He was the only one conscious when the technicians entered the room in masks. He saw, but he could not move a finger. The technicians began to load the other prisoners onto repulsorlift stretchers.
“Look at this one, he’s still awake,” one of the technicians said, drawing closer to Anakin. “Never seen that before.”
“He’s not too happy about being here, either,” another said.
One of them leaned closer to Anakin. “Don’t fight it, friend. We just want some cooperation in the beginning. I guarantee you’ll like your stay here.”
Using every ounce of his will and strength, Anakin grabbed the technician by the collar and brought his face even closer. “Don’t… bet… on it.”
The technician yelped and struggled to free himself. “Help! For galaxy’s sake!”
The other two rushed over. Anakin could not fight the three of them. He was thrown onto the stretcher and strapped down. He dipped in and out of consciousness as the stretcher was powered down the hall. A door opened. The light hurt his eyes.
They began to undress him. My lightsaber, Anakin thought. The disk. He had retained his utility belt and concealed the disk inside a hidden slit. He had concealed his lightsaber by lodging it against his body underneath the tunic, strapping the belt tight against the hilt.
He could not summon the Force enough to distract the technicians from finding it. He was helpless. Only luck could save him from discovery. The belt was unstrapped and hit the tiled floor with a soft thud. His tunic followed. The technician scooped up the bundle and tossed it in a storage box with clothes from the other prisoners.
Anakin shut his eyes against the harsh light. He felt himself being lifted and slipped into water. He tried to fight, afraid he would drown.
“Relax, friend,” the technician said. “It’s just a bath.”
The water was warm. He slid against the side. He was strapped in so that his head wouldn’t slip beneath the surface. Anakin’s mind drifted as though he were floating off on a deep, dark lake.
He must have slept. When he woke, he was dry and was wearing a fresh tunic, this one a soft material, in dark blue. He was lying on a sleep couch. The sleep had refreshed him. He felt relaxed and energized. He stretched, marveling at how fluid his limbs felt. The paralyzing drug effects had worn off, but strangely, had left him feeling limber.
He recognized the technician who handed him a pillow. “Feel better? Told you so. Almost time for the evening meal.”
Anakin shook his head.
“They all refuse at first,” the med technician said. “Don’t worry, the food isn’t drugged. We all eat together, workers and patients.”
Anakin shrugged. Maybe the man was telling the truth. Maybe not. Oddly, Anakin didn’t care. It was as though cool water had run through his veins, calming every impulse, every desire.
He walked to the dining hall. Tables were set up, and other patients and med workers were eating. There was a long table with platters heaped with fruits and vegetables, pastries and meats. Anakin saw that everyone ate from the same plates, so he took some food and ate it.
He chewed, wondering what would come next. He supposed something would happen soon. When it did, he would react.
The need to help TyphaDor seemed so distant now. Someone else would help the planet. There was always someone else to do something, if you waited. He would just pass the time here and see what the Vanqors were up to. That could be valuable to the TyphaDor, too. He needn’t worry about the invasion right now.
He ate and followed some other prisoners out into the courtyard. Warming lights had been set up, and the air was comfortable. Flowers grew, and large, leafy trees. Anakin found a bench and sat. He felt something he had not felt in a long, long time, not since he was a little boy nestled in his mother’s embrace: peace.
I’ll fight it soon. When I need to escape, I will. But right now… right now, would it be so wrong to enjoy it?
CHAPTER SEVEN
Obi-Wan waited until the starships were out of sight. He couldn’t risk a long transmission to the Temple. But he would have to risk a distress call. The calls would be coded and scrambled, and he would have to hope it could reach the Temple.
They could lock on his position and send help. It would take almost two days to arrive, but he had to risk it.
The tracking device tucked in Anakin’s tunic beeped a steady signal. Obi-Wan trudged back to the ship. He climbed through the hole and went to the rear cargo hold. He had to cut through the crunched door with his lightsaber. He remembered that they had loaded one swoop aboard. They had to leave the rest behind because Anakin needed to lighten the ship’s load as much as possible.