Vader opened his eyes, he must have blacked out after ensuring he and his son's ships had come to a stop. Inspecting his surroundings, the Dark Lord saw nothing but dark billows of smoke. Reaching up for the exit hatch, Vader slowly lifted himself out of the remains of his TIE, his muscles groaning at the movement. His feet touched the ground and instantly Vader realized something was…not right. But he did not have time to worry about that right now, he needed to check on his son.

Not too far away from his wrecked fighter, was what was left of his son's X-Wing, half buried in dirt. The wings on the right side were completely snapped off, the front crunched in, and the upper half of a tree lay on its top. Hesitantly, Vader reached out and felt his son's ever bright force signature from the inside. He had survived the crash, but that did not stop the concern that his son could be in just as bad condition as his fighter.

Vader quickly approached it and used the force to remove the tree and looked inside the smoking vessel. The sight that his eyes fell upon was enough to cause the powerful Sith Lord to freeze in confusion. At first it looked as if there was nothing but a helmet and a pile of clothes in the pilot's seat, but upon a closer look, he realized the clothing was being worn by a child far too small for them. The child was slouched over unconscious in the chair, the overly large helmet obscuring half his face.

Darth Vader just stared at the unconscious boy that sat where his son should be. But that was not right, was it? This boy shared his son's force signature meaning only one thing. This boy was his son, this was Luke Skywalker.

Now the question remained of how he got into such a state. Climbing on the remaining wing, Vader used the force to tear off the door and reached in unbuckling his son from the loose harness. Far more careful than anyone would believe the Sith capable of, Vader lifted his child out of the cockpit. Cradling the boy in his arms, he moved away from the two wrecked fighters. He walked quite a ways before the distance pleased him. Focusing his attention on his son, he tossed the annoying helmet off his head, revealing the youth's face.

The boy looked about six, maybe seven it was hard to say. Even at his actual age of twenty-two he look far younger than his years. More than likely the boy was eight. Other than some baby fat that remained on his face the boy's build was scrawny. Along the lower part of his son's jaw was a small scrape from which blood tricked down. But that seemed to be the worst of the damage. The boy was battered, and had a severe age reduction, but was otherwise in relatively good health.

Vader's thoughts went to the ship that had fired the strange energy wave. Could that have been the cause of Luke's current predicament? If that was the case why did it only affect him? The Dark Lord's back stiffened. What if it did not only affect him? He waited through two breath cycles before reaching a hand behind his mask. This could be dangerous, especially if his theory was incorrect, but there was only one way to find out.

Vader unlatched the mask and was greeted with the familiar hiss that accompanied it. He drew it away and his lungs-his good, perfectly functioning lungs- drew in breath on their own. He felt the remaining arm that was balancing Luke start to slacken and immediately tightened his grip causing the boy to let out a small yelp. Looking at the mask he saw the reflection of a man from a lifetime ago staring back at him.

The little form in his arm began to stir. This was certainly to be interesting. His son let out a groan and his hand, obscured by his too long sleeve, rose to his forehead. Blue eyes fluttered open and locked on with Vader's own identical ones. There were a few moments of pause as the child tried to process what was going on before his eyes went wide in alarm. Curling a fist he punched Vader in the face before rolling out of his loosened hold. Hitting the ground, Luke tried to stand to run but tripped over his flight suit. Vader straightened, unfazed by the hit.

Indeed things would certainly be interesting.

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The first thing Luke was aware of was the sense that his body had been trampled by a Bantha. He let out a groan as he gripped his aching head. He felt like he was swaddled in some weird blanket, but that couldn't be right, he wasn't at the Rebel base was he? Slowly opening his eyes he looked up and the first thing that he saw was a pair of blue eyes staring him down. Luke's heart stopped as he realized he was in some stranger's arms. Without a second thought Luke smashed his fist against the man's face and began to squirm wildly until he was released from the grip. Landing on all fours, the Jedi pushed himself off the ground to make some distance between the man and him, but whatever he was twisted in prevented him from doing so. He fell face first back into the dirt. Just what was he tangled in? Looking down he saw his flight suit…sort of? It was enormous. What was going on?

"Luke calm down." The stranger demanded. The voice was by no means familiar but the commanding tone definitely was.

Turning around, Luke's jaw dropped. He was staring at a helmet less Vader. He thought his father had needed that to breath? He tried to say something but words failed him. On instinct his hand went down to his belt where he knew his lightsaber to be, but he grasped at air. That's right, he had lost his weapon on Bespin…

Vader took a step towards him and Luke instinctively scooted back, "Don't come any-"

He froze and Vader just continued to stare at him. Who had said that? That high pitched voice couldn't have come from him could it? He looked down at himself again, for the first time really taking in what he saw. His flight suit sagged and extended past his limbs. Pulling back his sleeve, Luke blinked at the small hand. What was going on?

"It was the ship." Vader said pulling Luke from his thoughts, "It has affected us both physically."

That's right; he had been answering a distress signal when the Imperials discovered him. Then that ship had thrown out some power wave and he had been in pain and then…he must have crashed.

"W-where's my ship." Luke cringed at the juvenile voice that came out of his mouth.

"The wreckage of your fighter is of no concern. The vehicle is unstable and could possibly explode. There is no reason to go back."

"Artoo! I've got to get Artoo!" Luke tried standing again but the meddlesome suit prevented it.

Vader knelt down on one knee and grabbed the boy's arm, which Luke instantly tried to pull away but the iron grip wouldn't allow it. Vader began rolling back the sleeve.

"I can do that myself, thanks." Luke said quite crossed.

"Then by all means, my son, do so, but stop flopping about like a beached dianoga."

Luke glared at his father, but continued to roll up his sleeves and pant legs. With the task done Luke was finally able to stand on his own two feet. It was then he realized just how short he had become. Vader had already been a terrifyingly tall figure, but now he completely towered over him. Looking up, Luke examined his father's face. He instantly recognized that he had inherited his father's eyes and chin. He had brown hair that reached his shoulders and slightly flared out at the bottom. His face looked to be that of a man in his thirties, but was without a doubt battle worn as a scar across his eye clearly showed.

It was strange actually seeing the man under the mask, he had never really thought about anything or anyone being concealed behind the dark lenses. Vader had been nothing more than the monster that'd killed his father until recently; now, Luke wasn't sure what to think of him. He was still a murderer of hundreds and an enemy to the Rebellion. Just because he learned and accepted that this man was his father did not change the fact that they were still on opposing sides of the war.

"I need to get my astromech." Luke demanded, shaking himself of his thoughts.

"No, we are leaving this place. The Faust city will be about a day's journey and we will not be wasting daylight retrieving some silly droid."

Luke felt his temper flare, "Artoo is more than just a droid, he's a friend!"

"That he may be, but his power is shut off the same as our ships correct?"

"Well-"

"Am I mistaken?"

"No but-"

"Then we would have to carry him during our journey, hindering our progress."

"Who says I am even going with you!"

"That is not for you to decide, young one. Besides, in your current state I doubt you could handle being on your own especially on a foreign planet."

Luke bristled, he already felt awkward being in a child's body. Did his father really have to be so condescending?

"Watch me." Luke said marching off in the direction he hoped his X-Wing was in.

"Luke, stop!"

"I am going to get Artoo."

"I said STOP."

Luke froze mid-step as he felt glued into place. Luke grinded his teeth knowing this was Vader's doing, "Father let me go!"

"Silence. Do you hear that?"

Luke listened for a moment, "No, I don't hear anything."

"Precisely, the forest is too quiet." Vader said, casting his gaze to the tops of the trees, "Do you not feel it in the force? Something is wrong."

Vader replaced his mask on his face and the sound of his breathing once again filled the quiet. They stood there like that for a few moments and Luke was about to start demanding again that he be released when Vader abruptly charged him. The boy panicked, had he pushed Vader too far? Was the man about to finish him off? He tried to move away and found the force was still keeping him frozen in place. Too Luke's surprise, his father did not pull out a lightsaber and end him. No, instead he scooped him up into his arms and made a dash through the woods.

Luke squirmed in the hold, "Father, what are you doing!"

"Something is coming this way. We must retreat."

"What about Artoo! I can't leave him. You run and I'll go back and get him myself!"

"Do not be a fool, son!" Vader scolded ducking below a low branch, "Besides….the droid has a tendency of surviving particularly impossible situations."

Luke stared into his father's mask. How would he know something like that? He was about to ask when a low deep moan was heard off in the distance.

"W-what was that?" Luke questioned, unconsciously gripping his father a little tighter.

"I am not sure."

Luke blanched, "You don't know? I think we can take on whatever creature is after us."

"And what if it is not a beast we are contending with?"

That made Luke nervous, if not an animal then what? The boy looked over his father's shoulders squinting to catch a glimpse of something. Sweat dripped down his face which he wiped away with his forearm.

"Is it getting warmer?"

"My suit is equipped with a cooling system. I cannot tell." Vader said sounding somewhat annoyed.

"Well it feels like it is getting hotter by the second."

Vader was thoughtful for a moment, "Then we must hurry."

It was strange, Luke never thought of the infamous Darth Vader running away from anything. He guessed there were some things that even made Sith nervous. Luke continued to look over Vader's shoulder and finally spotted something! A bright orange light began illuminating off of the trees.

"Wait I think I see something?"

The light started growing brighter and more intense. Terror struck Luke as what looked like red and yellow tendrils began seeping out of the woods behind them.

Wide eyed, Luke whispered a curse that Han had often used, "It's a forest fire!" he yelled over the roar of the flames.

The inferno began swallowing the trees and bushes behind them; they needed to find some cover and fast. Luke could feel the heat begin to burn his face. Ducking his head down, he used his father for cover. Closing his eyes Luke reached out through the force looking for some kind of sanctuary. Biting his lip he concentrated harder until finally he felt something.

"Father if we go that way there should be something we can use to shield ourselves!" Luke said, finishing with a series of coughs caused from inhaling the smoky air.

"I am aware."

Of course he was, "Thanks for sharing that information." Luke thought annoyed.

In the distance, Luke spotted the slightly hidden entrance to the cave they had sensed, if they could just make it there before the flames reached them…

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Vader could feel the flames licking at the back of his heels as Luke's coughs became more consistent. He was almost there; he would not give up now! He was not going to let his son be killed by some measly fire or, force forbid, be confined to a suit like he was…had been? It mattered not, he was almost there and would not allow that to happen.

"Father!" Luke yelled between gasps for air and he knew that meant the flames were upon them.

Pressing his hand against the back of Luke's head, he forced the child against his shoulder and tightened his grip. Using the force, he leaped forward into the cave's entrance and rolled into a crouched position. Throwing up one hand, he used the force to shield the two of them from any flame that dared to stray into the cavern.

After a few minutes that felt like an eternity, the flames ceased and Vader lowered his hand. All was quiet once again save for Luke's short, audible breaths.

"You can put-" Luke tried to say with a hoarse voice, but was overcome by another fit of coughs.

"Stop talking and regulate your breathing."

It looked like the child was going to argue for a moment before he relented and focused on gaining back his breath. Vader watched as Luke shifted uncomfortably in his hold. Even at the age of eight, his son still reminded him of…her. He saw her in his petite build, in his fiery passion for justice.

Vader's fist tightened, he had to think about something other than her. He moved his attention onto Luke's condition. His hair was plastered to his head from sweat and he looked slightly ill from the lack of oxygen. The boy should begin feeling fine in the next few minutes, then they would set out for Zidanta.

"Um…you can put me down now." Luke mumbled. Vader took note of the bright red shade Luke's face had become. The boy felt manhandled. The Sith Lord's mouth curved up in an amused smirk as he set the boy down.

Vader removed his mask once more, the novelty of not being forced to wear it still fresh.

"Why do you wear that?"

Vader looked down, clearly puzzled by the question.

Luke shuffled his feet nervously under the intense gaze, "Why do you wear that suit?"

"In my…older form I require it to help me breath."

"So years ago you didn't have to wear it? What happened?"

He scowled at the question, "Obi-Wan. Now no more questions."

Luke let out a frustrated sigh, "Well can you at least tell me where we are going?"

"To Zidanta, the city inhabited by Faust."

Luke nodded and walked to the mouth of the cave where he stopped and gasped, "The vegetation! It's already growing back."

Vader joined him and watched the little bits of green as they sprouted from the ground, "This system's environment is very different from those residing in the inner and outer rim. These woods regularly experience intense forces of nature like the fire, therefore have adapted to growing back at a rapid pace. Now come along, it's time we began moving."

"Listen-uh- father, thank you for, you know, getting me out of there, but I have got to go back and get Artoo."

"This again? The child does not relent." Vader thought in frustration.

"I do not recall ever giving you a choice. As I told you before, you are accompanying me and that is final."

"You said so yourself that these woods are intense and unpredictable! I can't leave him!"

"Your droid is made from durasteel, he will be able to withstand these conditions! You on the other hand, will not."

"That's unfair!"

"You will cooperate. Do not think me above rendering you unconscious for the rest of our journey."

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Luke felt his face heat up in embarrassment and anger. He hated feeling so weak and powerless. In the end he had no choice. Fighting would just lead to him being knocked out and the last thing Luke wanted was to be was unaware of what was going on in Vader's company. Fists clenched at his sides, he looked down in surrender.

His father nodded in approval and began walking, his helmet tucked under his arm, "Good, we leave now."

Luke gave a final, solemn look over his shoulder, "I'm sorry, Artoo." With his head hanging down in defeat Luke marched behind his father.

AN: A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter one! Your enthusiasm really make me happy. I am having a blast writing this. I am going to be trying to post weekly, but with college eating up most of my time we will just have to wait and see. Please continue to let me know what you think.