CHAPTER 1

Vader completed his meditation and slowly opened his eyes. His pale, scarred face stared back at him from out of the reflective black
transparisteel of his personal pressurized meditation chamber, a place in which he could survive for an extended period of time without the need
of the shell that imprisoned his head - a place in which he could feel fresh air.

Without the neural connection to his armor, he was more conscious of the perpetual pain in his flesh and body. He had learned to welcome the
pain, learned to use it to fuel his anger, his hate. The pain strengthened his spirit.

In his past life, he meditated to find peace. Now, it was solely to channel and to focus on that anger within him - the source of his power. And yet,
at this moment, he could not. A name prevented him from fully concentrating, bringing back memories hed struggled to lock away in order to
fully surrender his will to the dark side of the Force.

The name was that of the pilot who brought down the Death Star two years prior. The pilot whom Vader sensed was strong in the Force. The pilot
originating from the Sith lords former, vile homeworld. The pilot whom he hunted across the galaxy.

Skywalker.

More names and images flashed across his subconscious. Obi-Wan. Ahsoka. Qui-Gon.

Anakin. Padm.

He purged the thoughts. Slowly, his faceplate was put on, what completed his shell and made him whole. Feeling the spikes of pain once the
faceplate connected to his secondary respirator, his helmet was sealed to the neck from above, encasing him fully. He stood up. The breathing
sounds of his respirator constantly made echoed off the walls of the chamber before it opened. Vader existed the chamber and started making his
way to the command bridge of the Executor, where Admiral Ozzel was waiting.

Even though he shouldve been more annoyed at Ozzels usual incompetence, the name hed thought of earlier came back and outsized that.

Skywalker.

...

The Super Star Destroyer Executor hovered over the world of Belkadan. In the blackness of space, the Executor's interior lighting enshrouded the
warship in a cerulean glow, and its massive length covered a part of Belkadans surface in shadow.

So cool! Nanako shrieked in excitement, practically drooling, as she continued to awe at the giant vessel, while heading towards the bridge
along with her partner her sister.

Aiko! she called out to her, Look at-

Would you shut up already? The other harshly cut her off, and noticing the weird looks the personnel of the ship give them. Youve been like
this for hours.

Oh, come ooooon, try to cheer up for once, dummy Nanako poked her sister on the shoulder. Cant you admire all of this? She added.

Aiko did understand her sisters current joyous state. The Executor was the pinnacle of warship design; 19,000 meters in length, enough
firepower to vaporize a planets surface in hours, space large enough to hold thousands of ships and years worth of supplies. The mere sight of it
was enough to frighten the enemy into submission.

However, its most notable feature is its status as the flagship of Darth Vader.

Dont tell me youre actually excited to see him Aiko said and frowned, when she reminded Nanako who was on this ship.

Well, uh... Nanako turned her head away. Aiko swore she saw her face go red at the mention of Vader. Aiko was aware of her sisters strange
fixation on the Emperors mysterious enforcer, whom so many feared. At times, she found that oddly amusing. But now, it was rather concerning,
considering what often happened to those who suffered Vaders wraith.

Aiko herself wasnt afraid. She was also intrigued by Vader, yet not to the extent of her siblings interest in him. The sisters wondered if Vader
was some kind of Jedi, or used to be one. Or perhaps he was something entirely different. He might not even be human.

Whatever. Just dont do anything stupid for once. She commanded to Aiko, but she internally sighed and knew that something would come up,
sooner or later.

Um right. Nanako said and finally calmed down.

Say, Nanako titled her head. You think hes exactly like what all the rumors say? She asked.

Those rumors were a result of Vader developing quite a reputation in the Empire. Most of the high ranking officers in the military dreaded and
despised him the emissary of the Emperor granted with privileges, yet holding no official rank in the Imperial hierarchy. Nanako knew that
everything said about the dark warrior was well-earned, if the other rumors about Vaders prowess in combat were also true.

Unless you want to be chocked up and thrown into the trash compactor, lets not find out. Aiko coldly replied.

Nanako nervously laughed. The sisters entered the turbolift heading up towards the bridge.