Cold wind whipped through Vader's cloak. He kicked the carcass of an alien he killed. Puny beings. He thought. He felt his power surge, the Force flowed through him.
"Anakin." A blue light appeared before Vader- he looked up and met eyes with Qui-Gon Jinn.
"No- you're dead. Get out of my head!" Vader stomped,
"I am with the Force Anakin- you have lost your way. Come back to the light, you can be redeemed!" Qui-Gon pleaded,
"The light is dead Master Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan knows this to be true. And so should you, there is nothing for me in the light. The Darkside powers me." Vader replied.
"I feel your struggle Anakin-"
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" Vader grew furious. Qui-Gon strided next to Vader, he put his hand on Vader's head. Vader felt a sensation like none other, he felt himself be lifted- but he wasn't moving. He opened his eyes, he put his hands in front of his face- his old hands… he looked around, he was on Naboo. A soft breeze sailed through his hair,
"Daddy's home!" Two small children ran up to Vader from an arching doorway, he could not see the inside of the building…
"How was your adventure Father?" The boy asked him.
"I'm glad you're home." The girl buried her face into Vader's side. Vader looked up, he saw Padme, leaning on the doorway. His heart sank into his stomach. He set aside the children and dashed to Padme- he reached out, the vision faded and Vader stumbled into the cold snow.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Vader grabbed at his helmet. He felt the pain resurge- a single tear omitted from his eye. I'm so sorry Padme. Vader was on his knees, staring into the snow.
"My Lord?" A voice called behind him, Vader turned to see the person, "The transport has arrived." A trooper said. Vader motioned for him to leave. He got up and headed for the transport, Thrawn greeted him at the boarding ramp,
"We have a situation my Lord." Vader peered at him,
"What kind of a situation?" Vader advanced toward Thrawn,
"The Emperor's Hand, she requires assistance on her mission to Alderaan." Vader walked up the ramp, "She said that she only needs you- no one else."
"She was supposed to be on Kamino. I will deal with her- Captain; set a course for Alderaan. Post haste." Vader turned to the pilot of the ship.
"The body my Lord- what are we to do with it? The Yuuzhan Vong will surely track us." Thrawn strided next to Vader,
"As I said- bring it to the Death Star. It is orbiting Kashyyyk, inform the scientists and keep it locked down." Vader motioned Thrawn to go away.
The entire trip to Alderaan Vader was silent- avoiding discussions with officers and troopers alike. The ship landed, the boarding ramp slowly lowered into the cobblestone landing pad. The Alderaanian sun was glaring- Vader felt the summer heat through his rebreather- breathing in warm refreshing air. Stormtroopers followed behind Vader as they stepped off the ship. The Royal Castle of House Organa gleamed in the sunlight, Bail Organa strode out from the castle and met Vader on the landing pad,
"Lord Vader- we are honored to have you today. What brings you to Alderaan?" Bail reached out for a handshake, Vader looked at his hand then looked back up at Bail.
"Private Imperial business, this does not concern you Senator." Before Vader took a step, the castle doors flung open, a small girl dressed extravagantly ran to the Senator's side, tossing her heeled shoes off of her as she ran. Bail's face went flush white,
"Lord Vader, this is Leia- my daughter." The child cowered behind Bail, clutching his garments. She looked up at Vader- Vader felt he recognized her… her eyes, the small arch of her nose, in fact- she looked nothing like Bail.
"Hello Princess." Vader said as he strode away. Vader felt his heart sink, It can't be. I killed Padme and I killed the child…
Vader walked off the platform and into the city square, he felt a presence in the force- it was strong. "Stay and guard the ship- I will handle this mission on my own." Vader commanded the troops. The square halted its motion, they turned to face Vader. He felt their fear through the force, he sensed something- he grabbed his lightsaber- ignited it and turned to meet an oncoming strike. Vader's saber was locked with his assailant's. The blue and red light reflected off Vader's helmet, the attacker was hooded and he covered his face with a bandana. The two spun away from their engagement. The Stormtroopers fired- the Jedi deflected the bolts and sent them back, killing the troops. Vader advanced, hacking at the Jedi's head, the figure dodged and ducked under Vader's attacks. Vader grabbed the Jedi by the robe and pulled off the hood. Vader recognized this Jedi- Ferus Olin. Olin deactivated his lightsaber and sprinted deeper into the city. "Commander, pursue the Jedi. I want him alive!" Vader relayed over comm. Speeders zoomed past Vader, whipping his cloak. Citizens scurried in a panic. Vader commandeered a speeder bike of his own and raced into the heart of the city.
Vader heard the sound of blaster fire in the distance, he followed the sounds. He saw Ferus on a low rooftop- deflecting oncoming fire. "Surround the Jedi, hold your fire. He is mine." Vader said as he disembarked his vehicle and leaped onto the roof.
"Never thought we'd meet again." Ferus remarked as he took his combat stance,
"I presumed you dead. I will not have mercy on you this time. The Emperor was foolish for what he had you do. I wanted you dead- and now; I have that chance." Vader ignited his lightsaber. Ferus charged Vader, they exchanged parries.
"You're less stiff than I remember Vader." Ferus remarked,
"You're still as pathetic as before. How dare you call yourself a Jedi! You lack skill." Vader swiped at Ferus' feet, the Jedi jumped onto the upper portion of the roof. Stormtroopers aimed their weapons at him. Vader pursued- leaping onto the same level.
"I'm more Jedi than most, you hunted them. I went for your head!" Ferus lunged at Vader- the sith lord blocked and cut at the Jedi's bicep. "Agh!" Ferus gripped his arm,
"You will become what all Jedi become: dirt." Vader unleashed an onslaught of flurries and slashes, the inexperienced Jedi barely kept up. Their sabers locked, "this can end Olin, only if you join us. The Emperor would gladly use another hand at his side!" Vader put all his strength down on Ferus, the Jedi was crumbling under the weight. Ferus' panic set in, he kicked at Vader's upper thigh, Vader tumbled over the Jedi. Ferus rose to his feet, he scoured the rooftop for an opening in the Stormtrooper's blockade. He charged at the line of Stormtroopers, deflecting blaster shots and he surged all of his power and force pushed three troopers off of the roof. The Jedi jumped off of the building, sailing towards the ground, he rolled to safety on the cobblestone street. Vader watched as the Jedi made his way into the sewer system below.
"Commander, inform the city security to lock down all floodgates in the sewer. I will deal with the Jedi." Vader clipped his lightsaber to his utility belt.
"Yes my Lord." The Stormtrooper commander replied. Vader made his way to the manhole cover, he lifted it with ease and tossed it to the side. He made a huge splash as he crashed down into the sewer. Brown wastewater cleared Vader's ankles, distant sounds of dripping rang through the long brick waterways. Vader felt out with the force as he lurked through the tunnels. His HUD provided Vader with an infrared reading of his surroundings, he unclipped his lightsaber and gripped it tightly. The echoes of his breathing sounded through the halls. He came to an intersection of four identical tunnels, a flash of blue light appeared behind Vader, Ferus' lightsaber cut into Vader's cape. The Sith Lord ignited his lightsaber and hacked away at Ferus' defense. Sparks flew from the saber's and the colliding walls. Ferus ducked under an attack and slashed at Vader's arm, tearing into his flesh.
"You fail to realize. I am unstoppable." Vader sliced at Ferus, he countered- disarming Vader. Ferus came with the final blow to the head, Vader caught the Jedi's lightsaber blade with his hand.
"W-w-what, how?" Ferus gasped as Vader grappled Ferus and buried his thumbs into Ferus' eye sockets. Blood ran down Vader's leather gloves, screams of agony and pain erupted through the tunnel until Ferus' head burst- splattering blood across Vader's helmet and coating the walls in dark red. Vader released Olin's body, lifeless- it fell into the brown water, sewage enveloped the body. Vader summoned his lightsaber, along with Ferus' and proceeded towards the exit.