Chapter 2
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Arryn asked as the three Padawans made their way to their quarters.
Elantra shrugged. "In a way, but I am excited, too. As I think about it, I don't think it really is something that should be described that way, though," he said.
"It's our first mission. I think it's reasonable to feel excited." Anaria added.
"Are you nervous, Arryn?" Elantra asked.
"Somehow I knew you were going to ask me that." said Arryn.
Elantra smiled wryly.
She shook her head and answered the question. "I wouldn't use 'nervous' to describe how I'm feeling. It's more…worried, I suppose. I'm worried about being so close to the Sith, if they really are on Bondori. They coerced Anakin so easily that I'm afraid it will happen to me, too."
"Arryn, you won't turn to the Dark Side," Elantra said fiercely.
"And don't forget that Darsha made me study the Sith backwards and forwards. I know all about why Anakin turned to the Dark Side. There were multiple reasons behind it, all of which didn't happen at one particular point in time," added Anaria.
"Am I showing any signs of turning?" Arryn asked, her face full of concern.
"No, you aren't. Now stop worrying!" Anaria retorted.
The threesome reached their level.
"I'll see you in the morning," said Arryn, seeming distracted, as she entered her quarters.
Elantra and Anaria stayed out in the hall after Arryn left.
"Anaria, tell me the truth. Is Arryn really…?" He trailed off.
Anaria gave him a look. "Not you, too! You need to believe me. Arryn is not going to turn into a Sith lord!"
"Why do I feel like you are not telling me something?" Elantra said, crossing his arms in disbelief.
Anaria looked down in defeat. "I hate it when you are so perceptive. All right, all right. We all should be a bit apprehensive about the growing threat of the Sith, right?"
"Of course…what are you getting at, Anaria?" asked Elantra, nervously.
"Well, put yourself in Arryn's place. She is probably twice as worried as we are. She has to follow in the "footsteps" of the last Jedi who turned to the Dark Side. I can tell that she is trying to prove to Master Obi-Wan that she isn't Anakin."
"Does Master Obi-Wan know?" asked Elantra
"I doubt it. I'm not even sure if Arryn is conscious of it. You and I have known Arryn the longest and that is why I am telling you this. Swear that you won't mention it to anyone."
"I swear I won't."
"Good. I've really been thinking about this and maybe we should be a little more supportive of her. This is probably hard to go through, even if it is subconscious."
"Undoubtedly."
"I'm glad we agree. Thanks, Elantra." Anaria said.
Elantra turned crimson. "You're welcome," he muttered. The main lights went out and the Temple corridor was lit only with the dim glow rods that were mounted next to each door.
"Well, I suppose we'd better get some rest. Good night, Elantra."
"Night, Anaria."
The lights were out, but Arryn was not the least bit tired. She sat on top of her sleep-couch and stared at the skyline of Coruscant that was bustling with traffic even at the late hour.
Arryn sighed. She had a foreboding feeling that this mission would have a profound effect on her. The Sith were something she had thought about every day since she became a Padawan.
The truth was that Arryn was afraid. She was afraid that she would come in contact with the Sith, the very beings that haunted her. Arryn wondered that if she did come to face them, would she have the courage to face them? Or would take her and manipulate her, like they had done to Anakin?
Arryn got up and walked over to her desk. She switched on the lamp and opened her datapad. She connected to the Holonet, the galaxy's online source for information. Arryn typed in "Sith Legends" and waited while the server was contacted.
Arryn was good with computers. She had learned at an early age that they were good for bringing the galaxy together. Computers were surprisingly easy to use, once Arryn understood the fact that they were incredibly stupid machines that were programmed to follow simple instructions.
Of course Obi-Wan knew about her computer skills, but Arryn did not know the extent to which he knew how she used them. Obi-Wan could sense a shift in an emotion or thought faster than the blink of an eye. But Arryn also had her own perceptions. She, even after three months of lessons and training with him, had not told her Master her two greatest fears: heights and reading.
Arryn only had one memory of her parents. When she was small on Alderaan, she had heard them say that those who were not educated had little chance of success in the galaxy.
When she discovered that she had problems reading, she was scared of what people would think of her. She had unearthed her problem at the age of three. Since then, she had taught herself to cope with her problem. It took a great deal of time, but Arryn could read actual documents and texts. Her fascination with computers had helped her develop more comprehensive reading skills. She could navigate computers with relative ease, but reading the actual text took much longer.
The datapad beeped with results and Arryn came out of her momentary reverie. She scrolled through the findings. Several students at a University had put together a project on the Sith. She leafed through the information, but found nothing that she had not heard from Obi-Wan's lesson. Arryn paused before continuing with the rest of the information.
This is the very thing that Anakin did. He studied the Sith.
With a quick shudder, Arryn exited and shut her datapad with an unnecessarily loud snap.
I can't believe I was so stupid! Arryn thought. I worry about whether or not I will turn to the Dark Side and yet I look for the very thing that could lure me there. I am such a hypocrite!
Arryn walked over to her sleep-couch and sighed.
I won't ever go looking for the Sith or Dark Side again. I'm treading too close.
Arryn suddenly realized that she would have a serious disadvantage during the mission if she were tired. She rolled over and slowly fell into a fitful sleep.