Vader deactivated his saber as the shuttle landed, the boarding ramp sank into the ground, five Imperial guards, dressed in their red robes- armed with vibro staffs marched out from the shuttle. Vader knelt to greet the Emperor, he walked with a cane,
"Rise." The Emperor strode through the village, silent. Vader followed closely, limping. Palpatine turned his head to Vader, "Tarkin informed me of your insolence. How you disobeyed a direct order."
"Master, Maul was a threat to-"
"I do not want to hear about Maul. He was weak and foolish to challenge you, but you are more foolish for accepting the challenge." Palpatine cut Vader off, "while you were toying with these petty excuses for force-wielders, the rebels attacked again." Vader felt a nervous tension roll through his body,
"What did they attack my Master."
"Sullust, they captured the facility. Because of your foolishness they now have Imperial walkers and tanks." The Emperor shot at Vader. Vader hung his head,
"Are they still at Sullust?"
"Yes, and you will go and destroy them, my fleet is at your disposal." Palpatine gripped Vader by the throat with the force, "Do not fail me Lord Vader." The Emperor released his grip, "Tarkin awaits you on the Death Star." The Emperor boarded his ship and the shuttle blasted into space. Vader limped to his ship and boarded it, he put in the coordinates to Kashyyyk and let the autopilot fly.
The space station was nearing completion, Wookies labored day and night to complete the planetary weapon. Vader was toying with his knee servo, fixing it as his ship landed in the Death Star's hangar bay. Han Solo stood near the ship to greet Vader,
"Lord Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin awaits you in the conference room."
"Very well." Vader walked away from the young pilot. Vader entered the conference room, a shiny black round table was in the center of it, Tarkin was engaged in a holopad, he looked up and met Vader's eyes.
"Lord Vader." He mocked,
"You told The Emperor." Vader's voice was ice- cutting through the room,
"Did you expect otherwise?" Tarkin laid the holopad on the table. "Sometimes a pet requires behavioral modification." Tarkin chuckled. Vader's anger grew,
"I am no pet."
"Ah yes, that is where you are wrong. You always were so arrogant Anakin." How did Tarkin know of his identity? That name stung Vader in his ears. "Always quick to solidify your power. You have no power, you are my dog. I have power over you now Skywalker-" Vader gripped Tarkin's neck tightly with the force,
"If I have no power, then why are you gasping for air?" Tarkin reached and pressed a small red button on the control panel of the table, small metallic arms shot from the ceiling. Lightning bolts shot from the arms and hit Vader, the Sith Lord crumbled to his knees, roaring in pain.
"I HAVE THE POWER VADER! I CONTROL YOU!" Tarkin stood over the helpless Vader triumphantly. Vader squirmed trying to escape the barrage of electricity hitting him, his efforts were futile.
"I'LL DESTROY YOU TARKIN!"
"Oh I bet you will." Tarkin laughed maniacally. The conference room began to shake, the chair were thrown against the walls, shattering into pieces, the metallic panels that lined the walls were crumbling. The metallic arms fell from the ceiling into a scrap heap. Vader rose, white smoke rising from his cloak, he turned to Tarkin and ignited his lightsaber,
"The Emperor will not miss you much." Vader drew closer to Tarkin,
"You wouldn't dare lay your hands on a Grand Moff of the Imperial Navy! There are surveillance devices in this room!" Vader waved his hand,
"Not any more. And I will not have to lay a hand on you Governor. Squad 0567: report to the conference room immediately." Vader became much larger than Tarkin, staring him down and looming over him,
"What are you doing Vader?" Tarkin's voice bellowed nervousness, a squad of Stormtroopers busted through the door, lining up in front of Vader- puzzled. Vader waved his hand,
"Governor Tarkin is a traitor and must be destroyed." The Stormtroopers repeated,
"Governor Tarkin is a traitor and must be destroyed." They raised their weapons.
"Wait, Vader! Please!" Tarkin collapsed onto his knees, begging. The troops awaited for Vader's command,
"Fire." Blaster fire lit up the room, through the smoke Vader saw his lifeless body, sprawled against the shiny black floor. Vader walked over to the corpse, plucked out a chunk of Tarkin's hair and placed it in a small vial. "You will eject Governor Tarkin's body into the garbage chute, you will then proceed to fire upon each other until none of you are left alive." Vader waved his hand once more and they obeyed,
"It will be done my lord." The squad commander sounded. Vader opened his communications,
"Mara, there is a shuttle waiting in the hangar, you must accompany me to Kamino."
"Oh really? Have you finally come to your senses?" She said playfully,
"Shut up and get on board." Vader closed communications. He darted to the hangar, he boarded the shuttle, Mara was already there, changing into a different outfit.
"Lord Vader! Sheesh, you'd think a Sith Lord would knock once and awhile!" She lowered her garments, "forget it, I have no shame." Vader glared at her, yet he was entranced by her. Her flowing red hair making its way down to her chest area. She strided to Vader, sensually. Vader felt an awkward warmness.
"Your lack of shame is disturbing." Vader kept his stoic figure. She traced her hand along his chest.
"I feel you Ani." Mara looked into Vader's eyes. He grew in anger, he gripped her by the wrists and tossed her aside.
"Your attempts are futile child!" Vader bolted for the cockpit,
"Was it something I said?" The shuttle lifted off the ground and sailed into space. Vader marked the coordinates in the navigational computer and pushed the accelerator. The ship zoomed into hyperspace, Mara plopped down into the co-pilot's seat,
"What's your deal? Do you hate me?" She asked, Vader folded his arms and remained silent, "stupid question, I know you don't." Vader shot her a look and stood over her menacingly,
"You know nothing child!" He roared. He sat back down into the pilot seat,
"Really? Because I know, if you hated me; my corpse would be lying in that Alderaan market. And guess what? I'm still here honey! You don't have it in you to kill me. 'Cuz you like me Vader. Yet you seem to always deny me." She swiveled in her chair for amusement,
"Love and attraction is not something I care for." Vader remarked, Mara looked at the Sith Lord,
"You're in love with someone else…" Her voice trailed off.
"The most beautiful woman ever to exist, yes I am." Mara hung her head,
"She's gone isn't she? It was Queen Amidala wasn't it?" Vader turned to her, astounded- "We heard stories of her being killed on Mustafar, the same place where everyone thought you had died. Now it makes sense." Mara rose from the chair and paced into the other room of the shuttle. The ship halted out of hyperspace, the blue planet was just the same as Vader remembered it, he steered the ship through the atmosphere, nearing the capital city. He landed the shuttle,
"Stay put on the ship, I will return." Mara nodded, her face spelt sadness. Vader ignored it and walked down the boarding ramp, it was pouring, thick raindrops hit Vader's helmet, he entered the compound, Lama-Su stood there with his advisor to greet Vader,
"Lord Vader, your presence is unexpected. What brings you to Kamino?" His voice was soft but stern,
"I want a clone." Vader retorted,
"I'm sorry m'lord, the Jango Fett strand-"
"I do not want a Jango Fett clone." He held up the vial with Tarkin's hair in it, "I want a clone of Governor Tarkin completely and utterly loyal to me. And I only care for one." Lama-Su put out his large gray hand, Vader placed the vial into his hand.
"I suppose this DNA sample will do. Very well Lord Vader. I suppose you have the necessary credits for this project?" Lama-Su pushed for his money,
"If I recover the stolen cloning facilities and the strand, you will carry through with the process." Vader waved his hand,
"Of course m'lord!" Lama-Su cheered at the offer.
"I expect the clone completed in three cycles, I want an exact copy. Do I make myself clear?" The Kaminoan nodded fearful of the Sith Lord. Vader strided back to his shuttle, Mara sat on a transport bench, she looked up at Vader. The Sith Lord reached for his helmet, slowly removing the apparatus and dropping it to the ground, his bare and scarred face naked of it's prison. Mara rushed and embraced Vader, kissing the Sith repeatedly, Vader felt his humanity leave him, he leaned into Mara: I'm so sorry Padme.