Leia entered the meeting room behind Master Cilghal. Looking around, she saw that a majority of the Order's Masters were present, along with many of the Knights. She knew that they were all Instructors in one way or another. The only thing she really knew about this meeting was that it was in regard to Talon. The long talk she'd had with her brother had pointed out a lot of things she had failed to do. Luke hadn't been malicious or vindictive in illustrating those mistakes to her; instead, he'd done so calmly and patiently. It was clear to her that he was trying to teach her instead of criticizing her. He had also suggested something that truly surprised her.

The forming of a Force Bond wasn't something that was considered typical in this Order, but at the same time it was common in the Old Order. She had talked for over an hour with Tionne Solusar who had provided the records of exactly how such a Bond was formed. The rather calm Jedi Master had also explained in detail about a great many of the benefits such a Bond would provide. Forming a Force Bond with Talon would allow her to influence the emotional state of her Apprentice without being in the same room. It would also allow her to know Talon's emotional state, general physical condition, as well as the direction she was in if they were separated along with many other advantages.

Leia could readily see the advantages that such a Bond would provide, but the problem was how Talon might feel about it. It was a very serious undertaking, and one that she and Talon would need to discuss at length. That, she knew, was not going to be easily accomplished because Talon wouldn't disagree or otherwise dispute the formation of a Bond, even if she really didn't want it. Leia knew all too well how Talon's mind had been invaded by others. By forming a Force Bond, she would be placing Talon in a situation where she would never be alone in her own mind, and subjected to an almost constant mental intrusion. Now that she understood the implications that such a Bond would have, she also understood why Luke had been so reluctant to suggest it.

There were quite a few tables that had been rearranged so that everyone could sit down at them. Leia took a seat between Tionne Solusar, and Kirana Ti. She looked around the room again, and was surprised to see her brother and nephew there as well.

"I've called this meeting to discuss our newest student who goes by the name of Talon. Her background is highly unusual and very different from anyone else in this Order in that she has been raised by the Sith." Kenth Hamner began before he was cut off by several outbursts in demand of clarification.

"Yes… Talon has been raised by the Sith to her current age of thirteen… however just a few short days ago, she held off twenty-six remotes that were set to kill because of a deliberate hardware and software malfunction. She did so in defense of an unconscious youngling who'd been hit by a heavy stun bolt three different times. I might add, that her defense of that youngling was in direct defiance to strict orders that she'd been given. This means that she does in fact have the potential to make an excellent Jedi." Kenth said firmly as he looked around for and dissention.

"That means that if Talon hadn't been there Kaldin would have been killed by the time I finished evacuating the other younglings. She saved his life, where my actions would have resulted in his death." Kirana said in a hoarse and horrified tone.

"If the Force hadn't been with you, and Talon hadn't been there, then yes, Kaldin would have died. But Talon was there, and the Force was with you, so thankfully, Kaldin still lives." The Grand Master said with a light smile.

Kyp shook his head with a rueful grin. "To think she was doing that on her first day, with a broken leg courtesy of a Jedi Master, while we were debating whether or not to accept her as a student."

"What would you like to bet that she makes things really interesting around here?" Kyle asked as he grinned at Kyp.

"That's a bet I won't be taking!" Kyp retorted with a smirk.

"Are you two done?" Kenth asked with a scowl. "Good! The reason I've called you together like this is to let you know a bit about Talon, since as Council Members or Instructors, you will end up dealing with her at some point. Now, you may notice that there are three individuals here who are not Instructors or Council Members. They are here because Leia has taken Talon as her apprentice. Master Skywalker and his son Knight Skywalker, are here because they both have a great deal of experience in dealing with a former Sith. Granted, Master Jade was only a Hand, but she was well immersed in the Darkside none the less." Kenth stated seriously.

"That is very true… but she became a good Jedi, and an excellent wife." Luke added calmly.

"Hey, she raised me properly." Ben added with a grin.

"Yes she did. Master Mara Jade Skywalker is a perfect example of what Talon can become with help from us. What everyone here needs to know is that in some ways… her skills far exceed those of her age group, in others… she is woefully inept." Kenth stated.

"That is true. Had I known this yesterday, I would not have punished her by sending her out to clean the droids. I must also apologize again Master Solo… it was not my intent to place your apprentice in a state of mortal terror." Knight Razelle said firmly.

"You acted on what information you had. It was my fault for not informing everyone about Talon." Leia smiled slightly.

"Talon has been taught a lot of propaganda that favor the Sith, but she listens carefully, and seems eager to learn whatever we're willing to teach her." Kyle interjected quickly.

"So in addition to saber skills that outstrip mine, what else can we expect from her?" Corran Horn asked. "Besides her being unbelievably timid I mean, because that is really annoying! That girl acts like we're going to eat her alive at the slightest excuse." He added sourly.

"She's timid because she's been taught her entire life that our Order will treat her worse than the Sith! We'll just have to show her that isn't true." Leia retorted.

"Leia's right. Talon has even expected me to cause her harm… both physically and in her mind as well. She has seen another be killed because of a broken limb, and she fully expected the same thing to happen to her. Luke had to show her that his right hand is a prosthetic to convince her that she wouldn't be killed as a waste of resources. I think that she wants to believe what we tell her, but she's been taught a lot of lies, so she isn't sure that she can trust us… not that she even knows what trust means." Cilghal confirmed quickly.

"Yes, Talon has been taught a lot of things that are wrong in addition to the lies. The version of history that she knows is only one example. Earlier today, she performed a needless suicide run into the bridge of a simulated ISD! That means we will all need to watch and observe her closely. We will need to evaluate all of her skills! Find out what she knows, what she doesn't know, and what she thinks she knows, but really doesn't; galactic history being a perfect example of that. As far as her saber skills go… she's apparently much better than you might think. That terrifying nightmare that we all had the other night… that was actually Talon reliving part of what I'm told is the best day of her life." Kenth explained seriously.

BREAK

Leia had looked through a good part of the Temple as she searched for Talon. The girl wasn't in her quarters, the lounge, cafeteria, the archives, or even the medical wing. It wasn't until she saw Pleena heading to the lounge with several other students that she learned that Talon was in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. She knew that Pleena had shown Talon the room early that morning, but she hadn't yet had the opportunity to talk with her about it.

When Leia entered the vast chamber, she could see Talon sitting on a small meditation platform looking around her in wide eyed awe. She could see the girl looking around slowly as if trying to memorize everything about the room. She walked over and sat down on the same platform next to Talon. Sitting so close, she had no problem sensing the sheer wonder that filled the girl's mind as Talon struggled to take everything in.

Talon looked over at her Jedi Master sitting next to her in disbelief. "You told me this was a real place. I didn't know it was so big. This is even bigger than the lava caverns."

"Yes, this room is very large. It's an excellent place to meditate and commune with the Force because there are so many living things here. Life abounds in this room, and because none of the plants have emotions of their own, the only feelings here, are those that are brought in by the occupants of this Temple." Leia said lightly.

"The Force is very loud here, so loud that it's… it's hard to hear anything… even you." Talon said quietly.

"I think what you're trying to say is that the Force is strong in this room… and that's very true. This room was used by the Old Order as a place for quiet meditation for many thousands of years. Countless Jedi have meditated here and each of them have helped to draw the Force into this room so that this area serves as a kind of nexus for the Force. That strength makes it much easier for someone who has never touched the Force before to feel it for the first time." Leia replied.

"I… I have to try hard not to go with the Force here… but you told me not to show others how to go with the Force." Talon whispered as she tried to explain what she felt.

"Talon, you promised me that you wouldn't show others how to 'go with the Force', and I'm sure you haven't. However… in this room, no one will bother you while you are meditating as long as you aren't missing a class or something. That means that while you are in here you can go with the Force if you like. Before you do that though… there is something very important that I need to discuss with you in your quarters." Leia said in a steady voice.

Outwardly calm and collected, Leia was a wreck inside. She knew that Talon wasn't going to voice any objections, which meant that she'd have to present Luke's suggestion of a Force Bond while inside Talon's mind. She knew that while Talon might try to agree… she would sense any and all of Talon's true feelings on the subject. She knew what had occurred so often, that it was actually common for the girl, even though Leia was positive that Talon had come to almost hate enduring it. She knew that Talon was almost incapable of anger or hatred, otherwise Talon would be almost filled with hatred for those who had entered her mind.

Talon nodded and got up and followed her Master. She couldn't really sense her Master very well because of how loud all the thoughts and emotions were, but she somehow knew that something was wrong with her Master. She didn't want to see her Master like that, and really wanted to know if there was something she could do about it.

Talon watched in silence while Master Leia reset the environmental control for her comfort, and that was what told Talon that they might be a while. Not that it made any difference to her, because she would readily do anything her Master asked of her.

Confusion filled Talon's mind when Master Leia pulled the chair away from her workstation and over close to the bed. A single gesture and a gently spoken invitation had her sitting on the bed with Master Leia sitting in the chair right in front of her. She remained silent and motionless while Master Leia closed her eyes and prepared to speak.

Leia took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she opened her eyes and looked straight at Talon.

"Talon… I would like to enter your mind, so that we can discuss what I have to talk to you about. You know that we won't be able to lie without it being known by the other. I want you to be able to know that I am telling you the truth… understand?" Leia said sincerely.

Talon nodded her head with a softly spoken "Yes Master," while she closed her eyes and prepared to have her mind entered by her Master.

Leia focused on the Force and on the mind of her Apprentice. In seconds, she was inside Talon's mind. The endless grey expanse with an unclothed Talon in the center was quickly replaced with the Room of a Thousand Fountains, and a clothed Talon sitting upon a dais with Leia sitting on one right next to it.

"Talon, from now on… whenever anyone enters your mind, this is what I want them to see! What Darth Magus always did when he entered your mind will never be done by a Jedi!" Leia said once they were both settled.

"But what about when…" Talon began.

"No! The only time such a thing will happen is if you want that to happen! I know how you feel about such things, because I've seen and felt your reaction to the mere possibility of it! I will never do that to you, and neither will any other Jedi!" Leia said firmly as she interrupted the girl.

Talon gaped at her Master with her softly glowing eyes as wide as they would go while her mouth hung open. She could feel the sincerity, the truth of what she was being told, and she had no idea what to say. She was being told that she would never again experience the pain and agony of being brutally torn and battered inside while her mind was invaded by another. Being told this in such a way only reinforced what she'd felt that first day that her new Master had brought her here. She would readily do anything this Jedi asked of her, including fighting the Guardians because Master Leia was something that was beyond description. Comparing Master Leia to what she knew was like comparing her saber skills to those displayed by the younglings in the class she had observed... there was no comparison! Master Leia was far better than anything or any one she had ever known!

"Good. Since that is now out of the way. I need to know if you have ever heard of something called a 'Force Bond'." Leia asked gently.

"No Master… what is it?"

"A Force Bond is a link between two Force users. It used to be a very common thing between Master and Apprentice or Padawan as they were called. It links their minds together so that one will know if the other is hurt or not. Not only can emotions be sensed through that link, but communication is also possible over great distances. There are many advantages to a Force Bond, and the only disadvantage is that when one dies, the other feels that death strongly. For example… if you and I were to share a Force Bond and you were to somehow end up outside, I would know, and I would also know what direction to take to find you so that I could bring you back inside. Because of that Bond we would become a part of each other. Our minds would be linked. I know that you probably would not be happy to have me inside your mind all the time Talon, but we wouldn't be as well connected as we are right now. I would feel your presence within my mind, and you would feel me in yours, but that is all. If someone were to invade your mind, I would know and be able to help you push them out, so that you will never have to go through what you remember ever again! I wouldn't let that happen to you Talon, and I want you to know that." Leia said as she moved to kneel down in front of the girl.

Talon looked at the image of her Master while her thoughts raced at hyperspeed. The very idea of never having anyone in her mind again was something she had never considered… but that was countered by the thought that Master Leia would always be in her mind. Master Leia had never hurt her though, in fact, the Jedi Master had protected her, and was offering to protect her even further by keeping others out of her mind. She could feel that this was something that was important to her Master, but she wasn't sure why. She knew that there were many things about the Force that she didn't know. What she did know, was that Master Leia had said that she would teach her about those things. That was when she realized something. She would be in Master Leia's mind too! She had never been in the mind of another before, and she had no idea what it was that she would be required to do inside the mind of another, let alone her Master!

"Can that really happen?" Talon asked in disbelief.

"Yes Talon, it can. My brother suggested this to me as a way to help me teach you. I know you aren't happy with the thought of someone always being in your mind, but it will not be like this! At the most, we would be able to hear each other's thoughts, and that takes a very strong Force Bond to accomplish. To be honest, I don't think I have the skill to create one that strong." Leia said as she reached out and took Talon's hands in her own.

"Talon, I would like to create such a Bond with you. I know that you may not want to do this, that is why I am asking inside your mind. You can tell me yes, but if you really don't want this, then I will feel that, and I won't do it. The decision to create this Bond or not, rests entirely with you." Leia said earnestly.

Well… yeah… I'm a b4st4rd for pulling a cliffhanger like this, now aren't I? Please, leave me some thoughts in a review. I know many Authors say it, but they only say that "reviews are inspiration" because it's TRUE!