Chapter Two

Suspicion

Obi-Wan Kenobi wondered why an emergency session of the Jedi Council had been called so suddenly.

He had only received word a short three hours ago, telling him to report to the council chambers at this time.

As expected, most of the other masters were already present and seated when he arrived.

"Ah Master Kenobi," Yoda said. "Good to see you, it is."

"Have a seat," Mace Windu added, gesturing to a vacant spot.

"Thank you masters," Kenobi replied graciously and took his place. "What is the report?"

Yoda smiled a little.

"Patience," he said. "Awaiting Master Plo Koon, we yet are..."

Obi-Wan slipped into meditative silence while pressing the ends of his fingers together.

He could sense disturbance in the Force, and his masters seemed a little uneasy too.

Plo Koon's arrival soon drug him from his absorbed thoughts.

"Reporting," Plo Koon stated with simple elegance and seated himself.

"Together are we," Yoda said. "Begin we should. Master Windu, would you show everyone the data file?"

Windu used the holo projector coupled with PC at the center of the chamber. He inserted a small chip and the display activated.

Figures that showed transfers of a sum of money were displayed.

Obi-Wan's eyes widened in surprise when he realized the sums were from Chancellor Palpatine's accounts.

"Is that..." Obi-Wan began.

"You see rightly Obi-Wan," Windu said. "We have here seeming evidence that the Chancellor transferred funds to Count Dooku. On more than one occasion, it would appear."

"Yes," Yoda agreed. "...and here, transferred a large sum to Kamino, the figures show Palpatine did."

The council exchanged worried glances. Each could feel the disturbance of one another through their shared union in the Force.

"What do you think this means?" Master Plo Koon asked in a deeply troubled tone.

"A quick guess this is," Yoda replied. "Suggest I do, that the Chancellor is funding the Separatists."

Windu opened his mouth and then closed it. He looked at a loss, as though he were looking for the right words.

"It is hard to believe," he said finally, sounding skeptical of himself. "Maybe this also suggests the Chancellor funded the creation of the clone army?"

"Most troubling," Yoda said. "That possibility is..."

Obi-Wan found his voice at last.

"Masters," he spoke with reverence. "What are we going to do? If this data is correct, the Supreme Chancellor is a traitor to the Republic."

Yoda looked extremely troubled, and the council knew he would not dare to voice his clearly deep doubts.

"Someone should bring the Chancellor in for questioning," Plo Koon suggested. "Yet how? That would look extremely suspect to the Senate. It would be ideal we bring the Chancellor here for questioning, and yet..."

Windu's expression became resolved and hard.

"Yet Master," Windu interjected. "There is clear precedent for the Jedi Order to arrest public officials in the Senate's name."

"To a dark place this line of thought could carry us," Yoda warned.

"We have to act master," Obi-Wan stated frankly, finding his voice again. "We can't just turn an eye to this information. The Chancellor should at least be brought in for questioning."

Yoda looked thoughtful, but he didn't voice disagreement.

"Shall I go collect the Chancellor?" Windu suggested. "I will bring him back here for questioning."

"Careful you must be," Yoda said. "The dark side, I sense. Entangled somewhere in this matter, the dark side is..."

Windu rose from his place.

"With your permission masters," he said. "I will take some backup fighters just in case and go arrest the Chancellor."

"Go," Yoda said, and he acted as law in the council. "...and may the Force be with you."

Windu nodded and turned to depart.

Plo Koon remained troubled.

"I sense a plot," he said quietly. "A plot to destroy the Jedi..."

"Yes," Yoda agreed. "Right you are. Utmost care, we must take."

In this, they were all in agreement.

Obi-Wan found himself hoping that Master Windu wouldn't have any problems arresting the Chancellor.

The council had entertained doubts toward Palpatine before now.

They had even wondered after the Unit Fives incident if maybe there might be some truth in the clone's last words.