Chapter 15 Belarid's Ancient Past

When Zak opened his eyes again, the Coruscant morning sun was shining in his window. He could feel the Force again, but he felt as if he had been covered by a wet blanket; it was muffled and unclear. He shook his head, hoping to shake the dampening sensation off to no avail. He tried to convince himself that the drug had not run its course yet; it would get better…it would get better…yes, it would….wouldn't it? Some of his midi-chlorians were dead, maybe it would never get any better than this. How many did the drug kill? It didn't matter, he told himself, he was still a Jedi; he would always be a Jedi, Master Obi-Wan had told him that. Yes, and right now, this Jedi had a mission; he would not let the others down. This would more than likely be his last mission and he did not intend to fail. He would not fail.

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For the first time in nearly a week, Obi-Wan woke to the voice of the Force; and gave thanks for it. As it had been since the incident on Naboo, Anakin's presence was once again a part of him, and he was grateful for this as well. "Me too." Anakin's voice sounded in his head. "I have missed you." Obi-Wan smiled, "And I have missed you, my brother." He thought.

After a quick breakfast, the two grabbed a speeder and head over to the medical center, Obi-Wan was becoming increasingly concerned about Zak's reaction to his decreased Force abilities.

"He's trying to convince himself that it's only temporary." Anakin said.

"Well, he knows that some of his midi-chlorians died, so he must know he will lose something." Obi-Wan replied.

"He didn't realize he would have lost this much. But, Obi-Wan, he's decided it doesn't matter." Anakin told him, with a little smile.

"Good boy." Obi-Wan said.

"Can't you reach him at all?" Anakin asked suddenly.

"No, I can feel him, but it's like he's covered with something; something that I can't penetrate." Obi-Wan explained, "I think the only reason you can reach him is because of your ability to read minds, whether they are Force sensitive or not."

"Then why couldn't I read either your mind or his when you couldn't feel the Force?" Anakin asked.

"Maybe for the same reason you couldn't reach him to heal; his midi-chlorians." Obi-Wan speculated.

"Oh, that makes perfect sense." Anakin replied.

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Trying to test how much of his Force abilities he still had, Zak concentrated on Boba's rock at the end of his bed table. Focusing on it, and the Force around it, he attempted to move it….with intense concentration and all the power of the Force he could control he managed to…make the rock wobble, a little. He shook his head, a youngling could have done better than that, "Blast." He said.

"Good morning, Zak." ND25 said cheerfully as it entered the room with Zak's breakfast tray, "And how are we this morning?"

Hello, ND; I'm fine." Zak answered, trying to sound cheerful.

ND25 set the tray down on the bed table and scanned Zak, "Hmm…tsk…hmm…it seems you are much better today. This is good news, Zak." It announced.

"I told you I was leaving here tomorrow." Zak replied.

"Tsk….we'll just have to see about that." ND25 said, "Eat your breakfast because PT7 has a full day planned for you."

"Good, because I'm ready to go to work." Zak answered, stuffing a piece of yellow fruit in his mouth.

"Do not bolt your food; it is not good for digestion and it will not bring PT7 here any sooner." ND25 scolded before leaving.

Zak started reading the data pad of Belarid's history as he ate. The first thing discovered was the exact reason for their rejection of higher technology. What had started out as a small dispute between two families, had ended in violence when one of the families introduced armed droids in speeders and low flying aircraft. Several members of the opposing family were killed, the survivors retaliated and in the end, most of the members of both families were dead leaving their children orphaned. As a result of this small familial feud, the Belaridian government introduced a ban against all such technology that had never been rescinded in the hundred years since. Still, he had not discovered what his master was searching for. When PT7 arrived twenty minutes later, he was still reading, "Ah, Zak; ready to begin?" It asked.

"Oh, yes; just one more paragraph and I will have finished the first part…just a minute." Zak answered, still reading.

"Well, I will just fit your reinforcement while you are doing that." PT7 said picking up the sleeve.

"Sure, alright." Zak replied absently, but holding his arm up to allow the droid to slip the sleeve over his cast.

Just as PT7 was fastening the last strap, Zak had finished reading, "What are you reading?" PT7 asked.

"History; it's about my home planet." Zak answered, putting his left leg over the side of the bed and then moving the right over.

"Ah, and why are you interested in such a place as that?" PT7 asked.

"My master wants to find out why they don't like people like me; we are going back there tomorrow, so we have to learn as much as we can." Zak told it as he put his left foot on the floor and balanced there for a moment before attempting to call his crutches to him, "Blast." He said, stooping down to retrieve them when he failed.

"What were you trying to do, Zak?" PT7 asked.

"Never mind, it didn't work. Let's get started." Zak answered as he headed out into the hall.

He had not gotten more than two steps before he nearly collided with his master coming down the hall, "Oh, sorry, Master." He said, apologetically.

"Up and about already, Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, Master; PT has a busy schedule planned for me today." Zak answered.

"How are you feeling?" Obi-Wan asked, sending a surge of the Force to him.

Zak bounced it back to him, "Weak." Zak replied.

"No, Zak, I think you are much stronger." PT7 disagreed.

"No, PT; weak in the Force." Zak corrected.

"Ah, I…see." PT7 answered, without actually comprehending what Zak was talking about.

"Not to worry, it will be alright." Obi-Wan assured him, patting him lightly on the shoulder, "Master Anakin is here to try to fix it again."

"No, I don't want him to try yet." Zak replied.

"Why?" Obi-Wan puzzled.

"Because if Master Anakin can't do anything, then I will be disappointed; and if I'm disappointed, I won't be able to focus on helping the others on Belarid. I'd rather wait until after that." Zak explained.

"Then at least let me help you heal up a little faster." Anakin offered.

"Oh, well, that would be alright." Zak replied.

"That is fine; however, Zak must finish this session first." PT7 insisted, "He has barely started."

"He's right; I'd better finish this first." Zak agreed as he started back down the hall.

"Well, you can't say he's not determined." Anakin declared as they watched him amble down the hall.

"Yes, he has a lot of spirit; it would have been very easy for him to just have given up as soon as he realized what had happened." Obi-Wan concurred.

"I just hope I can help him." Anakin said.

"Just boosting his healing ability will be helpful, Anakin." Obi-Wan replied, putting hand on his shoulder.

"I suppose so; but I wish I could do more." Anakin answered wistfully.

"Maybe you can; but he doesn't want you to try until this Belarid mystery is solved." Obi-Wan told him.

Anakin nodded as they watched Zak reach the end of the hallway and turn to make his way back.

It took Zak only fifteen minutes to complete PT7's six-round therapy session, once back in the room, Obi-Wan helped him into bed and PT7 removed the sleeve and lifted his leg back into the sling.

"ND25 will be in shortly to check your progress. I will be back after you have had your lunch for your afternoon session." It stated as it departed and ND25 entered.

"Well, Zak; let me just see how you are doing." ND25 said, running its scanner over Obi-Wan's apprentice. "Hmm…yes, very good. You are recovering very well; I believe PT7 will be able to allow you eight rounds this afternoon."

"How about ten." Zak bargained, grinning.

"How about…tsk…no, Zak; eight rounds will be sufficient." ND25 answered firmly, "PT7 told you that you must listen to us; if you do not, further sessions will be cancelled."

"No, PT7 told me I had to listen to him; if you tell him I can do ten rounds, then he will allow it." Zak countered.

"I do not think you are ready for ten rounds yet, and I will tell PT7 this. I will return with your lunch tray at midday." ND25 replied before leaving.

"Why are you trying to push yourself so hard, Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I just want to be ready to go tomorrow." Zak answered.

"You are coming with us tomorrow, Zak; but not if you make yourself worse by trying too hard." Obi-Wan told him.

"Yes, Master." Zak said quietly.

"Now, let's see what we can do about giving your healing a little boost." Anakin said, "Remember how I showed you Master Obi-Wan?"

"I think so; is this going to work the same way?" Zak asked.

"In a way; I want to combine our Force strength, that's how I helped Master Obi-Wan." Anakin answered as he took Zak's head between his hands, "Now, close your eyes and clear you mind…"

"Ouch, could you move your hand just a little." Zak requested when Anakin's hand touched the sealed wound and bruise.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Anakin said, shifting his hand slightly, "now, clear your mind…yes…and let…very good."

Anakin could feel Zak's feeble Force strength binding with his, "Obi-Wan, I think it might help if you joined us here."

Obi-Wan nodded and put one hand on Zak's hand and the other on Anakin's shoulder. He felt his strength effortlessly merge with Anakin's, bolstering the weakened strength of his Padawan. Zak gave a sharp intake of breath as those two powerful Force strengths surged through him and Obi-Wan squeezed his hand in reassurance. They remained joined for several minutes, allowing Anakin's healing Force to flow throughout Zak's injured body before Anakin broke contact.

"Wow." Zak exclaimed when Anakin had released him.

"Do you feel better?" Anakin asked.

"I don't know…I…yes." Zak answered, "I feel stronger."

"Good, that was the idea." Anakin replied.

"I just wish I didn't feel like I was covered with a wet blanket." He added with a bit of sadness.

"Is that the way the Force feels to you?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, kind of muffled." Zak explained.

"Zak, Master Anakin can try to fix that." Obi-Wan said.

"I know, but it's the try…you see, I'll be disappointed if he can't." Zak told him.

"Alright, but think about this; do you think you will be strong enough to sense the others when we go back Belarid?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I don't think it will make a difference; they will find me." Zak answered.

The rest of the morning, Zak spent studying the history data pad. Just before noon, he finally came upon something that might interest his master. He signaled ND25 and the med droid answered the summons immediately, "Yes, Zak." It asked.

"Is my master still here?" Zak asked.

"Oh, tsk….yes, he and Master Skywalker just went down to the cafeteria." ND25 answered.

"Could you have him come back up here?" Zak requested.

"Well, yes; however, it will cause him to miss his lunch." ND25 replied.

"I'm sure he won't mind. This is very important." Zak insisted.

"Oh very well…tsk…tsk….I will have him contacted now." ND25 promised and then left.

Ten minutes later, Obi-Wan followed by Anakin, consuming the last of another pallie, returned.

"What is it, Zak; what's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Nothing, but I think I know when it all started." Zak answered.

Intrigued, Obi-Wan sat down in the chair and Anakin seated himself on the other bed, "Tell us." Obi-Wan urged.

"It started during the Sith War." Zak started.

"What does it say?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Well, it's kind of vague; it talks about the 'bad times', when younglings who had special abilities were stolen, and when they were found, they were different." Zak continued.

"Different?" Anakin questioned.

"Yes, aggressive, cruel, heartless…and they had yellow eyes." Zak expounded.

Obi-Wan looked over at Anakin and then both of them looked at Zak; and together they all said, "Sith eyes."

"So the Sith were stealing Belarid's Force sensitive younglings, twisting them and then turning them loose." Anakin surmised.

"Yes; and it says these 'different' younglings…well, it says they…some of them killed their families when they were taken home." Zak went on.

"Oh dear; now I see what happened; to prevent any more Force sensitive younglings from being corrupted, they killed them." Obi-Wan concluded.

"Yes, Master; the government made it legal to…um…it says…um…dispose of them." Zak read.

Obi-Wan shook his head, "Well, that explains why they condone 'putting down' younglings like Zak." He said.

"Have you noticed that they never come right out and say 'kill'; do they think it's alright if they don't actually say it?" Anakin asked.

"I don't know; and I don't know why, after a thousand years, they haven't figured out that the Sith are no longer a threat." Obi-Wan replied.

"Or why they didn't ask the help of the Jedi when this started. They could have taken those special younglings and protected them." Anakin added.

"But, Master, if it's in this history; then the Jedi must have known about it." Zak questioned.

"Go back to after the Sith Wars, Zak, and see if there is any other mention of killing younglings." Obi-Wan instructed.

Zak was silent for a few minutes as he skimmed the history after the Sith Wars, "No, Master; they never mentioned it again." He said.

"Oh, that's nice; they continued to kill younglings, and they covered it up." Anakin replied, disgusted, "Why couldn't the Jedi sense what they were doing?"

"Well, the Jedi don't normally go there; they are not welcome and Belarid seemed to be able to police itself." Obi-Wan answered.

"Oh yes; they had to, didn't they; or else the Jedi might figure out what they were doing." Anakin said, sarcastically.

"That's about to change; once we expose the truth, Belarid will be under tight security. I'm sure the Chancellor will see to it a Republic police force will be present there." Obi-Wan replied.

"It's long past time." Anakin said.

"Yes…I think we've got what we need; Zak, you have done very well." Obi-Wan told his apprentice.

"Thank you, Master." Zak answered.

ND25 brought Zak's lunch and shortly after that, PT7 returned for Zak's afternoon session; it had calculated that Zak was ready for ten rounds this time that Zak completed with so little difficulty, that it added an extra session two hours later with an additional five rounds. Boba made an appearance, pleased with himself because he would be traveling to Belarid with them. Although he said nothing to him, Zak worried that he was still determined to seek revenge on whoever was responsible for Zak's fall. Obi-Wan and Anakin returned briefly during Zak's evening session of twelve rounds before returning to the Temple to make the final preparations for the trip. Zak fell asleep knowing that at last he would be able to fulfill his promise to the others of Belarid, and he did not dream.