Meanwhile after the trip back to Coruscant Obi-wan decided to pay an old friend of his a visit. He walked inside a dingy looking restaurant and was greeted by the waitress droid. "Excuse me is Dex here?" Obi-wan asked. "One second hun" the droid said before calling back at the kitchen "someone to see ya honey! Jedi by the looks of 'em" the droid called out causing a large alien with four equally large arms looked through the window. "Obi-wan" he said smiling. Obi-wan smiled fondly in return "hello Dex" he greeted. "Take a seat I'll be right with ya" Dex told him as Obi-wan went to take a seat. "Ya want a cup of jawa juice?" the waitress droid asked. "Uh yes thank you" Obi-wan said as Dex walked up to him. "Hey old buddy" Dex greeted giving the Jedi a big hug. "So my friend what can I do for you?" Dex asked as they both sat down and were handed their drinks. "You can tell me what this is" Obi-wan told him pulling the toxic dart out and setting it on the table. "Well whadda know I haven't seen one of these since I was prospect in sub terral beyond the outer rim" Dex told him. "Can you tell me where it came from?" Obi-wan asked him. "This baby belongs to them cloners what you got here is a Kamino saber dart" he told his Jedi friend. "I wonder why it didn't show up in the analysis archives" Obi-wan pondered. "It's the funny cuts on the sides that gave it away, those analysis droids only focus on symbols I suspect that you Jedi know the respect between knowledge and wisdom" Dex told him. "Well if droids could think there'd be none of here would there" Obi-wan said as he examined the dart "Kamino I'm not familiar with it is it in the Republic?" he asked. "No no it's beyond the outer rim about 12 parsecs just outside the wishy maze should be easy to find even for those droids in your archives" Dex joked lightly then being serious once more. "These uh Kamino ones keep to themselves, they're cloners and damn good ones too" Dex warned him. "Cloners are they friendly?" Obi-wan asked. Dex shrugged "depends" he answered. "Depends on what Dex?" Obi-wan asked. "How good your manners are, how big your pocket book is" he said laughing lightly.
Returning to the Jedi Temple Obi-wan searched the archives for Kamino but his efforts came out empty and requested help. After patiently waiting an elder female Jedi walked up to him "did you request for assistance?" she asked him. "Yes uh yes I did" he stammered slightly. "Are you having a problem Master Kenobi?" she asked. "Yes I'm looking for a planetary system called Kamino and it doesn't show up in the archive charts" he said as he sat in front of a console. "Kamino is not a system I'm familiar with are you sure you have the right coordinates?" she asked as he activated the console. "According to my information it should appear in this quadrant here just south of the wishy maze" Obi-wan said as the elder typed in the coordinates and the screen zoomed in showing a blank opening. "I hate to say it but it looks like the system you're searching for doesn't exist" the elder answered sadly. "Impossible perhaps the archives are incomplete" Obi-wan denied. The elder sighed "if an item doesn't appear in our records it doesn't exist" she said before attending to a padawan behind her. Obi-wan sighed and thought of what he could do to find the answers he was looking for.
As the refugee transport headed to Naboo the group were waiting patiently for their food. R2 grabbed two bowls which the server droid objected "hey you no droids get out of here" it said causing R2 to beep indignantly before rolling off. The group sat in seats of two, Jason and Padme in one, Anakin and Melaena in another. R2 rolled up to Padme and handed her one of the bowls. "Thank you R2" she said before herself and Jason ate in silence. Jason glanced up behind Padme and smiled, taking notice of this Padme looked at him smiling as well "what?" she asked. "Anakin and Melaena are improving" he said looking at the two. Padme glanced over her shoulder at the two and laughed lightly. "Do you remember when they first met Anakin got so embarrassed" she said smiling brightly. Jason couldn't help but smile back "of course I do, it was right after we first got together" he said which caused Padme to look down sadly and the two to once again eat in silence.
With Anakin and Melaena the two were conversing intently. "It must be hard serving your whole life to the Jedi, not being able to visit the places you like, do the things you like" Melaena said. "Or be with the people that I love" Anakin finished. Melaena looked at him with doubt "Are you allowed to love? I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi?" she asked. Anakin smiled nervously before regaining his composure "attachment forbidden, possession forbidden, compassion which I would define as unconditional love the center of a Jedi's life, so you might say we are encouraged to love" he said smiling causing Melaena to blush a light pink. The two smiled lovingly at each other as they ate.
In the Temple Obi-wan decided to look for Master Yoda for help. He was found to be teaching a group of younglings. "Use your feelings you must" he instructed them before taking notice of Obi-wan and tapped his cane on the floor "younglings, younglings a visitor we have" he introduced. "Hello Master Obi-wan" they greeted. "Hello, I'm sorry to disturb you Master" Obi-wan apologized. "What help can I be Obi-wan?" Yoda asked. "I'm looking for a planet described by an old friend I trust him but the system doesn't show in the archive maps" he told the grand master. "Hm lost a planet Master Obi-wan has how embarrassing how embarrassing" Yoda said before turning to one of the younglings "Liam the shades, gather around the map reader clear your minds and find Ob-wan's wayward planet we will" he said as the room darkened and Obi-wan set a sphere on the podium in the center causing the room to light up with stars. Obi-wan looked around before pointing at an empty spot "It ought to be here but it isn't gravity is pulling all the stars in the area towards this spot" he said. "Hm gravity's silhouette remains but the stars and planets disappeared they have, how can this be? a thought anyone?" Yoda asked. One of the younglings raised his hand "Master, because some erased it from the archive memory" he answered bringing a smile out of both Obi-wan and Yoda. "Truly wonderful the mind of a child is, the padawan is right go to the center of gravity's pull and find your planet you will" Yoda told Obi-wan as the shades were removed and Obi-wan returned the sphere to his hand. "The data must have been erased" Yoda pondered. "But Master Yoda who could empty information from the archives that's impossible isn't it?" Obi-wan asked. "Dangerous and disturbing this puzzle is, only a Jedi could have erased those files but who and why harder to answer, meditate on this I will" Yoda told him before walking away leaving Obi-wan to wonder who could have done all this and what their reasons were. He then headed to the hangar bay and started heading to find Kamino.
When the transport touched down on Naboo Jason and Anakin got their and the girls bags and walked to Padme's parents house before Jason and Padme headed to have an important meeting. Inside the thrown room Governor Babble and newly elected Queen Jamilla sat with Padme and Jason. "The Senate votes to create an army I'm sure it's going to push us into civil war" Padme informed. "It's unthinkable there hasn't been a full scale war since the formation of the Republic" Babble protested. Queen Jamilla turned to Padme "do you see any ways to bring the Separatists back to the Republic?" she asked. Padme shook her head "not if they feel threatened, my guess is they'll turn to the Trade Federation for help" she said. "It's outrageous but after four trials in the supreme court Nute Gunray is still the Viceroy of the Trade Federation I fear the Senate is powerless to resolve this crisis" Babble said sadly. Queen Jamilla looked at Padme "we must keep our faith in the Republic" she told them before standing up and walking with the others. She turned her attention to Padme once more "the day we stop believing in democracy can work is the day we lose it" Jamilla said sadly. "Lets pray that day never comes" Padme assured. "In the meantime we must consider your own safety" Jamilla told her. "What is your suggestion Master Jedi?" Babble asked Jason. Before he could speak however Padme jumped in "oh Jason isn't a Master yet but I was thinking-" Jason cut her off "hold on a minute" he said causing Padme to look at him "excuse me" she said as they continued to walk "I was thinking about staying in the lake country there are some places out there that are very isolated" Padme finished. "Excuse me I'm in charge of security milady" Jason reminded her. "And this is my home I know it very well that is why we're here, need I remind you that I have lived here far longer than you did and it'd be wise if you took advantage of my knowledge in this instance" Padme lectured. Jason took a deep breath and nodded "I'm sorry milady" he muttered softly. "Perfect it's settled then" Jamilla said as they walked away.
In open space Obi-wan's ship stopped in front of a dark blue planet. "There it is R4 right where is should be our missing planet Kamino" he told his astromech droid who beeped in response before heading to the planets surface. It was a planet covered entirely by water and rained constantly. When Obi-wan found a facility he set his ship down on the landing pad and walked up to the door. When he did he was greeted by a pale female alien with a long neck. "Master Jedi the Prime Minister is expecting you" she said. "I'm expected?" Obi-wan asked. "Of course he is anxious to meet you after all these years we were beginning to think you weren't coming now please this way" she answered as she led Obi-wan down the halls. They headed into a room where another alien of male gender stood up to greet Obi-wan. "May I present Lamasu Prime Minister of Kamino and this is Jedi Master-" "Obi-wan Kenobi" Obi-wan finished. "I trust you will enjoy your stay" Lamasu said before the two sat down. "And now onto business you will be delighted to know that we are one schedule 200,000 units already with a million more well on their way" Lamasu told Obi-wan. Obi-wan looked unsure before quickly regaining his composure "that's good news" he said. "Please tell your Master Sifa-Dias that his order will be met on time" Lamasu asked causing Obi-wan to do a double take. "I'm sorry, Master-?" he asked. "Jedi Master Sifa-Dias is still a leading member of the Jedi council is he not?" Lamasu questioned. "Master Sifa-Dias was killed almost ten years ago" Obi-wan answered. Lamasu sighed "oh I'm so sorry to hear that but I'm sure he'd of been proud of the army we built for him" he said with pride. "The-the army?" Obi-wan asked in slight astonishment. Lamasu nodded "yes a clone army and I must say it is the finest we've ever created" he answered. "Tell me Prime Minister when my Master first contacted you about the army did he say who it was for?" Obi-wan asked him. "Of course he did this army is for the Republic" Lamasu answered. Obi-wan's face showed that of concern and confusion, why would a Jedi Master request for an army and then he's killed after? It didn't make any sense. "But I'm sure you're anxious to see the units for yourself" Lamasu said eagerly. "That's why I'm here" Obi-wan said smiling a bit nervously. Lamasu and Obi-wan then headed out to show Obi-wan the clones.
Back on Naboo while Jason and Padme were having their meeting Melaena coincidentally took Anakin to her parents lake house. As they walked Melaena told him about her times there "I used to come here after school and I would swim to that island everyday, I love the water" she said as they stood and looked out at the island. "I would lay out in the sand and let the sun dry me, sometimes I'd give the birds singing names" she bent her head down and sighed "other times I'd wonder if Jason was safe, whenever he had the chance he'd come by and ask me how I was doing, he's the best older brother I've ever had" she said smiling at the memory. Anakin smiled as well, his master was the older brother in their relationship and tried his hardest to make others happy. "When we'd go on a mission together he'd always help me, when I made a mistake he would never lecture me, he'd only help me understand" Anakin swallowed "he'd always say 'we all make our choices, it's what we choose to do afterward is what matters' he's a great teacher and a truly wonderful brother to me" Anakin told her before smiling at her. The two looked at each other and slowly leaned in before their lips touched. After some time had passed the two parted abruptly and Melaena looked down averting her eyes from his. "I shouldn't of done that" she said almost sadly. "I'm sorry" Anakin muttered "we should head back, Padme and Jason should be back soon" Melaena said before walking away. He sighed and ran a hand over his face before following Melaena.
On Kamino Lamasu led Obi-wan through the cloning facility. Looking through the glass Obi-wan saw millions if not billions of containers with clone embryos. "Very impressive" He commented. "I hoped you'd be pleased, clones can think creatively you'd find they are far more superior to droids, we take great pride in our combat education and training programs this one was created about five years ago" Lamasu explained to Obi-wan. "You mentioned growth acceleration" Obi-wan said looking at the clone children on many consoles. "Oh yes it's essential otherwise a mature clone would take a lifetime to grow and now we can do it in half the time" Lamasu explained. Obi-wan nodded as they watched mature clones eating. "They are totally obedient taking any order without question, we modified their genetic structure to make them less independent than the original host" Lamasu continued. "And who was the original host?" Obi-wan asked. "A bounty hunter called Jango Fett" Lamasu told him. "And where is this bounty hunter now?" Obi-wan questioned. "Oh we keep him here, apart from his pay which is considerable Fett demanded only one thing: and unaltered clone for him self, curious isn't it" Lamasu mused. "Unaltered?" Obi-wan asked. "Pure genetic replication, no tampering with the structure to make it more dossal and no growth acceleration" Lamasu explained. "I'd very much like to meet this Jango Fett" Obi-wan asked. "I'd be happy to arrange it for you" the female alien offered. They then stood on a balcony and Obi-wan saw thousands of clones in ghost white armor standing in multiple rows. "Magnificent aren't they?" Lamasu asked. Obi-wan just stared at the troopers in grim fascination.