A shiver went through her. Anneke stood in the middle of the room, encircled by the Jedi Council, the leaders of the Jedi order. These twelve men and women would decide her fate today. The curved walls of the perfectly round room were mostly glass—bracketed by smooth, silvery pillars—affording a panoramic view of the vast, sprawling city of Coruscant. Qui Gon had told her that the city covered the entire surface of the planet. She, who was used to vast empty desert, had trouble wrapping her mind around the idea of such a city.

The Jedi sat at ease while she stood before them, enduring their intense scrutiny. A dark-skinned Human Qui Gon had said was named Mace Windu held a datapad with images flashing across its screen. Anneke couldn't see the images, but she knew them instantly, and passed the test with ease. She wondered if perhaps she was doing too well—she had encountered some people who found a precocious slave irritating—but she was sure the Council would know if she wasn't honest in her answers. And dishonesty definitely wouldn't do her any favours.

Mace finally turned the pad off, his eyes studying her as if she were an interesting new species. With difficulty, she suppressed the urge to look away, to fidget. The tiny alien with huge ears who sat on Mace's right—Qui Gon had called him Yoda—spoke up, his voice squeaky. "Good, good, young one. How feel you?"

"Cold, sir," she replied, with bald honesty. The huge windows did little to keep any heat inside the large room. It seemed Jedi didn't feel temperature in the same way others did.

Yoda's beady brown eyes narrowed. "Afraid are you?"

She spoke without thinking: "No, sir."

A rustle of movement went around the circle of Jedi like a wave of dissent. Yoda slowly shook his wrinkled green head. "See through you we can." His voice sounded smug to her ears.

"Be mindful of your feelings," Mace put in, his voice soft, yet there was a warning in his tone.

A bearded Jedi whose name she didn't know spoke up. "Your thoughts dwell on your mother."

Could they see everything in her heart? She bit her lip. "I miss her," she admitted.

"Afraid to lose her… I think." Yoda's voice set her teeth on edge.

"What does that have to do with anything?" She spoke more sharply than she intended, but did he really have to sound so smug? Of course she missed her mother! Who wouldn't?

Yoda closed his eyes, then opened them again, almost sleepily. "Everything," he replied. "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger… anger leads to hate… and hate… leads to suffering."

She gritted her teeth and only just kept herself from clenching her fists. "I am not afraid." Her voice sounded strained to her ears, and she took a deep breath in an effort to calm herself. It wouldn't do to yell at the Jedi Council.

"A Jedi must have the deepest commitment," Yoda continued, "the most serious mind." He tilted his head to one side, studying her. "I sense much fear in you."

Anneke closed her eyes, willing her mind to calm. These Jedi held her future in their hands. She must convince them to give her a chance. Opening her eyes, she met Yoda's gaze. "I am not afraid," she said again, and this time it was true. Or very nearly true.

Yoda nodded. "Mmm. Then, continue we will."

Mace picked up his datapad again, his gaze—if possible—sharper than before as the tests resumed. A shiver went through her.