Chapter 8

While Kalani's reluctance was obvious, and eventually come around, there has been the fact that the droid army isn't as strong as it once was.

It has taken hours to present suitable points where we can claim some ground, especially since the Timothy Zahn books shown what happened after Sidious's death which sent things into disarray.

Even if this follows Disney Canon, shit still hits the fan of I remember correctly.

I know there will be no way to avert things prettily as Palps had plenty of time to be busy in the past many years, but it's better to be prepared no matter how things turned out.

I move back to the ship, feeling the presence of Juno. She's still a bit angry and uncertain about her destiny, but she obviously had enough time to come around.

The droids have decided to remain behind for the time being, but I trust Kalani to answer my call when the time comes.

For now, Juno is my top priority as I honestly worry about what she may do with the information I have given her. I had seen plenty of people who have been through the same betrayal, fuck, I have felt it before when friends from childhood revealed their true colors and did my other self wrong.

As soon as I come onto the hanger, I look around me, pinpointing her presence before walking to it.

On the way, I ran into PROXY and does another alternation of his memory. As irritating as it is, I don't need him to accidentally spill to Vader what I am truly doing, despite how every day that passes, the more time is wasted.

After dealing with that complication, I am again in my quarters where I see the pilot sitting in an undignified manner.

I raise an eyebrow, wondering what she's doing in there. "Juno..."

"Gone!" Juno shouts, and I am admittedly startled as she is slurring slightly. "All gone!"

"What happened to you?" I told PROXY to watch over her closely. Soon, I will see what the cause of her current state is.

A beer bottle...

It saddens me on many levels.

"One minute I'm serving the Empire, and the next thing I know I have no purpose!" Juno exclaims before giggling like a mad woman.

"Okay, you have enough liquor for today," I emphasize this point by removing the beer bottle, but unfortunately this causes her to stand and slur again. "How about you try to get some rest?"

She snaps back at me, an instant rise of anger surrounding her. "Don't you ever live a little?!"

I shake my head with a slight smirk, admittedly finding her a little amusing when she's like this, but I know that her stable condition is not in the best condition right now so that is quickly dimmed.

I push her down on the bed and secure the blankets on top of her before planting a small Force suggestion that knocks her out.

For her part she manages to resist the mind trick as a result of being strong-minded at least normally, but her drunk state provides her with a severe disadvantage, so I have to apply another suggestion.

She is quite honestly adorable when she is asleep, but I ain't even going to go there.

Tearing my gaze away from her, I move to the cockpit. While the original Starkiller is far from the best pilot, at least I have memories of him being taught by Vader's droids to learn how to pilot the shuttle.

I sigh & move over, and tap the controls, starting the Rogue Shadow up, before pulling back and allowing the ship to ascend.

It isn't long before I am in space and with a few clicks of buttons lightspeed consumes the ship.

Only then do I allow my eyes to close.

Meditation has been something I ain't ever good at, especially since I remember falling asleep much to my embarrassment in my other life.

But the Force eases my concern, and I allow the Dark Side to flood through me. As always it wants power.

I see...

Images.

I hear a faint scream...

The hooded gaze of a figure in blackness staring at me, eyes clouded.

Then another, the x-skull mask of Darth Vader, but for some reason something has been off about the man unlike all the other times... I can't understand what.

I am standing across from them.

My hand draws down to my hilt which somehow feels... lighter.

There is no stirring from the two Sith. I can see movement from the corners of my eyes, my allies moving as once...

But my gaze is unwavering from both of them, and the hilt is in my hand, shooting forward, allowing a lightsaber of magnificent color to protrude.

My eyes snap open, and I stand up, hand traveling to my hilt on borderline instinct.

Damn, guess its time to report to Vader...

I make it to my meditation chambers and bow. In only a few minutes, I can hear the door opening behind me.

Vader is no fool, I know this. Soon, he'll be getting suspicious, but it didn't matter as I have only stay to make operations behind his back, and collect as much intel as possible.

I sense rather than saw a darker shadow enter the chamber. I look up.

Darth Vader is now standing in front of me again. Anakin Skywalker has always been a dramatic one, a trait that carried over to his Sith Lord counterpart.

"Kazdan Paratus is dead, Master."

Vader lets out a slight nod. "Then there is but one more test before you can fulfill your destiny."

I can't help but let out a slight sigh. I know this is just a trick, but seriously Vader sending me around to hound the Jedi... how didn't Starkiller tell something have been up?

"Master, I am ready now," I use this to feint irritation and exasperation.

"You have defeated a tired old man and an outcast." Anger cracks in Vader's deep voice. "You will not be ready to face the Emperor until you have faced a true Jedi Master."

Hopefully, Kota can be quick and recover the Jedi Master as I am out of ideas to where to go. Damn it, I should have stayed invested in the fandom.

"Who?"

"Master Shaak Ti—one of the last of the Jedi Council." Deep within Vader's contemptuous tone, there is slight respect for the Jedi. She was one of the few Jedi that trusted in Anakin's abilities. "She is training an army on Felucia. You will need the full power of the dark side to defeat her. Do not disappoint me."

"Have I ever, Master?"

The robed shadow dissolves into static. The hologram falls away, revealing PROXY's skinny frame beneath. The droid trembles, and I am instantly at his side to steady him.

"I have a feeling you just hate being him," I say, a small teasing tone in my voice.

PROXY lets out a noise that can easily be exasperation but didn't say anything as he leaves the chambers with me going back to the cockpit.

I set the coordinates for where I plan to go and rest back on the admittedly comfortable chair.

Darth Vader

Something has changed in my apprentice. I have felt it. The boy didn't exactly feel lighter, but there has been something... different about his Force signature. He attempted to conceal it from me, yet the boy would be a fool if he presumes I am none the wiser.

With this much growth and maturity he has shown, I am actually reconsidering if I should utilize the boy against Sidious after all.

I never intended to use the boy to kill the Emperor. He was just a pawn to kill Jedi and root out high ranking enemies of the Empire. However, there has been always something within me that prevented me from applying harsher punishments than Sidious would have to myself.

For all intent and purposes, Galen Marek was just a pawn in the Sith's plan. There is potential certainly, but his role has always been destined to be minor.

But with the mental development I sense from him, I can't help but wonder if I should alter the plan. It's as if the Dark Side still clings to him, yet the darkness is more contained than before, the fire in his eyes having dim considerably. Even I have to admit that I have been impressed with his progress.

After all, destroying Sidious will require a competent pawn.

But there is still that reluctance. The Emperor stood against Master Yoda himself just as he became Emperor and managed to survive, despite his deformation.

I am reminded of this when I bow before the hooded form. I haven't been contacted by my Master before I learned that the apprentice of Skywalker lived.

"Lord Vader, it's been some time: how is the progress from the boy?" my Master asks.

I respond as expected. "The boy has shown... unique growth, my Master."

"Explain," the Emperor demands.

"I can feel the boy has changed, showing more signs of maturity and has been inquisitive. When I first sent him after Kota, I felt a change of the Force, but had believed it was due to his apprehension about succeeding to overcome him. And yet when he returned... his growth only grew."

"Hmm, this is unexpected, but yet I have one question but to ask you." My Master frowns, golden eyes observing me for what feels like hours, but I wait. "Is it possible that you care about this child? Does Skywalker still linger?"

I can hear the deep contempt in his tone. The resurfacing of Anakin Skywalker... that man have been too weak and foolish. He failed to save his wife and children.

He will never return.

I respond with equal rage. "The boy means nothing to me. I am merely suggesting that we do not-"

The Emperor interjects. "You are merely suggesting that we do not cast him off so you can continue this farce of overthrowing me. Both Tano and this child prevent you from tapping into darkness entirely. Remember, Lord Vader, you are nothing more than an apprentice and that's all you will ever be."

I want nothing more than to reach across the galaxy and snap the old man's windpipe.

Yet doing such would end in disaster for me. I am surrounded by troops who I can easily dispose of, but such would spread throughout the military, meaning that the Empire would all turn against me.

As I learned when there has been a secret order to eliminate me, I understand that Darth Sidious has always been ten steps ahead and can accomplish what he craves with little to no consequences.

Skywalker had been desperate after all to fall for his tricks.

"Am I wrong, Vader? Do you have any affection for this boy? You know I can sense deception..." the Emperor allows himself to draw on the last word.

Had I been a lesser man, I would have sighed; but having faced the Emperor's wrath before I knew that doing so may infuriate my Master further - additionally the breathing contraption prevents me from doing many things.

And so, I respond with genuineness, like all good slaves do. "I'll admit that there has been an affection when I found him after eliminating his father."

"Ah, and there it is. Whatever you have for the boy, you will it end. I'll be coming to... see where your loyalty lies, Lord Vader. If you truly mean what you say, you will kill him. If you do not, you'll wish that you perished on Mustafar at Kenobi's hand." The Emperor asserts.

I bit back on my fury for Skywalker's Jedi Master who I once called a friend, but have the rationality to understand that this is quite a waste of his abilities, yet the boy can grow to rival Sidious and myself under the right circumstances, likely why he wants to remove him from the equation all together.

Regardless, his latest containment shouldn't be taken without regard.

I respond after bowing my head. "As you wish, my Master."

The image of the Emperor vanishes, and I rise & turn to the viewport of my Executor yet again, waiting for the return of my soon to be former apprentice as I plot.