Captain Typho had arranged quite the impressive security detail in the amount of time given to him before their arrival and he was waiting for them as they landed in front of Padmé's apartment. He looked less than thrilled about having his charge back from the safe countryside of Naboo, though Obi-Wan felt the captain's concern underneath and understood it all too well. He hoped Anakin would have the presence of mind necessary to protect the Senator, though he didn't have a choice in whether or not to leave his Padawan. A Jedi still had to watch over Padmé and he was the one Dooku had spoken to the most, so he hurried back to the Temple at reckless speeds Anakin would have approved of and found Master Yoda in the middle of training the Younglings again.
"Back so soon are you, Obi-Wan?"
"Yes. Something rather pressing came up and I need to speak with the Council at once."
Yoda didn't ask why as he tapped his cane on the floor. "Away put your lightsabers, Younglings. Done for today we are, begin earlier tomorrow we shall."
"Yes, Master Yoda." The children chorused obediently.
"I'm sorry I interrupted your lesson, Master." Obi-Wan apologized as the Younglings filed out.
"Interrupt you would not have, unless important the matter was. Gone on missions, all other members of the Council are. Relayed your message will be." Yoda hobbled beside him to his private meditation room.
"Including Master Windu?" Obi-Wan asked in surprise, as Mace hardly ever left the Temple since he was the most prominent member of the Council besides Yoda.
Yoda nodded. "Sent down on the surface of the planet to investigate a mysterious death, he was. Have a seat you may, Obi-Wan. On your mind, a great many matters are."
Obi-Wan lowered himself onto the meditation cushion across from where Yoda sat. "Count Dooku came to speak with me after my capture before Senator Amidala and my Padawan arrived and he had them join us. He claimed a Sith was in control of the Senate and showed us documents that I admit weren't proof, but very thought provoking. The first was a letter from a Mother Talzin of the Night Sisters who claimed to have seen a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious as a child and she saw this Sith again when he took her young son as his apprentice and renamed him Darth Maul. She was contacted once a year by the male Zubrak up until I killed that Sith on Naboo and the comm number she gave Dooku had a Coruscant prefix.
"The second was a statement from the Central Communication Center, signed by the Administrator himself authenticating the comm had once been active as a private number and the only detail attached to the account was Darth Sidious's name, nothing on who set it up for him or how it was paid for which they keep very detailed information on normally. Dooku spoke briefly about the Viceroy who approached him when word got around the Count was looking into all of this and claimed to have been employed by Darth Sidious, though they only ever met Maul in person. Then he blatantly admitted to being the apprentice of the Sith Lord and that his master was planning on betraying him, proceeding to say Sidious's real name was Chancellor Palpatine. He indicated he might be able to get some more proof next time he visits his master."
"Heavy those accusations are, missing sufficient evidence."
"I agree, though Dooku has always been a blunt man and would have little reason to lie." Obi-Wan withheld a sigh. "There's more. Anakin admitted to me he used the Dark Side of the Force on Tatooine, wiping out an entire Tuscan Raider encampment."
Yoda nodded sadly. "Know I do about your Padawan, felt his actions through the Force I did. Protect Senator Amidala you must while I speak with him."
"And then what, Master?"
"With the others gone, hard to come to a decision it will be. Your thoughts, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan pushed his conflicted feelings into the Force. "My affection for him clouds my judgement, I will respect whatever you decide."
"Think you that he will do it again?"
"I don't know. He reminds me of my old master a great deal, but Qui-Gon for all his faults never did what Anakin has. And yet the boy shown himself to be a good Jedi with incredible potential, though he isn't without weakness either. He's been close friends with the Chancellor for many years despite my constantly telling him politicians can't be trusted and I know his feelings for Senator Amida are stronger than that of a friend."
"Return them, does she?"
Obi-Wan considered the question. "What I sensed from her was mixed, though I got the impression Anakin tried to make a move on her and she turned him down."
Yoda nodded. "Smart Senator Amidala is. Better it would be, if in charge of protecting her your Padawan was not."
"I agree, but with Jango Fett still on the loose the Senator could still be in danger. Who will we assign to her instead?"
"Do that I will till Master Shaak Ti returns tomorrow, then put her in charge I will."
Obi-Wan nodded. "What do you think we should do about the clone army on Kamino?"
Yoda rested his chin on the tip of his cane thoughtfully. "Too convenient it is that they were found at a time when tensions are rising, yet irresponsible it would be to leave them for our enemies to take advantage of. Think you do that Dooku will be in contact soon?"
"He didn't say when exactly, though he did indicate he was going to 'check in' here at the Capitol."
"Find you he will, I am sure. Your opinion I would like, on who to send to Kamino."
Obi-Wan thought for a moment. "Master Windu could assess the clones as a potential threat and help decide what we should do with them, but you said he's down on the surface. Any idea when he'll return?"
"Hard to say that is. Gone down to assist him, Master Plo Koon has."
"Perhaps we could let Master Koon take over the investigation? He knows the surface better than anyone and can blend in more easily."
Yoda hmmmed. "A good idea, you have. Send for Master Windu I will, while waiting for your Padawan. Talk to you later, I shall."
Obi-Wan rose to his feet. "Till then, Master Yoda." He walked out to his speeder and returned to Padmé's appartment.
