Chapter 9 Where is Home?

"Alright, here we go." Mace announced moments later. "Hmm…this is interesting."

"What is it, Master Windu?" Obi-Wan asked anxiously.

"Well, your midi-chlorians are not dead, they appear to be….dormant." Mace told him.

"Dormant? Well, I guess that's better than being dead; but what now?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Well, when they become active again, I am sure your Force sensitivity will return." Mace answered.

"But they might never…" Obi-Wan began.

"So willing to give up, are you, Obi-Wan? Very tired you must be then." Yoda said, cutting him off.

Obi-Wan sighed, tired, yes; exhausted actually. What was the matter with him? First, he lost his temper and now those blasted negatives thoughts were creeping in again, "I'm sorry, Master Yoda; you are right, of course. I wonder if the answer isn't on Belarid." He replied.

"Obi-Wan, I thought you said that doctor told you this was only temporary; perhaps this dormancy will wear off." Mace suggested.

"I don't think we should take his word about anything." Obi-Wan answered skeptically.

"Well, perhaps not; but it is a possibility isn't it?" Mace replied.

"A possibility it is, Obi-Wan; wait we should at least a little longer." Yoda added.

Obi-Wan nodded, he realized they were probably right, but then they were not the ones who had lost their Force sense, "What about Zak? Test him now, Master Windu." He said.

"Alright, but I am sure the results will be the same." Mace replied as he turned to draw a blood sample from the boy.

However, they were not the same; Mace frowned, knitted his brow and remained silent, "Master Windu?"

But Mace was still reluctant to tell them the results, "Master Windu, please, what is it?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Well, I…Obi-Wan, some of his…not all of them, but some…are…dead." Mace finally managed to say.

"What? No, they gave him the same thing they gave me; you've done something wrong, Master Windu, it just can't be." Obi-Wan replied, refusing to accept Mace's answer.

"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan; look, test him yourself if you think I have made a mistake." Mace said.

Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head, "How am I ever going to explain this to him? Even if he does get his Force sense back, he won't be anywhere near as strong as he was." He said mournfully.

"Tell him, you must, Obi-Wan, that a place with the Jedi he will always have. Important it will be for him to know this." Yoda replied wisely. "And give up all hope you both should not."

"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan answered quietly.

"Worry you should not, Obi-Wan; always for the best things happen." Yoda told him as he patted his knee, "Go now, Master Windu and I will; so that think about this you can."

"For the best? I…Yes, Master Yoda." Obi-Wan replied.

"May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan." Mace said.

"I wish it were, Master Windu." Obi-Wan answered.

"Always it is, Master Kenobi; but right now, feel it you cannot." Yoda assured him as he and Mace departed leaving him alone with his apprentice.

But Obi-Wan was no longer listening to him, he was thinking about Zak, and how he was going to break the news to his Padawan that his Force sensitivity had been greatly diminished. Zak, he feared, would feel himself inadequate once again; and Obi-Wan was not sure how he could convince his apprentice otherwise this time.

The med droid entered again to check on Zak's progress, "He continues to improve, Master Kenobi; I have arranged to move him to a room where there is another bed. It is quite obvious that you have need of rest." It said.

"Thank you; but I don't think I could get much sleep anyway." Obi-Wan replied.

"Master Kenobi, you are in need of rest as much as you are in need of sustenance and treatment for your own injury. If you find that you cannot sleep, I can give you something to help you." The droid told him.

"Uh, no thank you; I have had quite enough drugs lately." Obi-Wan answered.

"Very well, Master Kenobi; however, I advise you to get some rest, or you will be of no use to anyone." The med droid said sternly.

"Alright, when you have moved Zak to another room, I will try." Obi-Wan conceded.

"Very good; he will be moved momentarily." The med droid answered as two droids entered the room, "These droids will transfer your apprentice to his room. You may accompany us there now if you wish." One of the droids attached itself to the foot of Zak's bed and the other to the head. There was a sound of whirring servos and then the top of the bed detached and floated between the two droids.

"Oh, you're moving him now." Obi-Wan said, a little surprised. "I hadn't expected it to be this quickly."

"Master Kenobi, it is better for Zak to be where he will not be constantly observed by…strangers." The med droid replied.

"Yes, of course." Obi-Wan answered.

The med droid detached the monitoring equipment and the other end of the tube that had been inserted in Zak's nose, "Follow us." It instructed as he led the way, followed by the droids guiding Zak's bed.

Obi-Wan followed them to a lift that took them up two levels. The med droid then traveled down the hall a

short distance and entered the room that had been assigned to Zak.

"Master Kenobi? I am pleased to see you are looking so well." A familiar voice said from behind Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan turned to see EMD421 the droid who had treated him almost a year ago, "Oh, hello; yes, I'm doing very well…ah…thank you." He answered and then attempted to get away from it by following the droids into Zak's room.

The EMD unit, however, entered the room behind him, "I am wondering why you have returned, did you wish to thank me…" EMD421 began.

"EMD421, you have no patient in this room, you should leave immediately." Zak's med droid scolded.

"Oh, yes; my apologies. You have my regards, Master Kenobi." EMD421 replied as it quickly departed.

"Tsk…tsk…I do believe that unit needs to be overhauled, it has gotten quite eccentric." The med droid said when 421 had gone.

It lost no time in attaching Zak to the machines there while the other droids secured the top of the bed.

"There, this is much better, is it not?" It asked Obi-Wan.

"Yes, I just hope EMD421 is not assigned to care for him." Obi-Wan replied.

"Oh no, Master Kenobi; Zak has been assigned to me. My databank has been modified to deal mainly with neurological injuries; I am ND25." The droid told him.

"But you worked on Zak's internal injuries and you have been treating me." Obi-Wan questioned.

"I deal mainly with neurological cases, however, I have knowledge of all aspects of medical procedures. It is much simpler in cases such as this one to have only one droid assigned rather than one to address each separate injury." ND25 explained.

"Oh, I see. What about his leg; are monitoring that too?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, I am monitoring the healing process, however, another droid will be assigned when he is up and about to teach him how to walk with that cast and crutches." ND25 answered.

That caused Obi-Wan to wince, the thought of his Padawan on crutches…., "I sense by your expression that it distresses you to think of Zak in that way. I assure you, Master Kenobi, it will not be for long; I have treated Jedi before and they recover very quickly." ND25 informed him.

"Well, Zak was given something that took his Jedi abilities away from him; he will not recover as quickly because of that." Obi-Wan said.

"Oh, that is most distressing, most distressing, tsk…tsk…tsk; perhaps I could find a way to restore them." ND25 suggested.

"How could you do that? What do you know about it?" Obi-Wan asked, intrigued.

"Well, if the midi-chlorians are merely dormant there may be a way to trigger them back to activity." ND25 said.

"Well, that will help a little, but some of Zak's are dead." Obi-Wan replied.

"Oh, I am afraid I have no information in my data banks stating that it is possible to reanimate dead midi-chlorians. I am sorry." ND25 answered.

"No, I didn't think so." Obi-Wan said, disappointed.

Around midday, ND25 returned with another tray of food for Obi-Wan and supplies to clean and redress Obi-Wan's wrist. He also brought a data pad, sent from Jocasta Nu: a history lesson and a message for Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan triggered the message.

"Good afternoon, Master Kenobi. I think it is extremely important that your Padawan keep up with his lessons. I realize that he is not yet conscious; however, I believe if you recite the lessons to him, he will absorb some of the knowledge. I will continue to send lessons to him while he is in the medical center. In that way, he will not fall behind his fellow Padawans. This lesson concerns the Jedi involvement in the Mandalorian Wars. I expect him to be well versed on this when he returns to the Temple. Good day, Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan smiled, "Sorry, Zak; it looks as if Master Nu is not going to give you a break." He told his apprentice. "But this will have to wait a while; I think I'll rest for a bit."

"That is very good idea, Master Kenobi. I will tend to your wrist, then you can eat the meal I brought to you and then you can rest." ND25 said.

"I ate this morning." Obi-Wan informed him. "And you changed this" He held up his wrist, "this morning too."

"Well, it is time to eat again, Master Kenobi; and I must treat your wrist three times a day." ND25 informed him.

"Alright, I'm too tired to argue with you." Obi-Wan conceded.

Half an hour later, ND25 left the room, satisfied that Obi-Wan had eaten and would rest; and that its primary patient was continuing to improve. Obi-Wan laid down on the bed and sighed heavily. He was exhausted and the bed was soft and comfortable; sleep came quickly.

It is Mustafar, but something is different; Anakin is not there, Terak is. Standing with his back toward Obi-Wan, he is taunting Zak, who is standing on the edge of a precipice. "Freak! Abomination! You should be dead; you should have died along time ago!" Terak is screaming. "Mother should have let them take you; she felt sorry for you, so she let them have you! We weren't supposed to see you again!" Zak is trying to speak but he cannot. Obi-Wan moves toward Terak, but before he can reach him, Terak drives forward into Zak, and Obi-Wan can only watch helplessly as he pushes Zak over the edge "No, Zak!" Obi-Wan screams. "He's my brother." Zak says as he disappears from view. "What have you done?" Obi-Wan asks Terak. "He is a freak, an abomination; he should be dead, like all the others." Terak answers…

Obi-Wan awoke with a start and rubbed his hand over his eyes. The lights of Coruscant were visible from the window; how long had he slept? A dinner tray sat on the table between his bed and Zak's; apparently, ND 25 had not wanted to disturb him, so it left the tray for Obi-Wan to eat when he woke up. He rubbed his face and looked over at Zak who had not yet regained consciousness.

"Well, Padawan; how about a little history lesson?" Obi-Wan said as he picked up the data pad. "Let's see, Mandalorian raiders began to invade from beyond the Outer Rim; and the Jedi had little choice but to defend the Republic against them. Now, this was not too long after the Sith War, so the Jedi were still recovering from that. There were a couple of well-known Jedi heroes that came out of that war, but sadly, both of them turned to the Dark Side and went on to become Sith Lords. Malak and Revan had been in pursuit of the fleeing Mandalorians into the Unchartered Territories and all contact was lost. When they resurfaced again, they were full-fledged Sith Lords; Malak being the mentor and Revan being the apprentice…"

"No, Master, Malak was the apprentice and Revan was the mentor." Zak said groggily.

"Oh yes; I read….Zak?" Obi-Wan looked over to see a bleary-eyed Zak looking back at him.

"Yes, Master; where am I?" Zak asked.

"Coruscant. Do you remember anything?" Obi-Wan asked.

Zak rubbed the side of his head, "No, not much. I…I…it's gone!" He exclaimed. "What happened; why has this happened; Master, help me."

Obi-Wan took his hand and squeezed tightly, "It's alright, Zak; calm down." He said reassuringly.

"No, it's gone! I can't feel it; I can't feel you! How could this happen?" Zak cried.

"Calm down, now; you fell, and you were very badly injured. I had no choice but to take you to a medical center on Belarid. Before I realized what they had done, you were given something that blocked the Force." Obi-Wan explained.

"No, no, no…no, no…" Zak repeated.

"Zak, listen to me now; it will be alright." Obi-Wan assured him.

"How can you say that? I can't feel the Force, it's gone, gone, gone…" Zak replied, panicking.

"I can't either." Obi-Wan told him.

"No; why did they do this?" Zak asked.

"I don't know, Padawan; but don't worry." Obi-Wan said, trying to sound confident, "they are trying to find out how to fix it."

"Fix it? How?" Zak asked.

"Well, our midi-chlorians have been rendered dormant; you know what that means don't you?" Obi-Wan began.

"Yes, Master; so they're not dead?" Zak asked.

Obi-Wan paused; this was the tricky part, "not all of them." He answered.

"But some of them are?" Zak asked.

"Yes." Obi-Wan confirmed.

"So what happens when some of your midi-chlorians die?" Zak asked.

"I'm not sure, Zak." Obi-Wan answered.

"Will it make us weaker?" Zak asked.

"I don't know." Obi-Wan told him.

"It will, won't it." Zak stated.

Obi-Wan sighed, "Probably." He admitted.

"So what happens now?" Zak asked.

"Now?" Obi-Wan repeated.

"Yes, since we're going to be weaker, what happens now?" Zak asked again.

Obi-Wan hesitated and steeled himself to be truthful, "Zak, my midi-chlorians are all dormant; if they become active…" He started.

"Oh, I see." Zak replied, before Obi-Wan had a chance to finish and turned his head away.

"Zak, look at me." Obi-Wan requested.

"So what happens to me now?" Zak asked without turning his head back.

"Will you look at me?" Obi-Wan requested again.
Slowly, Zak turned back, but averted his eyes and stared at the doorway instead, "Tell me, what will happen to me now?" He repeated.

"Well, first, you get your strength back. Then you learn how to get around with that cast on; and then you go home." Obi-Wan answered.

"Oh." Zak replied.

"Don't you want to go home?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Sure." Zak answered.

"Zak?"

"I'm fine." Zak said.

"Alright, I know this is hard right now; but it will get better, I promise." Obi-Wan assured him.

Zak nodded, "Are you staying here a little longer?" He asked, hopefully.

"Do you want me to?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, for a little while." Zak replied.

"Alright, I'll stay until you go sleep; and then I will come back in the morning." Obi-Wan promised.

"Why?" Zak asked.

"Why? Why would I come back, or why would I stay?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Never mind." Zak answered.

"Zak, I'm as blind as you are, but something's wrong; tell me what it is." Obi-Wan inquired.

"Nothing; nothing's wrong, I just hurt, all over." Zak told him.

"Oh, well I can understand that; you just get a little rest now." Obi-Wan replied.

"Ah, my patient is awake; hello, Zak, I am ND25." The med droid said as it entered the room.

"Hello." Zak answered.

"I told Master Kenobi that you would be awake soon, but I do not think he actually believed me. How do you feel, Zak?" ND25 asked.

"Sore; and I my head hurts." Zak answered.

"Well, yes; it would, would it not?" ND25 replied. "When did he regain consciousness?"

"Just a few minutes ago; while I was reading a history lesson to him." Obi-Wan informed him.

"History? Hmm…well, I just want to check a few things here, make some adjustments and change the dressing on your wrist, Master Kenobi." ND25 said.

"You were hurt, Master?" Zak asked.

"Not as badly as you were." Obi-Wan assured him. "Just a little burn, that's all."

"Hmm…tsk…yes, that will do it." ND25 said as it scanned Zak quickly and made the proper adjustments to the machine he was hooked up to.

"When can I get this tube out? It itches." Zak asked, rubbing the side of his nose.

"Well, not yet; but I will remove it as soon as you do not need it any longer." ND25 answered, turning its attention to Obi-Wan's burned wrist.

"Are you going to probe me like the other droid probed Master Obi-Wan?" Zak asked apprehensively.

"Probe you? Of course not, there are other ways of monitoring your condition; in fact, that is what I have just done." ND25 assured him as he examined the burn, "Ah, this is much better; one more treatment should take care of it. I will do that tomorrow morning."

"Oh, that's good." Zak replied.

"I will leave you now; I have other patients to attend to. Zak, if you need anything, press this button." It said handing him a small transmitter, "and I will come right away. Master Kenobi, I expect you to eat something before you leave. Good night."

"Thank you, ND." Obi-Wan said as the droid left the room.

"Are you hungry, Zak?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, a little." Zak answered.

"Alright, I'll share; how would that be?" Obi-Wan offered.

"That would be good; but what about ND25?" Zak replied.

"Well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him." Obi-Wan answered and handed Zak a piece of bread off the tray.

"I'm glad you're here now, Master." Zak said suddenly.

"Where else would I be?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I don't know." Zak answered.

"Zak, I know something's bothering you, why can't you talk to me?" Obi-Wan probed.

"I'm alright; at least I will be." Zak told him evasively.

"Well, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong." Obi-Wan said.

"Nothing's wrong other than my bro…I fell and I don't have the Force anymore." Zak replied churlishly.

"Your brother? Is that what you were going to say? Your brother did push you, didn't he." Obi-Wan questioned.

"No, I fell; I remember now." Zak denied. "I'm tired; I think I'll go to sleep."

Zak rolled over to face the wall and said nothing more. Obi-Wan waited for nearly an hour before deciding that Zak had fallen asleep. He stood up, touched his Padawan lightly on the cheek and left.

Zak waited for a while after his master left. When he was certain that Master Obi-Wan had gone for the night, he gave into despair and began to cry. Now that he could no longer call on the Force, his life as a Jedi was over. Master Obi-Wan had said himself that he would be sent home. Home to the place where his brother tried to kill him and he was treated as a freak; someone to be shunned and alienated. Maybe they were right, he was, what was that word, an abomination. Maybe he deserved to be shunned.

"Zak, are you feeling ill?" ND25 asked.

"No, I'm fine." Zak answered.

"No, I believe you were crying. What hurts you enough to make you cry? I can help you." ND25 said.

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

"I can do many things, Zak; please, let me help you." ND25 insisted.

"I have to go home." Zak finally admitted.

"And you do not wish to?" ND25 asked.

"No, they hate me there." Zak replied.

"The Jedi hate you?" ND25 asked.

"No, the Belaridians; that's where I'm from." Zak answered.

"But your home is the Jedi Temple, is it not?" ND25 asked.

"I…I don't know where my home is anymore." Zak said tearfully.

"Yes, you do; you should rest now." ND25 told him.