High Council Chambers

Obi-Wan and Ahsoka stood in the middle of the Council members. For this moment, everyone was present. Great tension was in the air, it could be felt.

"How could the Separatists infiltrate the Temple ?" Ahsoka asked, still shocked from hearing of the bombing.

Everyone looked at each other, then Yoda looked at both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. "Worse than that, it is."

Obi-Wan stroked his beard. "What could be worse, Master Yoda ?"

Mace Windu sighed and shook his head. "Everything is on the table. We have to look at the possibility that it could've been anyone in the Temple, even a Jedi."

Yoda nodded. "If a Jedi this is, gone to the Dark Side they have."

Ahsoka gave a haughty laugh. "I can't believe a Jedi would attack a place this sacred !"

Mace Windu pointed at both. "We'd like you two to lead the investigation. We can't trust anyone who was here, even a Jedi. You and Ahsoka will provide an impartial point of view, free of assumptions."

Obi-Wan immediately took responsibility. "We'll do whatever is possible, Masters."

Yoda gave a stern warning. "Great care you must take, Obi-Wan. If willing to destroy the Temple the attacker is, to great lengths they will keep from being caught."

To Obi-Wan, the solution was obvious. "We'll go to greater lengths on our part, then."

Bowing, both left off to survey the damage in the hangar.

Temple Hangar

As both arrived, they quickly noticed the intense damage done by the explosion. Ships were destroyed. Worse, many innocent lives were lost in the blast.

Obi-Wan felt great pain through the Force. "I can still hear the screams. Can you ?"

She nodded, huddling herself. "Yes, Master Kenobi. The fear and pain is felt greatly. Do you believe what they've said, that a Jedi could do this ?"

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with the ongoing struggle. There are many political idealists amongst us."

She raised an eye marking. "But a traitor ?"

He quickly brought up a few examples. "I'm afraid one can eventually become the other. Count Dooku and General Krell are two that turned against us when we least expected it."

A droid in the back interrupted their conversation. "Only analysis and investigation will prove what is true or not." He pressed a few buttons on a datapad.

Obi-Wan turned over to the droid. "I don't believe we've made acquaintance… or have we ?"

The droid looked to both. "I am RUSSO-ISC, Crime Scene Analyser for the Jedi. I will be working with you and Knight Tano on this case. I was assigned by Master Windu."

Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "Well then. Might I suggest that you and Knight Tano begin the interviews with the survivors of the blast ?"

The droid shook its head. "I would rather interview the witnesses alone."

"Do explain why." Obi-Wan asked, slightly irked.

"Many of the wounded have heard the rumors that a Jedi could be behind the explosions. There will be… ill-will towards you." The droid explained.

Obi-Wan insisted that Ahsoka accompanied him. "That may be, but Jedi as well as maintenance crew and Clones were killed. Take her with you and let me know should you find any useful leads."

"We will, Master Kenobi." With that, both RUSSO and Ahsoka went off to see the wounded.

About an hour of tense interviews later, they've managed to get a lead. Jackar Bowmani. One of the maintenance crew from the hangar. As Ahsoka and RUSSO were about to leave the infirmary, Obi-Wan walked in to meet with them.

Ahsoka's curiosity needed sating. "Were you able to find anything, Master Kenobi ?"

Obi-Wan lowered his head, worried. "Unfortunately, no. I'm afraid the rumor about a Jedi being the culprit is growing more and more, Ahsoka. I can feel the anger throughout the Temple."

Ahsoka activated a hologram of Jackar. "RUSSO and I have a lead. We're looking for one of the Temple workers, Jackar Bowmani. One of the witnesses saw him in the area where the bomb exploded right before it happened, and we have not been able to find him anywhere."

Obi-Wan gave a surprised look. "Curious. No one could disappear out of thin air… unless it was well planned out."

Ahsoka gave her thoughts on the matter. "It had to be really well planned out to get past us Jedi. Is there anything else we can do ?"

Obi-Wan sent her off. "You're relieved of the investigation until we get more information. It's been a long day for you, young one. You need rest. On my end, I'll talk to the security staff."

Outside, protesters were clamoring for the war to end. "No more Clones ! Stop the Violence ! End the War ! Stop the Violence !"

As Obi-Wan stepped out the Temple's entrance, Jedi Battlemaster Cin Drallig was overlooking the protesters.

Obi-Wan looked over to the crowds. "They're all family and friends ?"

Cin felt sorry for the families of the victims. "Yes, they're all looking for answers. I'm not sure what I can tell them."

Obi-Wan placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "As I am, Master Drallig." He activated the hologram of Jackar. "This is the person we're looking for. He might be behind all of this. Should you see him, we need to be alerted immediately."

A woman, adorned with various tattoos on her face, stood out of the crowd. "That is Jackar !"

Obi-Wan pulled her away from the crowd. "Do you know him ?"

"He is my husband. I've been trying to reach him since I heard of an explosion. Where is he ?" She answered.

"Then you and I need to have a talk, my dear." Obi-Wan directed her to an empty room where they could speak in private. He learned that her name was Letta Turmond. As he guided Letta into the empty room, Barriss was passing by and gave a quick glance.

She was offered a cup of tea to soothe her shot nerves. Despite this, she still looked agitated and worried. "You have no idea where Jackar is ?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

Letta began to be irritated. "You're a Jedi and can't even find him ?!"

He tried his best to pacify her. "I understand your frustration."

Nearly sobbing, Letta quickly cut him off. "Don't ! Just find Jackar !"

Now Obi-Wan was entering uncomfortable territory. "Letta, do you think Jackar could do something like this ? Blow up the Temple ?"

She growled at him for suggesting such blasphemy. "Do you have any idea what someone has to go through to work in the Jedi Temple, hmm ? Jackar dedicated his life to serving the Jedi. It had been his dream. Not just anyone can walk into your precious Temple. He had passed all the entry tests !"

Obi-Wan apologized again. "I'm terribly sorry for all this. But I had to ask. Unfortunately, everyone is a suspect."

Letta let out a few sobs. "Jackar would never do something like this. Please find him."

The next day, at the Hangar

RUSSO was still trying to decipher the circumstances of the blast while Ahsoka assisted him. Today, she chose to bring Max along with her, much to the droid's displeasure.

Pressing a button, RUSSO was able to replay a security hologram as the explosion took place. "Hmm… Based on the trajectory of the debris, it seems the blast came from there."

Obi-Wan came up to join the two. "Why is there no bomb residue ? So you think whoever did this triggered a ship to explode ?"

RUSSO seemed to agree. "We think so."

Ahsoka had Max on her shoulder and petted him. "RUSSO's trying to use the shrapnel to determine that now. The witness says he saw Jackar in the area."

Obi-Wan crossed his arms against his chest. "Perhaps our "friend" Jackar planned to do this and just kept it to himself."

Ahsoka came to the "other" conclusion. "Or… It actually was a Jedi."

Suddenly, RUSSO's datapad began to beep incessantly. "I found something. An anomaly. Something that should not be here." He pointed to several parts of the footage. "These pieces came from the blast origin. They are covered with microscopic droids of a highly volatile nature."

Ahsoka raised an eye marking. "Do you mean Nano-droids ?"

Before RUSSO could continue his search, Max hopped off Ahsoka's shoulder and ran around the blast site. RUSSO was devastated. "No no no no no NO ! That bird will scatter the evidence ! Knight Tano, please restrain it !"

She called out to him. "Max ! Get back here ! NOW !"

Max returned with a green hand in his beak. "Hi !"

RUSSO pried it gently from the bird and promptly used his scanner on it. "Where have you found this ? According to the scan, there are Nano-droids are inside this hand ! Even more, it confirms that it belonged to… Jackar Bowmani !

Ahsoka scratched her montrals. "How in the Galaxy did Nano-droids get in his bloodstream in the first place ?! I'm not sure I want to know the answer."

"Before we make any other moves, we must report this new development to the Council." Obi-Wan suggested.

Ahsoka petted Max's head. "Sure thing, Master Kenobi. But first, I think I certain little boy has earned a treat for speeding up our investigation."

After Max was given a quarter of a delicious Meiloorun fruit, Ahsoka raced to the High Council Chambers to learn of their new objective.

Mace Windu praised Max's find. "Your bird must be commended, Knight Tano. Now that we are given a clue, we grant you two permissions to solve the remainder of this mystery. We've gone over Jackar Bowmani's file. He was a munitions expert, working on weapons for the Clones to use. Interestingly enough, his specialty was Nano-weaponry. You are to find out how he obtained these Nano-droids and why he seemingly "sacrificed" himself in the Temple. Here are the coordinates to his apartment in the Underworld. We advise caution while you search his home. It may be laced with explosives. You may find a note which could explain his actions. May the Force be with you both."

Both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka bowed respectfully, ready to thread into unknown and possibly dangerous territory.

Finally got back into this story ! I've been sidetracked for several weeks, but I'm going to continue my weekly schedule now. Over the next chapter, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka will visit Jackar's home and will find more than they expect. We'll also have an update on Padmé and Satine's time together as Padmé's pregnancy keeps advancing. And be ready to hate Tarkin. Feel free to leave a review.