Disclaimer: Not mine, blahda, blahda, blahda. This is a fanfic site for a reason, people!

Now that that's taken care of, I can tell you we have landed on Dantooine. Ash has her first talk with the Jedi Council. They basically ignore her, sadly. Anyways, she leaves more than a little annoyed and a few things happen. Carth actually does care, and Ash has a very strange dream. So tell me how I'm doing.

"Ah, Dantooine. It seems like years since I have seen her, though in reality it has only been a few months."

"War is like that." Ash said bitterly. "Doesn't care who it hurts, and time can be long or slow." Bastila risked a glance over her shoulder at the older woman, surprised at this sudden change in mood.

"Yeah, yeah, Dantooine is nice, sure." Carth said. "But didn't Revan and Malak train here? Wouldn't Malak know it's here?"

"Malak and Revan did train here briefly." Bastila said slowly, as the Ebon Hawk landed gently. "But this place is strong. Many Jedi Masters are here. Malak would not dare attack."

Ash rolled her eyes. "Really? If I were Malak, this place would be a big red glowing target. And even the mythical power of your Jedi Masters can't stop orbital bombardment or an air strike." Bastila flinched.

"I must speak with the Council." She said, streaking out.

Ash looked at Carth. "Was it something I said?" He chuckled.

"Probably. Whenever you talk about anything to do with the Sith, she gets nervous. I wonder why."

Ash shrugged, plopping down in the copilot's seat, propping her feet up on the instrument panels. "So do I, but I don't really care. Probably wonders why if I know so much about war, I haven't got a command post or something." Ash yawned. "I can't say I care for war. I'd just as soon be back in Hutt space, never worrying about more than my next meal. Not always a pleasant way to live, but it wasn't bad. Though now I'd be taking Mission and Zaalbar with, and I don't really want Mission to endure any more hardship than she already has. Maybe I can find a good school… but I have a feeling she wouldn't care for it." Ash pulled her legs back, curling up in the chair, closing her eyes. "Night, Carth."

The pilot watched as she fell asleep, controlling the urge to brush her hair away from her eyes. Mission came in a few minutes later.

"How can she sleep there, all scrunched up like that?"

Carth shrugged, watching her. "I have no idea. But I've seen her fall asleep in other uncomfortable positions."

The teen sniffed. "Well, pick her up. Let's move her to a bed." Carth sighed, scooping Ash up. She mumbled something, twisting. In the dorm the three girls had claimed, he deposited her on one of the bunks.

Ash woke to Mission insistently shaking her. "What's up?" She asked, yawning as she swung her legs off the bunk.

"The Jedi wanna talk to you!" Mission said excitedly.

Bastila sniffed, her delicate nose in the air. "You should clean up. It will not do to appear to the Council in your condition." Ash looked down at her clothes, smoothing out the worst of the wrinkles.

"I'm fine the way I am. Mish, you wanna come?" Mission nodded eagerly. "Then we will get me some breakfast, and we will go."

"The Jedi Coun—"

Ash snorted. "I don't give a damn." She said shortly, yanking on her boots and putting on her weapons belt. She did a few stretches, warming her muscles before threading her arm through Mission's. "Breakfast, then Jedi."

They walked to the galley, Ash getting a bowl of synthesizer goop. She couldn't cook to save her life, so the goop was the best she was going to get. She dropped vitamins in eat, eating quickly. Bastila shuddered.

"How can you eat that?"

Ash smirked. "Princess, compared to some of the things I've eaten in the past, this is a luxury meal. You've heard that soldiers will eat anything?" Bastila nodded. "It's mostly true." Ash finished scarfing, and the trio left the ship, to be greeted by Carth.

"You're really meeting the Jedi Council?"

Ash shrugged. "Princess over there says so. You can come with, Brass."

"Actually, Ash," Bastila began, "you're supposed to come alone."

Ash frowned. "Why?"

"It's tradition."

Ash smirked. "Screw tradition!"

Bastila frowned. "The Council will not approve."

Carth sighed, grabbing Mission's arm. "Alright, we won't come. Mission, do you want to get some target practice in?" Mission nodded, almost unwillingly.

"This way." Bastila took off, covering the ground at a lope. Ash followed, shaking her head. The halls of the Enclave were had eerie familiarity, tugging at her mind.

"You there, Padawan, why do you not wear the robes of the Order? Do you mock our traditions?" Ash stopped, staring at a robed woman.

"I'm no Padawan!" Ash spat. "I'd just as soon have nothing to do with you Jedi!"

The woman looked taken back. "But surely—I mean, the Force, it blazes within you. Almost blindingly."

"Good for me. But I'm just here with Bastila." She looked over at the doorway Bastila had gone through.

"Bastila? Oh. I am sorry for the abruptness with which I greeted you." The woman moved out of Ash's way. Ash trotted away, entering the Council chambers. It was oversized. Only four beings, plus Bastila, occupied the room.

A Lethan Twi'lek stood to one side, a dark-skinned male human opposite him. A pale-skinned human male was next to the Twi'lek. Between the two humans, a green-skinned being barely a meter tall stood. All four wore dark blue robes, and looked at her measuringly.

"Ah, so you are the one who rescued Bastila." The Twi'lek said. His voice was very pleasant, just a hint of a rasp. "It is appropriate that you are here. We are discussing your rather special case. I am Zhar, a member of the Jedi Council." Ash nodded, looking unimpressed. "With me are Masters Vrook," the pale-skinned human nodded, "Vandar," the short green humanoid, "And of course the Chronicler of our Academy, Master Dorak." The dark-skinned human nodded to her.

"What do you want from me?" Ash asked.

"Bastila tells us you are strong in the Force." Zhar said smoothly. "We are considering you for Jedi training."

"Riiiiiiight." Ash said, drawing the word out.

"Master Zhar speaks out of turn, perhaps." Vrook growled. Ash scowled at him. She didn't like him. "We need indisputable proof of your strong affinity to the Force before we even begin considering you for training."

Ash rolled her eyes.

"Proof?" Bastila demanded. "Surely the entire Council can feel the strength of the Force within this woman… and I have related to you the events on Taris…" Vrook looked more sour.

"I don't want to be a Jedi." Ash said loudly. "And I happen to be standing right here."

"Perhaps it was simple luck." Vrook said, casting Ash a look of dislike.

"We both know there is no luck. There is only the Force." Zhar countered. "We can all feel the power in Bastila's companion, though it is wild and untamed. Now that this power has begun to manifest itself, can we safely ignore it?"

"The Jedi training is difficult, even when working with a young and open mind." Vrook nearly snarled. Ash watched. The conversation was becoming interesting. "Teaching a child is hard. How much harder will it be for an adult to learn the ways of the Jedi?"

Ash felt a blaze of indignation. That old bastard, saying it would be impossible for her to learn? "If I wished to be a Jedi, Master Vrook," Ash said, her voice heavy with mocking, "my age would not hinder me."

"Such pride!" Vrook half-shouted. "Such arrogance! Ach, this one is on the path to the dark side already."

"As are many who are not given the proper training." Vander spoke placatingly. "Only through our guidance can we hope to lead those who have strayed back to the path of the light."

"Traditionally, adults are not accepted for Jedi training. Though there are rare exceptions in our Order's history. And you are a special case."

Ash looked at Dorak. "Aren't you listening to me? I don't want to be a Jedi!"

"I agree with Master Dorak." Vandar said, completely ignoring Ash. "Many of our own pupils are leaving the Jedi Order to follow the Sith teachings. We need recruits to stand against Malak. With Revan dead…" he was cut off by Vrook.

"Are you sure Revan is truly dead?" Vrook demanded.

"We should discuss this matter more fully in private." Vander said authoritatively. "Bastila, you and your companion must go. This is a matter for the Council alone."

"Of course." Bastila said, with a bow. She walked obediently to the door before she noticed Ash wasn't following.

"If you're discussing me, I have every right to stay." Ash said, eyes lazily half-lidded.

"There are other things we must discuss, Miss Ash." Zhar said politely. "You will be discussed, but we will consider all things, even factors you do not know about."

Her eyes glinted under her lashes. "Like you considered my opinions in the conversation? You talked about me like I wasn't standing right here."

"There are things you do not know, and must remain ignorant of unless we decide to train you, and you choose to accept the training."

Ash frowned, looking at him. "I'll concede that point. But you're still discussing me."

"Leave or we will make you leave."

Ash composed her face into innocent shock. "I don't know a whole lot of Jedi, Master Vrook—but that sounds a little dark side." She smirked as he spluttered. "I suppose I can leave, since you feel so strongly about it." She sauntered out. Bastila stared at her, wide-eyed and open mouthed. "Close your mouth. Don't want something flying in there." Bastila shut her mouth quickly.

Ash wandered through the Enclave, finding a protocol droid that said she didn't have access to the plains. She disabled it easily, yanking out a few wires in the 'neck'. She sliced the lock on the door and walked out, face lifted to the sun. She wove among the people, going into the hip-deep grass.

A little ways out, she found a large, flat boulder to sit on. It was up a steep slope, and overlooked a panorama of Dantooine. She sighed, drawing her knees up to her chest. She thought about the Jedi as a whole.

They had good principles, she just didn't want to live by all their rules. She wanted to love. And she already had two very permanent attachments, and one she wanted to become a permanent attachment. And then she owned half a ship… and half a droid…

"I wondered where I'd find you."

Ash smiled lazily, twisting to look at Carth. "Here I am." She said. "You wanna talk or something?"

"I'm rather curious as to what the Jedi Council said to you."

Ash shrugged. "It came down to not a whole lot. I am, apparently, extraordinarily strong in the Force. Half the Council wants to train me, one despises me for no apparent reason, and the fourth is undecided. I told them I didn't want to be a Jedi, they didn't listen." Ash sighed. "And they sent me away so they could discuss whether or not to train me."

"Jedi don't train anybody more than five or six years old." Carth said.

She shrugged. "I know that and you know that, but who really does know? Jedi are a mysterious breed."

"You've got that right. Bastila came back to the ship looking like she had been hit with a shock rod. I asked about that. I believe her exact words were 'that disrespectful woman'."

Ash smirked. "I have no reason to respect the Jedi Council. They were the ones sitting on their behinds when the Mandalorians attacked. I respect Revan and his, because they actually did something."

"Respect? As in still do?"

Ash shrugged. "He was the greatest military mind of the era. Sure, he ended up a traitor, but there's no point in not recognizing brilliance in another, even if he is an enemy."

"I suppose you're right about that." Carth said grudgingly. "But would you really be a Jedi?"

Ash chewed her lip. "I… I don't know. Maybe, if the Council would let me have a life. And, as a Jedi, I'd be better equipped to help stop Malak. I can't bear the thought of Mission finishing her growing up in a Sith empire. I don't want to see any more planets destroyed. I suppose… I suppose I might, if it were an option."

"I don't think I've ever seen you indecisive." Carth commented casually.

Ash laughed hollowly. "I'm usually not indecisive. But… becoming a Jedi would be a big decision. They don't want living people. They want obedient little Jedi-bots, and I could never be that." She sighed irritably. "Maybe I'll be able to decide better after a night's sleep." She glanced at him swiftly. "How good are you with blades? I'd like to do a little training." Carth shrugged.

"Good enough, though I might be a bit rusty."

Ash smiled. "Got some blades with you?"

He nodded. "I was told that these plains can be dangerous, with the kath hounds and Mandalorians."

Ash scowled. "Rouges, you mean. Dar'manda, really. But they can be tough."

"Rouges?"

"Revan ordered for the clans to disband. Those who haven't are considered by other Mandalorians to be no longer Mandalorian. Death is the merciful way." At his disbelieving look, she shrugged. "I didn't write the clan beliefs, Carth." She dropped off the rock, into the grass. She took her vibroblades from her belt, holding them ready.

Carth did the same, his own two blades glinting.

When the sun set, they both returned to the Ebon Hawk, drenched in sweat. Ash had found Carth was a very good blade fighter, nearly as good as he was with his blasters. A challenging fighter, come to that.

"Where have you been?" Bastila asked as they returned.

"Sparring." Ash replied, grinning. "Brass over here is pretty good with a pair of blades."

"Out of practice." Carth grunted. "You're a helluva lot better."

"You held out well."

"Could you two be any more irresponsible? If you had been killed, we might not have known for days!" They laughed.

"Yeah, right. Like that would happen. I've been surviving in dangerous situations since I was twelve. Don't worry about lil' ole me."

"And I've been a soldier for years, Bastila. Trust me, if there's two people who know how to take care of ourselves, it's me and Ash." Ash smiled at him, a brilliant smile that lit up her face.

"I get first shower!" She said, streaking up the ramp.

Bastila frowned at her as she passed. "Carth, could I speak with you?"

Carth shrugged. "Sure." She descended the ramp.

"What do you think of Ash?"

He frowned. "Why do you ask?"

Bastila looked a little uncomfortable. "I'd just like a second opinion, that's all." She said quickly.

Carth scratched his head. "She's a great fighter. She's got a pretty sharp tongue. And you definitely want her on your side. If you ask a question, chances are she'll have an answer. Ash's freely admitted that she admires Revan for his military brilliance and willingness to join the fight against the Mandalorians. She thinks the Sith are stupid, as a whole. And there's something about her that's, I don't know, just something. She's willing to help anybody who needs it, unless they are capable of getting themselves out of whatever mess they are in. She's more than a little crazy, and confident." Bastila nodded.

"Thank you for being honest." She left. Carth went into the Ebon Hawk. Ash grinned at him when she came out of the refresher a few minutes later and went to the dorms to crash.

I paced in front of the door. I could feel the dark power of this place calling to me. My robes swished, masking me in shadows as I paced. In the darkness of the stone room, I looked like little more than a shadow. Under my mask, my eyes went to study Malak. He was pacing, but it was because of anxiety. His blue tattoos were just visible in the pale moonlight that gave the room the dimmest of illumination. His footsteps stopped.

"The dark side is strong in this place—I can feel its power." He rasped. I shook my head pityingly. Malak was correct, but I was not here because of the dark side. "Is this wise? The ancient Jedi sealed this archway." I stopped, in front of a stone door. I felt a stab of sadness, but kept it well hidden. It was necessary. "If we pass beyond this door, we can never go back. The Order will surely banish us."

I bit back laughter. It had been too late to go back the moment we left, defying the Jedi Council to fight the Mandalorians. Malak was a good choice as an apprentice, but he could be a bit thick. I waved my hand, the Force pulsing through the door to open it.

"Are the secrets of the Star Forge so valuable? Is its power truly worth the risk?" I strode forward, a device resembling a flower opening, a dark orb rising from the center to spill gold and blue and green light into the chamber. Its power had to be worth it. I didn't have a choice any longer, even if he did. But he followed, without a hint of urging from me.