Chapter 3
"How are you doing Anakin are you feeling any better now?" Obi-wan asked knocking on the door to Anakin's room.
"It has been a week since you locked yourself in here and we have not seen nor heard much from you since. I realize that this must come as a shock to you Anakin you were quite close to the Chancellor, however, it is important as a Jedi that you not dwell on such things as attachment it will only lead you to the dark side." He continued.
"…I just need some more time master." Anakin finally replied a subtle hint of uncertainty and doubt present in his tone.
"That is quite all right Anakin take as much time as you need. I've left some food outside your door should you get hungry just leave the empty tray outside once you've finished." Obi-wan said
"Thank you master" Anakin replied before Obi-wan finally left.
"Why is this taking so long?" Obi Wan thought as the lift continued its journey to the top floor of the Jedi Temple. He was to meet with the other Masters of the Jedi Council to discuss the recent events that transpired at the foot of the Senate Building and an apartment not far from there. However, he could only focus on his former padawan and it was starting to show in his uncharacteristic impatience. Sighing, to himself he took a deep breath and calmed himself.
"If Anakin saw me now he'd probably throughout some snide remark like 'Master I thought I was supposed to be the emotional one.'" The lift he road in finally reached is intended destination forcing the thought to pass as quickly as a came when the doors quickly slid open. Swiftly stepping out into the foyer he noticed Ahsoka standing near the entrance the Council chambers as she prepared to enter.
"I see that the Council has asked you to be present as well Ahsoka." Obi Wan said placing a hand on her shoulder causing her to jump at the unexpected presence.
"Oh, Master I didn't realized you were there." Ahsoka said while attempting to regain her composure.
"It's alright I never meant to startle you just get your attention is all. Although judging by your reaction I must ask if everything is alright."
"Yes Master."
"Is that so? That's not what the force is telling me right now Ahsoka. In fact I'd say you're quite worried about something."
"Well Master ever since the Chancellor's death I've been afraid, afraid of what this means for the Republic and us as Jedi. If a Sith Master was able to become the Chancellor of the Republic then what does that say about the validly and integrity of our government. Maybe what the Separatists say about the overabundance of corruption and injustice is true and this war is only making it rise to the surface for everyone to see. What of ourselves? The Jedi were once known as the protectors of peace in the galaxy nowadays all I see are hardened combat veterans. It's forcing me to doubt what being a Jedi stands for and I don't like it."
"You're not wrong Ahsoka. Recently I too have been having these very same doubts but maybe that is exactly what we needed. A shock to the system of sorts one to reassess our priorities that only an outside observer could have accomplished."
"What exactly do you mean by that Master?"
"I've a theory about what happen that night and I don't think the Council is prepared for what I'm about to say."
"Really but that's usually Anakin's job. We must be in some real trouble if you're doing the shocking Obi Wan."
"Master Kenobi and Padawan Tano, do you why we have call you here today?" Jedi Master Mace Windu asked of the two standing before himself and the rest of the Jedi Council. This would be an important meeting Mace reckoned as they would be going over the details of the information found within the apartment where the assassin took the killing shot. How someone could successfully hit a target with a projectile from that distance let twice was baffling even for the Jedi Master. But that wasn't important at the moment.
"Yes Master Windu we are here to discuss what we have uncovered concerning the Chancellor's dark secret." Obi Wan replied.
"Found something, you have Obi Wan?" Jedi Grand Master Yoda questioned.
"Yes Masters, during the last week I've run down as many leads as possible in hopes of locating some of the sources stated within the file. Unfortunately most of the information had been deleted by the Chancellor's own orders and almost all persons involved in such cases were killed in suspicious accidents. However, I was able to locate one surviving source by the name of Keets Freely who was an investigative journalist working for The Coruscant Holo Net before resigning after his editor refused to publish his article connecting Chancellor Palpatine to the InterGalactic Banking Clan's shell companies using taxpayer's money."
"Interestingly enough when I asked him about the article he mentioned that I was the 'second' person to ask about the article. When I pressed for more information on this person he stated it was a young human woman with blue hair accompanied by large green droid. His description matches the one given by the apartment's receptionist."
"So you believe these two are connected show how?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked.
"I can only postulate that these two were involved if not the perpetrators in the killing."
"And you, Padawan Tano, what have you discovered?" Yoda questioned the fledgling Jedi.
"Yes Masters, with assistance from Master Tera Sinube we've looked into Palpatine's comlink records which contained a large number of contacts within CIS such as Count Dooku, Nute Gunray, General Grievous, and Wat Tambor just to name a few. He also contacted Cad Bane on numerous occasions and was specifically responsible for hiring him to steal the holocron and the subsequent kidnapping force sensitive infants. Digging deeper into the records we found that Palpatine is responsible for hiring Jango Fett to be the genetic template of the Clone Troopers. We've also found that much of the Chancellor's communication to the Separatists correlates the death of many high profile figures specifically Mina Bonteri when she tried to begin peace talks and King Katuunko of Toydaria."
"Troubling it is that one was powerful in the dark side could manipulate us so well." Yoda stated.
"Quite so, however, how is it that we were unable to notice this?" Shaak Ti asked.
"Too close to the dark side become we have. Clouded the force was." Yoda said.
"So what happens now?" Ahsoka asked shifting her stance from one side to the other.
"Find the perpetrators we must and all will be revealed." Yoda told the Council.
"Concerning that Masters I have a theory about what we are dealing with." Obi Wan said speaking up to the others in the chamber.
"Is that so Master Kenobi? Do tell us." Plo Koon asked.
"I believe that we are dealing with some kind of outsiders from a planet or group of planets in the Outer Rim or beyond. Most likely someone not related to the Separatists since Count Dooku most likely would not try and kill his master. Also much of the information gathered before Palpatine was killed could not have been gathered if they hadn't noticed something was wrong looking in."
"Hum…look into this matter you shall Obi Wan and hopefully we'll get to the bottom of this mystery before it's too late. Padawan Tona you will accompany Master Kenobi in his mission seeing as Skywalker is indisposed for the time being." Mace ordered of the two Jedi standing before him.
The streets of Coruscant were as crowded as always even the constant threat of invasion by the Separatists would not stop the beast known as commerce. If anything the war had turned the once docile creature into the uncontrollable monster it was now. What was once concerned with the making the latest and greatest speeders, garments, and snacks was now focused on weapons, starships, and things that go boom.
For Dexter Jettster this translated in more business for his small diner in in CoCo Town known colloquially as Dex's Diner so it was no surprise to him when two Jedi walk into his place of business. On the outside most people would assume the place to be just another greasy diner no different from the other tens of thousands on this planet alone. What made this diner special was Dex's uncanny knack of hearing things he probably shouldn't which was why his old friend Obi Wan Kenobi and a young Togruta girl took a seat in one of the empty booth near the wall.
A minute or so later FLO the single wheeled service droid Dexter employed as a waitress rolled up to the table a tray of drinks for another table in one of her hands ready to take the two Jedi's orders.
"What'll it be honey?" She asked.
"We'll have the sliders and tell Dexter an old friend is here to see him." Obi Wan replied to the energetic droid before she left to put in their order. Not long after Dexter lumbered out of the kitchen and over to the table Obi Wan sat at taking a seat on the bench across from the two Jedi.
"Obi Wan how long has it been since we last met."
"Longer than I'd like to admit my old friend."
"So what brings you and your young companion to my humble place of business?"
"My partner is Padawan Ahsoka Tano and we are here to see what you know about this." Obi Wan said placing the projectile Anakin had dislodged from the crime scene on the table.
"Well now this is an interesting find where exactly did you find this?"
"It was pulled out of ground when the Chancellor was assassinated. We have concluded that two of these were responsible for his death judging by the two cavities on the corpse. However, the distance from which the slugs originate are way outside the range of any know slug thrower."
"Ah … well you're in luck I've come across something similar a few years ago while prospecting in the Outer Rim." Dexter said examining the implement of death like jeweler examining a new diamond.
"Wait so you know where this comes from?" Ahsoka asked finally speaking up.
"Not exactly it was a group of bounty hunters tasked with keeping people as far away from some weird archaeological dig site. I happened across it on accident when they surprised me by firing off a couple of warning shots tell me to 'get the hell away' in a heavily accented Galactic Basic. What really set the alarms in my head off was how they were kitted out when I finally turned around to see who almost killed me. They all wore a similar type of armor kind of like a Mandalorians just more bulky and lacking the jet packs. It was their weapons, however, that had me most on edge for unlike most bounty hunters this group carried only slug throwers."
"So you think the bounty hunters you ran into are responsible the Chancellor's death." Ahsoka said taking the slug back from Besalisk cook.
"Responsible no but related yes. The group I met were all well trained warriors skilled enough to take on a Jedi or two one their own but none of them had the skill to pull off a kill shot from that distance let alone two. If anything they are most likely related belonging to the same clan or culture. Unfortunately that's all I know."
"Thank you Dex the information was much needed we'll be on our way once we finish our lunch." Obi Wan said thanking his old pal.
"It's no problem at all and was good to meet another Jedi." Dexter said while get up from the table and heading back to the kitchen to continue working.
"Bounty hunters huh so does that mean we're heading to Mos Eisley Obi Wan?" Ahsoka ask just as FLO served them their food.
"It certainly seems that way Ahsoka."
For Anakin learning that the man he thought of as one of his closest friends was none other than the Sith Lord responsible for war he and the rest of the galaxy were involved in was too much to bear. So he chose to do what every Jedi did when confronted with a difficult situation, he meditated. There he sat voluntarily confining himself to his quarters looking for an answer to his many questions. Unfortunately for him the force had become a raging hurricane of confusion displaying an uncountable number of possibilities but no single path of which to follow.
The images flashed in his mind as he sat atop the cushioned pedestal once showing a black mask filled with only hatred and anguish all pointing to the dark side of the force. He felt it absorbed it then let it go as quickly as it came recognizing it as only a possibility as the light side revealed itself once more. This time he saw children a boy and a girl no older than a toddler happily laughing in there faceless mother's arms. It was joy and love, the two emotions he could experience while only with his secret wife Padme. The final image was of a strange avian creature whose talons clutched a planet and strange lettering written across it. The feelings it radiated were neither completely light nor completely dark but a strange melding of the two as if there was a balance in the force.
It all ended abruptly when he comlink beeped ending his deep connection with the force. Unsure of who was contacting him he answered as quickly as possible.
"Yes, who is it?"
"Anakin I need to speak to you as soon as possible we have a major problem and I have no idea how to handle this." It was Padme he realized but the tone of her voice was so unaccustomed to him that he was unsure of how to respond.
"What's wrong Padme has something happened to you? Were you attacked are you alright?" He questioned the worry now evident in his voice.
"I'm fine Ani but I received a package in the mail today with pictures lots of pictures of us. I don't know how they found out but they did. Just head over here we need to discuss what to do now."
"Alright I'm on my way over." Anakin said ending the conversation before heading to hanger were the speeders were stored.
He arrived at their shared home in record time like the cause of a few red lights run and a number of traffic violations that he was busy to seriously worry about at the moment. Stepping off the speeder and onto the patio he quickly ran over to his distraught wife sitting on the couch the supposed incriminating pictures scattered about on the coffee table. Noticing that her husband had finally arrived she stood up and embraced him in a long hug his comforting warmth seeping into the weary woman. Let go Anakin moved to the table for a better look at the pictures and was shocked to find numerous photos of the two of them in compromising positions in the comfort of their own home.
"How could someone have gotten these?" She asked of him.
"I don't know but were going to find out."
Sifting through the unorganized pile of pictures Anakin noticed an unopened letter buried within the mess now present in the living room. Slowly and cautiously he opened it worried it might be a trap. Thankfully it wasn't instead in it contained a message addressed to both him and Padme. The message read:
Dear Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala,
While your secret must have been difficult to conceal from even your closest friends they are nearly impossible to be kept as so. As such we are giving you the opportunity to discuss our terms for your secret to remain as such. Should you come to an understanding meet us where it all began on Tatooine.
Sincerely, the Blue Lady
Finishing the letter he looked to wife before he asked his next question.
"What do we do? Should we go or should we not?"
"What choice do we have? It's either being found out or be blackmailed at least by going we may find a clue as to who these people are."
"Alright I'll ready the Twilight for departure." Anakin said as he left to return to the Jedi Temple so as to prep his freighter for the long journey ahead of them.
