Chapter 5
Vader's rapid breathing is what fills the chambers as he slams his helmeted head against the wall. Behind his mask, the Dark Lord closes his golden eyes, wondering what he would be able to do next, somewhere he can resign so he can grow in power, but for now he is finished with the galaxy.
For over the timestamp of two years, he has been the Emperor's lapdog, following his orders to the latter and then one day he just was tired, tired of being the Emperor's slave, and so he left, disappearing for months and training himself in the power of the Force to harbor his Force Abilities in no small part due to his abilities that passed on from Skywalker, but he knows he still have much to learn.
Naturally, the shuttle that he has stolen from the pirates eventually is going to run out of fuel, meaning that when all is say and done, the Dark Lord is going to die.
It is of no concern to Vader if he is near death, at the very least he would be at peace once more instead of the echoes of the past following him. Now he is like those Jedi who he hunted during their final days before their execution 2 years after the rise of the Empire, running from the Empire and having to keep his head down which he can easily do, but the thing is Vader isn't a Jedi.
Vader butchered through the Jedi in their Order without any mercy nor hesitation. He served the dark side and the Sith, trailing down the unreturning path. The remaining Jedi would rather kill him, no matter if he has such intentions to desert from the Empire.
He misses Padmé, miss being able to go to 500 Republica and her massaging his problems away. Part of him wishes this life is just a dream and he would wake up in the comforting feel of 500 Republica on the bed, and he had killed Palpatine that faithful day that the world came crashing down around him, and their son, Jinn, runs in, telling them the story about how school was or living in a silent bless that is love and family.
He wishes he can just sink into that universe, to forget everything in this galaxy and go to one where he's happy and everything is alright. Alas, he has absolutely nothing from this galaxy besides this damn armor and mask and the dark side of the Force as his ally.
Vader looks at the star map, mentally choosing not to go on one planet after another. Those such as Coruscant and Alderaan are occupied by complete Imperial Control, and the least Vader needs is thousands of men seeking his captivity or death for desertion from the Empire. The former is a horrible idea Vader never considered to begin with while the latter was tempting at one point but Vader chose not to risk it as the truth in the matter is that Organa have been observed closely by the Empire since their rise.
No, Vader decides, it has to be a planet from the Outer Rim. Much to the Sith Lord's frustration, he cannot find a planet that will be wiser for him to hide on from the galaxy. Part of him is tempted to return to Coruscant and kneel before his former Master one last time but he promises himself he will not be a slave to the Emperor.
Because of it's distance from Coruscant, the Outer Rim is too far from the Empire. It lacks the resources to police those regions especially because many of the planets like Tatooine did not have useful resources the Empire desires or needs.
Also many of the planets were occupied and already governed. It is simply too large without enough of a lucrative market for even the Empire to govern.
The budding Galactic Empire increasingly attempted to take control of the Outer Rim. Believing control of the galaxy's outer systems would stabilize and secure the galactic center, Galactic Empire, Palpatine oversaw the continual military buildup of the Imperial Military and ruthlessly quashed dissent and remaining Separatists holdouts across the Outer Rim.
The Empire is never able to fully control the Outer Rim, but often utilizes its worlds as testing grounds for new biological weapons and as a source of labor, like brutally wiping out the Lasat species of the Outer Rim world of Lasan, exploiting the native Twl'leK species of Ryloth by rounding up native villagers for slave labor, and by beginning the massacre of nearly all Geonosian.
And people emigrated to the Outer Rim. Owing to economic and legal restrictions, coupled with political repression, many chose to live beyond the civilizing grasp of the Core.
Navigational Beacons are set up by Republic survey teams such as in the Tertiary Usaita System aided travelers heading towards the Galactic periphery during the height of the Galactic Republic.
Even the Empire, like most great empires, understood sometimes the need for Diplomacy and other tactics. The Hutts controls so much money and the lucrative Slave trade. It made much more sense to make a deal with powerful underworld leaders.
The Hutts, who towed the company line and did not attempt to otherthrow nor bank roll any effort to interfere with the Empire affairs.
Vader's irritation at being stumped begins to rise before his eyes fall onto the chart once more, rejecting one planet after another either out of them being extremely risky, dangerous, or close to the inner core until his eyes fall over one.
Manaan.
It's a perfect planet for Vader to meditate as the Emperor has not directed his sights on such a meddling planet that serves little, at the very least not yet.
Vader thinks of the history of what he knows about the planet. Manaan is an aquatic planet in the Pyrshak system. It is home to the Selkath, an amphibious species. The planet is completely covered in water and was the only known source of the medicinal substance kolto in the galaxy. Controlled by the Rakata during pre-Republic history, it became independent following the collapse of their Infinite Empire. In the years leading up to and during the Jedi Civil War, kolto was so important to the galaxy that the Selkath were able to use their monopoly to enforce their policy of neutrality and autonomy. The only above-surface settlement on Manaan was the floating Ahto City, built above Hrakert Rift, an abundant source of Kolto. Hiding in the depths of the rift lay a station where the Republic was trying to harvest Kolto at its source, aided by rebellious Selkath who saw the evil of the Sith Empire. This station fell in ruins when a Giant Firaxan Shark believed to be the source of Kolto and Selkath on the planet made the Selkath in the station go mad and rapidly kill the rest of the Crew. Eventually, the Jedi Revan would find one of the star maps leading to the Star Forge. The map completed other maps found on Kashyyyk, Dantooine, Korriban, and Tatooine. During the Jedi Civil War, both the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic attempted to get an upper hand in the war by creating secret deals that would give them more kolto. Since the Selkath preferred to stay neutral, they did not favor the Republic or the Sith, however some rebellious Selkath did. Ultimately, however, the Selkath banned the Sith from Manaan for trying to overthrow the government. When kolto was replaced in favor of bacta, the Republic abandoned Manaan, and the Selkath left Ahto City for their ancient cities in the depths of the planet's oceans.
Manaan did not have further contact with the galaxy for the past millennia and that means Vader can exploit this as an opportunity to remain in hiding. The Emperor will not expect for him to go on such a planet. In ancient times, Malak least expected for the crew of the Ebon Hawk and Revan to be on the planet for weeks, and given Vader is immensely stealthy in such terms, he will be capable of hiding without much complications or frustration.
Vader types in his coordinates on the schematics, seeing it will take three days before he will arrive to his desired destination, and pulls the lever, taking off and disappearing in the black abyss of space.
Manaan is the second of three planets that orbits the star Pyrshak. Located in the Inner Rim portion of "the Slice," it has no moons, and the entire surface of the planet us covered with water. The Dark Lord has never been positioned on the Clone Wars when he was that weak fool known as Skywalker due to the Jedi Masters not frequently talked about it. Ahto City serves as the capital of the planet, and was the only surface city and spaceport. Since it is the only settlement accessible to offworlders, the only method of transit to the true surface of the planet is through a submersible from Ahto City.
Canyons and rifts lines the ocean floor. At least one of the major rifts, the Hrakert Rift, have deposits of kolto, which is as harvested as it drifted to the surface. The Hrakert Rift is also home to a giant firaxan shark known as the Progenitor and other, smaller sharks. Deep undersea caverns also serve as homes to the native aquatic species, and the sentient Selkath built their cities, deep-sea pods, far beneath the surface. Much of the underwater area of Manaan is uncharted and unknown, even to the native Selkath.
He lands on a hanger with a false identity after a swift mind persuasion. Radev Htard.
He marches on the surface, staring around at his surroundings - feeling emotions such as serenity on the planet by the sentients but Vader has forfeited such things long ago so he didn't feel such emotions - before continuing on, his armor being concealed by the cloak and the hood raised over his head.
He idly wanders about on the street of Manaan, noting that contrast to the history of the planet, there are far more human life on the surface. That can be because perhaps they have been isolated from the galaxy and didn't wish to involve itself with the Republic and Separatists war nor did it acquire attention of any type from the two fractions. Even his former Master hasn't done so much as to acknowledge the planet.
Vader is growing fatigued with idling about on the planet, though to his credit, none give him a glance, obviously unfamiliar with the Emperor's enforcer standing before them. It's been months; in his time from hiding from the Empire, at the very least he had the opportunity to relish in battle and kill those who pose a challenge to him. But those days are long gone and the Emperor is going to seize herding his troopers after him eventually.
After hours of pacing about on the planet, Vader is reduced to sitting down on a bench, observing his surroundings as people of all species walk by.
His eyes than fall onto two humans; both middle-aged, sharing striking similarities, and harboring blonde clothes. He is curious as he walks up to the two individuals.
"You have a job offer on Corellia?" The taller human inquires, staring around at what must be a shop of some sort. "That's wonderful! We can help the planet and gain a lot of money. This planet hardly pays as much."
"Yep, but who will watch over the shop?" The other human asks, eyes blazing in what Vader recognizes from his own experience as nostalgia. "This ship did us good on harder times. It doesn't deserve to be brought down. Most of these parts will be all but useless since we are traveling to different territories. Not to mention most adore this place and it's a thing of the past."
Vader approaches, attempting to cover his mask further so they wouldn't be able to see his lenses or breathing mask. He wraps his arms and legs inwards of the cloak, covering his life support system along with his mechanical legs. Once assured his form is shielded properly, the Dark Lord of the Sith gets closer, speaking as a mere shadow from within his cloak and hood.
"I will sustain the shop in your stead," Vader declares, staring at the two and attempting - and failing - to be a lighter voice. To his praise they didn't shiver at his presence like many, however did appear to be caught off-guard.
"Can you prove that you can build?" The shorter male asks, wrinkling his nose at what he presumes is a total stranger.
"Certainly," Vader replies, feeling a dark temptation within him to just crush their windpipes and seize control, however, he shall not, not because he is remorseful of his past or actions but because he doesn't wish to draw unwarranted attention from others. He will humor them instead. "Allow me to demonstrate my experience in mechanism."
The two males stare at each other, the older one shrugging slightly, as Vader walks past them. Vader's golden eyes from within the helmet lingers on the broken or incomplete parts. In his time as Anakin Skywalker, he may have smirked at such machinery surrounding him, but the older authority that is Darth Vader will not allow that fool to come out. This job no longer intrigues him as it did when Skywalker was a slave, but it will simply serve a purpose until he is prepared to overthrow the Emperor.
It is time to prove his work.
If he still is Skywalker, he would have cracked his knuckles in cocky amusement, but he simply advance towards the first broken parts, completely knowledgeable that he cannot observe the shop for another minute, less they will not take him seriously, and his patience is limited.
Behind him, the two men watch and observe, staring at the back of his hooded helmeted head and suit. They wish to see if he is as good as he claims, and Vader is not willing to put up an argument in spite of how easily it will be able to crack their throats.
In hours, Vader proves his skill in building things by rebuilding a beyond unsuitable speeder that appear to be on its last day of life; the two men are shocked that it has the opportunity to work. He also fixes a damaged hyperdrive from long ago that have been left unconcerned for years. He also places together pieces to several machines such as blasters to vibroblades. Soon all of the unworkable materials are hanging on top of the shop in full demonstrate and good as new.
Part of Vader have to resist being smug; for years he has been magnificent in building things and now he will be able to exploit them without any Master to tell him that what he has been doing is wrong or pointless reprimands by Kenobi and the Council during his final days. Kenobi nor none of the Jedi control his destiny, who he is, nor what decisions he will make.
For all his life, Vader has been a slave to many; Watto, the Jedi, Kenobi, and Sidious, but now he may be able to be his own Master without anyone to control his destiny. He has long since been freed from those lowlives slavers on Tatooine since Jinn liberated him years ago. The Jedi is all but in name and title dead, destroyed by not only his hand but the hands of the Republic, namely the clones who turned on those unsuspecting arrogant hypocrites. There's a probable chance that Kenobi is dead though the Dark Lord won't put it past the old man that he managed to survive the countless assassins deployed by Sidious given Kenobi survived General Grievous himself-oh how Vader would relish the opportunity to decapitate his head from his shoulders for his betrayal and leaving him for dead. Sidious continues to rule his Empire but the spies and agents he have deployed after him has not detected him, for Vader evaded them all and eventually will be able to fight the Emperor until he is dead.
Now, he is nothing but his own slave - a slave to only this machine he have become, but more-or-less allowed to make his own decisions without Kenobi or the Council asking him to follow their commands and bow to their every whims like a fool incapable of making their own decisions, without Sidious indulging to cause pain to his servant - the servant whom Vader allowed himself to be foolishly when he should have crushed that old man's throat the second he told him Padmé is dead. No one will be able to control him now except himself. Anyone who tries shall receives a swift execution.
By the day's end, they offered Vader not only the shop but a home they reside in for the past many years. The home is just a standard but normal home. There is a bunker, comlinks for calls to the shop. There is a room that left barren for a reason that escapes the Sith Lord but Vader relishes in this, intending to meditate the time being he is here in this precise room, something that he did not long after bowing before Sidious. In the kitchen's cabinets, there are blonde and clean plates and cups. In the refresher, there's a standard blonde toilet that is dirty give or take along with a mirror and a sink, not that he will require them.
After they depart, the Sith Lord bows down on both knees and begin to sunk into deep meditation, calling off the dark side of the Force like he have for the past several years. At least one minor objective is completed; he has a purpose that he can fulfill in public yet remain in the shadows.
The Force has caused him so much pain and it's time for Vader to avenge himself to those who did this to him, starting with Sidious down to Kenobi, him now fueled by anger and rage towards the galaxy unlike ever before.
In spite of the beginning of this life, he will not strip himself of the Force, for it has its uses, the dark side of the Force echoing around him. He is done with the galaxy crumbling around him. He will live in solitude yet in the opening, living as the name, Radev Htard. The galaxy, much like the Force, brought too much pain to him and he is not going to allow it to do so once again.
While he is making a living, Vader shall train himself each day, knowing that his power in the Force still requires improvements less the Emperor would be capable of killing him.
Those days of hiding and being a slave to another is over, now replaced by someone who would avenge Padmé Amidala and no longer run.
No one will be able to stop him.
Little does the Sith Lord know that the Force has other plans. It is not willing to allow its favorite child without opportunities of giving Vader a second chance to return to the light. Now all the Force has to do is wait and observe until the right time is to strike.