'ello, peoples of the earth!
Skittles, chocolate, and cinnamon buns (basically a lot of sugary food) make for a pretty good Saturday. :)
I have more reviewers to thank today - Zenkid100, katierosefun, Lux's Sister, and CaylithTheGolden, thank you so much for your kind comments! (One thing - why the flip was everyone so focused on the bombs? :/)
Anyway, without further ado, I present Chapter 4 of Bad Blood! Hope y'all enjoy!
Once Kira and Cody delivered their report, Obi-Wan immediately warned the troopers and other Jedi via comlink not to use weapons on the bombs. He then told everyone to meet up in the bunkers, where they would not be disturbed at this time of day. (Clone cadets would be training or visiting the mess.)
Soon, everyone had gathered in the bunkers, and Obi-Wan delivered the news to the rest of the group. "The bombs are triggered by heat," he told them. "We cannot touch them, or we might destroy part of the facility along with ourselves."
"We could use the Force to crush them," Cadena piped up hopefully.
Obi-Wan considered this. "I'm sorry, Padawan. While it's a good idea, it would take too long for four Jedi to dismantle the bombs, and whoever is setting these bombs will simply plant new ones."
"Then what can we do?" Anakin asked, frustrated.
Obi-Wan turned to his former apprentice with a twinkle in his eye. "Apparently these bombs can only be dismantled through a remote control," he said. "The perpetrator must have the control, and I do know how much you enjoy aggressive negotiations."
Anakin was visibly more interested, as was Cadena.
"The men will set up a defensive perimeter in and around the facility," Obi-Wan continued, turning his attention to the troopers. "They will watch for anything unusual and alert us at once if something happens."
The men saluted. "Sir, yes, sir!"
"Good." With a nod, Obi-Wan dismissed the troopers and sent them to their posts. The room cleared almost immediately, leaving Anakin, Obi-Wan, Cadena and Kira alone.
"And while they're doing that," Anakin said, inquisitive as always, "what's our plan?"
"We're going to do a little more investigating."
Groans leapt from Anakin's and Cadena's throats. Kira nudged Cadena with her elbow. "It's not that bad!" she said cheerfully. "In any case, it's better than negotiations."
"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed. "Who doesn't love a good mystery?"
"I don't," Cadena sighed. "Get the facts and go home, that's what I'd like to do."
"Unfortunately, that's not a luxury you have right now." Obi-Wan was not impressed.
Cadena scowled. "There's a lot of luxuries I don't have right now. Like, hmm, I don't know, time, sleep, real food instead of protein cubes - I really miss that -"
Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin. "I see Anakin has been rubbing off on you, Cadena."
Kira giggled.
Anakin sighed exasperatedly and grabbed Cadena's wrist, interrupting her rant. "Let's just go and finish the mission," he grumbled.
Behind Anakin's back, Obi-Wan and Kira exchanged grins.
The first thing the Jedi did was obtain the names of the Kaminoans on the team that had investigated the cause of the explosions before calling on the Jedi for help. Taun We put together the list for them and wished them luck before she left the room.
"Rae Gaila, radiation expert," Kira read aloud from the list. "It seems he was the one who spearheaded the investigation."
"Then we should talk to him first," Anakin commented. He held his hand out for the datapad on which the names were listed. Kira handed him the datapad and folded her hands on the table the four Jedi were seated at.
Anakin skimmed the list, occasionally scrolling downwards. "He's not the only one," he told the others. He handed the datapad back to Kira. "There are a bunch of Kaminoans on that list that specialize in radiation. I suggest we focus the investigation on them."
"Good call," Obi-Wan praised Anakin as they stood up. Kira rolled her eyes. The last thing they needed on this mission was the inflammation of Anakin's insufferable ego.
Cadena spoke. "So how are we going to present this news to the investigative team? Just walk in and tell them we believe there is a Separatist sympathizer in their midst?"
"Basically." Anakin smirked.
Kira raised an eye marking. "That's not too subtle, Master Skywalker. I believe this investigation should be conducted with subtlety. After all, this sympathizer may in fact be a spy. If he or she is in contact with Grievous or even Dooku, wouldn't they first transmit a message alerting the Separatists of our presence?"
"Subtlety has never been one of Anakin's strong points," Obi-Wan said. He ignored Anakin's cry of indignation and continued. "Kira is right. It's best to simply observe the team and find out what is going on. The only one we should alert is Rae Gaila, I think, since he was in charge of the investigation."
Cadena crossed her arms. "Three to one, Master," she said smugly.
Anakin scowled. "Hey, can you blame me if I want to get this mission over with?" he said, prompting another round of banter with Cadena that continued as the four Jedi exited the room and headed into the corridor.
"All this time and he still can't resist the urge to bicker," Obi-Wan murmured, more to himself than to Kira.
"I'm sure Master Skywalker will fix that in due time," Kira ventured in an attempt to reassure her Master.
Obi-Wan sighed a little. "I do hope so. We need him to concentrate on the mission at hand."
"I heard that!" Anakin called over his shoulder.
The Jedi arrived at the central command center of the facility and opened the door to a flurry of activity. Kaminoans rushed to and fro, some adjusting the formation of the droids in the practice arenas using touch screens and others observing the feeds from security cameras. Still others stood at hologram scanners, running scans over the facility.
Obi-Wan politely inquired about Rae Gaila to a Kaminoan passing by, and she pointed out a tall male Kaminoan near one of the scanners. Kira followed Obi-Wan in that direction while Anakin stayed behind, interested in one of the screens showing the practice arenas. Cadena stood by him, even though she sent a glance Kira's way that said, Think you can get me out of this? Kira replied with an apologetic shrug.
The Kaminoans at the scanner bowed their heads when Obi-Wan and Kira approached. Rae Gaila was the one to speak first. "Welcome, Master Jedi," he addressed Obi-Wan. "How may we be of assistance?"
"Actually, we were here to speak to you," Obi-Wan said cheerfully. "Is there someplace private we could talk?"
Kira was almost certain she saw a flicker of emotion on Rae's face, but whatever it was quickly vanished. "Of course," he said. He gestured for them to follow him.
On the way, Anakin and Cadena joined them. Obi-Wan and Kira stayed a little ways behind while the others introduced themselves. Kira's thoughts strayed away from the conversation she knew they would have with Rae and back to whatever it was she'd seen on the Kaminoan's face. Now that she thought about it, it had looked like he was...
Scared.
But scared of what, exactly?
Scared of their lightsabers? People had been frightened of the fact that the Jedi carried lightsabers around with them all the time.
Scared of speaking with the Jedi alone? Intimidated, maybe, Kira mused, but definitely not scared.
Unless he'd done something wrong.
Now that made sense. If Rae knew something or had done something, of course he'd be scared of being alone with four Jedi. And at the moment, Kira was almost certain that was what was going on. Rae's fear rolled off of him in waves.
Apparently Rae had picked up on Kira's suspicion, for he suddenly turned and ran back the way they'd come. Kira let out a startled gasp as he pushed between her and Obi-Wan.
"After him!" Anakin snarled, drawing his lightsaber.
Kira broke into a run after Rae, keeping him in her sight line at all times. Clones and cadets moved out of her way to avoid getting run over, a maintenance clone or two dropping their supplies in surprise. She ignored them, focused on the chase, and used one finger to activate the comlink on her wrist. Bringing her wrist close to her face, she spoke into the communicator. "Cody, come in!"
Static met her ears, then she heard Cody's familiar voice. "What is it, Commander?"
"Alert the men in your sector. A suspected traitor is headed your way."
"Traitor, ma'am?"
"We think so. He started running before we could question him." And running makes you look guilty. The aftermath of the bombing of the Jedi Temple had taught her that lesson.
"We'll keep our eyes peeled."
"Copy that, Cody." With that, Kira disconnected the call.
Rae kept looking back over his shoulder. Kira hoped he was disappointed with the distance she'd gained on him.
At last, Rae began to pant from the exercise, and Kira was able to use the Force to leap in front of him. She heard troopers arriving behind her to back her up, the sounds of their boots clicking against the floor giving them away. Her lightsaber was out and ignited within seconds. "Going somewhere?"
If Rae's wide eyes became any larger, Kira was certain they would pop right out of his head. She almost laughed as he turned right back around only to run into Cadena, Anakin and Obi-Wan as they raced around the corner.
Anakin grabbed Rae's thin wrists and kept a firm hold on them. "Nice try, sleemo, but we're taking you in," Anakin growled. "We've got some questions for you."
"I won't talk!" Rae insisted as Anakin dragged him away, Cadena on their tail. "I won't!"
"Yeah, tell that to a mind trick," Kira muttered. She deactivated her lightsaber.
Without warning, Obi-Wan's comlink began to go off. He raised his wrist to his face. "Kenobi here."
"Sir, have you found the traitor?"
"Yes, Cody. General Skywalker is taking him in for questioning now. What's the problem?"
"No problem, sir, but we believe we found out how the traitor received the bombs without detection. I think you'll want to see this."
"Stay there," Obi-Wan ordered. "Maintain your position. We'll come to you."
"Copy that, General."
Obi-Wan disconnected the call and turned to Kira. "Let's get going."
"Yes, Master."
With that, the Master and Padawan took off down the corridor.
The wind whipped Kira's damp cloak around her knees as she and Obi-Wan headed toward the edge of the defensive perimeter, where Cody was located. The platform was slippery from constant rainstorms, and Kira found herself calling on the Force to keep herself steady.
When they approached, they found Cody, Trapper and another clone crouching on the ground to get a better look at something. Cody was the first to notice Obi-Wan and Kira. "General, Commander," he said with a nod. He gestured to whatever it was in front of him. "Our guess is that the traitor had arranged a place for it to be dropped off. A drone flew it in."
"Drones? That's a new one." Kira knelt to observe the object. A small box lay in the middle of the circle of clones, the lid already taken off.
Inside lay several bombs.
Obi-Wan studied the box as well. "Well, at least we know how Rae got the bombs. This proves he had Separatist support."
"What should we do with them, Master?" Kira asked.
Obi-Wan thought for a moment, then turned to Cody. "Have a few troopers return to the Resolute and drop these off at the medbay. The scientists there will study them."
"Yes, sir."
"Then have the men tell Admiral Yularen to scan the system. There has to be a ship delivering these bombs, and we will be ready for them when they attack."
I feel like Obi-Wan was a little OOC ... sorry. And Cody! Guys, am I doing Cody alright? Sorry - I get really paranoid about characters acting OOC, and I've never done Cody before. Sorry.
Kira: Would you please stop apologizing!?
Me: I'm concerned that you sounded a lot like Minister Tua just now. O.O
Kira: Well, what can you expect when you cram SWR episodes into your brain like you have been lately? Sabine's trashed my room three times already!
Ezra: *pokes head in* Make that four times.
Kira: ARGH!
Obi-Wan: Kira, it might be best to show some patience at the moment. Remember, it could be worse.
Me: Oh, yes. Ezra could've stolen your lightsaber or something.
Kira: Don't give him ideas.
Ezra: *whistles*
Kira: *looks down at belt* EZRA! *chases Ezra from the room*
Me: Okay then.
Obi-Wan: Shall I do the review notice?
Me: Yes, please.
Obi-Wan: Please review if you liked it, hated it, or wanted to light it up and watch it burn. Thank you for your consideration.
Me: Thanks for clicking in, everyone. May the Force be with you always!
Kira: GET BACK HERE, YOU KLEPTOMANIAC!
Me: Kids. *shakes head*
Obi-Wan: I sense a headache coming on.