Disclaimer: I don't own anything (except a few original characters) and I'm not making any money off of this.

Every human being has six mutations in their DNA, giving unique qualities and abilities to each individual. Sometimes these mutations allow a person to do things beyond imagination.

Ch. 4: Ghosts from the Past

When they arrived back at Obi-wan's quarters there was a message on the 'phone'; Airiana had been given temporary quarters. She grabbed her bag and sword, said a short thanks and good-bye to Obi-wan, and headed to her new rooms. She hadn't really wanted to leave so soon, but after seeing Count Dooku's bust all she wanted to do was find somewhere secluded and quiet where she could meditate.

She walked to the turbo-lift, went down three floors, turned to the right, and came to her door. When she opened her door she threw her stuff in a corner and took a look around. It was smaller than Obi-wan and Anakin's, but not too small. As she walked in there was a short hallway. To the right laid the kitchen/dining area and living room. On the left hand side there was a bedroom, bathroom, and small closet. The walls were tan colored and lacked any decoration except for a single shelf that was the perfect size for her sword. An almost-white carpet covered all the flooring except for the kitchen and bathroom, which were done with tiles the same color as the carpet. A peninsula extending from the kitchen counter-top served as a table and two stools served as chairs. There was a sofa and chair in the living room, both dark brown, puffy, and facing the inner wall towards the 'TV.' On the wall opposite the doorway there were two windows, one in the living room and one in the bedroom; light from the soon-to-be-setting-sun streamed in, casting a soft orange glow into the quarters that brought with it a sense of peace, serenity, and relaxation.

Airiana felt nothing of the kind, however. Deciding that the living room chair looked comfiest she sat down and began to meditate. She let the force wash over her and take her where it may. It led her back to when she was 16. She paid close attention to the flashes of memories she saw; black riders, swords crashing against one another, dark tunnels, and two towers with an evil being in them. Suddenly she couldn't take it anymore. She opened her eyes with a start. She didn't want to believe it, but she knew she had seen the truth. Somehow, someway, Saruman had returned as Count Dooku.

The emotions that this revelation brought with it were too much to bear. Airiana felt the tears welling-up behind her eyes. She fought them back. She didn't want to cry; she hated crying. Her nose always got stuffed-up so bad she couldn't breathe, her eyes got red, puffy, and bloodshot, and pressure always built-up between them usually followed by a headache, sore neck, and sore shoulders.

In spite of not wanting to go through all of that, her defenses slipped and a tear slowly made its way out the corner of her eye and down her cheek. Not wanting to be left behind, many others soon followed. It wasn't long before she lost control and began sobbing. Why did this have to happen to her? And now of all times – why ­now? She thought she was finished with him and everything else that happened. And now the same thing was happening! Dooku had been a Jedi, a great Jedi, and he had left the order. The similarities between his present life and his past life were too many to ignore. It just wasn't fair! Why had she been given this stupid ability in the first place! She just wanted to be normal; not be able to travel through time and have visions and levitate stuff, and do whatever else it is the force lets her do. She just wanted to have a normal life, even if it was only for a day.

Thoughts like these kept twirling around Airiana's desperate and tired mind. Deep down she knew she would never give up the gifts that she had been born with, but it was just so much to deal with sometimes, especially in times like this; she felt so overwhelmed by the knowledge she had been given. After meditating she knew without a doubt that Dooku was Saruman. She also knew she would have to inform Master Yoda. She wasn't looking forward to it, though; she had a feeling she would have to let the rest of the council know who she was and what she could do very soon.

Much calmer now, Airiana noticed that she was sitting in the dark. She looked around for a clock and found one in the kitchen. It wasn't really that late yet, so after finding tissues and blowing her nose about 20 times, she decided to see if she would need to get anything for her new rooms.

After searching through every room she found that all the essentials had been provided; all she needed to get was some more clothes and a few knick-knacks to give her quarters a homey feeling. Deciding what she wanted and where she would put it was a job for another day, though; she was drained. She went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth before climbing into bed for a restless night's sleep.

Airiana awoke to stillness. For a moment she couldn't remember where she was and then the events of the following day came back to her as her mind became more alert. She stayed in bed awhile, enjoying the peacefulness of the morning and reflecting on her break-down. She always felt so silly the next morning after having a crying fit like that, but she reasoned it away; everyone needed a good cry every now and then. Now that it was out of her way she could concentrate on what needed to do.

First, she needed to meditate again and see if she could get anything else out of the force now that the initial shock was over and she had control of her emotions. Then, she would have to find Yoda and tell him of her concerns; that could take awhile since she would have a lot more explaining to do. She'd also like to see if he found anything about her mother, even though he hadn't had much time to look. Somewhere she'd have to fit in lunch and supper, and hopefully she'd have time to see Obi-wan and Anakin; if not both of them, at least Obi-wan.

She wished she could tell him what was on her mind; he had always been the one person she told everything too. He always listened attentively, never judged too quickly, gave her good advice, and made her feel better. She knew the Obi-wan in this time wasn't exactly the same, but it was close enough.

She smiled as she thought she could take a little trip to the future and have a chat with good old Ben, but that was out of the question. Even though she had the ability to jump between times at will, she rarely used it because it physically drained her and now wasn't the best time to be drained; she needed all the energy she had if she was going to make it through the day. With that, Airiana dragged herself from the warm covers and made her way to the bathroom.

"I have very important information concerning Count Dooku," Airiana said as she walked into a meditation chamber with Master Yoda.

"At least I think it is important, I'm not quite sure if it means anything or not – I could just be over-reacting, but either way, I thought I should tell you about it just in case."

Airiana would have kept going, but she was stopped by a quick smack in her shins from her former master, "Calm yourself you must."

"Yes, Master," she replied dutifully.

"Now, explain yourself you will. What concerns have you about Count Dooku?"

"As I told you before, I've been to different time periods. In the past – the far, far past – there was a man named Saruman. He was a wizard, an order that somewhat resembled the Jedi. In that order, he was given the highest title there was – he was known as Saruman the White, Saruman the Wise. And he was. Then something happened to him."

"His wisdom began to work against him, he began craving power. He knew of an object that would give him the power he craved and he made plans to obtain it. He became evil, engulfed by the dark side."

"Yesterday, Obi-wan took me to the library. I saw a bust of Dooku. He looks exactly like Saruman. I spent last night and part of this morning meditating on this – to see if there was anything in it. I think there is; I think Saruman has returned as Count
Dooku and I think Dooku will repeat what Saruman has already done."

"Grave accusations these are, but very unlikely it is that Dooku would turn to the dark side – a Jedi he once was."

"I realize that. But Saruman was a great wizard and he still fell. It may not happen the same way or for the same reasons it did before, but I can't help feeling that Dooku will fall."

"Take into consideration all that you have said I will, but worry about it I would not," replied Yoda attempting to alleviate Airiana's worries and fears.

"Yes, Master," she answered more to the floor than to Master Yoda.

"Something else you wish to discuss?"

"Yes, there is. I was wondering if you have found anything on my mother."

"Looked I have for your mother. No Anwyn there is in the Temple Archives."

"Oh," Airiana said, feeling even more dejected than she had at her master's lack of concern about Dooku. Then, she perked up a bit as a thought occurred to her.

"I never gave you my mother's last name, did I?"

"No, you did not."

"It's Peredhil – Anwyn Peredhil."

"Familiar, that name sounds. Perhaps know your mother I do," there was a pause and then Yoda's face showed an expression of recognition.

"Yes, know your mother I did. Known as Tahl Peredhil she was."

Ok, how many times do I have to say it? – Review, Review, Review! I'd also like to give a shout out to the people from the yahoo group Jedi-Apprentice who helped me out with a few pieces of info I needed for this chapter.