"Loss is only a part of the universe around you, young one...simply let it pass on or you'll never reach your full potential." - Jedi Holocron, date 1785 BBY

Part I

Imperial

The Executor orbited silently over Mustafar, its massive shape hidden in the shadow of the planet that the moon orbited. The massive Super Star Destroyer with its nearly endless fire power only sat in place as its crews worked on it silently. Repairing, building and upgrading the mighty vessel as Admiral Firmus Piett read over the report. The once young officer, having been field promoted from Captain due to the unwise actions of his predecessor, sighed as Lieutenant Sarah Harrow waited patiently for the Admiral to dismiss her.

Not that she needed it, Piett thought to himself, she would of walked out minutes earlier if I hadn't told her to stay.

The blonde officer waited as Piett finished reading, peering up at her. Her olive grey uniform was impeccably cleaned, nothing could be found on her since the new requirement for all those in the Imperial service to be as clean as the ships they worked on or in. He stood, the Lieutenant standing as well as he handed the report back to her.

"Take this back to Intelligence and have it filed away like the rest." He ordered before saluting, dismissing her without another word.

She took the report, saluting and left his office. Firmus Piett looked out of the viewport at the lava moon, his thoughts turning to his career and how he had been placed as the Admiral of the most powerful SSD in the Imperial Navy. Of course, it wasn't through bribery or anything that the little Rebellion used, oh no. He was the perfect officer on record, but in the field, it was a different story. In fact, his service only started a year and several months after the Jedi were found to be plotting against the former Republic, now the Galactic Empire. Of course, he also was one of the few that had any recommendations from a Senator from Naboo.

He heard his holocom chime and he opened the link, finding the face of Senator Padmé Amidala looking at him.

"S-senator?" He asked, a bit surprised.

"Hello, Piett," She smiled, though her expression was a tight one, "I needed to talk with you."

"About what, Senator?"

Amidala sighed, "Emperor Palpatine has assigned me to be the representative of Senate, tasking me to work and live as a Officer on the Executor. But, since Lord Vader,"

Piett noted her tone shifted to an even tighter one at the mention of Darth Vader's name, making him wonder what the Senator had against his Leader.

"I can authorize this but you'll have to speak with Lord Vader in person, Senator. I can't, as I'm working on repairing the ship after the near fatal attempt on Senator Mon Mothma on Kessal." Piett said briskly, his voice more dark then he would of prefered but Padmé nodded.

"I understand, I'll need clearance codes for landing on Lord Vader's planet." She said curtly.

"Understood, would you like anything else, Senator?" Piett asked, having gotten his voice back to a normal and more natural level.

"Maybe have my outfit ready for when I arrive on the Executor, Piett." She smiled.

He only nodded as she ended the transmission, pressing a button.

"Commander Garrett," He said sharply.

"Y-yes Sir?"

"Send the landing codes to Senator Padmé Amidala when her ship enters communications range."

"Understood Sir." The channel clicked off as Piett walked out of his personal office and towards the bridge of the SSD.

J-type 327 Nubian Royal Starship swiftly dropped out of hyperspace and speed into Mustafars' atmosphere, the silver hull glowing eerily in the lava covered planet. As it landed, a few Stormtroopers quickly walked out to inspect but someone else watched, high above the death covered rock. Very few cared for this place but that wouldn't have mattered, what happened here was enough to drive home the dark memory of his defeat.

"My Lord," One of the Red Guards that the Emperor had forced upon him said flatly, "Senator Padmé Amidala is here to speak with you."

Darth Vader: Lord of the Sith, Apprentice to Darth Sidious or his public name, Emperor Sheev Palpatine, didn't even look up from his place at the window.

"Have her brought to the inner chamber, no further. I will talk to her alone." He said, his tone sharp and dark.

"Yes, my Lord." The guard nodded, sending the instructions to his fellows before returning to his place.

Vader simply walked out of his bacta chamber, towards the inner chamber. His cape billowed behind him His breathing echoing over the walls of the castle as the massive blast doors opened, along with the heat blast doors that gave him a perfect view over the very sight that he had been cut down by his former Master, Obi-wan Kenobi. The Sith paused, breathing hitched as he gazed at the beauty of the woman he had married in another life, another better person.

Padmé Amidala only looked at him, her face emotionless as he marched down the ramp and stood in front of her. Forced in a suit, he may be, locked away from ever truly touching her skin, but he would never betray her.

"A-ani?" She asked, her fear expressed in her wavering voice as he felt his heart break.

"Padmé...I'm still here." His voice rasped before he pulled his wife into a gentle and probably very uncomfortable hug, due to his armor.

She didn't care, it seemed, she hugged him with all her love. Vader could only smile but his mask, the mask of a destroyed man, hid it from her. She pulled away and a tear fell, he wiped it away. Silence fell as they took in the fact they were still hiding their secret marriage from everyone. Of course, the Emperor knew this but he approved, as that meant Vader had to work harder to keep his love safe. Of course, that included himself.

"Ani...The Emperor sent me to…" She started but he stopped her.

"I know, my Master told me already. He is very displeased that the Senate doesn't realize how hard the Imperial Navy and Army is working to keep them safe." Vader intoned sourly.

Padmé frowned, as squeezed his gloved hand.

"Well, I'll be under your command for the foreseeable future."

Vader nodded before his masks' built in receivers told him of an incoming transmission from his master. He snarled and looked at his wife, her eyes showing worry.

"My Master is calling me, go, I'll be on the Executor soon enough." He let go of her and turned away.

He stopped when she kissed his masks' cheek and walked out. He watched her leave then marched into the communications room, kneeling as his Master's transmission came through. The blue hologram of his Masters' face wasn't any more pleasant to look at as it was in person. The sneer made it clear something wasn't right within the Empire.

"Lord Vader…" Sidious hissed, "There is a disturbance in the Force."

Vader looked up at his master, confused. "What is it my Master?"

"A Rogue Jedi has been found in the Kashyyyk system, gathering followers and other Jedi on the Wookie Homeworld. Destroy her and her followers, do not fail me." Sidious growled, eyes glowing even over the holo.

Vader bowed his head, "It shall be done, Master."

The transmision cut and Vader stood, heading towards his personal shuttle with the new mission in mind. Kill the rogue Jedi, and any other followers, with extreme prejudice.