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Jedi Headquarters, Imperial City, Coruscant
Cianna Darklighter had intended to grab a holo novel from the library, but then she ran into Master Skywalker's droids. They were busy trying to translate a Jedi artifact, the Book of Prophecies. It was old fashioned, worn from age, with a slight musty smell. As a Seer, she was drawn to the book, and even though it lacked a consistent alphabet or any form at all, she could almost find a meaning in the jumbled mess of words, but it was just beyond her reach. Threepio was more than willing to let Cianna borrow it for awhile, after complaining about it for a little over five minutes.
Finally, carrying the ancient book in her arms, Cianna headed over to the infirmary to sit with Corran Horn's apprentice, Lainey. Cianna was stuck with watching over the younger apprentices, so that Tionne and Kam could be at Master Skywalker's meeting. Cianna had mixed feelings about Ganner volunteering her to do so. She didn't know the girl very well. Few people did, since she was so quiet. Which was a definite sharp contrast to her friend Miranda, who was very friendly and always had something to say. She was a pretty nice girl though, often helping the struggling apprentices if she could.
Cianna almost reached the infirmary, when a little girl ran past her, green eyes gleaming with mischief. It was Jysella Horn.
"Hi!" the girl greeted her, running past.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Cianna exclaimed, grabbing hold of Jysella's arm. "Where are you going?"
"As far away from Valin as I can get!" she yelled, pulling something out of her pocket. "He's going to be missing this soon." Grinning, Jysella shoved it back into her pocket, and noticed the book in Cianna's arms. "What's that?" she asked curiously.
"The Book of Prophecies," Cianna replied, suppressing a smile at Jysella's antics.
Jysella's green eyes grew wide. "Jumbling Jabba-Fat!" she exclaimed. "That's great! Did you write it?" Before Cianna could answer, Jysella rambled on. "Daddy says that when you grow up, you're going to be a Prophetess! I said I wanted to be one too, or maybe a smuggler. Daddy said that I've been hanging around with my grandfather too much..."
"Jysella," Cianna interrupted her. "Where are you supposed to be?"
"Oh!" Jysella cried, hitting her head. "I am running from Valin! See you later!" She wiggled her arm free from Cianna's grasp and started running. Shaking her head, Cianna contemplated chasing her, but didn't have the energy to do so. A child like that would surely be missed soon.
Cianna entered the infirmary, inquired of Lainey from one of the Apprentice Healers, and was given her room number. Taking a deep breath, Cianna knocked once, and receiving no reply, slowly opened the door. Lainey appeared to be asleep, facing away from the door. The room was dark, the only light coming from the open door. Cianna hesitated, wondering if she should say something. If she said it softly enough, it probably wouldn't wake her... "Hello," Cianna whispered.
Lainey turned, her face unreadable in the dim room. "Hello, Cianna?" she asked, sleepily.
Cianna nodded, stepped further into the room, allowing the door to slide shut behind her. She froze, uncertain of what to say. "Are you...alright?"
"Yeah," Lainey replied. She cocked her head, noticing the book in Cianna's arms, by aid of the city lights streaming in from the window. "Do you need the lights?"
"Only if it doesn't bother you..."
"It doesn't," Lainey answered, turning her attention back to the window.
Cianna called for low lights, then sat on the chair next to Lainey's bed. Opening the book, she tried to find meaning in the letters. After a few moments she grew frustrated in her inability to understand - she knew the answer lay just beyond her reach.
"Do you ever wish Coruscant had stars?" Lainey asked, the sound of her voice startling Cianna.
Looking up from her book, Cianna met Lainey's questioning gaze. "Every night." Her tone turned wistful. "They were beautiful in Tatooine's sky."
"Are you from Tatooine?" Lainey asked, her expression unreadable.
Cianna nodded. "It's not nearly as bad as Han Solo likes to claim." She paused. "Well maybe it's almost as bad." She cocked her head. "Do you remember where you're from, Lainey?"
"I was born on Naboo, raised on Coruscant," Lainey replied softly. "Did you like Tatooine?"
"Yeah, I don't miss the heat though." Cianna smiled. "Did you like Naboo?"
"I don't remember it," Lainey said, then gestured to the Book of Prophecies. "May I see that?"
"Sure," Cianna said in resignation, handing it over. "I can't figure out how to read it anyway."
Lainey traced her fingers over the rough cover, closing her eyes. Cianna felt the Force flowing through the girl, raising an eyebrow as Lainey's blue eyes flashed open. "This is the Book of Prophecies," Lainey breathed, looking up at Cianna. "You must be Master Skywalker's Seer."
"In training," Cianna said, giving Lainey a calculating look. "Can you read it?"
"Of course," Lainey replied, giving Cianna a weird look. "It's written in Jedi Cyrillic." She frowned. "I thought you were a Padawan?"
"Senior Apprentice," Cianna corrected her. "I was never taught how to read Jedi Cyrillic, I don't think anyone here does." She leaned forward. "Can you teach me?" she asked, excited.
Lainey hesitated. "I don't know if I should."
"What harm could it do?" Cianna pressed. "Besides maybe hurting Gann..Master Ryshode's pride that I know something he doesn't." Sensing Lainey's reluctance, Cianna added, "A Seer ought to be able to read the Book of Prophecies."
"And write it in it, too," Lainey agreed, then sighed. "It's not that hard, especially not for a... Senior Apprentice." She passed the book back to Cianna. "All you do is read the intent of the writer through the Force." Cianna tried, but the letters on the cover proved distracting, she almost got a hint of the title, but only because she already knew it. Observing this Lainey said, "It helps if you close your eyes, so your sight doesn't distract you."
Cianna nodded, closed her eyes and reached out with the Force, trying to read the title again. This time no words formed in her mind, she received only a clear impression that it was a book that contained prophecies. That explained the simplicity of the title. Cianna raised her head to look at Lainey. "This is great! How do you write it?"
"That takes a little more work," Lainey replied, her eyes drooping. "It involves tying the letters with your intent. I'll teach you when I get out of the infirmary." She yawned, rolling over onto her side. "Is there any particular prophecy you're looking for?"
"Yes, the prophecy of the Chosen One who will bring balance to the Force," Cianna replied, flipping through the pages.
Lainey stiffened, shielding her emotions with the Force. "Why that one?" she asked in a tone barely above a whisper.
"Because Kyp Durron is using it against Master Skywalker." Cianna arched an eyebrow. "What do you know about it?"
"What has Master Skywalker said about it?" Lainey asked instead of answering Cianna's question.
"Nothing. But..."
"Then I better not," Lainey said firmly.
"Lainey, he hasn't said anything because he doesn't know any more than Kyp or anyone else does."
"And what does Kyp or anyone else know, exactly?" Lainey asked, turning to look at Cianna. Her voice was starting to sound strained. While she was practically unreadable through the Force, a deep, almost tired pain shone through her eyes.
Cianna knew she should probably let her sleep, but information about the Chosen One was vital. Maybe she could at least get Lainey to tell her whether or not Kyp was the Chosen One, assuming she knew either way. "Kyp knows of half of the prophecy. About how when the Jedi fall into darkness, the Chosen One will flex his might, bringing balance to the Force and opening the way for the strongest generation of Jedi."
"I remember him saying that at the State Dinner. He defined the darkness as the...Vong?" Cianna nodded. "Wars." Lainey finished, rubbing her eyes. She paused as though gathering her thoughts. "Cianna, may I ask you a question?"
"Certainly," Cianna said, fighting back a sigh, realizing that she wouldn't be receiving any more answers from Lainey that night.
"How did Darth Vader die?" Lainey asked.
Cianna had a hard time masking her surprise from Lainey's question. Everyone knew the answer, and it was completely off topic. But Lainey was serious about it, Cianna could tell by the girl's intent stare. "Well, during the battle of Endor, Master Skywalker fought Darth Vader aboard the Death Star. Defeating him in a lightsaber duel, he refused to kill his own father. Palpatine decided to kill him by using Force lightning. Master Skywalker called out to his father for help, who out of love for his son, lifted Palpatine up and threw him down the Death Star's reactor core. Vader got caught by some of Palpatine's Force lightning and died soon after," Cianna answered, but before she could ask Lainey why she asked that, the door to the infirmary room opened, admitting Miranda.
"Cianna, Master Skywalker needs you. He wants your insight at the meeting," Miranda said, then noticing Lainey was awake, she added, "Hey Lainey, glad to see you're alive!" she said teasingly.
"Thanks," Lainey said, managing a small smile for her friend. "I thought you were babysitting?"
"Yeah, but I talked Aender into doing it for me." Miranda gave her a wink.
Cianna rose to her feet. "Thanks, Miranda," she said, getting the sinking feeling that she knew exactly what Master Skywalker needed her insight on. The thought of it sent a cold chill down her spine. Setting her shoulders, she waved goodbye to Lainey and Miranda, and exited the infirmary room.
Copyright 2002 by Luney.
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