Chapter 20 A Reason to Live

Obi-Wan skirted around to the back of the house cautiously and entered through the door near the kitchen. Almost immediately, he heard a woman, the queen, scream and rushed through the kitchen, down the hallway, through the dining room and into the front entrance hall. There were sounds of a scuffle coming from the sitting room; without hesitation, Obi-Wan drew his weapon, ignited it and triggered the door as another scream echoed inside. The door opened in time for him to see Zak take Moran's hand off and then stand over him, warning him not to move. At the far end of the room, Boba Fett was sprawled, unmoving, on top of the queen with Gemma, squirming to get out from underneath both of them. Bail moved quickly, knelt down and carefully lifted the bounty hunter off his wife. Obi-Wan went to stand beside Zak, "I have him, Padawan." He said.

Zak nodded, powered down his weapon, "Yes, Master." He replied and looked over toward the other end of the room.

"Go on." Obi-Wan told him.

"Thank you, Master." Zak answered, giving Moran one last threatening look before turning toward his injured friend.

Moran curled into a quivering, moaning ball on the floor, clutching the stump of his arm, "Don't kill me, Jedi; please, don't kill me." He pleaded.

"I am not like you, Moran; I have no desire to see you dead." Obi-Wan replied, "I do not take pleasure in killing as you and your friends do."

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Breha cradled Boba, stroking his forehead, "You must not give up so easily; please, do not leave us." She told him.

"Stay." Boba murmured.

"That's right, stay." Breha said and then looked at Haris.

Haris shook his head, "There's a great deal of damage here and he is losing much blood. Bail, put your hand here and see if we can't at least slow it down." He instructed.

Bail nodded and placed his hand over the wound to Boba's midsection; Boba groaned, opened his eyes and grimaced, "It hurts." He whispered.

"I know; I will give you something as soon as I can and then we are going to get you out of here, alright?" Haris replied.

Boba nodded and shifted his gaze to Breha, "I...ruined…your dress…I…I'm…so sorry." He murmured.

"I can get a new dress, dear; it is alright." Breha assured him, smiling gently through her tears.

Gemma clung to Zak and buried her head against him, sobbing softly. He rubbed her back, "It's alright, Gemma." He said.

"He's gonna leave; he promised he wouldn't, but now he's gonna." Gemma cried.

"Gemma." Boba whispered.

Gemma continued to cry, refusing to look at him.

"Gemma…please." Boba repeated

Gemma peeked out, "I…won't leave…I…promise." Boba told her haltingly.

"Really?" She replied, looking first to him and then to Zak and getting nods from both of them.

Several Clones entered the room and took charge of Moran; Obi-Wan powered down his weapon and joined the others gathered around the injured Boba.

"One of you, call for a transport." Bail ordered.

"Yes sir; right away, sir." One of them responded as he pulled a transmitter from his belt and did what Bail requested, "They are on their way now, Chancellor; they should be landing on the front lawn momentarily. I assumed that you also needed a medical capsule, they will bring one."

"Thank you; yes." Bail replied, "Boba? How are you doing? It will not be long now."

"F..f..fine; I…I'm al..right." Boba stammered and grimaced, "Oh…i…it h...hurts."

Then he began to shiver and he looked at Haris with bewilderment and a touch of fear, I..I'm….c..c..cold." He told him.

"Haris?" Bail inquired in concern.

"It's shock; Boba, listen to me, you have to just hang on for just a little while longer, alright?" Haris said.

"C…c..cold." Boba repeated.

"I know; but it will be alright if you just stay with us a little while longer; can you do that?" Haris asked.

"T…t..try." Boba promised and he looked up at Breha, "T...try." He repeated to her.

"I may be able to help a little." Obi-Wan said as he knelt down opposite Bail and touched Boba's cheek, "Boba, clear your mind; you can do that, can't you?"

"I…n..n..nev…er t…tri..ed" He answered.

"Well, close your eyes now and try for me." Obi-Wan replied.

"T…t..try." Boba said as he closed his eyes.

Obi-Wan took a cleansing breath, reached out through the Force and then directed it toward the severely injured bounty hunter. Almost immediately, he was joined by Anakin, "Obi-Wan, what is it? What's wrong?" "Boba Fett has been injured." "What happened?" "He was shot; can you help me?" "Of course." Obi-Wan felt a surge as Anakin's Force strength joined his before he sent it on to Boba.

Boba blinked, "Oh." He whispered as he felt the energy course through him and he stopped shivering.

He looked at Obi-Wan in sudden understanding, "The…Force?" He wondered.

Obi-Wan broke his connection with Anakin, opened his eyes and looked down at Boba, "Yes." He answered as he patted the boy's shoulder, "Now, just hold on; I think I hear the transport landing."

Boba managed a weak smile, then grimaced in pain.

Moments later, a pair of Clones entered with the medical capsule between them and a case of additional medical supplies.

"Alright, we are going to lift you into the capsule now, son; it's going to hurt a little, but I cannot give you anything until we get you stabilized." Haris told him.

Boba nodded and closed his eyes.

"Good, boy; alright, Bail, you keep on doing what you're doing. Master Kenobi, if you can lift him from that side, we should be able to do this quickly." Haris instructed.

"We can take his feet and support his head, Doctor." One of the Medic Clones offered.

"Yes, that would help; thank you." Haris replied, "Ready, Boba?"

"Yeah." Boba answered.

"Alright; everyone at once, then." Haris said.

Boba stifled a moan, and grimaced as he was lifted up and then lowered into the capsule.

Immediately one of the Clones began to hook him into the support functions and the other placed a pressure bandage over Boba's midsection as Haris prepared an injection to ease his pain.

"Sir? Chancellor? You might want this." Commander Ged interjected, offering Bail a damp towel.

"What? Oh, yes, thank you, Ged. How are you feeling?" Bail replied as he took the towel and began to wipe the blood from his hands.

"Well, I do have a bit of a headache, sir; but I'm fine." Ged answered, "Uh, sir, I just want to tell you how sorry I am; I should have…"

"Nonsense; there was nothing you could have done, Ged." Bail assured him.

With Breha on one side and Bail on the other, Haris injected the pain inhibitor into Boba's arm as Boba looked up at Breha, "Lady…Breha…I…I…just…I just…wanted…to…tell you…I…I was….wrong." He said and then closed his eyes as the injection took effect.

"Wrong about what?" Haris asked as he looked over at Breha.

Breha smiled and blinked back a tear, "Something he said this morning." She answered as she brushed the hair back from his forehead.

One of the Clones placed an oxygen mask over Boba's nose and mouth, "Well, we should get him out of here." He said.

"Bail, did you want to come with us?" Haris asked as the Clones began to maneuver the capsule out.

"I…no, I should stay with Breha." He answered.

"I would like to go, Bail; however…" Breha told them and then looked at Gemma, holding Zak's hand.

"We can take care of her and join you later." Obi-Wan suggested, realizing Breha's concern.

"Well, what is it going to be? We must leave now." Haris said.

"We will come; go on ahead we will be with you in just a moment." Bail answered when Breha nodded.

"Very well." Haris as he turned to follow the medics out.

Breha knelt in front of Gemma, "Now, you be a good girl and Master Kenobi will bring you to the medical center; we will meet you there, alright?" She said.

"Are they gonna make Boba feel better?" Gemma asked.

"Yes, darling; that is exactly what they are going to do." Breha told her, giving her a hug and kissing her before standing up, "We will see you in a little while."

"Yes, Mama." Gemma said as she gripped Zak's hand tighter.

"We will take a speeder and meet you there, Your Highness." Obi-Wan told her.

"Thank you, Master Kenobi." Breha replied and then turned, took Bail's arm and started to walk out.

"Er…Your highness? If I may point out, well, your dress, Madam." The commander said.

"Oh…well, I do not have time to worry about that now." Breha answered.

"Well, he does have a point, my dear…appearances." Bail put in and then suggested, "A jacket could cover it."

"Yes, that would do; there is one in the entrance hall." Breha replied, moving swiftly past him.

The transport was ready to lift off as Bail helped his wife into it. The medical capsule holding Boba Fett had already been secured; the doctor and the two medics already harnessed in. When the Chancellor and his queen were seated and ready, the pilot lifted off and headed for the medical center.

Obi-Wan and Zak watched it go before putting little Gemma in her coat and taking a speeder to meet them; leaving the keeper, Micah's body and Devan in the hands of Bail's Clone Guard. Unfortunately for Kien and Orlan, Obi-Wan had forgotten to let the Guard know where they were and it would be morning before they were located and officially taken into custody.

When they arrived, the Organas were standing near the observation window to one of the treatment rooms. Bail had one arm around Breha while the other stroked the hair on his chin. One of Breha's hands was crossed over her chest, grasping Bail's hand and the other held a kerchief as she repeatedly dabbed her eyes. At that late hour, there was no one else about and Bail turned at the sound of footsteps. Obi-Wan and his apprentice immediately stopped and bowed, "Chancellor." Obi-Wan said.

Gemma did not stand on such ceremony and she broke away from them at a run as Zak and Obi-Wan continued, at a slower pace, toward them.

"Any word yet?" Obi-Wan asked as he came to stand next to Bail.

Bail disengaged himself from Breha and bent over to scoop up Gemma who had wrapped her arms around his legs, "No, Haris is still in there with the med droids." He answered.

"He is a fighter, Chancellor." Obi-Wan said.

Gemma wrapped her arms around Bail's neck, "I know; but this…" Bail shook his head and sighed.

"He promised, Papa." Gemma reminded him as she snuggled against his chest.

"That is right; he did; didn't he, Baby." Bail replied as he rubbed her back.

"Uh huh." She murmured as she began to fall asleep in his arms.

Bail sighed again, "Here comes Haris." He said, steeling himself.

Haris opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind him.

"Well?" Bail inquired.

"Well, I can't lie to you, Bail; it does not look good, the damage is extensive. However, the boy is young and strong and he is a fighter; I have stabilized him for the time being and I am going to have him moved to surgery in a few moments. They are prepping him now." Haris informed them.

"May we see him, Haris?" Breha asked.

"Just for a moment when we move him; but he's pretty doped up right now, I doubt that he will know you're there." Haris told her.

The door slid open again, "He is ready to be moved, Dr. Averill; shall we proceed?" One of the med droids asked.

"Yes;" Haris said and then looked meaningfully at Bail and Breha, "and his family will be walking with us."

"Understood, doctor." The med droid replied.

Guided by the pair of med droids, the float moved out into the hallway. Boba's face was pale and the bruises dealt out to him my Moran and the hunters stood out in sharp detail. His cracked lips were nearly as pale as his face.

As the float maneuvered down the hallway, Breha reached out and grasped his hand; it was cold to the touch, "Boba? You listen to me; you have a family now, do you understand? You must stay with us." She said squeezing the hand tightly.

Bail handed the sleeping child in his arms over to Obi-Wan and reached out to take the other hand, "Our home is yours as well; so you must hold on." He added.

Boba opened his eyes for only moment, they were vague and unfocused, "Fam…ily?...Home?" He whispered before closing them again. "Stay."

They reached the doors to the operating theatre and paused as one of the droids triggered the door.

"I'm sorry, Bail; this is as far as you can go." Haris said, "I will monitor his surgery and report to you every few minutes until they are finished."

"Yes, alright; thank you, Haris." Bail replied, giving Boba's hand a tight squeeze, "Hold on, son." He encouraged.

Breha bent down and kissed his forehead, "Stay with us." She told him.

Boba's eyes fluttered, "Hold…on…stay." He mumbled.

"Alright, that's it; we must go in now." Haris told them.

Reluctantly, they released their hold on him and the droids guided the float through the doors, "There is a private waiting area through the next door; and, if you wish, there is also an observation deck so you can see what's going on." Haris said as he followed the float; the doors closed behind him.

Bail looked back down the hallway where Zak and Obi-Wan stood standing, apparently waiting for them to return. He gestured for them to join him.

Obi-Wan lowered Gemma down onto one of the cushioned seats and covered her with his cloak. She sighed, stirred for a moment and then settled contentedly into sleep. Bail paced the room while Breha sat down next to Gemma and stroked the child's hair. Zak sat quietly in one of the seats alone, resting his chin in the palms of his hands. Obi-Wan sat down next to him, stretching his feet out and closing his eyes focusing to rid himself of the headache that had started to return.

"This is my fault." Zak said, "If I had just made him wait; but no, I agreed with him. Even knowing how rash he can be, I just agreed with him and went right along with it."

"You made a judgment call, Zak; you must have thought he was right." Obi-Wan told him.

"At the time, I did; but look what happened." Zak replied.

"But what might have happened if you had not gone in and just waited for me to join you?" Obi-Wan asked.

Zak shook his head and sighed, "I don't know." He answered.

"That's right, you don't; and it could have been something far worse. What made you decide to go in?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Gemma; she happened to answer Boba's transmission and then they must have caught her. She screamed and we were worried that they might have…" Zak explained.

"Might have hurt her; well then I do not understand why you feel you were wrong." Obi-Wan finished.

"But they didn't hurt her, Master." Zak replied.

"Yes, but you did not know that at the time." Obi-Wan told him as he sat up and put a hand on Zak's back, "It is very easy to second guess yourself after the fact, Padawan; but you are being unfair to yourself when you do. You acted correctly based on the information you had at the time; I cannot say I would not have done exactly what you did."

Zak considered that for a moment, looked up at his master and then nodded as said, "Yes, Master." He answered.

Obi-Wan smiled, patted him on the back and leaned back again. Zak sighed and relaxed, grateful once again to have such a wise master.

Bail had just taken a seat when Haris entered the room from the observation deck.