《The Regrets of Time》The Coming Storm

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Darth Vader stood on the bridge of the Super Star Destroyer Executor as his men in the trenches typed in the cordinance he had given them and prepared to enter hyperspace.

His face-plate hiding well the fact that he was frowning as he quietly focused on the Force.

There.

Pulsing from the planet Tattoine was one of the brightest Force lights he had seen in years.

It was a promising hunt, for sure, but something seemed off to him.

Why was this female Jedi making an appearence now? To have managed to stay hidden for so long with that powerful of a Force signature just to reveal herself on that Outer-Rimmed planet was quite puzzling for him, he had to admit.

Did she think to actually challenge him, and this was an invitation to fight?

He closed his eyes in concentration.

No... that did not feel right to him.

He delved deeper into the Force as the Super Star Destroyer jumped into hyperspace, feeling around the Light Side presence more thoroughly without getting close enough to reveal himself as stars streaked by outside the bridges viewports.

He had to be cautious with this one, the events surrounding her discovery was most troubling in its simplicity.

His eyes suddenly flashed open in surprise as he notices something for the first time.

Her Force presence.

It wasn't a refined pool of Light Side energy like all the previous Jedi he had met so far.

In fact, it felt strangely simular to a different presence he was all too familiar with.

She was a padawan.

Her Force energy wasn't fully controlled yet, in fact, it actually felt quite wild.

More surprised than he would admit or show, Vader turns suddenly and begins walking to the bridge door, gaining the attention of the commander that was in charge of the bridge, as he was expecting Lord Vader to stay there until they had arrived at their destination as he usually did when hunting Jedi.

"S-Sir-?" He began hesitantly.

Vader interrupts the man, wanting to go to his chambers immediately to think about his new found discovery some more without interruptions and the Emperor's spies watching him.

"Inform me the moment we arrive, commander. I have important matters to attend too."

The bridge door hissed open then shut as Vader left, surprising the commander and many others on the deck.

They knew Lord Vader had never spoke that way before when hunting a Jedi.

The Jedi's death was always the only important thing to him during such times.

Everyone glanced towards each other in confusion.

What could possibly be more important to him at the moment than that?

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I could feel Sin's emotions seep into my mind as I tried desperately to meditate in this abandoned home we were currently hiding in, and it irked me greatly.

We had evaded the patrols out looking for us all day, but then a sandstorm had blown in before nightfall, forcing us to seek shelter here for a bit and stopping any progress of gaining information from an Imperial like I had hoped.

Which was frustrating in and of itself.

Seriously, it wouldn't be too soon for me if I was able to get off this sand covered planet.

I didn't like this kind of sand, it was gritty and overbearing, to say the least.

So, here I was, sitting on the floor with my cloak circled around me and hood down, trying to meditate and focus myself like my Master had taught me for what seemed like the hundreth time.

Yet I was finding it very hard to do so.

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Sin most definitely being part of the reason.

With a mental sigh I frown a little and peer over to Sin, who was laying on an empty crate in front of me as he looked around the place with a bored expression.

My voice echoed in annoyance throughout the room as I spoke.

"Would you mind? It's hard enough to focus over here without you pouring your emotions into my head like that."

I was clearly irritated, which seemed to amuse him as he intentionally chuckled inside my mind. 'Oh? Why is that? I thought all you Jedi were good at this kind of thing.' He wiggles his clawed fingers at me mockingly. 'Focusing for peace and all that, yes?'

Wait... 'Did he seriously just mock everyone in the Order right in front of me...?' I thought, a little bit of anger and disbelief evident on my face.

The answer was revealed when he smirked at me, baring fangs in a self-amused kind of way.

'Why that little...!' I thought angrily before forcing myself to take a calming breath.

I couldn't become any more emotional then I already was, otherwise I would never be able to meditate properly.

I clench my fists on my knees, forcing my building anger into the Force as I responded calmly. "Well generally, yes. But I'm a padawan, I still have difficulties at times." I give him a pointed look. "Especially if others are distracting me."

He makes an amused sound before looking towards the door that lead outside to my left, his tail somehow flicking in a teasing manner. 'Oh yes, I can quite tell.'

I unknowingly glare at him.

He sure did turn into an ass when he was bored, which was majorly disconcerting for our future travels together.

Deciding to ignore him I simply close my eyes and called the Force gently to me.

If I could focus enough then I could probably get some information about this timeline from the Force itself, and that would definitely save me from having to use 'mind tricks' on people.

I grimace a little at the thought.

I was told I had great potential when it came to connecting with the minds of others, but I was disgusted with it every time I had to use it.

Honestly I sucked at phrasing questions right when doing it anyway, so someone like me shouldn't even be allowed to use it at all in my opinion.

I was still trained in it at the Temple though, Masters orders, no matter how much I protested.

I slowly let out a breath as my mind began to calm, Sin surprisingly quiet for once as the Force began sending strange feelings into me, making me frown in concentration.

What was it...?

A flash of light shot into my mind, startling me.

Sin looked at me curiously as I jumped, surprise clearly written on my face.

What the-? Was the Force trying to give me information on this timeline after all?

It seemed urgent enough, so I reached out to the Force a little more, aware of the fear I was holding towards it after the incident on Alderaan, but I pushed the fear aside, wanting answers too desperately to worry about it at the moment.

Words flash into my mind.

My brow creases as I focus on the words that practically seared themselves into my mind. "Hey..." I speak out loud hesitantly.

I open my eyes and glance at Sin to see that he had been staring at me the whole time, curiousity making his tail twitch to the side every little bit as he watched me.

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'A little creepy there buddy...' I think as I fake cough awkwardly into my hand and glance away from Sin for a moment, looking back as I begin to speak.

"Um, do you know of a... Vader...?" My voice drops off at the end as I frown, not sure if I got it right.

I saw the part that said Galactic Empire clearly, even though it didn't really elaborate on it, but the other words didn't come in that brightly lit, leaving me a little confused.

His tail flicks against the crate as he raises a brow, seeming skeptical yet amused at the same time. 'Refrigerator?'

I shake my head knowing he misheard, much to my own amusement as I can't help but to grin a little. "No no, a... Darth Vader...?"

A nod my head in approval, certain I got it right this time.

"Yeah, a Darth Vader. The Force tells me its a guy, if that helps."

Sin is silent for a moment in thought as I watch him, a little hopeful he might know at least something about him.

'Hmm... can't say that I do with my current Force connection being so low, I can't get any kind of help from the collective Dark Side. But one thing's certain, if it's a Darth, then- '

"He's a Sith." I finish for him. He nods before looking at me quizically. I shift a little under his gaze as he seems to study me again.

'Indeed. Though I'm surprised the Force is even telling you such. It's hard to believe the Force would tell you something thats critical to this exact timeline without express permission from the Ones who command it.'

I blink a little in confusion. "What do you mean, command it? Are you talking about Force sensitives?"

He begins to shake his head before catching himself and glancing away in hesitation, like he's thinking on how much to tell me. "Well...' He mutters quietly.

He seems to become lost in thought, an idea to test me a bit coming into his mind as I frown at his silence.

'Yes, I could certainly...' He muses darkly to himself. 'Perhaps I can see just how much she trusts my word on things...'

He chuckles darkly inside his own mind at his plan as I simply stare in confusion, not sure what he's thinking about but knowing it had something to do with the last question I asked.

I got the feeling if I pushed for answers he wouldn't tell me anything though, so I followed my instincts and quietly waited on the floor for him to tell me, like I would when my own Master would debate to teach me the new techniques that I asked for.

Yet inside my mind I was practically strangling him and yelling at him to tell me what he was hiding, but I kept my thoughts locked down tight so he couldn't see that lovely play going on in my mind.

He nods to himself as he makes a small noise, seeming to come to a decision, focusing on me once more as he began to speak with a serious tone.

'No, not exactly Sith or Jedi. Listen padawan, you mustn't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, not even your Jedi friends, got it?'

I nod a little hesitantly, not sure if I wanted to hear it now.

What in the blazes was so important he'd turn so serious all of a sudden? Did I even truly want to know? No... not really...

More importantly though, should I interrupt and protest to his calling me padawan...?

He may have just called me padawan objectively since that is what I was, but it reminded me of the Sith from Alderaan again, and I certainly didn't want that cold feeling to come back into my mind from such thoughts.

Sin smiles approvingly at my nod and began speaking once more, not giving me a chance to speak what was on my mind as his voice snaps me out of my own thoughts and focuses me onto what he was saying.

'You see Calese,' He begins. 'The Force has two beings that represent it in its whole. For the side you are training in there is a woman known as the Winged Goddess, and she is the incarnation of the Light Side itself.' My eyes widen as he continues.

'Likewise for the Dark Side, there is a man known as the Fanged God who wields that raging beast, and he has powers beyond even the most powerful Sith.'

He chuckles to himself as if he found it amusing to have to speak of it in such a way, but I don't pay any mind to the weirdness of it as shock and excitement began to course through me from what he said.

There was literally such beings?! And they were pretty much the Force itself?!

I was in awe for a moment before a thought occurs to me.

"Um, but what about the middle?" I fidget as his eyes locked onto mine sharply at my question. "Ah, I mean, what about the Force that is neutral? When I would meditate in the Temple I would always feel this huge portion of the Force that seemed nuetral to the fightings of the Light and Dark side, so who rules that?"

He quickly surpresses a wave of fury at the question of who ruled it, managing to keep his emotions out of the Force, yet not my mind, which made me tense, ready to dart out of his way if he acted on that terribly heavy feeling that seemed ready to lash out in an instant.

He huffs and turns his face away, glaring at the door as he spoke with a silent fury.

'An old man who thinks he can control the Fanged God whenever he feels like it. But he doesn't have long to live, so you shouldn't worry yourself about him.'

I sit there in silence, not daring to break his concentration, least he lose control over his thinly veiled fury.

I was a little shocked that he got so angry about such a simple question. There had to be a reason for his anger, surely?

Well...

He was a creature of the Dark Side, so if that Fanged God was like his leader or something, then it made sense he would be mad with that 'old man', as Sin called him.

After all the old guy was trying to control someone Sin may very well see as a Master, and I could certainly understand that reaction.

It was something similar to what happened to me and my own Master after all.

I let out a sigh and look away from the ball of fury that was now Sin.

Well, I wasn't going to ask anymore about those Force beings, thats for sure.

It all sounded extremely complicated for some reason, it felt like he was just giving me as straight forward of an answer as he could without the boring -and probably gruesome- details over them.

Which I did feel grateful for, cause I never liked the political talks, and whatever was happening with those beings sounded awfully like the confusing politics where everything had to end dirty for everyone involved.

Even if the solution for everything was easy and right in front of their eyes.

Yeah, it was too much for me at the moment.

I already had this whole time traveling stuff to deal with anyway.

I sigh as I focus back on Sin, not really knowing what to do with him now.

How was I going to distract Sin from his bad mood? Should I even be trying?

My Masters teachings spoke of compassion in my mind, tempting me to do so even though I felt awkward about it.

I did want answers earlier, but now that he was glaring the door to death and refusing to look at me, I was feeling extremely guilty for bringing up what seemed like bad memories for him.

Well, I was only ever good at rambling it seemed, so maybe do that...?

I sigh again in frustration.

Geez, I was so not good with this whole cheering people up stuff. My Master usually handled that part, especially after I made a little girl cry my first time at trying it.

Ah... maybe...?

I smile a little as a possible solution comes to mind.

Yeah! I'll just answering that previous statement of his and distract him with my weirdness all in one go!

A little nervious but determined I clear my throat with a clearly fake cough, making Sin glance at me with irritation as I began to speak.

"Well uh, about that statement before, the one where you said you were surprised about the Force answering me?" My voice seemed awfully high pitched, revealing my anxiety about talking, but I ignored it, drawing an amused look from Sin as I kept going.

"I was told by the Council when I was first brought into the Order that I had a unique relationship with the Force, one they had never seen before."

I smile a little and look away as memories begin to surface. "Ever since I was a child, the Force would always talk to me in a way. It would... teach me things. I knew of the Force and its specifics long before I was ever found on my homeworld by the Jedi and assigned to my Master." I grin a little sheepishly. "So yeah, I'm definitely a weird one."

I raised my hand and pushed my shifting hair back behind my ear as I look back up at him, feeling at peace after remembering the times I would spend in the flower meadows just listening to the Force as a child.

My thoughts come to a halt suddenly as realization dawns on me.

Ah, Force!

I was supposed to be diverting his attention right now, not zoning out in memories!

Smacking myself mentally I focus my attention back on Sin, letting out a sound of surprise as I find him staring at me.

Sin was simply studying me with a strange look in his eye, almost seeming to be weary of something before he shook his head a little and grined, a genuine look of something I couldn't quite discern lighting his eyes before he spoke.

'So you've always been special then...' His voice held approval, which made me squirm for some reason. 'Im deeply regretful that we couldn't have met sooner, little Calese.'

Something in his eyes made me want to put some distance between us, but I suppressed the urge as I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly, feeling my fingers slide through my hair easily as I looked towards the boarded up window by the door.

"Er- thats okay, really." I give a small nervous laugh.

"Besides, I'm sure once we get done with this whole time-traveling adventure together you'll be happy to be done with me."

I risk a glance his way as he slowly gives a predatory smile, his tail moving leisurely like a loth-cats.

'Hmm, I highly doubt that.' He says in a strange tone that sends chills down my spine.

Everything seemed to stutter for a moment at his words.

Er- wait- no- what-?

I was beyond flustered, but then my body seemed to suddenly feel like it was surrounded by dark tendrils wraping their way around me as my eyes widened.

My mind practically slammed to a stop as it recognized the predator look on his face.

I was pretty sure in that moment I was the prey.

I suddenly felt like a kid again as one of those dark tendrils seemed to brush by my mind, scaring me in a way that I had only felt when in the presence of that Sith on Alderaan.

I squeezed my eyes shut and fought to push the fear away from me.

I knew it was Sin pushing emotions at me for probably some sort of amusement value or something, making me growl a little at him as I opened my eyes and glared into his. My arm lowering back to my knee as I concentrated.

"What do you think you're doing, Sin?"

He simply watches me in silence, a battle of minds going on inside my head as we stared at each other.

It was very hard to sit still in the first place, but then he shoved a strong wave of fear out of nowhere at me, making a choking noise come from me as I began to feel like I was drowning.

His mind was overpowering mine.

After a few more moments of mental struggling, our eyes locked, I began to get the feeling that he wasn't using as much force as he could have on me.

A sliver of confusion seeped into my mind, making me hesitate for a moment.

Was he going easy on me-...?

My thoughts suddenly halt and crumble in pain as another sudden burst of forced fear came crashing into my mind, way stronger than anything before it.

With a mental squeak -that I would later deny doing- I rushed up from my meditating position and all but ran to the door with my cloak billowing behind me in my rush, clicking it to open in my panic to distance myself from him, not thinking about the storm at all as I gasped for air.

Stars and a heated breeze greeted my face, revealing the storm to be gone as I sighed in relief.

Thank the Force it was over already, I was acting on prey-like instincts when I ran over here...

Uh, speaking of which... I really felt too shaky to confront him on it at the moment, so hopefully he stayed away from me for a bit...

No such luck as he speaks coldly into my mind, making me wince as his words seem to scrape across my raw nerves within.

'...You know, you shouldn't let anything distract you when fighting someone within your mind, not even your own hesitation over the person you're fighting with.'

I could feel his eyes staring at me in an analyzing way.

'That could be very dangerous for you.'

My hands trembled a little as I glanced towards Sin briefly before looking forward again, Ignoring his words as I took a shakey breath and gave a fake smile. Like I knew the storm was gone all along and spoke cheerfully, trying to dislodge the feeling of prey-like fear I had felt in that moment because of him.

"Well, the storm must've stopped while we were talking, so I guess now we can go get some more information before patrols pick back up."

My voice ringed cheerfully false even in my own ears, I just hoped he couldn't tell as well.

I knew I could just as easily ask the Force for more information as I meditated, but I couldn't be shut up in the room with him at the moment, I needed to get some fresh air and clear my head so I could calm back down.

Besides I had a feeling he was greatly amused whenever he managed to get a reaction from a person, so I had to act as normal as possible.

I mean... I wasn't giving a reaction to it, was I...?

I took another calming breath and focused on the stars.

Geez, what was wrong with him anyway? Did he enjoy messing with peoples heads when he was bored? Or was he testing me in a way?

'Probably both' I thought, not amused in the least. He was a Dark Side creature after all, I was going to have to be way more careful around him from now on-...

My body tenses as I hear him chuckle, dark amusement rolling off into my mind from his as he jumped down from the crate he was on and made his way towards me and the door.

I wanted to run so bad, but I kept myself in the doorway and smiled cheerfully up to the stars like my life depended on it.

Oh Bloody Force! He wasn't buying it, was he?!

I almost squeaked out loud when I felt him jump onto my shoulder, but instead I stayed looking forward, my heart beating a little too rapidly as I unconsciously stared the people down that were coming out of their homes with a 'HELP ME YOU FOOLS!' look, making them feel scared as they quickly scurried down the road or simply shut their doors again, clearly not coming out now that I was there.

I couldn't help but frown at the peoples strange behavior since I didn't know why they were doing it. Was that some sort of custom on this world after a storm?

It was certainly a weird one...

Sin chuckles, shifting closer so his face was against my ear in an almost cuddling way. I could feel the intense warmth coming off of him as he voice seemed to drip honey in his amusement.

'Easy there padawan, you are going to scare away all the natives with that look.'

I pull my hood up over my face in a hurry, forcing Sin back to his normal position on my shoulder as I tried to hide my embarrassed face, his laughter not making it any easier to stop the flush of red.

Well, he didn't take my attempt of senselessly running from him the wrong way, yet...

He still somehow took it the wrong way!

And now he was going to take any chance he got to get that prey-like reaction from me again, I just knew it!

I groaned mentally as I began walking down the road, ignoring Sin's laughter in my head as I tried my best to control my emotions.

One part of me was furious and wanted to grab my Masters lightsaber and slice him up and be done with him for good, and another just wanted to knock him off my shoulder and run for it.

The thoughts of both predator and prey coursed through my mind, amusing Sin all the more, I'm sure.

But I couldn't think about stuff like that right now, all these emotions channeling through me at once was making me a bit panicked, so I forcefully sent them out into the Force.

Embarrassment, anger, confusion, and loss over what to do disappearing in an instant.

Those thoughts were making my fingers twitch as I calmed myself as I was taught, much to Sin's continued amusement.

'My my little Calese,' He said as his chuckling died down to just thick amusement trickling down the mind link. 'It seems like I'm starting to get to you a bit.'

I hung my face further. "Not likely. You just surprised me back there is all."

I expected him to laugh again, but his amusement suddenly stops to a flare of heated emotion that I couldn't discern, making me wince at the pain in my head and come to a stop in middle of the road as his claws dug into my shoulder.

"Gah! What the Bloody Force are you doing?!" I shout, irritated.

I turn my head to glare at him, but he's looking straight up at the star filled sky in concentration. I've never seen that look on him before, so I quickly look up as well, seeing nothing as my brow furrows.

"Sin-...?"

His eyes suddenly snap down drawing me to look down as well and meet his eyes, silencing me as they seemed to glow brighter than ever with that heated emotion from before that I couldn't discern.

'We need to leave, now.' His voice held no room for argument, but I was super confused by his behavior.

"What are you talking about? Are you okay?" I ask, confusion coating my voice heavily.

He glares back up at the stars in irritation, his tail flicking madly against my back with tension. 'This is no time for fifty questions, girl.'

"But I didn't-..." I start before being interrupted.

'We need to leave this planet, fast.' Sin growled out. 'A storm is coming.'

I looked to the sky once more, more confused than ever.

Was another storm coming so soon? We could just go back and hide if it was, there was no need to leave the entire planet for it.

'Bloody Hells just do as I say girl!' he snaps inside my head suddenly, making me jump.

'I believe that Vader guy you mentioned before has discovered you. I can feel the Dark Side focusing and pressing in on you in an unnatural way, padawan. And he is certainly not one to be taken lightly.'

He turns then, meeting my shocked gaze with one filled with equal determination.

'If you want to live, you better do as I say, and fast.'

I could sense the truth in his words, as much as I wanted him to be wrong.

With a hesitant nod to him I broke out into a dead run towards the spaceport, hoping I could find a ship to hitch a ride on fast enough before this 'Darth whatever' guy came.

Sin was right, I could sense it now that I knew what I was looking for.

A storm was certainly coming.

But it was a storm of the Dark Side nature.

'Bloody Force!' I cursed to myself. 'Where was all my good luck when I needed it?!'

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