Chapter 11 No One Goes Hungry
Six Hours Earlier
The door of the cargo hold slid open and several of the extremists entered, rousing the younglings from sleep again. Zak feared the worst; it appeared their clever ruse had failed. Steeling himself for what he thought would be a thorough inspection of each of them, he stood up, feigning ignorance, "Have we reached your exile point?"
"No; your friend there doesn't look so good." One of the observed.
"He should be in a med center." Zak said, "But you didn't come here to see how Ferri is; so what do you want?"
"Melak thought you might need something to eat." The Belaridian answered.
"Considerate of him; but I don't think it would be a good idea for us to eat anything you give us." Zak replied.
The extremist snorted, "Suit yourself, but exile is still several hours away, and we have no intention of poisoning you; that would defeat the purpose." He said.
Zak concentrated for a moment; surprisingly, the one thing he could do with his dampened Force sense was sense that this extremist was not lying, "You have a point; I'm sure the younglings are hungry." He admitted.
"Clever boy for a freak." The extremist replied and then motioned to one of the others who came forward with a container that she set down in front of Zak.
Zak squatted down to inspect it, "Energy bars; that's it?"
"What did you expect, a seven course meal? You're lucky to be getting anything at all." The woman retorted.
"Then at least give them something to drink." Zak requested.
"We intend to." The extremist assured him and motioned to another, "And no, it's not drugged or poisoned either."
The second stepped up and placed a jug and one metal cup next to the container holding the food bars, "Sorry, it's just water; I know you Jedi freaks are used to better." He stated with more than a hint of sarcasm.
"Enjoy your feast." The first extremist taunted, as he and the others retreated.
"Why are they so hateful?" Shel wondered when they had been left alone again.
"They're afraid of us." Ferri answered as he struggled to sit up, "It's easier to hate something you're afraid of then it is to embrace it."
"Are you afraid, Ferri?" Doyen asked.
Ferri smiled, "Only a fool wouldn't be; the trick is not letting the fear control you." He replied, "My master taught me that."
Zak doled out the energy bars; one to each of the younglings, Shel and finally Ferri, "Saving yours for later?" Ferri asked.
"I'm not very hungry." Zak answered.
"There were only eight, weren't there." Ferri surmised.
Zak hesitated for a moment, "Yes." He finally admitted, "I think they did this deliberately to see if we would fight over them."
"I'm having a very difficult time trying to sympathize with these people." Ferri decided as he held his bar out to Zak.
Zak shook his head, "You need that far more than I do." He said.
"Don't be so stubborn; I think we both know who is more important here." Ferri persisted, "Take it."
"No, Ferri; you're feverish and weak, you need that." Zak replied.
"That's exactly why it's more important for you to take it; I'm no good to them like this." Ferri explained.
Shel broke off a piece of her bar and offered it to Zak, "I don't need the whole thing, Zak." She said as the younglings quickly followed her example.
"Stop it, all of you. Do you know how important it is for all of you to keep your strength up?" Zak asked.
"Well, the same goes for you, Zak; maybe even more so. Where would they be if you aren't there to help them?" Ferri questioned, "None of you should go hungry."
Zak nodded, took the energy bar from Ferri, broke a piece off and handed the remainder back to him, "You had best include yourself in there." He said.
"I don't think..." Ferri started to protest.
"None of us goes hungry; including you, Ferri." Zak countered.
Seven pairs of eyes fixed on Ferri until he sighed and conceded by taking a bite.
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"This isn't working, Obi-Wan." Anakin repeated for the third time.
"If you would concentrate and stay within the Force, it just might." Obi-Wan replied patiently.
Anakin stood up and walked to the window, "We tried that, for more than an hour, and it didn't work; when are you going to face it?" He answered.
"I don't know." Obi-Wan conceded with a sigh, "But we should not just give up; do you have another suggestion."
"No." Anakin admitted, "I just know that we are wasting are time trying to reach them."
"Perhaps you are right; but there is little else we can do, and I do not think I will be able to sleep." Obi-Wan confessed, "However, I believe you would find more comfort with your wife; you should be with her."
Something in Obi-Wan's tone caused Anakin to turn around and regard him; weariness was etched into his face, and as he reached out to touch the mind of his brother, Anakin felt a great sadness -Obi-Wan was mourning the loss of his apprentice, "Don't do this, Obi-Wan; they aren't gone yet, not yet." He said, resuming his seat on the cushion, "And you're right; we cannot stop trying to reach them."
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As Obi-Wan and Anakin continued, unsuccessfully, to reach their Padawans, Mace Windu had just finished compiling a list of the missing younglings and was returning to his own quarters to make some effort to rest when Del approached him. Mace rubbed his forehead sensing that Del was about to deliver more bad news, "What is it, Padawan?" He asked.
Del exhaled heavily, "It appears one of the Initiates is also missing." He announced.
"And you are sure of this?" Mace asked with a shake of his head and a weary sigh.
"Yes, Master; we decided to do a check on all the Initiates and younger Padawans to see how they were; and Shel Vandicott was not in her quarters." Del explained.
"And I assume you have searched for her elsewhere?" Mace surmised.
"Yes, Master." Del answered.
Again Mace sighed, "Very well, I will add her to the list of the missing; she must have disobeyed the directive and gone to the youngling dormitory. I suppose we should count ourselves lucky that she was not killed as well; we have lost two too many this night." He replied.
"I don't think she disobeyed the directive, Master Windu; in our search we first went to the dormitory and spoke with Master Rega. It appears she was with the younglings when the attack happened." Del told him.
"I see; then they must have mistaken her for a youngling." The Horuun Master guessed.
"What would they want with our younglings, Master?" Del wondered.
"I don't know, Padawan; perhaps the Council will come to a better understanding when we meet in the morning." Mace answered, "Thank you for your report. You are to return to your own quarters now and get some rest; the next few days will probably be very difficult for all us."
"Yes, Master." Del replied, then bowed and turned back toward his quarters.
Mace watched him until he turned the corner and disappeared from view; he felt for the young man, he had lost a good friend to the Force and two others to an unknown fate, and for what reason? To lose Jedi during a mission, while tragic, but could be accepted as at least having a purpose; what had happened a few hours past served no purpose. The dark-skinned master closed his eyes and kneaded his temples; he was so tired and emotionally spent he could hardly think. Opening his eyes, he turned back in the direction of his own quarters; though sleep would probably elude him, the Force would help banish enough of the weariness to allow him to function.
Present Time
"I think your rendezvous spot would be a good place for Kien and I to leave you, Melak." Devan announced.
"I'm devastated, Devan; would you desert us so quickly?" Melak asked.
"Well, we got our revenge on Zak Perrin, and the Jedi traitor was a nice little bonus." Devan answered, "Now we have other business to attend to."
"Other business?" Melak probed.
"Yes, there's still the matter of the ex-bounty hunter to deal with." Devan revealed.
"Another score to settle? Don't you know anything other than revenge?" Melak wondered.
Yes, I know having fun; and that's what this is mostly about." Devan replied.
Melak shook his head, "Well, there will be plenty of opportunities to catch a transport at the rendezvous point. There are always ships coming and going there; you and your friend are free to do whatever you wish. I had hoped that you would join our cause, but you're not Belaridian, so you wouldn't understand." He said.
"Oh, I understand, Melak; it's just not much fun, that's all. Now, if you would organize baby Jedi hunts, that might be interesting. But it's a little boring when all you do is dump them on some inhospitable planet and then just leave." Devan answered.
"Hunting them for sport would be twisted; we don't do this for fun, Devan. We do it for the good of the galaxy; they are abominations, and they are dangerous to society." Melak explained.
Devan rolled her eyes, "Save me your recruitment speech; we've both heard it before and we're not interested." She said then wrapped her arms around him, "But I am ever so grateful that you rescued us."
Melak pushed her away, "I think Terak is more your style, Devan Dear; why don't you find a utility locker and say goodbye to him."
Devan opened her mouth to say something, but found herself speechless, "Oh, did you think I didn't know about your little meeting? It's all right, I actually think you and Terak are suited for each other; and he will be very disappointed when he finds out you're leaving." Melak continued, "You are going to tell him, aren't you?"
Quickly regaining her composure, Devan shot him her devastating smile, "Maybe he will choose to come with us and desert your 'cause'; have you thought about that, Melak?" She said.
"He will never leave us; he's just as dedicated to this as we are." Melak replied firmly, "But if he does leave, then that will be his choice."
"That's generous of you." Devan answered.
"The people here are dedicated to cleansing the galaxy of abominations; we are all working toward that one goal. No one is here against their will; and if they choose to leave, they are free to do so, and that includes my nephew." Melak told her.
"Tell me, Melak, what will you do when you've taken care of all the Belaridian 'freaks', as you call them? Go back to your mundane lives? Oh, wait, you won't be able to do that, will you; because all of you will be branded outlaws by the Republic." Devan said.
"There will always be freaks; there always have been. Our work will never be finished." Melak replied fervently.
Devan sniffed, "Well, I wish you well, then." She told him as she pulled his head down to her level and planted a firm, hard kiss on his lips, "For luck." She whispered and then left him to ponder on it.
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"So, how did you get clearance to come with us, Padme?" Obi-Wan asked as he settled himself into a seat on the transport.
"My place here is as a representative of the government." Padme informed him, "I have been appointed by the Chancellor himself."
"Have you; and just how did you persuade the Chancellor to do that?" Obi-Wan wondered.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, are you accusing me of forcing this?" Padme asked, trying to sound indignant.
"You haven't answered my question." Obi-Wan persisted.
"I happen to think I am the best person for this assignment." Padme replied haughtily.
"Ah; and that would be because...?" Obi-Wan continued.
"I don't think I have to explain myself to you; I've been appointed by B...by Chancellor Organa. If you're questioning that, perhaps you should take it up with him." Padme answered with finality.
"I see; and what would Bail tell me, Padme?" Obi-Wan asked with a hint of amusement.
"He would..." Padme began and then turned to look at him, "You're teasing me."
Obi-Wan smiled, "Yes, I was." He admitted and then looked at her in concern, "But in all seriousness, I do not think it was wise for you to come with us."
"I know you don't; but I have proven in the past that I can take care of myself. I want to do this, Obi-Wan; I needed to do it." Padme told him.
"Why?"
"Because I can't just sit around and wait; I have to help somehow." Padme answered.
Obi-Wan nodded and smiled again, "I think I understand." He replied.
"Understand what?" Anakin asked as he entered the compartment and sat down next to Padme.
"Why your wife is so stubborn." Obi-Wan answered prompting Padme to punch him in the arm.
"As if either of you aren't." She retorted.
"Alright, alright, point taken." Obi-Wan conceded, rubbing his arm, "So, what are you doing back here, Anakin? I thought you were going to pilot us."
Anakin sighed, "Captain Antilles is capable enough. And to be honest, I'm don't think I'm up to it." He confessed.
"Well, neither of us have gotten much rest; hopefully we can put an end to this soon so we can." Obi-Wan replied.
"If it ends with...then I don't..." Anakin trailed off and shook his head.
"We have to believe it will be alright, Anakin." Obi-Wan said, gripping Anakin's wrist.
Anakin closed his eyes and nodded, "I know." He answered.
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The shuttle bucked as it entered the atmosphere, and Zak gripped the steering yoke tightly in an effort to keep it under control; they had come into a storm. Next to him, Ferri worked to keep the craft from nose-diving as Zak started their descent, "I could have picked a better spot for entry." Zak muttered.
"Without charts?" Ferri replied, "You expect too much from yourself."
Zak didn't have a chance to answer as the shuttled bucked again as it hit another pocket of turbulence, "Blast it; we have to get out of this storm."
"Try moving a little toward starboard; it looks like there may be clearer there." Ferri suggested.
Zak nodded, and struggled to maneuver the ship in the direction Ferri indicated, and was rewarded as the ship began to respond more readily, That's better; good call." He said.
"Any time; let's land this thing before we hit another storm." Ferri answered.
"My thoughts exactly." Zak agreed gradually lowering the shuttle toward the planet below.
As the ship descended, it hit another pocket of turbulent air and Zak found himself again fighting for control. Next to him, Ferri joined his struggle as the distance between ship and land decreased, "Oh, this is going to get rough." Zak said through gritted teeth.
Ferri said nothing as he strained to keep the ship level while Zak concentrated on controlling the rate of their descent; he was partially successful. The shuttle hit hard and skidded along the ground, throwing up dirt, turf and rocks in its wake before finally coming to a halt, when the front of the ship buried itself into a mound of dirt.