VADER: MIA

Chapter 4

Vader made his way down the long corridor to Emperor Palpatine's chamber.
Elaborately decorated with paintings and sculptures from hundreds of
captured worlds. Vader stopped to glance at certain pieces. Remembering some
that he himself had confiscated, and the deaths that went along with them
as they tried to stop him.

So many worlds pillaged for the sake of decorating the corridor, he thought
to himself, all the senseless deaths to protect these… things. Tearing his
gaze from the artwork he stalked the short distance to the entrance of his
masters chamber.

Nodding to the two Imperial Guards, he tried to make his way into the chamber,
but was stopped by one of the guards.

"State your business, and await to be announced," the guard barked.

"You know who I am, and my business is my own, now step aside, I need no
announcement."

"Allow him to pass." The voice of Palpatine said coming from the intercom
speaker above them.

Both guards nodded, but Vader obviously angry that he needed to wait for
clearance, walked pass without uttering a word, his cape brushing each guard
as he passed by them.

"Ahh... my old friend, I'm happy to see you have survived the destruction of
the Death Star."

"Yes my master, Vader said kneeling, "tough it might not have been, I have
found a force sensitive pilot, I, as of yet have not found out his name
but..."

"I will save you the trouble my friend," the Emperor said interrupting
Vader, "the pilot you seek is Luke Skywalker...he is... your son."

"My son, but I have no children, my hope of a family died when Padame died all
those years ago on Mustafar."

"I have had my spies research this to no end, and they inform me that this
young upstart hails from your home world of Tatooine. Where he lived with
his Aunt and Uncle… a one Owen Lars, and…" he paused looking through the

information on the datpad in front of him, "yes here it is… Beru… I believe
them to be your step brother and sister." the Emperor explained getting a rise,
sensing the anger building in his apprentice.

"All this time and I never knew..."Vader uttered somewhat subdued at hearing
that he had a family after all.

"Well it seems that your old teachers have deceived you once again, letting
you... and I… believe that your wife and child had died, and at your own hands
no less, then hiding your child from you."

Standing there Vader closed his eyes trying to remember the day that changed
his life forever. With clenched fists he began twisting his head this way
and that agonizing at the sight of his, what he thought then, dead wife. His
breathing became erratic and faster; the longer he dwelled on the memory, the
angrier he became. Emperor Palpatine sensing the fury that was building in
him, smiled, then tried to ease his pain.

"Do not dwell on things you can not change my old friend. You have been
given another chance, knowing that you now have a son. I have a mission for you,
I have put fourth a plan in which you will lure your son to me, where I can train him

in the ways of the sith, and together the three of us will reign supreme… over the
entire galaxy."

Finding no comfort in that thought, Vader had no where to turn his anger, it
was like the first time he'd heard that Padame had died, and his master had
sealed him into this mobile prison he now wore. Something had to feel his
anger, it needed a victim, and turning away from his master he sent a wave
from the force down the corridor he'd just come through. The two guards
standing out side the chamber door never knew what hit them as their bodies
were sent flying down the entire length of the corridor. Sculptures and
paintings ended in a crumbled pile at the end of the hall, along with the
two lifeless and broken bodies of the Emperors Imperial Guard.

"Enough! I will not have you destroy my palace, your anger is useful, but
contain it, and use it where it will best serve m... our needs."

Vader using calming techniques he'd learned from his former Jedi master; one
of the last remaining pieces of knowledge he still remembered, and used from
time to time. Regaining most of his composure he turned to face his master.

"Forgive me my master," he apologized, again kneeling before him, "I am not
worthy of your mercy."

"Lord Vader," the Emperor started trying to sound sympathetic, "even my
teachings can not heal the deep wounds caused by the naive Jedi order, so my
old friend there is nothing to forgive. Now come, we have much to discuss if
we are to persuade your son to join us." He said stepping up beside Vader
and placing his hand upon his shoulder.

Luke having just finished powering up his X-Wing was just about to ask for
departure clearance when an incoming priority message came in.

"This is Luke, how can I help you?" he asked before the person on the other
end could identify themselves.

"This is a priority message coming in from Mon Mothma," the voice started to
say, "you are ordered to report to her ready room immediately."

"R2 pace the ship on stand by, hopefully this won't take very long," he said
taking off his helmet and waiting for the ship canopy to open.

Jumping from the ship he ran the short distance to the turbo lift, activated
the call switch and waited for it to arrive. Waiting, he ran several things
through his mind trying to figure out what she could want him for. The fore
most thought that kept popping into his mind was what Leia had told him.

That they had granted his request and information about this Lord Vader had

come in.

Stepping onto the turbo lift he pressed the button for the command

center. The few moments it took to get there. When the door opened he stepped

out onto the command deck and looked for the deck officer; not sure who he was

looking for he started to wander around. Not getting very far Captain Sshoodahh had

noticed him enter the command center, stepping over he pointed to the ready room saying.

"She's waiting for you in there."

Nodding Luke walked over to the stairs leading to the command deck, stepping up to the

Door, he pressed the alert switch letting who ever was inside
know that there was someone there.

"Come in Luke," a voice said coming from the small speaker above the switch.

The opening rather slowly from Luke's perception, the first sight that came
into view was that of Admiral Ackbar, then of Mon Mothma herself.

"Come in Luke we have much to discuss, please take a seat," she said pointing
to one of the many chairs there.

"If you don't mind I'd like to stand, after all we have an entire fleet about
to depart for Hoth, and I'm needed for escort duty."

"You'll not be doing any escort duty Luke, now if you would please take a
seat," Mon Mothma said again pointing to one of the seats there, "as I said
we have much to discuss... if after all... you are going after Darth
Vader."

"There's news about Vader?" he asked with a surprised tone to his voice, "I
didn't think news would come in this quick," finally sitting in one of
the seats, "I mean I didn't even think you had considered my request."

Mon Mothma sighing heavily began, "Yes we have considered it, and with much
discussion have decided to grant it, though, I do wish you to know that it
was not a unanimous decision, there was one of us that didn't you should go."

"Was it princess Leia?" he asked.

Mon Mothma looked towards Admiral Ackbar, who was sitting on her right,

chimed in saying, "No, it was me, for some reason the Princess thinks that you

might have a chance against Lord Vader, I on the other do not; I hand have dealt

with him many times and have seen what he can do without thought. I think it

foolish to waste such a valuable asset as well as a moral booster, that you have become."

Mon Mothma placing a hand on the Admirals shoulder nodded for his silence
then continued.

"Yes it is without question what you have done to boost moral for the
Alliance, and should something happen to you we think it would hurt the
Alliance more than you could know."

"Princess Leia said pretty much the same thing, but as I told her I can handle

myself," Luke started, "I need to do this I owe it Ben, if not for him I might have
suffered the same fate as my Aunt and Uncle."

"You remind me of another young Jedi I knew long ago, he too was young like

you and full of energy" Mon Mothma thinking back to the days of the old

Republic just before the Clone Wars, "he thought he was
capable of handling himself... he was your father... Anakin Skywalker, and
he too went after Darth Vader and ended up… dead."

"Please don't try to talk me out of it, I need to do this, don't ask me why,
I don't really know why, I just know I have to." Luke said trying to
convince them.

"Luke please," Mon Mothma said trying to calm the situation," we are not
trying to sway you from doing this we just want you to know who you'll be
dealing with, he is a very evil man."

"Now with that being said." Admiral Ackbar cautioned, "Here is why we have
brought you here," sliding a datapad across the table to Luke.

Picking it up he turned it so he could read the message:

...DARTH VADER MISSING IN ACTION

LAST KNOWN POSITION... HEADING TOWARDS

KESSEL... STATUS UNKNOWN...

PLEASE SEND HELP TO PREFORM SEARCH...

Looking first at Mon Mothma then Admiral Ackbar he asked, "This is a
confirmed message?"

"Yes the message is confirmed it comes from a highly equipped listening post
called LB452, the message itself is only a couple of days old and has been
triple checked by the techs there and here."

"Then I haven't any time," Luke said jumping up from the table, "if this
message made it to the Imperial Palace there's no telling how long before
they send help out there, they might already be on there way."

"We don't think so, we've asked LB452 to keep a special eye on where the
message came from and where it was heading, and thus far nothing has been
done." Admiral Ackbar continued, "We also think it will be another few
days until they figure the message was intercepted, and retransmit another."

"In all," Mon Mothma added, "we feel that you'll have at least two days when

you reach the last known position before the Empire figures out that the message

was intercepted."

"Two days… that should be just long enough to deal with Vader and be on my way

back to Hoth, before the Imperials show up." Luke said backing away from the table.

"Providing Darth Vader is as easily handled as you hope he is, again Luke he is a very

evil man and will show you no mercy… I hope you know what you are getting into."

she cautioned.

"We have just two demands before you take off on your mission, one is that you not

go alone… and two is that you observe, and take action only if you know it will result

in his death." Admiral Ackbar added.

"But I…" Luke started to say.

"There are no buts, these orders are NOT NEGOTIABLE, should you decide not to

take anyone you will not be allowed to go… IS THAT CLEAR." Mon Mothma ordered

sternly.

"Well if I have no choice in the matter then," pausing a few seconds to think, "I'll guess

I can ask Han or Wedge to go." Luke answered quite displeased with the order.

"Then Commander…"Admiral Ackbar added.

"I'm no Commander, "Luke grumbled still not happy about taking someone with him.

"You are on this mission," Admiral Ackbar continued, "So I suggest you get going. The

fleet leaves for Hoth with the hour, you have that much time to gather what, and who you

need together; once you disembark from the ship you and your partner will be completely

on your own… you are dismissed."

Luke still standing came to attention saluting both the Admiral and Mon Mothma, then

turned to leave, Mon Mothma starring with and optimistic look on her face gave Luke one

final message.

"Luke." she said in a subdued voice

"Yes mam." he answered looking over his shoulder.

"May the force be with you."

Smiling he just nodded as the door closed behind him.

"I hope he knows what he's doing." Admiral Ackbar said turning to face Mon Mothma.

"He'll be fine, if it's one thing I know about the Skywalkers it's that the are very resourceful,

Mon Mothma concluded"

"Let's hope he's more resourceful than Anakin was." Admiral Ackbar added.