Disclaimer: I am not making any money off of this story. This is purely for my enjoyment and the enjoyment of my readers. All characters with the exception of Anie are copyright of George Lucas.

Anie was lying awake on her sleepcouch, staring up at the ceiling. She couldn't sleep. Of course, that was normal for this time of year. It was summer, and she could never manage to sleep during this season.

Analyse, came a voice in her mind. Go to sleep.

Yes, Master. She replied. Master Jinn tried to understand, and usually did a good job, but this was something he never would. Anie didn't really understand it either. All she knew was that every year, during the summer; she had to stay awake. Otherwise the dreams would come. She had learned that one night at the Temple several years ago.

* * * * *

She was running . . .running . . . running from some beast she couldn't see. She didn't dare turn around to look. She could hear it crashing after her. It was hungry, and it thought Anie was lunch.

She could see the end of the forest. She ran faster, but the beast got her anyway. It grabbed her in one massive paw and shoved her toward its gaping mouth. Anie screamed. Before the beast got her in its mouth, Anie woke up. Or so she thought. As she sat, staring at the walls, catching her breath, the walls started closing in around her. And to make matters worse, they were positively crawling with piranha beetles.

This wasn't going to be pleasant.

* * * * *

Anie screamed. She screamed again and sat bolt upright, sweat pouring down her face and back.

"Anie? Anie, what's wrong?" Qui-Gon Jinn said, crossing the room to her.

"The dreams. They're back. I don't know what they mean." She replied.

"What was it this time?"

"The beast and the piranha beetles."

"Hmmm . . . . ." Qui-Gon looked thoughtful. "The beast and the piranha beetles. The beetles I understand. You told me about your experience with them. Do you ever see what the beast looks like?"

"Umm . . . I did. Once. When I was six or seven."

"Who or what did it look like?"

"Funny how you put that: Who or what. It looked like—"

Just then there was an ear-piercing scream that echoed through the Temple.

"Come on." Qui-Gon said, heading for the door. "Any idea where that came from?"

"It came from the direction of . . . Sithspawn, NO!"

"What?"

"It came from the direction of the new initiate's room. Bruck you little piece of . . ."

"Later. Come on."

* * * * *

Anie and Qui-Gon ran towards the new student's room. When they got there, there was already a bunch of students consoling her.

Interesting, no Masters. Anie thought. Turning to Qui-Gon, she said: "Wait a sec. I'll be right back." With that, Anie walked right over to a Mon Calamari girl named Bant.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Some of the boys pulled a practical joke." Bant replied a touch of scorn in her voice.

"Lemme guess. Bruck, right?"

"That's right. They headed out toward the garden." Bant gave her that last piece of information without Anie even having to ask.

"Thanks," Anie said, remembering her manners.

As she walked back to Qui-Gon, Anie fumed at the cruelty of Bruck. How dare he try to get back at me like this? How dare he . . .

"Well?" Qui-Gon asked upon Anie's return.

"Care for an evening stroll in the garden?"

* * * * *

They found Bruck and his cronies fairly easily. Bruck tried to run, but all Qui-Gon had to do was look at him, and he stopped in his tracks.

"Would you like to do the honors, Padawan?"

"Why thank you, Master," Anie gave Qui-Gon a bow, then turned to Bruck. "How dare you play a practical joke on the new girl just because you know I made friends with her? Let me guess, because Master Jinn chose me and you wanted to get back at me. You little piece of Sithspit!"

Qui-Gon let the language slide this one time and only because he was angry with Bruck, too.

Anie was furious. "You know what I should do? I should let Master Jinn and the other Masters discipline you. And I will, but not before I tell you how much I hate you." She paused for breath. "This isn't Dark Side hate. This is righteous hate. And I have good reason for it to. Ever since I came to the Temple, you've hated me. You pulled pranks, got me in trouble, and countless other things. I put up with it all these years because I thought you were jealous. Now I see what that jealousy has turned into." Analyse was choking on tears. "I can't believe you would go this far, Bruck. Over becoming a Padawan. How could you? This is the most un-Jedi-like thing I have ever seen!" Anie could no longer stop the tears. She sank to her knees on the path, and buried her face in her hands.

"Anie?" Qui-Gon asked. Getting no response other than quiet sobbing, he turned to Bruck once again. "Spend tonight thinking about what you did. Tomorrow you will go before the Council of Masters. Go now."

"Yes, sir," they mumbled, and left.

"Anie? Come on. Let's go back inside."

Anie rose, wiped her eyes, and headed in after her Master.

"Master?" Anie started, a bit tentatively.

"Yes?"

"I want to thank you for what you did. Taking over when I couldn't go on."

"Your welcome, Padawan." Qui-Gon said with a fondness that puzzled Anie.

"Analyse? I think I know whom you were going to say tonight before the scream. You were going to say Bruck, weren't you." It wasn't a question.

"Yes, I was, Master. It was Bruck's face I saw on the monster from my dream."

To be Continued . . .