"Are you going to kill me, Anakin?" I asked.
He grit his teeth. "I want to…but I know I shouldn't. You should be taken before the counsel for your crimes, Sith."
I smiled gently and laughed. "I can feel your anger and sense of betrayal radiating off of you. But I can assure you, I've done nothing but be genuine to you. You've been more than willing to hear what I've had to say about the Dark Side. Dare I say, you may already accept it, though you don't realize it yet."
Anakin's face contorted into disgust—with himself or me, it was unclear.
"You're wrong!" He yelled gutturally as he struck down his lighsaber to my own I had quickly and skillfully drawn from my dress.
We stood there, glaring at one another with the hums of our clashed lightsabers sounding loudly in our ears.
"Come now, Anakin. I know you want to strike me down. I feel your frustration. Fight me, and witness the true power of the Dark Side of the Force!"
I back-flipped away from him to get some space between us. We circled each other like ravenous wolves, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Finally, Anakin made the first move and Force jumped towards me, clashing our sabers.
We battled for what seemed like ages. I performed most elaborately that night, with jumps, backflips, spins and twirls—all to impress him. He was the most skilled sparring partner I'd ever encountered. Multiple times he broke through my defenses, but for whatever reason, he would not hurt me. We were both becoming increasingly tired, that much was apparent. I decided to pull out the special arsenal of the Dark Side to try and defeat him as he was much too talented with a lightsaber for me to easily defeat. I ran to the far side of the room we were in and dropped my saber. He looked quizzically at me but remained defensive. With all the force I had, I ejected purple lightning from my fingers tips which threw him back at least ten feet against the opposite wall. He cried out in agony. I hated I was hurting him so, but it had to be done. As he lay crumpled on the floor, I walked towards him still striking him with lightening and picked up the saber he had dropped. I ceased the lightening and held his own saber to his throat.
"Will you learn the ways of the Dark Side? Or will I be forced to kill you now?"
I could see the ultimatum running through his mind using my Force capabilities. It was ripping him apart. On the one hand, he knew he agreed with the Sith and desperately wanted their power, but on the other hand, the Jedi was all he knew and was scared. Extremely scared.
"What have I done?" he cried, nearly choking on the words.
"You're fulfilling your destiny, Anakin." A dark voice thundered from behind him.
"Father." I murmured.
My Father walked in from my front door, around Anakin to stand beside me—Anakin's lightsaber still at his throat.
"Chancellor Palpatine!" Anakin said in alarm.
"Become my apprentice." My Father said slowly. "Learn to use the Dark Side of the Force."
Anakin had always trusted my Father and defended him against the accusations of the Jedi. If anyone could sway Anakin to the Dark Side, it would be my Father.
"You're the Sith Lord we've been searching for!" said Anakin, defeated.
My Father remained silent.
I could sense a change coming over Anakin. He began to realize that is Chancellor Palpatine was a Sith and I was a Sith then he truly was fighting on the wrong side. After all, our arguments in favor of the Dark Side made more sense in Anakin's mind than did the nonsense ways of the Jedi. I physically felt Anakin's spirit break when he said:
"I will do anything you ask."
At this, I sheathed Anakin's lightsaber and kneeled down to his level. All life had been drained from his eyes. All that was left was a vast emptiness that once contained a sense of purpose.
"Good!" my Father exclaimed.
Anakin was breathing heavily, holding back tears.
"Just help me be able to save her. I can't live without her." His voice was breaking.
Was he talking about me?
My Father's voice dropped.
"To cheat death is a power only one has achieved. But! If we work together, I know we can discover the secret."
Anakin crawled towards my Father pitifully.
"I pledge myself to your teachings."
"Good. Good! The Force is strong with you…A powerful Sith will you become! Hence forth, you shall be known as Darth...Vader."
I could see a flicker of accomplishment dance in Anakin's eyes as he said,
"Thank-you, my Master."
"Rise." My Father commanded of Anakin.
Anakin slowly stood up to face my Father. I remained on the floor, back facing both of them.
"Because the counsel does not trust you, my young apprentice," my Father began, "I believe you are the only Jedi with no knowledge of this plot. When the Jedi learn what has transpired here, they will kill us. Along with all the senators."
"I agree," said Anakin strongly. Had he already come to terms with his fate? "The Jedi's next move will be against the Senate."
"Every single Jedi, including your friend Obi-Wan Kenobi, is now an enemy of the Republic."
"I understand, Master."
"We must move quickly," my Father said worriedly. "The Jedi are relentless. If they aren't all destroyed, it will be a civil war without end. First, I want you to go to the Jedi Temple. We will catch them off balance. Do what must be done, Lord Vader! Do not hesitate! Show no mercy! Only then will you be strong enough with the Dark Side to save the one you love."
"What about the other Jedi spread across the galaxy?" asked Anakin, a sense of purpose returning to him.
"Their betrayal will be dealt with. After you have killed all the Jedi in the Temple, go to the Mustafar system. Wipe out the viceroy and the other separatist leaders. Once more, the Sith shall rule the galaxy! And…we shall have peace."
"Yes, my Master."
"Tyla."
I stood up.
"Yes, Father?"
"Wait for Darth Vader's return from the Temple. Give him shelter until he is ready to set course for the Mustafar system. I appoint you as his guard. Do you understand?"
"Yes Father."
"Good. I eagerly await tales of destruction, Lord Vader."
And with that, Anakin and I were alone once again. We stood beside one another, neither of us knowing what to say to the other. Anakin took a seat beside my fireplace. I spoke first.
"You must feel somewhat relieved."
"How so?"
"Well you…you're no longer held down by the rules of the Jedi. You can feel, Anakin. You can love."
His laugh was empty.
"Yes, I suppose that's quite liberating. Although, the core of my existence has completely changed. It's rather jarring."
I walked up to him and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"But it hasn't, Anakin. You said yourself you don't agree with the Jedi Code. You're able to finally live the life you've always wanted. A life of absolute power. A life of passion."
He brushed me off his shoulder and stood up.
"I have a job to do. Excuse me."
He picked his lightsaber off the floor and walked out the door. I whispered into the Force, hoping Anakin would hear.
"Come back to me."