Note: By the time you are reading this chapter, the previous one (Nu. 17) had been corrected grammatically. Yeah, I know that the ending was quite stumbling.
Note #2: Sorry for the wait of the next chapter. I believe it will be 3 weeks since the last update. I don't know when the next one will come out. The only thing you can be sure at this moment – I haven't given up on finishing the story yet.
- Jarring interests stare! The secret operation of uncovering the origin of the dark side presence on Coruscant has taken a step forward. Sadly, it is not the end. The Jedi Council takes the stage as the next hurdle in its straight. Meanwhile, a suspicious military officer is in the making of achieving harmony with help from a curious person. -
Chapter 18. Address the authority
Before Menson's appearance at the garden. The Republic Senate building was buzzing as usual; it was the epicenter of the legislative government of the Galactic Republic. A vote on a law became a constant. With it came discussion, disagreement, stress, backstabbing, and manipulation. No sane person would expect a unanimous decision of 2000 senators on any law. Every delegate from every planet, which contained a race that was capable of verbally expressing their ideas to other races, had their own cabinet. Obviously, the space ranged a fair amount; Chancellor Palpatine's room was the biggest. In one cabinet Senator Vescell felt confused & tired.
"WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE?!"
The human male showed several papers from his desk into the air.
"Aaaaah!"
One yearly twenties human female servant quickly dashed to the area, where the scattered papers laid. She bent her knees, started to collect the littered objects. The atmosphere in the room was filled with intensity. A wardrobe was located only a meter away from the female's face, in its upper half there were two bookshelves, the object for storage was made out of oak wood. A few minutes passed in the room with no speaking. After Senator Vescell had calmed down substantially, his female servant had collected all of the scattered writings.
"Where do you want them put?"
Vescell turns his head, thinks a bit.
"Put them on the upper shelf, far left."
"Yes, sir." – She said kindly.
Soon he gave her another task, which led her out of his office. The recently angry senator had a lot on his mind. The Vote was not set to happen for more than 5 days, Senator Main had advised him previously to be patient.
"Hah. He was not the only one."
One night in the Senate building Hefyra and her known Marshall Sezk tried calming him down, with the female emphasizing 2 main things: maintaining cohesion between them, understanding the very high-tilt chance of their goal.
"Easy for her to say." – He spewed.
That left the leader of their unofficial coalition – Senator Avergreen. From the time she got the person, who is their joker, into the game, her position, belief in him has remained strong or very strong through it all.
"She might have seen something in him that I can't grasp."
The pondering of all parts of time continued.
A respite room in the building welcomed two beings of rare characteristics.
"We are now at our potential enemy's home." – Captain Trend states silently.
"Probably."
Both of them realized the need to cover some part of their face. While the clone trooper wore his helmet which meant that no one saw his face, Padawan Farnos had his head a bit rotated, so the overhang of his dull grey cloak could cover up at least something.
"If we are going to set out on a search trip, we should understand each other's reasons for wanting the truth of the matter."
"I agree, but first you should state your surname. You mentioned that you would after we had discussed my reasons for appearing at the lower ground of the Jedi Temple."
The Force sensitive reflects on the recent past.
"That I did. The only thing I want before then is a statement of reassurance."
Such a response rubbed the clone the wrong way a little bit. The quantity of energy invested from his unestablished ally in his doubt elimination started to waver.
"And …"
The military officer turns his head.
"…What may that be?"
"That we do not inform our higher ranked … members of our search." – Zane answered calmly.
It did fit in the 'Required Actions' pool.
"Fine. I will not inform anyone of our inquiry."
"I full heartedly agree, Captain."
"Then we are established allies."
"Correct. My full name is Zane Farnos."
"Glad to be finally introduced to each other."
Zane decides to halt the dialogue. Reason – an overview of their surroundings. The male clone soon followed suit. A glance at every being, who had a decent enough angle on them, came to pass.
"We can continue. First, I want to know, how did you end up at the conclusion that going to the Jedi Temple was your best option?"
"I told you that I felt that the whole trial seemed too staged for me."
"I remember that. What I'm eager to figure out is what actions have led you too such a dangerous claim?"
"Well… It all started the moment I found out that the young alien female escaped her holding cell. Honestly, I even clashed with my superior over the conditions of this aberration. Later … we went to the building, where she was held. Sadly, the much needed evidence was ... forfeited. Then the aftermath facts of her escape increased my suspicions a lot."
"Why? What specifically increased your distrust?"
"Chaaaaaaaa… Specifically? The marks on my fallen brethren. A lightsaber had been the weapon that dealt the killing blow to them."
"That doesn't really explain it all."
"It is difficult." – he answers with irritation in his tone.
Oswald's friend takes another look around them.
"Please, continue."
"Good. It seemed that she was broken out & the Person, who did that, had ulterior motives with doing so. That same Person could have fed us the yellowish alien female for the attack on the Temple to achieve a greater goal."
Silence descended around them. Zane finally got, what he wanted, that is – the reason for all of this turmoil. A Force sensitive was more adapt to identifying a person's feelings, since the Force is all around and he or she is able to detect it with its nature in mind. The Captain's way of thinking produced a painting of the entire trial in a completely different pallet, one the 18 year old was not sure of. To take a stance on the matter as if somebody managed to manipulate Barriss as a puppet, consciously or unconsciously, to commit such atrocities against her fellow peers, the Jedi Order, even the Galactic Republic. Add to the fact the blame of her close friend Ahsoka Tano.
"This … kind of … success is only manageable by an extremely powerful Force user. EXTREMELY powerful."
Not wanting to distain his ally much longer, Zane decided to pursue the truth with the ludicrous plot in mind.
"As for me, I have a … being that suggests to me something about the trial doesn't fit together perfectly."
"He must be a wise being."
"Yes, he must."
"What should we do?"
The white chocolate skinned human male takes a look around, thinks of possible actions. A semi-good consensus on the high chances of the mastermind being a person within the Senate would imply a need to avoid overstaying at any spot. Zane moves his lips closer to the clone's helmet and whispers:
"I purpose we take a walk in the hallways around the voting arena."
"What we'll accomplish there?"
"We must stumble onto a significant peace."
"If our speculation on the Person being a Senator is correct?"
Farnos nods in agreement.
"Well played, sir."
"Then let's move."
The two of them take in their surroundings again. Some seconds pass; no indication of an overseer is transmitted from the eyes to the mind. Second guessing is not exercised, so they leave the respite room.
Less than 2 minutes until 5 o'clock. Some things cannot be avoided without tipping the odds of success to an extremely unwanted state. Therefore, a mature person must way the prospects of the future in full awareness of it. Make no mistake about it; the reality that comes into existence in the world will be completely different after one of the roads is decided upon. At this exact moment, Oswald passes through the ante-room to the chamber of the Jedi Council. The doors slide open and the gathered are presented to him. Every single member of the highest authority in the Jedi Order was present in flesh, not one seemed to be in a particularly cheerful mood.
"I can't say I'm surprised." – The 19 year old thought.
If someone managed to get an honest answer from the Jedi Masters about their anticipation, then they would definitely come to the conclusion of a lack of unisons. To any intelligent being, this would not summon a shock expression on their face.
"Greetings, Padawan Menson." – said Master Yoda.
Following the etiquette, the young blonde bows his head in front of the Masters.
"Can we start?"
"Yes, Master Windu."
"Very well." – He states coldly.
"Master Mundi has informed of us of your wish to go on vacation. Do you have any displeasure towards him for presenting such information?"
"Not at all, Master Plo. Sooner or later you or any other Council member, Jedi Master would figure out my absence from my Master's side, in broader scale – the Jedi Temple."
"Indeed. There was also the matter, on which you proclaimed your leave. You stated to Master Mundi that you would be a liability on the battlefield, if you did not take a break from the War and journey to a different planet than Coruscant to heal?"
"That proclamation is true."
"Good, Padawan. Since we've gone past the circumstances and moods of your departure, I would want to voice a concern of the Council."
"I'd assume it has to do with my point of view on it, Master Tiin?"
"Quite right, Padawan Menson." – Koth answers before Tiin could.
Saesee Tiin gave Koth a short, weird, indecisive look.
"The Council would like to hear your thoughts on the bombing case of the Temple, especially … with regard to former Padawan Ahsoka Tano."
While making the pause, the Ikotchian male transformed his eyes in to a state, which made them resemble infinite depth.
"With all due respect, Master, I fail to see the motivation behind this order. The bombing case has been closed for quite some time."
"Not necessarily, Padawan. It has been less than a week." – Shaak Ti stepped in.
"Yet all matters pertaining to it have been handled."
"That maybe so, though, your view on it we would still like to hear."
Mace Windu had pushed him to the 'unwanted' zone. It was only a matter of time before they approached the topic and everyone in the room knew that. The friendship of Ahsoka & Oswald was a well-known fact in the highest ranks of the Order. People talked, so did Force sensitives. When there is enough of evidence of somethings existence, usually it becomes a fact.
"It was … not one of the best moments for the Order in recent years. I believe we're all in accordance with that?"
"Correct you are."
"Honestly, my thoughts on it are a bit mixed. Some conclusions are positive, some – negative."
"Which is the majority?"
"The majority of them are positive, Master Koth."
"And when it centers on Ahsoka Tano?"
Oswald rotates his head to a position, where his sight is in a direct line to Tiin. An idea came to the semi-toned build human's mind, its contents were menacing towards his status. So he immediately pushed it to the back of his mind. The face expression he gave was of slashed nature.
"A pity … all of it sprung towards her leave of the Order. Yet, it is the past."
"It might the past, Padawan Menson, but it does have some effect on the present."
"Naturally, Master Ti."
"Do you believe the Jedi Council made the right decision?" – Windu asked.
Oswald swiftly changes his facial expression back to a 'normal' one, turned to face the bold dark skinned human Jedi Master.
"As most Padawans, I believe that the collective wisdom of the Council has the ability to make the best decisions, even, when the difficulty looks staggeringly big."
"So you have no grudges against us for her leave?"
"I take the position that the circumstances surrounding the case made it impossible to make a decision that would please all people that had previous ties with Ahsoka. A severe shift in the roads of the organization and the person in question wasn't out of the question."
"So? Which is it?"
"No is the answer, Master Koth."
"Good. The required subjects have depleted for me. I have no more inquires for the Padawan." – said Plo Koon.
"I agree with Master Plo."
Both Koon & Kenobi had decided that Menson's addressing of the Council should stop now.
"More anyone has?"
The Grand Master took in each member's facial expression for a signal of an answer. Less than a minute later he said:
"All that'll be, Padawan. You may depart for Naboo as soon as possible."
The only standing Force sensitive bows again.
"Thank you, Master Yoda, fellow Masters. See you soon."
He confidently turns around & leaves the chamber. An unpleasant experience can now be written off as a past event. Of course, Ahsoka's friend wasted no time in doing so.
"I've passed."
Leaving the turbo lift he takes several steps and stops, a Force sensitive appears from the shadows.
"Was it a success?"
"Yes, partner."
The tholothian girl comes to within half a meter (less than 2 feet) of the recently questioned one.
"Let us take a trip to your room."
The couple starts walking down the hallway, the surrounding space is semi-populated.
"I guess you're already packed."
"Yes. I just have to grab one … special object."
"You believe it is a necessity for our task?"
"Most definitely."
"Alright, Oswald."
Suddenly the older being remembers one thing.
"Katooni?"
"Yes?"
"You don't by chance have a bathing suit?"
The younger being gets a bit confused by such an inquiry. Fortunately, the confusion is rapidly squashed.
"Why do you ask that?"
The blonde haired Padawan smiles.
"Because I don't want you to be angry with me, when I decide to relax in a pool."
Since she wants to process his recent statements, Katooni makes a decision to stop talking. Mundi's Padawan is more than happy to oblige to such a notion.
Slight passed Oswald's leave from the chamber. Zane Farnos & Captain Trend were making the way through the hallways around the voting area of the Galactic Republic's Senate. In a time of War a military officer's appearance in the legislative institution of the Republic was viewed as logical scene. For some, he may have brought some kind of law braking case to a senator. Obviously, an ambiguous face expression did appear from time to time. After all, Captain Trend was walking side by side with a grey cloaked person.
"We haven't stumbled onto something yet."
"I'm fully aware of that, Captain. Do not fear, though. This crucial breakthrough can happen at any time."
"No argument with the last part."
Zane takes a moment to produce a small smile. By doing that, his sense of the space around him decreases. This in turn, makes the chance of a bump-in much more possible. Instantaneously, the white chocolate skinned male almost collides with a being.
"Eyyy."
"My apologies."
Both stop walking, the avoided being takes a second glance at them.
"You … are a rare couple." – The avoided one states with a drop of intrigue.
"That sounds possible." – said Captain Trend.
"How interesting …"