CH19

"I was just on my way to meet some of my colleagues," Organa continued, gesturing down the hall and attempting to provide some sort of explanation. "I didn't mean to intrude. I can see that you are quite busy."

"I sensed as much," Vader replied, conveying nothing but his lack of amusement. He could see clearly in Organa's mind exactly whom the senator had been on his way to see, and he could feel the man's panic starting to break through his attempt to remain composed the longer Vader forced him to stay here with him. "That is precisely why I stopped you."

"Oh?" the man replied, not trying to hide his surprise as he raised an eyebrow at the Sith in question.

Vader held the holopad out for him, the names clearly on display. "The Emperor has requested you and a number of your comrades' presences."

The man seemed shaken, his hand slowly reaching out to take the device and skimming the datasheet on the screen before looking back at Vader with sudden doubt. "You aren't going to question us, my Lord?"

Vader remained unfazed. "Not unless you have something to hide." "Of course not," he replied too quickly, his emotions leaking through his mask tenfold as his nerves escalated. Even the man's heart rate thundered in Vader's ears, and the Sith noted the thin layer of moisture forming near the man's hairline. "We will meet with him at once. I– I assume that none of my peers are among those you have taken into… into custody?"

Not yet, Vader thought, aware of the truth despite their fair act. "Are they traitors?"

"Of course not, my Lord."

"Then you shouldn't have anything to worry about."

"Oh, yes," Organa replied, almost in embarrassment as he bowed his head. "I– I will find them all at once and do exactly as the Emperor wishes." Raising his head once more, the senator could not contain his sadness as his eyes rested on the lifeless bodies behind Vader. "Sarah Tilka was five months pregnant…" he whispered almost absently, a strange hurt in his words. "With a baby girl…"

Vader placed his hands on his belt and stared down at the man. He wasn't in the mood for any sort of chatting and Bail Organa immediately got the hint.

"Well," he composed himself, standing to his full height while trying, and failing, to conceal his newly ignited anger. "How wonderful it would be for them to die together." He gazed at Vader for another moment, a million thoughts swirling loudly through his mind before he forced himself to give a sneering bow. "Thank you, Lord Vader."

Vader turned without uttering a word, striding toward the main chambers. He already knew the man was a traitor, as well as countless of his close peers, and it was only due to the Emperor's direct order that any of them still walked free, or breathed for that matter. What he didn't believe Bail Organa was, was a coward, yet Vader knew that look in his eyes. He had seen it countless times before in lesser men and even some greater than the Senator from Alderaan. He was gazing into the eyes of a man that was about to run. He could sense it. Bail Organa was going to flee, but the lingering question remained: how many others would follow? And where would it lead him?

"Lord Vader," an officer said as he fell into step beside him. "We have detected significant chatter on the Senate's main server. Personnel are warning others of our presence and yours also, sir."

"Chatter doesn't concern me," Vader replied, annoyance evident in his tone. "Jam any further transmissions from leaving this building. Have a team monitor the server for outliers."

"Yes, sir." There was a profound silence. The kind of silence that drove some to madness. The kind of silence that followed the final bomb dropped in battle, or after the last soldier fell to his demise... or perhaps, when the last rebel who stood in the wake of Imperial progress was exterminated. It was almost like death. Almost like new life... the life of the Empire. The Imperial Senate was unusually still. The building had been completely cleared out, save for a few individuals that remained– loyalists, individuals pending judgment, or traitors who were simply pawns in a greater plan. The usually bustling building felt empty and quiet, something that Vader found almost pleasing. It wasn't filled to the brim with liars and schemers– it wasn't completely dominated by fools that stood in the way of progress. It was a small start to their ultimate plans for the galaxy, but a start nonetheless.

"Sir," a trooper saluted Vader before giving a final report. "All floors are secure. We have either exterminated or detained all traitors, with the exception for the personnel that have not arrived as of yet."

"Good work, trooper," Vader replied, somewhat pleased. Keep one squadron on location and another on standby, and send all others back to base. Monitor the situation until after my meeting with the Emperor."

"Yes, sir."

The trooper left to do his bidding, and as he did, Vader turned in the opposite direction to report to his master. Unlike usual, Vader found himself walking the halls instead of the shadows as he made his way towards his master's chambers. Now, he could be seen amongst the crowds, seen for what he truly was. He could walk among his fear and destruction among the empty halls that now felt like home—if Vader could have a home. As he entered the holding room before the red suite of his master's office, the red guards standing at attention on each side of the closed doorway silently declined him entry. It was an irritating appeal, but one that Vader chose to ignore. The Sith could sense seven presences still with his master, including Bail Organa, aware that there were twelve senators on the list. Frustratingly, he couldn't remember who might be missing, except for the senator from Anaxes and the senator from Naboo, both of whom had seemingly vanished. He tried to mentally recall the list from his memory, but came up short as another annoyance spread through his veins.

"Seems quite weak," a voice stated arrogantly, interrupting his thoughts as the presence stepped into the room. "Needing so many men to keep so few in order."

"Tarkin," Vader growled immediately, not even needing to reach out into the Force to identify the infuriating presence. "Only you," he breathed, annoyed. "Would be so bold."

"Come now, Vader," the man replied, uttering his customary retort as he attempted to bridge the gap between them. "You," he continued, placing a hand on Vader's back, "my friend, need to lighten up."

The action only intensified Vader's irritation as the Sith turned to face the man at full height, pulling away so the man's hand could no longer touch him. "What brings you to Coruscant?" Vader hissed, attempting to test the elder man's limits in retaliation. "I would have thought you too busy overseeing to be drawn away from such a project."

"And I thought you were too deep in the hunt to waste time on such petty purges," Tarkin snapped back without missing a beat before waving his hand in triumph. "But here we both are." It may have been a true statement, but it did nothing to quell Vader's anger. He was not in the mood for games, and the one Tarkin was trying to play would not end in his favor. So Vader remained silent, staring down at the man until the air and darkness between them became too heavy to give the young Sith what he wanted, forcing the man into submission.

"The Emperor requested my presence," Tarkin finally replied, his expression revealing his displeasure with both Vader and the Emperor.

"And Director Krennic?" Vader pressed, turning to glance at the man in white uniform who stood just behind the pair, almost trying to conceal himself in the darkness.

Upon being noticed, the other man bowed his head in respect but did not step forward. He remained silent, giving Vader a clear response to their sudden arrival. "Another delay?" Vader pressed, somewhat amused, knowing how to provoke both men's anger.