Chapter 20

A/N: Before I start, I would just like to say a huge THANK-YOU! to all of my readers for their patience. Or impatience, as the case may have been. Isn't that right, Super Tinfoil Man Part 2?

(Readers shout: Get on with it!)

Alright, alright! Here it is:


Jessica sighed, folding herself into a comfortable chair. She needed to meditate, and this was the first chance she'd had in a while. She stretched, then, with a slight smile,closed her eyes.

She wasrelaxing, stretching out tothe Force when the door buzzer rang. Gritting her teeth, she decided to ignore it.

The buzzer rang again.

Focussing, Jessica sensed that the visitor was Qui-Gon. Pressing ever so gently on his mental shields, she found that Anakin was foremost in his thoughts.

Sighing once more, she opened the door with a wave of her hand.

"Come on in, Qui-Gon."

Qui-Gon, his hand once more on the buzzer, sounded slightly abashed at her tone. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Jessica allowed a small smile to creep onto her face. She had her back to the door, so she knew Qui-Gon wouldn't see it. "Just my meditation. But that's alright. It'll just mean I'm more Dark Side when we meet the Sith."

Qui-Gon moved around to face her, his features showing slight alarm until he realised she was joking. Then he grinned. "Ah. Well, that should serve to surprise him."

Gesturing for Qui-Gon to sit, Jessica asked, "What did you want to talk about?"

Qui-Gon met her gaze. "I would be surprised – and rather disappointed, actually – if you didn't already know why I'm here."

Jessica nodded sheepishly. "Anakin." Looking at Qui-Gon, she confirmed, "I will teach him, Qui-Gon. No matter what your Council decides."

Qui-Gon noted her emphasis on the your, but decided to follow his original line of thought. "That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. Master Windu offered to train him. That's quite something. He's very powerful; second only to Master Yoda on the High Council."

"I know," said Jessica softly. "He's famous. You don't invent a fighting style and stay obscure."

Qui-Gon nodded. "Exactly! He's also known for his wisdom, and he's had many Padawans before."

Jessica sighed. "If Anakin were to be trained as a Jedi, Mace Windu would be my first choice. But Anakin is not going to be a Jedi. He is going to be a Grey Jedi –"

"And he's going to be trained by one of the finest Masters of our Order."

Qui-Gon and Jessica both turned to see Padme at the door. She grinned. "Sorry. I could sense Jessica getting annoyed. And that's usually not a good sign if she hasn't meditated in a while."

Jessica tried to glare, but it was ruined by her smile. "I don't know whether I should thank you for the compliment or try to kill you for the snide remark."

Padme shook her head, glancing at Qui-Gon. "It wasn't just a compliment, you know. It's true. She is one of the best Masters in the Order, if not the best."

Jessica, smiling, waved Padme away. "Get away, you. You're a knight already; you don't have to keep sucking up."

Padme just laughed.

"But is she really the best, Padme?" Qui-Gon asked. "How do you know? You could be biased."

"I know because she's the head of our High Council."

"Padme, our Order doesn't have a head of the High Council. Everyone is equal, within their rank of Master, Knight or Apprentice. You know that."

"Well, alright, it's not official. But everyone respects you as the leader."

Qui-Gon was amused to see Jessica at a loss for words. "Well, I'm relieved to know that the Chosen One will be well-trained, in any case."


A short time later, Qui-Gon stood before the Queen. He and Panaka were trying to talk her out of going to Naboo.

Jessica watched with a small smile on her face. 'The Jedihave no idea how stubborn you are, Padme.'

'I think that's the pot calling the kettle black there, Master.'

Ignoring her, Jessica continued. 'But I'd think Panaka should know by now. He must be really worried to try to talk you out of something. Why don't you give them a little bit of reassurance? Share some of your plan.'

'Alright. I have to tell them anyway; now is as good a time as any.' Focussing on Sabe, Padme told her handmaiden, 'Talk to Jar Jar. He told me theGungan's have an army.'

Sabe jumped a little when Padme spoke into her mind, but no-one seemed to notice. Obediently, she asked, "Jar Jar Binks?"

"Meesa, Your Highness?"

"Yes. I need your help."


A/N: Ok, ok, I know it's short. It's just a filler, to give a little more information about the Grey Jedi Order. I promise, I WILL write more on the holidays. I mean, come on! Next chapter is the meeting with Boss Nass, and then on to the Second Battle of Theed!

And, just one more thing: does Padme seem OOC to anyone? I mean, so OOC that it couldn't be explained by Jessica's influence? Because I think Padme here seems more like the AOTC Padme than the PM Padme. Yeah, if you followed all that, you did really well.

Review, please! They DO make me work faster!