Chapter Three - The Shadow Awakens
In his quarters, Anakin knelt in desperate meditation. Ever since Ben's revelations, he had sensed a sinister presence lurking in the corners of his mind. The darkness both shown and promised.
Anakin had always walked the line between the light and shadow. His volatile emotions lent him power, but also made him vulnerable to temptation. Fear of losing those he loved opened cracks for sinister whispers to seep through...
Touching the Force, Anakin felt the swirling events around him - the Clone Wars spreading chaos, the Jedi Order strained and distracted. For over a decade, the Sith had twisted everything from the shadows. But soon, their veil of deception would fall.
Anakin knew the coming days held a pivotal choice for the galaxy...and for his own soul. Ben's visions had shown where the shadow path led. But what if preventing that future cost Padme's life?
Could Anakin trust the Jedi Council to stop the hidden Sith Lord? Or would he need the dark side's power to protect his family and the Republic? Fear and anger roiled within him at the thought of events spiraling beyond his control.
A cold ripple in the Force jarred Anakin from his reflections. Someone was approaching through the Temple's vaulted halls - a familiar presence, but now muddied by shadows.
Anakin opened his door to find Chancellor Palpatine waiting outside. The old man leaned heavily on his cane, face careworn. "Forgive my intrusion, Anakin. But surveillance devices monitored quite the unusual gathering of Jedi. I simply had to come investigate."
Unease trickled down Anakin's spine. After Ben's revelations, any contact with the Chancellor left him wondering if Palpatine could secretly be the Sith Lord they had long sought. But what proof did he have? Only vague visions of a possible future.
"An unauthorized intruder infiltrated the Temple," Anakin hedged. "The Council met to discuss the security breach."
Palpatine pursed his lips. "I see. This war strains even the Jedi. If only there were more certainty in these times." He sighed heavily. "Dark days like these. We must place special trust in old friends, Anakin. Those whose faith in you remains unshaken."
Anakin felt the temptation embedded in Palpatine's kindly words. To confide his fears and seek the paternal guidance the Chancellor had long provided. But the man's calculating eyes revealed nothing of his true intentions.
Bowing cordially, Anakin retreated a step into his room. "Thank you for your concern, Chancellor. But late as it is, I should return to my meditations."
Palpatine studied him silently for a long moment. "Quite. We shall speak again soon." Turning, he shuffled away down the hall, cane tapping rhythmically. But Anakin sensed the Chancellor's focus remained fixed on him as keenly as a targeting laser.
Alone again, Anakin sagged against the closed door. The Chancellor was fishing for information about Ben, though he concealed it artfully. Anakin would have to be extremely cautious in any further dealings.
If Palpatine truly was the Sith Lord...the thought made Anakin's blood turn to ice. All these years he had considered the man a friend, when in truth Palpatine might have been subtly poisoning his mind. The dark visions suddenly took on sinister new meaning.
Anakin knew such suspicions remained unproven. But he resolved to shield his inner thoughts much more closely going forward. Whatever came next, Palpatine would find no cracks left to further infiltrate. The shadow would gain no purchase on Anakin's soul.
"Dangerous, these accusations are."
Yoda's gravelly voice echoed in the Jedi Council chamber. Sunlight slanted through the tall windows, but Anakin felt no warmth. The Masters' reaction to his suspicions about Palpatine had been wary, even hostile.
Mace Windu's stern gaze bored into Anakin. "You ask us to believe the Chancellor of the Republic is, in fact, the Sith Lord we've been searching for? On what evidence?"
Anakin chose his next words carefully. "I know my...vision...of the possible future shocked the Council. Perhaps such images can't be considered proof." He drew a steady breath. "But Palpatine has taken a sudden keen interest in the secrets discussed here yesterday."
Obi-Wan stroked his beard thoughtfully. "It is troubling to consider. And yet -" His eyes tightened with doubt. "In all his years of service, Palpatine has never shown any sign of deception."
"A shroud over all, the dark side casts." Yoda tapped his stick restlessly. "Yet act hastily, we should not. Meditate on this, I must."
The rejection stung. But Anakin bit back sharper words. "Have you informed the Chancellor about the security breach?"
Mace shook his head. "We judged it an internal Jedi matter only. If word of an intruder leaked, public trust in the Order could be damaged."
Anakin nodded slowly. "Then how does Palpatine already know an 'unusual gathering' occurred here? His own words."
The Masters exchanged uneasy looks. Obi-Wan's face was deeply troubled. "If this is true, it means Palpatine has clandestine eyes and ears within the Temple itself. But to what ends?"
"The dark side clouds all," said Ki-Adi-Mundi ominously. "We must trace how far this shadow has reached."
Yoda thumped his stick decisively. "Investigate further, we will. But patience and care we must exercise. If revealed the hidden Sith is, strike back fiercely he may."
The emergency council session concluded. Yoda asked Anakin to remain behind. The wizened Master gazed up silently until they were alone.
"Trust your feelings over Palpatine, the Council does not. Hmm?" Yoda's eyes were knowing. "Sense there is more you wish to share."
Anakin chose his words cautiously. "In the visions, darkness seemed to...originate from me. I could become a threat the Jedi must stop." He stared down at his mechanical hand, flexing the fingers slowly. "I fear the shadows whispering to me even now."
Yoda studied him solemnly. "A dangerous line between light and dark you walk, young Skywalker. Mindful of each step you must be." He leaned forward on his stick. "Believe you are the Sith Lord's sole target, do you?"
The insight startled Anakin. "I...I'm uncertain. The vision was unclear."
