After all the questioning was done, Jubali, Traest, Master Tabret, Ranger Cardosa, Hetch Kee, and the hospital administrator were all gathered into one room by the police.

"Both the injured citizen and these two," the chief investigator indicated Jubali and Traest, "claim that the other side started the attack."

"Ah, there you see," Hetch Kee jumped in.

"But," the hospital administrator interjected, "all the physical injuries indicate that the offworlders were defending themselves."

"Except for the gaping hole in our citizen's chest," Hetch Kee offered up.

"In case you haven't noticed, there's also a gaping hole in my Padawan's side," Master Tabret countered.

"Which, according to our tests, was sustained before the wound was inflicted on our fellow Kel Dor," the administrator confirmed.

"There is also the matter of numbers.  Even the injured citizen admitted there were three of them and only two offworlders," the chief investigator added.  He also then described what was said during the attack.  "I'm afraid Aide Kee that we have to believe the Republic representatives about what happened."

"If that is so, then it does seem obvious who their target should be.  Clearly the fact that they were attacked after visiting an associate of Payan Kai's indicates that he is the one trying to stop the investigation," Hetch Kee suggested.

"Unless they were trying to frame Payan Kai," Jubali countered.  "Or were simply isolationists."

Hetch Kee raised a finger to object, but then thought better of it.  "Both of your theories are plausible," he admitted.  "I will consult with Judge Meni and see what he thinks about this."  He walked off a few paces and spoke into a comlink for several minutes before returning.  "Judge Meni has decided to let you continue with your investigation," he announced.

"Thank you," Master Tabret said with a slight bow of the head.  "We will rest up and continue our inquiries in the morning."

You were able to return to your ship without incident.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:00, Mon 04 Jan 2016.

The next morning the four of you met in the Eclipse's med area.

"Because of the investigation last night, we know what you two were able to find out," Master Tabret started.  "We thought we would fill you in on how our interviews with the dead Chief Judge's staff went."

"Unfortunately there's not much to report," Dane said.  "None of them could possibly have committed the murder and they weren't close enough to witness it either."

"We're going to investigate the crime scene today," Master Tabret informed them.  "We would like the two of you to review the Kel Dor police records of the event and see if you can't glean any information from that.  If you do find something, let us know, and then go ahead and investigate it.  Any questions?"

"Nope," Jubali replied, happy to be given a chance to recuperate from her injury.

After Master Tabret and Ranger Cardosa left, Traest pulled up the public police and news reports on the Eclipse's computer console and the two of you pored over them in detail.

You found that the evidence did seem to point to Payan Kai as the murderer: all questioning into those whom the jailed brother claimed to be with at the time of the murder resulted only in denials--but you had solved that mystery, he had been part of a clandestine meeting; Payan Kai's political robe was found in his house with the chief judge's blood on it.

However, later reports showed that it did not come out that he was planning a coup until after he was arrested for the murder; and there was one report that had a note about the murderer outrunning the guards who chased him.

"Traest, look what I've got," Jubali said, pointing to her screen.

"What is it?" Traest asked, scooting over to Jubali and looking over her shoulder.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:36, Wed 08 Apr 2015.

"These reports say that the idea of a coup didn't come out until later," Jubali said.  "I wonder if that was a cover for their real plot."

"You could be right," Traest agreed.  "But look at this," he said pointing to his own screen, "It says here, the murderer outran the guards who caught him at the scene of the crime.  Do you remember when we were interrogating Payan Kai in jail?  He was limping because he sprained his ankle at the end of the campaign.  How could he possibly outrun anybody?"

OOC: Does Jubali have any reaction to this news?

"A subordinate perhaps?"

"Possibly," Traest admitted, though with an incredulous tone.  "I do keep forgetting about that possibility.  But the reason they charged Payan Kai with murder as well as sedition is that they found his political robe in his house with Pahor An's blood on it.  But that doesn't make sense either.  Do you remember when I asked Payan Kai about how clean his cell was?"   "He's a self-admitted neat-freak.  Why would someone that organized and clean leave a bloody robe lying around his house?  He had to have known it would be found."

"Someone with that close of attention to detail, yes.  A frame-up, then.  That leaves his brother...or a third party.  Ugh, I hate politics."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:01, Mon 04 Jan 2016.

"Then you probably shouldn't have apprenticed yourself to a Jedi Consular," Traest pointed out jokingly as he cracked a smile and nudged Jubali with his elbow.  "Seriously though, I agree with you, Payan Kai was most likely framed.  And since we don't know what third party would want to frame him, let's see what we can find when we look into his brother.  Now the question is, do you want to just keep combing through records here?  Or should we take a field trip to the interim chief judge's house?"

Jubali felt the bandage where she'd nearly been killed; it'd healed most of the way by now.

"We should be good heading out.  Just a little stiff at this point."

"Okay, I'll comm Ranger Cardosa and tell him what we found." Traest said excitedly.

***

"You've done very well," Ranger Cardosa said.  "While I don't think the information you've found necessarily points to Pakyu Meni, it's probably your strongest lead.  I think you may have trouble finding anything out at his house though: you do not have enough reason to enter it without permission, so be cautious," the Antarian Ranger warned.

As you headed towards Pakyu Meni's house, you saw that it was a large home at the end of a cul-de-sac, with no other homes actually in the cul-de-sac.  The lights were darkened and the shades were drawn.  "So what now?"  Traest asked.  "Should we just knock?"

"I don't think so."  Jubali Searched Her Feelings.

OOC 15+6=21

OOC: Since you weren't specific, I am assuming your searching for the results of what will happen if you knock.

You are able to glean from the Force that if you knock, no one will answer, and nothing bad will immediately happen.

OOC Sorry, no, I was trying to determine if I should try and sneak inside.

The Force is unclear what will happen if you try to sneak inside, as there are different results depending on your method.

Jubali sighed.

"Let's scout the area first.  But stick together."

"Could you use the Force to check if any one's inside?" Traest asked excitedly.

OOC 20+7=27

Flush with the Force, Jubali closed her eyes and attempted so Sense her Surroundings.

The Force let Jubali "see" into the building clearly, and Jubali could sense every living thing in ever room of the large house.  And while there were some small insect-size creatures inside, there were definitely no sentients present.

"Looks like it'd just be us and the bugs," Jubali explained, a little light-headed from the rush of the Force.  "We're free to roam at our pleasure."