(Hey guys just like to give a big thanks to my beta gwb99 for giving hand in the chapter :))
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Despite the short period of time knowing him, it was still difficult for Ahsoka to see someone she was fast calling a friend laying in the Medical bay in bad shape. She stood alongside her Master and Obi Wan by the doorway of the Temple's medical wing watching Jedi Healer Rig Nema and a couple of 2-1B medical droids going over Corporal Jake Matthews unconscious form, scanning various parts of his body and reading off the terminals over their findings. The faint beeping from the monitors around the human from Earth lightly echoed around the largely and quiet empty room, signalling a somewhat irregular heartbeat she found worrying.
It had been only been half a day since they arrived back from Dac, a time usually for reflection and celebration at yet another world pulled from the tainted dark influence of Dooku and the Separatists but that was shattered after Jake had collapsed. Despite hers and the others concerns over his growing sickness before joining the battle on the Mon Calamari homeworld the Earth warrior waved them off, leaving it until his symptoms were having a more profound affect to finally taking heed. Unfortunately it was too late and now they were all waiting for the news to find out what exactly was plaguing Matthews.
Before he had collapsed and became unresponsive Ahsoka saw time after time swimming down in Mon Cala's depths his eyes turn redder and redder, to the point where the sclera part of his eyes turned from healthy white to blood red and his skin complexion grow paler. The stubborn soldier also started complaining of stomach cramps and vomiting the day before yesterday, all of which she told Nema who couldn't put her finger on the cause of it as of the mysterious 'bug' as he called it.
The medical wing's main door opened up behind the trio drawing hers and Anakin's attention to the new arrival, the Korun Jedi Master Mace Windu stepping in and joining their observation of the medical examination.
"How is he doing?"
"Not too good I'm afraid but he is stable" Obi Wan answered him first, folding his arms over his chest and lazily scratched his beard.
"Do we know yet what caused him to fall ill?" Windu continued to question, turning his gaze over to the centre of the conversation.
"No. Master Nema is checking over him now. It shouldn't be long now before she can tells us the latest" Anakin informed the Jedi Master, all of whom like her was watching the Healer in question read off a data pad next to one of the droids monitoring over the unconscious soldier.
They remained silent for a moment viewing the medical staff going to work. One of the medical droids standing on the other side of the bed extended out a syringe from its thin three fingered hand, injecting it into the top of Jake's left arm. It drew out a tiny amount of his red coloured blood into the tiny tube then turned around to a monitor behind it, releasing the contents into an extended pod connected to the medical apparatus. Because of it's positioning of having its back facing them neither Ahsoka or any of the standing Jedi could see the results of the scans over the piece of Earth-human DNA, leaving her for time being to ponder over what information it will find from the extract.
"Well Doctor, what's the diagnosis?" Windu asked Master Neema, who Ahsoka hadn't noticed approach since her focus was fixed on the mulling droids. A mixed look of puzzlement and worry was expressed on her face as she read down off the datapad in her hands, stopping just under a few feet in front of the gathered group.
"It's difficult to say Masters. At this moment in time I'm having trouble pinpointing the main cause of Corporal Matthews' condition" She peeked up from her datapad with concern for a mere couple of seconds then returned back to the stream of data before her.
"What do you mean?" Obi Wan raised a brow to the Healer.
"So far I have found two possible causes, if not both are responsible for what is making the Corporal sick"
"Such as?" The teen heard Anakin quiz next, all waiting for her to answer.
"Scans have picked up traces of an unidentifiable type of radiation"
"Radiation!" Ahsoka felt her eyes automatically widened at the word, sensing shock from everyone in the room.
"Hold on, for the past two weeks we have been taking care of someone who's infected with radiation!?. How did the scanners not pick up on this?" Her Master was visibly caught off guard
"It has me intrigued and confused too, Masters. There are and still several chemical elements he possesses that we cannot name since we've never encountered them before. It appears this radiation has been masking itself as one of these" Nema handed the datapad over to Windu first.
Ahsoka managed to catch a glimpse of the readings on the pad, seeing a red and yellow image of Jake's anatomy and several listings of data marking out on different areas across the image.
"What of this other cause you mentioned?" Obi Wan brought up the other possible perpetrator.
"There are traces of toxins our scans have identified and are now currently searching the databanks for the type. At first I thought it may have been caused by the radiation but it's origins are not related to these toxins" She explained recounting everything she found so far "I should have a proper full report before the day is out. Right now I must attend to my patient"
"Very well Doctor. Contact us when that report's ready" The Jedi Master handed the datapad back to Nema, bowing to her then departing out from the ward.
"Come on Ahsoka, Master Nema knows what she's doing. The Corporal is in safe hands" She felt Anakin place a hand on her shoulder, looking up to see him incline his head toward the door. Following the older two humans out she gave one last glance back at Jake, seeing he hadn't at all moved and was now having Master Nema bend slightly over his body to carefully place a small device on his forehead, preventing herself from knocking the rebreather attached to his mouth.
Outside stood Windu waiting for them, joining as they walked down the deserted corridor continuing the discussion over the foreign trooper.
"This soldier seems to give an almost endless amount of surprises"
"Indeed. As far as I am aware he hasn't been near anything that possesses radioactive material" Obi Wan stroked his beard thoughtfully over the discovered signs of a source of energy that was at most times extremely toxic to anyone exposed to high quantities of the dangerous stuff.
"Master Nema suggested he may of been exposed prior to his arrival" Ahsoka spoke up for the first time, adding in her piece of speculation into the conversation.
"Maybe whatever device his people used to transport him aboard our ship possess the type of radioactive material Nema mentioned" It was a good guess from her Master but she knew, as well as the others, this was all guesswork and theories until Master Nema gave her full report later today.
From what the Togruta Padawan can recall from her conversations with Jake in regards to his people, as vague as he would be over certain topics to her annoyance sometimes, the Earthers weren't overly advanced civilisation in comparison to their own. Evidence to the instruments he carried largely based off his music player, or rather she remembered it's proper name the ipod was an electronic based devices so it pointed to the fact they had some level of advancement compatible to their own, give or take a few centuries.
If a less advanced civilisation were able to produce such pieces of technology then there was a good chance they had developed means to use nuclear based power. It was question she'd have to ask or at least hint sometime in the future, hopefully when he recovers from this strange illness. Her quiet musing only raised more questions she was sure would get another deflected or tight lipped response from the Corporal.
"It would make sense" Windu furrowed his brow thinking over Skyguy's suggestion.
Further talk was stopped for a moment by her Master's commlink bleeping and flashing the same green light used by the commonly used model of the Jedi and Republic military.
"Skywalker here"
"Master Skywalker, sorry to disturb you but I have received information of troubles back on Naboo that may interest the Jedi" The familiar soft toned voice of Padme came from the other end of the call. No matter how many times they try, trouble always reared its head elsewhere. Ashoka mentally sighed to herself at the worryingly amount of bad luck following them around since arriving back on Coruscant.
"I'll be over shortly Senator" Ending the transmission Anakin then turned to her and the Jedi Masters "That's my cue Masters. Contact me when Master Nema gives her final report"
"Will do Anakin. Don't keep Padme waiting" A ghost of a grin crossed on Obi Wan's face to the Padwan's curiosity.
"I'll talk to you later Ahsoka. Don't worry about Matthews, he's a stubborn one. He won't succumb so easily to this radiation poisoning"
"Yes Master" She slightly frowned at his choice of words. He gave her reassuring smile then bowed to them all before leaving, turning round heading down the opposite corridor past the recently left medical wing.
"I must depart too Masters. I think I'm in need of some meditation"
"Good idea Ahsoka, it'll help in easing a worried mind. Listen to your Master's words young one, it is a fight the Corporal is going to do everything but surrender to" The red bearded Jedi placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, sounding less defeatist than Anakin had been.
Tugging a smile to her lips she gave a small bow to Obi Wan and Windu then walked ahead of the older Jedi duo. On the way she passed numerous Jedi of only a handful she recognised, in particular the Elder Jedi Tera Sinube leading a group of initiates made up of different species. The old Cosian caught glimpse of her and gave a wide grin, waving at her as the entourage of younglings all gazed over at her to see who their Master was focused on. Giving a wave back she saw the initiates start whispering to each other over the exchange, a look of realisation crossing the face of a Rodian girl's face over something the black haired human boy had said into her ear.
The Coruscanti afternoon sun shone down on the gleaming greyish/cream floors of the Temple, casting shadows over the various statues of Jedi of the past standing tall and proud in their well made and precise masonry form. At the end of the corridor to the turbolifts to her quarters she looked up at the statue of a masked Zabrak holding his lightsaber in a fighting stance. If she was correct it was Master Ghaesh Nantor, a great warrior and General who fought in the New Sith Wars over a thousand years ago.
From what she learnt in history when she was once an initiate herself he was the sort of General they could do with right now. He knew how to get the job done without bureaucracy and the Code getting in the way to achieve victory. Though she held the Code like all Jedi, even her Master to an extent, deep in her heart and followed all the rules it made the Order follow she couldn't help but take Anakin's point that it was the Code itself that stopped that next step to achieve complete victory.
Stepping into the lift after its quick response to the Padawan pressing the button calling it down, she recalled one of the many conversations she had with Jake over her time as his watcher. Just thinking over the wars that happened over a thousand years ago she remembered asking him of Earth's past out of curiosity, a question she should've known better of to ask since as predicted he was vague but gave a decent answer to. The Earther told her human, or rather Earth-human, history was long and had it's bad and good moments like any civilisation, the rise and fall of empires including his own country's mentioning it was largest ever created and no matter how much people try history has the tedious habit of repeating itself. The subject of war seemed to be a touchy topic he never went into, only claiming his world was no stranger to war and bloodshed.
The chime of the turbolift brought her back to her physical surroundings, still thinking over the eerie similarities two cultures to never of had contact with one another had. It took next to no time to reach her personal quarters, punching the outside button to the door opening to the spartan decorative, plain room. Unclipping her sabers Ahsoka knelt down and placed the pair on top the small chess resting at the bottom of the rectangular shaped mirror on the left sided wall, sitting down on the floor beside her bed crossing her legs as she positioned herself in a more comfortable position to mediate.
Closing her eyes she took in a deep breath and exhaled resting her hands on the tops of her knees, feeling the Force take hold and course through her body with a welcoming soothing sensation. She released all her worries and pent up tension, relaxing her body and mind to aroma of the Force feeling it's effects working. She often wondered why Anakin didn't often mediate himself. It would make him less cranky and it would mean Obi Wan wouldn't complain as much if he did so the Togruta youngster thought to herself.
The sudden feel of the Force pulling her to something gripped her, much like when she had visions of Padme's would be assassin Aurra Sing on Alderaan. Frowning she felt the unseeable pull of a invisible force bring her to a vision. Like before the viewing was slightly blurry on the edges, like she was looking into a holoscreen and the focus was centred on the people and things in the middle.
It took Ahsoka a second the recognise the room the vision was bringing her to. The Mess Hall had a fair few number of people in it sitting down eating their meals or walking around doing other activities. After a short time she spotted herself sitting next her Master at one table in the far corner with Jake and Aayla sitting on the opposite side. It was clear they were all talking to each other but curiously no sound was reaching her, it was as if she watching people lip read each other.
She watched her 'other self' frown at Jake and say something which got a round of laughter from the others, including that of her Forceless friend. So far she had yet to see why the Force was showing her this. Nothing as far as she was aware was wrong, everything looked normal and Jake looked healthy. Examining as best she could she scanned around the main attention spot and then suddenly found something a little odd.
Standing on the far end of the room stood a full cloaked figure in the large framed doorway of the Mess, staring over in their direction. The person was fully clothed in dark brown robes and his hood hid his or hers face, their arms folded and ignoring everything else around themselves. Ahsoka tried to shift herself over to the being but then felt herself being pulled out of the vision, causing her to open shoot up her eyelids as the mystical aroma of the Force was replaced by reality.
"What was that all about?" She said to herself, rubbing her eyes feeling a tad disoriented. Standing up she stretched out her arms and heard a couple satisfying clicks then proceeded out of her quarters, still musing over the vision and went in search of Obi Wan over the strange showings the Force gave her.
Searching all over the Temple she couldn't find the Jedi Master, coming to the assumption he must of been out the Temple's grounds for the moment. All through her search she couldn't get that hooded figure out of her head, raising dozens of questions in her mind. Who was he?, why was he there? and why was he so fixed on her and the small group she was eating with?.
Unable to find her own Master's old teacher she thought of going in search of Master Yoda and tell him what she saw like last time. Despite his riddled and unorthodox speech the ancient Jedi was a big help in pointing her in the right direction over the assassination attempt on her friend's life.
The teen took a glance out the window and saw the sky was beginning to darken, the sun now fading and giving way to the night sky and thousands upon thousands of artificial lights from the buildings outside. Facing the path ahead of her she almost collided into the chest of the man she had spent the last few hours searching for.
"Ah Ahsoka there you, I was just looking for you"
"Funny you should say that Master Kenobi because I've just looking for you too"
"Really?" He said raising a brow and folding his arms "Is there a problem?"
"Maybe" Ahsoka cast her eyes down for brief few seconds, rolling her hands together.
"May it wait until after Master Nema has given her report?. She's just contacted the Council and is going to present her findings in a few moments time"
"Sure Master" She nodded, following in step with Obi Wan as they made their way to the Council chamber. The walk was mostly quiet her mind still dwelling over her vision, paying little attention to everything around her.
Once they reached the lift leading up to the Council chamber within the top of the tallest spire of the Temple she saw Obi Wan nod to the two Temple guards standing on either side of the door. One nodded back and pressed on the button behind themselves, opening the automatic door to an empty lift. Just as she and Kenobi stepped in the recognisable voice of her Master called out to them.
"Hey, wait up!"
"You took your time" Obi Wan quipped him as climbed in too, sounding a little out of breath.
"Had trouble getting through the traffic" He gave his excuse whilst the turbolift door closed.
"Uh huh" Knowing Skyguy, Ahsoka had the feeling he was the likely suspect who caused the amount of heavy traffic zooming around the vast speeder lanes.
"So what did Padme want with you, Master?" She quizzed him, feeling the lift move beneath her.
"She was contacted by Representative Binks a few hours ago, not long after he arrived back on Naboo. Captain Tarpals informed him of growing discomfort amongst the Gungan population and rumours of a march on Theed"
"I see. Did he explained what is causing such actions, if they are true, to take place?" Obi Wan asked with a troubled look on his face.
"Not yet, he said he'll explain more in person. Senator Amidala is returning home tomorrow, I need the Council's approval to join her and find out why the Gungans are readying themselves for war" No more was said when the turbolifts door opened up to the heavy double doors of the Council chamber.
It seem as of late more and more problems propped up from nowhere than usual. It was beginning to becoming a problem that the Padawan was well and truly started to disdain. The large metallic doors opened up and they each walked in to see the Council half full and a few in holographic form. The ones she saw physical present were Master Yoda taking his usual seat as Grand Master in the middle of the semicircle of chairs. Sat beside him were Mace Windu and Ki-Adi-Mundi taking up the little green aliens flank, then on the left there was Kit Fisto and her fellow Togruta Shaak Ti already sat and conversing until their entry.
On the right was the familiar Kel Dor Jedi, Plo Koon and Aayla Secura sitting together waiting patiently for the meeting to begin. Three bluish holographic projections of Eeth Koth, Sasee Tiin and Adi Gallia shimmered in their seats, taking the time from their far away battlefields to be present.
"Await for Master Nema, is all that is left" Yoda told the gathered Jedi, resting his small hands on the top of the small wooden staff he hobbled around with. Ahsoka glanced over at Obi Wan taking his seat on the High Council, standing beside Anakin as they waited for the healer to arrive to present her findings.
Thankfully the wait wasn't long and after five minutes or so the doors opened up once again to Rig Nema walking in with a datapad in her hand. Ahsoka sensed something wasn't right with the healer, a feel of dread emitting from the woman.
"Master Nema, thank you for joining us. Have you found what is causing Corporal Matthews' sickness?" Windu was the first to ask, everyone in the room awaiting for the results.
"Yes Masters. But I'm afraid the conclusion I have come up with is...disturbing" She said with worrying edge to her voice.
"Disturbing, how?" Mundi questioned next frowning over her statement.
"Well allow me to start by ruling out a surprise finding" She said tapping her fingers across the pad, loading up her report "The obvious suspect to the Corporal's illness was the unidentifiable radiation I found amongst his cells. However, upon further investigation and the medical droids performing a small experiment on the unknown form of radiation it's found to be completely harmless"
"Harmless?" Obi Wan said aloud in complete surprise, sharing the same feelings she and the others no doubt at hearing this news.
"Not only that, what deepens the mystery over this energy is registering as a ionizing type of radiation. I'm sure as you are all aware, the intake of a large amount of ionizing energy can be very lethal to the point of death" A brief moment of silence descended upon the chamber, Ahsoka herself thinking over the puzzling discovery.
"Why was this not picked up before?" Plo Koon quizzed, his right eye raised behind the metal mask covering his face.
"It adapted to his body, masking itself until something had ejected it out of his cells"
"That being?" Windu's words stumped her for a few seconds as drew her eyes down and took in a small breath.
"Traces of toxins were also found in his body and the databanks finally identified it as a highly toxic residue, called Rubrumnoxianide"
"Rubrumnoxianide, you say?"
"Yes Master Yoda. It's a type of venomous red sap from Oldeosh plants. They exude it to ward off potential predators to prevent being eaten"
"Hold on, how could this poisonous sap end up inside Matthews?"
"And if memory serves me correct, Oldeosh plants grow on planets where natural light is little to none existent. The Temple doesn't possess such plants" Tiin rubbed his chin just as puzzled as her Master who asked the speculative question.
"Readings show high concentration of the toxins in the soldier's stomach"
"He was poisoned?" Ahsoka said aloud in alarm, speaking before her mind could hold the statement back. Whispers started spreading amongst the present Council members, concern and shock were evident without the assistance of the Force to tell her the emotions everyone was emitting.
"That is my conclusion too, Padawan Tano. All evidence points to poisoning by digestion" Nema face fell to sadness, unable to believe
"Who could of done this?. With the exception of visiting the apartment of Senator Amidala, he has been nowhere other than the Temple" Aayla said with slight distress, hinting at a dark motive they were now all considering.
"Hold on now. Padawan Tano, you must tell us the full truth. Have you and Corporal Matthews been anywhere other than the Temple grounds?" Biting back her tongue and resist the urge to frown at the Korun human at the lack of trust in his question she kept a straight face and answered back.
"No Master" Glances were exchanged by everyone in the room. It was clear as rain now the dreaded thought that crossed each mind in the room.
Whilst the others speculated all around the chamber, Ahsoka mused back to her vision earlier and in particular that hooded figure watching her and the others in the Mess Hall. It wasn't exactly uncommon to see full robed Jedi walking around the Temple, it was symbol and common stereotype people outside see the Jedi. The significance was why this person had chosen to stare over at them.
She thought maybe there was nothing to it but then again why did the vision point her to this being. The niggling feeling of suspicion was there but there was enough evidence to point to anything sinister. Glancing to her Master she saw the same expression of disturbance on his face, listening to Master Yoda tell them to not rush to conclusions and ease theirs minds then work things out tomorrow and for the time being keep this meeting secret from all outside the chamber.
If someone had indeed poisoned Jake, Ahsoka had the worrying feeling the corrupt influence of the Dark Side may of played a part in the attempt. Such a notion made her blood run cold.
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The medical wing was relatively peaceful other than a mere handful of medical droids going about their business, and the only patient lying on one of the dozen or so empty beds. At first he was still as rock but then his face twisted to one of discomfort, his brow frowning and began shaking his head sideways.
Jake felt his mind being dragged back once again to the day that did nothing than remain the forefront of his mind for the past two weeks.
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The drone humming grew louder and louder and the whole room started to light up in a bright white light, although the source of the light and noise remained jet black engulfed ever so often in cracks of electricity. Jake could hear amongst the noisy orb Tom still groaning in pain from the electrical bolt strike from the huge glass ball as he pulled out the UHF two way radio out front his front pocket, pressing down on the side button.
"General Wallace, sir!"
"Corporal what's going on in there, what's making that racket?"
"It's the item sir. I don't know how to explain it but it's as if it has woken up" Jake reported in, glancing over two Adam and Tom behind him "It's discharging some kind electric bolts and has struck Marine Cameron. He's need immediate medical attention" Just as his sentence finished the orb electrical live body unleashed four more bolts, one missing him by metres and the others lashing out all over the warehouse hitting the walls and concrete ground.
"Alright Matthews, get out of there" Gladly taking Wallace's advice he jogged over to the door with the other two not far behind with Adam supporting Tom as he unlocked the door, his radio still on overhearing the goings on outside "I do not give a damn who ordered you to keep the place shut, you open this godforsaken door now or I'll have my men blow it open!"
"Go on guys, quick!" He ushered the pair out first, keeping the door opened for his fellow marines to escape the raging orb. Before he set one foot out of the warehouse main floor he felt an odd sensation run through his head then all noise muted around him, like his ears had suddenly stopped taking sound in. Strange whispering echoed in his head in a language he couldn't identify, not harshly but in weird soft tone.
Feeling the urge to turn back around Jake gazed back at the active orb and found something very odd as he stared back at the glass ball. The 20 metre large sphere lessened it's crazy bursts of energy and a tall but narrow white slit appeared in the middle of the object much like a pupil of a reptile. For the life of him Jake didn't know why but instead of following the other two out the door he walked back into the main floor, watching the pearl white slit track him giving it the creepy impression of a giant eye.
"What the hell are you?" He said aloud toward the orb. The odd whispering continue to play in his head, only it got louder as he got closer and the 'eye' still followed his movements. The marine got within two metres of the orb and felt a sudden sense of calmness. Considering this thing attacked and injured one of his friends moments ago it was even weirder now it was trying to relax him.
The rushing clatter of footsteps were behind him along with the cocking of weapons at what he guessed to be more Royal Marines of his Brigade.
"Matthews what are you doing, get away from that thing!" Wallace voice rang in his ear as he ordered from the object. Jake tried doing exactly that but an unseen presence kept him from doing so. His body began to tingle as he reached out with one hand and placed a it onto the smooth glass surface of the orb, seeing the 'pupil' stare down intently at him as his hand contacted against it.
Jake couldn't describe what was happening but the next thing he knew his whole body went numb and the voices behind him were becoming inaudible. A blinding white light then engulfed his vision and the world around him disappeared…
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Jake bolted up into a sitting position, his face dripping in cold sweat as he breathed heavily from the dream/flashback. He rubbed his eyes and finally got his bearings, scanning around the environment he was in. The place was like a hospital wing only with more advanced gear and the ugly medic robots he first saw when he awoke from the transportation.
Hope this isn't turning into a habit, He said to himself, laying back down onto the bed noticing for the first time a drip attached to his wrist just like the hospitals back home used. To say he was feeling crap was understatement. The headache he was experiencing was like being headlocked by a Grizzly and his stomach and chest felt like an internal fire raging inside him.
All he could think about was that orb, the thing responsible for his being here and the eerie ghostly voice it somehow managed to get inside his mind. Hundreds of questions over the thing racked through his head, what was it and why did it send him here were the main ones repeating itself over and over.
It was well beyond his imagining and understanding. He knew it couldn't possibly been of his people's design, as far as he was aware anyway. That train of thought then came of a more plausible explanation that would have people jumping around and discussing it in all types of manners and emotions. From his own opinion and experience, it is not of Earth.