Hey guys! New chapter please enjoy your Boxing Day gift (or whatever Boxing Day is supposed to be, idk)!
Chapter 7: Kaminoians
Obi-Wan is standing on a balcony with 2 Kaminoians, Doctor Nala Se and Minister Lama Su. They are watching the clone army marching in perfect formation.
"Are you satisfied with the status with the clone army, Master Jedi?"
"Yes, doctor. However, I have one other task, Kenobi says, turning to the Minister. "The Galactic Republic is currently searching for Princess Tara, and, with your permission, I would like to be able to conduct my own search for her here, Minister."
"We heard the news. The Princess is not here of my knowledge, but I will allow you to search our facilities until you are satisfied."
"Thank you, Minister. I had best get started, and then meet with this donor that you described."
Kenobi has searched much of the city and seen or felt any signs of Tara's presence. However, upon reading manifestation records of ships coming to and from the city, one of them stands out. It is the same model as the one that was used in the kidnapping. He has decided to not bring this up with Minister Lama Su though, at least until he talks with the donor.
As he is walking down the hallway, he sees Doctor Nala Se approach him.
"Are you satisfied with your search, Master Jedi?"
"Yes doctor. I have not found anything related to the case. I am ready to meet with the donor now."
"That is good to hear. Please follow me," she says as she gestures down the hall and starts walking, with Obi-Wan following.
Nala Se leads Obi-Wan to Jango and Boba's homestead. She knocks on the door. Boba opens it. "Boba, is your father home?" She asks.
"Yup," he responds. "We just got back a couple days ago."
"That is good to hear," she says before gesturing to Obi-Wan. "This is Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, who is here to talk with your father about the Clone Army."
"Boba, who is it?" Jango's voice sounds from further inside the cabin.
"Nala Se is here with a Jedi, to discuss the Clone Army," he says, turning back to face into the room.
"Well, let them come in, and we can have a little chat," Jango responds.
Boba gestures for Obi-Wan to enter, which he does. Nala Se nods and departs.
"You are Jango Fett, donor of the Clone Army?" Kenobi asks.
"Yes, that would be me," Jango responds.
"Your clones are very impressive. You must be very proud."
"I'm just a simple man, trying to make my way in the universe."
"Have you ever been as far in as Coruscant?"
"Once or twice."
"Recently?"
Jango hesitates before answering, "Possibly." He notices Kenobi is looking over his shoulder. Behind him, in the closet is Mandalorian armor.
"Then you must know Master Sifo-Dyas."
Jango walks towards the window. "Boba, bu deh souib."
Boba passes him and heads over to the closet, closing the door.
"Master Who?" Jango asks.
"Sifo-Dyas. Is he not the Jedi who hired you for this job?"
Jango steps closer to Obi-Wan, looking him straight in the eyes. "Never heard of him."
"Really?"
"I was hired by a man called Tyrannus on one of the moons of Bogda."
"Curious."
"Do you like your army?"
"I look forward to seeing them in action."
"They'll do their job well. I'll guarantee that."
"Thank you for your time, Jango."
"Always a pleasure to meet a Jedi."
Kenobi nods his head before turning and walking out the door. He looks back one last time before turning down the hall towards his starfighter.
Boba notices Jango's concern. "What is it, dad?" He asks.
"Pack your things. We're leaving."
Masters Yoda and Windu are waiting for an update from either Piell or Kenobi when a message from Kenobi comes through. "Masters, I have found a Mandalorian, who is likely responsible for the kidnapping and assassination attempts."
"Is he in your custody?" Windu asks.
"No, but there is something shocking still. There is a clone army that the Kaminoians made, with the Mandalorian as the donor. What's more surprising, is that apparently, this army is for the Republic. The Kaminoians said they were hired by Master Sifo-Dyas, but the Mandalorian mentioned the name Tyrannus for the man who hired him."
"Notified on this, the Senate and Chancellor should be."
"I agree. As for the Mandalorian, bring him in for more questioning."
"Yes, Masters."
Obi-Wan has successfully tracked Jango Fett to Geonosis, a planet with its leader Poggle the Lesser known for his ties with Count Dooku and the Separatists. Kenobi leaves his starfighter, damaged after a dogfight against Fett, with R4-P17 and sets out towards the Geonosian Tower. He would instruct him to repair some of the components, but he doesn't have any spare parts to work with after jettisoning them to avoid a homing missile. Walking through the vast, open hallways, he looks over a balcony edge and sees a droid factory, operational and producing droids.
He keeps moving through the hallways, but stops and finds a hiding spot when he overhears Count Dooku's voice echoing through the halls.
"We must persuade the Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance to sign the treaty," he says to some of his allies present.
"What about the Senator from Naboo? Is she dead yet? I am not signing your treaty until her head is on my desk," Viceroy Gunray of the Trade Federation replies.
"I am a man of my word, Viceroy. My bounty hunter has recently returned from the mission, but has succeeded for me in other aspects."
"Other aspects, Count?" Wat Tambor of the Techno Union asks.
"I invited a guest here, an ambassador that will be joining us for the dinner following the treaty signing."
"Who is this 'guest,' Count?" Passel Argente of the Corporate Alliance asks.
"You will find out later today, for they are currently still in the lone hangar they arrived in some days earlier," Dooku replies. "Now, we have more important matters to discuss."
"With these new battle droids we've built for you, we'll have the finest army in the galaxy," Wat Tambor states.
As the group walks away, Obi-Wan thinks on this. It's possible he was talking about the Princess. It is possible that if it is her, that she is at the hangar bay he flew over earlier. Regardless, he decides that his best move now is to keep listening. He follows from a distance and finds a hiding spot above where Dooku is holding a meeting at a table.
"As I explained to you earlier, I am quite convinced that 10,000 more systems will rally to our cause with your support, gentlemen," Dooku says to assure them.
Shu Mai pledges support from the Commerce Guild in her native tongue.
"The Techno Union army is at your disposal, Count," Wat Tambor adds.
"The Banking Clan will sign your treaty," San Hill of the Banking Clan says.
"Good, very good," Dooku says in reaction, gesturing towards Gunray. "Our friends from the Trade Federation have pledged their support, and when their battle droids are combined with yours, we shall have an army greater than any in the galaxy. The Jedi will be overwhelmed, and the Republic will agree to any demands we make, ambassador or not."
Obi-Wan heads back to his ship, as he'll want to fly over closer to the hangar, but first he wants to send a transmission to Coruscant, updating the Council on his mission.
"The transmitter is working, but there's no return signal from Coruscant," Obi-Wan states. "Must be too far, can you boost the power, R4?"
R4 beeps.
"We'll have to try something else," he pauses before saying, "I'll contact Anakin on Naboo and have him retransmit the message, he's much closer."
He climbs into the cockpit and starts speaking through the transmitter. "Anakin, do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi."
After nothing pops up, he says, "He's not on Naboo, R4. I'll try and widen the range." as he does that, he mutters, "I do hope nothing's happened to him."
Anaking's tracking signal comes into view, and the map adjusts to show its location. "That's Anakin's tracking signal alright, but it's coming from Tatooine. What in the blazes is he doing out there? I told him to stay on Naboo!"
He sighs. "We haven't got much time," he says as he starts the engine. "Fly to the hangar, land near the base, but out of sight," he says to R4. As the engines weakly start, he talks into the transmission, "Anakin, do you copy? My long range transmitter has been knocked out, please retransmit this message to Coruscant."
As his ship takes off, he never noticed the Geonosian scout watching him before running off to alert others to his presence.