Vader stood atop the forward command base, the attack on the base turned into a siege. The Imperial forces spent four cycles on Sullust, firing artillery shells into the shield. Vader folded his arms and watched as his troops moved crates and patrolled the outside area. He peered inside the Insurgent base, he sensed no movement… What are you playing at Windu? Vader thought. He descended from the base, he walked toward the shield- every trooper was staring at him. Suddenly, the shield started to retract. Vader watched as the bubble corralled itself into the generator. Vader grabbed his saber and reluctantly walked into the compound. A garrison of Stormtroopers followed Vader,
"Find them." Vader commanded, the compound courtyard was empty, silent. Vader looked about his surroundings, he felt out with the force- he felt no life other than his troops.
"M'Lord, you might want to see this!" A trooper from behind the barracks called out. Vader met the squadron of soldiers behind the barracks, they huddled around a gigantic metallic latch in the ground.
"What is the meaning of this?" Vader demanded an answer,
"M'lord, they used the coolant chambers to evacuate the base, there are signs of mass movement." Vader's fury grew, his temper grew firey.
"THEY RETREATED?!" Vader's troops winced at his outburst, "Where does this chamber lead?" The trooper hesitated,
"The shipping transports, they only have light security and Imperial pass codes… the fleet wouldn't have known it was the insurgents." Vader eyed the trooper, he ignited his lightsaber and slashed at the soldier's chest. Vader turned and walked back toward the Imperial forces…
Thousands of Years Ago
"M'lord, what do you see?" A dark figure kneeled before a great old man, perched in a bone throne. His beard reached his midsection, wrinkles covered his forehead and face, he had grey eyes. The old man blinked a few times,
"I see great suffering, I see a great Jedi, and a greater Sith. Born of the force… Mother of Moons…" The old man staggered, he grasped his chest, the kneeling figure rose to help him,
"What happened?"
"I have seen a great many things young one, but nothing as fearful as this sight. Thousands dead, even more in hiding. HE IS COMING!" The old man shouted in fear,
"I will protect you my master!" The younger man ensured,
"No Exar, he is far more powerful than you… He will destroy both Jedi and Sith… and bring order."
"Who can challenge me?! No one, what is this great warrior's name?" Exar Kun became furious,
"Skywalker. His name is Skywalker."
Vader looked out of the window, Coruscant was blazing hot in the summer, he saw the heat rising from the pavement below him. The door slid open behind him, Vader kneeled,
"My master." Palpatine's face spelt disgust, he walked past Vader and sat in his chair,
"You let them escape Vader. Now Master Windu and his merry batch of 'freedom fighters' have free reign to incite terror wherever they please, all because of your stupidity!" Spit soared from the Emperor's mouth, hurling into the desk in front of him,
"I did not anticipate there being an escape route." Palpatine let out a snort of laughter, his face became stone,
"Have I ever told you the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise?" Vader did not utter a word, "Sith holocrons label him as a wise teacher, because of his great knowledge of the dark side… despite his wiseness and his so-called knowledge; he lacked vision. He did not anticipate his murder at his own apprentice's hand." Palpatine swiveled in his chair and twiddled his fingers together. "You shall remain on the hunt for Master Windu, he shall not escape." The Emperor waved his hand, Vader exited, departing for his ship.
He sat in his chamber, meditating,
Beware a New Hope. The Father's voice rang in his head, Vader saw flashes of explosions, clashing sabers and finally the Empire falling at the hands of a Rebellion. He opened his eyes, he thought back to Yoda's words: The future, always in motion it is. He thought of this often- reflecting on his past. The metallic arm lowered his mask onto his head, he breathed heavily into it. His pressurized chamber rose, revealing Mara Jade.
"M'lord." She put her hands on her hips,
"Speak." Vader replied,
"Gosh, no need to be cold, especially around me… I haven't seen you in five cycles!" She scurried towards him, he force pushed her backwards,
"No. Not again." Mara's face grew dark, overcome with rejection.
"Why not? Last time you happened to enjoy it."
"That never happened. Do you understand me? You're nothing more than the Emperor's toy, you are expendable." Vader rose from his seat in a fury, Mara turned and bolted for the door, she turned back to Vader,
"If I am merely his toy, what does that make you? His pet? His attack dog? You're no better than I Vader." She darted out of the room, Vader yelled in anger, he punched the back of his seat, blowing a hole right in the center of it. Vader dashed for the door, in pursuit of Mara, he tailed her down a hallway nearing the ship's reactor. He rounded a corner, and entered the reactor core, she was nowhere to be seen. Vader peered his head around, nothing. He heard the sound of a lightsaber ignition, he turned to the sound, Mara stood in the doorway, stood in a combative stance.
"You dare test me girl?" Vader grit his teeth and ignited his saber, Mara charged Vader, he caught her attack with his weapon, spinning out of the attack. Vader swung at her arm, she ducked and rolled backwards. Vader pushed his advance, the two stood on a narrow catwalk over the reactor, the fall seemed endless. Mara rose to her feet and aimed for Vader's head, he deflected and parried- sending Mara flying, she landed on her back, "You are weak young one. Don't make me destroy you." Mara swatted Vader's lightsaber away from her neck and hopped to her feet. Vader advanced further, pressing his attacks, Mara could not sustain her defense- Vader's strength surpassed her's, she put up her saber in a futile attempt to deflect strikes; Vader merely swatted her saber away as if it were a toy. Mara summoned all her strength and swung at Vader's midsection, he dodged and sliced her across her right arm and leg.
"AGH!" Mara dropped to the floor of the catwalk, her saber flew out of her hands and into the reactor.
"You shall never see me again. Now leave before I kill you." Vader deactivated his saber and strided for the ship's bridge. Piett greeted him,
"M'lord, Admiral Ozzel was assigned to the Executor, he's over there." Piett pointed to a small- slightly overweight man, with a grey and black mustache. Vader looked at Piett,
"Give the Admiral my regards. And command him to send the fleet to Tatooine. I have business to discuss with a hut." Vader walked away from Piett and made a beeline to the viewing window. He clutched his hands behind his back,
"WHAT!" Vader heard the Admiral shriek, footsteps neared Vader, the Sith lord turned, "M'lord, the Executor is supposed to be going to Ryloth to search the besieged Imperial Embassy, we cannot go to Tatooine!" Vader gripped Ozzel by his throat and lifted him in the air,
"The Executor shall go to Tatooine. If not, then you will die!" Vader squeezed harder,
"Okay! The ship will go to Tatooine!" Ozzel uttered. Vader released him, Ozzel fell to the ground gasping for air. He looked up at Vader,
"Are you offended Admiral?" Vader mocked,
"Quite frankly…" Ozzel looked around the bridge, all of the officers had a grim look on their faces, one of them slowly shook his head, "No Lord Vader, your graciousness is duly noted." Ozzel pulled at his uniform, straightening it. Vader turned to the window, he saw Mara's ship, it slowly moved away from the Executor, and disappeared into hyperspace. Vader stared at the floor, lost in thought. Suddenly the Super Star Destroyer took off into hyperspace, speeding towards it's destination. Vader felt his heart slowly drop as they neared Tatooine. The ship abruptly halted, the small beige planet hung in space, a golden hue lined it.
Home. Vader boarded his shuttle and took off- heading toward the Dune sea.
The rocky landscape and bursts of sand reminded Vader why he hated this place, he hated sand. He hated the Tuskens, he hated the slavers and most of all; he hated himself. Vader walked along a dirt road within a canyon, he saw the palace from the ridge he stood on. He marched towards the palace, he neared the enormous fortress with a hard heart, remembering his mother… how Jabba and Gardula the Hutt sold them into slavery. Vader approached the massive durasteel door. A small probe-like droid popped out of the door,
"Youka, coo kahe heee?" The droid relayed,
"I wish to speak to your Master." Vader replied. The droid slid back into the door, Vader heard the sounds of gigantic gears turning, slowly the door rose, light flooded the dark passageway. Vader's silhouette grew as the door rose, he stepped into the palace, walking cautiously across the sandy floor. Gamorrean guards stood a few feet in front of him, they crossed their weapons, not allowing Vader to pass. Vader looked at either of them, reached out with the Force and choked them to death. He stepped over their lifeless bodies and proceeded to the lounge. Soft cantina music played as Vader entered, the whole room stopped and focused on Vader as he walked to the center of the room. The great Hutt was splayed across his throne, licking his lips as he watched his slave at his side. The Hutt's head rose to meet Vader's eyes.
"Ah, bu woe Hehon Vader. Haku cuova woy Jee gee du kotky bu kacmaheatkha baa sahuaka?" (Ah, the famous Darth Vader. What pleasure do I have in hosting the emperor's pet?) Jabba reached for his toad, wrangling the small creature into his mouth and down his gullet.
"I wish to speak to you, alone." Vader heard the sound of blasters being armed.
"An wonkee lwaa Jee? Doth uba wata dah aweleoi D'emperiolo yanee? Woy Jee tee wamma mah taxes?" (And why should I? Are you here on official Imperial business? Did I not pay my taxes?) The lounge burst into a raucous uproar of laughter. Jabba chuckled his slow, dragged out laugh. Vader's fury was building, he did not have time for this insolence. He gripped Jabba's neck with the force,
"You will instruct everyone in this room to leave, and I shall speak to you alone!" Vader's grip became tighter, Jabba motioned for Vader to stop,
"Uba nakiy wa koucaue bargon Beh. Veee doptkee!" (You drive a hard bargain Sith. Everyone out!) Blasters lowered as the lounge patrons scurried out. The lounge was silent, only for the heavy breathing of both Vader and Jabba. "Hee, haku doth gee kanieh Lorda Vader?" (So, what is thy bidding Lord Vader?) Jabba sarcastically said,
"I require your best bounty hunter, I have a mission that must be dealt with privately." Vader sneered back at Jabba,
"Uba banag mah yuna murishani? Boba Fett doth mee yae, cheska kaa baua Jee koee yauma bu Kacmahea du?" (You want my best bounty hunter? Boba Fett is your man, is there anything else I may assist the Empire in?) Jabba picked at his fingernails,
"No, tell your bounty hunter to meet me at these coordinates at this time." Vader tossed Jabba a holopad. Vader strided from the palace, he mounted his speeder- Vader rode across the desert, knowing where he was going, he came to a stop on a ridge overlooking a small valley. Tents were set up, camp fires were ablaze, sending smoke into the Tatooine sky. Vader unbuckled his saber from his belt,
Filthy animals. He watched as Tusken children played in the dusk of the binary suns. Vader descended from the ridge and made a beeline toward the small tent village. He saw a small child hiding behind a tent, unaware of Vader's presence, he advanced towards the child, ignited his lightsaber and stuck his weapon through the small child's torso. Vader continued, he cut a hole into the adjacent tent, he chopped down another child and its mother, their shrieks alerted the men. Vader brushed past the entrance of the tent, three Tusken warriors greeted him, aiming their cycler rifles at Vader, he stepped forward and swung his saber, chopping all three in one swipe. Vader lifted the campfire and hurled it into a clump of tents, the fabric went up in flames. The screams of agony filled the air as Vader continued through the village, cutting down anything he saw.
"Enough Vader!" A voice called from behind Vader as he lifted a Tusken woman into the air by her throat, he turned; Sharad Hett. The Tusken Jedi stood there, his sabers ignited,
"I presumed you dead." Vader crushed the woman's windpipe and tossed her to the side.
"You should've never sent a boy to do your job. You're weak Vader. Prying upon innocent people- slaughtering women and children." The two circled each other,
"Innocent? You Tusken animals are never innocent!" Vader's anger grew, he was reaching his breaking point.
"Look at those bodies Vader, look at these people! They've been praying that Anakin Skywalker never returns, and then you show up… we don't get a break." Hett charged Vader, they collided sabers, Vader pushed with all of his strength. They disengaged their saber lock, Vader swiped at Hett's feet, he dodged and parried Vader. The Jedi and Sith exchanged blows, the sparks from their sabers ignited another fire, they were surrounded by it.
"You will perish, as your family will!" Vader thrust his saber forward quickly, quickly enough to penetrate Hett's defenses. Vader's saber stuck into Hett, the Jedi went down onto his knees, Vader summoned his power and extinguished the fire. The tusken people looked mortified at the sight of Hett's defeat. "AND NOW, HIS MASK!" Vader yanked the raggedy covering off of Hett, the Tuskens turned away in disgust. "You are banished Sharad Hett." Vader kicked him off of his saber, Hett fell to the ground, barely breathing. Vader looked around him, and continued his purge into the night.