"So, what do we do now?" Ahsoka asks. "We need to convince the Rebellion that you're on their side, but that's gonna be hard to swallow.

"Yes, most everyone will believe I am still aligned with the Empire. We will use that to our advantage."

"Ah, you want to go undercover."

"We must act quickly. The Emperor knows I have abandoned him. It is only a matter of time before the entirety of the Empire knows of my betrayal," Vader explained.

"Will he? You've pretended to like the guy for years and he never knew you wanted to get rid of him. What's different this time?"

"The Emperor knows I left the forest moon of Endor against his instructions. He will suspect that Luke has turned me as you have. I realize that you think the logical approach is to speak with the Emperor and fabricate a false explanation. But . . . the Emperor is very perceptive. He knows many things through his connection to the Force. If I meet with him, he will feel the difference. I suspect he may have known of my disloyalty, but chose to ignore it, thinking our interests still benefited the other's. But now I have aligned with the Light Side and for that, the Emperor will have no tolerance," Vader says. At least he hopes he has truly connected with the Light Side. "I may no longer have the Emperor's trust, but, fortunately, I still have his information. Do you know what happened to the Separatists' droid army at the end of the Clone Wars?"

Ahsoka answers, "Sure. A shut down signal was sent out and it was over just like that."

"But where the deactivated droids were taken has been a closely kept secret."

"But they were dismantled; weren't they?"

"The Separatists' army consisted of quintillions of battle droids. The truth is, there were too many to all share the same fate. Billions of battle droids have been taken to a facility in case they can one day be useful."

"If the Emperor has so many battle droids, why hasn't he used them against the Rebellion?"

"He never believed there was any need. He underestimates the Rebellion. The Emperor also thinks that their use would be costly to the Empire's reputation. The Emperor only meant for the droids to be reactivated in case of a state of extreme crisis."

"If the Rebellion takes out the Death Star, the Empire might be in one of those," Ahsoka reasons.

"But we can reach them first."

"That sounds like a weird concept; having the tinnies on our side. It's a shame that they won't be very helpful. You know how dumb those things were."

"What if I told you the battle droids' ineffective programing was by design and that programing could be overwritten?"

Ahsoka needs a second, but she works out in her head what Vader is talking about. "You told me that the Emperor controlled both sides. So the Emperor made sure they weren't smart enough to actually win."

Vader explains, "And in this facility, they are connected to a computer that could reprogram them and thus increase their efficiency in battle."

"So, that's our plan then; go to this secret facility, find the droids, and hand over billions of new troops to the Rebellion. Anakin . . . if this all works out, it might win the war for us."

"Then we must not waste this opportunity."

Vader starts walking back to his ship, but Ahsoka stops him by suggesting, "How about we take my ship."

"My ship will help my cover."

"But I don't know your ship as well as mine. And I really should be the pilot since you clearly didn't sleep last night. . . . Also, if they see that ship coming, they'll wonder why the tracking device isn't working."

"The tracking device," Vader repeats, realizing she was right.

"Wait . . . you did deactivate the tracking device, didn't you?" Ahsoka says with increasing panic.

"I did. I simply failed to realize they would notice," Vader explains, knowing the reason he wasn't thinking clearly was because his mind was still distracted.

"You see? You're too tired. We'll take my ship and I'll do the flying. We'll land without being spotted and take a speeder to the facility. I just need you to tell me where we're going; then you can take a nap."

That word weighs Vader down. That nap isn't going to be as easy as advertised.

"Where is your ship?" Vader asks.


Ahsoka's red and white ship is shaped like one giant wing. It was extended horizontal when Ahsoka led Vader to it, but after it took off, most of the ship shifted, pointing its ends vertically while the center of the ship stayed upright.

Vader had been on many life and death missions that were easier than taking a nap today. His suit is hard to sleep in without a meditation chamber. He would be more concerned that his condition will be much harder without the Empire's resources to give him maintenance if it wasn't for the fact that much of his condition was by design. The Emperor had always denied him treatments that would have made him more comfortable. The idea was that pain strengthens one's connection to the Dark Side; that or the Emperor is just cruel. Now that he doesn't need pain feeding his darkness, maybe he can find a way to make improvements to his suit.

When Vader finally gets some sleep, he makes the mistake of dreaming.

"LUKE!" Vader shouts, waking up from his sleep. He doesn't know how long he was asleep and he doesn't care. He doesn't want to dream any longer. It's time to get up. Vader makes his way to the cockpit and finds Ahsoka in the pilot seat.

"You okay? I heard you shouting."

Vader takes a seat beside her and says, "I dreamed of my son being burned as I was and placed in a suit like mine."

"Do you think this is a vision?" Ahsoka asks concernedly.

"No. Luke has severed our connection. I would not receive a vision of him."

"He'll come around," Ahsoka says. Vader notices the uncertainty in her voice. As much as he appreciates her efforts, he can't help but think he would be better off had she said nothing.

"Why did you reach out to me?"

Ahsoka replies solemnly, "In a way, you did the same thing for me."

"You never turned to the Dark Side."

"That's not what I meant. All those years ago, when I was framed for murder, you proved my innocence and saved my life. You and Padme were the only ones who didn't give up on me. When everyone else thought I was lost to the Dark Side, you knew better. So when I found that cave, I couldn't justify not trying."

"Yes, you could have," Vader argues. "After everything I've done, you had every right to give up on me. Luke also has every right to assume the worst, and he has no such fond memories of me. Frankly, Ahsoka, I don't think you would have come of you knew everything I've done."

"I know enough. I know you helped eradicate the Jedi," Ahsoka said.

"Do you know that I've killed children?"

"I . . . I was afraid of that."

Vader added, "Do you know I helped defend a space station that destroyed an entire planet?"

"I do. But you were-"

"Do you know . . . that I killed Obi Wan?"

Ahsoka sighs through her nose. She looks at him with watery eyes. "I know."

Vader is stunned. How she could have known that is beyond him. But that's a topic for another time.

Ahsoka tells Vader, "Obi-Wan didn't believe in revenge. I think if he knew you were trying to help the Rebellion, he would want the best for you."

"If you knew what I did, then how could you think there was good in me?"

"Because I've already seen it. I know you have a lot to feel guilty about, but you can't forget all the good you did before. You saved my life over and over again. You cared about people you had just met. You were a hero! That's who you really are. That's who Luke is going to see when he looks at you."

Vader tries to let that comfort him. But he wants more certainty that everything will be alright. "Ahsoka, I need you to promise me something."

"What's that?" she asks, suspecting something.

"If I cannot gain Luke's forgiveness, and if I begin to drift back to the Dark Side, I need you to-"

"I'm not going to kill you, Anakin!" Ahsoka shouts. "You won't turn back! I won't let you."

"That is what I'm counting on. Promise me that if it comes to killing me or letting me turn back to my evil ways-"

"It won't come to that."

"Ahsoka, I need this," Vader pleads.

Ahsoka looks at him with a hurt expression. She doesn't want to think about losing him again. But if he really needs this . . . "Alright. If killing you is the only way, I'll do it. I promise."

"I knew I could count on you, Ahsoka," Vader says gratefully.

"Just try to be more optimistic," Ahsoka pleads. "For me?"

How can he refuse when she asks him like that? "I do owe you that much. Luke will see my turn is true. I shall prove where my loyalties lie."

"Now, that's better."


They landed on the planet Drakorm, far enough away from the facility to not be detected. Thankfully, Ahsoka has a speeder which they used to get most of the way there, making plans as they rode. They went the rest of the way on foot and split up, taking comlinks with them.

The facility itself is massive. Most of the facility is actually underground, so when they see it outside, they are only getting some of the full picture. And the portion above ground is massive on its own. Multiple separatist dreadnaughts are latched in all around the exterior. Thankfully, the facility has many elevators and moving platforms; otherwise, getting anywhere would take forever.

Once inside, Vader finds that there are deactivated battle droids lined up along most of the wall. This place is meant to hold as many of them as possible; that means taking advantage of every place they can be put. In some rooms, there are battle droids hanging from the ceilings. An odd thing is that most of them still have their weapons; it was just easy to let them hold them then sort them into separate locations. More than just droids and blasters, there are separatist tanks, speeders, ships, and pretty much everything else one would need for their own personal droid army. It isn't common, but some places even have droids or speeders placed in sloppy piles. The imperials care little if a few of them get scratched up in the piles. The facility has droids to spare and this collection exists as an unlikely to be called upon last resort anyway. Vader can recognize the separatist architecture. Either this place was originally built as a separatist base before it was claimed by the Empire, or the Empire built it to look separatist so they could deny having anything to do with it. Now that he thinks about it, there is a lack of imperial symbols which gives credence to either explanation.

Everyone is surprised to see Darth Vader walking down the halls. They were never told he was coming. As Vader walks, he tries to stay in character, acting like nothing has changed. He gives the guards and workers cold glares as if he might force-choke them if they breathe incorrectly. "You," he says, pointing at a random stormtrooper.

The stormtrooper nervously replies, "Yes, Lord Va-"

Not even letting him finish a three-word-sentence, Vader commands, "Take me to your commanding officer."

"Yes, Lord Vader," says the stormtrooper, not daring to say anything else.

As soon as Vader finds the man in charge of the facility, Vader says before he can even greet him, "I have orders from the Emperor himself. This entire facility is to be evacuated immediately."

"What? Why would the Emperor send you to tell me this personally?"

"Because I am to be the only person who will remain here. All other details are not for you to know." His high and mighty attitude and unwillingness to share information are actually perfect for keeping up appearances. No one suspected that he was acting out of the ordinary.

"Not for me to know? This is my facility and I refused to be removed from it without an explanation."

Oh great. This one has a spine.

"Listen to me, Commander. I-"

"Admiral Valum," he corrects.

The guards looked at each other, wondering if they really just heard him interrupt Darth Vader.

"Listen to me," Vader says, frustrated, but not very aggressive. "The Emperor was very specific in his instruction. There is to be no one in this facility but myself by tomorrow."

The guards can't believe what they're seeing. Someone gave Darth Vader backtalk and isn't receiving death for it? Vader's act is starting to show cracks.

Of course Admiral Valum just hast to make things even more difficult, doesn't he? "If the Emperor truly wishes for such an outrageous idea, he can tell me that himself. The Post-Separatist Holding Facility requires guarding at all times."

As Valum goes on and on, Vader turns his back to him and sighs in frustration. He thinks to himself, "One. Last. Time."

Valum's speech stops as he suddenly starts choking. He clutches his neck and tries desperately to breathe in vain.

"I do not appreciate your insubordination," Vader says so coldly.

Any suspicion the observing stormtroopers had of Vader acting out of the ordinary are instantly crushed. This is the Vader they know.

"Do you question my authority?"

Valum begrudgingly shakes his head; though he looks more agitated than intimidated. That simply won't do.

"I have come on the Emperor's behalf! I expect that to be obeyed!"

Valum falls to his knees, yet he still has the countenance of an unbroken man. He fights to get a little air through his lungs and chokes out the words, "We . . . will evacuate."

Vader releases Valum from his force-choking and he gasps for breath. "You have twelve hours," Vader warns. "I will not speak of this matter again."

Vader walks out of the room without another word. As soon as the doors close, a lower officer approaches Valum and asks, "Shall we begin preparations?"

"No," Valum grunts getting back onto his feet. "We will start loading some of our equipment onto the star destroyer. For now, we are going to make it look like we're doing what he wants. In the meantime, I will contact the Emperor."


So much pain.

Luke screams in agony as he's electrocuted by the machine over and over again. The Emperor watches with glee, finding that torture is far more fun when he doesn't need questions answered.

The table Luke is restrained on pulls back, giving him a temporary respite from the particular form of torture. Luke catches his breath and gives the Emperor a defiant look. "I don't know how many fallen Jedi you've turned this way. But I won't be the next. I'll never turn to the Dark Side! I'LL NEVER JOIN YOU!"

"You hate me, don't you . . . ? Good. Very good."

"Giving into hate leads to the Dark Side. When I kill you . . . it won't be out of hate. I'll be thinking of my friends and how much better off they'll be without you. I am a Jedi. You are powerless to take that away from me."

The Emperor cackles at him and says, "They were all Jedi; Vader, the inquisitors, my former apprentice, Count Dooku. You will prove to be nothing special."

Luke exhales weakly. His breath slowly morphs in weak laughter. "Yesterday, you were saying I was as the Light Side itself. I think you need to get your story straight."

The Emperor scowls at Luke. He had not expected him to be so resilient. He might have called it a lost cause by now if Vader's betrayal hadn't left him so desperate for a new apprentice. Luke had sensed the Emperor's desperation and has been laughing at him on the inside ever since. Luke doesn't know why that desperation exists, but he knows the Emperor won't kill him or cripple him.

The Emperor walks over to a control panel, planning to call a droid with an alternative form of torture. But he is interrupted by opening doors that welcome an officer into the room. The Emperor is nauseated to be interrupted during the torture of Luke Skywalker, but he knows he can't lash out in this situation. Normally, he would have given strict orders not to disturb him, but the destruction of the Death Star has left the Empire in a state of panic and the Emperor is required to juggle responsibilities whether he wants to or not. "What is it?" the Emperor asks with as little venom as possible.

The officer stands perpendicular to the torture chair and says to the Emperor, "I shouldn't say what has brought me here in front of the prisoner.

"Speak freely," the Emperor encourages. "Skywalker will be no one to keep secrets from in time."

The officer is unsure about this, but he wishes not to upset the Emperor.

Luke can see how distraught the officer is and acts quickly to take advantage of that. He checks and sees that the Emperor has his back turned to the officer. Luke concentrates on the cylinder in the officer's pocket and uses the force to will it to slowly rise out. Luke is careful not to let the currently distracted officer notice as he moves the cylinder down and sets it on the floor under a console.

The officer explains, "We have received a transmission from the Post-Separatist Holding Facility. Admiral Valum wishes to speak with you about Darth Vader."

Admiral Valum and Darth Vader; those are two names the Emperor can't afford to ignore. Especially now; especially, especially when they're mentioned in the same breath. "I'm coming," the Emperor tells the officer. He turns to Luke and says, "We will continue this shortly."

Luke thinks, "That depends on how far this cylinder will get me." Luke knows what those imperial cylinders are for; they're used to open doors.

Once the Emperor is gone, Luke uses the force to make the cylinder fly out from under the console and float near the torture chair. Really, this first part could be done with any small object, but the Emperor had meticulously made sure there isn't anything else in the room he could use to press the bottom on the side of the chair. But now that Luke has the cylinder, that's exactly what he does. The restraints pop off of Luke's limbs, freeing him from the chair. His body is aching and his strength is little. Maybe he can't make it all the way out of here in his current state, but he can at least get some information before the Emperor comes back.


Author's Note: In case your mind is going crazy, trying to figure out what Admiral Valum is from, he's actually an OC. While we're talking about stuff I made up, Rezlice and Drakorm are both planets I made up. The Post-Separatist Holding Facility is, as far as I know, not something that exists in canon. It does make sense for it to be canon, but I've never heard of something like this.

(This next part was added in later.)

I have a YouTube Channel now. I review fictional couples, talking about how well they're written, how good their chemistry is and the story of how they get together. You'll be able to find me by typing into the search bar –

Couple Reviews by MVPKnight