Anabeth: Darkness Rising

Chapter 13 - Master Lestaa

Windu and Ana soon found themselves back on the shuttle headed to Coruscant. While Windu worked on getting them back into hyperspace Ana sat down with her data pad in the back, still trying to put the pieces of the puzzle Maul had provided her with together.

„What are you up to?" Windu finally entered, grabbing a cup of coffee as he sat down opposite her. „Making a list of potential Sith Lords" Ana replied, holding out the list of name she had begun to write already. „Don't you think that could have waited until we were back at the Temple and figured out whether Maul was lying or not by looking up Master Lestaa?" Windu asked.

„Firstly, I know Maul wasn't lying. Secondly, if Sidius is really after me and Anakin I would like to find out who he is before it is too late" Ana argued. „We tried before, but seen as the only information we had on him was that he basicly controls the Republic, that just about qualifies every Jedi, Politician and high ranking Military Officer. We couldn't check out everyone on that list even if we tried" Windu pointed out the facts.

„Not if we work with Maul's information that Sidious isn't a Jedi and is already close to Anakin. It narrows down the search field immensely" Ana replied optimistically. „Alright, I guess the least I could do is help. Who is n your list so far?" Wndu finally offered his help.

„Well, I obviously completely canceled out the Jedi. As for the Republic Military, I've narrowed it down to Admiral Yularen and Admiral Tarking seen as they are the only high ranking officers Anakin actually gets along with. Although, I think it's worth mentioning that Tarkin lost a lot of popularity points with Anakin after he blamed Ahsoka for the Temple bombing. And for the politicians, I wrote down Senator Organa, Senator Mothma, Mas Ameda and the Chancelor himself so far".

„What about Senator Amidala?". „What about her?" Ana almost panicked at the mention of her name in association with Anankin. „Why isn't she on the list?" Windu clarified. „Oh, I jut thought that considering the amount of times Dooku has tried to ill her one of them would be dead by now of she was the Sith Lord. Besides, I really don't think it's Padme" Ana tried to keep her off the list, knowing that she wasn't the Sith Lord more certainly than her Master could know at the current moment.

„The whole assasiation thing could just be their plan to throw us off. I say put her on the list" Windu pointed out. „Fine" Ana finally agreed, putting in Padme's name against her better knowledge. „Oh, and while we're on the topic, I'd like to hear your opinion about putting Duchess Satine on that list as well" Windu casually added.

„Alright, that's where I draw the line. How does Satine even fit into the describtion? It's not even like she has anything to say in the Republic" Ana opposed the idea. „I mean, isn't it really convenient that as the conflict with the Sepratists begins to escalate even more Maul shows up and tries to kill her so she has to flee to the Republic?" Windu continued to defend his proposition.

„We both know Maul was using her to get to Obi-Wan. Besides, she would have been dead had it not been for me, in which case she would have never even made it to Coruscant. Putting her name on the list is madness" Ana continued to defend her friend. Windu just began to laugh hystericaly. Ana glared at him as she realized what his idea of putting Satine on the list was really about. „You're making fun of me".

Windu just nodded as he continued to laugh at how upset Ana was about it. „I don't get what's so funny, we're trying to solve a problem here" she tried to get him to stop. „I know, but I honestly can't think of any other additions beside Senator Amidala. And if you as the one closest to Anakin out of the two of us can't either, then Id'd say we have everyone" mace finally stopped laughing to calm his Padawan down.

„But what if we missed someone that should be on the list?" ana continued to worry. „We probably didn't, alright? If Maul gave us correct information, then Sidious is one of the people on that list" Windu reasoned with her. „Half of the names on that list are people whom I consider my fiends though. What if it's one of them? Am I really such a terrible judge of character?".