Disclaimer: Star Wars is owned by Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. The following work is not intended to add to, promote or distort this series. This is a work of fanfiction, and the author does not profit in posting. This is simply a writing exercise written for fun.

Bail Organa had hardly waited a day after the announcement of Rush Clovis's appeal before inviting his friend over for a hearty brunch. Hell, he didn't wait a minute past the 20 hour mark. Like an obsessed fool, Bail dialed the HoloNet receiver's floating, golden screen with a pale complexion and worry in his eye. And it wasn't his injuries that had done that.

Truthfully, he was feeling much better. Most of his skin had recovered and patches of hair were starting to spring up that had been burned off by the mustard gas. Even his breathing wasn't so strenuous. Oh how glorious Bacta can be! He smirked to himself as the door whished open. The sound distracted him a moment, and he almost lost what he was doing.

"Senator Organa?" Jacen called from the back, he'd just arrived from the kitchens, likely having sensed Bail's concern, "Is everything all right?"

Bail turned about, and smiled despite his respirator mask, "Just fine." His altered voice boomed. "Just forgot the number, is all." Jacen nodded and smiled.

It seemed, that at the sight of his wide grin, Bail had to widen his own. Of all his staff, he found that he'd grown to like young Jacen the most. Which was strange for only knowing him a few days. He was about Bail's age, truthfully, so young wasn't so fair, but there was a light gleam in his eyes that seemed to make him more youthful. Though the scars on his face and the sternness of his movements dictated he'd seen much in his young life, Bail found him to be more genuine in his kindness than any other. Yes, it was easy to like this Jacen Darklighter, almost too easy.

Especially because of the accident. Whereas most of Bail's staff avoided him or shown discomfort at his peculiar state, Jacen seemed completely unfazed by it. Bail's own wife Breha was more aghast at his appearance, though she did her best to hide it. In fact, Jacen seemed to be calmed by the constant clicking and puffing of the respirator, and Bail's altered voice never made the man jump. So he had to ask, "Jacen, did you ever meet someone in my particular... state?"

Jacen turned to him and shrugged, "Once, why?"

Bail turned his chair about, his brown eyes wide with curiosity, "Who?"

"Well," Jacen swallowed, his eyes searching the room. Finally, Bail realized without a doubt, discomfort. He is human after all.

Taking a deep breath, Jacen admitted, "My father, actually. Though..." he paused a moment as the HoloNet receiver activated and began to dial, "his injuries make yours seem miniscule."

Bail nodded, "How so?"

Jacen again sighed, his eyes no longer sparkling with kindness, but rather stained in a sadness Bail hoped he'd never have to understand, "His entire body was covered in third and fourth degree burns. He... had to spend the rest of his life in a support suit."

In hearing that, Bail understood the pain in his eyes. His own father had not passed on well, attempting many miracle treatments that did not pan out. In the end, all there was was the life support system, which was more of a maintainer of basic functions. There was no life without activity, and he'd had none.

Then there was his wife Breha. She was also recently made unwell, spending most of the time inside of their chambers with as many doctors and healers as possible. Every day, his mind wandered home to her, wondering if she would be well enough to see the next year. Praying that at some point they could start the family they so desired. He'd learned yesterday of her second miscarriage, and it seemed that this one had taken twice the tole on her as the last. Part of him blamed himself for that, assuming that his own injuries had caused the stress which terminated the pregnancy.

"I'm very sorry to hear that." Bail replied as somberly as he could as the call finally went through. But at least I understand your comfort around me. He realized with slight relief.

A moment later a blue form of that blasted golden protocol droid appeared on the screen. "Senator Organa!" Threepio called ecstatically, "How good of you to call! I do hope you are feeling better, we've been so worried."

Bail nodded and then replied, "I am well, thank you Threepio, is your Mistress home?" The droid turned its head slightly.

"I'm afraid she is in a meeting with Mister Clovis at the moment." He told Bail with a clear hint of disappointment in his voice, "Is this an urgent call? Is there something I can do?" Bail always marveled at how the droid seemed poised to help in any way he could.

So Bail took advantage of that for once, "Yes, I was hoping to invite the Senator for brunch this morning, if you don't mind." Threepio made to nod and stepped away from the screen hastily, likely having noted the lateness of the time.

Chuckling to himself, Bail turned about to chat with Jacen about that peculiar droid, "Threepio is something else," he started as he turned, but he could not finish the statement simply because of the look on Jacen's face. He was completely dumbstruck. Jaw down and everything. "Is everything all right Jacen?" Bail inquired, to which Jacen shook off his surprise.

"No, I'm fine." He admitted quickly, "I'm just not used to a droid with such... personality." To that, Bail chuckled.

"Yes, he certainly has that." Bail replied with a grin. He really enjoyed Jacen's honesty. It was refreshing and reminded him a lot of his friend Padme in some ways, "A friend of Padme's gave him to her some time ago and... well, he's an excellent talking piece if nothing else. His programmer must have had a sense of humor." To that Jacen chuckled, as if understanding the depths of that statement more than he'd like.

Around that time, Threepio returned with the senator in tow.

"Bail!" She decreed with a wide smile on her face, and, like Jacen, she did not appear phased by his unfortunate state, "I'm so happy you called." Bail smiled and nodded at her. "Threepio tells me that you wish to share brunch?" He nodded once more.

"Today in an hour if it suits you." he replied. Padme smiled, but he could read something in her eyes that sounded like she'd be declining soon.

She turned her eyes off screen, likely to that of the treacherous, thieving, traitor Rush Clovis. I need to consult my dictionary for more adjectives with the letter t, Bail made a note to himself mischievously. But Padme could not see that glint in his eyes, in fact, her own were plastered with worry."I'm afraid I am currently elbow deep in projects... Perhaps another day?" She offered, to which Bail sadly nodded.

"Sounds like a plan." he retorted before he was struck with a brilliant idea, "We still have to discuss your summit on Alderaan in a week. There are some minor details I need hammered out and Breha's going insane waiting for me to ask you." He noted Padme's all knowing smile at that remark. She knew Breha well and was accustomed to her sometimes hazardous approach to large projects.

"In the meantime, with so much going on..." he paused as Padme leaned forward some to view him better on the screen, her blue form elegant and kind, "I'd like to send a couple friends of mine over to guard you for this and the next day. Their names are Jacen and Jaina Darklighter, and you should expect him in about an hour."

Padme actually seemed taken aback, about as taken aback as Bail noted Jacen was in the mirror of his office. They both had their jaws down and were likely searching for words to deny Bail his request. But they already knew he'd hear none of their retorts. It actually amused him how similar their expressions were, as though they were related or something. "Jacen and Jaina Darklighter?" Padme stuttered, "Here?... But didn't Queen Julia send them to you?" Bail nodded.

"And now I am sending them your way." Bail pressed, his booming voice starting to reverberate with his enthusiasm. Genius Bail, absolutely genius. He knew neither to could refuse this change at this point. "Till next time!" And then he hung up the phone before she could begin arguing with him.

Now that the matter was decided, Bail scooted himself towards the desk with his floating chair and began to sort through today's papers. It was some time before Jacen worked up the nerve to question him, having stood by awkwardly as his icy eyes searched the room for a clue where to start arguing with the man. "Senator Organa." He started formally, Bail looked up at his blue eyes, which were now gray with worry, "I must protest. I am only assigned to you this last cycle, and I want to see it through."

Bail chuckled a moment, shaking his head. It was strange to hear him chuckle, almost like the sinister laugh of a villain. "I know that, which is why I am so sure about this." Again, Jacen stiffened.

"You... you are?" He wondered aloud, seeming younger by the minute.

Bail nodded, "Yes, I am. Besides, my wife is in the hospital. She just left critical, and I am far too injured to continue here." Jacen stepped forward and eyed the senator suspiciously, "If I stay, I'll keep working and the doctors are already mad about that. I highly doubt anyone will try and finish me off on Alderaan. Not with my entire royal guard around me." Jacen nodded, still in a stupor.

"I... don't feel right about this." He admitted, and his bewildered voice certainly supported his statement.

But Bail could only smile, "Well, the nice thing is, you don't have to. This is an order." His voice was full of more finality than even Leia had worked up in her life.

The funeral was perhaps the greatest opportunity to sneak back into the temple. No one had thought to deactivate the Cerean's pass, and so Anhilis was able to walk right through the front door. A slight mind trick left the overseer unaware, and the halls were cleared for the ceremony.

So she was alone as she crept into the empty hall of the Jedi archives. Not a soul was present, not even a security droid. Anhilis smirked to herself, suprised with how easy this task was. Returning would hardly be a problem, especially when it was decided which candidate she would target for elimination. She could not help but chuckle at this fact as she approached the open stairwell that led to the small storage room she'd arrived in. Open, save for the cautionary tape strewn across the walk way, but she passed through that easily enough.

Returning to the ancient, secret room was not her ideal scenario, but Demantis had insisted upon it. It seemed that the Jedi were already combing through the alcove in search of treasures, as the shelves were bare and now well dusted. The tapestries and paintings were gone and all the old scrolls absent. It was a very sad looking room now, that seemed lost without its holdings. Had Anhilis a heart, she would have likely felt guilty for stealing more.

Instinctively, she set her gear down on the old durasteel table, some small drills and chisels. The table clanked from the weight, but that did not bother her. No, she was all concentration.

Finding the correct orb, the one made of ebony colored wood, would be challenging enough, but her master's master had assured her she'd find it. Carefully using the Force to feel the intense pull of the Betrigist, she ran her hands along the walls and found the single brick that hid the device. Then came out the tools.

A moments later, the small orb fell free of the wall, glistening like a jewel. Anhilis smiled as she eyed the device, wondering if it would make a fair pendant before pocketing it for safe keeping. Then, as instructed, she pulled out another orb, a small marble shaped gem that looked to be made of obsidian or dark glass. Demantis had insisted that this be placed inside the temple, as it was a device that would spread his influence there, but Anhilis didn't think much of the small item. And she began to believe in it less when he said it was crystallized darkness. But still, his satisfaction would bring her one step closer to her goals, so she slipped the small ball into the space between the walls and smirked as she heard it land a few bricks below on a suspension beam.

Then, she pulled her things together and began her meandering towards the speeders. By the time that anyone would notice her presence...

As the ceremony let out, she pushed her way through the crowds of Jedi to the entrance. Not one Jedi payed her any mind, even the Padawan she'd attacked the day before. No, they were far too lost in grieving to even notice the shadow of a Sith sneaking by. That, and their egos played a large role. The Jedi still believed their temple to be the safest place in the galaxy. What fools.

Even the Koran master with the dark skin and the stern face only paid her a second glance and nothing more.

By the time she saw the rising sun, it was too late for any Jedi to do anything. Including the single Padawan she caught in her clutches near the speeders, knocking the girl out on her way to freedom. They drove off together towards their hideaway in the senatorial district, completely undetected by any. Anhilis grinned at her success, the Betrigist was hers, the black orb was safely tucked away in the heart of the temple and she now had a new Padawan.

Demantis had told her to acquire a power source after all.

The Padawan that had been killed was a sweet boy, one that Master Yoda had grown fond of over the years. In fact, he'd grown fond of all his students, even those that misbehaved or grew rather dark. But it pained him to know that this boy, Bagu-ni-Wadi, had died so needlessly. He'd been courageous to assist the two masters, but, perhaps, it would have been better that he remained on the sidelines. This war is enabling too many of our younglings, Yoda realized with a frown.

So, after the funeral pyre had been lit early that morning, the large group of Jedi disbanded, heading their own ways.

Yoda watched as everyone moved about, Ki-Adi-Mundi talking with Shaak Ti, while Mace Windu helped return the Younglings to their training. And, naturally Skywalker was moving about at his usual pace, in a rush to get somewhere.

The green sentient smiled as he watched him, his mind's eye reflecting on the meeting the day before with the Chancellor. Darklighter. He deliberated, sensing something between the two. Though the others in the room had not felt it, he had noticed the mental tie between the three of them. Blood was a factor, of that he was certain, but how much was the question.

He could feel that there was a powerful connection between Jacen Darklighter and Anakin Skywalker, but he could not determine what it was. He'd spent all night meditating on it and could only come to one conclusion. A single, perhaps ridiculous conclusion.

But the only one that made sense.

As he stood by watching the brazen warrior, he sensed the approach of two other ones. "Master Yoda?" Came the tentative voice of Shadday Potkin. He turned to find her backed by Wezz, whose almost auburn hair was flaring in the sunlight behind her, even as the shadow of a Mirialan Jedi passed her by. Yoda didn't get a decent look at the woman, but he shrugged it off, figuring it was one of the visiting Jedi of Master Altis.

"Something to say, you have?" he inquired, trying to be gentle, but knowing full well what the question was.

Potkin sighed a moment, trying to gather her words, "Why have I been removed from Senator Organa's investigation? The council sent me notice this morning... I'm not being sent into the field and I don't understand this decision."

Yoda nodded, his eyes turning towards Skywalker a moment as he turned around the corner. He really wanted to talk to him about Darklighter, but felt that wasn't his place. So, instead, he turned back to the other aspiring master before him, "Positive the council is, that you, the target of these assailants are." That news baffled both women, who had been long time friends by now.

"M-me?" She wanted to know.

Wezz stepped in beside her, "That's absurd Master Yoda! If they were after Shadday, why target Organa in the first place?" In hearing that question, Yoda turned to Potkin for the answer. And he got it, based on her shrug and deflated expression. Wezz must have understood it too. "I- I see..." She said at last. There was a pause as the hallway cleared, leaving the three of them alone.

Yoda merely sighed, "Attatchment, a dangerous thing it is... makes a target, the ones we love..." he then stepped towards the hall leading to his quarters, the two women following him close behind, "Desperate to protect them, we may become, which is why, forbidden it is." Both women nodded, understanding.

But even Shadday found herself wondering, is it so wrong to love from afar though?

Yoda sighed, having heard her query through the Force, "Not wrong, it is... but dangerous." He then opened the doors before them with the Force, smiling to himself as he considered what he must say next. He was anxious to interview Shadday Potkin. He had been since seeing her preliminary report. "Stay in the temple, for your safety, you will." He then turned and motioned to his office, "And, questions of mine, you will answer."

Potkin's jaw dropped as she glanced over to her friend, "What questions, if you don't mind my asking."

Yoda shrugged, as he minded a little. His eyes turned to Wezz a moment, showing his discomfort, before returning to Potkin, "About Darklighter, I wish to know." To his surprise, Potkin didn't seem the slightest bit astonished by this request.

With determination in her eyes, Potkin informed the ancient, "I will tell you all I can."

An hour or so after Bail gave 'Jacen and Jaina' away to Senator Amidala, the young man chose to visit with his sister while the senator arranged both his departure and their travel. He was tempted to ask for help to Naboo, but figured that would create too many questions.

So, as he peeked into the room he shared with his sister, Luke attempted to sense if she was awake without causing too much stir in the Force. He looked inside the room, their separate twin beds both rumpled, but one still had a person under the covers. The room was dark, but the light blue made the sun's light glow a bit in the space from under the blinds. "Lay?" he called carefully. She offered him no response.

And then he grew frustrated, what's the point anyways? They all know I am a Jedi. With that thought, he allowed more of his power to show through his shields and determined that Leia was still asleep. And considering her emotional state, he hadn't the heart to wake her.

Moments later, he rejoined Bail Organa, who appeared to be in a great mood. "The doctors tell me Breha is responding well to treatment." He announced as Luke returned, "Perhaps at some point, you and Jaina can come meet her. Maybe Padme will take you with to her summit on my planet." Luke smiled and nodded.

"I know Jaina would especially like that." he replied earnestly as he sat down in one of the armchairs before Bail's desk. Curiously, he watched Bail work with a raised brow, "Any way I can help? I hate being idle."

With his mechanical voice, Bail chuckled, "Somehow, I surmised that about you a while ago..." He was about to answer when his buzzer alerted him to a guest. Pressing the button, Bail responded as kindly as the contraption would allow him, which wasn't very much, "Yes?"

"Good morning, Senator Organa." Came the familiar voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi, "Master Galia and I were hoping to do a second interview, if you aren't already busy. May we come up?"

Despite the smile on his face as he listened, Luke felt his attention be pulled away by the Force. His mind's eye showed the Mirialan assassin from before, running through the Jedi Temple, and part of him felt as though he were witnessing the past.

Luke sensed her anxiety. It drew his eyes to the window in the direction of the temple like a bolt of lightning. It changed his demeanor so much, that even Bail sensed his mysterious transformation.

One moment, he saw a doe-eyed man with a gentle smile trying to calmly turn Bail's plans around on him, and the next... It was like staring into the eyes of a Krayt dragon, poised to strike. He stared out the window with such intensity, his eyes seemed to turn into a whiter blue. Who is this man? Bail wondered as he watched 'Jacen' stalk over towards the window with the gait of a predator. With the way he moved, Bail was almost reminded of Anakin Skywalker, who often was as deliberate with his motions. "Is something wrong?" Bail wanted to know.

"Your assassin was at the Jedi Temple for some reason." Jacen told him as the door slid open to reveal two figures. One was a Jedi male human with the familiar red hair and a full beard, and beside him stood a Jedi female Tholothian with dark skin. But Jacen didn't react to them, choosing rather to scan the view carefully with both his eyes and the Force. He stood poised to attack, a predator on the prowl.

The Force was telling him something else now.

"Hello again!" Obi-Wan Kenobi called to them both, suddenly made mistrustful thanks the glimpse of 'Darklighter's' presence in the Force at the moment. It was a deep connection, filled with power that seemed to emanate from the man in slow waves. Waves that were both comforting and disconcerting at the same time. Especially in how familiar it felt.

"Good to see you again, Obi-Wan." Darklighter replied automatically. "Master Galia."

While Adi nodded to Jacen with some uncertainty, Obi-Wan changed his stance to cross his arms over his chest, suddenly feeling invaded upon. "Strange that you know me so well, seeming as I've only met you once before." The man had no retort, he was solely focused on finding whatever he was in search of in the window. "At least, well enough that you would address me so informally." Again, no reply.

Adi Gallia stepped forward and glanced out the window herself, curious as to what the man was so intent on. She chanced a quick look Darklighter's direction, noting his stern eyes and angular profile. He looks familiar, and yet not. She realized, though how she could not place him bewildered her.

"Senator Organa." Darklighter suddenly instructed, his voice full of command, the youth lost, "We need to relocate you for a short while." Bail gulped in hearing that.

"Will I still make my flight?" He wanted to know, scooting his chair up towards Jacen slowly. But suddenly the gears started to grind and the chair failed to move. Confused, he looked from his steering device to Jacen's outstretched hand, which likely was using the Force to hold him in place.

"I will do what I can." he assured the man, his eyes never leaving the window.

And it was then that Luke saw it. The figure looming in over his vision, the dark shadows he saw in the Force all led towards a small outcropping just in firing range of this window. But only if someone used a high grade cannon. And someone was aiming a cannon.

But rather than allow the man to fire, Luke reached out with the Force and brought his astral self to stand next to the man, generating a small illusion much like a Force ghost. This wasn't Luke's first implementation of the dream-walker trick while awake, and certainly wouldn't be his last. At least this time he had his clothes. When the Dagoyan had first taught him this, he'd had some pretty embarrassing first attempts.

"What are you up to?" He asked the man, who panicked and started shooting at Luke wildly. Luke merely used the illusion to its full extent, disappearing and reappearing himself all around the platform. "I asked you a question." Luke ordered as he forced the weapon out of the man's hands and then proceeded to break his shooting hand. It took some time for the human male, writhing in pain, to react to Luke picking him up by the throat with the Force. He levitated in the air, writhing like a broken puppet.

"Just following the bounty." He stuttered with a harsh voice from beneath his helmet as Luke's torture became unbearable. And Luke found himself wondering why he was behaving in such a way.Vader would have done this, Luke reminded himself as he shook off the unhealthy feelings. Instead, he let the man free of his grasp, dropping him to the ground like a sack of potatoes, and knelt down to stare at him at eye level.

"Who's bounty?" The icy eyes asked the man.

Anakin stormed angrily through the temple as he tried his damnedest to hide his feelings. Or at least minimize his presence in the Force so no one knew just how peeved he was at the moment.

He'd woken from perhaps the best night he'd had in months to be ushered out the door by his wife. Why? He grumbled internally, Because lousy Rush Clovis was coming over for breakfast! I can't even enjoy breakfast in my own house! He then begrudgingly inserted, That disgusting traitor has no right to even be in my house!

That left him feeling even lousier, as his stomach was grumbling something fierce. He was headed to the mess hall to find something remotely interesting to eat, not that anything compared to a good, home cooked meal. One of the many things I look forward to and HE has to take it away! That lousy kriffen-

And then he felt it, that strange tingling that ran down his spine. Something dangerous was here, and he found his eyes roaming the halls in search of it. The chill he felt through his body rivaled the strange, syrupy feeling from a week ago. It was like a cold wind rushing through his very soul.

But, as his eyes scoured the halls, he saw nothing.

So he turned around to resume his route only to bump directly into a strange man. He was fairly average in height, meaning Anakin was looking down at him, and had a mane of dark, curling hair. His eyes were a peculiar red hue and his skin seemed to be too pale for him to be alive. "Hello, Anakin." he said with a sharp, toothy grin, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Startled, Anakin glanced around, only to finally notice that the halls had been cleared.

"You needn't worry about anyone else," The man informed him, starting to circle him in that familiar, predator-like amble. Anakin felt the full force of the impact of one of his trademark moves, and fought his own trembling. Is this really what I'm like in interrogation? But his thoughts were halted by the grumble of the mysterious man's voice. "This isn't real... an illusion actually. One of my agents had entered this... tacky establishment and thus brought enough darkness for me to reach you." He smirked and stepped back, appraising Anakin with a wicked grin, "And I've wanted to meet Shmi's bastard for some time."

Anakin gulped, "H-how do you know my mother?" Then a thought occurred to him, "Are you Sidious?"

The man laughed loudly at the question, exposing his Togrutan-like teeth, "Me? A Sith? How ludicrous!" He then paused and began walking down the hallway, motioning with a hand that Anakin must follow him, "The Shaetin feed on the Sith, on the seeds of darkness they sew into galaxy. We rely on the Sith as much as they rely on our darkness. But they are still bottom feeders to us, we the very top of the food chain. And I am a well fed Shaetin. So much so, that I could even visit you inside this haven of light, flickering on and off as it may."

"A Shaetin?" Anakin replied as he stuttered, "What is that?"

Pausing, the Shaetin halted, his smile slowly fading, "It is an extreme affront that your own mother did not tell you of the Shaetin... A Skywalker she may have been, but it is good she was disowned."

Stepping forward with interest, Anakin inquired, "Y-you really knew my mother?" The Shaetin nodded slowly, his gaze focused.

"Ever since she was a little girl," he admitted, turning towards Anakin with surprisingly gentle eyes, "She was the most beautiful woman of our lands... and she betrayed us. Lied to us. Committed the worst of sins." Stepping back, Anakin shook his head.

"Then you did not know my mother." The Shaetin smirked at him wickedly and stepped forward to close the gap Anakin strived to create.

"You say that now, because you do not know the truth about who you really are." The Shaetin informed him as he reached a hand out, "You do not know the wickedness that birthed you. Your fatherless heritage is a lie." He said that with a reassuring pat on Anakin's cheek.

"I... have a father?" he echoed in awe, to which the Shaetin nodded slowly. Perhaps it was his convincing stare, or the fact that Anakin always wanted a father, but he was about to believe him. But that was before he began shaking his head, knowing full well that "No... my mother would have told me. She said I had no father!"

The Shaetin chuckled once more, "She was ashamed of him, of who he was to her, as she should have been." The man paused before adding, "He was a talented man... our greatest general... my greatest enemy."

Shaking his head, Anakin stepped back, "If that is the case, I am glad. Your darkness stinks like a rotting corpse!" The Shaetin chuckled once more, following Anakin again in this dance for personal space as they moved about the empty halls.

"Your father was a great monster all his own." The Shaetin informed him, "An ungrateful brat, much like yourself. I let him live in my house and he destroyed it. Burned my lands to the ground and left it in ash and salt. And he corrupted your mother into such heinous acts, I can't even stomach mentioning them. It was a relief to kill him. A true justice." Then he added with a wicked grin, "Now his form dwells in the land between times, trapped, unable to rejoin the Force. A punishment he well deserves." Anakin's jaw was dropped; he'd never heard of any of this before and was inclined to believe it was all a lie or hallucination.

Sensing this, the Shaetin smirked and added, "You do not believe me?... Fine." He then stepped back, "Return to your mother's home on Tatooine and find the grave beside her own. You will see then, that I speak the truth."

Anakin growled at him and lunged forwards, only to hit a cloud of dark smoke as the cretin manifested behind him in a dense fog of gas and fire. He was laughing. "When you have seen all that you need to, simply call for me and I will gladly give you the tale. Call for the Shaetin Demantis!"

And with a rush of wind, the Shaetin was swept up into a cloud of angry weather and eruptions. Gone.

Anakin watched the scene before him in shock, unsure of what to do, his mind running through so many things at once. But, even as he sought out Demantis, he felt the Temple return to normal, sensed the Jedi in his peripherals and sighed. His mind was trying to comprehend everything, trying to place whether hunger had given him quite a mirage to behold or that he was truly targeted by some mysterious nightmare. And he couldn't come to any reasonable conclusion.

He was lost and he knew it. He needed a friend now more than ever and what scared him was he could not think of someone he would trust with this. Not Yoda. Not Obi-Wan. Not even Padme. Were he really the son of a monster, he was not sure he'd have the heart to tell her. Though part of him truly believed she wouldn't care, he didn't want her drawn into this mess while still dealing with that slime Rush Clovis.

Unsure of what else to do, the young man decided to resume life as normal. But as Anakin resumed traveling down the halls, he realized that he no longer held an appetite.

Obi-Wan could only watch in awe as Mr. Darklighter, who insisted he call him Jacen, took complete control of the situation. He'd felt his astounding connection to the Force, though he didn't understand what he was sensing. It was like Darklighter had been cloned, and had gone after the assailant with a ghostly version of himself, though that, to his knowledge, was impossible.

And now, he was ordering around Organa's guard like he'd been running the show for years. "He must have a guard stationed near him at all times. Have a security detail install various sensors in all his primary rooms and keep them monitored for any anomalies regarding toxic gasses or parasites." Each man nodded as they listened, "And check in with me daily. I don't want a single cycle passing without an update or I will personally come to Alderaan and make all your lives miserable." Bail chuckled at that, his modified voice booming as he did.

As the guards saluted the strange Dagoyan, Bail could only smile towards his friend Obi-Wan, "I'm almost sad to give him up, but Padme needs his skills more than I do."

Adi Gallia was the one to reply, "An assassin attempts to kill you, and you insist that a premier bodyguard is better stationed at your friend's house." Bail grinned a little, not that anyone could see it, "Were I Queen Breha," Adi added, "I'd have killed you a long time ago for such foolishness." Bail chuckled.

"Well I can't say she hasn't tried."

Jacen turned about and faced the two Jedi-Masters and Senator Organa, "I don't like this." He reminded the man, "But I will respect your wishes so long as you respect mine." Bail nodded.

"I'll stick to your regime." He promised before scooting out to follow his guards to his ship. "You'll see me again soon. I'll mention to Padme to bring you to the summit. It would be nice to reunite around my wife's cooking, should she feel up to it." He then paused and sighed before adding, "May the Force be with you!" Jacen chuckled and then nodded to his friend, replying in kind.

Once Bail was gone from the office, Luke turned towards the two masters. "How far are you in collecting information regarding these assassinations?"

Both frowned a moment and then glanced at one another before Adi replied, "Not near anywhere, in fact. It seems that the beneficiary has hidden themselves away good." It was now Jacen's turn to frown.

"That's a shame." He told them before turning about, "I was hoping that the Jedi could turn this around." It was Obi-Wan who took offense to that, much to Adi's surprise.

"We aren't nearly as incompetent as you Dagoyans tend to believe."

Darklighter stopped in his tracks and turned his head slightly to see them, "I meant no offense, Ben," he told him, not catching his slip, "I honestly have a lot of confidence in the Jedi... things just always seem to go faster when I'm directly involved." Obi-Wan stepped forward, this time his face more perplexed than any time before.

"How do I know you?" He insisted in bewilderment, "You feel so familiar."

Luke sighed. He knew this was the master-student-bond at work. "You don't." Was all he told him before proceeding towards the door. He could sense that Leia was now waking up. Apparently Luke's handling of the recent situation snoozed her Force-alerts.

Smiling because he knew his sister would have time enough to see Bail off, Luke did his best to ignore the intrusive stares of the Jedi master's behind him.

Author's Note: Sorry about the delay in posting this. I had two all-nighters this week and pretty much was the equivalent of a zombie yesterday. So I settled for a Korra marathon instead. I tried to post, I swear, but it would not have been as polished had I been successful.

I've been trying to build Luke up as this illusion master, so I hope his abilities don't seem too far fetched. You should totally REVIEW and let me know what you think of all this! Like, tell me how you think Demantis fits into the picture or something. I love predictions and I love follows, favorites and REVIEWS! And a big thanks to all of you who do give me feedback! It makes my week to read your comments!

SO PLEASE REVIEW!