Chapter 22 Back to Verdant

One of the guards moved forward and triggered the door; Carlyle's two prisoners were taken in, followed by Carlyle, "Now, these guards have stun rods and their blasters are set on stun; make any attempt to escape and they will not hesitate to zap you one way or the other." He warned, "You will be allowed out here in the yard during the day and locked in at night. If you fail to get in before the doors are closed, you will have a problem because there will be guards animals loose in the yard after dark. Your meals will be brought to you in the morning and late in the afternoon; during the time in between, you will have work to do."

He waved his hand toward the building, "Let's go inside, shall we?" He said, the guards pushed them forward and they entered the building.

"You can't be serious! How can you treat me like this? I'm your daughter!" Devan exclaimed when she looked at the sparse living quarters.

"And in there, are your sleeping rooms. There are two of them, however, if you wish to make other arrangements, that's up to you." Carlyle pushed Devan into one of the rooms, "You may decide between the two of you who gets which room."

"No! A mat on the floor? Father, surely…." Devan started.

"Well, I guess that's about it; once we've reached the door, one of the guards will unlock your binders. If you attempt to leave this building before the door closes, you will be stunned." Carlyle said, went back toward the door and then turned around, "I nearly forgot, later today you'll each have a slave chip inserted in your neck. I don't think I need to explain to you what that means."

He turned back and went through the door; Devan tried to follow, but was held back by two of the guards, "Father, I'm begging you not to do this, please!" She called out desperately.

"Too late, Devan." Carlyle answered without looking back.

Devan watched helplessly as her father walked out and turned around; with a nod, he signaled for the guards to release them and, as Carlyle suspected she would, his daughter made a run for the door as soon as her shackles were removed. One tap of a stun rod brought her to down; she raised her head and glared at her father, "I HATE YOU!" She screamed.

The guards retreated backwards, pointing stun rods and blasters at her and at Kien who knelt down next to her; the door slid shut leaving the hunters alone.

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"So, what can I expect from this Weston Carlyle?" Bail asked.

"He appears to be very friendly; very polite and seemingly cooperative. He does however feel a strong need to protect the family name; it's almost obsessive with him. I think that's what this is all about; he believes that the only way to clear the family name is to put his daughter in isolation away from the rest of society. He told me that justice will still be served since she'll be effectively imprisoned." Obi-Wan answered.

"What happened to resting, Obi-Wan? Honestly, you're as bad as…." Anakin interjected.

"Don't say it, Anakin; when this is finished, I will sleep for an entire day." Obi-Wan replied, "Would that satisfy you?"

"Yes, if you don't collapse in the meantime." Anakin said sarcastically.

"You worry too much; I'm not going to collapse." Obi-Wan assured him.

"I hope not, because I'm not picking you up; and I don't think your Padawan is strong enough to do it." Anakin told him.

"Well, I want Devan Carlyle to stand trial along with her partner; locking her away on his estate is not my idea of justice." Bail said.

"I told him that the last time we were on Verdant; apparently, he didn't agree." Obi-Wan answered.

"If I have to bring a battalion of Clones down to take her into custody, I will; there WILL be a trial." Bail insisted.

Obi-Wan tried to stifle a yawn, "Oh dear, I'm sorry; that was rather rude; everything appears to be catching up with me." He said as he closed his eyes, stretched his legs out and leaned back, "I agree, Chancellor, there should be a trial; and I will do all I can to ensure that it happens."

"Thank you, Master Kenobi; now, you should rest." Bail replied.

"Yes." Obi-Wan answered; then sighed and relaxed.

Anakin shook his head, "It's about time, you stubborn old fool." He said.

"Watch who you're calling old, my friend." Obi-Wan murmured.

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"My lord, I have just gotten word that the Jedi starcruiser has returned; they are requesting permission to land." Stewart announced.

"Well, I had expected them sooner or later; I rather wish it had been after Aang was gone." Carlyle replied.

"What do you want them to do, sir?" Stewart asked.

"Aang should be about ready to take off; open a channel to him for me and then inform the Docking Authority to delay the Jedi until after he's gone." Carlyle answered.

"Yes, sir." Stewart replied.

Carlyle drummed his fingers on the desk, "Blast it, why couldn't they have come a little later; I haven't even had a chance to have the slave chips inserted yet." He said to himself.

"I have Aang, my lord." Stewart told him.

"And have the Jedi been delayed?" Carlyle asked.

"Well, they are very insistent about landing…apparently they have the Supreme Chancellor with them; the Authority says they don't dare delay them too long." Stewart answered.

"Alright, tell them to stall as long as they can before allowing them to land; then confine them to their ship for awhile." Carlyle instructed.

"Very good, sir." Stewart replied.

"Aang, my friend, you have to get off world right away." Carlyle said.

"Yes, I'm doing my best; I'm having trouble getting take off clearance." Aang answered.

"What? That's ridiculous; I'll speak to the Authority myself. I've got the Jedi nipping at my heels; they have to let you go. Give me a moment to straighten this out." Carlyle replied, then stood up and stalked out to Stewart's office.

"What's going on, Stewart? They won't let Aang take off." Carlyle demanded.

"I'm sorry, sir; they say that air traffic is too heavy at the moment. They are doing their best to clear it." Stewart explained.

"Well, tell them they had better get Aang off the ground before they let that starcruiser land or they'll be very sorry." Carlyle ordered.

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"What's the problem, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked leaning forward.

"They won't let me land; they claim there's some kind of spill in the docking bay that they're trying to clean up." Anakin explained.

"They're lying, Master." Zak said.

"You can tell that without being near them?" Anakin asked.

"It's in their voice; I can't explain…I just know they're lying." Zak answered.

"They're stalling." Obi-Wan surmised.

"Well, it looks like we'll have to find somewhere else to land then." Anakin decided.

"No, let me try." Bail said.

"Alright, it's worth a try. Zak, let the Chancellor have your seat for a moment." Anakin replied.

Zak nodded and switched places with Bail.

"This is the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. I demand that you allow us to land." Bail ordered.

"I'm sorry, Chancellor; it's just not safe for you to land at this time." A voice said.

"And I think you are lying; has Lord Carlyle ordered you to prevent us from landing?" Bail demanded.

"I….I don't know what you're talking about, Chancellor; we are not under Lord Carlyle's authority." The voice insisted.

"Then we will risk landing; assign us a docking bay." Bail commanded.

"I'm very sorry, sir; I just can't do that." The voice answered.

"We're going about this the wrong way; here, let me try." Obi-Wan said and stood up.

"Very well, Master Kenobi." Bail replied and relinquished his seat to Obi-Wan.

"This is Obi-Wan Kenobi; I understand there is some problem that will not allow us to dock." Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, sir; a large chemical leak. We are working to clean it up now." The voice explained.

Obi-Wan waved his hand, "The leak has been contained; we may land now." He instructed Forcefully.

"The leak has been contained; you may land now." The voice repeated.

"You will assign us a docking bay." Obi-Wan said.

"We will assign you docking bay 14." The voice mimicked.

"We may land when we are ready." Obi-Wan said.

"You may land when ready." The voice answered.

"Thank you, good afternoon." Obi-Wan replied politely.

"Good afternoon." The voice replied.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Anakin wondered.

"I don't know; I guess old fools can still be useful, can't they." Obi-Wan answered as he stood up, "Take your seat, Zak."

"I'm sorry; I never meant to imply…." Anakin started.

"Never mind, Anakin; just put the ship down." Obi-Wan said, cutting him off.

"Go ahead, Zak." Anakin instructed and turned the ship over to his young co-pilot.

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Devan sat in the corner of the compound with her knees pulled up to her chest and her head buried in her hands; Kien sat next to her with his arms around her. She had not moved since Kien had helped her after Carlyle and the guards had closed the door. Kien at first had tried to find words to comfort her, but could find few considering the hopelessness of their predicament.

The compound door opened and several guards, armed with stun rods, entered followed by Lord Carlyle and another man carrying a small case.

Devan raised her head and looked at her father with tear-reddened eyes, "I…I've learned my lesson, Father; have you come to let us out?" She asked hopefully.

"I'm glad you've learned your lesson; but it's really too late." He answered, "I told you before that you would be given slave chips; unfortunately, they have not arrived yet, but I have to move you and I want to be sure you won't try to run away."

"Move us? To a better place?" Kien asked.

"No; you see, the Chancellor has arrived and if he knows you are here, he will demand that I turn you over to them. I can't have that; the scandal, you see." Carlyle explained.

The other man handed Carlyle the case; Devan shook her head and tried to get up, "NO!" She screamed.

"It's alright, my dear; they're really rather pretty, don't you think?" Carlyle assured her, smiling as opened the case and removed one of the objects.

"What are they?" Kien asked.

"Slave bracelets; move too far and we'll just blow your foot off." Carlyle answered, taking his daughter's leg.

She struggled to get away, "Please, Stewart, don't let him do this." She pleaded.

Stewart only shook his head, "Sorry, Miss." He replied, and watched as one of the guards held her leg while Carlyle fastened the bracelet around her ankle.

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"Let us pass." Bail commanded.

"I'm sorry, sir; I can't." The guard replied.

"Oh, yes, you can." Obi-Wan said with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, I can." The guard answered and moved aside.

"We will need a transport." Obi-Wan said.

"You will need a transport; there is a shuttle parked on the tarmac outside." The guard replied.

"Thank you." Obi-Wan answered politely.

"Let me handle the guard at the estate." Anakin whispered as they left.

"Why?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Because I want to." Anakin replied, stepping up into the shuttle, "And I'll drive."
Obi-Wan smothered a smile, "Alright, Anakin." He answered as he entered the shuttle followed by his Padawan who did not hide his amusement.

Bail shook his head, smiled and stepped up into the shuttle; Anakin slid the door closed and sat down in the pilot's seat.

"How far is it to Carlyle's estate?" Bail asked.

"Not that far; it should only take us twenty minutes or so." Obi-Wan answered.

Obi-Wan stretched out in his seat and closed his eyes while Zak guided Anakin to their destination; just over twenty minutes later, Anakin brought the shuttle to a halt in front of the front gate of the Carlyle property. A security guard approached the shuttle and Anakin opened the door and stepped down.

"What business do you have with Lord Carlyle?" The guard demanded.

Anakin smiled amiably, "We are here about his daughter." He answered.

"You're not expected; you'll have to make an appointment." The guard replied.

"Lord Carlyle will see us now." Anakin said, Forcefully with a wave of his hand.

The guard's face became blank and his eyes glazed, "Lord Carlyle will see you now." He repeated.

Zak covered a smile as he watched from the shuttle doorway.

"You will open the gates now." Anakin told him.

"I will open the gates now." The guard repeated.

"And you will not announce our presence." Anakin instructed.

"And I will not announce your presence." The guard replied.

"Thank you." Anakin answered and stepped back into the shuttle; Zak moved away from the door and sat down again, "I can't wait until I learn how to do that." He said.

Anakin stifled a smile, "It's not supposed to be fun, Zak." He told him.

"Oh, I know." Zak answered.

The guard opened the gate and Anakin guided the shuttle through and onto the grounds, "Now, where do we start looking?" He wondered.

"How about over there?" Obi-Wan offered and pointed to a group of people heading toward the main house.

Anakin nodded and turned the shuttle toward them just as one of them noticed the craft and pointed.

Obi-Wan had moved forward and was standing next to Anakin, "That's Lord Carlyle." He said.

Anakin maneuvered the shuttle to cut them off and the group stopped; Obi-Wan was out the door as soon as it opened, "Well, well, Lord Carlyle, I thought you were going to contact us if you saw your daughter; has she just arrived?" He asked.

Carlyle smiled, "Yes, of course, Master Kenobi; you don't think I would hide something from the Jedi do you?" He answered, "I was just heading to the house to notify you."

"Really; that's very strange, because she and her friend here left the planet in the custody of someone named Aang some hours ago; I wonder where they've been all this time." Obi-Wan replied.

"Aang? I don't know anyone named Aang." Carlyle claimed.

"Don't you? Because Devan, here, does; and it sounded to me as if you sent this Aang to come for her." Obi-Wan said.

"Well, that's not true." Carlyle denied.

"Alright, then how did she and Kien Valier end up here?" Bail asked, "Surely you are not claiming they came of their own free will."

"No, someone brought them to me;" Carlyle admitted, "but I didn't ask his name."

"Zak?" Obi-Wan asked.

Zak nodded, "He's lying." He revealed.

"What? No, I'm not!" Carlyle claimed.

"Yes, he is; Aang brought us here so that…." Kien began.

"Shut up, boy!" Carlyle exclaimed and slapped him in the face.

"Now, Lord Carlyle, that was not very polite; I would like to hear what this lad has to say. Go on, Kien." Bail said.

"He's got a prison all set up for us; he said there wouldn't be a trial and that we'd have to spend the rest of our lives here." Kien told him.

"Well, you will spend the rest of your lives in a prison colony, that much is true; but I promise you will get a trial first." Bail replied.

"But I was forced into this; I tried to tell father that, but he won't listen. Can't you see that I've been coerced?" Devan protested and started to cry again.

"Save your breath; I have seen the holo-tapes you made. It did not appear that you were coerced in any of them." Bail said; then added angrily, "You will answer for what you have done."

"Chancellor, surely we can come to some understanding here." Carlyle suggested, "You must realize what a scandal like this could do to my business."

"Understanding? They had a seriously injured, fourteen-year-old boy abducted from the medical center on Alderaan; they forced him to walk barefoot from their ship until his feet were cut to ribbons and you think we can come to some understanding?" Bail exclaimed.

"So the boy was roughed up a bit; he'll be alright, no harm done. Besides, I understand he's just an ex-bounty hunter." Carlyle answered.

Bail clenched his jaw to control his anger, "I see; and that makes his life worth less, does it?" He asked.

"No, I…I meant no offense, Chancellor." Carlyle replied.

"Did you know that the reason why they took him was to lure Master Kenobi into a trap?" Bail asked.

"Well, I…" Carlyle trailed off and looked down at the ground.

"It does not matter; here is what you are going to do. Have those slave bracelets removed and turn both of them over to us. On my part, I will try to ensure that the trial remains fairly low profile; in exchange, you will agree not to attempt to get your daughter off. When they are convicted, I will have your daughter returned to Verdant and I will allow her to serve her sentence out here…on the condition that I approve her quarters. As to Kien, he will be sentenced according to the will of the courts." Bail said, "Does this meet with your approval?"

"Hmm…I don't know; I'll have to think it over." Carlyle replied.

"Think fast; there is a frigate on its way here with a large clone force aboard. Either Devan Carlyle and Kien Valier come with us when we leave, or I will order all my men down here to take them by force." Bail informed him.

Carlyle sighed heavily and shrugged his shoulders, "Alright; you've really left me no choice. I'm afraid I will have to have all of you detained here until further notice." He answered.

Anakin shook his head, "Now, that would be a very big mistake, sir." He said.

Carlyle laughed, "You are quite outnumbered, young man; I hope you're not threatening me." He told him.

"We do not want to fight, Lord Carlyle; but we will do what we must." Obi-Wan interjected and drew his lightsaber.

"Father, trust me, you really don't want to tangle with one of those." Devan warned.

"And when the frigate arrives, they are under orders to invade if they have not heard from me." Bail added.

Carlyle held his arm up and his guards raised their blasters, "Don't do this, Lord Carlyle." Zak pleaded as he drew his weapon and ignited it.

"Even the boy? Well, I am sorry it has come to this." Carlyle said and nodded.

The guards opened fire as the three Jedi advanced on them, deflecting bolts as they moved. Bail drew a blaster and pointed it at Carlyle, "Order them to stand down." He commanded.

Carlyle smiled, "Are you going to shoot me if I don't?" He asked.

Bail aimed the blaster down and fired into Carlyle's boot, "Oh yes." He answered.

Carlyle screamed in pain and fell to the ground, "STOP! I order you to hold your fire." He cried.

"Now, the deal is off; and you, Lord Carlyle are charged with obstruction of justice and assault. I am afraid you are under arrest as well." Bail announced.