A/N: Well, you asked for it and here it is: a nice long chapter. Thanks to Lizzle09, nightbug08, and Raynbowz for reviewing.

Chapter 3 Taking the Diplomatic Approach

Half the Jedi living in the Temple were now amassed outside the strange blue box. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi walked down the flight of stairs leading to the main entrance where the box was located. After making their way to about halfway through the crowd, Anakin frowned.

"That's it? Countless undercover and rescue missions and we end up investigating a box?" observed Anakin with a touch of disappointment in his voice and a sigh.

Obi-Wan shook his head as they moved through the crowd the rest of the way to the front of the box.

"Now Anakin, this might not be the most exciting assignment, but for all we know, a species we haven't come across before could be in there right now." Obi-Wan said as he stood in front of the TARDIS, before reaching out with the Force to see what was inside.

"A three or a blue card, Jack." The Doctor said, reminding Jack that it was his turn.

Jack sighed. "I got nothing." he said as he went to pick up a card from the pile. He looked at the card and groaned.

"And to think I was one away from Uno." Jack stated as he added the card to his hand.

All of a sudden, the Doctor flinched, a wide-eyed look on his face. Jack frowned as the Doctor's expression changed to one of startled wonder.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Someone's trying to scan us telepathically. I'll try and block them out." the Doctor said as he out his hands up to his temples. After several silent minutes, the Doctor lowered his hands to his sides.

"Well, that should take care of that." The Doctor said as he went back to his and Jack's game of Uno.

Obi-Wan staggered slightly, concerning Anakin.

"Master?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "I'm fine. It doesn't look like we'll be using the Force to see in there, though."

Anakin frowned. "What could have caused that?"

"I don't know."

They both stood there for a few moments before Obi-Wan said, "Perhaps the diplomatic approach is best." He walked over to the box, then firmly knocked on one of the doors.

The door swung open a few minutes later, revealing the same oddly dressed man. The man stepped out of the box, a look of wariness on his gaunt features. The wariness faded though, after a few minutes, when he realized they weren't going to attack him. His expression changed to a manic grin.

"Hello-wait, you're not going to try and attack me like your similarly dressed friends over there, are you?"

Obi-Wan looked surprised. "You speak Galactic Basic?"

The man looked like he was thinking. "Well, that could be my ship translating, which I don't think is possible since she powered down the moment we landed." The man said as he gestured behind him to the blue box.

"How can three people fit in there?" Anakin asked, eyeing the blue box in question, thinking back to what some of the Jedi had said.

"Well, I could show you." The Doctor responded, then opened one of the doors. Obi-Wan and Anakin exchanged glances before stepping forward. The Doctor held his arm across the door, however, impeding the Jedi from entering.

"I do make it a point to know who is boarding my ship, though." The Doctor said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I'm Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and this is my Padawan Anakin Skywalker." The Doctor was sure he didn't know what some of those words meant. However, he made sure that he would remember to ask later.

"Oh, and if you would please leave your laser swords out here." The Doctor requested before moving further into the TARDIS.

"Master, I don't think it would be wise in a situation such as this to leave our lightsabers behind." Anakin said as Obi-Wan walked toward the TARDIS.

"Reach out with the Force, Anakin, do you sense that this is a trap?" Anakin shook his head, then removed his lightsaber from his utility belt. The Jedi leaned their lightsabers against the TARDIS. They walked in, not expecting the massive space that was the console room. Anakin looked around in amazement, wondering what it would take to build something like this. He probably would have seen more detail if the room was more brightly lit.

Jack was sitting in the captain's chair with the still unconscious Rose's head on his shoulder.

Obi-Wan decided to get to the point. "My Padawan and I were assigned to investigate the strange object that had appeared."

The Doctor nodded as he walked around the console. "That would be the TARDIS."

Obi-Wan frowned at the name. "Time and relative dimensions in space, or TARDIS. I can assure you, Obi-Wan that we aren't going to pose a threat. In fact, we are the opposite of a threat; we have no power and no weapons." The Doctor explained as he came to a stop by the captain's chair. Obi-Wan's response was a nod, though he wasn't sure if the Doctor saw it due to the lighting situation.

Obi-Wan looked around the room again, realizing that he had never seen anything like it.

"What part of the galaxy did you say you were from?" Anakin, who had previously been silent as he took in the sight of the console room, asked.

"Actually, we aren't from this galaxy; we aren't even from this universe." Obi-Wan and Anakin exchanged looks, clearly surprised by the Doctor's response.

"I'll speak with the council about this matter, but we should be able to get you back to your universe Mr..."

The Doctor blinked. "I'm the Doctor."

Obi-Wan frowned. "Doctor What?"

"Just the Doctor." He replied with a slight grin. Jack then decided to introduce himself. He got up from the captain's chair and walked over to the two Jedi.

"Captain Jack Harkness; nice to meet you." He said, extending his hand, meaning for Obi-Wan to shake it.

The Doctor scowled. "Stop it Jack." Jack turned to look at the Doctor.

"I'm just saying hello." The Doctor wasn't convinced.

"Please, you're never just saying hello." Jack walked back over to the captain's chair. The Doctor cast another glance at Jack before walking over to the two Jedi.

"My other companion, Rose, was injured just before we entered the anomaly that took us here. Since we don't have any power, I can't treat her injuries. Do you know where we could take her to get her treated?"

Obi-Wan's expression was one of thought before he said, "I'm sure one of our healers can help her. Anakin, if you would take her to the infirmary."

Anakin nodded and walked over to the captain's chair before picking Rose up. He then walked over to the double doors, opened one of them, and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Before anyone could blink, the Doctor was across the room and about to open the door.

"I can assure you Doctor, your friend is in good hands." The Doctor turned to face Obi-Wan, letting go of the doorknob in the process.

"You're absolutely certain?"

"Yes, I've known Anakin since he was a boy; believe me, he won't let anything happen to her." The Doctor sighed, but moved away from the door.

"You'll have to excuse the Doctor, he's very overprotective of Rose," Jack said with a raised eyebrow directed toward the Doctor. The Doctor didn't respond however, a look of thought on his face.

"What did you say you were again? A Jedi?"

"That's correct." The Doctor looked as if he was thinking again.

"What does a Jedi do exactly?" Obi-Wan walked towards the doors.

"Well, since we're at the Temple, I could show you around, and explain how the Jedi work." The Doctor and Jack moved towards the doors as Obi-Wan opened one of them.

The three exited the TARDIS, the Doctor thankful they had landed in an ultimately peaceful place, seeing as how they weren't ambushed when they left the TARDIS. The Doctor shut the door behind him, then followed Obi-Wan and Jack through the large crowd and up the stairs towards the lift.

The three entered the lift, followed by Obi-Wan pushing one of the buttons on the panel that would take them to the First Knowledge quarter of the Temple. The lift descended into the depths of the Temple, the Doctor finally able to relax, knowing that for the time being he and his companions were safe.