The Secret Apprentice | Vader x OC

Consequence

"I see all that transpires upon my battle station, Vondar." He answered my thoughts, keeping his gaze forward, "stormtroopers Kane and Jakova will no longer be a disturbance to you."

Keeping my focus on his helmet, his words frightened me, chills crept down my spine, "...no...you can't do that. Vader, please. They don't deserve to die for what they did."

My words diverted his focus down onto me now, catching sight of my own pitiful reflection through his dark glass eyes, "it is not merely what they did that sealed their fate. It is a consequence of what you exposed them to, and their own lack of regard for others upon this battle station. Without the willingness to cooperate and tolerate one another, regardless of insignificant discrepancies such as gender, color or species, they inevitably develop to become liabilities. There can not be defects within this empire, I will not allow it."

Being attentive to him, the manner in which he speaks to me now is shocking. As though he is opening up in some way, conversing in longer sentences with less abuse and insults felt like a relief. The lift came to a stop, and I followed him out. We were on his floor, and the memories that came next led my heart to drop. But I felt deep in my soul that one way or another, he was already aware of what Blip and I had done. We exchanged no words, and I tried my best to not look at the troopers guarding his quarters. Vader, to my surprise, dismissed them and they departed respectfully. He unlocked the blast door using a personalized code that I was unable to see thanks to his cape being in the way. Not that I needed to see it, anyway.

The blast door opened, and he stepped inside, his comment shaming me, "Did you and your droid happen to locate what it was that you had been meddling around my private sector for, Vondar?"

Entering, I held my arms nervously, "...I apologize for intruding in on your personal space..." I wish I had laid in your amazing bed, though.

He dismissed my thought that had made itself known without warning, "you desired to use my bacta tank in hopes of achieving a deeper meditative state, enough to writhe your way into my thoughts in regards to your sibling's fate." He guided me into his throne room, bypassing the conference portion of the room presumably to ridicule me in the reality he also knows what I had nearly done with his throne. He made his way up the steps before taking his place on the throne, furthering our discussion, "that is not all you wished to have discussed in private, is it Vondar?"

Staring up at him as he somehow made himself appear more powerful in my presence, I had never felt so insignificant in my life, "...I only wanted to discuss my sister. There was nothing more I wanted from you."

"You lie through your teeth, just as your mind formulates further lies in hope for an escape plan. This discussion will not be avoided, and it would be wise of you to remain honest from this moment forward. Further disrespect, or another lie spoken to my face will not end well for you." His tone was frightening, and I knew now that there was no way of getting out of this.

Confiding in the knowledge that him and I are truly alone, my gaze dropped to the floor, "..I was hoping that maybe there was a chance to slip past whatever it is that you keep hiding behind. The anger, the thick wall that keeps crumbling down just to be thrown back up twice as strong as the last. The conflict you keep raging on within yours-" my throat had unexpectedly tightened, cutting off my airway leaving me unable to breathe or speak. My hands moved to my throat, staring up at him now in fright, seeing his right hand elevated just barely above the armrest.

Vader spoke, rage bleeding through the modulation of his suit, "there is no conflict. I have not an ounce of weakness, no act of hiding. You must not comprehend who it is that you are speaking to. Kneel."

My eyes were watering and the urge to cough rampaged through my lungs all the way to my throat, my face began to burn. I fell to my knees, lowering my head before him in hope to appease him and get him to release his grip on my throat. Silently I begged him to let me breathe, slipping into his mind to beg him further.

He began to let up, just enough to get a fragment of air into my lungs, staring at the floor while tears began to speckle the obsidian. I fought so greatly to not allow my anger to rise, knowing just how disastrous it manages to become. It is evident to me that his rage is capable of spilling over, to somehow influence my own, and I have been led to believe that this effect works both ways. Both of us becoming enraged, boiling over into each other is the equivalent of a volcano erupting. And unfortunately I am the weaker individual out of the two of us. If this cycle persists, I will certainly not survive.

Please Lord Vader, I meant you no disrespect..it is the truth! You must feel it to be true! Somehow, those emotions frighten you, that is why you lash out. You forced me to pledge myself to you, and you go out of your way to keep protecting me! Please! Listen to me!

Abruptly he shot up, standing while the force around him spiraled like the walls of a hurricane, to be welded at any given moment, "silence!!"

Blip was terrified, yet was completely powerless in this situation. Despite barely being able to breathe, I gradually lifted my head to look up at him, focusing my thoughts.

Do it, then. If I truly mean nothing to you, my position could effortlessly be filled by anybody else. You have nothing to lose.

Vader stepped down from the throne, stopping before me, his tone vicious and frightening, "You have a greater purpose that your voracious mind is too blind to realize. Your nonsensical misconception of love is not the motive as for why I had ensured that you had been kept alive, Vondar. It is to utilize your potential, to guide you through the path of the Force's all-powerful dark side. You are destined to join me, to be my apprentice. You wield the force in ways of which many aspire to, with guidance you shall become more powerful than any Jedi."

His revelation made no sense to me, yet my curiosity influenced my interest. His fury did not falter, but thankfully he further loosened his hold on my throat. I erupted into a fit of coughs, my throat sore as I lowered my head to him once more, my words gritty, "...to become a Sith? I...don't believe I truly desire to utilize this power of mine..."

His right hand swept his cape aside, revealing the lightsaber holstered at his hip as he moved his hand to rest on it, "Then you shall die. Make your final decision, Vondar. Decide on your fate wisely." He threatened to pull his weapon from its holster.

My mind worked through the decision I had not much option but to pick. There was no alternative, no other choice. Following down the path of the dark side will change my life, my personality, forever. I will become a different person, won't I?

Keeping my head down, I remained on my knees before him. My breath escaped my lips shakily, dreading the decision I had no choice but to make. His grip on my throat was now gone, and I slowly lifted my head up to look him in the eye, "...I choose..to walk the path of the dark side....with you as my master, Lord Vader.."

His rage mellowed into a gentle storm, satisfied with my decision as he hid his weapon with his cape once again. "So. She is competent enough to make wise decisions, after all."

His judgment stoked my own worsening temper, but I swallowed my anger. This bothered him, "Do not suppress your emotions. Your fury, fear, and suffering will be the factor that defines your strength in the force. The more suffering you endure, the more powerful you will undoubtedly come to be."

"..Will I no longer be a secret? Will my training lead me onto the battlefield?" I doubted myself, sitting while on my knees looking up at him. In a way, I was able to tell that it pleased him. I was not aiming to anger him any further.

"Our relations are to remain strictly confidential until I state otherwise. For now, return to your duties, and prepare your belongings for departure. You are required elsewhere, training can not take place upon this battle station."

"What? Where am I going? Will you be coming along as well?" Worry and fear led me to express my concern across my face.

"Certainly, we shall depart jointly. Our destination is confidential." He then walked past me, slowly I followed him out.