Ianna was growing impatient. "Who was she?" She knew that she wasn't who she always thought she was. She looked into Aine's eyes. They were a turbulent violet-blue. Their intensity made Ianna shudder. She decided to be patient.

"Good. You are learning patience." Aine smiled.

While Obi-Wan was away in Utapu, I tended to certain duties around the temple. Shaak Ti summoned me to one of the meditation rooms every day to perfect my knowledge of the force. I was a very gifted padawan, I was told. Sometimes the masters would scold me about being prideful after defeating older padawans in a duel.

I was given the task of tending to the younglings of one to two years of age twice a week. I liked the job, but it was a bit awkward for me to learn how to be with children. Especially when one's emotions must be balanced.

The task helped me to control myself, yet still express myself without making an effort. Master Yoda took note of this one day.

"Young Krysten, far have you come since your childhood." He said.

"Yes Master." I smiled.

"Very serene, yet intense. You have found a balance." Master Windu noted.

"Ready for the trials you will bein two years. Earlier than most." Yoda complemented. At this comment, Anakin, who was now a member of the council, glared at me stormily.

I was only sixteen.

"I do not think Young Aine will be ready until she is at least twenty." Anakin put in.

The council sensed his bitterness.

"Your opinion was not asked, Skywalker. You are still just a knight, don't forget. The decision for the trials is made by the Masters only."

Anakin was silent.

"You may go resume your training now padawan."

I bowed and left the room.

OOO

Anakin was often gone while Obi-Wan was away at war. I was glad to be free of him. But one day, I was in the library with Master Jocasta Nu asking for a book on ancient Jedi when I felt a disturbance from above us. The council room. She felt it too. Using the force, I asked permission to be excused. She nodded back, ready for anything, her hand resting on her lightsaber hilt.

I rode the lift up to the council room. Before I entered the door, I spotted my friend, Apria, standing outside the door with a concerned expression on her face. She was a Mirialan, green skin with blue eyes.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Her bright blue eyes were wide with wonder. "Anakin has claimed that That Palapatine, the Chancellor himself is the Sith lord we've been searching for!" She wrinkled her nose, causing her indigo tattoos to overlap. "I can't tell whether he's telling the truth or not though."

I closed my eyes and reached out with the force. My heart sank. "It is the truth", I whispered.

I felt a small aura of fear from Apria. Other padawans began arriving to see what the disturbance was.

Mace Windu opened the doors to reveal thirteen padawans standing outside the door. Apria grinned sheepishly as Mace gave her a stern look. I stood respectfully.

"We all felt a disturbance Master."

"Yes. We have made an important discovery today. It is being taken care of soon." He said, "You may all be excused."

Aine drew a deep breath. Ianna could sense that she was remembering something painful. She braced herself for the tenth time that day.

Master Windu, Kit Fisto, and two other Jedi- I don't remember their names, went to the Chancellor's chambers that day to arrest him. All perished. Even the powerful Master Windu, who was killed by Anakin himself.

That day, Anakin became Darth Vader. Sith lord and Ally of the Emperor.

"Anakin is DARTH VADER?" Ianna screeched. She knew about him, his evil, but did not know that he was once a Jedi, or that her mother had known him.

Aine nodded softly. A lone tear slid across her cheek.

"What happens next?" Ianna urged.

I've tried to block that out for twelve years. Aine said softly. "But you must be told."

I was meditating in the garden room when I felt a disturbance. Something was very wrong. Death was in the temple.

I rose up quickly. The darkness was growing nearer.

My com link sounded out. Obi-Wan was trying to contact me. His voice was urgent.

"Aine, you must get out now! Go to the outer rim immediately! Do not project your coordinates or make any stops….May the force be with you."

I did not hesitate. I could sense death all around me. I realized Anakin was near. The spirits of twenty or so younglings cried out in death.

He was killing younglings! How could he? I wanted to confront him, to slice his throat myself. But I had been given an order.

I ran out the door. There were several clone troopers standing in front of me. I whipped out my lightsaber and with a few flashes of blue blade, their bodies laid in a heap on the floor. I heard the death cry of Shaak Ti near by.

As I rushed through the halls to the craft port, I saw a room ahead of me on the right. The room where I helped care for the tiny younglings. My heart broke. I could not bring myself to pass it.

I had to help them.

I rushed inside. They were all still alive, babbling curiously and looking around with frightened eyes.

Four clones entered the room.

I could barely take the heartache when I knew I could only manage to save one child. I turned around and grabbed up the nearest one without looking and ran, tears flowing down my face as I killed clone troopers with one hand and held a sleeping infant in the other.

I found a vehicle and was able to get into space without injury. But deep in my soul, I was grief-stricken beyond all hope. I knew they were gone. All of them. All my friends, Apria, Hodge, Eimer, Bant, Bultar, Zett, Titi, Chiana... all were dead. I felt them die, one by one. Even my masters were gone.

Only one was saved...only one.The rest died that fateful day.

I saved you Ianna Starcross. You were meant to be a great jedi someday. Just as I was meant to be.