Three Jedi moved quietly through the darkened halls of the Jedi Temple, stealthily entering through a doorway one at a time -- into a room not guarded by security, frequented by few, and heavily shielded. The only room in the Temple that Yoda felt ensured their privacy. And privacy was what they needed for him to unveil what the Force had revealed to him. There was a traitor in the Temple and he believed he knew who it was, but he had yet to prove it.
"Your investigation of the venting system, revealed nothing, it did?"
"That's right Master Yoda. We found no evidence -- nothing. The shaft split into several directions, the most obvious being the one that led to the the south hangar." Mace regarded the small Master who was leaning on his gimer stick, listening intently.
Obi-Wan continued. "We questioned the droid mechanics and a couple of initiates assigned there and nobody seems to have seen anything."
"Hmmm." Yoda's ear twitched. "Perhaps time it is to make the abductor seek us out."
"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan immediately crouched down to meet Yoda's height, giving him his full attention.
"The dark side, moved inside the Temple for some time, it has. Felt it I did in the council chamber, when the healer reported the bond."
Mace's eyes cast downward, replaying the conversation in his mind. Surely Yoda wasn't meaning him! He was the most vocal one during that meeting. But he was only standing up for what he thought was right! He never intended to harm Kenobi or the young Queen. He was merely fighting for what he believed in.
Yoda had sent him to Naboo to discover the importance of the bond that existed between Kenobi and Padmé. It was only when he joined Obi-Wan's and Padmé's mind and experienced thelovethey shared, that he came to know the depth of the bond and how the Force not only supported it, but indeed had created it, for reasons yet unknown to him. It made perfect sense now that the Force had created such a strong bond between the two young people. From that bond would come the Chosen One.
He had meditated on this information many hours and had come to the conclusion that the prophecy was being fulfilled right before his very eyes. It was exciting and discomfiting at the same time.
He looked back up into the gaze of Master Yoda, not to find accusation, but understanding and expectancy.
So, it wasn't him Yoda was thinking of. Who elseother than him had taken a stand against the bond?
"Mundi." Mace whispered his realization into the shadows of the room.
"Master Ki-Adi?" Obi-Wan echoed.
"Why would Ki-Adi do such a thing?" Mace was finding this information difficult to swallow. He had known Ki-Adi-Mundi since the creche. He was a powerful and cunning warrior, however was a staunch advocate of the Jedi Code.
Yoda nodded as his thoughts apparently confirmed the truth.
"Always emotion the future is. Strong emotions coming from Master Mundi I felt that day. The dark side, consume him it will, if not too late we are."
Obi-Wan was on his feet in a flash, pacing back and forth in the small room, attempting to release his anger into the Force, but not entirely succeeding.
"I can't believe this! One of our own council members? If he hurt Padmé, I swear, I'll kill him."
Yoda's eyes squinted narrowly at the young man. "Sit, Kenobi." He said sternly. Obi-Wan hesitatingly obeyed. "Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Thinkyou above being tempted by the dark side, do you?"
Obi-Wan took in a deep breath, his head bent, eyes cast toward the floor, his voice a hushed whisper. "I have met the dark side master. And I defeated it. It was in the form of a Sith."
"Yes, defeated it you did, and controlled your emotions well. Qui-Gon, a lot meant to you, he did."
"To us all." Mace cut in.
"This new trial, more difficult will be. A strong emotional attachment you have, a bond as well. Careful you must be, Obi-Wan."
"Or you too will suffer Mundi's fate."
Obi-Wan sat quietly for a moment, contemplating the words spoken to him. They rang with truth. He must be careful. But if Ki-Adi-Mundi had gone to the dark side and had become a sith, then who was the master?
A sickening feeling rushed over him in a tide. This was all his fault. If he hadn't become so obssessed with Padmé in the first place, maybe he would have been able to find the sith master by now. The one responsible for Qui-Gon's death. It had been his responsibility to do so, and he had shirked it, all because of his attachment and his bond to Padmé.
Yoda interrupted his thoughts. "Dwell on the past, you shall not. Guided by the Force you were."
"Now is not the time for guilt or what-ifs Obi-Wan." Mace spoke up. "We must focus all of our energy on flushing out Mundi and finding the one behind all of this. Only then will we find Padmé and your son."
"I'm sorry. I just feel so...frustrated." Obi-Wan closed his eyes and immediately felt the Force flow around him, comforting him, supporting him, and guiding him. When he opened his eyes again, he had found his center and was ready to set forth with a new determination.
"What is your plan for catching Mundi?"
"We know that he used a healer's cloak to disguise his entry into her room. That's the only thing we have to work with, and we will have to use it."
"Call for an emergency council meeting, I will." Yoda then rose and dismissed the rest of them from the room, and they left as silently as they had come.