Chapter 3 - Framed

Obi-Wan wakes to the red-tinted surroundings of the prison cell. He hates it in here. It would help if he even knew when he was going to get out of here or – anything. No one's coming to see him either and he doesn't understand why. Anakin ought've come by now so why hasn't he?

He's pacing restlessly across his cell when his eyes fall on a keycard lying on a ledge outside the door.

...What?

How did that get here?!

Someone must be trying to help him and the only one who would do that is Anakin. It seems... rather illegal but he doesn't want to stay stuck here and – If Anakin thinks it's a good idea, then it must be. He's the one who should know what he's doing. He's a Knight.

And... if he has the chance, he's not going to wait around. Obi-Wan approaches the cell door, lifting the key card and maneuvering it with the Force to fit into the slot, unlocking the door. He darts out into the hall, looking both ways before he runs down the hall the way he came.

Only to run right into two clones on the ground, dead from lightsaber wounds.

He stops cold, inhaling sharply.

His lightsaber and comm are lying on the floor next to them and his comm is blinking.

What – what's happening?

Something is very wrong. This wasn't Anakin. It very obviously wasn't Anakin and that means he has no idea who it could have been. Why'd someone come in here to break him out and then start killing people?

He warily picks up his comm. "Who is this?"

The comm abruptly goes dead.

And then the door at the end of the hall slides open, the clone commander coming in. He sucks in a sharp breath, moving for the control panel.

"It wasn't me!" Obi-Wan yells, panic rushing through him but he can't help thinking how incredibly guilty he sounds this time because – who's even going to believe him?

The alarms start blaring and he runs.

What else could he do?

Go back to his cell?

Why is this happening? No one's gonna believe him. Someone's – setting this up. Whoever it was that killed Letta in the first place.

Or before – because they called him in there right then.

Force.

What's happening?

Why would someone try to frame him?

But all he can do now is run, dodging as the clones start chasing him. But this isn't going to work. He's not trained for this. If he runs blindly, they're definitely going to catch him. Maybe he can find some other way –

Obi-Wan hides around another corner, waiting until another two troopers around the corner and then he jumps them, knocking them unconscious. He pulls one of them around another corner, pulling his armor off and putting it on himself.

Being in clone armor is bizarre and he's a little short for it but hopefully it's not too noticeable. The only thing that really sticks out is the lightsaber, which he can't hide and he's not going to put down. He'll just have to move fast and try to find an exit, and hope no one asks what he's doing.

That lasts about until he runs into three more downed troops in the hall, all dead.

The clone commander rounds the corner sharply, coming to a stop. Obi-Wan makes an aborted move to run on instinct, before sharply reminding himself that he's supposed to be blending in. He turns to keep walking, trying to keep the lightsaber he's holding hidden.

"Trooper," the commander calls and he pauses.

The correct response is 'yes sir' but talking will be a dead giveaway. He just nods.

"Did you see the target?" he demands, "Is he the one who did this?"

He shakes his head.

"Trooper?" the commander repeats, approaching him. And his gaze promptly falls on the lightsaber as Obi-Wan attempts to maneuver it behind his back.

"You – you're no clone," he exclaims, drawing his blaster.

He's about to shoot him.

Obi-Wan throws his blaster in the commander's face and runs.

Blaster shots, live rounds, ring through the hall behind him.

All he can definitely do now is run. He doesn't have time to think about anything else and all he knows is that he needs to get out of here before they kill him.

**w**

The last thing Anakin expected to get called to the prison in the middle of the night for was hearing that Obi-Wan's mid-escaping from prison and is killing clones.

That – doesn't make any sense.

He wouldn't do that.

Something's not right about this. He can sense the Dark Side by the time he reaches the prison. And the death.

The Force is rippling in warning. Something's coming. He goes to the prison alone since Ahsoka's already sleeping and there's no need to take more of his boys into this than necessary, though he expects Cody would like an update about what's happening.

He catches up with Fox in the facility in time to hear him giving an order to shoot to kill.

"Belay that order," Anakin orders sharply.

"He's killed troopers!" Fox protests.

"He wouldn't do that," Anakin retorts. Obi-Wan's never been overly close with the clones but he wouldn't just start massacring them.

"Then who did?"

He's about to reply when he hears the sound of footsteps right above them and he can sense Obi-Wan close by. The entire place feels of the Dark Side and Anakin would very much like to know how someone got in unnoticed but he knows that's got nothing to do with his former master. He really, really wishes Obi-Wan was old enough to be called that right now. "Obi-Wan!" Anakin calls.

The noise stops. "Anakin?" The voice is faint but he can still hear him.

"You need to stop running."

"Someone's trying to frame me." He sounds shaken and it's so strange to hear him like that.

"I believe you," he promises, "But you need to stop and explain what happened."

"No one else is gonna believe it," Obi-Wan argues.

Which happens to be the very moment he hears the far-off sound of a blaster shot and then he hears running again.

"Obi-Wan!" Anakin yells again but there's no answer. He's probably already gone. Well, so much for that.

Considering that the troops are already shooting at him, getting him to stop running now is going to be very hard. It's another mess he's got to drag his former master out of but this is much worse, because well – First of all, what it is and secondly Obi-Wan is... still a child and he's not overly mature yet, as weird as it is to see.

All he can do now is keep chasing and hope that he's the one who gets to him first.

He hates how he can't shake the feeling that this is going to end terribly – they just need to make him stop and then talk to the Council and find a way to get this cleared up.

He's still running through the halls when he hears that Obi-Wan's been spotted outside the facility.

**w**

Maybe he should've stopped running. Maybe, but it's too late for seconds thoughts now. All Obi-Wan can do is keep moving swiftly through the facility, grateful that the clones at least don't know the number he's disgusting himself as so they only know to recognize him if they see the lightsaber.

He needs to find a way out of here.

And that's when a sudden idea occurs to him.

He keeps moving through the halls, until he finds a wall that he thinks is closer to the exterior, from the way the Force is fluxing. Glancing both ways to make sure that no one's watching, he ignites his lightsaber, cutting his way through the wall. He lifts the piece of metal with the Force carefully, leaning it against the wall and ducking outside the hole.

He's outside the facility but –

There's guards only right around the corner. Obi-Wan jerks the hole back into place and tries to walk along the wall as though he's meant to be there. But he has no idea what he's even going to do or go where now. He's always lived at the Temple and he's had plenty of survival classes so he knows how to survive on his own, but it's a lot harder to have to when he's doing it while running from the Republic. And the Jedi. And Anakin.

He wishes Qui-Gon was still here, but well – Then he'd probably have to run from him too.

He's walking away from the prison, trying to just act casual when he runs right into a clone.

"You're not at your position," he says, then freezes when he sees the lightsaber.

Obi-Wan Force-throws him ten feet away and runs.

He makes it all the way around to the right side of the prison to some towering statues right outside the prison exit, ducking behind them to hide himself.

Which works until one of the hounds turns around, sniffing at him. It growls lowly suddenly and he can sense it moving closer.

Oh no.

What's he supposed to do now?! If they see him, they're going to start trying to kill him again and he doesn't know what to do or how to make them stop or – He needs to think of something fast.

Jedi aren't supposed to be scared. Or panic. Which is far easier said than done but he needs to think. He can do this. Obi-Wan reaches out with the Force, for the mind of the animals. Trying to get it to calm down isn't all that hard when he's actually trying.

The nearby hounds start to quiet but – If he could use them as a distraction, maybe he could get out of here easier. He throws all his focus onto the animals, directing them to go feral on the clones instead. The hounds whip around with a snarl, jumping at them.

The clones yelp, and Obi-Wan can't really see what's happening but they do have armor so there's only so hard the hounds could actually bite them. That's not the Jedi way and he kind of feels bad about it but they are trying to kill him so it's kind of self-defense too.

"There he is!" a voice yells from behind him.

Obi-Wan spins to see the clone commander approaching the prison doorway.

Blaster fire starts raining down around him. Obi-Wan whips out his lightsaber to deflect the blasts as he takes off running. His control on the hounds is broken but the clones are presently still a bit distracted with them and that gives him a head start.

They nearly take him down a few times and then he senses a familiar brilliant Force presence moving closer. Anakin's coming. He can see him running closer, chasing him.

It's probably irrational to feel a sharp stab of anger but he can't help it. They're trying to kill him and it's too late for him to stop running or he would have already. And Anakin's just making this harder for him even if he knows he's just doing his job as a Jedi.

Obi-Wan Force-jumps for some drainage pipes up ahead, cutting a hole in the top and jumping inside. Hopefully that'll be enough to lose them. Except he hears splashing and someone moving closer only minutes later.

He ducks back in the shadows until he hears whoever it was pass him and then takes off again. Only to come face to face with the end of the pipe that opens over the Underworld.

There's a splash behind him and he whirls around, lightsaber drawn, to see that it's Anakin.

"Obi-Wan!" he yells, skidding to a stop a few meters back, "Wait."

"You're going to take me back," Obi-Wan argues, hand tight on his lightsaber.

"You need to come back and explain what happened to the Council," Anakin says.

Maybe he should but –

He doesn't want to get anywhere near Republic authorities. And he doesn't know what to think of the Order the way it is now anymore. A Jedi is trying to frame him clearly and he doesn't know who to trust anymore. It's terrifying to even have to feel like that about the Jedi. "I can't. Somone's trying to frame me," Obi-Wan objects.

"I won't let anyone hurt you," Anakin promises, and he looks desperate. It's strange to see someone who's that openly emotional. Especially when it comes to caring about him. It's made him feel significantly less... lonely since the month he was stuck at the Temple alone. It filled the hollowness that losing all his creche mates have left him drowning in, with the knowledge that Anakin's always going to be there even if no one else is. But now... "But you have to come back."

"If I do, they'll keep trying to frame me." He might not be very experienced in many things but he got into this mess in the first place because he was somewhere that the person trying to frame him knew about. And if he goes back, they'll probably try something else again or maybe just tyr to have him killed or – or –

Anakin hesitates. He seems almost uncomfortable arguing with him or something. Obi-Wan can't really tell. "You're just making yourself look even more guilty."

"No one's going to believe me if I go back. The only way to find out who it is, is if I'm out here." Maybe they'll follow him out here if they're really trying so hard to frame him and then he'll be able to pick up on a lead. But he doesn't want to go back at all until he knows he's not going to get blamed for all of this because he knows how incriminating it looks. Even if he has no idea what he's doing.

"The Council will help if they understand what happened. And you have to be the one to tell them."

The Council should know and Obi-Wan knows that. He's just afraid of who's going to get to him first.

There's a splash behind Anakin and his heart lurches. He spins around, jumping out the opening, past Anakin's frantic 'wait'. He can't wait anymore.

There's a transport passing down below, heading into the Underworld, and Obi-Wan lands on it, glancing back up. Anakin's standing at the opening of the pipe, expression stricken.

There's a desperate, wild moment where he just wants to make him feel better somehow – but he can't do that now. He has to keep moving before it's too late.

**w**

When Anakin gets back to the Temple, he runs right into Ahsoka. "Why am I hearing that Obi-Wan broke out of prison?" she demands.

"Because he did," Anakin replies breathlessly, "I don't know what happened. Clones were killed and everyone thinks he did. He wouldn't come back when I tried to talk to him. Someone's trying to frame him but I don't know who it could be." It's another Jedi and Anakin has no idea how to feel that so many Jedi are losing their way. It's unsettling, to say the least.

Ahsoka frowns. "I can't believe there really is a Jedi involved. I just... why are they trying to frame him?"

"I don't know." He wishes he had the answers but he doesn't. "But I need to report to the Council."

"I'll come with you," Ahsoka offers, so they go to give the report to the Council together.

"After further investigation, there can be little doubt that the clone officers murdered in the escape were killed by none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi himself," Tarkin is insisting, from his hologram in the center of the room, "He used a Jedi mind trick to convince the clone to open the door and then proceeded to cut him down along with five other clones along the way. He then used a mind-trick on the hounds to attack the clones during his escape."

Anakin can genuinely not believe this is happening. He knows it looks suspicious and by running, it looked much worse on him, but this is Obi-Wan. He was literally on the Council. He was a Jedi master only a month ago.

There's also the fact that – Using the hounds to attack the clones, even if no one was really hurt, clearly is something Obi-Wan did and it really doesn't look good on him.

"I find it hard to believe Obi-Wan could have fallen this far," Windu says.

"I do not believe he could have either," Plo concurs.

"The beliefs of the Jedi Council are irrelevant," Tarkin retorts, "We deal strictly in facts and evidence and the evidence points to Padawan Kenobi being guilty of the attack on the Temple and the murder of the Republic officers. This is sedition."

"What?!" Ahsoka demands and Anakin has so much he wants to say to Tarkin to, but he knows it's not his place to speak up right now. Ahsoka's never been nearly as reserved about that sort of thing, though. "How does his escape from prison have anything to do with the attack on the Temple?"

"He had no reason to kill Letta and then flee if he weren't scheming to cover something up," Tarkin retaliates.

"You're just assuming," Ahsoka accuses, "You don't have any proof of that – "

"The Council will act as it deems fit, Admiral," Windu interjects, before giving Ahsoka a pointed look that obviously means he wants her to be quiet.

Anakin couldn't agree with Ahsoka more but he knows better than to speak up in front of the Council unless asked to.

Tarkin's hologram flickers out, leaving them alone in front of the Council.

"Skywalker, was there no way to stop Padawan Kenobi before he escaped?" Mundi inquires.

"No, Master Mundi," Anakin replies quietly.

"The Council believes that, a chance there is, that guilty of the crime, Obi-Wan may be. Still believe they are wrong, do you, hmm?"

What?

Why?

He knows it looks incriminating but they all know Obi-Wan. How could they actually think he'd do something like this?

"I believe he didn't kill the clone troopers or the woman who used the nano-droids to blow up the Temple," Anakin replies firmly, "That's why he's running. To prove his innocence."

"I don't understand," Ahsoka says, "Master Obi-Wan was on the Council only a month ago. How could he have already Fallen?"

"And he is no longer a Jedi Master," Mundi responds, "He has been a padawan for well over a month. He is no longer the same."

"We cannot let assumptions cloud our judgement," Shaak Ti speaks up, "What he was says little of what he is... even if it seems unlikely."

"Many are losing their way in these times," Tiin says gravely.

Which is true but it just upsets him right now because the fact that they know him means they should know that he wouldn't do this, not just assume that it means they're probably letting an attachment cloud their judgments.

"Now he's in the lower depths. He may not have been a padawan long but it may be hard to find him," Mundi goes on.

"Master Skywalker, with clones you will go," Yoda decides. "Call in Master Secura separately, we will."

He's not surprised they picked Aayla – Vos once knew Obi-Wan well so he interacted with Aayla frequently. It still makes him feel sick how they're going to be using that against him now. Even if they don't have another choice.

The Council might be questioning Obi-Wan's innocence but once they have the chance to actually talk to Obi-Wan, Anakin can't believe they won't figure out the truth. If even he can sense that Obi-Wan's innocent, aside from simply knowing that he is, they will too once they talk to him.

"I think it would be best if Skywalker stayed here," Windu argues, "Having you involved may actually make things worse."

Anakin stiffens. "Master Windu, with all due respect, he was my master." So the last thing Anakin wants is to have to chase after him and being at odds with him like this at all is so weird and it feels like it's Obi-Wan he should be obeying, but... he's just a child right now. The Obi-Wan he remembers would tell him to trust the Council and that's what he's trying to do.

"The reason for you not to go," Windu replies curtly. "You're emotionally tied to him. Perhaps too emotional to do what needs to be done, if it comes to it."

"I'd rather bring Obi-Wan back and find out the truth then let him keep running because of a lie." It's so weird to be talking about Obi-Wan like this.

"You must prove to use that you will stay focused," Yoda tells him, "Can you?"

"I've already alerted security on the lower levels," he replies. Even if it killed him to do it.

"Go swiftly then, Skywalker, and bring back this lost child before it is too late."

"I can't believe they think he's guilty," Ahsoka says, practically seething as they leave the room together.

Anakin can entirely relate to that. He can't believe it either. "Once they talk to him and explain, they should be able to understand. And sense that he's innocent," Anakin tries to reassure even if he's so scared.

"Are you sure that's really the best idea?" Ahsoka asks, "What if they don't?"

Unease churns in his gut. Ahsoka's... had growing issues trusting the Council and Anakin can't deny that he does too but he knows he shouldn't. He can't presume to know better than authority. "We can't leave him out there running because of a lie. It's making his case look worse."

"I know but... what if it's the only way to find the killer?"

"We'll see," Anakin replies, sighing quietly, "If the killer is out there right now, maybe while looking for Obi-Wan, we'll find him."

"I'm going to look into more about Letta," Ahsoka says, "Maybe that'll help"

Anakin just nods. That's probably wisest. He just hopes she can find something.

He can't help thinking that he senses Qui-Gon again for a moment. It's comforting to feel him now, but Anakin just wishes that he were still here. Especially at a time like this. Even if he's long accepted that he's gone.

**w**

Scrolling through the bits of information she can find about Letta and Jackar's nano business isn't getting Ahsoka anywhere and she's just getting increasingly frustrated. But she can't help thinking that... bringing Obi-Wan back isn't the wisest idea. Or maybe it's just that –

She knows Anakin tries to be obedient to the Council because of how much they scrutinize him. He doesn't have any other choice, even if he tows the line a lot. He can't outright break rules without... consequences no one else will have to face. And he respects the Jedi way too much to do it, anyway.

But that right here is part of what's making her... not trust the Council as much as she used to anymore. And it feels wrong not to trust them in this but she can't help it. Especially not knowing that a Jedi is involved in what happened.

Another Jedi like Krell.

How many more are there?

How many really are becoming soldiers instead of peacekeepers? The thing they were never supposed to be? Even if she knows Anakin's right that they have to adapt to the times sometimes. It's just...

She's lost in her thoughts about it when her comm suddenly beeps. She answers it absently. "Yes?"

"Ahsoka?" Obi-Wan's voice hisses over the line. "Are you alone?"

She nearly jumps, hand smacking over the comm as she glances around to make sure no one's close enough to overhear. Thankfully, no one is. He probably doesn't have the time for her to go somewhere more private. "It's fine for now. Where are you?" she demands in a low voice.

"On the run," he answers breathlessly.

"You shouldn't be calling with a Jedi communicator." That's the stupidest thing to do if he doesn't want to get tracked.

"I know but I didn't know what else to do. I... need to find who's behind this but I don't know where to start."

"I'm already doing some digging. I'll see if I can find anything," Ahsoka promises, "Just be careful."

"I'm trying. There's police everywhere down here."

"Find somewhere to hide and stay out of sight or... get something to disguise yourself," Ahsoka advises, knowing full-well how much trouble she could be in if anyone found out. Anakin would understand even if he wasn't happy, though. And she feels a little bad about doing this behind his back but the fewer people who know, the better. And at least he won't be able to get in trouble with the Council for it if he doesn't know. Not that he hasn't frequently taken the blame for her screw ups in the past,

"Alright. Thank you Ahsoka."

"And find somewhere else to call me. Get rid of your communicator."

He makes a noise of acknowledgement before the line cuts out.

Well, this is a start but she's going to need someone to help her. Someone she can trust.

Actually...

Maybe now would be a good time to call in Barriss.

**w**

Trying to find somewhere to hide is proving impossible. Obi-Wan found a spot in between some buildings to just stay for maybe an hour, but then police droids spotted him and he got jumped. He got a cloak from someone to keep his face concealed but it's... getting hard. He has no idea what he's doing. Maybe if he's this lost, it means no one else will be able to find him either, though. Maybe.

When he wanted to get a mission and finally get out of the Temple, this really isn't what he had in mind. Things made way more sense back before all this... allegedly being de-aged mess started.

Something in the Force feels cold suddenly. The Dark Side. After Maul, he'd never forget that feeling.

He pauses, looking around warily when someone jumps him from above. He's mid-trying to activate his lightsaber but the figure is faster, kicking him to the ground and landing on top of him, lightsabers crossing at his neck. Red lightsabers.

"Sith?" Obi-Wan accuses, glaring.

The person reaches up, pushing a button on her helmet to open it. She's a Nightsister by the looks of it. He can't remember if he's seen a Jedi who looks like this. "Me?" she asks dryly, "So I guess the rumors are true. You really were turned into a kid and don't remember me."

"Should I?" Obi-Wan asks, glaring. He can feel the heat of the lightsabers against his neck. This is bad.

"We fought only a couple dozen times," she drawls.

"You're the one behind this, aren't you?" he accuses. He's mostly confused by the statement and he doesn't really want to show it.

"I don't know what you're talking about but I know there's a bounty on you and I'm going to claim it."

A bounty? Oh him? Apparently things can get worse. And this is – bad. He can't be brought back to the Republic. He can't. Not yet, at least. And he still doesn't know that she's not the who did this. "How do I know you didn't bomb the Temple?"

"I thought you already had the suspect until the rumors started flying that it was you," she says flippantly.

"It was some fallen Jedi and you have red lightsabers," he snaps back.

"Oh, so the Jedi aren't so holy after all," she muses, "Well. my lightsabers say nothing for me loyalties. I fought for the Separatists for a while until Dooku turned on me. I don't care about his petty conflict with the Republic and the Jedi anymore. I'm just a bounty hunter."

He doesn't think she's lying but the mere fact that she's a Dark Side user means he can't trust her. "Then we might have a common enemy," he says, mind whirling, "Whoever this is, they might be allied with Dooku."

"What are you suggesting?" she asks dubiously.

"I just... need help getting somewhere I can make a call. Somewhere the police droids won't find me."

"And what would I get out of that, that's better than the bounty on your head?"

Fair point to people who only care about that. He doesn't know her so he doesn't know but – "If you fought for the Separatists, you can't be legally on Coruscant, right? So maybe if I told the Council that you helped find the person who bombed the Temple, they'd be willing to help you." He has no idea.

"I'll see how the tides are flowing," she decides finally, "I'll help you for now but if the tides are flowing against you, don't think I'll forget about the bounty."

He just nods. Fair enough. At least he's not about to get dragged back to the police yet. He can't believe he's out here hiding from the Jedi and the Republic. But what else is he supposed to do?

Now is one of those times where he'd probably go off to brood alone anyway, somewhere in the dark where no one could find him, but – That doesn't mean he's much enjoying it. He wishes he wasn't stranded out here all alone. So even unpleasant Dark Sider help is probably better than nothing.

"What's your name anyway?" he asks as an afterthought.

She snorts. "Ventress. You know, you're almost adorable like this."

He scowls at her. He wishes people would stop comparing him with an adult he doesn't even remember being. And he is not adorable. He's sixteen!

She just laughs.

Ugh.

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