Chapter 21 A Dark Jedi
"Master Windu? Could you come to the Padawan wing? We seem to have a bit of a problem over here." Galyn Prior asked; Galyn was a senior Padawan charged with dealing with any problems the younger Padawans may develop during the night.
"What is it, Galyn? Is one of your charges ill?" Windu asked.
"Yes, Master; you could say that." Galyn answered.
"Who is it?"
"Master Kenobi's apprentice, Zak." Galyn told him.
"Oh, no; I just talked to him earlier tonight. Let me speak with him again." Mace requested.
"I don't think that's going to be possible, Master Windu; I really think you should come over here." Galyn replied.
"Oh….very well, I will be right there." Mace said.
Mace donned his boots quickly and ran swiftly down the hall to the Galyn's quarters; when he arrived, the door was open and several Padawans were present in the room, "Alright; no one has any business being here; back to your quarters, all of you." Mace ordered sternly.
None of them wished to displease Master Windu and the room quickly emptied, leaving Mace and Galyn alone with Zak. Mace could sense Zak's terror before he even saw the young Padawan huddled in the corner; Zak's eyes were glazed and he sat rigidly on the floor with his back pressed up against the wall and his arms wrapped tightly around his legs.
Mace crouched down in front of him, but Zak seemed not to notice him, "Zak?" He said quietly.
Zak did not move and stared right through Mace as if the big master was not there; Mace turned to look up Galyn, "What happened, Galyn?" He asked.
"I don't know; something scared him pretty badly. He just showed up here. I didn't know what to do." Galyn answered.
"You did the right thing; has he said anything?" Mace asked.
"…Dark." Zak said suddenly.
"Yeah, he keeps saying that." Galyn told Mace. "Nothing else, just that."
"Zak?" Mace said again; but still Zak did not react.
"Zak; what's dark; can you tell me?" Mace asked.
"It's just dark." Zak answered.
"Well, that's encouraging; he seemed to have been able to hear me." Mace said, "Galyn, could you get him some water?"
"Yes, of course, Master Windu." Galyn said and then quickly left the room.
Mace reached into Zak's mind, trying to get a sense of what might be causing his terror; but all he could feel was confusion and panic, "Zak; I want to help you, but you must tell me what happened." Mace said gently. "Come on, now."
Galyn returned with a full water bottle that she handed to Mace. He tried to pry one of Zak's hands away so that he could hold the bottle; but Zak's arms were rigid and Mace feared he might injure him if he tried too hard; so he raised the bottle to Zak's mouth, but Zak did not even try to drink it, "Galyn, I think you should send for one of the healers to come down here." He instructed, "I am not really sure what's going on here."
However, before Galyn could even reach the com, Zak blinked several times and then focused on Mace, "Zak? Can you understand me now?" Mace asked.
"…yes…" Zak answered quietly.
"Good, that's good. Now, you drink this and then tell us what happened." Mace replied and gave him the bottle; but Zak was now shuddering uncontrollably, and Mace had to help him drink.
"Master Windu?" Galyn said.
"Get one of the healers down here, anyway, Galyn; he can't seem to stop shaking." Mace told him.
"Zak, calm down now. I'm here; I will not let anything hurt you."
"You…c…can't…s…stop…it." Zak said, shakily.
"Can't stop what, Zak?" Mace asked.
"He…He's…in…here." Zak answered as he pointed to his head.
"He's in your mind; is that what you mean?" Mace asked.
Zak nodded, "It's…my fault….I…I let him in." He said.
"Let him in? How did you do that, Zak?" Mace asked.
"I…I…tried to…find…Master Obi-Wan…and….and he found me." Zak explained haltingly.
"Is he gone now? Or can you still feel him?" Mace asked calmly.
"He wouldn't let me go." Zak blurted out.
"But is he gone now, Zak?" Mace asked again.
"Yes, Master Obi-Wan pushed him away." Zak replied.
"So you did connect with him; then what happened?" Mace asked.
"No, Master Obi-Wan was just there; and he pushed him away. Then I…they were both gone." Zak answered. "But he can come back."
"I can make sure that will not happen." Mace assured him, "Could you tell me who it was, Zak?"
"Dark, full of hate and so angry; so much hate and anger. And strong; I couldn't get away." Zak told him.
Mace put a hand on Zak's shoulder, gripping it tightly; still Zak could not stop shaking, "It's alright, Zak." He said gently.
"He was so strong; I couldn't get away." Zak repeated.
"I know; just calm down. He's gone now." Mace told him.
"He'll come back. I can't fight him." Zak said, fear creeping into his voice.
"You won't have to." Mace assured him.
"I'm scared; fear is the path to the Dark Side. I'm lost!" Zak cried.
"No you're not, Zak. You have many friends here; we will not let that happen." Mace promised, "If you face your fear, then you will not be lost to the Dark Side; we can help you."
When Declan arrived moments later, Zak was a little better, but still shaking, "What happened, Master Windu?" He asked as he crouched down next to him in front of Zak.
"I think someone got into his mind." Mace answered.
"Zak? You have to calm down, now." Declan said.
"I…I'm trying." Zak replied.
"Okay, listen, I want to give you something to help you calm down; alright?" Declan informed him gently.
"NO! He'll find me; I have to stay awake." Zak answered.
"You can't stay awake that long, Zak. We won't let him get to you again." Declan promised.
"You promise?" Zak asked hopefully.
"Yes, we promise. Why don't you come with me, back up to the healers' quarters?" Declan replied and then turned to Mace, "Who was it?" He asked.
"Zak doesn't know; all he could sense was hate and anger; and Darkness. I think we might be dealing with a Dark Jedi here." Mace answered.
"What makes you think that?" Declan asked.
"I prefer not to say anything more about that for now; but I have my reasons for this suspicion." Mace answered.
"He's after Master Obi-Wan; isn't he?" Zak said.
"I don't know, Zak; but that could be true." Mace told him.
"Well, I think we should get you back to bed, Zak; if you think you can walk, why don't you come with me?" Declan said.
Zak stood up, "I can make it." He said; he was still a little shaky but thought he could walk.
When they had gone, Mace turned to Galyn, "I'm sorry, Master Windu; I didn't know what else to do." Galyn said.
"You did the right thing, Galyn. He could not stay like that all night. Now, you should get back to sleep too." Mace replied. "And if you miss a couple lessons in the morning, I will make sure your instructors understand why."
"Thank you, Master Windu." Galyn answered.
After leaving the Padawan wing, Mace did not go back to his quarters; he went to the com center to contact Anakin at the medical center.
"Master Skywalker? There is a message for you in the waiting area. It is from the Jedi Temple." A droid said from the doorway.
Anakin sighed; the last thing he wanted to do right now was to leave Obi-Wan alone. If the message was from the Temple, however, it must be important, "Alright, I'll be right there." He replied and stood up to follow the droid down the hall.
The holo-image of Mace Windu stood waiting for him, "Master Windu?"
"Anakin, something happened to Zak a short while ago; is Obi-Wan alright?" Mace asked.
"Well, he is now; but someone…got into his head. I had to help him fight it off." Anakin answered.
"I thought as much; Zak told us that he was trying to connect with Obi-Wan when someone else interfered. He told us that Obi-Wan had to help him get away from it." Mace said.
"Yes, and he had a hard time breaking away from him too; I had to help him." Anakin replied. "We think it was a Dark Jedi, Master Windu."
"That was my thought also, Anakin; probably the same one who shut down the cameras in the courtroom yesterday." Mace concurred.
"He hates Obi-Wan; I could sense that much." Anakin added. "Is Zak alright? Obi-Wan is going to want to know."
"He was badly shaken and frightened; Declan took him back to the healers' quarters. They will be able to calm him down." Mace answered.
"I'm glad to hear it, but I am concerned that this Dark Jedi will try this again." Anakin replied, "I don't think Obi-Wan is strong enough to fight him."
"This kind of attack can be painful and exhausting; but I have never known it to kill anyone. And next time, Obi-Wan will not be caught off guard." Mace assured him. "He has the Force, Anakin; remember that."
"I know; but he just seems so weak." Anakin replied.
"He has the Force; a powerful ally; you should know that. It has saved him many times; he is not defenseless, Anakin." Mace reminded him.
"Yes, Master Windu." Anakin answered unconvincingly.
"Stop worrying…and Anakin, when are you going to start calling me 'Mace'?" He said. "You are no longer a Padawan; and if you had not left the Order, you would be on the Council. With the exception of Master Yoda, there is no reason why you should address any of us as 'Master'."
"Yes, Master Win…um…Mace; it just feels so strange." Anakin answered.
"I know, it does at first; but after awhile, you will get used to it." Mace replied. "Now, I will let you go back to Obi-Wan and I will return to bed."
"Good night, Mas…Mace." Mace's image faded and Anakin returned to Obi-Wan.
He was angry, raging with it; he almost had him from right here in the storage room. He could have destroyed him right then, until that meddling Skywalker had interfered; Skywalker, the former Jedi who was forced to leave the Order in disgrace when his secret marriage was revealed. How dare he interfere! He would pay for that; Skywalker would watch him kill Kenobi and then he would kill Skywalker. He was powerful; he could do anything. The team of Skywalker and Kenobi did not stand a chance against him; and as for the boy, he would kill him first. Kenobi would love that! All he had to do was be a little more patient. It must be almost morning; then he could escape his temporary prison and finish this.
