(Vader POV)
*VROOM*
My lightsaber cuts through the last Inquisitor's arm and cuts it off at the elbow.
"It's only an arm," I say to him, and wait for him to stand up again. "Get up and fight."
I see him looking at his severed arm, which holds his lightsaber, but then looking down at the ground, giving up. Pathetic. I sheathe my lightsaber and place it back on my hip, walking out of the training grounds.
"Lord Vader, I must protest. What will chopping off Sixth Brother's arm possibly teach him?" the Grand Inquisitor asks me from the side where he was watching.
"Loss. He will never forget it. None of them will," I say, and we look back at the five of them. I made sure to cut off something from all of them. This was a show of dominance and a lesson of fear. They will remember this every time they think of me or talk to me. I begin to walk up the stairs.
"The Emperor created the Inquisitorius program to hunt down and kill any Jedi who escaped his purge. Your people are not ready, Grand Inquisitor."
"That is hardly fair, Lord Vader. The Inquisitors are formidable fighters. They are former Jedi!"
"And they fight like it. Defensive. Moving to attack only when there is no other choice. The Jedi taught that a battle could be considered a victory even if both parties emerged unscathed. This error has infected the Inquisitors' tactics. All of them. Nothing is fair, Grand Inquisitor. You had better not remember that," I tell him. I have always been special in that regard. I preferred the attack, rather than the defence, fitting for my arrogance. However, my former Master was a master in defence, so I am familiar with it.
"You do know the Emperor personally selected me, Vader? Raised me up. Gave me this position. He believes in my ability."
"Concern yourself with my beliefs, Grand Inquisitor. I will instruct you. You will bring my lessons to the others. Any Inquisitor who does not progress will be eliminated," I tell him.
"Any. I see. You find us pathetic. You think you could do the job better yourself. That may be true. You are mighty indeed. But if that was what the Emperor wanted, wouldn't you be doing it? You said the Inquisitors are mine. No longer, Vader. No longer. The Emperor has given us to you. You own us, flaws and all. If we succeed, it is to your credit. And if we fail ... you will own that as well," the Grand Inquisitor says, and I can feel his anger and frustration.
"You are correct, Grand Inquisitor. I do find you pathetic. You wield a red blade and wield it around like a pouty child, believing yourself to be Sigh. None of you have truly understood what it means," I say, and then look at the list of Jedi that we are to hunt down. I point at a particular one.
"We will begin by hunting those Jedi who may have survived Order 66. A target list."
"The Emperor has already given me this list. Priority targets among the presumed Jedi survivors," the Grand Inquisitor says and then shows me the list. There, I see a particular name that catches my attention. I suddenly see a chance—a great chance to increase my repertoire of Force abilities and to grow more in my understanding of the Force. There are also many valuable items which could help the squad I am creating.
"You have had this list ... for some time?" I ask.
"Yes. And this one, Jocasta Nu. She is given extra emphasis, but I do not know why. I am all for the destruction of the Jedi, but I'd have thought we would start with a more dangerous target. Frankly, I am surprised she survived the purge. I don't think I've seen her fight once. Not in all the years I-"
"It is not your place to question. If the Emperor wishes her destroyed ... I will see it done," I declare, telling him my intention of doing it personally.
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(3rd Person POV)
Of course, the Grand Inquisitor doesn't understand the importance of Jocasta Nu. The leading archivist of the Jedi Temple is, of course, the top priority. And while Vader doesn't fully know why Palpatine wants Jocasta Nu, he wants her for a different reason.
Vader understands that Jocasta Nu possesses a wealth of knowledge that she is either hiding or storing in her mind. And she will ensure that that knowledge is secure and well taken care of. Vader wants that knowledge for himself. He wishes to acquire new skills, which Jocasta most definitely knows and become more powerful. Jocasta Nu is a golden goose in that regard. So there is something that Vader has, which will help him acquire all of her knowledge, but it will take some time. Not much, now that he is experiencing this monstrous growth rate.
He walks to his personal quarters, which he is using momentarily, until he has found a suitable location to settle. He already has one in mind, but first, he has to establish his position in the Empire, and for that, he will need to spread fear and deal with insurgents. The Empire will attract all kinds of vermin who seek wealth, power and other pathetic reasons. Incompetence must be eliminated as soon as possible.
Vader walks into the secret training room that he has installed and sees Xina Ciloz dodging blaster fire coming from 5 droids at the same time. Her progress is impressively fast, and she brings other talents to the table. Unwilling to be disposed of, she works tirelessly.
"Vader, I'm glad you could come. How can I be of service?" she asks.
"You have been training well, but it is time for you to take on your first field test. You will go to the Inner Rim, where you will find a planet, which I will name later on. On that planet, you will find the Imperial Facility 729-D," Vader says.
"Infiltration? Or stealing?"
"Both. You will steal a starship."
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On an unknown planet, hidden from the Empire's eyes, a woman sits before a Holocron, recording her words.
"Whoever is seeing this... It's up to you now. Don't let our deaths have been in vain," she says.
[Whoever is seeing this... It's up to you now. Don't let our deaths be in vain.] The Holocron repeats her words. Behind the woman, a man emerges from the cave, holding a steaming cup in his hand.
"Are you finished, Jocasta?" he asks her.
"Yes. One more Holocron, complete. Is that tea?" she asks him.
"Yes. I thought you might be tired," he says and hands her the tea, while he takes the Holocron from her.
"What's this one?" he asks her.
"My last words."
"Excuse me?" Gar asks.
"My light dims. What the Sith couldn't do, time most certainly will. Not all Jedi are blessed with the lifespan of Master Yoda. This Holocron includes my thoughts on the purpose of my Order and the Light it brings to the galaxy. Why it must never be allowed to die, and why it never will. Please put it to the others," Jocasta says and takes a sip of her tea. There is a heaviness on her shoulders that Gar can see.
"You aren't coming?"
"Oh no, my friend. I have more work to do," she says and picks up a basket full of Holocrons.
"Master Jocasta, forgive me, but you have been working for days, with little rest. You will exhaust yourself."
"Let me ask you, is my work complete? And is there anyone else in the entire galaxy who can do it? Anyone who possesses the knowledge I've held for decades, maintaining the Jedi archives?" Jocasta asks.
"Well, no, I suppose not, but-"
"If my work is not complete, then I must work. But I wouldn't say no to some more tea."
.
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(Vader POV)
We are walking through the former Jedi Temple towards the Archives. The Grand Inquisitor is starting to bore me. I am seriously starting to think whether or not I should just kill him and be done with it. However, that would only cause more trouble than it's worth... for now at least. My Master gave him that position for a reason. He is the most capable among the batch of fallen Jedi, and that is cause for concern. The best thing we have is weaklings who have turned to the Dark Side, but remained weak.
"You know, I always hated Jocasta Nu. She looked down on me. I could tell. Never gave me full access to the archives, and always hovered when she did let me read a data file or two. She sorted us into categories in her head; you could see it. Those few who were worthy to learn the deep mysteries of the Force, and ... the rest of us.
As far as Jocasta Nu was concerned, education was for the elite. Nothing for the warriors, the Jedi who put their lives on the line for the Order. What did she ever know but ease and comfort? I can't wait to kill her and then ... I'm going to read every blasted thing in this place," he finally finishes talking about his sad times in the Order when he wasn't given what he thought he deserved.
"Enough of your rambling. Your past bores me. Your task is to search the archives for clues as to where surviving Jedi might be now. Personal information, family connections. Anything. Do not delay. Do not allow yourself to become distracted. And do not fail."
"Don't worry, Vader. I've waited my whole life for this," he says, and I will allow him to do that for now. So I leave him here for now and go to report to Palpatine.
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"Lord Vader. Report," he says as I arrive in his office.
"The Inquisitors require additional instruction, but I have implemented a program of aggressive training. They will learn, and they will serve your purpose," I say, keeping my emotions in check. Something I have been working on for the last few weeks. Sidious is a master at Force Empathy, and he will use your emotions to his advantage.
"I do not doubt it, my apprentice. You will never fail me. Rise, and let us speak of other things."
"Yes, Master. But first, a question."
"Proceed."
"I have seen the Inquisitors' target list. One name is distinct from the others. Clearly, you wished me to ask you about it. And so, I ask. Of all the remaining Jedi, what is so important about Jocasta Nu? Is it the secret text she must have stolen?" I ask even though I know full well what her worth is. The Lead archivist has knowledge.
"Ah, yes. Jocasta Nu. Former Lead Archivist for the Order. She is ancient. Middling in the Force, barely competent with a lightsaber. And yet, that crone could end everything we are trying to do. For you see ... Jocasta Nu knows EVERYTHING," Palpatine says, and I can't help but think that this will be the best chance for me to grow without my master knowing about it.
"The Jedi Order held power in the Republic for far too long. They abused that power. They laid claim to every site of interest to the Force across the entire galaxy. Shrines, wells of energy, ancient temples ... they took them. Believed they were theirs by right. Jedi hubris. So predictable, so useful.
The Jedi plundered these sites, took everything of value from them, and brought the items here to Coruscant. And then they gave them to Jocasta Nu to guard. Not just secrets of the Light Side of the Force. The Dark Side as well. Secrets that were not theirs to keep. Secrets even of the ancient Sith. Jocasta knows them all."
"I understand my Master. I will see to her death personally."
"Ah ... yes. I sense your eagerness. The idea of hunting another Jedi, even one so feeble as Jocasta ... it calls to you. You need it. But you will set these desires aside.
The Jedi Temple archives conceal a great treasure —a key to the future of the Empire. Jocasta Nu was its custodian, and she has hidden it well. I require this treasure. You will find Jocasta Nu, you will bring her to me, and she will tell me what I wish to know," Palpatine says. He seems to misinterpret my eagerness to catch Jocasta Nu as an eagerness to kill another Jedi, and while my drive to kill more Jedi is stronger than ever, he couldn't be more wrong about Jocasta Nu.
While I will kill her, as the Jedi should die, I don't simply want to find her for that. One way or the other, I will get hold of it.
"You did not tell this to the Inquisitors," I say.
"Of course not! There is a risk of Jocasta falling into the hands of anyone but ours. Her knowledge could easily be used against us. The Grand Inquisitor and the rest should be aware of the woman; they can assist you in finding her if you wish. But they need not know her importance. The Inquisitors will be useful, but they are not Sith. All Jedi were arrogant, and Jocasta Nu more than most. This is why they lost, but it also presents a problem. Undoubtedly, the woman already has some self-righteous scheme in mind to change the galaxy's destiny.
It is too late for such things. Of course. But she will not see that. Inevitably, she will make some grand, foolish gesture that will end her capture or death. Neither can be allowed. She must be ours. Vader, my friend, it is up to you now. You must find Jocasta Nu ... and you must save her life," he finishes.
Palpatine truly enjoys hearing himself talk. I will have to ensure that I retrieve Jocasta Nu myself first, before she falls into Sidious' hands. I have just the technique in mind for it.