Qui-Gon had trained Obi-Wan well. How to blend into a crowd, become unrecognizable, unnoticed. He relied heavily on that training now as he and Padmé made their way through the space ports and air traffic of Coruscant, attempting to arrive at her apartment undetected.
Using the Force as judiciously as needed, they entered her home under the cover of darkness. Obi-Wan half expected to see the apartment turned upside down, but nothing appeared out of place.
He walked with Padmé as she immediately went to her personal office and reached inside a desk to retrieve the sleek, silver datapad. Standing behind her, he waited patiently as her fingers deftly moved over the keys, bringing up various senate documents and notes.
She clicked on a file entitled 'LIST' and was momentarily confused when the document came up a complete blank.
"No. It was there! I swear!" She hissed and retreated back through the files and attempted to access a backup file, but it too was blank.
She turned to look at Obi-Wan with discouragement and disappointment on her face. "Somebody must have erased the files. You've got to believe me."
He knelt down in front of her seated position and held her face between his hands. "I do believe you Padmé. Don't worry. We'll get to the bottom of this."
Just then, the hushed sound of the apartment door opening met their ears and Obi-Wan gently placed Padmé behind him for protection. But the Force relieved his growing anxiety as he recognized the life signature of the being approaching them.
The clicking of a walking cane reverberated throughout the small room.
"Master Yoda." Obi-Wan acknowledged the presence now standing in the office doorway.
"Felt you arrive on Coruscant, I did. Contact me though, you did not."
"We lost our communications back on Dagobah." Obi-Wan explained. "And we had to get back to Padmé's apartment as soon as possible to retrieve some evidence. However, it appears that someone beat us to it."
Padmé moved out of the way as Yoda approached the computer sitting upon her desk. The Jedi Master brought up the HoloNet and the three of them read what flashed across the screen.
Galactic HoloNet News Vol. 531 54/22.10.15
Galactic City, Coruscant
Nine Galactic Senators were arrested today, having been accused of having ties with the Separatist Movement. Chancellor Palpatine has stated to GHN that these traitors will be dealt with to the "full extent that galactic law will allow."
Evidence leading to the arrests apparently was provided by one Onaconda Farr, newly elected to the Loyalist Committee, taking place of the recently deceased Senator Havriso Looruya. Senator Farr told GHN that he has been gathering evidence for his "list" for some time.
"For years now, I have suspected that some of our leading senators have been involved in treasonous acts that undermine Republic efforts of maintaining democracy. It has cost me too many credits to count, but the information I have gathered should be enough to convict these criminals and perhaps thwart any ongoing efforts of the Separatists, at least from within the Senate." Stated a confident Senator Farr earlier this morning.
The list apparently includes ten senators, one of whom had been arrested for the two assassinations attempts earlier this week before escaping from the Judicial Building and then mysteriously disappearing.
A warrant is still out for the arrest of Senator Amidala and Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, with treason now being added to her apparent growing list of crimes committed against the Republic.
As before, any information leading to the discovery and arrest of Senator Amidala will be rewarded.
d.h. marshall/GHN Reporter
"Senator Farr!" Padmé gasped. "But how did he obtain the Otagornum and break into my apartment?"
"What about the security recordings here? Can you obtain them?" Obi-Wan asked Yoda.
"Retrieve them I will, though helpful information I am not sure they will provide. Farr, tampered with the Senate recordings too, he did. Probably sabotaged these as well. Intelligent, he is."
"Not that intelligent." Padmé scoffed. "I know him well. He couldn't have done this all on his own. He had to have had some help."
Padmé watched as the two Jedi tensed and both looked toward the doorway.
"Come here, you should have not." Yoda replied bleakly as his eyes moved from the doorway back to Padme. "Protect you here, I cannot. "
Despite the warnings the Force was providing him, Obi-Wan's hand moved to the hilt of his lightsaber just as a task force of security personnel, both from the Senate and Judicial Department burst into the apartment. His eyes glanced to and fro, counting at least twenty armed officers. He knew that between he and Yoda, they could easily take them out, but what good would that do? How would that help their situation? Clear Padmé's name?
It wouldn't. His hand drifted away from his lightsaber.
The large Bothan Chief of Security pushed forward through the crowd. "Jedi Kenobi. I thought you were smarter than this. We've been staking out the senator's apartment for some time now. I'm afraid, my friend, you've walked into a trap."
"You're making a mistake….friend." Obi-Wan replied. "Senator Amidala has been set up."
"We'll let the courts decide that." Captain Fey'lya answered back with an uplifting of his long snout. "But for now, I must do my duty and take the senator and yourself into custody."
Without warning, Master Yoda propelled himself up onto the top of the desk. "Take Knight Kenobi, you will not."
"Master Yoda," Fey'lya addressed him with a somewhat patronizing tone. "Surely you do not wish to go against Galactic Security. The Jedi have always been so helpful and cooperative."
"Remain in Jedi custody, Kenobi will. Senator Amidala only, will you arrest today." The level stare of the green eyes of Yoda met the menacing yellow of the large Bothan male. The surrounding personnel stood nervously by waiting for a command from their commanding officer, nervously glancing at one another, even the most experienced not wishing to enter into a battle with the notorious and lethal Jedi Master.
A large fanged grin soon appeared on the Captain's face. "Arrest Senator Amidala, we will, and we will also allow you to maintain custody of Kenobi. But know this. Chancellor Palpatine will not be pleased. I'm afraid the Jedi have crossed the line this day."
"Contact the Chancellor personally, I will. Thank you for your cooperation." Yoda maintained his air of authority in the room even though the Jedi were outnumbered ten to one.
"Very well." Captain Fey'lya replied. "Senator Amidala, come with us."
Obi-Wan laid a hand upon her arm as she moved and looked deeply into her eyes. "It will be all right." He reassured her.
She smiled as confidently as she could, hoping that he would see the trust behind her grin and left the room in the company of Captain Fey'lya.