Part 2

Vader banged his fist across the table in his quarters. He clenched his teeth in frustration and his breathing became quicker and more menacing. He was tired of this game, and he wanted it to end. Now. After five years. Five years he had spent searching, along every border, every planet, every place he could think of where a jedi might hide. The feeling he especially hated, and experienced now, was the feeling of the jedi hiding right there under his nose.

There was a buzz at his door, and Vader tried to control his angry breaths. Finally he resigned and told his master, who he sensed on the other side, to enter.

"Ah, my friend! What is it that troubles you so on a glorious day such as this?" His master asked him.

Vader decided to answer the question later, and retorted, "And what, my master, is so glorious about today?"

"Surly, Vader, you do remember that today we begin the construction of the most powerful station ever to be built?"

Vader narrowed his eyes and tried to pull any sort of memory that he had of this at all and finally replied, "The Death Star? You mentioned the schematics to me before, but I didn't know that we would begin construction so soon!"

"No, I am quite sure that I mentioned to you the approximate time of the construction process. I think, my friend, that it is your troubles that blind you. Is it those jedi that trouble your thoughts once again?" Palpatine spit out the word jedi like it was a curse word. It was, as far as Vader was concerned.

The anger returned fresh as new. "My master, I have this feeling that they are hiding right under my nose and yet I manage not to find them. There are only two left, TWO LEFT, but after five years I am STILL playing this game of cat and mouse."

Palpatine nodded understandingly and responded, "They will remain hidden for the rest of their lives, I'm afraid. I'm sure they will want to support most people's belief that all the jedi have been eliminated, and will live like commoners, keeping to themselves. You know Kenobi better than I, use that knowledge to your advantage. You will find them, my friend, have patience."

"Thank you, my master." Vader replied, even though his master's suggestions probably wouldn't end up helping him too much.

"You know I want them dead as much as you do," Palpatine told him, and then he left as shortly as he came.

"Yes..." Vader replied and trailed off, wondering, and not for the first time, exactly what his master's motives were. In his past life (as he now referred to it) he had greatly respected Palpatine, as he never failed to give support to the right people and do what was best in any situation for the people. He had also been a great mentor to his past person, and had been the only one who TRULY saw his potential.

But then again, maybe he had been TOO good in doing his job, gaining people's trust just to use it to his advantage. Vader had seen him do that on more than one occasion, and Palpatine had assured him that sometimes that is what had to be done to accomplish a better, greater goal, such as the formation of the empire. On the other hand, the system worked, things got done, and decisions were made quickly, almost exactly what his counterpart had once explained to his wife. On the other other hand, there was so much manipulation, and intimidation, that Vader himself sometimes wondered if he was just a pawn in the emperor's hand. He had believed that his master truly wanted the best for him at first, but now he wondered.

"Questioning the power of the darkside is a dangerous thing to do indeed," his master had told him the day after he had had his life support suit fixed on him. "You made your decision, Vader, and you know as well as I that it was the only way anyone would truly see you for what you were: the most powerful of any being out there. I knew one day you would rise up above all the others, and here it is. This is that day!"

But there was not much point questioning things now, really, because his decision had been made. He was better off here, where he was appreciated, where he was feared, where he was SOMEONE. The other part of him had died along with his wife and mother, died when all the love in his life had left. Died when it was forced into the lava pit by none other than his former master. Palpatine had saved him.

But something, something in his mind, something small, yet strong-willed asked, *Did he REALLY save you, though?*

Vader turned and looked out at the city of Coruscant that lay far beneath him. That dreaded city. Here he first came, with his wild dreams of becoming a jedi, but oh, he would have never joined them if he had realized, as he did now, how corrupt and stuck up they always were about their ways, which in the end became their downfall. It was here his wife had died; it was here Anakin had died. So many memories, so many thoughts... so many that lay in Tatooine as well; his home planet, his--

Suddenly Vader realized that he had somehow overlooked Tatooine. Of course! Obi-Wan would never expect Vader to look for him there, as he would think it was too obvious of a hide out. Under his nose! That's where he would find Obi-Wan, and then he would take care of him for good! Obi-Wan had managed to beat him once, but Vader was stronger, so much stronger than him now.

"Ready my ship!" Vader stormed out of his room and bellowed at the first officer he passed. The man stood, somewhat stunned, but quickly recovered and answered, "Right away, my Lord."

Vader went to find his master, and upon doing so he kneeled before him. "My master," he began, "I have an idea on Kenobi's whereabouts."

"Oh?" Palpatine looked at him with surprise.

"Yes, my master. I would be greatful if you would let me pursue him...on Tatooine." Vader answered.

Palpatine narrowed his eyes and walked slowly around the kneeling sith. "This would not have anything to do with that former character Anakin, would it?" he asked suspiciously.

"No, master," Vader reassured him, "I go there only to find Kenobi, and destroy him."

Vader felt Palpatine reach out with the force to try and confirm that this was true, and Vader let Palpatine see that, indeed, he was telling the truth.

"Very well. I hope you are successful," Palpatine conceded.

Vader nodded, and stood back up to his erect position. Then he quickly strode to his ship, which he was happy to notice, was polished and ready for him, as he had asked. He loved the way things got done around here.

But for some reason as he punched in the coordinates and started the ship a wave of guilt swept over him. Why? He wondered. He hadn't done anything wrong. What had he done that would suddenly bring on this guilt? He hadn't done anything!

*Of course you have,* A voice inside his mind said, *Your mother, or your wife would never have wanted you to avenge them like this. The jedi weren't the ones that killed them, so they don't deserve to die. Remember Qui-Gonn? The faith he had in you? You betrayed that too. You became the very person that as a boy you had dreams about defeating... and you never freed the slaves.*

NO! Vader thought-screamed and the jump into hyperspeed was very rough as his anger clouded his senses for a moment. THAT WAS ANAKIN! HE NO LONGER EXISTS! I, I DARTH VADER, HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG! THOSE WHO BETRAYED ME WILL SUFFER! THAT IS THE WAY OF THINGS! And then the moment was over. Vader felt his rage ebb, and he forgot about the entire thing. Everything, that is except for that accusing voice that haunted his every dream thereafter whispering, *... and you never freed the slaves.*