The Emperor and the Empress: The Vader Dynasty
Alternative Universe
This is more of universe rather a single story. It is filled with one shots, rather a singular story like my previous stories. It centers around the Vader dynasty, the Royal Imperial House of the Galactic Empire. The Vader family's triumphs, tragedies, adventures, drama, and so on.
Characters include Emperor Vader, Empress Padmé Amidala-Vader, their children Luke, Leia, and their siblings who we will meet as the story goes along. We may also see some of their descendants in future chapters. I will be pulling heavily from Legends material. I also plan to do some chapters on Cade and Marasiah Fel, characters from the Legends comics.
Genres include drama, romance, suspense, family, and friendship.
This universe is rated T is for Teen for mentions of sex, brief sex scenes, violence, and language.
** If you have not read the prequel to this story, The Supreme Commander and the Grand Vizier, I strongly recommend it. If not, I suppose one can read these as stand alone pieces. Just remember that Anakin never became a Jedi. He was found by the Sith, he still married Padmé, and they have declared themselves rulers of the Galaxy. Also characters may be slightly to very different to their canon counterparts. Like Padmé's paternity is slightly different. If one wants to read more about it, again read the prequel The Supreme Commander and the Grand Vizier, or if not, then read this story. I'm sure I'll bring it up somewhere in this story.
Timeline for this chapter: It's been about 15 years since the end of The Supreme Commander and the Grand Vizier. That would make Luke and Leia sixteen.
This chapter will mostly be a Luke and Leia chapter. There will be plenty of Emperor Vader, but no Padmé. Many other characters will be mentioned or make brief cameos. I hope everyone enjoys this.
Chapter One
The Golden Age
A single black cloaked figure walked underneath Tatooine's twin suns. His hands were clasped together.
Trying to concentrate on his small meditations to help take his mind off the heat. The sweat crawling down between his shoulder blades. He had been spoiled growing up on Coruscant, under its perfect weather thanks to the planetary climate control. How did beings even live out here? Hopefully his father's conquest of the Outer Rim would help improve their lives. He finally pulled a liquid capsule from his belt. He should have drank more water before he came here. Yes, his father would think him weak for using a capsule, but it beat passing out during the mission. A very important mission, his first on his own. Well, with his sister...sort of.
He should have landed his ship closer, but did not want to risk Jabba the Hutt's men firing on him. Not that they were supposed to, since he had been invited here to negotiate. Still, the Hutt was not known for his hospitality.
He stepped over rocks and skulls. Jabba's work? Well...maybe not. He recognized some of the brown wrappings and skulls. They belonged to those beings his father hated so much, the Tusken Raiders. Forget slavery, the primitives were the first thing his father had exterminated from the planet. He briefly wondered why his father hated them so much?
He finally reached the entrance of the Palace. It was a large sandrock and durasteel complex located somewhere on the border of the Northern Dune Sea on the planet of Tatooine.
He stood there for a moment. Looking at the giant metal door. Should he knock? He looked around...was there another way in?
He moved his hand to knock, but ended up not needing to.
Creeeak!
The brown metal door opened.
He took a moment to look around. He felt...nothing. No lifeforms nearby in the Force. He looked around for armed guards, droids, or traps, but...nothing. No one was here to greet him. He supposed Jabba's supporters were becoming fewer and fewer by the day. He had expected to find Jabba's majordomo, but no. Not him. No guards. Not even a slave girl. Pity.
He slowly proceeded inside the darkness. He stopped when he heard footsteps and squeals?
Ah, there were the guards. They were a group of Gamorreans, a sentient species of green-skinned porcine humanoids that hailed from the Outer Rim planet of Gamorr. Their famous melee weapons, vibro-axes and, and vibro-lances in their hands.
So much for negotiations. He supposed his sister had been caught.
The hooded figure waved his right hand.
Invisible hands wrapped their fingers around the Gamorreans thick green throats, but only long enough for them to fall unconscious. He saw no need to kill them. Despite his father's encouragement. Like him, they were just following their Master's orders. Instead, he decided to save his strength and rage for the Hutt.
He walked some more and found the winding staircase that led down to Jabba's Throne Room.
Ah, there he was. The pale skinned Twi'lek, Bib Fortuna. He had been Jabba the Hutt's majordomo for decades. Since "the time of podracing" according to his father.
Podracing was some racing sport his father intended to bring back though he had no idea why. Though he guessed podracing was something his father had loved to watch during his boyhood. He had looked into it, but little information was known about the sport. Podracing was never even on any official HoloNet channels. Unless his father had visited Tatooine during his apprenticeship under Darth Sidious. Though he had no idea, his father rarely talked about his past, most of what the young Prince knew was thanks to his mother.
"You're Prince Luke!" Bib Fortuna said in Huttese.
Despite his many tutors, Prince Luke did not understand much of Outer Rim's most common tongue, but that was clearly what it sounded like.
Still wearing his hood, Luke waved his right hand. "You will take me to Jabba now," He said in Galactic Basic. He hoped and assumed the Twi'lek understood the Galaxy's common tongue. It was time to get down to business. Luke wanted to get back to Coruscant as soon as possible. At the end of the week, he had a date with his girlfriend, Dani. She was an intelligent, wild, and incredibly sexy Zeltron. It would mark their one month anniversary.
Bib Fortuna paused with his mouth agape. Making a confused face. "...I will take you to Jabba now." He weakly said in Galactic Basic.
A pleased Luke nodded as he followed to the Twi'lek. "You serve Emperor Vader well and you will be rewarded." Not with credits, but more likely his life. Though who knows, Fortuna may be rewarded with land or power after his father finished his conquest of the Outer Rim. More planets and systems fell to their knees by the day. Some like Tatooine would be in need of new lords and rulers.
Ten years ago, when his father had first announced his plans for the Outer Rim, most were not sure what to make of it. No being or government had ever controlled the Outer Rim and its unruliness. An ancient species call the Rakata had controlled Tatooine and some other systems, but no government had been powerful enough to take on the entirety of the Outer Rim. A few systems initially surrendered out of their fear of the Vaders. Others bent the knee in exchange for protection from enemies. Most kept silent or simply ignored the Emperor. Seeing what he would do. How serious was he? Could he really do it?
His father started small, collecting the smaller, more desolate planets and worlds one by one. Including Sicemon and the Dagobah system.
Still, silence remained along with resistance. Some gathered their small fleets and armies. Including the Geonosians, the fools!
But like the Clone Wars, Geonosis had been the turning point. Every living thing on the desert planet was now dead. Apparently they had built some weapon for Emperor Palpatine years ago. Something they were threatening to reveal to the Galactic public if they were not left in peace. Instead of giving into their demands, Emperor Vader and 501st had wiped out the Geonosians by dropping Imperial gas canisters to sterilize the entire planet. It kept them silent, but also served as an example.
Many worlds started to fall to their knees or at least begin negotiations. Such as Ryloth and now the remainder of Tatooine, but the negotiations with Jabba seemed to have failed.
His father now controlled over half the planet, Jabba was one of the last obstacles between him and domination of the entire planet.
The hooded figure followed Fortuna down the rest of the stairs leading to Jabba's Throne Room.
The Throne Room's air was filled with snores and spiced t'bac smoke and the sounds of jizz per Jabba's delight in theatrics. Reposing on a large dais backed by a rotisserie cooker, Jabba could oversee the gathered masses he permitted to enjoy his company. From farmers, locals, pilots, bounty hunters, assassins, smugglers, and other Outer Rim scum. Right now, many of the figures over in the shadows were probably seeking refuge from the Emperor.
Luke recognized a few of these bounty hunters. The green and grey figure was called Boba Fett. He had worked for his father from time to time. And now he was working for Jabba? Sleemo! He hoped his father would make him suffer. He didn't names but recognized some of the others as bounty hunters too. Such as the Trandoshan and the human male wearing battle armor and a white turban.
Luke studied the other beings especially the guards. Trying to separate Jabba's thugs from his father's men. Some he could clearly tell, others he could not be sure.
Luke's eyes then wandered over to the other side of the Throne Room. Some decoration? Artwork? It was a man who looked like he was screaming. Frozen still inside a grey block, but not duracrete. Carbonite?
Ah, that must have been the Imperial Lieutenant Han Solo. The Corellian and his Wookiee First Lieutenant had been feeding his father information on Jabba for many years. Working undercover as smugglers until the bloody fools lost some cargo months ago which angered the Hutt tremendously. His father had no choice, but to let Solo be captured. Everyone had thought Solo was dead, but maybe not. He wondered if it was possible to survive the freezing process?
Anyway, the previous day, his sister had disguised herself as a bounty hunter and Solo's Wookiee as her "prisoner". Originally the twins were supposed to go in together, but Leia refused to wait. Luke wondered how she had persuaded the Wookiee to do this.
Luke looked over in Jabba's direction.
There she was! Thank the Force Leia was safe. Well, as safe as one could be in the clutches of Jabba. Though she was thankfully unharmed and despite her circumstances, she looked regal and composed. As their mother had taught them. Mother would be proud. In spite of her regal pose, Luke could tell Leia was furious. Luke could feel her fury simmering in the Force. It almost made Luke feel bad for Jabba. Though Leia had every right to be. Being humiliated, chained and dressed as one of his slave girls. She had disguised herself as some bounty hunter, but obviously she had been captured. Probably within the last twelve hours when they lost contact.
At her sides were two other slave girls. A sexy green skinned Twi'lek and a cute human girl with brown hair and blue eyes. They looked as equally angered as Leia, only more terrified.
He suddenly couldn't help but be jealous of the Hutt. He currently had three beautiful women at his side. Luke had not been with one in almost a week. He couldn't wait to get back to Coruscant, or maybe he wouldn't wait and see what beauties he could bed in the Outer Rim.
Behind the sleeping Jabba, his majordomo had his own private turbolift which allowed them to greet guests at the front gate, allowing for the crime boss' second in commanded to either welcome, turn away, or kill them. The likes of guests filled out the often crowded alcoves of the chamber, many of whom plotted to one day overthrow the Hutt or kill him.
"Master," whispered Bib Fortuna. He was using Huttese again.
The mighty Jabba Desilijic Tiure or better known as Jabba the Hutt woke up with a start. His yellow eyes glowing.
Bib Fortuna gestured his hand, "May I present Prince Luke of the Royal Imperial House Vader."
"I told you not to admit him!" Jabba the Hutt said in Huttese.
Luke waved his hand. "I must be allowed to speak."
"He must be allowed to speak," Bib Fortuna repeated.
Jabba the Hutt grabbed Fortuna by his lekku—the tentacles hanging from the heads of all Twi'leks and even Togrutas. "You weak minded fool!" He spat in Huttese. "The boy is using an old Jedi mind trick." He furiously shoved Bib Fortuna aside.
Luke pulled back his hood. His blue eyes twinkled bright and blonde hair came down to his shoulders. "You will release my sister and any other hostages," He winked at the two slave girls next to Leia, "To me."
Leia rolled her eyes.
Jabba the Hutt laughed, "Your mind powers will not work on me, boy."
Luke paused, taking a moment to think what to say next. "Nevertheless, I'm taking my sister and everyone else with me. You can either profit by this or be destroyed. It's your choice, but I warn you not to underestimate my powers." The boy smirked, "Or my father." Using the Force, he quietly started to loosen the chains around the girls' necks. He didn't want them to be near Jabba if things got bad.
Jabba the Hutt wasted no time replying, "There will be no bargain, young Prince. I shall enjoy watching you die and giving what's left of you to your father."
Using the Force Luke grabbed a blaster from one of the guards. In less than a moment, he aimed it at the Hutt.
A nearby Gamorrean guard sprang into action. Running in Luke's direction. Weapon in his hand.
"Luke, watch out!" Leia screamed, desperately reaching for him.
Too late.
Jabba tugged on Leia's neck chain as he activated the trap door below Luke boots. Along with the unfortunate Gamorrean guard's who stood mere steps behind Luke.
The pair vanished as the trap door fell open.
As Jabba tugged on Leia's chain, the other two slave girls tripped falling forward into the area Luke was standing.
Beings all over the Throne Room looked down to see the two unfortunate girls dangling in midair. Gasping for air. The human turning blue and Twi'lek white from loss of oxygen.
"No!" Leia screamed.
Jabba looked at the screaming Leia and back at his guests. "The Princess is all we need." He said as he simultaneously let go of the two slave girls' chains with indifference. Jabba's platform jerked and pulled forward to the trap door to get a better view down into the pit. "Today, Emperor Vader will pay for his crimes." Including the death of his son, Rotta.
All four were now in Rancor Pit.
A few moments earlier...
Luke's fall into the pit was hardly graceful, but he managed to balance himself and clumsily land on his feet.
As he rose he turned to see the Gamorrean getting up and running. Making loud squeals and screams.
A moment he heard someone scream, "No!" It sounded like Leia.
Luke looked up to see the two slave girls he had winked at dangling in up midair. Choking to death.
Luke's mind raced. He had to do something, but what?
What could he do? He had nothing to break the chains with. Where was the blaster he was holding?
Then the girls chains came loose and they began to fall.
Luke raised his hands and used the Force to ease their fall.
"Are you two alright?" He asked the pair of gasping, panting girls who dusting themselves off and looking around terrified.
The Twi'lek said something in what sounded like Huttese.
Why must everyone out here speak Huttese?
"Look!" Said the human brunette.
At first Luke thought they meant the Gamorrean guard who fell in the pit with them, but no. He turned around. There was someone...something else down here. Something bigger...
A large barred gate opened.
ROOOOAAAAARRRRR!
He had never seen one in person. Only in textbooks and holos.
A Rancor!
Luke stared up in amazement. It had to be over five meters high. It had black eyes and brown skin.
Apparently Jabba was infamous for dropping beings into the rancor's pit and watching them be eaten. It had been a life day present years ago from Fortuna.
Luke never imagined Jabba would try to kill him. Taking him as a hostage made way more sense. Along with Leia, it would buy him time and protection from their father. Maybe Jabba knew he was screwed either way. His father was never going to take him alive.
"Stay back," He warned the two slave girls.
The girls scrambled and hid under some nearby rocks. Though he didn't know if the rock really provided that much coverage.
While the poor Gamorrean guard squealed in terror and tried to climb back up the trapdoor's steep slide but to no avail. The Rancor approached the guard first. As Jabba and his fellow Gamorreans and watched and laughed from above.
The Rancor picked up the Gamorrean, opened its mouth.
Crunch!
It was worst sound Luke had ever heard.
Then the Rancor swallowed him.
Still hidden out of sight, the two slave girls shrieked in horror.
The Rancor then turned his attention to Luke.
Luke looked around. He couldn't get to the slide that led up the trapdoor, the Rancor would surely get him. And even if he was able to climb back up, he would probably be shot. He couldn't go near the rocks or that would give away the girls.
There was no where for Luke to go. He needed a weapon. Instinctively, he touched his belt to retrieve his lightsaber. Damn, why had his father taken away his lightsaber?
He looked down. He found something...a stick?
No, a bone.
Luke's eyes widened. That was not a comforting sign.
He couldn't help but feel a bit of panic.
Luke took a deep breathe.
He was not going to die.
No...
He had a destiny.
A large clawed hand then wrapped itself around Luke's waist. He almost tried to wiggle free, but was afraid the claws might cut him. As the beast lifted him into the air, he almost dropped the bone, but held tight.
Up above, Leia was beginning to panic. "No! No!" She could not let this happen.
Jabba yanked on the chain, "Quiet."
Leia didn't hear him, she was about to open her mouth to scream. Hell, screaming is all it would have taken. She could feel their allies' eyes on her. Just waiting for her to give them the order.
Meanwhile, a squirming Luke looked up, he met his sister's eyes. He knew what Leia was about to do.
Not yet, I've got this! Leia could hear him say through the Force. It something only they could do with one another.
...You better. Don't you dare die on me! Leia answered back. While she wanted to succeed her parents as the heir to the Throne, she didn't want it at the cost of her brother's life.
Luke bashed the Rancor's claw with the bone.
The beast cried out in pain. As it opened its mouth, Luke rammed a bone up into its mouth, between two of its teeth.
The Rancor dropped Luke.
Luke managed to land perfectly this time. He then ran between the monster's legs to the other side of the monster's lair.
The bone snapped in two.
The Rancor was roared in frustration and walked began walking over to Luke who was now the back of the pit over by the large door.
Luke looked up at the door. There were pointy ends at the end of the door.
He looked down...there was the control panel. In the Rancor's den? He supposed it was for the keeper of the creature. He also sensed none of its victims made it this far.
He had an idea.
Luke waited...
Watching the monster's feet.
Not yet...
One more step...
He reached out his hand then turned it into a fist. The control panel began to crumble and sparks flew out of it.
Bang!
The door fell down, the sharp points at the bottom of the door pierced the beast's skull, killing it.
Luke sighed in relief.
A few moments earlier...
At first, Leia was shocked. She could not believe Luke had outsmarted and killed the beast on his own. Without his lightsaber. Father would be pleased at his use of skill and intelligence.
And then she saw him smile at Cammie and Oola. He was obviously flirting with them.
Father would be somewhat proud.
Leia shook her head.
Through the Force, she could sense Jabba's growing impatience and outrage.
The Hutt pulled her back, yanking her neck chain.
Leia wasn't waiting any longer. She was tired of this around her neck. "Kark this," she muttered.
"Quiet, schutta!" Jabba angrily snapped. "BRING THE PRINCE TO ME. HE WILL SUFFER FOR THIS–" He was cut off with a desperate gasp.
As Leia snuck around behind the Hutt, she then swung the chain around his neck and pulled with all her strength. She doubted Jabba ever saw it coming. "NOW!" She screamed.
Some of the guards who actually undercover troopers fired upon their enemies.
The bounty hunters then returned fire...no, the bounty hunters fired their blasters with the troopers. Firing upon the enemy.
Out of the corner of her eye, Leia could see one of Jabba's guests nearby. Like he was protecting her...
Blaster shots and screams filled the Throne Room.
Along with the Jabba's dying gasps.
Leia dared not let go of the chain.
She finally heard the gasps stop.
She felt his life Force leave him.
But Leia did not let go.
Several moments passed, "Hey! Hey, your Highness! Hey, that's enough," Said one of the bounty hunters. Setting his gloved hand on her shoulder, "Enough."
Leia moaned in pain and finally let go. Her hands were bleeding from pulling and holding onto the chain so tightly.
"Here," He said. Making some sort of clipping sound.
Leia looked up to see the green and grey bounty hunter wrap his small green cape around bare shoulders. He also handed her some bacta for her hands.
"Thank you," Leia looked up to stare at the masked man.
It was Boba Fett, the bounty hunter.
Many said Boba Fett was a clone of Jango Fett, the progenitor of the Clone Troopers that had wiped out the Jedi Order. The Clone Troopers who now served her father as the 501st Legion. Leia had wondered if Boba Fett had been a deserter? However, that did not explain the trust and respect between the two men. Others said he actually was the original Fett.
Leia never believed such fairy tale fodder, but it did make for fun stories to tell her younger siblings. Not Ruwee or Arabella, but identical twins Reinhard and Ragnar. They were the youngest of the Vader children.
Leia slowly rose.
Blaster marks covered the walls.
Three different colors of blood painted the floor.
Most of the disguised guards were rounding up Jabba's guests. Which were made up of various species including smugglers, two farmers, and members of the Max Rebo Band. While the bounty hunters were finishing killing Jabba's real guards who were begging for mercy. While other beings were crying for the dead or dressing their wounds.
Was this it? Weeks of planning and it was over in minutes?
Leia was starting to miss the Senate. At least that Arena made more sense to her.
Fett saw the Princess's confusion. "What were you expecting?" This was war.
Leia supposed so, but it was nothing like the training she had received under her father or three years at the Imperial Academy.
The Wookiee, Chewbacca was roaring and protecting Captain Solo, who was still frozen in carbonite. Leia had never met him, but she wondered if he was as big a nerfherder as he looked?
Fett tossed her a blaster from one of the fallen guards, "I'll see if we can find you some clothes." He looked at the fallen guards. Something in her size, if that was possible.
Then everyone looked up in alarm.
Someone was coming. Everyone could hear loud boot-steps coming down the stairs.
Leia aimed her blaster at the stair landing.
As did most of the bounty hunters.
"Easy everyone!" Fett yelled, Holding up an arm. Signaling everyone to wait.
He knew that sound.
Armed troopers filled the Throne Room.
It was the 501st Legion.
They were early.
The 501st Legion was no ordinary Trooper Legion of the Galactic Empire. Their nickname was Vader's Fist. They were an elite military division of the Galactic Empire. Unlike most of the Imperial troops who mostly consisted of ordinary citizens, the 501st consisted of highly trained Clone Troopers engineered by Kaminoan cloners.
Leia had never been so happy to see them in her life. It made her forgive them for all the humiliation she suffered while they had to chaperone her around school, the Imperial Academy, the mall, to visit friends, and everywhere she went.
As the 501st swarmed the room, Boba Fett quickly handed Leia a black cloak.
Just in time.
As Leia finished pulling the cloak over her shoulders, a man approached her.
"Your Highness," Said an approaching lackey who was not a clone. He cleared his throat and bowed. Trying not to look at her attire. "Your Father is waiting."
Leia's face remained blank. She had a bad feeling about this.
Outside Jaba's Palace, the twin suns were beginning to set.
Leia wished she had more time to admire the site. The sunset of Coruscant was quite different, but she had to focus. She breathed in and out as she was following the trooper over in the direction the her father. While Boba Fett was at her side. She sensed that Fett was her father's idea. Had he so little faith in her?
Leia could sense her father's anger even before she saw him.
She could see him many meters away.
He wore black and brown desert gear. As usual, he wore his hood up while in public, since his hair had fallen out in recent years. A "side effect of the Dark Side," he had explained. Underneath it, she could see his respirator cowl attached to his neck that helped him breathe. It didn't need it all the time, but he was becoming more dependent on it.
Between he hair loss and respirator cowl it made him seem so much older.
Behind him were dozens, maybe over a hundred men. Some from the 501st, others were from other legions. Leia could tell because of their markings and armor. Also they were not clones of Fett.
Meters away were their transports. More men were standing near them, guarding them incase there was any trouble. Way off in the distance, she could see HoloNet crews starting to arrive, but they were being held back by members of the 501st. She momentarily wondered if Starkiller was there too?
Leia weaved through the crowd.
Thankfully, as they bowed their heads, none of them seemed to notice what she was wearing under the cloak Fett found for her.
And there was her father.
Emperor Vader towered over the unlucky guard he was yelling at. "Why was I not made aware that the Princess had been captured?" There had better be a damn good explanation.
"Y-Your Highness..." Said the man in a guard's disguise. "T-The Princess ordered me not to," He weakly stated.
"Father," Leia lowered her head. She hoped he wouldn't be too difficult on the man who she recognized as Captain Raymus Antilles. A week earlier, she invited him on this mission. He had served as her Captain of her transport on their arrival on Tatooine. She had then served as her contact with her father.
Vader eyed his daughter then the lackey. "She is a Princess," Using his right hand, he physically grabbed the man by the throat. "I AM YOUR LORD AND MASTER!"
Captain Antilles tried to speak, but couldn't, he only made quiet, desperate gasping sounds. His eyes were bulging.
Leia knew she should have looked away, but could not.
She then watched as her father tossed Captain Antilles aside as if he were nothing.
Her father killed him...
He killed him.
It was not the first time Leia had seen her father kill someone. However, the previous times her father had been protecting her—them from assassins.
Yes, she knew—had heard beings whisper how her father would kill officers and other Imperials who displeased him.
But this...this was not how envisioned it. She always assumed they must have been traitors. Antilles was no traitor. Yes, he had Rebel sympathies, but... Leia swallowed hard. Trying to keep her composure in place.
Vader looked over to the men and workers digging graves for the deceased. "Bury him with the others," Vader said coldly.
Unless their bodies were unrecoverable, all troopers who served the Empire were sent home to be given a proper burial. If they weren't, it was a traitor's burial.
"No!" Leia took several paces forward so she stood between the troopers and Antilles. "He had a wife and family. He serves...served House Organa." She corrected herself. "Fett," Leia looked at the bounty hunter. "Take him to my transport."
"Daughter," Vader stood in front of his daughter, arms crossed. Cape flowing in the wind. He towered over Leia like she was a little girl. "Who do you think is in charge here?"
"Well, Father since this was supposed to my mission—"
"I assigned this mission to both you and your brother." Vader looked up, "Leave us," He ordered the men surrounding them. They did not an audience.
As soon as the troopers and Fett disappeared, "Father, you didn't have to do that."
"It wasn't the first time Antilles displeased me, but now it is the last."
"But he..." Leia tried to find the right words. "He just...he did nothing wrong."
"Yes, he did. He knew better. Your actions have consequences, daughter. Perhaps if you worked better with your brother—"
Leia scowled placing her hands on her hips. "I had everything under control." There was no need to kill Antilles. There had been no need to send Luke. "I could have done this on my own."
"Clearly," Vader said as he saw what his daughter was wearing under the green and black cloak. The Hutt was lucky he was dead. If not, Vader would have strangled the Hutt with his bare hands.
"Where is your brother?" Vader had wanted Luke to kill the Hutt.
Why did he have to bring Luke up? "He's..." Leia tried to think of an excuse. "Well, he got thrown down into the Rancor Pit," She said quietly, not meeting his powerful gaze.
"Yes, I'm aware." One bounty hunter and two other troopers disguised as guards kept him up to date on what was happening inside the Hutt's Palace. "I also know he was victorious. Where is he?" She was clearly stalling.
Leia paused, there was no reason to cover for him. "He's around. He's...consoling two girls who were also thrown down in the Rancor Pit." Consoling? Leia cursed herself. She should have chosen another word, but that was the only appropriate word she could think of.
Vader remained still, "Put on some decent clothes then FETCH HIM." Vader snapped with a pointed finger. He would have fetched the boy himself. However, Vader was afraid he might murder his son if he saw what he was doing. And who...
"Yes, sir," Leia nodded. She didn't meet his eyes.
"He is also to return the girls to their families," Vader said in a calmer tone.
Leia bowed and walked past him to the transport to find clothing. Frowning as she pulled the cloak tighter around her.
As his daughter walked away, Vader fumed. Fists clenched.
He wanted... he had instructed Luke to kill Jabba. While yes, the Rancor was just as good...arguably better, but still the boy had not done as he was ordered. Was the Imperial Academy not teaching him to follow orders?
He wanted Luke to start making a name for himself. To be more the just the son of Vader, the heir. To bring justice to the Outer Rim.
Padmé had not too keen on the idea. "They're only sixteen." She argued. "He's just a boy!"
Maybe she had been right. Maybe he should have waited. However, as he said, "He's a boy who must learn to be a soldier, a Sith, and Emperor. Death is his destiny and he must learn to give it."
It wasn't like he and Padmé were growing any younger. They were both now in their forties.
Vader could be wrong. Beings might remember their future Emperor slaying a Rancor, but were more were more likely to remember a well known Hutt. Perhaps it could turn one day into a legend.
That boy. Why did his son think with that part of his body and not his head? Vader did not understand it. If Luke thought that way all time, how did he expect to be good ruler? Again, Vader did not understand.
Well, maybe that wasn't entirely true. Vader understood a desire for women. Though he only lusted after one woman during the last near twenty years.
Also Vader certainly understood a desire for a woman's flesh much better than books and watching the HoloNet all the time. That was all his third child and second born son, Ruwee ever did. So quiet that one. The boy was a complete mystery to him. Ruwee was "just shy and sensitive" according to Padmé. He hoped the boy would grow out of it. That the Imperial Academy would help toughen him up, but so far it felt like it made things worse. The boy wouldn't even look him when he was home on the holidays. Padmé continued to argue that they should take him out there, but Vader stood firm. Ruwee was third in line, while it was unlikely but there was always a chance he could be Emperor. And Padmé was the one who insisted on having many children.
Then there was his second daughter and fourth child, Arabella. Her twelfth life day had just passed and he had missed it. She seemed to grow more distant everyday. Vader doubted he had seen her in a month.
Vader silently cursed himself. Despite his many achievements and victories across the Galaxy, there was one area he had failed in–fatherhood. He had been a bad father. He had missed so many life day parties, ceremonies, and other events.
He even missed the births of two of his children–Ruwee and Arabella. Padmé had never forgiven him for not being there, especially for Ruwee's. Maybe that was another reason he was not close to Ruwee. Perhaps it was also poetic to not be close to the child named after his father-in-law. They never liked one another. Now he wished he put up a stronger argument when Padmé decided to use the name, but her father had just passed away, so he couldn't turn her down.
He had barely managed to see Reinhard and Ragnar's births, but Padmé had ordered the med droids to wait as long as possible. Reinhard and Ragnar were not conceived naturally, instead they were grown through a glass, artificial womb. Semi similar to the ones the Kaminoans grew the clones. For a few years, he and Padmé had decided to stop having children after her third miscarriage. Something they fought bitterly about for months after the last miscarriage. However, after an assassination attempt on nine year old Luke and Leia, they agreed to have more children, but through other means.
Maybe he could do better with Reinhard and Ragnar, the youngest. He still had time. They were only five...or were they six now? Yes, they six, he also missed their last life day.
Yes...he needed to spend more time with them. Perhaps he could start giving more responsibilities to Commander Starkiller and Luke.
Starkiller was more than ready. But Luke...Luke was far from ready. He needed to do what he should have done long ago, train Luke in the ways of the Dark Side.
Padmé had made him promise years ago not to teach them the ways the Dark Side. At least not until they were old enough to make the decision for themselves. Originally Vader was going to teach them anyway, but he later realized Padmé was right. He wanted Luke and all of his children to have what he never had—a childhood. He had been born a slave here on Tatooine and then apprenticed to Darth Sidious—another form of slavery.
He had considered training Leia instead, but she was more like her mother. Interested in politics and the Senate.
While Luke had shown more potential and interest in any case.
Still, Vader couldn't believe that despite her circumstances, Leia had killed the Hutt herself. She had done with her own bare hands. Not armed with a lightsaber or a blaster. The Force was surely with her.
He was so proud of her. He needed to tell her and the rest of the children this more often.
Vader looked back to see Leia, but she was already gone.
Shortly...
After putting on a sleek black tunic and red cape, Leia wandered Jabba's Palace in search of Luke.
She asked the officers, the troopers, and their few captives. No one had seen him or his companions, Oola and Cammie.
Leia didn't know much about the Twi'lek, Oola except that her father was a powerful chief on Ryloth. From what Leia observed she received little in formal education as Twi'lek society believed that educating women was a threat to male authority. So she had probably devoted herself to dancing and pleasing her clan members. Leia did know that during a meeting with the mighty Jabba the Hutt, she had immediately caught his eye and was soon abducted by his majordomo, Bib Fortuna.
While Cammie Loneozner was the daughter of hydroponic gardeners here on Tatooine. They had made a deal with Jabba years ago. In exchange for seasonal payments, they would have protection from the Tusken Raiders. Unfortunately, they had fallen behind on recent payments, and Cammie was taken as consequence.
"Luke!" Leia shouted then leaped down into the Rancor Pit.
She took a moment to stare at the dead beast.
Damn, it seemed even larger than before.
Leia held her nose. And pew! It was already starting to stink or maybe some of the stench was already there due to Rancor dung.
Leia squeezed past the gates. She found several guards dead including the rancor keeper, Malakili. Since there was no marks on some of the bodies, Luke must have killed them via Force choke. While others were shot with blasters, but the shots were very sloppy. Leia guessed that Luke had given the pair of women blasters from his fallen victims to defend themselves. She found what must have been the rancor keeper's quarters. Given it was closet to the Rancor's Pit.
On the left there were what looked to be quarters for the guards, and on the right what looked like dungeons.
Yes, they were dungeons upon further inspection. Some of the troopers came out of them. They were probably inspecting them for any other prisoners or anything of value. So far all she had seen were droid appendages and bones. She doubted there would be anything valuable up here, most of the wealth would be probably be found in Jabba's private chambers.
"Your Highness!" They greeted her with an abrupt bow.
"Continue with your duties," Leia brushed them aside. Judging from their surprised reactions, she doubted they had seen their Prince.
She went back took a right to search the guards' quarters. Some troopers were there searching, all of them greeted her.
Halfway down, she saw General Rex, Master of the Imperial Household standing outside the last door.
"General," She greeted her old friend and bodyguard.
He was standing guard outside a closed door.
She could hear giggles and moans coming from the other side. She recognized the voices.
"Thank you, General," Leia said with a sigh. "I will take it from here."
General Rex closed his eyes as he heard another moan from behind the door. "Milady, are you—"
Leia held up a hand. "It's alright."
Clearly relieved, General Rex disappeared down the hall.
"Luke?" She knocked on the door. "Luke, it's me. Father is looking for you. Now." She said in the political voice her mother had taught her. She waited a few moments for a response. "Luke?" She knocked again as she slowly cracked the door open. She prayed he was at least somewhat decent.
Leia couldn't see much thanks to the sheets, but she knew Luke had to be nude. Oola was only half naked, her top was thankfully still on. She was sitting atop and straddling him. While Cammie laid beside him, under the covers.
"Oh, hey sis! Good thing you didn't come in here earlier." Prince Luke craned his neck up to see his sister. He stretched his arms. "You say Father is looking for me?" He was almost smiling.
"Yes, you nerfherder." Leia covered her reddened face. "You are also tasked with returning Cammie and Oola to their families."
"No!" Cammie cried. Reaching over for Luke.
"No! You cannot!" Oola said in Huttese. She spoke little Basic.
That puzzled Leia. Cammie seemed to have a good life. Maybe she was ashamed. Afraid her parents would not accept her? Or maybe she thought she and Luke would be couple? Leia almost chuckled at the notion. As if. Besides, their mother would never allow some Rimmer to sit on the Throne alongside Luke.
Now Leia could understand why Oola did not want to go back to her father. He would sell her off to another Jabba or someone far worse.
"Please, I want to see Coruscant." Cammie smiled "I've never even been off this rock."
"Me too! You promised." Oola kissed his cheek.
"I will talk with my father," Luke assured the pair. "Now, let's get dressed." Luke used the Force take the clothes from Leia and floated them over to the pair. "Do you mind?" Luke asked Leia.
Leia quickly stepped outside where she impatiently waited as they dressed.
Moments later...
Cammie and Oola finally emerged from the chamber.
Finally.
Leia was beginning to wonder if they were ever coming out.
"There are some troopers down the hall who will escort you to your transport." The Princess coldly stated. "Now I will speak with my brother." She no longer spoke as their fellow prisoner and almost friend, but as the Royal Imperial Princess of Coruscant. Her title as the eldest daughter.
Cammie and Oola looked back at the Prince, who gave them a nod.
"I'll be along later. Don't worry," He said, seeing their worried looks.
Cammie and Oola disappeared.
Closing the door, Leia's arms were crossed, "So...what happened to Gwinn?" The gorgeous young Twi'lek he be began dating two months ago. If Leia were her, she would slap the poodoo out him.
Luke finished tightening his belt. "We broke up last week." He shrugged with indifference. They wanted different things.
"Oh, wow! A week?" Leia said with sarcasm. "That must be a new record." Normally by the next evening he was onto his new conquest.
"Very funny," Luke said. Running his fingers through his hair. Trying to make himself more presentable.
Leia shook her head. She loved her brother, her twin. They had always been together. She could not imagine life without him. He was her closet friend. Leia told Luke almost everything. Her thoughts on their education. Her relationship with Raal Panteer and now Jobin. Her thoughts on the future, the current issues that plagued the Empire, and naturally their parents and one day them.
But she did not understand him.
His playboy ways.
Why did he act this way? Was it loneliness? The pressures he faced the eldest son and heir?
Did he truly think so lowly of women? That they were just for his pleasure.
Some would he was just being a boy, but Leia did not believe it was that...just that.
She long wondered if it was it some way of acting out in defiance? So far, their parents had surprisingly said little. They had mostly just punished him for coming late and sometimes drunk. Surely they weren't naive enough to believe there no girls at the parties he attended? Or that he and the girls he dated were doing it. Maybe they just didn't want to accept reality. And it was probably thanks to them that none of this had been broadcast across the HoloNet...yet.
Really, if this was an act of defiance, why didn't he just act like most normal teenagers? They just dyed their hair, got piercings, and drank at parties. Some did have sex yes, but not the number of relationships he had and at such a young age. At least dying one's hair did not have permanent consequences unlike sex. Not that Leia would know yet, but she was she sure sex enjoyable. Again, Leia just hoped Luke remembered that it also could have lifelong consequences.
When they went to public school for a time, girls had naturally chased him and he chased them back. He had his first girlfriend and kiss by the age of twelve. While he hadn't exactly told her, she believed he lost his virginity at fourteen.
He was somewhat handsome, blonde hair, blue eyes, but he was also thin and a bit short. Not very tall or muscular, but that didn't seem to stop the girls.
And again, he was the heir, rich, and famous. Also the firstborn child of the Emperor and Empress.
She did not know, she prayed he would stop.
On the other hand, if he were to continue his playboy ways... Leia smirked. It made a far stronger case for her to be named the heir of the Empire.
Luke being the oldest was perceived as the natural heir. However, because their mother hailed from Naboo, Leia being the eldest daughter and Luke's twin had just a strong a chance. In terms of inheritance, some considered twins equals on their mother's homeworld. Leia had just as great a chance because in the last few decades the planet had enjoyed the rebirth of a matriarchy which had begun with their own mother.
Also their parents had never officially declared Luke the Heir Apparent.
She suspected the original plan was for her and Luke to co rule, but they had later changed their had long assumed the only thing stopping them from declaring her the Heir Apparent was fears of dividing their family and upsetting worlds with strong patriarchy such as Ryloth.
Then again, even if they did choose Luke, some beings and worlds with strong matriarchy would be upset. The worlds of Naboo and Hapes would be dismayed. Even Leia would be devastated, but she was trying to prepare herself just in case. Leia did understand that her parents were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Also they were busy with their conquest of the Outer Rim.
But she was doing everything in power to help them make the decision easier. Including trying to better equip herself politically.
Making connections with the Imperial Council. With her mentors, Senator Bail Organa and Mas Amedda, the Grand Vizier. She now had plenty of contacts in the Senate. Knew numerous beings, their worlds, what they liked and disliked. Some of their dirty secrets. Who was indulging in spice and other drugs. Who was cheating on their spouse or partners.
In Luke's case, girlfriends. Some of whom she had even introduced him to.
"Sis? Sis!"
"What?" Leia asked as if waking up.
"I think you've spent too much time with Mother and Vizier Amedda at the Senate."
Leia looked at him quizzically.
Luke titled his head curiously. "You're wearing that same smirk as Mom." It was kind of scary. Luke took her by the hand. "Let's go, I'm ready."
Shortly...
"Where is my father?"
A trooper gestured in Vader's direction. "Over there, your Highness," He lowered his head as he spoke.
Luke and Leia walked several paces in that direction.
And there he was.
Emperor Vader stopped pacing.
"My Father," Luke dropped to one knee.
"My son," Vader greeted his son. He briefly put a hand on his shoulder.
Luke rose, he wasn't sure who should speak first or when? Finally, he blurted out, "You didn't tell me about the bounty hunters." He crossed his arms. He didn't like being babysat.
"I wanted to see what you accomplished on your own. They were only there in case you needed them."
Luke gave a small sigh.
"Well done on killing the Rancor."
"Thank you, Father," Luke smiled, which quickly faded.
"You didn't kill Jabba," Vader quickly added.
Luke lowered his head. Yes, his father had instructed him to kill the Hutt, but he had killed the Rancor. Why wasn't that good enough?
"You were distracted." Eyeing the pair of girls getting on the transport several meters away.
Luke looked back and saw his lovers, "I was protecting them."
Vader saw right through his flimsy excuse. "You had a mission. One that you let your sister complete." He saw a cross looking Leia. He looked back at Luke, "Duty comes first. Personal indulgences can wait until later. What if your sister had been hurt?"
"I can take care of myself, Father," Leia growled.
Vader turned to his daughter. She was so much like him and Padmé... "I know that." He turned to back to his son. His heir, though that remained to be seen. "But what if something had happened?"
Luke paused, "Then I would figure it out. Isn't that what life is all about? Figuring out its twists and turns. And isn't it the same with being a ruler?" He added.
That was a...fair answer.
Vader thought about pressing the matter further, but not here. He did not want to make a scene in front of his troops. Also what if HoloNet crews had finally broken through Commander Starkiller's barriers?
Luke looked back to the transport where his lovers waited. "I would like to take them with us."
"Absolutely not," Vader said without a pause.
"Why not?"
Vader's blue eyes narrowed. Did he really need to ask? "First off, they will only distract you. Secondly, the girls must be returned to their families. The human girl will make an excellent story on the evening HoloNet." More positive press to extinguish the negativity towards the Outer Rim War. "As for the Twi'lek, she is the daughter of Chief Bril of Ryloth. I'm sure he'll want her back." It will further aid to their negotiations at Ryloth. "Besides, what will Chief Bril say if he finds a child in his daughter's belly?"
"Two for the price of one," Luke jested. Though seeing his father's hardened face, he quickly added, "We were responsible. I would never—"
"Your mother and I will continue this speech when we get home." Vader planned to give Luke the speech about what would happen if he ever got one of his lovers pregnant. Vader did not know the punishment would be...maybe he would lose his hand. Whatever it was, it would be severe.
Leia frowned, "If Oola is returned to her father, she will only be sold off to another Jabba." She understood her father's point in not taking them back to Coruscant, but she saw no need in returning Oola to Ryloth. "We're here to improve the lives of the Rimmers, so why not set her free?" She pointed out.
Vader scowled. Nor did he approve of the word, Rimmer. It was an unkind word that referred to beings who lived in the Outer Rim. Then he smirked. He wondered what would happen if he told Leia that she was the daughter of one?
As for Twi'lek, he supposed in an ideal world he would set Oola free, but where would she go? She was uneducated. Yes, there were programs to help beings like her, but time and time again, many in her position went back to their old lives, because that was all they had ever known.
Also he was wise enough to understand that Ryloth and the rest of the Outer Rim was not going to change overnight. Still, perhaps Vader could suggest to Chief Bril not to send stunning girl to anymore Hutts. "She's too valuable. Besides, that is his business," Vader said without remorse. "Now both of go to your ships," He ordered as he looked at both of them. "Then make sure the human girl goes home. I will deal with Oola." Vader would personally make sure the Twi'lek got home safely. "No pit stops," He warned.
"Yes, Father," Luke said as he turned to find his starfighter.
Vader watched his son wander off to find his ship. He turned back to find his eldest daughter fuming.
"What is it now?"
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised about Oola." Leia bitterly mumbled. "Seeing how you and Mother plan to sell me off to the Chume'da of Hapes." Chume'da was the title given to the heir of the Hapes Consortium.
The Hapes Consortium was the ruling government and consortium of the Hapes Cluster, which was made up of 63 star systems. For thousands of years, the Hapes Consortium had remained independent and somewhat isolated from the Old Republic and even the Empire.
The Emperor and Empress had long wished to bring the Hapes Consortium closer into the fold of the Empire. Unfortunately, between their troops spread throughout in the Outer Rim, and Hapes Consortium's strong military and skilled navy, there was no possible way to conqueror Hapes.
"War is not the only way to conqueror," Padmé coyly said weeks earlier.
Instead of conquering by warfare, Padmé and the Queen Mother Ta'a Chume of Hapes had a series of undisclosed meetings. Hapes was a matriarchal society, always ruled by a Queen. Unfortunately, the Queen Mother had no daughter, only sons. The Queen Mother Ta'a Chume had spoken highly of meeting Leia and clearly an interest in a marriage between the Imperial Princess and her eldest son, Isolder.
If it meant the Hapes Cluster would finally join the Empire, Padmé was seriously considering the marriage.
While Vader would have rather waged war any day.
"We are only planning a dinner. It was your Mother and Amedda's idea. Not mine!" Vader was not ready to think about any of his children getting married. To him, they were still small younglings playing with their toy starships and dolls. "Nothing has been decided." Yet, and hopefully not for a long time. The legal age of the Galactic Empire was eighteen in any case. Really they needed to make the age much older, thirty. Maybe forty.
Leia wouldn't meet his gaze. "You certainly seemed to like the idea of this...Isolder better than Raal and Jobin." Her previous boyfriends. While she never met Chume'da Isolder, but she heard he was charming and handsome. However, with Leia's luck, he was probably crazy like his mother. Rumor said she had killed her firstborn son, Kalen and possibly even her husband when he couldn't give her a daughter.
Vader pondered his daughter's romantics interests. Raal Panteer seemed like a decent being to Vader, just...boring and selfish. As for Jobin, like his mother, the late Mon Mothma, he always seemed to have agenda. The only reason Padmé encouraged the relationship was to keep an eye on the remaining members of House Mothma.
As for Isolder, that remained to be seen. Though Vader doubted he would like him. He seemed stuck up judging by the HoloNet footage. And though it was not fair to hold this against young Isolder, his mother, Ta'a Chume had once tried to seduce him. Something he never told Padmé.
Vader looked down at his daughter. Meeting her gaze, "I will probably never like any boy you and your sister marry." He used his index finger to lift his daughter's chin. "You could be the standard age of fifty and I still would not be ready to part with you."
Leia just stared at her Father. Had he really just said that? He so rarely said such things to her...any of them. She did not care if any being was watching, she wrapped her arms around him.
Someone was watching though thankfully not the media.
"Commander Starkiller?" Vader said as he pulled away from his daughter.
Leia pulled away to see Galen Marek, codenamed Starkiller. He was her father's apprentice who was incredibly strong in the Force. He was human male with short black hair and soft brown eyes. He was a few years older than Luke and Leia.
And quite handsome too.
"Hello, Galen," Leia smiled warmly.
Vader looked at his daughter. Alarmed at her tone.
"Uh, your Highness," Starkiller cleared his throat. "I'm glad to see you are safe and well." He said awkwardly. "My Master," He knelt down on one knee. "The media is persistent, but the barriers are holding." Nothing, not even a wild bantha would get through.
"Excellent," Vader nodded, "As soon as the sand storm passes, you may move back the barriers." According to the Tatooine weather forecast, a sand storm would pass this area in the next few hours. By then they would have the corpses buried and the sand would cover up the graves. Vader did not want the graves being dug up by the HoloNet or any other beings.
Vader considered blowing up the structure up, but decided against it.
"Leave some men here to guard Jabba's Palace. Perhaps it can be repurposed." It was certainly a better structure than the huts the slaves lived in here on Tatooine. There were teams dedicated to rebuilding after the battles. It helped create jobs for refugees and beings after the battles.
Navy ships patrolled almost every hyperspace lane. To crack down on piracy, smuggling, and any other illegal activities. Something that had been a problem for centuries.
If the Old Republic and Jedi had cracked down on the Outer years ago, it would have lessened so many problems. Who knows, it may have stopped the events that led to the Clone Wars or would have slowed down such events.
It made factories and businesses more confident. There were far less raids on their cargo ships, more products to sell, and they were able to hire more beings. It made the economy steadily grow stronger.
Many were calling it a Golden Age.
Others called it a Pyrite's Age. Pyrite was a mineral that could be mistaken for gold. On the one hand, many were enjoying the economic success and the end of Outer Rim's unruliness. On the other hand, many beings were also displeased with the deaths caused by the unnecessary war. They were also unhappy about how taxpayer credits were being wasted on such an expensive war, fuel, and all the damages caused by it. Some also believed the economic success would not last. That all this was only temporary.
But as the Vizier Amedda pointed out at the press conferences, "Are taxpayer credits not lost when pirates steal and plunder? When citizens and refugees of the Empire are enslaved?"
As for those who worried about an economic downfall, there was no evidence to support this.
In Vader's opinion, beings would always find something to complain about. Major crime was down forty percent. So were hunger, homelessnes, and most importantly to him, slavery. He hoped to one day make slavery as the Jedi's current state—extinct.
"Father?" Leia asked. Pulling the Emperor from his thoughts.
Vader looked at his daughter.
"Are you coming?" Asked the Princess.
Commander Starkiller was off in the distance. Pulling back the barriers and the men.
Though thankfully many of the HoloNet crews were already pulling out due to the weather.
Cape flowing in the wind, Vader followed Leia and Starkiller to the transports.
A team of 501st at his side.
Shortly...
The sandy wind was growing stronger.
Holding on tightly to his hood and using the Force to guide him, Luke found his starship.
Unlike most Imperials, who flew TIE fighters, Luke flew an X-Wing. It was red and black, the same colors as their house. His parents faithful astromech droid, R2-D2 sat in the droid socket of the ship. The droid unlocked the cockpit.
"Thank you," Luke said as he climbed into the cockpit.
The X-Wing was his first starship. It had been a gift from his parents when he had turned fourteen, the legal flying age on Coruscant. Really it was a gift from his father, Mother never liked it. She always feared he would crash it and die. Luke shook his head. She worried too much. He was the son of the best pilot in the Galaxy...the Emperor.
Luke hardly swallowed.
The firstborn of the Emperor and Empress.
"You didn't kill the Hutt."
Well...no, but he almost had. If hadn't been for the damn trap door. Besides, why wasn't the Rancor good enough?
And yes, maybe he should have gone back upstairs and not slept with Oola and Cammie.
What if Leia had been hurt? Or worse? He never would have forgiven himself.
Luke lowered his head.
Maybe his Father was right. He was irresponsible. A failure.
He ran his fingers through his golden hair.
How could he possibly live up to his parents' legacy? The slayers of the corrupt Emperor Palpatine. The Conquerors of the Outer Rim.
How could he be even a decent ruler? Rule the ever growing Empire? An entire Galaxy?
Luke beat his head against the controls in frustration.
Artoo beeped with concern. Whoooooop!
The sand was growing thicker. Soon they would not be able to see.
Luke started the engines. "Alright, Artoo, you're right." He strapped himself in. "Time to go home." He would find Dani, drink a bottle of Coruscanti wine, and forget all his worries for a little while.
Artoo beeped in agreement.
Before taking off, Luke stared at the grainy, windy sunset. What was left of it.
He wondered what future—what destiny held in store for him?
...Well?
I wanted to start this chapter off with a bang. That's why I made it longer than my usual. Longest chapter I've done to date, it is over 11,000 words! I doubt I'll make many others this long. I'll probably divide them up. I hope the spelling and grammar is fair.
Again, this story/universe is a series of one shots. The first so many chapters will probably take place all around this time, but hopefully I'll get to a Cade chapter(s)...someday. My plan is do to do some Luke chapters then Leia, their siblings, then some other characters that will be introduced.
Trivia: I was originally going to call the story, The Emperor and the Empress: The Golden Age. I had considered making Luke a playboy in one of my stories. I never thought it would fit into Surprises/Renaissance timeline so I thought I'd use that idea here. Also many wanted Vader to have more relationships in TSCATGV but I never felt that fit with Vader's character in this universe. In case anyone doesn't know, Isolder, Hapes, and such are all from Legends. If you want you read more about them, go to Wookieepedia. That's where I get a lot of my info though I have read some Legends and new Canon. I loosely based Vader's appearance on the leaked Battlefront 4 concept art. I believe it's called Redeemed Vader. I had a hard time naming the characters Reinhard and Ragnar. I went through like 4 different pairs of names. Originally I planned to make them fraternal twins like Luke and Leia. Sicemon was the original name of Jabba's homeworld in ROTJ.
Coming up: Luke's actions are going to have consequences. Leia will meet Han later. The Emperor and Empress will have to make a decision regarding the Throne. Unlike the Vaders, I have already decided who will sit on the Throne, and no, I will not tell. Also unlike Legends, I'm not afraid to kill off characters, just a word of warning.
Also I'm going to try and work on Renaissance and Scroll III. I apologize and hate that I haven't updated them in so long.
Thank you for reading! Please leave a review. I'm also curious to hear what readers who didn't read the prequel think. Same with those who read TSCATGV, does it fit with well with its prequel?