I awoke the next morning to the incessant shrill beeping of my alarm clock, which I silenced with a fist as quick as I could manage at that hour of the morning. Grumbling, I gave up the comfort of my bed and dressed in my waitress uniform, pulled my hair back, and fastened my nametag to the front of my shirt. I was almost out the door before I remembered the events of the previous day.
I stopped dead in my tracks, heart beating a mile a minute. I wondered frantically if the Jedi would come to see me that day, and then, more rationally, if it would really change much if they did. They would probably just come to me for information every now and then. Perhaps the Council would actually meet with me once or twice. I would get to see the inside of the Temple, then, which would be exciting, but, more or less, my life would remain normal. Or however normal life had been since I arrived on Coruscant.
Comforted back to sanity, I left the apartment and started the brief walk down the sun assaulted walkway to Dexter's Diner. It was incredibly nice of Dex to give me a job based solely on the sob story that I had no money and no roof over my head. The story was true at the time, almost a month before when I had first arrived, but nonetheless a common one. Dex had even been nice enough to suggest a cheap apartment, and to help pay for it until I made enough at the diner to cover rent. He really was as nice as I had hoped based on what I knew.
"Mornin', little lady!" Dex called to me as I entered, using the nickname he had devised the first time we met. "How's your weekend?"
"It was…eventful," I called back, walking behind the counter to the computer console. "I met with some Jedi and told them my story."
"Oh, is that so?" Dex appeared in the window between the restaurant and the kitchen. "What did they say?"
"Well," I said, entering my clock-in information to the computer, "they seemed to believe me somewhat. I think you know them, actually. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan?"
"You don't say!" Dex's hairy face contorted into a huge grin at the sound of his friends' names. "Qui-Gon'll believe you, alright. That apprentice of his will too, in time. He's a bit more…skeptical." He laughed.
"So it seems," I said, finishing with the computer and gazing around the empty diner. "Slow morning, huh?"
"Yeah, seems it. Even so, got to get cooking for the lunch rush, little lady. I'll be back here somewhere if you need me."
"'Kay," I said, gazing out the window. I was hoping the Jedi would come soon; I was growing impatient already. The dread of my knowledge being wrong grew every moment the Jedi didn't arrive at the diner door to tell me otherwise.
Hardly anyone came into the diner that morning, but, as Dex predicted, it grew busier around lunchtime. Flo, Dex's waitress droid, and I flitted from table to table, taking orders and calling them back to Dex through the window to the kitchen. When everyone had finally been served, I leaned back on the wall behind the fully occupied counter to catch my breath.
I didn't have more than a moment of calm, however; the next time I glanced at the door it was being swung open by two very familiar Jedi. They scanned the diner and somehow found an empty booth in the corner. Flo was at their side in moments to take their order, but I wasn't far behind.
"Ah, Andraya. Just the girl we wanted to see," Qui-Gon said, smiling at me. "Can you spare a moment?"
I glanced at Flo. "Think you can handle it for a few minutes?"
"Sure thing, honey!" came the cheerful metallic response. The droid pivoted on her single wheel and went to tend the other tables.
I sat down across from the Jedi, trying not to look or sound too eager. "So any new missions lately?" I ventured, completely failing in my endeavor.
"Yes, actually," Qui-Gon began, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "It seems the Trade Federation has decided to enforce a trade blockade around Naboo, and we are to negotiate with them to see if we can't disperse it."
I couldn't help but smile. Everything would happen as I knew it would! Or, would happen if I said and did nothing. I would help these people, though.
I knew from that moment that I would do everything I could to avoid the dark times ahead.
"When we received the mission, I told the Council about you, Andraya," Qui-Gon continued, growing serious. "They wish to meet with you as soon as possible."
My eyes widened. "Meet…with me? Really?"
He nodded. "It would be best if you were to come with us now so that you may speak with them before we depart for Naboo," he said, glancing back at the window to the kitchen. In doing so he happened to catch Dex's eye.
"Qui-Gon!" Dex boomed, abandoning whatever he was cooking and coming to meet the Jedi. "Good to see you again old buddy!"
"You too, Dex," the Jedi Master said with a smile, rising to accept the huge diner owner's embrace. "It's been far too long, my friend."
"That is has! And Obi-Wan! Good seeing you, too!"
"Hello, Dex," the younger Jedi said, smiling as well.
"I'm afraid we need to borrow your waitress for the day, Dex," Qui-Gon said. "The Council has requested her immediate presence."
"Told you they'd believe you!" Dex said, clapping me on the back.
"You were right, as usual. But do you mind if I take the day off?"
"'Course not, little lady! Go tell those Jedi what they need to know!"
I smiled. "Thanks, Dex. I owe you one!"
"Nah. Now get out of here! That Council doesn't mess around, you know. They say they want to see you right away, they mean it!"
"Alright, see you later, Dex," Qui-Gon said, leading the way out of the diner. Once outside, he didn't stop before heading for the Temple.
"Um, Qui-Gon, sir? Should I go home first and change?" I called after him, looking down at my waitress uniform.
"Time is of the essence, Andraya," Qui-Gon said, only half turning to speak to me as he continued in his path towards the Temple.
"You look fine," Obi-Wan said, coming to walk beside me. "Might want to lose the nametag, though," he added with a smirk.
"Oh! Right," I said, quickly unclipping the badge and stuffing it in my pocket. "Thanks."
"No problem."
"Claim to see the future, do you?"
"No, sir. I already know it."
"Hmm…intriguing, this is."
I had only been in the Council chambers for a few minutes, but I already wanted to leave. I had immediately abandoned the notion that all Jedi radiated kindness upon simply entering that room. Standing before the twelve most important Jedi with as many sets of eyes boring through my mind to read my thoughts and feelings was uncomfortable to say the least. Terrifying would be more accurate. No kidding a nine-year-old kid felt scared in their presence.
"It's quite a story," Mace Windu said after Yoda had remained silent for a moment.
"With all due respect, I've earned Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's trust."
"One example, that is," Yoda said, leaning forward. "A fluke, it could have been."
"Then give me another chance to prove myself," I said, surprised at the strength in my voice. "Let me advise them on the mission you recently assigned them. They could benefit greatly from just a few simple warnings, I assure you."
"Wish to accompany them, you do," Yoda said, boring holes into my mind with his gaze. "Allow that, we cannot."
"I never wished that, sir. I only ask that I may speak with them before they depart for Naboo."
"Hm."
The entire Council remained silent for the next few minutes, as if wordlessly conversing with one another. Finally, Mace spoke.
"Go, then, and speak with them. Until the validity of your intentions is proven, however, I suggest that you remain here in the Temple."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
I stared at the Jedi Master in disbelief. "Sir, my job—"
"We will take care of that. This will only be temporary."
The rest of the Council members nodded their consent, and the decision was unanimous. I looked around in wonder at the Jedi Masters allowing me to stay in their Temple, for however short a time.
"It's settled then. We'll send someone to show you to your quarters after you've spoken to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. May the Force be with you."
Mace's dismissal was echoed throughout the chamber. I bowed my head out of respect, then left the room, trying not to hurry. Once the turbolift door had shut behind me, however, I breathed the biggest sigh of relief I had ever experienced.
When I reached the main levels, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were waiting for me.
"Well, it looks like I'm going to be staying here for a while," I said by way of greeting.
"I thought as much," Qui-Gon said. "They want to be sure you're to be trusted before they put you in the potential path of…those who would abuse your knowledge."
I nodded. "In any case, they've allowed me to speak with you before you leave for Naboo."
"Then tell us what we need to know," he said, gesturing to a bench down the richly carpeted hallway.
I followed the Jedi and began telling them what they would benefit so greatly from knowing concerning the first part of the fateful mission to Naboo.
