Author's Note: If you read this before, I split the chapter in half, so what was earlier chapter two is now chapters 2 and 3. so sorry!! Also, I realize that this chapter has a lot of dialogue, but it is the only way I can portray these events properly. So, once again, so sorry! Next time I won't post a chapter as I'm trying to get my band uniform together for a game...it just doesnt work...
LBV: Thank you for your suggestions! I edited my chapter (split it into two chapters and added divisions within the chapter). As I stated previously, I had to use a lot of dialogue. I'll try not to have so much in future chapters! Thank you for reviewing!
PadmeSkywalker: I'm glad you're enjoying the story! I'll have the next few chapters up soon, don't worry. Thank you for your kind review!
Gevaden: I'm glad you have enjoyed the story so far. I would love to read yours. Whats the title? Thank you for reviewing!
Anakin was surprised. He had expected Palpatine to restrain him in some way after he left the ship, especially after he let Padme go. He couldn't decide if Palpatine was being stupid, or had truly lost his mind. If he knew that Anakin would need some 'encouragement' to join him, wouldn't it make sense that he would bind his hands, or check for weapons? Didn't he know that Anakin would attempt to get away?
Palpatine, as though he had been reading Anakin's thoughts, said suddenly," Do not try to escape."
"Why would I think of escaping? I am not a prisoner. I may decide I don't want to accept your offer, and leave, but as of right now I don't think I have a need to escape. After all, you have always been kind to me. Next time you want a meeting, though, I would appreciate it if you left Padme out of it," Anakin replied calmly. Inside, he was rather disturbed. How had Palpatine known he was going to try to escape?
"You won't be leaving. You will join me, I have forseen it," Palpatine replied.
"Master Yoda says the future is always in motion. How can you be certain I will join you?" Anakin replied coldly. He had no intention of joining Palpatine. To be expelled from the Jedi and on the run was one thing, but to completely betray his friends was another matter.
"You will join me nonetheless," Palpatine replied. Anakin was shocked by how sure of himself Palpatine was.
"Never!" Anakin cried as he Force jumped away, then ran as fast as he could. He soon found himself facing a wall. As he looked around, he realized there was only one way out, and Palpatine was standing there, his speeder parked in the only exit. His insides froze as he realized the only way out was with Palpatine. He reached out through the Force, using his special connection with Obi-Wan, the one shared between a Master and his Padawan. Obi-Wan, please help me!
Palpatine was chuckling," Come, young Skywalker. In time, you will see that your path lies with me. There is no other way."
Anakin braced himself, then calmly demanded," Let me go."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, but you're welcome to try to leave. I must warn you that such an attempt would not be sucessful," Palpatine replied. Anakin ran straight toward the exit, hoping that this was all some sort of joke. As he approached where Palpatine was standing, and the parked speeder, he prepared to jump. As soon as his feet left the ground, he was slammed with Force lightning. When Anakin hit a wall and landed with a groan, Palpatine smiled coldly," You are mine, Skywalker. There is no escaping."
Anakin was dazed from the Force lightning, and being slammed against a wall. His thoughts swirled. Where is Obi-Wan? This can't be good. He tried calling through the Force for help again, but couldn't sense Obi-Wan. Slowly, he got to his feet and faced Palpatine. Palpatine smiled and said," Come, Anakin. We must leave now."
With feelings of regret and defeat, Anakin walked over to the speeder and got in. He would cooperate for now, but he would try to get away later. He only hoped that he would be able to resist the dark side long enough for help to arrive, or the right moment to escape. He knew Padme would tell someone what happened. It was only a matter of time, and not going too far.
Obi-Wan looked up suddenly. He was talking to Yoda when he felt the surge in the Force, and Anakin's cry for help. Interrupting Yoda, Obi-Wan said," Anakin's in trouble. I'm sorry, Master. I have to go."
"A trap this could be, Obi-Wan," Yoda warned.
Then Obi-Wan felt Anakin's pain," This is no trap. I have to go."
With that, Obi-Wan ran out of the building. Just outside, he ran into Padme, who had tears streaming down her face. He turned and asked," What's wrong, Padme?"
"Obi-Wan, you must go to Anakin right now. He needs help. Palpatine got him, and Palpatine is the Dark Lord of the Sith," Padme cried. Obi-Wan was speechless for a moment, then it all made sense. Of course Palpatine was the Dark Lord of the Sith. He wanted Anakin to join him, and this was the time that Anakin would be most vulnerable.
"Where is he?" Obi-Wan asked sternly. He had to find Anakin before it was too late.
"Follow me," Padme responded, then lept into a speeder, Obi-Wan jumping in after her, and they took off toward the garbage pit. As she was driving, Padme ordered Obi-Wan to watch for Anakin. And so they went in search of him.
As they went, Obi-Wan asked," Was it just Palpatine or was Dooku there as well?"
"Dooku was waiting outside the garbage pit in his own speeder, most likely to keep anyone from interfering. Or to keep Anakin from getting away," Padme replied nervously. Traffic was horrible, and she was growing frustrated. She needed to get to Anakin! And then, after being cut off by a reckless driver, she saw him. Anakin was sitting in the speeder with Palpatine, looking depressed. He had a small cut above his eyebrow. Padme turned quickly and pulled up next to the speeder. Anakin looked over and his face brightened. Unfortunately, Palpatine saw them as well, and sped up, while hitting Anakin with a small jet of Force lightning.
"Follow them," Obi-Wan commanded, reaching out through the Force to support Anakin. Anakin seemed to be losing conciousness. Obi-Wan figured Palpatine must have been trying to make Anakin fall asleep so he wouldn't be able to fight. Then he realized something, or rather, someone, was missing," Where's Dooku?"
Padme glanced over her shoulder, then replied tensely," Right behind us."
They followed Palpatine to the main hangar, where Palpatine ordered Anakin to get out and follow him. Dooku walked behind Anakin, to make sure he didn't escape. Palpatine then turned toward Obi-Wan and Padme," Do not follow us. Skywalker belongs to me, now."
So far Anakin had not spoken. He was ashamed of the situation he was in, and didn't want to draw attention to himself. However, that comment irked him," No I don't. You don't own me. I don't even want to be here. You blocked the only exit and wouldn't let me out. I'd much rather be with Obi-Wan and Padme."
Palpatine's face contorted in anger as he sent yet another jet of Force lightning at Anakin, not stopping until Anakin dropped to his knees. Then he declared," You will learn to obey me, Skywalker."
Obi-Wan shot Anakin a smile and replied," Oh, I wouldn't count on that. He'll obey...when it's convient for him."
Anakin smiled back, and recovered from the blow he had recieved. He then stood up, and wondered how he would get out of this mess. However, his thoughts were interrupted when Dooku jabbed him in the back and announced," Let's go. Goodbye, Obi-Wan, Padme. Oh, and I would say goodbye to Anakin. It's not likely you'll see him again."
Anakin brushed past Dooku and kissed Padme. When they parted, he said," Goodbye, Padme. I will always love you." He then turned to Obi-Wan, gave him a bear hug, and said," Thanks for everything, Obi-Wan. I'll never forget you."
Dooku grabbed Anakin's shoulder and pushed him into a ship. Anakin glanced over his shoulder again, wondering if he would ever see them again. Then he walked on board, and the door shut. He looked at the ground, and muttered," Goodbye."
Obi-Wan and Padme lept back into the speeder after planting three homing devices on the ship. They then drove back to the Jedi Temple, where Obi-Wan explained the situation to the Jedi Council.
"Good work you have done, Obi-Wan. Revealed, you have, the Dark Lord of the Sith," Yoda announced.
"It was Anakin who found out, then had the sense to call for help through the Force. What are we going to do for him? Clearly we cannot allow Palpatine and Dooku to hold him prisoner until he either dies, or turns to the dark side. Because of recent events, he is extremely vulnerable to the dark side," Obi-Wan pressed. They had to do something for Anakin, he couldn't bear just sitting around while he knew his friend was being tortured in some form, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally.
"Track the ship, we shall. When the location is found, sent to rescue Anakin, you will be," Yoda said gravely. Obi-Wan bowed, then left. It was difficult to wait. Obi-Wan wanted to gather a group of Jedi and go rescue Anakin now. He tried very hard to remember his patience exercises, and hoped Anakin would do the same.
Anakin was seated on a couch in Palpatine's starcruiser, trying to stay calm and free of anger or fear. He was listening to what Palpatine was saying, but not believing a word of it. Sure, he had never been the Council's favorite person, but he knew he had many faults. He also knew that it was completely his fault the Jedi expelled him, so he found it hard to be angry about that. While Obi-Wan had made mistakes, frequently, and was agrivating, he was the closest thing Anakin ever had to a father. Every time he found himself drifting toward anger or the dark side, Anakin would think of Padme. Eventually, Anakin became annoyed with Palpatine insulting the Jedi," Enough! I will not turn! I may have my moments occasionally, but I would never turn to the dark side completely!"
"Ah, that's what you think, young Skywalker. In time, you will see that your destiny lies with the Sith, at my side," Palpatine declared.
"Where are we going, anyway? And why are you so interested in turning me?" Anakin asked.
"Where we go is not important," Palpatine replied," and I know that your destiny lies on the dark side, therefore I am obligated to turn you."
Anakin grunted and turned away. He wished that this had never happened. Why hadn't he just stayed away from the garbage pit? Even being arrested would be better than this. He knew he could only hold off the dark side for a little while longer. Every moment he felt himself growing more angry, and he knew that when he got too angry nothing good happened. Soon, he would be unable to resist any longer. Unfortunately, Palpatine knew this as well. He continued to tell Anakin things that he believed and felt, deep down, and had always kept hidden in attempt to become a Jedi Knight. He then realized, with a pang of regret and sorrow, that he had never made it to the Jedi Knight status. He was a Padawan for the entire time he was a Jedi. With his final stand of defiance, Anakin shouted," I will never turn! Kill me now or let me go!"
Then he attacked. Viciously. Palpatine tried to use Force lightning, but Anakin deflected it easily with his own Force blow. He then shoved Palpatine with the Force, slamming him against a wall. Dooku came running in, lightsaber drawn. Anakin, in anger, slammed the Force against Dooku with as much Force as he could, while pulling Dooku's lightsaber toward him as Dooku fell. Anakin was broken out of his trance when Palpatine started chuckling," I knew you were powerful. See how much more powerful you can be with anger as your ally."
Anakin threw down the lightsaber and sunk to the floor, repeating over and over again," I shouldn't have done that."
Palpatine heard and replied," You should have done that. You fought with your true emotions, and it made you powerful. If you always fought like that, you would be invincible."
"No, I know better. I shouldn't fight in anger. It clouds my judgement. I never should have done that. Please, just let me go," Anakin was truly miserable. He just wanted Padme to be there, so he could cry on her shoulder like he did after his mom died and he killed the Raiders. Oh Padme, how did everything get so messed up? Why can't I be home with you?
Palpatine considered it, then replied," I can't do that, Anakin. For one thing, we're in the middle of hyperspace. For another, I'm not giving up yet. You will turn, eventually. You know this is true, which is why you are trying to run. Wouldn't you rather be here with people who can help you in your transformation, than back with those who betray you and would undoubtedly have you arrested upon your return."
"I can't turn. It's not right. I've worked so hard to become a Jedi, and just switching sides isn't right," Anakin announced determinedly.
Palpatine smiled," But they expelled you. Don't you see, the Jedi don't care about you. To them, you are just another being, a risk. Sure, you may be the Chosen One, but they don't care. They held you back from discovering your true potential. Release your anger, your hate, and discover what you're capable of. We can make you more powerful than any Jedi, and you could protect your family. This change would be to your advantage, young Skywalker."
Anakin didn't reply. He simply turned toward his corridors and sat down on his bed, his face in his hands. He thought over everything that had happened that day, and what Palpatine had said. Didn't the Jedi say to trust your instincts? Joining Palpatine just seemed so right. And that scared Anakin.
"We've lost him," Obi-Wan declared sadly as he came out of his meditation. He had been tracking Anakin and his feelings through the Force, and felt the subtle switch to the dark side. He also felt Anakin's doubts, and hoped his old Padawan would come back. He just needed to talk to Anakin, remind him of everything he had worked for, and of the hope everyone had for him. And the dangers of the dark side. Deep down, Obi-Wan doubted he could turn Anakin back. He thought only two people stood a chance at that; Padme, and her unborn child.
Padme didn't believe it. Anakin wouldn't turn. She turned away from the view port, facing Obi-Wan," We have to go get him. Send him reassurance through the Force, let him know that we're here for him. Let him know we want him to come back."
"It was his choice to turn. There is nothing we can do now but wait. It may pass. There was a surge in the dark side in the Force, then confusion and doubt. I fear you are the only one who will be able to turn him back. Love can be a powerful ally," Obi-Wan replied thoughtfully.
"If it weren't for his love for me he wouldn't be in this situation. It's all my fault," Padme said bitterly. She wondered if her child would ever meet his father. And if he did, would it be the Anakin Padme fell in love with, or a monster created by hidden fears and doubts.