"The only way to be truly powerful," Sidious was saying during on of our many sessions during that week in
Neimoidia, "is to give in to your anger, your hate. You want to be truly powerful, don't you, my young apprentice?"

"More than anything in the galaxy." A flicker of hesitation flashed through my mind. *Except to be with
Padmé . . .*

Sidious rebuked me sharply, "A Sith has no room for 'love.'" He said it mockingly. "If any vulnerability is
evident in you, it could be exploited and would be your death. Sith Lords do not love! Do you understand!?"

I nodded sullenly. "Yes, Master."

"Now, do you want to be truly powerful?"

"Yes."

"Then you must give up everything, every tie to your former life, and become mine. Only by turning wholly
to the Dark Side will you be above anything that can bring you down, will you be capable of destroying entire
planets with a flick of your wrist, will you be the 'most powerful Jedi ever.' Now, is this what you truly want 'more
than anything in the galaxy,' or some woman who will only bring you down, cause you pain, make you weak!?"

I could stand it no longer. I stood up in a fury and screamed, "I love Padmé and no one will take me away
from her!!"

I ran from the room, from the hut, and deep into the forest. I ran and ran, my legs pumping like the wind,
my face burning with the tears streaming down my face. My only thought was Padmé, of my last vision of her: sitting
on the bed after our night of pure passion, gazing at me, knowing she'd be without me for a week, but not knowing
that I would be tempted by the Dark Side.

I ran until I could run no more, finally collapsing, resting my forehead on the muddy earth, crying. I
honestly didn't know what I should do. I wanted desperately to be as powerful as Palpatine was promising, but I
loved Padmé with every fiber of my being. I couldn't leave her. I had vowed my life to her, and I loved her more
than life itself. I could never leave her like that.

Palpatine . . . The memory of his cold voice cut through me. I lifted my head, tears stopping abruptly. I could
feel him coming nearer. *Get away from me, you monster. You will never take me alive. You can't destroy what
Padmé and I have. You could lay the entire galaxy at my feet, but I will never sacrifice my only love, my reason for
living and breathing, my angel.*

The anger was building inside me despite my desperate attempts to control it. I stood, seeing the cloaked
figure coming steadily closer. I eyed him through narrow slits, my eyes piercing blue orbs, while I fingered the
lightsaber still hanging at my side.

When he was about twenty feet away, I detached the lightsber and pushed the activation button, causing the
blue blade of the lightsaber to extend from the silver hilt, the only light in the darkness. I held perfectly still as he slowly continued advancing.

Just out of my attack range, he stopped and shook his head, tsking.

"Anakin, Anakin. I thought you knew better. If you engage me in battle now and kill me, your path to the
Dark Side will be complete. And I will be more powerful than you could ever imagine."

His words had no affect on me. "Don't take another step, Palpatine. I'll slice you in two. You don't scare
me."

He chuckled. "*I* might not scare you, Skywalker, but I know what does. You see this comlink?" He pulled a
metallic object from the folds of his robes and waved it around. "With a push of a button, I can call my agents on
Coruscant and command them to kill your precious Padmé and make it look like a freak accident. Who do you think
people will believe: the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate of the Republic or a lowly Padawan learner?"

Pure horror spread across my face. I loosened my grip on the lightsaber, and in the same instant, Palpatine
pulled it from my grasp through the Force as it was deactivated. "Anakin," he whispered, advancing to within a foot
of me. "Anakin, think about the power! How can you resist such power? I know how badly you want it, and I am
capable of giving it to you. Give yourself to me."

I wavered between my two choices. *I deserve this,* I thought finally. *They all knew this would come. I
deserve to be powerful, more powerful than they could imagine. I deserve this!*

I fell to my knees before Palpatine. "Oh, Master, I'm sorry. Forgive me!"

"Rise, my young apprentice. All is forgotten." He pulled me to my feet and handed me the lightsaber. As he
led me back to the hut, he said, "We are leaving the planet tomorrow. Once back on Coruscant, you will go to
Kenobi and telling him you are no longer his Padawan. Then you will move in to quarters I will have arranged for
you. You will undergo many more sessions with me. Is this clear?"

"Yes, Master."

While he continued to talk, I thought in the very back of my mind, *How will I tell Padmé?*

***

~~~
"Ani . . ." A sweet voice calls my name.

I search for the source of the voice. I see a sweet woman, hair pulled back in a knot at the nape of her neck,
careworn face smiling sadly at me. Her simple, coarse clothing rustles gently in the breeze. Behind her, the twin
suns set in near unison.

One word comes to mind, but no sound will leave my lips. "Mother . . ."

Her brown eyes have lost the twinkle I knew so well. I step forward to embrace her.

She puts out her hands urgently, a look of terror covering her face.

"No, Ani! You mustn't give in!"

I stop and look around. At my feet, I see a huge chasm in the sandy earth. At the bottom stands Sidious,
looking up, beckoning to me.

"Join me, Anakin, and together we will rule to galaxy!"

I look up to my mother. There is no way I can get to her without falling into the chasm.

Her arms drop as she says, "Turn around, Ani, and don't look back once you do. Don't look back."

I do as she says. Behind me is the loving face of Padmé. I look down cautiously; instead of a chasm, there
is a path of golden light leading to her outspread arms. She brings one hand down to her stomach, looks up, and
smiles at me. I gaze quizzically at her. I turn back to my mother. She smiles as the wind begins to blow harder. Her
image starts to waver, becoming as of the sand itself, being swirled into the air. Her smile remains as the rest is
scattered upon the winds, then eventually it's gone, too. I look back down to Sidious, back to Padmé.

All of a sudden, a gust of strong wind pushes me backwards, into the chasm. I reach out for Padmé, whose
eyes fall to her stomach again, tears streaming onto the ground, forming a red river of lava. Sidious' evil laughter
fills my ears, reverberates against the walls of the chasm. I fall and fall for all eternity . . .
~~~

"NO!!!" I screamed as I sat up, breathing heavily. I looked around. *I must be on the ship going back to
Coruscant.* I looked out the window of my cabin and saw stars streaming past. I took a deep breath and sat on the
edge of my bed.

A tentative knock on my door was followed by the smooth voice. "My boy, are you all right?"

Palpatine . . . "Yes, I'm fine --" I forced myself to say it. "-- Master."

"Good, we will be arriving on Coruscant shortly. I suggest you get up and be ready to land."

I heard his clothing swishing down the corridor away from my cabin. I ran my hands through my sweaty
hair and stood up. After I got dressed, I sat cross-legged on my bed and meditated, felt the Force flow through me.
Several minutes later, I felt better than I had felt in a long time. I felt at peace with myself. There was absolutely no
question in my mind about the choice I was going to make.

"Anakin!" he yelled.

I smiled as I replied, "Coming, my master."

I picked up my bags and went to wait by the exit hatch.