Anabeth: Darkness Rising

Chapter 2 - A Story Not Yet Told

"Does Satine even know how to get to the mess hall?" Ana wondered. "No" Obi-Wan replied "but that's why I asked some friends to bring her there". "Who?" Ana asked, but her question answered itself as she spotted Depa and Caleb standing with Satine. Ana's eyes lit up and she began to smile as her eyes met those of the Duchess. "Satine!" Ana almost screamed excitedly as she slightly ran towards the woman, despite the pain this was causing her.

"Ana!" the woman greeted her excitedly as she wrapped her arms around the girl. "Thank the force you're alright, I was so worried" she said as she hugged her even tighter "Don't you dare do something stupid like that ever again". "Hey Ana, it's good to see you getting better" Depa greeted her as soon as Satine had let go of her again.

The group went to grab lunch, curious eyes watching them, probably wondering what the Duchess of Mandalore was doing in the Temple. "What's their deal?" Ana asked annoyed. "They're probably just surprised that the Duchess of Mandalore is paying a visit and shocked about how horribly pale you are looking" Caleb teased with a cheeky grin. Ana rolled her eyes as they sat down at an empty table.

"I mean it, you look like you just came back from the dead" Caleb continued. "Thank you, Caleb. You for one look like you are about to be dead" Ana teased back with a glare, making the adults chuckle in amusement. "By the way, I think Windu is ready to see you once we're done here" Depa hurried to her Padawan's aid by changing the subject.

"Great" Ana replied enthusiastically. "Be warned though, you'll be in for a ride. He was furious when he found out you snuck away with Obi-Wan. And when you came back barely alive he almost had a meltdown. I'm the one you can thank for him letting the three of you keep your heads" Depa elaborated.

"It wasn't Satine's fault!" both Ana and Obi-Wan protested in union. "Technically, no, but Mace didn't really care at that point" the woman explained. "I can imagine" Anabeth said, taking anothere bite of her food.

By the time they had finishde their lunch Ana was making her way towards her quaters alone as Depa and Caleb went to do some training and Obi-Wan had insisted on escorting Satine back to Padmè's place. Anabeth knew Windu was expecting her, so she took the long route in order to mentally prepare for the lecture she was about to be given on why she had to keep her emotions in check and follow orders more.

"Hey" Ana shyly greeted her waiting Master as she entered the room. "Hello Ana, I think it's time we talk" Windu replied, motioning for her to sit down on the floor with him. As a result, the girl carefully tried to find a way to get onto the floor with minimal pain. She eventually settled on the tactic of carefully dropping onto her knees and then kneeling down as it caused her to only slightly grit her teeth together.

"How is stomach?" Mace asked, trying to sound sympathetic. "It's been better, but I'll live" Ana replied. "Good, now why don't you start by telling me what in the universe made you decide that you needed to sneek of to Mandalore and almost get yourself killed?" Mace suggested rather harshly. "So what you are really asking is what made me decide to do my job as a Jedi instead of going by what the Republic wants me to do then" Ana challanged him.

"Because that is what made me decide to go. The Republic was unwilling to help in a clearly disasterous crisis so the job fell to us Jedi. And when Master Mundi and Yoda refused to do anything at all the responsibility to act fell to Obi-Wan and me". "And this responsibility included you getting stabbed by a lightsaber?" Mace asked her provocatively.

"Oh, this isn't actually about me going on an unauthorized mission, isn't it?" Ana asked suspiciously. "You are very right it's not" Windu replied almost angrily "This is about you having the nerve to get stabbed, almost getting yourself killed, and not having a single regret about the way it went!" "Regrets? I would do the same again in a heartbeat if that's what it would take to safe an innocent life!" Ana defended herself.