Chapter 5
"Lord Vader, the Queen wishes a word with you," a handmaiden who Vader for the love of the Force doesn't know the name of declares.
"Oh, your weapon please," another asks, outstretching her hand to him.
He knows there are handmaidens who are on this ship that Vader doesn't know like Sabé, Rabé, and Eirtaé. That is due to not forming as close connection with them as he did with others.
Somewhat begrudgingly, the former Sith Lord hands his lightsaber towards the handmaiden.
Vader knew this was coming; likely Padmé is behind this. He can understand though.
Vader impassively stares at Sabé as she stands next to Eirtaé and Rabé who offered him gentle smiles. They were polite handmaidens. Most of them were always like that except Dané and Dé of course.
Vader had to resist the urge to chuckle; all of them are older than his younger self, but now he is 23 which means he is older than them.
He could feel their eyes on him. He could sense them attempting to probe their mysterious visitor. The security guards are working fanatically so figuratively he was the only male in here.
There is also Saché and Yané connected through a Hologram on a nearby desk, undoubtedly a safety measure, to ensure that if he is a threat that those of the Naboo can be informed and they rally up against him.
Unlike his younger self, he wouldn't be shuffling awkwardly. Sabé and the others use to tease him about him growing outright awkward and nervous in the presence of women. It eventually passes since his time as Dark Lord but that childish part of him wants nothing more but to budge nervously, a notion quickly silenced.
"So I would like to know more about you, Lord Vader. Where did you come from?" Sabé queries.
She is not asking for only Padmé but for everyone in the room.
"I have no idea what's going on. I am emotionally exhausted thanks to saving and babysitting two Jedi. The same Jedi Master and Padawan is likely going to report me to their Council due to my power I am radiating through the Force. One of them believes I am a threat. I got a Gungan who is annoying the hell out of me. I got delusional security guards and governors who believe that the Trade Federation is nothing but a fraud when they got thousands of droids marching on the surface of Naboo as we speak. I am certainly suicidal by getting in this freighter which was getting shot down. I am probably going to have a death mark on me by the Gunrays." Vader replies sharply, sarcasm obvious in his tone.
Frustration, entertainment, and uncertainty ring through the Force. The handmaidens stare at each other, mentally asking Padmé should they trust the ambassadors of the Supreme Chancellor or the hooded, mysterious man, whose description is unknown. They know he's human but the hood and the respirator of his lower lip and up to his nose were preventing them from seeing who he is.
Vader spot Padmé observing him over; he know Sabé ordered her to clean up Artoo but he proposes an excuse if they are asked is safety reasons.
"Um, the Queen means can you provide some background. We know the Jedi are the ambassadors for the Senate but the Jedi nearly attacked you. Rules dicates that Jedi don't attack each other so that means you are just a total stranger and possibly a threat." Rabé spoke first, though it didn't sound like she believes that he is a threat. She always is welcoming; in fact, if memory serves him right, she was the second handmaiden who befriended him, first being Sabé.
Vader shall not go into details yet he would humor the queen and explain himself.
He now spoke solemnly, not having to place an act on. "My mother and I were slaves and I was forced to abandon her in my young life. I was bullied constantly into adulthood by others because of my personality and background. The mother who I abandoned died in my arms. I have lost my right arm in a fierce battle. The love of my life died. My friends abandoned me and I officially became a demolished individual who is just trying to spare others from suffering as much as I did."
Compassion rings through the Force by the handmaidens and by the false and real queen.
"I'm-" the fake queen begins, staring at him with compassion at beginning a conversation that is clearly painful.
Vader knew Sabé detested murder evidently. It is just who she is, but she wouldn't hesitate to kill someone in self-defense. However, this is not that.
"Sorry to hear that about your mother."
"Don't apologize, Queen. I don't blame anyone but the Republic."
Padmé tightens her hands up into fists for a moment before her movement softens. It didn't go unnoticed by Vader. She is still a fierce believer in the Republic at this time, unlike the Padmé during her final days.
"Why you say that?" Sabé inquires, gazing at him curiously, genuinely curious.
"In ancient times, the Infinite Empire of the Rakata captured huge numbers of slaves for the building of their Star Forge. Needing some Force-sensitive slaves, they captured Niktos, Duros, Hutts, Humans, Selkath, and more. To halt the use of slavery by various civilizations over the history of the galaxy was considered by many to be a futile task. Your Republic is a ruined system that would do anything to save their own skins yet the rest of the galaxy is viewed as 'no ally, no case'. Planets like Naboo and Alderaan are safe from slavery with them sucking the wealth of the Senate."
Sabé didn't know what to say to that. What is she supposed to say? What's worse is that the fake Queen finds herself agreeing with him. Slavery has always been an issue since the beginning of the Galactic Republic, yet to avoid conflict that may save thousands of lives but claim others, the people of the Republic decided to sign needless treaties. Through the corner of her eye, she shot a brief glance towards Padmé.
"The Republic could have saved my people, me, my mother, and so many innocents if they had helped." Vader's voice is beginning to grow cold.
The bashing on the Republic by one for accidents was something that angered the young teen disguised as a handmaiden. The Republic is good, right? At least she had been told. Perhaps she needs to listen more to see if Vader is correct but so far they are fighting for the right side.
"If I may be so blunt, Lord Vader, that's being unfair. Slavery was made illegal by the Galactic Republic under the Rights of Sentience clause, but continued to exist, particularly in regions not under Republic control, primarily the Outer Rim Territories and the Senex sector. The loss of your mother is regrettable but the Republic can't do anything to the Hutts and slavery in other territories without starting wars with the Hutt Clans." Sabé said in a similar hateful tone that Padmé would use, spotting the anger on her Queen's expression.
"I understand but I still blame the leaders of the Republic. They run the constitution and institution and yet I suffered my whole life because of slavery and indirectly the Republic. Of course your leaders won't care about me; I'm just another person to them."
Padmé frowns some. How could she argue against someone who has gone against horrible things that she had not? She is not a cold or non-compassionate person. She hates slavery and wants a role in the Senate to stop it altogether instead in most parts of the galaxy but she can only rise to do eventually just that. She barely even touched the surface in her political career which means she cannot do anything.
"Of course I am certain you each are not aware of this," he continues, surprising her as he stares past her, almost as if he is scanning the crowd for the real Queen of Naboo before his eyes land on Padmé, who for the rare time ever, appears to be deadpanned which is surprising given her attitude Vader remembered her to possessed.
Then again she is a teenager so she is inexperienced and isn't as passionate for the Republic. She cares for it and would defend it as all monarchs would, rather if they believe their own words or not but she can easily be undermined.
The handmaidens and queen became shocked as they stared at the former Sith. Not even all the security guards knew except Panaka, nor did the Jedi.
"For the safety of the Queen, we must be careful and cautious of this Hutt populated world..."
"You... know?" Sabé speaks.
"Yes, Sabé."
Not even asking how he knew their names, believing that he is a threat to the operation, they all tore out their blasters, yet Vader anticipated this; he raises his right robotic hand and their guns propels into the ceiling.
Vader almost instinctively reaches out with the Force to seize them, but he had reminded himself that they were his friends in his former life and Padmé was his wife.
So when a few attempted to run forward to use their martial arts combat, Vader raises his left hand and freezes them in their spots, placing a barrier between them. In reality, he could never hurt most of them because they were his friends; in fact, they were his first real friends after Padmé as the only friend he had training in the Temple were Obi-Wan.
"Don't hurt them," Padmé almost pleads in a firm voice but there is a sense of insufficiency in her tone, not wanting to see her friends die. "It's obvious you are not a friend to the Republic," Padmé now growls frustrated. "Are you a spy for the Trade Federation? Are you going to kill us all?"
Vader closes the door; in their minds, sealing their confirmations about what he would do to them.
"No," Vader replies, releasing the handmaidens he had constrained and allowing them to crumble to the ground, surprising them. "The Trade Federation is beneath me."
The handmaidens recover, shrugging themselves off as they glare at Vader, undercurrents of fear vibrating through the Force, fear for their homeplanet.
"What do you want as compensation then to keep your mouth shut?" Rabé asks grimly, crossing her arms across her chest.
"What makes you think that I want money, Rabé?" Vader asks, receiving a frown in response. "I shall humor you with a minor explanation. My stupid decisions took everything from me. Ripped me from my wife's arms, murdered my friends, used me as a weapon, and then cast me aside. Abandoned me. Had a major involvement in my ruined appearance. Once, I had power; now I have nothing." Vader states. "Why else would the Jedi treat me with tension?" He points out. "I cannot say if I am on the side of Naboo to your standards but I am willing to," his shoulder sags, "redeem myself."
There is silence for one minute tops before Saché spoke through the Hologram... compassionately. "So you wear the mask because of the Jedi?"
"Yes, but that is a minor resolution, it is partly my fault because I refused to listen to him," Vader grants, tilting his head downwards and biting his lip as he can feel it trembling. The same man who had left him to be burned alive is on this ship, but now, Vader is suitless and healed once more, but still, it is a grievous memory that would be the worse part of his life. "I am deformed and mutilated. Ever since I had acquired these third-degree burns, my friends look at me like I was a monster, people left me, and I had to place this mask on. Certainly, people thought I was crazy or I'm overreacting but at least I'm not a nuisance to anyone."
"It is possible to heal third-degree burns," Padmé counters with narrow eyes, despite a small part of her feeling regretful for him.
"Well, they had taught me that I am just a failure and pathetic. People never loved me for me; they only loved me because of my appearance." Vader retorts. "These scars are at least showing how screwed up I am mentally and emotionally."
"And yet you are speaking to us, total strangers about your predicaments and backstory."
"You told me to. I'm only fairly answering the questions, your Highness." Vader replies, smirking slightly, sensing the irritation from her rising as she glares into his eyes.
"Ugh, you are exasperating," Padmé declares, rolling her eyes.
"How do you know our names if we didn't give you a proper introduction?" Sabé asks.
"Long story, Sabé," he responds, enjoying each moment.
"What then?" Padmé demands, walking closer and wanting nothing more but to punch him in the cheek. This man was grating on her nerves but there is something about him that almost draws her to him.
"I just have a few... necessities that would be required."
"So you are willing to waste earning lots of money from either the Republic and from the Trade Federation for saving the people of Naboo?" Surprise comes across the face of Padmé.
"Yes," Vader responds sharply. "I'm not heartless, after all. If I was, most of you would have been dead the second you drawn your weapons on me." He scrutinizes the handmaidens. "Money is just a sham. It comes and goes."
"What do you want in return?" Yané demands through the Hologram she is connected to, though her tone is less fierce than the others. She just can't be a rough-spoken person. It is against everything she is.
"That's not for me to tell," Vader replies in what they can recognize as amusement, causing the handmaidens to frown furiously. He could sense he is grating on their nerves, and in all honesty, this moment is just... hilarious.
The handmaidens are fiercely overprotective of Padmé. Perhaps the most notable of handmaidens are these specific ones. An unidentified queen, who reigned long before the Invasion of Naboo, began the custom for Naboo monarchs to have an entourage of handmaidens to ensure their safety. The handmaidens unveil a striking resemblance to their mistress. They are highly trained in order to act as bodyguards, decoys, and confidantes to the queen, roles devised by Captain Panaka.
"Fine," Padmé relinquishes bluntly. "If I agree with you helping Naboo, I want an explanation of how you know who I am and we are going to have a long chat about this. I had enough of your trickery." It is that classic Padmé's voice when the two had talks just like when Anakin was in trouble for keeping secrets from her or blaming himself for something that is not his fault.
"As you wish, your highness," Vader acknowledges with a bow.
There is nothing more fun but to troll the Queen and her handmaidens as a time traveler.
"You're an ass," she spats darkly, hoping she could offend his ego.
Vader smile from ear to ear smugly, sensing her thoughts, "Queen, I have been called many things. Don't think you would get a wild insult out of me." A serious look comes across his face. "Padmé, I have a warning; do not delude yourself in believing the Jedi would free Naboo. They are going to view me as a bigger concern."
"How can you be certain?" Padmé asks.
"This is the same Council who are descendants of those who refused to liberate slavery during the Infinite Empire and allowing almost half of the galaxy to become Mandalorian along with countless other incidents it is unfathomable that the galaxy still has faith in the Jedi at this point. They only shall become involved if the Sith is involved to perpetuate their amateurish and incompetent power over the galaxy." Vader responds, crafting his hands behind his back.
For the first time, Padmé is shocked silent yet concerning thoughts overwhelm her senses. The handmaidens share similar thoughts. What if Vader is correct? Who will free Naboo if not the Jedi? What would happen to Naboo, their home, if the Jedi Council choose not to help them?
Suddenly, as the security guards approach the door, Vader releases their weapons, allowing them to pick them up, and allows the doors to open and turns swiftly and walks out while the guards enter. Why he had chosen to basically entrap them all in there and reveal he knows her true identity is out of Padmé's mindset. Padmé knows there is something off about him.
His lightsaber hilt flies from the handmaiden who collected it beforehand and land into his hand. The guards didn't bat him a second glance and allow him to pass. The ladies, however, combined what they know about this individual. He is obviously male, athletic, and has a hatred for the Republic. He is also more skilled than every single person onboard combined so ultimately he could kill them all even with the Jedi.
The Trade Federation has been increasing in size, in part due to their trading in the Outer Rim territories, which are in a Free Trade Zone. The Senate decided to implement a tax on trade, which, of course, the Trade Federation objects to. They're looking for a solution, and are trying to get different planets to sign a petition to end the tax. Naboo doesn't want to sign it, among others. If the Trade Federation do get him as an ally, Naboo would be kriffed up to beyond the point of oblivion, and corruption would be only greater in the galaxy.
The best thing she could do is follow his commands with her trusted friends. It is obvious he knows them all because he has addressed them by their names without them even introducing themselves. He must have heard about them before or ran into them in the past - they had used to walk and train around in the fields of Naboo and ran into boys who were lonely and depressed and who were view as outcasts. They had also run into turbulent ones as well who had similarities to Vader due to undoubtedly having a rough background.
It is obvious her friends are propping their memories about what type of child Darth Vader may have been and come up with zero results. None of them are able to come up with proper results.
Regardless, she wants to learn more about Darth Vader.
Admittedly, Obi-Wan didn't want to be on this Naboo ship for long. The light side and the dark side is surrounding their new ally deeply disturbs him and Master Yoda had advised each of the students since birth that one cannot return from the dark side. The Sith are selfish and are dangerous; Vader would kill them all in under a moment's notice.
As he walks out, he notices one of the Queen's handmaiden cleaning the Artoo unit and didn't know why but decided to initiate a conversation.
"Um, hi," he greets politely.
"Hello," she replies, staring up at him for a moment before returning to her duty and rubbing her rag on the dirty droid interior.
Obi-Wan stares down at the girl for what feel like hours, beginning to zoom out.
"Never seen a girl cleaning?" She tantalizes, smirking up at him and snapping him out of his thoughts.
"It's not that. It's just Darth Vader. I don't trust him. The Queen shouldn't have allowed him on board." Obi-Wan replies, staring at the corridor where he senses Vader ruefully resides to emphasize his point.
The girl frowns, almost as if imitated to bring the subject up, "He did save us on Naboo. I propose I understand why you might not trust him, yet the Queen obviously believes he should be given a chance." The girl hesitates for a moment, eyes lingering elsewhere before she calms.
Obi-Wan squirms restlessly. "I still don't like it. I just want to be as far away from him as possible."
She frowns before grabbing his hand and walking to the back. She has a firm grip over his hand which must mean she had wanted to show him something.
Kenobi and the girl enters the Queen Chambers, and much to his anxiousness, it is a room full of girls. Besides Siri and Brent, he didn't like to spark a conversation with women, most lesser, being in a room alone with them. And he sees staff clutched in their grips.
"Okay, Kenobi, this is Handmaiden Sabé, Rabé, and Eirtaé," she introduces, pointing at each one.
"Padmé, we are practicing with our double-bladed staffs," Sabé declares, attempting to not look at Kenobi, her cheeks slightly reddening. She is just naturally a flirt.
"Perhaps Kenobi could join?" Padmé offers.
"Sure, always want to kick a Jedi to his rump," the woman declares, throwing a double-bladed staff to Kenobi.
He instinctively catches the staff in a clumsy movement.
"Now wait a minute! I never agree to this!" He exclaims, suddenly regretting his choice of following the young lady. He has never been good at using a double-bladed form in his time as a learner.
Sabé didn't even give him a chance to end this battle. She swipes at him. Holding the double-bladed staff in what he assumes as a pathetic posing, Obi-Wan blocks the blow, staggering some. Rotating his staff in a clumsy move, Obi-Wan counters another blow before his opponent manages to catch him in the side. The girl from earlier is smirking and the others are watching in interest.
"Ow!" He cries. Force, it's been barely five seconds and he is already being badly beaten. Precisely why he had never accepted the double-bladed style.
Suddenly, his opponent manages to fake a downer blow before Kenobi is hit in the arm, causing him to grunt slightly and swipe at her midsection before his staff is intercepted.
Annoyed, he had begun making cocky movements, swiping up and down at his opponent and catching his opponent in the thigh, but this proven to be a mistake as he is suddenly jabbed in the stomach, and his legs gives out from underneath him and his back appear to be non-operative.
"Ever heard it's not nice to hit a girl?"
To say Obi-Wan is surprised is an extreme understatement but when he was knocked to his back by a kriffing handmaiden's staff is beyond embarrassing. Him! A trained Padawan! If Yoda was here...
The handmaidens' giggles simultaneously. They were so.. fragmentary... so not serious. He had thought they were stern and believe themselves obliged to follow orders but how they acting now is far from said expectations.
Most notably, the handmaidens weren't wearing their makeup and it was true; they all are younger than they appeared with it on.
"Wow, what do you know? A Jedi Padawan being bested by a teenager?" The one who Obi-Wan recalls named Rabé taunts smugly.
"Oh shut up," Obi-Wan growls, humiliation brushing off the Jedi Padawan.
"I think someone is a little embarrassed," the other handmaiden who he remembers called Eirtaé states teasingly, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Want to do actual physical training next?" Padmé states more than inquires, receiving immediate acceptance of acknowledgments by her fellow handmaidens.
And thus, Obi-Wan Kenobi knew this would be a very long day.
Given that the shuttle is damaged, Vader is aware that it would take four days at most for them to arrive on Tatooine. Thankfully, the hyperdrive isn't broken, it is damaged. It had sufficient technobabble here to get them to a nearby system before, yet Vader felt a slight feeling of anxiousness at being on the ship where events change.
Despite being given a second chance, Vader long since came to the realization that events can be changed; some shall live and others shall die rather by his hand or not. There are problematic issues in time travel such examples potentially being Anakin Skywalker losing in the Pod Race and Kenobi and Jinn dying at the same time.
Kriff, he mentally sighs. Why does it have to be him?
Vader sneers at Panaka; he had kept his personal feelings towards Panaka clear which is very difficult due to Panaka betraying them. Sometime later after the Clone Wars had broken out, he learned of the marriage between Amidala and Skywalker. Panaka informed Palpatine, who used this information to his advantage when turning Anakin to the dark side. The ramifications of Panaka's choice would eventually lead to the Imperialization of the galaxy, a change that would work to his advantage. As Palpatine installed himself as Galactic Emperor, Panaka remained extremely loyal to him. The only reason he didn't annihilate Panaka when he had discovered the truth is the same reason why he didn't Tarkin: He had Palpatine's protection.
This time, there is no protection for him, and it is only a matter of time before all of Palpatine's followers shall be bend to his will or destroyed. They have to be for the safety of the entire galaxy.
He didn't relish in killing flesh blood but is willing for the galaxy to be saved at long last.
"Hey, Vader," I have a question," Qui-Gon spoke. "How did you know mine and my Padawan's name on Naboo?"
Vader mentally curses. That is a mistake on his part but he can amend it with a half-truth. "I know of each of the Jedi," he declares. "Guard, lead me to private quarters where I shall not be summoned until our arrival," Vader demands to a female security guard who, by the Force of him, he can't remember the name of.
The security guard stares at the former Sith with a sharp scowl though Vader could have been blind and would have sense the fear surrounding her.
"Yes, Darth Vader." Come her begrudgingly reply.
"I require tools of my own to fix my damaged armor," he declares.
"Of course," she replies roughly.
Vader can sense her slight greed. She too has witnessed his skill and wishes to use him as a weapon so likely the guards propose this to the Queen who agreed and ordered for his requirements to be fulfilled. Slight manipulation but he can't blame them at all.
Although he had no intentions to fully concealed his face as he had done in the time of the Empire, Vader wants to improve his lower mask. He had rather be hooded in this time instead of viewed as a machine. He had missed the pleasantries of being hooded in black instead of the machine in black.
Once led to empty quarters in the back, Vader enters, sensing the guard who accompanies him leave as the door closes, allowing him to approach the mirror. His cloak and cape is attached to his damaged armor.
He also had a wrench and other tool supplies where he could make it comfortable and still not pushing against his skin. To prevent being costly, the suit needs to be remove and repair completely with upgraded technology.
Darth Vader's armor better known as a serial number: E-3778Q-1 was designed to maintain and protect the young Sith apprentice's charred body while exuding an air of intimidation and control. His suit followed an ancient Sith tradition, in which the warriors of the dark side of the Force would adorn themselves in heavy armor. The suit's construction incorporated Sith alchemy to augment Vader's severely diminished physical strength and vitality.
The suit provided a suite of life-support systems and gave Vader relatively free movement without having to use a hoverchair. It was damaged or broken several times during its use, necessitating upgrades and repairs. The suit was finally irreparably broken when Vader absorbed Palpatine's powerful Force lightning in his face aboard the second Death Star to save his son from certain death. After Vader's death, Luke ceremonially cremated his father along with the armor on the forest moon of Endor.
The armor encased Vader completely, creating a seal to protect his charred skin and lungs. It was also uncomfortable to wear. Vader slowly learned to live with the isolation and anonymity that the suit imposed on him. Vader had to change his lightsaber style to compensate for the weight, bulk and inflexibility of his armor. The electronics of the suit were sensitive to electrical discharges, though Vader added a limited amount of insulation to the suit after discovering this. To escape the armor's claustrophobic nature, Vader had several pressurized meditation chambers built where he could remove his mask and suit and still survive. Vader longed to be less dependent on his armor and tried at times to function without it, but he labored in vain.
Despite the weaknesses imparted by the suit, it also provided a number of strengths. These included greatly enhanced durability and stamina, numerous sensory enhancements, and protection from extremely inhospitable environments and biological weaponry.
Like traditional Sith armor and patterned after that of ancient Sith droids, Darth Vader's suit was made to be both intimidating and fearsome. The front was carved out to fit around his head and show his "face." This helmet had a raised ridge that ran from between his eyes to the back of his head, where it merged into the durasteel, obsidian, and plasteel of the helmet itself. In addition, it was also rumored that the helmet's already strong metallic hull had also been further strengthened via dark side alchemy, with the specific technique not being found in the database of the Rhinnal Medical Academy. Two less jagged ridges swept over the eyes of Vader's mask proper and served to accent them. The jagged edges also acted as a means to deflect potential energy blows onto the thick shoulder armor. This helmet locked into the mask, via a pressurized seal comparable in integrity to a Class C spacesuit. Besides protection, it also stuck needles into Vader's skin when fixed in place, which feed neurological data on brainwave activity to the central chest computer, and possessed radiator conduction pads that were installed into the helmet as a means to allow excess heat to bleed through the metal surface.
The mask itself went halfway around Vader's head. The mask's appearance was given a similar appearance to a skull in order to enhance the fear factor of the Dark Lord of the Sith. The top of this mask was crowned with a circular interface dotted with an array of square slots around a disc of silver. This disc served as an interface between the mask and the helmet. Made of black durasteel, these components were hermetically sealed and connected with a flat backpack that cycled air to Vader's lungs. The air pump itself was located inside the top of the mask, which, via a ventilator, supplies a distinctive rasp. An implanted enunciator linked to an electronic voice processor enabled Vader's scorched vocal cords to produce speech. Around the part of the mask covered by the helmet was the external neural sensor array. Also hidden beneath his mask were four red heat dispersion vents, accented by yellow wire. The face of the mask was somewhat exaggerated and angular, with two ridges above his eyes that fit in with those of his helmet. The optical lenses appeared bulbous. This front part of the mask was of a more highly polished black material than that of the back, being the more flexible of the two. The ridged bridge of the nose seemed lost in the largeness of the eyes, but jutted out in a manner similar to a bare Human skull. The mask's cheekbones were generally angular, curving slightly to join the nose at its base. The base of the nose was a silver multipurpose detector that acted as the suit's primary environmental sensor, and could measure radiation, temperature, and atmospheric toxicity and displays the information in the HUD, was rounded in shape, with a triangular grill growing out from beneath it that served as an air filter, further contributing to its skull-like appearance. The optical lenses served as visual filters, allowing for Vader to detect infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths, while also blocking out excess light, due to the inability to repair Vader's damaged retinas. In addition, the lens also came equipped with a HUD that supplied critical data automatically as an overlay if Vader entered new environments, including information about atmospheric composition, nearby bio-signatures, and others, which could also be selected via the mouth or tongue controls by pursing the lips, or extending the tongue. The lens, likewise, came equipped with secondary eyeshields that activated within 5 milliseconds, automatically sliding over the optical blisters to prevent blindness when approaching intense light. Components for a disassembled SoroSuub DH-57 comlink were also built into the mask's interior, as a result of it being a cheaper solution compared to custom-designing a new unit. It also was equipped with audio enhancers and sonic dampeners, the latter of which were also capable of reducing noise as a defense against sonic weapons, and they can extend Vader's hearing range to 40 kHz, enough to be higher than a Ronto. It also came equipped with a voice synthesizer, which, upon picking up the electronic sounds from a built-in vocoder, translated Vader's otherwise weak speech to be audible, and also added a timbre, bass and amplification to produce an impressive amount of vocal quality.
A hermetic collar wrapped around Vader's neck and slanted forwards in the front to meet the mask at the bottom of its triangular grill. It was added in because the artificial vertebrae alone were of limited value as structural units. The back, which sloped slightly outward at the base of his neck, was studded with metal interfaces. The two sides of the front were edged by two tubes that followed the mask's edge until it reached the base of the triangular grill. At the end of these tubes were two silver studs. On top of the slanted front of this collar were several interfaces, with wires running back from it to the back of the collar. From the sides of the collar came two metal stems capped with a curved fixture. These touched the outer corners of Vader's mouth. The collar, along with the chest armor, was also lined with electrodes that feed information status of the suit's performance during monthly maintenance sessions at the EmPal SuRecon. The collar was also equipped with feeding straws that allowed Vader to feed himself from an implanted bladder filled with RepMed vita paste, and could be refilled either during monthly maintenance, or on demand. Despite this, however, a redundant system to accommodate intravenous feeding was also installed because of the vitapaste's terrible taste. The collar also came equipped with a vocoder in the jaw assembly to aid in Vader's weakened speech, as well as mouth controls that Vader could utilized to his advantage in combat, including visual overlays; optical magnification, comlink-frequency selection; boot magnetization; and targeted audio amplification for surveillance. The collar locks the mask in place via electromagnetic clamps.
Vader's pectoral armor appeared to be one piece that protected his entire upper torso. The durasteel material was gray in hue with several black vertical stripes. Around the neck of the full-shoulder pauldron was a black chain, and connected to the upper seam of the armor was Vader's black, flowing, nearly floor-length armorweave cape. Coming from beneath the pectoral armor was a black tabard which was open in the front and reached down to the ground. The shoulder armor itself weighed 12.2 kg overall, was resistant to both blasters and energy blades, and was capable of withstanding hits from both weapon types with only minor surface pitting. A drawback, however, was that its weight made it difficult for Vader to raise his lightsaber to full height, though he could still raise his hands above his head if pressed.
Around his entire abdominal area, he wore a plastoid girdle that protected his organic and synthetic internal organs, and on his back, hidden by his cloak, he wore a flat black backpack. Over his solar plexus, he wore a chest unit that served to regulate many of the life-support functions of the suit, including the status of Vader's cardiopulmonary and neural systems. The chest control box had three slots, relating to neural systems data; respiratory systems data; and circulatory systems data for the top, center, and bottom slots, respectively, and several rectangular buttons adorning the unusually vulnerable piece of machinery. The blue button activated the suits auto control functions, while the red button, located below the blue button, activated the suit's manual override. The rightmost switch, located at the bottom, acted as a system reset while the rest of the four switches located at the bottom were programming touch plates. There were also two shafts located on the left and right of the control box, acting as the life function sensor arrays. The data slots accepted RepMed data wafers Ix44a and Ix44ax sizes, which, when inserted, uploads within 200 milliseconds full diagnostics of all suit systems for monthly maintenance. The uploaded diagnostic information, likewise, is required to be stored in a permanent archive. Although the chest computer and other systems were designed to run for weeks, they also were rechargeable via two access ports in the rear of the chest box. The fastest method of recharging involved attaching cables to a fusion furnace. His belt, which went over his tabard, and also was mostly black, had three metal boxes around the front. The middle one had a silver electromagnetic clasp adorning it that included the release button and audio sensors. The other two boxes were symmetrical blocks decorated with several green, yellow, and gray buttons. The left box was the respiratory controls, which contained six gray knobs for manual adjustment; a red system active indicator button; two green buttons composing of a reset switch left and an auto/manual toggle right; and a gray rectangular surface that acted as a CO2 vent. The right box were the temperature controls, containing two green buttons that had the same purpose as the green buttons on the respiratory controls; a heat vent below the green buttons; a system active indicator button and manual adjustment knobs. The clasp also contained a compartment containing a spare energy cell in case of emergencies, as well as backup comlink and a tool kit for simple suit repairs.
Vader wore a black ribbed, padded, multi-ply body glove that covered everything below his neck. This flexible, quilted suit was blast-dampening, and was made of a fireproof material that provided some protection against flames and corrosive gasses. The armor was constructed in ten layers, with each subdivided into three primary layers. The first primary layer was a self-sealing surface similar in function to a standard Emnat suit worn by most Imperial military officers. The outermost layer was a black insulating shell, and the inner layer was an Andwa gel-crystal matrix. The second primary layer dealt with impact protection from physical shock due to the irreversible damage to the torso. The first layer was Reifflex cellular padding which was also utilized for some Stormtrooper helmets; the second layer was orthofabric; the third layer was mylar laminate; the fourth layer was polychlorophene-2 fiber weave, while the final layer contained a rechargeable energy suit. The third primary layer related to the pressure and temperature regulatory functions of the suit. The first layer contained plastex pressure garments; the second layer related to temperature stasis and the third layer was a compression sheath.
There was also a gasket within a suit that accesses the cartridge containing kouhunin chemicals to lessen Vader's perception of pain. The suit was also lined with sensors plugged to diagnostic systems to monitor Vader's pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neural interfaces and feed the data to the central chest box. The suit's temperature was likewise regulated via a heating unit installed on the back.
The outer cape and the tunic were made out of armorweave, as they provided protection from environmental damage and were light enough for adequate movement. The cape also acted as a protective cloak designed to block fire and acid jets, thus helping protect the suit's electronics. Similarly, the cape also minimized the possibility of grit and other contaminants from entering and potentially clogging up the filter.
On his hands he wore black reinforced gauntlets, the right glove being a Mandalorian crushgaunt fitted around one of Lord Kaan's indestructible Sith amulets, and modified to include grip-augmentation circuitry. The gauntlets were also made of a micronized Mandalorian iron weave to protect Vader against glancing lightsaber blows during the patient's physical therapy sparring sessions, as well as deflecting a direct hit from a blaster bolt. The gloves, as well as the boots, contained magnetic clasps that snapped onto Vader's prosthesis tubing, in order to prevent him from shifting equipment or clothing during combat. Because of Vader's prostheses being effectively skeletal in nature, the gloves and boots also contained padding to provide definition, with the added benefit of confusing enemies as to which portions of Vader were cybernetic.
Vader's shiny black all-terrain combat boots contained shin armor of durasteel that hinged on the sides of the foot of the boot to allow him to walk. The boots soles also contained a ferromagnetic core which could be activated by Vader's mouth-operated controls to generate a strong magnetic field similar to that of zero-g spacesuits used by soldiers to cling to starship hulls, and the shin armor was among the heaviest items in the armor's assembly. In particular, the shin armor's durasteel also rendered him invulnerable to stabbing strikes or shrapnel spray.
What remained of his real limbs ended in bulbs of grafted flesh, inserted into machines that triggered movement through the use of modules that interfaced with his damaged nerve endings. The stumps of each organic limb were implanted with neural links that relayed muscle impulses between the brain and the limbs, allowing for the limbs to move under conscious control. The servomotors likewise were modeled after the human form, allowing for movement and rotation possible for various joint parts including the wrists, ankles and knuckles. The limb pistons likewise utilized hydraulic fluid to operate, and as such required a replenishment of fluid as well as a piston realignment every six months and diagnostic check-ins during the monthly maintenance sessions. His mechanical appendages provided him with greater strength than an ordinary man; he could adjust the servodrivers and pistons in his forearms to provide his hands with enough strength to crush nearly anything they could grasp. With the power of his arms alone, he had the ability to lift an adult being off the ground, though he had always been able to do so with the Force, especially in moments of rage. When put to use, his mechanical legs would allow him to leap a considerable distance. His gloves incorporated a unique micronized iron that could deflect anything short of a lightsaber blow.
When Vader first had to walk with his new legs, he had to take slow, deliberate, thudding steps. By the time he was accustomed to his new legs, he retained the noisy gait, as it "announced" his coming, though he soon walked more naturally. The durasteel alloy of Vader's lower legs were enhanced by strips of armor similar to those that filled and gave form to the long glove that Vader had worn over his right-arm prosthesis; these leg prostheses were protected by the greaves of Vader's suit. The alloy strips were added in late into the surgery, to allow for Vader to walk relatively normally after simulations revealed that his stock prosthetic legs would buckle under the overall weight of his armor.
Vader's boots also adhered to his artificial limbs and the soles could magnetically adhere to bulkheads if Vader wished —during an assassination attempt in which Vader was put into an open airlock, his boots remained planted to the floor while his companions were sucked out of the breach. Later, however, he jumped into the void willingly.
Because of the large amount of mass the overall armor contained though the shoulder armor alone weighed 12.2 kg, Vader did not often run, but was still capable of doing so if necessary. In addition, he was still capable of using Force speed, but rarely did so.
Vader's back, specifically his spine, was not whole. Although his injuries on Mustafar did not significantly affect the spine, it still was injured to the extent that, coupled with the projected strain of the shoulder armor and the later-adopted hermetic collar, the original bones had to be replaced with artificial and structurally superior components. This forced Vader to wear a thick electrode-studded collar that supported his helmet to safeguard the cybernetic devices that replaced his upper vertebrae. The first few vertebrae of his neck were not natural and their sharp-edged regularity suggests that they were cybernetic replacements. Bone was broken at the second and third vertebrae, and possibly the first and fourth. The spinal cord itself was not broken above the third or fourth vertebra. The severing must have been nearly but not totally complete, as he retained the ability to breathe weakly for at least a few seconds unaided.
Vader's helmet was the center of his life-support system. It was fitted with an air pump, which was connected to a flat filter system worn on Vader's back. Together, the backpack and the air pump continuously cycled purified air through Vader's ravaged lungs. A small, back-up air-processing filter was located in his distinctive mouth grill, which also doubled as a respiratory intake system. Vader's life-support system also included a chest-worn, computerized control panel unit that regulated his respiratory functions. From this chest panel, a thick cable entered his torso, linking to a breathing apparatus and heartbeat regulator. The ventilator was implanted in his terribly scarred chest, along with tubes that ran directly into his damaged lungs, and others that entered his burned throat, so that should the chest plate or belt control panels develop a glitch, he could breathe unassisted air for a limited time out of his mouth, which had not been burned to the extent of his throat.
A belt-mounted function box housed the respiratory sensor matrix responsible for controlling Vader's breathing. Using it, Vader could easily adjust the controls on his armor to increase or decrease his supply of oxygen.
Vader's breather was seriously damaged by Force lightning during his struggle with the Emperor. Although it continued to operate to some extent, the sound of the mechanism was reduced to a strained rasp, implying that the respirator was broken. The labored breathing sound persisted until his final unmasking.
His signature, labored mechanical breathing was the sound of the iron lung Vader was forced to wear. The med droids that had made the suit had inserted the redundant breathing tubes low enough so that, with the aid of an enunciator, his scorched vocal cords could still form sounds and words through a voice synthesizer in the mask. Absent from the enunciator in Vader's mouth grill, which imparted a synthetic bass tone, his own voice was little more than a whisper. Though limited by what the respirator could do, Vader could still make his respirator approximate a laugh or a sigh.
Vader was able to speak. The weakness of his voice was probably partly due to his breathing difficulty and the internal mortal wounds and damage to his cybernetic systems inflicted by the Emperor.
Not even Vader's skeleton and nerves were spared from the reconstruction. In addition to the partial replacement of Vader's spine, the rib-cage was also partially removed for the installment of the organ implants, with the sternum being replaced with a perforated metal plate accommodating the cables running to the chest computer, and at least one of his shoulder joints being required to undergo partial prosthetic replacement. The remaining organic bones were likewise artificially modified via a tensile-strength augmentation through mineral solutions dripping through the nutrient feeds. In addition, the right collarbone was also installed with a cartridge that injects a synthetic neurotoxin called Kouhunin, derived from the Kouhun centipedes, to lessen Vader's perception of pain to a small degree.
His nervous system sustained the least amount of damage from his injuries at Mustafar. Nonetheless, it was implanted with sensor webs tracing activity running through the cerebellum along the spinal cord to the sensory and motor neurons, so it could be constantly and closely monitored. As such, if his neurons were ever unable to communicate with his metallic prosthetics, Vader would be rendered immobile and a programmed alert would go out to the EmPal SuRecon via hyperwave signal. The muscle fibers were also modified to have electrical impulse generators embedded inside as a means to stimulate damaged tissue.
The armor's belt and chest plate held the controls for the life support system, ensuring that Darth Vader's body received enough oxygen, nutrients, and medicine; through this system, Vader could endure nearly any environment, including the vacuum of space. The suit could also withstand technopathy from Eternal Rur. In addition to its life-support functions, the Sith Lord's helmet contributed to giving him a frightening appearance, and could be removed to use a feeding tube in his private chamber due to his inability to eat normally. The helmet created Vader's menacing growl due to his natural voice being very weak from vocal-cord damage, and contained neural needles that painfully connected with the top of Vader's skull and spine, to form one interconnected unit. Without these, Vader could not use his artificial limbs. The armor had ten protective layers, each one was made of very strong alloy that could protect Vader from some explosions and weapons. Vader had four artificial limbs as a result of his injuries on Mustafar and at the hand of Dooku on Geonosis. The armor's boots featured magnetic clamps, which could magnetically adhere the suit to a metallic surface. The armor also featured a remote to prep Vader's interceptor for combat. In the event of damage to one set of armor, Vader had a backup set which he kept in his quarters on-board whatever vessel he happened to be traveling in at the time. This proved useful when he was attacked by unusual insects on Batuu, which encased much of his armor in stone. Although Vader considered his armor acceptable, it was described as "junk" by the leader of the Droid Crush Pirates of Bestoon, who had been promised it contained advanced technology by Ochi of Bestoon. Despite Vader's reputation as the Galactic Empire's greatest weapon, a scan of his armor revealed to the droid captain that Vader was made of standard components, such as life support, a fusion furnace and a respirator. A further scan revealed the suit's components were no more advanced than the droids' own parts.
Since Vader have no need for the suit, he is inspired by it. Darth Vader wore the armor for over two decades, until his redemption and death. He initially hated the armor, but after living with it for five years, he embraced how it isolated him from the rest of the galaxy, allowing him to concentrate on becoming a pure instrument of the dark side.
Even though he was in constant pain with the suit being uncomfortable and purposefully so, since Palpatine never wanted Vader to reach his full potential.
Considering Anakin Skywalker would grow to wear the robes he is now wearing, the armor and mask shall protect his identity from Skywalker, along with tapping into the dark side to blind his presence.
Vader wrenches the bolt in his armored leg, loosening up its containment of him along with his arm. He then stares down at his broken mask, eyes narrowing as he morphs designs in his head. Two designs; one where he repairs the mask completely similar to his time as the Dark Lord and abandons the robes he is currently wearing while rebuilding the armor into similar armor but much better and have it be exactly like the 2.0 armor the Emperor had planned for him to wear in due time, and another design where he wears these robes along with his armor, but still masking himself completely. He had to force himself to speak deeply, pathetically attempting to mask the wheeze to appear just as frighteningly and imitating. Ultimately, the second design is the better choice, though the first one can be a potential idea later.
So the second design is created.
For once, ever since he'd traveled through time, he disregards the armor and commences with extracting features to his armor, mentally formulating a plan.
Eventually, Vader wore the newly constructed armor with a rare smile. Now that he was suitless, he had the luxury of removing the armor instead of forcing himself to wear, viewed by everyone as a cold monster in black, being unable to sleep or eat or enjoy luxuries of a normal human.
Now, the suit is similar to the one he had worn in his time as Darth Vader but less painful and doesn't slow him down. At the very least, the suit provides him an imitating form as he wears a mask that is nearly the same as Darth Malgus. His lower part of his mask is now rebuilt, making him sound as his time throughout the era of the Empire. The only feature he decided to keep is the cape, and only wore shrapnels of ancient Sith and Jedi in place of where his control panels had been. He maintains the collar and leather gloves. The cloak conceals his form, but in reality, it is to draw dramatic responses. The cape is still attached to his cloak.
His undergarments is the Jedi robes he had worn in his time as Anakin Skywalker. With all of these features in both his time as Jedi and Sith, it defines he is both but neither at the same time.
Truthfully, the veteran side of Vader wanted to test it out on the battlefield. The opportunity may be allowed soon. No matter how Vader may be able to pull the strings from within the Senate after getting as much as he is able, undoubtedly, the war of Naboo shall occur. And along with the Naboo, Vader would be the first to apply in order to save the people and bring peace. It would never amend his mistakes but at least he would be able to prove he is not going to waste this second chance.
If only his son is with him, if only his son is able to see him in the flesh like this, if only he could show him who he truly is; however, he never will. He proposes that is a consequence of his actions. He will perhaps never see his son in the flesh. That's what pressing too much in the dark side can do; it can take away everything you have.
Placing those thoughts behind him, Vader removes his hood and now repair mask and ran his hand through his hair before discarding his garments and then removing his lightsaber from his belt and laying it down next to him. Now exposed, Vader begins meditating in both the light side and the dark side, ensuring the door is lock completely so no guard, handmaiden, Jedi, or for Force's sake, Padmé doesn't walk in. The last thing he needs is for his younger self to grow up and people to note the similarities between the two.
The pieces in his armor not used are scattered across the ground so he can perhaps create a backup armor on a later date. Doubtlessly, Padmé may comply with Vader in building another suit when the time comes. Even though the former Dark Lord of the Sith have to do laundry with his suit for a short time.
He snorts slightly, smirking at the thought of him carrying a laundry basket that harbors his robes.
Vader allows himself to be succumbed by the Force, to feel every single being across the galaxy, to feel both chaos on Naboo and the peace on Corellia, to call off the waterfalls and the remaining peace in the galaxy.
Peace is what he needs now for what is to come next.
Arthur's note: Many time travel stories tend to have Padmé or the handmaidens be treated coldly or outright being mean to one another so naturally, I decided to amend it. In fact, there's probably going to be Vader, Padmé, and handmaidens massively bantering.
I'm also tired of all these time travel stories having Obi-Wan bashing too. In my opinion, Vader and Kenobi were both wrongs in the lava hills of Mustafar. Vader unjustly Force Choke his wife, slaughtered innocent children, and doesn't even hear her side of the story while Kenobi wouldn't back away and kept provoking him.
May the Force be with you all always.