AN: This story is being rewritten. Completely rewritten: the plot, the characters, the happenings - everything has to be changed, because I've lost all of my notes and seriously can't remember how I had meant for it to go. Readers who have read this story before (you guys still alive?) may not recognise it :P so I strongly suggest you re-read all of the rewritten chapters.

In this AU: It was Dooku, instead of Anakin, that attacked the Temple. Some Masters realized the real danger and decided to escape along with younglings(I need some more Jedi to torture...). Vader did kill Mace Windu, though and Padme came to him to Mustafar after he had murdered Separatists. He did choke her after seeing Obi-Wan too.

Warning: THIS IS UNBETA'ED! Luke1 had helped me with the first version of the story, but she hadn't even had a glance of this one - it's a completely rewritten story.

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

*Twelve years after the creation of the Empire, Medical Station in the Outer Rim *

Tessa couldn't help it, her eyes wandered again to the form floating in the bacta tank, unclear in the dim light. She still didn't understand why she was there, on some wayward medical station, overseeing an experiment. She forced herself to look to her left again, where a Kaminoan male worked by a console with hundreds of buttons. Feigning interest in the medical blabber showing on the screen, she acted as though she was waiting to catch the scientist doing something wrong. She was careful not to be too intimidating though, and kept her blaster hidden. Her intention was to prevent any 'funny' ideas from forming in that bald Kaminoan's head, not to scare him into making some mistake. After all, he could type: 'Imp3ria1z r si11y' and still she wouldn't be able to call it an error.. for sure, at least.

Why couldn't they send some combat-skilled medic or something?, she thought annoyed as her eyes slid over the sea of meaningless words, longing to glance at 'the something' floating in bacta tank again.

There was her next problem. One of the first rules you learn in the Imperial Academy is that you don't ask. Especially in such situations. But.. She simply. Couldn't. Fight it. Any longer. Damn her curiosity and the power it had over her!

Who (what?) could that be? A new super-soldier? She appraised critically the size of the tank and frowned. The shadow inside was a size of a human child... and if the government hadn't had any sudden epiphany to get some aliens into the Imperial Army that couldn't be it-

Her musings were cut short by the sound of the doors sliding open. From behind a computer came out the personal medic of Lord Vader. She squared her shoulders instinctively as she turned, even though her black pilot's armour always kept her straightened up. The Kaminoan also stopped typing and looked up at the middle-aged man.

"Stand by the door, commander," ordered Jarnis Aneek as she remembered the human's name. She bowed and walked over to exit when she got a feeling that she forgot about something. She stood a moment before the open doors and with a start she saw her helmet lying on the cabinet to her right. Where was her head today? If any of her academic teachers had seen such incompetence she would have been severely punished.

Fortunately, the cabinet was hidden from the sight of the two medics by the big computer – she still had a chance to prevent from making a fool out of herself. Trooper forgetting about a part of their armor.. what would her parents say?

Quickly, she ducked behind the computer and got her helmet. She put it on quietly and tried to figure out how to slid out of the room unnoticed. She couldn't just walk out because the medics would hear the door open the second time.

"What did the Emperor say?" the alien asked with suspicion and she jerked in surprise. The sound was clear and loud, enhanced by the helmet's filters. She should have changed the settings right there and then, but again her curiosity... Man, she knew this experiment was important! The Emperor himself involved...

"I couldn't contact him," was the stiff answer. "But do you have any doubts as to who His Highness would blame should his apprentice die?"

Wait. What?!

She inhaled sharply, grateful that the black mask didn't transfer sounds from inside without her specified command. So the rumours were true! The Dark Lord did come back battered from the fight with some Jedi four days ago! Slight fear gripped at her heart – had some Jedi matched Darth Vader's strenght in the end? That feeling was quickly clouded by confusion, though. What could it all have to do with this experiment?

"Well, he's not going to be pleased with the results anyway," hissed the alien. "We changed his killing-machine into a kindergartener!"

"It's better than if we had let him die," Jarnis paused and she heard him moving around the room. He walked over to ..the bact tank? Her suspicion was confirmed when there was a sound of a hand tapping bulletproof glass. "After all, we can always kill Vader later..." The surety of Jarnis' voice caused a cold shiver racing up her spine. She had absolutely no idea (excluding that ridiculous, impossible thought) about whatever they had talked about earlier but this.. to threaten the life of the Second in Command of the Empire was definitely a treason.

She was so shell-shocked that only after some time she noticed a red blinking light on her hand. Someone was trying to contact her. She glanced at the door – it was a perfect opportunity. She let the sensor of the door open them for her and turned around as if she had just walked in to report. She took off her helmet when she came to stand before the men and reported:

"Sir, there is an incoming signal from C23T." As she opened transmission she prayed it would be something important. She was about to regret her wishes.

"Sir Jarnis, Commander Strike, there is a fleet of Rebels nearing our system. They outnumber us, I recommend evacuation."

* One year after the creation of the Empire, Rebel Base on Cynthiax V *

"Ladies and gentlemen," Forty three pairs of eyes looked up from their tablets to gaze at a short, lean human male standing before them. "-you were chosen, because I see a great potential combined with an open mind in you. This, my friends, is a receipt for success. You're the elite of elites!" A few people put down their tablets to clap, but the speaker stopped them with a careless gesture of his thin hand. "But we must not forget that it's not only glory, but also a burden – for we must act for the good of the whole galaxy. A few minutes before this meeting each of you received a list of the changes made in the galaxy by the Empire in one year of its existence. From what I have seen all of you had become acquainted with the message. What surprised you in this list? Come on, tell me the truth. What shocked you?"

"The absurdity of some rules," said a young redheaded female.

"Very good answer!" The man nodded eagerly. "What else? Please don't be shy, we're all equals in here!"

"Most rules or restrictions are unjust for some races."

"They're clearly racist!"

"They're against freedom."

"There are so many of them."

The man held up his hand and everyone quieted again. After a pause, the man said: "Exactly. You're all correct. Let's concentrate on the absurdity and the numbers for now. The latter is the advantage of the Empire's system, I think the older of you will completely agree with me. In the Republic making one little change or correction in one rule – with the support of the Chancellor – could take years or decades, depending on how much money you could spend or if you had a good blackmail to force the hand of some more important senators. In the Empire on the other hand, the Emperor can make a whole new set of rules in a matter of months – and so can people who have his favour. It'd have been definitely a good thing if the Emperor had shown an interest in the galaxy's well being. As it is though, people must endure. Palpatine is the reason for the absurdity you find in these new rules, he's the one that destroys the good – let's not fear that word! - the good concept of an Empire."