Author's Note: Fair warning, this one is short. There's a reason for that which I'll elaborate on down below...

-Chapter 120: Closer to the Truth-

Location: Jedi Temple

"Some dreams really should be heeded."

"And there has been no word from him since?" Dooku asked. Pomel Scipio shook his head.

"Not a thing, my lord. For an assignment as simple as this, he should've made a report of completion or checked in by now." The Pau'an responded. "I am starting to worry."

"Surely he is simply preoccupied. Savage has proven to be a challenge in the past, Wraith may simply be taking his time in order to guarantee his success." Dooku stated. "But should a full day passes and we hear nothing further from him, we will investigate this matter more fully." He promised.

On Coruscant...

Another peaceful evening had set in on Galactic City, many inhabitants retiring for the night. In the Jedi Temple, many members of the Order also chose to retire, another day of study, conference, practice, or other Jedi pursuits behind them.

Ahsoka Tano was fast asleep, the head of 'Wraith' cradled against her chest as his strong arms were wrapped around her. Thoroughly spent, the Togruta had gone to bed with a smile on her face, more than happy to share the admittedly smaller bed with her boyfriend. It had felt so right to be back in his arms, so wonderful to hold him, kiss him, love him. It had been a long time since she'd engaged in such a pleasant experience and felt overdue for some much-needed intimacy with him. Their clothes lay piled on the floor, an obvious testament to their activities should someone suddenly walk in. It was incredibly risky for them to do it in the Temple... but in the heat of the moment, neither of them really cared.

Unfortunately for Ahsoka, her slumber was not to last... for the Force wanted to talk.

"Ahsoka..." An ethereal voice called out to her, barely above a whisper. The Togruta stirred ever so slightly but did not awake. "Ahsoka..." It called again, quiet and unimposing. Ahsoka stirred a little more this time, mumbling in her sleep as her body shifted under the covers to hold 'Wraith' a little tighter. "Ahsoka." The voice was much louder this time, as though it were right next to her. This time, Ahsoka awoke.

"Wha-... huh?" Her sleepy voice rambled, bleary eyes blinking open. Unable to hold back a yawn, she stretched in bed. "Couldn't this wait until morning?" She groggily wondered, none-too-happy with being awoken right now, not even realizing the possible sin she'd be caught in the middle of committing. "What time is it?" She groaned.

"It is time for us to talk." The voice jerked her into a state of alertness and Ahsoka slowly sat up in bed, slowly leaving 'Wraith's' warmth behind as she turned to find a Diathim sitting across from her. She knew the species only from descriptions in the archives as well as from stories Anakin had told her; bright white skin with an angelic aura. Ahsoka could see for herself why spacers called them 'angels'. The being smiled at her. "Do not worry, I will not tell the Jedi about your secret." It promised. Ahsoka had a myriad of questions racing through her mind, quickly pulling the bedsheet up to conserve her modesty as she made to engage the Diathim.

"W-W-What are you doing here? Who are you?" She wondered, both awed and afraid.

"I am how the Force has chosen to represent itself to you." The Diathim answered, her voice calm and quiet. "Your life is a busy one, Ahsoka Tano. Much is happening that must be discussed."

"I-I don't understand." The Togruta stammered, still trying to wrap her sleepy mind around all of this.

"You will, given time." The Diathim promised. "For now, I will steer the course of the conversation. All I need you to do is respond. Can you do that?" Ahsoka nodded. "Good. Now... You have discovered the secret of The Wraith, Ahsoka Tano." The Togruta turned to her still-sleeping boyfriend and smiled a little.

"I... I guess I did." She agreed.

"You saved him, as you first sought to do upon understanding his plight." The Diathim commented. The Togruta paused to dwell on that, suddenly recalling her earliest desire to help him instead of destroy him. It still rang clearly within her mind, and 'Wraith' had even claimed she'd saved him just hours ago.

"Y-Yeah. I did." She agreed again.

"However, you may find that what you wish for is imbalanced and imperfect." The Diathim cautioned, jerking Ahsoka from her moment of happiness.

"What?" She wondered in confusion.

"What is light without darkness? Where is good without evil? Otherwise there is no balance and much will be lost as a result." The Diathim continued, "This is a hard lesson that must be learned." The Togruta's brow creased as she pondered her words, all of them seemingly coming into conflict with her Jedi teachings.

"But... is it not better to live without darkness?" Ahsoka asked.

"There is darkness in all, there is no getting rid of it." The Diathim responded. "It is simply a matter of accepting that fact and not trying to banish it as the Jedi would suggest." That did not sit well with the Togruta.

"I-I don't know about that..." She hesitantly replied.

"In time, you will learn the truth." The Diathim gently promised.

"But why tell me this? What does it mean?" Ahsoka questioned, wondering what the Diathim's intentions were.

"He will need help. Your lover is a good man but ultimately troubled. I tell you this so that you can help him when the time comes." The Diathim stated. "You must persevere through the trials, Ahsoka, for the solution can only be found in the end when all is said and done."

"What kind of trials?" Ahsoka queried.

"In time you will understand, for now you must focus on my message and not on other variables." The Diathim told her. "Know that your paths were never meant to be travelled alone. Your destinies have always been intertwined... much like your bodies have been." It said with a slight smile. Ahsoka blushed at the rather blunt comment, shying away to simply look at 'Wraith'. Her gaze lingered on his tranquil features, her hand brushing his scars as a simple distraction, something the Diathim took note of. "You are happy with him, aren't you?" It observed. "He makes you feel special, in a way no one else can." Ahsoka slowly nodded, reflecting on the course of their relationship.

"Yes." She simply responded.

"Your love is pure and wholesome. Never doubt it." The Diathim told her. "Every trial you face will only strengthen the bond you share. Like iron forged in fire, the heat will temper and ensure its ability to endure." Ahsoka felt like they'd already been through a lot and would prefer to simply enjoy moments of quiet intimacy alone with one another, but kept that piece of advice in mind. "Treat every trial as an opportunity to love him more, to discover just how true and deep your love for him is." Now that was something Ahsoka had been longing to hear. Ever since their argument and subsequent separation, she'd been desperately seeking affirmation that their love was real. And now? From all things, the Force was the one to tell her it was real.

"I... I-I know I love him a lot. Even though I'm... technically not supposed to." She said at length, unable to ignore the fact that she was a Jedi.

"Love is an essential part of who you are. Love purely, love with a purpose, and you will learn to strengthen each other amid trials and hardships." The Diathim encouraged. "The Wraith is a man beset by many things. But your love will keep him intact, walking the path you both are destined to walk. Ensure your love is true, Ahsoka Tano." It added in a rather cautionary tone. "Pursue him when he seems unreachable, and when others cast him aside... be there for him."

"I will." Ahsoka promised, feeling her heart flutter a little just thinking about spending more time with him, helping him, enjoying life with him. "I have before and I won't stop now." Her words were mostly to herself but were not missed by the Diathim.

"Destiny is wise to have woven you two together. Your fiancé is truly fortunate." It remarked. Ahsoka's eyes snapped wide open and whirled back to the ethereal figure.

"My... M-My fiancé?!" Ahsoka spluttered, gasping at the notion. The Diathim offered her a plain and almost apologetic smile.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're not at that point yet... if that is to be your destiny." It stated, teasingly hinting that was something that 'could' be. Still, the idea had Ahsoka reeling... she and 'Wraith' would marry?!

Her mind was suddenly filled with images a vision sparked within her subconscious. In it she saw flashes of a familiar scene, the one she'd witnessed on Mortis. Her and a man, sitting side by side with an infant Togruta cradled between them. She suddenly realized that the man in question was indeed 'Wraith', the green eyes a dead giveaway. The Diathim noticed her distracted look and posed a question, "The Force has shown you something, yes?" Ahsoka did not respond as the memory faded, her blank stare fixed on the wall as her mind ran rampant.

"I... W-We..." She stammered, searching for an answer. Finally turning back to the quaintly-posed Diathim, Ahsoka swallowed and asked, "Will we have a child together?" The spectre did not immediately responding, gaze drifting until there was a far-off look in her eye. With a warm chuckle, it spoke again,

"Children. Ever the source of pride and joy for those who raise them." Gaze shifting back to Ahsoka, the Diathim posed a statement. "Do you know that in some cultures the word 'children' is interchangeable with 'light'? It harkens to the ancient idea that stars give birth to light." A sudden word came to Ahsoka, the earliest description of light in its purest form.

"Ashla..." She mused, trailing off. The Diathim nodded.

"Yes. Ashla." Rising from her dainty position, the Diathim straightened up. "Our time is up. Remember what I've told you, Ahsoka. It will help you in the days to come." It stated. Ahsoka nodded, but as the figure made to leave, Ahsoka had one more question for it.

"What... What's his name? His real name." The Diathim paused and turned back to her, smiling softly.

"The Force will reveal it to you when the time is right." It promised.

And then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone.

Shaking her head, slightly bewildered by the whole encounter, Ahsoka inhaled and exhaled as she tried to find some semblance of balance within herself. This was... a lot to process. Some of it seemed to make sense, and some of it... well... maybe it would make sense in the future. If not, then it was a crazy as she thought it was. The encounter did leave her with plenty of questions, though. Would she and 'Wraith' really get married one day? Would they really have a child together? It all seemed so impossible. She was a Jedi and Jedi did not get married or have children. The only notable exception was Ki-Adi Mundi, but the Cereans were a species that had trouble reproducing so the Council condoned his marriages. But in her case? Never! They'd never let a Togruta get married, let alone have a boyfriend... but that hadn't stopped her from acquiring one anyway...

Then, in the midst of her fretting, she heard something.

In the dark of her room, an ethereal voice softly chanted a single word over and over, starting loudly before gradually fading into silence. As Ahsoka paused and dwelt on the word, she realized it sounded more like a name, one she was not familiar with. She questioned why this would be revealed to her and tried to draw a significant connection to the name, only to reach a simple conclusion: she did not recognize it.

"Dynnal." She said aloud, trying to sound it out for herself. As if on cue, 'Wraith' stirred beside her, something waking him up.

"'Soka...?" He mumbled, rubbing his eyes as he awoke. "Somethin' wrong?" Ahsoka turned towards 'Wraith', her eyes locking with his. One look into his emerald hues and it clicked, her eyes widening. She just knew that this name had to be his!

"I... I-I think the Force just told me your name. Your real name." She replied, her smile slowly growing. "You're... Dynnal." She revealed. He mulled that over, the name striking something of a familiar chord within him.

"Dynnal..." He repeated with a nod. "Not bad. Guess the Force knows how to pick a name." He mused with a slight grin as he laid back down, Ahsoka joining him. Arms circling around one another again, they drew close and renewed their former posture. "But... why would the Force want you to know that?" He wondered.

"I don't know." Ahsoka honestly answered. "But, I'll admit, it's nice to have a proper name to call you by." She added.

"No argument there." Dynnal agreed.

Elsewhere...

It was turning into a long night for Corsair, waiting for the blood sample to finish processing. He stood with Toolie, her mechanical knowhow making her the only one qualified to operate the machine properly, and Corsair was in great need of her skills tonight. This had to work.

For within the machine was a blade of grass, plucked from Orron III, and covered with Wraith's blood.

Wired to a datapad, the machine transmitted the genetic information retrieved from the sample to the storage space where it could be analyzed. The Titans had access to a very thorough network of complete profiles on various individuals. Corsair figured if this blood matched someone in their database, they'd have a lead to pursue and possibly a way to end The Wraith once and for all.

With a 'ding', the machine announced its completion and Toolie pulled the sample and the datapad free. "It's done. Anything else you want?" She wondered, passing them over to Corsair.

"Nah we're good, Tools." Corsair responded as he took the pad and pocketed the blood. "Nicely done, as always." He thanked as he left, the sour mechanic turning back to her work without a second look at him. The Titan leader made his way through the halls of their ship, Stolen Horizon, and turned into his private quarters, sealing the door behind them. Sitting down behind his desk, he popped the top on a bottle of beer and powered up the datapad, plugging it into his own terminal and synching the two to the Titan's network. "Alright ya kriffah, 'o are ya?" He wondered after a swig, the data quickly transponding back and forth as it processed he available information. Leaning back in his seat, Corsair watched the progress bar rise, nearing 100 percent as it analyzed the blood and compared it to all the known individuals in the Titan's network. It wasn't long before a match was made. "Gotcha." Corsair remarked with a grin, taking another drink. It was promptly spat out when the information appeared before him, revealing a name and the stats associated with it.

The name was Estobarr Marchellus Karn.

For a moment, Corsair stared horrified at his own name. That couldn't be right. The Wraith and him? Why? Better yet... how? The information continued to spill out, revealing it was a partial match, only some of the genetic material was compareable to that of the sample, close to 50 percent. Which was already a lot. But what about the rest of the material? Who wasn't in their database? Corsair sat sumbly for a moment, his mind trying to comphrend it all. It didn't seem possible, nor did he want to believe it. A single conclusion came to his mind and he promptly chased it out. He refused to believe that was who he'd been pumping slugs into for months on end.

Unless...

Reaching into his vest, Corsair pulled out a datachip and promptly plugged it into his terminal. Acting on the fleeting thought, he silently hoped it would not result in what he feared would be the answer. Maybe the Sunfire scientists had cloned him or something... that would be a far more agreeable conclusion. The datachip finished processing, revealing the medical profile of one Meline Udia, better known as Meline Karn... Corsair's wife. The Titan leader had always kept a copy on hand, ever since she had become pregnant, but had never entered it into the Titan's database. He personal affairs and private life were never to mingle with his job... even now, he hoped that was the case.

He filtered her genetic data into the search and crossindexed it with the already present Wraith sample. Corsair watched with pleading eyes as the terminal processed Meline's data with Wraith's, Corsair's near-50 percent match still present on one side. He folded his hands together, begging the universe to let his query be wrong.

The terminal finished processing... and revealed a match, Meline filling in the other blanks. Between her and Corsair, there was a 98 percent match with Wraith's DNA.

Corsair let out a sob as he covered his face, slumping against his desk and sending his beer crashing across the floor. "No..." He cried. "No, it's not true! It's impossible!" But the data did not lie and Corsair looked up through watery eyes, faced with a devastating realization. "I'm sorry Meline... I"m so sorry..." He quietly apologized, knowing he'd failed his wife's one request... but to an even greater extent than he first imagined.

Author's Note: NEWS FLASH - I'm moving house! Not too far, I'm not even leaving the province. But it's gonna be enough to occupy my time for the foreseeable future. My apologies for the posting slowdown, but this is one of those things that kinda has to be dealt with now. I'll post again once the dust has settled, that's a promise!

So until next time, see you when I see you!