Obi-Wan Kenobi strode quickly toward the Jedi council chamber. Behind him, Iryshi Dylar was trying her best to catch up, walking as fast as she could. Their boots echoed on the stone floor. Anakin was following them, to look in on the meeting.
   Obi-Wan stopped in front of the heavy wooden door, pausing to smooth his Jedi robe and run a hand through his hair. Iryshi likewise checked her appearance, nervous to be about to appear before the council. Kenobi stopped to look at her for a moment before opening the door. Her brown hair was tied into a loose bun and she looked flushed, exherted. Nervous. Of course she was; she was about to deliver a prophecy that would make the Council members outraged, possibly vengeful. She had every right to be nervous.
   As Obi-Wan pushed open the door and headed in, the Council members stood. Kenobi took his seat between Yoda and Mace Windu, and Iryshi sat across the room from him.
   While the Council members once again took their seats, Yoda called for order. "We will now hear speak the trainee Iryshi," he said in his high, gravelly voice.
   Iryshi glanced at Obi-Wan and he smiled supportively.  She cleared her throat. "Thank you," she said quietly. "As many of you know, I have the gift of insight into future events. Last night I saw a vision that... disturbed me... and I felt I must report it to the Council. Obi-Wan-- er, Master Kenobi encouraged this." At the Council's collective expectant gaze, she continued hesitantly. "It started with screams. Horrible ones. Like death screams. Like torture. I saw a huge palace collapsing. I think it was rotting from the inside. I saw... A red and a green lightsaber. They were crossing each other, in combat I believe. I heard screams again... or battle cries, I don't know which. I saw a sequence of three explosions, each larger than the next. And then, I saw a tiny sapling of a tree. It was growing, slowly at first, and then faster and faster until it sprouted and there were flowers. And I saw another lightsaber, purple this time, and then another beside it, and two more, and more and more until there were thousands. Thousands of lightsabers shining against a black background." She stopped, closing her eyes. "And then it ended."
   Silence dominated the chamber for several heartbeats until Mace spoke up. "And how do you interpret this dream?" he asked.
   Iryshi glanced down for a moment before answering. "I believe that the green lightsaber represented Anakin's son." At this Mace started, eyes widening in surprise. Iryshi continued, "I think that the screams meant the downfall of something... Possibly the Jedi order." Windu barked out a surprised laugh. Iryshi looked at him, perplexed, then went on. "The palace collapsing was the fall of the Republic."
   "What?!" Anakin demanded, looking outraged.
   Iryshi ignored him and continued. "I think that Anakin will betray us, and begin to tear us apart from the inside. Destroying the Jedi. The explosions could've been anything. Battles, symbols of triumph or defeat, anything. The sapling was a new order of Jedi starting to grow, and I think the lightsabers represented the same thing."
   She paused, weighing her words carefully. "I think Anakin was not the one the prophecy spoke of. He won't bring balace to the Force. I believe his son will."
   Mace stood, forcing the Council to acknowledge him. "This is blasphemy," he said heatedly. "She didn't see these things. Anakin will bring balace to the Force. I've seen the power within him. Qui saw it." He stared at Iryshi, with a look that plainly declared that he didn't believe one word of what she said.
   "Are you saying I'm a liar?" she asked challengingly.
   "Exactly," Mace said calmly. Iryshi was flushed with anger.
   Iryshi's former teacher, Master Yvai, who was visiting from Dantooine, spoke up. "Iryshi has never been wrong before in her predictions. She has always been accurate."
   "There's a first time for everything," Mace snapped. Iryshi flinched.
   Obi-Wan cleared his throat and stood. "Please, Mace, I ask that you just hear what she has to say--"
   "I've heard all I need to hear," Windu interrupted. "We need to come to a decision."
   Yoda, who had remained silent through the entire meeting, finally spoke up. "Obi-Wan, escort trainee Iryshi from chamber, please."
   Looking with mild disbelief at the members of the council, Obi-Wan took Iryshi by the arm and led her out the door. She made no move to resist, and was silent until they were in the hall and the door closed behind them. "Are they insane?" she demanded. Without waiting for an answer, she went on. "If we don't act now, it'll be too late! We can't wait for the Republic to crumble underneath us!" Obi-Wan turned to face her and kissed her gently on the forehead.
   "They listened, that's all they can do," he assured her. "They'll decide whether to act or observe, and we can't do anything about their decision." He kissed her again, on the cheek, and turned toward the door. "I'll be back," he said softly, and ventured back inside.
 
 

Iryshi was still waiting silently in the hall when Kenobi came out of the Council chamber a half-hour later. He was solemn as he turned to face her. "They came to a decision," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. At that moment, Anakin made his way into the hall. His voice low and dangerous, he directly addressed Iryshi.
   "The Council has made their decision," he said, unable to keep the pride from his voice. "You are to be cast out from Coruscant. Your blasphemous 'prophesies' will not be tolerated." He paused for effect before continuing. "As added punishment, you are to be removed of your Force powers. You have one day to prepare." With that, he walked on down the hall and out of sight.
   Iryshi's jaw hung open. "They can't do that, can they?" she whispered. "They don't have that kind of power..."
   Obi-Wan glanced away. "I'm afraid they do," he said softly. "They've just never excersized it until now."
   Iryshi sputtered angrily. "But they can't! Don't they believe me?"
   "It came down to a vote," Kenobi said, still not meeting her gaze. "Three voted in your favor, Yvai, Yoda, and myself. Everyone else voted as Mace and Anakin did."
   She shook her head in disbelief. "They can't. They..." She trailed off as her eyes began to well up with tears.
   Not knowing what else to do, Obi-Wan moved forward, wrapping his Jedi robe around her. She leaned forward to bury her face in the folds of his tunic, unable to control her weeping.
   One by one, the Jedi Masters who had been in the Council chamber exited, some glancing apologetically at Iryshi, some turning away. Mace Windu and Yvai both came  forward to offer their condolences, and Iryshi thanked them, but didn't move away from Obi-Wan. He let her cry on him, not minding a bit, and when she was done he took her by the hand and led her toward the assembly room for his Academy. Without a word she followed him.
   Anakin was in the middle of a speech when Obi-Wan entered with Iryshi in tow, and he looked up past the few dozen students he was instructing. "I told them," he said, trying and failing to sound sympathetic. Iryshi nodded anyway and took a seat toward the back of the assembly, trying to ignore the fact that all eyes were on her. Obi-Wan sat next to her, gesturing for Anakin to continue.
   Anakin nodded slightly and went on with his instruction. "And so, as the code says, the Jedi acts to preserve life. To kill is wrong, unless, by killing, life is preserved. To kill in self-defense or the defense of others is a pardonable act, but the act of killing itself will remain a stain on the spirit of the Jedi." He paused, looking over the assembly pointedly.
   "The Jedi acts not to cause pain or suffering but to preserve. It has been that way since the first Jedi."
   Glancing at Iryshi, Obi-Wan saw that tears were streaming down her face once more. He reached out to enclose her in the folds of his Jedi robe, and she leaned against him once more.
 
 

Yvai came to visit her that day. Obi-Wan sat by the door of Iryshi's tiny cell while they said goodbye.
   "Iryshi," Yvai said, "listen to me now. In the history of the galaxy, in its future, this is nothing. I've seen your dreams, Iryshi, I couldn't cope with them. I'm not that strong. You have to remember that in the grand scheme of things, in all the chaos and destruction you've seen, this is but a fraction of it."
   Iryshi was shaking, leaning against him.
   "In fifty years," Yvai continued, "what will this matter?"
   "It won't," Iryshi said, voice wavering as she cried. "No one will know; no one will care."
   "Exactly," Yvai said. "No matter what the Council does to you, no matter where they send you or for how long, it is insignificant in the big picture. You have to remember that. This is nothing."
   "This is... nothing," Iryshi choked out. Yvai nodded, stroking her hair.
   "That's my girl."
 
 

Amidala arrived on Coruscant to find only Anakin awaiting her this time. She didn't bother greeting him with a hug, but instead walked past him, muttering, "I am not pleased with this turn of events."
   "No one is," Anakin replied as they and the handmaidens boarded a taxi to the Jedi Temple. "It's a dark day for the Jedi Order."
   Amidala looked the blonde Jedi over. "You seem... different."
   Skywalker raised a brow. "How do you mean?"
   The Queen shrugged. "Just... different."
 
 

Erun came later on that evening.
   He stood just inside the doorway, staring at Iryshi like she was a ghost. Like she was already gone.
   She avoided his gaze, feeling like some creature on display, but instead glanced at Obi-Wan. "It was a bad idea to bring him in here," she said finally.
   Erun narrowed his eyes in surprise. "And why is that?" he practically shouted. "Huh? You think I'm going to start crying or something?"
   Iryshi turned away, staring out the tiny window to the outside world.
   Erun started to storm off, turned back, continued, "Because don't bet on it, Dylar. I'll be all too glad to see you leave. You're a disgrace to this Academy." With that he walked out the door.
 
 

Anakin paced the hall outside the Queen's chamber impatiently. When the door did finally open, he looked up with a ready smile, but the look on Amidala's face wiped it off. She was, quite obviously, fuming.
   "I was told there would be a casting-out of a Jedi, Anakin," the Queen said, voice cold and unfeeling. "I wasn't told who would be cast out."
   "You are unhappy with the result?" Anakin inquired, brow raised.
   "Quite," Amidala replied. "Iryshi is a good friend of mine, Annie. I do not appreciate your agreement to this treatment of her." The Queen's voice raised a few decibals. "And I certainly do not like the reaction of the Jedi Order as a whole! No one seems to be objecting to this!"
   Skywalker stared at her. "What would you do?" he said, suddenly very angry. "Start a petition? Ask a commitee?" His gaze narrowed even farther. "Talk to the Senate, perhaps. How well has that worked in the past, Your Highness?"
   Amidala looked shocked for a moment, then glanced down the hallway, surprise evident on her face. Anakin followed her gaze, and saw Obi-Wan quickly turning the corner away from them.
   Anakin turned back to the Queen, now feeling quite ashamed for his little outburst. "I'm sorry," he murmered. Amidala shook her head.
   Anakin looked her in the eyes. He wanted to erase the last five minutes from both their memories. Instead, he took a step forward and kissed her softly on the lips.
   He pulled away, eyes wide in surprise at himself for being so bold. Amidala mirrored his expression.
   Not knowing what else to do, he apologized again and hurried down the hall, away from the Queen of the Naboo.
 
 

Her one day was up. Iryshi stood outside heavy wooden doors that led to the ceremonial chamber. Mace stood behind her.
   The hall was lined with those who had been invited to the ceremony, among them Chancellor Palpatine, Queen Amidala, the entire Jedi Council, and Boss Nass. Obi-Wan paid careful attention to the expressions of all the attendees. Boss Nass was stoic, but he looked as if he was trying to hide what he really felt about the ceremony. Amidala didn't bother hiding her distaste for the Council's decision, in fact, he had heard her voice it loudly to Anakin that day. Palpatine was guardedly approving of the decision. Jar Jar, standing next to the King of the Gungans, was shaking his head slowly, obviously saddened by Iryshi's impending departure.
   With a less-than-gentle push in the small of the back, Iryshi was urged inside. She wore no Jedi robe, but instead was symbolically clothed in a long gray cloak with a red hem that trailed on the floor because she was so small. Her hair was not kept up in its usual tight braid or bun, but hung long and limp almost down to her waist. She looked at Kenobi once before going in, and the last Obi-Wan saw of her before the doors closed was her back, still held straight and very regal, as she retreated into the chamber.
 
 

She collapsed outside the doors when it was over. Her tiny frame shook with her sobs. Obi-Wan did not go to her. Mace and the Council wouldn't allow it.
   She didn't look at him as she was led down the hall.
 
 

"Obi-Wan! Glad I found you!" Anakin Skywalker fell into step behind his fellow Jedi. Kenobi did not look up as he walked briskly down the hall. "I have great news," Anakin bubbled as they walked. "Amidala agreed to marry me!"
   Kenobi smiled, which took a great deal of energy given the circumstance. "That's wonderful," he said softly. "I'm happy for you."
   Anakin looked at Obi-Wan strangely. "You're all broken up about this, aren't you? About her?" He didn't have to specify whether he meant Iryshi.
   Kenobi stopped walking abruptly, turning to face his young friend. "Why shouldn't I be?" he asked harshly. "We were in love."
   Anakin nodded with false sympathy. "But she's not a Jedi anymore," he said gently, as if trying to console Kenobi. "Just stop thinking about her."
   Obi-Wan started walking again, heading for the docking bay. "I'm to take her to Tatooine in my ship."
   Anakin struggled to catch up. "Really?" he asked. "I'd like to come. To tell my mother the news."
   Kenobi nodded. "Fine, come."
   Anakin glanced around the hall as if to make sure no one was watching. "Y'know," he whispered, "I never really trusted Iryshi anyway."

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