Chapter 8

Anakin watched Nemiraa as she sat down across from him. "Who says I need help?"

"No one," Nemiraa replied calmly. "However, I can tell by the look on your face that you're trying to figure something out."

Anakin sighed and shook his head. "I'm that obvious, am I?"

"Only when you're not in public. Now, about Redav – how much do you already know about him?"

"I know that he was once a Jedi, but he later defected to the Sith. Plus, from what I saw from the two visions I had, why he defected is unclear," Anakin answered, resuming an unreadable expression.

Nemiraa nodded at his answer. "Before I tell you why, I want you to answer this question: Why did you start going to him for help or advice, knowing he was a former Jedi?"

Anakin read the unspoken part of her question with ease and a small pang filled his heart as he remembered his dead mother. Why did I?

As he explored the Temple, Anakin entered one of the secluded rooms near the ruins of an older part of the Temple. The air was damp and soggy, and the dim light cast shadows on the wall. The floor was adorned with worn, dull rocks that had lost their shine long ago. Fountains were scattered around the room, each with a carved figure. The water had long since ceased running and the fountains were covered with mold.

He peered into one of the fountains and wrinkled his nose at the foul stench of the water. He turned to leave when he spotted a cloaked figure, hidden in the shadows, near one of the fountains. Curious, he walked over to the lone figure. As the boy got closer, he saw that an area of the fountain's edge had been cleared away, leaving a suitable place to sit.

"What are you doing in here?" the person asked as Anakin came within a few feet of him.

"I was exploring," Anakin replied, wondering if maybe this was not such a great idea after all.

"Find anything interesting?" the man asked, still not moving to look at Anakin.

Anakin shook his head sadly. "It's not like home."

"It wouldn't be, either. Every place is different. No matter where you are, or where you live, the place where you were born is still your home."

"That's not what my…mom said." His voice hitched in his throat. "She always said home is where the heart is," he finished, fighting hard to keep his tears at bay.

"She's right, but the memory of where you were born bonds you to that place. So in a way, it is always your home."

"I suppose," Anakin said softly.

"I remember where I was born only vaguely, yet it is still a part of me. I remember the harsh howling of the wind as it raged outside the house, the smell of spices and ointments drifting throughout the house. The humid heat would feel stifling and harsh, regardless of what anyone did to cool down. I remember being tucked in bed at night by my uncle, and then my aunt would sing me to sleep. Memories of our early lives are discouraged by the Sith, but no one can take them away, for they are a part of us." The cloaked figure turned his head and Anakin slowly made out the man's features. "What do you think?"

Anakin pulled himself out of the memory and back to the present. "He had an interesting perspective on things and I was curious about him. I felt drawn to him."

"Interesting – I agree about his perception of things; it makes you think." Nemiraa was silent for a few minutes before she continued. "Redav left the Jedi because one of his best friends was planning a dangerous mission, one that could have had disastrous results if a mistake had been made. When Redav found out that there was no way to stop the events that were about to unfold, he joined his friend so that he could keep watch over them and make sure that things went smoothly. I could be wrong, but there seemed to be something else he wasn't telling me. I'm not sure what it was."

Anakin sighed and picked up the stone. "I still feel lost. I'm just not sure about anything anymore."

Nemiraa stood up and watched as Anakin sat staring at the stone in his hand. "Then perhaps you need to look elsewhere for the answers you seek." With that said, she turned and left the room, leaving Anakin to think alone.

Seront felt Khunth's confusion through their bond and moments later pain – and then nothing. With a low hiss, Seront left the kitchen with his lightsaber in his hand. I warned him; now I have no choice. He sought Drengin's presence in the Force and swiftly headed after him.

Drengin saw Anakin emerge from one of the quarters down the hall and hurried to catch up with him. "Anakin, wait up!"

Anakin turned his head to see Drengin come running up to him. "Shouldn't you be in class?" he asked as Drengin slowed down to a walk beside him.

Drengin slowly nodded, careful to avoid Anakin's eyes. "I would be, but I don't feel up to it right now."

Anakin felt tension rolling off of Drengin in waves, the boy's shields unable to hold his feelings back any longer. "What's wrong?"

Reluctantly, Drengin looked up at Anakin as they stopped walking. Anakin's cool blue gaze seemed to see into his very soul. "I…I was angry at my Master and I Force pushed him into the wall when he tried to follow me."

Anakin's eyebrow lifted a bit at this, grateful they were the only ones in the hallway. "You feel guilty."

Drengin's shining, light brown eyes blinked as he tried to keep his tears at bay. "I'm confused," he confessed.

Understanding shone in Anakin's eyes as he placed his hand on Drengin's shoulder. "Why don't you come with me, and we'll both look for the answers we seek."

Drengin numbly nodded in acceptance and followed Anakin to a turbolift.

Khunth slowly came back to consciousness. The back of his head throbbed from where it had hit the wall. Carefully, he stood so as to prevent his already aching head from worsening. He reached out through his bond with Drengin only to find it heavily shielded. This is not going well at all.

Seront's warning came to mind and Khunth inhaled sharply. He quickly checked his bond with Seront to find his growing fear confirmed: Seront was hunting Drengin down. Checking to make sure his lightsaber was on his belt, he ran from his quarters as fast as he could. If you hurt him, Seront, I may not control what I'll do when I find you.

Anakin and Drengin entered the large hanger bay and walked towards the more private section.

"We'll take my ship; it's modified enough that we'll be near impossible to track," Anakin told Drengin as they started walking to a specific ship.

"You have your own ship?" Drengin asked in surprise, his eyes widening.

Anakin grinned and pointed at one of the ships. It was long and sleek, resembling a small Nubian ship. There was a turret on the top along with lasers on the belly of the ship. The hull was painted a dark silver and gleamed as the lights from the hanger fell upon it. "It's the one in the far left corner. Darth Redav and I used to work on it when we had the time. I finished the upgrades by myself. I've installed missile and torpedo launchers plus a few probe launchers that are almost non-detectible on sensor scans. I only got to fly her once so far, but I bet she can beat any ship ever built."

"Cool," Drengin answered, stopping a few feet away from the ramp that Anakin had lowered with a small device on his belt. Anakin went into the ship knowing that Drengin would follow along shortly. The boy was so engrossed by the ship's appearance that the warning from the Force came almost a second too late. He barely avoided the lightsaber blade as he ducked and rolled away from his unknown attacker.

Seront hissed between his teeth and lunged quickly at Drengin.

Drengin yelped in fear as he barely scrambled away from the incoming strike. He pulled his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it just in time to block a powerful blow to his side.

Anakin was in the cockpit when he sensed something terribly wrong. Turning around, he left the cockpit and ran down the ramp to see Drengin desperately trying to defend himself against Darth Seront. Without hesitation, Anakin ignited his saber and ran forward to help his friend.

Drengin's lightsaber was wrenched from his grasp by a powerful swipe from Darth Seront's lightsaber and the young apprentice fell to the ground, defenseless. As the red lightsaber swung down for the killing blow, fear clenched his heart. Paralyzed with terror, his thoughts fled in a flurry as he searched for answers. Why does your friend want to kill me, Master? Why? Is this your doing? What have I done to deserve to die? He squeezed his eyes shut as he felt the burning sensation of the lightsaber at the skin of his arm.

Count Dooku emerged from his meditation uneasily. The Force felt uncertain and elusive. Licking his dry lips, the Jedi stood to make an emergency call to the Council.

Yoda appeared on the comm screen that occasionally flickered as different transmission beacons created a channel that would be difficult to trace. "Felt it, you have?" the wizened Master inquired knowingly.

Dooku inclined his head before responding. "Yes, Master. Something is about to take place."

"The disturbance is emanating somewhere in the core. In trouble our operatives will be, if remain they do," Yoda said gravely.

"Do you think calling them back is a good idea?" Dooku asked as Yoda's image flickered again. "If there is something going on, we need to know what."

"Withdrawn they must be, or lost they may be," Yoda told him firmly. "Go you will and retrieve them quickly, then at the designated area meet."

"Yes, Master Yoda. What about the three wayward apprentices?" Dooku asked, his lips pressed in a thin line.

Yoda briefly closed his eyes before opening them. "Leave them. As far as we are concerned, they are lost to the Dark Side. Welcomed they will not be."

Dooku bowed his head as the connection was disabled. Without pause, he began making preparations for his mission.