A/N: another chapter (I don't actually remember how many I've done today now...), because I'm too excited about Star Wars in less than 3 hours! (Over here, anyway). My brother's going to see the midnight one - I'm so envious! I wish I could go. He asked if I wanted to, but I have exams tomorrow, so I can't! sob sob. Well, on with the story!
Chapter Fifteen: Revelations
When Tsena wandered into the kitchen, she found her parents seated at the table, eating their breakfast. There was a plate set before an empty chair, and Tsena sat down and began to eat.
A few minutes passed in silence, until Tsena finished her breakfast. She looked at her parents and said quietly, "I need to know now why and how I am still alive – I had another vision of Anakin becoming a Sith last night. I know the time is coming – and I need to know."
Perann nodded. He understood that she had to know – the future depended on it. "To understand, you must first know a little about our culture," he began. "Here on Teranis, we believe strongly in the forces of nature. We believe that the eyes are like windows to the soul."
"People with brown eyes, like mine, are called children of the earth," Keila said. "People with eyes like your father's are children of water. Those with grey eyes are children of the sky, green are children of the forest, and golden-eyed people are children of light."
"So I would be a child of light and water?" Tsena guessed.
Perann nodded. "The child of light and water, actually." He looked to his wife. "You should explain this, Keila."
Tsena's mother took a deep breath. "The words you heard me say to you before you left – emin talu raya – mean 'Child of Light and Water'. It is also the title of an ancient prophecy from a Teranian wise man years ago."
Tsena blinked and furrowed her brow slightly, confused. A prophecy?
"The prophecy foretold the coming of a child with one golden eye and one blue eye, filled with the light of good and as gentle and calm as water. It was prophesied that this child would die for love, see the future of the one they died for, and would return to life to change the future of their beloved and, in doing so, would change the fate of the galaxy."
"And this child is me?" Tsena breathed, eyes wide.
Perann nodded. "We knew when you were born – nobody in the history of Teranis has ever had mismatched eyes except you."
"If you knew I was the child, why did you let me leave to become a Jedi? Why didn't you keep me here to learn of my destiny?"
"We felt that if you were a Jedi, you could develop skills that might assist you in fulfilling the prophecy," Keila answered.
Tsena sat back in her chair, slightly overwhelmed. She did truly believe her parents and this prophecy – after all, she it all the criteria. But she felt incredibly daunted by her task and this new realisation of responsibility. If Anakin turns to the Dark side, the whole galaxy will suffer. The fate of the galaxy rests on my shoulders!
Perann reached forward and took his daughter's hand. "I know you're afraid, Tsena. But you will not fail – I know you won't. You are strong, and you can do this."
"Thank you, dad."
Keila put her arm around her, and she rested her head on her mother's shoulder. The time was approaching – it was only a matter of time.
Anakin stood once again in Chancellor Palpatine's office. He had spent the night mulling over his words, and now he was even angrier at the Council and Obi-Wan. I'm more powerful than any of them, and still I'm forced to obey their rules! Obi-Wan is just holding me back!
"Too long have you been restricted by the petty rules and regulations of the Jedi Order," Palpatine said to him. "But there is a way you can grow to your full potential, where you can become who you were born to be – the most powerful man in the galaxy."
Anakin turned to him eagerly. "What is it?" I'm sick of being overlooked, sick of not being able to do anything I want to do.
"The way of the Dark side is not, as many think, the way to destruction. It is the way to power, to freedom."
Anakin stared at Palpatine. Could it be…?
"Yes," Palpatine smiled. "I am the Sith lord, Darth Sidious, and I am offering you the chance to join me and become the most powerful man in the galaxy."
Anakin continued to stare, and Palpatine sensed his hesitation. "Join me, and you will be released from the prison the rules of the Jedi hold you in. You will be able to exercise your full power. I can teach you skills that are so powerful, the Jedi are afraid to use them." He paused, then continued with a final sentence that he knew would clinch the deal. "Join me, and you will be free to marry Tsena and rule the galaxy with her at your side."
Anakin blinked, and he suddenly saw all that was laid before his feet – the path of the Light side, narrow and restricting, and the path of the Dark side, wide and inviting. He thought of Tsena – all he wanted was to marry her – something he could not do if he stayed with the Jedi. But if he joined the Sith…
He knelt before Darth Sidious.
"I will follow you, my Master."
Tsena stood up abruptly. "It's time," she half-whispered, a single tear sliding down her cheek. Anakin had turned – she felt it tear at her heart and soul.
Her parents nodded, and Keila ran to Tsena's room to pack her things. Perann stood up and embraced his daughter. "Be careful, Tsena. I know you will fulfil your destiny."
Keila reappeared, Tsena's bags in hand. "Good-bye, Tsena," she said, kissing her cheek. "My emin talu raya, I have so much faith in you."
A few minutes later, Tsena was sitting inside the ship, on her way to Coruscant. She thanked heaven that Coruscant was so close to Teranis. She might arrive before anyone could be hurt.
She shifted in her seat, and something jabbed into her side. She reached into her pocket, and withdrew a small holocam. She stared at it for a second, trying to remember why it was in her pocket – and then she realised it was the holocam she had recorded her last message to Anakin with.
She slipped it back into her pocket. Something told her that she would need it.
She set the coordinates to land at the Temple. She knew that was where Anakin would go.
She stared at her hands, tears welling up once more in her eyes.
I will save you, Anakin. You are not lost yet.
Obi-Wan had taken the Senator back to Naboo, and had been informed that the planet's security team had captured Nute Gunray, the Neimodian behind the attempts on Senator Amidala's life. He had decided to go to Teranis to see Tsena and give a report on her to Jovarii, who he knew was missing her Padawan.
As he approached the city of Gwaan, he spotted Tsena's ship on the platform. She's still here, he though. Yet as he watched, he saw the ship rise and take off in the direction of Coruscant.
He knitted his eyebrows together. Where is she going? She was expected to stay at least another day or so.
He turned his vehicle around and followed her at a distance.
"The Chancellor is a Sith," Mace Windu said grimly.
Yoda shook his head gravely. "Blind we have been."
"We must stop him before he takes a tighter hold on the Senate," Mace said, looking around the Council.
"Underestimate his power, we must not."
Mace nodded. "We will summon what Jedi are able and go to capture him."
Yoda closed his eyes. "A dark day, it is."
Jovarii was walking to the cafeteria when her comlink beeped, signalling an incoming message. She pulled it out.
"All able-bodied Jedi are to report to the Council chambers immediately," came Mace Windu's voice.
Jovarii slipped the comlink back into her pocket and began to walk to the Council chambers. She was puzzled, curious and almost apprehensive – the last time she had received such a message, she had gone to Geonosis with two hundred other Jedi to fight thousands of the Separatists' battle droids, and so few had returned.
Something was happening, and it was not good.