Chapter 13
It was decided for them to wait a few days to go to Tatooine since Anakin wanted to be on Naboo when Rina would finally send a three-way transmission to him and Jedi council to report on her findings on Kamino.
Katya had packed and Obi-Wan was escorting her to the landing pad where a transport would take her back to Theed, and to the protection of her parents. He made her give him her word that she wouldn't give the real reason for cutting her retreat short. She already had an alibi ready that Lara had become ill, and her cousin was there caring for her, but that it was feared Lara's illness was contagious, so it was decided that Katya would be going home.
"Be careful, and bring my best friend back safely," Katya said, blinking back tears. Inwardly, she was cursing Mara. If she had just let go of her spiteful vendetta, maybe Padme wouldn't be in danger and she and Lara could stay at the lake country.
"We'll get to the bottom of this, and Lara will be back before you know it." Obi-Wan hugged Katya close to him, wanting to comfort her. She smiled and walked aboard the transport. A moment later, it was airborne and heading for Theed.
Rina was walking with Taun We toward the entrance of the clone foundry. "Tell the council that the first 200,000 products are ready, and remind them that if they need more troops, it will take more time to grow them."
Rina smiled at the Kaminoan woman. "I won't forget. And thank you." They bowed to each other and Rina hurried to her starfighter where R2G9 was waiting for her.
"G9, scramble code 6 to Coruscant, care of the old folks' home, and code 5 to Naboo, care of the daycare center." The latter was Anakin's code. No matter where he was, he would always have the code scrambled in care of the daycare center. She grinned at the thought.
Within second, she was connected to both the Jedi temple, and to Anakin, and he had Obi-Wan and Padme with him, while Mace Windu and Master Yoda were in the meditation chamber of the Jedi temple. She took a deep breath and dived in for her report.
"I've just made contact with the prime minister of Kamino," she said. "They are using a bounty hunter named Jango Fett to create a clone army. I have a feeling that this bounty hunter is the assassin we're looking for."
"Are the Kaminoans involved in the plot to assassinate Senator Amidala?" Mace asked.
"No," she replied. "There appears to be no motive."
"Assume nothing, you can," Yoda scolded her. "Bring this bounty hunter here. Question him, we will."
"What about this clone army? Who ordered it?" Obi-Wan asked.
"The prime minister told me that Master Sifo Dyas ordered a clone army for the Republic about ten years ago. I thought he was killed before then."
"He was. Whoever ordered this army did not have the authorization of the Jedi Order or the Republic," Mace told her firmly.
"I'll notify you when I have him," she said and signed off. Obi-Wan kept the connection with the Jedi masters on Coruscant.
"We'll be leaving Naboo for Tatooine in a few days," he told them.
"Did something happen?" Mace asked.
"Nothing serious, Master, but my apprentice and I feel that the senator's sanctuary here has been compromised. Better to be safe than sorry, plus I think Anakin wants to visit his family. Kill two banthas with one stone, I say."
"I can see why you're supporting this idea," Mace said. "Tatooine's the last place any would-be assassins would look. I also sense you've run into a snag."
"Yes, that would be the senator's cousin, Lara. She'll be coming with us, and be in our custody until this matter is resolved."
"Do what you think is right, Knight Kenobi. Be careful. May the Force be with you." With that, the connection was broken, and Mace turned to Yoda.
"I think it's time to inform the senate that our ability to use the Force has diminished," he said.
Yoda shook his head no. "Only the dark lord knows of this. Increase, our adversaries will if know the senate does."
Mace nodded, feeling an unexplainable dread deep in his heart.