Chapter 33
Vader kneels down in the middle of his chambers, knowing that his companions would leave him be as of now especially since both Anakin and Obi-Wan's states.
Aside from his concern over both men, there is the fact that Windu was able to destroy his lightsaber, causing Vader to seek out new pieces. His lightsaber has always been unique and consists of many varieties of different pieces. Rather than imitate his masters' lightsaber design, as was customary, Anakin Skywalker instead created a solid, heavy-duty hilt that favored maximum strength. The dual-phase weapon featured a solid casing, ridged handgrip, forward mounted adjustment knobs, and a beveled emitter shroud as well as a "throttle-style" activator much like his lightsaber of this timeline despite how the colors changed. Along with the color crystal, it also utilized a high output diatium power cell and a dual-phase focusing crystal. The basic design of this weapon was also incorporated into his second lightsaber albeit with a modified shroud and mid-section.
That is a reason why many within the Jedi didn't look too impressed by his lightsaber before the Clone Wars, believing it shows signs of a Maverick as well as the danger that he can pose in the future. Many believed his hilt is too aggressive and not within Skywalker's designation.
Despite this, Anakin was defiant and he ignored them, despite how his heart sink at their criticism at the time, but no longer does Vader care about what they would think of him. His younger self doesn't either, for those dreams of being a Jedi are no longer one of his ambitions now that he touches the Force and has grown far more powerful than he could have ever been as a Jedi among the Order.
Vader smirks at the thought of his younger self becoming his own man but does not allow it to linger, gripping the kyber crystal and pouring much of his energy into it, reaching into both the light and dark, the Force clinging onto him and pouring its own energy along with the only individual that could ever understand it. He can easily bleed the crystal or force it to bend to his will as he had done during the era of the Empire with his lightsaber of that time but now this is a different age where he doesn't have to be concerned with such Sith or Jedi ways. His lightsaber would serve as a symbol of hope instead of some sort of false justice or the might of a madman.
The results are pleasing to say the least, for Vader pulls away and at last brings together the pieces. The lightsaber is much like it has been before with many of its features attached, but there are also outlines of gold at its side, looking almost precisely the same but having a fair number of discrepancies from his original hilt; now there is a different color that is comparable to the one of Sidious, almost as if he is mocking the now dead man who would never threaten him again.
It would be a sign that now is the time for Vader to change, and that that era has ended and a new one has begun.
At last, he allows the Force to implant the crystal into the small section of the lightsaber, before closing all of the gaps.
Vader ignites the lightsaber which decorates the room with a strange color; white at the edges while a black core is produced at the front. He has only seen this blade before in the tales about the Darksaber, but he never wielded such a blade not even in the past decades. He knows the meaning of a black blade: absence, light, darkness, peace, death, serenity, power, and most of all mystery.
And he abandons the garments of black armor. No more is he going to limit himself. He would still wear a hood, but he is tired of being someone who has to keep himself in seclusion completely. Now, he wears black and gold robes with a black hood, clouding his face as a whole, but giving him the freedom, he needed to have.
Vader belongs to neither Order, and this new lightsaber and clothing prove that forever he would be someone contrasting both the Jedi and the Sith as well as that kriffing damn prophecy. Blast it all when his younger self eventually discovers the truth. Blast it all if the Jedi or Sith recognize him. Now is the time for him to finally be given the chance to live as a person instead of some armored individual for the rest of his days.
For the first two days, Anakin is subjected to a bacta tank, a mask being placed over his lips while his injuries heal through time. Still, the scars planted on his face appear irreparable or would only heal through the stages of time, his injuries with his arms and legs being tended to fairly easily.
During the third day, Anakin is relocated to the bed where he has been since. The Medical Droids who have been generously relocated to their ship is tending to his injuries. Only a few times would the boy will grimace but he hasn't yet awakened.
Seeing his younger self on the bed, unconscious to all, is not pleasurable whatsoever. It reminds Vader of the days when Sidious have ordered those droids to heal his body like he was nothing but a slave, awaiting his next commands until the moment Vader gained consciousness and prepared to attack whatever threat Sidious had deemed should die.
That Chosen One of that time definitely wasn't innocent, especially since he has committed horrible things so thus it was only a matter of time before the dark side would betray him in his final glory, leading to Obi-Wan besting him on Mustafar.
The Anakin Skywalker in front of him wasn't guilty of those crimes. This is a boy who still has the rest of his years ahead of him.
Skywalker's scar being ripped into two forces Vader to stare away, but the Medical Droids can be trusted especially with them working delicately onto his younger self and guaranteeing him to tend to all of the injuries that have been placed onto his body.
Obi-Wan's injuries are far worse and have been left undetermined. That said, Vader finds himself over himself when it comes to the old man's injuries.
"Sir, Master Kenobi would need a respirator for him to live. How he managed to live long enough is truly amazing." The Force has been with the old man, protecting him until the end.
"Disable audio sensors." Vader orders, not wishing to allow anyone else to see the current action he is about to do. "Assure the cameras are deactivated and leave me be."
The Medical Droids immediately follow his command as per what they have been programmed to do, leaving Vader and the two men alone. He examines the work to see that a black appendage has been placed on the wound of Skywalker. So, they have managed to stop the bleeding but there are other wounds that they are seeing fit to tend to.
Obviously, the Force has been with Anakin Skywalker, for the young man should have been dead. He has seen many corpses in much better shape, but this injury would surely be with him for the rest of his life. It is cruelly a learning experience about what happened to those on the battlefield, a challenge that many warriors, including Vader, must face.
Vader knows that his younger self would wake up, a different man with a different view of the galaxy. He has been through many experiences to know that Skywalker would be a different man that would no longer believe in a peacekeeping method, but rather, someone who sees the merit of aggressive negotiations as Padmé likes to word it, and realize that not every deal could be situated no matter how much the boy strides to avoid conflict with those around him, a belief that Vader has once firmly believed in before the Clone Wars, but that war has granted him with knowledge.
It appears that the Force is prepared for this Skywalker to learn the consequence of being in battle with the best of the Jedi. It is certainly cruel, but as Vader has learned, the Force has many lessons for the Chosen One, including what it means to fight Force Users who are talented and skilled like Mace Windu has been.
Vader's rage rises, what once would have been referred to as a dragon is now what Vader knows as the forceful sensations of the dark side, crawling up his skull. He cannot believe that he thought the Jedi of this Era could have been saved at one point, but they were willing to take away a teenager and one of their own Order.
None of them deserves any mercy, especially the cold ones like Windu. How could they bring such harm to a teenager and one of their former kind who was only defending himself? How could they, self-esteem peacekeepers who claimed to be fighting for peace in the galaxy, have fallen so far to be willing to kill someone whose only crime was to be dragged into this whole situation with the Force Users?
Vader knows that speaking to his younger self's body would not cause him to awaken once more especially since he has lost much blood. While the Master of the Force heals the wound decently enough, not even the Force can fully ensure there would be no scars.
"The Force has an interesting sense of irony, young Skywalker," Vader replies, knowing that his younger self is incapable of hearing him, especially in the deep unconsciousness he is currently in. "It appears that injury cannot escape any of us. I guess it's a feature common for the likes of us Skywalkers."
It appears that his family as well as himself must always receive some pain in their lives. He lost his arm in a future's past, his son lost an arm to the same man who happened to be his father which is something Luke surely didn't deserve, and his daughter lost an entire planet as well as family and friends in her years of serving the Republic.
Whatever Vader decides, it always happens in different mannerisms that it made him paranoid. Would Luke and Leia's role be reversed this time? Would it be Leia who loses her arm and Luke who is a Senator of some sort? The thought of it certainly is not something out of range despite how much he cannot think of Luke Skywalker as a politician, but he would have to be more careful in the future if he wished to avoid a tyrannical Empire.
Not even he can control everything despite how much he wishes to gain control of this timeline, particularly on the Jedi's side before they could lead their Order down the path of the Dark Side permanently.
Vader moves over to the unconscious body of Obi-Wan and speaks to him as well.
"You poor child, almost killed by the ignorance of the Jedi." Vader speaks, pressing his hand against the former Jedi's forehead and beginning to tap deep into the Force, centering his attention on the throat and healing that part of the body. Healing the chest is not possible, even for him due to that injury being even deeper to the artery area and requiring intensive medical treatment. "You didn't deserve what happened to you."
Whereas hope is all but impossible for the Order of this Era at this point who were willing to sever their Padawans of their Force Sensitivities should they wish to leave the Order out of fear since the Sith have returned. They were willing to serve the Republic without questions and knew the corruption from within as well. They were willing to send their Padawans to their ends without a second thought.
Where is their precious Force when those Padawans on the battlefield were dying in another timeline or when Qui-Gon fought with Maul? The Jedi's lack of being able to move quickly to save those among their own Order as well as the countless innocents even in the Core is beyond ridiculous.
Vader walks to the door, opens it, and walks through, coming across two familiar figures.
"How are they?" Qui-Gon asks, accompanied by Shmi Skywalker whose self-control is obviously about to snap. Even when his Padawan is facing injury, the Jedi Master can still keep control, an impressive effort.
"It is indeed as we feared; Skywalker would be in a stable condition shortly but Obi-Wan would need a suit," Vader replies grimly. "His veins have been damaged heavily and the Jedi's misgivings are consequences of this."
"A-a suit?" Qui-Gon murmurs.
"When will they both be okay?" Shmi asks, her voice highlighting her concern. "Those two don't deserve to be placed in that type of state."
"Blame the Jedi," Vader says darkly. "They have done this to them and thus proves that we are going to have to go to war in order to stop them before they dug down in their ways to complete corruption. The droids would need to put further work on them, and the more we interfere, the more there is a likelihood that they would not recover."
Qui-Gon is finding it increasingly difficult to not lash out. It only takes years of meditations, learning through the Force by his old Master, and outright patience to not give into the urges wishing to tell him to kill the Jedi for what they have done to both his Padawan and to the poor boy.
"What are we going to do about the Jedi?" Qui-Gon inquires, knowing that he would never be able to truly kill a Jedi but even he has to acknowledge what the Jedi has become.
Vader stares outwards, hands clenching up into fists, before responding. "What is meant to be done."
It is with those final words Vader stalks off.
Qui-Gon can swear his heart stops when he is around Shmi Skywalker, emotions that he has long since thought buried revealing themselves. It is a challenge for him to even release his emotions to the Force like he always has done beforehand, even when learning around Vader.
Memories of... of Tahl come back to him, reminding him constantly about the first person who has ever grown close to him. The Jedi Master doesn't want to see someone who he secretly is beginning to care about die, not like the Jedi who he loved unconditionally from within his soul.
He has failed her.
The thought of failing the woman who he is beginning to care about in such a mannerism in a similar fashion is not something that the Jedi Master would be able to live with.
He is struggling to push the female Skywalker away, but he cannot bury his feelings and treat her like he doesn't know her, not after what they have been through and not after the fact that her presence continues to brush against his senses every so often. She is considerably younger than him, and he cannot allow her to die if he has anything to say about it.
His calls to the dark side were close that day when Qui-Gon Jinn lost Tahl. If he loses this woman whose attachment may be greater than before, the temptations might be too much for him to deny, forcing him to succumb to an all too similar path.
If he gives into the temptations, then the Jedi in the galaxy over would truly have someone to genuinely fear, and the dark side would have a powerful new ally.
At one point, Qui-Gon thought it to be impossible for him to turn to the dark side given he was born and raised on Coruscant, surrounded by the light side of the Force.
However, he learned that all sentient beings have breaking points. Qui-Gon could turn any moment now. He doesn't even want to imagine Obi-Wan's reaction to his father figure falling to the dark side, but he has to welcome it as a certain possibility since sometimes the call to learn the other side is almost overwhelming.
Qui-Gon has many flaws despite how much others view it otherwise. His unconventional ways. His former apprentice turning to the dark side and his stubborn nature were all potential for a possible exit of the light over to the dark. If Qui-Gon succumbed to the dark side, his knowledge in the Force would be beyond attuned, and he would not fail only Obi-Wan but his own moral codes and who he is supposed to be.
Qui-Gon will not fall to the dark side no matter his conflicts with the darkness ahead, but he cannot allow the risk of losing another loved one. One thing he misses about being at the Temple is the meditative retreats where he was given a chance to relax, the gardens that would so him and offer calming energies of the light side of the Force, Masters like Plo Koon's kind presences as individuals who he is able to turn to in times of conflict. The last one did give him pause. It is disheartening that his old friend may view him as a threat now that he has gone against what it means to be a Jedi.
Qui-Gon closes his eyes out of remorse, knowing that they would never be able to view each other the same and that he has chosen his path which is siding with his apprentice and the others whose intentions vary from his own. Windu being scarred would only confirm the Jedi's thoughts.
That makes Vader's justification not only self-defense but the capability to defend himself. Had Qui-Gon been forced to such a position, he has to admit he would have done the exact same thing even if it meant he would have to kill. Not only does the galaxy would see Vader's actions as means of self-defense but so do Republic's laws.
Not worrying about that, his thought goes back to the female Skywalker. He knows he couldn't ever separate himself from her completely as if she doesn't mean anything to him. Since what happened to Tahl, Qui-Gon thought he would never fall for someone as he did long ago...
Shmi has been devoid of sleep ever since she has seen her only son in his condition. They have always been close since childhood, and even now he still turns to her. It pleases her that her teenager son would still rely on her for comfort.
But now, due to the Jedi, her son is the one in a crippled state. A parent should never have to bury their child, and while that doesn't seem to be happening given he is slowly but surely recovering, it still fills her with no small amount of depression and rage to see him in such a state.
While Vader, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan may have once been part of that religion, she cannot bring it within herself to hold disdain for any of them. After all, they are not Jedi; they are not the provocation of the pain that has been caused to her, but her scrambling emotions make her temporarily even hate them.
She knows it wouldn't be long.
Change brings out the worse in people. When Anakin is conscious and he recovers through time, she would be able to find it within herself to let go of that anger. She never has been a hateful person who can even remain angry with the worst of enemies.
Footsteps are heard behind her, and she turns to face the Jedi whose eyes are targeted in her direction.
"Shmi," the middle-aged woman hears a greeting when she sees one, and she knows he will not leave her be until she satisfies him with what he wants. "I wish to talk with you."
Shmi scowls.
"What is it, Qui-Gon?"
"I know you are angry with your son being in an unconscious state." Oh, is that it? Is this another attempt to feed her or make her stop worrying constantly about her son's state? "But please, Shmi, you have to eat. You cannot continue on like this. You would die of malnourishment if you don't stop this."
Shmi's eyes dim. "I would eat when I'm ready."
"Is four days enough? Are four days of not coming out unless it involves taking a shower not enough?!" This is the first time she has ever witnessed Qui-Gon Jinn raising his voice, at least around her, and more-or-less in her direction. "This isn't how you should treat your body, Shmi. You are still a human being despite how away you have been from common life for the past several years. Anakin would not want to awake to see what is happening to his mother. He cares about you and would be severely disappointed.
Oh, so he is pulling that card? Why, she would never know, but deep down she knows he is right. If Anakin awakes to discover his mother has barely eaten let alone tried to take care of herself, that may place a strain on him which is not a good thing especially since he has been suffering as it is. What type of mother would she be if she only attributes to his stress?
It should not be him that worries about her in circumstances. She is the parent. It should be the other way around.
Yet, she knows while that may be normal for other relationships as mother ages with time, Anakin would always care about her more than he cares about himself, even if involves placing himself in danger.
"Okay, fine, you're right," Shmi knows that there is no winning right now, not with the Jedi Master continuing to place up any argument. "I would eat but I am not leaving this room to do it."
Qui-Gon turns and walks away, coming back seconds later with a tray of food. Shmi's stomach burping is enough to make her realize that the former Jedi Master is right, and the smell of the food coming in her direction only makes it worse. She walks up, grasps the tray, and begins to consume the refreshments with the former Jedi Master watching her with that ever so triumphant smile across his lips.
The vast, dry expanse stretches in front of him, the wind rustling, his cloak billowing along with it. The parched soil crunches beneath his boots, his shadow shifting on the ground.
He surveys the landscape, taking in all the details. Every single crater, mesa, and rock formation. The desolation of the area does little to unnerve him, nor did the tombstones he is standing next to. The faded writing on each represented a name, beneath the surface lay the remains of Twi'lek freedom fighters from the Clone Wars. He knows this because Mace Windu once told him, although such memories only displease him. His past always haunted him.
"Sir," a Clone Lieutenant announces. "We've detected a heat signature moving across the valley."
He stands silent for a few moments, reflecting deep within himself.
"Remain here. I shall go myself," he says, turning around and walking past the Lieutenant.
"Yes, my Lord," the man replies.
He climbs aboard a speeder bike, the sidecar empty. He almost calls for - a forbidden individual of a past life - to jump on it with him, but recalls that those days are over. His apprentice is no longer with him.
He takes his time speeding across the valley, using this to think of his past experiences. Around his men, he is an intimidating military leader who led them since the ascendency of the Empire. By himself, he is a pensive cyborg, broken yet resolute in fulfilling what he believed was his destiny.
His comlink beeps, and he receives the transmission. The man answering from the other side is still a coldness that he is struggling to grow used to at this point.
"Sir, the heat signatures have stopped, and we've detected a life form entering a cave complex within the mountains. I suggest caution."
"Leave me be, Lieutenant," the dark figure snarls. "Do not disturb me anymore." He severs the transmission.
Vader pulls next to the entrance of the caves, its hollow interior likening to that of his thoughts. Dark, yet unexplored. Simple, yet conflicted. Intricate, yet direct.
He enters, channeling all of the fear within himself.
His footsteps echo off the cavernous walls, the light retreating as he walks further in. Soon he is deep within, his lightsaber the only light available.
He is only alerted to the presence of another being from the sound of the activation of a lightsaber, and his subsequent blocking of the attempted strike.
Green and red collided, the Sith Lord getting a glimpse of a Zabrak face, long locks of hair flowing down the back of the Jedi. The horns were familiar to him, although he could not seem to place his finger upon the name…
Their blades collide once more, the Jedi evading the next swing and bringing his blade down upon Vader's once more, closer to the hilt, the screeching of the blades' prolonged contact magnified by the caves.
"Prepare to fall, Jedi," the Sith Lord breathes, finally recognizing the former Jedi Master's features. The Zabrak, initially shocked by this, narrows his brown eyes and ducks away once more. "Always the weak ones who believe that the time of the old Republic can return. Those days are over and soon you would be dead."
The Sith Lord keeps prodding the Jedi, deflecting any attacks, flicking away the Zabrak's lightsaber but refusing to kill him.
Holding him at saber point, the Sith Lord says: "You have been beaten. It is useless to resist. Don't let yourself be destroyed as your Jedi did."
The Sith could not anticipate what would happen next.
The Zabrak, enraged, extends his hand, ripping his mask off, revealing the face of a scarred, broken man. Exposed to the elements, the Sith Lord immediately collapses onto the floor, wheezing, his fragile lungs filling up with dust, choking him. If something doesn't change soon, he would be dead.
The Jedi retrieves his lightsaber, closing in for the kill, disregarding the fact that the Sith Lord is unarmed and vulnerable. It seems as if the Jedi have truly lost their way. The Jedi have turned against their codes and would only continue to do so until they are plunged from the galaxy.
The Sith Lord views what seems to be his final moments through his eyes - unfocused, blurry, and unfulfilled. The green blade, hold up, about to end his pitiful life once and for all. Feeble.
A hole appears in the Jedi's chest, a gasp escapes from the man's mouth as he falls to the ground, the green light disappears as his lightsaber fell, and the blade retracts. He has fallen like the rest of the Jedi who this monster slaughtered...
Flashlights flood the cave, the sounds of helmet-muffled voices rushing closer to him. Men in white armor approach him, lifting him up, and placing him within a container, his vision floods, covering him in sleep.
No one would ever be able to defeat him...
Anakin awakes, sweat rubbing down his face intensified by a white light which caused him to hold up his right hand in front of his eyes, at first confused, and then panicked. A deep fear makes him wonder if he was brought into Republic's custody when he was defeated and is only being stabilized so the Jedi can be painted as victims.
If that is the case, they will not find out anything they will wish to gain from him. They may have bested him in the mannerism of lightsaber because of him being cocky enough to believe that he can defeat them all, but he will not be defeated to the point where he spread knowledge.
Anakin reaches out in the Force and he is stunned not to sense any sort of Jedi within proximity. So that means that Vader has defeated the Jedi? But where are they now?
Anakin turns over to see someone who he couldn't get a good eye on also in an unconscious state but still is being worked on. His senses have been dulled.
Suddenly, three familiar presences make themselves known, causing Anakin to relax slightly. He realizes with a start that a medical droid is working on his own wounds. While the needles are far from painful - Anakin experienced worse - the grimace coming from him makes him curse the Jedi that has placed him into this state.
The doors open, and Skywalker finds himself being squeezed by two figures embracing him immediately. He has never thought of his mother let alone Qui-Gon's capability of holding him to the point where he is almost squeezed to death.
He manages to barely pull away, deeply feeling sympathetic about the pain that he has forced them to endure when he was in his unconscious state as well as his failure that has forced him to be crippling and scarred.
"Qui-Gon, mom," Anakin whimpers, reaching up weakly to cup their cheeks, his throat sounding dry as he grimaces slightly. "What happened?"
Vader walks forward, replying before any one of the two important people in his life can. "You were nearly captured. Have they struck lowered, you would have been beheaded and be one with the Force by now. It is only a miracle that that fate did not follow you."
Anakin almost didn't recognize the man without his mask, but the Force extending outwards is the only reason why he does.
"How could the Jedi have done this?" Anakin responds, his jaw appearing to tremble.
"I can sense your hatred for them." Vader responds. "You are powerful, Skywalker, but not invincible, and now have faced the greatest consequences of being in a battle. Facing an injury and having to accept your greatest failures. It was inevitable, but allow this to serve to you as a life lesson."
Anakin grimaces, biting his lip and running his hand over his wounds. It surely feels odd and definitely painful, but he hopes he would be able to move past this. Pain is at the forefront of many minds, but it is nothing but an afterthought to him, his strange connection to the Force being a result of this as well as his mysterious birth.
"You are not angry," Anakin observes, narrowing his eyes at Vader's Force Presence. Whereas there is anger, it is not targeted at his direction, among the other emotions that appear to be pitiful and distaste. One of the many emotions he expected from Vader was pure disappointment.
"I am," Vader counters, releasing his cheek fairly gently, "but angry with those who have caused pain to all of us, not with your failure to stop the Jedi from their mad tirade. Failure occurs, but you are the one who is least responsible for what happened to you especially with the Jedi being involved." Vader pauses and appears to stare away, closing his eyes and bolding his hands up into fists. "Obi-Wan would need a suit in order to live now."
Skywalker is shocked. What have the Jedi done to his best friend?!
"How could they have done this to Obi-Wan?!" Anakin snarls, his teeth ground together, the scars on his face brightening to an immense degree. "I was attempting to keep the peace with the Jedi but they are the ones who chose to attack aggressively! We have to stop them!"
Vader has long since understood that. Although that has never been his intention, he knows that a Jedi Civil War against the Republic and the Jedi, similar to the one of Revan and Malak, would have to begin. First, he would have to rally up allies from the doubtful Jedi and the more controlled Sith before bringing the war to the Republic. He didn't have any plans to become another butcher of this timeline but he knows that is all but unavoidable now.
The Jedi have undoubtedly convinced the Republic that Vader is an enemy of the Republic and they would be watching every corner for the sight of Vader, meaning that Vader would have to fight back before they are able to gain the advantage over them. The production of the Clone Troopers would only make this war all the more likely to occur.
The thought of killing Rex's brothers is not right, but Vader knows that allowing his personal attachments with the Clones would not help him in the slightest. The Jedi would have to be reconstructed as would the Republic before Vader could finally save the galaxy from the hands of corrupted individuals such as Mas Amedda, and even if it means he would have to kill his former brothers in arms, he would have to accept the responsibility placed onto him for a better galaxy and balance to be brought to the Force.
"Yes. War is all but unavoidable at this point." Vader asserts, knowing that all the odds have been raised on him by both the Jedi Order and the Republic. "The only way we can keep any part of the Order intact is if we fight and kill the Jedi but keep the adequate sentiments of the Jedi alive."
This time, under any means necessary, Luke and Leia would not be brought into a war that they should have never been a part of in the beginning. Vader would not allow the Jedi to destroy their childhood this time, no matter his personal troubles and the grievances of a past life.
If he comes to choosing his men who he has once cared about in a different timeline or his children, Vader would have to accept that its either living with himself and having yet another trauma within his life or being forced to make more regrettable choices so Luke and Leia would be granted with the happy life that they deserve.
Of course, the choices he would have to make would never be easy as it appears. That is not the type of lives Skywalkers are allowed to live with the Force itself throwing challenges in their way until it is given the goal that it has been seeking from one of its wielders. Vader has no doubt that long after he is gone, Skywalker's descendants would be given the mission next, but he would at least ease up their goals and allow them to not live by lies and deceptions that would affect their family forever.
While he forgives the Jedi for what they have done in the original timeline, Vader cannot forgive them for what they have done to Anakin and Obi-Wan. Surely, Yoda should see the arrogance of the Jedi by now.
"I'll leave you with your mother and Qui-Gon," he articulates, walking down to his chambers, where Jedi and Sith Holocrons that they have acquired in the past years lay resting. Upon sensing his arrival, the objects glow, waiting to be opened and spread their knowledge to those who wield the Force now. As of now, he doesn't need to open the archives, but rather focus on his mission that remains private from the others.
Vader meditates, doing something he has been wishing to do for quite some time. It was not that he hasn't received the opportunity, but he has been thinking about what to say to the Jedi Master, one who can ironically decide the fate of the Jedi Order.
"Yoda."
It isn't long before he sees the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order meditating in the chambers of the Jedi Temple, his Force Aura surrounded by amiability and relaxation as always what has been expected of him. This is the Jedi Master who switched between Masters of the Order and Grandmaster between the centuries, who have viewed each Jedi that he had grown close to as the future of the Order - particularly this Era of the Order that would decide the next generation of the Jedi - and the tiny green Jedi is undoubtedly the one who has been behind the death of the Jedi.
Vader narrows his eyes at the tiny Jedi, unleashing his presence within the chambers, knowing that their interaction would be interesting, to say the least. They haven't yet met in the physical sense except in the Council Chambers all those years. Will he warn the Order about his attempts to 'manipulate him' or would he have a different reaction than he expects of him?
An acceptable casualty for Yoda would be if Vader is forced into a position to kill him, but it doesn't mean Vader doesn't wish to unless truly forced to do so. It is not that he would not regret Yoda's passing but he would not allow such attachments of the past to intervene with his goal.
"Vader, if knew you would come, pour you some tea, I would have," Yoda announces, his mental gaze onto him despite how his eyes are still closed deeply in meditation.
Vader smirks, deciding to humor the Jedi. "You know that if I was here physically, you would wish to duel me of all things and bring me into your vaunted Jedi custody. Despite that, I do not wish to fight you and destroy the Order completely. You may have hounded me and my allies from Coruscant, but that does not mean that I wish the destruction of the entire Order."
"Here, why are you, besides from intent on ridiculing me about the defeat of Windu?" Yoda responds, his voice dropping at the last part, but he manages to maintain his composure which is not unexpected especially since he is the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order.
Despite how much Yoda expects him to do all these things and mock him about the failure of the Order that he has instituted, Vader is not willing to fall so low as after all not only the Jedi Master to blame for the Order as there are fools who have different beliefs to how the Jedi should be and that wouldn't change anytime soon. He can sympathize with the fact that there is still hope for Yoda to see through what he allowed the Jedi to have become and to redeem himself in the end like Vader has done in the original timeline by betraying Sidious and alleviating the galaxy of such a disease, and Yoda can also be a component to eradicating the infection within the Order.
"I have no intention to mock you, Grandmaster," Vader responds genuinely, walking up to a nearby seat and joining him in the illusion that he is putting up. "Nor does your fellow Jedi's death bring me any pleasure of any kind. You are not my enemy, Yoda, and neither is the Order, but the Order views me as the threat that they must destroy under any means necessary. All they see when they gaze among me is a Sith Lord craving the blood of many and wishing to wipe out the Jedi."
"In fairness, wield a red lightsaber you do," Yoda replies, even himself knowing how ludicrous such an argument sounds but masking this through his apathetic which he is often known to be in Vader's experience. "Added to this, you call upon the dark side. Our assumptions, perhaps bordering beyond our involvement, was justified for what it was."
"I could have explained this to you: I was formerly a Sith Lord who have seen the flaws that I have made in the past, wish to acknowledge my mistakes, and wish to acclimate from my deeds," Vader replies, not willing to add onto that sentence no matter, sensing the inquisitiveness from with that statement but also wishing to hear more despite how he wouldn't prob. "Adi Gallia is the only explicit example of a Jedi wielder of a red lightsaber that was not Dark Side or transformed into a Sith of some degree. The reason there were very Jedi with red lightsabers was because Jedi had issues not with the color, but with the technology: most red crystals were synthetic ones, and their creation was mostly using Dark Side of the Force, but you also overlook to comprehend that behind the history of the Order that there were those who have been redeemed."
Yoda chooses not to speak, opening his eyes and turning around towards Vader, his small eyes narrowed in his direction. Vader can sense the Grandmaster is scrutinizing him not only in his eyes but through the Force. The verity circumnavigating through Vader's words is soothing him more and more. He knows that persuading the Jedi Master into joining them and fighting against the Jedi is all but incomprehensible for even him, but he can at least warn him.
"Revan, not redeemed he was. Controlled and forced to serve a new identity for him to save the Republic once more, he was." Yoda grunts.
Vader replies. "If you don't believe that redemption is possible, probe me at will if you wish, Grandmaster."
Opening himself up to the Force and allowing the Grandmaster to see through the exterior that Vader has concealed himself to be in recent years, he allows the Jedi to probe him. Through his signature, there is no manipulation but compassion, his capability to care about others, his selflessness, and his wishes to stop the darkness that has plagued the galaxy. He allows the Jedi Master to detect the Jedi emotions, his wishing to avoid brutality unless prompted for the contrary, and all that Yoda couldn't sense those many years ago. How could this be the same Vader who has been standing before him when he shows more peace and control than even some of the Masters that Yoda has been witnessing plaguing the Order?
"Impossible," Yoda mutters, not able to hide the shock in his voice at what he is sensing from Vader, all the wavering emotions and the two warring sides appearing to be completely under control. Despite how many years he has witnessed both sides being at odds, this time, Vader's mere presence is keeping their alignment at bay as if he controls them. "Quicker, easier, more seductive, the dark side is."
"True," he agrees, knowing that the Grandmaster is right about that, given his own experience with the dark side. "But it can be controlled through patience. I have started from the light and have fallen to the dark side, allowing me to experience the emotions and consequences that have come with both sides of the Force. Neither side controls me, and I am intending to allow my companions to choose their path. Even should they choose the dark, I would keep them to tamed themselves so they are not unstable and wish to kill innocents."
While the Grandmaster fights to show it outwardly, Yoda is obviously swayed by Vader's words, as always wishing to learn more about the Force that is beyond the expertise of the Jedi. The Jedi Master is willing to listen, at last, proving that this Yoda wouldn't make the same mistake that the Yoda from Vader's timeline did.
Vader smirks. At last, Yoda is seeing the truth about who he is from the core. He is now twisting his insight about him and creating a new possibility for at least Grandmaster Yoda.
"Your Order has been wrong. The dark side surrounds me but there is also a light that would not harm the lives of innocent citizens without a second thought. That is against my moral codes, and what describes me, but your Order would think otherwise. Whether you wish to avoid a war, it is coming and the Sith are back in greater numbers." Vader responds, pondering how Yoda would react to this news about Plagueis's Order from the shadows and knowing that would only lead to another Dark War like the one the Jedi Exile has been dragged into centuries ago. The Sith had lured the Jedi to a trap on planets such as Katarr and wiped them out in one swift stroke.
"Ready to counter them, we will be," Yoda replies though his tone suggests that he doesn't believe in that conviction completely. "Always two they are, no more, no less."
Vader nearly scoffs at that. For all the ignorance of the Jedi, it is quite disheartening that would reach the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. It shouldn't be surprising, especially since Yoda's arrogance also led to the fall of the Jedi Order in the other timeline, but for all his problems with the Order, he turned to Yoda in times of conflict.
And it is possible to admit that he missed the green little troll throughout his time with the Dark Lord of the Sith...
"You will not be prepared if the Sith corners you," Vader responds gingerly, feeling dissatisfaction that the Jedi still is hoping for the Order to survive but knowing that they would ultimately fall at the end of the day one way or another, "trust me. He has already dismantled the Rule of Two, intent on bringing back the old Sith ways consisting of the Empire from Legends. Already has he claimed several systems with his Sith Minions through the face of the galaxy. The Core Worlds would be helpless through his tirade in due time."
"Who is this Sith Master?" Yoda replies, moving quickly to the subject, his concern through his expression understandable. It appears that the Grandmaster is not as gone as the rest of the Jedi.
Knowing that this question has been coming, Vader also knows that taking back his words would not be possible as they would doubtlessly search their ranks if the Grandmaster choose to inform the others of this darkness that has been rising from the shadows. At the very least, the Jedi aren't that uncultured yet to ignore the presence of the Sith, but this war would only shape the galaxy to be worse along with the Jedi from what they already have been.
Aside from the fact that they would never be able to discover the Sith Lord's identity, they would never discover his whereabouts and how powerful he is within the Republic and controls both sides of the war in a different mannerism than Sidious has but following down a similar path with a different war.
His Acolytes are loyal to him and him alone, for the Sith Lord would not torture his recruits like many of the past Sith were known for doing which only led to predictably tragic results. The same would not happen to Plagueis's Order nor is his training methods brutal at least not as much, making their betrayal not be a high possibility.
But at the end of the day, as with all things that concern Jedi and Sith, it is inevitable that there would fight for power eventually. One of the reasons why the Sith has failed to gain control of the galaxy as it is already is because there is always a Sith who desires power and the same shall happen to Plagueis if something doesn't change soon about that.
"He goes by the name of Darth Plagueis."