Chapter 28 Facing the Past

There was silence among them as they flew towards the industrial sector. The Chancellor had supplied them with two military transports; one carrying the Jedi, Anakin and Padme and the other, the Chancellor along with a Clone escort. Anakin was not pleased that Padme was with them, but she had not given him a choice; she demanded to come and threatened to follow them if she was left behind. As they grew nearer to the location given to them by Borlac, it became clear to all, save Padme, that Borlac had not lied. The Darkness was palpable. Anakin turned to Obi-Wan; his eyes were closed.

"Obi-Wan?" He whispered in his ear.

Obi-Wan said nothing, but held his hand up indicating that Anakin should wait. After a moment, he turned to Anakin, "I can sense Zak and he knows we are very close. He will be ready." He said. "When we go in, you will find Zak and bring him out."

"Then what are you going to do?" Anakin asked. "You're not planning on facing Baylor alone, are you?"

"This is my past, Anakin; this is something I must face alone." Obi-Wan answered.

"But you're not up to it, Obi-Wan; you're not even at half strength yet, he'll kill you." Anakin argued.

"Then maybe that's the way it should be." Obi-Wan replied.

"I can't believe you said that; do you want him to kill you?" Anakin asked incredulously.

"Right Anakin is, in this instance, Master Obi-Wan. Your time to die, it is not. Listen to your brother, you should." Yoda said, siding with Anakin.

"If what I did to Baylor brought him to this, then I must try to fix that." Obi-Wan countered.

"True that the past has made Baylor vengeful; but your fault it is not, Obi-Wan. Brought his own misfortune on himself, he did." Yoda told him. "He attacked you; this is what caused his ejection of the Order. Provoke him to do that, you did not."

"I am sorry, Obi-Wan; but it seems you are outvoted once again. We cannot allow you to go in there alone." Mace added.

"Alright, but at least let me try to do this without your interference. Maybe I can solve this by just talking to him; but I want Zak out of there." Obi-Wan replied.

"Fine, then I will go in with you and bring Zak out." Padme said, having remained silent during their discussion until that point.

"Padme, I don't think…" Anakin started.

"Well, I do. Why are you always trying to protect me; I think I proved on Geonosis that I can take care of myself." Padme insisted.

"But I…" Anakin tried again.

"Save your breath, Anakin. I've already made up my mind." She said firmly.

"Agree with Lady Padme, I do, Anakin. Better that all of us are with Obi-Wan when we find Baylor Grant." Yoda said.

"It will be alright, Anakin. We will have the Clones with her." Mace assured him.

"Well…then just be careful, Padme. I'd be lost without you." Anakin replied.

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Zak sat quietly in the corner, but his mind was racing. His master and Master Anakin were very close. Baylor was sitting across the room, he had been silent since he had pushed Zak back into his corner and retied his ankles, "They're coming, you know." Zak said.

"Shut up; I am tired of listening to you." He answered.

"Whatever Master Obi-Wan did to you, don't you think it's time to put it behind you?" Zak asked.

"I told you to be quiet. Would you like me to make you?" Baylor answered threateningly.

"It's just that hate, this hate, is destroying you." Zak continued, ignoring Baylor's threat.

"You don't listen very well; do you? If I have to tell you one more time, I may do something…" Baylor replied, with an edge.

"What? Are you going to hit me? Go ahead, if it makes you feel better." Zak told him.

"Just leave me alone." Baylor answered.

"I am sorry for you, Master Grant." Zak said.

Baylor did not respond and Zak said nothing further. He had tried, now he could only put his trust in the will of the Force. Outside, they could hear the sound of the transports making their final approach. Baylor knew that this would be the final conflict between them, Grant against Kenobi, and he would not lose….

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The transports circled the warehouse searching for a suitable place to put down. The ships began their descent. The Chancellor's ship landed first followed closely by the second.

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Baylor stood and went over to the corner where Zak sat waiting impassively. He was puzzled by the boy's calm, not just outwardly, but inward; he was at peace with himself and with whatever might happen when the others arrived. Baylor could sense no fear or apprehension. He quickly untied his legs, looped the rope around Zak's neck and tightened it; Zak did not protest and did not resist when Baylor hauled him to his feet.

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They entered the building, Obi-Wan and Anakin together led the way followed by Mace and Yoda, then Padme and the Chancellor with the Clone escort at their backs. The speeder that had taken Zak away was parked on the warehouse floor. Obi-Wan reached out through the Force and immediately felt the Dark presence of Baylor Grant, still unseen in the gloom of the building.

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He waited inside the office, one hand around Zak's chest and the other holding the rope around his neck. He could sense them; they were in the building now, very close. They would have to come to him; he would not leave this room.

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Obi-Wan pointed towards the office, "He's in there." He whispered.

"And Zak?" Anakin whispered back.

"Yes." Obi-Wan answered. "And Baylor knows we're here; he's not coming out."

"Alright; we will just have to go and bring him out." Anakin said decisively.

"We will go in and you will bring Zak out, Anakin." Obi-Wan told him.

"That's not what we agreed to." Anakin replied.

"Things have changed." Obi-Wan answered as he moved toward the office.

Anakin turned to the others, appealing for support, "Let it be for now, Anakin." Mace said. "Go with him."

Anakin nodded and followed Obi-Wan; when they had come to within two feet of the door, it slid open.

Baylor stood before them holding Zak in front of him; one hand holding a rope looped tightly around his neck, "Ah, so we meet again, at last, Obi-Wan." He said.

"Whatever you want with me, it has nothing to do with this boy; let him go." Obi-Wan replied.

"I think it has much to do with him; this could have been my apprentice if you had not caused me to be expelled." Baylor answered. "Now, he is mine; I took him."

"You were the cause of your own expulsion; and this still has nothing to do with Zak. Now let him go." Obi-Wan replied.

"You stole my chance to become a Knight when you let Qui-Gon Jinn take you as his apprentice. He should have been my master." Baylor said.

"He was not going to choose you, Baylor. I tried to explain that to you twenty-five years ago; and your response was to throw me down the stairs." Obi-Wan reminded him.

"They expelled me for that; where were you when they did that?" Baylor replied.

"Unconscious; and by the time I woke up, the decision had been made and you were gone." Obi-Wan told him. "You violated the Code, Baylor; there was nothing I could do."

For a brief moment, Baylor was silent, "Well, I hear you got Qui-Gon killed; you let him face a Sith Lord by himself. What happened, Obi-Wan, did you lose your nerve?" Baylor said tauntingly.

"That wasn't his fault; they were separated." Anakin replied defensively.

"Oh, and you must be Obi-Wan's faithful hound, Anakin Skywalker." Baylor declared sarcastically, "So, he told you they were separated, were you there? How do you know he is not lying?"

"If you have to ask me that, then you were never his friend." Anakin answered.

"Never mind, Anakin; it was my fault, I just wasn't quick enough." Obi-Wan admitted. "But it happened and there is nothing I can do to change it; I have moved on."

"Since you killed my master, I think it only fair that I kill your little Padawan here." Baylor said as he tightened the noose around Zak's neck. Zak closed his eyes against the constriction and involuntarily struggled to free himself.

"Leave him be, Baylor; this is between us. But then, you were always a bully; always picking on those who were smaller, I should have expected this." Obi-Wan told him.

"Oh, very well; I was getting tired of him anyway." Baylor replied as he picked Zak up and threw him Forcefully to one side; Zak hit the wall hard and landed on the floor.

"Anakin, go." Obi-Wan said.

The minute Anakin turned his back on him, Baylor pushed out with his hand; Anakin, unprepared, was thrown forward and nearly landed on top of Zak.

"There, now it is just the two of us. Come into my office, old friend." Baylor said.

Obi-Wan looked over towards Anakin, who was just starting to pick himself up off the ground, "I'm alright, Obi-Wan; settle this so we can all go home." He said.

"See to Zak." Obi-Wan told him before following Baylor into the office.

Anakin quickly loosened the rope noose around Zak's neck and Zak reacted by taking several gasping breaths filling his oxygen-deprived-lungs. He pulled the rope over Zak's head and then turned him on his side so that he could untie his hands. When he was free, Zak's hands went to his throat; a red mark had appeared where the rope had been and he continued to gasp for air.

"It's alright, Zak. We have you now." Anakin told him quietly stroking his forehead.

A shadow appeared over him and he turned to see Padme gazing worriedly at him.

"We're alright, Padme." He assured her and then turned back to Zak. "Zak, we are going to take you outside now; can you walk?"

"Master Obi-Wan?" Zak whispered.

"He's with Baylor." Anakin replied truthfully.

"No, he can't be; he'll die." Zak whispered urgently. "You have to help him, Master Anakin."

"I will; but first we have to get you out of here." Anakin promised gently. "Can you stand?"

"I…I don't think so." Zak admitted.

"That's alright; I can carry you. Put your arms around my neck." Anakin told him.

"No, help Master Obi-Wan first." Zak insisted.

"Master Obi-Wan made me promise to take you out of here; do you want me to break that promise?" Anakin asked.

"It's alright, Anakin; I can carry him." The Chancellor said as he came up, joined by Yoda and Mace, to stand behind Padme.

"There, Zak; the Chancellor can take you out and I can go help Master Obi-Wan. Is that alright with you?" Anakin asked.

"If you promise…"

"I promise." Anakin told him as he lifted Zak up.

Bail turned his back, "Put your arms around my neck, Zak. It will be just like riding a taun-taun." The Chancellor instructed.

Zak obediently put his arms around Bail's neck, "That's it; now wrap your legs…yes, like that." Bail began as Zak instinctively brought his legs up around Bail's waist, "Alright, Anakin, I have him; we will meet you outside."

"Go on, Padme; you go out with the Chancellor now." Anakin told her.

"But what are you going to do, Anakin?" She asked.

"Help my brother." Anakin answered. "Master Yoda, I think it would be better if I did this; would you and Master Windu wait out here?"

"I agree." Yoda replied. "Handle this together, you and Obi-Wan should."