AN: Sorry about the wait on this one, this is an important chapter and I wanted to get it just right. As a note, I've edited chapter ten, so Grevious isn't taking them to Corcencant, but to the Arrivak system. Here's Chapter 11 so enjoy!
Obi-Wan was stunned at what Anakin had told him, it took him a moment to digest what Anakin had told him. Anakin was quiet. Obi-Wan stroked his beard thinking before speaking, the silence stretched, but never became awkward. After a few minutes Obi-Wan said, " I hope you aren't expecting a lecture, because I will not waste my breath on a topic I know you know so well."
Anakin chuckled and said, "I could probably quote any such lecture word for word without you giving it, Master."
"How is Senator Amidala?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin paused for a moment taken aback that Obi-Wan would guess so easily who his wife was. "Well, don't be so surprised, Anakin. If I couldn't have guessed that I would have no right to call you my padawan or my friend," Obi-Wan said with a grin on his face.
"Now you're teasing me," Anakin said.
"Yes, I am, and you deserve it. Why didn't you seek my council?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Because I thought I knew what you would say. And since my meditation I didn't feel like I really had time," Anakin answered.
Obi-Wan nodded and then asked, "Ok, and what did Qui-Gon say about the marriage?"
Anakin thought, and looked up surprised, "He didn't say anything about it, not a single comment about it beyond telling me that he couldn't tell me the outcome of my trial," Anakin said.
"Hmmm…I wonder what that means," Obi-Wan said.
The door opened then and General Grievous entered the cell. The two Jedi faced him and waited.
"Lord Sidious has requested your presence," Grievous said, obviously annoyed.
"Really? Tell Lord Sidious that we are looking forward to meeting and then arresting him," Obi-Wan said.
"Yes, we are. Did Lord Sidious say why he wanted us? Or are not important enough to have that information," Anakin said.
"You will pay for your insolence, Jedi scum," Grievous said and threw a punch at Anakin who deftly dodged the blow.
"You know, I think Lord Sidious would want us unharmed, General. Are you sure you want to damage us?" Obi-Wan asked.
Grievous let loose a howl of frustration and hit a bulkhead, denting it.
"I thought we shouldn't antagonize him, Master?" Anakin asked grinning.
"We had a job to do then, we don't now," Obi-Wan said.
"You will follow me or you will regret it," Grievous said.
"Of course, we are just waiting on you," Obi-Wan said.
Grievous made an unhappy noise and marched out of the cell and two Magna Guards stepped to each side of the Jedi. They followed Grievous to the hanger and on to a shuttle. The shuttle took off and entered hyperspace, and a few days later, Anakin and Obi-Wan followed Grievous off the shuttle.
"Not exactly what you would expect from the home of a Sith Lord, is it, Master?" Anakin asked.
"Remember, Anakin appearances can deceive," Obi-Wan said.
Grievous led the two friends to a room and said, "You will wait here."
"Of course, tell Lord Sidious that we are anxious to meet him," Obi-Wan said.
General Grievous made an ill noise and then said, "He will see you when he is ready."
To pass the time waiting, Anakin told Obi-Wan everything he had been through in detail including detailed descriptions of both of his meditations. Just as Anakin was finishing his story two Magna Guards entered the room and took Anakin. Obi-Wan decided it would do him good to meditate himself. He kneeled on the floor, closed his eyes and cleared his mind.
"Hello, Obi-Wan," a familiar voice said as soon as Obi-Wan entered his meditation.
"Qui-Gon! How?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I will explain, but you'll have questions and our time now is important. Much is happening, Anakin is finishing his path to becoming a Jedi just as the Jedi will be facing their greatest challenge," Qui-Gon said.
"What form will this challenge take, Master?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't know, that knowledge has been denied me," Qui-Gon said.
"That is unfortunate," Obi-Wan said.
"Yes, it is. However dwelling on what we have no information on is a poor use of our time," Qui-Gon said.
"Yes, master," Obi-Wan said.
"I would like to see you accompany Anakin to Tatooine to see the end of his trial," Qui-Gon said.
"Yes, Master. I was planning on doing that," Obi-Wan said.
"I have been watching you, Obi-Wan. You are among the greatest Jedi Masters. I am very proud of you," Qui-Gon said.
"Thank you, Master. I have missed you greatly," Obi-Wan said.
"And I have missed you too, Obi-Wan. We will speak again. May the Force be with you," Qui-Gon said.
"And with you, Master," Obi-Wan responded and came out of his meditation.
Anakin followed the Magna Guards to an atrium; it was bright and full of life. Anakin looked at the plants as the droids led him to their destination. He noticed that in spite of the brightness many of the plants in the atrium were of a poisonous or predatory nature. Many of the predatory plants, he noticed lured their prey with sweet nectar and let the prey trap itself. Others were more active in their predations. At the center of the atrium were a table and two chairs. The droids indicated that he should sit, so Anakin sat. About ten minutes later, a very familiar figure came into the atrium.
"Anakin, good, you're well," Palpatine said.
"Chancellor, what are you doing here?" Anakin said.
"This is my resort, a place for me to relax from the war,"
"This place isn't safe Chancellor, General Grievous is here, he told us that he was taking us to a Sith lord," Anakin said,
"Really, I haven't seen a Sith Lord. When our clone intelligence discovered you being held by Grievous, we set up an exchange to get you back. I'm pleased to see that it worked," Palpatine said.
"That doesn't make any sense, Chancellor," Anakin said and felt something like sandpaper rubbing his skin, only deeper.
"Anakin, you have to trust me," Palpatine said.
"I do trust you," Anakin said.
"Good, now I'd like to discuss something with you. I was disappointed when you couldn't come the other day," Palpatine said.
"I apologize, but something of a personal nature came up," Anakin said trying to trace down the source of the raw rubbing feeling.
"Its unimportant now, what matters is that you are safe. I want you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council," Palpatine said.
"I'm honored you think that highly of me, sir, but the Council will never go along with it, also I have to refuse for personal reasons. I hope you understand," Anakin said now sure the source of the feeling was in this room.
"I don't understand, Anakin. You've wanted to be on the Council for sometime, you'll have access to the Master section of the Jedi Library. I thought you were anxious on finding out more about your dreams," Palpatine said.
The rough feeling intensified, Anakin now identified where it was coming from, someone was trying to raise up negative feelings in him. "I have found my answers to them. They are part of my trials to truly become a Jedi Knight, you've noticed my padawan's braid, haven't you Chancellor?" Anakin said.
"Oh, yes. I should've noticed that, so the Jedi reward their greatest with a demotion do they?" Palpatine said with a frown.
"No, the council didn't have me put it back on. I did that myself after a meditation. It just felt like I should," Anakin said, still not able to identify who was trying to manipulate him.
"I don't understand, Anakin. You are greater than all the Jedi, they should be calling you Master," Palpatine said.
It was getting harder to hold back the manipulation without alerting whoever that he was being held back, but Anakin knew that he would have to soon or whatever they were doing would work and Anakin didn't think he'd be able to tell the difference once that happened.
"I don't expect you to understand, Chancellor. It's just the will of the Force, and its not easy to explain it to one who doesn't sense the Force," Anakin said.
"I think you've underestimated me, Anakin," Palpatine said.
"What do you mean?" Anakin asked.
"I sense the Force. I also know that the concept of the Force having a will is a foolish Jedi notion. The only will there is to the Force is one's own will," Palpatine said.
All at once, a sudden assault hit Anakin and he was forced to fight back yet he was still able to conceal the conscious effort, however Anakin now knew the source of the manipulation. To his horror, it was the Chancellor. "You are the Sith Lord we've been looking for!" Anakin said.
"Yes, Anakin I am Lord Sidious, but don't judge me based on what the Jedi teach you. You know me; you know that I only want what is best for the Republic and the Galaxy. I also know the pain your dreams have cause you. If you wish to save her, I can help," Palpatine said.
"And how is that?" Anakin said, slowly changing his efforts to one of self-control, calming his own emotions.
"My mentor knew the secrets of life and death, and he taught me everything he knew before he died," Palpatine said.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot accept your help. To do so would end my trials, I am a Jedi, Chancellor," Anakin said.
"Too bad…"Palpatine said and raised his hands and black power shot forth from them towards Anakin.