Okay, sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter up. I've been experimenting with 4 other fics that I haven't published yet. Maybe I'll just keep them for myself…but anyway enough rambling. School's out now, so hopefully I can get back to work on this story.
Some time has passed in Aine and Ianna's world since the last chapter, just so you know.
Back to the story…
Rays of sunlight fell across Ianna's closed eyes, causing her to stir from a deep slumber. "Today is my birthday. Well…the day that Aine rescued me anyway." She mused as she stretched her arms. She had become much better at waking up since she had started training with Aine. Drowsily, she stumbled down the hallway on still sleepy legs into the bathroom where she managed to wash up and change clothes.
As she exited the bathroom, Ianna noticed that Aine's door was closed. "Unusual…" Aine never overslept and only kept her door closed during the night. Ianna shrugged and continued down to the basement where she proceeded to meditate. The darkness enveloped her mind as she closed her eyes and opened her mind to the force.
"Let the force flow around you. Consume you. Be one with the force…there is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no death, there is the force."
Ianna opened her eyes and the soothing darkness fell away. Aine was entering the room and Ianna could sense that she had something important to tell her. The young padawan quickly stood and bowed to her master. Ianna noted that Aine was clad in the dark green robe. That usually meant something of great importance would soon come to pass.
"Good morning Master. What do you wish to speak to me about?" Ianna inquired mentally.
Aine's eyes fairly sparkled as she glanced at Ianna and beckoned her to follow. "Today is a day of great importance young Padawan."
OOO
Aine tied a blindfold over Ianna's eyes and led her to the speeder which was readily parked at the front entrance.
"There's no need for the blindfold Aine; I can sense everything around me without having to see." Ianna protested as she climbed into the vehicle.
"Once we get going I will confuse your surroundings so that our destination is a surprise." Aine explained as she pressed on the acceleration.
"I sense that you're not telling me the truth. You don't want me to know the location of where we're going." Ianna curled her legs up onto the seat in a more comfortable position. "I don't need the force to know that." She could feel the quick air passing briskly by and see faint green light flashing through the blindfold, but Aine's stronger grasp of the force enabled her to cloud Ianna's mind. Ianna grasped the side of the speeder for support. She felt unsteady without the force to guide her and wished that the dizziness that enveloped her senses would cease.
"It is good that you are learning the ways of human nature as well as the force young one." Aine said emotionlessly. "Your whole life is a test, in all aspects; not simply using the force. You must also learn many different lessons on your way to becoming a master. Some will be unexpected."
"So you don't trust me. Thanks a lot." Ianna remarked sarcastically.
"Since when do I trust anyone?" Aine retorted as she swept her long hair behind her where it fluttered in the breeze.
"Never…but maybe it's time you came to trust someone."
"We'll see in the end. I have my reasons for not trusting you Ianna. I know it hurts to hear this, but be assured I have more than justifiable grounds for not always trusting you." Aine stared straight ahead as if entranced. A large standing stone loomed ahead. "We're here." She announced.
OOO
Aine fingered the crystal that was nestled in the pocket of her cloak. She had been waiting a long time for this day.
The stone pillar stood defiantly in the middle of the tiny clearing. Aine gracefully walked over to it and sang out the strange incantation before putting her hands on it. Ianna timidly climbed out of the speeder and pulled off the blindfold.
Instantly, her mind was filled with images from when they lived on Dantooine. The standing stones, the opening in the side of the hill… she had forgotten about that day that happened only three years ago. Time seemed to have started over when she began training to be a jedi. Ianna Starcross, the mischievous, grinning child was gone and a strong, obedient young woman had taken her place.
Ianna couldn't help but give a gasp at what she saw. Aine turned to her with raised eyebrows. "Does something trouble you Ianna?"
"No…it's just, I remember a place…it was very similar to this…There were strange runes…like those on the stone! I touched the pillar…there were people in green cloaks…and they were chanting in some strange language. Then, they disappeared and the side of the hill opened up…" Ianna began to hyperventilate slightly and fell to her knees. "I…I saw Jedi. They were painted on the walls…and the air- the air was full of overwhelming power…crystals…I took one…" She glanced up at Aine. "And then I came back and told you…" Her eyes narrowed. "You. You wiped my mind!" She climbed back onto her feet. "Why?"
"I did not wipe your mind. I do not have that kind of power. I simply repressed those memories. If I had wiped your mind, you never would have been able to remember.You simply broke through the mental barrier because your conscience was finally ready." Aine explained. She turned down the hood of her cloak so that Ianna could see her face. "At the time, you were not prepared for such knowledge. I was not even sure that I was going to train you."
"But I'm ready now?" Ianna wore a look of confusion on her normally untroubled face.
Aine smiled mysteriously "Follow me. Your questions will be answered."
OOO
Aine led Ianna through the winding tunnels of the Temple until they reached the main chamber. The beautiful silver veins running through the stone walls rippled in the faint light that illuminated from small, primitive light sources that stood on narrow stands around the cavern. Ianna's eyes grew large at the sight of it all. "It's beautiful." She whispered.
"The temple Sokana. Where my sisters stood before me." Aine lifted her arms and closed her eyes as if basking in a soft breeze. "The Imanae dwell here."
"The Imanae?"
Aine turned back to Ianna. "They are the ancients; the spirits of Jedi before us. Wiser and more powerful than any other force in the galaxy. All Sokana become one with the Imanae when they pass out of this life."
"And what exactly are the Sokana?"
Aine beckoned for Ianna to sit. "The Sokana are an ancient organization. Originally it consisted of men and women, but soon was reduced to only women for mysterious reasons. Only very special Jedi have the power to control the Sokana force. It does not depend on how many midi-chlorians you have. In fact, Anakin Skywalker, who had the highest midi-chlorian count in history, was not a Sokana." Aine paused for a moment as if a painful memory had risen in her mind.
Basically, a Sokana is a Jedi who has the power to use the dark side of the force without becoming corrupted by it. They have a complete knowledge of the force and have limitless power. They have all the abilities of the Jedi and the Sith and then some unknown to both. But they must learn to refrain from using this power or it could overcome them."
"What do you mean overcome?"
"A Sokana has the capability to know everything in the universe. But if they pursue this ability, their physical body could become over-encumbered by power, forcing their spirit to evacuate. It has happened to many Sokana who became enamored with knowledge and went beyond their boundaries."
Ianna tilted her head curiously. "Is that why you never used your power to find out where Obi-wan is?"
Aine nodded. "He could be far enough away to overload my mind with the distance." She looked down guiltily. "However unlikely that is, I've always feared my powers." She curled her legs in front of her and clutched them close as if to reassure that she was still in physical form. For the first time in her life, Aine appeared almost childlike to Ianna. "They could consume me. In fact, one day they will consume me, in the far future. Hopefully I'll live at least five-hundred years more before that happens." She gave an awkward half-smile in attempt to comfort herself.
An uncomfortable silence settled over the cavern before Ianna decided to change the subject. She leaned forward to look deep into Aine's eyes for the truth. "Am I Sokana? Is that why you brought me here."
Aine looked up from where she had been silently brooding. "No. You are not." She said simply. There was no lie in her eyes. " I only wanted you to know the truth about me. If I had ever misled you…"
Ianna sighed. "No. there was just a strange hopefulness on my part. I just don't want to be an ordinary Jedi."
"Ianna trust me. You are no ordinary Jedi. Someday you will discover the entire truth, but for now, take these words to heart. You are not whom you seem."
Ianna opened her mouth to ask a question, but Aine quickly interrupted. "Come apprentice, today, you will have your own lightsaber." She pulled a small green crystal out of the folds of her cloak; the same crystal that Ianna had picked up in the temple on Dantooine two years before. "Happy sixteenth birthday Ianna." She said as she held out the crystal.
Ianna took it in her hand and smiled at the memories it brought back. Memories that she had lost. Aine led her over to a corner of the atrium where a stone platform stood. Strange devices and mechanisms were laid out, ready to be assembled.
Aine beckoned for Ianna to levitate her crystal. Ianna closed her eyes and complied. Bits of metal, screws, and wires were gradually, carefully added. Ianna's arms were tense with excitement. The last piece was finally lifted into place and Ianna grinned her old childish grin as a green blade of light shot out of the device.
Aine lit her own blue lightsaber and held it in front of her. Ianna did the same. "Soon Padawan, you will be a jedi knight. You will now begin learning the Sokan fighting style." She swung her lightsaber in an intricate series of moves that Ianna could scarcely follow with her eyes. Ianna positioned herself in the en guard position like she had with a borrowed lightsaber for several years, but now, she finally had her own.
OOO
Not far away, a young man was informed that he would not be graduating from school. Little did Aine and Ianna know how this simple situation would impact their lives.
Ooooh…cliffhanger.
REVIEW! I've had some writer's block lately, so any ideas would be great. I would also be willing to give someone a cameo (or maybe even a major role) in exchange for a good side-story idea. I know what is going to happen ultimately, but the plot along the way to that destination gives me a bit of trouble.