The entire Temple seemed to be in mourning. Unsurprising really, as Master Windu was respected by all.
"So, he died in your rooms?" Ahsoka was still in a state of shock.
The Temple was one of the safest places in the galaxy, and all initiates and padawans believed this. To have an assassin kill right in front of two Masters was a terrifying thought.
"Did Master Windu say anything to you?" Anakin asked, "You know, before he- " He made a vague gesture.
Obi-Wan shrugged, ignoring the small weight in his inside pocket, "I couldn't understand him very well. The words were all slurred."
Anakin clearly didn't believe him but chose to let it go.
After they were gone and Obi-Wan was sure that he was alone, he removed the object from his pocket, placing it in a locked box that was usually kept under the bed. With the exception of the date-stick, the box contained little mementos from his time as a padawan.
His time with Qui-Gon Jinn.
He needed to speak to the last person Master Yoda and Master Windu spoke to before they were attacked.
….
"General Kenobi!" Palpatine greeted him, "I must confess, I didn't expect to see you again so soon. What can I help you with?"
"I was wondering why Master Yoda and Master Windu came to see you yesterday…. It may give us a clue as to what happened to them."
Palpatine nodded sadly, "I heard the news about Master Windu… my condolences. I hear he was a respected member of the council." He then got up from his seat, "I'm afraid they came to speak about a rather confidential matter though."
"I am on the council, just like them." Obi-Wan hated using the 'council' line, but it did usually open doors for him. Doors that would have remained shut without it, "They had locked files on a drive… what were those files about?"
Palpatine was silent for a moment, before turning away, "I imagine it held information regarding that project I informed you of a short while ago." He sighed, "Master Yoda and Master Windu had… concerns about the project continuing. However, I wasn't ready to stop it without some tangible evidence."
"Surely the fact that they were attacked for what they knew, counts as evidence enough?"
Palpatine shrugged, "I have no idea what was actually on those files, so I'm afraid I can't comment."
"But… you still disagreed that the project should be halted?"
"What the Jedi Order doesn't seem to understand, is that in order to make a new world, you sometimes have to tear the old one down… and that makes enemies."
And suddenly, it all became clear.
"Of course." Obi-Wan bowed his head slightly, "Thank you for your time Senator Palpatine."
Before he could leave, Palpatine's voice stopped him, "A good friend of yours was killed today General Kenobi. Someone who presents a threat to the security of not just Coruscant, but the entire galaxy. If it were me, I would stop at nothing to get my hands on that person… you were the last ones to see Master Windu alive. I don't think that was an accident and neither do you I suspect…. Who has those files, now that he's gone?"
Obi-Wan fought not to react, thinking of that small box in his room. "The Jedi Order will get to the bottom of this." He promised, "Have no fear on that."
He turned to leave again, but Palpatine's next words sent shivers down his spine.
"Just a word of warning General… I will be sending my own force to investigate this matter. If anyone gets in their way, they will be dealt with… and I mean anyone."
Obi-Wan nodded, before making a hasty exit.
Palpatine knew something, but what Obi-Wan didn't know.
He entered the elevator, joined by a small group of soldiers who pressed the button for the records level. The elevator went down a couple of floors, only to stop for another small group.
Something was wrong.
The elevator came to another stop and more people got on.
He didn't need the warning from the Force.
"Before we get started…" He began, "… does anyone want to get out?"
There was a few second of silence, before the person directly in front of him, drew a baton and launched himself at Obi-Wan, as others attempted to put metallic cuffs on him.
He broke the nose of a nearby soldier, elbowing another one in the gut, only for his cuffed wrist to be kicked to the elevator wall, which quickly stuck there. Using the Force, he pushed the attackers back, giving him the chance to free his wrist.
"It's nothing personal General!" One of the attackers called out, lunging at him as he dived to the side.
One by one, Obi-Wan managed to knock them out, leaving one left.
Time for a bit of Force persuasion.
"You need to sleep for a bit." Obi-Wan looked the man directly in the eyes, "And re-think your life choices."
"I-I need to sleep…" The man repeated dutifully, "… and rethink my life choices."
And then he was unconscious on the ground.
"This is feeling very personal." Obi-Wan sighed, moving to open the elevator doors slightly, only to push them shut when he saw more armed guards running towards him.
Pulling out his lightsabre, he sliced through the glass of the elevator and jumped out, landing on the roof of the opposite building with ease and making a run for it.
Hopefully, there was a hover car he could… borrow.
…..
As soon as he made it back to the Temple, he rushed to his room, retrieving the box he had hidden the drive in… only to let out a curse that would have had Master Yoda striking at his thighs if he'd heard it.
It was gone.