Chapter 8 - Kamino

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: In which Vader and Anakin make their move. :P

For all those people who are asking if Anakin/Vader will become a thing, the answer is no. Anakin is married to Padme and that will not change. I'm not even going to get into all reasons why Vader/Anakin is weird and gross; suffice it to say, that slash won't happen. They will/do have a father-son relationship. :)

~ Amina Gila

Vader stands at the holotable, his hands resting heavily on the edge, studying the map of the galaxy with a calculated intensity. He is a brilliant strategist – he always has been – and with his additional years of experience and knowledge, it's relatively easy for him to plan the best way of moving all of the Separatist forces. It's been one day since Dooku died, one day since he became the head of the Separatists. If someone had hold him that he would one day be leading the Separatists into battle against the Republic, he would have laughed at them. He's not laughing now.

It's a game of dejarik, a game which Sidious himself has been playing for many years. He masterminded the Clone Wars flawlessly, and Vader is more than capable of shaking things up. Already, he sent General Grievous to Felucia to begin another attack there. The planet is far from hospitable, and Vader knows how bogged down the Republic forces will be. They'll be forced to bring in reinforcements there and in the other strategic locations which Vader has selected, including Cato Nemoidia. The idea is to draw as many Jedi and clone troopers away from Coruscant as possible, so that they will be unable to stop him when he launches an attack.

Vader, unlike Sidious, has no need or desire to drag out the war. He wants it over. He wants it to end. That won't happen until he seizes control of the Republic and brings order to the galaxy once more. And Sidious will have to be dealt with in due time, but Vader has already made plans for how to deal with his old master.

"It will not be easy for the Separatist forces to get to Kamino undetected," Anakin remarks, moving to stand next to him as he gestures at the system in question. Kamino is another important location which Vader wishes to attack, because an attack there will definitely draw some of the more skilled Jedi away from the capital.

"Indeed," Vader concurs. "I am aware of a number of Republic outposts which will be monitoring for Separatist activity. The best solution will be to take out one or more of them while we move our forces into position."

The Force ripples slightly around them, and he deliberately refrains from reaching out to check on the concealed Force signature he can sense in the ventilation shaft not far away. Of course, the Jedi Council would send someone to scout out the area and ascertain the situation. So much the better. It makes his planning far easier.

"I would suggest here," Anakin tells him, pointing. "The Rishi outpost has been far more heavily fortified after what happened towards the beginning of the war, so it wouldn't be ideal."

"I agree." Vader crosses his arms, walking around the holotable as he scans the galaxy once more. "I believe we should personally see to it that the invasion of Kamino goes smoothly. When the planet is captured, the Republic will lose their ability to produce additional clones, leaving it vulnerable to us."

Anakin pokes him through their bond. "You do know we have an eavesdropper, don't you?"

Vader rolls his eyes mentally at Anakin. "Of course. I am counting on their report to the Council being the key factor which draws the Jedi and clones away from Coruscant." He hasn't seen the Jedi in question for a long time, but he still recognizes the presence. It's Quinlan Vos. If not for the fact that he and Anakin are both sons of the Force, he doubts he would have noticed. The Jedi isn't a Shadow for nothing, after all.

"Additionally," Vader says aloud, nearly smirking, "I have been informed of the capture of Jedi Master Even Piell. I believe he has somehow acquired hyperspace coordinates of the Nexus Route. We cannot allow that information to fall into Republic hands, lest they attack the center of Separatist territory. Right now, Piell is at the Citadel prison on Lola Sayu. When Kamino is under control, we should go interrogate him ourselves. We need that intel."

Everything he said was spoken solely for the benefit of their unwanted listener. In truth, Vader already knows the coordinates of the Nexus Route, which means that Piell is an unwanted liability to him. Now that he has a mission to accomplish, he's finally able to tuck aside all of his unwanted emotions. He will focus on what needs to be done and worry about everything else later. He was much the same way during the Clone Wars, but his ability to shift focus like that has only grown in his time as a Sith.

"Sounds good," Anakin nods firmly. "Let's do it. We have a war to win."

A part of Vader almost regrets not having disclosed to Anakin the full extent of his plans, but he is... apprehensive to do so, if he's being honest. He – he fears how the younger will react, and he knows instinctively that Anakin would never hurt or betray him, but he is not keen on bringing up a topic likely to cause conflict and strive. And so, he will remain silent, explaining only as much as is necessary. Before the final part of his plan begins, he will, of course, tell Anakin everything, but until then, it is probably best if the younger man focuses on one part at a time.

**w**

Anakin isn't exactly comfortable to be standing on the bridge of a Separatist Star Destroyer, especially when the person in charge is Admiral Trench. When they fought on Christophsis, Anakin nearly killed Trench. He doesn't regret it, but it definitely makes their interactions incredibly awkward. In a way, Anakin almost envies Vader's anonymity; no one knows about whatever past history they have with him, so the Separatists look at him with respect. It doesn't matter though. Anakin doesn't care for their respect. He only wants to get the job done.

Vader is standing at the viewport, hands clasped behind his back as he stares at the white and blue swirls of hyperspace. In mere minutes, they will be emerging from hyperspace over Kamino. Anakin stands next to him, their poses mirroring each other.

The Star Destroyer lurches as it exits from hyperspace, and Kamino comes into view. A massive Republic fleet is orbiting the planet as Anakin had anticipated. Clearly, the Council is taking no chances, and as such, they have sent a number of Star Destroyers to reinforce the ones which are always present around the planet.

Vader stands there for a long moment, respirator cycling rhythmically. He's so still that he could be a statue. "Commence the attack," he commands.

Behind them, Admiral Trench begins giving out orders which the battle droids follow. Squadrons of vulture droids fly away from the Separatist star cruisers, meeting the Republic clone troopers midway. The battle is one of the most massive Anakin has ever seen. He can tell that the Separatists will likely begin to overrun the Republic in due time, though it will not be easy. Perhaps some Separatist forces will actually make it down to the surface before the Republic fends them off.

Minutes pass, and Anakin watches the chaos outside, feeling oddly out of place. He has been a general since the war started, but yet, he feels... uncomfortable. He thinks it's because he is with the Separatists now, watching the battle instead of participating in it. More than that, he's able to sense how many clones are dying, and there's nothing he can do about it. He is unable to protect them as he always has in the past. Knowing that intellectually is very different than seeing and accepting it on the spot.

Vader seems completely unaffected, a strange, peaceful calm having settled over him. A part of Anakin would like to be able to emulate him, but at the same time, he recognizes how different they are. It's jarring to see. Until now, Anakin has been able to see in Vader what he sees within him, but in moments like this, it is so obvious that they are different people. Vader is as dark as Anakin is light, and that is both a good and bad thing. It means that he's not lost to the Dark Side, but it also means that he is more than willing to accept, and perhaps even revel in, bloodshed.

"How can you do it?" Anakin questions through their bond before he can stop himself. This is a conversation which is private, one to which the droids and Admiral Trench are not privy. "How can you let so many clones die like this?"

Vader's helmet turns towards him for a moment, and Anakin can sense that he's thinking, trying to formulate a response. "It is the cost of war, the cost of defeating Sidious." It's almost unnerving, right now, how similar Vader's mental voice is to Anakin's. He is ruthless, and the knowledge of how dark he is, sends a shiver down Anakin's spine, because he knows that he has the same capabilities. He was willing to join Vader, to embrace the Dark Side, and he won't abandon his other self, but that doesn't mean he likes how Vader is.

But the burden of guilt for the deaths caused as a result of this attempt to destroy Sidious is not Anakin's to bear, he supposes. He is following Vader's lead. The Sith Lord is the one who is doing most of the planning and strategizing. Despite his misgivings and uncertainties – he is only now seeing what Vader being a Sith means with respect to his personality and choices – Anakin will not leave Vader, the only person who understands him.

"That is... one way of looking at it, I suppose," Anakin muses in reply.

Vader glances at him sharply again. "You disapprove?"

Anakin makes a face. "I don't like it, but we have no choice, not if we want a clear shot at Sidious. We are planning to take him out now, aren't we?"

"Of course."

Still, Anakin gets the feeling that there's something which Vader isn't telling him. He might not approve of Vader's life choices, but he still trusts him completely. Vader understands the galaxy and the political situation far more than Anakin himself does.

"I believe this is the same attitude which Dooku himself had," Vader comments idly after a momentary pause.

"Then why did we kill him if he believed the same things we do?" It's not that Anakin had any desire to ally himself with Dooku – he'd really much rather face a starving krayt dragon alone – but he is curious as to Vader's reasoning.

"There were a couple reasons for my decision," Vader explains, gaze never leaving the space battle outside. "One is that I knew he would likely try to betray us, and I had no desire to fight him over an Empire. It would split the Separatist movement as well, which would be majorly disadvantageous to us. Second, I know how much you would struggle in Dooku's presence. I had no desire to subject you to it."

Anakin is completely floored by the admission. It's been so very long since anyone has done something for him, taking his feelings into consideration. A surge of gratitude and affection overwhelm him, and he unabashedly lets those emotions filter through their bond. Vader willingly entwines their presences together, and Anakin draws strength from the elder's Force signature.

The Force shifts around Vader as he suddenly drops his heavily shielding, letting his darkness and power flare outwards. There isn't a single living being – especially the Jedi on the planet – who won't feel him. It was deliberate, intentional.

Anakin quirks an eyebrow at him. "What is that for?"

"Intimidation," Vader smirks. "I am making the Jedi aware of the fact that I am here. They will fear me. It will make them off-balance."

For anyone other than Anakin, being so close to Vader while his shields are so low would immediately result in a headache – that's how blinding he is. Anakin isn't affected by it though since they are the same. Vader's presence is masked to the point where it won't be identified, but it's still enough to remind everyone that he is there.

Anakin reaches out with the Force as well, trying to wade through the myriad of Force signatures, attempting to pinpoint which Jedi are present on the planet. It takes him a few minutes, and he has to lower his shields to the point where they undoubtedly sense him as well, but he does manage to determine who is there. Shaak Ti is there as he'd suspected, and with her are Ki-Adi Mundi and Kit Fisto. They must have come to reinforce the clones who were already present. It's smart, Anakin thinks, to send Council members since they have more strength and skill than most Knights. It's a testament to how determined the Republic is to fend off the invaders.

Vader and Anakin watch the battle for another fifteen minutes before the Sith Lord shields himself once more. "Admiral," he says, turning towards Trench, "You are in control of the battle now. We will depart for the Citadel to deal with our Jedi guest there."

"As you wish, my Lord," the Harch replies with a nod. Vader turns, cape swirling around him as he strides towards the exit, Anakin following behind him. Somehow, he doesn't think he'll like whatever is about to come.

**w**

The air is filled with tension and uncertainty, and Ahsoka doesn't like it. Never before has she felt the atmosphere so... fearful. Even when the prospects were grim, she had confidence. Perhaps it's because her master isn't here. Anakin betrayed them. He's helping Vader fight the Republic. None of it makes any sense to her, and Ahsoka fears the day that she and her former master cross paths. She doesn't want to fight him. Even now, she still cares for him deeply. Perhaps she shouldn't, because he's Fallen, but she does.

Vader is an unknown. No one knows where he came from or how powerful he is. No one knows what he wants or what his skills are. If he's a brilliant tactician, he could turn the tide of the war in a matter of weeks. Already, the Republic is struggling, taken off guard by the sudden, unexpected attacks in numerous vital locations. All the Jedi who are available have been dispatched to reinforce those on the front lines who are struggling. What do the Separatists have to gain from this fierce attack? What are they planning? No one knows.

Even Plo is gone, having been sent to Felucia along with Aayla Secura to hold off General Grievous. The only Council members still on Coruscant are Obi-Wan, Windu, and Yoda and the former two will soon be leaving for the Citadel in a bid to rescue Even Piell who has been captured. They received the information from Quinlan Vos who somehow managed to infiltrate Dooku's mansion and listen in on a conversation between Vader and Anakin about their plans. It's why the Republic knew to send reinforcements to Kamino before it was too late.

And Ahsoka, she hates Vader. She hates how he managed to take all the goodness from Anakin, because there's no way that the master she knew would agree to hurt the clones. He always cared for them, always tried to protect them, even at the cost of himself. Now... they need Anakin, and he is nowhere to be found, because he's causing half of their problems. That thought sends icy rage through her, and if she wasn't feeling so bitter about how everything has changed, she would be scared by the depths of her rage against her master. No, he's not her master anymore.

She is standing in a briefing room inside the Temple, along with Obi-Wan, Windu, Vos, Cody, Neyo, and couple other clones she doesn't know. A hologram of the Citadel is hovering over the holotable, rotating slowly, and the sight of it makes her want to shiver. This is a very dangerous mission, she knows, and she wishes Anakin was here. He would know how to handle this situation, and he would explain it to her so she didn't feel so scared.

"As you are aware, the Citadel is their most isolated and impenetrable detention facility. No one has ever escaped," Windu declares.

"There can be a first time for everything, I suppose," Obi-Wan comments. His expression is grim, the ever-present spark of life in his blue-gray eyes dimmed.

Windu says nothing in response to that, focusing solely on the map. "Their security has prevented our probes from obtaining recent reconnaissance, so we've been forced to construct a crude map," he continues, pushing a button on the holotable to open a map of the tunnels beneath the Citadel, "Based upon data from the archives."

"And since the data is extremely old, the map will be difficult to rely on," Obi-Wan adds, stroking his beard.

"We're going in blind?" Ahsoka asks with dismay. Improvising has always been Anakin's specialty, and his absence is like a dagger to the heart. She wishes she knew if he was alright, for all that she's furious with him.

"We have no choice, Padawan," Obi-Wan replies grimly. "The Separatists won't dare kill Master Piell until they have what they need, and from what Vos overheard –"

"Vader told Skywalker that they would go to the Citadel to obtain the intel from him once Kamino is secured," Vos interjects, totally ignoring Obi-Wan's glare.

"The last communication we received from Shaak Ti informed us that both of them were in orbit over Kamino," Obi-Wan informs.

Ahsoka clenches her fists and hopes that no one notices. They probably won't. No one is paying attention to her right now. Except Windu's eyes flicker towards her for a moment before he looks back at the hologram. "Piell obtained the coordinates of a secret hyperspace lane known as the Nexus Route which travels into the heart of both the Republic and Separatist homeworlds," he explains.

"They could prove vital in maneuvering our forces deep into remote Separatist sectors," Obi-Wan tells everyone. "We could stop Vader and the war before it's too late."

"Or the enemy could use them to slip through our defenses and attack Coruscant," Vos adds.

"These hyperspace lanes are of immense interest to both our sides, and could tip the scale of the war to whomever is in possession of them. That is all," concludes Windu, shutting down the hologram. Everyone walks from the briefing room, Ahsoka falling in step beside Obi-Wan, Windu walking next to him with Vos on his other side.

"Based on the archive schematics, we've narrowed it down to three possible locations they could be holding him at," Windu comments.

They're taking so many risks on this mission, Ahsoka knows, and somehow, she has the bad feeling that it won't work out the way they want it to. Or maybe that's just her fear talking.

"My greatest concern is infiltrating their outer security. The life-form scanners will not be easy to fool," Obi-Wan replies somberly.

Vos lights up, grinning, and Ahsoka really has a bad feeling now. "I've got an idea!" he announces. Even Obi-Wan looks wary now. "We could use carbon freezing. If we're all in statis, the droids won't notice sense any lifeforms."

Windu and Obi-Wan exchange looks. "He has a point," Windu agrees. "We don't really have any other options."

No, they don't, and they all know it.

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