Chapter 13 A Tangled Web

"Thank you, Master Skywalker." Del beamed.

"Come, Ferri; I want to let Obi-Wan know about this. Maybe he can get Boba to tell him why he is using an apartment rented to the Vice Chancellor." Anakin said.

Ferri nodded and patted Del on the back, "Thanks, Del." He said and then followed Anakin back out into the main corridor.

"Why don't you go meditate for a bit while I connect with Obi-Wan." Anakin suggested.

"Yes, Master." Ferri answered obediently and then bowed before heading toward the living quarters sector.

Anakin watched him for a moment, wanting to know what he was hiding, and knowing how violated Ferri would feel if he were to force his way past the young man's shields. He had done that once, out of sheer necessity; he had no desire to ever do it again; hopefully, the situation would change and he would not have to. He closed his eyes and reached out for his brother; as always, it did not take much effort.

"Obi-Wan, we have discovered the apartment Boba was using is being let out to….Vice Chancellor Mothma." "No, that must be a mistake." "That's what I thought, but there is no mistake; why would Boba be using that apartment?" I don't know, but I am with him now; I will be sure to ask him." "Ferri has his shields up; he is hiding something." "So is Zak; he apparently promised to keep silent." "Yes, Ferri as well; who are they protecting?" "It is sounding more and more as if Boba has been seeing a Jedi." "I agree; hopefully, if she is, she will act like a Jedi and come forward before it is too late for our young bounty hunter." "Yes; thank you for the information, Anakin, I will let you know if it has helped….and then we should confront the Vice Chancellor." "Yes."

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Obi-Wan opened his eyes and looked at Boba, "Where did you get the keycard for that apartment, Boba?" He asked.

Boba opened his mouth to speak, closed it again and shook his head, "I found it." He lied.

"You found a keycard, and you just happened to know which apartment it would open, and which building the apartment was in?" Obi-Wan wondered, "Coruscant covers the entire planet, Boba; you must have been very lucky."

"Yeah, it looks that way." Boba answered.

"You're lying, Boba." Zak stated.

Boba turned to glare at his friend, "Whose side are you on?" He demanded.

Zak sighed, "Your side, you idiot; do you want to be sent off to a prison colony?" He asked.

Boba smiled, "I'm not going to be sent anywhere." He replied.

"Oh, Boba; if you are planning on running, that would be a big mistake." Obi-Wan told him, "You could end up on the wrong end of a blaster."

"Well, it'd better than rotting away on some prison planet; besides, I'd rather be dead than…." Boba started and shook his head, "Nevermind."

"You must love her a great deal to protect her at the risk of being sent away for something you did not do." Obi-Wan observed, "Do you think that this is what she would want?"

Boba thought for a moment, "I don't know; I guess that's up to her." He answered.

"If she allows it, I would ask myself how much she loves you in return." Obi-Wan replied.

Boba stared at him before answering, "If you've ever been in love, you could never ask that." He said.

"Boba, keeping a secret like this will destroy both of you; ask Master Skywalker, he knows from experience." Obi-Wan told him.

"You don't know anything about it." Boba retorted angrily, "I'm finished here."

"Master, could I speak with Boba alone for a moment?" Zak asked.

"About what I don't need to know yet?" Obi-Wan asked. "Yes." Zak confirmed.

Obi-Wan hesitated for a moment as if considering the request, "Very well, Padawan; perhaps alone you can talk some sense into him." He consented, "I will be outside."

One of the guards triggered the door, "Is there a reason why both of you should be in here?" Obi-Wan asked.

"We have been given orders not to leave the prisoner unattended." One guard answered.

"You can stand guard outside the door." Obi-Wan said with a wave of his hand, "I believe what they wish to discuss is of a private nature."

With an impish smile, Obi-Wan followed the guards out. When the door slid closed Zak sat down on the floor, "Let's talk." He said, "Sit down."

Shaking his head, Boba lowered himself down, "There's nothing to talk about." He insisted.

"I know about her." Zak informed him.

"You're lying; there's no way…." Boba denied.

"Oh, yes there is." Zak replied.

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Ferri headed directly to Dena's quarters and knocked, "Dena, it's Ferri; let me in." He said.

For a moment, Ferri wondered if she was there and then the door slid open, "What do you want?" She demanded, looking both ways for any other Jedi who might be in the hallway.

"Don't worry, there's no one about." Ferri assured her, "I needed to let you know that Master Skywalker knows I'm hiding something."

"Ferri, you can't tell, please." Dena replied.

"I don't like keeping secrets from him." Ferri told her.

"I know; but just for a little while until I figure out what to do." Dena answered.

"How long?" Ferri asked, "Boba Fett could be arraigned as early as this afternoon."

Dena shook her head, "Oh no; I didn't think it would be that soon." She said, sounding desperate.

"Why don't you just tell Master Heth, she'll understand." Ferri suggested.

Dena's eyes grew wide, "NO, she never would; I can't, I can't ever." She declared.

"You're running out of time; and Zak is Boba's best friend, how long do you think he'll keep quiet?" Boba asked.

"I should never have said anything to either of you. I'm sorry I've put you both in this position." Dena answered, burying her head in her hands.

"Well, it's done now; there's no use in crying about it. I just think it would be better for you to come out on your own before you're forced out; alright?" Ferri advised.

Dena nodded, "Thank you, Ferri." She replied gratefully.

"Don't thank me yet; this is far from over." Ferri countered.

"I know." Dena sighed.

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Zak emerged from the holding room with a satisfied look on his face; and then he and Boba exchanged knowing looks as the guards escorted him back down the hallway, "Well?" Obi-Wan prompted.

"Well, I have a message from him." Zak answered.

"To the person you're protecting." Obi-Wan guessed easily.

"Yes, I think it might just do the trick." Zak replied.

"I certainly hope so; he doesn't stand a chance unless someone comes forward to cast doubt on the Vice Chancellor's accusations." Obi-Wan said.

"I know; where to now, Master?" Zak asked.

"We need to find out why the Vice Chancellor is renting that apartment; but first, I want to have a word with the examiners concerning that mark on Boba's face." Obi-Wan answered.

"Boba told me the Mon Calamari examiner lost his temper this morning when Boba denied knowing about the explosion in the Vice Chancellor's office this morning." Zak informed him.

"Then he will have to answer to Chancellor Organa about it; they were all warned about that kind of brutality." Obi-Wan replied as they walked toward to supervisor's office.

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Within the hour, the Jedi were waiting in the Vice Chancellor's sitting room after having been let in by her domestic droid. Moments later, Mon Mothma, looking none the worse for wear, appeared in the doorway, "Master Kenobi, Master Skywalker; to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" She asked graciously.

"I am afraid this is not a social visit, Vice Chancellor." Obi-Wan answered as he and Anakin both stood to greet her.

"No, I did not think it was; what is it? Has that so-called reformed bounty hunter confessed?" The Vice Chancellor asked.

"No, and he is unlikely to considering he didn't do it." Anakin answered, "This is concerning something, well, something that does not put you in a very good light, Vice Chancellor."

"Really? You have me curious." Mon said as she sat down.

"It appears that the apartment just above the one where the assassin was seen is being let out in your name." Obi-Wan told her, "You wouldn't care to explain that, would you?"

"That's completely ridiculous; I don't know where you have gotten your information, but I think I would remember renting another flat, especially in the very building where Bail Organa's assassin staged his attack." The Vice Chancellor answered incredulously.

"There was no mistake; it IS being rented by you, paid for through your personal account." Anakin countered.

"Well, the only ones who have access to that account are….no, it couldn't be…." Mon started.

"Couldn't be who, Vice Chancellor?" Obi-Wan wondered.

"Ell, she and I have dual control over my personal account; but she….I just don't believe it." Mon insisted, "I'm sure that sneaky bounty hunter had something to do with this, he probably…."

"You know, I'm getting very tired of hearing him being blamed for everything coming down the pike; did it ever occur to you that Ell might have done it voluntarily?" Anakin asked.

Mon stood up and walked toward the sliding glass door opening out to her veranda, "I would not like to think so; I thought there were no secrets between us." She answered.

"Well, it appears there is one now; where is your daughter, Vice Chancellor?" Obi-Wan asked.