Chapter 11

In the next few weeks, the two sisters joined him in his physical workouts early in the morning or late at night. While reluctant at first, when the girls began to realize that he wouldn't have them hurt each other on purpose, that was when they began to take their training more seriously.

Before truly training them, Vader tested their midichlorian counts. When the count came back, he discovered that both of their count was 2,000 - not even an average count. They couldn't be trained as Jedi nor ever touch the Force which means this would be an enlightening experience for him as well.

Slowly through the constant training against one another, both have begun going through physical developments of their own. Their muscles have developed through time, and they also were quicker, possibly being able to take on the average Jedi in close range.

To add, they slowly but surely became naturals in shooting blasters.

In his free time, Vader crafted a hacking device together. He had tested them beforehand against their own slave transmitters. They would be able to malfunction the devices long enough for his operations soon enough.

Yet, the range was limited with him having to work with outdated technology. Not even he could ask for miracles while operating in a timeline far less advanced than his own. That was one virtue about the Clone Wars which allowed improvement and the galaxy having to adjust.

Now, on a night like many other nights, Vader sat in a chair, observing the device in his hands. Both girls walked in and looked at him. They had spent some hours out at night, primarily training - no longer requiring his supervision

Vader would say with full confidence that he was proud of them.

"What are you up to this time?" Ann asked, trying to get a closer look.

Vader kept observing the device in his hand, grabbing a nearby wrench after noticing an element of the device was coming off. "This is a hacking device for slave transmitters."

"You can do that?" Ann inquired, her voice muted, as she stuttered for a few moments. "H-how did you manage such a thing?"

"Let alone how do you know it would work?" Tann inquired, a surprise across her face.

"After removing your transmitters, I took them to the desert and reactivated them to see if they would blow up within proximity. The test went successfully." Vader retorted, rolling it around in his hands.

"Hmm, looks like you are still building it?" Ann observed.

"It's currently a prototype," Vader pointed out.

Ann inquired. "Any title?"

Vader contemplated for a moment before replying. "Emancipation Disruptor 5,000."

"Not that bad of a title." Tann responded lightly.

"Do you suggest that we go to Jabba's palace now and take over?" Ann asked, anxiously.

"No, we are not prepared for that kind of operation," Vader retorted. Even with the device, it couldn't go beyond that range.

Both girls looked at him with the same expressions. "Why not?"

"That would lead to the slavers taking matters in their own hands and I can't be at two places at once."

"The slave market?" Ann recommended.

Vader considered it briefly. That is the biggest market in town and definitely could play in their rise of more allies.

"Not yet," he dismissed. "Jabba would increase security over the current slaves, and when the time comes for that, we have to have some footing on this planet."

Tann instantly became irritated, obviously less patient than her sister. "We have been planning for weeks but we have made no moves. We have to do something more."

Vader remembered when he was like that. Yet, Mustafar and his life being kriffed up by the numbers way more than before had hardened him to the plan of caution.

He looked at her pointedly and stated. "We cannot do such things until the time is right."

Ann looked at him and acknowledged this. "One of the slave rings then?"

"Possibly..." He closed his eyes and debated. "I am contemplating the auction," he informed them. "Jabba most likely wouldn't come, for the mighty slug hardly leaves the palace."

Ann rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it."

"They occur daily," Tann pointed out.

"Precisely."

Ann's eyes go wide, a slight smirk across her lips. "And here we have begun doubting you..."

Vader allowed a small smirk to that comment. "I have seen uprisings before, and we would bring about a state of paranoia by not only Jabba but the rest of the slavers as well."

Both girls nodded, now understandingly. "You believe we can do this?"

"Yes," Vader retorted. "You have shown an impressive amount of growth in the past many weeks. I understand impatience, but in order for such operations to be carried out successfully, patience is a requirement."

"Simultaneously, we can recruit more at our disposal."

Tann and Ann both nodded in agreement.

"Now put your light battle armor on that I have laid out for you." Vader added as if an afterthought. "You will do well not to overcomplicate matters by destroying my armor."

Both girls looked at one another before registering what he just said and shouted at his back. "Hey!"

It took two days to plan this whole operation out.

In the early morning, Vader were watching with his binocular, the twins flanking him. He recalled those painful times when both him and his mother had been dragged to one. Fortunately, when Watto owned both Anakin and Shmi, he had the conscience to not sold them off. He was more of an owner than a master, despite how the Toydarian would have denied any care for the Skywalkers or anyone else in his possession if inquired.

Vader secured the binocular, knowing that they were feeling particularly eager to take the threats out, but they have self control to contain their battle instincts.

He had gifted them with their needed equipment on the last day. Blasters. Grenades. Vibroswords. Jetpacks. Perhaps one would question why he didn't dress in armor, but Vader had the Force at his side - abilities that the two girls couldn't even fathom or touch.

He would be protected due to his powers.

"Vader," Ann said, a moment of fear across her expression, "be careful... please."

Tann's fear matched her sister's own.

Vader felt a pang in his chest as it had been so long that someone looked at him in such a way aside from his mother. The two girls look at him as a hero, as a sibling.

"I'll be alright," Vader hoped that they would be reassured, but he doubted it, for they knew only a few things that he was capable of; and even so there was still cause for concern. "Remember, I have two at my back."

That earned him slight smirks and nods, causing Vader to jump from building to building, softening his landing with the Force on the final one, moving to the corner and peering over to see guards, consisting of nothing more than Gamorreans with slaves who were moving as robotically as possible, despite fear etched across their expressions.

Vader did a quick count of them, noticing that there was only a small amount in this first wave of slaves. Five humans, two dark-skinned. A Ugnaught. A Togruta. A B'nishi. Two Evociis. Three Zabraks, two red-skinned and one yellow. A Chroman. And a dark-skinned Elomin.

That was all he was able to count so far before they continued moving and Vader launched on another building. Vader couldn't interfere, not now as doing so could end in undesirable alarm and danger the slaves.

He waited until they walked pass.

He jumped off the building and landed behind several individuals. Based on their blue uniform, they are undoubtedly the authorities standing as form of police patrol.

They were standing around, speaking - even offering jokes about the slaves' distress, earning his respective ire.

"The slave females are getting hotter," one male said in a gruff tone, turning to his men.

"You going to buy some of them today at the auction, captain?" A younger male asked, a disgusting smirk across his lips. "I would love to have a catch at her too."

"Perhaps," the older responded, chuckling. "I had fun with some of the slaves already."

"Here here," another dark-skinned male responded, clasping his captain on the back along with the others, as chuckles came from them all.

Vader sneered as he stormed forward, yet they were too caught up in the moment to notice the walking phantom behind them. He pulled his lightsaber off his belt and activated it, cutting them down before they even knew what hit them with a simplistic sweep of his lightsaber, their bodies drop onto the sandy ground with satisfying thuds.

The former Dark Lord extinguished his lightsaber but didn't holster it yet. He sensed there weren't any others approaching at this point in time. Checking their bodies, he collected the cuffs and blasters with his free hand and secured them within his old Jedi cloak.

He turned away, moving his arm to his mouth so he could speak in the comlink.

"Meet me at the auction," Vader said to his ally.

"Already on it!" Ann exclaimed.

With that affirmation, he sped through the streets as he did when working out, stealthily following behind slaves being led. Yet this had been nothing, for he was even faster than he had ever been behind that insufferable damn suit.

It had allowed him to have another way to embrace his humanity.

At last he made it...

The slave auction.

No matter of status, gender, or age, it was quite common for them to occur, even though different slaves were typically dragged out daily. It was just as he remembered.

As Vader learned when leaving Tatooine a few years after being taken in by the Jedi, there were many auctions across the galaxy, most of them actually fairly decent; yet of course typical slavers trash uses everything that can be used for good to twist to their advantage.

Zygerria was the one and only time Ahsoka had ever been exposed to slavery, and Vader remembered being concern about Ahsoka playing the role of the slave girl, especially since the risks of her being sexually assaulted on that damn planet. Even his former master was scarred from that experience for quite a while. Obi-Wan had been a slave before as a Jedi Apprentice, but it had been brief and he wasn't born into it or had been indoctrinated into it since a young age. That beside the point, had they not escaped, one or worse all of them could have been broken.

He would have to arrange an accident for the current ruler of that planet and their minions soon enough when he had a stable enough army and militia to do so...

Kark all slavers to the nine Corellian hells.

Yet, this woke unpleasant memories, even after all that happened in his lifetime.

He remembered the first time he had ever been at an auction. He remembered when his mother held him firmly in her arms, telling him that he had to remain strong, but not attempting to deceive him, telling him that slavers prefer owning children.

He remembered being calm and telling her that he wouldn't be afraid. When she attempted to explain that when masters feel that slaves were beyond their years, they may not wish to purchase them. When she explained that they may be split apart.

He remembered when that composure was eradicated in an instant, and anger took over as many times throughout his lifetime. He told her that they would be together, that they had to be together, that she was the best mother in the galaxy. He refused to accept that they could be broken up, that anyone could do so.

He remembered when she'd been calm enough to allow him to throw his temper tantrum, neglecting the voices and worried glares of the other slave parents looking over, yet she allowed him to calm down on his own. Once he'd been done, she had told him words that would stick with him until this very day, no matter how young he was at the time. "Remember, my dear," she touched his cheek, his chest, and at last his stomach, "you are a person, and your name is Anakin. Don't allow them to convince you no matter what happens..."

He remembered how he slowly nodded his head, biting back tears, knowing it wasted water. Had the slavers witnessed his moment of tantrum, likely things would have been worse for both of them, and he'd known that much when he was that age.

He remembered hugging her harshly, telling her that he would remember and that he wouldn't fail her no matter what. He remembered when she'd reassured him with that smile, even though she was obviously fighting back emotion on her own.

He remembered being split apart from her cruelly and held in a damned child's pen, fighting the urge to pull at the bars of the cage and crying out her name. She gave him a slight smile, nonverbally telling him how proud she was of him.

He remembered that ever confident Nikto auctioneer, a nasty grin across his lips as he looked at each of the children behind the bars, uncaring of their plight.

He remembered how he looked to his left and right, seeing children obviously fearful and just as bad as him as they were dragged out. Some couldn't resist crying on their own as they were shown, receiving smacks on their backsides with the whips. He remembered having to obey every damn rule that the masters given him without thought to avoid a similar fate, the impressed eyes of all the slavers. Move to the left. Move to the right. Jump. Show yourself off. Hands above the head. Flex your thighs, boy! "Yes, Master." his response to every single command of theirs.

He remembered feeling totally helpless and exposed to the eyes of the spectators, knowing that disobedience would lead to greater consequences.

He remembered the amount of relief that filled him when he discovered through some kindness by fate that they would not be separated, that their master were still the same. Him and her... together.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer announced, snapping Vader out of the memory lane. "Please take your places! The auction will begin soon!"

Yet, that hadn't been long. He remembered words from a past life: 'The Separatists believe the Republic is corrupt, but they're wrong, and we have to restore order.'

He had been very naive at the time. Now looking back, he recognized in a way the Separatists had valid issues with the Republic and were perhaps the lesser evil in the right circumstances - removing serpents like Gunray and the corrupt dealers, along with a converted to the Sith Dooku.

One of their many problems is the Jedi and Republic would do nothing about slavery, and as much as Vader acknowledged the former wasn't an terrible organization, they were sufficiently flawed for blindly following that institution which led to their deaths. They preached peace and justice across the galaxy, yet they would ignore those of the common good that truly needed them.

Ventress was right. Barriss was right. Ahsoka was right. Dooku was right. Padmé was right. Hell, even Palpatine had many points. Many of the fallen heroes had merits about the Republic and the Jedi Order as a whole.

No longer could he deny the truth that he'd attempted to justify throughout the last weeks. The Republic was evil, and the Jedi Order would be no better if they kept following that incompetent organization's direction. The Republic would be better dead or reforged from the ashes and the Jedi would need much salvation.

Vader closed his eyes as words from his past came to him again: 'I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves.'

That had been nothing but a pipe dream.

Yet, the Sith wasn't much better. The Sith took advantage of the concept and Vader had no choice but to fall in line with his Sith Master. The Jedi had refused to act no matter the past many centuries, following the tenuous relationship between the Republic and the Hutts. Even the Corellian Jedi who had disagreements with their traditional counterparts about how situations should be handled and even the Alistian Jedi who allowed and encouraged attachments and operated differently.

No matter of the sects or something closely aligned, he was freed from both Orders as they were all flawed. Now, Vader didn't any of their restrictions or lack thereof.

It all came down to him, the one who been down both sides of the Force, who brought true balance to it in one universe.

It wasn't the fear of changing the past that prevented Vader from acting sooner. Quite frankly, the man had been prepared for the alternations, knowing that they would come soon. It wasn't not falling back in darkness. It wasn't even wanting to risk his mother and younger self's lives, even though that played a major part. It was the many slaves that would die due to any reckless actions that he may commit.

And right now, at this particular moment, Vader was feeling particularly vengeful. At that moment, this would mark the beginning of the rise of a new era...

The Dark Side - the Bogan - shouted in vicious joy as it obviously wanted to join with Vader in this new era. The Light Side - the Ashla - followed, despite how it attempted to soothe his justified anger and refuse to allow himself to fall back into corruption. Nothing could calm him down currently. His rage was burning like an inferno, pleading for him to tap completely into that power. Flames licked at his very soul as it poured out of him to the point where he couldn't contain it anymore.

Vader raised his prosthetic hand in the air. The auctioneer and his assistants with the whips coughed briefly before they had to reach up to their throats. Every individual in the audience reached for their necks seconds later. Guards as well. All of their screams were stuck in their throats as they tried to catch their breaths, clawing for survival - begging for it.

Now, they were the slaves who they once cursed and mistreated.

Vader should have cackled like Sidious, but he always had a silent demeanor - one far more preferable to him. And besides, he had more class than that, even though they did deserve to see his face before they perished. There was no innocent; just a bunch of scum! Each of them was worms and their fates would be well deserved.

In a mask concealing his sweet anger, to prevent the Jedi nor Sith detecting his presence, Vader focused his rage on those who deserve it currently instead of on the beyond.

In an instant, their bodies went through an adrenaline rush when they realized they were in a fight for survival, an agonizing panic. The invisible hand clamped down on their carotids that prevented blood from oxygenating into their brains. Blocking the jugular veins. Closing off the airway and making their breathing all but impossible.

And at last, as all of their heads were twisted into unnatural directions, a song made itself known. It was a beautiful song, a delicious one, crunching, rhythmic...

Once the power came down from an all-time high, Vader stumbled over his legs as air came down harshly on his lungs. He gritted his teeth, labored breaths escaping him as sweat dawned his forehead down his cheeks. He hadn't touched the Force with such intensity for some time and never did so with his uninjured body before Mustafar.

Perhaps only on Mortis, yet even that did take a slight toll on him, but he had been trying to protect Obi-Wan and Ahsoka at the time.

After taking a moment to balance himself both through the Force and physically, Vader walked up to the many pens harboring hundreds of innocent beings.

He looked down at every slave before snapping the metallic doors of their cages with a wave of his hand. Every slave - man, woman, and child - regardless of species; looked up at him, fear in their eyes.

Lowering the hood, Vader revealed himself to them. His hair was as always styled in a short, tousled manner, still a shade of light brown with a slightly longer length on the top that fell into natural waves and layers, and the sides and back were shaved short. The overall hairstyle was casual yet maintained.

His beard was elegantly trimmed as well, adjoining a touch of maturity and newfound wisdom. It was of moderate length and thickness, extending from his jawline and enveloping his chin. It was groomed with clean lines and a defined shape. Like his hair color, Vader's beard was a shade of dark brown. It augmented his fair complexion and added to his overall distinguished and maintained appearance.

He wondered what Luke would have thought about what he was doing now. He embodied compassion to the greatest extent, but not above the use of violence, especially for his loved ones - such as when Vader threatened his sister. Perhaps the only similarity the two men had. If anything else, the boy was like his mother. He'd only hoped Leia wouldn't be turned due to their similar qualities, but with Luke around, that would be unlikely.

Vader's upbringing was different - twisted by everyone around him and by his own choices and perhaps would forever be in some ways - but he would use the darkness within him against those who truly deserve it, not the innocent like the slaves and children.

Swore himself for the greater good, he may have, but the darkness could be use against those who follow the contrary alignment.

These slaves had never gotten a chance to know any better, but Vader would give them a life outside. They would have to learn as Ann and Tann if only they chose to of course. The vast majority of them was youthful, meaning that they would need time to process everything - which he would give them each regardless.

All the while, he had been walking, almost thoughtlessly.

He spoke softly. "You're freed now."

Taking it upon themselves to exit the pens, the slaves collapsed onto their knees in outright disbelief, some of the younger and vulnerable even going as far as to allow cries of solace.

This was the beginning of the end for Jabba's rule.

Arthur's note: I was going to have Vader pull out his lightsabers and cut the slavers down, but his Force potential was something I want to highlight as well. If full potential Luke can throw a dovin basal which generate gravity wells, I can imagine Vader even with half of his power can do something similar, but remember Luke was tired after pulling off such a feat (another reason why EU Luke wasn't OP imo) and so that power would wane on Vader unless he practices.

Any more predictions and always feel clear to review. I read them all even though I can't reply on Net unfortunately. :(

May the Force be with you all always.