I poured myself another cup of coffee and poured some half and half in it and watched the brown swirl in with the black. I was slightly pensive when I poured in the sugar and stirred it gently and sat back at the table with Carth. I gathered my legs on the chair and rested my head on my knees.

"Something up?" Carth asked, putting his dishes in the sink.

"Me? No, nothing's wrong."

"Your eyes and your face are like an open book Zerstoren. You can tell me anything."

I glanced at the clock and noticed it was 9:26. It will have to wait.

"I'm sorry Carth but I can't. I got to run and meet the Council. Bye!"

"Bye." He sighed, upset that he missed another conversation with me.

I walked out of the ship, past Canderous looking for some action, and into the Council chambers. Bastila stood with her hands neatly behind her, looking as perfect as she can for the Council. I stood before them, trying my hardest not to screw anything up for her when they finally addressed me.

"Today Zerstoren, we will begin your induction as a Jedi."

I cocked an eyebrow slightly. Wasn't there some kind of long, stupid, boring ceremony to go through?

"Okay. How do we begin?"

--

Oh Mission's various Gods this was taking forever. First, they described the force bond between Bastila and I, something I wouldn't understand for a while, then there was some stupid code I had to memorize so I wouldn't fall to the dark side (Yeah, as if THAT helped Revan!), then there was something else I couldn't remember because I was so bored. Bastila could feel it too, and was slowly starting to become aggravated. Next was a test to see what kind of Jedi I would be. I wanted to be become a guardian, but I hated the color blue. I finally finished with the test, and come to find out, I was best suited to be a consular.

"What if I don't want to be a Consular?" I asked Master Dorak.

"No one said you had to be anything. If you want to be a Guardian, then do it."

"Alright then, I will." I replied with a crooked smile.

Step one to aggravating everyone on the Jedi Council. Do the exact opposite of what they they want me to do. Heh heh heh…

I went back to Master Zhar to learn how to construct my light saber. He handed me a few components and a blue crystal, and I went to work on a workbench. Place the lens here…crystal there…screw this here…got it!

"It's odd that someone of your experience built their light saber so quickly and perfectly." Master Zhar commented as I twirled my newly-constructed lightsaber in my hands.

Yeah, it's because I'm awesome.

--FAST FORWARD, 'CAUSE I HATE DANTOOINE--

"Hey there." Carth greeted as I brushed past him.

"Hi Carth, is there something you need?" I asked.

"No, nothing." He replied quietly.

I turned around and flipped my hair behind my head.

"Carth, you've been quiet, you know that? Is there something wrong?"

"Oh nothing, other than the fact I'm being left out of the loop!"

"Carth, dear, you were born out of the loop." I chuckled.

"This isn't funny Zerstoren! It isn't fair! While you and Bastila are getting some super secret mission, I'm being left out!"

"Well, look at it this way Carth, it's none of your damn business, and if you're going to throw a tantrum about it, then go somewhere else. So until you grow up and act like the 42 year old man you are, you're not getting anything out of me."

"Well that's a harsh way to put it." Bastila mumbled.

"No it defiantly isn't, now plot a course for Tatooine, if you please."

"Of course." Bastila sighed as I walked away and into the garage.

"Well hello." Canderous said, tuning my swoop bike.

"Just what are you doing to my bike?" I asked.

"I got bored. Of course, you're welcome to change that." He said provocatively, getting up and wrapping his huge arms around my hips.

"I'm sure I am Canderous, but for now, no thank you." I replied and kissed him on the cheek.

I went into the Starboard dorms and switched on the music holodisk player, putting in my own mix of music. First song to come on was Message in a Bottle by The Police.

Just a castaway
An island lost at sea
Another lonely day
With no one here but me
More loneliness
Than any man could bear
Rescue me before I fall into despair

I'll send an SOS to the world
I'll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle

While I was dancing, Carth was watching from the door that I had mistakenly left open. He just about gave me heart failure.

"How long have you been standing there?" I called over the music.

"Long enough." He replied and came in, dancing with me.

After the song was over, I switched it to Helplessly Hoping by Crosby, Stills and Nash, a slower song that I hoped he would dance with me to.

"May I have this dance?" He asked with a goofy grin, bowing and holding out his hand.

"Yes, of course." I replied and wrapped my hands around his neck.

Helplessly hoping her harlequin hovers nearby
Awaiting a word
Gasping at glimpses of gentle true spirit
he runs wishing he could fly
only to trip at the sound of good-bye

Wordlessly watching he waits by the window and wonders
at the empty place inside

Heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams he worries
did he hear a good-bye or even hello

They are one person
They are too alone
They are three together
They are for each other

By the end of the song I was crying and Carth was clumsily holding me, unsure of what to do.

I like you Carth. I like you a lot, but you won't open up to me.