As the Temple alarms blare, Vex rushes towards the area that is most affected, the hanger within the Temple in flames, smoke encompassing the air. Bodies, and parts, lay strewn across the area, blood, organs and matter scattered among everything. With his mechanical hand, he pries the doors open further, enough for the emergency services to get through, as he follows behind to lend a hand, his powers not even in mind to make things easier, his inactivity affecting his mindset.
The medics get to work on finding the survivors, while the fire fighters extinguish the lasting flames. Coroners get to work on identifying the dead, as Vex lends a hand wherever, jumping between each role. Once all is done to help the survivors, and the fires are put out, Vex makes his way to the Council Chambers, finding the entire Council in attendance, the holographic forms of Anakin and Ahsoka in the middle.
"Everything, is about to change."
All eyes turn to Vex, and a dark part of him feels like all the emotions that are kept repressed in each Jedi, is directed towards him. Shrugging the feeling off, he walks to stand beside the holograms, facing Yoda and Windu.
"What the fuck happened?" He asks, his voice shaking. He doesn't care to note the dried blood on his clothing, the soot in his hair, the smoky smell that emanated off of him. His hands are balled into fists at his side. "And how the fuck did it successfully occur?"
"We don't know." Windu replies with a tired sigh.
"Do we even have any ideas as to who did it?" Vex then questions, the Council sending glances to each other, before Yoda finally answers.
"A Jedi, we feel, has done this." Yoda admits, his ears drooping lower than Vex had ever seen, a deep sorrow in his body, making Vex slump slightly.
"And the only two you can spare to investigate, are Anakin and Ahsoka." Vex notes, gesturing to their holographic forms. "Who haven't been back to the Temple for months."
"That is the plan, anyway." Anakin finally speaks, his voice slightly distorted. "We should be there in three days." The hologram fizzles out, Vex turning to face the near millennia old Jedi.
"If a Jedi really did this, the Temple needs to be put on lockdown. Anakin and Ahsoka should be the only ones allowed to leave the Temple for their investigation." The Jedi all nod in understanding of the logic given. Vex turns to move, before Windu calls to him.
"What about you?" He asks knowingly.
"I wouldn't have gone and blown something up, forcing casualties, only to go and help find the survivors and put out fires moments later." Vex scoffs. "I wouldn't even be in the Temple. You wouldn't be able to find me unless I wanted it, if I did this. I'll help Anakin and Ahsoka from the shadows." He disperses his body into particles at those words, floating around the temple in search of clues.
The moment Anakin and Ahsoka arrive at the Temple, Vex reforms by their side, greeting them in a falsified cheer, before returning to a solemn expression. Heading to the hanger is painful. The after echoes were nauseating, as people screamed in pain from the explosion, their cries cut short as death took them. It takes Vex a while to recompose himself.
"Do you believe what they said, Master, that a Jedi could do this?" Ahsoka asks with doubt.
"Not every Jedi agrees with this war, Ahsoka. There are many political idealists among us." Anakin begins.
"But a traitor?" She cuts in.
"I'm afraid one can eventually become the other. Remember Count Dooku and General Krell? That's how they started too." Anakin finishes sadly.
"Only analysis and investigation will prove what is true or not." The droid in front of us states.
"Who are you?" Anakin asks curiously.
"I am Russo-ISC, Crime Scene Analyser for the Jedi. I will be working with you, your Padawan, and the other on this case. I was assigned by Master Windu." The droid explains.
"Why am I simply 'the other'?" Vex asks.
"Master Windu warned me not to use the name he called you by." Russo answers dully.
"Fair enough. But just call me Vex." He explains.
"Alright, Russo. You and Ahsoka should begin the interviews." Anakin orders.
"I would rather interview the witnesses alone." Russo defies, though with good reason.
"Because of the rumours about a Jedi being behind the attack." Vex notes.
"Indeed. There is ill will towards the Jedi at this." Russo agrees.
"I think you're over-exaggerating. There were Jedi killed in the blast along with everyone else. Take Ahsoka with you." Anakin re-states, and Russo relents, gesturing for Ahsoka to follow him.
"Something about this isn't right. If it was a bomb, the Jedi that were in here with the workers would have felt a warning in the Force, hell, I would have felt a warning." Vex admits, as both he and Anakin begin to walk around the affected area, taking note of the damage.
"And the fact that the rumours of a Jedi doing this started way too quickly." Anakin adds.
"Could someone be trying to prove a point?" Vex wonders.
"Maybe. But I don't know what point they could be attempting to prove by doing this." Anakin notes. "Come on, we should check on Ahsoka and Russo." At his words, they make their way to the med-bay, meeting Ahsoka and Russo as they leave.
"Did you find anything?" Ahsoka asks us.
"Only that the Jedi were unable to sense it's danger. A physical bomb that someone planted would have been found and disarmed by the Jedi within before it could have detonated. This was done by something that could be hidden, something like Nano-Droids." Vex admits.
"What's worse, is the rumour about it being a Jedi is growing. I can feel the anger and confusion throughout the Jedi Temple." Anakin adds.
"Well, Russo and I have a lead. We are looking for one of the Temple workers, Jackar Bowmani." Ahsoka reports.
"One of the witnesses saw him in the area where the bomb exploded right before it happened, and we have not been able to find him anywhere." Russo adds.
"Come on, nobody just disappears." Anakin scoffs.
"Unless, it was well planned out." Russo retorts.
"Which I believe it was. None of the Jedi could sense the danger, and people died because of that." Vex notes.
"True. I'll talk to security." Anakin assures, taking the holo-image of the suspect and leaving the three alone.
"You said something about Nano-Droids?" Russo asks for confirmation.
"Yeah, why?" Vex questions.
"We haven't scanned for anything so small yet. You might be onto something. I'll get the scans done." Russo explains, taking his leave. Vex and Ahsoka spend some time with the wounded, helping ease their pain, when Anakin calls for Vex to join him. Leaving Ahsoka, he makes his way to Anakin, meeting him halfway, and joining him as the trio walk to the cell-blocks.
As they walk down the halls, Barriss Offee brushes against Vex's shoulder, her voice within his mind sending shivers across his body.
'The only thing the Jedi Council believes in, is violence."
"Vex, you alright?" Anakin asks, noticing as he zoned out for a moment.
"Yeah, just a sudden headache." He lies, sending out a particle to latch onto Barriss, waiting to feel her make enough distance, before he signs to Anakin, who was eyeing him with worry.
'Keep an eye on Barriss. She's my prime suspect.'
'What? What do you mean?' Anakin signs back in confusion.
'Trust me.' Vex assures. 'I've already got a particle latched on. I'll know what she does. I just need solid proof.'
'Alright.' Anakin relents, before they arrive at the cell, Anakin taking Letta in while Vex keeps watch outside.
Once his interrogation is done, Anakin, along with all the Jedi available, the Admiral's and Captain's, even Palpatine, are invited to the eulogy for the Jedi killed in the bombing. Vex declines, instead moving to his usual room in the temple, meditating as time passes, listening to the stories of his past. Within, a sudden bout of pain, of confusion, brings him out of his meditation, as his bond with Ahsoka flares. He opens a channel to Anakin.
"Anakin, what the fuck is going on?!" He questions.
"Ahsoka's been accused of murdering Letta. Tarkin's orders are preventing me from even getting to see her." Anakin growls.
"Come and pick me up. I'll see what I can do. Get Rex as well." Vex sighs, cutting the link. It takes a few minutes for Anakin to arrive. Vex jumps into the speeder, Anakin taking off without care for the speed laws, Rex by his side. A feeling of dread, of fear, washes over both Anakin and Vex, as they glance to each other, the former's commlink chirping.
"Skywalker here." He answers.
"Sir, Commander Tano has escaped." Fox explains.
"And did you give her time to explain why she escaped?" Vex asks with a growl.
"The evidence is clear." Fox defends himself. Anakin cuts the link, anger adorning his face as they land at the prison. They dash through the halls, Fox's voice echoing through the channels, moments before they come across the Clone Commander himself, kneeling over a corpse.
"Suspect has killed three Clones, code red. If you see the target, shoot to kill." He explains.
"Belay that order, Commander Fox." Anakin orders.
"She's killed troopers!" Fox retorts in anger.
"No. She hasn't." Vex notes, examining the saber slashes. "This wounds were caused by a single blade. Not two, as Ahsoka would have done if she really needed to kill."
"And I know Commander Tano, fought with her for over a year. She would not do this." Rex adds.
"Then who the kriff did?" Fox demands.
"Quiet!" Anakin whisper orders, shutting both troopers up. "Ahsoka! It's me, Anakin! Stop running."
"You can't help me, Master. Someone is setting me up!" She replies, her voice echoing through the halls.
"I believe you, Ahsoka." Anakin assures.
"But no one else will." She retorts. Her presence fades, as she gains more distance.
"Keep searching until we find her. Rex, call security, tell them we need to search the entire base, now." He orders, running off. As Rex gives the order, Vex takes off after Ahsoka, following her trail. The halls blurred in his vision as he focuses on the signatures around the prison, feeling each of the Coruscant Guard as they searched for their suspect. Mentally, he was berating himself, frustrated that he wasn't more careful, more aware. As he exits the labyrinth of the prison, he scans around, finding Ahsoka atop one of the statues.
'Ahsoka' His mental call startles her, as she turns to him, fear in her eyes, alongside determination to prove herself innocent 'Go. Prove your innocence.'
She smiles sadly, sending a pulse of thanks, and love, before a squad of the Guard notice her, pointing their blasters at her figure. With a wave of power, Vex sends them to the ground, before returning a pulse of love to Ahsoka, as she escapes, the Guard standing up, aiming their weapons at him.
"Stand down, or you will be charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive." Fox orders.
"I'll be charged whether I stand down or not." Vex scoffs. "Besides, I can escape like this." He disperses into particles, before reappearing behind the squad, as a turret fires toward Ahsoka, destroying the ship she used to arrive.
"Get him!" Fox orders, a stun shot heading straight for Vex, who disperses before it can hit him. letting his particles fly back to the temple, yet leaving one to attach to Ahsoka, alongside the one he attached first, giving her extra strength. Once inside, he begins to pack his things. A sense of foreboding controlling his actions. Ima-Gun Di's saber on his belt, he takes one last look at it, before removing it, placing it on the bed. He felt that the saber belonged with the Jedi, a way to remember their fallen when there was no body that could actually be returned. A chime of his commlink is all that alerts him of the Council meeting, as he swiftly makes his way to the spire. He enters the chamber, as Tarkin speaks through hologram.
"After further investigation, there can be little doubt that the Clone Officers murdered in the escape were killed by none other than Ahsoka Tano herself. She used a Jedi mind trick to convince the Clone to open the door, and then proceeded to cut him down along with five other Clones along the way."
"And did you check times of death with security footage?" Vex asks. "I could already tell the difference, not to mention the type of wounds left on those officers. And, did you question those who were only knocked unconscious? They would likely say the same thing I will: Ahsoka Tano did not commit this crime."
"I have to agree. I do not believe Ahsoka would have done this." Plo Koon backs him up.
"The beliefs of the Jedi Council, and a child, are irrelevant. We deal strictly in facts and evidence, and the evidence points to Padawan Tano being guilty of the attack on the attack of the Temple, and the murder of Republic Officers. This is sedition!" Tarkin declares, as he cuts the connection.
"Skywalker. Was there no way to stop your Padawan before she escaped?" Mundi asks.
"No, Master Mundi." Anakin answers, stepping into the center of the chamber, Vex walking to his side.
"The Council believes, that Ahsoka may be guilty of the crime. Still believe they are wrong, do you?" Yoda asks.
"For such a 'wise' Council, you are all full of shit." Vex scoffs. "You don't listen to the Force, you allow Fallen Jedi to roam these halls, and then you have the audacity to blame it on an innocent Padawan, because circumstance, and a planned attack, point to her."
"Proof, we do not have." Yoda defends.
"Proof? You fucks are the proof. Anakin, is the proof. The war, is fucking proof. Ahsoka had no way to order this attack, let alone plan it. It's the very reason you had her and Anakin take point with the investigation." Vex argues heatedly. "I've had enough. This is the last mission I do under the Jedi, and then I'm out." Some of the Council members seem relieved, but others, seem hurt, and a gentle nudge to the bonds of those give them the small assurance that they aren't all being blamed. Yoda's ears droops, but he still pays attention, as Anakin speaks up.
"Regardless. Master Koon and I would be the ideal choice to send. We know her the best." Anakin states.
"Agree, the Council does." Yoda affirms, and though Windu moves to protest, a simple gesture holds him back. "Go swiftly. Find this lost child, you must, before it is too late." Anakin bows, alongside Plo Koon, before they depart. Vex simply follows, not bothering to give any respect, when it isn't earned. He walks beside the two Jedi.
"I won't be able to join you on this one. The Guard will arrest me on site." Vex warns. "Just promise me that you keep an open mind. Don't take everything at face value. Give the same message to your troops too. If they find her in an incriminating way, there is likely more to the story. She is being framed, after all." Vex finishes, before dispersing into particles once more. If they find evidence against Barriss, he will be ready to act on it.
Anakin, Vex, and Padme enter the cell, Ahsoka sitting on the stone bench. The laser gates close behind them, as they walk to the imprisoned Togruta.
"Padme has agreed to represent you before the Senate." Anakin explains.
"I'll do everything I can to prove your innocence, Ahsoka." She assures.
"I'm almost certain, that the person behind this is Ventress, and you know I wasn't working with her." Ahsoka explains in frustration. "She was at the warehouse, in the room. We fought, but she got away."
"I'm not too certain it's Ventress." Vex admits. "How did you even know to go to the warehouse?"
"Barriss said she found a clue for me." Ahsoka mutters softly. Anakin and Vex glance at each other.
"Well, I know where I'm going. Anakin, go and find Ventress." Vex orders calmly. "I'm going to have a little 'talk' with Barriss." He sends a pulse to Ahsoka, apologizing for what may happen, before he disperses into particles, making their way through the vents before heading to the Temple. He reforms by his room, as the crystal of Di's saber calls. With a sigh, he picks it up, clipping it to his belt. "One last battle." He mutters in assurance, feeling the crystal sing it's happiness at being with someone again. From there, he leaves, making his way to Barriss' room, as he rings the chime.
"Enter." Her voice calls. Vex opens the door, stepping inside the small room.
"Barriss. I need to talk to you." He explains.
"Vex! How can I help you?" She asks, standing up and moving pack a few paces, as Vex calls her saber to his hand inspecting it, listening to the crystal. He doesn't bother to acknowledge that she has her short, spikey hair uncovered, a difference to the usual look she has.
"Oh, sorry, I lied." Vex chuckles, igniting her saber and swinging it towards her. His strike is blocked, as Barriss calls both Ventress' sabers to her hand. "I know everything you did, and why. I'm appalled." He keeps her saber in his left, mechanical hand, letting it's strength hold back both blades, as he reaches and grabs Di's saber. Barriss notices, and ducks as she disengages the block attempting to kick out at Vex, who dodges with ease, before sending her out the room with a push of energy. She makes a run, heading into the large halls, before Vex reforms in front of her, sabers immediately ignited. She barely stops herself from being skewered, rolling out of the way.
"Ahsoka trusted you, and you betrayed her!" Vex accuses.
"I've learned that trust is overrated. The only thing the Jedi Council believes in-"
"Is violence." Vex finishes for her, a smirk on his face. "That's how I knew it was you. When you brushed past me, as Anakin brought Letta in for questioning, I heard that very sentence. You feel it so strongly, it flared across to another person." With a scream of fury, she strikes out, Vex easily dodging as her moves become sloppy, unrefined. He watches as behind her, two Temple Guards step into view.
"Cease hostility!" They shout in warning, igniting their sabers. Barriss disengages once more, and attempts to leap out the window, only for her body to freeze, as Vex holds out his hand.
"You will face punishment for your crimes, Barriss." Vex declares, using his powers to throw her back into a wall, pinning her down as tendrils of darkness take a hold of her. Four Temple Guards walk over, when they notice Ventress' two sabers that had been in Barriss' hand. They don't speak, but they do restrain her. Anakin comes rushing down, stopping as he notices the situation. "As much as this is for a good thing, I hate being right." Vex complains with a sigh. "Take her to the Senate. Prove Ahsoka's innocence. I'll be packing the rest of my things." Vex simply walks off, leaving Anakin to do what he needed to.
Once back inside his room, Vex opens up Di's saber, retrieving the Crystal from within, before he closes it back up. Pocketing the crystal, he doesn't notice as its colour fades away, returning to it's natural state. With his belongings, sparse as they may currently be, packed, he makes his way down the Temple stairs, before turning to look back up, noticing as Ahsoka walks down as well. Once she reaches the bottom, she goes and hugs him, tears falling from her eyes as she silently cries.
"I feel lost." She sobs.
"One must first be lost, before they can be found." Vex notes cryptically. "We just have to find our way."
"What does that mean?" She asks between hiccups and sobs.
"It means we were not in the right place." Vex explains. "The Jedi were but a step to your path. Almost everything is. You will find you purpose one day, as I will find mine." Vex activates a coded message on his comlink, sending it to Rex, as he guides Ahsoka into the Planetary City. He takes her to an apartment he had booked purchased earlier, bringing her inside. He continues to comfort her, as she slowly calms. Within half an hour, she was no longer crying, though her emotions were all over the place. The apartment chime dings, and vex goes to open the door, revealing Rex, Fives, Denal and Broadside, crates of ship parts and pieces behind them, as a shuttle brings Vex's unfinished Z95 to the landing pad atop the apartment.
"I see you were at least prepared." Fives notes.
"Since Krell, I made a few plans. If the Jedi made another bad move, I wasn't willing to fight with them. And thus, it happened. If I got the chance to fight again, without it really being for the Jedi, I would take it." Vex explains. "But, know it was an honour, to fight beside you all."
"It was an honour to fight beside you too, sir." Broadside assures. "There were a lot of times your presence saved us, and our brothers." Ahsoka makes her way to the door and quickly hugs Rex.
"And, it was an honour to fight with you, Commander." Rex adds. The others agreeing wholeheartedly. "I managed to pull some strings among the 212th, and we got the last pieces you'll need to get the Archangel back in working condition, plus more."
"Thank you, all of you." Vex thanks them, as Ahsoka retracts from Rex and returns to his side. "If you need any help, I'll be here for a while longer. If not, well..." He attaches a few particles to each trooper. "I'll know for when I'm not on planet. I'll be there for you, all of you." The troopers all salute, and Ahsoka and Vex salute back, before they bring the crates in, before leaving, already called for another battle. Vex and Ahsoka return to their room, where their two beds lay, though Ahsoka stays with Vex, snuggling up to him for comfort as the night cycle begins.
