Author - Jedi_Linewalker: (from the Jedi Council forums)
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Shmi,

The customs of some people on some worlds is baffling, to say the least. Everyone is a stranger until you first speak to them, even members of your own family. I have family members, cousins and the like, which I've never seen, let alone met. They are strangers, but family. I understand the confusion you must have felt. I would have felt it also.

It is still a very welcome gesture. It does, yes. We have several cooks, though their cooking is often less than inspired. About what you'd expect, coming from a Temple, I suppose. Dexter's diner is indeed refreshing, as a view of life outside the Temple, if nothing else. And the food is pretty good, too.

Among Jedi, I'm not the wisest by any means, and I'm wise enough to recognize this fact. Obi-Wan, my padawan, will grow to be a much wiser man than I am. It's pleasing to me to think of the great things he will accomplish in his lifetime. As for Anakin, he's a very quick witted and intelligent young man. He's instinctive and insightful. He'll go far, I know. If he likes speaking to me, that's wonderful. I enjoy talking to him as well. I only hope that perhaps I can leave him some knowledge or wisdom that he can use well later in life.

It is the right thing to do, Shmi. Lately, I find myself in the wryly amusing situation of being accused of not doing the right thing. Of course, sometimes everything is not evident, everything is not where it can be easily seen. Just as the future is cloudy most of the time to a Jedi that tries to look into it, sometimes the present is cloudy to those of us too close to the situation in which we find ourselves. Perhaps soon, my accuser will realize that their safety and best interests are my goal and intention. I hope so, at least.

You're quite welcome, and by all means, I would encourage you to speak to him. I simply wished you to understand the situation, so you could speak from an informed point of view, rather than not knowing exactly what happened. It should be useful to you both to hear his feelings and interpretation of what happened. This will strengthen your bond and your association.

I imagine as long as he bathes or something similar often enough he should be fine. He's not said anything about being overly weakened or dried out, except for a comment about that the suns here would "do murder" to his skin, which I'm assuming means sunburn and drying out. He's been pretty vocal about his needs and such, and though he has an irritating way about him, he's reasonably intelligent and even likeable, after a time.

Perhaps I was overly simplifying, my friend. Subjects such as God, the Force, and several others, are indeed hard to discuss well, and be understood completely. Its not my belief that they are one and the same, nor is it the Temple's belief. The Force is an energy field created by all living things, it surrounds us, binds us together, keeps the galaxy a whole. In this manner, you could say the Force is the hands of God. All of this is, of course, metaphorical. Then again, its also quite literal, in some cases. Mortals don't have the words to adequately express the true nature of God. So, in my typically clumsy way, I over simplified. I apologize for any misunderstandings that may have arisen as a result.

The Sith are a dark and evil shadow of the Jedi, of that there is no doubt. They lusted for power, power beyond what the Light Side of the Force granted, and the rules of the Jedi Temple permitted. Many good Jedi have fallen sway to the call of the Dark Side over the centuries. Its pull is strong. Every Jedi has felt it. But thankfully, most do not give in.

I can imagine that it wasn't the most pleasant feeling, no. If Lowdun had confronted Watto in his anger, it would have been devastating, for you, and for Anakin, not to mention your other two sons, and himself. It is, indeed, fortunate that he calmed down. Worse would only have been the beginning.

As I've told Anakin, your focus determines your reality. Your belief in your ability, and others' belief in that ability, often gives you the strength and courage to do whatever it is that you're doing. Mistakes are made to be learned from. Its a natural part of life. The determination that is born of the belief and faith is often what tips the scale.

I've been thinking on that. Watto is rather greedy. I'm going to see if I can't "convince" him to include yours and Anakin's freedom in the wager. Its a long shot, but it's worth trying, at the very least. No one deserves the life you live, especially not people as kind as the both of you.

It's not safe for her to come into the settlement. She's being hunted by the Trade Federation. They're trying to force her to sign a treaty that will make their invasion and occupation of her planet legal. If she were to come into the settlement, she would attract much attention, particularly from the Hutts, who, though not hunting her, would definitely grow interested in her, and any number of the unsavory citizens around here could compromise her safety to the Federation, the Hutts, or both. She should have food enough on board the ship. Its stocked for long flights, usually.

I hope that he is as well. I will encourage him, again, to be careful, more careful than normally. His life is far too precious and steep a price to pay for the chance of obtaining a mere hyperdrive.

It normally does, yes. Its harder to train someone his age, because he's formed attachments, and he's never had to understand that negative emotions, like fear, anger, and so on, are dangerous, because they lead to the temptation of using the Dark Side of the Force, unwittingly. Once its done, it becomes normal, becomes a habit, and down the Dark Path they've gone. That's why its often said that one his age is too old to train. However, the very strength with which he can use the Force, without training, he could accidentally kill someone with little more than a thought. He's in a very precarious position. To temper his instinct, and keep him on the Light Path, its necessary he's trained. If the Sith were to find him, for example, they'd not hesitate to take him and train him. If I'm able to secure your release, I'll take you both back to Coruscant, and after Obi-Wan passes his trials, which he's ready for, I'd take Anakin as my new padawan.

Sometimes the "right" thing to do is the hardest thing to do. I don't particularly agree that that was the right thing to do, yet, by the same token, I also don't know everything about his situation at that time that he knows. As an outsider looking in, I can only see so much, especially something that happened so long ago. The important thing is that the two of you are working towards a resolution.

I belive that's the right course of action. Young boys Anakin's age are impressionable...both positively and negatively. Until you can explain everything completely, its best not to let him get preconceived notions ahead of time.

That was a long time ago, but yes, I remember. I was a bit older than he, but he was a promising Jedi. Frey was an exacting Master, but a good one, from what I saw. He put me in mind of my own from time to time. I'm pleased that he's doing well. After he left the Temple, I'd not heard more of him.

I'm grateful for your understanding. It brings me no pleasure to put Anakin in this position, contrary to the belief of some of my companions. Anakin is a very special young man, born to a very special family. I could not willingly endanger that.

You're quite welcome. Though it encouraged him in "reckless behavior," as its recently been called, I also made sure to ask him once again to keep his mind on the here and now, to focus. To feel, not think. To trust in himself, as we trust in him.

I've already checked his blood for infections. I transmitted the sampe back to Obi-Wan on board the ship. I also obtained a midichlorian count, just to check a suspicion. I was correct. He has a very, very high midichlorian count. Midichlorians are microscopic lifeforms that live in all living beings' cells. They enable us to know and use the Force. The higher the count, the stronger the connection with the Force.

You're very welcome. Thank you for your kindness and hospitality.

Qui-Gon Jinn