"Called here you are to discuss important evidence."
Master Yoda took in all twelve of the faces of the Jedi councillors seated in a semi-circle around the oval room. He glanced last at Mace Windu and gestured at him with a nod.
"I have reviewed the security recordings and they have revealed what is apparently a Jedi healer entering Senator Amidala's room before her disappearance."
"A healer?" Council member Depa Bilaba's stunned expression mirrored many of the other's in the room, including Ki-Adi-Mundi. "Can you be sure?"
"The perpetrator was wearing a healer's blue cloak and used Force-enhanced speed to enter the room in order to not be detected. If it is not a healer, then it is most certainly a Jedi."
A murmur of shock rippled amongst the council members.
"Did the recording show any distinctions? Any significant features?"
The question came from Master Mundi himself, and Mace had a difficult time restraining a scowl.
"Body features, the recordings showed not. The cloak however..." Master Yoda hesitated and looked once more to Mace. "Master Windu?"
"The image, once enhanced, showed a slight stitching discretion at the nape of the back of the cloak where the hood meets the shoulder seam. The probability of this occurring more than once is low since the robes are hand-stitched. Considering the height of the kidnapper, we can narrow our search even more." Mace wondered to himself how lying had suddenly become so easy to him.
"What is the estimation of the height?" Adi Gallia inquired.
"About my size or close to Master Mundi's." Mace answered, noting that Ki-Adi did not even blink. He then continued.
"None of us are above suspicion at this point, even myself. A search of the Temple will begin immediately and will include every initiate, knight, and master who meets this height description. Once we discover this cloak, we have our kidnapper. The search will start with myself and my personal quarters." Mace turned to face Mundi. "Master Mundi, I'm afraid you will be next, my friend." He could not help but notice the distaste of the word on his tongue.
"Of course." Ki-Adi cooly replied.
"This meeting, adjourned it is."
As the council members rose and left the room, Yoda and Mace Windu exchanged disheartened looks. Never before had one of their own been seduced by the Dark Side. When he confronted Ki-Adi, Mace was unsure of what to expect.
When he exited the councilroom, heading to Mundi's quarters, the Jedi Master was stopped in the hallway by Obi-Wan.
I'm coming with you." The young knight stated boldly.
Mace looked at the knight earnestly, noting that he did not have time to argue.
"If Mundi draws his saber, fade back. Let me handle him. I mean it Kenobi."
"All right." Obi-Wan agreed readily, realizing that at this point, he would agree to just about anything the Jedi Master said, if it led him to Padmé.
They walked together down the hall toward the rooms of Master Mundi.
"How did Yoda know it was Mundi? Not just from the Force, I don't think."
Mace's eyebrow shot up at Obi-Wan's statement, somewhat surprised at the insight of the younger knight. "No, you are right. While you and I were crawling through the venting system, Master Yoda went to the training room where Healer T'Pal had been called away to. The knight assigned there told him that Ki-Adi had been dueling with an initiate on the catwalk. Apparently the initiate lost his balance and fell."
"Mundi just let him fall?" Obi-Wan was appalled.
"Not only did he let him fall, the knight on duty felt a surge in the Force that we have come now to believe came from Mundi himself. We think he Force pushed the young man off the catwalk."
The anger once again rose in Obi-Wan. If Mundi was indeed capable of such a reprehensive act, there was no telling what he had done to Padmé. He struggled to release his feelings into the Force. They were nearing Mundi's rooms now and he had to be focused.
"After T'Pal was notified of the 'accident,' Mundi had vanished from the scene. Apparently, he used the incident to give him time to return to the healer's wing unnoticed and carry out his plan."
They were now standing in front of the durasteel door that led to Ki-Adi's personal chambers. Mace glanced to Obi-Wan, who stood beside him, head held high, hand lingering over the lightsaber that hung from his belt.
"I'm going to access the door panel and release the door lock. Follow my lead. Let him make the first move."
A dark hand was placed over the door access and Mace punched in a security override code. The door hissed open, revealing a stunned Ki-Adi-Mundi just inside, lightsaber drawn. He was using the saber to disintegrate the blue healer's robe that he held in his hands.