Chapter 20 Ferri and Boba

"Master Skywalker?" Ged whispered.

Anakin turned first to Obi-Wan stretched out in the seat next to him and then back at Ged and nodded as he stood up and followed him down the aisle.

"The Chancellor wishes to speak with Master Kenobi; I told you that I wouldn't disturb him, but…." Ged trailed off.

"Under the circumstances, I'm sure the Chancellor won't mind if I spoke with…." Anakin started.

"Spoke with who, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked from behind him.

Anakin sighed, "I give up; you're never going to rest, are you?" He said, exasperated.

"I'm fine; I'm drawing on the Force." Obi-Wan answered.

"You and I both know that tapping into the Force instead of proper rest is a stop gap; eventually it will catch up to you." Anakin reminded him.

"I'll deal with that if it happens; now who were you going to speak with in my place?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Fine, but don't expect me to haul you back up when you fall on your face." Anakin replied, "It's Chancellor Organa."

"No doubt to inform us that Devan was not on the captured ship." Obi-Wan said.

"More than likely." Anakin concurred.

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"You're an idiot, Kien; if we had just stuck together…." Devan said, angrily.

"Yeah, we should have; if we'd been together when your friend, Aang showed up…." Kien interrupted.

"No, if you had just stuck with me in the first place, Kenobi and his friend wouldn't have…." Devan cut HIM off.

"Alright, the pair of you shut up. It's a long way to Verdant, and I have no intention of listening to the two of you whine all the way there." Aang told them from the entrance to the cockpit.

"Then put us in a life pod and send us to the nearest habitable planet." Devan replied.

"Not a chance; but if I have to come in here again, I'll gag both of you and drag you back to the cargo hold. And I don't think you'd like it back there very much, it's cold and dark." Aang answered, "Honestly; you had better start getting along because you'll be spending the rest of your miserable lives together."

"Then one of us will probably end up dead." Devan said, glaring hatefully at Kien.

"Aww, and the two of you were so chummy on Smuggler's Moon; I guess love never lasts." Aang replied, "Remember, not a peep out of either one of you, or else…."

The hunters glared at each other, but the desire not to end up in the cargo hold won out for the time, and they remained silent. Satisfied, Aang returned to the cockpit and contacted Weston Carlyle.

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Lord Weston Carlyle smiled in satisfaction upon hearing the news that his wayward daughter and her partner had been located and apprehended. He wasn't happy that the Jedi, Kenobi had managed to find her first, and that Aang had to forcibly take possession of her, but he would deal with the Jedi Order and Chancellor Organa later. He had never had a problem with the previous Chancellor, he had confidence that he would have no trouble with this one either. The important thing was he could now put Devan away where she would cause no more damage to the family reputation.

"Stewart!" He called.

As always, Stewart came running, "Yes, My Lord?" He inquired.

"My daughter and her friend are on their way home; is everything ready?" Carlyle asked.

"Yes, my lord, completely." Stewart answered.

"Good, good; be sure there is plenty of security ready to meet Aang as soon as he docks." Carlyle instructed, "And have my shuttle ready to go as well; I want to greet my dear daughter when she disembarks."

"As you wish, sir." Stewart replied with a bow and then was gone.

Carlyle rubbed his hands together; things were turning out rather nicely.

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Ferri wandered the ship aimlessly; since coming onboard the frigate, he had felt ill at ease, knowing that he would soon be facing Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and, worse, Zak Perrin. Master Maru had been very clear that he would not allow Ferri to hide from them; and Ferri knew that he was right. He had to face Zak about what he had done; it would not be easy, but as a Jedi, it was the only thing he could do. He suddenly found himself in the heart of the ship, the medical facility, and he realized that it had not been coincidence that he had come here; he had an overwhelming need to see Boba Fett. He took a deep breath and entered the first room. The bounty hunter lay in the only occupied bed, several tubes extended from his arms and his hands were bandaged, as well as his elevated feet and lower legs; he was talking quietly to a man Ferri had only seen on the holo-news, Chancellor Organa. Ferri backed toward the door, "Wait, you don't have to leave." The bounty hunter told him.

The Chancellor turned toward him and smiled warmly, "Hello, you must be the other apprentice, Ferri, is it?" He said cordially.

"Umm…yes, sir…uh…Chancellor, sir." Ferri replied.

"I am sorry that I did not meet you and Master Maru when you arrived onboard;" Bail said and put a hand on Boba's arm, "I was preoccupied."

"I'm…uh…sorry; I was just wandering, and found myself here. I should go now." Ferri told them and moved nearer to the door.

"Why do you not stay and keep Boba company; I should meet with Master Maru and have quarters assigned to both of you." Bail suggested as he stood up, "I will be back in a bit, son."

Boba nodded, "Alright." He replied.

Bail smiled and patted his arm again, "And you be sure to get some rest too." He said.

"I will." Boba promised, smiling back at him.

Ferri stood back, near the door as Bail left, "So, you're a friend of Zak's?" Boba asked.

"Well, not exactly; I mean I know Zak, but we're not really friends." Ferri answered and then added hastily, "It's really impossible to be friends with every Jedi apprentice in the Temple."

"Oh sure; but you must know him pretty well, you've been working with him." Boba replied.

"Hasn't Zak ever said anything to you about me?" Ferri asked.

Boba thought for a moment, put a bandaged hand to his forehead and rubbed his temple, "No, I don't remember him mentioning anything about you; why?" He answered.

Ferri sighed and looked down at the floor; it surprised him that Zak had kept silent about his confrontations with him. Had the situations been reversed, Ferri knew he would have complained to anyone who would listen, "Zak and I….well, we're not really on the best of terms." He said quietly.

"Why?" Boba asked, "Zak is probably the nicest kid I've ever met; I thought everyone liked him."

Ferri looked at him hostilely, "We just don't see eye to eye; what business is it of yours, anyway?" He asked, defensively.

"Sorry; I was just curious." Boba answered and then changed to subject, "I guess I should thank you for coming to get me."

Ferri stared down at the floor again; now was the time, he thought, "I…uh…look, if it had been up to me, I wouldn't have. I know that was wrong, but…well, I just didn't think it was worth the risk." He confessed.

"Oh; because you knew I was a bounty hunter and all. I can understand that." Boba replied, "I guess it was a good thing Zak and Master Kenobi were there then."

"Yes, a very good thing. I'm really sorry; I know I was wrong." Ferri said apologetically.

"It's alright, really; you didn't know me. I'm just glad Zak's alright; I was worried when he decided to go back down." Boba answered.

"Back down? You mean he's been here on the frigate?" Ferri asked.

"Oh yeah; Master Skywalker sent him up here because he thought it was too dangerous for him to stay and help find Master Kenobi. Zak said he had a right to join in the search and he snuck back down." Boba explained.

The enormity of how misplaced his animosity toward Zak was and the terrible injustice of his betrayal hit Ferri suddenly; he sat down in the nearest chair and buried his head in his hands.

"What's wrong? Was it something I said?" Boba asked, "I'm always doing that."

Ferri looked up at him, what right did he have to judge how worthy this bounty hunter's life was when he had betrayed someone who had done nothing more than be a good Jedi?

"I betrayed them; I betrayed both of them." Ferri blurted out.

"What?" Boba asked incredulously.

"I….I led them…into…into a trap." Ferri confessed.

What? Why? Why would you do that?" Boba wondered, "How could you hate Zak that much?"

Ferri buried his head again, "It wasn't hate, it was jealousy; he's so much better than I am." He answered.

"So you wanted him dead? What kind of Jedi are you?" Boba asked.

"A very troubled one." Clive said from the doorway, "Come, Ferri; you should not have left the cruiser without me."

"Yeah, I'll say. I don't think I like you, Ferri." Boba replied.

Ferri stood up and walked toward the doorway, "I don't blame you; I don't think I like me either." He answered.

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The Chancellor watched the shuttle dock and waited, as his men disembarked, for the Jedi; they were the last ones off. Obi-Wan Kenobi followed his apprentice, carrying his tattered cloak on one arm. Bail could barely contain his relief at seeming the Jedi Master alive and he approached him with open arms, embracing him before Obi-Wan had a chance to protest, "You are a welcome sight, Master Kenobi." He said.

"Er…thank you, Chancellor." Obi-Wan replied uncomfortably.

"Your quarters are ready; I'm sure you must be exhausted." Bail told him as he pulled away.

"Yes, but I would like to see your prisoner first; if that would be alright." Obi-Wan answered.

Bail looked uncertain and glanced at Anakin standing behind his former master; Anakin shrugged and rolled his eyes. Bail sighed, "Very well, Master Kenobi; as you wish." He acquiesced and pointed toward a doorway on the other side of the docking bay, "He is in the brig with the other two."

"I will just go have a little chat with him then; thank you, Chancellor." Obi-Wan said, "Are you coming, Anakin?"

Anakin shook his head, "Right behind you." He answered and then turned and whispered to the Chancellor, "And he says I'm stubborn."

Bail stifled a laugh and started to follow them toward the brig, "Master? What do you want me to do?" Zak asked, having thought he had been forgotten.

"Come with us, Zak; unless you need to rest." Obi-Wan told him.

"Not that badly." Zak answered eagerly.

They walked through the door and into the brig area; ray-shielded cells lined one wall, and Zak shivered, remembering that, not so long ago, he had been imprisoned, chained to a wall in a cell, a dark cell with a barred door. There were no bars here, and it was well-lit….and these prisoners were not shackled.

They passed several cells, and Zak could not help glancing into each one; two of them toward the end were occupied and Tyrien glared hatefully at him. Zak gave him an impassive look in passing and then came to a halt behind his master in front of another cell, "He says his name is Banyon and he claims he has no idea who Devan is." Bail explained.

Obi-Wan scratched the healing graze on his cheek absently, "Does he now? Interesting, because he bears a very strong resemblance to the man who threatened to shoot you, Anakin; doesn't he?" He replied.

"If I didn't know better, I would say they are one and the same; but then, how could that be when this fellow doesn't even know who Devan is?" Anakin answered.

"Maybe he just forgot." Zak interjected.

"Hmm…possibly, in which case, perhaps his memory could be jogged." Obi-Wan suggested.

Anakin smiled, "I can help him with that." He offered.

"There's nothing to remember; you have me confused with someone else." Banyon said, defensively as he stood and walked toward them.

"You're lying." Zak told him.

"No, I'm not; I have no idea…" Banyon insisted.

"Oh, I don't think you understand; if my Padawan says you're lying, then you are lying. He's very good at discerning deception." Obi-Wan interrupted.

"Then he's mistaken." Banyon said.

Anakin shook his head, "I've never seen Zak get something like this wrong; and if you continue to deny knowing about Devan, then I'm afraid things are going to get very unpleasant for you." He said.

"What are you going to do, torture me? I didn't know the Jedi were allowed to do that." Banyon replied, smiling confidently.

"Torture? No, what I will do wouldn't be considered torture…although it might not be very comfortable." Anakin answered with a smile, "What will it be, Banyon?"

"I don't know anything." Banyon denied.

Anakin shook his head, "Alright, if that's how you want to play this." He said and then closed his eyes, reached out to the Force and pushed into Banyon's resistant mind.

Banyon grabbed his head, "AAHHH, NOOO; what are you doing?" He screamed as he dropped to his knees.

"Let him in, Banyon; it's only going to get worse unless you do." Obi-Wan advised.

Anakin pushed a little harder, easily breaking through Banyon's weak attempts to block him; "Ah; both of them are on the other ship with Aang. Thank you, Banyon." He said as he opened his eyes.

Banyon had fallen on his side and curled up into a ball holding his head between his hands, "Filthy Jedi." He mumbled.

"Well, now we know that Kien is with Devan; we will leave within the hour on the starcruiser." Obi-Wan decided as he watched Banyon gather himself up and crawl into the corner.

"Hold on, you're in no shape to be going anywhere and you don't even know where they're going; I'm certainly not going to tell you." Anakin replied.

"It doesn't take a genius to figure that out, Anakin; they are going back to Devan's home system, Verdant." Obi-Wan answered, "And I am going to finish this; whether you like it or not."

Anakin pursed his lips and watched his brother for a moment, "Alright, I see I cannot talk you out of this; and if I try to leave without you, you'll only follow me." He conceded, "Please, at least get something to eat."

"And me." Zak added.

"Oh yes; your place is with your master." Anakin agreed.

"Alright then; Anakin, your quarters have not changed, of course, and Zak, you may show Master Kenobi which ones I have assigned you." Bail said.

Obi-Wan sighed, "I admit, I could do with a shower and a good meal." He admitted.

"Very well, I will meet you all back in the docking bay within the hour; in the meantime, I will have a course set toward the Verdant system." Bail informed them.

They followed Bail through another doorway and into the main corridor; Bail headed toward the bridge and the three Jedi headed for the living quarters sector, only to come face to face with Clive Maru and his apprentice.