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Star Wars
Twin Suns Early Rise
Chapter 5: The Dark Lord
Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. The fist of the Empire's military. Voice of the mighty Emperor Palpatine. The embodiment of terror. When he came no one was safe from his grasp. It was because of him that the surviving Jedi Knights from the great purge were hunted down to near extinction. Countless rebels' cells had been annihilated by his command. Even those within the Imperial ranks who failed or messed with the Dark Lord were executed on the spot.
So, when a fleet of Star Destroyers led by Vader's flagship arrived in orbit over Alderaan, a world secretly supporting a rebellion against the Empire, it couldn't mean anything good.
Alongside his wife, the queen of Alderaan, their trusted friend Senator Mon Mothma, and a few members of the Royal Alderaan security staff, Viceroy Bail Organa and the others waited on one of the Royal Palace's private landing pads as a Lambda-class T4a shuttle landed. When the shuttle's boarding ramp came down, even before he came out, before he came into sight, everyone on the landing pad could hear the Dark Lord's infamous, deep rhythmic breathing from inside.
The breathing became louder as Vader's dark figure appeared from the shuttle's entrance, marching down the boarding ramp in all his cold, metallic evil; accompanied by four stormtroopers, and a human man in the standard greyish green Imperial officer's uniform. What caught the welcoming party's attention was the scared-up skin around the Imperial officer's left eye. An eye that appeared to have been drained of most of its colour.
Creepy as the officer appeared, Bail was more concerned about Darth Vader who continued to march straight towards him. "Lord Vader what a surprise," Bail bowed, doing everything he could to hide his nervousness from the Dark Lord's presence. "Though a great honour nonetheless to have you on our world."
"Save your predentaries Viceroy," Vader interrupted. "I am here, by order of Emperor Palpatine himself. It is time to deal with Alderaan's rebel problem once and for all."
Both Bail and his wife were startled by the mention of rebels and Alderaan. "Apologies Lord Vader but might I enquire as ask what you mean by 'rebel problem' exactly?" Breha asked.
"You know full too well your highness that rebels have been targeting your relief missions for years," Vader pointed out. "It has gone on far too long. They've gained ships and resources that have been used against the Empire. We need to send an example to them that Alderaan is a part of the Galactic Empire, and the Emperor will not tolerate the exploitation of any Imperial worlds."
"And how do you plan to stop this exactly Lord Vader?" Mon Mothma asked, drawing Vader's attention from the royal couple, and towards her.
"Senator Mon Mothma," Vader said, somehow sounding surprised through his deep, mechanical voice. "I was not aware that you were on Alderaan."
"I've been coordinating with the royal family of Alderaan to acquire support in an upcoming vote in the Imperial Senate my lord," the senator explained while bowing respectfully to Emperor's chief enforcer. She didn't like the Dark Lord any more than Breha and Bail, she knew full well of his quick temper. "I apologize if my presence was not known to you sooner."
"None required Senator. In fact, seeing as you are already here perhaps it would wise for you to remain on Alderaan for the time being so that you can become accustomed to the new changes in this world's security. For your home planet of Chandrila will be undergoing the same changes as Alderaan."
"Chandrila too?" Bail said to himself. To him, this day was getting becoming worse and worse by the moment.
"Forgive me if I may ask my lord, but what are these changes in Alderaan's security exactly?" Breha spoke up, maintaining a level of calmness she always held regardless of how stressed she may be at times.
Vader did not respond to the queen, however. Instead, the Dark Lord suddenly froze where he stood. Standing completely still like a statue. It was only his breathing that let everyone on the platform know that Vader still lived. Though it didn't help any of them in figuring out what had gotten into Vader all of a sudden. His black metal mask hid all features of his face, preventing anyone from getting at least a hint as to what was going on inside that dark mind of his. To many, it made Vader far more terrifying, even compared to when seeing him slaughtering innocents with his crimson lightsaber, or strangling people through the force.
When he spoke, his words shocked the Organa's and Senator Mothma. "Your highnesses where is your daughter, Princess Leia Organa?"
Neither Bail nor his wife was prepared for that. They planned on keeping their daughter's disappearance on the hush from the general public, including the Empire. If Imperials, much less Darth Vader himself, got involved in this, especially now with the knowledge that Leia had gone to Tatooine it would lead to complete disaster. Bail didn't even know how to respond to Vader without risking him becoming suspicious.
"Princess Leia has gone on a private retreat," Mon Mothma answered for the Organa's, drawing Vaders attention back on towards her and away from her most trusted allies.
"Interesting," Vader responded. "I was informed that she is running in the upcoming election for the position of Senator of Alderaan. Should she not be getting ready for her campaign?"
"That is exactly why she is away," Mon Mothma explained. "The first campaign for anyone as young as Leia, especially when she is vying for such an important position as representative of her home system in the Imperial Senate, is one of the most stressful periods in any politician's career. I should know." Which was absolutely true. In the final decades of the Galactic Republic, Mothma had become the youngest senator ever elected in galactic history. It hadn't been an easy task, and there were many times during and after the campaign that Mothma had wanted to leave the political life behind. Yet here she was a leading her people in the Imperial Senate. Doing her best to provide them with as much freedom and safety from the Empire as possible. Mothma knew that when Leia returned home from, who knows where, she would become a fine senator like herself, and give all that she could for the people of Alderaan. If Darth Vader didn't catch on to the girl's disappearance, that is. Mothma didn't know why, but from how Bail did his best to hid his daughter's disappearance from as many people as possible, it could be assumed that it meant a great danger for the young princess, should the Empire become mixed up in all of this.
To her fortune, as well as Bail and Breha's, Lord Vader accepted Mothma's explanation. "Very well. Once she has returned, I expect you to go over the details of the new security measures for Alderaan." It was then that Vader raised his hand to indicate the Imperial officer who stood at attention behind him. "This is Commodore Montferrat. He will be in charge of the fleet I have brought to protect Alderaan."
A fleet to protect Alderaan? More like to enforce the Empire's rule on the world, Bail was thinking. "Lord Vader there no such need for this."
"There absolutely is Viceroy," Vader stated. "For far too long your world has had a free pass from the Empire's military protocols. Yet it has also had a lot of trouble as a result. As I already said, rebels have constantly attacked your relief missions, stealing weapons, ships, and supplies that they've used against the Empire time and time again. Last year your own daughter was kidnapped by a most dangerous band of rebels, led by Jedi. It has caused much trouble to Imperial operations in the outer rim. The Emperor won't tolerate this any longer. Nor will he allow these rebels to brainwash people from worlds like Chandrila into mindless crusades. This is why Commodore Rae Sloane is being dispatched to Chandrila this very moment with a fleet to protect the world from rebel corruption."
Now Mothma couldn't take it anymore. "You can't do-" her words were cut off when she felt an invisible hand lift her by the neck and slowly squeezed the life out of her.
"This is not a debate senator," Vader spoke, his own hand was raised in the direction of the senator, appearing as if it were clutching thin air. "The Emperor commands it. So, it shall be done. Do not object. Am I understood?"
"Ye… ye… yes my… my lord," Mothma squeaked.
"Good. Now I must return to other matters." Releasing his invisible grip over Mothma, the senator collapsed to the ground and took in as much oxygen as her lungs could get. At the same time, the Dark Lord turned and began to march back towards the shuttle with Montferrat and stormtrooper escort following him.
Before entering, Vader turned towards the scared-up commodore and gave him one last command.
"Commodore Montferrat you will go over the new security details with the Royal House of Organa and resume command of this worlds' security," the dark lord instructed, walking up the ramp afterwards, which closed after he was inside. The shuttle's engines then turned to life again as it lifted off into the sky towards the leader of the four triangle ships hanging above Alderaan's sky.
With Vader gone, Alderaan's queen walked over to the Imperial officer and his security personnel that had been "dropped off," and now stood facing her in silence.
Taking the initiative Queen Breha gestured towards the palace and spoke in a calm, respecting voice that she'd been trained to do for all guests of her world. "Come, Commodore, allow me to give you a tour of the royal palace. We can also discuss these new security details Lord Vader mentioned while I show you the beauty that is Alderaan."
In response, the commodore gave the queen the same cold, uncaring expression that Imperial officers were so renowned for. Yet his response was polite. "Thank you, your highness. I accept your offer," he said. He then adjusted his gaze towards Alderaan's Viceroy who was helping Chandrila's representative back on her feet. "Viceroy, Senator, would you two care to come along on this tour? It would be a good time to go over the plans that Imperial High Command has set up for preventing further rebel intrusion in your worlds'."
As much as Mothma wished she could stay on Alderaan to help her old colleagues or at least go look for Leia, she really did need to return to Chandrila to deal with the fleet that the Empire was forcing down on her world. "I am terribly sorry Commodore but I must decline your invitation. For I must return to Chandrila at once. Given the news of my homeworld's new protection, as its representative, it'll be my duty to welcome... Commodore Sloane, I recall, and her fleet to the system the moment they arrive."
With a final bow of respect to the Alderaan Royal family, along with a look of regret in her eyes, Mothma left the platform to head to her own ship.
"Then I guess it'll just be myself, your royal highnesses, and our security forces," Montferrat said. Though this wouldn't be the case either.
"I'm afraid I cannot join you on this tour Commodore," Bail apologized. While he would give almost anything to avoid spending time with Vader's puppet, as this Alderaan's Viceroy he was required to join his wife in giving their "guest" a tour of the royal palace. However, to his fortune, he also had another duty under these circumstances that he needed to attend to first. "Same as Senator Mothma will also be doing on her trip back to Chandrila, I must inform the remainder of Alderaan's security staff of the Imperial fleets' intentions on Alderaan. I have to admit we were all startled by the arrival of your fleet's unannounced arrival."
The commodore looked suspicious but did not show any indications of objecting. It could be assumed at this point that he'd been informed of what the higher-ups in the Empire suspected of Alderaan. "Understandable," Montferrat accepted. "Lord Vader felt that coming in by surprise would show that this is not a light matter. I apologize for any troubles we caused you and your people."
"Not to worry Commodore, no apologies are required," Bail lied. "Though nonetheless, I must let security know at once. I'll also begin to make arrangements to have quarters prepared for you and your troops here," Bail said indicating the four white armoured troopers that stood behind Montferrat. "I shall join you at dinner this evening. There we can discuss details regarding your new security measures and make preparations for a public gathering with the people of Alderaan to welcome your fleet to our world."
"Of course. Most appropriate. I will see you then Viceroy," the officer said.
"Then I give you my farewell Commodore," Bail bowed in respect, before kissing his wife on the forehead. "I'll see you tonight my dear."
Heading off, Bail Organa made his way to his office where he could do what he needed to do in private. What Commodore Montferrat didn't know, and what his wife would figure out soon enough, if not having already done so, was that he planned to do more than what he'd said he would be doing. Right before the Empire had arrived, Bail had figured out where his missing daughter was going. Tatooine, a dirtball in the outer rim that was barely worth the time thinking about. It also happened to be where Leia's twin brother Luke was living. Bail couldn't go there himself though, not now that the Empire had arrived on his world. But there were rebel allies offworld that he could trust to go and get her back from Tatooine; he did possess the abilities to contact them without his Imperial guest knowing about it. Which was exactly what Bail planned to do.
Things would never be the same again once he got his daughter back, Bail was certain of this. Though the Viceroy of Alderaan swore to himself that once Leia was back home in his arms, perhaps with her brother in tow, he would make things right with her. He owed it to her, to Luke, and the twins' mother, Padmé Amidala.
There was a great disturbance in the force, Darth Vader had felt it. On route to Alderaan with orders from the Emperor, the Dark Lord felt a massive disturbance in the force like no other he'd felt before, at least not since the Clone Wars. It had remained on Vader's mind all the way to Alderaan, and throughout his meeting with the viceroy and queen of said world. Then Vader noticed the absence of the royal family's daughter, Princess Leia Organa, at the meeting, which somehow brought back a familiar presence to the Sith Lord's mind, somehow tied in with the disturbance he'd felt. Not wasting any more time than needed, Vader made his commands clear to Alderaan's rulers and left Commodore Montferrat to go over the new security details with them; returning to his flagship, the Devastator. Once the ship was in hyperspace, the Dark Lord left the bridge under the command of Captain Corssin, marching straight towards his private chambers to make his report to the Emperor, letting no one or anything get in his way.
Once inside his courters, and the doors were locked shut, Vader activated his comlink, setting it to contact the only man in the galaxy who could explain to him what was going on.
"My master," Vader said, getting on one knee and bowing before the most powerful being in the universe.
"Lord Vader," the hologram of Emperor Palpatine, secretly known as Darth Sidious, spoke.
"The fleet has been dispatched to Alderaan, my Master. Commodore Montferrat has taken complete control over the system, and our spies are being dispatched. If the Organa family attempts anything we shall learn about it at once."
"Excellent my apprentice," the Emperor praised. "But I sense that is not the reason for your transmission."
As always, his master was one step, if not more, ahead of him. "Alderaan's future ruler, Princess Leia Organa, I believe she is missing," Vader revealed.
For a moment, the Emperor was silent. His image, of that of a disfigured man, remained frozen, his sinister glowing yellow eyes staring out into oblivion until he at last spoke. "Explain Lord Vader."
"I was greeted by the Royal Family of Alderaan, along with Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila. But the princess was nowhere to be seen. According to Senator Mothma, she'd apparently gone on a private retreat to prepare herself before her upcoming election campaign for senator of Alderaan. Though I could sense that she was lying. I assume the princess is up to something."
"We've always suspected Alderaan of committing treason. If what Tarkin claims is true, their future ruler is now also in league with these rebels. The princess is most likely on an assignment involving these rebels her parents are supporting. That is why we've assigned Commodore Montferrat to Alderaan. This fleet will set things right and bring Alderaan into line. Perhaps even catch the princess in the act."
"I do not believe that the Princess's disappearance is connected to the rebellion," the Dark Lord confessed, which only puzzled his master.
"Why is that my old friend?"
"I sensed a massive rift in the force while coming to Alderaan," Vader explained. "I can't explain what. All I know is that something is happening that will change the entire galaxy, including even us, my master."
"Yes, I know. I have felt it too," the Emperor revealed. "What does this have to do with the princess from Alderaan?"
"When I learned about the princess's absence," Vader continued. "I felt a familiar presence, one long dead, yet somehow connected to the princess. Though I have no idea how this can be so, my master."
"And who was this presence that you felt in the force Lord Vader?"
It a moment for Vader to answer. The name itself still brought great pain whenever he even thought of it. Pain far worse than anything he'd ever felt through his years as a Sith Lord, and before. "Padmé," Vader finally said.
Again, the Emperor was silent for a moment, though his puzzled look turned to that of disturbed. "Interesting... I wonder if this has anything to do with your tragic battle against Skywalker's former pupil, Ahsoka Tano, some time ago?"
"No my master."
"Then leave it be for now," the Emperor instructed. "It is of no concern at the moment. You have done your part on Alderaan. For now, focus your attention on other matters. Recent reports indicate that the Harch Council on Secundus Ando has been supporting a rebel fleet located within their system. You must go there at once and make an example of these traitors before they can strike at us. Exterminate this world. Leave no survivors."
With reluctance, Vader accepted his master's command. "As you wish my master."
"If Alderaan and its heir prove to be a true threat to our order we shall deal with them as we've done with other worlds in the past. Whether or not they are tied to the late queen of Naboo does not matter. All that does is wiping out rebels that threaten our Empire and goals of taking complete control over the galaxy."
"Yes, master."
"It is only a matter of time, my friend. Soon the rebellions across the stars will all be crushed. The galaxy will be under ours once again. And together you and I shall achieve unlimited power just as we've always desired."
The Emperor's holographic image then faded away, but the Dark Lord remained in his kneeled position. He couldn't let go of the fact that there was a connection to his deceased wife and the missing princess. Nor could he stop wondering how they were connected, and what was it that the force was trying to tell him. He'd never even met the girl before, yet somehow the force was guiding him towards her. He needed to take action on this, even if it meant disobeying his master's instructions.
Standing up, Vader walked over to his comm table and set to a frequency to call an old ally.
"Darth Vader. To what do I owe this surprise transmission?" spoke the holo image of the man who could perhaps help Vader.
"Grand Moff Tarkin, I believe I have some information that will be of value to you. It concerns Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan."
Hearing this caused the Grand Moff's cold, emotionless face to form into a maniacal smile. "I'm listening."
Atollon, a desolate rock located in an unknown system in the outer rim, with few natural resources, and no civilizations. It was not on any standard Imperial maps, found only in ancient archives. Which worked perfectly for those who stood against the Empire. It was here that a rebel cell known as Phoenix Squadron had established a secret base to oversee their operations to overthrow the corrupt regime that tortured the galaxy. Here a small fleet comprised of hammerhead and corvette cruisers, A-Wing fighters and the famous VCX-100 light freighter, known as the Ghost, took shelter under a massive coral mesa located within the planet's northern hemisphere.
Inside one of these corvette's Captain CT-7567 or Rex, a veteran of the Clone Wars, and high ranking officer of Phoenix Cell, activated his commlink inside his private courters. Rebel High Command had sent a message requesting a private meeting with the clone. Whenever something like this happened, it always meant something important was going. Further evidence of this appeared when Rex saw the image of Senator Bail Organa, one of the founding members of countless rebel cells, appear over his comlink.
"Senator Organa," the clone greeted. "What a surprise."
"Captain Rex. I apologize for skipping the pleasantries but I have an urgent matter that requires immediate attention," Bail replied, his voice sounding distressed in Rex's ears. Luckily, Rex was used to cutting the chit-chat and getting straight to the point. "Understood sir. What's going on?"
"I need you to go somewhere and recover a rebel operative. I feel she might be in grave danger," Bail explained.
"Not a worry sir. Should I get Captain Syndulla and her crew to come along?"
"No. I want this matter handled with as few people involved as possible. Besides..." Bail paused for a moment, appearing to be thinking about his next words. "I think it's time you learned the truth."
This sounded concerning and made the old clone veteran a bit nervous. "Begging your pardon Senator, but what do you mean by the truth? And who is the operative that requires so much secrecy?"
Breathing out a deep sigh, as if attempting to get all his nerves out of his system, the senator from Alderaan began to speak again. "It involves an old droid you served alongside back in the Clone Wars, R2-D2; and your former Jedi general, Anakin Skywalker."
Hope you all like the return of Captain Rex ; )
So until the next chapter farewell, and remember to keep following, favouriting, and reviewing this fanfic. Let me know what you think of it.