Chapter 8: The Framing of Ahsoka Tano

Star Wars viewing guide: Star Wars: The Clone Wars – S5:E17 "Sabotage" and S5: E18 "The Jedi Who Knew Too Much"

Ahsoka stood up at the co-pilot's controls of the Eta-class shuttle she and Anakin were taking back to the Jedi Temple. They had broken through the blockade on Cato Neimoidia and were just escorting the gunships to the landing zone when they received an emergency recall back to the Temple. Now, Ahsoka wanted to see the reason for herself.

Smoke poured out of the Temple's hanger. Ahsoka's heart nearly stopped. This was her home. Someone had attacked her home! "Master, it's worse than I thought. Whoever did this must pay."

"Stay focused, Ahsoka. We need to find out why the Council wants us here," said Anakin as he brought the shuttle into a different hanger.

Ahsoka took another look as the shuttle flew to the far side of the Temple. Who would do this?

I could still hear the screams of those who had died in the hanger. The clones who expected to die in battle but not inside one of their most secure bases, the Jedi who similarly never expected to die in their home, but mostly the workers who never expected such violence.

I could sense it all from my Sith meditation in my room, knelling as I always did before my lightsaber and my Mirialan idol, even though I no longer used my lightsaber crystal in meditation.

It had to be done. The galaxy needed an awakening. It needed something startling. Something sacred had to be profaned. The deaths were unfortunate, but even they would heighten the significance. With Jedi, clones, and civilians killed, this attack would be the concern of all.

I left my meditation and walked out into the Temple corridors. It was time to see what damage had really been done. It was too early to for a causality list. I needed to learn more, but I couldn't just ask around. I had to avoid suspicion. The rumors of a Jedi being responsible were spreading just as I hoped, but I could not afford to be caught. My image had to remain pure if I was to start a new Jedi Order.

I stopped and looked out a window. Outside the main entrance to the Jedi Temple was a protest mob. Good. Even better was the guard set up at the entrance. Standing firm were the fierce and mysterious Jedi Temple Guards, the likes of which most advantage citizens on Coruscant had never laid eyes upon. But there were also clone troopers with riot gear and even gunships parked outside. While the security was practical, it nevertheless cast a negative image on the Jedi.

As I walked down the hallways, I saw Ahsoka walking with a droid. "Ahsoka, I thought you were on Cato Neimoidia."

"I barely set foot on the planet," my friend replied. "Anakin and I were called back here after…Well, after."

"I see," I replied somberly. "But why call back Jedi from the battle front?"

"The Jedi Council has asked Anakin and I to investigate the bombing. They wanted Jedi who were not present to perform an impartial investigation."

"Oh, I see."

"Padawan Tano," spoke the droid. "I must remind you that this investigation is not a matter for public discussion. I insist that communications with other Jedi could compromise the investigation, and it could be viewed negatively given the rumors of Jedi involvement in the attack."

"Russo, I hardly think Barriss is a suspect."

"No, Ahsoka," I said. "The droid is right. You should proceed with all caution."

"I suppose you're right." Ahsoka turned to the droid. "Sorry, Russo." She began to walk further but paused. "Barriss, where were you during the bombing? Were you anywhere near the hanger?"

"No. I was in the library."

Ahsoka seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "That's good. Maybe we can talk when this is all over."

"I look forward to it, Ahsoka." With that I walked off. So, Ahsoka and Anakin were the ones investigating the bombing? Interesting.

As I left Ahsoka, I decided to walk the long way to the refectory which took me passed a Jedi/clone staging area. There I spotted Master Luminara.

"Master Luminara, I didn't think you were scheduled to return to the front," I asked her.

"When at war, one always needs to be ready to return to the front," she answered in a teaching voice. Then I saw her smile a bit. "I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget that you are no longer my student."

"It's alright, Master," I said returning the smile. I always appreciated these small acts of affection from my master. But lately, I had come to realize that they were more part of Luminara Unduli's sense of humor, and less an indication of a compassionate bond. I knew that deep down, I meant very little to the respected Jedi Master.

"Where are you going?" I asked Luminara.

"To Cato Neimoidia. Since Skywalker and his padawan were recalled, someone needs to go in their place. I am taking Commander Gree and Captain Turq. Right now, only Captain Rex is there to command the battle. We go to relieve him."

"Then I wish you well, Master Unduli. May the Force be with you."

"And may the Force be with you, Barriss," replied Luminara. She then boarded a gunship along with a set of clones. As I watched her leave, I realized it was a blessing. I would be able to operate more freely without my old master watching over me.

But some part of me wanted her here. I wanted her to see what I was doing. I wanted her to experience my full rejection. But no, that was not the plan. I had to stick to the plan.

For the most part, I kept my distance from the investigation. But I needed to know what Anakin and Ahsoka had learned. Shortly after my bump in with Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker and Master Cin Drallig had taken one of the protestors for questioning. I had to know which one.

I walked casually through the Temple security area just as Anakin Skywalker entered one of the questioning rooms. I looked through the door as he entered and passed by just in time to see who was being questioned.

It was Letta!

Did they suspect her? How could they? No, they didn't suspect her, but they might suspect her husband Jackar. If the explosive nano-droids that Letta put in her husband's lunch did their job, then Jackar would be…missing. That would make Jackar a prime suspect. That could start a trail that would lead Ahsoka and Anakin right to Letta.

That certainly wouldn't ruin my plans. But I had to know for sure in order to plan my next step.

Letta was released shortly afterwards. I slipped out of the Temple wearing my disguised clothing. I found Letta walking between the train station and her home.

"Letta, we need to talk," I said.

She jumped as I had come up behind her. "You…you startled me."

"Did the Jedi investigator do so as well?"

"No," she said. "He did not."

"Did he suspect you?"

"No, but he suspected Jackar," replied Letta. "I told him all about Jackar's devotion to the Jedi. I think I convinced him of Jackar's innocence."

"And yours as well?" I asked.

"I'm a good actor. I played the role of the scared, sorrowful wife."

"I don't doubt it," I said. "But the Jedi may very well find a lead."

"Then I will fake my way out of it," said Letta. "Once they see Jackar's expertise in munitions and nano-weapons, he will be the obvious suspect. I will be as surprised as everyone else at his hidden guilt."

"Perhaps," I said. "But if not, then you will be in grave danger."

"From the Jedi?" asked Letta.

"From the Jedi, the Senate, the Grand Army. From everyone. If that happens there is only one Jedi that you can trust."

"You?"

"No, I will not expose myself to investigation," I said. "I will not tolerate any flaws in my plan. And you had better remember that. If I must, I will eliminate all loose ends. And don't count on protective custody. If you give me up, there is nowhere in the Republic custody where I cannot get to you." For the whole while I had worked with Letta, she had always been leery of me. But at my last words I saw real fear in Letta's eyes.

Letta averted her eyes from me, as if afraid to look at me. But she asked, "Who is this Jedi you say I can trust? What is his name?"

"Her name is Ahsoka Tano."

Letta shivered after her encounter with the Jedi woman. Barriss Offee had been kind at first. She seemed sympathetic to Letta's cause. But the more that Letta worked with the Jedi the more chilling she had become. The plan to bomb the Temple hanger was the Jedi's idea because it would kill Jedi, clones, and civilians. Killing Jackar had also been the Jedi's idea. Letta had been more than willing to sacrifice her naïve husband, but the coldness with which the Jedi had deduced the murder was chilling. And now was that veiled threat! Was Letta in danger? Would this Jedi kill her just to cover her tracks? At first, Letta didn't believe so. But now?

Letta shivered. For so long she had wanted to take action against the Jedi. Now she had done it, and it felt good, for a moment. But she was quickly realizing that she was in over her head.

As she arrived at her apartment, she noticed her door was open. Someone was in her home! Letta quietly slipped in. Was it the Jedi Offee, or was it someone else? Was it too much to hope that it was simply thieves?

Then Letta heard a voice. "Master!" A male figure ran down the hall into the kitchen. He pushed open the door and entered. Letta slowly approached and listened. The voice, a young female voice, continued. "The sensors are picking up traces from the disposal. The nano-droids were in the food."

A masculine voice, which Letta recognized as the same voice that had questioned her answered. "Well, I guess the question now is, did he eat them willingly or did someone feed them to him?"

Letta entered the kitchen. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

The man turned around. It was indeed the same Jedi who had questioned her earlier, Skywalker if Letta remembered correctly. Another Jedi, a Togruta girl, had a scanner in her hand. Skywalker spoke to her with a definitive voice. "We've learned Jackar was involved in the bombing."

"That can't be true," said Letta with her best acting.

"See if she has any nano-droids on her, Ahsoka," ordered Skywalker. They knew about the nano-droids! The young Jedi approached with her scanner. Wait! Did Skywalker just say this young Jedi's name was Ahsoka? This Togruta was the Jedi that Offee had told Letta to trust?

The young Jedi passed the scanner over Letta. She begged in her mind that none were left on her. She had cleaned herself just as instructed. But if she had missed one… Playing dumb Letta merely said, "Uh, nano-droids." She flinched a bit as Ahsoka passed the scanner in front of her.

Finally, the Jedi girl said, "She's clean."

"What do you mean 'nano-droids'?" said Letta, still playing dumb.

"We believe someone set Jackar up and made him the bomb."

"I…I don't understand."

"Letta, I want to bring you in for more questioning," said Skywalker. His voice was soft, but his approach towards her was intimidating. Letta shrank against the door jam, and her fear was only partly an act. "Maybe you can help us make sense out of all of this."

"I'll answer any questions I can," she said, holding her arms and still acting scared.

The two Jedi escorted her out of the building. She could fake her way through the Jedi questioning again, couldn't she? But last time she was a grieving widow. This time she was a woman caught with evidence in her home. The Jedi would question her even more, perhaps even use their mind powers to unlock the truth.

Letta's nervousness increased. What would the Jedi do to her? Or what would Offee do to her if she broke. Panic started to take over. She had to get out of here. She saw a portable vending cart lifting itself off the street. There was also a small alien coming from the same direction. In her panic she saw her escape.

Letta grabbed the small alien and threw him into the Jedi apprentice. She then ran towards the vending cart. "Letta, stop! Letta!" shouted Skywalker. Letta jumped onto the vending cart, grabbed the top canopy and pulled herself on top. She stayed on top of the flying shop as the Jedi pursued on the ground. If she could get away, Offee could hide her.

Letta looked back but only saw one Jedi following her, Skywalker. Where was the girl, Ahsoka? Letta jumped to another flying vendor cart that was lowering itself. She climbed down and made for an alley, looking behind her to make sure she wasn't followed. She had just made it into the alley when she heard the Jedi girl's voice. "Letta, stop!" The Jedi girl landed on an object in front of her.

Letta started to move back towards the way she had come when Skywalker appeared in her path with his arms crossed. "Let me go," she said to the Jedi.

"Running means you know more than you're telling us," said Ahsoka.

"Jackar is dead, and now you're trying to blame his murder on me," Letta said.

"Nobody ever said he was dead," said Skywalker with a stern voice. Letta froze. Hadn't they said that?

"But running proves you had something to do with the bomb," added Ahsoka.

"You don't know what you're talking about," said Letta. Wasn't this supposed to be the Jedi who would help her?

"People blamed Jedi because of you. People were killed because of you!" The little Jedi girl was revealing her anger as she pointed her finger.

Letta grabbed the Jedi girl's arm and pushed it away before thinking better of it. She said, "You can't prove anything." It was a feeble defense, but Letta had to say it.

"Did you feed the nano-droids to Jachar?" Demanded Skywalker in a very angry tone. "You will answer me. Now!"

Letta retreated a bit in fear. She looked over her shoulder at the Jedi girl to gage whether this angry Jedi was serious. There was a stern look on the girl's face, and Skywalker looked extremely angry. Finally, Letta let out her breath and admitted. "I did feed the nano-droids to Jackar."

"You set up your own husband to die?" asked Ahsoka in surprise. Letta was surprised at the Jedi girl. She seemed as naïve as Jackar. Maybe it was all an act. Maybe she was a supporter but had to keep it hidden from her master.

Letta decided to play along with the naivete of the girl. "You're dealing with things you don't understand,"

"Oh, where you're going you'll have plenty of time to explain everything." The girl put her hand firmly on Letta's shoulder, and the two Jedi led her away.

I watched the whole thing from above. With the Cloak of the Sith, neither Anakin nor Ahsoka sensed me. Letta had been captured, and she had even confessed. Ahsoka had established herself as firmly against Letta, and Skywalker trusted her. Everything was working perfectly.

With the bomber having been caught, there was a collective sigh of relief in the Jedi Temple. It didn't take a Force wielder to sense it. The rumor that a Jedi could have been responsible had shaken the Temple almost as much as the explosion. The Jedi were nervous, the civilians were afraid, and the clones were suspicious. Now, everyone was able to relax. They were able to go back to normal and pretend this never happened.

But I had no intention of letting things go back to normal.

But before all of that, I had a funeral to attend. And unlike Master Kenobi's funeral, this one was very real. The bodies of six Jedi lay before me, six truly dead Jedi. Jedi that I, albeit indirectly, had killed. It stabbed at my heart. Yes, I had killed them. It was necessary to wake up the Jedi and the Republic. But I wasn't heartless. They were good Jedi, followers of a corrupt Order, but good Jedi, nonetheless. I knew of most of them, and one of them was a friend.

I stood in the front row between Ahsoka and Master Ki-Adi-Mundi. On the other side of Ahsoka was Anakin Skywalker. Further down the line was Masters Kenobi and Windu as well as Chancellor Palpatine and Vice Chair Mas Amedda. Master Plo Koon was on the other side of Master Ki-Adi-Mundi. Other Jedi were behind me as well as military officers, senators, and clone officers.

Master Yoda began his eulogy. As I suspected, it wasn't very consoling. "One with the Force, they are. And our job it is to remember that we will, in time, also pass on. Luminous beings are we, but temporary vessels our bodies are. And we shall all find ourselves here in time."

Luminous beings, yes. But should we pass on this life so quickly? Are our bodies merely shells? Or are they not the very vessels of our experience. I still remember Tutso Mara, whose body lay before me. I remember his hands guiding mine as he taught me how to hold my lightsaber. I remember being hugged by my parents when I made a ritual visit to the place of my birth before I moved up in the ranks of Jedi younglings. I remember holding Ahsoka's hand when we were buried in that tank on Geonosis, preparing to die. Were these just the actions of a temporary vessel? I think not.

Master Yoda continued, "A moment of silence, I ask, to remember and to move on."

I closed my eyes. I felt the weight of guilt and grief. I choose to feel this weight. These six should not pass unmourned. I needed to feel this.

Ahsoka must have noticed. Despite the moment of silence, she quietly asked me, "You were close to one of them?"

"Tutso Mara," I answered her. "We trained together. He taught me how to hold my lightsaber correctly."

Before we could talk about it further, Master Yoda finished his speech with a Jedi platitude. "Live for the living Jedi, we must. Live through us forever they will." He gave a definitive tap on the marble floor with his cane. I watched as each of the six bodies lowered into the floor and the door closed over top of them. Then a beam of light shown out as their bodies were incinerated, the light symbolizing the light in which they had lived and the light unto which they were passing.

A stark contrast to the dark that surrounded the Jedi.

Afterwards, I was walking with Anakin and Ahsoka down the Temple halls. I walked holding my hands together, staring straight and silent. I was still playing the part of the mourning Jedi, which wasn't an act at all.

With us was Admiral Tarkin. I cared not for the man. He was an uncaring brute. He was in the favor of the Chancellor, thus he feared no one and dared to speak whatever he wished to whomever he wished whenever he wished, even within the halls of the Jedi Temple following a funeral.

"So, what happens to Letta now?" asked Ahsoka.

I averted my gaze and listened. This was a dangerous conversation to be near, but I needed to learn all I could.

"The bomber has been moved," said Tarkin.

"Moved?" asked Ahsoka. "Where? Why should she be moved?"

"The Republic military has taken her into custody." Interesting. So, Letta was no longer in Jedi custody. The military's holding cells were at the main Coruscant clone trooper barracks. I could work with that.

"But why?" objected Ahsoka. "This is a Jedi matter, isn't it?"

"Clones were killed, which makes this terrorist attack a military matter." I turned a bit towards Tarkin. He was playing the jurisdictional card. "An attack on the Jedi is an attack on the Senate." I could hear in his words just how far he would play that card, and it was far. This was a wedge I could drive between the Republic, its military, and the Jedi.

"Admiral Tarkin is right. Letta isn't a Jedi. It's not for us to be judge and jury over a citizen of the Republic," said Anakin. But I wondered: what if the bomber had been a Jedi? Who would have jurisdiction then? We would soon find out.

Ahsoka got in front of Tarkin and cut him off. With more than a touch of anger she said, "If Letta's guilty, she's guilty. And she should be dealt with."

"Calm down, Ahsoka," spoke Anakin. "Remember, revenge is not the Jedi way."

It was at this moment I chose to enter the conversation. "The evidence seems clear, Ahsoka. Nothing will ever change." I added a somber note at the end. I was hoping to evoke Ahsoka's emotions. If she sympathized with me now, she would understand when I sympathized with her later.

But Admiral Tarkin ruined the moment and drew Ahsoka's attention back to him. "The Chancellor feels very strongly that the Jedi be removed from as many military matters as possible." We arrived at the lift, and Tarkin pressed the call button. Then he turned around and pointed an accusatory finger. "You yourselves said that you're peacekeepers," he wagged his finger. "not soldiers."

"I hope Chancellor Palpatine knows what he's doing," said Ahsoka in an angry tone.

"I assure you that he rarely does anything without a strategy," said Tarkin a bit chillingly.

Tarkin's lift arrived, and he entered. I realized it was time for me to leave. "I have many things to attend to, Masters." I bowed to Anakin. "Good day." The I turned to acknowledge my friend, "Ahsoka."

As I walked away, I considered what I had heard. Getting to Letta would be more difficult with her in military custody, but my plan might work even better than if she had been in Jedi custody here at the Temple. And all of Tarkin's talk about jurisdiction revealed a weakness in the relationship of the Jedi with the military, the Senate, and the Republic as a whole. Such a weakness could be exploited.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone coming up behind me. I recognized Ahsoka's hurried steps even before she slowed down and walked beside me. She asked, "Company?"

"Sure." I replied.

Ahsoka spoke her mind. "Every time I think about this, I feel conflicted. It's hard not to let feelings turn into attachment and pain."

"Ahsoka, have you ever wondered if it was right to ignore your emotions?" I asked her. It was a bit of a risk. Ahsoka was a compassionate and caring Jedi. But she had been trained in the Jedi ways of detachment. I had to know if she was willing to abandon that way or if she would stick with the Jedi.

"My master would say 'Our struggle as Jedi is to move past them.'"

I noted that Ahsoka didn't give her own answer, but Anakin's. "You make it sound so easy," was all I said.

"Huh, no, it isn't easy. But it's possible. Like, when we were stuck inside the battle tank on Geonosis it was hard not to be afraid. Still, you and I got past it. And I guess we'll get past this."

Despite myself, I smiled. Ahsoka was a good friend. "You've always been capable of seeing things clearly."

"Ha, ha, I guess I've fooled you like I have everyone else." Ahsoka's commlink beeped, interrupting us. She answered, "Yes, Master."

Anakin's voice came from Ahsoka's wrist comm. "Ahsoka, we're needed in the war room. It appears the Separatists have mounted another attack."

"Coming, Master." Ashoka took several quick steps to rush out, but she stopped abruptly and faced me. Then with a stern voice and dramatic hand movements, she said, "Look, I have to believe that one way or another this woman's going to pay for what she did."

"You shouldn't keep your master waiting," I said with a parting bow. Ahsoka returned the bow, then she ran off.

I turned away and let a look of sadness cross my face. Ahsoka was my friend. But she was too attached to the Jedi Order. If both she and her master, Anakin, were to join my new Order, I would have to break the Jedi's hold on both of them, and most likely I would have to do so violently. I didn't want to hurt my friend, but it was the only way.

I walked away and reset my face to its normal stoicism.

It was the only way.

"Admiral," reported Clone Commander Fox of the Coruscant Guard. "The prisoner is not talking."

"She will talk in time," said Admiral Tarkin. "And I will see to it that it is sooner rather than later. Take me to her." Commander Fox escorted the Admiral, who walked with his hands behind his back. He stood perfectly straight and moved with a military precision. But it wasn't the obedient marching of a soldier; it was the deliberate stride of a commander. It was clear even in his walk that Tarkin gave orders, he didn't take them.

Fox and the Admiral arrived at the prisoner's cell. He opened the door, and Tarkin slowly descended the steps. The prisoner was curled up in the corner of the hard surface that passed for a bed. "Letta Turmond, you have been accused of masterminding the terrorist bombing of the Jedi Temple. Your confession to General Skywalker and Commander Tano is particularly damning. You will experience the full weight of Republic justice for your crimes." Tarkin paused for a moment to let that sink in. "However, we need to know if there is anything more to your conspiracy against the Republic."

"I didn't attack the Republic. I attacked the Jedi," said the prisoner.

"The Jedi are a part of the Republic's war efforts," said Tarkin. "They are generals and commanders in the Grand Army of the Republic. An attack against them is an attack against the Republic."

"What are you offering?" asked the prisoner.

"I am offering you nothing," said Tarkin. "But I do need the information, and I will get it one way or another. You not only committed an act of terrorism, but an act of treason. In this time of war, we take treasonous acts very seriously, and we are willing to go to great lengths to learn what we need to win this war."

"What are you talking about?" asked the prisoner with fear.

"I have sent a request to Chancellor Palpatine for the authorization of new interrogation practices; practices that were previously illegal in the Republic."

"He can't authorize that!" shouted Letta Turmond.

"Oh, yes, he most certainly can," said Tarkin. Turning to the side, He began to pace with his hands behind his back as though lecturing an academic class. "The emergency powers granted him by the Senate are quite expansive. And the Chancellor is an acquaintance of mine. He will attend to this matter in a quick fashion. It will take a few hours, no more than a day at most, for the Chancellor to approve my request." Tarkin leaned forward and waved a finger in front of the prisoner. "So, I suggest that you answer my questions, before I grow tired of asking them."

The prisoner pulled her knees to her chest and sat like a scared little girl. Fox might have done so himself, if he were the one being confronted by a man like Tarkin. Finally, she spoke.

"I will talk."

"An excellent choice," said Tarkin.

"But not to you," she replied with her remaining defiance. "I will only talk to Ahsoka Tano."

"Why?" demanded Tarkin.

"I will only talk to Ahsoka Tano," she repeated.

Tarkin looked hard at the woman. "Very well," he said. "But if you do not answer Commander Tano's questions to my satisfaction we will be right back here." Tarkin turned and exited the cell.

Fox followed Tarkin out. "Sir, do you wish me to call the Jedi Temple."

"Yes, Commander. I am not happy about it. But Ahsoka Tano is the apprentice of General Skywalker, who is as reasonable of a Jedi as I have met. Perhaps she can get quicker results. When Commander Tano arrives, I want full surveillance on the conversation."

"That would be a violation of the prisoner's rights," stated Commander Fox.

"The prisoner is a traitor. She has no rights," replied Tarkin.

"Understood, Sir. It will be as you requested. We will have the Temple in a matter of moments, Admiral."

Sneaking into the Republic military garrison wasn't too hard. That was not to say it was easy, but it was doable. I had to avoid both the guards and the security system. Fortunately, the schematics of the base were in the Jedi Archives. Of all the changes I had experienced these last couple of years, being prepared was one of the few things that hadn't changed. With the layout of the base memorized, I was able to slip in undetected. I made my way to a crawl space where all the utility cables ran, including those from the security system.

I opened up a cable conduit and exposed the cable within. I tapped into the cable. Then with my holoprojector I was able to access security. I could see all the live feeds. I was also able to access past recordings. I opened the recording of Letta's last visit from Admiral Tarkin. I nearly gasped as I listened to the content. Letta had asked for Ahsoka! I knew this was bound to happen, in fact it was part of my plan, but it was sooner than I anticipated. Tarkin was probably calling the Jedi Temple at this very moment. And knowing Ahsoka, she would waste no time at all getting here.

I checked the live feed, and I saw a Jedi speeder parked in front. Ahsoka was already here! I switched to the main security entrance and saw Ahsoka as she placed her lightsabers and commlink in the security box. Then the clone commander led her in the direction of Letta's cell. I needed to work fast. I began tampering with the security cable. I had to sabotage the audio recording device while still allowing myself to hear what was going on in that cell. I forced myself not to panic and to employ patience.

I finished my sabotage and looked back to my hologram just in time to see Letta's cell door open and Ashoka descending the stairs with two clone guards and a commander behind her. "What do you want, Letta?" she said, and I quickly did a check on my Cloak of the Sith. I wasn't too far from the cell. I couldn't let Ahsoka sense my presence. The Cloak was fully masking me in the Force. Ashoka wouldn't be able to sense me.

Letta was curled in the corner of the cell. "I was told if I ever needed help you were the Jedi to contact." Letta looked up at the clones at the top of the stairs. The clone commander didn't seem to like the situation. It certainly sounded suspicious. Good, suspicion was good.

Ahsoka turned to the commander. "Give us a minute, please." The clone stepped up to the top of the stairs, outside the cell, and closed the door. Good, no eyewitnesses.

"You don't have much time, Letta," said Ahsoka sternly. "So, I suggest you get whatever you have to say off your chest." Would Letta give me up? Yes, it was likely. I focused in the Force. Using the Force from such a distance with no line of sight was not easy, but I knew where Letta's cell was, and I could see what was going on in the hologram. This was doable.

"The idea of feeding Jackar the nano-droids was not mine," said Letta, and I knew what she was building up to.

"Why are you saying this now? Why didn't you reveal this before?" asked Ahsoka.

"Because my life is in danger. The person behind this will be able to get to me unless you know the truth."

"Hmm. What's the truth?"

Letta stood up. "A Jedi," she said ominously. "A Jedi showed me how to create the bomb and how to put the nano-droids in."

"Why would a Jedi do this?" asked Ahsoka, clearly not believing Letta.

Letta took a few steps towards Ahsoka. "There are some citizens of the Republic, like myself, who believe the Jedi Order is not what it used to be." Letta gained confidence as she began her manifesto. She even pointed an accusatory finger at Ahsoka. Then she turned her back on Ahsoka. "The Jedi have become warmongers. They've become military weapons. And they're killing when they should be keeping the peace." Facing Ahsoka against with arm fully extended and with a pointing finger she said, "One of these Jedi agreed with us. One of you wanted to make a statement and was willing to attack your own Order to do it."

Ahsoka took it all in. She simply and directly asked, "Who?"

This was it! I had to act now. I couldn't allow Letta to name me. But suddenly, I hesitated. This wasn't like before. Before I had arranged the deaths of those in the Temple bombing. And, other than Jackar, I hadn't chosen any of those who were to die. I had just left it up to fate. But now, I needed to kill, intentionally and deliberately kill. I had to murder Letta Turmond!

"If you protect me, I will tell you," said Letta. I was running out of time. Letta walked back and sat down. "Because it is obvious to me that I have been set up."

Ahsoka approached and put her arm on Letta's shoulder. Now was the time! I had to act! I had to act! "Letta, you have to tell me who is behind this."

Letta was silent for a moment, and I knew she was going to tell. "It, it's…"

I reached out in the Force and squeezed Letta's throat, preventing her from speaking. The Force Choke was a Dark Side technique that was not taught to Jedi, but it wasn't a hard concept to grasp. However, to do it from this distance took concentration. Yes, I could see Letta's hologram, but I couldn't choke a hologram. I had to focus on the real Letta so far away. But my hatred gave me focus. I kept squeezing the woman's throat in my mind. I saw her in the hologram with her hands to her throat as she tried to gasp for air.

"Letta!" screamed Ahsoka, as my friend panicked. "Letta!" shouted Ahsoka again. I lifted Letta in the air with the Force as I continued to choke her. "Letta!" repeat Ahsoka, waving her arms around in desperation.

A droid voice over a speaker reported. "Prisoner health critical, holding cell 173." And I kept my hold on Letta. Right now, the video recording showed Letta floating in the air and with an invisible hand choking her right in front of Ahsoka. And I was nowhere to be seen.

I knew this was the moment. If I held on just a bit longer it would be too late, but if I let go now Letta would live. No, she had to die. Not only did I need to silence her, but her death was necessary. Living, she could tell the truth, but in death she would frame Ahsoka.

My grip waved for only a bit. But I had made my decision. Ahsoka cried out one more time, "Letta!" I tighten my grip all the way…

…and I felt Letta's life energy leave her body. It slipped right through my grip in the Force. I released her body, and she fell to the cell floor unmoving.

Ahsoka bent down to check if she was alive, just as the cell door opened, and the clone commander with two clone guards arrived.

Ahsoka spoke. "I… don't know what happened."

One of the clones ran around his commander and checked on Letta. "Commander, she's dead."

The clone commander stood over the scene. "I can't say I blame you, Commander Tano. But all the same, you're under arrest."

Ahsoka raised her hands in surrender and cried out in disbelieve. "I, n…no, no. I did not do this." But the clone commander cuffed her and led her away.

I remained at my secret spot for an hour. I couldn't believe what I had done. I had killed before: in battle, in self-defense, even the Temple bombing, but none of it was direct. But I had felt Letta's desire to live, her fear of dying. I had literally held her life in my hands, and I had choked that life out of her. This was not a battlefield kill. This was murder! I had become a murderer!

But it had to be done. I had to do it to send a message to the Jedi and to the Republic. I had to protect myself, so that my reputation would remain unsullied so as to start the new Jedi Order. And I had to do it to break Ahsoka free from the bonds which the Jedi had on her, and through her to break Anakin Skywalker free of those same bonds.

Yes, this was necessary. This is what I needed to do to save my friends from the Jedi.