Failure. He despised it.
The word echoed in his mind, taunting him. No doubt his punishment for this would be swift. His master didn't tolerate failure.
Storming through the corridors of his flagship, Vader headed for his chamber. He couldn't return to the bridge, not like this. He needed to refocus.
Reaching the black blast door he activated the control panel and strode inside. If his men had any sense they would not disturb him, not if they wished to continue breathing.
The black walls of his hyperbaric chamber glistened in the limited light, welcoming him home. Whispering promises of solitude. Stepping into the dome, the dark lord lowered himself into the leather chair staring at the control panel. He skimmed through the messages briefly, relieved to find there was nothing of any great importance.
The mechanical arm lowered from the ceiling as the chamber walls slowly closed in around him, sealing with a loud hiss. He felt his helmet gradually lift from his head allowing his long dark blonde hair to fall limply over his neck. The cold air prickled his exposed skin.
Undoing the clasps he removed the mask, lowering it down onto the floor beside his boot. The light was blinding as always. His mask may have allowed him to breathe outside of this chamber, but the effect it had on his eyesight was beyond frustrating. Through the lenses his vision was tinted in shades of red.
Stained, just like my hands, he mused turning his leather clad hands over in front of his face.
He dropped them onto his knees and sighed. Closing his eyes drawing on the force he allowed himself to fall into a meditative trance.
ALDERAA FOUR: FOREST MOON
On the outskirts of the forest sat a quaint cottage, beside it a sleek silver starship was parked, moonlight dancing on the hull. A cool breeze whispered through the trees the sound of their leaves rustling, mingling with chirping of the night whisps.
Inside the cottage sat one thoroughly exhausted Jedi, his legs crossed on the table reading a datapad. A small woman was fussing around the living room, her long brown hair dishevelled complimenting the simple blue shift dress she wore.
"I sincerely hope she wakes up soon, Obi wan, I don't know how much more they can take," Dormè stated picking up the toys strewn across the floor. "Luke has barely eaten and Leia is refusing to listen to anything I say."
"We can't give up on them, Dormè, I...can't give up on them," he replied, looking up from his datapad. The dark shadows under his eyes evidence of the toll his promise was taking on him.
"Luke drew this today, what do you make of it?" she asked handing him a small drawing. It was a tall black figure standing in front of two bright yellow suns.
Taking the drawing he studied it, stroking his beard, "I would hazard a guess that Luke's nightmares have been rather vivid of late," he sighed.
"I don't even want to know where you're going with that," Dormè retorted, placing the last of the toys into the chest. "I am going for a shower and then to bed. I suggest, Master Kenobi, that you do the same."
"I know, goodnight Dormè, until tomorrow."
"Goodnight Obi wan."
"Oh Dormè, how is she?" He asked glancing up from the drawing.
"No change yet, Obi wan, I'm sorry," she replied solemnly.
"Yes, me too."
"Goodnight Obi wan," she said ascending the stair case.
"Goodnight Dormè."
He sat in silence staring at the picture. Clearly the boy was having visions of his father but why now, and what was the significance of the suns?
Maybe I'm reading too much into this.
Yoda's voice came to him.
"Truly remarkable the mind of a child can be," his mind repeated, a distant memory of a time long passed.
Folding the drawing, he tapped it into a pocket in his cloak, leaning on the window frame gazing out into the surrounding forest. Dormé was right, the twins needed their mother. With a sigh he turned from the window and left the room, making his way up the staircase.
Opening the door, his heart sank. No matter how many times he saw Padmè lying on the bed motionless, the melancholy never ceased. He pulled a chair over and sat beside her, taking her porcelain hand in his own. Closing his eyes he drew in a deep breath giving himself to the force.
Padmè, can you hear me?
No response.
Padmè please come back to us your children need you.
Still no response.
A dim light flickered through the grey haze of his vision. He pushed forward with his mind, following the trail. The deeper he fell, the dimmer the light became. Drawing a short breath he pushed forward once again, desperately reaching out for her force presence.
A stifling darkness surrounded his vision. A suffocating ebony fog drawing forward, swallowing all traces of light in its' path. His breath caught in his throat. He tried to push his way through the darkness, only for it to grow stronger, threatening to engulf him. His skin prickled as the cold sensation chilled him to the core. An ear piercing scream filled his conscious slamming into him like a thousand blaster bolts, the sound causing his heart to hammer wildly in his chest.
"That wasn't Padmè," he gasped eyes wide in disbelief.
He sat bolt upright trying to catch his breath, his chest heaving in and out from the confrontation. Running his trembling hands through his auburn hair he stared despondently at the woman in front of him. "I'm so sorry Padmè," he whispered with tears glistening in his stormy eyes. "I'm just not strong enough."
Obi wan pushed himself up from his chair and staggered from the room, closing the door softly behind him.
STAR DESTROYER DEVASTATOR
Vader's eyes snapped open mid scream, bright amber orbs glowering at his reflection on the screen in front of him. His heart beat erratically in his chest, beads of sweat dotting his brow. Clenching his fists so hard they began to shake, he glanced down at his suit the warning lights on his chest panel blinking. He drew in a deep shaky breath in an attempt to even out his breathing. All the while his mind repeating one name…Kenobi.
Obi wan stood listlessly next to the picture window in his room, staring back out into the dark forest. Despair beginning to rise in his chest.
"I wish I could be sure what to do, Master," he said to the darkness. "I can't reach her, force knows I've tried. The last attempt terrified me. Looking for her drew me too close to the darkness..." he let out a long deep sigh, the feeling of failure rising with it.
Qui gon appeared next to him and put his ethereal hand on Obi wan's slumped shoulder.
"Don't dwell on your emotions, Obi wan. The twins need you, she needs you. Focussing on your fear will not help."
"The darkness is...suffocating, Master. I...I felt...him," he replied staring at his old master.
"You felt Anakin while you were searching for Padme?" Qui gon asked folding his translucent arms.
"No Master, I felt...Vader. The utter desolation and despair he was projecting, I felt like...like I was being choked by it," he replied distantly staring back out the window.
"Do you think he noticed you?"
"Oh, I am sure of it. I broke concentration the moment he screamed," Obi wan stated resolutely rubbing his beard.
"You have to keep trying, Obi wan. Meanwhile I will see if there is another way that I can help in reaching her. Be mindful of your thoughts, and may the force be with you."
"May the force be with you too, master."
And as fast as he was there, he was gone.
After speaking with his master Obi wan left for the fresher adjoining his room. Removing his robes and stepping into the shower, he let the hot water fall over him in an attempt to soothe his pounding head. "Come back soon Padme," he whispered to himself, "we need you here."
The sith growled in frustration as the incessant beeping of his comm unit filled his chamber. He replaced his mask and waited as his helmet gradually lowered over his head, sealing him back inside his prison. Punching the panel on his desk, he accepted the transmission.
The holoscreen flickered to life and he was greeted by the face of Captain Needa, a forlorn expression gracing his features.
"What is it Captain?" he stated menacingly.
Needa swallowed mustering his courage, "it's the Emperor my lord, he demands you make contact," the Captain stammered.
"Put him through to my chamber at once," he barked.
He made his way over to the holopod beside his hyperbaric chamber, dreading the conversation that was about to occur. Dropping onto one knee, he bowed his head as his master's ghostly image flickered into life before him.
"What is thy bidding my master?" he stated obediently.
"What news have you of the rebel ship that attacked the mining facility on Sullust?"
Vader's respirator hitched as he tried to form the answer that he knew was going to enrage Sidious.
"They managed to make the jump to hyperspace while we were tracking them, my Master. We have mapped out all possible trajectories from their last known coordinates, but we have so far, found no trace of them."
"You lost them?" the older sith yelled.
"Yes, Master," he replied quietly, it was coming, he could feel his Master's fury swirling around him.
"That mining facility was producing fuel critical to the completion of the death star! The rebels must be crushed. They cannot continue to interrupt our progress, the stability of the Empire depends on it! This incident has set my plans back months, if not years!" Sidious punctuated his last sentence with a blast of blue lightning shooting straight from his scraggly fingers through Vader's suit.
Falling forward onto both hands and knees Darth Vader struggled to contend with the searing pain that was ripping through his body, sending shockwaves from the circuits in his artificial arm. His respirator was failing, pure hatred screaming inside of his head as he struggled to retain consciousness.
Sidious sneered as he observed his apprentice struggling on all fours. Enjoying watching him suffer and relishing in the amplified waves of hatred that swirled around him.
"Find that ship, Lord Vader and destroy the rebels that are responsible for the attack! I trust you can take care of that since you so pathetically failed at protecting the mining facility." More lightning came flying from him, as if to emphasize his dissatisfaction.
Struggling to maintain his composure Vader bowed his head lower, "Y...yes m...master".
The holo-image flickered out and Vader all but collapsed on the pod. Forcing himself up onto his feet, he stumbled over to his hyperbaric chamber grasping at the wall to steady himself.
He hit the floor after misjudging the step, and clutched on to the side of the black durasteel like a lifeline. He could hear his respirator malfunctioning, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. Clawing back up the side of the chamber he stepped over the edge and collapsed into the large leather chair.
The chamber walls started to close in around him as the arm descended to remove his helmet. With a shudder and a loud hiss the chamber sealed. Hearing the flow of oxygen rush in Vader removed his mask and placed it on the floor next to him. Slamming his fist into the console.
"Damn him! Damn his beloved Empire! And damn that insufferable Death Star! I hope the rebels do find a way to blow it up and when they do I hope you're on it my master!"
He dropped his face into his gloved hands as he tried to combat the lightning still rippling through his body, focussing on the force trying to heal the burns. Gradually he slipped back into a deep meditative sleep.
"Anakin...Anakin...help me!"
Screaming followed by loud sobbing, then more screaming.
She's dying!
Vader awoke with a start, his heart pounding in his chest and beads of sweat falling along his brow. No, she's not dying. SHE'S DEAD. You killed her! Her and your child!
His head was screaming at him, it never got any easier, the pain never went away. He opened his eyes and just stared at his reflection. Tears were streaming down his cheeks as his eyes shifted from azure blue back to red gold, as they usually did after dreaming of her.
"I'm so sorry Angel, so, so sorry," he choked.
He dropped his head back down into his hands and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Eventually drifting back off to sleep.
"Anakin...Anakin do you hear me?" Qui gon asked.
"Yes, I hear you," Anakin replied distantly.
"Listen…I need you to listen carefully, Anakin."
"What do you want?" he snapped.
"An old friend of mine needs your help, but you must promise to listen before reacting," the late Jedi stated.
"Qui gon?" Anakin asked desperately.
"Yes Anakin it's me."
"I'm so sorry…I killed her…I murdered our child. I killed everyone! I'm a monster! You said I was the chosen one! Why did this happen? I don't understand!" the sith cried out in despair.
"Calm yourself, Anakin. I don't have the answers," Qui gon chided.
"Then why are you here!" he yelled in frustration.
"Just listen, when he comes to you, let him speak. He needs you but more importantly she needs you," the late Jedi implored.
"Qui gon sir, I don't understand?"
"Just promise you will listen Anakin."
"Alright, alright I promise," the sith replied.
"Good wake now Anakin. Remember your promise."
Vader woke up alarmed and confused. His mask and helmet replaced, the dark lord strode from his chamber hoping to regain his sanity at the bridge.