It was 0300. Still early. And Vader was meditating. He knew that Obi-Wan was coming. But how? How did that infuriating Jedi even know that the Death Star existed? Maybe Bail Organa had told him. That infuriating man had told Leia. She had known, even before she had been dragged aboard and given a room. So why not tell Obi-Wan? He answered his circular reasoning question. Because Alderaan was being watched closely. Very closely. Wait a minute. Alderaan?
His lips forced themselves into a semblance of a grim smile. Perhaps Obi-Wan didn't even know that the Star did exist. Yes, his instincts told him that was true. So the old man was going to Alderaan? Good, because the Death Star was going to Alderaan. In fact, they'd be there in three days. Then what was left of his heart jerked to a stop. Three days? How was he supposed to convince a princess of Alderaan that the whole "peace and diplomacy are always the answer" thing was not the way his apprentice was to work. How could he possibly do that in three days?
The Dark side swirled around him, growing with his anger and frustration. He had to remember to not broadcast himself fully, or his master would notice. But the power was enough. It whispered the answers to his problem.
It was not Vader who had the pleasure of ordering Alderaan's demise. It was Governor Tarkin's. He, of course, assuming that Vader had tortured the princess for information, was trying to use the destruction as a method of persuasion. He came up with the idea first. Vader knew it was a futile attempt; Leia had too much of her mother in her. To be honest, he really didn't care as long as the planet was destroyed.
Now he stood behind Leia, gloved hands on her shoulders in restraint. She faltered, backing up into him as Tarkin pressed her for information.
"-have decided to test this station's destructive power on your home system of Alderaan," he was sneering. His face was the colour of curdled milk, shallow cheeks puffing out in an attempt to look intimidating. Vader despised this man. If he just happened to squeeze... He almost jumped at the sudden vehement outburst of his only child.
"No! Alderaan is peaceful; we don't have any weapons! You can't possibly-"
"You would prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system!" Tarkin snarled. Leia was trembling now, as she lied to the power-hungry man. He, as predicted, believed her. Vader almost ordered the destruction himself, thinking furiously that Tarkin was going to stop. But then a surprise: "Continue with the operation. You may fire when ready."
Princess Organa gasped out a 'what?!' to which Tarkin smugly replied, "You're far too trusting."
Finally, finally, Vader felt the fury he was looking for. Leia was practically overflowing with it. She lurched forward, aiming not for the controls, as the casual observer would have expected, but for Tarkin. With reluctance, the massive Sith Lord tightened his grip, pulling her back to his chest plate. Tarkin needed to die, but now was not the time.
The Death Star fired. Alderaan was no longer. He almost collapsed under his daughter's grief and combined rage. Quickly, he grabbed the emotions before she could shut them away, forcing her to wallow in them. She fought back. Obviously, her foster-father had warned her of his power. He gritted his teeth, deciding to relent - for now. If she collapsed in tears on the deck of the bridge, he might have a serious total submersion in parenting then and there. He tugged the emotions away, feeling her dull relief.
"Should you need us, Governor, we shall be in my quarters." There was an audible murmur from the crew. They knew that whenever someone went to his quarters, someone died. And, Vader thought with satisfaction, someone will by dying, just as Anakin Skywalker did nineteen years ago.
In the end, he just knocked her out. She had lashed out like a cornered animal. His helmet had cracked from a blow from her foot, and that had been the final straw. Now, he dumped her on the bed unceremoniously.
He studied her, frowning as she stirred. Now that he had her, he didn't know what to do with her. Too late for planning - she was awake. Planning had never been one of his strengths anyway. On the spot action was more of his kind of thing.
"Welcome back," he said coolly. His ventilator took the sarcasm out of his tone. Her head snapped up. The once cool princess mask was gone, replaced by a look of extreme fear. Ah, Vader mused in relief. She knows that I am her real father. But she got it after the subtle hinting... That should save us some time. Just don't loose your temper as you break through the lies. Fat chance of that happening; she managed to infuriate him so quickly that he almost killed her more than once. Only the fact that she was his daughter and apprentice-to-be saved her.
"You can't just-" he bit back a sigh "-do that! I am a Princess of -!" She froze, those baleful brown eyes flitting to the eye spots in his mask. Her mouth opened and closed several times before she choked out, "I am nineteen. You can't have custody over an adult!"
He stared at her, utterly confused. Custody? Then the light bulb went off. If Bail Organa was dead, then the princess was up for adoption. He hadn't even thought of that. It was getting easier by the minute. Suddenly, he realised she was yelling.
"You monster! My real father told me about you! You're a machine!"
"A machine!" snarled Vader, feeling his anger rise dangerously. He spun away from the bed, ripping the helmet from his face. "Do I look like a machine?"
She crawled backwards in surprise. "I-"
"Your father was right about me being a machine. It was because of Obi-Wan that it happened! He sliced me into pieces and pushed me into a pit of lava!" Her eyes widened in disbelief. "He watched me burn! He enjoyed it!"
"No," Leia whispered, shocked. "I don't believe you! Obi-Wan was a Jedi. They didn't-"
"I was a Jedi once too, Leia. I know of their falsities. Why do you think I turned on them? They were weak, foolish. They were like children! So afraid of the dark! But that darkness gives me power, more than I could have dreamed of!" He was barely in control. He wasn't shouting anymore, but his words were hoarse from the effort of keeping quiet. "You don't believe me? Why would Bail Organa have said such a thing to you, little princess? Why would he lie?"
Alderaan's Princess faltered for the slightest second. But then her resolve returned. "Love will always overcome hatred, Vader." It was said so calmly, so matter-of-factly, and Vader recoiled mentally. Should he have bothered trying to turn her? Yes. Yes, she would turn. Turn to him or she would be dead.
Vader turned back around to face her. Obviously, she saw his calm. It clearly frightened her more than he thought possible. "Hatred destroyed your precious old Republic. Hatred destroyed your home planet. I am surprised, honestly. Light wouldn't have been able to save Alderaan. Perhaps if Tarkin hadn't lived-"
It worked. His daughter leapt to her feet, all fear gone from her face. "You!" she practically snarled. Hatred was flowing again, finally. He grabbed it, forcing it to sink into her force sense. Her reserve was cracking. She was weak from torture. The mind shield shattered. Greedily, he leapt forward mentally, finding the information he needed.
She gave an outraged gasp. By natural instinct, she used the Force, albiet subconsciously. All she did was put the shields back in place. It was all the Dark needed.
The Dark side of the Force flew into her mind. Vader could imagine the high she was on right now. The world was seen as if under a microscope. If she wanted to see it, the princess could see individual bits of dust in the air. Her hearing... the dropping of a feather onto a pillow wouldn't go unnoticed. Her strength... He could see the potential she had. She was gasping now. Gasping? With a jolt, he realised that she was probably completely overwhelmed. How would she know what to do with her power?
Yet again, he reached for her mind. But this time, he latched a part of himself there, creating the beginning of a father/daughter and master/apprentice bond. She was not happy about that. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't get rid of him.
Sighing mentally, he swiftly forced her to relax her hold on the Darkness.
He looked into the eyes of a trembling princess. "Ow," she whispered softly. She resumed her attack on the bond. "Stop it," growled Vader icily. Leia froze, struggling against the weight of the order. A minute or so later, she stopped, completely spent.
"Now that I have your attention, Leia, do you have any questions?" The second the words slipped out of his mouth, he regretted them. Was she nineteen or nine? He made an attempt to correct himself - but she didn't seem to notice. Instead, she actually did have a question.
"What do you want from me?"
Vader lifted an eyebrow. "You should know. Don't tell me that your cause still has reason to you."
She dealt out an absolutely vicious glare. Gods, he realised, she's going to be a handful. "The Empire is wrong," she insisted. Wrong? Vader instantly knew how to turn her, there and then.
"Leia, the Empire is wrong. But I just want peace."
That shut her up for a full thirty seconds. Then she shook her head.
Before she could counter him, he plowed on. "Palpatine needs to be killed. Help me kill him. Rule with me. Restore peace."
"The Alliance is doing that!"
Vader gritted his teeth so loudly that she must have heard. That stubborn princess was going to end up dead if she continued on like this. He tried to control his anger. "The Alliance doesn't stand a chance, Princess!" he hissed. "Why kill more people and fight that way than join me and end this quickly?"
That kept her silent for twenty seconds.
"It's wrong," she mumbled. This time, though, she didn't sound so certain. Vader practically jumped on that.
"Fine. Join me, but I'll let you go back to your precious Alliance. Tell me in six months how you feel. Think of what you could have, Leia! The expenses of the empire at your finger tips. You wouldn't have to hide anymore. Peace. So... join me." With that, she locked eyes with him.
"I want to know about my mother. I want -"
"You can have whatever you want, Princess. Assuming it isn't too unreasonable." He extended a gloved hand towards her.
She took it.
