Chapter 5 – Beginning of the Nightmare

The Temple was burning, that was all she could see beyond the confusion of the nightmare. She could feel her lightsaber in hand, but knew not why she held it. Was there an enemy? Did she know the cause of this suffering?

Her dream self had few memories; a battle above Coruscant, something about a Sith and, was that betrayal she felt? She could feel the younglings' pain and fear through the Force; they were disappearing from her senses. She could feel her brother; he was in emotional pain. She could feel Anakin, but only just; his emotions were clouded. What of Ahsoka? She could not feel Ahsoka; where was she? Where were the Council? Why did it feel like the mass of energy she knew to be the galaxy's Jedi feel so much smaller than it should?

Then the vision changed into many flashes; Ahsoka in a cell, Anakin waking from a nightmare, Anakin and Obi-Wan fighting, why were they fighting? Nothing made sense. She could feel everything and then suddenly nothing.

Sulani jolted awake in her bed; the remains of her nightmare fresh in her mind. She remembers only bits and pieces of what she saw, enough to know that the Force was telling her something; exactly what it is remains a mystery. She quickly shoved her sheets from her body and walked barefoot into her kitchen to grab a much needed glass of water.

She spent the next several minutes relaxing on her couch, trying desperately to remember, yet wishing she could make the fear go away. She was afraid and she knew not why that was. The sudden sound from her comlink made her jump and upon seeing that it was her brother, she quickly answered, "Obi-Wan, I won't even ask how you managed to contact me all the way back here, but I take it you felt it?"

"You mean your intense fear?" he asks sarcastically. "How could I not? I felt it so strongly I almost thought it was my own; what in the blazes would have you so afraid that I almost jumped out of bed?"

Sulani was hesitant; most of her visions she tried to keep to herself. Visions of the future were a dangerous thing; sometimes what you see is only possible one way and that is if you set it into motion trying to prevent it. The future was ever moving, fluid, and can always change. Usually her visions are much clearer and this gives her a better idea of how much stock to take into it, and not to mention the actions she could take as well. What she remembered of the dream was not enough to make an honest assessment of the situation and whether or not it was truly just a nightmare.

She did not realise she had drawn into her mind until she heard her brother talking again, "Su? Are you okay? You know you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

If this was anyone else, she may have left it alone, but this was her brother; her twin brother no less and she told him pretty much everything. Well, unless it was someone else's secret of course. She quickly finished the water in her glass before finally speaking, "No, it is fine Obi, I'm just trying to sort it out in my head."

Her brother remained silent, realising that she was ready to talk and that he should not interrupt. After gathering herself, she spoke. "Honestly, I don't remember much. I remember fear, pain, and betrayal. Why my dream self is feeling them I don't know. I remember you in emotional pain, feeling no emotions from Anakin and…" she trails off, trying to keep herself collected, "and I remember wondering where Ahsoka was, but that last one was me me and not dream me; dream me wasn't even curious. I know there was more, but I just can't regain the memory of it. I can already see it haunting me for a while though."

Obi-Wan was silent on his end for a moment, no doubt thinking about her words, "I don't know what to say really Su, in some ways I'm glad you don't have to remember what was clearly a terrible nightmare, but I know you wish you could remember more just in case the vision is important. For now, go back to sleep, I know how little you've been getting with helping us out in the war efforts. Besides, Ahsoka is going to be helping Master Luminara escort Nute Gunray and I know you want to be wide awake for those reports."

Just like her brother to make her smile when she is having a little crisis, "Yes, I see your point Obi-Wan. Also, you're right; I do and I don't want to remember the nightmare. Perhaps it will visit me again, one thing I can surmise is that the events are not any time soon; it's not an immediate concern. I shall talk to you again after more rest."

After the two Kenobis shared their farewells, Sulani placed her glass in the sink and made her way back to bed; who knew what tomorrow had in stall for her.

As it turned out, tomorrow was not going to be friendly to her either; she woke up feeling a sense of foreboding and she was not sure why. Trying not to let it rattle her too much, she made her way towards the Council briefing room; there was no doubt much to get done today.

She walked into the room, and instead of the usual calm atmosphere that was normally in the air; it was rather tense. Walking down the small stairs, she could see that Master Yoda was in the room speaking to holograms of her brother and Anakin. "Good morning Master Yoda."

The aged Master turns to greet her in kind, "As well to you, Mother Sulani, sense a disturbance in your emotions, I do."

"Oh yes, I had a rather unfortunate nightmare last night that I am still trying to get over and I woke up with a sense of foreboding that I'm hoping is nothing," she explains, though seeing her brother and his former Padawan's faces, no luck there.

"Unfortunately Mother, I'm afraid we've lost all contact with Master Luminara and Ahsoka," Anakin informs with the concern for his missing Padawan evident.

"Why are my gut feelings always accurate?" Sulani could not help to mutter to herself under her breath.

"Comes with having the disposition of a Guardian Mother it does, help this you cannot," Master Yoda wisely reminds her.

Seeing no sense in brooding over it, Sulani moves back to the issue at hand, "When did we lose contact?"

This time her brother speaks up, "About an hour ago. We had word that they had successfully docked with the Tranquility and the esteemed Viceroy was in a cell. However, when it was time for them to check in, there was nothing."

This was certainly not good, there could be a number of reasons why they had yet to check in; if it was just Ahsoka, Sulani would just blame it on her picking up her Master's bad habits. However, with Master Unduli with her, that could not be the case. Not to mention her ominous gut feeling was telling her the reasons were not safe ones.

Seeing the concerned look on Sulani's face, Anakin is quick to assure her, "Do not worry Mother, I am on my way to their last known location now. Hopefully there is nothing wrong, but I will lend assistance if it is required."

"Thank you Anakin, I'm sure things will resolve themselves either way, but you know how I am," she says, a small smile on her face.

There was nothing more she could do except pray to the Force that everything would end in their favour.

It seemed like forever when word from Master Luminara and Ahsoka finally came through, but it had apparently only been another hour. In the end, the problem was handled before Anakin's fleet could arrive. "We were boarded by several droids and without realising it, Ventress as well."

"Ventress? Was she there to silence the Viceroy?" Anakin asks.

"Perhaps if things had not have gone her way, then yes," Master Luminara continues, "but for the most part, it was a rescue mission and it was a successful one as well. She was able to escape, Gunray along with her. Also, I have rather unfortunate news, Captain Argyus was working with Ventress and was the reason we lost this round."

This was a concern indeed, as all three Jedi being informed of the news concurred. Ahsoka could not contain herself further, "I'm sorry that despicable wealth-worm Gunray got away."

"It's okay Snips," Anakin assures her. "I know you did your best."

Ahsoka did not appear all that assured, "Master, I…"

She would have said more if Master Yoda had not interrupted her, "Troubling is the treachery of the Senate Guard, Captain Argyus. Revealed all around us our enemies are."

"I'm not sure all is lost," Master Luminara suggests. "Gunray and his accomplices stole a Republic ship to make their getaway."

"It could be tracked," Anakin exclaims, realising where she was going with her words.

"Indeed."

"A coward Viceroy Gunray is," Yoda states, "but powerful allies he has. Swiftly we must move if we are to recapture him."

"Master Fisto's fleet was near Gunray's position," Master Luminara reveals. "I have already contacted him to follow the signal."

"Ahsoka," Anakin calls to his Padawan, "I'll meet you at the rendezvous point."

"Yes, Master."

With these words, the transmission is cut from all ends. Things could have gone much worse, Force forbid anything had happened to Ahsoka or Master Luminara. These shocking events only make Sulani think back to her nightmare; how much of that fear would come true? She feared what the future held and most importantly, she feared what she might see the next time the vision appeared. "Your thoughts again trouble you they do, Mother Sulani."

Sulani had forgotten the Grand Master was also in the room with her, "Yes Master, the things I saw in my nightmare, though I do not remember everything, they frighten me."

"A path to the darkside, fear is," Master Yoda warns.

"I know Master, I am refusing to let it take hold, but it is normal to fear what one does not understand."

"Hmm, perhaps truth you speak, but cautious one must be as well," he agrees before making his way out of the room, leaving Sulani to her thoughts.

Yes, it is said that fear can lead to the darkside, but for some reason, Sulani felt that it was not her that fear would corrupt.

A/N: And there we have another chapter. I did end up going with the episode I said I would, but I also added something else otherwise this would have been a very short chapter. As is mentioned in the summary, Sulani has started having nightmares of the future, a future that I am sure you all know.

We'll see what she will do with the information eventually, but for now, things will stay pretty simple and straight forward; the episodes with a little extra here and there.

Also, thanks to Bonhamrules for the first review of the fic. Always love to know when someone likes my work.

Seza, out.