Chapter 20

Secrets Well Kept

Author's Note: I am a bitch. I am a bitch. Those are the words that have been repeating in my head for the past six months. I am so sorry that my story has been on hold for this long! I promise that I'll begin updating more often! Mostly because there are only about six or seven more chapters left in this Fanfic. Maybe less than that. But don't worry. The ending to this story will be fantastic. Enjoy.

Lux POV

I quietly read an article on the recently killed Jedi on Malastare while Shaak and Aayla trained the younglings on the other side of the room.

"Lux?" a frail voice asked from behind me.

I turned my head even though I had already recognized the speaker to be Jana. "Hello, Jana. How are you?"

She shrugged and said, "Fine. Have you seen Mark?"

Mark was the padawan that had been injured on Felucia, as well as Ahsoka's old crush. He was recovering quite well physically even though he was having a little difficulty speaking.

"He's in the library with the other padawans. By the way, I wanted to apologize for how Ahsoka acted when she saw you again. She's been going through some hard times and she's also had to deal with Anakin and Barriss."

She seemed to tense up at the mention of Anakin, but she responded, "It was completely my fault, so I should be the one apologizing. Now, I'll go find Mark."

I nodded at her as she ran off and thought back to how she had tensed up as I mentioned Anakin. What exactly did he say to her?

I finally made up my mind to confront him about this and headed toward Anakin's quarters where I knew he would be. I had my hand ready to knock, when I heard voices from the other side.

I pressed my ear to the door, intent on hearing what they were saying. "Everything has been set in motion, my apprentice. All you need to do is sit back and watch. Soon, the entire galaxy will be ours and Tano will be crushed under your foot."

"Yes, my master. But what about her mate?"

My breath caught as I realized that Anakin was talking to Palpatine. How could Anakin turn on us like this? He loves Padme and Ahsoka and would die for everyone here. How?

"He will be disposed, along with all the other weaklings. But keep Offee, Secura, and Ti alive. I've been lacking concubines lately."

I clenched my fists in anger and I thought about pulling out my blaster and shooting Anakin just to make sure that it would stop this plan, but I gained control of myself. I knew that if I killed Anakin, Padme would be devasted and Ahsoka would hate me for the rest of my life, even if Anakin was a Sith now.

Suddenly, the door opened and a gloved hand dragged me into the room. Anakin stared down at me with an intensity and rage that I had never seen before. It looked like it belonged in a horror movie than in the real world, where it could actually terrorize people.

"I'm just going to assume that you heard Palpatine and I's conversation and cut to the chase. If anyone hears about it or if you try to kill me or if someone even looks at me funny, I will not hesitate to rip off your legs, break your shoulders, and cut off your genitalia. And just in case you don't know, you can't make children if you don't have a penis!"

I stared up at him and said in a firm voice, "You don't scare me, Skywalker!"

"But I sure am a lot more powerful than you! I could kill you in a heartbeat… or I could kill Tano. Even if she is a tad bit stronger than me, she would never kill her Master!"

I tried to respond, but I knew that it was true. Ahsoka might've loved me the most, but Anakin came in a close second. She would never have the heart to kill him, or at least kill him directly. "She'll do what she knows is right," I finally answered, trying to convince myself rather than the Sith that stood before me.

He grabbed me by the collar and threw me into a mirror, which shattered against my back and dug into my skin.

"Remember. If anyone finds out…"

He didn't finish, just made a cutting motion with his thumb. He laughed and for a second, I saw something crawl along the back of his throat. I remembered a story about how Barriss and Ahsoka had to face some kind of brain parasite on Geonosis. Maybe, it's controlling him…

Paul and everyone else asked why I had glass stuck inches deep in my back later that day, but I told them some lie. I couldn't risk Ahsoka's life or anyone else's, even though I knew deep in my heart that I should've just grown some balls and announced it over the entire facility.

I finally understood why the Jedi had forbidden attachment.

It risks lives and I was risking a lot of lives when I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't tell anyone. So, in a way, I had fallen prey to it and become a minion of the Sith.

Ahsoka POV

I was helping Grandfather harvest some of his crops when my impatience got the better of me and I asked yet again, "When are you going to tell me more about Mom?"

"When you are done with your training, Ahsoka," he responded, bending over to pick more berries and crops. "Sometimes, the truth get to a person's head. It makes them arrogant and cocky, much like your master if I might add."

I laughed, but asked, "So is this truth supposed to be good or bad?"

"In some ways good," Grandpa answered, popping three or so berries in his mouth. "It will give you answers as to how you have this power."

"So, my power comes from Mom?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You're getting good at getting intel, Ahsoka. I suppose that I can give you your first lesson on controlling your power."

He placed his basket on the ground and I did the same. We walked off about a quarter mile and he said, "Sit."

I immediately dropped to the ground, eager to get this started. He said, "Now, I want you to find this power."

I nodded, listening to every word. He continued, "And when you find it, I want you to reach out and touch it. Then… I want you to pull back and leave it where you found it."

I tilted my head, confused at what he advising. "But I thought that I was supposed to bring it out!"

"And you will, but you need practice and patience," he said, making me roll my eyes.

"Is that what you told my mother?" I asked.

He made no reply and motioned that I should get on without the exercise. I sighed and closed my eyes and for the first time in about a month, I was back inside of my mind. I looked around for a few moments and finally located my power. As I drew closer, I noticed that it had grown darker, to the point where the color almost resembled black.

It wasn't that dark the last time…

I shoved the thought aside and finally touched the power. An explosion of power and emotions surged through me and I smiled. But then I remembered what Grandfather had said. "I want you to pull back and leave it where you found it."

But how is that supposed to make me better? I thought. However, I knew that he was right so I pulled back and left the energy where it was.

I opened my eyes and asked, "Now, what?"

He smiled softly and started walking back to his house. He said over his shoulder, "That's all for today."

I gaped at him and yelled, "But we just started!"

He once again didn't respond, instead chuckled and leaving me with an angry expression and confused thoughts.

Four Hours Later

I sat on the porch meditating as Marino had told when he came out there and sat next to me. I didn't open my eyes, instead just asked, "What do you need?"

"I have decided that instead of withholding your mother's past from you that it would be best if you knew how and why you got this power."

I opened my eyes and said, "Well, let's get to it then. Why do I have this power?"

He sighed and started, "Your mother comes from a long line of warriors in Togruta history."

"I thought that it was my father," I countered.

"No, your father actually came from a group of farmers. He just happened to be good at hunting and fighting. Anyway, your mother's family line consisted of many warriors, hunters, and even some Jedi. They were all very, very powerful and strong."

"Were you a warrior?" I asked.

Marino smiled and nodded. "The best in all of our village at one point. I had to stop after a while, though," he said. "These bones got too worn out after so many years. Anyway, your mom was probably the most powerful of them all, until you came along. But her physical attributes weren't what gave her power, though she could heave about three hundred pounds over her head.

"Her voice and compassion were what gave her influence in the village and in the Capital. She had a love for the people of Corvala and was close friends with the King." He sighed happily and a twinkle came into his blue eyes. "She became my closest friend after your grandmother died. She helped me around the fields and played Dejarik with me."

"All thanks to you raising her," I added.

"No," he replied, chuckling lightly. "She was compassionate without me to be there."

"What does her family history have to do with me?"

Marino leaned back in his chair. "There was a Jedi in our family line about three hundred years ago. His name was Iota, I think. Anyway, he had a vision of another Togruta Jedi becoming the Chosen One and restoring balance to the Force and the galaxy, though not without any hardships."

"Why didn't I ever hear about this?"

"Iota was a very powerful and smart man; he was one of the best Knights of his generation. But he saw too much in a vision, not too long after he foresaw the true Chosen One." Marino shook his head sadly and rubbed his eyes. "It drove him insane. He was exiled to Tatooine where he later met his wife, but that's not important. Bottom line, the information never reached the Council."

My mouth made an "oh" shape and I sat back in my chair contemplating this. My emotions were a mix of sadness and pride, confusion and intrigue, bad and good emotions, really. "So, am I the Chosen One?"

"That is up to you to determine," Marino said, his face void of any emotion, even though his eyes held a spark of hope and confidence.

I frowned. That hadn't been the answer that I had been expecting. Ever since, I was a youngling I had been seeking answers as to my power and if I was the Chosen One. This was the only person that had the answers, yet he couldn't answer the most important one. Was I the Chosen One?

Sighing, I look out the window towards the pastel colors of the sunset and replayed those words in my head. "That is up to you to determine." How could I actually control my destiny? Destiny is what controls you and guides you towards your path. Not yourself.

But then, I had a flashback of Master Yoda teaching me while I was still a youngling. He had said to us that at some points in our life, destiny would allow for us choose for ourselves and that choice, in fact, would change our lives forever. So, it was up to me to determine whether or not, I would bring balance to the Force.

"Just out of curiosity, have you considered becoming a Jedi?" I asked, laughing a little at the end.

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Because I am positive that the Council would've have been delighted to have your wisdom with them!"

We both laughed and for the first time in a while, I felt at home.

Barriss POV

I leaned back against a bale of hay.*(Does Star Wars have hay?)* Watching the sun dip below the hills, my mind drifted to Coruscant and the evening meditation that I would do with my master. Afterwards, we would talk and watch the sunset dip below the tall buildings. It always relaxed me and calmed for the next inevitable that was to come.

My relationship with Luminara was that of a sibling one, considering my own family shipped me off to the Temple the minute I was born. She hadn't exactly been old enough to be my mother and I would've never dreamed of having something intimate with her. No… the sexual area was reserved for Commander Cody.

Yet, Luminara and I bonded like sisters and in battle, this bond always proved to be useful. But there was so much I hadn't learned from her, so much wisdom that had been lost during Order 66. I had grieved at first, and I was still grieving, but now it's on the inside. It's something that can only be found in my mind and in my heart.

"Mind if I join you?" a strong voice said from behind me. I didn't have to turn around to know that it was Hunter. The tone and strength of his voice reminded me much of Bly and Cody's. And Gree's… I thought, grief spreading through me. He had been my brother.

But I couldn't be sad forever, so I replied to Hunter, "Sure."

He sat next to me and for a moment, silence was the loudest thing that could be heard. "Are you thinking about the Jedi?"

His question surprised me and I whipped my head around, confusion evident in my expression. "How did you know?"

"Ahsoka always gets that look on her face when we bring something up about Order 66 or the Jedi Temple. I just assumed…" he trailed off, suspecting that I already knew where he was going, which of course, I did.

"You're very observant for a seven year-old," I said, not realizing how ridiculous that sounded.

"Well, my father was a clone and they were bred to fight and kill," he replied, giving a small chuckle at the end. There was a long pause before he asked, "Do you know who my father is?"

Kriff, I thought. Ahsoka hadn't told him about his father yet and here I was, on the hot seat and taking up for the Togruta again. "I met him once or twice," I stalled.

"I didn't ask if you had met him. I asked if you knew who he was," Hunter replied, his eyes filled with curiosity and pain. He added in a hoarse voice, "And if you don't tell me who he is, at least let me know if he's alright. My mom… she loved him so much. If he isn't here, then tell me."

I chose my words carefully. I knew that the slightest thing could set him off here. "He is in no pain or sorrow."

Hunter smiled a little and said, "That's good."

"Yes, good," I repeated, looking down at the ground. My heart was beating at a pulse of a thousand. He can't know. It's too early. He'll crack and then who know's what?

He looked down at me, confusion evident in his expression. "Is something wrong?"

Yes. "No."

Review, please! And yes, it's very out of character for Lux not to tell anyone about Anakin, but Ahsoka and his balls are on the line, so shut up and enjoy the tension.