HEREDITY By Kondoru

Thanks to JP for Betaing.

Standard Disclaimers.


This story is part of a larger story arc. It's a `Vader Lives` AU, so if you don't like that sort of thing, you have been warned.

When the Arc is finished I will take it down and put it in its correct place.


It all seemed so ordinary. But this day was one in which Leia Organa Solos life changed.

She and Han had been married a few weeks before. They had taken a long break, and now were returning to their novel occupation of trying to run the Empire.

But since this was Coruscant, they were having a discussion with a geneticist as to their future family. On that planet people generally checked for inheritable problems before they started such ambitious projects.

Dr Wutan was one of Coruscants finest genetic advisors. He was a grey furred old Bothan.

The happy but tired couple sat in his office awaiting his advice.

Han seemed free from problems...Aside the problems which came from having no background whatsoever.

Leia was far from simple.

"Your parents were Anakin Skywalker, Ahem, Jedi Knight, and Padme Amidala, the Elected Queen of Naboo?" Dr Wutan began.

Leia didn't rise to the polite cough before the term `Jedi Knight. `

Everyone knew about her -rather too intimate- relationship with Darth Vader.

...And it was not that of Torturer and victim...

"We have Queen Amidala's records here." He continued. "Do not worry about her, her genetic health is good. I mean, no one is free from inheritable problems but I can see nothing to worry about."

Leia nodded in relief.

"But it's um, your father."

"Yes." Said Leia, heart dropping. Han, that sleemo, sat back and smirked.

The Bothan brought up another screen. "He is a most fascinating character." Dr Wutan said in a fashion that suggested that though these facts were fascinating to him, they might be boring or negative to the newlyweds.

Han started laughing, "I knew Darth Blackarse had something going for him!" He sniggered, "and to think that heap of mechanical junk had it in him."

Leia gave her husband a whack. "Shut up before I kick you out." (It was so embarrassing to have a cyborg for a father. And an oik for a husband…)

"Anakin Skywalker did indeed, as you so crudely put it, `have it in him` before he was injured and placed in a life support suit..." The geneticist began. (Clearly he too was taking secret delight in the idea of Darth Vader having a love life.) "What do you know about midi-chlorians?" he asked conspirally.

Han shook his head. "Never went to school." He muttered.

"They carry the Force." Said Leia flatly.

"Midi-chlorians occur in most sentient species, -regardless of biology. It's speculated that they have a main effect of causing self-awareness." Dr Wutan sat back in his squeaky leather chair.

"But famously they carry the Force." Leia added again.

Dr Wutan smiled. "The vast majority of sentients have a very low count, -it's only in individuals that have high counts do we see manifestation of Force powers."

Han yawned rudely.

Dr Wutan brought up yet another incomprehensible chart. "Your father is right off the scale." He pointed to a peak on the graph. "You and your brother have also inherited that trait...as will your children."

"The Jedi as far as I know remained childless." Leia said.

Dr Wutan shook his head. "So we have no records of what might happen if they indulged in eugenics?"

"No Jedi breeding programmes."

"Anyhow it's more complex than some obscure branch of microbiology." he continued with a worried expression. Dr Wutan keyed up a new screen. "Looking here, Anakin Skywalker's mother was of standard Tatoonie peasant stock...Nothing remarkable there, but his father...Well..."

"I don't know who my father was" Han added in an attempt to look sympathetic.

Dr Wutan shook his head, "His `father` (and I use the term loosely as he seems to have over a dozen fathers) He's no normal human, but an artificial construct, created with the Force in mind."

Leia went pale. "I knew Darth Vader is a monster! Who did this?"

The old geneticist shook his head. "In the last days of the Empire there were passed many anti eugenics laws" Dr Wutan said softly. "Several reasons, to preserve genetic diversity, to allow equality in reproductive rights and also because we had little ideas of possible side effects in tinkering." He stopped.

"Then came the Clone Wars" said Han.

"The Clone Wars were a dark time in the Old Republic, a time we don't want to see again. You yourself have renewed these laws to prevent such hideous abuses of sentient rights."

Leia shook her head, "-and now it's all coming round to bite me." She was pale. "I cannot be seen to flaunt the laws."

"Leaders cannot." Han agreed.

Dr Wutan shook his head with sadness "You in all probability could have happy and healthy children, but they would all carry these artificial genes, and who knows what future problems might occur? And as I said it might be legally problematic for you to have children. Not only the genes, but the fact that their grandfather was such a morally challenged individual." he shrugged.

"That's a very nice term for my worst enemy." Growled Leia. "Don't shuffle around, call him a monster."

"It's up to you but I myself would be extremely reluctant to have children now I know all this." Dr Wutan shut off his holoscreen with a clunk. He looked old and scared.

"How about gene editing?" asked Han.

Dr Wutan shook his head, "-legally you are only allowed to edit out bad genes that lead to congenital disorders...genes that encourage midi-chlorians are not on this list. I'm sorry, It's not the answer."

Leia was thoughtful, there were many theories about her notorious parent, most of them dreadful. One of those theories was that Darth Vader had undergone some fancy gene editing surgery. Luke had told that though Darth Vader was a fearsome fighter, he was not as good as Anakin Skywalker...His cybernetics were not as agile, and more importantly, since he was now missing over 50% of his body, his Force function was diminished. Perhaps his abnormally high midi-chlorian levels had been boosted to compensate?

There were many worse.

When they got back home Han said. "You never told me about this."

Leia shook her head. "I never knew it was even a problem. Seems Darth Vader continues to haunt me? When will I ever be free of his evil?"

Han held her close. "When you overcome the darkness in your own heart."

"A Jedi answer if there ever was one." She sniffed.

He shrugged in that infuriating way of his that she loved. "What are you going to do?"

"Seems I need to go talk with someone...Someone who is far too close to me." She growled.