"We need to find Palpatine," Yoda admitted, his voice heavy.
"He is the mastermind behind this, but we cannot locate him. That is why we need your help."
Garfield tilted his head. "And what about the Techno Union? The Banking Alliance? The Trade Federation, the ones causing trouble behind the scenes? Are you planning to simply let them go?"
Yoda sighed, a deep, weary sound. "Their internal affairs are complicated."
"Simply using force will not achieve our goal. And we do not have enough military strength to wage war against all three alliances simultaneously."
Garfield studied the old master for a long moment.
Yoda *was* getting old. He had lost his former boldness.
If Garfield were in his place, he would have sent all three alliances to meet their maker long ago.
"Master Yoda," Garfield said flatly, "I suggest you use this opportunity to eliminate them all at once."
"That would buy the Galactic Republic at least a hundred years to recover from its fractures. If you miss this chance… the Republic may perish within twenty years."
"Impossible!" Mace Windu exclaimed.
Garfield pointed one paw toward the window, toward the sprawling cityscape of Coruscant beyond.
"The Galactic Republic is like a towering tree," he said. "Seemingly lush and leafy. But behind those leaves hide countless termites and rotting branches."
He let that sink in.
"If your tree were whole and healthy, Palpatine and two Sith Lords wouldn't be able to budge it an inch. So why is the Jedi Order now in such disarray?"
Yoda, Mace Windu, Count Dooku, Plo Koon, Kit Fisto… all of them fell silent, deep in thought.
Garfield pressed on.
"At the foot of this great tree, the massive root system that supports it is already overburdened. Partially contaminated."
"Those roots want to break away, to become independent individuals, free to continue their decadent lives unbound by law."
Understanding dawned on their faces.
The Galactic Republic strictly controlled its largest corporations, not only levying high taxes but also restricting excessive consumption and expansion.
It required them to pay enormous medical and sanitation costs.
Why?
To narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. To allow all citizens to live carefree, happy lives.
But they had been misled by the current peace.
They lacked sufficient understanding of the immense ambitions brewing in the hearts of those capitalists.
Garfield's words resonated deeply with Dooku.
He had long believed the Jedi were somewhat corrupt. But what disgusted him even more was the social decay caused by the Jedi's failure to adjust the social structure and laws.
Dooku, who had desired change for years, felt as though he had finally found a kindred spirit.
"Master Garfield is right," Dooku said, stepping forward. "We need a war to end all of this."
"Only change can make this corrupt nation rise again. Or, we could change the form of government entirely. A federation, where each member state has its own laws and freedoms."
Yoda shook his head firmly. "Dooku, your plan will throw the entire universe into chaos."
"All those federations will divert resources from public services, healthcare, and sanitation into military competition."
"As their military power expands, they will inevitably launch wars of annexation. More chaos. Not less."
Dooku rebutted, "The member states of a federation can only maintain a portion of the military force required for security. The rest must be controlled by the Federation Council."
Mace Windu crossed his arms. "Can you guarantee that the people on that council will not be self-serving?"
"That they won't fight for more benefits for their own species and systems? That a Sith Lord like Palpatine won't infiltrate them?"
He gestured sharply. "This Republic is corrupt, but your solution is no solution at all!"
Double-teamed by Yoda and Windu, Dooku was outmatched. His frustration boiled over.
"You're both just too attached to your current positions! Your corrupt lives! Your power!"
Seeing the three about to come to blows, Garfield finally intervened.
"Gentlemen," he said, his voice cutting through the tension, "stop arguing."
All eyes turned to the orange cat.
"If we follow Count Dooku's logic and establish a federation," Garfield continued, "the Jedi will inevitably become the largest faction. So, what use would your so-called federation be then?"
"Dooku, stop clinging to naive fantasies about politics. Look at those stirring up trouble behind the scenes. Do they truly want reform? No. They just want to be kings themselves."
Dooku opened his mouth, then closed it. He had no response.
But Garfield knew, a political idealist like Dooku wouldn't listen to reason unless he was on his deathbed, finally seeing the truth.
Whether he listened or not was his own business.
Garfield turned back to Yoda and Windu.
"Having said all that," he said, "Master Yoda. Are you planning to use this opportunity to pull off something big? Or keep targeting Palpatine?"
He paused.
"Let me make something clear. In a one-on-one fight, none of the people here is a match for him. Even in a group fight, unless *all* the Jedi Masters come together…"
Mace Windu's eyes narrowed. "Master Garfield. Have you fought Palpatine before?"
Garfield didn't answer directly. He simply said, "What do you think?"
The implication hung in the air.
Their plan had been simple… find Palpatine, send three or five Jedi Masters, and be done with it.
But now, hearing Garfield's words, doubt crept into their minds.
"Every minute we wait," Garfield said, "the opponent grows stronger. If you don't deal with the problem soon, a small threat will eventually become a large one."
Yoda, Windu, Dooku, and the other Masters gathered together to discuss. In the end, Dooku lost again… one vote against many.
Yoda stepped forward to deliver their decision.
"We have decided," he said, "to capture Palpatine first. The rest… we will deal with later."
"Too complicated it is. And manpower, we do not have."
Garfield shrugged. He was an outsider, after all. If the Jedi Knights weren't afraid to return to the Force, that was their own business.
"Alright," he said. "You've made your decision. I won't try to persuade you otherwise."
He turned to his robot dog.
"Robot Dog. Pass Palpatine's location to Master Yoda and Young Egg."
The robot dog transmitted the data.
All Masters stared blankly at the icon now displayed on their personal terminals.
Palpatine's icon had his portrait circled in black, with a series of notes behind it. It looked like a boss marker from a video game.
Garfield had even happily edited the profile notes.
Several Jedi Masters read the introduction with bewildered expressions.
None of them knew quite what to say.