//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Coruscant - Katooni Investigates/Fight In The Archives // Story: Star Wars: The Trials of the Force (Part One) // by Admiral Producer //------------------------------// The Separatist attack was soon repelled by the Grand Army of the Republic and the Republic navy and the Separatist leaders were arrested by Anakin and Ahsoka. The Republic had narrowly avoided a second Clone Wars, but victory came with a price. The Galactic Senate was in ruins from the attack and it wouldn’t be in session for a long time on Coruscant. Supreme Chancellor Padmé Amidala proposed that the Senate headquarters be temporarily moved to the Hosnian Prime system until the Coruscant Senate could be fixed up. Many other Senators agreed and it was official. Silverstream, suspected of masterminding the attack, was arrested by the GAR and taken for trial in the Jedi Temple. She stood in front of the Jedi Council where the Jedi read out her charges and Master Yoda asked how she pled. Of course, Silver had nothing to do with the attack on the Senate, so she pleaded not guilty. “Judge this like Padawan Tano, we must not,” Master Yoda told the other Jedi, “Seen what happens then, we have. Prove your innocence, how will you, Silverstream?” “Give me 48 hours, Master Yoda,” Silverstream told him, “I think I can find the culprit before then and bring whoever it is into custody.” “Need I remind you guys that Silver did save the entire galaxy and Anakin back during the Clone Wars. She saved him from going towards the dark side of the Force.” Obi Wan said, “I can vouch for her good character.” “She has shown great courage,” Mace Windu agreed, “It would not be wise to repeat the same mistakes we made before when we falsely accused Ahsoka. I normally would be skeptical, but Silver has earned her place within the Order as has Ahsoka. It would be a crime to not grant her request.” “Then give you the 48 hours, we will,” Master Yoda conceded, “Bring the true culprit to justice should you, and drop the charges, we will.” The trial was then declared over and Silverstream had 48 hours to find the true culprit and stop whoever it was. When coming out of the trial room, Katooni was there and was relieved to hear that Silver was still in the Order. “I need to find the real culprit in 48 hours,” Silverstream told her, “You’re going to help me. Do you think you are up for it?” Katooni nodded, “I’d do anything to help fix this. I’m in.” ———————————————————————————————————————— Silverstream and Katooni spent all day on the investigation. Ahsoka and Anakin had volunteered to help out as well and Silver gratefully accepted the help. That night, Silver and her friends were running out of ideas, so they decided to split up. Anakin and Ahsoka would check the youngling dormitories and Silverstream and Katooni would check the archives. It turned out that the archives was the right place to look. As Silverstream and Katooni entered, Petro was standing there, two lightsabers in both hands. “So, you’ve found out my secret,” Petro said, “Surprising. Didn’t expect you to be that quick witted.” Katooni looked horrified, “Petro? You…you planned this?” “Of course I did,” Petro explained, “You know, I had to vent out my frustrations somehow. Turns out what Ahsoka and Anakin were discussing was true. I was able to unite the Separatist remnants for a little while. Now the Confederacy is all but destroyed for real, but I realized that I could be the bad guy and no one would know. And it’s all thanks to you becoming Silver’s Padawan. I’m doing this for your own good, Katooni. You’ll never survive being Silverstream’s Padawan because Silverstream here was trained under Anakin Skywalker. You’re nothing compared to him. You’re pathetic. I knew that the only way I could get my revenge was frame Silverstream here and get her expelled from the Jedi Order like Ahsoka. But then she asked for those 48 hours. That was a major setback for my plans.” “You’ll never get away with this.” Silverstream said, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to report you to the Council.” She ignited her lightsaber. Katooni reluctantly ignited hers. “It’s treason then.” Petro stated. He lunged at Silverstream who blocked his strikes. They were engaged in an epic duel to the death. Petro was doing his best to kill Silverstream, but she knew his every attack. She was able to predict his movements and block, as well as strike. “You‘re a bad friend, Petro!” Silverstream shouted during the duel, “A good friend would be happy that his friend got chosen!” “Katooni means nothing to me!” Petro yelled. He broke free of Silverstream’s strikes and ran over towards Katooni, who was picking up her lightsaber after losing it during the fight. He prepared to strike her down. “Petro, please! I’m sorry you got jealous,” Katooni told him, “But I do know you can’t do this!” Petro glared daggers at her. He picked her up using the Force and began to Force-choke her when Silverstream lunged up from behind him and broke his concentration. Katooni fell to the ground, looking up at him in fear. Using the Force, Petro managed to toss Silverstream over to a corner, knocking her out. Petro advanced towards Katooni, “You took everything from me. Now…YOU WILL DIE!!!” Katooni began to cry. She couldn’t help it. This wasn’t the Petro she knew, “Petro…please, this isn’t you…!” “SILENCE!!!!!” Petro shouted, kicking her in the chest. She cried out, tears pouring down her face, “YOU DON’T DESERVE TO LIVE!!!! You’re weak and pathetic!! You’ll never succeed in training. I SHOULD’VE BEEN CHOSEN!!!!!!” He grabbed her left hand and hauled her up, “You’re coming where no one will ever find you again!” He squeezed her hand tight. She struggled, but it was useless. She pleaded with him, “Please, Petro…let me go…” He whirled around and hit her across the face, grabbing her hand again and began dragging her towards the exit of the archives. This time, she made no move to resist him. And that was when he felt a burning sensation in his chest. He realized that a blue blade had gone through him. He let go of Katooni and fell to the ground. It was Silverstream. But Petro recovered and ignoring the pain, removed the lightsaber and opened the doors, preparing to make a run for it. But there was nowhere to run. For standing in front of him was the entirety of the Jedi Council. Petro stood there, stunned. Anakin and Ahsoka were also there, having brought the entirety of the Council to the archives. “In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic,” Mace Windu announced, “You are under arrest, youngling.” He and the other Jedi ignited their lightsabers. Furious and in his own arrogance, Petro lunged at them, trying to kill all of them. Unfortunately, he did not have the skills of Palpatine when he did. Master Yoda unleashed a torrent of Force Judgement at Petro, wounding him again. He fell and the Jedi all smacked him with their lightsabers, knocking him out.