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enough.
    KI-ADI
What of the Wookiees, by the droids attack’d?
What shall we do, this new threat to address?
    MACE
’Tis critical we send a swift attack
Group, there to aid the Wookiees in their homes
Amidst the trees—lounge ’round and let them die
We certainly may not. ’Tis not our way.
    OBI-WAN
Wise Master Windu speaketh sensibly:
Their system is too valuable to lose.
    YODA
Go thither I shall,
For in the Wookiees’ graces
Good I do reside.
    MACE
’Tis settl’d. Master Yoda shall a clone
Battalion take withal, unto the home
Of th’brave and kindly Wookiees on Kashyyyk.
The Force be ever with us all, my friends.
[Exeunt all except Obi-Wan and Anakin.
    ANAKIN
I prithee, Master, what’s this gibberish?
To place me on the Jedi Council yet
Deny me rank of Master! Wherefore, eh?
Ne’er in the long and gallant history
Of Jedi Knights hath such as this been done.
It more than disappoints: it gives offense.
Methinks ’twould better for me be, mayhap,
If I did tell my sorrows to the stones,
Who, though they cannot answer my distress,
Yet in some sort are better than the Council,
For that they will not intercept my tale:
When I do weep, they humbly at my feet
Receive my tears and seem to weep with me;
And, were they but attirèd in grave weeds,
Coruscant could afford none like to these.
A stone is soft as wax, the Jedi harder,
A stone is silent and offendeth not,
Whilst Jedi by decrees doom me to shame.
    OBI-WAN
O, Anakin, calm thy most anguish’d mind.
In truth, thou hast an honor vast been giv’n:
Mayhap ’tis true none e’er were on the Council
Lest they were also as a Master rank’d,
Yet it is true as well the Council ne’er
Hath let a one so young as thee be on’t.
This hath no precedent in either case.
Thou, Anakin, art far too close unto
The cunning chancellor. The Council doth
Reject his bold attempts to interfere
In Jedi matters. Hast thou eyes to see?
    ANAKIN
Sir, by my troth, I never ask’d to be
Upon the Council.
    OBI-WAN
—Yet ’twas thy desire.
Thy friendship with the chancellor hath brought
Thee dividends.
    ANAKIN
—’Tis not the matter here.
    OBI-WAN
Nay, nay, for truly ’tis the matter whole;
The Council hath accepted Palpatine’s
Appointment for one reason, one alone:
The chancellor doth place his trust in thee.
    ANAKIN
What seed’s therein that bears the Council fruit?
    OBI-WAN
Brave Anakin, I’d help thee as I may:
Thine interests are ever in mine heart.
I would not place thee in this grave position.
    ANAKIN
And what, good sir, is this position, eh?
    OBI-WAN
The Council wills that thou dost bring report
O’er all the dealings of the chancellor.
They would be of his movements well-inform’d.
    ANAKIN
I am to prove a turncoat and become
A spy unto my friend the chancellor?
Such action’s treason.
    OBI-WAN
—We are men at war.
’Tis treason none to make a sure defense.
    ANAKIN
Yet wherefore did the Council not assign
This task to me whilst in our session now?
If they desire it, why hide mine employment?
    OBI-WAN
This bold assignment hath no record, see?
’Tis not official, ’tis but for thine ears.
    ANAKIN
The chancellor of evil is not made—
Can you not see his kindness, Obi-Wan?
He hath befriended me, and giv’n his aid
E’er since I did arrive on Coruscant.
    OBI-WAN
Thou art assur’d of his good will, ’tis true,
And that is wherefore thou must help us, too.
Allegiance to the Senate we do owe,
Not to its leader, who hath office held
Far past the expiration of his term.
    ANAKIN
The Senate hath commanded him to stay.
    OBI-WAN
Aye, yet allow thy feelings to inform
Thy judgment here: there’s something out of place.
    ANAKIN
You’d have me act against the Jedi code,
Against Republic, mentor, and my friend:
’Tis this is out of place. Why ask me this?
    OBI-WAN
The Council asketh, Anakin. Not I.
Now, get thee hence, and we shall meet again.
[Exit Anakin.
How do you reach a friend whose spirit fails?
How sing of hope when hopelessness abounds?
How steer them from a course of