Sorry for the delay.

This chapter was a hassle to write. Writer's block, and figuring out where the story was headed, left this chapter stuck for about two weeks. I think I've got it now, at least for this chapter. We'll see what happens next though.

That said, let's continue the story. :)

As Janus made her way down the hallway, a thought, a reminder, passed through her mind: she was to ask Master Yuvon about getting a wood casing on the hilt of her lightsaber, instead of the silver casing she had on her hilt just now. The very notion drove her to return to Master Yuvon's training room, only to find Master Yuvon about ready to set out for the Jedi Council Chambers.

"Padawan Janus, is there anything you wish to ask me? You have completed your Initiate Trials and are now on your way to finding a Jedi Master or Knight to assist you with your further trials. What is it you would like to ask me now?" Master Yuvon instructed, getting her attention.

Janus smirked, delighted to make his acquaintance once again. "Master, I was wondering if there is a way to change casings on the hilts of our lightsabers. I was wondering, well, curious, if I should have a wood casing around my lightsaber hilt, or is it always a silver casing?"

Master Yuvon gave this thought over, allowing himself to think on it, before proceeding to answer her question. "You may change your hilt, you may change crystals, on your lightsaber. The Council will not dismiss you of this task. It is your lightsaber to mold and shape into you own making, but the Jedi will want to see your new creation."

Janus bowed. "Thank you, Master Yuvon." She smiled, overjoyed with delight about crafting her own lightsaber to match her needs.

"Is there anything else you would like to ask me now, Padawan?" Master Yuvon asked, curiously.

Janus shook her head. "No. Not really. I believe that's all I wish to ask."

"Then, we must go to the Council Chambers. Follow me, young Jedi," Master Yuvon instructed, leading her out of the training room and down the hallway.

.

Janus caught sight of Helen, smiling back at her. At least, there was an understanding between them, an understanding Janus hoped to accomplish, should Helen become one of her companions, or her Jedi Master.

At last, Master Yuvon and Janus proceeded out of the hallway and back into the foyer. The moment Janus reached the second level with Master Yuvon, her heart swelled with anxiety and lust. She was about to embark on something new, and new it would be.

"This way, Padawan Janus. Right through these doors. I will follow you in, after you are done here," Master Yuvon stated, taking the lead and allowing Janus to step through the open doorway and into the Jedi Council Chambers, where a meeting was surely about to take place.

.

The moment Janus entered the hallway, she found it so wide and expansive that she could hardly believe her eyes. And there, standing before a circular wide room with circular stone walls, made from brown and grey stone, stood a council room with two circular stone steps going around a wide bend towards the centermost part of the room. And there, by several cushioned grey chairs, complete with a massive holoterminal in the centermost part of the room, were many Jedi Masters.

These Jedi Masters were welcomed by God as part of this Jedi Council, from their Heavenly days. To see these Jedi Masters here, in all their grace and wisdom, was beyond Janus' understanding. And the Jedi Masters came from many different species, too, even species that were the talking animals, among which Janus was one of them.

Janus looked behind her at Helen and Jock, as they made their approach with her inside the Council Chambers. Janus watched Master Yuvon take his seat among the Council, by which Helen and Jock were forced to stand behind Janus, waiting to approach the Council and declare themselves allies of Janus.

Janus looked on at the walls, stunned to see various plant species, set about in huge ceramic vases, lingering next to the rounded walls. Janus sighed, wondering what this meeting was about.

"…And now we come to another matter of business: how the Caves to the Underworld came to be opened, on this planet," a Togrutan man, wearing brown robes, spoke to the Council. He was Master Tavus, a delightful Jedi Master with a chagrin. Janus was already in love with him. She blushed, but she was caught off guard by him. "Yes? Is there something on your mind?"

Janus shrugged. "Nothing, of course."

"Very well. It has also come to our attention that this young Jedi has been accepted into the Jedi Order," Master Tavus announced for all to hear. He looked on at the other Jedi, even as a female human Jedi Master with jet black hair, tied back into a ponytail, and wearing brown robes, interrupted the conversation. Master Tavus looked at her with great interest, saying to her, "Yes, Master Corda Karn. Is there something on your mind?"

"Yes," Master Corda spoke up, admitting to the Council, "now that this young Jedi has completed her Initiate Trials, I think it's time she is assigned a Master. And I do believe that Helen the Shapeshifter should work with Janus, teaching her the Ways of the Force with further training, as her new Jedi Master."

"What?" Helen and Janus announced, shocked and stunned, while Jock laughed.

Jock shook his head, admitting to them both, "I knew it! I knew this would happen! Welcome you two, to your new Master-Apprentice relationship."

"You're going with them, too, Jock. You may be a Sith Lord, but we always keep an eye on you," Master Corda stated, admiring Jock's jesting.

Jock sniffled a laugh, quietly calming down in moments. "Yes, Master Corda."

"We'll keep an eye on you three, just so you don't screw anything up," an elderly Jedi Master, Vorn Korner, who was quite able in years, strong for his age, too. He had been the first Jedi Master to be welcomed into the Jedi Order. Though he looked feeble, his wits kept him alive and his trust in others wavered over time. Vorn wasn't sure how Janus could handle Jock and Helen, but he felt certain this would be a tremendous day indeed. "Just do your orders, and then all will be well."

"Yes, this cannot be ignored," a Twi'lek Jedi Master, Ela Gren, sought to it the nobility of the First World performed their duties. Though she was strong, Ela had a knack for negotiations. However, the negotiations about the Caves to the Underworld was unanimous amongst the Jedi Council. And for this, Ela was happy. "The Caves to the Underworld is something that has caused us great sorrows. Already this Cave, the one in ruins amidst the temple, should be looked into and fast. There's no telling what's there, if anything can be said about it."

"Yes, investigating the Caves may be your first assignment together, Helen and Janus," Corda pointed out, getting Helen and Janus' attention. "We must look into that Cave nearby the temple, investigate it, and see what else we can find there, and what God is up to. Should you find out anything about God's whereabouts, or something else of interest, let us know. We will be happy to assist you."

Janus and Helen bowed. "Yes, Masters. Thank you."

"Good luck, young Jedi," Master Yuvon stated, pleased, "and May the Force be with you*."

Janus nodded. She made her way out of the Council Chambers with Helen and Jock, quite content with herself, if anything could be said for it. The moment she was back in the foyer with Helen and Jock, Janus quickly caught up to them both in shock over what had happened to them back there.

Helen nodded, pleased with her new pupil. "You know, the Council never said if Maximus was joining us. But then, I doubt anything could be said for him being with us—"

"Oh, young pupils," Master Yuvon stated, rejoining them in the foyer. He admitted to them. "For this task, we will acquire you to bring Maximus with you. His knowledge of the Caves may lend us some aide."

Jock stared quizzically at Master Yuvon. Something wasn't right about this. "But Master, Maximus still has nightmares, just from going into that place. Are you sure about this?"

Master Yuvon sighed. "Maximus was turned into Cerberus, it is true, but now Hades has brought another new dog, a new Cerberus. Only this Cerberus isn't like Maximus, who evaded his time in the Underworld. No, this Cerberus is dangerous. He will attack you, if you let him. You must find Pan, before you enter the Caves. You will need his panpipes that Janus gave back to him." He finished his statement, before Janus could say another word. "Good luck, young Jedi, young Sith. We will see you when you've returned." He walked away, back inside the Council Chambers.

Helen, Jock, and Janus were alone.

~o~

Helen meandered her way out of the Jedi Temple. With her, came Jock and Janus, both of whom weren't too sure about this mission. However, it was Jock who spoke up:

"We're supposed to find Pan. Great. How do we do that?" Jock asked Helen and Janus, moments into Maximus catching up with them, wearing his new brown Jedi robes.

Janus smiled, even as the pointy-eared dog took in his new surroundings. "How do you feel?" Janus asked, curious.

Maximus sniffed the air with great joy. "I love it!" He barked a little bit in anticipation. Already, he was enjoying himself.

Helen sighed. This was the last thing she wanted to do. "To find Pan, we must look for a grove. Surely, his house is somewhere about? Maybe he's in the forest, or by a river! Oh, we're never going to find him." She folded her scaly purple arms in dissatisfaction. This was not what she wanted to do! Oh, just what was going on?

Janus sighed in aggravation. She admitted to the trio, "Come on. Let's go and find someone who knows where Pan is. Hopefully, he'll want to see me."

Maximus sighed in defeat, for he knew what defeat felt like. "Well, if we do find him, he's not going to be happy to see you. You rejected his gift, remember?"

Janus lowered her head. She knew this was coming. "Yeah, I shouldn't have done it."

Maximus chuckled. "To refuse a faery's gift is punishment. Isn't it?"

Jock shook his head. "No, I don't think it is."

Maximus laughed. "And how would you know?"

Jock sneered. "Maybe some of us know who this Pan is. If the faeries are considerate, then they can be reasoned with."

Janus whimpered. Surely, they didn't mean what she thought it meant! "You mean we have to talk to the faeries! Oh dear!" She shook her head in panic, for she didn't want to do this.

"Oh, come on. Let's ask somebody," Helen stated, as she, Jock, and Maximus departed for a taxi to the forest. Janus sighed. How could she refuse?

Footnotes:

*The quote, "May the Force be with you", comes from George Lucas' film series, "Star Wars".