Note: I really wanted to finish the chapter. Since you're reading this, that means that I succeeded. Although, the end might be a bit mistake prone. I will address it later in the day. My desire to not leave unfinished business is what caused this. Yet I have no regrets, the last chapter was 7days ago.

-No calm state in site! Feeling the increasing tension between the Military officers and the Jedi Order, the latter has requested Master Kenobi's presence at the Temple during a military campaign. Unfortunately, the smoothening isn't working. Moreover, a seismic shift might be approaching that will significantly impact the three groups.

Chapter 7. Don't stop

"Please, take some time to rest, Oswald."

"Didn't you say that time is not our ally in this case?"

"My position hasn't changed, friend. Time is still a luxury we don't have."

"So why want me out of the equation for a bit?"

"Pretty simple. I don't want you getting to a ton of trouble."

Padawan Menson turned to a dark wall between two columns. His thoughts on the next action were lost in a fog, having an unsteady vision was just making the fog thicker.

"Alright. I will take a break from the investigation for a couple of hours."

"After you get the information from Kelan, it would be best for you to go to your room and lie down. Also, avoid thinking deeply about any matter."

"Feel rejuvenated, Zane?"

The white chocolate colored male smiles.

"Exactly."

"Good. We'll meet in two hours."

"Done."

They shake hands and go in opposite directions.

A couple of minutes later. Oswald was walking toward his and Master Mundi's living quarters, Force users were moving forward, backward around him. The recent conversation with Zane had increased his care for his health. Every member of the Jedi Order, whether it's Master Yoda or Master Skywalker, requires rest; the same is the case with all living beings. He craved rest, but he also craved the saving of a Padawan, who he was on good terms with. With two new regents – visions of a blood filled Room of a Thousand Fountains, Katooni's passing out – the world became far more difficult to grasp. This in turn lit a fire in the fireplace that was called 'disgust'. By him, to allow these actions to occur in the Jedi Temple is an aberration on behalf of the Jedi Council. The person's trust column was beginning to shake once more. Out of nowhere, Padawan Menson's communicator started to blink, after the realization the walking came to a halt near a wall.

"Yes, Senator."

"We require your presence at the Republic Senate building right now."

"Right now?"

"Yes, my companion."

He was not for this motion.

"Priority level?"

"Gama."

That one word sent shivers up his spine.

"Understood. I'm on my way."

"Great. We'll be waiting."

The link ends, Oswald slowly lifts his head, looks around his surroundings. No one seems to be looking, just to be safe he uses the Force to sense any sign of uncertainty. There is no positive answer.

"Good and bad. Good that no one heard, bad part – another difficult task. How many high risk tasks do I need?"

The human male shook his head and dashed forward.

"Padawan Elanesquil, what bring you to the Med Bay?"

"A promise."

"What an … interesting reason. May I ask, who are you visiting?"

"Youngling Katooni. As I recently heard from Oswald, she is awake, isn't she?"

"That's correct, Padawan. Though I seem to recall her asking for the presence of Padawan Menson."

"That is where my promise comes in. I gave him my word that I would relay the information intended for him from Katooni."

"I … suppose … there wouldn't be any harm. Just sign into this log."

The female twi'lek notes her time of arrival in the 'Visitor Journal'.

"Good. You can enter."

She bows her head and enters a treatment ward. A semi-unexpected being takes notice of her arrival. The upcoming sounds circulate in the silence sphere.

"Kelan? You're here? Where's Oswald?"

"Oswald had a sudden, serious drop in health, so I offered myself up to come and check up on Katooni."

"It sounds logical. He's always so ponderous about everything. It's fine with me, but I can't speak for Katooni."

"I understand."

She takes a step and slowly bends her knees a little. This is all done to subtly enter through the curtains. The tholothian girl manages to open her right eye to 2/3, while the left one goes up just 1/3; the whole movement sequence is fairly strenuous.

"Ke …. Kelan?"

"You looked drained, Katooni."

The Padwan comes over to the right side of her bed. She was laying in quite a comfortable bed for Med Bay standards; the bed's body was of a light shade of grey, while the sheet was of a deep turquoise. Four white lights assembled in a square lit up the room.

"I … know. I just need for Oswald to come and then I can fall … into … a … trance."

Her eyes start to waver.

"I appointed myself to visit you instead of him."

"He … agreed?"

"Yes, Katooni. He did."

"I … hope … he … did … good."

"We'll see. Now please tell me the information you wanted to give him before you sleep again."

"You … cannot … tell … any Master."

The last statement made her friends assessment of the situation & circumstances a bullseye.

"I promise I won't."

"Good. Lean … in."

Kelan bended her knees until she was in a squat position. Now her right ear was only mere centimeters away from the Youngling's mouth. She exerts a significant amount of energy to move her head closer to the wanted position.

"I sensed … an … infinitely … big dark presence … here, on … Corousant."

Kelan's mind felt like it had been hit by lightning. The 'Blasphemy' lift went into hyper speed. However, she managed to freeze it for a bit. By that point, Katooni had already fallen into the dream world.

"Thank you, Katooni."

The twi'lek stood up, revisited the last statement of the completely tired Youngling.

"This will definitely make Oswald even less eager to rest. Such …, for lack of a better word, extremity. It might put him in the Med Bay as well."

The being turned around, went through the curtains and said a couple of things to Pedro before exiting this treatment cabin. The nurse handed her the journal, the time frame was saved. What she didn't want was to meet a Master before her emotional quelling. Sadly, the world decided against it.

"Padawan Elanesquil."

"Master Ti."

Both females bowed in unison to each other.

"What brings you to this part of the Temple?"

"A favor, Master."

"For another, Padawan?"

"Yes, Master."

"I sense that he is quite important. You're emotions are a bit sporadic. I suggest taking care of that as soon as possible."

"I will, Master. I will."

"Good day, Padawan."

"And to you, Master."

They bow again, Kelan moves in an arc around the right side of the togrutan Jedi. To her unknowing, in the emotional pulsation Shaak Ti managed to detect a certain one that filled her mind with doubt. It was discomfort. The nature of said emotion puzzled her, led her to think about the situation more rigorously. About a minute passed before she came to some kind of believable conclusion.

"Hold on. The Council just got a message from the Med Bay about a youngling passing out from a walk on the Temple's trapeze. The Med Bay is less than 50 steps from here."

In addition, she was sent by the Council to see to this unorthodox development. The Jedi walked to her destination while in a curious state of mind.

"May I see the log of visitors for this Youngling?"

"Of course, Master Ti. Here it is."

Her suspicions were proven to be correct; Kelan arrived to see Katooni not so long ago.

"Thank you."

She returned the log to the nurse. Something was at play here and she knew that that 'something' was not of a playful nature. For now Katooni was sleeping so asking her for answers was a moral impossibility. Although an integral part of the equation was Pedro's take, on what the previously awake youngling told him. Katooni asked for Oswald's quick appearance. To be in such a discomforting state and ask for a Padawan's speedy arrival, you do not do that unless the thing, which you want to say, is extremely important. Shaak's conclusion sounded like this – Oswald and Kelan came, listened to Katooni, got out and split up as to not run into anyone snooping around or look suspicious.

About 30 minutes to Ahsoka's escape. The Republic Senate building was always surrounded in a buzz, noise extruded from every corner of the building, especially the hangars for ships or speeders. The reason was quite obvious – the 2000 senators with the Chancellor at the helm were the legislative power of the Galactic Republic. At the lowest floor of the building, one of the speeder hangars gained more capacity due to a person's arrival on a yellow four striped on both sides, cacao brown background speeder. A group of seven oversaw it and moved in closer to him.

"Padawan Menson. It's good to see you."

"You too, Marshal Sezk." – says Oswald after he removes his helmet and places it on the seat.

The blue eyed human finishes viewing the state of his futuristic bike, then composes himself for the incoming talk. A sense of importance can be felt within this group.

"The senators are awaiting you."

"Good to hear. Let us move."

He smiles for a millisecond, later hi face reverts back to a stern embodiment.

"Rick, Jarred, keep an eye on the vehicle."

"Yes, Marshal."

Marshal Sezk – a 39 year old human male, 5ft 8in tall, skin resembles quartz sand, brown eyes. The near 40 year old human nods his head to a door, Oswald takes the hint and six people leave the hangar, while Rick and Jarred do as their ordered.

Of course, the noise in the Republic Senate building was prevalent. One could get a feeling that everybody was in 'Rush' mode, it can be encompassed in this way: "I got to be somewhere!" .Who and where, that's a different take. The group of six was walking in the circular shaped corridors around the Senator Voting area. At the front of the group stood Marshal Szek, his attire was composed of blue armor plating's around most of the body, two pistols attached to a belt in the side hip area, a yellow star on his chest armor in the area of the heart. Behind him walked two senate guards, also in blue armor plating, but without the star. Instead of pistols, they had rifles on their back; they stuck to a black belt that went from the top of the left shoulder down to the right thighs highest point. Then walked Mundi's Padawan, the remaining two senator guards finished of the group. To any uninformed person, the security enclosed being would give them the idea of a very important person. Oswald Menson stood out from the remaining group with his grey cloak, he put in maximum effort to make sure no one saw his face.

"You were in a hurry?" – asks the Marshal.

"Yes. As you may know, they requested my arrival on a very short notice."

"That was a small surprise for us as well. I have come to terms with your unpredicted daily arrivals. The very fast ones are unpredictable."

"How has your boss been?"

"Stressed, as usual. Maybe just the quantity of it has increased."

"That might be the reason for me being here."

He smiled.

"The only rational conclusion."

Marshal Sezk was the only security member to not have his helmet on. Probable reason being his constant chatter with the senator. To get a point across with the least number of questions, it is better to tell one being than a group of seven.

Soon they arrived at a dark brown dual door with a silver colored outlining of its edges.

"Halt."

The group's movement came to an end. Sezk turned slowly toward the accompanied one, raised his right hand to a shakable height. The grey cloak wearer understood the gesture, extended his own right hand.

"Good luck, Oswald."

"Thank you, Marshal."

Padawan Menson walked up to the door, it opened and he walked inside.

15 minutes before the illegal leave. The accommodation stretched about 130 square feet, walls resembled an oak, had an ivory line running on the very top, which matched with the ceiling, the ground was of grey polished stone. There were windows, however, any sort of light just bumped into the red hanging curtains. The room also included: a quite big lime green carpet, three wardrobes and tables, a couple of catchalls, four similar chairs, one elegantly styled one and a bar. The person, who sat in the elegantly stile chair, started a turning motion towards the door.

"Just in time."

Their eyes meet.

"Welcome, Oswald."

"Good day, Senator Avergreen, Senator Main, Senator Hefyra."

"Please, take your seat." – states Senator Avergreen.

Padawan Menson nods and takes his seat on the opposite side of the table of Avergreen. The other two senators – Main & Hefyra – were around them, Main stood near the bar, to Oswald's left, while Hefyra stood on the far right corner of the previously mentioned table.

"Since you said that the Priority level is Gama, I think you should explain this unscheduled meeting of ours."

"Fair enough, Menson. I hope this won't frighten you."

"What are you about to say?"

"Something truly groundbreaking."

The two other senators just existed in the room, let the other two beings go at each other in some way.

"Well. What has happened?"

"The date is set."

For all his foresightedness, this statement opened his eyes to the fullest.

"THE DATE?!"

"Yes. The Senate has moved the Date to a far closer day." – says Main.

Still a bit stunned, the Padawan tries to inquire more details.

"What?! How?"

"My dependable connections and Chancellor Palpatine's character has done this."

Oswald turns his head to Senator Main.

"What has he decided?"

"In one week the Senate will most likely vote on a new proposed law. As you know the Chancellor has already acquired a lot more power than the one the position had before this war…"

Senator Main's sex was male, while Senator Avergreen and Hefyra sexes – female. The male took out a bottle from the bar; the protected drink was of black color. While he poured the drink into a glass, Senator Hefyra started to speak.

"The war has drained most people psychologically; my psychic advisor explained the outcome of this. If a staggering amount of people become emotionally or spiritually depleted, they are very prone to rash actions, often ones that have dire consequences in the future."

Main takes a sip and starts walking.

"…, so his influence, public status, opinion and importance to the Republic are very huge.

Takes a sip.

"At this rate, the common consensus of our group of senators is that he will soon render the Senate as his pawn. Nothing more of it will remain, just a farce."

Finishes the drink. Now he is standing on Oswald's right side, several feet diagonally from Hefyra.

"You're not inspiring confidence in me. If I recall, the deal was centered on your ability to preserve freedom in the Galaxy. To concentrate almost all power in one being? That does not seem correct." – says Oswald coldly.

"It isn't. We know" – Hefyra fires back.

"However, you know that we don't have the majority in the Senate." – adds Avergreen.

"So you're saying the majority is quite happy to give up all power to Chancellor Palpatine?"

"Exactly, Menson."

Mundi's Padawan starts rubbing his right arms fingers on his left palm.

"I'm not as invested in politics as you three are, but I think this movement is towards a dictatorship."

"Quite right, Oswald. The upcoming law will only strengthen his dominance."

"Fine. What will it state?"

"It will make the Chancellor's vote superior to the Courts. The Senate will vote on a law that will include a veto for Palpatine if he feels the court's decision is incorrect. Of course, this will only be a 'necessary widening of his executive powers'."

"So, short version, he will have rule over the Courts?"

"Pretty much." – answers Senator Main.

"Your fellow Jedi don't seem to care about this as much as you do."

"A pity, Senator Hefyra."

"A pity indeed."

A minute of silence descended upon the room. Oswald began to ponder about the near future, all of this crazy commotion, whether it is Ahsoka and the bombing, Katooni and something or Palpatine and power, put more strain on his mind. Soon he realized that the crucial decision has to come very quickly. The three senators just waited for his next statement.

"How many cruisers in the fleet right now?"

"Thirty six."

"How many planets are in alliance with you?"

"A lot, my friend. We have managed to convince a quite big sum of senators to join our cause." – said Avergreen.

"We had to mention a support from a young Jedi's support and his military strategy group."

"You still have it?" – asks Main.

"No doubt, senator."

"Good."

"So? How many?"

"Close to 600 senators."

A bit of a surprise look appeared from Oswald's face.

"That's good and bad. Good that our forces are great in number, bad – we lack ships. I mean, we don't even have 10% of the planets protected if we send the minimum number of ships."

"That is true; however, we are running out of time. Our alliance will disband and Palpatine will have final say on EVERY important matter in the Galactic Republic."

"So we have to be proactive."

"Exactly, Menson." – says Main.

Due to a desire not to overload his brain with information, the only Force sensitive in the room stands up. The other three's eyes follow his movement.

"I understand you concerns, senators. The Date is mostly set; I will contact Senator Avergreen, who will trickle down the information to you."

"How much time?"

"A day."

The senators look at each other.

"That seems reasonable."

"I agree, Main."

"It will be interesting to see you strategy, Menson. I hope you will not disappoint the Galaxy as all the other Jedi have managed to do." – said Hyfera.

"I will do my best."

"Goodbye for now."

"Goodbye, senators."

He bows and leaves the near 100 square feet room.

Meanwhile. Suddenly Ahsoka wakes up with a concerned smile. Understandable, it is quite hard to stomach reality when everybody thinks you're the villain and only you know you are not. The togrutan Padawan takes up a standing position. The coldness of the confinement room makes her shiver, so she rubs her palms against her arms skin.

"Cough, cough."

She walks to the washer, cleans up her face. In her mind, there is not really a lot to do in confined space, separated from anyone by either thick steel walls or a red laser wall. While the female washed her face, she managed to pinpoint her eyes towards a card of some sorts. This sequentially follows her investigating the object further.

"A key card? Master, I knew you wouldn't let me down."

Feeling a surge in confidence, she manages to use the Force to bring the key card and swipe it on the electronic sale locker. Luckily, the key card's swipe disables the red laser. The togrutan steadily walks out of her confinement room, looks around.

"I wonder what you have planned."

Not waiting around, the person dashes towards another hallway section.