Here is the fourth chapter. I'll update for now three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I'd appreciate more reviews to tell me if I'm doing well or not, but only constructive reviews.
LD: Star Wars doesn't belong to me but I don't think I have to tell you who it belongs to (Lucas Arts or Disney now). All the credit goes to the people that made this amazing franchise possible. The OC are mine though.
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The first days of investigation were fruitless, like Dooku had said the people of Serenno weren't exactly friendly to the Jedi or the Republic those days especially on the slums of the Capital, an area that surrounded the city that was it's complete opposite of the city center where higher classes lived and worked with old crumbling buildings, barely iluminated streets and a large crime rate, where Qui Gon Anakin and Captain Sunn, who Qui Gon had to admit had a lot of control over her feelings after what had happened to her ship and crew although he'd had to stop her a few times from harming a few civillians who got on her nerves during interrogation, were investigating.
This was because the first days they'd spent the day on the Central Security Bureau of Serenno, similar to Coruscant's Police Force HQ, checking the holo-recordings of the riots trying to pinpoint the location of the Bounty Hunters, especially Jango Fett, but it was no use Fett and some of his fellow Bounty Hunters moved around a lot although they moved only around Carannia which was something to be thankful for.
They entered a bar, a small bar with no windows barely iluminated and too overcrowded. Anakin looked at his master. "I think we'll find something here."
"Don't judge a book by its cover Anakin." Qui Gon scolded him.
"Sorry Qui Gon." Anakin said.
"You gotta admit Qui Gon the place like a good meeting point of criminals and Bounty Hunters." Captain Sunn said. They had agreed when they'd began their investigation of the slums to call each other by name, knowing that if they knew Qui Gon, Sarah and Anakin's identities they wouldn't get much information. Also they all were wearing normal civillian clothes provided by the Count.
"So it seems" Qui Gon agreed detecting a certain hopefulness in her voice. "But like I said don't judge a book by it's cover Sarah."
The woman nodded as they approached the bartender, a male toydarian who brought Anakin bad memories of his past life. The toydarian looked at them and pointed at Anakin.
"No children allowed pal." He said. "Your son must wait outside."
"He will not wait outside" Qui Gon said performing a Jedi mind trick on the toydarian.
"Yes he will" the toydarian replied. Qui Gon mentally kicked himself, the toydarian's mind was usually strong and it was rare that they fell for such petty tricks. Qui Gon looked at Anakin and the young boy smiled.
"It's not a problem ma... Dad" Anakin said playing along with what the toydarian had said of his relation with Qui Gon. It wasn't too far off after all.
"Want me to go with you" Sarah asked. Qui Gon chuckled when he saw maternal worry on the woman's eyes, Anakin was young after all and it wasn't the first time she produced such a reaction on a woman."
"Don't worry I'll be alright." Anakin replied. "I'll wait for you two outside."
"What a brave laddie you have there." One of the costumers, a rodian, said prompting Sarah to bring her hand to her blaster . "Would be a shame if something happened to him because you need a drink." He added with a teasing evil tone.
"Nothing will happen to him" Qui gon said ignoring the Rodian and throwing Sarah a reassuring look. It was probably just a thug after all and if he tried to do anything Anakin wouldn't have problems to defend himself. He turned his attention to the bartender.
"Two Corellian whiskeys please." Qui Gon said.
"Coming right up" The bartender said. As Qui Gon turned to look at Sarah who looked at him worriedly.
"Do you think your app... I mean Anakin will be ok?" She asked.
"Yes don't worry, besides if he needs our help I'll feel it through the force" Qui Gon replied after making sure no one heard him. "It might be good practice to him even, he'll have to read the intentions of those surrounding him and act accordingly. Plus I've searched the bar with the force, not even that Rodian is a threat. Yet."
"What do you..." She began
"Two Corellian whiskeys" the bartender interrupted her and Qui Gon turned to look at the bartender pulling out an hologram of Jango Fett without his armor facilitated by the Republic's Intelligence Services a day prior.
"Have you ever seen this man?" Qui Gon asked. The toydarian observed the hologram and Qui Gon saw that he knew the mandalorian.
"Never saw him." The toydarian said as Qui Gon felt something in the force, a warning.
"You sure?" Sarah asked apparently seeing through his lie as well.
"Absolutely, I never forget a face." The toydarian replied as Qui Gon felt someone standing behind them.
"I see" He said moving his hand swiftly to his saber and letting the force guide his movements. The rodian from before fell to the ground clutching to the wound where his hand had been, his hand was on the floor still holding a blaster pistol.
"It seems our friends here knows him though." He said ignoring Sarah's amazed expression as Anakin entered the bar again and approached them.
"Master are you alright?" Anakin asked.
"Yes." Qui Gon replied scanning the room for any more threats. "Contact Obi Wan, tell him we have found a clue and tell him to bring the security forces with him."
As they heard the security forces would be there, many of costumers left the bar without paying their bills. The toydarian watched the scene with a mixture of anger and impotence. He glared at Qui Gon.
"My clients! What have you done!?" The Toydarian said angrily.
"I just defended myself. This man attacked a Jedi Master during the investigation of the riots that have been happening lately." Qui Gon replied. "We are bringing him in and you too."
"What!?" The toydarian exclaimed "But I've done nothing wrong!"
"You lie. You did recognize Jango." Sarah said pulling her blaster out and pointing it at the toydarian.
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While Qui Gon, Anakin and Sarah were investigating the slums, Kiara and Obi Wan had been assigned to investigate the central areas of the town. The difference between both parts of town was clear. While slums were almost always dark with little to no lights at all and the building seemed about to crumble the central parts of the city were well iluminated and the buildings were, shiny, modern and stronger built, with the Security forces controlling almost every street. While it was like that on many parts of the Universe, the contrast in Serenno was just shocking.
However their investigation was coming up with little to no results as well. Even people of the upper levels of the city and the planet there was a growing anti-republican sentiment and most were reluctant to colaborate with two Jedis.
The search that day had been especially frustrating. They had entered severa bars, Corellian pubs and even restaurants and came up with nothing.
"I sure hope Master Qui Gon's investigation brings better results." Kiara groaned in frustration.
"Patience Padawan." Obi Wan said despite agreeing with her wholeheartedly.
"I'm sorry master. It's just so frustrating." Kiara said lowering her gaze.
"I know Padawan but a Jedi..." Obi Wan began.
"Can never lose it's cool and has to always keep their cool." Kiara finished.
"That's right" Obi Wan said with a chuckle. Kiara rolled her eyes and they continued walking. As they reached the street near the government building, which was as far as Obi Wan could see the tallest building in the city, they both felt something, a familiar presence in the force, a presence above them. Looking up they saw him, Jango Fett was leaving, or at least he seemed to be leaving the government building.
"Master" Kiara said with a worried expression.
"I know let's go." Obi Wan said as they both ran into the building startling most of the people that were at the entrance hall but both Jedis paid them no attention. One of the guards approached them.
"Master Jedi what's wrong?" The man asked.
"My apprentice and I have seen the mandalorian Bounty Hunter leaving the building. We are going to check on the Count." Obi Wan said. The man nodded and signalled to some of his companions that were near to follow them into the Turbolift. Once they reached the top floor where the office of the Count was they headed for the room adjacent to his office where most of his guarda were and they found that the Count Guards seemed normal and alert as always.
"Well it doesn't look that there's been a battle" Kiara said. One of the Count's guards looked at them.
"What's the matter Master Jedi?" He asked them.
"We have come to check on the Count we've seen the Mandalorian Jango Fett leaving the building through the roof.
"I can assure you the count is alright." The guard said. "No one but him has entered his office this morning."
"I'd like to check anyway" Obi Wan said feeling confused.
The guard nodded to and looked at the two guards at both sides of the doors. "Inform the Count Knight Kenobi is here to see him." One of the guards nodded and entered the room.
Kiara looked at his master. 'If the Count is alright what in the force was he doing in the building?' She spoke through their bond.
'I don't know.' Obi Wan replied.
"The Count will see you now" Said the guard that had entered the office to inform the Dooku of his presence. Obi Wan thanked him with a bow as the guard returned to his post and the doors opened for Obi wan and Kiara
The Count was definitely well. He seemed to be working on some paperwork. Kiara looked at another two guards that were at both sides of the door inside the office.
'He is definitely well protected.' Kiara spoke through their force bond.
'Which makes this a little suspicious be alert Padawan' Obi Wan told her just as the Count looked up from the papers he was working on.
"Ah Obi Wan I was told you wished to see me." The Count said with a friendly smile.
"Yes Count Dooku, you see my Padawan and I were worried about your safety since we just saw Jango Fett leaving this building." Obi Wan said.
"The mandalorian bounty hunter leaving this building?" Count Dooku frowned. "Are you sure?" Obi Wan just nodded
"That's most interesting." Count Dooku said. "And worrying it means my skills in the force are getting rusty." He chuckled. "I'll have my men investigate this matter at once, once I'm finished with these reports. Since Jango's attack on you the Capital seems safe but riots are continuing on other cities."
"Thank you Count" Obi Wan said as his holotransmitter began beeping and Anakin's miniature image appeared.
"Obi Wan, Master Qui Gon has capture two of Jango Fett's possible accomplices. He wants you to come to the slums with the security forces to arrest them I'll send you our location." The boy said.
"Ok Anakin we are on our way." Obi Wan replied. "You'll excuse us Count."
"Of course Obi Wan. I'm glad to see that the operation is seeing results." The Count dismissed them as they left the room.