Having successfully completed the task set by his master, and doing his best to smother the feelings of elation that threatened to overwhelm him after he had confirmed without a doubt that the crying infant was in fact his child, Vader knelt before the holoprojector as he waited for his call to be accepted.
He didn't have to wait long.
And though his master was many light years away, the cybernetic Sith Lord was still able to clearly feel the Emperor's presence when he spoke.
"Lord Vader. Have you dealt with the traitors of the Alderan System"?
Despite the pain it caused him to remain in his position, Vader nevertheless remained kneeling as he looked up into the twisted face of his smirking master.
"Yes master. They are finished".
Cackling at the confirmation that another thorn in his side had been removed, though part of his glee stemmed from the fact that he could clearly feel his apprentice's immense hatred for the now dead senator, Palpatine moved to congratulate his right hand before discussing the other aspect of Vader's mission.
"Very good Lord Vader. Bail Organna would have done all in his power to hinder the expansion of the New Order. Your success in removing this threat pleases me greatly. And yet I sense that something else happened during your mission. Did the information my spies discovered prove to be of any use to you Lord Vader"?
Knowing that he couldn't deceive his master about his important discovery, Vader reluctantly nodded as he was forced to provide an answer that he prayed would satisfy the Elder Sith.
"Yes master, their information was correct. Organna's treachery ran deeper than we could have expected, for in addition to finding some of ...her, belongings amongst his possession, I also discovered that my child lives".
Allowing a smirk to spread across his face as he listened to Vader's confession, and deciding to conceal the fact that the annoying bogwitch had given birth to twins, Palpatine adopted a thoughtful tone as he considered the fate of the first recovered child of Skywalker.
"That is indeed good news Lord Vader. One shudders to think what would have become of your child if it's adoptive family had raised it in an environment that refuses to believe in the legitimacy of our rule. But that is mere speculation, so I wont trouble you with the knowledge of what might have been, especially since I'm sure you still persist in that line of thinking, my apprentice".
Allowing his voice to develop into a hiss as he chastised Vader for his inability to let go of the past, though in truth he was starting to consider that it might be best if the fallen Jedi continued to wallow in self hatred if only to deepen his connection to the Dark Side, Palpatine allowed his tone to revert back to the grandfatherly like persona that still possessed much of its earlier usefulness.
"Presuming you don't let your new status as a parent interfere with your duties, you may keep the child and raise it so that it will one day enjoy a position of authority in the Empire. Is that agreeable Lord Vader"?
Knowing that he didn't really have a choice in the matter, and fighting down the nearly overwhelming happiness that threatened to engulf him at the news that he would be able to keep his child, Vader nodded his helmeted head.
"Yes Master it is".
Pleased with his apprentice's submission, the Emperor ended their discussion, but not before he decided to impart another piece of advise that Vader had to admit had merit.
"Good. Perhaps it would be wise to employ some people to befriend your child and teach it a variety of skills that do not depend on being sensitive to the currents of the Force. I shall contrive at a later date to provide you with a list of youthful candidates for your consideration Lord Vader. I trust that you will be able to make a competent decision without my guidance".
Bristling at the suggestion that he was still a child needing a parents guidance, the cybernetic Sith nevertheless nodded his head in submission, pleasing his master greatly.
"Good. Farewell Lord Vader".
And with a flicker, the image of the Emperor had vanished, leaving the armored Sith Lord to contemplate the full meaning of his master's words, before another reminder of his past life decided to make itself known.
"Oh Lord Vader. I'm terribly sorry, but I thought you should know that Mistress Leia has finally settled down for her nap, and I was wondering if it would be possible to take some time for a recharge. I was never designed for the role of caregiver, and I must admit to feeling rather drained in the attempt to act like one".
Releasing a involuntary chuckle at the complaining attitude of the protocol droid, and painfully rising off the floor, Vader turned his helmet so that he was looking at the face of his childhood creation.
"You have my permission to do so 3PO. But I want you to remain close to my daughter lest something happens to her during her sleep cycle. Otherwise you'll end up joining your friend in the reprograming center. I trust you do not want that to happen"?
Receiving the golden droid's groveling acceptance of his order, Vader quickly left the deserted bridge as he had just reminded himself that their was another aspect of his past he had to confront. Only this one hadn't suffered a memory, and if he was being honest with himself, he didn't want to have to go that far unless the astromech retained his disobedient attitude.
...
Watching the kneeling image of his apprentice disappear, Sidious found himself congratulating himself once again for his uncharacteristic display of mercy in allowing the boy to try and save his skin by providing reasons for him to be spared.
Thanks to the information provided by the boy, whether it was the knowledge that Vader's children lived, who would serve to hinder or help the Empire, or more recently intensifying the training of his future cannon fodder, the Emperor felt that his rule was far more secure than he could have ever dreamed.
While he had been somewhat reluctant in telling his apprentice that his progeny had survived the death of their mother, and was still contemplating the pros and cons of revealing the fact that their was another Skywalker yet to be reclaimed, the Emperor was most pleased by Vader's performance after his hopes had been raised.
His connection to the Dark Side was stronger, allowing him to effectively combat the remaining embers of the Jedi despite his impaired physical condition, his focus was greater then it had ever been, allowing him to accomplish missions that cemented the publics perceptions that only the Empire could provide them with the security they so desperately desired, and now, he had not only removed the house of Organna from being a threat to Empire, but had provided him with a suitable replacement should his apprentice's hubris once again get the better of him.
It had been a difficult decision, but after the Boy told him of the accomplishments of the Skywalker twins, the Emperor decided that the daughter would make the more promising apprentice than her brother. For while the boy's growth in the force was impressive, having beaten his powerful Father after only 4 years of training, his lack of ambition had made him unworthy in the Emperor's eyes. For despite his abilities, Luke Skywalker had shown himself to be as blind to the true nature of the galaxy as his mother, and choosing the role as a mid level officer of the Rebellion instead of a position and rank that would allow him full scope of his abilities.
Leia on the other hand was different. The Boy had informed him that while Leia Organna's force potential would largely go unused, she had still managed to obtain a position of great authority within the Rebellion, and that she would follow her beliefs with the same zeal that both her parents possessed. The only thing to do to ensure that she wouldn't turn her considerable abilities against the Empire was to raise her in an environment that would not only cause her to develop her full potential, but would also teach her that the Empire was the only stable political system that could rule the Galaxy.
But musing about the future of Vader's offspring could wait for another time. He had more important things to do this day, and thanks once again to the knowledge provided to him by his most...informant, the Emperor was confidant that soon another loose end was going to be eradicated from the galaxy.
Walking down the bridge of the Victory Class Star Destroyer, and noticing that the officer he had personally selected to carry out this operation was already at the viewport, Palpatine waited until he was behind the blue skinned officer before speaking up.
"Well Captain Thrawn, are we ready to proceed with the operation"?
Turning around so his red eyes were staring into the yellow colored ones of the Galactic Emperor, the Chiss officer nodded his head before answering in the calm and collected way that he had begun to be known for.
"Yes your majesty. As per your instructions, I have 12 Victory Class Star Destroyers, and 8 Venator Class Destroyers arrayed around the planet to ensure that nothing can enter or leave the planet without detection. We merely await your final order to begin".
Nodding his head to show that he was pleased with the Chiss's efficiency, and stretching out his senses to try and discover the exact whereabouts of his exiled enemy, Palpatine allowed a cruel smirk to spread across his face as he looked out at the instruments that would turn the swamp planet into a barren wasteland.
"Then you may begin Vice Admiral Thrawn".
Accepting the sudden promotion with a respectful bow, the newly promoted officer pushed the button that would spread his command to all ships of this carefully prepared space fleet.
"This is Vice Admiral Thrawn. All ships are to engage primary weapons and concentrate all of their fire onto the Dagobah system. I repeat, concentrate all primary weapons onto the Dagobah system and fire".
And as the first laser bolt struck the swamp planet, Darth Sidious, inheritor of Bane's legacy, could only cackle as he imagined what must be running through the mind of the former Grand Master as his world was once again consumed in the fires of Sith Vengeance.
...
"Hmmm. Sense the growing Darkness, I do".
And that in itself was most puzzling to the ageing Jedi Master, for he had thought that with the conflicting energies of the planet he had chosen to settle on, not only would his enemies be unable to sense his presence through the force, but he would also be unable to sense what was happening in the galaxy as a whole, with the possible exception of locations that remained wholly untouched by the Dark Side as well as the beacons of light that had represented the Skywalker twins.
But barely a month into his exile, the centuries old Jedi Master was able to guess that something had gone terribly wrong in the Galaxy.
First was the sudden silence of his departed friend Qui-Gon Jinn, whose words of wisdom and counsel had done much to convince Yoda from falling to despair, not to mention expanding his own training to preserve his consciousness once he had joined with the Force. But after choosing to help out another 'misguided soul', their had been nothing to be silence.
The second aspect for concern was that the darkness of the cave seemed to be far more powerful than he had first come to understand. While it retained its abilities to show visions of horror and death, the latest series of visions had done much to undermine his spirit. For it had show him that while the Sith were still determined to spread their visions of tyranny throughout the galaxy, they had decided to do it in a manner that would gain the support of the very people the Jedi had risked their lives to protect against such evil.
And perhaps the most disturbing and recent event was the fact that he could feel the darkness eagerly wrap itself around the light of one of the Skywalker twins.
But before he could dwell on this troubling change of events, Yoda was suddenly struck by a feeling of dread that originated from the northern hemisphere of the planet, only to have similar feelings multiply all across the life teeming planet.
And as he pondered what could be happening to cause such a disturbance, a falling pillar of green light fall from the sky soon answered his question.
Realsizing that he had been discovered, and knowing that his death was imminent, the Jedi master called upon the force to lend its strength as he dashed for his makeshift home. While he had no hope of surviving the eradication of the planet, especially since he could now clearly sense the presence of the Sith Lord responsible for this wanton destruction, Yoda believed that he still had a chance to send a message to the other Jedi Master who had chosen to remain as a silent guardian to the Galaxy's last hope.
"Hurry I must, if a chance to restore balance to the Force, their remains".
But just as he reached the house he had built out of the remains of his escape pod, Yoda could sense that his enemy was no aware of his exact location. And sure enough, as he looked upward into the cloud covered sky, dozens if not hundreds of laser bolts were now falling on his exact location.
Realizing that this was the end, Yoda closed his eyes and repeated a mantra that had largely been forgotten by the temple living Jedi.
"With me the Force Is, One with the Force am I. With me the Force is, One wi...".
...
R.I.P. Yoda
ANNNND that's it for now. Stories getting a little darker now, but I think its pretty much spot on.
I confess I'm enjoying the last few chapters more than the ones where my OC gives the Imperials/Sith the Information to remain dominant.
I think I got the Emperor/Vader conversation down pretty well, as well as Yoda's last moments. AND, finally have a introduction of perhaps the only character that made Season 3 of Star Wars Rebels worth watching LOL.
Also, think that Palpatines reasoning concerning his decision to rescue Leia is valid. That doesn't mean to say that Luke will be killed off, but out of the two twins, Leia's career is the most impressive, considering she never actively used the force like Luke did, and still managed to enjoy a position of authority in the Empire...PLUS...It pleases me greatly to transform Leia from the Idealistic Rebel leader into an Agent of the Empire.
Also, not sure if you noticed, but also slowly moving towards the introduction of a young Han Solo, AND and Young Aphra into the story, so looked forward to their arrival because they are coming :).
Also mentioned another change that is implemented by the OC, this one being the increased training of the Storm Trooper Corps. While I am uncertain if the new canon means that Storm Troopers are the ONLY infantry forces of the Empire, instead of having them serve as elite units as was the case in the Legends, I think we can all agree that one of the suggestions made by the boy would be to increase the training of the Storm Trooper corps. Will expand on this in future, as well as other weapons/star fighter development, but think its an important point to bring up.
Anyways...hoped you like this. And til next time.
ALL HAIL THE EMPIRE.