INTRODUCTION
Coruscant. A densely populated city planet covered in modern infrastructure. A place that once used to be the center of a fledgling republic, marred by greed and indecision. A republic so blinded by its crippling internal quarrels and self-righteousness, it didn't see its very destruction until the bitter end.
Now things are different. Better. There are no more delays with regards to decision making. No petty squabbling over who loses and who gains. And more importantly, no useless voting halting progress.
There is order.
"Sounds more like a dictatorship to me."
A vice grips the charred remains of my chest. If it wasn't for the clunky respirator, painfully forcing air down into what was left of my lungs, I would've lost my breath. My artificially regulated heart skips a beat and the lights flash on my control panel in alarm. There was that voice again. Her voice. The voice of an Angel – no a ghost. A distant whisper of a haunting past. My response was to her then, as it remains now. "Well, if it works."
The black synth-leather gloves squeak and crack as I clench my fists tight, forcing the gears in my mechanical hand to whine under the pressure. I grind my teeth together so hard, my jaw starts to ache.
This isn't the way it was meant to be. She was always supposed to be at my side. Always. My Angel was to be my Empress and together we were going to rule the galaxy, as husband and wife. Politician and soldier. The bleeding-heart and the enforcer. A balance between ever present light and omnipotent dark.
Absolute Perfection.
I sacrificed everything to ensure I wouldn't lose her the way I lost my mother. Selling my soul to the very epitome of darkness itself. But she had to betray me. Bringing him to the place only she knew about, to destroy me. And in the end it was my own hand that determined her fate. Strangling the very life from the woman that I sold my soul to protect. Snuffing out not only her light but that of our unborn child as well. If it wasn't for Obi-wan, she'd still be alive, possibly standing beside me, cradling our baby in her arms … and I wouldn't be confined to this walking coffin.
That Jedi may have taken my love and my limbs, but in the end – it is I who won. The gift of eternal pain and hatred their deceit bestowed upon me, now breathes new life into the monster I have become.
Inside, I no longer know love, nor joy. Not happiness nor excitement.
I only feel pain. Pain, hatred and anger. An all consuming, festering rage that urges me on. Anger at her … at them … at him … at my master … at everyone.
But the most powerful of all … is the complete and utter hatred I have … for myself.
The shuttle descends through the thick cloud cover, revealing the city below. It's been just over a month since I was last here and already I yearn to go back to the star destroyer. I truly despise this place and everything that it once stood for. Just the sight of it dredges up the never-ending tortuous memories of my previous life. Lifting my mask, I gaze out between the two pilots and stare through the viewport. The infra-red lenses, painting my vision crimson.
The skyscrapers dominate the industrialized horizon, interlaced with steady ribbons of bustling air traffic, their glowing lights weaving back and forth.
In the distance, nestled amongst the chaos stands the crumbling duracrete Ziggurat, its five spires stretching up into the hazy atmosphere - the tallest of which containing the newly renovated Imperial throne room. My current destination.
The former Jedi temple.
The home of the new Emperor, Darth Sidious.
My master.
This is my life. My destiny. My curse.
Anakin Skywalker is dead. I am all that remains.
I am Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith … and one day … I will have my vengeance.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Please enjoy and review. These are just two insights into the head space of Vader and Padmè. The chapters will be longer when the story takes off. I just adore the simplicity of the first person POV and feel it sets the mood perfectly.
