Hello readers, I truly appreciate all of you who are interested in this story. Your support motivates me to continue this project, and I do hope more will follow, favorite, and review as I add new chapters. I want your thoughts and ideas so I can do a better job since this is really for you above all else. I love this universe and writing about it, I've learned so much from Star Wars and had awesome times reading others' work. For those of you beginning to read, do you have anything that makes you not want to read this story after the first chapter or so? Let me know by review or PM, it would be very helpful as a writer. Thanks and have a great day.

Chapter 1

Lord Darth Vader gazed out at the stars streaking by in hyperspace, prominently placed on the bridge of the mighty Executor as though he were a spectre of the cold void itself. No one dared to interrupt the Dark Lord's observation since he had stormed onto his flagship in a foul mood and proceeded to kill the first person who had the misfortune of angering him with incompetence. The silence that hung over the various officers and crewmen was awkwardly broken when a young captain addressed his commander from behind.

"E.T.A. to the planet is six hours milord. Should I have the men prepare your shuttle?"

"No, Captain Piett. I will take my own fighter." Vader replied shortly.

Sensing he was no longer needed, Piett quickly turned away and the Sith returned to his thoughts once more.

'What could possibly possess the Emperor to send me to this wasteland?' Vader was only familiar with the desert world of Jakku due to the highly secretive Imperial research facilities stationed there. His master had communicated to Vader in no uncertain terms that he was to immediately travel to Jakku and seek out the source of the Force anomaly he had perceived in his meditations. In the midst of a campaign to wipe out various cells of the Rebel Alliance around the Outer Rim, he was frustrated by what seemed to be a fruitless task which diverted his attention from the greater conflict at hand. After all, in the decade since the rise of the Empire he had personally seen to it that the last remnants of the Jedi were swept away as order was finally restored to a beleaguered galaxy. There could be no presence capable of standing against the power of the dark side now, but for the festering Rebellion that was growing every day. In truth though, the place reminded him too much of Tatooine and the haunting memories of Skywalker under the twin suns.

Clenching his fist, Vader pushed away the thoughts of his former self and strode out of the bridge to rest in his private meditation sphere for the remainder of the voyage.

The hot sand dunes beneath Luke Skywalker burned his feet as he ran blindly, terrified by the rampaging Sand People he just barely escaped from. His blonde hair was swept over his forehead and his eyes burning with tears from the image in his mind, that of his Uncle Owen being smashed in the chest by a gaffi stick while Aunt Beru screamed for the boy to run away. He had pleaded desperately to help protect her, unwilling to leave behind the only family he had ever known but ultimately fled once she told him that he had to live for his father. The sounds of their screams and the attackers' bestial cries echoed in Luke's head as he finally fell to the ground, and in a wild impulse called out through the Force, 'Ben, help me!', before he lost consciousness.

In the years he had spent in solitude on Tatooine, Obi-Wan Kenobi had only allowed himself to interact with the outside world on brief visits to the Lars' homestead where he would watch Luke grow each time as well as stops in Mos Eisley for drinks and supplies. He was dedicated to protecting Anakin's son from afar; he was the galaxy's only hope now. For all the valiant efforts by the Rebel Alliance, only a powerful Jedi Knight could be trained to strike at the heart of the darkness… to right the wrongs of his former pupil, friend, and brother who Kenobi so utterly failed.

Obi-Wan placed his hand on his forehead tiredly, looking around the cantina for any signs of trouble. Noting the sight of an eerily familiar Wookiee who sat beside a young smuggler in the far corner of the room, he turned back to his tall glass which now stood empty. It would have once been unthinkable for the Jedi Master to willingly go to such a wretched hive of scum and villainy, yet he found one of the few pleasures left for him was to simply drink away his woes. Ready to order another round to quench his thirst, he suddenly felt a keen sense of danger as though something was going horribly wrong. Focusing his thoughts on the threat, he realized with paralyzing fear that it was emanating from Luke. He was in mortal peril and had reached out to him! Bolting from his seat he dashed out of the cantina, drawing some stares and whispers from the crowd but he hardly paid any mind to it. Singularly determined, Obi-Wan jumped onto his old landspeeder and took off for the Jundland Wastes as the suns began to set down over the planet.

A Sith Lord was not supposed to be enslaved to his emotions, his memories, or his past. Despite the length of time since Darth Vader had been the man known as Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight and husband to Padme Amidala, he could not fall to sleep without being assaulted by brutal visions of his duel with Kenobi or painful encounters with his dead wife. So like most nights, Vader sat quietly in his meditation quarters with his helmet removed to allow a brief reprieve from the utter confinement that defined his existence. In the early days of his apprenticeship to Darth Sidious, the newly christened Sith would be tortured by his Master with mental invasions that aroused the darkest and most intimate moments of his life as Skywalker. After satisfying the sadistic Emperor that he had overcome the weakness of attachment to the people he had loved, he would try to truly leave behind all that he had lost on Mustafar to no avail. The dragon still breathed in the shadows of his lonely heart, reminding Vader of his failure to protect his family and that he was once more a being chained to a Master.

He let the dark side of the Force surround his essence as it fueled the rage and hatred burning inside him, and he kept at this for some time until he was struck by a ring of terror from across the galaxy which seemed to come from a particularly luminous presence. This momentary interruption flashed by in a fraction of a second, but the reverberations could be heard clearly even from the far reaches of space. Vader could tell that whatever the source was, it would inevitably lead him to the objective of his mission on Jakku. If this disturbance was any indication, he may well have found a prodigy worthy of being his apprentice. And he was more than ready to crush the Rebellion and claim the mantle of Sith Master.

Heat. It was all Luke could comprehend as he regained consciousness, while the sensation of the rough, hot sand all over him caused severe pain and discomfort. He barely registered the loud whirring of the landspeeder racing towards him, nor did he see the hooded figure who placed his hand on the boy's head. He slowly opened his eyes and sat up, surprised first by the lack of bright sunlight glaring down on him and once he focused by the sight of an old friend.

"Ben…" Luke breathed, his throat dry from exhaustion.

"Young Luke, are you alright?"

"I, I'm fine, sir. But my aunt and uncle. what happened to them? The Sand People attacked and I ran… I didn't know what -" he asked frantically, his blue eyes darting around wildly as if searching for the homestead.

Obi-Wan placed a hand on Luke's shoulder, "I'm so sorry, son. There was nothing that could be done." he had not seen the evidence himself, but he knew it to be true. Lying to the boy was impossible, no matter how much it hurt to say the words.

Luke simply stared at the man in disbelief for a few seconds, "No, they can't have." he said tearfully, though he could feel the solemn acceptance in his mind beginning to form. "NOOOO!" It was as though his entire universe had just collapsed, the heart-wrenching loss destroying his innocence as grief took over. He slumped into the arms of Obi-Wan, who held the boy tightly as he had once done for Anakin.

When Luke finally recovered enough to let Obi-Wan help him stand, he asked quietly "What now? I don't have any family, nowhere to go Ben."

"You will always have a place with me, Luke. You may not realize it yet, but the Force is with you. I will take you in, as your father would have wished."

"Ben, who was my father? Did you know him?"

"A good question, one that must wait however. The night approaches and the Sand People are relentless. We must head to my home for now."

Luke shook his head and grabbed Obi-Wan's cloak, "I can't just leave Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen there, they deserve a proper burial."

Although his better judgment cautioned against it, he felt tremendous sorrow for Luke and felt it was his responsibility to honor this one request.

"Very well, let's hurry then." he went back to the speeder and Luke joined in the passenger seat as they made for the Lars homestead.

Vader boarded his TIE Advanced fighter as soon as the Executor dropped out of hyperspace, impatient to encounter the special Force signature on the planet. Upon arrival to the surface, he observed the massive debris and relics of battles from the Clone Wars ranging from battle droid carriers to whole Venator-class Republic cruisers. He was faintly surprised that he had not known before of such a monumental clash during the civil war. Perhaps it had come during the waning days when he had been focused on eliminating the Jedi and Separatist leaders. The sensors alerted him to the existence of a few remote settlements around his position, and he disembarked after landing on an unmarked area of the desert. He did not want attention from the few Imperial officials on the planet or locals for that matter.

He allowed the Force to guide his movements, gliding through with enhanced speed towards his destination. As he reached a large hill overlooking the apparent target, Vader saw the outline of a scavenger town with relatively few inhabitants or markets. Deciding to remain in stealth while exploring the place, he called on the dark side to wrap his presence among the shadows so no ordinary person could detect him. Relying on instinct, he followed the path which revealed itself piece by piece until he was standing alone in front of a broken, sprawled out tank which had a hole that led into the interior. Vader activated his lightsaber and cut through an entrance large enough for him to fit in, stepping inside the vehicle with ease. He carefully illuminated the room with the crimson blade, showing a small brunette girl huddled asleep in the corner on the makeshift bed where she restlessly tossed around like in a nightmare. She couldn't be older than seven standard years old by his estimate. The Sith Lord sensed fear and anger projecting strongly from the girl, as well as her astonishing Force potential.

'Indeed, you are powerful as the Emperor has foreseen.' Vader was tantalized by the prospect of training the child in the ways of the Force, to have the key to defeating Sidious in his hand. But how would he be able to take the girl as an apprentice without earning the Emperor's wrath? If he could convince his master of the growing thorn in their side the Rebel Alliance posed, then he would have reason to prepare a loyal right hand who would serve the Empire alongside him. He was determined not to let such an opportunity slip through his grasp, not when the alternative was killing the girl or presenting Sidious a replacement for Vader himself.

He walked towards the girl who now had awoken, her brown eyes gazing in awe at the Dark Lord. She seemed curious and frightened by the mysterious figure, as though she had already heard the menacing breathing and seen the intimidating weapon of the Sith.

"I saw you in my dreams. Who are you?" the girl questioned hesitantly.

Vader's shock was well-hidden behind the expressionless mask, "Who I am is not for you to know now. I am here to claim you, child. Tell me your name." he turned off his saber.

"Rey. My name is Rey. Why do you want me?"

"You have something I want, something I can make you better at. Together, we will accomplish much. It is your destiny, Rey." he pronounced assuredly.

She was a lonely child and longed for a parental figure in her life, that was obvious to Vader. He could exploit this desire to bring the girl closer to him, form an attachment that would ensure her loyalty to him over anyone else.

Rey went beside the towering Darth Vader, reaching out with her tiny hand to clutch his cape. She looked pitiful in her dusty, torn dress with her hair dotted by sand, yet Vader saw only a promising future that may finally bring redemption to his fragmented soul.

"I want to come with you." she declared bravely.

"Good. Follow me." he turned to leave and she trailed behind, never looking back except to put a stormtrooper doll in her pocket.