Part I

I watched as the predator tore apart its prey out in the open courtyard. Nothing and no one made the faintest of sounds; not even the wind blew. All the noise was that of the predator's meal, before it stopped wriggling. From where I was, which was behind the high wall on the balcony that looked down upon the courtyard, I could see where other prey hid. We certainly didn't want to end up like poor Anson out there.

The only reason I was even within earshot of the hunter was because I had found a decent temporary sanctuary. I wanted to tell the others... if only I could reach them. Then I saw a way that I could: just below me was a pillar, engraved with carvings of the Jedi. The marauder head off down the main stairs in search of more prey; now was my chance! I jumped down from the balcony, remaining behind the pillar until I got the courage to make my way to a small garden of Splinter Ferns; Master Darran's; that's where one of my comrades was sure to be hidden. I did not step into the garden, because I was too big to hide beneath the needles of the little trees, but up close I found another survivor; six years old, and small enough not to get pricked by the razor-thin needles.

I whispered to him, "Psst, Darael. It's me, Peron." Darael looked up at me through the many needles. "I found a wonderful place for us to hide! It's around the temple; a narrow staircase leading down into the library."

Anson, the one who had already been caught sat up and said quietly, "Darael, I'm already out, so I can lead you there. Just stay hidden."

"Yeah," I agreed. "And I can watch your back in case the hunter suspects anything. I'll watch from the balcony and if danger comes, run and I'll hold him off." I left the younglings to it and climbed back up onto the balcony. I scanned the area I'd last seen the hunter; no sign of him, and Darael was almost to the library.

I looked in the library's direction; the hunter had come in through an opening and had already seen Anson. Knowing he was out, the hunter ignored him. Darael looked up at me for help, and I motioned for him to stay. I used to Force to rustle some stones around from where the hunter had come, and he turned around to see what it was. Darael already knew to dash for the stairs before I could give the signal, and he made it with time to spare. Before I had a chance to get to the stairs, the hunter returned.

He was in my view from behind the balcony wall, but he hadn't seen me yet. Twenty minutes of the game had passed, and he had not even seen me yet, thank the Force. He turned a corner of one of many pillars in the courtyard and returned to the area where he'd caught Anson. Out of sight for a moment... out of earshot? I gently hit my knuckle against the wall I hid behind. He didn't even flinch, but continued to walk towards the Splinter Ferns. I took the chance and scurried, in a crouch, toward the stairs to the lower level of the Jedi Temple where I'd sent Darael.

I hopped the railing that enclosed all but the mouth of the stair and landed lopsided: one foot on a higher step than the other. Also on the stairs, just a few steps below was my partner and a sparkle in the galaxy, all in one. Tiana just about stepped on my feet before she jumped back from my jumping in. She started to fall back and gave a sharp "Woah!" I caught her with the aid of the Force in my protective hands. After a moment, she realized who had spooked her, and a giggle formed as she regained her own balance.

She said in her delightful voice, "Peron!" She embraced me in a hug and I spun her around to the step above me, so that I looked up into her glittery-green eyes. "What are you doing? Jumping around—"

"Shh!" I hushed, putting a finger up to her lips. "I'm Hunting with the young ones. If you speak too loudly, I'll get caught!"

"Oh, I want to play; what can I do?" she muttered excitedly.

"Hide me! I think I hear him coming!"

"Well come on!" She grabbed me by the hand and yanked me down the flight of stairs into the soothingly-lit Lower Lobby.

I nearly hit a wall as I was pulled around a corner and into the library, where only Madame Shen-Jon wandered, browsing the infinite archives of Jedi history. I could feel her watching, but she didn't say anything to us. I wouldn't have been able to respond anyway; I was too concentrated on avoiding obstacles as Tiana was guiding me up the stairs and into an enclosed holobooth.

In the small closet, both our heavy breathing was unbelievably loud, but it quickly subsided, and we laughed. There was hardly enough room for two people in the booth, but all the more reason for us to share a hug, ending with a silky kiss.

Just as we pulled, a figure appeared on the holovid. We separated ourselves as much as we could in the little room when Master Korduin, my master, appeared on the monitor. "Peron, please meet me in the courtyard, immediately."

"Uh, the courtyard, master?" That's where my hunter lurks!

"Yes, Peron. Tiana, report to your master as well."

She had a guilty look. "Yes, Master Korduin."

The holovid ended; Tiana and I looked at each other. "I hope he doesn't know about us, although I wouldn't be surprised if he does. I wonder what he could want."

"Well if it's about us, don't take all the blame like you always do. This is both of our doing, and you shouldn't take the blame for what we have."

"And you have to finish your training to become a Jedi; you're still only a padawan, and I don't want to ruin your chances."

"But if we can—"

"Shh," I said as we left the holobooth. "We mustn't keep our masters waiting."

Tiana gave a sympathetic smile before she opened the door of the holobooth and jogged out, taking a left out of the library. I walked out, hands behind my back, and climbed the stairs back up to the courtyard. I looked around for my master, and found him sitting by the Splinter Fern garden, talking with my predator.

I stopped in my tracks to allow the master talk to the youngling, but he sent him off and called me over, "Come, Peron. Sit."

I sat down cross-legged next to him, but he didn't speak for a minute or two, so I decided to. "Master, I know why you summoned me, but I—"

"Peron."

"Master, before you say more, I think it's only fair—"

"Easy, Peron." I hushed; he talked. "I know what's been going on. It's written all over the place."

I paused for a moment, and then went on saying, "You do?"

"Search your feelings, young padawan. You and I both know how often you two think about each other. It's almost difficult to ignore the emotions you feel."

I couldn't hold back a smirk.

Korduin continued, "The other masters and I have discussed the problem, and—"

"Problem? There is no problem." I knew this would get me a bad note in the temple, but it was just outrageous. "The only problem is the Jedi Code!"

Korduin crossed his arms. "Peron... There is no emotion..."

"That's what I'm talking about: "There is no emotion; there is peace. Through emotion... through love, the love Tiana and I share, I have found peace; and inner peace. We both have!"

"Peron," he tried.

"It's no wonder the Jedi have been dying off! How do we hope to rebuild the Order if we aren't allowed to love? There won't always be an unproven Force-sensitive being out in the galaxy that we can just seize up at the last moment! We can't live by the old traditions forever!"

Korduin thought for a few minutes. After a while he said, "I think we've talked enough for now. Besides, it's getting late."

"Yeah..." This was a bit peculiar. "I'll head off to bed."

•••••

As Peron left the garden, I decided to gather the other masters of the council for a meeting. When I arrived in the council chamber, Masters Darran, Chanden, and Yu-Sien were already in their selected seats, discussing the younglings that are to begin training in the temple.

"Master Korduin," started Yu-Sien, seeing the anguish in me. "What is wrong? You normally retire this late in the night."

"Can you not feel it? What Tiana and Peron are feeling for each other? It's become dangerous to have them around, and I would ask that either one be transferred to the enclave on Dantooine."

Master Chanden took to thinking about this deeply. Finally, he shared, "My padawan openly shared with me just what she was feeling, about Peron and about us; about the Jedi. I fear they are both starting down a dangerous path."

"That's what I came to discuss. I sense no darkness surrounding either of them. The Force flows strongly through the both of them, stronger than I've seen in a long time, and I've yet to find any trace of evil."

"Don't be so sure, Master Korduin. And do not let your feelings get in the way of the truth," reminded Chanden. "The Dark Side is a strong entity. It may be that the Sith have found a way to conceal their presence."

"Maybe... but to have corrupted the padawans so quickly?"

"It's never happened so fast before..." worried Darren, stroking his beard. "Master Korduin? There's more, isn't there?"

"Yes," I confessed. "My padawan said something to me before I came here. He said... that he's found peace through love. Is it possible our forefathers have misguided themselves... or been misguided by a more powerful evil than the Sith? In writing the Code, the first verse, Peron and Tiana believe Odan-Urr was wrong."

"That is not all..." insisted Yu-Sien.

I hesitated. "I have considered this, and I would wish to hear your standpoints."

There was a long silence after this. Then, Master Vullen and Li entered the room. Just as they sat, Chanden decided to go first. The rest watched me as I stood in the center of the room and listened. "Zeth-il, the Code was written to keep the Jedi from turning against themselves. Neither padawan has shown the slightest indication of betrayal..." he paused to think about what he was saying. "Though Peron does show arrogance, passion, and the curiosity of a young child, I've never known a Jedi more in tune with himself; more in tune with the Force. This experiment of yours has not led us astray, and though it goes against my beliefs," he looked around at the others. "I say we give the boy a chance."

I smiled to Chanden when Li said, "Zeth-il. Cuhar. Do not let curiosity get the better of you. Allowing young Morillo to test this theory of his can bring much trouble to himself and the Order."

"Kira," I argued. "You know the Order is already in trouble. If we don't do something, we may very well be the last of the Jedi. Something has to be done. Peron said, and I quote, 'How do we hope to rebuild the Order if we aren't allowed to love? There won't always be an unfounded Force-sensitive being out there that we can just seize up at the last minute. We can't live by the old traditions forever. I think he may be right."

Just as I said this, Grand Master Zadex entered on his power chair, slowly gliding into the room. We all greeted the Grand Master and bowed our heads to him. He looked at me through his silvery eyes. "Korduin, am I hearing right? Are you saying we rewrite the Jedi Code?"

"Grand Master, I'm always eager to hear what's on my padawan's mind. He's never let me down before, never left my side. He does have a point to what he says: the Jedi Order is dying off at a striking rate. We can't hope to find some boy or girl in the galaxy, let alone hope he or she will restore the Order and balance to the Force."

The Grand Master hesitated, lost in thought. Finally he said, "That would mean changing all we've worked for, all we've lived by for a millennia."

"Grand Master, when I first arrived at the temple, took my first steps as a Jedi, you always told me change would come and make things right. Does that not apply for the Order?"

"Peron is just like his father..."

I decided it best to say nothing on the subject.

"Your padawan must get over this arrogance, as should you. We will further discuss this in detail when we can all be present."

I thought for a moment, but decided to not drag on through the night. "Goodnight... Master"

He slowly floated out of the room, leaving the six of us to exit as well.

•••••