Happy Star Wars Day to all. I'm so glad I was able to get this done in time for today.
FYI this is just a little something I came up with after watching a Star Wars video going over how Anakin became a Jedi Knight. Enjoy and May the 4th be with you ; )
Star Wars
Dark Confessions
A galaxy consumed by war. Following the battle between the Republic's new clone soldiers led by Jedi Knights against Confederate leader Count Dooku and his massive droid army on the planet Geonosis, the Clone Wars, the first galactic scale war in over a thousand years, has officially begun. Both sides are now preparing for the upcoming battles that will further divide the already split galaxy as it ascends to further chaos.
Unbeknownst to all but a select handful, the war had been orchestrated by the diabolic Lords of the Sith, an order of dark side wielders thought to have been extinct for over a millennium. For years the Sith have been plotting their revenge against their mortal enemies, the Jedi Order, with the intent of wiping them out and take complete control over the galaxy. Through years of deception, the Sith have managed to take control over the Galactic Republic, using the dark side of the force to cloud the vision of the Jedi. Under the guise of a kindhearted man dedicated to upholding the ideals of peace, freedom and democracy, Republic leader Chancellor Palpatine, known in secret as Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith, has used the Separatist crisis to gain further power over the galactic government and the galaxy itself.
Now in his senate office, Sidious was going over some very important information recently brought to him by a trusted ally of his; information that he would use in future, crucial stages of his plans. At that time the holoprojector on the Chancellor's desk began to beep. Activating his comlink with the kind gentle face of an elderly politician, a hologram appeared before Palpatine of his right hand in the Senate, Mas Amedda.
"Supreme Chancellor," the Chagrian bowed to his superior.
"Vice-Chair Amedda," Palpatine addressed.
"Anakin Skywalker is here to see you, sir," Amedda reported.
Anakin Skywalker, the most powerful force wielder in the Jedi Order. The prophesized chosen one who legend told would destroy the Sith once and for all. Palpatine was quite familiar with the young Jedi Padawan. Having known Skywalker since he was a small boy, the Sith Lord, as Palpatine, had made himself somewhat of a mentor and friend to the young Jedi. For ten years Sidious had been manipulating Skywalker, plotting to one day turn him against the Jedi brethren and become Darth Sidious's one true Sith apprentice.
Though the time was not yet right for Sidious to reveal himself to Anakin. He still required much more manipulation before he could become a Sith and embrace the dark side of the force. Besides, neither the Jedi nor the rest of the galaxy itself was not yet weak enough for the Sith to make their final strike at; and Sidious would risk losing such a powerful being like Anakin. When everything was ready for the Sith's grand finale, the Dark Lord would bring Anakin into the fold. For now, he would continue to play the part of a fatherly figure to Anakin, to who he could express his darkest demons without being worried by the strict rules of the Jedi.
"Please send him in at once. And don't allow anyone to disturb us until I say otherwise," Palpatine instructed. "Am I understood"?
"Yes, your excellency." The hologram of Amedda bowed then faded away, and Anakin strode into Palpatine's massive, executive suite; with Sidious watching carefully while keeping up the persona of a caring father figure.
Going down the halls of the senate, Anakin passed countless senators, aides, and members of the Republic's democratic body bustling about as they prepared for the war that had just begun. It was going to be bloody, Anakin had already seen this at the Battle of Geonosis when countless Jedi and clones died at the hands of Dooku's droid army.
But the war wasn't what Anakin had come to the Senate Office building for. After returning to Coruscant from his secret wedding on Naboo, the young padawan had made his way straight to the office of his oldest and most trusted friend, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Ever since joining the Jedi Order, Palpatine had served as a mentor to Anakin, providing him much-needed guidance, and listening to his problems. Unlike the Jedi Council the rest of the Order and even his own master, most Jedi rejected him simply for being too old to begin his training, Palpatine always welcomed Anakin in with open arms, promising to stand by him whenever he needed help.
Upon reaching the anteroom to Chancellor Palpatine's office Vice-Chair Amedda waved Anakin through to Palpatine's main office. Most would expect to wait days, or even weeks to see the Chancellor, even a Jedi Master could have difficulty getting a meeting with the Republic's leader, but Palpatine always time for Anakin no matter when or what was going on. He'd even gone so far as to inform all members of his staff to let Anakin in at once should they see him looking for him, and leave to give the two friends privacy.
Upon entering, the young Padawan was met with the warming comfort that was who embodied, in Anakin's eyes and many others, the heart of the Republic.
"Anakin my boy, it is so good to see you," Palpatine said, acting like a father welcoming his child home as he stood up from his desk and walked over towards Anakin, providing him with joy that for a quick moment made the young Jedi forget why he was here.
"Chancellor," Anakin greeted.
"Anakin how many times must I tell you, call me by my name when you're around me. Leave out the formal titles of chancellor, and your excellency. You and I have known each other for far too long to be mere simple acquaintances. Sometimes I even consider you family."
"Of course... Palpatine," Anakin said. "I apologize."
"None are required Anakin. It is simply the way the Jedi instructed you to behave. A most formal, and respective group the Jedi are, but sometimes I feel even they can overstretch the line between friend and associate."
"They certainly do sometimes," Anakin admitted. Another reason why Anakin felt more comfortable around Palpatine than the Jedi. Their desire to forbid attachments forced members not to reach out to people and experience the warmth and comforts of companionship.
"I was most surprised to hear about your injuries," Palpatine said, indicating the new gold-plated hand that hung from Anakin's right arm. "How is the new hand treating you, by the way?"
The memory of that failed duel against Count Dooku had left wounds, both physical and mental, were still fresh to Anakin. Truth be told, he knew they'd never fully heal from it, nor would he would forgive Dooku, the monster responsible for it. "The hand is a... acceptable replacement, though it's nothing like flesh and blood. Dooku will pay for this, just as he will for all the lives he took at Geonosis," Anakin said as he clutched his robotic hand in a tight grasp. There was a spark of emotions inside himself waiting to be set ablaze. Though Anakin did his best to withhold these emotions, as last time he let them loose they resulted in him doing terrible actions that the young Jedi hoped to never do again.
"Master Yoda informed me of how Dooku's treachery extends deeper than once assumed. I know he's always been against the Republic, but to embrace the dark side, I can't imagine him going this far. Honestly, I could never think it would be possible for him, or any Jedi to betray the Republic, after so many years of servitude."
Neither could the rest of the Order. From what Anakin had heard, Dooku's fall to the dark side had been one of the most shocking revelations since the return of the Sith. "As hard as it is to accept, sometimes terrible things happen beyond our control. And unfortunately, we must accept them when they happen. Believe me, if we had the power to change events of the past so that they led to a better future, we'd be fools not to use it."
As if reading his mind, Palpatine asked, "Are you all right my friend?" Palpatine asked, putting a hand on Anakin's shoulder, which caused the latter to smile, but it quickly turned to a frown as he remembered why he had come here in the first place. It also made the spark hotter than before. Hotter than the twin suns on his accursed home planet of Tatooine.
"No actually, that's why I'm here. There something I need to talk about. It's... personal."
That was all Palpatine needed to hear. "Anakin you need only speak your mind," he said. "I will never judge you in such a harsh way that the Jedi do. I am your friend and friends help each other out.
Anakin felt touched by the Chancellor's words. "Thank you, your excellency… I mean Palpatine," Anakin said, correcting himself as he remembered his friend's request to call him by his name and not his title.
"Of course Anakin," Palpatine. "Again I am here for you. Now tell me what's troubling you."
Taking a deep breath in than breathing out slowly Anakin revealed began the retelling of a dark tale. "Before going to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan I was on Tatooine."
"I think I remember hearing some mention of that," Palpatine recounted. "If I may ask, what were you doing on Tatooine? I thought you'd told me that the Jedi Council ordered you to take Senator Amidala to Naboo for protection until Master Kenobi could identify and locate the ones attempting to kill Padmé."
Anakin didn't give Palpatine an immediate answer, instead, he looked out the window of the Chancellor's office, staring at the massive cityscape and endless lines of travelling speeders that made up Coruscant's, thinking of the best way to explain himself.
"My mother," Anakin soon responded. "I've told you before that for the past while I've been having these dreams. Dark dreams about my mother where she was in pain, suffering."
"Yes, I remember this also," Palpatine nodded.
"While I was on Naboo these dreams became stronger and stronger. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. I had to go back and find her. To save her like I promised her I would so many years ago."
"I see."
"I didn't abandon my duties, however. Padmé offered to go along with me so that I could continue protecting her and locate my mother. Together we went to Tatooine, finding my former owner, Watto, still running that junk pile he called a shop."
"How was your mother when you reunited with her?" Palpatine asked. "Had Watto been treating her fairly?"
"My mother wasn't Watto's anymore. Nor was she a slave. She'd been freed by a moisture farmer years ago named Cliegg Lars, who she fell in love with. They married and he took her back to his farm where he lived with his son, Owen Lars, from his first marriage. Though a month before I returned to Tatooine, around when the nightmares about her started, something terrible had happened... She was kidnapped by Tusken Raiders."
"Tusken Raiders," Palpatine said, appearing to be having a recollection of the creatures. No surprise that the Chancellor knew of them; when he was younger, Anakin had told Palpatine a bit about his home planet under the Chancellor's request. He wanted to know more about Anakin's past and the life he'd lived while on Tatooine, including the cultures of the planet he'd been raised on; said he wanted to understand Anakin better so that he could help his friend adjust to his new life on Coruscant. Sometimes it felt like Palpatine was more interested in him than all the members of the Jedi Order combined; another reason why Anakin preferred speaking to him over his master on personal matters. "I recall you mentioning them to me in one of our conversations together back when you'd first began your Jedi training. I believe you said they were a dangerous and barbaric group, native to Tatooine."
"You have no idea," Anakin responded, anger seeping out of his voice as the spark within him began to grow. "They took my mother away for no reason, then slaughtered over twenty innocent farmers who went searching for her and ripped off Cliegg's leg. When I got to the Lars homestead and learned the details of my mother's abduction, Cliegg had given up on her; the woman he'd pledged his life to, whom he claimed to love most. He insisted my mother was dead, without any proof to confirm this. But I..." It was getting harder and harder for Anakin to speak about this. But Palpatine remained by his side, still keeping a hand placed on Anakin's shoulder, encouraging him to continue.
"It's alright Anakin. Please continue," Palpatine said with the same compassionate voice that Anakin respected. It gave the Padawan strength.
"I couldn't abandon her. I wouldn't! So I went looking for her myself. Eventually, I came across a Tusken camp deep within the desert. There I could sense my mother, her presence like a lit candle barely aflame in the wind," while the spark was within kept growing inside of Anakin as he spoke. "I found her alone, tied up inside one of the tents like an animal mounted after being hunted. She'd been beaten and was covered in scars and bruises. I've never seen such cruelty before, and I grew up a slave."
"Oh my," Palpatine gasped.
"There was barely any life in her when I released from her bonds. She awoke but only for a moment. She instantly recognized me, despite not having seen me for so long. Her motherly instincts I presume." Tears began to pour out of his eyes as he kept on going, though the spark at this point was ready to burst into flames. "She was so happy to see me after so many years, even despite being in such pain from all she'd been through. She only got to say a few words before her bruised, drained body gave up, and she... she died, right there in my arms. Then…" The spark caught fire, setting Anakin's heart ablaze.
"Then I KILLED THEM! I KILLED THEM ALL!" he screamed, tears pouring out of his eyes. "I slaughtered all the Tusken Raiders in the camp. Not just the warriors and men but also the women, the children, the sick, and even the elderly. The strong and the weak, it didn't matter who or what they were, I killed every last one of them. I hated them so much. I still do! They were animals who tortured innocent beings for no reason. So I slaughtered them like animals, just as they deserved. And I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I can't help it. I hate them! And they deserved it! THEY ALL DESERVED TO DIE! SO I KILLED EVERY LAST ONE OF THOSE MONSTEROUS ANIMALS! EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!"
Upon releasing his anger, the fire soon faded away, but like the last time it had been unleashed, Anakin's heart was left in ruins and broken. When he returned his attention to Palpatine, Anakin expected the man to be disgusted by what he'd done. Most would've backed away from him, even demand he leave at once, perhaps even call for help. That hadn't been the case when he'd told Padmé, though Anakin expected it nonetheless. Instead, the Chancellor remained by Anakin's side, his hand still placed firmly on the Padawan's shoulder, and a look of concern on his face, but no fear.
"It is all right my friend," Palpatine said simply as if his friend had done nothing wrong, surprising Anakin.
"You don't find what I did horrible?" Anakin gasped.
"I assure you I am not a supporter of genocide, but in this instance, you had no choice," Palpatine replied. "You said yourself they've committed unspeakable, unprovoked atrocities against the helpless farmers of your homeworld, including your own mother. It is only natural you wanted to avenge her death. In my eyes, you are the true victim here, and whatever you did to the Sand People was caused by them. Not you, them."
This touched Anakin's heart greatly. "Thank you Palpatine," he said. "You have no idea how much it means to hear you say this."
"I know you are Anakin," Palpatine responded. "And I accept you for it. You should not feel ashamed to express yourself as the Jedi appear to encourage you to do. Speaking of the Jedi, I take it you haven't told them or even your own master, Obi-Wan Kenobi about this have you?"
Again, Palpatine had read Anakin's mind like a book. "No. If they learned what I did on Tatooine the Council would expel me. My life would be over and all the years I spent training to become a Jedi wasted, and for what? Because I lashed out at those savages for torturing innocent lives, for not saving them. A part of me blames the Jedi for my mother's death. In a way, it's just as much their fault as it is the Lars and the Tuskens. They denied me the chance to go back and see her. The power I could've used to save her from that tragic faith. To prevent everything that went down back there. The Jedi claim to be all about saving lives and creating a free equal galaxy for everyone. But when it comes down to it, they allow people to be enslaved and forbid those who could defy death from doing so. It's their fault I couldn't save her! For denying me the power I deserve!"
"You have such potential Anakin. It pains me to see that the Jedi can't see it as I can. Then again, I don't understand the Jedi most of the time. Regardless I promise you I will not tell the Jedi what you did to the Sand People. Though if the Jedi no longer have interest in you, which I can hardly imagine anyone would, I assure you that I will always have a place for you here my side with the Republic."
"Thank you, Palpatine," Anakin said.
At that moment Anakin's comlink began beeping. Reaching into his belt and pulling, Anakin activated it and a miniature hologram of Anakin's master, Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared.
"Young one, the Council requires your presence immediately," his master demanded.
His master had terrible timing sometimes, Anakin thought, though he didn't say this out loud. "Be right there master," Anakin responded. Deactivating his comlink and returning Anakin spoke again to his old friend."I'm sorry Palpatine, but I must leave now."
"I understand my dear friend," Palpatine said. "You have a duty and you must go. Just remember I will always be there for you whenever you need me. I am your friend as you are mine. And don't worry, I shall keep your secret safe. I wouldn't dare do anything that would jeopardize your future. I only seek what's best for you."
"Thank you Palpatine," Anakin said. He then gave the Chancellor a farewell bow before departing from the massive office, heading back towards his home in the Jedi Temple.
Once Anakin was out of his office and the doors were shut, Darth Sidious unveiled a maniacal and sinister smile that his face had been holding in since Anakin confessed what he had done to the Sand People. He couldn't be happier. All the years he'd spent manipulating young Skywalker were finally paying off. Truth be told Sidious had suspected something had happened to Anakin before he'd come to his office minutes ago. A few days ago, sometime before receiving Master Kenobi's report on Geonosis, there had been a massive rift in the force. An immense amount of anger and hatred had erupted somewhere like a volcano, and Anakin appeared to be at the heart of it.
Now hearing from Anakin's own mouth the details of what had gone down at the time, what he'd done to so many helpless lives, striking them down without mercy or regret, pleased the Dark Lord. At last, Anakin had taken his first major step towards the dark side, allowing his anger to take control and slaughtering weak, innocent lives. What was even better was that instead of facing up to what he'd done, Anakin chose to keep it hidden from the rest of the Jedi so that he could keep his place in the Order. It was a true sign of the boy's fate to serve by the Sith Lord's side and bring about total annihilation to the Jedi Order.
The timing of this couldn't be better: along with the beginning of the war that would end with the Jedi's complete annihilation, the Sith's takeover of the galaxy, another Republic having finally begun; Sidious had received information that would be used to further mould Anakin into the Sith Lord he was destined to be. According to an old ally of Palpatine's, Anakin had gone against the Jedi's back, marrying Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo, just only a couple of days just days after the Battle of Geonosis on Naboo in secret.
Sidious couldn't be happier. By taking this woman as his wife, going against the rules of the Jedi, once again, Anakin had given in to his own desires, putting himself above the Jedi and further drawing the line between himself and the accursed Order.
Anakin had more than proven himself ready to take the next step towards his true destiny as a Sith. Soon he would embrace his hatred. Soon he would turn against the Jedi. And soon he would become the Sith apprentice that Darth Sidious had dreamed of for so long. Together they would destroy the Jedi Order, unlock the secrets of ultimate power and rule the galaxy for all eternity.
Finally, we know how Anakin's dark confession to Palpatine went down, and the obvious reaction of Darth Sidious upon hearing the news of this. Well, hope you enjoyed this little project of mine. Please let me know what you think by leaving a review.
Hope you all enjoyed this one-shot and again, May the 4th be with you.