Chapter 22 A Plan Gone Awry
"Obi-Wan?" Mace questioned as he put a hand on the master's shoulder.
Obi-Wan shook his head and turned to look at the dark-skinned Jedi, "Something feels wrong; I'm getting strange feelings from Zak." He explained.
"And from Ferri; I'm not sure…" Anakin started, "uh oh."
"Uh oh?" Mace repeated.
"Our connection is gone." Obi-Wan said as he and Anakin started quickly toward to nearest entrance to the building.
"Gone?" Adi Gallia asked as she and the others moved to keep pace, "You cannot feel them?"
"Yes, we can feel them; but apparently they are no longer conscious." Obi-Wan told them.
"No longer conscious? What would cause….he's up there, isn't he, the assassin?" Dena surmised as she raced with them.
"More than likely. I do not think we missed anyone; that must mean he entered the building after it was secured." Mace replied.
"Well, either he had a secret way in, or he somehow convinced the guards he was authorized to enter." Anakin added as they reached the steps to the front entrance.
"Either way the game has changed, and we are no longer in control." Obi-Wan said.
----------
Boba staggered back in shock, "No, it…it can't be." He stammered as the man smiled malignantly as he dropped the helmet on the floor and pulled something from his belt.
"What's the matter, Boba? You look as if you've seen a ghost." The man said, aiming a small object at the young Jedi standing before him, "Nap time, Jedi."
The spray hit Zak full in the face; blinded and disoriented, his weapon slipped from his hand as he fell to his knees and then sprawled facedown on the floor before he could comprehend what was happening.
"NOOO!!!" Ferri cried and advanced instinctively to help his fallen comrade.
Boba knelt down next to Zak, still staring at the apparition facing him as Ferri leapt over both of them.
With a shake of his head and a heavy sigh, the assassin aimed his unorthodox weapon at his second opponent, striking him in midair. Ferri choked as he dropped gracelessly to the floor and lay unmoving near his brother Jedi.
"Get up." The assassin ordered.
Boba shook his head and reached out to touch Ferri, "Who are you?" He asked.
"Who am I? I would have thought that would be rather obvious." The assassin answered, smiling as he reached down to pull the young man to his feet, "Now, get up."
"I'm not going anywhere with you." Boba replied, pulling from the man's grasp.
"No? Well, if you don't, I'll just have to blast your friend here." The killer threatened, pointing his sidearm at Zak's head, "You wouldn't want me to do that, now would you?"
Boba closed his eyes and swallowed, "Well, what's it going to be, Boba?" The man demanded, "You're running out of time."
Boba sighed and shook his head but then stood up, "Fine; what do you want?" He wondered.
"What do I want? Revenge; and to finish the job I've been paid to do." The assassin answered.
"What job? Revenge for what?" Boba asked as the man waved his weapon.
"You should know what job; you aren't stupid. As for the revenge, well, let's just say I don't like Jango Fett." The assassin answered, "Now, quit stalling…yes, I know that's what you were doing."
"The Chancellor is well guarded; you'll never get near him." Boba informed him.
"Boba, Boba, Boba; look at me, I can go anywhere I need to be." The assassin said.
"Then what do you need me for?" Boba asked.
"Oh, I think you know that too; don't you." The assassin replied, shoving him toward the lifts.
"I've got news for you; the Jedi are just waiting for you to show your face. They're probably on their way up here right now." Boba said.
"Yes, I'm sure they are." The assassin answered, obviously unconvinced as he pushed him a little further, "And don't get any ideas about being a hero; you make one false move and I'll kill you, and then I'll go back and kill your Jedi buddies over there."
"I don't know how you think you'll make it out of the building." Boba told him as they slowly moved closer to the lifts.
The man laughed, "That's already taken care of." He replied.
----------
Without hesitating, the Jedi raced into the building; having been ordered not to interfere, the guards at the door did not impede them. They moved swiftly to the bank of lifts, stepped into the closest open one and directed it to the upper floors. Nothing was said between them as the tension mounted, increasing the closer they drew to the floor Zak had told Obi-Wan they would be hiding. Obi-Wan closed his eyes and reached out, trying to rouse his Padawan to respond. With a sigh he shook his head, signaling to the others that he had failed again. Anakin was only slightly more successful; having briefly connected only to lose the connection before Ferri could communicate anything to him. Realizing the Chancellor should be informed, Mace pulled his comlink from his belt.
----------
Bail Organa clenched his fist in frustration as he listened to Mace Windu relate the news. Physically unable to even stand, the Chancellor knew there was nothing he could do to help, and he had no choice but to wait until Mace contacted him with more information. All he knew now was that they had lost an important link to Zak and Ferri; which could only mean the killer had somehow entered the building. Beside him, Breha squeezed his other hand, "We have to believe it will be alright, Bail." She told him.
Bail sighed, "I'm trying." He replied.
"In the meantime, I believe it would be in your best interest to increase security." Mon Mothma suggested as she entered the room.
"What do you want now, Vice Chancellor?" Haris asked.
"Well, I want some explanations; I heard your conversation with Mace Windu." Mothma answered.
"If you overheard what Master Windu told us, then I see little reason for any explanations." Bail replied.
"How long have you know about what they were planning? Did you know they were harboring that bounty hunter?" Mon demanded.
"The Jedi Council informed me of what they had in mind earlier today; and they were not harboring Boba." Bail answered, "I do not relish being interrogated."
"If they are not hiding that boy, then why were those two apprentices in the Justice Building?" Mon asked.
"Those two apprentices were the only ones who knew where Boba was hiding; they thought up a plan that would lure the real killer out of hiding." Bail explained.
"Oh not that again; when are you going to accept the fact that this boy you took in is no different than the man who had him cloned?" Mon wondered.
Bail shook his head, "Since you hardly know him, I do not think you are one to judge what he is." He retorted angrily, "Now, I suggest you remove yourself from my sight."
"I'm afraid I will have to bring this before the Senate; if this is not a cause for requesting your removal, I don't know what is." Mon said.
"You do that, Vice Chancellor; and then you can have my Office. It is what you have wanted from the start, is it not." Bail replied curtly.
Indignant tears sprang up in Mon's eyes, "You know that's not true, Bail; all I want is the truth behind all this." She insisted.
"Then help the Jedi discover that truth; you must know deep inside you that Boba is as much a victim in it as we are." Bail answered.
"All I know is that all evidence points to him; and he has not helped his situation by running. Now, it appears he has bolted again." Mon said.
"You do not know that to be true." Bail maintained.
"No? Then what happened to cause those two Jedi apprentices to lose contact with their masters? Are you saying this supposed real killer somehow managed to enter a secure building?" Mon asked, "Do you not think it is more likely that Boba turned on them?"
"First of all, one of those apprentices is his very, very close friend; and while the other one is not nearly as close, they are friends, nonetheless; he would never turn on either one of them. And even if he did, we are talking about two Jedi here; even if they are only apprentices, they have been training for many years, do you really believe Boba is capable of overcoming both of them?" Haris questioned.
The Vice Chancellor sighed but said nothing.
"Why is it so difficult for you to believe you are wrong?" Breha asked.
"For all your sakes, I pray that I am." Mon answered and then turned to leave, "I will increase the guard; whether I am right or not, I am sure the killer will attempt to kill you again."
"Protect yourself as well, Vice Chancellor; you also appear to be a target." Bail reminded her.
Mon regarded him for a moment and then nodded, "Your advice is well taken, Chancellor." She answered and then was gone.
Bail tightened his grip on his wife's hand.
----------
The lift doors opened, and one glance revealed both apprentices crumpled, unmoving in the hallway nearby; Boba Fett was nowhere in sight. Without waiting to see if the others were following, Anakin and Obi-Wan sprinted toward the unconscious Jedi. Kneeling down next to him, Obi-Wan gingerly turned his apprentice over, "Zak?" He called softly, putting a hand to his forehead, "Come on, Padawan."
Zak moaned softly and stirred. Next to him, Ferri groaned and put a hand to his face as Anakin sent a surge of power through him, "That's it, Ferri." Anakin said encouragingly, "Wake up, come on."
Ferri coughed, opened his eyes and tried to focus, "Master?" He whispered.
"Yes, can you sit up?" Anakin asked, putting a hand behind Ferri and pushing him into a sitting position.
Ferri groaned as he brought his knees up to rest his head on, "Can you tell us what happened?" Anakin asked.
"Zak? Is Zak alright?" Ferri asked, glancing over at Zak who had not yet regained consciousness.
"He will be; I think." Obi-Wan assured him.
"Stupid, we were so stupid." Ferri berated himself.
"What happened?" Anakin asked again.
"He was here, in the building…." Ferri glanced around, "Where's Boba?"
"He wasn't here when we got here, Padawan." Anakin answered, "Now, you have to tell us what happened; did you actually see the assassin?"
Ferri nodded and then looked over again as Obi-Wan helped Zak sit up, "He…he sprayed…something…my eyes…it burns." Zak stammered.
"Here, let's have a look." Obi-Wan said calmly as he held Zak's head and tried to lift an eyelid.
"Yeah, he got you right square in the face." Ferri recalled.
"Lucky me…" Zak started.
"Alright, they look irritated; we should probably have you checked out." Obi-Wan decided.
"We sensed something was wrong; we should have contacted you right away." Zak said as Obi-Wan dampened a cloth and pressed it over Zak's eyes.
"It seems to have all happened too quickly; somehow, our killer knew you would be together. He had this all planned out; just like the assassination attempt at the street fair." Obi-Wan surmised, "I would like to know how he managed to sneak into this building though."
"Oh, that would have been easy for him." Ferri answered as he struggled to stand, "Just as it will be easy for him to get out with Boba; we have to go."
Dena's calm façade began to crumble as she slipped to the floor and began to cry; Ga'al bent down, "This is not a time to falter, Padawan; come now." She told her gently as she placed her delicate long-fingered hands under Dena's elbows and raised her up.
"He'll kill him; won't he...he'll frame him for some terrible crime, and then he'll…." Dena said as she began to tremble.
"Calm down, Dena; we have to go." Ferri told her, taking her by the arm and pulling her toward the lifts.
Anakin helped Obi-Wan get Zak on his feet, "We have to go, Zak; can you see anything?" Obi-Wan asked.
Zak blinked several times, "Yes; it's a little blurry yet, but I can see enough not to bump into anything." He assured them.
Ferri was already to the lifts, "I don't know how you think you'll make it out of the building." He murmured and then laughed, "That's already taken care of." He turned to look at the others, "Up, he's gone up."
"Then so must we." Obi-Wan said.