The bridge of the Star Destroyer was a temple of order and fear. Officers kept their heads down, immersed in their consoles and panels. They knew that any mistake under Darth Vader's watch could be their last. The dark figure of the Dark Lord stood with his back turned, staring into the emptiness of space. He seemed motionless, but those working around him felt the pressure of his presence like a storm about to break.

Walking with the arrogance of ignorance, a young rookie commander broke the silence with a dismissive, almost casual comment.

"Funny how Lord Vader insists on pursuing that fallen Jedi." His voice was loud enough for others to hear, but not loud enough to attract Vader's immediate attention. "All this for a mere Togruta."

A veteran officer turned quickly to him, his face pale.

"Silence." His tone was a tense whisper, laden with warning.

The young commander frowned, confused by the reaction.

"Why should I keep quiet?" he asked, a smug grin only amplifying the discomfort of those present. "We're all thinking about it. So many resources, so much time wasted… by one of your kind."

The entire room seemed to hold its breath. Even the constant hum of the machines sounded quieter, as if the Star Destroyer itself feared what was coming.

"Why should I? She's just another Jedi. And besides, why so much consideration for a Togruta?" A cynical smile curved his lips. "They're a race of savages. No wonder she betrayed…"

"I said shut up," the veteran repeated, more urgently this time. His gaze flicked nervously to Vader's motionless figure, but the overly self-assured rookie ignored the warning.

"What's wrong? Is this a taboo subject?" the young man asked with a cocky grin. "She's just a Togruta Jedi, a traitor like all the others. A—"

He didn't finish his sentence.

Suddenly, his words were replaced by a horrible muffled sound. His hands flew to his neck, desperately trying to free an invisible force that was strangling him. His boots scraped against the metal floor as he slowly rose into the air, his eyes wide in panic.

Darth Vader did not turn at first. He remained with his back turned, as if the act of crushing the commander's life was a trivial task, a formality.

"Speak." His voice echoed through the room, deep and modulated, laden with icy sarcasm. "Go on. I'm sure everyone here wishes to hear your wise opinion."

The rookie commander tried to respond, but only managed a weak moan. The Force squeezed his throat with terrifying precision, enough to keep him alive, but not to let him breathe.

Finally, Vader turned. His steps were slow, deliberate, the echo of his boots resonating like a hammer in the room. His black cloak moved like a living shadow, enveloping his figure with an aura of absolute menace.

"Ahsoka Tano is not merely a Jedi," Vader said, his voice like a contained storm. "Nor is she merely a Togruta."

The rookie trembled in the air, his pleading eyes seeking mercy, but Vader showed not a flicker of compassion.

"She is brave. More than you will ever be. Intelligent. More than your tiny brain could conceive. Loyal…" Vader's voice paused for a moment, a slight tremor imperceptible to the others. "And most importantly…" he continued, bowing his head slightly. "She is mine."

The weight of those words fell like a bolt of lightning on the bridge. The officers dared not look at him, but they all felt the power of his statement. Ahsoka Tano was not just a name. She was a threat, an obsession, a bond that even the Dark Lord could not break.

Vader raised his gloved hand, squeezing his fingers lightly. The rookie's face turned purple, and a wet, grotesque sound escaped his throat.

"Please..." one of the veterans whispered, breaking the silence. "My Lord..."

Vader turned his head toward him, and the veteran stepped back, trembling. Those words, however, seemed to bring Vader back to himself. Slowly, he lowered his hand, and the rookie fell to the ground like a broken doll.

He stood coughing and gasping, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"Consider yourself lucky to still be alive." Vader's voice was cold as the void. But if I hear your voice mention her name again… there will be no next mistake.

The rookie nodded frantically, shuffling back to his post.

Vader turned to the others, his unseen gaze sweeping the room.

"Let this be a lesson." His tone was low, but each word carried the weight of a deadly sentence. "No one, under any circumstances, will speak ill of Ahsoka Tano."

He turned to the viewport again, his cloak billowing behind him. But his mind was far from the bridge.

Ahsoka.

The sound of her name echoed in his mind like an echo he could not silence. She was his Padawan, his equal, his only connection to a past that refused to go away.

He closed his eyes behind his mask, feeling anger and pain consume him.

She will come to me, he thought. The Force had whispered it to him.

And when she did, everything would change. Or be lost forever.

Every few days I will upload a new chapter of this story, I hope you enjoy it.