AN: Sorry about how long this update took to get out. I've been having some severe writer's block and decided to just put out what I had rather than make the other chapters I wanted to add in.

AN2: Trying to decide who to make Vader's new apprentice as I hinted before. There are several options, I'm looking at people who were alive force users during that time period rather than making an OC and found six options, most from the books or legends comics. If anyone has any suggestions or opinions, please put them down in the review. The six I'm currently considering are Celeste Morne, T'ra Saa, Mara Jade, Darth Maul, Aren Lynn, and Lumiya.

Shadow of the Force

Chapter 20

-Obi-Wan-

"Sir, we've found them." One of the Citadel pilots escorting himself and General Kota saluted, the two having taken one of Peverell's ships to track down Cal Kestis and Seeker Junda.

"Finally." Obi-Wan groaned as he got up, his knees protesting the movement. Curse that blasted sand planet and curse himself for letting himself go like he had. Kota snickering at him failed to help in any way.

"Rogue Shadow two hailing Mantis, I repeated, this is the Rogue Shadow two hailing the Mantis." One of the Citadel pilots spoke on the radio to the ship that they'd only been able to track down through use of the force, information brokers, persistence, and no small amount of luck.

"I…uh…yes!" an older sounding man responded through the radio with confused trepidation, "This is Captain Greez of the Mantis. Can I help you?" the man sounded exceptionally nervous.

Taking the radio transmitter from the pilot, Obi-Wan hoped those aboard the Mantis wouldn't freak out "This is Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Rogue Shadow Two. I'm looking for an old friend, Cere Junda. I have old Kota here too." He swore he heard someone fall out of a chair in surprise on the other end "Hello?"

"Obi-Wan?!" Junda's voice come through stunned.

"Ah, hello Cere." Obi-Wan nodded happily, "Do we have permission to board?" as he spoke, he extended his presence in the force, letting Cere sense and read him.

"Permission granted Master Kenobi." The woman stated happily as the ships pulled abreast of each other, the Rogue Shadow extending a vacuum tunnel to allow safe boarding as the ships floated in space.

"Well, let's go talk to em." Kota grunted, the old General stretching as they walked to go talk to their, hopefully, soon to be allies. Boarding the Mantis, Obi-Wan noted the small Latero man he assumed was Captain Greez along with Cere, young Cal Kestis. There was also, much to his surprise, a Dathomiran Night Sister holding young Cal's hand.

"Now Obi-Wan before you say anything-" Cere started nervously, noting his gaze on the held hands.

"Be calm Cere." Obi-Wan sighed, holding up a hand to cut her off "I'm not going to protest them. It would be hypocritical of me if I did."

"Wait what?" the young redhaired man blinked in confusion, "Cere said you were the ideal Master who followed the tennets of the Order to the letter. You formed attachments too?"

"I…I was in love once." Obi-Wan admitted, giving the young couple a sad smile, "I honestly hadn't thought about it for so long until recently. But the woman I loved was killed during the Clone Wars, and my own apprentice was married in secret."

"…You're shitting me." Cere balked "And you allowed it?"

"You met Anakin. How do you think he'd react to being told not to do something?" at his question, Cere relented, acknowledging the simple fact.

"Why are you here?" the Night sister demanded, her tone blunt as most of the natives of that planet tended to be.

"Tides are changing." Kota stepped forward, "The resistance is making progress against the Empire, we're gaining ground. We already have eight Force Users and know where Yoda is as well. We wanted to recruit you the same Force using faction we've joined up with."

"There's a new Order?" Junda sat forward hopefully.

"Not…exactly." Obi-Wan ran a hand down his face, "This will take some explaining but please keep an open mind." He'd certainly had to recently.

-Palpatine-

Reclining in his Throne, Palpatine smirked as he read the reports from his various agents, technicians, and spies. His new Death Star was already being designed; resources being appropriated to create the new super weapon. Yes, those pathetic rebels might have destroyed his first Death Star, but they acquired a small reprieve for themselves, nothing more.

"My Lord." Hearing the door opening, he looked over to see one of his servants bowing and scraping "My deepest apologies for not having your viewing room ready for Lord Vader's broadcast. I've already prepared it as well as your analysts to view the people's response."

"What announcement?" Palpatine demanded, joviality gone as he narrowed his eyes.

"Was…was it not ordered by yourself my lord?" the servant looked up, scared and confused, "I…all I know is that Lord Vader is currently doing a live broadcast sent to the entire Empire."

"Leave me." Palpatine's voice was low and dangerous as the servant scrambled away, a screen descending as Palpatine pushed some buttons, bringing up the broadcast in the throne room.

"Greetings, citizens of the Empire." Lord Vader's synthesized voice carried out, Palpatine having managed to catch it early on, "Today, I bring forth new change to this Empire, and to this Galaxy."

"What are you doing boy?" Palpatine snarled, trying to sense Vader but unable to enter his apprentice's mind.

"Many of you remember the Jedi Order that once held such firm sway over the Galaxy. All of you are likely aware of them being declared traitors, but their atrocities extend much further than is commonly known." And Vader continued, listing the taking of children from families, the refusal to allow emotion or attachment, sending unwanted padawans to toil away as farm hands in what was essentially slavery. Hearing it all, Palpatine reclined in amusement, curious at what made his apprentice rake his old order through the muck.

"But that is only one side of the coin." When Vader continued, Palpatine gained a bad feeling in his gut. "The Emperor, Sheev Palpatine, is no benevolent old man. He is Darth Sidious, a lord of the Sith and a force master in his own right." At the revelation of that secret, Palpatine's eyes flashed a hateful yellow. How dare his apprentice betray him this way! Using the Force, he wrenched open a panel on the arm of his throne and pushed the button for the Kill Switch he hid in Vader's armor.

But nothing happened.

"How do I know all this?" Vader reached for his helmet, flipping a switch as he began to remove the life support helm. Instead of a burnt and half melted wreck that had once been a face, he saw the face of Anakin Skywalker in its place, whole and restored. "My true name…is Anakin Skywalker. I was born a slave on Tatooine, taken by the Jedi, trained to ignore emotion and love. I loved regardless and Palpatine took advantage of that, grooming me into the apprentice he desired. I had wed in secret and soon had visions through the force of her dying in Childbirth. The Jedi told me to celebrate her death and becoming one with the force. Palpatine told me he could save her."

He saw Anakin's face take on the thunderous rage he was so famous for in the Clone wars, the face that his enemies had grown to fear "He pushed me, tempted me, and in the end, I chose my wife over the Jedi. I committed atrocities in his name and lashed out when I thought she had betrayed me. Palpatine told me she and my child had died but this was a lie. Palpatine used the Force to steal away the life of my Padme, keeping me alive as he rebuilt me." The camera panned to show all the cybernetics that had once filled Vader's suit, including a scorch mark around the kill switch that he had triggered. "But now I know the truth. Now I am whole. Palpatine, I am coming for you and your throne. This is my Empire now." And with that, the broadcast cut off.

-Harry-

As the broadcast finished, Harry reacted instantly, putting up a barrier to stop some of the more violent members of the Resistance from rushing at Luke. "Back off!" Harry narrowed his eyes, pulling out his black bladed saber as the Rebel base grew tense.

"That sone of a bitch is Vader's kid!" one rebel was glaring at Luke.

"He helped destroy the Death Star!" another member of the rebellion protested; clear lines being drawn.

"Enough!" Mon Mothma entered the room, observing the situation. The Force screamed at him as the woman observed those in the area, Harry remembering the words from General Kota about her obsessive need to take back control "Guards, have Captain Peverell and Skywalker thrown into a cell." A stunner slammed into her face as she collapsed unconscious.

"Not going to happen." Harry's eyes narrowed as the rest of those on his side readied their weapons just in case, ready to fight their way out. "Take her and leave, or die." Harry gave his ultimatum, staring down the various rebels who looked nervously at the different armed fighters and Force users they were locked into a room with.

The Force helped make them flee with their current chaotic emotions, the Rebels hauling away Mothma in the hopes of healing her, unaware that she was just unconscious.

"Let's move." Harry turned to the others, not wanting to stick around for them coming back and causing an actual fight.

AN: Boom! Now we have several factions going on at once! We have Palpatine's Empire. Vader's faction seeking to take over the Empire. The Citadel forces. And the Rebel Alliances that remained with Mothma. Shit gonna get REAL.