Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars
Vader sat and stared at the seemingly innocent message displayed in the terminal.
Order of Termination
It had been a long day full of both success and failure. With the capture of the Alderaanian Princess and several suspected rebel traitors in custody, one would assume another victory had been achieved in the name of the Empire.
Vader clenched his fist.
He was no fool, though. Rebels or no rebels, his master would never excuse his failure of reclaiming the stolen plans. Predictably, the synthskin under his right cheek bone began to itch just as it always did when he became irritated. He longed to retire to his Mediation Chamber and have his mask removed. However, one matter needed to be addressed first.
Order of Termination
It appeared that the form had already been filled out. His signature was the only remaining element required.
The force was stirring.
Glancing at the chronometer, Vader knew that the Devastator would be within range of the Death Star in less than one standard hour. Once the ship arrived, the Tantive IV prisoners would be transferred over for processing and he would have to be debriefed on the situation. Secretly, he dreaded the inevitable conversation where he would have to inform Tarkin of his failure to locate the rebel's secret base of operation. It was already humiliating. If he wanted to rest, now would be the time. Vader moved to print the form.
Order of Termination
With the looming threat of failure to procure the stolen plans, Governor Tarkin's message had ordered to use any and all means necessary to extract the information from Princess Leia. In and of itself, Vader agreed. She was a means to an end, after all. His finger's twitched, as his hand hovered over the command to print.
Order of Termination
However, Tarkin's subtle implication for Vader to sign the Senator's execution form was something that was not settling well with him. It made no sense, but somehow it just felt... wrong. There was a certain familiarity to the girl. The thought that he hesitated because of her resemblance to another senetor he knew once long ago, was pushed firmly from his mind. It was not sentimentality or his former weak self that kept him from signing the form. It was some hidden instinct. A natural desire to preserve... It felt almost like he was signing his own death sentence, as bizarre and far fetched as that sounded. Trying to clear his mind, Vader reached into the force for answers to this puzzle and -
The monitoring panel on his chest plate began to beep as it did from time to time. Even after nearly twenty years of living with it, Vader had yet to find a reason for its frequent interruptions. He had been assured by one his schematic droids that there was no malfunction.
Abruptly, Vader stood.
He had no time for this.
The threat of the rebellion as well as his master's displeasure hung over his head. He would not fail again.
Vader spared one more glance at the terminal.
Order of Termination
"This is Tarkin's business," he concluded.
The message was deleted.
