Note 11

Master Dooku,

It's good to know that at least one other person can see that Anakin Skywalker is the Chosen One. The other Council members will either see it, or they will not. Either way, Anakin will be trained. This is the most important thing to keep in mind. The other members on the Council may appear to be foolish, but I also believe them to be under much pressure. They have not reached their final decision.

I agree that Anakin should keep in contact with his mother. I have expressed this to Master Yoda as well, though I do not know whether it will make a difference. If you and I work together on him, we can help him let go of the attachment to his mother. Eventually he would have to let go of this attachment anyway. If the Council refuses to free Shmi, which Master Yoda has already informed me of, then we will have to work with Anakin and help him through this time. Two Jedi Masters working together should be sufficient for this task.

Though we disagree with the Council's decision, we must stay focused. There is still a chance for the Council to overturn their previous decision, and perhaps the extra time will give them chance to consider him once again.

I knew that you were for me, and for Anakin's training. You did not have to tell me that, though I appreciate it. We share the same opinion regarding Anakin. Once this business on Naboo is over, we can meet again on Coruscant to discuss this.

Thank you. I appreciate your help. It is possible that the Council hesitates to Knight Obi-Wan because of the Naboo situation. It has been frustrating for all of us, and once things calm down, perhaps they will consider Obi-Wan seriously. I do not believe him to be far from knighthood.

Anakin told me where he had been during the meeting. Senator Palpatine was talking with him. Though he is a Senator, he has comforted the boy, and for that I am grateful. Apparently the Senator discovered him in the hallway on the way to his office.

Queen Amidala is a young Queen, but has proved to be mature for her age. She told me that she felt that she needed to go back, as the Senate was taking no action on her behalf. Part of me could not blame her. Her decision to travel to Naboo may not have been the wisest, but she feels it is her duty. Obi-Wan and I are escorting her back to Naboo.

She does have a plan. Excuse me; I will be back once we have landed on Naboo.

We have landed now, and the Queen has talked with the Gungan leader, Boss Nass. As it turns out, the Queen's "handmaiden" who had been with us the entire time has been Queen Amaidala. She uses a decoy when her safety is in question.

What will happen is this: the Gungan army will draw the invasion army away from Theed while the Queen, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and the others will go to the palace.

Once there, we will make our way to the throne room and capture the Viceroy. Obi-Wan and I have warned her of several risks. The Viceroy is going to be well guarded, with the Gungan diversion many of them will be killed, and the fighter ships may not penetrate the control ship's shields, among other dangers.

Several Naboo pilots will travel to the droid control ship to destroy it, which would disable the Trade Federation's droid army.

Obi-Wan and I will do what we can to protect the queen. Master Yoda has assured me that Anakin's situation will be discussed. That is enough for me right now. There is little else we could hope for.

There has been a disturbance in the Force for some time now. Yoda has made the statement "clouded the future is" far too often for comfort. This alone should provide evidence that the Dark Side has grown. If this is so, why was it so hard for the others to believe that a Sith could be out and about?

It was refreshing to meet with you at Dexter's Diner, though I know it is not the sort of place you are used to. I am worried for you, my old Master. You look very tired, and as if something were bothering you greatly. I can tell from our conversations that you are quite frustrated with the Council. Relax. Perhaps you could take a small vacation. You look like you could use one. I have truly missed our personal discussions. It was nice to have one again, especially since we do not have them often.

Have you heard any more news regarding the elections? Yes, well, as little can be done regarding the Senate's recent decision, all we can do is hope for the best. The new Supreme Chancellor will have his work cut out for him.

We will find out who or what is behind the Trade Federation shortly…all in good time. Perhaps we will discover something as we enter the palace? As I told you before, I suspect Sith involvement.

Relax, my friend. What is to happen will happen. It does little good to worry about it. My first objective is to deal with the matter at hand…seeing that the Queen is safe. Once I am able to return to Coruscant, we will examine this "Vote of No Confidence" issue. I too feel that something important is about to happen. We can have a long discussion with the other Jedi Masters about what we have felt. You may even start the discussion without me, if you feel it is that urgent.

No, the Jedi do not deserve to be set back. Something like that may destroy the Order. I will not stand for that. Though many Jedi have become complacent, there is yet hope that they may wake up and take action. I too have felt that the rules need to be reexamined, or that we ought to hold a meeting as to why the rules were put in place. I feel as if most Jedi do not know the purpose behind the rules already set up, and are blindly following the rules because they are rules.

Your old Master MUST feel what we have felt. Evidence of this should come from the cloudiness he has found as of late. Perhaps we are just as wrong as any of the other Jedi for not stepping up and suggesting change or a meeting of some sort. It is possible that many other Jedi have felt as we are feeling now, but felt they could not say anything because they were waiting for others, or because they felt that the Council would not listen. If enough Jedi bring the issue to the Council's attention, a discussion must follow.

Once the Naboo situation is over, and events in the Senate have calmed, those Jedi who claimed that unrest resulted from one of those situations will have to reconsider their positions. It may be best that these situations be handled afterwards, as the Council is less likely to be distracted or influenced by one another. It is much easier to listen to the Force when the galaxy is not in the middle of a crisis.

You have not told me much about your parents. Care to share them with me?

As to where the Sith are, if they are part of this blockade and disgruntle in the Senate, they will reveal themselves soon. They must. This is the perfect time for them to do so. One way or another, they will make a move, but we must be prepared.

You are correct…it is power that the Sith seek. Since we know this to be true, we must wait for them to make their move. Be alert while you are on Coruscant.

Thank you for the information on Skywalker's ancestry. It is just as I had suspected. He has descended from a line of very gifted Jedi. His family line can be traced back to a man named Walker and a woman named Sky. This couple was famous, and is responsible for the Skywalker name. They were instrumental in establishing the Republic during the Sith wars. Many other families changed their name to Skywalker, and it became such a common name because of this, each family wished to claim that they were descended from this line, and it is now the most common last name in the galaxy.

It is possible that I meant it as a joke. No one has kept better records in the Jedi archives than Madam Nu.

Ah yes, well, let me know if Master Yoda reveals to you his discovery. I understand the frustration, but relax. Any more thoughts on what is going on with Master Yoda?

Take care,

Master Qui-Gon