Vader's Angel

By: wertman25

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Star Wars…. Or Anakin Skywalker… Which is a pity…

It was the first time in many years that Vader felt preoccupied during a meeting… and it was all because of her. That damn senator. The thought enraged him. He hated being like this. Preoccupied. The word itself sickened him. Usually, he would kill others for this sort of behavior. A preoccupied mind lead to mistakes, mistakes meant imperfections, and anything less than perfect was not tolerated within his ranks. Darth Vader's ranks were flawless and he would do whatever means necessary to keep them that way.

Like pay attention to a meeting!

He growled inwardly at his thoughts. It seemed like such a simple task, but yet, impossible. Military meetings were something he usually enriched himself in, after all, he was the Supreme Commander of the Empire's Imperial Forces. Normally, he would lead the meeting and not allow the idiots in the room to run free. What did they know, that he didn't? Nothing. They were fools that couldn't even control a simple meeting without his direction. During his meetings, his goals were clear, his rules were set in stone and his commands were final. He would tell of his plans to expand the Empire, exterminate existing Jedi, and crush the Rebel Alliance without interruption. If anyone dared to disagree with his orders, they would meet their end by his hand. It was simple. It was effective. It was flawless. Three things he admired… but not today.

Today, he found himself silent, not even listening to the others bicker before him. Which was something he never allowed. Bickering was pointless. It reminded him of politicians. Politicians were not in charge here. Only he was. He always had control of his ranks, even when he was preoccupied. He was busy, not dead. Unlike others in this position, he was still aware of what was going on around him. He could feel the generals' and military leaders' reluctance to speak without his input, their fear of his disagreement, and their nervousness due to his silence; but he hardly cared. He knew they weren't stupid enough to ask and if they were, he would end them.

End them. Now that was a satisfying thought. He hated every middle-aged man in the room… but not as much as he hated her.

Senator Amidala.

He had to get her out of his head. That much was clear. She was dangerous. She was a demon–No. She stood for everything he was against, so they could not be the same. She was his torture, but not a demon. She was not hellish, nor was she evil. He was. He lived in Hell, he enjoyed his Hell; she was only locked in with him. He was the demon. She was an angel. They were two conflicting figures that paths should have never crossed. Good vs. Evil. Dark vs. Light. Demon vs. Angel. Sith vs. Senator. They were meant to destroy each other… and it seemed at the moment that the senator had the upper hand.

But the darkness always prevails. The Darkside is stronger. Isn't it?

Vader tightened his fists underneath his sleeves as he fought the urge to start pacing the room. He hadn't had such an urge in a very long time. Not since he was a boy… when he was someone else. Moving always brought him comfort. It was a way of escape; to release energy and conflict that was building up inside him. It helped him think and resolve issues. It was a habit that he had been forced to break during his training, but it seemed that old habits die hard.

Comfort? Old habits? Am I becoming weak?

Vader frowned. He was Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith. He could not afford luxuries. Luxuries were weaknesses and he was not weak. He was not allowed to be preoccupied. He was not allowed comfort. He was not allowed to pace. He was skilled, motionless, intimidating, and feared. Just the way his Master had trained him to be. He was no longer that boy who had a habit to pace to remain calm. He was Darth Vader, and Lord Vader did not have habits.

That was, until she arrived… the angel that he loathed.

What was it about her that made him so frustrated? What was it about her that made him so confused? What was it about her that made him want to strangle the life force right out of her? Why did she affect him so deeply? She was under his skin, stuck in his mind, and in his every waking thought torturing him. She did something to him. Something no one had ever done before, but he couldn't explain it. Nothing made sense.

When had he ever protected someone? When had he cared about the pain or suffering he inflicted? When had he healed anyone apart from himself? When had he done a deed when there was nothing for his gain in return? Never… expect for her.

How does that make sense?

He wanted to kill her, but yet, he protected her against others. He wanted to break her, but did nothing when he had the chance. He had negotiated with her. He had stayed with her. He had healed her. The list was endless. Why?

He didn't know.

He was losing it. He knew that. From a young age, Vader was taught not to care about anything or anybody. Only himself. He had no feelings. He had no conflict. He had no guilt. He did not care… but oh how he cared to see that imperfection on her perfect skin; an imperfection that he had caused. The moment he saw it, he knew he had to get rid of it. So he had healed her. Once she had fallen asleep, he removed his glove and had touched her. Skin to skin. A feeling he had not felt in so many years. It had only been for a second, but it was enough. He had never touched anyone just for the sake of it. He couldn't even remember the last time he had touched a person without his glove, but it felt… good. The feeling of his flesh against hers released something in him. Something he couldn't explain.

He tried to tell himself it was just human contact, something he had deprived of since his youth. Never had he been touched skin to skin, nor had he ever socialized. Not till recently. The only human contact he received while in the care of his Master was pain and torture. When he became an adult, not much changed. He was tortured when his Master was displeased. He was kept away from the press and public's ravenous eyes. He remained isolated, only used when needed, and only met with others when absolutely necessary. He became a monster, an evil ghost that was no longer human. He was better than that. He was a Sith Lord, too powerful and monstrous to be considered a human.

Darth Vader accepted long ago that he would never be considered human again. He was too far down his path to ever return, nor did he want to. He was well on his way to achieving everything that he had ever dreamed. It was only a matter of time before he lost the baggage that was holding him down… his humanity, or at least the small amount that was left. Part of the young boy he used to be still remained within him. He knew that as well. The boy was in the deepest corners of his mind. The boy gazed back at him every time he saw his reflection, the blue eyes, the tan skin, or the dark blond hair. It all reminded him that he was still human, that he was still a slave... but soon every trace of that boy would burn and his Master's vision of the true Darth Vader would rise from the ashes. Soon, he would truly become a monster. Soon, he would lose everything about him that reminded him of that boy. Soon, he would be a true killing machine and no one would be able to stop him. He would be the true, Darth Vader.

"Good Afternoon, Gentlemen." Grand Moff Tarkin announced as the he entered the room, interrupting Vader's thoughts. "I'm afraid my meeting with the Emperor ran a bit over," Tarkin continued, as he made his way around Vader towards his seat, "you have my deepest apologies."

At the mention of the Emperor, every man in the room tensed, except Vader. He didn't care where Tarkin was or how invincible the man believed he was. No one was late to his meetings especially while he was in this sort of mood.

"Perhaps, you should not schedule conflicting meetings." Vader replied darkly causing all eyes in the room to turn in his direction.

Tarkin laughed lightly, "Calm now, Vader."

"Calm." Vader repeated, turning the word to ice as it left his lips.

I was calm. Not anymore.

The simple word was laced with coldness and clued on how close Vader was to his breaking point. Even Tarkin looked away from the Sith Lord, in fear that he had pushed his limits to far. He had. The monster within Vader screamed, scratching to be released. He wanted nothing more but to kill the man before him. No one had the nerve to laugh at him. The only reason why the man was still alive was because the Emperor saw potential in him. Vader did not. The man was a fool, just like the Emperor. Vader hated both men with an almost equal passion. They were both fools that were drunk on technological power.

It was silent for a moment before Vader's head snapped towards Tarkin. The man's thoughts were screaming in the air, broadcasting loud and clear. Vader heard every single word and it enraged him.

Tarkin is a fool that has forgotten his place.

"You'd be wise not to upset me." Vader growled after hearing all of Tarkin's thoughts, "I am still the Heir to the Empire and I would hate for you to be gone once I take the throne."

"For now." Tarkin growled back knowing Vader's words were pure sarcasm.

"Is that so?" Vader asked amused. He knew the reason for his Master's favoritism towards the man, but the link between him and his Master was true. His Master had his reasons for Tarkin and once the man fulfilled his use, it would be the end of him.

"Yes." Tarkin spit, turning his gaze back towards Vader. "You cannot handle that I am becoming the favorite, Vader. You're losing your edge. You're not as useful as you once were. I am soon going to achieve everything you couldn't. The Empire will soon be mine."

Vader wanted to laugh, hard. The man before him was an idiot that did not value his life. If he did, he wouldn't be picking a fight with a Sith Lord.

The man is more a fool than I thought.

"The favorite?" Vader laughed darkly as he neared Tarkin, "The only reason the Emperor is showing such a great deal of interest in you is because I do not share his optimistic opinions of his Death Star."

"And that's why you're a fool." Tarkin snapped, "The Death Star will be the most powerful weapon in the Universe. Nothing will be able to stop it."

"I agree." Another voice yelled from the far end of the table. Vader recognized the voice as Admiral Ozzel, another fool, but he did not turn away from Tarkin's gaze. "The Death Star is the most powerful force in the entire Galaxy." Ozzel continued, "It is the ultimate weapon! It is unchallengeable."

Vader's annoyance was beginning to challenge his anger; both were steaming, rising with every passing moment and boiling through his veins. The men around him were all fools that had no sense of the Force or had any business being in his presence. Tarkin was the worst of them all. The men before him were all about machines and technology. They did not care for their troops or regiments. They only cared about what weapons their troops would be equipped with. They did not understand that strength, skills, and planning won battles, not weapons. However, blasters and troopers were the farthest thing from Tarkin's mind. It seemed the Death Star was the only thing Tarkin or the Emperor could think about. The moon-sized, battle space station had just begun construction and both, the Emperor and Tarkin, believed it was the key to keeping the Empire alive forever. Vader, however, thought different. He had always had a fascination with machines, so he had a great deal of knowledge concerning technology. He knew that every machine had a weakness. There was never an exception to the rule, and usually the larger the machine, the larger the weakness. No one knew of the Death Star's creation, besides the creators, builders, and high Imperial leaders; but it was only a matter of time before the word was out. Soon even the Rebels would know of its existence and would stop at nothing to destroy it. The Death Star was like all other weapons before it. It would be big, bad, and powerful, until someone exploited its secrets and it was destroyed. It was only a matter of time.

Vader slowly backed away from Tarkin, allowing himself to scan the room before he locked eyes with his next target. "The only reason you agree, Ozzel." Vader snapped, turning back to the situation unfolding before him, "Is because you two are in this together. Tarkin promised you second hand in command if he was to become Emperor."

Hearing Vader's words, Ozzel immediately paled before melting into his seat under the Dark Lord's hidden stare.

The coward. Did he really think I didn't know?

"As for the Death Star," Vader continued, "I wouldn't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a city, a world, a planet, or an entire system is insignificant next to the power of the Force."

"The Force." Ozzel sneered as he regained his strength and returned to his original color. "Don't try to threaten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader. You forget that the Jedi too had a sad devotion to that ancient religion; but you still destroyed them. The Force did not help the Jedi escape extinction. The Force did not tell them of their future. The Force will also be your undoing because the Force is nothing compar–"

Ozzel's hands flew to his throat as he felt a server pressure crushing his windpipe. Before him, Vader stood with an outstretched hand, clasping the air tightly. The man's eyes bulged as he began gasping for air and turning a deathly shade of blue.

"I find you're lack of faith disturbing." Vader said simply, enjoying the sight before him.

"This bickering is pointless!" Tarkin screamed in distress, "Vader release him."

Vader didn't move. He was not Tarkin's slave.

"Vader!" Tarkin repeated.

"Don't worry, Tarkin. You'll have your turn." Vader said sarcastically, "But I wouldn't worry, I've recently been told I lost my edge."

Tarkin did not respond, he only watched on helplessly as the life drained from the choking man in the room. Within minutes, Ozzel's lifeless body slide out of his chair and onto the floor, but no one dared to move. They all knew he was dead and they would be next if they pushed Vader's anger.

"Good." Captain Needa spoke up, turning way from the dead body and towards Governor Tarkin. "Now that most of the trash as been disposed of. May we return to business?"

Tarkin ignored him. He remained silent, looking back and forth between the Sith Lord and the lifeless body on the floor. "You think you're so powerful, Vader. But you're not. You will always be the Emperor's slave."

Instantly, Vader's anger exploded as stalked towards a new prey. Tarkin. "You should hold your tongue," Vader threatened, "before you lose that right as well."

Tarkin laughed loudly. "You can't kill me, Vader." He said as he rose from his spot at the table and stood fearlessly before the Sith Lord. "You have your commands from the Emperor himself. He needs me alive. You're powerless against me."

"Who said anything about killing you?" Vader replied smoothly causing Tarkin to recoil.

Vader ignited his lightsaber, twirling the red blade in his grasp as the crowd before him could do nothing but watch. They were cowering with fear as they felt the monster within the Sith Lord come to life. The darkness was surrounding them and the coldness froze them in their seats. They were helpless and at Darth Vader's mercy. He moved too quickly for anyone's eyes to follow, but they all saw the flash of red that was followed by a loud scream.

In the next moment, Tarkin was on the floor, shivering in a small pool of blood. No one dared to help him. They were too scared or in shock to move. Vader's wrath was running wild and the living men refused to be next.

What seemed like eternities passed by, but no one moved. A lone general, General Veers, searched the room for any sign of the Dark Lord, but could not find him. It was almost as if Vader had disappeared into thin air. With great caution, Veers rose from his seat and knelt down next to the shaking man. From the amount of blood pouring through Tarkin's hands, General Veers knew that the damage had been inflicted near Tarkin's mouth, but he could not see the wound. He attempted to pull Tarkin's hands away from his face to see the damage that the Sith had inflicted, but Tarkin refused to move his hands.

"Tarkin." General Veers said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Where are you hurt?"

No reply.

"Tarkin." General Veers repeated, shaking the man gently.

"He won't be able to answer you, General." Vader announced causing every man to freeze once more.

"W–Why? My Lord?" General Veers stuttered, trying to control his fear as he looked up at the newly returned Sith Lord.

Vader was silent for a moment, dwelling in the fear that lingered within the room. He wanted to create more. So he did.

"Sith got his tongue."

At Vader's statement, a sop escaped from Tarkin as his hands fell from his face. The man tumbled forward, sobbing loudly, giving all men in the room a view of what exactly Vader had done to him. Tarkin's mouth was filled with blood and the man was unable to speak. Gasps escaped the men's mouths as more fear rose into the air.

Vader had cut out his tongue.

"Oh, Force!" General Veers cried, falling backwards onto the ground.

Vader smiled as he looked around the room at the cowering men, pleased at what he had done. He was feared. He was respected. He was in charge. No one would dare start a rebellion within his ranks again. His work was done. "You are all dismissed." Vader said as he turned away, "We will continue this meeting at a later date."

And with that, he left without another word. He felt instantly satisfied at his deed. Fear, pain, and death were once again returning to his life, the only three constant things that ever remained in his life. It felt… satisfying. The power was racing through his veins. He did not feel weak or human. He felt above all. He felt invincible. He felt like his usual self. Darth Vader.

Finally, I can be alone.

Almost immediately after his thought, a trooper was by his side following him down the hall.

I spoke too soon.

"Lord Vader." The trooper saluted.

"What is it, trooper?" Vader asked, trying to hide his annoyance.

"We have a situation."

Vader clenched his teeth, silencing the groan that was about to escape him. This was just what he needed, another situation. He didn't need this. Not now. What could have possibly happened that required his personal appearance.

"What sort of situation?"

"Concerning Senator Amidala, my Lord."

Vader paused his anger already beginning to re-boil. Of course it was involving her. It had to always involve her. Vader knew if he didn't want to snap her neck earlier, he certainly did now. She couldn't just behave while he was gone? There was no doubt in Vader's mind that she deliberately trying to torture him.

"Well?" He pressed on, waiting for the trooper to expel more information.

"A communication from her planet was approved, under Emperor Palpatine's orders, Sir." The trooper informed, "During the communication, our surveillance went dead, but the communication line remained."

Vader pushed back his anger about allowing a communication to occur without his approval. He didn't have time for this foolishness. He didn't have time for anything concerning Senator Amidala. He had other priorities.

"Get to the point, trooper!" Vader snapped.

The clone beside him hesitated, fearing to inform his fearless leader of their situation. "W– We think that we were hacked, Sir."

"Hacked!" Vader yelled angrily, but it was more at himself than at the clone trooper beside him. How had he not felt such a disturbance in the Force? Had he really allowed himself to become so preoccupied that he had not felt it? His anger again, began to boil as his thoughts began to race. He just couldn't make sense of it. If his military technicians were hacked, that meant it was the second time today that someone had brought imperfection to his ranks. These flaws would not be tolerated. People would die for this outrage.

Turning back to the trooper beside him, Vader knew he needed answers. "How did this happen?" He asked, pushing for more information.

"We don't know, Sir. Techs are inspecting the lines now." The trooper responded, "The communication could have went dead as well, but–"

"Not likely." Vader growled, interrupting the trooper. He knew that if it concerned Senator Amidala, it wouldn't be that easy. "When did this happen?"

"Almost ten standard minutes ago, Sir."

"Ten?!" Vader yelled in complete rage as he turned in the direction of Senator Amidala's office. Ten minutes was too long. Far too long. He would have been notified immediately.

Why wasn't I?

"I should have been notified about this immediately!" Vader called back to the trooper that was now running to keep up with him.

"Wait, Sir!" The trooper yelled, halting the Sith Lord. "We notified the Emperor, Sir. He said to report that you were on your way. After that, the Emperor notified Tarkin, who was suppose to pass along the information to you."

Vader growled. That would explain it. Of course the man that lost him tongue was suppose to notify me.

"Well, he didn't." Vader growled, not willing to give a further explanation, "I would appreciate it next time if the information was told to me personally by one of our troops next time, trooper."

"Yes, Sir. My apologies." The trooper said with a slight bow of his head.

Vader waited, but the trooper did not leave. He could feel through the Force that the trooper had more to say to him.

"What else, trooper? Vader asked annoyed. He hoped the trooper would just get to the point. He hated pointless conversation. He hated wasted time.

"The Emperor demands your presence, Sir." The trooper finally said, not looking his commander in the face. The troopers felt the same way about the Emperor as Vader did, not that they would admit it. To them, Vader was their leader. Vader treated them as equals and fought along side them. Vader, unlike the Emperor, would not command them to do something that he himself would not do. They respected their fearless leader, not the commanding Emperor.

Vader's heart stopped at the trooper's words as his mind shifted to why exactly the Emperor would demand his presence? Why did he not just summon him through their bond? Because I was too kriffing preoccupied to notice. He probably felt how preoccupied my mind was. Now he is displeased. But Vader knew there was something else. He could feel it. What could it be? There is no way in Sith's Hell he could have been told about Tarkin already, the only thing is… Senator Amidala. Vader froze. What had happened during the Senator's communication? The girl couldn't have been that stupid to spill her secrets? Could she? Oh, the things that his Master could figure out if the Senator would have said anything during her communication. The thought of the Emperor knowing what he was doing made Vader cringe. While the Emperor had expressed his desire to break the Senator and enter her mind, he highly doubted he would approve of his new technique. He could only imagine the things he would do if he were to find out. The torture would be never ending.

Pushing the thoughts away, Vader turned back to the quiet trooper at his side. "Why has the Emperor requested my presence?"

"He didn't say, Sir." The trooper replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders, "Just that I should inform you and ask for you orders."

He knew what that meant. Whatever the Emperor wanted from him was going to take some time. Time would be wasted and he would be tortured.

"Very well." Vader said absentmindedly, "Take Senator Amidala back to my establishments. There you will find a protocol droid that goes by See-Threepio, he will know what to do with her."

The trooper nodded, "Any punishment, Sir?"

Vader's insides cringed. Anger and happiness mixed into one.

"No." He whispered, "I will deal with her myself."

"Very good, my Lord." The trooper said with a salute, before he turned and walked in the direction of the Senator's office. Vader watched for a moment, allowing the trooper to disappear around the corner before he allowed his anger to be unleashed.

"If I have to endure torture." Vader growled with complete hate, "So will she."

Sometime later, Vader entered his Master's hall that lead to his personal office. He knew he had kept the Emperor waiting far too long, but he had to be careful. He did not want to walk into a trap and allow his Master access to all of the secrets that were locked inside of his mind. He would not give anything away.

When he arrived at the doors, the guards let him in without delay knowing better than to keep the old man waiting. He entered the dark room and heard the doors firmly shut behind him giving a signal that he was about to be tortured. As usual, Vader stalked through the dark effortlessly, before pausing before a large armchair, and kneeling to the ground.

They did not speak, but they didn't have to. Both knew what was about to occur. Vader could feel his Master's Force signature hitting against his mind, trying to enter; but his walls remained secured. They did not fall and Palpatine was forced to surrender.

"I am beginning to think you forget your place, Lord Vader." The Emperor spit, his anger obvious in his words.

Vader did not rise, but remained knelling on the ground. He dared not look up into the eyes of the man that had moved to stand before him. He was still the servant. He had to obey his Master, "I would never–"

"Do not lie to me!" Palpatine yelled, sending lightening from his fingertips and over Vader's body. It was beyond painful. The lightening hit Vader like a giant force, knocking him on to the ground. He did not yell, he did not fight, or make any move to rise. He knew better.

"It seems," Palpatine continued with a evil grin, "that I must remind you of your place, Lord Vader." The lightening once again shot from the Emperor's hands and into Vader's body; burning him to his inner core… but he did not scream. He refused to give his Master the satisfactory; but he knew it was only a matter of time. He could sense his Master had other plans in mind; very painful plans.

"It seems lightening will not be enough this time," The Emperor laughed showing his yellow teeth, "You are becoming very powerful, Lord Vader. I must remind you that you are still human… and not invincible."

Vader tried to control the pain that stormed through his body, but it was pointless. It overtook him like a fire, burning him. It felt like a beast was attacking him, swallowing him whole. He was reminded of physical pain and as his blood streamed onto the floor, he was helpless but to let out a loud scream. The torture would never end and by the end of today, he had no doubt he would be close to death.

Author's Note: Drop a review!