《The Regrets of Time》To Watch One's Steps

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Vader sat in his meditation chamber in his room aboard the ship, deep in thought as he could sense them getting closer to Tattoine.

He was thinking about the girl still, for she was a great mystery to him.

Indeed, It was certainly strange, that she had found out he was sensing for her shortly after he started studying her through the Force a little while back.

But what was even stranger, was that after she noticed him it had felt like the Dark Side had started to shroud her presence from him before the Light, which had quickly followed suit.

Could she possibly control both?

Or was there someone watching over her that the Troopers never saw?

Someone who could control the Dark Side?

Either way, he would quickly eliminate any witnesses or potential protectors of the girl, and capture her for himself.

He had great expectations for the girls future.

The thought came to him after much deliberation.

He could tell that something was different about the girl, she had great potential within the Force, it would certainly have been a waste to not exploit this opportunity while he had it.

Yes...

If he could manage to turn her to the Dark side then he could kill his Master, and start a new Galactic Order.

A new reign could begin, one of his own making.

But one thing was still bothering him about what he had sensed.

If someone was with her who could control the Dark Side, then why didn't they try to turn the girl, who was the brightest light he'd ever seen in years?

It was a one of the many questions about the girl he still couldn't find an answer for.

But no matter.

He would get answers soon enough.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Sooo... here's the plan. Okay, several, actually. We can pay a group of smugglers to smuggle us out, or we can sneak on a ship thats heading out anyway." I glance towards sin. "Sound good?"

He was sitting on the crate I was currently hiding behind, and he did not seem amused.

Not that I was trying to amuse him, but he appearently thought I was anyway.

'Lovely plan, padawan.' He scoffs sarcastically. 'Why, you might as well run up to their blasters willingly.' He gestures in front of us with his claws. 'Please, feel free to lead the way.'

I huffed in annoyance and glared at him.

He was talking about the dozens of Imperial troopers that had surrounded the spaceport before we even got here last night.

It was morning now, and we were still in hiding.

It was like they knew we were coming, which made me think this Darth Vader guy on his way had something to do with it.

Did he notice we sensed him earlier? And ordered the Imperials here to prevent anyone from leaving?

Could he possibly even know what I looked like as well...?

It was worrying, for sure, to think he knew what I looked like. But I had to think of all possibilities here so we could escape successfully.

Before he got here, preferably.

And what was Sin doing to help? Being a critical jerk of every plan I suggested. Seriously, what was his plan then? Take the Darth on directly? Cause he already said that he was dangerous, and Im sure I was no match for him from what I could sense in the Force.

"Well then, what's YOUR plan?" I ask with emphasis, layering my displeasure over his constant disagreement with my plans over my words.

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He simply glances back at me, raising his brow line in a 'really?' kind of way before turning back to watch the Imperials.

'Well for one, we certainly couldn't pay for a smuggler like you suggest.'

I frown. "Why not?"

His tail flicks as he waves his clawed hand with seemingly little worry. 'Well I don't know about you, but I didn't pack my credit stick along for this Time-Traveling adventure of ours.'

I open my mouth to make a snide comment back, then hesitate. Oh...

He was right of course, I didn't have any credits.

I must've forgot with everything thats happened. I certainly wasn't thinking on my feet like I normally did after that mental battle with Sin, and that worried me. Greatly.

I frown more deeply in thought. "Okay then... surely you have a plan by now though. You've been sitting there since we got here last night." I shift forward a little and got closer towards his shoulder in curiosity. "You do, don't you?"

A small smirk began forming as he turned to face me. 'Oh? Are you asking me for my help?'

"Within reason, possibly..." I say with skepticism.

He chuckles and stands. 'Then it's easy.'

"Oh?" I say, a little hopeful.

His smirk turned completely fanged as he jumped down from the crate and began casually trotting towards the spaceport and the troops.

'Just kill them all and take an Imperial improved shuttle off of this planet. Simple.'

I was silent for a moment as it seemed to finally click. Then I hurriedly stood up in panic. "W-wait! I can't do that!"

He rolled his eyes at that and glances back. 'Don't worry, I'll help you this time. It'll be like taking candy from a padawan.' He stops as he realizes what he just said. 'Er... you know what I mean.'

If I wasn't freaking out so bad I would've found that last part a little shocking, but I was in full panic mode. Again.

"That's not what I meant! I can't just go over there and kill them all, that's wrong!"

He's silent for a moment as he stares at me before nodding his head, seeming to understand.

'Ah, of course. You're training to be a weak minded Jedi after all.'

I sigh in relief, glad he was understanding for once. "Yes-..." I hesitate. Wait what did he just call-... "Wait- wha-..." I speak up, just to be silenced again as he interrupts me.

'Don't worry padawan, I'll do you a favor this time and take care of them myself.' He starts walking again as I stare after him in shock. 'We'll work on that hesitancy of yours later.'

He was really going to-...!

My Masters words echoed in my head once more, driving my teachings in with a resounding thud alongside my heartbeat, chasing away my hesitancy with determination.

I certainly couldn't let him kill them all, not when we could try other ways.

I ran after him, closing the distance fast. "Sin! Don't you dare-...!"

I reach for him just as he turns around with great speed and jumps towards me, earning a yelp of surprise from me as I felt him slam into my face.

I fell to the ground with a gasping thud sound from the force that he knocked me over with.

I was surprised. I didn't expect him to have that much speed and strength for his... well, size.

Now I had a feeling that he could've taken them all just like he said, even without my help.

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That was a scary thought for some reason.

But why did he knock me down...?

I opened my eyes that I hadn't realized I had closed as he quickly jumped to my chest with a growl that sent shivers down my spine.

"U-uh, Sin...?" What the...

Then it hit me.

Waves of cold, and fear, leaving me sweating and breathing heavily as I quickly sat up, knocking Sin to my legs.

"What the Force is that?!" I grabbed my head as my vision swam.

He glances to me with concern, unnoticed by me as I couldn't see straight, as he spoke with urgency.

'Bloody Hells, we are to late padawan. Vader is here, I can feel it.' Sin growled out, doing little to conceal his rage.

I could tell he was not happy about the fact that we didn't leave when we had the chance.

Though with the dread I was feeling, neither was I.

Maybe I should've just let him take them out sooner...

No! No... I couldn't have, thats against everything I was taught...

It was a little shocking, to feel how strongly fear could make me think the normally unthinkable.

Did everyone feel this way when facing this Vader guy...?

If so, I was in some deep bantha fodder.

I wished now more than ever my Master was here, she'd always been a calm and directing force for me. I never swayed from my believes when she was here.

Time seemed to slow as a thought crossed my mind.

But maybe... they weren't mine to begin with...?

No, that was the fear talking, I needed to snap out of it.

I took a calming breath and refocused on Sin, who was looked like he was looking around for something.

"If... If thats him already, then how are we to get off planet now? Can we just make a run for it? Or hide and wait him out?" Sin focuses on me once more. "I mean, we could definitely hide somewhere on this planet, and wait for awhile. He'll think we've already left."

He hopped off my legs to the ground beside me with a irritated scoff.

'Maybe that would've worked for normal people, but you're such a bright light in the bloody Force that even an inexperienced Force user could find you.'

I was more than a little shocked by this. "But... I'm not that strong of a Light side user... I mean, I'm not even a fully fledged Jedi yet."

He looks at me pointedly at this, like a Master would when trying to explain something to their Padawan.

'In our timeline, sure, but here, you're the only Light user for a very vast distance.' My eyes widen at this as it begins to dawn on me, Sin continuing to speak.

'Think. How else could he sense you from so far away? He wasn't even close to this planet. Even I could tell that with my slim connection to the Dark side as it is.'

My eyes lower. "Then that's it? I'll have to face him?" My fists clenched in the sand beside me, both in fear and determination. I did not want to, not in the least, but I would give it my best, cause I certainly didn't want to die.

Or worse...

I look back up just as he shook his head, a hesitant yet determined look in his glowing eyes.

'Not if we can avoid it. There's a chance, a slim one, that we could simply jump to another timeline with that ability of yours. I believe I might know of a way for you to activate it once more.'

His tail flicks a bit impatiently.

'Of course, that being said, we could also end up in a completely worse situation than this, since you have absolutely no control over it yet.'

Yet? So he thought I could control it one day? Or at least to some degree?

That was nice to think, but...

"What do you mean, worse than this? How can there possibly be something worse?" I ask with disbelieve.

He gives me a glare that clearly says to drop it as his tail lashes angrily. ' I would rather not find out. For your sake. So if you wish to try this, then be sure to focus with everything you have. Don't get distracted like you did with me. That could get us both killed.'

Okay, now I was nervous.

So since he was tagging along, I could get us both killed?

Well self sacrifice is good and all, but I didn't want him to get killed too, dark side creature or not...

Concentrate. Thats all I had to do, right?

I did it all the time with my Master during meditation, so it shouldn't be too hard now. Just... focus.

I give him a small nod. "I'm willing to try, but what do I need to do?"

Approval came through our mental bond at this as he nods his head to me. 'Good. Its a simple method really, but Im hoping it'll allow you a briefly control it to some degree. Enough for us to jump.'

"Briefly to some degree?" Now I was really worried.

Sin grabs his head with one of his clawed hands in impatience. 'Look, we don't have time to-...'

"Hey! You two over there!" A trooper finally spots us on the ground, making us both look over towards him as the other troopers looked our way as well.

Sin with irritation for being interrupted, and shock from me, cause I had completely forgotten they were there with such a serious conversation going on between the two of us.

He signaled the other troopers as he began running towards us. "It's the one we're looking for, lets take her out!"

Oh Force.

I definitely needed my luck back.

It was now clear they knew what I looked like. They noticed me right off after a simple passing glance from one of them.

They must've caught me on a holo-tape during that small battle from before with those other troopers, which was definitely bad.

Now I definitely had to try and jump timelines again. And this time, not reveal myself until I know more about where, and when, we end up at.

Sin must've sensed my new motivation to jumping, cause he gave me a small grin and chuckled before walking towards the approaching troopers and placing himself between me and the troopers, tensing his body to attack as he spoke.

'Just get ready to do it, my little Calese. I'll keep them away from you, so focus this time. And don't jump until I say.'

I nod and quickly get into position.

Which must've looked odd to the troopers to see me get onto my knees and close my eyes, completely relaxing as I appearently ignored their approach. Leaving what looked like my 'pet' to deal with them.

"H-hey!" One of them shouts as they stop a short distance away from Sin, guns aimed at both of us, hesitant to approach. "You Jedi scum! What are you up to?!"

I remained silent, following Sin's mental instructions as he told me to focus on the feeling I got when I first jumped, and call to the Force with it.

Even I could feel the disbelief and rising anger from them. They really didn't like being ignored.

As I felt the Force begin to respond to the feeling I projected, I lost focus of everything around me. I could only feel my connection to Sin's mind as he firmly held on to my mind, refusing to let the Force separate our current connection.

Time Immediately became distorted for me. I didn't know how long I was sitting there, connected, simply being and feeling.

I heard shots, blaster fire and screams that only lasted an instant, yet stretched forever.

It was a very nauseating experience. I found that my breathing was heavy and I was sweating as I increasingly began to feel that I was unable to fully connect like I was supposed to.

Something was wrong. I could feel it.

Was something trying to hinder me...? No... Someone...?

I pulled back from the Force a little and felt for Sin's presence.

There.

An image flashes from the Force as I focus on him, allowing me to see what it could.

A trooper was making a gurgled scream as a black shadow leapt for him and bit into his throat with his fanged teeth at great speed, jumping back just as quickly and ripping his throat out before leaping towards another as a formless blur.

Said trooper dropped his gun in panic as Sin landed on his head and tried to desperately knock him off, screaming all the time in panic.

I had a feeling that he looked way more terrifying than a small 'pet' in their eyes now.

Heck even I thought his fast blurring and formless shape was a disturbing sight to behold. Especially when he was killing so fast in that form.

I could feel there were several bodies laying around already though.

The troopers were in a complete panic.

They were completely focused on trying to shoot Sin now, not a one gave me a second thought from the looks of it.

Gritting my teeth as another wave of the Force tried to pull me in without my consent, I held on to my connection with Sin just as strongly as he was.

I needed to stay in control of myself, just like Sin said.

Speaking of which...

''S-Sin? Can you hear me?'' I call out mentally, hoping he could hear me as well as talk to me. ''Look, I don't think it will let me jump again. Something feels wrong with the Force for some reason. Can you feel it too?''

I could feel Sin brush through my mind, a reassurance that he heard me.

He was a surprisingly calming presence for the chaos my mind had unknowingly become.

I had to admit, I felt rather grateful for the relief I didn't even know I needed.

Some of the Force seemed to flow through our connection towards him, relieving the mental pressure that had become painful to me.

'Stay focused, little Calese. Don't let the Force pull you in yet. Remember, you must try to control it.' I relaxed at his words, waiting as he continued. 'And you are right padawan, I sense something too... someone is trying to...' Irritation travels through our bond. 'Bloody Hells. I believe the Sith approaching is pulling the Dark side towards him. He can tell you're trying to call and use it for something. He's a smart one, I'll give him that.'

I mentally frown. "He can pull it away from me?" What chance did I have then? I needed both sides at the same time, that I was sure of. Yet this Sith was calling the dark side to him? What use is the ability if everyone could interrupt it before I could use it? I thought, starting to panic.

'Calm yourself girl, this is not the time to succumb to your fears.' Sin had heard my ramblings, and did not sound pleased about it. 'I believe he can only pull it away from you because you have no experience with it at the moment. You aren't used to pulling on the dark side like he is. Its simply a matter of experience and talent at this point.'

"Then how can I pull it back?" I ask.

I could feel his presence shift in my mind for a moment, like he was pulling back a little in thought. 'You can't. At least, not yet.' Suddenly he shifts further into my mind, shocking me again by how easily he could enter at will. ' You're no match for him right now, but I am. I'll pour the dark side directly into you, so brace yourself.'

"W-Wait-...!" I was to late.

I could feel the dark side suddenly coil like a giant serpent around me, being called through my bond with Sin, before rushing me with a mind numbing screech.

I almost fainted from the sheer concetration of it. I've never felt the dark side so strongly before, and it was...

'Focus!' Sin shouts suddenly into my mind.

I snap back into focus at the sound of his voice, unknowingly blacking out for a moment as my mind got overwelmed.

I couldn't believe he had such a connection to the dark side.

I had underestimated him.

But in all fairness, I was never taught about Force creatures. So that definitely could've lead to some misconceptions on my part.

Well we could talk about it later, right now though I could barely focus enough as is.

I yank more of the light side into my mind to try to balance it back out and ease some pain, but I immediately gasped in shock as I felt myself begin to be pulled in all directions at once.

"I-I think its trying to make me jump again!" I shout to Sin, panicked.

I could hear his mental growl, even over the whirlwind that had become the Force. 'Don't let it! Not until-...!'

I felt the violent lurching sensation coming and mentally grabbed at Sin with all the force I could muster, hoping to drag him with me like we planned as I shouted back, cutting Sin off.

"I can't! It's happening on its own!" I wince as what felt like an electrical current shot through me with searing pain.

'Bloody Hells!' I hear Sin shout, then nothing as my mind went numb and dark.

I felt everything warp around me as I blacked out, and I knew that if I could open my eyes, I'd see the same thing I did the first time I jumped on Alderaan.

But something was wrong this time. Very, very, wrong.

I could feel it.

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