On Naboo, celebrations began. As Mandalore's main representative, Kote was seated at the head table. In return for the Mandalorians' selfless contributions, Queen Amidala and Kote signed a new mining agreement.
Queen Amidala smiled as she watched everyone happily celebrating.
Many Great Masters of the Jedi Order came to participate in the celebration. Palpatine, formerly a Naboo Councilman and now the Speaker of the Galactic Council, made his first public appearance as Speaker. The people of Naboo and the Gungans became allies in front of everyone.
"Congratulations, Queen Amidala, for ending the years of conflict between the people of Naboo and the Gungans," Palpatine said to Queen Amidala, whom he had personally supported.
"No, it was Governor Kote who made me realize that befriending the Gungans was possible. They are a people who love peace and cherish their homeland, just like us," Amidala thought of Kote leading her to meet Jar Jar Binks at the time.
Thinking of Kote, Palpatine hadn't expected the Mandalorian fleet to be so powerful. Despite having only frigates and starfighters, they had held their own against more than twenty Lucrehulk-class battleships and countless Vulture Droidss for several hours, even gaining the upper hand.
"Indeed, without Councilman Kote this time, Naboo would have been in danger. But I didn't expect Mandalore, which had abandoned weaponization, to re-arm and become so powerful," Palpatine said worriedly.
"No, I believe in Governor Kote's character; he would not do anything to harm the Galaxy," Padmé said, trusting Kote.
"Yes, I agree, but who knows if other Councilmen and planetary peoples will trust Councilman Kote?" Palpatine said with concern.
Kote completely missed their conversation because, after completing the initial ceremony, he had returned to the hyperion. In the medical bay, Kote was receiving treatment from medical droids to prevent scars from being seen by others later.
"Alright, Commander, the medicine has been applied, but don't let your clothes touch the wound for now," the medical droid told Kote, whose stomach was wrapped in bandages.
Kote nodded in understanding, then went to the Mandalorian prison specifically for detaining Jedi, where The Force could not even be used.
At this time, Qui-Gon had already woken up, and he roughly guessed why this had happened.
Kote opened the cell door. Qui-Gon was sitting inside.
"Great Master Qui-Gon, all of this is for your life and your future," Kote said, looking at Qui-Gon meditating on the bed.
Even if Qui-Gon couldn't use The Force now, hearing Kote's arrival was still effortless.
"In a prophecy a long time ago, I foresaw that I would die on Naboo, and Anakin was the child of the force.
But the moment you appeared, everything changed, Kote. So I believe you are the true child of the force, but I hesitated when I met Anakin." Qui-Gon stood up.
"I thought about it thoroughly for a few days here and realized that all of this was arranged by you. You are not only extraordinarily gifted in The Force, but also a person even more powerful in strategy. You made Anakin join the Jedi Order, didn't you? It's even possible that your meeting with us on Mandalore was part of your plan." Qui-Gon recounted some of Kote's actions one by one.
"No, Great Master Qui-Gon, I just..." Kote was about to say something when Qui-Gon interrupted him.
"Listen to me, Kote. You craved power back then. I thought it was because you wanted to defeat Death Watch, but after thinking it over for the past two days, I understand now. There must be a more powerful Darkness forcing you to become stronger—that is the Sith. You repeatedly warned me to be careful of the Darkness. You must already know who these Dark ones are, but for Mandalore or some other purpose, you can't say it directly; you can only warn others, right?" Qui-Gon was like a detective and psychologist at this moment.
Kote hadn't expected Qui-Gon's deduction to be so accurate.
"That's right, Great Master Qui-Gon. I foresaw everything. The Dark Side will return, and you died on Naboo.
Later, an unavoidable war finally broke out. At the end of that war, Anakin, whom you valued most, became a Sith and massacred the entire Jedi Temple! The Republic and the Jedi were finished, and even Mandalore was destroyed again. The Sith won." Kote recounted everything that would happen in the canonical timeline.
"You mean Anakin!" Qui-Gon couldn't believe it, as he was supposed to be the one to balance The Force!
"Yes, it's Anakin. Anakin was turned into a demon by the Jedi's restrictions and others' manipulation, personally destroying the Jedi, and ultimately balancing The Force." Kote explained one of the reasons for Anakin's fall to the Dark Side in the canon and the final outcome.
"Balance The Force!" Qui-Gon seemed to jump out of his original Jedi mindset. "It's about balancing The Force, not about the Jedi eliminating the Sith." He finally understood why Anakin would become like this; it was fate and the manipulation of The Force. The Light Side had been powerful for too long, the Jedi dogma was so corrupt, and the Republic was so rotten.
"Exactly. So, to change this future, I taught Anakin in advance, striving to minimize the destruction of the Jedi. This is for myself and for Mandalore," Kote explained.
"You did well, Kote. You have done everything you can from your position. After all, the Jedi personally rejected your joining. Your choice not to help them destroy the Jedi but to save more people proves that you are better than ninety-nine percent of the people in the world. So, if you need my help, if you need the help of this dead man..." Qui-Gon said, having thought it through. He was already dead to the outside world. Now, he would contribute his remaining warmth for Kote and for the Republic.
"I knew, Great Master Qui-Gon, that you would understand all of this. So, from my position, I need to make Mandalore stronger, which may result in many deaths. But at the right time, I will be the first to declare war on the Sith. Trust me," Kote said sincerely to Qui-Gon.
"I trust you, my young Padawan. You are just as you were on Mandalore; you have never changed." Qui-Gon had decided to help Kote and would do so wholeheartedly, even if some things went against his Jedi creed, but he was a dead man now, after all.
Just as Kote successfully recruited Qui-Gon on the hyperion, the ship escorting Gunray had already arrived on Coruscant.
The guards escorted the main culprit of the Naboo invasion to prison, where he would be publicly prosecuted and tried by the Council at an appropriate time. Even the Trade Federation would be carved up.
And now, in the Judiciary Building, Nute Gunray was being tried.
"Defendant Nute Gunray, you are now on trial for multiple violations of the Galactic Constitution!" the Chief Justice said to Nute Gunray, who remained silent below.
"Please welcome the representatives of Naboo and Mandalore!"
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