Chapter Four

"Moff Tarkin, I expected a report long before now."

The womp-rat faced Moff frowned. "I sent in the report already."

"You sent it in after the time I wanted it to arrive be. Do I need to remind you of what you have already cost the empire?"

"Yes, yes, a bunch of clones who all died rescuing me and a Jedi. Who cares abou-"

"Clearly, clones understand punctuality, duty, and obedience. Traits I find you … lacking." He released his hold on the Force again.

"Ah, yes, Lord Vader. As I said in my report, I believe we have enough of the structure completed that we can begin test firing of the weapon."

"No. We will wait for construction to be complete before testing. The current status would very likely result in structural failures leading to the eventual release of all inhabitants being sent into vacuum. Including you."

Tarkin pointed at Vader, a foolish move the Dark Lord allowed this time. "This station will need to be tested, soon."

"And it will be. On the rebel network's base of operations."

The Imperial raised an eyebrow and flapped a hand around. "Ah yes, these rebels. How did they find out about this project?"

Vader frowned, even if his helmet did not show his displeasure at the smug, self-satisfied look on the Moff's face. Until the Dark Lord smiled. This leak was the result of Imperials themselves having loose lips.

"Some pilots on vacation leave went to Nar Shaddaa. I understand they went into gambling and bar tab debt and started talking. They were pilots stationed with the construction project." The Moff's face wiped into a blank slate as he paled more than he already was.

Vader's smile never left as he ended the call at that and folded his hands before his helmeted face. He already had an idea of where to go to flush some of the rebels out.

Dantooine.

But that would have to wait for after dinner. And bedtime. And getting the children ready for school. But before tomorrow's dinner time. Or when they get home.

He accessed the video monitoring system of the mouse droid in the twins' room, watching them at play as he waited for the cooking droids to finish making dinner, and for his meditation chambers to let him leave again.

"You have failed me for the last time. Ksssh! Kosshhh!" Luke held up his free hand and mimed a single-handed choke as the other covered his mouth for the echo effect. "Do not doubt the power of the Force, Imperial!"

Vader frowned. Did his life support systems really make him sound like that? Like he was … Grievous, with far fewer (now) coughing fits, but a droid within a shell of an organic person? He shook his head as Luke released his imaginary victim.

Leia laughed. "Real scary, Luke. Dad doesn't do that. He'd just look at the Moffs making fun of the Force and they'd just fall over, dead."

"But then new Moffs would come in and make fun of the Force." Luke frowned as he considered his words, but his sister shook her head and spread her arms dramatically to the other side of the room.

"No they won't. 'Cuz they'll be right over there when they get all sudden-promoted."

Luke crossed his arms and threw his sister a dirty look as he pouted. "What would you do as Darth Leia then?"

"Princess. I would be Darth Princess. And I'd just make everyone agree with me with the Force, if they won't listen to logic."

Luke shook his head. "Can't be Darth Princess. Has to sound cool, and kinda like a word. Like Vader sounds like Fayther which sounds kinda like Father, but sounds way cooler."

"I wanna be Darth Princess. It sounds cute."

"How 'bout… Prister. Like Sister and Princess."

Leia thought on that for a bit. She nodded. "Then you're… Skyther. Like Skywalker, and like Brother. 'Cuz if I can't be Darth Princess when I grow up, then you can't be Darth Skywalker."

Ah, the door said he was clear to leave. Good. Vader stepped into the hallway and smiled as he turned off the monitoring system's sounds. The children's voices were just down the other hall.

"Yeah! Skyther! Fear the Darth Skyther!"

"And his sister, Darth Prister!"

"And I'm gonna have a battle droid army!"

"Then I'll have a clone army, for whenever someone kicks your b-u-t-t."

"Hey! You said a bad-"

"Master Luke, Princess Leia, please come out for dinner; I have just seen your father leave his office." The gold-plated droid waddled in from the hallway.

"Okay, Threepio!" The twins giggled after speaking at the same time, and Vader cut his connection to the mouse droid.

He did not sound like a blasted droid. Absolutely not.

Leia seemed to constantly be bouncing in her seat as her feet likely swung under the table. "Dad! Dad! Luke and I decided what our Sith Lord names will be. I'm going to be Darth Prister, with a pink lightsaber, or maybe purple, haven't decided yet."

"I'm gonna be the awesome Darth Skyther. And I'm gonna be awesome and lead a droid army, because battle droids aren't people." Luke waved his soup spoon around as if ordering where his future droid army will attack. "And-and if they break, I just fix them again. People take longer to get fixed, even if they do shoot better. And battle droids don't need a whole lot of armor, and can go to places that would normally kill people really fast, like space."

Vader nodded along. If he were to make these playtime imaginings true, he would have to remove the Emperor, and restore the Order of the Sith from the ties of Bane's Rule of Two. But he could not train them into the ways of the Force with the Emperor in power.

The rebels could take out the Emperor, if controlled right. And the military and Imperial Senate could be manipulated into accepting him as the new Emperor, or at least throw some Force-blind politician into the position.

Then he and the twins could rule the galaxy, or rule from the shadows, protect the people from their own foolish mistakes. Help improve people's lives in general without the political waiting game of the Republic where they just waited for the people to just die and be forgotten.

"Dad?"

"Hmm?"

Leia's face fell. "You weren't listening, were you?"

"I'm sorry, I got sidetracked."

"Today in class, we were talking about what we wanted to be when we grew up. We said we were gonna be Darths like you. And then Lilsa said she was gonna be the Emperoress so she could tell us Darths what to do."

"Tarkins can't be Emperoresses and tell us what to do, right?"

Vader placed his elbows on the table and folded his hands. "Most unlikely. Let Tarkin continue to think she can someday, for you have the power of the Force at your side. The Force is far greater than any technology developed. Let your enemies and rivals underestimate you, for when you show them your true power, they will fear you."

"But in school, they teach us that we need to all be friends. Friends aren't scared of each other, are they?"

He shook his head. "No, but friends do not try to hurt each other either. You do not need to make the Tarkin children fear you today, or tomorrow, or anytime soon. You do not need anyone to fear you. I have no doubt she is just jealous of you both."

"She can't tell us what to do?"

"No, and you can't tell her what to do. Not until you are all grown up with your own places in the galaxy."