B2's slanted red eyes flicker to life, causing his new owners to widen with anticipation. It has taken several hours to clean out the droids insides, which had been lathered by oil after its inner fuel supply imploded, meaning that leak Vader had spotted when first seeing the droid turned into a small tsunami when he opened up its chest plate. But now, one brand new fuel storage unit later (along with several days of repair works), Vader is finally seeing some life in his new possession.

"Can you hear me?" He asks wearily, after the droid remains motionless.

"Sensory systems operating at 67%, extensive damage received to mobile systems, estimated operating efficiency: 19%" Comes a deep droning voice that crackles in and out of existence briefly as it speaks.

"Uh, ok. Can you see me do this?" He asks as he waves his oily hand in front of B2's eyes.

"Movement detected" An odd screeching noise erupts from its chest "functioning system set to: Lethal. Engaging target"

The screeching gets louder as B2 attempts to raise its wrist blaster. Thankfully for Vader the droids arms are completely non-functional.

"Wait, no! Don't shoot me; I'm on your side!" He exclaims loudly as the droid jerks and rattles violently on the repair stand.

"Error! Error! Weapon systems offline. Reactivate weapon systems to continue trial"

"Like hell I'm reactivating your weapons" he mutters as he fumbles with the rainforest of wires he has pulled from the droids chest plate.

"Error! Unknown functioning system. Error!"

"Yes I know, give me a minute" Vader snaps as he pulls a red wire out of its socket to replace it with a green and blue one.

The droid seems to die as he clicks the wires into place, however just as he is about to start fumbling again the red eyes flicker back on.

"Sensory systems operating at 67%, extensive damage received-"

"-to mobile systems. I got it. Are you going to try to shoot me this time?"

The droid remains silent for a few moments, as if mulling over the question he had asked.

"Human youngling detected within sensory range, estimated threat level: low"

"I am not a youngling" Vader growls at the droid. "And I'll have you know that my threat level isn't 'low'"

"Error! Functioning systems indicate poor combative value of average human youngling. Previous statement does not compute"

"I'm not a youngling!"

"Error! Only life-form detected: Human youngling"

Is this robot sassing him? Seriously?

"I'm not a youngling. I'm Darth Vader and I'm a Sith"

"Error! Unknown species: Sith. Cataloging species: Sith"

He scrubs his face with his hand, willing away the mounting frustration building up within him.

"Can you move your legs?" He finally says after a long few moments.

"Extensive damage received to mobile systems. Repair mobile systems to continue trial"

Vader sighs and steps up unto the repair platform. He pulls his trusty hyperspanner off the workbench, absently twirling it in his hands as he examines the droids legs.

"Did your knee sockets ever move?"

"Error! Unknown command"

"I think I'm going to have to update your processing unit" he mumbles quietly as he bends over to look closer at the wiring in its legs. "And everything else too"


Pain. Excruciating, mind-numbing pain. Everywhere. He screams as something metal forces its way into his abdomen. He tries to fight it, pushing with all of his power but the restrains holding him in place make any escape impossible.

The two burning white lights of a droids eyes sear past the stars in his vision. He bites his tongue in an attempt to stop the screams, but every touch is agony.

So pathetic! An angry cry of hatred rings in his ears. The whizzing of some machine signals the start of another round of incisions. They cut through his body mercilessly, caring little about the cries of their 'patient'. His cheeks feel wet. Weak! Weak! Weak!

He wants to throw up. He wants to curl into a small ball and cry and wretch and just die. It's so painful he can't even remember where he is; only that something is drilling into his very bones.

"Stop!" He manages to yell in between gasping breaths.

A cruel laugh echoes in the distance, sending his blood boiling. Yet it doesn't stop, it will never stop. A heavy black mist descends over his conscience; it's so thick its smothering him. He heaves in a coughing breath, struggling to get enough air into his lungs as his body racks and pulls against the pain. It won't leave, why won't it just leave!?

"Stop" He croaks again, his hoarse voice barely managing a whisper. Everything is blurry; he can feel his brain sloshing around in his head. Yet, as all semblance of thought disappears, the pain remains.

It will always remain. Always. Always. Always.


Vader pulls with all of his might against the broken knee socket in B2's leg. He has to get it out and replace it with something that's at least remotely functional, but despite the fact that he has loosened all of the bolts that were supposed to be the only things holding the knee in place, it won't move.

"Why"

He places a boot on the droids hip and pushes away with his legs. He keeps pulling, pouring all of his strength into moving the blasted thing.

"Wont" His hands go numb and his legs shake under the pressure. A deep groan emanates from within B2, but he keeps.

"You just"

Something snaps, and suddenly Vader finds himself sailing across the floor, bringing b2's lower leg with him. He crashes against the back wall with a loud 'bang' that vibrates into the ground.

"…work" he sighs, and grabs the knee joint now attached to the piece of b2's leg. And as if to spite him, it bends like a charm.

He looks back at his droid, and sees that the upper half of the B2's leg is still as stiff as stone on the repair stand. He shakes his head at it; never in his life has he encountered a droid so vehemently against any attempt at repair. Part of him is tempted to just rip the droids completely solid legs off and have it crawl around with its arms. Though, to his eternal frustration, they don't want to work either.

The shrill beeping of Vader's comm draws his attention to his wrists. Instantly, a frown forms on Vader's features; Dooku. He gets up, and is about to press 'answer' when he notices that he is covered head to toe in oil and grease. Dooku hates it when Vader is anything but pristine. In fact, he is sure that the Count despises dirt more than the Jedi, and that's saying something. Cursing silently to himself, he wipes his hands on his filthy tunic and trots back to the workbench in search of anything reflective. He quickly spots a chunk of polished steel, which serves nicely as a makeshift mirror.

If anyone had seen him now, for the first time, they would have assumed he had been born with soot-black hair rather than blonde. His face is also covered in dirt, so much so that it looks like he has a big black beard stretching from each ear and down to his chin.

He roughly rubs his arm across his face, which only smears more dirt along his cheeks.

"Dammit"

The comm's consistent beeping serves like a ticking clock. He soon realizes that there is nothing he can do about his appearance. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he answers the comm.

A blue hologram displaying a miniature version of Count Dooku appears on his wrist. Despite his masters small, almost comical size, he still manages to intimidate Vader.

"I do hope I'm not disturbing you, apprentice" Dooku asks sarcastically, clearly annoyed by the wait.

"Forgive me master, I-I uh am trying to repair the droid" he answers somewhat sheepishly.

"A Sith never tries" Dooku hisses condescendingly "he does"

"Yes, master"

Dooku shakes his head in annoyance as he looks over Vader's appearance.

"I will be receiving guests momentarily, remain in your room until we are finished"

A feeling of disappointment falls upon him. He can't bring B2 to his room, meaning he will have to sit around and do nothing up there rather than actually try to fix it, which is beyond inefficient. If Dooku keeps calling him away like this he will never get it repaired.

"Can I stay in the workshop?" He dares to ask.

Dooku's face hardens at the question; he looks as though Vader just insulted him.

"No. Go to your room and take a shower" He barks. "That's an order, apprentice"

Dookus image fizzles away, leaving Vader alone to growl out a breath of frustration. He knows the guests won't be coming down to the workshop; it is not as though he will be disturbing them down here. So why was Dooku making him go to his room?

He paces over to B2 and carelessly drops the droids leg beside it. Dooku doesn't trust him. That is the only logical reason as to why he would want to keep him locked far away from anything important like this. Why doesn't he trust him? All he ever does is what he is told! He does everything in his power to be the perfect apprentice and yet Dooku still treats him like an imposter. If he hates him so much why did he even bother to buy him in the first place?

That empty feeling starts to overtake him again as he leaves the workshop and strides down the hallway, wallowing in the sinking sensation swirling around his gut.

He gets in the elevator and punches in the right level then leans against the back wall, not caring if his stained clothes dirty it. He should feel something but he doesn't, not really. There is little more nowadays but fear, anger and nothing. And it always seems to go in that order. He starts off scared of Dooku, and then his master says something either so illogical or purposely cruel that Vader can't help but get angry at him and then, for reasons he can't explain, he just loses it all. It is as though he becomes void of any feeling. Like a big black hole decided to move into his soul and suck up anything and everything it held.

Maybe it's because he knows he can't act on his anger; doing so would undoubtedly result in the Count devising some horrific scheme to force Vader back into submission. Maybe it's because he has simply forgotten what it is like to feel anything but fear and anger. Or maybe he's just kriffing crazy.

The door opens and he starts down the familiar route to the residential sector of the palace when a hacking cough stops him. Frowning, he looks around, and then notices the open balcony just beside the elevator. A balcony overlooking the walkway towards the palace.

Another hacking cough wafts through it, causing Vader to raise an eyebrow. Is that one of Dooku's guests? Whatever it is it sounds like it should be in a hospital, not here.

What sort of creature even makes that noise? Something tugs him towards the balcony. He really should just go to his room. He should just turn around right now and do what he is told; an apprentice always obeys his master. Always.

'He doesn't trust you, why should you trust him?' the emptiness beckons from deep within his mind. 'You're not a child any longer, you deserve answers'

Sithpit.

Vader sneaks towards the balcony, keeping his head low in case anyone outside should spot him.

'You're being stupid, turn around before Dooku spots you' another voice whispers against the emptiness.

Cautiously, he exits unto the balcony, and peers over its bannister. It's late at night, and the moon remains hidden behind heavy clouds, so Vader can't make out much in the dark. He feels his heart rate pick up on his chest, but pushes back against the shivering need inside of him to run to his room.

He needs to find out what's going on. He deserves to know.

The headlights of ship switch off in the distance. Whoever they are, they have just arrived. Yet he still can't make out anyone nearby. His gaze turns to the pair of lights standing guard at the entrance to the palace. If they are going to enter, they will have to pass through those lights at some point.

"I am sure such a ship would be of great use against the republic" Dooku says as he steps into the light.

"The ion cannon will be unstoppable when completed" the hoarse mechanical voice of Dookus guest wheezes.

Vader holds his breath as a metallic claw enters the light, he can almost make out the figure it belongs to, who still remains shrouded by darkness. Whatever it is, it's huge.

He isn't kept guessing for long though, because the impatient creature clanks into view beside Dooku, and Vader has to stifle a gasp. At first, he thinks it's another droid; it's bigger than normal and carry's itself like an organic but it's most definitely metal. Then he spots the pair of organic reptilian eyes glaring straight at the count.

He creature coughs again, drawing Vader's to its chest, where he sees a pair of disheveled lungs protected underneath its armor. Its… it's disgusting. Putrid green goop sticks to the monsters chest and eyes, and for a moment he almost pities the creature, it's obvious it that it is struggling to breath. He can't imagine what it must be like to find it hard to do something so basic. But then he remembers that Sith don't pity those who struggle, or anyone for that matter. So he suppresses the feeling.

The doors to the palace slide open underneath him, Dooku and his guest enter, leaving Vader alone once again. He got what he came for; he saw who Dooku is entertaining. He should go back to his room.

But he can't. Maybe if Dooku's guest had been someone boring like, force forbid, Gunray. He would have saved himself the inevitable boredom of listening the sniveling creature's endless flattery and mindless begging. But that isn't any Neimoidian. He isn't even sure what that thing is. But he's sure that he's going to find out.

Vader quickly heads for the elevator and sets its course for the bottom floor. They were talking about using a ship against the republic, a ship with some sort of ion cannon. Does Dooku have plans for such a ship hidden somewhere in the palace? The doors swoosh open and he is on the ground floor.

"Once you have proven to me you are capable of completing basic training I will consider your rank, Grievous" echoes the condoning voice of his masters ahead.

Vader follows their voices as the pair descend into the lower levels of the palace, towards the training rooms.

He sneaks quickly along the black walls of the lower levels, allowing the force to take him through the quietest path. He nears a corner, and peers around it to spot Dooku and Grievous standing outside the combat arena. The count enters his code and the doors slide open, illuminating both figures with the bright white lights inside.

The two enter, and the dark side pushes for him to follow. He shouldn't. Dooku will almost definitely spot him, and if he doesn't he will sense him. Yet, as if possessed by a phantom, Vaders legs carry him through the door just before it closes. He darts over to one of the many pillars holding up the massive room as Dooku and Grevious head to the weapons stand.

Dooku hands Grievous something, but Vader can't see exactly what from this angle.

An odd meld between coughing, gasping, and laughing erupts from Grievous , its body shuddering as it does so, or is it a 'he'? Vader still can't decide whether it's actually a person or not.

"A lightsaber" it (he?) says with surprised approval.

"An elegant weapon. One for civilized creatures. One you will be taught to wield with finesse, not barbaric brutality"

A shudder runs through Vader, is.. is Dooku training others? Its Sith code for a master to have only one apprentice.

Dooku steps away from Grievous and moves to the center of the room, then activates his own blade. Grievous narrows his own eyes and activates his blade also.

"A Jedi will seek to use the force to overpower you, so you must use everything at your disposal to overpower the Jedi before they can strike" Dooku barks as he attacks Grievous with a powerful force push.

Grievous digs his claws into the ground and somehow manages to withstand the attack, then he pounces towards Dooku and they engage in combat.

Dooku strikes Grievous with a bout of lightning, which sends him careening into the weapons rack with an angry roar.

"A Jedi will always be unpredictable. You must be prepared to fight against anything they throw at you"

Grevious snarls at the count, then picks up three more lightsabers from the shelf. To Vader's surprise, his arms split into two, and he ignites a lightsaber in each arm.

"Who is to say I am not unpredictable?" Grievous says with another hacking laugh.

What is this thing? Why in the galaxy is Dooku training it? Is he another apprentice? No, he can't be. The thing doesn't have an active force presence. Besides, a master only has apprentice, right? Yet, why else would Dooku be training him? Vader's eyes narrow as paranoia and suspicion dig their filthy claws into his mind.

Grievous swirls his hands around so fast he may as well be holding four red shields instead of lightsabers. He steps towards Dooku, the blades spin faster and faster, sending sparks of burnt orange flooring flying off the ground. The noise of all four sabers spinning at once sounds like thunder that barrels across the arena, it blocks out all other noise. Suddenly, his master intercepts all four blades at once with a single, well placed jab, silencing the thunder. Yet the fight continues.

'Dooku's going to replace you' the darkness whispers into his ear.

No he wouldn't, not after all he has been through. Not after all he has lost. Dooku couldn't. His mother…

Full of fear once more, Vader looks back at the entrance. He has to leave, he can't stand to watch this any longer. He can't be training a new apprentice, that… no, he doesn't have an active force signature, he's not another apprentice. He's not!

Five sabers clash violently as both combatants push against the others power. They're both so embroiled in their battle that neither notices the doors to the combat arena slide open and then close again a few moments later.

Vader stalks down the hallway, the dark side swirls around the him. It's drawn to him like a moth to a flame. It leeches off his fear, and in return it plants doubt and anger. Its attacks him with such intensity that he can't help but slam his fist against the elevator as it takes him back to his room. Why?! Why is Dooku doing this? Is he toying with him? Is this another stupid test?! He leans his forehead against the elevator, pushing against it with all his might. What even is Grevious?

'He's nothing' something inside of him hisses. 'Compared to you'

He heaves a stressed breath. Dooku couldn't replace him. Without his apprenticeship, what is he? He is no one. Darth Vader is a Sith apprentice. Darth Vader has killed, has murdered. What else could he ever hope to be now? What… what would his mother think…

'You are a Sith, you will stay a Sith' the darkness growls.

A flurry of power courses through his veins. The dark side takes and takes, but Vader doesn't care. He doesn't want his emotions any more. The black hole smiles at his thoughts, and in return it gives him its strength.

'And you will become the most powerful Sith to have ever existed'

Suddenly, he starts to feel very angry. He will prove to Dooku that he is worth more than that thing, that forceless beast. Grievous is nothing compared to Vader's potential! Palpatine himself says he will be more powerful than any being in the galaxy.

He is Darth Vader, he is Dooku's apprentice, and Grievous can't stop him. He won't allow it! The darkness keeps pulling and pulling, it's relentless against his mind.

'Give in' the black hole purrs softly, a stark contrast against the maelstrom of emotions racking against him. 'give in to me and I will give you the galaxy'


Hello all! I don't know why, but I wasn't particularly happy with this chapter, I re-wrote it a few times but it still feels.. lacking in something. yet I cant quiet put my finger on what exactly that is. Despite this gnawing feeling, I'm pretty sure that this is the best version of the chapter that I managed to write, so I'm just going to roll with it.

My own personal turmoil aside, you're going to see a bit of a growth jump in the next chapter, so prepare for *drum roll*...

ANGSTY (and hopefully not whiny) TEEN VADER YAAAAAAY!