Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars, K? Or Tahl wouldn't have died, and neither would another dozen or so people. And Borsk would have his head on a stick. Forget honorable death, he doesn't deserve it!

A/N: many thanks to those who reviewed! I'm happy! Here's the first chapter!

Dedication: hmm. I think this one goes to Silverangel, who has been begging me to write this forever. She's also decided to join me in boycotting NJO, which is a bit problematic since now I won't know what's going on at all, but I really don't care any more.

Chapter I: "I wasn't supposed to die?!"

Blue mist swirled lazily around everything as the young Jedi found himself – and only his self – translocated away from the Yuuzhan Vong worldship. Sitting in front of him were a pair of alien humanoids, both in Jedi robes, bent over a board game. The one facing him murmured "We have company, Quilanquaacan'tora."

The closer humanoid, a female Twi'lek with lavender skin, whirled around. "Shazi preserve us!" she cried, her leks jerking out of their place coiled around her neck. "Tell me you're not Anakin. Tell me you're his long-lost twin brother who died heroically and ended up here!" the Twi'lek, Quilanquaa, seemed both shocked and worried to the confused young Jedi.

"I'm . . . Anakin Solo. I'm dead. Aren't I . . . supposed to be here?" he asked the ancient Jedi Master.

"No! Qui-gon!" she screeched.

"Your move," the alien opposite the distraught Twi'lek gestured with a pawlike hand. "Don't mind Quilan, boy. She becomes over-excited very easily. Of course, this is to my advantage. Playing rek-sha requires the peace of mind and patience of a hunter."

Quilan growled, showing sharpened fangs, and turned back to the board. After scouting over the changed positions for a moment, she moved a pawn.

Another Jedi – a human this time – shimmered into existence next to Quilan. "What is it this time, Quil – Oh, no."

The Jedi Master rolled blood-red eyes, which clashed with her lavender skin. "It's Anakin. They killed him. This wasn't part of the plan, Qui-gon! Tahl never foresaw this!"

The catlike alien sighed as her playing partner began to work herself into a frenzy again. Before she was even halfway there, Qui-gon put up a hand to forestall her. "Tahl! Dearest, a moment of your time."

A woman shimmered in next to Qui-gon, green eyes flecked with gold even in this world built around blue. "Qui-gon?"

"We have a small problem. It seems Anakin insisted on dying before his scheduled time."

Tahl looked surprised, then slightly miffed. "One future, one single future of the dozens shown me and it comes true. You know, you live in every other possible timeline, Anakin. Death has granted me foresight beyond what any Jedi achieves in life."

"I believe you made a mistake in your life, human, if what Tahl says is true," the alien opposite Quilan finally looked up from the rek-sha board, ginger fur slicked neatly back and pointed ears forward. "Such occurrences are rare and far between. How did you manage to die before she said it was time?"

Anakin sat hastily down, the blue mist solidifying under him into a chair. "You mean – I'm not supposed to be here?"

"If you stay dead the Yuuzhan Vong are going to overrun the galaxy, many species will die, and the Force that holds our entire galaxy together will dissolve away! And that will kill the Vong, too!" Quilan snapped.

The Cathar – Anakin had finally figured out what she was – reached out and put a steadying hand on Quilan's shoulder. "You're overreacting, Twi."

"I am not, Sylvar! That is precisely what Tahl has predicted, and her prophecies are the most accurate of any Jedi in history – till now!" the lavender-skinned Twi'lek woman retorted. "She's been practically dictating everything that's happened since the day she died, before Palpatine was even a Senator!"

"Quilan, you're scaring the newly-dead," Sylvar remarked sarcastically. "Besides, I myself fought beside Nomi Sunrider – Where is Nomi, anyway? She should be here – and you come from even before me! Qui-gon was Obi-wan's Master and Tahl, as you said, died before Palpatine became a Senator. Now, Qui-gon, who else needs consulting?"

The deceased Jedi – one among the many here – considered. "Nomi, Obi-wan of course, Ki-Adi Mundi, Andur, Thon, Jorus, and Ikrit. Oh, and Sylvar – contact Lyric and Lusa, while you're at it."

Qui-gon grinned at the stunned expression on Anakin's face. He had the feeling this was going to be quite a reunion for the boy.