OBI-WAN

"How was the Senate?" Qui-Gonn asked his apprentice as the pair stood outside the Jedi Council.

"It was eventful. The Princess is not happy. You'll have to come up with a better excuse than the Chancellor wanting to meet with her. She thinks this has all been a ploy to get her to join the Republic." Obi-Wan replied. While Thalia hadn't directly confided in him, he'd felt her frustration and distrust.

"We'll just tell her we needed to speak with the council, and whatever she did was of her own accord." Qui-Gonn said in his typical careless way.

"That'll go down well." Obi-Wan sighed. "Did you speak with the council?"

"Yes, they want to know her midichlorian count." Qui-Gonn nodded, folding his arms inside the sleeves of his robe. "She knows the force is with her, but I doubt she knows to what extent."

"Do you think she'll agree to it?" Obi-Wan asked. He certainly doubted it.

"Probably not. I have suggested the council speak with her." Qui-Gonn answered, but Obi-Wan shook his head.

"She won't like that." He said. "If you're unsure of her response, bombarding her with people trying to force her hand will not go well. Let me speak with her."

"Master Windu will accompany you. Having a member of the Council there is important." Qui-Gonn nodded and Obi-Wan decided not to argue with his master any more.

It wasn't long before Obi-Wan was standing outside Thalia's chambers with Mace Windu. He was hesitant about asking this of her. Especially now when she was trying to stop her home world from being occupied by the Republic.

When Thalia opened the door for them, any hope that had resided in him that this would go well, quickly disappeared when he saw her expression.

She looked slightly ill, mixed with a steely determination that made it hard to meet her eyes.

"Master Jedi." She greeted, her voice even and her tone clipped.

"Your highness." Windu greeted. "We would like to speak with you about the Force."

"Can it wait till tomorrow?" Thalia asked, turning her back on them and walking to the desk that sat by the large windows.

"I believe you are to leave Coruscant tomorrow." Windu replied.

"Hopefully without a full Republic fleet in tow." Thalia replied rather coldly.

"Your highness, what the Senate does bears no relation to the Jedi." Windu pointed out, but Thalia's expression remained unimpressed.

"So, what can I help you with?" Thalia continued.

"I'll get straight to the point, your highness. The Jedi Council has heard that you have the Force." Windu began and Thaila scoffed.

"That was quick." She muttered, picking up a piece of paper in front of her and sent an unimpressed glance at Obi-Wan.

"We would simply like to test your Midichlorian level." Windu continued, ignoring her comment. "Midichlorians are…"

"I know what they are, and my answer is no. What would be the point? I'm not training to become a Jedi any time soon, and if the number is high, I'd rather the Sith not find out because then I'll be more of a target than I already am." Thalia declared and Obi-Wan had to admit that it made sense.

"Your highness…" Windu began.

"I'm sorry, Master Windu, but for what purpose would you need to know my Midichlorian count?" Thalia interrupted.

"Those with high Midichlorian counts are able to sense force sensitive beings who may be galaxies away. In the past we have used these people to locate force sensitive children and protect them from being detected by the dark side." Windu explained.

"To ensure they're trained as Jedi?" Thalia assumed.

"Not necessarily, it is up to the families of course, but it means they will be safe from evil." Windu finished and Obi-Wan could see Thalia was considering his proposal.

"Fine…but I get a list of the children as well." Thalia declared and Obi-Wan's eyes shot to Master Windu. Surely not.

"Why?" He asked.

"If you're using me to find them, then I feel some responsibility falls on me for what happens to them. Troshka will always be a safe place and they will be welcomed if they need us." Thalia said, the same passion returning to her voice that he'd heard in the Senate.

"Very well." Windu nodded, stroking his chin with the palm of his hand. "We greatly appreciate your cooperation."