Tom and Harry woke early the next morning and immediately after breakfast went to ask permission to visit Coruscant.  Chakotay smiled from the readyroom desk.  "Aren't you boys up bright and early?" he asked.

Tom smiled.  "Yeah well we thought we might take in some of the sights that Corscant has to offer.  So what do you say, Chakotay?  Can you keep Voyager in one piece without me?"

Chakotay shook his head, grinning.  "I think so, Ensign Paris.  You two want to join one of the official tours or do you want me to let you do what you really want and transport to one of the many commerce buildings?"

Tom smiled.  "Well, B'Elanna might like it if I brought something cute back to her.  "Incidentally, what kind of payment do these people take?"

"The Jedi were gracious enough to offer each member of our crew fifty Repulic Dataries.  Just press your thumb to whatever type of data pad they offer and it will charge to the Temple.  Spend wisely gentlemen.  I'd imagine on a planet like this things might tend to run expensive."

Tom grinned and Harry said, "Thanks, Commander."

Chakotay waved them off and said, "Just have fun."  Tom and Harry grinned and departed the readyroom.

When they transported to one of the many buildings many people stared, having never seen a transporter.  Tom only grinned and waved.  Harry looked around and whistled.  "Nice place," he said, taking in the richly decorum and nicely dressed people.

Tom nodded.  "Yeah.  It is.  Just look at everything.  Lets go over to that store.  I want to find something good for B'Ell."  Harry nodded, still looking in awe at everything.

The music was pleasant and relaxing in the store they went in.  Harry knitted his brows picking things up and trying to puzzle out exactly what they were.  Tom picked up a small smooth ball shaped device and bit his lip, turning it over in his hand.  "May I help you," said a soft voice.  Tom looked and saw blue skinned woman with two tentacle-type extentions coming from her head.  She had a pleasant face.

Tom nodded.  "What is this?" he asked, handing her the dark red ball.

She smiled.  "It's from my homeworld.  It's called a Teketi Ball.  May I have your hands?"  Tom held his hands out and she placed it in both of them, cupping them around it.  "Relax.  Let your eyes drift shut."  Tom did as she asked and soon the shiny ball began to turn dark, melting into a shade of dark blue.

Tom smiled and closed his eyes, leaning against the rack behind him.  "Wow," he said in a sleepy voice.  "This feels great."

Harry watched, unsure of what the device was actually doing.  "What feels great?"

Tom barely opened his eyes and said, "This.  It relaxes every muscle in your body.  It's like an all over massage.  B'Elanna would love this.  How much?"

The blue-skinned woman smiled.  "Thirty-five credits."

Harry smirked watching Tom as he relaxed against the rack.  "I think he'll take it."

Tom nodded and the woman produced a small data pad.  They waited.  Harry rolled his eyes and grabbed Tom's hand, pressing his thumb to the scanner.  Tom smiled as the girl took the ball and wrapped it and placed it in a bag for him.  "I think alot of those will sell to the crew," Tom commented, shaking his head to wake himself up.  "Find anything you want?"

Harry shook his head.  "Nah.  Maybe I'll find something later.  We should save some money for lunch."

Tom smirked.  "Why?  Next week Neelix will be trying out his version of Coruscantian cuisine on us.

Harry rolled his eyes.

Neelix smiled as Naomi pointed to a glittery object on a shelf.  She ran to it and looked up at it.  Neelix picked it up and examined it's glass surface.  It was a pretty decoration: something you might set on a table against the wall of a shelf.  It was filled with water and pieces of glittery material seemed to float from no where from the top to the bottom, each wave of sparkles gradually making color transitions.  Naomi smiled at it.  "You like that, little lady?" a kind old man said.

Naomi nodded fervently.  "I think it's beautiful.  I think my mom would like it too."

"What's your name, Sweetie?" he asked, smiling gently.

"Naomi," she exclaimed.  "And this is Neelix."

He smiled at them both and pointed to the sparkling decoration.  "Well you know, Naomi, if you touch it and think of any of your favorite colors, any colors at all, then it will change to play only those colors you like best."

Neelix handed her the glass and she closed her eyes, thinking of her favorite colors.  Suddenly the sparkles began shifting between shades of purple, pink and green.  Naomi looked it over and then grinned at the old man.  "It's beautiful."

He smiled softly at her and said, "Then it's yours."

"How much do you want, Sir?" Neelix asked.

The man waved his hand.  "It's on me."

Neelix's eyes widened a little.  "Surely you want something?"

The old man shook his head.  "She reminds me so much of my daughter when she was little.  My daughter had one and she loved it so much.  Before she left to come a diplomat she gave it to her mom.  She was killed some time ago. It would make me happy to see little Naomi here take that home for her and her momma to enjoy together."

Naomi smiled at the kind man.  "Thank you very much, Sir.  Me and my mom will put it where everyone will see it."

Neelix smiled too, saying, "Thank you."

The old man just nodded and said, "Is there anything else I can help you find?"

Neelix grinned and said, "Got any cook books?"

Captain Janeway smiled as she chewed the bite of food she had just taken.  "I'll bet the crew are thoroughly enjoying Coruscant," she said to Ensign Wildman.  "Where's Naomi?"

Samantha took a bite.  "Neelix took her somewhere.  They wanted to get me a surprise.  We're to meet back here in a few hours."

Janeway smiled.  "That's nice.  How are you enjoying Coruscant so far?"

Samantha looked around and took a breath.  "It's very lovely here.  Such a nice society of people.  What do you think?"

Janeway nodded, mouth full of a bite.  When she swallowed she said, "Very lovely.  It's a shame that the Republic isn't a little closer to home."

Wildman nodded.  "Well, at least in the future if the Federation and Republic keep expanding towards each other they can remember us kindly.  This could be the beginning of a wonderful alliance."

"The Republic and Federation are alot alike," she agreed, taking another bite and smiling.  "I'm sure every crewmember will that Coruscant is a wonderful place."

Samantha smiled, sipping from her drink and looking around, still in wonder of the beauty.

The Doctor smiled and snuck over to the counter and said softly, "How much would this cost?"  He held up the item in question.

The lady behind the desk smiled and said, "Five dataries, Sir.  Is this for your lady friend?"

He nodded and said, "I'll take it."  He looked back to make sure Seven was still busy looking. 

The lady pulled out a scanner and held it out for him.  "Credit, I assume," she said, eyeing him and seeing no physical dataries.  He nodded and peeked back, pressing his thumb against the scanner.  The lady looked a little puzzled as she looked at the readout.  "Holographic?" she muttered.  "I didn't know Jedi could be holographic."  She eyed him.

"I'm not a Jedi," he said hastily.  "I'm a guest of the Temple."

She looked him over again, then shrugged, handing him a bag.  "The rose you just bought will never die.  Inside are instructions on how to care for it, a mineral for it and a few seeds."

The Doctor smiled and said, "Thanks," as he hurried to Seven.  "Seven," he said.

She turned.  "You have returned from purchasing?"

His brows knitted.  "Yes.  Did you see what I bought?"  She shook her head, examining something on a shelf.  He waited.  Finally, he said, "Aren't you the least bit interested?"

She put the object she was holding down and looked at him.  "What did you purchase, Doctor?"

He smiled and held it out.  She looked at his hand and said there a pretty dark red rose.  "It's color and scent are pleasing," she commented, sniffing at the air.  Her brows knitted.  "Very pleasing."  She took it from his hands and held it to her nose.  Smiling, she touched it's petals and said, "And very soft."

The Doctor smiled at her.  "And I bought it for you."

She looked to him, a little surprised and said, "Thank you, Doctor."  She absently sniffed it's scent again.

He held up the bag.  "Inside are instructions, a mineral and some seeds.  And this flower will never die, the lady over there said."

Seven ran her fingers across the petals again.  "It's very pleasing."

The Doctor grinned, happy that she liked his gift.  Then he noticed the change in her eyes.  They were almost shy and calculating as she looked at him.  It made his heartbeat algorithms race.

Harry frowned and held to his bag as Tom stood at a shelf and looked.  "Tom," he said impatiently.  "Can we please go back?"  They had wandered into a less kept-up part of the building and the way people seemed to take them in made Harry nervous.  But Tom was relentless in looking for deals.  "I'm gonna head on out in a minute, Tom."

Tom batted him away and said, "In a minute, Harry.  Are you afraid the boogie man might jump out and steal you away?"

Harry sighed and said, "There is no talking to you, is there?  Come on, Tom."

Tom frowned and said, "Fine."

As they walked from the store they suddenly heard a scream.  Tom and Harry both looked at each other and with a shrug to each other they went towards the sound.  About halfway down a secluded hall they heard a man say, "Where's our money, Yzetti?"  Harry and Tom crept closer and saw two big men threatened a little red-hair woman.

"I said you would get it and I meant it.  I just don't have it now, ok?  Tell your boss that he'll have it."  She looked more frightened than her voice let on.  She didn't looked particulary rich, but then again she didn't look all that poor either.

One of the men pushed her back.  "Not good enough.  He wants it now.  You're late by three days, Yzetti.  Now he wants blood."

She fought as the two men advanced, hitting her and restaining her.  "Help," she called.

Harry and Tom drew phasers and Tom said, "I think you should let her go."

The two men turned, still holding the girl.  "What is that you point at me?" one asked.  "Some sort of toy?"  The other began towards them.

"It's called a phaser," Tom said.  Then he vaporized a nearby trash can to demonstrate.  "Like I said.  I think you better let her go."

The one still holding her let go and smiled.  "Allright, Yzetti.  We'll let you go this time, but if you don't have the money next time you won't be so lucky."

"Whatever," she said, dusting herself off as the men left and picking up her bag.  "Thanks for saving me boys.  My name is Hannah Yzetti."

"Tom Paris," Tom said, holstering his phaser.  "This is Harry Kim."

She smiled and shook thier hands.  "You boys don't look like you're from around here," she commented.

Harry shook his head.  "We're from quite far away actually."

"Oh yeah?" she said, turning.  "Come on.  I'll take you to my place.  The least I can do is offer you two boys a drink."  Tom and Harry followed.

It wasn't much of a home, really.  Just a few small room cluttered with her computer equipment.  "It's not much, but it's home," she said, throwing her bag down.  "What do you boys usually drink?"  She took them in with her black eyes.

"Uh... "Harry said, staring at her and getting a chuckle and a roll of the eyes from Tom.

"Harry means whatever you have is fine."  Tom elbowed Harry in the side.

She laughed and took a bottle from her refrigeration unit and threw it for Tom to catch.  He caught it, almost missing it and sat down on her couch as she walked over with three glasses.  "So, you boys look fancy, even if your tastes seem to run in the same direction," she said, motioning to their uniforms.

Tom grinned.  "Uniforms.  We're just tourists I guess you could say."

She smiled and poured the drinks.  "No kidding," she said jeeringly, smiling at them.  "So what brings you to the rougher part of town?"

Harry rolled his eyes.  "Tom and his stupid addiction to deals.  He's been dragging me into store after store."

Tom laughed and shook his head.  "If I hadn't then we wouldn't have got to meet Hannah, now would we?"

She smiled and took a big drink from her glass, emptying it.  "He's got you there, Harry.  You know what?  I like you two.  You're cute," she said, smacking Harry's thigh and getting a blush in return.  "So tell me about where you boys are from."

"We're from quite far away," Tom replied, taking a drink and wincing.

Hannah took another drink.  "I know I'm not the richest person in the world, but I've been pretty far myself.  Ever been to Ha'Sale Five?"

Harry shook his head.  "No, we haven't.  We're strangers to this part of the galaxy.  Actually we're from the Alpha Quadrant."

Hannah's eyes widened.  "That far, eh?  How did you get all the way out here?"

Tom swished his cup around, avoiding the contents within.  "An alien who called himself the Caretaker brought us here.  We've been trying to find a fast way home..so far with no success."

Hannah shook her head and downed the lst from her cup.  "Tough luck, boys.  So how are you enjoying the lower level's of Coruscant?"

Harry tried to sip a drink of the strong drink.  "It's kind of nervous down here," he commented.

Hannah laughed.  "Oh it's nothing compared to the lowest levels.  This is just the mid level.  It does get kind of scary at night though.  I wouldn't be caught wandering the halls at night.  Speaking of which, it's getting kind of late.  I don't think two upper class boys like you want to be around during the evening."  She stood and stretched, Tom noticing that Harry took a good look when she did so.

"Well," Tom said.  "We're gonna be here for a few days yet.  Maybe you, me and Harry here could have a little lunch tomorrow?"

Hannah smiled.  "Sure thing.  Where at?"

Harry smiled at her, turning slightly red when she smiled back.  "We know of a place in the upper level that was pretty good."

She grinned and ran her fingers through her red hair.  "You boys better come pick me up down here.  Those cops up there might not like my coming up there in the commerce area without a proper escort."

"Sure," Harry said.

"Come on, guys.  I'll help you find your way back."  Without another word or waiting she walked staight to her door and left.  Tom and Harry joined and followed her through the "streets" until they reached the end of the hall they had originally rescued her in.  "I trust you two can find your way back to the safe halls of the upper levels from here?"

Harry smiled and nodded.  "Sure.  Meet us here tomorrow at noon?"

Hannah grinned and said, "Sure thing, Cutie."

Harry turned slightly red and as he and Tom turned to leave she smacked the back of his thigh.  He turned and smiled back at Hannah as they continued back to the upper level.

Hannah shook her head and leaned against the wall.  "I trust our little ruse went according to plan?" said a dark voice from behind her.

Hannah sighed and said softly, "Yes.  It did.  I just don't understand how you knew those two would come down here into the lower levels anyhow."

"Anything can be accomplished with a strong mind," he said.  She turned and looked at his dark robes.  "Did you find out anything about them?"

She nodded.  She didn't like working for him, but it was money."They come from the Alpha Quadrant, but not of their own technology.  Some alien brought them here.  They have strange weapons, sort of the blasters but the discharge is longer.  I'm going to meet with them tomorrow at noon for lunch."

The dark robed man nodded.  "Good, good.  Gain their confidence and find out all you can.  See if they will take you to their ship and see if they will tell you anything about why they are here.  Find out all that you can."

Hannah huffed and started bck to her home, muttering, "Yeah, whatever."

"Miss Yzetti," he called.  She turned.  "You will not fail me?"

She shivered under his stare.  "I won't fail you."  Turning, she went back to her home.  Sitting on her window ledge, she stared out at the dusky skies of Coruscant.  She hadn't counted on liking those two, but money was money.

Chapter 11 - Darkness To Come

Holding his fork and chewing absently, Qui-Gon Jinn listened as the other masters at the table rattled on about this and that.  He wasn't much for conversation this day.  He wasn't quite sure what was wrong, but something just wasn't right and it made him uneasy and wary.  "What troubles you, Qui-Gon," Master Windu asked, taking a drink.  Mace set the cup down and blinked, holding his fork and waiting.  Though his face patient, he had a demeanor that expected prompt answers.

Qui-Gon took a breath and a bite.  "I'm sure it's nothing," he answered after swallowing.  "Probably too much stress."  Windu nodded in acknowledgement, seemingly satisfied with the answer and turned to another master.  Jinn sighed.  He could feel the dark times slowly creeping up and even here in the company of his friends and colleagues he felt wary. 

Taking another bite, he looked to where the padawans sat and ate, talked and carried on as youth do.  Catching sight of Obi-Wan, he smiled, remembering what his youth had been.  Young Kenobi was in so many ways just like he had been and then in some ways wiser.  He would most likely be a member of the Jedi Council one day Qui-Gon forsaw.  He had the strength and sense of responsibility that was required, but sometimes he lacked the independance.  Of course, I myself have too much independance for the Council.  Qui-Gon had almost been on the Council, but they had judged him too reckless for such a high position.  Which was fine.  Qui-Gon was content with what he was.  He enjoyed having Obi-Wan as his apprentice and would enjoy the next padawan he took.  He sighed again as he looked at the young faces that were oblivious to the troubled times ahead.  Not knowing why, he felt suddenly very sorry for them.  He didn't have the talent for seeing the future, but he could almost sense that these young ones would have a much harder life than he had.  That some of them would have much shorter lives than he had.  Today they would laugh and maybe tomorrow too, but the day would come when their training would be tested to it's limits.

"Qui-Gon," Master Ahzra said, her dark purple eyes looking him over.  "Such a dark cloud that hangs over you.  I've never known you to be so negative."

Qui-Gon smiled softly and laid his fork down.  "I suppose I'm just feeling my age, Ahzra."  He stood to take his plate to the counter.

She grinned.  "So young to feel that way.  In my good age of two-hundred I have not yet felt the wieght of wisdom and yet you feel as if the weight of Coruscant lay on your shoulders, my friend."

"I'll feel better once I get back into routine.  Putting Obi-Wan to work always makes me feel better."  He grinned as some of the masters laughed.  Setting his plate on the counter he suddenly becaue aware of someone watching him.  He couldn't quite sense it, but it was the same sensation of being watched one might get when walking through a shadowed hall.  He turned and right away saw her.  She had dark eyes and pale skin.  She was the new apprentice.  Immediately when he had looked she had made a show of blushing and looking away as if she might have been sizing him up as a propective mate, but Qui-Gon thought he could seen something else in her look.  You're getting paranoid, old man, he thought. 
Shaking his head at himself, he turned to leave and caught another's eyes on him.  Master Windu had been watching him, seemingly gauging his reaction.  With a quiet smile, Windu returned to his meal, venturing another look before Qui-Gon departed the large cafeteria.  Jedi Masters didn't get chilled often, but something in their eyes made his uneasiness get a little stronger.  It's probably nothing.

"Master?" he heard Obi-Wan say from behind.  He turned as Obi-Wan caught up.  "Are you all right?  I could sense your discomfort during lunch.  Has something happened?"

Qui-Gon shook his head, not wanting to share the weight of his anxiety with his padawan who already had enough on his mind.  "No, Obi-Wan.  It's just one of those days.  Don't concern yourself, Padawan.  What you should be concerned with is returning to your training."

Obi-Wan smiled and sighed.  "I was kind of hoping for a little extra vacation."

Qui-Gon laughed.  "A Jedi's work is never done, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan nodded.  "I know.  One can dream, however."

Qui-Gon clapped his young student on the back and smiled.  "You're much too young to be grumbling about vacations.  Let's go down to the sparring room and get some exercise, shall we?"  Obi-Wan nodded and walked silently at his side.  Obi-Wan would make a great Jedi one day.  And that would make his path more difficult as more responsibilites were piled onto him.  For a brief moment Qui-Gon entertained the thought of not being there to see what a great Jedi Obi-Wan would become and it saddened him.  But he shook his head.  I'll be there, Padawan. He smiled, imagining that one day it would be Obi-Wan's turn to scold him for not listening to the Council's explicit instruction.  But that lingering doom still hung in the back of his mind.

Dana bit her bottom lip and looked at Windu.  "He must be killed."

Windu's eyes widened.  "Kill Qui-Gon?  I can't do that, Dark One."  The prospect of killing an old friend still could chill his mostly black heart.

Her eyes flashed in anger.  "Who is your master, Windu?  Is it not I?  He must be killed.  I searched him for any shred of darkness that might turn him to me and found nothing.  I know he was your friend, but that was when you were still on the Light Side.  Now you are a creature of the Dark.  My creature and you will obey me or you will be killed."

He could feel her drawing power from the Force.  Sighing, he nodded.  "Very well, but I can't simply kill him.  That would draw too much attention."

Dana huffed in annoyance and considered.  "Fine.  Send us on a mission.  He and I, and I will kill him myself."

Windu thought about it.  "Do you mean to kill Kenobi as well?  I can't send he and you without his padawan."

"If I must kill Kenobi, I will. Tell him that there are rumors going around on Coruscant's sister planet of a budding group of Force wielders that claim to be Dark Jedi.  Tell him that you wish me to go that I may watch and learn from he and Kenobi."

He shook his head.  "Corenda?  That's too close!"

Her eyes widened in anger.  "You will do as I say or die.  Besides, how would it look if you sent him on a dangerous mission on some far off planet with a new apprentice who has close to no knowledge about the Force?  Corenda is twenty minutes away and these Dark Jedi are only rumors, so it's the perfect little mission."

Windu sighed.  The Dark Jedi weren't rumors.  They were real wielders of the Dark.  Though he himself was of the Dark Jedi now, the idea chilled him.  He humored Dana in her little scheme to try and win the Jedi to the Dark because he knew that it was impossible.  But humoring her kept him pleasured.  It was Sideous he worried about.  Sith were highly dangerous, even to those who served them.  But kill Qui-Gon?  Could he order his friend off to be lured and killed?  Looking into her dark eyes, watching her lips move and the pull of the Dark on him answered that he could.  "And when you return alone?"

Her eyelids seemed to move in slow motion as she blinked, an effect he found quite alluring.  "I will tell the Council that the Dark Jedi weren't a rumor.  That I barely escaped with my life.  It won't be difficult to fool them.  I can even arrange that you aren't the one who suggests someone check out the rumors.  Sideeous has a contact who works for Master Desaran.  I'll tell him to pass on the rumors."

Windu widened his eyes.  "One of Desaran's contacts?  Desaran is so careful."

Dana smiled her dark little smile and touched his shoulder.  "Not careful enough.  Darkness lurks in places you might never imagine, Mace.  It lurks in you, and your pitiful Jedi Order hasn't a clue.  I will come to you tonight.  Be ready."

Mace nodded and breathed deeply as she walked away.  He was always ready for her and the Darkness that he drank of her.  "May you die well, my friend," he whispered, knowing that Qui-Gon would likely not survive the attack that would come from not behind or before him, but from beside him.  If it were any other situation Qui-Gon would most likely sense the attack coming, but she was very different from any opponent Qui-Gon would have had.  She would take him completely by surprise and he would be dead before he would realise what had happened.  Then she would kill Obi-Wan Kenobi.  He would have made a fine Jedi Knight, but he had much too much of Qui-Gon in him to be of any use to Dana or Sideous.  And he would die too.

Chapter 12 - Away Mission

Master Desaran sighed and stumbled from his bed, glancing at the clock which told him that it was only midnight.  He felt like he'd been sleeping forever.  Grumbling, he fumbled for the transmittor that was going off.  Pressing the button he sighed and said, "Desaran here."

"It's me, Xaren.  I have something very interesting and important to relay to you, Boss."  It was his imformant.  Desaran sighed.  Xaren would pas along any tidbit of information that he thought was remotely worth paying for.

"What is this important information that couldn't wait until morning?" Desaran said tiredly.

"Rumors on Corenda of a budding group of Dark Jedi.  I'm not sure if they are true or not, but there have been a high number of killings lately, if that has anything to do with it.  Most of the rumors say that they are in hiding in a degenerate part of Czerest City, under an old abandoned Cathedral of the Force.  Seems like a suitable place.  I thought you might want to check into it or something.  So how much do I get for this?"

Desaran sighed.  "Well, if the rumors are true, then it should be worth a few thousand credits, but if they aren't then I can only afford to give you a hundred."

"Well, information is getting cheaper and cheaper.  I might have to find me another boss.  I thought you Jedi had quite a good amount of cash on you."  Xaren was a very greedy man.

Desaran closed his eyes in frustration.  "We have money to use for useful things, Xaren.  I can't afford to give you money for every tiny rumor you ferret out.  I'll inform the Council and they will send someone to check into it.  I'll contact you after that.  You will get paid.  You'll just have to be patient."

He could hear Xaren's intake of breath.  "Ok.  You win, Jedi.  I'll wait.  Xaren out."

The transmission went dead and Desaren leaned back in the chair he sat in, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead.

Windu leaned forward, hands folded and listened closely to Desaran's report.  "And you believe this is worth checking into, Desaran?" he said calmly.

Desaran nodded.  "I can't see how we could afford to not check into it.  If these rumors prove true then it would pay us to dispose of these Dark Jedi before they cause trouble.  These are nervous times, Master Windu.  Xaren's been known to throw me a worthless report now and then just to get some extra money, but when it was important he has come through for me."

Windu nodded softly.  "Thank you, Desaran.  We'll be sure to let you know what we find out about these rumors.  You are dismissed."  Desaran left quickly.  Windu sat back, his features smooth.as he pretended to think through the situation.  Finally he looked to Yoda.  "I suggest we send Qui-Gon to check into this, and I suggest he take along Dana."

Yoda's brow wrinkled.  "Why suggest you this, Mace?"

Mace shrugged.  "Well, as far as the Seven of Nine situation is concerned, Qui-Gon is not busy.  This is just the kind of mission that would be good to send Dana on, just to watch and learn.  It's short and relatively easy and she'll be going with the best."

Yoda nodded.  "See your point, I do."  Mace smiled.  None of the other matsters would even suspect that Qui-Gon would never come back.

Tom Paris leaned against the desk and waited for Janeway, Seven and the Jedi Master to finish talking.  "How long will you be gone?" Janeway asked Qui-Gon.  Seven didn't look to pleased at the prospect of him being away.  He was the only Jedi Master she felt comfortable with aside from Yoda, and she barely got to see him.

Qui-Gon looked both to Janeway and Seven.  "Only for a few days.  In the meantime I want you, Seven, to practise those relaxation techniques I taught you and continue trying to reach the Force on your own.  I've asked Master Yoda to assist you."  Paris saw her relax at that.  "Everything should be fine."

Seven nodded, still uneasy.  "Thank you, Master Jinn.  I will continue to practise what you have taught me."

He smiled and pet her back softly before departing.  Janeway turned and smiled.  "All right, Tom.  You've waited long enough.  What can I do for you?"

Tom smiled.  "Well, Harry and I met this girl and we'd like permission to show her around Voyager."

Janeway grinned.  "I might have known you and Harry would have found some poor girl.  You have my permission.  Take the usual precautions.  Seven, why don't you join them?"

Seven took a breath and looked slightly agitated.  "What purpose would my presense serve, Captain?" she asked.  Janeway could tell she wasn't feeling well.  She hadn't been regenerating as much as she should have been, too restless with what was going on.

Janeway blinked.  "I think it would be a good chance for you to get your mind off things.  Relax a little.  Learn to socialize with strangers."  She might be doing that more often if she decided to stay on at the Jedi Temple.

Seven sighed and nodded.  "Very well, Captain.  Do you object, Ensign Paris?"

Tom shook his head.  "Not at all.  Meet me, Harry and Hannah at The Sunset Cafe in about an hour.  We'll have a little lunch and then show Hannah around Voyager."

Seven nodded, not really wanting to go, but something inside her told her that she should.  She was suddenly energized and she could sense Nizana's desire to meet this Hannah.  "Very well, Ensign Paris.  I will meet you there."  He nodded and left as did Janeway, leaving her all alone in the little lounge.  Sitting down, she sighed, wishing that this was all over and that Nizana would just leave her mind.  She was constantly being confused and contradicted by what she wanted and what Nizana wanted.  It was as if they were merging into one, and that scared Seven.  The change was slow.  Just a whim here and thought there that wasn't hers.  She was starting to feel out of control and crazy and it was mentally exhausting, trying to keep Nizana and herself separate.  She was second guessing every idea now, wondering if it was really her own idea or that of the being within her mind.  "Hello," a voice said softly.  She looked up and smiled at the Doctor.

"Hello," she said softly.  She always took comfort in his being there.  She missed those light hearted trips to the holodeck to sing with him.  That was before all this Force business.  And now an offer hung in the air.  She could choose to stay here and further herself with these Jedi.  She would be choosing to stay behind, away from him.  The thought made her sad.  It was an interesting opportunity, but how could she leave behind all of her friends on Voyager.  How could she choose to leave him?  She recalled how hurt and angry she had been when he had made that choice once, all for the love of his fan mail.  Would he be as angry and hurt as she had been?  Maybe she had grown, or maybe she was seeing through Nizana's wisdom, but she could tell now that by the look in his eyes, he would be hurt.  She could see that he was quite attached to their friendship, to her.  And she felt the same way.  She couldn't imagine a day without him.  And she didn't even notice herself smiling.

"What are you smiling at, Seven?" he asked, grinning.

Quickly the smile faded as she snapped back to here and now.  "I apologise, Doctor.  I was thinking."

He sat back with her and looked over at the wall.  "So, what were you doing here all alone?  Are the walls of this Jedi Temple so interesting?"

She shook her head.  "Just thinking, Doctor.  Thinking about what's happened and what it was like before all these troubles."  She looked at him.  "I desire things to be the way they were before this Dark One, before Nizana.  Do you think we could perhaps go to the holodeck today and sing for a while?"

He looked at her, into those blue eyes mostly.  She had done alot of changing since Nizana had entered her.  He missed going to the holodeck with her and just having fun without worry.  So he nodded.  "I would enjoy that very much."  He unknowingly reached out and took her hand, wanting to somehow strengthen her.

She looked down at his hand, but didn't move.  "We must first have lunch with Ensign Paris.  I told him that I would join he, Ensign Kim and a local from here."  She still stared softly at his hand.

He nodded.  "All right."  Leaning back he sat there silently with her, letting her keep his hand within her own, expecting that she would let go soon.  He was surprised when she didn't.