Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.
PROLOGUE
Darth Vader. Was that his name? That didn't seem right. Darth…how could his name be that of a Sith Lord? He was a Jedi Knight. He was Anakin Skywalker – the 'Chosen One'. He was the one the prophecy spoke of…he would bring peace and balance…
He wasn't sure how long he had been there. Everything was a blur as his mind raced to comprehend what had taken place…
No, he was not a Jedi. Not anymore. The Jedi had betrayed him after lying to him his entire life. They are why his mother is dead…they deserve to pay for their treachery.
His eyes suddenly focus on the lifeless body that rests before him.
He couldn't have…he would never kill one of his Master's. Impossible. The Jedi Order had saved him from a life of slavery on Tatooine all those years ago – he owed them everything. He would never…
He sees a dark figure moving beside him, but his eyes remain on the fallen Jedi and pay it no attention…
He has no remorse. He doesn't regret striking him down – he only wishes he could have made him suffer as he has suffered. He got off easier than he should have. The rest of the Jedi will soon share his fate and perish at the hands of Vader. That name again…Vader.
Finally, he tears his gaze away from his former Master and studies the metallic object in his hand as if he is truly seeing it for the first time.
Is he Darth Vader? He couldn't be. He hates the Sith…the black and red of Darth Maul's face still haunts him. But Jedi do not hate. If that is true, how can he really be a Jedi? He hates the Tusken Raiders for what they did…time has passed, but he has never forgotten. He hates Count Dooku. He is glad he was the one to kill him. He hates the Jedi…perhaps if he was allowed to go back to Tatooine sooner…
His grasp on the object in his hand tightens at the thought.
Yes, if they had permitted him to see her this all could have been avoided. They let her die. How can they expect to be forgiven?
He feels overwhelming power course through him. It is unexplainable, but he has felt it before…
He recalls this feeling -- it is all too familiar. He felt it before he slain Dooku, before he butchered the camp of murderers that took away the only family he ever had…it is the Force. It flows freely, like a current of pure energy, and gives him strength.
His eyes once again meet the still form of Master Windu and all thoughts of his newfound power vanishes.
He killed him…Anakin Skywalker has defeated the mighty Mace Windu – the greatest Jedi, second only to Master Yoda himself. No…Vader killed him. But why? Are Skywalker and Vader one and the same? He refuses to believe it. He will soon wake up and this will all be over -- it is just some terrible nightmare. But Jedi don't have nightmares…do Sith Lords? There are too many questions.
He lets out a shaky breath and closes his eyes in an attempt to calm himself.
What happened? He remembers Master Windu standing over Chancellor Palpatine. Or is it Darth Sidious now? He remembers lightning clashing with lightsaber.
His eyes suddenly fly open as the memories come flooding back to him…
Yes, Palpatine was the Sith Lord they had been looking for. He had been behind the war all this time. He had been the one to discover his secret. He knew he had to stop Master Windu from killing Sidious or…Padme! He was her only hope.
He diverts his gaze to the floor in front of him as the realization at last sinks in.
His visions…Padme dying. He couldn't let that happen. Without her he would be nothing. The Jedi tried to take away the last thing he had left! If Sidious had died at the hands of Mace Windu, he would have sealed Padme's fate and doomed her to her grave. But he is evil – he must be stopped at all costs. No…the Jedi are evil…
He finally casts one last glance at his dead mentor before slowly rising to his feet.
They have betrayed me.
Anakin Skywalker would have appeared a stranger to his closest of friends. His usual icy-blue eyes were now replaced by a sickening orange-yellow, almost glowing in the dimly lit room. He turns to face a figure shrouded in darkness when it rests its white hand upon his shoulder.
"Lord Vader," the cloaked man moves to his side as he holds his hand out to him. "I have been saving this for you."
Vader looks down at the hilt of the lightsaber Darth Sidious offers him. He peers into the hood of the dark lord's cloak for a long moment before returning his attention to the weapon.
"You are fulfilling your destiny."