Writer's Note:
For a long time in Star Wars, Darth Vader has been the loyal Sith Apprentice to Emperor Palpatine aka Darth Sidious. But, while Vader and Sidious hardly ever fought each other, they're about to now. Enjoy this while you can, my friends…
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
STAR WARS
DARTH VADER VS. DARTH SIDIOUS
It has been eight years since end of the Clone Wars and the Empire reigns over the galaxy. Its forces are hunting down and eliminating the last of the Jedi Knights who narrowly survived the onslaught of Order 66...
As Jedi are eliminated and the Empire's grip on the galaxy tightens, Darth Sidious' apprentice and former Jedi, Darth Vader, carries out the will of the Empire and ruthlessly destroys all who dare to oppose the reign of the Galactic Empire...
While Sidious values his apprentice, he has little patience for failure. Vader is now returning to Coruscant in the aftermath of a vicious battle with a powerful Jedi survivor of Order 66, prepared to face the wrath of his master after failing his mission to destroy the Jedi Knight...
The white Lamba-class Imperial shuttle slowly made its final descent onto the landing platform near the Imperial Palace, stormtroopers and officers stood at attention, knowing well that one of their leaders had just returned from a lengthy mission.
Landing gears lowered as the hum of the engines winded down, the shuttle came to rest and its wings folded. The ramp lowered and boots thudded as Darth Vader set foot onto the platform, his slow mechanical breathing sent chills down the Imperial officers nearby.
Stormtroopers saluted and officers stood aside, letting Vader pass. Having just been through a major battle, the dark lord's suit was slightly patched in dust and the cape seemed to have traces of torn holes in it. As far as Vader was concerned, most of his battle damage had been repaired.
Red guards came forward, bowing politely as the dark figure drew near. Up above, Darth Sidious watched from his throne room window. He'd heard the report of the mission and anger was swelling within him, he could not believe that Vader failed the mission.
A lesson would be in order, Sidious' fury would be unleashed upon the one he called his apprentice. Vader had failed once before and his only punishment was what he was already forced to endure; this punishment would be a completely different story.
Not knowing what was in store for him, Vader entered the palace and strolled through the grandiose hallways that made up most of the palace. A long time ago, the Jedi had walked these halls. Now, only Stormtroopers, officers and the Sith walked these great halls.
Shooting ranges replaced the Jedi training grounds and the Jedi Archives were devoid of any Jedi knowledge, the council chambers had become the Emperor's throne room and the dark, misty catacombs led down into the ancient underground Sith shrine deep below the temple.
Whenever Vader walked these halls, his mind became flooded with memories of when he raided the temple with the 501st, destroying every last Padawan and Knight here. On that night, the Jedi Order and the Republic fell with the Empire rising from the ashes the following day.
A duo of Royal Guards approached the Dark Lord and escorted him towards the nearby elevator, under orders to guide him to their master. Vader and the guards took a left past a pillar and neared a turbo-lift as its door slowly opened, a light activating as machinery hummed.
Vader entered the elevator and the door closed, the lift began to rise and lights blinked as the Sith ascended up towards the upper levels of the palace. Vader was silent, save for the sound of his breathing emitting from his mask and accompanying the hum of the elevator.
Boop-boop-boop-ping! A series of white lights simultaneously lit up and a chiming sound went off as the elevator came to a stop, the door slid open and Vader exited into the wide hallway that led towards the throne room, passing by Stormtroopers, officers and Royal Guards on the way.
Within the throne room, Sidious waited patiently for his apprentice to enter. He'd tempered his anger for now and was crossing his fingers, the door soon opened and the Sith Lord's anger slowly bubbled and Vader entered the room.
Sidious turned away from the window overlooking the landing platform and the cityscape, he eyed his apprentice as Vader walked into the middle of the throne room and kneeled as he always would. "Your return is a welcome surprise, my apprentice." Sidious said.
"Forgive me, my master." Vader replied, "Despite our efforts, we could not capture or destroy the Jedi, but we were able to stamp out most of his allies and those who aided and harbored him are in the midst of being punished as we speak."
"I have heard the mission report and, considering that the Jedi escaped us while you were ordered to eliminate him, I am displeased, Lord Vader. I assigned you the task of destroying this Jedi, but he escaped us. Do you not know what is at stake if ANY Jedi are left alive?"
"The Jedi Order is no more and the survivors are broken, even if one escapes, the threat of the Jedi Order's return is minimal. Our Empire is far too strong for the surviving Jedi at large to bring down, try as they might, they will fail and we will defeat them."
"Koro Velka was organizing a rebellion and teaching the ways of the Force to many of his followers, you were tasked with putting an end to him and the absolute eradication of all Jedi is important to us. For your failure, my apprentice, it is time for a lesson."
Vader shot to his feet, full of fear and panic. He was about to protest when Sidious drew his lightsaber and its blood red blade ignited, the fallen Jedi drew his lightsaber and prepared himself. Sidious launched himself towards Vader, spinning through the air as he did so.
"AHRRRRAAAAAAHHHHRRRRR!" The Sith Emperor screeched. Sidious landed in front of his apprentice and raised his blade, ready to attack. He struck at Vader, who held out his lightsaber blade in defense as the blades connected and energy crackled, the battle had begun...
"Failure is not tolerated!" Sidious snarled, "Mustafar was unacceptable, you failed to destroy Kenobi then, and now you've failed to destroy a Jedi again. Yet, you were hoping that the Jedi you were going after would be your old master. Your overconfidence clouded your judgement."
"It wasn't my fault; the Jedi was far stronger than anticipated." Vader explained, "We will catch him next time, we always succeed in wiping out Jedi." Sidious pushed back and knocked his apprentice off-balance, he raised the blade and attempted to strike at his armored apprentice.
Vader thrust out with the Force, blocking the attack and sending Sidious flying across the room. The Emperor rose to his feet, lightsaber in hand. "You shall feel the full might of the Dark Side..." Sidious' hands raised and lightning shot towards Vader, who blocked with his blade.
"Why, Lord Vader, I see your skills have grown stronger than ever." Sidious mused and clenched his hand, Vader felt something close around his windpipe as he lifted off his feet, his breathing apparatus seemed to wheeze. This would not be how it ended, it never would.
"RRRGH!" Filled with desperation and desire to live, Vader reached out with the Force and concentrated hard enough to resist his master's grip. "AHHH!" Sidious cried as he toppled over next to his throne, surprised by the strength of his apprentice.
Sidious rose again and the door opened as guards and stormtroopers entered the room, weapons trained. Vader knew what was unfolding, his master had called for aid. "Pathetic!" He said and cut down a trio of red robed guards before snapping the necks of many stormtroopers.
KRRRSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! While Vader was occupied with dealing with the troopers and guards, Sidious unleashed his Force Lightning from his fingertips and his power coursed through Vader's armor, stunning him as if he'd never felt it before.
"Feel the Dark Side, my apprentice! Feel it as you are punished for your failure, you stand no chance against the true strength of a Sith!" Sidious cackled, "Eh-heh-heh-heh-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Vader dropped to his knees, his weapon deactivated, he almost felt... weak!
'No...' The Dark Lord thought, "NO!" He reached out with the Force and began choking Sidious, Vader lifted him up in the air and threw him around the room while still squeezing a bit of air from his "master". He slammed him into the ceiling and then dropped him...
Then Vader reached out and caught Sidious before he slammed into the floor, holding him long enough until he gently put him down. He stood over his master, waiting for what was to come next. Sidious recovered, cackling with amusement as he stood and looked at Vader.
"I will say..." The Emperor said, "You aren't as weak as I believed you were, Lord Vader. Your strength is growing even if you failed, I see your powers are doubling even with that armor and your injuries holding you back. May the Dark Side of the Force be with you, my apprentice."
Vader kneeled before the man he'd served since the final hours of the Republic and since the day he'd become more machine than man. "Thank you, my master." He said, both Sith knew that there was more work to do and the Empire was stronger than it was before...
The End