With a resigned air Anakin gave his report of the mission to the Jedi Council. He told the whole story beginning with Stokra’s call to see him and ending with the duel with Shinai. When he finished the Masters looked at him with some interest, all except Yoda who examined Anakin sceptically.
“Think you do that Stokra hired Shinai to do the attacks?” he asked.
“It all makes sense, Master Yoda,” Anakin replied. “I’ve considered it from every angle and I'm convinced that Stokra was behind it, even having the attack on himself to avoid suspicion.”
“Any evidence of this, have you?” Yoda continued. “For proof you need if to approach Stokra with this you are.”
The smile fell from Anakin’s face. “No.”
Yoda turned to the other Masters. “Satisfied I am with this result, yet help us it does not.”
“With the Senate still deadlocked the role of the Jedi is going to be a long and drawn out issue,” observed Shaak Ti. “All we need to do is wait until Stokra raises his voice among those who are trying to explain Gunray’s death.”
“Masters,” said Anakin suddenly, “I think there is something that can be done to silence Stokra.”
At this they all turned on him in surprise.
Yoda snorted. “Silence?”
Anakin smiled. “Perhaps that was the wrong word to use,” he said. “More like…appease.” He explained his plan to the Council
Yoda considered this. “Certain this will work you are?”
“No, but I am confident,” Anakin said. “It can work, at least I think it can.”
Yoda’s green brow furrowed and he looked at Obi-Wan.
“Oh, I know nothing of this,” Obi-Wan said, holding up his hands in surrender. “Don’t look at me!”
“Settled it is then,” Yoda said decidedly. “Confident of this I am too.”
Anakin smiled as he bowed his head, yet when he went to go Obi-Wan motioned him to stay.
“What about the boy?” Obi-Wan asked. Arrin was waiting outside in the company of two droids who would be very vigilant. “I sensed the Force was quite strong with him, what is to become of him?”
Yoda examined Obi-Wan with interest. “Wish him to be trained, you do?”
“What else can be done, Master Yoda?” Obi-Wan pointed out. “His mother is dead, his father is gone and as far as I can tell he remembers nothing of what had happened last night.”
The little Jedi Master turned back to Anakin. “What think you on this?”
Anakin thought for a long moment, he knew Arrin should be trained…yet how to say this. “Didn’t you say, Master Yoda, that we need to find more Jedi to fill the spaces that had been left by the war?”
“Said this I did,” agreed Yoda. “Yet why repeat it now, do you?”
“I remember when you were discussing whether I should be trained that your initial decision what that I was too old,” he continued. “Arrin is younger than I was when I first came, so I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be trained.”
“And perhaps,” Obi-Wan said, catching what Anakin was saying, “we should broaden our search for those sensitive to the Force.”
“We have already accepted infants outside Republic worlds,” opined Nat Sem.
“Perhaps the age should be raised somewhat,” Obi-Wan suggested. “Not dramatically of course.”
There was a ripple of agreement in the chamber.
“More discussion on this is needed,” asserted Yoda, waving a green finger. “Yet young Arrin, see him now we will.”
Anakin opened the door and called Arrin in. When the boy was inside Anakin left, walking through the Temple and heading for the Senate building.
--
Stokra’s office may have been repaired from Shinai’s assault, yet appearances showed that the senator was no longer taking any chances with security. For instance, if someone wanted to see Stokra then they had to either have an appointment or be on a list of people who could see Stokra without one. Only then would the security grid be lowered and the way was clear from the landing pad to Stokra’s office.
Anakin did not have an appointment nor was his name bound to be on the list of allowed visitors, yet he was determined to see Stokra. He arrived at the senator’s floor in the apartment complex and met a rather surprised-looking security guard.
“You've got a lot of nerve coming here, Jedi Skywalker,” the guard said, Stokra had made sure that each member of his staff knew Anakin by sight. The guard told Anakin this.
Anakin smiled quietly, moving his hand ever so slightly. “I need to see him, you will let me through.”
The guard blinked. “You need to see him,” he said, “I will let you through.”
Anakin moved his hand again. “You will deactivate the security grid.”
“I will deactivate the security grid,” the guard said, doing as he was ordered.
“Thank you,” Anakin said, walking through. It didn’t make much sense that Stokra had such a weak-minded doorman, but Anakin was pleased he hadn't had to draw his lightsaber.
--
The next barrier was the receptionist, a green-skinned Ishi-Tib with yellow eyes that glowed like lamps. He was unlike the Twi’lek who had previously sat there as a Hutt was to a Zeltron.
The Ishi-Tib eyed Anakin with obvious distaste. “I don’t know how you got in, Skywalker,” he said in stilted Basic, “but you’re not going to stay long.” He reached under his desk, Anakin rushed forward and caught his wrist.
“Don’t please,” he urged, with a flawless smile. “I’d hate for this to get messy.” He walked around so he was behind the Ishi-Tib. “Which one of these buttons opens the door to Stokra’s office?”
“None of them,” the Ishi-Tib spat, “the senator has the only control for that door, he opens it only after I have verified who has come to see him.” He glared at Anakin. “And don’t think I’ll do that for you.”
Anakin shrugged. “No need to worry,” he told the Ishi-Tib, “locks have never bothered me before.”
After Anakin left the Ishi-Tib activated the comm unit so as Stokra could know who was coming.
--
The door took Anakin no more than a few minutes to open with the Force, he made sure the door would lock after he shut it then walked up to face Stokra.
The senator was so enraged that Anakin would not have been surprised if steam was coming out of his ears. He viewed Anakin with a glare that normally made his adversaries avert their eyes, it had no effect on the Jedi.
“Quite brazen, aren’t you?” Stokra sneered. “Coming here without an appointment and without your minder.”
These remarks were meant to insult but Anakin ignored them as he sat down. He had to approach this exactly right as it would be far from easy to beat a politician at his own game.
“I’m here to tell you that I know about Shinai,” Anakin said.
“That name has no meaning to me,” Stokra stated.
“Oh, come on, don’t pull that one on me,” Anakin said, leaning closer to Stokra so his nose almost touched the senator’s green one. “I know you hired him to make the attack on you just because you could have something to say about the Jedi on the HoloNet. And then you contacted him to kill Gunray.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Stokra’s hand was moving slowly to behind his desk. “And I must say that I find these accusations somewhat of an insult.”
“I wouldn’t touch that if I were you,” Anakin said, he put a hand in his pocket and drew out a datacard.
Stokra froze, eying the object as if it were a thermal detonator about to go off. “Is that what I think it is?”
Anakin nodded. “Records of transactions between an account in your name and the account of Shinai Stel-Ardak,” he said. “Rather large transfers of credits.”
“The account wasn't in my name,” Stokra argued.
Anakin raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry? I thought you didn’t know anything about this?”
Stokra lay back in his chair and clasped his hands together. “You've found me out Skywalker,” he said in a tight voice. “Even I know better than to debate with a Jedi on the nature of the truth.” His mouth formed a grim line. “What is the price for your silence?”
Anakin frowned. “Jedi are not bought, Senator.”
“Now you’re the one fooling me, Skywalker,” Stokra said. “I know that if you had more proof we wouldn’t be having this conversation, you only have enough to make me listen.”
“You're right,” Anakin said, “there is something, but it’s more like a request.”
“I have limited means of granting—”
Anakin brushed these aside. “I am sure you will find what I want not that difficult.” He paused for a moment, letting Stokra stew in the anticipation. “Retract your views against the Jedi and withdraw your opposition against the Loyalist’s inclusion of the role of the Jedi in the new constitution and this,” he waved the datacard in his face, “will disappear.”
“Very well,” Stokra agreed, “I will retract my views quietly and—”
“No, that won’t do,” Anakin interrupted. “What you need to do is make a full and public apology to the Senate.”
“And what reasons am I to give for this?” Stokra asked.
“You’ll think of something,” Anakin told him.
“And Shinai,” Stokra pressed, “is he likely to speak against me?”
“He’s dead, he can’t hurt anyone,” Anakin said, though he knew this to be only half true.
“And what if I don’t do as you say?” Stokra asked.
“I’ll put this in the hands of those who will get me proof,” Anakin promised. “And then it won’t be me asking the questions.”
“I see.” Stokra thought for a moment. “Very well, I accept this,” he said. “I will make the statement this afternoon and—”
“No, this morning,” Anakin interjected. “Why delay? You were going to say something about Gunray, weren't you? This would go in nicely.” He got to his feet. “I won’t take up too much of your time,” he said.
Stokra got up from his desk. “Can I have the datacard?”
Anakin stared at him. “Do you think I trust you?” He pocketed it. “This stays with me.”
“And why should I trust you?” Stokra demanded.
“No reason,” Anakin shrugged. “But you’re going to, aren’t you?”
He waved a hand in front of the door, it opened. Stokra stared, how could he have done that? The lock was the best he could find.
“One more word of advice,” Anakin warned with a dry smile. “There’s no building in existence that can be made Jedi-proof, I know because I've broken into many of them.”
And with a laugh, he left Stokra sitting there.
--
Arrin had been accepted by the Council for training, Obi-Wan had just enough time to see the boy to his new quarters and the care of Master Sarib before he ran through the Temple to see his class, all waiting for him to lead them out for Exhibition Day.
They looked at him accusingly.
“You’re late,” Jenai said, her eyes reproachful.
“I have no excuse,” he said, clapping his hands. “Come on, let’s go.”
As he led them out his eyes travelled up to the balcony where Jedi Knights and Masters were watching the groups gather with some interest. Anakin was not among them though Obi-Wan hoped he would be and he could see there was someone else disappointed at the absence.
“He had to see Senator Stokra this morning,” he told Sona. “He might be late.”
This was mostly reassurance as Anakin had given no indication whether he would turn up at all. Yet he noticed Sona’s face was brightened as he joined the other lightsaber instructors at the back of the room.
He had had hopes, but Obi-Wan knew he had to put them aside now. Anakin had to make his own choices and this time Obi-Wan knew he couldn’t intervene.