Part 16 – Medical Assistance – Part 3

When the Vigilance arrived on Coruscant, the first person to greet them as Bruce and Vekkif carried Ahsoka off the LAAT onto the main platform of the Grand Republic Medical Facility was Vice Chancellor Organa.

Ahsoka was dressed in a set of medical garments that hid the injuries the medical droids did their best to treat before they handed her off to be treated by those at the facility.

"How is she?" Bail asked.

"Stable for now," Anakin said as they walked into the facility, "But she needs serious medical treatment for her to recover."

"We've got a room set up for her, and everything," Bail said, leading the group down one of the hallways to a room where several GH-7 and DD-13 medical droids were waiting to start their work.

"Set her down over here," the specialized 2-1B medical droid said, pointing to the bed when they entered.

Bruce and Vekkif set the stretcher down on the medical bed and the GH-7 hovered over to start collecting blood to begin running tests.

"How long should this take?" Anakin asked.

"I do not know, sir," the 2-1B said, "I will call you when she has recovered. But for now, I must ask for you to leave."

"I can't leave her." Anakin said.

"She's in good care, Master," Bruce said as he gently grabbed his master's shoulders, "Come on, there's nothing more we can do for her."

Anakin exhaled strongly and nodded before all of them walked out of the room, it was Bail who spoke up, "I heard from Chancellor Amedda. Maul is back."

"Yes," Bruce said, "It's not a confirmation as to whether or not he's in command of the droid army," holding his hand up in a 'goes without saying' gesture, "But it does mean he's moved to the top of the suspect list."

"Indeed," Bail said, "We do need to know who is in charge."

"We spent three years looking high and low for the leader of an enemy who all this time was right under our noses," Bail said, "If it's not Maul, it could be anyone."

"There is a way we could find out," Bruce said, "A few probe droids could get to Dathomir, and report back faster than sending a clone detachment."

"And we've seen enough dead clones for now." Vekkif said.

"I'll pass it along to chancellor Amedda," Bail said, "See what we can do."

"It should help," Bruce said, "All we can do now is wait."

"We should report back to the council." Obi-Wan said.

"You go ahead," Anakin said, "I'll wait until she wakes up."

"If you insist," Obi-Wan said before patting Vekkif on the shoulder, "Come on, let's go."

"Yes, master." Vekkif said.

"See you back at the temple." Bruce said.

"You should come with us," Obi-Wan said, "They'll be eager to hear from you as well."

"Vekkif should be able to tell the council everything," Bruce said as he gestured at Vekkif, "If they still need mine, tell them I promise, that I will return to the temple the second Ahsoka gets out of surgery, and report everything."

"You sure," Obi-Wan asked, pointing at Bruce, "Because I'm going to hold you to that."

"I promise, master," Bruce said, "Vekkif's testimony should be enough. Besides, someone has to be here for moral support."

"It'll be fine," Vekkif said, "Let them stay."

"Ok," Obi-Wan said as he and Vekkif turned to walk off.

The two of them walked out of the medical center as they saw a speeder transporting a heavily pregnant Padme coming in for a landing.

"Mistress Padme," C-3PO said as Padme stepped out of the speeder, holding her stomach, "I must insist that we return to the apartment. Your due date is very soon, and I don't want to take any risks."

"3PO," Padme said, "We're at a hospital. What better place for a pregnant woman?"

R2 came out behind C-3PO and gave a few spirited whistles that Obi-Wan and Vekkif interpreted as, "She's got you there."

"Padme," Obi-Wan said as they approached her, "What are you doing here?"

"I heard from Anakin that Ahsoka was here," Padme said, "How is she?"

"She just went into surgery," Obi-Wan said, moving off to the side so the clone medics could offload the critically injured clones from the Tribunal, "Right now we don't know what's going to happen."

"Is he still in there?" Padme asked.

"Yes," Obi-Wan said, "Me and Vekkif have to report to the council. You can go ahead."

"Go ahead," Padme said gesturing to the speeder she arrived in, "Take my speeder."

"Thanks," Obi-Wan said as he and Vekkif walked over to the speeder, and after climbing in, began flying toward the Jedi temple.

Padme proceeded into the medical facility, and the first person she ran into was Vice Chancellor Organa, "Vice Chancellor," she said.

"Senator," Bail said, "What are you doing here?"

"I heard about Ahsoka," Padme said, "I came to offer support to Master Skywalker."

"Of course," Bail said before pointing down the hall, "Right down that way."

"Thank you." Padme said.

"Vice Chancellor Organa," C-3PO said as he walked in with R2.

Bail nodded as he walked of the medical center, and Padme continued down the hall toward where Anakin and Bruce were sitting.

"Anakin," she said, approaching the two of them.

"Padme," Anakin said as he stood up, and walked over to hug her.

"I heard from Obi-Wan," Padme said, "When did she get in?"

"Only a few minutes ago," Anakin said, "I had to stay behind."

"I'm glad you did," Padme said, "How'd you find her?"

"It wasn't me," Anakin said before turning to Bruce who was sitting on the bench in front of the room, "It was Bruce."

"Really?" Padme asked.

"When we got back from constructing his lightsaber he had a vision," Anakin said, "Led us right to where she and the Tribunal was."

"Did you find who is leading the droid army?" Padme asked.

"We have an idea," Anakin said, "We have confirmed that Maul escaped, but as to where he is, we don't know."

"You'll find him," Padme said, "I know you…" she stopped when she suddenly felt a sudden pain in her stomach.

"Padme," Anakin said as he grasped her shoulder when she grasped her stomach, drawing Bruce's attention.

"The baby," Padme said, steadying herself as Bruce ran up, "I think…"

"Um…" Bruce said, drawing their attention to bring to their attention the wet puddle that had just emerged on the floor.

"My water just broke!" Padme exclaimed.

"Oh, Sith spit." Anakin cursed.

"We're in a hospital," Bruce said as he grabbed Anakin's shoulder, "Go take care of this," he gestured toward Ahsoka's door, "I'll stay here and look after this."

"R2, stay with Bruce," Anakin said, lifting Padme into his arms, "The minute you hear anything, let me know!"

"I will," Bruce said, watching his master run off with C-3PO doing his best to try and keep up, he then turned back toward the bench, and sat down.

R2 looked back toward Bruce, then backed up to stand right next to him, and gave a few spirited beeps which Bruce thought was, "Nothing to do but wait."

"Same as last time," Bruce said as he looked toward R2, "Two beeps for yes, one beep for no. You just said, 'Nothing to do but wait'," R2 beeped once and Bruce laughed, "Well, looks like I still have quite a learning curve ahead of me," R2 beeped twice in a low-pitched, kind of sad tone, "Don't worry," he rubbed R2 across the dome, "I'll get it eventually, little buddy."

Elsewhere…

When Obi-Wan and Vekkif landed in the hanger back at the temple, they were greeted by Master Windu and Shaak Ti.

"Master Kenobi," Master Windu said before looking over at Vekkif, "Padawan Idrunni."

"Master Windu." Vekkif said.

"When I heard about the Tribunal, I was prepared for the worst," Shaak Ti said, "I'm glad that we found a few that survived."

"So are we," Obi-Wan said as Master Windu ushered the group to follow him.

"Where is Master Skywalker and Padawan Kirkwood?" Master Windu asked.

"Anakin choose to stay at the Republic Medical Center," Obi-Wan said, "He wanted to be there for Ahsoka in the event she would wake up."

"Understandable," Master Windu said, "But I would still like to get Padawan Kirkwood's recollection about the vision he had that led to the discovery of the Tribunal."

"I was there, Master," Vekkif said, exiting the hanger with the masters, "And I was right beside Bruce on the Tribunal. There's not much he could tell you that I couldn't."

Master Windu looked back at Shaak Ti who raised her hand in a way to symbolize that she agreed with Vekkif on his statement.

"Ok then," Master Windu said, "We'll need very specific details about the matter."

"I'll do my best to provide the details," Vekkif said as they walked up to the elevator that would take them up to the council chamber.

"You have confirmed that the Sith Lord Darth Maul has escaped," Master Windu asked when the four of them stepped onto the elevator platform.

"Surviving members of the 332nd and the Tribunal's crew confirmed it," Vekkif said as the platform began to rise towards the council chambers, "They said when they were transporting him when he suddenly broke free, and that he was like some kind of demon."

"Taking out a vast number of clones and crashing a Venator," Shaak Ti asked, "He must have gotten a sudden boost of power."

"We can talk about that later," Obi-Wan said, "Right now, let's focus on updating the council. We can determine what's the best course of action now that we have a suspect of the new leader of the separatists."

"Agreed," Master Windu said, "When the council calls you be sure to answer as clear as you can. Any small details you can tell us might be important."

"Of course, Master Windu." Obi-Wan said.

"Is something wrong, master?" Vekkif asked.

"Council business," Obi-Wan said, putting a hand on Vekkif's shoulder, "Nothing you should worry yourself with, my young padawan."

Vekkif though a bit before speaking, "Far be it from me to concern myself with matters best left to those who are wiser than me."

"You taught him well," Master Windu said, giving Obi-Wan a slight nod.

The lift only took another few seconds to arrive at the council chambers, when they stepped off, and took their seats, Obi-Wan ushered Vekkif to stand next to him.

It only took a few minutes for the council to call in, this included the newly seated Council Masters Secura and Luminara.

"Welcome, masters," Master Windu said, "Masters Skywalker and Kenobi have returned, and thanks to Master Skywalker's new padawan, the Tribunal has been found."

"And where, Master Skywalker's padawan is, Master Windu?" Yoda asked.

"He chose to stay with Anakin at the Republic Medical Center," Obi-Wan said, "Ahsoka was badly wounded and needs surgery," he pointed to Vekkif, "That's why my padawan is here. Me and Anakin both sent our padawans into the Tribunal along with a small number of clones. He can tell you everything that Padawan Kirkwood can."

"Indeed," Yoda said, "Still, like to talk to Padawan Kirkwood about his vision, I would."

"He promised that the second Ahsoka gets out of surgery, he'll return here." Obi-Wan said.

"I'm going to hold Padawan Kirkwood to that promise." Master Ki-Adi-Mundi said.

"As will I." Master Luminara said.

"I'll let him know." Obi-Wan said.

"Of course you will," Master Windu said before looking toward Vekkif, "Padawan Idrunni."

"Yes, Master Windu," Vekkif said, Master Windu motioned toward the center of the room, "Oh, yes, of course," he straightened his robe, and walked to the center of the room, "Masters," he bowed.

"Please, Padawan Idrunni," Master Plo Koon said, "Tell us everything you can."

"Of course, Master Plo." Vekkif said.

"Start at the point when Padawan Kirkwood had his vision." Master Windu said.

"Ok," Vekkif said, "It really began during the briefing Master Kenobi was giving about the status of the separatists push across the outer rim…"

To be continued…