AN: This chapter is going to expand on a minor scene from chapter 12. If you don't remember, then I would recommend going back and rereading the chapter so it makes more sense. Also, big thanks to my beta!

Enjoy :)

With a shrill cry, the masked figures dropped down into the canyon to surround the group of travelers, blocking them from escaping before brandishing their vibro weapons in a show of strength and might. They wore dark masks that covered the lower portion of their faces while leaving their eyes uncovered, save for the war paint that some of them wore.

There were only four of them, far less than Anakin had anticipated but still he knew that this fight would not be an easy one.

With a hiss and a snap, Anakin ignited his lightsaber just in time to blow from one of the bandits that would've been fatal if not stopped. Ahsoka ignited her two white lightsabers as well before retreating behind Anakin to fight off the rest of their attackers, who had them surrounded at that point.

Adrenaline kicked in as Anakin moved to defend both Leia and Neri, who had taken shelter behind one of the natural limestone pillars that lined the interior of the canyon. Neri hid behind Leia, who had her blaster out as she shielded the little girl with her body.

Anakin's heart rate soared with the intensity of the fight. He deflected the attacks before side-stepping another blow that would've ended his life had he not been careful. He sneered as he swung his lightsaber at one of the figures but missed when he ducked out of the way. His lightsaber plunged into the walls of the canyon just as one of the hooded figures rolled out of the way. They attempted to deliver a hard kick to Anakin's shin, but the Jedi force jumped out of the way just in time to avoid the blow.

He landed on both of his feet a few meters away from the individual. He dared a look over at his companions, who were faring better than he expected. Leia continued to shield both herself and Neri behind the pillar while occasionally ducking out to get a few well-aimed shots in before ducking back into her covered spot with Neri.

Ahsoka seemed to be holding her own perfectly, her saber style graceful yet deadly at the same time.

Anakin barely had any time to observe his future Padawans saber style before two of the four men rounded on him again, forcing the Jedi to once again block their sudden and intense attacks that never seemed to stop. They fought just as well as Jedi, even though their weapons were not sabers. They were unlike anything Anakin had ever seen before and it was certain that these men were highly trained in saber technique, although it was apparent at the same time that they were not Jedi.

Anakin parried with them, although they seemed to be getting the upper hand on him as they slowly began to force him back against the canyon wall, which would effectively trap Anakin if he didn't manage to find a way to get away from them.

Anakin reached out his free hand and used the Force to push one of the figures away. He hit the other side of the small canyon with a thump before he fell to the ground unconscious, allowing Anakin to focus his attention on the other one. He kicked the man in the chest before running forward to hit him over the head with the butt of his saber.

He looked over at Ahsoka, who was holding her own against the biggest of the four. One was unconscious on the ground thanks to Anakin, but the other three were still fighting back. One of the masked figures, not the one that was fighting Ahsoka, surged forward and grabbed Neri, who had been cowering by the canyon wall, by the back of her shirt.

Neri screamed as she struggled against them, their fist held tightly around the fabric as she clawed at their hand.

"Let her go!" yelled Anakin as he raised his lightsaber in the air and pointed it at the masked individual before his lightsaber was suddenly and unexpectedly ripped from his hand. It sailed through the air before it came to rest in the hands of a newcomer, a tall man with dark skin and even darker eyes.

Anakin stared down at his empty hand in shock and surprise before he looked back up at the man, who stood a few meters away from him with his lightsaber in his hand.

The newcomer did not wear a mask like the rest of them, although Anakin could tell by the way he held himself that he was one of them. He was human and tall, very tall and very intimidating and extremely force sensitive. Anakin could feel the man's potential resonating through the Force.

He yelled at the group of masked individuals in a foreign language and fighting ceased just as quick as it had begun. The figure dropped Neri to the ground, who in turn got up and scrambled back to where Leia was. The man smiled at them and shivers ran up Anakin's spine. His smile was not unkind, but it was not friendly either and it made Anakin uneasy.

There were a few moments of silence before Ahsoka sidled up next to her Master and pointed at the cylindrical weapon in his hands. "That doesn't belong to you."

"What? This thing?" said the man as he twirled the weapon around in his hands like a mere toy. "Interesting weapon choice. A lightsaber, if I'm not mistaken?"

His voice was smoother than any of them had expected. It almost rivaled Kenobi's in sophistication. Crisp and sharp and most definitely Inner Rim. Coruscanti, perhaps?

"Who are you?" asked Anakin as he gave the man the full force of his glare. The man continued to twirl his lightsaber around in his hands.

"Such an elegant weapon," he said as he ignored Anakin's question. "I've always wondered what one would look like up close. You're a Jedi, aren't you?"

"Depends on who's asking," replied Anakin.

"Hmm, curious are we?" said the man with a coy smile. "I think the real question here is who are you."

"We're members of the Rebel Alliance," said Ahsoka as she stepped forward, "and we're looking for the Black Storm."

"The Black Storm? Never heard of them," he said, his voice firm yet playful at the same time as he regarded the four of them. There was a sort of mischief in his eyes that was unsettling, to say the least.

Ahsoka glanced at Anakin before addressing the man once again: "Listen, pal, we're not really in the mood to play games with you. Either you are the Black Storm of you're not."

Her voice was sharp and commanding and her glare was forceful.

The man tilted his head and grinned, "I can see you're not a woman to be trifled with."

"You heard her," said Anakin. "Are you are you not the Black Storm because if you're not, we'd like to be on our way now."

"Alright alright, fine. You got me," he said with a nonchalant shrug. "Now that you know, you can leave."

"I'm afraid that's not going to happen," replied Ahsoka, confidently. "We have important issues to discuss with you."

"What issues could you possibly want to discuss with us?" he asked before he shook his head. "We do not know you. You are strangers to us."

"We are members of the Rebel Alliance—" began Ahsoka before he cut her off.

"I heard you the first time, Togruta. I do not care who are you or where you come from. We do not need or want you here, rebels. We have no wish to join your patriotic Alliance to restore another useless Republic. We suffered under the governing of the last one, we have no wish to lament under another one."

He was talking about the Republic, not the Empire. Anakin remembered Ahsoka's words from earlier. These people were former slaves like he and they did not care for either the Republic or the Empire.

Ahsoka was about to rebut him before Anakin stepped forward, determined. "I understand why you do not wish to help us, but we need to know what's going on around here."

He scoffed, "as if you could understand what we have been through, Jedi. You have not lived as a slave and so you do not understand our wish not to join your cause."

Anakin shook his head, "I understand better than you think. I was born into slavery on Tatooine. For the first few years of my life, both my mother and I were the possessions of Gardulla the Hutt before we were sold. I won my freedom by podracing and I was forced to leave my mother behind when I started my training to become a Jedi."

The man paused, his gaze traveling over the young man, "if you what you say is true, then you will bear the mark. Show it to us."

Anakin glanced back at his companions before he stepped forward. He brushed his longish hair out the way and pulled down the back of his robes so that the scar from his chip would be visible to them.

The man stepped forward and roughly grabbed Anakin by the shoulder as he peered down at the small silver scar that had largely faded with time. His eyes traced it for a few moments before he let go of Anakin and took a step back.

"It is true. You have the slave mark," he said as he tilted his head. "Why have you come here?"

"Information," replied Anakin. "We noticed an increased Imperial presence in this sector as well as Hutt mercenaries. They're mining Actium here by the ton and they're using slave labor to do it. We want to know why."

"The Rebel Alliance does not know? I thought by now your spies would have caught wind of what the Empire is doing here."

"That's what we're trying to figure out," said Leia as she too joined the conversation, her hand resting protectively over Neri.

"Then I'm afraid we have much to discuss," said the man dourly, his gaze fixated on Anakin. "Come, brother. We will give you the answers you and your companions seek."

Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward to hand back the cylindrical weapon. Anakin stared down at the weapon for a few moments, surprised that they would be so willing to return his lightsaber. He had been certain that he would not be getting it back for a little while longer, at least until the man was willing to give it back to him.

"You are one of us. We trust you," he said as he once again held out his hand.

"Thank you," said Anakin as he took his weapon back and clipped it to his utility back, relieved at the familiar weight at his side.

"I am Aroc Soonteri. Welcome to the Black Storm."

Vader felt empty as he stared down at the star charts in front of him. The frown on his face was invisible behind the mask as well as the troubled look in his eyes as he shook his head.

The floor beneath him hummed gently as he rose from his seat and made his way over the transparisteel glass the separated him from the blue hue of the hyperdrive waves as he tentatively reached out with the Force to the surrounding galaxy.

Somewhere, out there among the endless sea of stars that made up their galaxy, he could feel the presence of the Jedi that always seemed to be one step ahead of him. His presence was like a flare in the darkness and so much like Luke's that it was starting to unnerve him, and yet Vader wouldn't quite allow himself to turn his attention away as he marveled at the sheer brightness that accompanied the presence.

He could remember a time when the galaxy had been full of light like that. Bright and ethereal, like beacons of light that he thought would never be extinguished. But now, against the backdrop of darkness that had become the galaxy, this presence was like a flare in total darkness. He could remember a time when his own presence had shined just as bright.

Vader closed his eyes as his fist curled at his side. His attention turning away from the Jedi and back towards that of his son, who was fast asleep in the room adjacent to him. His son was exhausted from their earlier training session and Vader could feel his tiredness through the Force as he snoozed the rest of the afternoon away.

His son's presence was comforting, like the hum of the hyperdrive waves whereas the Jedi's was searing and painful to behold, much like it had felt to stare up at the twin suns of Tatooine.

The decision to stop the search for the Princess and the Jedi had been halted per the deal he had made with Luke and he had given his son his word that he would not pursue them, but he was uncertain if he would be able to uphold that agreement anymore. His Master was growing suspicious of him and Luke still had yet to give in to his anger. His son needed some sort of push to drive him over the edge and he needed to appease his Master somehow so that he did not grow even more suspicious of him. But how? How could he accomplish both without giving his Master the upper hand on him?

The soft humming beneath his feet came to a halt as the Executor dropped out of hyperspace. The commlink at his side began to blink and Vader welcomed the distraction.

"Milord," said Lieutenant Albrecht as his body shimmered into view through the com, "I have reached the rendezvous point and I have brought the informant with me as you have requested."

"Very well, you have permission to come aboard," said Vader with a tilt of his head, "I will meet you in the cargo bay presently as agreed."

The Lieutenant nodded, "yes, Milord."

His face rippled out of view as Vader pocketed his commlink and made his way out of his quarters.

He met Piett in the cargo bay just as the Lieutenants vessel arrived. The ramp lowered and the young redheaded Officer descended along with a scruffy looking man in tow that looked as though he could be Albrecht's brother with his flaming red hair.

The Lieutenant saluted both Vader and Piett before he motioned for the other man to step forward.

"Milord, I have brought the informant as you requested."

"What is your name?" asked Vader as he directed his attention towards the other man.

"Macen Andheri," said the man with a cocky grin, his hand outstretched for a handshake that would never come.

Vader ignored the gesture, "you shall be rewarded for your service to the Empire, as was promised. I believe, Lieutenant Albrecht, that we agreed upon a reward of fifty thousand standard Galactic credits, did we not?"

The Lieutenant nodded, "I believe that was the price we arranged, Milord."

"Very well then," he said before turning to Piett. "Ensure that this man is given his due."

"Of course, Milord," replied Piett. "I just hope he doesn't spend it all in one place."

Macen Andheri laughed, "actually, I was thinking bout' going to Tatooine. I hear the slave girls there are some o' the best dancers in the galaxy and I've been meaning to let off some steam if ya know what I mean."

Lieutenant Albrecht glowered over at his informant while Piett let out an amused snort. Vader glared from beneath his mask. He had no idea where Albrecht had found this fool, but there was denying that this man had aided the Empire in their endeavor to weaken the Alliance.

"Unless there is anything else you wish to discuss, I will take my leave," said Vader as he turned to leave, his mind traveling to more important matters.

"Wait," said Andheri as he stepped forward and grabbed Vader's shoulder. Vader froze as both Albrecht and Piett stared on in muted horror. Nobody touched the Sith Lord and if they did, most did not live to tell about it.

"What," hissed Vader as he turned to stare down at the fool, his patience stretched thin at that point.

"There is something else, Milord," began Andheri as he hastily removed his hand. "It's bout' that Jedi. The one the Empire's been lookin' for."

Lieutenant Albrecht glanced over at Vader, confusion, and surprise written on his face at this new development.

"You had information on him and you didn't tell me?" he asked, incredulity lacing his tone before he glanced over at Vader.

"You didn't ask," said Andheri pointedly to the Lieutenant. "How was I s'posed to know you wanted information bout' him?"

"What do you know," demanded Vader. "Tell us and you can be on your way."

"I saw him with my own eyes. He was working on a droid, an Artoo unit if I remember correctly. He was watching old holo-recordings when I found him. I talked with him for a few moments while I was looking for the star charts for the Chommel Sector."

Vader's eyes widened from beneath his mask. Apparently, this fool of an informant knew more about the damned Jedi than even Vader knew.

"What else," prodded Vader. "What did he look like?"

Andheri shrugged, "I dunno, blond? He was young, couldn't be more than twenty at the least. He looked a lot like Skywalker. If I wasn't any the wiser, I'd have thought they were twins."

Twins. The word floated across the forefront of Vader's mind. Was it possible—?

"What else?" said Vader, his voice cool and surprisingly composed, although no one around him could notice the change in his temperament because of the vocoder, it was there nonetheless. The Force churned uncomfortably around him as if disturbed by the unexpected news.

Andheri shrugged, "I dunno. I didn't really get to talk to him for that long."

"Do you remember what the holo-recording was about?" pressed Vader.

"I'm not sure, but I think it was Senator Organa. He was talking about a child. He was scared the Empire would find them. I can't remember the rest of the conversation though."

"A child," whispered Vader to himself as he turned away from the informant to stare out at the ships in the cargo bay, his mind deep in thought. He tried to remember the feeling of his hand on the swell of her belly where he could the Force resonating with life. He hadn't felt more than one presence emanating through the Force, but was it possible that there had been another? Was it possible that Kenobi had stolen another child from him?

And then there was the matter of Bail Organa. Vader had always suspected that the treacherous Senator had been in cahoots with Kenobi, but he had never been able to prove it before now. Had Organa also aided in hiding this other boy? As a Senator and Viceroy, he would've had many resources at his disposal in hiding someone…

Vader's fist curled at his side. It seemed as though he and Luke needed to have a little chat.

Emperor Palpatine stared pensively down at the small moon of Endor as he thought. It was what he did best, and his mind had always been his greatest asset. He had always prided himself on his intellect and if the last twenty plus years had proven anything, it was that Sheev Palpatine was a political genius.

But there were things in the universe that still perplexed him, and the Jedi from Ben'we and the circumstances that had revolved around him were of no exception. The emergence of a new and powerful Jedi had been both unexpected and advantageous at the same time. It was true that the Jedi had been a thorn in the Empire's side since his arrival, but Sidious was no stranger to opportunity, and he gravitated toward where he saw potential.

He needed a new apprentice. Vader, although once cherished by Sidious, was slowly reaching the point of actual usefulness. It was a shame, really. It was because of Vader that Sidious was able to accomplish as much as he had and he would always have that appreciation for his dear apprentice, but even Vader knew that the relationship between the Master and the apprentice was not an eternal one. It was always going to boil down to one of them killing the other.

But this Jedi was a new player in the game. Sidious could feel his potential resonating through the Force, more than Vader's and even more than Skywalker's, although Sidious knew that potential didn't always translate to actual skill and ability. Vader's son was still an option in the grand scheme of everything.

As Sidious saw it, he had two options for his next apprentice. The Jedi and Skywalker. He already had an idea where one of them was and if his suspicions were true, then he also had a plan for drawing the other out of hiding. But he would need confirmation first before going through with his plan.

Sidious couldn't help the grin that spread across his face because he knew the perfect person. He made his way back to his throne and pulled out his commlink. A young officers face rippled into view before him.

"Get me Admiral Piett. I would like to speak with him," he said before adding: "privately."

She nodded, "of course, your Majesty."

"Admiral, the Emperor wishes to speak with you," said one of the Lieutenants as soon as Piett had stepped onto the bridge. He had just finished paying Macen Andheri his handsome reward before the scraggly Corellian had taken off on a transport ship bound for Tatooine, where he would undoubtedly spend it all on booze and prostitutes.

"Very well then," said Piett as he handed her the duty roster for the day, "put him on the screen."

"His Majesty has requested a private audience," she replied as he took the roster from him.

Piett froze. He hadn't expected the Emperor to contact him much less request a private audience. Usually, if the Emperor wanted something, he would go through Vader, not him.

Why would the Emperor be contacting him? Unless—

Fear blossomed in the Admirals chest, but he maintained his composure as he gave the young Lieutenant a curt nod. "I shall take it in my office then."

She nodded as she took the data-pad from his hands before making her way back to her station. Piett made his way into his office before activating his comm. The Emperor's face rippled into view above him.

"Your Majesty," greeted Piett as he squared his shoulders, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"There is a matter I wish to discuss with you," began the Emperor before adding: "a rather delicate matter that I hope you can help me with."

"I am always ready to be of service to you, Emperor."

"Of course, you are. You're loyal to me, unlike some. I know I can trust you to tell me the truth."

Piett quirked an eyebrow but remained silent. He was curious to see where the Emperor was going with this.

"I wanted to ask you the search for the Jedi from Ben'we was fairing? Vader tells me you have yet to apprehend the fugitive," said the Emperor.

Piett nodded, "our present search has not procured much yet, but I can assure you, Emperor, that we are doing our best to find and apprehend the Jedi fugitive responsible for the destruction of the Ordun Station."

"Vader said as much when I last spoke with him," said the Emperor pensively. "Tell me, Piett. How fares Lord Vader? Is he well?"

The Emperor regarded the Admiral with worried eyes as he spoke of his apprentice as if he were talking about a dear friend or even a cherished loved one. It surprised Piett because he had never seen the Emperor look so concerned for anyone before, much less Vader.

"He appears to be well," Piett considered his choice of words. He had never been a good judge of people's state of well-being, much less Vader's. "Although, I cannot say with certainty. Why? Is he alright?"

"Well that's what I'm trying to find out," breathed out the Emperor as he leaned back in his seat. "My apprentice has closed himself off from me and everyone else, save you. He hasn't checked in with Doctor Ahari in some time nor has he undergone any sort of medical treatment recently."

"I'm certain once the fugitive has been apprehended, Lord Vader will seek medical treatment if needed."

"Of course, I don't doubt that. I just worry about him sometimes. His health has been failing him for some time now and this—" the Emperor trailed off before a long and exasperated sigh escaped him. "I do worry about him, especially his mental state. It can't be easy for him, having to give up the search for Skywalker."

"It has taken its toll on him," admitted Piett. "But Lord Vader is resilient. He does not give up so easily."

"No, he certainly does not," the Emperor leaned forward. "Especially when he's emotionally invested in something. Perhaps, a child? A son?"

Piett frowned, "I wasn't aware that Lord Vader had a son."

"Oh, but he does," said the Emperor, his previously warm and inviting tone of voice turning to pure ice in a matter of only a few seconds, "but you already knew that, didn't you, Admiral?"

Piett could feel the color draining from his face as the Emperor regarded him with his steely, cold eyes that seemed to see into his very soul. Piett came to the realization that he had been pulled into a deadly game between Vader and the Emperor and that the former had not been so forthcoming about the truth as he had previously thought. Just what had Vader dragged him into?

"It seems as though your trust in Vader has been misplaced," added the Emperor as Piett swallowed nervously.

"He assured me of his loyalty to you," said Piett in his own defense, although his tone was meek and his excuse meager. "I never intended to deceive you, Emperor."

"Where is Skywalker?" demanded the old man.

"He is here on the Executor. Lord Vader has been training him."

There were a few moments of tense silence as the Emperor quietly mulled over the information before he sighed.

"Just as I suspected. You've confirmed my apprentice's treachery."

"Please, your Excellency I did not intend to lie to you. I was only doing what Vader commanded me. I did not know that he was plotting against you—"

"Of course you didn't," said Palpatine. "He has lied to us both. You cannot possibly be faulted for him placing you in such a predicament."

Piett swallowed, "thank you for understanding, your Excellency."

"Oh, I understand perfectly what position he put you in, you poor fool. And I'm afraid that now you will have to pay the price for his treachery," said Palpatine as he shook his head in mock sympathy. "I hate to do this, Piett. You had so much potential, but I cannot have Vader knowing about any of this."

The Admirals eyes widened as he brought his hand to his neck. He knew what was coming because he had seen it happen to other people, people who had displeased either one of the Sith Lords. He waited for his airways to constrict, but they never did.

Tears dribbled down his cheeks. He wiped them away and looked down, horrified to see that they were not tears but rather crimson blood. His nose began to bleed and fluid oozed out both of his ears.

Piett looked back up at the blue apparition in muted horror as his he felt pressure beginning to build in his brain, right behind his eyeballs. Palpatine smiled mirthlessly down at him as he felt his knees buckle.

"Asphyxiation would've been too obvious. A brain aneurysm, on the other hand, is not as suspicious. A literal ticking time bomb. It would've only been a matter of time really, I just exacerbated what was already there."

Piett fell to the ground. His head was throbbing. The pressure continued to build.

"I am sorry, Admiral. Truly I am, but there was no other way."

Those were the last words that Piett ever heard and the sadistically mad cackling echoed in his mind as the world went black.

AN: Whew, has it really been that long since I last updated? I apologize for the wait and I hope this chapter will make up for it. Just an FYI, this story will be coming to an end soon, hopefully. I only have at the most five or six more chapters planned out, but that is if I can manage to get my life and my WIP's sorted out lol. I'm trying to keep it within that limit before all my plot bunnies run away and give birth to even more plot bunnies (a common occurrence with me, unfortunately, and boy do I have a lot of plot bunnies in this noggin of mine). I'm also taking the time to go back and clean up mistakes and edit past chapters. I hope you enjoyed!