XXI

4,000 BBY

Mira met Atton at the ramp of his small ship. He had gotten the Free Mynock from a junk-and-ships dealer, and true to form it released bluish smoke into the fresh air of Dantooine, but could be trusted to get him where he needed to go, and, at least, since the modifications he had bought had been installed, to do it in a decent amount of time.

The venerable Jedi institution had been reconstructed for the rebuilt Order, mostly using the pay that the Exile had received in military decorations and salary since her days as a general. It was obvious that the Republic itself was financially stricken in the wake of war—one wing of the enclave was still decrepit, rubble stretching across what had once been a round, pristine courtyard. Walls had broken physically and in the minds of the residents; Atton had been allowed to land in a field just across the short bridge from the enclave. Council Member Shan had made it clear that the Jedi didn't advocate unauthorized landings, just haste.

A green flag snapped in violent wind at the top of one of the two gray towers, whipped by a gust that also sent dark clouds scooting over the usually immaculate sky. The wind flared the edges of Mira's brown cloak out from her Jedi uniform and trim body. She wore the uniform loosely, unlike the grab Atton remembered her preferring, but the cut of her red hair was identical to as it had been, as was her attitude.

"Where've you been, Rand?" She said, in lieu of a welcome.

"Making money. You?"

"Not making money." The former bounty hunter smiled. "But it's kindof nice to settle down. Not have to watch your back all the time. Sometimes I travel around the galaxy to recruit more Jedi. I put my skills to use." She turned and began to walk toward the enclave.

Atton followed. "You have a master, now?"

"Master Shan. 'Teacher' would be a better term for the rank, really. She sits on the Council; I think you knew that."

"I talked to her briefly when I told them I was coming here."

He could not think of what else to say once silence settled; they passed through a sliding door into a simple, sloping passageway. Even though after Anna left he had not desired to join the organized Jedi, he could not help but be impressed at how they had risen from the ashes and seriously begun to gain members and lore again. The odds against them had been great.

He sensed the Council before he saw them. Four people with serious, concentrated minds, the Force swirling around them, resonating out, advertising to anyone with the power to recognize it—these individuals could not be distracted or broken easily. In his past life he would not have balked at interrogating one of them, but he would've cracked an extra joke or two to his Sith employers to make himself feel ready.

They were powers, just like the Exile was, and he found himself hoping that he could trust them with the confusing information he was here to reveal. So often people lied, and Jedi were supposed to be paragons of truth and justice.

But Atton Rand was not an idealist. He did not want to be preached to about how he ought to join the Order, although he was considering it. Being a pilot for hire was so anticlimactic after the adventures with Anna and the others, so…lonely. He would not, though, let the Jedi Council see that desire first.

And so he thought it lucky that the sight of Bastila Shan pushed most deep thoughts out of his mind. She was a striking woman, with intense brown eyes and a smooth, oval face framed by brown hair. She did not wear the traditional Jedi uniform, but rather an outfit which both clung and draped; Atton twisted his expression into a smile that he hoped was not tainted with lasciviousness and irony. He knew that she was one of Revan's Masters, Mira's Master, a war hero, and his contact, but little more.

The other person in the room whom he recognized was crimson-cowled Visas, who stood at the edge of the half-circle-shaped room. The Council member nearest her was also a woman, one whose blonde hair was wrapped around her head in tight braids. The fact that she wore blue and green Mandalorian armor under her brown robe surprised Atton until, knowing well the alliance between Anna and Mandalore, he thought that it was not so strange that a Force-user from the warrior culture would come to the Jedi Order.

Beside the Mandalorian sat an alien whose blue tendrils, flatter than a Nautolan's, ran the length of its humanoid body and widened at the hips, forming a sort of natural skirt in addition to its tan pants. Atton could not determine its gender, but based on human characteristics he guessed male. Its eyes were closed in the azure, humanoid face. The man seated on Master Shan's other side was also an alien, a green-skinned Twi'lek who wore typical Jedi garb. Mira bowed to the Council, and Atton gave them an awkward-feeling nod.

"Welcome," said Master Shan, meeting his eyes without hesitation. "You say that you have a message from Master Sacul…who usually sits on this Council. Where is she, Atton Rand?"

He answered immediately. "With Revan." She sounded accusing. Or maybe, thought Atton, I just expect her to sound that way. "The short message I received said that they're both in the future. But behind them, it looked like a ruin. Rock walls."

"Who else was there besides Master Sacul?"

"A young man, white clothes, blonde hair. And a brown-haired woman. And Anna. I don't think I saw Revan but I'm not sure I'd recognize her either if she was wearing white and a blaster instead of the black and mask deal."

"Gwen's hair is black," Bastila confirmed. "What did Master Sacul say to you, exactly?"

"That they're in the future. And that Rakatan technology sent them there. That's all I got."

"Then they must've been in a ruin," said the Twi'lek. "Just like the ones near here."

Bastila nodded. Her expression turned pensive, and Atton was certain that she was thinking over whatever she knew of the ancient species. Her silence told him that she wasn't making any connections that would be useful.

The blue alien said, "Infinity."
Atton looked at him. "Hmm?"
"On my homeworld, there is a valleey named Infiniteey." On the long e sound the alien's throat produced a high-pitched shriek. "Rumors persist of men walking in and coming out a yeer later, wondering why their peeople are nowhere to be found—why they've moved on. Reeras are nomads; wee do not stay in one place for long. Supposedly, those stricken by Infiniteey find a new group until they can regain communication with their own, but they cannot explain where they have been. The valleey has been closed for many yeers, since a shaman who we now think had a rudimentary knowledge of the Force deeclared the place unnatural."

The Twi'lek asked, "But are there Rakatan ruins?"

"There are structures; a cave, and a decorated wall."

"Master Fnaa," said Bastila. "Can you find images of this valley?"

"I will need to contact M'rytlil, my homeworld. But Infinity has likelee been documented."

"Then contact them" said Bastila. "Try to get us a picture." She looked at the other Council members, gaze sweeping across Atton's like a searchlight too high to touch him. "Is that our only lead? Does anyone else know anything about Force time travel?"

The Mandalorian, the Twi'lek, and Visas shook their heads. Visas spoke then, loudly. "I find the concept…hard to believe. The Force can do much. But time is fixed, it is a line…does the Force truly transcend that flow?"

"Not all cultures see time as a line." Mira interjected. "Not all scientists do. It's mysterious. We've never been able to really know what it is."

Silence reigned in the chamber, broken only by the shuffling of robes as people shifted and the Reera walked out. Atton crossed his arms and resisted impatiently tapping a foot. "So, what else can we do about this? Anything?"

"Wait for more messages," Bastila replied.

"This doesn't feel right." Atton said.

"No it doesn't," snapped the Mandalorian. She stared into his eyes, as if she had already pinned down his personality, determined that he would try to work against or independently from the Council, and made it her mission to stop him in a way he would be sure to understand. Or maybe, he thought, Mandalorians just look like that all the time. "But we will do all we can to research. And you, Atton Rand…you know that you could stay here, for more than just the duration of this mission. The Force is strong with you."

He said, "Yes, I know," as Mira stifled a chuckle behind her hand. Blast it all, she wanted me to be caught!

I shouldn't have a reason not to stay here. I've already been a Jedi for two years, judging by my actions and, er, most of my thoughts. I'm a good guy now. They aren't staring at me, hating me, not forgiving my crimes.

"Anna also knows." Visas said, giving off the same sort of amusement that Mira had. Atton hated living with women who could read his mind.

He glanced at Bastila, then looked at where the Miraluka's eyes should have been. "If Anna chose Mical over me, I don't particularly care what she thinks about my life choices now. But bringing people back from the future sounds important; I may stick around to see how it goes."

Mira smirked. "Welcome to the Order."

Boot heels clicked on the hallway outside and the Reera councilmember returned, holding a datapad. Everyone's attention switched to him. "I put in a call to my brother and got this from a local newsfeed." He depressed a button and a hologram blossomed into the air above the datapad, focusing as he walked into the center of the room. Atton murmured to Mira.

"Aren't Jedi not allowed to see their brothers?"

"They usually aren't. But you use everyone you can get when rebuilding a group that was almost decimated."

The holo showed a circular slab of rock set against a wall. The image was overshadowed by a half-circle of darkness, probably because the photographer was standing in the cave Master Fnaa had mentioned. On the plaque was inscribed the figure-eight mathematical symbol for infinity, one lobe colored in black, one in white. Above it sat a blue crystal larger than any diamond one would set in a ring.

"That isn't enough," said Bastila imperiously. "Is there no other architecture around? Walls in the tunnel, or something, or other symbols?"

"This is all."

"I can't tell whether it's Rakatan or not."

"Perhaps we should do more research," said the Twi'lek. "Keep this in mind, but search for other possibilities. Surely the archives which were preserved beneath this temple and elsewhere may be able to help us, even if it will take some time to excavate them."

"Meanwhile," the Mandalorian said, "Master Sacul and Master Bolwyn are up against the unknown in an unknown time!"

"It didn't look like they were up against anything." Atton clarified. "They looked safe."

"They have always taken care of themselves before," said Visas, "and we can make no moves yet without further information, not even on the Reera's planet. Either way, we need to take some time."

"I hope we have it," Atton murmured.

"Meanwhile," Mira said, loud enough so that he voice barely carried to the council members, "We can see how you're doing with your Jedi powers."

"Force powers," he clarified, uncertain even as he spoke about why he declined to attribute his training under Anna to a side. "And I think they're doing just fine."

"What with you not having practiced in years?" Mira retorted.

"You want to see what I can do?"

Mira smiled. "I do." It was a challenge disguising a polite invitation to stay.