The sound of Vader's breathing could be heard echoing across the wind as dust and sand flew to and fro. Still the Sith lord would not let it sway him from his mission. He was told by Darth Sidious that atop of that atop of an ancient Sith pyramid was a powerful blade known as the Saber of Scardont. the lightsaber was said to have belonged to an ancient Sith Sorcerous named Darth Imperious who ruled the system with what some called golden fist. Those who followed her would give her life to her without question, those who were against her frankly did not survive. As Vader looked up at the pyramid, the force presence almost overwhelmed him immediately. Strangely enough however it wasn't strictly light or dark. It was a mixture of both.
"Anakin..." Vader jerked as he heard a familiar voice echo in the wind. When he looked around however he saw nothing.
"Anakin." the voice said again. Vader staggered back as a blinding light suddenly flashed before him. As the light faded, he was shocked to see a familiar outline.
"Qui-Gon?"
"You probably don't remember the last time we talked." The old master gave a gentle smile as he sat down. "Your path has been a rocky one."
"How is this possible?" Vader asked.
"The mysteries of the force outstretch like a thousand stares. It is capable of things some might consider unnatural, others some might consider impossible."
Vader tilted his head slightly. "You do know who you are quoting right?"
"I do." Qui-Gon said.
"So, there is merit to the dark side?"
"The Force is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us. It penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together. like earth and air or Fire and water, light and Dark are merely two sides of the same living force. Where the true question lies is in how you use it. Will you use the force light and dark to protect the things you love, or will you let greed and hatred consume you until you become little more than a feral shadow."
"I think we both know the answer." Vader said.
"Are you certain of that?"
"Am I certain? Do you know what I have done?! I destroyed the Jedi order. I helped bring the downfall of the Republic, I've...I've killed children, including my own."
"you've made mistakes, but that doesn't mean you are beyond redemption. Even as a Sith, your fate is still your own. I once told you that I believe you would bring balance to the force, that you would face your demons and save the universe. I still believe that."
Qui-Gon began drawing in the sand. "You seek to claim the Saber of Scardont?" he asked.
"I do." Vader said.
"Be warned so long as you can't find balance within yourself, you are doomed to fail."
"How will I know when I am balanced?"
"Do you remember what I told you before the podrace?"
Vader sighed thinking back on that day. it was only 13 years ago, yet it felt like he lived an entire lifetime since then. "Concentrate on the moment, Feel, don't think, use my instincts."
Qui-Gon smiled. "Do this, and I have no doubt you will succeed. Now, I must go. Obi-Wan is also in need of my guidance."
As Qui-Gon stood up, Vader again reached out. "Wait, when you see Obi-Wan again, will you tell him I'm sorry?"
"You should tell him yourself. I believe your paths have far from finished crossing.
As the apparition of Qui-Gon faded into the wind, Vader couldn't help but smile underneath his mask. It was a comfort to see Qui-Gon at least one more time. But now was not the time for sentimentality. He still had a mission to fulfill.
A feeling of uneasiness came over Vader as he came to the steps of the pyramid. It wasn't just one presence he felt., it felt as were dozens if not hundreds of presences. Without even muttering a word to himself, Vader turned on his lightsaber and stepped forward.
"Intruder! You dare disturb the resting place of Darth Imperious?!"
four bright lights proceeded to hover over the bottom of the pyramid before manifesting themselves into ghost. They were dressed in silver clothing, wielding lightsabers of varying colors.
"I seek the Saber of Scardont. Stand aside or I will make you stand aside."
The guardian spirits raised their blades. "Only the worthy may wield the saber of or lady! "
The warriors clashed in a 4 on 1 clash. a rainbow of light glistened across the field and pyramid as the warriors clashed. One by one Vader took the warriors down, one by one the lights fell until only the blue blade of Vader remained.
"Humph, four guards. Is that the best a powerful Sith sorcerous can do?"
As soon as Vader spoke these words, the pyramid began to shake, and fissures began to form. mummified hands began to shoot out from said fissures, followed by arms and then whole figures.
"Two arms two arms!" One of them shouted. the army of figures positioned themselves as if ready to pounce.
Vader smirked. "This is more like it."
moving like a machine the dark lord marched up the pyramid incapacitating any guardian in his path. Some were cut down with his lightsaber others he casted down the pyramid with the force. in the end it was only him standing on top of the pyramid, the Saber of Scardont laid on a pillar. He could sense however that he was not alone.
"Who dares enter my domain?!" the feminine and powerful voice of Darth Imperious shouted."
"I am Darth Vader, apprentice of Darth Sidious ruler of the new empire! I seek the saber of..."
Darth Imperious let out a cackle. "I know you are Anakin Skywalker. I know your demons. You are too unbalanced to carry my lightsaber."
Vader's empty palm balled into a fist. "What do you know about my demons?"
"What do I know about you? Foolish boy,"
The ground underneath Vader opened and swallowed him into a dark abyss.
"I know everything about you."
Vader landed on his feet as he found himself in a familiar room, even with the red filter over his mask he could still make out a bantha skin hut. he suddenly jerked as he heard the distinct sound of the slicing of a lightsaber. his eyes widened as he looked at the figure of himself from only a few years prior. he now realized where he was.
"It still haunts you, doesn't it? Imperious asked. "Even with your skills and your power she still died in your arms.
"I thought I wasn't strong enough to save her." Vader said softly.
"You were traumatized. You were angry. You were hurting..."
The image of Padawan Skywalker looked up in hatred. As Padawan Skywalker walked out, the war cries and screams of tusken raiders could be heard.
"...so, you lashed out. You killed the men..."
"...and the women and the children." Vader interrupted. "I know! I've relived this memory hundreds of times! Why show me this now?"
"Because this is where it all started wasn't it? This is when and where you became Darth Vader. Not with the death of Dooku, not with the death of Windu, it was her death, wasn't it?"
Vader stood silent. the only thing that could be heard was his mechanical breathing.
"Yes. When my mother died, I vowed I would become the most powerful jedi ever. I would never lose others the same way I lost my mother."
The hut began to twist into a deep and black void. Vader's mother soon stood before him soon it morphed into other images. Padme, Obi-Wan Ashoka, Dooku, Windu. All of which mocked him.
"What good did it do? You sought power because you were afraid those you loved were going to be taken from you?" Padme asked
"You're lust for power had already done that." Obi-Wan stated.
"I was your Padawan, your friend. You could have talked to me. I would have tried to help you. Why did you shut me out?"
"Shut up." Vader growled.
"You are just like me Skywalker. As I betrayed Syfo-Dyas You betrayed you're Kenobi..."
"Shut up."
"... And you betrayed the jedi order!" Windu shouted
"I said shut up!"
Vader let out a force wave causing the hallucinations to dissipate. They did not disappear, however. Instead, they merged into a single form, a male figure he did not recognize.
"You killed me before I had the chance to born. Are you happy...father?"
Vader took a few steps back. "J-Jinn?"
The figure smirked. "I'm not Jinn. My mother gave me the name Luke. But it doesn't matter now does it? You made sure of that."
As Luke summoned a lightsaber to his hand, a green blade shot out from the hill with a loud hiss. With a loud war cry the apparition changed aiming for Vader's head. Blue and green clashed as Vader blocked the strike but just barely.
"Wait Luke stop I don't want to fight you."
"Why not?! it's not like you haven't killed children before right?"
"Yes," Vader said softly. Vader tried to strike back at Luke, but it seemed like the more Vader fought, the stronger this Phantom Luke seemed to become. Vader found himself being put on the backfoot. Every strike Luke struck was followed by growls of rage and hate.
"All the power in the world will never bring me or my sister back. We are dead, dead because of you! "
Vader let out a moan as a barrage of Luke's strikes sent him flat on his back. Luke put the blade to Vader's throat.
"You failed us."
Vader looked to the ground and back at Luke. "You're right. I did fail you. I've done things I can't take back. I know that and I'm sorry. I can't change the past, but i did my best and I will continue to do so. That's all I can do."
Luke's face began to soften into a smile, and he lifted his father back to his feet. He then turned into a shadowy reflective mist. Vader looked at his own reflection and then took off his mask. The face staring at him was his own burned reflection. The figure of a woman with long hair and a long black and red robe appeared behind him and touched his shoulder.
"Then why do you continue to beat yourself up about it?"
Vader closed his eyes and opened them back up. He was soon back on top of the pyramid in front of the saber. a full image of Darth Imperious stood before him offering a smile.
"It was always me, wasn't it?" Vader asked. "I was my own worst enemy."
"Most Sith often are." Imperious said. She then sat on top of one of the stone stairwells.
"Look, being a Sith doesn't have to mean constantly craving power. The Dark side is an aspect of the force, but it is not the soul aspect. In order to truly understand the full power of the force. Dark must meet with light.
"You were a Light...Sith?"
"Oh please. Just because I'm not a megalomanic screaming "UNLIMITED POWER!" doesn't mean I'm any less of a Sith. turns out there is some benefit to being practical, gaining others trust and not being evil for the sake of being evil. Not to mention pure unbalanced use of the dark side wreaks havoc on your physical health and looks. I'm too pretty to look like I've walked right out of a crypt."
Vader chuckled. "You know for a Sith you remind me of someone else I know."
"I know all about Kenobi. Qui-Gon would always sing his praises.
"You knew Qui-Gon?"
"Who do you think helped complete his training so that he could manifest himself in physical world?"
"Can you bring others back form the dead?"
Imperious looked away. "Your children are too long gone. I'm sorry."
Vader sighed. "No need, It was worth a shot."
"If it's of any condolence. They rest happily in the netherworld of the force. Your mother is watching over them every day."
Vader smiles under his mask. "That is acceptable."
"Good, now I believe you came here to claim my saber did you not?"
"You don't think I will go mad?"
"That curse was a counter-measure so that the lightsaber didn't fall into the wrong hands. You've shown yourself worthy enough. Go on take it."
Vader walked over and took the blade from the pillar. The blade was silver with an ornate gold crown. Upon activating it he was shocked that the blade was not of plasma but of lava. Lava spewed from it as he took a few swings.
"I've never seen a blade like this."
"It's my favorite creation, but it's very destructive especially in the wrong hands. It's why kept it so protective and bound myself to the blade upon my death. Speaking of which, I'm still bounded to the blade, so I hope you don't mind if I tag along on your adventures."
"As you wish." Vader said.
"Good. I've always wanted to see the galaxy again."
Upon reaching his shuttle, Vader activated the hologram, showing an image of the emperor.
"Have you completed your mission, Lord Vader?"
"Yes, my master."
"Good, now report to the capital. The Grand Duchess has requested that you serve as her personal bodyguard and enforcer. You are to answer to her and her alone. Anywhere she goes, you go. Is that understood?"
Vader was practically beaming under the mask. "Of course, my master."
As the hologram faded. Vader readied the controls. Things seemed a lot brighter.
