Consume You It Will

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Star Wars or any related titles, plots, characters, settings, etc. These rights belong to George Lucas, Lucasfilms, The Walt Disney Company, and their various publishers and distributors. I own only the original elements of this story, the writing and publishing of which earn me no money.

Chapter Three: Darth Vader

The clones were talking again. He took notice, but didn't necessarily want to put a stop to it. After all, the teamwork and close bond of the 501st had made them legendary even in the days when they were misguidedly fighting for the Republic. Several of the men currently serving as Imperial Stormtroopers had started their existence as clone troopers for the Republic, but he found he had nothing to say to them anymore. The only reason he had zeroed in on the forming bond was that it shed too much light on his own exclusion.

As General Skywalker, he had always been on good terms with his men, learning names, spotting differences, telling jokes and stories with the best of them. Now, there was a noticeable distance between the men and himself. Not only did the suit sustaining his life respond far too slowly - the sound requiring time to filter through and even longer for his response to be pushed back through the vents - but he had already gained a reputation for violence and impatience. The clones were scared of him.

This did not bother Vader, but Anakin Skywalker was weak. He wanted - no, he needed - the respect of his men, respect born of brotherhood rather than fear.

Shaking both Anakin's stomach-clenching need and Vader's fist-tightening disgust from his head, he strode purposefully toward the clones socializing in the hallway. One of the standard helmets moved only millimeters to the right as its owner saw his billowing black cape and stood at attention, the man to his left turning to do the same.

The final trooper, however, had his back to the approaching Lord Vader and seemed to be paying no attention to the frantic motions of his brothers. "Scatch!" the first trooper hissed in that too-familiar voice.

'Scatch' whipped around, uncovered face shifting to panic at a rate that was nearly comical. Anakin wanted nothing more than to ask the trooper how he had earned his name, but Vader was in favor of punishment - perhaps death.

"Troopers…" he said, still uncertain of what he would say next. All three men saluted.

"You should be ashamed at appearing before Lord Vader in such a state," the emperor reprimanded, whipping around a far corner. The troopers could not possibly be more at attention than they currently were, but he could feel through the Force how desperately all three clones wished their spines could straighten into impossible angles to show as much respect as possible.

Not that he believed a single one of the men held any respect for Vader or Palpatine. Their Force signatures reeked of fear, followed closely by the desire to avoid punishment. There was no hint of trust or admiration or any number of emotions that contributed to respect of an authority figure. Inspiring such feelings in his men had once been something Anakin Skywalker had done with ease - though even he had not proved quite as adept as his Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

He winced, grateful for the first time for the cover of his helmet. Thoughts of Master Kenobi brought about a myriad of emotions tumbling from all sides, including the part of himself that still clung to the ways of the Jedi and attempted to avoid all unnecessary emotion. Vader was furious, rage burning as hot as the lava that had permanently scarred his flesh, eating away so thoroughly that even months spent in a bacta tank had proven incapable of curing him completely.

The small, ever-shrinking piece of Anakin Skywalker still remaining in the blackened husk of his old body missed Kenobi dearly. Anakin had regarded the older Jedi as a mentor, an elder brother, and a friend. His loss had been nearly as painful as that of Padme Amidala, though somewhat lessened by the knowledge that Kenobi still lived.

That same knowledge brought such a cold-edged fury from Vader that his cape fluttered in the chill emanating from his body.

"Dismissed," the emperor bit out, allowing the troopers to scurry away from the unblinking stare of Vader's dark-glass viewports.

"Apologies, Lord Vader," Emperor Palpatine said with a mocking little bow. "I have yet to train the clones that they are to treat you with the utmost respect at all times. None of that informality that so plagued your men during the Clone Wars. I assure you, such an incident will not take place again."

"No apology is required, Emperor," Vader dismissed in his customary slow rumble. Anakin still shrank at the voice while Vader gloried in its depth and ability to frighten others. Still, the Emperor sought to remove one of his few sources of comfort. "I am no stranger to the ways of soldiers."

"Still..." the Emperor hissed, "Such behavior is not to be tolerated. I have long believed that we would be wise to begin recruiting from human sources. Clones grow far too expensive, even with the strength of the Empire applied to receiving the best possible rate from the Kaminoans. Besides, the genes of Jango Fett have been stretched too far. The vast majority of clones created today are… subpar."

"As you command, Emperor," Vader assented. "I shall begin making inquiries into a reliable source immediately."

"No," Emperor Palpatine returned sharply. "You will focus on your skills and training. The Empire has grown powerful enough to end most threats before their very inception, but there will always be some who seek to oppose our rule. You must be strong enough to end them with finality. We cannot risk even the idea that we can be challenged. Go meditate, strengthen yourself with the Force, and I will think on methods upon which to instruct you."

And that was decided. There would be no discussion, no arguments. The great Lord Vader, confined to his chambers as if he were an unruly padawan. It was something of a welcome change to have all pieces of himself in agreement, though they bristled at the treatment. He was one of the most powerful men in the galaxy and yet… yet, the emperor was arguably the most powerful.

With a strange and unwelcome sense of clarity, both Vader and Skywalker realized that this existence was untenable and yet appeared to be without end. He would be forever confined to this limbo; forever within reach and under the command of the Emperor, yet denied any other contact.

He began to meditate, ignoring the pull of his heavily-scarred skin and the ever-present pain in the seared seams joining his abused muscles with the robotic limbs that allowed him to move. As he mused over the recent realizations in the depths of his mind, he experienced the strangest narrowing sensation. Vader and Skywalker, pulled by their agreement in the vehement rejection of the farce his life had become, joined into one being; brought neither joy nor desolation in this existence, they turned to the one thing that could bring a moment of relief: Pure, cold rage.

Rage at Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Rage at the thoroughly-dismantled Jedi Council.

Rage at the entirety of the ineffectual Republic.

Rage at his own lack of function.

Rage at the loss of the man he had been only a short time ago.

Rage at the galaxy as a whole.

The galaxy had taken everything from him and he had no real desire to aid it in any way. No, the man he had become, the fearsome Darth Vader, would rather take his revenge on the galaxy, but he would not allow others to live - to die - the way Anakin Skywalker had. Instead, the Sith Lord Darth Vader would preside over the galaxy, and in doing so, instruct its inhabitants about the benefits of an effective ruler. If he had to do so with Emperor Palpatine by his side, so be it.

None would have to suffer what he had, not again. He would create the life that had been stolen from him by the Republic and the Jedi. This would be his legacy, the gift he would leave for his galaxy.

He would bring order.

He would bring prosperity.

He would bring peace.

He was the Chosen One.

It was his destiny.

Author's Note - Happy Halloween to those who celebrate! I know this chapter is coming extremely late, but I've been editing up to the last minute. I still am not proud of this chapter, but I'm admitting defeat and simply posting it as-is. I know the repeated statements at the end come off as choppy, but that was (mostly) intentional. I wanted to show the reluctant transition of Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader and I was influenced by a recent rewatching of The Clone Wars. Anakin has such a strong connection with his clone troops. It's hard to picture that he wouldn't struggle during his early days as Vader. And the whole "Two, there are. No more, no less," rule of the Sith sounds like an actual living hell if the other Sith is someone as controlling as Palpatine.

Anyway, you made it! This completes the little series of three little drabbles that make up this story. At this point, I have no plans to expand it any further, but later chapters may come along if I happen to be inspired by other villians. I also may post a better version of this chapter if I ever manage to write one. Thank you for reading! Reviews are actual treasures, so if you have a moment and could leave a few words (even if you didn't like it and tell me so) I would appreciate it so deeply! If you're more comfortable sending a PM, that is appreciated as well.

Thank you again for reading and I hope you all have a lovely day!