Mistress

Chapter Six: I Hate You [Sick Puppies]

Every time I end up breaking you
You change into something worth keeping
Every time I'm close to saving you
You grow into a sin worth believing

Nova was early and Vader was no where to be found. So she sat down in the center of the room and closed her eyes in a meditative pose. Her body hurt from many fights and she hadn't had time to heal herself. The wounds weren't horribly deep or harmful, but they were annoying. Gathering the anger around herself Nova sank deeper into her hatred. She could feel the welcoming power of the dark side, it's seductive warmth curling around her like a sudden clarity. She could hear people five stories above and below her, she could smell the food they were preparing for her lunch and could sense the Emperor and Vader. He was on his way but she had a few minutes before he arrived.

Concentrating on her wounds Nova redirected the power onto the red marks across her body. Her hatred for the man who did this to her was channeled into the cuts. Her darkness was never ending, it made her powerful. She could feel the marks beginning to close up as she sped up her body's natural healing process. As she sat there in deep meditation a vision appeared before her, a vision of a dark grey stone, half covered in dirt but shimmering all the same. Nova pushed the image from her mind, concentrating on what was at hand.

The door slid open and Vader walked in, his mood black. He'd had to endure a recent meeting with Prince Xizor who was growing in the Emperor's favor. The criminal mastermind set Vader's teeth on edge. The reptilian alien was not one to be trusted and the way he licked Palpatine's boots made Vader physically ill.

He paused in his steps as he felt the intense dark aura surrounding Nova, her power radiating from her for a moment Vader was struck still in shock. He'd never sensed such power from her. The girl sat in the middle of the room in a tight white sleeveless bodysuit. He could see the bruises on her arms and the fresh slices in her skin, but he realized that they were fading. He watched as her skin began to heal before his very eyes the angry red slashes turning into mere scars that added to the criss-crossing lines on her skin.

This time it was Vader whose lightsaber was barely up in time to block hers. Nova had completely given herself over to her hatred, the meditation and healing helping to center her mind. Her moves were faster, more precise than he'd ever seen them. When he would go for an opening she would leap away, her speed something he could not match in his mechanical lifesuit. She was baiting him, he realized, intentionally leaving room for him to attack, drawing his attacks to places where she could defend strongly. Vader smiled beneath his mask, feeling a light sweat break out on his body, it had been such a long time since he'd been presented with such a challenge. But he would not play her game. Her hatred was immense, but it was not focused, it was still untrained and he could defeat her.

Nova could feel the change in him, her attack had surprised him, but it had not kept him off balance for long. He was gathering the darkness around him and Nova did her best to stave off the fear. He was so powerful and she was small and fragile compared to him. Setting her teeth in determination she focused her energy back at him, shoving him away from her with the force and running at him. As his lightsaber was about to meet hers she flicked it off and the his blade passed forward without meeting resistance. Vader stumbled, she flicked it back on moving it in for the kill. He ducked and slammed into her stomach with his shoulder, knocking her backwards onto the ground, her lightsaber flew from her hand, pulled into Vader's.

"Your overconfidence is your undoing." He said, his breath coming out harder than she'd heard it since his duel with An'ya Kuro. "Once you believe you are going to win you drop your guard. Don't."

"Yes master," she said through clenched teeth, she'd been so close. So close to eliminating one of them. Tossing Nova her lightsaber she caught it warily, pulling herself to her feet and getting into a ready stance. Vader didn't move in fact he seemed almost amused by her defensiveness, it made her angrier. What was with him today?

"Sparring is not why I called you here today." He told her and Nova hesitantly dropped out of her stance, deactivating her lightsaber, but her eyes stayed trained on him and she remained alert. It was good she was so careful, one should never trust their enemy until they knew he was dead. And even then some opponents were able to hurt you, their reach extending beyond the grave.

"What is it then?" Nova asked, she looked like a caged animal. Completely distrustful of him. "...Master."

"Stormtroopers have been reported killed on the planet Dargulli, there are rumors that a Jedi is behind it. We will investigate."

"We..?" Nova asked.

"I am not yet confident in your abilities to survive without my help." Vader said, he could feel her anger at his statement and smiled behind his impassive mask, the spike her power was tremendous.

"When shall we be leaving?"

"Tomorrow." he said, by then everything would be ready or there would be hell to pay. "You're dismissed."

She didn't like that, he thought as she walked from the room, pulling a white robe off the ground by the door and sliding into it, her scars once again covered. Vader was quick to depart after her, returning to his own palace. He really could have told her via comlink but for some reason Vader relished his visits with her. Just as he was beginning to become bored with her she would find new ways to impress and surprise him. Nova had become a great fighter, the challenge she offered him was a refreshing change from his day to day routine. It was becoming more and more difficult to defeat her every time, soon they would be ready to take on the Emperor. She would be powerful enough, he had no doubt about that. Together they would have the power to rule the galaxy with a strength and power unimaginable.

His palace was spartan compared to the emperor's lavish decorations. Vader was immensely wealthy but did not use his wealth on unnecessary decorations. Instead much of his wealth went towards an advanced security system and spy network, and of course his hyperbaric chamber which he was headed towards now. He wanted to try something.

Vader sat naked inside the oxygenated chamber and drew the dark side towards him, wrapping it around his body. He poured all his anger, hatred, and pain outwards before channeling it back in towards his injured lungs. For a moment he was able to breathe as he had once long ago, but as his sense of joy swept over him he found himself once again struggling with breath. Leaning back against the wall of the chamber Vader sighed, exhausted by the effort it had taken to repair his damaged organs. But there was hope, he'd been able to change, just for a moment, but the moment had been there.

It wasn't so simple as getting a lung transplant from another being. As easy a course as that might be it would decrease his abilities enormously. Over 20,000 midichlorians existed within each of his cells. If he received a lung transplant from a person with no force sensitivity he would have lungs with only 5,000 midichlorians in each cell. The drop in power would be unimaginable and unacceptable. His only way of returning to his previous abilities would be to heal his lungs himself. Or find someone who could do so for him.

You're everything I ever wanted
But it's never enough, you're never enough
I'll take whatever I can take
Whenever I can take it if it ever comes

She lay in his arms, her head pressed against his chest. Kadir's fingers meandered through her hair before stroking her cheek. Nova did her best to keep her frown from her face, her eyes closed, he was warm and safe but there was something lacking in his presence. No pain accompanied his touch, it was so unfamiliar that it was almost wrong, she'd become so accustom to the hurt it was almost as necessary to her as the pleasure he brought. And there was no power. Kadir was not force-sensitive. There was no dark storm clinging to him, wafting around him. Nothing with which to control her or make her fear him. In a way she liked it, she was in charge, in power, she held his life in the palm of her hand and he didn't even know it. Yet there was no challenge, nothing to overcome or defeat. He was not like Vader nor like the Emperor, he was not like a Jedi. Kadir could never measure up next to them or her.

"I need to go," Nova said, sitting up abruptly. The blankets falling from her bare skin, making her shiver.

"You won't stay for a little while?" He asked, drawing himself up beside her and leaning in to kiss her. Nova turned her head from him and his lips brushed her cheek. He pulled back. "What's wrong?"

"I must go, Lord Vader is expecting me... and I must see the Emperor before we depart." She lied.

"Where are you going, when will you be back?" he asked with concern.

"I cannot tell you, it is a secret."

"You can trust me."

"It's not a matter of trust." Nova said with a roll of her eyes, the simple white dress falling to just below her knees, she wore a silver bodysuit beneath. "The Emperor will know if I tell you."

"He is not the all knowing monster you believe him to be," Kadir said, a frown on his face as he sat on the bed looking up at her. "He does not know about us."

"If you do not think he knows about this affair then you are a fool Kadir," Nova sneered. Was he really so blind? Of course the Emperor would know, the idea of being able to keep such a thing secret from him was ludicrous. In his own palace, under his protection?

"If he knew about us we'd both be dead."

"Perhaps we still will be," she said though Nova doubted it, she might be punished but she at least would not be killed. Kadir she did not expect to survive, it was no matter. His presence was becoming more and more tedious. Nova was quickly growing bored with him.

"I promise you that soon you will be free of him my love," Kadir said, catching her hands in his and looking into her eyes sincerely.

"How can you promise that?" Nova asked in amusement, where did he get these absurd ideas? He might yet live if he continued to entertain her in such ways.

"I will kill him," Kadir confided, and the smile dropped from her face.

"Do not joke about such things."

"It is not a joke. There will be a coup, it will happen soon. A whole battalion of stormtroopers are under our control, we will use them to destroy Vader and the Emperor, the Sith will no longer rule the galaxy!" Kadir said excitedly. Nova stared at him as if he'd gone mad. Who was more fit to rule if not the Sith? They were more powerful than any other being in the galaxy and therefore most worthy to rule over it. Why should someone weaker than her be able to rule over and force her actions?

"You will all be killed," she said, with no remorse in her face, she was merely stating a fact.

"We shall be triumphant," Kadir said sincerely, standing up and pulling her into his arms. She allowed him to embrace her and stood there, his promise of comfort surrounding her.

"I must leave," she said, pulling away from him.

"Before you go I have a gift for you," he said with a smile moving across the room to his desk drawer. The edges of Nova's lips turned up into a smirk as he pulled out the FWG-5 flechette gun and a black holster of exquisite quality. Moving quickly to him she kissed him deeply, his hands clutched her hips drawing her close to him. As soon as Nova had the gun in her hands she stepped away and began to walk towards the door strapping it around her waist.

"Soon you shall be free and we will not have to hide our love." He promised before the door slid shut behind her.

'Our love' is that really what he thought was going on? Kadir was a tool, a tool who was unaware of his purpose which made him all the more annoying and amusing. He really thought that he could defeat the Emperor and Vader. It almost made Nova laugh if the laughter wouldn't be so bitter on her lips. Even she could not defeat them, what made him think he could last five milliseconds against either of them.

She changed into a simple inexpensive grey and green mottled bodysuit. A long grey cloak circled her neck before draping over her shoulders to her thighs, ideal for hiding weapons without limiting movement. On her waist her newly acquired FWG-5 and her lightsaber were held by a thick black belt. The belt was worn but strong and would not break, the suit and cloak were threadbare in places, worn and ragged around the edges. She was completely inconspicuous, except for her hair. Looking into the mirror Nova knew that her hair would give her away immediately. The platinum blonde, nearly white strands were too easily identifiable, she concentrated as her hair darkened more and more before her very eyes. Nova stopped and stared at the dark chocolate curls that fell around her face loosely. Perfect she thought, pulling it back into a tight bun high on her head, the shorter strands slipping forward into her eyes.

Vader hardly recognized her and if it weren't for Nova's dark aura he never would have. She still had trouble hiding her powers it was a weakness that would cost her dearly if their target was indeed a Jedi, but that wasn't his problem. He would come with her as far as Dargulli and make sure she didn't get herself killed, then Palpatine was sending him to oversee the final stages of construction of the Death Star.

"Lord Vader," she greeted with a respectful bow. Even her voice sounded different, a husky warm alto instead of her cold and wintry soprano voice, still tinged with coarseness from their duel almost a year ago. Nova had become very adept at manipulating matter into whatever she willed it, he wished she'd show more adeptness in other areas as well. Her combat forms and concentration while dueling needed considerable improvement.

"Nova." He replied, very few knew the Mistress's real name so there was little danger in using it, especially seeing what she looked like now. Nova realized it was the first time he'd ever used her name, in the almost six years since they'd known each other and this was the first time.

I hate you when you're gone, I hate you turn me on
I hate the way I need you when I don't know where you are
I love it even more when I find you on the floor
I know you think you hate me but I will always hate you more

Kadir walked besides Trachta nervously. He did his best to keep from glaring too intently at Palpatine's back, instead he tried to distract himself, instead he thought about the bomb on Palpatine's shuttle, the shuttle he would soon be on. Hopefully. Trachta was sure that Palpatine would never knowingly walk into a trap but Kadir was hopeful that the Emperor would not know. Was hopeful that it would all be over quickly. But his hopes began to fade as Palpatine halted the procession with a silent flick of his wrist.

There was something not quite right. A threat hung about the shuttle and the dark side seemed to want to keep him from it. Palpatine listened to his greatest ally and stood perfectly still. He felt that he was safe where he stood, safer than say five feet to his right. The dark energy seemed to build and build and it became clear to Palpatine that it was a bomb. He tried to keep the smile from his face, how entertaining: a bomb. When it went off he was safely far enough away, but the same could not be said for half of his guard.

Kadir breathed out a silent sigh. It hadn't worked, but Palpatine's guard had been diminished greatly, he knew Trachta planned on offering his troopers to take their place, more effectively surrounding the Emperor with those ready to destroy him. It was a step, the door was slowly being forced opened and soon their plan would be put into action.

The Emperor was growing bored already as he was surrounded by his remaining guard and ushered to a safe location. There was nothing to titillate his interest anymore. His eyes swept over the crowd and settled on a young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, her hair was too gold and her skin had too much life in it but he nodded to one of his guard anyways. Better to play pretend in her absence. He was disgusted by his own weakness, there was no reason to have become so attached to Nova. Her power and the infinite hate that surrounded her was a powerful drug and made him hungry for her presence.

She would make a very powerful apprentice if she would fully give herself over to the Dark Side. Unfortunately there seemed to be a part of her from her early days as a child on Adarlon that remained with her despite his best efforts to remove it. Much in the way Anakin Skywalker remained a part of Lord Vader no matter how deeply he tried to purge his apprentice of it. His failure at removing their weaknesses was frustrating, but he would see in time what became of her. It was not too late for Nova to become the perfect apprentice.

I never knew until I got a taste
What a waste for what I had been through
'Cause nothing ever really makes that change
I'm so ashamed of what I did to you

Huge beasts, with enormous teeth and claws chased after her. Their breath smelled of decay and the women riding them cackled as they closed in on her. Closer and closer they came and her terror was overwhelming, she could not outrun them and she could not defeat them. Suddenly the scenery changed, she stood in a densely wooded forest, lightning crackled overhead and Nova jumped, running into the cover of the trees before it began raining. Tripping over a root she fell hard against the ground, the skin was ripped from her knees and palms as she skidded across the wet dirt. Tears of pain clouded her eyes but they were quickly blinked away. In the bleary halflight Nova saw a dark grey stone between her hands, lifting it from the ground she rubbed the dirt away and beneath the layer of grime the stone shimmered. Once again the world melted around her and Nova was once more running from the monsters. Turning she pulled her lightsaber from her belt, igniting it. But instead of the usual crimson blade the lightsaber emitted a smoky ash colored beam. As the monster lunged towards her, jaws open, she dropped to the side and rolled away.

Nova cried out in surprise as she hit the floor with a loud thump. The sheets from her bed were tangled around her sweaty body. She lay there breathing heavily, thinking about her dream. She was not a stranger to premonitions, but normally they were more abstract, feelings and thoughts rather than images and places. And the stone, it was the second time it had appeared before her in a vision. With a frown Nova untangled herself from the warm cocoon and wrapped a dark cloak around her pale nightdress. Glancing in the mirror she made sure her hair still appeared as dark chocolate curls and crept swiftly from the room. Blinking in the bright artificial lighting of the star cruiser Mathayas' hallways she moved quickly. Nova didn't really want to run into any guards, they hadn't taken a liking to the 'bounty hunter' that was accompanying Lord Vader to Dragulli. Nova sensed only great dislike from the crew towards both herself and her master and there was something off about it but she could not place it.

Standing outside of the door Nova clicked a button, waiting patiently. No response, she frowned and debated going back, but the image of the crystal floated into her mind once more and Nova turned back to the door. She pressed the button again, holding down longer and harder than before. She tapped her foot impatiently. With a sigh Nova reached out hesitantly with the force, searching carefully. She jumped as her consciousness brushed with Vader's and withdrew slightly, making him aware of her presence. The door finally slid open for her and she stepped inside, her eyes once again having to adjust to the now dark room.

"What is it?" He asked, his voice not inhibited by the filter of his mask. As Nova found herself becoming lightheaded she realized the oxygen content in his room was unusually high so that he could breathe.

"I needed to speak with you."

"You couldn't have waited until morning," he grumbled.

"It is morning. I'm sorry to have disturbed your nap," Nova commented dryly, who was she to know Darth Vader wasn't a morning person? As her eyes adjusted to the low lighting she was able to see him clearly and shifted uncomfortably. He wore only a dark robe, wrapped around his mangled body. His mechanical arms were covered in loose black gloves but she could see the prosthetic metal skeleton that made up his lower legs.

"Well what is it," he asked impatiently and Nova blushed realizing she'd been caught staring. If she'd been paying attention she would have realized that she wasn't the only one staring. Vader still wasn't used to her dark hair and clothing other than white. He wasn't sure he liked it, catching himself in that thought Vader frowned, it didn't matter whether or not he liked it, it was a necessary disguise. But her dark hair threatened to bring memories of another woman.

"I've been having visions." She said, shifting from foot to foot and Vader's frown deepened, gesturing towards the bed. She moved over and sat down on it, he pulled a chair over and sat across from her.

"What are these visions about?"

"A stone... or a crystal, I can't get it out of my head. It first appeared when I was meditating, then just earlier in a dream."

"Tell me about the dream."

"I was running from... from these beasts, they were terrifying, huge monsters with enormous claws and fangs. There were women riding them, the women their skin looked blue, but it was like they were covered in bruises. And then everything changed and I was running through a forests, it was starting to rain and I tripped, and when I fell the stone was there, right before my eyes, covered in mud and grime. Then I was back with the monsters but this time I turned and drew my lightsaber, but the blade was dark, ash colored and hard to see." Nova said, twisting the hem of her cloak in her hands she kept her eyes fixed on the floor, she didn't like looking at has scarred pale face, it was too much like looking into a mirror. Was Vader the person she would turn into? "I don't know what it means."

"Obviously you're having a vision about a lightsaber crystal." He said and Nova blushed in anger at his condescending tone.

"Obviously," she muttered, well excuse me for having never had such visions before. "What should I do?"

"Find it," he said again, his eyes tired and countenance bored as if to say, 'for this you woke me up'. Standing, Nova moved towards the door, her eyes churning with hate.

"Well I'm sorry to have disturbed you Lord Vader," she snarled, not sounding sorry at all. "It won't happen again."

Vader sighed, leaning back against his chair and putting a gloved hand over his eyes. He didn't understand why he had to be so cruel whenever they were around each other. She had sought him out, seeking his experience to help her, opening up to him for the first time. And he'd treated her like she was an idiotic child. In a way it was necessary, she needed to be self sufficient and self seeking. She needed to be strong, powerful. But no matter whether he wanted to offer her the help or not he seemed compelled to make her despise him more, push her away and earn her hate.

I had to let you in to feel that rush
You were too much, way too much
I'll take whatever I can take
Whenever I can take it if it ever comes

A presence, a strong force presence. She could feel it... but couldn't pin it down, the feeling was hazy. As Nova walked the streets of Dargulli her fingers stayed close to her lightsaber. The city was full of scum, criminals crawled in the gutters, and of course where there were criminals there were bounty hunters. Vader was on the planet, searching also, they had split up to make this faster. Nova was hoping to find the force user before him, but she highly doubted it. It had taken a week to get to Dargulli on the battleship Mathayas and by now she had been well prepared by Vader in what to expect and do. The crew of the Mathayas believed her to be a bounty hunter and had no suspicions of her actual identity.

'Nova.'

She jumped as Vader's consciousness reached out and brushed hers. She quickly turned and headed in his direction. He was closing in on the force user, it disappointed her but wasn't unexpected. Frowning Nova paused, something was wrong. She picked up her pace.

Idiots. The idea that the hoard of bounty hunters had put together was ludicrous but Vader doubted he could convince them of that. Instead he ignited his lightsaber and blocked the first blaster bolt with lightning fast speed. This was going to be an annoying delay. There were so many of them, all heavily armed, most experienced but it would be a challenge, something to get his blood flowing at least until Nova got here, then they'd make quick work of them.

His eyes were caught by a familiar figure hanging off to the side of the gang of bounty hunters. Boba Fett. He was not fighting like the others but Vader was wary of him, he had fought the bounty hunter and Boba Fett was a formidable opponent and if he started fighting Vader might have problems. He brushed Nova's mind again, telling her to hurry. As Boba Fett stepped forward Vader felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Turning towards him Vader knew he'd have to take him out first. Instead to his surprise Boba Fett shot one of the other bounty hunters, Vader smiled beneath his mask.

Nova had broken into a sprint, there was something very very wrong. Why should you care, part of her said, why should she care if he was in trouble, Vader was a sith lord and he could handle himself. And if he couldn't that would only work to her advantage. Not yet, she told herself, she hadn't learned everything she could from him yet, until she had he had to survive. No matter how much she would enjoy watching him die.

She could see the fight from far away, slowing and creeping along the sides of the buildings, blending into the shadows in her worn camouflage outfit. Vader was fighting many aliens well equipped and. Based on certain insignias on their clothing Nova believed them to be bounty hunters. It didn't make sense, why would they attack one of the most powerful men in the galaxy? Shaking her head she realized it didn't matter. Her hand strayed to her lightsaber but she paused, Nova had a better idea.

Where was she, Vader wondered as he blocked another blaster bolt? Suddenly three bounty hunters were shredded to pieces by hundreds of tiny metallic flechette. Blood and small pieces of flesh and bone were all that was left of them and the other hunters paused looking around to find who had done such a horrible thing. Nova stepped out of the shadows, holding a gun in her hand, her finger on the trigger.

"You have five seconds to get out of my sight before I kill the rest of you." she said, her voice low and dangerous, amplified slightly and Vader could sense the force gathering around her to make her seem dark and intimidating. Her eyes flashed and he could feel the courage of the others failing. "Five... four... three..."

The first of the bounty hunters took off and was soon followed by the rest. Their mistake was to all run in the same direction so close to each other. Nova smiled and locked the homing device onto the runner in the front and fired one shot, waited half a second and fired a second. Screams were the only thing that could be heard for a moment before they went silent. It was a massacre.

"It took you long enough to get here." Vader grumbled, secretly very pleased with her progress. A year ago she would have let those bounty hunters run away. She'd come very far in her training, he almost felt... proud.

"I apologize my Lord," Nova smiled icily, "I was distracted by all the beautiful jewelry and dresses on display. You're welcome for saving you life."

"You did not save my life," he insisted before turning to Boba Fett. "I appreciate your assistance, the Empire does not forget it's friends, you will be well rewarded for your efforts."

"My Lord," he said simply with a slight bow.

"Who is this anyways," Nova asked, bristling with anger, of course he wouldn't care. Vader was impossible.

"Boba Fett," the hunter answered, observing her through his helmet, Nova didn't like not being able to see his face. "And you are."

"Nova Douleur, pleased to meet you I'm sure," she said, her voice condescending. But her head suddenly whipped around when she felt it. The presence was so close, and as the woman stepped out of the shadows Nova knew she was the one they'd come to the planet to find. She was too young to have been a Jedi at the time of Order 66. She looked to be in her early twenties, shorter than Nova but more curvaceous, auburn curls pulled back. A lightsaber was held in her hand and Nova holstered her gun and pulled out hers, ready to fight.

"Let me kill her my Lord," Nova said, starting forward.

"Wait," the woman said holding up her hands. Nova paused waiting for Vader's command.

"Speak," he said, crossing his arms.

"I have seen the future, I have seen your power. You can destroy the Emperor, but you can't do it alone. I offer myself to you as your apprentice," she stepped forward and knelt, head bowed. Vader looked up at Nova and nodded. Using force speed she was before the woman before Boba Fett had time to blink, her saber ignited and swung down, decapitating her instantly. How unsatisfying, Nova thought stepping back. There was no challenge, it had been an execution, she felt a wave of boredom sweep over her. After training with a warrior like Vader for so long she'd expected more, and suddenly realized there were probably few in the galaxy who could now match her in battle.

"We will return to the ship." He said turning and walking and it was all Nova could do to keep up with him. "You did well."

Nova did a double take, her jaw dropping slightly before it snapped shut. She couldn't help the ghost of a smile that touched her lips and the sense of pride that flooded her body and made her feel light and warm. "Thank you sir."

She turned back to glance at the decapitated corpse and smiled thinly. He isn't alone, she thought.

I never knew until I got a taste
I'm so ashamed of what I did to you

She stood by his side, she the object bathed in light, he the dark shadow that clung to her presence. But he would be there no longer Kadir thought as he walked confidently into the throne room. The Emperor was about to be eliminated and Nova would be free. He would keep her safe forever, marry her, they'd grow old, raise children. The rule of the Sith was about to be over. But the look on her face, one of disgust confused him and sent his stomach turning. He knew she thought he would fail but he couldn't, wouldn't for her sake. Didn't she know how much she meant to him?

"At last," the Emperor murmured with a smile and Nova's eyes flickered to him. Of course he knew, he always knew.

"Palpatine!" Kadir yelled, the name bitter on his lips, the Emperor would answer for all the pain he had caused. Behind him the stormtroopers walked in, holding their blasters at the ready. "Surrender or die."

Nova sighed, as the Red Guards moved in to attack, jumping out from behind the curtains. The bored look on her face was genuine. Kadir was stupid. He had outlived his usefulness to her and she no longer needed him. Not that she ever had, she needed nothing. She had warned him against this but he'd paid her no mind. Had he not been so foolish perhaps he could have remained at her side for her amusement. His mistake would cost him his life and the lives of his companions. She watched as he crumpled to the floor after one of the Guards hit him with a force pike. She sensed he was still alive, though unconscious.

As Palpatine started to laugh Nova looked at the fallen figure of Kadir with disappointment, for some reason she'd expected better. But that was ridiculous, he was weak and had no idea of the power he lacked. She did not want him. Nova had taken him because she desired a means to retaliate against the Emperor. He had been an experiment, a fling. Kadir would never understand this. She was glad the Emperor was about to eliminate him. Now he would know what a real man with real power really was.

As the Emperor finally stood from his throne and lifted his hands. Nova leaned closer to him, her eyes going out of focus as she drank in the power that surrounded Palpatine. She could never love anyone without such power, she could never truly care for someone weaker than her, and Kadir was so weak. The force lightning covered the room with it's eerie blueish glow and destroyed the stormtroopers with ease. The clones fell to the floor just as Kadir began to sit up, untouched by the lightning. He pulled his blaster from his belt and shot at the Emperor, one last desperate attempt. Palpatine didn't even have to raise his hand, it merely dissipated in a fizzle of sparks many feet before him.

"Do not get arrogant child," Palpatine sneered and Kadir dragged himself to his knees. Blue lightning shot into the Moff's chest knocking him across the room onto his back. "Your scheme was brilliant, I commend you on weeding out the enemies of the Empire."

Kadir knew he was about to be destroyed. Knew he was about to fail Nova. if only there was some way he could convince the Emperor to let him live, prove himself useful somehow. Then he could bide his time till he was strong enough to fulfill his goal and destroy Palpatine.

"Vader is dead," Kadir breathed and Nova did her best not to betray her shock. Her master defeated? Impossible. Kadir knelt before Palpatine. "I offer myself as your apprentice in his place."

Palpatine's ringing laughter was echoed by Nova's unimpressed chuckle that caused Kadir to look at her in shock. She shook her head, he still didn't understand. Kadir deserved to die for his incredible imbecility. Palpatine activated the holocam across the room with a twitch of his fingers to show Vader holding an officer by his throat, the bodies of stormtroopers littered around him. Nova almost smiled, the edges of her lips lifting slightly. Lord Vader would never be so easily slain. He was on the bridge of the Mathayas, on his way to the Death Star, this was merely a slight delay.

"The Emperor is dead," the officer gasped from Vader's deathly grip. "Trachta will have made sure of that."

Vader swiftly crushed the officer's windpipe, dropping him from his grip. The holocam image shut off.

"My butterfly," the Emperor smiled walking towards her and stroked her face with his wrinkled hands. "Kill him."

"Nova," Kadir begged, green eyes meeting blue ones.

"You still don't see, do you Kadir." She sighed, boredom once again creeping into her disposition as her lightsaber dropped from her sleeve into her hand and activated as she walked towards him. "You are an insignificant insect."

"You're one of them," he gasped the pain of betrayal in his eyes as he finally understood. Finally saw that he meant nothing to her, that his love was in vain. That he was a disposable rat.

"Yes," Nova smiled, drinking in his pain like a fine wine. His spirit and person was completely crushed and the hopelessness and brokenness that surrounded him made her powerful. "Now you will die."

Kadir's head rolled to the ground, the wound of his neck cauterized by the lightsaber heat. Sightless green eyes stared emptily towards the ceiling in frozen horror. Nova deactivated the angry red blade, it was done. She was free of the pest.

"Good," the Emperor smiled. An icy chill swept through Nova's body as a small part of her curled up inside of her soul and cried. What had she done? What was she becoming?

AUTHOR'S NOTE: after I posted the last chapter I realized Vader appeared like once, so I wanted this to be slightly more Vader-centric with a little bit of bonding going on. The anti-sith conspiracy is Star Wars canon and happened in 1 BBY, just so you have a time frame. So this is one year before the Battle of Yavin, or the destruction of the first Death Star for those who don't know.

KatenHaanrath: lol thanks I'm glad you approve

AkatsukiFreak4614: Glad to hear you like it! If you keep reading I promise I'll keep updating