Mace and Obi-Wan stand over a holographic projector. A hologram of Yoda stands in the center.

"The remaining Seperatists have fled to Utapau, I believe," Yoda tells them, "Our spies have found transmission signals too that area."

"We have had similar reports of the Seperatists leaving occupied areas," Mace responds.

"It seems they weren't retreating," Obi-Wan surmises, "They were regrouping."

"The planet Utapau has been neutral so far. If the Seperatists converged on that planet without warning, they could easily conquer it. And the Republic wouldn't think to look there."

"If the Seperatist Army is there, then Darth Maul is likely to be there as well."

"Tread carefully, we must," Yoda warns, "Utapau is not under Republic law, nor does it recognize Jedi protection. Vital is diplomacy."

"And what of Chancellor Palpatine?," Mace wonders aloud.

"Anakin will be speaking to him soon," Obi-Wan assures him, "We can relay this information to give to the Chancellor. I'm sure Palpatine can be persuaded to leave this to us."

Anakin and Padme stand in her Senate chamber. Anakin is pensive.

"I thought this would be easy, but it has become more complicated," he sneers, "I thought I could just step down from my position but now I have to complete one more mission."

"I'm not sure what the problem is, Anakin."

"What do you mean?"

"All you have to do is persuade him to step down and allow the Jedi to finish this war."

"I think he's doing a fine job handling the situation as it is. I think the Jedi have the wrong approach."

"Anakin, look around. Chancellor Palpatine has more or less gained full control of the galaxy."

"Emergency powers. He'll step down once the crisis is over."

"In the meantime, he has increased Republic surveillance across the universe, installed curfews in some systems, and has all but declared martial law. Many senators are nervous... including myself."

"You shouldn't be nervous. You've known him even longer than I have. He's a good man."

"True, he has been loyal in the past, but I've never seen him this way. I fear power has gone to his head and that he will not bring democracy back when the war is over. He's practically a dictator at this point."

"Well,... if it works."

Padme is speechless at this remark.

"Look, I support what he's been doing but I also support the Jedi and Obi-Wan," he takes her hand, "And most importantly, I support you. I want to do right by everyone."

"Then talk to the Chancellor. Make him see reason. It won't hurt."

"I don't like being pulled in two different directions."

"Look at it this way, the sooner you do this, the sooner we can be together," she places his hand on her stomach, "As a family."

The Coruscant Opera Galaxies Opera House is a lavish hall with well-dressed aliens and humans mulling about while servant droids move through the crowd with trays full of beverages. Anakin comes into the hall and looks at the wealthy crowd distastefully before making his way up a flight of stairs. He walks through a long hallway as music can be heard through the walls, then arrives at Palpatine's box, where the chancellor is sitting with his entourage, watching the Man Calamari Ballet doing "Squid Lake."

"You wanted to see me, Master Skywalker?," Palaptine does not turn away form the opera as he speaks to Anakin.

"Yes, sir," Anakin sits and does not pay attention to the lights and swirling figures floating in the arena in front of him, "I have good news. Our Clone Intelligence Units have discovered the location of Darth Maul. He is hiding in the Utapau system. At last, we'll be able to capture that monster and end this war."

Palaptine nods, knowingly, "I would worry about the collective wisdom of the Council if they didn't select you for this assignment. You are the best choice by far … but, they can't always be trusted to do the right thing."

"They try."

Pslsptine nods his head slightly toward his entourage, "Leave us," and they quickly get up to leave; the Chancellor leans over to him, "Anakin, you know I'm not able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"You are perhaps the most powerful Jedi who has ever lived. You must sense what I have come to suspect . . . the Jedi Council want control of the Republic . . . they're planning to betray me."

"I don't think . . ."

"Anakin, search your feelings. You know, don't you?"

"I know they don't trust you . . ."

"Or the Senate . . . or the Republic . . . or democracy for that matter."

"I have to admit my trust in them has been shaken."

"Why? They asked you to do something that made you feel dishonest, didn't they?"

Anakin doesn't say anything. He simply looks down.

Palpatine continues, "Perhaps they have skirted their rules when it suited their needs? Pitted you against me without considering your own convictions? I recall you were once a slave on Tatoonie. It must be difficult serving some of the most influential people in the galaxy? I'm sure you have a natural distrust for those in power... and for good reason."

"I don't know ... I don't know what to say."

"Remember back to your early teachings, Anakin. 'All those who gain power are afraid to lose it'... Even the Jedi. You knew this even as a boy, before you ever joined the Order."

"The Jedi use their power for good."

"Good is a point of view, Anakin. And the Jedi point of view is not the only valid one. The Dark Lords of the Sith believe in security and justice also, yet they are considered by the Jedi to be. . ."

". . . Evil," Anakin contemplates this word.

". . . From a Jedi's point of view. The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way, including their quest for greater power. The difference between the two is the Sith are not afraid of the Darkside of the Force. That is why they are more powerful."

"The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They think inward, only about themselves."

"And the Jedi don't?"

"The Jedi are selfless . . . they only care about others."

"Or so you've been trained to believe. Why is it, then, that they have asked you to do something you feel is wrong?"

"I'm not sure it's wrong. I mean,... I disagree, but..."

"Have they asked you to betray the Jedi Code in some way? The Constitution? A friendship? Your own values? Think. Consider their motives. Keep your mind clear of assumptions. The fear of losing power is a weakness of both the Jedi and the Sith."

Anakin is deep in thought.

"Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis The Wise?"

"No."

"I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to create life ... He had such a knowledge of the Darkside that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying."

"He could actually save people from death?"

"The Darkside of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural."

"What happened to him?"

"He became so powerful . . . the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep," Palaptine smiles, "Plagueis never saw it coming. It's ironic he could save others from death, but not himself."

"Is it possible to learn this power?"

Palpatine finally turns to him, "Not from a Jedi."