I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters, but I only own Nadia Aomori and my other OCs.
Enjoy!
Threads of Destiny
Chapter 62: The Lost One
At the refectories of the Jedi Temple, Nadia was eating a slice of Bespin cloud meringue cake while looking through her data-pad.
A slight frown appeared on Nadia's face as she read the information on her data-pad.
"So that's what is going on."Nadia commented.
The raven haired girl then placed her data-pad on the table to eat another slice of her cake.
Nadia then notice Obi-Wan and Anakin walking up to her.
"Hey, Nadia."Anakin greeted.
Nadia smiled innocently at her master and friend.
"Let me guess."Nadia suggested."A mission based on Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas' disappearance came up?"
Surprised looks appeared on Obi-Wan and Anakin's faces.
"How did you know that, young one?"Obi-Wan asked.
"I have reliable resources, Master."Nadia admitted smugly while showing her datapad."One of them is able to wire into files that are kept in the Jedi Archives without my presence being noticed."
"Wow."Anakin chuckled in amusement."That's impressive."
Obi-Wan frowned at Nadia's declaration.
"You know you could've just waited for us to inform you on the mission, Nadia."Obi-Wan suggested.
"I know, master. But I like to discover things on my own."Nadia admitted as she cut her slice of cake with a fork."And this is what I learned from what I read. A Jedi from the Cassandran Worlds, Sifo-Dyas was gifted with the power of foresight, and he earned a seat on the Jedi Council prior to the Invasion of Naboo. When he foresaw a coming war that would ravage the galaxy, he believed that the Republic would require an army if it were to prevail. Yet, his peers on the Jedi Council rejected his notions, leading to his removal from the Council."
Anakin smirked at Obi-Wan.
"Looks like she already knows who we are looking for and why, Obi-Wan."Anakin remarked.
Obi-Wan letted out a sigh and simply covered his face in response as Nadia continued eating her slice of cake.
A while later, Nadia went to the Jedi Archives with Obi-Wan and Anakin to attend the meeting with the Jedi Council.
"Our records definitively state that Master Sifo-Dyas died on Felucia."Madme Jocasta explained.
The librarian of the Jedi Temple showed a hologram of the planet Felucia.
"In the fifth quarter, a small skirmish broke out between the native Felucians."Madme Jocasta admitted."Master Sifo-Dyas was assigned to negotiate peace talks between the tribes, the negotiations failed and Sifo-Dyas was killed."
"What became of his body?"Plo Koon asked.
"I'm afraid I cannot answer that."Madame Jocasta replied."Any further information on this incident has been sealed."
"On whose authority?"Mace Windu asked.
"By the office of the Supreme Chancellor."Madame Jocasta answered.
"Thank you, Madame Jacosta."Mace Windu answered.
Madame Jocasta then left the room as Nadia glanced at Anakin.
"Did you happen to have met Master Sifo-Dyas?"Nadia asked.
Anakin shook his head.
"I was Obi-Wan's Padawan during that time, but I don't think I ever met him."Anakin responded.
Master Yoda glanced at Mace Windu.
"To Felucia, Skywalker, Kenobi and Aomori will go."Master Yoda admitted."A trail long cold it is, yet still lay hidden there a clue might be. Question all, who were present the day of Sifo-Dyas' death, you must."
"And what of the sealed file?"Mace Windu asked.
"Speak with the Chancellor personally, I will."Master Yoda replied firmly."To see what part in this the politics of the Senate have."
Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia took a shuttle to Felucia to question the inhabitants about Master Sifo-Dyas' death.
Unfortunately, when the three Jedi came to largely unsettled terrestrial jungle planet, they learned from the tribal leaders that when Master Sifo-Dyas was killed there was actually a second Jedi with him.
When Obi-Wan asked them of the second Jedi's name, the tribal leaders didn't bother telling him.
A light scowl escaped from Nadia's mouth as she, Obi-Wan and Anakin headed back to their shuttle.
"Something tells me that the leaders know more than they are just telling us."Nadia retorted with her arms folded.
Anakin simply shrugged in respond.
"It can't helped, Nadia."Anakin answered."Hopefully, Master Yoda found something by talking to Chancellor Palpatine."
Obi-Wan notice his holo-communicator beeping and took it out.
"Perhaps he did."Obi-Wan replied.
Obi-Wan activated his holo-communicator and a hologram of Master Yoda appeared in it.
"I have spoken with the tribal leaders on Felucia."Obi-Wan admitted."They use a very ancient dialect which is hard to understand. But from what I can make out, when Master Sifo-Dyas died, he was not alone. There was a second Jedi here with him."
"And the name of this second Jedi?"Master Yoda asked.
"Either I don't understand them or they won't say."Obi-Wan answered."It's hard to tell. This is a primitive people we are dealing with after his death. They cremated Sifo-Dyas' body and I'm afraid the trail goes cold there. Did you have any success with the Chancellor?"
"Hmm, as much success as usual, I am afraid."Master Yoda stated."Pointed in another direction I am now. To speak with Valorum, I go."
Master Yoda then ended his contact with Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia as the trio headed back inside their shuttle to leave Felucia.
Darth Sidious contacted Count Dooku via hologram.
"Tell me, why do the Jedi look for Sifo-Dyas?"Darth Sidious questioned coldly."What trail are they following?"
"If there is a trail, it is unknown to me."Count Dooku replied.
"Retrace your steps."Darth Sidious ordered."Find this loose end and eliminate it."
"I understand what is at stake, my lord."Count Dooku stated."I will go to the Pykes and take care of it."
"This is not the first time you have proven to be clumsy, Lord Tyranus.""Darth Sidious snarled.
The Sith Lord then reached out his hand causing the Count of Serenno to be lifted up and started choking.
"You know the price of failure."Darth Sidious warned.
Then the hologram of Darth Sidious vanished causing Count Dooku to cough violently before walking out.
In the Jedi Temple...
On their way back to Coruscant, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia were contacted by the Jedi Council of news based on the investigation.
"The Felucians know nothing of this Silman."Obi-Wan stated."No one there seems to know anything about him."
Nadia noticed a strange symbol on the beaded necklace around Silman's neck.
"What's that symbol he's wearing?"Nadia asked.
"The symbol of the Supreme Chancellor before the War, Padawan Aomori."Master Yoda answered."Finis Valorum of Coruscant."
"So, we have one dead Jedi with no physical evidence of a body."Obi-Wan said, trying to be calm."A second Jedi who appeared on Felucia we have no record of and now this Silman, personal attaché to the Chancellor, is missing?"
"Yet now we know Sifo-Dyas and Silman were both on Oba Diah, according to Chancellor Valorum."Anakin admitted.
"The crashed shuttle I found that belonged to Sifo-Dyas was located on a moon which orbits the Pyke Syndicate's home world."Plo Koon explained.
"Hmm, to the Pyke Syndicate you must go."Master Yoda admitted."To Oba Diah, yes."
Then the holograms of Plo Koon and Master Yoda vanished as Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia vanished as looked at each other.
After coming out from hyperspace, the Jedi's shuttle arrived to Oba Diah.
When the shuttle landed on the platform near the Pyke Syndicate, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia walked out of it causing two Pyke guards to follow them into the building.
A look of disgust appeared on Nadia's face when she notice Twi'lek and Togrutan women inside that appeared to be slaves to the Pykes.
Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia were bought before Minister Lom Pyke, the leader of the Pyke Syndicate, who was sitting on a throne-like chair and smoking a little bit.
"I cannot remember the last time a Jedi came here."Minister Lom stated."Many years it has been."
"Funny you should say that."Obi-Wan replied."We're looking for a Jedi that got lost here. His name is Sifo-Dyas."
"Oh, the Jedi Sifo-Dyas was here, but that was a long time ago."Minister Lom replied.
"Master Sifo-Dyas' ship was found, crashed on a moon orbiting this world."Anakin admitted.
"What you found, we know nothing of."Minister Lom said."Would the Jedi like to join us for a refreshment?"
"The Pykes offer is kindly accepted."Obi-Wan admitted.
This caused Anakin to roll his eyes while Nadia shook her head with a small scowl on her face.
Minister Lom clicked his fingers causing a female Twi'lek to give drinks to Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia.
Nadia looked at her alcoholic beverage, not wanting to drink it.
"To friendship."Minister Lom chuckled.
"Friendship."Obi-Wan replied while raising his glass cup.
"Friendship."Anakin answered.
"Friendship."Nadia responded with a suspicious look.
Minister Lom drank his refreshment, but Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia didn't.
Obi-Wan then notice the necklace around Minister Lom's neck had a familiar symbol.
"What an interesting necklace that is."Obi-Wan remarked."May I have a look?"
"Perhaps the Pykes have taken enough of the Jedi's time."Minister Lom stated.
"Oh, no, no. It's no bother at all."Obi-Wan answered."The Jedi are happy to know all the Pykes' secrets."
Anakin used the Force to bring Minister Lom's necklace to his hand, alarming the Pyke guards to take out their blasters and aim them at the three Jedi.
"We have no quarrel with the Jedi."Minister Lom admitted.
"Maybe you should tell us why you're wearing the crest of the Chancellor's personal advisor."Nadia retorted coldly.
"I am confused."Minister Lom said as he stood up from where he sat."Is the Jedi looking for a Jedi Master or someone else?"
"Stop playing games!"Anakin snapped while dropping his glass cup."Sifo-Dyas was traveling with an advisor, they were sent here to negotiate with you."
"Well, it looks like you have finally put the pieces together."Minister Lom chuckled."The man you are looking for is here."
This statement caused Nadia, Anakin and Obi-Wan to look at each other with surprised looks.
Minister Lom then took Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia to the prison cell where Silman was held in.
Nadia was lost in her thoughts as she tried to fit in the pieces of the puzzle of Master Sifo-Dyas' death.
"Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas died under mysterious circumstances."Nadia thought with a suspicious look."But if he was the one that placed the order for the Clone Army to be created 10 years, then why did the second Jedi that was with him suddenly vanish? Unless he-"
Nadia came out of her thoughts when Minister Lom started talking to her and her companions.
"The Pykes wanted to gain an advantage over the other crime families, so alliances were made."Minister Lom explained."One alliance was with a man named Tyranus."
"I've heard that name before."Obi-Wan admitted."Jango Fett mentioned it during my Kamino investigation."
"Tyranus wanted Sifo-Dyas dead."Minister Lom stated."The Pykes were well paid to shoot down his ship. However, any man that is willing to pay to have a Jedi killed is dangerous and unpredictable. The Pykes inspected the crash to retrieve the Jedi's body for proof. But with the dead Jedi, the Pykes found another, still alive."
"Silman, the Chancellor's aide?"Obi-Wan asked.
"The Pykes gave Tyranus Sifo-Dyas, but the Pykes did not tell Tyranus of Silman."Lom said. "The Pykes needed insurance."
"Insurance?"Anakin asked.
"Yes, and now the Pykes can bargain."Minister Lom replied."We give you Silman. You forget about the Pykes' treachery against the Jedi."
Then the prison cell opened causing Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia to go inside.
"Hello?"Obi-Wan called out.
"Who who's there?"A man's voice asked nervously.
"We are Jedi sent to find you, sir."Nadia replied.
Then an old man appeared with tattered clothes and an overgrown beard that revealed to be Silman, who lost his mind upon being imprisoned for 10 years by the Pykes.
"Jedi? To find me?"Silman asked."Why me? I was betrayed, forgotten long ago."
"No one knew you were alive."Obi-Wan admitted.
"Quick, maybe you have some food."Silman said."Have you have you any food?"
"Of course."Anakin replied.
Anakin brought out a supply bar, making Silman happy like some kind of caged animal.
"Oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh! Oh! Thank you, my friend."Silman answered happily as he took the supply bar from the Jedi Knight."A supply bar! Mmm, mmm, delicious, you see, I was so frightened I would have nothing to serve, oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh! Serve? My my babies, they get so angry when I have nothing to serve!"
Nadia glanced at Anakin and Obi-Wan.
"His gone nuts."Nadia muttered with an awkward look."Being a decade here has really messed up his head."
Anakin looked at Obi-Wan.
"We might have a problem here."Anakin mumbled and looked at Silman."I think you've been cooped up in here too long, old man."
"We've come to take you home."Obi-Wan stated.
"Home? No, no, this is my home!"Silman replied, gesturing to the bugs."I can't leave my friends!"
"You were traveling with Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas."Obi-Wan said."Tell us what happened to him."
"Sifo-Dyas? He died!"Silman answered with a small laugh."Died, died, died, died! Tricked, we were. The Pykes are not to be trusted. Oh, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. But the Pykes were not the ones. No, no. The Pykes were not the reason."
"So who was responsible?"Nadia asked.
"Someone powerful, someone who who wanted to be Sifo-Dyas."Silman replied.
"Why?"Obi-Wan questioned with a hint of concern.
"All is deception."Silman declared."Can't you see? Because...because..."
Suddenly, Silman began to choke, shocking the three Jedi and he then dropped on the floor dead.
Nadia, Anakin and Obi-Wan turned around and saw Count Dooku, who activated his red lightsaber.
"Dooku."Anakin scoffed with a glare."For once, you actually came to do your own dirty work."
Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia then activated their lightsabers as Count Dooku lifted down his hood and took off his cape using his free hand.
"Sometimes things are just that important."Count Dooku replied with an evil smile.
The three Jedi then began to duel against the Count of Serenno.
Despite wielding only one blade while his other hand was behind his back, Count Dooku easily dodged the blades of Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia.
The three Jedi and the Sith Lord's apprentice went out of the prison cell and were now out into the opening.
Nadia attempted to use her two blades to slash Count Dooku, but wasn't able to land a direct hit either.
Count Dooku then kicked Obi-Wan away causing the Jedi Master to hold onto the edge for dear life.
"Master!"Nadia shouted.
Nadia then left Anakin fighting Count Dooku on his own to help Obi-Wan.
The raven haired girl reached out her hand and helped Obi-Wan up.
"Thank you, young one."Obi-Wan replied.
"What are friends for?"Nadia chuckled slightly.
Obi-Wan and Nadia then activated their lightsabers again and went back to help Anakin duel Count Dooku.
Soon Minister Lom and the other Pykes showed up on both sides, armed with their own blasters.
"You have no business left with the Pykes, Tyranus."Minister Lom retorted.
Looks mixed with shock and surprise appeared on Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia's faces.
"Tyranus?"Obi-Wan said in shock."You are the man called Tyranus?"
Count Dooku frowned at his Sith name being revealed as he looked at Obi-Wan.
"I told you everything you needed to know on Geonosis all those years ago, Kenobi."Count Dooku stated and pointed his red blade at Obi-Wan."You should have joined me. Sifo-Dyas understood. He saw the future. That is why he helped me."
"You lie."Obi-Wan replied with a glare and looked at Minister Lom."Minister Lom, if you are going to help us, now is the time."
Minister Lom glanced at his fellow Pykes.
"Kill Tyranus!"Minister Lom ordered.
The Pykes fired their blasters at Count Dooku causing the Sith Lord's apprentice to deflect them with his lightsaber.
Count Dooku then Force pushed Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia, who blocked the wave while the Pykes behind them were pushed on the floor.
Nadia, Anakin and Obi-Wan then used the Force to push the Count of Serenno back.
However, Count Dooku leapt up the ceiling and the three Jedi ended up pushing Minister Lom and the other Pykes away.
Count Dooku then used his lightsaber to kill Minister Lom before Obi-Wan, Anakin, Nadia and the Pykes surrounded him.
However, the Count of Serenno suddenly deactivated his lightsaber before dropping himself to the ground below and landed on top of a ship that was beginning to take off.
"We'll give you a push!"Nadia insisted.
Both Obi-Wan and Nadia used the Force to throw Anakin safely to the top of the ship, so that the Jedi Knight can continue the duel with Count Dooku.
However, Count Dooku then slashed his lightsaber on the ship causing it to lose its control and making Anakin hold on for dear life.
Then the Sith Lord's apprentice escaped the planet on his Punworcca 116-class interstellar sloop.
As she and Obi-Wan watched Count Dooku flee, Nadia suddenly paled when a realisation hit her.
"Master, if Count Dooku is Darth Tyranus, does that mean the Clone Army was actually created by him?"Nadia thought in shock and then became guilty."I'm sorry, Fives. We should've listened to you."
A while later, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia contacted the Jedi Council inside the shuttle via hologram to report them of what had happened and the discovery that they have made.
"Know now we do that guide the creation of the Clones from the beginning, Dooku did."Master Yoda said and looked down in thought."Hmm, our enemy created an army for us."
"If this was known, public confidence in the war effort, the Jedi and the Republic would vanish."Mace Windu stated."There would be mass chaos."
"Cover up this discovery we must."Master Yoda admitted."No one. Not even the Chancellor, may know."
Both Anakin and Nadia frowned at Master Yoda's declaration, neither of them not sure if his idea was a good one.
"Valiant men the clones have proven to be."Master Yoda declared."Saved my life and yours they have many times. Believe in them we must. Win the war swiftly we must before our enemy's designs reach completion. Whatever they may be."
"Are you sure we are taking the right path?"Mace Windu questioned.
"Hmm, the right path, no, the only path, yes."Master Yoda replied."Designed by the Dark Lord of the Sith, this web is. For now, play his game we must."
When the contact of the Jedi Council ended, Nadia brought her attention on Obi-Wan and Anakin.
"I guess this must've been the deception that Fives tried to warn us about?"Nadia assumed.
"Looks that way, Nadia."Anakin responded.
"Despite their origins, many of the Clone Troopers have proved their loyalty is to the Republic."Obi-Wan commented."Especially, Rex and Cody."
"So we are really going to play Darth Sidious' game like Master Yoda said?"Nadia asked with an unsure look.
"I don't like this either, Kitty."Anakin admitted."But I don't see we have another choice."
"Let's return home now."Obi-Wan suggested."It's been a long day."
Nadia became silent and looked down in thought.
Clone troopers were grown on the planet Kamino at the request of Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas, who commissioned the Kaminoans to build an army for the Republic.
After Sifo Dyas' death, the project was taken over by the Sith.
This was actually something that she'll have difficult to accept and hide.
The Jedi Council actually had a good reason to keep this a secret.
Though the only mistake they made was not continuing Fives' investigation.
Nadia didn't understand why, but all this made her feel that the Sith Lord who orchestrated the Clone Wars was actually one step ahead of them.
If that was true, then the Jedi Council was too arrogant to see it.
Soon, the shuttle jumped into hyperspace to start its journey back to Coruscant.
One more chapter left for Season 6.
See you all in the next one and have a good day:)