Every imperial officer who he Darth Vader met on the way to the hangar bay were almost frightened to death as he flew by them like a raging storm, looking like he was ready to rip someone's head off. I'm the Empire's lethal weapon, not a politician, he wanted to shout out loud. If the Emperor thought he could treat him like his little pet, always willing to do anything for him, he was wrong. But you do anything he bids, don't you? a treacherous voice very similar to that of his dead wife asked in his head.
He almost stopped in his step as he realized the truth - I am his pet. Practically a slave. And the only power I have is the power I've gotten from him.
His anger had boiled down to a simmering as he reached the hangar bay. The thoughts swirling around in his head had slowed down by the feelings of resignation and acceptance he now felt, because he had realized that there was no point in trying to change his situation - he was doomed to always remain a slave - never the Master. As a child, as a Jedi or as a Sith - it didn't matter - he had never been free. Except with her, he reminisced. When they were together, they were equals.
He grunted, frustrated that today, his mind seemed willing to lead every train of thought to thoughts of her. Something that caused the dagger embedded in his heart to twist and simultaneously break off a bit of the thick walls surrounding it, the walls he had built up over the 5 years that had passed since his rebirth as Darth Vader.
But he was not going to disappoint the Emperor this time. The unbearable pain that happened as a result of his last failure was etched into his memory, always reminding him of the Emperor's control over him. But I don't deserve freedom either, he thought self deprecatingly.
He boarded his shuttle, sat down and started the engine. If it was one thing that grounded him, it was flying. It was also one of the last remains left of Anakin Skywalker in him.
He set course for Alderaan and after a short journey, he was finally there - looking down on the planet. Alderaan. Bail Organa. Suppressed memories of him talking to Bail Organa, after the mission to rescue the Chancellor, came to the surface of his mind. Right before I found out about... He stopped his mind from going any further since it would only cause him pain. But what also bothered him was that there was a chance of Bail knowing who he was. That's why he had hoped that this meeting would never occur.
His thoughts were disrupted when he landed on the landing platform outside of the homestead of the Royal Family. With his cape flowing behind him he strode forward - without an ounce of hesitation. Like a dark cloud ominously fleeting over the bridge between the landing platform and the house.
Bail Organa, who sat in his office, in a meeting with Mon Mothma was suddenly interrupted when his wife Breha came rushing through the door. She was still breathing heavily and her eyes were wide of fear. He had never seen her so upset before and a feeling of dread crept into his body, paralyzing him in his seat.
"It's...It's him. He's here.", Breha managed to get out.
"Who?", Bail asked while feeling the panic starting to rise within him.
"Darth Vader", she said and visibly shivered.
He swallowed and felt his heart beating fast. He had thought that the sith lord would want to sever all connections with those who had known him before he became Darth Vader. But if he's coming here, there was only one possible explanation. Leia.
At that moment, he heard a knock on the door. He wanted to run away, take Leia and run away to the edge of the galaxy - but he also knew how determined Darth Vader could be. He could chase someone across the galaxy if he wanted to. And, it was already too late. He was already here.
With heavy steps, Bail Organa walked towards the door. This was it.
Then, with a racing heart, he opened the door.
The figure in front of him was clad in black from head to toe. The insect-like helmet stared down at him and at that moment it was hard to believe that the thing in front of him was even remotely human. He was an empty, dark shell - sucking all the happiness and joy out of the world. The raw dark power was almost radiating from him and anyone in his presence felt the need to get out of his way. But he wasn't just anyone - he was Bail Organa.
"So, we meet again. Organa", the robotic voice of Vader said.
Bail didn't answer immediately but was facing Vader with steely determination. He would not cower in front of Darth Vader, despite his reputation of using torture to get information out of those he interrogates.
"Could we at least be civil?", asked Bail, trying to keep emotion out of his voice. Now, all those years as a politician would be useful.
"As long as I get some answers, we can be civil", Vader replied unrelentingly and followed Bail through the house to the kitchen table.
They sat on opposite sides of the table, Bail with his hands clenched under the table trying to control his increasing fear that Vader without a doubt could sense through the Force. He could not show any fear now. Too much was at stake.
"You must know why I'm here.", Darth Vader said cooly.
"Yes.", Bail Organa answered and looked down at the table.
"Then you know that I don't tolerate anything but the truth.", Vader said
This was it, Bail thought. He would never see his precious daughter again.
Bail tried to speak but felt the words become stuck in his throat.
"Or do I need to use another method for you to speak, Organa?".
The tone of his voice was almost taunting and Bail was sure that there was an evil smile on the face behind the mask.
"Where is the rebellion?", Darth Vader said, spitting out the word "rebellion" as if it was an awful disease.
Every thought in Bail Organa's head stopped as he heard the words come out of the dark lord's mouth. The rebellion? What about Leia?
"I don't know what you're talking about?", Organa said slowly, the genuine confusion leaking into his voice, surprising Vader.
"Don't lie to me", Vader said, raising his voice. He felt the anger rising in his chest and he clenched his fist.
Then, Bail Organa saw a small figure peek out from the open door to the room. Her eyes were big as she studied the massive black-clad figure situated with his back towards her.
He shook his head slightly in her direction and looked at her with panic visible on his face, trying to tell her to leave. But, it had the opposite effect and, much to his dismay, she walked into the room on her short legs, holding a toy in her right hand.
At that moment, the sith lord turned towards the 5-year-old so quickly that Bail almost jumped in his seat.
"And who is this?", Vader asked, with a less threatening tone to his voice than before.
"That is my daughter.", Bail answered quickly.
Vader stared at the little girl, almost bewitched by those brown curls and brown eyes and he noted painfully that they were the same colour as Padme's. But she's dead - and with her the child she was carrying, he reminded himself. Afraid to get caught by the memories and feelings that he had long buried in his mind.
Even though he almost certainly knew that she wasn't in any way related to Padme, the Force seemed to be telling him to ask Bail Organa more about her. When he studied her closer through the Force he was startled to discover that she not only was a Force-wielder but also that her Force signature was strong.
"She can wield the Force.", Vader stated but with a question following it.
"She is not my biological daughter. We adopted her.", Bail Organa answered and felt his heart rate quicken. Vader couldn't be allowed to take her.
Vader felt the Force wanting to tell him something again. There was something about this girl's origin that piqued his interest.
"What's her name?", he asked.
"Leia"
Vader froze in his spot. There were too many coincidences. How she looked so similar to Padme, her strength in the Force and now - that she had the name they had chosen if the baby was a girl. Leia.
At that moment, he knew the truth. And the Force was almost screaming at him, only confirming what he now knew to be true.
Everything stopped for one moment. It was as if all the planets stopped orbiting the stars and time stood still. His mind was empty and for a second all the darkness within his soul was gone. Replaced by the radiant light that was her. Leia. His daughter.