Hearing that their foe was already near the palace helped Thal-ion to focus more on their objective.  He soon found himself sprinting after his companion with the Force flowing smoothly through him to increase his agility and speed.  Though the young Sentinel had not yet found the person Alethea had; he had no doubts about the truth of her words.  If their foe reached the Queen before they did - history for the two young Jedi would be permanently destroyed.  On his pressed through the trees to their destination...following Alethea with ease.  He could feel the Force flowing with her:  every step, every breath, and every beat of her heart...she was so vibrant in the Force.  They had been taught how the Force flowed from all life...how it surrounded everything, and now on Naboo racing against time...Thal-ion could understand the lesson a lot more clearly.  Never had he been somewhere as vibrantly alive in the Force as now speeding through the forest to reach Theed.  All of this reached the young Jedi as he continued on almost tirelessly in the hopes of stopping the certain death of Queen Amidala.  He did not need the journal to tell him she was important; for the Force made sure he understood.<br/><br/>It only then occurred to him that they were already changing history by even doing this much.  Granted, it was not much, but it was a beginning.  The only true way to ensure the protection of their timeline was to do nothing, except stop the future assassin.  Yet, if it could be changed for evil purposes - certainly it could be changed for good as well.  Such changed would have to be carefully crafted, because a single misstep could destroy even the best of intentions.  Still, the very idea of making things better for the Jedi and the Republic was not only a daunting idea, but one that floated in his heart and mind with great interest.  Thal-ion knew their ability to not change things to come was already almost impossible.  In stopping whatever troubles had come through already; they might inadvertently also alter things for the better.  Thus, he reasoned, it was better to do so with deliberate intent - rather than accidentally.<br/><br/>The two of them arrived just ahead of the approaching first columns of battle droids with their tanks.  No more than fifteen minutes was given to them between their arrival and the impending invasion force.  Thal-ion glanced over at Alethea as he noted how empty the streets were already.  The people had abandoned the city streets, and the guards - only a few volunteers - were also no place to be seen.  He knew they had likely already formed resistance cells for later, but the emptiness of the city was a bit unnerving.<br/><br/>"Our time grows short.  They will be here soon.  Where is our future assassin?" he asked Alethea quietly...his hand slipping down to his lightsaber smoothly.  With the Force as his ally; Thal-ion reached out for those around him, but especiallyin the palace.  Immdediately, he discovered a bright presence in the Force - which startled the young Jedi.  It was certainly not either of the two Jedi he had sensed fighting on the Viceroy's flagship, but the presence was bright and strong...a beacon against the darkness.  He wondered who this person was, but the Force did not reply.  All he knew for certain was the person was a woman, and located in the upper rooms of the palace.