Chapter Four
I explained everything to Obi-Wan on the way to the Temple, although the actual evidence he would have to wait to see. I only had the download, not the reader. Even from just my explanation, he realized how serious this could be. Although I didn't have all the evidence we'd need to bring it before the authorities, in my hand was a datastick that would most certainly spur the Jedi to action.
Thankfully, I didn't have to present the information before the Council. From what Obi-Wan had described to me, they could be quite intimidating. Instead, we were led to a small, shuttered room with stripes of shadow and light that were cast upon a golden floor. In the center were Master Windu and Master Yoda already waiting for us.
I loaded the datastick into a compact holoprojector in the room and quickly the screenshots I had downloaded were presented on a much larger scale.
"What you're seeing is a financial report listing payments rendered to Cspalar Laboratory from an anonymous donor. If you'll note here on these two lines," I indicated with a finger, "a substantial amount has been paid for their services rendered over the past two months."
"For what type of services?" Master Windu asked.
I answered his question by bringing up another page I had managed to save, which was a report written by Senator Dodd himself explaining the results of the latest tests performed in the lab.
"As you can see," Obi-Wan took over, "test subject A had an initial M-count of 3000. After treatment, his M-count is recorded to have dropped fifty percent. It then registered as 1500."
Master Yoda merely grunted as he studied the display while Mace leaned back in his seat and touched his mouth with his fingers. Were they going to say anything? Didn't they understand what this meant?
"Obviously, someone is paying this lab to create a serum which eradicates midichlorians," Obi-Wan explained further, though his accusation was met with nothing but silence. I was on the edge of my seat and attacked Obi-Wan's mind with my impatience.
/Are they speaking to one another telepathically? What are they thinking? Why aren't they saying anything?/
/Calm down. Remember what I told you. You're about to experience the serenity of the Jedi. The Council is not only fairly slow to act, but can sometimes be very slow to think. Nothing is decided without conferring with the Force, and sometimes that can take time./
Finally after what seemed an eternity, Master Yoda widened his eyes and leaned forward.
"Alarming, this information is, although a conspiracy against the Jedi it does not prove. Clouded the Force is concerning this matter."
/Clouded? Really? How can he not see what's going on right under his nose?/
"I agree with Master Yoda," Windu stated resolutely. "For some reason, someone has gone to great effort to figure out a way to diminish midichlorian counts, which ultimately could have an impact on the Jedi, I suppose. However, I don't see how it is necessarily a danger at this time. It isn't like they've created a weapon and have threatened to use it against us. There's really nothing we can do about it at this point."
"I believe that's exactly what they've done," I argued. "You don't know what I'm subjected to day in and day out. There is an underlying grudge against the Jedi running rampant through the Senate. There are many who don't trust you. I would look at this as a definite threat and someone needs to look into it right away!"
The smile on Mace Windu's face was close to patronizing and I wanted to slap it off him. It was too similar to the same one the Chancellor used on me every time I saw him.
"We appreciate your passion, Senator Kenobi. All I can promise you is that the situation will be brought before the council and they will be the ones to decide if further action will be taken."
"For bringing this matter to our attention, thank you we do," Yoda told me in a manner that excused us.
I was stunned while Obi-Wan was reticent. Maybe he was used to this type of behavior from the leaders of the Jedi, but I expected so much more.
After Obi-Wan thanked them for listening, he grabbed my elbow and escorted me from the room. We silently walked down the hall, through the lobby, out the front doors and down the steps toward the transport that was waiting for us.
I noticed not a single Jedi inside had paused to say hello to him or ask him how he was doing. It saddened me and I hoped he hadn't personally known any of them.
"I knew a few of them," he told me once we'd boarded our ride.
I glanced at the driver and even though it was a droid, I wasn't about to take any chances and switched to mind speech.
/I can't believe how blind they are! How can they not see what's happening?/
/Now you understand why Qui-Gon never got along with any of them. He would've never joined their ranks even if they had offered an invitation. He called them…well, I can't say such words to a lady, but he was never happy with their decisions."
A sudden wave of mental exhaustion swept over me and I leaned onto Obi-Wan's shoulder.
/What are we going to do?/ I asked him tiredly.
/Without the help of the Jedi or the Senate, I guess we're on our own./
At first, I was unsure of what he'd meant by that statement and I sat up and gazed at him curiously before his brows rose suggestively.
/Really? You'd be willing to investigate this situation with me?/
He chuckled softly, which overlapped in my mind. /You're going to go ahead and do it whether I help or not, so yes, I will help. What choice do I have?/
/Thank you! You know I love you./ I told him before snuggled back into his side.
/Especially when I agree with you, yes I know. I love you too./
I felt his lips press into my scalp just before we landed outside of the apartment. I had planned on skipping last meal and going right to bed, but someone was standing in the lobby waiting for us. Someone wearing a Jedi robe and sporting a graying beard.
"Qui-Gon, you old fool. What are you up to?"
The two men greeted each other with smiles and a friendly shake using both hands. I was so pleased they seemed to have worked out all of their past disagreements. Obi-Wan needed a friend in the Temple.
"Let's go up first, shall we?" he suggested.
We all three rode the lift to the top floor and stepped inside. Once I'd commanded the house droid to turn on enough lights and to prepare a few drinks, we seated ourselves in the common room, with Qui-Gon sitting across from us.
On the way up, he and Obi-Wan had been discussing trouble brewing in the Outer Rim, but the conversation had remained casual. Now, that we were inside where the older Jedi obviously felt safer, he frowned and leaned forward onto his thighs.
"Windu contacted me right after you two left. He and Master Yoda want me to follow up on the investigation you began, Senator."
"They do?" I said in surprise. "I assumed they weren't going to do anything about it."
"You assumed correctly," he informed me. "But after the time I've spent in the Rim, he wanted to know if I'd heard anything."
"And?"
"My old Master is up to his usual tricks. Apparently, he's recently become interested in microscopic hematology."
"What?" I stuttered in disbelief.
"Tiny particles found in blood," Qui-Gon explained with obvious confusion.
Obi-Wan grabbed my hand. "I believe what Padmé was trying to say is that we thought Dooku was dead. I witnessed his ship blow up and thought he was on board."
Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan, displaying a half-smile revealing his disappointment. "I hate to tell you this Padawan, but he's alive and causing trouble. I'm not sure who is behind all of this, but I'm going to find out."
At that point, the older Jedi stood and walked toward the door as if he meant he was going to start right away. I was pleased with his willingness to act so quickly.
"Here," I said, offering him the datastick which held all the information I'd gathered from Senator Dodd's office. "That has all the names, lab results, test subjects, and donor information."
"You've done good work," he said to me kindly. "Obi-Wan, you've found a keeper."
"And I plan on keeping her, Master," Obi-Wan said proudly as he stepped up and placed an arm about my shoulders.
I knew I would pay for this later, but I had to say it. "Qui-Gon, are you certain you wish to do this alone? If you'd like, we could come with you. Two…I mean, three, have to be better than one. Safer too."
"I appreciate the offer," he told me with his hand on the handle of the door. "But sometimes I work best alone."
And then he was gone.