Chapter 3

Anakin screamed as a dark cold presence ripped through his brain both simultaneously freezing and burning. The presence tried to dig deep under his brain trying its best to drill itself into his mind to implant itself in there through any painful means necessary.

"I can do this all day. In fact, I just might." Palpatine's voice teased as another wave of that burning freezing presence ripped into his mind. Palpatine was wearing his classic black cloak and his eyes burned with yellow Sith fury.

Anakin would have told Palpatine to kill himself but his mouth had been gagged as to prevent Anakin from talking and more likely biting his own tongue and effectively choking on his own tongue and blood. The chosen one had been placed floating in a containment force field except he was held up by his throat rather than his arms as well… he lacked those, without his arms his ability to use the force was heavily handicapped. Palpatine was probably stronger than he was at this point as Anakin assumed he was stronger than Dooku but not Palpatine level yet. In Anakin's defence, he hadn't been in this loop long enough to reach his full potential.

"You know you really are something, my young, or rather an old time-traveller. Moronic mostly but still something. I won't lie I was a little furious when you exposed me to the Jedi but come on, you had to realise that wouldn't work on me right? I may not be able to beat Yoda nor Windu but I am very capable of escaping those fools."

Anakin hissed as Palpatine sent another wave of the dark side into his brain this time reaching further than he had previously.

"Getting weak? I honestly expected more from you. How much longer will it take till our force bond snaps together I wonder. A month of repeated torture? A year? A lifetime? Doesn't bother me too much, once we force bond together, we'll be time travel partners for the rest of eternity where I can kidnap you at the start of every loop and torture you every single time." Palpatine laughed. Anakin would have told him that it wouldn't work, he had force bonded with many people but they never joined him in the loop. Though he supposed Palpatine was desperate. In the cold reality of the loop, he probably realised nothing he did or would do will have any importance. Wasting his life trying to force himself into the loop was the only thing he could do.

Anakin had made a mistake this run and would pay for it dearly. He told the Jedi about his knowledge of the future and his status as a time traveller. Of course, they didn't believe him but the senator being a Sith Lord while without proof is still something the Jedi were weary of. Once Palpatine was exposed and fled the Jedi or at least the ones that mattered like Yoda started to believe him. He was even able to remove order 66 from the minds of the clones making the republic army and the Jedi more powerful than ever before.

Without Palpatine controlling the Clone Wars from the shadows, the war between the CIS and the Republic was bloody. Palpatine often mediated battles and forced wins and losses on both sides, but without his control, the war quickly spiralled out of control with war crimes now becoming more commonplace. It was worth it though, Anakin thought he had won. The Republic was winning and Palpatine was in hiding. It had only taken a few loops and yet Anakin had won. He did it.

That was until Palpatine had shown up. Armed with his full fury and a few Sith apprentices in the form of Maul and Savage. With the Clone Wars Anakin hadn't dedicated most of his time to pure training and couldn't keep up with the three Sith eventually being captured and repeatedly tortured.

"I heard the rumours of the Jedi. A time traveller. Can you believe it? I didn't. That was until you outed me and my little clone scheme. You know that didn't work right? Sure they changed the name of order 66 but the Republic isn't nearly as trusting in the Jedi as the Jedi is in the Republic. All they did was a simple name change and hid it better. Whenever I want order 66 will occur, but I'll wait till the republic kills my old apprentice Dooku and the CIS he stole from me. Anyway, getting sidetracked. Not one believed you at first and even now most don't believe you are a time traveller, but enough did for rumours to spread. I thought it was crazy, but you know what they say. 'When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable must be the truth.'"

Wave after wave the Darkside tried to bend his mind. Make his mind subservient, by breaking it and rebuilding it in its image.

"What did you think was going to happen when you told the Jedi? That they would keep it secret? That something so important or comical as a time traveller wouldn't make it to republic ears. The only people you can trust to not tell anyone are the ones you kill yourself."

And so Palpatine tortured him. Day in and day out trying to force himself into the loops through any means necessary.

Palpatine's torture had broken Anakin for the next few loops leaving him a mumbling mess unable to form words or communicate in ways that weren't crazy. The mental damage had been severe that not even the Jedi healers could heal him.

Though in the infinite loops, not even madness could last forever.

Anakin would never trust the Jedi or the Republic ever again with his secret.

Anakin turned around letting his new outfit flow around him. With his sudden abundance of wealth, Anakin had gone to the shopping district in the more rich parts of Nar Shaddah where he wouldn't be stabbed or robbed when trying to buy some necessities. He was no longer wearing the rages he had been forced to wear in Arena and now wore something a little finer and more refined. He was wearing a dark blue button-up shirt that he had rolled up his forearms and black trousers. It was more formal/casual than anything.

Ever since he was recruited by Grakkus the Hutt to be essentially a bodyguard for his little space cruise for the political heads of several planets Anakin's pockets have been especially heavy with credits. Although he wasn't so much a bodyguard as he was a deterrent to prevent any royalty or senators from butting heads. Anakin could feel a pre-emptive headache coming on from the future political strife. Politics was just one massive dick-measuring contest except everyone had small dick syndrome and had to pretend they were more intimidating than they actually are.

It would be worth it though if Grakkus came through with his promises of letting Anakin get absolutely wrecked on his time off. Though he did have a few notes on some of his conditions. Anakin admittedly wasn't as powerful as he usually was in repeats where he trained almost religiously, sure he did a little bit of meditating and exercise here and there, but his current body's strength was fairly lacking in force and combat potency than his usual loops. The only thing Anakin had really intentionally trained in was concealing his force presence.

Grakkus however didn't seem to care obviously overestimating his strength. He had even demanded that Anakin wear a shock collar which made him look like some sort of emo but unfortunately it was the only thing that made the slug feel safe enough to be around Anakin with armed guards. Fair enough, Anakin would be lying if he didn't think about just killing the Hutt and trying to a new planet to hide and relax on.

Anakin was ripped from his thoughts by the sound of his doorbell ringing. Who could have possibly been that? Could it have been Grakkus? If so then he greatly overestimated his size or maybe underestimated the hotel's corridors.

Anakin opened the door to his apartment and was actually pleasantly surprised. A fairly young woman, she couldn't have been more than a few years older than him though the way she dressed certainly made It seems that way. She wasn't dressed so much as a business women but rather what someone would think a businesswoman would look like as some sort of fetish as she wore a tight blouse and short black skirt that covered her black leggings.

A Zeltron. A race of people that are stereotypically whores. They produce pheromones that make them seem more attractive to people and thus easier to manipulate. Perhaps Anakin should give Grakkus more credit.

Unfortunately for her, Anakin didn't care.

"Fuck off, I'm not interested in your God. They are all as shit as each other." Before Anakin could slam the door in her face she blocked it with her foot. Annoying.

"I'm not religious. I'm here on behalf of The Hutts." Anakin held back a scoff. She was probably here on behalf of Grakkus not the Hutts. Even during the Empiric rule under Palpatine in a few years Grakkus would never reach the level such as Jabba.

"I think I'd rather the religious garbage than whatever Grakkus has to say." Anakin rolled his eyes. The woman didn't argue either in silent agreement or she thought Anakin wasn't worth her time.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Go where?"

"You've got to be kidding me?"

Anakin gave her a blank look which she herself didn't look overly impressed about. The red-skinned woman pushed Anakin aside forcing herself into his temporary home.

"This place smells of drugs and sex." She said glaring at Anakin to which he merely smirked back. Scoffing the woman took a seat on the only part of the couch that didn't look stained or was a mess of pillows.

"Why are you interested?" Anakin asked sitting on a glass table that has become now foggy with white powder. The women didn't even bother to respond to Anakin's half-jokingly, half-serious question.

"Grakkus wants all personnel at the docks early before any politicians show up at the luxury cruiser. That was three hours ago and yet Grakkus' little Jedi hasn't shown up. As you can imagine he isn't pleased with your behaviour, and neither am I." She continued.

"I believe I told Grakkus to keep the fact I am an ex-Jedi a secret."

"I believe you promised you would arrive on time. Grakkus is wasting a lot of credits on you."

Fair enough but Anakin still wasn't impressed. The Jedi wouldn't risk searching around Hutt territory and the only Sith assassin or apprentices would waste their time hunting him down. Though if they knew he was on Nar Shaddah then that little time waste of looking for him would be significantly less and make looking for him maybe more worth it.

"I said I would show up. Never on time. Though I suppose I am cutting it close."

"More than close. You are the reason the cruiser hasn't left yet."

"And you," Anakin smirked. She didn't seem to find it as entertaining.

"You're late Vader. Also, your arm is bleeding." Grakkus hissed. The metal-legged Hutt stood on the metal walkway of the Cruiser. He looked very unhappy with Anakin.

"Late? Or fashionably on time?"

"Late."

Anakin shrugged. What was the slug going to do? Kill him? Ha! Kill him maybe but no one can keep Anakin dead. Maybe in the next loop, he'll dedicate it to killing him and ruining his empire. Not the first time Anakin had been petty enough to dedicate his loops to ruining someone's life.

"I'm sorry." He wasn't. "I'd love to get on the stupid ship but your kind of blocking me."

"Do not give me lip Jedi."

"Do not call me Jedi. That was our deal."

"Our deal was you arrive on time."

"Yeah, I know. You're little secretary already gave me the speech." Grakkus looked at Anakin questionable.

"Where is she?"

"Oh, she was being annoying so unfortunately while she was driving her hover car someone kicked her out and crashed it into a nearby light post and scratched his or her arm. I don't know it's a mystery." Hutts didn't have any eyebrows but if they did Grakkus would have raised his questionably.

"I need those Zeltrons, their pheromones are important. There are going to be lots of political heads and a lot of them don't like each other, so I'd like to keep them all happy. In the situation where they aren't happy, I need you. Do you understand?" Obviously, Anakin did. Anakin doubted there would be too many problems though. Knowing the Hutts this cruiser will be filled with alcohol, drugs and prostitutes and while no politician would ever indulge in such activities, but behind closed doors who knows? Either way, Anakin rarely has seen two high people have an argument besides what kind of snacks to eat. Chances are most politicians don't actually care about the trade deal with the Hutts and are just treating this as a holiday.

"Yeah yeah, I get it. If the politicians start to get rowdy wave my lightsabre around. I get the gist of it."

"See that you do. We'll be leaving the moon in two hours. Find yourself to your room then find me. We have guests to greet."

"Fuck."

Padme hated being here. She hated the people she had to talk to, she hated how she had to pretend to like these people and most of all she hated the politics. She was a senator and thus had to act accordingly. Though she wished she had better company, for all those old fat bastards did was laugh at how unprofessional and undignified the Hutts were saying that he would never allow sex workers near any event they held. It tended to be the ones that insulted or mocked the drugs and sex workers that reeked the most of them.

She had been invited as an ambassador of Naboo to accept the company of the Hutts and hear them out on their trade deal ever since the incident a few years ago with the Trade Federation. She wasn't the only one as she saw several senators from Republic space here, though the way they enjoyed the bar suggested they weren't here to decide trade deals.

"Unfortunately, I lost almost a whole brigade of men against those savages. Can you believe it? I understand taking land away from the indigenous people is wrong but It's the mining that keeps our planet running. Without the mines, we all go poor. I offered to move them to a better location and give them more resources I was going to pay them well and fairly but they refused to move and dared to attack my men. We acted in self-defence!" The irritating voice came from an obese human male with a pretentious moustache. Padme forgot his name and whatever planet he was the senator of but she knew he was part of the Republic and thus with all the other Republic senators was forced to huddle around them.

Being in the outer rim she found out just how much other planets hated them in the Republic. The outer rim thought of them like they were selfish rich capitalists while the mid-rim planets thought of them as savages. Most of this whole cruiser hated them and that much was obvious by the number of glares and snide comments thrown around the room just conveniently in earshot. This was going to be a long trip.

"But enough about me. If I'm not mistaken dear Padme, you're in your sixth year as senator. Quite an accomplishment for someone so young. Though I suppose Naboo is one of the better planets to rule, I wish I had such a beginner-friendly planet when I first became a senator." A compliment? Or maybe a snide comment about how she had it easy. Maybe a few years ago she would have gratuitously accepted the kind words but now she had become cynical.

"Why thank you." Bastard. "Though I wouldn't call it so beginner friendly, it took quite some time for an understanding to occur between Nabooians and the Gungans. Unfortunately, we had to make a few sacrifices and diplomatic deals, we couldn't just use our weapons to force the original owners of the planet out of the way. That would be not only immoral, but I would be embarrassed to call myself a senator if I did that." The man laughed. He laughed. What a scumbag.

"Ha ha ha. Your still young. Quite a tongue on you though it will serve you well in your later years. One day you'll have to understand why we do what we do." She already did. It was money and cowardice to lose your seat in the Republic.

"Enough you two. Why ruin such a joyful atmosphere with such animosity? We Republic Senators have to stick together." It was another senator at the table that spoke this time. He looked well dressed and fairly attractive though that much was obvious. Most senators weren't ugly, people just liked people that looked good. Unfortunately, the man who spoke up also had tried hiding a pollution fiasco killing off a reef when an offshore drilling rig collapsed due to corners being cut.

This whole place was the worst.

"And then my buddy Obi-Wan. He said he never banged her, but Satine's 'nephew' seemed to look a lot like him!" What was that loud voice? Padme could hear a voice; it sounded young from a table nearby. Whomever it was the people around the voice found what he was saying hilarious as the group of Rodians around him laughed.

"I wish those annoying Rodians would shut up." One of the Republic senators whispered in a hushed tone. Padme had a strong feeling it wasn't the noise that annoyed him. Unfortunately, some senators agreed. Some were generally annoyed by the noise, which was valid and fair enough, others who looked angrier were bothered by something else.

"I will go speak to them." Padme volunteered. The shock on their faces was apparent. Padme really didn't care though. They probably thought that she was leaving to either be racist like they most likely wanted but really she just wanted to get away from them. If this was the excuse she needed then so be it. She gladly left the table of Republic senators, and almost immediately her headache was gone.

Padme didn't know what to expect as she walked over to the group of laughing aliens. What she saw was unimpressive. A boy.

His hair was a mess and he had bruises on his neck. Gross. Everything about him was disgusting, his shirt was half out of his pants, he clearly had spilt whatever drink he was drinking all over himself and if you actually looked at his blissfully unaware face it was clear he was high. Padme had never seen redder eyes before.

"Who are you?" She asked drawing the attention of the group.

"I'M THE CHOSEN ONE!" He yelled shocking Padme and causing the Rodians to laugh even more. This was the most unprofessional senator she had ever seen. No, he couldn't be a senator, he was too young. Then again she had become a senator at eighteen, though she had also been royalty.

"Is he a senator? What planet is he from?" She had asked the group of Rodians.

"Booooooooooo! Politics are dumb. I hate politics. I hate Palpatine. Boooooo! Lightning sucks, it huuuuuuuurts." What was he even talking about?

"He said he's part of the security." One of the Rodians said. The alien knew basic well which was probably because he was most likely involved with his planet's politics. Almost every politician knew basic.

"Security?" Last time she checked security doesn't hammer themselves full of drugs and alcohol.

"Yeah, I mean… I don't know why'd he lie about that but you got to admit he's pretty fun."

"He needs water."

"Eh. Dying by thirst isn't that bad. Worse then drowning though. Speaking of dying. Wanna see me stab this fork through my hand?" The boy was a little too eager to pick up the nearest fork and wave it around like a sword. Padme didn't know if he was more of a danger to himself or the people around him.

"Drop that idiot. Why is your arm bleeding?! You shouldn't drink if your bleeding!"

"CAR JACKER! Shhhhh it was meeeeeee. Promise you won't tell anyone?" Padme didn't bother answering that grabbed his fork waving wrist and pulled him up from off the table. This moron needed to sober up but first, he needed water. If his breathe was any indication he had only been drinking alcohol since they took off from Nar Shaddah.

She with an idiot swaying in hand behind her had to weave through the crowd of royalty and senators attracting many looks. She was not looking forward to this ever being brought up again next year as some sort of politics scandal. She could imagine it now. Senator mucks around with drunk scum. This boy she had only known for a few seconds and he was already a problem. Eventually, they did make it to the bar where the Zeltron behind it was busy flirting with Senators and pouring drinks.

"Excuse me could I get some water please," Padme asked drawing the attention of the red-skinned girl. The Senator who she was busy stroking the arm of didn't look to pleased with her interruption but the boy she was with was going to overdose any second now. The woman looked at the pair slightly annoyed that Padme got in the way of a very large tip but made her way over.

"It's you again." The woman hissed narrowing her eyes at Padme.

"I haven't met you." Padme hissed back. She was trying to do a good thing, yet now she was starting to regret it.

"Not you, the junkie."

"I'll take ten body shots!"

"Ten will kill you."

"TWELVE!"

The Zeltron sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Clearly this isn't their first meeting between the two. Regardless she grabbed a glass from behind the counter and poured water from the sink nearby slamming the glass hard in front of Padme.

"Sober him up and keep him away from me. I've been told to give as much as he wants as long as it doesn't kill him."

"You think I want to deal with this?"

"I'm sure not and you won't find a whore on this ship who has low enough standards to do it either." Wonderful. Just wonderful. They had only been on this ship for a day. It was the first night! How had he already built a reputation among the staff so low that no one cared if he drunk himself to death.

"Are you, my mommy? I haven't seen her for centuries. She dies a lot. Palps never lets her live, so I stopped caring." What kind of drugged-up dreams was this guy seeing? If this is what drugs did to you? If so she was never going to do them. This is what being scared straight must be like.

Before Padme could drag him away and get him sobered up a yell echoed through the ballroom. It was a loud one as it drowned out the sound of chattering and music killing both the sound and the mood. The large crowd was parted aside as everyone tried o get away from the epicentre of the yell.

Thankfully as the crowd pushed away Padme was able to get a look at the cause of the noise. A man wearing a fine cloak wrapped around his shoulders had one hand raised towards another man. Though, unlike the cloaked man, he was a few feet in the air trying to grasp at invisible hands around his throat.

"Well, Vader. This is why I hired you." A voice suddenly appeared at Padme's side. She swung her head around and saw a massive slug stand before her cross-armed tapping one metallic leg against the floor. How did that sneak up on her? Clearly the boy, or Anakin as it seemed. Was too loud and distracting for her to notice the very large Hutt before her.

"You bastard. You knew Dooku was coming. Ughhhhhhhhhhhh! That's why you were so interested in hiring a Jedi. You've got the fourth strongest force user in the galaxy on this stupid ship! I felt him the second I stepped on board, why do you think I'm so fucked up right now?"

"I don't care. Stop him or engage in a Jedi-level fight. I honestly don't care I'll be happy seeing both happen, though I don't want this ship torn to ribbons."

"Fine fine I'm on it."

Despite being 'on it' Vader didn't move. Rather he took a big swig of the water and glared at the cloaked man. What was he doing? He was just glaring at him which while weird to see didn't do much… Until it did. What? The cloaked man dropped his hand and the floating choking man fell to the floor. A coincidence surely. There was no way this drunk actually had anything to do with it. No, this boy was an idiot!

The cloaked man whom Padme assumed was this Dooku turned to them. Damnit. She could almost feel an invisible pressure push down on her chest like she had been submerged deep underwater and the sheer water pressure was crushing.

"You must be Anakin." Dooku calmly spoke. His voice wasn't loud but in the dead silence, she could still hear it from here.

"Fuck." Vade- Anakin whispered.

A/N

For those who don't know what the start was that was one of the earlier runs of Anakin in the loops. This was just mostly for an explanation of why Anakin keeps the reason he will be keeping time travel a secret as the Sith and especially Palpatine would want the power to go back in time. Why wouldn't he, after all, If Palpatine wins it won't matter if everything will just restart and he knows that. Therefore, if the Jedi knows Anakin is a time traveller, then the Republic will know which then Palpatine would know.

If you wonder why I call Dooku the 4th strongest its because I think it's fair to say, or at least that's my opinion. Of course, not including super powerful beings like The Ones. This is just Jedi/Sith.

1) Yoda

2) Palpatine

3) Mace Windu (Though against Darkside users in combat he would either be 2nd or 1st but only against a darkside user)

4) Dooku

These rankings are just my personal opinion and I doubt it is going to be a prevalent thing in this story.