Kael sat in the cold metal seat of the Imperial shuttle, staring at his hands. They didn't look any different—small, slightly dirty, with faint scratches from years of scavenging. But they felt different. His palms still tingled with the memory of the boulder shooting forward, of the stormtrooper falling beneath its weight. He hadn't meant to hurt anyone.
He clenched his fists, willing the strange feeling to go away. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't.
The cabin hummed with the sound of the ship's engines, a low vibration that resonated through the floor and up Kael's legs. He shifted uncomfortably, glancing around the room.
The stormtroopers sat in rigid silence, their white helmets gleaming under the harsh lighting. None of them looked at him, but their presence was suffocating. Kael's eyes darted to the towering figure standing near the viewport.
Darth Vader.
The dark figure hadn't spoken since they boarded the shuttle. He stood with his back to Kael, gazing out at the stars beyond the transparisteel. The sound of his mechanical breathing filled the room, rhythmic and unrelenting. It was a constant reminder of his presence, as if anyone could forget.
Kael tried to shrink into his seat, wishing he could disappear. But the memory of Vader's words echoed in his mind. The Force is strong with you.
He didn't know what that meant, but it terrified him.
"Do you know why you are here, boy?"
Kael jumped at the sound of Vader's voice. The Sith Lord hadn't turned around, but Kael knew the question was directed at him. He hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"I… I don't know," Kael said, his voice trembling.
Vader turned slowly, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the cabin. "You are here because you have power. Power that must be shaped, refined. Without control, it will destroy you."
Kael swallowed hard, his fingers gripping the edge of the seat. "I don't want to hurt anyone," he said.
Vader took a step closer, and Kael felt the temperature in the room drop. "The galaxy does not care what you want," Vader said. "It is a cruel, unforgiving place. If you wish to survive, you must become strong. Strong enough to command it."
Kael looked down at his hands again. "I don't understand," he whispered.
"You will," Vader said, his voice almost a promise.
The shuttle docked with a massive Star Destroyer, its angular hull stretching endlessly into the void. Kael pressed his face against the viewport, his fear momentarily forgotten as he stared at the enormous vessel. He had seen ships before, but nothing like this.
"What is that?" he asked, his awe breaking through his fear.
Vader's mask tilted slightly, as if the Sith Lord were amused by the question. "The Executor," he said. "Your new home."
Kael's stomach twisted at the words. He wasn't sure what he had expected, but the thought of calling this cold, mechanical fortress home made his chest tighten.
The shuttle docked smoothly, and the ramp lowered with a hiss. Kael hesitated, looking at the stormtroopers as they stood and marched out in perfect unison. Vader turned to him, his presence filling the small space.
"Come," Vader commanded.
Kael's legs felt heavy as he stood, but he forced himself to follow. The moment he stepped onto the Star Destroyer's deck, he was overwhelmed. The air was colder here, carrying the faint scent of metal and oil. Stormtroopers and officers moved with purpose, their boots clicking against the polished floors. No one paid him any attention, but Kael felt their gazes all the same.
Vader led him through the labyrinthine corridors, his cape billowing behind him. Kael struggled to keep up, his small legs working twice as hard to match the Sith Lord's long strides.
"Where are we going?" Kael asked, his voice barely audible over the hum of the ship.
"To begin your training," Vader said without looking back.
They entered a large, circular chamber. The walls were lined with polished black panels that reflected the cold, white light from above. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, upon which rested a small, spherical droid.
Kael stared at it, his fear returning. "What is that?"
"A training remote," Vader said. "It will help you learn to control the Force."
Kael blinked up at him, confused. "The Force? Is that the… the thing I did back on Dorvalla?"
Vader nodded. "It is the energy that binds the galaxy together. It flows through all living things. You are strong in the Force, stronger than most. But without training, your power is useless."
Kael stepped closer to the pedestal, his curiosity overcoming his fear. "What do I do?"
Vader raised a hand, and the training remote floated into the air, its lights blinking to life. "Reach out with your mind," he said. "Feel the remote, and guide its movements."
Kael frowned, unsure what Vader meant. He extended a hand toward the droid, his fingers twitching slightly. Nothing happened.
"Focus," Vader said, his tone sharp. "Do not think. Feel."
Kael closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He let the strange energy inside him rise, feeling it pulse through his chest and into his arm. When he opened his eyes, the remote was wobbling slightly in the air.
"You are beginning to understand," Vader said. "Now, control it."
Kael gritted his teeth, his brow furrowing as he concentrated. The remote steadied, hovering in place. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Then the remote fired.
A sharp sting shot through Kael's arm as the remote's blaster struck him. He yelped, stumbling back and clutching his arm.
"What was that?!" he cried, glaring at Vader.
"A lesson," Vader said. "The galaxy will not wait for you to succeed. It will strike you down the moment you falter. Again."
Kael hesitated, rubbing his arm. But something in Vader's tone left no room for argument. He stepped forward, raising his hand again.
The training session lasted for what felt like hours. The remote fired repeatedly, its small blaster bolts leaving red welts on Kael's arms and legs. Each time he faltered, Vader's voice rang out, demanding more.
"You are weak because you lack discipline," Vader said. "Do not let your fear control you. Use it."
Kael's body ached, but he refused to give up. He didn't want to give Vader a reason to hurt him—didn't want to be weak. Slowly, he began to anticipate the remote's movements, guiding it with his mind. The blaster bolts came less frequently, and by the end of the session, the remote floated motionless before him.
"You have potential," Vader said, his tone grudgingly approving. "But this is only the beginning."
Kael nodded, his chest heaving. He didn't understand what he was becoming, but he knew there was no turning back.
That night, Kael lay in the small, cold room assigned to him. The walls were bare, the bed little more than a slab with a thin blanket. He stared up at the ceiling, his body aching from the day's training.
He thought of Dorvalla, of the empty plains and the quiet solitude he had once hated. Now, it seemed almost peaceful compared to the unyielding structure of the Empire.
As sleep began to take him, Kael felt the strange energy stirring inside him again. It was no longer a foreign presence. It was a part of him now, whether he liked it or not.
In the shadowed corridors of the Star Destroyer, Darth Vader stood alone, gazing out at the stars. Behind his mask, a faint smile touched his lips.
The boy was strong. Stronger than even Vader had anticipated.
And soon, he would be unstoppable.