In his eyes you could see pain, suffering, anger, hatred and confusion. If his eyes were the only thing you saw of him, you could imagine what his condition would be.
It wasn't a pretty sight. In a way you would pity him, yet you would want to run away and scream from looking at his burned and damaged flesh.
You would think there is no hope for him to live.
He himself couldn't feel life in him... he felt like a part of him was missing. He didn't know what it was, yet Anakin did.
But Anakin doesn't exist, not anymore. He had been put away in a box, never to be used.
Vader felt depressed, but what for? Himself? Or someone else? It wasn't Obi-Wan, he hated him. Could it be Padmé?
The thought of her made him want to scream, but he didn't.
It was all too much.
FLASHBACK
"Peedunkel! Naba dee unko!" he heard Watto yell in Huttese from inside.
Nine year old Anakin put down the cloth he was using, and rushed into the shop. He happened to notice the three strangers when he walked in.
There was an older looking man, he had long grey hair with a beard. Despite his age, he looked strong and fearless.. yet kind. The other was some sort of creature he had never seen.
It looked amphibious with a billed face, smallish eyes and two long, flat floppy ears as it's main feature. The third was a young girl, whom caught his attention before noticing Watto or the other two visitors.
"What took you so long?" Watto asked impatiently.
"I was cleaning the bin like y-"
"Chut chut!" he interrupted. His hands were raised in annoyance.
"Never mind that! Watch the store.. I have some selling to do!" Watto turned to face the older man.
"So, let me take you outback. You will soon find what you need!" He led him outside, with a smallish droid that belonged to the man following behind.
"Don't touch anything!" the man instructed to the amphibian.
Anakin was finally left alone with the girl and the creature. He was more interested in the girl, she was beautiful. She looked a few years older than he, she had dark brown hair, that matched her sparkling eyes.
She was short, but taller than Anakin. About the same height as the other creature. He couldn't keep his eyes off her, something about her told him that one day they will be married.
He hopped up on the counter, still staring at her.. pretending to clean a transmitter cell. She looked at him now, slightly curious.
She gave him a smile, which made Anakin think of something to say.
"Are you an angel?" he asked.
She stared in amusement. "What?"
"An angel." he responded slowly and more confident.
"They live on the moons of Iego, I think. They are the most beautiful creature in the universe! They are good and kind, and so pretty that they make even the most hardened people cry like little children. "
She looked confused, yet she was still smiling. "I've never heard of them."
"You must be one of them. Maybe you just don't know it!" he insisted.
"Your a funny little boy," she gave a small laugh. "How do you know so much?"
Anakin smiled, then shrugged.
"I listen to all the traders and pilots that come through here."
"I'm a pilot, you know. Someday, I'm going to fly away from this place."
The girl wandered closer to Anakin, trying to look away. Then looked back at him.
"How long have you been here?" she asked.
"Since I was little, three I think. My mum and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us to Watto, for betting on the podracers. Watto's a lot better master I think."
"You're a slave?" she said sounding surprised.
The way she said it made him feel ashamed, but angry. "I am a person and my name is Anakin!" he said, sounding defiant.
The girl felt embarrassed and tried to look upset. "I'm sorry. I don't understand, I guess. This is a strange world to me!"
Anakin studied her intently for a moment. "You're a strange girl to me. What's your name?"
"Padmé Naberrie." she responded while brushing her hair.
END FLASHBACK
"Padmé.. Padmé." he whispered. He suddenly woke up from his dream, feeling worse than before. He gave a half groan, half scream.
Vader was surprised that he was still alive, so was his master.. whom he could now sense his presence.
"There he is!" he could hear him say. Sidious muttered something under his breath, which Vader could not make out.
"Get a medical unit!" Sidious said quickly to the clone. He walked over to the edge of the lava pool, where his apprentice was lying.
He knelt next to his body, touching his wounded face. Vader gave a painful groan, trying to keep calm. 'Everything will be fine, I think. Just don't notice the pain.' he tried to convince his thoughts.
Sidious looked into his fiery eyes, he could see the anger and hate. He smiled at that.. ignoring the pain and confusion. "Soon he will be the most powerful jedi, so powerful he will never be turned from the dark side."
He gave a small evil cackle, as he always does when things are going his way.
A/N: Most of the text in the flashback is not written by me, it comes from the book: Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, written by Terry Brooks. I'll be writing the next chapter soon :)