Chapter 6
It took all of the discipline that decades of service and a healthy sense of fear had drilled into him for Admiral Piett to resist the urge to turn his measured military gait into a run. His footsteps echoed in the hallways of the Super Star Destroyer Executor, keeping a beat that failed entirely to keep up with the scramble of orders and directives and maintenance issues in his head. The information on the datapad in his hand was, to Piett, a minor consideration compared to the necessity of its timely delivery. Lord Vader had asked for a status report hours ago, and Lord Vader was not one to be kept waiting.
Piett paused at the door to the Dark Lord's chamber, swallowing back his fear as an uncomfortable memory flashed before his eyes. He had learned his lesson, then, and now made a point of announcing himself before entering.
He was answered with the steady rasp of Vader's mechanical breathing. "What is it, Admiral?"
"My Lord," Piett stepped into the room, bowing his head to the dark, looming visage. "I have obtained the information you requested." He could hear the tension in his own voice, and beads of sweat sprung into being on his brow.
"And?"
Piett consulted the datapad. "It appears that the ship has been modified significantly, at…" he could not keep the distaste from his voice, "unregistered facilities. It will take my men some time to acquire all of the technical details."
Vader was motionless and, except for the monotonous refrain of his breathing, silent. Piett shifted uncomfortably on his feet, remembering all too well how he had obtained the rank of admiral in the first place.
"Time," Vader intoned at last, "is not a luxury that we have, Admiral."
Piett bowed again. "Yes, my Lord."
"You will obtain the information by the time of our arrival at Vanir."
"Vanir?" Piett's face went white.
"That is correct."
"Then the Emperor..?"
On the wall behind them, the holoprojector buzzed and the image of a young officer whom Piett did not recognize sprang to life in the air between them. "Lord Vader," the young man bowed, and Piett nodded appreciatively at his ability to hide the fear that he must surely have been feeling. "The Emperor requests to speak to you immediately."
"Very well." Vader turned his back on Piett and the projection. "Admiral, you are dismissed."
Darth Vader knelt before the Emperor. His words echoed in the chamber, the same as they had been the day before, the decade before, for as long as either of them cared to remember. "What is thy bidding, my master?"
"You have not yet delivered Skywalker to me." The Emperor stared down at Vader with unblinking yellow eyes. "I am curious as to why."
"In time," Vader's voice was low. "He will be ours."
"His presence is dim."
"I sense him, my master."
"And yet you have not used this newfound… affinity," the Emperor spat the word, "to track him down. I am beginning to wonder, Lord Vader, if your involvement in this matter has not grown too… personal."
Vader looked up at the hologram. "I assure you, it has not."
"Good." The Emperor smiled. "Then you will do as I command. Call to your son. Bring him to me."
"Yes, Master."
"You are wasting my time with this weapon, Lord Vader. Skywalker will be the end of the Rebellion. I have forseen it."
A/N: A big thanks to beta reader Luke1! Please check out her current WIP, Burning Bright, as well as other great stories. You can find some of them in my favorites!
The other chapters are also being beta-read and slightly revised, thank you for your patience and thank you for reading!