The Kenobi Saga Book One:The Clone Wars

22. Convictions

Obi-Wan's thoughts were clouded as he took his seat in the Chamber of Judgment. The last time he'd been here he'd been in Ahsoka's place, being stared down by the members of the council. Only then he had received what was considered a lenient punishment. He'd been ecstatic leaving the chamber, that even though he'd had to leave Satine, he still had a home with the Jedi. Today however, he disagreed with the ruling that would be passed down in just a few moments.

He'd tried so hard to buy Anakin time to prove Ahsoka's innocence. Then he'd been outvoted by the council to keep her hearing internal. Now they would be turning her over to the senate. He watched as Ahsoka rose to face the council, his stomach twisting as the other masters tore into her defense. Anakin shouted from his position on the lower floor, temple guards barring him from causing too great a scene. Obi-Wan looked away, his guilt choking him. He reminded himself that he'd done all he could, nothing he said now would change the punishment Ahsoka was about to receive.

He cringed as her Padawan beads were torn away and Ahsoka was led to a holding cell. As soon as the Council was released from the Chamber of Judgment Obi-Wan made his escape. He hurried through the temple to the empty room that had once been his chambers. He sat in the center of the room and began working his way through the Jedi calming techniques. There were only a few hours before the hearing, he had until then to quiet his mind.

.   .   .

Master Yoda exuded peace, watching as Ahsoka took her stand before the court, trusting that the verdict would coincide with the will of the force. Beside him Obi-Wan was trying to put up a pretense of the same calm. It wasn't convincing. He shuffled in his seat, stroking his beard. Everything about this was wrong.

Tarkin began his opening statements, announcing for the first time that the punishment if found guilty would be death. Again Obi-Wan's stomach flipped. What more could he have done to prevent this from happening?

The more Tarkin spoke, the darker Obi-Wan's feelings got. Master Plo Koon was trying to keep a neutral stance, but the waves of emotion rolling off of Kenobi were not helping him do so. This Padawan- ex-Padawan - had proved herself not only as a commander but as a Jedi. She had grown from the youngling he had brought to the temple so long ago. He didn't believe her to be capable of what the evidence pointed to.

"Chancellor!" Anakin's voice pulled the attention of everyone in the court. He made his way forward with four temple guards and a prisoner as the Chancellor made an attempt to keep order in his court, "I'm here with evidence and a confession. From the person responsible for all of the crimes Ahsoka has been accused of. Barriss Offee. Member of the Jedi Order; and traitor."

Obi-Wan felt a twinge of relief, Ahsoka was innocent. But that relief was quickly pushed aside by anger. Barriss was Ahsoka's friend, not only had she betrayed the order but another Padawan. He took a deep breath, keeping himself focused on the relief, refusing to let the anger overtake him the way it had Barriss.

.   .   .

Obi-Wan wondered if his feelings would even out anytime soon. Plo-Koon had stopped him from going after Anakin, which in all fairness was probably for the best. But when he'd finally gone after his friend he couldn't find him. He'd searched the temple but Anakin wasn't there. He had a feeling as to where he could be, but he decided Anakin was in good hands with Padme.

That left him with nothing to do but go catch Lore-Val and Solitaire up on the decisions that had been made. He leaned against the wall of the elevator, trying to prepare himself for what awaited him in the apartment. Lore-Val had refused to speak to him since he'd returned to Coruscant, while Solitaire had been his diplomatic polite self which had been a relief, not that he could do much to calm the angry teenager.

The elevator stopped and Obi-Wan walked down the hall to the apartment. He paused at the door, steeling himself before going in.

Lore-Val stood from where she and Solitaire were playing cub'ikad at the dining room table when the front door slid open. One look at her father and she was sure things hadn't gone well.

"How bad is it?" she asked.

Obi-Wan breathed a deep sigh, "Anakin proved her innocence."

"That's great!" Lore-Val smiled. When Obi-Wan didn't match her enthusiasm she deflated, "What?"

"Ahsoka refused to rejoin the Jedi Order."

"Oh."

"Sir," Solitaire spoke up, "Will the commander return to her position in the GAR?"

"No. I'm afraid leaving the order also removes her from her position as commander."

"Where will she go?" Lore-Val asked quietly.

"I don't know."

Obi-Wan had expected shouting from the girl. Somehow the quiet was more concerning.

She must be so scared, Lore-Val thought, thinking of Ahsoka alone for the first time in her life. When she'd been forced off of Mandalore she'd had somewhere to go. Ahsoka had truly lost everything.

"I'll be in my room," she muttered, walking off and locking the door behind her.

Obi-Wan could feel his daughter's anxiety and grief pouring out of her bedroom in waves. He spoke quietly with Solitaire for a few minutes before the clone went back to the barracks to tell his brothers what had happened.

Obi-Wan went to the kitchen and quickly discovered there was no alcohol in any of the cabinets. He frowned, and instead made himself a cup of tea. He looked to Lore-Val's room and shook his head. He took his tea and went to his own room to brood.

AN: Sorry I jumped through this arc so fast, I think this was the only way could even attempt it.