A/N: Sorry about the delay in this update, things got a little crazy and I had no time to write.


Chapter 19: Control Slips

Sidious felt anger and hate ripple through the Force and immediately looked for its source. A gleeful cackle escaped him when he realized it was coming from his former apprentice. He had finally been able to get his former apprentice to snap after a couple long months of separation from Padmé. The influence the Senator had on her husband had diminished with the frustration Anakin felt with his inability to locate her.

Sidious closed his eyes and focused on his former apprentice's actions. His cackles grew louder when he realized he was fighting Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. He immediately had Bail Organa call the press to cover the unfolding scene and then went to the window and watched as Anakin fell out the window. He was rather disappointed that Anakin did not end up killing himself, but he knew that would come in time. However, as this happy thought filled his mind, he felt a push against his presence as Chancellor Bail Organa fought for control again.

Sidious had been able to repress the Chancellor for a couple months, but his guard had fallen at the happiness he gained from seeing the near demise of his traitorous apprentice.

"No… must… stop…" Organa stated as he fought off the Sith Lord's control.

Sidious growled in anger in response as he regained his control. He was able to subdue the Chancellor once more, but not before a diminutive Jedi Master across the city-planet felt a brief glimpse of the Sith's dark presence.


"What is that?" Anakin asked dazedly as both he and Obi-Wan entered the lifts of the Senate apartment building. He was still shaken by his fall out the window and how he had almost let darkness consume him.

"What?" Obi-Wan asked confusedly. He was focused on taking care of his friend and was not paying attention to anything else.

"That noise." Anakin replied.

Obi-Wan paused for a minute and listened and realized his comlink was ringing. He quickly pulled it from his belt and accepted the incoming transmission. "Kenobi here."

"Master Kenobi, felt our dark presence, I have."

"Really!" Anakin explained, suddenly becoming more alert at the sound of Master Yoda's voice.

"Are you certain, Master?" Obi-Wan replied to Master Yoda while placing a calming hand on Anakin's shoulder.

"Yes, a dark, angry, and evil presence I felt a moment ago." Master Yoda stated.

Anakin shifted uncomfortably. He figured the dark presence Master Yoda felt was Anakin's loss of control over his emotions. Both Obi-Wan and Anakin stepped out of the lifts and onto the floor of Anakin's and Padmé's apartment. They slowly made their way to the apartment as they continued their conversation with Master Yoda.

"Master, are you sure you found the presence we have been looking for." Obi-Wan paused and chose his words carefully before he continued. "We had a bit of an incident here and…"

"Felt Jedi Knight Skywalker's anger, I did. Not the dark presence I felt, it was." Master Yoda replied before Obi-Wan could finish his sentence.

"Do you know what it was, Master?" Anakin replied with a hint of regret in his voice.

"Disappeared before I could recognize it. But in the capital district, it was." Master Yoda replied.

"Really?" Both Obi-Wan and Anakin asked simultaneously. Then Obi-Wan added, "That means that it is nearby."

"Yes, yes." Master Yoda agreed. "Narrows our search, it does."

"Yes, but the capital district is still very large." Anakin replied sadly.

"Not as large as the entire planet." Obi-Wan shrugged.

"We have to start looking…" Anakin began, the look of desperation returning to his eyes.

"After you get some rest." Obi-Wan stated firmly.

"Yes, yes, to Obi-Wan you listen." Master Yoda reiterated. "Rest you need. Continue the search I will. Need time to refocus yourself, you do."

"Yes, Master." Anakin replied in a subdued tone.

"Fought the darkness, you did. Succeed in its battle. Prove your strength, you have." Master Yoda stated praising Anakin's efforts.

"Yes, but I should never have lost control." Anakin shook his head regretfully as he turned his gaze towards the floor as both he and Obi-Wan entered his and Padmé's apartment.

"That you can admit it, my friend, means you have learned from this event. That is the Jedi way, constant learning through the Force." Obi-Wan stated sympathetically. He could have been killed by Anakin's angry outburst, but he understood his friend's frustration and was willing to forgive him.

"Learn to forgive yourself, you must." Yoda added.

"Anakin, I want you to get some rest, I will go and help Master Yoda with the search. You can join us tomorrow."

Anakin only nodded as Obi-Wan spoke to Master Yoda, "Master, I will return to the Temple shortly."

"May the Force be with you." Yoda said as he ended his transmission with his two fellow Jedi.

"Senator, I bring you news of your husband." Sidious stated through Bail Organa as he came to oversee her next dose of ysalamiri serum. Padmé was almost three months pregnant and like the life within her, her worries grew everyday. She generally tried to ignore Sidious during his visits, not wanting to acknowledge his vile presence, but the mention of Anakin sparked her interest and she inadvertently sat up straighter.


The change in the Padmé's posture did not go unnoticed by Sidious and he smiled to himself as he replied, "He is becoming increasingly desperate to find you. So much so that he attacked Obi-Wan Kenobi last night."

"He wouldn't." Padmé stated sharply as she scowled at the Sith.

"Ah, but you know your husband's temper, you have witnessed it before." Sidious goaded Padmé, enjoying his torment of her.

"He is no longer under your control. Darth Vader is no more!" Padmé stated defiantly.

An amused smiled crossed Organa's features as Sidious had him pull out a small holopad. "Well, the figure that fell out of your apartment window last night certainly resembled my former apprentice." Sidious had Organa turn the holopad on as he pushed it in front of Padmé. Sidious stated the headline as Padmé read it, "Jedi Knight Skywalker and Jedi Master Kenobi involved in strange midnight brawl."

"Anakin…" Padmé whispered sadly as she continued to read the new article.

"You will be happy to know, he is alive and is continuing his search for you. However, your apartment needs a new window." Sidious finished with a cackle.

"Not Anakin, he couldn't, he wouldn't." Padmé replied defiantly as she shook her head, not believing Sidious' article.

"Yes, but the pictures tell the true story." Sidious stated as he had Organa push a button to reveal a picture of Anakin on the ground beside the Senate apartments with shards of glass scattered around him.

Padmé's bottom lip trembled as she saw the picture of her husband. She could visibly see the worry and anguish on his face and her heart ached for him. She also feared for him and what would happen if he turned to the charms of the dark side. Padmé could feel tears burning at the corners of her eyes, but not wanting the Sith to see them, she put her face in her hands.

Sidious smiled and chuckled menacingly. He left the holopad next to Padmé so she could continue to be reminded of her husband's actions. Satisfied with his visit with Padmé, Sidious decided to leave so that he could formulate more ways to frustrate his former apprentice.

When the door had closed behind him, Sidious cackled lightly at the turmoil he was causing, but he was not able to fully revel in the experience because he felt Organa fighting him once more.

"Anakin, Anakin… Padmé… Senate Building." Organa yelled before Sidious could regain control over the Chancellor once more.

"Enough!" Sidious growled. "There is no escape, Chancellor. You can stop this futile effort. Everything is going as planned." Having fully regained control over his host, Sidious cackled as he directed the Chancellor away from the room holding Padmé and his future apprentice.