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Rise,” the shadow commands, gnarled claw of a hand gesturing for the apprentice to obey. It also stood from its seat, placing its hands behind its back and turning to face the observation deck’s viewport. There is nothing but silence for a moment as the shadow feels the darkness; the darkness out there, in the vastness of space, endless swaths of black pinpricked by the insignificant light of stars; the darkness inside the chamber, its domain, where every structure steeped in it resonates and reflects its very will; and the darkness within the other occupant, that which the shadow had planted and grown, the ultimate extension of its power. Yet still...imperfect.

“You have long been my most trusted servant, Lord Vader. But your recent failures cannot be allowed to go unnoticed.” The shadow turns its head, piercing orbs of sinister yellow light gazing out from the depths of its hood at the constantly breathing creature. “The success of my Empire depends on the success of my followers. All of them. I do not want excuses for not achieving that success. I want to know how you will rectify your mistakes and ensure you do in the future.” Turning to fully face its disciple now, the shadow presses the darkness against the other’s mind, giving more weight to his no-doubt constant reminder that he belongs to it. “Unless there is something you wish to tell me, Lord Vader? Something you believe I should take into consideration before judging what your further worth to me is? I sense there has been much on your mind of late. Perhaps it would relieve you to share.”

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