The Jedi Who Knew Too Much
After the bombing at the Temple, many were shaken up, and now that Letta Turmond, the woman behind the whole explosion, was taken into custody, the Jedi were attempting to bring back a sense of normalcy. But first, Master Yoda had to give a eulogy to the Jedi who were killed in the explosion.
Lamenta and Gabby, both dressed in black, each grew beautiful flowers, which they placed with each fallen Jedi to honor them before Yoda gave his eulogy.
"One with the Force, they are." Yoda preached. "And our job it is to remember that we will in time, also pass on. Luminous beings are we, but temporary vessels our bodies are. And we shall all find ourselves here in time."
Carmine couldn't believe this was how his father was given a funeral, and his twin brother had been the one to witness it without even knowing Qui-Gon was his father at the time. Now that Anakin did know, it hurt even more when he looked back to how he had to watch as his father was cremated.
"A moment of silence, I ask to remember and to move on."
A moment of silence was given.
"Live for the living Jedi, we must." Yoda finished. "Live through us, forever they will."
And the death tables were lowered down for the bodies to be cremated.
Later, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Ahsoka's best friend Barris Offee were walking through the hall with Captain Tarkin.
According to Tarkin, the Republic military had taken Letta into custody.
"But why?" Ahsoka asked. "This is a Jedi matter, isn't it?"
"Clones were killed, which makes this terrorist attack a military matter." Tarkin said. "An attack on the Jedi is an attack on the Senate."
"Admiral Tarkin is right," said Anakin. "Letta isn't a Jedi. It's not for us to be judge and jury over a citizen of the Republic."
"If Letta's guilty, she's guilty and she should be dealt with." Ahsoka said.
"Calm down, Ahsoka." Anakin said. "Remember, revenge is not the Jedi way."
That was when there was a noise, as Gabby and Lamenta were playing around, flying on their horses.
"Incoming!" Crescent exclaimed as she landed, nearly crashing into Anakin, only for Carousella to crash into him, knocking them both down.
"Kids, what are you doing?" Anakin said.
"Racing?" Lamenta said.
"Gabby, I thought I told you to stop racing indoors."
"Uncle Anakin, it wasn't Gabby's idea this time." Lamenta said.
"Lamenta, I don't know where your father is, but when he hears about this, he's gonna be so mad."
Inconveniently, that was when Carmine came in on General Mareheart.
"Alright girls! This is how the big Jedi do it!" Carmine exclaimed as he rode, but standing up on the winged musicorn's back, but not stopping in time to avoid crashing into his brother, knocking both of them over. Luckily, a big sunflower softened their landing.
"Carmine!" Anakin exclaimed.
"Anakin, sorry about that." Carmine chuckled. "Guess we got a bit carried away."
Carmine squinted as he noticed his vision got blurry.
"Did anyone see where my glasses landed?"
"Seriously, Carmine? Flying inside the Temple? The kids shouldn't even be thinking of doing that." Anakin said.
"I never imagined Anakin having a twin before," said Ahsoka to Barriss. "But if I had, I don't think I would've imagined Anakin being the responsible one."
Carmine bumped into Tarkin, since he couldn't see very well without his glasses.
"Be careful!" Tarkin said.
"Sorry. Afraid I can't see very well without my glasses."
"I found them!" Carousella exclaimed, holding them up with her magic.
"Thanks, Carousella." Carmine said, putting his glasses back on. "That's better. Uh...Maybe we best go outside to play, kids."
And with that, Carmine, the children, and the horses left.
Anakin dusted himself off.
"I swear, he's such a child sometimes." he said.
"The evidence seems clear, Ahsoka." Barriss said. "Nothing will ever change."
"The Chancellor feels very strongly that the Jedi be removed from as many military matters as possible." Tarkin said. "You yourselves said that you're peacekeepers not soldiers. And one of you can't even seem to keep peace with children or his own brother."
"Leave my family out of this." Anakin said.
"I hope Chancellor Palpatine knows what he's doing." Ahsoka said.
"I assure you that he rarely does anything without a strategy." Tarkin said before entering the elevator.
Gabby and her cousin went to play with Carmine in one of the courtyards while the others were caring for other matters.
They were having so much fun playing with the horses, having them do tricks, and learning a bit of stunt riding until their stomachs started growling.
But then, as the group went back inside to get a snack, they overheard Ahsoka was being summoned to talk to Letta. As well as Lamenta Jinn.
"Why is she asking for Ahsoka and my niece?" Anakin asked.
"Not exactly sure. But Commander Tano and Princess Jinn are the only people the prisoner will speak too."
Gabby and Lamenta then entered the room, curious about all of this.
"Maybe she's asking for me because she wants to let us know she's telling the truth." Lamenta said.
"She's got a point." said Gabby. "She can tell when someone's lying."
"Are you sure it's safe to send my daughter in to see a bomber?" Carmine said, concerned.
Even though Carmine was very playful and possibly more childish than Anakin, everyone knew he was a responsible parent when he needed to be.
"Don't worry, Carmine. I'll protect her." Ahsoka promised. "We'll report back with whatever we find out."
After word had been spoken that the Skywalkers and Jinns were descent from Enchanted royalty, a lot had changed recently. Word tended to travel fast, and Memoria's sister Esther... she could not keep a secret, especially not from her Hologram followers. If Anakin wasn't famous before, he certainly was now, and so were Carmine and his family.
Lamenta accompanied Ahsoka to the prison.
"I'm Ahsoka Tano. Letta Turmond requested to see me." Ahsoka said.
"A lot of innocent people died in that blast. Good job capturing her." said a clone guard.
Lamenta was too short for the guard to see below, so Ahsoka had to lift her up so the guard could see that she was there.
"I'm Lamenta Jinn, Princess Gabriella's cousin. I'm here to help Ahsoka." Lamenta said.
"Aww, you're a cutie, ain't you?" the clone guard said.
The clone told the girls to leave their commlinks, the lamb plushie, and lightsaber with him before they went in, and they were escorted toward the cell.
It looked scary in there. Lamenta hid her face in Ahsoka's shoulder. Ahsoka recognized this behavior very well; it happened many time when she held Gabby when she was scared. So, she gently stroked her hair and held her close as they entered the cell.
"What do you want, Letta?" Ahsoka asked, placing Lamenta down.
"I was told if I ever needed help, you were the Jedi to contact." Letta said before looking at the guards.
"Give us a minute please," said Ahsoka. The door closed. "You don't have much time, Letta, so I suggest you get whatever you have to say off your chest."
Letta looked down and explained that feeding Jackar the nano-droids wasn't her idea.
"Why are you saying this now? Why didn't you reveal this before?" Ahsoka asked.
"Because my life is in danger." Letta said.
"In danger, how?" Lamenta asked.
"The person behind this will be able to get to me unless you know the truth."
"What's the truth?" Ahsoka asked.
"A Jedi. A Jedi showed me how to create the bomb and how to put the nano-droids in."
"Why would a Jedi do this?" Lamenta asked.
"There are some citizens of the Republic like myself who believe the Jedi Order is not what it used to be."
"That's true, but they have made changes. Like the no attachment rule. That's gone now, and Jedi can have families now."
"That isn't enough," said Letta. "The Jedi have become warmongers. They've become military weapons. And they're killing and using children in dangerous battles when they should be keeping the peace. One of these Jedi agreed with us. One of you wanted to make a statement and was willing to attack your own order to do it."
"Who?" Ahsoka asked.
"If you protect me, I will tell you, because it is obvious to me that I have been set up."
"Letta, you have to tell me who is behind this."
Letta paused for a moment, and was about to tell Ahsoka, when she started choking, and Lamenta started screaming in fear. And Letta then collapsed to the floor, completely lifeless.
Lamenta had her back against the wall in fear.
The door suddenly opened, and three clones came in.
"I... I don't know what happened." said Ahsoka.
One clone checked for a pulse.
"Commander, she's dead." said the guard.
"I can't say I blame you, Commander Tano." said the Commander. "But all the same, you and your friend are both under arrest."
"I... no, no. I did not do this." Ahsoka said. "Lamenta, tell them."
"She's telling the truth." Lamenta said. "She didn't do anything."
"You could just as easily be telling us that because you were a part of it." the commander said.
"What?! I'm four. How would I know how to do anything like this?" Lamenta said. "You've seen me duck at the sight of a blaster."
But, Lamenta was taken into custody as well.
Lamenta was crying as she sat beside Ahsoka; she was so scared and wanted her parents so badly. Ahsoka held Lamenta close to her, trying to comfort her as Admiral Tarkin soon came in.
"Admiral Tarkin, I don't know what happened." said Ahsoka. "I went in the room to talk to Letta and she said she was afraid of a Jedi."
Tarkin held Letta's hat, which he threw away. "You don't have to tell me any more, Commander Tano."
"I don't?"
"No. There are recorders in every room." Tarkin said, holding up a hologram recorder, which showed Ahsoka on it, and Lamenta looking scared. "Curiously, the sound isn't working on this one. It seems the Jedi she was afraid of was you, and the child felt the same."
"I wasn't scared of Ahsoka." Lamenta corrected. "I was scared of how Letta was choking."
"I did not kill that woman. Lamenta can vouch for me." Ahsoka said.
"It's true." Lamenta said.
"You were the only one there, and a small child couldn't possibly have done so." Tarkin said. "I know that you were upset when this woman was taken into custody by the military."
"That means nothing." said Ahsoka.
"I beg to differ."
"You weren't here to witness it for yourself!" Lamenta said. "You don't have real evidence."
"You would do very well to remain silent, little one." Tarkin said.
"It was someone else, Admiral, someone I didn't see." Ahsoka said.
"You know that is very difficult for me to believe."
"Or is it easy for you to believe because you set her up and want her to take the fall?" Lamenta said.
"Silence, Lamira. This is a secure facility," said Tarkin. "We do not have just anyone running about, especially not little girls. And if there was someone else, why did neither of you sense them?"
"My name is Lamenta." the younger girl corrected.
Ahsoka, on the other hand, was left speechless.
Meanwhile, Anakin and Carmine were both demanding to be let in.
"Do I need to repeat myself? That's my daughter in there!" Carmine said angrily.
"As is my Padawan," said Anakin. "Now, step aside."
"General Skywalker... Admiral Tarkin has ordered that no one be allowed in there." the clone commander said.
That only increased both the twins' anger.
"I don't care what she's accused of," said both at the same time, each referring to their own girl.
"Let us in." Anakin growled.
"Sorry, sir. The admiral's orders stand."
"If my daughter isn't released immediately," said Carmine. "You'll have to answer to my wife. And take it from me, she won't go as easy on you."
"This is now a military operation under Admiral Tarkin's jurisdiction." the commander said.
Anakin reluctantly left, but Carmine still tried to fight for his only child. Ahsoka, they could understand why they might accuse her based on age, but for Lamenta, even with magic, the little one was too nervous to commit murder. She couldn't even kill a spider herself. Somehow, Carmine assumed Tarkin only kept Lamenta in a prison cell now because he really didn't like children.
"Please! She's my only daughter. You don't know what you're doing to her!" Carmine cried, tears coming to his eyes.
Anakin took his brother's wrist and told them they had to go.
"There's nothing we can do right now." Anakin said, though inside he was crying too, worried about his Padawan.
Lamenta cried herself to sleep in the cell, and then was woken up when Ahsoka told her a key card had been left for them to get out, which Ahsoka used to do just that.
"I wonder what your uncle has planned." Ahsoka said, looking around the halls.
Lamenta followed close beside Ahsoka as they ran through the halls, only to gasp when they came across three unconscious clones.
"Oh, no. This does not look good." said Ahsoka.
"Look!" Lamenta said, pointing to some things on the floor. "Lammy!"
Lamenta immediately hugged her plushie.
"My lightsabers." said Ahsoka. Her commlink was there too. It was beeping. Ahsoka picked up her things and answered her comm.
But, that was also when a clone entered.
"What's going on here?" asked the clone, getting his weapons.
"It wasn't me." Ahsoka said.
An alarm was set off. Ahsoka immediately picked up Lamenta and carried her down the hall as the whole building was alerted of their escape. Luckily for Ahsoka, the clones wouldn't dare shoot as long as she was holding a small child. Unluckily, they were likely assuming Lamenta was a hostage.
Meanwhile, Anakin, Carmine, and Captain Rex immediately rushed to the prison.
As Ahsoka ran with Lamenta in her arms, they came across three dead clones, no doubt killed by a lightsaber.
"Oh no." Ahsoka said.
"Look out!" Lamenta exclaimed, and then Ahsoka ran. The clone almost began shooting Ahsoka, until he was reminded that Ahsoka was carrying a little kid.
"The suspect has killed three clones. Shoot to stun, and make sure she isn't holding the kid before shooting to kill."
"Belay that order, Commander Fox." Anakin said, running in.
"She's killed troopers." said Fox.
"I know Commander Tano." said Rex. "She would never do something like this." And he wasn't just saying that because he loved Ahsoka.
"Then who did?"
"Quiet!" Anakin ordered quietly, but loud enough for them to hear. "Ahsoka. It's me, Anakin. Stop running. Put Lamenta down."
"You can't help us, Master. Someone's setting us up." Ahsoka said, setting Lamenta down.
"We believe you, Ahsoka." Carmine said. "Lamenta, it's Daddy."
"Daddy?" Lamenta said, the sound of her father's voice sounding like music.
"You have to come back. We believe you." Carmine said.
"But no one else will." Ahsoka said, running away. Lamenta followed her on foot this time.
Anakin ordered Rex to call security, and Carmine ran to find his daughter. Even though Lamenta hadn't used her powers so far, she was to be considered armed and dangerous like Ahsoka was.
Lamenta continued to follow Ahsoka, just barely managing to avoid the guards and guard animals. Ahsoka held Lamenta again; she basically became a living shield. As long as she held Lamenta, the clones wouldn't shoot to kill. She didn't like using the cousin of the girl she loved like a little sister as a shield, but she had no other choice. And with fewer shots, it became so much easier for her to run toward the industrial pipeline. But, the clones just set their weapons to stun, which forced Ahsoka to put Lamenta down so she could use her lightsabers to defend herself, and Lamenta had to just run behind her, and use her own plant powers for transportation.
The two girls found themselves surrounded by clones, and Ahsoka could see her master, and Lamenta could see her father up above. Lamenta held onto Ahsoka, who Force-jumped both of them to a higher pipe.
"Ahsoka/Lamenta!" Anakin and Carmine shouted at the same time.
Ahsoka used her lightsaber to cut a hole for her and Lamenta to go in, and they continued to run, and the two scattered to different sides to make themselves harder to find. But, having learned to use the Force better more recently, Carmine was able to sense where his daughter was, and she found herself cornered at an opening that was really high up, and she quickly backed up, holding her back against the wall, breathing heavily. Lamenta was okay with being high up on Crescent, but he had a saddle with restraints and reins to hold onto. Here, it was so high up, and she didn't know what was down there.
"Lamenta?" Carmine's voice said. "Lamenta, it's me. It's Daddy."
"Daddy?" Lamenta said. "Why didn't you come for me before?"
"I tried to, Sweetie. But they wouldn't let me in." Carmine said. "You don't know how much I've been through since I learned you were arrested. Please, come back with me. We can figure this out together. I won't let anyone hurt you, Little Lamb. You're my little girl and I love you. Nothing can ever change that. Just come with me. You know you can trust me."
Carmine knelt down and held out a hand to his daughter.
Lamenta didn't know what else to do. She wanted to help Ahsoka, but she couldn't run away with her without making either of them look more guilty. So, she ran into her father's arms and cried into his chest.
Carmine wrapped his daughter into a hug and gently shushed her.
"It's okay, Baby. Daddy's here." Carmine whispered in her ear and kissed her head. "You'll be okay, Little Lamb."
Lamenta sniffled, then continued crying and clutched her father's robes as he carried her away, and Ahsoka was left to go out to prove her innocence on her own.
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