Chapter 6: Compassion and Hatred

Star Wars viewing guide: Star Wars: The Clone Wars – S4:E15 "Deception"

The gunship lowered down to the planet's surface. I held on to the railing above to stabilize myself, but like the clone troopers that surrounded me, I had taken dozens if not hundreds of gunship drops. This one was uneventful, as this planet was not – yet – an active combat zone. I and my squad of clone troopers jumped off the gunship.

There to greet me was Captain Turq. He was previously a lieutenant in Master Luminara's 41st Elite Corps, but he had been promoted and given command of the 412th Division, a new division created for me to command.

"Greetings, Comman…Excuse me, General Offee." Turq saluted.

"Be at peace, Captain," I replied. "Our new roles will take some time to get used to.

"I agree. Sometimes it takes me a moment to answer to 'Captain'."

I smiled at the clone. I wasn't as close to Turq in the 41st as I was to members of my own strike team. Unfortunately, most of them were dead. I made a private vow to protect as many clones as I could in my unit. They were created and drafted for this war. While most of them embraced it, I figured helping them survive the war was the least I could do.

"I have our officers deploying the troops to take over for the soldiers of the 501st. Captain Rex is helping arrange security and ensure a seamless transfer."

"Good. Let us go see the captain, along with his General and Commander."

"Yes, Sir," replied Turq dutifully.

He led me to a group of people. They were mostly clones with blue markings and Phase II armor, but I recognized the clone captain with the blue Phase I armor. "Captain Rex, Captain Turq and I with the 412th are here to relieve you."

Clone Captain Rex, commanding clone of the 501st Legion, turned and saluted me. "General Offee, we're glad to see you and your troopers." I returned Captain Rex's salute. Rex relaxed, turned to Turq and addressed his equal with a friendly nod. "Captain Turq."

He replied, "Captain Rex." Although Turq and Rex were the same rank and neither saluted the other, Turq added more respect to his address. Rex was both older and more experienced than Turq, and the 501st Legion he commanded was larger.

I spoke to Rex. "Captain, could you lead me to your General and Commander."

"Of course, General. I have feeling Commander Tano will be looking forward to seeing you."

"I look forward to seeing her as well." I really did look forward to seeing Ahsoka. I hadn't seen her since I was made a Jedi Knight.

Rex led Turq and I to a large building. It looked like a barn to me. Near the entrance stood two Jedi. I approached. "Master Skywalker."

"Barriss, we're the same rank now. You can call me Anakin."

"Of course…Anakin." I turned to the Togruta next to him. "Ahsoka."

Ahsoka bowed her head and bent her knee in a curtsy. "Padawan Learner Ahsoka Tano at your service, Master Offee."

I smiled. The gesture was a bit of friendly mockery from the first time I introduced myself to her. But it also contained some genuine respect. Ahsoka was simultaneously poking fun of me and congratulating me. I extended my hand and lifted her up, "Ahsoka, I am not a master. And I do not yet have an apprentice."

Ahsoka looked me in the eye. "But you will soon, if the Jedi Council is wise enough to see it."

"I agree," added Anakin. "If you can train a padawan as well as Master Unduli, then they shouldn't waste any time."

I hid my grimace at the mention of Master Luminara. I also hide my emotional reaction behind the Cloak of the Sith. "I think I would rather take some time to get used to being a Jedi Knight before taking on an apprentice."

"Sometimes you don't get that luxury," said Anakin. "Sometimes a padawan just shows up." He playfully elbowed Ahsoka. Having a Jedi Knight I looked up to talk to me as an equal was going to take some time to get used to.

"Come," said Anakin. "Let's meet the planetary sovereign. I would like to see this transition through before the 501st leaves."

"Sounds good to me."

The three of us walked away from the building with the two clone captains behind us. I forced myself to walk side-by-side with Anakin Skywalker. Ahsoka trailed behind Anakin, but still where I could see her. Anakin started explaining, "We commandeered these storage buildings to house our clone troopers. They provide adequate shelter from the elements."

"Are the elements harsh on this planet?" I asked.

"No, not really. It does rain a lot," replied Anakin. "But the rain fall is one of the reasons Taanab is such an agricultural powerhouse."

As we rounded the corner of the last of the storage buildings my attention turned to a sound, the sound of a crowd and not a happy one at that. It came from a large group of humans behind a rope barrier guarded by clone troopers. They were shouting and yelling.

"Clones, go back to Kamino!"

"You're not wanted here!"

"You're the reason for the war!"

"Your mother was a droid!"

I looked about as the mob started throwing rotten fruit at the marching clone troopers. Captain Turq asked, "Generals, should we do something about this?"

"No," said Anakin. "I'm sure your clone armor can handle a meiloorun impact."

I looked at the crowd. "Are they Separatists?"

"No," answered Anakin. "They're just locals upset at our presence here."

I nodded. "I suppose we are occupying their planet."

"Occupy is not the word that I would use," said Anakin in an uneasy voice. "We are...securing it against Separatist attack. Taanab's position on the Perlemian Trade Route makes it a perfect target. By securing it we can prevent the Separatists from breaching back into the Expansion Region and avoid battles like Umbara again."

"Of course," I said as the logic was apparent.

"Then there are also the foodstuffs that we are obtaining here," added Captain Rex.

"Foodstuffs?"

"Yeah," said Anakin. "I told you, Taanab is an agricultural powerhouse. And we have a lot of mouths to feed in the Grand Army."

"A lot more than the tinnies have," added Ahsoka referring to the droid army.

"I suppose so," I replied. I, of course, had studied the supply lines for the clone army; and besides armor, vehicles, and ammunition; the food to feed hundreds of thousands of clones was a large factor. But I never ran into the people who provided that food. I just imagined that they were willing providers in the name of the war effort. But these people held deep resent and even anger. I did not know about this.

I stopped suddenly as the Force warned me of danger. A large piece of fruit flew in front of me in a near miss. I turned towards the source.

"Get out of here, Jedi!"

"Go back to your Temple!"

"Why don't you meditate instead of fight."

"This war is your fault!"

"Down with the Jedi!"

I was shocked. I had heard this once before, from the mouths of the orphaned sisters on Coruscant. But I thought they were the exemption to the norm. But here was an entire mob who hated the Jedi. And these were not Separatists. They were just average citizens of the Republic. I grew up being taught that the Jedi were a great force of good in the galaxy. Apparently not everyone thought that way. How many others had this hatred for the Jedi?

"Barriss," spoke Anakin into my thoughts. "Barriss," he repeated. "We should keep moving. We don't want to keep the sovereign waiting."

"Yes, of course." I said. But the thought of the mob stayed with me.

The night meeting of the Jedi Council continued. Obi-Wan Kenobi was feeling the anxiety. "With Moralo Eval behind bars we have no idea what he was planning," said Master Windu.

"He will not break easily under interrogation," added Master Shaak Ti.

"Our only hope is to insert a spy into the prison," said Master Ki-Adi-Mundi.

"Not even Quinlan Vos could create an undercover identity that quickly," said Obi-Wan. He hated to shoot down the idea of the Jedi's best undercover Knight, especially when Obi-Wan knew the alternative, but it wasn't feasible. Obi-Wan hunched forward in his chair with his forearms resting on his knees, aware that the eyes of many of the Council members were on him.

"Then best move we have is to kill a Jedi," said Master Windu.

Obi-Wan raised his head towards the two leading Masters. As Mace Windu gave Obi-Wan a slight nod, he face was determined, yet also held the gravity of the Council's decision. Master Yoda diverted his eyes to his left somberly before turning them back on Obi-Wan with a wordless request.

Obi-Wan replied with a sad nod. "I understand."

The rest of my time on Taanab was no better. The protestors were never violent, except for the fruit throwing. But they were ever present. I talked to the planetary sovereign about it, but he brushed it off. The planet's senator also spoke similarly via a hologram from his Coruscant office. They both assured me that the planet was being compensated for its housing and feeding of clone troopers, but I wondered how much of those credits were getting to the agricultural workers? The fine garments that the senator was wearing made me think that some of the wealth was getting stuck at higher levels. The fancy imported food that was served to me in the sovereign's palace gave me the same impression. Why would the leader of an agricultural planet import expensive food during a war?

All of this wore on me. I was more exhausted in this strategic and diplomatic role than I ever was in combat roles. Was this what being a Jedi Knight was all about? Dealing with corruption and necessary evils in the name of peace and security? Neglecting the average citizen for the sake of the whole Republic? Was this compassion?

Finally, the Taanab garrison was set up, and my two-week assignment on Taanab was over. Captain Turq was staying behind to oversee the deployment of other units at the garrison. Eventually he and I would be assigned combat roles again, but until that time I was not needed on Taanab. So, I returned to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

As I piloted my shuttle into the Temple's hanger, I noticed some flashing lights. Coruscant emergency personnel? It was not normal for them to be at the Temple. The Jedi handled their own security. Just as I landed my shuttle, I noticed one of the vehicles was a medical transport. Was someone injured? Was it a Jedi?

I departed from my shuttle. There in the midst of the commotion stood Anakin and Ahsoka. A medical capsule floated on its repulsor lifts. It was escorted by a pair of medical droids. Anakin followed after it.

Ahsoka stood still in her place. As I approached her, she didn't move at all. I spoke softly to get her attention. "Ahsoka?"

My friend turned to me. Her eyes were filled with sadness and shock. "Barriss," was all she said.

"Ahsoka, what has happened?"

"It's Master Obi-Wan. He's…" she paused and looked down at the hanger floor. Then she looked back at me. "He's dead."

I had attended several Jedi funerals before. Many of them were for Jedi Masters I barely knew. It was not hard for me to be detached from such funerals. The first funeral I attended that hit me hard was the mass funeral of all the Jedi killed in the First Battle of Geonosis. I had fought in that battle myself and watched as dozens of Jedi were gunned down. But even then, they were causalities of war, and I was able to accept their deaths as part of the nature of war.

But this funeral was different.

The body of Master Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, covered with a white cloth, rested in state in the middle of his funeral chamber. It was surrounded by numerous mourners. Further back in the seats were more Jedi, most of them with their hoods drawn over their faces. I stood near the body, but a step behind the Senatorial delegation of Senator Mom Mothma of Chandrila, Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan and Chancellor Palpatine.

Several members of the Jedi Council were also present. Standing next to the senators and the Chancellor, on what would be Obi-Wan's left were Masters Yoda, Adi Gallia, and Saesee Tiin. Across from them were Masters Ki-Adi-Mundi, Mace Windu, and Shaak Ti. Behind them stood a Gungan wearing senatorial robes. I recognized him as part of the Naboo System's senatorial staff.

At the head of Obi-Wan's body was Master Plo Koon. Next to him was Ahsoka. I wanted to stand next to my friend and comfort her, but I knew Master Koon was a friend and mentor to her, so I felt she was in good hands.

Next to Ahsoka stood Senator Amidala from Naboo. The attempt on her life had been the catalyst that started the Clone Wars. It had been Master Kenobi and then Padawan Skywalker who had been in charge of her protection. Standing next to Senator Amidala was a woman I didn't immediately recognize, but I eventually identified her as the Duchess of Mandalore.

The simple funeral speech had already been given by Master Plo Koon. It was both moving and stoic as only a Jedi could speak. Now everyone stood silently. One of the advantages of the Cloak of the Sith was that I could observe others through the Force without them sensing my probe. The Jedi had mixed feelings. Some were utterly unmoved, detached they would say. Others were experiencing grief. The Council members' emotions were strange, but I was too afraid to probe further. But all the Jedi held stoic faces, as was the Jedi custom.

The politicians were a different matter. Most of them too had a stoic face, respecting the Jedi customs. I couldn't get a good read on the Chancellor in the Force, but on his face was an impressive display of "diplomatic grief." I suspected the Chancellor had little feelings for Master Kenobi's passing, but he was putting forth a good public show. Senators Mom Mothma and Organa had similar diplomatic faces, but I could sense a touch of grief in both of them, even if it was more generic than personal. Senator Amidala on the other hand did have personal grief, evident both in the Force, but also breaking through on her diplomatic face.

The only one openly weeping was the Mandalorian Duchess. How did Master Kenobi and the Duchess know each other, and what was the nature of their relationship? As I wondered this, the Duchess' sobs filled the otherwise silent chamber. Her grief was open in the Force for any Jedi to sense. I could feel a certain revulsion directed at her by various Jedi. Was it wrong to grieve openly? Was not the pain of loss worth expressing? I certainly didn't consider the revulsion of the Jedi directed at this weeping woman to be compassionate.

But all these observations paled in comparison to the man standing at the foot of Obi-Wan's body: Anakin Skywalker!

Anakin was the former padawan of Master Kenobi. He and I had overlapped in our times as padawans. Master Luminara and I had worked with the pair once. The two of them were frequently seen arguing. Yet based on what I was seeing and sensing from Anakin Skywalker their bond must have been deep.

Anakin stood absolutely still. His hood mostly covered his face as he simply stared down at the body of his former Master. His brow was bent in a scowl. He was utterly silent. The grief and anger radiated from him.

I overheard Ahsoka speaking to Master Plo Koon, "I'm worried about Anakin. He hasn't said a word since it happened." Indeed, in addition to the grief, I could sense worry in my friend. Master Plo Koon didn't reply.

Then the body of Obi-Wan Kenobi was lowered into the floor. All stood by solemnly as two doors closed over the body. Then a beam of light was projected from the circle where the two doors met, as Master Kenobi's body was incinerated.

This was typical of a Jedi funeral. The beam of light symbolized the spirit of the Jedi crossing over into the Cosmic Force, becoming one with the Force. The cremation of a Jedi's body was also symbolic of the Jedi's call to detachment. The Jedi were to 'let go' of the dead. There was no hanging on to the Jedi's body.

There was also a practical reason for the cremation. The Jedi channeled the Force through their bodies. More than just a machine for the spirit, the body of the Jedi was a focal point of the Force, not unlike a kyber crystal in a lightsaber. Thus, even after death the Force left an imprint on the body of the Jedi. The deceased could in a way still be sensed by other Jedi through their mortal remains. A Jedi graveyard would, thus, be filled with the Force presence of all buried there. Both to spare the Jedi this overwhelming sensation and to promote detachment, the bodies of dead Jedi were destroyed.

Then, without a word the Jedi departed one by one, starting with Master Windu. The politicians also left, though I noticed that the Duchess of Mandalore was gently pulled away by Senator Amidala. I also noticed the senator glance over her shoulder at Anakin Skywalker. I was impressed. There was compassion. The Senator of Naboo even in her own grief was looking out for others.

Ahsoka too was looking at Anakin. She tried to walk around the place where Master Kenobi's body had just been. This caused her to pass in front of me. But Anakin suddenly turned around and walked away. Ahsoka looked like she wanted to call his name, but she didn't seem willing to break the silence. She turned and walked out in the other direction.

I followed Ahsoka. Once we were clear of the funeral chamber, I called out, "Ahsoka."

Ahsoka turned around. "Barriss."

"I wanted to check on you," I said.

"I'm…fine," said Ahsoka.

"You don't seem fine," I said.

"Well, maybe I'm not." Ahsoka looked up at me. "I was there, Barriss. I held Master Kenobi's lifeless body in my arms."

"I'm so sorry," was all I could say. "Were you close to him?"

"Kind of…I guess," replied Ahsoka. "Not really," she replied. "I've worked with him a lot. But he and Anakin were much closer. I'm more concerned about Anakin."

"I see. Are you looking for Anakin?"

"The way he left the chamber tells me he doesn't want to talk with anyone." Ahsoka cracked a small smile. "But I know my master. I will catch up with him soon."

I returned the smile. "If there is anything I can do…" But there was nothing I could do.

"You're already doing it." Ahsoka put her hand on my shoulder. "Thank you, Barriss." She gave me a genuine smile then turned to leave.

That was compassion. Just being there for a friend. Senator Amidala had done it for the Duchess of Mandalore. Ahsoka was going to do it for Anakin. And I had just done it for Ahsoka. This was the type of compassion that Master Luminara had denied the Martez sisters. This was the type of compassion that I would strive to exemplify as a Jedi.

Chancellor Palpatine made his mandatory appearance at the funeral. It would have been undiplomatic for the Chancellor to be absent for the funeral of a Jedi Council member, especially under such tragic circumstances.

Palpatine often took great pleasure in the death of a Jedi, even as he hid it under the Cloak of the Sith. But this was different. He should have rejoiced in the death of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the killer of his former apprentice and the strongest bond that held Anakin Skywalker attached to the Jedi Order. But something wasn't right. Palpatine had ordered the deaths of dozens of Jedi already in this time of war, blaming them on Separatist assassins. But he ordered no such assassination of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Who had ordered this death? Also, something felt wrong in the Force. The other Jedi Council members seemed strange. Even the body of Obi-Wan Kenobi didn't feel right.

What did feel right was Anakin Skywalker. Yes, Palpatine could feel his anger. Good. Fueling Anakin's anger was essential to Palpatine's plans. He just needed to turn that anger back towards the Jedi.

Palpatine continued to search the room with the Force. Hidden under the Cloak of the Sith, none of the Jedi would perceive his thoughts. However, he felt a Force probe hit him. Someone was searching his feelings. His thoughts and feelings were hidden under the Cloak, of course. But Palpatine wanted to know who among the Jedi had the audacity to probe the Chancellor of the Republic in the middle of a funeral.

To his surprise, Palpatine noticed that the source of the probe was also Cloaked. The mysterious dark-side wielding Jedi was here at this funeral. Palpatine focused his mind. He was the master of the Cloak of the Sith. None could use it against him. He searched the Jedi until he found the one he was looking for. He was surprised to find that it was a young Jedi girl standing just on the other side of Senator Organa, only about two meters away!

The funeral concluded, and the various attendees left. Anakin left quickly all alone. Palpatine opted not to follow him. He had been cultivating his relationship with Anakin for years. When the time came, Anakin would come to him.

The Jedi girl using the Sith powers walked out another door, following Anakin's apprentice.

Palpatine resisted a smile. There was intrigue inside the Jedi Temple. This could be advantageous.

After the funeral, I left the Temple. As a full-fledged Jedi Knight I had more freedom than I had as a padawan. I had long ceased meditating in the Jedi Temple. I found no peace there among the hypocrisy that was becoming more and more apparent to me. So, I disguised myself and sought out other locations around Coruscant.

At first, I traveled to the upper levels, but I found the wealthy and bureaucratic classes to be painfully ignorant of the galaxy around them. Many of them acted as if there was no war at all. So, I progressively went lower and lower into the Coruscant underworld.

Using the Force, I could move about unnoticed among the common citizens. The Cloak of the Sith only enhanced this ability. Tonight, I was feeling particularly down. At the transit station, I paused to focus in the Force. Then, letting my instincts guide me, I boarded a random train and rode it for several stops.

When I got off, I found myself in a slum district. I saw a poster advertising a bar, and I went inside. Once inside, I sat in a corner booth, ordered a drink, and observed the patrons.

As I was just sitting there, a man walked up to the bar. He wore a thick undershirt with a vest overtop that was designed either for warmth or protection. He was clearly wearing armor underneath as evidenced by the should pads sticking out of the vest. Under his left arm he carried a helmet. As he neared the bar, a young woman to his right said, "Wow, I want to check his midi-chlorian count." The comment disgusted me. It was the midi-chlorians that allowed me and all the other Jedi to use the Force. Invoking them with a sexual inuendo was practically blasphemous.

The snake-like bartender slithered towards the man. "What's your pleasure?"

"A shot of your finest," ordered the man.

The woman came next to the man. "So, what's the big deal?"

"Hmm, I'm celebrating the death…" the man downed his shot, "of a Jedi!" he finished as he slammed his glass. He then turned to the crowd and proclaimed. "I killed Obi-Wan Kenobi."

The audacity! To proclaim openly the assassination of a Jedi, a member of the High Council no less! To celebrate cold blooded murder with a drink! My hands clenched and my anger rose.

But that wasn't the worse part. The worse part…all the bar patrons…they cheered.

Suddenly I withdrew deeper into my booth. My anger was replaced with fear and shock. They hated us! They all hated the Jedi. The residents on Taanab were upset and reasonably so, but these people hated the Jedi. I could sense it all around me. And this wasn't an Outer Rim or even an Inner Rim planet. This was the capital, the home of the Jedi Temple.

Sure, not everyone here hated the Jedi. But the minority stayed silent. Some even left the bar, perhaps fearing the authorities. But others remained. The bar was a buzz. Everyone was talking about the death of a Jedi. I could sense it all. I wanted to leave.

But the murderer was still here!

My anger returned. My hand drifted to my lightsaber. Before me was Master Kenobi's killer. The Jedi investigation could take weeks or months or even years, but I had the confessed killer in front of me. I had to notify the Jedi Temple.

My hand moved from my lightsaber to my commlink. But I stopped. If I reported this man to the Jedi, then I would have to explain what I was doing here. Sure, I could give an explanation. I was, after all, a Jedi Knight with some freedom and autonomy. But I still didn't want to explain myself to the Masters. It might draw attention to the Dark Side techniques I had been using.

I could submit an anonymous report from a public comm terminal. That way the Jedi would learn of this killer and arrest him, and I would go unnoticed. Yes, that was an option. Or…

…Or I could just kill him!

I could cut him down right here, right now. Or I could wait until he was alone and kill him then. I could even acquire another weapon so as not to use my lightsaber.

There was no need for a trial to determine guilt or innocence. He had just made a public confession. There need not for a judge or jury, only an executioner. Sure, the Jedi didn't seek the death penalty, but Master Kenobi wasn't just a Jedi, he was also a general in the Grand Army of the Republic. This wasn't just an assassination; this was an act of war. The Republic wouldn't hesitate to execute a war criminal.

Wouldn't that be justice? Justice for Master Kenobi? Justice for his apprentice Anakin Skywalker? Justice for the Duchess of Mandalore? I was in a position to avenge their loved one!

No! What was I thinking! Vengeance was not the Jedi way!

But what about justice? A man had been murdered.

I made up my mind. I would leave this bar and call an emergency line from a public comm terminal. The anonymous tip would lead the Jedi right to this man.

Just as I made up my mind, I heard the seductive woman next to the killer say to him. "This cantina is a bust. You want to go to the next one?" I panicked a bit. I didn't want the killer to leave.

But at that moment a bunny droid approached the man. "Rako Hardeen?"

"Hmm. Who wants to know?" asked the killer. I made a point to memorize the name Rako Hardeen.

"Your employer has your payment. Please follow me." So, Master Kenobi's death was a hired hit.

Rako Hardeen stood up, and before he followed the droid, he dropped several credits on the bar and exclaimed. "Round for the house." The bar patrons cheered. I followed Hardeen with my eyes as he entered a back room. Good, if he stayed there long enough, I could contact the Temple, and the Jedi would be here in moments.

Just as I was about to leave, a waitress dropped off another drink for me as part of the round that Hardeen had paid for. Leaving when just served a free drink looked too suspicious. So, I settled in my booth and drank my glass as fast as reasonable.

Master Yoda finished his meditation. Faking the death of a Jedi did not sit well with him. It felt like a dark path. But he had a role to fulfill in this ruse. Yoda rose from his meditation, took his cane, and began to walk towards the Jedi communications center. There was an anonymous tip that he had to submit, so that the Jedi could find Rako Hardeen.

As he arrived, one of the clone troopers in the communications center turned to him. "By the Force, General Yoda, your timing is impeccable. I was just about to call you."

"For what purpose would this call be?"

"We've just received an anonymous tip via Coruscant Security, claiming General Kenobi's murderer has been spotted. A sniper by the name of Rako Hardeen."

Yoda couldn't prevent the surprise on his face. He was supposed to be the one submitting the anonymous tip. However, Yoda made a quick adjustment. "Contact Skywalker and summon him here."

Anakin Skywalker arrived quickly. He was briefed. Then as soon as he had his orders, Skywalker marched out the of communications center with determination, calling his padawan to meet him in the hanger. Skywalker's anger was another reason Master Yoda did not like this plan. But the Council had decided on this course of action, so Yoda would play his part.

But after he set aside his concern for Skywalker, the earlier question returned to him. If he hadn't sent the anonymous tip, who did?

I returned to the bar after dropping the tip on the Coruscant emergency line. I didn't want Rako Hardeen to escape before the Jedi arrived. Pretending to want another free drink, I inquired with another patron whether he had left or not. I found out that he had not.

So, I sat back in my booth, and double checked the Cloak of the Sith. Whichever Jedi would show up to arrest Hardeen, I didn't want them to sense me in the Force. While I was at it, I added Hardeen to the list of those people whom I hated.

After a while the doors to the bar opened. I looked over just in time to see Anakin Skywalker right in the center of the doorway, with Ahsoka just behind him on his left. They both walked in. Anakin had a look of pure anger on his face. Even Ahsoka's face betrayed her anger. Both looked like people on the hunt for a very specific person. It was intimidating. But I could sense more than intimidation from them, especially from Anakin.

The intimidation worked. The bar patrons all looked at the two Jedi. Anakin reached across his belt to grab his lightsaber. He activated its blue blade and held it threateningly by his side. "Where is Rako Hardeen?"

The bartender pointed Anakin to the back room. Both Jedi proceeded to the back. Anakin's eye were fixed dead ahead of him. Ahsoka swept the room with her eyes. I found myself shrinking further into my booth and checking my hood. I was hidden from Ahsoka with the Cloak of the Sith, but I was still vulnerable to the naked eye. But Ahsoka never saw me.

Once Anakin and Ahsoka enter the back area of the bar, many of the patrons decided to leave, perhaps out of fear of the Jedi. One look at Anakin holding that lightsaber and I didn't blame them.

Realizing this was the perfect time for me to leave, I joined the exodus of bar patrons. I walked several blocks from the bar, then took public transit back to the region of the Temple. Finally, I returned to my room. But that night I found no sleep.

I had reason to second guess my decision that night when Rako Hardeen escaped the Republic's maximum security complex while he was awaiting trial. To make it worse, he escaped with two other criminals including Cad Bane. Bane was the same criminal responsible for orphaning the two Martez sisters the day that Ziro the Hut escaped from the same prison. I was furious. Was the Republic security that incompetent, that they kept letting dangerous prisoners escape? People were dying! Maybe I should have killed Rako Hardeen when I had the chance. Some prisoners were just too dangerous to be kept alive. I made myself a promise that if I had the chance, I would kill either Rako Hardeen or Cad Bane rather than take them alive.

To provide myself that chance, I volunteered to track down the criminals, but the Jedi Council decided not to send me. I asked who they were sending. They didn't answer. It wasn't my place to ask, so I let it go. But inside I wanted to hunt them down.

I returned to the Coruscant underworld looking for answers. Everything I heard down there indicated that the fugitives were off world. I even heard rumors they were on Nal Hutta. But I couldn't find out more.

It was in the Temple that I learned the truth.

Walking the Temple corridors, I ran into Ahsoka who seemed in an unusually good mood. "Ahsoka, I sense a change in you."

"You're not going to believe this, Barriss. Master Obi-Wan is alive!"

"What?!"

"It was all a plan," said Ahsoka. "A plan by the Jedi Council to infiltrate a criminal organization attempting to kidnap the Chancellor. Master Kenobi faked his death and disguised himself as Rako Hardeen."

"That was incredibly dangerous."

"It certainly was," said Ahsoka. "Anakin and I pursued Hardeen and nearly killed him before we found out it was really Master Kenobi. But it was Obi-Wan in his disguise that turned the situation into our favor. The Chancellor was nearly kidnapped on Naboo. Twice, in fact. But Masters Kenobi and Skywalker were there to save the day."

"That's good news," I said. I was relieved, but something still bothered me. I had been so angry. Was it all for nothing! Instead of revealing my thoughts, I said, "I bet Anakin was happy to see Obi-Wan alive."

Ahsoka's face fell a bit. "Yeah, of course," she said unconvincingly.

"What is it?" I asked. "Isn't Anakin happy to have his mentor back?"

"Of course, he is," replied Ahsoka. "But he's also upset. He was kept in the dark, left to believe that Obi-Wan was truly dead. He feels betrayed and that the Jedi Council doesn't trust him."

"His grief must have been part of the plan to help sell the ruse," I said. But it sounded hollow to my own ears. I had experienced all that anger and sadness only to have it ripped away from me. It left me feeling ashamed and empty. I could only wonder how Anakin felt.

"Still doesn't make him feel better," spoke Ahsoka right to the point.

"I suppose not," I understated. "How about you? How does it make you feel?"

"I'm just happy Master Kenobi is alive." Ahsoka continued, "I'm just a padawan. I'm used to not always being in the loop. But Anakin was Obi-Wan's apprentice and friend. It hurts him more."

I looked both ways down the hall, then turned back to Ahsoka. "Do you think it was the right move?"

"Faking Obi-Wan's death?"

"The whole thing," I replied. "The Jedi allowed two very dangerous criminals to escape from prison. Clones died in the escape. And there were casualties on Naboo. We don't know if there were any lives lost on Nal Hutta while the criminals were there."

"I…I guess I hadn't thought of that. But they saved the Chancellor."

"All that for one man?" I asked.

"The Chancellor is more than just one man," replied Ahsoka. "He is the leader of the Republic. Without his emergency powers the Republic would lose the ability to respond quickly to the Separatists. He is critical to the war effort."

"Don't you find it curious how important one man has become?" I asked Ahsoka. My voice was level and calm, but inside my anger was building. It was the same decision that Luminara had made in the portal: deciding which lives were more valuable than others.

"I'm not an expert on politics," admitted Ahsoka. My anger calmed. Ahsoka wasn't the one who made the decision, and thus not the one I my anger should be directed towards.

"Neither am I," I said. "I just wonder about the wisdom of the entire Jedi Council running off to rescue one man."

Ahsoka sighed. "Maybe, once this war ends it wouldn't be that way."

I smile. "Yes, once the war ends." With that Ahsoka and I parted.

But the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. How many times had I heard the words, 'once the war is over'? How many atrocities had been committed for the sake of the war: things that people would never do in time of peace? And now the Jedi were compromising themselves as well.

Meanwhile, the people of the galaxy suffered. The people of Taanab, the people of Naboo, the people of Coruscant.

That night when I returned to my quarters and began my Cloak of the Sith meditation I made a discovery. The Jedi had indeed become compromised. They were warriors now, soldiers. They fought not for the people, but for institutions. Maybe it was the war that did this to them. Or maybe it was their philosophy. By pursuing a life of detachment, they had lost all connection with the galaxy they had sworn to protect. They had lost all compassion.

I realized that night that the galaxy hated the Jedi.

And so did I!