Chapter 15 A Happy Reunion

Zak heard the lift being activated and held his breath; fearing that the hunt was over and his master was dead, he, himself, prepared for death. The footfalls went in the opposite direction, followed by muffled voices, blaster fire, yelling and miraculously, the hum of a lightsaber in motion. His heart soared because he knew that his master was still alive, had beaten the hunters and had now come for them. He listened intently, and heard the lift a second time, more footsteps and muffled voices and then footsteps again, coming closer, stopping at short intervals before moving on. Master Obi-Wan was looking for him, "Master! I'm here!" He called out. The footsteps stopped for a moment and then came, more quickly this time and the door to Zak's cell opened. A light blinded him and he turned his head to shield his eyes, "Master, the light." He said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Zak." And Zak's heart fell; it wasn't his master's voice at all, it was Master Anakin's.

He lowered his head.

"Zak? Are you alright?" Anakin asked in sudden concern.

"Yes, I…I just thought you…it doesn't matter. Master Obi-Wan; you have to help him. Devan and Kien…they made him…to protect me….we have to hurry." Zak stammered, fighting against his restraints.

"Calm down, Zak, before you hurt yourself." Anakin said.

"But he's out there; we have to…" Zak protested as he continued to struggle.

"I know that; but you have to calm down and hold still or I won't be able to get you loose." Anakin told him.

Zak sighed, nodded and stood still; he looked up as Anakin freed the binders from the chain attached to the wall and then slowly lowered his arms, winching as his arm muscles, stiffened from being in the same position for several hours, protested. Anakin massaged Zak's upper arms and shoulders for a moment until Zak impatiently pushed past him, heading for the door. With a sigh and shake of his head, Anakin followed him.

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Obi-Wan turned toward a sound off to one side and tripped on the uneven ground in front of him, falling ungracefully and landing hard, "Blast it." He said as he picked himself up slowly; this was the fourth time he had fallen and each time, he found it harder to get back up. It was, in fact, becoming increasingly difficult for him to keep moving at all and he knew that the only thing keeping him going was sheer will power spurred by the knowledge of what would happen to Boba Fett and his Padawan if he allowed Devan or Kien to kill him. To make matters worse, he had yet to hit an area absent of ysalamiri where the Force could penetrate so he could draw a little strength from it and determine a path to a clearing. He had lost all sense of time and direction; he did not know whether he was heading toward the clearing where his ship was, or away from it or how long it would be before the sun rose. Again he wondered where Anakin was and how soon his brother would find him; he knew that if Anakin did not find him soon, it would be too late. He leaned against a tree for a moment, took a few deep breaths and then pushed on.

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"Yes, Chancellor; apparently he was roughed up a bit, but I'm told he's in pretty good shape, all things considered….oh, here's Master Skywalker." Ged's image told a visibly relieved Bail.

Bail closed his eyes and felt the tension ease at that news; when he opened his eyes again, Anakin's image was standing next to Ged's, "I guess you've heard, Chancellor; I've already instructed the shuttle to land next to the bunker here to bring him up to you." He said.

"Is he alright, Anakin?" Bail asked.

"Well, his feet are pretty torn up and he's running a bit of a fever, but I think he'll be alright." Anakin assured him.

"His feet? What did they do to him?" Bail asked.

Anakin sighed and frowned, "Apparently they made him walk all the way here from where they landed the ship; and since Tyrien didn't bother to take his boots when he kidnapped him from the medical center he was…." He said.

"…barefoot." Bail finished, "By the Maker! None of them will ever see the light of day again."

"Agreed; I was half tempted to kill Tyrien myself when we got here." Anakin replied.

"Tyrien? What about the other two; that Carlyle woman and Valier?" Bail asked.

"Still out there somewhere. I'm about to organize my men here to start combing the woods for them." Anakin answered.

"What about Master Kenobi and Zak; any sign of them yet?" Bail wondered.

"Zak is here, he was being held down below in another cell; but I don't know where Obi-Wan is." Anakin said, "Zak told me they brought him here so that Obi-Wan would cooperate with them."

"Cooperate in doing what?" Bail asked.

Anakin swallowed hard and took a deep breath, "They are…apparently…" He hesitated and cleared his throat, "He is being hunted again."

"What?" Bail asked incredulously.

"Zak said Kien wants revenge for what Obi-Wan did to his hand and Devan just thinks it's all some kind of game." Anakin explained.

"A sick, perverted game." Bail replied.

"Yes sir; I'm going to put Boba on that shuttle, which I believe is just touching down now and go out searching for him." Anakin answered.

"Yes, of course; I will let you get to it then. Good luck, Anakin." Bail said and ended the transmission before contacting his wife, traveling with Gemma to Coruscant, to inform her of the happy news.

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The lift door opened and Boba appeared, flanked by two of Ged's men and with Zak behind him; Anakin smiled, "I've just spoken with the Chancellor; he is waiting for you on the frigate." He told him.

"The Chancellor? He came all the way here?" Boba questioned, "That was too risky; I'll have to talk to him about it."

"Yes, you do that." Anakin laughed, "The shuttle is waiting outside."

"Oh…alright." Boba said a little tentatively.

"What is it? You don't want to stay here, do you?" Anakin asked.

"No, it's just that…." He trailed off and looked down at his feet, now wrapped in bandages.

"We're not going to make you walk out there, son; in fact, you really shouldn't even be walking now." The commander said.

Boba nodded, "No, of course not; what was I thinking?" He answered.

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Banyon wandered around for another hour before completely giving up and heading back toward the ship. He had been hunting for some clue that would lead him to Carlyle, but it had been a fruitless search. Had he been free to enter the clearing, he might have been able to find where they had first gone into the woods. He entered the small clearing where his own ship was docked with a slight sense of trepidation knowing he would have to admit to Aang that he had failed to locate Devan Carlyle or her companion. Aang would not be happy. It was only Banyon's bad luck that Ferri had run out of the lighter colored bandaging material he tied to the lower tree branches marking the trail that led to Devan's pit trap and had substituted pieces torn from his brown cloak; difficult, if not impossible to spot in the dark, Banyon had missed them completely. In doing so, he had missed the one clue that might have led him to the psychopathic hunters.

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Zak stood next to Anakin, arms folded across his chest like a dark-haired miniature version of his master, listening to Anakin assign each pair of men an area to search. When Anakin had finished, Zak stood waiting for his assignment; however, Anakin turned to speak with the Clone commander instead. Zak was disappointed; he realized now that Anakin intended to leave him behind and would probably order him up to the frigate. He stared down at the ground for a moment, wondering what to do, then walked over to the shuttle preparing to lift off. Even though Zak felt he had the right to stay and help find his master, Anakin had the authority, not only as a Jedi Master, but as a ranking member of the Jedi Council, to decide not to assign him a place in the search party; and as a Padawan, Zak was forbidden to question Anakin's judgment, no matter how unfair he thought it was. It wasn't until he was harnessed in and the ship was about to depart that Anakin appeared in the doorway. Zak looked at him for a brief second and then turned his head and stared out the viewport. With a sigh, Anakin moved to stand beside Zak's seat.

"You understand why I can't let you go, don't you?" He asked.

Zak said nothing as he continued to stare out the viewport.

"Zak?"

Zak continued to ignore him.

Anakin sighed again and squatted down next to him, "Look, under normal circumstances, I wouldn't hesitate to let you come; but this is different, you can't feel the Force, so…." He tried to continue.

Zak turned to look at Anakin and cut him off, "Neither can you." He said and then turned back to the viewport.

"I know that; and I'm going to have a difficult time just watching out for myself without having to…" Anakin started to reply.

"I don't need you to protect me; I can take care of myself." Zak cut him off again.

Taking a different tact, Anakin said, "Obi-Wan would never forgive me if something happened to you."

Zak turned to glare at him, "You don't have to explain your decision to me, Master Skywalker; you're a master and a member of the Council, it's not my place to question your judgment." He told him icily before turning back once again to the viewport.

Anakin nodded sadly and stood up, "I'm sorry, Zak; as soon as we find him, I'll contact the frigate so you'll know." He said.

Zak said nothing and refused to look at him; when he finally did turn away from the viewport, Anakin was gone.

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Anakin moved carefully through the trees trying not to think of Zak's cold attitude. He did understand how Zak felt; in his younger days, Anakin knew he would probably have felt the same way. But he was older now…maybe that had made him more cautious. He was in constant contact with the Clones; Ged had not approved of him searching the woods without a trooper with him, but Anakin knew that Obi-Wan was running out of time, and he didn't want to waste manpower on his own bodyguard. With the exception of a report that the mangled remains of a dead vornskr had been found, there are been little sign of his brother. Suddenly there was the sound of someone crashing recklessly through the woods; Anakin concealed himself just as the red-haired figure of Kien appeared out of the darkness and disappeared just as quickly as he turned to his left and the sound of his passing died away. Thinking that Kien might have some idea where Obi-Wan was, Anakin took flight after him.

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Kien headed swiftly through the trees, heading in what he hoped was Devan's direction. She had informed him that Kenobi was close by and if the two of them worked together, they could get him. It was nearing the end of the forty-five minute deadline he had given her, but it appeared they were so close to taking the Jedi, he decided to forgo that time limit…at least by a few minutes. As he moved, he had a strange feeling that he was being followed, but when he turned to look back, he could see no one. He shrugged and moved on.

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Obi-Wan dug down deep and tapped one last ounce of energy. Devan's shot had nearly hit him in the leg; a crippling injury that would have ended this deadly game not only for him, but for his Padawan and the ex-bounty hunter, Boba Fett. Now, with one last surge of speed, Obi-Wan plowed through the trees away from Devan as she reloaded her weapon. Maybe he could find a Force pocket amongst the trees or a large clearing…maybe he would even find the clearing where they first landed. And maybe, just maybe, he would find….he thought he heard something and for just a moment his attention was diverted in that direction. Suddenly he ran head on into what seemed to be an immovable object; he was thrown backwards and landed hard enough to knock the breath out of him.

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Boba hobbled gingerly to the open door of the shuttle and was lifted down by two waiting Clones who set him lightly on the floor of the landing bay. Zak appeared, hopped down behind him and then offered his shoulder for Boba to lean on. Boba looked down and watched where he put his feet, and Zak watched his to make sure he did not tread on Boba's. Both boys were so intent on what they were doing, that they failed to notice the Chancellor, standing in the doorway, observing their progress as they crossed the landing bay. Bail felt tears forming as he watched the hunched, limping boy move toward him; vowing that all three of those responsible would be punished severely. Zak glanced up to see if they were still heading in the right direction and noticed him standing there, "Someone's come to meet you, Boba." He said.

Boba looked up and as his eyes met those of his adoptive father, he felt his legs turn to rubber and his step faltered. Zak put one arm around his back and buoyed him forward as Bail took several large steps toward him, arms spread ready to catch him.

"I…I'm sorry." Boba apologized tearfully as he crumpled into Bail's arms.

"No, it is alright." Bail assured him as carefully lowered himself, still holding the boy, to the floor, "You arrived sooner than expected, otherwise Haris would have been here with a float."

"I…I've…caused you so…much trouble." Boba said.

"None of it your fault, son." Bail told him as he brushed the hair from Boba's forehead.

"I tried…he was…I was too….too weak." Boba explained.

"We did not protect you well enough; Tyrien should never have been able to….for that, I am sorry." Bail replied.

Boba suddenly looked up at him with a puzzled look, "You came for me." He said.

"Yes." Bail said firmly as tears spilled down his cheeks, "You are my son, Boba."

Zak stood back watching, happy for his friend, and yet saddened that his own father would never accept him as his son. For a moment, that word, uttered by his father, entered his thoughts…abomination. He shuddered for a moment then shifted his focus on who he was and what he was and the word faded to the back of his mind once again.

Haris entered the bay with two Clones guiding a float, "Boba, thank the Maker! This was my fault; our security provisions were just not good enough." He said as he knelt down next to them.

"It's…it's alright." Boba replied quietly.

Haris smiled and gave him a quick check before instructing the Clones to help him sit up on the float. With the Clones guiding it, Haris walked beside him, asking him questions with Bail and Zak following close behind, "I must admit being rather surprised to see you up here, Zak; I would have thought that you would want to be down looking for Master Kenobi." Bail said.

"He wouldn't let me." Zak replied flatly.

"Who, Master Skywalker?" Bail asked.

"Yes." Zak answered.

"And why would he forbid you to help?" Bail asked.

Zak sighed, "It's not safe down there, and he thinks he has to protect me." He explained, "He was wrong."

"Well, I am sure Master Skywalker had his reasons, just as you have yours for wanting to help. Did you speak with him about it?" Bail asked.

Zak shook his head, "Master Skywalker is a ranking member of the Jedi Council; when he gives an order to a Padawan, it can't be questioned." He said.

"Then I am sorry, Zak; it must have been very difficult for you to leave Myrkr without Master Kenobi." Bail replied.

"Yes, it was." Zak said in a tone that signaled to Bail that he did not wish to speak any further about it.

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There was a recorded message waiting for Banyon when he returned to the ship. It was from Aang, informing him that the investigator would be arriving in just under an hour and expressing the wish that Banyon have something solid that would lead them to Devan Carlyle if he didn't already have the woman in custody, "Great, just great." Banyon said aloud.