"Do we really have to ask the Council for this, Master?", Ahsoka asked in a groaning tone as she and Anakin took the elevator to the Jedi Council.
"Look, Snips. As much as I would like to digress, this is our best shot to gain the approval of the Jedi Council", her former Master reasoned out, understanding her reluctance after what happened a year ago. Even though he didn't like it either, they had little choice at that matter. "And by extension, the help that Lady Bo-Katan would need to get Maul out of Mandalore"
"And it would have to involve me coming back to the Temple...", Ahsoka uttered, to which Anakin placed a hand on her shoulder to give her an assuring smile.
"I know that you made your choice, and I both respect and support that", Anakin told her, to show that he was there whenever she needed him. Her response was a rather sad smile, as the elevator doors opened, now heading towards the Jedi Council Chamber. "Besides, maybe this could be a way to make up for their screwup a year ago"
Ahsoka raised an eyebrow. "You sound confident that they're going oblige."
"It's the least they can do, Snips. Come on!"
The duo made their way towards the Council Chambers, where Anakin and Ahsoka paused for a moment, with the Togruta unsettled to face the Council after the botched trial. "You seem a little on edge...", Anakin mused, deciding to play one of Obi-Wan's tricks.
Ahsoka breathed out. "Not at all, Master. And try not to be Master Kenobi, that's not how you do it"
Anakin looked at her in mock disbelief. "Me? Being Master Kenobi? That's just absurd-"
The Jedi Knight's eyes wandered off towards their feet, where he found a medium-sized metal box covered with some rust. Picking it up, he opened the box, and what's inside surprised him. "What's inside of it, Master?", Ahsoka inquired.
For a moment, Anakin felt a shift passing him through the Force, unable to explain what he was feeling right now.
"Holotapes ... and a holoplayer", Anakin responded, observing the discs containing their own video footage or others that contained various content. "Do you think anyone who worked on the Archives dropped it by any chance?"
"Can't say. I don't think Master Jocasta's age had caught up to her just yet..."
"We'll just return it once we meet up with the Council", Anakin said, before the two entered the Council Chambers. From there, he saw a few familiar faces inside. From there, he saw Padme in the middle of a conversation with Master Yoda, and with her was Rex, who Anakin would guess was acting as an escort for her. Besides that, he also saw Master Luminara Unduli and Depa Bilaba, with her Padawan Caleb Dume being with her as well. Of course, the members of the Jedi Council are also inside, including Obi-Wan,
And he could notice the empty chairs belonging to Masters Agen Kolar, Stass Allie, Oppo Rancissis and Coleman Kcaj. And both Anakin and Ahsoka guessed that they are on a mission of their own.
"Young Skywalker. Padawan Tano. Pleased we are to see you", Yoda formally greeted the two as they entered the chamber. Ahsoka gave a warm smile to the Jedi Grandmaster and then to Masters Shaak Ti, Obi-Wan and Kit Fisto.
"Master Yoda, Senator Amidala. Can I assume that we aren't interfering?", Anakin asked, to which Yoda chuckled in response.
"No, no. Finished we are, approved of her request we have"
Anakin raised an eyebrow. "Request?"
Padme turned to address the Jedi Knight, and her secret husband. "I have requested Master Yoda for a Jedi escort for a new trade treaty to be negotiated at Naboo. Captain Rex here has escorted me within the Jedi Temple, since the Chancellor is preoccupied at the moment"
Once the Senator has finished, Yoda spoke "Now, how can we help, hmm?"
"Aren't Masters Unduli and Bilaba...", Anakin began, seeing they are probably in line.
"We have received our new assignments, Skywalker", Luminara assured him. "I am to be assigned to Kashyyk to observe possible Separatist movements along the orbit, while Master Bilaba and Padawan Dume are to head to Kaller to intercept an impending Separatist assault"
Anakin nodded, with Obi-Wan and a few Masters motioning him to go ahead. Clearing his throat, Anakin began. "As you can see, my former Padawan Ahsoka Tano has requested an audience to the Jedi Council with a petition at hand"
This spurred interest within the Council. "Of what does she speak of, Skywalker?"
Anakin lightly elbowed Ahsoka, who stepped forward at the middle of the Council Chamber.
"We have received word from Lady Bo-Katan Kryze that Maul has started a civil war in Mandalore", Ahsoka told the Jedi Council, who whispered amongst themselves. "And that she has requested Republic aid to remove him from power and to restore order within the planet"
The Council whispered amongst themselves, while Obi-Wan inwardly frowned, remembering his failure to prevent Maul from taking over Mangalore. And eventually it has blown out in a debate whether or not to send in support for Bo-Katan.
At one side, they reasoned out that they could not divert any forces without the risk of the Separatists taking advantage of their decreased numbers, while the others favored at apprehending Maul, seeing that he may form an alliance with the Separatists that would prove to be vital for the latter's cause.
And their debate ended when one of them spoke up. "With due respect, Masters. But at this point, our lack of activity towards Maul's activities at Mandalore have leads us to this scenario. If he remains in power and is in league with the leading Crime Lords including the Hutts, this may cause indirect results to the Outer Rim", Obi-Wan reasoned out, realizing that Maul had to be apprehended before he could commit more atrocities.
"While it is unclear if Maul still served Darth Sidious, perhaps capturing him would provide the information we need to root him out within the Senate", Master Ki-Adi Mundi voiced out his approval, to which the other members of the Jedi Council began to consider the idea.
Master Windu also considered the request where he turned to Master Yoda, who gave his nod of approval. "Very well, an assault towards Mandalore with the support of Lady Kryze to capture Maul would prove to be beneficial on who could be his master. If so, then we would assign Master Kenobi and Jedi Knight Skywalker to lead the assault to apprehend him"
Ahsoka looked at Anakin with a relieved expression, where the Knight merely gave him a look that translated to told you.
Noticing the box that the Knight carried, Plo Koon inquired. "You have something with you, Skywalker?"
Anakin remembered the box he was carrying. "Yes. I have found it on the Council Chamber doorstep before Ahsoka and I entered. But there is something...of about it"
Sensing the uncertainty within him, Yoda spoke. "Enlighten us, would you?
Clearing his throat Anakin began. "When I first opened the box, it contained several holotapes and a player. When I first held it with my hand, I felt a shift through the Force."
Anakin's statement caused the people within the Council Chamber to be intrigued, particularly the Jedi. "Come again Skywalker?", Shaak Ti asked, not getting the gist yet.
"I felt something through these tapes", Anakin repeated, walking over to Master Yoda for him to examine them. "What's more is when I observed the nature of these tapes, I found a dated inscription that read as a A New Hope for the Galaxy"
Yoda examined the box and its contents a bit further, his clawed hands touching the aged surface of the tapes. Within moments, he felt quite agitated, which spurred the worries of the Jedi Council.
"Felt it too, I have...", Yoda said, to the utter confusion of the others, to which Yoda passed the box to Windu. And sure enough, he felt it too. As did the rest of the Jedi present. And they began to come up with their own conclusions, from the Force speaking through these contents to them being made by those who follow the Dark Side because it tried to lure them into watching the contents.
"It felt as if...it was urging whoever holds the box to view its contents", Plo Koon spoke in a rather shocked tone.
"I could sense as if a Dark Shadow looms within these tapes as if something is wrong in the future as we speak...", Saesee Tiin said.
The Jedi were unsure what to do next, especially if it contained information regarding their future. As much as they would want to dismiss it as a joke, the fact that the Force may be urging them to look at the future is what changed their minds, and they have to concede.
"If the Force would want us to know what happened to the future as we speak, perhaps viewing them would be a viable option", Mace Windu said, looking at Captain Rex and Padme. "While you may or may not know much about the Force, perhaps viewing this with us may be able to provide answers that you may need as well"
"We accept, Masters", Padme complied, with Rex agreeing as well. Giving the box to Anakin, the Jedi Knight prepared the holoplayer and inserted the first disc, unsure what it has in store for them.
Moments later, the holotape began to play.