Chapter 50
The ship speeds through the galaxy until it comes to a slow stop on a dark, green presence that seems to be covered in trees. Nothing but an unusual planet.
Darth Plagueis sits in meditation, watching as his Droid lands on the planet, and opens the door of the vessel, his cloak waving behind him in the cool misty air.
Every corner Plagueis can feel something coming towards him. A thick heavy magnet attracted yet another to it.
An Ewok running to Plagueis with a spear. Waving his hand toward his direction, Plagueis crushes every bone in the vicious creature's body before throwing him into a tree far away.
The presence still lingers, looming over the area like a thick fog, making it almost hard for the Muun Sith to breathe.
"Come out of hiding. I can feel you near."
Plagueis swiftly turn to the right so fast, almost shocking the Muun himself. He is frozen, unable to move. He cannot even breathe.
All he can see is a tall slender figure approaching from the trees in front of him.
"How is he doing this? I am the Dark Lord of the Sith, one of the most powerful Sith-"
The individual is taller than he is. Even with his boots and his stature height, he is at least several heads taller, but a third of his height in width.
That is when he speaks. Plagueis never heard of such a voice in his life, and for a moment, it sends chills down his spine, his own coldness being redirected towards him. What Plagueis had used to manipulate others to his control is now being used against him. The puppeteer is now the pawn.
"Plagueis, the one who changed fates forever. Your survival was a ripple effect of Vader's meddling, I must admit. It must be... hard for you to come to terms that you are now the one who has to serve yet another."
Plagueis ground his teeth together, hating how he is unable to move a muscle in his body. "How dare-"
"Shh, don't try to speak, my boy. I'm sure you have many questions for me. Look at you, the ultimate Sith Lord, unable to move - helpless. If Sidious was able to see you now, he would have enjoyed this."
Plagueis, albeit still being paralyzed, is still able to think. "How does he know my real name? How does he know Sidious? I must move! This can't be!"
"Let me start by saying that I have waited many years to see you with my own eyes," the creature says. "Tell me, have you ever heard of the ability to cheat death?"
Plagueis scowls but still isn't allowed to speak, no matter the command of his dark side. That is a power he has been researching for so long but never was able to accomplish. Palpatine cutting off his limb left him weaker than before so the project is almost all but abandoned.
"There is little point to dragging this out as I'm going to end you as you begin and then I'm gonna to travel to Vader and wipe that pathetic bug from the face of the universe. Only then, I would be able to fulfill the rule of the Sith in my own vision alone, and the Force would be unable to stop me this time. I am the almighty Tor Valum."
"No, Tor Valum was put asleep centuries ago by the one who betrayed him, never to awaken again."There have been few moments in life where Plagueis has been truly shocked but this is something he did not expect. Tor Valum is still out there, roaming the galaxy, controlling things under his fingertips, and preventing him from moving even now.
What can this thing do when he finally is able to communicate with those that do not access the Force?
"Your plans are at an end."
Plagueis feels anger. He hasn't felt anger like this since his failure as a student betrayed him. He feels hot thick invisible smoke radiating off of his body, about to break free from these chains placed in front of him.
"You are nothing but a failure Sith. Your Order would fail. You are nothing but a puppet, Hego Damask, you would never gain the power that you long for."
With every inch of his body, he wants to destroy this thing in front of him, and finally, the Muun snaps forward, his red lightsaber coming to life in midair, almost bisecting the thing into two.
"Y-you have managed to escape from my grasp; you would pay!" Valum shouts, throwing a hand forward to the throat of the creature, applying pressure onto the spot, trying to crush everything within. "Yes! Yes! Soon, I would have galactic dominance in the galaxy! You cannot beat me! Your actions would benefit me! I am the one who controls if the galaxy falls or not!"
Plagueis feels himself being thrown backward, his eyes going wide as he feels the air tightening on his respirator. Valum is choking the life out of him, about to squeeze the life out of him, before throwing forward a current of energy toward him. Plagueis screams, feeling his energy leaving him, as Valum raises him into the air, before slamming him onto the ground.
Plagueis, for the first time ever, is being driven backward. Even Sidious's attempted betrayal and those before have never worked as effortlessly as this, but now Valum is making him seem to be a wanton Sith fighting in a pathetic attempt to overthrow their Master.
For the second time in his life, Plagueis is not able to control things to his desire. His fight with Vader has been more humiliating given the audience that had rallied up to see that their Master was able to be defeated, but Valum is drawing this out despite how private this is, despite the ghosts of the past being nothing but the watchers.
Plagueis reaches for his lightsaber, activating it in midair, and catching Valum in his arm but successfully releasing him from the torrents. Like a boomerang, it lands in his robotic hand, before the Sith marches forward, swinging his lightsaber toward the Sith.
The Sith places a hand up in front of him, preventing him from doing the killing blow.
"I would find you, my Lord," Plagueis spits, loathing that this creature manages to control him successfully. "You would die."
"You would try," Valum replies, sending Plagueis flying back.
Just when the Muun is about to attack yet again, the form of the Sith disappears, leaving the Sith Lord alone in the darkness.
Plagueis chuckles, sensing the presence of Valum. Still hasn't faded completely. "Is this your plan? Cheap tricks?"
"We shall meet again, but for now I have to build my power. You would track me down when you finally are prepared. Vader is searching for me madly but he is on a goose hunt." Valum speaks in circles, making the Sith admittedly bemused, and within that moment there is a strong temptation to rub the back of his forehead.
Plagueis stops himself from doing so just like he places the walls in front of him, never to be broken so the Sith would know he isn't underwhelming him. He needs to find this disease and kill him before he does ruin the Muun's plan completely. It seems like Vader's arrival here is not without any consequence of that timeline following to this one.
Barely able to force himself forward, Darth Plagueis returns to his limp, his hand clasped over his wounded mask. That creature had shattered him completely, and the Muun feels nothing but hatred, his body has nearly been completely torn apart.
Plagueis sits down in the chair and starts up the ship, skipping the checks before activation, and at last taking off. That was one time when the Muun ever felt true and genuine fear. It is not fear in the normal sense...
But rather the fear in his entire plan collapsing. There is an entire Grand Army of the Republic that would come to serve him later down the road that could now all crash down due to this Sith from the shadows. The Jedi could discover him all too soon if something doesn't change soon and he could die just like Sidious did with no chance of returning.
Plagueis clicks on a holo-communicator, trying to hide the fact that he has been injured. Not that Dooku would judge him. In spite of how much Sith still lack the control that Plagueis wants to breed into them, Dooku is still very much a Jedi. He doesn't believe in all of their beliefs but Dooku wanted the best for the galaxy.
"Dooku," Plagueis says, noticing the old man offering a slight bow, but choosing to ignore Sith pleasantries as he speaks. "There is a greater danger out there than the Jedi. I want you to research on Tor Valum, find him in your system, and do all ways to finally wipe him out for good."
Dooku takes a regal bow. "Who is Tor Valum, my Lord?"
Plagueis growls. "You would find that out soon enough but all that matters is that he still lives and he has to go. Valum has to die."
Dooku's eyebrows twitch. "Master, you do realize that you are claiming yet another remnant of the Order of Bane..."
"He is not of the Order of Bane," Plagueis replies, his temper being pressed at Dooku for continuing to question here instead of doing the research he should be doing right now. "He is a bug that should have been put down long ago. One of the ancient Sith put him into a deep slumber but didn't finish him off and allowed him to recover. I intend to rectify that mistake."
Dooku clearly wants to press the issue, and Plagueis is about to explode at him. He wouldn't kill the old man - his death would be a devastating blow to Plagueis's future Sith Army as he could still be a great asset and Negotiator - but that didn't mean that the Muun wouldn't torture that man until he learns not to question him.
No, Plagueis wouldn't. Dooku is curious, and Plagueis can understand that. He is not like Sidious. He wants tools that serve him loyally and Dooku is well-liked by several within the Sith, meaning that Plagueis killing him could also end in betrayal, especially since many of the Sith that joined the Order are those of former Jedi.
"Is it someone who we should be worried about?" Dooku asks, stroking his hand across his beard.
"Yes, we shall, but very few would learn of this when I approve of it." The threat lingers in Plagueis's voice, showing that there is no argument in this conversation here. Dooku knows not to question him, that Plagueis's buttons could be forced as calm as the Sith remains most of the time.
"As you wish, Lord Plagueis," Dooku responds, taking a swift bow, before Plagueis deactivate the holo-communicator.
Plagueis knows that things can turn very disastrous for the Grand Plan. The Force had thrown into his face yet another obstacle for him. He had always accepted that things would be as easy as he would love for them to be, that his rise to being Sith Emperor can end terribly.
Plagueis breathes heavily when he allows himself to lean back into the chair.
Vader flips another page of the Sith. Back in his younger days, Anakin had been interested in the Archives and would do as much as possible to read into the history of the Order. Of course, whilst they don't have all of the information that he wanted; his younger self was satisfied with reading them.
Even Darth Vader enjoyed reading the journals of Sidious that he had stolen from his Master.
Right now, however, there is nothing but irritation. The Sith of the past indeed didn't know of Valum's existence or possessed the knowledge to write about him so they may have left the subject out altogether.
Vader would go to the edge of the galaxy to find Anakin and even further if he has to. He would not allow his younger self to end in a far more tragic state than Vader had suffered.
Vader places a hand up against his forehead, feeling a massive headache.
"You are up again," the warm voice behind him states, and Vader tilts around to see his mother, whose hand is now over her swollen stomach. In a month or so, there would be a new lifeform among them. That's how long Anakin had been gone, and Vader didn't want his younger self to miss his mother giving birth to the beautiful kid of Qui-Gon and Shmi.
Vader didn't respond as he sighs and stares down. "I can't believe that he snapped like that. I thought we were close-"
"You were," Shmi replies, placing a hand on his shoulder and rubbing her hands through his hair. "Remember, we were on a planet where there was no small amount of pain and darkness - at least that's what Qui-Gon told me. It must have amplified his emotions to the point where he snapped."
"I still should have contained him..." Vader replies, pushing the journal away as he stands up and walks to the edge of the quarter, clenching his hands up into fists. "I failed everyone."
"You didn't want to hurt him," Shmi replies knowingly, and she wonders how this version of Anakin Skywalker became like this. "Anakin..."
"I don't deserve such a title. Anakin Skywalker wasn't a failure like this." Vader replies, showing a surprising source of vulnerability that he didn't show around the others. The man had adapted enough to be in control of the situation, but now he relinquished all control to Shmi. "There is a wildness in me, seeds of the dark side that I spread to him. I should have allowed Qui-Gon to train him but I screwed up this timeline enough to the point where I made him dark and arrogant."
"And you didn't fail him. You thought you were protecting him," Shmi says, walking forward and wrapping her arms around him. "You would have never intentionally hurt him."
"I am nothing but a disappointment," Vader replies achingly, his thoughts returning to Ahsoka. Brave little snips.
Vader had fought her on Malachor with the intention of killing her, but he cannot blame Ahsoka for leaving the Order. In the other timeline, Skywalker had viewed her as selfish, but now Vader understands her decision in abandoning the Jedi Order.
They demonstrated that, deep down, after all she had done, they did not trust her. If they knew her and trusted her, they would never have believed that she could have done such a thing. If they were that blind, and threw her under the bus for political purposes, how wise could they really be? Yoda and Mace wrote her off without a trial, with barely a second thought. Who would want to rejoin a group like that? If they had bothered to look at the real facts- she was nowhere near Coruscant when the bombing occurred, she had no connections with the people that conducted the bombing, and the killing of the prisoner was an obvious set up- she knew she was being watched, so it was stupid to do that, and she was never stupid. A moment's real thought would have made the tissue of lies fall away, but even Anakin fell for it initially. So not a healthy group for her to belong to.
Ahsoka made the decision Anakin Skywalker wasn't brave enough to do. Anyone who thought otherwise was a fool and all in all incompetent. The only reason why Anakin didn't leave is that he didn't want his men to be led by other Jedi and Obi-Wan but he has been planning to do so by the end of the Clone Wars for Padmé. Ahsoka was brave.
Vader would save Anakin before giving him the choice of rather he wants to remain by his side or wants to leave. Vader would leave Anakin behind to choose his own destiny when the time comes.
"No, you are not," Shmi says, and Vader didn't realize she is leaning against him. "You are a good person."
"A good person?" Vader scoffs. "If only I was..."
Vader leaves behind the ship. The Force lured him here for a reason, and he didn't understand why. It turns out he is going to have some sort of a reunion against someone who Obi-Wan had been acquitted with in the other timeline when asking questions about Savage Opress who he didn't know was Maul's brother in the other timeline.
She is white-skinned and dressed in elaborate red robes, the black markings on her face making it look like a skull. She regards him curiously, joy in her cold, silver eyes.
"You want to explain why you took my companion?" Vader scowls.
"You were taking too long. Besides, I fear we would not be able to speak reasonably if not for some bargaining chip." Mother Talzin herself says.
His eyes fall onto the body of Qui-Gon Jinn, and he feels rage gripping his chest. Nobody ever is allowed to threaten Obi-Wan's happiness like this.
She cackles at him, the rich, female tone mixing with the undercurrent of something much darker, more sinister. "Hey, I may be a Nightsister but I have to admit that this old man has some use."
Vader snarls, his fist twitching in the air, as he allows darkness to surround them. "That happens to be my friend's father."
"I have to admit, you go beyond my expertise," she stares at him carefully. "When you landed on my world, I had that you were a new Sith who had ousted the one who stolen me from my son." She snarls. "Darth Sidious - I felt his death from his Master but he had broken a promise to me long ago which made me wish I was able to receive my vengeance."
"Sidious was nothing but a manipulator who could have been something more but now is a failure and would be remembered that way," Vader replies, not able to fault the woman for the rage that she holds against Sidious. "He's gone now, and Darth Plagueis have reclaimed his place."
She smirks. "I would order my sisters to return them to your companions if only you come with me. Believe it or not, I do not want this to be a confrontation."
She is easily containable, at least by Vader's standards. Should they fight, Vader could control her in seconds, less he feels like pulling out his lightsaber and fighting, but he didn't want to just be remembered as a warrior when his time comes yet again. "I don't trust your serpents."
Those silver eyes furrow at that, and a sneer cross her lips. "Your companions can betray you at any moment. Mine are forced to serve me and even Nightbrothers fear us."
"I have earned their loyalty."
The witch grins sinisterly, but Vader stands taller, glaring defiantly at the powerful woman. "I could have sworn you were Sith," she growls, "You have so much power. But yet you claim loyalty of your companions. That is mortality. What are you?"
A soft groan fills the air, causing Vader to come forward and take the injured woman's hand.
Vader helps her up, his strong hand supporting his back, as he leads her forward. He checks his face, wanting to see if he has any injuries that would be fatal, but he is only roughened up if anything else.
"You had better not harm him," Vader growls, overprotective of Qui-Gon like he is of Obi-Wan.
"Oh, I have done nothing you would disapprove of yet," she drawls, a smirk replacing the snarl. "I claimed his control. He is...unconscious. his mind is not adapted to the darkness."
Vader glares at her, loops an arm under his legs, and picks her up, holding her close as if he can keep her safe. He didn't say a word to the witch as he strides past him, damning all the consequences. Qui-Gon is someone who he has a soft spot for no matter how old he is.
The Nightwitch is flanking behind him, before letting out a growl. "Not so fast, you haven't listened to what I wanted. I need... a favor."
"It depends on what it is." That seems to anger the witch, as she is silent the rest of the way, following him out of the temple and through the woods, green mist running low and hazy after them. He strides up the ship's ramp without hesitation, Obi-Wan's eyes worried.
"How dare you?!" Obi-Wan shouts to the individual, his concern for his Master outweighing his reality. "He better not be dead!"
"He isn't, Obi-Wan." he replies softly as he carefully places Qui-Gon in the pilot's seat. Obi-Wan triggers his lightsaber within a second, angling it to her throat, not wanting to risk her hurting Vader or Qui-Gon.
The witch merely flicks an eyebrow to the man's direction.
"I am not arrogant enough to trust her, Obi-Wan. When he wakes up, keep an eye on him. I would return shortly."
Obi-Wan seems seconds away from lashing out at the Nightwitch but he trusts Vader.
"Don't trust her," Obi-Wan warns, deactivating his lightsaber and casting her a glare.
Vader follows behind the Nightsister, knowing that Mother Talzin is nothing if not relentless. This woman can be a very dangerous threat to both the Jedi and Sith, but her powers are nothing compared to Vader. If she does try to turn against him, Vader would have the appropriate means to deal with her.
"Do you want to explain to me about the favor?" Vader asks, feeling the world around them turning dark.
"You see Savage Opress has grown obsessed with bringing his brother back from the dead. I allowed it to flourish for so long but that was my mistake as I allowed him to become a Sith but I can feel that he had gone against my purposes. Now, I want you to find him, capture him, and bring him to me. If you fulfill this, you would have a lifelong companion." Talzin replies.
Vader cannot help but wonder what would happen If Mother Talzin had not been killed during the Clone Wars. She would have presented as a very clear, real..and dangerous threat, to the machinations of the galaxy's worst tyrant. She was the leader of the Nightsister coven of witches, who ruled over Dathomir with her dark side magic. She was killed by General Grievous on Dathomir, after Sidious had lured her out of hiding on Dathomir, using her son Maul as bait.
Now if this event never happened, or Talzin somehow survived her deadly encounter on her homeworld, then she would remain a constant thorn in the Sith Lords' side; a ghost free to toy with him as she saw fit. Relentless.
Talzin, after using her magic, bestowed the temporary gift of invisibility on Asajj Ventress and a cadre of witches,..so they could exact revenge on Count Dooku; the man who had betrayed her and her mother. Although the assassination attempt failed, Talzin's witches nearly succeeded in killing a Sith Lord.
Talzin also used her Dathomir tricks to torture the good Count. Her plan was to use a lock of his hair in a dark ritual and to punish and eventually kill him. Whilst the Count resided on Serreno, the witch committed the rite from the comfort of her den on Dathomir. Her power could transcend her planet, and find her victim even in another star system!
She would have succeeded if not for the intervention of General Grievous... who slaughtered all the witches, and their undead army, leaving their ancestral home a pile of smoldering ruins. Talzin fled at the last second and did not resurface until later in the wars. After that encounter involving Jedi Master Mace Windu and Jar Jar Binks, she was not sighted until her eventual death on Dathomir.
Talzin was one of the most powerful Force-Wielders outside of the Jedi and the Sith. Had she lived, Sidious would always be haunted by the powerful witch and forever looking over his shoulder. Her abilities frightened Sidious ever since their first encounter when Maul was but an infant. He could sense her strength within the force and be aware she was an imminent threat. Her mere existence was a bother to him, and she was one of the only beings capable of possibly defeating him. Had she survived he would never have had peace.
This is why he spent so much effort in trying to kill her..and why he needed the help of General Grievous and Count Dooku to do so.
"So, if I bring him back to you, you would abuse him like you did to his brother and mother? - their biological mother I mean." Vader replies, and he can hardly conceal his anger on the brothers behalf. They didn't ask to be tortured by this witch but she had played a part to form them into instruments. That much, Vader can sympathize with them.
"I merely tested the boy to full power." There is a soft scoff coming from the woman. "I hardly ever abused him. I own the Nightbrothers and the Nightsisters. He was my puppet and was meant to serve me properly."
"Your magic is unique, I would admit that, but I would not drag him back if he chooses an alternative path." Vader replies, knowing that he could not live with himself if he drags someone back from a fate worse than death. "If you want him back, you use your magic to do so. I am not no attack dog."
"I have no natural connection with the Force so naturally I could not drag him back. I should have never allowed that boy out of my sight."
"Your failure. You should have treated him better." Vader responds, this woman the very representation of why the Jedi screwed up with him and many of their fellow Jedi.
She laughs at this, eerily transforming into something that sounds like a cough. "You would deny a mother from their child? I thought you were better than that."
"Don't try to manipulate me to feel bad for you."
"I am not. I am merely offering you this. If you do not fulfill my orders, the galaxy would suffer in the long run. Savage needs someone to approve of his actions."
Vader frowns. "And you do realize I could kill him?"
"It would avert further harm but you would suffer in the long run," Talzin replies. "My people would view you as an enemy for killing one of our own."
"Wouldn't be the first time."
Talzin scowls as she arches both of her eyebrows. "You dare murder one of my people?"
"I suppose that the Zabrak that was abducted by a Sith Lord would ring a bell."
Her eyes widen. "...Maul."
"Yes."
There is a silence present for a few seconds, and anything can happen. Vader waits to see if Talzin will attack the fact that he murdered one of their best potential warriors.
She snarls. "You had disposed of the child whose mother have turned against me, but you could have brought him to me."
"It was not my destiny to confront him," Vader replies, keeping as much information about Obi-Wan hidden. "The one who did slay him in action freed him of suffering. It was nothing but a lost attempt anyhow. He was already Sidious's puppet." That is also a fact.
Vader couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction as he watches Talzin's face drop at the mention of Sidious yet again. Talzin would undoubtedly fancy the thought of killing Sidious again and again for the fact that he had gotten one of the best potential warriors killed but she would also be definitely pissed off with him for mentioning that he had known Sidious was going to betray her.
"What a waste. I had thought he was strong, yet he had proven to be weak just like Kycina."
"She may have been weak physically but she rebelled against you and she chose the less tormenting path before her unfortunate expulsion." Vader didn't know Maul's mother, but he wishes that he could have been reasoned with. He had clouded his mind with anger so Obi-Wan would have come to defeat him later on but he wonders if could he have been saved given he was brainwashed for most of his life to serve darkness in one way or another, unlike Vader.
Talzin doesn't harbor any sort of rage against Vader but she does feel dejectedness. "Kycina wasn't worth it. I couldn't believe I saw such promise in her to begin with."
"And you think if I drag Savage back to you, you would have some sort of makeup?" Vader asks, glaring at the Nightsister with golden eyes, the darkness within him reveling in the complete darkness of this world.
"I can mock the memory of that Sith," Talzin replies with a slight scoff. "Savage would only serve under my control, and I can guarantee you that I would not betray you. After all, you are someone who can grant me with more power."
"Where is he?" Vader asks, curious. He hates to admit it but it might be for the best that Talzin sides with him until he finds a palpable alternative.
"Let's see," Talzin says, green energy beginning to escape her fingers, as the world around them seems to become darker. "All I can see concerning Opress is darkness, however, I can detect that your destiny for now calls you to the planet called... Tython. While no ripple effect would occur, you would find yourself receiving an unlikely companion."
The world returns to normal, and Vader is about to set for his mission. Talzin is his only ally outside of those of the Millennium Falcon. Unfortunately, he has no choice in the matter but to drag Opress away from one possible slaver to another.
"You got him killed!" A shrill voice echoes behind them, stopping Vader before he could have continued, and showing a Nightsister woman who is glaring with anger in her eyes. "You got my son killed!"
"The cloaked one came to me to exchange Dark Side teachings, Kycina," Talzin replies nonchalantly, turning to Vader who raises his eyebrows. "He was interested into young Maul however, and I had no intent of giving him up, but Kycina here decided to go behind my back which led to her Exile. She faked his death by saying she killed him."
Vader feels so sorry for Kycina, Maul, and Savage, but unfortunately, her child couldn't be reasoned with. Sidious truly ruined all that potential.
"I seen a vision. This one would be the one who strikes you down." Kycina hisses towards Talzin, trying to seem strong and non-frighten, even though all of the negative emotions including fear are leaking through the Force.
"I'm afraid that is not a possibility," Talzin chuckles, her sickly chuckle sending a spike of anger down Vader's spine. "I should have killed you instead of banishing you, traitor. Twice you have went behind my back and now you want to kill me. I was merciful last time. Sidious warned me of allowing you to live."
"Sidious..." Vader growls, allowing his eyes to turn golden, having to give into those negative emotions at least for a second.
"You would find that I am capable of many things, Mother Talzin. If I can convince him..."
"You are nothing but a worthless failure," Talzin replies, her face wrinkling up in a clear amount of disgust.
Kycina stares at Vader, her eyes pleading. "Please don't bring my son to this... this witch. Bring him home. Bring him to me. I have lost one child and little Feral... He needs his big brother. Argh!"
The woman collapses against the ground at the green energy that comes from Mother Talzin, now rising to her full feet, complete apathy flicking off the woman.
Vader diverts his attention to Mother Talzin, finding himself not wanting to leave the Nightsister alone. Otherwise, Kycina would die quite an instant death, so he would have to stall until the moment comes.
What moment?
Talzin opens herself up for Vader to finally strike her down and end her existence. That would be a waste of a potential asset for the future that he could be able to control, but he knows that it is morally the right thing to do in saving Kycina's life. His Jedi Master from another timeline would have encouraged him to side with Kycina and do the right thing, and even now Vader is still Obi-Wan's son.
This timeline, perhaps he would have, but with less care. Obi-Wan of this timeline is more adamant about getting as far away from the Jedi Code as possible, knowing that they could haunt him.
"Well, you obviously didn't become his apprentice, so what happened?"
"He sensed the potential in my son, and he abducted him from me. I thought he was going to save him!" Kycina shouts from the floor. Her face contorts from despair with rage. "He took my first son, and my boy became Sith as well. Darth Maul. The Sith led him down the path to his destruction. I-I wanted to get in track with the Jedi originally but Sidious provided me with what I believe was a better alternative. There has to be a way! I didn't want this for them!"
"...Kycina, Maul is dead. There was no way to reason with him as he wanted to kill innocent people and he had to be put down. I'm sorry, but you wouldn't get him back. He couldn't have been convinced."
Her eyes flashes with sadness and solemn as what can be tears go down her eyes. Vader closes his eyes and remembers when he lost his mother. He knows all too well how to relate to this woman.
"My son is gone. I-I should have just snuck off this terrible planet with my boys." Kycina replies.
"He was just a weapon." Talzin says coldly.
"He was my son!" Kycina shouts back, seeming to be seconds away from attacking the other woman. "You wouldn't understand! Not ever!"
Vader glares at Talzin as she releases yet another green torrent of electricity toward Kycina, dropping her onto the ground yet again.
"Are you done?" Vader spits with disgust, seconds away from lashing out.
"Bring Savage to me in chains and you would always have our favor." He is getting a clearer picture of this. She wants to have some sort of control over Kycina or to create more danger in this galaxy. "You know," Talzin purrs, "I think Kycina has outlived her usefulness. What a shame, she gave birth to at least two good brothers, but I think I should have her eliminated."
"Please don't let her do this!" Kycina begs to him. "I-I wouldn't... turn against you! Talzin is evil! She would sold you out like she did to my son! Don't listen to her lies! Her intentions are nothing better to the Sith that stolen him from me!"
Talzin picks her up like she's a dog before tossing her across the room.
"You are filled with darkness." Talzin replies, running her hand over his shoulder and down his chest. "Come on. You are after all a man with needs. Give into them, and you can have any Nightsister that you want. All of them would love to have a man who has a dominating personality such as yourself."
"I have enough respect for women to not exploit their bodies," He nearly growls, hating to admit his heart is speeding up as those long, sharp fingers scratched over his chest. The witch laughs.
"Come now, you are so far from your beliefs. You can embrace the darkness. Why be the hero of the people who may as well want to see you contain?"
"I... I rather not be like you, huntress."
"Come now, think of all the pleasures that can come if you gain true power. Nightbrothers were afraid of me in the past, but one night of passion for them showed them how they shouldn't deny their feelings." Talzin's eyes widen as if she suddenly has a perfect idea. "Perhaps claiming Kycina here can give you your needs."
"Don't let her seep into your mind! She is a witch! You can stop her!" Kycina says, making a croaking sound as she rises to her feet yet again.
Young Skywalker might have given in to it. He had always been curious about the dark as a side effect of being half-Force. But Vader is wiser and older.
Talzin hisses. "I know, Vader, it's so difficult to deal with the passion of the dark side, especially when you are making the mistake of not delving deep into passions."
Vader's eyes begin turning to a glistening golden. He can feel the darkness taking waves around him, pulsating around him in dark murmurs. Talzin's words are indeed taking their effect, and for the first time in a long while, he wants power. If there is some spreading darkness that extends far beyond what Sidious, Plagueis, and Vitiate understand, Vader can really accomplish power.
No.
Vader reminds himself of what he is supposed to do. He has to save the galaxy. Did it have all its peaks? No, but Vader didn't want the galaxy to suffer because of his decision. They are plenty of people who depend on him that would fall without Vader's assistance.
The witch cackles loudly. "Look at you! A Sith yet again if not something more special." Talzin grins as the glowing eyes narrow. "Kycina may be a mother but she couldn't be that much older than you. Come now, give in."
"I would not leave my fate to the likes of you," Vader replies, even though the golden eyes suggest he is giving up. Little does she know he is drawing from her.
"Come now; you are a man who can still have anything he wants." Talzin purrs. "The Jedi fear the darkness and it makes them weak. There is control over the dark side, young one. You have the heart of the Jedi. Is that what you indeed want? To be nothing better but a Jedi who limits your power to the likes of an Order instead of claiming galactic control. You can dictate life and death, can have your own Army."
"No." Vader replies, even though the dark is still radiating around him. "I-I fallen once. I would not allow the future of the galaxy to be left in the hands of a tyrant. That isn't who I am."
"You can become the most powerful being in history! Maul... He was her son! Do you really believe that she wouldn't want revenge against the man who had a part into his death?!" Kycina gasps, not realizing before she is staring at the murderer of her son. "Yes, I may have given him to the Sith, but you couldn't even save him! That was your failure!"
"Maul couldn't have been talked down. He was gonna massacre people. That said, he did not deserve to suffer or die as he had, but he was failed by everyone around him." Vader responds, coming to stand before her before glaring at her from the side. He just needs to wait for the appropriate time to strike.
"Maul was weakness. He failed. He failed his own people." Talzin replies coldly.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" Kycina shouts, at last not able to contain herself, as she releases a bit of green energy towards Talzin's direction, causing the woman to grunt at the attack for a second but at last forming a proper shield around herself.
"You dare attack me, little one, no wonder your son was so eager to get away from you!" Talzin snaps back, her energy overwhelming the other, until Kycina might as well have been forced onto her knees.
By now, the Nightsisters rallies up, seeming to be seconds away from siding with Mother Talzin.
"I need information on an ancient Sith Lord known as Tor Valum," Vader states, deciding to get straight to the point. "What do you know about him?"
A green abyss surrounds them as Talzin focuses, trying to find out information about the Sith Lord no doubt, but he is met with disappointment when she finally says.
"Anything about this Valum is a mystery to me."
Vader scowls. Ah, damn it. Nightsister magic cannot even work to track down this ancient threat to lay to rest once and for all.
"Now, remember your obligation; bring Opress to me. By then, I would be finished with this disgrace."
"Thank you for your time with me. Allow me to repay the favor."
Vader points a hand in her direction, seizing her into the air, and restricting her from being able to retaliate.
Each of the Nightsisters comes forward to stop him, but Vader twirls his lightsaber around him to cut through them within a second. Vader advances, angling his lightsaber in front of Kycina as if to keep her safe from harm.
"You have lost," Vader says, crushing her throat without hesitation, allowing her to drop onto the ground within a second afterward.
Somehow, with even a twisted neck, she manages to murmur a fainted "No" at her possible ally-turned-assailant.
Mother Talzin is dead, and with her death, there is a green explosion burping from her very essence, sucking the air out of all on the planet's lungs, including Vader.
The woman would have been a threat later no doubt as there is no way that she would have allowed him to thrive and scarred the galaxy. She presented a problem for both the Jedi and the Sith in the other timeline during the Clone Wars.
Vader can sense the threat outside as Kycina rises to her feet, fighting through the Nightsisters, recognizing some faces from the other timeline, butchering through those like he had done many times throughout his time in the Empire, shattering any weapons that he crosses one way or another.
All of their blades are cut through and severed in a mere second. Vader seizes some in the air, and cracks their throats, before continuing on his tirade of unleashing his madness. Kycina is at his side, fighting off her fair number of Nightsisters as well, but Vader is handling most of them.
He didn't enjoy killing but always saw it as a necessary evil. The Nightsisters made the choice to attack him, all for an evil being like Talzin.
Sensing that no more is approaching, Vader deactivates his white lightsaber and plants it on his belt. Kycina stares around her in deep remorse before dropping to her knees, her legs seeming to have given out.
"I killed them! They were still my sisters!"
Turning back to the defeated Nightsister on the ground that has been avenged but lost her son by his hand, Vader says solemnly. "It is finished."
It takes several moments before she is able to study herself. Vader can sense that some Nightsisters still remain, but if they find out the truth about what happened with Kycina and Talzin, they would side with the memory of the latter and want to avenge their leader and mother.
She manages to push herself to her feet afterward, her emotional turmoil something Vader empathize with in all manners. He remembers feeling that same pain when his mother died in his arms from another time that hopefully wouldn't come to be for decades if ever.
"You killed my child. I should naturally lash out... But I need my other son. Please. Bring Savage home so I can tame him." Kycina pleads. Vader can see the love that woman has for her son and he cannot live with himself if he rips that apart, if he fuels her depression...
Savage Opress would be captured never the less and brought back to his mother.
Vader blinks at once before replying. "I wished I was able to save Maul, but I didn't have a choice. It was either the people or him that I couldn't focus on two at once."
After both exchange nods, Vader walks back to the ship. Obi-Wan is waiting for Vader at the edge of the ship alongside his mother.
"It is finished?" Obi-Wan asks, folding his arms across his chest.
Vader doesn't respond verbally but offers a mini nod.
"Qui-Gon is resting right now," Obi-Wan replies, sounding extremely furious. "Where to?"
"Tython," Vader replies nonchalantly, knowing that as of right now mentioning Maul's brother would not be wise. Even in the other timeline, it had been a challenge for Obi-Wan to hide his fury when Maul proclaimed his return. Briefly, Vader wonders what happened between the two.
Maul was a challenge for the Empire and would have continued to be so if not for Sidious confirming his death sometime after Vader believed that he killed Ahsoka.
When you strip the dark side out of someone who's been in darkness for so long it can have ill effects. If you convert a Sith Lord, they'd likely die.
Darth Maul was cut in half and only survived based on pure hatred fueling his dark side power. He took from scraps to make legs and survived as a bottom feeder in the wastes, mind completely gone and insane. Mother Talzin did seem to take away his mental insanity, but the darkness remained. He had fear, hatred, and the desire for revenge, and he acted on it. Even after he failed and was masquerading as the old Master long after the rise of the Empire, he was living in darkness for so long.
Darth Maul would never turn away from the darkness. The dark side was a part of his nature after the era of the Republic and he has basked in it for decades. But if he did convert, he'd go through a horrifying physical malady for a while as his body adjusted to the light.
Vader had known that Obi-Wan and Maul were destined to fight and the former was to kill him, but that said he couldn't help but wonder how their fight ended. Perhaps it was quick and merciful or Obi-Wan had emerged victorious after a long fight. Whatever it was, Vader hoped it was quick. He earned that much.
Obi-Wan's face pales. "What in blazes could be on Tython? The planet has been abandoned for years."
"Perhaps a leak that can lead us to finding Anakin," Vader replies, not yet wanting to reveal what occurred just yet and the promise that he made. It wasn't because he didn't trust Obi-Wan, it was because he wanted to be sure that there would be time to analyze the new companion that Talzin named.
At that comment, he can see Obi-Wan's face breaking out in pain. Anakin and Obi-Wan are still close if not more so than in the other timeline, and even with the battle between them, he is sure that both are aching without one another.
Shmi's hand goes to her stomach as she groans in slight agony. "It still bloody hurts so much to have a child."
Vader nods curtly. "We need to find Anakin soon. Maybe he can ease your worries and stress."
Arthur's note: Hey guys, I am actually releasing this story under unique circumstances. I am not home but rather at the hospital. I'd required a appendix removal and the surgery was successful but I still can't walk properly. While this story is a pain to write at times, I would NEVER abandon it truly as I already have a roadmap for where this story would end.
May the Force be with you all always.
