"I am leaving at once!" Vader's voice translator was sliced in half, he felt the burning sensation in his throat, his vocal cords were singed. He sped walk back toward the transport shuttle. Mara trailed him,
"You can't leave, Organa and his supporters are likely sponsoring the Clone rebels, we must crush them!" Vader turned and grabbed Mara by the neck,
"I do not care, I am done caring Mara, you believe that you can seduce me to perform your bidding! I am no one's pet. Especially for someone who is as helpless as you." He squeezed harder, "all I have to do is tighten my grip, and you will cease to exist." Vader glared at her, her face was turning blue, her eyes- bloodshot. Vader released his grip, Mara fell to the ground, gasping for air. "From now on, I give you orders. Get on the blasted ship!" Vader turned and continued towards the platform. Thrawn was in conversation with Bail Organa and his wife near the boarding ramp of the shuttle. Leia was kicking small stones, wavering into her thoughts. Vader approached the group, the small girl cowered in fear of Vader's deformities. His scowl turned to a look of love. He unclipped Ferus' lightsaber, stretched out his hand to the child. She hesitantly grabbed the saber. Thrawn, Bail and his wife were silent, watching this scene occur.
"Thank you Lord Vader for the gift, we accept in full gratitude." Bail sounded.
"The saber is not for you- or your family. It's for the girl." Vader marched onto the shuttle without another word.
Endor: Many years later
Leia gripped the saber, rusted and old she felt warmth in holding it. She looked at the pyre, Luke was adding more wood to it. Ewoks gathered small stones and placed them around it.
How could he give him such a proper funeral. I would've left him on the Death Star, where he belongs. Leia gripped the saber tighter, her knuckles turning white. Luke passed her to reach the torch,
"Luke." She called to him, tears welling in her eyes. Luke turned to her,
"Leia, what's wrong?" He moved towards her,
"I know what you want from me. You want me to be a Jedi, and I can't. You forgave everything that man did. To you! To us… he slaughtered hundreds! And if the Jedi are willing to forgive that, I want no part in it." She handed the saber to Luke.
"What is this? Where'd you get this Leia?" Luke inspected the saber.
"He gave it to me, he came to Alderaan, I don't know for what. But he looked at me… and I've always felt that he recognized me that day. I've kept it ever since. I kept it for protection."
"And why are you giving this to me?" Luke looked puzzled.
"I want you to burn it. Along with him. I swore to myself after what happened to Alderaan that I would kill him with that saber!" Leia's eyes burst with tears, "you took that from me Luke. You killed him. Just burn the blasted thing; I don't need it anymore." Leia stormed off, rubbing her eyes. Luke looked down at the saber, then he looked at the pyre, he strided to the torch. Crackling embers sailed into the sky as he walked to the pyre. He placed the saber next to his father. He walked around the pyre, igniting each corner of the wooden pile. The flame careened into the night sky. Raging, crackling, Luke looked into the fire. His father's helmet slowly melt, the durasteel shell becoming nothing more than charred metal. The sound of X-Wings overhead rang through the forest. Luke looked up, fireworks lit up the night sky. He removed his black glove from his robotic hand, he flexed and moved it.
I forgive you Father.
Coruscant: During Imperial Reign
Vader marched through the halls of the Senate building. "Where is the Emperor?" Vader scowled at an Imperial Guard. The guard shuffle to the side, the Emperor's office door slid open. Palpatine rose from his chair,
"Lord Vader, this is unexpected of you- showing up unannounced. What is the meaning of this?"
"I do not care about your etiquette and protocol, save it for the droids." Vader's voice was ice, cutting through the room.
"I do not understand your hostility Lord Vader. What angers you?" Palpatine inquired,
"Did Padme bear a child? Do not lie to me Master." Vader glared at Sidious through his lenses. Vader's new suit was sparkling in the light of the numerous lamps around the office.
"Why do you come to me with this question? We have a crisis-"
"ANSWER THE QUESTION!" Vader grew furious, he was past his breaking point.
"How dare you speak to me in that way." Palpatine shot bolts of force lightning at Vader, the presumed indestructible Darth Vader crumbled to his knees, smoke rose from his body. The Emperor rescinded his attack, "I am your Master, you are my apprentice. Not the other way around! You perform my bidding, you are my slave, as you were born to be." The Emperor cackled. Vader clung to life, his HUD showed damages to his internal computer and his respirator. He slowly rose to his feet,
"Did she bare children?" Vader struggled to say, leaning on a large chair.
"No, you murdered her, your anger got the best of you Vader. As it has at this moment. Now sit, we must discuss something of greater importance." Palpatine reclined into his seat. Vader slumped down onto a chair, breathing heavily, gasping for air. "It has come to my attention that two extremely important events occurred prior to your arrival. It seems as if our old friend Master Windu still lives, and you've been summoned to Mortis." The Emperor glared at Vader with a crooked smile plastered across his deformed face.
"I will deal- with both of these situations my Master." Vader continued to gasp for air.
"You will deal with the Mortis incident first. Then perhaps you can finally destroy Windu. Now leave." The Emperor swiveled in his chair, his back to Vader. Vader limped toward the exit, "you are my slave. You will never speak to me again in such tones." The Emperor remarked. Vader proceeded down the senate building halls. His fury built within him,
"My Lord, Grand Moff Tarkin wishes to speak with you, he awaits you on The Executor." A lowly Stormtrooper ran up to Vader. Vader shot the trooper a look, ignited his lightsaber and chopped the trooper down, releasing his fury upon the trooper. An adjacent squad of stormtroopers stared at the scene and scurried away. Vader boarded his shuttle, the ship took off and zoomed into the sky. The ship landed in the docking bay of the Executor, a platoon of troops and Tarkin greeted the shuttle upon landing. Vader slowly limped off of the shuttle, grabbing at his lungs. Tarkin's face did not change at the sight of the struggling Sith Lord.
"Speak." Vader walked alongside Tarkin,
"The 501st is standing by for your command." Tarkin replied,
"Is that all Governor?" Vader said.
"No, another thing m'lord. There is a small rebel space force over Mandalore, we were implored by Admiral Yularen to assist in the destruction of this rebellion."
"Then make preparations, why bother me with this insolent information. The Emperor put you in charge of me, do your job." Vader scoffed as he limped his way to his chambers, he sat in his chamber. The long metallic arm reached and grabbed Vader's helmet, smaller arms with repair tools glided across his body. Vader felt fatigue finally catch up with him, he hadn't slept in three rotations. The seat reclined back, perfectly forming a 180 degree angle, his eyes felt heavy. Darkness. In his slumber he felt the force flow through him, he was having a dream- he didn't remember the last time he had a dream. He stood in the Great Hall of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Three figures stood about ten feet away, he recognized them. The eldest one spoke,
"Anakin Skywalker, for the crimes committed on Mortis, you have been sentenced to death." The Father's voice boomed through the hall.
"What acts do you speak of?" Vader's voice was not his own, but his past self, he was dressed in his robes- his old lightsaber hung at his waist.
"The defiling of the Force, acting against it's wishes, bringing discourse to the galaxy. These are your crimes, how do you plead?" The Father once again boomed.
"I do not plead." Vader remembered his stubbornness and arrogance of his youth- something he lost… replaced by hatred and depression.
"Then you shall die."
Vader awoke from his dream, his helmet was secured on his head, however; he wasn't in his chamber, he was in a small grass field, it overlooked a large cliffside, adorned with fauna. A slight gust blew through the grass, each blade moving independently, as if the wind blew from all directions. Vader rose to his feet, the wind picked up his cloak, he reached for his saber, it was gone. Vader looked around the field for his weapon, he found it. It was not his lightsaber- but Anakin Skywalker's. It glinted in the sunlight, he picked it up from the dirt. He inspected it,
Exactly how I remembered it. He thought, he ignited the saber, it felt awkwardly light in his hands, the blue blade's light reflected off of his shiny dark helmet. He clipped the saber to his belt. Suddenly, he was transported to a large cave, lava surrounded the platform he stood upon. The three celestials sat in stone thrones on obelisks going into the sky.
"Anakin Skywalker, behold. Your trial." Vader looked around, small embers rose from the scorching lava.
"I do not understand." Vader replied.
"This is trial by combat, Lord Vader- meet Anakin Skywalker; Jedi Knight of the Order." The Father motioned behind Vader, there he stood- his long flowing brown hair laid against his shoulders in bountiful curls. A single scar across his right eye adorned his face, he wore dark brown and black robes. He reached out, the saber clipped to Vader's belt flew to the young man,
"I think this is mine!" Anakin exclaimed as he held his saber in his hand, he tossed Vader's saber at him, "you're gonna need this." The boy slyly remarked.
"Vader, you must destroy what is left of yourself to purge this charge from your soul." The Father said.
"Gladly." Vader ignited his lightsaber,
"Breathing problems huh friend? Well I'm going to end that for you… by ya know- not having you breathe anymore." Anakin charged at the Sith lord, Vader dodged and parried every attack. Vader countered with a flurry of attacks, the young boy deflected each oncoming attack.
"Your skills are impressive. But I do not recall being this sloppy." Vader remarked,
"I'm not you, you're a Sith- traitor to the Republic and the Jedi, I will bring you to justice." Anakin readied himself for another attack, Vader lunged- Anakin caught Vader's blade with his own. The two saber's locked together,
"You are me, you cannot escape your destiny young one." Vader mockingly sneered,
"I will destroy you!" Anakin disengaged from the lock, he bounded toward Vader and engaged in an all out melee, exchanging blow after blow from their sabers. Anakin was quick- quicker than Vader could recall. The Sith Lord kept pace with the Jedi, evading and striking his opponent. Anakin swiftly struck at Vader's right leg, the Sith Lord fell to one knee, Anakin brought his saber down on Vader- he caught Anakin's attack. The two were locked again,
"You underestimate my power!" Vader pushed with all his might, he stood and towered over Anakin. The Jedi leaped in the air for an attack, Vader jolted and hacked at his limbs. Anakin's extremities fell onto the ground. The boy shrieked in pain, clawing for his saber. Vader stepped on his remaining arm and efficiently swiped at Anakin's head, the dismembered head rolled off of his body. The celestials stood silent, they peered at Vader, "anymore you wish to throw at me?" Vader deactivated his lightsaber.
"Anakin has not been exterminated from your soul. You must perform one more execution." The Son finally spoke, The Father rubbed his forehead, The Daughter glared at her brother.
"Ani?" A voice called from behind Vader, there she was, adorned in her official Senate garb. Her bun was perfectly set on her head, her eyes stared into Vader's. She was dressed the same way the day it all happened… Vader shut his eyes, hoping it was a dream. He opened them, he looked around, lava cascaded around them, the Trade Federation base loomed in the background. An ominous voice boomed in his head,
Kill her, kill her again and it will all be over.
Vader felt tears well in his eyes, he closed them, when he opened them; he was back on Mortis, in the cave- Padme stood before him.
"Go ahead then, Vader. Or are you still Anakin Skywalker?" Vader turned to face the three beings.
"I will not, I- I can't." Vader hung his head.
"The all powerful Chosen One cannot show his true strength, what a pity." Vader's emotions rung through him, he reached out with the force, gripped The Son, pulled him towards his body- Vader stuck his hand through The Son's chest. The being looked down at the wound, his mouth ajar. Vader twisted his hand, The Son lurched with pain, Vader closed his fist, The Son's body contorted and imploded on itself. Vader was caked in blood, he held The Son's heart in his hand, still beating. Vader closed his fist once more, popping the heart into a bloody mess. Vader turned to Padme,
"I'm so sorry Ani." Her body slowly became dust and fluttered away into the sky. The Father and Daughter floated down toward Vader, landing in front of the broken Sith Lord.
"You have caused another great unbalance, now the light is in favor. Beware of A New Hope. Your destiny will forever be altered, Darth Vader." The Father touched Vader's helmet, Vader fell into a deep sleep. He frightenedly awoke, surging forward to sit upright. A single tear fell from his eye, he held his head in his hands, bending over his knees, Vader sobbed silently.