Chapter 11 The Jedi on Trial?

Anakin turned to Obi-Wan, "I would feel much better if you went back home, Obi-Wan." Anakin told him.

"I told you, Anakin; I'm not going back. I'm alright." Obi-Wan insisted.

"Well, I'm sure you think that; but when the trouble starts, I don't think you will able to defend yourself."

"I think I can take care of myself, Anakin." Obi-Wan replied.

"No, you can't; but you're too hard headed to see it." Anakin said.

"And you thought I worried too much." Obi-Wan answered.

"Well, someone has to; because obviously you don't, at least not today." Anakin told him. "I just don't want anything to happen to you."

"And it won't." Obi-Wan said.

Anakin shook his head sadly. Sometimes, he thought, Obi-Wan was too stubborn for his own good.

Several minutes later, Lord Borlac came in to see if they were ready to reconvene the hearing.

Anakin assured him that they were, even though the last thing he wanted to do was bring all those spectators back into the courtroom.

When everyone was once again seated, the Lord Advocate resumed the hearing. Since Anakin had not yet finished his testimony, he once again took the witness stand. Amedda glared victoriously from his seat, but Anakin, refusing to concede any victory to him, stared back impassively until Amedda could no longer hold his gaze and looked away.

"Now, Anakin, thanks to Lord Grel" Borlac said as he glanced meaningfully at Amedda's defender, "I believe we have established, as a fact, your Force connection with Master Kenobi."

"Yes," Anakin said flatly as he eyed Lord Grel angrily, "I believe so; but it came at a high price."

"I think we can all agree with that, Master Skywalker." The Lord Advocate interjected.

"Since it has been established, this Force connection, how many times would you say that Master Kenobi was struck by Lord Amedda's force lance?" Lord Borlac asked.

"Five times; twice the night Zak came to us on Naboo; once when I was meditating in the Temple and shortly after that, when Lord Amedda sent a message to me at the Temple, he hit Master Kenobi to, and I quote, 'teach me a lesson'." Anakin answered.

"I'm sorry, Anakin, but by my count that is only four times." Borlac replied.

"Well, the fifth time was because Master Kenobi tried to warn me of the trap that Ame...Lord Amedda had set for me." Anakin explained.

"So, actually that last time was not for your…excuse me for wording it like this…benefit?" Borlac asked.

"No, that was specifically to punish Master Kenobi." Anakin answered.

"And then you left Coruscant to locate and rescue Master Kenobi shortly after this?" Borlac asked.

"Yes." Anakin confirmed.

"I understand that you did not go alone as Lord Amedda instructed. Were you not concerned that he would kill Master Kenobi as he promised if you did not come alone?"

"I was…at first…but after speaking with Master Windu, I realized Lord Amedda would kill him even if I did go alone so it was better if I had back up."

"Why did you agree to take a twelve year old boy with you?"

"Zak is Master Kenobi's apprentice; it was his right to choose to go. As a Jedi, he has been well trained from an early age; Jedi younglings and Padawans are not like other children."

"But it is also my understanding that you originally planned to use him as a decoy so that you could find Master Kenobi and bring him to safety. Was that not a very dangerous situation to put him in?"

"Yes, and he knew that going in. He is a well-trained Jedi, Lord Borlac; he knows how do handle himself in dangerous situations."

"I see; but as it turned out, you did not need to do this. Did you have any second thoughts at taking Zak into the prison complex?"

"No; in the first place, he would never have stayed behind even if I had ordered him to. He would have tried to sneak in after me. And I did need him to keep watch when I went into Master Kenobi's cell."

"But that was another dangerous situation; he ended up having to fight the guard you brought with you."

"Look, I don't mean to sound impolite here, but I thought Lord Amedda was on trial here, not the Jedi." Anakin said with frustration.

"I am sorry, Anakin, you are right of course. When you found Master Kenobi, what condition was he in?" Borlac asked, changing his line of questioning.

Anakin paused; this was going to be difficult, "He was…very weak. He…had been…shot and those binders…he had no strength left at all. His head was bleeding." He said haltingly.

"Then he was not well treated as Lord Amedda claimed in his original statement."

"Well it didn't look like that to me." Anakin replied.

"And aside from the altercation that Zak had with the guard, you had no other difficulties getting Master Kenobi back to the safety of your ship."

"No, thankfully."

"So why then did you leave the ship once you had Master Kenobi aboard?"

Again, Anakin paused before carefully answering, "Lord Amedda had committed a serious crime and I felt he should be brought to justice; he also had Master Kenobi's lightsaber, a weapon he had no right to; I wanted to get that weapon and give it back to its rightful owner."

"Lord Amedda, in his statement, says that your reason for confronting him was not for justice, but for revenge; is this true?"

"Yes, well, he would say that, wouldn't he. If I had wanted revenge, I would have killed him on Champala, not brought him back here for trial." Anakin answered.

"But you did threaten him with his own weapon."

"Threaten, yes; but I had no intention of doing to him what he had done to Master Kenobi. I guess I wanted him to…sweat a little." Anakin said with a smile.

"Master Windu was with you at that time; if he had not been, would you have killed Lord Amedda?"

"I don't know; I would hope not." Anakin answered honestly, "Fortunately, I did not have to face that possibility."

"Thank you, Anakin; I have no further questions."

"Very well, Lord Grel; you may now proceed. However, be warned, there will be no more intimidation, and no more 'demonstrations' like the one we have already witnessed." The Lord Advocate said.

"I understand perfectly, Lord Advocate. That demonstration will not be repeated." Grel answered.

Lord Grel turned to Anakin.

"I apologize again, Anakin; I truly did not think what I did would be so painful for you." He said.

"I'm not the one you should apologize to; and I am Master Skywalker to you." Anakin said evenly.

"Oh, then I also apologize to you, Master Kenobi." Grel said as he turned to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan nodded his acceptance and Grel turned his attention back to Anakin, "Master Skywalker, how do you justify breaking Master Kenobi out of prison?" He asked, "He was considered to be a known criminal; he was in prison awaiting sentencing for crimes against the Republic."

"What?"

"Chancellor Palpatine outlawed all Jedi. Master Kenobi was one of the guiltier Jedi. He was arrested on the Naboo transport and incarcerated on Champala until his sentence could be pronounced." Lord Grel stated.

Anakin had to laugh, "This is completely ridiculous. The only criminal here is Lord Amedda. He had Master Kenobi abducted and then tortured."

"Master Kenobi was arrested and interrogated." Grel maintained.

"Master Kenobi was shot in the back trying to help his apprentice escape from the raiders that boarded their transport. These raiders had no legal right to 'arrest' anyone. He was never interrogated and was given no trial."

"He was tried in absentia on Champala. His interrogation was unsuccessful because he refused to cooperate." Lord Grel claimed.

Anakin turned to the Lord Advocate, "Lord Advocate, how much longer do I have to listen to these lies?" He asked.

"You will not. Lord Grel, if you have nothing more to say than these absurd statements, than I suggest you conclude your questioning so that we can move on." The Advocate instructed.

"I'm sorry, Lord Advocate; I was only trying to present my client's point of view." Grel replied in defense.

"Well, you may do that when Lord Amedda takes the stand. You will not continue this line of questioning with Master Skywalker; is that understood?" The Advocate ordered.

"Yes, Lord Advocate." Grel answered and then turned back to Anakin, "In that case, I have only one more question: Master Skywalker, is it true that you threatened Lord Amedda's life?"

"Yes; I cannot deny that. He had Master Kenobi's lightsaber. I wanted it back and I said if I had to kill him to get it, I would." Anakin admitted.

"Did it ever occur to you that Lord Amedda confiscated that weapon and that Master Kenobi no longer had a right to it?"

"Oh, so we are back to that again." Anakin said in exasperation, "No, Lord Grel; Amedda stole that weapon from him and he had no right to keep it."

"Master Skywalker, I must request that you refer to my client with respect and use his proper title."

"Fine, Lord Amedda stole that weapon from Master Kenobi; he had no right to keep it. Is that better?" Anakin corrected his statement sarcastically.

"Yes; I have no further questions for Master Skywalker." Grel said and sat down.

"Very well, Master Skywalker, you may take your seat." The Lord Advocate told him.

As Anakin sat down, Lord Borlac called his next witness, "We would like to call the current Supreme Chancellor, Bail Organa, to take the stand." He announced.

Organa stood up and walked toward the witness stand.

"No, no, no, no…." Anakin whispered.

"Anakin? What…" Obi-Wan started.

"This is it, Obi-Wan. It's happening right now." Anakin answered as he stood up.

Just as in his nightmare, one of the onlookers suddenly stood up, blaster in hand.

"MASTER WINDU!" Anakin shouted.

Immediately, Mace turned to see the assailant pointing his weapon at the Chancellor. He made a diving leap, but fell short and could only watch helplessly as the assailant took careful aim and…then a small figure flew at the Chancellor knocking him to the floor seconds before a blaster bolt ripped through the witness chair. The shooter, seeing that his primary target was now unreachable, turned to his apparent second target. Anakin, knowing what was about to happen, threw himself at Obi-Wan….