Booted feet strode quickly to the Halls of Healing at the Jedi Temple. As he passed familiar pillars, statues, and fellow Jedi, Obi-Wan tiredly wondered if he would ever stop taking this route to speak with an injured friend.
Somehow he doubted it. The life of a Jedi was far too unpredictable.
Obi-Wan was quiet and thoughtful as he walked along. He found himself thinking of his former Padawan yet again. Life after Anakin seemed so quiet...so lifeless. Obi-Wan hated the way in which they had parted. While Jedi were supposed to ignore such things, he still felt a twinge of pain in remembrance. The shouting, the confession, the sharp rejection, and finally the complete absence of any kind of farewell.
He didn't even say goodbye, Obi-Wan often thought sadly. As the weeks passed without any contact, he had resigned himself to the fact that Anakin probably didn't want to speak with him...now, then, or ever again.
Such thoughts could be pushed aside in light of Jedi duties. For the last few weeks Obi-Wan had tried to keep busy in Jedi affairs. Thoughts that he missed Anakin weren't dwelled upon. The ache of regret was ignored. Curiosity and a fervent hope that Anakin had found happiness was forced to the furthest edges of his mind until he felt as if he could almost forget.
Almost.
At the moment Obi-Wan's thoughts were on someone else. He skidded to a stop in front of the entrance to the Halls of Healing and wasn't surprised to see eight guards standing at attention. "Excuse me. I've come to see Chancellor Organa-"
The lead guard stiffened his spine a bit more. "We were told to admit no one," he said firmly.
Obi-Wan flinched at the interruption, collected himself, and tried again. "I beg your pardon, but I am a member-"
"No exceptions," insisted the guard, frowning.
Obi-Wan frowned back. This isn't going very well. "Excuse me. I am under orders to interview-"
"No exceptions," said the guard with an icy tone. He pointed his pike at Obi-Wan's chest. "Step aside, Master Jedi."
Obi-Wan sighed showed his palms and took a step back, sighing. "Tell me, my good man, why is it the Chancellor was brought to the Jedi Temple if Jedi themselves are not to be trusted?"
Someone strode forward to see what the disturbance was. All at once the head of Luminara Unduli poked between the helmets of the Senate guards. Her normally calm eyes widened. "Master Kenobi! Let him in," she ordered the guards. "He's a member of the Jedi Council. I was told to expect him. He is going to be leading this investigation and must speak with the Chancellor."
Almost grudgingly the guards stepped aside to admit the insistent Jedi. "Beg pardon, Master Jedi."
"Thank you," sighed Obi-Wan as he passed them. "Master Luminara," he said, bowing with respect. "I just heard. How is Chancellor Organa?"
"Come. You may see for yourself." Luminara beckoned to Obi-Wan and led him down the hall. "The Force was with him. It was a non-fatal shot to the pectoral, barely missing his left lung. The Healers have been able to treat him."
"And will he be all right?" Obi-Wan wanted to know.
"He will heal. However, he is still quite weak. It will be some time before he is able to leave." Luminara motioned to another heavily-guarded room and let him inside. "Keep your visit brief. He should rest."
Obi-Wan nodded quickly before stepping into the room. He winced despite himself upon seeing Bail Organa.
Bail lay propped up in bed with thin but effective bandages wrapping his chest and left shoulder. His eyes were closed and his breathing even as one Jedi Healer quietly put his left arm into a sling. Presently he knit his brows and winced, opening his eyes. "Master Kenobi...good to see you." His voice was hoarse and laced with pain.
Obi-Wan bowed quickly and walked up to his bedside. "Chancellor Organa. It is good to see you alive. What happened?"
Bail shifted his weight with a grimace as the sling was secured. "I'm still...not quite sure. One of the...clones...Commander Bacara...came into my office...late last night...apparently he shot...four of my guards...and intended...to kill me."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened in shock. "Commander Bacara? But surely you must be mistaken, Chancellor. Bacara was stationed on Mygeeto with Master Mundi. He is no assassin."
Luminara gave a slow, sad nod. "Unfortunately the identification of his body was conclusive. Did not Commander Bacara have a tattoo of a krayt dragon on his right forearm?"
Oh, no. Obi-Wan paled and his shoulders sagged. "Yes...yes, he did." Regret and confusion fought for dominance in his mind. Slowly he shook his head. "But...Master Unduli, why? The clones were grown specifically for the purpose of defending the Republic. What motivation would Bacara have to do such a thing?"
Luminara shrugged, just as confused as Obi-Wan. "The facts grow ever more disturbing. Just this morning the DNA sample of blood taken from the scene of the latest assassination attempt was re-examined. It did not, in fact, belong to Senator Mothma...but was identified as that of a clone."
Obi-Wan took a step backward and suddenly felt short of breath. "The clones...they have been the assassins? But...why? What in the universe would convince them to betray the Republic in such a fashion? Had they decided to rebel en masse, surely they would have risen up in greater numbers rather than eliminate random members of the Senate one by one."
She showed her palms helplessly. "We have seen clone betrayal before...just not on so large a scale."
Bail cleared his throat and sat up a bit farther, looking from Jedi to Jedi. "Excuse me...Masters Unduli and Kenobi, if I may...I don't have any answers...but perhaps I might offer some insight."
Both Luminara and Obi-Wan turned to him with interest. "Please, Chancellor. Continue," encouraged Obi-Wan.
"Commander Bacara...he behaved...strangely...almost as if...he wasn't in control of...his own actions. He even...warned me...to get down..." He winced and paused.
"Be still, Chancellor." The healer laid a gentle hand on Bail's good shoulder.
"No, wait...I'm not finished...he said something...before he died...an order."
"What order?" Obi-Wan asked, brows knitting in concern. "The clones only follow orders from the Jedi or ranking Republic officials such as yourself."
"It...wasn't that, it was...something else...to connect this with the other assassinations...Order 64."
"Order 64?"
"Yes-" Finally Bail could speak no longer. A fresh wave of pain took him, and he closed his eyes, arching his back and pressing his head into the pillows.
The healer frowned and sighed. "He's in too much pain to continue. He must rest now so he can heal."
Luminara gave a single nod. "Understood. That will be all. Now if you will excuse us, we must return to the High Council with this news."
Obi-Wan nodded in respect. "May you heal quickly, Chancellor Organa." After Bail nodded faintly, Obi-Wan and Luminara bowed low, then made their way out of his room.
《-v-》 《-v-》 《-v-》
"And you are certain there are no further clues to this?" questioned Mace Windu, leaning forward in his chair with a deep-set frown.
"Master, quite frankly, there is not much I am certain of anymore," confessed Obi-Wan, spreading his hands. "Far too much has happened here to make any assumptions. There may indeed be further clues...but at the moment I cannot see them."
Yoda nodded slowly. "Mm. Find your answers here, you will not, Master Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan lifted head and eyebrows at the same moment and turned to the aged green gnome in surprise. "I beg your pardon, Master Yoda, but...the assassinations were committed here on Coruscant. Should not the investigation take place here?"
Yoda regarded the much younger man sagely and leaned on his Gimer stick. "Begun here, it already has. But continue, it cannot. Elsewhere must you go."
Obi-Wan knit his brows. "Where must I go then, Master Yoda?"
Rather than answer, Yoda turned to regard Plo Koon with a nod. The tall Kel Dor steepled his fingertips. "When one comes upon a poisoned river, it is always best to look to the source."
Kamino. Immediately Obi-Wan understood...and was disturbed. "Surely none think that the Kaminoans are to blame." He looked about the room and was met with a collection of shrugs and unmoving stares. "There's no motivation."
Patiently Yoda shook his head. "Assume nothing, Obi-Wan. Return, you must, to the cloners on Kamino...and go alone, you shall not."
Obi-Wan cringed. "With respect, Master...are you sure that is wise? There are few enough Jedi on Coruscant as it is. Should we really stretch our resources so far?"
The Council members exchanged glances. Mace Windu was the next to speak. "If the clones behave irrationally en masse, you would be putting yourself in grave danger. Four, or even two Jedi stand a far greater chance than one alone."
It was a valid point. Obi-Wan, while he didn't fear death, was in no hurry to check out just yet. He began thinking of possible traveling companions...and all of them were already on separate missions. He couldn't think of asking a fellow Council member. Five of them had checked in as holograms and it was Jedi policy to keep at least half of them at the temple at all times, should trouble arise. Obi-Wan would be the sixth member off-world. He gave a helpless shrug. "Well, then, I must ask my fellow Jedi for suggestions."
Yoda and Mace exchanged knowing looks. "Mm. Perhaps, the time is, to take on a new apprentice."
Mace nodded in agreement. "The Initiate trials are scheduled for the next three days. If you so wish, you may choose one that shows promise."
Obi-Wan suppressed a wince. While he enjoyed teaching to some degree, he did not want to take an another apprentice...at least not yet. The pain of Anakin's departure was too fresh. While Anakin had been a knight for well over two years, it would still feel like trying to replace a friend. "No, Master. I think not."
Ki-Adi Mundi raised his thick white eyebrows. "You are an excellent instructor and have much to offer."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "Perhaps. I may take on another apprentice in time...but not yet. I fear my emotions would cloud my judgment," he confessed. Again he found himself missing Anakin. If only he had stayed...no, don't dwell on the past.
The other Council members exchanged knowing glances and nods. They knew how close Obi-Wan had been to Anakin. The bond between Master and Apprentice was the closest thing to family a Jedi could have.
Mace nodded easily. "A wise decision, Obi-Wan. The Council will respect it."
Yoda lifted his head to regard Kenobi. "But remain, the question does, over who will accompany you. Go alone, you could, but unwise would it be."
Obi-Wan averted his eyes and stared at the design in the floor, thoughtfully stroking his beard. I wonder...
Yoda lifted his brows in amusement. "Mm. Deep in thought, you seem to be. Have someone in mind, do you?"
"Well...in a way...but this would not be a Jedi," admitted Obi-Wan.
"Who, then?" Mace asked slowly.
"A very trusted friend." Obi-Wan was tempted to cross his fingers behind his back at the white lie. Do I still trust him? Would he want to come along? Would be even want to see me? There was only one way to find out. "But...there is no guarantee he would want to participate."
Yoda sighed unhappily. "Young Skywalker, you speak of?"
Obi-Wan was forced to nod. "Yes, Master. He may no longer be a Jedi, but Anakin is very intelligent and a skilled warrior...besides that, his droid Artoo-Detoo may aid in the investigation."
Eleven members of the Council- including Cin Drallig, the lightsaber battle master who taken Anakin's seat -exchanged uneasy glances. Yoda's frown was deep.
"Unstable, young Skywalker is," he pointed out. "More danger, there may be, in taking him than going alone."
"Anakin is...disturbed..." Obi-Wan cringed in remembering the confession of mass murder, which he had yet to inform the Council of. "But I believe he would neither harm me nor endanger the mission. With your permission, I would like to seek his help."
Mace pursed his lips unhappily and said nothing. Everyone else turned to Yoda.
"A Jedi Master, you are, Obi-Wan," reminded Yoda. "Need permission in seeking help from a civilian, you do not."
Obi-Wan fought the smile of relief that rose on his face and nodded. I'll take that as a yes. "Thank you, Master. If he doesn't agree, I'll return and ask another Jedi." He really didn't want to do that. His selfish human nature wanted to see his friend again. Hopefully Anakin would be receptive to both the idea and to Obi-Wan.
