Chapter 23 Back to the Heights

Averill appeared in the hallway a few minutes later, "Well, the good news is the bleeding is not getting any worse." He announced.

"However…" Bail said.

"Yes, there is a however; he does not seem to be responding the coagulant we administered." Averill replied.

"So he's not getting any better either." Bail concluded.

"No, but we are not giving up yet; I would like to give it a little more time to work, and if he still has not responded by this afternoon, we can always place him in the bacta tank then." Haris answered.

"Doctor, would you be opposed to me trying something?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Well, if you think it might help; are you thinking of your friend, Master Skywalker?" Haris wondered.

"Yes, we have only tried this once when Zak, here, was injured but it did seem to help." Obi-Wan replied.

"I have no objections; Bail?" Haris inquired.

"Absolutely none; Master Kenobi, if you think there is the slightest chance to help him, please, do it." Bail urged.

"Alright, we may just as well try it now and see what happens." Obi-Wan said.

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"I want you to just relax and clear your mind." Obi-Wan instructed as he sat next to Boba.

"Relax and clear my mind, yeah, I can do that…you've told me to do that before, haven't you." Boba suddenly realized.

"Yes, last night; remember that do you?" Obi-Wan answered.

"I do now, vaguely; I'm having trouble remembering much about that." Boba admitted.

"Well, you were in pretty bad shape; that's understandable." Obi-Wan told him.

"Yeah, I guess. So what are you going to do?" Boba asked.

"I'm going to connect with Master Skywalker and see if we can't stop your internal bleeding." Obi-Wan replied.

"Oh; yeah, that would be great." Boba decided.

"Clear your mind and relax." Obi-Wan told him again.

"Right." Boba answered.

Obi-Wan put a hand on Boba's abdomen, closed his eyes, took a centering breath and reached out through the Force to his brother, light years away. "Anakin?" "I am always here, my brother; what is it?" "I need your healing touch." "You have it; what do you want me to do?" "Our friend, Boba Fett is having some internal bleeding." "From the attack last night." "Yes, I was hoping…." "Yes, I know what you were hoping; show me." Obi-Wan opened up to Anakin, allowing himself to be a bridge between his brother and Boba Fett. "Ah, here it is; this should not be too difficult." Obi-Wan felt the now-familiar surge of energy pass through him. "That should do it." "Thank you, Anakin." "No need; just come soon, Padme's time is very near." "I will."

"….amazing." Obi-Wan heard Boba Fett finishing as he broke his connection and pulled back from the Force.

He sighed and opened his eyes, "Amazing was it?" He asked.

"Yeah, is that what it feels like all the time?" Boba asked.

Obi-Wan smiled, "No, what you felt was a concentrated surge; but I agree, it still amazes me sometimes." He answered.

"Well, now I can kind of see how you can do some of the things you do." Boba said.

"I just hope Master Skywalker was able to help you." Obi-Wan replied.

"Me too; I'd rather not have to spend another night in a bacta tank." Boba answered.

Obi-Wan stood up and opened the door, "Alright, it's finished." He told them, "Anakin, or should I say, Master Skywalker believes he has found the bleeder and repaired it."

Half an hour later, Obi-Wan's assessment was proven true when Dr. Averill examined the boy.

"I have to agree with Boba on this, Master Kenobi; the healing ability of your friend is truly amazing. For the time being, at least, the bleeding has stopped. I have had the drain removed and when the last of the artificial plasma has drained, I can remove that as well." Averill said when he emerged from the room into the hallway where they were all gathered.

"Yes, he is gifted." Obi-Wan replied and then turned to Bail, "Chancellor, I have a request."

"I am at your disposal, Master Kenobi." Bail told him as Breha slipped into Boba's room.

"I am sure that you wish to remain here for the rest of the day; Zak and I must leave within the next day or two for Naboo and I would like to take him up into the Heights before we leave." Obi-Wan said.

"I see; so you wish to take advantage of my shuttle to return to the manor. Yes, I see no reason for you to remain here. Boba will be disappointed, of course; however, I am sure there will other opportunities for them when he has recovered." Bail replied. "Breha and I will be home this evening to join you for dinner." He smiled and then added, "At least we did not lose our cook."

"Could I visit with Boba for a bit before we leave, Master? I'd like to tell him what we're going to do." Zak asked.

"Oh, yes, of course, Padawan; take as long as you need." Obi-Wan consented.

"Thank you, Master." Zak answered and then looked to Bail.

"Go ahead, Zak." Bail said.

"But Lady Breha…" Zak started.

"I am quite sure Lady Breha would be happy to allow you some time with him." Bail assured him with a smile.

"Yes, sir; thank you, sir." Zak replied and then slipped into the room.

"Master Kenobi, if you intend to climb the Heights again, you will need another parka since yours was damaged when you were injured. Please feel free to borrow one of mine as well as anything else that you lost when you were up there the last time." Bail offered.

"That is very generous, Chancellor; thank you." Obi-Wan answered.

"It is the least; the very least I can do. Once again you and your apprentice have done me and my family a great service." Bail told him, "And do not tell me that you were just doing your duty as a Jedi; even if I agreed with you, it would make little difference."

"Then I will say only thank you again." Obi-Wan replied.

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"Hey, Zak." Boba said when Zak appeared in the doorway.

"I will leave you two boys to talk for a bit." Breha announced as she rose from the chair, gave Boba arm a squeeze and walked toward the door.

"It's alright, Lady Breha; you don't have to leave." Zak said amiably.

"Oh, yes, I do; the last thing you need is to have an old mother hen listening in to your conversation." Breha insisted.

"You're not old, Lady Breha." Boba corrected.

She smiled at him, "Well then, just a mother hen." She conceded and closed the door behind her as she left.

Zak sat down in the chair, propped his feet up on the bed and knitted his fingers together, "Did I mention that you were a mess?" He asked, grinning.

"Yeah, yeah; you try being shot and see how you feel." Boba answered.

"Master Obi-Wan and I are going to have to leave in a couple of days." Zak informed him.

"I know; I figured you couldn't stay here forever." Boba replied.

"Well, we might have been able to stay a little longer, but Master Anakin wants Master Obi-Wan to be there when Lady Padme's baby is born and that could be real soon." Zak explained.

"Oh sure, I can understand that; and it's not like we can do anything right now anyways." Boba said. "But there's something else, isn't there."

Zak hesitated for a moment, trying to find the best way to tell him, "Boba, Master Obi-Wan would like to…" He started.

"I know; he wants to take you up to the Heights doesn't he." Boba finished.

"I can say no." Zak said quickly.

"Why? Listen, it's alright, Zak; I mean, it's not like you're never coming back here, right?" Boba told him.

"But you wanted to show me the Heights." Zak pointed out.

"Well, you and Master Kenobi explore around up there for a couple days; maybe you'll even find something I missed and when I'm up and about again, you can show me. And I'll bet there are going to be lots of places up there that I know about that he won't be able to find." Boba said.

"You're not disappointed then?" Zak asked.

"Yeah, a little; but I was the one who got myself shot. Besides, I told you, there will be other times for us and you might as well see some of the Heights while you're here without being shot at." Boba answered.

"So you've decided to stay for good then." Zak said.

"Yeah, I kind of realized something; it's funny how that happens when….anyway, I've decided I like the idea of having a family, a real family I mean." Boba admitted.

"Even a mother?" Zak asked, smiling.

"Especially a mother." Boba answered, "It came to me last night that my father was…well, I think he loved me alright, but he…was cold blooded when it came to everyone else; and he was making me that way. I don't want to be like that, Zak; I only began to see that after I met you, and the more time I've spent here, the less I want to be like Jango Fett."

Zak merely smiled at him without answering, and they moved on to talk of other things until Boba began to tire, "I think you need a nap, my friend; I will come tomorrow and the day after that before we leave." Zak said as he stood up.

Boba yawned, "Alright; I'll see you tomorrow," he yawned again, "Have a good time…" and again, "up on the Heights." He finished with a final yawn as he drifted off.

Zak slipped out quietly, and when Bail and Breha entered the room after speaking with Obi-Wan before he and Zak left for the manor, Boba was sleeping soundly.

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Zak stood next to his master at the tip of the summit; the snow sparkled in the bright sunlight like a field of precious gems. He breathed in the cold sharp air and marveled at the beauty surrounding him. His mind drifted to the events of the past days, "Master, what will happen to Moran and the rest of the hunters?" He asked.

"They will be tried and if they are found guilty, they will be sent to separate prison colony systems." Obi-Wan answered.

"If? After what they did; how could they not be?" Zak asked.

Obi-Wan sighed and looked at him, "Moran will most certainly be convicted; but the hunters come from rich backgrounds and they will have enough credits to buy very good defenders." He explained.

"Oh, you mean like Mas Amedda had." Zak replied.

"Yes; and they will certainly try very hard to have them acquitted." Obi-Wan said.

"But, Master; they were hunting a protected animal." Zak protested.

"Yes, and if they are convicted of that, they will probably get off with a stiff fine; something they will not have trouble with." Obi-Wan replied.

"But they shot you." Zak pointed out.

"No, Barclay shot me, and he is dead." Obi-Wan corrected.

"What about Boba? They shot him too." Zak mentioned.

"Yes, but the one who shot him in the arm is dead; it was Moran who put him in the medical center, and I am sure he will be sentenced to life for that." Obi-Wan told him.

"But they kidnapped him." Zak argued.

"Micah kidnapped him; and unfortunately, it will be Boba's word against our rich hunters' when it comes to his captivity." Obi-Wan answered.

"What about taking the Chancellor and his family hostage? Devan had a big part in that." Zak suggested.

"Well, that is certainly true; however, knowing Devan, she will probably be able to convince everyone that she was coerced by Moran." Obi-Wan said.

Zak shook his head, "That just isn't right." He decided.

"No, it certainly is not; but there will always be evil people like Devan and her kind, and there will always be defenders who will try to get them off." Obi-Wan replied.

"I always thought after the Sith was destroyed, there wouldn't be." Zak confessed, "But they keep right on coming."

Obi-Wan put a hand on Zak's shoulder, "That, my young apprentice, is why there must always be a Jedi Order." He said.

They stayed up on the Heights until the sun dipped down low in the sky, basking the Heights in colorful light before they made their way back down just before dark.

Alright, I know what you're waiting for, and it won't be that much longer...if you can hang on for another couple chapters; the birth of Padme's baby is close at hand!