Chapter 10: For the Last Time

Twenty six ominous shapes appeared in the black space of the Raxus Prime system and loomed like vast demons of destruction, ready to unleash the furies of their Imperial weapons. Inside the Executor, Darth Vader and Chi'anna Eclipse sat in his personal control room. A single shaft of light gleaned on Vader's black helmet as he sat motionless in his raised meditation chamber. Besides him, Chi'anna stood staring at the image of the planet. She could feel the Force surrounding her, and she smiled. "Can you feel it master? There are dozens of Jedi down there."

Vader nodded. "The Rebellion has joined with the remnants of the Jedi order… Obi-wan is leading them."

Chi'anna looked at Vader for a moment. "Your old master. I've seen the newscasts from the Clone Wars. They said that you two were unstoppable together during the war."

Vader turned to stare at Chi. "That was the past. Obi-wan is now my enemy."

"Of course, master." Chi said softly.

They both turned as General Veers approached. To Veers, the dark figure seated inside the mouth like cocoon hardly seemed alive, though a powerful aura of sheer evil emanated from him… and the little girl standing beside him. Veers secretly wondered if the rumors were true, and this actually was Darth Vader's daughter.

But Vader spoke immediately. "What is it, General?"

"My Lord and Lady." Veers replied. Chi smiled at the recognition. She decided that Veers could be considered likeable. Veers chose his next words very carefully. "The fleet has moved out of light-speed. Com-scan has detected an energy field protecting an area of the third planet in the system. The field is strong enough to deflect any bombardment."

Vader stood, rising to his full two-meter height, his cloak swaying against the floor. "So the Rebels are alerted to our presence." Furious, he clenched his black-gloved hands into fists. "Admiral Ozzel came out of light-speed too close to the system."

"He felt surprise was a wiser – "

"He's as clumsy as he is stupid." Vader cut in. "A clean bombardment is impossible through their energy field. Prepare your men for a surface attack."

With military precision, General Veers turned and marched out of the meditation chamber, leaving behind an enraged Darth Vader. Chi'anna smiled at the sheer beauty of the Dark Lord's anger. "What are you going to do to poor Admiral Ozzel?" she asked playfully.

Vader whirled to stare at the small child. He considered killing Ozzel himself, but that would be too easy a death. "I give him to you, Darth Eclipse. Do with him as you will."

Chi'anna's smile lit up the room. "You are too kind, my master… shall I make an example of him to the other crew members?"

Vader turned to face a large holo-screen. "He is yours. It does not matter what you do to him."

Chi giggled as she left the chamber, practically skipping.

Vader activated the large holo-screen that showed a brightly lit image of the Executor's vast bridge. He could see several of the Grand Admirals arguing with Vice Admiral Thrawn on how best the battle should proceed. Admiral Ozzel and Captain Piett stood a little away from the group, largely ignoring the argument.

"Admiral Ozzel, you came out of the jump too close. The Rebels will now scramble their fighters and their shields will be ready. We should have jumped out in the outskirts of the system and snuck in quietly." Vice Admiral Thrawn said softly. Ozzel laughed. "The Rebels will now be terrified of the firepower we can bring upon them! We know exactly where they are now, and once the fleet is in place, nothing will be leaving this system!" Several of the Grand Admirals shook their heads, while others agreed… but all of them stood at attention when they saw the image of Darth Vader appear.

Admiral Ozzel stepped forward. There was trepidation in Ozzel's voice when he announced. "Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of lightspeed – "

But Vader's reply was addressed to the officer standing slightly behind Ozzel. "Captain Piett."

Knowing better than to delay, Captain Piett stepped forward instantly as the admiral looked confused for a moment at something approaching him off screen. "Yes, my lord?" Piett answered respectfully.

There was a scream from behind Piett, the Captain keeping his eyes locked on Lord Vader's image so he wouldn't see what the small child was doing to the previous Admiral. The sound of a lightsaber igniting and the sizzle-hiss of cauterizing flesh could be heard through the screams.

Ignoring what was happening, Vader continued. "Make ready to land assault troops beyond the energy field," Vader ordered. "Then deploy the fleet so that nothing can get off that planet. You are in command now, Admiral Piett."

Piett was simultaneously pleased and unsettled by this news. As he turned to carry out the orders, he saw Chi'anna Eclipse using the Force to carry the limbless torso of Admiral Ozzel, who was still alive and screaming, out of the bridge area. The assembled Grand Admirals watched in terror as the little girl blew a kiss in their direction, and then the bridge was silent once again.

That horrific image might be him one day, he thought to himself.

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In her private chambers, Chi placed the limbless Ozzel on a torture table. "Now Admiral Ozzel… you are going to tell me every secret, every code word. I want to know what happened to my mother! What happened to her officially! TELL ME! If you do, your death will be relatively painless. If not… I have abilities that will keep you alive for over a hundred years… but you'll be screaming for mercy…

…in the first five seconds."