Chapter 19 Confrontations
"What makes you think he'll come after me? Wouldn't he be content just framing me for something else?" Boba asked.
"When he finds out you have escaped, I think he'll want you to know who he is." Zak answered.
"Well, that makes two of us; I want to know who he is too." Boba replied.
"And we have to let the rest of the Order help us." Zak added.
"No, absolutely not." Boba resisted.
"Boba, this is going to get very dangerous, very fast." Ferri warned.
"I don't care; the first thing they will want me to do is turn myself in, I'm not going back there, Ferri, ever." Boba told him stubbornly.
"I rather doubt you'll have to; I think when Master Obi-Wan hears what we have planned, he'll understand it will only work if you were still on the loose." Zak assured him with a smile.
Boba shook his head, "I still don't like it." He said.
"Boba, when are you going to start trusting us?" Ferri asked.
"It's not you I mistrust." Boba answered.
"You should trust the Order, not just us. I'm sorry, Boba; I heard you out, now it's time to let them in on this." Zak replied.
Boba struggled against the binders for moment, "Then you're as much of a traitor as your partner here; and I thought we were friends, Zak." He said.
"We are; and when this is over, you'll see that." Zak told him.
"I don't think so, traitor." Boba retorted angrily.
----------
"Defiant your Padawans are." Yoda observed with a shake of his head.
"Apparently." Obi-Wan admitted.
"They should be old enough to realize they are violating the law by helping young Boba Fett." Mace said.
"I am sure they understand the consequences here, Master Windu." Anakin replied.
"They have allowed their friendship to violate the boundaries of the law; that is unacceptable." Mace continued.
"What are you suggesting, Master Windu?" Obi-Wan wondered.
Mace sighed and shook his head, "Nothing…well, yes, I am suggesting that….that they must face the repercussions of their actions." He answered.
"You mean excusing them from the Order, don't you." Obi-Wan guessed.
"Hope I do that implying this you are not, Master Windu, until explain their actions these Padawans can." Yoda interjected.
"Yes, of course, Master; but the very fact they have decided to assist young Fett in his escape…" Mace began.
"So what you are saying is that there will be no excuse in your eyes." Anakin surmised.
"It will have to be a very good one." Mace clarified.
"Good enough for you, would it be, Master Windu?" Yoda asked.
"I don't know." Mace admitted.
"Well, you are about to find out; Zak wishes for us to meet with him." Obi-Wan announced in a hushed tone.
Yoda rubbed his hand over his head, "Better it would be if alone you met with him, Master Obi-Wan; intimidated by Master Windu he should not be until over this is." He suggested.
"He will have to face me sooner or later." Mace said.
"With all due respect, Master; I believe this should be between Zak and I, and between Anakin and Ferri." Obi-Wan replied.
"Had they not violated the law, I would agree with you." Mace answered, "However…"
"We don't know that they violated anything yet; for all we know, they could have Boba with them." Anakin said, "Maybe they wanted to convince him to turn himself in instead of dragging him back here kicking and screaming."
"So now you are agreeing with their reckless actions?" Mace asked.
"No; only that I believe Obi-Wan and I should deal with them, without the interference of the Council." Anakin countered.
"Agree with Anakin I must; between Master and Padawan this is. And settled it should be after found the assassin is." Yoda said.
"I bow to your wisdom, Master Yoda." Mace conceded with a sigh, "I suppose you had better go find your wayward apprentices."
"Thank you, Master Windu." Obi-Wan replied.
"Mommy, are they gonna shoot Boba?" Kendyl asked.
"No, Baby; Daddy won't let them do that." Padme assured her youngest son with a hug.
Anakin turned toward his family; all of them looked confused and frightened. With a sigh he moved to squat in front of them, "You must not worry; Master Obi-Wan and I will find Boba before the Vice Chancellor's men do." He assured them.
"Whydee run, Daddy?" Livie asked.
"I don't know, Livie; I think he believed everyone thought he tried to kill the Chancellor." Anakin answered.
"But he dint; we know he dint." Livie protested.
"Yes, we do; but not everyone believes him." Anakin explained.
"Poor Boba; the 'portant peepo don' bleve him." Livie replied shaking her head.
"Not until they get proof, no." Anakin said.
"Then find proof, Daddy." Luke suggested.
"Well, we're trying, Luke." Anakin told him, "Now, why don't all of you go back to the Temple with Mommy?"
"Can't we help you, Daddy?" Leia asked.
"You can help me by going to the Temple so I don't have to worry about you, alright?" Anakin answered.
"What are you going to do, Anakin?" Padme asked.
Anakin sighed, "Obi-Wan and I are going to meet Zak and find out why he and Ferri have decided to hide Boba from us." He replied.
Padme looked puzzled, "That doesn't sound like something Zak would do; Ferri, yes, but not Zak." She pointed out.
"Why, Padme, are you saying my apprentice has a problem with authority?" Anakin asked in mock disbelief.
Padme smiled, "Just like his master." She answered.
"Ouch!" Anakin exclaimed.
"Yes, the truth hurts doesn't it." Obi-Wan said, coming up behind him, "Are you ready to go?"
"Just about; I wanted to be sure they were taken back to the Temple." Anakin replied as he stood up.
"We will take care of them, Anakin." Mace assured him as he joined them.
"Thank you." Anakin replied and then turned to face the big master, "I apologize for being short with you, Master Windu; I…"
"No need, Anakin; we were both out of line." Mace said, "I was too quick to pass judgment before those two had a chance to explain themselves; I am not unwilling to admit my mistakes."
Anakin looked away, "I wish I could say the same, Master." He answered.
Mace put a hand on his shoulder, "There was a time when that was true, Master Skywalker; but I believe that time has passed." He told him.
"Thank you, Master Windu." Anakin replied as he turned his gaze back to Mace, "Thank you."
Mace cleared his throat, "Yes, well….go meet with your apprentice; I will see that your family returns to the Temple." He said.
"Yes, Master." Anakin answered and then turned to regard his children again, "Alright, Master Windu is going to take you back; you will do what he tells you, alright?"
"Yes, Daddy." They all replied, nodded their heads.
"Alright." Anakin said and bent down to plant a kiss on each of their cheeks before embracing Padme, "You understand why you can't go home yet, don't you?"
"Yes, Annie; just go do what you have to do." Padme answered, pulling his head down to kiss him, "So that we can go home."
"Anakin?" Obi-Wan prompted.
"Yes, I'll be right with you." Anakin replied, kissing Padme once more before pulling away from her.
----------
"Where is Ferri?" Anakin demanded.
"With Boba." Zak answered calmly.
"Zak, what you are doing?" Obi-Wan said with frustration.
Zak sighed and turned to face his master, "Boba does not trust in the judicial system, and he does not trust the Jedi Order." He replied, "He doesn't want to turn himself in."
"Doesn't want to? It doesn't matter what he wants; you should have turned him in." Obi-Wan told him, "I thought your judgment was better than this."
Zak sighed again, "Boba is my friend, Master; and he doesn't think he will be tried fairly. That's why he bolted in the first place." He explained.
"And what do you think, Padawan?" Obi-Wan wondered, folding his arms across his chest.
"I don't know, Master." Zak answered, shaking his head.
"So you don't trust the judicial system either, is that it?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No, that is not it, Master; I just…" Zak began.
"Where do your loyalties lie, Zak?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Where they have always lain; with the Jedi and with my friends." Zak replied.
"And what about the Republic? Haven't you sworn to uphold its laws?" Obi-Wan asked.
"You know I have, Master; but in this case, an innocent is being wrongly accused." Zak answered, "Are you telling me I now have to choose between the Republic and the Jedi and my friend?"
"Oh, Zak; don't you understand that the best way for you to help your friend is to bring him in?" Anakin asked.
"Is it? They have already decided he did it; where is the justice there?" Zak demanded.
"The trial has not even started yet; and the Jedi haven't even finished investigating. The conclusion is far from certain." Obi-Wan said, "Now, where are they?"
Zak shook his head, "I can't tell you; I'm sorry." He answered.
"Then we have no choice but to turn you in; you understand that, don't you, Padawan?" Obi-Wan replied.
"Won't you even hear me out first?" Zak asked.
Obi-Wan sighed, "Very well; we came here to listen to what you had to say." He consented, "Start talking."
----------
Dena paced the length of the main corridor twice before she finally worked up the courage to approach the head of the Jedi Council; finally, when her concern for Boba won out, she took a deep breath and headed for the private meditation area reserved for the Council Masters. Two Jedi were stationed next to the closed doors, indicating there was a Master within.
"You are not permitted in this area of the Temple, Padawan." One of the Jedi told her gently.
"Yes, I know; but I am looking for Master Yoda." Dena answered.
"Well, Master Yoda is not within; would you like me to summon him for you?" The other Jedi offered.
Dena shook her head, "No, I guess not; he's probably busy." She replied.
The Jedi smiled at her, "You should know he is never too busy for a troubled apprentice." She said.
"Who said I was troubled?" Dena asked defensively.
It was the other Jedi's turn to smile, "You are radiating confusion, young one; I will locate Master Yoda for you." He said.
Reluctantly, Dena nodded; as much as she was dreading it, she knew she had to face the venerable Master with the truth, "Thank you." She answered with a sigh; a mixture of relief and resignation.
The Jedi turned to the com panel, conversed with someone on the other end for a moment and then turned back to Dena, "Master Yoda and Master Windu attended the hearing for Boba Fett; they are probably just pulling into the transport bay right about now." He announced, "If you…."
"Thank you." Dena cut him off and took off down the hallway.
The female Jedi sighed and shook her head, "Were we ever that impetuous?" She wondered.
When the transport pulled into the bay, Dena was waiting for it. Reining in her apprehension, she waited as the doors slid open. Mace Windu stepped down first and put a hand up to help Padme Skywalker down; Anakin's two oldest children hopped down without assistance, followed closely by Hadrian who was only saved from falling on his face when the big Master pulled him up by his tunic collar, "A Jedi is never reckless, young Skywalker." He told the boy.
"Yes, Master." Hadrian replied sheepishly.
In contrast, Kendyl waited until Mace held a steadying arm for him and Livie held her hands out so he could lift her down. Yoda appeared in the hatchway, his eyes immediately locking onto the teenage Padawan, "Wish to speak with me you do, young Korliv?" He asked.
Dena averted her eyes and stared at the tile floor, "Yes, Master." She answered.
"And to me you would come instead of your own master?" Yoda asked.
"Yes, Master." Dena confirmed.
Yoda regarded her for a moment, "Of Boba Fett you wish to speak." He surmised.
Dena glanced up, her eyes darting from him, to Mace to Padme; she gulped, "Yes, Master." She admitted.
Yoda nodded thoughtfully, "In private we should speak, hmm?" He decided.
"Yes, Master, thank you." Dena consented with relief.