A/N: Would've had this chapter out earlier, but I've been flying cross-country all day. Thanks to edboy4926, .L, The Dark Porg, and Mako-clb for the reviews.
v. djem so/shien
16:5:22 GrS
Jedi Temple
High Council Chambers
Galactic City, Coruscant
"Welcome back," said Master Windu, watching Jaina closely as she swept into the chamber's center. She chewed at the inside of her cheek, holding back the sort of comment she'd make if he were Kyp or even Kyle Katarn sitting before her. From what she had learned of the master, he wasn't one for sarcasm or jokes. "We should apologize for the delay in this meeting, but with the ongoing conflict, the Council is not always able to convene daily. I believe you will be willing to answer all of our questions truthfully and in full today."
"I will do so," Jaina admitted. "The conversation I needed to have didn't occur until yesterday, so having the extra time was beneficial. It helped me realize I can't let myself be controlled by my fears." She glanced at Anakin and added, "And since you wish for me to be truthful and hold nothing back, you must know that everything is at stake."
"Such as?" Master Windu asked with furrowed brows.
"The near destruction of the Jedi Order," Jaina stated. "Younglings slaughtered, the Temple burned and destroyed, and the Sith Lord responsible for the war declares himself Emperor. The world of Alderaan will be annihilated, with only an asteroid field to mark where it once gleamed." She remained impassive as the masters of the Council flinched with horrified looks, most sitting up as their expressions settled into concerned frowns. "Of you twelve, only Masters Kenobi and Yoda survive the Purge long enough to train new Jedi."
She could feel the Council's shock at her pronouncement. The holocom of Yoda frowned at those words. "And of the Sith Lord? Destroy the Jedi Order, how does he do so?"
Jaina sighed. "The Sith Lord you have been seeking is here on Coruscant and has been for many, many years. Pulling strings, moving pawns. He has even manipulated and influenced one of your own. He's got a Jedi right under his thumb."
"Who is it?" asked Anakin, impatient. "The Sith Lord we have been searching for?"
"You know him as Chancellor Palpatine," Jaina answered. She struggled to ignore the betrayal, the horror, she felt rolling off of her grandfather. "And if nothing is done, his goal will come to pass. If I remember my history right, it will be tonight."
"Tonight?" asked Mace Windu, leaning forward. "How do you know this?"
"Records from the Empire made clear that the, uh, Jedi coup occurred tonight—at least, I'm positive it's tonight—into tomorrow, though I doubt it occurred the way the Empire described," Jaina answered. "That and well, my family is tied to many events that have occurred in what is my past."
"Ah, your grandfather," realized Yoda, nodding. "A Jedi, you say he is. Tell us his name, you finally will?"
Jaina looked down as the torment of her past came back. "My youngest brother was named for him, for my mother finally forgave him his, uh, crimes and…errors. My uncle, raised by what remained of his father's family, was told by their shared master he was 'the best starfighter pilot in the galaxy, a cunning warrior, and a good friend'." She looked back up, steeling herself as the Sword of the Jedi and declared, "As many of you already suspect, my grandfather is Anakin Skywalker."
"By the Force…you really are my granddaughter?" asked Anakin. Jaina turned and nearly found herself swallowing her tongue. Staring at the shocked, hopeful face of her grandfather brought back memories of when she was young and innocent, in the times where she had two younger brothers.
Mother was right to name Anakin as she did, and not only for forgiveness' sake.
"I am," she said, nodding. "In my time, it is uncommon, but accepted for Jedi to have families. After all, the Grand Master had a wife, who was also a Jedi. It was her death that led to me facing my brother after his fall to the dark side."
Master Windu frowned. "Families are not the Jedi way. It has been thousands of years since a Jedi had a family. 'We are to know neither anger, nor hate, nor passion.' Yet you say your uncle had a wife, and is the Grand Master"
"Yes, well," Jaina began, struggling to determine what she could reveal. Blast it. In for a chip, in for hand. She sighed and said, "My uncle, Luke Skywalker, is the Grand Master because he reestablished the Order, and that included changing past doctrine."
"My son…is the Grand Master?" asked Anakin. She turned to her grandfather and nearly beamed at the pride in his eyes. And then she felt a hint of uncertainty from him, the fear he held of his wife dying, and Jaina knew that the future of Darth Vader had yet to be put to rest.
"He is. And he is the reason you were able to finally overcome the Sith Lord responsible for a tremendous amount of suffering."
Anakin Skywalker suddenly stood. "I…I need to go. Excuse me." Her grandfather quickly departed the Council chamber, robes flowing as he went. Jaina chewed at her lower lip, a pulse of concern and fear flooding her. She had her suspicion where he was going and she hoped that when they next spoke to each other, he was not the apprentice of the Dark Lord of the Sith.
"Worried for your grandfather you are," acknowledged Yoda. "Another painful secret."
Jaina felt as if her voice was only a small whisper. "When I said that Darth Vader's first victim was Anakin Skywalker, I didn't mean in the literal sense."
"Anakin fell to the dark side?" asked Master Kenobi, horrified. "But you said he defeated the Sith Lord—that he defeated Palpatine."
Jaina nodded with a hint of hesitation. "He was redeemed in his final moments. His last act was to destroy his Sith master and to tell his son, my uncle, that he was right to believe there was still good in him. I…" She smiled, drawing upon what was once just a fond memory. "I was told by my uncle that when confronting Palpatine, right before Grandfather was redeemed, that he said, 'I am a Jedi, like my father before me.' There is still hope." She turned to face the door Anakin had passed through. "Though I cannot help but worry that he might still fall."
Master Windu scowled, glancing towards the door or in the direction of the Senate. "You think he went to confront Palpatine, to confirm your claim that he is the Sith Lord we have been searching for?"
"Something like that."