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The Regrets of Time
Merging Ripples

Merging Ripples

Vader felt it.

Shortly after they arrived in space above Tattoine, the Force began to collect in a strange way towards the Padawan.

Whom he had given himself the liberty of calling the Last Light.

"Prepare my shuttle immediately." He ordered to the bridge crew as he exited the bridge, heading towards the hanger with his cloak swaying omniously.

He knew it would be ready by the time he got down there, so he focused on the feeling he was sensing from the Force instead.

It seemed like she knew the exact moment he arrived.

Just like when he was studying her presence on the way, he could sense the alarm from the Force shortly before her energy seemed to get shrouded by it, as if trying to hide her from him even more.

It was a cute gesture, none the less.

But he had plans for her, so he certainly couldn't let her get away.

Vader entered the hanger and quickly boarded the shuttle, immediately taking off.

He stayed focused on her presence in the Force as they approached though, curious about what she was gathering all that Force towards her for.

She couldn't possibly be building it up in order to face him, could she?

Suddenly a sharp tug went through the Dark Side of the Force, making Vader look up sharply.

Did she just-?!

Vader was surprised he recieved one of his answers so soon.

She was pulling the Light Side towards her before, but now the Dark.

A strange sensation went through Vader at that realization, almost like he was actually looking forward to meeting this girl even more now.

But first...

Vader yanked the Dark Side away from her, calling it to him and letting it pool within.

Whatever she was planning to do with both sides of the Force, he had to stop it.

He had a feeling that he would never be able to catch her if he let her continue, and he's always listened to his gut about things.

He could feel frustration and panic ripple through the Force as he drew closer.

She finally noticed that he was holding the Dark Side from her, it seemed.

Vader had to actually stop himself from smiling under his mask with a mental growl.

Something was definitely strange.

Not just this Padawan girl, but even the way he was starting to feel things he hadn't in a long time as he got closer to her.

It's like his emotions were coming back... his old self...

'NO!' He growled through the Force, not caring if the Emperor was able to sense it.

A trooper started choking near by as he sent his rage through the Force, shutting off any thoughts or feelings from the past that were beginning to appear.

'I may have to kill her...' he thought angrily as the trooper dropped to the shuttle floor, lifeless.

No one dared move and draw his wrath.

Vader's fists clenched as he crossed his arms.

He couldn't let his old self come back.

No matter what.

Whatever she was doing with the Force was already effecting him as he got closer, and that was dangerous.

No. He thought. That wasn't quite right.

SHE was dangerous.

Suddenly a violent ripple slammed through the Dark Side, making his head snap up sharply and his back stiffen as all the Dark Side energy around him got sucked towards the girl, shocking him beyond words.

How did she-...?! Even from him-...!

He could tell even his Master sensed it.

It was such a huge calling of the Force away from them, and that had never happened before.

Just as he stiffly rushed to the front of the shuttle to look out as they started their descent near the girls location, it happened.

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In front of the spaceport he saw what looked like a small sand tornado begin to form tightly around the dark cloaked girl on the ground, throwing all the troopers left, both living and dead, away from her, before shrouding her from view and sucking in a small black creature nearby.

Vader wasn't sure what he was seeing, but a part of him knew it wasn't natural.

What was she doing?! To warp both sides of the Force together like that-!

A wave suddenly went out through the Force, alerting Vader that something more was about to happen.

He immediately ordered the pilots sternly, "Brace for impact." Leaving no room for arguement.

With a nod they did so, right before the tornado suddenly sucked into itself violently, narrowing before rapidly expanding with a sudden boom, exploding with enough force that sand blinded the shuttles viewports and shook it, making alarms go off, before Vader felt the Force itself shift and begin to seperate, and the sand lost its momentuim and fell back to the ground after being blasted further out.

Vader stared in silence at the spot the girl once was, lost for words as he rapidly searched for her presence on the planet.

Or even the stars nearby.

But she was completely gone.

Only a concentric circle design was left on the ground where she used to be.

The ship began creaking and groaning as his rage went through the Force, making the Troopers on board look around in worry as the pilots rushed to land.

'Where was she?!' He shouted through the Dark Side, commanding it to find her as his voice echoed throughout the Force.

He had to find her.

He felt compelled to, now more than ever.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

On Coruscant the Emperor was very interested indeed as to what was making his Apprentice so... emotional.

Standing he immediately ordered his shuttle to be prepared.

Oh, even he sensed the disturbing pull of the Dark Side near his Apprentice, and he was quite interested in knowing what - or who - was causing it.

"Order Lord Vader to meet me on my ship. We have much to discuss." his gravely voice commanded a nearby officer before heading out with his Imperial guards.

The Imperial bowed immediately. "Yes, sir."

Something had disturbed the Force greatly. It felt... rejuvinated.

Younger, even.

And the Light Side was starting to shine a little brighter because of it.

He sensed bad things were coming, and he had much to prepare.

The Emperor left quickly, heading to his most secretive space station in a hurry.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I whimpered mentally once more as I was yanked through the funnel with absolutely no control.

Now I knew what Sin was talking about before.

It felt like it took weeks for me to finish traveling this time, and I couldn't do anything while colors and images flew by me at a nauseating rate.

I was simply... being.

Like I was one with the Force with no way out while I jumped.

I felt like I wasn't even conscious throughout the whole time, yet somehow I knew with certainty that I spent weeks in there.

It was disturbing...

Though it was probably the Force informing me of the time while I drifted.

But that wasn't important right now.

I groaned as I felt solid, yet sandy ground finally form under me. The air felt cool, as well.

It was night, then...?

I felt terrible.

It was a struggle to fight the waves of nausea that hit me one after another.

My body felt distorted, unreal.

And so did my mind.

I could feel that the Force had fled from my body the moment we had arrived here.

Wherever 'here' was.

Like a cup spilling over, I could barely feel the Force from what was left within me, my connection had weakened significantly.

It felt similiar to what my Master had once described to me. What did she call it...?

...A Force drain...?

I groan as my head seemed to split from the thought.

'Take it easy' I whispered quietly in my mind, lowering my head to my hands and then to the ground, fighting to stay conscious.

I'd think about it later, but right now...

"S-Sin? Are you alright?" I ask hesitantly, surprised I could even manage to talk.

Silience greeted me.

I waited a few more moments as worry began to set in.

Did he not make it through with me...? I grabbed him through the Force when I felt myself being jumped, but maybe that wasn't enough...

I needed to look, to make sure...

As I took a shakey breath and tried to raise my head from my hands to look, something smacked it, which made me cry out and grab at my head as my eyes began to water.

'Gah! That wasn't helping my head!' I thought furiously, anger clearing my mind for a momemt of clarity.

Suddenly there was a growl come from in front of me.

'Bloody Hells Calese! I told you to wait!' Sin yelled angrily in my head, making me wince as the pain started coming back.

I was relieved though, that he had made it too.

Dark Sider or not, it was nice to have someone else here while I was time traveling. Being alone would just be...

I took a slow breath.

To much. Way to much.

"I tried, Sin." I look up as I spoke, focusing my best on his blurry image. It only seemed to make the spinning worse, but I kept talking anyway. "I'm sorry... it pulled me in by itself." I give a shakey smile. "I did try, though..."

I don't know if it was what I said, or the feelings of gratitude I sent at that last part down our barely felt connection, but Sin suddenly looked alarmed.

I could barely feel the concern coming through to my mind as he reached for my cheek.

His claws felt extremely hot on my face, but even that feeling started to fade.

'Are you alright Padawan?' He asked sternly with barely concealed worry.

My vision started fading to black, but it was fine honestly.

It made me feel better than when everything was spinning around me.

I managed to give him a solid smile this time, feeling relieved. "Yeah. I feel fi-..."

I heard something thud to the ground as I exhaled with a smile, realizing my vision had completely blackened.

Even my mind was feeling better, it was fading to black as well... the dark was my friend it seemed...

'Calese!'

Sin shouts through my mind loudly, barely keeping the darkness away long enough for me to sense the strangest sensation coming into my mind from his.

'Oh...' My mind seemed to blink slowly. '...I was the one hitting the ground...'

I realized dimly as the last of me faded to darkness, Sin's shouts fading out completely as well.