(Chance Encounter)

I had been sitting outside the council chambers for over an hour, after we defeated the Terentatek I told Areeva that I couldn't reciprocate her feelings, that it was against the Jedi code, she smiled coyly and whispered while trying to nibble on my ear, "One day, the Jedi code will mean less to you, than it does to me," and I have to admit there was something ominous yet enticing about the way she said it, together the three of us trekked slowly back to the Jedi temple, Areeva insisted on walking almost right next to me and Rarsk barely gargled two words the entire way there.

When we arrived the Jedi were awaiting us in full force, they immediately took Areeva and I before the council, Grand Master Satele looked at us, cold as ice, and she told us that not only had we endangered our lives but the lives of every Jedi in the temple with our foolish behavior, I couldn't help but feel guilty as Areeva stood there arms crossed, openly defiant, Satele was about to sentence us when Master Denai burst in, Areeva dropped her defiant act the moment she saw her master, and that was when I was asked to leave but told not to go far. So I sat down outside their chambers and waited with Rarsk standing by my side.

Master Denai came out of the council chambers with Areeva at her heels, she looked unwell, I figured she must still be recovering from being poisoned. She sat down and looked at mean with great sorrow, "I'm so sorry Kradok, the council has decided that you are not to be trained, Master Satele thinks you are far too volatile to ever become a Jedi, and despite my best efforts the council agrees with her decision."

"But… this isn't… I'm not…" I was overcome with grief, my chance to do some good in the galaxy, to make up for all the evils I'd suffered on Iridonia, to atone for not saving Kadrok, It was all I could do not to burst into tears , none the less tears slowly slid down my face.

"I know Kradok." Master Denai pulled me into a hug, she was almost motherly, she suddenly stopped cold and pulled back as she realized something, "There is another way."

"How?" I said as I wiped the tears from my eyes.

Denai looked around making sure no one besides the four of us could hear her, "Kradok you must go to Coruscant and speak to Grand Master Schria Davan, I've only met with her a few times but I believe she will want to help you."

"I don't understand."

"There isn't time for me to explain properly, Master Braga and I are trying to convince Satele not to banish you from the order, I will join you soon," and with that Master Braga came out of the chambers and told Denai that her presence was needed, she gave me a final hug and disappeared behind closed doors.

Areeva and I got passage on a republic transport, Rarsk was forced to hide in the cargo hold as the Republic wasn't about to let a 'wild' Trandoshan on their vessel, we arrived on Carrick Station within a day and were told we would have to wait a few hours before we could book a flight to Coruscant, and if that wasn't enough we were running low on credits.

"I still think you should just let me persuade them," Areeva suggested as we stood around the bar talking about our credit crunch. She figured we could manipulate the shuttle guards to letting us on for free.

"No! We can't use the force just to get our way." I was finished doing things underhandedly, that's why the council rejected me in the first place.

"Who said I was talking about using the force," Areeva said as she demonstrated her dance skills and began to undo her vest.

"No honor in that either, small-hunter is right." Rarsk grabbed her hands preventing her from taking her top off.

"Fine." Areeva slapped Rarsk's hands away, fixed her clothes, and turned her attention to the Trandoshan, "Come on Rarsk, let's find a crate big enough to stash you in."

"Rarsk not like hiding like Gizka!" Rarsk was very displeased sneaking around; I was amazed we got him to stowaway the first time.

"Well you should have thought of that before you decided to be honorable," I could have sworn Rarsk mumbled 'Schutta' under his breath but Areeva was too busy dragging him off to a cargo hold to notice, "Kradok you should get some corellian ale while you wait, it'll make you feel so much better."

"I don't…." Areeva cut me off, again.

"Come on! Live a little!" She smirked as she and Rarsk disappeared down a hallway. She was right, I should do something to take my mind of things, and while drinking wasn't my first choice, it was better than nothing, so I made my way to the bar.

I noticed the moment I sat down that the person a couple barstools down had a strong force presence about him, I mistakenly turned to get a better look at him, and that's when he noticed me, "Greetings, young one."

"Greetings, master…" I trailed off, hoping he didn't expect me to have the names of every Jedi in archives names and faces alphabetized.

"Shi'ka Teradid."

"Kradok Kaeyd." I was a little less leery of this stranger but I kept my guard up just in case he wasn't what he appeared.

The Jedi Master calmly sipped his tea "What brings you to the republic fleet, Kradok?"

I quickly scribbled down my order for corellian ale and handed it to the server droid, hoping Master Teradid wouldn't think too much of it, "Just passing through, been travelling through the hyperlanes, I'm bound for to Coruscant."

"I'm curious what is your main area of interest in the Jedi order, diplomacy, peacekeeping, fighting?"

I was becoming intrigued, why was this Master still speaking to me, surely he recognized my name after the slam-job the council had done on my reputation, "I haven't given it a whole lot of thought, but I suppose I want to prevent what happened to my homeworld, Iridonia, from ever happening again," I tried hard not to think much on what happened, especially to my family, and the hard orange liquid of the corellian ale was starting to look really good as I stared into its depths.

For whatever reason this Jedi showed an interest in me, an interest only Master Denai had shown up till then, "How would you feel about fighting on the front?"

I quickly slid my drink down the bar towards a smuggler, I wasn't about to do anything to solidify the councils opinion of me in this Jedi's eyes, "Honestly?" "I would relish the opportunity, but the masters on Tython said I wasn't ready for battle"

"Kradok would you walk with me," and with that Master Teradid rose and began to walk leisurely with hidden purpose towards the elevators, I rose cautiously but with a barely veiled interest as I followed him below and into one many hangers onboard Carrick Station, I came to stand next to him and a ship that I could only assume was his, "Kradok I have heard many things about you."

I smirked slightly; my deeds on Tython weren't exactly approved of, "All good I hope…"

He laughed a little at that one, I could sense he was looking for something, but if he'd find that in me remained to be seen, "No not all good… however… you see my beliefs are slightly different from most masters."

I thought I'd make a stab at humor, "So… You're not a staunchy beaurocrat?"

"I hope I'm not a staunchy beaurocrat." He seemed rather amused.

"Well then what are you saying, exactly?" At this point I could barely hide my intrigue.

"I am attempting to ask if you share this view."

I paused only for a moment to consider my words, but there was no way around how I actually felt about the council, but I could at least do damage control, "Yes. I don't share the same beliefs as the Jedi masters, not that they're wrong, I just agree to disagree."

My answer seemed to please Master Teradid, "Good… Kradok, I'd like to speak on another occasion…" he seemed rather pensive and lost in thought, "after I've talked to some people."

"Well then, I guess I'll see you around." I said as we parted, He got onto his ship and blasted off somewhere into hyperspace, I decided I should probably go find Areeva and let her know I hadn't been kidnapped, and I had a flight to catch.

[A/N: Thank you Azalia for being the first person to review my story, I'm glad you enjoyed it. As for why I put it under games and not movies, I based the story around a character that I created for the Old Republic MMO, and then the ideas kept coming ;) ]