Chapter 5 The Governor of Naboo
"No." Obi-Wan replied.
"Suit yourself, Jedi." The doctor said. "I'll be back in again to check the boy."
He went toward the door and then looked back at Obi-Wan, "I'll fix it with the authorities so that you can stay with the boy for a day or two." He promised and then left.
Obi-Wan was determined not to eat anything these people offered him; after what they had already done, he could not trust them. He knew that Anakin was on his way; he may not have been able to feel his brother in the Force, but he knew him well. He would come, and it would be less than two days; it would only be hours. His only concern was whether Zak could hold out that long.
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"Sir, you're leaving again? You're becoming unreliable." Dav said.
"I really don't think that's any of your business." Anakin replied. "Just tell me you have the yacht ready to go."
"Yes, sir; of course." Dav answered.
"Fine, we'll be leaving right away." Anakin told him and then turned to Padme, "I really wish you'd change your mind. It worries me; you heard what Master Yoda said. They hate Force sensitives; that means me, the twins and the little one inside you."
"Do they have a way of detecting that?" Padme asked.
"Well, no I don't think so, but…" Anakin replied.
"Then how will they know I'm carrying one?" Padme wondered.
"Well, they won't but…" Anakin answered.
"And as for Luke and Leia, we can leave them on the yacht." Padme reasoned.
"Oh right; all by themselves?" Anakin said.
"Yes, certainly. They are very good at amusing themselves; they'll be fine." Padme replied.
"Yes, I'm sure they will be; Luke will probably try to pilot the ship." Anakin answered sarcastically.
"Oh, Annie; we can keep them out of the cockpit." Padme told him.
"I don't like it." Anakin said.
"I know you don't, but Luke seems to think he has to come; maybe there's something he knows that we don't." Padme answered.
"I don't know; maybe you're right." Anakin wavered. "And we're wasting time arguing."
"Yes, so we had better get going then." Padme said.
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Obi-Wan's back ached, he had tried to stand, but when he did so, the handcuff fastened around his wrist cut painfully. He wondered how far away Anakin was and how soon he would arrive. Zak had not stirred and the doctor had not removed the breathing tube from his throat. He was hungry and thirsty but did not dare take anything given to him. Never in his entire life had he experienced the nothingness of being without the Force. Even when the Dark Side had clouded it, it had still been there. Now it was as if he were looking into a void, there was just nothing. He put his head down on the side of the bed again and closed his eyes. "Help me, Master." He thought in vain, he knew Qui-Gon could not reach him either.
Sometime later, Obi-Wan was not sure how long, the doctor and Bellak returned. They checked the incision line in Zak's side and then, apparently satisfied, wrapped a bandage around his middle. The doctor lifted his eyelids again and nodded.
"Well, he appears to be holding his own." The doctor announced and looked down at Obi-Wan. "I suppose it would be wise to let you stand up and walk around."
Obi-Wan would not even look at him.
"Yes, I think it would be for the best; Bellak, bring Durm in." The doctor instructed.
Bellak went to the door and called the security guard in.
"Durm, I'm going to let the Jedi walk around for a moment or two; watch him." The doctor said.
Durm brought up his blaster and trained it on Obi-Wan, "No problem, Doctor." He replied.
"Bellak, go ahead and release him." The doctor ordered.
Bellak unlocked the cuff around Obi-Wan's wrist and hissed at the raw bleeding skin where the cuff had cut into it. Obi-Wan quickly covered it with his other hand and stood up.
"Thank you." He said politely as he crouched down to stretch cramped leg muscles. He did not intend to challenge the security guard; he would probably end up dead and where would that leave his Padawan. No, he would wait, Anakin, he was sure, was very close now. The doctor let him stretch and walk around the room for ten minutes before ordering back to the chair. He complied obediently and placed his arm so that Bellak could refasten the cuff around his wrist.
"No, no; that will never do. Durm, look what you've done; you clamped it down too tight. Now we'll have to use the other wrist." The doctor said.
"That won't be necessary." Obi-Wan replied.
"Oh, it doesn't bother you then?" The doctor asked as he squeezed it tightly.
"No." Obi-Wan answered.
"Really? Well, I think we should at the very least treat it, don't you?" The doctor asked, releasing his grip.
"I don't really care." Obi-Wan said.
"Well, I do. Bellak, bring the astringent over here." The doctor ordered.
Bellak did as requested, and the doctor dampened and a cloth with it and touched it to Obi-Wan's raw wrist. It caused a painful burning sensation, but Obi-Wan did not give the doctor the satisfaction of showing a reaction to it. He stared impassively back at the doctor, who looked slightly disappointed as he wrapped the cloth around Obi-Wan's wrist.
"That will do." The doctor said and fastened the cuff snugly back in place. "You'll be taken into custody in the morning, that's the best I could do."
"Then tomorrow morning will be fine." Obi-Wan replied.
"Yes, well, I will be back later to check on the boy." The doctor said. "Come Bellak, Durm."
"I don't believe we'll still be here in the morning, Padawan." Obi-Wan said when they had gone. "I'm very sure that Master Anakin will be here long before then."
He stroked Zak's face, "All you have to do is just stay with me for a little while longer." He told him.
Zak, of course, remained still and silent and Obi-Wan sat back, sighed heavily and rubbed his wrist. Whatever the doctor had put on that cloth was causing an annoying irritation; he pulled the cloth out from under the cuff and tossed it away. When the doctor returned two hours later, he did not miss seeing it laying on the floor where Obi-Wan had dropped it, "Hmm... This isn't doing any good down here." He said.
"It fell off." Obi-Wan replied innocently.
"Oh, I see; then perhaps I should put it back on." The doctor answered.
"No, it's all right. Besides then you'd have to free my hand and I might attack you." Obi-Wan said.
"Well, I only came to see if the boy is ready to travel." The doctor replied.
"Why? Where are you taking him?" Obi-Wan asked suspiciously.
"I'm not taking him anywhere. But it seems you both are wanted on Naboo; I should have known the Jedi were not to be trusted." The doctor answered.
"Naboo? We haven't been to Naboo in months." Obi-Wan replied in mock surprise. "What is it we were supposed to have done?"
"Destruction of government property, apparently." The doctor told him. "Unfortunately, we will not be able to deal with the boy as we would have liked, but we dare not go against a planetary governor on this."
"You mean the governor has come here in person?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Oh, yes; whatever it was you did, it must have been very serious." The doctor answered. "I was told to have the boy ready to go immediately."
"I think I'd rather take my chances here." Obi-Wan said.
"Sorry, Jedi; this is something I have no control over. I guess you'll just have face up to what you did on Naboo. Too bad about the boy, though." The doctor said as he pulled the needles from Zak's arms and unhooked the machine that was helping him breathe.
"Wait; what are you doing? I thought he needed that?" Obi-Wan questioned.
"Well, no, not really; it was purely a precautionary measure. I will leave the tube in his throat, however, just in case he needs assistance on the way to Naboo." The doctor answered.
"But you said he couldn't breathe on his own." Obi-Wan argued.
"That was just after the surgery; he was weaker then." The doctor replied as he pulled the monitor patch from Zak's chest. "Durm, we're ready now."
Durm entered the room sporting his blaster; he was followed closely by the doctor's attendant, Bellak and the 'governor' of Naboo.
"Good, you're all here then. Bellak, release the cuff on the chair and secure the Jedi's hands behind him. Governor, unfortunately, the boy is unable to walk; would you like us to bring a gurney or…" The doctor said.
"No, that's fine, I will carry the boy. I would have Kenobi do it, but I don't think it would be wise to free him." The tall golden haired 'governor' said.
"No, not wise at all. I could have a gurney sent if you wish." The doctor suggested.
"No, no; I'm in a bit of a hurry; I will take the boy myself." The governor replied.
"Oh, yes, very good, very good." The doctor answered.
"Has there been any trouble?" The 'governor' asked.
"No, should we have expected any?" The doctor said, nervously.
"Possibly, yes. This one has often worked with a former Jedi called Skywalker. Nefarious character, he is; you're lucky he hasn't shown up to rescue Kenobi and the boy yet. He can be very dangerous." The 'governor' told him and shot a look at Obi-Wan who was holding his left hand over his mouth.
"It was fortunate for us that you arrived here before then." The doctor replied.
"Yes; is the boy ready to go?" The 'governor' asked.
"Oh, yes, of course." The doctor said. "Move out of the way, Jedi."
Obi-Wan, whose hands were now secured behind his back, stepped to the side so that the 'governor' could pick Zak up. He did so carefully, as the doctor removed Zak's leg from the sling.
"Alright, I have him." The 'governor' said as he cradled Zak securely in his arms. "Did Kenobi bring anything in with him? I will need to confiscate that as well."
"Yes, of course, of course; that should be…yes, it's all right here." The doctor replied as he located both rucksacks.
"Weapons, these Jedi types always carry…umm…laser swords, silver handled things. Have you seen anything like that?" The 'governor' asked.
"Oh, yes; Durm, what did you do with those things?" The doctor asked.
"I'm sorry, Doctor, I have them right here." Durm answered as he pulled them from his belt.
"Just put them in one of these, and then make Kenobi carry them. He might as well do something useful." The 'governor' ordered.
Durm placed the lightsabers in Obi-Wan sack and hung both of them around Obi-Wan's neck.
"Well, I have other patients I must attend to. If you're ready, Governor, I will have Durm escort you to your ship." The doctor said.
"Yes, I would like to be on my way as soon as possible. I'm worried that Skywalker will make a rescue attempt; we wouldn't want that to happen here, now would we." The 'governor' replied.
"No, absolutely not." The doctor answered as he held the door for the 'governor'.
They started down the hallway; the doctor went the other way with Bellak and Durm followed them with his blaster pointed at Obi-Wan's back. Servus Perrin stood near the reception area.
"Who are you, and where are you taking the boy?" He asked.
"I, sir, as if it were any of your business; am the governor of Naboo. This two are my prisoners and I am returning with them to Naboo." The 'governor' informed him.
"Oh, leaving then, are they?" Servus asked.
"Yes, they are definitely leaving." The 'governor' confirmed.
"Good riddance." Servus answered.
"And who are you? If I may ask." Anakin wondered.
"I am…that is I…well…I fathered the boy." Servus stumbled around for this answer.
"Ah, I see." The 'governor' replied and walked on.
A pregnant woman stood in the middle of the hallway; as they approached, she clutched her belly, moaned loudly and bent over as if she were in terrible pain.
"Keep walking." The 'governor' mumbled softly to Obi-Wan.
"But…" Obi-Wan started.
"Never mind, just keep walking." The 'governor' mumbled.
"Help me, please." The woman cried.
Durm hesitated and the 'governor' looked back, "It's alright, I can take it from here." He told him.
The result being that Durm holstered his blaster and helped the pregnant woman to the nearest seat.
"Anakin…" Obi-Wan whispered.
"Shh…it's alright; it's just part of the plan." Anakin assured him. "Trust me."
Obi-Wan nodded and kept right on walking. He could still hear Padme moaning behind him and resisted the urge to turn around. When they reached the door, the door attendant opened it for them and they stepped outside into the darkness of night. Obi-Wan had not realized how long he and Zak had been sequestered there.
"This way." Anakin said as he led Obi-Wan around the side of the hospital.
"What now?" Obi-Wan asked as they rounded the corner.
"Now, be patient; and wait. Padme will be out in a few moments." Anakin answered.
"That was a little risky, wasn't it?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Every plan has risks, Obi-Wan; this was Padme's choice to make. Padme's idea actually." Anakin told him.
"She's very brave, your wife." Obi-Wan said.
"Yes, I know; sometimes too brave, I think." Anakin replied.
"I think so too. Umm…Anakin, could you…" Obi-wan said turning his back on him.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Anakin answered and released the handcuffs with a slight hand movement. "I for…Obi-wan…"
"Just of a little of the good doctor's handy work." Obi-Wan replied as he rubbed his wrist. "I'll have a med droid look at it later."
"Good, because it looks bad." Anakin said. "In the meantime, there's med kit on the yacht."
Obi-Wan nodded; Anakin was right; whatever the doctor had applied to it had turned the raw mark into a blistered mess.
Anakin shifted Zak's weight in his arms, "Come on, Padme." He mumbled.
