Chapter 2

"Master, how can good come from bad?" thirteen year old Nemiraa asked her new Master.

"That is a very good question. There are many theories and a few are based on fact. Many cultures and beings have different beliefs on it. Personally, I see it as someone that comes from the outside to a place where things are bad and begins to slowly plant seeds of goodness," he explained.

"I think I get it," Nemiraa confirmed as they watched the sun finish its descent.

After the sun went down they headed back to their quarters. "Master," Nemiraa began as they entered their quarters. "You won't leave me like my former Master did, will you?"

He gave her a small smile. "I won't be around forever, but I will be in your heart and my teachings will be with you when you need them."

Nemiraa nodded in acceptance of his answer and headed to her bedroom. "Good night, Master."

"Good night, Nemiraa," he replied and headed off to his room.

Darth Khunth stood before the Council again, this time with Drengin standing beside him.

"I have chosen Drengin to be my apprentice and now ask the Council's approval and recognition," Khunth began.

Darth Cralash examined Drengin with his piercing stare and looked back at Khunth. "There are older ones that may benefit from you better than this boy," he replied gruffly.

Drengin stiffened at this and bit his lip as he looked to Khunth for reassurance.

Khunth's eyes blazed with anger at this remark as he replied, "I am sure of my choice, unless, of course, the Council now doubts my abilities?"

Darth Ronok fidgeted as he glared at Khunth. "Are you questioning our decisions?" He asked as his hand inched to his lightsaber.

Khunth swallowed a lump in his throat as he answered, "No Masters, however, I have made my choice so either you grant his apprenticeship to me or I will not choose an apprentice."

Darth Bane nodded his head. "Very well then; Drengin will be your apprentice." With that said he dismissed them.

Khunth and Drengin bowed their heads and left. As soon as they were out of the Council chambers Drengin let out a sigh of relief.

Khunth smiled inwardly. "We'll stop by your old room and pick up your stuff. Then we'll start the bonding process in our quarters."

"Yes Master," Drengin replied in a cheery tone, a tone that he quickly squashed as best as he could.

Anakin walked quickly through the corridors in a sour mood. This is ridiculous; it seems the better I do the more work my Master gives me. I want to get rid of him now not later. He stopped walking near Darth Seront's quarters. I could be a little late; it's not like it'll be any worse if I'm on time. He knocked on Darth Seront's door, hoping that he hadn't left yet.

"Come on in, Anakin," Darth Seront called as he came out of the kitchen. Anakin entered and was met by Seront. "Well, Anakin, I haven't seen you in awhile. Your Master keeping you busy?" Seront asked as he gestured for him to sit down as he too sat down across from Anakin.

Anakin snorted. "That's an understatement; I'll probably die young if he keeps this up."

"I see, so you decided to see me and be late instead!" Seront remarked questionably.

Anakin nodded his head. "I do need a break from this training. I wonder if he trains me so hard because they think that I am the Chosen One."

"Anakin, you 'are' the Chosen One," Seront corrected.

"Yeah, chosen for torment and probable death at a young age," Anakin replied sarcastically.

"Anakin, no one said being the Chosen One would be easy and training to be a Sith, Chosen One or not, does not mean it will be easy. Drawing on the Dark Side 'is' an easy thing to do but the training is still hard work."

Anakin stood up and headed to the door, "Thanks a lot," he remarked irritably and left.

Seront clasped his head in his hands and groaned. "And I wonder why this mission hasn't been completed yet."

Darth Redav flew his ship down to Paquallis III's surface and landed in a hanger bay. After securing his ship, he left the hangar and headed to the first cantina that he could find.

He entered the bustling Craychun cantina and sat at the table where a Gotal sat. "I need information on the bounty hunter named Jango Fett," he began and placed a few credits on the table.

"That'll cost you 500 credits," the Gotal replied.

Darth Redav placed a small pouch of credits on the table. "I need to know where he was last seen."

The Gotal grunted and rubbed his chin. "For another 100 credits, I'll tell you."

Darth Redav's eyes narrowed and raised his hand to Force choke the Gotal. "You will tell me if you value your life!" He hissed as the Gotal began to gasp for air.

"All right, I'll tell." The Gotal responded hoarsely as Darth Redav released his hold. The Gotal looked around for a minute to make sure no on listening in or watching, then he leaned in close to Darth Redav. "Jango Fett was reported to be heading to Kamino a week ago after he had finished his assignment here."

Darth Redav nodded and quickly left the cantina and headed back to his ship.

Anakin stormed through the corridors, his sour mood becoming worse with every step he took. The whole universe is bent on getting rid of me. He headed off to the library with long strides. If Redav won't let me kill my Master then there must be something else I can do. A sly smile crept onto his face. Being the ' Chosen One' may have some benefits if I can find them.

As soon as he reached the library he found a very unhappy, irritated Master waiting for him. Anakin could see the fury in his Master's eyes and the deepening scowl on his face. Angry Master? He inwardly smiled. I have been training under you for about ten years now. I am not afraid of you, even when I found out about your earlier apprentices. He said to himself arrogantly.

"Don't think even for a second that I don't know what is going through that head of yours," Darth Dakonda snarled.

Anakin's eyes burned with rising fury as he replied in a cold tone, "Only because you knew this could happen."

"It doesn't make a difference. Now you are going to return to our quarters where I will pick the appropriate punishment for you!" Darth Dakonda told him angrily.

Anakin's hand slowly went for his lightsaber. "I don't think so."

A crowd began to gather around as the tension escalated. Darth Dakonda was known to lose more apprentices than any other Master in the Temple. Only two of ten previous apprentices had ever become a Master under Darth Dakonda's tutelage. Two of his apprentices were killed in a lightsaber duel that ensued; one managed to survive the duel and was able to receive a new Master; three never returned from a mission with their Master; the other two went insane after training under him for two years. Anakin was his eleventh apprentice; if he lost this apprentice the Council will forbid him to take on any more apprentices.

Darth Dakonda sneered and drew his lightsaber. "Fine, I'll do it the hard way."

Anakin ignited his lightsaber and blocked just as his Master's lightsaber swung at his side. "You know you can't win."

Darth Dakonda snarled as their lightsabers clashed back and forth. Their lightsabers sparked and sizzled as the two opposing lightsabers pressed against each other.

Anakin broke away and watched as his Master circled him, ready to defend himself from the Sith Master's attacks. Anger boiled inside of him, urging him to attack. Instead he waited and concentrated on breaking their bond. As soon as it snapped Anakin let his fury take over and attacked Darth Dakonda, who was still recovering from the severe way the bond was broken. Anakin kicked Darth Dakonda's lightsaber from his hand and pointed his lightsaber at Darth Dakonda's throat. His breathing was heavy as he looked down at his former Master.

Darth Dakonda lay on the ground and looked into Anakin's eyes to see still burning fury. Licking his dry lips he managed to sneer, "Go ahead; strike me down, then Queen Amidala will see your true self – a murderer and unloving Sith."

Anakin's hand trembled; his thoughts going back to Amidala and his growing love for her that he didn't understand. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he fought an inward battle.

Taking this opportunity, Darth Dakonda Force pushed Anakin backwards, Force grabbed Anakin's lightsaber and pointed it at a startled Anakin. "You are a pathetic weakling, a former slave that happens to be the one the prophecy spoke about. HA! We do not need you, slave boy." He sneered in disgust.

Anakin tried to move but his body did not obey. "Go ahead, kill me like the coward you are. The Council will not be pleased that their 'Chosen One' was killed by a jealous Master," he spat.

Darth Dakonda seethed with wrath as he approached Anakin. "Then you will die." He lifted his lightsaber and swung at Anakin's neck only to be met by another lightsaber blade.

"That would be unwise Darth Dakonda." Darth Seront remarked as he pressed his lightsaber against Darth Dakonda's.

Darth Dakonda snarled at this intrusion, "This is none of your concern."

"Well, I think it is, considering Anakin is the Chosen One and all," Darth Seront retorted with a smirk.

Darth Dakonda disengaged Anakin's lightsaber, dropped it and Force pulled his own lightsaber toward him. Once Darth Seront had disengaged his lightsaber and walked away, Darth Dakonda looked at Anakin with a scowl. "We'll see who gets it," he remarked, pointing a finger at him. That said, he spun on his heel and headed to the Council chambers.

The crowd soon disintegrated, leaving Anakin where he stood. Still shaken by what had happened, he picked up his lightsaber and placed it back on his belt. His ire died down to a simmer as he walked into the Sith library.

Darth Khunth and Drengin finished the bonding process and opened their eyes to look at each other.

"You may go put your stuff in your room now and fix it up the way you want it," Darth Khunth told his apprentice in a gentle tone.

Drengin nodded his head. "Yes, Master," he replied as he stood, grabbed his bag off the couch, and headed to his new room.

Khunth leaned back against the sofa and let himself relax some more. That went well; I just wish this wasn't the Sith Temple and I didn't have to act like a Sith while training an apprentice.

/Anakin is going to get himself killed one of these days./ Darth Seront's cross voice said suddenly through their bond.

/I saw a small portion of the duel, he seemed to be doing a good job./ Khunth remarked.

/Well you didn't see that he almost got himself killed by his Master./ Seront retorted, his irritation seeping through their bond.

/Is he all right/ Khunth asked in concern.

/He'll be fine, but I have a feeling this isn't over yet./

/Did you try talking to him/ Khunth asked as he stretched his arms.

/Yes, and like before he just didn't get it./ Seront answered in an annoyed tone.

/You can't blame him; he is being trained by the worst of the best Sith Masters./

/Perhaps, but this is getting ridiculous./

/I don't think so; this could actually be beneficial to us./ Khunth suggested in a thoughtful tone.

/You have got to be kidding me. He'll probably go even deeper into the Dark Side./

/You don't know that. This may sound odd, but I believe this incident – and others – to come may give us the opening we need./

/As far as I'm concerned, we should have just tried to grab him on Naboo./

/Garen/ Khunth rebuked in surprise at Seront's thoughts.

/Don't use my real name, Khunth, especially since you have an apprentice now./

/Fine, Seront. Now let's get one thing straight. You organized this mission, you knew we may have difficulties; you knew the consequences. Now you want to start giving up/ Khunth asked, his anger bristling at Seront's attitude.

/I don't want to – but what's the point if I can't get through to Anakin/

/Look, if you leave, fine, but Redav and I are staying here and completing this mission./

/All right, I'll stay; it's just that Anakin can be so infuriating./

/Perhaps, but I believe he won't be for long./

/Yeah, well, I think I'll meditate on this./

/Ok – oh, and Seront, there is no 'I' in team./ Khunth finished, not receiving a response. He gave a short sigh and stood up. When Redav gets back I'm going to tell him to talk to Seront. I think this 'wait' is getting to him.

Anakin threw another pair of data pads aside as he continued his search. Details, opinions, stated facts, questionable facts, research. This is really annoying – for crying out loud it's just a prophecy! He screamed to himself. You would think that if they've looked, checked and researched it so thoroughly they would have something regarding what privileges the Chosen One may have. He threw a stack of datapads at a nearby wall in irritation and slammed his head on the small table.

"Throwing datapads around is not going to help your cause too much," Nemiraa remarked as she leaned against a wall with her arms crossed.

"You would too if you couldn't find what you are looking for," Anakin responded angrily as he looked toward her.

She shook her head and strode over to him. "To find something, you need to know where to look."

"I know what I'm looking for," he replied irritably.

She just raised an eyebrow and typed something into the console; a datapad appeared out of a slot nearby. "There, now quit grumbling and get to work." You're going to need it.

Anakin picked the datapad up and began to read it. It had everything he wanted to know and even a little more. He narrowed his eyes when he realized he hadn't told Nemiraa what he was looking for. "How did you—" He stopped when he didn't see her anywhere. That's odd. He shrugged and continued to read.