Chapter 14 Trust

The first camera to come back online was the one focused on the main courtroom floor. The bodies of both Grel and Amedda were clearly visible.

"By the Force; what went on in there?" Mace exclaimed.

"What is Lord Grel doing in there? I do not remember seeing him in there when we evacuated the room." Bail wondered.

"He wasn't; I did not see him either." Mace answered. "How long before the other cameras come on?"

"They should all be coming online in a moment or two…ah, there's another one." Bail replied as the camera in the upper gallery turned on showing no activity.

"Well, there is nothing there; I wonder if they are in there at all." Mace said as he watched the screen.

"Wait…look, who is that?" Bail asked as he pointed to something moving on the screen.

Mace bent over Bail's shoulder to get a better look, "It's Zak; but where are Obi-Wan and Anakin?"

"They must be in the range of one of the other cameras; hmm…I just lost Zak." Bail said.

"Wait a minute, here comes another one…there!" Mace said as he pointed to the newly activated screen.

"Yes, there he is. But is that…another Clone?" Bail asked.

"I do not think I like where this is going. How many are there?" Mace replied.

"Nor do I; I now fear that none of the Clones should be trusted." Bail said.

"We may be jumping to conclusions here, Chancellor; it is possible that only a small number of them have been influenced. My question is who has done this and why." Mace answered.

"Yes, and who else has been targeted. It seems to me that if I were the only one, that Clone should not be in that courtroom." Organa observed.

"Unless you were never the target, Chancellor. We already know that the initial assault was a diversion. What if there was a double purpose for it." Mace said.

"Ah, you mean Anakin or Master Kenobi; but why?" Bail wondered.

"That is not yet clear; but I am sure it must have something to do with Amedda. Maybe Amedda wanted both Anakin and Obi-Wan dead." Mace answered.

"And Zak?"

"No, there would be no reason for that; young Zak was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Oh, this does not look good." Bail said as the last camera flickered to life.

Mace looked at the screen and his eyes narrowed. Obi-Wan's blood -stained back was to the camera; he was seated, hunched over, on the floor. Anakin was squatting in front of him. Although there was no audio, it appeared as if they were conversing. Zak had just come into the range of the camera and walked over to them. He bent over, as if listening to their conversation, nodded and then again disappeared off the screen.

Their conversation apparently concluded, Anakin patted Obi-Wan's leg, stood up and walked out of the camera's range.

"Is there any way to get an audio feed from in there?" Mace asked.

"There should be; give me a moment to see if I can figure it out." Bail answered.

Anakin paced in frustration. He did not trust the Clone, JK; but he felt he had to do something. Obi-Wan was no better; and, in fact, seemed to be getting weaker by the minute. They were running out of time. He had no idea if anyone even knew if they were here and could not get out. Stupid! All he had to do was concentrate, the Force would tell him. Why had he not thought of that before! He closed his eyes, took a deep relaxing breath and reached out. Almost immediately, he found the calm wise presence of Master Yoda. "Help us." He sent and was quickly rewarded when the old master responded. "Patience, young Skywalker." Patience? There was no time to be patient. As if in response to his thought Yoda's wise words came through again. "Calm, Anakin. You must be calm. The answer is in front of you. Clear you mind and see it you will."

"Right in front of me?" Anakin said. "There's noth…" He stopped before he could even finish the word. The Clone, of course. He must trust the will of the Force that the Clone was their way out. He went over and squatted down in front of Obi-Wan.

"I think we should trust JK." He said.

"Anakin, think about what you're saying. I'm not speaking of myself here, but I am concerned for you and for Zak." Obi-Wan replied. "He could easily decide that he should do his duty and carry out his orders."

"I know the risks, my friend; but I cannot sit here and watch you bleed to death right in front of me." Anakin said.

"What if I promise that I will not let that happen?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Don't make promises you can't keep." Anakin answered. "And I know you won't be able to keep that one."

"It's not worth it, Anakin; what if he is just trying to lure us into yet another trap? A fatal one?" Ob-Wan argued.

"Then I'll take that chance; it's my life." Anakin replied.

"Yes, but what about Padme, and your children; what about Zak?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Well, here comes Zak, now, why don't you ask him?" Anakin said as Zak came towards them.

"Ask me what?" Zak asked as he bent down to hear them.

"Anakin wants to let the Clone lead us out of here." Obi-Wan told him.

"I think he's right, Master Obi-Wan. We can't stay here much longer." Zak answered without hesitation.

"There, he agrees with me." Anakin replied with satisfaction.

However, Obi-Wan was not willing to concede so easily, "Zak, do you understand the risks? This 'JK' could be leading us right into an ambush." He said.

"I know this, Master; I am not blind. But we must get out of here." Zak replied. "It's worth the risk."

"I can't let you do this." Obi-Wan insisted.

"Zak, go gather up anything you think might be useful." Anakin instructed.

Zak nodded and walked away, intent on this new task that Anakin had given him.

"We've been through this on Champala, Obi-Wan. I would not leave you to die there, and I won't let that happen here either." Anakin said.

Obi-Wan gave his characteristic sigh, "You're too stubborn to argue with, Anakin. I give up." He said.

Anakin patted his leg, "Good." He replied before standing up and walking toward where the Clone was tied.

The Chancellor had managed to activate the audio feed in the courtroom, but there was now very little to listen to. Zak and Anakin passed in and out of the various monitors as they seemed to be systematically checking the entire courtroom. Every once in awhile, one of them would bend down to pick something up.

"What do you think they are doing?" Bail asked.

"Gathering things, obviously; they must be planning to leave." Mace answered.

"I do not know how they think they can get out with the doors jammed." Bail replied.

"Unless they have found another way out." Windu suggested.

"I think we're ready to go, Zak." Anakin said clearly.

"It appears you were correct, Master Windu. All we have to do is watch and see how they leave and we can have someone meet them." Bail said.

"Come on, my friend; we are ready to leave." Anakin said as he bent to help Obi-Wan to his feet.

As they watched, Zak walked over to the Clone and pointed a blaster at him.

"We're leaving, JK. You lead the way." He said with authority. The Clone obediently stood and walked towards one of the exit doors.

"I need to punch in the code." He said.

"Give it to me and I'll do it." Anakin answered.

Mace stood up suddenly.

"How foolish can we be!" He exclaimed. "Why did we assume that all the doors were jammed?"

"Well, I know where that door comes out, I will show you." Bail told him.