Chapter 24 An Alderaan Sunrise

The following morning was cool and rainy; and the prospect of climbing the Heights that day seemed unlikely. News had come from Coruscant that the prison transport had arrived and the prisoners had been removed to the prison facility without incident to wait for trial. Obi-Wan and Zak traveled again with the Organas to the medical center to visit with Boba.

"Well, how is he this morning, Haris?" Bail asked when Dr. Averill met them as they headed for Boba's room.

"Under the circumstances…" Haris started to answer.

"…as well as can be expected; I do not like that answer, Haris; what is it now?" Bail asked.

"Now, Bail, it's nothing to…" Haris began again.

"…be concerned with; you said that yesterday. What is it that I am not to be concerned with today?" Bail asked impatiently.

Haris sighed, "Did you notice that he started to drift yesterday afternoon before you left?" He asked.

"Yes, Haris; we thought he was tired." Breha answered, "What are you trying to tell us?"

"He wasn't just tired; he had a low-grade fever that spiked later in the evening." Haris replied.

"And you decided we did not need to know this?" Bail inquired, a little angrily.

"Well, we tried to contact the estate but apparently the com was down for a short time. By the time it came back up, Boba was in a bacta tank and responding to treatment. It was very late and I saw no need to worry you over something that he would be through by morning." Haris explained.

"So you put my son into a bacta tank…why are all of you looking at me like that?" Bail asked when he noticed the curious expressions on everyone's faces.

"Did you just refer to Boba Fett as your son?" Haris asked.

"Well, I…did I?" He asked confused.

"Yes." They all said in unison.

"Oh, I did? I did; well, that did not take long. But, Haris, why did you put him into a bacta tank and not let us know?" Bail asked.

"I'm sorry; maybe I should have. But he was doing so well, I just did not see the point in alarming you. We brought him out this morning and he is much better." Haris answered.

"May we see him then?" Breha asked.

"Oh, yes; of course, yes." Haris replied, "He's in the same room he was in yesterday."

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Boba was propped up on several pillows when they entered the room, his hair still damp after his night in the bacta tank and there were tubes stuck in each arm; one hooked to a bag with whitish fluid and the other, clear. He plainly did not look happy.

"Remind me never to get myself shot again." He said as they walked in, "I feel like a drowned womp rat; and I'm sure I look like one too."

"It can't be all that bad, Boba." Zak told him.

"No? Have you spent two nights in a bacta tank?" Boba demanded.

"No, but I spent a few weeks bound up like a prized swamp turkey." Zak replied.

Boba looked at him sheepishly, "Oh…yeah…I'm sorry; I forgot. It's just that I feel soggy, I've got all these tubes stuck in me and I'm so hungry but they won't let me have anything to eat." He answered apologetically.

"You aren't ready for solid food yet, Boba." Averill informed him as he peeked in. "That is what that white liquid is for."

"Oh, yeah, it's delicious; can I have seconds?" Boba asked sarcastically, causing everyone to laugh.

"In a day or two, we will start you on liquids and then gradually…" Haris began.

"A day or two? I'll starve to death by then; don't you have any sympathy for me at all?" Boba complained.

"You will not starve to death, Boba; that's what…" Averill began.

"Yeah, I know, I know; that's what that white stuff is for." Boba cut him off.

"When you get home, Boba; I will have cook prepare anything you like." Breha promised.

"Oh, thanks; I hope I live long enough to enjoy it." Boba replied in his sarcastic tone.

Breha blanched.

"Don't talk like that; don't ever talk like that." Zak told him.

"I'm sorry; I was only kidding, geez." Boba answered.

"Never joke about dying." Zak replied solemnly.

"Yeah, alright; I'm sorry, Lady Breha." Boba said.

"Accepted; you must understand how close we came to losing you the other night." Breha answered.

Boba looked down at his lap, "I know; I'm really sorry. Sometimes I say things without thinking about them first." He told her.

Bail patted his shoulder, "It is alright, Boba; no harm done." He assured him.

"Actually, by the time I get out of here, I'll be ready to eat ANYTHING cook fixes." Boba said.

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The Organas stayed the rest of the morning while Obi-Wan took the opportunity to show Zak around the capital city; with the weather so uncooperative, there seemed little point in returning to the manor to climb into the mountains that day. Later that afternoon, another message came through for the Chancellor concerning Moran and the hunters. Not surprisingly, soon after their arrival, several defenders arrived to prepare their cases in defense of their wealthy clients. What was surprising was the arrival of a well-paid defender for Moran; the origin for this defender was not known.

"I don't understand, Master; I thought you said Moran wouldn't be able to get an expensive defender." Zak stated.

"He should not have been able to; is it possible that someone else was behind the hunts?" Obi-Wan wondered.

"I would hate to think so; but I found it hard to believe that Moran had the kind of funds he would need to pay a defender of that quality." Bail replied, "So I ordered an investigation into his financing, and that amount of credits just was not there."

"Then he'll get off too; that just isn't right." Zak said, shaking his head, "Not after what he's done."

"Well, maybe a high-priced defender won't be enough." Obi-Wan suggested hopefully.

"Perhaps you are right; the evidence against him is very convincing." Bail added.

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"I have learned that my keeper has been arrested." It was the first time Viral had actually seen the alien behind the hunts, a large slug-like creature with bulging eyes and a huge mouth.

"Oh, I'm extremely sorry to hear that; does that mean there will be no more hunts?" Viral asked.

"No, it just means I will have to replace that fool." The alien answered.

"Isn't that a little risky, Cardle? I mean, what if he shoots his mouth off? He could expose all of us; wouldn't it just be better to disappear for a while?" Viral asked.

"Do you know how much I would lose if I had to do that? It is bad enough that idiot eliminated some of my clients. What was he thinking?" Cardl wanted to know.

"Well, I think he was just trying to protect you; if any of us had been caught, we…well, not me, of course…but one of them might have said something that could link the authorities to you." Viral explained, "And we all thought that he had cleared this rule with you."

"Then you were just as foolish; why would I want to eliminate my client base? Where is the profit in that? Hunting intelligent life forms, especially ones as advanced as the Jedi, was lunacy." Cardl told him angrily, "But Moran will pay; I have engaged a very good defender, and when that idiot gets off, we shall see how he likes having the tables turned against him…I will eliminate him. I am curious to see how Moran will like being the subject of the next hunt." He laughed then, a deep, malevolent laugh.

"That sounds interesting; but I'm curious, how did you find out about the elimination rule to begin with?" Viral asked.

"Oh, that was a lucky coincidence; I happened upon Egan. I asked him how the hunt had gone, and of course, he explained to me all about it. I did not believe him at first until he told me to contact you and Tyrien; I nearly went to Alderaan myself to ring Moran's scrawny neck. So, Viral; are you interested in participating in the new hunt?" Cardl asked.

"No elimination rule?" Viral asked.

Cardle laughed again, "Of course not, my friend." He assured him and laughed.

"Then why don't we make this interesting; instead of waiting for your high-priced defender to get him off, why can't I just get him during his hearing?" Viral asked with a cagy smile.

The alien laughed even harder, "You like a challenge, don't you, my friend; very well, and if you succeed, I will make you my next keeper." He promised. "I like you, Viral."

Viral's smile broadened, "Imagine that, me working for Cardl the Hutt!" He said, "You have yourself a deal."

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"Zak, wake up." Obi-Wan whispered gently.

"Master?" Zak answered sleepily, "It's still dark, what's wrong?"

"Nothing; I have something I want to show you. Hurry up and get dressed; it will not last and I do not want you to miss it." Obi-Wan replied.

"What is it?" Zak asked, sitting up and stretching.

"You'll see; it's a surprise. Come on now, I will meet you in the hallway in a few minutes; and bring your parka." Obi-Wan told him as he went to the door and slipped out into the hallway.

Curious, Zak got up and dressed quickly; Obi-Wan was leaning against the wall when he stepped out into the hallway, "Alright, I'm ready….I guess." He said.

"Good, come on; we don't have much time." Obi-Wan replied.

When they reached the entrance hall, Obi-Wan picked up a small satchel and opened the front door. A speeder was parked just outside.

"Where are we going, Master?" Zak asked.

"Patience, Padawan; you'll see." Obi-Wan answered as he hopped into the speeder.

With a shake of his head, Zak climbed in next to him.

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It was still dark when they reached Obi-Wan's destination at the foot of the Height summit.

"We're not going to climb up there now, are we? It's dark; there won't be anything to see." Zak pointed out.

"Yes, there will be; trust me." Obi-Wan assured him.

"Alright, if you say so." Zak replied and followed him as they began to climb up the trail.

Twenty minutes later they had reached the top; Obi-Wan headed for a cluster of rocks and then sat down.

Zak followed suit, still wondering what his master was up to; and then it happened. A sliver of light appeared on the horizon, striking the edge of the snow-covered expanse, and then gradually growing wider. The rosy glow grew to include the rocky crags of the summit, bathing them in various shades of pink and violet.

"Oh." Zak could only manage to utter as the wonder of the sunrise overwhelmed him.

"Beautiful, isn't it." Obi-Wan whispered reverently.

"Oh, yes." Zak answered, "Oh, Master, look." He pointed toward a rocky ledge above them.

Obi-Wan turned his attention to the ledge; there stood a shaggy-maned chyrax, with a huge rack, next to him was another chyrax, this one without a rack, obviously its mate.

"Well now, there's a sight." Obi-Wan observed.

"Yes, Master." Zak agreed.

The pair looked back down at them for a few moments before the male bowed its head regally, hopped up over the ledge and disappeared; his mate stood for another moment before she too disappeared over the ledge.

When full light had come to the summit, they descended and returned to the manor where breakfast had already been laid out.

"So, how did you like sunrise up on the Heights?" Bail asked.

"It was fantastic. We even saw a pair of chyrax up there." Zak answered.

"Did you? Beautiful, aren't they." Breha replied.

"Yes, Ma'am; I can see why you want to protect them." Zak said.

"Well, there is something you can take with you, then. Sunrise and a pair of chyrax." Bail told him.

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Later that morning, Obi-Wan and Zak made one final trip to the medical center before departing for Naboo.

Boba was in higher spirits, having spent a more comfortable night in bed rather than in a bacta tank. He also was looking forward to his first meal since he had been injured; a bowl of meat broth that he expected to have for lunch.

"So, did you get up to the Heights one last time?" He asked.

"Yes, we went up this morning; Master Obi-Wan took me up to see the sunrise." Zak answered.

"Yeah, it's real pretty up there when the sun comes up." Boba replied, "Did you see them?"

"See what? You mean the chyrax? Yes." Zak said.

"You did? Both of them, you saw both of them?" Boba asked, excitedly.

"Yes, have you seen them before?" Zak wondered,

"Yeah, but not since the poaching started; I was afraid they'd been killed. The male, it had a really huge rack, right?" Boba asked.

"Yes, and he seemed to just watch us for a few minutes before he hopped over…" Zak started.

"…and disappeared; did he bow his head first?" Boba finished.

"Yes, and then the female followed him." Zak answered.

"Oh, yeah; that's them alright. I thought for sure they'd go after him because of his rack; boy am I glad he managed to avoid them." Boba replied happily.

Obi-Wan peeked into the room, "Zak, we had best be going." He said.

"Yes, Master." Zak replied and stood up.

"Hey, thanks for coming, Zak." Boba said, holding his hand out.

"Wouldn't have missed it." Zak answered, grasping the hand and squeezing tightly, "Heal up and I'll see you back on Coruscant soon."

"Yeah, I'll be there; and when you have some free time again, you can come back here and climb the Heights with me again." Boba suggested.

"That would be great. Take care of yourself." Zak said.

"I will; you too." Boba answered, "Master Kenobi, when you see Master Skywalker, thank him for me, will you."

"My pleasure, Boba; try not to get into any more trouble after we've gone." Obi-Wan told him.

"Well, I'll try anyway. Will you be back on Coruscant for the hearings?" Boba asked.

"Oh yes; I am quite sure they will need us all to testify." Obi-Wan replied, "Come on now, Zak."

"Yes, Master." Zak answered as he walked to the door, "Good bye, Boba."

"Bye, Zak." Boba answered.

The Chancellor was standing out in the hallway talking to Obi-Wan when Zak came out of the room.

"Ready to go, Zak?" The Chancellor asked.

"Yes, sir." Zak answered.

"Well, I know you are anxious to be going, so I will not keep you." Bail said.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Chancellor." Obi-Wan said as he bowed.

"I only wish it had been a more enjoyable experience." Bail replied, offering his hand to Obi-Wan.

With a slight hesitation, Obi-Wan shook his hand and then putting a hand on Zak's shoulders turned him toward the exit.

"Have a safe trip, Master Kenobi; my shuttle will drop you at the space port." Bail said.

"Thank you, Chancellor." Obi-Wan answered.

"No thanks necessary, Master Kenobi." Bail insisted as he opened the door and entered Boba's room.

Half an hour later, master and apprentice had entered hyperspace and were on their way to Naboo.

Alright, they are finally on their way to Naboo; hang in there for just one more chapter, the baby's gender will be revealed and its name chosen...