'My Master.' Rynalla was pacing back and forth in her room allocated to her by Shmi Skywalker as she had started living within the palace alongside the other girls sent here.
That is right, she had figured out who Vader truly was. Well, figured out would be a lie, because she had been told of his real identity. Anakin Skywalker.
It made sense, sort of, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't confused and couldn't exactly piece everything together. Rynalla then thought back to the time and remembered just when he had revealed himself to her and how excited she was.
Anakin had made an entrance with another person back on Tatooine under the cloak of darkness that was the night. He specifically was with Jenna and was headed to Rynalla now believing that it is time to finally reveal himself to her.
It just wouldn't be right if he revealed himself to Jenna but not her considering she has known him longer.
"The Prince?" Rynalla was confused that Anakin had come when she was informed that Vader was making his way here. Excited she was at his reappearance as she didn't see him as often as she would have liked.
In her view Anakin had also come along with a beautiful and mature stranger, right to her which only further increased her confusion. "Rynalla." Anakin spoke to her, knowing her name.
"Y-yes?" She replied in confusion.
"I think it is time I reveal myself. I am Vader." Anakin just straight up cut to the point.
"W-what?" She was still confused and it would seem the woman next to Anakin had something to say.
"So this is the best and the brightest of your researchers?" Jenna questioned with derision.
This angered her but she was able to keep to herself her feelings and not instantly lash out in anger. She had greatly improved with her progress within the Force as she got limited training from whom she affectionately called her 'master.'
Instead she questions the prince. "What do you mean you are Vader?"
"I meant what I meant, is there something wrong?" Anakin then began to cloud himself with dark side energy and started to present himself to her in a style reminiscent to his Vader persona.
Finally connecting the dots and managing to pinpoint the Force signatures she was able to determine the truth of his words. "Master! It truly is you!"
"Yes, that is quite enough for now. I want you to get acquainted with this woman here, she will be heading this department alongside you." Anakin said not really bothered by her show of loyalty.
Feeling a bit hurt at that, Rynalla replied. "But Master, do I not do enough? Have I not proved myself to you?"
Anakin doesn't hesitate to approach her and towers above her, proceeding to lift her chin to look deep into her eyes. "I do. You have proven to be quite useful to me, I am not replacing you, I am simply bringing in someone to help you."
He assures her because this situation was quite emotional for her. She blushes at being so close to him and knowing what he looks like underneath even more so increased her infatuation.
Anakin was not a bad looking young man, but was in fact very beautiful and could contend with alot of models even with his freakish physique.
"T-thank you, Master." She replied in a quiet tone.
What Rynalla had been mainly working on for Anakin was the expansion of his knowledge to do with the dark side of the Force but she had other things to do as well. The only problem was she is uneducated in things to do with science and had minimal experience and as such she needed a partner.
This partner would be Jenna, and she would be the perfect partner for her.
"Master, if I may ask?" Rynalla had become extremely docile in the presence of Anakin and Jenna just had to comment.
"How cute, so this is your grand plan? I thought there would be something more." Jenna said but it was Rynalla who came to his defense.
"Do not speak that way to the Master!"
"Woah! Calm down there." If looks could kill then Jenna would die a thousand times over by now by Rynalla's glare.
"I think that is enough out of the two of you." Anakin puts an end to their brewing feud with one sentence.
They continued to walk for a small while before ending up in a specific room that continued many living medical droids that Anakin planned to showcase to increase Jenna's interest.
"For the Emperor!" The living droids within the room saluted him.
"Like what you see?" Anakin questioned Jenna.
"This is quite interesting but you still haven't told me what this is all about." Jenna was becoming increasingly curious especially after the revelation the droids were actually living and fully capable of using the Force, even in limited capacity.
"We are all gathered here for you to get a look at what my next creation is to further advance myself and the Human species. Maybe even create a version of what I am trying to create here for other species as well in the future." Anakin said directing her eyes to the medical reports visible to Jenna.
While Jenna was overlooking all of that, Rynalla had taken this as her chance to grab onto her beloved as her mind became even more twisted. She may have held back and was learning to be in even greater control over the dark side, that didn't mean she was immune.
At least not yet.
Rubbing herself on Anakin, she says. "So this is your true form, Master. How glorious you are, I am blessed to be in your presence, to be allowed to approach and smell you from up close. Its exhilarating."
"I am sure it is, and it would seem that you are liking me a bit too much." Anakin says with some jest but it goes unnoticed by Rynalla.
Quickly getting ahold of herself she retreats and says in panic. "Forgive me, Master! I didn't mean to impede or get in you way, I only wanted to be closer to you!"
"Do not get me wrong, Rynalla, I am not repulsed by your presence. In fact I quite enjoy your company." Anakin was speaking the truth because while he was not overly attracted to her, that didn't mean he was against any form of relationship.
At this point in time he hadn't officiated his relationship with any other girl.
"Really?" She smiled before continuing. "Master, if I may be so bold."
"You may." Anakin gave his permission because she was extremely docile when it came to him. In fact her submissiveness was quite seductive and he had nearly gave into his inner demons.
"What exactly is this project the elite have been working on?" Rynalla was referring to the living droids who had taken the name of elites for now before they get their own bodies.
"A specialized bio-engineered 24th chromosome with the sole purpose of making a baseline Human better than what they were." Anakin stated.
Jenna added her own opinion after looking over the data. "From what has been designed, this would eliminate most genetic disorders and reduce the chances of diseases or viruses being able to infect someone."
Jenna continued. "In fact, it would be impossible with this special genetic restructuring for a Human to get cancer. There are other things like increased overall mental and physical capabilities but the main benefits are those to the quality of life."
"This would basically be the next step in evolution for Humans if it was engineered this way, and from the looks of it you are nearly complete." Jenna finished.
"That is correct."
Rynalla practically had stars in her eyes that were slightly crazy as she stared at Anakin. "Amazing."
"Jenna, you will help complete this while Rynalla will help you with other things." Anakin said with Rynalla not questioning him and Jenna just accepting her next task.
Most of everything had been done for her anyway, so why waste her time with small talk. Anakin would then go on to explain he had to leave for Coruscant and that when Rynalla was finished she could come visit him, on the stipulation she was able to hide herself in the Force like he had taught her.
'My Master.' Rynalla had a smile on her face just thinking about him.
[]
"Ani, how has my progress been so far?" Barriss asked Anakin of whom had become her Master but she didn't change the way he addressed him.
She would feel too awkward in doing so anyway.
At first some within the Order questioned Anakin on his choice of apprentice because she was known to be a very close friend of his, but this only proved to the higher ups that Anakin was quite inline with their methods.
Meaning that Anakin placed no attachment on his friendship with Barriss and was willing to become her master instead. What they didn't know however was that the two were still very close to each other and with becoming master and apprentice it only gave them more time to spend with each other.
Unfortunately the Jedi are quite blind at times to certain things.
"You have been doing fine and soon enough I believe that you will not need to be my apprentice anymore." Anakin replied.
"Really?" Barriss was excited because she always felt there was some kind of barrier that was preventing her from being able to express her feeling towards Anakin.
Even though a Force Dyad had formed between the two, it seemed Anakin or maybe it was herself that thought it was inappropriate for a teacher and student to be in a relationship.
"Yes, I do believe that it is high time you completed your trials and have in fact nearly completed them all." Anakin stated.
"Can you tell me which?" Barriss asked thinking she could rush things.
"No, that wouldn't be right, now would it?" Anakin replied knowing full well what he said was bullshit.
"Yeah right. We both know that you aren't one to follow the rules." Barriss says.
"You're correct." Anakin chuckles a bit before explaining. "You have completed all but one, and this last trial of yours is the Trial of the Spirit."
"Right... The hardest one." Barriss sighs believing that the last Trial she has to complete would be difficult.
"That is both correct and incorrect, all you would be doing in simple terms is facing your inner darkness per say. Your doubts, your insecurities and the dark side would try to tempt you into giving in to your most innate desires." Anakin said.
"Not that those thoughts are all that wrong or even evil but it is how you channel those emotions that would allow you to pass." He continued.
"So it is my actions that matter the most?" Barriss hesitantly asked.
"Yes. Remember the new code I have taught you, my own that I have connected to myself, the one I have said to others." Anakin questions.
"I do." Barriss confirms.
"Why dont you recite it for me." Anakin asks.
"Flowing through all, there is balance. There is no peace without a passion to create. There is no passion without peace to guide. Knowledge fades without the strength to act. Power blinds without the serenity to see. There is freedom in life. There is purpose in death. The Force is all things and I am the Force." Barriss quotes his ripped off code.
"As long as you have taken my teachings to heart and have trust in yourself, then everything should be just fine." Anakin smiles in encouragement which only manages to daze her for a bit as his features were that good looking.
Only more so accented by his now wavy and curly dark blonde hair and glowing purple eyes.
Anakin's glowing eyes were the result of the special mutation within his Sky-Seed that was affected by the Force and his incredible Force-sensitivity.
"Hello? Barriss, are you there?" Anakin was trying to get her attention.
Slightly embarrassed, she recovers from her trance. "Yes, I am here." She then continued as she was slightly curious about something. "Master, I have noticed that something has changed between you and Aayla."
"That is true." Anakin didn't lie.
"What is it, if I may ask?" She was hesitant to ask but was ready for the answer.
"You could say, I have officially begun a romantic relationship with her." Anakin answers honestly.
Barriss would be lying if she said she wasn't jealous but she was aware of the rather unique situation they were all in. There was no telling how many more Dyad's he would create in the future as well.
So she had come to accept this situation and it was made all the more easier that Anakin actually spent time with her and the others still even when he should be busy doing other things. This only indicated to her, his care for them.
"I thought we weren't supposed to have attachments as Jedi?" Barriss decides to be playful instead of having an outburst using her temporary jealousy.
"It is a good thing, I dont plan on being a Jedi for long." Anakin drops a bomb on Barriss.
"Wait, what?" Barriss asked in surprise, not that she already didn't have an inclination with what Anakin wanted to do in the future. In fact she wasn't really surprised at all but was just confused why he had not left the Order yet.
"The galaxy will go to hell and there are even bigger threats years ahead of the current timeframe and I dont have alot of time left to prepare." Anakin said what he was going to tell the other girls at some point.
"How so?" Barriss didn't question how valid his prediction is to be because he has been near 100% right about the many other things they had done. That didn't mean he couldn't be wrong, it just meant he never really was, especially when it came to things concerning the Force and the wellbeing of people.
Even more so when it came to his loved ones.
"Lets just say that there are many hidden menaces and it wouldn't be good to tell you or others just yet about what is in store. Just know that I will protect you and everything else I possibly can." Anakin stated quite passionately.
"That is quite the big responsibility... Are you sure you can handle this yourself?" Barriss questioned, worried about how he is doing.
"Don't worry, as long as I have the support from you and the others, I will be just fine." Anakin smiles again before embracing Barriss within an unexpected hug.
"O-ok." Barriss replies while stammering having not quite hammered that habit out of herself.