Hi everybody. Yeah I know it's been a long time and this time I really don't have a proper excuse so enough with it. As you might have noticed I have survived my archeology field practice and I have to say it was more "Indiana Jones" than I thought it would be. Climbing that 14th century fortress without planning how to get down was really exiting. And stupid.
Anyway, one of the reasons I haven't posted this chapter until now is because I didn't know if I want to take my story this way. But I have decided so it's going to be way longer than planned at first.

For any of you still sticking around, I really appreciate all the support, you are just wonderful readers.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars, go figure.

Chapter 18 – Dark Lord's search

Thousands of lights were flickering on Coruscant giving it odd hazy glow when Lord Vader's ship approached it. With every light came life and with every life came whispering in the Force. To Darth Vader it was nothing more than a noise, granting of nails against cold steel, never ending and annoying. Here the flow of the Force wasn't a perfect harmony like on most of the other planets, but disoriented shaking, not like a shiver but like anger. Yes, anger was what Vader always felt when he visited the Imperial Capital. Tightness in his chest and raising need to kill that filled every atom of his mostly machine body were physically unable to restrain.

Unsuspecting lower officer crumbled to the floor.

With his blood thirst only barely satisfied, Vader managed to regain self-control once again. Maliciously a memory managed to slip through his temporary lowered mental walls. He remembered a young boy's excitement and curiosity when he first saw Coruscant from afar. The boy had all his life ahead of him, a life of numerous opportunities. He remembered how fascinated he was with the sight of the planet, how beautiful he thought it was. And once, a lifetime ago, Anakin Skywalker was anxious to return to Coruscant because his angel… No Anakin Skywalker was dead and his past, his memories should have died with him. They didn't, though, and Vader hated this more than anything. He pushed it all away concentrating on the view before him, yet the feeling of fascination remained and once again for no more than a split second he saw the beauty in the planet.

His Masters presence was growing ever near and he could feel that he was angrier than ever in past two decades. His precious new toy, the Death Star, had been destroyed by Rebels and Vader suspected who would be held responsible for it. Since Tarkin died, which was from his point of view the only good thing about destruction of the battle station, he himself was surely the one to be punished. Vader wasn't afraid of his Master, fear was something he was ferociously deprived of ever since… , but he wasn't looking forward to the encounter either.

He will be forced to tell his Master about two Force sensitives he had sensed in last two days. In twenty years since the fall of the Republic, Jedi had been systematically wiped out and were now extinct, so Vader doubted that encountering two in such short time was a coincidence. No, this was fate. His Master would surely want to know of the pilot that destroyed the Death Star if only to kill him. Even though Vader felt that the Force was strong with him, he was untrained, simple, even-tempered and as such of no real interest to the Sith. This situation would be very different however if Vader hadn't had his full attention drawn by the other Force sensitive.

Leia Organa was different from that x-wing pilot, not stronger, but different. Once Alderaan was destroyed her potential finally started to surface, her rage making her stronger than ever. Remembering what she did in her cell back on Death Star, when she kept hitting the wall even long after her hands started bleeding, Vader realized that she was in some way, probably more than he was ready to admit, very similar to him. On the other hand, she was young, idealistic and stupid. But that could be changed, Vader thought calculably.

She was alive. He was certain of that. Somehow, against all odds, Princess has managed to escape. It angered him greatly that such small creature could defy the Empire so endlessly and yet he was almost relived that she survived.

Ruminating upon whether or not he should tell his Master about the Organa girl, he stood on the command bridge taking in the view of the planet he admired and despised at the same time.

Oddly that was just what he thought of Senator Leia Organa.

"What is thy bidding, my Master?"

"Lord Vader" spoke Emperor with his harsh whispering voice "Explain how you allowed this to happen."

"Rebels have apparently managed to discover a weakness which seems to have been fatal for out battle station." replied Vader still kneeling, his eyes lowered and head bowed.

"Apparently" growled Emperor angrily."How?"

"They must have obtained those plans that Princess Leia had stolen and analyzed them." breathed Vader well aware that the answer didn't please Emperor at all.

"The plans you failed to recover"

"She refused to give any information about them or the location of the rebel base" explained Vader.

"I am most disappointed with you, my apprentice. One would think you would be able to break the will of stupid little girl" spoke Emperor and rose from his throne. "But I can sense there is something else you wish to tell me. For your own good I hope this news won't displease me even further."

"The pilot who managed to destroy the Death Star. I have sensed that he was" said Vader carefully choosing his words "…unusually strong with the Force."

Emperor was silent for a while and his face was half-hidden beneath the hood of his robes. "Interesting," he spoke at last "very interesting. How strong do you think he is?"

"Strong. Stronger than anyone I have encountered in many years" answered Vader only half-truthfully.

"He would be a great asset if he could be turned to the dark side."

"He had no training" objected Sith apprentice, who was quite aware where this was heading.

"Good. This will make everything easier." Emperor's face stretched into one of his rare monstrous smiles. "Lord Vader, find out who this man is and bring him to me."

"Yes, my Master" replied Vader his teeth clenched beneath the black mask.

Lightning shook his body unexpectedly. He didn't make a sound nor moved a muscle, but obediently like so many times before waited for the moment to pass.

"Don't fail me again."

Darth Vader was familiar with the ancient Sith principle called The rule of two. Introduced into the doctrine by Darth Bane, it allowed only two Sith at the time. A master and an apprentice. If the Emperor was interested in young Force sensitive pilot, then he was probably looking to replace his current apprentice.

For some time now, Vader was ruminating on his possibilities to overthrow his master, but he didn't think he was strong enough to do it. Not by himself. But with either pilot or princess by his side, Vader was convinced he could do it.

The Emperor knew about the pilot, and he would try to get to him as soon as possible. Vader was quite aware that his Master will search for the boy by himself even if this was the task entrusted to his apprentice. But Organa girl on the other hand, if she would be trained and kept as a safe secret, she could be an element of surprise, and perhaps that was just what Vader needed to finally prevail.

Returning to his flagship he ordered Admiral Griff to come to his chambers at once. What he was about to tell him, was not to be heard by anyone else.

"You whished to see me, Lord Vader" spoke Griff, a tall black haired man when he arrived several minutes later.

"Yes, Admiral. I have a task for you which it is strictly confidential. I want to know the identity of the pilot who destroyed the Death Star. Gather all transmissions that were made during the battle, build a spy network, I don't care. I want his name." he said clenching his fists.

"Yes, my Lord." spoke Amise Griff with a slight tremor in his voice.

Vader doubted he will know the name of the pilot before he got to him. His wish to find him and the Princess was far too great and he was never known for his patience. Luckily he will soon know where they were.

"Contact all admirals. I want all ships to be ready within 24 hours." added Vader.

"Where are we headed, my Lord?" asked Admiral Griff.

"This is the other thing I need you to take care of" Vader spoke and started to explain.

Admiral Griff bowed and left several minutes later, but Darth Vader's mind was already far from the officer.

The location of the Rebel base will soon be in his hands and with it the location of both Force sensitives.

Even if Emperor managed to get his hands on that young pilot, Vader will have an apprentice of his own at his disposal. One that even Emperor will not expect.

Want to get rid of me, Master? Though Vader. Well, two can play this game.

Ok so this is all for now, but I have already started to write the next chapter and I can guarantee it's going to be very interesting. Some of you might be considering hiring bounty hunter to kill me off, because I haven't told what happened to Han. Please don't. I promise that all that stuff regarding Han will be revealed in next chapter. Later.