Obi-Wan felt the forest was almost sepulchral, as he followed his master through the trees. The silence penetrated his thoughts as the Aryllians had penetrated the Bothan government. Obi-Wan's sense of his master had changed since they arrived on Bothawui. Qui-Gon was deeply troubled, as he knew what the fall of Bothawui would mean for the rest of the galaxy. Thoughts of people they knew came forth in Obi-Wan's mind, as did the dreaded thought that they might never see them again. "Master, how do you plan on getting out of here?"

"I don't know, Obi-Wan. The Aryllians destroyed our ship when they captured us. My hope is that we'll find a friendly settlement with something."

"Like a small freighter?"

"Anything that would get us out of here," Qui-Gon answered.

Again, Obi-Wan's mind flickered to friends back home. This time it was Anya and Tasha. He remembered when Anya had cried out to him, begging for him to survive. It seemed so long ago, but it had really been only a couple of days, maybe even yesterday. With that memory came a vision of her when she had spoken. That surprised Obi-Wan, so that he stopped walking. She had been on a ship, coming to Bothawui. "Master!" Obi-Wan said. "It's Anya and Tasha - they're coming! They may even already be here!"

"Obi-Wan?"

"I feel it, Master... why did they come? Why would the Council send them?"

Qui-Gon turned. "If they sent them, they shouldn't have done so," he said.

"Are they fully aware of the danger facing any Jedi who comes here?" Obi-Wan asked. He began walking again, and Qui-Gon fell into step beside him.

"They are aware of the situation, yes, but are they fully aware of it? Even a Jedi couldn't be, unless he or she actually came here for a first-hand experience," Qui-Gon answered. He paused. A break in the trees lay just ahead of them. "Proceed with caution, Obi-Wan," he warned. "I sense no hostility on the other side, but that doesn't mean we aren't walking into a trap."

As they broke through the trees, they were met by Bothans bearing weapons. "Who are you?" one of the Bothans asked.

"Lower your weapons. We are here to help," Qui-Gon said. "We intend you now harm."
The Bothan considered the statement and then nodded to his companions to disarm their weapons. "I am Amar," he said. "Who are you?"

"We are Jedi Knights sent here by the Council -" Qui-Gon began.

"Say no more!" Amar said. "There is someone here who has been looking for you."

"Anya," Obi-Wan said.

"Yes," Amar told him. "She's here, safe with us." He turned and walked further into the settlement, leaving his guards at their post. The two Jedi followed him.

He opened the door to one of the tents and allowed them to enter. She sat alone and would not look up when they entered. But even though her face was not entirely visible to him, Obi-Wan could see the tears creep from her eyes. "Anya," he whispered, loud enough for her to hear.

"She left," Anya whispered back, "if that's what you're wondering."

"What?"

"I disobeyed a direct order. Let my emotion get in the way."

"Where did Tasha go? There's no way off the planet," Qui-Gon pointed out.

"Our ship is still here...at least, it was before she left," Anya said. "My life as a Jedi is over."

"No, Anya, don't say that..." Obi-Wan said. "You did what you had to do to save us."

Anya looked up. "I've put the Jedi in the middle of something that would require us to take aggressive action. If I ever get out of here, Tasha will bring me before the Council."

"Allow her to do so and we will go with you," Qui-Gon said. "They will need to hear us out."

"Then I guess we need to get away from here, don't we?" She got up and went to them. They caught her as the ground suddenly shook with explosions and the air vibrated with blaster fire. Drawing their lightsabers, the three Jedi made their way outside. "The Bothans have been preparing for this," Anya told her companions. "We have a plan."

They covered each other as they reached the open air. Left and right, the Bothans fell at the hands of the Aryllians. The Bothans' plan was failing; it was a losing battle.

Anya blocked the shots as they came, with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon fighting at her side. But suddenly, a shot got past her blade and grazed her arm. She dropped to her knees without a sound. Everything happened in slow motion after that. Obi-Wan dropped away from the fight and, dodging blaster bolts, came to her aid, leaving his master to continue the fight alone. He carried Anya into the shelter of a nearby tent, and put her down on the bed.

"It's fine...really," Anya whispered, the color leaving her face.

"It will be, as soon as we get you to a healer."

"And just how do you plan on doing that?" Anya asked. She paused as she heard something thunder overhead. "Who did you call?"

"No one," Obi-Wan said, surprised. He went outside to see the fight break up as the ship touched down. It was a Republic ship.

As the dust cleared, Obi-Wan saw Qui-Gon come toward him, bearing Anya's lightsaber. The ramp had lowered and a woman disembarked to come with Qui-Gon. It was Tasha. They saw Obi-Wan and began to walk faster. When they reached him, Qui-Gon handed Anya's lightsaber to Tasha, and Tasha went inside the tent.

"Anya..."

"I...really don't want to talk to you right now," Anya said.

"Anya, you're hurt!" Tasha moved to inspect Anya's arm, but Anya shrank back from her touch. "Anya... I'm no longer angry with you. I was on my way back to the ship when I realized...that you were right," she said. "We couldn't abandon them. They're our friends."

"Am I still going before the Council?"

"You'll have to. As will Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. The Council will need to hear the whole story."

"The Aryllians have virtually exhausted their resources and have backed off," Qui-Gon said, as he came in with Obi-Wan. "It's over."

"We need to get Anya back to the Temple," Tasha said. "Let's get her to the ship and get out of here."

***

"Thank you for telling us," Mace Windu said. The Council surrounded the four Jedi in the chamber. "The Aryllians have surrendered?"

"Yes, Master," Tasha said.

"We need to speak with Anya alone," Mace said. "The three of you may wait in the corridor. She'll be out in a few minutes."

They left, each laying a comforting hand on Anya's shoulder. When the door closed, Mace continued to speak. "Anya, we hope you understand the risks you took when you defied your master on Bothawui. You had no idea what would happen."

"That is correct, Master."

"Always in motion is the future. Remember that you will," Yoda admonished.

"Yes, Master."

"However, we realize that you acted in defense of, and sacrificed yourself for, other Jedi," Mace said. "That is why we're letting you off with a warning."

"Thank you, Master."

"We hope this will never happen again."

"I, too, hope it will not."

"You are dismissed," Mace said.

"Thank you," Anya bowed and went to meet the others in the corridor. "We're finished here. Everything will be fine."

"Of course it will be," Obi-Wan said, and Tasha and Qui-Gon readily agreed. The turned and walked down the corridor. Obi-Wan laid his hand on her arm, which was now healed from the ordeal on Bothawui. The mission was over. But it was the first of many.