Author's Note: Sorry I didn't post this sooner

dtaylor16889: I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Thank you so much for reviewing!

Two days later, Obi-Wan still couldn't believe what Anakin had told him. At the same time, it made a lot of sense. Perhaps that was why his future had always been clouded. He was capable of going either way. Obi-Wan knew that no matter what Anakin's true nature as, he would fight to keep Anakin on his side until one of them died. Obi-Wan would do anything for Anakin, to keep him from making a terrible mistake.

Padme and Anakin were in the cockpit. That's where Anakin had been ever since he confessed to Obi-Wan. He was ashamed of himself for thinking the dark side was the right path, but at the same time, could not shake the feeling. He was glad Padme had come with. He found comfort when he was with her. Only when he was with Padme could he become the boy he had once been, and forget the monster that lived inside him, poised to strike at any moment. It scared Anakin that he couldn't control the monster inside him, that it could completely overtake him.

"What are we going to do, Padme?" Anakin asked sadly as he gazed out the stars shooting by," There's no where we can go that is safe. Now even the Jedi are against me."

Padme didn't know what to say. Anakin was right, and she didn't know what they were going to do. She replied," We'll just have to trust that everything will work out somehow. Besides, at least we can be together, now."

Anakin smiled, then leaned over and kissed Padme. When they parted, he murmured," You're right on that. I don't know how I would get through this without you, Padme. I don't know how I could ever live without you by my side."

Padme smiled back, kissed again, then announced," I need to go to sleep. I don't know how you can go long without sleeping, Ani. Anyway, I think Obi-Wan wants to talk to you."

"Goodnight, Padme," Anakin said softly as she left the cockpit. Anakin was now going for his fourth night without sleep. He had too much on his mind to be able to sleep. He was also afraid that when he fell asleep, and let his guard down, the monster inside would overtake him and he would turn to the dark side completely, killing anyone in his path. Anakin wanted desperately for that not to happen, and was afraid to do anything that may provoke his dark side. He realized that for the safety of Padme, he should probably go lock himself up on a desolate planet where he couldn't harm anyone. He was a missle waiting to go off.

Anakin sensed Obi-Wan enter the room, and did not even turn around when he said," Padme said you wanted to talk to me."

"Yes. Anakin, you cannot hide from your conflicts. You must work through them. And you can't stay in the cockpit for the entire trip. You need to get some rest," Obi-Wan said worriedly.

Anakin was staring at his feet, like he used to do when he was still new to the Jedi Order. He looked up suddenly, and replied," I'm not tired, Obi-Wan. I'm not hungry, either. It's strange. All the things a human needs to operate are no longer appealing to me. There's something wrong with me. The only time I feel like I'm alive is when I'm with Padme. The rest of the time it's like I'm drowning. I can't breathe. I can't function. Nothing is going right. Fighting my dark side is killing me slowly, from the inside out."

Obi-Wan was once again speechless. He noticed these instances were becoming more frequent, almost every time he spoke to Anakin there would be a confession of some sort that would leave Obi-Wan shocked in some manner. He faced a delima, now. He had no idea how to help Anakin, and yet he felt that if Anakin didn't get help soon, they would be in for interesting times. Times that may destroy the galaxy as they knew it. Obi-Wan tried to help," Follow your instincts. Find the good within you and fight your dark side. Release all of your fear and anger. And when you feel you're about to lose control, think about Padme, and how much you love her."

Anakin looked down again, thinking that no matter how hard he tried he often couldn't control himself. It just never worked. He was also trying to think of a way to leave Obi-Wan and Padme without hurting them or anyone else. In some ways, Anakin thought the galaxy would be better off if he were dead. In the silence, Obi-Wan exited the cockpit, leaving Anakin to once again juggle thoughts. When Anakin snapped his attention back to the controls, he heard the alarm announcing they would be coming out of lightspeed momentarily. Once out of lightspeed, he prepared the ship for landing.

"Kenobi and Amidala have helped Skywalker flee the planet. Watch for them. If we are able to locate them, send all available Jedi and military troops to intercept," the Head of Security on Coruscant demanded to the Jedi. Mace Windu and Yoda exchanged a glance. Both were thinking the same thing; Obi-Wan wouldn't just give up his career unless he truly believed there was still good in Anakin. Even if they were wrong, together, Anakin and Obi-Wan would be difficult to defeat.

They landed on a desolate and valcanic planet, outside the Republic territory. Padme looked around with a concerned expression, while Anakin glared at the planet and asked Obi-Wan," Where are we?"

"I'm not sure," Obi-Wan replied," the planet has no name, and no life forms that I know of. The entire planet is covered with volcanoes and unable to support life. I read about it when I was a Padawan. It seems perfect for us, considering we don't want to be found and you would have to be crazy to land here."

"Oh," Anakin sighed. He looked around at the miles of rock and boiling lava, no trees in sight. He then headed down into one of the caves that would provide shelter. There he set up camp and prepared a fire so they could cook their dinner. His appetite was returning. As was his need for sleep.

When Padme entered the cave, she noticed that Anakin was considerably more pale than usual, and he had dark circles under his eyes. Upon noticing, she declared," Anakin! You look exhausted. And you're so pale. Are you feeling all right?"

After the observation was made, Anakin smiled faintly, then passed out. Obi-Wan and Padme ran to his side. When Anakin didn't respond to anything, not even a nudge through the Force, Obi-Wan became deeply concerned. He wrapped Anakin in a blanket and put a pillow under his head, then told Padme," I think he's suffering from severe exhaustion. All we can do is let him sleep. I hope it's nothing more serious."

Padme kissed Anakin, then replied to Obi-Wan," I hope so, too."

"They are here," Mace Windu called when they reached the volcanic planet. He could sense Obi-Wan's presence clearly, but Anakin's still seemed distant.

"To Skywalker, something has happened," Yoda replied.

Down in the cave, Obi-Wan looked up suddenly from his meal, having sensed the Jedi Masters' arrival. He turned to Padme, and said tersley," They're here. Go hide, I'll stay here and protect Anakin."

Padme glanced down at Anakin's unconcious body with a look of concern. A strict look from Obi-Wan sent her running down the tunnel, looking for a convient place to hide. Once she was out of sight, Obi-Wan moved Anakin in a gap between the cave's floor and walls. He was hidden better, and if the Jedi found him, they wouldn't find Anakin as easily. Obi-Wan hoped that the Jedi would see that Anakin wasn't on the dark side, and give him another chance. Although, Anakin was guilty of murder, and that complicated things a bit. Obi-Wan sat huddled against the wall, trying to draw in his Force presence and disappear.

Hours later the Jedi had still not found Obi-Wan, Anakin, or Padme. Padme had returned to their camp, and curled up next to Anakin. She could tell that he was in a troubled sleep, not finding any peace. She whispered to Obi-Wan," What is wrong with him?"

Obi-Wan's expression was serious, and he replied," I believe he is fighting his dark side. There is nothing we can do for him but hope for the best. If he loses the battle, Anakin will die. In one meaning of the word, anyway. Anakin Skywalker would cease to exist. He would be overtaken by a dark power from which he could never return."

Padme gaped at Obi-Wan. She hated being so helpless. All she really wanted was to be there and help her husband through his problems. And this seemed like a big problem. As she was lying next to him, Anakin was twitching and muttering in his slumber he was unable to awaken from. She could only imagine what was happening inside him.

"Where am I?" Anakin asked, as he looked around. He was in a run down building. Palpatine, Dooku, Darth Maul, and a number of other Sith Lords, stood before him. Anakin also noticed he was on the ground, looking up at them. Despite his efforts, Anakin couldn't rise, or get his fear to go away. It was quite an intimidating sight, being surrounded by Sith while alone, unarmed, and unable to move. He also asked," What do you want?"

One Sith came forward from his position behind everyone else. Anakin hadn't seen him, both moments ago, or any other time in his life. Strangely, the black-clad figure seemed familiar, like an old friend. Or old enemy. His breath was audible, because of the mask he wore. He spoke in a deep voice, answering Anakin's questions," You are at the turning point. We want you to recognize your true nature."

Anakin was highly disturbed, and his voice cracked with apprehension as he asked," Who are you?" Although he feared he already knew who this figure was. Anakin had seen the monster in his worst nightmares, and heard its voice in his moments of anger or fear.

"I am Darth Vader. I am your destiny," the Sith replied. Anakin could almost see the Sith's eyes glinting with malice. He could also feel the Force pulsing off the Sith with the depth of only one other person he knew; himself. Then, the creature called Vader confirmed Anakin's fears," I am you. Your true self."

Anakin's thoughts scrambled. He tried to scream, and run, but could do neither. Soon, he couldn't even breathe. Nor could he move at all. The monster laughed, then declared, "Your time is over, Anakin! Now I shall rule!" All the other Sith cackled and shouted their agreements. They barred down on a helpless Anakin.

With the last bit of strength and control Anakin had, he shouted," What about Padme? I would never turn, if only to keep her happy!"

Darth Vader faltered for a moment, hearing the name of the woman he, too, loved, and he replied," She dies."

Anakin shook his head with disbelief, repeating over and over," She can't die."

Palpatine broke into the conversation, saying," But she does, as do you. You will become Vader, and your wife will die."

As Anakin drew strength from memories, he began to rise. Once he was on his feet, he put as much strength as possible into his voice, and shouted," I will never turn to the dark side!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, all in the room attacked. Some physically, others through the Force. The attack seemed to go on forever, the Sith making very little progress in breaking Anakin's spirit. However, in the end, Anakin's strength failed. The Sith beat him down, near death, and Vader demanded," We must not kill him! I still need him. Bind him and lock him in a room, but do not kill him."

The Sith followed Vader's wishes, and tightly bound Anakin. He could not move, even if he weren't on the edge of death. He attempted to keep fighting until they locked him in a small room, with hardly enough room for him. Once he heard and sensed the departure of all the Sith, he had a logical thought. If he screamed, someone would be able to help him. If there was a building, there would undoubtedly be people nearby. Anakin cried loudly and desperately," Help!"