Chapter 2:
Nightmares
Anakin awoke with a start, a cold sweat erupting from his skin. Gasping, he tried to shake the disturbing visions that were flooding his mind.
He buried his head in his hands, unable to quell the sudden flow of tears. They leaked through his fingers, dripping onto his black pajama pants.
A knock at the door, startled him from his nightmarish introspection. Composing himself, Anakin swiped the tears from his eyes.
"Obi-Wan," he said in surprise, opening the door to reveal his former Master.
"I heard you scream," Obi-Wan said, his face a mask of concern. "Is everything alright?"
Anakin attempted a weak smile, "Everything is fine, Master," he said. "I just had a dream that I was falling," he lied.
"I've had those too," Obi-Wan replied though his expression revealed that he didn't quite believe Anakin.
"Well, get some rest," Obi-Wan said, regarding his apprentice thoughtfully. "We have to report to the Council first thing in the morning."
Anakin bowed slightly in acknowledgement before shutting the door of his chamber with a sigh.
He sat on the edge of his bed, unable to shake the distorted images and sounds still preoccupying his brain. He didn't know what to make of it. His stomach knotted at the thought of his last vision. A vision which not only came true but resulted in his savage killing of a village of sand people. He rolled back into bed, curled onto his side. "I won't let it happen," he thought fiercely. "I can't."
The next morning, Anakin sluggishly dressed into a new brown tunic. Donning his robes, he ran his good hand through his tousled brown hair. "That will have to do," he said to his reflection in the mirror.
He still had not shaken the nightmare. He decided not to meet Obi-Wan in the dining hall, suddenly feeling queasy. Instead, he chose to go to one of the meditation chambers. Maybe he would find some clarity there.
The small chamber was dark, perfect for inducing a tranquil, meditative state. He sat cross legged on the round futon in the center of the room. Closing his eyes, he swallowed hard as the visions of the previous evening inundated his consciousness.
His brows furrowed as Padme's cries filled his ears as if she were in the chamber with him. Her face was contorted in pain. He could feel her reaching for him as she begged him to assuage her suffering. His eyes burst open, unable to see anymore. He felt like he was going to be sick. He took deep cleansing breaths, trying to calm his spasming stomach.
What did this mean?
He could barely concentrate during the Council meeting. The reports of the masters began to blur together, not making any sense. He caught Obi-Wan's eye. Did he look worried or disappointed? Sometimes it was hard to tell with Obi-Wan.
"Young Skywalker," Mace Windu began, forcing him to focus. "Have you spoken to the Chancellor since your return to Coruscant?"
Anakin regarded him with surprise, "Why no, Master," he replied. "Should I have?"
"Truthful, Chancellor Palpatine is not," Yoda said, his ancient green face, twisted with apprehension. "Need you to monitor him, we do."
"Monitor him?" Anakin inquired, still not understanding. He felt the nausea from earlier in the morning return.
"We have suspicion that he is not being transparent with us," Mace Windu said, regarding Anakin with his usual contempt. "We need you to be our eyes and ears in his chambers."
Anakin felt conflicted. He had always regarded the Chancellor as someone akin to a grandfather. He didn't feel it was right, but he also didn't feel the Masters would ask him to do something dishonest.
"Of course," he replied carefully. "I am here to serve the Council in any way I can."
"Settled it is," Yoda said, as if pleased by Anakin's acquiescence.
"Something feels wrong, Master," Anakin said as he walked with Obi-Wan down the carpeted hall after the meeting was adjourned. "I just don't understand why the Chancellor's ethics are in question."
"Search your feelings, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "You must sense there is something off about him."
Anakin could only shake his head, "Perhaps he is ambitious, but we can't hold him to the standards of the Jedi. That would be unfair."
Obi-Wan paused in the middle of the hall, his hand stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Ambition can be a dangerous thing," he said. "That's something I really need you to understand."
Anakin looked affronted. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone slightly darkening.
"I can sense great desire in you Anakin. It concerns me greatly. I want you to humble yourself. Focus on what is important."
Anakin nodded. For the first time his Master was way off. He was misinterpreting Anakin's desire as a lust for power when it was another type of lust entirely, possibly even more dangerous.
"I will meditate on this Master," Anakin said. "I won't let you down."