Chapter 23: Cries of the Past

"For ignoring you my highest voices.

For smiling when my strife was all too obvious.

For being so disassociated from my body.

For not letting go when that would have been the kindest thing.

To whom do I owe the biggest apology?

No one has been crueler than I've been to me." – Sorry to Myself (Alanis Morrisette – Feast on Scraps)

His legs were drawn up, arms resting across the tops of his knees. His forehead leaned upon his arms enclosing himself off from the world around him. Only slightly relieved that Tahl's gaze did not burrow into him as much as Qui-Gon's, he wasn't sure if he would prefer solitude or another's presence. As he sat, he heard the door to the small detainment area open to admit the large Jedi. For a few minutes the two lingered and he assumed that they must have been communicating via a bond of some sort. When their conversation ended, the door opened once more as Tahl headed back to the others. He wondered how Bant was doing. He hadn't seen her since taking Qui-Gon back to Liior's room, but then it was only for a moment. He wondered what exactly his two friends had discussed while he was off saying his good-byes. Now was not the time to wonder though.

Qui-Gon had been watching the youth again. Now that Obi-Wan had walked back in to their lives he had a hard time taking his eyes off the young man. So much had changed yet there were certain qualities he remembered that were still there. Now that they were absolutely alone, he hoped that they would be able to speak freely. Of course he suspected it would be difficult to achieve such openness but he had to try. He needed to prove to himself that Obi-Wan could still be a Jedi. Then he would be able to convince the Council of that as well. Clearing his throat he began, "I have just informed the Council that you are alive."

Obi-Wan sat there quietly absorbing the statement. Eventually, he lifted his head enough so that he could be heard, "And?"

"And nothing." The response was so flat and devoid of emotion that Obi knew it did not go as well as the Knight expected.

"So they weren't as happy to hear that I'm around as much as you were, huh?" Obi-Wan looked up at the ceiling now, allowing his head to fall back against the wall.

"They are not sure what to think. The news is shocking. It is not very often that one of our own, who was considered dead for years, suddenly surfaces again." True, this happened on occasion but never, to his knowledge, had it been with an initiate.

Not really looking at anything, he huffed out a short laugh. "So I'm the lucky one?"

"So the Force has willed."

This comment however struck a nerve with the rogue. For the better part of his young life, he had always been told that the Force guided them. It had plans. But he never recalled them mentioning that those plans could be filled with torment. He glared at the Knight through silky ginger bangs. An edge to his tone, he asked, "The Force has willed for my life to be riddled with pain and disappointment?"

Standing his ground, Qui-Gon squared his shoulders. "The Force has willed for us to be together. You were meant to be a Jedi. Would you deny the will of the Force?"

Turning to regard the man now, he answered, "Master Jinn it has been five years since the last time we spoke. And since that time, my life has been turned upside down. I've done things that I'm not proud of but they are things that the Jedi wouldn't approve. I have done nothing to deny it, it sought fit to deny me my dreams. Why should I heed its will now?"

"Your dream can still come true. It is possible for you to come back."

"Now you're the one who's dreaming. Have you forgotten all this?" He jumped up, then gestured first to his collar and then to the room - cell - around him. "Do you not remember why I am here?"

"I have not forgotten," the composed Jedi replied. "The incident on the Koska has yet to be debated. Until all the evidence has been produced to confirm your guilt or not, you are still innocent."

Obi-Wan turned away disgusted. He ran a hand through the loose strands hanging down in front of his eyes. "Innocent is one thing I am not, Master Jinn. Not since I set foot on the Monument. And that's not the only crime I've committed. You would probably be better off letting the Republic deal with me rather than face the disappointment of my rejection."

"I cannot do that. You are entitled to a chance…."

"And what chance do I have? My conviction is almost a guarantee. There is enough there to ensure my imprisonment. And how many Jedi do you know have a criminal record?" Obi-Wan began pacing his cage, frustrated with the calm demeanor of the Knight.

"Jedi are often incarcerated for crimes. Of course most of the crimes they allegedly were convicted for were fabricated in some sense. I myself have been imprisoned on a number of occasions."

The rogue glanced over at the man. "Have you ever actually committed the crimes that you were convicted for?"

"Some."

"Any of them murder?" Qui-Gon shifted slightly but said nothing. Most of the crimes he faced were defying the boundaries and regulations that had been set. Or an infringement upon cultural traditions. But nothing as severe as murder. When the Knight didn't respond, Obi knew what the answer was. Nodding, his acceptance, he sank back down to the cot. Hands came up to grasp his head. His thoughts careening back into the recent past. A moment when a ship was raided.

Most of the prisoners had been rounded up into one of the larger common rooms. Only a few stragglers remained to be collected, but they offered resistance. Tuuvu's attention had been distracted as he gathered their bounty. That's when it happened. Out of the corner of his eye Obi saw movement, automatically he reeled around and assessed the danger instantaneously. A blaster was raised, aimed for the Togorian leader. His mind considered only one factor, Tuuvu's life. Instinct took over and before the crewman's blaster could be fired, another blaster bolt hit him in the chest as he ran at them. Time slowed as the man fell to his knees and dropped his weapon. Obi-Wan watched, horrified, as the life drained from the man's eyes then crumpled to the floor. The shock to his system of what he had done was so powerful, he couldn't recall the rest of the raid. All he could remember was the pain and disbelief in the pale blue gaze.

Those eyes accused him, and he knew he was guilty. His voice low and gruff, he muttered, "I wish it never happened. I never meant for it to happen. But he would have killed Tuuvu and I couldn't bare the thought of his death. He'd risked so much to help me, taken me in when no one else cared. To loose him just would have been way to much for me." The regret and grief of his actions were apparent in his tone.

Qui-Gon easily picked up on it as well as the brief description of those events. His heart skipped a beat and the hands that were hidden within the folds of his robe gripped tighter. "Then you did it to protect your Captain?"

"What difference does it make why I did it? A man is still dead. Killed by my hand." His mind wanted to wander down more paths, paths that lead into the depths of darkness in his soul. But he refused them with all the strength he had in him. The spot above the bridge of his nose began to throb and soon spread to his temples. He tried to message the pain away, but knew it was futile.

Qui-Gon had been consumed by his own thoughtful musings. New information gave way to new possibilities. Jedi understood the value of life, it was their primary objective. But on occasion the loss of life was unavoidable, such as many of the battles and wars that they took part in. As such, there really wasn't a Knight or Master alive that had not been party to a loss. What Jedi did fear was when the death was premeditated or done in anger. Anger is what led them to the darkside. It was one of Qui-Gon's fears that Obi may have killed in anger. But what the youth unwittingly revealed countermanded those fears. As a result, without imploring the use of darker powers, his hopes for Obi-Wan being reinstated to the Jedi was amplified. Venturing to further those ideas, he asked, "But you never intentionally set out to murder the man, correct? You were merely protecting your Patron."

Not even considering the reasoning behind these questions, Obi-Wan answered truthfully. "It was instinct, and the least I could do for Tuuvu. I don't believe I will ever be able to repay the debt due him."

The debt, the Knight thought, is not yours alone. But mine as well. Tuuvu did what Qui-Gon could not and he would be forever grateful to the Togorian for it. "He was a wiser man than I. And you both were fortunate to find each other." Qui-Gon recalled his conversation with the Pirate Captain and some of the horrors he was enlightened to. Remembering the contempt the man had whenever he spoke of his former leader, Qui-Gon uttered, "From what he was able to tell me, Drrov was a commander even he disliked."

"Tuuvu was forced into piracy. He had just come of age and was seeking apprenticeship when Drrov found him. Drrov would take people right off the street and force them to work for him. Most of his crew were 'recruits' although there were a few that volunteered for the job. Tuuvu kicked Drrov's followers out when he died and replaced them with others. But by this time, he knew nothing else, no trades no other skills than to kill and plunder. So, he kept with what he knew best."

"Yet you still tried to stop them."

"There are other ways to earn credits. I just couldn't figure out how to convince them all to change. The only thing I was able to accomplish was less violence. We haven't had a fatality on either side for over a year when the Koska happened. And I still believe that that was avoidable too. I should have been able to judge better or perhaps I should never have fired but shielded Tuuvu." The implication was easy for the Knight to pick up. He wondered if Obi-Wan had managed to shield Tuuvu with his body how the man would have reacted to his possible death. Seeing what the Captain risked recently, he feared that a single man would not have been the only one to loose their life if his cub had been killed.

Suddenly, Qui-Gon recalled something mentioned in his discussion with the Council. "Adi mentioned that you had a training saber, why did you not use it?"

"For a number of reasons. One, my hands were full." He added by way of clarification, "Blasters. But the main reason I don't use it during raids, unless there was absolutely no other way, was because of what it would mean to everyone. A Jedi aiding pirates would tarnish the name of all the Jedi. And even if people didn't assume that, stories would have gotten back to you and they might have sent someone to investigate." Obi sighed, that way of thinking had only delayed the inevitable. "And I didn't want to be found," he admitted.

Qui-Gon's thoughts wondered again as he observed the youth. So many questions begged to be answered. One managed to fight its way to the surface and be recognized. "Tuuvu mentioned that you once almost came back to the Jedi on your own. What stopped you from going back?"

Obi-Wan's head shot up at the comment. He didn't realize that the two talked long enough to reveal that moment. And it seemed like a moment as compared to the rest of his life. A cool gentle breeze in the midst of summer that came and went before you could appreciate it. He considered his answer for a long, long time. "Someone reminded me why I was with them in the first place."

"Your Patron?"

"No." And he left it at that. But the memories stirred once again, forcing him to relive the past.

~~~~~

The ship had landed in a port a few sectors from the Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan's heart had leapt when he saw the familiar spires in the distance. His mind and body were split in two. On one hand he was excited, he always loved the serenity of the Temple. And he so desperately wanted to see his friends again. But on the other hand, he was afraid of what they may think of him once they found out what had happened to him. It was just entering the sleep cycle in this portion of the city planet and he had decided to wait until morning to go back. Most of his things were packed and ready to go, just waiting for the moment he was welcomed home. As he lay in his bed, he heard a soft rapping on his door. A moment later it opened to admit his Captain. "Cub?"

"I'm awake Tuuvu," he answered while sitting up.

Tuuvu carefully entered and sat down beside him. "Are you sure you want to go back? You know you always will have a home with me. And I swear I will keep you safe from now on."

"I know you will, but I was raised to be a Jedi. It's supposed to be my job to protect you. But Thanks for taking care of me and helping me out. I really appreciate it." Leaning over they hugged as the minutes ticked by.

Tuuvu finally pulled away, "Well, you best get some sleep, cub. Tomorrow will be a hectic day."

"Good night."

"Night." The Togorian left the room, leaving the youth to his thoughts.

Obi-Wan was about to settle back into bed when he heard another knock. Curious, he called, "Come in."

The door opened to reveal someone he would never have guessed to see in his doorway. "May I….."

"Of course." Obi said. Automatically, he stood while the newcomer entered. "I must admit, I didn't expect you."

The sable Togorian didn't step far into the room, just enough to allow the door to close behind him. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think it was necessary."

"What is it?"

"You and I have never really gotten along. I'm sure you've always wondered why."

"Yes, actually. But I figured you had your reasons."

"I do. Can you sense me, Obi-Wan? In your Force?"

"Yes, I can sense you the best out of the crew." Obi-Wan had discovered rather quickly that virtually the entire crew had some degree of Force Sensibility. It was a conundrum, but one he chose to live with for the time being.

Kuuur was not looking at him, rather a holo that sat on Obi's desk. It was an instant captured when he and his friends were together. When the firstmate finally began talking, his voice sounded distant, as if speaking of a dream or a memory. "I had a brother once. His name was Reemb and he was a few years older than me. Jedi had arrived on Togoria due to an unscheduled stop on their journey. My parents were in the city at the time with my brother. They recognized his potential and requested that he be brought to the Temple. He was only three at the time and my mother was carrying me. They apparently said they could sense my potential as well. My parents decided that they could take my brother but would not permit me to go after my birth. So Reemb went. They wooed him with tales of glory and honour. All the things a Knight was meant to be. Little did he know."

Curious, Obi-Wan asked, "And what happened then?"

"He trained and learned what it was to be Jedi. We kept in contact for most of his early training. I idolized him. And whenever he visited he would teach me little tricks and things and I cherished the time we spent together. There were many times that I had even argued with my parents to let me go too, but they refused. But as he got older, the visits became few and far between until they finally stopped altogether." He stopped and sighed but he still had not really looked at Obi-Wan.

"So you've had a brother in the Order all this time? Maybe you could visit him while we're here." His innocent suggestion hurt more than Kuuur cared to admit.

He discounted the idea quickly, "That's impossible."

"But why? They could at least tell you where he is."

"They already have. We received two messages the same day. One from the Temple. The other from Reemb. We opened the one from the Jedi first. They were informing us that the transport my brother was on had been attacked and destroyed, killing all those on board. My brother was dead."

"I'm so sorry, Kuuur. I didn't know."

"The other was a message meant for me. But we all read it. He was telling me that he had reached his thirteenth birthday and had not been chosen as a Padawan. The Council had decided to send him to assist with the Engineering Corp. He said it was still a noble thing to do, although he had been hoping to become a Knight. I didn't understand why his age mattered or why he hadn't been chosen. Not like it would have made his loss any easier. The world he was going to had been in the midst of war but had called a truce. Apparently, not everyone approved or the truce or the Republic aide that was sent. His ship was attacked and destroyed almost immediately after coming out of their jump."

Obi-Wan was stunned. He would never have guessed that Kuuur had been associated with the Jedi to some degree. But even more unbelievable was the subsequent death of the Togorian initiate. He felt a strange kinship to the fellow youth he never knew, and mourned the loss. "Kuuur, I…."

"The reason I tell you this is to make sure you know what you are doing." He didn't come here for sympathy but to get his point across. "Once it's determined you are useless to them they turn their backs on you and leave you to the liphons. They don't need you. They don't want you. If they did, they wouldn't have sent you away in the first place. If you go back to them, why would they take you back in now? All they're going to do is ship you off again. You won't be in the Temple. You won't be with your friends. And you'll have lost two families. The possibility that you'll be forsaken again is just as high. They made the mistake once with my brother. A second with you. What makes you think it won't happen again? How many times must you suffer for them?"

On the verge of tears, Obi-Wan just couldn't find his voice to answer. The firstmate had voiced aloud what he kept thinking in the back of his mind. Most of him knew that Kuuur was right. The vicious cycle that had become his life would just repeat. But there was still a glimmer of hope that he could go back. Unable to form words, his mouth opened and shut again.

Kuuur realized the boy was dumbstruck and decided to finish what he had come to say. "I never hated you. I hated what you were. But more than that, I hated that what had happened to my brother happened again. When I found out about you I began to wonder. Could this have happened to Reemb? Could he have faced a demon like Drrov? I'm not a fool. I saw what you went through. I don't know how you survived. I don't think I would have wanted to live if I was in your place. But you did. It would have been enough to make lesser men retreat from the world. And here you are, willingly going back with the possibility of facing it again. It's not that I want you to stay either, but I would rather you stay here than go back to them. Let them think that you are dead. At least then you would be free to do what you want. Either way, the decision is yours." Now that he was done saying his piece, Kuuur headed for the door. Pausing, he looked over his shoulder at the stunned youth. "Take care, Obi." And without another word, he turned and left the boy alone.

That next morning he and Tuuvu headed for the Temple. As he stood outside the Temple doors, he felt the Force pour over him. Strong and pure it washed through his soul. But as it cleansed away the pain in his heart, he began to see the dark spots within. He tried to get rid of them, scrub them from his spirit but they didn't even fade. Suddenly he felt dirty. With Kuuur's words echoing in the back of his mind, harsh reality crashed into him. He had been tainted beyond repudiation and would not be accepted back in. "I can't," he whispered. Tuuvu placed a hand on his shoulder. Obi-Wan turned to look up at the Togorian, "I can't go back, can I?"

"I don't know." Tuuvu just didn't know how to answer that. And it hurt him to see the pained look in the sea-washed eyes.

"Kuuur's right. I'm only fooling myself into believing I can go home. But I don't have a home anymore. They sent me away."

"You have a home with me and Jorri."

Obi-Wan stood staring at the place he had spent his childhood. Faint echoes of laugher played in his mind. Old and happy memories flourished and then slowly fizzled away into darkness. His past was dead. A single tear traced a line down his cheek. It was the first shed to mourn his past but it would not be the last. No, this place was no longer his home, but he had been offered a new one. "Thanks."

The timid gratitude was still blanketed with a pain Tuuvu could never understand. Knowing this, he made one last attempt to make sure this is what Obi-Wan wanted, "Cub, if you come back with me, you'll never know if you can return to the Jedi. I don't want you to regret your decision, but I will abide by what ever you wish." Patiently, the new Captain waited for his cub's reply.

At long last, Obi-Wan turned to look the man in the face. A face he had come to love and respect. A being full of compassion in a dark world. Who was he - Obi-Wan Kenobi - to deny this large gentle creature the love he nurtured? A smile slowly formed until it spread across his face. He knew then, that the gift of life wasn't the only thing the man had given him. Without even thinking about it, he fell into a tight embrace with the furred being, which was promptly returned. "Let's go home," he muttered in to the fur. Nodding, Tuuvu kept his arm around the boy's shoulders and guided them back to the Scream, never looking back.

~~~~~

He was fourteen at the time, recently nursed back to life by Tuuvu and Jorri. And as much as he was grateful to them for what they did, he managed to convince them that he had to go home. Sadly, they complied. He should have known then how much they truly did love him. But he was still blinded by his own needs to see. If he could only go back in time, things would have been different.

The dark voice that often taunted him returned laughing maniacally. And what would you have done? Gone back? Don't make me laugh. You can't go back. You're still deluding yourself.

But they seem like they do want me back. Qui-Gon, Bant and even Master Tahl had hinted at the fact he could go home.

Want you back so that they can correct the mistakes they made. You are worthless. They don't want you. They want to strip you of everything you love. The Force. Your friends. Your family. They need to make sure that you will never again be a threat to the universe. You are nothing.

NO! He sprang to his feet. He had to move, to get away. But he couldn't. The voice was always there. And this time he couldn't banish it. The collar that continually suffocated him saw to that. He hugged himself as he paced the cell frantically. Desperately, he argued with himself, That's not true. If I were nothing, they wouldn't be fighting so hard to get me back. They would simply let the Republic have me.

It's just a false sense of security. They want your guard down so that you are easier to control. The Republic Justice system will beat you down. Then when you no longer entertain them, they'll hand you over to their lapdogs in the Temple. That's when the real pain and humiliation will begin. Just like Drrov.

A hiccuping sob escaped him. He had no control anymore, no way to fight against his fears. And they began to consume him. To devour all his hope. Then, when he thought it could get no worse, a voice he thought he would never hear again surfaced. And for the first time in almost five years he heard Drrov speak.

You are mine, Bauudi. I found you. You are my prize. You are no longer Jedi. You are nothing. Do I have to remind you? Do you need me to show you who your real master is and always will be?

"NO!" he screamed aloud. In the same instant, his fist collided with the durasteel wall. Only a heart beat later, his other hand followed. Qui-Gon started. He had increasingly grown concerned as he watched the distraught youth slip into a dark haze. He tried calling out to the boy but whatever demons he was battling would not even permit the Knight's voice to slice through the nightmare.

With each hit, the fervor increased, causing the Knight to panic. Nothing he could do from the other side of the energyfield would stop the growing storm. As a last resort, he did what he felt he must. Using the Force, he deactivated field and hurried over to the hysterical youth. Continually calling his name and entreating him to stop, Qui-Gon grabbed the boy's wrists and pinned them down. Pulling him into a tight embrace, Obi-Wan struggled violently against him.

"No, no, no." He fought against the voices. Slowly, ever so slowly, they released their hold over him. The nightmare that engulfed him withdrew leaving a mixed residue of degradation and pain. A swell of grief crashed over him. Then, just as suddenly as the outburst began, Obi-Wan stopped and collapsed against the Knight, seemingly as if all strength drained from him in an instant. "Why," he begged softly, "why? Why me?"

Qui-Gon released his grip on the young man's wrist to pull him close, supporting them as they sank to the floor. His heart ripping out of his chest at the sight of the tear streaked face. He wished he could take all the hurt away, save him from the nightmares. But he was damned in to merely being a watcher. He could do nothing with the collar on. He could only offer empty reassurances and his presence. Both of which he felt were entirely and incomprehensibly inadequate. Yet, as it was the only thing he could offer, he did so with ever fiber of his being.

Sobbing, Obi-Wan clung to the Knight. The feel of cloth between his fingers served as a grounder for him. Pulling him free from the desolate landscape of his mind. Long minutes passed as he marginally began to calm down. Bleary eyes finally began to see the world around him and he cautiously looked up into the face of the Jedi. Tortured eyes beseeched the man as he voiced aloud the questions the Jedi had been fearing the most, "Qui-Gon, What was wrong with me? Why didn't anyone want me?"

Qui-Gon sat there dumbfounded, simply holding the rogue. Honestly, he didn't know how to answer the questions. He didn't have an answer. That's when he realized he did. Gently, he muttered his response, "Nothing was wrong with you."

"Force, no," he begged. "It can't be, please tell me that that isn't true. There must have been something wrong with me. Anger. Fear. Lack of abilities. Anything, please." He was desperate, desperate for anything but that.

"But it is. You were a typical boy. Nothing was wrong with you, it was me." He spoke gently, as he confessed his errs.

"It's not true." Obi-Wan denied, his fists tightening their hold on the Jedi's tunics. He leaned his forehead against the man's chest shaking it slowly back and forth. His whispered pleas continued, "It can't be true. It can't. It just can't."

"Why can it not be true? You were just a child. Your fears were normal for your age. It was my fear that stopped me from seeing what I should have known all along but was too blind to accept."

"No, no, no," the litany began anew.

Baffled Qui-Gon implored, "I do not understand. Why must something have been wrong with you?"

Taking a number of deep breaths, he found the will to explain his reasoning, "When Drrov beat me, when he would torture me, I could never figure out why. I realized later there wasn't a reason why, just that he enjoyed my pain. I accepted that. I also accepted the fact that I must have deserved some sort of punishment for the failure that I was. I needed to believe that. But to tell me that my pain, my suffering was all for nothing, is just too much. Too much." His voice trailed off, leaving silence in its wake, disturbed only by the soft sobs that escaped him. Some heartbeats later, he quietly begged, "Please, please tell me that what I endured was justified. I couldn't bare it if it wasn't."

Master Qui-Gon Jinn was lost for words. This new revelation tore at the shreds of his soul. And for all his miraculous skills, all the man could do was sit there and hold the weeping child in his arms. Subconsciously, he tightened his hold. His heart bled, what he really wanted to do was protect this tormented soul from ever having to face these pains again. He had previously seen the evidence of the physical torture the boy had been put through. And that alone was enough to make anyone sick. But for the first time he comprehended that emotional scars ran deeper, so deep that they appeared invisible behind the mask of pain visibly seen. And he knew that Obi-Wan had suffered agonies that no one should ever have to endure.

Yet dare he even think how precious the rogue was. For all the torments that he survived, the youth had overcome so much. The strength that resided in the boy had seen him through the darkest of nightmares and brought him back to the surface to function and live. And he knew, even if Obi-Wan didn't yet, that that the young man would persevere through the coming trials and become stronger and better than even he'd imagined.

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I would like to thank Shan, my most beautiful and wonderful Beta who was able to tell me exactly what I needed to hear! When I finished with the draft I hated this chap. But with her guidance I was able to turn it around and really fall in love with it. Thank you so much, Shan!!!!! :D

As always, a review would definitely be nice!!! ;) I like 'em a lot. Anyway, thanks for reading everyone! :D

K-rock – Sweetie, I'm still waiting. *taps foot* ;P Alright, alright. I'll cut you some slack for now. And eventually we'll get to further angst for the poor boy. What would life be like without it? Not worth living I would imagine. *sigh* Obi-Torture is always so satisfying. ]:) I'll be keeping an eye out. Hope to hear from you soon. :D

Delphine Pryde – Thank you very much! :D

Death Rider – Yeah, two in a row!! Want to go for a record and do 3????????? ;) And if we were going by my rough outline I made around Chap 17/18, we would have already been on Coruscant and into the trial by now. Guess how you can see things turned out. But soon. I promise. But what if you were both Force Sensitive and had the collar and got horizontal. That would be pretty sweet, right? Um, wait a second, how old are you?? If you are under the age of 15 please disregard my previous statement. Otherwise, you probably have already discussed that subject. Eitherway, I think I'll just shut up now. Thanks for reading.

Fudge – You can partially thank my Beta's for getting my best work out of me. But I am really overjoyed to know that my writing is emotionally charged. I am a moon child and emotions are extremely important to me. Which is why I spend so much time exploring them. But give it time. Yoda will have his say eventually. And he couldn't be tooo eager in front of the whole Council or else they would disregard his thoughts on the whole subject when they knew how biased he was. Just wait. You'll see. ;) Thanks!

Review. Review. Please, review. Please. Alright, I'm going now. Just review please. It would totally make my day. Really. OK. Fine, I'm going. *sheesh* You can't blame a girl can you? Until next Chappy! ;)