Darth Vader accepted long ago that he would never be considered human again. He was too far down his path to ever return, nor did he want to. He was well on his way to achieving everything that he had ever dreamed. It was only a matter of time before he lost the baggage that was holding him down… his humanity, or at least the small amount that was left. Part of the young boy he used to be still remained within him. He knew that as well. The boy was in the deepest corners of his mind. The boy gazed back at him every time he saw his reflection, the blue eyes, the tan skin, or the dark blond hair. It all reminded him that he was still human, that he was still a slave... but soon every trace of that boy would burn and his Master's vision of the true Darth Vader would rise from the ashes. Soon, he would truly become a monster. Soon, he would lose everything about him that reminded him of that boy. Soon, he would be a true killing machine and no one would be able to stop him. He would be the true, Darth Vader.
"Good Afternoon, Gentlemen." Grand Moff Tarkin announced as the he entered the room, interrupting Vader's thoughts. "I'm afraid my meeting with the Emperor ran a bit over," Tarkin continued, as he made his way around Vader towards his seat, "you have my deepest apologies." At the mention of the Emperor, every man in the room tensed, except Vader. He didn't care where Tarkin was or how invincible the man believed he was. No one was late to his meetings especially while he was in this sort of mood.
"Perhaps, you should not schedule conflicting meetings." Vader replied darkly causing all eyes in the room to turn in his direction.
Tarkin laughed lightly, "Calm now, Vader."
"Calm." Vader repeated, turning the word to ice as it left his lips.
I was calm. Not anymore.
The simple word was laced with coldness and clued on how close Vader was to his breaking point. Even Tarkin looked away from the Sith Lord, in fear that he had pushed his limits to far. He had. The monster within Vader screamed, scratching to be released. He wanted nothing more but to kill the man before him. No one had the nerve to laugh at him. The only reason why the man was still alive was because the Emperor saw potential in him. Vader did not. The man was a fool, just like the Emperor. Vader hated both men with an almost equal passion. They were both fools that were drunk on technological power.
It was silent for a moment before Vader's head snapped towards Tarkin. The man's thoughts were screaming in the air, broadcasting loud and clear. Vader heard every single word and it enraged him.
Tarkin is a fool that has forgotten his place.
"You'd be wise not to upset me." Vader growled after hearing all of Tarkin's thoughts, "I am still the Heir to the Empire and I would hate for you to be gone once I take the throne."
"For now." Tarkin growled back knowing Vader's words were pure sarcasm. "Is that so?" Vader asked amused. He knew the reason for his Master's favoritism towards the man, but the link between him and his Master was true. His Master had his reasons for Tarkin and once the man fulfilled his use, it would be the end of him.
"Yes." Tarkin spit, turning his gaze back towards Vader. "You cannot handle that I am becoming the favorite, Vader. You're losing your edge. You're not as useful as you once were. I am soon going to achieve everything you couldn't. The Empire will soon be mine."
Vader wanted to laugh, hard. The man before him was an idiot that did not value his life. If he did, he wouldn't be picking a fight with a Sith Lord.
The man is more a fool than I thought.
"The favorite?" Vader laughed darkly as he neared Tarkin, "The only reason the Emperor is showing such a great deal of interest in you is because I do not share his optimistic opinions of his Death Star."
"And that's why you're a fool." Tarkin snapped, "The Death Star will be the most powerful weapon in the Universe. Nothing will be able to stop it."
"I agree." Another voice yelled from the far end of the table. Vader recognized the voice as Admiral Ozzel, another fool, but he did not turn away from Tarkin's gaze. "The Death Star is the most powerful force in the entire Galaxy." Ozzel continued, "It is the ultimate weapon! It is unchallengeable."
Vader's annoyance was beginning to challenge his anger; both were steaming, rising with every passing moment and boiling through his veins. The men around him were all fools that had no sense of the Force or had any business being in his presence. Tarkin was the worst of them all. The men before him were all about machines and technology. They did not care for their troops or regiments. They only cared about what weapons their troops would be equipped with. They did not understand that strength, skills, and planning won battles, not weapons. However, blasters and troopers were the farthest thing from Tarkin's mind. It seemed the Death Star was the only thing Tarkin or the Emperor could think about. The moon-sized, battle space station had just begun construction and both, the Emperor and Tarkin, believed it was the key to keeping the Empire alive forever. Vader, however, thought different. He had always had a fascination with machines, so he had a great deal of knowledge concerning technology. He knew that every machine had a weakness. There was never an exception to the rule, and usually the larger the machine, the larger the weakness. No one knew of the Death Star's creation, besides the creators, builders, and high Imperial leaders; but it was only a matter of time before the word was out. Soon even the Rebels would know of its existence and would stop at nothing to destroy it. The Death Star was like all other weapons before it. It would be big, bad, and powerful, until someone exploited its secrets and it was destroyed. It was only a matter of time.
Vader slowly backed away from Tarkin, allowing himself to scan the room before he locked eyes with his next target. "The only reason you agree, Ozzel." Vader snapped, turning back to the situation unfolding before him, "Is because you two are in this together. Tarkin promised you second hand in command if he was to become Emperor."
Hearing Vader's words, Ozzel immediately paled before melting into his seat under the Dark Lord's hidden stare.
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