Chapter 30 Being Like Black

The return trip to Coruscant was full of questions as the Padawans questioned the morality and legality of the Cloners and their operations on Kamino. Anakin wisely chose to let Obi-Wan patiently explain, "Kamino is not within the jurisdiction of the Republic. No matter how reprehensible their business is, there is nothing we, as servants of the Republic, can do to stop it." He told them.

"But, Master, surely there must be something we can do; some of those Clones are raised so their bodies can be harvested for parts." Zak protested.

"Not to mention the thousands who are dying just so someone can dig ore out of the ground." Ferri added.

"I agree with you; but legally, there is no recourse but to let them continue." Obi-Wan answered, with continued patience.

"It's still not right." Zak stated, and Ferri nodded in agreement.

"No, morally, it is not; but we do not have the authority to control the morals guiding Cloners outside the Republic." Obi-Wan replied.

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As the Jedi neared Coruscant, the examination of Lyman Malta had come to an end; the interrogation accomplished little in the way of enlightenment concerning the being behind the assassination plot against Chancellor Organa. The examiners went to great lengths to extract the information they sought, only to learn Malta did not have it; his dealings with his employer had been done anonymously and through various apparently untraceable contacts. Malta couldn't tell the examiners who had ordered the Chancellor's death, because he didn't know. It was a severe setback to the investigation; the only accomplishment being the revelation that Malta had also been responsible for contracts leading to the deaths of several prominent beings in the political and business circles that had, until then, been unsolved. But here again, further investigation was stymied by Malta's lack of knowledge concerning his anonymous employers. The one thing the examiners could be certain of was that Malta had contracted out many death sentences; and, due to his arrest, they could at least be assured that no further deaths would result from his apparently lucrative business dealings. This did little to reassure the Chancellor, his family and his supporters; as long as his unknown enemy remained, there was no reason to believe he or she would not hire another contractor like Malta. Until that being was discovered, a tight circle of security would be placed around the Chancellor and his family.

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With Dena's appearance before the Jedi Council close at hand, she realized her parents would have to be notified; unsure of what to tell them, Dena requested that Master Yoda inform them of the impending meeting. The wise master arranged for the session to take place based on when they would be able to attend it; and the date was set for early the following week, giving Dena just three days to come to terms with the decision she had already made but had yet to announce. Master Heth spent as much time with her troubled apprentice as Dena would allow; although it was not as much time as the master would have liked, Ga'al felt it only right to yield to Dena's apparent need for solitude. What Dena actually wanted was not solitude at all, but Boba Fett's company and Boba, hers; however, the Council advised the young couple to wait until after Dena's Council appearance, and both of them accepted and respected the decision. Boba was torn between his love for her and the concern that he had somehow stolen her away from her calling as a Jedi; Dena between her love for Boba, her Jedi calling and the wishes of her parents. In their uncertainty, they turned to their elders for support; Boba to the Organas, Dena to the Jedi; neither failed to find it.

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Following Boba's escape, Ellon had barely spoken to her mother; even after Boba's exoneration, Ell snubbed any attempt Mon made to apologize. For two days, Ellon regarded her with stony silence and icy glares; and for those two days, Mon waited for her daughter to open up and accept Mon's apologies. Finally, Mon could stand no more; the morning the Jedi were scheduled to return from Kamino, she cornered Ell before she could slip out of the suite, "I'm late for class, Mother; and we have nothing to talk about." Ell informed her.

"How many times do I have to admit I was wrong, Ell; do you not think this has gone on long enough?" Mon asked.

"Do you know what this is really about?" Ell asked.

"Well, I thought I did; it is about me misjudging your friend." Mon answered.

Ell gave a small laugh and shook her head, "You really don't understand, do you." She replied, "Your judgment of Boba is only part of it."

"Then tell me what else there is, dear; because I certainly would like to at least try understand your hostility." Mon requested.

Ell looked at her mother in silent regard for a moment, in an attempt to gauge her sincerity, "Alright." She finally said, "Answer this; when you thought that I was the girl up in that apartment, how did that make you feel?"

"What?" Mon asked, wondering what Ellon's question was leading up to.

"How did you feel? I know you were shocked; but there was more, wasn't there? Were you disappointed, or disgusted, or both?" Ell explained, "Which was it, Mother?"

Mon sighed heavily and moved toward the balcony, "That is it, isn't it; the idea that I might be in love with him disgusted you, did it not." Ell pushed, "Answer me, Mother; or do you want this to always come between us."

"I don't know, Ell; yes, I think I was a little disgusted with the idea that you would be attracted to a murderer." Mon finally admitted and then turned to face her daughter.

"Was it that, or was it because he is the Clone of a bounty hunter?" Ell asked, "Or was it simply because he is a Clone?"

"Well, I would certainly hope not!" Mon declared.

"What does that mean? That you aren't sure or that you just don't want to admit it?" Ell demanded.

Mon rubbed her forehead, "The reason I thought he was the assassin was because of his past; I misjudged him. I've apologized to him, to Bail and Breha, and to you; I've admitted I was wrong to judge him based on his past to all of you." She explained.

"I see; and if you found out right now that it actually was me in that flat with him, how would you feel about it?" Ell wondered.

"To be completely honest, I probably would not be very happy about it." Mon admitted.

Ellon nodded, "Well, I appreciate your honesty, Mother." She replied curtly and then gathered her things together, "I had better get to class now."

"And what does that make me in your eyes?" Mon asked as she turned to look at her daughter.

"That would depend on why you felt that way." Ellon answered, surprised at her mother's concern.

"Yes, I suppose you're right; and I suppose the fact that he is an exact duplicate of a notorious bounty hunter has a great deal to do with it." Mon conceded.

Ellon nodded and smiled sadly, "And you believe because of this that he must be exactly like him." She surmised, "But you're wrong, Mother; and the way Boba has led his life since he came here should be enough to convince you of that."

"Yes, it should." Mon agreed, "But he did take advantage of that Jedi apprentice."

"Took advantage of her? What do you think he did?" Ellon questioned.

"They were together in that flat alone; I would imagine they did what two beings of the opposite sex do when they are alone." Mon answered.

Ellon shook her head, "You really have no respect for him at all, do you; or Dena either." She replied in disgust and then triggered the door, "I've got to go."

Before Mon could say anything further, her daughter was gone; their conversation had not ended as she had hoped it would. Over the last few days, Mon had begun to see a side of herself she wasn't entirely pleased with and she was not entirely sure she could change it.

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Boba stood in front of the corridor window with his hands clasped behind his back absently gazing out at the passing traffic, "You are troubled." Breha observed as she came up behind him.

"Is Bail ready to go yet?" Boba asked, disregarding Breha's observation.

"Nearly; he is not moving very swiftly these days." Breha answered with a smile, "And you cannot change the subject so easily."

Boba sighed and turned around, "I know Zak can sense my feelings because he's a Jedi; I have yet to understand how you can do the same thing." He replied.

"I have had nearly five years of practice; all I must do is look at the way you are holding yourself to know." Breha informed him, "Is this about your Jedi friend?"

Boba rubbed his temple, "I don't know; maybe a little." He answered.

Breha placed a hand on his arm and looked up at him, "I can only help you if you talk to me." She said.

He smiled sadly, "I'm not sure you can help me." He replied.

"Well, you will not know unless you tell me first." Breha countered gently.

"True enough; I'm not even sure I can put it into words." Boba answered and furrowed his brow as he tried to put his thoughts together, "Am I like Black?"

"Whatever would make you think such a thing?!" Breha exclaimed, "Of course not!"

"But I'm a Clone; my genes haven't been tampered with just like Black. What makes us any different?" Boba wondered.

"Oh, Dear, just because you share the same genes does not mean you must share personalities as well." Breha told him, "Your experiences are different; and they shape what you are even more so than your genes."

Boba shook his head, "I don't want to end up like Jango, that's all." He replied.

"I believe you do not have to worry about that." Bail said from the doorway, "You have grown into a fine young man."

"If I have, it is because of your guidance." Boba answered.

Bail smiled, "I am honored that you think so, but you must not sell yourself short; had you not been willing to change, any guidance I gave to you would not have been accepted." Bail countered as he leaned against the side of the doorway.

"I'm sorry, Bail; the last thing you need right now is to worry about me." Boba decided, "I guess I am like Jango."

"Why would you think that?" Bail asked.

"I'm more concerned about myself than I am for you; that makes me self-serving, just like Jango." Boba explained as he took Bail's arm and helped him onto the float waiting to take him to a private shuttle.

"That alone does not make you self-serving, Boba; it only makes you a very concerned teenager." Breha told him, "We understand your concern."

Bail settled himself on thefloat, "Think, Son; if you actually were self-serving like Jango or Black, you wouldn't be concerned about it, would you?" He pointed out, "Nor would you have spent the last four years as part of our family."

Boba knitted his brows together as he absorbed Bail's wisdom, "No, I suppose not."

"Well, Master Kenobi should be returning from Kamino shortly, if he has not already arrived; Zak was with him as well as Master Skywalker and his apprentice. Perhaps they have discovered a clue to why Black became what he did and will help you to understand why you are not like him; why don't you speak with them?" Bail suggested.

"Alright, maybe I'll do that." He answered, "What do you think Dena's parents will think of me?"

"There is no way of knowing for certain; however, if her parents are fair and open-minded, then they will see an honorable, caring young man who loves their daughter and has her best interests at heart." Breha said.

Boba nodded, "I hope so." He replied.

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The Korlivs arrived two days before Dena's scheduled appearance before the Council and were met by Ga'al Heth, "Where is Dena? I would have thought she would be here as well." Dena's father, Ovan, asked.

Ga'al sighed, despite vigorous encouragement, Dena had still been too ashamed to face her parents, "She….requested that I see to your needs; when you are settled, Dena will meet us at the Temple." She answered.

"She fears we will be disappointed in her." Dena's mother, Elena, surmised.

"Yes, she feels she has failed you." Ga'al confirmed.

Elena shook her head, "We must speak with her." She said firmly.

"Yes, that is why you are here. I will see that you are settled and then take you to her." Ga'al replied.

"And the young man; where is he?" Ovan asked.

"You will meet him as well; but I believe it would be best for you to meet with Dena, and then with the Council before you do." Ga'al answered.

"Very well; I am sure this has all been well thought out, so we will follow your recommendations." Ovan agreed with a nod of his head.

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Dena fumbled nervously as she tried to weave the long strands of her hair into a Padawan braid, "AARGH!" She cried in frustration, wishing Master Heth was there to help her.

There was a quiet knock on her door, "WHAT?" She called out impatiently.

The door slid open, "Are you alright?" Galyn inquired.

"Yes, no…I don't know…can you help me?" Dena stammered.

Galyn smiled and shook her head as she entered the room, "They are your parents, Dena; it's going to be alright." She assured her as she deftly braided the strands, placing Dena's beads in the proper order as she went.

"I wish I could be sure." Dena sighed.

"Well, you are in the Temple; the Jedi will not allow them to kill you." Galyn replied lightly.

"This is not a joke." Dena retorted angrily.

"Calmly, Dena; center yourself and relax." Galyn instructed patiently, "I know this is not a joke; but you are more worried about it than you should be."

Dena closed her eyes and tried to follow Galyn's advice, "I know; I just can't help it. What if they turn their backs on me?"

"If they love you, they won't; but if they do, you will still have us." Galyn told her as she finished the braid and secured it with a brown ribbon.

"Not if I'm expelled." Dena replied.

"Listen to me; the choice to leave will be yours. But even if you choose to leave and be with Boba Fett, you will not lose us; even if you are no longer a part of the Order, you will still be a Jedi here." Galyn explained, ending by pointing to Dena's heart, "Now, they are waiting for you."

Dena took a deep breath and then followed Galyn out of the room and down the corridor.