Author's note: I have to start this chapter on a solemn note. RIP, James Earl Jones, dead at the age of 93. You lived a long, fulfilling life, and you were a big mark on many of our childhoods, including mine. Either as Vader, Mufasa, or another character of yours, you've been there in the darkest times. Your legacy with live on for decades to come. Rest easy, James, Carrie, Sebastian, Peter, etc, may the Force be with you all always.

Feel free to join my Discord server: . disc ord. gg /3b3B xdHQKG (delete the spaces). You can talk about whatever you want in there. SW and RDR channels are in there as well.

Chapter 7

During the time of the New Republic and Galactic Federation, for what was about to be done, they would have been able to go anywhere available. Now with the Emperor yet to be dead, the Empire still intact, entire fleets at the tyrant's command, along with the Second Death Star in works and other projects, Luke knew the Emperor would sense the shift that had been leveled against him.

It was only a matter of time before he discovered that Vader was no longer loyal to him and that he had a new foe through the Force.

While ideally, Luke could have dealt with the Emperor himself, now wielding the Force to a much higher degree than he did all those years ago, the detracting factor of that is that most of the Imperials who defected in the original timeline may not do so this time around. Alderaan sent ripples through the galaxy, causing many to wake up to the Empire's tyranny, and start to oppose them. Various local governments were called to arms and supported the Rebellion, allowing them to thrive. Vader's intelligence served to be useful yet again, however, for he possessed a recording of Tarkin contemplating the annihilation of the planet. It could be a humiliation for the Emperor if anything else.

That aside, that didn't mean they didn't have options.

Luke had a second to be grateful that Polis Massa remained unscathed during the Yuuzhan Vong War as Father and Son exited the TIE Fighter.

"Welcome," the Kallidahin said, approaching. Spectacularly, he sensed no recognition from him. Odd since the 501st and Vader himself raided the Rebel presence that was formerly here, though the species weren't harmed. To them, Vader was just another individual whom they would help selflessly without question. "I am Kenalli Guun. This," he continued, indicating to his even shorter friend, "is Leah Fael. What are you doing here and what do you wish for our services?"

Luke sensed their willingness to help already. No appointment was necessary. It had been yet another reason why Luke had selected this location.

"An extraction," Luke answered for both, sensing Vader's rapidly growing displeasure as the younger indicated.

"Very well. Follow us." Stepping in line behind them, the two moved. The two followed them down the myriad of halls. Luke caught the few patients in surgical centers, being tended for their injuries.

"Where shall the surgical procedure take place?" Vader demanded sharply.

"Within," the same Kallidahin answered, clicking onto a small comlink, "your suit will require a deep analysis if it is to be removed. Surgical process is a complicated and often unadvised."

Enclosed in the abandoned part of the excavation site was a fully functional medical facility. Eight 2-1 B surgical droids and GH-7 surgical assistance droids stood ready by a large operating table, with several medical machines positioned around the walls and a large bacta tank ready in one corner. Some of the equipment seemed to be modernized for the procedure, while others looked to be beyond their day. Mere decades ago, this would have been considered the state of the art in healing throughout the galaxy.

"Fortunately, it will not take long," Leah Fael said. Well, well, well, why wasn't that surprising? "We have associates among the Kaminoans and with our personal physicians and xenobiologists to prepare for possible remedies and operations you may wish for."

"You'll be alright," Luke offered.

"I know," Vader answered.

Nevertheless, Luke placed a hand on his shoulder one last time, and Vader turned to him, a surge of astonishment and surprise flooding through the Force. It remained like that, before Luke squeezed gently and released, Vader walking inside before the door opened.

Luke eyed the remaining Kallidahins gathered around and cleared his throat, gaining their attention. "Excuse me, do you happen to have uniforms?"

Sithspit. He'd hated wearing this bloody moisture farmer's outfit...

Heralded in the Senate Building of the Empire, in the seat that once belonged to the Chancellor, the Emperor of the Galactic Empire sat, his face displaying an angry expression, the cool mask of the Sith Emperor: Darth Sidious.

Glee, barely contained rage, and sharp calculation warred underneath the Emperor's exterior. Face remaining sharp and disappointed on the surface, Sidious barely was able to control himself. Suddenly, his plans went off the rails. Everything had been going fine too. He'd expected a call from Grand Moff Tarkin to discuss the location of the Rebel Base and Lord Vader's progress on capturing the Princess of Alderaan soon.

The future was in motion. The Veil of the Dark Side was particularly dominant, and all Sidious could uncover was an uncertain sense of danger. Tarkin, nor Vader, didn't answer his call. His agents came to him with urgent messages claiming that Tarkin betrayed the Empire and was plotting to destroy Alderaan without his permission, and Vader murdered him and Motti for it. The Emperor considered that possibility. Increasingly, the Moff had been showing signs of being more and more zealous throughout the years, that one day Sidious suspected he would have to destroy him. That said, the lack of communication from Vader was unsettling.

The survivors of the Death Star informed him that Tarkin had programmed a backup switch that would have deactivated the space station and sent it spiraling. Information brought forward by Lord Vader himself.

Sidious was not stupid.

The only conclusion through the warning from the Dark Side was that Vader betrayed him, for real this time. That shouldn't have been something that was a surprise, given Vader's track record. However, making a move against him now? That made no sense. What happened? What could make Vader go off the rails and turn on him like that?

The last they spoke, Vader gave no inclination of seeming to be conflicted about his path. Albeit torn between Vader's treachery and the expected backlash about what the destruction of Alderaan would bring, the Emperor found his teeth gritting together.

'Should have eliminated Vader and taken Marek.'

The boy had the potential too. He only allowed the training to continue because he hunted down Jedi and traitors to the Empire. Damn it. Sidious could have trained Starkiller to infiltrate the Rebellion and gain their trust, just like he did with the Republic. Once he was inside, he would destroy the Rebellion from within by assassinating the three leaders and gaining information on all Rebel bases. Starkiller was skilled at raw Force Usage, so even if he wasn't quite Vader's equal, it would have been a tough task for the Dark Lord to defeat him. A Galen Marek under the Emperor could have been of incredible potential.

Lamenting the lost opportunity, Sidious decided to work with the new information he had.

The doors opened, and Sidious's lips broke into a sardonic smile, his features creased.

"What is your will, my liege?" The young woman walked in and bowed before him, stopping short. Sidious marveled at the woman. Her appearance could be incredibly deceptive. Her physical beauty; her fair complexion, high cheekbones, full lips, thin nose, and remarkably expressive almond-shaped green eyes amplified her beauty. Perhaps long ago when Palpatine was able to feel such things, he would have been captivated as well.

That time passed...

"Major Shira Brie, your notable work in Imperial intelligence is to be commended," the Emperor started, sensing her shoulders raising slightly in pride and the slight smile crossing her lips. "However, that field is no longer useful to you."

"What do you mean, my Lord?" she asked.

"Vader has betrayed the Empire," he informed her.

She looked up, astonished.

"You need not take this as a surprise," Sidious dismissed. "Treachery is the way of the Sith. It is only due to Vader's arrogance that it ended this way. But I have another purpose for you that may refill that gap lost before."

"Another?" She repeated the word.

"Your Force Sensitivity hasn't been lost on Vader nor myself," the Emperor informed her. "That is why he'd instructed you in the ways of the Force."

"Yes, at least some things."

"Nevertheless, your training presents a great opportunity. Your competence has shown that you could be a worthy weapon of the Empire and a wielder of the Dark Side. It will be torturous. Fred not, your training shall not be without meaning. But you can rival even him through time and management."

Why, it would be ironic because Vader trained her during that period when he discovered her. That was yet another difference between the Dark Side and the Jedi's feeble grasp of the Light. One could completely master its will by asserting its will instead of following the Light.

"My Lord, are you certai-"

"Vader is a broken shell of his former self. You, however, harbor much potential that only needs to be unlocked."

Her expression wavered, though the absolute power in her eyes amused Sidious. It was clear that she didn't require much persuasion. Sidious could use this. And he had Vader to thank yet again.

"My will is yours, Master."

"Good, good. Now, leave me. Your true training shall begin shortly."

He would defeat Vader before his death. Make him feel the same agony he did feel when that nuisance of a girl perished following Mustafar. Fill his mind with his failure. Make him beg for death and pull him back. Make Vader, Skywalker, burned, stop, only to start the process anew.

Death would seem like a mercy when this was over.

Bring the challenge on, Skywalker...

Now Vader would learn the first consequence of disobedience and treachery...

He could smell a forest on fire.

He saw people falling...

Felt the ground shake as a moon crashed around him.

A man's voice when he tried to disregard it...

Vader awoke, half-unconscious from narcotic painkillers and anesthesia, and felt the respirator on his mouth, similar to the one he'd worn behind the mask.

He had wielded the full power of the Dark Side multiple times.

He had done it for short periods without a mask. And he was not the only Sith Lord who could survive medical situations that should have killed any non-Sith. The Sith could sustain tremendous damage and remain alive through their hate.

A famous case was of course Darth Maul, who was considered dead, being cut in half and thrown down from a major height too.

Another, lesser known, was one Darth Sion had all his bones broken and reconnected, his flesh all cut and decomposed in an undead state yet his dark force abilities sustained his life. Sion was a Sith Lord, not some mindless zombie. He could survive any wound. He still possessed his intelligence, however his ability to sustain any wound without dying had made him immensely bitter and hateful. He was not undead, but still living (though he was capable of 'playing possum', according to ancient Archives, continuing by the power of his hatred and the Force alone, until the Exile put an end to him.

And then there was Nihilus who survived due to the Dark Side without even owning a body at all but passing his consciousness through his armor. Of course, Nihilus wasn't practically a Sith, he intended to consume everything, people, Jedi, Sith, the galaxy.

He was a true Wound to the Force.

Vader didn't wish to become like that, nevertheless. He wouldn't allow the Dark Side to transform him that deeply. Perhaps, on Mustafar, after he'd strangled his wife and being drunk on his power; but not ever again...

This alliance with his son was mildly interesting; he understood. His depleted brain recalled the search for Garoche Tarkin, the alliance with Lady Saro, and the meeting with the ghostly visage of Padmé Amidala.

"Yes. I killed you. I killed you. I killed the child you carried. And I hate myself for all that I have done."

Words from his respirator, his voice cultured and deep, but underlined with his pain...

Padmé was gone.

That very thought tore into his dark heart, threatening to spill over a maelstrom of negative emotions from long ago...

There was still hope.

Two, actually.

Luke Skywalker.

And Leia Organa.

His children.

Those of who he would protect where Skywalker failed.

Feeling the gentle hands pass through his body, Vader felt his vision blur, taken back in time to multiple events in his life. Multiple events from another's life.

When the world came back into his grasp, he looked at the Kallidahin.

"Don't be afraid. I am Chief Medic Maneeli Tuun," the voice said. "You are to have bed rest for the next five days, with moderate amounts of exercise. It is recommended that you take all body movements and speak rarely."

That... was shocking.

It was likely that if they repaired his skin, he would be able to regrow his hair. However, the deepest of the burns would never be entirely healed.

Vader was assured that this would have taken longer. Though admittedly, he'd never been curious enough to investigate the matter in any detail. He visited his private bacta tank on Mustafar fairly regularly, but usually in response to new injuries acquired during missions. Its purpose was immediate survival and optimal integration with his suit. He had no need for anything more.

"Very well, leave me," Vader shooed away the Chief Medic briskly.

He nodded, "As you wish."

And left...

Vader allowed his eyes to close, indulging in his children's forms, their appearances...

And then...

And then, he bolted upright as sharp daggers pierced his head, and before he could do anything else, it was like someone grabbed hold of him. "Vader."

Vader's eyes widened and his face paled at the familiar darkness. He bit down on the reflexive 'Master' and instead spoke, "Sidious."

How was he...

Oh kriff!

An old curse sang inside of his mind.

KRIFF KRIFF KRIFF KRIFF!

He had oversight. Vader hadn't taken the time to sever the bond!

"You have made a colossal mistake," Sidious snarled, the Dark Side wrapping around the Sith Emperor like a cloud, "And you're going to pay for your misdemeanor."

Vader scrambled miserably, guarding his shields and trying to keep them intact as Sidious mercilessly hammered into his mind.

The excruciating pain bit into his head, and he couldn't even scream. He laid there, utterly paralyzed in Sidious's grasp, and one merciless attack of pain. His vision blinked out, he could feel blood dripping down his nose, and all he could do was lay there agonizingly. It felt like it was going on for eternity, a pain slicing through his entire core, cutting into his body, and he felt like he was about to black out, his consciousness starting to wink out before the Emperor stopped.

"Oh no slave," taunted Sidious in the back of his mind, "I want you to feel the consequences of your actions."

The hand grasping his head was merciless, and consciousness refused to leave him as if he was being dragged away from the peaceful abyss and brought back to his painful existence. "Your mind, your body, your servitude, your flesh, and soul belong to me. You will remember this. You will lower your shields and endure the rest of your punishment, begging for mercy. You will return to my side."

"No..." Vader said, "never again!" He realized how young he sounded at that moment...

Sidious cackled, "That is not your decision, Skywalker."

He felt him make it burn. Vader wasn't just going to sit there. He couldn't. He had to...

But he realized he couldn't do it. He had no choice. Sidious was getting too close.

He had to...

Reach Luke!

"Luke?" The Emperor hummed, "Who is this Luke?"

Fear filled him. The Emperor now learned about-no, no, he could sense all of his thoughts, everything that he possessed.

Vader pressed on, doing his best not to leak any information about Luke. It was with the conviction of the long-separated bond from Padmé, the bond that should have never been broken, that Vader managed to fight back. A sharp dagger through the Force sent Sidious reeling back slightly. Agony and rage surrounded the Sith, but it was too late.

At last, he shouted, straining his vocal cords.

He shouted through the Force.

And felt Luke's startling. He was running.

"I'm coming!" Stubborn boy, he was going to... No! Not now! Vader gritted his teeth as doctors scurried around him, not seeing what he saw, the engulfing storm...

"What?!" The Sith Emperor hissed.

Vader smirked nastily. "You underestimate me yet again, Sidious, and you'll pay for it."

Sidious didn't stall on torment and punishment, battering through his brain. He moved with such calculation and webbed into his mind. Cutting through it and his shields with ease. He clutched his head and shouted again as Sidious dropped all effort to conceal his presence, his signature filling the atmosphere around them. Taxing and drowning and all corrupting and...

Vader convulsed, a humiliating shrill escaping from him. At any rate, Sidious was going to decipher the location. Vader breathed through his nostrils. While powerful, his connection to the Dark Side would always be inferior to that of the Dark Lord of the Sith, the Sith'ari: Darth Sidious.

Sidious spoke in a deceptively calm voice, "Tell me what I need to know, my servant, and it will all end."

He attempted to force his walls up, only for them to shatter yet again. Sidious was anything but fragile.

A ball of complete darkness, channeled negative emotions, and Vader couldn't hold him back anymore.

Sidious cackled tyrannically, at the crisp of victory, "Now, Skywalker, let this be a lesson..."

Suddenly, something changed.

There were hands on his head.

He looked up to see his son, clad in darker overalls, almost looking twice his age even now. Luke pushed in even softer, careful, and sympathetic...

Vader clenched his jaw, so helplessly frustrated with fate being stolen from him by his master and now his son, but allowed the man to press in. He had a second, as Luke's presence battered for Sidious's, sending him away from the abyss.

Luke protected him through the Force, knocking against Sidious's wall of hammer with his own. Another scream formed from Vader before Luke pressed against Vader.

"Who... Who are you?" The Emperor asked, staring at the resolute figure of Luke.

"You have challenged the Force far too many times, Your Highness, and you will pay for it," Luke answered, barely leaking anger conveyed in his tone.

The Emperor's eyes darkened, his golden eyes piercing, "We shall see. Begone."

He waved his hand to toss Luke out of his head, only for the man to block the attack and send it back at him. The Sith Emperor staggered, hissing. His cruel grip faltered yet again. Annoyance filled the Emperor as he tried again this time with greater strength. Luke parried the strike aside again.

"You will never hurt him again."

"Fool, you don't know the power of the Dark Side," the Emperor purred, "Vader belongs to me. Look at him now, the mighty Chosen One of the Jedi and the Dark Lord of the Sith, brought to his knees. Pathetic..."

"Speak for yourself, Sidious, given you'd betrayed your Master in his sleep because you were too afraid to confront him directly."

A slight hiss filled Vader's mind as the Emperor attempted to plummet through his head, drawing out the minimum amount of pain. But it wasn't as painful as it was before. Luke was reducing the pain, while he also batted aside each of his attacks and tossed his own right at Sidious, making the Emperor jolt again. His face screwed up with a darkness that did not fit his face, Luke looked at Darth Sidious like a rat that needed to be exterminated.

Sidious's face flickered in bemusement. "It would take decades to rival me, given your age. You cannot be this powerful. Who trained you?"

Luke's lips curled into a knowing grin, "Judge me by my age, do you?"

"Yoda!" Sidious roared, coming to the same realization Vader had earlier. He eyed Luke with disdain and anger that Vader hadn't seen on the Sith's face for years. "I'll find your Master, young one, and when I do, I'll destroy him, as well as you and my treacherous Apprentice, and rule the galaxy myself."

"Mind the fear in your tone, 'Your Highness'," Luke mocked. It would have impressed Vader if it wasn't happening in his mind. "You speak of power as if you're a Hutt Lord with delusions of grandeur. That is your failing."

The Emperor attempted to move around his shields, but Luke countered masterfully yet again, tentatively careful not to break Vader's mind.

Exhaustion prevailed. The Emperor managed another attack which Luke absorbed. The final thing he was aware of before he passed out was Luke gripping Sidious and tossing him out of his head...

To end this chapter on a more optimistic note, today is my birthday and this is one of my gifts because I love this story. Lol