The drip-drip-drip of droplets hitting the cave floor awoke Kiran Quin from a restless sleep. He wearily opened his eyes and for a moment everything looked blurry. As his vision cleared, he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

A bright flash blinded him, and he shielded his face with his arms. When he could finally see again, the cave was empty as before.

He looked down at his body. His black robe and tan tunic were ripped and torn to nearly shreds, and his brown leggings were riddled with holes. He was missing a boot—his left one. His hands went to his sides, checking for his weapons . . . Shaking his head he sighed with frustration. His lightsaber and shoto were missing too.

"He's awake, Lord Scion," came a smooth, evil voice from the darkness of the cave.

Kiran scrambled to his feet, backing up as quickly as he could. Someone Force-slammed him to the ground, and with the air knocked from his lungs, he was unable to cry out with pain.

"Oh good," said another darker, more sinister voice. "The boy was not fully incapacitated when you took him for me, Nalah."

Kiran tried to get up, but someone was Force-holding him to the ground, and when he struggled, the grip grew tighter.

"Please!" he cried out, "Let me go!"

"Let you go?" asked the dark voice. "I can't do that, young Jedi. I must kill you. Or, you must kill me."

A cowled figure in a dark cloak stepped out of the shadows, accompanied by a slightly taller, thinner figure, also hidden by a dark cloak.

Kiran felt fear shudder through him. The first figure laughed mirthlessly. "Look at how he tries to cover up his feelings!" he said to the taller one.

"Y-you're the Rogue Sith!" Kiran stammered, his worst fears coming true.

"Y-you're c-c-correct!" mimicked the evil Sith Lord. "And now that Lord Sidious has been destroyed, it is time to step out of the shadows and take over his Empire!"

His shadow fell over Kiran's face. The dark-haired boy cowered.

"No Jedi will stop me!" said the Sith, walking close enough for Kiran to see his many small horns, marking him as a Zabrak. His face, however, was painted pitch black with blood red stripes lining his cheeks, and all of his horns were painted the same crimson color as the stripes on his face.

"And now, boy, you will make your choice. To kill, or be killed!"

. . .

Anakin used the Force with great exertion, grunting a little under his breath as he found, one by one, that each Jedi Knight standing before him could not hold up their mental shields. He penetrated each mind, as gently as he could so he would not destroy anyone's mind, and found that none of them were real people. All except . . .

"None of you are real," he said slowly. "Except . . . that young woman, there."

At once, the simulacrums disappeared, all except for one. The human girl stepped forward. Her long dark hair was pulled back from her face in a loose ponytail. She wore a traditional Jedi tunic and leggings with knee-high boots.

"Are you sure that I am real?" she asked in an eerily soft voice.

"As skilled as you are in hiding your mind, I did feel one faint tendril of the Force. It felt curious to me. Like for a nanosecond you wondered something and then remembered what you were supposed to be doing," smiled Anakin. Silently he congratulated her. He had almost failed in recognizing that she was separate from the simulacrums.

Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink against her pale skin. She bowed slightly to Anakin. "You are most insightful, Jedi Skywalker."

"Well done, Anakin!" came Mace Windu's voice. For the second time that day, Anakin turned to the Council doors and watched as the Jedi Masters filed through, each with an approving smile on their faces. Master Shaak Ti even winked at Anakin, her smile wide.

"Young Skywalker, kneel," commanded Master Windu. Master Yoda approached Anakin as he knelt down on one knee. Leaning on his Gimer stick, Yoda stood quietly before Anakin, before saying,

"A Jedi Master, you have become. Proved to us, you have, your ability to receive this rank. Give you, we do, the respect and honor due a Master. Continue to sit on the Council, you will, as Master Skywalker." He raised his Gimer stick and gently touched Anakin on the shoulder with it.

Anakin stood and his smile was broad. He laughed as Obi-Wan gave him a hug and pounded him on the back.

"Oh, well done, well done Anakin!" praised Obi-Wan.

"Very good, Master Skywalker," smiled Shaak Ti, bowing her head to him slightly.

As he was congratulated by all the members of the High Council, Anakin noticed the young Jedi Knight slip out of the chamber.

"Master," he asked, when the noise had receded and he and Obi-Wan were strolling down a corridor together, "who was that Jedi Knight in my final trial?"

Obi-Wan smiled mischievously, "You're not thinking of leaving Padme now, are you?"

Anakin frowned. "No! Don't say such things," he grumbled.

Obi-Wan laughed, nudging Anakin's shoulder. "You never let me tease you."

"Master, I have never let you tease me. I don't know why you still try," said Anakin as maturely as he could muster.

"Well, some of us have rather meager hopes and dreams," chuckled Obi-Wan. "And to answer your question, that was Zandra Sunrider. She has always been rather meek and quiet, and seldom to be seen or heard. I think she's always admired you—that would explain her blushing when you spoke to her at the end." His smile was wide and he laughed.

"Who was her master?" Anakin asked curiously. He'd never seen her or heard her name before.

"Why, Aayla Secura," said Obi-Wan, surprised that Anakin hadn't known. "Sunrider is the daughter of Neema-Da-Boda, in the Sunrider family line. Nomi Sunrider is her long distant maternal relative."

"Well, thank you for the geneology, but that doesn't help me recognize her. I wonder why I haven't seen her before," said Anakin thoughtfully.

Obi-Wan shrugged. "Perhaps because you were never in a leadership position to hear of her, I suppose. Master Secura kept Sunrider quiet, because the girl has been known to have the potential for the Dark Side in her blood."

"Sunrider . . . that's very interesting," Anakin said quietly.

"Indeed," said Obi-Wan, a smile playing at his moustache. "She and Aayla arrived last week from Felucia."

They walked down the corridor in silence for a little while.

"I feel your thoughts wandering, Anakin," said Obi-Wan quietly. "Maybe it's time to visit your friend?"

Anakin nodded. "She'll be glad to hear the news. Thank you Master." He smiled and ran the last few meters of the corridor, turning the corner and disappearing into the bright night of Coruscant.

. . .

Kiran Quin, Darth Scion, Nalah, and Zandra Sunrider are all my OC's.