There was a brief pause before Quinlan replied. "But that's the rub, isn't it, Kenobi? It's really not up to us is it?"
He was right, and Obi-Wan knew it. That didn't mean he'd admit defeat out loud, though.
...
Soon enough the customs desk was done with Anakin and Priala, then it was Kenobi and Quinlan's turn. Once their credentials were accepted, they were allowed through. They left the main entrance as a news channel played over a nearby public holocom. It displayed the image of an attractive twi'lek, just shy of middle age. She spoke in a clear, low voice.
"Tensions rise across the Outer Rim, after another heated day on the Senate floor. Senator Libbo Wurmnar of Neimoidia and Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo, both accuse each other of trying to provoke a war. Representing the Trade Federation and the Outer Rim Reform Alliance respectively, Senator Wurmnar claims the Federation has the right to freedom of navigation, while Senator Amidala claims that the Neimoidians have been creating an empire in all but name for decades, as the Republic refuses to take action-"
The voice was cut off as they stepped out onto the street. The Prime Minister's speeder was coming to pick them up, but they had a moment before it arrived.
"So, what's our play?" Vos asked.
Hearing him voice the question, both Anakin and Priala came over, waiting to hear what Kenobi had to say.
"Concordia Services is affiliated with the Prime Minister. If he's behind the assassination, then we don't want him or anyone else to know we're looking into it." Kenobi looked around. "Understand? We're not going to mention that company at all until there's no other choice."
They all nodded.
"Vos, Anakin and I recovered a box that the assassin used to hide the explosives, along with a blaster. Can you use your Psychometry on them? We might get lucky and find a lead."
Anakin dug the box out of his backpack, broke the plastic seal they'd been keeping it in, and handed it to Quinlan, who closed his eyes and checked its past, before he grunted and shook his head. "Purchased from a street vendor on Coruscant." When Anakin passed him the blaster, he did the same. "No luck. Made and sold on Coruscant, doesn't look like she has a license for it, but nothing we can use."
"I expected as much." Obi-Wan sighed, and Anakin quickly resealed both pieces of evidence. "The Alliance and the Trade Federation won't wait for us, so the clock is ticking. We need to cover a lot of ground fairly quickly, and we may only have hours to do it, so we need to split up, but this is also Mandalore, so we're at serious risk of harm if we go off by ourselves. To keep it simple, we'll split into two teams of two. Anakin, you're skilled with computers, Prialla, I've never really worked with you before, but I want you to go with him. Check public records, find out everything you can about Concordia Services. Quinlan and I will go to the governmentorial palace, and speak with the Prime Minister. Vos, I don't think he knows about your psychometry. Maybe if you can get a handshake in we can learn something useful. Any objection?" Obi-Wan looked to the others.
No one raised their voice in protest, which Obi-Wan chose to believe meant his plan was excellent.
After that, they broke into two teams. Anakin and Prialla headed for the hall of records in a speeder taxi, while Kenobi and Vos went to meet with the Prime Minister.
The palace looked like much of the rest of the upper city, after it was rebuilt by the New Mandalorians. It was all composed of large plates of transparisteel, even some of the ceilings and floors. It gave the impression of glass houses, easily damaged by a thrown rock, but transparisteel was actually fairly tough. The intention was to symbolize the transparency of the new government, another way of rejecting the old mystique of super commandos with covered faces. Obi-Wan didn't exactly appreciate the aesthetic. Especially when he glanced down half a dozen floors and accidentally made eye contact with a man who awkwardly looked away and tried to pretend he hadn't been curiously staring at the Jedi.
"I just don't get how anyone lives here." Vos grumped.
"They don't live here, they work here." Obi-Wan defended.
A handful of the Mandalorian Royal Guards let them into the throne room, and they found the Prime Minister waiting for them at the bottom of the steps that led up to the dais. The throne sat vacant at the moment.
"Eyeing your next promotion?" Vos asked, smirking.
Pre Vizla turned to the two Jedi entering the room, and laughed politely at Vos' suggestion. "We have yet to determine if the Duchess's chair is hereditary or elected. I would not want it either way." He bowed once, small and formal. "I'm Pre Vizla, Governor of Concordia and Prime Minister of her Majesty's government."
"I am Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi." Obi-Wan bowed. "Of the Coruscant Temple."
"Quinlan Vos, Indinoor."
The brusqueness of the intro made Obi-Wan flinch, but then he realised what Quinlan was up to when the man offered his hand to the Prime Minister for a shake. Realizing what his gambit was, Obi-Wan rushed to add, "You'll have to forgive us, the Jedi of Indinoor seem to have not learned their manners, yet."
"Yes. Quite." Pre Vizla agreed. He was a tall, bald man with piercing blue eyes, and blonde eyebrows. Definitely a pureblooded mandalorian at a glance, but with a sharp jaw and neck corded from regular exercise. He was also trained to shield his mind, so there was a moment as Vos waited with his hand outstretched, and Obi-Wan watched, before Vizla reluctantly accepted the handshake.
Whatever Vos saw with his psychometry must have surprised him, because he paused on the spot for half a second. Then he completed the handshake, and strode over to the transparisteel wall. He whistled. "Wow, what a view."
Pre's eyes narrowed. Whether it was because he realised Vos's game, or at the flagrant disrespect, Obi-Wan wasn't sure.
"I apologise for him, really." Obi-Wan stepped forward. "On Coruscant, we have higher standards of professionalism, I promise."
Pre turned to regard Obi-Wan, hard face and gaze narrowed. "There's only so many insults I will accept, Master Jedi."
"Yes, of course." Obi-Wan turned to Vos. "Knight Quinlan, if you're not going to be civil, perhaps you should find a better use of your time elsewhere."
Quinlan turned, regarding the two with a defiant expression. He gave an annoyed snort. "Wanted to do some sightseeing, anyway." He muttered, and stalked away.
"I honestly don't know what they're teaching them out there." Obi-Wan sighed.
"Yes, well is there something I can do for you?" Pre asked. "Of course I will help you with your investigation in every way I can. Duchess Satine is a good friend."
"She's a good friend to me, too." Obi-Wan answered. "She's at Indinoor currently, I understand she has security arrangements made with Count Dooku."
"How much security can he provide?" Pre replied. "He's about to go to war."
"My concerns, exactly." Obi-Wan said. "Obviously, the last thing Mandalore, or the galaxy, needs right now is another war. I'm here to ask for your cooperation while we conduct the investigation. Right now the attack seems to have been ideologically motivated, but the assassin cleared every background check. Most likely she became radicalised to old Mandalorian revanchist ideals after entering the Duchess's employment."
"I see." Pre frowned. "What can I do to help?"
"At the moment, I was hoping you would give us access to government archives here on Mandalore. I don't expect we'll find anything, but of course I try to be thorough in my investigations."
"Of course." Pre agreed. "Is there anything else?"
"For now that will be all. Despite my associate, it's been a pleasure. In the future I'll contact your office, I understand these are busy days for you."
After giving his polite goodbyes, Obi-Wan left the throneroom, and soon felt Quinlan Vos fall into step next to him. "Did you find anything useful?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'll say." Vos grunted. "Mister Prime Minister over there is leading a double life. Didn't get long enough to see everything, but over the last few months he's been spending half his time with some kind of super-commando cell."
Obi-Wan frowned. "That's not a good sign."
"He's also abducted and executed three different people." Vos added. "And he did it personally, with a black lightsaber."
Obi-Wan turned to look at Quinlan, eyebrow raised. "Really?"
"Yes. Really."
...
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