Chapter 2: Autopsy

The heat was unbearable. Scorching his bare skin, singing his hair and his clothing. He could smell smoke, gas, and burned flesh.

Oh Force, this can't be good. Wincing, Anakin forced his eyes open, immediately regretting the decision. His eyeballs burned with the intense heat, and he let his eyelids slide close again, exhaling shakily, which turned into a painful cough. He could feel a heavy weight across his lower back – no doubt a fallen beam or part of the wall that had collapsed because of the suicide bomber.

"Ahsoka." He wanted to yell, but his voice came out a dry gasp. He swallowed hard, coughing again before managing a soft shout. "Ahsoka, where are you?"

He didn't receive a reply, and that sent his anxiety soaring. Quickly, he jerked, trying to free himself from whatever was pinning him down; but a sharp pain that ran from his head down his neck made him stop and lie still, helpless.

Desperately, he honed into the Force. It was hard – the effort made his head swim and he felt the sensation to black out – but to his utter relief, he felt Ahsoka's presence nearby, unconscious but alive.

Then, he heard the familiar and comforting voice of his mentor. "Anakin, Anakin are you okay? Anakin! Answer me!"

"Master." Even in the Force his voice sounded strained and hoarse, but he continued. "Master, I'm here."

"Anakin! Hang in there, Anakin, I'm coming. We're digging through the debris now."

"A-Ahsoka. You have to get her out first."

"Anakin, I can feel her through the Force. She's alright. Just hang in there and try to keep yourself calm."

He felt lightheaded, nauseous, and dizzy – he knew he was about to black out. "Master."

"Anakin? Anakin, hang in there!"

"Master, I-I…"

"Anakin? Anakin, answer me…"

Anakin struggled in the fight to stay awake for only seconds more before he let his mind go blank, and he slipped into sweet unconsciousness.

xXx (Two Days Later) xXx

Forty-eight hours. That's how long he was told he had been completely knocked out, unconscious in the Halls of Healing with several fractured ribs, a concussion, and several other more minor injuries. His Padawan was in the next room, with less severe wounds, thank the Force.

As soon as he was strong enough to have visitors, Obi-Wan was at his side, as he always was. The older man was used to standing vigil at his former protégé's side in med-bays and the Halls, and Anakin was always grateful to see him.

As usual, Obi-Wan began his "glad you're alive" speech with a lecture. "I told you not to engage him. Not to approach him. And you flat out disobeyed me, Anakin. When are you going to learn you can't take risks like that? You could've been killed!"

Anakin had heard these same words thousands of times before, and replied the same as he always had over the past decade. "I'm sorry, Master. It won't happen again."

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow in a way that read yeah right, and then sighed heavily. "You're a lucky fool, you know that? Stupid, disobedient, and Force-damn lucky."

That statement caught Anakin's attention, and the Knight made a move to sit up straighter in his hospital bed. Obi-Wan was definitely serious whenever the Master used vulgar language, and he frowned. "Master, what's wrong?"

"What do you think, Anakin? You put yourself in needless risk and nearly got yourself killed, as well as Ahsoka."

That sent a pang of guilt soaring through the younger man. "Master Che said she was okay. She's okay, right Master?"

The bearded Jedi nodded slowly, putting a hand to his forehead. "Don't worry, Anakin, none of the injuries she sustained were serious. You caught the worst of it, I'm afraid. You're going to have to stay here for several more days."

Anakin felt his face contort into both a look of defiance and disbelief – a look Obi-Wan hated. "I can't do that, Obi-Wan, and you know that."

"You have a concussion, Anakin. Even you have to see that getting your brain bruised up inside that thick headed skull of yours is something worth staying in the Halls for."

Anakin released a half-smirk, cocking his head. "My 'thick headed skull' along with it's incredible mind have saved us countless times, my dear old Master."

Anakin Skywalker could be downright exasperating; but Obi-Wan had learned that the boy's wit and charm far outweighed the frustration, and the man let out a small laugh. "I won't argue with that. But please, Anakin, try to get some rest. You were pretty banged up in that explosion."

The memory of the suicide bomber flooded back into his mind, and Anakin winced. "What exactly happened after the explosion?"

Obi-Wan began rubbing his beard thoughtfully, an old habit of his. "Our first priority was finding you and Ahsoka and getting you both to the Temple for medical attention. After that, I returned to the Senate building and helped the police and clones search the area thoroughly. We managed to recover what was left of the bomber's body. He's on his way to Standards hospital for an autopsy."

"Anyone else hurt?"

"Thank the Force, no. Just you two." Obi-Wan managed to relax a little, and leaned back in the chair that was positioned to Anakin's right. "We still have no ID, but we'll get one eventually, from the DNA that has been sent to the labs."

Anakin thought back to that morning. "When Ahsoka and I approached him, he seemed… terrified. Of something or someone. He kept saying something over and over about being a host. He said everyone else would become one too, a host for her."

"Her?"

"We never found out who he was talking about, but it was female. That's all we know."

Obi-Wan got up from the chair, and began pacing the ground, still rubbing his facial hair with worry. "I don't like this at all. There is a dark presence in the Force, and it's making me uneasy. I think it has something to do with this bomber."

Anakin looked at his Master with a raised eyebrow. "Then you don't think he was just a demented psychopath?"

"If you mean do I think he was a crazy man, than I'm afraid the answer is no. There are no escaped mental patients from any of the hospitals on Coruscant or the nearby star systems. I think this man was afraid of something…"

"…or someone." Anakin finished the sentence for his partner, and then added, "Maybe this woman he was talking about. He was afraid, so he killed himself?"

"It's a strong possibility."

"Then why the Senate building? Why not some quiet little apartment in the Underworld, where something like this would've been a common place occurrence among the sleemos down there?"

Obi-Wan closed his eyes, searching the Force and trying to find a logical answer. When he opened his eyes, they seemed a bit brighter, as if he had just found an explanation. "This man was afraid of something – terrified. He said that whatever he was afraid of would end up turning everyone into these 'hosts'. Perhaps he was trying to help us. He wanted everyone to be informed of what was happening."

Anakin's face was blank. "I'm not sure I understand."

"Think about it, Anakin. What act would attract the full attention of the Jedi, the police, the media, and the Grand Army of the Republic?"

That hit home, and the younger Jedi's face lit up with sudden realization. "An attack on the Senate."

"Exactly." Quickly, Obi-Wan walked over to the door of the small room and pulled his Jedi robe off the hook attached there. "Anakin, I'm going to have to brief the Council on this new lead. Please, stay here, at least a few more days. I don't want to have to hunt you down when we have other things to worry about."

Anakin offered his Master an obedient, innocent look – all fake. "Of course, Master. Whatever you say."

Obi-Wan, as always, saw right through the bluff; but deciding this new information was the main priority at the moment, he only added a sharp "Stay put" and then exited the room.

And of course, as soon as he could sense that his friend was out of the building, Anakin was on his feet and changing into his Jedi attire, which had been sitting on the nightstand beside him, along with his lightsaber. It was only moments later when he stepped out of his hospital room and was wandering down the Halls, trying to locate his Padawan learner.

He soon found her, awake and reading quietly in her bed. As soon as he stepped through the door, though, she flung the book away and grinned at him.

"Master, you're alright!" she exclaimed, eyes shimmering.

Anakin laughed softly at her enthusiasm. "I'm perfectly fine, Snips, and I'm glad to see you are too. How are you holding up?"

At that question, Ahsoka's smile melted into a cute pout that he had witnessed time and time again. "I'm so bored here, Master. I can't stand it!"

"Really?" The Knight cocked his head, smirking. "How'd you like to break out of this joint with me?"

The grin returned. "Really?"

"Yes, really. We think we have a lead on that suicide bomber, so while Obi-Wan is briefing the Council, I think we can get out there and start some of our own investigating."

Ahsoka was already on her feet, grabbing her Jedi uniform. She turned to her Master, a sly gleam in her eye that eerily reflected the one that often shimmered in her mentor's. "I'm guessing Master Obi-Wan doesn't know we're leaving the Halls."

"No, he does not."

The Padawan slipped behind a changing screen and stripped of her hospital gown. "So, tell me about this lead you've got," she called over to him.

"We're going to head over to Standards hospital and see if the autopsy report has picked up anything interesting. An ID, hopefully."

Ahsoka stepped back into full view, dressed in her regular maroon tunic and grey leggings. "ID? Is there enough left of him to ID?"

"Obviously, from what Obi-Wan's told me. The bomb I guess was set to detonate outwards, not all around. More intricate weapons are capable of such.

The Padawan grabbed her lightsaber and her shoto from a basket near her bed, and after clipping them to her belt, crossed her arms and raised an eye marking. "So what are we waiting for?"

Anakin chuckled, and led his apprentice out of the Halls, being extremely careful to avoid Master Che and anyone else who might try to keep them inside.

As soon as they were outside, Ahsoka let out a small, triumphant shout. "Yes! We did it, Master!"

"Was there any doubt?"

Ahsoka smirked. "So, where exactly is Standards hospital?" the girl asked.

"I've been there a few times before, with Obi-Wan. It's a little bit between the Temple and the U.E.P. #5." (Underworld Entry Point #5)

The Master/Padawan team immediately located their speeder, and flew towards where the hospital was located. About halfway there, Anakin felt his comlink vibrate and beep, and grimaced. "Oh no. This has to be Obi-Wan. Master Che must know we're gone and contacted him."

Ahsoka played up a scared face. "Oh no, Master! What they gonna do with us? I've never been a fugitive before!"

Anakin gave his student a little shove before answering the call. "Skywalker here."

'Anakin.' Sure enough, it was Obi-Wan's booming voice that came through the speakers, followed by a torrent of complaints and reprimands.

As soon as Anakin could find a break in Obi-Wan's lecture, he spoke up. "Master, I didn't mean to upset you. But you were briefing the Council about the lead, so I thought I'd take Ahsoka and follow up on it."

'What? Ahsoka's gone too?'

Oops. "Yes, Master, but look – everything is under control."

He could hear his Master give a long, hard, exasperated sigh before replying, 'Fine, Anakin. We'll talk about this later. Where are you now?'

"We're almost at Standards hospital right now. We're going to check in on the autopsy."

Another long sigh. 'Okay. Check in, and then stay there. I'll meet you at the hospital and then we'll continue the investigation together.'

"Yes, Master." Then, before his partner – exaggerating partner, in Anakin's mind – could say anything else, the Knight switched the comlink off and shoved it back into his belt compartment.

Just in time. They had arrived at the hospital, which was one of the largest and best in the entire galaxy. Anakin parked the speeder outside and then took his Padawan inside, quickly finding the autopsy department in the lower levels.

They were greeted by a servant droid. /Master Jedi, how may I assist you?/

"I'm looking for the room holding an suicide bomber, a Jon Doe," Anakin explained.

/Ah yes, the bomber. I know which room he is located at. The doctor holding the autopsy is working right now. I will show you the way./

As they followed the droid down a dimly lit hallway, Ahsoka looked up at her Master. "Um, I thought they didn't have any identification. You have a name?"

Anakin chuckled. "No. Jon Doe is the nickname police and investigators call an unidentified male body. Jane Doe is for female victims."

/Here is your body./ The droid used a key card and the door to a large room slid open. There was a body under a white sheet, and a man going over several files on a computer inside. Various equipment was attached to the walls and on desks.

Anakin nodded the droid a "thank you" before entering with Ahsoka.

The man at the computer, a cream-colored Twi'lek, looked up and smiled wanly when he saw the Jedi. "Ah, you must be General Skywalker and Commander Tano. General Kenobi told me you were coming. I am Dr. Fuzio."

Wow. Obi-Wan is quick. "We need to know if you've found anything in the autopsy reports yet," Anakin answered. "Hopefully an ID?"

"Well, the DNA tests are far from completed," the doctor replied grimly. "As you can guess, the remains of our Jon Doe are… limited, to say the least. We are doing every scan and test available to the Republic. We have, however, found some quite peculiar things." He moved over to remove the sheet.

"Um, wait." Anakin turned to Ahsoka. "Snips, you wanna go outside for this?"

Ahsoka scowled. "Master, I'm almost seventeen. I can handle it."

"If you say so."

"If we are decided then…" Fuzio reached over and removed the sheet, revealing the scattered remnants of the suicide bomber. Parts of a few limbs, a torso, and the skull were all that were there – along with lots of blood.

Despite her previous statement, Ahsoka pulled a face and gagged. "Ew. Gross."

Anakin had been to several autopsies first as Obi-Wan's apprentice and then as a Jedi Knight; but even he grimaced. "That's disgusting."

"Indeed." The Twi'lek agreed, pointing to a piece of bone fragment. "This is our Jon Doe's spine. Notice anything different."

While Ahsoka remained at a distance, Anakin leaned in closer for a better look. "There's something different with his skeletal frame."

"Very observant, Master Skywalker. Yes, something is different about our friend's bone structure. It is almost as if he were in the middle of a metamorphosis of some sort."

"But that makes no sense." Anakin pulled back, thinking. "He was a human – I saw him. And humans don't… morph. They don't transform, and they don't go through a metamorphosis except for growth."

"Right again. This is why we are taking our time to study our scattered friend. I heard in the reports that he killed himself out of fear – I believe whatever he was afraid of was in him."

Now over her former shock and disgust, Ahsoka spoke up. "What do you mean?"

"I believe that Jon Doe here had something in him. A parasite, an illness, a disease. Something that ravaged his body and took over it, beginning a transformation that was turning his body into…"

Anakin waited for the doctor to continue, and when he didn't, said, "Into what?"

Fuzio sighed. "I do not know. It's hard enough as it is, seeing how I am working with… mush."

Anakin gave a grave nod, and then outstretched his palm, shaking the other man's hand. "Thanks for all your help, doctor. The Jedi will be in contact with you."

"Of course. I will inform you as soon as anything turns up."

Dr. Fuzio turned back to his work, and Anakin took Ahsoka out of the room.

When they were in the hall, Ahsoka turned to the Knight, frowning. "Master, I don't like how any of this feels."

Anakin agreed. "I know. I can sense a darkness in the Force, and it's surrounding this case."

"What do you suppose it means? What do we do?"

"To be honest, Ahsoka, I'm not sure. As for what we do, now we go meet up with Obi-Wan and compare notes." They began walking down the hall, and as they did, Anakin added, "This is only a piece of the puzzle, this bomber thing. Something bigger is at play here. A shadow is covering the Force, and whatever the full scheme of things is, it's not going to be good."

"But Master, can't we do anything to stop it?"

Anakin answered as how he felt through the Force and his instincts. "No, Ahsoka. We can't."