PART 3: ASTRAY ACOLYTES

CHAPTER 5: THE BANKING CLAN: NO DEPOSIT SOME RETURN

Padmé met with Obi-Wan in her office, the two discussed the best way to track down the source of the clone army and agreed that finding the source of the money would lead them to the being that placed the order. "If we could find out where the credits originated then we might be able to track them back to a group or individual," Padmé said.

"I agree." Obi-Wan stroked his beard as he thought a moment "since the Keminoans are refusing to open their files there are not many options as to where the money came from. I doubt the banking clan will give us access to their records either."

"The banking clan?" Padmé asked, an idea stirring in her mind.

"Yes, such a sum most luckily would have been handled by the banking clan." Obi-Wan watched Padmé's face.

"I have a friend in the banking clan, or I used to, it's been a long time, but he might be able to help us," Padmé said.

"Do you believe this friend would give you access to their records?" Obi-Wan asked.

After thinking a minute Padmé nodded "I'm not sure. It will be worth a tray, I'll have to travel to Scipioí".

Padmé's private Naboo craft took her wintery planet. Padmé had made contact with her old friend Rush Clovis. When she arrived Rush was waiting for her at the docking bay. He beamed at seeing her and held his arm out to her which Padmé took.

"Padmé." Rush greeted, "how are you? it's been such a long time".

Padmé smiled "yes it has, I've been well, how have you been Rush?".

"I've been fine, since I left the senate my work with the banking clan has been very fulfilling," Rush said. He paused a moment looking into Padmé's face and added "you didn't come here to hear how I was?".

"No Rush, I'm sorry to say I didn't." Padmé could see that Rush had hoped her calling on him had been about them more so than business. "I need your help Rush?" Padmé asked.

"Of course, come inside Padmé and we'll talk."

Inside Clovis' apartments on Scipioí, Padmé carefully chose her words as she asked Rush to help her find where the credits that paid for the clone army had come from. "If we can uncover this source I am confident it will go a long way towards bringing peace to the galaxy. Maybe even stop a war before it gets started." Padmé knew Rush Clovis well, he was an ambitious man, who knew his business. However, Padmé also knew that Rush had a soft spot for those he cared about and that she was one of those who Rush would turn a blind eye to.

"I know what you're asking Padmé, and I can tell you right now that I don't have access to those records." Rush could see her disappointment, he had judged her motives for visiting him correctly.

"There has to be some way that we can uncover who is behind this plot?" Padmé's rhetorical question hung in the room for a long moment.

"Plot?" Rush asked raising his eyebrows.

"Rush there is something afoot, the senate did not order the clone army. Until we know who ordered it, peace talks will never get underway."

"And you believe that the senate didn't order them?" Rush asked, he had always been more in doubt of the senate.

"I do. I hope to uncover who did order them and if not that, then to prove that the senate did". Padmé was silent a moment then asked "what files do you have access to?".

"Mostly personal accounts, and exchanges, for those individuals that wish to bank with a planetary or secure private banking system," Rush answered.

"Then you would be able to tell who's been receiving money from the Keninoan cloning divisions?" Padmé asked. Whoever was behind the clones had to have paid many individuals, aside from the Kenionans , to manufacture and outfit the army.

"Yes…" Rush said carefully, "but that would be crossing several professional lines."

Padmé could see that Rush was hesitant to help, and normally she would have commended him on his commitment to professionalize. But at the moment it was just another barrier to unraveling the truth. "Rush, this information is important, I need your help, if the Republic can discover who ordered the clone army, then there is a good chance that they will never have to be used".

Rush seemed to hesitate for a moment and Padmé could see that he wanted to help her, but his professional ambition, something she had loved about him, seemed now to be holding him back.

"Padmé I would like to stop any conflict from arising, but giving you access to these accounts would be-"

"The right thing to do." Padmé cut in "in the long run," she added. Padmé felt a twinge of guilt at asking Rush to break rules she herself supported. A large twinge of guilt at using her close ties to manipulate the situation to her own gain. It would be better in the long run to have crossed one line, then allow all lines to be redrawn, Padmé told herself.

"Alright Padmé but I will only tell you the names of the beings who have been paid by the Keminoa cloning division," Rush said.

"Thank you." Padmé smiled and gave him a grateful look, Rush returned the smile.

The records were kept in Rush's office, and a few minutes searching turned up three names. "Looks like Jezz Cracks, he's a Corellian ship builder, Hurushh Narackk, armor and weaponry manufacturer, and Jango Fett, a known bounty hunter." Rush looked at her "does any of this help you Padmé?".

"Yes," Padmé said, "Jango Fett is an individual who I suspected of being behind assassination attempts made on my life right before the clone armies were discovered. He's also the clone downer."

"Then he's probably your best lead, the others are outfitters for the army. Someone had to actually hire the clone downer," Rush suggested.

"Thank you Rush" Padmé placed a friendly hand on his shoulder. She thought for a moment "I need to get a communication through to Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi".

Rush set up the call and a moment later Padmé was relaying everything she'd found out to Obi-Wan On Coruscant.