Jocasta Nu walked alongside Ahsoka Tano and Peter, explaining the importance of the Jedi Archives—how far back their records went and the vast amount of knowledge they contained.
"It is the Jedi's sacred duty to preserve this knowledge," Jocasta said, then gestured toward another area. "Even more so than what lies beyond that vault."
Spider-Man looked in the indicated direction and saw a distinctive circular chamber on the far side of the main floor.
"Beyond that door is the Holocron Vault," Jocasta informed them. "Each holocron contains invaluable knowledge passed down through generations of Jedi Masters."
As she spoke, one of the green-skinned Nautolan Jedi that Spider-Man had seen around the Temple approached, carrying a holocron in his hands. He gave the three of them an easy smile as he walked over to the control panel at the vault entrance.
"Good morning, Master Fisto."
"Good morning, Madam Jocasta," Kit Fisto replied in his characteristically cheerful tone. "Ahsoka, I trust you're taking your duties seriously."
"Yes, Master Fisto," Ahsoka assured him.
"You must be Mr. Parker."
"Uh, yes. Hello, Master Fisto."
"I hope you find your time here enlightening."
Fisto smiled warmly, turned to the vault, input his access code, and entered.
As Fisto disappeared inside, Jocasta turned to leave the area.
"Can we go in there?" Ahsoka asked as the vault door sealed shut.
"Oh, I'm afraid not," Jocasta explained. "Only high-ranking members of the Council or Masters with specific authorization can access the vault."
"You're the Chief Librarian, and you can't enter?" Ahsoka asked with surprise.
"Even with my clearance, I'm not permitted inside unless there's official need," Jocasta said. "Some knowledge is better left untouched until one's wisdom and abilities are sufficient to handle it safely."
"That makes sense, I suppose."
"Come along, there's nothing more to see here," Jocasta said, then looked at the young Earthling. "You don't need to accompany us, Mr. Parker."
"Well, I don't have anything else to do," Spider-Man shrugged.
Jocasta simply nodded, and the two teenagers followed her deeper into the Archives.
Elsewhere in the Temple, Anakin, Aayla Secura, Yoda, Mace Windu, and Plo Koon stood in the Council chambers.
Obi-Wan, like several other Council members, had departed earlier on various missions throughout the galaxy.
"With our setback on Felucia, we'll need significant reorganization of our forces," Plo Koon said, studying a holographic display of the region they'd been forced to evacuate. "It will take considerable time to regain our strategic position—"
Yoda suddenly groaned audibly, gripping his gimer stick tightly.
"Master Yoda?" Aayla asked with concern. "What is it?"
"A... disturbance in the Force," Yoda said uneasily. "Sense I do, those with dark intent. Within the Temple, intruders there are."
"Intruders?" Anakin muttered, his hand instinctively moving toward his lightsaber.
"Then we must place the Temple on immediate alert," Plo Koon declared.
The Jedi in the chamber nodded grimly and quickly dispersed to their assigned positions.
Separating from the others, Anakin and Plo Koon walked through the corridors with their hands hovering near their lightsaber hilts.
"Where should we begin searching for these infiltrators?"
"I'm uncertain," Plo admitted. "We must trust that the Force will guide us to them."
"I doubt they're after starfighters," Anakin reasoned. "Whatever they're seeking here must be something they can't obtain anywhere else, or no one would risk infiltrating the Temple."
"Most likely classified information," Plo Koon said simply.
"Jedi communication codes," Anakin surmised.
"All our tactical data is centralized in one location," Plo added. "Information housed in the Communications Center."
"I'll head there immediately," Anakin said.
"I'll coordinate from the central hub," Plo replied. "If anything seems suspicious, contact the Council immediately."
Both Jedi nodded and ran toward their respective destinations.
Meanwhile...
Making her rounds through the Archives, Ahsoka looked thoroughly bored as she performed her security duties, though she maintained a pleasant facade while greeting every Jedi who passed by with the same repetitive pleasantries that she was rapidly growing tired of.
"Good afternoon, Master Enisence. Master Bulq, may I assist you with anything?"
The disguised Ord Enisence looked away uncomfortably, while the Weequay Jedi nodded politely at the young Padawan.
"That won't be necessary, Tano," the Weequay replied smoothly. "We wouldn't want to interrupt your duties."
"I really don't mind. I don't have much to do right now, so I'd be happy to help."
"Perhaps another time, but we both have pressing matters elsewhere."
Ahsoka muttered under her breath as she walked away from the two Jedi.
"Can't seem to accomplish anything today."
"Hey, Ahsoka."
"Peter, there you are! Where have you been?" Ahsoka asked, noticing Spider-Man swinging down from the upper levels.
"Just thought you might be getting hungry," Spider-Man said, holding up two containers of what appeared to be some kind of prepared food from the Temple commissary.
Ahsoka blinked in surprise, then smiled brightly.
The two found a quiet spot to eat while Jocasta observed them from a distance. She paid little attention to the Weequay Jedi, but the other figure—supposedly Master Enisence—seemed somehow... different.
Meanwhile, Cad Bane and Todo 360 flew their cloaked ship toward the western section of the Jedi Temple.
"Cato, we're in position," Bane said through their encrypted comm channel.
On the other end, following Bulq's guidance, the disguised shapeshifter stood at one of the Archive terminals and input the necessary access codes to bypass the security grid.
"I'm accessing the system now," Cato reported.
"Let's see what we're dealing with." Todo analyzed the laser defense grid. "The entry point should be... right there."
"Excellent. Let's proceed."
"My pleasure," Todo said with artificial cheerfulness.
At the Temple Communications Center, Plo Koon was monitoring surveillance feeds from throughout the complex.
"What is that anomaly?" Plo asked the protocol droid assisting him.
"System maintenance routine, sir," the droid informed him.
As it spoke, transmissions from Anakin, Aayla, and Windu came through simultaneously.
"Master Plo, I'm at the Communications Center," Anakin reported. "No intruders here, but something just triggered our sensors."
"I'm on the north side of the Temple—same situation here," Aayla confirmed.
"All the monitoring systems experienced unusual activity moments ago," Anakin noted.
"The same occurred here," Plo said gravely. "This cannot be coincidence."
Yoda also arrived at the communications center. "Here they are, yes. Within the Temple, the intruders move."
"They're not in the communication arrays," Aayla observed. "If not there, what could they be seeking?"
"The Holocron Vault, perhaps. Their target, hmm?"
"They might be accessing through the central ventilation systems," Anakin suggested.
"I'll check now." Plo began inputting commands into the security grid.
"There is indeed a breach in the south tower ventilation," Plo confirmed.
"We'll investigate," Windu decided. "Master Plo, monitor other potential entry points."
"May the Force be with you," Plo said as they disconnected.
"Alert the entire Temple. Maximum security protocols," Yoda ordered.
In the ventilation shaft, Bane and his droid carefully navigated downward through the ductwork, soon encountering a massive cooling fan slowly rotating in their path.
"The fan control should be to your left," Bane instructed.
Todo located the controls and quickly deactivated the obstruction, allowing them to continue.
"Watch out—there's another fan system ahead! Todo! Shut it down!"
"I can't! There's no visible control panel!" Todo shouted, pushing his repulsors to maximum power to avoid the spinning blades.
Fortunately, Cato came to their aid and remotely disabled the fan system from her terminal.
"You can thank me later," Cato said through the comm. "Now it should be clear. Just follow the main shaft down until you reach—"
"Excuse me." The voice startled Cato out of her concentration. She looked up to see Jocasta Nu approaching her terminal. "I don't mean to disturb you, but the entire Temple has been placed on high alert."
"I... appreciate the notification."
Suddenly, Jocasta noticed something odd about the supposed Master Enisence—just as a stunning blow struck her across the face.
As the elderly librarian collapsed unconscious, the disguised Cato quickly dragged her away to a concealed location. After securing Jocasta, Cato shifted her appearance to perfectly mimic the Chief Librarian and returned to coordinate the heist.
At that moment, in the detention levels deep beneath the Temple, a Miraluka sat in meditation, his sightless eyes closed, his white hair flowing around his shoulders.
Sensing someone approaching his cell, he spoke without moving. "After all this time, someone finally comes to visit. Bulq, are you here to gloat, or simply to torment me further?"
The Weequay Jedi stood before the ray-shielded cell containing the imprisoned former Jedi Master Prosset Dibs
"Why would I do either, old friend?" Bulq asked. "I'm here for something far more important."
"And what might that be?"
Bulq smiled coldly. "You were imprisoned unjustly, my friend. It's unconscionable that you're being held simply for voicing legitimate concerns about the Order's methods."
The prisoner turned and looked at Bulq with confusion.
"I'm offering you an opportunity," Bulq said, deactivating the ray shield containing his former colleague.
Bulq extended his hand, and the freed prisoner stared at him in uncertain silence.