Because the Galaxy is Cruel

Part 2

That night, alone in his quarters, Vader was both troubled and unsettled. The probing thoughts the Emperor had set in his head earlier that day still disturbed him greatly. Vader did not like anyone trying to do that to him. Sidious was raking over very private thoughts and feelings he had no right to, as far as Vader was concerned, Master or not. The delicate trick of shielding his various mental compartments was a must, but it drained him, and sometimes his defences slipped, as they had done today.

There had only ever been one whom he relaxed his defences for and he too was the reason for Vader’s current unease. Obi-Wan was gone yes, but he was not forgotten; no never that. Sometimes though, Vader wished for it all the same, for his own pity’s sake, wished for release from his memories of him, only to retract the thought just as quickly. In the dead of night, Vader sometimes tortured himself with recollections. He still pined for the touch of those strong yet delicate fingers on his skin, the tickle of that golden beard against his face and the feel of those strong muscular arms holding him as he writhed in the throes of passion. The images of their times together and the conversations they shared, all these things drove him to distraction. Solemnly he stared out through the view port window, his gloved hand black as space itself pressed against the glass in front of his face. Today had brought back a great many things…

“Why have you not come to me? You said you would come to me.” He whispered quietly in the dark. Vader had clung to the hope, as tightly as he had held onto Obi-Wan’s still warm corpse that terrible afternoon four years ago. Even as the tremendous pain had exploded inside him, and he had shook with the Force of it, splintering the trees around him in his grief, Vader had had his hope right there. He thought that no being could just be simply snuffed out, there had to be some sort of spiritual residue. Sadly, time had passed with no hint of Obi-Wan’s presence ever having manifested itself, save for in Vader’s dreams of course. He was finally coming to the bitter realisation that it was in the end, just a beautiful lie from a dying man to his lover. The Force was cruel if it did not provide some sort of bridge from the dead to the living. Vader raked a hand through his hair despondently, as if Obi-Wan’s promise could make the loss of him hurt any less; that was impossible. But Vader had clung to the words nonetheless, had induced himself into deep meditation sessions for hours and hours, on numerous occasions, in the vain hope that he could somehow reach Obi-Wan, but to no avail. Deep down, though he did not fully let it go, he whispered resignedly to the darkness.

“You are truly lost to me…after all…”

The words seemed to hang in the air for a time and then he couldn’t help but let his thoughts drift back to the earlier events of the day, and for that he was grateful. He thought back on the rebel ambush. It was both exhilarating and satisfying, purging the traitors, restoring the peace and fulfilling his duty; and he had his Asajj with him too, fighting at his side.

Almost like Obi-Wan...

This presented itself as a new complication. Ventress had changed over time and so had Vader. They were very much a team now, after so many years of vendetta and misunderstandings and being on opposite sides, they were now united against the rebellion, part of the Empire. After the ambush was over, the day had deepened in all its multifarious splendour. Taking Asajj to that gravesite had been all about showcasing the marvel of it, the energy of the place. He had felt her growing power, and it excited him that he could feel what was in her. He wanted her to explore this and become caught up in all this. He saw the woman finally, as well as the warrior, and he was drawn to her; her hands, her lips…

In the emerging heat of passion, his feelings for Obi-Wan rekindled as well, as fresh as ever, as though the passing years had not softened his absence at all. It was not too difficult to understand the reasons for this as Vader had not touched anyone intimately since the loss of Obi-Wan, and Asajj’s caresses had brought back those memories so acutely. It was as though from that very first kiss, a scar had been split open again, and the blood seeped through warm and wet from the wound. There was both pleasure and pain from the combination of Obi-Wan in his head again, while Asajj was in his arms, both vying for his attentions. It was all he could do to shut himself off from the strange dichotomy this presented, and just give in to the passion, in and of itself. There were blessed minutes there for him, when he tuned out everything but the simple purity of physical sensation alone; the feel of her hot mouth against his own, her body pressed to his and her hands stroking his hair and face. His reactions to her ministrations confirmed all too well how lonely he truly was; how starved he had been for human contact. She had known it, but that knowledge somehow did not blight him in the slightest, for he sensed an answering loneliness within her as well. She also astutely understood about Obi-Wan, had even said so, and he was grateful when she respected his wishes to keep silent about it. The Emperor on the other hand, was very different and his phantom mental probing felt like an assault to Vader, a grave intrusion. He did not want the Emperor anywhere near his heart.

Vader rubbed his eyes in exhaustion and then looked across to his bed in the corner. It didn’t appear to have much to recommend it in the way of providing a good night’s rest. It was small and uninviting, probably hard as rock too, but he was on a ship, and there was no escape from standard issue accommodation on this vessel. The Emperor liked to keep himself “off-planet” much of the time, to keep his whereabouts as secret as possible, and so for the present time, Vader found himself on the same ship; by his Master’s request. Just as Vader began to wonder about that fact and mourn for his much larger and softer bed back on Coruscant, his communicator’s beep interrupted his thoughts.

“Lord Vader?” Sidious’ voice sounded as commanding over the com-link as it did in person.

“Yes, My Lord?” Vader straightened up instinctually at the sound of the clipped and punctuated tone of his Master.

“I wish to speak to you about a certain matter. I will be in my quarters. I trust I will see you shortly?”

“I will be there in a few minutes.”

“Very good, I will be waiting for you.” And with that the Emperor terminated the link. Vader rubbed his chin ruefully for a moment, pondering on the lateness of the hour and wondering what could be so important that it couldn’t wait till the next day, but he swept the questioning thoughts aside and readied himself for an audience with the Emperor.

A few minutes later, Vader was admitted to Lord Sidious’ chamber to find the Sith Lord standing regal and immobile, gazing out at the blackness of space through the generously sized observation window. Indeed, the view port window was so large that it dominated one whole side of Sidious’ chamber wall, making the Sith Master seem small and insignificant in front of it. Vader’s eyes swept over the chamber’s interior and he noted somewhat enviously that the Emperor’s quarters were just a little more luxuriously appointed then his own. He brushed aside this petty feeling quickly, dismissing it as a symptom of undue tiredness, and walked towards his Master to greet him. The Emperor, sensing Vader’s approach, turned away from the window to address him in turn. He raised his hands outwardly for a brief moment before bringing them together in a clasp.

“Ah, my young Sith apprentice, welcome.” Vader bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement.

“My apologies for the lateness of the hour, I will try not to keep you too long.” Sidious gave him the smallest of smiles as he said this, making Vader speculate whether the Sith Lord had picked up on his thoughts earlier in his room. The lateness of the hour… Vader set aside his suspicions however and tried to clear his mind as best he could. He simply gave Sidious a slight nod and prompted the Emperor to begin.

“My Lord, You wish to discuss something…”

“Ah yes…” The Emperor frowned slightly and looked hesitantly at Vader. His actions made Vader a little nervous, and again, his mind began to race ahead with theories as to what exactly this meeting was really about. Once more, Vader clamped down on this rising tide of feeling by focussing on his exhaustion instead, much more mundane, and more importantly, safe. The Emperor cleared his throat before going on.

“I hope you trust me, my young friend. There is a delicate matter I wish to discuss with you.”

“My Master, of course, is it the rebels? Have you received new intelligence? Are they —?” Suddenly, Vader was all alertness again, but the Sith Master broke off Vader’s questions with a shake of his head and a wave of his hand.

“No, nothing of that nature, after today, your efforts as well as those of the ever capable Lady Ventress will have them on the back foot for a while I trust.” He smiled again this time, looking at Vader admiringly for a moment, before his face morphed back to a pensive, somewhat edgy expression.

“This is…this is something, more personal.” Sidious said gravely.

“Personal?” Vader replied in a questioning manner, his raised eyebrows almost touching the fringe of hair that spilled over his forehead. The Emperor looked at Vader very intensely as he inhaled a deep breath of pure filtered air and exhaled slowly and measuredly.

“My dear Lord Vader, it is time.” Vader met the Emperor’s intense regard, with a curiosity of expression that was now tempered by wariness.

“What do you mean? Time for what..?”

“You must give him up.” The Emperor said in a matter of fact, yet authoritative tone, as he looked steadily and resolutely at his apprentice before him. A puzzled look crossed Vader’s features momentarily, as he struggled to understand his Master’s meaning. Just as he was about to open his mouth and ask again as to the cryptic nature of Sidious’ words, a flush began to creep into Vader’s cheeks and his heart began to beat just that little bit faster, and it dawned on him who and what the Emperor was talking about. Vader looked into Sidious’ eyes in a steely manner, but he was betrayed by his own lack of control, broadcasted by his slackened jaw, and his mouth hung open in slight shock at the Sith Master’s words. He swallowed hard, he couldn’t speak, and at the same time he tried desperately to not call into his mind’s eye, anything, anything at all, that connected to Obi-Wan. He drew in a painful breath as he looked away from Sidious’ advancing step, not looking up at all as he felt the older man’s hand on his arm. The Supreme leader licked his lips slowly and deliberately, taking in Vader’s unease at the raising of this most delicate subject.

“I do not wish to hurt you my friend. I have remained silent on this topic. But I feel that I must step in now, as your mentor. Is it not my duty to guide you where I think it is necessary?” he paused for a moment, watching the younger man with what looked almost like pity.

“And I do think it is necessary.” Vader’s eyes remained riveted to the floor, as he let out a slow audible breath.

“What would you have me do?” he asked in a faintly droid-like monotone voice.

“I will not have you pining away over a ghost.” Lord Sidious winced at the words he was using and the intimate nature of the discussion, but he was Vader’s counsel first and foremost, as he said. It was he who had put himself in that role the moment he’d tracked down the miserable young man gifted with so much Force potential, pulled him up, and molded him into the Sith apprentice he much admired and felt proud of standing with him today. And yet, there was much more work to be done still. Sidious continued on.

“Not even a ghost mind you… I know about the holocom you keep with you. You play it over and over, as though you can conjure him up again somehow. That is nothing but photons my boy…quantums of light…” A sharp intake of breath from Vader made Sidious stop for a moment, but only for a moment before he let loose one more stream of information.

“And I know about the meditation sessions as well.”

“Enough!” Vader whispered back to him, turning his face back to Sidious very slowly and carefully. The shock on Vader’s face was evident, as was the horror, tempered only slightly by embarrassment and anger rising in those blue eyes of his. Sidious looked apologetically back at him for such predatory curiosity, such forensic-like intrusion. He swallowed carefully as he saw the hurt in his apprentice’s face, raw and exposed now as Vader’s carefully cultivated defensive and calm demeanour crumbled before the Emperor’s eyes. It seemed so useless suddenly to be so guarded. Vader took one step down away from Sidious, as though backing away from not only the Supreme Leader himself but the very subject at hand. Looking slightly down at him now, Sidious raised his hands in a supplicating manner before carrying on.

“He’s gone. Your former Master is dead. Accept it!” The words sounded so final in Vader’s ears, coming from the lips of his Emperor. How painful it still was just to hear it out loud. He dropped his head in his hands, feeling mentally and physically exhausted suddenly beyond endurance.

“Why are you saying this to me?” He asked miserably, looking up at Sidious like a beaten dog before his Master. “Do I not serve you to my utmost abilities? Have I not carried out every task that you have asked of me?” The Emperor heaved a sigh before responding with a series of nods.

“You have, my friend. I could not wish for better, and again I say, I do not bring these things up to hurt you, I want to help you.” The older man bent forward a little as if to emphasise his words further.

“All your life, things have gotten in the way of your needs, your ambitions, and I have cleared the path for you. I have trained you, helped you realise your power, given you a life that has so much promise.” Sidious stopped to let the words settle on Vader, before continuing.

“Am I not your shelter? Am I not your source of strength?” The Emperor punctuated each question with a pounding fist to his chest and a raised voice, but he softened quickly, stepping forward to place a hand on Vader’s shoulder in an almost paternal gesture.

“Recall that it was I who brought you back, I who delivered you from hopelessness, those few years ago.” Vader turned towards him then and nodded silently, but said nothing in return. Sidious had more to say and squeezing Vader’s shoulder now, he whispered in his ear.

“I sense your struggle. Remember, the Sith are allowed their passions. Indulge them! Consort with whom you please. The Galaxy is yours my friend.” He made a sweeping gesture with his hand as the other remained clamped on Vader’s shoulder.

“You are still so young, I forget that sometimes…” The Emperor said rather wistfully.

“But, you are powerful…” He emphasised, clenching his fist and looking at Vader with that shining pride of his again, that glowing acceptance that Vader had come to expect from his Master. He unclenched his fist then and his expression took on a more reflective attitude. He skimmed his hand subtly down one side of Vader’s hair in a considerate manner.

“…and you are beautiful.” Vader stood utterly still taking in his words, his face unreadable for the moment, though the Emperor could tell that the young man was clearly unsettled by this conversation.

“…Such a formidable combination of traits in one individual.” The elderly man whispered in a reverent tone, before raising his voice once more.

“Stop chasing the shadows of your past and live in the moment.” Again, he pumped his fist for emphasis.

“There has never been a better time in the history of the Galaxy, to be a Sith.” There was a zealous gleam in the Emperors eyes now; his passion stirred by talk of Sithdom. He put a hand over his own heart.

“I am its leader…” And then he put that same hand on Vader’s forearm.

“…And you…You are my right hand.” He applied pressure to his grip on Vader’s arm as if to imbue his words with greater meaning through this physical touch.

“Let go of what once was, and look forward to your illustrious future.” And with those last words, he released Vader’s arm and said nothing more. He wanted to allow Vader time to let all he’d said to him to sink in.

Vader turned his back on Sidious and walked slowly over to the large window where he stopped. He bent his head down for a time before looking up and out at the black velvet fabric of space that the view port presented. Perfect blackness studded through with an infinite number of asterisks. The celestial canvas taunted him in its vastness, its immutability, and its silence; a perfect wall for his contemplation.

Obi-Wan was truly gone, he had left no tremor, no Force signature behind for Vader to home in on, never had it looked remotely promising. The Emperor was right, and at any rate all he did was confirm what Vader had come to realise as the truth anyway. His mouth closed tightly, and his normally full lips were two thin lines pursed together as he continued to stare blankly out the window. He sensed the closeness of Sidious again and turned to find the man standing next to him, also looking out into the infinite depths of space.

“We must not be enemies, you and I.” The older man said quietly. Vader simply nodded in turn.

“You cannot be torn between your old life and the new,” he added.

“I do understand, my Lord.” Vader replied dully. Sidious looked across at Vader beseechingly, blankly licking his dry lips as he thought of a way to bring this discussion to its conclusion as delicately as he could. There was just one more thing that he felt needed to be covered and his skills of diplomacy were going to be utterly useless for what he was about to say next; and yet, there was nothing to do but to come right out and just say it, for Vader needed to be told.

“Do you not see my young friend? Do you not also realise, that he would not have you now, even were he to return to you somehow?” Something broke apart in Vader at that, Sidious could sense it. Though Vader continued to stare straight ahead of him, Sidious could see for himself how hard his words hit home as he watched the younger man’s eyelids fall to half mast and his shoulders slump a little. He hoped that Vader would simply remain silent and let him finish what he had to say. It seemed he would do just that, as Vader’s lips remained pressed together very tightly, reservedly, as he continued to just stand at the window beside him, unmoved. Sidious sighed softly and went on.

“Obi-Wan was a Jedi. He held to a different philosophy. You however, are now a Sith. You have embarked upon a different path, and there is no looking back. The Dark Side is your ally, and the ways of the Jedi are irrelevant to you, as should be anyone associated with it. You cannot live in both worlds. A Sith’s mind must be clear, the ways of the Dark Side are your tenets now. Cast him aside. Take the next step on your path to true Sithdom.” Vader closed his eyes and bowed his head at hearing those last words. He remained silent and still for a time, as Sidious stood by calm and passive. More minutes passed until finally Vader re-opened his eyes to look at Sidious with all the intensity and seriousness he could muster.

“Lord Sidious, I understand.” The Emperor nodded slowly in conciliation. He reached out and placed both hands on Vader’s shoulders.

“I am very proud of you, my young Sith Lord. You will become the greatest of all Siths someday.” And with that he gave Vader’s shoulders a final squeeze and let him go.

Vader bowed low. “If that is all, then with your permission, I will take my leave of you.”

“Certainly, you may go.” Vader turned to do so, but just as he was at the exit door to the chamber, Lord Sidious had a few last words to say to his young Sith apprentice.

“We part as allies, this night, with common purpose I hope.” Vader turned and gazed at the elderly Sith from across the room.

“Of course, as you say, my Lord.” He gave a quick nod of his head and turned back round and walked through the exit, leaving the Supreme Leader staring after him, not quite settled on the matter, but more pleased then he’d been before.

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Vader retired to his modest quarters as one with all the worries of the Galaxy upon his shoulders. He was profoundly shaken. He had never felt so emotionally naked and exposed in front of the Emperor; so thoroughly violated. But above all these things, and certainly despite his feelings of anger and alarm over what had transpired, his bone deep exhaustion won out. It was all he could do to kick off his boots and shake out of his clothes as quickly as he could without dropping to the floor, he was so tired. Without even pulling back the covers, he crawled onto his narrow bed, as if reaching out to it for his very salvation, let alone for some much needed rest. The bed had proved to be as hard as he’d imagined it to be, for it was very much like lying on top of capstone, but nonetheless, it would suffice. He waved his hand to kill the light overhead, and in the darkness, he lay in wait for blessed sleep to come.

The simplicity of drifting off to slumber was denied to him however, as he clutched futilely at the covers, wringing his fists into the fabric in frustration at being tired but unable to fall asleep, and truth be told more than a little anxious and anguished as he thought back on his meeting with Sidious. It just wouldn’t leave him be. The Sith Lord had probed his mind deeply to get at his secrets. Of course the venerable Master had known of his fierce love for Obi-Wan, but Vader had thought he’d been so careful to conceal his continuing passion for him, his continuing place in his heart, despite all. He turned over on the bed so that he faced the ceiling, and in this position he tried to relax, tried to forget everything. He closed his eyes in the darkness once again and waited, he was so very tired…

The image of the Emperor plagued his thoughts still and cut through his drowsy state. Vader groaned in despair as he shifted again, this time onto his side, placing an arm around his pillow as he wedged the rest of it under his weary head. And then Asajj came into his thoughts and it was no surprise really. It was dark, he was in bed alone and her attentions from earlier in the day were hard to forget. She had awoken a fire within him. With that first kiss she had reminded him again that he was indeed a man as well as a Sith. He thought of her silken lips moving against his own, and her warm, wet tongue invading his mouth. It had been so easy to fall into her surprisingly strong arms, but then she was of the Force. The passion flared between them so easily, once they had begun, once they had touched for the first time. The rush of blood and the fire he felt was heady and addictive, and it had been so very long since Obi-Wan…

But wasn’t her heart black? Had he not betrayed Obi-Wan the moment he accepted her touch? She had tortured his Master so cruelly and mercilessly on Jabiim, all that time ago back when Vader had still been a Padawan Learner. Now she tortured him in the loneliness of the dark with images of their recent intimacy and his guilty surrender to it. Those same hands that had hurt his Master long ago had felt so good on him earlier in the day; the way she used them to touch and stroke his face, her long elegant fingers raking through his hair, soothing and sweet. Those same hands, he reiterated to himself, the same person; deliverer of cruelty and deliverer of pleasure. He groaned in the dark and rubbed at his scar softly. She had paid homage to this scar like a priestess performing a sacrament. Her actions had a level of atonement to them that he could not deny. With reverence she had held his head between her hands, grace and deftness in her fingers, and then her velvet tongue along his skin, sending him into paroxysms of pleasure. He was beginning to grow warm and relaxed.

“Where has the Emperor sent you off to?” He whispered drowsily in the dark.

She was endlessly away on some assignment or other. At the hangar bay back on Korriban, as they prepared to leave, she had told him she would be off again for some weeks; she wasn’t exactly sure how long. She never ventured as to the nature of her secretive mission, only saying that it was classified, even for him. He had snarled at that and she had chuckled at his response. They had parted awkwardly though, as the unsaid remained unsaid. At the end, when neither would speak anymore, they exchanged their goodbyes and he settled against the doorway to watch her as she walked away towards her speeder. She’d almost reached it when she stopped abruptly, turned and looked back at him. He straightened up and met her gaze, and they remained like that for a moment, simply staring at one another across the hangar bay, until finally her voice spoke to him inside his head.

“I will miss you Sweet Dark Lord.”

“And I will miss you.”

It all seemed so strange and surreal, but he felt the warmth of her smile even from the distance between them, as she climbed aboard the speeder and glanced once more in his direction until the cockpit dome closed over her and he could see her no more. He tracked the retreating point in the sky as her speeder flew up through the planet’s atmosphere until it vanished, and she was gone.

A lump formed in his throat that caught him off guard. Lying in his bed now, he had one wish alone for her.

“Stay safe, my Lady, stay safe.” And this time sleep finally took hold of him and didn’t let him go for a while.

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Even in sleep it seemed that Vader would not derive any peace this night, as a strange dream had him tossing and turning on his bed. The covers and sheets were pulled out from their tucked positions as he twisted in the bedclothes and clutched at his pillow, mimicking actions that were, no doubt, from the dream itself. It seemed he was struggling against something…

At first the images were blurred, he could see nothing, and then he realised why this was so, as everything was covered in a thick mist. He walked alone, the path of leaves under him crunched with every foot fall. He had to be careful, visibility was poor and tangling vines and all sorts of diverse vegetation brushed against his face and body as he negotiated his way through. Even the trees themselves seemed to be reaching out to trap and snag him with their twisted branches, they felt so close and numerous. He slogged his way through valiantly, noticing after a while that the forest floor became more mud then fallen leaves, mushy and wet to the point that his feet began to sink in a little with each advancing step.

Quite suddenly he slipped, his feet gave way from under him and he fell into muddy water. The shock of the fall as well as the coldness of the water numbed his body and brain momentarily, but it passed quickly, and he looked around him to get his bearings. He had fallen into a small lake; though it was more mud then water, like a creamy dark soup. He looked for something to grab onto to pull himself free, but there was nothing; the vines and branches now suddenly inconveniently far away from him. He extended his arms out and tried in vain to pull himself through the thick syrupy water, to get to the bank and out. With each attempt, he found himself sunk even further below the mud and drawn away from the sandbank that suddenly seemed so far away, almost unreachable. How was this possible? He clamped down on his rising panic but he felt helpless. He could feel his chin touch the surface now, which meant he was sinking further. He couldn’t understand why he was unable to lift himself out; he should have been able to, why couldn’t he?

And then he saw someone on the bank looking at him and he called out to the stranger shrouded in mist.

“Help me, please help me!” The mist cleared and he saw. He saw the face of Obi-Wan looking back at him. His beautiful Obi-Wan had come for him. Obi-Wan didn’t raise a hand though, but he spoke to him very clearly.

“I will not help you. I don’t know you.” And with that, Obi-Wan walked away and disappeared. Vader felt instantly gutted, he didn’t understand, and he was sinking ever further.

“I have to get out, I have to find him, he doesn’t realise it’s me. Obi-Wan!” He struggled in the muddy water, the coldness seeping into his very bones now, tiring him and slowing him down. And then two people approached the bank, and he knew who these people were too. Asajj and the Emperor came forward. Asajj reached out for him with her hand, but Sidious batted it away almost immediately. He snarled at her.

“I, alone will help him.” And in an instant, Vader felt himself being lifted by his shoulders, up and out of the swampy morass, only to be deposited roughly onto the bank. Struggling to catch his breath, he looked up, but Asajj and Sidious were gone. He got to his feet, tearing through the tangled vines and whipping past the branches as fast as he could, with no thought in his head but to find Obi-Wan, catch up with him, he couldn’t have gotten far. He weaved in and out and through the verdant obstacles until, finally, he spied a figure just beyond. It had to be Obi-Wan. He called out to him.

“Obi-Wan!” Vader stopped and put his hands on his thighs and bent over slightly to catch his breath. He watched as the figure turned around and came just a little closer. It was Obi-Wan, Vader warmed at the sight of him. He opened his mouth to say something, but Obi-Wan raised a hand to stay him, and he repeated his earlier words.

“I don’t know you.” Vader’s face turned to a questioning frown.

“Obi-Wan?” And then Obi-Wan shattered him with five plainly said words.

“You are not my Anakin.” And with that he turned and continued walking away, deeper into the forest. Vader went to charge after him, but he was stopped by a hand at his shoulder. He turned around to find the smiling face of Sidious looking back at him and shaking his head.

Vader jolted himself awake, wrapped in a tangle of sheets and covers, he sat up slowly, shaking and feeling very vulnerable and alone. Obi-Wan’s face was in his head still, and Obi-Wan’s words felt like they still echoed in his ear, it seemed so real. He rubbed his face with a trembling hand and before he knew it, the tears filled his eyes and spilled over. With his head in his hands, he gave himself over to the tears, and cried silently in the dark, wept for all that his sad life was, for Obi-Wan did not want him any more, not even in his dreams.
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A silent figure stared out the window of his vast bedchamber breathing out slowly and audibly before rubbing his temples with his fingers in a deliberate manner. He looked down, then back up then stared back out the window again. He read those images as though he was watching the holonet news; the image of his young apprentice chasing after his Master in his dreams. That little twist at the end, where he featured as the only one left, the only one who was there for him, was a stroke of genius.

“You are mine, Lord Vader…and mine only.”

To be continued…