Stass Allie, absent from Drin's Trials, was also gone from his Knighting ceremony, and she did not return in the weeks afterward. Anakin noticed this, but did not think to comment. There were many things, he knew, that the Council chose not to share with the rest of the Temple, for whatever reason.
So nothing was said until one random day, when Anakin went to the Council Chamber to discuss a trivial matter with Windu. It was preplanned, so Anakin expected the Chamber to be nearly empty. Instead, to his surprise, he walked in without thinking on a full-blown meeting of the Council. Anakin was embarrassed.
"Forgive me, Masters," he said quickly, "I should have—" It was then that he saw the looks upon their faces and the hologram in the center of the room: Grievous.
"No, Anakin, stay," Windu ordered. He was (to the eyes of another Jedi) severely shaken. Grievous, however, could not have seen that. Whatever Grievous was saying, it must have been something terrible to agitate Anakin's Master like that.
At Windu's gesture, Anakin sat in the one empty seat in the room. Grievous could not frown, but his demeanor gave the impression that he was doing so behind his mask.
"These things need not be heard by anyone who is not a member of the Council," he said pointedly.
"Master Skywalker, as you well know," answered Windu, "is one of our most able Knights. As it is very probable that he will undertake this mission, perhaps it is best that he remains. If you could reiterate the situation for him…"
Mission? Anakin thought, confused.
"Master Skywalker," said Grievous, addressing himself curtly to the Knight, "I will make this brief. Only a few days ago, Master Stass Allie was caught breaking into a highly restricted Alliance building on Morav, in the Perlemian Cluster. The information she was found carrying when she was apprehended was extremely classified and under no circumstances to be released to the general public. We have determined that she planned to sell these secrets to those unscrupulous beings who would pay highly for them."
Anakin's face registered nothing but shock. Stass Allie—Master Stass Allie—
"You must be mistaken," he said automatically. It was the first thought that came to mind. "A member of the Jedi Council would never do such a thing."
"Rest assured that I am not," said Grievous, his voice almost—almost—a snarl. "You do realize, Master Skywalker, the impact of Master Allie's actions? The Republic-Alliance treaty has been betrayed with this gross invasion of my government's privacy. We have been violated by the very peacekeepers of the universe. For how am I to know that her actions were not sanctioned by each one of you?" He glared accusingly at the other members of the Council. He made no pretense of hiding his anger.
Anakin opened his mouth to protest again at this insult, but Grievous interrupted him, speaking to Windu.
"Master Windu, we have already discussed this, and I have no desire to go over the particulars again."
"I understand, General," said Windu. "A negotiator will be sent as quickly as possible to you. I hope you will not allow this unfortunate incident to affect your relationship with the Republic and Chancellor Amidala."
Grievous's only answer was a look to the side and a hand twitching the side of his cloak, and then his image disappeared. He was gone, but he had left behind a feeling of unbearably heavy bleakness. Anakin, still confused, was the only one not affected by it.
"This can't be for real," he protested. "Master, you know better than I that Master Allie would never—"
"For personal gain, no," commented Yoda. "For other reasons—perhaps."
"What other reasons could there possibly be?" Anakin demanded heatedly. He could not understand the Council's defeated attitude.
"What Master Yoda means, Anakin," said Windu, leaning forward to place his head in his hands, "is that perhaps Master Allie discovered something that the rest of us know nothing about. Perhaps, as we have suspected before, Grievous is being played for a fool by a subordinate."
"So tell him that!" Anakin cried, nearly jumping out of his seat. "What's the worst that can happen?"
Windu took his head out of his hands to look Anakin straight in the eye. "The worst," he said slowly, "the very, absolute, rock-bottom worst, is that the Jedi Order will be dissolved."
Anakin's mouth fell open in a most ungraceful manner, as it had an annoying tendency to do in times like this.
"That is not an immediate probability—in fact, it's highly unlikely—but it is not inconceivable. Public feeling right now toward the Jedi is not hostile, per se, but nor is it beneficial. The Republic never really got over what happened with Chancellor Palpatine, and you know that Amidala has never been our great supporter. Understand, Anakin, that Grievous is not over-exaggerating when he tells you how serious this breach is."
Anakin was still trying to get over the feeling that he had been punched in the stomach by a Republic cruiser. "So…what can we do?" he asked weakly. From across the room, Ki Adi Mundi answered him.
"Grievous has asked us to send a negotiator to him on Orest 6, to arrange for the best possible outcome and—if possible—for Master Allie's release. We had not discussed this at all, but Master Windu spoke for all of us when he suggested that you go."
The breath left Anakin's throat quickly. "Master," he said—his voice cracked with surprise—"I'm honored, but—I am not ready for such a responsibility. Don't put the life of a Jedi Master in my hands."
"Difficult as this may be for you to believe," said Windu, dryly, "I was being absolutely truthful when I told Grievous that you were one of our most talented Knights. You have advanced far beyond my expectations for you in a very short time. I believe you are fully capable of this. So take that, and be proud of it."
Anakin had to leave that very day in order to reach Grievous as soon as possible. He was given strict instructions to call for a member of the Council without hesitation, should anything potentially dangerous arise. He took Ferus with him, because he always took Ferus, and then on a whim (and because Anakin could see the silent pleading in his eyes) took Drin with him as well. It was to be his first mission as a Knight.
As they traveled, it was Anakin's job to brief the other two on this mission. Their reactions were typical.
"That's impossible!" Drin burst out.
"I'm inclined to agree with you, but we can't allow our personal interest in this to blind us." That was Ferus (no surprises there). "Just because we don't wish to believe that a Master could do something like this doesn't mean it isn't possible."
"It isn't a matter of wishing," Anakin insisted. "Ferus, to be a Master, a Jedi has to have been a member of the Order since childhood, passed countess tests, practically manifested the Jedi Code in sentient form—no one who's done all of those things is capable of something so low as this."
"I don't want to believe it!" Ferus said. "I just don't think we should rule it out altogether."
Drin was sitting on a low sofa against the wall, while Anakin and Ferus glowered at each other on either side. Rubbing his ankle—it still ached sometimes, even when he wasn't putting weight on it—Drin looked at Anakin disbelievingly and asked, "Is he always like this?"
"Always," Anakin answered grimly. "There's no 'off' switch. I've looked."
"Yes, you're very funny," Ferus shot back, giving Anakin a look that would have melted wallpaper onto the floor. He didn't like being teased.
Their ship was one of the fastest the Council could provide, so a trip that normally took three or four days was made in two. There was, however, an unusual delay: out of nowhere, less half a day before they were to reach their destination, the ship gave a shuddering lurch which told its occupants that they had been forcibly jerked out of hyperspace.
Anakin's first thought was pirates, but no—a quick survey of the area showed no nearby ships.
"What's going on?" asked Drin, coming up behind him. No doubt pirates were foremost in his mind as well.
"I don't know yet," Anakin replied absently, his hands moving across the control panel. Without warning, a hologram appeared on the projector. It was an image none of them recognized, probably some nameless official of Grievous's.
"Warning," announced the automated message. "You have attempted to enter a restricted area of Alliance space."
"Where are we?" asked Ferus. Anakin was still busily checking the controls.
"The Perlemian Cluster," he answered. "This is where Master Allie was found."
"It is suggested that you plot a course around this area," the hologram continued. "Failure to do so will result in the destruction of your ship."
"I guess they're serious about keeping people out," Ferus muttered. "Okay, let's go around. It won't take that much longer."
Anakin nodded and began the task of reprogramming the ship. "This doesn't make sense, though," he said. "There's a lot of active trade that goes on through this area. Why would they block it off?" A few more movements, the ship shot into hyperspace, and no one answered Anakin's question.
Grievous was waiting for them on his flagship, directly above Orest 6's atmosphere.
"Master Skywalker," he greeted, granting them a small bow, "I am most grateful to you for coming so quickly."
"Of course," Anakin answered. A few more pleasantries were exchanged as Anakin introduced Ferus and Drin, but the tone of the room was dark and solemn, killing small talk very effectively. It wasn't long before Grievous suggested they get down to business.
They sat around a long table, the Jedi on one side, Grievous and a Bothan aide on the other. Ferus started, with the most pressing question.
"Where is Master Allie now?" he asked.
"She is being held on Morav," Grievous answered. "There is a containment center there."
"Is that all that's on Morav?" Anakin asked. "When we tried to fly through the Perlemian Cluster today, it was restricted with firepower."
Grievous shrugged. "I have delegated control of that area to one of my subordinates. His report tells me there is nothing more of interest to you in the Cluster."
Anakin wanted to press the issue further—who exactly was this subordinate, anyway?—but knew there were more important things at hand. "So the question stands," he said, leaning back in his chair. "What happens now? What do you want from the Jedi?" Grievous was quick with his answer.
"Total and indubitable proof that the Jedi Order was not in any way behind this abominable attack on my privacy."
"You phrased that in a very hostile manner."
"I consider this to be a very hostile matter, Master Skywalker."
Ferus interrupted. "And what if the Jedi cannot give you proof to your satisfaction?" he asked. "The Council has already given you its collective word that this was never their intention."
"Then I would have no choice but to keep Master Allie a prisoner of the Alliance," Grievous replied coldly. His words sent a shock through everyone in the room (except for the aide, who was busily writing on a datapad as the exchange took place). It was so drastic that no one had expected it. Anakin was the first to recover.
"You would hold a Jedi Master prisoner, against their will?" he demanded, his voice straining to remain civil. "Men have died for such offenses in the past. Don't you realize that such an explosive action could only lead to war?"
Even the Bothan looked up from his datapad at that.
"War?" Grievous repeated. "I think not. Master Skywalker, have you heard Chancellor Amidala's reaction to this matter yet?"
"No," Anakin was forced to admit, "I have not."
"Then perhaps you should not be so quick to declare a state of war. The Supreme Chancellor is far less eager to defend the Jedi than you might hope. If you cannot satisfy me and retributions are demanded by the Alliance—in whatever form—it is far more likely that Chancellor Amidala will sacrifice the Jedi, rather than her beloved Republic."
So there it was, the closest Grievous would ever get to saying what he truly wanted out of this discussion: the dissolution of the Order. He was still the same after all this time, unable to see past his anger and thirst for revenge. One Jedi had wronged him, and he would see all the Jedi punished for it.
"May we see these documents that Master Allie apparently stole from you?" Drin broke in. "Apparently" was not the most diplomatic choice of words, but it sufficed for the Jedi's pride. Grievous started to shake his head, then hesitated, and seemed to reconsider.
"Perhaps that would be for the best," he said. "Jedi are no longer known to me for their trustworthiness, but I will allow this. I have nothing I wish to hide from the Jedi—only crime lords and their like."
He stood, and motioned for the Bothan to follow him. They led the Jedi down a maze of corridors—Grievous assured them that their destination was not far—until they reached an office, of sorts. There were a few shelves of holobooks, and a desk that stood against the bulkhead. There was a Falleen sitting at the desk, his skin green and leathery as was typical of his species; his back was turned toward them. When he heard footsteps, however, he turned in his chair and rose.
"General." He greeted Grievous with a low bow. "Master Jedi." They got a nod.
"The Jedi have asked to see the documents their leader stole," said Grievous shortly. "Master Skywalker, this is Xakan. He is the one I told you about, in full charge of the Perlemian Cluster, and he will answer all of your questions. If you do not mind, I have some business to take care of with my aide. I will be in the meeting room when you are finished."
"Of course." Grievous left, taking his Bothan with him, and the Jedi turned to the Falleen.
"I have the documents here, all of them," said Xakan, taking them from his desk. The motions of his hands were smooth and graceful, almost slippery, a trait very typical of the Falleen race. His voice was like a whisper, though it wasn't quiet—even for a Falleen, Xakan reminded Anakin so forcefully of a lizard that he half expected to see a forked tongue come shooting out of his mouth. "You may look at them as you like."
He gave them to Anakin, who shared them with the other Jedi. They were key-codes and passwords to the cells of high-security prisoners, locations of expensive and easily sold equipment, and the like. Information that was useless to an honest citizen, and the universe to a dishonest one.
"Thank you very much," said Anakin, handing the files back. "Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?"
"Not at all," Xakan told them in his snake voice, sitting down on the corner of his desk. Like most Falleens, he seemed to prefer bright colors to dull browns and tans; his tunic was a vibrant royal blue. "What is it you wish to know?"
"So you've taken charge of the Perlemian Cluster, then?" Drin asked. Xakan bowed his head affirmatively.
"The General has been kind enough to grant me authority in that area," he said. "He is already so busy, it only makes sense for him to delegate some of his responsibility."
"And it's true that Master Allie is being held there?"
"She is on Morav, yes," Xakan answered, his manner growing suddenly stiff. "Other than that, I cannot give any information."
"We understand," Anakin assured him. "So, what else is in the Perlemian Cluster besides a prison of some sort? Is there a reason it has been blocked off?"
Xakan looked at Anakin. "There is nothing of significance in the Cluster," he answered—but Anakin felt him lie. "It was blocked off for trade reasons."
"But that makes no sense," Drin argued. "Trade went right through the Cluster. Why would you block it off?"
"I am afraid I have no more time for questions," Xakan answered shortly. "No doubt the General is expecting your return."
There was nothing the Jedi could do—they returned to the meeting room, where Grievous, as promised, was waiting.
Many more things were said during the negotiation period, but it was all a downhill slope from that one moment. Hours later the Jedi left to return to their ship, but nothing had been decided and nothing had been changed. Negotiations would resume tomorrow.
Back on the transport, the mood was very somber, tension choking out any thoughts other than of the immediate situation. Below all this ran a feeling that was worse than the tension, almost like guilt but not quite, the Force wracking at their minds for reasons none of them understood. It wasn't long before they went to their respective rooms, hoping from respite from this feeling—but in sleep it only grew worse.
Not one of them slept well.
When they gathered in the central room in what the chronometer told them were Coruscant's early morning hours, soon to resume negotiations with Grievous, each Jedi saw in the others' eyes what they felt in their own minds: A perpetuating, hammering sensation in the Force, hard and unpleasant, not only because it kept them from deep sleep but because it disturbed their thoughts in dark ways.
Drin, sitting at the table, said nothing, for he no longer trusted himself when it came to the Force—not after his near escape. Anakin too would not speak, because he never knew anymore what was a vision from the Force and what was his own mind's bizarre manufacturings. After all, he still had those dreams about the flower, and sometimes now he heard a person screaming in the background when the flower exploded. So it was up to Ferus, Perfect-Jedi-Ferus, to say it out loud, and he did, of course, because he knew he was perfect and he had no reason to doubt himself.
"There's something wrong here," he said. Both Anakin and Drin looked up as though he had uttered the phrase that would save their lives.
"I can feel it," Ferus continued, his voice low. "I felt it all last night, and it's still there. The Force is warning me."
Anakin nodded fervently. "I know." He was so glad to hear it said out loud. "You think it's got to do with Grievous?"
"Whether it's Grievous personally or that subordinate he was talking about—and we should find out more about him—it's definitely got to do with Master Allie," Drin put in. Words, before so slow to come, now flew through the air thick and fast. No sooner was one person's sentence finished than another was begun.
"She's in danger."
"Yes." Both Ferus and Drin spoke that word simultaneously.
"Treacherous danger," Ferus added. "Someone is not keeping their word. She's not safe."
"So what do we do?"
"Rescue her!" Anakin burst out. "We can't leave her there to die!"
The words stopped. It was too dangerous a proposition to accept without question.
"If we're caught," said Ferus slowly, "even if they find that she's gone, they'll know it was us. The Council will be blamed—it will vindicate everything Grievous has said about the Jedi."
"Our duty, first and foremost, is to the Jedi Order," Anakin insisted. "We must protect it, and all of its members."
"Not above the Republic's safety!" Ferus protested. There was a moment of confused silence.
"Is there something in the Code about this, then?" Anakin asked finally. "Because I really don't know the answer."
"If we rescue Master Allie, the Republic is endangered," Ferus mused. "If we don't rescue her, the Order is endangered. So…which one takes precedence?"
Throwing up his hands, Anakin sat down next to Drin, who spoke next. "If the answer's in the Code, I don't know it. All I know is, the Force considers her important enough to save."
Anakin sighed. "We have to go," he said, with finality in his voice. "We're Jedi—we follow the Force."
"I know," Ferus said resignedly. There was a glass filled halfway with water, leftover from some time yesterday. Ferus raised it. "All right," he said. "Here's to endangering the Republic." Then he set the glass back down, because, after all, someone else had drunk from it first.