The shapes flew past in the dark, a whirlwind of ravaging mayhem.  She cowered and closed her eyes, trying to erase the evidence of their presence.  The acrid stench of laser blasts, ozone, and burning flesh invaded her olfactory sense, heart ricocheting wildly against her ribcage.  Her mind screamed out to them through the void, searching desperately for their distinctive Force signatures, the ones that she had known, had been ingrained in her, since birth.  No answer.  Not even a ripple in the Force's tide. She exploded inside, sending out a reverberating shock wave that would reach all nearby individuals tuned to the ebb and flow of the universal energy field.

     Darth Vader stood aboard the Imperial Star Destroyer, the Decimator, his temporary flagship, and surveyed the vast blanket of stars that lay before him.  The Dark Lord of the Sith had been assigned to oversee the incompetents in this portion of the central system, and slightly resented the need for his presence during such inconsequential and mundane exercises.   He frowned and cleared his mind. Suddenly, his head jerked back as it hit, washing over him.  He stiffened and froze, momentarily stunned.  The tremor had been unmistakable, created by a Force-adept with remarkable potential, and more importantly, the individual was located within close proximity.  Vader called to his nearest officer.

     She didn't care any more.  Her whole body slumped in defeat, sorrow, and exhaustion as a group of Stormtroopers moved through the dark to surround her.  She had no intention of escape.  With the belief she had swallowed her last breath, the young girl bowed her head in resignation and prepared to join her parents.  The air cracked and buzzed as a trooper's metallic voice, muffled by his helmet, said softly, coaxing, "It's all right.  Everything will be fine. Come with us."
     She opened her eyes, incredulous, and stared at his outstretched hand.  Slowly, she studied the murky outlines of the other armor-clad soldiers behind him.  They waited upright, calm, nonthreatening.
     "The men who attacked you are gone now," he assured her.   She blinked as it all slid into place.

     Darth Vader stood pensively among the shadows, hands clasped behind his back.  The noise of the pressurized door alerted him to the arrival.  He turned around and was met by a senior officer.
     "We found her down on the planet's surface, My Lord." the man barked succinctly.
     "Well done." hissed Vader, dismissing him with a casual wave of his gloved hand.
     The Dark Lord looked down at the small figure that had been brought before him.  She stood trembling, obviously traumatized.  A child of only about 10 standard years, grubby skin, wide eyes hidden behind a thick mop of hair so dark brown it was almost black.  She was dressed in plain, functional clothing, singed with the traces of blaster fire.
     There was something about her... an echo, a silhouette in his memory. Familiar somehow...
     He closed off that part of his mind and focused.  The child definitely had promise.  He could feel her emotions, open to him, naked.  She emanated surges of anger, fear, disgust, frustration, helplessness, and confusion.   Excellent.

     She occasionally stole glances at the terrifying man in front of her.  No longer consumed by the overwhelming sense of revulsion, it was now replaced by a morbid curiosity.   She still shook before his incredible power.  He was immense, taller than anyone she had ever seen.  Draped in black; pants, knee-high boots, flowing cape, a skull-like mask and helmet hiding any trace of humanity.  A computerized control panel blinked on his barrel chest, and mechanical, rasping wheezes came from deep inside his hulking form at regular intervals.  He did not speak or move, and the silence between them helped subdue the potency of her negative feelings.
     Soon, she realized that he was calming her, sending subtle waves of reassurance.  She was stunned. He was like her!  He had The Gift!  Her eyes grew wide as she bubbled with excitement.

     Vader knew it was working as her joy splashed against him.  Now it was time to take advantage of the situation.  The girl was so susceptible, so vulnerable.  "Tell me your name, young one."  he asked her gently.

     His voice was very deep, but somehow comforting.  She decided that he must have been horribly injured to be made to wear such a suit.  She felt pity and compassion for this half-man, and welled up with a warmth deep inside as she looked at him.  Her name was Ravia Corvidis, but her daddy had always lovingly called her by a special pet name, inspired by her dark coloring and sharp mind.  She looked up at him and answered, "My name is Raven."

     "The Force is with you, this is certain." he intoned. "But it is raw, unfocused.  You will need to learn how to control your powers."
     Vader considered the ability the Sith had developed, out of necessity, to have such a finely-tuned mastery of their skills that they could effectively hide almost all traces of their presence in the Force.  The girl would have to learn this if she was to remain a secret.  Her voice interrupted his musings.
     "I have never met any others.  I thought we were the only ones," she whispered. "My mother, my fathe..." the girl choked, eyes filling with tears, unable to finish her sentence.
     "They were very close to you. " He played to her weakness, but something in the catacombs of his spirit resonated with her, his voice soft.

     Raven stood, emotionally exhausted, as he told her the identity of her parents' murderers; the destructive and criminal forces of the newly upstart Rebel Alliance.  Her eyes and mind burned with rage as she craved retribution, revenge against those who had stolen part of her very soul.  This man and the Empire which he belonged to had saved her from certain doom at the hands of those violent killers.

     Vader was pleased.  Things were progressing better than expected. The girl's powers were adequate. Certainly stronger than the average Force-adept.  As long as he could remember, he had been seeking out an equal, someone who would invigorate and challenge him.  Up until now his search had been dry and fruitless; this child was the closest yet.
     She was still young, impressionable, and had easily manipulated emotional baggage.  The perfect candidate for Sith apprenticeship.  One day, he would rise up and slay his Master, the Emperor, and having a formidable student on his side would greatly improve his chances of victory and galactic conquest.  It was critical that her existence and training remained unknown.  Darth Vader felt energized.
      Nothing ever happens by accident, he thought.  It was destiny that he had found her in this worthless sector of space.

****

     She stood in a ready stance, her red-bladed lightsaber extended in front of her.  Its silver hilt reflected as she softly turned her wrist.  Raven had built the elegant weapon when she was fifteen, as a kind of rite-of-passage to signify a turning point in her training.  That was three years ago.
     Her opponent was a droid, specially designed for its stealth, agility and expertise with a saber.  She was beginning to tire with fighting an artificial enemy, and hungered for a flesh and blood battle.  These machines did have one advantage, though.  Mind tricks could not affect them, and for this reason, they sufficiently simulated a Force-sensitive adversary; one does not have an advantage against an individual who can anticipate and block your mental strikes, and vice versa.  Fighting an equal always made for an interesting balance, a Force deadlock.

     She grimaced, knowing that she could always Force-push her metal opponent out of position.  But that would be cheating herself. Raven needed the challenge.  She pounced, twisting in mid-air and landing a swift round-house kick to the droid's head, knocking it off balance. Landing soundlessly to its right, she swung her blade, and let it cut through, feeling the steel turn molten and melt away at her arc.  It slumped to the floor, nothing more than useless scrap.  That one had only lasted a few minutes.  Raven deactivated her weapon, and stared at the heap in front of her.
     It was too easy without her Master.  Nothing could replace his strength, drive, and unparalleled skill.  He truly demanded the best from her when they sparred.  She sighed and yearned for his dark presence, and sustaining powers, how he made her feel whole.  She felt restless.

     Darth Vader strode off the shuttle's ramp, his boots echoing on the cold, metal surface.  He was returning from a relatively long posting at the helm of one of the Imperial Navy's premiere Destroyers.
     The Dark Lord was the second wealthiest being in the galaxy next to Emperor Palpatine.  All that lay before him was one of the integral reasons he had chosen the life of a Sith, and dedicated years helping his Master refine the Galactic Empire.  He craved not the possessions and other useless frivolities that could be acquired with his position, but the immense power that came with it.
     He owned many residences; enormous, towering structures, symbolic of his incredible political and militaristic strength.  He rarely visited any but a select few, spending most of his time with the fleet, or on Imperial Center, Coruscant in the days of the Republic, where the Emperor chose to live.
     But as often as he could, Lord Vader returned to his castle on the remote, and acid-rain ravaged planet, Vjun.  There, hidden within, he kept and trained his young student in the Dark Side.

     Raven's head jolted when she first felt his presence, a signature making distinct fluctuations in the Force.   She stopped her exercises and savored the sensation she had not experienced for so long, drinking in the essence of his strength. She knew he would sense her excitement, and tried to focus and quiet her mind, letting the initial feelings subside.  It was important to pay heed to your emotions and exploit them to your own advantage, but you must know when to draw the line, she recalled.  One cannot afford to be blinded by them either, that is when they become a detriment.   She inhaled slowly as he came closer to her location, his presence becoming more focused.   The door lock released as he entered the room.

     Vader stared at his apprentice.  It had been months since they had last met.  Her brownish black hair was swept up from her oval face, revealing high cheekbones, tilted eyes, aquiline nose and full lips.  Her skin was pale, a stunning contrast to her dark coloring.  She was dressed in black, a loose fitting robe folded across her breast, held in place by a thick belt binding her midsection.  The fabric was bound at her elbows, and her pants ended in calf-high boots, lightsaber hanging at her side.   She had matured from willowy girl to striking young woman, her rounded cheeks gone, and inquisitive eyes now exhibiting a more serene quality.  She gracefully swept down on one knee, silky voice greeting him with a quiet reverence. "My Master."
     He did not answer her, remaining silent. Something else had changed as well.  He detected slightly different emotions directed towards him. She had always been attached to him, reflecting feelings of respect, kindness, humility, and awe, but now they mingled with thoughts of a more passionate nature; her infatuation had broadened.  He looked down at her lowered head, waiting in silent genuflection, and noticed the downy hairs on the nape of her exposed neck.

     Raven tried to keep her simmering emotions in check.  It was almost too much to bear, being directly in his presence. She felt engorged by his dark powers.  His baritone voice snapped her out of the trance,
     "I see you have progressed well in your studies."
     She bowed deeper, acknowledging his approval.
     A palatable silence drifted between them for a few moments.  Finally, he pivoted with a fluid grace, cape billowing as he turned, and left the room.  Raven looked up, and watched the door shut behind him.  She inhaled deeply and got to her feet.

     That night, Raven sat cross-legged in the tranquil darkness of her personal chambers.  Fatigue drew her out of her meditations, she stood and walked to her bed; small, functional, in the room's far corner.   Undressing, Raven slid beneath the covers, and sleep swam over her quickly.

     Darth Vader watched the monitor in silence.  The entire castle was fertile with cameras, surveillance devices, hidden corridors; a man in his position had to be careful.   He never thought he would be using them for this purpose.
     His student lay on the mattress in her quarters, white skin accentuated by muted light playing in the darkness.  He noticed how her cheekbones reflected the luminescence, mouth occasionally opened as if to speak, thick eyelashes flirted while in the stages of REM, and the luxurious blanket of black hair softly caressed her shoulders.  She tossed suddenly, groaning. Her left breast now lay exposed to him, plump, white, the flesh of her nipple alert and pink.  Vader felt his penis move as it hardened.  His eyes traveled down the rest of her form, sheets tight over her clammy skin, betraying her body's curves.  The length of her light leg now lay revealed to him, well proportioned, muscles defined.
     He inhaled deeply, aware that his breathing and heart rate had quickened.   His suit felt like a vice against him and Vader fought to resist his animalistic urges.  Without warning, her lips parted, and she moaned, "My Lord," hand running down over her breasts, enraptured in a delicious dream.   That was it.  He couldn't control himself any longer.  Vader removed his codpiece, and felt a wave of relief as he fell out, naked to the tepid air.  A gloved hand began to move slowly over his length, his eyes locked on the spectacle before him.  Her moans and muffled exclamations came more regularly now, body writhing slowly.
     The Dark Lord clutched himself tighter, grunting through his teeth, his other hand touching and massaging his testicles.  The friction caused by the leather surface stimulated him, his pleasure mounting quickly as he watched, visualizing it was her flesh that was bringing him closer to orgasm.  A scream shot through the sound system and her body flinched, Vader cried out as he climaxed suddenly, spilling his seed over the cold metal floor.   On the screen, he saw Raven sigh and roll onto her side, still drifting in the bliss of sleep.

     She awoke the next morning, early as usual.  Raven smiled devilishly as she recalled the incredibly erotic dream she had experienced, and then wondered how she could possibly maintain her composure while in the company of her Master.   She had been well-trained, taught to possess control, and have the most serious mind, not to be dictated by her libido.  Though, Sith teachings encouraged one to utilize empowering emotions like lust, desire and passion, unlike the extinct Jedi, she rationalized.  Fools, Raven smirked.  Their self-importance, strict dogma, and complacency had sealed their fate.   They were so wrapped up in procedure and their own bureaucracy, they didn't even notice as the Republic, plagued by corruption and ineffectual politics, burned to the ground, taking them with it.   The Sith had emerged from the ruins, rebuilt the galaxy, corrected the mistakes that had been made before.  Nothing more than survival of the fittest.

     Darth Vader walked through the corridors towards the training room where Raven's physical tutelage took place.  His pace was slower than usual, his gait deliberate.   He knew she would be there waiting for him, ready to sharpen her skills.  She was progressing well, had a natural strength for swordplay and incredible speed and agility.   When they sparred, she always held her own against him, and sometimes even made him remember his age.  Although she wasn't nearly his equal, his student provided him with the challenge and excitement he so craved.   The Dark Lord also knew she would provide him with even more.

     Raven bowed deeply as her Master entered the room.  Dispensing with the pleasantries, Lord Vader acknowledged her briefly, then unhooked and ignited his weapon, and awaited her response.   She followed suit, holding her saber in front of her body, carefully watching his movements for evidence of a potential attack.  He lunged forward and swung, barely missing her left shoulder as she delicately sidestepped and parried his blow.  Raven felt completely alive, invigorated by his test. It had been so long since she had last locked swords with him. She drank in his dark powers, let them fuel her as she jumped over him and tried a vicious cut across the midsection.  He anticipated and blocked, their arms straining, light beams cracking and buzzing in the air between them.

     Impressive, the Dark Lord mused.  She had advanced at an good pace since their last rendezvous.  He was tempted to hold his weapon with both hands.  Her speed was starting to become bothersome; and very arousing.  She had proven herself worthy of him. Vader grasped the handle tightly and chopped at her with all his strength, crashing against her weapon, and knocking it out of her palms; it was unlikely she would ever be able to match his raw power.  She did not give up, evading the blow, somersaulting across the floor and reaching out her hand to beckon the lightsaber back into her grip.  Before she could, Vader jumped, cape screaming behind him, landing directly in front of her outstretched fingers.  He stood over her, breath heavy, broad chest rising, muscled arms and shoulders moving from his exertions.

     Raven's eyes grew large; part fear and shame over her early failure and surprise at his sudden outburst of power, part sexual desire.  Suddenly, she was picking up his emotions, deliberately being sent to her, washing over in vivid colors, sporadic images, base feelings.  She gasped, mouth open.

     Darth Vader lowered himself onto her, hands touching her face and hair, running over her throat, opening the folded robe and feeling the soft flesh of her heaving breasts.  He massaged her nipples with one hand, and began roaming her thighs with the other.   Raven moaned and swallowed hard as his fingers entered her, almost delirious with arousal.  Her nails grasped his back, caught in the folds of his cape.  She moved to unencumber him, undoing the chain at his throat, then reached down to the large swelling at his crotch.   His penis sprang forth from behind the leather as she removed the covering, and arched her head back as he penetrated.
     Darth Vader moved with slow, deep thrusts, allowing her delicate anatomy to become accustomed to his size.  He hissed as he deflowered her, beginning to move at a more frenzied pace. Raven gasped as he hit pleasure centers she didn't even know she had, marveling at the effect of making love to a fellow force-adept.  She not only felt the effects of her own stimulation, but his as well.  It was overpowering, she gasped and writhed, legs wound tightly about his waist, sending and receiving the incredible sensations.  He felt it too, and groaned, plunging his entire length into her, feeling the mutual result of his movements.    Their exertions were loud and heated, sweat dripped off Raven's breasts and down over her stomach. She buried her head in his shoulder and braced herself against his form, her calves and feet completely numb.  Without warning, his orgasm ripped through his entire body.   She screamed with him as he came, her mind feeling his pleasure.  He thrust one last time, climaxing her, and they yelled out again, experiencing the sensation in unison.  With their final ounce of strength, the two forms collapsed against the floor, savoring the afterglow.
 
     It had been an awakening for her.  The first step into a more intimate relationship with her Master.  Raven's training was not interrupted by this new dimension between them, but rather she felt more at ease around him, open.  As each day progressed the more she lusted to have him completely.  She resented the Emperor's involvement, his control over her Dark Lord, how he could make him leave her with a simple flick of the wrist.  She also grew impatient with the fact the she was relegated to this castle, hidden from all other eyes, denied the freedom she deserved, not reaching her potential.  She kept these thoughts hidden from Vader, but when alone, let the negativity simmer inside her.

     Darth Vader sat naked, cross-legged in the artificial environment within his spherical meditation chamber.  Others could not withstand more than 30 minutes exposure to the oxygen-rich atmosphere, risking corrosion damage to their lungs. But for him, the purified and potent air quality allowed the Dark Lord to escape the confines of his armor, and feel like a human being once more.  He inhaled deeply, tasting the delicious relief, and let his thoughts focus and calm.  He held her in his mind's eye, contemplating her future, weighing and considering the best moment for her to reveal herself, for them to make their move.  She was still young, impatient, overconfident. That was to be expected, she was full of talent and zeal.  Vader thought of her, twisting and jumping, saber thrusting, eyes burning, sweat glistening off her brow. He swallowed and clenched his jaw.

     Raven was in the middle of practicing her forms when she felt an inexplicable urge to go to her Master's chambers.  She put down her weapon and left, considering how rarely she was beckoned to meet him in his personal room.  He was very private about such things, Raven thought.  She moved silently down the stone and metal hallways, consumed by an irrational desire, an unseen force that seemed to be pulling her towards her destination.  She knew it was him, subconsciously calling out to her. His lust was demanding her audience; and she had to obey.  She wanted to obey.
     After winding through what felt like an eternity of corridors, Raven finally arrived, and quietly entered through the pressurized door lock.  The quarters were cold and stark, like every other room in the residence. Muted blacks, and metallic grays.   Nothing decorated the walls or floors.  The hulking silhouette of his meditation chamber sat directly in her field of vision.
     Raven walked over and stood, waiting for his acknowledgment.  Slowly, the jaw-like hatch opened, she stared into the shadows, trying to make out a form, but couldn't see anything in the dark.  There was no discernible light source in the massive room.  Without hesitation, she climbed inside and let the giant maw close behind her.

     The first thing she noticed was how energized she felt. She took in a breath of the pure air and realized its purpose; he was not wearing his armor. Raven tingled all over.
     She knelt down in the dark, careful not to encroach on his personal space, awaiting her Master's actions.  Suddenly she felt skin- bare skin, she thought, still disbelieving- on her cheek. It was a finger, caressing her slowly, drinking in the sensation of flesh on flesh. She shivered and sighed as his hand slowly ran down over her neck, and drew her closer to an unseen face.  He is so cautious, Raven thought.  Almost embarrassed by his vulnerability.  He is making certain I do not see him, My Lord must think he is hideous to the human eye.
     Raven held tears back as she reached out slowly and touched his face, feeling it flinch slightly as her fingers made contact. The skin was soft, so soft it was almost disarming. Years of little or no exposure to the air and sunlight.  She reached forward and kissed him, on his cheeks, feeling rough scars, and on his mouth, tasting his sweet saliva.  He relaxed, kissing her in return; passionately, hungrily. It must have been years since he has last felt the touch of a woman's lips on his, Raven realized as his tongue explored her thoroughly.   It was so incongruous, being with him and not hearing the rasping breath of his regulating machinery.  She was beginning to feel just slightly lightheaded.  His hand rested on her collar bone, the shallow of her substernal notch. Then, it drifted down slowly, undoing her robe, gently cupping and massaging her breasts.  He is savoring every part of my anatomy, she thought as he removed the article of clothing completely, burying his face in her bosom. His tongue traveled up between her breasts, then down back over each one, taking in her nipples, licking and sucking.  Not wanting to disrupt his odyssey, Raven just slowly moved her hands over his broad back, feeling the muscles tense and relax as he moved lower, between her ribs, over her navel and lower abdomen, gently slipping her out of her pants.  Then, he lowered her softly onto her back.  She jolted as his tongue began moving between her legs.  Raven closed her eyes and bit her lip as he worked, listening to the sound of his labored breathing.

     Darth Vader was transported.  He couldn't even remember how long it had been since he had lost himself in a female like this. Every part of his body was on high alert, supersensitive.  He was picking up the waves of her pleasure through the Force, moving in accordance to the sensations.  It was a surreal experience.
     He jerked as he hit her erogenous zone over and over, moaning and writhing with her.  He slowed down, giving them both time to drink it in for a bit longer.  Then again, over her clitoris, his manhood bulging with her excruciating ecstasy, they came at the same time, yelling out.

     She arched her back, and fell down against the padded floor, feeling his semen beneath her leg.  Vader leaned forward and lay beside her, numb.  Raven rested her head, now weightless, on his rising and falling chest.  He touched and smoothed and smelled her hair, letting all of his senses drink her in.  They lay in the silence and the darkness.

     A few minutes passed before Raven decided it was her turn to experience him in his entirety.  She gently rolled over, trying to find the details of his form in the shadows.  Her hands moved over his chest, hairless, soft, yet hard and strong.  He was in wonderful physical shape, especially for one of his age.  As her fingers made their way down his form, she could feel him shiver, a slight trembling when she touched the inside of his thighs.  Raven found herself wondering which parts of him were machine, and which were his own flesh.  It was impossible to tell, the technology was so advanced.  She thought she could detect a wave of slight amusement emanating from her Master.  There would be no difference for him, the artificial extremities had complete nerve, tactile function.  She smiled as she took him in her mouth, suckling softly, feeling him harden.  She moved her jaw around him, tongue swirling over the tip, then feeling him hit the back of her throat. She thought she might choke, but could feel the effects of her techniques, and moaned.

     Darth Vader was engorged with pleasure.  He reached down and touched her hair, moving his hips slightly in unison with her mouth, softly pushing himself into her. Her breathing was as halted as his body came closer and closer to orgasm.  At the critical moment, she disengaged. Vader found himself momentarily disoriented, annoyed, until she brought her pelvis up over his erection.  She could feel his emotions, and teased him, sliding herself lightly over the tip of his penis, not allowing him entrance.  He grabbed her around her waist and drove himself deep inside, pumping his hips. Her legs tightened around him, and moved in the same rhythm. They fed off each other's sensations, hands moving feverishly, deep kisses, groaning exclamations. Their sweat and saliva mingled, and Raven was beginning to feel so drained, the extreme pleasure, the purity of the oxygen, that she thought she might lose consciousness.  With a final wracking breath, she came at the same time as her Master, and collapsed against his heaving chest.

     When she awoke, Raven felt like she had been beaten about the head. The exposure had been too much, she shouldn't have stayed in her Master's semi-hyperbaric meditation chamber for such an extended period. She smiled. It had been worth it.  Raven fought through the grogginess to determine her surroundings.  She was in her chambers, strewn across the bed, her head swam and she fall back against the mattress, trying to hold off the wave of nausea.  Deciding it was in her health's best interests, Raven allowed herself to fall back into a deep sleep.

     Darth Vader almost felt a sense of relief.  He had revealed himself to her, in his entirety, naked, as vulnerable as a new born. No one had ever seen the Dark Lord like that.  Ever.  He was surprised at himself, that he had decided to cross that invisible Rubicon.  She had not cowered or flinched.  He snapped out of his quiet musings as a soft alarm sounded.  His Master was contacting him.

     Raven woke gradually from her dream.  The room was dark, enveloped in shadows, but she heard it, the familiar rasping mechanical breath, and felt the distinct tremor of his dark presence.   He stood over her, looking down, a gloved hand reached out and caressed her cheek. Raven's heart leapt upwards and felt stuck in her throat.  Two fingers slid down over her neck and delicately pulled back the sheets, exposing her.  Raven was clothed, but felt strangely naked in front of his mask's static stare, whispers of light bouncing off the smooth plastisteel.  She couldn't move, didn't want to, as he lowered himself, closer, positioning his form on the bed, his hips between her legs.  He reached down and removed his codpiece, Raven blinked and stared at the size of his organ as it moved to penetrate her.   Without thinking, she fluidly slid out of her pants, then dropped her top beside them on the floor.  He moved slowly, passionately, inside her, drinking her in; savoring the sensation of her warm, wet flesh. They reveled in each others' pleasure, prolonging the experience, numbed at the intensity and tenderness of their lovemaking.  Time melted away between them, and all that seemed to exist in the void that surrounded their two bodies was darkness.  Finally, after what seemed like eternity, they both came, shuddering and clinging to each other.  Raven rolled over and rested her head carefully on her Master's chest, mind completely serene. "When is it time for us to strike, my Master?" she asked, her soft voice almost jarring in the silence.  "When shall I be bestowed with the title of a Sith?"

     This was not what Darth Vader needed to hear. Especially after the orders he had just received from the Emperor.  The Death Star was nearing completion, and the Imperial Navy's ultimate technological achievement demanded his presence.  Vader had known this day would come, but he privately resented it. He was against the idea at the very beginning.  It was if his Master had become senile and forgotten the abilities of the Force in his old age and position of power.   It was another pointless maneuver, he could sense it.
     As he looked down to answer her, Vader saw her hair, brown and shimmering, cascading across his chest. An image flashed in his mind, so old, forgotten, buried, a relic of his past; similar locks strewn over his bare torso...
     Something inside him snapped.  He pushed her off and left the room, blinded with a tempest of fury, frustration, and confusion.
     Raven was left, staring incredulously, reeling from his sudden storm of emotions, clutching the sheets to her bare breasts.

****

     Raven knew the intoxicating lust for revenge. How it now consumed her very life, powered her from the core of her being.  She did not know who or what to hate for the wrongs perpetrated against her, other than that her eternal enemy bore one name; Luke Skywalker.
     Her Master had left her alone, isolated on that horrible planet, her hiding place.  He had miraculously been the only survivor of the destruction of the Death Star by the Rebel Alliance, the same horde of murderers who had ruthlessly killed her parents so long ago.  At the battle of Yavin, her Master had discovered, by accident, that the pilot who was responsible for the Death Star's doom was one so strong in the ways of the Force, they rivaled the abilities of the Dark Lord himself.
     He now had no use for her.  She had been discarded, abandoned on that cold world.  She was sure that if he hadn't been so preoccupied with his new 'project', a better potential Sith apprentice, Vader would have promptly ordered her demise. She knew too much to risk the wrath of his Emperor.  That was why she had left, and forged her own destiny.  She now had a new purpose.  To kill her immortal rival and redefine herself as the preeminent pupil in her Master, and her lover's, eyes.
 
THE END