A MESSED UP DESTINY

A STAR WARS STORY

Chapter 33

Disclaimer: Disney owns everything and I make no profit from this.

Hello there everyone and welcome to chapter 33 of the story! Our tale continues right where we left off, with Padme's family at her doorstep after deciding to visit her out of the blue. This time we're switching to Anakin's POV since I want to explore his thoughts and general dynamic with this cast of characters, as this would be one of the few times where Anakin experiences a familial setting like this. Besides, I think it'll be worth quite a few laughs if he ends up embarrassing himself. Don't you?

*Warning!* This chapter contains one extremely graphic murder (of a mercenary) near the end. Reader discretion is heavily advised! A warning will be placed right before and after the scene in question and you may find the summary of the event as the first paragraph in the epilogue.

Now…without further ado…let's get straight into it!

Surprise Dinners! Left stunned by her family's surprise visit to her apartment on Coruscant and with a very important conversation hanging between her and Anakin, Padme Amidala must do everything she can to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, especially since a highly skilled assassin is on the loose and hunting for the enemies of Darth Sidious. Meanwhile, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker tries to enjoy a quiet night in with his girlfriend and her family, but can't stop thinking that something isn't quite right with this uneventful night…

Coruscant, 500 Republica, Anakin's point of view:

It had taken a lot for me to keep a straight face when Senator Organa had arrived at the door with Padme's family in toe. In truth, I was quite happy for her since her family was a loving one and she deserved that and much more for all she had done, not only for me but the Galaxy as a whole. In hindsight, she had done the most good for all of us, even directly putting an end to some of Sidious' plans without knowing of their existence. Never mind everything she has done since my return, and her role in Darth Vader's demise and in freeing me from the Dark Side's corruption. Force, she really is an Angel, isn't she?

Silently putting my thoughts away for later, I glanced at her, at the woman I loved, and immediately noticed that she seemed taken aback by this surprise, and not in the best of ways. I didn't need the Force to tell that she was happy to see her loved ones, but the emotions she was projecting through our Bond were mostly those of worry and anxiety, as if she was afraid of them getting hurt.

With Sidious only a few floors above us, she technically had every reason to worry, but that was exactly the reason I had sprung a massive Force Barrier into action as soon as Sola, Darred, Ruwee and Jobal Naberrie had stepped foot inside the apartment, not wanting Sidious to try any of his usual tricks for the second time in one night.

Padme's previous expression of bewilderment and surprise went away in a split second, along with –most- of her negative emotions, as she reminded herself of Qui Gon's teachings, and a line he had drilled into my head since before the War had begun for the second time. It seemed as if she too had decided to keep her mind in the present, at least for now. I hadn't meant to pick up on her thought, but it was impossible to avoid it and continue to erect shields and defenses against Sidious and his lackeys without being deeply concentrated in the Force. Knowing the thoughts of those around me was a mere side effect of my efforts to protect them.

Once I was done with wielding the Force, I let go of my grasp on it and allowed myself to relax, barely catching Padme stutter something about having to go change. Jobal and Sola tried to assure her that she didn't have to, but their protests fell on deaf ears as my love fled, and I was suddenly hit with the fact that I was left alone in the same room as her family…

The existential dread that washed over me then and there must have been a coincidence, because surely there was no way for me to mess this up. In the two and a half seconds it would have taken for me to start internally panicking, Darred pulled me away from the others, almost dragging me since I couldn't really remember how to walk. It was as if the world had gone numb.

"You okay?", the older man asked, an understanding smile painted on his face.

I tried to respond, but no words came out of my mouth. Darred seemed to understand that 'ok' was something I was nowhere close to, and proceeded to shake my shoulders with considerable force, making me stumble on my feet.

"Look, I get that you're nervous, but I've been through the same thing. Meeting the parents of the girl is never easy for a guy, but Jobal and Ruwee are very nice. Take it from me, there is no way you can screw this up.", Darred said, starring me in the eye in a way that made me almost believe him. If not for my track record at screwing even the simplest missions up, I certainly would have.

Regardless, I did appreciate the effort to help out, so I nodded an affirmative to him, trying to convey that I was grateful for the assist, since however small it may have been, it did help me calm down a little. Darred gave me a small smile in return, and we both rushed over to the others, only to see that Padme was back from her bedroom…and she looked breathtaking.

To all others I probably like a Loth-cat about to be run over by a speeder, but to me, it was the only appropriate reaction. My Angel always had looked gorgeous, but something about seeing her now, dressed up in a the same light blue garments she wore during my first –and only other- dinner with her parents -back when I really was nineteen- and sitting down on a table, beckoning me to sit next to her and have dinner with her family, it made this whole thing feel real. It made us feel real, more so than any of our moments hiding our love away from the world in fear of repercussions and consequences for our actions.

I truly wasn't sure how long I stood there, my gaze fixed on her ocean blue eyes. She'd always be as sacred to me as water was on Tatooine, or of how a Kyber Crustal was special for their Jedi. I would always love her, and this was the first time I truly felt like it. For once, my soul wasn't basking in the comfort and warmth Padme offered and singing for her with waves of adoration, it was producing those same waves she did, sending them to her in return. My feelings towards her felt lighter, somehow, even though I still firmly believed there would never be anything purer than love.

"Ani?" Oh. Padme was talking to me. "Won't you come and sit with us?", she asked, the voice not being one of an Angel like it usually was, no. It was her voice I was hearing, and my heart fluttered at the sound, my mind and soul falling deeper in love with her than I ever thought possible.

Trying to quickly escape the sudden awkwardness that had overcome me, I readily agreed, a deeper part of me thinking that perhaps losing a few limbs and burning in a lava river would be a preferable alternative than making a fool out of myself in front of her parents. "…right. I should do that…", I mumbled, smacking a hand over my mouth as I realized I'd said that out loud. Why do I have to do these things to myself dammit?

Padme smiled in amusement, clearly trying to stifle a laugh in my expense, while Sabé, who had just poked her head out of the kitchen made no such effort. She freely laughed at my expense, but strangely enough, I didn't find myself minding all that much, and soon began laughing as well. A passing thought in my mind about the many times I'd spent laughing along with the Clones as jokes were being made and stories were being told when off the battlefront brought up a second, much more intriguing one. Is this what a family is supposed to look like?

"Anakin…", my Angel said in a sing-song way, making me realize that I still hadn't moved from my spot.

"Oh. Right.", I said to myself, though it was –unfortunately- loud enough for everyone to hear. "Let me get those.", I said, turning to Sabé and using the Force to gently lift the plates and silverware from the countertop she'd put them on, placing them in front of the dinning table's occupants.

I took my seat moment after, trying my best not to look like an idiot as I nearly stumbled on the carpet while doing so. What the hell is wrong with me today? Padme giggled as she noticed my near-trip, but no one else did, thankfully. I'd already had enough embarrassment for one day.

"So…Anakin, could you tell us a bit about yourself?", asked Jobal, Padme immediately perking up to protest. I wasn't sure why she did so, but it was good to have her on my side of this whole thing.

"Mom! Cut it out! Anakin is a good friend of mine, and that's it! Not like Pablo!", she protested, more embarrassed than angry, and a conversation about the ex-boyfriend with her from before the Purges, before the first War in fact, came to mind.

Jobal raised both hands in a mock surrender, her tone a stark contrast to Padme's embarrassment and mind annoyance. "Padme, dear, I was only asking a question.", she defended calmly, though there was something about her tone that made me sure she knew what had been implied.

Padme's embarrassment skyrocketed along with the blush that had now formed on her cheeks, and had my Angel not been projecting that the reason behind these emotions were memories of similar –and equally embarrassing- family dinners, I might have assumed the worst, but I had learned to think before opening my mouth. As much as I hated to admit it, the prospect of not being tortured with Sith Lightning was a good motivator, not that I would ever practice or even suggest it as a teaching method.

Not wanting this to escalate into an argument and being in no mood for having to step in if things did get bad, I did my best to abide by Jobal's wishes and answer her question, despite my wife…err- girlfriend's protests. "Padme, it's quite alright. I'm more than capable of answering a question.", I said, laughing the whole thing off, and taking note of the thankful look Ruwee covertly sent my way as Jobal fixed her gaze on me.

"As I had wanted to say…Anakin, Sola has told us quite a bit about you.", she said, obviously intending for me to divulge information about myself, since this Jobal had never met me.

Trying not to stutter, I answered the woman's unspoken question with as much confidence as I could, even though it still evaded me somewhat. Why was this harder than fighting Sith Lords again? "Well…as everyone here knows…I'm a Jedi. I'm usually pretty busy with the War, but I do like to visit Senator Amidala once in a while. Talking to her is like a breath of fresh air when all I ever do is read battle reports and tear droids to pieces…", I replied, paying Padme a compliment as I did so, but not revealing too much of our relationship in case her parents begin to realize we were together. That would be too much to handle, even for me.

"I suppose the War really is terrible.", Ruwee deadpanned, trying to steer the discussion away from where we all knew it was going, and Padme shot him a thankful smile as he did so. "Really, I'm honestly glad that Padme hasn't been in any danger since that dreaded battle on Geonosis.", he said, sounding relieved.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Padme's glare made me hesitate. On one hand, the man deserved the truth about his daughter, on the other, the love of my life wouldn't want her family 'worrying over nothing' as she would surely put it. I'd have someone pissed with me no matter how I responded, but besides being Padme's boyfriend, I was also her protector, and it my duty as one to report this to her family with her permission.

Not wanting to spring this on her, I quickly filled her through our Force Bond, and a resigned sigh of acceptance was all I needed to open my mouth and try not to terrify her family. "Well…she hasn't exactly been out of danger. After all, General Grievous is no small threat.", I said, sealing my loves fate to be one of being fussed over by worried parents.

"By the Gods! What happened?", Jobal asked, understandably distressed. Sola followed right after, with Ruwee and Darred not more than a second behind.

"Not much.", I immediately tried to dismiss. "Just the usual, really. The 501st and I were in the middle of a mission, and found out that Padme had been captured by General Grievous, so we had to board his ship and rescue her. I took care of him pretty quickly and found your daughter on the Bridge, maybe four dozen droids laid out on the floor. She'd already freed herself and taken care of them, so that made leaving very easy.", I replied, physically beaming with pride as I recalled Padme having laid waste to so many droids, including B2s and Magna Guards.

"…And this is the norm for our daughter?", Ruwee asked, surprised by my calm demeanor and worrying for Padme's wellbeing.

"Oh no, not at all. I'm only saying that she's capable of protecting herself, and that I admire her for it.", I responded with a grin so wide it would have been terrifying if not for the genuine nature of my words.

Dinner continued in much the same way, with Padme's family asking about the adventures she and I have been on –both separately and together-, Sola insisting that we were a couple while Padme and I desperately tried to discourage her from exposing us, Darred giving me a few supporting smiles when I began to stutter if caught off-guard by a question from Jobal or Ruwee and Sabé constantly teasing me for my awkwardness. The latter became much more prominent once the Handmaiden actually sat down to eat with us, but the afternoon turned out to be surprisingly fun, with my brain committing every second to long-term memory so that I'd never forget what having a family was like, and if a tingle of sadness passed through my mind when I thought about it, I wouldn't let it deter me from having a good time.

Eventually dessert was served, and the fruit salad Sabé had made for us was absolutely divine, so much so that she deserved the highest praises for her work. Of course, I hadn't eaten anything but Republic-issued rations for a few months now, but still, it would have been good regardless.

Unfortunately, all good things must end, and with my luck, the end was bound to destructive. All was well one moment, with the seven of us happily chatting away at whatever War story I'd been in the middle of telling –Jabiim probably, since that was early enough to no longer have an influence in the timeline, nor a need for classification-, then chaos erupted in the next.

The window shattered, Transparisteel flying everywhere and impaling Sabé in her good shoulder while I used the Force to shield Padme from the sharp pieces heading her way. Then came the Bounty Hunters. A Trandoshan who I remembered well from his time working for the Empire, three goons who were wearing cheap helmets, clearly meant to be expendable and a Mandalorian woman wearing Beskar armor, with the mark of Death Watch on it.

Bossk was the first to step forward, his three goons mimicking him, only to stagger back when I ignited by blade. Bo-Katan on the other hand was unfazed by this, and drew both her blaster pistols, aiming for the door. Padme's security forces rushed in barely a second after, and the four guards were immediately gunned down by the Mandalorian warrior.

"We're here for the Senator. Surrender her and everyone else gets to live.", Bo-Katan announced, and I could sense she truly didn't wish for needless violence. It was unfortunate that I'd have to disappoint her, since no one puts my Angel in harm's way and gets away with it.

"The men you just killed would disagree.", I deadpanned in response as Bossk raised his blaster rifle and grabbed something with his other hand.

The Force cried out in warning exactly once before the Dioxis Grenade was activated and thrown in our direction, toxic gas leaking out of it and into the air. Using the Force, I tried to direct some of it outside, and was partially successful before the full effect kicked in, causing me and everyone else in the room to start choking, including the goons Bossk had brought with him.

Not wanting them to die in such a way, I snapped their necks with a flick of the wrist, granting them a painless death that was over in an instant. Bo-Katan and Bossk opened fire on us, with blaster shots ringing in the air both in and out of the room, which would explain the lack of backup from Padme's security. Were four guys really all they could send? How many mercs did Sidious hire for this job?

Padme returned fire on the Mandalorian and Bounty Hunter, hitting Bossk in the leg, causing him to stumble. It wasn't severe enough to put him down, but it would make running away a pain if he tried. I focused on removing the remaining Dioxis from the room, but was interrupted by Bo-Katan, who fixed her attention on me and opened fire with everything she had.

Deflecting her shots was easy enough since I didn't have to worry about not hitting her. Beskar armor had that effect, and I didn't want her dead, since she had proven invaluable in defeating Maul during the siege of Mandalor, or so Qui Gon had mentioned at some point. The hard part was focusing enough to remove the Dioxis from the air before we all choked to death, and to keep an eye on Padme's fight with the Trandoshan Bounty Hunter.

Bo-Katan continued her barrage of blaster bolts in my direction, and Padme landed another shot at Bossk, causing the scumbag to cry out in pain. That'll teach him! Suddenly, Sola her out a loud cough, reminding me of the fact that there were more people in the room than just Padme and I.

Sabé had managed to take cover behind the flipped-over table Padme was using, and kept on taking pot shots at Bo-Katan, providing effective cover fire and letting me turn my full into guiding the Dioxis out of the room completely.

As the last of the poison cleared out, Bossk took another shot, this time to the left shoulder. Enraged, the Trandoshan picked up a nearby vase and threw it Padme's direction, narrowly missing her. Unfortunately, one of its pieces embedded itself into my Angel's leg, causing her to cry out in pain. Bo-Katan took the opportunity my momentary distraction presented, and took a shot at me, aiming for my chest.

The plasma bolt hit its target, and I found myself on the floor a second after. "Anakin! No!", Padme yelled, but the Mandalorian was already moving towards her, when she was suddenly thrown into the wall by a Force Push.

Mostly ignoring the spirit of Qui Gon, who had manifested in an unoccupied corner of the room, I sent him my thanks through the Force, careful to ensure no one would realize that I hadn't been the one to do that. Senate Security rushed into the room right after, shooting at both Bounty Hunters.

Bossk tried to shoot back and was struck in the chest, throwing a Thermal Detonator as he pulled himself back up and jumped out of the window and into a waiting speeder, trying to get it started.

He was of no immediate concern, or not as much as the explosive in the room I supposed. The Detonator made a clicking sound and activated fully, flames bursting out it and into the environment as everyone scrambled to take cover…only to be led into my left hand, being absorbed in it with the use of Tutaminis. Force bless you, Yoda…

Seeing the distraction as an opportunity to escape, Bo-Katan rushed to the window and activated her jetpack, leaving an injured Bossk behind to my mercy, which –unfortunately for him- did not exist in this moment as she flew into the Coruscanti traffic lanes and then out of sight.

"Master Jedi, do we chase her?", a guard asked, the faraway sound of a blaster being fired causing him to flinch mid-sentence.

Giving him a look to make any man or woman pale at the sight, I responded in the proper way, as one does when his wife and extended family are almost assassinated with nearly zero backup from those who are meant to keep them safe! "What do you think you should do!?", I screamed at him, unable to control myself in this moment.

"Sorry sir! I'll have units follow-", he tried to say, but I cut him off as the sounds of blaster fire came closer and closer to us.

Taking a deep breath before addressing the man, and praying to the Force to help me keep my patience, I spoke again, this time in a much calmer tone. "No. Let her go. I'll handle the Trandoshan while you get everyone out of here. If they sustain any further injury, it's your funeral.", I told him, stopping myself from using the Force to choke the life out of the guard at the last second, though the motion didn't go unnoticed.

The man clad in purple armor gulped loudly, sweating underneath his helmet. "Ye-yes, Master Jedi. Ri-right away!", he responded, his fellow security officers helping Padme and her family to their feet.

"I'm going after Bossk.", I announced, more for Padme to hear than anyone else. "I expect the attackers to be dealt with by the time I get back.", I said to another guard as I leapt through the window, following the speeder that Bossk was barely managing to fly without crashing by jumping across vehicles, and ignoring the immediate surprise of their passengers. I had bigger problems to worry about right now, including the small hole in my chest from Bo-Katan's blaster.

Reaching the Trandoshan proved to be less trouble than I thought, for he did most of the work for me by crashing the speeder in a quiet little corner of the Coruscanti Underworld, conveniently devoid of criminals and other scum at this particular moment, though I knew they were just waiting in the shadows, observing to see if they could take me down once Bossk was dealt with. They might not have recognized me, but criminals were always on the lookout for new victims, and two people injured in a speeder crash would be a golden opportunity for most scumbags down here.

Bossk stumbled out of the wreckage, bleeding heavily. I could simply leave him here to die, his reputation would do no good if he wasn't able to uphold it. In fact, I did consider walking away and going back to Padme, to make sure and her family got out okay and get my own wound treated, but a part of me once known as the Sith Lord Darth Vader refused to give up the hunt. Bossk was right there, and there could be no loose ends. If I let him go now, he might end up being a problem in the future, as Darth Maul had for Obi Wan. I couldn't afford to be merciful. Not with everything at stake here.

The Trandoshan lost him footing mid-way through the alley he was crawling into, allowing himself to fall to the floor as he say it was a dead end. Bossk knew I had been following him, perhaps understanding that I would kill him, and maybe even trying to accept it, but I wouldn't bet on it.

I walked slowly, my lightsaber still in hand. I didn't ignite the blade yet, and I wouldn't have to, not until I was close enough. When I did reach for the ignition button, I was right on top of him, but then…something else overcame me. It wasn't an emotion of any kind, but an emptiness, as if I was trying to detach myself from reality like I'd done that day in the Jedi Temple, but this time it was natural, coming to me as quick as a lightning bolt and with zero effort.

My finger hovered over the ignition button for another second or two, before I clipped the saber back on my belt. No. It was too easy. Too good and painless a death for a being like Bossk, someone who had hurt and killed thousands in the name of making a profit. He had no goals other than credits, no motivation other than his own selfish desires, and he was kind of person I hated the most.

Those who profit off of making others suffer deserved no mercy, and there were far worse fates than death, especially if it was a Sith Lord trying to kill you. Death, no matter how painful, would not be enough for Bossk, it would be just. I needed something more, something…better for a thing like him.

I had to make him experience pure agony as the life inside him faded, to give him a death that would equate all the pain he had brought on others, all the times he gleefully pulled entire families apart for the sake of a few credits. Inviting the Dark Side in, I let my eyes glow a bright yellow, one identical to the color they had taken as I had burned alive on Mustafar. Two golden orbs of hate stared back at the Bounty Hunter as he looked at me, trying to speak for the last time.

"Pleassse…", Bossk begged, and I was more than glad to answer his call for death.

*Trigger Warning*

Staring at him with yellow eyes, I channeled the Dark Side through me, a small ball of red light forming in each of my palms. There would be no escape for him, not even in the realm of the dead. Small tendrils of red energy formed at my fingertips and in the next moment, it had begun.

Pushing my hands forwards, the energy wrapped itself onto the Trandoshan's body as he began to scream in agony. There was no word to express the true amount of pain coursing through his nerves, but his screams were most subpar, even as the tendrils of energy ripped into his body. Bossk's skin began to pale, his eyes lost their color. In barely a moment, all that was left of them were two empty eyeholes as they disintegrated into nothingness, along with most of his skin, leaving a pale, torn apart and lifeless corpse where he previously lay.

The energy I had gotten from him coursed through me, and I used the slime's life force to heal by wounds –both internal and external-, sending out a concentrated burst of crimson Sith Lightning, turning the corpse into dust that was scattered in the air a moment later.

*Trigger End*

With the job done, I took a look around, observing my surroundings, and my eyes fell onto a broken mirror. A few pieces were missing, but it intrigued me, so I moved in to take a closer look and as I kneeled next to the object, I looked into the eyes of the man who was staring back at me…seeing only Darth Vader.

The helmet, mask and suit may not have been there, but those were Vader's eyes staring into mine, which were the same hue of gold as his own. Taken aback, I threw myself away from the mirror, taking a few deep breaths before going closer once more.

When I looked into the mirror this time, I saw that there was no gold, and Anakin Skywalker was the man looking at me through it, as it should have been in the first place. Pleased, I got up and moved away, smiling to myself as I failed to notice the even rhythm and mechanical echoing every breath I took produced. After all, Darth Vader was dead, and I was more than happy that he'd stay that way.

And…scene! There you have it everyone! Chapter 33 of A Messed Up Destiny! Now, before we go into the exposition, let me just tell you what happens to Bossk. Anakin uses a combination of Force Drain and Force Lightning to kill the Bounty Hunter, though that isn't explicitly stated. Guy can't really do that when he's committing murder. The thing is, Bossk's death is only the beginning when it comes to graphic deaths of antagonists, and this will continue from here on out. There won't be many moments where this happens, and I'll be sure to give you all a heads-up beforehand in case you don't want to read those paragraphs, so don't worry.

Also, Bossk is one of the tamer ones in the story, and no, they are so sporadic that it doesn't warrant a change in rating. Trust me on this.

Now…without further ado…let's dive right into the exposition!

Firstly, Anakin's anxiety about Padme's family. This chapter as a whole is meant to show that the Anakin of this story isn't too different from the canon Anakin in terms of mannerisms when it comes to loved ones, and I do think it's within his character to freak out at the prospect of having dinner with Padme's parents.

In the canon timeline, he and Padme weren't a thing yet when he had dinner with them, but he's worried they'll find out and (as he mentions later) Padme isn't all exactly ready to tell them, for reasons that will be discussed soon enough (next chapter where we get her POV). Nervous as he is, he tries and fails to relax until Darred helps him out, and I just think this initial awkwardness would indeed be there, since Ruwee and Jobal suspect them (are waiting for confirmation) of being together and in their minds, haven't met Anakin before. This is something he's also aware of, and yet another thing that doesn't help his nerves.

Secondly, the Dinner scene. The entire first half of the chapter is dedicated to this, and there is a good reason for the emphasis. This chapter is meant to show the difference in Anakin when he's with his family and alone. It shows him being more…light, for lack of a better word, when with Padme and her family. Even when subjected to teasing and an 'interrogation' about his and Padme's relationship status, as well as constant verbal jabbing from Sabé, he still manages to laugh it off and have a good time, showing us the light in his heart. That is, of course, going to change, but I'll get to that later.

Thirdly, the fight with Bossk and Bo-Katan. This sequence of events is (as Anakin indirectly tells us) Palpatine's fault, since he is the one to orchestrate it all. It's easy to assume that he made a few calls once the cake trap failed and Bossk would certainly be one of the more qualified for the job. Bo-Katan on the other hand, is here for other reasons that will be revealed in the future, though it can be assumed that Pre Visla was the one to order her on this mission.

About Padme and Anakin, I can say that they handled themselves quite well considering the circumstances. They got injured at the beginning and still managed to beat the Bounty Hunters back while fighting off the effects of Dioxis, which (if you didn't know) can be deadly from prolonged exposure (more than a few minutes). Padme wrecked Bossk pretty badly and Sabé indirectly teaming with Anakin to take care of Bo was some nice work between the two of them. Also, Qui Gon is the best Ghost-Dad Anakin could ask for, and you're free to fight me on that if you wish to.

Fourthly, Bossk's death. This scene is the antithesis from the first half of the chapter. Instead of being surrounded by family and loved ones, Anakin is left utterly alone and trying to contain his hate for the Trandoshan, but the Dark Side wins this mental battle. We can see that he compares his mental state to the night of Order 66, and that his thoughts sound much more like Darth Vader's in this scene. He's actively trying to cause Bossk pain and calls it justice, much like Vader justified the murder of the Jedi. Not the same thing, but still a parallel.

The interesting thing here is the way Bossk is killed. This brutality isn't something we've really seen from Vader, or rather, we haven't seen him be borderline sadistic before…ever. Negative character development much? Well…not really. Darth Vader, as a Sith, was always straight to the point, never really making anything personal, even when fighting Jedi and Rebels. It is here that this 'filter' ceases to exist, and is instead replaced by Anakin/Vader's undying hatred for those who profit off the suffering of others i.e. slavers and other such people, so he unleashes all of this on Bossk…and boy does he suffer.

Side Note: I honestly don't think I can properly describe what exactly Anakin did to him and have it be gory, simply because this was my first such scene. I won't go out of my way to write them when not necessary, but the Trigger Warnings will be well deserved for the rest. The Force (and my drafts) says as much.

Lastly, this is the last chapter before the end of the Coruscant Arc (or double Arc, since we had two) and after the one coming right after that deals with the aftermath, we'll move on the Clone Wars once more. The Crisis of the Blue Shadow Virus is up next, followed by an excursion to Mandalor by Obi Wan and Jango Fett, which will be where Bo-Katan comes in once more.

Next time: As Padme is left reeling from the attack on her family, Anakin returns from his hunt of Bounty Hunter Bossk, unable to understand why he killed him in such a brutal fashion. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing on Naboo as Darth Sidious is enraged by the survival of Padme's family and puts a new project in the works, trying to increase the demand of the death of the Separatists and by extension, his reign as Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. Will our heroes be able to foil the Dark Lord's scheme, or will the Sith Master come yet another step closer to victory?

That's all for now everyone! Reviews are always welcome, whether it be to ask question or to chat, and I'll see you all next chapter, but until then, May the Force be with you!