A/N: Hey…wow, it's been a while, hasn't it? If any of you are familiar with my track record, you're not doubt in shock that I even returned to this story at all. But…thing is, I haven't stopped thinking about this story since I seemingly abandoned it almost a year ago, and I have it almost completely played out in my head now, so I kind of need to finish it, even if only for my own sake. So…whether there are reviews, fans, readers…I will continue and finish this story the way I intended! That's a promise. It might take me a while, and there might be huge gaps between chapters sometimes (art school is rather demanding…who knew? ;) ), but none as long as a year ever again I promise!

So sit back, relax, and hopefully enjoy the rest of this story play out to its eventual but certain completion!

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The minute I set foot in the High Council's meeting room I could sense a severe difference in atmosphere from the last time I had been in the room. All twelve members of the elite group still had their expressions set in the grim indifference I was beginning to become accustomed to, but the extreme tension that had initially frightened me seemed to be lifted significantly, if not completely gone. Even their doubt seemed to be less harsh than it had been in our previous meeting.

What really surprised me was the strange feeling I had that THEY were afraid of ME. I'm no Jedi, but one doesn't necessarily have to be to sense things like fear and apprehension in other beings, especially when it's you they're afraid of. I almost chuckled when I first realized it, but kept my mirth in check in favor of keeping the most powerful beings in the galaxy on my side.

"Tell us more about the boy." Master Windu prompted me again, watching me with that incredibly intimidating gaze he seemed to always use, no matter what the situation. "He did better with the tests than we expected."

"Is he the chosen one?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked.

I had the full attention of every being in that room as I opened my mouth to speak, but never got a chance to say anything. Thinking back, I wouldn't have known where to begin even if I had been given the chance.

Before I could say anything, the doors to the Council chamber slid silently open. Qui-Gon strode in calmly, giving the slightest of bows before taking his place next to me in the center of the room. Obi-Wan reluctantly followed, looking ashamed about something, head down as he too bowed and stood beside Qui-Gon. Anakin stood for a moment near the door, eying me warily before responding to Qui-Gon's gesture and joining us.

"Thank you for joining us," Mace said.

"I thought we were going to discuss things before—"

"Andraya, please. There are other matters at hand that must be dealt with in a timely manner," he cut me off.

"Will he be trained?" I started at the abruptness of Qui-Gon's words. I could feel the tension that I had begun to associate with the room creeping back through the transparisteel with every passing second.

"No, he will not be trained." Mace said curtly.

"No?"

"He's too old."

I looked back and forth between Mace and Qui-Gon, witnessing the battle of a couple of the strongest Jedi wills in the Temple. The tension had risen to boiling point. I had to say something.

"We never agreed on that," I squeaked, trying to gather my courage.

"Matter, your opinion does, Andraya," Yoda said quietly, "but for now, final, our decision is."

It was all I could do not to stand and gape at the highest Jedi master on the council. Why was I even there if Anakin simply wasn't going to be trained after all?

Before I could retort, Qui-Gon was speaking again. "I will train him then. I take Anakin as my Padawan learner."

Damn. I had forgotten about that.

The argument played out just as I knew it would. The council put its foot down, Obi-Wan bristled, and Anakin looked about as confused as a nine-year-old boy could. I sighed, looking past the Jedi masters at the Coruscant skyline. Had it been so long? We had talked past sunset and still they weren't hearing me. They still weren't allowing Anakin to be trained.

"Now really isn't the time for all this anyway," I said, beating Mace to the punch. "Isn't Queen Amidala headed back to Naboo by now?"

"That's correct," Master Windu said, still a bit surprised by my accuracy. "She will need to be escorted."

"And it may draw out the Queen's mysterious attacker," Ki-Adi-Mundi added.

"Leave in the morning, you will," Yoda said. "May the Force be with you."

"Andraya, we will continue our discussion in the morning as well. We will send someone to show you to your quarters later tonight."

"Thank you again for your hospitality and trust, Masters," I said, bowing and heading for the door. The Jedi and Anakin followed a moment later.

"Quarters?" Obi-Wan said, once we were out of earshot in the turbolift. "I thought you were already given a temporary residence here."

"The Council has decided to allow me to live here permanently," I said, smiling. "It seems you were right – they do trust me now, and believe I could be of some use to them." Even if they haven't been too willing to accept my advice quite yet, I thought.

Obi-Wan's jaw dropped. "But…that's unheard of!"

"Andraya, would you like to join us for an evening meal? I imagine after spending the day with the Council you must have built up quite an appetite," Qui-Gon interjected, physically stepping between Obi-Wan and I as he exited the turbolift.

"Thank you, I would appreciate that," I replied, following him down the hall. Obi-Wan continued to shake his head in disbelief as he reluctantly came along, Anakin still silently in tow.

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"But Master! It IS unheard of! There has never been a being that was not a Jedi living permanently in the Temple!"

"Would you rather she be captured and have her knowledge used for evil?"

"Well…no, but…it still seems rather…unorthodox if you ask me."
"You still have much to learn, Padawan. I actually agree with the Council on this particular decision."

Half an hour after arriving at the cafeteria, Obi-Wan had not let the issue rest. I risked a glance across the narrow table at the younger Jedi, who was simply shaking his head as he stabbed another mouthful of whatever we were eating with his fork. Looking down at my own plate, the subject of my interest for most of the conversation thus far, I risked another bite of the strange grayish-blue substance that made up this evening's meal for the Jedi in the cafeteria.

"What is this stuff, anyway?" I asked, uncertain if I wished to know the answer.

"Kragut jelly. High in protein, and, thankfully, mostly tasteless," Qui-Gon answered, happily digging into his own portion of the gelatinous meal.

"Why thankfully?"

"Well, Kraguts are animals native to the Yelet system that excrete jelly when frightened or mating that most species find—"

"Okay, okay. I think I get it now," I said, pushing my plate away.

"Suit yourself," Qui-Gon said with a smirk, finishing off his meal.

"You shouldn't be so picky if you plan on living here. You should be thankful they feed you at all," Obi-Wan muttered.

"Hey, what happened to believing everything I said and being thankful for my knowledge?" I asked, crossing my arms across my chest and glaring at him. He looked up and held my gaze for a second before responding, brow furrowing in thought.

"Sorry." He went back to his meal.

What…I thought, looking at him quizzically. He didn't seem so…suspicious before in the fountain room! I glanced at Qui-Gon for an explanation for his apprentice's strange behavior, but found him with an equally confused expression on his face.

A second later, Qui-Gon's comlink buzzed, signaling an incoming transmission.

"That would be Master Yoda," he said, rising and moving to a quieter part of the noisy cafeteria.

I glanced back across the table at Obi-Wan, searching his features for any clue as to why he was still suspicious of me. Finally, he sighed and looked up to match my gaze.

"Forgive me for not blindly trusting a stranger that claims to have the power to alter the fate of the universe," he said, leaning behind him and dumping his plate and utensils in a recycler, "but you have to admit, it is a rather…suspicious story."

"But the mission! And Anakin! And…and everything else I told you—"

Anakin looked up at Obi-Wan from across the table at the mention of his name. "She knew about me?" he asked, looking back and forth between the two of us.

Obi-Wan frowned and nodded his head, looking past me, seemingly lost in his own thoughts again. Anakin looked at me in amazement, but before I could say anything, Qui-Gon returned to the table.

"Obi-Wan, Anakin. Yoda needs to see us," he said, clipping his comlink back to his belt.

"Coming, Master."

"Andraya, I believe there is a Padawan in the main hall that can lead you to your quarters," Qui-Gon said, leading us out of the cafeteria.

I nodded, still wondering what I had done to seem so suspicious. It wasn't like I had even told them yet that the Sith were still alive and well.

Wait. The Sith!

Oops.

"Qui-Gon, sir, wait!" I called after the Jedi, running away from a very confused Padawan guide.

"Andraya," the older Jedi said, turning to face me with the amused look I had gotten used to, "There is no need to call me 'sir'. Save that for the Council."

"Sorry, s—Qui-Gon," I said, "I was just making sure I would get to speak to you both before you left again for Naboo. There are still things I haven't told you, and the Council said that I shouldn't go around telling people things without first consulting them and—"

"Slow down, Andraya!" Qui-Gon said, expression slowly changing to concern. "If it's that important, why don't you come with us now to speak with Yoda and ask if you can tell us whatever it is that has you so frantic."

"Master, he didn't say—"

"Obi-Wan, this is in everyone's best interests. Would you please give the girl a chance?" Qui-Gon turned to his apprentice, casting him a look of confusion and concern.

That put him back in his place. "Right. Sorry, Master," the younger Jedi said, continuing on his path to the turbolift.

Qui-Gon and I exchanged a confused glance, but headed to the turbolift without another word. I had known Obi-Wan less than a day, but already I could tell something was wrong. And that I was the cause.