The Council Chambers felt oddly cold for Jarek that day. He stood surrounded by the twelve Jedi Masters, each with their own icy stare. Since he had walked in the room, all the Jedi Masters had hushed their whispers. The silence had felt like hours, even if it was really only a few seconds. "Discussed your case, we have." began Yoda in a grave tone. Jarek stayed silent, shuffling his feet nervously.

"We've had much debate over this issue, young one…" Said Obi-Wan, reassuringly.

"My name is Jarek." He cut in.

The Jedi looked at each other sternly.

"Jarek, we realize that we have caused you a great amount of trouble in trying to bring you here." Said Shaak Ti. "And we know it has caused you and your friend a lot of inconvenience, but…" The Jedi Master shifted uneasily in her seat.

"We cannot train you as a Jedi." Said Mace Windu abruptly.

"What?" Jarek felt his jaw drop. He couldn't believe how arrogant these Jedi were. His feet stopped shifting and his hands balled into fists.

"Too old you are, too full of emotions, of anger." Answered Yoda, observative.

"You're turning me down because of anger? Why are you so afraid of anger?" Retorted Jarek, feeling his heart burn.

"Afraid? Afraid we are not. Anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." Yoda closed his eyes. "Much anger I sense in you."

"Why should we condemn him because of his emotions?" Anakin stormed from his seat. "I'm sure we can all feel the power in this boy! Why should we be holding him back this way?" continued the Jedi Knight.

"Take a seat young Skywalker." growled Mace Windu.

Anakin slowly sat back down. Jarek was glad that least one of the Council members was on his side, even if he didn't have much influence.

"You may stay here for as long as you need." offered Obi-Wan.

"No, I'll get Daz and we'll leave." spat Jarek. He tried to leave the Council calmly, but his anger turned his steps into stomps.

Why won't they train me? Did I do something wrong? Was it because of the bar fight? I told them I didn't start that…Wait, what did the green guy say? Too old, too full of emotions. I don't understand. "Too old"? What does that have to do with anything? Does this "Force" thing have age restrictions? "Too full of emotions"? There's nothing wrong with being human, is there? If being a Jedi means not feeling anger, joy or love, I don't want to be one of them. They hunted me from Kamino, forced me to Coruscant but then they send me back. Now I've got nowhere to go. Daz was right, Jedi really do think they're above everyone else.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well, I'm sure glad we're leaving!" said Daz, packing aqua breathers, holo-projectors and the sort. "Never trusted Jedi, and never will." Daz slowed his packing, observing some of his "finds": "Some of this stuff could be worth thousands!" Jarek didn't answer. He had been sitting with his head in his hands the whole time Daz had been talking. His hands were getting sore. "Hey, what's this?" Jarek's head shot up: "Are you sure we should be taking all these things?"

"Why not? It's not like we should care." Daz was studying something in his hand. Jarek leaned over his shoulder. It was a small crystal, about two inches long, one inch wide. It shined a bright green when the light hit it. "Any idea what it is?" asked Daz, dropping it in Jarek's open palm. Jarek turned it over between his fingers. "It looks like a…lightsaber crystal. How did you get this?"

"Wait, how do you know this stuff?"

"I spent most of my time browsing the Archives. Came across something on lightsaber construction. So where'd you get it?"

"Found it in the Archives, got kicked out before I could get any more though." Daz replied with a grin.

Jarek thought for a while: "Do you mind if I keep this?"

"Go ahead; I got lots of stuff to make up for it."

Jarek tucked the crystals into one of the pouches on his belt. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Daz's ears straightened and he put his hand over his blaster: "I got a bad feeling about this." Daz motioned towards the door and Jarek moved to the control panel. He pressed the button, the door slid open. "What do you want?" Daz growled between his teeth. The tall man standing at the door was unimpressed. "I know Jarek's behind the door, can I talk to him?" Jarek slipped from the control panel to the open door. "Hey you're that Skywalker guy!" Anakin chuckled a little. "I'm Anakin." Daz took his hand off his blaster but still growled at Skywalker: "What do you want from us?"

"I just wanted to tell Jarek that I was sorry about the Council's decision. I was always on your side in our debates, but that doesn't really help much. After all, I'm not a Jedi Master yet." Anakin looked at his feet sadly. Jarek looked up at him: "That's ok, you did your best." Anakin raised his head: "Thank you. I wish you the best, and may the Force be with you." The Jedi Knight walked away.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jarek strode out of the Jedi Temple at Daz's side. "What's wrong with you? Growling at Anakin like that!" Daz stopped walking and turned around abruptly.

"It's not that I don't like him. I just have a bad feeling about him. You wouldn't understand…" Daz slung his pack over his back and kept walking. "So where are we going anyway?" Daz talked to Jarek over his shoulder: "We're taking a shuttle to the Undercity" Jarek protested: "Why? It's so much nicer up here!"

"Well it's a lot more fun down there." Daz smirked.