A/N- Thank you for the honest feedback and perspectives. Yes, Vader's suit has appeared... I won't go into detail as to how Vader is added into this story. Thank you for the reviews and follows! -GP
Chapter 14 - Eternal Dragon
Summary: Alternate World: The Empire Prevails and the Jedi have all been in hiding for thirty years. Emperor Palptaine searches for a way to live long past his dying body through cloning technology and his attempts at descendants. One of his " experiments" escapes and comes to live a slave's life on Naboo. He will meet and forever his destiny changed by the fateful meeting with none other than one young Naberrie girl…
Location: Location: Inquisition Office/Detention center , Imperial Center
Month 1 Day 15 Year 28 BBY
Anakin can sense the shrilling screams from the poor creatures below his feet. The vibrations of their terror and their agony radiated through the force. The chills down his arms have the same sort of affect on him mentally and physically. He hadn't been able to shake these sensations since he had begun his work under Inquisitor Maul the week prior. This is what he had dreaded when first applying to the Academy, being forced to work under the specialty of Inquisitor.
An Inquisitor's job had many aspects of a police force, along with command of investigating anyone or anything whom the Emperor deemed questionable. The Inquisitor's divisions were broken down into two main departments: the officers who were in charge of the investigations and negotiations of the accused and those who testified as witnesses. The first division is not as brutal as the second due to its investigative nature. These Inquisitors have force talents to detect those who were lying and able to observe their surroundings to better understand a case or victim involved in whatever situation they were solving. They are in charge of arresting those who have been found guilty of a crime spree, or arresting those who have been deemed traitors in the eyes of the Empire- namely rebels. In addition, those officers could be used for protection by the elite in necessary situations.
On the other hand, the second division which Anakin could not stomach was deemed the most efficient way of solving some of the cases. This was used if necessary or if a certain suspect would not provide them with information or if the suspect was deemed a traitor against the Empire. Most of the time the suspects were arrested and sentenced to their imprisonments before coming down to the lower cells of the detention center. These torture chambers as Anakin preferred to call them, were where he liked to stay out of. He didn't have the guts to stand by and watch a rebel be tortured by anyone, even though he had on one occasion tortured a young man because of his jealous rage. At least this is what he tried to tell himself when he had watched Inquisitor Maul torture an older man whom had been asked to provide information about the known spice runs between Courscant and the Spice Mines.
Anakin remembered the shrills of the man's screams as Inquisitor Maul had used the force on the old man. The room had shuddered under the pressure of the force. It had felt like he couldn't breathe himself and he had to attempt to drown out the man's screams by reaching into the force to meditate quietly. It had helped ease his chest pains, but that had been all. The man had given the whereabouts of the ship docks in the lower parts of Coruscant. Then Maul had used the force to rip each of the man's limps off of his body. The smell of the blood had made Anakin want to vomit. He had sensed the man's agony and death and the enjoyment Maul had felt during the kill. This was the Dark side of the force- the uncontrollable dragon Anakin has felt before. The dark side that Obi-wan and Qui-gion had told him would tempt him on his missions working as an Inquisitor. As of now he detested everything having to do with this branch of the Imperial Navy and would rather be arrested for insubordination than have to do this as a future career. Today he reports to his office to await their training session for today.
His eyes search the red bloody walls for any signs of bodies there. The walls of the corridor to Inquisitor Maul's office appear to be stained with his victim's blood and then some. Maul is the head of the entire Inquisitor's branch in the Imperial Navy and to be mentoring under him meant your education had a huge benefit after graduation. Many of Anakin's fellow cadets are envious of his sudden interest in their fellow cadet. Many of them desired to be mentoring under the infamous 4.
The infamous 4 as most people knew them as were : Inquisitor Maul, Count Dooku, Grand Vizier Mass Amedda and the Emperor himself. To be training under one of them meant you were special and had a huge career ahead of you. Anakin enjoyed attention from people most of the time, he cherished the triumph over victories and the applause from his fellow cadets and friends, but to be under such darkness meant something else entirely. Anakin had tried to sense the light within the force each time he gathered courage to come back to this building to continue his training, which now was 5 days a week. He has no time for anything else until the fall semester begins, and even then Maul has made it clear he must continue his training then as well.
Anakin hears the swish of the door behind him as he enters Maul's office. He salutes his commanding officer, " Reporting for my training sir." His voice is cool and calm, though his insides are pounding from all of the sensations of those people below.
Inquisitor Maul stands with his back turned on Anakin. His hands are clasped behind his back and his eyes cast towards the skylanes of Coruscant. He can sense the boy's struggle to continue over the sensations within him. His struggle with the light and darkness is a perfect match and the perfect time to tip the balance. He is untrained other than that of his own choosing and accord. He stretched out his senses within the force, casting onto the boy's mind. He can feel the stiff shielding come up immediately. His mouth forms a small smirk upon feeling this precaution.
" Excellent, you have been practicing your mental shielding. Let's begin." Maul murmurs which should sound like a soothing tone to someone's ears, but it holds no comfort to Anakin nor anyone else who ever hears words shooting from the Dathomirian at any given time.
He closes his eyes and tries to penetrate into Anakin's mind forcefully. Anakin gasps as he senses the attack on his mental shields. He closes his eyes as the pain comes crawling into his mind, and the ghost of the forceful hand shoving past his walls. He repairs the walls in his brain as the ghostly black wall of a hand knocks them down. He is quick to repair the walls as fast as he can. The hand swipes through several of the layers of his shields and finds a small hole within. Anakin feels the pull of the information from his mind, it is nothing too significant other than a schedule from the daily reports from the prior day. His mind uses the techniques Qui-gion taught him to do, if others are able to break your mental shields then picture something insignificant from the day prior or from that memory. He had to protect Qui-gon and Obi-wan and the information he knew about the rebellion and the Jedi. He has too...
He tries to take a deep breath and focus on that schedule and the importance of it. The ghostly hand pulls away and allows the mental bricks to be rebuilt. The stabbing pain has lessened some and Anakin does not bring down his shields as most people would do after a pain like that has lessened. He knows better than to lower his defenses like most people do when they feel the threat is gone. He senses Maul's movements within the room.
" When pushing past someone's mental shields, always give them a false sense of hope," His voice instructions, pausing before continuing, " The opponent will feel a sense of relief and security before the storm. And then you strike."
As if on cue, Anakin feels the ghostly hands double and the pain is stabbing his head. He leans forward, clutching the desk within the office to keep himself upright. The onslaught on his mind is thousands of times more powerful. He clenches his teeth as he tries to keep up rebuilding the mental stones he continues to rebuild. Rapidly, hurriedly, his mind is starting to feel exhausted, he knows Maul will break through at this rate and he tries to find an insignificant memory Maul cannot use against him, or perhaps desires to see.
Anakin gasps as he feels the break of the wall, just a crack again. This time Inquisitor Maul sees a vision within his mind and hears the voices of a screaming child.
" NO! Mom! Please no- let me stay with her!" The young voice of Anakin Skywalker begs.
The brown eyes of a woman long probably dead appear in his mind. Those saddened brown eyes and wrinkles around her eyes. She has tears in those orbs, shielded until her boy is out of sight. She will be strong for her son, and say goodbye to him.
His small arms wrap around his mother's waist. The rough material of her dress is comforting against his tear-stained cheeks. She clasps his own back and whispers, " Ani, you need to be strong now. You have to be strong as I know you are. You will become someone in this darkened galaxy. You are meant for greatness."
Young Anakin Skywalker didn't care for his destiny. He yearns to stay here, attached to his mother's skirts and he has done so for many times out of fear of the dark, or fears of losing her. " No! I won't leave you behind! No!" He cries out, a weak boy in the eyes of his new master.
His mother forces his chin up to look her in the eyes. She stares down at him and comments, " No don't cry for me Ani. You will be strong. You are a warrior. Do as you're told. Go."
Young Anakin Skywalker hastily wipes the tears from his face and whispers to her, " But I don't want to leave you. I will never see you again."
Shimi Skywalker leans forward and kisses her son's forehead murmuring, " We will see each other again- I promise."
The promise was one of haste and a lie to comfort her boy. She knows it is likely she'll never see him again. He will be taken to another entirely different planet, and forget about her. Her young boy nods knowing the lie as well, as if he can sense it from his mother, but he turns away from her and walks towards his new owners in fury and fear.
Anakin's eyes open as the pain from before has lessened and his eyes fall onto the table he had been clutching tight. His breathing is labored and he hears Maul's sickening voice instruct, " The pain of invading someone's mind is usually enough to break them. Others need the incentives of hurting those they care for or their possessions. Use their memories, as I could do about your mother."
Anakin's eyes shoot up and narrow at Maul's response. Furious crystal blue eyes meet those of the sithly golden hues. Maul's smooth red and black skin appears to be glowing from the appearance of his eye color.
Anakin states, " Yes sir, I understand the principles of questioning those unwilling to comply. What other tasks do you wish of me to complete today?"
Inquisitor Maul gestures for him to follow him onto the lift. He knows they are going down to the detention cells blocks. Anakin moves onto the lift in sync with his commander. He closes his eyes and imagines being wrapped in the light of the force. He breathes in the living force and exhales out the darkness of the building and presence of Maul. He can feel the tension in his body begin to fade, and the calmness he finds is a bit easing on the tension he had felt when arriving.
" Remember to dwell on the living force and it will guide you. The darkness will tempt you, but only give in if the living force allows it. Remember without light there is no darkness- that is the balance in the force."
Master Jinn's teachings rumbling over and over in his head. He blinks as he hears the ding of the lift and he follows Maul down the durasteel corridor. Their footsteps echo off the bare walls, and Anakin tries to block out the pain radiating from the people in the cells- their despair.
He swallows and Maul instructs, " Relish in their despair and pain Skywalker, allow the enjoyment of their fear to consume you and you will not fear it any longer. Allow it to fuel your motives and your next move."
Anakin does not respond to his instructions, but he continues to attempt at using his mental shields to block off their helplessness. Maul stops outside of the cell block 4434 and presses the entrance button. The door swishes open and a young cadet around Anakin's age is chained to a table. Maul gestures for them to enter and Anakin squints in the dim light of the room.
The young man is familiar to him. His hair is shaggy and a darkish brown. The uniform he wears is one from the Imperial Academy. The uniform is not as pristine as before. It is darkened by dirt or oil, neither of which Anakin is sure about. He questions Maul, " What is my assignment, Inquisitor?"
He gestures to the Cadet. The Cadet's green eyes stare back into Anakin's and the Cadet states, " I have done nothing. I shouldn't even be down here."
Inquisitor Maul gestures to the young man. " He is charged with stealing from Admiral Mires and charged with sexual assault of his wife. He claims he is innocent. He is yours to determine innocent or guilty- try to keep him alive though."
With that request, Maul exits the room and the cell door shuts behind the two men. The Cadet's relaxed demeanor is gone as he exclaims, " Thank the maker it's you! Anakin I'm from your combative class with Admiral Jinn. You've got to understand I've been set up. Please help me."
The man's voice pleads with him. Anakin crosses his arms in defense and questions, " If you are innocent then, why not tell me what happened Cadet-?"
" Cadet Delano." His voice trembles, and he tries to exhale with relief by seeing one of his own.
Anakin perches himself in the chair across from Cadet Delono and requests, " It's simple, tell me what happened and I'll try to help clear your innocence as best as possible."
The Cadet shrugs and suggests, " It's a misunderstanding. I was caught in bed with Admiral Mires wife, I was drunk after having a few too many with my crew the other night. I woke up with her strapping me down to the bed and accusing me of raping her. I- She screamed for her husband and then they arrested me. Then they found the credits in my locker- how I don't know."
Anakin stretches out his senses towards his comrade. He leans back and can sense the falsehood in the man's words. He was telling only a portion of the truth. He coaxes, " Delano, I need to know everything if I am to help you."
Cadet's Delano's hands shake within the chain as he tries to persuade Anakin. " No, I am telling you the entire truth of the matter. I swear on my gods and the force thingy.."
Anakin tries once more knowing the entire conversation is being recorded. He has to be careful. Anything he says or does will be recorded and watched by Maul. " I can sense that you are not explaining the entire situation. If you choose not to, then I'll have to drag it from your mind and it's gonna hurt like hell. So which would you rather do? Hmph?"
The green eyed man's hands visibly shake as he murmurs, " I have told you everything. I have no more to say. You'd invade a fellow Cadet's mind? What has happened to you, Skywalker?"
Anakin notices the change in the man's demeanor. He is hiding something. Anakin lifts his hand towards his opponent and begins slowly invading into the man's mind. The man's mental shields are bare and thin. He grits his teeth and then shrills come out of his weak mouth as Anakin drags the images of the day from his mind.
" The money will be placed somewhere safe my love, " Cadet Delano suggests to the red haired Mrs. Mires.
Her hand holds onto his cheek and she gazes lovefully into his eyes. " I want to be free of him, Fergus. Please hurry."
" Of course my love."
Fergus screams out as he feels Anakin pull onto his mind like yanking onto someone's hair hard, and then harder than the second time. He cries out, " Please no! I promised her- please."
Anakin ignores his pleas and pulls the images again from his mind. He closes his eyes seeing flashes again.
Cadet Delano had a bag packed, ready to hand in his resignation from the Naval Academy. He pulls out a small duffel bag and checks the credits inside- thousands of credits sit in the bag, ready to be used for his and Mrs. Mires new life. He really didn't need the older woman. He'd hold onto her until he reached a settlement and then dump her there. She'd be happy on a farm somewhere by herself without anyone around….
Anakin breathes heavily as he can feel the truth settling into his system. This bastard had thought of taking advantage of an innocent woman and her husband. The anger surging through him is uncontrollable. Anakin raises his hand and uses the force to shove the cadet back against the wall. Fergus shrieks and Anakin stands to his feet.
" You sack of lying banatha shit! You expected me to help you be free when you were taking advantage of an innocent woman? There's no way in seven sith hells or heavens I'd help you. You are pathetic and weak- you are nothing." Anakin's icy stare is enough to send the Cadet into a state of pure panic.
" I swear I am innocent. That woman is vile." His voice suggests trying to get the man on his side.
Anakin laughs darkly and mutters, " You don't deserve a trial. Your kind deserves to rot in a cell for the rest of your life or rather a grave."
The Cadet's eyes widened at the threat. Anakin can feel the darkness encouraging him to fuel his anger- to give into the darkness of the force. This life was meaningless- weak. He was nothing in the eyes of the living. He'd probably get off for some pathetic probation and then take advantage of the next unhappily married woman. He'd continue his path, so why should he be allowed to live?
Do it- The dragon inside his mind suggests. Anakin breathes in the darkness surrounding him. It felt good to allow the despair and darkness into his aura. Gods, it feels good to be in control of such a weakling being. To have the power over another- it felt like the time he had the power over that pathetic Palo. This creature is another Palo.
Anakin- don't allow the darkness consume you.
Anakin's eyes snap to the voice of his father in his head. He can sense through his bond with Qui-gon of his disappointment of his behavior. Anakin blinks back the feelings flowing through him and shoves down the man forced to the wall. He falls to the ground and Anakin seethes out, " You won't be leaving this cell or any other. I'll make sure you rot in this hell for the rest of your days."
The Cadet says nothing to him as he turns on his heels and exits the room. He had almost given in- without Qui-gion's bidding he'd have killed him. He had to get out of there now. The fear of giving into his dragon inside him once again takes hold.
To Be Continued.