Chapter 2

Two Months earlier

Darth Vader heard the whoosh of the elevator door as it opened. Before him, he saw his Master upon a throne, gazing at the nothingness of space. Vader knew his master was aware of his arrival. A sith lord couldn't afford to not be aware of his apprentice's presence for it could cost them their life. Darth Sidious knew this well.

"Why do you hesitate, friend?" The Emperor cooed as he turned to face Vader. "You have seemed distracted of late."

Vader weighed his response carefully, not wanting to show anymore vulnerability than his Master already sensed. "It is a small, petty matter. Nothing worth mentioning to you, Master."

The Emperor choked a small laugh, "Perhaps, perhaps. However, it is a matter your master wishes to hear. Do you dare deny me?"

Lord Vader, the great terror of the Empire, felt himself shrink. "No, my Master."

"Good, though I sense you still resist to tell me. Very well, I will attempt to guess." The Emperor gracefully lifted himself from his throne, moving towards Vader. He began methodically circling him, "You are disappointed in me. In your thoughts, you question why you chose the Dark Side. Remind me friend, why did you turn?"

Darth Vader's mechanical breathing caught for a moment, "For Padme," he finally admitted. "To save her."

Sidious cackled and nodded, knowing all that had transpired. "Yes, it was I who told you of the unnatural powers the Dark Side possessed. That is why you gave me your loyalty. Unfortunately, Padme did die and you have come to doubt me, even contemplating rebellion."

"They are just brief, passing thoughts, Master. Nothing more than air." Trying to hide it, Vader began to tremble slightly. Her loss was a wound that never fully healed. He only covered it with hate, anger, and power. Now his Master was trying to unearth his demons.

The Emperor tsked, "Thoughts grow and harden, my apprentice. It was fleeting thoughts that led you to betray the Jedi!" The Emperor's voice turned into a hiss, but he calmed once more. "Fret not, my son. I won't let these thoughts trouble you anymore."

Vader knew his Master had little choice but to kill him. A show of strength was needed. The Emperor couldn't let the seeds of rebellion spread, especially so close to him.

Lord Vader knelt down on one knee, "I am prepared to die, my Master."

Darth Sidious tilted his head then knelt down beside Vader, cupping his armored chin, "My dear friend, your senses are truly distracted. If you think I'm going to kill you, then you have no idea of my true intentions. Did you even notice how truly alone we were when you entered here?"

Vader looked around. Yes, there was something. He glance back at the elevator door. The two Royal Guards posted there were missing. His Master must have sent them away. He looked at his Master, feeling dazed. "What is it you intend?"

The Emperor stood up and smiled, "I intend to keep my promise. I will show you the true power of the Dark Side."

Luckily, the mask prevented the Emperor from seeing Lord Vader's eyes widen. Could he truly be talking about bringing her back? Or was he once again misunderstanding his Master.

"You hide your excitement and lessen your expectations," Sidious smirked. "Wise, but unnecessary. Your suspicions are correct."

At first, to his own surprise, Vader was elated. Then reality began to sink in. "It has been twenty one years, Master. Surely any attempt to bring her back is futile."

His master nodded and laughed, "In a way you are right. Yet once again you miss the glaring truth. Her body is gone. Yes, that much is true. However, her soul has lived. It simply moved on at the moment of her body's demise. Now it has a new body, new name, new life, but the same soul. Padme's soul."

Vader's emotions contradicted each other, "She won't remember me."

"Perhaps that is beneficial," The Emperor continued. "In this way, she will not have seen your treachery. She will have never known Anakin Skywalker, only Lord Vader. We will show her the Dark Side of the Force."

Those words reverberated in Vader's mind like a bell. Only know Darth Vader. The man, the machine. For a moment, he imagined holding a person lovingly in his robotic arms. A woman looking up into his masked face, or worse, his scars. He shook the image from his mind. No woman would want a machine. Or a monster.

"It would be impossible," he muttered deeply.

He heard his Master chuckle once more, "You may surprised. It all depends on the woman. Many like…hard luck cases. They are funny creatures. Besides, it would be Padme's soul. Some part of her will accept you." The Emperor walked back to his throne and sat down. "Before you argue against me, let me inform you I have already found the girl and have every intention of presenting her to you."

Darth Vader wanted to rise to his feet and demand The Emperor reconsider, for the girl's sake as well as his own. However, his obedience triumphed. And he simply replied, "As you wish, my Master."

Darth Sidious's corpse like face gave off a self-satisfied smirk. He then extended his arm and opened his palm. Inside was a holograph device. Using the Force, the device sprung to life and an image of a young woman appeared. She didn't seem too fat or thin in Vader's mind. Her full face was curtained by light wavy hair. She wore a shirt with the letters ASPCA on it. Vader had no idea what that meant.

"This is Pamila. She is Padme's reincarnation." The Emperor explain, the smirk never leaving his face.

Vader nodded slightly, "When you said you found her, I assumed she was already here on this station."

The Emperor stopped smirking. "Unfortunately, she seems to be out of my reach."

"Master?" Vader questioned.

"She is . . . not in this Universe. Yet she is. Even with all my power, I could only manage to gain this image."

The emotions that had filled Vader began to subside. Part of him knew his Master couldn't bring his love back to him.

"So even the Dark Side is limited," Vader finally stated.

"No! I refuse to believe it!" his Master snarled. "The Dark Side is all powerful. No, I just need time to study this matter. Nothing is out of my grasp. Nothing!"

Vader looked down at the floor, still doubting his Master.

"I understand, my Master," he lied.

As if snapping out of a trance, Sidious blinked his eyes rapidly and shook his head slightly, "Leave me, Lord Vader."

Darth Vader got up off his knee, bowed, and gladly left his Master.