The senate building's security had been notably heightened in the past several hours since the discovery of the senator's body. There were several security checkpoints throughout the building that Obi-Wan passed through on his way to Senator Looruya's office.
The hallway just outside his destination was jammed with security personnel from the senate as well as the judicial department. The Jedi confidently met the curious glances of several of them as they graciously allowed him to pass -- the mystique of the Jedi working in his favor; also causing aripple of silence to move through the crowd.
The being in charge of the investigation, a rather large Bothan male, looked up from behind theoffice's central grayslate desk in response to the sudden quiet and lack of activity in the room. His booming voice shattered that silence.
"Jedi Kenobi! It is quite the pleasure!" The stocky, furred being arose and bowed, to which Obi-Wan responded with a bow of his own. "I have not yet had the opportunity of working with the Jedi. My name is Captain Fey'lya."
The security captain moved out from behind the desk, tucking a datapad back into his belt. "We were just about to go view the security recordings if you would like to join us."
With a slight nod of his head, Obi-Wan moved alongside the lumbering body, being careful to stay clear of the swinging razor-sharp claws.
"I have just come from the coroner's office." The Jedi Knight offered as they walked the crowded hallways, heading toward the central security station.
"Yes. I spoke with Dr. Sorenzo." The captain replied quickly. "It appears we have a murder on our hands, doesn't it? We have discovered the means, now all we need is a suspect and a motive."
We discovered. Obi-Wan bristled slightly at the captain's words, but quickly banished the negative thoughts from his mind. They were all after the same thing – justice. It didn't matter who received the recognition for it.
However, his past experiences of working with Coruscant security had not been all that pleasant. For some reason, the government officials were hesitant to trust the Jedi, often withholding information or evidence.
Not this time, Obi-Wan thought to himself as they entered a room filled with security equipment. He would help in any way he could.
"Finding a suspect may not be as difficult as you may think." He stated.
"Oh?" The captain replied as he stopped and turn to face the smaller Jedi.
"Otagornum, the chemical responsible for the senator's death is absorbed through the skin. It can be washed away in time, but following its handling, there is an absorptive process that immediately takes place. Whoevertouched the substance that killed the senator should have some epidermal residue on their hands that will be revealed through exposure to heat." Obi-Wan explained.
The captain, however, did not appear impressed. "Interesting."
He then turned to enter his bypass security code into the system and began scanning the past two days' recordings.
"There." Obi-Wan stated, pointing in the direction of the holoimage of a large group gathered inside Senator Looruya's office, the day before his demise. "What's going on?"
"That's the Loyalist Committee. They hold meetings in various offices throughout the quarter." The captain responded, slowing down the playback to normal speed and turning up the volume.
Obi-Wan felt a nudging from the Force as he watched the playback. The discussion between the committee members quickly turned into a heated debate over certain senators believed to have separatist ties. To the Jedi Knight's surprise, the most vocal in the debate was the young senator from Naboo: Padmé Amidala.
He had met her during a previous mission with his Master when the Trade Federation had attempted to establish a trade blockade of her small planet. And although he had not had the chance to get to know her all that well, he had come to respect her quiet and calm air of authority as well as her astounding courage.
She was just a girl of sixteen years then, and now four years later, here she was standing toe to toe with some of Coruscant's most senior representatives, boldly expressing her opinions and beliefs.
"We cannot afford to stand by and watch the Republic be split in two by the disparate views and treasonous actions of those who have chosen to take sides against us by supporting the separatists! And with the threat of a proposed Military Creation Act, you would think that you all would want to do something about it."
The holographic voice crackled as Obi-Wan watched. There was a moment of silence and then Senator Amidala's voice began once more, but in a much more threatening tone. "Well, if you won't do anything about it, I certainly will."
She then stood up and stormed out of the office.
A short time after that, the recording blacked out.
"What happened?" Obi-Wan asked the Bothan captain who immediately began scanning the recordings. "I'm not sure. Apparently, the security monitors have been tampered with."
Within a few seconds, the senator's offices flickered back into view, only to reveal the prone and lifeless body of Senator Looruya.
"I'm afraid that didn't reveal much." The captain stated in an exasperated tone as he leaned back and scratched his long snout with a sharp claw.
"It revealed enough." The young knight replied somberly, his words carrying the weight of foreboding that the Force was revealing to him. "We need the chancellor to call an emergency meeting of the Loyalist Committee as soon as possible."
The captain looked somewhat baffled but then made the necessary call on his comlink.
Obi-Wan turned again to the holographic security monitor and replayed the recording of the committee meeting from the day before, focusing on the words spoken by the young female senator – and was not pleased at all with what he heard.
He entered the Supreme Chancellor's office one hour later in the company of Captain Fey'lya. The previously bickering senators who had gathered in the grand office suite immediately fell silent at the Jedi's appearance, and then all eyes in the room turned from him to Chancellor Palpatine.
"What's the meaning of this?" Inquired Aks Moe in an irritated manner.
The chancellor stood, holding his hand up in a calming gesture. "As part of the investigation into the death of Senator Looruya, Captain Fey'lya and Knight Kenobi need a moment of your time. When they are finished, you may all go about your business."
" I don't like being brought here under false pretenses. " Bail Organa of Alderaan stated.
"Or being put under this microscope of suspicion." Added Senator Orn Free.
Palpatine once more held up his hand. "It is a necessary measure my friends if we are to discover who is responsible for the assassinations of two of our senators."
"Assassinations?" Murmured Senator Amidala, and Obi-Wan's eyes immediately moved to ascertain the emotion displayed on her face.
"Yes. Senators Dio and Looruya were both poisoned. I'm afraid you all are in danger. I am asking for your cooperation." And when no one responded, the chancellor nodded toward the Jedi and the Captain of Security.
Obi-Wan stepped forward and pulled out his lightsaber, igniting it and setting it to medium power. "I need everyone to hold out your hands."
After some hesitation, he moved down the line of seated individuals, passing the laser's warmth slightly above their upturned palms. The looks of concern and curiosity grew as no results were obtained, and then the young knight reached the last chair, in which sat the lady senator from Naboo. She held out her small hand, which Obi-Wan grasped gently, smiling at her and noticing that she did not return the gesture. He waved the lightsaber over her palm, waited, and then reached for her other hand to do the same. After waiting a second time, he watched with worried expectation as the tell-tale green hue of Otagornum rose to the surface of the smooth fingertips.
He met the uplifting dark brown gaze of the young senator and was slightly surprised to see no evidence of dismay or disappointment upon her face. He frowned in response and turned his attention to Captain Fey'lya, nodding his head once before rising and disengaging his lightsaber.
The captain stepped forward, grasping the young woman by the arm and hoisting her up out of her chair. " Senator Amidala, you are under arrest for the murders of Senator Lexi Dio and Senator Havriso Looruya."