Chapter 19 Making Peace
Anakin settled into the seat next to Zak and, for a moment, said nothing, hoping Zak would say something to break the cold ice that had suddenly formed between them. He glanced sideways only long enough to see that Zak was still staring the other way. Anakin took a deep breath and without looking at Zak said, "I think we must come to some peace here, little brother."
The silence continued for several long minutes and Ged's men began to file in and sit down; finally, Anakin heard Zak sigh. He glanced over at him again; Zak was staring down at his lap. Anakin nodded, it was a start; and he continued, "I should not have sent you up to the frigate; that was a judgment error on my part."
Zak remained silent, but when Anakin glanced over at him for the third time, Obi-Wan's apprentice was looking at him, "It's very hard to hold a conversation when I'm the only one talking; aren't you going to say anything?" Anakin asked.
Zak furrowed his brow as if thinking of something to say, "I should have been able to help search; he's my master." He finally said.
Anakin nodded, "Yes, it was wrong for me to deny you that;" He admitted, "and for that, I'm sorry."
"Excuse me, sir." Ged interrupted, "All my men are aboard this shuttle and that man, Viral's, ship; we're ready to lift off now if that's alright."
"Yes, of course; the sooner we're away from the ysalamiri, the better." Anakin said.
"Very good, sir." Ged answered and continued forward.
"If the troopers hadn't lost you, I would have stayed on the frigate." Zak told him after Ged had gone.
"I know; you tried to obey my instructions, but your concern for Master Obi-Wan overwhelmed my authority, didn't it." Anakin replied.
Both entry hatches slid closed and sealed and the engines began to rumble in preparation for lift off.
Zak looked back down at his lap, "Yes." He answered.
"And in this case, if you hadn't, things could have gone very badly for both of us." Anakin speculated.
"Maybe." Zak conceded.
"Probably." Anakin corrected, "I see now that I should have sent for more men to come down instead of sending you up; if you had remained in the clearing with those extra troopers, you could have led them in as soon as I lost my escort. You might have even prevented this Aang character from taking Devan."
"I don't know; the only reason I found you was because I heard the vornskr howl." Zak said.
"Yes, but with the extra men searching, it might have been different." Anakin replied.
"Maybe; I don't know." Zak answered, shaking his head.
The vibration of the shuttle's engines increased and the craft slowly began its ascent.
"Alright, let's not let this come between us; but just remember that you have to show respect. You completely ignored me after we took care of the vornskrs, that was rude and disrespectful; and while it doesn't bother me that you did it, if you had done it to another master, he or she might not be as understanding." Anakin explained.
Zak buried his head in his hands, "I know; I'm sorry." He replied.
Anakin put his hand on Zak's back, "It's alright." He said gently, rubbing the boy's back.
"I'm so sorry." Zak repeated, tearfully.
"I know you are; come on now, it's alright." Anakin assured him as he continued to massage his back.
"I just kept thinking how wrong you were and what would have happened if I hadn't defied your order; and I was so angry that you forced me to…" Zak trailed off, his shoulders shaking as he cried.
"Oh, Zak, I put you in a terrible position, I'm sorry. You showed good judgment by disobeying me this time; the thing is be very careful about making that kind of decision again; alright?" Anakin told him.
"I will." Zak said quietly.
The ship cleared the trees and in so doing, broke through the ysalamiri-created Forceless void.
"I know you will." Anakin replied and patted him on the back, "Now, Master Obi-Wan has a nasty bite on his arm, and I'm going to wrap it up for him; why don't you come and help me."
Zak gave a sharp intake of breath, "Zak, what's wrong?" Anakin asked in sudden concern.
"Nothing, I…" He started and, to Anakin's relief, smiled, "The Force...you're radiating, Master Anakin."
"Oh, I am?" Anakin asked in surprise, "I didn't…hmm…I guess I am; I didn't notice it at first."
"It feels good; it's so warm." Zak explained, "You go to Master Obi-Wan; and I'll go find a med kit."
"Alright." Anakin said, smiling as he gave Zak one more pat.
"I'm glad we talked, Master Anakin." Zak said, smiling again.
"Me too." Anakin agreed.
"Did you speak with him?" Obi-Wan asked without opening his eyes as Anakin squatted next to his seat.
"Yes, he's a good boy, your Zak." Anakin answered as he ripped what remained of Obi-Wan's sleeve.
"He is, isn't he?" Obi-Wan agreed and then sighed deeply, "Oh, it feels good to feel the Force again."
"I know; Zak said I was radiating." Anakin mused as he ripped the sleeve of Obi-Wan's underlayer.
"Really? I guess I'm so used to it, I didn't notice." Obi-Wan replied.
"You're radiating too, Master." Zak added as he knelt next to Anakin.
Obi-Wan opened his eyes and glanced down at his apprentice and then gave Anakin a puzzled look, "I didn't feel it from you either." Anakin told him.
Zak had located a medical kit and opened it, "It's because it's part of both of you; that's why neither of you can feel it." He said matter-of-factly as he dug through the kit.
Neither master spoke; both were looking at the wise, young Padawan kneeling next to them.
Zak located a bottle of disinfectant and a sterile pad and started to hand them to Anakin, "What? It's true, isn't it?" He asked when he realized they were staring at him.
"Yes, apparently; I'm just wondering why my thirteen-year-old Padawan had to point that out to us." Obi-Wan answered.
Zak felt his face flush and he looked down at the floor, "I'm sorry." He replied.
"Oh dear." Obi-Wan said as he reached down, put his hand under Zak's chin and raised his head, "You mustn't be sorry, Padawan. You noticed something that Anakin and I did not; do you know how incredible that is? It's certainly nothing to be sorry for."
Zak nodded and began to rummage through the medical kit again as Anakin moistened the pad and began to carefully clean the bite wound on Obi-Wan's arm.
"What did you do, put you arm up to defend your face?" Anakin asked.
"My neck, actually." Obi-Wan answered.
"Well, at least he bit you on the outside of the arm; he might have nicked a blood vessel if you'd turned your arm the other way." Anakin observed, "You lost enough blood as it is."
"It was either dumb luck or instinct." Obi-Wan replied.
"It doesn't matter to me which one it was; the important thing is that we didn't lose you." Anakin said, "Is there any bacta in there, Zak?"
"Right here." Zak announced and traded it with the disinfectant.
"We've had this discussion before, Anakin." Obi-Wan answered wearily.
"I know, I know; but you've got too much to give yet." Anakin replied as he packed the wound with bacta.
"That will be for the Force to decide." Obi-Wan told him.
Anakin sighed, handed what remained of the bacta back to Zak and took the bandages he held out to him, "I know that too." He said as he wrapped Obi-Wan's arm carefully.
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"Sir, I'm getting readings on two ships that have just left the upper atmosphere." The frigate's captain informed Bail.
"And neither of them is ours?" Bail asked.
"No sir." The captain answered.
"Very well, tractor both of them into the docking bay." Bail instructed.
"We only have the capacity to tractor in one ship at a time, Chancellor; there is a chance we may not have time to take both of them." The captain replied.
Bail nodded, "Do what you can; pick one of the ships and bring it in. If there is time, take the other one; if not, we will just have to hope that the one we captured is the one we wanted." He said.
"As you wish, sir." The captain answered and turned to one of the junior officers, "Get a tractor lock on the lead ship; if we time this right, we may be able to get the follower too."
"Aye, Captain." The young officer replied.
Bail stood before the view screen, watching the ship buck several times as the tractor beam locked on then being slowly drawn toward the frigate's docking bay. Moments later, it was lost from the screen and the captain pointed to a monitor where the ship could be seen entering the bay, "There we have it!" The junior officer announced.
"Good, let's see if we can't get a lock on the other one." The Captain said.
The officer made some adjustments and then sent the beam out again just as the remaining ship disappeared into hyperspace. He shook his head, "I'm sorry, sir; I was too slow." He said regretfully.
The captain put a hand on the young man's shoulder, "Not your fault, son; it was a long shot at best. You've managed to snag one of them." He assured him.
"Well, I am going to see what we have." Bail decided and put his hand on the young man's shoulder, "You've done well, Lieutenant."
"I wish I'd done better, Chancellor." The lieutenant replied.
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"Master Ken…" Captain Ged started.
"Shh, let him rest." Anakin whispered and stood up, ushering Ged up the aisle, "What is it?"
"I've just been informed that two ships left the atmosphere; both unidentified. They managed to tractor in one of them, but the other has gone into hyperspace." Ged informed him.
"Any word yet on who's in the ship they captured?" Anakin asked.
"None yet; they have secured it and are just now getting ready to board it." Ged answered.
Anakin nodded, "Alright, keep me informed and just let Master Kenobi sleep; he has had a very rough night." He said.
"Yes, Master Skywalker." Ged replied.
Anakin nodded again and returned to his seat, "What is it, Anakin?" Obi-Wan murmured.
Anakin sighed, "I'm sorry; I should have sensed he was coming and met him halfway." He said.
"I wasn't sleeping that deeply; now what did he tell you?" Obi-Wan asked again.
"They managed to snag one of two ships that entered space; the other managed to enter hyperspace and escape." Anakin answered, "Now, go back to sleep; you really do need it."
"Who's on the ship, Anakin?" Obi-Wan persisted.
"They don't know yet; I'll tell you the minute I know." Anakin told him.
"Alright." Obi-Wan replied, then sighed deeply and allowed himself to drift back to sleep.
Anakin smiled to himself and shook his head before getting up again and heading toward Zak, who had taken an aisle seat so that he could more easily get up to check on his master. Zak was napping and Anakin squatted down next to him and touched his arm. Zak's eyes flew open and nearly jumped out of his seat, "What is it? Is he alright?" Zak asked in a near panic.
"Yes, fine; calm down. Were you dreaming?" Anakin asked.
Zak closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, "Yes, about Devan and that hunt; what did you want to tell me?"
"That they snagged a ship trying to make a run for it. Hopefully, Devan is onboard." Anakin told him.
"She should be; who else could it be?" Zak asked.
"Well, there was another ship with it that managed to make the jump before they could get a tractor lock on it." Anakin answered.
"Oh…that's not good." Zak said and then frowned.
"What?" Anakin asked.
"I have a feeling she was on the other ship." Zak told him.
"Hmm…I hope you're wrong; but I'm afraid you've been right about these things too many times." Anakin replied.
"I hope I'm wrong too." Zak answered.
Anakin patted his arm, "Go back to sleep." He said and returned once again to his seat.
"He doesn't think she's on the ship, does he." Obi-Wan murmured.
"Aren't you ever going to rest?" Anakin asked, slightly frustrated.
"When this is over, I will; I promise." Obi-Wan answered, "Tell me what Zak said."
"He has a feeling she's not on the ship." Anakin admitted reluctantly.
Obi-Wan sighed, "Then she probably isn't." He replied.
"I know." Anakin concurred.
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Commander Ged's men surrounded the captured ship, "Alright, I know you can hear me; you have two minutes to come out and surrender before we come in." He announced over the intercom system, "I'd advise you to give up peacefully because my men have been ordered not to tolerate any resistance. They will not kill you, but it could be very painful."
For several moments, there was no movement, then the boarding ramp lowered and a man slowly emerged from the ship with his hands in the air, "Don't shoot; I'm not armed!" He shouted.
Immediately, several troopers came forward, secured his hands behind his back and led him to the Chancellor waiting in a shielded area.
"Who are you?" Bail demanded without ceremony.
"My name's Banyon; I haven't done anything wrong. Search my ship, I'm not smuggling anything." Banyon answered.
"Where is Devan Carlyle?" Bail demanded.
"I…I don't know…" Banyon started.
"I have no patience for liars, where is she?" Bail demanded again.
Banyon looked him straight in the eye, "I don't know." He claimed.
Bail sighed heavily, "You are lying; take him to the brig until the shuttle arrives." He ordered, "You had better start talking if either of the Jedi on that shuttle recognize you. Get me a channel to the shuttle, I will tell Master Kenobi personally that Devan was most likely on that other ship; blast it!"