Jess entered Anakin's room feeling unsure about asking for help. He had a feeling he would but it was such a large amount. He felt uncomfortable asking Anakin for help. Fress had disappeared into the kitchen. She planned to tell Leia about Brice and ask if the Alliance would be willing to help them get the credits. He wasn't sure if the Alliance would be willing to help or not. He did know one thing. They had to find a way to get Brice free. "Anakin, we need your help."
"What's wrong?" Anakin questioned as he watched Jess with concern. "What has happened?"
Jess looked at Anakin as he raised an eyebrow. "It feels wrong to…" He shook his head feeling frustration well up in him. He couldn't believe he wanted a quarter million in spice for them to get their son back. He felt sick to his stomach just knowing this slaver only cared about turning a profit.
Before Jess had a chance to explain the situation, he felt someone take his hand causing him to look behind him. Leia was holding his hand with a saddened expression. "Leia, is something wrong?"
"Fress explained to me the situation your son is in," Leia answered with a serious expression. "I'm willing to help you get the spice you need."
"What's going on, Leia?" Anakin questioned as Leia turned her attention to him. "Jess? What kind of situation is Brice in?"
"His parents were killed a month ago by a Tusken Raider attack and his Aunt and Uncle didn't want the responsibility, so they sold him into slavery," Jess explained as he felt his heart speed up. He wasn't sure how Anakin would feel considering that's how he started out as. "He's asking for a quarter million in spice. He must've realized we were Brice's biological parents."
"I see," Anakin looked at Leia and nodded. "Leia, make the arrangements for another half a million of spice. When we make the run for Kessel, we'll get both ransoms. One for Han and the other for Brice," Leia smiled as she walked out of the room. "Are you ready to be his father?"
Jess nodded with a smile. "I'm ready to be his father. I don't feel right asking. It's such a large amount."
"Don't worry about it, Jess. I view you and Fress like my own. I don't expect you to pay me back either," Anakin said with a smile. "I'm going to take care of it. You just focus on what you need to do to help Brice emotionally."
Jess nodded as Fress entered the room and walked to Anakin's bed. She leaned over and hugged Anakin. He leaned over and hugged their long time friend. He really was back and no longer Vader. Vader wouldn't have been so generous and would've taken Brice away from them. "Thank you, we appreciate it."
"You're welcome," Anakin whispered back as he hugged both. "I love you both. I'm sorry for the way I treated you both in the past twenty years. I'm asking for your forgiveness but I'm not expecting it."
"I forgave you a long time ago, Anakin, that was not you. Vader is a completely different personality," Fress whispered gently. "No matter how this turns out. Thank you for helping us."
"I'll get there," Jess whispered. "My brother was in the council chambers the day you…" He didn't finish his sentence as he felt Anakin stiffen. He had a feeling Anakin just put the pieces together in his mind as Jess straightened up. "I only found out two days prior that my parents had another son. He was seven years old when he came to the temple."
"I don't know what to say," Anakin said as he watched Jess with concern. "I'm sorry Jess. I did something terrible to you. I'll do my best to help you get Brice back. You have my word on that."
"I just need time. We really thought you were beyond reaching, but Leia proved us wrong," Jess explained with a frown. "Thank you for helping us attempt to get Brice back."
"If I can make one thing right for you," Anakin spoke in a serious tone. "It's helping you get your son back. Even if that means I use my fearsome reputation for the man harboring a Jedi child."
"If he attempts to ask for more then half a million credits, I may take you up on your offer," Jess glanced at Fress who nodded in agreement. "We don't want him to panic. He most likely has one of those bomb things inside Brice."
"Don't remind me," Anakin rubbed his side most likely in memory. "I had to go through surgery to have it removed. I do have an idea how to go about dealing with Brice's master so he doesn't ask for more then we're willing to give."
"What's this idea of yours?" Fress questioned with a frown.
Anakin explained his idea as Fress and Jess looked at each other and nodded. Using Anakin's feared reputation was the best way to make sure Brice's master didn't pull any stunts. That also means warning Brice ahead of time. Jess knew one thing, Anakin planned to scar the slaver as Vader.
Brice watched Grentan with a frown wondering why he was selling him to those two people. The man said they would be back for him. He knew he was adopted and his Aunt and Uncle resented him for it. His parents loved him with their entire soul and hearts. Were they going to free him maybe?
"What?" Grentan questioned as he realized Brice was watching him.
"Who were those people?" Brice questioned hoping to get information from Grentan. "What do they want with me?"
"Do you need me to spell it out for you?" Grentan questioned causing suspicion to rush through Brice. "They're Jedi Knights, Fress Colias and Jess Shern I believe. They've been on the run from the Empire since order 66 was executed at the end of the Clone Wars. I heard they are a couple these days."
"That doesn't explain what they want with me," Brice continued to push hoping Grentan would tell him.
"I thought it would've been obvious," Grentan explained with a frown. "Considering Colias was willing to exchange a fully functional X-wing for your freedom. Only a mother would do that. Jedi don't have interest in having slaves. You have her eyes and Shern's hair. You're valuable to them and that makes you valuable to me. The reward for turning in a Jedi child is five hundred thousand. Your parents are on the top of the list for live capture only. Considering you are their child, I decided to give them a small break. If they don't come up with the spice, I will turn you over to the Empire."
"I want to talk with them," Brice said with a frown. Was it true? Was the couple his real parents? It would explain why they're trying to get him free.
"There will be plenty of time for that after they drop off the ransom," Grentan answered with a frown. "Now go outside and clean the sand off the droids."
Brice grabbed a broom and walked outside and started cleaning sand off the droids. He had a feeling everything will be fine. He just needed to hang in there. He continued cleaning off the droids as Grentan pushed two more chores on him, then he was free to go back home.
Brice walked up to the dwelling he was staying in as a messenger approached him with a holo cube in his hand.
"Brice Kriane?" The messenger questioned as Brice nodded. "Sign here," he said as Brice signed on the data pad. "Your instructions are to watch the message when no one else is around."
Brice accepted the cube as the messenger walked off as he pocketed the cube. He quickly ran up the steps and rushed to his room. Grentan wasn't due back for another two hours and this was the perfect time to view the message.
Brice closed the door and locked it. Then he sat down on his bed. He still had to make the evening meal, but that only took an hour to do. He ran his thumb over the activation switch as the woman who came in for the battery appeared. The man was standing beside her.
"Brice, I'm Fress Colias and this is my best friend and life partner, Jess Shern. We have something to tell you and we hope you understand. We're your biological parents and a friend of ours is going to help us get the spice we need to pay off your master's ransom."
Brice paused the recording as he stared at them. They were his parents? Tears ran down his cheeks as he thought about his adoptive parents. He missed them terribly and more so since he was sold into slavery. He swallowed hard as he hit the resume button.
"We'll explain everything after we get you free," Fress continued to speak. "We never had any intentions for you to be taken into slavery. This friend of ours has a fearsome reputation and he's going to be the one handing over the spice. You need to trust that everything will be fine in the end. What ever you do don't panic, we're warning you ahead of time."
"We love you son," Jess spoke in a gentle tone. "We want you back. Just so you know we gave you up for adoption for your protection and safety due to our chosen lives. It was the hardest decision we ever had to make in our lives."
"This friend of ours is Vader. He's left the Empire and has agreed to help us. Don't fear, run, or panic. If you want to put on a show so Grentan doesn't become suspicious you can," Fress explained with a serious expression. You don't have to fear him anymore. Trust him and trust us. It'll be fine, I promise."
Brice hit the pause button again as he stared at her. She knew Vader? That would be a pretty good reason for putting him up for adoption, so Vader wouldn't find out about him. He hoped they were right and not being tricked. He had a feeling that everything was going to be all right. They seemed sure of it. He resumed the recording. "We'll be coming near the end of the week. That is when we plan to have the spice by. Just hang in there for a few more days, baby. We love you, Brice and we look forward to getting to know you."
The recording ended as he stared at the cube. They're going to come for him in a few days from now. He held onto the recording and closed his eyes. His real parents were going to get him out of this mess. He replayed the recording a second time as more tears slipped down his cheeks. Trust them, Brice, a female voice whispered. Trust my husband, he will help you.
Anakin looked at the medic as Bren crossed his arms not looking happy with him at all. "Go on and say it."
"You left without my consent. For all you know your condition could've worsened or infecting yourself again. The tank needs to be sterilized," Bren lectured as Anakin heaved a frustrated sigh.
"I had to get this done." Anakin explained as Bren raised an eyebrow looking very irritated.
"It could've waited a couple of days," Bren pointed out. "You're not at a hundred percent and it won't take long for your energy to drain. You should be resting as much as possible."
"Are you done?" Anakin questioned causing Bren to release a frustrated sigh. "It'll be more then a few days before we go on the rescue mission."
"What rescue mission?" Bren questioned with a serious expression. "And not without my consent first. You're my patient, Anakin and I need to make sure you get well."
"Getting Han and Brice back," Anakin answered honestly. "It won't be for another six days. This is something I have to do. I promised Leia I would help get her boyfriend back."
"I understand, but you need to get better. Your condition is complicated and can't fight off infections like you used too," Bren pointed out in a patient tone as he checked Anakin's temperature. He looked at the number and smiled. "At least your fever has finally broken. You still need a few days of rest to get your strength back. It looks like you're finally on the mend," he said as he looked at the recent numbers from the blood test. "Hopefully it stays that way after you used a contaminated tank."
"Do I detect a tad bit of sarcasm in your tone?" Anakin questioned as Bren frowned.
"Just telling the truth," Bren answered as the nurse walked in. "We need to recheck his blood in forty-hours from now."
The nurse nodded as she made a note on her data pad. Anakin leaned his head back as the nurse went about her usual routine with him. If he did get re-infected, that would put him quickly back out of commission again. And that was not something he could afford to happen right now.