Chapter 14
Timeline: Selona Day 1, 17 BBY
Planet: Caloria
Anakin eyes drift to the mirror. He stands in the tight confined refresher, staring at the man in front of him. He looked nothing like his formal Jedi appearance:well-built and clean shaven at twenty-three. At nearly twenty-five standard years, the man in front of him appears to be a drifter. His hair is past his shoulders and a deep sandy color and it curls at the ends. His clean shaven face is hidden beneath a large golden beard, which hid most of his chin and he appeared older than his real age. The only feature recognizable to him is the pair of blue eyes that have not change since his birth- not since he met a youthful queen fifteen years ago. His eyes close remembering the youthful angel he met all those years ago….
" Are you an angel?" His young voice questions the girl.
She smiles and says, " What?"
He shrugs and suggests, " An angel."
Anakin's eyes flicker open and back into the present. He looks down at the clippers in his hands and begins his work… The Hero Without Fear needed a shave and haircut….
Anakin smiles at Arian as he reenters the main living area in the small cottage. Arian looks pleased at the cleanly shaven Jedi. The Jedi's hair is much shorter than before, it is cut towards his temple and is only long enough to curl behind his ears. His face shines with his youth.
Arian suggests, " Much better, though if you venture into the city a local may recognize you."
Anakin shrugs as he pulls on his brown boots. His eyes land on Arian and he utters, " To the galaxy I am dead, if anything they'll believe I am the haunted soul of a former Jedi."
Arian uses his cane to place himself in a chair and grunts. His age was beginning to affect his performance, but it should after living ninety-four years. Yet to him his age did not matter, it was all about permanence' which he still has.
Anakin eyes him and persists, " I have been acquiring some of my force abilities, just yesterday I was able to lift several rocks for more than a few nanoseconds. My strength is slowly but surly being regained."
Arian merely smirks sideways and watches the boy. He would soon gain his full strength back, but will would take more time, perhaps a few more months. The truth would be told soon, and Arian would be able to pass on his powers.
Anakin eyes the old man and leans back in his chair, asking, " I want to know why you seem to know so much about my life. You know things I have never shared with anyone."
Arian's smirk grows. The boy's acute intuition in the force still made adequate progress, even with his connection strangled by the dark side. Arian claims, " The truth is not one untold. You already are aware of your answers."
Anakin's eyebrow rises in inquisitiveness. He knew the answers he sought out from this man? Arian sounded like Master Yoda!
He crosses his arms murmuring, " Obviously you have some connection to the Jedi."
Arian shakes his head and states, " No, but go on, I wish to know your thoughts."
Anakin's brow furrows as he retorts, " Tell me, Arian I can handle the truth. I am not a child."
Arian clutches his cane and stands with his knees weighing down on his body. Anakin watches the aged man and Arian begins his tale, " Many years before you were born; there liveed a great Sith Lord- a Munn who prophesied the birth of the Chosen One. This Sith spread the word that one day the Jedi would fall. This " Chosen One" would bring their downfall. Fear crept into several of the Jedi Masters, one in particular wanted to unveil the truth. This Jedi you know well- Master Yoda. He mediated on this and found this " Chosen One" would be a Jedi and would bring balance to the force, not their downfall."
Anakin's eyes widen at this mention. It was a lie?! The Jedi had borrowed the entire prophecy from the Sith??? His heart pounds in his chest at the mention of the Sith Lord. He knew of one Munn Sith Lord- and that was Darth Plagueis.
His eyes settle onto the old man and he utters, " And you would know of this Sith prophecy because you are Darth Plagueis- Palpatine told me he killed you."
Arian stomps his cane, expressing delight at this revelation. " Very good Anakin- I was a Sith, and no one knew of my true identity. I pretended to be a Munn because of my link to this world."
Anakin's eyes narrow and he states, " Then why did you save me? Sith oppose the Jedi ways. Your kind has brought nothing but destruction to the galaxy!"
Arian sighs, " No, as for as saving you, I did so because you have a destiny to complete. When you become as old as I, you will learn to believe in more than the dogmatic views of the Jedi and the Sith. They are cults who purposely force you to choose a side. The force is neither good or evil. It simply is and when used; can be used by a Jedi or Sith. Your destiny is to prove to the galaxy that the force should be balanced in gray- not black and white."
Anakin asks, " And there is more, I can tell, but I have a feeling that is all I'm going to get out of you for awhile."
Arian leans down and sits down in his chair. He rubs his face and utters, " I will explain more when you are ready, but now is not the time for such things. Go back to your training."
Anakin sighs and grabs his jacket, shutting the cottage door behind him….
To Be Continued.