Dark Journey

(Originally titled "Into the Darkness")

Just over two years after the death of Darth Sidious, Anakin is plunged into his own nightmare when an accident leaves him believing he has joined Sidious and turned the Dark Side. Believing Order 66 was enacted and that he led the Temple assault, he flees and refuses to accept Obi-Wan's desperate attempts to help him...

Chapter 1 Just Another Day

Anakin sighed, stretched and then looked over at the woman still sleeping beside him. For just a moment, the fleeting memory of what he had almost done two years previous haunted him and then was gone just as quickly when his wife opened her eyes and smiled, "Good morning." She said as she reached over and pulled him to her.

He smiled back and then rolled over on top of her, "Good morning yourself." He replied.

A look of feigned surprise appeared on Padme's face, "What are you going to do, Anakin?" She asked.

He grinned at her mischievously, "Make love to my wife." He informed her.

"Oh." She answered, putting her arms around his neck and pulling him down.

She turned her head as he began kissing her neck, "Well, that was fun while it lasted." She sighed and started to push him away.

"While it lasted? We haven't even…." Anakin started and then noticed the twins staring at them from the open doorway; he sighed, shook his head and rolled over onto his back, "We have to start locking that door."

Padme sat up, "We can't do that, Annie; we'll just have to adjust." She said as she put her legs over the side of the bed and slipped her dressing gown on.

"Adjust, right." Anakin answered and then sat up and threw his legs over the edge of the bed, "Well, I didn't have very much time anyway; I have a morning session with the younglings."

"How is that going, Annie?" Padme asked, beckoning the twins to come in.

"Pretty well, I think; better than my sessions with Ferri Cortis." Anakin answered as the twins leaped onto the bed.

"I thought you said he was coming around." Padme replied and then stood up and walked to the bassinette where their youngest child was just beginning to stir.

Luke laughed and threw his arms around Anakin's neck from behind; Anakin growled, reached behind him and flipped Luke over his head, causing the boy to giggle uncontrollably as Leia assaulted her father, "Alright, two against one isn't fair." Anakin declared and stood up, holding Luke by his waist upside down while Leia, with her arms still wrapped around his neck, dangled behind him; both of them laughing hysterically.

Anakin flipped Luke right side up and let him lightly down before bending over and flipping Leia up over his head, then lowering her to the floor beside her brother, "Awww; come on, Daddy." She said, crossing her arms in front of her as a pout formed on her face.

"Daddy doesn't have time." Anakin told her as he tousled her hair.

Leia thought about that for a moment before nodding, "Alright." She answered.

Anakin squatted down in front of her, "And I'll see you later; after Mommy brings you over." He promised.

Leia smiled, "You mean we get ta play at the Temple?" She asked expectantly.

"Yes, with the other younglings." Anakin assured her.

Leia clapped her hands, "Mommy, we gotta get dressed; we're goin' to the Temple!" She exclaimed and then skipped out of the room.

"We get to see Sackie!" Luke announced before following his sister.

Anakin shook his head and then took Hadrian from Padme, "I'll take care of him if you want to tackle those two." He offered.

"Alright; but you never told me about Ferri." Padme replied.

"I guess I just expect too much; he is making some progress, but he's got a long way to go." Anakin answered.

Padme pulled his head down and kissed him, "You can do this; you can fix anything, remember?" She reminded him.

"I know, I know; I just wish I could do it faster." Anakin told her in a frustrated tone.

"Patience." Padme said, smiling.

"Patience? Now you sound like Obi-Wan." Anakin replied as he returned the smile.

Her smile widened, "I know." She answered.

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Obi-Wan walked into the morning bustle of the dining hall and glanced around, catching a glimpse of his Padawan, seated at one of the long tables talking animatedly with several other apprentices. Smiling to himself, Obi-Wan picked up a tray and entered the food line.

"Good morning." Anakin said from behind him.

"I hate it when you do that." Obi-Wan complained.

"Do what?" Anakin asked innocently as he picked up two pallies.

"Sneak up behind me without warning." Obi-Wan answered.

"I'm surprised I can still do that to you considering, well, you know." Anakin replied.

"You were always very good at hiding things, Anakin." Obi-Wan told him, "It appears you still are despite, 'well, you know'."

"But I don't hide anything from you anymore…you do know that, don't you?" Anakin reminded him.

"Yes, except when you want to sneak up on me." Obi-Wan replied, smiling, "So, what brings you down here so early?"

"Another youngling session; and another counsel session with Ferri." Anakin answered.

"Ah, yes; how is young Ferri doing?" Obi-Wan asked.

"He's coming along; although not as quickly as I'd like him to." Anakin replied.

"Patience." Obi-Wan instructed.

"Yes, patience; I know, that's what Padme told me this morning." Anakin said.

"And she was right. Anyway, I thought maybe I'd take Zak over to Dex's this afternoon; care to join us?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I'd like to, but I promised Padme I'd meet her over at the Senate complex for lunch." Anakin told him, apologetically, "Maybe tomorrow?"

"No, we're leaving for Belarid in the morning." Obi-Wan said.

"Oh, that's right; to check on how things are going there." Anakin recalled, "Are you sure Zak is ready for that?"

"Apparently he thinks so; he asked me before the last Council meeting if there was any chance that we would be selected for this mission." Obi-Wan informed him.

"He's growing up, your Zak." Anakin observed.

"Yes." Obi-Wan agreed as he turned his gaze back to his apprentice.

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Anakin's session with the younglings passed quickly, as it always did; he loved working with them and Yoda pointed that out to him as they walked together toward the private meditation room for their joint session with Ferri, "Good with the younglings you are, Anakin." He complimented.

"Thank you, Master; I like working with them." Anakin answered.

"Consider teaching would you?" Yoda inquired.

"Teaching? No, Master; that's what you do." Anakin replied.

Yoda sighed, "Many younglings there are, Master Skywalker; benefit they would if more than one teacher they had." He said and then sighed again, "And old I am becoming; harder and harder it is for me."

"You're not old, Master Yoda." Anakin insisted.

"900 hundred years old, I am; very old that is. Use your help with the younglings I could." Yoda admitted.

Anakin shook his head, "Well, I'll think about it." He conceded.

Ferri was already seated inside the room when they arrived.

"Good morning, Ferri." Anakin said cheerfully as he triggered the door behind him and sat down.

Ferri stared at the floor, "Morning, Master." He mumbled.

Yoda settled himself on one of the cushions, "Troubled more than usual you are this morning, young Cortis." He observed.

"No, not really." Ferri denied.

"Well, you are; but you'll never admit it, will you." Anakin countered.

Ferri huffed as he felt the old anger rising up, "Rein it in, Ferri." Anakin warned.

Ferri closed his eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "Yes, Master; thank you." He replied.

"Better that is; now tell us, what troubles you?" Yoda asked.

Ferri stood up and started pacing; his normal behavior before beginning a session, "Why can't I…." He sighed and shook his head.

"Why can't you…what, Ferri?" Anakin asked.

"I have to move on; I know I do. But every time I try, I keep thinking about…about what I did." Ferri told them as he continued to pace.

"What happened cannot be changed; remember that when you try to move on, do you?" Yoda asked.

"Yes; but it doesn't seem to help." Ferri answered.

"Well, then we're back to making you understand why you did it in the first place, aren't we." Anakin surmised.

Ferri sighed again and nodded resignedly, "Yeah, I guess so." He admitted.

Anakin nodded, "Alright, sit down then." He instructed.

"Why? It doesn't seem to do any good; I'm just too stupid…can't you just…." Ferri began.

"No, we can't just send you away from here; you know that. You have to get past this, Ferri, or it will haunt you the rest of your life." Anakin told him.

Ferri put a hand over his eyes, sighed once more and took a seat across from Anakin, "That's better; now just relax and….yes, that's it, let me in….good." Anakin said encouragingly as he took Ferri's head in his hands and felt Ferri immediately relax and let him enter his mind.

"Learned to trust Master Skywalker, you have, young Cortis; a long way you have come." Yoda said, half an hour later, "How feel you now?"

Ferri knitted his eyebrows together, "I don't know, a little better maybe; I still don't understand why you want to help me after what I did." He answered.

Anakin sighed, "And it might be awhile before you do; you've got a long way to go first." He told him, "Now, here's something for you to meditate on before tomorrow's session; I think you're beginning to recognize your insecurity, so try to remember when you first started to feel that way."

"Alright." Ferri replied and then puzzled, "Why is that important?"

"Well, if we can find out when your insecurity first appeared, then maybe we can figure out what triggered it, and if we can figure that out…." Anakin explained.

"Then I can figure how to get past it; I see, that makes sense." Ferri finished, "Thank you, Master Skywalker."

"Don't thank me yet; we have…." Anakin replied.

"I know, a long way to go; but I'm glad you're here to help me." Ferri was finally able to admit.

Anakin patted his leg, "Well, unless Master Yoda has something further, I think we're finished for today." He announced.

"Hmm….a question only, I have for you, Ferri Cortis." Yoda said stroking his chin, "Ready are you to face Zak Perrin?"

Ferri shook his head vehemently, "No, Master." He answered firmly.

"Face him you must; know this you do, hmm?" Yoda replied.

"Yes, eventually, but not now, not yet." Ferri told them.

"Very well; but wait too long, you should not, or impossible it will be to face him at all." Yoda instructed.

"Yes, Master." Ferri answered.

"Finished we are then if understand this you do." Yoda said.

"I understand, Master Yoda." Ferri assured him and then stood up and bowed, "I'll see you both tomorrow then."

"What think you, Anakin?" Yoda asked after Ferri had gone.

Anakin shook his head, "I don't know; he's trying, so I guess that's something, anyway." He answered.

"Yes, but I sense that too slow you think his progress is." Yoda guessed.

"For me, yes; but then, as Obi-Wan has always pointed out, I've never been very patient." Anakin admitted with a smile.

"Hmm…and push young Cortis too hard, we must not." Yoda added.

"I agree; we have to do this at Ferri's pace, not mine." Anakin concurred with a nod.

"Yes." Yoda said and then looked at Anakin intently.

"What?"

"So wise you have become, young Skywalker; and it lightens my heart." Yoda told him.

Anakin shook his head and looked down at the floor.

"Hmm…humility I sense in you; a long way you have come, Master Skywalker." Yoda said, "But keeping you from Lady Skywalker, I am; returning to the Temple are you later, hmm?"

"Yes, Master; my children are here, so I'll be back to take them home." Anakin answered, grateful that Yoda had turned to a more comfortable subject.

"And to see your brother before he leaves for Belarid, hmm?" Yoda surmised.

"Yes, that too." Anakin confirmed as he stood up and bowed.

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"Are you sure you're up to this mission, Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked as they walked the short distance to Dex's Diner.

"Positive, Master." Zak assured him confidently.

"Alright, I just wanted to…." Obi-Wan stopped in mid-sentence and dropped to his knees.

"Master?" Zak asked alarm, putting a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.

Obi-Wan moaned in pain and lowered his head.

"Master?!" Zak repeated.

"Anakin…." Obi-Wan gasped as he crumpled to the ground.