Anakin POV
The city was bustling with activity as Neimoidians went about their day. I watched as families strolled through the marketplace buying things that they needed. Walking through the capital city, I made my way through to the capitol building. My communicator beeped. I looked down and saw that it was Padme trying to get a hold of me. It seemed like everyone was trying to look for me back on Coruscant, but I could not let that distract me from my mission.
It was not hard finding my way to the Cato Nemodian capital. I used the force to guide me as I made my way down to the catacombs where they held the dungeons. I trusted in the force that I was going in the right direction, as I made my way down to my target. Two guards stood at the entryway going into the cell, and they blocked my path with electro staffs.
I waved my hand, "Let me talk to him," I said. The guards retreated and let me through.
I walked into the room, and saw Nute Gunray hanging there suspended by restraints. He looked up when the door opened, and his eyes widened when he saw me.
"Lord Vader," he said in fear.
I flinched at my old name, but then I guessed he was right. I was there as Lord Vader.
"You remember me. Good," I said in a taunting voice. "Do you remember what I can do?"
Suddenly his oxygen was cut off, and he was staring at me desperately. I had the man at my mercy. That's good, maybe he would talk.
"Tell me where Sidious is?" I asked.
"I don't know," spat the Viceroy.
"You don't? You worked with the man for fifteen years, and you do not know where he is hiding?" I choked him again not convinced.
When I finally released him, he said "We had a fluctuating relationship. I knew what he wanted me to know. And what about you O powerful Lord Vader. Did he not tell you his plans of the afterlife as his faithful apprentice?"
"My master kept many secrets from me, including his hiding places. He will come for Senator Amidala, now tell me slug what you know?"
"Senator Amidala?! The Jedi do not have attachments. You forsook your vows before you killed your brethren. You really did fall from grace Vader. Tell me does the senator know of the monster you became in her absence?"
I went to pick him up and throw him across the cell, but the guards came and pointed electro staffs in my face. So I shrugged, and said "You are useless to me, rot in here for all I care." I turned and walked away.
I got back to where I was staying for the night and debated whether I should leave now or in the morning. I wanted to get back to Padme as soon as possible, but I was very tired. I decided to lie down and get some sleep, then return to Coruscant at first light. I was dozing off to sleep, when someone said "So, did he talk?"
I got up from my bed and my lightsaber flew into my hands. The blue blade revealed the face of Mace Windu.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, deactivating my lightsaber.
"Looking for the chosen one. You make everybody say nice things about you at the wedding and then you just disappear. Obi-Wan is beside himself, and your whole family is worried. What were you thinking, Skywalker?"
I sat on the bed. "I felt the call to the dark side, and I did not want to hurt everybody like I did the last time. I figured I would remove myself from the equation."
Windu laughed. "You always had a flare for the dramatic, Skywalker. Why can't you admit that you are struggling with the dark side, like everyone else?"
"Like everyone else?" I asked.
"Of course. You really think you are the first Jedi who struggled with their emotions. We all had to learn how to submit to the will of the Force and control the darkness that was within us. Some of us felt so drawn to the dark side that we left the order so that we would not break the republic apart. You are not unique Anakin."
I let those words wash over me. Other Jedi felt my struggle? I was not a freak? How is this possible?
"Well, I take it back," said Mace Windu.
I knew it, I thought.
"You are the only one I have ever heard of to be full-fledged with the dark side, and then come back. That surprised everyone. We all just knew you were too far gone, and then there you were killing your old master." Mace laughed, then he looked me in the eye "So, what made you change?"
"My family," I said thinking of Luke. "My son pricked what was left of my conscious. When he was being killed by the Emperor, I threw off my sworn allegiance to the dark side and returned to the light."
"Then that is what you hold onto when you feel like this. You have a wife, and one day you will have your kids again. They need you to walk in the light," Mace said.
"I am trying to walk in the light, but I can't do it until Sidious is in chains!"
"Why? I was there at your wedding. You were healthy, and happy even. It was just you and Padme dancing off into the sunset. Why are you letting Sidious getting into your mind now?"
"You know I am meeting with Depa. I have some sort of illness that made me an easy target."
"And now you are paranoid that history will repeat itself. Skywalker, you are the chosen one, and we have seen what you can do when you go down the wrong path. You officially have our attention, our resources, and our knowledge. When whatever goes down it is not going to be you verses Palpatine. It will be the Jedi versus the Sith this time. We will have your back Skywalker."
I nodded my thanks.
"Now," he said. "Let's get off this planet and go home!"