Chapter 22 Stubborn Master

"Hmm…." EMD421 said as he scanned Obi-Wan once again. As it had done several times since Obi-Wan had been brought to the medical center, it adjusted the equipment and left the room; Anakin followed.

"Well…" Anakin said.

"Master Kenobi's condition has deteriorated. I can find no reason for this in my data banks." EMD421 answered. "Master Kenobi will not be leaving in the morning."

"This is a temporary setback; there is a logical explanation for it." Anakin replied matter-of-factly.

"No, I have no logical explanation." The droid argued.

"Trust me; there is, but I don't think your circuits can handle it." Anakin countered.

"There is no logical explanation." The droid repeated.

"I'm here to tell you that there is." Anakin insisted.

"You are most illogical, Master Skywalker. You request that I not probe Master Kenobi so that he can sleep. You then demand that I not use my auditory program when I am in the room for the same reason; and now you are claiming to have a logical explanation for the deterioration of Master Kenobi's condition when I, a droid with superior knowledge, do not have one." EMD421 said.

"Superior knowledge?" Anakin laughed, "In that case, how can you logically explain the advanced progress in Master Kenobi's condition until now?"

"Ummm….Hmmm…He is a Jedi." The droid answered.

"Oh, now you say that." Anakin replied sarcastically, "Well, the reason he is worse is for that very same reason."

"That is not logical." EMD421 stated.

"Yes, it is; enter this into your data banks. Master Kenobi's mind was under attack, so he had to expend all his energy to fend off his attacker; and since he was not resting because of this, he could not heal." Anakin explained.

"Hmmm…I will have to analyze this, I will return in one hour." The droid informed him.

"You do that." Anakin said and returned to the room.

Mace was up early and walked swiftly to the healers' quarters. He was still concerned about how the mental attack had affected Zak. He found Declan, already dressed and about ready to head to the dining hall, "How is young Zak this morning, Declan?" He asked.

"Sleeping, finally." Declan answered. "It took quite a bit for us to finally convince him that it was safe."

"I am relieved to hear that. I spoke with Anakin after you brought him here, and he said that Obi-Wan was also affected, although, of course because of his experience, not as traumatically." Mace replied.

"He's in there, Master Windu; if you would like to peek in at him." Declan told him as he pointed to the interior door.

Mace crossed the room and stood in the doorway. There were several beds along each wall and Zak was curled up in the second bed from the door, clutching a manuscript tightly in his hand. Puzzled, Mace turned back to Declan, "It's the Jedi Code; just holding it calmed him down." Declan explained. "We didn't have the heart to take it away from him."

"No, I can see why. I will speak with all his instructors today. I see no reason why he should be expected to do anything but sleep for the time being." Mace said.

"I had hoped you would say that, he should remain with us at least until the end of the day." Declan replied.

He could hear movement in the corridor outside his self-imposed prison. Soon, very soon, he would release himself so that he could meet with his lord for further instructions. The man would not be pleased; he had failed and had put his own personal vendetta against Kenobi before his duty. He had compromised his plans and now they would have to start all over. He put on his stolen Jedi cloak, put the hood up and carefully opened the door. It was his luck that no one was in that corridor when he did; and he was able slip out and close the door before another Jedi approached. He quickly bowed his head so that the hood would further conceal his face and headed for the Temple entrance; he was not noticed and escaped from the Temple without being detected.

Anakin stretched; it had been yet another long night. There had been no further disturbance since the mental attack hours ago…except, of course, EMD421's hourly visits; as he had earlier, each time, Anakin followed the droid out into the hallway to hear its reports. There were no more setbacks, and EMD421 still could not find any explanation for Obi-Wan's rapid recovery. He could not sit any longer, so he decided to take a short walk down the hallway to work the stiffness out of his body; since Obi-Wan was sleeping deeply, Anakin saw no reason why he could not take a short break. When he went out into the hallway, he was met by another droid, "Master Skywalker, there is another communication from the Jedi Temple." It said.

"Oh, no; what now?" Anakin replied, and he followed the droid over to the waiting area.

"Anakin, I just wanted to know if you will be coming back here today; I would like you to see the security tape and there is something else…." Mace Windu said.

"I don't think I want to leave here, Master Windu; after last night….But, what else do you want me to see?" Anakin asked.

"I suspect that the Jedi that prevented to from speaking with any of us yesterday morning may not have been authorized to be in the com center at all. The Jedi on duty that morning does not remember speaking with you." Mace explained. "And as to Obi-Wan, if he is still not strong enough to come back here, I will send a Jedi team to keep guard. This Dark Jedi, whoever he is, will probably try again; and after what you and Zak told me about the anger and hate he is harboring…well, I am very concerned."

"How is Zak this morning, Master Windu?" Anakin asked.

"Sleeping, finally; it took Declan and the other healers half the night to calm him down." Mace informed him.

"Obi-Wan will be relieved. And as long as you are sending the Jedi over here, I will come; I also thought it might be a good idea to check the archives. Maybe we can find out who this Dark Jedi is in there." Anakin suggested.

"Ah, yes, good thinking." Mace agreed, "I will see you later this morning then?"

"Yes, I will let you know what's happening here as soon as that blasted med droid checks Obi-Wan again." Anakin replied.

"Alright, then; thank you, Anakin." Mace answered.

"I will speak with you soon, Master Windu." Anakin said.

"Mace." Mace corrected.

"Oh, yes…Mace." The image faded and Anakin walked back to the room.

Obi-Wan was sitting on the edge of the table, attempting to pull his boots on.

"What do you think you're doing?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan looked down at his boots and then over at Anakin, "Putting my boots on." He answered.

"I can see that; and where do you think you're going?" Anakin asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"Home. Can you find me another tunic? Mine seems to be missing." Obi-Wan said, without skipping a beat.

"I don't think so, Obi-Wan." Anakin countered, "I think it would be better for you to stay here until they say you're ready."

"You would not say that if you had to lie here all night listening to that machine constantly beeping with tubes stuck in you and a droid continually prodding you to 'check you condition'." Obi-Wan complained, "I'm going home."

Anakin paused; Obi-Wan had a point. However, he was still reluctant to let him go until EMD421 could see him, "Alright, I can understand that. But will you at least let EMD421 check 'your condition' first?" He insisted.

"Yes, Anakin; if it will make you feel better." Obi-Wan conceded. "Help me here; my shoulder's a little stiff."

Anakin shook his head, crouched down and grasped the bottom of Obi-Wan's boot, "Okay, now push." He said; pushing on the bottom of the boot until it slipped into place. "We shouldn't even be doing this, you know."

"I know." Obi-Wan simply said. "Have you spoken with anyone at the Temple? I'm worried about Zak."

"Yes, Mace contacted me twice; he was pretty shaken up, but seems to be alright otherwise." Anakin answered.

"Mace? Since when are you on a first name basis?" Obi-Wan asked curiously.

"Since last night; it was his idea." Anakin told him.

"Oh, well it's about time." Obi-Wan replied.

Anakin repeated the procedure with the other boot, "And you still think you're not hard headed?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan ignored the question, "Now where is that droid?" He asked.

Once he had gotten several blocks from the Jedi Temple, he tossed away the cloak he had used to get out and headed for the nearest com booth, "My Lord; I have succeeded in…" He started.

"You have not succeeded at all; the Chancellor is still alive and now they know what you look like. You have failed." His superior cut him off.

"But it was the boy, my Lord; he pushed the Chancellor out of the way." He replied defensively.

"Yes, once; but then your Clone chose not to fire on him again; did he not?"

"He…he chose to go for the second target."

"That second target was your personal business; it should not have taken precedence over mine. You failed."

"But you promised that I could…"

"After you completed my assignment; and now you have compromised the whole plan. The Clones were arrested and I have to find more of them. I am not pleased."

"I'm sorry, my Lord. What do you wish me to do now?" He asked.

"Find a place to hide; you are of no use to me now; and you had better hope I do not find you." The superior ordered.

The communication ended. He was outraged, Kenobi had ruined everything, just as he had so many years before. He would get Kenobi if was the last thing he did, Kenobi, Skywalker for interfering and that boy just because it would make Kenobi suffer more.

"You should not be up." EMD421 said as it entered the room.

"I'm not staying here any longer." Obi-Wan told it.

"This is not your decision." The droid replied.

"Yes, it is." Obi-Wan corrected.

"Hmm…then I should check your condition. Lie down please." EMD421 said, "I will have to insert the probe. I must have an accurate assessment of your condition."

Obi-Wan winced as the probe entered the wound on his shoulder; after a moment, the droid withdrew the it and replaced the bandage, "One moment…" It said. "Your condition has improved sufficiently. You may leave."

"Good; does that satisfy you, Master?" Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin shook his head, "Yes, Obi-Wan." He replied with a laugh. "I will contact the Temple again so that they can send a transport over here."

"And a fresh tunic." Obi-Wan reminded him.

"And a fresh tunic; yes, Master."

"I will update your records and return with your discharge pad." EMD421 said before leaving.

He crossed over to the public transportation-boarding zone. Kenobi was still at the medical center; he would get him there and Skywalker would probably be with him. But the boy, he wanted to kill the boy in front of Kenobi; but maybe just the threat of what he was going to do would be enough. The boy, for now, was out of reach.