7
Obi-Wan lay sleeping, his head against the transparisteel viewport. About two hundred feet to his left soared Anakin's fighter. Within the cockpit of the fighter, Anakin fought sleep by any means necessary. At times he bit into his fingers, almost drawing blood to keep the horrible dreams at bay. It was during one of these battles against unconsciousness that a loud beeping began to sound from his control panel. It was an incoming message from Padme.
He quickly removed his commlink to prevent Obi-Wan from overhearing whatever his beloved had to say. Until he deemed it appropriate for his master to know, it would be kept completely confidential.
A small hologram appeared at the top of Anakin's control panel. It was Padme. She stood tall and straight, adorned with her beautiful Senate regalia. She wasted no time in getting her message to Anakin.
"Master Anakin?"
"This is Skywalker," He quickly dropped the formalities. "How are you doing, Padme?"
She smiled wide. "I have some good news."
"What?"
"I think I found a way for us to make our marriage public."
His soul took flight. Could it be true that there was some loop hole?
"What is it?"
"I have just officially been nominated for Supreme Chancellor. If I am voted into office, I can prevent the Jedi Order from ousting you. Of course, that's a big if."
Anakin mulled on the subject for a short amount of time before replying.
"Well, we both need some time to think this over. Right now being accepted by the Jedi Order is the last thing on my mind. As soon as I find what I'm looking for, we'll cover this revelation."
"Alright," She replied, still containing a huge smile. "I want you to know how much I love you."
"You'll be in my heart, Padme." He blew a kiss toward the holographic image as it fizzled away.
As the last essence of Padme left his cockpit, he began to think about revealing his marriage to the Jedi Council. Playing the scenario over and over again in his mind, he began to understand that if Padme forced the Council to accept their marriage, he would still be an outcast in their eyes. The walls closed around the subject once more, severing all love and light from Anakin's heart. After an eternity of pondering, he could feel the cold grip of sleep once again creeping up on him.
As his eyes closed, the high pitched squeal of R2-D2 pulled him into consciousness. Anakin looked up, searching for something wrong, but quickly took note of what lay before him on the control panel screen.
"WAKE UP!"
Anakin grinned. "Thanks, R2."
In the shadows of the Sith base on Mustafar, A grey, swollen face jutted out. It seemed as if it had been burned by superhot gasses, but in reality, it was the mark of the Dark Side's grasp. Eros Derjinn, the former Jedi Knight of the Republic was slowly being covered in the shield of darkness. Two decades he had been trained, but it was no use against Sidious' seductive techniques. Regardless of his resistance, he was going to become Darth Annhil.
Darth Sidious stood before him, measuring carefully the level of hatred in the young Jedi. It was growing. Soon the Jedi formerly known as Eros Derjinn would become a Dark Lord of the Sith.
"I am going to enjoy training you, Annhil," Sidious cackled.
Eros could barely muster enough strength to reply. "I am Eros."
Sidious lunged at him, grasping the Jedi's shoulders. His grey skinned nose came within centimeters of Eros. "No you're not! You are Annhil the Cold! I've recently come across information that you know how to elevate and lower temperatures in small areas. I am now going to teach you how to use that power to its full extent."
Eros began to struggle. His violent screams were not heard by anyone but Sidious. It was time. After struggling for what seemed like an eternity, his strength gave out. He closed his eyes. From behind the painful sobbing, his eyes reopened. They were glowing red. He was one with the Sith.
"I'll join you, just let me go."
Sidious grinned viciously. "What was that?"
"I'll join you, Master!"
"That's a start," Sidious mumbled, sauntering from the jail cell.