Chapter 24 A Gift from the Others & A Jedi Funeral
Zak slept peacefully; he had accomplished his mission, he had freed the others so that they could become one with the Force. He had helped to expose the murderous acts committed on his home planet and he, at last, knew where he belonged. It no longer mattered to him whether his full Force sense returned because he now knew that it did not matter to Master Obi-Wan. He was a Jedi and he would always be a Jedi; he finally understood this.
Obi-Wan returned to the passengers' compartment to find Zak sleeping soundly; he probed and could sense only peace and contentment. He touched his Padawan lightly on the head and turned his attention to the younglings; those who were not asleep had become calm, as if just being taken from the planet was enough to assure them that they were now safe. Even the two who could not be reached through the Force, now awake, seemed to know they were out of harm's way. He looked at Boba, staring out the view port, "You did very well, Boba." He said.
Boba turned his head to look up at him, "But I failed." He said.
"No, you did not." Obi-Wan replied.
"But she died; I told her I would protect her, that she was safe. She was right next to me; why couldn't I have been the one? It wasn't right; it should have been me." Boba answered quietly.
Obi-Wan sighed, and crouched down next to him, "Sometimes things happen for a reason. We just do not always know what that is; maybe you are meant to do something else." He told him.
"What? I'm no good to anyone." Boba argued.
"I think you are wrong about that, Boba; you have turned your life completely around. You are not the same boy I met on Kamino." Obi-Wan countered.
Boba was silent as he thought about that. No, he wasn't; the boy on Kamino had a father….but he knew this was not what Master Kenobi meant.
"You used to be single minded and selfish; and you did not care if what you did hurt anyone else." Obi-Wan went on.
"And now?" Boba asked.
"Now; now, you have learned to give and you have learned to think about the consequences of your actions. Just look at what you did tonight; you discovered who had developed the Force killing drug; it was you who found these younglings and when they were threatened, you defended them. Then, when one of them was killed, you did not seek revenge even though I knew you wanted to…and you have become a very good friend to Zak." Obi-Wan continued. "So, you see; you have changed and now you have much to offer."
"Maybe; but I still wish she hadn't died." Boba relented.
"Well, so do I; and so does everyone else here. But all we can do now is to be sure that none of the other younglings come to harm and that the ones responsible for what has happened are punished." Obi-Wan replied. "And think about this, Boba; just wishing she had not been killed is proof that you are not the selfish, cold-hearted boy you used to be."
"Oh, heh, I guess that's true." Boba realized.
"Yes; now, you should rest too. There will be much to do when we get back to Coruscant." Obi-Wan said as he stood up and walked toward the cockpit.
"Thank you, Master Kenobi." Boba said.
Obi-Wan turned his head, "You're welcome, Boba." He answered before moving out of view.
After he had gone, Boba turned to look at the young Jedi apprentice sleeping in the seat next to him. He had never understood the value of friendship before, not until he had met Zak; and he smiled to himself, thinking of how much different, how much better his life was now that he had one.
"So, how are our passengers?" Anakin asked when Obi-Wan returned to the cockpit.
"All fine; well almost all of them." Obi-Wan informed him.
"But I do sense some restlessness." Anakin replied.
"Yes, well that would be the ones in the cargo hold, now wouldn't it." Obi-Wan answered, smiling.
"Oh, yes; I can see why they would be." Anakin said. "But the younglings are alright?"
"Yes, some are sleeping and the rest are very calm as if they know that they are safe now." Obi-Wan answered.
Anakin yawned and stretched, "That's good." He replied.
"You look tired, Anakin; why don't you go back and lie down for a while." Obi-Wan suggested.
Anakin yawned again, "Good idea; and it wouldn't hurt for you to do the same." He said.
"I will; right now, I need to think." Obi-Wan told him.
"Alright, then; wake me when we come out of hyperspace if I'm not already up." Anakin answered as he left the cockpit.
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"Zak." "What; I'm tired, what do you want?" "We want to thank you." "Thank me? What did I do?" "You freed us, of course." "Oh, you're the others? I thought you were gone?" "We came back, we had to back." "But why?" "To thank you." "You already did that." "Yes, but this time we want to give you something." "I don't want anything, I just want to sleep." "Zak, you are already doing that." "Oh, then I must be dreaming." "Yes, in a manner of speaking." "Then you're not really here." "Oh, yes we are, Zak." "No, if this is a dream, then you're not even real." "Sometimes, dreams are real; you should know this, you had such a dream." "When?" "Before you came to help us." "But that dream was just a memory of what happened." "Are you sure, Zak?" "Yes, I think so." "Only part of it was your memory." "Only part…what part?" "The argument with your brother and your fall." "Then you didn't come to me until I dreamt about it?" "No, we came both times." "Oh, then why are you here now?" "To give you a gift." "But I told you, I don't want anything." "No? Is there not something you want?" "Nothing you can give me." "Ah, are you sure?" "Yes." "Well, we will leave our gift anyway; in case you are wrong. Good bye, Zak." "Wait." "Yes?" "You seem…wiser now, how is that possible?" "We are one with everything that is and everything that was and everything that will be, would that not make us wiser?" "Oh, yes, I suppose so." "Now, good bye again, Zak; but know that we will always be with you." "Good bye."
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"Coruscant." Obi-Wan announced.
Anakin awoke with a start, stretched and moved quickly from the couch he had been resting on to the cockpit, "Feeling better?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes, much…Obi-Wan." Anakin replied.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked.
"He's going to be alright." Anakin answered.
"Who?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Zak." Anakin said.
"You mean…his Force sense?" Obi-Wan asked, hopefully.
"Yes; I know now just like I knew when yours was coming back." Anakin told him.
"How? I thought…you mean you think you can bring back his dead midichlorians?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No; but I can activate the ones that are dormant." Anakin answered.
"But the dormant ones have already been reactivated." Obi-Wan said.
"Obi-Wan, don't ask me how I know this, but he doesn't have any more dead midichlorians." Anakin replied.
"What? No, Master Windu tested him, I saw the results." Obi-Wan refuted.
"Well, they are not dead anymore." Anakin insisted, "And I know that I can help him now."
"I hope you're right." Obi-Wan replied.
"I know I'm right." Anakin answered.
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A greeting party was waiting for them as Anakin flawlessly landed on the government docking platform.
The Chancellor's wife had organized a group of women to take charge of the younglings. She led the way carrying Gemma as they boarded the ship to help ease their anxiety and assure them that they would now be given the love and caring that had been denied them so long.
"Boba!" Gemma exclaimed when she caught sight of her adopted brother.
Boba hugged her tightly, "Did you miss me?" He asked.
"Yes!" The little girl answered and then noticed Zak pulling himself up, "Aw, Sackie's hurt; I sorry, Sackie."
"I'm alright, Gemma." Zak assured her.
"Good; 'cause I love Sackie." Gemma replied.
Obi-Wan and Anakin stood to the side, waiting to see if it would necessary for them to help the younglings through the Force; but Breha's friends had the situation well in-hand and led the younglings off the ship without even a peep out of them, "You come too, Boba." Breha instructed.
Boba looked over at Zak, apologetically, "I'll see you later, alright?" He said.
"Alright." Zak replied.
The younglings were just being ushered into a waiting inter-city shuttle when Obi-Wan and Anakin stepped down the ramp with Zak. Master Yoda, Chancellor Organa and Anakin's family stood at the foot of the ramp.
"Padme, what are you doing here? You should not be traveling in your condition." Anakin admonished as he picked up both of his children and embraced her.
"Well, I had to." Padme replied.
"Had to? Whatever for?" Anakin asked.
"It was Luke; he insisted." Padme explained.
"Why?" Anakin asked as Luke struggled to get out of his arms.
"Down, Daddy." He ordered and struggled until Anakin finally put him down.
"I think he wanted to see Zak." Padme answered as they watched Luke toddle over to him.
"Hullo, Sackie; feelin' better?" Luke asked as he looked up.
"Yes, how are you?" Zak asked.
"Silly Sackie, Lukie's fine." Luke replied.
"See?" Padme said and then suddenly tightened her hold on him.
"What is it, love? The baby; is something…" Anakin asked in concern.
"No, darling; something happened when you were on Belarid, didn't it." She answered.
"Well, yes; we uncovered their secret." Anakin said.
"No, something else; you were…your children felt it." Padme replied.
"Felt what, Padme?" Anakin asked.
"The Darkness." Padme answered, shivering.
"Oh…I'm sorry; if I had thought they could….Padme, I would have contacted you right away if I had thought….I'm so sorry." Anakin apologized.
"It's alright now; I'm just glad you….I'm just glad to see you." She said, rubbing his back as she held him.
"I'm happy to see you too." Anakin told her.
"I have already sent a garrison force to Belarid; they left this morning. Master Yoda hand-picked the Jedi accompanying them. They will conduct a planet-wide search for any Force sensitive younglings and bring them here. I know it's not the way of the Jedi to take younglings without parental consent, but I think, in this situation, it would be the best alternative for the children." Bail told Obi-Wan.
"Yes, I have to agree with you, Chancellor. I doubt the parents there would object anyway, in light of their superstitions about them." Obi-Wan replied.
The Chancellor glanced over at Zak, leaning on his crutches and talking with Luke, "How is he doing?" He asked.
"Better; the med droid has informed me that he should make a full recovery." Obi-Wan answered.
"What about his Force abilities?" Bail asked.
"Well, Anakin tells me that he knows they will return too." Obi-Wan replied.
"Good; that is very good news." The Chancellor said and then noticed the Clones escorting the Belaridians they had brought with them. "Rest assured, Master Kenobi; I will see to it that justice is served."
"I know, Chancellor." Obi-Wan replied.
"I hate you, you freak." Terak declared as he passed Zak.
"Just move along, son." The Clone with him ordered as he prodded the boy in the back.
The Chancellor shook his head, "How could Zak's own brother try to kill him?" He asked.
Obi-Wan sighed, "The mindset there is so twisted against anyone with Force sensitivity; they even reject their own family members. Hopefully, eventually, things there will change; but it will take a long time." He answered.
When the last of the Clones had disembarked, Obi-Wan returned to the ship and appeared carrying the youngling killed during the rescue. Yoda shook his head sadly, "Send her to be one with the Force we will." He said.
"Yes, Master; that was my thought as well." Obi-Wan replied as he set her tenderly in a seat on the second shuttle.
"When will you have the ceremony?" The Chancellor asked.
"Tonight." Master Yoda informed him.
"Then, with your permission, I would like to attend." Bail said.
"Yes, welcome you will be Chancellor." Yoda replied.
"Thank you; now, if you will excuse me, I will accompany the younglings to the place we have prepared for them." Bail said as he entered the shuttle.
The Jedi then entered their shuttle and both shuttles departed simultaneously. When the shuttle docked in the Temple landing bay, a group of Jedi were waiting for them. They took in the child from Obi-Wan to prepare her for the evening ceremony.
"Readied we have quarters for your family, Anakin." Yoda said.
"Oh no, Master Yoda; that won't be necessary, we have a suite in the government officials' complex." Anakin replied.
"Insist we do, Anakin; a Jedi you are, your home this is." Yoda told him.
"For me, yes; but really, Master, it's too much trouble for Padme and my children to stay here too." Anakin insisted.
"Anakin, always welcome here your family is. And a healer Lady Padme should see while with us you all are." Yoda replied.
"A healer? Why, Master, is something wrong?" Anakin asked worriedly.
"No, but carrying a child she is; wish her not to see a healer then do you….hmm?" Yoda asked.
"Well, no…I…Master Yoda, I'm sorry. It's just that, well, I worry; you know." Anakin answered.
"Hmmm…yes, understand this I do, Anakin." Yoda said wisely, "But still, request I do that she see a healer."
"Yes, Master." Anakin replied.
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The remainder of the day passed quickly, and the time for the funeral ceremony had come. As promised, the Chancellor was present along with Breha; having left Gemma in the care of her nursemaid. Boba stood next to them, looking solemn. Anakin and Padme stood with the rest of the Jedi Council with the exception of Obi-Wan standing with Zak beside the pyre. A group of senior Padawans carried her in on a slab and they laid her on the pyre. She was dressed as a Jedi in a white tunic and pants and brown boots; and her hair had been cropped short in the Jedi style. The Padawan bearers stepped back and Obi-Wan nodded to Zak who came forward and lit the pyre beneath her.
"Know this youngling we did not; but a Jedi she would have been. Taken she was before the opportunity given to her was. Of the Force she was born and so return her to the Force we do." Yoda said.
The flames climbed up and licked at her feet, her legs, her arms; and finally engulfed her. Zak shuddered and Obi-Wan put a concerned hand on his shoulder and looked down at him.
"I felt her leave." Zak explained.
