged him, fighting, across the room and dumped him hard on the floor.

"Pull him up." The keeper ordered and someone grabbed him by the hood and pulled him up on his knees.

Boba struggled to free himself, but was held still by three pairs of hands, "So, our little bounty hunter is a fighter; I'm impressed." The keeper said in Boba's face, "But this will take a little of the fight out of you."

Pain ripped through him as the keeper struck his injured arm with something more than just a fist. He moaned and fell to the ground as the hands released him. He heard them all laughing.

"Much better; now maybe you'll be a little more cooperative." The keeper said, "Tie him to the chair so we can have a nice little talk."

He mumbled something and struggled as they pulled him up and shoved him into a chair. Two pair of hands pushed against the back of the chair and he kicked out connecting several times preventing them from securing him until they decided it would be best to secure his legs first. While the hands continued to hold him down, another pair of hands grabbed his legs; he continued to fight them as he felt another rope being looped around his ankles and pulled underneath the chair. Even with his legs now immobilized, he still resisted their efforts to tie him down until someone hit his arm again. Temporarily stunned by the pain, he stopped fighting long enough for the rope to be tightened around his chest.

"Are you comfortable now, Boba?" The keeper's voice asked solicitously.

Boba struggled, mumbling protests loudly.

"Oh, we've been rude to our guest; we know who he is, but we haven't introduced ourselves to him yet. We should let him see who his gracious hosts are." The keeper said and pulled the hood off.

He squinted until his eyes adjusted to the sudden light, "Can you see now? No sense in introducing everyone until you can see them properly." The keeper said.

Boba blinked a few times and looked around at his surroundings; it appeared to be the main room of a cabin. Two doors, partially open, lined one wall and there were several shuttered windows along the opposite wall; he turned his head again to see several windows, also shuttered, and one door leading outside. Turning his head again, more shuttered windows and another outside door. Finally, he turned his eyes toward the keeper; glaring at him hatefully, he mumbled venomously.

"Oh, yes, your eyes have adjusted, haven't they. Then let us start with Devan here;" The keeper said, putting a hand on a woman with shoulder-length blond hair, "she was quite fun to play with wasn't she?"

Boba's glare moved to her and he mumbled something to her.

"Now, Boba, you will get your chance. Next we have the poor unfortunate fellow you kicked into the wall." The keeper said as he held his hand out to a dark-haired man, rubbing his chest, "This is Orlan; he is not very happy with you, Boba; are you Orlan?"

Boba continued to glare and mumble, this time at the one called Orlan, "Oh, he'll pay, Moran." Orlan replied.

"Yes, he will; now we come to Kien. He's the youngest of us, but eager to learn." The keeper pointed to a young man, about twenty standard years, with short-cropped bright red hair. Kien nodded to Boba and smiled.

Boba narrowed his eyes and struggled against his bindings as he mumbled loudly.

"Oh, Boba; you're only going to wear yourself out, son. Now that we have introduced ourselves…" The keeper began.

"You haven't formally introduced yourself, Moran." Devan interrupted.

"Of course; how silly of me to forget. Boba, I am Moran, keeper of the hunt; we did meet, of course, when my brother…" Moran halted as he noticed Boba's eyes lose their hateful glare and widened in surprise.

"Oh, that's right; you didn't know that, did you. Yes, Micah is my brother; in fact, coming here was his idea. He told me all about the animals roaming around the Heights. We decided on the chyrax because it has such a beautiful rack; they made great trophies. We had hunted our last one, that's right, the one your Jedi friend found and we were just about to pack up and leave." Moran explained.

The hateful glare returned and Boba mumbled something.

"What's that? Why didn't we? Well, I think you know the answer to that already; we found us a more challenging target." Moran answered with a smile.

Boba threw himself forward against the ropes, as the hateful glare become venomous and his mumblings became garbled shouts.

The hunters laughed and Moran joined in, "I take it you don't approve of our choice, bounty hunter. Oh, that's right, the Jedi is a friend of yours; I forgot. Well, you see, that's why you're here instead of buried somewhere." Moran told him. "I think we can draw our wounded prey out of hiding with you; what do you think?"

Boba mumbled again and struggled.

"Oh, I'm sorry; you can't answer me, can you?" Moran said apologetically, "Take his gag off, Devan."

Devan moved next to him, loosened the gag and pulled it down, "Bantha cow." Boba said and spit in her face.

She slapped him in the face, "Oh, now, that was not very nice, Boba; after she was kind enough to remove your gag so we could talk." Moran said amiably. "Hit him again, Devan; you have my permission."

Devan smiled as she wiped off her face; but instead of slapping Boba a second time, she grabbed his injured arm and squeezed.

"AAAHHHHH." Boba screamed and struggled to free himself until she let go.

He bowed his head, eyes closed, breathing raggedly; Devan grabbed a handful of hair, pulled his head up and put her face down next to his, "Don't do that again." She warned.

He opened his eyes and narrowed them hatefully, "You're still a bantha cow." He gasped.

She hit him hard enough to tip the chair over.

"Well, now that wasn't necessary, Devan; get away from him." Moran said, pushing her back and pulling the chair and Boba upright again.

"He called me a cow, Moran." She protested.

"Well, a cornered animal will always strike back; you've hunted enough to know that. Hold your temper with him from now on; we need him." Moran replied, "At least until one of you takes the prize. Are you all right, boy? Nothing broken? Let's see….no, I think you're fine. You really have to watch your tongue around here from now on or things could get very unpleasant."

"Like things aren't already unpleasant?" Boba asked sarcastically.

"Oh, it could get much worse, believe me." Moran answered threateningly.

"What do you want, Moran?" Boba asked.

"I told you; my hunters want their prize so they can take their trophy." Moran replied.

"You're hunting a man; what trophy?" Boba wondered.

"That laser sword of course;" Moran informed him, "does the cub have one too?"

"Cub? What's wrong with you people; Zak is not a cub." Boba answered.

"Cub, boy; whatever, does he have one or not?" Moran asked impatiently.

"Oh, yeah, heh, heh, heh; and he's going to run you through with it. You have no idea what you're dealing with." Boba warned.

"Yes, we do; we've already drawn the man's blood. Now we just have to finish him off." Devan told him.

"You're all nuts; he's a Jedi and he's ready to take all of you on…in fact, he's probably…." Boba bragged.

"Boba, Boba, Boba, are you forgetting that I have first hand information? Micah told me all about him this morning." Moran cut him off. "He's not in very good shape, is he….but he will come for you anyway."

"No, he won't; I don't think he even likes me." Boba answered.

"Oh? Well, how do you feel about him then, Boba?" Moran asked.

"What do you mean?" Boba asked suspiciously.

"You say he doesn't like you; do you like him?" Moran asked.

"Why do you want to know that?" Boba wondered.

"Well, I thought maybe…being a bounty hunter..." Moran began.

"I WAS a bounty hunter; I don't do that anymore. And if you think I'm going to join you and help you kill Master Kenobi, you'd better think again." Boba told him curtly.

Moran shook his head sadly, "I'm sorry to hear that, Boba; Micah thought…well, no matter. There is another thing I wish to discuss with you." He replied.

"I won't help you; there's nothing more to discuss." Boba answered.

"I want the list back; the one you took from the cave." Moran said.

"Heh, heh, heh, too late; the Chancellor already has your list. He's going to track down every one of your 'clients'. Eventually, one of them will lead him to you." Boba replied.

"Well, I see we have nothing more to talk about then." Moran decided turning to Orlan, "Gag him."

Orlan moved next to him, loosening the cloth in order to pull it back up, "You're all going to die, Moran; every last one." Boba said.

Moran looked at him, "I rather doubt it; and soon, two of my hunters will claim their trophies." He answered with a laugh, "Hurry up, Orlan; I'm tired of listening to him."

"You're…" Orlan jammed the cloth into his mouth so that the word 'wrong' was muffled and yanked it tightly before tying it behind his head.

"No, Boba, you're wrong." Moran said as he came very close, staring Boba in the face, "You and your two friends will be dead before long; and if your precious Chancellor interferes again, I will kill him as well, along with his wife."

Boba managed a muffled 'no', struggled futilely and then glared at Moran, mumbling something intelligible.

"Why, Boba, was that a threat?" Moran asked in mocked shock.

Boba silently glared hatefully at Moran.

"Don't look at me like that, boy." Moran demanded.

Boba only increased the hostility in his glare.

"That's it; take him out to the shed. Maybe he'll learn some manners when he's out there." Moran ordered.

Kien untied the rope around his chest and held his shoulders, expecting Boba to start struggling. Boba sat passively as Orlan knelt down and released the rope securing Boba's legs under the chair. Devan, standing in front of Boba felt the full impact of Boba's kick, sending her flying several feet backwards. Kein punched him hard in the wounded arm; but to him, it was worth the pain just to see Devan land on her backside. Orlan yanked him up by that same arm and Boba moaned through the gag as the pain hit him in waves. Kien took his other arm and they started to drag him toward the door near the back of the cabin.

Devan closed the distance between them quickly, hands balled into fists ready to strike.

"Don't touch him, Devan." Moran ordered.

Devan's knuckles turned white as she tightening her fists and then loosened them; getting very close to Boba's face, she said, "I'm going to enjoy killing you."

Boba's eyes glinted in amusement as he mumbled to her, "That's enough now, Devan." Moran warned as she started to bring her fist up again.

She moved to the side to let Kien and Orlan pass, "Wait, we wouldn't want our little friend's head to get cold; we'd just better put this back on." Moran said as he picked up the discarded hood, walked over and slipped it over Boba's head, "Does that feel better, Boba?"

Boba mumbled from underneath the hood; Devan opened the door and Kien and Orlan dragged him outside. They took him the short distance to the shed; Kien opened the door, helped Orlan pull him in and sit him down in the far corner, "Do you like your room, bounty hunter?" Kien asked.

Boba mumbled and Kien pulled the hood partially up, "What are you doing, Kien?" Orlan demanded.

"I just want to hear what he has to say." Kien answered as he pulled the gag down, "Now, what were you saying?"

"You're going to rot away on Kessel when they're through with you." Boba answered.

"Right." Kien replied with a laugh and pulled the gag back into place, "I'm real worried about that." He slipped the hood back in place, stood up and walked to the door with Orlan. "Get some rest; you're going to need it." He said as he closed the door and latched it before returning he and Orlan returned to the cabin.

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"He can't be gone, Zak; where would he go?" Obi-Wan replied, as he started to sit up.

"I looked, he's not in his room; and I checked to see if he was with Gemma. She hasn't even seen him." Zak answered, "Something's not right, Master; it just doesn't feel right."

Obi-Wan focused for a moment, "No, it's not; but we should check the rest of the house." He said as he started to get out of bed.

"You aren't going anywhere, Master Kenobi." Haris told him as he pushed him back down.

Obi-Wan sighed, realizing that Averill was right and sensing that it would do little good to search the house, he laid back down.

"He is not here, is he." Bail guessed.

"No, I don't think so, Chancellor." Obi-Wan told him.

"I don't think he left on his own, Master; his coat was still in his room." Zak said.

"That makes no sense; it means someone came and took him. But why; and more importantly, how could they get in here?" Bail wondered.

"Maybe they were already here." Obi-Wan suggested.

"You mean a member of my staff?" Bail asked. "I trust all the people who work for me."

"Well, I'm afraid one of them has betrayed you, Chancellor." Obi-Wan replied.