Descent Into Hell

Silently and with more than a little apprehension, Anakin rode the turbolift to the Chancellor's office. Many a time, he had come here filled with excitement- who would not be excited to see a friend. This time, though, Anakin was not coming for a social visit- what he was about to do narrowly bordered on treason and would forever change his relationship with the Chancellor.

Had anyone been there beside him, they surely would have laughed upon seeing the Chosen One quake in his boots. The cautious part of him begged to stop the ascent and go back to Obi-Wan where it was safe, but the other demanded that Anakin do what was right.

Since when had he become cautious?

Before he could mull over this startling revelation, the doors to the turbolift slid open to reveal the hallway between him and the Chancellor's office.

Only the burden of knowing that the whole Galaxy depended on him made Anakin walk up to the red-robed guards. A familiar face and most welcome there, he was admitted without question.

Sadly, Anakin had a feeling that this was the last time he would receive such warm reception.

Palpatine was waiting for him.

No one was in the room but the two of them for, after having admitted the Jedi, the two guards left and the door slid shut behind them. Oddly enough, Anakin wished that they would come back.

Had Palpatine been closer to Anakin and not sitting patiently behind his desk, he surely would have seen the perturbed look in the young man's eyes.

Run while you still can the voice inside him whispered. Knowing when you're about to walk into danger does not make you a coward

It would be only a short time before Anakin regretting not listening to this warning, but he then found himself standing silently before the large desk.

"Good afternoon, Anakin," the Chancellor greeted. He looked up from the stack of datapads he was looking through and smiled at his guest, but Anakin noticed that he lacked his usual warmth. "Do take a seat," Palaptine suggested, waving a careless hand at one of the chairs.

Obediently, Anakin did so but otherwise did not say a word.

"Hopefully, once this terrible war is over, you will be able to spend more time with your young Padawan," Palpatine said gravely, drawing a grim look from Anakin. "How is young Lucas doing?"

"Luke? He's doing quite well," Anakin said simply, shrugging in a disinterested way. Mentally, he thanked the Force that his son had been exposed to the snake only once.

"Good, good…" Palpatine murmured as he relaxed back in his chair. "Honestly, I do not know which I find most disturbing- the Council's lack of faith in you, the way you must neglect your apprentice, or the fact that your talents are being wasted by you remaining on this planet."

The only response he earned was a half-hearted shrug.

"But of course," Palpatine continued, his neutral tone sending chills down Anakin's spine, "your political friends must keep your busy."

Just that day, Bail Organa had asked Anakin to be the poster boy of his cause, and the Jedi had accepted. Doing so would raise sympathy and possibly help end the war, but doing so lost him a dear friend. It had not been easy for Anakin but, under the tender gaze of his wife, he could hardly do less.

Biting back the urge to say that only Palpatine wasted his time, Anakin calmly said, "The continuing war has kept us all busy, I'm afraid."

Palpatine slowly nodded as if he did not quite agree. "Naturally. Hopefully, our scouts will be able to locate General Grevious and the war will end." When Anakin cast him a doubtful look, he cried out incredulously, "What else do we need?"

"I fear that we still need to find the Sith Lord we've been looking for," Anakin said slowly, referring to a conversation he'd had with Palpatine back when they'd been on better terms.

At this, Palpatine snorted derisively. "Anakin, surely you know better than to leave the Council's worrying about a Sith they've never seen nor had any proof exists."

"I obviously do not," Anakin said cautiously. Instinctively, he sat on the edge of his seat while his gloved hand fingered the metal of the desk before him. "We have proof that he or she does exist and that this person has been the controlling force behind this war."

Palpatine shook his head sadly again. "But is this Sith Lord you speak of really someone to fear? Why, if he were to walk into my office this very second, I'd offer him your seat and a drink of my best brandy before asking him if he knew how to end this dreadful conflict." Finished with this radical proclamation, Palpatiner watched Anakin with pursed lips.

Horrified, Anakin found nothing to say.

"So, Anakin, did you come here for something other than to discuss myths and rumors with me? I know how busy you are, and I know there must be some purpose in you coming here? Did the Council, namely Master Windu, send you?"

Silence.

"It is just as I feared," Palpatine murmured sorrowfully though he didn't seem the least bit disconcerted. "My placing you on the Council now seems to have been a horrible mistake."

Eyes flashing dangerously, Anakin sat rigid in his seat. "The Council appointed me on their own terms, not the ones you attempted to force upon them."

"I am sure they did."

"For thousands of years, The Jedi Council has chosen their Knights and Masters- not once have they allowed the influence of a politician when it comes to their affairs," Anakin spat, "not even that of the Chancellor."

Another sad look was given to Anakin. "You are purposely avoiding my question."

"Just as you are purposely avoiding relinquishing your power though it has long been your responsibility to do so." Long gone was the hope to locate General Grevious- Anakin was now determined to merely preserve the good name of the Jedi Order.

"Your purpose…"

"Was to find General Grevious," Anakin spat.

"I see. Well, Anakin, it so happens that I do know where he is," Palpatine announced with relish. Purposefully, he stood up from his chair and started to pace. "But why must I share such valuable information with someone I know I cannot trust."

This comment stung Anakin and, though he resisted the urge to wince, he said smoothly. "But I am on your side."

The older man shook his head. "Anakin… Anakin," he said, "what has happened to you? You were once a strong-willed, ambitious Jedi, but you now merely recite the Jedi Code to me."

Again, Anakin nearly said something tersely in reply but thought better of it. "If that is your opinion of the Jedi and myself, you are sorely mistaken…"

Palpatine shrugged within his voluminous robes of office. "Not too long ago, I would have confided everything with you, but I now feel that I can no longer do so. How do I know that you will not walk out of here and twist my words against me- something we both know you would do?"

"I would never…"

"Yes, you would."

Storming to his feet, Anakin snarled, "Innocent women and children are dying each day just because you refuse to divulge this so-called 'secret information'! Do you not feel guilt over what you are willingly causing?"

A cool gaze was cast at Anakin. "Tell me, young Skywalker, do you feel guilt over those Sand People you slaughtered?"

Blanching, Anakin stared at the Chancellor.

"Oh, yes…" Palpatine said with a ghost of a smile as he came to stand before Anakin, "they were innocent too…"

"I am not going to play one of your mind games," Anakin snapped, already moving to leave. "And to answer your question, I've regretted it every day since!"

"If that is what you like to call my conscience picking," Palpatine said. "Be careful of your anger."

Fuming, Anakin quickly strode to the door, not sure of where he was going but knew he just had to get away.

Then, Palpatine said something which made Anakin forget his plan.

"Darth Pelagious was real."

Stopping dead in his tracks, Anakin slowly turned around.

"If you swear your allegiance to me, I shall teach you his secrets." Palpatine's voice was so normal and calm that Anakin almost feared that he hadn't heard the older man right. What exactly was he suggesting?

"What?" Anakin whispered, all blood draining from his tan face.

"You heard me," Palpatine said flippantly, giving Anakin a look which was vaguely innocent. "Anakin, I suffer from dreams and premonitions such as you…"

"You're not a Jedi," Anakin said flatly, his nostrils flaring.

"That is not the point. I have this… feeling that something dreadful is about to happen to Senator Amidala," he said slowly, fatigue and sorrow crossing his weary face. Momentarily, he paused speaking.

"What?" Anakin cried out.

"I fear that she will die, along with the child that she carries."

Silence.

He knew that it was a dead giveaway, but Anakin fidgeted with the sleeve of his cloak. By then, his eyes had widened and, had he tried to give voice to his thoughts, nothing intelligible would have come out of Anakin's mouth.

"I thought that, as a friend, you should know."

"That… that's not possible," Anakin stammered, fear flooding through him. "With such advanced technology…"

"There are things that modern medicine cannot heal."

"Like what?"

"A broken heart." Palpatine licked his lips as he carefully scrutinized the worried Jedi. "Losing a loved one can cause a person to lose the will to live…"

"I do not need your 'wise' words of wisdom," Anakin said impatiently. Running a nervous hand through his hair, Anakin bit his lip before turning and heading to the door once more.

"That's too bad," Palpatine said sadly. "Only that could have saved your wife and child."

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Spoiler for the next chapter: Anakin's Choice

"By the order of the Galactic Senate," Anakin said slowly, igniting his lightsaber though his blue eyes didn't even blink, "you are under arrest, Chancellor, for treason and conspiracy to destroy the Jedi."

"I am the Senate," Palpatine snarled, his eyes turning an infernal red.

Anakin was not faced with hesitation- he lifted his blade until it was level with Palpatine's throat. "No, I shall see to it that, by the end of this very day, justice and peace are restored to the Galaxy."

"You shall do nothing to my new Empire," Palpatine sneered, glaring at Anakin from where he sat gripping the arms of his revolving chair. "Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?" A feral threat was in his tone, and Anakin did not miss it as it sent a shiver down his spine.


He was all alone.

"Your new Empire?" Anakin barked incredulously though his weapon did not waver. "And yes- I am threatening you. Step down… or die."

"So you have chosen."