- Splits in groups. The Military and The Jedi Order are cooperating in their investigation of Letta Trummond's Force choker's identity. The Military remain adamant on Ahsoka Tano being the criminal. Some Jedi Masters have put off their current military campaign aside to aid in this uncertain time. -
Chapter 6. Whose on whose side
2 hours till Ahsoka's escape from captivity. Since the Galaxy was at war, hangars were almost always in a state of functioning. The exceptions came when something crucial for its running broke or an executive order came in. The bombing might have caused concern over the well-being of the hangars' workers, but it hadn't crippled movement entirely. In the midst of various action being done in one hangar, two Jedi Knights stood in debatably the most darkened part of it.
"He actually came to Coruscant during a military campaign?"
"This surprises you?"
"A little, Master Tiin. Obi Wan is known for not leaving unfinished business alone."
"Be that as it may, Skywalker."
Their fields off view become more overlapping.
"The Council feels that his appearance might lessen the rhetoric between us and the Military."
"It might."
Very soon a fighter appears in the hangar; the pilot quickly turns off the engine, the electrical components and exits the cockpit. The Jedi ascertain the pilot's identity and come to meet him.
"It's good to see you, Obi Wan." – states Anakin.
"Yes. Good to see you too, Anakin. I just wish it wasn't during this type of a time."
"Indeed, Master Kenobi. The time is not filled with happiness."
"That's putting it mildly, Master Tiin. We have quite the case here."
"I agree. That is why we should go to the Council's chamber immediately."
As much as the bearded human male wanted to do that, he had a self-appointed duty to a person, who required his help far more.
"You go on ahead, Master Tiin. I'll just give a few words to Anakin and meet you at the chamber."
"Very well. May the Force be with you, Skywalker."
"And you, Master Tiin."
Both wait up to the moment, when the mentioned Jedi Master leaves the hangar. Then Obi Wan shows his true face – a face of a very concerned man.
"How are you holding up, Anakin?"
"I've … been … better, Obi Wan. I've been better."
"I fully understand that. Your Padawan is almost on a course to a death penalty."
This monstrously quick shift toward the pressing, high risk manner was a bit shocking for Ahsoka's Master. Not that he would ever admit that to anyone.
"I intend to prevent that. And you?"
"I will do, what I can, my friend."
"Good. At least someone's intentions remain clear."
Obi Wan knew Anakin too well by this point in their relationship to not notice the hidden sleight in the sentence.
"You doubt they can save her?"
"I do. Their intentions seem … so … lackluster that when the moment comes, they won't be able to make the right decision."
The voice became venomous.
"Especially such people as Mace Windu. By the way he's acting he will initiate the end of Ahsoka."
"Calm down, Anakin. The situation is still, more or less, in the balance."
He thinks for a minute.
"Maybe, but time is running out."
"Agreed. I have an audience that is waiting for me; do what you can for your Padawan. Just be careful, Anakin. The sympathizers for Ahsoka's conviction are in all levels of authority."
"I sense it too, Master. Good luck."
They bow to each other and Anakin turns around. His fastening pace leads him out of the hangar in a few flashes.
"I think I'm ready to return to our work."
"Me too, Zane."
"I'm feeling far better as well."
"So what is your new plan, Oswald?"
"Pretty simple. We go and ask Barriss about the situation, her insight might prove to be greatly valuable to our cause. Besides, if she is on the same page as us, another ally can't hurt."
"No. It can't."
The twi'lek Padawan was far more reluctant to pursue this lead. At their first conversation after the tribute to the fallen Jedi she expressed her distaste of such an action. Barriss Offee's well-being was hard to determine, completely understand.
"I'm not as passionate about this idea as both of you are."
"Who said we were passionate about it, Kelan?" – asks Zane.
"Zane is right. It was the action that I found to be most rewarding after my … meditation detour."
Kelan's face turned a bit sour.
"I'm sorry, friends. I do not feel comfortable in doing this. She lost a close friend from the Order; this sort of investigation might shut you out of her life for a while. I'm not ready for that.
Obviously, Oswald & Zane were not pleased with these statements from their peer. Oswald understood her position, their position, Ahsoka's position. If an alignment between all three was impossible, he thought of scraping Kelan's view. Zane though similarly. His main counter-argument would be about the fact that Ahsoka is another friend. Would it be wise to lose two friends in two days? He strongly disagreed with a positive answer.
"That is your decision, Kelan. I view this as the best possible action, so I won't avoid taking it."
"I'm with Oswald. Her closeness to this Jedi fiasco can be useful."
"If this is the case, then I'll stay here and meditate on my own. You two go on ahead."
"Good."
Both human males stand up from their circular objects, wish her luck and leave the room.
1:30 hours till Ahsoka's escape from captivity. Padawans knew of each other's Masters, therefore, their whereabouts weren't a mystery. A Master and a Padawan shared pretty much the same living quarters in the Temple. Oswald, Zane knew where they were going, maintained a steady, normal pace. This was a precautionary measure. In this chaotic atmosphere suspicions were the norm, some Masters and Padawans seriously considered the cooperation of Oswald & Ahsoka. Their arrival at Offee's quarters was without interference.
"Let us see if she's in" – said Zane.
He knocks on the door. Quickly a female voice is heard from the other side.
"Enter."
The Padawans enter the room and see Barriss sitting on a chair in the corner off the table, hiding her face behind a book. After she recognizes their Force presence, the book is removed from head height, placed on a small table next to her right side.
"Greetings, Oswald, Zane."
"Greetings, Bariss."
"May I ask what the meaning of your visit is?"
"You may, Barriss. Can we sit on the couch?"
"Sure. Be my guests."
They walk to the sofa and sit rest their bodies on it; Oswald takes the side closer to the window. The room didn't emit any unorthodoxy, an understandable reality given the fact that her Master was Luminara Unduli. Three yellowish lights on the ceiling illuminated the room on the other side of the window. Barriss face didn't give out one emotion, it let out waves of trouble, calmness and pleasure.
"It is of concern." – states Zane.
"Concern for whom?"
"Concern for Ahsoka."
"Ahsoka? Has something happened to her?"
"You tell us, Barriss. Have you heard anything surrounding her? She is after all a close friend of yours."
Oswald assumed that not explaining everything at once would be more beneficial. Barriss had prepared for this, especially after seeing his arrival at her room. In her opinion, Mundi's Padawan acted in a way that exceeded his age, was closer to Knight status than Padawan status.
"Indeed she is, Oswald. The last time I saw her was a little later after we parted ways."
"She did go and chat with you?"
"Yes."
"Was it about anything in relation to the future?"
"A bit. Yet I don't understand where you are going with this."
"I think you do, Barriss."
She mistakenly shows off a cunning half-smile. Luckily for her, Zane completely unnotices it, while Oswald gets a very small warning sign form the Force. The amount is too small to make a lasting imprint on his mind.
"You are right, Oswald. I know of a negative turn of events for her."
"How negative?"
"Such that has gotten her confided in the Military base, where Letta Trummond was being held, Zane."
"Time for the important question. Do you believe in her innocence?"
"I do."
"Then it's good that we are on the same page. I believe we should avoid telling the Council anything, unless it is quite concrete."
"That might be best."
"So you haven't found any evidence supporting her innocence?"
"I'm afraid not. However, it doesn't mean that I won't try to save Ahsoka's life."
"Neither will we. Right, Oswald?"
"You can bet on it."
Unduli's Padawan shows off a face of gratitude.
"Good to hear. I have some work to do and would want to get to it."
"We understand. Thanks for your time." – says Zane.
He stands up first, Oswald follows him. Quickly they say their goodbyes and leave her alone in the room. Back in the hall Mundi's Padawan walks over to the nearest column, Zane follows him.
"So? What do you think?" – asks Oswald.
"I think our talk was worth the time."
"I agree. It's just a shame she didn't have any good leads for us."
"She might still present us with one before the final judgement on Ahsoka's life."
"She might."
"Also, Barriss looked quite happy to not inform the Council of our joint investigations."
The vision shocked Padawan didn't feel as if they got the full picture from their talk. It seemed that something was missing or something was … not of the right origin. The problem was – he couldn't come to solid conclusion on it. Zane noticed his friends resurfaced pondering.
"Come on. Let's go back to Kelan."
He nods and they set out on a journey back to their twi'lek friend.
There was a discussion going on in the recently shot up in importance Military base. Admiral Tarkin, a commander and a captain were having disagreements on further actions.
"I don't think that is our best course of action, Admiral."
"Really, Captain Trend? Then what is?"
"Relooking the video footage we have of the execution of Letta Trummond."
"We've done it enough times." – the commander shows off his disagreement.
"I concur. There is no need to dissect the footage anymore. We know what we saw."
"Hah."
The captain trickles his fingers around his forehead, he was sure they were all missing something. Although he was on the fence on what next action they should take, Admiral Tarkin was very confident in the criminal's identity. For him it was just a matter of proving Ahsoka Tano's guiltiness.
An hour till Ahsoka's escape from captivity. While walking through the halls towards their goal, Oswald suddenly gets a rush of visions through the Force. They are pretty the same ones he got while meditating not so long ago.
"Aaaaah!"
He swiftly stops and grabs his head.
"Oswald? What's the matter?"
"Those visions are back."
"That's not good."
"No it isn't" – says a female.
They both turn their attention to her.
"Kelan. How are you here?"
"I decide to go for a walk. My meditation has been completed; there were no more … unknown details that I could manage to find."
"Alright." – said Zane.
Soon Oswald's communicator goes off. All three of them are surprised of this to some degree. Mundi's Padawan realizes he has to get it together, so he calls upon all of his strength to cleanse his mind.
"Oswald here."
"Good day, Oswald. It's Pedro."
"Youngling Pedro?"
"Yes. I've called you to tell you to come to the Med Bay in the Temple."
"For what reason?"
"It's Katooni. We were walking around the Temple on the trapeze and she felt some kind of a presence in the Force. Against my advice she pursued it and got knocked out cold. Just know she managed to speak, all she said was: "Get Oswald here fast"."
"Did she give you a reason why?"
"No."
"Alright. Thanks, Pedro. I'll be there soon enough."
The conversation ends.
"You don't look in the best of shape to handle more important information?"
"Sometime you have to sacrifice, Zane."
"For you the word 'sometimes' should be 'very often'. At this rate you'll be completely exhausted before night comes."
"Maybe."
"Listen, Oswald. You can't keep exerting so much energy on so many responsibilities. You are not Master Yoda. Let me go instead of you to the Med Bay."
Padawan Menson did not feel Kelan had the ability to see 'the bigger picture' and did voice his unsettlement on the matter.
"No offence, Kelan, but you are not known for you foresight. If Katooni wants me, but not her Master or the Jedi Council, the news might me quite … groundbreaking."
Kelan knew Oswald would come up with a similar response to the one she got. To dispute Oswald's deep thinking, insight as the best between all his peers would be very foolhardy.
"I comprehend my limitations compared to you. Although, I would appreciate if my friend believed in my intentions towards him and gave me a difficult task. I want to help you."
The twi'lek female comes closer to him, silently whispers some words to his ear.
"Trust me, Oswald. I will relay the information only to you."
She distances herself from him. Menson takes some time to make a decision. On one hand, he wants to retain or increase Kelan's trust in him. On the other hand, he is not convinced she can't maintain the pureness of the information, especially if it probably is blasphemous. After almost two minutes he says:
"Fine. Go on instead of me."
She smiles.
"Thanks, Oswald. I will not let you down."
Kelan turns around and starts quite rapidly walking toward the Med Bay. Zane feels quite happy inside to see Oswald trusting Kelan. The human male had an overwhelming edge over the twi'lek female when it came to seeing 'the bigger picture'. So the fact that he actually gave her an assignment, which looked precious, important to him, shows at least some willingness not to be stubborn. One man is not a soldier in a war zone.