Day 12: Clenched Fists
Summary: Lord Vader is angry at an Imperial officer for disobeying his orders regarding the capture of Skywalker.
Lord Vader stood in front of the viewport in the dark meeting room. All the furniture had been taken out so Captain Piett was forced to stand awkwardly as he waited. Only Lord Vader and his two death trooper guards seemed unbothered as the wait dragged on.
Finally, the door to the room slid open and two stormtroopers escorted an Imperial officer into the room. Their hold was tight on the officer's arms, and the office twisted and jerked trying to break free while his face was red and sweaty. The troopers pushed the officer to his knees in front of Vader, who did not flinch or move. His gaze was steady looking at the stars and his fleet. Captain Piett noted the gold highlights in Vader's dark blond hair the starlight seemed to highlight.
"What is the meaning of this?" the officer demanded. He tried to get up, but the troopers pushed him back down.
"Captain Piett," Vader said. Piett straightened up. "What were my orders pertaining to Skywalker?"
"He was to be captured alive, unhurt if possible, and you were to be notified immediately," Piett said.
"Would you say those were the same orders you heard, colonel?" Vader asked. Though his back was still to everyone, his voice was loud and clear.
"I . . . uh . . . "
"Do not blabber," Vader barked. "A simple yes or no will suffice."
"Yes, sir, Lord Vader, but-"
"There are no buts, colonel. My orders were clear. Skywalker was to be brought to me if he was captured, and yet you did not follow orders."
There was a slight nod of Vader's head and the troopers snapped their blasters up pointing them at the quivering colonel.
"No! Wait! Please, my lord! I can explain!"
Vader took in a sharp breath before he slowly turned around. His gold eyes instantly zeroed in on the man.
"Oh?" Vader asked. "Shall I drag you to my mother? Have you explain to her why my father has escaped capture, again?"
Vader's firsts curled into balls and his young face twisted into a scowl.
"Anakin Skywalker cannot be allowed to roam free," Vader hissed. "He must be captured and-"
"And what? Thrown into the palace again? Pah!" the officer shouted. "You, your sister, and the Empress are all compromised! You're too blinded to the fact that he's an enemy! Skywalker is a traitor and a Jedi dog. The fact he was responsible for the Death Star disaster is a shame to the entire Emp-"
The colonel grabbed at his throat as Vader's outstretched hand curled into a fist. The colonel's death took several long moments, and Piett suspected Vader had drawn it out on purpose.
"Get this scum out of my sight," Vader growled.
The troopers bent down, grabbed the corpse by the arms, and dragged him out.
"Leave us," Vader said to his guards. They left without a word leaving Piett alone with his small commander.
Vader sighed and ran a hand through his hair. The hardness and bravado of Lord Vader was gone, and all Piett saw was the young Prince Luke Amidala he had met three years earlier.
"How many think the same as the colonel?" Vader asked.
"I cannot say, my lord," Piett replied.
"Are we being too soft?" Vader whispered. "He did . . . steal the plans to the Death Star . . . took it to the rebels . . . and then helped blow it up . . . If it was anyone else, he would be dead by now."
"You are probably right, my lord," Piett answered. "But he isn't a normal citizen. He is your father, and I may be speaking out of turn, but you love him. As does the Empress and the Grand Inquisitor."
"But we can't let our personal feelings affect the good of the Empire," Vader muttered. "If Anakin Skywalker . . . is a . . . threat to the Empire . . ."
"Then he will be neutralized," Piett said. "That doesn't mean killed."
Vader looked up at him. He was too young for such games of war. He was barely an adult, and he still longed for his lost father.
"Thank you, captain," Vader said.
Piett nodded. "One way or another, he will be found."
"I hope so."