Ch. 18

Anakin cautiously approached Chancellor Palpatine's office door. He reached out with the Force to seeking the Chancellor's presence nearby, and sure enough he could tell that the Chancellor was inside. Already, Anakin was finding it a little easier to believe Yoda and Obi-Wan; Why would Palpatine be sitting in here doing nothing when the Republic was in chaos, if he was the good man Anakin had believed he was? Anakin took a deep breath, preparing himself to betray a man that, no matter how evil, had been a supportive friend when Anakin had needed it most.

Anakin tried to soothe all of his feelings through the Force, desperately wanting to be a true Master, to be calm and at peace, and lose that impulsiveness that he knew made him so untrustworthy. It was very difficult at this time- his thoughts of Padme and his unborn children kept him very emotional, as did the thought of Palpatine's betrayal and the fact that Anakin himself had to somehow get a confession out of the Chancellor. He also needed to be able to fool Palpatine into thinking that nothing was wrong between the two of them- if Palpatine was indeed a Sith, he would be able to sense Anakin's thoughts. Anakin cleared his head completely, and began to think of the times Palpatine had been there for him so that the Chancellor would read only these thoughts in the young Jedi's mind.

However, Anakin soon abandoned this idea, realizing that it only made it harder to see Palpatine as an enemy. Clearing his mind completely, he knocked on the office door.

"Come in, young friend," he heard Palpatine's uneven voice beckon him. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

"Hello, Chancellor," Anakin began, cautiously, "How are you handling the situation? Terrible, isn't it, that someone would betray us like that." Ok, steady Anakin, that might have been too much.

"Sad, yes, that the Republic is not united."

Anakin realized how clearly Palpatine had begun to reveal himself. Instead of saying that it was terrible that the Clone's had betrayed the old Republic, he had only said it was sad that no one was united in this war. This was a good sign- it showed that Palpatine did not think Anakin suspected him.

"What do you mean, Chancellor?"

The Chancellor sighed, as if he was truly confused about the situation. "Sometimes I wonder, Anakin, which side to be fighting on."

"You mean to say you don't trust the Jedi?" Anakin said angrily, quickly calming himself and pretending to be Palpatine's ally.

"The Jedi have been loyal to me always, Anakin. But now they seem to have their own agenda in this war- the Clones are simply trying to keep betrayal and corruption from happening.

"The Clones killed civilians! Children! They have betrayed the Republic, they are not trying to support it!"

Anakin feared that he had shown too much emotion, that Palpatine would know he was against him. However, the Chancellor only laughed, and gave an eerie smile to the young Jedi.

"It is good that you feel such passion in what you do Anakin. It will make you very powerful…probably the most powerful of any Jedi, ever…" The Chancellor eyed Anakin, and despite himself Anakin showed his pride to the Chancellor, letting down his guard. "You are the Chosen One, after all," Palpatine continued, egging Anakin on.

"The Council is comprised of very powerful Jedi. I am honored to even be considered equal to them."

"Don't you ever wonder if perhaps they only put you on the Council to keep you happy? To keep you loyal to them?" Anakin stared at Palpatine, having never considered this. He had certainly always been suspicious and wary of the Masters, knowing they didn't trust him. And he had many conflicting feelings about many of their motives, sometimes even Obi Wan. He had seen their appointing him onto the Council as a sign of their trust in him, and had tried to push his feelings of uneasiness far back into his mind. He had been successful, until this moment. It was possible- what if they had just put him on it to shut him up and keep him satisfied? No, it wasn't possible. They were his friends. They trusted him.

"They put me on the council because I deserved it, because I had proven myself to them and they consider me a worthy Jedi, and a friend." Anakin answered, though he knew Palpatine sensed his confidence wavering.

"Don't you ever get the feeling," Palpatine continued slowly, "That the Council is… afraid of your talents?"

Anakin turned to him. This certainly got his attention. He had seen it in Obi Wan's eyes.

Palpatine chuckled. "Yes Anakin. You know it to be true- they know you are more powerful than they are. At first, they tried to keep you from the Council, afraid that your sense of power would betray them. But Yoda then made a smarter move- appeasing you, making you think they appreciated and trusted you. Maybe this way," The Chancellor paused, and looked straight at Anakin's eyes, "they could control your… rage?"

Anakin turned to him, his head swimming. It made so much sense- it was just why the Masters had felt unnerved around him.

"No, they trust me, no!" Was all Anakin could say.

"Anakin, I know how you could reach your full potential. You could be in charge- no one would be holding you back. You would be allowed to be with Padme…"

Anakin stared at him, his hand on his light saber.

"How do you know about her?" He screamed.

"I could sense it, Anakin. You know the Council will never allow it- you will have to choose between them and her…and your children…"
"No!" Yelled Anakin, and he drew his light saber.

To Anakin's surprise, but certainly not shock, Palpatine pulled out the Sith's signature red light saber, and laughed. "Good, Anakin. Let your rage go- you're always told to hold it back, but now I encourage you to use it."

"You are a Sith!" Yelled Anakin.

"Join me, Anakin. It is your path, Chosen One. I will let you reach your real potential, you will be more powerful than anyone has ever been!"

Palpatine put away his light saber, and held out his hand. Anakin put his away also, but did not reach out to shake the Chancellor's extended hand.

"The Sith are evil." Anakin stated.

"No Anakin, the Sith simply use the whole Force. I will teach you things the Jedi Masters keep from you. Special ways to use the Force, to protect those you love…"
Anakin's mind was racing, his anger feeding on Palpatine's encouragement. Palpatine approached him, putting his arm around Anakin's shoulders.

"Come Anakin. I am your true friend- haven't I always believed in you? You can help me win this war; we can rule the galaxy together. I will be your Master Anakin, only me! No Council, no one but me and you, ruling together, Master and Apprentice. I will encourage your talents, instead of holding you back as the other Masters did, as your weak Master Obi Wan did. I will be a better Master than you've ever had, I will teach you more!"

Anakin turned to him. Palpatine looked at the young Jedi's eyes and saw hate, and rage, and knew he had won. He turned to walk back to his desk, smiling to himself. Suddenly, he sensed something was wrong.

He turned and saw Anakin standing behind him with his light saber raised.

"Obi Wan was my brother!"