Disclaimer: I do not own any of Star Wars, the right of ownership of Star Wars belong to Lucasfilm and I guess Disney too. The only thing I own is the characters you do not notice and the plot.
Year: 10 BBY
Chapter 14: Possible Innocent
Once more, the meteorologist for the Bakuran News was proven right. There is a heavy downpour of rain. Ever heard the saying it was raining cats and dogs, well let's just say it is raining Republic Attack Cruisers. That how bad it is pouring. Even through Salis D'aar could have traffic half as bad as Coruscant, it seems like the traffic might be consider slightly more worst and slower due to the heavy down pour.
Mark just sits in the passenger seat as Amelia drives the Speeder down the skylane. Mark swears he that they need to upgrade the wipers a lot compare to this rainstorm. The wiper blades were sliding across the windshield as fast as lightning flashing in the sky to keep up with all the rain and it hardly does anything.
It surprises him that the streets bellow were not flooded. It has been raining this hard for the past couple hours. Yes, Bakura could have some pretty hard rain come in and that could be pretty bad. There haven't been one this bad since 18 BBY and that one was worst than this one. The streets were flooded as it they were naturally a river and that had cause a lot of damage to the capital of Bakura.
"Watch out Mom! Slam on the brakes now!" shout Mark felt a warning through the Force. Amelia put her feet to the brakes which slows the fuel to the thrusters down just enough to avoid hitting a speeding out of control speeder. "What the hell? Why was he driving so fast?" demand Amelia as she sigh with her hand over her fast beating heart.
"I think the driver was a female." say Kim lightly from the back seat. "Who cares as long as no one got hurt." say Mark. Lillian nods to this as she lay back in her seat a bit and looks out to the window as Rachelle, who was sitting in between Kim and Lillian put her head on Lillian's shoulder. It did not feel right to leave the sleeping Rachelle alone in the house that was empty. He knows she has the Force to learn that everything is okay, but it will feel strange waking up in a house that had a lot of people in it when one went to bed but was empty when they get up. He waked her up and helps her get ready for the trip.
After another 10 minutes, they arrive to a tall tower that has the letters RSF and under that sign it says Republic Security Force. They got near the base and a landed pad drifted out to meet them. Amelia parks on the pad and the pad retract itself into the base. Once inside the base, Amelia parked the Speeder. The Republic Security Force base had bunch of parking lots align on the building. As they step out, security droids scans them to get their id and any weapons.
When it scanned Lillian, it had begun to talk to them. "Welcome Master Zane, Master Hunter, Senator Zane, General Zane and Inspector Hunter. What brings you to the Republic Security Force, today?" ask the security droid. "It has something to do with the ongoing investigation on Coruscant about those Attack Cruisers and the attack on the 500 Republica. Master Zane thought he might have found something that might aid with one of the cases." say Lillian.
The droid floats away as they begin walking to the blast doors. They slide open and walk through it. Lillian had to show her badge a couple times to let the other through. They made it to Hologram projector. Lillian put in her code into the computer of the projector.
Mark was getting pointed at and whispers when people notice him. "Is that Master Zane?" asked a female Twi'lek with greenish tan skin as she points one of her fingers to him. Mark is used to strangers doing this to him, so he took his number one used approach and ignore them. Now if something major happens like if someone being hurt he will not ignore that or if someone wants to talk to him as if he was an equal and not someone who should be worship.
He just does not understand why people make a big deal about him. Yes, he took down Palpatine who threaten to change the whole galaxy, which made him even more famous then Anakin and Obi-wan. Then you throw in the mystery story of how he came in from another dimension seem to top of those charts. Apparently Anakin is no longer the poster boy of the Jedi Order or the wars anymore. How much he would have give to let Anakin take the lime light.
"So basically what are we looking for?" yawns Rachelle as she hugs Mark's arm for support as she leans her head on his shoulder. "I am hoping that the person with the Lightsaber that I saw is the person who betrays the Jedi Order." say Mark. Rachelle nods and made some noses as if she approves of the idea but at the same time didn't really feel interested. How would you like someone waked you up from your sleep after have been giving antidote that saves your life but makes you tired? Still she did not take it as bad as some would. Yes, she is slightly mad be awaken from her peaceful sleep, which was denied by her for days because of the Bakuran Poison. Still she could see why he interrupted her peaceful sleep and that reason seem to make her love the person she loves even more.
Lillian have bunch of camera footage running with their numbers and floor numbers. They are looking through the camera through the day of the attack. Besides Mark and Rachelle leaving they were the only two Jedi entering and exit the building.
About couple hours before the explosion, Mark see Barriss Offee walked into the room and having arguments with the hooded person with a Lightsaber and duel erupted that send Barris out a window. Mark remembers that Barriss Offee was so injured from the fall she was in the Halls of Healing for days after the event.
Then the hooded person talked to someone over a Comlink. It was strange how no one saw the person or the Imperials that was walking into the 500 Republica. "Whoever that person is, they were using the Force to hide the presence and hide the sight of those walking in. Can we get sound?" ask Mark. Lillian shakes her head. "The security cameras do not have audio." say Lillian as she looks up at him.
"Could you zoom in, I could read lips, maybe I can get what Barriss is saying." say Mark. "Hopefully the cameras are updated." say Lillian as she touches various buttons and switches to make the Hologram of the camera that Mark was pointing up take most of the frame and zooms in on Barriss. It was slightly hard to read her lips.
"What is she saying?" ask Rachelle lightly as she looks up at Mark as he was moving his lips in synch with Barris. "She was accusing whomever that person is as a traitor and for using her for their dirty deeds and that she is going to stop their plans before someone will get hurts, or at least that what I think she is saying, it is a bit hard to see." say Mark.
"See she is innocent!" shout Rachelle with a burst of energy that quickly fades away. "Could be, still I would not know for a fact. It could be about something else. She still could be the traitor that screw up the plan at Aeten 2." say Mark. "Very true, it could be an act, knowing that someone might find out they could be watching, either that it could be something about being used or betrayed for some other reasons. It is also a possibility with the lack of quality that, Mark misinterpret what they are saying or what language they might be speaking." say Lillian.
"How the hell do you know all of that?" ask Kim. "I have spent my whole entire life hunting down and bring criminals down. Plus I lived with criminals during my childhood. Ever heard the saying the best way to catch someone is to think like them, while I have first hand knowledge of how criminal minds thinks. Some are very manipulative and others are so easy to catch it isn't funny." say Lillian.
Mark looks at Rachelle as his twin was talking to Lillian. Mark knows how close Ahsoka, Rachelle and Barriss are. Ahsoka was Barriss close friend and when Ahsoka became Rachelle's close friend, Rachelle begin to be friends with Barriss. He have learned over the years, once Rachelle become your friend she will protect you as long as there is nothing that go against what she believes in. Yes, if Ahsoka or Barriss became Sith Lords, Rachelle would not defend their actions. Her loyalty to her friends seems to match his in many ways.
Mark tilts his head down and kisses her on the forehead. "You know if the Force lets me know she is not bad and I get evidence proved that she wasn't the traitor I will make sure that people will know about it." whisper Mark as he pulls his lover into a hug. "I know I really hope Barriss is innocent." say Rachelle as Mark runs his hand through her brown hair.
"I must show these files to Mace and the High Council." say Mark. "In order to keep information safe, we must get these type of information from the base or headquarters located on the planet." say Lillian. When she said this, it made perfect sense to the Jedi Master whom was running his hand through the brown hair of his lover.
There was a look of peaceful joy with a slight of tiredness on the girl in question. Lillian is not much for relationship that goes beyond the realms of friendship, she too dedicated to her work, but she can see that Mark and Rachelle were made for each other. She knows even if she tried to find someone like that, it will be nearly impossible. Also another problem is the love for her job. It is only second compare to her the love for her family and friends.
After a hour of gathering all the information they could require from the 500 Republica, Mark, Rachelle, Lillian, Kim and Amelia headed back to her house. This time Kim sat in the front seat while Mark sits in the back seat between Lillian and Rachelle.
To be honest Rachelle like this more better, no offense to her sister. Anytime she could be close to her lover is a good deed in her book. Rachelle snuggles with Mark as she lay across the seat. Her legs were crossed and rested peacefully over Lillian's lap. Lillian being the bigger sister that she is, did not let it bother her.
"Hey anyone wants to stop somewhere to get something to eat?" ask Amelia looking into the rearview mirror. Mark looks down at Rachelle. "Could you stay awake long enough to get something to eat?" ask Mark looking down at the brown hair beauty that is snuggling up to him. "Hmm, I think I might if you kiss me." say Rachelle with a slight smile.
Mark smiles as he tilts his head down and kisses her on the lips for a few seconds. "That girl knows how to get what she wants!" tease Amelia Rachelle just sticks out her tongue at this comment as she put her head on Mark's shoulder. "Hey it not my fault that you do not have someone who loves me as much as Mark does. Nor is it my fault that person is an insane terrorist bent on hurting those close to Mark and anyone involve with showing the truth of Palpatine." say Rachelle.
Amelia did not take this offensive, because she knows it true and can hear the slight teasing within the tired voice of whom she thinks will be her daughter-in-law sometime in the future. Still Amelia has nothing good for a comeback so sit there with a smile on her lips.
Without any other comments being made, Mark relaxed in his seat as he holds Rachelle in the arm she have her arms wrap around. He could tell that Rachelle is trying to stay awake. For him it feels so nice to be able to hold the girl of his dreams once more. Even through he has the benefits of the Force guiding him to answers, he was so worry that Rachelle would not make it. Only those who are close to him notice that he was slightly off, but to anyone else they will know of nothing.
Rachelle was feeling the same way. She was so sure she was not going to make it, that she was glad that after the battle in the secret base, Mark couldn't see her. Knowing of her condition she couldn't face Mark knowing she might not be able to spend the rest of his life with him. Never once have she felt such sadness and readiness to give up within her. The readiness to give up was never something she felt, so in her mind it proved how much she loves Mark and care for him.
Now looking back on those thoughts, she never consider the what her death might have influence Mark. Yes, love could be a good thing, but as her lover state quite often everything has a good and a bad side to it, and love is no different. She could see if she died peacefully and not because someone did something to her to cause it, then Mark might not be effected as badly as if she was murder by the actions of a person. If she was murder in anyways, it might push Mark to the Dark Side and that is the last thing she wants to happen. Also she knows if she dies in a battle to protect the Republic, the peace and the Jedi Order it will not make him fall to the Dark Side.
While thinking of those things, she remembers how Amelia was already have parts of their wedding plan when they first started to date. She does have to admit she have been having those dreams quite often nowadays. When she first have these dreams, she image herself dressed in white before learning of the Bakuran ritual that the bride wears either red and gold or one of the other colors. She had seen pictures of Amelia in her wedding dress before they all got deleted. On one of the visits, Mark's uncle and aunt arrive on the planet of Coruscant to celebrate Amelia's birthday back in 14 BBY after all the events that had happen that year. By that time, Mark and her was dating. His aunt wears this amazing wedding dress that was red with gold, while his uncle had a black suit with a red shirt and a golden tie.
Rachelle just shakes her head as these thoughts enter her mind. She is a Jedi Knight who should be selfless, but here she thought of her wearing a fancy red and golden dress to her wedding. What is she going to do with the dress afterwards? It is just another piece of clothing.
She wishes she have someone to talk to about that. If she talks to Amelia, it would be a nightmare because it will push Mark's mother ideas and want of a fancy wedding to the extreme. She cannot talk to Mark, because all he cared about, if they do have a wedding is marring her. She remembers he was saying they could get marry in the deserts of Tatooine, and he would not give a care in the whole galaxy. For some odd reason this means a lot to her and she thought she would have been more like Mark on the concept since they are both Jedi.
Mainly the only type of people she could talk to about this is Lillian. She has told Lillian some secrets that even Mark does not know and she kept them a guarded secret. She could tell Celestia, but Celestia is a very close friend of Mark. If Celestia thinks a secret will do more harm than good to her, she would have let Mark know right away. Something like this might get her distracted which in ways will harm her, so Mark would know. Ahsoka, being very close to Anakin, might let something slip and if Anakin deem it to be dangerous in anyway to her, he would inform Mark. Barriss, she will only tell something if it is very bad for her. She knows that Barriss have been staying away from them.
In honesty, if the secret would not cause her harm, then besides Lillian who always seems to keep her secret, they will all keep her secret. They do act like bunch of very close friends and some even as families. This secret she just might want to keep to herself, because even if she was going to ask Lillian this question, she would not know since she had never been in love with someone. She is just too in love with her own job to be in love with anyone.
When they got to the restaurant which seem to be the type that stayed old fashion like, Mark helps Rachelle out and offer his hand to Lillian who accepted it. "Now, now Mark, we do not need to make poor Rachelle jealous." tease Lillian with a smile as she looks at her sister. "You are so lucky that I am tired due to that antibiotic, or I will be putting you in the deepest body of water in the galaxy." joke Rachelle holding back a yawn.
They walk into the restaurant and a droid took them to a booth and they sit down. Mark sat next to the window as Rachelle sit beside him. Lillian, Amelia and Kim sit on the other seat. They figure since Rachelle will be tired she will have more room if she feels like she wants to take a nap.
First of all, once more I want to apologize for not posting this sooner. I have been focusing a lot on my Ind. Metal project and I am getting a bit stress out due to the fact that I might not get it done in time (which I only have until this Friday), My grade will drop to a failing for this quarter. Being who I am, I am stressing out great deal about it. I tend to do that a lot when it comes to my grades, and I hate failing.
Also another reason is I keep on trying to figure out what to do and have various idea. So far only one part of this story that lead farther on into the series is coming out and I try to figure out who to put the second idea into play while making sense.
This chapter was going to be longer, but I decided to make it shorter. I did have something about Darth Solaris and Darth Vader in it, but after realizing how many words I have and thought it might not be a good idea to put it in this chapter, so I decided to cut that out.
Something I would like to point out, I am the type of person who type one chapter at a time and posted as soon as I am done with it, so sometimes I only have a basic idea of what is going on. So look like you are in a special treat this time. For a fact, the next chapter will include the Award Ceremony. Figure it is the least I can do since I am off my posting by a couple of days, which I plan on having up much sooner.
Until next time (hopefully it sooner than this time), enjoy!