Vader and his troops had marched from the landing site and made their way to the heart of the city of Harnaidan

Vader and his troops had marched from the landing site and made their way to the heart of the city of Harnaidan. Leading them as always, the Dark Lord of the Sith continued to scan the area with his mind as he sought out the Jedi hiding somewhere in the war torn metropolis. As the group passed by the many inhabitants, they watched them cower and flee as the soldiers marched in with their weapons in hand. The Clone Wars had made the people frightened of occupying forces, after such devastation to their world it wasn’t too hard to see why. Darth Vader could feel the fear and despair all around, it surrounded the city like a dense fog and he found it difficult to sense the precise location of the Jedi. Tilting his head in thought, the Sith Lord tried to focus with the Force and search deeper to combat the other emotions blocking his mind. As he looked up again, he saw a young Muunilinst boy staring back at him from the other side of the street they were marching too. The child had a gaunt face and big dark eyes that seemed to be full of sadness. It triggered Vader’s memories again, for it was a sight he had long thought forgotten. The dark figure came to a stop and reflected while the other Stormtroopers marched past him.

••••••••••••••••••••

On the floor of the Jedi Temple Council room, a youngling Padawan humanoid lay dead. The look of terror frozen on his face and his innocent dark brown eyes remained open as he lay on his side. Anakin Skywalker was standing over his corpse, his lightsaber switching off as he brought it back down to his side. He glanced around the room and saw the devastation of his attack. All the younglings that tried to hide in the room where dead. Skywalker had spared none in his rage; hatred had clouded his thoughts and focused only on his own personal mission of becoming stronger in the Force. But even in his intense madness into the Darkside, he felt sorrow for what he had done, the tears rolled down his cheeks as he gazed upon all the dead children in the room. He tried to justify it to himself that this was for the greater of the good, to become the most powerful and use it to bring about peace to the galaxy.

Leaving the room slowly, Anakin took one last long look at the bodies and the council room from which even he had sat as a member. He still remembered being told as a child that he was not to be trained in the Force. Mace Windu was very blunt in that fact, so much so that even Yoda took his side reluctantly. Skywalker’s eyes grew dark at that memory, it made him storm out of the room and slam the doors shut with his power. He marched down the corridors of the temple, past smoldering Jedi bodies that were taken down by his lightsaber and the laser blast of the Stormtroopers guns. The sounds of them dying from continuing struggles within the temple echoed throughout. As much as he would have liked to feel no remorse whatsoever, the blood thirst from his rage was setting aside as he stopped and lowered his head in shame. The dark Jedi held his head in pain as the voices of death grew louder and louder.

“Do not weep for them my friend.”

Anakin looked up and saw Palpatine approaching him. The dark cloaked Sith Lord smiled at him and kicked one of the Jedi corpses aside.

“They don’t deserve your pity.” Palpatine sneered. “If they hadn’t opposed your greatness, all of this would not have been necessary.”

Anakin felt compelled to kneel before the man. The Darkside was too strong around the leader of the Republic and growing stronger as each Jedi was passing into the Force.

“What is thy bidding my master?” Anakin solemnly spoke. “I am yours to command.”

Palpatine laughed in delight at his obedience, a great evil cackle that filled every space in the temple. The man clasped his hands together in joy and looked down at his new Sith recruit.

“Good…good.” He giggled. “You have done well, my apprentice. Now Lord Vader, go and bring peace to the Empire.”

Anakin stood up and bowed to him. As he began to walk away, hesitation came into steps. A curious gaze grew on Skywalker’s face as he turned back to face his evil master.

“I didn’t want it to be this way.” He muttered while in thought. “All I wanted was to be the greatest Jedi ever.”

Palpatine gave a look of concern as the newly appointed Sith Lord continued to speak. Anakin shifted his eyes towards the bodies lying about and then looked at his lightsaber in hand.

“I was never one of them was I?”

“No my boy.” The Sith Emperor replied with sympathy. “You were destined to become a Sith Lord. It was unavoidable. The power of the Darkside compelled you towards this moment. The Jedi’s time is over…as it was foreseen.”

Anakin glanced back at him and peered with curiosity. “What do you mean?”

“Come now.” Palpatine smirked. “You of all people knew of what they feared. They sensed their time was coming to an end. That you would be the one to ascend to power over them all. They tried to keep you from doing so…they tried so very hard to make you do as they commanded. This is the moment they feared, the return of the Sith. Balance being restored once more.”

“No.” Skywalker winced in anger. “That’s not what the prophecy meant!”

“Face it Lord Vader. You are the balance that was to come…to bring the Sith back into power!”

Anakin held his head in pain. The conflicting emotions inside of him were too much. He loved being a Jedi, but despised their jealousy. He hated the Sith, yet turned into one so easily. He knelt to the ground in agony.

“Let it go Vader.” Palpatine said as he held the young man’s head. Patting it like a comforting father, the old man smiled as he enjoyed watching Skywalker’s torment. “Don’t look back my boy. Don’t look back. Make this Empire yours…forge it with me and usher in a new era of the Force.”

Skywalker’s pain quickly vanished. The phrase triggered the voice of his dead mother’s last words to him as young boy leaving Tatooine.

“Don’t look back…Anakin. Don’t look back.” Shmi’s voice softly echoed.

“Mother…forgive me.” The young man whispered as tears rolled down his cheek.

He rose from the floor and wiped his face clear of the sadness. Turning to Palpatine he gave a simple bow and returned to being a Sith once more.

“The temple will be clear of all Jedi, my master. Not one shall be left alive…I promise you.”

“Excellent.” The Emperor grinned. “Then go, fulfill your destiny.”

Switching on his lightsaber, Anakin walks swiftly down the corridor with a determined glare and prepares to aid the battling Stormtroopers against the remaining Jedi survivors.

“As you wish.” The dark Jedi snarls through clenched teeth.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Lord Vader, Sir. What are your orders?”

The voice of the leading Stormtrooper roused the towering dark lord of the Sith from his memory. Looking down at the soldier, Vader returned to his senses and began barking orders at them once more.

“Take positions around all pathways that lead to any ship platform. Don’t let them slip past…I will have no excuses if otherwise. Is that clear?”

“Yes, my lord.” The loyal white helmeted solder nodded. “Clear.”

Returning to the group, the leading Stormtrooper motions to the others to march on with him. Darth Vader, meanwhile, walks down another road swiftly by himself as his mind quickly picks up a slight tremor in the Force. His eyes fix on the main central finance hall and began to breath heavily as his pace increased while holding onto his lightsaber dangling from the utility belt.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The Jedi trio followed Den Solo closely as they enter into the massive grand finance hall; the white stone of marble and gold embedded leaflets was splendorous to gaze upon. While Den seemed more interested in the cost of place, B’Ni Lok Ji was rather more impressed at the sheer construction of such a building. Laytana and Lenko ascended up the long row of stairs and took a wide-eyed gaze once they reached the very top of them. This was a beautiful place once. The Clone Wars had diminished the luster of the city, even this white and gold tower seemed less then the jewel it had been not so long ago. Solo passed by them as they continued to peer outwards; he gave a slight shake of his head and snickered at their expressions. Jedi had always seen things differently then regular people, they lived a sheltered life and seemed to look past what many focused on the present. At least, that’s what Den thought anyway.

“If you two don’t mind, I’d like to hurry up now.” Solo said in a sarcastic tone. “Unless that is you want to be caught by the authorities?”

“Keep moving.” B’Ni spoke out of breath as he finally reached the top of the stairs. “There’s nothing to see here anymore.”

“How can you say that, Master?” Lenko questioned with sad eyes. “This was once part of the Republic, the center of trade and commerce. Doesn’t it break your heart to see this?”

The old man gave a long drawn breath and placed his hand on the young Padawan. He glanced out at the city and stroked his long white beard while taking in the sight of it all.

“Of course it does.” He sighed. “But not for what this place stood for. Greed did these people in and this is the reward for their betrayal. I’m more broken hearted for the many that built every structure, statue and monument. The ones that toiled and labored hard by the sweat of their brow making this city something to behold. Those are the people I pity the most. All that work…gone in an instant.”

“It’s sad.” Laytana added. “Others have to suffer for the ambitions of the rich and powerful.”

Den rolled his eyes at their sorrow and cleared his throat loudly enough to shift their attention to him.

“Ahem! Hi…anyone want to escape the Empire? You know, the guys looking for you? If not, then please just give my payment now.”

B’Ni let out a laugh at his statement and nodded in agreement. He wrapped his arms around the two younger Jedi and walked with them into the building. Solo shook his head again as they entered inside and rubbed the temple of his nose.

“I should have landed the ship closer.”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Alderaan

Pacing about in a room lavishly decorated with crystal and polished silver metal, Senator Bail Organa listens to Mon Mothma as her holographic image hovers over a small glass table of pure crystalline. Her ghostly figure flickers and pulsates as the sunset bleeds its dying rays onto the image.

“We need your support on this Bail. If this is to be done then we need to have consensus in the Alliance.”

“What you’re proposing is not what we are about.” Bail said in frustration. “This isn’t going to help our cause and you know it.”

“It is what it is.” Mon Mothma stated coldly. “The only answer we have left.”

“No.” He shouted at her holographic image. He quickly approaches it and pointed his finger right at her face. “No. I will not turn our rebellion into a bunch of terrorists.”

“It’s not terrorism.” She scowled. “It’s called fighting back. We need to start crippling the Emperor’s hold by any means necessary.”

Bail threw his hand up at her in anger and walked away. He wasn’t impressed with her plans and was growing displeased about his role in the Alliance he helped to build. Facing the long open window, the sun shining on his face as night slowly creeps in, Bail clasped his arms together and began chew on his thumb nail as he tried to calm down.

“Diplomacy is not the answer anymore.” The red headed female senator continued. “You know it will not work any longer in this type of hostile environment. We must act Organa, now while Palpatine’s grasp is so fragile.”

“Fragile?” Bail laughed. He turned around and laughed again at her for saying such a thing. “His grip has never been tighter then now. The Clone Wars provided loyal troops to his very beckoned call. He even managed to wipe out the Jedi in one simple message to them. No. This is not the time to strike back.”

The woman gave a long sigh and tilted her head in disappointment. She could see the doubt in Organa’s eyes. Even as she tried to speak again to him, Bail continued to look worried and paced about the room even more.

“I told you I have a few pockets of resistance fighters gathering on various worlds. They want to help us.”

“For a price.” Bail quickly added.

“Alright, yes. Some are being paid to do it. Some are not though, they fight for the freedom of the galaxy.”

“They fight because it profits them.” He scoffed at her. “You’ve got them spread out all over the place and without a communications relay. How are you going to keep them informed and coordinated?”

“I will use channels at my disposal. There are ways of doing so.”

“This is a dangerous game you are playing Mon Mothma.” Bail warned as he finally stopped in his pacing and came face to face with her. “Very dangerous.”

“If you haven’t the nerve to see this thing though, then I suggest you leave the group at once.” She said to him as she raised her head back up. “The Alliance will seek out another to take your place and have the courage to join our cause.”

The Senator closed his eyes and lowered his head slightly as the threat of being cut out wounded him. He couldn’t help but be cautious, especially when dealing with someone with too much power as Palpatine.

“Have you so little faith in me that you would say such a thing like that?” He stated. “I cast doubt because I am worried about my family’s safety. I’m not trying to back out of the Alliance. Just that there needs to be better organization in its creation.”

“I know and I understand your concerns.” She nodded. “But just remember Bail, we also worry about our families. We all swore an oath to end this Empire, even if it means the lives of those dear to us. He’s taken so much, it’s time to do something about it.”

“Then I urge you be very cautious and keep a close eye on those you bring into our circle.”

The woman nods at his request and then suddenly looks away as a voice whispers into her ear.

“I’ve got to go now. This transmission might be monitored if I say on.” She said looking back at him. “I will do my best my dear friend. I look forward to seeing you again when the next Senate session is called.”

“As do I.” Bail smiled at her. “Stay safe.”

She smiled back at him as her image faded. Organa had always enjoyed their debates with one another, even though they were at odds at times, they seemed to get along very well outside of the political scene. She was a few years younger then him, full of ambition and stubborn pride, but seemed to know where to draw the line when butting heads. Organa sat down onto a chrome bench close to the window and watched the ending light of the sunset on the beautiful world of Alderaan. The time for struggle was now on the horizon and their lives were going to be in danger every single day. He’d wished that Yoda and Obi Wan Kenobi had stayed with him in this time of need. The Alliance could have used their help in such dark times. But he understood why they had to flee and hide, it was just a passing thought of ‘what if’ that stood out in his mind.