Author's Note: Thank you so very much for the kind comments thus far. It really, truly means a lot.

Chapter Six

"WE'VE JUST LEFT DALLENOR. The search there has been completed," Vader said to Rey while the two of them sat at the large table in the Sith Lord's living quarters.

Rey nodded, humming quietly as she had a drink of water and peered tiredly at her evening meal. Tonight it was a veg protein ration bar paired with leftover bread from Naboo from their earlier stay above the Mid-Rim planet. "Carnelion is next, right?" she asked as she grabbed her ration bar and took a large bite.

Her stomach ached with hunger pains, likely due to the numerous training sessions that she and her Master had participated in these last few weeks.

Vader waited until she had finished chewing her food before he confirmed her question. "Indeed. It will be a short search as it is unlikely Obi-Wan and Luke are there. Not only is Carnelion a difficult planet to travel to, but it is also troublesome to search."

Taking a bite of her bread, Rey focused her attention on Vader. "You've mentioned that before," she mumbled. She frowned as she watched him clench his fists, and swallowed the lump of food still in her mouth. It was one of the few tells of his that she had noticed in their short time together. He was uneasy about something. "Where will we be travelling afterwards?"

The Sith Lord's respirator cycled for a few times, and he clasped his gloved hands together on the table before he spoke. "I must return to Coruscant for Empire Day." He paused. "It would rouse Sidious' suspicions if I were absent."

Rey felt her stomach churn threateningly at the mention of the Emperor and wished that she hadn't eaten as quickly as she had. "What about me?" she asked. Her voice shook with fear and unease. "Am I to hide here on your Destroyer?"

Will you betray me, just like everyone else has? She couldn't help but think to herself.

"I will not betray you," Vader said as he held up his right hand as if to calm Rey down. "I swear it."

Rey swallowed, but forced herself to remain silent. Their strange bond still took some getting used to.

"There are three possible options for us. For you." Vader waited a moment before continuing. "The first option is what you have just stated. You stay here in my quarters while I go planet-side. You would have to remain in my meditation chambers at all times, however, I would assign SD 2826 to bring you your meals." He paused. "It would be of dire importance that you kept yourself shielded the entire time we were above Coruscant, which would be a week or two. It is highly risky, not only because of Sidious, but also because of the large number of Imperial forces in close proximity."

Rey didn't like that option one bit. She grimaced with unease before clearing her throat. "What's option two?"

"We would make a swift detour on the way to Coruscant, where I would leave you on Mustafar in my fortress." Vader held up a finger before Rey could get a word in. "It would only be for a short time. I assure you that I would not leave you there permanently." He paused, appearing to watch Rey closely for any sort of reaction. "I, myself, need to return to Mustafar in order to spend some time in my Bacta tank. Again, it would only be a week or two before I would return, however, you would be alone. There will be no other living beings in my fortress, I will make sure of it."

"Mustafar is a Sith stronghold, is it not?" Rey questioned quietly. She had even heard stories about that place. It was where the Jedi went to die.

Vader inclined his head slightly in agreement. "It is. My fortress is built upon an ancient Sith Temple. The dark side of the Force is exceptionally strong there. You would once again need to shield your mind. However, it is a task that I believe you can succeed in, Rey." He leaned forwards in his chair. "You are exceptionally powerful in the Force and the shields that you have constructed are robust."

Rey swallowed. The Force was stubbornly quiet on the subject, like it wanted her to make a choice. "I would be all alone?"

"Yes." Vader leaned back in his chair. "I would leave SD-2826 with you along with the security droids that are currently present there. They will keep you company, and you can train with them as well."

It was apparent that Vader wanted her to stay there, which made Rey curious as to what the third option was. She furrowed her brow. "And option three?"

"Option three would have you joining the Rebels," Vader told her. "I would provide you with a vessel capable of Hyperspace travel. I will see to it personally that the tracker, which is present on all Imperial ships, is removed." He paused for a few moments, watching Rey closely. "We would part. Permanently. Our time together would cease."

The Force hummed quietly in Rey's mind. This option, while the safest, was not the one that she should take. It was much too soon for her to leave her Master.

She gave Vader a firm shake of her head. "I'm going to say no to that option. The Force is saying that it is not the time to leave you."

A wave of relief washed over her. Vader was pleased at her response. "And the other options? What does the Force tell you?"

Shrugging, Rey reached for her ration bar and took a bite. She chewed for a few moments before replying. "It's unnervingly silent. But, I think that I'd rather be in your fortress than anywhere near the Emperor, even if it isn't ideal."

"Then that is what we will do." Vader fidgeted in his chair for a few moments as he punched a couple of buttons on the life support system on his chest.

Rey couldn't help but voice her childish worries. "You'll come back for me though?" Her voice was quiet, barely louder than a whisper.

"I will," Vader assured her once again. "You are my Padawan and I am your Master. I will not abandon you. I will not leave you behind."

Letting her Master's reassurance wash over her, Rey took the time to get her childhood fear under control once again. After a few minutes of comfortable silence she focused her attention on Vader. "What is Empire Day like?" she asked. "I've only heard a few stories about it from your daughter before I arrived here. She said that when the Republic Alliance defeated the Galactic Empire, Empire Day was renamed Remembrance Day for all of the lives lost during Palpatine's reign." She snorted softly. "I never heard of the day though. On Jakku, we had no such celebration for either the Empire or the New Republic."

"The Emperor will give his yearly address on Coruscant," Vader began. "It will be broadcast over the entire Known Galaxy. All Imperial controlled worlds will have extravagant celebrations, either with the local governments or with the Imperial forces stationed above the planet."

"Sounds expensive."

"It is," Vader admitted. "It is an obnoxious show of power to those who might be sympathetic to the Rebel Alliance." He paused. "During the celebrations there will be demonstrations directed towards some individuals who are known to support the Rebels."

Rey felt her stomach cramp up once again. "The Death Star?"

Vader was silent as he stared at her. "I don't believe so," he said after a moment. "Normally spies are eliminated on the steps of the Imperial Centre."

"Eliminated?"

"Killed." Vader's respirator cycled a few times. "By myself while my Master watches from his throne." He couldn't keep the disdain from his voice even with the vocoder's distortion. "In your time, was the Death Star used during Empire Day?"

Slowly, Rey shook her head. "No. It was afterwards, I think."

"Then we must assume that it will be after Empire Day this time as well," Vader told her. "We have no other choice."

Rey nodded. It seemed like their only option at the moment. "Have you heard anything from the Emperor regarding the Death Star?"

"No." Vader paused. Rey could feel his unease wafting softly around the room. "He has gone suspiciously quiet as a matter of fact, which leads me to believe that he knows something regarding that particular weapon."

"You think that he knows of the spy?" Rey questioned.

"Perhaps," Vader conceded. "Or perhaps your Rebels are not as trustworthy as you believe them to be."

"You think the Emperor has a spy in the Rebellion?" Rey frowned.

"The Emperor has spies everywhere, Rey. It would be foolish to think that they are not in the Rebellion as well."

"Could he suspect you?"

"I am not a spy." Vader's emphasis was highlighted with the pounding of his fist on the table. "I have not given the Rebels any information whatsoever!"

Rey raised a brow at his childish argument. "So, you warning Kenobi was something else, I assume?"

There was silence for a few moments as Vader peered at her. She could just make out his eyes behind the darkly-tinted transparisteel lenses before he responded. "I did not consider him to be a Rebel in that instance. Instead, I viewed him as the guardian to my son." He waited a beat before continuing, "And besides, the Rebels would have learned about the information that I gave Obi-Wan eventually."

Rey snorted. "If you say so."

"I do, as a matter of fact."

It was faint, but Rey could still hear the amusement in her Master's tone.

After a moment of comfortable silence, broken only by the sounds of her eating and Vader breathing, Rey voiced something that was on her mind. "You mentioned that the Emperor has spies everywhere." She quirked her head slightly and narrowed her eyes. "Does that mean here as well? Does the Devastator have Palpatine's spies on board as well?"

Vader clasped his hands together on the table before him. "He does. But, the spy that he has aboard my ship is an imbecile who is far more fearful for his life due to his close proximity to me than he is with giving Sidious useful information." He paused. "I have individuals that I trust who are keeping a close eye on him."

Rey nodded at his explanation before returning to their earlier topic. "I feel like we need to talk more about the Death Star."

"What of it?"

"It was used twice in my history," Rey began. "Do you think that it is possible to prevent that from happening this time around?"

Vader leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the table. "If not those planets, then which ones? Perhaps in trying to prevent the Death Star from destroying those two planets, other worlds will be destroyed instead. Perhaps more worlds will be destroyed instead of the two from your timeline."

"You think that it's the Force's will," Rey scoffed. "You think that billions of people have got to die because it happened in my timeline." She scowled at Vader. "That's rubbish!"

"I doubt that we will be able to prevent the Death Star from destroying whatever planet Sidious deems necessary to guarantee his continued reign." Vader paused. "However, perhaps you should tell me what happened in your past with the Death Star. You mentioned earlier that Scarif is involved somehow."

"Tarkin ordered the Death Star to fire on the Imperial Archives facility on Scarif in an effort to prevent the Rebel Alliance from obtaining and transmitting the weapon's plans to the nearby Rebel vessels." Rey's throat felt tight with emotion. That was when Leia had been captured by Vader and tortured. "There is a flaw in the design, which was purposely built into the weapon to allow for its destruction." She glared at her Master. "Tarkin failed to prevent the plans from being transmitted. And you captured your daughter and tortured her for the location of the Rebel base." She sniffed. "My General said that she was somehow able to keep you out of her head. She realized afterwards, years later, that Yoda must've built the shields in her mind when she was a baby. Or perhaps Obi-Wan." She shrugged. "Either way, you couldn't get in."

"And Tarkin?" Vader questioned.

Sighing, Rey shook her head. "He was impatient. He believed that if he threatened to use the Death Star on your daughter's home world that she would tell him the location of the Rebel base." She gave Vader a stubborn purse of her lips. "He was wrong. She still didn't tell him. And then she was forced to watch her planet get destroyed. Her parents—her adoptive parents, I mean—they were planet-side when the Death Star fired."

"She wasn't executed for her ties to the Rebellion?"

Rey shook her head. "She was awaiting execution aboard the Death Star when Obi-Wan, Luke, her future husband and his co-pilot arrived to save her." She swallowed. "That was when Obi-Wan died." Her eyes met Vader's own through his helmet. "That was when you killed him."

"No doubt Kenobi used his presence to distract me from the existence of my children," Vader mused. "I would've sensed them otherwise."

"He sacrificed himself, you mean."

"Indeed." Vader tilted his head slightly. "An engineer then."

Rey frowned. "Huh?"

"The Rebel Alliance's spy is an engineer who is working on the Death Star." Vader waited a beat before continuing. "Only someone with high enough credentials would know of any flaw in the design." He clasped his hands together. "Most impressive."

Rey felt her stomach churn threateningly. "How so?"

She could feel her Master's amusement hum gently throughout the room. "Because I was one of the individuals who made certain that the engineers were loyal to the Empire," he told her. "I doubt Sidious knows as well. The engineer in question would have been terminated otherwise."

Rey didn't know how to respond to Vader's comment.

"Where is the fatal flaw?" He questioned her after a moment.

Snorting, Rey shook her head. "Why? So you can tell your Master when you meet up with him on Coruscant?"

"No." Vader's insistence was obvious even with a single word spoken. "I despise the Death Star. I see no need to inform my Master of what you have told me." He paused. "The Force is also telling me that I must keep this information to myself." He leaned back in his seat. "If the vast number of engineers in the Galactic Empire have failed to notice the flaw, then that seems like there is a problem with the Emperor's hiring practices."

Rey raised a brow. "So, in other words, you'll allow the destruction solely out of spite."

Vader shrugged. "It has kept me alive this long."

Rey just shook her head. She didn't know what to say to that.

"Where is the flaw?"

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Rey frowned at Vader's question. "I feel uneasy telling you."

Vader quirked his head to the side. "Please?"

Rey snickered. It was absurd to hear Lord Vader's deep vocoder say 'please'. She sighed as she peered thoughtfully at him. "There is a two meter wide thermal exhaust port that leads directly to the station's main reactor. Proton torpedoes were dropped down the exhaust port. They set off a chain reaction."

"An impossible shot." Vader was impressed.

Rey nodded. "For most pilots, yes."

Vader leaned forwards in his seat and pointed a gloved finger at her. "Unless you had the Force to help guide the torpedoes to the main reactor." Pride caressed around Rey. "Does Tarkin perish on the Death Star when my son destroys it?"

She shivered at the elation radiating off of Vader and nodded.

"Good." Vader gave her a curt nod. At Rey's confusion he explained further. "He has attempted to kill me multiple times. It is fitting that my son be the one to kill him."

Rey's breath caught in her throat. "Why? I thought you both were on the same side."

She could feel Vader's amusement at her statement. Her naivety.

"Tarkin wants power. I have the Force, as does the Emperor. Tarkin doesn't. I assume he feels inadequate." Vader paused. "He doesn't have command of the Death Star just yet, right now that is Krennic. However, it is not surprising that Tarkin will take over from him. Director Krennic is a complete imbecile."

Rey shook her head at the absurdity of it all.

Vader tapped his thumb against the table. "I will allow your Rebels to obtain the plans for the Death Star and allow them to destroy the weapon. But, first I must determine a way to get my daughter to safety above Scarif. Perhaps by doing so, you and I can prevent her home world from being destroyed."

Rey rubbed her face. "Why? I thought you weren't a spy."

"I'm not a spy," her Master reminded her. "However, I am from Tatooine. On Tatooine, family comes before everything, including the Galactic Empire."

Rey shivered at Vader's statement and then swallowed once more, thinking of his words. Her heart ached with the reminder that she had no one fighting for her. Her own parents had abandoned her on Jakku.

Perhaps that was what Jakku's traditions were in regards to family. Parents selling their children to get away.

She forced her insecurities behind her durasteel shields in her mind. Now was not the time or place to feel sorry for herself.

Steeling herself once again, Rey focused on Vader sitting across from her on the other side of the table. He was looking at her closely, and realized that he must've asked her a question. "I'm sorry. What did you ask, Master Vader?"

He peered at her in silence for a moment or two before repeating his question. "Where was I when Luke destroyed the Death Star?"

Rey cleared her throat. "You were in your TIE, shooting down the Rebel X-Wings that were attacking the Death Star. You were attempting to shoot down Luke."

She left out the part of Han and Chewie coming to the rescue of Luke. Vader didn't need to know.

...

...

Rey knelt down after stepping into the durasteel storage container. Underneath her were blankets and a change of clothes. Rations were tucked along the sides.

Three weeks worth of meals if Rey were to have one bar per day.

Leaning forward she made herself as small as possible, waiting for Vader to close the lid.

"It will only be for a few minutes," Vader informed her. "We are directly above Mustafar."

Rey could only give him a nod, she was much too nervous to speak. She was beginning to doubt that she was ready to face such a dark location on her own.

Two weeks was the length of time Vader had confirmed with her. Two weeks of Rey alone in his Sith fortress. Two weeks of Lord Vader standing right next to the Emperor.

Anytime during his stay on Coruscant he could let Sidious know about her, and she wouldn't know until it was much too late.

She was practically defenseless against two strong Force users. Even more so with the skill and training they had in the dark side of the Force.

Rey reached her hand to her hip, checking to make sure her lightsaber was still there. She allowed herself a bit of relief when her palm brushed against the hilt. She nodded once more. "Okay."

The lid snapped shut, she was plunged into darkness.

Focusing on her breathing, Rey attempted to remain calm. The last thing she needed was to blow her shields wide open while above Mustafar.

The storage container gave a jerk of movement before it began rolling along. SD-2826, Vader's personal droid, was pulling the container through the hallway as the three of them made their way towards the hangar.

The rumble of Vader's vocoder could be heard, muffled by the durasteel.

They kept moving.

It was a few minutes before Rey felt the incline up the ramp into the transport vessel they'd be taking to the surface of Mustafar. A few more minutes before the ship left the hangar of the Devastator.

Rey swallowed, her throat tight with fear. She could feel the darkness begin to wrap around her, like engine oil coating her skin.

She felt dirty. Grimy.

She wanted to get as far away from this place as quickly as possible.

She wanted to go home. Home to Jakku. To her AT-AT Walker.

Rey's eyes began to burn with unshed tears, causing her to squeeze them tightly shut. This was a mistake, staying here on Mustafar. There was no way that she could last for the two weeks all alone.

They had yet to reach the surface of the planet, yet the Dark Side of the Force was making itself known by blasting hard against her shields.

A comforting presence began wrapping around her. Protecting her. Soothing her. Master Vader.

Anakin, the Force corrected.

Rey almost sobbed in relief.

The transport touched down. Rey's container wobbled slightly at the shaky landing.

She could feel the transport vessel beginning its standby sequence, the engines shifting to idle.

Her container began rolling again. Pulled down the loading ramp.

Rey could make out a few different voices. There were multiple people speaking all at once.

Vader's distinctive vocoder responded.

They were moving quickly through the fortress. An unknown voice asked something. Pestering. She could feel her Master's annoyance.

"Wait for me on my ship!" Vader's voice was loud and clear.

Rey breathed a sigh of relief at the feeling of the people scurrying away, and opened her eyes.

Her container rolled to a stop. The latch unsnapped and the lid opened.

"It's just us now." Vader was standing close.

Rey lifted her head up and straightened out. Now kneeling in her container. She slowly stood up, taking a look around the room she, Vader, and SD-2826 were in.

Her Master held out a hand to help her out of her container. "We are in my medical facility," he told her while gesturing vaguely to the equipment behind him.

Rey took a look around the room. A large bacta tank was present, already prepped and ready for Vader. Off to the side of the room was a bench full of various mechanical parts and tools. A few partially constructed limbs sat on the workbench, along with a handful of damaged helmets.

She exhaled deeply. This place felt strangely personal.

She watched as Vader made his way over to a data screen built into the wall, and began punching in commands.

A security prompt filled the screen. Vader quickly typed in his identification and password. "I have readjusted the security droid protocol. They now recognize you. You will be free to roam here while I am away." He was speaking quickly, in a rush to leave for Coruscant. "Do not wander any lower than the flight deck on the lower level."

He turned to face Rey. "I have a training facility here. With droids for you to practice with. I have them currently set for fatal return fire. I recommend adjusting their settings to the minimum—a slight sting. Do not increase their strength beyond a faint burn."

Rey nodded. "I understand."

Vader gave her a single nod. "No meditation. At all. We will pick it up again once we leave here." He paused to focus his attention entirely on Rey. "I am currently protecting you from the effects of the Sith temple below us. Once I leave here the Dark Side will become apparent once more. Keep working on your shields, add as many layers as you can." He stepped over to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "This darkness is temporary, you must remember that. I will be back here in two weeks. I promise. I will not abandon you."

Rey gave him a shaky nod of her head. "What if someone from the Empire shows up?"

Vader squeezed her shoulder. "Kill them." He let go and took a step back from her. "Or hide if you feel unable to kill them yourself. But, you must understand that they will kill you if they find you. They will not hesitate."

"I understand," Rey quietly repeated.

"I have it set up so that you will be notified when someone lands on the flight deck or makes their way through any of the entrances. It will appear on all of the screens. They are located in every room." Vader gestured to the wall. "I will also be notified when any ship or person sets foot in this place." He paused. "I will come. But like I have said before, I am hours away at best."

"Thank you," Rey murmured. "For helping me and hiding me. Thank you." She had a feeling that she needed to tell him, like it was important that he knew how grateful she was for all of his help.

Vader looped his thumbs in his belt. "I must leave now. I need to get to Coruscant." He quickly left the room without waiting for her response, his cape billowing behind him.

Rey stepped closer to the screen on the wall, watching as Lord Vader made his way back towards the transport vessel.

SD-2826 rolled closer to her. "It will be alright, Miss Rey. I am here to keep you safe. My Master has ordered me to protect you at all costs." The droid sounded proud of its task. "I assure you that I will do what I am ordered. I have never once failed a mission."

"Thank you, Essdee," Rey told her companion quietly.

She had a pretty good idea that SD-2826 was far more skilled than any standard droid. Master Vader had undoubtedly felt the need to make adjustments with its programming, and adding in various programs and skills to give his personal droid the ability to act as a sort of bodyguard.

A droid bodyguard for a person who was more machine than man.

Rey let out a breath that she didn't realize she had been holding. She watched Vader make his way up the ramp into his shuttle. Two individuals followed closely behind him. "Who are the two people with Master Vader, Essdee?"

"His guards. They normally spend the majority of their time here," SD-2826 responded pleasantly. "They were assigned by the Emperor, and are Vader's bodyguards while he is resting in his bacta tank."

Of course. It made sense that he would have guards in place when he was his most vulnerable. "Are they Force sensitive?" Rey couldn't help but ask. There was something about them that made her feel as though they were.

SD-2826 rolled back away from Rey almost as if she was shocked by her question. The droid tilted its head at the question, a perfect imitation of its Master. "Yes. But, Master Vader has said that they are weak in the Force." The droid rolled closer to Rey, like she was about to tell her a secret. "He is unimpressed with them and leaves them here as often as he can."

Rey nodded as watched the screen while the transport vessel left the hangar.

She felt her Master's protection begin to slip off of her.

The darkness began to hum around Rey once more.

She focused on her shields, making certain that there were no weak spots for the Dark Side to slip through.

She let another breath out just as the transport vessel reached the Devastator.

Rey couldn't prevent the sob from erupting out of her chest as she watched the Star Destroyer flash away into Hyperspace.

Now with Vader's protection completely absent, Rey could feel the inky blackness of the Dark Side curiously examining its new prey.

Sinking down onto the durasteel floor, arms and legs curled around herself, Rey bawled.

Never in her life had she felt so alone.