Chapter 8
Anakin Skywalker looked at the two Sith, waiting for some instruction. Ventress said, "Well she is only a few weeks old. I don't think she's quite ready for a Master right away." Anakin said, "True, but why don't you just Age her?" Ventress looked taken aback and Bane said, "How did you know about Aging technology? It was invented years after you died!" Anakin shrugged and said, "When you float endlessly through the Force you tend to pick up a few things." Bane chuckled and said, "It's possible, there is an Aging Center on the other side of the planet. I wouldn't mind too much, it would end our need for diapers. It depends on whether Ventress is willing." The two men looked at Ventress, she bit her lip in uncertainty. She said, "Will she know us? I mean will she remember that I'm her mother? I just want to know that my baby will be safe." Anakin said, "She will be fine. There is a 99.9 chance of success with these machines. Before you ask, the other 1 means that she will be fine, just not as old as you want her to be." Ventress relaxed a little. She looked toward the room where her baby daughter slept. It pained her a bit to let go of one so little. But she knew that Anakin had limited time, and she did want Via to be trained. She said, "Well…alright, we can do it." Bane grinned and clasped his arms briefly around his wife. Anakin said, "Good, its all settled then. I propose we leave immediately."
Bane sat in his starship with Anakin. The two men were waiting for Ventress to return with baby Via so they could leave to the other side of Korriban. They were making small talk about saber crystals when Ventress walked up the entrance ramp with Via in her arms. Bane looked at his daughter and his wife together on the ramp and felt a twinge of second thought. But he then looked at Anakin, and thought of how great Via could be and he stiffened his resolve. Once Via and Ventress were situated, Bane fired up the engines and sped off into the sky. In a few minutes they crossed the day line, moving into the nigh side of Korriban. In a bit more time, the ship began to beep as they neared their destination. Landing smoothly on the docking pad of a hospital, Bane opened the entrance ramp. He turned to his companions and said, "Well it's now or never. Let's do it" Ventress nodded and the three adults and baby proceeded into the hospital. After dealing with gasps and shouts of the attendants about seeing the Dark Lord of the Sith as well as Anakin Skywalker, they found the Ager. It stood in the center of a large white room. A glass tube that had a small chair in the center and a soft beam of light shining on the chair was all that made up the Ager. After a few minutes of figuring out the controls, Ventress timidly placed Via inside the chamber on the chair. The light from the ceiling was warm and Via gurgled happily at her mother. This almost reduced Ventress to tears so she had to bustle out of the chamber to stand by her husband and Anakin. Bane stood over the controls and on the touch screen pushed the current age slider to 'Three Weeks'. He then pushed the target age slider to 'Twelve Years'. He clasped Ventress hand and then pressed she large green button marked, 'Engage'.
Anakin stood solemnly as the young couple watched their daughter in the chamber. After Bane pressed 'Engage' the light in the top of the chamber lowered and began to brighten. It became so intense that it engulfed the baby and caused the adults to raise their hand's to their eyes. A couple of seconds later it dimmed and rose back up to ceiling level. After adjusting their eyes two the new lighting, Bane and Ventress gasped. Sitting in the now enlarged chair of the Ager was a 12 year old Via. She was wearing a pink shirt and loose fitting black pants. The girl stood up and her parents gaped even more. She was tall and thin, with flowing black hair. She had light brown skin and hazel eyes. Ventress noticed that she had her facial shape with her father's aristocratic nose. Suddenly, as if some spell was broken, Bane and Ventress rushed at the chamber where their daughter stood. The glass door slid back and Via said in a voice not unlike her mother's, "Hi Mom, Dad." Ventress burst into tears and hugged her daughter and Bane hugged them both. Anakin wiped a tear at the corner of his eye, remembering Padme and the twins. Ventress said, "By the force Via! I would have never imagined you would look this way!" The girl looked confused and said, "But I mean I grew up with you, I'm sure you two noticed some resemblance." Bane looked confused and Ventress turned to Anakin. He walked over and said, "People who come out of the Ager don't remember being inside of it. They think they grew up normally. Just don't talk with her too much about her younger days." Ventress turned back to her daughter and said, "Yeah…we did notice something." Via smiled and said to her father, "Dad, you said I could start my training when I turned 12! Please! Pretty please can I have my lightsaber?" Bane smiled at his daughter said, "Of course Via, just as soon as we get home. But first I want you to be introduced to somebody. His name is Anakin Skywalker"
Anakin stepped forward to shake Via's hand. Anakin said, "You might want to close your mouth Via, there's not going to be too much room for talking while we're training." Via closed her mouth (as she had been gaping) and squealed excitedly, "I can't believe I'm going to be trained by Anakin Skywalker!" To her mother she whispered, "He's so cute!" The mother and daughter giggled and Bane rolled his eyes. He said, "Come on, back to the ship." And soon they were speeding off toward the day line, and Bane's fortress home.