Chapter 5

Anakin was still mulling over past conversations and encounters when he heard running footsteps. He looked toward the stairs to see a young boy running up and heading to the far end of the roof, opposite Anakin. Curious, Anakin walked over to the boy. When he got closer he saw that the child was crying.

"What's wrong?" Anakin asked softly.

Drengin glanced at Anakin, silvery brown eyes betraying his nervousness, before looking away to avoid Anakin's gaze, "Nothing."

Anakin shook his head, not entirely convinced, and stood beside him. "What's your name?"

"Drengin," he mumbled.

"Well, Drengin, would you like to walk with me?" Anakin asked.

Drengin turned around to look at Anakin, his face still streaked with tears. "Why?"

Anakin shrugged. "To get our minds off of things for awhile."

"Okay," Drengin agreed, wiping his face with his hand.

They began to walk along the roof, enjoying each other's companionship.

"What's your name?" Drengin asked, glancing up. "I know I've seen you before."

"My name is Anakin Skywalker."

Drengin stopped and gaped at the young man, remembering when he had seen him. "The Anakin? The Anakin that was brave enough to take on his Master just to get a different one?" Drengin exclaimed in surprise and awe.

Anakin's cheeks grew warm in embarrassment. "You saw that?"

Drengin nodded his head shyly. "You're brave."

Anakin gave a little snort. "Brave is not how most people describe me – more like reckless and hotheaded."

"And brave," Drengin added.

"You're very persistent, aren't you?" Anakin asked as he crossed his arms.

"I guess I am," Drengin answered with a smile.

"So do you come up here a lot?" Anakin asked as they stopped next to the edge of the roof and looked at the scenery.

"Yes, it's like a safe place for me," Drengin answered. "Is this where you like to go too?"

"Sometimes; other times I wish I could get away from the Temple for a while," Anakin replied with a faraway look in his eyes.

"Where would you go?" Drengin asked curiously.

"Naboo, most likely," Anakin answered as he turned to look at Drengin. "Where would you go if you could leave without being on a mission?"

"Oh, I don't know," Drengin answered as he turned to meet Anakin's gaze. "Anakin, is it true that you're the Chosen One?"

"Yes…why?"

"What is so special about being the Chosen One, then?" Drengin asked.

"I'm not sure, but it's a great way to get a different Master," Anakin responded sarcastically.

They both laughed and watched as a storm began to form over the mountains, all of their troubles and worries set aside for the time being.

"Anakin, may I ask you something?" Drengin asked seriously.

"Sure, go ahead," Anakin answered as he looked back at him.

"Well, if you found out that someone you trust had lied to you, what would you do about it?"

Anakin leaned against the wall and turned his head right to look at the dark clouds that were scattering the rays of the setting sun. "Is that why you're upset?"

"No—I mean—it could happen," Drengin quickly answered, unsure if he could betray his Master regardless of what he had said he was.

Anakin pressed his lips in a thin line in thought. That's a hard question, and it's one I try not to think about. "I can't really say since I have not traveled that road." But could I be traveling it with my thoughts? Is it possible that I have been lied to since I met up with the Sith?

Drengin let out an irritated sigh and softly kicked at the wall. "I guess that the 'Chosen One' doesn't always have the answers."

Anakin snorted and looked back at Drengin. "Anyone who thinks I have all the answers had better get their brain examined. I don't, and I'm not perfect."

"Yeah, but they respect you."

Anakin rolled his eyes and shook his head. "That, I could do without. It can get plain annoying at times."

"Why?" Drengin asked, puzzled.

"Because then everyone expects you to be perfect, expects you to follow rules, expects you to have answers, expects you to lead them, expects you to be a role model. Everyone lunges at the chance to be friends with me, knowing that by doing so that they will become more respected. Those that want to become friends with me more often than not only do so to become popular," Anakin explained, venting his frustration.

"Oh," Drengin responded softly, looking down at his feet. "I didn't mean to get you upset."

A small smile appeared on Anakin's face as he put a finger under Drengin's chin and lifted the boy's face to look into his eyes. "It's okay. I needed to voice my frustrations."

Drengin's embarrassment quickly faded, and he managed a small smile to match Anakin's. "I did something right then."

Anakin chuckled and ruffled Drengin's black and brown hair. "You did."

Drengin grinned and brushed Anakin's hand off of his head and smoothed his hair back into position. "So what is it you really want?"

"What I want is to be treated as an equal. Being the Chosen One may have its benefits, but in reality it can be a burden."

Drengin nodded his head in understanding. "I would like the same thing—I mean, being treated as an equal."

Anakin lifted a questioning eyebrow at Drengin's statement. "What do you mean? I thought even those in your age group were treated as equals?"

"My parents were slaves and so are most of my kind. Me being Force sensitive was the only thing that kept me from living the rest of my life in the spice mines of Kessel. I don't have any friends, and I get bullied and picked on a lot."

Anakin looked at him in shock and horror. It had never occurred to him that there was someone else in the Temple that had once been or was going to be a slave. Anger coursed through him as he thought of the unfairness of it all. He had been a slave, but because he was the so-called 'Chosen One' that little detail was pushed aside, whereas Drengin had not been so lucky. "Oh," he answered, still in shock by his newest revelation. Am I so blind to not see what is in front of me?

"I was a slave myself before I was brought here," Anakin confessed.

It was Drengin's turn to be shocked at Anakin's sudden disclosure. "You were? But everyone—"

Anakin waved his hand dismissively. "Only the Council and my former Master know of this, and even if those outside the Council knew, then they wouldn't care in the slightest since I'm the 'Chosen One'."

"That's stupid."

"Perhaps not to them but, yes, it is dumb," Anakin answered.

"So if they willingly conceal these little details then aren't they concealing the truth? If they are concealing the truth then should we not trust their words?"

Drengin's words left Anakin unable to respond, since if he did then he would have to admit that he was being lied to. And if he admitted to himself that he was being lied to then where or to whom could he turn? Fear kept him from answering Drengin, yet the more he resisted the more his turmoil grew.

My Master didn't lie to me because he never said he was a Sith, it was assumed that he was. Drengin realized. And he didn't hide the truth from me for a very long time either. A few minutes later Drengin had made his decision. "I need to go back in now. I'll see you later," Drengin said just as the rain began to fall. He ran for the stairs that led back into the Temple and left Anakin where he stood.

Drengin's words were barely audible to Anakin as he was once again swept into his chaotic thoughts, unaware of the darkened sky, oblivious to the rain drenching his tunic and skin.

A dark, cloaked figure walked down to an unused portion of the Temple and opened up a hidden console in one of the rooms. Quickly, he typed in a message, sent it, and then closed it back up. Satisfied, he went back up to the Council room.

As he cleaned up the dishes, Seront felt Khunth's anguish seep through their bond, and he shook his head. Khunth must have told Drengin already. I just knew this was a bad idea. Letting out an irritated sigh, he put the last of the plates away and left his quarters to find Khunth.

He reached Khunth's quarters and knocked on the door.

"Come on in, Seront," Khunth called.

Finding Khunth sitting on the floor of the small living room, Seront sat down across from his friend. "How did he take it?"

Khunth looked up at Seront, tears misting his eyes. "Not very well, I'm afraid."

Seront shook his head and crossed his arms. "Figures. I knew this was a bad idea, but did you listen to me? No, you didn't."

Hurt shone in Khunth's eyes at his friend's words. "You're not being very encouraging."

"Well, considering that you have put us in an even more difficult position, why shouldn't I be upset?" Seront snapped.

Khunth stood up and walked away from Seront, fighting to control his rising anger. "This is hard enough without you countering my every move."

Seront stood swiftly and turned around to look at Khunth. "Don't walk away while I'm talking to you!"

Khunth pivoted on his heel and looked straight into Seront's eyes. "Or what?" he spat. "I don't have to listen to you rant and rave. To tell you the truth, I'm sick of it. I'm tired of all this sneaking around – tired of holding the Dark Side at bay – tired of you worrying about this mission." He stopped to take a breath and shook his head in frustration. "You're not the only one who has to deal with it. So just shut up and leave it be! It's my problem, and I will do what I feel is right!"

Seront's face was like stone as he listened to Khunth's outburst. "I will not have this mission jeopardized by your apprentice," he told Khunth, enunciating his words clearly and firmly.

"He'll come around," Khunth answered uncertainly.

"If he doesn't, then I will be forced to take matters into my own hands," Seront responded gravely.

Khunth's face paled at the implication in Seront's words. "You wouldn't…you couldn't! Drengin's just a boy," he pleaded. "He'll come around; I know he will."

"Nevertheless, if I believe he is a danger to us, I will have no choice. I will do what I must for our survival."

Khunth nodded weakly, not having the strength to argue anymore.

Seront walked over to him and placed his right hand on Khunth's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but this is the way it has to be. This mission is too important to risk." Having said his piece, Seront left Khunth's quarters.

As soon as the door shut, Khunth picked up a glass statue from the small table beside the couch and flung it at the door in anger. "I've had it with this stupid mission! It's all you ever think about now!"

Khunth collapsed onto the couch and placed his hands over his face. "Master, I wish you were here now," he whispered, tears escaping his eyes.

Dooku picked up the transmitted message and quickly made the jump to hyperspace away from Coruscant. "They didn't even see me," he remarked, a smirk on his face. Activating the com-unit, he decoded the message and read it.

B.O.G MI RE. No dvlpmnts yet. Stcky the sttn is bcmng. O. Dngr. MI may be in jprd. NFRM M.Y. ntrctns ndd. M.

"Stang it! The Council is not going to like this," he thought out loud before forwarding the message to the next transfer point, where it would be redirected to another beacon, recoded, and then finally sent to the Jedi Council.