Chapter 28
Nal Hutta is a ringed planet nestled in the depths of Hutt Space in the Outer Rim Territories. It is a mist-covered swamp world with a hot, humid, and fetid climate maintained by thick swampy rain that fell almost perpetually. The world is a hotbed of life and its environment was fairly representative of the sentient Hutt species that inhabits the world. The influence of the Hutts made the world an important location. The planet's surface is covered with numerous bogs with what little solid land there was claimed by the Hutts and used to support their homes.
The Hutts builds only a handful of spaceports on the surface of Nal Hutta in order to connect their towns, settlements, and palaces, as the planet received few visitors due to most business with off-worlders being conducted on the planet's largest moon, Nar Shaddaa. The foremost of these spaceports is the planet's capital city, Bilbousa, a sprawling mess covered in arching roots that spread out from looming bulbous pods. Within sight of the city is the Palace of Gardulla Besadii the Elder, one of the largest buildings on Nal Hutta, which served as the occasional headquarters of the Grand Hutt Council, the ruling body of the Hutt Clan that controlled the planet. Under the Hutt's control, the planet shared a reputation with Nar Shaddaa for being polluted and dangerous but played a leading role in the galaxy's shadow economy.
Today, this tyranny would end.
Two hooded figures walk down, one of them short and the other taller. Unlike with Jabba and his Guards, Gardulla doesn't have Guards outside of the palace. Well, who would attack the Hutt Council on Nal Hutta? A highly Hutt-controlled world that has many bounty hunters and fighters.
"We have been here for days," a youthful voice grumbles, irritation evident. Not only have he not talked to his mother but his father figure for days, but they have been forced to rely on their supplies that Vader had given them before they came here.
In the end, it would all be worth it. They have been waiting for four days now, aching to kill Gardulla and the Hutts but not yet attacking especially since the Clans haven't assembled in the past days. That is the centered problem: waiting until the entire Hutt Council was finally assembled.
As they enter the palace, they both can sense the Nikto guards growing tense around at the sight of seeing clouded individuals who they have never seen before, proving that they are not completely foolish.
A Nikto walks up and aims his blaster pistol at them, prepared to fire with the others if their orders are denied. "The Hutt Council will not see you. They are in a meeting. Leave now and you would forget this ever happened."
Instead of immediately attacking as Anakin nearly planned to do so, the older Force User say calmly. "We must meet with them. We have heard there are assassination attempts concerning them, something which we see fit to bring to their attention unless you wish to have them all die along with yourselves."
The swiftness in the Force is apparent, the raging emotions around each of them transferring from shock, grim, and at last uncertainty. If their Masters perishes, they would be the ones paying the consequences.
Another Nikto clenches his jaw but nods, stating bluntly. "I shall see if the Hutt Council would accept these findings as reasons of an audience." He turns to his comrade. "Keep an eye on them and assure they are not going to try anything."
"You are a good manipulator, you know that?" the younger quips through their Force Bond.
"I'm only going in because, unlike you and Vader, I am the cautious one," the older one snarks, allowing a smirk to reach his face.
Anakin chuckles, sensing the humor within the voice. While once, they have been unable to see eye-to-eye, but he has come to become sympathetic to the older man especially since he knows what's it like to be replaced by a Master when growing up, but at the very least, they are closer now, not as close as between Vader and Anakin or Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan but still more or less close.
They both wait without another comment, not wishing to be caught at least not until it is too late. They have been waiting for days for this moment on this horrible planet. They could wait for another few more minutes.
Soon, the guard comes out with several other guards, noticeably more than they were beforehand, evidently not trusting these dark figures which are now standing before them.
"The Hutt Council accepts to see you. Follow me." The Nikto commands, standing in front of them while all the guards stand at their side, prepared to fire if they move in such a movement that they find insulting. Anakin silently hopes they would start this battle, so he would be able to finally kill these scum before they could cause greater harm to any other.
The two Force Users go after the guards, the younger's temper pricking as he glares around at the palace. The only way he could stop himself from lashing out is by the older one, planting a hand onto the shoulder and calming him through the bond that have been forged through them in the past few years.
The palace is built into the supporting stone and organic matter of what resembled a giant fungal pod built within sight of the planet's capital city and foremost spaceport, Bilbousa. Reachable by spacecraft or swamp speeder, the palace, and its surrounding complex were heavily fortified and defended and served as the occasional home of the Grand Hutt Council, the ruling body of the Hutt Clan that controlled Nal Hutta. As such, it received higher than average traffic than most palaces on the planet, which generally had few visitors due to most off-world business being conducted on the moon Nar Shaddaa.
Anakin and Obi-Wan enter and saw the Hutt Council all assembled, staring at them with wonder.
"Recently, Jabba the Hutt has been assassinated. I would like to report that bounties have been set on your head as well." Obi-Wan reports, choosing to speak. Well, now the Hutt Clans were weaker with the death of Jabba the Hutt but this would completely dismantle the Hutt community.
"Who is this one that set a bounty on our heads?" Arok asks.
"Me!" Anakin growls, balling his left hand up into a fist and causing the bounty hunters and guards to grasp at their throats helplessly, snapping immediately due to immense power.
Surging with power, Anakin turns fast on his heel, his purple blade coming to life as he blocks the blaster bolts from those as the alarms rings from around them. Obi-Wan is blocking all the blaster bolts, silently sympathetic with Anakin lashing out in such a manner but also a tad bit disappointed as this could have been a smoother operation.
Anakin ascends up into the air, sending Force Lightning towards the bounty hunters which causes them to crumble around him. Around him, bounty hunters are falling before he descends, and the darkness within him surges outwards, remembering when he was given the power by killing the Hutt.
Obi-Wan twirls in the air and lands in front of several more bounty hunters, quickly slicing at them before seizing remaining bounty hunters with the Force and blasting them into the other corridor, and closing the door shut to prevent them from coming back in.
Anakin is swift at chopping off a bounty hunter's head before grabbing a Togruta with the Force and watching as they fire at the Zabrak who at first struggles is shot mercilessly by his allies before releasing the now dead individual to the floor.
Obi-Wan's lightsaber hums as he flips around and impales a Zeltron who tried to stab him immediately before moving clockwise and arching his saber at a bounty hunter who attempted a bold move, chopping his head from his shoulders and sending it to the ground.
A dog dashes forward and attempts to pin Anakin when he grabs the animal by his throat with his left hand and plunge his saber through it with his right, throwing the carcass away on top of two mercenaries.
The Force Users are gaining the advantage, slaughtering through each of them or blocking their blaster shots. One way or another, the scumbags collapse onto the floor more and more.
Anakin glares daggers at the Hutt Clans, most who appears petrified for this dark figure that have finally came for them while others are still determined, the teenager beginning to walk forward. The built-in defensives, cause torrents to form around the young man, electricity sprouting outwards and cause him to scream out and collapse onto the floor, having been completely caught unaware.
Obi-Wan realizes what is happening, turning his focus from the bounty hunters to see that Anakin is collapsing onto his knees and screaming out, but he indicates his hand and at last the augmented defensives explode, releasing the younger man from the trap that the Hutt Council have laid for him. Undoubtedly, Vader and Qui-Gon could have been able to destroy that even when they are under treatment of such a torturous manner, but Anakin has been caught off-guard due to being drunk of the dark side, allowing his arrogance to slip through him at the thought of causing the Hutts death before they could have been able to hurt anyone else.
This is something he would have to mention to Vader soon, especially since that type of trait within the teenager could lead to his death.
Now appearing to be angrier by them managing to catch him off-guard, Anakin glares at them with his mouth pursed together in a tight scowl, his eyes burning a dark crimson, his hand motioning to the terminal that have just caused him so much pain, sparks bouncing into the air and crashing against the poor fool that have just caused him pain, his painful screams filling justice in his mind.
With a rageful screams that fills the power from within him, that fills the entirety of the dark side and cause each of them to gasp at their windpipes, Anakin Skywalker twirls through the air and slices at the Hutts with such speed, blade flashing furiously as the Hutts pleads and roars for help are instantly silenced by a purple plasma. Heads and arms fall onto the ground as Anakin Skywalker immerses himself deep into the dark side of the Force after each kill l.
Now, out of the Hutts that have been cut down by Skywalker, Gardulla the Hutt remains, watching with horror as her allies are cut down. This is the death he has purposely been avoiding as Anakin wants to at last put an end to someone who has put the slaves through so much pain.
Anakin and his childhood friends, including Kitster, the Bothan Dorn, and the young Twi'lek Pala Kwi'teksa. Anakin, Kitster, and Pala, had all been enslaved to Gardulla within the walls of her fortress as very young children before Anakin and Pala were acquired by new masters; hence, they knew one another intimately and had been the best of friends for as long as they could remember. As soon as one of the children responsible for the theft of the Ghostlings had been identified by using a DNA scanner on a small piece of skin found at the scene of the crime, Gardulla sought revenge against the children by attempting to activate Pala's implanted slave tracking chip, which would have exploded and killed her had it not been for the signal scrambler device that Anakin had constructed and gifted to his friend to protect her.
Who knows what would have happened if he hadn't been successful? Now, Gardulla... She will pay!
Anakin seizes the monster before sending lightning towards the Hutt, undoubtedly drowning in the everlasting darkness that is awaiting him. He knows that allowing his emotions to slip through like this is something that Vader has taught him not to do, but this Hutt has caused too much pain to his entire childhood.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan is deflecting blaster fire with much more fierceness, snapping a bounty hunter's leg with only one motion of his hand, raising his saber over his head and cut a guard vertically in half, continuing to deflect blaster bolts, before jumping at the guard who did it and cutting off his head.
Obi-Wan tightens his hand into a fist and slams a few guards into the wall, their necks snapping in mere seconds.
Soon, only two guards remain, appearing seconds from shatting themselves. They begin to back up, firing every so often, before Obi-Wan reaches out a palm and brings the left guard to him, cracking his neck and throwing him to the side. Obi-Wan approaches the final bounty hunter, backing the long-limbed Pa'lowick up to the wall before raising his lightsaber over his shoulder blade and bringing it down upon the guard's torso, causing her to collapse onto the ground with a slice across her body.
Anakin glares at Gardulla and reaches out into the Force, bringing her before him and pointing the lightsaber at the throat of Gardulla the Hutt, remembering all the screams from Jabba and all the Hutts that he has just killed, as well as the torture that he and so many years of his friends have been inflicted through by this Hutt. This animal has caused the death of so many of his friends and forced those who were lucky like Anakin and Kitster to watch, thus making their entire existence more torture.
Anakin wants nothing more but to torture her. She has done terrible things to him and his mother and thus she doesn't deserve any mercy.
Instead of torturing her or becoming a brute like Vader have warned him to not allow the dark side to allow him to become, Anakin picks her up by her throat, choking the life out of her, whispering into her ear. "All of the Hutts from your place of power are next." Is his cold statement before plasma extends from her body.
And the cry of a Hutt is the last that fills the room around them.
Anakin supposed that is revenge. Allowing her to die to know that they are going to come for the Hutts after centuries of pain for others is a preferable galactic karma for scum like this.
Ancient refueling spires and loading docks reach out from the native soil and some built in the upper atmosphere. In between these ports, massive vertical cities grew. The urban areas on Nar Shaddaa are known as vertical cities since new layers of housing and entertainment buildings are built on top of older layers, like Coruscant and Taris.
While much of Coruscant is filled with gleaming apartments and well-maintained skywalks, the entire moon that is Nar Shaddaa was dominated by decaying urban landscape and congested, polluted cities. The moon is protected by planetary shields. Anything illegal elsewhere could be bought and sold on Nar Shaddaa, and many young smugglers, pirates, and criminals started their careers on the Smugglers' Moon. Various sections of Nar Shaddaa are controlled by the Hutts and other criminal organizations.
Despite the criminal activities on the Smugglers' Moon, it is known that many of the galaxy's most advanced technologies were actually developed on Nar Shaddaa. Corporations that want to avoid regulations that prohibit testing often developed such dangerous and even valuable technology within the lower levels of the city of the moon.
Vader marches down the ramp of a shuttle and stares around; he strides through the streets. He knows that he has landed on forbidden territory and that he is going to be greeted with hostilities...
Vader emerges from the shuttle, having removed his armor, and is now wearing dark robes with a cape following behind him, unsurprised as he is intercepted by three guards approaching.
"Who are you?" The main security guard demands.
"My identity shall not be revealed," he replies simply. "I am here on a mission, and unfortunately, I cannot permit you to report my presence."
With one flick of his hand, the guards are sent to the streets below, their screams echoing through the air before all become silent.
Undisturbed, Vader marches forward, reaching down with the Force and drawing his lightsaber.
Walking down another street, Vader notices a few natives who weren't too focused on him. In fact, the likelihood of them being completely tipsy was high so that means Vader doesn't have to harm another native.
Vader walks through the streets of Nar Shaddaa. He can sense a great many things on this planet like he has sensed before, and through his experiences, there is hardly even a grimace especially since he has been on many terrible planets and have suffered through wonders.
It is only a matter of time before he is outside of the most powerful Hutt Gangs that had ever existed palace. Usually, any who tried to free these slaves like him before had all been killed. That wouldn't happen to Vader; one of the most powerful beings in the universe who is continuing to grow more powerful than he was when he was a Jedi.
Two Trandoshans and one Duro immediately aim their guns at him upon noticing his presence which hasn't been set for attendance, rightfully being aware that potentially he is a threat.
"We have never seen you on these parts before," one of the Trandoshan says. "It is dangerous for you to come here."
Not even attempting to manipulate them, Vader crushes them with a mere thought before continuing downwards.
Raising his glove fist, the metal doors begin to tremble before it collapses, and he walks by their dead bodies. He hears the music the moment he enters the palace, sensing some fear, some resignation, and he senses that some of the locals didn't want to be here but have no choice as they are being held at gunpoint in every sense of the word. It's disgusting that the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic has the power to stop slavery yet doesn't want to because they are too involved with trying to keep their position as a place of superiority in the galaxy.
Vader marches in and sees female and males prostitutes and strippers dancing for slavers of all types, drinks being shared as if they have just accomplished a great achievement, and some young individuals are being manhandled by the slavers and forced into submission positions. The slavers don't care as long as they receive their wanted pleasure.
Deciding to put this at end before any other innocent beings has to endure through further torment, Vader's hand clenches into fists as the atmosphere begin to die down. To save this galaxy from the likes of these slavers, Vader is going to kill all of them and shake every single victim's hand as they are escorted out of this miserable life and into better ones.
It is then the music dies down as all apparently notices him at the entrance. Immediately, blasters are drawn by Trandoshans, humans, and many other species. The victims are trembling as they look at who must be one of the boldest individuals in the galaxy.
Suddenly, a sound made many in the palace shock to the core. The snap-hiss of a lightsaber.
All look down as Vader stands in a battle position, poised to strike. At last, the Jedi have come for them, but this one is darker than they have imagined from the stories, and their fear only fuels through Vader unlike ever before.
He begins deflecting blaster fire from the threats. After a full minute of deflecting blaster fire, Vader makes his move; he clenches his hand and unclenches it as dozens begin to grasp at their throats, only for their necks to snap instantly.
With a smirk, Vader lunges forward and twirls in the air as his lightsaber begins hacking away at the scum. One rotates a knife, aimed at his back, causing him to immediately flip around, and literally froze the knife before grabbing the frozen knife before staring at the human who did it and throwing it back, plunging it through the man's abdomen as he drops to the ground, blood leaking out as a result.
Vader's saber runs through mercenaries after mercenaries, their blaster fire not enough to take him down. Limbs are decapitated and falling onto the ground.
Glaring at a male holding a naked female down, Vader plunges his lightsaber through the man's torso, watching as he lifelessly collapses onto the female's shoulder before seizing him and throwing him off of her. The helpless woman grabs her clothes and used them to cover herself, not caring to dress herself as she tries to cover her eyes from the gruesome scenes.
Vader rolls to the side as one sends a plasma grenade at him, sending it back, and watches as it blows up, as it explodes and engulfs a few of the mercenaries into flames.
He allows a loud Force Scream, scaring the wits out of the mercenaries, and charges at them, beheading two with one slash, deflecting a laser to kill a third and kick the last so hard he flies against a wall and cracks open his head.
More and more voices are raised and there are yells in panic or agony as he steps into the next room. He sees the first ones attempting to flee. For a moment Vader concentrates on defense, reflecting the laser beams shot at him.
Meanwhile, he calls upon the Force, called more of it around him than he has ever before. He knows that this would not remain unnoticed. He didn't even care if the Jedi locate his presence as he no longer feared the Jedi nor would be anyone's puppet. Vader is not going to allow them to hunt him for the rest of his life.
When Vader gathers all the power from within himself, he releases it all at once in one mighty Force Repulse from his soul and causes them to disintegrate. Instantly, the entire palace experienced a blackout. The power is shut off, the lights go out, security breaks down, every single droid fall to the ground and of course, the thugs around him are all thrown against the walls like rag dolls.
With a single indication of his hand, the slaves begin to follow Vader, slicing through a few of the slavers, mercenaries, and guards aggressively, arcing his saber towards them. Upon no more attacking him, he storms out and sees that all of the slaves are trembling, slowly moving towards them before outstretching his hand and Force Pulling slave transmitters with the Force from corpses, some even coming from the other room before closing his fist and watching as they begin to explode slightly.
Corpses of males and females scattered the ground; all being the cause of so much torment, but not allowing none of the slaves being impacted. Vader protects them with a shield, allowing whatever bolts that manage to hit the shield to send back to the unfortunate slavers.
"Your transmitters have been disabled," Vader states, his voice becoming softer. "Remain here. I shall lead you out once this is over and destroy your slave chips shortly."
"Are you-you a Jedi?" A youthful male asks innocently. "Did you finally come here to save us?"
Vader turns on hum, disliking that he is being assumed as a Jedi, for those are the ignorant beings that have left these poor people in a life of slavery.
"No," Vader replies. "I'm just a simple man who intends to do what is right."
Vader whirls around and begins walking through the corridor, sensing the Hutts inside along with the slaves and slavers, all standing with cautious while the slaves are hold at gun point. He knows that they believe they could use this as he is only one more corridor away from his targets.
Vader walks down and glares around at his surroundings. Things are much worse. Males and females are shoved and pushed onto the ground. Equally, they are seized and have knives and guns aimed at their throats or cheeks. People are being forced by multiple people, more females than males. These poor victims who have never wanted this but also are suffering because they were failed by the peacekeepers of the galaxy.
Vader buries himself in the Force, propelling his lightsaber at those in front of him, watching as it rotates around and decapitating those monsters, their deaths allowing the slavers to slip away. Returning his saber to his hand, he lunges forward, raising his weapon over his head and hacking away at the slavers before they could even react.
All of them have been incapable of raising their blasters or vibroswords, collapsing down onto the ground around the might of their murderer.
He glares at the final corridor, sensing the Hutts inside, and what's better is that they are all together. Vader, without caution, kicks the door down. Guns are aimed at him, but Vader pulls them along with their blasters to his might, chopping them down without a second thought.
"Slaves! If you all wish for a better life, I would assure you that you have the freedom that you have long since lacked!" Vader shouts, his crimson blade still activated by his side.
The slaves' stares at each other as if uncertain and asking one another should they do it, but seeing that he have managed to destroy at least a bunch of highly skilled hunters, all decides to take their chances, immediately fleeing from their Hutts and running past him to safety.
Some of the slavers attempt to ignite the explosive chips, but Vader is quicker, seizing all of them and destroying them without concern. They would not do this under any means necessary.
The Hutts all roar at him in outrage and also attempts to restrain their slaves who dares to disobey their owners. They roar for their lackeys to open fire, an order which is immediately followed but the slavers are noticeably more terrified. He launches in the air, deflecting each of the shots before landing among them and slaughtering them without hesitation.
The scums do not know what to do, their eyes staring around them frantically, appearing to realize that their defeat is inevitable by this dark figure.
"Not to worry, Hutts, I am not going to kill you myself."
Using the Force to seize the detonator from his belt and throw it into the chambers, Vader waves as he walks out of the secluded areas, ignoring the sounds of the grenade going off and flames inside, along with each of the shouts of terror before all became silenced. While he would hardly relish the thought of death of others, these Hutts deserved to be brought down before it was too late.
Celebrations are in order now that the Hutt Clans has been burned down by the only Force Users who ever cared about them and now these slavers were going to face the penalty of their crimes and the bounty hunters who had quarantined the entire cities hadn't been given the choice to leave and is also going to face trial for their crimes.
If one was able to defeat their once slaver then they all could, and finally, after many years of suffering, they are all freed: people are able to leave that life behind and would be able to presume new ones and live a chance to a real-world without the beatings, without the screams and overworking, without death, and without the torment.
After much deliberation, the once slaves agreed to build a military on this planet just in case anyone would want to continue Jabba's Legacy, and they shall remain a neutral system, willing to kill if they have to, but also accept once slaves on different planets who had brought their way to freedom and had nowhere to go.
They wanted people to live life as normal as possible after breaking free of slavery and be given a settlement, Tatooine becoming a friendlier planet with the death of Jabba and the arrests of bounty hunters and rapists, and people receiving the justice that they'd deserve at long last. While most bounty hunters were being arrested or was already dead in the fight, there were some who were assisting the Rebellion as either spies on slavers or doing what little they can and vowed to recreate the bounty hunter organization that would serve Tatooine loyally with Jabba now eliminated and his forces defeated.
People are running to the spaceports that would take them off-world, most with reunited friends and families, and now would be able to leave Tatooine if they wanted to so they would be able to fulfill their new lives. And others are receiving help and therapy for perhaps months to years of torture.
Although the planet was still a burning wasteland, they would be able to gain surface water and water moisture now that Jabba's gone so survival would be easier for many people. With the money of Jabba and the other Hutt Clans, settlements would also be built, better, approved, and anyone who ever threatens their happiness shall face the penalty of a lifetime of imprisonment or death.
Jabba was a monster and had tortured a lot of innocent people to their graves. Many people had to live their whole lives as slaves and they don't have the gratitude to now live out their little time they have yet in freedom, for they are either dead or is in their twilight years. That is a solemn admission but at least their legacy would be carried down.
Suffice to say, he cares little for these celebrations despite how proud he is at seeing people's chips are being removed by the medical droids that have once served the slavers. Whatever they do now is no concern to Vader, but they would be slaves no more.
Though in his opinion, Vader would be better as a ruler of this planet where he can help these people to established to a new lifestyle while bringing those forces that they have rescued long ago as he has compassion and understanding that not even Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon have been able to acquired.
Now, Anakin haven't seen Vader, Qui-Gon, nor his mother for days now, especially since they have made it their top priority to destroy the Hutt Clans all at once, a mission which is ultimately successful at the end but that doesn't mean he haven't missed any of them.
However, the moment that he comes out of the hanger with Obi-Wan flanking from behind, the teenager is barely able to resist from lunging forward and wrapping his arms around the older man, snuggling against him with such innocent. Vader appears reluctant in returning the embrace but pats his back in a truly awkward manner, wrapping his arms around the younger man.
Obi-Wan walks forward, staring at them for a moment before wrapping his arms around Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master is quicker in returning the embrace.
"I missed you, Vader!" Anakin exclaims after five minutes for their embrace, pulling away from his father figure. "Where's mom?"
"Here, Ani," Shmi replies, caressing her injured arm which has left her decommissioned and out of the remaining parts of the battlefield. Although her wound did not pleasure Anakin, he is glad that she didn't have to be drag to the likes of Nar Shaddaa or Nal Hutta.
She nearly collapses when Qui-Gon and Anakin reach out to catch her, helping her steady herself before she could have been hurt further.
"You need to rest easily, Madam Skywalker," Vader says, his concern for her flickering through the Force for the three Force Wielders to sense. "You have been wounded and that means you going onto the battlefield could result in yourself being killed."
Qui-Gon too is concerned like he has been once before, when the woman who h-who he befriended prior died in his arms. Emotions unlike he has been taught against for years are revealed. He is fearful that this woman, someone who he forged a bond with, would perish. He holds anger at those scum for hurting such a woman who have always been a kind presence to be around. He hates seeing that she has been injured like this and at the thought of her death especially since she was kind enough to take him and the Naboo crew in years ago.
"I would observe her," Qui-Gon offers, narrowing his eyes with bold fists, receiving odd looks by all but Vader who appears to be scrutinizing him with either a knowing or wondering expression. "She helped me escape from those terrorists and so I owe her one for that."
After a second of thought, Vader replies, folding his arms across his chest before replying. "Very well. Be careful with yourself, Qui-Gon, for you are weakened as well."
"Of course," Qui-Gon replies, smiling at being able to repay the woman after she has helped him through so much.
She hugs Anakin before taking off with the former Jedi, undoubtedly returning to the Falcon, which the rest shall join with soon.
Obi-Wan appears to be at odds with himself before deciding to come forward. "Vader, I have something to tell you. In our mission to Nal Hutta, Anakin acted recklessly and he nearly got himself killed."
Anakin sends a slight scowl at the former Jedi, hating how Obi-Wan has just ratted him out without a second thought. Of course he would, as he remembers sensing the disapproval radiating from Obi-Wan back on Nal Hutta when he was compromised. At the very least, Obi-Wan is showing more care for Anakin than anyone who he has met in his life aside from Vader and his mother.
"I see..."
A slight disappointment fills the senses of Anakin, making him grimace as he has never sensed such emotions from Vader who always was quick to come to his defense but now even he has to admit that he was arrogant and that it needs to be addressed. A small insecurity tells him that Vader would leave him, but Anakin knows that is not true, for he never had done so before when he had failed him.
"Young one."
Hesitantly, the boy walks forward, knowing that this conversation is inevitable and that Vader would have this talk with him sooner or later. It's better to get this out of the way now. The celebration is beginning to disperse though they are people still cheering.
"You need to learn to be more careful on the battlefield," Vader says, planting his hand on his shoulder and offering calming energies through the Force for the teenager. "It is good that I am aware of this, for I can see that you still need advice as well as an area of training on that front, but you need to open with me more. You trust me, do you?"
"Yes," Anakin responds without hesitation, knowing that Vader would never let him down nor abandon him given there is no intent despite his obvious disappointment which only is helping him become a better person when he becomes an adult. "I trust you more than I trust everyone around me, for you are the only ones who have been persistent in believing me when everyone proves themselves lacking."
Anakin notices how much changes he has adapted around Vader. The call to meditation, while at first boring to no end, is easier now these days. There are also his hands movements becoming similar to the only father figure he has ever had in his life; expressive and authentic much like Vader. His speech patterns become more educated and calculated like Vader and less childish and premature. His father figure is no nonsense and authoritative and has to act the role, with the young man following in his footsteps.
How could Vader even ask such a question, as if he is unworthy of his trust? He has become one of the most important person in the galaxy to him, a figure who Anakin would have never thought would have come to his life all those years ago, to free him and his mother selflessly and never showed any shred of disgust with Anakin's emotions like the Masters did in the Council Chambers.
Far from it, Vader has acknowledged they existed and helped them flourish naturally instead of attempting to sever them like the Jedi adamantly expected to do so with him like he wa-was their slave. This is not something Anakin is willing to accept, especially since he was one who gives into his emotional attachments.
"You must come to me whenever you are in your times of conflict," Vader replies, his head tilting down to the younger man who stands at his shoulder, perhaps destined to develop through time just like his older life. "And even when we are not together in times of peril, do remember that you must always have control over your emotions. The dark side would whisper promises to you, but at the end it would be all but a deception unless you bend it to your will and utilize its power against those who are deserving of their deaths. Even against those who are your worst enemy, always remember that the dark side must be controlled, not the other way around."
Anakin would have to remember that in the future. Up until now, the dark side has been raging within him, whispering thoughts of powers and seductive knowledge over to him. Now that Vader is here, he is tamed, his emotions placed under control as always, due to their bond that have been formed the moment that Vader have come to Tatooine all those years ago if not before, even before meeting each other-
Suddenly, sounds of lightsabers ignites, and the Force flares outwards - powerful Force Presences reaching both of their senses. His father figure didn't flip around, appearing to not be caught off-guard by the Jedi's arrival, at least not openly.
"Jedi."
The slick voice from years ago Anakin haven't heard in a long time enters his senses, causing him to tense up along with Vader. While Vader is far from shocked, it is obvious that he hasn't expected the Jedi to be here of all places, standing together as one.
Anakin can only glare at the Jedi who have treated him harshly all those years ago now daring to threaten the one who has taken him in. The Jedi Master appeared to identify at that moment that Anakin Skywalker could grow up to be unbalanced, untrustworthy, disingenuous, recklessly ambitious, and loyal to no one but himself.
"In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic: You are under arrest, Vader." Behind the Jedi, blades of blue and green activate, some of the Jedi's best. There is little more but six Jedi standing from behind him, some who Vader has killed beforehand in the original timeline whereas others he hasn't met or perished in the midst of the Clone Wars. Each of them is Masters noticeably.
Kenobi immediately activates his lightsaber and points it to the Jedi. While the Jedi appears slightly taken aback at the aggression that one of their own is showing, they quickly recover, regarding him with disappointment and disgust.
Vader turns around gracefully, eyes flashing with emotions that the boy does not recognize but fear is not one of them despite little more than a battalion of armed Jedi standing in front of them. It is obvious that Vader is undisturbed by their presence, an emotion that is commendable but not something that the younger man shares.
"For what?" Vader demands, arching one eyebrow towards the Jedi, wishing to grate on their ego in their false belief that he is stalling what is to come. "For bringing an end to the outlaws and getting one step closer to save the galaxy that you and your fellow Jedi have failed to do. Tell me, Master Windu, how long would it have taken for the Jedi to get involve?"
Windu scowls. "It is not within the Jedi's affairs to breach the code that promises peace and justice."
"Where is the peace and justice in allowing pain across the galaxy, Windu?" Vader replies, knowing that anything he would say would be a death sentence. "You have not come out here to bring me to Coruscant for trial, but to assassinate me. You have long since breached your own code that now I even pity you, Jedi."
One of the Jedi accompanying them decides to speak. "We should have never allowed for you to roam free, knowing the threat you pose. Now you have corrupted one of the most powerful individuals in the galaxy and even some among our order."
"Very well," Vader replies disapprovingly, pacing the Jedi as power fuel not at his fingertips but in the void of his heart. "You will see that it was a mistake to refuse a boy such as Anakin Skywalker soon, Jedi."
Curt eyes fall onto Anakin Skywalker, condensing, like those days in the Council Chambers all those years ago, but instead of squirming under the gazes of the Jedi, he returns it with as much determination as one can see fit in this situation. He is not the same boy who they have known, but someone who trained every day under Vader, suffering defeats from both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon but now even they could hardly stand against him, and more of his battles have been victorious for him.
"Step aside."
Anakin doesn't back away in fear, knowing that Vader could take care of himself despite all the stakes, having survived seemingly impossible odds beforehand and would still do so now. Instead, the tall 17-year-old stands defiantly, igniting his lightsaber and pointing it at the Jedi's direction.
"No. You will not harm him." Anakin growls, clenching his hand up into fist around the hilt of his lightsaber. "He is my father figure and I would only ask you once to turn away."
"See, what did I tell you, Mace?!" A Zabrak Jedi replies, frantic. Anakin remembers seeing him in the Council Chambers years ago but he didn't even acknowledge his presence, staring at him with little care as if he was a simple matter to be discussed. "He has corrupted the boy to the dark side like he has done to Kenobi and Jinn! The threat they propose can only lead to nothing but chaos and destruction! We mustn't allow them to escape from this planet under any means necessary!"
Vader can sense the hesitation within the Jedi. It appears that the Jedi didn't fall far enough to attack a child, which is ironic, especially since he has played a paramount part in assuring his Padawan was faced with expulsion in another life.
It isn't long before Windu stands straighter, appearing to come to the understanding that none of them would come to an agreement here, so thus conversations are all but worthless now, not with these threats of the Order roaming around the galaxy without a check on their power.
"I should have never allowed him to take you, Skywalker," Windu adds, sounding colder and resolve. "You, like him, have become a threat to galactic peace and that means both of you must face the consequences as well as the Republic's law. I will ask you once; stand down and you would be treated fairly."
"Don't force me to destroy you," Vader warns, knowing that even with his mastery of power, that this battle would not be without blood. "You could turn away and forfeit this pointless battle. Prove to yourselves that you are the peacekeepers of this galaxy instead of forcing me to defend myself from you, Windu."
"This galaxy would be freed the moment you are dead or in chains, Sith!" a Jedi behind them snaps, tired of Vader playing the hero and trying not to be the aggressor in this situation when it is obvious that he is.
Windu adds, "Escape is not a possibility for you, and we have convinced Chancellor Amedda to bring up charges for the death of Jabba the Hutt as well as those other individuals-"
"Those other individuals," Vader spats, a sudden anger now building up within him that make even him feel the temptation to lash out at this pitiful individuals who call themselves Jedi but he clamps down to those darker impulsive emotions, not willing to prove them right without showing that he is a man defending himself from the Jedi who are attempting to justify slavery even if they don't admit it, "were scum-slavers who tortured people or raped them and you stood aside and did nothing about it. How many people do you now see with such joy and yet you still dare to call me your enemy? It saddens me to see that your Order are lost. Your ignorance has plagued your Order and would only cause unnecessary deaths should we do battle of all things."
There is no response to that, emotionless gazes not changing despite the outrage spurring through the Force from all of the Jedi Masters.
"You are done, Sith, we would expose you to the galaxy so you can quit playing peacekeeper!" Koth shouts, allowing Vader's words to get to him. "You have become someone who brought about much damage to our Order! For all we know, it was you who have killed the Chancellor at the time, and that means that you have to be stopped before committing further atrocities!"
Vader sighs, standing alongside his greatest student and Master from another timeline, having much training of both Ahsoka Tano and Galen Marek within him but also much differentiates that neither would have ever expected. For one, he is much more powerful than both of them at this point of his life and would grow only stronger and more powerful. For two, unlike them, he is not Jedi or Sith, but someone who is coming to stand in the middle and have a great understanding of the Force due to Vader's teachings of him in the last years.
Vader's lightsaber comes to life, the crimson thus confirming the thoughts of the Jedi who stands among them, lightsaber poised in front of them. In the legends of the Sith, the crimson lightsaber is the type that the Sith from the past would wield. They only assume that because Vader is different, that he doesn't agree with the state of their Order, that he is a rival that the Jedi would have to deal with.
"Come, Jedi, just know that this could have been avoided."
Arthur's note: At last, the battle we should have got but never was allowed: a battle between Vader and Mace Windu. This is something I wanted to have in the original story. Have Vader be the one who is self-defending himself instead of the aggressor. The Jedi have shown multiple times that they are aggressive as shown at the end of the Clone Wars when attempting to arrest the Supreme Chancellor which was treason.
They are not evil but brash in the Prequel era. Many are by the misconceptions that they are emotionless beings who doesn't care about anybody but they do despite how they are lost in their codes and rules.
May the Force be with you all always.