Chapter 13 We Are Not Barbarians
Present Time
Corellia, home to the largest shipyard in the Republic; its largest city, a bustling port where a ship wishing to avoid attention could easily do so. This was the place Kien had suggested when Melak needed a location to rendezvous with the rest of his followers; and it was here that they waited for Telia and her force to arrive with the Belaridian children who had not been liberated during the initial raid. But impatient to confront Zak, Terak had begun protesting the wait almost as soon as they had docked. Melak banished his nephew from his sight, having long since tired of Terak's increasing belligerence; leaving the young man to seek solace with Devan. He found the Verdanti with her partner, Kien, planning their next move; both having decided with finality that their alliance with the Belaridian extremists was over.
"I want to come with you." Terak informed them as he entered the galley where the pair had sequestered themselves.
"Come where?" Kien asked, "We don't even know where we're going yet."
"I think we ought to go back for those freaks." Terak suggested.
"Wait just a minute; I think Melak made it clear that those kids were off limits." Kien protested.
"He's planning on going back there anyway just as soon as Telia gets here...well, if she does." Terak answered.
"Why? I thought he was just going to leave them to rot on that moon." Devan replied, "I've talked to him; I rather doubt he's had a change of heart."
"My freak brother tricked us; when he and his freak friend turned over their equipment belts, they had already taken all the equipment off them. Now they have supplies they shouldn't have; Uncle wants that back. Besides, he has to dump off the rest of the freaks Telia is bringing." Terak explained.
Devan smiled, "That's why I love the Jedi; they're so cagey." She said, "But if Melak is planning on going back anyway, you might just as well stay here and go with him. What do you need us for?"
"That's true; besides, we have other business we want to take care of." Kien added.
"I don't want to wait for Melak; and I don't want him to interfere when I kill that freak who calls himself my brother." Terak answered.
"We've got no problem with Melak; and we'd like to keep it that way." Kien told him.
"He doesn't have to know." Terak countered.
"No? And when he shows up to exile the rest of those kids?" Devan wondered.
"I don't think there will be any more kids; I think that other freak tricked us." Terak surmised.
"I think you're wrong; I know that traitor, he'd turn on his own mother to save his worthless skin." Kien argued.
"We haven't heard from Telia since she agreed to the second assault." Terak replied.
"And what does Melak say about that?" Devan asked.
"He thinks she's just being cautious." Terak answered.
"But you think...?" Kien asked.
"I think she's been caught; and I think it's because your traitor sent her into a trap." Terak guessed.
"That's ridiculous; how could he send her into a trap when he's had no contact with the Jedi? There's no way they could set a trap." Kien scoffed.
"I don't know; maybe he didn't. But I still think she's been caught." Terak replied, "I don't think she's coming; and I really don't want to waste any more time here waiting for her. And I really thought you'd be interested in a good hunt."
"Well, that's your problem, as I said, we have other business." Kien answered dismissively.
"You know, it just might be fun, Kien." Devan suggested.
Terak smiled, realizing that he had hit Devan's weakness, "I don't think it's a good idea; if Melak doesn't get us, the Jedi will." Kien objected, continuing to balk.
"Oh come on; you're not losing your guts are you?" Devan chided.
"No, I'd just rather not lose my life." Kien countered.
"Alright, I'll tell you what; Terak and I will go hunting, and we can meet you back here when we've finished." Devan offered.
Kien shrugged, "Suit yourself; just don't be too surprised when you find out I've gone after the bounty hunter myself." He retorted.
"Whoa, not fair; I want a piece of that one. Come with us, Kien; it will be fun." Devan pleaded.
"Even if I decide to go with you, how do you propose getting there? Getting to Coruscant is easy, we just catch a transport; but there aren't any transports going to that place." Kien pointed out.
Devan shook her head but smiled, "When has that ever stopped us, Kien? I'm sure we can persuade someone to lend us a ship." She answered, fingered the blaster strapped to her side.
"You're insane." Kien said.
Devan's smile widened, "I know; don't you love it." She replied.
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"I've decided to go with Devan." Terak announced to his uncle.
Melak turned toward him, surprise clearly showing on his face, "I don't understand; I thought you were one of us." He said.
"I was; I am. But I...well, the truth is, I really want to be with Devan right now." Terak explained.
"More than helping us?" Melak questioned.
"Right now, yes." Terak answered.
Melak narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "You aren't planning to go after Zak are you?" He demanded.
"No, we agreed; exile not death. I accept that even if I don't like it." Terak assured him; the lie coming much easier than he thought it would.
The older man nodded and sighed, "And there is nothing I can say to keep you here?" He asked.
"I don't think so, Uncle." Terak answered.
"Alright; I don't hold my followers against their will, even you." Melak told him and then held his hand out, "I wish you well; and when you have had enough of her, you can always come back."
"Thank you, Uncle." Terak replied, clasping Melak's hand.
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Captain Raymus Antilles expertly maneuvered the cruiser into its assigned slip; having piloted the Chancellor's personal vessel, Tantive V, for several years, handling the smaller cruiser was not even a challenge for him. Once he had powered down the engines, he turned to the Jedi master standing behind him, "I'll have her ready to go as soon as you return, General Kenobi." He said.
Obi-Wan smiled, "It's not 'general' anymore, Captain; I'm a Jedi, not a warrior." He corrected.
"I'm sorry, Master Kenobi; I always forget that." The young captain replied apologetically as he returned the smile.
"Many do, Captain." Obi-Wan answered with a sigh, and then patted the younger man's shoulder, "This should not take long."
"I wish you luck."
"I don't believe in luck." Obi-Wan told him, "If the Force is with us, then we will find what we have come for."
"May the Force be with you then." Antilles bid as a farewell.
"I pray that it is." Obi-Wan replied, then left the cockpit.
Eight Hours after the Temple Assault
As the dawn sun rose above the city planet, its inhabitants stirred in preparation for the day. For most of the planet's several billion citizens, the day was no different than any other. For the Jedi though, it would be a day of numbness and grief as those who dwelt in Jedi Temple struggled to understand why their home had been invaded leaving two of their own dead and several young Jedi missing. Those who had experienced the raid first hand, the younglings, had spent the night in Forced sleep to help them cope with the trauma of what they had been subjected to; but soon, they too would have to come to terms with what had happened. For the others, it had been a restless night of little sleep as each tried to find a peaceful center; in the end, the youngest fell into exhausted sleep while others gave up on it entirely and drew on the Force to banish their weariness. In an effort to restore some sense of normalcy to its shattered peace, Yoda advised no deviation from the Temple routine. The morning meal would be prepared at its usual time, the younglings, Initiates and Padawans roused as they normally were to join the Knights and Masters in the dining hall. Classes would be held, although daily lessons would be suspended and replaced by counseling to aid the younger members of the Order in the aftermath of the previous evening's invasion.
The list of missing, completed by Mace Windu in the early morning hours following the tragedy, had been doubled checked for accuracy and teams of Knights sent to personally deliver the news to their families with the assurance that everything would be done to recover their children. By this time too, the venerable spiritual leader of the Order had also contacted Khyber Raneau's family concerning the loss of their son. After a short debate, it was decided that the Ferri's parents should be contacted as well; although young Cortis had seen little of them since he had become Anakin's Padawan, not to inform them of their son's disappearance seemed unthinkable. And so, as most of Coruscant, in its ignorant bliss, prepared for another day, the residents of the Jedi Temple began their morning routine in subdued silence.
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Light years away, on a ship bound for unknown exile, the captive Jedi huddled for warmth as an icy chill crept into the cargo hold where they had been imprisoned. They did not know how far from their homeworld they had come or how much longer it would be before they reached their place of exile; they had no way of knowing that their destination was still several hours hours away. It was Terak who had caused the drop in temperature, having shut down the heating unit servicing the bay; not knowing who was responsible, Zak wondered if the move wasn't because of his failure to understand or sympathize with Melak's position. Melak, of course, was unaware of Terak's action. It was not until after the temperature in the hold had dropped to near freezing, that it was discovered by an extremist who went to the hold with water for them. Finding them huddled and shivering, the extremist reported immediately to Melak; who accompanied him to check the cargo hold heating unit. Seeing that it had been shut down, Melak shook his head angrily and turned to the other Belaridian, "Did you know about this, Weir?" He demanded.
"If I had, do you think I would have reported how cold it was in there?" Weir answered.
Melak rubbed his forehead, "No, I suppose not." He admitted, throwing the switch to restart the unit, "Come with me; I want to explain to them that this was not intentional."
"They are abominations; do they need any explanation?" Weir asked.
"We are not barbarians; freezing them to death was never part of the plan. Yes, they deserve an explanation." Melak answered, "And then I want to see Terak."
Weir nodded and followed him back to the cargo hold.
Zak looked up when the door opened, "Why are you doing this?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, Zak; the heating unit was shut down without my knowledge. I've restarted it and it should warm up soon; in the meantime, I'll have blankets brought to you." Melak told him.
"So it wasn't you?"
"No; I told you, Zak, I don't want to hurt any of you." Melak replied.
"Then it was Terak; you know that, don't you." Zak surmised after a moment's thought.
Melak shook his head, "I don't know anything of the kind." He insisted.
"Right." Ferri mumbled thickly.
"Melak has apologized; and he's trying to make things more comfortable for you. You should consider yourselves lucky and leave it at that." Weir interjected.
Ferri snorted but did not answer.
"What do you want from me?" Melak asked.
Zak shook his head, "What you won't give us." He answered.
"Your freedom?" Melak guessed, "No, you're right, I can't give you that."
An awkward silence followed and Melak sighed, shrugged and then left; Weir followed him out and triggered the door leaving them alone in their icy prison.
Present Time
The occupants of the shuttle were thrown, first forward and then back as it skidded along the ground. Both apprentices, struggling to bring the ship to a halt, were thrown against their harnesses but their hands held fast to the controls in vise-like grips. Neither of them wanted to think what would happen if even one of the rocks being thrown up during the uncontrolled slide along the ground managed to shatter the front viewport. "Oh dear." Zak murmured as he realized they would not be able to stop the ship from plowing into the mound of earth growing larger as they drew closer to it.
"Uh oh." Ferri gasped, and without thought, flipped the intercom on without knowing if it might have been disabled along with the long range com, "Hang on, we're about to..." But he was unable to finish as the shuttle slammed into the mound again, throwing them against their harnesses.
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In the passengers' compartment, the younglings grasped the hands of those sitting next to them as the ship skidded along the uneven ground. Trust, they all trusted the pair piloting the ship to keep them safe; and because of that trust, not one youngling cried out. Even as Ferri's abbreviated warning sounded throughout the compartment, the younglings remained calm, steadfast in their faith that Zak and Ferri would not fail. There was a large jolt when the ship hit something; and at the same time, the lighting failed leaving them with only the dim light filtering through half a dozen portholes. But at least they were no longer moving.