I tried to sound surprised. "The Sith?"

"Yes. And every day, I feel like I'm falling closer and closer to becoming a part of the Dark Side as every day I feel more angry, more vengeful, more passionate than the day before." he murmured, voice lowering to an almost inaudible whisper.

"What makes you feel these emotions?"

"Angry at the counsel for not recognizing my obvious talents. Vengeful towards myself and others because of my Mother's death. And passion...well, I could never be with the people that I love."

"Are you allowed to love? I thought for sure that that would be forbidden."

"Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life. So you might say we are encouraged to love. Just not all forms of the word."

"What do you mean?" I asked, although I figured I already knew.

His eyes grew soft and weary.

"Being a Jedi is a lonely existence. Growing up, watching your non-Jedi peers become romantically involved starts to hurt after a while."

I shrugged. "I guess that makes sense."

I couldn't exactly feel his pain as I've never been discouraged let alone forbidden to follow anyone romantically. Although in my defense, I'd never found anyone to my liking.

"I still can't believe I'm telling you all this."

"It helps to get things off your chest sometimes." Of course I kept it to myself that the only reason he was even telling me all this was that I was using the Dark Side of the Force to take advantage of his weakened state to influence him to essentially spill his life story to me. The Force is a strange yet powerful entity.

I continued. "I don't think you're wrong for feeling angry towards the counsel. I know if it were me, I'd be furious. And how dare they even consider the idea that a man shouldn't be able to grieve over the loss of his mother."

My hatred for the Jedi was starting to show as I saw Anakin arch his eyebrow in curiosity.

"They are abusing their power, Anakin. Making you choose between them and innate human response. They aren't as selfless as they would have you believe."

I could once again sense the internal struggle happening within Anakin.

"But the Jedi use their power for good. They only want to better-"

"Being good is a point of view. The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way-including their quest for a greater power."

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

"And the Jedi don't?"

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

"Are you sure? Think of what they are telling you to do. Search your feelings, Anakin."

He didn't want to believe me, that much was evident. But I could tell he was opening his mind to the idea. It was time to start reeling him in.

"Did you ever hear the story of Darth Plagueis?"

There was a pause.

"No."

I leaned back in my chair and folded my arms.

"Ah, I thought not. It's not really a story the Jedi would tell their Padawans. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a dark lord of the Sith. So powerful and so wise, he could influence the midichlorians to create life. He had such a knowledge of the Dark Side, he could even keep those he cared about from dying."

"He could actually...save people from death?"

"The Dark Side of the Force is the pathway to many abilities that some may deem 'unnatural.'"

"What happened to him?"

"He became so powerful, that eventually the only thing he fear was losing his power. Which, eventually he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. Ironic, no? He could save others from death, but not himself."

A lightbulb moment went off in Anakin's head at these words.

"I wonder if it's still possible to learn this power?"

I smiled. He was hooked.

"Not from a Jedi."

He shook his head.

"How...how do you know all this? You're just a bar maiden."

I laughed.

"I'm more than meets the eye, Anakin."

I heard a door slam behind us.

"Tyla, get going. You're shift's up." That was my boss.

I stood up.

"That's my cue."

Anakin rose with me.

"Allow me to escort you home."

"That really isn't necessary."

"I insist."