Opposite Sides by Darth Bane
	Vader slowly opens his eyes. He sees a light. A very bright light which shines into his eyes. "We've done it!" he hears someone say. He notices that he breathes very hard. He remembers nothing. There are all sorts of people looking at him or busy working on something Vader can't see. Most of them are suited in long white robes. "Okay people, let's make him ready for transport," says a man in a dark green suit. He looks at Vader and says, "You are safe now, Lord Vader. Please, get some rest." While the man walks away, Vader falls back into the dark. * * * "Please wake up, my Lord. You have slept for three days now, and we are in need of your leadership." Vader sits on a chair in dark room. The man in green, whom he still could remember from the last time he woke up, stands in front of him, with both of his hands behind his back. He looks about forty years old and has black hair. He is rather skinny. Vader looks to the left of him. He sees his lightsaber, without recognizing it. "Who am I?" asks Vader, "...and, who are you?" "I am Grand Moff Barkun, the leader of all what is left of the Imperials. We are not as resourceful as we used to be, but I think we have a chance to defeat the Rebels if we had a one-on-one fight. Well, I see you have not remembered everything, but I will explain," the Grand Moff tells him, "you are Lord Vader. You used to be one of our leaders in the fight against the rebels. In your last mission you were killed by a rebel named Luke Skywalker. He killed your only superior, Emperor Palapatine, as well. That rebel took you to a planet, where he burned you, to feed his hunger for revenge. When I heard that our leaders were destroyed I declared myself as leader of the Empire, for the sake of the Empire, of course. I ordered a group of stormtroopers too bring your body - or all that was left of it - to me. Then I ordered a clone. That clone is you..." "You mean..." Vader stumbles, "You are telling me that I am a clone. If I am a clone, why can't I remember everything?" Vader stands up, and notices how small the Moff is - or how big he himself is. He feels strong in his body, but weak in his mind. Grand Moff Barkun takes a little step back. "Like I said, there was not much left of you, my Lord. We did not have enough tissue to make a perfect clone. The lieutenant of our research department guaranteed me though that you would be remembering most things, and that your body was perfectly cloned." Vader says nothing. "I will leave you alone now. But I will visit you soon, and I hope you will recover quickly, to regain command of Imperial forces." He takes another step back, turns and walks to the opening where two guards in red stand the doorway, walking out of the room after Barkun. * * * Vader feels empty. He sits down again. He looks around the room, but doesn't see anything of interest. Suddenly his eye falls on the lightsaber again. He picks it up. The weight feels familiar. Suddenly he feels a presence. He senses great fear and greed. It is a creature, human. Vader ignites his lightsaber and concentrates. About one minute later a laser shot is fired at Vader, who then redirects the shot to the ceiling with his lightsaber. Before the shot has even hit the ceiling, Vader orders the man to be brought before his feet, and he feels a strange force come out of his body, which draws the man out of the shadows and in front of Vader. "Who are you?" Vader asks in a angry tone full of hate. "I am Kenlith, a Bounty Hunter... I was hired with the order to... expose ... you." "Whose orders?" Vader replies. "I will not tell you that, try and torture me all you want... I will not destroy my honor as a bounty hunter." Vader feels huge hatred come up in himself. "I will not torture you." With those words Vader slashes his lightsaber down. Stormtroopers pick up the body, and put it in a black torpedo-shaped container, which is hovering about one meter above the ground. Grand Moff Barkun walks quickly to Vader. "What happened, Lord Vader? Did that man try to kill you?" Vader senses the Force stream very clearly through his veins. He feels the fear Grand Moff Barkun has of him. He remembers the power of being feared. "What do you need me for?" Vader asks Barkun. "What do you mean, my Lord? I have ordered you cloned because you were one of our leaders." "Why would a man have his power reduced, by sharing it?" Vader asks. Barkun thinks for a few seconds, trying to outsmart Vader, and says: "I do not have any basic feelings, like greed or power, which are bothering me. I only do what it best for the troops of the Empire. And I have heard that you were a man which many people respected. I like your style. We could even be good... friends someday, perhaps." "Then, why do you fear me?" Lord Vader asks, calmly. There is silence for a few minutes. Barkun has underestimated the power of the Force. Vader notices that the stormtroopers and the "torpedo" have left the room, and only the two guards stand at the door. Barkun walks to the door and gives a sign to the guards, who leave the room. "I didn't tell you everything," Barkun says. "The remains of the army of the Empire have been divided in two groups after we lost the Battle of Endor. I told you I took command of the remains of our army, but an admiral called Poraid didn't want to obey me and he claimed a part of our fleet." Barkun does not dare to look at Vader. He feels his heart beating, as if it is a bomb. "It is true that I also gave you life again, because I was afraid of another revolution. If that happens the Empire will be no longer," Barkun explains. "Where are we, Grand Moff?" Vader questions. Barkun, who is very confused about this, replies, "We are on a ship called the Performer. It is a super class star destroyer, just like your former ship, the Executor." "Very well," Vader says, "Take me to the bridge, and as of now all orders will be given by me." "But Sir... Don't you think that...?" Barkun stutters. "Never disagree with me," interrupts Vader. "But... Yes, Sir," Barkun concedes. As Vader walks onto the bridge, everyone looks like they have seen a ghost. No one dares to speak a word. Barkun pronounces that Vader will be their new commander. His face could not be whiter than at that moment. Vader asks Barkun, "What is the strength of our fleet, Grand Moff?" "We have one super class star destroyer and eleven imperial star destroyers," Barkun replies, "...and we have a new type of TIE-fighter called the TIE defender and I think we have about fifteen AT-AT's, but I'll have to recheck that." "And what is the strength of Admiral Poraid's fleet?" "I think they have about six star destroyers, but they have bounty hunters to back them up. I think it would be about even in a one-on-one fight." Vader thinks for a second and replies: "And why are the bounty hunters on their side?" "Well, I guess because we tried to kill Ka'Pa the Hutt. I sent a squadron of stormtroopers with the mission to kill him, but they managed to walk into a trap and become Rancor food." "I think we have to eliminate this new Hutt," Vader says, "The bounty hunters will not know what to do if they have no leader. Captain, set a course for Tatooine." "Yes, my lord..." The captain walks down the stairs of the bridge. * * * A little while later they drop out of hyperspace in the Tatooine system. "Is there any rebel activity on this planet?" Vader asks. "There is a small outpost on the other side of the planet," the Grand Moff replies. "Take five AT-AT's and some TIE's to protect them and attack the front of the stronghold. I will infiltrate the base through the back with the assistance of six Imperial guards... And you are coming with me, Barkun." The face of the Moff turns red out of fear or hate towards Vader. The AT-AT's attack and most of Ka'Pa's guards are sent out to protect the stronghold. Because of this, Vader has no difficulty infiltrating the base. He uses Force-Persuasion on one of Ka'Pa's guards, who opens the gate for them. The Imperial guards do not do much more than follow Vader. There are a few tusken raiders left, but they don't stand a chance against Vader's fighting skills. They enter the main room where they can just see two guards fleeing. Ka'Pa is sitting on his dais, hidden in the shadows, with only one of his servant's left to him. "I see you have returned, Darth Vader. Why this brutal attack?" Ka'Pa asks. "Because you are supporting the wrong side, and I have come here to correct you on that point." Ka'Pa laughs and replies: "So you come here for business, right? What do you want in return for my life and my fort?" "I want you to order your bounty hunters to attack Admiral Poraid and his fleet." "That will be suicide, I can not allow that to happen." "Have it your way, and die," Vader says without emotion. "I can arrange that my operatives leave Poraid's little fleet and sabotage a few things on their way to join your fleet, Lord Vader." "If they will fight with us until the end, I will agree." Ka'Pa looks at Vader and laughs, "You have yourself a deal." Vader looks at Barkun and says: "Get our units out of here, Commander." "Yes, my lord," replies Barkun, who turns around and walks out of the room. Vader enters the bridge of the Performer and walks toward the captain. "Any news about our foes? " The captain says: "We have located them near Yavin, my Lord. Do wish to pursue them?" "Yavin..." Vader hesitates for a second. "Captain, I want you to secure Yavin 4." "Yavin 4...? Why do you want to secure that little moon, sir?" "Do not question my commands, Captain" "Yes, my Lord...Right away." Vader walks to his personal chamber and orders the red-robed guards to leave. He sits down and says to himself, "I will have my revenge, Luke Skywalker." * * * Vader awakens. Barkun is in front of him. "We are at Yavin, my Lord," he says, "And the bounty hunters have joined us." "Good... What exactly did the bounty hunters sabotage?" "They have destroyed the engines of about six imperial walkers, and they have taken out the core of an indicator-class star destroyer." "They had an indicator? Do they have any more? It will be harder if we cannot use hyperspace to surprise them." "I will ask the bounty hunters right away, Sir." "Good..." Vader stands up and walks out the door, leaving Barkun alone. He walks to the main hangar where he contacts the Captain using the com-link. Vader gives the order to attack Poraid and his fleet. "Let the bounty hunters engage the fleet at the front and go with the star destroyer into hyperspace and surprise them about ten kilometers behind their fleet. We will have to strike both at the same time to do as much damage as possible," Vader commands. "That will do, my Lord," the Captain replies, "...and Grand Moff Barkun said that there were no interdictors left." "Good. I will take a TIE-defender and pay a visit to Yavin 4. I will leave you in command Captain... Do not fail me." "Yes, My Lord." Vader feels the presence of the rebel who had killed him once, he feels it very strongly. He feels the same power as he owns, only the nature of it feels different. When Vader enters the atmosphere of Yavin 4, he feels a gigantic power at the surface of the moon. It is a Sith force. Vader wonder how such a power could be here unnoticed by anyone, including himself. "Kkkssshhhhh... This is Red Leader calling to unknown Imperial ship. Surrender, or you will be shot down." Rebels? Here?! Vader thinks. "You will not stand a chance against me," Vader replies over the comm. He sees them on visual now. There are five x-wings and three y-wings. Two x-wings fire a missile towards Vader's Tie Defender. Vader pushes his flight stick down and pulls up just before hitting the ground. One missile impacts on the surface and blows, but the other one still follows him. Vader pulls up and to the right from underneath the x-wings and he flies right through the formation. The missile hits an x-wing and the enemy starfighter goes down hitting one of the engines of a y-wing. The y-wing goes down as well, but lands safely on the ground. Vader has turned his stick again and is attacking the wings coming from above. He slows a bit coming in right behind another x-wing, and he blows it out of the sky. Vader immediately uses the Force on a y-wing pilot, blinding him, the y-wing pilot crashes into the ground. Vader aquires a target lock on the x-wing of Red Leader and blows him up with a missile. The formation breaks and all fighters fly in different directions. Vader does not put any effort in a pursuit and continues his way to the dark force he senses. He feels that his rival, Luke Skywalker, is searching for the same force as he is. Vader lands his TIE in front of an ancient Sith temple. His feelings confirm that this is a Sith temple. He walks toward the temple. A creature appears at the entrance. Vader senses that this non-intelligent being is Force-sensitive. It doesn't move if Vader doesn't. When Vader does a step forward, the creature follows his example, and also takes one step toward Vader. Vader hesitates for a moment and than walks until he is a few meters away from the creature. Vader stretches his left arm toward the creature, holding his lightsaber in the other hand. Vader touches it, but, senseless as it is, it does not react, so he hits it. It does not give a reaction of any kind. Vader looks at it. It looks like a big wolf, except for the nose, which is shorter, and his eyes that are snow-white. It has grey-white skin. Vader, who has no idea whether he has to fight or hug this creature, tries to call it with the Force. He commands it to take a step back. The creature follows this command without questioning. How nice to have a pet, Vader thinks. Vader hears the engine noise of a ship. An Imperial shuttle lands behind him. Vader turns around facing the shuttle. His fleet captain steps out and walks toward Vader followed by Barkun. "What are you two doing here, and how did you find me?" Vader asks, a bit irritated. "I am sorry, my Lord, but I'm afraid that we don't have very good news," the Captain replies. "We traced your ship to locate and report to you," Barkun says. He takes a little breath that expresses his fear of loosing his life. The Captain finds his voice and says: "When we jumped out of hyperspace, we were in front of a rebel fleet twice as big as ours, instead of Poraid's fleet. We could barely get away and only the Performer and another star destroyer survived. The rebels have not lost any capital ships. The bounty hunters were wiped out even before we dropped out of hyperspace." "Very inconvenient," Vader says, "Grand Moff Barkun, have you followed my exact plan, which I have explained to the Captain?" Barkun became a little whiter than he already was and replied: "Most of the plan was the same, my Lord. Everything except that I have ordered the fleet to jump out of hyperspace a few miles closer than planned. I thought of that on the way..." "How many miles exactly, Grand Moff?" Vader interrupts Barkun. "Only 5, my Lord..." A drop of sweat runs over the white head of Barkun. Vader turns to the Captain and asks: "What is your name, Captain?" Vader commands the wolf-looking creature, through the Force, to stand behind Barkun. The Captain looks fearfully to Vader and says: "Fonte, Sir." "Well, Fonte... how many ships would have managed to escape if we had had five more miles to evacuate?" "I think about four star destroyers more... And about six squadrons of TIE's." Hearing those numbers, which came as no surprise to Vader, he commands the creature to attack Barkun. Captain Fonte gives a distasteful look at the remains of the man who once was his superior. "Wha... what do you want me to do, Sir?" Fonte stutters. "I want you to regain strength at a planet called Salove. There used to be a secret Imperial construction yard. There you can regain our resources." "As you wish, my Lord." "And Fonte, congratulations on your... promotion" "Thank you, Lord Vader." Fonte takes a last look at Barkun and heads towards his shuttle, and he flies away toward the remains of his once powerful fleet. "Now it is between the two of us, young Skywalker," Vader says to himself. Vader enters the temple followed by the wolf-looking creature. The Dark Lord looks back at the beast. "You could come in very handy," Vader says to him. He walks down the hallway, until he finds a bridge with an endless looking black hole underneath it. At the other end of the bridge is a huge iron door. Vader starts to walk toward it feeling the presence of Luke grow stronger every step he walks in the direction of the door. Vader looks at the door and notices that there is no lever or switch or anything to open it. Vader uses a Force-push on the door trying to lift it up. It works. When the door is entirely up, he walks trough it followed by the creature. A man, standing in the middle of the room, turns around and looks with big, blue, eyes at Vader. A creature, just like the one behind Vader, lies dead in front of the feet of the man. "Darth Vader," says the man, "...Are you here for Naga Sadow's amulet or for me?" Darth Vader ignites his light saber and replies "I am not interested in dead Sith Lords... I came here for you, Luke Skywalker." Luke follows his example and ignites his green light saber. "I have defeated you once, Vader. What makes you think that I can't do that again?" "I have also defeated you once, young Skywalker." "Then what made you turn to the Dark Side again?" Luke asks. "I was never a pupil of the Light Side." Vader takes a step toward Luke who takes a step back. "Then why did you save my life at Endor?" "I didn't save you, I spared your life just like the time at Bespin. You would have killed me just before I killed you," says Vader as he strikes on Luke with a strong but slow upper hand slash. Luke blocks it, takes a step back and says, "I did not kill you... Palpatine did!" Vader strikes again, this time a harder and faster blow, targeted at the middle of Luke. He feels this coming and Force-jumps just in time to avoid being cut in two. Before Luke even hits the ground Vader uses a Force-grip on Luke in an attempt to choke him. Luke feels what Vader intends to do and uses Absorption to counter the Force attack. Luke runs right up to Vader slashing three times without breaking Vader's defense. Vader tries to pierce Luke in the chest, followed by a whole turn with a strike at the left side of Luke. Luke blocks them both, but he falls back from the power and the speed of the last strike. He stands up very quickly. "...And why should my former master want to kill me?" Vader asks as calm as usual. "Because the Emperor nearly killed me, and you tried to save my life..." "And what good reason would I have for saving your life?" "Because," Luke replies, "I am your son." "No... That is a lie..." Vader says. Vader feels the hatred come up in himself, and he runs to Luke. He uses a Force-push in an attempt to make Luke lose his lightsaber. Luke holds his weapon tightly in his hands but is off balance through this action. Vader slashes hard at him. Luke pushes his lightsaber in front of him trying to block this attack, but he falls back from the impact. Vader immediately uses another Force-push on Luke. Luke's lightsaber flies to the other end of the room and Vader holds his red lightsaber to Luke's throat. Vader wants to strike Luke down, but in that same moment he feels a presence. A presence he has always felt, but now he feels it twice, and the second one is pure. It feels so familiar, and so far away at the same time. He thinks back... far back, and he comes up with a name; Anakin Skywalker. A ghostly-looking figure appears. "You... you are me!" Vader says. "No, Darth Vader, you are me," The figure replies. "You are fighting a battle which is already won, or lost in your point of view. There is nothing left to fight over, and killing Luke will not make you happier nor will it make you feel better. You are acting without goals." "Then it is true. You have become Anakin once again, and you have killed the Emperor, like the boy said?!" Vader questions. "It is true, as you say. I could not allow Palapatine to destroy the only thing of two I loved on this galaxy, Luke and Leia. I was forced to kill my Master, and by doing so, I damaged my breathing equipment, and I died, but I came back more powerful than you can ever imagine," Anakin tells him. Vader thinks for a moment and turns his lightsaber off. "So be it." Vader says, and he turns around to the entrance on the opposite direction of the one through which he entered, followed by the wolf creature. Luke thinks about attacking Vader in the back, but Anakin searches Luke's feelings, and warns, "Do not hate him. He has become Anakin, but has to live with the thought that he was once Vader. He is not your foe anymore. And remember that hate is the path to the Dark Side." Vader walks down a hall, Force-jumps over a hole in the ground, and comes to an open spot. In the middle of it is a transport shuttle. Vader opens it and walks to the cockpit. The wolf-looking creature jumps into the shuttle just before the hatch closes. Vader flies away.