TRUE DARK.

When Anakin was accepted into the Jedi Order, Palpatine abducted him, refusing to allow him to be trained as a Jedi. Raised in darkness, Anakin resists Palpatine's attempts to sway him to the Dark Side at all costs... Ten years later, he escapes. But will the Jedi heed his warning about Palpatine's true nature? Or will they too lock him away forever?

CHAPTER THREE.

"What are we going to do about him?"

Obi-wan frowned as he glanced at Master Windu, part of him wanted to leap to help Anakin and say that he would take him as his padawan, like he had ten years ago. He didn't know why though, but something made him hesitate.

Yoda frowned, "A difficult situation, this is."

Obi-wan cocked his head, "Anakin was accepted into the Jedi Order before he was taken." There was no reason it shouldn't apply now. "I don't see why that decision should be affected now."

Yoda shook his head, "A prisoner to the Sith, Skywalker has been-"

"He has suffered more than you could possible imagine," Qui-gon said, interrupting Yoda, "and i have watched over him for that entire time."

Obi-wan looked at his dead, former Master, "What happened to him?"

Qui-gon's eyes closed, "I'm not sure it's my place to tell you," sighing, the ghostly Jedi shook his head, "but you have to know, and Anakin is unlikely to share his past."

Yoda and Obi-wan looked at Qui-gon. "Know, we must." Said the Old Master.

"Let's just say that what he went through... a normal jedi, let alone a mere child, would not have survived without giving into the darkside." Qui-gon's face was filled with horror, at his memories of Anakin's suffering. "That is why I stayed with him. In hopes that he would not turn, I trained him." He closed his eyes and sighed. "After ten years in darkness, any normal person would have ended up blind... but Anakin is no normal person. He was born of the force, it flows through him stronger than anyone I've seen." Qui-gon opened his eyes and gave them an amazed look. "Instead of allowing the darkness to blind him, the force enhanced his vision. Now, he can see among the darkness almost as if it was day."

Obi-wan frowned, "He was hurt, wasn't he?" It was in the way Anakin held himself, the way he had distanced himself from them when he had entered, and his slight flinch when Padme had taken his hand.

Qui-gon nodded, "More times than I can count." His eyes closed again, and sighed, "The sheer brutality, that Anakin suffered at Palpatine's hands..." Breaking, off, Qui-gon shook his head, "I could not offer anything but my comfort," Anakin had suffered through it, with no physical contact or comfort.

"You did more than you give yourself credit for," Anakin's voice was soft, one hand held over his eyes, shielding them from the bright, daylight. Looking at Yoda,

Anakin took a deep breath, "I know you don't trust me." It wasn't their fault, and he could hardly blame them. "But if something isn't done sooner or later, Palpatine's plans will succeed."

"Well we're not going to let that happen," Padme said, entering the Council Chamber carrying a tray of food, she smiled at Anakin. "Master Vokara asked me to bring this for you."

Anakin's stomach growled loudly, looking at him, Obi-wan frowned taking in his appearance. Even with the new, clean, Jedi robes, he was still extremely thin. "When was the last time you ate?"

Anakin froze in mid step as he moved toward Padme, he glanced at Qui-gonand shook his head meaningfully. "A little while-"

"More than two weeks."

Anakin shot Qui-gon an annoyed look, "Why did you tell them that?" The last thing he wanted was their pity.

Padme shook her head, "Ani..." How could he have gone through so much, and still care? She held the tray out, "here."

As he reached to take it, the sleeve of his right arm lifted back, revealing a long burned gash. As Padme gasped, Anakin pulled the sleeve down.
At least he tried to -

Padme gently took his hand and pulled the sleeve up... her eyes widened in horror at the long wound, that trailed up to his shoulder. "Master Vokara said you were fine."

"I didn't tell her about it," He was used to dealing with his own injuries. Gripping the tray of food, Anakin pulled away from Padme, "it's fine, really."

"That, is not fine." Obi-wan stood, "I think you should come back to the temple of healing with me."

Anakin snorted and sat down, "No." He didn't need help, he was fine. "Hey!"

He made a grab for the food tray as Padme yanked it from his hands, "You can have it when Master Vokara has seen to your injuries."

Raising his eyebrows, Anakin grinned. "Nice try," His left hand lifted, reaching out... One of the pieces of breadlifted and quickly flew to his hand.

Chuckling, Qui-gon rolled his eyes, "Just go with them Ani."

Anakin shook his head, "I'm fine-"

"You have at least another six wounds from Palpatine's lightsaber," Qui-gon pointed out, "then there's the broken ribs-"

"I'm fine." Anakin said, biting into the bread, "It's not like I haven't dealt with any of that before."

Padme folded her arms, "If you don't come now, I'll just have to tell your Mother."

Anakin choked coughing as he nearly swallowed a mouthful of bread whole, "You've talked to Mom?"

Nodding, Padme raised her eyebrows, "I wonder how long it would take her to fly here after I tell her about your injuries..."

Anakin's eyes narrowed at her. "You wouldn't."

Padme just raised an eyebrow and smiled at him. "Actually I would. Unless you cooperate and come with me and Obi-wan back to the Temple of Healing."

Anakin looked at her suspiciously before looking at the others. His shoulders sagged in defeat. "Fine, I'll go with you... just... don't tell mom." He said in a whisper.

Shaking his head, Obi-wan chuckled, "You'd think we were walking you to your death."

Anakin sighed softly, "I'm just used to taking care of myself." For the last ten years, the only physical contact he'd had, had been violent and painful. With that said, he turned around and headed to the door and paused. Obi-wan and Padme went to him, and he started walking again, this time, with them following right behind him.

xxx

As the trio left, Qui-gon looked at Yoda and Master Windu. "Obi-wan is right, Anakin has been accepted into the Jedi Order."

"But the fact is, Master Qui-gon... that Skywalker has been a sith's prisoner for the past ten years. For all we know, he could have given into his despair at some point. Whether or not you were with him. All it takes is a slight change, and you would never notice." Master Windu argued.

Qui-gon shook his head, "Anakin has never once given into 'despair' or fear, or anger. He has resisted Palpatine everyday for the last ten years, and I have not left him for a single moment."

Yoda cocked his head, "So sure of him you are."

"Yes, I am Master."

Yoda frowned thoughtfully, his head cocked to one side, then he nodded. "Accepted into the Order, Skywalker was." he looked at Qui-gon, "Stand by that decision, the Council will. A Jedi, Skywalker, will be." Yoda looked at Windu, and Qui-gon. "Train him, Obi-wan will."