The data chip containing the book on prophesies must have been packed full. Had it been in a hard copy form the tome would have been massive, maybe even multi-volume. As it was, it was taking Anakin quite a bit of time to go through it, and that was mostly skimming and skipping large chunks. The footnotes alone were staggering.

Anakin had been meditating with Obi-Wan for a month now, and always with the same results, though it never ended like that first time did. Now he would always sense…something…just out of reach, but when he would try to extend his mind towards it or walk around in the 'place' his mind went to he'd always hit some sort of block and then snap out of it. Obi-Wan thought that he must have erected some sort of mental shield against whatever laid beyond this point he couldn't seem to breech, and it would take time and determination to break through it. He thought that discussing the past would help Anakin to open up whatever door he had created in his mind, but Anakin had been reluctant to reveal his past as of yet.

I don't want them to know, not yet, Anakin thought. Over the past few months, spending time with the Jedi had turned around his opinion of them, and he'd come to value their opinion of him. Master Nu seemed to have taken a shining to him, and there was now a definite group of younglings and junior padawans that would visit him regularly in the hangars to hear his stories, even the ones he'd already told them.

Then there was Master Hett, with whom he would occasionally spar with gaderffii sticks, and sometimes talk about their individual experiences with the sand people. Hett had been happy to hear about the integration of the tuskens into Tattooine society, and that there seemed to be a sort of peace on the planet. Anakin and he would talk about their tribes: Hett said he would sometimes visit his own, and that once it was safe to do so he'd take Anakin along. For now, though, it was out of the question: the contingent of Jedi sent there had yet to return, though what they were reporting devastated the council. They were finding widespread slavery, crime, and overall terrible conditions. The council had yet to decide a course of action, and Anakin hoped they would come up with something soon.

For now, though, he would be content to continue working in the hangar and with Obi-Wan.

He placed down the data pad next to him on the couch and stretched. It was early morning and his shift to work at the temple would start soon: Layana herself was just getting out of the shower to get ready to go to Dex's.

That was another place Anakin had found friendship. When he had been looking at apartments and had stopped into the diner to tell Layana what he had found he had some time to talk to Dex and found his first impression of him to be true: he was friendly and genuine. He also seemed to have taken a great liking to Layana, and when she would stay late to help him close up he would always pay for her to take an air taxi home for her safety. That alone made Anakin like him, but talking to him was always fun, too. He had a number of interesting tales about many a customer and the many times he had traveled the galaxy. A veritable wealth of obscure information, Anakin was always asking him about things he had read, and Dex always seemed to know a little something about everything.

He'd even found Anakin and Layana an honest and inexpensive broker, who found them an apartment at mid-level: not too pricey, but high enough above the scum filled underbelly of Couruscant for Anakin to feel okay about Layana living there. Not that she couldn't defend herself: back on Tattooine Anakin had made sure to teach her some self defense moves to protect herself against the plethora of shady customers that came into the cantina where she had been working.

Speaking of Layana, he thought as she came into the small living room, dressed for work. "You still reading that one?" she asked, looking at the data pad on the sofa.

"There's something there I haven't found yet, I just know it," he said, picking it up again. "I'll find it soon, I know, I can 'feel' it."

"What are you looking for?" she asked, riffling through her purse, checking that she had everything.

"That's just it: I'm not sure," he said with an embarrassed shrug. "I just know that I have to keep looking, and that when I find it, I'll know."

Layana had gotten used to Anakin's strange 'feelings' a long time ago, so she just shrugged as well and shouldered her bag. "I'm sure you will. I'll be back late: Dex is staying open late for a party and I'm going to stay and help."

"Sure thing – I'll see you tonight. Get home safe."

"I always do." She smiled, gave Anakin a quick peck on the cheek, and was out the door.

Anakin sighed as he started to scroll through the words on the data pad once more. He had to leave soon himself, but he knew, he just knew he was so close to finding what he was looking for…

And then, he found it.

There it was, filling the screen, staring at him in silence as he struggled for air.

It might not have scared him so badly if it weren't for the fact that he'd heard it before.

And he will be low of birth and late of age, and one who walks on sky. And he will be reluctant of his power, and think it harmful. And he will know the ways of Others, and refuse the ways of Some. And in his dreams will he find his Answer, his Coda, and our salvation.

With shaking fingers he put the data pad down. He scrubbed at his face with his hands, then clenched them in his lap and tried to breathe.

He had heard this prophecy before.

And it was about him.

There were a few things he needed to ask Obi-Wan…