Author's Note: I've changed a bit from the games, added the clone wars and Rebels to the timeline; removed Vader's stupid ass prison they put him in for something more realistic, toned down Galen's OPness
yeah its a bit self indulgent what of it
The capture of Darth Vader was monumental to the Rebellion.
Although, there was quite the debate about what to do with him. The first topic the Rebellion's council had to decide on was whether or not to break whatever Lord Vader was out of that Armor. And they had to decide quickly. Because the threat of Galen Marek and the injuries Vader sustained may not keep him complacent for long. They needed to get a force suppressant on him, and it was not possible to do so with his armor in the way.
The surface diagnostics they were able to perform stated the most necessary feature of the armor was its constant supply of purified air.
That could be easily replaced.
Although, no one was positive of exactly what would occur when they did remove him from it, they decided to take that risk.
Darth Vader would be significantly less dangerous without it. Therefore, it was worth the risk of him dying. It was not as if they weren't planning on executing him when he was no longer useful. Ultimately, Vader would be better off dead, then escaped.
Approaching Vader's cell was nerve racking.
Galen Marek did not sense anything in the force. It was as if Vader was not there at all. It was somehow worse than his usual oppressive force presence. He could not even gauge what his general emotions were.
There were only two guards standing watch outside the door. Besides those guards, the cell was indistinguishable from the few prison cells this base had. Galen thought it was seriously lacking in security. Hopefully they would change something if Vader was to be kept alive longer.
The guards let him pass without comment.
Beyond that door laid a red force-field that separated the room into two sections. On the other side, Darth Vader sat on his knees on the cot provided. He did not acknowledge his former apprentice's entrance.
Seeing Lord Vader now, Galen realized why the security appeared to be lacking.
Galen deactivated the force field and stepped into the other half, before reactivating it behind him. Vader did not make any moves to get up.
Stripped of his armor Lord Vader appeared far less intimidating.
Wearing only a sleeveless white tunic that exposed his cybernetic limbs, he was completely unrecognizable from that composed figure encased in black he usually was. His hands and legs were cuffed, and fastened around his neck laid a force suppressor. On top of that, Vader wore a clear oxygen mask secured around his nose and mouth.
This was the first time he had ever gotten a good look at his former Master's face.
And Vader looked terrible. Not because of his oddly waxy skin or scars that crossed his face, but because of the bruises and scrapes that had not been bothered to be treated yet. If the medics ever bothered to do so at all. Yet there was a recognition of something about him that made Galen think he had seen him before.
"I need to know. Am I the original, or am I just a clone?" Galen asked. Not bothering to gloat or waste time, shaking off the surprise of Vader unmasked visage.
"What would it matter?" His former masters answered. Galen looked closely at Vader's exposed face, hoping that would somehow give him an answer. His voice sounded nothing like it did within the armor, and yet it held a sort of familiarity. "You chose to be this now, therefore that is what you are."
"I need to know if it's real. If the memories of my love for Juno are real."
Vader raised an eyebrow at that statement.
"That is all you wish to know? You believe you love that woman?" He said with a disgusted expression.
"I've loved her from the moment I saw her." Galen replied, she was the best part of his life. "I need to know if that was me or someone else."
"Then that is not love, if you believe you are the same person. She was the first woman Galen encountered who was not a part of a mission. You're infatuated. You like the idea of her. But love is more than that."
"What would you know?"
"I know that this isn't for the impulsive, the easily angered." He replied. "It is in the nature of the Sith to take. Not share. And you were raised as one."
"I know a lot of the Sith." He said, then decided to move on from the topic. "I know you're given new names when you are considered good enough. I know Darth Vader is not your original name. They're running your DNA. If you've ever been in a data bank, we'll find you."
Vader took time think, looking to his mechanical hands for a moment before responding.
"You will find me." He said with absolute certainty. "But when you do, will you be able to live with ending my life?"
"Excuse me?" Galen was taken aback by this statement.
"I will tell you this Marek. Those who did know, could not bear to take my life."
"You seriously think we won't kill you?" The self-assured arrogance Vader must have to say this. He had always knew Vader was full of himself, but this was too much, even for him.
"I know you won't. Besides, only the force can control when and how I die, and I have yet to achieve my goal."
Galen shook his head.
"You're speaking nonsense."
"Then do your test. I will be waiting for you when you learn the answer." Vader leaned back from where he was sitting, holding his head high. "In time, my words will become clear."
Rahm Kota looked shocked, heartbroken and defeated.
"Please tell me you did not just say Jedi council member Anakin Skywalker is Darth Vader." He spoke with a choked voice.
Vader was right when he said he was going to break their heart.
"I'm... sorry." Bail Organa said. He did not appear nearly as distraught as Kota did. "The other leaders are speaking of this now. I know you know this already, but this information does not leave this room. You are being told because you two are the main defense if Lord Vader manages to escape. Now if you will excuse me, I have a lot to discuss with the rest of the council."
"Does this change anything?" Galen asked when Organa had left.
"It changes everything. He was, and is a legend. No one can find out, if they knew it would ruin his legend, his story, the inspiration he gives."
"So we're protecting Vader's legacy... from Vader?"
"Galen you don't understand, at least not completely." Kota said lowering his head. "Anakin's story is an inspiration to many, he was a nobody, a slave that defied everything and rose to greatness and became one of the best generals the Republic had ever seen. He was the Hero With No Fear that could turn the tide of any battle. We want to restore the Republic, but Skywalker, he was the symbol for it. Even now the Rebellion looks up to him, uses his image and story."
"So... that's a yes then."
He sighed.
"Yes. We're keeping his identity a secret from the public." Then a moment later he added, "Juno is not to be informed of this either."
"I... see." Galen said, before turning on his heal and walking with purpose.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to visit Vader, again."
Galen entered Lord Vader's cell once more, only two hours after his first visit.
Now that he knew his former Master's original name, he could see why he had appeared familiar. The scar that crossed his eye, the blue of his eyes, the line of his jaw and cheekbones remained the same from when he had been a Jedi. He had fought Proxy's hologram of Skywalker many times before.
"You appear nervous." Vader stated, with a squint of his eyes.
Galen did not know what to say.
"Has the plan changed? Now that you know who I had once been."
"It's a... work in progress. I have no problems with killing you. I know you won't tell us anything."
"I would expect nothing less from you, I raised you well, Ahs- Starkiller."
Galen would not have been able to pick up on his misstep of words if it were not for the fact that he could see his face; see the way his eyes and mouth twitched at his mistake. Likely, it meant nothing, but it was strange to think of Lord Vader mixing up his words.
"The leaders think they can… wear you down. Now that they know."
"How presumptuous. Do they wish to save one of their idols?"
The statement seamed narcissistic at first then, the thought then came to Galen, how strange it must be for Vader to see his own face on the Rebellion's propaganda. It wasn't narcissism it was contempt.
"No." Galen said, although he wasn't sure. If Kota had acted that heartbroken, was willing to lie about his identity, and he was a Jedi; Marek was not sure what the Rebellion's leaders would think or do. "You are already dead to them. To everyone. You have been for a long time now. Besides you're unrecognizable, when we publicly trial and execute you, no one will be able to tell."
"You are putting me on trial? How noble." Vader stated, apparently not having been informed of this. "I'm sure Organa will love to list out all the morally corrupt things I've done."
"Well, I don't really think Organa will-" Galen realized his mistake a moment too late. He was getting too comfortable speaking to Vader now that there was no threat of violence.
Vader smiled.
"So I was right in what I sensed." He said turning his head and looking off to the side. "The Organa's are in on it."
"No I-"
"Save your breath." Vader interrupted, turning his eyes back to Galen. "You cannot lie to your-" He pressed his eyes shut. "Your Master."
Vader seemed to be tripping over his words. Galen wasn't sure if this was because he was out of his armor or something else.
"Did they like... give you something?" He questioned.
"I had promised myself Starkiller," Vader began to say with such vigor Galen could feel it in the air even without the force, "That you would not become another Ahsoka Tano, but as of late it appears I have failed in that regard."
"I've never… heard of them before."
"And you never will."
"I'm so done with you." Galen said shaking his head and beginning to pace his small cell. "You won't give me a straight answer."
No question Galen had ever asked him resulted in a clear cut answer. He still didn't know if he even was the real Galen Marek.
Then the door to the cell swiftly opened and in stepped Rahm Kota with arms crossed.
"Galen, you're supposed to stay outside of the force field." He said without greeting.
Marek looked to Vader who did nothing besides look from one of them to the other, his face was unreadable.
"He's not like doing anything, and you didn't care before." Galen said feeling the need to defend his mistake. Perhaps he had started to underestimate Vader since their battle.
"Just don't do it again." He sounded exhausted. Kota looked vaguely in the direction of where Vader sat. He noticeably did not address Vader when he spoke. "We're bringing him to the interrogation room, it's time to start officially asking questions."
The singular interrogation room on the base was made from two separate rooms. The inner one where the captured individual would be questioned, and an outer section where through a one way mirror the session could be observed.
"Vader won't tell you anything." Galen said to the chosen interrogator, Davits Draven, who was observing Vader through the one way glass as Kota secured him to the sturdy metal chair.
"You've already made your opinion quite clear." Draven answered.
"It's not an opinion, it's a fact." He said sternly. While Draven was excellent at his job, he had no idea what he was in for. "Vader has no one, and even if he did, I doubt he would let them come in the way of the Empire."
"I doubt that. He had you, did he not?" Draven said without elaborating. "I believe I can wedge a gap between the Empire and our dear Lord Vader."
"You don't understand how the Sith operate." Galen said. Most people did not know of the Sith at all, that faction of the force prided itself in secrecy.
"No, I don't." He agreed preparing the audio recorder. "But, I do know how people operate. And General Skywalker's history is filled with buttons to push. Even if we get no information, I can break him."
"Break him?"
"Well... those were not the exact orders I was given, but it is what they would approximate to."
"You seriously think you can break Darth Vader?" Galen reworded his statement.
"At the very least, after today I will make him flinch." He said with complete confidence.
Kota walked out of the interrogation room, drawing their attention.
"He's secure." The Jedi Master said. "No way is he moving from that seat. Nevertheless we'll be here, just in case."
Vader's hands were cuffed together and fastened to a spot in the center of the table. While his legs were tied to the legs of the seat, which was bolted to the ground.
"Are we the only ones who are going to watch this? Galen asked.
"For this session? Yes. Apparently the council is still arguing about him." Kota said. "No one can get their priorities straight."
"Well, if it's just us… Then let's begin." Draven clapped his hands together. "I think this is going to be quite interesting."
Entering the small interrogation room Draven didn't bother with pleasantries.
"Any information you give us would be greatly helpful, for your own sake." He told Lord Vader.
"There is nothing you can do to me that will make me give you any of the answers you seek." He answered.
"We do no torture our prisoners Lord Vader, unlike you. And I'm quite sure you'll find our cells more... accommodating then the Empire's."
"Do you expect to get answers from a reward system then?"
He laughed, ingenuine and hollow in tone.
"No, no of course not." Galen sensed the partial lie, Vader would be unable to pick up on it without access to the force. "We expect to keep you here, locked up forever, you'll talk, eventually."
"Methods matters not. I will give you nothing. Kill me now if that is the reason I am alive."
Draven took a moment to walk around the table behind Vader, letting his hand gently touch the table, but stopping short of coming into contact with Vader's hands.
"What do you think his play is exactly?" Galen asked Kota as they both observed the scene.
"I'm not sure. There is only so much the Alliance will allow, and being as high priority as... he is, they are going make sure Draven follow the rules strictly."
"And those rules would be...?"
"No physical contact, no killing or capturing of family members, no solitary confinement, no threats of... the unsavory sort."
"Then what can he possibly even do?" Galen questioned, he knew the Alliance prided itself on being morally better than the Empire, but surely this was ineffective at best.
"The Empire simply wants confessions so they can legally execute people, they don't want the truth." Kota patiently explained. "We wouldn't want anyone to give a false confession just to make us stop harming them. That is why Draven is so talented. He is skilled deeply in manipulation. It's why he's in charge of intelligence, of spies and assassinations. Although, I'm not sure if he can pull this man's strings like that. No matter how confident in his abilities he seemed. There's been quite a few prisoners he's gotten nothing from."
Galen turned his eyes back towards the scene slowly unfolding in front of them.
"General Skywalker." Draven finally addressed Vader, who scowled in return at that name. "Are you positive there is nothing you're willing to say, in any subject? Quite recently, there has been an increase in the Empire's slave trade and-"
"Don't think you can try and manipulate me with this subject." Vader interrupted, knowing immediately what Draven was trying to do. "You're wasting your time."
"Oh I see." Draven said as he sat on the desk by Vader's side. "Is it a little bit uncomfortable for you?"
The corner of Vader eye twitched, but otherwise he made no response.
Kota hummed in reaction to Draven's words, thinking of something but not wanting to voice it.
Galen knew that Skywalker had once been owned, but he wasn't sure how this subject could somehow sway him into giving up anything. He doubted Vader cared in the slightest for all the lives the Empire is using. It was in the nature of the Sith to look down on the weak without remorse or pity. Even as a child Vader had showed him no comfort or aid.
"Do you disagree with what the Empire is doing?" Draven attempted to wedge doubt in the Empire, under the assumption that Vader disproved of slavery.
Marek doubted it would work on his old Master. To him, it was obvious Vader was trying to overthrow the Empire, for his own gain and not for some arbitrary morals. The only thing the Sith cared for is themselves. Their entire order existed on the idea that once the apprentice became strong enough they would kill their Master.
"Is this an interrogation, or a therapy session?" Vader said with venom. "Do you expect to chide me for hours on end on this subject?"
"Well, I'm sure if you can tell us what the Empire is planning on doing with these people and where they're going, we could be done."
Vader did not respond to the question.
Then Draven got off of the metal table and walked back to the opposite side of where Vader sat.
"You know... I think it was so very kind of you to take on another apprentice, after your last one left."
Galen had no idea where he was going with this sudden turn. He had been unaware Darth Vader ever had a padawan as a Jedi. He had never read any record of Anakin ever having one. But, perhaps Vader had redacted that information from the material he had given him. If he was ashamed of this fact.
"Where you going to raise him to take out the Emperor for you? Because obviously, he is much different from your Inquisitors. You are far closer to him." Being in charge of the Alliance's intelligence, Draven had a sharp eye for betrayal. Galen had not told anyone of Vader's reasoning for teaching him. He had let them all believe he had been another Inquisitor.
Again, Vader did not respond.
"When you run the Empire, I'm sure things will be quite different. Why not simply get one step closer to your goal, by giving up information that ultimately will help you."
It was easy to see how Draven was going through different techniques, trying to test out which one would get the best response. Likely Vader had also picked up on this.
"You know." Draven said with a smile looking over to the one way mirror. "You say a lot of interesting things to Galen Marek. Didn't expect a lot what you said. He must remind you a lot of her, doesn't he? You almost called him by her name even. What a shame for nearly all of Ahsoka's species to be subject to slavery. If she lived through the Jedi purge, certainly she would have been caught up in that."
"Is that the only thing you have on me?" Vader responded, clearly irritated. "Surely by now you would have figured out it is not working."
Draven suddenly slammed his hands on the metal table that separated them.
Vader flinched.
"I think it's working quite well, General Skywalker." Draven spoke.
"I told you," Draven began, neatening the cuff of his jacket, "I could make him flinch."
That was however, the most he had been able to get out of Lord Vader in the hour he questioned him. From that point on Vader had retained his silence and Draven could not push him further.
"Making someone jump at a sudden loud sound is not what breaking someone means."
"No. But it does mean he is just like every other sentient being in the galaxy. He isn't just an emotionless extension of the Empire some imagine him to be."
Galen could see how someone would feel the need to prove that, on many occasions Starkiller would push himself far harder then he should in dueling just to see is he could get a hit on Vader's armor, to see if he bleeds, to try to exhaust him, just so he could know if he was a living creature like he was.
"Even so, that doesn't mean you can get whatever you want from him."
"Just keep taking to him outside of these sessions Galen. He'll give you information, even if it what we are looking for."
"What exactly makes you think that?"
"Just a hunch. He talks to you differently than he does with the others who had visited him. He's so very use to hiding his face, it's easy to tell."
He had been unaware anyone else had visited him at all. Although, he supposed there were many people in the Council that wished to have a few choice words with him.
"I think this is a waste of time. You won't tell us anything." Galen spoke to Vader the next morning, this time from the other side of the force field. Even if Draven could make Vader flinch, that was far from making him talk.
His former Master looked at him with blue eyes, but did not say anything.
"What must it feel like, being at someone else's mercy for the first time?"
Vader smirked at that.
"Is this all just a game to you? Even now, you're so self-assured and narcissistic you can't even understand how in danger you truly are. Other Jedi are being called here to help keep you contained. You will never leave this place alive."
Still, Vader sat, and did not acknowledge his former apprentice.
"Say something." He demanded.
"This place will not hold me for long. And your interrogator will not wear me down with such tactics. Go run off to your supposed lover."
"Supposed?" He said. "You never know when to shut up for someone who can barely breathe."
"She doesn't love you. She can't. She loves the idea of being able to fix the dark mysteries broken man more then she loves who you truly are. You're just a fantasy to her."
"No. I know Juno loves me. She knows what I've done and she accepts that, everything I've done. She's made me a better person."
"Her job isn't to make you a better person." Vader said with a slight shake to his head and closed eyes.
"No. No it isn't, but that's what she did."
"She sounds more like a mother then a partner." Vader insulted, then said with a sneer. "That woman is years older than you. You have only just reached maturity while she has been an adult for little over half a decade. Accepting your horrific actions no matter what. Giving unconditional love at all times. Teaching you morals. Without experiencing parenting like that I can see how easily you would mistake her actions for a different kind of love."
"And who's fault would that be, Vader?"
"Mine." Vader stated. "But you are missing the point."
"And why would you care?"
Vader opened his mouth, then shut it and frowned.
"You have something to say to me? Say it."
"You're going to end up just as we did." Vader said, giving no context to his meaning. "I would hate to see the child I raised follow my footsteps in that regard."