"How do you know the ways of the Force?"

"My mentor taught me everything about the Force...even the nature of the Dark Side."

The sentence resonated in Anakin's mind, unbelievable yet so frank. However, the pieces in the naive Jedi's head were starting to fall into place, and he carefully deduced the measures to which Palpatine had taken. So elaborate, so intricate, so heinous and well planned. It all made so much sense now. But it was hard to accept. Chancellor Palpatine was like a mentor. Not only that, but Anakin had also regarded him as a good friend. Yet, in the face of such betrayal and treachery, how could that ever be true?

Anakin soon found his voice, as well as a slippery grip on his lightsaber hilt. "You know of the Dark Side?" He couldn't we sure of what he heard, no matter what his reason or his conscience may have been telling him. It was best to make sure rather than come to conclusions too quickly.

"Anakin, if one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic, narrow view of the Jedi. If you wish to become a complete and wise leader, you must embrace a larger view of the Force. Be careful of the Jedi, Anakin." Palpatine paused, as if bordering on the edge. "They fear you. In time they will destroy you. Let me train you."

That touched a nerve. "I won't be a pawn in your political game. The Jedi are my family." Well, almost. He would be-no he refused to think about it. Not now, not here.

"Only through me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn to know the dark side of the Force, Anakin, and you will be able to save your wife from certain death." If Palpatine's last answer had touched a nerve, this might as well have cut it loose all together.

"What did you say?" Anakin demanded furiously. Anger welled inside him, and he no longer cared whether this man was a friend or mentor. He was a threat, and had to be eliminated.

"Use my knowledge, I beg of you..." But the facade had fallen and all Anakin saw was a manipulating old man who was as ruthless as he was power-hungry. Palpatine, or whoever he really was, would do anything to gain control - even destroy Anakin's family.

"You're a Sith Lord, you-you scum! I'll never join the likes of you!" With that, Anakin ignited the lightsaber with his eager fingers and forced the old man with it up against the wall.

Palpatine sneered. "Are you going to kill me?" The question was condescending. As Anakin looked into his eyes, he saw darkness in their depths, forever twisting and evil. Now he was completely sure. The real question of it all was: what should he do?

Hate and anger fueled Anakin, signs of the Dark Side. He was tempted beyond reason, to immediately decapitate the foul being before him. Yet, in the midst of it, something tugged at the edge of his mind, keeping the last surge of hatred abated.

And here Anakin hesitated, unsure and almost vulnerable. Palpatine immediately took advantage of this state.

"I know your troubles, young Skywalker. I can help you. I have the power, to save your wife and child from their pending fate. You have seen it, I know it to be true."

The tale of Darth Plagueis suddenly jumped on Anakin's train of thought. Was that what Palpatine had meant? Did he really have such power? And in that case, was he not the apprentice of Plagueis or perhaps the apprentice of the apprentice?

Furthermore, if Palpatine was this hypothetical Sith, could Anakin trick him into giving him the secret?

There was only one way to find out. "Prove it. I don't believe that you, even with all of your psychological manipulations. Prove that you're more than words."

The Chancellor smiled, and then Anakin knew something was quite wrong. "Of course. If you'll just step back a little, son. I shall show you."

"I am not your son." Young Skywalker obliged anyway, yet cautiously held out the lightsaber.

The old man chuckled slightly. And then, he inhaled slowly, closing his eyes. When Anakin was just about ready to speak, Palpatine raised his hands and Anakin was assaulted by electric-blue lightning, giving him barely a second to react by shielding himself with the equally blue lightsaber. This was real. This was something. And even though he was fighting it, Anakin knew that deep down, he wanted it.

"Do not underestimate the power of the Dark Side. Use your anger, your hate...your fear! I can feel the conflict in you. You are so capable, so young. I can teach you things that could make you the most powerful being in the galaxy. Such potential should never be wasted on fools like the Jedi!"

The effort of blocking the Dark Side lightning was draining Anakin's strength, making his knees buckle under him. "You're wrong! There is... no conflict!" He shouted in defiance. But there was conflict. Anakin was torn between duty and emotion. It was his duty, his sworn oath, to keep peace in the galaxy. To destroy a Sith would be a further fulfillment of that duty.

But he loved Padme, and he loved Obi-Wan like his own flesh and blood. At the same time, to place so much dependency on attachments was against his duty. And that's where things stood. It was the pinnacle of inner conflict for this Jedi, and he would have to make his decision quickly.

Beads of sweat began to form on Skywalker's brow and his grip on the lightsaber began to falter. He took time to stare at Palpatine. It was a shocking revelation; wrinkles grew steadily deeper and the once dark brown eyes were flooded with a sickly yellow shade. This was not the man Anakin thought he had known, but the uncovering of an agent of the Dark Side. It was the man they had been searching for: Darth Sidious.