Chapter 34 - Sith Reborn
Kshhhhhh
Darth Vader held up his left hand, idly watching as static arced across his glove and between each finger. He snapped his hand closed then open again and the Force lightning discharged with a sudden burst of flashing light. Everyone else shielded their eyes for a moment, then looked back to the Emperor. "You complain at my absence, Senator, yet seem surprised that I return." He directed a harsh gaze towards Bail Organa. "I am here. Speak."
For a few long moments, no one said a thing. Not Bail, nor Grand Moff Tarkin, not even the Grand Inquisitor, who should be used to Vader's Force presence. But he felt more keenly than anyone else how much stronger the Sith became in his long sojourn beneath the Palace. And the frigid blade of terror dragged its tip down his spine. Fear wouldn't even allow his muscles to fail him and grant the merciful reprieve of collapsing. Without feeling the Dark Side pouring off Vader like a tidal wave, Bail and Tarkin recovered first.
"S-so, you've returned?" Bail asked, stumbling for words.
Walking across the room and around his desk, Vader took his chair and looked at the Senator. "You would do well, Senator, to understand the True Power of the Force." Then he reached up and unhooked the airtight clamps. A hiss if air and he lifted the black helmet from his head. With a solid, metallic, thud, he set the Imperial visage down and glared at all three with his own eyes.
"How…?! You can't even breathe without…"
True enough. And that was the least of the changes to Darth Vader's body. The skin on his face and head, though still ghostly pale by most human standards, was unmarred by battle scars or terrible burns. But it was the eyes that drew everyone in.
One, the same as ever, yellow and burning with an almost malevolent inner light. The other?
"My lord!" The Grand Inquisitor said, finally recovering. He took a knee and lowered his head. "Your eye, what happened to it?"
"A Jedi blade destroyed it. I created a replacement." Even without the helmet, Vader's deep, rumbling voice remained. The Grand Moff, one of the few privy to the truth, knew of the damage done to the Emperor's lungs and vocal chords and how the mask and suit kept him alive and assisted in speaking, but now? Only the hint of surgical scars, almost completely concealed by Vader's collar, hinted at what he'd done to himself beneath the Palace. Tarkin leaned closer, examining the Emperor's new left eye. "A mechanical prosthetic, lord Vader?" Pure black, except for a red iris, the new organ looked like no cybernetic enhancement they'd ever seen.
"It is biological, Grand Moff. Sith Alchemy and Sorcery, courtesy of Plagueis the Wise. The result of adapting Kaminoan and Chiss physiology to my own body. And along with that, there is power in the blood." Despite the cryptic answer, he held out his hand and lightning danced in his palm.
"Is the hand also…?" Bail asked. Vader removed the gloves. Left appeared to be flesh, right an obvious, though advanced, mechanical prosthetic. "Only, I heard you couldn't use that electricity through your prosthetic hands?"
"And where, Senator, did you learn this, I wonder?" Vader asked, a hint of menace in his voice. "Your visits to Jocasta Nu have not gone unnoticed. You, Mothma, and others have had so very many conversations with the former Jedi Archivist."
Bail's eyes betrayed surprise. They'd spent a considerable amount of credits hiding the meetings with Master Nu.
"Understand this," Vader said as the room chilled. Tarkin felt the goosebumps running up his body and Organa couldn't help but cross his arms to fend of the cold sensation. "You, Mothma, the entire Senate. It is a convenience and a concession on my part. You are unneeded, but useful. My Empire will weather the oncoming Storm no matter your presence, Senator. So choose whether you wish to have a hand in this galaxy and its future."
"… Now, lord Vader," Bail started. The metal hand shot out. Vader had him by the front of his robes. Bail's feet kicked the air. Lifted up as the Sith stood, Organa stared into a pair of mismatched eyes and considered how big the Emperor truly was. Seven feet tall. His new armor and the many improvements were obvious, even to a politician.
That was when Senator Organa noticed it. Something familiar in the Emperor's face. "Did we meet? A long time ago?"
Vader's eyes narrowed dangerously for a moment, but he gently lowered Bail. "My patience has limits, Senator. However, so long as you remain ignorant of what we face, my expectations are tempered. Inquisitor, explain to them what you sense."
The Master of the Inquisitorius gulped and slipped two fingers into his collar, tugging it looser. For the first time, Tarkin and Bail looked away from Vader and noticed the beads of sweat pouring down his face. "A-as you will, my lord."
"Are you alright?" Tarkin asked with an arched brow. Curiosity, more than concern, prompted the query.
"Neither of you feel it. I'd wager the other Inquisitors and Jocasta Nu are not so blind. Even Black Squadron might be on their knees. I'm barely standing myself. The Dark Side is pouring out of lord Vader like water from a spring." The Pau'un was panting now, taking in long deep breaths, trying to suck in more air.
"Impressive," Vader said from the far side of the room. He'd wandered towards the window, looking out over the city. "A suitable test." The pressure every Force-Sensitive on Coruscant had struggled under vanished. Beings across the planet, with only the hint of a connection, suddenly felt a weight lift, like the passing of a dark mood. "For now, I will show the three of you the true threat before us. A warning, Organa. After this, there will be no more clemency." In one smooth motion, the Emperor raised his black metal hand and curled the fingers into a fist.
"Wha-"
"How!?"
"Where are we, lord Vader?" Tarkin asked. Only the Grand Moff maintained a steely grip on his emotions, cementing the Sith's confidence in his choice of second-in-command.
The four stood upon a vast, dead landscape. At one moment, Vader's office on Coruscant. The next instant, some sort of dry lake bed. One bathed in waning twilight. Wind tugged at their clothes and dust stirred around their feet. Scraggly plants, most little more than dry grass, clung to life in whatever cracks and crevices the choking dirt presented.
Tarkin kept his cool, but he still took a few steps closer to Vader as the hairs on his neck stood on end. Bail and the Inquisitor followed suit. "If I may, lord Vader, where are we?"
"A vision from the Force, one I grant to you. Behold, the oncoming Storm." Pointing towards the Horizon, Vader drew their attention to a raging tempest of fiery fury and grotesque size. Bolts of lightning, a million light years across, fiery explosions illuminating impossible inner depths beyond the churning cloud front, and vicious whirlwinds whipping up the dust across the horizon all came together in something beyond comprehension.
"By the Force…" Bail uttered, mouth agape. "What is it?"
Releasing his hand, the illusion vanished and all four stood once again in the Imperial office. "Something which should not exist."
###
"Are you mad, Organa!? We've spent the last two weeks doing everything in our power to undermine Vader and build up a resistance! You're the last I'd expect to turn your back on the Republic!"
The accusation, and dozens like it, echoed across the table, along with plenty of curses and questions of whether or not Alderaan's representative had been threatened, bribed, or merely controlled by some sort of Sith Mind Trick. Bail sighed and rubbed his temple with one hand while the other held up a data slate. He scanned the information, waiting for the hubbub to die down. After a few minutes of recriminations and panic at the justifiable fear of Vader's forces storming in to arrest them all, Mothma managed to calm things down.
"My thanks," he whispered to her. Then louder, "I understand, believe me I do. If any of you, even Mon Mothma, came to me with the same information, I'd have questions."
"I'm not asking questions!" came a fiery voice from one of the younger bureaucrats. "I'm calling you a traitor!"
"Yes, yes," Bail held up his hands. "That too. I'm not advocating for bending the knee to Vader and carrying out his every word. I still have the same questions about the raid on the InterGalactic Banking Clan building and what happened to Card. I'm hardly going to support that dastard Muun, not after the whole fiasco during the Clone War, but we may," some voices of opposition started shouting again. "May, I said may! We may have bigger worries at the moment."
"So you say," Mothma responded first. "Yet it was a-a vision? Through the Force? How can you be so sure Vader isn't manipulating you?"
"I can't." Bail sighed and slumped back down in his chair. Eyes closed, he rubbed both temples and tried to remember the sensations. The sights, the sounds, the feeling of wind against his bare face. The crunch of dusty earth crumbling under his shoes.
His pulse quickened. Looking down, he spied the tremble in his fingers. "An illusion…?" he whispered. If Darth Vader could trick them, conjure up nightmares at his will, that might be even worse. "How do you even fight him?"
Mon Mothma ignored the arguments steadily building across the table and focused on her old friend. "Are you alright?"
"Are any of us?" he answered with a sardonic smile. "I thought the war was beyond anything I'd ever see, but now?" he hung his head. "Here I am, trying to convince part of the Senate that Vader is our only choice. Remember back when Naboo supported Palpatine and his bid for the chancellorship? Only this time we know what sort of snake we're dealing with. And I still think it might be the better choice, Force help me."
Before she could answer, Mothma looked to the sound of a door sliding open and thudding footsteps. "Vader."
The Sith strode in, helmet under one arm, as everyone got their first look at his new armor and the face which for so long remained hidden. A pair of mismatched eyes almost glowed from whatever inner rage constantly boiled away within the man. To those gathered, his new figure brought to mind Jedi Generals from the Clone Wars. Black, rather than white, it allowed more agile movements than his previous suit, but his heavy footfalls proved the armor's true weight. The old chest-mounted controls were no more. In their place, only sleek, black durasteel remained. Like a combination of Trooper armor and Sith Lord. "It seems your efforts have born little fruit, Senator Organa," His voice rumbled.
"I've had precious little to work with, lord Vader."
The entire room was frozen in silence, looking back between the Emperor's tall figure and Bail, half risen from his chair. After what most politicians had seen, both through the news and in person, they couldn't but wonder if such words would be the end of Bail. Certainly Vader had killed for less. But not, it seemed, this time.
"You have not failed for lack of words or proof," Vader said as he took the grim mask from under his left arm and lowered it over his head. With a hiss and the snapping of mag-locks, it was once more the man they'd feared since he first arrived on Coruscant. Somehow, the helmet made it worse.
Kshhhhhh
"You lack conviction." Vader turned on his heel and ordered, "Follow." Whether out of fear, curiosity, or simply dumbfounded obeisance, the room cleared, with Bail Organa and Mon Mothma chasing after the Emperor. They soon found themselves walking next to the Grand Inquisitor and Tarkin.
"A pleasure, Senators," Tarkin said with a cordial nod.
"Where is he taking us," Mothma asked.
The Inquisitor turned slightly and answered. "A demonstration. We've been running experiments ever since we found the accursed thing. I cannot even call it an animal, those still have a presence through the Force, but this isn't even alive. Not by any measure I would use." As he spoke, his explanation became heated. The anger radiated off him as he tried to spit out more details. "It should not exist. Only the Senate's ignorance and lord Vader's orders kept me from destroying it." That last comment earned the politicians a glare.
"I'm not sure I understand," Mothma said, turning to Tarkin and hoping for more.
"I have little to tell. Put simply, this," he waved vaguely, "life-form? It is unique. According to the Emperor and our illustrious Inquisitor, it simply does not exist, yet we have seen it. It moves, breathes, eats. We don't know its language, but it seems to be cursing us. I've been a military man long enough to recognize that."
"It is a blasphemy," the Inquisitor said. "Even the Jedi would not suffer this abomination to live."
"Indeed," Tarkin said and continued. "We found it amongst the possessions of Darth Plagueis, Palpatine's Sith master. In a state of suspended animation, in fact. The results upon reviving the creature were, let us call it, intriguing."
"I'm not sure I understand," Bail said.
"You will," the Inquisitor muttered, darkly. "Lord Vader explained some things to us before, and what he showed us of that so-called 'Storm' answered much. Be grateful he deigns to show you as well. Take it as a sign of how precarious the galaxy's position truly is."
###
"What do you want from me, Dark Sider?"
Jedi Archivist Jocasta Nu knelt in the center of her cell on a small cushion, meditating on the Will of the Force. These days, it seemed so much more distant than during Republic. Things were clouded, obscured. Like looking through a mirror fogged by steam. Still, far from being blinded, the woman sensed something great and terrible. To her mind, it was no doubt Darth Vader, the self-styled Emperor of the galaxy, and whatever machinations he planned to visit on it. She hadn't opened her eyes, or even twitched, but nonetheless, felt the presence.
"I'm here to escort you, Archivist," Tenth Brother said.
"Ah," Jocasta answered with a smile. "So I'm finally being executed. I'd wonder what took so long, except I felt whatever Vader's been up to. I'd almost be impressed if it weren't for the horror of a Sith Lord becoming so powerful in the Dark Side. Bodes ill, doesn't it? Are you so certain of your allies?"
"Don't bother, Jedi," Tenth said with a sigh. "And this isn't an execution. Not for you, at least."
That gave Jocasta pause. She opened her eyes and rose in a single fluid motion. "What do you mean not me? I can't sense a single presence besides myself worthy of so many souls gathering."
"Neither can anyone else."
"What?"
"You'll understand. For now, come. And don't bother trying anything. We tailored your meals to be barely enough to keep you alive. You're in no position to call upon the Force and escape."
Jocasta hated to admit it, but the Inquisitor was right. Even with near constant meditation and communion with the Light Side, she barely had the strength to stand and walk out her cell. She almost fell into the waiting hover chair. "Trapped in a Force-damned medical chair." The over-sized seat, to which she was shackled hand and foot, floated gently in front of Tenth as they left the prison and entered a waiting vehicle. "Where are you taking me?"
"The Inquisitorius Headquarters. Our Arena, specifically. Lord Vader has quite a show planned."
###
The Inquisitorius headquarters, home to Vader's personal hunters. Answering to none but the Emperor himself. More than one politician would admit to discomfort standing around the the pit which served as a training grounds for the Force users to act as the hounds sent out to deal with rouge Jedi, along with other elements of the former Republic acting against the Galactic Empire.
"What do you think, Bail?" Mothma asked. "Why haven't they come knocking at our doors?"
Before he could answer, Bail turned to see Tarkin approach. They'd separated upon arrival, but apparently it was only temporary. Standing with them near the railing, hands folded neatly behind his back, a thin smile found its way to his lips. "I wager more than few others are having the same conversation," and he tilted his head to the other Senatorial factions all filing into the room and gathering. Nervous glances and worried whispers spread like wildfire. Behind them, standing by the doors and escorting late arrivals, the Imperial Guard stood like statues. Impassive and uncaring. Much like Vader's Black Squadron, these too received training under the Inquisitorius, but further specialized. No warfare or flight instructions, the Guard focused on mastering the ability to put down a target at close quarters. Lethally or otherwise.
This fact did little to calm the senators.
"Grand Moff," Bail said, forcing a smile. "What a pleasant surprise. I thought you'd left us to attend other matters."
"My, my. And here I thought politics engendered a forked tongue. You must learn to dissemble." The military man never lost the friendly smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, which remained sharp, like a hawk on the wing observing prey. "And I think we can dismiss with pleasantries. Look here, the guest of honor."
Down below, a strange object floated out under the guard of several Troopers. A cylinder, six feet or so from end to end and three feet across. Transpara-steel windows allowed everyone gathered to look within and whatever was inside looked nearly cramped.
"Who is it. I don't think I've ever seen its kind."
In answer to Mothma's comment, Tarkin nodded. "Indeed. Nor has anyone else. It is entirely unknown in the history of this galaxy. But perhaps a Jedi would be able to offer further insight?"
As he spoke, Tenth Brother walked in, a hover chair following obediently at his side. "Tarkin," Jocasta Nu said without looking. Her gaze glued to the canister. For a moment, the old woman's mouth hung agape. Then she turned on the Moff, her eyes smoldering with anger. "What abomination is this!?"
"Abomination?" Mothma and Organa asked simultaneously.
"Wasn't us," Tenth answered. Sensing the questions hanging in the air, he turned towards the senators, who shivered. Even blind, Tenth still looked at whoever he spoke with. Sightless eyes following you was a bit unnerving, as more than a few of the Inquisitor's targets learned. "We found it. Something Plagueis kept, suspended in cold sleep. And from our perspective, it doesn't exist. So far as the Force is concerned."
"Pardon?" Bail said.
Looking away form the canister, Jocasta leaned her head against the back of her chair. "I can't sense it through the Force. At all. It might as well be a corpse." They all looked down at it. Inside, it threw itself against the cannister. Definitely alive. "So, now what?" she asked, then her eyes went wide.
The air temperature dropped suddenly and a shiver of fear ran down almost everyone's spines. Tenth and Tarkin grew used to the sensation long ago.
Kshhhhhh
"We do not know what it is."
Vader's boots clanged against metal flooring as he walked into the arena.
"We do not know its origin."
He stopped directly opposite the canister and for the first time, the creature stopped struggling. It stared at Vader and a look of pure rage filled its eyes.
"But we know it is not alone. Tarkin."
Tarkin keyed into the arena's broadcast system and spoke. "Our first contacts with the Chiss Ascendency confirmed this creature is neither singular, nor a creation of bio-science. They've encountered its like before. At the north-western fringes of the galaxy."
An explosion of voices erupted, all asking a cacophony of questions. Where did it come from? What did it want? Could it be spoken to? Reasoned with? Why is it locked up? Can diplomatic channels be established? And who exactly are the Chiss Ascendency?
Kshhhhhh
"Silence."
Not a request. Not an order. An absolute command. One powered by a wave of Dark Side energies. Suddenly no one could talk. Except-
"What is it?" Jocasta asked.
Vader turned and the lenses of his helmet regarded the former Jedi archivist. "It is utterly separate from the Force."
"No. The Force is life and life is the Force. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the whole galaxy together. It is part of and generated by all life. To be alive is to be part of the Force!"
"Such is the view of the Jedi," Vader answered. "And yet…" He nodded to the Troopers who saluted and backed away, retreating to the door from which they entered. As soon as it closed Vader motioned with one hand. The canister locks popped open. The creature within reacted instantly. Kicking out, it sent the lid of its prison flying into the air and grabbed the edges with both hand. Using the rim for leverage, it heaved up in one massive burst of strength and launched itself up and out, flipping through the air and landing with an impact so great the observers felt it. Despite being shorter than Vader by almost a full foot, its weight must be incredible.
As it rose from the landing, the Senate got their first good look at the creature. Grayish skin covered a sloping, skull and forehead with ridges running down to the brow. Beneath cold eyes, an harshly upturned nose and sharp teeth in its grimace gave the impression of a humanoid skull. And humanoid was the word. A head atop shoulders. Two arms and legs. Hard to say whether the differences or similarities were more disturbing. Slightly pointed ears pricked and twitched as a rumble of whispered talks ran through the crowd. The more observant noticed scars. Ritual scars, running across its face and upper body. A black set of armored leggings and simple boots covered everything below the stomach.
Gaining its bearings, the creature locked onto Vader. Extending a finger, it let loose with guttural snarls and choking coughs. Although its language was unknown, everyone new a string of curses when they heard them. And the Emperor understood a challenge when someone issued it. He reached under his cape and withdrew his new lightsaber.
The hilt, longer compared to most sabers, featured a custom knurled grip. A single Krayt fang decorated the pommel, along with a reddish-orange scrap of silk braided just above it. Dragon bone curved up the front of the grip, creating an oblong shape and nestling it more firmly into Vader's hand. Beneath the emitter, a window into the internals displayed a perfectly round crystal shimmering with golden light. "Come." A burst of sunlight as the crystal activated, but as soon as it left the emitter, the blade turned deep red. A familiar humming power, but somewhere beneath it, the unmistakable sound of a bestial growl.
The creature charged.
Vader's left arm shot out, sending a powerful Force Push into it, but the strange alien only stumbled for half a step, then he was rushing again, covering the distance. The Sith side-stepped a haymaker and pushed once more, summoning his full command of the Dark Side, but even this only served to knock the strange life-form back a few stumbling steps.
Jocasta gasped as Tenth furrowed his brow. They both sensed it. This thing wasn't merely invisible to their senses. The Force itself proved ineffective. Anyone else would fall to the bone-crushing power behind Vader's will. This thing shrugged it off like a glancing blow. Now it charged again, and when Vader swung his saber, it ducked the strike and shoulder checked the Sith, who fell, rolled, and popped back up, using the momentum to gain distance. "Most impressive. I cannot foresee your intentions. Cannot sense the direction of your will. However," This time, Vader pushed the attack, and in a blur of motion, he spun is blade in a blurring display of skill, pressing down on his foe. Faster and faster the lightsaber whirred until it was like a red disk at the end of his arm, twirling back and forth, keeping the creature on the back foot. At last, Vader left a false opening, tempting the thing to charge.
Its arm snaked out, trying to grab Vader's wrist and hold of the saber, but instead, a burst of electric power hit the alien, sending it flying across the arena and spasming as Force Lightning arced across its body. Writhing uncontrollably as the assault continued, Vader deactivated his weapon and returned the hilt to his belt. Then he ceased the attack, and ripped a metal plate from the wall with a single wave of his hand. As soon as the creature looked up, it had to dive away as the chunk of debris slammed into the ground. Skin still smoldering, charred skin sloughing away to reveal raw flesh beneath, it grinned and cast another string of invectives in its own tongue.
"As you saw, using pure Force powers is nearly useless." This time, Vader reached out with one hand and grasped the air. The thing touched its neck, but nothing more. No chocking, no broken neck. A moment of mild discomfort, nothing more. "But as you saw, it is vulnerable to that which uses the physical world. Lightning and physical objects. But a direct attack, to either body or mind is useless. I have attempted mental manipulation several times since discovering the creature, all useless. But the Force is not our only option. Captain?"
A bolt of laser fire erupted from overhead and lanced through its leg, forcing it to one knee. In that moment of distraction, Vader was upon it, lightsaber in hand, blade activated again. A single swing and the creature's head hit the floor, a look of surprise still plastered across dead eyes. A moment later, the body fell.
Kshhhhhh
"If its kind intrude upon Imperial space, they will follow this one."
Author Notes: I'm Back! I figure I owe a small explanation for vanishing. Mostly because it's funny in hindsight. Not at the time. Basically, everyone at my job was laid off out of the blue and I had to scramble and land a new job. In the end, we found out one of our managers was stealing money and giving it to some girl on OF! A lot of money! Felony-levels! Absolutely wild, but I did land a part-time gig, so I can get back to finishing this story and starting on book two. Hot damn its good to be back! We've got a handful more chapters and Darth Vader is taking off the kiddie gloves.