After Anakin had left for Master Windu's apartment Ahsoka had tried to meditate in the Room of a Thousand fountains but found she could not find any peace. Her mind like always went back to her Khos.
It didn't make sense, why was his life full of trials and tribulations that far exceeded a normal Jedi's like before the Clone Wars.
She hadn't mentioned it to Anakin for fear of upsetting him while everyone in the Temple was acting strange. But the number of records she had pulled up, the sheer number of treaties that bore Obi-Wan's name was astonishing. There was to many, to many for a Jedi as old as Obi-Wan who was in the prime of his life.
Was it the will of the Force or was it something more sinister? At this point Ahsoka wasn't going to dismiss anything. Someone was trying to make Anakin fall, what if they had enough influence to cause Obi-Wan and Anakin to continuously be away from the Temple.
Opening her eyes, she knew she wouldn't have any peace until she gathered the data. She might be over reacting, she needed to go back to the archives and compare Obi-Wan's mission rosters to other active Jedi who specialized in negotiations during the past decade.
She quickly abandoned her spot in the room and made her way back to the archives. For the next hour she combed through dozens of reports, compiling the data. She quickly realize it wasn't her imagination as the cold hard data came together.
It was no wonder that Obi-Wan quickly adapted to life as a General. Wars, high risk assignments, and prolonged absences from the temple had prepared her Khos for this way of life.
Clutching the datapad tight to her chest, she went towards Madame Nu's private office. Grand'Meht had told her to come see her anytime.
She was letting her mind wander that she didn't heed the Force's warning until she crashed into something solid in front of Grand'Meht's desk.
Only her quick Jedi reflexes saved her from taking a tumble. Focusing she realized that she had nearly knocked over a Master.
"Excuse me Master I was looking for Madame Nu," Ahsoka apologized to the unknown Master. He was a tall man with blonde hair and dark blue eyes, and a kind face. Ahsoka hadn't recalled ever seeing this Master before.
"Quiet alright young one. I'm Master Kessler," he said with a smile.
She returned the easy smile. "Padawan Ahsoka Tano, Master. I'm looking for Madame Nu."
"Madame Nu asked me to watch the archives. One of her contacts on the planet had some interesting artifacts he was willing to part with and she went to examine them, she'll be back tomorrow."
Ahsoka tried not to let her disappointment show, she had hoped that she would be able to talk to Madame Nu. She couldn't imagine going to sleep with this weighing on her mind.
Master Kessler gave her a warm smile, "I'm no scholar but I know my way around the archive, I might be able to help you."
Ahsoka bite her lip a little unsure, but the Force nudged her to speak.
"I was looking over treaties for my politics class and I wanted to ask Madame Nu why my GrandMaster Obi-Wan Kenobi seems to have a higher mission report than others in the same time period.
The easy smile feel off his face at that statement, and turned serious. "What do you mean Padawan?"
Ahsoka passed over her datapad. "These are treaties the Jedi have helped in the past 11 years since Master Obi-Wan was knighted. You can see the number for Master Kenobi was three times the rate of anyone else's, even though he also had a young Padawan."
Master Kessler's frowned deepened. "That can't be right," he murmured as he started to skim through the mission reports. Ahsoka wasn't wrong, page after page bore Obi-Wan's name and a few caused his eyebrows to raise. Missions that should have been for seasoned Masters and senior Padawan's bore the name of Obi-Wan and his Padawan. Looking at the origin of the requests it looked like most of the missions came from requests by name from the Senate.
He felt sick at the first mission request took place 3 weeks after Qui-Gon had died. How had the Council allowed that to happen?!
"Might I keep this Padawan? I believe this information needs to be brought to the attention of certain people."
"You'll give it back?"
"I'll have it back before I leave tomorrow," Master Kessler promised. The Jedi Council had summoned him for a mission but they didn't give him any details of what it might be, and they said it could be cancelled. But he would be demanding answers from the Council tomorrow mission or not, and he had plans on demanding answer from on in particular tonight.
Ahsoka was satisfied with that answer. The Force felt warm around this Master, he seemed to exclude the same peace and warmth that she usually associated with Obi-Wan, it was familiar.
"That sound like a plan Master Kessler. If it's easier you can leave it with Madame Nu."
"I will Padawan Tano."
Kessler waited until Ahsoka was out of the archives before he allowed his scowl to show. Someone had a lot of explaining to do. He grabbed his robe off of Nu's chair before going deeper into the Temple to the Master's quarters.
He practically pounded on the door when he reached it.
It almost immediately opened. He was so furious that he shouldered past Micah and into the apartment before he rounded on him.
"Make yourself welcome," Master Micah Giett said sarcastically as he shut the door.
"You said he would get help! You swore after I heard all the rumors that Obi-Wan would get help!"
"Feemor please-"
"That is Master Kessler to you! You advised me to not seek my Padawan brother out because he never knew of my existence but clearly it look like my trust was misplaced Master Giett! Imagine my surprise when Obi-Wan's grandpadawan showed me a mission report that says that Obi-Wan was sent on a mission 3 weeks after Qui passed!"
Feemor couldn't belive this, Micah had been Qui-Gon's friend, had been his crèche mate. Micah had been there when Qui-Gon had renounced him and had been the one to comm him with the news Qu-Gon had been killed by the Sith. Feemor had long considered Micah his friend, but now he didn't know.
"Now hold on Master Kessler," Micah said raising his hands with the palms up. "I'm sure Padawan Tano was mistaken, we wouldn't have-"
Feemor shoved the data pad into Micah's hands and pointed at the date. "If it's a mistake someone should inform Madame Nu that Knights are not filling out reports correct, though a quick search on the holonet would show that this is correct."
As Master Giett looked at the report he knew that he was wrong. "It appears I was wrong, and this was right before the first Agoge."
Feemor twitched, "The first Agoge? The First!
Master Giett froze, Feemor was usually a level headed Jedi but the Force was rolling with his frustration/disbelief/ and anger.
"Yes, Obi-Wan was challenged a number of times for his right to train Anakin."
"Exactly how many times Master Giett?"Feemor said quietly, the Force all of a sudden turning calm.
A shiver of fear ran up Giett's spine, "60, he was challenged 60 times before the Council ruled that no more challenges could be issued."
A tea cup on Micah's counter exploded, but Feemor was perfectly calm.
"So inbetween monthly challenges, he was being sent out on missions and you told me everything was fine. You encouraged me to continue on with my duty instead of reaching out to my Padawan brother. Is that what you are telling me?"
Micah wisely choose to say nothing, but his silence was all the confirmation Feemor needed. "Qui-Gon would have been ashamed of you, you who called yourself his friend, called yourself my friend."
"Obi-Wan never showed signs of distress, never asked the Council for help or to step in," Micah tried to reason.
"No just because Qui-Gon made it a practice to write off his Padawan's doesn't mean the Council should have followed his example."
Feemor grabbed the datapad and left the apartment as sudden as he had appeared.
A part of Feemor knew that he was being harsh on Micah, and perhaps projecting some of his own guilt on the other man. But it was the one thing he regretted is that he never reached out to Obi-Wan. At first it was because Qui-Gon had renounced him and Feemor was unsure of his welcome. But afterwards he should have no matter what he was advised to do. But he had been a coward, he didn't know how to approach the other man and didn't even know if the younger man would want to share his grief with Feemor over the man who they both called Master. Feemor had had other people to lean on, friends and his Padawan siblings from his first Master. Though he had been in the Outer Rim he had been able to comm them and talk through his grief. Who had Obi-Wan had to lean on?
He spent the rest of the night trying to release his guilt and leftover anger into the Force and felt slightly better by the time he was supposed to report to the Council.
The sun was breaking the horizon as he rode the lift to the Chambers and despite the early hour the sky was filled with traffic. Traffic was one thing that he didn't miss when he was on assignments in the outer rim.
The door to the Council chamber was open, and Feemor let himself in. Not every seat was filled when Feemor stepped into the chamber, over half the seats were empty. There was also another Jedi standing in the center of the chamber, one that was familiar to Feemor.
"Welcome Master Kessler, thank-you for joining us," Mace greeted, giving Feemor a nod.
"Masters," Feemor returned with a small bow.
"Now that you are here, we will get straight to the point," Mace said seriously. "Master Kessler, you spent years in the Cyrebula system and you are best suited for this mission."
"Master Kessler, Knight Tajin, travel you will to the Negotiators last known location in the Cyrebula system. Make contact with Mater Kenobi and report back you will," Master Yoda continued.
Feemor of course had heard of the loss communications with the Negotiator but this was the last thing he expected. Perhaps everything was as the Force willed it.
"When do you want us to leave Masters?" asked Knight Tajin from beside him.
"Immediately," Master Windu said. "A ship has been stocked and is currently waiting for you in the hanger."
"Of course Masters, but before we depart. I have a matter to bring before the Council about Master Kenobi," Feemor said. "As time is of essence however I will be brief. Over the past decade, Obi-Wan has been assigned to missions at a significant higher rate than fellow Jedi. I have on this datapad data that was compiled by Padawan Tano that clearly illustrates the point."
Feemor held the pad aloft, watching Mace's face twitch.
"I will leave this with you, though I promised to return it Padawan Tano."
Master Windu took the pad. "We will look into it."
Feemor crossed his arms and stared the other man down. "See that you do Master Windu, I want an explanation when I come back as I expressed to Master Giett last night."
"Worry not Master Kessler, investigate we will," Master Yoda assured.
Feemor hummed in the back of his throat before bowing slightly. "Then may the Force be with you Masters."
"May the Force be with you."
As Windu watched the two Jedi walk out, he felt a massive headache building. Shatterpoints were collapsing and building with multiple possibilities. He couldn't tell if it was because there were sending out these particular two Jedi or because of the seemingly innocent pad that now lay in his hands.
Happy New Year Surprise! Another Chapter because I was inspired by some lovely reviews from the previous chapter.
So we have Feemor! He's honestly a character I've been wanting to use in another one of my stories and totally forgot about him actually until now and I decided he was perfect for operation Rescue Obi-Wan, and when looking up information on him I stumbled on the second member of the rescue team that I was honestly never heard of but I'm going with cause Obi-Wan needs support!
Hoped you enjoyed, I'm a little iffy about the chapter since I was writing characters I haven't worked with before but hopefully I'll do them justice and we'll see where they take me.