The hyperbaric chamber opened with a soft hissing sound. And followed by that, a softer one as Darth Vader's helmet fell over his head and the mask covered his face. Exiting the chamber, he stood just slightly over a towering six feet tall. The skull-like mask was ominous and often hard to look at when his wrath was great. He was the incarnation of fear. A powerful machine, capable of killing even the most trained Jedi Masters. He could massacre a small army on his own, he could lay siege to any planet with his ruthless armies. He was the Emperor's greatest weapon.
A buzzer went off. Without hesitation Darth Vader opened the door to his quarters. His back turned to the presence as he felt it come forward and kneel before him. Only then did Vader turn to look down upon a tool of his own.
An orange female mirialan knelt before him. Dressed in a stripped, loose shirt and a waving skirt one would never guess of this woman's power and cunning. An Inquisitor yet more in many ways. Shimmering dark hair covered her features until Vader waved his hand and the woman stood.
Her orange face was marked by a traditional diamond pattern falling from each eye and stopping at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were yellow, flecked with green. She held herself with respect and humble servitude. As was her role.
"Tell me of your spy."
"He is dead." Came the prompt answer. No explanation was given.
"How?" Darth Vader asked, keeping his patience for now.
"The Jedi you wanted him to catch. She killed him."
"A most unfortunate incident."
The woman only grimaced. "Yes. However, he fulfilled at least one of his tasks. I have set his family free. Without their beskar as you commanded."
Darth Vader nodded slowly. The family was of no further use to him, it was just as well that the woman had honored her deal with the desperate Mandalorian, who had been so hellbent on saving his captive creed family. A weakness Vader knew well on how to exploit.
"Tell me who Kenobi's padawans are." He demanded, taking a step towards the woman as if to intimidate her.
She was not. She looked him in the eyes. "He could only tell us he had heard the name Luke. Said with much significance to the girl. This Luke is the pilot who destroyed the Death Star. The girl herself is called Tallis Tano."
Darth Vader froze. Even his independent respirator had a moment's delay.
"Tano?" He could not help but ask for confirmation.
The woman nodded. "Yes. Tano."
A memory. Lightning crashed around them as blue eyes bore into his own. 'I won't leave you' she had said. 'Not this time'. And it appeared she had been right. The offspring of his late apprentice had saved Kenobi, and would haunt his path to revenge if the girl was anything like her meddlesome mother.
"Find the full identity of the boy. Only then can we move against Kenobi and all he has built."
The mirialan bowed low before leaving the room quickly to carry out his order.
Darth Vader turned to the viewport. The motley colors of hyperspace a lulling vision to collect his thoughts.
But only one word, one name would dart around in his head til it found itself hissing from his brittle lips.
"Ahsoka."
The End
