Chapter 24 Head Games

This was a temporary setback. He would have his revenge; it would just have to wait a little longer. He was a Jedi; he could be very patient. Maybe he could even think of a better plan; maybe he would take the boy. Yes, the boy could be the solution. He would find the boy; it would not be hard. Convince the boy to come to him. Oh, yes, he could do that; he was very powerful.

Zak was sitting in the cockpit of one of the Jedi fighters while Mace explained the controls to him. It was a relief to Mace that Zak was, at least for the time being, not thinking about his experience of the night before. He had a strong character, this boy; he would become a good Jedi.

"Master Windu," Zak said suddenly, "do you think they found all the JK Clones?"

Mace had to think about that for a moment before answering. The truth was unnerving; however, it would not be fair to withhold the truth from Zak. He did have a right to know, "We cannot be certain of that, Zak. It is possible that there are more of them that we have not found yet." Mace answered.

"Then they will be coming after Master Obi-Wan again; won't they." Zak surmised.

"They may be after all of us. Order 66 apparently is still an active order to them." Mace answered. "Does this frighten you, Zak?"

Zak paused before answering, "No, I don't think so; it might never happen. Maybe the others JK Clones will be caught before they do anything."

"That is a good attitude, Zak. Never worry about something you can do nothing about." Mace told him. "Ah, look; the transport has returned."

Zak climbed out of the cockpit and walked toward the transport as it maneuvered into position near the loading platform. Mace could sense his eagerness, and admired the boy's ability to keep it in check so that he kept his pace at a walk instead of running.

As the transport door slid open, Mace and Zak were joined by Padme and Master Yoda who had been notified of the transport's arrival. Anakin was the first one to appear in the doorway and Padme did not even give him a chance to step off the transport before she threw her arms around him.

"I was so worried, Anakin!" She cried as she hugged him tightly.

"I'm fine, my love; I was never the one in danger." Anakin assured her as he bent down to kiss her.

"But you were there; you could have been…." Padme shuddered.

"No, that would never happen; I could never do that to you." Anakin assured her.

"I'm just so glad to see you." She replied, hugging him tighter.

"Well, I want to see the children; are they still in the nursery?" He asked.

"Yes, they were napping when I left, or I would have brought them with me." She explained.

"Then I will wait until later; but I do have some things I need to do." Anakin said.

Padme pulled away from him, "Not now, Annie; I haven't seen you since yesterday." She said.

"Yes, now; there is a very dangerous person out there and we have to find him before he hurts anyone else." Anakin replied sternly. "You must understand that, right now, I have to help to find him."

"Well, I don't. I'm sorry, Anakin; but you left the Order to get away from all of this, and now they have dragged you right back into it." She answered as she turned away from him.

"Padme, don't be like this. This is more than just Jedi business, it's personal, don't you see that? Padme…" Anakin said as he took her arm.

"Anakin, go; be with her for awhile. This can wait." Obi-Wan said from the doorway of the transport.

"Do what you want, Anakin; I don't care." Padme said flatly, shrugged Anakin hand from her arm and started to walk away.

"Hmm…hurt her feelings you have, Anakin." Yoda said. "Go and speak with her you should."

"Ohhh…this is the last thing I need….Padme!" Anakin called out and hurried to catch up with her.

He took her arm again and tried to turn her, but she pulled away from him again, "Just leave me alone, Anakin. You obviously have something more important on your mind than your family. Whenever you decide you want to be with us, you know where we'll be." She said tearfully.

"Padme, my family is very important to me; you of all people should know that." He replied gently. "But another member of my family was almost killed yesterday and I need to find out why."

Padme relented and turned to put her head on his chest and he wrapped his hands around her waist, "I know, Annie; I'm sorry. But I was so worried when I found out…I do understand that Obi-Wan is like your brother." She said softly. "Forgive me?"

"Yes, darling; and as soon as I see what Master Windu has to show me, I will come to be with you and the babies for a little while before I go to the archives; would that be alright?" He promised.

"Of course, Anakin; I have been very selfish. I was only thinking of you and not of anyone else; I'm sorry." She answered.

"No, you were just worried and upset; I understand that. But I love you, Padme." He replied as he put his hand under her chin and raised her head.

"I know you do, my love." She said, putting her hands around his neck, pulling his head down and kissing him deeply. "I will see you soon."

Zak was overjoyed to see his master looking so much better than he had the day before, but he stood patiently waiting to be acknowledged. As Anakin went after Padme, Obi-Wan turned his attention to him, "Are you alright now, Zak?" He asked as looked at him with concern.

"Yes…well…" Zak began.

"Zak, just tell me." Obi-Wan said.

"Well, no…not yet; but I am better than I was." Zak admitted.

"And that's a start; now what about Lord Grel, do you feel better about that?" Obi-Wan replied.

"I think I understand why he called me a…; Master Windu explained it to me." Zak answered.

"Did he? What did he tell you?" Obi-Wan asked curiously.

"That Lord Grel was using words to hurt me since he couldn't do it any other way." Zak explained.

"That's right; I should have told you the same thing yesterday." Obi-Wan said. "So do you still think you murdered him?"

"No, everyone says that I did what I had to do; and that I didn't have a choice. I did warn him; but he wouldn't listen. Master Windu says I should mourn the taking of a life and move on; was he right?"

"Yes, he was very right." Obi-Wan told him.

Anakin rejoined them a few minutes later, "I'm sorry, Anakin; I told you this could wait. Why don't you go with Padme?" Obi-Wan said as he came up.

"I've just talked with her. She was worried and upset; but she understands and she is sorry she upset any of you." Anakin explained. "I told her that I would see what Mace needs to show me and then I would be with them for a little while."

Good, let's not waste anymore time here, then. First there is someone I would like you to see." Mace said.

"I thought you wanted me to see that security holo-tape; is there something else you haven't told me yet?" Anakin wondered.

"I don't want to say anything until you meet this person, Anakin. Then you will understand why I haven't said anything." Mace answered.

Anakin nodded and the group headed to the lift.

"Anakin, this is Derek; he was on duty in the comm center the morning you tried to contact us." Mace said as he introduced the dark haired young Jedi.

"I'm sorry, Master Windu; this is not the one I spoke with." Anakin replied.

"I thought so. Derek doesn't remember speaking with you. He said he had stepped out for a few minutes, and apparently that is when you called in." Mace explained.

"I am sorry, Master Skywalker; I was only gone a few moments, and the alert was set. I should have been able to hear you; I do not know why I did not."

"Probably because whoever took my call turned it off; they must have known that I had gotten up and…Derek, why did you leave right at that time?" Anakin asked.

"That's the strange thing; I was told that Master Stass Allie wanted to see me, but when I went to her quarters, she was not even there. At the time, I thought he was just mistaken and I didn't put two and two together until Master Windu came to find out why I wouldn't let you speak to anyone." Derek explained. "I would have never questioned your reason for contacting the Temple at that hour, Master Skywalker; I hope you know that."

"Of course, Derek; it seems we were all deceived here." Anakin said. "Master Windu, has Derek scene that security tape yet?"

"No, Anakin; but I think he should." Mace answered. "Derek, you will come with us."

"I think I will go to my quarters, if you will excuse me." Obi-Wan said.

"Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.

"It's nothing really, just a headache; I think I will meditate for a bit." Obi-Wan assured him.

"Alright, I will check on you later." Anakin told him.

"It's only a headache, Anakin; I will join you later in the archives." Obi-Wan answered.

"Master Obi-Wan; it's him." Zak said.

"It's who, Zak?" Obi-Wan asked.

"The Dark one; the one who was in my head last night." Zak answered.

"I don't think so, Zak, I don't feel anybody." Obi-Wan insisted. "I think you are still bothered by last night and you're imagining things."

"No, Master; I can feel him; this is not my imagination." Zak countered. "He can make it worse."

"Well, in that case, I will meditate and push him out; just like I did last night." Obi-Wan said.

He sat alone, in a small room in a hotel close to the Jedi Temple. He was merged with the Force and had found his target. His target did not know he was there, but the boy did. Yes, cause pain to Kenobi without revealing its source…except to the boy. Convince the boy to come to him to end his master's pain. Then Kenobi would come for the boy. He liked this plan. Let Kenobi see him kill the boy and then kill Kenobi, slowly. Maybe Skywalker would be with him. He could kill Skywalker in front of him too. Oh, yes, double the pain. He loved this plan. He 'pushed' harder.

Mace, Anakin and Derek sat in the darkened Council chamber watching the security holo-tape play out. When it reached the point where the Jedi had shut down the cameras in the courtroom, Mace froze the tape, "There, do either of you recognize him?" He asked.

Anakin did not hesitate, "Oh, yes, that's him." He said confidently. "Do you think he's really a Jedi? I can't imagine a Jedi doing anything like this."

"No, we know now that he is definitely not; we ran this image through the archives and there is no one in the Order that matched it. However, he seemed to have no problem fitting in around here because no one noticed him. So whoever he is, he must have been a Jedi at one time." Mace answered.

"But Master Windu, if had been with the Order at one time, why is he not in the archives?" Anakin asked.

"Excuse me, Masters." Derek interjected.

"Speak your mind, Derek." Mace replied.

"What if this Jedi was only here when he was training, but was never apprenticed?" Derek suggested.

"Well…that would explain why he was not found in the archives; but this man is in his thirties. Why would he come back after all this time?" Mace wondered.

"Hate is a strong motivator, Master Windu; I felt that hate last night, hate towards Obi-Wan. Something Obi-Wan did as a youngling or a young Padawan must have caused that hate." Anakin said.

"Derek, you have not told us whether this was the Jedi who told you that Master Allie wanted to see you." Mace said, turning to Derek.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Master; yes, he is the one." Derek confirmed.

"Hmm…it seems our Temple is not as secure as we thought." Mace said. "I'm sorry, Anakin; I thought your family would be safer here."

"And they are, Mace. I am sure you have seen to that; and as for this rogue Jedi coming back here, I am sure it wouldn't be possible." Anakin replied.

"We had regular patrols all through the night looking for him; and if he is foolish enough to still be here, we will find him." Mace assured him.

Anakin scowled suddenly and rubbed his temple.

"Anakin, what is it?" Mace asked.

"I'm not sure…Obi-Wan seems to be giving me his headache. I think I should go check on him." Anakin answered. "It just doesn't feel right."

"Well, we are finished here for the time being. I will meet you and Obi-Wan both in the archives later." Mace replied. "Derek, thank you for taking time to meet with us."

"It was an honor, Master Windu. I was glad to be of help." Derek answered, then bowed and left the room.

"Anakin, I will see you later." Mace said. "And if you need to call Declan down, do not hesitate to do so."

"I will, Mas…Mace; thank you." Anakin replied.

By the time Obi-Wan reached his quarters, his headache was blinding and he could barely manage to focus on meditation; he sat down and rubbed the back of his neck in an effort to ease the tension in his neck muscles. He could not remember having a headache this severe since he had first been apprenticed to Qui-Gon Jinn; and that had been the result of a concussion. He knew what had caused that headache, but he could not fathom what was causing this one. He took several deep breaths in an effort to concentrate on the pain, find its source and eliminate it, but he could not even do that. When Anakin showed up half an hour later, he was still sitting there with his head on his knees holding the back of his neck.

"It's worse, isn't it." Anakin said.

"Yes." Obi-Wan whispered.

"Maybe I should call Declan." Anakin suggested.

"I don't know; maybe." Obi-Wan replied. "I don't get headaches like this."

"Well, maybe it has something to do with what happened yesterday; you did get the worst of it." Anakin said quietly.

"I've been through worse, Anakin, and this has never happened." Obi-Wan told him.

"I don't like this, Obi-Wan, I really think you should go down to the healers; something's not right."

"I'm inclined to believe you; I don't want to take any more time away from you being with your family, but would you mind walking with me?" Obi-Wan asked.

"You didn't even need to ask, old friend." Anakin answered.

Zak sat in the middle of his bed. Whether Master Obi-Wan believed him or not, he knew that the Dark presence from the previous night was in his head again; he concentrated on the Force and reached out, trying to find its source. "Zak?" He heard.

"What?" He said.

"Ah, it is you; I have been waiting for you."

"Why? What do you want?" Zak asked.

"I want to help your master." Came the reply.

"Who are you?"Zak asked

"An old friend of Master Obi-Wan's."

"How would you know that he even needs your help?" He asked suspiciously

"I know, Zak; I just know."

"I don't trust you." Zak said firmly.

"If you do not trust me, your master might die; you would not want that to happen, now would you?"

"You're the one who's hurting him; aren't you."Zak stated.

"Zak, you don't trust me; I'm hurt."

"You are the one; well you had better stop because you can't win." Zak warned.

"Wrong, boy, I already have. Come to me now or I will make sure your master keeps suffering."

"No, Master Obi-Wan is stronger than you are; you will lose." Zak answered.

"Not at the present, son; right now, my guess is that he has given in and gone down to see the healers."

"I don't think so." Zak answered.

"No? Well, maybe I should show you what Master Obi-Wan is feeling right now."

Suddenly Zak was overwhelmed by pain and he bent forward in agony. Then it was gone.

"Now you see, Zak; I can stop his pain just like I stopped yours. But I will not do that unless you come outside and meet with me."

"Why?" Zak asked.

"I just want to meet you. You can trust me, Zak."

"And if I do that, then you will stop hurting my master?" Zak asked.

"Yes, I promise; will you come?"

Zak did not answer.

"Zak?"

"Alright." Zak finally agreed.

"Good, a wise decision. Now, Zak, you must not tell anyone or I cannot help Master Obi-Wan; you understand this, don't you?"

"Yes, I understand." Zak replied.

"Very good. Meet me outside the Temple; I will be waiting for you."

"How will I know who you are?" Zak wondered.

"I will know you."