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Topic:
To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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Gina
Registered:
Jun '03
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 6:12pm
Subject:
To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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Title: To Kneel Before My Master
Timeframe: ESB era
Characters: Anakin/Vader
Genre: Vignette
This one is a little…strange…but I decided to post it anyway.
To Kneel Before My Master
I have been summoned.
My heavy bootsteps echo eerily along the ship's corridor as I make my way to my destination.
It is a slow, deliberate sound, for I am not hurried.
I know what awaits me at the end of my journey.
It is the same fate that has been mine since I was a mere child.
********
"You are a waste of food rations."
The small boy stared at the ground as he knelt before him, knowing better than to look up into the Toydarian's face during his tirades. His dirty knees throbbed as the hot sand seeped its way into the cuts and scrapes he had received during the crash. He longed to stand, to ease the searing pain, but he knew it would only make the coming punishment much worse.
"It wasn't my fault, Watto – Master," he amended with a flinch. Now was not the time to try the creature's patience. "Kataris' Podracer was too close to me when it went out of control. I tried to avoid it –"
"You obviously didn't try hard enough! Your incompetence cost me a fortune."
The master flitted around the boy, taunting him with the whip he held in his grimy grasp. The beatings did not come often, but when they did…
The boy heard a stifled sob and risked a glance at the doorway. His mother was standing in the shadows, crying, her face filled with pain and sadness as she mumbled a prayer of deliverance for her son.
"I'll be all right, Mama. Please, don't cry," the boy whispered to her in his mind as he clenched his eyes shut, anticipating the blows to come.
***********
My step slows even further, and I wince involuntarily as I hear the little boy's cries of pain and the mother's screams for mercy echoing in my head and feel the agony of the whip against my skin, its sting as real as if I were once again kneeling in that Force-forsaken hovel on Tatooine.
I shake my head viciously, trying to clear it of the unwelcome memory.
In an effort to calm myself, I pause to stare out the ship's massive windows, gazing numbly at the countless worlds stretched out before me.
Worlds that small boy could only dream of seeing, until…
***********
"Anakin, when are you going to learn that your childish games and foolishness have no place in the Temple?"
"I'm sorry, Master Obi-Wan." The boy's voice expressed the exasperation he felt each time they had this confrontation. He occupied his mind by watching the older man's boots, always polished to an impeccable sheen, as they paced back and forth in front of him.
The boy was growing at an alarming pace, and he shifted awkwardly, trying in vain to contain his lanky limbs beneath him, his chilled knees and legs aching as he knelt against the cold, hard floor of his small quarters. He had never been able to fully acclimate his body to the cooler temperatures of this planet and the Jedi Temple.
"Your apologies hold little validity when you continue to repeat your mistakes, my young Padawan. The Council has lost all patience, and it is only through my impassioned pleading on your behalf that you are still in the Jedi Order."
"But they were teasing me again, Master. They called me a slave boy," he tried desperately to defend his actions.
"You must learn to control your anger, young one, regardless of the provocation. For your punishment, you will spend the remainder of your recreation time in meditation on how you may make better use of your time and skills." The Jedi Master sighed heavily. "I am only trying to help you, Anakin, but you must first be willing to help yourself."
"Yes, Master. Thank you. I will try harder, I promise."
***********
"I did try harder," I whisper, the words resonating along the corridor, "but it was never good enough."
A trooper stationed at his post turns to look at me as I approach his position, his helmet tilted in curiosity at my strange statement.
I stop, my tall form looming menacingly over him.
I sense his growing fear, and when I am satisfied with his reaction, I continue on my way.
No, I was never good enough, at least not for him.
But someone believed in me, believed in my potential.
***********
"You let him escape?" the voice hissed, its evil piercing the man's very core.
"The Force is strong with him, Master."
"I saved your pathetic life, my apprentice. You would not exist without me, and still you come before me with excuses? You have failed me, Lord Vader."
The voice spat the name with utter contempt, and the Dark Lord bowed his head even further as he saw the small sparks of lightning emanating from his master's gnarled fingers, a sign of the depth of his master's anger.
As he knelt, the charred remains of his knees throbbed against the hard armor meant to protect them, but like so many times before, he merely pushed the pain to the far recesses of his mind.
"Forgive me, my Master."
************
At last, I reach the corridor's end.
A wave of loathing washes over me as I stand before the closed doorway, and I purposefully slow my breathing, the hideous sound bouncing off the cold, sterile walls as I fight to silence the cacophony of voices now echoing in my mind.
I have knelt before them all, each one a promised deliverance from the last.
It was a deliverance that never came.
But the time is fast approaching, for I now know the truth, the truth they have kept hidden from me for so long.
He will join me.
Together, as father and son, we will strike fear into the hearts of the galaxy. They will tremble in our presence. As father and son, we will be unstoppable.
Soon, they will kneel before me and know the pain, the humiliation. Soon, I will be the master.
I take great care to shield my thoughts from him as the door slowly slides open, revealing his audience chamber.
For now, I must be patient.
My steps once again echo along the walls as I make my way to him, and his chair revolves in my direction as he hears me approach. My teeth clench with disdain as I take in his skeletal features yet again.
I reach him.
Soon, my mind whispers. Behind the mask, my lips curve ever so slightly. It is the smile of a man who guards a precious secret.
The words come easily.
I have had a lifetime of practice.
They escape my lips in a slow hiss as I slowly lower my body before him, my knees resting once more against the hard, unforgiving surface, my head bowed in subservience.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?"
-----signature-----
A long time ago in a house far away, there was a mother who was strong in the ways of the Force.
She "forced" her sons to clean their room, she "forced" her sons to behave.
- Part of a story written by my 9 yr. old sons I found while cleaning their desks
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Kynstar
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 6:34pm
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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Oh Gina you've outdone yourself on this one!! This is awesome!! Loved the flashbacks and what each represent! Poor Vader/Anakin  I feel sooo sorry for him. For in a way he is right. He never did
And with Luke he could have ruled (if he would have joined the DS hehehe) and others WOULD have bowed before him instead!
Great job!! 
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Paddy sis to t_s & SarkaVrae/Master to hyperspace_police
Member of Rebel Legion and Jedi Assembly (Kynstar Lans)
Long live fanfiction...for in these tales do our heroes still exist.
See stories/viggies in bio
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Jedikma
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 6:45pm
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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I like this, too. It was eerie and sad at the same time. All the pain Vader (Anakin) suffered in the past and the misguided idea that he will corrupt his son and rule.
Now I'm having trouble putting into words what I want to say, but I loved this.
Excellent viggie and beautifully written!!!
~Jedikma 
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kristeh
Registered:
May '03
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 6:53pm
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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How beautiful and sad, Gina! You've captured all Anakin's/Vader's pain and longing so poignantly. In spite of his wrong decisions, I can't help but feel so sorry for him. Thankfully, Luke helped to free him in the end.
Kristeh
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God has not promised us a quiet journey, but He has promised us a safe arrival.
List of fics in profile-Skywalker family AUs
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_JM_
Registered:
Jun '01
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 7:01pm
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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Poor Vader, he never did manage to win, he was always a slave to some master. At least during the purges he probably managed to get revenge on the nasty little brats that called him ‘slave boy’ (bloody Obi-Wan and his tight arse attitude, his padawan gets bullied and he berates him further).
Feel sorry enough for Vader I almost wish that Luke had joined him, though he was probably better off and happier being redeemed and joining the brotherhood of Jedi in the force.
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Seeming unable to just say "Nice post, I enjoyed it"  Sometimes amazed at how "I'll reply tomorrow" becomes "I should have replied last week" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Return of a Jedi. http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/23421597
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Jazz_Skywalker
Registered:
Aug '02
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 7:03pm
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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Wow, lovely viggie, Gina! I liked that in every flashback, Anakin/Vader was always in the kneeling position.
Uppies!
JS
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currently working on NaNo 2007 (won)
11/24: 50,000+!
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VaderLVR64
Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 7:18pm
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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That was amazing! Beautiful and chilling, and overwhelmingly sad.
Incredible, simply incredible! I can't even begin to pick out my favorite part.
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If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories. Army Mom! HOOAH! Adopt a soldier: http://soldiersangels.org/
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rhonderoo
Title:
Former Head Admin
Registered:
Aug '02
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 7:30pm
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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 Okay, where are the tissues when you need them? I don't cry too often in fanfic, but this one got me. Literally.
Great vignette, Gina.
I loved the first part especially. There is something in this that makes me wish Qui-Gon had lived...
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DT421 
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BrokenNoseOfQui-Gon
Registered:
Nov '04
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 8:44pm
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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That was fantastic! A stellar Vader vignette!
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Ailowyn
Registered:
Jul '03
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Date Posted:
11/29/04 9:13pm
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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I think this is one of the best vignettes I've ever read. Maybe it's the fact that Vader is my favorite character of all time talking, but I don't think so.
It cuts to the core of the character, and explains Vader's motivations perfectly without even seeming to try to do so.
Simply put, it makes me want to go see what else you've written in the past.
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So in conclusion your honor,
I hope I slept with you to get the job,
cause if not...
who the hell was that guy?
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leia_naberrie
Registered:
Sep '02
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Date Posted:
11/30/04 2:24am
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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The words come easily.
I have had a lifetime of practice.
Beautiful and sad! Well done!
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Ana_Labris
Registered:
Oct '00
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Date Posted:
11/30/04 3:39am
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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*claps and cheers*
Perfect! Perfect! It is often overlooked, but Vader truely does feel that lust for revenge, if he didn't he wouldn't be as formidable. He wouldn't be a Dark Lord..
Perfect!
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K.E.P.P. Agent #19!
I am the one and only Angry Scientist.
Darth Vader is my hero.
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MistiWhitesun
Registered:
Aug '04
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Date Posted:
11/30/04 3:54am
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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[whistle]
Great job! 
Even when he's made the connection to being a slave and wants a way out, he still doesn't recognize his invisible master…
Keep writing!
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Fade to Black (Vader finds Scout) http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25847641/p1 "I should've known it would come to this."
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DreamOfKenobi
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
11/30/04 5:15am
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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I don't think this is strange at all, I think it's perfect!
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Counting the days 'til Episode III
"What happens in the cave stays in the cave."
"You're going to be the death of me..."
We are the Vaders and we plan to take over the galaxy!
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SarkaVrae
Title: PR Emeritus Chattanooga
Registered:
Jun '04
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Date Posted:
11/30/04 5:35am
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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great story, Gina! so true, and so tragic. [shakes head] poor Ani
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http://www.connooga.com TEH BESTEST CON EVAR! are you crazy? it's a very dangerous thing to do exactly what you want TwiLekJedi is so silly "I will sin my own sins, with my eyes open"
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LukesTheMan
Registered:
Apr '04
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Date Posted:
11/30/04 5:36am
Subject:
RE: To Kneel Before My Master : A Vader Vignette
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That was really amazing. You've outdone yourself with this one. I don't think it is strange at all, it's brilliant, that's what it is.
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