Chapter 8 Anakin's Warning

Boba stumbled the last few steps and collapsed in a heap on the permacrete surface inside the bunker. Both knees of his sleep pants were torn and his knees and feet were cut and bleeding along with the palms of his hands. Immediately, Kien grabbed his arm and dragged him further inside and then quickly fastened the restraints around his ankles together. Exhausted and in pain, Boba was barely aware of what Kien was doing. After a moment he moaned, rolled over on his side, drew his legs up into a fetal position and lay still.

"Well, at least we know he won't be going anywhere." Kien said as he straightened up.

"And the fight's gone out of him." Devan added with satisfaction, she crouched down next to him, "Not so tough now, are you, bounty hunter?"

Boba opened his eyes and glared at her, "Go…rot,…bantha…cow." He mumbled and then closed his eyes again.

"But still the foul tongue; and I thought we were getting along so well." Devan replied as she stood back up, "Well, let's get a move on, we've got a trail to mark."

"Devan, if no one is going to stay here with him, we really should secure him to something." Tyrien suggested.

Devan looked down at Boba, debating silently to herself, "Yes, I suppose you're right; he might be faking." She decided, "Just fasten the restraints on his arms to the ones on his feet; that should hold him."

Kien nodded and squatted down next to him; Boba opened his eyes once again and glared at him, but did not fight, as Kien fastened the restraints together, "You'll all pay." He mumbled.

Kien only smiled at him as he stood up and joined Tyrien and Devan near the doorway. They exited, triggering the door behind them, leaving Boba in total darkness. The ex-bounty hunter had never felt so helpless; trussed up like an animal waiting to be slaughtered, weak and in pain, he knew there was nothing he could do to prevent Devan from carrying out her plans. He strained against his bonds until he wore himself out completely and fell asleep.

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"This place already has natural pits that we can use; all we have to do is cover them over." Tyrien informed them.

"How do you know so much about this place, Tyrien?" Kien asked.

"I've been on a couple of hunts here." Tyrien answered.

"Really? So that's how you knew about the bunkers. What were you hunting?" Devan asked.

"Vornskrs." Tyrien told them, "Nasty creatures."

"Oh yes; Viral said something about them." Kien replied.

"So, are you two going to booby trap these pits?" Tyrien asked.

"We thought about it; and then decided it would be more fun to catch him first and then turn him loose to hunt." Devan answered with a smile.

"What makes you think he's going to just play along?" Tyrien asked.

"We'll have at least one, and maybe two reasons for him to cooperate; the first is our little bounty hunter and the second, if we can catch him, is Kenobi's cub." Kien explained, "If we have those two, he won't have a choice but to play."

"Well, be careful; I'll bet he's just as dangerous without his Jedi abilities as he is with them." Tyrien warned.

"We will; it'll be fun." Devan said with a smile, "Now, we want to be sure there are lots of those reptile things along the trail. We wouldn't want him to get the upper hand."

Half an hour later, they returned to the camp, satisfied with their work to find Boba, lying just where they had left him; Devan set up her recorder one last time as Kien knelt next to him and unfastened the straps binding his ankles to his arms.

"Here he is, Kenobi; ready and waiting for you. But you're running out of time, so you better hurry." Kien said with a smile, "Remember what we've told you before; got any last words, kid?"

"Yeah, I hope you all rot away on Kessel." Boba retorted.

Kien just laughed before finishing his message, "I want you, Kenobi; so if there's anyone with you besides your cub, they don't come any further. We have a score to settle, you and me."

Devan paused the recorder, "That was perfect, Kien. Now, just let me say my piece, and you can take this out to the start of our little path for him to find." She said as she and Kien switched positions, "Listen to Kien, Kenobi; you and your cub play the game within the time limits or the little bounty hunter loses. See you soon."

Kien turned the recorder off and removed the chip; Devan took it and placed it inside a brightly colored canister while Kien and Tyrien moved Boba to a corner of the bunker out of the way. Boba immediately rolled over on his side again and curled up.

Kien took the canister from Devan, "I'll just put this where our Jedi friend will find it; be back in a bit." He said and left the bunker.

"You know, there are cells down below; we could put your little friend down there." Tyrien suggested after Kien had gone.

"Hmm…maybe, what's the lighting like down there?" Devan asked.

"Well, it's pretty dim; I think it was originally only used as a storage area." Tyrien answered.

"Then let's wait a bit; I may want to make another recording, and it seems like too much trouble to haul him back up here. When we have Kenobi for certain, then we can put him down there." Devan decided. "And the cub too, if we get him."

Tyrien nodded in agreement.

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"I am sorry about the Air Corps, Anakin." Bail said as Anakin climbed out of the fighter's cockpit.

"Thank you, Chancellor; but I'm not." Anakin answered.

"Oh? I was under the impression that you were happy with the Corps." Bail replied.

"I was for a while; and then something happened that changed everything, so I probably would have left soon anyway. My priorities have changed." Anakin told him.

"Ah." Bail said, nodding his head, "The Jedi?"

"Yes, I've realized how important the Order is to me; more important than the Air Corps." Anakin explained.

"And what about your family, Anakin? Where do they fit into this?" Bail asked.

"My family comes first, of course; they always have." Anakin answered.

"Yet here you are, running off on a rescue mission; are you sure your family comes first?" Bail questioned.

Anakin looked at him for a moment in puzzlement, "Obi-Wan Kenobi is like my brother; that makes him part of my family." He said.

"And what of Boba?" Bail asked.

Anakin smiled, "I am going to help my brother find him and bring him home, Chancellor; I just want to make sure they both come through this in one piece." He replied, "How far away are we?"

"I ordered the jump to hyperspace as soon as your fighter was secured; we should be there in about three hours." Bail answered.

"And Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.

Bail hesitated and looked at the floor before answering, "He has probably already come out of hyperspace above Myrkr."

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Obi-Wan had just begun his descent into the atmosphere of Myrkr when an anxious Anakin connected with him. "We are still hours behind you. I am very worried." "I know; but we cannot wait." "You were running in my nightmare." "Alright, then we will not run." "You just disappeared, Obi-Wan." "In a way, we will be disappearing if we are near any ysalamiri; maybe that's what you were seeing." "Possibly, but I sensed a danger along with it. Please, be careful." "I will be sure that we take every precaution. We might even have this taken care of before you arrive." "I hope you're right; may the Force be with you, my brother." "And may it be with you, Anakin. Remember, as we enter and leave the Forceless pockets, you will lose me periodically; it will not necessarily mean anything is wrong." "I'll try not to be concerned then." "I will see you in a few hours."

"Are you picking anything up on the sensors, Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked.

"No, not…wait, yes; there's a distress beacon coming from…from there." Zak answered, pointing to the coordinates registering on his monitor.

"Well, there it is, our first bread crumb." Obi-Wan said.

"You mean it's a trap?" Ferri asked, "We're not actually going down there, are we?"

"If we do not go, then they will kill Boba Fett; the distress beacon is not a trap, it's only the beginning of a trail that will lead to one." Obi-Wan explained.

"But you don't know that; maybe they've rigged their ship to explode." Ferri argued.

"I know Devan well enough to know that would be much too easy. She likes her games more challenging." Obi-Wan replied.

"So what is our next move, Master Kenobi?" Clive asked.

"Land as close to that distress beacon as we can get; it's probably this Advar Tyrien's ship." Obi-Wan answered.

"And you think we will find a clue from your hunters that will lead us to Fett?" Clive asked.

"It will not be that simple; we will most likely find a clue that will lead to another clue." Obi-Wan told him, "And each clue will lead us further into their trap."

"That is going to get very dangerous." Clive said.

"Yes, which is why I want you to remain with the ship once we get a look at Devan's first clue." Obi-Wan replied.

"And leave you to face that pair alone? I don't think that's wise, Master Kenobi." Clive objected.

"When we start getting into the trees where the ysalamiri are, there will be no Force. I know what it's like because I have been without it; you and Ferri do not. It would be better if you remained here." Obi-Wan insisted.

"And where does that leave me, Master? Boba is my friend, and you are my master; my place is with you and it should be my right to help my friend." Zak interjected.

"I would prefer for you to remain onboard with Ferri and Master Maru." Obi-Wan answered and then just as Zak opened his mouth to protest, finished with, "However, I may not have the luxury of choice; Devan and Kien may demand your participation as well."

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"Lord Carlyle; your investigator is on the com; he says that he has discovered where your daughter went." Stewart announced the office intercom.

"Did he now? Where? Did he tell you where?" Carlyle asked.

"Yes, my lord; a planet called Myrkr, I believe." Stewart answered.

"Myrkr? What in the galaxy is she doing there?" Carlyle wondered.

"I'm sure I don't know, sir." Stewart replied.

"Well, when is he leaving?" Carlyle asked.

"Well, sir, he's…he's not. He has hired…" Stewart began.

"What? You tell him that the last idiot he hired let her get away. You tell him…no, transfer that com here, I'll tell the fool myself." Carlyle demanded.

"Yes sir; transferring now." Stewart answered, followed almost immediately by the appearance of a holo-image on Carlyle's desk.

"Lord Carlyle, as I was telling your man, I have loc…" Aang began.

"Yes, yes; Stewart told me. What I want to know is when YOU are leaving for that planet…what was its name, Myr…something?" Carlyle cut him off.

"Myrkr, yes sir; I told your man that I have already eng…" Aang began again.

"That will not due, Aang; the last time you sent someone to get her, he failed and she's still on the loose. You go to this Myrkr and bring her back yourself." Carlyle cut him off angrily with his command.

"Sir, I assure you the man I sent…" Aang tried once more.

"You assured me the last time and we both know how that ended. Go get her, Aang." Carlyle ordered.

"I've already sent someone; what do you want me to do about that?" Aang asked.

"Have him track her down; then lay low and wait for you. I want you to handle this personally this time, Aang; and I don't want any mistakes. Do you understand that?" Carlyle answered.

"Yes, sir; if that's what you want." Aang complied, "I will leave within the hour."

"Yes, you will; and you will not contact me again until you have her." Carlyle ordered.

"Yes, my lord; when I have her." Aang replied.

Aang's image faded, "Idiot." Carlyle said aloud to himself.

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"I have heard a disturbing rumor, Viral." Cardl said.

"Oh? What would that be?" Viral asked.

"I have been told that two of my hunters have stolen a boy and are using him as bait to lure a Jedi into a trap." Cardl answered and then asked, "You would not know anything about that, would you?"

"No, Cardl; which hunters have done such a stupid thing?" Viral asked.

"The two that you brought with you from Coruscant. I cannot have that, Viral; the Jedi leave me alone as long as I maintain peace in this part of the galaxy. But if they find out that I was behind that ridiculous manhunt on Alderaan, even if I didn't sanction it, they will come after me. This boy they took is a favorite of the Chancellor's and I will have to contend with him as well. Find those two fools and bring them to me." Cardl ordered.

"And what about the boy?" Viral asked.

"Hmmm…the boy is of no consequence to me; however, I am sure the good Chancellor will want him back." Cardl answered and laughed vindictively, "If you find him, bring him to me as well; how grateful the Chancellor will be when I return the boy to him."

"How will I know where they've gone?" Viral asked.

"I am sure you can find out." Cardl replied and then narrowed his eyes, "That is, if you do not know already."

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With Obi-Wan leading the way, they approached the ship cautiously; there in the clearing, far enough from the trees and the ysalamiri, Obi-Wan was confident that he would be able to sense any sign of danger. The boarding ramp of the ship was down and Obi-Wan put a hand to his weapon as he walked up into the ship. Inside, a speeder was parked in the cargo bay; too big to be of any use in the forested area surrounding the ship, its owner had chosen to leave it behind. They began to explore the bay and Ferri felt himself drawn to the hull near the speeder. Clive watched him for a moment before turning to Obi-Wan, "He is strongly post cognitive; he must be sensing something over there." He said.

"Boba Fett; is he dark haired?" Ferri asked.

"Yes, like the Clones." Obi-Wan answered.

"And about my height?" Ferri questioned.

"Yes, I believe so; what are you picking up, Ferri?" Obi-Wan asked.

"He was here, right here; tied to this bar." Ferri informed them as he touched the bar, "Oh."

He sat down on the floor, "Ferri?" Clive moved closer.

Ferri put his hand up, "No, it's alright. He must have been drugged, I felt dizzy when I touched that." He explained, "And his stomach hurt."

"Yes, that's where Moran shot him." Obi-Wan confirmed.

"Here, Master." Zak announced as he spotted the data chip lying on the floor and picked it up.

Obi-Wan closed the distance between Zak and himself, "Our bread crumb." He said grimly as he took the chip Zak offered.

He slipped the chip into his portable viewer and there was Boba Fett, looking pale, shackled and standing slightly hunched over between Devan Carlyle with her devastating smile and Kien Valier. As the message played out Devan urged them to hurry along and Kien repeated Devan's earlier threat; the recording ended abruptly after Boba warned them off.

"Well, one thing is readily apparent." Obi-Wan observed after a moment, "Their decision to come here was deliberate. They knew we would be at a disadvantage here."

Clive shook his head, "Then they know we cannot use the Force here; what do we do now?" He asked.

"Fan out around the clearing and look for another bread crumb." Obi-Wan answered.

"You can't honestly want to continue with this!" Ferri exclaimed.

"What I want and what must be done are two different things. That boy's life is at stake here, I have no choice. As for you and Master Maru, as long as you stay in the clearing, you will maintain your connection to the Force. Since I am the senior Jedi here, and a member of the Council, I am ordering both of you to remain here once another clue has been discovered." Obi-Wan replied.

"And what about your apprentice, Master Kenobi? Surely you are not going to drag him into danger." Maru asked.

"Zak is a Jedi; he is well trained and we work very well together. I would choose for him to stay behind with you if I could; but he has given his reasons for wanting to remain with me and they are legitimate ones. And there is the real possibility that our friends will require his participation in this sick game of theirs." Obi-Wan told him as they left the ship.

As they scattered about the clearing, Ferri felt himself pulled toward an area near the edge of the clearing. Without thinking, Clive Maru's apprentice left the clearing and entered the stand of trees. He continued on, feeling compelled to follow in Boba's footsteps until…it happened. He suddenly felt nothing; he looked around in panic and noticed he had come into the trees without realizing it. He looked up, searching for the strange Force repelling reptile and found one immediately; hanging by its front claws high in a tree. His gaze wandered to another one, a short distance away; he was in one of the Forceless voids Master Kenobi had spoken of. Trying to push his panic down, Ferri tried to retrace his steps and return to the clearing, but after only a few minutes, he gave up; without the Force, Ferri felt blind and lost. He started to pull his comlink from his belt when he noticed a shadow move in front of him. Looking up, he met the gaze of Kien Valier.

"Well, you're not the cub; who are you?" Kien asked.

"None of your business; what kind of cub are you looking for?" Ferri asked.

"You have a smart mouth, kid; the kind of cub I'm looking for has two legs." Kien answered, "And answers to the name Zak; know anyone like that?"

"What if I did?" Ferri asked.

"Well, if you did, I just might let you live." Kien told him.

"You mean if I helped you." Ferri surmised.

"Yes; what do you say? It's up to you, I don't care either way." Kien told him.

"Well, I've got no love for Zak Perrin; what do I have to do?" Ferri asked.