Lelouch POV
Vader could not exist as long as Anakin Skywalker lived, and Anakin Skywalker would live as long as Padme Amidala did. I understood this truth, but Anakin was blind to it. He thought himself powerful now, and with my help to control it, he underestimated the possible interference of the force on his actions.
I was counting on buying Vader's servitude by using her life, but while it was still possible, it would mean a permanent thorn and vulnerability at my side. Padme Amidala had the capability to convince Anakin to drive his blade in my back... and I could not take that chance.
She would have to die, and the circumstance would have to be aligned just right.
The world of Mortis twisted and morphed around Lelouch as he walked, fragments of reality bending and shifting in and out of existence like waves upon a dark, cosmic sea. Towers of stone rose from the ground only to crumble into dust moments later. At times, the air itself seemed to ripple, testing the very limits of its form in the presence of such raw power.
"This is much harder than just 'willing it into existence'."
'Give it time. You are not meant to succeed now, not with your current power. We are merely stress testing your current capabilities. I have successfully reinforced your connection to the force by using that of the Father, the Son and the Daughter. While you can still die, you'd have to be particularly dim, or facing overwhelming physical firepower. It would destroy your physical body and leave you vulnerable to a crafty Sith or Jedi, maybe allow them to seal you somewhere, but not definitively kill you. Congratulations on becoming a god... of sorts.'
With a sigh, Lelouch dropped everything, the entire landscape setting into a clear field. Sitting down, the thought of recreating certain... moments from his past crossed his mind... before he thoroughly crushed it.
'Good... it is how some particularly powerful entities stagnate and gradually fall, lost in the better days of their seemingly immortal lives, locked away in realms of their own creation, their own personal paradise... pathetic parasites.'
"Very well, we should advance then. Tell me more about this 'Forge of Souls'..."
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With neither a sound nor a move, Vader found himself seated inside a transport ship heading towards Skustell's atmosphere.
Vader's sudden appearance on the transport was met with a stunned silence. The cramped interior, already tense with the anticipation of an imminent mission, seemed to shrink as the dark figure materialized where Lelouch had stood just moments before. The metallic scent of the cabin mingled with the muted hum of engines and the mechanical whir of clone troopers' gear. For an instant, the galaxy itself seemed to hold its breath.
ARC Captain Fordo, ever vigilant, reacted first. His blaster lifted swiftly, its muzzle pressed against Vader's armored helmet, while another aimed squarely at the dark figure's midsection. A synchronized movement followed as Thorn's team mirrored the readiness, Thorn's rotary blaster already starting to hum with lethal energy. The members of K squad stood nearby, expressions impassive as if confident that any outcome would be dealt with effectively, either by Vader or themselves.
Fordo's eyes narrowed beneath his helmet, his voice sharp but steady. "You get one chance. The general?" The question hung in the air, a challenge wrapped in steel and suspicion.
Without a word, Vader reached out with the Force, a subtle yet commanding gesture. In his hand appeared a small, cylindrical device. It activated with a flicker, casting a blue, holographic image that solidified into the unmistakable figure of Lelouch. The image spoke with a clear, authoritative voice, reciting a classified code, one known only to those with the highest clearance.
The tension cracked, giving way to recognition. Fordo's eyes met Thorn's, an unspoken confirmation passing between them. As one, they lowered their weapons, a silent signal that rippled through their squads. The blasters and rotary cannons shifted back to neutral positions as the troopers eased back into their seats, eyes still darting with residual caution.
The atmosphere in the transport settled, the muted roar of Skustell's atmosphere enveloping them as they descended. Moments later, the pilot's voice crackled over the comms, breaking the fragile silence. "Approaching designated coordinates. Detecting multiple life signatures. Prepare for deployment."
As the transport ship settled onto the rocky landing pad, a shudder ran through its frame, the descent engines whirring to a stop. The muffled thud of boots echoed as the clones shifted, rechecking gear and recalibrating suit seals. Fordo's sharp gaze swept the cabin, his voice a rasp of command. "Double-check your seals and gear. We're not taking any chances."
The hangar door creaked open, letting in the sulfurous scent of Skustell's atmosphere mixed with the sterile tang of the ship's interior. Master Coleman Kcaj descended the ramp with a slow, dignified stride, robes billowing slightly as he moved. His elongated head dipped forward in acknowledgment as the assembled Ongree guards bowed slightly, their bulbous eyes nervously flickering toward the imposing silhouette of Darth Vader. The dark figure stood at the edge of the ramp, the dim light casting his shadow deep into the hangar like an omen.
One of the Ongree stepped forward, voice careful and steeped in reverence. "Master Kcaj, we received your message regarding the threat to... it. We have been tasked to escort you to the elders, though your escort must remain behind for security purposes."
Kcaj's yellow eyes shifted thoughtfully, weighing the situation. After a moment of consideration, he nodded. "Understood."
The Ongree guards led the way, their gait hurried yet respectful. Kcaj followed, his presence serene, though shadows of concern played across his features. The winding path took them past jagged rock formations and through tunnels carved painstakingly over generations. Cool drafts whispered through the caverns, carrying with them the scents of ancient minerals and the hum of hidden machinery. Veins of phosphorescent stone pulsed with a soft blue glow, lighting their path as they descended deeper into the earth.
Finally, they reached a massive, heavily armored door, its dark metal adorned with ancient Ongree symbols etched into the surface. As one of the guards approached, the doors groaned to life, sliding open with a metallic protest that reverberated down the corridor. The room within was vast, a hidden outpost where technology and natural stone merged seamlessly. The Elder Council sat on stone-carved thrones that circled a table engraved with runic patterns, their eyes tracking Kcaj as he entered.
"Master Kcaj," one elder intoned, voice weathered but strong, "we are grateful for your years of dedication. However, we are troubled by the presence of Republic forces so near to our stronghold."
Kcaj's expression softened with understanding. "In these times of war, my status as a Jedi General mandates that I do not travel unaccompanied. The most i could convince them was to wait for my return at the landing zone."
The elders nodded, though tension still hung heavy in the air. Another elder leaned forward, the glow of the table reflecting off his deep-set eyes. "Then it could not be helped. This will require a relocation on our part, so I can guess to the severity of the threat. You mentioned in your message that you could not risk it getting intercepted?"
With a subtle motion, Kcaj detached a small device from his belt, its surface polished and innocuous. "This holds all the information I have managed to gather." He used the Force to levitate it into the center of the room, watching as it hovered, illuminated by the soft blue light. The elders leaned in, their interest piqued.
Their attention locked on the sphere, they hesitated at the sight of a red button embedded on its surface, exchanging puzzled glances. Without warning, an unseen force pressed the button, triggering a sudden detonation. A surge of flame expanded outward, and blue gas hissed through from the contents.
Outside, the rumble echoed through the cavern system, reaching the ears of Vader and his accompanying troopers. Fordo's helmet tilted slightly as he registered the vibrations. "Steady," he ordered, his voice slicing through the eerie silence. Thorn's eyes narrowed, and with a signal, his squad tightened their grip on their weapons, the rotary cannon now purring with a low, lethal growl.
Moments later, the armored doors creaked open. A group of Ongree, their eyes wide and bodies trembling, stumbled out, coughing and wheezing in desperation. Fordo's eyes were as hard as durasteel as he raised his hand. "Drop 'em."
Blaster bolts split the air, painting the entryway in bursts of red as the Ongree fell, their bodies hitting the stone with dull thuds. Silence reasserted itself, broken only by the static crackle of blaster cooling mechanisms. Vader stepped through the aftermath, his boots moving with an unhurried precision. The darkness of the cavern swallowed him as he advanced deeper into the hidden base.
Turning his head sharply, he addressed the K-squad, the three Jedi within standing tense and alert. "Guard this entrance. No one enters or leaves." His voice, metallic and edged with menace, left no room for doubt.
Fordo exchanged a nod with Thorn, who motioned to his troopers. "Defensive positions. Lock down the gate."
The clone troopers moved like a well-oiled machine, setting up at the corners and training their blasters toward the shadowed passages. Vader cast one last look over his shoulder before moving deeper into the outpost.
Thorn returned the nod as Fordo signaled his squad, moving to follow in line behind Vader as they delved deeper into the Ongree secret base.