Chapter 8 In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time
Ferri looked a little surprised, "Well, yes; but how would you know that?" He asked.
"Well, it would make sense, wouldn't it? Why else would he go to an apartment complex to meet someone?" Padme replied.
"Then why hide it?" Anakin asked.
"My darling, you have a short memory; what do you think we were doing for three years?" Padme answered.
"But that was different because….oh, by the Force; you can't possibly think that Boba is seeing a Jedi?" Anakin concluded.
"Not necessarily; but he is obviously seeing someone he shouldn't be. Maybe they are worried that her family wouldn't approve of him." Padme suggested.
"Well, if she knows what's going to happen to him if he continues to remain silent, she should come forward." Anakin said.
"If she loves him, she will." Padme replied with certainty.
Ferri shook his head, "I'm glad I'm a Jedi." He declared; and despite the gravity of the situation, both Padme and Anakin could not help but laugh.
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Boba walked between the two guards escorting him back to his cell. The first meeting with Bail's defender had not gone well; the defender had told Boba that he would have a good chance of being found innocent only if he would provide some kind of alibi. Since he wouldn't do that, there was little hope for him. The defender could tell Boba was holding back something, but he thought the former bounty hunter might change his mind if push came to shove; however Boba knew he would never expose his secret….and yet he determined he would not be sent off to some prison colony either. And so he came to the conclusion that the only way he would avoid being sentenced was to not be tried at all; and the only way to do that was not to be around for the trial. One of the guards triggered the door, and the other pushed him inside, followed him in and removed his restraints. Boba debated on whether he should try to escape and decided against it, the odds of him finding a way out of the building were too high, he would wait until there was a better chance of success; the guard left and the door slid closed. When the time was right, Boba Fett would run.
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"Believe do you that Boba Fett did not try to kill our Chancellor?" Yoda asked the young Jedi apprentices standing in the center of the Council chamber.
"Yes, Master." Zak answered.
Yoda regarded him for a moment, "So sure are you?" Yoda asked, "Even though evidence against him there is?"
"Yes, Master." Zak repeated.
"I think clouded your judgment is by your friendship with him." Yoda stated.
"What?" Zak asked curtly.
"Think it is not do you?" Yoda asked.
"I'm certain of it, Master." Zak answered.
"Young Perrin, what reason can you give to believe him innocent?" Mace asked.
"Because I know him, and I know how highly he regards the Chancellor; he's like his father, and he would never want to hurt him." Zak told the Council.
"How do explain that weapon found on the terrace then?" Ki-Adi Mundi asked.
"I can't; but I think if Boba Fett had tried to kill Chancellor Organa, he wouldn't leave the weapon where it could be found, especially if it could be linked to him." Zak answered.
"He does have a point; I think everyone here can agree that young Boba is no fool." Plo Koon conceded.
"Possibly; but it still does not address the question of why that young man's weapon was used." Adi Gallia said.
"Or how someone else gained possession of it." Stass Allie added.
"Boba told me that he got rid that entire suit of armor; and yes, I believe him. He wanted to start a whole new life with the Chancellor's family, and he felt that armor was part of what his father was; he didn't want it around anymore." Zak informed them, "Apparently someone found it."
"Then what you are saying is that you believe someone is trying to frame him for the assassination?" Eeth Koth asked.
"Well, I think it's a pretty good explanation." Zak answered.
"Ferri Cortis, what did you sense when you went up to that terrace?" Luminara Unduli asked.
"That whoever the assassin is, he takes pleasure in more than just the killing itself; he revels in the chaos he creates. I also know that Boba Fett may have been in the building, but he wasn't on that terrace." Ferri replied.
"So Boba Fett was there; perhaps he sold the weapon to the assassin then." Plo Koon speculated.
"I mean no disrespect, Master Koon; but you don't know Boba Fett if you think he would do that. I'm telling you, he dismantled that armor and junked it; he didn't want to even sell it because he didn't want anyone to use it the way Jango Fett did, or the way he, himself did during the Clone Wars." Zak countered.
There was a brief silence as they all considered Zak's statement, "Ferri Cortis, what think you of this? Agree with young Perrin, do you?" Yoda finally asked.
"Knowing Boba, yes, I have to agree with Zak here." Ferri answered without hesitation, "Even if Boba wanted to kill Chancellor Organa, which I don't think he did, but if he did, he isn't stupid; he would never leave evidence to incriminate himself. He was in that building to meet a girl; not to murder the Chancellor."
"Hmmm…" Yoda considered this for a moment and then turned his attention to Anakin, "Master Skywalker, talked with Boba Fett; say did he, who he was with?" He asked.
Anakin shook his head, "No, for some reason, he thinks he has to protect her; he refused to tell me anything." He answered.
"Well, if Boba Fett is not the assassin, it would be unjust for him to be convicted; and the real murderer would still be free." Mace concluded, "As it appears the government authorities are already convinced they have their killer, it is left to the Jedi to clear the boy's name."
"Would it not be wise to wait for the Chancellor to request our assistance?" Eeth Koth asked.
"I think the Chancellor would want us to begin right away; I'm sure he would have already contacted the Jedi if he were able to." Obi-Wan answered.
"I've spoken with Queen Breha, and she has asked for a Jedi investigation; I think a request from her should be enough." Anakin interjected.
Mace nodded, "Under the circumstances, I believe it is fair to say that the Chancellor would want us to lead the investigation; the Queen's request only formalizes the request." He stated, "In any case, several Jedi were sent out and have already reported their findings to the Council."
Anakin was a bit taken back and shot a curious glance at Obi-Wan, "We felt it was necessary to begin right away, Anakin, with the intention of filling you in when you returned here."
Anakin nodded, "Yes, of course." He replied, "Has anyone discovered why there was so much damage done to the platform?"
"Yes, we were curious about that as well. The missile that hit it should not have been able to do that kind of damage; however, it appears there was an explosive planted on the platform." Plo Koon explained, "When the missile hit the explosive, it naturally increased the damage done."
"Oh dear, that only makes our young bounty hunter look even more guilty; he would have been able to gain access to that platform." Obi-Wan said.
"Along with the security detail and the workers." Zak pointed out; and then bowed his head, "I'm sorry, I have spoken out of turn."
"It's alright, Padawan; you've brought up a very good point." Obi-Wan assured him, "We will need to get a list of everyone who worked up there; including the security personnel."
"Hmm...I agree; anyone there, guilty could be." Yoda concurred with a nod.
"Is it possible this girl could have been involved?" Shaak Ti wondered.
"What do you mean?" Anakin asked.
"Well, it just seems to me that it is a strange coincidence that they happened to meet in the same building, on the same floor where the assassin stationed himself….if in fact, Boba Fett was not the assassin." Shaak Ti explained.
"May I speak, Masters?" Ferri requested.
"Speak your mind, Padawan." Anakin prompted.
"Well, I would think that Boba was supposed to be attending the opening ceremony for the street fair; wouldn't you agree?" Ferri began.
The Council members all nodded in agreement, "And your point being, Ferri?" Shaak Ti asked.
"Well, that building would have been the closest place for him to meet this girl and still get to the ceremony on time." Ferri answered.
"So he may have just chosen that place for the same reason the assassin did; it was convenient." Mace concluded, "Yes, that would certainly make sense; that would put young Fett in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Or the right place if you're looking at it from the assassin's point of view." Luminara Unduli added.
"Is it possible that they were all leaving at the same time then?" Depa Billaba asked.
"Possibly; Boba Fett and the girl would have left just before the explosion; and we know the shooter left almost immediately after he fired that missile because the Clones stormed that building minutes after it happened and he was already gone." Adi Gallia answered.
"I wonder if either of them saw the assassin then; and just didn't know it." Depa Billaba suggested.
"We cannot rule that out." Mace concurred.
"One question we have not touched upon, Masters; and that is why would someone go through all this trouble just to frame a reformed bounty hunter?" Anakin asked.