Chapter 21 Boba's Fight

Bail stood up quickly, "Haris?" He questioned.

"Well, he's a mess, quite frankly; but it's going very well under the circumstances and the boy is holding his own." Haris informed them.

"How much longer will it take?" Breha asked.

"That's hard to say; they are going very carefully to be sure nothing is missed." Haris answered.

"What do you think, Haris; does he have a chance?" Bail asked.

Haris sighed, "A chance? Yes, he is tough, our Boba; and he's a fighter. Hopefully, he realizes that he has something to fight for now. I should return; I just wanted to let you know how it was going so far. I'll be back in a little while to give you another report." He said.

"Thank you, Haris." Bail replied as he sat down next to Breha.

"Master Kenobi, it would be to your benefit if you would lie down for a while; I can have a cot brought in for you." Haris suggested.

"No, thank you, Doctor; I can rest here just as easily." Obi-Wan assured him.

"Very well, that is your choice. Bail, I will let you know when I have anymore news." Haris answered as he left the room.

Zak stood up, "Where are you going, Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I want to see what's happening in there." Zak answered as he walked toward the door to the observation deck.

"Yes, of course." Obi-Wan replied and closed his eyes.

Zak walked into the darkened room housing the observation deck. The wall overlooking the surgical theatre was completely transparent; Zak looked down to see the two droids, working on opposite sides of the table. Tubes extended from Boba's upturned arms and a shield separated his head from his lower body. A breathing mask covered his face. As Zak watched, he noticed Dr. Averill reenter the theatre standing close enough to observe the progress of the droids and far enough back not to interfere with their work. The angle of the table made it difficult for Zak to see exactly what they were doing, but the sound system in the room allowed him to hear the conversation between the droids. After a few minutes, he returned to the waiting room and took his seat next to his master.

"Back so soon?" Obi-Wan asked.

"There wasn't much to see." Zak told him.

"Ah." Obi-Wan said and went back to his meditation and a few moments later, Zak joined him.

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Dr. Averill returned several times over the course of the next two hours; reporting that everything was going as well as could be expected. Zak returned to the observation deck after Haris' latest report and for a few minutes, things look as if they are proceeding well. Then an alarm sounded on one of the machines, followed quickly by a second. The droids made several adjustments as Boba convulsed several times. Zak backed up wondering if he was observing the death of his friend. Haris entered the theatre and moved to help them. After a few tense minutes, the alarms went silent and the droids continued their work. Haris looked up, gave Zak a sign that the immediate danger had passed and Zak nodded back to him before rejoining the others in the waiting room.

"You seem agitated, Padawan; what happened?" Obi-Wan asked as Zak took his seat.

"I…something happened; and I was worried for a moment. It's alright now." Zak answered.

"Oh, I see." Obi-Wan replied, but did not ask for further explanation.

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"Well, he managed to make it through the surgery; there were a couple of close calls, but he is still with us." Averill announced when he returned half an hour later.

"When can we see him?" Bail asked eagerly.

"When he has been moved to recovery it should be just a few minutes; he will stay there until the anesthesia has worn off somewhat before he is placed in a bacta tank for a few hours." Haris answered. "You may sit with him until then if you wish."

"Thank you, Haris; for everything." Bail said.

"Don't thank me yet, Bail, Boba is not out of the woods; anything could happen." Haris told him. "The best thing we can all do is take it one step at a time. The first step was the surgery; he pulled through that. Now we have to get him through recovery, if he makes it through that, then he must go into the bacta tank. The longer he holds on, the greater his chances will be."

"I understand, Haris." Bail replied with a nod.

A few minutes later, the med droid entered the waiting area, "Dr. Averill, he is now settled in recovery. If his family wishes, they may see him now." It said.

"We do." Bail replied and bent down to pick up his sleeping daughter.

"Let her sleep, Chancellor; I will keep an eye on her." Obi-Wan offered.

"Oh, yes; thank you, Master Kenobi." Bail answered taking Breha's arm, "Zak, would you like to see him?"

"Uh, yes; but, well, that is…" Zak stammered.

"This should be your time, Chancellor." Obi-Wan interceded.

"You are his friend, Zak; why do you not just come and see him for a few minutes?" Bail suggested.

Zak looked to Obi-Wan for guidance, "This is your decision, Zak; but the Chancellor is right, you are his friend. If you wish to go down to see him, then that is what you should do." Obi-Wan instructed.

"Yes, Master; thank you." Zak replied as he stood up and followed them out.

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The recovery ward was empty with one exception as Haris led them to the last bed. But for the tubes extending from both arms and the lines attached to the monitoring equipment, Boba looked as if he were simply sleeping. No sign of pain was visible on his face and he was completely relaxed. A droid appeared carrying two chairs that it set down next to the bed. Bail and Breha settled themselves in the chairs while Zak stood next to his friend and put a hand on his arm. Closing his eyes for a moment, he reached out to touch Boba's life force; weakened, but far from impassive, Boba Fett was still fighting. He pulled a blue stone from the inside pocket of his tunic, placed it in Boba's hand and closed his fingers around it, "That's right, my friend; just keep fighting." He said.

He stayed for a few more minutes before returning to the waiting room. The Organas resigned themselves to wait and half an hour later, Boba began to stir; at first, just quietly moaning, then mumbling before becoming restless, tossing his head from side to side until his eyes flew wide open and he sat up straight up, "DON'T YOU TOUCH HER." He screamed.

Bail leaped out of his chair and pushed Boba back down, "Easy, son; no one is going to touch anyone." He assured him.

Boba fought to sit back up, looking at Bail in anguish, "Stop them; you have to stop…" He pleaded.

"Shh, easy now; you stopped them, Boba." Bail told him, "It is all over."

"Over?" Boba blinked and looked at him, "No."

"Yes, it is." Bail replied.

Boba features changed, "No, you're lying; who are you? Where is she?" He demanded.

"Where is who?" Bail asked, "And you know who I am."

"You're one of them; what have you done with her? TELL ME; IF YOU HURT HER, I'LL KILL YOU." He screamed, fighting to free himself and pulling one of the tubes from his arm.

"Breha, bring Master Kenobi." Bail said as he attempted to push Boba back down.

Breha was gone in an instant, "Listen to me; it is over, Boba. There is no one to fight." Bail said calmly.

"LET ME GO." Boba ordered.

"I was hoping this would not happen." Haris said as he rushed into the ward with a med droid.

"What is it?" Bail asked as he struggled to keep Boba from getting out of bed.

"He's hallucinating; it's the anesthesia." Haris informed him, "It looks as if I'll have sedate him; I did not want to do that, his system is stressed enough as it is."

"BREHA!" Boba screamed.

"Be still, Boba; she is safe." Bail told him.

"NO!" He screamed and continued to fight.

"This can't go on, his injury is still fragile and he could reopen it; I don't have a choice, Bail." Haris said.

"Do what you have to do, Haris." Bail said.

Averill nodded, "I will be right back; try to keep him as still as you can." He instructed as he left.

"MURDERERS. LET ME GO." Boba demanded, "BAIL!"

"I'm here, Boba; lie still now." Bail replied.

"NO; LIAR!" Boba cried out and struggled harder, pulling another tube from his arm.

Obi-Wan burst into the room followed closely by Breha; in an instant, he was on the other side of the bed, grabbing hold of one of Boba's flailing arms, "BE STILL." He commanded Forcefully.

Boba stopped struggling, "Bail?" He said.

"I am right here, son." Bail replied, brushing the hair from his forehead.

"I'm sorry." Boba told him, "Bre…ha."

Obi-Wan touched Boba's cheek, "Sleep, now." He said quietly.

"Sleep? But…Breha." Boba protested.

"Breha is safe, sleep." Obi-Wan assured him as he stroked his cheek.

"Safe? Sleep? Breha?" Boba murmured.

"I am here, Boba." Breha said.

"Sleep." Obi-Wan said.

"Sleep." Boba repeated.

"Alright, this should calm him down." Haris said from the doorway and moved swiftly toward them.

"No need, Haris." Bail told him, "Master Kenobi has already done that."

"Well, that's a relief; I'm not even going to ask how you did it." Haris replied as he reinserted the tubes that Boba had pulled loose.

The med droid scanned him, "He is fortunate; damage done is minimal." It informed them.

"Will this happen again, Haris?" Bail asked.

"I don't think so; it was the residual effects of the anesthetic as he was coming up that caused it and in my experience, once the episode is over, it does not reoccur." Haris answered. "I think it's time to place him in the bacta tank."

"I concur; the bacta will accelerate the healing process and greatly increase his chances of recovery." The med droid added.

"Bail, you and Breha might just as well take Gemma and go home for a few hours. You cannot be with him anyway when he is in the tank and I will contact you if there are any complications. By morning, his treatment will have been completed and you can see him then." Haris told them.

Bail only reluctantly agreed; he squeezed Boba's hand tightly, "Stay with us, Boba." He said.

Breha pushed the hair from his forehead again, "You have a family now and a home; just remember that." She added.

They stayed until a float arrived to take him to the bacta treatment area before leaving together and returning to the manor. It was only after they arrived home that Obi-Wan remembered that he had left the two bound hunters in the woods near the cabin. Deciding that it would be almost impossible for a search party to find them without Obi-Wan's help, and knowing that the Jedi desperately needed to rest, Bail ordered the Clones to wait until morning.

I know it seems that I was toying with you all concerning Boba's fate in these last few chapters, but the truth of the matter is that I had originally planned on having him die heroically saving Breha's life. But the readers on the site where this story was originally posted protested and pleaded that I spare his life, and so I relented and let him live. Anyway, hope you're enjoying this so far; and stick with it, because Padme's baby will be born very soon!