Obi-Wan sits along with the rest of the Jedi Council and Yoda. Both Yoda and Ki-Adi-Mundi are in hologram. Shaak-Ti stands in the center of the room. "Seperatist forces have fled the system," she explains, "The planet Ryloth has been liberated."

"Good news, this is," Yoda responds, "On Kashyyyk, I still remain. A Seperatist stronghold there is."

"It appears there are only small pockets of resistance," Obi-Wan states, "The Seperatists seem to be on the run otherwise. I feel this war will end soon."

Mace Windu enters the room, "Unfortunately, I just spoke to Chancellor Palpatine. He clings to his power and has promised to continue the war until Darth Maul has been brought to justice. I fear he has been corrupted."

"Darth Maul is only one man," Obi-Wan explains, "A single Jedi can track him down within days at this point. Surely, we do not need an entire army for that."

"The Chancellor was adamant that this war will continue until he sees fit to end it."

"Troubling this is," Yoda hangs his head, "Monitor this situation we must. If Palpatine does not relinquish control when the war has ended, the Jedi must interfere."

"Anakin Skywalker has been close to the Chancellor in the past," Mace turns to Obi-Wan, "Perhaps he can be of assistance. He could influence the Chancellor."

"I'll see what I can do," Obi-Wan responds, "He has always had a great deal of respect for Palpatine and Anakin can be defiant at times."

"In the meantime, search for Darth Maul, we will," Yoda concludes.

Anakin has troubled sleep. He stirs in his bed and begins to mutter something before sitting up in bed. He looks around curiously, "Padme?" Anakin notices the room is empty and quickly leaves his bed and goes to the door. It slides open, revealing the Geonosian cave that Count Dooku once held him captive in. He is now in his Jedi robes, but he does not seem to notice. A strange, mechanical breathing echoes off the cave walls and a cloaked figure emerges from the shadows. He pulls the cloak down, revealing the face of Anakin, "We meet again, Skywalker."

"I've had this hallucination before. When I was captured by Count Dooku and placed in this cave... but I'm not in this cave. This isn't real."

"It's more real than you know."

"What are you?"

"I am your salvation. I am your darkside. I am... Darth Vader."

"A Sith name?"

"Yes."

"I am a Jedi. I've purged myself of any temptation from the Darkside of the Force. You cannot be a part of me."

"Search your feelings, you know this to be true."

"I admit... I have anger, but I am no Sith."

"There is no reason to reject me. I can help."

"What sort of help could you ever offer me?"

"Your wife is with-child but she is in danger. She will die and you will be left without a child unless you heed my warnings."

"Liar!," Anakin becomes enraged.

"Give in to the power of the Darkside and you shall know the truth."

Anakin awakens in a panic. He is covered in sweat. He looks over in the bed and sees Padme sound asleep next to him. He gets out from under the sheets and sits on the side of the bed, breathing heavily. He puts his head in his hands and weeps. Padme wakes up an begins to comfort him, "Anakin? What's bothering you?"

"Nothing . . . It was a dream."

"Bad?"

"Like the ones I used to have about my mother just before she died, but... more real."

"And?"

"It was only a dream," he gets up and goes out on the balcony.

Padme follows him, "Was it about me?"

"Yes."

"And the baby?"

"I don't know, but... there's more. Remember when we were captured on Geonosia? I was placed in a cave that contained dark energy. It gave me a vision of myself... one that was dark and twisted. It visited me again tonight. It told me abut the future."

"It was only a dream."

". . . I won't let this one become real, Padme. I will make sure nothing happens to you or the child. Everything will be all right."

"Anakin, this baby will change our lives. I doubt the Queen will continue to allow me to serve in the Senate, and if the Council discovers you are the father, you will be expelled from the Jedi Order."

"I know …. Perhaps, Obi-Wan can help us."

"He's on the Jedi Council now. Wouldn't it be his duty to remove you from the Order?"

"I've given so much to the Jedi. I owe them my life, but your life and the life of our child is more important to me. If it means I am no longer a Jedi... so be it."

Utapau is a tropical planet with tall mountains and lush jungles. Seperatist battleships descend in the background as a platoon of battle droids watch. A small Nemodian shuttle lands in a landing pad in a clearing with a base not far away. Battle droids surround the ramp as Darth Maul descends onto the platform. A super Battle droid approaches, "The planet is secure, Lord Maul. The population is under control."

"Good. Contact the Trade Federation."

"This way, sir ..."

Maul takes an elevator to an upper level in the base. He enters a conference room and presses a series of buttons on the table. A hologram of Viceroy Nute Gunray and other Trade Federation officials appear.

"Lord Maul," Nute sneers, "Darth Sidious has instructed us to remain on Mustafar. What is the meaning of this? Where is Darth Tyrannus?"

"He's dead. I am all that's left of the Seperatist movement. I am moving our forces to this location."

"We must surrender. All is lost. If we turn ourselves over to the Republic, perhaps they will -"

"Silence, coward!," Maul shouts, "I am in command, not you, you sniveling worm. Everyone else on the Seperatist Council is either dead or captured, so I have the final say of what we do. We will continue to fight until there is no one left."

"Need I remind you, while you might be in command, we are still financing your army. We can decide to renegotiate our deal at any time."

"I can arrange to meet you," Darth Maul ignites his lightsaber, "If you would like to speak in person."

The viceroy shuts off the hologram in a panic. A sinister smile spreads across Maul's face.