Chapter 3

Vader stared out at the twirling, twisting blue tempest of light speed travel on the bridge of his Star Destroyer Devastator. They were to enter the system just far enough away from any inhabited planets that his task force wouldn't be noticed for some time; it'd take a few hours for the Grand Inquisitor to make her appearance after they arrived. So he stood, and stewed in his rage over his rebuke by Sidious. Usually the blue tunnel of hyperspace would soothe him but not today. Before that earlier moment, he would've had another task to complete, one with Thrawn, he knew. But that would never be now. Once again, he was in the Lothal sector, cleaning up after the incompetence of others. It didn't matter. Nothing would leave this system alive this time. The boy Ezra would be captured, and perhaps turned, and everything else would be made ash.

"My lord?" A voice called from behind him,

—-

Thea's ship exited hyperspace with a jolt. They had finally arrived at Atollon, though far out of their sensor range, and even from here she could see their forces gathering to take down the Lothal Tie Defender factory, and she had a plan in mind. She wasn't as tactical as Thrawn, who was originally going to spearhead this assault, and was elsewhere at the moment, but she had her ways. "Open communications with the Devastator, Captain. I wish to speak with Lord Vader." She called out from her training chamber aboard her personal Venator, it was just off the main bridge so she could be there in a moment's notice if needed.

She had been dueling against six droids armed with a combination of vibroblades and blasters. It was always best to keep your skills sharp after all. A mistake most of the dead inquisitors made, they had been far too content to stay at their current skill level, never improving, never deepening their connection to the dark side. Foolish, all of them. She turned off her lightsaber, and took a moment to center herself.

Her captain followed her command without a word, and the full size holoprojection of Darth Vader appeared before her. "I see you have arrived on schedule." He said simply.

She nodded and spoke. "Indeed I have, and I wanted to talk to you about my plan."

"Your plan?" He asked, sounding irritated.

She didn't comment on his tone and pressed on. "Full out assaults only work so well against these rebels, and most of them always end up escaping anyway. I was thinking of something more intricate, I'll sneak down and infiltrate. Wait until the moment is right and they're all gathered, and kill them all at once. Anyone who manages to flee can then be shot down by our lovely fleet here."

Vader stood in silence for a brief moment, clearly thinking it over. "I accept your plan. Though be warned, should you fail or alert them, you shall suffer."

Thea only bowed slightly to him. "As you wish," and the holo vanished. She sighed and turned to the captain who stood attentively besides her. "Be so kind as to fetch me some proper clothes, would you? I'd like to be in their base within the hour."

"Right away, my lady." He stepped away to see her orders carried out.

Thirty minutes had passed and she was standing aboard a captured freighter that she had taken from a pirate some months ago. Apparently it was a stolen prototype from the Corellian shipyards. A ZT-800TF. Only two existed at the moment, and she had fallen in love with it right away. Similar to the YT-1300, but significantly bigger, better armed and better armored. She had modified it extensively, and it was wonderful for stealth. It'd be perfect for such a mission as this, and it'd easily be able to take down the infamous Ghost if needed. She brought along an imperial issue astromech droid to wait aboard the ship, and a few other droids that could handle the ship as well as any organic and take off should anyone attempt to board without her say so.

She donned a new outfit, a typical rogue look that wouldn't earn her a second glance, and hid her lightsaber up her sleeve. She filled her cargo hold with supplies she thought the rebellion would need and shortly after she was on her way alone. She was considered bringing a compliment of purge troopers, also in disguise, but the more people she brought along the greater the risk grew of discovery, and this would be an easy enough task for her by herself. Though, she absolutely had her heart set on capturing the Bridger boy. He'd be a nice token reward.

She went planetside without another wasted moment. They hailed her just before landing, but with the force, it was easy enough to deceive them and land. A handful of weary rebels met her as her boarding ramp touched down. She gave them a friendly smile and pointed back. "Brought you guys some fresh supplies. Food stuff, ammo, a shield generator or two. Some credits as well. Should be helpful, I think." They thanked her, and walked in to gather what she brought as she slipped away and towards their command center. She could sense both Jedi on planet, though where they were exactly she couldn't say. They couldn't sense her in return unless she willed it so. Hiding one's presence in the force was an easy but forgotten ability. Otherwise they'd know her for a dark sider right away. She walked with purpose.

Vader looked down at the planet Atollon below and seethed, this mission didn't matter, it was why he hadn't chased after the Phoenix group and their two Jedi after Malachor, they were nothing, and then he felt it. A stirring from the dark side. It was time, at last. Time to carry out his own plans. For sixteen years he'd been carrying out the will of the Emperor, and to what ends? To feed his endless lust and ambition? While Vader gained nothing from it. There was no purpose if this Empire wasn't under his rule. He'd stood passively behind Palpatine for years and watched, and learned. He could rule it, and far better.

Why waste his time playing at the apprentice and waiting to be replaced, and Maul and Dooku before him. He'd become the Sith Master. He'd waited for such an opportunity. He'd made a limited attempt at it before, with ones such as Galen Marek, which had failed spectacularly. He'd died on the unfinished Death Star only a few months ago, and he'd let that idea die after that. What a disappointment. Why enlist the help of another, after all? He only needed himself.

He'd be expected to be here for some time, enough to carry out his own will without being noticed. The inquisitor would notice, but she was of no consequence. After all, he had a few of his own hidden weapons.

Vader turned to his commander and nodded. "It's time to go. Set a course for the Kamino System."

"And the inquisitor?"

"She has her own Venator with its full complement. It will suffice."

"Understood. We're on our way."

The Devastator came around at its own pace and jumped to lightspeed.

It was a short trip to Kamino. Vader strolled through the halls of his hidden cloning facility at the bottom of the sea. A smaller, secretive building that Vader had learned of and taken control over. Yes, the main building had been destroyed years back by the now deceased Vice Admiral Rampart. But the cloners weren't fools, they had a select few buildings hidden under the sea in the case of such an event that had sat abandoned. Most of them had been ferried away to Mount Tantiss on Mykrr by his master, but Vader still found one tucked away that he refurbished for his own purposes. But he'd learned of his master's plans. Project Necromancer. And thought he could do something similar.

He stood in a large room , a single cloning pod before him. A few droids around it, making sure everything was optimal. But he refused to let another living being in the room for this. Vader smiled as he looked at the perfectly cloned body of himself. It was roughly 19 years of age. Young, but handsome and whole. The exemplary conduit for his power. It had taken some doing to accomplish this, and a number of failures.

He'd slowly learned the art of Sith sorcery. He hadn't used it to create massive beasts of war, thought bombs, or illusions, though he was capable of it now. No, it was to isolate this clone from the force entirely. He hadn't manipulated its midichlorians, he just put it into a void in the force. That way it wouldn't go insane or react oddly without a conscious mind to direct it, and he'd left his spell on this body for years. It'd only break, the second he entered it.

Vader put his robotic hand on the glass as he looked at himself. It was time. The apprentice would become the master.

He'd known how to use his technique for some time, but the right opportunity had never presented itself. He'd learned it from one of the greatest practitioners. Darth Vitiate himself. Or Valkorian, whichever. During a trip to Dromund Kaas with his master early on in his apprenticeship, to show him the ruins of another great Sith Empire. He'd stumbled on the holocron with his master none the wiser and learned many interesting things from it.

Vader closed his eyes and focused on his task and the force. He drew on his hatred, hate for himself and his failures, destroying the very reason he'd join the dark side to begin with. Failing to kill Obi-Wan and ending up with a ruined husk of a body. And been forced to play second to Palpatine, when he should've long since surpassed him. The snake that'd lied to him with tales of healing and immortality. He'd deluded himself into thinking Palpatine would ever give him what he wanted. He'd barely even trained him after all these years. Content to sneer and ridicule Vader, and send endless killers and would be replacements instead. Memories flashed through his mind. What was, what could've been, and what still could be.

Too long has his sun dragon heart slept. His self hatred and broken heart had crippled his potential. No longer. Now, he'd put his life to rights. He'd claim what was meant to be his. Everything. He was the chosen one, and now he chose to rule. There was no need for the Rule of Two. Vader would rule for an eternity, and no one would be strong enough to topple him.

With the technique of essence transfer, he freed the spirit within his broken body, an immensely painful and disorienting experience. He nearly lost himself in it, flung out into the void forevermore, before he refocused and entered his new body. It was anything but pleasant, all told.

Then he opened his eyes, and with a casual wave of his hand. The glass of the pod shattered and Vader fell to his knees. Cooling liquid and glass lay all around him, and he laughed. A full hearty laugh of a young man with working lungs that he hadn't experienced since the days before the Clone Wars.

Vader took a deep, long breath. The sterile air of the cloning facility was the sweetest smell he'd ever experienced. He was almost giddy now, the pathways of potential opening up in his mind. What couldn't he do now, after all? But he rebuked himself for the thought. He'd always be capable of being more powerful, but he'd unconsciously blocked his own potential with his own personal hang-ups. His self loathing, and his grudge with the past. He'd tried keeping Skywalker and Vader as two separate people in his mind, but that had to change. He would instead embrace who he had been, and that would only benefit him now.

Being in a suit hadn't limited his power at all, he had been his own limit. Along with his body, he'd change his thinking as well. A fresh start.

He rose, and donned his own clothing one last time. He had his new outfit elsewhere, but it'd cause too much confusion if he showed back up at his ship as someone else. What awaited him was black robes and armor, not dissimilar to what he wore as Vader, but better, he had added various armored plates of Mandalorian steel, he wasn't planning on losing anymore limbs, but the added protection would be welcome. It'd stop any blaster bolt or lightsaber that got too close. Soon enough.

This different, more elegant look, he'd had a long time to decide on a new look for himself and without the claustrophobic helmet, which was the best part of all and clothed himself. He briefly looked over his lightsaber before attaching it to his belt.

This was a golden opportunity, but he still must be cautious. There was no need to rush, and Palpatine was still an incredibly dangerous foe, who had without a doubt felt what has happened. But Vader doubted he knew exactly what had transpired. Palpatine was someone who'd have plans within plans.

He'd feel threatened by this change, but he wouldn't bother trying to kill him when he thought he could still use him, and Vader would in turn use him to his own advantage. After all, there was no one in the galaxy that would be a better replacement now that he was whole. And would be far more comely to the general public. Explaining where he'd come from would be an easy task.

He would make allies among the imperials. Thrawn, perhaps. His impeccable mind would be very helpful. The Inquisitor Thea, even. He knew she'd already been poking into Sith knowledge. It wouldn't be hard to sway her. And he could use another apprentice. Imperials that were afraid of him in his suit or to that Vader himself had scoffed at. He needed them now.

Yes, he has the love of the regular troopers, but that wasn't enough. He wouldn't risk splintering the empire by hasty action.. Vader had always hated politics, but that didn't mean he didn't know how to play the game. He was a direct man at his core, he liked simple solutions, but he would adapt as he always had. Outplaying Palpatine at his own game would be the best possible victory.

Vader left the facility, and headed for his ship. He'd wondered how the galaxy would react to the return of Anakin Skywalker. Certain people, like Tarkin and Thrawn, already knew who Vader had been, so to see his appearance might confuse them as well. Time would tell.

—-

Thea Fel had slipped away from the man who'd led her into the so-called Chopper Base, and felt out for the Bridger boy. She'd kept an ear open and heard he was in his quarters on the base, having recently returned from a mission and was finding some well earned rest. Keeping everyone's focus away from her was a simple matter. The Jedi Knight Kanan Jarus was off somewhere at the moment. She would've liked to have fought him. He'd been skilled enough to kill the former owner of her title, at least.

It wasn't a difficult matter to find his exact room and knock on the door. A young man answered the door a moment later, he was tired, almost a bit haunted. She smiled her most seductive smile. "You're Ezra Bridger, are you not?"

—-

"Lord Vader," Palpatine hissed, the greatest of shock upon his face. That alone gave Vader a small smile. He'd rarely surprised his master.

"Master," Vader said, kneeling, head bowed, as was his way.

"You're healed, or you've acquired a new body. How?" His master asked simply. "And you neglected the assignment I set for you."

"That mission was of little consequence. Fel will manage on her own. As for how. You know how, just as well as I do." Vader answered, and lifted his head to meet his eyes in challenge. "The real question is, what will you do now?"

Palpatine sat in silence for a long moment, seeming to think the situation over in his brilliant mind. Vader knew he'd find some way to spin it to his advantage as he always had. "Some explanation will be needed, I think. The vanishing of Vader will be welcome to many. The return of the war hero Anakin Skywalker after so many years and still youthful.."

"Carbonite," Vader answered smoothly, he'd prepared for this, of course. "I was healing from a duel against some traitor Jedi during Order 66 and had to heal for a long time. I emerged, and then Lord Vader tried killing me personally to test himself or some such. But Skywalker was always loyal to you and Vader was killed or ran, it matters not. I'll take his place, a much more pleasing face for your right hand, I'd say."

Palpatine nodded and smiled, "Yes, that should do nicely. Of course you'll be required to make many appearances within the Imperial hierarchy. To meet and greet, and to be tested by others who would think less of you."

"Of course, that won't be a problem." Another long moment passed between them as they stared at each other. Feeling the other out. In Vaders mind, Palpatine wasn't as intimidating as he might've once looked to him. But that could be his arrogance speaking, and he wouldn't make that mistake again. Caution would suit.

Still, he was tempted to spar with the old man, and see where he stood currently. He'd never been far away from Palpatine in lightsaber skill even in recent years, even trapped in the bulky suit. But now? Who knows.

"I suppose we should address the Senate as soon as possible then."

"Must we?" Palpatine asked icily with a lifted brow.

"Of course, if I'm to assume the responsibilities of Lord Vader. It'd make it easier on the military and the civilians if I made myself known." Vader said simply, easier on them, and easier on him to reintroduce himself to the galaxy at large. Playing the sympathy card always worked wonders. A lost hero of the Empire would be well received.

Palpatine sat quietly for a long moment. Thinking, drinking in the possibilities. "Then it shall be done, Lord Vader. You can have your triumphant return to the galaxy."

Vader bowed, not as deeply as he used to however. That changed, as many things would from this point onward. Imperial politics would be much easier for the face of Anakin Skywalker then it ever had been for the fearsome Darth Vader. He finally allowed himself to smile.

Hello all, it's been ages since I've updated a story, but I've been bored so I figured why not.