a.n. Here's a treat for all of my reviewers and fans: another chapter! I wasn't expecting to put it up so soon, but I guess I just couldn't wait to continue, so I did. Thank you again to all of you who reviewed the last chapter and to those of you who have reviewed before. I really appreciate it. So please, continue to read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter 16: The Talk

Master and Padawan stayed silent all the way back to the Senator's apartment, both of them going over what they had just heard from the Council. The idea seemed absurd, too preposterous to be true. But the Jedi Council did believe Luca's story and they truly thought that he was who he said he was and there really was no reason to doubt his story. The both of them knew that although they may not fully trust the man called Luca, they would have to put their doubts aside and not let their suspicions get in the way of their mission.

Luca was still sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, trying to find some piece of mind amidst his jumble of painful thoughts, when he heard the turbolift doors open and the two Jedi step out. He knew that the Council was going to tell them his reasons for being here and he knew that they would be even more suspicious of him. He could only hope that they would try to keep an open mind and not let any doubts get in the way of his mission.

Luca rose from the sofa to greet them as they came around the corner, noticing the quiet that seemed to be encompassing them.

"Welcome back Master Kenobi, Padawan Skywalker."

The two Jedi stopped in front of Luca, casting a wary eye on him.

"Thank you, Mister. Redenov," Obi-Wan began, "I trust everything went well in our brief absence?"

Luca nodded. "Everything is fine, Master Kenobi. Captain Typho has the security detail posted at various positions around the outside of this apartment, as well as in the command center downstairs. He has posted some extra security around the outside perimeter of this building and there are security cameras placed at various locations here and outside the apartment. If anyone tries to get in, we'll know."

"Hmm...very good." Obi-Wan looked curiously at Luca. "It seems, Mister Redenov, that you do indeed know what you are doing. Everything seems to be in order here."

"I was just trying to do my job, Master Kenobi."

"Indeed," Obi-Wan stated in a smooth voice. "Now, Mister Redenov, I believe we have some things to discuss."

Luca nodded his head and gestured towards the sofa.

"Of course Master Kenobi. I will be glad to answer any questions you have."

The trio walked over and sat down on the sofas, Luca taking a seat across from the other two.

Obi-Wan let out a breath he had been holding before he began.

"Well, Mister Redenov, the Council has told us some things that we are not quite ready to believe. Things about yourself. Would you care to enlighten us?"

"Well," Luca started, "I am sure that what the Council told you about me is hard to believe. I know it would be for me if I were in your position. But it is indeed true. Everything you heard about me is the truth. There is no reason for me to lie to you because by doing so, I would jeopardize my mission and I don't want to do that."

"Yes, the Council did tell us that you had some sort of mission that you were on. They told us that you were sent here, from the future, to help someone, someone whose fate determines that of the galaxy. Is that correct?"

"That is indeed correct, Master Kenobi. I know it sounds farfetched and probably impossible, but it is true. I am here to save someone, to correct a mistake before it even happens, to help ensure a better future for all."

Obi-Wan stared at Luca, a concentrated look on his face, still trying to determine if, despite what he had heard from the Council, this man was telling the truth.

"Perhaps you could tell us, then, who this person is that you are trying to save."

"Is it Padmé?" Anakin blurted out, "Is that why you were assigned to her security? Is something going to happen to her?"

"Anakin," Obi-Wan reprimanded, giving his Padawan a stern look, "you know that it is not the Jedi way to start jumping to conclusions. Please give Mister Redenov a chance to talk."

"But, Master, I…"

"I know you have feelings for the Senator, Anakin. And I know that you were glad we were assigned this mission because you wanted to see the Senator again. I am also aware that you don't want anything to happen to her. But you must remember to be mindful of your thoughts and your tongue. I am sure Mister Redenov will tell us what we need to know if you just gave him the chance to explain."

"Yes, Master," Anakin apologized to Obi-Wan before turning his gaze back towards Luca. "I am sorry for speaking out of turn like that, Mister Redenov. It's just that I was so worried about the Senator's safety and well-being that I wanted to know if you knew of any danger to her life."

Throughout the whole exchange between Master and Padawan, Luca watched Anakin, trying to figure out what the young man's state of mind was. He knew that Anakin was brash and impatient, always ready to begin the next fight. But he also knew that he was very protective of Padmé, as he always had been and always would be. It was unnerving to see himself like that, knowing that the signs of his impending fall were present, yet not visible to those around him. To others, Anakin seemed to just be a frustrated young man like many his age. None of them knew the darkness that was brewing within him, ready to overflow and wash over him when the time came. But that was why he was here. To prevent that darkness from consuming him. He had to make Anakin see where he would end up if he continued to let that darkness simmer. But he had to earn his trust first. And that is why he couldn't tell Obi-Wan and Anakin who it was that he was sent to save.

"I am afraid that I cannot divulge that information. The person that I am here to save must not know that it is them. If they did, the past may change so much that I will not know what to expect of the future. The future I know is something I don't want to see happen again. But I can only ensure that that won't happen if the one I am trying to save doesn't try to alter the past too much. Things could get out of hand too quickly and I will be unable to stop it or to save the one I am here for. It must remain a secret that only I know."

Luca noticed that Obi-Wan was still looking at him with a scrutinizing eye while Anakin, it seemed, still wanted an answer to his question.

"But I will reassure you and say 'no', Anakin, it is not Padmé that I am here to save, though her fate, as well as the rest of the galaxy's, will be determined by the other."

He saw Anakin sigh in relief and he smiled on the inside that he had maybe reassured Anakin enough to get him to trust him. This mission would be a lot easier if he would. But if I know him, and I do, I will have to prove to him, some way, that I mean what I say. I will have to get him to trust me so I can help him away from the path that claimed me.

Luca turned toward Obi-Wan when he heard the man clear his throat.

"It still sounds suspicious to me, but it is a viable reason. I will not push you on the matter and I know the Council hasn't either. I will trust in your judgment to do what is right. I do not know what this future of yours is like, but if it was bad enough for you to come to past to try to fix, I don't think I want to know. I hope, Mister Redenov, that you are able to succeed in your quest."

"Thank you, Master Kenobi. I know that with your trust in me, one burden has been eased and my mission will progress easier."

"Indeed. It is getting late and if you could excuse us Mister Redenov, Anakin and I must double-check the security systems. I trust your work, but it is protocol and we just want to make sure that everything is secure."

"Of course, Master Kenobi," Luca nodded.

Luca watched as the two of them departed to do their security rounds, knowing that Obi-Wan trusted him at least partially and hoping that with his reassurance of Padmé's safety, Anakin was beginning to trust him as well. He went to the security console to check the security cameras and to make sure that Padmé was still in her room, knowing that things were about to get really interesting really soon.