Coruscant: Jedi Temple-- Council Chamber

___________________________________________________________________

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stood beside Nick, politely remaining silent as the seated Council finished conferring amongst themselves.

It was taking longer than Qui-Gon had thought it would; the discussions at times showing more heat than was considered proper for beings of their status, though it would take a trained eye to detect it. Not since he had first brought tiny Ayar to the Temple had he seen so many emotions straining against various mental shields. The matter of cloning and manipulating genetic material was a major bug-a-boo to the Republic, and the Jedi were not immune to the feelings of disquiet the very volatile topic brought up.

Next to him, Obi-Wan was thinking similar thoughts as he ruminated on the sketchy history that Qui-Gon had relayed to him. Yes, Ayar had been very lucky indeed that he had had at least two Knights willing to not only tolerate, but accept the unauthorized and down-right illegal hybrid. If only Ta'okin had not stopped at Harka VI before going to Coruscant! Ayar would still be alive and completing his Trials without problems, his elevation to Knighthood affording him more respect than that due a mere padawan. Obi-Wan frowned, wondering again at the timing of the attack on the pair. Was it possible it had been the *student* and not the Master who had been the prime target? And if so, why?

An amused feeling trickling through his training bond with his Master recalled him from his musings. Somewhat chagrined, Kenobi refocused his attention of the Council. Speculations on the double murder could wait. Right now, he needed to pay attention to the Moment.

{{ Though---Force!---but they could be as long winded as any Baraevian aristocrat at a public discourse! }}

At last, Mace called for a summarized accounting of their findings. Kenobi gave the daydreaming Nick a more physical nudge to alert him to the change as well. Things were drawing to a close. Like Qui-Gon, he centered his complete attention on what happened next.

Adia Gallia stood up first.

"The person of Nicholas de Brabant is nearly filled with passion, emotion, and ignorance. He is without peace. Without serenity. And without knowledge of our ways or those of the worlds around us. His fears are strong. Yet, he also has functioned well as a peace keeper in his past reality despite these failings.

Her summary complete, Adia sat down and, one by one, the rest of the Council gave their final words on the subject at hand. Nick listened as if it was all a dream, his mind protectively distancing itself from their coming verdict.

Yarael Poof began: "He has risked his own life many times to help those his culture taught him as being inferior. Even though he believed that risking himself this way put his essence in danger of an unending torment. His fears are strong, but they did not defeat him."

Yaddle: "His way, hard has it been. His ideals mocked and his body abused. Still, chose he to look beyond this at the end, and forgiveness to his abuser--- gave, though for himself he did not believe such a mercy to be giveable."

Plo Koon: "This de Brabant is a warrior with honor. He does not give up when he believes himself right. I would accept him as a brother at my side."

Eeeth Koth: "A fine warrior, yes, and a kind heart, as has been spoken. But his passions make him volatile. In my estimation more time to evaluate him is needed."

Even Piell: "A warrior needs to be grounded in the Light Side. Any other is useless to us. Time is needed. We must not act without thinking over this carefully."

Oppo Rancisis: "What need to think carefully when the facts are clear? This being is a danger to the stability of the Force and should be dealt with immediately."

Saessee Tiin: "Yet the darkness is strange in this one. Unfamiliar. What if it is not true Darkness at all?"

Depa Billaba: "To condemn an expression of the Living Force because of undue haste is not, I think, an acceptable course. That way lies danger, surely?"

Ki-Al-Mundi: "Fellow Councillors... how can Darkness be not true? Shall we accept a Grey Side of the Force? No. The danger lies in not dealing swiftly with the menace within our midst. This has already been allowed to go on too long--- the padawan is fully trained! We should destroy this cancer before it spreads further."

Mace Windu: "To trust or not? Some seek to wait for clarification, others declare there is already enough to see. Shall we accept de Brabant as one of us? Or return him to the Force?"

Yoda: "If, indeed, sent by the Force, great insult to return the gift."

Ki-Al-Mundi: "I repeat, then my original question: Which side of the Force sent him? I say we destroy him!"

Yoda: "Knight Mundi wishes to destroy without understanding first.

Ki-Al-Mundi: I understand. *That* is why he must be destroyed."

Mace Windu: "Councilors! We shall call a vote. To destroy, to accept, or to wait?"

The three person audience held deathly still as the votes were cast.

Ki-Al-Mundi: Destroy
Plo Koon: Accept
Yaddle: Wait
Saessee Tinn: Wait
Oppo Rancisis: Destroy
Even Piell: Wait
Yareal Poof: Accept
Eeeth Koth: Wait
Adi Gallia: Wait
Depa Billaba: Wait
Yoda: Wait

(Feeling both relieved and disappointed, Obi-Wan let himself breathe again. There would be no immediate call for death, which meant that his Master would not have to confront the Council again. At least not *this* time. He could feel the hint of elation coming from his Master as well. They had some breathing space.)

Mace Windu nodded. "Then we shall wait. But for how long and what shall we do with him in the mean time?"

Qui-Gon chose that moment to step forward. "If I may..?" He received a nod of permission to speak from Mace. "He needs to return to Anara III."

A murmur travelled through the Council. Mace frowned at his friend. "Anara? You defend de Brabant to the Council, yet you would send him to Anara?"

"Risky, it is," Yoda agreed, his mouth forming a thoughtful frown. "Why choose such a destination for him, Master Jinn?"

"Because, Master, Ayar himself wishes it. Nick says that he has been told to go home and seek one 'K'tlysa'. The impression he got was that this being or item is to be found on Anara."

"And what will this... 'Ke Tly-Sa' supposedly do?" Mace asked, hesitating momentarily over the strange name.

"I know not. But if Ayar desires it be done, why should we oppose it?" He heard Mundi give a soft snort, but ignored the Cerean. "Remember that he was within days of beginning his Trials. Master Ta'okin had great faith in him, and do any disagree that Ta'okin was an honorable Master and Jedi? Should we not trust in his faith?"

Oppo Rancisis growled, "Faith in his student. But as has been pointed out to us, this is no longer Master Ta'okin's student."

Qui-Gon made a hand gesture of annoyance. "Trust in the words of the one he trusted in then!"

"We have only *Nick's* word that he even spoke!"

A tap of a gimmer stick on the floor got each one's attention. The aged Master sat up straighter as he addressed his peers. "Trust and honor Master Ta'okin's choice we should. Send de Brabant we should if the essence of Ayar desire it." He cast narrowed eyes at Ki-Al-Mundi, " Object to this, do you?"

"Of course not, Master," Mundi replied smoothly. {{ Let the Anarans do what should have been done years ago. It is their mess after all--- they should have the right to rectify their mistake. }}

"Intolerance, also, of the Dark Side lies," Yoda informed him, heavy eylids nearly closing. "Unavoidable it is at times to feel dislike. But to *despise*? Meditation excercises this fault in you needs." The large eyes suddenly flashed opened wide. "Perform them you will do, after meeting."

The Cerean Knight paled. "Yes, Master Yoda. As you wish."

Yoda relaxed back into his seat, amused with the faint chuckle he could feel emanating from Qui-Gon. The 'evil eye' trick was just one of several methods the venerable old Master had in his 'intimidation' arsenal for dealing with both irritating coworkers and recalcitrant padawans. Another was the gimmer stick. As a former student, Jinn, was familiar with both of his 'heavy guns' and their devastating effect on their victim. "Settled then, it is?" Noises of assent from the others.

Mace Windu took up the lead. "So be it. A personal transport will be supplied to take de Brabant to the Anaran system. He will be given three weeks to complete his mission, the result of which will decide his ultimate fate."

[[ Three weeks?! ]]

Mentally, Qui-Gon shushed his apprentice, though he agreed with the sentiment. Three weeks might have been enough time for anyone else, but Nick was as a newborn to this universe. He could not be expected to take such a journey alone. Surely Mace knew that?!

Whether Windu knew or didn't was moot, as Yoda, himself, spoke up before Jinn could do so.

"Unwilling, am I, to release de Brabant into Anar without guidance. Knowledge he lacks. A guide and protector he should have."

"And whom do you suggest?" Mace asked, already guessing----and approving---the senior Jedi's plan.

Yoda smiled, looking pleased with himself. "Master Jinn and his padawan we should send. A better to protect de Brabant there is not. Knowledge of Anar he has, better than most."

"Problem in this," Yareal Poof reminded them softly, "is that Anar is not of the Republic. Qwanaten House will not allow Jedi on their world."

"Then send to them we will not. Of the Kievet will they seek out."

Qui-Gon sighed aloud. "Excuse me, Masters, but since you have named me the 'Anaran expert', I must speak on this."

Windu and Yoda nodded to him.

"The information I was able to glean on the Kievet from either the Qwanaten or the Tanaken Houses was sketchy at best. The Anarans, themselves, have only recently rediscovered that they exist at all. In fact, as told to me by their Head of Botany, the first one was seen only a few decades ago after some 500 years of being thought extinct, if not outright mythological. Contact since then has been rare--- or at least, so I was led to believe. In order to find the Kievet, we will need to go through the Anarans. Otherwise, It will probably take the three weeks just to locate them." He smiled ruefully, "the planet is small, but not *that* small."

"Cannot Ayar, himself, guide you where to look?" Adia Gallia asked.

Qui-Gon bowed politely in her direction, "That would be helpful, but I would prefer not to rely on him in that. Not only are his appearances haphazard, but Ayar was... not born among the Kievet. What knowledge he has gleaned since leaving his body, I don't know. I am also curious to see if more information can be uncovered on just how the Tanakens got hold of such advanced genetics equipment."

"Valid points," Mace agreed. "But how will you infiltrate New Anar City without being discovered? Neither you nor your padawan look like Anarans. And de Brabant..."

He trailed off at the obvious. In Ayar's body, Nicholas would likely be killed on sight.

"There were two of the Tanakens and one of Unaka House that I feel can be trusted to help."

Mace sighed, obviously not liking this turn of events at all. Yet, they *did* need to discover just where the illegal machinery had come from. That Jinn and Mundi had destroyed the original twenty-five years ago did not mean that that had ended the matter. The Anarans were only just beginning to advance technologically, and could not have come up with such intricate designs themselves. Someone from either the Republic or the Outer Rim worlds had to have supplied it to them. And after over two decades they still had no clues as to the perpetrator or perpetrators despite the fact that cloning was highly illegal. A disquieting development-- to say the least.
"Very well. But if you are caught, Jinn... we will have no authority to get you out. And you know how long the Senate can drag out negotion talks. You'd be dead of old age before they even got to the final stages." Mace said the last in a humorous tone, but his face was serious. He was worried. Jinn and Kenobi were the Jedi's best Master/Padawan team and Qui-Gon a long-time friend. He did not care to lose them in an obscure, little planet.

"Tommorrow, then, shall a transport be made ready for you all. And may the Force be with you."

Yoda smiled, adding a heartfelt: "Always."
================================
This ends Episode One: The Visitor
The story will continue soon with: Episode Two: The Joining