Hands of the Dark Side

Well, let's see what this next chapter holds, shall we?

Chapter Two

Continuing Descent

Days passed. Weeks passed. Months passed. Every day, Carissa learned more about the Dark Side and how to harness her powers for its use. She was eventually taught to hate the Jedi and not to trust or become close to anybody. She was taught that the Dark Side was the most powerful and that the Light Side had no effect and was pointless.

Carissa soon became somewhat of a right hand person to Darth Sidious, ready to take the reins from him in any event. She had heard much talk of another person like her. She had heard that she and the mystery person were each very talented and useful, but they had weak minds easily molded in the ways and ideas of the Dark Side. Carissa didn't care what people thought of her. She was strong, courageous, and skilled in almost anything one could name. She had little idea that a big change was just around the bend in her life.

Master, Padawan, and Senator walked along the riverbanks of Naboo. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Amidala Padme had decided to take the day "off" and have a recreational day before they returned to the pressing issues continuing to pile up against the Jedi and polititcians. Obi-Wan had not figured out that Padme and Anakin were married, so they decided to continue to play it safe and not let on. "It is a beautiful day," Obi-Wan said, startling Anakin out of his thoughts.

"Oh, yes," Anakin muttered. Obi-Wan looked over, knowing that something was wrong with his usually peppy Padawan. Anakin was always overjoyed to take a trip to Naboo and its luscious surroundings and even more overjoyed to take a day "off." Today, his Padawan was not like himself. Obi-Wan decided that he would not confront his Padawan about it but ease into the topic.

"We are grateful that you could accompany us on this walk," Padme said politely with a smile.

"I am grateful that you would have me," Obi-Wan replied. "I could only dream of such an extraordinary time in such a beautiful place anytime else."

Silence fell over the three once again as they continued to walk. They stopped at the edge of a very short cliff that overlooked the glassy lake in front of them. Padme bit her lip. She knew she would regret herself in the morning, but she had to have some fun. She thrust her arms out, and they connected with Anakin's back. With a look of shock upon his handsome face and his arms shooting out as a result of natural reflexes, he jumped off the edge of the cliff to keep from falling down it. He hit the water with a splash, and a shocked Obi-Wan looked at Padme. When he saw the smile on her face, he immediately brightened; and the two tried to keep in the bundles of laughter that threatened to overwhelm them.

Anakin broke the surface with a gasp. The water was warm but still not welcome. His eyes immediately went to Padme, and he glared at her. He knew that she had been the one who had pushed him off. She only looked at him innocently with a smile and an I-didn't-do-anything gleam in her eyes. His features immediately changed, and he smiled. Padme stopped smiling, because she knew something was about to happen. Before she could protest, she was lifted by the Force and dropped into the water. She screamed on her way down and splashed water on Anakin as she landed. "Come, Master," Anakin said as Padme broke the surface, gasping and spluttering and trying to drown her secret husband. "The water is fine. Won't you join us?"

Even as Obi-Wan shook his head, he could feel the Force pulling him off of the rocky edge of the cliff and dropping him into the water. As much as he tried to resist it, he hadn't been prepared against his Padawan's abilities.

With all three of the friends in the water, the inevitable happened. Padme and Obi-Wan ganged up against Anakin. Anakin had the advantage of youth against Obi-Wan and the advantage of lighter clothing against his secret wife. He out swam both of his tormentors and made it to the island before either of them. Second later, both of the other friends reached the island; and Anakin helped the both up. The gasping friends lay on the shore for a moment on their backs, regaining their breath and drying off a bit. "Anakin Skywalker," Padme finally said, turning to lie on her side with her arm extended upward. "I will never forgive you."

"As will I you," Anakin replied. "You are the one that started the whole thing, remember?" All three friends laughed and looked at each other. The sand from the island had stuck to all of their wet clothing. Padme's dress stuck to her body, making it look much thinner than it really was. Her hair, which was in two buns on either side of her head, was messed up with stray hair strands everywhere. Obi-Wan and Anakin's tunics stuck to their bodies, making them look paper thin; and the two men's hair was slicked back and pasted to their head.

"I suppose we had better get back," Obi-Wan said, looking at the beautiful sunset. "It's getting a little late."

"Yes, but how are we to get back?" Padme asked. A splash fully answered that question, and Obi-Wan and Padme looked toward the lake to see Anakin already swimming back. Padme shrugged quickly and jumped in after him, following him. Obi-Wan did the same. Together, the three swam back to one of Padme's residences. They dried off and put on clean clothes. They all agreed that the day had been very fun, and they had forgotten all their worries for the whole day. That night, however, was quite a restless night, for all of them remembered what they would be dealing with tomorrow.

Anakin had the most to worry about. Lately, he had been talking with Palpatine more and more; and the Jedi had begun to get suspicious of him. That, of course, was causing a great rift between Anakin and the rest of the Jedi. But what troubled Anakin the most was that Palpatine had begun to talk of a great power greater than anything that the Jedi had seen. When Anakin had begun to ask about this power, however, Palpatine would somehow change the subject. Anakin resolved to ask Palpatine about it the next day and get a straight and full answer. Then he would grasp that power and harness it for himself. Maybe then he would prove to his Master how powerful he really was. He would prove it to everybody, for everybody except Padme had doubted and distrusted him. They would see. They would all see. And then they would regret ever holding him back.

Ooh. Getting a little mean. I wonder what will happen next, and I wonder what will happen when Anakin meets Carissa. Stay tuned to find out! (R&R please!)