Note: This is the 1st chapter in which I'll be rating the combatants. Obviously, someone will be angered by my rating system. That's just how it is. The rating system was mentioned at the beginning of Chapter 3.
- From obscurity to clarity. The captured alleged culprit of the bombing Ahsoka Tano has recently been expelled from the Jedi Order and now awaits her destiny at the hands of a Military Tribunal. Two Force wielders agree to partake in an unauthorized inquiry of this gigantic mess. Alas, one of them has found himself in a very dangerous situation. -
Chapter 11. Case Closed
"Really, Barriss? A sneak attack out of the shadows?" – rhetorically asks Oswald while blocking a red lightsaber less than half a meter from his head.
The green and red blades are locked sweeping each other in a spiral movement. Several seconds pass before the attacker realizes his unfavorable position, so a small retreat is seen in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Menson quickly reads the tactic and uses the Force with his left arm to push him to a standing position near his former sitting position. Now both combatants stand in such a distance that none of their attacks can reach, but within an extremely small sum of time that could be changed. The beings start walking in a circle, eyes set on the other. The waterfalls make for quite a serious, serene atmosphere.
"You can lose the mask now. I know it's you." – Oswald says in a cold, hard way.
"Very well."
The attackers face is revealed. Turns out that the person, who attacked Mundi's Padawan at the Jedi Temple with a Sith origin lightsaber, is the Mirialan race Padawan of Jedi Master Luminara Unduli – Bariss Offee.
"Congratulations on your work, Oswald. You've managed to figure out The Truth."
A venomous, cunning smile appears.
"Yet I don't see, what good it will do a dead body."
"Dead? That doesn't seem to be the case."
"For now."
"If I were you, I would be more worried about my existence. Multiple members of the Jedi Order have now been alerted to your dark side presence at the Temple. It won't be long before you are … apprehended."
"That won't have any bearing after I kill you." – Barriss fires back.
When it comes down to their 'power level', Oswald has a slight advantage over Barriss – 8000 rpc to 7800 rpc. Also, he has advantages in height and athleticism. Unduli's Padwans acrobatics higher ground doesn't make enough of an impact. Both combatants Force abilities are on par with each other's. While Barriss preferred lightsaber form was Form III, Oswald was accustomed to very frequently used form – Form VI, usually referred to by many as 'the jack of all trades, master of none'. The latter mentioned battle technique had no clear advantage or disadvantages. This meant that the one thing every opponent would want to avoid is a prolonged fight, especially if you don't have an overwhelmingly higher 'power level'.
Suddenly, the somewhat set tone of the battle changes completely. Barriss activates her second red weapon and lunges at Oswald, he blocks the first attack. Then the incoming barrages of swipes at his head or arms are repelled particularly well. Barriss is on the front foot, at the same time Oswald is back peddling.
Meanwhile.
"… I'd know her lightsabers anywhere." – finished Ahsoka in a way that extruded both desire and anger.
Anakin is just barely taken back by this statement, rapidly returns his face back to the concerned state.
"Well, if that's our only lead, then I know what I have to do."
Anakin turns around to the red ray shield sealed cell door. Padme Amidala quickly realizes his near future intent and says:
"Wait, where are you going? You can't leave now."
"Yes, I can."
He turns around to further solidify his position.
"I have to find Ventress and get to the bottom of this. With any luck both I and he will win out over the jury."
Anakin dashes out of the cell, Ahsoka and Padme watch his disappearance.
"Until we hear from Anakin, let's work on your defence."
Ahsoka knew this point would come, but did nothing to hide her ambiguity towards the trial.
"Hah. Forgive me if I'm not optimistic. I thought I was part of the Order .., but everyone, except Anakin and Oswald, has abandoned me. I'm not holding out hope the Senate will treat me any better. And then there is my friend Oswald."
"What about him?"
"I sense that he might be in some kind of danger."
"Not to sound unsympathetic here, Ahsoka, but we should focus on your defense. I believe both Anakin and him will be alright."
Back at the Jedi Temple. Menson manages to push Offee back a few meters, she senses that her foe will not attack her in a hurry. That gives her time to physically recharge a bit.
"Somebody's getting desperate."
"I think you're talking about yourself."
"Not even close."
The combatants engage in a stance war, the waterfalls can be heard clearly again. Oswald feels like he has the advantage due to the fact that he has stayed off Barriss' quick swings at his upper body and head. Then an idea comes to his mind.
"How could you this to Ahsoka? She trusted, treated you with respect, cared for you and you used her as a tool to get what you want. Merely that alone wants me to see you suffer."
"Be careful, Oswald. Your presence is becoming more of a mixture than a sole one."
"I'm touched for your concern, although you are coming with me to clear her name."
"That assumption will be proven wrong!"
"Doubtful." – returns Oswald.
He ignites his second lightsaber half.
"Round two."
Now Oswald takes initiative in the fight, closes the gap to Barriss and starts to break her defenses. For a bit the Mirialan holds her ground, redirecting back the hits. Later Oswald assumes the higher position and starts wearing her down physically. Her face starts to show discomfort. Half a minute passes, when the blue eyed human male decides to go low and pushes his lightsaber close to her shins, slides near the ground. She senses an opportunity to end the fight before it becomes staggeringly difficult to win. Barriss jumps out of the way, her shins are untouched, as a counter-attack she tries to injure back while being in the air. That doesn't work, Oswald swiftly moves his weapon into the vicinity of the incoming blow, blocks the attack. For the first time, the holder of red lightsabers becomes fearful of the battle's resolve.
"I saw that coming."
He stands up and in a significantly stronger fashion tries to uppercut her chest with the green lower half. She struggles to repel it, but manages to. Too bad for her, Oswald doesn't relinquish his control of the battle and attacks again with even more force and speed. She repels it at even greater expense. On the 3rd attempt Menson manages to get her back with her lightsabers lowered. A Force push knocks the opponent of his feet. This way a separation happens.
By this point, Oswald clearly holds the higher ground in the fight and is determined to finish it in a small amount of time. Without lots of options, Barriss decides to close the gap between them, shout in the running:
"I'LL END YOU!"
The human just stands his ground, waits for the opportune time to achieve his goal. Quite unsurprisingly, Menson blocks it without extreme effort. While forcing the hands further apart with a returning attack, he manages to grab her right hand.
"Hah."
Too late for a counter-attack. Oswald at full force bends her right wrist back, in turn this breaks the bone and one of the red sabers falls on the ground.
"Heeeeeeh!"
The pain soon overflows her state of mind; a firm grip on the force is lost. Then Oswald breaks his green blades connection to her red one and uses an extremely strong Force push to shove her towards a near-by elevation. A collision sound is heard, Barriss starts to bathe in pain. Her right wrist broken, left lightsaber on the ground, physical damage from the crash to the elevation. Soon Menson manages to pull the other lightsaber form his opponent, stores it on his belt, and immediately does that with the second one.
"It's done."
To his benefit, a group of 6 Temple guards arrive on the scene. Four of them surround Barriss, remaining two stand behind Oswald.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"She attacked me with these lightsabers."
Puts his own double-ended lightsaber away to show one of the red ones.
"I don't need to tell you, what they represent."
"No, you don't. What would you want to do know?" – asks another Temple guard.
"I have to make a call to a powerful Force user to report to him of my discovery."
"Alright. We'll keep an eye on her."
Unduli's Padawan didn't even take in any part of this conversation. The fact that she lost and was in severe pain was far more prevalent to her than anything else.
"Skywalker."
"Yes, Oswald. You have something substantial?"
"Even better. I have the true culprit lying down in pain waiting for you arrival."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"That's great. Keep an eye on her while I arrive. Where are you?"
"In the Room of a Thousand Fountains."
"Understood. I'm on my way."
The transmission ends. Oswald was proud of the work he did after his rest. The true mastermind of the bombing of the Temple and the set-up of his friend had been caught. Finally, for every concerned party involved the case seemed to be on the horizon of ending.
9:00 a.m., the Military Tribunal's hall. If you're familiar with the source material, then the upcoming events are mostly the same. There is an ongoing debate between Padme Amidala, who is for the acquittal of Ahsoka Tano, and Admiral Tarkin, who is for the charging of Ahsoka Tano for the bombardment of the Jedi Temple, treason against the Republic. Anakin Skywalker storms in with 4 Temple guards surrounding the now ¾ limb healthy, cuffed Barriss Offee. She admits to her actions and Chancellor Palpatine, the chairman of the Tribunal, issues an order to take her away to her cell. Oswald and 2 Temple guards, Commander Fox and 4 clone troopers stand in the nearest hallway. The colors around them scream dullness; you could only see lots of grey with occasions of black and white.
"You've caught the culprit?" – the Commander asks.
"Yes. Soon she will come ought from the Judgement Room and most likely be escorted to a very secured cell. Nobody wants another instance like this. That much is obvious to me."
"Indeed, Commander Menson."
All of a sudden the 6 uninvited guests appear from behind the door.
"Were you successful?"
"I was."
The Jedi Master turns to Commander Fox and hands him a hollo-map.
"This is the place, where you will escort her with our Temple guards right now. Understood, commander?"
"Yes, sir. All of you after me."
The commander and his 4 clones take the lead, the 5 Force sensitives follow suit. Both Anakin and Oswald give the Mirialan a cold, disappointing look as a closing gesture. The next conversation starts a few minutes later.
"I imagine Ahsoka Tano and her representative in the Military Tribunal will arrive soon."
"I'd say a couple of minutes."
"Good, Master Skywalker. Then we can leave this building. Honestly, I don't feel any warmth from this place."
"You are not alone, Oswald."
They smile at each other. The recent ending of the bombing case has created an insanely big quantity of joy within the blue eyed Padawan. Always striving to be calm, serious, attentive, foreseeing is a debilitating work in the long run. Who wouldn't want to be laid back after an important win?
A couple of minutes pass.
"Anakin and presumably … Oswald."
"You are correct Senator Amidala."
"How do you know, who I am?"
"From time to time, I do spend some time to keep up with the politics of this War. Your name shows up quite often. Also, both Ahsoka and Anakin talk of a senator with very high regard. It is only natural that he or she should be the one representing Ahsoka in the Tribunal."
Padme Amidala was a bit shocked, confused by this explanation. For her, most Jedi didn't care about the politics of the war; even the likes of Obi Wan-Kenobi did not show any noticeable interest in politics on a frequent basis. So to see and hear a young member of the Jedi Order speak in such a, most would say prestigious, rhetoric was a new experience.
"You see, Senator. Great discernment of the future."
"Why yes, General Skywalker. That does seem to be the case."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"As you should."
The trio expressed their joy through their faces, while Ahsoka still remained in a saddened state. Her well-being was definitely not in the positive sphere, even after hearing every charge drop.
"It is good to see you again, Oswald."
"Feeling is mutual, Ahsoka. I'm happy that you are now free from the cuffs of …"
Before he could finish the sentence, Admiral Tarkin arrives through another door, followed by two clone troopers.
"Master Skywalker, Padawan Menson, Senator Amidala."
"Admiral." – said the trio.
"My sincere apology, Miss Tano. You were not the criminal I've thought you were. I promise to be more … reasonable on a similar matter in the future."
Everyone's eyes turned to Ahsoka. Her allies had a difference of opinions, when it came to, why and how the admiral admitted his wrong actions in the case as a whole. Oswald had most 'brush-off' stance on the matter, completely dismissed any thought of empathy coming out of Tarkin. He had gained an extremely hard to change view of the military commander. Anakin felt less antipathy, but he still was the persistent person to be calling for his Padawan's head. Padme felt a bit of sourness, pity towards him. Ahsoka understood her current predicament to the fullest, which is why her response was fairly measured.
"I accept your apology, Admiral. Yet I don't have the desire to look you in the eyes for a very long time."
"A logical action."
"Anything else to add, Admiral?" – Mundi's Padawan asked.
"Yes. It concerns Master Skywalker."
"What is it about?"
"The chancellor would like to see you."
"Right now?"
"Yes. Right now."
Anakin was slightly torn by this turn of events. Right now he only wanted to comfort Ahsoka, nothing more, nothing less. However, the Chancellor was not the type of man you should decline offers from.
"I only have a few minutes."
Tarkin smiles.
"Good to hear. He only wants you for a few sentences, than you can be on your way."
"Alright. I'll be right back. Stay here until I return."
The Force sensitives & Senator nod in affirmation. Tarkin figures that his work here is done, so says goodbye to them and goes through their spread out group down the hall to the left of Oswald.
"Your excellency."
"Ah, Anakin. Glad to see you. I speculate that you have some important tasks waiting for you."
"They are urgent."
"Then I better make this quick" – Sheev Palpatine states in a warm tone.
Anakin nods.
"I just wanted to tell you that I never wished for your Padawan to be hanged out to dry. The Senate has become very paranoid, untrustworthy, and hard to reason with. I trust you see my predicament in this situation."
"Did you try and talk them out of trialing her?"
"Yes. Multiple times, but both Tarkin and the Senate looked like they wanted blood."
"What can you do, Chancellor. People are prone to making mistakes."
"Yes. That much is true."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, Anakin. Go attend to your urgent matter. I hope we'll speak again soon."
"As do I. Goodbye, your Excellency."
The Jedi Master walks out of sight. The Great Dark Lord did not want the Trial to go in such a direction. Charging Ahsoka as guilty and possibly executing her would all but assure his distrust in the whole Jedi Order. Barriss Offee's capture, presentation to the Tribunal and admission of her 'crimes' destroyed the flow of things completely. Now the future of his Padawan depended on the Jedi Council's workmanship, not him. Even in defeat, a great leader should salvage anything worthy that he can muster. Putting the blame on the Senate was one of them, since it fit to his overarching plan.
Little past 10:00. A shuttle occupied by Ahsoka, Anakin & Oswald lands in one of the hangers of the Jedi Temple. During their leave of it, the togrutan girl felt a medium size of rise in her well-being. Main reason – no one was waiting for her, to take her to either a cell or worse. Near the ships lowered landing stretch a new conversation ensued.
"I have to say. It is good to not see anybody escorting like a criminal for once."
"Most surely a plus in your book." – says Oswald.
"Oh yeah."
"Now you can relax a bit."
"Yeah. Though there is that whole 'expelled from Order' stuff."
Her peer did not forget that fact, he just sent it a bit to the back of his mind. It isn't easy to forget a huge letdown from a trusted person or organization, regardless of the circumstances.
"What are you going to do about that?"
"I don't know. Any advice, Oswald?"
He comes up with a few choices of actions.
"Mainly, I would advise you to take some time and figure out, how you want to proceed with your life? Everything has unrecognizably changed for you. A move forward should be thought out extensively."
"What of the Council?"
"They're probably thinking of a reply." – Anakin answers.
"I agree with Master Skywalker. They're not going to rush in to dangerous waters."
"Which give me time."
"Exactly."
"Okay."
She turns her head towards her former Master.
"Anakin, could you tell the Council that I want an answer about my future and everything surrounding at 3 o'clock?"
"I can manage that."
"I will take some time to think of my … possible … responses to them."
"Good idea."
"But first …"
Ahsoka turns to Oswald and jumps on him. He doesn't see that coming and is caught off guard. Turns out, the togrutan female engulfs him in a hug. Due to their height difference, the human male bends his knees, so that the engulf becomes natural for her.
"Thank you for helping me, Oswald. It means the World to me." – she whispers to his ear.
The hug lasts for a short period of time. Afterwards they say their goodbyes to each other and go their separate ways. Anakin – to the Council's chamber with the goal of keeping his promise to Ahsoka. The recently freed being walks away from the shuttle, out of the hangar. The goal is not yet set for her. Oswald finally puts the task with Ahsoka behind him and closes his eyes. Near one of the sides of the hangar, he uses the Force recall recent events. It doesn't take long to be reminded of his other commitments.
"Even though Ahsoka's salvation is an admirable achievement given everything that happened, there are other things to attend to. Two stand out the most: first being Katooni's sense of a dark side user on Coruscant, second one – the political game, deciding on further actions within it."
Later the eyes were back in full use. Seeing no Jedi Master around, double checking with the Force for any incoming harms and getting no positive reply, he too leaves the hangar. Basically, his situation can be summed up by a saying like: 'no rest for the weary'.