10 Chapter 10 - Negotiations
(AN: just realised Vader doesn't get introduced to Fury but knows his name as I'm editing but honestly I'm going to leave it like this so that I don't constantly have to refer to Fury by dumb titles)
1st POV Darth Vader
"I'll need all kinds of metals and plastics you have at your disposal. Your civilization hasn't progressed far enough so as to possess the materials I will need. As for what you will receive in turn? I can promise you that so long as I am on this planet no force seeking to conquer the planet will succeed." Starting simple seems best in this scenario. I'm hoping to get much more than just materials from this interaction and its best to reinforce I mean no harm after that little 'accident'
"Ohh, so confident in your ability to stave off invasions?" Fury questioned his tone was light with amusement but I wasn't fooled, the anger and panic raging inside of him clear to me. (and why wouldn't he be scared of the Empire's Monster?)
"The recordings gathered by your heroes should show that I have more than an adequate level of power to halt any attempted invasions. And I have vast experience in such warfare." Having played both sides - invader and defender - I'm probably one of the galaxies leading experts on Planetary defence.
"I'd like an extensive list detailing how exactly your powers function. A video of you throwing around seemingly unrelated powers isn't any form of justification for your claims." Fury refuted immediately. He's determined to get something out of me it seems. Well he'll have to make do with just the basics.
"I can understand your confusion with my powers but I can assure you they all stem from the same power source. The Force is a sentient body of energy that resides in all life in the galaxy. Those of us who can spiritually perceive the Force can be trained to utilise it for our benefit. All the abilities I've showcased are those granted to me by The Force."
"I see." He didn't. Confusion wafted off him in waves. Not unexpected, very few people who can't feel The Force ever really understand what it is.
"You said that the force resides in all life but only some can use it like you can. Why is that?" The Black Widow interrupted our discussion with a question of her own shuffling forward to stand slightly behind Fury. The Scepter resting on the ground beside her.
"The Force chooses who it will gift its power to. Those chosen by it with sufficient practice will be capable of manifesting feats many in the galaxy see as miracles." I responded before shifting my focus back to Fury. Their curiosity is understandable but if this man is a true leader he understands that the negotiations take precedence.
Recognizing my que for what it was, Fury brought the discussion back on track. "I'd like to alter your condition slightly. If any threat to the planet emerges local or alien I want your help dealing with it. Also I want a team of experts working with you at all times to ensure you're not making anything that would threaten the planet.
How amusing. Politics will never cease to annoy me with their unending complications. Could he not just admit to wanting a chance to copy the technology I will be creating. I suppose a turnabout is only fair. "You need not worry yourself, director. Such weaponry is incomparable to the power of The Force."
The burst of fear that coursed through the director brought me immense satisfaction. "I agree with your conditions. However, please make sure that any threats you bring to my attention are indeed, world threatening. My time isn't something to be used thoughtlessly." As I spoke a group of 3 agents silently entered the roof.
They took a minute to survey the scene before making a bee-line for the Black Widow. Judging by the high-tech cases they were holding, they're the retrieval team sent to gather the Scepter and Tesseract. A movement in The Force brings my attention to the feelings of the 3 men as they walk forwards cautiously.
Rage, Hate, and Fanaticism were rolling off them in waves but interestingly enough these emotions weren't focused on me but at the gathered heroes. Their hatred was especially strong towards Director Fury. Their masterful deception shows extensive practice and training. These men have been around Fury and his allies for a long time undiscovered.
Hmmm, well I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Waiting patiently for them to secure the Scepter and turn around I used The Force to telekinetically hold them in place. (AN: from now on I'm just gonna use telekinesis instead of adding force everytime same for other techniques.)
"Director Fury, are you aware that the team of men you just handed the Scepter to hold an abnormally large amount of hatred for all the people currently here?" The response to my words was impressive; immediately as the surrounding heroes converged around the 3 paralysed agents. Fury didn't move, simply raising an eyebrow in question in my direction.
"The Force has many paths, many of which are considered to be unnatural. Amongst these are abilities revolving around the mind. A skilled enough practitioner can passively collect information from surrounding minds. I'm not at such a high level but I can passively feel the emotions of those surrounding me." Fury's tension reached new heights and I congratulated myself on a job well done.
People like Director Fury are paranoid by nature. He craves for unknowns not out of any innate curiosity but an innate fear of what they could do. Unveiling so much of my abilities to him has granted him an advantage in our negotiations. Something that many would see as a mistake. I certainly had before Sidious taught me better.
Negotiating with someone like Director Fury from a position where you hold all the cards will lead him to take drastic actions in order to take cards from my hand. But by giving him a card his paranoia will no doubt increase but his actions will become predictable as he seeks to use the card I've given him to take even more cards. By giving Fury this much I've made certain that his future actions against me will be predictable and easy to deal with.
"If you will permit me Director Fury I can look into the minds of these 3 men and give you more information on why they feel such hatred towards you." I offered knowing he would reject me, giving me the perfect excuse to take back the Scepter. Really The Force made negotiations pointless. Might as well just give me what I want that way you don't give me any time to think about other things I might want as well.
"No thank you. I have my own methods to uncover what exactly is going on with my agents." Fury shook his head and turned evidently our proceedings will not be finalised until he deals with his leak. Fine by me.
Reaching out with my Telekinesis I grab the Scepter and slowly float it to me while speaking. " Very well. However, I'm afraid I'm not comfortable with the Scepter leaving my sight until this leak has been dealt with. Since I have nowhere else to go anyway I shall stay in the tower where any of the people on this roof can stay and monitor the Scepter. Is that acceptable director?"
Even before I was finished speaking, the Director's fury and indignation projected across from the roof to me. He's realised the trap he's walked into then. Not bad, slower then some I've dealt with but he's firmly within the top percentile of World leader's I've dealt with. (Not a high bar but still)
He knows I wasn't really making a request but he can't call me out on it because his position in our negotiations is currently non-existent. This exchange is only happening because he boasts being the leader of the largest Organisation on the planet. If it turns out that organisation isn't as loyal as he originally believed then his position crumbles and someone else far less capable and more likely to arouse my anger will take his place.
In such a situation he must give into my requests until he's ascertained his own powerbase. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. Honestly, if it seems desperate enough I might offer up my help even if it would make future arrangements more complicated. This planet has many individuals who would be annoying to fight against if I was forced to take over.
Not to mention having the Earth as a willing Shield against Asgard is much preferable to using them as a hostage against Asgard. Especially considering how little Asgard seems to care for Earth's continued well-being. Well it's no matter for now I simply need to wait and see how things play out. Patience has never been a virtue of mine but decades of practice have ingrained it into me. I'll give Fury 2 weeks if nothing happens then I'll be forced to take action.
A week and a half later
"Director Fury's dead, we need your help." Captain America spoke with a deadly serious tone as he entered the penthouse where Stark and I were looking over the latest model of rocket's I'd designed.
I stood up with a sigh and for the first time in almost 40 years regretted losing a part of Anakin Skywalker.
AN: sorry for the shorter chapter I'll be releasing another one tomorrow.
