"Concordia Services?"
"That's right." Annakin frowned. "What are you thinking?"
"I think we need to go to Concordia."
...
Yoda was waiting for Obi-Wan inside his quarters, with Mace Windu there as well. Both of them bore grim expressions, like they were expecting Obi-Wan was about to deliver some terrible news.
"Our assassin died in the blast, evidently a true believer." Obi-Wan said as handed the compad to Master Windu, who began reading. "She was in place for three years before attempting her attack. We believe she received the signal from a company called Concordia Services. Because Satine's Prime Minister may also be implicated, I've recommended to the Duchess that she seek shelter with the Indinoor Temple."
At the name the two of them looked at each other.
"This bears all the signs of a Mandalorian Insurrectionist movement." Windu remarked. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "But I find the timing of this attack suspicious. Trade Federation patrol ships are banned from Alliance space, and almost immediately after that the signal for this attack is sent. If the rest of the Trade Federation's ships are kept from travelling the Hydian and the Perlemian Hyperlanes, they will be crippled."
"If Mandalore descends into renewed Civil War, it could destabilise the Alliance." Obi-Wan added. "I see your point, but so far there's no evidence of Trade Federation involvement."
"Good. The last thing this Galaxy needs is a war between the Trade Federation and Dooku's Alliance." Windu frowned. "If Indinoor Jedi investigate this, and find such a connection, it will mean a major war between two powers within the Republic."
"And we know they've already fabricated evidence against us in the past." Obi-Wan pointed out, which got a disgruntled look from Mace. Dooku's baseless accusations against the Jedi Council had not gone over well with anyone on the Council. Really, what did Dooku think he was doing by accusing the Chancellor of being involved with the Sith? What a ridiculous idea, as if the Jedi who met with him regularly wouldn't be able to sense such a thing. "Who's to say they won't do it again if they feel it's in their interest?"
"A delicate balance." Yoda rumpled. "Persuade Dooku to relent, we must. Prevent a Mandalorian Civil War, we must."
"But we can't just enter their territory uninvited." Obi-Wan pointed out. "The last thing we want is them upsetting the other Force Orders again. Last time, the Corellian Jedi petitioned us to investigate the Chancellor!"
"Obi-Wan, you have strong connections with the Duchess." Mace Windu mused. "You should travel to Indinoor with Satine. You may be able to persuade Dooku to allow you and Anakin to join the investigation on Mandalore. He may look fondly on you because of your shared connection to Qui-Gon Jinn. The attack was here on Coruscant, so we have every reason to see this through. If you're there, you can keep the Indinoor Temple honest."
"Very well." Obi-Wan bowed. "Anakin and I will get ready right away."
They both bowed and walked out of the room together. Once the door closed behind them, Anakin finally spoke up. "Master?"
"Yes?"
"What do we do if we uncover a connection to the Trade Federation?" Anakin asked.
"...We hope that Dooku will see reason."
The dubious look Anakin sent him was matched by Obi-Wan's own.
...
After Anakin finished packing his things, he went down to the senate garage and checked out a speeder. The sun had long set, and he knew the route to where he was going very well. A large penthouse apartment sat at the top of a skyrise, a veritable palace in the sky. Even at this late hour its many gardens, halls and displays were brightly lit. Anakin parked his speeder in the spot reserved for him, and entered inside. The walls were decorated with fine artefacts from millennia past, and the smell of exotic spices and incense hung in the air.
Stepping into the main living room, Anakin found one of the maids using a handheld appliance to suck dust from the top of the tv cabinet.
"Mum, you know any droid could do that, right?"
Schmi jumped, turning to see Anakin. She broke into a smile at the sight of her son. "Well I have to do something around here. Besides, he says he likes the human touch." She gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheeks.
"I'm just stopping by to let you know. I'll be heading to the Outer Rim soon, so you probably won't see me for a few weeks."
"Oh, what for?"
"An investigation has led us out there." He didn't want her to worry, so he added, "Nothing too serious. We're just going to the Temple on Indinoor."
"Well, please be careful."
"I will mum."
"And listen to Obi-Wan! He's there to keep you out of trouble."
Just then the door from the garage opened, and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine entered the room. He was still wearing his formal robes, but he was already undoing a zip concealed beneath his collar. "Oh, young Skywalker! I wasn't expecting you."
"I just dropped by to visit my mother."
"Of course, it's no problem at all." He smiled at the boy. "You know you're welcome here at any time."
"Thank you. But I was just about to leave."
"Are you sure?" Palpatine came closer. "I've asked your mother to keep the kitchen warm for me, just in case of nights like this. I was about to sit down for dinner. If you like, you and your mother can join me." He looked over to his maid. "Schmee, what have you prepared for us tonight?"
"Ah, well, you said you were interested to try something Tattooinian, so I've put together a seasoned, slow roasted bantha shoulder, with some nice sweet fruits and a savoury black melon glaze."
"Oh, how very rich." Palpatine smiled. "Come Anakin, sit and eat with us. I heard you were running around the Senate building today? Are you involved in the bombing investigation?"
"A bombing?" Schmi gasped.
Anakin sighed, realising that now he would have to stay for dinner. Ah well, it wasn't so bad. He might end up staying up a little longer that night, and maybe Obi-Wan would lecture him for being so tired come the morning, but he owed it to his mother, if not the Chancellor as well. After all, it was Palpatine's generosity that got Schmi out of slavery, and a job on Coruscant.
He walked together with the two of them towards the kitchen, feeling the tension leave his body, as Chancellor Palpatine rested a warm hand on his shoulder, eyes gleaming.