"You're leaving the order?! Anakin, are you sure? You've worked so hard, been through so much..." Padme Amidala's surprise could be seen in her holographic face.
"I am sure Padme, I've had enough, the order was not what I expected. When I first met master Jinn I naively believed that the Jedi were heroes but in the last three years, I realized that I was wrong. The order is not as noble or altruistic as they would like you to believe" Padme could sense Anakin's pain as well as the determination in his words. She was unsure of what to think, she had always seen Obi-Wan and the rest of the Jedi as decent if not noble.
"I failed to save my mother because I listened to Obi-Wan instead of my instincts. I am miserable because I tried to fit Obi-Wan's vision of a model Jedi and now I don't know who I am" Anakin's tears once again began to run down his face. Leaving Padme surprised, Anakin was quick to resort to anger to hide his pain, yet today her husband was opening his heart to her.
"Oh, Anakin, who cares about what Obi-Wan thinks! I had no idea you two had such a tense relationship. Anakin, he's your former master, not your father, you don't have to live for his praise or anyone else's for that matter! The only person you should care about right now is yourself" Anakin's emotions began to overflow, as he remembered all the painful events that he experienced as a slave and as a Jedi.
"Tell me what happened Anakin, I am your wife, I will always be here to support you. I love you, Jedi or no Jedi, I always will" Anakin felt his heart skip a beat as he heard his wife's words. He wiped the tears from his face and told Padme everything that had happened that day.
"No wonder you are so upset! I am disappointed in Kenobi; you always have his back but when it comes to the council he has no fortitude. Plus the council wanting to spy on the supreme chancellor is shocking! They think he has something to do with this so-called "Darth Sidious"?! Anakin nodded
"We are having a meeting about it tomorrow, to be honest, I'm sick to my stomach. Even if the chancellor has something to do with the Sith Lord, this is an unethical way of proving it. The force tells me that something terrible will happen if I continue as a Jedi Knight. I need to walk away before it's too late" Padme gave her husband a concerned look.
"Ok, I understand and support your decision. Are you going to tell Kenobi? or whats the plan"?
"I am going to the meeting tomorrow, I need to know what the council's next move is. I will pretend to go along with their plan and visit the chancellor. It just so happens that he invited me to the Galaxies Opera House" Anakin had run through his plans for the following day thoroughly.
"You think the council's hunch is right? I know his emergency powers are scaring some members of the senate but... could he actually be in league with the Sith and the Seperatists"? Anakin crossed his arms as he contemplated the possibility.
"I don't know, but I learned that everything is not always as it seems. I need to find out for myself, I want to find out the truth. After I do, I am leaving the order, Sith or not, it will be the Jedi council's problem" Anakin stated in a contemplative tone.
"I am happy that you opened your heart to me. I know it's not easy, just remember that I am here to stand with you"
"Thank you Padme, I know things have been difficult. Having to sneak around and hide our love takes a toll on me. I promise that you and that baby are my priority and that you will have all of my attention" Anakin declared his intentions with a fierce passion in his soul.
"I will hold you to that, Skyguy. Don't take too long to come home"! Padme giggled as her transmission cut.
Anakin felt some relief from the anguish that plagued him throughout the day. So Snips told her my nickname, Ahsoka loved messing with me! I was right to marry Padme though, I should have left the order long ago. I have so much time to make up for, but first I have to handle this business with the chancellor. Could he be a traitor? or is this another lie to benefit the council? Guess I will find out eventually, but for now, it's time for some sleep. Wish I could be sleeping next to Padme tonight but it's too late to leave the temple without raising suspicion. Plus I need some alone time.
Anakin prepared himself for sleep, he removed his Jedi robes and got in bed. Usually, Anakin had difficulties falling asleep as he was so used to staying awake during missions. Yet, on this night he felt exhausted and quickly drifted off to sleep.
Anakin awoke in a hazy realm, a warm white light filled the space. The young Jedi knight was confused but felt at peace in his new surroundings only to be startled by a familiar voice calling out to him.
"Anakin... Anakin..."the enigmatic voice called out, echoing across the void.
"Who are you? what do you want"?! Anakin yelled out as he turned his body to find the source of the voice.
"Do not be afraid, Anakin, I know you. Do you not remember me"?The voice said in a questioning tone.
"I don't remember meeting any disembodied voices! Show yourself! Stop playing around" Anakin began to grow impatient.
"Very well, you have become quite willful, young Jedi"!a blinding blue light filled the space and from the light, a figure took form and revealed itself to Anakin.
"Do you still not remember me..."?The figure asked as it stood before Anakin
"...It can't be, master Qui-Gon"?!