Note: Thanks for the reviews!!!! Shen Panda ( *Jaw drops to the floor* URGH! I can't tell you why I'm saying that yet but URGH! Lol. Yes, why did everyone just kind of like go 'yeah, ok.' When Jesi told them about Grifth? Something's brewing! Who knew what? Who's gonna know what? Who's gonna do what when they know it? *Thinks* Well, that was slightly confusing hehehehehhe. Sorry, I'm hyper. Enjoy this chapter! I'm not saying it's going to answer ALL of your questions but it will start hinting to some. ;) ) PhoenixQueen ( Nice to have you back! I thinkt hat I'm not making these little clues obvious enough too.  I do that sometimes cause I know what I'm Supposed to be looking for therefore I think everyone else can notice it too, BONK! Heh. Thanks for filling me in on that, I had a feeling of that. OMGosh!!! That is SUCH A COOL TITLE! How did you think of that???? I'm going to put it on my profile and in everything as soon as you read this. THANK YOU! ) Omega (I'm so glad you like them!!! Heh, don't worry, I need to get a life then too. ;) I love leaving so many questions, can you tell? Shen usually asks them all up…and answers them too. * Sticks her tongue out at Shen* Shen just know's me too well now lol. Was this fast enough to update??? Hope so. Thanks for the review! )

Well, this chapter may be slightly boring, but the next one….hehehehhe. That's all I'm saying. Ok well…um…who wants a stuffed animal????? ;)

Happy reading, and don't forget to reiview!!!

Ch. 7 Treading Dark Waters

Grifth and his follower trudged through the waters of the water supply way below the temple. The infants in both their arms did nothing but look around with wandering eyes. At least he didn't have to think of anyone hearing a baby. Grifth smirked thinking of the horrified look on Jesi's face as he dropped down the chute….Similar to the look his Master had given him when he had jumped from the cliff…yes, Master-

"Grifth!" His accomplice hissed. The leader turned to look at him with glaring, icy eyes.

"He's down there." Plictain said motioning by throwing his head to the right, down another tunnel way.

"You're positive?" Grifth asked. He knew his leader wouldn't be stupid enough not to shield himself, but therefore he himself could not locate him easily even knowing what he was looking for.

"Yes sir. My tracker leads us right there." The Tuluse replied.

Grifth nodded and they changed their direction slightly, moving down the tunnel way.

~~~~~~~~

"Do you think she'll know?" The deep voice of a Jedi asked his company.

The other Jedi Master shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. We didn't cover very well back in the pharamacy. It was kind of obvious that none of us, except for the younger ones, were surprised at all."

The first Jedi moved across the room and joined the other at the window. "Did we do the right thing? Keeping this from Them?"

The other Master glanced at their accompany. "No, I don't think we did. I told you that from the start."

With that the Jedi moved briskly out of the room leaving the first to their thoughts.

*********

Obi-Wan watched the heart monitor go up and down. He listened to that constant bleep for hours it seemed, though it had only been maybe one or two. Bant had no facial expression. She looked to be peacefully sleeping he would, any other day, think she were.  He sighed rubbing his eyes and looked up as Qui-Gon Jinn came into the room.

"How are you holding up?" He asked quietly as he moved to take a seat near his apprentice.

"Well, considering. What did Hawkings say?"

"Nothing besides what he told us earlier. He found out from this, Liranki, Jesi's assistant, and came to see to Jesi. He's stuck to his story, but we don't know what to believe with the way Jes acts around him."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Have you talked to Jesi?"

Jinn shifted in his chair. "No. She's seemed to isolate herself for the time being."

Obi-Wan sighed running a hand through his hair. "How could we have not seen this coming? It's such a …planned…operation, we should have sensed something." Kenobi said frustrated.

"We didn't sense anything because they know how to shield us from their thoughts." Qui-Gon said quietly.

Obi-Wan froze. Silence stood and Qui-Gon became edgy.

"They're Jedi?" Obi-wan asked tightly.

"Grifth is a Jedi….We don't know about those that work for him. We doubt it."

"What about who he works for?"

"We don't know that either."

Obi-Wan leaned back in his chair with a sigh. After a moment Obi-Wan cleared his throat.

"Master…Grifth is no older than you…younger even…you didn't even recognize him? No one has ever seen him before, and yet he knows how to use the Force? That doesn't make sense. I am he had to at least be seen by the council at LEAST once. Not to mention, who was his master?" The Padawan said with as much respect as he could without sounding as if he expected him to say what Obi-Wan didn't want to hear.

"You're right," Qui-Gon said looking away. "it doesn't make any sense. Things aren't as complicated as we made it out to be Obi-Wan."

"We?" Obi-Wan asked slowly dragging his eyes to his Master.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Healer Mckiri Anatosis opened her eyes slowly to look at the celine above her. At first she was confused, but then everything came back. A slow smile slid across her face and she was very aware she was not shielding, or being shielded.  The triplets and Grifth were out of the Temple by now, and the Jedi could question her all they wanted to without ever finding him.

"Perhaps you'd like to explain what happened Healer Anatosis." Adi Gallia said stepping out of the shadows of the room. She was to protect Mckiri, but it seemed she needed no protecting.

"Everything that happened…" Gallia said moving incrediably authorital to the foot of the healer's bed.

Mckiri looked at the Jedi Master and her smile came back.

"You're out of luck." She said hoarsely.

"There's no such thing as luck." Adi replied icily sending a wave of calling throughout the council presence, though they already knew from Mckiri's loud, and dark, thoughts.

"Explain…" It wasn't a request, it was a order.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesi gently laid her son back into the crib. He stirred and blinked with his wide dark eyes as he looked up at her. Jesi looked down at him wondering how you could love a person so much when you just met them….or haven't even met them.

Jesi looked away from him and to her com that was lying on her jacket. She'd waited long enough.

Placing a soft kiss on the baby boy's head Jesi moved out of the room looking at the two Jedi Knights that stood outside of it. One moved inside and the other moved infront of the door as she left. She nodded a thank you and continued on her way.

*** Few Minutes later***

Jesi moved inside the room in which she had always found peaceful, even in her stay here as an adolescent. The Room of the Stars was always her favorite. Of course the display of the rotating systems was not glowing around her from the lockdown, but she didn't mind.

Stafferi moved to the center of the room and knelt on her knees cupping a small ornament in her hands. Her bright eyes, once so dark, slid closed and her pleas took her away.

I've always wondered if one day all the things I've done would come back to me. That they would destroy me. I pray to any person, being, God, or spirit to hear me. If I've done something so horrible, please, punish only I for it. All I ask is for those I love not to be harmed again…not to be taken away from me because of what I did. For them to suffer is for me to die, and if that's what must be done, kill me without them. I beg of any whom shall hear this, help me…Please, just help me…

Jesi opened her eyes and looked down into her hands. The silver necklace with the locket still sparkled beautifully. The brilliant S surrounded by a snow flake, and with a blade of protection behind it was still etched elegantly into the silver. The Stafferi family emblem was something she still treasured.

Help me…

Tucking the locket away Jesiana Stafferi left behind the pleading self she had found again in that room and stepped into the world she never wanted to feel, see, or be in again. She came back into the world in which all she could see was anger, resentment, guilt, fear, hatred, revenge,….darkness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jedi Master Mace Windu stood in the entrance of his own quarters, not sure what to do. He knew what he was hesitating for. Why he was wondering if he should go inside or not.

Windu glanced up and down the corridor, then took a heavy breath and moved inside the open door.

Things were as they should have been with no one inside the quarters. Items were not disturbed in the least, and no presence was there in which he could sense. He nearly grunted at that, would he be able to sense any presence? Especially the one he was looking for. 

Moving from the bed chambers back into the living area he paused as his senses flickered at a small movement. He turned to face down the hallway again.

"Looking for someone Master Windu?"

Tbc…..

Mwhahahahahahahaha! I LOVE cliffies! Don't forget to review! Let's see, what can I use this time??? Let's try something other than food. Who wants a plastic lightsaber??? Heh, did you really expect me to give you a real one? LOL! Thanks again!

Till later,

Elli