Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are the property of Lucasfilm Ltd., AOL/Time Warner, Marvel Entertainment, and Paramount. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 1

Tahiri Veila was awoken by a strange humming sound. She jumped out of bed to investigate the noise, instinctively grabbing her lightsaber. The sound seemed to be coming from a dark corner of her room. Using her lightsaber to illuminate the shadows, she saw a small black orb. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Tahiri reached down to pick the object up. As her hand touched it, the orb stopped humming and started to glow with an eerie light. "I better take this to Master Luke", Tahiri thought. She was about to do that when she began to feel an odd sensation coursing through her body. Then the orb exploded with a blinding flash and everything went black. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ Jaina Solo, whose room was next to Tahiri's, heard the explosion. She got dressed quickly and rushed to Tahiri's room to see what had happened. What Jaina saw there shocked and amazed her. Tahiri's room had been completely destroyed, but nothing outside of it had been damaged. Even the door was totally unscathed. The explosion had apparently contained itself within the room. She searched the room for signs of Tahiri. Jaina didn't see Tahiri anywhere but she did find her Jedi robe. It had been incinerated. Jaina reached out with the Force to feel for Tahiri's presence in the Force. Tahiri was gone. But for some reason that she couldn't explain, Jaina sensed that Tahiri wasn't dead. It seemed more like Tahiri had somehow vanished from the universe. She had to tell her uncle Luke. Maybe he would be able to figure out what had happened to Tahiri. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- When Tahiri woke up, she found herself lying on the ground in a dark alley. She didn't know how she had gotten there. The last thing she remembered was that she had picked up that bizarre object and then there had been an explosion. But she wasn't injured at all. How could that be possible? Had it all been a dream? No. She was certain that she had not been dreaming. Whatever had happened to her was real. But what had happened and where was she now, she wondered. She reached out with the Force attempting to detect the Force presence of her friends. But her search was in vain. She couldn't detect Jaina, Jacen, Master Luke, Mara, Anakin's mother, or anybody else she knew. It was as if they had all vanished from the universe. Where had they all gone? Then Tahiri realized with a shock that it was possible-and perhaps more likely-that she had vanished. Before she had much time to ponder this, she saw a gang of thugs approaching her. There were a half a dozen of them and she didn't need the Force to know that their intentions towards her were very very bad.

Chapter 2

Spider-Man had just finished patrolling the city and was on his way home when he saw, down in an alley below him, a young blonde woman. She appeared to be about eighteen and was extremely underdressed for a cold New York City night. He suspected that might have been what had attracted the attention of that gang that was approaching her. Although a young girl alone in this neighborhood would be likely to become a target regardless of her attire. He was just about to swing down and rescue her when the thug closest to the girl flew backwards as if he had been punched by an invisible fist. Then one of the others pulled out a gun and almost instantly the gun was reduced to scrap metal by a flash of light. It took him a moment to realize that the flash of light was actually a sword. A lightsaber.

He thought, "If she has a lightsaber then she must be a Jedi, but Jedi aren't real. They're fictional like Superman."

But as impossible as it seemed this girl was obviously real so he dropped down to the alley to help her. Once he got closer he noticed something about the girl that he hadn't seen before. She had a unique scar on her forehead.

"I know her!", Spidey thought.

Tahiri Veila. During the few seconds it had taken him to descend to the alley, Tahiri had dispatched the would-be gunman and two more of his companions. Spidey snuck up behind one of the two remaining thugs and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned around, Spidey said "Say cheese!" and delivered a knockout punch to his jaw. The last thug still standing tried to run away. Spidey did a backflip to land in front of the fleeing criminal.

Spidey: "Going somewhere? I think you need a nap. Say goodnight."

He punched the punk in the face effectively putting him to "sleep". Then Spidey wrapped up all of the gang members in webbing for convenient pickup by the police later. Then he turned to face Tahiri. Spider-Man: "Hello. My name is Spider-Man. But you can call me Spidey."

Tahiri: "That's a funny name."

Spider-Man: "You shouldn't talk. Your name sounds like the name of a diminutive Japanese pro wrestler."

Tahiri got a very puzzled look on her face and was speechless for several moments.

Then she said: "How did you know my name?"

Spider-Man: "Umm.That's a long story, but the short version is I've read about you."

Tahiri: "Oh. So what else do you know about me?"

Spider-Man: "Well I know that you like to do unconventional things like going barefoot. Speaking of that unconventional thing, don't you think you're taking it too far?"

Tahiri: "What do you mean?"

Spider-Man: "Does Master Skywalker approve of you going around in public looking like a Twi'lek dancing girl?"

Tahiri looked down at herself and realized with some embarrassment that she wasn't wearing anything except her underclothes. She blushed and tried to cover herself as best as she could.

Spider-Man: "Stay here and I'll go get you some clothes to wear. Try to stay out of sight. New York City has laws against public indecency."

Spider-Man swung up into the city skyline and headed in the direction of his house. Shortly afterwards, he returned with a black t-shirt and black jeans that he had borrowed from MJ's closet.

Spider-Man: "I figured you'd like black."

Tahiri: "Thanks."

Tahiri quickly put on the borrowed clothes. Then they had a long talk, Spider-Man filling her in as best he could about where she was and how he knew about her.

Chapter 3

Spider-Man: "In the morning, I want to take you to see a friend of mine. He's the smartest person I know. If anybody can figure out how to get you back home, he can."

Tahiri: "Alright. Thanks."

Spider-Man: "But right now we need to discuss sleeping arrangements."

Tahiri gave him a funny look.

Spider-Man: "Don't look at me like that! You've got a dirty mind for a Jedi. Anyway, those aren't the kind of sleeping arrangements I was talking about."

Tahiri grinned and said: "Too bad."

Spider-Man: "What I was trying to say is I've found a place for you to spend the night."

Tahiri: "Where?"

Spider-Man: "At the home of a couple of friends of mine. Peter and Mary Jane Watson Parker. I borrowed those clothes from Mrs. Parker."

Tahiri: "Why can't I just stay with you?"

Spider-Man: "Ummm.because I think you'd be more comfortable at the Parkers' home."

Tahiri looked like she was about to question him further but then she just nodded her agreement.

Spider-Man: "So are you ready to go?"

Tahiri: "Yeah. Are we walking?"

Spider-Man: "No. We're traveling via Friendly Neighborhood Webslinger Weblines. Now, hold on tight."

Spider-Man reached out and wrapped one arm around Tahiri's waist while shooting a webline above them with the other arm. The webline caught a horizontal flagpole about 50 feet directly above them. He pulled them up, and then did a reverse somersault over the flagpole. Then he shot another webline onto the side of an adjacent building and began to swing towards the Parker residence. Once they arrive, Spidey knocks on the front door. When Mary Jane comes to the door, Spidey introduces her and Tahiri and then makes an excuse and quickly leaves so he can sneak into the bedroom from the back and change out of his costume. Then he emerges from the bedroom as Peter Parker and introduces himself to Tahiri. Tahiri senses that she has met this man before but she doesn't know why she feels that way so she decides to ignore it. Afterall, she couldn't possibly have met him before could she.

Chapter 4

Tahiri was awakened by the smell of hot caf. Although she learned that it was called coffee here. MJ had cooked breakfast. Peter had already left for work. MJ said that he was a teacher and had an early morning meeting with a parent. Soon after she had finished eating, Spider-Man arrived to take her to see his friend. He said he was a scientist and an adventurer.

Tahiri: "So where are we going?"

Spider-Man: "The Baxter Building. The home of the Fantastic Four. Reed and Sue Richards, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm. By the way, Ben may look like a rock monster but he isn't so don't try to decapitate him or anything."

"I would never assume someone was a monster based on their outward appearance", Tahiri protested.

Spider-Man: "I'm not saying you would. I just wanted you to have an advanced warning before you meet him. Ben is used to people taking one look at him and assuming he's a monster, but as emotionally hurtful as that is those people are generally harmless."

Tahiri: "So is Ben the genius you told me about?"

Spider-Man: "No. Ben is the Muscle of the group. Reed is the Brain."

Tahiri: "What about the other two? What are they?"

Spider-Man: "Well, Sue is the hot blonde invisible chick and Johnny is the hothead blonde flame boy."

Tahiri: "How can she be hot if she's invisible?"

Spider-Man: "Well she's not invisible all the time. But seriously she would be like the Heart and Johnny is the.uh.I don't know what he is. The youthful spirit maybe."

When Spider-Man and Tahiri arrived at the Baxter Building they were met by Ben Grimm aka The Thing.

Ben: "Hey Spidey. Who's the chick?"

Spider-Man: "She's a Jedi Knight. Tahiri Veila meet Ben Grimm."

Ben: "Yeah right! And I'm a Texas Ranger."

Spider-Man: "No seriously. She is a Jedi."

Ben: "Hey Suzie! Ol Webhead is here and he's off his rocker!"

Spider-Man: "I'm not crazy Ben."

Ben: "If she's a Jedi how come she ain't wearing one of them fancy smancy Jedi Robes?"

Tahiri: "Jedi of my era don't always wear robes."

Spider-Man: "Besides she showed up here in her underwear."

Tahiri punched Spider-Man in the arm.

Tahiri: "You don't have to tell everybody that."

Spider-Man: "I haven't told everybody."

Sue: "What haven't you told everybody?"

Ben: "That she's a Jedi named Tahiri Veila and she came to Earth in her underwear."

Sue: "Hello Tahiri. What's this about Spidey?"

Spider-Man: "As I was telling Ben, Tahiri is a Jedi Knight. Somehow she was transported here. I thought Reed might be able to figure out how it happened and how to send her back to her own universe."

Ben: "I told you he was crazy."

Sue: "Hush Ben. Don't mind him Tahiri. He's really got a heart of gold under that rough exterior. I'm sure Reed can help."

Just then Johnny Storm walks in.

Johnny: "Hey Spi-"

He stops when he notices Tahiri.

Johnny: "Who might this be?"

Tahiri: "I'm Tahiri Veila."

Johnny: "Hello Tahiri. I'm Johnny Storm. Pleased to meet you."

He takes her hand and kisses it.

Ben: "Ah. For the love of."

Tahiri: "Spidey, you didn't tell me Johnny was so charming."

Ben: "Him!? Charming?"

Johnny: "You're just jealous."

Ben: "Why you little-"

Sue: "That's enough boys. Let's go find Reed."

Chapter 5

They found Reed in his lab working on one of his many high-tech gadgets. Spidey explained the situation to him.

Reed: "That's fascinating. So you're from the GFFA."

Tahiri: "Yeah. But how did you know about the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances?"

Reed: "I don't. I was referring to the Galaxy Far Far Away."

Tahiri: "The what?"

Reed: "Nevermind. It's not important."

Tahiri: "Can you help me?"

Reed: "I think I can. What we need is an interdimensional interspatial time conveyor."

Ben: "Could ya repeat that in English Stretch?"

Spidey: "He means a time machine that also enables you to travel through space and dimensions."

Ben: "Thanks Webhead. How would you like a full time job as the official Fantastic Four Stretch to English translator?"

Spidey: "No thanks. Fighting supervillains is easier."

Ben, Johnny, and Sue laugh. Reed clears his throat to regain everyone's attention.

Reed: "The good news is I already have such a machine. But the bad news is before we can use the machine to send Tahiri home, we must ascertain the exact location of her home galaxy. Furthermore, we also need to determine precisely when she is from."

Tahiri: "When?"

Spidey: "Reed is referring to the phrase 'A Galaxy Far Far Away Long Ago'"

Johnny: "You've traveled to the future Babe."

Tahiri: "Funny. I would have thought it was the past."

Reed: "Well, technically this isn't your future, but from our frame of reference you are from the distant past."

"So it's hopeless", Tahiri said despondently.

Reed: "No. I didn't say that. I believe I can deduce the required information but it will take time."

Tahiri: "How much time?"

Reed: "I'm not certain. Perhaps as quickly as a few days or it could take much longer."

Tahiri: "So in the meantime, I'm stuck here."

Johnny: "New York City isn't such a bad place to be stuck. I can give you the grand tour."

Tahiri: "Ok."

Johnny and Tahiri leave together. Reed starts working on figuring out the solution to the problem.

Chapter 6

Once they were outside, Johnny flamed on. His entire body except for his hands and arms became flame. When Tahiri witnessed the transformation, she was flabbergasted. She remembered Spider-Man calling Johnny a flameboy but she had thought he was joking.

Johnny: "You look like you just saw a ghost."

Tahiri: "Well I never saw anyone do that before."

Johnny: "Sorry. I would have warned you, but I assumed Spidey told you."

Tahiri: "He did, but I thought he was joking."

Johnny: "So are you ready to take a scenic flight over New York City?"

Tahiri: "I don't know."

Johnny: "It's safe. Trust me."

Tahiri(thinking to herself but saying it outloud): "Anakin's father said you should never trust anyone who says 'trust me'."

Johnny: "Huh? I thought Anakin didn't have a father?"

Tahiri: "Of course he had a father. His father is Han Solo."

Johnny: "Han Solo is Darth Vader's father!?"

Tahiri laughed and said, "No silly. You're thinking of Anakin Skywalker. I'm talking about Anakin Solo."

Johnny: "Sorry. Never heard of him. Who is he?"

Tahiri: "He was the youngest son of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo. He was also a great hero and my closest friend."

Johnny: "Was?"

Tahiri: "He was killed by the Yuuzhan Vong while on a mission to destroy their Voxyn queen."

Johnny: "I'm sorry. Are you ok?"

Tahiri: "Yes, I am now. I was a horrible mess for a while. The grief literally drove me insane. But I'm better now."

Johnny: "Cool. You ready to go?"

Later, as Johnny and Tahiri are flying over Shea Stadium, Johnny said "This is Shea Stadium. It's where the New York Mets play. They're a professional baseball team. That's a sport."

Tahiri: "Are they good?"

Johnny: "Sometimes, but unfortunately they really suck right now."

Johnny showed Tahiri some more sights and then they headed back to the Baxter Building. When they arrived there, Sue showed Tahiri to the guest room they had prepared for her. They also had some more clothes for her to wear.

Chapter 7

The next morning, Tahiri decided to do some exploring of the city on her own. She took a shower and got dressed. Then she ate a quick breakfast before departing. She didn't really have a destination in mind. She just decided she'd walk around and see where the Force took her. As she walked down the crowded streets, she thought that this place was somewhat like a primitive Coruscant. Except on a much smaller scale of course. She decided to get away from the traffic by turning down a backstreet.

She wasn't looking for Spider-Man but she found him anyway. He was in an alley fighting what at first appeared to her to be a giant scorpion. But she quickly realized that it was actually a man in a scorpion costume. As she got closer she heard the two of them talking. Spider-Man was hurling verbal jabs at the Scorpion while he was dodging the Scorpion's punches. The Scorpion obviously didn't like being mocked and was getting very angry. But the angrier he got the easier it became for Spidey to avoid his attacks. Clearly, Spidey's jokes were part of a strategic plan.

Tahiri sensed with the Force that the Scorpion was about to shoot acid out of his tail. She moved to approach him from behind using the Force to prevent him from detecting her presence. The Scorpion shot his acid at Spidey. Spidey narrowly avoided it and it hit the wall behind him. While the Scorpion was preparing to launch another volley, Tahiri ignited her lightsaber and sliced off the deadly tail. The Scorpion sank to his knees, clutched at the severed tail, and started to sob as if Tahiri had just killed his best friend. While this spectacle was going on, Spidey wrapped up the Scorpion in a bundle of webbing. Then Spidey turned to Tahiri and joked: "You sure know how to make a supervillain cry."

Chapter 8

Jaina Solo was participating in a flight sim against one of the pilots from Wraith Squadron, but she was finding it very hard to concentrate. She couldn't stop thinking about what had happened to Tahiri. Specifically, she was wondering [I]what[/I] exactly had happened. She quickly spun her x- wing in a tight loop to avoid incoming laser fire. That was a close one. She tried to bring her focus back to the battle she was engaged in, but her mind kept wandering back to the events of that night. Suddenly, she was jolted back to the present by a fiery explosion. Her opponent had just vaped her. She silently chastised herself for allowing herself to be distracted. Her opponent was a great pilot but she was better. Jaina climbed out of the simulator and was greeted by the charming, somewhat arrogant Wraith who had just defeated her. Face Loran was grinning at her and looked like he was about to gloat over his victory. But when he saw the look on her face he seemed to stop himself in mid-gloat.

Face: "Are you ok Jaina?"

Jaina: "I'm worried about Tahiri. And very frustrated because I keep trying to figure out what could have happened, but it's like trying to read a blank datapad."

Face: "I'm sure everything will be alright. Let me buy you a drink."

Jaina: "Ok. Now that you mention it I am very thirsty. "

Face: "They have those altha protein drinks you like."

Jaina: "Great."

Luke Skywalker was sitting on the floor of his bedroom meditating on the matter of the strange disappearance of Tahiri Veila when he had a vision. In his vision, he saw Tahiri. There with her were a large rock person, a young blonde man, a young blonde woman, and another man who Luke surmised was a scientist. He thought that because the man looked like a scientist and he was giving a very scientific sounding speech. As the man was speaking he reached across the room for an object. Literally. He stretched his arm 20 feet to retrieve the desired object and then returned his arm to its normal length. Apparently, he had some sort of elastic stretching ability. There was also one other person in the room that Luke had not noticed initially. The reason why Luke had not noticed him before was that he was sitting on the wall. The man--who the others called Spidey- -was sitting on the wall as comfortably as a normal person would sit in a chair. Interesting friends Tahiri had found. A rock man, an elastic scientist, and a wallcrawler. Luke briefly wondered what fantastic abilities or unique attributes the two blonde people might have but he decided that wasn't really important. So instead he focused his attention on what Reed-he had learned that was the scientist's name--was saying. He didn't understand all of it. Parts of Reed's speech sounded totally incoherent to him. He obviously wasn't the only one confused by it. The rock man-who oddly enough shared the same name as his son and his former mentor-asked Reed(who he called Stretcho) to repeat himself in English. Luke was momentarily perplexed by the word English. Then he realized that it must be what these people called Basic. But the wallcrawler translated the important parts into easier to understand terms so everyone present-and Luke-understood. The jist of it was that Tahiri had somehow been transported to a world-called Earth-which was not only in a different galaxy but also a different universe from his own. Tahiri's new friends were trying to help her get home. Reed had a machine that he thought would accomplish that but there were a few technical details that he still had to work out.

Then Luke's vision ended. So now he knew what had happened to Tahiri. He still didn't know how it had happened nor did there seem to be anything he could do about it at the moment but at least he knew where she was. Partial knowledge was better than no knowledge at all. After all, what was that old saying? Knowing is half the battle? Yes that was it. He woke up Mara and told her what he had just seen.

Chapter 9

(Setting: The Baxter Building, Dr. Reed Richard's lab.)

Tahiri: "Is your machine ready, Dr. Richards?"

Reed: "You can call me Reed, Tahiri. But to answer your question, yes. I've determined the correct time and spatial coordinates to send you home."

Tahiri: "That's great. Wait! You said time coordinates. Does that mean that you could send me to any time?"

Reed: "Technically, that would be possible."

Tahiri: "Maybe if you sent me back to before the Yuuzhan Vong invaded my galaxy, I could figure out a way to prevent the invasion from ever happening. We eventually won the war, but only a great cost. In lives and worlds. If it could be prevented-"

Reed: "I'm sorry Tahiri, but one of the first rules of time travel is not to try to change history."

Sue: "Normally I'd agree with you Reed, but maybe this case is an exception. Perhaps Tahiri was sent here for a reason. It seems very unlikely that it was just some cosmic accident."

Ben: "Suzie's right, Stretcho."

Spidey: "I agree with them."

Tahiri: "It's the Will of the Force."

Ben: "Is that anything like the Will o' the Wisp?"

Spidey: "I'll explain it to you later Ben."

Johnny: "Ok, let's just say that my big sis is right. How is one girl-or the six of us if we all go with her-going to stop a galactic invasion?"

Spidey: "Maybe we could stop by the DCU on the way and pick up Superman."

Johnny: "Or the Silver Surfer."

Spidey[laughing]: "Yeah if we want to make the Yuuzhan Vong laugh themselves to death."

Tahiri: "Superman? Silver Surfer? Who are they?"

Spidey: "The Silver Surfer is a shiny silver, bald, dork on a surfboard and Superman is.well he's SUPERMAN."

Sue: "I'm not saying it will be easy but I believe we can do it."

Reed: "Alright. We'll do it. But first we need to come up with a plan."

Ben: "You're the master of prep-time, Stretcho. Got any ideas?"

Reed: "I think so. I'll need Spidey's help. And Tahiri, I'll need you to give me all the info you can on these Vong."

Chapter 10

(Johnny and Tahiri are riding in his red sportscar.)

Tahiri: "What kind of vehicle is this?"

Johnny: "It's a sportscar. Specifically, a Corvette."

Tahiri: "That's strange. We have Corvettes where I come from but they're space-faring ships not land vehicles."

Johnny: "Yeah I know. I thought that was strange too, but I figured it was because George Lucas is a car freak."

Tahiri: "George Luke Aas?"

Johnny: "Nevermind. It's too complicated. I don't think you'd understand."

Tahiri: "Are you trying to say you think I'm dumb?"

Johnny: "No. I just don't think I can explain it properly. Besides, you probably wouldn't believe me anyway."

Tahiri: "Why not?"

Johnny: "Because if you told me my whole universe was dreamed up by some man in a flannel shirt, I wouldn't believe you either."

Tahiri: "What did you say?!"

Johnny: "Um. I-" " ..." "I didn't say anything."

Tahiri: "Yes, you did. You said something about a man in a flannel shirt dreaming up my universe."

Johnny: "That's not what I said. I said 'I had a dream about you and in my dream you were wearing a flannel nightshirt and you looked more beautiful than anything in the universe'."

Tahiri: "You're a terrible liar, but you're cute so I'll overlook it."

Johnny: "Thanks. You're not going to read my mind, are you?"

Tahiri: "No. Whatever the big secret is, I don't think I want to know about it."

(Setting: Manhattan. Central Park Zoo.)

Johnny Storm and Tahiri Veila are standing outside the Penguin habitat.

Tahiri: "They're so cute. They look like they're wearing little tuxedos."

Johnny: "Yeah. I thought you'd like them."

Then they went to the petting zoo.

Tahiri: "What is this place?"

Johnny: "Its formal name is the Tisch Children's Zoo. But it's also known as a petting zoo."

Tahiri: "Why is it called that?"

Johnny: "Because it's an area where children--and those who are young at heart--can pet the animals."

Tahiri: "Cool."

Tahiri petted a few of the animals.

Then she felt herself being petted.

Tahiri: "Johnny, why is your hand on my butt?"

Johnny grinned sheepishly at her.

"Well this is a petting zoo. Do you want me to move it?"

Tahiri smiled back at him: "No, I didn't say that. But you could have asked first."

Johnny: "Well I figured if you didn't like it, you'd let me know by slapping me or something."

Tahiri: "So you decided to just try it and see if I let you get away with it."

Johnny's smile widened.

Johnny: "Do or do not. There is no try."

Tahiri laughed: "I wonder what Master Yoda would think about you quoting him like that."

Johnny: "He'd probably be amused by it. He seemed like a guy with a good sense of humor to me."

Tahiri: "You say that like you've met him. But I'm not going to ask why this time."

She kissed him.

Then she grabbed his hand and led him to the next exhibit.

Chapter 11

Tahiri is sleeping when she is awakened by someone knocking on her door. She reaches out with the force to see who it is. It's Spider-Man. She gets up and goes to answer the door. Then she stops herself just before she reaches the door because she realizes that she isn't dressed.

Tahiri: "Just a minute."

She quickly gets dressed and then opens the door. Spider-Man enters the room.

Spider-Man: "I hope I didn't wake you."

Tahiri: "Actually, you did but that's alright. I'm glad to see you. Do you have news for me.?"

Spider-Man: "Yes. Reed and I have come up with a plan that we think might work."

Tahiri: "Might work?"

Spider-Man: "Well we can't be completely certain."

Tahiri: "So when do we leave?"

Spider-Man: "Well first I have to talk to you about something."

Tahiri: "Alright. What is it?"

Spider-Man: "Reed asked me to discuss with you the possible negative repercussions that altering your universe's past could have. Both on your galaxy in general and specifically your own life."

Tahiri: "Negative repercussions on my life? What could possibly be worse than losing Anakin the way I did?"

Spider-Man: "You may never meet him."

Tahiri: "What?"

Spider-Man: "Reed and I are fairly certain that since we're going to the Yuuzhan Vong's galaxy, any unintended effects on your own galaxy should be negligible but there's no guarantee."

Tahiri: "How could preventing the invasion cause me not to meet Anakin?"

Spider-Man: "It has to do with something called Chaos Theory. It's also called the Butterfly Effect because it suggests that an event as seemingly insignificant as the flapping of a butterfly's wings could have a major effect on the course of larger events."

Tahiri: "So has Dr. Richards changed his mind about helping me change what happened?"

Spider-Man: "No. He just wanted me to explain the situation to you so you can make an informed decision. He's leaving the final decision up to you."

Tahiri: "Why?"

Spider-Man: "Because whatever we do in your past will, for better or worse, affect you personally. You have more to lose than the rest of us do."

Tahiri: "I also have more to gain."

Spider-Man: "That's true. 'If nothing is risked nothing is gained'. It's an Earth saying."

Tahiri: "By doing this I could get Anakin back, but I could also lose even the memories I have of him."

Spider-Man: "Another Earth saying is 'it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all'."

Tahiri is silent for a few moments while she ponders the dilemma she is faced with.

Spider-Man: "Believe it or not, I know how you feel."

Tahiri: "How could you possibly know how I feel?"

Spider-Man: "I once loved a girl named Gwen Stacy. You remind me of her in some ways. She was blonde too. Gwen was kidnapped by a villain named the Green Goblin. He took her to the top of a bridge and knocked her off of it. I tried to save her by catching her with a webline but I failed. The jolt of the webline snapping taught broke her neck. She was dead when I reached her.

Not only did I fail to save her life, I thought it might have been my own rescue attempt that killed her. Of course, if I hadn't caught her she would have died from the fall and it's possible that she was already dead before I caught her-in fact the Goblin claimed she was dead before my webbing reached her--but I still blamed myself.

Even though I love someone else now--"

Tahiri: "Mary Jane."

Spider-Man: "Huh? Parker's wife?"

Tahiri: "You can drop the act, Peter. I know Spider-Man and Peter Parker are the same person."

Spider-Man: "Ok. You got me. Figured that since you're a Jedi you'd figure it out eventually.

Anyway I loved Gwen and even though I now realize her death wasn't my fault it still pains me that I wasn't able to save her. But I wouldn't use time travel to try to change what happened."

Tahiri: "So you're saying you don't think I should try it?"

Spider-Man: "No. You have to decide that for yourself. Your situation is a little different from mine.

There are two main reasons why I decided altering my past wouldn't be a good idea. The first one is that if I succeeded it would probably completely change my present life. Although I still wish Gwen hadn't died, I love MJ now and I'm glad I ended up with her. If Gwen hadn't died that probably wouldn't have happened. I'd probably be married to her now. I might be happy with her but not as happy as I am with MJ. MJ and I were meant to be together.

The second reason is that Gwen may have been destined to die a tragic death at a young age and even if I succeeded in preventing her death at that moment she still may have been killed in some other way.

There was this movie--like a holovid-called the Time Machine. Actually, there are two films with that name but the one I'm referring to is a remake of the original one. They're both based on a book. Anyway, in the movie this guy's fiancée is killed because they get mugged and she is shot. He works feverishly-forsaking everything else-to discover a way to time travel. Finally, he figures it out and goes back in time to save her. He succeeds in saving her from the mugger, but then shortly after that while he's in a flower shop buying her some flowers, she gets trampled by a horse."

Tahiri: "That's so sad."

Spider-Man: "Yeah, I know."

Tahiri: "So even if Anakin isn't killed by the Yuuzhan Vong, he still might be killed in some other way."

Spider-Man: "It's possible. So have you decided?"

Tahiri: "Yeah. Let's do it."

Spider-Man: "Alright. We've decided to try to recruit a few people to help us with our mission."

Tahiri" "Who? Superman?"

Spider-Man: "No. Superman is just a fictional character. Of course, I thought you were fictional until I met you but as far as I know Superman isn't real."

Suddenly, a little man appears out of thin air. He is floating in the air in a crossed legged position.

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "That shows what you know Arachnid-Boy. My pal Superman is so real. I bet you thought I wasn't real either."

Chapter 12

Spider-Man: "I doubt Superman would agree about you being his pal."

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "Bah. Supesy and I have a lot of fun together."

Spider-Man: "What one person considers fun, another person may consider harassment."

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "Eh, whatever Spoilsport. I'd rather talk to her anyway."

Mxy snaps his fingers and instantly changes his clothes. He is now dressed in an outfit that looks like a miniature version of something Lando Calrissian would wear. He takes Tahiri's hand and kisses it.

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "Pleased to meet you my dear Tahiri."

Tahiri: "Uh, thanks. Who are you?"

Spider-Man: "He's Mr. Kltpyz.er.Mr. Kltpzym.er-"

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "You won't trick me into saying my name backwards that easily Spider-Man."

Tahiri: "Why would he want you to say your name backwards?"

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "If I said my name backwards I'd have to go back home to the Fifth Dimension. But that's not going to happen. This time I'm not going home until I'm ready."

Tahiri: "I'm curious. How did you know my name?"

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "I know a lot. I even know how you got here."

Tahiri: "You do!?"

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "Do you remember that object you found in your room?"

Tahiri: "Yes. Did you put it there?"

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "Not exactly. I was 'it'."

Tahiri: "So it wasn't the will of the Force?"

Spider-Man: "It sounds more like the will of the Farce."

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "Ha ha ha. That was a good one Wallcrawler. But you can call it the will of the Force if you want to, Tahiri. Although sending you here was my doing it's possible that your Force influenced me in some small way. I had been planning to go to Metropolis to play with Superman but on a whim I decided to go to your universe instead. Then I decided to play a game with you."

Tahiri: "Why did you do it?"

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "Well in spite of the fact that some people have unfairly labeled me as a villain, I'm really not such a bad guy. I try to do good deeds [I]sometimes[/I]. I heard about your personal tragedy. I decided to help. Of course, I could have just brought Anakin back but that would have been too easy. And not much fun. It's better if you have to work for it. So I just got things started by sending you here. I knew the Fantastic Four had technology that they could use to help you. But I didn't actually arrange for you to meet them. I haven't done anything since I dropped you off in that alley. I've just been watching. And I've enjoyed the show so far. But I've decided to give you a little help with your recruitment."

Spider-Man: "What kind of help?"

Mr. Mxyzptlk: "I heard when you joking suggested getting Superman's help. He's always helping people. Maybe if I arrange a meeting with him for you he'll agree to help you with your 'mission'. Of course, he's also a bit of a stick-in-the-mud so he might have a problem with time traveling to alter the past, but maybe if you tell him about that will of the Force stuff you can convince him. Maybe. But that part will be up to you. So what do you say girlie?"

Tahiri: "It's worth a try. Let's go. Are you coming Spider-Man?"

Spider-Man: "No. I'm going to Salem Center. There are some people there I want to try to recruit. Good luck."

Tahiri: "May the Force be with you."

Spider-Man: "You too."

Mr. Mxyzptlk snaps his fingers, and he and Tahiri disappear.

Then Spider-Man exits through the bedroom window and is soon swinging across the New York City skyline on his way to the Xavier School for Higher Learning.

Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four are on a recruitment mission of their own.

Chapter 13

When Spider-Man arrived at the X-mansion, he was greeted by Bobby Drake aka Iceman.

Iceman: "Hey Spidey! What are you doing here?"

Spider-Man: "The Fantastic Four, a Jedi, and myself are going on an interdimensional mission to stop an intergalactic invasion. Wanna come?"

Bobby laughed hysterically until his eyes started to water. When he had finally regained his composure he said "Ok. Real funny. Now what are you really here for?"

Spider-Man: "I'm serious Bobby."

Iceman: "You're not joking?"

Spider-Man tilted his head slightly to the side and said; "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Iceman laughed, "You do realize you're wearing a mask, right?"

Spider-Man: "Yeah, I know. That was a joke."

Iceman: "But you're serious about that stuff?"

Spider-Man: "Yeah."

Iceman: "A jedi? So you're going to a galaxy far far away?"

Spider-Man: "Yep."

Iceman: "So this jedi. Anybody I've heard of? Luke Skywalker?"

Spider-Man: "No, but she's a student of his."

Iceman: "Interesting. I think I might take you up on your offer. I've been bored lately."

Iceman and Spider-Man go inside the mansion.

Chapter 14

(Setting: DC Earth, Metropolis)

Mr. Mxyzptlk and Tahiri appear out of thin air about twenty feet above a rooftop adjacent to the Daily Planet building. Tahiri immediately plummets to the roof but is able to use the Force to land gracefully and cushion the impact of the fall. She stares daggers at the little imp who has now floated down beside her.

Tahiri: "Couldn't you have landed us [i]on[/i] the roof?"

Mxyzptlk: "Sorry."

Tahiri: "You don't sound sorry. Where are we?"

Mxyzptlk: "Metropolis. Home of the big blue spoilsport himself. Or one of the places he calls home anyway."

Tahiri: "Where is he?"

Mxyzptlk: "You mean you didn't see him fly by just now?"

Tahiri: "No, but I don't know what he looks like so-- Wait a minute! Did you say fly? He flies? Under his own power?"

Mxyzptlk: "Yes. And he's extremely fast. That's probably why you didn't see him. I sometimes forget how limited the senses of most of you 3d beings are."

Tahiri: "Let me get this straight. He not only flies under his own power but he can do so at the speed of light? You must be joking."

Mxyzptlk: "No. I'm not joking. And he can fly even faster than that in space."

Tahiri: "Now you're saying he can fly in the vacuum of space!?"

Mxyzptlk: "Yes."

Tahiri: "He can breath in space?"

Mxyzptlk: "No. But he can hold his breath for a very very long time."

Tahiri: "Ok. I find this hard to believe but for now I'll assume you're telling the truth."

"Oh, goody!" Mxyzptlk said sarcastically. Tahiri rolls her eyes.

Tahiri: "So where was he going in such a hurry?"

Mxyzptlk: "Off to save somebody-or something-no doubt. He'll probably be back soon."

Superman returns three minutes later. He spots Mxyzptlk and approaches the pair.

Mxyzptlk: "Let me guess. You were saving a cat stuck in a tree in Germany?"

Superman: "Actually, I was putting out a forest fire in Mongolia. What are you up to this time Mxyzptlk?"

Mxyzptlk: "Tell him girl. I doubt he'd believe me."

Tahiri is awestruck and a little nervous. She swallows hard.

Tahiri: "Hello Superman. My name is Tahiri Veila."

Superman: "Hello Tahiri. What's this about?"

Tahiri explains her situation to Superman and then tells him that they've come to ask for his help.

Superman looks at Mxyzptlk and says "You're actually helping someone instead of just causing trouble?"

Mxyzptlk: "I was bored."

Superman agrees to help. Then Mxyzptlk transports the three of them travel back to Marvel Earth.

Chapter 15

After Mxyzptlk brought Tahiri and Superman to Marvel Earth, he decided to amuse himself by dropping "water balloons" on unsuspecting pedestrians. But his "water balloons" differed from ordinary water balloons in two ways. First, they didn't actually contain water. The substance in Mxy's balloons was one of his own design. It was just like water now but upon impact it would transform into something that could best be described as a cross between a multi-color dye and essence of skunk. The other difference was that he didn't have to fill the balloons. He just conjured them out of thin air and then dropped them on his victims. He had been doing this for a short while when a large blonde man carrying a hammer flew up to the roof where Mxy had positioned himself to confront him.

Thor: "I would have words with thee, foul miscreant."

Mxyzptlk: "Not now, god of blunder."

Suddenly, Thor's enchanted hammer mjolnir was transmuted into a stylish purse, and Mxy yelled "Lookout down below!" as Thor fell to the sidewalk. Mjolnir is what gives Thor the ability to fly so when Mxy transmuted it that had caused Thor to plummet like a 600 pound stone.

Mxyzptlk was still laughing when a tall, dark haired man in a familiar costume appeared behind him. "Ahem", the man said to get Mxy's attention.

Mxy turned around to look at the man. He was wearing an exact duplicate of Superman's costume but he was not Superman.

Mxyzptlk: "Why are you dressed like the big blue boyscout, Q? You're certainly no boyscout."

Instead of answering Mxyzptlk's question Q said "You shouldn't be doing this."

Mxyzptlk: "What? Humiliating that so-called thunder god?"

Q: "No. I'm not talking about what you did to that blonde idiot. I'm talking about how you're helping these people change history. That's a big no-no."

Mxyzptlk: "What about that time you saved the Earth by diverting that asteroid that was going to collide with it?"

Q: "I was tricked!" then under his breath he muttered "Damn Spock."

Mxyzptlk: "He may have tricked you into actually diverting the asteroid but he didn't trick you into going to that Earth's past in the first place." Q: "I went there to prevent him from changing history."

Mxyzptlk: "There wasn't anything he could have done to prevent the disaster. Except of course tricking you into doing it for him. If you had stayed out of it his "warning" would have accomplished nothing other than allowing those people to know they were about to die. It wouldn't have prevented it. You must have known that. Just admit it. You wanted to help."

Q: "Okay. So maybe I did. But since when are you in the business of helping people?"

Mxyzptlk: "Well to be honest I really don't care if they succeed or not. I could care less about the end result. I was just bored and thought this would be a fun game. Wanna play?"

Q: "What do you have in mind?"

Mxyzptlk: "We could collaborate. Work together."

Q: "I know what collaborate means."

Mxyzptlk: "Of course you do. You're a regular wordsmith aren't you."

Q: "Actually, I am."

Mxyzptlk: "So are you in or not?"

Q: "I'll do it."

Mxyzptlk: "Okay. I have an idea for something you can do."

Q: "Alright. I'm listening."

Mxyzptlk: "There is another person from the DC universe I'd like to bring into the game. Now, this person is dead in the 'main' DCU, but there's an alternate DCU where he's still alive. If you think you're up to it, you could go to this alternate DCU and recruit him for the mission."

Q: "I could do that. Who is this person?"

Mxyzptlk tells Q about the person he has in mind and how to find the aforementioned alternate DCU.

Chapter 16

Nobody saw the four travelers from Earth step onto the busy Coruscant street. If anyone had seen them it would have seemed as though they had appeared out of thin air. But the invisibility field that Sue projected around herself and her companions prevented anyone from seeing them. Although some of the aliens nearby had noses that were sensitive enough to detect the smell of humans, there were other humans there so nobody suspected the presence of the invisible foursome. The four moved into an empty alley where Sue removed their cloak of invisibility. They were all wearing disguises to help them blend in. Due to the myriad of alien species occupying the cityplanet blending in was something that Ben found far easier to do here than on Earth. Even though he didn't look like any existing alien species the fact that there were too many in this galaxy for anyone to know them all mean that Ben's appearance wouldn't arouse much suspicion.

Ben: "So what's the plan Stretcho?"

Reed: "Sue and I will proceed to the Jedi Temple. You and Johnny look for a merchant that's willing to buy the items we brought so we can get some of those Republic credits they use here just in case we need money while we're here. Then once you're finished doing that head back to this area and wait for us. And try to stay out of trouble guys."

Sue wrapped her invisibility field around herself and Reed, and they then headed in the direction of the Jedi Temple.

*****************************

After Ben and Johnny finished conducting business and had acquired a fair sum of credits they returned to the spot where Reed and Sue had left them.

Ben: "Hey Johnny, I'm hungry. I'm going to go to that diner over there. You coming?"

Johnny: "Reed said to stay here."

Ben: "Stretcho said to stay in this area not this exact spot. The diner is only a block away from where we're standin'."

Johnny: "Okay."

Ben and Johnny walked over to the restaurant known as Dex's Diner. When they entered they were greeted-albeit somewhat brusquely-by a server droid. She handed them menus and said "Someone'll be with you in a minute."

They found a table and sat down. A few minutes later a human waitress came over to their table.

Waitress: "Welcome to Dex's Diner. May I take your order?"

Ben: "I'll have the Ronto steak and a Corellian whiskey."

Johnny: "I'll have a Ronto burger. And I'll have a whiskey too."

Ben: "No you won't. He'll have a blue milk ma'am."

The waitress takes their orders to the kitchen.

Johnny: "How come you get to have a whiskey and I don't?"

Ben: "Because we're working right now. And a single whiskey won't even come close to having any adverse effect on me. You can't say the same."

A short time later a large multi-armed being came out of the kitchen carrying their meals and their drinks. He set the steak and whiskey down in front of Ben and the burger and milk in front of Johnny and then introduced himself.

Dex: "Hello. My name's Dexter. This is my establishment. I just had to come over here and deliver your food personally. Ol' Dex has been all over the galaxy and I never seen nothing like you, Big Fella. If you don't mind my asking what are species are you?"

Ben: "Uh."

Johnny: "He's a Thingagarian."

Dex: "Ah. Never heard of them. But I'm glad to meet ya."

Ben: "Same here buddy."

After Ben and Johnny finished their meals they paid their bill and left. As they were walking out of the diner they saw a Trandoshan mugging a Twi'lek. The Trandoshan didn't notice them. Ben walked up behind the lizard-like alien and thumped him on the head with his little finger knocking the alien unconscious.

Johnny: "Show off."

***********************

Sue and Reed crept through the hallowed halls of the Jedi Temple unseen. Eventually, they came to the entrance of a small room where a diminutive green alien sat meditating with his eyes closed. As they entered the room, he opened his eyes and looked directly at them and said "See you I can't, but know you are there I do."

Sue removed the cloak of invisibility that she had in place around herself and Reed.

Reed: "We apologize for the intrusion Master Yoda. We are travelers from another universe and we wanted to avoid attracting any unnecessary attention to ourselves. We need to speak with you about a matter of great importance. It concerns your galaxy's future."

Yoda: "Your story is preposterous, but believe you I do. If lying you were, sense it I would."

Just then Mace Windu appeared in the doorway.

Yoda: "Welcome, Master Windu. Guests we have. Join us will you?"

Mace eyed the two visitors with curiosity. He sensed that they possessed great power. They were not Jedi and they were human but there was something very special about them.

Mace: "Yes, Master Yoda. I will."

*******************************

Ben wasn't expecting a parade in his honor, but he was still very surprised by the Twi'lek's apparent lack of gratitude.

Aayla Secura: "You shouldn't have interfered."

Ben: "You looked like you needed help so I helped."

Aayla: "I did not need help. I was hoping he'd take me prisoner and take me to his hideout."

Johnny: "Are you crazy?"

Aayla: "No, I'm not crazy. I'm a Jedi Knight. And although that Trandoshan is just a small-time thug, he works for a major crime organization that deals in the blackmarket slavetrade. I was hoping the pea-brained moron would inadvertently lead me right to his boss."

Ben: "Sorry. I didn't know that and no offense but you don't look like a Jedi."

Aayla: "I'm not supposed to. I was acting as bait. Twi'lek slavegirls are highly sought after. But I accept your apology."

Ben: "I understand. So I guess you're taking this guy into custody now. Do you need help transporting him."

Aayla: "Yes, I'd appreciate that. I need to take him back to the Jedi Temple for questioning."

Ben: "Okay. Just give me a sec to call our friends. We were planning to meet here."

Ben called Reed using the communicator device Reed had given him for just such a purpose.

Ben: "Reed."

Reed: "Yes, Ben."

Ben: "Johnny and I have made friends with a Jedi Knight. We're helping her take a prisoner back to her temple."

Reed: "Acknowledged. Sue and I have met with Masters Yoda and Windu and explained our mission to them. They've agreed to help. We'll see you when you get here."

******************************

Aayla secured the Trandoshan's wrists in a pair of binders then Ben picked him up and slung the heavy-yet light to Ben-reptilian over one shoulder. Aayla led the way to where she had parked her speeder. They then got into the speeder and Aayla began flying back to the Jedi Temple. Chapter 17

Spider-Man and Bobby Drake entered the Danger Room-the X-Men's high-tech combat training area-to find James "Logan" Howlett aka Wolverine and Henry "Hank" McCoy aka Beast participating in a simulated combat exercise against multiple robotic foes. That is there had been multiple opponents as evidenced by numerous robot carcasses that littered the floor. As Spidey and Iceman entered Logan and Hank were just finishing off the last few. Wolverine-who up till this point had been fighting with his claws sheathed- extended his adamantium claws with a SNIKT sound and gutted the robot he was facing.

Then Hank leaped into the air and delivered a dropkick to the two robots he was fighting-one foot impacting against the head of each robot-that felled both robots. They were effectively decapitated. Their heads didn't come completely off but they were left dangling by a few wires.

As Logan and Hank turned to face them, Spidey noticed that Logan's face was the proverbial crimson mask. Apparently, one of the robots had possessed a bladed weapon of its own and had managed to slice a deep gash across Logan's face. But the wound from which the blood had flowed was already completely healed.

Logan: "What brings you here, Pa- er Spidey?"

Spidey told them about the Jedi that he had met; explained about the mission that he, the Jedi, and the Fantastic Four were planning to undertake: and finally said that he had come there to ask for their help.

Logan: "Well, I figured that last part, Bub. I doubt you'd come here just to pay us a social call."

Hank: "Speak for yourself, James. While it might be true that he would not choose to see you under other circumstances, it does not necessarily follow that he would not want to pay Bobby or myself a social visit."

Bobby: "Yeah, tell him Hank. Unlike you we're actually likable and fun to be around."

Logan: "Shut up, Drake!"

Hank: "That was rather unkind, Bobby. James can't help it that he has a rather stilted personality."

Bobby: "I guess that's true. Anyway, I think we should help Spidey. But I'm still having a little difficulty believing that Jedis and that other stuff actually exist somewhere."

Hank: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Bobby: "Who's Horatio?"

Logan: "He's quoting Shakespeare."

Hank: "Yes, Hamlet to be precise. I think we should go to the Professor's office and discuss this matter with him."

Then the four left the Danger Room and went to see Professor Charles Xavier.

Chapter 18

Meanwhile back at the Baxter Building, Tahiri Veila was telling Superman all she knew about her home galaxy. Which wasn't all that much but he assured her that any information she could give would be helpful and perhaps more important than she realized. When he asked about planets which orbit around yellow suns, Tatooine-her own home planet-was the first thing that came to her mind. She mentioned that it has two yellow suns that are known as the Twins.

When she asked why he wanted to know, he explained that he draws his power from yellow solar radiation. He used the idea of a solar battery as a simple analogy. He said it was a little more complicated than that but that was basically how the cells of his body worked. Although, he could continue to function normally under a red sun(or other non-yellow sun) for a short time--if he had some reserves of yellow solar radiation built up- the red solar radiation would not recharge his cells and his reserves would begin to deplete. As this happened he would slowly grow weaker and the gradual weakening would continue until he was able to recharge his cells with yellow solar radiation. Eventually, he would lose all of his powers and become as mortal as any human.

As fascinating as the explanation was-and Tahiri did find it fascinating- she got lost somewhere along the way. It wasn't that it was difficult for her to understand. What she heard, she understood just fine. The problem was that as she was listening to Superman speak she has been looking into his cool blue eyes and gotten lost in them. Superman must have noticed that something was wrong because he stopped speaking and looked at her for a moment then glanced down at his arm briefly.

Superman: "Is something wrong, Tahiri?"

The mention of her name startled Tahiri out of her daze. She realized that he was asking her a question but she hadn't actually heard the question. She just heard her name at the end of it.

Tahiri: "Huh?"

Superman: "Is something wrong?"

Tahiri: "Uh. No. Why would you think that something is wrong?"

Superman: "Well you have a spaced out look in your eye, your heart is beating faster than normal, and you drooled on my arm."

Tahiri looked down and saw that she had indeed drooled on his arm. She was so embarrassed that she blushed and her face turned bright red. Although she couldn't see it herself she imagined that her face looked as red as a Sith's lightsaber.

When she had recovered from her embarrassment somewhat, she thought about what Superman had said about her heart beating faster than normal. She wondered how he would know that. She used the Force introspectively to examine herself and found that he was right. Her heartrate was accelerated.

Tahiri: "How did you know my heart was beating faster than normal?"

Superman smiled and said: "Superhearing."

Tahiri: "You're kidding. You can actually hear my heart?"

Superman: "Yes."

Tahiri: "Wow. Next you'll be telling me that you have x-ray vision or something."

Superman laughed.

Tahiri: "What's funny?"

Superman: "I do."

Tahiri: "You do what?"

Superman: "I do have x-ray vision."

Tahiri: "Oh! I was joking. You're serious?"

Superman: "Yes." -----------------------------------

Chapter 19

Q stared out at the vast expanse of space as he stood on the surface of the moon. Then he briefly turned his attention toward Earth. He had learned that the man he had come to this universe to see was on a mission to another planet and would be back soon. He knew this because he had been eavesdropping in the JLA lunar watchtower monitor room earlier. Batman and Firestorm never even knew he was there. He wasn't surprised that Firestorm had not suspected his presence-he had made himself invisible-but he was a little disappointed by Batman. From what Mxyzptlk had told him it seemed that this Batperson's detective skills rivaled those of that Sherlock Holmes character that Picard's android science officer had been so fond of.

Of course, Q realized that even Holmes himself would not have known he was there, but that knowledge did nothing to lessen his disappointment in the great bat detective. He had been thinking about this when Batman and Firestorm received a message from Green Lantern. He was on a distant planet called Mellifera. Q thought that was a strange name for a planet until he heard Green Lantern say that the planet was inhabited by sentient honeybees. The scientific name for honeybees was Apis mellifera. It seemed odd to Q that such a distant planet had received a Latin name that so accurately described it's population. The planet was obviously named by someone from Earth but he doubted the knowledge gathered by Earth's scientists-of this time period at least-would have been sufficient to allow them to name the planet so well. Their space exploratory capabilities wouldn't allow them to travel that far into space. Perhaps Green Lantern had brought them the information. But none of that mattered. Green Lantern was saying that he had successfully saved the planet from whatever crisis had threatened it-he gave his teammates a more detailed explanation but Q didn't bother listening to those details-and he would be returning to Earth soon.

He had learned from Mxyzptlk before he came here that although many considered Hal Jordan to be the best Green Lantern, he was not the only one. Jordan was a member of an intergalactic peace-keeping organization called the Green Lantern corps, and he was assigned to the region of space designated Sector 2814. Earth was one of the planets within that sector.

When Q returned his attention to open space, he saw what appeared to be a green shooting star. This must be Green Lantern now, he thought. Q was amazed at the speed this mortal was able to attain without a ship. He did a rapid calculation-based on the time and distance involved in the Green Lantern's journey-and realized that Jordan was hurtling through space at a speed that was as fast or faster than anything Picard's vaunted Enterprise was capable of achieving.

Mxyzptlk had told him that the Green Lanterns receive their powers from an immortal race of aliens called Oans. The imp had described them as a bunch of crotchety old oversized smurfs. He had not had the faintest idea what a smurf was, but Mxyzptlk had explained that they were little blue creatures from a form of entertainment humans called a cartoon. For some reason it did not surprise Q at all that Myzptlk would watch-and possibly even enjoy- such a diversion. ************************** As Hal Jordan approached Earth, he saw a bizarre sight. What he saw was a man clad in only a red and black uniform floating in the vacuum of space. He was reclining on his back with his arms resting behind his head. When Hal got near the man righted himself-acting as if he was getting out of an invisible bed-and pretended to stifle a fake yawn. Then he said "Hello, Hal. I've been waiting for you for a while. I got bored so I took a nap."

Hal: "Who are you? And how do you know my name?"

Q: "Who am I? I'm the quintessential quasi-human omnipotent being. I'm an exemplar of excellence and a paragon of knowledge. I'm a shiny one-man band. But you can call me Q."

Hal: "A shiny one-man band? If Plasticman were here, he'd probably ask you to play a song. But I'm more interested in finding out why you're here."

Q: "Why is anybody really here?"

Hal: "That's just what I need. An overly philosophical nigh-omnipotent being."

Q: "Nigh-omnipotent? Oh that really hurts. Have I insulted you?"

Hal: "No offense meant, Q."

Q: "Apology accepted."

Hal: "So are you going to tell me the reason for your visit?"

Q: "Yes."

Q told Hal about the mission to the past of another universe that was being planned by some people from still another universe. He explained that the objective of the mission was to prevent the massive amounts of death and destruction caused by a war with invaders from another galaxy. Then finally Q said that the reason why he had come there was to recruit him for this mission. Hal had reservations at first due to the inherent danger of altering the past, but after Q elucidated the situation more fully Hal agreed that the mission had merit and agreed to help. Q snapped his fingers and both of them vanished.

Chapter 20

Aayla Secura parked her speeder on a platform near the Jedi Temple and Senate building. She and her two new companions exited the speeder and began the short trek to the Jedi Temple. Ben was still carrying the Trandoshan. To Aayla, it looked as though the very heavy reptilian felt as light to him as her own lightsaber feels to her. An amusing image of Ben wielding the Trandoshan's body like a club quickly crossed her mind. Johnny Storm noticed the feral grin that had spread across her blue face at the thought.

Johnny: "What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing", she said as she smiled at him seductively. "What makes you say that?" As she said this she flexed her lekku-the appendages which humans refer to as headtails-in a manner which only another Twi'lek would fully understand.

Johnny: "Ah. No reason, I guess."

The blonde human turned away looking confused and flustered. That would dissuade him from pursuing his the matter. She didn't want anyone- especially someone she had just met-to know that she had allowed her focus to drift to such a trivial thought while on an important mission. She could have attempted to use a jedi mind trick to accomplish the same purpose, but she was reluctant to do that to an ally. Besides when it was utilized on the right type of subject-namely the average humanoid male-this method was often just as effective and more fun. Aayla was almost certain that Johnny had never been flirted with by a Twi'lek jedi knight before. In fact, if she didn't know better she would think that she was the first Twi'lek he had ever met.

As the small band made their way to the Jedi Temple, they were met by a gray-haired man who was wearing black senatorial robes. Ben immediately disliked the man because he instinctively recognized the man as a politician and he generally disliked politicians. However, when Ben realized exactly who the man was the minor dislike he had felt at first transformed into an intense loathing that gave him an almost irrestible urge to shout "It's Clobberin' Time!" and pound the evil man into the ground. But Ben did resist. Reed had warned him and the others repeatedly that they had to be very cautious while in the past and couldn't afford to take any rash actions.

In fact, when Reed had told them of his plan to come to this time period, Ben suggested that perhaps they should take action to prevent Palpatine's rise to power but Reed had explained that as simple and easy as that seemed the intricacies involved in time travel meant that even minor changes to the past could have unexpected and possibly dire consequences. The further back into the past one went the more likely such side effects became. And when major changes were involved that increased the likelihood of those unintended changes to the timeline occurring by tenfold. Although Reed had deemed the risk involved in stopping theYuuzhan Vong invasion-an event that had began only 5 years back down the timeline-to be worth the risk he said that attempting to alter a major past event this far down the timeline-more than 52 years-multiplied the risk by more than a hundredfold.

Then Reed had reminded Ben and the others about a couple of television programs they had seen where well-meaning time travelers had went back in time to try to prevent Adolf Hitler's rise to power. In the first one someone had assassinated an adult Hitler and while he had been successful in stopping Hitler another man had his place and committed the same atrocities. In the second story a young woman from the future had infiltrated the household of Adolf Hitler's father by posing as a nanny. While she had been successful in her mission-killing the baby who she thought would grow up to be a mass murderer-but it turned out that the gypsy baby she had substituted for baby Hitler so Heir Hitler would not know that she had killed his son actually became the man she had meant to kill. So it was possible that if they did attempt to interfere with the rise of the Empire, their well-meaning attempt could be totally ineffectual- in regards to their intended goal-and instead cause changes to the timeline that they did not intend. As an example Reed mentioned that if they were successful in preventing the rise of the Empire that could-and probably would-result in Tahiri's friend Anakin never being born. By altering the past in that way, they may save some lives but they would also negate the very existence of others. Effectively, killing those people before they were even born.

Of course, all of that scientific mumbo jumbo was in addition to the fact that the people here still regarded this guy as a respected politician and the leader of their government. They had no idea who and what he really was. If Ben attacked him here he-not Palpatine-would be seen as the bad guy. And it wasn't just the people in this galaxy. The average person on Earth-who didn't recognize Palpatine from the Star Wars films-would view the situation in the same way. The irony was not lost on Ben. Palpatine was a monster, but Ben looked like a monster.

Chapter 21

Tahiri got tired of waiting for the others to get back so she decided to go to the Parker residence to visit Mary Jane. When Tahiri arrived, MJ was on her way to the bank but said Tahiri could accompany her is she wanted to. Tahiri did.

Just as they arrived in front of the bank something knocked a large hole in the wall. Then a man with four robotic tentacles emerged through the newly made exit. He is using two of his robotic arms to carry several bags of money. Apparently, MJ knew who the man was because she exclaimed "Doctor Octopus!".

Tahiri's lightsaber came to life with a hiss and she leaped in front of the man.

Doctor Octopus: "Get out of my way, girl!"

Tahiri: "I'm a Jedi Knight. And you're not going anywhere."

He was faster than she realized, and he almost landed a solid hit to her face with one of his tentacles. Having seen what he had done to the concrete wall using those same tentacles, she shuddered to think of the effect they would have had on her if she hadn't avoided the blow. She used the force to leap high into the air, and then did a twisting somersault in midair that put her behind her opponent. As he turned and lashed out at her with one of his tentacles, she leaped into the air again and slashed at the attacking tentacle with her lightsaber. Her strike neatly severed that tentacle, but one of his other robotic appendages caught her with a glancing blow that knocked her to the pavement. She landed hard.

She didn't think she was seriously injured but the fall had knocked all of the air out of her lungs and she couldn't move. She looked up and saw the man leering down at her. She briefly wondered if he was actually some kind of human replica droid but that notion was quickly dispelled by the ludicrous bowl haircut he had. No droid manufacturer would design a droid to look like that. He must be a cybernetically enhanced human. She saw her lightsaber lying on the ground several feet away and tried to telekinetically pull it to her. But Doctor Octopus saw what was happening and used one tentacle to slap her weapon much further away.

Then he grabbed her by her shirt using the pinchers of one of his cybernetic tentacles and held her aloft. He said: "I don't know how you managed to cut off one of my adamantium tentacles girl, but I assure you that you will pay dearly for the affront."

Then Tahiri heard another voice. "Put her down now." She recognized the voice. It was Superman.

Instead of complying with the command, Doctor Octopus turned to face Superman and said: "I don't know who you are sir, but you will regret crossing paths with Doctor Otto Octavius."

Superman: "I doubt that. Now spare me the melodrama and do as I asked."

Octavius: "Very well. Here, catch!"

Octavius then callously tossed Tahiri about a hundred feet away. But before she could hit the ground, Tahiri was caught by a red and blue blur. Tahiri-who had closed her eyes-now opened them to find herself in Superman's arms. He set her down gently and turned his attention back to Doctor Octopus. The already pale complexion of Octavius turned even paler. He had a lot of difficulty dealing with Spider-Man's speed. This person made the webslinger seem like a turtle. "Well at least he isn't making jokes like Spider-Man always does," he thought. That drove him out of his mind.

However, a few seconds later he found himself wishing that he was dealing with the wallcrawler and his one-liners. This feeling was brought on by the fact that the stranger had turned his adamantium tentacles into a makeshift adamantium straightjacket by wrapping them around him and then tying them into knots. He was completely immobilized and when the police started to take him into custody there was nothing he could do about it. "Yes this is far worse than having to endure those infuriating insults and one-liners", he thought.

Tahiri-who had sat down on the hood of a car because she was still having difficulty breathing-got up and walked over to Superman to thank him. But just as she reached him, she felt dizzy and her vision clouded. "I guess I was hurt worse than I thought", she thought just before she passed out and fell into Superman's arms. He did a quick scan using his x-ray vision and saw that she had sustained three cracked ribs and a minor concussion. She regained consciousness a few minutes later and he suggested that she should go to a hospital and offered to take her there. But she said that wasn't necessary and she just needed to go into a jedi healing trance. So they returned to the Baxter Building-with a short stopover at the Parker residence to drop MJ off there--and Tahiri went to her bedroom. She laid down and put herself into a healing trance.

Chapter 22

A short time later, Mr. Mxyzptlk appeared.

Mxyzptlk: "Hello, Superman."

Superman: "Hello, Mxyzptlk."

Mxyzptlk: "Are you going to ask me why I'm here?"

Superman: "I'm sure you'll tell me whether I ask or not."

Mxyzptlk: "That's true, but I think you'll want to know about this."

Superman: "About what?"

Mxyzptlk: "One of your friends is coming here. One I'm sure you'll be surprised to see."

Superman: "Who?"

Mxyzptlk: "Hal Jordan."

Superman: "The Spectre is getting involved in this?"

Mxyzptlk: "Did I say 'The Spectre'? Casper has nothing to do with this."

Superman: "Hal Jordan is the Spectre now."

Mxyzptlk: "In your reality he is. This Hal Jordan is from an alternate reality. A lot of things happened differently there. The Coast City disaster still occurred but his reaction to the destruction of his hometown was far more consistent with the man you had known. He didn't suddenly start acting like he was a different person. He didn't 'go to the darkside' and become Parallax. He didn't singlehandedly destroy the Green Lantern Corps nor destroy the Guardians of the Universe-although technically the Hal you know didn't destroy the Guardians either. The wimpy little wet blankets just laid down and died. If you ask me they deserved what happened to them. But I digress. Obviously, since he didn't become Parallax he also didn't attempt to remake the universe. Finally, he didn't die reigniting the sun. So since he didn't die, he never became the human host for Ol' Casper and he's still Green Lantern."

Superman: "Ok. I understand."

Mxyzptlk: "Good. Oh.there is one other thing I should tell you." Superman: "What's that?"

Mxyzptlk: "Remember when you 'died' fighting Doomsday?"

Superman: "Of course. How could I forget?"

Mxyzptlk: "Um.well in that reality you didn't come back. So he'll be as surprised to find out you're alive as you are to find out he's alive. But my associate-who is bringing Hal here-will tell him about that."

Superman: "Your associate? Another Fifth Dimensional imp?"

Mxyzptlk: "No, but he has similar abilities. He calls himself Q."

Superman: "So this Q is bringing Hal here to help with this mission you told me about?"

Mxyzptlk: "Yes, but there's more to it than that. That is all I had in mind when I suggested it to Q, but after I told him certain things about your universe and that other universe, Q got an idea for a grand endeavor. His words. He's real big on doing 'grand' things. Personally, I think he overuses that word, but I will admit that what he plans to do truly is a grand endeavor."

Superman: "What is he planning?"

Mxyzptlk: "I'm not going to tell you that. If you want to know you can ask him. But I will say that what he's planning is something you'd consider good. Although his motives are selfish for the most part."

Superman: "For the most part?"

Mxyzptlk: "Well, he'll claim that he's just doing it for the thrill of doing it. And he may even quote that saying about the guy who climbed a mountain just because it was there. That's mostly true but it isn't totally accurate."

Superman: "What do you mean?"

Mxyzptlk: "He likes humans far more than he'll admit."

Chapter 23

When Spider-Man, Iceman, Beast, and Wolverine got to Professor X's office he was waiting for them. He had mentally overheard part of their conversation earlier. Spider-Man explained things more fully for everyone.

Prof. X: "That is fascinating. I would very much like to meet this jedi. I feel this mission would be a great opportunity for me to visit a new and interesting galaxy. Unfortunately, I must pass on that opportunity. I'm needed here by my students. I can and will however take the time to go to the Baxter Building and meet our jedi visitor. But I'm sure some of the others will be eager to participate in this mission. Right, Logan?"

Logan: "You read my mind Professor."

Prof. X: "Actually, I didn't have to. I just know you too well."

Iceman: "You can count me in too."

Beast: "As well as myself. This is one journey I will be glad to undertake."

Iceman: "What he said."

Logan: "I'm ready to gut some alien scum."

Spider-Man: "How nice. Thanks for sharing."

Superman had decided to go to the Fantastic Four's library and use one of their computers to research this 'Star Wars universe'. If the real version of that universe was identical to the fictional one-and everything seemed to indicate it was-that information could be very useful. He was doing that when Hal and Q arrived.

Superman: "Hello, Hal."

Hal: "It's good to see you again Kal. It's been a long time."

Superman: "Yes, it has."

He had actually seen Hal not too long before as the Spectre, but it had been a long time since he had seen Hal alive. He noticed that Hal looked younger than he remembered him. Then he realized that it was just the lack of gray hair that made him appear younger. Otherwise he seemed to be about the same age. The Hal Jordan of his universe had went prematurely gray around his temples. Either this Hal dyed his hair-which knowing Hal seemed very unlikely-or he simply hadn't went gray early. Perhaps due to worrying about stuff less.

Then Superman looked at Q and said: "You must be Q."

Q: "Yes, I am. You've heard of me?"

Superman: "Yes. Mxyzptlk mentioned you."

Q: "He did?"

Superman: "Yes."

Q: "He hasn't been saying bad things about me behind my back, has he?"

Superman: "No, not really. But he did say you were planning some 'grand endeavor'"

Q: "Never trust an imp to keep a secret."

Superman: "What are you planning?"

Q: "Uh-uh-uh, Kal-El. That's for me to know and you to find out. I will tell you eventually. But not now. Ta ta."

Then Q disappeared.

Spider-Man and the small group of X-Men took one of the X-jets to the Baxter Building and landed on the roof. They were met there by a dark haired man in a red and black uniform.

Spider-Man: "Who are you?"

Q: "The name's Q. Nice to meet you."

Then Q looked at Professor X and said: "You look familiar. Have we met?"

Professor X: "No, I don't believe we have sir."

Q: "Why so formal? And are you completely sure? I could swear that I've seen your face somewhere before."

"Perhaps I have a double somewhere", Professor X joked.

Q: "Perhaps. Or maybe it was a descendent of yours. Time travel is as routine to me as using the subway is to you New Yorkers."

With that Q vanished.

Chapter 24

When Aayla, Ben, and Johnny arrived at the Jedi Temple she took her prisoner directly to the council chamber. She had contacted Master Windu in route and he had told her to hand the Trandoshan criminal over to Ki-Adi-Mundi and the other council members that would be waiting for her there, and then to come see himself and Master Yoda in Yoda's quarters. He also said to bring her new friends with her. She thought that seemed strange because she had not told him about them. And Master Windu even mentioned them by name. "How had he known?", she thought.

While Ben and Johnny were waiting outside the Jedi council chamber, Ben saw a familiar looking young man walking down the corridor. It was Anakin Skywalker. Impulsively, Ben decided to go talk to him.

Ben: "Hey kid, can I talk to ya for a minute?"

Anakin: "Do I know you?"

Ben: "No. I'm here with Aayla Secura."

Anakin: "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Ben: "I think you should go home to visit your mother."

Anakin: "I want to, but they won't let me."

Ben: "So what. Don't let their rules stop ya. Just do it."

Anakin: "I'll think about what you said."

Anakin walked away.

Johnny: "Uh Ben.you know if he takes your advice that could have a major effect on their history."

Ben: "Yeah, I know. But it was the right thing to do."

Johnny: "I guess you're right."

After Aayla was dismissed by Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, she joined the others outside the council chamber and led the way to Master Yoda's quarters. Chapter 25

A short time later Aayla, Ben, and Johnny arrived at Yoda's quarters. As she had

expected Master Yoda and Master Windu were there, but two other people-whom she did not know-were also present. They were both human. A young blonde woman and a slightly older man with brown hair except for patches of gray on his temples. She thought the blonde woman resembled Johnny. That thought was quickly confirmed.

Mace Windu: "Aayla, this is Dr. Reed Richards and his wife Sue Richards. And I believe you've already met their friend Ben and Sue's brother Johnny."

Aayla: "Yes Master, I have."

So this was why Master Windu had known about Ben and Johnny, she thought.

Mace: "Doctor Richards and his family call themselves the Fantastic Four. They say they are adventurers from another universe-specifically from a planet called Earth."

Aayla: "Another universe, Master!?"

Mace: "Yes. I'll let Dr. Richards explain it."

Reed: "Our two universes are separated from each other by a dimensional barrier."

Aayla: "If there's a dimensional barrier between the two universes, shouldn't it be impossible to travel between them?"

Ben: "Honey, doing the impossible is Stretcho's specialty."

Aayla pauses at being addressed as "Honey" and stares at Ben for a moment before turning her attention back to Reed.

Aayla: "You practice magic?"

Reed: "No, never touch the stuff. I'm a scientist."

Johnny: "'A scientist', he says. He's the most brilliant scientist on our entire planet."

Aayla: "I see. Why does Ben call you Stretcho?"

Ben: "That's simple. He stretches."

Aayla: "He stretches?"

Yoda: "Very rubberlike, he is."

To himself, Johnny said: "That's ironic. A muppet is calling somebody else rubberlike." He didn't realize that he had said that out loud until Ben whispered to him: "Hush, boy." "Did I say that out loud", Johnny whispered back. Ben: "Yeah, but I don't think anybody else heard you."

Mace: "I asked you to come here because the Fantastic Four have come here to tell us about a war that they say will begin approximately 47 years from now. It is a war of aggression by an extragalactic alien race. They say that they seek to stop this war."

Aayla: "But if this happens almost 50 years into the future, how do they know about it?"

Yoda: "From the future, they say they are."

Mace: "And they learned about the war from a Jedi Knight from that time period who was transported to their universe."

Reed: "We don't know. At first I was just trying to help her get back home. Then when she realized that the machine I was going to use to send her home can be used for traveling through time as well as space she proposed the idea of going back in time to stop the war that left many of the worlds of your galaxy in ruins. She argued that it was the will of your force. I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but she eventually convinced me that in this case changing the past was warranted."

Mace: "I think she could be right about that."

Aayla: "What do you ask of me, Master Windu?"

Mace: "I am going on this mission. I ask that you accompany me."

Aayla: "Gladly."

Yoda: "Would it cause a problem if they were to meet their future selves?"

Reed: "It might if that were possible."

Mace: "I assume that means we have both died by that time. Correct?"

Sue: "Yes."

Mace: "Why do you look so sad, Sue? Fifty years is a long time. I am not a young man now and even young Aayla would be old by then. It's really not that surprising that we have passed on by then." Yoda: "Knows something of our fate, she does."

Johnny: "Yousa might be sayin' that."

Sue slapped Johnny on the back of his head hard.

Johnny: "Ow!"

Ben laughed. Aayla tried not to laugh but was only partially successful.

Ben: "Well Reed, we tried to be discreet but since the proverbial cat's outta the bag I say we tell 'em what we know and let the chips fall where they may."

Reed: "I wouldn't phrase it like that Ben but you do have a point. As hesitant as I am to so directly interfere with the distant past it seems to be the best alternative in this case."

The Fantastic Four proceeded to tell the Jedi everything they knew. When they were finished, Mace asked them to wait outside while he, Yoda, and Aayla discussed what they had just told them.

Yoda: "So the hidden Sith Lord, Palpatine is."

Mace: "Assuming that what they say is true. They also said Count Dooku has become his new Sith apprentice. I find that very hard to believe."

Yoda: "My own padawan, Dooku was. Reluctant am I to believe this report about him, but I sense no deception in them. Afford to ignore this warning, we can not."

Windu: "I agree, but I don't think we should we should just take their word for it."

Yoda: "Believe their story you do not?"

Windu: "I have my doubts but it's not just that. Before we take action we must be absolutely certain that this is true. Also we will need evidence if they are going to convince the Senate. Aayla and I will go with them and investigate. If what they say is true then we will see for ourselves that it is so."

Yoda: "Investigate the matter on this end, I will."

Mace: "Also I will send Obi-Wan and Anakin to Tatooine to help Anakin's mother. If what they said about his descent to the darkside is true then the tragic death of his mother was a contributing cause. Perhaps if her death can be prevented his fall can be prevented as well."

Yoda: "Agree, I do. Thinking of sending them to investigate this cloning facility I was, but I will send Quinlan Vos instead." Mace: "You know it's possible that the Senate may not listen no matter what evidence we present to them. They highly revere Palpatine."

Yoda: "And if listen they will not?"

Mace: "Then we may be forced to take independent action. If Palpatine is a Sith Lord, he must be stopped."

Chapter 26

Later when Tahiri awoke from her healing trance, she felt that she was mostly recovered from her injuries. Her neck was sore but otherwise she felt okay. Her body ached but that was just the kind dull ache that resulted from a long period of inactivity. She sensed the presence of several individuals in the library. Using the force to focus she was able to recognize two of the individuals as Spider-Man and Superman, but the others were unfamiliar to her. Apparently, the Fantastic Four had not yet returned but some other people had arrived. She decided to get up and join them.

When she walked into the library she saw Spider-Man, Superman, and five others seated at a large round table. To Superman's left there was a brown-haired man dressed in green-including a green domino mask. Spider-Man sat a couple of chairs over to his left. Sitting on the other side of Spidey were a young man wearing dark sunglasses, an older bald man, a dour and rough looking man with wild unkempt hair, and finally-and most unusual in appearance-a person whose entire body was covered in blue fur. Despite his catlike appearance Tahiri sensed that he was human.

Strangely they had all been looking toward the door as if they had known she was coming just then. How, she wondered. She had just told herself that Superman had probably heard her or maybe seen her through the walls, when a voice in her head said: "That's true my dear, but I also heard your thoughts and told the others that you were on your way here."

She realized that the mental communication was coming from the bald man. She sensed that he was a very powerful telepath. And she also suspected that he had helped to guide her to this room. She had known exactly where it was even though she had never been to this part of the building.

Xavier: "Hello, Tahiri. My name is Charles Xavier and the gentlemen with me are known as Iceman, Wolverine, and Beast."

Tahiri: "Hello."

Wolverine: "Gentleman!? Hah! I ain't no gentleman."

Iceman: "You got that right."

Wolverine: "Shut up, Drake."

Beast: "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Tahiri. And please call me Hank."

Tahiri: "It's nice to meet you Hank."

Tahiri walked over and sat down between Spider-Man and the masked man. Superman introduced the masked man by saying: "This is a friend of mine. Green Lantern." Green Lantern shook her hand and said: "You can call me Hal. Pleased to meet you." "The pleasure is mine", Tahiri said.

Spider-Man: "So Tahiri did you have a nice nap?"

Tahiri: "Yeah. How long was I out?"

Superman: "A little over 24 hours. You feel better?"

Tahiri: "Mostly. My neck is a little sore. I wish I had a neck brace."

A moment later Tahiri was wearing a neck brace. A green one that had seemingly appeared out of thin air.

Tahiri: "Where did this come from? Did I say some kind of magic word?"

Hal: "No, but you wish for a neck brace."

Tahiri: "I know, but where did it come from?"

Superman: "Hal did it."

Tahiri: "How?"

Hal showed her the ring on his right hand. "That neck brace an energy construct produced by my power ring."

A few minutes later Superman said: "The Fantastic Four have returned. They've brought two others with them. A bald black man and a blue-skinned female alien with snakelike head appendages. They're both wearing robes."

Wolverine: "How do you know what they look like?"

Superman: "I see them."

Wolverine: "How can you possibly see them from here, bub?"

Superman: "X-ray vision."

Tahiri: "That alien you described sounds like a Twi'lek."

Beast: "What is that?"

Tahiri: "They're humanoid aliens that are native to a planet on my galaxy's Outer Rim."

Xavier: "I did a quick surface scan of their minds. Their names are Mace Windu and Aayla Secura."

Tahiri: "I've heard of Mace Windu. He was a legendary Jedi Master."

Beast: "You said you've heard of him. Am I correct in assuming that means you've never met him?"

Tahiri: "Yeah. He died 3 decades before I was born. He was killed during the jedi purge that happened almost 50 years ago. I don't understand how he could be here."

Spider-Man: "They went to the past. Reed said they were going back to sometime before the start of the Clone Wars."

Xavier: "I'm thinking Dr. Richards a telepathic message to let him know we're waiting in here."

Chapter 27

A few moments later the Fantastic Four walked into the library followed by the two new Jedi arrivals. Ben takes one look at Wolverine and says: "Alright, who brought in the riffraff?"

Spider-Man: "Guilty."

Wolverine just sat there and muttered something unintelligible under his breath. More introductions were made. There weren't any more chairs in the room so Ben was about to go get some more from another room. But Hal stopped him and said that wasn't necessary. Six green chairs appeared.

Ben: "Hey, that's a neat trick."

Hal: "Thanks. Spider-Man tells me you're a pilot."

Ben: "Yeah. At least I wuz. Don't get to do as much pilotin' nowadays."

Hal: "I know what you mean. I was a test pilot before I became a Green Lantern. Still am in my civilian identity, but I don't have as much time for that kind of flying now."

Meanwhile, Mace approached Tahiri.

Mace: "So you are the Jedi from the future?"

Tahiri: "Well I think of myself as being from the present but yeah I guess that's true from a certain point of view."

Mace smiled and said: "That sounds like something Obi-Wan Kenobi would say."

Tahiri: "Well, he was one of my master's masters."

Mace: "Who is your master?"

Tahiri: "I've had more than one, but I was referring to Luke Skywalker. He founded the New Jedi Order."

Mace: "So what I was told about Anakin's fall and the destruction of the Jedi Order is true."

Tahiri: "Yes."

Mace: "And it was Anakin's own son who defeated him and Palpatine, and then started a new order of Jedi?"

Tahiri: "No."

Mace: "No? But you just said that he reestablished the Jedi."

Tahiri: "He did. I meant the part about him defeating Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. According to Master Luke it was Vader himself that defeated Emperor Palpatine. He says that Palpatine would have killed him if his father hadn't intervened and killed the Emperor."

Mace: "I see. So the prophecy of the Chosen One was fulfilled in spite of Anakin's fall."

Tahiri: "Uh.I don't really know what that is but if you say so."