Darth Plagueis, part two : Galidraan or the flaw of being considered a potential apprentice by a Sith Lord
Obi-Wan did not learn the news by his master, which was explainable as he doubted they had left Master Dooku his commlink. What was less explainable was that the whole Council had assembled, deliberated on the subject, decided to let the judicial process continue without their input and left session without one of them informing him. Not even Master Yoda thought the padawan should know what strife his master encountered. His teaching bond with Master Dooku lay starkly silent, as it often did when he took away on missions he believed would end with a death count. Master Dooku was disturbingly often sent to them due to his saber skills and sometime ability to derail the fighting before it started. Obi-Wan did not perceive what must surely have filtered despite his master shields, as he had himself raised his own shields during the eight-hour long battle meditation lesson he had given to a few Knights. It was only after the raw misery and guilt sleeking through his master shields reached him, once he had put down his shields after a night of sleep. He tugged the bond, but Master Dooku seemed to retreat on his side, the emotions clamping up, refusing to react to further tugs. The commlink stayed silent. In the end, he learnt it through the holonew he had turned on while dressing himself before heading to meet Master Yoda as Master Dooku surely needed help.
The news were plastered on an all-day new station. Obi-Wan figured the title must have been catchy : Jedi slaughter innocents on Galidraan, with a blurry footage displaying a Makashi vicious attack taking off a Mandalorian head. A good sale for a news feed. Obi-Wan knew instantly who was the Jedi. He hurried to meet Master Yoda, barely waiting for him to finish instructing an Initiate clan. "Disturbing young minds, these footage are. Taken down, they will be, the Senate assure us." "And Master Dooku?" "Deliberated, the Council have. Matter of civil justice, that is, not of the Order." "But he was sent on the Order behalf" "Mistake me, you do. Seeking the truth we are, alongside the courts experts, other Jedi on Galidraan, we sent, Master Jinn amongst them. Free, your master will be, as innocent he is, but patient you need to be". The grandmaster only hummed when Obi-Wan told him that they should help Master Dooku now, his ears twitching as if Obi-Wan had gotten an answer wrong and needed to meditate on the subject. Just a twitch of ears, but Jedi had learnt to interpret those since the creche, so Obi-Wan didn't pursue further the conversation and headed back to his quarters to meditate.
He sent reassurance toward Master Dooku, but he was still wallowing in guilt and horror and sadness and Obi-Wan honestly feared for him if he could feel that much while his master was shielding. Three years ago, his first master literally dropped dead and Obi-Wan hadn't known until the morning when Master Solo did not wake up to meditate with him. His body was cold when he reached him, peaceful and void and Obi-Wan had been alone, suddenly, in the galaxy. Alone with the body of his master, R2 and rancor, a pair of lightsabers and a ship. He had commed Master Dooku back then, frantic and aggrieved and Master Dooku had not been kind, per se, but he had told him what to do, where to head and that he would be here when landing on Coruscant Temple. And Master Dooku stayed, a fixture in Obi-Wan life who had once nearly come to blow with an intransigent master decrying Obi-Wan readmittance, arguing that he should be sent back to the Corp whence he had been plugged by a mere smuggler. Had glared to Siri when she disdainfully glanced at his saber form and his lack of braid, then sternly pushed another kata on Obi-Wan. Had groused after Master Solo but not taken away his beaded wrist-band or his ship, but only the Sith holochron.
A soothing grieved wave came on him, snapping him out of his litany. He had been projecting, hadn't he? He had sent all of that toward Master Dooku, who certainly did not need to deal with Obi-Wan problems or attachment issues. He sent back reassurance, when-come-back-?, miss-you, all-be-good, is-there-something-I-can-do-?, but Master Dooku only sent more sad soothing and Obi-Wan was sure he did not mean to send the rest. Not the grief and the flash of a Jedi – was that Rael? It looked like his brother padawan – dodging a blow only to be caught by a flame-thrower, then a blast when he was attempting to put down the flames. Not the anger, near bloodthirst, squirting the edge of the Dark Side as he cut down those killers – his son, his son, Rael, his son. Not the sorrow – alone, so many fallen, where's Komari? Where's his daughter? Not the horror – not them, innocents, for nothing – at the realization or the guilt – shouldn't have, why did I not bow out – and his sister padawan anguished scream.
Master Dooku brusquely retreated, probably because Obi-Wan had started echoing back once again, and Master Dooku understood he had shared more than he meant. He sent soothing, I-am-here, love-you, but Master Dooku fastened his shields and sent nothing back. And Obi-Wan was left reeling on Han meditation cushion. That was Rael, Rael was dead, having barely stepped out of the Shadows, finally finding his feet and maybe eyeing another padawan after Pim. And Komari scream, unlike any he ever heard, even in the deepest cesspits of the galaxy. He did not like Komari, who had been a Knight of a few months when he started under Master Dooku, and between which the things were tense. Komari had problems, like Rael, like him, but Komari balanced on the knife edge and he did not know how she managed to pass her trials. This could break her. This could break Master Dooku.
He found Qui-Gon Jinn in the hangar, ready to depart to Galidraan "I do not have time, padawan" he said, stepping on his starcourrier. "I established contact with Master Dooku" replied Obi-Wan, a tad angrily, because Jinn and him got along even less than Komari and him. Jinn stepped off and listened the little Obi-Wan had gleaned through the flashes and what he had felt from Master Dooku. Then Jinn was off, his last words cryptic and not reassuring. He tried to track Master Windu, but he was off-world on a mission asking for a show on the Jedi part. Master Yoda had said Master Dooku would be free, as he was innocent. But he wasn't, was he? He did slaughter them and realized only after they weren't those he had been sent against. He had tried to discuss things, Obi-Wan knew but it did not work out – why did I not bow out? – and whoever those had been he had killed them to the last, because they had killed Rael.
But what could he do? In the end, he returned meditating, sending positive feelings toward his master, grinding his teeth as he sometimes gained back some other flashes. Rael pasty mud-specked face, his corpse tenderly embraced. A Knight Obi-Wan knew by name but Master Dooku as a near friend falling to not rise. Komari kneeling in the mud, uncaring of her coordinated outfit, her wailing piercing the bleeding sky. Blood oozing from his shoulder wound, a hand gingerly pressing his side – will live, not lethal. The shocked face of another Jedi, staring at him like he had wanted that. The officials called him monster, he agreed. Obi-Wan bunked with Master Sifo-Dyas that night. The Prophet readily accepted his presence once Obi-Wan told him he wanted to be waked up if he had any nightmare, so he would not broadcast it to Master Dooku, but did not want to shield Master Dooku out.
He spent the next three weeks meditating, excepted the time Master Sifo-Dyas pulled him out so he could help Master Nu re-organize the Archives. An endless, mindless task useful to keep one busy and away from dark thoughts. It should have been another of his teaching line taking care of him, but his meditation disturbed the younglings Master Yoda surrounded himself with and he had no patience for them right now. And the others were imprisoned (Master Dooku, Knight Vosa), dead (Padawan Pim, Knight Rael, the fallen Xanathos, Knight Feemor) or away (Master Jinn). Master Windu had commed back he would look into it as soon as he wrapped up his current mission. Which was little, but nice as Master Windu was not from his teaching line and constantly busy, so even answering showed his implication.
He woke up in cold fright the next night, Master Sifo-Dyas hurrying at his side. "Knight Vosa is dead" said Obi-Wan, short of breath. It had not been a nightmare, nor a vision as the Councilor surely thought, but Master Dooku shields had slipped. "Are you certain?" Obi-Wan nodded – no, no, Komari, why, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, don't, I'm sorry, don't, I'm sorry, Komari! – yes, he was certain. Master Sifo-Dyas cursed under his breath then called someone on the Council, because half an hour away there was an impromptu reunion in Master Sifo-Dyas quarter. "She hang herself. I don't know how she found the fibra-cord, because she hadn't her utility belt on her. Master Dooku tried to stop her, but it was like he couldn't use the Force. His emotions were all over the place". A Councilor hissed : "Force-inhibitors were not part of the deal!"
At least it put them in a hurry, because when Obi-Wan came out of his meditation session at dawn they were all as furious as he would like to feel. But he couldn't, because he was projecting on Master Dooku whose thoughts weren't reassuring. Monster, monster, should put those freaks down at birth, I'm sorry, Komari, I'm sorry, I understand, I'm sorry, my fault, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Those "sorry" frightened him, especially the ones in between which he slipped "Obi-Wan". The Council had left a Jedi with their incarcerated brethren, at least until they were moved, because some idiot had put them in the worst emotion-emoting part of the prison. Or at least Obi-Wan believed it was an idiot until the Council pointed out amongst themselves – and Obi-Wan as he was still in Master Sifo-Dyas quarters and Master Sifo-Dyas had taken the call rather than moving – that it should not have been the section where Jedi were put, as it was neither the one for preemptive detention or the most guarded or the one for crimes similar to those they were accused of.
"I wish to take the next vigil" Obi-Wan said to Master Sifo-Dyas once he disconnected the call. Master Sifo-Dyas didn't twitch, which meant he had been aware Obi-Wan was listening all along. "You have lessons to attend and to give" the Councilor said in a neutral tone, neither a reprimand nor an encouragement. "So had I yesterday and the day before. I did not attend them, and I cut myself from Master Dooku when doing battle meditation". And rancor was too vicious that he would dare keeping the bond open and projecting eventual reminders of the fight to Master Dooku. "That is not something to boast about" remarked the Prophet. "I have some Shadow training" protested Obi-Wan as it was the general consensus of what Master Solo had been and one he believed himself to a degree "and I can project mushy feelings as well as any Jedi." "Others can say the same, but I believe it would be good you go there" stated experimentally Master Sifo-Dyas with the faraway look he sometimes had when puzzling a vision.
The master browbeaten him into a day of sleep before allowing him to go there. Obi-Wan struggled to put on a layered shield that would let Master Dooku through but not the surroundings as he crossed the entrance. The Knight at his side sent him a sympathetic glance. As soon as he caught sight of his master he forgot the Knight who was the real vigil sent by the Council. The wounds he had sustained were bandaged in gaze and bacta patches, and would have been quicker healed with a bacta immersion, his plate lay untouched. Master Dooku had an haunted look in the eyes, fixed on an invisible point in the cell facing his and greeted him with a "Komari?" when he put himself in his line of sight. Knight Vosa cell, understood Obi-Wan, where she hang herself. He tugged with the bond and Master Dooku eyes got unfocused. He did that, understood Obi-Wan, he forced Master Dooku to stay focused on the Force so he could communicate with his padawan, wadding through all the ambient misery to do so. With Force-inhibitors, he should barely be able to shield and the bond was steadily maintained on Obi-Wan end. To open the shields for communication would also invite the surroundings inside in this situation.
The cell did not allow physical contact so Obi-Wan babbled something, tugging on the bond now and then, to attract his master attention on the here and now. Finally Master Dooku eyes settled on him and widened, like he hadn't imagined his padawan would come here. Sensing his master did not want to speak about the circumstances which lead him here, Obi-Wan determinately rambled on everything he could think of – a skill he picked up on Han and one Master Dooku decried as a flaw. Master Dooku did not cut him off to tell him to make sense so Obi-Wan started the full recitation of his creche-years shenanigan while carefully pouring a steady stream of happiness. Restructuring his shields at the same time in a location based shield, extending only to master and him, while maintaining the bond was harder, so Obi-Wan could not say exactly what he had rambled about in detail, but when at the end Master Dooku said that the latest tale was a legend dating before the time he was a crecheling Obi-Wan took it as a victory. Asking Master Dooku about his own creche-years would be a mistake because they features heavily Lorian Nodd, but tales crechelings exchanged were a safe subject for most part. One Master Dooku would not have dabbled in if he had a choice, but Obi-Wan had been heavy handed on mushy feelings and he probably wanted to speak of everything but Galidraan, Rael or Komari.
Despite his wish, Obi-Wan left when the next vigil came a quarter-day after. He had spent the last hours actively Force-shaping and was tired. He would be of no help if he stayed, for he had to rest and replenish before he was able to sustain another vigil. Still, Master Dooku wince when Obi-Wan pulled his shield down told him it would not be a peaceful wait on his master side, for all he ordered his padawan to go rest. Master Sifo-Dyas had a couch out by the time Obi-Wan came to the Temple and he crashed for the night. He came awake in the early hours of the morning, hearing the Councilor voice. He was somewhat familiar with his interlocutor voice, probably because he had heard him speak in the last days "The judiciary won't budge. I offered the Temple holding cells if they would not release our brothers in our custody, but they are wary. Anti-Jedi sentiment seemed to have reached them." Obi-Wan smoothed his Force presence, imitating his sleep, and directed some towards his ears, so he could catch the soft reply of a third voice "Galidraan. The report aren't encouraging from what our team sent us. Master Jinn has been put on away duty after tumbling down on the courts expert as he was about sending his report. The holopad containing it was lost in a crevasse due to this accident". Obi-Wan heart thundered, because in his years as Han padawan he was well aware how one could squirt around an issue by formulating events in an innocuous manner. The Jedi on Galidraan had reported Jinn purposefully destroyed the report while making it seems like an accident, meaning it must have been quite damning.
Obi-Wan slept very little that night, his thoughts racing beneath his shields. He took another vigil in the morning. Master Dooku was better than the day before, but still haggard and fixing insistently Knight Vosa empty cell. "Shouldn't they have been moved by now?" he asked his fellow vigil on their way out. The knight lips thinned which made an impressing effect given his specie "They should have. The judiciary objects for an… unclear reason". Obi-Wan shared his disquiet. The judicial were well aware those cells were not made to hold Jedi unlike the Temple ones. The only way they could be repurposed was to make the Jedi wear Force-cuff to cut off most of their access to the Force. It fell under the heading of torture, but did not appear to bother the judicial. There were stories of Jedi going mad after prolonged Force inhibition. He had to get Master Dooku out.
Solution nearly fell on his laps. He was fetching a clean change of clothes when he remarked the beeping console. Someone had sent a message since the last time Obi-Wan had come here and picked the console to inform battle mediation sessions were suspended for the time being. He expected the Temple administration about missed class or one of his students. The Magistrate of the IGBC wasn't in his list of possible. Not in a million years. Obi-Wan was peripherally aware his master knew the Muun for a long time and had a rocky but longstanding relationship involving blackmail and threats against the Jedi Order. Master Dooku had only mentioned him once and Obi-Wan only remembered because he owned an IGBC account. He listened the message once, to report his content to his master next vigil. Then a second time. Then a third.
Then, after some consideration, he commed Master Windu, but the master of Order did not pick up. So he went on the next best source of information available, Master Nu, who was slightly older than Master Dooku, and remembered Hego Damask reputation from her early padawanship. What she told Obi-Wan and the records she showed him weren't exactly what Obi-Wan hoped to find after the encouraging content of the message, but he could use it if he channeled his inner Senator Palpatine. Master Sifo-Dyas with whom he spent the evening had not heard of Hego Damask reputation which was good for the time being, for Obi-Wan did not strictly need him to know. Master Sifo-Dyas being aware of his whereabouts was just a safety measure.
Well, some of his whereabouts, considering Obi-Wan ditched vigil the next day. Taking along R2 and rancor involved some planning, but R2 could pass off as a driver-droid, and the remote fit under his seat. The knight in charge of this vigil addressed him a sympathetic look when Obi-Wan stopped at the prison entrance. It reeked here, but Obi-Wan had sensed worse in the Outer Rim. The knight did not know and readily offered the Jedi transport to his usage, as Obi-Wan visibly did not feel up to do the vigil today, even agreeing to give a reassuring statement to Master Dooku. He probably expected Obi-Wan to return to the Temple directly. That stunt would be hell to explain to the Council, but Obi-Wan was positive the Force was with him.