"Master Kenobi," Plo Koon noticed Obi-Wan's lack of attention to his Council briefing. "Are you feeling alright?"

He broke himself out of his trance, "Oh, yes, of course Master Plo." This was a lie of course but he had to hide how he felt from his fellow council members, "So, Cad Bane is on Saleucami. I presume you want me to locate him?"

Obi-Wan already knew the answer to his question, but he so desperately prayed the council would make a different choice. Ever since the Rako Hardeen incident, he was haunted by what he felt for that Duros slime.

"Yes, Master Kenobi," Mace Windu interjected, "It is to be a covert operation. No clones, no other Jedi, just you. We cannot afford to let this terrorist roam free any longer."

A drawn out sigh escaped the conflicted Jedi's mouth

"Are you sure I will be able to take on Bane alone?" Desperation thinly veiled his attempt to reverse the council's decision, "Both Ahsoka and Anakin were able to get closer to capturing Bane than I ever have, even when I was Mister Hardeen."

Silence overtook the room as Master Windu looked at Obi-Wan with his look that no one could ever classify as anger or compassion.

"I have the utmost of faith in you Master Kenobi." An unusually sympathetic Mace reassured him, "All of us do."

Obi-Wan let his eyes circle the room; each master looked upon him with looks of trust and assurance. He inhaled deeply and straightened his posture.

"I will depart for Saleucami at once. I will not disappoint the council."

Master Yoda smiled towards the stoic Obi-Wan, "Bring Bane to justice you will. May the Force be with you."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Kenobi walked towards his Starfighter. He pondered whether or not he ought to speak with Anakin first, he didn't truly know what his apprentice could say to calm his nerves, perhaps Anakin could sense in him what the council did not. Maybe Anakin would know how he feels.

'What do I feel?'

There was no time for an internal monologue. He reached the bay and thanked the civilian who had prepped his ship and R4. As he prepared to set off for Saleucami, sweat soaked through his robes and his stomach turned. The Starfighter attached to a Hyperspace ring and in a moment, Obi-Wan was being whisked away at the speed of light towards Cad Bane.

'Cade Bane is a terrorist. A dark mark on the galaxy. He must face justice.'

Kenobi had to remind himself of his mission every so often during his travel in hyperspace. He had never been this distracted before. Clarity had never alluded the stoic and wise Jedi before. Obi-Wan felt lost, afraid, sickly, nervous. He felt like a youngling again, struggling to attract as master to teach him.

R4's beeping broke him out of his trance as Plo had done mere hours ago. Kenobi read the translator

"Ah, we've finally reached Saleucami. Thank you Arfour."

The droid piloted Obi-Wan down to a landing pad outside a sprawling city centered around an oasis. The Jedi stood only steps away from his ship for several minutes after arrival.

"Arfour, go and orbit the planet. If I need you, I'll engage my beacon."

The droid obeyed and returned to space as Obi-Wan began his trek into the city. He instinctively knew if Bane was here as the council surmised, he would be in a cantina.

'Oh, joy. This one looks especially seedy.'

The Jedi entered the run down bar with his robe tight around his body and his hood surrounding his head. He approached the barkeep carefully, using the Force to discern whether or not Bane was there.

"What will you be having tonight?" The Weequay asked him, apparently without concern a strange hooded man just entered his bar.

"I desire information," A smirk became visible through the shadow cast by his hood, "And a Poison Spice Tonic, shaken of course."

The barkeep smiled as well, "Good taste. And there's plenty of information to go around." He began to mix the beverage, "What would you like to know?"

Obi-Wan reached out for his drink and took a sip, recoiling a bit from the alcohol, "Cad Bane. Has he been here and if so, where can I find him now?"

"Bane? Of course he's been here plenty of times over the past few rotations. Kind of surprising though. I pegged him as a 'different night different port' type of guy. But, I guess he loved this place. I do make a mean Poison Spice Tonic. That's his drink of choice as well."

Kenobi smiled once again. The drink brought him the peace that alluded him during his journey to the wartorn system. But, the Rodian sitting two seats away from him got up and ran quickly out of the bar mere moments after the discussion about Bane.

"It appears I've found my lead." Obi-Wan handed the bartender a handful of credits, "Keep the change, my friend. You were quite the helper."

The Jedi ran out of the bar and reached out with the Force to find the Rodian. Once he got a reading on the shifty man, he pursued him with all due stealth. This went on for a fairly long time, but the game of cat and mouse came to an end when the Rodian entered a rundown munitions factory the Separatists had abandoned when the Republic reclaimed the planet. He started towards the building, but once again the uncertainty overcame him. Kenobi kept going, ignoring the nagging feeling of confliction gnawing at his mind.

Obi-Wan could still sense the Rodian man, but no other presences. Alongside the conflict in his mind, frustration grew. He journeyed up a flight of stairs and went into a large open room. He could see the Rodian cowering in the room's center

"Well, hello there. Do you wish to come speak with me politely? Or do you wish to fight?"

Silence.

"I assure you, fighting will not end well for you."

He continued to tread towards the man and he tried to sense what was going through the Rodian's mind, but all his senses were clouded.

"What do you know of the bounty hunter Cad Bane?"

Despite Kenobi's muddled senses, he could feel a shift in the Force. He began to slowly reach for his lightsaber. But, before he was able to ignite it, a figure fell from the ceiling and hit the Jedi over the head. As Obi-Wan drifted into unconsciousness, the figure stepped out of darkness.

"Oh, Kenobi. Your skills must be decreasing if I was able to get the jump on you," Bane joked as he knelt down, removing his beacon, "Look who's my prisoner now."