Thanks for the reviews: Padawan A Kenobi, SongoftheDarquePhoenix, miarath
Anakin jolted awake, fear had claimed his heart, but to his surprise, he wasn't shackled. Quickly sitting up he scanned the room. The furnishings looked quite expensive from what he could see in the dim lighting and he couldn't see anything dangerous in his close vicinity, so he slid off the comfortable bed and moved slowly around the room.
His last thoughts had been of the foul smelling bounty hunter who had shackled him and threw him on the ship. He stretched out but the Force wasn't there; it was smothered by some unknown sensation.
His thoughts settled on escaping and he slowly reached for the door handle and turned it. To his surprise it opened, but it was a fresher, and lying on a chair were several towels, soap and some clothes.
Anakin was confused and he checked the clothes, they were his size. He wondered whether someone had rescued him, and the thought made him relax a bit.
He glanced back to the other room and noticed doors leading to a balcony, again, he found them unlocked. He gently opened the doors and stepped out into the cool night air.
He seemed to be in some sort of Castle, and he look over the balcony; the drop to the ground was a considerable distance so he decided against jumping out to make his escape, and besides he concluded by the room that he wasn't a prisoner.
On the nightstand next to his bed was a jug of water, some fruit, and muffins. He smiled, if he was a prisoner, they fully intended to feed him well.
After showering he donned the fresh clothes, and decided to see if there were any guards outside his room.
He quietly opened the main door and peeked out into the hallway. It was a long ornate hallway and the walls were made of timber, and large timber beams made up the ceiling. There wasn't a soul in the hall, and he silently made his way to the wooden staircase.
Anakin stopped abruptly when he could hear someone coming, and he stepped back behind a large pot at the top of the stairs and waited. Soon a man wearing a very expensive night jacket and slippers walked past carrying a tray, with a cup and some biscuits on it.
He didn't look dangerous, and Anakin noticed he didn't have a gun or blaster so Anakin stepped out and spoke quietly. "You there, where am I?"
The man jumped slightly and steadied the tray as he turned around. "Oh, I'm sorry young man you startled me. I'm the keeper of the household my name is Malouf. I didn't realise that you were awake!"
"Well I am, so tell me where am I, and what am I doing here?" Anakin asked keeping his distance from the house keeper.
"The Master of the house will explain everything to you in the morning; so perhaps it would be wise to return to your room, it is quite late in the night cycle and the Master is asleep. I myself am just turning in for the night. I see you have availed yourself of the fresher and clothes; were the clothes satisfactory Sir?"
Anakin was irritated by the man, as he didn't like being kept uninformed; however, he got the distinct impression he wouldn't get any information out of Malouf.
"Yes the clothes are fine, I suppose if you won't tell me, I could go and wake up the Master of this splendid castle and ask him?"
"Please Sir, do not do that, he is quite ill, and has just come out of an operation, and Bacta. He will be well enough to see you tomorrow. Perhaps I can tell you one thing; you were rescued from a group of Bounty hunters. You were unconscious, so your rescuers brought you here. Anything else will have to wait until the morning, sir." Malouf pointed to Anakin's room and nodded.
"So I'm not a prisoner then?" He asked.
"Certainly not Sir, you are however, on a strange planet, and I'm just trying to help you. If you leave here in the middle of the night, not knowing the lay of the land you may find yourself lost."
Anakin decided his answer was logical, so he would wait, he felt tired anyway, and a good night's sleep may improve his disposition. "Very well, I'll do as you say, but I want answers in the morning!"
Malouf nodded. "First meal is at eight."….
ooo
Unbeknown to Anakin, Sidious was the Master of this Castle.
The healers employed by Sidious, worked zealously to repair the injuries he'd sustained in the tunnel collapse.
His back was broken, and his legs were crushed, the red guards who rescued him were lucky enough not to be injured and they carried him out of the tunnel before news got out and loaded him onto his personal ship, whisking him away.
He had medical supplies on board for emergencies, and the two red guards injected painkillers into his system; allowing the sith to stay conscious and shield from his apprentice. He didn't want Maul to know of his defeat by the Jedi.
The ship made hyperspace and headed for Byss, a planet located in the deep core region. The shadowy environment was incredibly strong in the dark side and it was Sidious paradise away from the prying eyes of the Republic. He'd built a castle there, hidden by mountain ranges, and overlooking a large lake. It was his fortress, no one ever ventured within parsecs of it for fear of their ship being dragged into the murky depths of the dark side lake.
His personal team of surgeons began working on him as soon as the ship landed and in his orders to his personal guards were to dispose of the bounty hunters and destroy their ship and to make sure the cargo was made comfortable.
Sidious had felt Maul's death, and it sent him into frenzy. Nevertheless, he'd planned for this event, and although he would have preferred Kenobi to be his apprentice, he now had the next to best subject. Anakin's background made him easily lead, and so Anakin would take Maul's place as his apprentice.
Sidious was quite old, his body didn't respond well to the surgery, or the Bacta. Therefore, when he woke after the surgery the healers had the unfortunate task of telling him of his paralysis from the waist down. They were lucky to escape with their lives when they told him.
Nevertheless, he calmed down when he found out that Anakin was in the room upstairs. Anakin would be his legs and Sidious would finish the boys training. Together they would seek revenge on Kenobi and the Jedi order.
ooo
Anakin came down for first meal, he still couldn't feel the force, and it worried him. He wondered if the planet he was on might be force repelling. He'd never heard of a planet where they couldn't feel the force, and he wondered if this was how Obi-Wan felt without the force.
Malouf brought out a magnificent first meal and Anakin was impressed at such a selection of expensive food. He thought the Master of the house must be very rich; he had to be, because of all the elegant trappings around the castle.
"When do I meet the Master?" Anakin asked.
"He shall be well enough to meet you for mid day meal, and in the mean time he suggested you might like to go for a swim or perhaps take a boat out on the lake."
Anakin didn't like waiting. "Why doesn't he come down now?"
"I told you Master Skywalker, the Master, is still recovering from an operation; he will be here for midday meal!"
Anakin scowled and stormed off, well at least I'm not a prisoner anymore. I wonder what happened back on Naboo. Did Maul defeat Obi-Wan and Yoda, and what about Master Qui-Gon is he still alive?
Anakin thought about the battle, and then he remembered what Obi-Wan said, he knew Anakin had been sparring with Maul. So Obi-Wan remembers everything, I suppose I should be glad that I'm not back on Coruscant, they probably all know what I did now. They'll never allow me to be a Jedi now. Although I'm the chosen one, surely they wouldn't dare let me go, for I might turn to the dark side, and become more powerful than them.
"What did Maul say –that he was the chosen one- haa! Maul would be nothing compared to me once I complete my training! I'm the chosen one; Master Qui-Gon said I was!" He said out loud.
"I wish I could speak to the Chancellor, he'd know what to do; he's the only one that has stood by me."
He remembered what Obi-Wan said just before Maul threw him across the room.
"Anakin only you can make the choice, only you can decide your destiny."
What did he mean by that? Does Obi-Wan believe I knew it was Maul! No I didn't – I didn't know he was a sith!"
Anakin ran down the shore he didn't want to think about anything, he just wanted it to be over. Why couldn't he be in control of his own life, why is it so hard to be the chosen one. Why does my mother like her husband and his daughter better than me, and why did Padmè just ignore me, she should know that we are meant to be together.
By the time he arrived back for lunch he had calmed down, and Malouf came out to greet him.
"The Master is in the library and wishes to see you; I will show you the way."
Anakin followed the servant to the library, and Malouf excused himself to prepare lunch. Anakin hesitated at the door; he wondered who his benefactor was, and whether he would send him back to the Jedi. He wasn't certain he wanted to go back.
He opened the door and to his surprise, it was Chancellor Palpatine dressed in his finest robes, but sitting in a wheel chair. "Chancellor, what happened to you, you look awful?"
"Anakin my boy, ah yes I have a lot to tell you! How are you; I found out you were kidnapped by bounty hunters; you are very lucky I have good trackers. My men boarded their transport and rescued you. They wouldn't give you up without a fight, unfortunately for them they lost! Please come over here, sit down, and tell me all about it. Then I'll tell you what happened to me!"
Anakin told his story, and the Chancellor seemed quite intrigued by Anakin's version, especially the description where Anakin saved Obi-Wan by pushing him out of harms way, and allowed Maul to capture him instead.
"My my! You are so brave my boy, and yet it was all in vain!" Palpatine shook his head.
"What do you mean Chancellor, I saved Obi-Wan; Maul was going to kill him!"
Anakin said hoping Palpatine believed his little fairy-tale addition to the story.
"Anakin I have a story to tell you, and it is not going to be pleasant. What I have to tell you could destroy your faith in your Jedi comrades."
"Why, what happened?"
"Do you remember when I told you about my Great, great Grandfather?"
"Yes" Anakin answered.
"Your Great, great Grandfather was force sensitive, and the Jedi wanted to take him to the Jedi Temple.
But the Jedi hurt his mother and he refused to go The Jedi were furious with him and told him he was destined to turn to the Dark side if he didn't go with them. The Jedi Council banished him from ever becoming a Jedi and he was devastated; however, a Sith Lord saw what happened and knew the boy was destined to become a great Knight. So he offered to train him."
Ah! you remember my boy!"
"Yes I remember, I thought at the time how cruel it made the Jedi sound." Anakin admitted.
"Well I was not quite honest with you Anakin, I was ashamed to let anyone know, but, I am force sensitive too." Sidious explained.
"What! Why did you lie to me, and why didn't I sense it?" Anakin accused bitterly.
"As I told you, I was ashamed of my heritage, because of my family's background. I built very strong shields and I kept my connection to the force a secret."
"But you can't be blamed for how you're great, great Grandfather turned out. After all it was the Jedi's fault!" Anakin insisted.
"Yes, it was the Jedi's fault; however, I didn't hold a grudge against them. Nevertheless, my great Grandfather married and his children married, and my mother who is a descendant of a sith, had two children, twins. I have a twin brother, Anakin."
"A twin brother, where is he; is he force sensitive too!"
"Yes he was." Sidious took on a forlorn expression.
"Was? is he dead?"
"Yes Anakin that is the part I am ashamed of. He did hold a grudge against the Jedi, and practiced the dark arts; he became a sith Master, Mauls Master."
"Darth Sidious?" Anakin blurted out. "Sidious was your brother?"
"Yes Anakin, only now he is dead, your friend Obi-Wan killed him."
"What? Obi-Wan killed your brother?"
"He found the tunnel under Coruscant, and followed your tracks from the Jedi temple to my private room under the Senate. I was there trying to convince my brother to stop the vendetta he had against the Jedi. I tried to make him see the light." Sidious smiled internally for he could sense Anakin's trust in him flourish.
"However, Obi-Wan burst in, and he and my brother fought. Sidious had Obi-Wan cornered, and I tried to prevent my brother from killing him. Nevertheless, because I distracted Sidious, he didn't see Obi-Wan strike at him with his sabre, and he was killed. Obi-Wan turned on me next, and accused me of being a sith, alongside my brother, of course I denied it and begged Obi-Wan to listen to me. I tried to explain that I didn't have anything to do with Sidious, but he wouldn't listen and he attacked me. In the ensuing battle, I tried to get away, but he caught up to me in the tunnel and when the tunnel collapsed, Obi-Wan left me to die." Sidious could see the distraught look on Anakin's face.
"I knew that Obi-Wan would tell the Senate and the Jedi about me and my brother, so with the help of some loyal friends I barely escaped with my life, as you can see." Sidious allowed a tear or two to slide down his face.
Anakin couldn't believe it, his last hope of returning to the Jedi would have been with the Chancellors help, and now Obi-Wan had accused the Chancellor of being a sith too.
"Are you still the Chancellor, or will they banish you because of your brother?" Anakin asked falling for Sidious's story.
"I'm afraid I'm not the Chancellor any more, thanks to Obi-Wan I have a bounty on my head. I'm done in the Senate; the Jedi have turned them all against me."
Anakin growled scornfully." I hate them; I hate them all! What are we going to do, the Jedi have turned everybody against us."
"My brother and my great, great Grandfather were right the Jedi are not to be trusted, I should have listened to my brother. However, I believed I could do more good by staying on the light side. How wrong I was."
Anakin thought about Obi-Wan. " Let me talk to Obi-Wan, it must be a mistake, he will listen to me, and after all I am the chosen one, they will listen to the chosen one won't they?"
"Anakin, I'm afraid you cannot trust Obi-Wan, he has deceived you, all the Jedi have deceived you."
"No, it's not true Obi-Wan would not do that to me,! What are you saying?"
"Master Jinn, told you that you were the chosen one didn't he? and they pushed you and told you how to train, and your fellow Padawan's laughed at you because they didn't believe you were the chosen one. Yet Qui-Gon convinced you, didn't he?"
Anakin nodded.
"It was all a ruse you are not the Jedi's chosen one, and to keep the real Chosen one safe until he was ready to assume the mantle, they needed a decoy, you."
"What!" Anakin blasted angrily. "I don't believe you, it's not true. - I am the chosen one - I am powerful, everyone knows it."
"Oh they know your powerful Anakin, that is why the deception. They tried to convince the sith that you were more important than Obi-Wan. That's why they were so distraught when he was kidnapped by Maul, they thought the sith would find out that he was the chosen one."
"What! Obi-Wan is the chosen one! that cannot be, he doesn't have the power that I do."
"Are you sure about that Anakin, what happened in the hanger when you fought Darth Maul. The newscasts from Naboo say that Obi-Wan melted the doors by himself, and he defeated Maul. Don't forget he killed my brother as well. The temple is saying that he is the chosen one." Sidious confirmed.
Anakin sat down mortified and his anger simmered just under the surface. "They used me, they used me so they could protect Obi-Wan. They deserve to die!"
"I know how you feel my boy, and I agree with you. I've tried my best to live a good productive life, and yet the Jedi have crushed it. I'm going to take over my brother's name, and seek my revenge on the Jedi." Sidious declared.
"I would like you to be my apprentice, my boy, and together we'll make them pay for treating us as pathetic life forms."
Anakin's head swam in confusion and anger. However, his anger rose to dominate his thoughts, and he nodded in agreement and slowly knelt down in front of Sidious's hover chair.
"From this day forward we shall take on a new existence, and with it new names. I abandon the light and draw from the dark side, my name is Darth Sidious, in memory of my brother. Anakin, do you renounce the Jedi ways, and give yourself freely to the darkness."
"I do my Master," Anakin stated.
"Then from this day forward you shall be known as Darth Vader, rise my young apprentice."
TBC
