Chapter Two – Training

Twelve year old Anakin was standing in a training room in one of the Temple's lower floors. He was holding a training sabre in both hands. Obi-Wan was standing about twenty metres away, watching. In front of Anakin was a round seeker droid which had a small eye built in it. Anakin had seen these droids before in Watto's shop. The eye was actually a mini gun, and not an eye. The seeker droid began to move around, and Anakin ignited his blue bladed training sabre.

"Let the Force flow through you Anakin, trust your instincts."

The seeker droid fired one shot low to Anakin's left leg, who blocked the laser bolt with ease. The seeker droid fired another shot to Anakin's torso, again blocking with ease. The seeker droid fired one shot low, one to the torso and one high in quick succession, and again Anakin blocked each one easily.

"I can see this is becoming too easy for you my young Padawan," Obi-Wan chuckled.

"I'm in danger of breaking out into a sweat Master," Anakin replied sarcastically.

"Now try with the blast helmet on."

"But I won't be able to see Master! How am I supposed to block the shots?"

Anakin bent down to pick up the blast helmet that was placed on the floor in front of him. He put it on, and the blast shield covered his whole face.

"Stretch out with your feelings. Use the Force. Trust your instincts. You can do it."

Anakin sighed, and raised his sabre in a basic defensive position. The seeker droid was moving around, and Anakin could only just hear the quiet hiss of the machine as it moved. The droid fired one shot to Anakin's left hip. He just managed to get the block in on time.

"Good. Keep going."

Anakin raised his sabre again. The seeker droid began to move around quicker. The seeker droid fired two shots, one high and one low. Anakin blocked them both with downward and upward arcs.

"Fantastic work Anakin. One more, then we can go for lunch."

Boy am I hungry, Anakin thought to himself. The seeker droid fired three shots, two low and one high. Anakin blocked the two low shots and then blocked the last shot with more confidence and force.

"Well done, Anakin. You've done well today. Come on, let's go to lunch."

It all seemed a distant memory as the newest addition to the Sith, Darth Vader, crashed into the cold, steel wall of the Sith Academy on Korriban. Korriban was the sole planet of the Horuset system, and the sacred place for the Sith Order. On Korriban was a place called the Valley of the Dark Lords, where many famous Sith Lords had been buried. The planet contained a great amount of Dark Side power, and it was a perfect training ground for Sith Lords.

Darth Vader, previously known as Anakin Skywalker, was learning the ways of the Dark Side of the Force with his master Darth Sidious. Sidious' training methods involved lots of pain if the student fails in the given exercise, as Vader was learning the hard way. They had been experimenting with Force lightning, and Vader was expected to control Force lightning. He had no trouble giving it, but he couldn't absorb and redirect lightning.

"Come on Lord Vader! Use the Dark Side. Unleash your anger, and absorb this lightning," Sidious barked.

Vader picked himself up. His head was banging terribly. He ran his mechanical arm through his long, thick hair and psyched himself up. He wasn't wearing anything over his chest, exposing a toned six pack and a scar from his right hip up to his left shoulder, courtesy of the duel on Mustafar.

"Yes, look at that scar. Kenobi did that to you, remember? Then he left you for dead. Imagine I am Kenobi. You want revenge for the pain that he caused you. He deserves to die for his treachery! Tap into the Dark Side and absorb this lightning!"

"I'm trying!" Vader shouted back.

"There is no try Lord Vader. You either do, or you do not. Now do it!" Sidious hissed with venom. He was growing impatient with his apprentice.

He sounds jut like Yoda, Vader thought. A fork of lightning came rushing out from Sidious' fingertips, and it was coming straight at Vader. He raised his hands up and thought of Kenobi. He always put me down. He was just jealous! I was always the better Jedi, and he knew it! Vader gritted his teeth, and braced himself for what might happen next.

Vader was blown off his feet as the lightning hit him square in the chest, and the excruciating pain shot through his body. The pain was unbearable, and it only got worse when Vader crashed into the wall again. He fell to the ground, and let out a small groan of pain. Every time it got worse. They had been training for 2 standard hours, and every time the pain got worse. His muscles cried out for it to stop, and Vader had been pushed to his limits.

"Enough. We're finished for today. Maybe tomorrow you'll get it right, but if you perform anything like today, it's looking doubtful. You should be ashamed to call yourself a Sith."

Vader got up to his feet, and Sidious started towards the door. Vader raised his hands, and channelled the rest of his energy into finger tips. He shot out a weak fork of Force lightning at his Master, but it wasn't powerful enough to reach him. Vader crumpled to the floor in a heap, as Sidious turned around.

Sidious smiled at his now unconscious apprentice and sent some more Force lightning his way. Vader cried out in pain. Sidious increased the power of the lightning, and the crackling sound it produced drowned out the young Sith's cries. Sidious lowered his hands, and Vader swayed from side to side, groaning quietly.

"If you plan on attacking me again Lord Vader, make sure you kill me, for I will not be so forgiving. Now get up and freshen up. I want to see you outside in one hour."

"What… For?"

"A sabre duel, my young apprentice."

Sidious turned and left a broken Vader on the floor. He managed to push himself on to his hands and knees, and called his cloak to his hand using the Force. He put it on, and crawled to the door. I think I preferred it when Obi-Wan was my Master, Anakin thought, as the door to the training room slid shut behind him.

Owen was ready to greet Obi-Wan at the time he usually arrived at the moisture farm for his usual visit. Owen knew he had been told to watch Luke, but he ddn't understand why he had to visit so often. Owen was holding baby Luke in his arms, who was playing with a little pebble he had found in the sand.

"Obi!" Luke gurgled and pointed at a distant hill.

"Where's Obi, Luke? I can't see Obi."

"Obi!" Luke pointed at the hill again, just as Obi-Wan's hood came into view. The Jedi was wrapped up tightly in his cloak as he approached the farm.

"Hello there!" Obi-Wan said.

"Obi!" Obi-Wan chuckled and then turned to Owen.

"I heard reports of a sand storm on the horizon. Do you mind if I just stay here for today's visit? I'll stay out of the way."

Great, Owen thought to himself. "Of course, come on in."

I hope the reports are false, I don't really want to stay too long if Owen's going to be watching me like a hawk, Obi-Wan thought as he walked down the steep stairway into the Lars' home. I hope he doesn't ask me where Anakin is. I can't keep telling him lies. Then again, I can't tell him the truth either, or he might throw me out. I have so many problems for a man who lives such a simple life.

Authors' note: Thanks to all of you who have read and reviewed Redemption. I hope you continue to read and enjoy, I know I have enjoyed writing it. Most of you will pick up on a difference, one which I think is quite pleasant, with Darth Vader. He is not in his black suit, and he has all his limbs except for his right arm below the elbow. Over the next few chapters we'll get into why that is. Anyway, enjoy chapter two, and keep the reviews coming. Thanks again.