"You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the force! Not leave it in darkness!" Vader looked up at his master, the hot coals stung his chest, he reached out with his remaining hand,
"I HATE YOU!" Vader yelled through his fierce pain. Obi-Wan looked down on the befallen Sith Lord, his eyes beginning to tear,
"You were my brother Anakin! I loved you…"
Vader's eyes widened as he sat up quickly, awaking from his dream. He looked over to his right, Mara was piloting the ship into the Executor's hangar,
"You're awake, I was beginning to think that I had finally slain the beast with my… irresistible charm!" She playfully said, Vader did not respond- contemplating his own thoughts,
No. Padme, I'm sorry. He trailed off into his grief.
"Goodbye for now, M'lord." Mara descended the boarding ramp of the shuttle, Vader watched as she scurried off beyond the hangar. Vader made his way to the bridge, Lieutenant Piett was in command, he rushed over to Vader,
"M'lord, where have you been? I can't seem to find Governor Tarkin anywhere!" His voice was flustered and full of fear.
"Governor Tarkin is on leave, he's on assignment from the Emperor himself. I am in command."
"Very well M'lord, the fleet is awaiting your orders."
"Tell all starships to converge on Sullust, move the ship. And prepare all ground units for a surface attack." Vader turned to his left, "General Veers, prepare your men."
"Yes m'lord." Vader walked toward the massive display window. He felt the ship zoom into hyperspace. He closed his eyes and reached out with the force, he heard a long forgotten voice,
"Promise me that you will train the boy." Qui-Gon was slipping from life,
"Yes Master." Obi-Wan's voice was full of sadness,
"He… is… the chosen one… he will bring balance… train him…" Qui-Gon took his final breath.
"M'lord, all the troops are ready, your transport awaits." Vader refocused himself, he brushed past Piett and stormed into the transport. Stormtroopers surrounded him, their glistening white armor reflected the flashing red light in the transport. When the ship landed, it's huge cargo bay doors slid open, a gust of hot wind swept through the ship, Vader walked off of the ship, he glanced to his left and right; battalions of troops, walkers and tanks of every kind amassed behind him. They marched toward the insurgent base. General Veers sounded on comm,
"M'lord the insurgent leaders wish to speak with you, in person. They want to meet you on the ridge just overlooking the base about a click away from our position."
"I will go, alone." Vader walked away from the garrison, he marched up the small volcanic ridge, he spotted the base, the insurgents vandalized the walkers held at the production queue, four speeders made their way to the ridge. A tall, muscular Jedi led the pack, Vader recognized this Jedi… Windu. The speeders abruptly came to a halt in front of Vader. Vader noticed Windu's changes, a giant scar was plastered across one side of the Jedi's face, rendering one eye useless, the hand Vader cut off- now replaced with a crude cybernetic, his robes were slightly tattered.
"Man, and I thought I looked like poodoo, what happened to you? Chosen one…" Mace sneered at Vader,
"You are supposed to be dead." Vader fired back,
"As are you Skywalker."
"Anakin Skywalker has been dead for quite some time. I will now personally see to your imminent destruction." Vader reached for his saber.
"We are not here to fight. I want something Vader." Mace called out,
"What could a failed Jedi Master want?" Vader tensed up.
"I want all the credits you have. Running an army is a tough job you know." Mace toyed with his fingernails. Vader activated his communication's array,
"General Veers, move in for attack!" Vader reached for his saber and ignited it. The four aimed their weapons at Vader, Mace ignited his saber.
"This could've ended peacefully!" Windu yelled,
"There is no peace, without war Master Windu." Vader chopped through the three security guards to either side of Windu. The Jedi and Sith circled one another,
"I trusted you Skywalker, we all trusted you!"
"The Jedi were corrupt, they were an abomination to galactic peace." Vader steadied his hand, the sounds of battle rang through the thick, molten air. Windu swung at Vader, Vader caught Windu's blade with his own. The two sabers crashed together, Windu was struggling, old and out of practice he desperately swung at Vader's helmet, the Sith lord ducked and parried. Windu engaged Vader in a saber lock,
"You've grown strong… and slow Skywalker!" Mace grinded his teeth together,
"I am more powerful than you could ever imagine!" Vader disengaged and sent an onslaught of attacks at Windu, the Jedi Master deflecting all. Windu's defense was stout, his offense was lacking, Vader knew he had to draw him in. "You are weak old man, your frailty is no match for the power of the darkside!" Vader readied his defensive stance.
"I think you're overestimating your abilities- something you've always done." Mace retorted,
"It's amusing to believe that you taunt me- yet the Jedi Order is distinguished and your friends have all been destroyed! You failed, Master Windu; you failed the Order and the brothers and sisters you swore to protect! If you were alive, then why not fight… you coward." Windu's eyes filled with fire, he charged Vader, swinging his saber at Vader's head,
"YOU- YOU DID THIS, YOU DID ALL OF THIS YOU TRAITOR!" Windu's strikes became heavy and powerful, Vader felt his strength amass.
"IT IS YOU WHO IS THE TRAITOR! YOU'RE A TRAITOR TO THE REPUBLIC!" Vader kept blocking Windu's attacks. They brought their sabers down upon each other, their sabers crashed together, each pushing with great force,
"There is no Republic because of you!" Windu spit in Vader's face. Vader heard the sound of a speeder bike headed towards him,
"RWRRRAAAARRR!" A giant burly creature leaped from it's vehicle and tackled Vader to the ground. A Wookie. Vader thought, the Wookie roared at Windu,
"Thank you old friend!" Mace hopped on his speeder and rode back to the base. Vader stood, his lightsaber was laying on the ground behind the Wookie.
"Move you pathetic beast." Vader commanded, the Wookie lashed out, and backhanded Vader ten feet backwards. Vader landed with a loud thud, he rose quickly to his feet, he clenched his fist, the Wookie did the same, they swung simultaneously- knocking each other in the face, both flying back. Vader regained himself mid-air. The Wookie rose and roared it's name, "Wembaoa. Your tribe will remember you for your valor, prepare to die!" Vader charged at Wembaoa, the Wookie did the same, their hands met, pushing against each other. Vader felt the weight and strength of the mighty beast, Vader called out through the force, it gave him strength, he disengaged, kneed Wembaoa in the stomach, the Wookie collapsed to his knees. Vader readied a punch and swung at the Wookie's head, Wembaoa fell to the ground. Vader called his lightsaber through the force, the weapon met his hand, he ignited it and stabbed it through Wembaoa's head. "Puny being." Vader said to himself as he mounted one of the remaining speeder bikes, he rode to the Imperial front line, drop shields were put down as makeshift cover. He dismounted the bike,
"Lord Vader is here!" A trooper sounded, the entire garrison hollered with praise,
"Commander, tell your troops to move up, have the walkers flanking the advancing troops, we are taking this base." Vader ignited his saber as he marched forward, blaster fire focused on the Sith lord. Vader caught shots with his hand, deflected fire back at the enemy with his saber and encouraged his troops. Stormtrooper after stormtrooper fell beside him. Vader cut away at insurgent squads, making his way toward the base entrance. An insurgent grunt stepped in front of Vader and held his blaster up, Vader cut the weapon in two- deactivated his saber, grappled the soldier and crushed him over his knee. A loud crunching sound came from the soldier's body as Vader broke him. The base was taking immense damage from the Imperial AT-AT's, suddenly, an electric blue bubble covered the base entirely. A trooper shrugged and walked through the shield, his body disintegrated upon touch. "ALL GARRISON'S FALL BACK, THE SHIELD IS DESTRUCTIVE!" Vader commanded over comm. Vader's battalion marched backward, keeping the insurgent base at their front. "Commander, set up a forward command base every click around the base, I want nothing in or out." Vader commanded.
I almost had you, if it weren't for that blasted Wookie.