Chapter 10: The Apprentice

Inside a dimly lit room within the Mustafar facility, the air hung heavy with tension. The only illumination came from the lava rivers outside, casting an eerie orange glow through the reinforced durasteel walls. Two figures stood in conversation: one tall and hooded, his face shrouded in darkness, and the other a crimson-skinned zabrak clad in dark robes, his piercing yellow eyes reflecting the flickering light.

"The boy's name is Anakin, my lord," the zabrak said, his voice low and deferential. "He seeks power and vengeance. The dark side surrounds him, raw and untamed. I am not sure how, but he must have used the Force subconsciously—that was how I was able to track him. The burst was… powerful. Primitive but overwhelming."

The hooded figure, Darth Sidious, tilted his head slightly, his expression hidden beneath the shadows of his cowl. "And his background?" he asked, his voice smooth and calculating.

The zabrak nodded and began recounting what he had learned. "The boy spoke of his life as a slave under a Toydarian named Watto. He lived in squalor, enduring harshness and cruelty. Recently, he and his mother were tasked with scavenging a wrecked freighter, where they were accompanied by mercenaries. They were ambushed by Tusken Raiders. His mother…" The zabrak hesitated, a faint smile curling his lips as he continued. "She was killed before his eyes. The boy killed two mercenaries in his rage and fled into the desert, eventually finding shelter in a cave."

Sidious chuckled softly, his voice a mixture of amusement and satisfaction. "Without his mother, his chains are broken. There is nothing tethering him to the light now, nothing to stop him from embracing the darkness."

The zabrak remained silent, watching as Sidious's grin widened beneath the shadows of his hood. The Sith Lord's thoughts raced. 'Five years old… The timing aligns perfectly with the ritual I conducted alongside my former master. Perhaps it was not a failure after all.'

Their conversation was interrupted by the soft hum of a droid entering the room. The metallic footsteps echoed against the durasteel floor.

"Excuse me, Master," the protocol droid said, extending a datapad. "Here are the results of the subject's analysis."

Sidious took the datapad, his yellow eyes scanning the screen intently. He froze, his lips curling into a smirk as he absorbed the information. 'Above 25,000 midichlorians per cell…' The revelation struck him like a surge of electricity. Even his own count, an impressive 20,000, paled in comparison. 'This boy… I must control him.'

"I see," Sidious said, his tone sharp and commanding. "Remove the memories of today's events from the medical droids. Once that is complete, erase your own memory."

The protocol droid bowed slightly. "Understood, Master. I will proceed immediately." The droid turned and left, its servos clicking softly.

The zabrak frowned, his curiosity piqued. "What is it, Master?"

Sidious's eyes glinted beneath his hood. "You are to speak of the boy and today's events to no one. If you disobey and my master learns of this I will ensure your suffering. Do you understand?"

The zabrak bowed low, the threat hanging heavily in the air. "As you wish, Master."

"Good," Sidious said, dismissing him with a wave. "Now, summon the boy."

The massive steel doors to Sidious's chamber slid open with a low hiss. Anakin stood on the threshold, his small frame dwarfed by the imposing space. At the center of the room stood a hooded figure, cloaked in black, radiating an aura of menace and control. His presence felt suffocating, as though the air itself bent to his will.

"Come in, my boy," Sidious said, his voice unexpectedly warm. "You've endured much before your arrival here. Rest assured, you are safe now."

Anakin hesitated but stepped inside. "Who are you? Why did you want to meet me?" His voice trembled, and he clenched his fists to steady himself. There was something unnatural about this man, as if he embodied the darkness itself.

Sidious offered a kind smile, his face partially hidden beneath his hood. "My name is Sheev Palpatine, but you may call me Sidious. I am the Dark Lord of the Sith. I brought you here because I felt your pain, your anger. Such a young child, yet already you have endured the cruelty of the galaxy."

Anakin's lips tightened as his memories suddenly surged, seemingly out of nowhere: the savage Tuskens, the mercenaries, Watto, and the way she had collapsed—lifeless. His fists trembled with suppressed rage.

"Those savages," he growled through clenched teeth. "They killed her. Those filthy slavers—it's because of them. I hate them. But I was too weak to stop it."

Sidious's expression shifted, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. "The galaxy is cruel, my boy. It preys on the weak and punishes the kind. The death of your mother was not your fault—it was a lesson. Kindness binds you, makes you weak. Only strength can liberate you. Here, take my hand. Let me show you."

Anakin hesitated but reached out. The moment their hands connected, a vision overtook him. He saw himself, no longer a boy but a man clad in black, wielding a crimson lightsaber. Before him, hundreds of mercenaries writhed in the air, lifted by an unseen force. With a simple clench of his fist, their necks snapped in unison, and their lifeless bodies collapsed like discarded dolls.

The vision ended abruptly, leaving Anakin breathless. "Can I… can I really be that strong?"

Sidious smiled, rising to his full height. "No, my boy. You will be far more powerful. You are destined for greatness. You are different from anyone else—you were made for a purpose."

"Destined?" Anakin echoed, his brow furrowed.

Sidious's smile grew. "Tell me, Anakin, what do you know of your birth?"

"I…" Anakin hesitated. "My mother always said I didn't have a father. She called it a miracle."

"She wasn't entirely wrong," Sidious said, his tone calm and measured. "Five years ago, I performed an ancient Sith ritual—a ritual to create life. At first, I believed it had failed. But it seems the Force answered my call. Shortly after the ritual, a boy was born. That boy… was you."

Anakin's jaw dropped, his mind struggling to process the revelation. "You… you're my father?" he stammered.

"It is more accurate to say the Force is your father," Sidious said gently. "But I was the one who willed you into existence. You were made to reshape the galaxy."

"Then why wasn't I strong enough to save her?!" Anakin's voice cracked with desperation, his young face contorted with anguish.

Sidious placed a gloved hand on the boy's shoulder. "Because no one taught you. But now, I am here. I will guide you. The suffering you've endured will be your fuel, your strength. Kindness brought you pain, but hatred—hatred will set you free."

Anakin's eyes burned with fresh tears, his grief twisting into anger. "I hate them… I hate them all."

"Good," Sidious purred, his grin widening. "Hold on to that hatred. Harness it. Let it become your weapon, your shield. With my guidance, no one will ever hurt you again."

Anakin dropped to his knees, his voice barely a whisper. "Please… teach me. I don't want to be weak ever again."

Sidious's laughter echoed through the chamber. "Rise, my boy. You have much to learn. Not only about the Force but about the galaxy itself—and your enemies."

Anakin looked up, his expression wary. "Enemies?"

"Yes," Sidious said darkly. "The Jedi Order. They are the galaxy's self-proclaimed protectors, but their power is built on lies and corruption. They will oppose you, as they oppose all who seek true freedom. But worry not—you will learn about them in time."

Sidious gestured to a black protocol droid that entered the room. "Take the boy to his quarters. Ensure he is bathed, fed, and properly dressed. He begins his training tomorrow."

The droid nodded and motioned for Anakin to follow. As the boy left, Sidious watched him go, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "A fine Sith you will become," he murmured. "The galaxy will tremble before you."

The black protocol droid escorted Anakin down the steel corridors. Its voice was precise, mechanical. "This facility will be your home for the foreseeable future. Your assigned quarters are equipped with all necessary amenities, including a datapad with your training schedule."

Anakin glanced around nervously as they passed patrolling security droids and massive windows overlooking rivers of molten lava. The base was unlike anything he had ever seen—cold, methodical, and alien.

The droid stopped before a door, which slid open to reveal a modest room. A bed with clean black sheets, a small desk with a datapad, and a wardrobe were neatly arranged. A door to the side led to a bathroom.

"This is your room," the droid intoned. "You may wash and change. If you require assistance, call for me."

Anakin entered, the door closing behind him. He approached the bathroom, where he removed his bloodstained, tattered clothing and stepped into the shower. Jets of cold water struck him, and he scrubbed away layers of grime and blood. As he cleaned himself, a familiar sensation tugged at his mind—faint but unmistakable - an emptiness- the void.

'The artifact…' he thought, a small smile forming. Even light-years away, he could still feel its presence. He resolved silently, 'One day, I'll return for it.'

After washing, he dressed in the simple black garments provided. They were coarse but far better than the rags he had worn on Tatooine. When he stepped outside, the droid awaited him.

"Please follow me to the dining hall," it instructed.

The dining hall was larger than he expected, with a long metal table in the center. Plates of food were arranged neatly—more than he had seen in his entire life. Roasted meats glistened under the dim lights, bowls of vibrant fruits and vegetables added color to the otherwise gray room, and steaming pitchers of drinks sat waiting to be poured.

Sidious and Maul stood at the far end of the hall. Maul's piercing yellow eyes watched Anakin intently, while Sidious wore his usual disarming smile. "Eat, my boy," Sidious said warmly, gesturing to the feast. "Eat to your heart's content. You are safe here."

Anakin hesitated before nodding. He sat at the table, the scent of the food overwhelming his senses. His hands trembled as he reached for a piece of roasted meat. The first bite was pure ecstasy—flavorful, tender, and unlike anything he had ever tasted. He ate ravenously, his small frame hunched over the table as he devoured everything within reach.

As he ate, a pang of sorrow pierced his heart. 'If only Mom could see this,' he thought. 'If only she were here with me.' Tears welled in his eyes, but he forced them back, focusing on the meal before him. 'I will avenge her. I'll make them all pay.'

When he finally finished, Sidious stepped forward, his smile never wavering. "Was it to your liking, Anakin?"

The boy nodded, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "It was… amazing. Thank you."

"Good," Sidious said. "Now, let us discuss your training."

Anakin followed Sidious back to the Sith Lord's quarters, where Maul remained standing silently near the door. Sidious gestured for Anakin to sit on a simple chair near the center of the room.

"Anakin," Sidious began, his tone calm and authoritative, "to understand your training, you must first understand the Force. It flows through all living things, binding the galaxy together. It is both a tool and a weapon, but only those with true strength can wield it fully."

Sidious raised his hand, and with a simple flick of his wrist, every object in the room lifted into the air. Chairs, data pads, even the droid in the corner hovered weightlessly, rotating slowly as if caught in an invisible current. "This is but the beginning," he said. "The Jedi use the Force, but they serve it as slaves. We, the Sith, command it. To master the Force is to master the galaxy itself."

Anakin watched in awe as Sidious lowered the objects back into place with a graceful motion. "You will learn to do this and more," Sidious continued. "But first, you must understand the Code of the Sith. It will guide you, shape you, and lead you to true power."

He handed Anakin a datapad. The screen glowed faintly, displaying the ancient words of the Sith Code:

Peace is a lie, there is only passion.

Through passion, I gain strength.

Through strength, I gain power.

Through power, I gain victory.

Through victory, my chains are broken.

The Force shall free me.

"Memorize these words," Sidious said, his voice firm. "They will become your mantra. Meditate on them, let them guide your thoughts and actions. Use your emotions—your anger, your hatred, your grief. They are not weaknesses; they are your greatest strengths."

Anakin nodded, clutching the datapad tightly. "I'll learn it, Master."

"Good," Sidious said. "Your training will begin with the basics. Each day, you will study the history of the Sith and the galaxy. You will learn about our enemies—the Jedi—and their corrupt ways. You will meditate, strengthening your connection to the Force. And you will train in combat under Maul's guidance. The path ahead will be brutal, Anakin, but I have no doubt you will succeed."

Anakin's eyes burned with determination. "I won't let you down."

Sidious's smile widened, his yellow eyes gleaming. "I know you won't, my apprentice. Now, return to your quarters. Rest, study, and prepare yourself. The galaxy will not wait for you to rise—it is time for you to take your first steps toward destiny."

Anakin bowed and left the room, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation. As he walked through the cold steel halls, the words of the Sith Code echoed in his mind. 'Through victory, my chains are broken,' he thought. 'I'll never be weak again.'