Han awoke with a start when he heard muffled voices coming from within the ship. The pilot wasn't supposed to be back yet; his experience of the past five nights told him that.

Something was wrong.

Deftly, he snatched up the blaster he kept for protection and headed for the front of the cargo hold.

"-been looking for you, Sikes, after that bounty you put on us."

"The galaxy doesn't need you. The last thing us average citizens need-"

"Pity you can't be considered that" chimed in a third. "Our sources say you're working for the Sith."

"And you're not escaping this time."

"You'll be destroyed yet, and good riddance I say. The Sith know all about your little group here."

Sith? Then they must be Jedi! Han felt a thrill when he heard a distinctive snap-hiss. A flurry of blaster bolts followed. Two more lightsabers ignited and Han stood against the door, listening intently to the fight. It seemed to last forever and he found himself imagining what it would be like to be one of those Jedi.

In reality, the battle only lasted a few minutes. There was a final sizzle of a lightsaber then a heavy silence.

Han waited with bated breath, wondering what the Jedi would do next.

"You didn't have to kill him, Ferus" said a voice at last.

"I didn't have much of a choice. He was going for Bultar."

"So that's you're excuse. I was managing fine on my own. I'm not an apprentice anymore."

"Wait-there's someone else-"

Han backed away from the door and switched the blaster's setting to stun.

The door slid open and a blue-green Twi'lek entered, who immediately caught sight of him.

Han raised the blaster "Any closer and-"suddenly, incredibly, the blaster flew from his hand and into hers.

She tucked it into the holster which hung from her belt. "Any more pleasant surprises for us?"

Han stood there speechless, trying to think up another plan.

"I thought not. I'm Aayla Secura. What's you're name?"

"Han...Solo..." Han replied uncertainly, warily watching the two other Jedi.

"Don't you go making friends around here," warned Ferus from behind her.

Aayla pointedly ignored him and held out her hand. "How about we get you home, Han?"

"I don't have a home. My parent's are dead."

"So you've been staying here?"

Han shrugged. "It's shelter."

Aayla considered him a few seconds then replied "You're coming with us."

"But I didn't-"

"You're far too young to be wandering around spaceports, Corellian spaceports especially, by yourself."

Ferus took a step forward. "Aayla, he's not coming with us."

"Doesn't our Jedi Code say something about compassion?"

"That doesn't mean you can take any orphan-"

"You keep forgetting you're the younger one here. I'm not leaving the boy here."

Scowling, Ferus turned and left with Bultar close behind him. "Am I really going with you?" Han asked Aayla eagerly. "Are there many other Jedi?"

"Oh, there's many, but only a few others here on Corellia."

"Can I be a Jedi?"

Aayla was taken by surprise at Han's question and she fixed him with a steady gaze. A faint smile lightened her face. "We'll see. If you're force-sensitive-"

Kris glanced at his chrono, shook his head, then resumed his pacing back and forth.

Zett watched him for several seconds before daring to venture a question. "Are they almost back?"

"Don't you have some practicing to do with your mentor?"

"He's practicing with Tanya and they told me to stay out of their way."

"Master Katarn?"

Kris half-turned and saw Padmé in his peripheral vision. She'd just come from lightsaber practice as evident by her flushed face and the unlit lightsaber still in her hand.

"Master, I can't stay any longer."

"You need the training."

"That's just it." Padmé sighed and stopped in front of him. "I've learned so much but this can't go on any longer. There's certain people who can't know I'm here."

"You're diplomatic skills won't do you much good against assassination attempts- and there's been two so far. I don't want you to be unprepared."

Padmé folded her arms and a sly smile crept onto her face. "Do you say that as a mentor-or as something else, Master Katarn?"

Kris recoiled. "I never try to pry in your personal life. You know I don't; but there is someone."

"Someone" Padmé repeated, more certainly.

"Someone we know?" Zett asked curiously.

Kris flashed the apprentice a disapproving glare. "Shall I put in a word about your disrespectfulness to your mentor?"

Zett shook his head hastily "No, Master Katarn" he mumbled and went to stand by the window.

"Master Katarn, I really am grateful but I must get back-"

"I want to see you spar with Aayla first."

"Very well, master, I think I've learned enough to defend myself in any more assassination attempts."

"I should hope so, or the training will have been for nothing." Kris returned his attention to the window a second before the door slid open and Ferus entered. "I take it the mission was successful."

"If you call killing in cold blood 'successful'" Bultar replied, pulling off her cloak, and glaring hastily at Ferus.

Kris turned to face the accused and waited.

"It wasn't in cold blood" Ferus protested. "He was going for Bultar. I should've let him." He shot Bultar a deadly glare which was pointedly ignored.

"Where's Aayla?"

"She's coming-with company." Ferus was still glaring at Bultar. "She pulled an orphan off the ship."

The reception, Han later admitted to Aayla, was far from what he had expected. Being an orphan and used to cargo holds, he had never deserved nor wanted extravagant welcomes but what little he received had completely altered his view of the Jedi.

Aayla went up to the threshold and motioned for Han to follow. There was nothing particularly impressive about the drab building and he found it hard to imagine why the Jedi would possibly want their headquarters there.

"It's not much for a building" Aayla confessed, "but it's hidden which is enough for us."

Oh, so that's it. Han took another look, but still found it unusual for Jedi. It's not even someplace I'd stay. They must be desperate for secrecy. Aayla pressed a series of numbers on the keypad and the door slid open to admit them. They stepped inside and Han's excitement plummeted when he saw the Jedi staring at him.

"The mission was completed" Aayla said cheerfully, ignoring the glares directed at her.

"So I noticed" replied Kris, his tone darkened slightly. "Care to explain yourself, Jedi Secura?"

Aayla wagged a finger at him. "Now don't you dare take that tone with me. You know perfectly well we trained alongside each other. And anyway, it's about time I had an apprentice."

"You'll get an apprentice when Master Yoda assigns you one."

"And did he assign you Padmé? He's at least as force sensitive as her!"

Kris reddened slightly and Padmé spoke up for him.

"Master Katarn was gracious enough to take me on as an honorary apprentice because of the attempts on my life."

"She's force-sensitive enough to receive basic training."

Ferus snickered, but faked a cough when Kris rounded on him.

"I'll deal with you after I'm done with Aayla" he warned. .

Aayla frowned thoughtfully and folded her arms. "Zett, why don't you show Han around? After all, you two need to get acquainted if you'll be training together."

Kris' attention shot from Ferus to Aayla. "Don't you dare!"

"Yes, Jedi Secura" Zett replied, then to Han, "c'mon, I'll show you the training lightsabers."

Grinning, Han raced after him.

Agen Kolar and Fy-Tor-Ana, known simply as Tanya to the others, entered the room in time to see the two run out.

"I thought I felt a disturbance."

Agen said nothing, only watching Aayla.

"Jedi Secura, I'll speak with you alone" Kris said finally.

"Certainly" Aayla replied.

When they had left, Tanya turned to the others. "Just what is going on here anyways?" she demanded. "Anyone would think it was betrayal."

"Close enough" Ferus retorted. "Aayla's getting it this time."

"Aayla, you can't possibly think that boy-"

"Yes, I do" Aayla replied firmly. "I know he has just as much potential as any of us. Besides, where else is he to go?"

"And if he's not force-sensitive, what do you plan to do with him then?"

"I'll take care of him. I'll be below Anakin Skywalker before Han goes back on the streets!"

Kris lowered his voice noticeably. "So you think he will be made a master then?"

"I don't know" Aayla replied stiffly. "I only know he should stop whining and be grateful with where he's at. Being on the Jedi Council is enough achievement."

"And if he does-"

"Yoda would never-"

"And no support from us-"

"You'd better not!"

"Don't worry; I won't" Kris assured. "Now about the boy-"

"Kris-"

"He's yours to train, but if he causes trouble I expect you to deal with him."

"You won't regret this!" Aayla was gone in a flash

Kris didn't bother holding back a grin. "I'd better not regret this," he said outloud, to himself.

Han lowered the training lightsaber to catch Zett's underhand attack then jerked back when the apprentice thrust his lightsaber towards his head.

Zett grinned as their blades met. "Hey, you're pretty good."

"If you learn anything from living on the streets, it's survival." Han gripped the cold metal of the lightsaber hilt harder and noticed how it felt. It feels like it belongs there. Maybe I really could be a Je[i]di. I could. I know I could.[/i] He was caught by surprise when Zett backed him in a corner and knew he'd broken the first rule of survival. Never let them get the advantage; always stay one step ahead. Han dove to the floor and rolled out of the trap. Gotta keep focus. He held his lightsaber warningly as he stood. Zett had his lightsaber lowered but Han recognized the oldest trick in the book. He wants me to think I've won, but I haven't. Instead of surrendering, Han charged his opponent and let the force of the strike push Zett backwards several steps.

"Neat strategy" Zett commented "but, can you handle this?" He flicked his lightsaber up, and twisted around then ducked out of sight.

Han spun around but was a shade too slow. Zett's lightsaber caught his arm and the shock caused Han to drop his weapon. "That's good."

"If it was a real lightsaber, I'd have cut off your arm." Zett picked up the lightsaber and deactivated it along with his own. "Those were some great moves you had. Maybe you could show me a few."

"Sure, but what was that last move? It was so easy I should've stopped it."

"That's one of the basic survival moves apprentices learn. Use the force for extra speed and get behind them so when they turn around, they can't act fast enough. I guess it works."

"That's not going to help you when I'm an apprentice."

"So? I'll learn more. I'll always be ahead of you anyway."

"That's what you think."

Zett shrugged. "Yeah, well, say what you like. I'll still be better."

"So, who was that dark-haired girl? She looked too nice to be a Jedi."

"Oh, Padmé? Yeah, she's a senator. She's only here cause of the attempts to kill her. She's kinda force-sensitive but not a lot. Ferus doesn't like her. I think he suspects something about her."

"Like what?"

"I don't know."

Han was silent as he worked up to another question, but before he could ask it, Aayla entered the room.

"You're my apprentice now."

"You should've seen how good he is" Zett spoke up. "A few times, he had me at a disadvantage."

"Really?" Aayla took the training lightsabers from Zett. "How about we get started on your training, Han?"

"Okay" Han agreed. He activated the lightsaber she gave him and stood ready.

Zett glanced at the door a second before Padmé entered.

"Master Katarn wanted me to have a quick sparring session with you."

"Would you mind waiting ten minutes?"

"Of course not"

Aayla activated her own lightsaber and started showing Han the basic moves. Towards the end of the lesson though, Han noticed her attention was straying to something else. He wanted to ask, but stopped himself.

Aayla lowered her lightsaber. "I'm sorry, Han, but I think we'd better put this on pause. Padmé, maybe-"

Padmé came forward, lightsaber in hand, just as a deafening boom sounded and the roof caved in.