Chapter 9 Zak Takes the Stand
Padme and Anakin were traveling alone together. Padme could feel Anakin's tension.
"What's wrong, Annie?" Padme asked.
"It's not going to help." Anakin answered.
"What's not going to help?" She asked.
"All the security precautions; they won't help. It's still going to happen; I guess I couldn't stop it after all." He said helplessly. "I don't know what else to do."
Padme squeezed his arm, "Tell Obi-Wan; if he and the other Jedi know there is still danger, they will be even more careful." She suggested.
"I know; and I will as soon as we get there. At least, when it does happen, they will be prepared." Anakin replied.
"But if they are more cautious, maybe nothing will happen." She said, trying to sound optimistic.
"No, something bad is coming, and I don't think any of us can prevent it. We just have to be ready when it comes." He insisted. "I think it might be a good idea for you to stay away from the courtroom today."
"I don't want to, Anakin. If something does happen, I want be there, with you." She replied.
"No, Padme. If I have to worry about protecting you, I could be distracted and miss…I don't know…something. Something important." He countered. "Please, do what I ask, just this once."
"I don't understand, Anakin; why can't I…"
"Don't argue with me; I can't protect you and help the Jedi. Don't force me to make that choice." He answered.
"Alright, my love; if you feel that strongly, I will not argue with you." She conceded.
"Thank you, Padme. I will be sure that you will be well protected. You must understand that something is not right here; I don't know what it is, so I must be able to focus; and I can't do that and worry about you too." Anakin told her.
"But I'm worried for you, Anakin." She countered, "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Nothing will happen to me; it's not me that's in danger here." Anakin assured her.
"Can you be sure of that?" Padme asked.
"Yes, I can be. I can sense at least that much." Anakin said.
"Who, then; can you sense that?" Padme asked.
"No, all I can sense is panic, chaos and someone with a blaster." Anakin answered.
"And someone could die; can you sense that too?" Padme wondered.
"That's not clear; maybe…but I just can't be sure." Anakin replied.
"Just be careful, Anakin." Padme said.
"I will, Padme." He promised.
They were the first ones to reach their destination and Anakin waited impatiently for Obi-Wan and Zak to arrive.
"Stop pacing, Anakin, you're making me nervous." Padme said.
"I'm sorry, Padme; I am just on edge right now; and being here, this feeling…it's overwhelming." Anakin replied.
All though it seemed much longer to Anakin, Obi-Wan and Zak arrived only minutes later. The Jedi pilot left them off and went to park the speeder. As soon as Anakin saw Obi-Wan, he felt relieved. Obi-Wan would know what to do; he always knew.
As soon as Obi-Wan saw Anakin's face, he knew that something was wrong.
"What is it, Anakin?" He asked with concern.
"I need to speak with you…privately." Anakin answered as he looked toward Zak.
"Zak, why don't you let Lady Padme give you a little tour." Obi-Wan suggested.
Zak eyed them both curiously, "What is it? Something's wrong, isn't it." He said.
"Zak, let me speak with Master Obi-Wan first; then I will speak with you." Anakin told him.
This seemed to satisfy Zak for the moment; he nodded and joined Padme.
"Alright, out with it." Obi-Wan said.
"I still feel something is wrong here, Obi-Wan." Anakin began.
"Anakin, every precaution has been taken. No one who is not supposed to be here will be allowed in." Obi-Wan said calmly.
"I know; but I still have that feeling. It's just not right; I just think we should let the other Jedi know." Anakin told him.
"It's that strong, this feeling?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes, it's that strong. There will be trouble, and I don't think anything we do can prevent that. All we can do is be prepared when it happens." Anakin replied.
"Well, I trust you, Anakin. We should find Mace right away and let him know." Obi-Wan said firmly.
"Then you believe me?" Anakin asked hopefully.
"I trust you, Anakin." Obi-Wan repeated. "If you feel something is not right here, then it must be."
"I knew I could depend on you. You always know what to do." Anakin stated.
"Not always." Obi-Wan corrected him with a smile.
"What about Zak? If he is in that courtroom, he will be in danger." Anakin pointed out.
"Then we should tell him. He has a right to choose whether or not he wants to be there." Obi-Wan decided.
"I already know what he'll do." Anakin said.
"Yes, I do too; but he should still know that there is a risk." Obi-Wan agreed.
"Agreed." Anakin replied. "By the way, is he still upset?"
"No; he never was; he was ashamed of his behavior and he thought I was angry with him. It seems you know my Padawan better than I do." Obi-Wan answered.
"No, it's not that, Obi-Wan. I just know how I felt when I was your Padawan and did something you didn't approve of." Anakin replied.
"Oh." Is all Obi-Wan said.
When Padme and Zak rejoined them, Anakin told Zak about his bad feeling.
"This is your choice to make, Zak. Neither I or Obi-Wan can decide this for you." Anakin told him.
"Then I choose…I want to testify anyway." Zak said quickly. "It is my duty."
"But you must understand, Zak; there will be trouble. Master Anakin is certain of it." Obi-Wan pressed.
"I do understand this, Master. I know the risks and I am willing to take them." Zak replied firmly. "I promised you and the Council that I would not fail, and I intend to keep that promise."
"You are very brave, Padawan; but when this trouble starts, you must find cover." Obi-Wan instructed. "The last thing I want is for you to be hurt…or worse."
"I will not get hurt, Master, I promise." Zak assured him.
Mace was not pleased when Anakin told him of his feeling of foreboding, "Are you saying that after all we have done to prevent an incident, you feel that it will still occur?" He asked.
"Yes, Master Windu, I am certain of it. I don't feel that there is any way we can prevent it." Anakin confirmed.
"Alright, then. I will be sure that all of my Jedi know about this. When it happens, we will not be caught off guard." Mace replied.
"That's all I ask, Master Windu." Anakin said.
Amedda was already secured to his seat when Obi-Wan, Anakin and Zak entered the courtroom. Amedda turned and glared at them. Obi-Wan completely ignored him, however, Zak stared back at him emotionlessly until Amedda could no longer hold his gaze and turned away. Obi-Wan noted this; Zak had just won his first victory.
Once the preliminaries were out of the way and each side had its opinions aired, the testimonies began. As planned, Zak was the first one to go before the court.
"And you are?" The government attorney asked.
"Zak Perrin, Jedi apprentice to Master Obi-Wan Kenobi." Zak stated.
"I am pleased to meet you, Zak Perrin, I am Lord Borlac." The attorney replied. "Can you tell us what happened on the Naboo transport the day it was boarded by the raiders?"
"I object! There is no evidence to prove that the boarding was anything but a legal search for a known criminal." Amedda's defender said.
"So noted, however, I think we can safely establish the fact that Master Kenobi is not and never was a criminal." The Advocate answered.
"This government is illegal, under Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's rule, the Jedi, all of them are criminals."
Amedda announced. "This whole procedure is against the law. I am the Supreme Chancellor now and you are all traitors."
"Lord Grel, you will keep your client quiet or we will be forced to remove him from this room." The Advocate warned.
"Yes, Lord Advocate." Grel replied, then turned to Amedda. "You must be quiet, my Lord, you will have your chance to speak, but for now please."
Amedda said nothing, but turned his hateful gaze to Zak. Zak was not phased and returned the gaze with an indifferent stare. Again, Amedda was forced to look away; Zak had won again.
"Now, young Perrin, please tell the court what happened that day." Borlac continued.
"Master Kenobi and I were returning to Coruscant, our transport was about to make the jump to hyperspace when the ship was…'bumped'." Zak started.
"Bumped? Can you explain that?"
"Something hit us. Master Kenobi sensed that we were being raided." Zak continued.
"Just keep going, Zak, until I tell you." The attorney instructed.
"Well, Master Kenobi said he could not protect me and the passengers. He wanted me to take a lifepod back down to Naboo. I didn't want to go, but he insisted. So he took me back to the launch bay and put me in one. I told him again that I wanted to stay, but he still wanted me to go. He pushed me in and then…." Zak faltered.
"And then, what happened, Zak." The attorney asked gently.
"…and then he was shot; he was shot in the back." Zak finished.
"And there was no warning, they said nothing about an arrest?" The attorney asked.
"No, sir. No one said anything; they just shot him." Zak said.
"I have here, a holo-image; can you tell us who this is?" The attorney inquired as he held up the image of the raider that Zak had identified the day before.
"Yes, sir. That's the one who shot my master." He stated firmly.
"Thank you, Zak. I have no further questions at this time, however, I reserve the right to speak with him again."
"So noted, and your request will be honored." The Advocate stated. "Lord Grel, you may proceed."
"Thank you, Lord Advocate. Now, Zak; may I call you Zak?"
"Call me what ever you wish, my lord." Zak replied politely.
"Good, good. Now, Zak; are you certain of all the…uh…facts that you have presented to us are true?"
"What?" Zak asked.
"Are you telling the truth?" Grel asked aggressively.
"I am a Jedi, I don't lie." Zak said calmly.
"I am sorry, Zak; I was not accusing you of lying. But is it not possible that you could be mistaken?"
"No."
"Really? Are you quite certain. After all, it was a dangerous situation for a little boy like you…"
"Just because I'm young doesn't mean I'm stupid…or blind. I know what I saw. I am not lying and I am not mistaken." Zak said flatly.
Zak glanced at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan's only reaction was a slight nod of approval.
"Well, it must have been upsetting for you; your master was about to be arrested."
"There was no arrest. They were raiders; and that one shot Master Kenobi in the back." Zak said as he pointed to the holo-image. "There was no warning."
"I think you're lying to protect your master; aren't you." Grel said.
"You may think whatever you wish, my Lord. I have told you before, I am a Jedi and I am not stupid or blind. I am not lying and I am not mistaken." Zak said unshakably.
Grel gave up; it was clear that Zak would not be coerced or confused.
"I have no further questions." He said.
"Very well; Lord Borlac, would you like to continue?"
"Yes, Lord Advocate. Zak? Are you ready to go on." Borlac asked.
"Yes, sir." Zak answered confidently.
"Ah, good. Now tell us what happened when you landed back on Naboo."
"The pod did not land where I wanted it to. I walked all afternoon and it was dark before I got to Master Skywalker's house. I told him what had happened to Master Kenobi and then he…he…was in pain."
"Master Skywalker was in pain? What do you mean, Zak?" Borlac asked.
"He said that Master Kenobi was in pain and he could feel it too. He said it felt like being shocked." Zak explained.
"How is this possible, Zak?" Borlac asked.
"We are Jedi. We are connected through the Force. Master Anakin was Master Kenobi's apprentice so their connection is very strong."
"So you mean when Master Kenobi was in pain, that Master Skywalker could feel this?"
"Yes." Zak stated.
"Hmm, I see…we will come back to that later. Now, when did you go to Coruscant?" Borlac asked.
"The next morning. Master Skywalker said we should try to find Master Kenobi quickly. He said he was hurt very badly and that he might die." Zak answered.
"And when you got to Coruscant?"
"The Chancellor showed us a message." Zak replied.
"And who was this message from?" Borlac asked.
"The former Vice Chancellor, Mas Amedda." Zak answered.
"What did the Vice Chancellor say in this message, Zak?" Borlac asked.
"That he had Master Kenobi and that Master Skywalker should come alone to Champala or he would kill him." Zak said.
"I understand there was more to this message, Zak; can you tell us, or will it upset you?" Borlac asked.
Zak closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "No, I will tell you. Lord Amedda took that weapon." He started, pointing to Amedda's force staff which had been retrieved and entered as evidence.
"This weapon?" Borlac asked as he picked it up. "What did he do with it, Zak?"
"He…he…" For a moment, Zak could not answer; he took another deep breath. "He hit Master Kenobi with it, twice."
"This is outrageous! The boy is lying, I never…" Amedda protested.
"Sit down, Lord Amedda; before I have you removed from this room." The Advocate said. "This is your second warning. I will not tolerate another outburst."
"I don't think this boy is lying, Lord Amedda. We have this holo-tape and we wish to present it here as proof." Borlac replied.
"Very well, I think we would all like to see this." The Advocate said.
The image of Amedda appeared in the center of the room, and the tape played out exactly as Zak had described it. When the message was finished, the courtroom sat in stunned silence.
"I think this is definite proof that young Zak, here, was telling the truth." Borlac said. "This weapon effects all the nerves in the body. I think we can all agree that the treatment Master Kenobi suffered at the hands of the former Vice Chancellor was brutal.
"What happened next, Zak?"
"There was a meeting to decide how to rescue Master Kenobi. Master Windu and Master Yoda chose four Jedi, including Master Windu himself to go to Champala with Master Skywalker." Zak answered.
"And I understand that you went along also; is that correct?" Borlac asked.
"Yes, I am Master Kenobi's apprentice; I had that right to go if I wished." Zak replied.
"And when you got to Champala?" Borlac asked.
"Well, before we got to Champala, Lord Amedda sent another message to Master Skywalker." Zak said.
"Yes, we have that message as well; may I show it?" Borlac asked.
"You are free to do so, Lord Borlac." The Advocate consented.
Again, Obi-Wan's brutal treatment at the hands of Amedda was played out. This time, the crowd stirred uncomfortably.
"Here we have yet another example of Lord Amedda's cruelty." Borlac addressed the onlookers before turning back to Zak. "Alright, Zak, you can go on."
"We had Master Skywalker's ship, the other Jedi hid in the storage locker. Master Skywalker wanted me to…keep Lord Amedda busy so that he could find Master Kenobi." Zak continued.
"Did you agree to this? It sounds dangerous." Borlac asked.
"Yes, Master Kenobi is my master; I was willing to take that risk to get him out of there. But as it happened, I didn't need to. There was only one guard waiting for us, Lord Amedda was not there." Zak explained.
"Then Master Skywalker fought this guard?" Borlac prompted.
"No, we didn't wish to hurt anyone. Master Skywalker…convinced the guard to show us where Master Kenobi was being held." Zak replied.
"Convinced him? How did he do that, Zak?" Borlac asked.
"It's a Jedi trick. He was weak minded so Master Skywalker persuaded him to help us." Zak answered.
"And did you find Master Kenobi?" Borlac asked.
"Yes, then Master Skywalker told the guard to unlock the cell so he could get in." Zak said.
"What did he find in that cell, Zak?" Borlac asked.
"Master Kenobi, sir. He was…he was…" Zak could not finish.
"Zak, can you finish? Or would you like to take a break?" Borlac asked with concern.
Zak gathered the Force around him for strength, "No, I'm fine." He said. "Master Kenobi was so weak that Master Skywalker had to help him back to the ship."
"Yes, I understand that he used binders that drain the energy from the body; we also present these as evidence." Borlac said as he picked up the binders to show to the courtroom. "Eventually, these will drain all the life out of the unfortunate one who is wearing them. Master Kenobi, already weakened by his injury, starved and stunned by that weapon, wore these for three days. I think we can safely say that he is lucky to be alive.
"After you brought Master Obi-Wan back to the ship, what happened?"
"Master Gallia wanted to leave, but Master Skywalker wanted to find Master Amedda." Zak answered.
"Did he? And why was that, Zak?" Borlac asked.
"He said that Lord Amedda shouldn't be able to get away with what he had done, and he had Master Kenobi's lightsaber. Master Skywalker wanted to get it back." Zak replied.
"Ah, yes; the Jedi weapon. What happened, Zak, do you know?" Borlac asked.
"No, I stayed with Master Kenobi on the ship. But they had Lord Amedda as a prisoner when they came back." Zak answered.
"They? So Master Skywalker did not go to find the Lord Amedda alone?" Borlac asked.
"No, sir. Master Windu went with him." Zak told him.
"Did Lord Amedda look as if he had been mistreated?" Borlac asked.
"No." Zak said.
"I have no further questions, Lord Advocate." Lord Borlac said as he sat down.
"Very well; Lord Grel you may ask your questions; however, I am warning you not to try to coerce him again. I allowed this before, but I will not allow it again. Is that understood?" The Lord Advocate said.
"Yes, Lord Advocate." Grel answered.
