The deal By Mireille

June 2005-2012

Disclaimers: Nothing in the Star Wars Universe belongs to me; everything belongs to George Lucas. Anything related to Batman s universe (like the secret lair ) belongs to DC Comics and Bob Kane.

I'm only writing stories for fun.

For the readers: the basic idea is a crossover, but the story is definitely set in the SW universe and deals with what would happen to their family life ;P _

Chapter 1: Anakin's secret

At first, wearing the suit was the most claustrophobic and awful experience Anakin had ever had, the sealed mask and mechanical breathing cutting him off from everyone and everything around him. As a result, it was extremely difficult for him to create the Darth Vader persona that his master expected of him. However, after being given a week of 'solitude' to adapt to his new uniform, kept purposefully cut off from his very pregnant wife who was expecting any day now, Anakin finally managed to integrate the Vader persona to a level that satisfied his demanding master. Then, and only then, was he let lose, and he began to build Lord Vader's fearsome reputation.

However, it was only a persona and, when his master gave him 'leave' to be present at his children's birth, he swiftly became general Anakin Skywalker once again. No one ever suspected the true identity of Vader as the emperor had already acquired a human-replica droid that had been programmed to replace during more mundane occasions while on Coruscant.

Thus, the twins came, much to the joy and ecstasy of both young parents, and then the Sith Emperor called Anakin back in service and his double-life really began.

For long months at a time, he was sent after the remaining Jedi and the forming rebellion, forced to kill and hunt as if he were a raving predator. Hence, slowly - perhaps even too slowly for him to be aware of the transformation - Anakin began to unconsciously integrate his Vader traits so that they became second nature to him.

At least when he wore the armor and mask.

However, when he was either in contact with home, or when he was finally allowed home for short periods of time, he was only Anakin Skywalker, an imperial Jedi general in the fleet that served aboard Lord Vader's ship and as the Lord's Jedi advisor. He was the best pilot in the universe – only challenged by Vader himself. He was also the only Jedi faithful to and protected by the Empire as well as a loving husband and proud father of two mischievous and very intelligent children.

Padme, who was now an imperial senator, was helped by Sabe and Dorme at home; the two handmaidens took turns in their main duties so that while one of them babysat the growing children, the other watched over Padme, and vice-versa. When Anakin was home, though, they had a break of babysitting duties since he mostly remained at home with the children during those visits.

Thanks to those occasional but intense visits, the twins came to know their father, and, eventually, grew really attached to him and simply adored him. But then, unlike Padme who was raising them, thus established the rules and frames of their lives, Anakin always played with them, allowed them special permissions and always returned with treats from the worlds that he had 'visited' during his absence. In short, he spoiled them, trying to make it up to them for his long – too long – absences from their young lives, and they didn't complain in the least.

He also worked hard to make it up to Padme, lavishing her with gifts, sumptuous meals and plenty of romance, and he kept that up until the last second before his departure for yet another long-term mission.

Then, always too soon, it was time for him to become Vader again, and they were all heartbroken to see Anakin leave home once again. Indeed, it was always very hard for Ani to return to his cold public life, Padme and the children literally clinging to him until the turbolift doors closed on them. They would even accompany him further than that, but he and Padme had decided long ago that it was hard enough to say goodbye without dragging it on further, not to mention that he couldn't bring them down with him and into his secret installations where he operated the switch from his identity as Anakin Skywalker to that of Darth Vader.

Still, it always made him cry to see tears of sadness in all those beautiful eyes, knowing that he was the cause for those tears.

Then, he would remind himself that, at least, they didn't know who he was when he left, and that relief helped him regain his composure before Force-keying the hidden command button that would bring him down to Vader's lair – his lair which had been secretly built under the apartment building of 500 Republica.

And so, such was his routine from his arrival to his departure whenever he 'finally' had leave time.

Sometimes, though, the Vader droid couldn't cover for him in important meetings and he had to be his alter-ego for short periods of time. He hated when that happened because he couldn't easily switch back from Vader after giving in to all his anger and hatred toward his master in order to 'be' Vader as he wished him to be. As a result, he was more irritable when back at home and his leave was not as pleasant as usual.

Thus it went for twelve years, with ups and downs, and too many deaths and unspeakable horrors haunting his nights.

Then, the unthinkable happened.

"I'll be right back, mom!" Twelve-year old Luke called as he clutched the small-value credits in one hand and his keycard in the other. It was the first time that his mother was giving him a 'mission' – to get milk – on his own, and he intended to be successful.

Of course, the store was merely on the main floor of the apartment building, but still, she had chosen him for this errand – not Dorme or Sabe, or even Leia – because he was the only man of the house until his father returned – today if everything went as planned. Still, as his dad had taught him, Luke was always gallant and helpful with his mom - and he had been pestering her for the opportunity to prove to her that he really was a man now.

It was now or never.

The turbolift opened to allow him inside. He walked in, and then, looking right, left, and all around the turbolift, he made sure that he was truly alone before he closed his eyes and just focused on the command board. He was curious to see if his new ability to move objects with his mind would also work on the keypad.

A confirmation signal informed him that he had, indeed, entered a command with his mind; he grinned most proudly as he opened his eyes and waited for the lift to reach his destination.

Strangely, it took longer than usual to reach the main level, but he shrugged it off. He was probably just a little tired from his experiment with his mind powers. After all, he always felt drained after he succeeded using them.

The lift finally stopped, rather abruptly, and the door slid open once again. The boy stepped out, wondering why it was so dark in the main corridor- and then stopped just outside of the lift as he heard a weird sound.

Behind him, the lift returned upward, as if it were scared and was abandoning him to his fate.

Luke, though, was not aware of that; he could only listen to the creepy whooshing sound that had penetrated his ears the moment that he had stepped out of the lift; his mind was trying to place it. He had heard it before, but where?.. What was in there?..and in their basement - sort of?

As curious as ever, yet aware that he could be in trouble – again – he gingerly tiptoed closer toward the sound and lights, careful to remain out of sight.

Then, peeking around the crates that had hidden his arrival, he looked at the figure that had begun to cast an ominous shadow against the far wall of what he understood was a cave- and froze. Lord Vader!

He would recognize that helmet anywhere.

Then, the shadow moved as the Sith Lord began to remove his helmet, and then his mask – the whooshing sound abruptly coming to an end - and Luke was torn between terror and morbid curiosity. He was in Vader's secret lair!

He could find out who – or what – he really was, hence put an end to the arguments with his friends.

Morbid curiosity gave him courage and he inched closer and closer… just a peek, he warned himself. He would just check which species he was, and then leave. He would…

He froze, this time in horror, as the unmasked Vader turned toward him and he saw- "Dad?" he whispered in shock.

He physically recoiled from that unforgettable image of his dear father, his features hard and scowling, his eyes yellow instead of blue, and, although Luke couldn't see it, the weight of all the horrors of the galaxy on his shoulders and drenching his hands with blood.

NO! He wanted to scream, and yet nothing came out.

Then, Vader's shadow moved again and Luke found himself grasped by an invisible hand even as he was yanked out of his hiding place. His first reflex was to resist, but then he saw Vader throwing his lightsaber at him, blade first, and another reflex came into play.

Even as Luke threw his arms up and crossed them to physically protect himself from the brilliant red weapon, he also unconsciously drew up a Force-shield around himself.

"Luke?" his father recognized in disbelief and instantly called his weapon back to his hand – before it could harm his son - even as he let him fall back down on the deck.

Luke's legs were too shaky to support his light weight and he crumpled down, shivering uncontrollably. He was simply terrified of the cruel man of the holonews and backed away from him however he could- when he was suddenly back in the air and pushed up against one of the crates behind which he had hidden before.

His dad's yellow eyes were now mere centimetres from his own. "What are you doing here, Son?"

Luke was too shocked and overwhelmed to answer. "I.. I.. I…"

"Answer me now," Vader commanded.

"It was an accident!" he tried to explain, desperate to return to the safety of his mother's arms. "I didn't mean to, I… I just mind-pushed my command in the turbolift and I ended up here. That's all, I swear. I-"

He felt Vader's hand tighten around his fistful of his clothes even as his yellow – scary – eyes narrowed threateningly. "Since when do you know how to use the Force, child?"

"I don't-"

"The Jedi are extinct, Luke, and you will not be a Sith like me." Vader inched even closer to his horrified son. "I forbid you from ever using the Force again, you hear me? Nothing good comes out of those skills." Vader then looked down, shifting his unusual glare for a moment. "I only wish that, like Leia, you hadn't inherited them."

Luke was petrified and horribly confused. Who was that man? What had happened to his dad?

Lord Vader refocused his attention on him, raising a gloved finger in front of his face. "You must not speak of this to anyone, Luke. Not your mother, not Leia, no one. Can I trust you?"

"I…, dad… How could you-" he blurted out as he remembered the latest horrors of the war that had made it into the rumours at school.

"Or do I have to bring you to the Emperor to demonstrate the extent of the trouble you've gotten yourself into?" Lord Vader growled threateningly.

Although it didn't seem possible, Luke's eyes widened further.

"Will you remain silent, son?"

He then squeezed his thumb and finger closer and Luke suddenly had trouble breathing. Aware of all the Lord Vader's rumours, including his habit of strangling people to death without touching them, Luke understood that it was his dad's doing and nodded frantically in fear.

"I'm doing this for you, all of you, and 'this' is for your protection," Lord Vader said as he dropped his hand. "Do not betray my trust in you, Son. The consequences would be... dire."

He then let him go and Luke backpedalled as fast as he could before he tripped and finished scrambling on four toward the main turbolift, which had miraculously returned.

He didn't remember punching in any command, or even the ride back up. He simply finally reached home, barely in time to be sick and faint from shock.

Back in Vader's lair, Anakin finished removing his armour and took a moment to gaze at his reflection in the mirror.

His eyes were still yellow.

He knew why, too. It was his intervention with Luke. What had the boy been doing, using his mind like that? He thought that he had been clear with him that using his intuition, as he called it, was not allowed. How could the boy learn to reach out the way he had? And how come he had never even been aware of the boy's developing skills? He should have sensed it and intervened faster. He should have-

He shouldn't have scared the boy out of his wits the way he had, he rebuked himself even as he took deep breaths to try and rid himself of Vader for a while.

Every time that he returned, it was taking longer and longer for him to let go of his dark side.

Of the Dark Side.

Yoda had warned him; once one started down the dark path, forever would it dominate one's destiny. He had been foolish to think that he could dance from one side to the other as he pleased.

He had been foolish to trust Palpatine in the first place.

Still, he refused to give up, and so, he focused his thoughts on his selfless love for his family and his wife, and on all the happy moments that they had shared, the four of them together.

A few hours later, he was finally ready to return home.

He made his way up as usual, bracing himself for the repercussions of Luke's unfortunate discovery of the day.

Then he was there.

"Master Ani, so good to have you back, Sir."

"Hello Threepio, where is-"

"Ani?" Padme called, and then appeared in the corridor that led to the children's rooms, clothed in senatorial regalia. "Oh Ani, thank the Force you're here!" She hugged him the moment that he came within reach.

"Padme, what's wrong? I thought-"

"It's Luke. I don't know what happened to him. He was off to buy some milk before leaving for school, and then returned without anything, scared out of his young wits, and just fainted from shock."

Uh-oh… "What?"

He and Padme ran back the way she had come. Luke was tended by Dorme and Sabe. "Where's Leia?"

"She had already left for school when he returned. She didn't want to be late like he would be."

He knelt down by his son's side and checked on him with the Force. The poor child was shivering, and his heart was pumping as if he had just run a marathon. "He's in shock," he observed.

"Yes, but why? What could have scared him like that?" Padme asked, sitting on their son's other side and brushing his sweaty hair out of his forehead.

"Perhaps he witnessed a violent crime. Where did you send him?"

"Here, downstairs. You know as well as I do that there is no crime in 500 Republica."

"Yeah, well, perhaps some footage on the news screen. They 'are' getting more graphic every day."

"It's true that he's a sensitive child, but still..." She held Luke's hand and kissed it tenderly. "I hope he'll be alright."

"He's strong, Angel. He'll pull through whatever did this to him."

"Milady, I'm sorry, but we must leave now. We couldn't cancel your meeting after lunch," Dorme said in hushed tones.

Padme threw a regretful glance at Anakin, and then at the unconscious young teenager. "You'll stay with him?"

"Of course. Duty calls, Angel. Go. I'm not going anywhere for a while."

With a last caress to Luke's face, Padme reluctantly stood up and left the room, Dorme in tow. Sabe remained for a moment, and then left father and son alone.

'I'm sorry, Luke,' he thought but didn't Send to his son as any regret from his part would cancel the effect that he had obviously had on the boy. However, while scaring him away from his secret had been his goal, he hoped that he hadn't alienated him in the process.

He had never thought that he could scare someone so thoroughly, let alone his gentle son.

Long minutes of silence, and the beginning of a healing trance later, and Luke finally stirred again.

"Rest easy, Son. You've had a tough morning."

At first, Luke shook his head and brought his hands to his head, as if awakening, but when his eyes finally opened and he saw 'him', he violently recoiled, thus falling down the other side of his bed; he began screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Ah, No! Stay away from me!"

"Luke, calm down," he tried to soothe him. "It's me, Dad."

"What's going on?" Padme, asked, having barely reached the door before Luke had awoken. "Luke?"

"Mom!" he cried in relief and ran to her, hugging her with the strength of desperation while turning her so that she formed a physical shield between him and Anakin.

"Luke, what's wrong? What-" She returned his embrace, not minding the fact that his tears would leave marks on her chosen attire of the day.

"It's Darth Vader. I…"

"What about him?" Anakin asked, slowly walking closer in subtle and unspoken warning to his son.

"I... had a nightmare about him," he answered wisely, burying his face back in his mother's skirt. "It was a really, really bad nightmare," he finished, never looking at his father while he told his first lie in the line of countless others to come.

He then fell silent and simply held his mother unlike anything he had ever done before.

Padme threw a perplexed gaze at her watching husband - the normal recipient of such embraces – and he answered with a slight shrug. "Kids," he commented.

However, aware of the truth behind this change of behaviour, it became obvious to Anakin that his relationship with Luke would never be the same.

So? how was that? How did you like the father/son confrontation about Ani's secret? Intrigued yet? PLease, read and review, and if you're not intrigued, or if you decided not to read any longer, I'd like to know why (via private message perhaps?)

Thanks! And May the Force be with You!