The Negotiator and the Fire Fang

The Consult

"Cody?" Kenobi spoke into his wrist comm as he dodged in and out of thick Coruscanti traffic. No matter the time of day, whether it was high noon or the dead of night, the flow of speeders never seemed to thin.

"Yes sir?" his commander answered back, the glow of the comm pulsating in time with his response.

"I need you to put together a squadron. We're going after a Gray Jedi defector on his way to meet Count Dooku." he replied, merging into another lane of traffic. He swerved around a speeder transporting a Weequay and two Twi'leks and continued on.

"A Gray Jedi sir?" the clone asked with confusion, his voice muffled from the wind.

"Yes, I will brief you more on it later. The Gray Elders have sent us some help for tracking him down. I am picking up the contact now and will let you know when I'm on my way back." the Jedi master said.

"I'll get on that right away, general." The comm went dead as Obi-Wan dropped his hand back to the steering controls.

Ahead of him, the senate building rose high into the atmosphere. The early morning sunlight was gleaming off the tall dome. Dozens of windows lined the facade.

Far below was the courtyard. Some senators and citizens were wandering about in the morning air, greeting one another as they passed. They walked beside the metal statues of famous senators and Republic generals, none of whom Kenobi could remember currently. He really needed to read up on some Republic history next time he had some downtime. Time off was becoming less common and much more appreciated nowadays.

Kenobi passed the courtyard and did a wide turn towards the other side of the tower. He swooped around, landing on the speeder pad at the back side.

"Hello sir." greeted the clone guarding the pad. The general got out slowly, cautious of how he moved. He was still a little sore from his recent mission on Christophsis, in which he ended up getting pinned underneath a vulture droid... one that Anakin Skywalker had just destroyed seconds prior. No warning, no "get clear", no nothing. Just lightsaber blazing, the way he liked it. Obi-Wan sighed. Sometimes he wondered who would bring about the end of him first, a droid or Anakin.

"Hello trooper. I am looking for Cordelia of the Gray Jedi." he asked as he approached the sentry. The clone dropped his salute before pointing down the hallway.

"She is in the west wing, sir. In Senator Chuchi's quarters." he informed his superior. "Senators Amidala and Chuchi, along with Representative Binks, are with her now." Kenobi shook his head dismissively.

"Oh great. Jar Jar was a part of the welcoming committee." he drawled. "Well I better get over there and rescue our guest. Thank you trooper." The clone brought a hand to his visor before turning his attention to Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth. The rather... large senator had pulled up a moment before and was having a good amount of trouble getting out of his speeder, so he was in need of assistance. Obi-Wan did not envy the clone.

Kenobi entered into the Senate building. It was quite beautiful on the inside. Carpeted hallways lined the corridors, looking much newer or more ornate than the ones in the temple. Sconces with light fixtures adorned the walls, casting the hallways in a white light. It was usually quite packed with senators and diplomats, but it seemed rather empty today.

He passed a few politicians as he walked, some he knew, some he didn't, along with a senate guard here and there.

As soon as he walked through the doors to the west wing, Kenobi could sense the Gray Jedi.

She was unlike any being he had sensed before. She didn't have the coldness of a Sith nor did she carry the warmth of the Jedi, but her presence was very strong. Her aura reminded him of a mountain range. There were peaks of cold and darkness, but also valleys of warmth and light, all at once. It immediately put him on edge.