Disclaimer – all original Star Wars characters in this fanfic (excluding my OC's) are the property of Lucasfilm and Disney.
Chapter 19 "Infiltration of The Jedi Temple."
Immediately the next day, Zai'shira began to plan how to infiltrate and leave the Jedi Temple without its members tracing her back to Shili. Yes, if she would finish her mission without raising the alarm in the Temple, she would be able to leave Coruscant and return to Shili without any worries, but their whole mission was far too important to risk it.
While Deiven remained in the palace, Zai'shira and Aven boarded the silver-plated YT-1210 light freighter and headed straight to planet Bakura, the third of eight planets in the Bakura system.
It was a terrestrial and the only world in its system with a breathable atmosphere. Its climate was temperate and tended to be mild, with abundant cloud cover and high levels of rainfall. Bakura's terrain included forest, plains, mountains, and some urban centers.
Bakura's primary industry was the manufacture of repulsorlift coils; the production of tools and furniture using these coils was a secondary industry. The refinement of raw metals and minerals mined from the planet's two moons provided another industry. At the same time, the native namana, a species of tall, straight-trunked tree that was pale yellow in color, helped the planet develop a significant agricultural sector. The world exported repulsorlift coils and namana-based products while importing medicine and technology.
General disapproval of droids, combined with high tariffs, led to a nearly total absence of droids on Bakura, droid technology was prohibited, and the possession of droids was only allowed with official permission and several permits. Repulsorlift generators were ubiquitous on Bakura.
Zai'shira asked Aven to leave her on Bakura and return to Shili. Her plan was to hire a smuggler, who would take her to Coruscant, and after she would infiltrate the Jedi Temple and obtain everything she needed, she would return to Bakura. Then, she would contact Aven so that the King would fly once more to Bakura and take her back to Shili without leaving any trails to trace them back to the Togrutan homeworld.
After finding a smuggler, a green-skinned female Twi'lek, who happened to travel to Coruscant with a cargo filled with illegal namana-liquor, and paying her her price, Zai'shira got a ride to Coruscant. Landing in the Industrial District, the smuggler began to deal with her own business. At the same time, Zai'shira borrowed a speeder and headed to the Temple Precinct, a low-rise sector comprised of modern buildings that consisted mainly of standard accommodations. Within the Precinct was the Processional Way, a long lane which terminated with ceremonial steps that led to the Jedi Temple.
Coruscant, Jedi Temple, First Knowledge Quarter, Jedi Archives.
Enwrapped in a Force Cloak, Zai'shira entered the Temple unnoticed and headed straight to the Jedi Archives. She spent much of her time as a youngling there, so she knew where she was able to drop her Force Cloak and take a breather. The Togruta knew where to look for the information about the mysterious spiders. The Fourth Hall of the Archives was split into two smaller wings, each dedicated to zoological research relating information on every known species of flora and fauna in the galaxy. That was her goal.
With a hooded cloak, that she bought on planet Bakura, Zai'shira entered the Fourth Hall, pretending to be a member of the Jedi Order. With long sleeves and gloves, her distinctive mark, a left metallic arm, remained covered, and she could calmly walk between the terminals. What's more, she used the same trick as when she escaped Coruscant after the fight with Hego Damask. Using a piece of cloth, she wrapped it around her montrals so that there was no empty space between the montral tips so that she could no longer be taken for a Togruta. If anything terrible would happen, she took the holographic disguise matrix emitter, the same device that she used when Master Shaak Ti and Master Qui-Gon Jinn visited planet Shili.
Zai'shira sat down in front of a desk with a terminal and began her search. Inputting the words and editing, she finally found what she looked for. The only spider-like creatures that fit the description were called Krykna, and they were native to the planet Atollon located in the Outer Rim. Zai'shira memorized the coordinates of the planet and stood up from the desk. She got the information, but it was not over.
The former Jedi Shadow needed to obtain three more things: a holocron of the famed Jedi lightsaber instructor Cin Drallig, a kyber memory crystal from the Jedi Master Bolla Ropal; and a Jedi holocron to use together with the kyber crystal.
Zai'shira's pondering was interrupted by a loud thud, followed by a lively conversation in the rotunda. The Togruta peeked around the holobook shelf and noticed Jocasta Nu, who stood beside the arguing Jedi Masters Windu and Dooku.
"Master Dooku, you need to let go," insisted Master Windu. "There's no way to bring back Master Qui-Gon out of the coma." Zai'shira's eyes widened in shock after she heard that. "Jedi healers tried everything. You tried everything, and even you studied the Noetikons, but also without any results. Studying Sith holocrons will also not help you. If anything, it could do more harm than good. Everything lies in the hands of the Force now."
"Even though I knew that the Senate was corrupt, the Council was fallible, and Jedi training methods far from perfect, I remained with the Jedi Order," said Master Dooku. "Why? Because I still believed that I could accomplish some good as a Jedi, that I could help Qui-Gon. But now, you're forbidding me from doing even that."
"You know that's not true," Master Windu disagreed, trying to calm Dooku down. "Qui-Gon wouldn't want you to fall to the dark side of the Force to help him."
"Please, Master Dooku, get some rest," Madam Jocasta besought with a worried expression.
Dooku sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Without speaking anymore, he walked away. Zai'shira got a crazy idea, but it just could work. She covered herself with the Force Cloak and left the Archives, following the Jedi Master Dooku.
A couple of minutes later - Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Accommodation Sector, Dooku's Chamber.
When Dooku entered his chamber, he didn't realize that Zai'shira snuck inside. The human sat down on his chair right next to the wooden table and sighed, placing his palm on his forehead. The Togruta felt his sorrow mixed with aggravation.
"I thought I could bring about some positive changes, right certain wrongs, and do better than maintain the status quo," Dooku spoke to himself. "In short, I was an utter fool."
Zai'shira dropped the Force Cloak and spoke. "Now, you know how I felt, Master Dooku." The human immediately looked at the Togruta, startled by the unexpected voice.
"Zai'shira?" the Jedi Master said, recognizing the former Padawan of Qui-Gon, but didn't reach for his weapon or try to attack the Togruta with the Force. Master Dooku knew why Zai'shira left the Order and why she was wanted by the Jedi. "What are you doing here? You know that's not a good place for you to be."
"I'm infiltrating the Jedi Temple," Zai'shira replied honestly.
Taken aback by the blunt reply, Dooku stood up from his chair. "To what end?" he asked, squinting his eyes.
Zai'shira turned around and used the Force on the panel to lock the door to Dooku's chamber so that they could talk without sudden visitors. "Before I say anything, tell me what happened to Master Qui-Gon," the Togruta requested.
Dooku's face became gloomy, but he spoke. "A Sith Lord injured him during a mission on planet Naboo. His Padawan, Obi-Wan, killed the Sith, but the severe injuries caused Qui-Gon to fell into a coma. I've been trying to wake him up since then, but to no avail."
Zai'shira lowered her sight and fixated it on the floor. Her sad expression quickly changed into a frown of disapproval. "If the Order would believe me and if I would receive help seven years ago against Hego Damask, Master Qui-Gon would be fine!" she stated complainingly. "I told the Masters that the Sith have returned, but in their arrogance, they didn't believe me!"
Dooku observed Zai'shira in silence for a moment. "If Hego Damask was indeed a Sith Lord, there's no way to prove it anymore," he finally said. "His body was burned after he was killed."
Zai'shira sighed, shaking her head. "Everything I did was for nothing," she said under her nose.
Dooku crossed his arms over his chest and asked curiously. "If you're here to infiltrate the Temple, why did you reveal yourself to me?"
The Togruta looked at the Jedi Master. "It will be better if I start from the beginning," she said and sat down on the second chair, gesturing Dooku to do the same. From what she witnessed in the Archives, the Jedi Master wasn't pleased with the Order as well. The Togruta wanted to convince him to join them. She began to tell the Jedi Master everything that happened after she left the Order, and had a vision about Hego Damask and an Arkanian scientist, who experimented on a female Firrerreo in an underground facility on Arkania.
When she finished after a long while, Dooku's face remained stoic. "You do realize how unbelievably that sounds?" he asked, arching his eyebrows. "A young, genetically modified boy with unique knowledge about the Force and with a special ability that allows him and the others to teleport their minds to the past. Even if that is somewhat possible, the Force that took a physical shape and tasked you with creating a new faction to achieve balance in the galaxy under the threat of leaving, which would result in every living thing dying is ludicrous, to say the least. And your story didn't answer my question. Why did you reveal yourself to me?"
"Because I want you to join us," Zai'shira answered. "We can't help Qui-Gon Jinn here with the knowledge of the Jedi, and I don't believe the Sith knowledge would help us either, but maybe we can do something for him if we study all aspects of the Force. We can do something good for the people that are neglected by the Republic and the Jedi. We can get rid of corruption and create a peaceful galaxy."
Dooku clasped his hands together, intertwining his fingers. He seriously reflected on Zai'shira's proposition. A few days ago, he genuinely thought about joining the Sith to reforge the galaxy. He flirted with the belief that the dark side of the Force could be called upon without personal corruption, and if what Zai'shira told him was the truth, it meant that he was right. The idea of joining a new faction different than both the Sith and the Jedi was really appealing.
"I wanted to steal the holocron of Master Cin Drallig to train all lightsabers forms, but if you join us, I won't need to since you know all of the lightsaber forms," the Togruta pointed out. "I also need the kyber memory crystal along with a Jedi holocron."
This time Dooku looked at Zai'shira, interrupting his thoughts. "That crystal contains the list of all known Force-sensitive children in the galaxy," he stated. "That list is critical to the future of the Jedi Order, as, without it, the next generation of Jedi could not be trained. It's extremely valuable. The Jedi won't stop looking for if you steal it."
"I'm aware of that," Zai'shira assured and added decisively. "But the children need to be trained properly in the ways of the Force. I want to show them a life with their parents, emotions, and attachments, but without corruption."
While Dooku wasn't wholly convinced, especially when it came to the topic of the Force taking physical shape, Zai'shira's determination impressed him. However, there was still one problem. "If I leave the Order, especially after the theft of the kyber memory crystal, the Jedi Council will keep their attention on me, and that could impair the creation of your faction," the Jedi Master warned.
"You're right," Zai'shira agreed, but after a few moments, she smiled mischievously. "However, I have a useful device with me and a plan to create chaos in the Temple so that they won't even know who to accuse of the theft."
Dooku arched his eyebrows. "Can you elaborate?"
Sometime later - Coruscant, Jedi Temple, First Knowledge Quarter, Jedi Archives.
Since Dooku decided to join Zai'shira, she didn't need the holocron of Master Cin Drallig. The former Jedi Master of Master Qui-Gon would help them with the lightsaber training and even with the Force techniques. Still, she needed the kyber memory crystal and a holocron.
Dooku left his chamber and headed to the chamber of a Rodian Jedi Master, Bolla Ropal, the current keeper of the kyber memory crystal. Zai'shira, who left right behind him enwrapped in the Force Cloak, headed back to the Jedi Archives to obtain a holocron for the kyber crystal.
Decloaking herself at the same place as before, Zai'shira observed the entrance to the holocron vault and waited patiently for someone to enter it. The chamber containing the Order's holocrons was only accessible by the twelve Jedi Masters with seats on the Jedi High Council or the five Jedi Masters of the Council of First Knowledge. The entrance to the chamber was controlled by a Force-activated lock.
Zai'shira waited for at least half an hour until she finally spotted Grand Master Yoda, who slowly headed towards the entrance to the vault, leaning on his wooden cane, with a holocron in his hand. Tapping into the Force, she covered herself with the Force Cloak and followed the small alien. Using the Force on the lock, Master Yoda entered the vault, and Zai'shira followed him inside.
The circular chamber was lit with the faint blue glow from the resting holocrons, that were stored in dilating niches in the walls and a pillar in the center of the room. When Master Yoda approached the wall and placed the holocron in the empty niche, Zai'shira walked to the pillar, positioning herself so that it covered her from the green alien, and took one of the holocrons, quickly hiding it underneath her cloak. The Jedi Master turned around and headed to the exit.
Zai'shira left the vault right behind the Jedi Master, and as the security doors closed right behind her, Yoda stooped and turned around, looking at the doors and hummed under his nose. The old Jedi Master felt something strange. At first, he thought someone was inside the vault, but since the security systems didn't pick up anything and the alarms weren't raised, he went on his way.
Zai'shira was slowly getting tired, but she needed to endure. The lack of the holocron would be noticed sooner or later when another Council member would enter the vault, which would raise questions. Now, she needed to head to the Halls of Healing, where she was supposed to meet with Master Dooku. Regardless, who would finish their task first, Dooku or Zai'shira were meant to wait for the other one there.
As she was about to leave, Zai'shira froze when a group of younglings entered the Jedi Archives with Master Plo Koon. It wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that Ahsoka was in that group, and Zai'shira recognized her immediately. The adult Togruta quickly turned towards the holobook shelves and ran into an empty aisle. She discloaked herself due to the lack of concentration.
Zai'shira saw her daughter for the first time after three years, and the emotions overwhelmed her. She peeked around the holobook shelf and look at her little girl, while Master Plo Koon and Master Yoda talked with each other. Ahsoka grew up so much without her mother and father. Zai'shira's heart pound in her chest like crazy, and tears poured down her face. She wanted to talk with Ahsoka and ask how she felt. Hell, for a moment, she even wanted to take her back to Shili, but she knew that would not end well. She needed to focus. Wiping off her tears and regaining her composure, the adult Togruta focused once again and used the Force Cloak to become invisible and leave the Jedi Archives.
A couple of minutes later - Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Halls of Healing.
Zai'shira reached the Halls of Healing and discloaked herself after she made sure there were no Jedi around. She found Master Dooku in a room with the unconscious Qui-Gon Jinn. Seeing her Master in such a state was hard for the Togruta. He wasn't just her mentor; he was her close friend.
"I had a strange feeling that something terrible would happen to him," Zai'shira said, approaching the medical bed and taking Qui-Gon's hand in hers. "I should've been with him on Naboo."
"It's not your fault," Master Dooku reassured her. "You couldn't know what would happen there."
Zai'shira looked at the Jedi Master and nodded gratefully. "Do you have the memory crystal?" she asked.
Dooku reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, blue, diamond-shaped crystal, confirming his success. The plan was simple, Master Dooku visited Master Bolla Ropal and knocked him out. He then made a mess in the Rodian's chamber, despite knowing where the memory crystal was so that it would look like someone from the outside searched for it. That was part one of the plan.
"Good job," Zai'shira said, taking the kyber memory crystal. "When you leave the Jedi Order, contact me so I can pick you up. Deiven will be thrilled to meet a legendary Jedi Master."
"Good luck," Dooku nodded with a smile while Zai'shira looked at the unconscious Qui-Gon Jinn. "We're going to bring you back, Master," she promised and activated her device, taking the appearance of Master Dooku. Turning on her heel, she left the room.
A few minutes later – Coruscant, Jedi Temple.
Zai'shira left the Halls of Healing and walked down the corridors of the Jedi Temple using the holographic disguise matrix emitter to look like Master Dooku. She managed to convince the real Dooku to join them, so she got everything she needed and then some. Now, she had to leave the Temple, return to the Twi'lek smuggler, and leave Coruscant, but first, she needed to finish part two of the plan so that the members of the Order would not suspect Master Dooku of the theft.
Getting closer to the Temple's entrance and being around many Jedi, Zai'shira began to discreetly turn off and on her device and pretend that it began to short out. The holographic image began to flicker between Dooku's and her real appearance, gaining the confused attention of all Jedi around. One of those Jedi was the Nautolan Jedi Master, Kit Fisto, who cautiously approached the strange figure.
"Umm, who are yo-" Master Fisto attempted to ask, but Zai'shira used the Force Cloak, becoming invisible. The Nautolan and the other Jedi were surprised, but Zai'shira managed to finish the second part of the plan. Now everyone would believe that Dooku, who attacked Master Bolla Ropal and stole the kyber memory crystal, wasn't the real one.
The Togruta quickly left the Temple and headed back to the Temple Precinct and, from there, to the Industrial District. A part of Zai'shira wanted to see the faces of the members of the Jedi Council when they learn that the Order lost the list of the Force-sensitive children.
One hour later – Coruscant, Jedi Temple, High Council Tower, Council Chamber.
News about the intruder quickly reached the Jedi High Council, and the Order learned what happened. Someone disguised as Jedi Master Dooku attacked Master Bolla Ropal, stole the kyber memory crystal, and a holocron from the Holocron vault. It was a big problem for the Jedi. They didn't know who the intruder was and where to look for him.
"I'm afraid it's a hopeless situation for us," said Master Ki-Adi-Mundi. "A person, who can vanish with a Force Cloak and additionally take an appearance of someone else, cannot be found."
"We must send a pair of Jedi Knights to protect every Force-sensitive child," suggested Master Adi Gallia. "If we're lucky enough, the person will try to take one, and then, we can capture him and retrieve the holocron along with the crystal."
"That's a good idea, but one: we don't have that many Jedi to spare, and two: the Jedi recruiters of the Acquisition Division don't remember the locations of every Force-sensitive child they found," pointed out Oppo Rancisis, the male Thisspiasian Jedi Master.
The serious conversation was interrupted when Master Dooku hurriedly entered the circular chamber. "Is that really true?" he asked. "The kyber memory crystal was stolen?"
"Unfortunately," confirmed Master Windu. "We checked the security footage, but we weren't able to learn who that was. Master Yoda almost sensed the intruder in the Archives, but it was someone skilled enough to be able to use the Force Cloak. Not to mention, he had a device that allowed him to take any appearance. Is this situation, yours, but unfortunately for him, his device shorted out before he could leave or else you would be the main suspect."
"Such insolence," Dooku muttered under his nose. He was careful not to overreact. "You think it was one of the Sith Lords?"
"It's possible, but..." Master Plo Koon looked at Master Windu "...there's an option that it was the former Jedi Shadow, Zai'shira Kessen. She has the necessary skills to pull out such a feat."
"The former Padawan of Master Qui-Gon? Are you sure?" Master Dooku asked.
"We can't rule out that it wasn't her," replied Master Windu. "But the likelihood that it was Sith Lord is also high. Bruck Chun wanted to get his hands on the young Skywalker during the invasion of Naboo. Maybe the Sith want to learn the locations of the Force-sensitive children."
"I told you in the past that the information about the keeper of the kyber crystal should've been a secret known only to the members of the High Council," Dooku said complainingly. "Without that information, the intruder wouldn't know who has it, Master Bolla Ropal would not be attacked, and the children would be safe. We're in this situation because of the Council's reckless decision."
"Time to blame each other, it is not," said Master Yoda. "The future of the Order, threaten is. The families of the children of which the locations we know, warn we must."
"Agreed," Master Windu nodded. "In this situation, the only thing we can do is wait for the move of the person who stole the kyber crystal. We need to be patient and learn anything we can about him if we want to catch him."
Dooku shook his head, turned around, and left the chamber, heading to the turbo lift with a smile on his face. He actually was amused by the situation. He didn't want to leave the Order right away, but he'll inform the Council about his decision after a few days.
Please R&R ;)