Author's Note: Thanks for the first chapter reviews, everyone. I really appreciate the feedback. I hope you all continue to enjoy the story.
Important disclaimers: Only Vandalyn and a few of the minor characters are mine. Everything else is comes, ultimately, from George Lukas' imagination.
Chapter 2
The room erupted at Vandalyn's confession. Murmurs. Whispers. Gasps. That was enough for Windu. "Clear the chamber. Everyone, go!" He pointed forcefully at the door. "Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Vandalyn and Usa… You alone remain." The sudden rush to the door was quieter than one might expect, but then, the Jedi tread lightly when and where they walked. Vandalyn took that moment to look at Usa Tabor, her own Master, and the man who had nurtured her development for many years. He met her eyes steadily, and Vandalyn could not tell if the expression on his face was disbelief, disappointment, or both.
She looked back down at the floor. There is no chaos; there is harmony. There is no chaos; there is harmony. She repeated part of the Jedi Code in her mind, choosing to focus on the section that had always resonated most deeply with her. Feeling Qui-Gon nearby, she continued to center her thoughts and seek calmness in order to face what was still to come. It was difficult.
The door to the chamber slid shut with a barely audible hiss. After the storm of voices, it seemed suddenly and eerily quiet. Windu leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbow on the arm of the chair, waiting for something. With a frown, he looked at Qui-Gon who continued to stand quietly, his hands now hidden in the arms of his robe, and stare back at Windu. Windu's mouth pinched into a frown and raised an eyebrow. Still, there was no response from Qui-Gon, and soon Windu turned his attention to Vandalyn. Feeling his stare, she resolutely continued to look at the floor, knowing the defiance in her eyes would only harden the elder against her.
"Look at me," he finally commanded, and she obeyed. "You understand, Vandalyn, what this may mean?"
"Yes, Master Windu, I do." She kept her voice low and neutral despite the fact she wanted nothing more than to leap to her feet and explain everything. She thought about what had transpired only a few minutes before, hearing Windu's voice in her head demanding Qui-Gon's robe and his light saber. She knew there was no way they could force the light saber from him; a Jedi made his or her own light saber, it was not bestowed. But Windu's words had been for the audience. To even ask for such a gesture… it was unheard of, and the padawan who heard it would never, ever forget it. However, if that was the gesture required, she would offer it.
Vandalyn unhooked her light saber and put it on the floor in front of her knees. "If this is what is required, then it is yours," she said, but there was a trace of sadness in her voice.
"Now, lost everything may be," said Yoda. "Your feelings for Qui-Gon, caused much trouble they have. Regret them now, do you?"
A few feet behind her, Qui-Gon watched in silence, wishing there was a way he could prevent this. I am truly feeble to ask myself to wish something like that, he thought. I could have prevented this, but I did not. If they cast her from the Jedi, deny her an opportunity to become a Knight, then indeed I have caused irrevocable harm. I must bear the blame, the shame, and the consequences. He began to take a deeper breath as he prepared to speak, but Vandalyn stopped him with her own words.
"Regret? No, not now, not ever." She looked over her shoulder, directly at Qui-Gon as she answered, but her voice filled the room. Then she looked back at Yoda. "I am sorry this has caused him pain, but I do not regret one moment that he and I have shared, even though it costs me everything."
She paused only for a moment, and then turned to look at Usa Tabor. "And I am sorry if I have disappointed you, Master. I know you have asked the Council to retire from training so you can focus on your studies. I am your last padawan; please forgive me if I have failed you." Her Master remained silent, arms folded.
"Be that as it may," said Windu, "we are still faced with a decision. Do we take your future as a Jedi, Vandalyn? Can we risk you becoming a Knight, and perhaps someday a Master, when we know so little of what has transpired? Can we risk Qui-Gon continuing to train and mentor our young Jedi?"
Again silence enveloped the room. Vandalyn, still kneeling, folded her hands in her lap and waited. She was a Jedi, and a Jedi was nothing if not patient. Qui-Gon also waited, but he chose to watch Windu and Yoda. The quiet filled the room for a full ten minutes until a voice finally interrupted.
"Excuse me. Master Windu? Master Yoda?" The voice belonged to Obi-Wan. "Actions should never be judged without proper consideration of the reasons. Sometimes that which is done for the benefit of good, can be seen – on the surface – as evil, and sometimes that which appears evil can, in the end, result in good. Is that not so?"
The barest hint of a smile curled the corner of Qui-Gon's lip. He was pleased with the path of Obi-Wan's thoughts. His padawan, despite the abruptness and confusion of the situation, had considered the options and arrived at an excellent solution.
"Hmmm?" Yoda looked inquiringly at Obi-Wan.
"If that is so, then we should consider not only the actions of Vandalyn and Master Qui-Gon, but the circumstances and reasons that brought them to choose that path."
"An astute observation, padawan," said Usa who was looking at his own kneeling charge. He had seen Vandalyn's back straighten slightly when Obi-Wan spoke. "We can share both of their memories. As we glimpse part of the past, so may we see into the future. I say we judge her – and Qui-Gon – on that." Windu nodded at Usa Tabor and glanced at Yoda.
"Acceptable to me, it is." Yoda settled a little deeper in his chair and the tips of his green ears sagged slightly as he got comfortable. He expected a long afternoon.
Vandalyn felt something in the Force she had never felt before. The closest she could describe it was a sharpening, and she knew she had the full attention and insight of the three elders on her. She let her shoulders drop as she relaxed, it would be folly to fight them.
Mace nodded. "Get up from the floor, Vandalyn, and then tell us your story."
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Well, there's chapter two… from here we'll delve into what happened two years ago. I hope you've enjoyed this, and I'd love to get some feedback.
