Anakin, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan had gone to get Senator Amidala and Senator Organa. Luckily, they were free of any work for the day, and were able to come with them back to the Temple. Anakin and Obi-Wan explained the situation and the offer to the two Senators on their way back to the Council Chambers. At first, they obviously find it ridiculous that there could be videos explaining a harsh and evil future, but Obi-Wan responded saying that they could sense no deception through the Force.
Padme slowly began to consider the possibility, while Senator Organa was still doubtful. However, both Senators trusted the Jedi and decided to go along with them to see this, 'future' of an Empire for themselves. Now they were sitting in the Council Chambers beside Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, two extra chairs pulled up. After quick pleasantries, the holovid was started back up.
Jyn opens her eyes, small drops of water landing on her head every so often from within her jail cell. She sits up slowly, having had another dream about losing her family, hurt still shining through her eyes years later. She grabs a dirty rag and angrily wipes her head clear of the water.
"So that's... Jyn?" Padme asks, and Anakin nods his head.
"Yeah, I believe so. We only saw her as a young girl, but I'm sure its the same person," he replies.
"Why is she in a cell? I thought you said she was rescued from this Empire..." Bail says in confusion. The others are just as confused as he is.
Glancing to the side, she sees her cell mate snoring on the cot, his facial appendages sucking in and out with each breathe, and a brief look of disgust crosses her face.
Ahsoka grimaces slightly, not eager at the idea of sleeping next to someone like that. Anakin shares the same thought as her. Prison's were awful.
STORMTROOPER: Check in, security. Cell block 4227. 4227.
Jyn looks out the door of her cell as a Stormtrooper walks by, baton in hand. Throughout the prison, the faint sound of a prisoner being tortured echoed through the walls, his screams full of pain.
"My goodness," Bail says quietly.
"That place looks awful..." Padme says sadly.
"But you were right. Those troopers do have a strong resemblance to clone troopers," Bail says.
"Something happens before this. Something that turned the Republic into an Empire, and I don't think it's just the work of the Separatists." Anakin says, crossing his arms.
"I agree Anakin. this military style is unlike grievous or Dooku's preference. I haven't even seen or heard any mention of them at all." Obi-Wan adds, and the other Jedi quickly realize he was right. So far, both holovids have had no mention of the two Separatist leaders, so whatever caused the Empire didn't happen because of them...
"That is rather odd," Master Plo agrees.
RING OF KAFRENE: Trading Outpost
Two asteroids float through the field of rocks and debris, connected by the city outpost in between them. Both sides of the city had artificial gravity to keep people rooted normally, and an invisible shield protected the outpost from stray asteroids.
"I don't get that place," Ahsoka mutters.
"Me neither Snips," Anakin responds in agreement.
Down in the busy streets, Cassian Andor pushes through the crowd and then ducks into an alleyway where he meets Tivik, an informant. The latter was a terrified wreck.
TIVIK: I was about to leave.
CASSIAN: I came as fast as I could.
TIVIK: I have to get back on board. Walk with me.
CASSIAN: Back to Jedha?
TIVIK: They'll leave without me!
CASSIAN: Easy. You have news from Jedha? Come on.
"Master, doesn't Jedha have some sort of Jedi temple there?" Ahsoka asks.
"I think so," he replies.
"To some degree. It isn't exactly Jedi related, more a religious ground with those following the Church of the Force," Obi-Wan says.
"Studied the Force, Jedha's inhabitants have, for a long time," Yoda adds.
TIVIK: An Imperial pilot, one of the cargo drivers. He defected yesterday. He's telling people they're making a weapon. The kyber crystals, that's what they're for.
"Kyber crystals?" Mace says in surprise and confusion, the other Jedi just as worried, especially Yoda. He's heard stories of Sith using kyber crystals to create weapons of unimaginable power.
"I cannot imagine what they would use them for..." Master Mundi says, a deep frown on his face.
CASSIAN: What kind of weapon?
TIVIK: Look, I have to go.
Unsatisfied, Cassian shoves Tivak back as he tries to leave, a scowl on his face.
CASSIAN: What kind of weapon?!
Tivak quickly swats his hand away, sweating from how terrified he was.
TIVIK: A planet killer! That's what he called it!
Cassian is in disbelief.
CASSIAN: A planet killer?
"What?" Padme says in alarm.
"Is such a weapon even possible?" Bail asks.
Remembering the event with Starkiller Base, many of the Jedi lower their heads slightly in sadness. The idea that someone could create such a monstrosity was awful. And now its seems this is where it was first built...
"Unfortunately, yes," Obi-Wan says sadly.
TIVIK: Someone named Erso sent him. Some old friend of Saw's.
CASSIAN: Galen Erso? Was it?
TIVIK: I don't know! They were looking for Saw when we left.
"Saw seems to have quite the reputation..." Anakin comments.
"Well, he wasn't subtle that's for sure," Ahsoka recalls.
CASSIAN: Who else knows this?
TIVIK: I have no idea! It's all falling apart. Saw's right, there're spies everywhere.
Two stormtroopers appear in the alleyway behind them.
"Oh boy..." Anakin muttered.
STORMTROOPER: What's all this?
STORMTROOPER: Come on, let's see some scandocs.
CASSIAN: Yeah of course, its just, my gloves.
Cassian grins sheepishly and slowly walks over to a crate, reaching down as if he were about to pull something up. Suddenly, he whips around with a blaster in his hand and quickly kills the stormtroopers. Tivak is horrified.
The speed and lack of hesitation in Cassian's actions made some of the Jedi unsure of him. Of course, they've had to do similar things before but they always tried to find another option. No matter what happens it always seems to be just around the corner.
TIVIK: No! What've you done?
A few nearby civilians run away from the scene, and a Stormtroopers ducks around the corner, blaster at the ready.
STORMTROOPERS: Troopers down, section 9.
Cassian continues to look for a way out while Tivak goes into a panic.
TIVIK: Are you crazy? I'll never climb out of here! My arm...
"How are they gonna get out of there?" Ahsoka asks out loud to herself.
A squad of Stormtroopers rush down the street, closing in on their position as they shove people out of the way.
STORMTROOPER: Get out of the way. Move! Move!
CASSIAN: Calm down. We'll be all right.
A moment later, Cassian shoots Tivik in the back. He backs away slowly, staring at the body with regret in his eyes before putting his blaster away. Looking up, he begins to make the climb out of the dead end.
Everyone widens their eyes in shock and confusion, stunned that Cassian just shot the informer as well. Wasn't he on their side...?
"Why would he do that?" Padme asks with wide eyes.
"That's just..." Master Fisto says quietly.
Anakin frowns. "From a certain viewpoint I can see why he did it... The guy would've been captured, and probably spilled important info," he theorizes, shaking his head. "Doesn't make it right though."
"This man has gone through some very tough choices," Obi-Wan remarks with a frown.
JEDHA: Imperial Occupied Moon
Through the desert landscape of Jedha, a small group traverses the landscape, coming to a small stop. One of the militia men points off to the side.
MILITIA: (Sir.)
Three others escort Bodhi, the defected pilot towards the main group. He's cuffed up, but otherwise unharmed, although obviously very nervous. He glances at the groups leader and then back at the ones escorting him repeatedly.
BODHI: Is that him? He looks kind of different than I imagined.
Anakin snorts lightly. "Well that definitely isn't Saw," he commented.
"Something tells me this isn't the friendliest bunch," Obi-Wan murmurs.
"Saw can be a little harsh, but he's good at heart, I'm sure," Ahsoka says, thinking about her experiences with Saw and the other rebels on Onderon.
TWO TUBES: (On your feet! It's the pilot, the defector)
The militiamen begin a pat down of Bodhi, searching for anything of interest.
BODHI: Okay, so you're-you're Saw Gerrera? Saw Gerrera. No? Okay, we're just wasting time that we don't have. I need to speak to Saw Gerrera! I keep telling them before, before it's too late!
"Why won't they just listen to him?" Bail questions in disapproval.
"Very rough folk," Anakin mutters, immediately able to tell their type from past experiences. Padme lays a comforting hand on his shoulder in a friendly gesture, unnoticed by most. To them it meant more, although both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka glanced back for a moment, sharing a look. As did Yoda.
He rambles on in a panic, but unfortunately nobody listens to him, continuing with their search.
TWO TUBES: (Keep your heads down! The Imperials will be searching for him…)
BODHI: We're out here in the middle of the desert! We need to get to Jedha City? What part of urgent message do you guys not understand?!
The leader of the group gives a nod, and a sack is pulled over Bodhi's head, much to his surprise and fear.
"Oh come on!" Ahsoka complains, crossing her arms in frustration. She was starting to not like this new band of fighters Saw had gathered.
"Dangerous, things have become for them," Yoda senses, a trouble frown on his face. There was still so much more to know...
BODHI: Hey! we're all on the same side, if you just see past the uniform for a minute! I've got to speak to ah... I've got to speak to Saw Gerrera!
The camera pans out to show an old and ancient statue of a Jedi laying in the sand, the sun setting on the horizon.
All of the Jedi stare at the statue, in slight awe of such a display, proving that Jedi had a heavy influence on Jedha once before. The knowledge that it was now in the hands of this, 'Empire' and a war zone was frustrating.
WOBANI: Imperial Labor Camp
A transport crosses the rugged and rocky landscape, carrying a group of prisoners to the intended destination. Inside, Jinn and several others are shackled, with two guards sitting inside with them.
"Well that looks promising. Wonder how she's planning to escape this..." Anakin wonders out lout.
"I'm more confused about how she's in a labor camp," Obi-Wan says. "Someone of her status would immediately be sent to the higher ups on capture."
"Perhaps she has an alias?" Anakin offers.
"Poor girl..." Padme mutters to herself.
They continue on their way until the transport suddenly stops.
STORMTROOPER: What now?
STORMTROOPER: I don't know. Must be another pick up.
STORMTROOPER: I thought we had everybody.
"They're toast," Ahsoka says with a small grin.
The door to the transport bursts open and Rebel Alliance soldiers file in, quickly blasting away at the Stormtroopers. The troopers never had a chance to fire back.
Anakin nods to himself. Efficient, quick, and painless.
SOLDIER: All clear, sir.
MELSHI: Hallik! Liana Hallik!
SOLDIER: Her.
"I suppose she is using an alias... there's no doubt though that this is the same girl." Master Plo says.
MELSHI: You want to get out of here?
PRISONER: Hey! What about me?
Jyn kicks the rebel away, and grabs a shovel off of the wall. She then uses it to knock the other two rebels away from her and begins to run from the transport.
Some of those in the room gape at Jyn, confused by her actions. "They just rescued her! Why would she do that?" Ahsoka says.
"A lot of this doesn't make too much sense to me," Bail muttered, both senators uncomfortable with all the violence displayed in such a short amount of time.
She jumps outside, elated at being free, when a droid arm out of nowhere grabs her by the neck and ruthlessly slams her into the ground. She lays there stunned, struggling to get air back while the droid towers over her.
A few of the Jedi in the room wince slightly. That didn't look particularly pleasant, more painful really.
K2-SO: Congratulations. You are being rescued. Please do not resist.
Despite the situation, Anakin grins. "I like this droid already!"
"Really Anakin?" Obi-Wan and Padme say in exasperation at the same time, causing them to look at each other in surprise.
"What? He has a good sense of humor!" he said in defense, and Ahsoka snickered under her breath.