AN: Yes I'm well aware that Luke Skywalker would NOT be a four year old during the time period which Star Wars Rebels takes place. This is just for this little fun tale so don't get technical on me please. Also this is an AU so its not completely going to be following the events in the show. All of the characters are here and still in the same situation of fighting the Empire and Ezra training to be Jedi and yeah you get the point.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Star Wars Rebels or its characters. All rights go to Disney and Lucas Film.


Chapter One

There were very few occasions where the Inquisitor found himself uneasy, to put it very mildly.

As a disciple of the Dark Side and all its power, such emotions as fear and anger were very essential.

Anger: something the Inquisitor was never extinguished of despite the composed façade he wore to unnerve his prey and personnel.

Fear: An emotion that he tended to keep at the bottom of his emotive list because of the complete lack of instances where it was required.

He always enjoyed a good challenge now more than ever since the numbers of Jedi were shrinking quite rapidly, but never had he felt fear for not completely over seeing an assignment. No, only anger filled him at the few instances where he let his concentration slip and his prey slither away. The shimmering anger from his rare blunders only fueled him to strive for grander and call upon the Dark Side to assist him in striking down all those who stood in his way.

He looked forward to new tasks, elated to know of the next Jedi's name that he would burn into his memory until he tracked them down. The expression of despair and hopelessness on their faces when he recited the names of their fallen comrades before he executed them was exceedingly gratifying.

He enjoyed the fear that emitted from others. Fear was a pleasurable emotion to absorb when others released it. The Dark Side would bask in it and give him the upper hand.

The Inquisitor knew fear, but only through others.

That is until now.

Now, as he kept up his composed disguise to those unaware, striding down the corridors with all the determination and superiority as those praised like himself.

A small neatly aligned rows of troopers stopped momentarily to pause and give him salute. He didn't spare them a glance let alone a nod of the head. There wasn't a single thing in the galaxy that was more important or deemed a single extra second of his time in that moment.

The corridors were steadily getting colder the further he moved down them, though the Inquisitor found that of no surprise. That morning Capital City was crudely awakened by the same coldness when it blanketed over them after the certain arrival of a powerful Sith Lord.

The Inquisitor turned a corner and glowered at two officers that foolishly stood in his way.

Wisely they quickly departed once they realized their error and the Inquisitor continued foreword without a hitch in his step. He wouldn't have killed them anyway, he simply didn't have time, but a Force push would've gotten his message across and if they smacked into the opposite steel wall too brutally, well, there were worse things to worry about.

He kept moving with his hands tightly clasped behind his back as he walked. The Dark Side within him was in turmoil. Nearing in on someone as dark and formidable as the Sith Lord was making the darkness within himself gleeful and hungry for that same power.

Another part, one he considered weak and inexcusable, was dreading the meeting with his Dark Lord. This was where his unaccustomed emotion of fear came in at what he considered horrible yet accurate timing.

There wasn't a single soul in the entire galaxy that wasn't afraid of the powerful Dark Lord, so his fear of meeting with the man was much justified for. It was the unclarified subject of this meeting that unnerved the Inquisitor into the predicament that he was in.

The Inquisitor was moments from entering a meeting with his soldiers about the latest disruptions caused by a particular group of Rebels when he received the summons to a private holocall. Once in his private chambers he saw the numerals of the caller and bowed deeply as soon the connection was received.

To his surprise his Lord told him that soon he would be entering the Lothal atmosphere and instructed a meeting with him in the Capital as soon as he landed. The call was cut with no further instructions or the subjects of their expected meeting.

Once again, to say it unnerved the Inquisitor was only putting it lightly.

The cold, powerful waves of the dark side were reverberating through the door that now separated him from his Lord. It was enticing to be so close to such power. He took a deep mental inhale of its toxicities and basked in it.

But through the rich obscurity of it all was something else, something almost light.

The darkness swelled around this odd little ball of light in a fiery wall of what almost seemed like protection.

Curious of the matter, the Inquisitor called upon the Force and probed further into the dark ocean of waves and around the little light. He slithered around the tiny warm flame that shone much more brightly than before now that he focused on it.

Now he was perplexed. What could the Sith Lord have in his possession that emitted such light and purity?

He sent his dark tendrils closer to the little ball of light, the dark side within him tempted to touch its surface and extinguish the pestering little flame or at least taint it. But as his tendrils closed in to act upon one of the dark notions, a frighteningly powerful black wave swelled up and wrapped itself around the innocent light.

Immediately the Inquisitor yanked away as the black wall held tight and warningly lashed out at his probing tendrils, punishing him for getting too close.

Coming back to his senses and his whereabouts, the Inquisitor noticed that he had stopped in front of the door while he was stretching out into the Force and letting the dark side consume him and undertake his curiosity. How could he have been so careless to do such a thing now of all times?

What made it worse was that his Dark Lord had noticed and punished him for sticking his nose into something where it didn't belong.

Now embarrassed was something he could add to his list of newly discovered emotions that he was growing to hate more as the day dragged on.

Without stalling anymore than he had unwisely in the corridor, he waved opened the mechanism doors and strode through as if nothing were amiss.

The dark waves that were swelling within the room practically spilled out as if he opened a floodgate. The over whelming intensity of it gave him a slight misstep that would've been unnoticeable to the average persons eye, but the Sith Lord was certainly not of the sort and the Inquisitor knew that his slip had been acknowledged.

Once fully into the oval shaped conference room of sorts, he lowered himself to one knee and arced his back as he bowed to the formidable Sith Lord that stood across the room from him.

"Lord Vader," he bowed his head deeply in submission to the powerful Sith, "I am here as you commanded. What is thy bidding?"

Somewhere within the room the Inquisitor felt the small flame of light dance freely about, amazingly unaffected by the sea of darkness that could very easily put it out. He did not, however, dare try and seek the light out again or even locate it. It would not be wise to heed to his masters warnings.

Without the permission to rise, he remained in his kneeled position and listened as his Lord's mechanical breathing echoed around the room.

"I have a task of grave importance for you, Inquisitor."

The Inquisitor felt the corners of his lips twitch in growing excitement and the fear he felt from before start to recede. Also to his relief it would seem his Lord wasn't going to punish him for his earlier probing.

"I am yours to command, my Lord." he dipped his chin lower in recognition.

"Know that failure of any kind to this assignment will not be tolerated. I will spare you no mercy." The Dark Lord rumbled and the force around him whispered of severe threats if he were not to succeed.

The Dark Side within him purred at the highly anticipated challenge his Lord was about to trust in him. It must be of great importance if the Second in Command of the Empire were to assign it personally to him.

Truly he couldn't be more honored.

"I will prove myself through complete succession of this obligation, my Lord." the Inquisitor replied devotedly. "I will not fail you."

"I expect no less," he said lowly, and the Inquisitor felt his Lord's dark waves swirl around him in examination. "Now rise."

And the Inquisitor did so, standing to his full height and as straight as military protocol commanded. He didn't dare move though, least not till given further permission.

His Lord stood with his back to him, his masked face facing the tinted window that over looked Capital City and the people of Lothal. Governor Tarkin never spared so much as a glance out the window when he'd been planet side during his required work over view visits. He would simply sit at his desk and relish in the fear of those that were brought before him.

Grin whenever he'd have those who failed him killed right in their chairs. It certainly was one way of ending a discussion.

The Inquisitors eyes trained on the right side of the Sith's black cape when it clearly ruffled despite the lack of conditioned air in the room. Something on the other side of the cape was moving around and disturbing the stillness of the whole scene.

He was just about to open himself up further into the Force for an explanation when suddenly a small blond head popped out from the side of the dark cape.

The Inquisitor's eyes widened in bewilderment as his lips parted, almost tempted to ask the Dark Lord if he knew that a child was hiding within his robes.

The boy stared at him quietly as if shyly peeking past a curtain where he hid. The light that he felt in the Force grew brighter and its warmth seeped in the dark waves that Lord Vader gave off in what seemed like perfect harmony.

What astonished the Inquisitor even more was how the dark ocean like waves soothed the little light and coaxed it back into a little secure region. The darkness hovered around the light flame in a sturdy and thick wall of protection.

The Inquisitor gaped at the child. Was he the one that was emitting that small yet extremely intense light within the Force? It was without a doubt that the boy was Force sensitive, but of that much constrained power?

If the boy were to grow and learn how to control that much power and use it in the way of the light-

"His future is none of your concern." Lord Vader cut his mental thought in half and the Inquisitor bowed his head in apology.

He should've known better that the Dark Lord would be searching his mind while distracted. With that in mind he made sure to build up his mental barriers.

"Forgive me, my Lord," he paused and when he looked back up he saw that Lord Vader had turned from the window and was now watching him. He squared his shoulders and stood firmer.

"I was not aware of the child's presence in both this room and the Force. He's been guarded very well." he said and stole a glance at the child that was again behind Vader but now on the opposite side, still peeking from behind the Sith's long cape.

"As he must. The boy's security is of most importance to me and the Empire."

Now the Inquisitor was interested in this child more than ever. Lord Vader himself and the Empire demanded the safety of this small boy? If he was so important then why in the seven hells has he not heard of him?

"If you don't mind me asking, my Lord," he paused as if expecting to be sharply cut off. "but why precisely does this youngling hold such significance?"

The Sith's dark presence in the room grew colder at the question before it gathered control and returned to normal, well, as normal as deathly cold could possibly get.

Lord Vader reached with the Force to remove the boy from his hiding spot and positioned him neatly at his front. The boy was dressed in a neat, black outfit that almost resembled a TIE fighter's formal uniform. Oddly enough though there wasn't a single Imperial emblem on him to be seen.

If he were to guess his age he would say the boy was about three at most. If he were correct about his age then the child was on the small side. His head barely reached Lord Vader's armored knee.

"This boy is significant to the Empire because he is its future," and if that weren't enough to stun the Inquisitor into complete silence then the next part definitely was. "And he is also my son."

The Inquisitor did every thing in his power not to let his inner disbelief and complete shock show on his face, though he was sure the Sith Lord could tell of his emotions if he probed the Force.

This child was Lord Vader's son?

He stared at the boy in a daze. This boy with golden blond hair and bright blue eyes was in relation to the Sith Lord? Impossible. Certainly the connection between them wasn't by blood and had to be strictly formal.

But if Lord Vader had a son then that also meant he had a wife. The thought of the Sith being a married man-family man!-was positively outrageous. There had to be an explanation of some sort because a Sith Lord would never love or care for such things such as having a family.

It was unheard of.

The Inquisitor watched as Lord Vader gave the boy a soft (soft!) nudge forward. The small youngling took a single step at most then froze up, his petite hands playing nervously with the bottom-lining on his dark and uncomfortable appealing coat.

"Introduce yourself."

The boy looked over his shoulder and up at Vader in almost a pleading fashion before turning back to the Inquisitor.

"M'names Luke…" he mumbled quietly and shyly lowered his head.

It was quiet and even though the Inquisitor was having trouble sorting out his thoughts on the surprising matter, he knew that he was expected to come up with some type of formal reply.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, my Young Lord," he bowed to the child under Lord Vader's watchful gaze.

When he stood straighter again he found that the boy had returned to his fathers right leg, his tiny left fist latching onto the fabric that wasn't covered in black armor. Lord Vader lightly tapped him with his knee to move away but it appeared the child gripped tighter until the Sith Lord gave up.

"You will refer to him only as Luke when he is under your care. His true identity as my son must remain at all times confidential through out your task. It is important for his own safety that this is so. Do I make myself clear? "

"My 'task', my Lord?" he asked in confusion because truly that was how he felt at Vader's words. What did his son have to do with his important mission?

His gleaming black helmet under the lights from the window behind him gave a small nod. "My son will be under your supervision while I am attending important matters for the Emperor here within the city. Matters where a child has no business being apart of for most obvious reasons."

The Inquisitor was at a loss for words.

Lord Vader wanted him to babysit his son? Did he hear his Lord correctly?

"I believe I said 'supervise'." Lord Vader, once again reading his thoughts, had harshly cut in.

He inwardly cursed and tightly up held his mental barriers even further though he doubted there was a mental shield that the Sith Lord wasn't able to break into. It was what he was most famous for.

"My Lord," his voice wavered with uncertainty despite his efforts to remain calm. "I don't believe I am of the appropriate qualifications for such an undertaking. I have next to zero experience with how one tends to a child or supplies its essential needs. In my particular line of work, when one comes across a Force sensitive child we do quite the opposite of caring for it as I'm sure you know."

His gaze darted to the small boy again, wondering how much he can hint at killing without him realizing what was being discussed. But if the boy really were the son of Vader, then wouldn't he be used to such vulgar language and sadistic imageries?

"Your instructions are to supervise the boy, not raise him." Lord Vader growled, agitation and frustration now rolling off him.

"And of my qualifications?"

Now it was Lord Vader's turn to be silent at a question.

"Very few know of my son's existence let alone that he is my son. To some who have seen him but know nothing of our relation think of him to be an apprentice to me of sorts and they know better than to question. Only the Emperor and high-ranking officials aboard my flagship know who Luke really is to me."

Now the ocean of darkness that flooded the room started to flow back towards the Sith Lord. Even though the Inquisitor couldn't physically see it happening, through the Force he was showed how the dark tendrils wrapped protectively around the small child but careful not to touch him. The heavy wave of dark energy started to rise and build itself around the son and father in a protective resilient barrier.

He knew that the Sith Lord was manipulating the Force around them to create the protective scene, but the Inquisitor couldn't help but feel as though the Force itself was chipping in to protect the pair.

"I am honored to be within the select group of those you consider to trust, my Lord, but why not just lie and tell me that this boy is your apprentice? What do you intend by exposing his true identity to me?"

"Now you know just how important the boy is to me and the definite price you'll pay if you disappoint." The Sith Lord raised a hand and pointed a gloved finger in his direction. "Failure is not an option."

The Inquisitor swallowed, quite enjoying the sensation of using his throat and not having an invisible force tightly wrapped around it in a death hold. Yes, he certainly did not want that.

"I understand." He gave a sharp, resolute nod.

Lord Vader lowered his hand. "Good. I neither have patience for the staff here nor care of the artificial affection from protocol droids, so the responsibility falls to you. There has yet to be any assassination attempts on him but I expect you watch over him as if otherwise. Trust no one and keep his identity a secret."

"I will not hesitate to strike down any who may pose the boy a threat, my Lord. He will be suitably protected under my guardianship. You'll have nothing to fear."

"Luke is not yet of age to thoroughly be trained the ways of the Force, he knows only to communicate with me through our bond and pick up on the emotions of others. Unless you want to hear his voice constantly in your head, I suggest you guard yourself well and by no means reach out to him. Try and pry within my son's mind and I will have you trapped within yours until you are no longer medically deemed with sanity."

The Inquisitor got the hint that death would be a more preferable option than the fate of that threat. He'd most likely end up killing himself if someone hadn't put an end to him first like some rabid krayt sand dragon.

"I swear to reframe."

Lord Vader stood there and stared at him with that emotionless mask of his for a long while before breaking contact to look down at his son. Luke, the name of the boy, looked up past his bangs at his father unhappily.

"Listen well, Luke. You are to obey any instruction given to you by your supervisor and resist the need to find trouble."

The Inquisitor raised an eyebrow at that.

"If I get a holocall from the Inquisitor informing me of your failure to comply to this rules, I will be most displeased and you'll be accurately punished. Are my rules clear?"

The little blond nodded up at his father with a large frown on his features.

"Be safe, my son."

The Dark Lord set a large gloved hand briefly on the boy's head before he moved it to the back and ushered him away from his leg. The boy at first was a tad reluctant but his confidence grew in his steps and the Inquisitor almost felt the need to squint when the light the boy gave off grew brighter. How Lord Vader shielded himself from such vividness was truly an amazing feat.

He stopped directly in front of him as the Inquisitor had to tilt his head down just to stare the short little thing in the eye. How was it that this boy was so petite while his father was just the opposite? Perhaps an unfortunate trait from his mother, whoever in the galaxy that was.

"No need for the long face, Luke. I don't think our experience together will be that dreary. Would you like a tour of my ship?"

Did small children like military styled shuttles? Surely the boy was used to traveling on such ships all his short few years of life.

To his surprise and relief the boy nodded and emitted a more relaxed aura with a twinge of curiosity.

"What kind?"

And so he speaks…

"Arquitens-class light cruiser. A model not commonly seen because of the era it was designed and assembled, but I can assure you that it has a reputation and history that people have died for."

The boy didn't have to know that he acquired the ship on one of his missions that ended with the death of several Jedi and their poor misinformed padawans' on board. Once the Republic era shuttle was cleansed of its obscurities, the shuttle was left without a proper owner. At the time he thought about blowing it up, but the ship grew on him and in some ways resembled memorabilia.

"I-I've never see that before," he mumbled then turned towards Lord Vader who was watching from his spot near the window. "right, father? I haven't seen it?"

There were no words exchanged, that the Inquisitor was aware of, but the boy seemed satisfied and turned back to face him. "Can I see it? Can I see it please?"

This task may not be all that bad after all, he thought as he smiled politely down at the boy.

"Certainly. Shall we be off?" he gestured to the door and once again the boy turned back to Vader as if to see if he had permission.

"Kay," the boy mumbled and started for the door.

The Inquisitor kept closely behind the small child then effortlessly waved the doors open. The dark tendrils of the Force seemed to cling to the boy as if unwilling to let him go. He watched in somewhat curiosity as the boy paused again and looked towards his father.

"You will see Lord Vader again before you know it. Let us be on our way." he insisted and reached to set a hand on the back of the boy's head to guide him away but the dark tendrils lashed out at him and he yanked his hand back to his side.

So when he was told not to touch the boy that was meant quite literally…

"This afternoon?" Luke looked up just as he managed to compose himself. "Will I be back by the afternoon? For lunch?"

"Time will tell."

The boy shrugged and finally walked between the entrance and out into the corridor, unaware of the dark vines that were still desperately trying to cling to him and coax him back.

Just before the Inquisitor stepped from the conference room, he turned and gave one last bow to the Sith.

"Rest assured the boy will be in good hands, my Lord."

Lord Vader didn't reply and turned back to facing out the window and onto the city like he were before.

He took that as his queue and left the room quickly to catch up with the child. The black vines seemed to have all shrunken away and slithered back to their master just like he predicted after some space was placed between them.

"So, Luke," he causally spoke and clasped his hands behind his back, watching the boy from the corner of his eye. "How old are you?"

"Four standard years."

He was close with his earlier assumption.

"What 'bout you?"

The Inquisitor nearly stopped walking right there in the middle of the corridor.

"I don't believe we'll be knowing each other long enough for that to be relevant. I doubt you'll even recall me if we were to meet again, which I highly doubt."

Luke was silent then, "You don't wanna see me again? Not ever?"

"Hardly what I meant."

The kid was silent again as they walked down several hallways until finally the boy seemed to somewhat recognize his surroundings once they entered the docking bay. He pace slowed as he stared at all of the large shuttles and small closely parked speeders.

"You like to fly, Luke?"

The boy's head whipped up at him and he nodded enthusiastically before his features scrunched up and he frowned.

"No?"

"I do," he sighed and suddenly decided to stop walking.

The Inquisitor paused as well and stared after him.

"Father won't let me fly-I mean drive. I fly with him. We fly a lot together! He's really good and sometimes, sometimes he goes really fast and-" he smiled and seemed to be silently enjoying a particular memory that the Inquisitor was tempted to reach into his head and see for himself.

He desired to see all that the boy has seen and Lord Vader through his eyes. What other secret was the Sith Lord hiding? Surely nothing more overwhelming than a child.

"Can I fly your ship?" Luke asked and drew him from his inner thoughts. He grinned at the boy.

"What would your father think?"

That seemed to have the desired effect and the boy sighed and continued walking.

They arrived at the transport shuttle that the Inquisitor used to travel from his ship that was at the time floating overhead Capital City. The disappoint on the boys face when he saw the transport shuttle and thought it was his actual ship had been highly amusing.

The Inquisitor relaxed into his seat as he watched the boy buckle in next to the pilots so he could watch them control the ship as they took off. From what he could tell the boy was fairly easy to manage despite his peeking curiosity. Soon enough he'd return the boy to his father and hopefully be placed on Lord Vader's list of favorites. It was already an honor to be trusted with the secret of knowing about his son.

The Inquisitor grinned at his luck and the exclusives it opened in his future.

What could possibly go wrong?


AN: Words he'll forever regret…

Guess what rag tag group of Rebels show up just to make his day sour? You know who!