Spoilers: No new spoilers in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Star Wars, as cool as it would be if I did. Everything belongs to George Lucas.
A/N: And at last, we reach a part of the story I was the most excited to write. :D
Slipping Into Darkness
Chapter 7
As Anakin walked down the corridors of the Chancellor's Suite in the Senate building, he felt as though he were seeing them for the first time. He had come here often over the years, hoping to ask Palpatine for advice or simply wanting to get away from the confines of the Temple. But suddenly, the place that Anakin had always found inviting had become sinister. The architecture lining the walls appeared twisted and dark, and each corner seemed to be hiding a potential threat.
Perhaps it was the fact that Anakin now knew what type of man had decorated these halls, or perhaps it was his own dread taking the shape of his surroundings. Either way, the darkness intensified as Anakin drew nearer to Palpatine's private office. Two red guards stood outside doors, their expressions unreadable beneath their masks.
"I'm here to see the Chancellor," he told them as he approached.
He made his face a veil of Jedi calm, prepared to answer their objections over his lack of an appointment. But instead, as if they had been expecting him, they simply moved their force-pikes aside and allowed him to enter. He stepped past them warily and walked into the room.
Palpatine sat behind his large, ebony desk, apparently completely absorbed in what ever documents he was reviewing. Still, he looked up as soon as he heard footsteps.
"Ah, Anakin!" he said, smiling in the manner of a kindly old uncle. "I am so glad to see you up and about."
Anakin felt a rush of anger at the words and struggled to push it away. Palpatine had used him, taken advantage of his trust, and he had manipulated Padmé as well. More than anything Anakin wished to use the Force to choke the life from the Sith, but he held himself back. That was not the Jedi way.
If Palpatine noticed the dangerous look in Anakin's eyes, or saw that the young man was shaking with anger, he showed no sign of it.
"I have been so worried about you, my boy," he continued. "As soon as I heard you were ill, I desperately wanted to visit you. But, I am afraid my duties as Chancellor simply didn't allow it. I do hope you will forgive me."
The irony of that particular request was not lost on Anakin, and he resisted the urge bark out a harsh laugh. Anger rose in him again, even stronger, and yet he still held back, knowing that if he gave into his anger he would be letting Sidious win. But just the same, he could feel that the walls containing his rage were crumbling.
"If you are feeling up to it," Palpatine said, still keeping up pretenses, "I have an assignment for you. Anakin, I am appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council."
This time, Anakin answered.
"I know," he said, his voice brimming with barely restrained fury. "I know everything, Sidious."
To his surprise, Palpatine only laughed, as though he found Anakin's declaration quite amusing.
"Oh, come now Anakin," he said, with a smile. "Do you honestly think you know everything? I very much doubt that."
Although Anakin wouldn't have thought it impossible, his rage spiked again. "You are a Sith and a traitor the Republic," he snarled. "The galaxy will be a far better place without you in it."
In response to the threat, Palpatine raised an eyebrow, but otherwise, he appeared entirely unconcerned.
"My dear boy, I honestly thought you were smarter than this. Don't you understand what has happened? Don't you see that you are being used?"
"No," Anakin said firmly. "I made the mistake of trusting you once, but I won't do that again. I will not be your slave."
Palpatine smiled once more. "Anakin," he said as though explaining something to a young child, "I was not speaking of myself, but of the Jedi. That so-called vision of yours was their doing."
"You're lying."
"Am I?" Palpatine asked.
The Chancellor stood and moved around his desk, coming to stand only a few feet away from Anakin. Part of Anakin screamed that now was the time to strike, that now was the moment to rid the galaxy of this menace…but, for some reason, he was unable to move.
"I admit, Anakin, I am indeed the Sith Lord that the Jedi Council has been searching for so diligently."
Anakin's hand moved for the saber on his belt, but Palpatine continued.
"And I did deceive you…but I had no choice. The Jedi want me dead. Lying was the only way for me to survive." He sighed sadly. "You see, my boy, the Jedi Council discovered my identity some time ago. However, they had no way to make any action against me appear legitimate. I have been waiting for them to make their move, and they have obviously done so by sending you."
"What are you saying?" Anakin heard himself ask.
No, this couldn't be happening, he couldn't be listening to this…and yet, he was. Some part of his mind told him that Sidious's words made sense, too much sense to be ignored. At once, his anger was replaced by confusion.
"I'm saying that they gave you that vision. They wanted to turn you against me." Palpatine walked around Anakin and put a hand on his shoulder. "What was your vision, Anakin? Did it show me commanding you to do terrible things?"
"Yes," Anakin answered breathlessly. "The children at the Temple…you had me kill them."
"Children?" Palpatine looked horrified. "Anakin, you've known me for years. Would I ever ask you to do something so…so barbaric?"
"I…" Anakin's head was spinning. Could it be true? Was the Council deceiving him rather than Sidious? "I…don't know," Anakin said finally.
"What else did you see, son?"
"Padmé…I killed Padmé."
Again, Palpatine's face took on a look of disgust. "I knew the Jedi Council was ambitious…but to make you believe that you would kill your own wife if you joined me…" He shook his head sorrowfully.
"But I…"
"Anakin," he interrupted before the younger man could continue, "Look inside yourself. Do you honestly believe that you could ever hurt Padmé?"
Anakin couldn't speak. He had come here so certain of what he had to do, but now he wasn't sure.
The Council had never trusted him, that much was true. If they had discovered that Palpatine was a Sith, would they have told him? No, he thought bitterly. "Young Skywalker" would be the last to know such a secret.
But the Council would not be above sending him to kill the Chancellor. Nor were they above giving him that vision. What other way could they have guaranteed that he would never join Palpatine? And the part about him killing Padmé…that was very clever. Palpatine was right. He should have known he could never hurt his wife. He loved her too much.
But…what about Qui-Gon? He had seen him, talked to him, and that had been so real. He had felt the Jedi Master's presence so clearly. Could the Council have faked that as well? Anakin wasn't sure.
A chill of fear ran down his spine. What if he was falling for Sidious's lies just as he had in the vision? What if Qui-Gon had come to him to keep him from doing just that? What if his choices now did lead to Padmé's death? He could never live with himself then. He felt so lost, so confused. He couldn't be certain of the truth.
Anakin stood there frozen. He felt as if he were standing at the top of a cliff, an abyss on either side, and whichever way he went, he would fall.
"Yes, Anakin," he heard Palpatine say. "You know the truth. Join me, and I promise that you will never be lied to again. Together, we can stop the Jedi and bring peace to the galaxy."
"I…" Anakin began.
But before he could speak, footsteps echoed down the corridor, and in the next instant the doors were forced open. Anakin felt a rush of shock. In the entrance stood Mace Windu and three other Council members.
"You are under arrest, Sidious. You will surrender now, or we will use force."
Anakin barely heard the Jedi Master's words. It was just like his vision. Mace would fight Palpatine, and Anakin would stop him. Then he would kneel…
"No!" Anakin screamed, finally finding his voice. "No! You can't be here!"
But neither the Jedi Master nor the Sith Lord seemed to hear him.
"You see, Anakin," Sidious whispered to him, "they knew you saw through their lies. They knew you would not kill me. So, they have come to finish the job themselves." At once, a lightsaber appeared in the Dark Lord's hand. "With you as my witness, Anakin, I have no choice but to defend myself."
Then, the Sith activated his crimson blade and the battle began.
TBC
A/N: Since Thursday is Thanksgiving, I have decided to post the next part on Wednesday. :)
As always, thank you to everyone who has reviewed, your feedback has been incredibly kind, and greatly appreciated.
For anyone who hasn't reviewed yet…
*waves hand* You will review! *waves hand again* The submit review button is the option you are looking for. Once you have reviewed, you can go about your business. Move along. ;)
Ani-maniac494