Chapter 6 Breha's Iron Will

"No, I don't believe it." Zak replied.

"I don't want to; but I can feel him. He was here, Zak." Ferri countered, "The odd thing is, I didn't feel him in that apartment."

"Well, I guess that could be good; at least we know he wasn't the one doing the shooting, but why was he in this building at all? And why this floor? Something's not right." Zak answered.

"I don't know; give me a minute here." Ferri said and then closed his eyes and merged deeper into the Force.

Zak waited; after working with Ferri for several years, he was familiar with how the other Padawan operated.

"No one must know." Ferri said and then added the response, "Then we'll just have to be careful."

"Careful about what?" Zak asked.

"No one must know." Ferri repeated, "It will be our secret."

Puzzled, Zak waited, hoping Ferri would continue….which he did, "We can arrange a signal." He said.

Silently, Zak allowed his partner to go one, but Ferri opened his eyes, "Boba was meeting someone up here; and this wasn't the first time." He said.

"Who was he meeting, and what were they doing?" Zak wondered.

"I think I have a pretty good idea what they were doing." Ferri answered and explained it to Zak.

Zak sighed and shook his head, "Then they must be using one of these other apartments." He surmised.

"Maybe; let me finish up here and then we can get back to the Temple." Ferri replied.

Zak nodded, "Yes, to let Master Obi-Wan know what you've found." He said.

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Boba didn't know how long he remained in the dark cell before he heard the door slide open, allowing the bright light to blind him again, "You're wasting you time; I don't have anything to tell you." He said.

"Get him up." The Mon Calamari ordered.

Boba sighed and shook his head as he was hauled once again to his feet, "I told you, I don't know anything." He insisted.

"Who are you working for?" The Bothan demanded, signaling a new round to the interrogation.

"Not again; I work for Chancellor Organa." Boba answered turning in the direction he had heard the Bothan's voice.

"So, the Chancellor staged his own assassination; is that what you're saying?" The human asked.

"What? No!" Boba answered, swiveling around to face in the human's direction.

"Then who hired you to kill him?" The Chagrian asked.

"No one hired me." Boba answered, turning again, this time to face the Chagrian.

"So you were acting on your own?" The Mon Calamari surmised from behind him.

Boba turned completely around to face him, "No; for the last time, I did not try to kill the Chancellor." He answered angrily, "How much longer are you going to keep me here without counsel?"

"Until you tell us the truth." The Bothan replied.

"But I am telling you the truth." Boba insisted.

"Oh, you're very good boy; most would have cracked after spending a few hours in the dark. And from what I've learned about your past, it should have worked on you." The Mon Calamari said, "But it appears you're tougher than I thought."

Boba shook his head and sighed wearily, "What you want is for me to confess; whether I actually did try to kill Bail Organa or not, you don't care, you just need someone to show the good citizens that you've done your job." He realized, "What kind of peacekeepers are you?"

The Mon Calamari examiner took a step forward and slapped Boba across the mouth, "How dare you! How dare you accuse me of not caring about the truth; about just wanting to please the people, you, who spent most of your life on the wrong end of the law! You might have the Chancellor and his queen wrapped around your finger; they may be blind to your true nature, but I see right through you. Your father's weapon was found on that terrace; you never destroyed it, did you. You hid it just waiting for your chance to use it; didn't you." He answered.

A line of blood trickled from the corner of Boba's mouth as he glared at the examiner, "I don't have anything more to say." He replied and then turned away.

The Mon Calamari yanked him back around, "Don't you turn away from me." He threatened.

"Or what? You're supposed to be upholding the law, and yet you use coercion to get what you want." Boba told him, "Go ahead, hit me again; and when I get to trial, I'll be sure to tell them how you question your suspects."

The examiner looked as if he were about to explode, "Acken, be careful; remember what the Vice Chancellor said." The Bothan reminded him.

For a moment, the Bothan thought Acken would turn on him, but then he sighed and nodded, "Having friends in high places will not save you from a life sentence; but I will not lower myself to your level again." Acken told Boba and then he turned to the human, "Clean him up; the Queen of Alderaan is waiting to see him."

"You'd have to climb out of the gutter you're lying in before you reached my level." Boba retorted.

The Mon Calamari turned and glared at him; and once again, it appeared Acken would act on his hostility.

Quickly, the human took Boba by the arm and moved him toward the doorway, "You made a mistake by antagonizing Acken; he has a foul temper. You'd be wise to just give him what he wants." He advised.

"That's not going to happen." Bob answered as the human led him out of the cell and down the hallway toward the lift.

"Too bad." The human replied.

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"We've been here over two hours; how much longer is it going to be?" Anakin demanded impatiently, "I could have found him myself after all this time."

"I told you, this is a big place; I'll let you know when they've found him." The desk officer answered.

"I'm going to give you ten more minutes; and if you haven't found him by then, I'm going to contact the Jedi and they'll be all over this place." Anakin warned.

The desk officer paled, "I'll…uh…I'll…" He stammered.

"I know you're stalling; I don't know why yet, but I know what you're doing." Anakin said and then pounded on the counter, "Ten minutes."

He went back to his seat next to Breha leaving the stunned officer to ponder his threat, "It shouldn't be too much longer." He assured her.

"What are they doing to him all this time?" Breha asked worriedly.

"I don't know; but they have to stay within the law if that's any comfort." Anakin answered.

"I suppose you are right; but I find it hard to believe it is taking this long to find him, if he was ever lost to begin with." Breha replied.

Anakin didn't answer, but he could not fault Breha's logic; during the war, they would put an enemy prisoner in a dark box and leave him there for several hours, sometimes days, to force him into revealing information. He had a strong suspicion they were doing this to Boba; he decided to keep that little tidbit to himself.

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Boba's presence mingled with those of his companion and the assassin; but Ferri could not discern whether they had all been together at the same time, or they had never come in contact with each other. Based on the conversation Ferri had discovered on the upper floors, however, it was possible Boba and his friend had left together. After a quick discussion, both Padawans decided it might be helpful if they could locate Boba's friend. However, this proved impossible once they exited the building when Ferri was assaulted with so many images from the panicking crowd that he lost the companion before they had gone more than a few meters. After several unsuccessful attempts, Ferri admitted his failure; likewise, he was unable to trace the movement of either Boba or the assassin and so they returned to the Temple to report their findings to Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council.

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Vice Chancellor Mon Mothma watched as her superior floated in the healing bacta bath and reflected on what had happened so unexpectedly several hours previous. There was no longer a doubt that the Chancellor would make a full and rapid recovery; the med droid treating him informed her that he was making excellent progress. It was no secret that Anakin Skywalker possessed a talent for healing, and Mon knew if that young man had not been present, the Senate would have been swearing her in to take Bail's place as Chancellor. Although she admitted to herself that she would cherish such a position, to obtain it due to the death of her friend would have been a bitter pill to swallow. Well, she at least would not have to worry about that, and her thoughts turned to the assassination attempt itself. As far as she knew, Bail didn't have any deadly enemies; so who had hired an assassin? It was easy to see why Boba would have been chosen, the boy was close to the family, he was the one most likely to succeed…if, in fact, he was the assassin. But Mon Mothma could not dispute the evidence. It had to be Boba Fett; it was the only explanation….was it not?

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Anakin's comlink beeped just as the desk officer approached, "Good news!" He proclaimed, "We've found the prisoner in question; if you'll come this way, I will take you to a room so you can meet with him in private."

"It's Obi-Wan; Milady, why don't you go on, and I'll join you as soon as I take this." Anakin explained and suggested.

With a nod, the queen rose and followed the officer down a short hallway where he ushered her into one of the open rooms and closed the door. Breha glanced about the room; another door was located on the opposite wall, and a single chair sat in one corner, she moved to it and sat down. After a few minutes, the inner door opened and a guard entered holding Boba, with his hands apparently secured behind his back, by the arm. She stood immediately to meet him halfway, "Thank the Maker!" She said in relief as she threw her arms around him.

Unable to return her embrace, Boba simply stood still, basking in its warmth for a moment, "You should not have come." He finally told her.

Breha stepped back and reached up to take his upper arms, "I had to be sure you were alright." She said.

Boba looked down at her, "How is Bail?" He asked.

"He will recover, thank the Maker." Breha assured him.

Boba closed his eyes and sighed, "You should go." He told her, turning away.

Puzzled, Breha took reached up and grasped his chin, forcing him to look back at her, "What have they done to you?" She asked searching his eyes.

Boba pulled away from her, "Nothing; you don't belong here." He answered.

"Nothing? I see it in your eyes, Boba." Breha countered.

"I don't know what you're talking about; I'm fine." Boba shot back, "Except that they tied my hands behind my back and threw me in a pitch dark room hoping to make me confess."

"Easy there, son." The guard warned with one hand on his side arm.

Boba glared at the guard, "Just what do you think I'm going to do?" He asked sarcastically, "My hands are bound behind my back; besides, she is like my mother, I would never harm her."

"Free his hands." Breha ordered.

"I'm afraid I can't do that." The guard replied.

"Oh yes, you can; do it now, or I will see to it that you are removed from here." Breha threatened.

"Be my guest, Your Highness, but I have my orders; and they do not come from you." The guard told her.

"It's alright, Milady." Boba assured her.

"No, it is not." Breha answered.

There was an awkward silence and then Anakin entered the room in the company of the desk officer, "Who are you hiding, Boba?" He asked.

"I've answered enough questions from this bantha pack; now I'm getting interrogated by you?" Boba answered.

"Boba, I'm trying to help you; we all are, but you have to give us something." Anakin replied.

Boba turned away, "I don't have anything to give you." He said.

"Boba, please; we know you did not do this, but we have to be able to prove it." Breha pleaded, squeezing his arm, "Help Master Skywalker so he can help you."

Boba sighed and stared down at the floor, "I can't." He whispered.

"Well, we will find out eventually; wouldn't it be better if you told us before you're sent off to Kessel or some other hell hole?" Anakin asked.

Boba raised his head and looked at him, "I can't." He repeated.

Anakin shook his head, but before he could say anything further, one of the examiners entered the room, "I am afraid your time is up; if you wish to see him again, it will have to be tomorrow." He announced.

"You keep me waiting for over two hours and then you only allow me to see him for a few minutes?" Breha demanded angrily.

"I am sorry for your wait, Your Highness; but that was beyond our control. We have more questions for this prisoner, and they will not be answered while he is 'visiting'." The human explained.

"You will not question him further without the presence of his defender." Breha ordered

"And you will free his hands when he is locked in his cell. It's inhuman for him to be bound constantly." Anakin added.

"You are right, of course, Your Highness; and your order will be obeyed." The human agreed, "As to binding his hands, we never…."

Anakin cut him off, "Save your breath; take the binders off when you put him in a cell, a lighted cell." He ordered.

The human looked at him for a moment, "Very well, Master Skywalker." He answered and then signaled the guard to lead Boba out.

Boba leaned down and kissed Breha's cheek, "Don't worry; it's going to be alright." He assured her.

Breha nodded, "We all love you." She told him.

He smiled and then the guard pulled him toward the door; he looked back once as he was led out and the door closed. Breha turned to the human examiner, "If you mistreat him further, you will answer for it." She warned.

"We haven't done anything except question him, Milady; I assure you." The human insisted, opening the door for her.

"You must think me a fool, Hannon; I know how you question your prisoners." Breha informed him.

"With all due respect, Your Highness; are you sure your personal feelings are not clouding your judgment?" Hannon asked.

Breha glared at him, "When my son is proven to be innocent, you will regret having said that." She answered and put a hand on Anakin's arm allowing the Jedi Master to lead her out.