Chapter 21Devan's Fate

Ferri hesitated for a moment and then left his master's side and walked toward them, "You'll never know how relieved I am that you're both…." He began.

Zak raised a fisted hand and smacked Ferri in the mouth, knocking him to the ground, "Don't ever play games with my master's life again." He warned and then walked past him, "I'm sorry, Master Maru."

Obi-Wan shook his head as he watched the retreating form of his apprentice for a moment and then gave Clive an apologetic look; Clive only shrugged understandingly and reached down to help Ferri to his feet, "It's alright; I deserved that." Ferri said as he put a sleeve up to staunch the blood oozing from his lip.

Obi-Wan helped Clive pull Ferri to his feet, "You have done a very serious thing, Ferri; and while I do not approve of what Zak just did, I can understand why he did it. He was chained to a wall nearly all night not knowing what was happening to me or to his friend, Boba because of what you did." He told him, "You are in very deep trouble."

"I know." Ferri mumbled as he stared at the floor, "I can't tell you how sorry I am."

"I'm sure you are; and when you return to Coruscant, you can tell that to the Council." Obi-Wan replied, "What happens to you next will be for them to decide."

"Well, I know how you're going to vote; you and Master Skywalker." Ferri said.

"I will not have a vote on this because the offense was against me and my Padawan; I cannot speak for Master Skywalker, but I know he is very angry with you. You have betrayed one of your own, Ferri, and that is a very serious breach of trust. How the other Council members will handle this…" Obi-Wan shook his head, "You are very gifted; I'm sorry all that talent might now be wasted because of your misplaced jealousy." He answered.

"I know; after what I did, I don't deserve to be a Jedi." Ferri replied as he continued to stare at the floor.

Obi-Wan put a hand under his chin, "Whether or not you are expelled from the Order, there will be many long counseling sessions to rid you, not only of this jealous tendency, but also of the guilt you are feeling about what happened. It will not be an easy time for you." He said.

Ferri looked him with sadness in his eyes, "I don't expect it to be." He told him

Obi-Wan nodded, "Go get yourself cleaned up then; you will remain onboard here in your master's custody until we get back to Coruscant." He replied.

"Yes, Master." Ferri answered obediently and turned back toward their assigned quarters.

"I'm sorry this happened, Master Kenobi; I should have been able to sense how dangerous he had become." Clive interjected apologetically.

Obi-Wan smiled wearily, "Sometimes we can't always see things coming; at least no one was killed." He said , "Regardless of how the Council vote goes, he will need your support."

Clive watched as Ferri disappeared into their room, "He's got it." He replied.

Obi-Wan nodded and patted him on the shoulder and continued down the corridor heading for the door he had seen Zak trigger.

Anakin looked at the floor for a moment, then sighed, "There may be a way for me to help Ferri; I can't guarantee anything, but I am willing to try." He said almost reluctantly.

"Thank you, Anakin; I know how difficult it will be for you." Clive answered gratefully.

"Well, it will be more difficult for Ferri." Anakin told him.

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Weston Carlyle examined the stark interior of the compound that had been prepared for his disgraceful daughter, pleased at what he found. There were no luxuries here, no lush carpets or comfortable furnishings. Devan's new home consisted of three bare rooms; two windowless bedrooms with a sleeping mat and blanket in each one and a common living area with two wooden chairs and a table. There was no kitchen; their simple meals would be provided for them twice a day. The living area had a door and two barred windows looking out into a small featureless yard; a paracrete wall, extending from each side of the building, surrounded the yard. Devan and Kien would be allowed access to the yard during daylight hours and then be locked into their quarters at night when guard animals would patrol the yard; no lights would be provided for them, when the natural light faded, they would be left in the dark. To further prevent their escape, slave chips would also be injected in both of them; any attempt to leave the estate would result in instant death when the chip exploded. And Lord Carlyle's intention included more than containing Devan's perverted appetites; he wanted this place to be kin to the prison colony she would have been sentenced to had she stood trial in a Republic court. To that end, he determined that their days here would not be idle ones; they would be assigned work which would be brought into the yard everyday, hard tasks, relentless and never-ending. Perhaps if the Chancellor understood this, he would be less insistent that Devan stand trial for her crimes and allow her to spend her life imprisoned here on Verdant. Weston Carlyle smiled to himself; before the end of the day, the blot on his family name would be taken care of; he was very pleased.

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"What Ferri did was terribly wrong, Padawan; but you should not have hit him." Obi-Wan admonished as Zak sat on the bed with his head in his hands.

"I know; I just wasn't thinking." Zak replied regretfully, "I should have been above that; I'm sorry."

Obi-Wan smiled, put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed, "Well, you have been through a great deal because of Ferri's actions, so your feelings are understandable; however, as a Jedi, it's very important for you to control your anger." He instructed.

"Yes, Master; I suppose I owe Ferri an apology then." Zak answered.

"I will leave that up to you." Obi-Wan said, "And now, I really would like to get cleaned up and put on fresh clothes before we leave for Verdant."

"Do you think Lord Carlyle will give them up?" Zak asked as Obi-Wan sorted through his duffle and pulled out a clean tunic and pants.

"Well, he will have to; whether he does so willingly is another matter." Obi-Wan answered, then entered the shower room and closed the door.

Zak left the room and headed for the galley; there he filled a tray with food and returned to their quarters. When Obi-Wan emerged from the shower room, clean and dressed in fresh clothing, his 'good meal' was waiting for him. They ate together quietly for a few minutes until Obi-Wan broke the silence, "So have you decided what you are going to do about Ferri?" He asked.

"I'll apologize to him before we leave for Verdant." Zak answered.

Obi-Wan nodded, "A wise decision." He replied.

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Anakin stopped in his quarters only briefly before returning to the docking bay to prepare the cruiser for take off. He toyed briefly with the notion of leaving Obi-Wan behind before deciding that it would be better if Obi-Wan were with him rather than following in another ship….which he knew would happen if Anakin left without him. His mind wandered to the very troubled Ferri, and his decision to try and help him. He mused that a year ago he would not have even considered it after what the boy had done.

"You have changed, Anakin." Qui-Gon said.

"I know, but I don't know why." Anakin replied.

"Don't you?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Is it because of what happened on Naboo with Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.

"That is where it started, yes; it was the beginning, and you have grown since then." Qui-Gon told him.

"I didn't want to help Ferri; he nearly got Obi-Wan killed." Anakin said.

"Yes, but you were able to look past his betrayal and see the troubled boy behind it. Perhaps you remembered how very close you came to betraying the entire Jedi Order, and so could better understand Ferri's actions." Qui-Gon suggested.

"I don't know; maybe. I can just sense Ferri's regret and suddenly I feel as if I should help him even after what he did almost cost me my best friend." Anakin answered.

"And if Obi-Wan had died, what would you have done then?" Qui-Gon asked.

"I don't know; I may have decided not to help him." Anakin admitted.

"Well, fortunately, you did not have to make that decision; for now, it is enough that you will help him despite your personal feelings. In time, you might even find it in your heart to forgive him." Qui-Gon said.

"Maybe." Anakin answered.

"Who are you talking to, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked as he entered the cockpit.

"Oh, uh….Qui-Gon." Anakin told him.

"I see; he must have decided you needed his counsel for something." Obi-Wan decided.

"I guess so." Anakin said as he glanced at his friend, "Well, you're all cleaned up, but you still look like you've been through the ringer; I really wish you'd stay here and get more rest."

"I'll rest a bit on the way to Verdant; you can fly;" Obi-Wan answered as he took one of the passenger seats, "and Zak can co-pilot for you."

Anakin shook his head, but did not argue, "Where is Zak, anyway?" He asked.

"He had something he needed to take care of; he'll be here shortly." Obi-Wan told him.

"Ferri?" Anakin surmised.

"Yes." Obi-Wan replied, settling into his seat with a sigh and stretching out.

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Zak took a deep breath and knocked on the door, "Master Maru? Could I speak with Ferri for a moment?" Zak asked.

The door opened and Clive Maru stood in the doorway, "What is it, Zak?" He asked.

"Could I speak with Ferri, please?" He asked again.

Clive hesitated for a moment before nodding and moving away from the door to allow Zak into the room. Ferri was seated on the bed; his lower lip was swollen and when he saw Zak, he looked down at the floor.

"How's your lip?" Zak asked.

"It…umm…it hurts a little." Ferri answered.

"I'm sorry I lost my temper; I should not have hit you." Zak said.

"It's alright; I understand why you were angry." Ferri replied.

"Well, it still doesn't make it right, and I'm sorry." Zak answered.

"Not as sorry as I am; I've been…what I did was inexcusable. I don't know why I let….I'm sorry." Ferri said shaking his head.

Zak looked at him for a moment and then sat down on the other bed, "Why do you hate me, Ferri?" He asked.

Ferri sighed, glanced momentarily at him, shook his head and looked down again, "It isn't hate; it's…well it was jealousy." He corrected.

"Jealousy? What do I have to be jealous of?" Zak asked.

"Everything; you know so much, you always know what to do, you're so perfect….it's why Master Kenobi chose you instead of me." Ferri admitted.

"I'm not perfect, Ferri, and Master Yoda said the Force paired us together; Master Kenobi meditated a long time before he chose me." Zak replied and then stood up, "Your problem is that you've spent so much time being jealous of what you think I am when you should have spent that time trying to learn as much as you could. And I don't always know what to do, but I always try to let the Force guide me; maybe you should try that sometime."

"It's a little late for that advice now." Ferri said.

"It's never too late; I've got to go; we're leaving for Verdant in a few minutes." Zak said just before he left the room.

"Sometimes, it is." Ferri said as the door slid closed.

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"Feel better?" Obi-Wan asked as Zak entered the cockpit.

"Yes, a little." Zak answered as he sat down next to him.

"No, go sit next to Master Anakin; you're co-piloting this time." Obi-Wan told him.

"Oh….alright." Zak replied, a bit puzzled, and moved forward.

"I'm still a little tired; I'm going to rest and let my two expert pilots handle things." Obi-Wan explained.

Zak nodded, "That's a good idea." He said.

"I am not too late, am I?" Bail said from the cockpit entrance.

"Chancellor." Obi-Wan replied and started to rise along with Anakin and Zak.

"No, no; sit, please." Bail insisted, "On this trip, I am simply a very angry father."

"On this….Chancellor, I don't think your coming is a very good idea." Obi-Wan said.

"I know that is what you think, however, I want justice for what that pair did; and I think the only way there will be any is if I come along and exert the power of my office." Bail countered.

"I thought you said on this trip you were only an angry father." Obi-Wan reminded him.

"I meant with you, of course; when we get to Verdant, to Weston Carlyle, I will be the Supreme Chancellor." Bail told him.

"Chancellor, this could become very dangerous; I really do not want to explain to the Senate or worse to your wife if something were to happen." Obi-Wan argued.

"I understand your concern, Master Kenobi; but we are not going to Smuggler's Moon, we are going to Verdant, a member of the Republic. The last thing the governing body of that system would want is to see something happen to me. This has become a very personal matter; I am coming." Bail replied.

Zak smiled and shook his head, "What are you smiling about?" Anakin asked.

"Nothing." Zak answered.

"I think young Zak sees that I am every bit as stubborn as the two of you." Bail said, smiling.

"Alright, strap yourself in, Chancellor; let the fun begin." Anakin replied as he started the preflight procedures.

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The security squad stood back, waiting as the ship made its final approach and touched down lightly on the tarmac. Weston Carlyle sat in his shuttle watching as Aang wound the engines down; when the boarding ramp started lower, Carlyle eased out of the shuttle and made his way to the ship. Aang came partway down the ramp and motioned with his hand, "I need a couple men to help me up here." He said.

The leader looked to Carlyle, who nodded and the leader picked two men. The pair disappeared into the ship and reappeared a few minutes later leading, first Kien Valier, followed by Devan Carlyle; both with their hands secured behind them.

"Father! Tell this idiot to untie me; it's all a big mistake, I haven't done anything." Devan called as her escort led her by the arm toward Weston.

"Aang, she's tied? You didn't tell me you tied her up." Weston said.

"Sorry, sir; it was the Jedi who did that. I only left her tied because I didn't know what she'd do." Aang explained, "I'll untie her."

"Yes, untie her and put these on." Carlyle said and took a pair of binders from one of the guards.

"What? No, father, please; you don't understand." Devan exclaimed and started to cry.

"That won't work anymore, girl; you've embarrassed me for the last time." Weston replied.

"No, you can't believe anything they've told you; I'm innocent, I was tricked." Devan insisted, "Please, untie me and I'll explain…."

"Save it; you and your friend here are finished. Neither of you will leave this system again." Carlyle told her as the guard untied the strip of cloth binding Devan's wrists and clamped the binders on.

"You can't do this; we haven't been convicted, we've had no trial." Kien declared.

"Oh, you won't need one; I know everything you've been up to, and I've sentenced you to life. Your new quarters await." Carlyle answered and then looked at the guards, "Take them to the compound and wait for me; I'll be along shortly."

"Yes sir." The leader said and signaled for several other guards; quickly the pair were hustled toward a waiting troop transport.

Devan looked back at her father once more, "Please, don't do this, father." She pleaded.

Carlyle waved his hand and Devan was pulled into inside, "Please, father!" She called out as she disappeared from sight.

"You have done well, Aang." Weston Carlyle said as the transport door slid closed.

"Thank you, sir; I'm sorry that we had trouble with the Jedi. I have a feeling they will not let this rest." Aang replied.

"They would not have in any case, Aang; it's alright. I expect I can come to some understanding with the Chancellor." Carlyle answered.

Aang smiled, "I expect you can come to some understanding with just about anyone." He said.

"Yes, possibly; what of your man, Banyon? Any chance that he escaped?" Carlyle asked.

"That's highly doubtful. I saw his ship tractored in; I will be sorry to lose him, he was a good man." Aang answered regretfully.

"Well, with what you'll be getting from me, you'll be able to hire another…maybe even two." Carlyle told him, "Shall we get going? I'm sure you're tired and hungry; we can watch them lock my daughter and her friend up and then you can have something to eat and rest for a bit before you go."

"That sounds very good, Lord Carlyle; I'd be very interested to see the arrangements you've made for them, and I must admit, I am famished." Aang replied.

"Excellent! After you." Carlyle said ushering Aang into his shuttle.

Half an hour later, the shuttle pulled up next to the transport; the head of Carlyle Security stood waiting as Carlyle and Aang stepped out, "Everything's ready when you are, sir." He said.

"I'm ready now; bring them out." Carlyle replied.

"Yes sir." The guard said and signaled to one of his men.

Devan appeared with a guard on each side holding an arm followed by two guards holding Kien. They were guided up to a door in the compound wall and then turned so that they were facing Carlyle.

Carlyle put his hand together and intertwined his fingers, "I am ashamed of you, Devan; you are so bright, so intelligent, and yet you have brought nothing but shame upon the name of Carlyle when you could have brought the family business to new levels of prosperity. Instead, you chose to waste your life in illegal hunts until you stooped so low as to hunt human beings. I have given you so many chances to amend and you have squandered every single one. That last act was the last straw; having that boy taken from the medical center was despicable. I won't have it anymore, Devan; I just won't. And you, Kien, is it? For going along with my psychopathic daughter, you'll share her fate. Once you pass through that door, that's it; you'll never see the outside world again." He told them, "Open the door."