The sound of his sterilized, mechanical breathing filled the small room. In, out. In, out. It was a frightening sound, but one that he had grown used to over the years since the final destruction of the Rebel Alliance and the death of his son, Luke.

Why was he here? Something had drawn him to this small room, one of the briefing rooms aboard the Executer. Something small and faint, something that he knew by rights, he should be able to recognise but couldn't .

What was it? It had to be some kind of Force presence, but what being had the strength to do such a thing? Luke was dead, Yoda dead, Obi-Wan, dead. No one but the Emperor still had that level of power and he would never degrade himself to such simple tricks – if he wanted Vader's attention all he had to do was command it.

So, what had brought him here? To this empty room on board a ship ruled by fear, on board his ship. But fear was needed. He was Sith. A Sith that did not inspire fear was no Sith, a Dark Jedi perhaps but certainly not a Sith. The code came to him now, as it often had. So much like the Jedi code yet so different.... So much simpler. So much more attractive.

Abruptly, he felt another flash of the presence, it was a Force shadow! But who could cast it? And again, he felt that terrible familiarity with it. An irritating feeling that he should know already. He hand crept to his Lightsabre hilt. Itching to weld that red blade, but there was no need. The presence was a ghost, nothing more. Insubstantial.

He growled, look at him! Jumping at shadows, he was a Lord of the Sith, he would not be fazed by something as simple as a Force Ghost.

" Show yourself." he said, he voice loud and intimidating, " There is no hiding from the Dark Side, I will find you."

And when he did find the originator, he would show them what real power was. Sith power, fuelled by emotion, by anger and hatred.

" There is no emotion, there is peace."

The first line of the Jedi code. It was the last thing he had expected to hear uttered in this place. He had never thought to hear it again.

" There is no ignorance, there is knowledge."

Vader turned slowly, ponderously, like some dark God of death, awakened after a thousand years to claim his share of lives. No one was behind him, the voice continued.

" There is no chaos, there is harmony."

Who had such foolishness? To come here, to the stronghold of the Dark Side and recite that pack of Jedi lies! He would make them pay, make them suffer for it. He breathed out, no, he would have to find them before any of that. Surely a Jedi with the power to project their voice would be able to tell if Vader tried to sense him out, unless he caused a distraction.

" Peace is a lie, there is only passion."

The Sith code, something which Vader contemplated often. The voice responded by shifting to an older version of the Jedi code.

" Emotion, yet peace."

Vader's senses worked quickly, experience aided him and he quickly ensured that this room was empty save for himself. Next he began scanning the ship.

" Ignorance yet knowledge."

The command decks were clear, the weapons were clear. The rest of the ship shouldn't take too long, and then they would see who this fool was, he preached the Jedi ways in a universe occupied with Sith.

" Through passion I gain strength." recited Vader to keep the other busy.

" Through strength I gain power."

The unknown Jedi continued, his voice becoming little more of a whisper, " Passion yet serenity."

The voice, the voice reminded him of something, but what? From his time in the temple, was it one of the masters? How could they have missed such a target?

" Chaos yet harmony."

They way the other spoke, it was clear he held this interpretation of the code in a much higher regard than the last. But the voice was bringing back memories.

He had been standing upon the molten grounds of Mustufar. His old master, Ob-Wan stood before him.

" it's over Anakin, I have the high ground."

" You underestimate my power."

Vader almost shook his head to clear away the memories, the pain, both emotional and physical. He could steel feel the blade as it ate through his legs, the fire as it spread over him.

But, why had the voice triggered that memory? Unless... no, that was impossible. Obi-Wan was dead and gone, not even a Force Ghost remained. So how could the voice call up that memory?

The last words that the voice spoke, it did so with such a quiet power that even Vader was forced to listen.

" Death,"

That one word. It had sounded like....but no, no that was impossible. Really impossible. He knew now why that voice had called up so many bad memories, why it angered him such.

" Yet the Force."

The voice belonged to him. Or rather, to Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight. Someone must be playing a recording back at him. He would show them hell.

Suddenly, a powerful Force presence filled the small room, Vader took a step back, drew his blade on one move. This Jedi was going to pay for digging up those memories.

It was a Force Ghost, a faint blue colouring and insubstantial appearance giving it away. But Vader could easily make out the long hair, messy still. The piercing eyes. Even the scar over the right eye!

Vader looked into the eyes of Anakin Skywalker for the first time. The being before the Sith looked so much like him, but difference. His was older, his hair starting to grey, he was dressed in loose robes, a sabre clipped to his belt He stood with the self assurance of a master.

" What are you?" demanded Vader, was it a clone, a droid or a hologram?

The other looked at him, eyes filled with pity!? He dared to pity Vader? He took on his shape, and then showed pity!

The Sith had to make an effort not to draw his blade and slash into the other, it would cause no harm he knew and it would only show how much this thing was getting to him.

Anakin answered, his voice full and mature, what Vader's may have been like in old age, had he not been mutilated. " Don't be a fool, don't mistake me for some crafty trick played upon you by your enemies, for I am sure a Sith like yourself has them."

He said the word Sith with such hatred that Vader wondered if he was not from the Dark Side rather than the Light.

" I am what I appear to be, Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Master, member of the Council."

What was this rubbish? Jedi Master? Council member? Did this fool think that he had Vader with that joke even for one second?

" I trust that you know of course," said Vader, " The Jedi are dead, their ashes scattered to the winds. They will never return."

Anakin looked down at him, " Is that right, Chosen One? Did you forget your duty? You are to bring balance to the Force. One way, or another."

Vader tried to reach out, to probe this being. But his probe was defeated, crushed by a solid wall of Force energy. The presence was like that of his own, but it had not been mutilated like him, this Anakin still had his full powers and a healthy body. Hate washed over Vader. How could this be? This could not be a clone, he would have felt it if it was. So that left the only explanation... somehow, some way, this was him...

Anakin spoke again, " Listen to me, Vader. You have caused so much death and destruction in this universe. So much pain. Well the prophecy will be fulfilled, Anakin Skywalker will bring balance to the Force."

He started to fade, " So prepare yourself, Vader. I'm coming. This is not my universe, I'll make no secret of it. But I will fight for it like it is."

As the other vanished, Vader had a sense that this was not over yet, that the true war was just beginning.

The End.

AN: This is just a one shot, but I may continue if other people enjoy, I liked writing it.