Chapter 15 So Close

"Are you about ready there, Devan?" Moran called.

"I'll be right out, just a minute." Devan replied.

"Well, hurry up; it's about time we get this thing started and it's time for you to play your…what in the name…what happened to your face, Devan?" Moran asked upon seeing Devan step into the common room.

"Clumsy, I was clumsy; I hit myself with my slug thrower." She answered, laughing, "I feel like such a fool."

"Hmm…I'm not going to ask you how you managed that; but this could actually work in our favor. You look as if someone has worked you over; this Kenobi may be more convinced than ever that you're on the up and up." Moran decided. "Go ahead and take the speeder, but make sure you don't come too close to the estate; you want to make it look like you've hiked all the way from the Heights."

"Alright, if all goes as planned, I will see you in the morning." Devan replied as she put her coat on.

"Good luck to you, Devan." Moran said and then turned to Orlan, sitting in a chair with his feet up on another chair. "You and Kien go check on that kid; take him some water, we don't want him dying of dehydration before he's through serving his purpose."

Kien had his coat on even before Moran had finished talking and Orlan wasted no time in getting up and doing the same.

"Just be careful; that boy is…well, you know how he is. Watch every move he makes." Moran warned.

"Yeah, yeah; we got it covered." Kien assured him as he grabbed a water bottle and followed Orlan out the door and nearly ran in to him, "What the…"

Orlan was standing on the top step looking at the open door to the shed, "I thought we latched that door before we went back inside." He said.

"Well, I thought we did, maybe the latch it broken and the door just swung open. Look, the kid's crafty, I'll grant him that, but he was tied up too well to be able to get lose." Kien replied as he stepped around Orlan and walked toward the shed.

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Boba was halfway across the space when he heard voices outside; no, he thought, he had been so close. Well, he would least make a fight of it. He looked toward the door and continued to make his way toward the wall; seconds later a shadow dimmed the light coming through the door and then a figure obscured it all together. Boba stopped and tensed his legs, prepared to kick out as soon as he came close.

"Boba, Boba, Boba; where did you think you were going?" Kien said as he entered the shed, "I'm impressed that you managed to get that hood off; how did you do it?"

He moved closer, cautiously; and then another figure appeared in the doorway.

"It's a good thing Moran had us check on you." Orlan said, "I still wonder why the door was unlatched."

Kien moved closer, within striking distance; Boba kicked him in the shin and then laughed triumphantly. Orlan meanwhile was moving up along one side and as Boba turned to look in his direction, Kien took hold of his legs. Boba tried to kick away from him and in his struggle, lost track of Orlan until Orlan grabbed him by the neck, forcing down, "Now listen, boy; you might just want to cooperate here. Kien has brought you some water and I know for a fact that you haven't had anything to drink all day. Let's just call a truce here at least until you get something to drink; alright?" Orlan told him.

Boba stopped struggling for a moment; he had not wanted to think about how thirsty he was.

"Well, how about it?" Orlan asked.

Boba closed his eyes, relaxed completely and nodded.

"Smart boy." Orlan said and pulled him up into a sitting position, "No kicking?"

Boba nodded again, "Alright, let's take this gag off then." Orlan said, pushing his head forward and loosening the knot.

Orlan pulled the gag away and Boba moaned and tried to swallow; Kien opened the bottle and held it up to his mouth and Boba drank eagerly and then choked, "Easy there, boy; not so fast." Orlan warned and Kien moved the bottle away.

Taking a few sips at a time, Boba finished the water, "Now, why don't you tell us how you managed to pull that hood off, hmm?" Orlan requested.

"It was Devan." Boba whispered hoarsely.

"Devan? You're lying, she hasn't been in here." Kien replied.

"Yes, she has; I think she wanted to kill me, she had one of those slug throwers." Boba insisted.

"I don't believe you." Orlan said.

"Well, it's true; how do you think that door got opened? I sure couldn't do it." Boba replied.

Kien and Orlan looked at each other, "He does have a point." Kien admitted.

"I kicked her in the face and I think I broke her nose." Boba told them.

"Well now, that's very interesting because she told us she hit herself with her weapon." Orlan said.

"So you've seen her; then you must realize that I'm telling the truth." Boba answered.

"Oh, Moran is not going to like this." Kien realized.

"No, I would say Devan is in deep trouble." Orlan replied, "Moran may just decide to eliminate her."

"That's a shame; she was really looking forward to taking you, bounty hunter." Kien added.

Seizing the moment, Boba drew his feet up and kicked Kien, who landed on his back a meter away.

"Heh, heh, heh; the truce is off, boys." Boba said as he kicked out at Orlan, grazing his leg as Orlan moved to tackle him again. Kien recovered and bounded back to kick Boba in his wounded arm.

"AAHH." Boba cried out in pain, fell over on his side and curled into a ball.

"Keep an eye on him, Kien; I'm going to get something to…ah, here we go." Orlan began and then spotted a stake with a wide flat head lying amidst the junk scattered on the floor.

"What are you going to do, Orlan?" Kien asked, "You can't kill him."

"Kill him? What, you think I'm stupid? Nah, I'm just going to make sure he can't kick at us anymore." He told him, "Drag him back over to the corner."

Taking Boba by the collar, Kien hauled him back into the corner with Boba fighting him all the way, "That's it, now just hold his feet so he can't kick me." Orlan instructed.

Kien complied with some difficulty as Boba attempted to kick him away. Orlan pounded the stake into the ground at Boba's feet, "Now what?" Kien asked.

"You'll see." Orlan answered, "This will be the tricky part; hold his legs down tight."

Kien put all his weight down to bear on Boba's legs as Orlan began to untie the rope, "What are you doing, Orlan?" Kien asked.

"Just watch." Orlan replied as he looped one end of the rope around one of Boba's legs, wound the rope around the stake below the head a couple of times and then tied the bounty hunter's legs together. "See? No more kicking; how's that, boy?"

"Go rot." Boba said as he struggled to free his legs.

"Oh, now that's not very nice; I guess we'll just have to put this back on." Orlan said moving toward his head with the gag.

"Yeah, that's right; go ahead, it's not like I can stop you." Boba replied sarcastically. "But don't think I'm going to make it easy for you."

It took them several minutes for Orlan to replace the gag even with Kien's help. Boba glared icily at them and struggled with the rope binding his hands, "What's the matter, bounty hunter?" Orlan asked snidely and Boba mumbled back at him.

"Well, I think we're about through here." Orlan said as he stood up. "Don't worry; it will all be over before long. Your Jedi friend will be here soon; and once we take him out, we can concentrate on you and the cub…maybe Moran will let Devan live long enough to take you herself."

Boba struggled to kick, mumbling loudly as his glare became more hostile.

"What's that? I'm sorry, Boba; I didn't understand you." Orlan said as he slipped the hood back over Boba's head while Kien held him in place. "Never mind; it probably was not important anyway."

Boba continued to mumble and struggle until he fell over on his side; one of them pulled him back up, "We can't have this, Orlan; he might hurt himself and that will spoil the hunt." Kien said.

"You're right; let me think…" Orlan replied, "Here, we can do this."

Boba felt himself being pushed away from the wall and then heard pounding, "There, that should do it." Orlan said, "Alright, hold him still."

Boba felt someone, probably Kien, take hold of both his upper arms, and squeezing his injured one painfully. He moaned loudly and struggled weakly as he felt his hands being untied, pulled back toward the wall and then retied. "Let's see if that will work; let him go, Kien." Orlan instructed.

When he was released, Boba struggled again, to find that he was now somehow also secured to the wall.

"Ha, that did it; struggle all you want, bounty hunter, you're not going anywhere." Kien said.

Boba mumbled again and stopped fighting against his restraints. He heard their footfalls as they walked toward the door followed by the door closing and the latch being turned. He began to work on the ropes again; they had missed something, a sharp edge on the thing they had tied his arms to. They had him, for now; but given enough time, he would cut his way through those ropes. Then they would be in for a fight; Boba Fett would not go down easily.

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"Mama, where's Boba?" Obi-Wan heard Gemma ask as he made his way downstairs.

"Well, that is what Papa and Zak are trying to find out." Breha answered and then looked up when she heard Obi-Wan coming down the stairs, "Master Kenobi, you should still be in bed."

"No, I should be trying to find Boba." Obi-Wan replied.

"I do not think so; Haris has insisted that you rest." Breha argued.

"I assure you, your highness, I am well enough to help you find your….Boba. I have connected with Master Skywalker and he has helped me to heal myself somewhat. Your Dr. Averill already knows about this." Obi-Wan explained, "Where are Zak and the Chancellor?"

"They are in Bail's office, but…." Breha began.

"Thank you." Obi-Wan answered as he bowed to her and turned toward the office.

"Is Master Kenobi gonna help Papa and Zak find Boba?" Gemma asked.

"It appears so;" Breha answered and glared disapprovingly at Obi-Wan, "even though he should not."

"Why, Mama? Cuz he's still sick?" Gemma asked.

"Yes." Breha replied.

Obi-Wan turned, smiled at her and shook his head then, entered the office.

Breha shook her head as he disappeared into the room, "Why are all the men I know so stubborn?" She asked aloud.

"What's stubborn mean, Mama?" Gemma asked.

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Bail rose from the chair, "Master Kenobi; should you be up?" He asked.

"Yes, Chancellor, I've connected with Master Skywalker; I am well enough to help you." Obi-Wan answered with a bow. "Fill me in on what you've done."

"I would feel better if you would let Haris have a look at you first." Bail replied.

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, "Chancellor, I was able to come down here without assistance; the dizziness is nearly gone and the blurred vision has cleared. I am perfectly capable of assisting you." He assured him.

"Nevertheless, I insist that Haris see you first." Bail persisted.

Obi-Wan shook his head, sat down and then looked over at Zak who had not said a word, "And what about you, Padawan; I suppose you agree with him?" He asked.

"Yes, Master." Zak answered straightforwardly.

"Very well, it seems I am outnumbered; the two of you in here and Lady Organa out in the entrance hall." Obi-Wan replied, resting one leg on his knee, "My guess is that she has already gone to find the good doctor and he is probably on his way here. In the meantime, I see no reason why you cannot tell me what you have learned so far."

"Fair enough." Bail agreed as he sat down again, "I have questioned each member of my staff in the presence of your apprentice. In each case, save one, he detected no hint of deception."

"Save one? Who would that be, Chancellor?" Obi-Wan asked.

Bail looked down at the floor and sighed, "That would be Micah." He said, "However, I think there is a plausible reason for it." He added quickly.

"Really? What possible reason could he have for lying about anything?" Obi-Wan inquired.

"He was just coming into the kitchen from the garden door and Zak sensed that he was lying about where he had been. He also sensed deception when Micah told me he had not seen Boba this morning." Bail answered.

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and folded his hands together, "And you think there is a plausible explanation for lying about that?" He asked, "I would like to hear it."

"What if Boba actually did wish to leave? Would it not be reasonable for him to ask Micah to help him?" Bail replied, "In that case, Micah could have been lying about where he had been because he may have been taking Boba to the spaceport; and then he would have had to lie about seeing him."

"That is possible, of course; but, Chancellor, you said after you had spoken with him this morning that you had talked him out of leaving. Can you honestly believe that he left anyway; and without taking anything with him?" Obi-Wan questioned.

Bail sighed, "No; but I also cannot believe that Micah would have anything to do with having him abducted." He answered, "What possible reason could he have to do such a thing?"

"I don't know, but I find it hard to believe that boy left on his own; not if he told you he would stay. If I know anything about Boba, he would be bluntly honest about something like that." Obi-Wan told him, "And it appears that Micah is the only one lying to you about seeing him."

Bail shook his head, stood up and began pacing the room, "You are right, I know; I just cannot accept that Micah…I just cannot believe that about him." He replied. "I thought I knew him better than that."

"Perhaps not as well as you thought." Obi-Wan said.

The Chancellor stopped pacing, looked at him and sighed again, "Perhaps." He admitted.

"And what do you think, Zak?" Obi-Wan asked turning to his apprentice.

"I don't think Boba left here voluntarily, it just doesn't feel right; and I think Micah had something to do with it." Zak answered without hesitation.

Obi-Wan nodded, "And how do think we can prove this?" He asked.

"I think we should get him to tell us that he took Boba to the spaceport; then I could sense he was lying." Zak proposed.

Obi-Wan turned to Bail, "Chancellor, does that sound reasonable to you?" He asked.

"I have no objection to that; and then at least I could put my mind to rest about what happened." Bail conceded as the door opened.

"Bail, I'm sorry; am I interrupting something?" Dr. Averill asked.

"No, not at all, Haris; come in." Bail replied, standing up and gesturing for him to come in.

"Breha expressed some concern that Master Kenobi is up and about prematurely." Haris explained as he entered the room, "I thought I would have a look at him for her sake and to satisfy my own curiosity."

"Look away, Doctor; I'm sure you will be satisfied." Obi-Wan told him with a smile.

"Alright," Averill replied as he retrieved his diagnostic tool and asked, "How is your headache?"

"Just a dull throb; nothing like before." Obi-Wan informed him.

"Ah, good." Averill replied as he moved the tool down the side of Obi-Wan's head, "And the dizziness?"

"Almost gone." Obi-Wan answered.

"Good, very good; and your vision?" Averill inquired.

"Back to normal." Obi-Wan said.

"Excellent! Well, as far as I can tell, aside from a few minor residual effects, you are very nearly recovered. I must say I am very impressed by what this Skywalker fellow has done; very impressed." Averill replied, "Can he do that for anyone?"

"Well, to some extent; he and I have that is very uncommon; we can…oh dear, this is very difficult to explain to someone not familiar with how the Force works." Obi-Wan tried to explain

"I think I get the basic idea; and I find it absolutely fascinating. And with that, I will leave you to finish whatever it was you were working on when I interrupted you." Haris replied and then added a caution, "You should still take it easy for a day or so; just to be on the safe side."

"Thank you, Haris; and I appreciate you staying until…" Bail trailed off, standing up to see Averill to the door.

"Well, if someone has taken him…I know what he is like; he would fight if he could….he may need…my help." Haris told him.

"I hope that is not the case; but if it is, I am glad that you will be here." Bail answered.

Haris gave him a reassuring smile and patted him on the shoulder before leaving the office.

"Now, we might just as well talk to Micah and get it over with." Bail decided when Averill had gone, closing the door behind him.

"Yes, the sooner we find out what he knows, the sooner we can find our young friend." Obi-Wan replied as he stood up, and then grabbed the arm of the chair as another wave of dizziness hit him.

"Master Kenobi?" Bail asked, concerned.

"It's alright; I just stood up too fast and I got dizzy. It's gone now." Obi-Wan assured him, and walked toward the door.

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"Devan went out to the shed after we put the bounty hunter in there." Orlan informed Moran when he and Kien had returned to the cabin.

"What? Are you sure? Why would she do that?" Moran questioned.

"Well, you know how much she wanted to take the boy." Kien began.

"She went there probably to turn him loose so she could hunt him." Orlan added.

"No way; she wouldn't do that to us." Moran refuted.

"Oh wouldn't she? Are you sure about that Moran?" Kien asked.

"Why don't you both tell me what makes you so sure she was out in that shed?" Moran asked, putting his feet up on the table and rocking back in the chair he was sitting in.

"Alright; first, when we went out to check on the boy, the shed door was wide open." Orlan began.

"So? That proves nothing; you two incompetents might not have latched it properly." Moran replied sarcastically.

"Well, we thought so too until we found that bounty hunter scooting along halfway to the door without the hood." Kien answered.

"Really? Hmm…and did you ask him how he managed to do that?" Moran asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, we did. We had to take the gag off so he could drink anyway; and we were curious to hear how he would explain it." Orlan informed him.

"And he told you….?" Moran prompted.

"He said that Devan had come in with a slug thrower and she had taken off his hood." Kien said.

"Oh come now; you're going to take his word on it? He would lie through his teeth to prevent you from trussing him up again like he was when I brought him here." Moran answered, "And he's probably out there right now trying to escape again." He added as he jumped up and headed for the back door.

"Hold on, Moran; there's more. He also told us he kicked Devan pretty good…in the face and, get this, broke her nose." Orlan added, "Still think he's lying?"

Moran turned, "That little womp rat; she knew the ground rules and she went right behind my back to break one of them. Well, I cannot allow that; I'm afraid our friend Devan is out of the game…permanently." He said. "Once she leads the Jedi into the trap, she will be eliminated."

Kien shook his head, "Stupid fool; why couldn't she just wait." He declared.

"Well, anyway, the bounty hunter couldn't have gotten away even if he had been lying. We staked his legs and secured his hands to the wall. He's not going anywhere until we let him." Orlan assured Moran.

Moran smiled with satisfaction, "Very clever." He said, then sighed and shook his head, "It's a shame about Devan though; but she knew the rules."

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"Micah, do you have a moment; I would like to speak with you." Bail asked as he entered the kitchen with Zak; Obi-Wan stood just outside the kitchen, listening.

"Of course, sir; I am at your disposal." Micah answered.

"I know you have told me that you did not see Boba this morning; but I get the distinct feeling that you are hiding something." Bail said.

"Well, I'm sorry you feel like that, Chancellor; however, I assure you…" Micah started.

"Micah, did you know that Boba was planning to leave?" Bail asked bluntly, cutting Micah off.

"I…sir, I don't think that's really any of my business." Micah answered, nervously.

"I understand; but it is very important that we know if Boba left here of his own free will or was taken forcibly." Bail pushed.

Micah sighed and turned away, "I'm sorry, sir; he asked me not to say anything." He admitted.

"Say anything about what, Micah?" Bail asked.

"He said he felt too confined here and he wanted to be on his own again." Micah replied.

"Do you know where he went?" Bail asked.

Micah hesitated, "Micah, do you know where he went?" Bail repeated.
Micah sighed, "No, why would I know that?" He admitted.

"Did you take him to the spaceport?" Bail asked.

Micah looked down and paused, "Yes; that's where I had been when you caught me coming into the house. I'm sorry, sir; he didn't want you to know where he'd gone." He explained.

Bail looked at Zak; and Zak shook his head almost imperceptibly.

"You are lying, Micah." Bail said accusingly, "What have you done with him?"