The Dooku Lineage

"That's an interesting sniper."

Obi-Wan - shaved, grimy, and maybe a little high on adrenaline - gave a small grin while he glanced up from the bunk floor. It was strange, to see him look like himself after so many weeks of looking like Rako Hardeen. "Thank you - I built it myself."

Mace leaned against the wall of the cruiser, watching the younger master carefully disassemble the intricate sniper and clean each part meticulously. "It looks Mandalorian."

"Mandalorian inspired, yes. Custom blast size and long range." Obi-Wan shrugged, moving a cloth over the lens gently. He didn't give any further information.

The halls before the Chancellor's office were crowded, barely giving anyone space to move. Everyone was chattering, desperately trying to move through the tape and the walls of security tape. Senators, aides, kings, queens, padawans, servants - no one was being allowed in, and everyone was screaming about being let in and how it wasn't fair and -

"When did this happen?" Padmé murmured while they carefully, ever so carefully, wove through the crowd and did their best not to step on toes.

Bail gave a small shrug. "Probably about two hours ago...I was about to have a meeting with him." He gave her a sidelong glance. "I informed Master Windu what happened, and he advised to come get you."

She furrowed her brow, not quite understanding. Master Windu and her were friendly, but they hardly spoke more than a couple sentences alone. In an uncharacteristic move, she did not speak when the police noticed Bail and her, and allowed them under the tape and into the Chancellor's office.

There was a howl of indignation from those behind them, but Padmé didn't notice...too busy staring at the scene before them. The office itself was normal - filled with Sith objects, she realized - but there was Master Yoda quietly conversing with Master Mundi, the chief of police and his detectives poking about the room, Master Windu staring out the window beside Commander Fox and Ponds…and Anakin, sitting on the couch with his head in his hands, Master Gallia beside him rubbing his back.

Padmé walked to the couch, thinking of lineage threads and why Adi Gallia would be comforting Anakin. Gallia was master of Siri Tachi, Siri best friends...lovers? with Obi-Wan - ah. Anakin was around Gallia quite a bit...grandmother figure?

"What happened?" Padmé asked quietly, feeling sick while she glanced to the desk, where the Chancellor was sprawled over it, the back of his head still smoking and oozing from a blast entry.

"I…" Anakin cleared his throat, glancing at her like a feral animal. "I was with the Chancellor when he was killed."

The room silenced around them, all eyes on Anakin. She had the distinct impression that Anakin had gone mute when it happened, hence why everyone was listening now.

Anakin ran a shaking hand through his hair, glancing at the desk and shivering. "Blast came through the window -"

"Aren't they blast proof?" Master Mundi interjected, looking bewildered when Commander Fox nodded.

"Blast came through the window, killed the Chancellor instantly. I heard Senator Organa open the doors, and he was the one to observe the scene and contact the Order and the police."

"You don't know anything else?" Commander Fox questioned.

"I would be telling you if I did, wouldn't I?" Anakin snapped, his shoulders tensing.

"Ani," Padmé murmured, putting a hand on his knee.

Mace glanced at them, barely able to react. He'd known for years about them - the Dooku lineage always had 'I have attachments' written over their faces. Folding his arms, he sighed heavily, staring at the clean sniper hole through the glass, perfectly aligned with the Chancellor's head. "This is the work of a professional - whoever did this knew what they were doing and who their target was."

"We're checking security footages now," a detective said.

"Probably the work of the Separatist," Master Mundi muttered in disdain.

"Perhaps," Mace murmured, studying the entry hole of the blast. He glanced to the Chancellor, brow furrowing a little before he gave a small, barely there grin. Obi-Wan...you sneaky bastard.

"Grand General?"

The attention shifted to Commander Ponds, who was had accidentally hit a button on the desk…revealing a compartment containing two Sith lightsabers and a comlink.

Author's note: okay, so this chapter doesn't have as much as a cliffhanger, but I'm still a jerk :D

Enjoy

ii Digestive Reader ii