Chapter 10 Just a Little too Easy

Dena ran her fingers through her short blonde hair and replaited her braid hurriedly before leaving her quarters in search of Zak; she knew they were leaving the Temple early, and she didn't want to miss speaking with him and Ferri before they departed. There were few Jedi about as she rushed through the corridor of the Padawan wing, but she caught an angry glare from Galyn, "Slow down, Dena; nothing can be that important." She ordered.

Dena ignored her and hurried on until she reached Zak's quarters; she knocked several times and then stood shifting her weight from one leg to the other waiting for him to acknowledge her, "He's gone down to meet Master Kenobi, Dena; is there something I can help you with?" Ferri asked behind her.

"No….I mean, yes…I mean, well, maybe." Dena stammered.

Ferri shook his head and gave her a lopsided smile, "Alright; what is it that I can maybe help you with?" He asked.

"I…I…well…" She began and then looked at him intensely for a moment, "Do you think Boba Fett tried to kill Chancellor Organa?"

Ferri gave her a puzzled look, "Is that what you came rushing down here to ask Zak?" He asked.

"What difference does it make? Do you think Boba…" Dena started again.

"Personally, no; but I still don't understand why it was necessary for you to come…." Ferri answered.

"Nevermind." Dena replied and then started back down the hallway.

"Wait a minute; don't just ask a question like that and walk away. Tell me what's going on, Dena." Ferri said taking her by the arm and pulling her back around.

"Let go of me; nothing's going on." Dena told him as she tried to pull away.

Ferri shook his head, "Huh uh; you can't tell another Jedi nothing when it's not nothing." He replied.

Dena sighed and looked down at the floor, "Boba is a friend of mine; I know he didn't do what they say he did, and I don't want him to be punished for it." She finally explained.

"Well, he's my friend too; but something tells me there is more to this." Ferri surmised and then lifted Dena's chin, "What else is there?"

Dena's eyes blurred with tears and she turned away, "I can't…." She murmured.

"Yes, you can; we're friends, Dena." Ferri said, "You're not in love with him, are you?"

"I'm a Jedi; that would be wrong." Dena answered, staring at the pattern on the carpeted floor.

"Yes, but you haven't answered my question." Ferri replied, "'Come on, Dena; don't you trust me?"

Dena looked up at him, "That's a funny question coming from you." She said and regretted it immediately.

Ferri scowled at her, "That was four years ago; haven't you moved past it yet?" He retorted and then started back down the hallway, "I've regained Zak's trust, that's enough for me; he is in the dining hall with Master Kenobi, I'm sure you can trust him."

"Wait, Ferri; no, I'm sorry, I should not have….Ferri, please wait." Dena called and then hurried to catch up with him, "Slow down."

Ferri only lengthened his stride as he ignored her and Dena, being several inches shorter, had to break into a trot just to keep up with him, "Listen to me; I….Ferri, please, slow down." Dena pleaded.

"I have work to do; I don't have time." Ferri told her without looking at her.

Dena stopped as he continued on, "Ferri, I need your help; please." She called out to him.

Ferri sighed, shook his head and turned around, "Alright, but I don't know how to help you when you won't tell me what's going on." He said.

Dena trotted up to him and then glanced around, "I can't tell you here." She whispered.

Again Ferri sighed, "Look, Master Skywalker and I are going out to check that building again with Zak and Master Kenobi; for what it's worth, none of us think Boba did it. And for that matter, neither does the rest of the Council; but there are things we have to know in order to prove it." He explained and then put his hands are her shoulder, "There was a girl in that building with him; we have to find that girl, do you know anything about that?"

----------

Mon Mothma dressed quickly; she had not slept well, and now she feared she would be late for a meeting Bail had scheduled with several senators to discuss a particularly complicated bill. Since it was clear the Supreme Chancellor would be unable to attend, it fell to the office of Vice Chancellor to represent him. The argument with Ell bothered her; the two were very close and she could not remember a time when they had gone to bed angry with each other. She would make it a point to apologize to her daughter before she left for the Senate complex. With one last glance to check her appearance, Mon left her room and went to the dining area where her house droid had already set out their breakfast. Too her extreme disappointment, Ell had left a hasty message telling her that she had something to attend to before heading to her morning classes. With a heavy sigh and shake of her head, Mon sat down and ate her breakfast alone.

----------

With a look of grim determination, Ellon Mothma stepped up into the transport heading toward the detention center. She had decided after the tiff with her mother that she wanted to see Boba to let him know she would do what she could to help him. Knowing he was completely innocent, and yet being able to do nothing about it, Ell wondered just what she could do; but at least he would know she would try. Twenty minutes later, the transport halted briefly to let several passengers, including Ell out. With a stride that portrayed more confidence than she actually felt, Ell entered the detention center and up to the front desk, "Yes?" The polite officer behind the desk asked.

"I would like to see one of your prisoners." Ell answered in a matter of fact tone.

The officer glanced up at her, noting her uniform and data bag, "And you would be…?" He asked.

"Ellon Mothma; I have other things to attend to, but I must see one of your prisoners first." Ell answered.

"Well, Milady, I don't think you look quite old enough to be visiting prisoners; why don't you run along to your classes." The officer suggested.

"I am older than I look." Ell insisted.

"Really? And does the Vice Chancellor know you are here?" The officer asked.

"What difference does that make?" Ell asked impatiently, "Are you going to let me see who I want to see, or not?"

"I think 'or not' would be your answer." The officer replied.

"I demand to see him; I have the right to…" Ell answered angrily.

"No, I'm afraid you don't; you're under age, you see. I don't know who you're here to see, and it doesn't matter; I'm afraid I can't let you see anyone here. And I'm afraid I will also have to inform the Vice Chancellor that you have been here." The Officer told her, "But if you leave now, and don't cause any trouble, I just might forget."

Ell glared angrily, huffed, spun around and stalked toward the door, muttering angry curses under breath. The officer shook his head and went back to his work.

----------

After a thorough examination, nothing of any use was found in the unrented apartment where Ferri sensed Boba and his female companion had been. Obi-Wan sighed, "Well, that wasn't very helpful." He said.

"No, but at least we know for sure that he was alone with his friend; I don't sense the presence of the assassin here." Ferri replied, trying to sound positive.

"Unfortunately, that will not help us when our young bounty hunter goes to trial." Obi-Wan answered.

"I know." Ferri said, staring down at the floor.

"Well, there's no point in wasting anymore time here." Anakin interjected.

Ferri caught Zak's eye and looked down; curiously, Zak looked down and spotted what had drawn Ferri's attention, "Yes, let's go see if we can talk Boba into giving us something to work with." Zak suggested, nodding to Ferri.

Anakin nodded and turned to follow Obi-Wan to do the door; as soon as his back was turned, Ferri put his hand out and called the little brown ribbon to it. He and Zak exchanged relieved looks as he quickly tucked the ribbon into his belt before they turned to leave with their masters.

.----------

By morning, Bail's pain had subsided enough for him to be able to sit almost comfortably propped up on several pillows. Against his wife's wishes, he had arranged to attend the meeting with the Senators by hologram; as he expected, the details of the bill were quickly explained and discussed and the meeting was over before an hour had passed, much to Breha's relief. Bail left the connection open, intending to confront his Vice Chancellor as soon as the Senators left the office; knowing his intention, Mon looked uncomfortable as the door behind the last of them slid closed, "I know you are not happy about…" She began.

"No, I am not happy; it was bad enough that you had him arrested, but to subject him to…" Bail cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"Bail, he was not…" Mon tried to explain.

"I am very disappointed, Mon; you will not even admit to what was done." Bail interrupted.

"I assure you, I told them to stay within the law." Mon told him defensively.

"And just what does that mean? That you did not allow him to be beaten into submission?" Bail demanded, "But you did not object to him being put into a dark cell with his hands tied behind his back, did you."

"I was not aware he had been subjected to that; I'm sorry." Mon answered apologetically.

"No, you were not aware, because you did not ask. Breha was kept waiting two hours before she was allowed to see him. What were they doing to him for two hours, Mon?" Bail asked.

The Vice Chancellor sighed and turned away, "I confess that I was not concerned with the methods they used to question him; perhaps I should have been." She admitted, "But his weapon was found in the same place the assassin had been; surely even you can see that he is guilty."

"A weapon that I saw him dismantle and throw away several years ago; if that weapon was up on that terrace, then someone put it there, and it was not Boba Fett." Bail replied, "Even if he wanted to hurt any of us, he would never be so foolish as to leave it behind to be found; surely YOU can see that."

"That will be for the courts to prove." Mon said.

"Fine; then let them prove it, but the coercive interrogations are at an end." Bail answered.

"They were at an end yesterday." Mon informed him.

"And there will be no more questioning without the presence of his legal counsel." Bail added.

"That too ended yesterday." Mon said.

"Then we have nothing further to discuss." Bail concluded.

"Bail, I am sorry this had to happen." Mon told him.

Bail sighed and shook his head, "So am I." He answered and cut the transmission.

Breha laid her head on his shoulder and squeezed his hand; he sighed again and put his other arm around her.

----------

With a heavy heart, Mon watched the image of the Chancellor fade away. She understood how he felt; she had been wrong to turn a blind eye to the methods used by the government examiners. And she was beginning to see a crack in the evidence stacked against the former bounty hunter; upon close examination, it all seemed a little too easy. She shook her head and suddenly felt the need to see her daughter; maybe Ell could see something she didn't see. She had just reached the lift when an explosion ripped through her office.