Outside the city limits of Mos Eisley, capital of the planet Tatooine, Count Dooku's compound
Deep in meditation, the Jedi Knight is perfectly still, barely breathing and seated in the lotus position upon a round platform. Totally open to whatever insight The Force has for him today; he can feel the presence of each of the 20 students outside his room. Though all are as unique as a signature, their Force energies continually blend, separate, and then blend together again, like instruments in a mystical symphony.
Suddenly, his trance is interrupted by a flash of far-off panic. His head lolls to the left; he recovers and opens his eyes. "Qui-Gon," he whispers to himself.' Unmistakably,' he thinks, 'I must consult Master Yoda.'
Dressed only in a gi, he arises, exits, and heads towards the main room. While his meditation chamber is bathed in white, artificial light, the door at the end of the corridor slides open to reveal the main room is warmly lit by the planet's twin suns. It is a cylindrical chamber, extending several meters up to the planet's surface. Several students react with surprise upon seeing their Master without his robe and hooded cape.
"Master Dooku?" asks one of the students.
"There's no cause for alarm. All is well," responds the Knight.
He makes his way to a desk near the center of the room and begins to transmit a message.
"Master Yoda, I have just sensed a slight disturbance… I think Qui-"
"In trouble, you think Qui-Gon may be, hmmm?" interrupts the diminutive, green hologram that has suddenly appeared. "Here am I, Master Dooku. Exactly what you have felt, please tell me."
"Thankfully, I do not think he is dead. But I did feel as if my padawan was being…. stretched thin. As if being drawn and quartered by his own exertion"
"Worrisome, this news is. Sad it would be to have a Jedi lost on his first mission. Enquire on his mission's status and meditate upon this I will. Master Dooku - an echo of panic, from you did I feel. Strong is your attachment to your former padawan."
"Indeed. I will endeavor to not fear his loss. Thank you Master Yoda, as always, for your wisdom."
"Embarrassed you should not be. Noble is the affection between you. But good it is that you are mindful of your fear, Master Dooku."
The transmission ended, Count Dooku stands unmoving for a moment. He then turns and nods at the group of students that have been eavesdropping on the conversation. He pauses briefly while considering what to say next.
"Let this be a lesson: my students - we Jedi are not cold beings, devoid of affection. Take note also, that a true Master never ceases to learn, for we do not cease to learn until we make the mistake of believing that there is nothing left TO learn. Now, please… as you were, continue with your exercises."
The students gradually resume their activities, sparring in pairs with staffs. Suddenly, their weapons are all ripped from their hands, rise, and then float 5 meters above them. As they look up, momentarily dumb-founded, the staffs drop, hitting several students on the head; wooden 'bonks' resonate.
"And we are not without a sense of humor" Dooku mutters to himself with a slight chuckle as he walks off.
Meanwhile, 50 Kilometers to the East, near downtown Mos Eisley, Master Yoda's compound
The setting appears similar to Master Dooku's compound. The desk at the center of the room is ¼ the size. The moisture vaporator, however, is much larger. The curved wall is lined with a large variety of plants, flowers, shrubs and small trees. The ceiling of the main room features a large, semi-transparent canopy two meters below the planet's surface, converting the entire chamber into a greenhouse. The vegetation is individually sprayed at timed intervals. The sporadic hissing of automatic watering nozzles, along with the whisper-talk of two Jawas tending to the plants are the only sounds to be heard; there are no students. It is a perfect Dagobah home-away-from-home.
Having just ended the conversation with Master Dooku, Yoda begins a transmission to Ki-Adi-Mundi, Tatooine's Senator, a member of the Republic Security Council, and a student of Jedi teachings in his spare time.
"Senator Mundi, pleased I am to greet you. Of the scouting mission for a penal colony I wish to enquire. Alerted by The Force of the mission I have been. Pleased to learn of the crew's safety I would be. Greetings to our allies in the Senate please extend, and… as soon as you can, this transmission please answer. May The Force be with you."
Yoda ends the transmission and takes a sighing breath. He lifts his head, opens his eyes and takes a pleasing look around. "Love my garden, I do," he says to himself. He takes a seat on his hover disc and floats towards the Jawas.
"Supper prepare we must, Ttel Kkak. Time it is for Jedi and Jawa to eat."
The Jawas lay down their tools and scurry happily along behind the floating Master.
"Ay-eee-hah" exclaims the first.
"Tsk-kitty-kah-pah," responds the second.
Outside the Republic's Tatooine Military Base, Bestine – The Next Day
Just outside the base's main gate, sits Count Dooku's transport, its Jawa chauffer waiting at the controls. Three Jedi are there to receive Qui-Gon. Dooku, Yoda, and Master Sifo-Diaz, a tall, slender, dark-skinned Correlian. The roar of thrusters can be heard in the distance, an intercom announces the results of squadron training competitions, and a unit of troopers can be heard marching on the other side of the wall, their armor clank-clanking as they go by.
While Yoda is silent, Dooku and Sifo-Diaz are discussing teaching methods. Their conversation had started moments earlier.
"Discipline, Master Sifo-Diaz, discipline must be paramount. An undisciplined mind is a very dangerous thing when circumstances are not in one's favor"
"You have a point, my friend, but we shouldn't stifle creativity altogether. We both know that the ability to improvise, when things go wrong, can save a Jedi his skin."
Just then, the main gate opens upward with a 'swish' and Qui-Gon appears. He's happy to see them, but his smile seems a little painted on. He greets each of them in turn.
"Master Dooku, Master Sifo-Diaz, Master Yoda – it's wonderful to see you"
"Troubled you look. Learned of the loss of the co-pilot we have. Heavy this must weigh upon you," says Yoda.
The group heads to the transport. Qui-Gon nods to the side, sighs, and responds, "It was odd, Master Yoda – I should have been able to save him, but it was if he suddenly wasn't there. Yes – he fell out of sight, but his presence vanished in an instant."
As the Jedi board the transport, Qui-Gon continues.
"My report to the Security Council was met with a very discernable amount of doubt. Captain Silios' testimony supported me – the quake WAS sudden – but my first mission certainly was a disappointment in the eyes of the council."
"Talk about this when we arrive at your compound we will," responds Yoda. "Eager to see your wife you must be."
"Yes. Very,"
The transport speeds off, passing the Republic Academy Building on the left.