Chapter 15 Facing the Council

Padme remained with Anakin until the late night hours and then decided to spend the night at the Temple with their children rather than waking them to take them home. A Knight came from the Temple for her, and she and Zak went back together. Obi-Wan remained behind and the two talked until well after mid night when Anakin finally gave in to sleep; Obi-Wan stayed with him until morning. By then, Anakin's Jedi healing ability had kicked in and his physical injuries were vastly improved; so much so, that he was deemed fit enough to be released and when Padme returned to the medical center, she brought fresh clothes for him.

She was talking quietly to Zak and Obi-Wan when he appeared, fully dressed, in the hallway outside his room. Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head, "What is it, Obi-Wan?" Padme asked.

"He thinks I should be wearing Jedi white." Anakin answered, "Tell her why, Obi-Wan."

"You can read my thoughts, why don't you tell her?" Obi-Wan replied curtly.

"Alright; he thinks the only reason I started wearing black in the first place was because of Palpatine; and now that he's dead, he thinks there is no reason why I should not go back to what I wore when I was his younger Padawan." Anakin told her, "That about covers it, doesn't it?"

"That's part of it; the other part is that you've grown beyond who you were just before you destroyed him. You've transcended and your soul is not Dark any longer." Obi-Wan added.

"Oh, but it is; the events over the last few days have proven that." Anakin corrected.

Obi-Wan sighed again and shook his head, but said nothing further.

"Well, I want to see Ferri before we leave." Anakin decided, dismissing their prior conversation.

"His parents are here, Anakin." Obi-Wan told him.

"Yes, I rather thought they would be; I should talk to them." Anakin replied.

"Are you ready for that?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I will never be ready for it; but the longer I put it off, the harder it will be to face them." Anakin answered.

Obi-Wan nodded, "You do have a point." He was forced to agree.

They walked together, down the hall and around the corner to the respiratory unit; as they rounded the corner, a man, about Anakin's size with straw-colored hair, had one arm around the waist of a small honey-haired woman as they stood conversing with a medical droid. The resemblance the man bore to Ferri made it clear that he was the boy's father and the woman, presumably, was his wife. Anakin paused and waited for them to finish with the med droid before taking a deep breath and moving toward them with Obi-Wan at his side.

"Mr. Cortis?" Anakin began, "I'm…"

"Anakin Skywalker; yes, I recognize you from the holo-news." Ferri's father finished, "I am Lexi, and this is my wife, Faleen."

"I would like to say I am pleased to meet you, but under these circumstances…." Anakin replied as he shook Lexi's hand.

"Yes, we were contacted yesterday and came as soon as we could; but no one will tell us exactly what happened." Lexi answered.

Anakin sighed, "Perhaps we should sit down." He suggested and gestured to one of the benches that lined the hall and then looked at Obi-Wan, "I would like to do this alone."

Obi-Wan nodded and the Cortis's followed Anakin, "Did they tell you what Ferri was doing when he was injured?" Anakin asked as they sat down.

"Not very much; only that he was helping a Jedi Master who was searching for someone. We were told that Ferri was no longer in training for Knighthood, so we are confused about what he was doing out of the Temple." Lexi replied.

"He was helping Master Kenobi, who was trying to find me." Anakin informed him.

"Does that mean the Council had changed its mind about his training then? Was Master Kenobi thinking of taking him as an apprentice?" Lexi asked expectantly.

"No, Master Kenobi already has an apprentice and Ferri's training would not have resumed in any case; your son has a unique ability that Master Kenobi was using to find me." Anakin explained.

"If his ability is so unique, then why was his training ended in the first place?" Lexi wondered.

"I'm sure you were given a full explanation of Ferri's actions which led to up to that dismissal." Anakin answered.

"Yes, but it was only one mistake; I would think that Ferri should have been given another chance." Faleen argued.

"But that one mistake nearly cost the lives of a Jedi Master and his apprentice; the Council decided that Ferri could not be trusted with the lives of any more Knights because of his poor judgment." Anakin told them, "But we are not here to discuss Ferri's past mistakes."

"Well, if Ferri had been Master Kenobi's apprentice, maybe he would have protected him a little better." Lexi said hostilely.

"What?"

"Master Kenobi should have chosen Ferri as his apprentice." Lexi answered.

"So you think Master Kenobi failed your son by not choosing him?" Anakin asked.

"No, Ferri failed himself for not making a big enough impression on him." Lexi corrected.

"He failed himself, or he failed you?" Anakin wondered.

Lexi looked down at the floor, "I cannot deny we were disappointed." He admitted.

Anakin looked at him for a moment, regarding him silently and then nodded, "When you gave him to the Jedi, did you have great plans for him?" He asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Lexi asked defensively.

"Nothing, I guess." Anakin replied and then turned the conversation back to explaining the turn of events leading to Ferri's injury, "Perhaps it would better if I started from the beginning…" He began again.

"So you injured our boy." Lexi stated when Anakin had finished.

"Yes, and while Master Kenobi would try to tell you that I should not be blamed, I take full responsibility for my actions. I just wanted you to know the whole truth about what happened and to understand that Ferri did a very brave thing by trying to stop me from hurting anyone else." Anakin explained.

"We thank you for your honesty, Master Skywalker; when Ferri is strong enough, we will take him home." Lexi replied, "there is no point in him staying with the Jedi any longer since he can never be Knighted."

"Is that all you have to say?" Anakin asked, "You aren't angry with me?"

"No, it does not appear that you meant to hurt him." Lexi told him.

"I'm grateful for your understanding." Anakin said, "But you should be proud of what he did."

"It does not make him any less a failure." Lexi answered.

Anakin sighed and shook his head, "I'm sorry you feel that way; and I am sorry you choose not to let Ferri continue with us just when he is beginning to show he can be trusted again." He said as he stood up.

"It's too late for that now; we've already made our decision." Faleen replied.

Anakin nodded, "That's too bad…one other question; Mr. Cortis, have you ever been tested by the Jedi?" He asked.

Lexi looked at him with surprise, "Why would you ask that?" He wondered.

"Just curious; nevermind." Anakin answered, "With your permission, I would like to visit with Ferri for a bit."

"Yes; I see no reason not to allow that." Lexi consented.

"Thank you." Anakin replied, bowed and returned to where Obi-Wan was waiting.

"Well, that went better than I expected." Anakin said, cocking his head.

"I know that look; what is it, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Did you know that Ferri's father is Force sensitive?" Anakin wondered.

"No; but then I've never had any contact with him before this." Obi-Wan answered.

"Well, he is; and now I think I understand where Ferri's insecurity comes from." Anakin replied.

"Really?" Obi-Wan said with an arch of his eyebrow.

"Yes, but I'd like to present my theory to the entire Council when we meet later today." Anakin told him, "In the meantime, I'd like to visit with Ferri; he could use a little healing, I think."

"That is true enough." Obi-Wan agreed.

"Why don't you go ahead and take Padme back to the Temple, and I'll join you there when I'm finished." Anakin suggested.

"Oh no; the last time you went off by yourself, you ended up walking in front of a speeder. We'll wait." Obi-Wan decided.

"Alright, have it your way." Anakin replied with a shrug, "But you might as well find some place to sit down; I'll probably be at least an hour."

Obi-Wan nodded and retreated down the hall where Zak and Padme stood waiting while Anakin knocked lightly on the door before entering the respiratory unit.

There were several patients in the unit and Anakin glanced around until he located Ferri before moving further into the room. Tubes extended from both of the young Jedi's arms which were strapped securely to the sides of the bed; a light blanket was folded down to his waist; a tube, presumably draining Ferri's lung, extended from underneath a bacta-saturated pad covering his chest. An oxygen mask covered Ferri's nose and mouth and the hissing noise it generated as it assisted in the boy's breathing joined the rhythmic beeping of the machine beside his bed as it monitored his vital signs. Ferri's eyes were closed, but as Anakin came to stand beside the bed, they opened; Ferri gazed up at him, but he did not move. Anakin smiled at him and placed a hand on his forehead, reaching out to him through the Force. He felt Ferri become tense and his breathing increase, even though his body remained perfectly still and Anakin immediately sensed the presence of a paralyzing agent; apparently the medical droids determined it necessary that Ferri be immobilized, "It's alright, Ferri; I'm here to help you, not hurt you again. You must relax." Anakin said, sending a reassuring wave through the Force.

"That's it." He added as Ferri's breathing slowed and Anakin felt the tension flow away from him.

He smiled again, never taking his eyes off the boy's face as he called a nearby chair to him and sat down.

"Now, I want to help you heal; just relax and let me in, can you do that?" Anakin asked before he remembered that Ferri could not respond to him, "Alright, that's it, don't fight it, just relax…yes, that's it."

Anakin felt Ferri surrender to him allowing his healing Force to flow through him without resistance; and he remained connected to him for nearly an hour before finally pulling back.

Anakin smiled at him again, "That's enough for now; but I'll come back tomorrow and we'll do it again, alright?" He said even though he knew Ferri was unable to respond.

"And now you need to rest, so I am going to just help you do that." He finished as he reached out again, sensing that Ferri welcomed the Force sleep Anakin was about to administer to him.

Anakin stayed connected with him for several more minutes before easing carefully back as Ferri's eyes closed and his breathing took on the slow measured breaths of a sleeping child. He nodded in satisfaction and turned toward the door; Lexi and Faleen stood in the open doorway staring at him. It did not take much effort for Anakin to feel their mistrust and hostility.

"I was not hurting him." Anakin assured them as he moved toward the door.

They glared accusingly at him and did not move when he reached the doorway, "What is your problem?" He asked.

"He's not yours to play with anymore." Faleen said.

"I was helping him heal; I was not playing with him. And if you….forget it." Anakin replied, shaking his head with disgust, "I'll come to see him again tomorrow."

"You'll stay away from him; he's got to face the fact that he's failed as a Jedi, and seeing you will just make that harder." Lexi told him.

"Even if Ferri is never Knighted it does not make him any less a Jedi; I am coming back tomorrow, whether you like it or not. Until he is actually released from the Order, you have no grounds to dictate what I do." Anakin informed him, pushing Lexi roughly on his way out.

----------

"I want to apologize to the Council and to the entire Order for my behavior these last few days." Anakin said as he stood behind his Council seat.

"No need, Anakin; the reasons behind your bizarre behavior do not indicate that you owe any apology to us." Adi Gallia assured him.

"Although it will be necessary to explain your actions to those you accosted." Ki-Adi Mundi added.

"But I am responsible for the death of…" Anakin began.

"We have already looked into that incident; that being was a known and wanted felon implicated in a number of vicious assaults and two brutal murders. Had you not killed him, you may well have become his third murdered victim and we would be mourning your loss instead of celebrating your return." Plo Koon interrupted.

"Take your seat, Anakin." Mace instructed.

"Before I do, there is something else I would like to bring before the Council." Anakin announced.

"This meeting is to discuss the events of the past few days." Stass Allie reminded him.

"I know; but what I have to tell you I believe is connected to that." Anakin countered.

Mace sighed, "Very well; proceed." He consented resignedly.

"As you probably already know; I met with Ferri Cortis' parents this morning before I left the medical center." Anakin began, "Does anyone here know if Lexi Cortis was ever tested by the Jedi?"

"Is that important?" Eeth Koth asked.

"Yes, I think so because he is Force sensitive." Anakin informed them.

"Certain of this are you?" Yoda asked.

"Oh yes; I picked up on it while I was talking to him. I'm just wondering if he was tested; and if he was, why he is not a Jedi." Anakin replied.

"Well, that is easy enough to find out; Master Nu will have the information at her fingertips. What are you getting at, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Well, this has to do with Ferri's insecurity." Anakin answered, "Lexi told me that when they gave Ferri to the Jedi, they had great hopes for him and they also said when you did not choose him as your Padawan, Obi-Wan, they were very disappointed. I'm thinking that Ferri and Lexi are connected through the Force, even though neither one of them are aware of it and Ferri's insecurity stems from Lexi's great hopes and great disappointment at Ferri's inability to live up to them."

"And you feel that we must discuss this now? I don't see what it has to do with…." Luminara Unduli questioned.

"Alright, I guess it doesn't directly; but Ferri's parents came here because Ferri was injured, and now they are planning to submit a petition to the Order to regain custody of him." Anakin explained before she could finish, "We do not have to luxury of waiting to discuss it."

"If his parents wish to take him, we are not allowed to prevent it; they may feel that the life of a Jedi is too dangerous to risk…." Quinlan Vos replied.

"No, no; you don't understand. This is not about the life of a Jedi; it's about Ferri's failure." Anakin said.

"You think they are punishing him?" Adi Gallia asked.

"Yes, in a way; they don't want him to be in the Order unless he can be Knighted." Anakin answered.

"Why would that be, Anakin?" Ki-Adi asked.

"What if Lexi's parents refused to allow him to be trained as a Jedi?" Anakin put forth.

"So you think that Lexi wanted to live a Jedi's life vicariously through Ferri because one was denied to him?" Obi-Wan surmised.

"Yes, and now that Ferri will never allow him to do that, there is no reason for him to remain with us." Anakin replied.

"Just to put an end to this so we may move on, what are you proposing, Master Skywalker?" Mace asked.