The initial episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Two is entitled "Holocron Heist". As the twenty-third episode in the entire series, it also begins a three-part narrative arc. The Season One episode "Liberty on Ryloth" occurs before this episode in the timeline.
Jedi Cruisers show up above Felucia to begin an evacuation. Plo Koon, a Jedi Master, leads a fighter squadron that escorts Republic gunships through the Separatist blockade encircling Felucia, their mission being to extract Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, and their forces. The Jedi and their troops are facing overwhelming numbers, with droids closing in. However, Ahsoka is off on her own, causing a group of droids to flee. Obi-Wan uses the comlink to tell the Padawan that the droids she's pursuing are rejoining their main force, ordering her to fall back. Ahsoka is shocked that her Master wants her to retreat and insists on continuing her pursuit. Anakin then flies his gunship in front of her, ordering her and her troops to board.
Later, at the Jedi Temple located on Coruscant, Anakin and Ahsoka stand before the Council due to Ahsoka's lack of foresight. The Council assigns Ahsoka to guard duty at the Jedi Archives, under the supervision of Madame Jocasta Nu. Jocasta informs Ahsoka that her specific task is to protect the Holocron Vault, where the Order stores its collection of holocrons, and that only Council members are permitted to enter.
Elsewhere on Coruscant, Darth Sidious contacts Cad Bane, hiring him to steal a holocron from the Temple. Bane initially views this as a suicide mission, given the Temple's strong defenses. Sidious assures him that he will ensure Bane gains access. In return, Bane requests a stealth ship equipped with advanced weaponry and a cloaking device, along with triple his usual payment. Bane then places a device inside his helper droid, Todo 360, feigning a system repair. He also installs a security chip in Todo, granting him access to all of the temple's security protocols. His accomplice, Cato Parasitti, a Clawdite bounty hunter, arrives. Bane instructs her to assume the identity of Jedi Master Ord Enisence, whose body is in his quarters, to facilitate their entry into the vault.
During a briefing at the Temple, Yoda senses a disturbance in the Force, predicting the arrival of thieves at the Temple. Anakin and Obi-Wan mistakenly believe the enemy is after their transmission codes and move to secure their location. In the meantime, Cato, disguised as Ord, infiltrates the Temple. However, Ahsoka stops her, asking if "Ord" needs assistance. Cato attempts to brush her off, but the Padawan's persistence leads her to lash out at Ahsoka. Cato then obtains the Temple's schematics, relaying to Bane and Todo the entry point. They bypass the shielding and fans before encountering a laser grid. Anakin and Obi-Wan quickly realize the situation when the sensors trigger a blackout.
Simultaneously, Jocasta approaches Cato, still impersonating Master Ord, at her console, questioning why "Ord" is working during a high alert. Cato responds by incapacitating her and assuming her appearance. She resumes her work, guiding Bane on how to disable the lasers, while Todo cuts a hole in the ventilation system. Alerted by Yoda, Ahsoka confronts the impostor. When Cato attacks, Ahsoka defends herself, initiating a lightsaber duel. After a short pursuit, Ahsoka apprehends Cato.
Due to her distraction, Bane detonates a small explosive near the grid as the Jedi pursue Todo's trail. The droid reaches the communication center, emitting a beeping sound. Mace Windu swiftly identifies the bomb inside Todo and uses Force-pushes to launch him into the vent as he explodes. Anakin and Obi-Wan narrowly escape the blast. Ahsoka then contacts them, revealing that Bane is targeting the Vault, as she learned from Cato. However, Bane has already accomplished his goal, escaping the Temple with a holocron, disguised in a Jedi robe. Cato provides one final clue: Bolla Ropal. Windu realizes that Bane is after the missing Jedi, who safeguards the Kyber crystal. The holocron, combined with the crystal, could unlock data listing all Force-sensitive children in the galaxy, which is critical to the future of the Jedi Order. Obi-Wan remains on Coruscant to search for Bane, while Anakin and Ahsoka set off to locate Ropal in the Devaron system.
The Jedi Temple Archives section on The Complete Season Two Blu-ray includes deleted scenes titled "Todo Decoding Jedi Temple Shield," "Jedi Temple on High Alert," and "Bane Giving Todo Orders."
The music used during the opening fight on Felucia is a modified version of the Battle of Christophsis score, initially featured in The Clone Wars: Season One, Episode 16, "The Hidden Enemy."
Chronologically, this story arc marks the debut appearance of the bounty hunter Cad Bane.