The Perfect Jedi • Anakin Skywalker

Ch 32: Bombing at the Jedi Temple

I walked down the hall as Mace came up behind me.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked.

"The Temple hangar has been bombed" he said.

"What?" I said. "How?"

"Master Yoda has called back Skywalker and his padawan to investigate with you" he said. "They will be here shortly."

I walked alongside him to the council chambers, taking my seat as Anakin and Ahsoka walked in.

"How could the Separatists infiltrate the Temple?" Anakin asked.

"Worse than that it is" Yoda said.

"What could be worse, Master Yoda?" Ahsoka asked.

The council members all exchanged glances as I shook my head.

"Everything is on the table" Mace said. "We have to look at the possibility that it could've been anyone in the Temple, even a Jedi."

"If a Jedi this is, gone to the dark side they have" he said.

"I-I can't believe a Jedi would attack a place this sacred" Ahsoka said.

"Luna will lead the investigation along with the two of you" Mace said. "We can't trust anyone who was here, even a Jedi. The two of you will provide an impartial point of view free of assumptions."

"Wasn't Luna here?" Anakin asked.

I rolled my eyes.

"She was with Master Yoda and Kenobi all morning with the younglings" he said.

"We'll do everything we can" I said standing up.

"Careful you all must be, if willing to destroy the Temple the attacker is, to great lengths they will go to keep from being caught" Yoda said.

"Then I guess we'll have to go to even greater lengths to catch him" Anakin said.

The way to the Temple was silent as the smoke was still new. I closed my eyes, hearing the screams.

"I can still hear the screams" I said.

"Do you believe what they said, Luna, that a Jedi could do this?" Ahsoka asked. "After all you are on the council."

"Mace is the only one who truly believes it was a Jedi, the others don't know what to believe" I said. "But not every Jedi agrees with this war. I think Anakin would think the same."

"There are many political idealists among us" Anakin said.

"But a traitor?" She asked.

"I'm afraid one can eventually become the other" he said. "Rememebr Count Dooku and General Krell? That's how they started too."

"Only analysts and investigation will prove what is true or not" a droid said.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Russo-ISC. Crime scene analyzer for the Jedi" it said. "I will be working with you two and the padawan on this case. I was assigned by Master Windu."

"Okay, Russo, you and Ahsoka should begin the interviews" Anakin said.

"I would rather interview the witnesses alone" it said.

I looked between the two, confused.

"Why?" Ahsoka asked.

"Many of the wounded have heard the rumors a Jedi was behind the explosion" it said. "There will be ill will toward you."

"I think you're over exaggerating. There were Jedi killed in that blast along with maintenance crew and clones" I said. "Take Ahsoka with you. Let us know if you find anything."