Chapter 40 – The Bombing

Author's Note: I'm so sorry. ;-;

To Guest (1): Honestly, idk what Theseus will be doing during the Dark Disciple arc, since we don't know enough about what happened in it to decide.

To Guest (2): Yeah, like I've said earlier, it would be cool if Theseus could appear during the Dark Disciple storyline, but we don't know

Thank you all so much for reviewing! :D

~ Amina Gila

The room slowly comes into focus around Theseus, and the memories of what happened right before he went unconscious rush back. The next thing he registers is how his body aches all over. He's in the healer's wing, having been treated from the injuries he sustained in the explosion.

Theseus shifts his position, turning his head slightly to see that Obi-Wan is sitting near his bed. "Master?" he croaks. "What happened?"

"Someone let off a bomb in the Temple hanger," Obi-Wan explains. He looks grave, and tired, not exactly unlike how he often is. The war has taken a toll on all of them.

"What? How?" he utters, the implications of it all rapidly catching up to him. How could someone get into the Temple like that and blow it up? Out on the battlefield, yes, but right here on Coruscant, right in the home of the Jedi? It doesn't make any sense! He remembers when Cad Bane infiltrated the Temple well over a year ago, but this is on a far more serious level. How could an intruder – was the person an intruder?! – enter the Temple and set off a bomb without anyone sensing them?

"We don't know who did it, at this point. Everything is still in too much chaos," Obi-Wan explains.

Naturally, he doesn't understand how this could have happened. How many other people were injured in that explosion? He's seen plenty of things blowing up over the years, and from what he briefly saw, he's under no delusions that he easily could've been killed if not for the ship that protected him.

Which means – which means – a sudden icy fear like he's hardly felt before crashes through him. No, no. "What about Caleb?" Theseus demands.

Obi-Wan's expression immediately turns grimmer. No, no, no. Suddenly he doesn't know if he wants to know the answer to that question anymore. It's not – He can't be –

"He's alive," Obi-Wan answers finally. A quiet breath of relief escapes Theseus, but that doesn't mean much. "But his condition is a lot worse than yours."

Of course, it is. His relief rapidly vanishes all over again, and he feels totally sick instead. He doesn't want to believe this. It can't... he and Caleb were just being brothers, and everything was fine only – was it hours ago? – and now. "How bad?" he asks weakly.

"They don't know at this point," he replies, which really does little to make Theseus feel better. "His condition has been temporarily stabilized, but it could continue to deteriorate. Right now, you need to rest."

Maybe, but somehow, he doubts he's going to be getting much for a while.

**w**

It's sometime the next afternoon – after Theseus got out of a bacta tank treatment – that he gets another visitor. Ahsoka, followed by a droid holding a datapad.

"Ahsoka? What's going on?" asks Theseus urgently.

"I came to see how you were doing and talk to you about what happened and if you saw anything," she explains, "Master Anakin and I have been assigned to investigate."

Oh. "I'm doing fine, or I will be," he replies, "Have you heard anything about Caleb?"

Something between sympathy and concern flickers across her face. She knew Caleb relatively well, too, after all. "No, I haven't, beyond that he's been injured much worse than you."

Theseus sighs, sinking back against the bed. He was really hoping that at least she'd be able to tell him something other than that. Caleb has to be alright. He has to be. He needs to stop thinking about how... how things could end with that, the very thought filling him with a sickening dread. He's lost so much, and he should have been able to protect this child. He thought they were safe, in the Temple, in their very own home, but he was wrong.

"Did you see anything suspicious, when you were in the hangar?" Ahsoka queries.

"No, I didn't. Caleb and I were there to look at the ships and stuff. Everything seemed pretty ordinary to me, but I suddenly sensed danger. Then there was the explosion and the next thing I knew, I was trapped under that ship. I didn't see anything more. Not very helpful, I know." He wishes he could tell her more. They need answers, as soon as possible. Whoever's behind this needs to be found, before they do something even worse.

"You were quite far away from the actual explosion, so I didn't really expect you to see anything," Ahsoka replies, even if she seems a little disappointed.

"Have you found anything else?"

"Not yet. I stopped by here first," she says.

He doesn't understand. Why would someone do something like this? For that matter – "How could someone do this?" he finally asks rhetorically. It's not like it would be that easy for someone to randomly sneak a bomb into the Temple. There's way too much security for that, even in the places where civilians do work.

"I don't know, but now, there's rumors that a Jedi might be behind the attack," Ahsoka informs grimly.

What?! "Why would someone think that?" he demands, even as fear suddenly clenches him in a vice. Yes, it sounds completely far fetched and ridiculous, but at the same time, there have been traitorous Jedi before. The entire war is the fault of a traitorous Jedi. Not to mention Krell. It would be a lot easier for a Jedi to carry out an attack like that then for anyone else. He doesn't want to believe it, but...

"I don't know, but Anakin and I are going to find out who's really behind this." There's a fire in her eyes, and Theseus does not at all envy what happens to the culprit when Ahsoka finds them.

"Well, good luck. I shouldn't keep you," Theseus tells her.

"I'll be back as soon as I have time," she promises, slipping out the door, the droid following.

Theseus stares up at the ceiling above him, now alone in the room again. Especially with what Ahsoka just told him, he can't shake a sinking feeling that somehow this incident is going to change everything forever, and not necessarily in a good way. The feeling of foreboding, of approaching darkness in the Force that he's sensed from time to time only seems to be growing stronger, and all he knows is that it scares him.

**w**

It isn't until that night that he gets another visitor. This time it's both Anakin and Ahsoka. "How's the investigation going?" Theseus inquires immediately as they step inside.

"We found the person who did it," answers Anakin, "She's been taken into custody."

"Who was it? What happened?" he wonders.

"The wife of a Temple worker here decided to feed her husband nano droids, which detonated when he was working in the hangar," Ahsoka replies, expression darkening.

"She killed her own husband?" he echoes incredulously. Yes, he can get why someone might be upset enough at the Jedi to do something like that – if they're blaming them for the war – but to kill one of their own family members to make a point? Not like he knows all the facts, but that doesn't make it any less appalling.

"Yes, she did," Anakin confirms, "And all she said was that 'we're dealing with things we don't understand.'"

"Has she said anything else since being taken into custody?" Theseus frowns.

"Not that we've heard."

Well, at least this does confirm one thing, and it's more than a little relieving. "At least it wasn't a Jedi," he says finally.

"Yeah, at least," Ahsoka agrees with a sigh, "I'm relieved that this is over, but..."

"What if it had been a Jedi?" Anakin finishes.

"Yes," she replies, "I don't know how I would have felt if a Jedi was really behind this."

"We'd know we had another Dooku around," offers Theseus unhelpfully. The thought unsettles him just as much.

"There are always going to be Jedi who disappoint us, Ahsoka," Anakin speaks up, "But as long as we know there are good Jedi who fight for what's right, it makes it all worthwhile."

They leave him to his own thoughts again, shortly thereafter. There are things to do, and it always frustrates Theseus to be stuck in the medcenter. The healers already forbade him from getting involved in military matters and strategies – basically, all the important things he has to do, because it'll interfere with his recovery. Supposedly. Doesn't do much to help anyone else, though.

He can almost hear his mother's voice in his head, telling him to look out for himself once in a while.

He takes the time to meditate, instead. It's hard, because it's hardly been any time since his father died. If... if Theseus had stayed there, he could have handled Maul – maybe – and... He hasn't had time to tell his mother what happened, yet. He should, probably, but he hasn't entirely had time to think it through.

It's later that evening when Ahsoka and Barriss come over. "Have they had the funeral yet?" Theseus asks when they enter.

"Just finished," the Togruta replies. "The Senate is having Letta turned over to their custody." She seems slightly irked, to say the least.

He resists the urge to rub his head. If he's being honest, Republic laws are quite confusing, and he never had time to study them properly because of the war. "Why?"

"Clones and civilians were killed in the explosion as well," Barriss replies. "They made this a military case."

"I see the point, but this happened in the Temple." His anger surges, simmering furiously beneath the surface. Letta is the woman who could have killed Caleb, who maybe even will. She must be dealt with, and it's unfair for the Senate to come taking over something this... personal to the Jedi.

"I don't understand this either," Ahsoka huffs. "Admiral Tarkin says the Chancellor wants the Jedi removed from as many military matters as possible. Maybe that's why."

Theseus stops himself just short of snapping back a 'well then he's an idiot' because he knows Anakin has a very high opinion of the man. Personally, Theseus doesn't like him much. He's a politician, and even if a few of them are good... he's willing to bet that the man in charge of the galaxy is not, seeing the corruption that goes around. "Wow. Who will be leading the army, then? I can't very well imagine the Chancellor leading a battle."

Ahsoka laughs. "You're being extreme."

"We were put in charge of the army," he retaliates, smirking at the mental image.

The conversation is cut off by Ahsoka's comm beeping, and Anakin telling her to come over to a briefing. Despite everything that's going on right now, there's still a war and those that can, have to keep moving. "Go on," Theseus nods to her. Ahsoka darts out of the room, leaving him alone with Barriss.

She's close friends with Ahsoka, even if Theseus doesn't know her that well. The other girl is... a typical Jedi. She's too closed off for his liking, and not in the way Anakin often is. She's a healer, though.

"How is Caleb?" Theseus asks, turning serious. Even if he can momentarily distract himself, he has to know if the boy is alright.

"He took a hard hit," she answers, slowly. "If he lives, he won't fully recover."

He swallows hard. Yes, he expected as much, but still. Things like this happen all the time in battle, and he's reminded all over again how easily it would be to lose any of the people he cares about, even beyond the clones. Nothing will ever be the same again after this, even if Caleb does live.

He leaves the conversation at that, when Barriss leaves to attend to her healer's duties. Now that they've been together for an extended period of time, he can't help but notice that something seems a little... different about her. Not with the way she's acting, just how she feels in the Force as opposed to all the other Jedi. He feels something dark, something that reminds him of the Son and himself, when he embraced the Dark Side on Mortis.

It's strange. Why would he feel the Dark Side around another Jedi like this? He highly doubts any other of the Jedi have been thinking about using both sides of the Force the same way he has, or he's pretty sure he would've heard about it.

Still, he knows what he felt, and there's obviously something to it. It's not like he can very well ask Barriss about it either, but he'll keep an eye on her.

**w**

Athea Shan doesn't know what to think of everything that's happened in the past couple days. The Temple bombing itself shook her up a lot, the realization that with everything going on now, they aren't even safe here on Coruscant anymore. Not even in their own home.

And Caleb... Even if the healer hasn't outright said it, she knows the chance of him actually recovering from the injuries is extremely low. This is her padawan, and he could die.

She was beginning to think that maybe the bombing aspect of everything would start to settle down now that Letta Turmond was taken into custody. It didn't, though. The next thing she knew, Ahsoka was accused of being the real culprit.

How could Ahsoka do something like that? She doesn't want to believe it. She's known the Togruta quite well over the years, because of how much time she's spent with Theseus. She doesn't see how it even could be her. Wouldn't Theseus have noticed something? Or Anakin? It doesn't even make sense.

She wants to believe what Anakin said before he went out to look for her, that she was running to prove her innocence. It's certainly possible. It would be a foolish decision on Ahsoka's part, but she is just a padawan. The thing that doesn't make sense to her, though, is why was Ahsoka seen with Ventress? The timing of it all is too... suspicious, and she's not sure what to make of it.

They're missing an enormous part of the story, and it's something they actually need to take the time to investigate. It simply doesn't make sense for it to be Ahsoka who did this, but something is clearly going on, and Athea isn't sure what.

"The Senate requests that Ahsoka Tano be indicted for acts of treason against the Republic." Tarkin speaks from the hologram in the center of the Council room.

Athea narrows her eyes at him. They haven't even taken the time to look over the evidence in detail at this point. They aren't going to indict her for treason without looking at the facts.

"A fair trial Padawan Tano will have, in accordance with Jedi tradition," Yoda replies.

"Ah, yes, Jedi tradition," Tarkin replies, in a tone that grates on her nerves. It's obvious he has very little, if any, respect for the said traditions. "I'm afraid, Master Yoda, that the Senate believes that an internal Jedi trial would be seen as biased. Therefore, the Senate asks that the Council expel Ahsoka Tano from the Jedi Order so that she may be put to a Republic Military tribunal where she will receive more impartial judgment."

They want them to throw out Ahsoka? Yes, the Senate may be demanding it, but there's no way they can do that. "And who would represent Ahsoka in this tribunal, Admiral?" Obi-Wan is the first to speak up.

"That would be up to the Council, General, but I would recommend someone outside the Order," he replies stiffly.

"Of course," Obi-Wan agrees.

"The Council will act as they deem necessary. Thank you, Admiral," Windu states before the call with Tarkin ends.

"Surely we cannot do what Tarkin suggests," Obi-Wan declares, "We need to stand together with Ahsoka."

"And yet there's evidence that she is indeed the mastermind behind the attack on the Temple," Mundi argues.

"Most of which is circumstantial," Athea cuts in, "There's no actual definite proof against her. We need to look at all the facts before we make a decision."

"She was found in possession of nanodroid explosives," Tiin objects, "This alone is enough to convict her."

"Perhaps she was trying to investigate on her own and was actually on a trail," Athea argues, "Just because she was there doesn't automatically mean she's guilty. Why would she go back to such an obvious scene of the crime in the first place when she was already on the run?"

"Perhaps she was planning something else," Windu suggests, "After all, she was seen only shortly before with Ventress."

"We don't know for certain that Ventress was involved in any of this," she points out hesitantly. There's not much she can argue to that point, especially when she has so many questions about it herself. In truth, she doesn't know. She wants to believe she knew Ahsoka too well for it to be true, but many years ago, she also knew Dooku. She hadn't wanted to believe he Fell back then, anymore than she does Ahsoka now.

"Unlikely," Mundi argues, "Her appearance on Coruscant is far too suspicious for it to be anything else."

"I understand your sentiments, Obi-Wan, Athea," Windu replies, "But if the Council does as you suggest, it could be seen as an act of opposition to the Senate. I'm afraid we have little choice."

Little choice? Yes, they do have a choice. Arguing about this with the Senate might create some problems, but they can't just throw someone out without even looking at the evidence behind it! Why does literally everyone – even Plo? – seem so convinced of Ahsoka's guilt already?! Maybe Athea has questions herself, but that doesn't mean they should throw her out without being certain of her guilt.

"Hmm, to the Chamber of Judgment, summon Skywalker and his padawan," Yoda murmurs, "And in our decision may the Force guide us."

Guide them? They've already made up their minds, unless they're still planning to hear out Ahsoka. Athea can only hope, because otherwise, she doesn't know what to think of the Council. She's had questions for years, but this is... something beyond what she ever thought they would do.

She can't not think about how much this is going to affect her son – and Anakin – if the Council actually goes through with what they're implying they will.

**w**

Finally. It's way past time that he's finally going to be able to get out of the healer's wing. He missed the funerals and the entire investigation and everything because he was stuck in here. It's fairly early in the morning, the day after the funeral now. It irks him that he couldn't have gone to it, because it was important. It was a turning point, a time which will largely affect the Order and possibly the war as a whole.

Although Theseus might be a little more eager about it if not for the feeling of wrongness hanging in the Force. Something is happening, but he's just not sure what. It hardly helps that he's heard little of what's happening to Caleb, other than that his condition is critical.

The healer is just finishing a final – and quite unnecessary, he thinks – checkup when Anakin enters the room. Something about his expression, and the way the Force seems so turbulent around him right now – in the way always responds to his every emotion – immediately sets Theseus completely on edge. "Is everything okay?" he asks.

"Ahsoka has been accused of being behind the bombing and killing Letta," Anakin replies bitterly.

Wait – wait – "What?!" he splutters, "Letta is dead? And what does Ahsoka have to do with anything?!"

"Letta asked to speak with her. I don't even know what she told her, but in the middle of the conversation someone Force-choked her to death."

"And they thought Ahsoka did," Theseus realizes, a sinking feeling settling in him. Of course, they would. It's the first logical conclusion anyone would reach, but – "But what does that have to do with the bombing? How does that even connect her to that?"

"She escaped the prison and clones were found dead on the way," Anakin explains. There's a sense of hopelessness around him, and it's unsettling, because Anakin has always been the one to fight. "And she spotted with Ventress... and then arrested at a warehouse where the same nanodroids used in the bombing were found."

This does not sound good. With so many suspicious things happening like this, he supposes he can see why they might suspect her of being behind everything. But that doesn't explain who really is. And whoever it is, is doing a really good job at making it look like Ahsoka is responsible. "Someone's setting her up," he realizes grimly, trying to think past his whirling emotions. He knows all the possible horrible ways that this could end and dwelling on them is not going to help right now. Even if he can't help it.

"Yes," Anakin agrees, "But who?"

"Why would Ventress be on Coruscant?" he asks rhetorically. That's the most suspicious thing so far.

"I don't know, but that's where we need to start."

The hopeless note still doesn't leave Anakin's voice, and it's... unsettling. He wishes there was something he could do to reassure him – hard when he's freaking out himself – but Theseus doesn't even know what to say. "Can we go now? I'm able to leave." How they'll find Ventress is a different story, but if this is their only lead...

"We can't," Anakin objects.

"Why not?" he frowns.

"Ahsoka and I have already been summoned to the Chamber of Judgment. We have to leave immediately."

"What? But – we haven't even had time to look into it!" he protests, "Did you talk to Ahsoka about what happened, at all?"

"They haven't let me yet, and as soon as she's done being treated, we have to go."

Without even giving them a chance to talk about this, or look into it? This is just – he doesn't even know how to feel, but he wants to scream. His fear is skyrocketing at what Ahsoka's fate is going to be, and he's furious. This is completely unfair, and anyone with even the tiniest sense of decency can see that.

"We can go as soon as this is over," Theseus offers quietly, "And we'll figure out who's really behind this, too. Together."

There's nothing Theseus hates worse than standing there helplessly watching as the Temple guards lead Ahsoka to the Chamber of Judgment, with Anakin following behind them. He hates seeing them guarding her like she's some kind of dangerous criminal. When they finally do reach the Chamber, he has to stay outside when Anakin and Ahsoka go by themselves.

He almost doesn't want to be there when the Council is talking about making their decision, but in a way, being stuck out here waiting is going to be even worse. What is the Council going to decide? They'll listen to Ahsoka when she explains, right?

Dread is gnawing at him, and he feels completely sick. He wants to believe that everything will be okay, but he can't, and the Force isn't being very helpful at the moment when he tries to reach out to feel something about the future. He's panicking too much to even begin sensing anything clearly, anyway.

He takes a few deep breaths, trying to center himself and let go of his fear, but it really isn't working. Not right now. Trying to find any semblance of calm at the moment can't last for even a second.

Reaching out with the Force at all, all he feels is darkness, or at least he thinks he does. Maybe he's just sensing his own emotions. And if he isn't – The very thought sends an icy chill through him like nothing else. No, he has to be sensing his own feelings, because... It's the most likely anyway.

Every passing second feels like an eternity. He doesn't know how long it's been, but finally, the doors to the Chamber of Judgment slide open again, and somehow, in that moment, he knows.

From the devastated looks on both Anakin's and Ahsoka's faces as she's led out, it says everything he dreaded. The glaring lack of Ahsoka's padawan braid on her head – now clutched in Anakin's hand instead...

No, no. He wants to scream in denial, because how is this even possible?! How could the Council do something like this?

He almost wants to ask what happened, in the stupid slim hope that maybe he's imagining this, but he can't.

They threw Ahsoka out. He knows it.

They threw his best friend out of the Order. Did they even listen to her? Did they – What happened?! A million questions whirl through his mind, and he wants to... scream.

The Temple guards have just disappeared around the corner with Ahsoka when Obi-Wan walks up. "How can they do this?!" Theseus demands furiously.

"The Senate felt that a Jedi trial would be biased," Obi-Wan replies.

"Certainly seems like it was," he snaps, turning away. He might not know all the facts of the situation, but he knows enough to know that they must not even have paid any attention to whatever Ahsoka had to say.

"Her fate is up to the Senate now," he says in a tone that is maybe supposed to be reassuring, but it grates on his nerves even more. Because apparently that is supposed to make Theseus feel better about it?!

"She might not be my padawan anymore, but she's still my friend," Anakin retaliates, and Theseus doesn't miss the slight tremor in his voice as he says it, "I'm not giving up on her." He turns and stalks off down the hall, Theseus right behind him.

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