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

A/N: Wow, it's been awhile since I updated last. This chapter is a bit smaller, but I thought where I ended it was a perfect place, so that's where I ended it. Also, I know there are a lot of grammar mistakes, but you'll have to bear with me because grammar is my weakest point. (If you have any helpful hints that would be great!) And remember, keep reviewing!

Things in italics are thoughts.

Ch 9: The Beginning of the End

Airiana stared blankly at Obi-wan for a few seconds as she let the information sink in. She then let out a sigh of relief at finally knowing who her father was and asked Obi-wan why he thought Qui-gon was her father.

"Qui-gon and Tahl had always been close friends. It devastated him when she died," he paused then added, "Actually, it doesn't surprise me much that they had you. My master always did have a habit of breaking rules."

This made Airiana smile. "I wish I would have known him."

"You would have gotten along well with him."

After a few moments of companionable silence Airiana said, "Thank-you for telling me everything."

"Of course," Obi-wan answered with a smile and a nod.

"Well, I better get going," Airiana said as she stood.

Obi-wan got up also and followed her to the door. When they reached it Airiana turned around and said quietly, "Thanks again for everything."

"Any time," Obi-wan replied in an equally quiet voice.

As the two of them stood at the door together, Airiana began getting very warm; she could feel her face turning red. She was also overcome by shyness, no longer knowing what to say. A simple good-bye didn't seem to quite fit anymore. Obi-wan must have thought so too because he looked as though he was going to say something and then stopped. She took a deep breath to clear her mind. It worked because just as quickly as they had come, her heat flash and shyness were gone.

"Well…I'll see you later," then she slowly turned and walked down the hallway.

The grass was cool beneath her feet as Airiana walked around the pond of one of Coruscant's many parks. She eventually came to a large tree where she sat down and rested her back against its base. As she looked out over the calm surface of the pond she thought of all that had happened within the last few days.

It all started the night Obi-wan told her who he thought her father might be. After a restless night Airiana spent the next morning in meditation; she sensed the truth in Obi-wan, but was also surprised to feel it within herself. It seemed that deep down she had always known Qui-gon was her father.

After this discovery, Airiana went to find Obi-wan and tell him that he was right, but when she got to his and Anakin's rooms there wasn't anyone there. Reaching out with her senses she realized that they weren't in the Temple, or to her dismay, even on Coruscant. She found out later that day that they had left first thing in the morning for an urgent mission. This disappointed her greatly because she had been really looking forward to seeing Obi-wan and getting chance to speak with him.

Later that night Airiana watched the news and found out that the Separatists were gaining more support and it was rumored that Dooku was responsible for a few recent attacks. Worst still was that the Council kept insisting that because Dooku had been a Jedi he was incapable of taking innocent lives. It took every last ounce of patience Airiana had not to storm into the Council chambers and tell them how absurdly stupid and naïve they were being.

And on top of all this there were rumors that the Senate was in the process of making a bill that would create an Army of the Republic. Apparently, some people believed it would assist the Jedi. Airiana knew that the Clone Wars must be coming up; she had learned about them from Ben, but she still couldn't believe this – the Senate was just asking for a war. Then again, Palpatine was the Chancellor and who knew what kind of power he had this time around.

Airiana sighed as she massaged her temples. That morning the Council had informed her that they were sending her on a mission; a simple, boring negotiation in which she would have to sit and listen to old politicians bicker back and forth. But the 'excitement' of this mission wasn't the only thing that had her dismayed; now that she was back on active duty and leaving for a mission the next day she wouldn't be able to talk to Obi-wan for quite some time. She had also asked the Council what they planned to do about Dooku; they point blank told her it wasn't her concern. She knew right away that Master Yoda was intentionally not telling her anything related to Dooku because of what she had told him. He didn't trust her; thought she might do something rash. As Master Windu dismissed her, Airiana thought of requesting a private meeting with Master Yoda, but decided it probably wouldn't do any good and let it go. As she walked back to her apartment a powerful urge to get away from the Temple came over her. When Airiana had reached her rooms, she quickly changed into a pair of gym shorts, a t-shirt, and Nike flip-flops; it felt good to be in Earth clothes again.

Airiana sighed once again as she looked across the pond. She was fed-up with being a Jedi; the code (which she didn't agree with much), the constant traveling, the different time zones, the tedious paper work, the politicians, Palpatine, Dooku, the Senate, the Council… It was no wonder the Order took in initiates as toddlers.

Airiana looked down at her watch and saw that she had spent the better part of the afternoon in the park. She sat there for a few more minutes enjoying the cool breeze before deciding she had better get up and go back to the Temple in order to change back into her robes, pack for her mission, and head to the landing platform where her transport would be leaving in a few hours.

When she returned from her mission, Airiana didn't feel much better. She didn't have much time to think about it though. Things really began to get busy and as the months progressed they only got busier and busier. With so much to do, Airiana barely had time to notice that she had been living in the Jedi Temple for over a year. Actually, nowadays Airiana was barely ever at the Temple and she hadn't spoken to Obi-wan or Anakin for ages. If she was lucky, she might get a chance to speak to them within the next day or two since she was had just returned from a very demanding mission and was given a few days to rest.

At the moment, Airiana was sitting in her room waiting for coverage to begin on an emergency Senate meeting. There were a few minutes left until the session was suppose to start and as she waited Airiana made herself comfortable by leaning back against the sofa and propping her feet up on the coffee table in front of her.

Even though she tried to relax, Airiana just couldn't; thoughts of the last few weeks kept straying into her head. She had had mission after mission with no breaks in between most of them; the physical and mental demands of so many missions was starting to wear at her. But it wasn't only Airiana that was being run ragged; most other Jedi were too.

And Airiana knew exactly who to blame for it – Dooku; Count Dooku and his Separatists. Thousands of star systems had already joined him and thousands more threatening too. Of course, it was up to the Jedi to try and persuade those systems and others to keep their faith in the Republic; a job that was getting harder and harder to do.

Just then the coverage began in the Senate. Mas Amedda stood up and recognized the representative of Naboo. The respective dais moved toward the center of the Senate, but it wasn't carrying Senator Amidala as Airiana had expected, but a Gungan by the name of Jar-Jar Binks. Perhaps Senator Amidala was taking a break after the event on the landing pad. Airiana couldn't blame her, but she had always thought the Senator was the kind of person that didn't let those kinds of things stop her. She especially got this impression from what Ben had said about the Senator and Anakin's future wife. The simple fact that it wasn't Senator Amidala on that dais and speaking made Airiana a little nervous and she sat up so she could pay more attention to everything that happened.

The start of Jar-Jar's speech wasn't anything Airiana hadn't heard before. He talked about how the Republic was in a crisis and blah, blah, blah. Airiana was just beginning to relax and think it would be another boring debate when everything came crumbling down. Jar-Jar proposed that Palpatine should be given emergency powers.

As the cameras zoomed in on the Chancellor, Airiana gripped the edge of the seat to keep from storming the Senate Building; after all, there was still hope. He may not accept or someone else might stop him from accepting. Yeah right, who was she kidding? Her heart was pounding in her chest as he began to speak.

"It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling."

No.

"I love democracy; I love the Republic. The power you give me, I will lay down when this crisis has abated."

Son-of-a-bitch, no.

"And as my first act with this new authority, I will create a grand Army of the Republic to counter the increasing threats of the Separatists."