Mandalorian Menace

Chapter 17 - Decisions

"I can probably find someone else who isn't a Jetii," Din points out. "Qui-Gon offered to train him against their Council's wishes, but I'm not really comfortable with that. I'm not sure what their rules are and causing problems with the Jetii... that isn't something I want to deal with."

"I feel the same," Shmi concurs.

Grogu perks up suddenly, reaching one hand out to Anakin, while the other continues holding tightly to Din. Anakin lets the kid grab one of his fingers to establish a connection between them. Din will never get used to seeing his foundlings using Jetii magic to communicate. Anakin gives Grogu a wide-eyed look. "You can?" he asks incredulously. "That is so wizard!"

Din tilts his head to look at Anakin, waiting for him to explain. Anakin doesn't disappoint. "Grogu thinks he could teach me some basics about the Force, at least what he knows so far."

Shmi and Din exchange looks. "That sounds good," she says at last. "It's probably not ideal, but it's better than nothing." Din firmly agrees.

***

The discussion with the Jedi Council is as long as Qui-Gon had predicted. Needless to say, the Council was less than thrilled to hear the news, though they did eventually accept that the Sith had returned. With the Zabrak – Maul, Gunray said his name was – having been confirmed as a Sith, and with Palpatine presumably being his master, Sidious, it is crucial that the Jedi act before it's too late.

Although it may be a while before it becomes "too late," based on the information that Mando shared with them all. It's unfortunate that the Mandalorian doesn't seem to have any firsthand knowledge of the future, although he clearly knows – knew – a number of people who did. Still, they'll have to make do with what they do know, not that it will matter much if they succeed in taking Palpatine out.

The entire Council unanimously decided that they need to kill Palpatine before he destroys them and the galaxy. Leaving him alive is far too dangerous of a risk. It's to their fortune that they have evidence of his involvement in the Trade Federation blockade of Naboo. They'll probably obtain even more evidence when they can look through Palpatine's dealings unimpeded. And with the Queen's support, they can formulate a plan which will leave him none the wiser until the Jedi make their move. Qui-Gon will have to run the plan through her, but first, he wants to contact someone he hasn't spoken to in years, someone who has a chance of helping them defeat the Sith Master.

His heart is pounding a little faster than normal when he enters the frequency and waits. It isn't that long, surprisingly, before it connects, and a hologram of Count Dooku appears. His old master looks different, Qui-Gon notices, and he feels momentarily guilty for not speaking to him for so long. There's a pause of silence as the two look at each other.

"You look well," Dooku says at last, breaking the awkward quiet.

Qui-Gon nods in acknowledgement of the words. "I have discovered something troubling. The Sith have returned."

"Have they, now?" Dooku's voice is toneless, betraying nothing, and Qui-Gon wonders if he should tell him about the Mandalorian, about the future which will likely unfold if they do nothing or if they fail.

"You were once one of the best duelists of the Order, Dooku. You can help us take down the Sith Master when we go after him," he proposes.

"You know who he is?" The genuine surprise – and shock? – in Dooku's voice is unmistakable.

"Yes, and the Jedi will destroy him." Of that Qui-Gon is confident.

"You will die." The Count seems unbothered by that prospect, speaking as if it's a certainty, rather than a mere possibility.