*A few days ago*
Darth Vader was back. Resurrected by his grandson, Kylo Ren. He was able to perform the Ritual of Zendar, which allowed Vader's essence to transfer into a cloned body. Unfortunately, this body could only be constructed from the state it was in when the DNA material was taken. And in this case, it was after his wounds of his Mustafar encounter with Obi-Wan.
He had to wear his armor, his helmet again. But Vader accepted this fate. The armor and helmet made him who he was now.
Vader had sent Kylo to find Rey. He needed Kylo to negotiate a treaty with the Resistance, with the last Jedi. But Darth Vader had other plans. Before Vader returned, he learned much about Sith Holocrons. But he also learned that two important beings could greatly improve the chances of survival against the Vong.
First, Darth Vader traveled to Mandalore. He landed his ship at the docks of Sundari, the Mandalorian capital. Mandalorian soldiers were on their guard, not trusting this Sith lord. "Who are you? And what are you doing on Mandalore? the guard captain asked when Vader dismounted his ship. "I need to speak to your leader. Bring me to him." Vader said. "You come here and order me around? Who do you think yo- ghhhhhhhgg" the guard captain grabbed his throat. Vader force-choked him for a second. "As I said, I need to speak to your leader." Vader repeated himself, releasing his force-choke on the guard captain. The guard captain coughed as he regained his breath. "That power. He will want to meer you. Follow me." said the guard captain as he turned around and walked away. Vader followed him.
After a while, Vader entered a palace, high above Sundari city. "Wait here." the guard captain told Vader as he walked into a great hall, closed off by huge doors. A few seconds later the captain returned. "He will see you now." said the guard captain. Vader entered the hall. He saw a big throne at the end of it. A man sat upon the throne. Vader walked up to him.
"You should be dead." the man said. "So should you." Vader replied. "And you should be older." Vader added. "The pros of a clone. With special treatment I can control my aging speed." the man told Vader. "Tell me, how does one come to life after dying?" the man continued. "You don't know the power of the Dark Side." Vader replied. "Last I saw, you were a bounty hunter and now, you are Mandalore." Vader added. "Yes, escaping a Sarlacc pit and bringing home the trophy of its kill offers opportunities." the man replied. "Boba Fett the Mandalore. You like how that sounds?" Boba asked Vader. "I like the power it gives you, and the choice you have to make." Vader said. "What choice?" Boba asked.
"An alien race named the Yuuzhan Vong are on their way to our galaxy. They have many ships and soldiers. Not long now, they will invade the galaxy, destroying everything we know."
"How can you be so certain?" Boba replied. "I have sensed it, and seen it in a Sith Holocron. So has Supreme Leader Ren." Vader said. "What do you want from us?" Boba asked. "We have a better chance against the invaders with the Mandalorians." Vader said.
"Mandalore is not what it once was. We are neutral in the war between the First Order and the Resistance, and we will be neutral in this one." Boba replied.
"You lack understanding of the situation, bounty hunter. The First Order and the Resistance will stand together in this. The Yuuzhan Vong will destroy us all if we do not stop them. You can sit here waiting, but when we fall, they will come for Mandalore space sooner or later." Vader said. "Perhaps. That is if they truly are coming. Only two have seen this threat you speak of. Two Sith lords." Boba said, not trusting Vader and his message of doom.
"This is not a trick. If the First Order wanted to destroy you, they could do so easily. I cannot show you that the invaders are coming but they are. You will see." Vader turned his back to Boba as he walked out of the hall. "If they truly are coming, we will stand with you." Boba Fett the Mandalore shouted at Vader before he left the hall.
A fool's hope. Vader did not expect to gain Mandalorian aid this easily. Especially from their leader, Boba Fett. Fett always calculated his every decision to know what was in his favor. But now, Mandalore's aid was in all of their favor. Maybe the Mandalorians would indeed help once he knew for certain the Vong were coming.
Next destination: Dathomir. Vader sensed that an old Sith lord dwelled there. If this was true, it could be a powerful asset in the coming war.
Vader landed his ship near the base of a mountain. He sensed the Sith presence the strongest there. Vader entered a cave and went deeper inside, following the Sith lord's presence. Whispers could be heard in an unknown language as Vader walked on. It felt like he was watched all the time. The cave led to a wide-open space, with lighted torches and tall structures. The whispers were getting louder. He was now very close to the Sith lord. There was an open doorway in the middle structure. It was pitch black inside. Suddenly, two eyes looked at Vader. They were yellow Sith eyes. He found him. The Sith came out of the structure slowly, standing before Vader.
"You.. you dare enter this place?" the Sith said. "I must." Vader replied. "You..must? Tell me why, quickly!" said the Sith. "I sensed you were alive and that you have no purpose. No meaning. You rot away here, but I know of a purpose you cannot resist." Vader said. "You know nothing!" the Sith lord shouted, the whispers getting even louder. The whispers surrounded Vader, and in a green flash, transformed into women. Women with grey skin and red clothing. Nightsisters. Now, Vader found himself surrounded by Nightsisters while speaking to the Sith lord.
"I know your only purpose was revenge. Your only true goal was to kill the one that defeated you on Naboo. To have your revenge on Obi-Wan." Vader said. "Do not say that name here!" the Sith shouted. Vader continued. "And when you finally found him, older than before, you attacked him, blinded by hate. You were left for dead and Obi-Wan got away again." "Raaaarghhh!" the Sith shouted, igniting his double-bladed red lightsaber. "And then you killed him on the Death Star. You took away my chance of revenge!" the Sith said. "Yes. I had been waiting for my own revenge on Obi-Wan." Vader replied. "Nothing can change that now. Obi-Wan is gone and you rot away here without a purpose."
"I can kill you for denying my revenge." the Sith said. "You may try. If you fail, you gained nothing. If you win, you gain nothing." Vader responded, igniting his lightsaber. "You seek a purpose to your life, I can sense it more than anything else in you." Vader said. "I know of an incoming alien invasion from outside our galaxy. They have come to destroy us. This could be your purpose. Join us in this war, and we can repel the invaders." Vader said.
"The Nightsisters. They have blessed me with their dark magic. If Obi-Wan would strike me down it would not kill me. The only reason I live now is because of them and the revenge that I deserved! Why would this invasion concern me?" the Sith said. "You can keep hiding here in this lair, but they are still coming. If you plan on waiting here you will die no matter what. Join us now and together we can defeat them!" Vader said. "Your offer is tempting. I never thought something other than him would give me purpose. But if this is true what you say, I could regain my power. Maybe even rise above my vengeance." the Sith said. "You will join us then? As a Sith?" "I will." the Sith said, grinning. "You are now a Darth once more." Vader said. "Darth Maul... it's been so long since that name." said Maul.
The two Sith lords made their way to their ships, exiting the cave together. "Tell me, how did you survive your second encounter with him?" Vader asked. "As I have said before, the Nightsisters blessed me with their magic. It prevented me from death by the hands of Obi-Wan. I was left for dead in that desert, when scavengers found me. They thought they could make a slave out of me and sell me. They were wrong. Once I regained a little of my strength, I killed them and made my way to Dathomir with the last of my power. Here I was healed by the Water of Life from the Nightsisters. I stayed here ever since." Darth Maul explained.
"Impressive. The Nightsisters are powerful Dark Side users." Vader said. "That they are." Maul replied.
"It might surprise you that the Resistance if working with the First Order in this. I have also called for Mandalorian aid, but it is uncertain if they will join us." Vader said. "Interesting. A galaxy-wide defense force." said Maul.
"Travel to the Unknown Regions. Be ready to be called upon when they arrive." Vader told Maul. "I will be ready." Darth Maul responded.