- Suspicions all around! The case of the bombing has just turned a new page. Held captive Ahsoka Tano has sent waves of uncertainty to the Jedi, the Military and her closest friends. All three groups have considered that the event was just a part of someone's grand plan. Will the trio of concerned parties come to a joint conclusion? -
Chapter 4. Speculation of malice
It has been half an hour since she has been imprisoned in the same building, where Letta Trumond was being held. Admiral Tarkin was passionately looking for facts, which would put the 16 year old togrutan padawan either way on death row. Her every attempt at calming down and looking optimistically at the current status had proven insufficient so far.
"I didn't Force choke her. I didn't." – thought Ahsoka.
These thoughts were accompanied by a barrage of questions.
"But did I? If not me, than who? How could this happen to me? Is there something large at play here?"
Quite soon she would come to one statement, it would subdue her worry for just a short while.
"Whatever the case, I have no doubt that Anakin will do anything to prove my innocence."
Sometime passed and she would decent into basically the same statements that you just heard. You could say she became a constantly repeating loop. Maybe that's what happens, when you're dealt an extremely unfair idea of death.
Oswald finished chewing, laid the remaining part of the waffle back on the plate.
"What?!"
He shouted in such a tone that it couldn't really be picked up easily by anyone in that room, apart from Kelan and Zane.
"I applaud you for your control." – said Kelan.
"Mhmmm!"
"Try to calm down, Oswald. If you're emotions get out of whack, some Masters might show up here."
Just because Zane was right didn't mean the quelling of emotions was extremely fast. A couple of minutes had to pass, a lot of heavy breathing was seen. The other two sat there without saying a word. The essentialness of reaching some level of calmness was thrust upon them.
"This … action … has increased my anti-Order settlement tenfold."
"For me it isn't that big, but, believe me, your views, on how much the Order has plummeted, have become more truthful than ever before."
"I ask that you don't jump to any risky conclusions."
Suddenly Oswald's eyes transitioned from being very wide to a position, which usually expressed massive concern and hidden anger.
"What do you mean by that, Kelan?"
The twi'lek female oversaw the change in his face.
"I mean, we should try and keep a clear head while searching for answers. I completely agree with you that Ahsoka is not the copartner to a crime against the Jedi."
"Very well, Kelan."
Finally his face resembled a normal person.
"Now then. Let's get to business."
"Agreed." – said Zane.
"First of all, how could this happen?"
"We don't know."
"And we can't really ask the Jedi Council of this." – added Kelan.
"Secondly, when this happened?"
"As far as we know, it occurred about an hour ago."
"Hmmm. Good enough. Lastly, who could have done this?"
"Well, Oswald, if we remove Ahsoka from the list, than we have a lot of suspects."
"I realize that, Zane."
Searching for a needle in a hay stack is not productive. Due to this understanding, a grouping of suspects had to come up.
"We can't be going after every person individually. We must break them down into categories."
"How many?"
"I count five, Kelan."
"Let's hear it then."
"First category – the non-Jedi. Out of these ones I would gladly put Admiral Tarkin in the "highly possible" crew."
"Reasons?"
"I met him just this morning, he and Ahsoka were having a go at each other."
"That is particularly coincidental. One of the speakers is now in confinement, while the other is trying to convict the former."
"How sure are you?" – asked Kelan.
"I'm pretty sure."
"No pushback from me. For a while now I've had a feeling that Tarkin is just a power-hungry animal and does not like to share it. This … mixture makes him quite hostile to similar ranked people."
His friends noticed the slight amount of venom in his remark.
"Be careful, Oswald. His public image right now is of higher stature than the Order's. Whether or not you agree with the Council doesn't change your belonging to the Order."
"I'm not going to state that publicly. You should know that."
"Added caution does no harm."
Oswald, Zane nod in unison.
"What's next?"
"Second category – younglings."
A few second passed until the trio said:
"No."
"Third – padawans."
"Could be." – states Zane.
"What's the motivation?"
"Envy. Ahsoka is the most powerful padawan in the Order. Not only that, she is Master Skywalker's padawan. The amount of attention they get through the news outshines almost everyone. Such constant praise and adulation can create envy between her peers."
"You just operate so naturally, Oswald. It's no wonder you tire so much."
The male human turns his face to the twi'lek.
"Your thoughts on this, Kelan? Could we have missed someone like that?"
"Hard to say, Zane. We are taught to control our emotions, keep a clear head as much as we can, but … how much we actually practice this?"
"The facade and the truth are commonly polar opposites."
"I'm not so certain of that. Yet I can't rule out such an outcome. If the Jedi Council couldn't sense a threat to their own building, this is not impossible."
"Fourth category?"
"Jedi Knight or Master."
"Unrealistic."
"How come?"
"If it was a Jedi, then surely he would have just framed Ahsoka before Letta Trumond was caught. Our suspect didn't do that."
"You sense lack of planning?"
"Something like that."
"Lastly, I would have the Temple Guards."
"Hard to read, even harder to dissect." – says Zane.
"I agree. We don't have the Force abilities to crack their mental shields without suspicion."
"So we are left with two options?"
"Yes, Kelan. It is possibly Admiral Tarkin or a dissatisfied padawan."
"We should get to work immediately. Ahsoka's time is running out."
"Yes" – state both males.
Soon Oswald finishes his waffle, carries the plate to a table top. Near the entrance to the refectory they stopped to reevaluate their future actions. The main path in and out of the refectory was not narrowed. Their bodies circled a spot a bit to the left of the entrance.
"What is our plan of action?" – asks Oswald.
"Meditation. We should look back at our past memories and evaluate every moment we had with a padawan that is not Ahsoka or one of us." – answered Kelan.
"We don't have that much time."
"Maybe not, but we have to try."
"I agree. Doing nothing will not help. That is why you both should walk to our favorite room and star meditating."
"What about you?"
"My vanilla sugar shaker. I want to get it back to my room. The walk might get rid of some of my … stirring emotions."
"Yeah. They won't help. Additionally, because of the amount of time this is going to take I would appreciate it if you could grab us some drinks."
"Orange ones?"
"Exactly. In large glasses."
"You want one too, Kelan?"
"Won't hurt to get one for me."
"Okay. Let's go."
They bowed to each other and split off into two.
His walk was unproductive in the alleviation sphere, the Force made sure of that. More than two thirds of the walk it sent uneasiness feelings, which increased at every nod with a Force-wielder. The prolonged waves of said emotion made Oswald doubt his chosen "Dealing with the Force" strategy. Wanting to remain stable, sane, he strengthened his mental shields. Future events proved the action to be a success.
"Good."
Soon he arrived at his room. A code was tapped on a screen, the door slid open. The area was dull, unexciting, very basic & pragmatic. In addition, it lacked any kind of a being within it.
"Master Mundi is out somewhere."
He goes to place the vanilla sugar shaker back into his cupboard. While performing the action, he lets out chuckle.
"Who am I kidding? Meeting."
The fluid stream of silence came abruptly to an end by a sound.
"Someone is looking for me."
Padawan Menson stands up and presses the flickering button.
"What is the matter, Master?"
"Oswald, where are you?"
"At our room."
"Good. I would like you to come to the War room right now."
"Right now, Master?"
"Yes, padawan. We must talk about something serious in person."
Oswald didn't like the sound of this.
"Alright. I'll be right there."
"Very well."
The conversation ends.
He walked in a speculative mood towards the arranged place. Not that he had some sort of discomfort with this meeting, there were two more valuable activities. Getting the orange drinks and putting in the work to save Ahsoka from her highly possible death. An upside did manifest – the other Force-wielders seemed happier than before. Suddenly, a door slid open, yellowish light came onto some stairs. Oswald walked into the room, the door slit shut behind him. The Force's assistance was not needed to determine, who were within the walls, eyes were plentiful. No word was said until all participants stood near the massive War room's holoprojector.
"Masters."
The padawan lowers his head.
"At ease, padawan."
Head returns.
"I'll say this upfront. Our talk will not take too long."
"Master Mundi is quite right. We have our work and, I assume, you have some work on your schedule as well." – added Koth.
"Yes. I do, Master."
"Now time for the reason of my call. There has been a … complication in the case of the bombing."
"Our temple's bombing?"
"Yes, padawan."
"What is it?"
"Padawan Ahsoka Tano went to visit our main suspect Letta Trummond. During her stay, a misfortune crept up on Miss Trummond."
"What was the misfortune, Master?"
"She was Force choked, padawan Menson" – says Koth.
Right after those words Oswald started blinking fast. After the shock subsided he wiped his thumb on his forehead.
"This is highly strange, Masters."
"Believe us, padawan, we fully grasp the unforeseen outcome."
"So? What is being done about this turn of events?"
"As we speak, other Jedi Council members, Jedi Knights are trying to find the truth." – answers Mundi.
"Good, very good. Is there anything else, Masters?"
"Yes, padawan. We must advise you to avoid telling this information to any people outside the Jedi Order or the younglings."
"The Jedi Council believes that they aren't capable of withstanding the emotional onslaught of hearing such an action happening to Miss Trummond in the presence of padawan Tano."
Oswald examines their facial expressions, draws up his own conclusions.
"Yes, Masters. I grasp the seriousness of such … disclosure."
"That is all, padawan. Best be on your way and let the Force be with you."
The young human bows.
"As with you, Master Mundi, Master Koth."
Almost complete silence returns to the War room. The only things that were heard in the upcoming 10 minutes were natural, self-explanatory. By their dialogue an outsider would assume the position of a positive ending for both parties. Yet matters concerning the Force rarely are more or less understood just by the eyes.