I am relieved to be leaving the Intimidator. Alone on the shuttle now I reflect how difficult this charade is proving to be. Being Darth Vader is not just a matter of donning the infamous suit and mask that he was renowned for; it is a state of being, a way of acting, of even thinking, that no longer comes naturally as it once did. Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader, though sharing the same body, are two completely separate entities; would Vader have managed to pull off what I am attempting to do, I muse…not likely…Kastellan would be dead right now. Yet, the advantage of having lived as Vader for half my life will serve me in this, so long as I am careful. I now know that at least one of the men under my command harbors suspicions where I am concerned; I must tread carefully with him.
I miss my family. I am reminded now of the loneliness I endured during my life as a Sith, and wonder again how I lived such an empty life for so long. This is different though, I tell myself; this is temporary. your family is waiting for you…your family loves and needs you… this thought alone is enough to drive me to succeed, for the reward of knowing a life of peace and love with them is more valuable than any of the hollow rewards my life as Vader could ever bring me.
My first destination on Coruscant is one I am dreading, but one that is vitally necessary to my plans: the private residence of the late emperor. With the chaos that ensued following his death, I am hopeful that no one has thought to come here, that no one has dared to; for if they have, what I am endeavoring to find may already be gone.
I land my craft on the private platform inside of the building where Sidious resided while on the capital. I have only been here a handful of times; but I remember it well. As I disembark, I stand for a moment and use the Force to determine if there is anyone around. Connecting to the Force, I am hit suddenly with traces of Sidious' Force signature. Dark malevolence swirls around me, sickening in its potency. I close my eyes and push it away from me, determined not to let the Darkness near me. I push onward, and, determining that there is no one around, I head for the lift.
Using the codes I had committed to memory years earlier, I enter the apartment. It seems to be empty, as I had hoped. I walk in slowly, my heart pounding within me, as though I expect the ghost of Sidious to appear at any moment. I move around the apartment, familiarizing myself with the layout, looking for the spot I need to find. Knowing Sidious he probably moved it around several times since I was here last, not even trusting his apprentice to its location. I stop in the middle of the room and concentrate, using the Force to guide me. I close my eyes as living energy of the Force fills me, surrounds me, and gives me the insight I need. In my mind's eye I see it, hidden in a black box in a recess in the wall. The recess is hidden behind…I open my eyes and look around for it. "There," I say, my voice seeming unusually loud in the tomb-like room. "That's it." I walk over to the far side of the room and see the painting I envisioned in my mind. It is a simple landscape, probably from Naboo, but certainly not one that would draw anyone's attention. I lift the painting from the wall and find a small, square recess. I reach my hand into it only to receive a shock. Force field, idiot… I step back, shaking the hand that is still tingling from the electric shock it received. I stand, tilting my head to one side as I ponder this new problem. Taking my lightsaber, I activate it and insert the tip into the force field. Sparks fly, and through the shaft of the saber I can feel the energy field fighting for its life under the attack of my blade. Finally it is extinguished, with a final gasp and burst of sparks. I put my saber away and reach my hand back into the hole, reach around for a moment or two and then find a small hard object. I pull it out, a smile spreading on my face as I see what it is; a small back box. It is unlocked, and inside I see a data disc inside. I retrieve it and return the box to its hiding place. I examine the disc briefly, and then look around the room for a computer to read it on. Realizing I can access the information on the shuttle, I take my leave, only too anxious to do so.
I lean back against the steel walls of the lift on the descent to the docking bay, trying to slow the pace of my heart. You take too many chances, Anakin Skywalker my wife's words suddenly jump to mind. I grin, thinking of her now, and her most unexpected sendoff. She's right of course; but that is me, that has always been me. This time, angel, it will all be worth it…I promise you…
I reach the shuttle and immediately insert the data disc.
Last Will and Testament of the Galactic Emperor, Palpatine
It is in text form, and for this I am grateful; I'm not sure I could stomach the sight of the old snake even in holographic form. I read through the preliminary information, the nauseating biography, in which every fact is skewed to make the late emperor look like a galactic hero rather than a ruthless dictator. Then follows the legalese, the important stuff. I scan through it, and stop when I see my own name. I reread the section over and over, making sure I understand it completely. In the event of my death, I name as my heir and successor, my faithful apprentice and life long friend, Lord Darth Vader.
Heir and successor? Me? I read the words again, still unable to believe them. That means that ….I am the emperor…no no no, not me…Darth Vader…but, I am Darth Vader on some level, aren't I?
Confusion and shock rage through me, as the magnitude of this unexpected twist of fate hits me. I never would have dreamed that Sidious intended me to succeed him, yet, logically, who else? He had no children, he had no family at all...But I am not Darth Vader…how can I possibly succeed Sidious? It would be the answer I have looking for, it would enable me to end the conflict once and for all… Suddenly I wish fervently that Padmé were here, I need her advice, and I need her to help me know what the right path is.
I take the disc out of the computer and engage the shuttle's engines. I make my way to the building where the Alliance leaders are being held. Do I tell them what I have learned? Will they know how to proceed?
"I am here to interrogate the prisoners," I announce as I am met by two officers in the foyer.
"Lord Vader! This is most unexpected! How…why…" stammers one of the men.
"I am not here to answer your idiotic questions," I snap, "show me to the prisoners. Now!"
Well done…very Vader like…The men lead me to a small room on the second level. It is at this point that I begin to worry…was Luke able to send a message to Mon Mothma in the short time I gave him? Did she have the slightest inkling what he was telling her? Will they believe that this is all a ruse, or will they inadvertently blow my cover?
Finally we stop, and the young officer accompanying me activates the lock on a door we have reached. I stand back as he does so; summoning my nerve for what may be my very undoing if Luke has not been successful. I can only hope that the time I gave him was enough.
The inside of the room is much like the room where my trial was held weeks earlier. I look around and see the familiar faces of the rebel leaders who I had met with on that day: Mon Mothma, Admiral Ackbar, General Jan Dodonna…there was one more, wasn't there? Yes, Riekan..I wonder where he is..
"Well look who's here." I turn to the familiar voice to see Han Solo. I am so happy to see him, so relieved; but I cannot show it. The look on his face is one of fury and indignation…oh no…they think this is for real…
"A pleasure to see you too, Captain Solo," I return, playing my part to the hilt. I turn to the young officer at my side. "Leave us."
He bows perfunctorily and leaves the room. I listen to make sure that he has left and then turn back to Solo and the others. Each of the officers has stood up to face me. Their faces are like stone, and my heart sinks as I realize that they think the worst. "Did Luke get through to you?" I ask anxiously.
Solo approaches me, the look of anger not leaving his face. Obviously not…
"Listen to me, all of you," I begin desperately as I remove the helmet. "This is not what you think."
"No? What is it then?" asks Dodonna.
"Treachery, that's what it is," replies Ackbar, his gravelly voice thick with contempt. "This is what comes from trusting a Sith!"
"I am not a Sith!" I all but shout as my hands fumble to remove the mask. "I am Anakin Skywalker!" I pull it away and toss it to the floor. "This is all part of an elaborate plan, a plan to destroy the Empire from within! And today I have found the perfect way to do this?"
"Why should any of us believe you?" snaps Han. "And to think that I considered you a friend! What a fool I've been! Tell me something, Anakin, do your kids know? Does Padmé know about your..plan?"
I run my hand through my hair in frustration. "Yes, yes of course they know! They were all with me when I put this suit back on. They know I am doing this for the good of the galaxy that I have not turned to the Dark Side. Why don't any of you see it?"
Han stops and turns back to the others, who seem confused at this point. I sense that I have made some leeway with them, and press on.
"Listen to me," I tell them, approaching them cautiously. "If I were Darth Vader, would I be here right now? Would any of you even be alive? I have brought something for you to see, to prove to you that I am telling the truth!"
I produce a disc, a copy of all the information assembled for me by Lieutenant Dortman, and hand it to Mon Mothma. "This is the information I promised you," I tell her, looking her straight in the eyes. "The losses, the locations, the numbers..everything."
Mon Mothma takes the disc from me and exchanges a look with her colleagues.
"How do we know that this isn't just a blank disc?" challenges Dodonna. "We have no way of verifying it, and you know it."
Damn it, I should have thought of that…
"Just wait," I say, putting the mask back on as quickly as my shaking hands will allow. "I will be right back."
After properly suiting myself up, I leave the room and summon a clone who is standing guard just outside in the corridor. "Get me a data reader," I command him.
"Yes sir," he replies. Clones really are handy beings to have around…they never question an order, no matter how bizarre or repugnant it might be.
Within a few moments he returns and hands me the small device. I return to the room, and, without even bothering to remove the mask or helmet, hand it over immediately to Han. The look he gives me as I do so cuts straight to my heart. This young man and I have grown to be good friends; he is to marry my precious daughter, and yet at this moment he hates me passionately.
"Go on," I urge them as I take the opportunity to remove the helmet and mask once again. "Look at it!"
Han hands the data reader to Mon Mothma who inserts the disc at once. Within a moment or two, I see her eyes start to move over the txt, growing wider with each word she reads. She looks up at me quickly, and then returns her eyes to the screen. The three others gather around behind her and read over her shoulder. The relief that each of them feels is enormous and I can feel it as clearly as my own.
"Okay, we believe you," Dodonna says at last. "Good gods, man, you nearly gave me a heart attack! Couldn't you have found some way to let us know?"
I smile. "I tried," I tell them, and explain what had happened earlier. "Obviously I didn't give them enough time to send the message."
Mon Mothma nods. "Yes, unfortunately. So you have a plan, then? What is it?"
"Before I tell you, have a look at this," I tell her, handing her the disc containing the will of Palpatine. She takes it from me and replaces the disc in the reader with this one. As she scans over the information, Han approaches me.
"I…I'm really sorry, Anakin," he tells me. "I don't know what else to say."
"No need to apologize, Han," I tell him. "Your reaction was most understandable given the circumstances."
He nods. "Yeah, I guess so. I am so glad that I was wrong though!"
I laugh. "Yes, I'm sure. I'm just…"
"Did you see this?" Mon Mothma blurts out, interrupting our conversation. I look over at the three of them, all of whom are staring at me in shock. "It says here that Darth Vader is now the galactic emperor!"
"Yes, I know," I tell them. "But Darth Vader is dead, that means there is no heir."
"That is true," Mon Mothma begins, rising from her seat and walking over to me. I can tell by the gleam in her eyes that she has an idea, and I know what it is. "As long as you are pretending to be Darth Vader, you can act as the emperor…it's perfect!"
"Yes, yes it is," Ackbar agrees, nodding his head. "Think of it, Anakin…you could single handedly end this civil conflict by signing your name. It's the perfect solution."
"You're forgetting that I am not I repeat NOT Darth Vader!" I tell them. "You cannot ask me to do this…the temptation of that much power…it's too much!"
"Listen to me, Anakin," Mon Mothma says, standing in front of me and looking up at me. "This may be the only chance we have to end the war without bloodshed. Are you really prepared to pass that up? You do want peace, don't you?"
I turn from her, my mind spinning with all that is at stake, all that this means. "Of course I want peace!" I aver. "That isn't the issue! You don't understand how dangerous this is for me…that much power …."
"You can do this, Anakin," Han tells me. "You are strong enough not to be tempted, I know it."
"He is the only one who knows for sure, Solo," Ackbar says. "He must make the decision himself."
I look back at them; torn between my desire to do what I know will end the war, and my terror at being tempted by the power of Darkness. Am I strong enough to resist? Will the headiness of being supreme leader of the Galactic Empire contaminate me? I cannot make the wrong decision, I will not be a slave to the Darkness again…but what if there is no other way? What if this truly is the only way to end the conflict and restore peace?
"Please, Anakin," Mon Mothma says at last. "At least consider it. You must see how important this is, how important this could be."
I nod. "Yes, I know," I reply softly. "And I will consider it. I only wish I had my family with me to talk to about this," I add with a sigh.
"Then go to them," Dodonna suggests. "You're Darth Vader; you can do what you want. Make some excuse to meet with them, if that's what you need to do, then do it."
"Yes, yes of course," I say. "I can do that, can't I?" I look at Han. "And I'm taking you with me, Solo."
"How are you going to do that?" he asks.
"You're my prisoner," I tell him, putting the mask and helmet back on. "I don't trust you. You require my personal supervision, since you are such a subversive influence."
Han grins. "Yeah, that sounds about right," he quips. "Okay, Lord Vader," he says. "Let's get the hell out of here."
I nod to the others and turn with Han to leave the room. "Wait, shouldn't you put binders on me or something?" he asks.
"You seem to know a lot about this sort of ruse," I observe.
Han snorts. "How do you think Luke and I rescued Leia from the Death Star?"
I smile under the mask. "It's good to see you again, Captain Solo." And with that we leave the room, with Han Solo in the custody of the Dark Lord once again.
