Chapter 28 Lyman's Last Mistake
Anakin was clearly unhappy with Zak's defiance; but knowing the young Jedi would follow him if left behind, Anakin felt it would be better if they were together. How would Anakin explain to Zak's master why, when the master healer had clearly prescribed rest, he had allowed Zak to accompany them? With a sigh, he decided he would face Obi-Wan's displeasure just as he always did, knowing the older master would quickly let it pass…as he always did. The three Jedi had already left the Temple when Obi-Wan connected with him to alert him of Lyman's plan; pushing the speeder to its limits, Anakin sped toward Lyman's residence.
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Steeling herself for the apology she was not sure would be accepted, Mon Mothma took the lift up to the level where the Chancellor's room was located. Her stubborn refusal to see past the circumstantial evidence pointing to Boba Fett had led to the boy's arrest and ill-treatment and had alienated her from two people she had once considered very good friends; in addition, her own daughter was barely speaking with her. Despite everything she was told concerning young Fett's character, she had been unwilling to even consider the possibility that he was not guilty; she had judged the boy based on the character of Jango Fett, and that had been grossly unfair to the young man who was still struggling to escape from the dark shadow cast by the ruthless bounty hunter. Breha had accused her of looking to just please the citizens with a quick arrest, and Mon was beginning to wonder if she had been right. The lift door opened and the Vice Chancellor took a deep breath before she stepped out and turned in the direction of the Chancellor's room.
Mon Mothma stood in the doorway, unsure of whether she should enter or not. "What is it, Vice Chancellor?" Bail asked.
Breha, who had been standing next to the bed, turned to glare coldly at her, "Have you come to arrest our son again? Or perhaps you believe our daughter is responsible for this now?" She asked hostilely.
Mon sighed and looked down, "Actually, I have come to apologize." She answered, "May I come in?"
Breha shrugged and with a sigh, Bail beckoned to her, "I was hoping Gemma and Boba would both be here…." Mon began.
"Boba should be back momentarily; Dr. Averill wanted to check him over. Gemma is taking her schooling lessons with her governess, and probably will not be back until this evening." Bail informed her.
"Very well; I guess I will speak with them later then." Mon replied.
"Speak with who?" Boba asked as he entered the room with Haris Averill.
"Well, with you and Gemma; I'm sorry, Boba. I know I told you this before, but I wanted to say in front of your family. It was very wrong for me not to have considered the life you have led since you came to live here." Mon told him.
"Thank you." Boba answered, "I just wish you had, and maybe your aide would not have died."
"Believe me, I have thought about that a great deal. It appears the poor girl was fooled; we both were." Mon replied with a shake of her head.
"Fooled? So Master Kenobi was right." Breha said.
"Yes, it appears so; and I might have seen it sooner had I not been so fixated on your guilt, Boba." Mon admitted.
"Could someone please tell me what you're talking about?" Boba requested.
"It seems Lyman Malta was the one who hired Black." Bail answered.
"Why?" Boba asked.
"Well, we do not know that yet; Master Kenobi has gone to question him." Breha replied.
Without another word, Boba moved back toward the doorway, "Where do you think you are going?" Breha asked.
"I want to talk with that scumbag." Boba answered.
Haris took hold of his arm, "Why don't you wait until the Jedi have taken him into custody?" He suggested.
"I don't want to wait; I want to see him now." Boba replied, shrugging Haris' hand from his arm.
"Calm down, Son; I do not want you to do anything foolish." Bail warned.
Boba huffed, "I won't; I just want to look him the eye and ask him why he wants you dead." He said.
"I wish you would not." Breha interjected.
"But look what he did." Boba protested, gesturing to Bail, "Don't you want to know why?"
"Yes, and we will; but you have been put in harm's way far too often as of late, and I would prefer to keep you safe for at least the rest of the week." Breha explained.
"I'll be very careful, I promise." Boba assured her.
Breha sighed and shook her head, "You always promise, but you seldom are." She countered and then sighed again, "However, as you have reminded all too often, I am not your mother; and you are old enough to do as you wish."
Boba moved toward her and wrapped his arms around her, "I'm sorry." He whispered quietly.
Breha sighed yet again and closed her eyes, "Go; just…just take care of yourself." She told him.
"I will." Boba promised as she pushed him away.
Breha nodded as Boba walked to Bail; Bail put a hand on Boba's arm and squeezed, "Don't get reckless." He ordered.
"No, sir." Boba replied solemnly, patting the older man's hand.
Mon Mothma stood back, feeling like an intruder; Boba only gave her a passing glance as he walked from the room, leaving her and his step-parents alone to attempt to breach the gulf that had formed between them.
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Lyman grunted as he dragged Obi-Wan's limp body toward the door; he would not have guessed that the man would have been this heavy. Twice, he had tried to pull him to his feet in attempts to lift the Jedi Master up onto his shoulders, and twice he had failed. Kenobi's last words echoed in his mind "That was you last mistake." He had said, and Lyman was beginning to think he had been right. He stood up for a moment, wondering just how he would manage to drag his hostage down the hall to lift without being noticed by one of his neighbors. Shaking his head and sighing, he bent down again, put his hands underneath Obi-Wan's armpits and started to resume his progress to the door; suddenly he was lifted off his feet and slammed onto his back. Fighting to get his breath back, Lyman tried to grasp what had just happened; in a flash, his apparently very conscious hostage was kneeling on his chest, "Wha…" He managed to get out.
"I told you that was your last mistake." Obi-Wan replied.
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Anakin weaved in and out of the traffic with practiced ease as he sped toward his destination. Obi-Wan had assured him that the situation was under control for the moment, but he still urged his brother to be swift; while he had been able to use the Force to temporarily counter some of the effects of the drug Lyman had used on him, he was not entirely sure how long he would be able keep himself from succumbing to it completely. The speeder zipped into the underground parking deck where Anakin pulled it to a skidding halt; before he could even shut the engines down, both Padawans were out and running toward the nearest lift. It was difficult, but Anakin managed to push down his impatience as the lift took them to the desired level; when it stopped, Anakin manually forced the doors open in his rush to assist his former master. With both Padawans on his heels, he raced down the corridor toward Lyman Malta's flat, barely pausing at the door as he waved his hand using the Force to slide the door open.
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Boba leaped into the nearest government-issue speeder as he exited the lift wondering when Obi-Wan Kenobi had gone to question Lyman Malta. While he had every confidence the Jedi Master could handle Malta, he was eager to get his hands on the man. The burning question in his mind was why; what reason did this man have for wanting Bail dead? It haunted Boba, who had no clue as to why anyone would hate the fair-minded, compassionate leader of the Republic. Well, he intended to find out if he had to beat the answer out of the filthy sarlaac.
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Obi-Wan smiled down at the man lying helpless beneath his knees. Sensing what Lyman's intention had been, Obi-Wan had stalled long enough to gather the Force around him; when the dart pierced his shoulder he was already prepared to counter its effects and feigned unconsciousness. And then, using the Force once again, he threw all his weight against Lyman's efforts to move him, waiting until he knew his would-be captor's attention was focused completely on trying to budge the unnaturally heavy Jedi. Lyman Malta had been completely unprepared when Obi-Wan's kick connected with his chest, knocking him off his feet onto his back. Knowing that Anakin was on his way, Obi-Wan had only to hold out long enough for his friend to come and take custody of the middle man in the assassination plot. The hiss of the door as it slid open signaled the arrival his former Padawan, and Obi-Wan shifted his attention from his prisoner to Anakin Skywalker who looked visibly relieved that Obi-Wan had managed to gain the upper hand. Obi-Wan rocked back on his heels and stood up as Ferri reached down to pull Lyman to his feet. With a heavy sigh, Obi-Wan moved unsteadily to the nearest chair and fell into it. Keeping one eye on his mentor, Anakin moved to help his Padawan secure the now-struggling Malta as Zak knelt down in front of his master; Obi-Wan's hand went to the dart still imbedded in his shoulder, fumbling to pull it out, but finding it increasingly difficult to control his fingers. Zak brushed the hand away, gingerly pulled the dart free and then eased Obi-Wan against the back of the chair. Having been ordered to assist the Jedi by the Vice Chancellor, several Clone guards entered the flat to take Lyman into custody; relieved of his prisoner Anakin turned his attention toward the drugged Jedi Master. Shaking his head, he bent over to examine him, "You should have waited for me." He admonished.
"No time, Ana..kin." Obi-Wan mumbled.
"No time; and you call me reckless." Anakin replied with a sigh.
Obi-Wan smiled as he slipped into unconsciousness.
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Boba nearly slammed his speeder into the wall of the parking garage and hit the ground running as he leaped out of it. When he emerged from the lift several minutes later, several Clones were escorting Lyman toward him; without hesitation, he stalked forward, his eyes blazing in anger and barely controlled rage. Boba was on him before the Clones could act, driving a balled fist into the man's chest, sending him, gasping for air, to his knees, "WHY, YOU PIECE OF BANTHA POODU?!" He demanded.
Fighting for breath for the second time in minutes, Lyman raised his head to look at his attacker, "The…money…was…too…good." He gasped.
Giving into his rage, Boba reached down and pulled Lyman up by his collar, "I could kill you right here." He declared through clenched teeth.
"But you won't; will you Boba." Zak said from behind the captive Malta.
For a moment, Boba stood unmoving with Lyman's collar bunched up in his tightly closed hand, "No, I won't." He relented, shoving Malta backward into the guards behind him, "You're worse than Black; hiring others to do your dirty work; you make me sick."
Lyman quickly regained his composure and smiled at Boba as the guards shoved him toward the lift; Boba clenched his fists and fought down the urge to wipe that smile off Lyman's face. Zak came forward and put a hand on Boba's shoulder, "It's over; it's finally over." He told him.
"Not quite." Anakin corrected as he entered the corridor, "Lyman is working for someone else."