The Creation of Darth Vader

Year One

This is how it feels to be Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, the man formerly known as Anakin Skywalker, the Hero with no Fear, if you use the term man loosely. The first dawn of the universe brings you pain, it will always bring you pain. The light burns you, it will always burn you. Part of you will always lie upon black glass beside a lake of fire while flames chew upon your flesh. Part of you will always see the last thing you ever saw: Obi-Wan Kenobi, the man that was like your father; like your brother, scooping up your lightsaber and shaking his head sadly as he left you to die, as your tunics caught fire igniting and searing your flesh.

You can hear your mechanical breathing. It comes out hard and harsh, scraping nerves already raw, but you cannot stop it. You cannot even slow it down. Mechanisms hardwired into your chest will pump oxygen in your bloodstream….forever. You see with eyes that are not your own, the red hue of the mask giving you virtual input of your environment as the sensors pick up things you couldn't have seen or heard with normal human eyes and ears. The Emperor has saved your life, and you owe him everything. You swore your life to him for sparing yours, you are completely under his command, and a lifetime of servitude awaits you. But what else is there? This is how it feels to be Darth Vader….for now.

Darth Vader was now able to move about on ungainly legs as he reached his master's throne room, bowing for him. "What is thy bidding, my master?" he asked.

"How are you feeling today, Lord Vader?" The Emperor asks his pet in mock-concern.

"I am the same as always. Can I ask you something, my master," Vader asked, still in his kneeling position. The Emperor sipped his tea, as he dismissed the Red Guards.

"Of course, my friend," he said, with a small benevolent seeming smile, "You can ask me anything you like. Rise, my servant," he said, and Darth Vader put his hand on the floor pushing his mechanical limbs to the point of standing. He was taller than he used to be…he had always been tall, but he wondered why the Emperor had gone through the trouble of making his figure more imposing, hadn't he cut a commanding enough figure as he had been?

"H-how did Padme die?" Darth Vader asked again.

"Must you force me to torture you, Lord Vader," the Emperor asked, seemingly tired of the same question.

"It was all Obi-Wan's fault, of course. I told you he couldn't be trusted, I told you to be mindful of the currents within the Force, did I not?" he asked, and Darth Vader hung his head in shame. "He baited you, drove you mad, and in your anger…you killed her. It is truly a tragic event. The Jedi counted on it…of course. They didn't want to see you happy; they feared you, your marriage, and any offspring you were to produce. Powerful Sith they would have become," the Emperor said. "They aren't to be trusted, and I have decided to cheer you up, the task of eliminating the Jedi will be left up to you, my friend."

"Thank you, my master," Darth Vader said, "I will make them pay for the destruction of Padme and our child."

"This Empire will be built upon the death of Senator Amidala and your child…just wait and see. I have a press conference that you must attend. Yes, I know how tiring they are, but you must attend. After all, if it hadn't been for me, you too, would have died at Kenobi's hand, and you would have been lost to me. I don't require anything but your presence today. Soon enough we will continue with your training," he told his servant.

Darth Vader stood by silently as Emperor Palpatine spoke to the press. "Hello, my people. Today, I would like to reveal to the public the truth behind Order Sixty-Six, I have with me, Commander Cody of the 212nd and Darth Vader who have worked tirelessly to uncover the plot of the Jedi. We have lost many lives thanks to the Jedi who manipulated the entire war, from the beginning. Was it not Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi who at Genosis sparked the ire of both the Trade Federation and founded the Separatist movement? I have since learned that Anakin Skywalker suspected the Jedi Master of treachery and that was why he had followed his master to Genosis. Again, was it not the once Jedi Master, the Count of Serrano, who founded the Confederacy of Independent Systems? Make no mistake about it, Count Dooku was a Jedi. And not a fallen Jedi as they would have you believe, and certainly not a Sith. Why it was Anakin Skywalker who worked closely with my friend Darth Vader to uncover the lies and deceptions of the Jedi. Darth Vader was one of the few Jedi that Anakin Skywalker trusted with the secret of his wife. Yes, you heard correctly, Anakin Skywalker was married to Senator Amidala, who as we all now know was expecting her first child. When Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader went to confront Obi-Wan with evidence of his treachery, he attacked, murdering Senator Amidala in front of the helpless Hero of the Empire. He was numb with shock and grief that a Jedi could murder a child, his child, his unborn child," Palpatine punctuated the thought, as horror rung throughout the square.

"You see Anakin Skywalker wasn't the only Jedi to break their Code. Obi-Wan had also broken the Code, he had fallen in love with the Duchess Satine, they have been working against the Empire, against the Republic, combined they would have destroyed the Republic, but Anakin had gotten to Mustafar before Darth Vader could assist him. He had gotten there just as Obi-Wan had murdered his wife, and they fought, Anakin Skywalker died a true hero, trying to stop the tyranny and the oppression of the Sith. It was the same reason Anakin Skywalker had defeated Count Dooku to end this war. The Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi is still at large, and though Skywalker's body has not been found, we will always honor him, as the Jedi who protected the Republic. Darth Vader arrived to see Obi-Wan tossing Skywalker's body into the lake of fire, and they fought. Darth Vader was gravely injured, but with help of the Galaxy's best doctors, he lives as a testament to the evil of the Jedi, and the righteousness of our cause. It is said that when Senator Amidala heard of the Galaxy becoming an Empire she said, 'This is how diplomacy thrives, with thunderous applause.' We will forever honor both Anakin and Padme Skywalker, it is upon their blood in which the Empire will flourish and they will never be forgotten. If you see or spot a Jedi, do not hide them, do not help them, they are enemies of the state, and must be handled with extreme caution. It is with regret that I pass a ban on the use of Force powers without lawful permission, if you see anyone practicing the Force illegal, do the right thing, do the Empire a favor and turn them in. My new elite storm troopers are here not just to serve me, but to serve you," the Emperor said as he turned and Darth Vader and Commander Cody followed him.

The Emperor turned to Lord Vader. "I am turning the 501st over to your command, Lord Vader. You remember Commander Cody, of course."

"Yes, you served under General Kenobi," Darth Vader said to the Clone who still wore yellow on his clone uniform.

"Commander Cody is aware of your former identity, and you can trust him as you trusted CT-7567.

"My master, I appreciate such rewards, especially after my failure on Mustafar but I would prefer to have my own commander. We have worked well together for the last three years. Where is Captain Rex?"

"Oh…him?" the Emperor asked. "He was having some difficulty following orders. He has been sent for retraining, but most of your squadron has remained intact. Cody will temporary take over Rex's position in your squadron," the Emperor explained. "He is quite loyal, I assure you. I gave him the Order for Order Sixty Six personally."

"If I had known that General Kenobi was deceitful, I would have done more to find him….General Skywalker….Lord Vader."

"You will refer to my apprentice as Lord Vader," the Emperor snapped.

"Of course, your majesty."

"I have commissioned for you to have your own ship, any kind you want, as long as it wields power for the Empire."

"The Jedi never rewarded…."

"We are not Jedi!" Sidious said forcefully. "You did quite well, today, Lord Vader, and I believe the galaxy bought it."

"You made it seem like I never was Anakin Skywalker," Lord Vader mused.

"You don't want the Jedi guessing who you are and come after you. Trust me, it will be much easier dealing with them, if they don't expect your identity," the Emperor told him. "Now you are free to chase as many Jedi as you would like, just return within the month, we have training to go through, to turn you into my heir."

"Of course, my master," Darth Vader said.

"Come Along, Cody, we should check Mandalore. Obi-Wan would surely hide out there. Do you remember Mandalore?"

"Yes sir, it was the Duchess Satine's home planet."

"Then let's get Fives, Echo, Jesse, Tup, and Kix ready."

"Commander Alpo and Vill will be joining you as well as Admiral Yularen," Palpatine told him.

"Of course, my master. Assemble the 501st," Darth Vader ordered. "Master, what happened to Artoo?"

"Artoo? Relax, Darth Vader, we will find you a suitable astrodroid, Artoo units are a dime a dozen and he was way too outdate for the Second in Command."

Darth Vader nodded but he couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Artoo. Darth Vader was fit was a black Arnine design. He was just a droid, Darth Vader thought; he didn't have the personality of Artoo. Darth Vader headed for one of the Empire's star cruiser as he led his team on a mission to Mandalore.