He should kill her. He should kill them all.
It felt like an instinctual call engraved within him since the very beginning of his life– or at least, this life. It beckoned him to fulfill his duty. He needed to cleanse this galaxy of all who were unworthy. He had to rid this galaxy of anyone who stood in the way of his justice. He would start small, with this city he regarded with disdain. He loathed it here as much as he detested the absurdity of politics. Vader gritted his teeth as frustration and anger overwhelmed him, threatening to consume him. His heart pounded louder in his ears, and his blood boiled like lava. He stormed through the crowd, no longer caring if he caused a scene or sought the shadows. The onlookers continued to flee at the first sight of him, gasping and crying out in fear. Vader ignored them, hoping they were intelligent enough to make a wise choice.
They were surprisingly adept. Their survival instincts were more reliable than their primitive brains. They fled from him.
Quickly weighing his options, Vader decided against killing any of the slower stragglers, knowing his master would already be displeased with his actions from that dreadful night, and a bloodbath would only lead to him possibly losing his other arm. Not only would he face punishment for Rush Clovis and Senator Amidala, but now this. His mission was to remain hidden, not to roam the streets like a common citizen- or, in his case, an evil monster out for blood.
It spread across the HoloNet, which would greatly upset the Emperor. Perhaps not because Vader had taken action, but rather because he had done so without the Emperor's guidance. The old man would fear that rumors would circulate suggesting he couldn't control his apprentice or that Vader's power was greater than his own. Whispers would imply that the Emperor was powerless over Vader, thereby making Vader appear stronger in the eyes of the galaxy, which simply could not be accepted.
Vader knew better; yet, he allowed his emotions to control him, like any ordinary youngling. He had succumbed to temptation and disobeyed his master. He had failed, and that failure felt like waste in his belly.
Under Vader's rage, objects around him shattered violently without warning. Nearby droids instantly exploded, and signs ignited into flames. The windows of neighboring buildings burst into a million pieces, falling like raindrops below. Speeders hovering above veered off course. People dropped to their knees, cowering, but unlike everyone else, Vader remained unaffected. He did not care.
Vader made it clear that if the people could not be his victims, then everything else could be.
It didn't satisfy his appetite.
He quickened his pace in search of his darkness, hoping to evade the urge before it was too late.
Then, as if suddenly lassoed and pulled, Vader felt his master summoning him through their bond, drawing him to his location. He sensed his master's displeasure– and something else he couldn't decipher. It remained hidden from him, only fueling his anger and irritation.
He should have known that his master would have been watching him so intently. The old man already knew of his failure, and Vader felt almost as if the old man had expected it.
Had that been the plan?
Vader hadn't the slightest idea. He had given up long ago trying to dissect and understand his master's plans. He focused his talents on more important matters- more sensible ones. Sidious could have his plans, and Vader would have his own. It didn't matter as long as, at the end of the war, Vader was the victor, which he would be.
Vader pivoted on his heel and strode toward the Imperial Senate, knowing it was wiser not to delay. It would only make it worse.
His anger remained unabated, with his blood still boiling in his veins. His thoughts lingered on what would transpire when he arrived at his master's office. He would not evade punishment for this outrage. He had defied his master's commands, and such behavior would not be tolerated. He already knew what would happen. He would be disciplined for this outrage. He would suffer for hours, if not days, for his perceived wrongdoings. Additionally, numerous other criticisms would be added to the list by the Emperor, ensuring that Vader would endure even more pain. There was no doubt that the old man could already feel his anger; the entire city could sense it.
Vader felt his master's call grow stronger through the Force, pulling him along like a pet through their shared bond. His master needed him, and Vader felt an overpowering urge to comply, akin to that of a common slave.
His stomach churned with hate.
He hated to admit that he was a slave. He had been a slave all his life: first on Tatooine to Gardulla the Hutt, then to Watto the Toydarian, and now to Darth Sidious, the Emperor, Lord of the Sith, his master. Vader knew he was a slave, created to do his master's bidding, but no one would tell him that. No one would remind him of the truth… and if someone did, Rush Clovis exemplified that.
He silenced anyone who reminded him of the truth. Soon, very soon, he would be free- his own master.
About half an hour later, Lord Vader arrived at the Imperial Senate building. He ascended the long steps without hesitation, striding directly to the Emperor's private office while disregarding the fearful glances of the late-night senators he passed.
Upon his arrival, the guards at the door permitted him to enter without delay. Whether it was due to his own anger or the Emperor's wrath, Vader didn't know; but then again, he didn't care. It would make no difference.
He stepped into the dark room, hearing the door slam shut behind him—a familiar greeting that signaled he was about to face discipline for one of his actions.
It was dark inside, but the darkness did not faze Vader; he was well-adapted to it and had the Force on his side. Effortlessly, he walked through, following the dark Force signature to the other side of the room before pausing in front of a large armchair where the elder man sat and kneeling on the ground—a gesture that demonstrated he remained merely a puppet to the true performer.
A moment of silence passed, and Vader sensed his master using the Force to probe his thoughts. He sank into Vader's mind and flipped through the memories Vader allowed him to see. Not that Sidious knew the difference, since Vader had learned how to play this game long ago. Vader gave him everything: every thought, every emotion, every interaction that had occurred since he left his side to follow the young senator.
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