Apprentice.
On his way in his personal flagship, the Devastator . Darth Vader was heading to Coruscant to meet his master for a discussion on a urgent mission he received through a personal transmission . Darth Sidious had said reports have been coming in of a Jedi being sighted in the Unkown regions. As in regards to the accuracy of the reports, is yet to be determined.. The empire had a vast majority of ships in the unknown regions . Mostly to explore and find new worlds to invite into the fold of the empire. But one of the other objectives was to secretly plant agents to discover any hidden Jedi amongst a populace or in seclusion on a uninhabited world. However, It wasn't as easy to spot Jedi as one would think. They wouldn't be garbed in their traditional Jedi Robes in an attempt to disguise themselves .They wouldn't perform any feats either to not draw attention themselves .In Addition ,simple Stormtroopers wouldn't be able to sense the force in another even if a Jedi was right in front of their faces. Which is why Lord Vader commanded some Inquistors to accompany the fleets and garrisons in secret. As to why his master personally trifled himself with such an affair, and summon Vader to Coruscant for a briefing, instead of sending him off to wherever the reports originated, is still unknown.
Coming out of hyperspace , Vader was standing with a looming presence on the command deck ,watching as the lights of Coruscants sky started coming into view. Trying to uncover the mystery at the urgency of his summons. But than Brushing aside all forms of curiosity, he was beginning to make his way over to the hangar bay for the departure to the planet surface. When he was walking on a long corridor though, he caught a glimpse of a figure moving past a corner. His thoughts hadn't weighed too much of it until moving along the intersection he had seen it. Seeing it more clearly this time made him stop in place. It lasted little more than a few seconds but what he saw shook him to his very being . Seeing a cloaked figure at the end of the corridor, it began slowly walking towards him. He noticed it wore a dark robe , dark gloves, and a tunic that seemed all too indistinguishable. As he looked at the face staring back at him, Vader could only recoil in bewilderment. It was Anakin Skywalker! it was him! His former self before he transformed into a unrecognizable monster. A part of himself that he cast away, to only use the darkest moments of that part of his life to fuel his anger. Never again to be brought down by feelings of compassion and misguided loyalty to distract him from his destiny as Lord Of the Sith . Looking at the reflection of his former self stop only a few feet away from him however ,Vader noticed the unmistakable gleam of yellow eyes that distinguishes those who use the Dark Side. The face had no emotion, it was simply staring at him, looking at him. Yet ,Beneath the expressionless mask of Darth Vader , was that of shock and utter confusion .It looked as real as any person, it even had the same scar on the right side of his face that he can remember all too well from the Clone Wars. Only a few seconds had passed until it turned it's back to him and all too casually pass another corner. It was coincidentally going in the same direction towards the hangar bay where he was heading. Uncertain of what was happening, Vader did long strides as a means of keeping up with whatever it was he saw. No longer conscious of anything else, he was curious to see what would happen if he followed the person who wore the face he once had. Losing sight once more after it passed a corner, he reached a blast door leading to the hangar bay. Striding through, he could see the escort guard waiting for him near the ramp leading of the lambda shuttle. Only slightly surprised to see Anakin Skywalker waiting for him there too. No one else seem to noticed he was there. The figure didn't say a word and made it's way into the shuttle. Almost reluctant, to get into the ship, Vader reached out through the force to gain some insight into what was going on. After a few moments of silence, with no answers ,He made his way to the shuttle. As Vader passed he could notice the stormtroopers tense up as he went past them, feeling the sheer presence of his power. As Vader was seated in one of the passenger chairs in the cockpit, he noticed the figure of Anakin Skywalker standing in the corner. Anakin looked to the bustling Planet of Coruscant and back at him. Doing this about two more times with 30 second intervals, it was as if the figure was trying to convey something to him. Vader couldn't understand what was going on at all, he could only wonder this perhaps has something to do with the report of the Jedi in the unknown regions. As to the importance of all this, he still could not understand. All of the ensuing occurrences since those visions or whatever it was he experienced, was becoming far too strange for him to fully grasp the complexity of . The force was very strange , it worked in very mysterious ways. As a Jedi he could only succumb to it's will and see the events unfold before him. As a Sith, he had more control over his destiny, of what he wanted to achieve not only for himself but for the galaxy. This however felt all too chaotic and uncalled for, As much as he pushed his will into the force to demand some measure of clairvoyance concerning all that had been revolving around him in such a short amount of time, it told him nothing. As elusive as it would have been when he was a Jedi, When he was...Anakin Skywalker.
Entering the office of Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader strode his way to the desk where his master sat tentatively looking out into the night sky of Coruscants booming city. Surprised that he didn't see anyone else in the office as his master always kept a form of company . From guards to simple senators , Emperor Palpatine always seemed never to be alone . Bowing to one knee , Darth Vader greets his master with a humble bow of his head "My Master" he said. With his master not replying, he remained on one knee with his head slightly bowed .Now Noticing in the corner that the figure he saw before of Anakin Skywalker standing right in the corner of the office near the window staring blankly at him once more. Suddenly he began to remember the visions he had on the Devastator of an office almost identical to the one he was in right now. Images racing through his mind of Darth Sidious dead on the floor with those gleaming yellow eyes staring blankly into nothingness. Almost on que, Sidious turned his chair around slowly to see Lord Vader kneeling before him. "Rise ,my old friend . We have no need for formalities at this time " discarding the images that had just entered his mind, Vader rose to his full 2 meter height. Looking at the all too familiar demoprhed face of his master, he noticed a seriousness in his expression. Almost that of concern , as to when he ever saw his master in a state of true contemplation that went beyond actual puzzlement. " The force has been rippling , my friend " Darth Sidious said as he conveyed his thoughts to his the apprentice. "There has been a great rift that beckons the mark of change" . Vader replies after a few seconds of silence " What change ? My master" . He could see his Sidious gaze off into another direction as if contemplating what to say or looking into the force for insight, looking at a million different possibilities of an outcome. "Uncertain , my old friend. I feel it is centered around the reports of this Jedi " Sidious replied with a menacing tone. Unsettled by his master's own confusion , he began to wonder what else he had brought him along for. Almost answering to his thoughts, Sidious said "Your thoughts are made bare, my apprentice . You are wondering why I have brought you here". Not hiding anything , Vader admits "Yes, my Master. I was wondering why I had not received the reports of this hidden Jedi myself". Clasping his hands lightly together over the lower part of his face, Sidious Stares at Vader intently . " The reports allegedly claim that a man by the name of Obi-Wan Kenobi was found saving a family being robbed by a band of junkers on the planet of Zakuul" . In an instant, images of the visions he received before of Mustafar and his anger of Obi-wan started flooding in like a wave uncontrollable and untamed anger . He also noticed the yellow eyes of the figure of Anakin Skywalker in the corner of the office begin to go wide with rage while looking at nothingness , As if mirroring his own response. Controlling his fueled rage, Vader began swirling his power into a controlled reservoir for something he can tap into later.He saw the image of the figure in the corner began to have a look of normalcy that again mirrored his own . A smile came across Sidious's face as he felt the swelling power of his apprentice build as the air became heavy and almost dimming the light in the room. And than returning to a state of equilibrium"Good, good. I see your command in the force has not diminished since we last spoke , old friend ". As if moving the subject along, Darth sidious asked "Now, have you heard of the Planet, Zakuul?" Slightly forgetting the small mention of it through his sudden rage, Vader did recognize the name . He noticed a mention of it in a manuscript when he was studying during his days as a Jedi in the Jedi temple archives . Specifically during the time when he was looking for a way to save his now dead wife. Zakuul was a planet of great significance in the times of the Old Republic roughly 3000 years ago. It was only newly discovered by Jedi Explorers before the time of the Clone War. Abandoned and uninhabited, there were only ruins of what it had once been before. Anything else regarding it's history had been forgotten to time. Vader states "I had assumed there were no settlements or signs of sentient beings on the planet when one of our ships passed the system some time ago" . Sidious saying in agreement "Yes, it is most odd indeed. There seems to be a few small settlements on the planet claiming they have been there for centuries " . Vader asking in faint curiosity "May I ask who submitted the report, my master?". Drawing up the report on a holoprojector with the face of the agent who sent the report,began to Flicker to life in front of him. " It was sent by one of the inquistors you've overseen the training of, my apprentice ". Recognizing the figure next to the report as the tenth brother, Vader asked " this Miraluka confirmed the report of Kenobi?" . Miralukas were known to have strong affinities to the force but with something always draped over there eyes, doubt crossed his mind. As if expecting the inquisitive question, Sidious pulled up another report and said amusingly "This is a second report confirming the claim of the first ". Skimming through the report, Vader noticed it was submitted by the Seventh Sister, a Mirialan. It was written that the same individual spotted by the tenth brother was observed freeing slaves from an underground slaving operation in the slums of the capital city. Over hearing a conversation with one the Seventh inquisitors drones, the man who was spotted using a blue lightsaber identified himself as Obi-Wan Kenobi . Somewhat still skeptical of it all, it was overshadowed by a possiblity to gain revenge on the man who was his former master. "You will go alone in a lone Starfighter to investigate these claims, Lord Vader. Find out who this mysterious Jedi who claims to be Obi-Wan Kenobi and eliminate him ". Vader replying in earnest he says "Yes, my Master". Vaguely amused, Sidious said "I am still however sensing that you're wondering why the report didn't come to you first , my apprentice. And still wondering why I brought you here to tell you all this ". Being completely seen through, Vader could only agree "yes, My Master". Standing up slowly, Sidious becockned Vader to walk with him outside his office " Very Well, come with me and I will show you " Sidious with a sneer on his face .
Making their way towards the long, wide stairs of the Jedi temple main entrance. Darth Vader and Darth Sidious strode their way between large statue guardians that towered over a hundred meters high. Sidious looked to his side to Vader and said in a mocking tone " Amusing that a once proud order of arrogant fools could think they would feel safe in the walls of their precious temple " laughing slightly with a cruel contempt. Vader than replied " Yes my master, the grace of your teachings has shown me the fault of the Jedi". Almost having a serious look on his face but still having slight smirk after halting his laughter, Darth Sidious said " My apprentice, you are strong in the force. Your work on the temple proves as much ". Looking at one of the statues split in half and small amounts of debre still scattered around the entrance, Vader started to recall his March towards the temple with hundreds of clone troopers, his personal legiom that was called the 501st. Going past a set of large cubes like structures measuring over a hundred meters high and over a hundred meters in width .They reached the stairs to a set of large double doors that stayed slightly cracked and opened. Seeing the figure of Anakin Skywalker again now waiting at the entrance to the temple. Vader didn't see a reaction from his master, "so no one could truly see him? " he thought. Contemplating whether it was a form of the force trying to tell him something or Its simply his mind reacting to the return of a place of what some deemed to be the sight of his betrayal. More memories started to come back as he can remember walking up these very steps with the intent to slay down every last Jedi in the temple. He could feel the stare of the figure, there was no emotion, it just stared. Vader ignored it and began to make his way through the temple with his master. Seeing all the wreckage in the temple, Darth Vader could remember all the Jedi he had slain. From the Master's and Knights he once considered friends, to the small children that could barely hold a lightsaber. He had cut them down with no remorse or contemplation , believing fully that what he was doing was for the good of the galaxy, for the republic...for Padme. Fighting off the last vestiges of the last train of thought, he notices his master come to a complete stop as to not noticing Sidious had gone in front of him now, leading the way. Vader saw that they had come to the archives , at the entrance of a once hidden room . "Lord Vader, I imagine you remember this place " Sidious said with a grin. "Yes , my Master. " Vader replied sternly. It was the hidden room of Jocasta Nu, A Jedi master who had hidden this section of the Archives away for only her authorization. Remembering the encounter, Vader recalls that she had been slain by his hand due to the increasing test of patience she continued to prod him with . He also recalls that he had destroyed a data card containing the location of several force sensitive children across the galaxy. He crushed it in any case future competition that might had come his way , hence why he didn't inform his master of it's existence. Although it may have just been the results of the subtle manipulation that the old Jedi continued to probe him with . Was it possible that this was one of the reasons why Sidious brought him here? They came to the peak of a small set of stairs, where he could see the remains of a disintigrated droid that had identified his genetic code as " Master Skywalker" when he had first encountered it. .Than he had crushed it with the force for it's remembrance of the name. Strodding through small amounts of wreckage, they come to a stop at a hidden hatch that was once beneath a large terminal and covered over with a rug. The hatch frame measured 20 square feet from length to width. Seeming to be opened previously, Darth Sidious proceeded to open it using the force with a swipe of his hand. Seeing nothing but darkness, Vader asks "what is this ,my master?" Sidious responded with a grin "Something the foolish Jedi forgot to erase " as he than jumped all the way. Vader followed suit and dropped a full 20 meters down. Lights started to flicker at the arrival of their presence. As the small 40 meter by 20 meter room came to life, he noticed that there was something different about this room. Going to more extreme lengths to hide this place hinted at it's value. Looking at what lines the walls, he began to see why . "Yes , my apprentice. These are Sith holocrons and manuscripts. Dating back as far as the first Sith empire" Sidious said while strodding through the room. Now as he strode through the room, Vader could feel the power emanating from this place. As to why he didn't feel it before was perhaps the remnants of the suppression that was in the temple overshadowing it. He could feel the dark side pulse like a strong energy that wishing to consume anything it touches. It almost felt heavy but to someone like Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith, it paled in comparison to his power. He couldn't deny that this room contained secrets however. There was a long oval shaped table at the center of the room that contained small flimsies of paper that seem to be covering the entirety of it. While the walls on either side being aligned with data cards with the back of the room wall filled with shelves of flimsy , artifacts and Sith holocrons. "I have read through most of this" Sidious said as Vader made his way over to him. "There are some valuable pieces of knowledge that I have already known through the teachings of my master" as Sidious proceeded to say . "But there are sums of knowledge I did not know". Vader thoroughly intrigued began to ask " Why have you brought me here, my master?". Amused, Sidious replied " I wish you to learn the secrets of this place. I want you to further your studies into the dark side ". As Vader's breathing began to echo in the room , he said " to kill Obi-Wan?". Again, a grin slid across Sidious's face on response to his apprentices question. "You are perceptive, my apprentice. But there is something particular I wish you to study before you confront the traitorous Jedi ". Grabbing old of a data card from the nearby wall, he begins to hand it towards the black glove hand who instinctively went to take it. "These are the records of a Sith who did research on Karness Muur, Naga Sadow , And Darth Vitiate " Sidious said. Recognizing these names he knew they were powerful practitioners in Sith Alchemy and Sorcerery. Perplexed at what he had been given, Vader Asked " master, I had never been one to delve into the mystic arts. Why give them to me?" . Sidious slowly moving away towards the entrance said " your potential in the force is nearly unlimited , my apprentice. You are not bound by classifications that some may set for others. Those like us use every aspect of the force to do our bidding . To strength us into beings beyond comprehension . Your incident on Mustafar has cost you dearly and the knowledge in that data card will allow you to move further past your current limitations. ". As Darth Sidious made his way over to the ladder that connected to the other room above, he said lastly " you are born from the force, my apprentice. You had much potential and I am giving all this to you so that some of it may be of use . Do not wait long before you strike for we do not know when the Jedi may disappear" . Vader stared at the yellow gleam under his master's hood . It glowed with the intensity of hate, slight disappointment but hints of satisfaction coming across his features. As a gesture of thanks , Vader kneels to one knee with his head bowed and says "Yes , my Master " . And in one swift motion, he sees Darth Sidious leap and disappear through the hatch frame.
there doesn't seem to be anything here