EMPIRE

Full Summary: After the destruction of the First Death Star, Vader was killed by Palpatine for his failure in not saving it from destruction. After his apparent death, he is found on Tatooine before the Jedi come to his aid. Due to Darth Vader being incorperated within him, he has double the strength that he usually had in the Phantom Menace. Behind his apparent rebirth into his youthful self though, a dark and sinister group of Sith warriors and ancient Sith Lords, all converge upon him, bying their time so that they can persue their dominion over him.

As he returns to the Old Republic, he must deal with being Anakin Skywalker again, and his ever burning hatred for Obi-wan Kenobi. He must adjust to the life that he once had and live through it once again, attempting to change the course of history. Palpatine still attempts to seduce him, and although he is being seduced by the true Dark Side of the Force, he remains a servant of the Dark Lords who bought him back from the brink of death.

Timeline: This story begins immediately after the formation of the Empire. It is about two or three years after Palpatine has declared himself Emperor. It begins with Darth Vader waking up after being sent to his death by Palpatine. He is then sent back in time to the Clone Wars. It begins during The Phantom Menace, and up to and including Revenge of the Sith. The actual storyline though remains practically the same, with a few minor changes.

Disclaimer: Characters and places you recognize, such as Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and Coruscant, belong to George Lucas and Lucasfilms. The Phantom Menace novelization will be used as a major reference as well throughout the first phase of this story. Within this story there will be many unknown characters that are of my creation, as well as many ideas. Other characters will undoubtedly belong to George Lucas. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Summary: Vader was killed by Palpatine after the destruction of the first Death Star, but instead of dying, he finds himself on Tatooine, before he was found by the Jedi. Behind this though, a dark and sinister force watches over him, baiting him on to fall into their deadly trap.

Chapter 1 – New Beginnings

"I am disappointed in you, my friend." The older man on the throne stated to him in an articulate way. Vader dared not to lift up his head and look his master in the eye, he was already fearful of his wrath as it was. The anger that was emanating from the Dark Lord was so powerful, and fearful that Vader found it hard for him to concentrate properly.

The Emperor continued. "You were sent there as my military Executer. You were to keep an eye on Tarkin for me, and to watch over the Death Star. You were to keep that thing safe." The older man sighed suddenly. "Do you know how much this is going to damage my credibility?"

"No, master," Vader replied, his voice low and full of sorrow. He had no wish to be punished again. "I have no idea…"

"Of course you don't." the Emperor cut him off sharply. This caused Vader to look up and stare at the age ridden face. There was no emotion, no pain, there was nothing. Just a tired old man, whose face, had hidden all his compassion and emotion. It was blank. No expression at all. "You have failed me, Lord Vader."

Vader felt the guilt rise within him. He swallowed suddenly, attempting to bar his way out of his predicament. "There were reasons…"

"There is no time for this, my apprentice." Palpatine stated firmly. "You may have done well in annihilating the Rebel Base, but the Death Star was my prized possession. I was surprised that my apprentice, the Dark Lord of the Sith could not defend that small a space. It was only two meters wide. A small exhaust port! And the fighter, you could have destroyed him easily."

"But master, he had the power of the Force with him."

Palpatine leaned forward suddenly. "And you don't?" he raised his eyebrows suddenly, waiting for the reply that never came. Vader sighed to himself, feeling guilty. He stared at his master, but then dragged his eyes to the people either side of his dark throne.

On the Emperor's right side there was a young woman, with red hair and a fantastic figure. She was the most trusted of the Emperor's hands. And Vader knew her to be Mara Jade. He had trained her from youth, to be loyal to the Emperor. She was cunning and ruthless, and would take delight in seeing Vader suffer mercilessly.

On the other side though there was someone of even more power. De-facto he was the third in command of the Empire after Darth Vader and the Emperor. The Emperor had specifically placed him in command of all of the black marketeering within the Empire, taking command of the Black Sun pirate and smuggling Cooperation. He was used the most in getting the materials to be made for the Death Star, and even more than Jade, he hated Vader for what he had done to his home world.

The Falleen home world had been destroyed by a chemical plant that had malfunctioned when Vader was in command, and had been instructed to watch over for the Emperor. Unfortunately, when it was destroyed, it spread around the entire planet, and killed most of the inhabitants. Xizor's family just happened to be apart of those killed. Like Jade, he wanted to see Vader die, and wanted to succeed as the Emperor's right hand man.

And today looked like he would get that wish.

Vader took in another deep breath as the Emperor came down from his throne and approached the Dark Lord, his apprentice and one time friend. His hands were placed out before him, as if hanging limp. "You have no idea what it means to be disappointed, Lord Vader."

Immediately the air became still and cold, crackling with silence, but bluish lightning suddenly leapt from the Emperor's hands. Vader screamed in agony as the electricity continued to wrap itself around the Dark Lord. He could feel his electric circuits begin to falter, and explode. His breathing had become more exasperating, and more rigid. Amid all of his cries he could feel the anger flowing off his master, the radiating pleasure off Xizor, and the fear that came off Jade, as she knew what it felt like to be punished by the Emperor.

Vader flee back in pain as the lightning stopped. His breathing had become erratic. The Emperor stepped forward again, and looked carefully at his apprentice. The wicked smile once more came into view. Then the lightning flowed again.

The Dark Lord wriggled in pain, screaming in fruition. He couldn't help himself, he was afire everywhere, within his body everything was being destroyed. He could feel his legs failing him, and his arms, and eventually his breathing. For all he knew he didn't think that the Emperor knew that he was actually killing his apprentice. He only meant to punish him. But this was the Sith way of life. Pain was their ally, except when they were being punished like this.

Vader suddenly stopped wriggling, but the Emperor kept flowing with electricity, determined to make an example of his apprentice. Jade, who was watching Vader very closely, immediately came to the realization, that Vader had stopped moving. She opened her mouth in shock. She didn't expect this, it was not the way that Vader was meant to be killed. Immediately she sent a mental note to her master. Palpatine seemed to sense her distress and stopped, staring at her.

He turned to Vader again, and watched with his eyes widening. His mouth fell open in disgust, he didn't mean for this to happen. Vader was meant to be a living example of punishment, he wasn't meant to die. "Lord Vader?" he pronounced carefully, trying to rouse him from the ground. He wasn't to sure if he had killed the Dark lord at all.

"Your Highness?"

Palpatine narrowed his eyes, drawing his mind back to the room. He turned suddenly, and came face to face with Xizor, who had a gleeful look on his face. The Emperor's face suddenly hardened, he was irritated at the interruption. He asked firmly, and harshly, with anger and distress evident in his voice. "What is it, Xizor?"

He felt the Falleen's approach, and saw him move into the light. He could feel the gulp in his ally's throat. "What shall we do with the body?"

The Emperor turned back to the body before him, not believing that his apprentice was dead. He knelt down besides him quickly for a moment, and placed a hand on the leathery arm of his apprentice. The shock then settled in, he could feel no pulse, no breathing, and no fear. There was nothing but complete silence.

There was emotion evident in his voice all of a sudden. His expression changed from a stern and vigilant look to a worried expression.

"Lord Vader?"

He awoke to darkness.

At first he was not sure if he had awakened at all, or if he was within a dark room, filled with nothing but the everlasting darkness shadows. Yet his eyes could still deceive him, for all he knew he could be deep within the shadowy dream that he had been enduring. He was still partly asleep for all he knew. It would not be the first or last time that his eyes would have failed him. Unfortunately for him, his eyes could not penetrate more than a slight distance into the darkness which enveloped around him, and even after that, there was more darkness.

Yet he could feel.

His head lay against something smooth and cool. Usually he would think that it was the floor, but he was unsure for the moment. For a moment he could swear that it was soft, making himself more comfortable, he began to feel around and noticed that what lay under him and above him was soft. This immediately made him freeze as he began to discern what was covering him. It was strange, and yet soothing at the same time. He didn't understand it. His mind then suddenly clicked, it had to be a bed, or something to that effect.

Although it took a moment, Darth Vader knew he was lying on a soft bed or couch. His head was supported by a number of pillows or cushions. And he definitely had to be covered in a blanket of some sort. As he opened his eyes slowly he saw the sun shining into the room, illuminating his surroundings. All around him the surroundings of a normal bedroom came into view. His desk, the lights, and his inventions. The light stand, a small table, and all of his tools, amazingly there was a mechanical robot in the corner of his room, and as Vader focused in on it, it bought back memories of a long forgotten past for him.

He had to think hard for a moment, but it came back to him soon. It was the droid that he had left at home when he had left to become a Jedi, and then he had later met it when he went to Tatooine when he found his mother.

C-3PO.

It came back to him suddenly. it was C-3PO, the robot that he had built himself when he was only eight years old.

To think that that was a surprise, that his robot was here with him. it was at this moment that he knew that it had to be a dream. C-3PO was lost to him years ago. He had seen it before among the Alderaanian Royal Families possessions, but he had neither figured enough to go and claim it. They could have it for all he cared. True it was that this was a surprise to him, but the next one was larger.

A voice suddenly rang through the building. It was a sweet and caring voice. It reminded Vader of Padme for a moment, but more of his mother. "Annie," it sounded, echoing through the room. He had to be in a dream, it wasn't real. "Annie," it sounded again. Vader lifted his head and stared over at the door, and saw a woman enter.

Immediately his gaze focused, and his jaw dropped. The same face, dark hair and eyes. A beautiful woman, he figure left nothing to be desired. But it couldn't be. There was no possible way for this to be real; it had to be a dream. How could his mother be alive? He found himself thinking.

"Annie," she sounded in a low and caring voice. "You have to get up or you will be late for work."

Vader was dumbfounded. He was gawking at her, and for a moment her features narrowed. "What?" Anakin found himself asking.

"Why are you gawking at me like that, honey?" his mother asked suddenly, waving her pony tail around through the air.

"This…this," he found it hard to find the words for a moment. Then he turned to the mirror next to him and stared into it. He saw the younger version of himself. Sandy blond hair, blue eyes and a narrowed face. He found himself shaking his head in disbelief. He was his younger self again. He was his eight year old self. But he couldn't be. How was this possible?

He felt his mother enter suddenly, and place her hands around his neck. There was a worried glance on her face. "Is everything alright?" she moved in carefully to avoid upsetting him.

"I guess that I am just a bit confused," Anakin stated. He was troubled. "this has to be a dream, I remember you dying before me, in my arms."

Her eyes rose up immediately at that. There was a curious glance on her face. "Whatever do you mean Anakin? I am not dead, and this is certainly not a dream."

"Can you prove it?" Anakin stated frantically. He raised his voice all of a sudden. "I saw you die."

She smiled suddenly. "If this is a dream then this will not hurt." With that she pinched his arms and face, making Anakin scream out loud. He was left with reddened marks all over his body. His mother placed her hands on Anakin's shoulder and looked him carefully in the eyes. "I know that you have been sick recently, but this is beyond even you. This is not a dream Anakin. the past few days have just been having a strange effect on you."

"How long was I…sick?" he asked, lightening his voice all of a sudden.

"Almost three days." She returned to him. "Usually you don't get sick, but this was something different. yet, none of your friends got sick at all during their visits." She smiled suddenly. "This must have only been able to effected you. Now enough talk. Watto has been patient enough with you skipping out on him. It is time for you to go back to work."

"Really?" he asked, with his emotion not betraying him. He remembered working for Watto, and how much he hated him so much, and even when he had freed his mother, and took her away from him. He wanted to kill him then, as much as he did now. His anger began to grow, but he calmed himself down

Shmi saw the troubled look on his face and leaned in closer to him, wiping Anakin's forehead all of a sudden. You still might be a little sick, but dreams will make you confused. Now get going, or else Watto will deduct your pay, and he might beat you again."

"He wouldn't dare." Anakin said sharply. He had just said what he was actually thinking. He didn't actually mean it though.

Shmi stared at him quizzically for a moment, but let it pass. She turned around and left, staring back for a moment as if confused. Anakin remained by himself for a moment before he continued to change. After that he took what little breakfast was made for him and then went off to Watto's shop.

This was only a small and short chapter, they are bound to be larger though. But please, please, Review