They were led to a gray building with no sign outside. When they were ushered inside, Anakin's nose twitched. It smelled like chemicals. So the rumors could be true. The prisoners exchanged uneasy glances.
They were prodded along the hallway and pushed into a bare white room.
There a holoscreen took up an entire wall. An image of a human male dressed in a med coat appeared on the screen. He smiled gently.
'Do not fear. You will not be harmed. On the contrary, you are about to enjoy the experience for which we have chosen you. Welcome to the Zone of Self-Containment. A doctor will be with you shortly to explain. In the meantime, relax.'
'Relax,' one of the prisoners snorted. 'Good advice, med-head.'
The holo image blinked off.
'What did he say?' another one of the imprisoned soldiers asked. 'The Zone of Self-Containment? What are they going to do to us?' He pressed his fingers to his forehead. 'I feel strange.'
Anakin, too, felt light-headed. He suddenly realized why the information had been given to them by a holo image instead of a real person.
'The room is filled with some kind of gas. They've drugged us,' he said as his vision blurred. He felt his knees turn to water. One of the prisoners slumped to the floor.
Anakin felt himself slipping downward. He fought the sensation of the gas. The others slipped into unconsciousness. He held himself in readiness.
He tried to move his legs and found that they were too heavy.
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.
