Vader opened his eyes and turned his head to the side where Leia was sitting earlier. The chair was empty as the nurse walked in with a warm smile. "Where is Leia?"

The nurse made a shushing sound as she pointed to the other side of his bed. He turned his head to the other side and saw Leia fast asleep on a cot they must've pushed in for her earlier. He was glad they were treating her well instead of like a prisoner. He also had a suspicion it was due to her being his daughter. They feared of upsetting him. "Have you come to poke and prod me again?"

The nurse gave a small smile as she picked up a rubber band. "Good guess," she answered as she proceeded to draw blood. "The medic wants to check for infections since you've been exposed to a new tank."

Vader didn't say a word as he felt the needle go in. He released a breath as he looked at Leia again. She was in danger here and if Palpatine ever found out about her. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her. It was best if she left and went back underground with the Rebellion. "Can you get me a comlink?" Vader requested with a frown as the nurse handed him hers. He punched in Pietts's number. "Admiral, set your course for Tatooine."

"Mi Lord? Why Tatooine?" Piett questioned with curiosity.

"It's time to go home, get into contact with The Rogue and ask General Colias to meet me there, don't tell her it's me," Vader responded as he heard Piett acknowledge him. He looked towards Leia again as the nurse checked his blood pressure.

Leia stirred and sat up as he watched her with a small smile. He saw so much of Padme in her. She glanced at him and stood up and walked to his side. She placed her hand on his forehead causing a twinge of guilt in his heart. "You shouldn't be here," he whispered. "Palpatine will do unspeakable things to you, if you think I did things to you. You haven't seen anything yet."

"You need me. I can see that much," Leia argued as Vader reached a hand up and gently traced her face. She reached up and took his hand into her own. "Come with me and leave the Empire. I can speak on your behalf to get a pardon for information. Help me get Han back."

"You and the smuggler?" Vader questioned with a smirk as he realized Leia was in love with Han. She was willing to go as far it took to get him back. "Couldn't you fall in love with someone a little less brash?"

Leia smacked him teasingly on the arm. "I love him," she answered. "And don't daughters always date a man the father disapproves of?"

"Your mother didn't like stuffed shirts either," Vader spoke in a gentle tone. "They were too boring for her. She always put her life on the line to make things right. She was adventurous. You remind me so much of her."

Leia gave an appreciative smile. "What else was she like?"

"She was strong in politics. She made office at age fourteen and she could handle a blaster," Vader explained with a small smile. "As I understand it, you were elected at age twelve."

"I was and I'm a good shot," Leia answered as Vader glanced at the nurse as she finished her things with him. She walked out of the room as he turned his attention back to Leia. "I'm a lot like her, aren't I?"

"Yes you are," Vader answered honestly as Leia walked towards the door.

"I'm going to get something to eat," Leia explained with a smile. "I'm suddenly really hungry."

"All right, I'll see you shortly then," Vader watched her leave as he laid his head back down with a frown. He hoped Fress met him on Tatooine so he could get Leia back to safety. Leia wanted him to come with her. Could he really leave the Empire after all this time? He didn't think it was a good idea and that would make stopping Palpatine all that much harder.


Fress sat down as she read the message. It came in the middle of the night cycle and wasn't signed by anyone. She had a feeling it maybe from Vader. Whoever it was wanted to meet with her on Tatooine where she made her frequent calls to the Alliance. Only Leia knew about the location, maybe it was from her? Did Vader allow her to leave and she needed to be picked up?

There was only one way to find out and that was to meet the person on Tatooine. Besides, she needed to check in on Luke to see how he was coping with what he had been told so far. He still didn't know about his sister yet, but she had a feeling the truth was slowly coming to light for the twins. She regretted not telling them sooner, but kept silent for their sakes. She didn't want to see anything happen to either just due to what Anakin was doing in the Empire.

Fress glanced at Jess who walked out of the room slowly rubbing at his eyes a bit causing her to smile. He really was cute when he half a sleep. She walked up to Jess and kissed him on the cheek. "Let's go to Tatooine to check on Luke. We'll work on a new plan to rescue Leia from there."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Jess agreed as he kissed her on the cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too," Fress answered back as she kissed him on the lips in a teasing manner causing Jess to groan.

"I hate it when you do that," Jess whined in a husky tone causing her to blush. She kissed him again deepening the kiss.

"Take it to your room," Ahsoka interrupted causing them to break apart quickly.

"Don't you have something better to do, Snips then interrupt?" Fress questioned causing Ahsoka to give her a toothy grin.

"Not really, I need something entertaining to do," Ahsoka answered as she headed to the cockpit to check for her messages.

"I can think of a couple of things for her to do," Jess muttered under his breath as Fress gave a mischief smile. "Go meditate allowing us free time."

Fress leaned into Jess as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm going to make something to eat, are you hungry?"

"I'm starving," Jess answered as he released his grip on her. Fress headed to the kitchen to start making breakfast.


Leia walked back into Vader's room as the troopers waved her in. She stepped towards his bed as he looked up at her with a warm smile. "Is there a chance the medic will allow you to get up soon?" She questioned as he shook his head. "Is something wrong?" She searched his eyes noting they looked red as if he was exhausted. She placed her hand onto his forehead and noted it felt really warm to the touch almost like he had a fever. "You're burning up."

Leia turned towards the door and watched as the nurse walked in with a bowl of water and a towel. "What's going on?"

"The medic was checking for infections just before a fever started," the nurse answered as she proceeded to place a cloth on his forehead. "He's in the process of getting it identified. For now he has Lord Vader on a broad spectrum antibiotic," the nurse explained as she checked his vitals. "It happens from time to time after he's been exposed to a new tank."

The nurse finished up and walked out of the room as Leia turned her attention to him. "How are you feeling, Anakin?"

"Tired," Vader answered honestly as he watched her. "I've asked the crew to take us to Tatooine and I sent a message to Fress to have her come and pick you up."

"Why don't you come with me?" Leia questioned. "I know Luke would be saying the same thing. He wants to get to know his father."

"I can't," Vader answered with a frown. "If I did, then trying to stop Palpatine will become that much more difficult."

"What will happen once he finds out that you and I have been…." Leia let her voice trail off. She hadn't thought about that. "What will happen if he finds out you let me go?"

"Punishment," Vader answered honestly. "He'll punish me physically."

"Then come with me," Leia pleaded a second time with him. "I'll find a way to help get you into the Alliance."

"They'll kill me for my crimes, Leia," Vader explained with a serious expression. "I don't stand a chance even if you do speak on my behalf."

"You don't know that for sure," Leia soothed gently. "There are members who remember you. At least give it some thought?"

Vader remained silent as Leia took the cloth and wrung it out. She placed it back on his forehead as Vader reached for her hand. "There is one thing I want you to remember, when the war is said and done. Ever since your mother told me she was pregnant. I have loved you and Luke from the beginning."

Leia didn't speak a word as she closed her eyes. Just to hear it from Vader, just knowing he did love them before his fall told her one thing. He wasn't always evil. Maybe he was misled like the rest of the senate and Jedi were. Maybe she had a chance to bring him back to the light side.


Luke put down the bag of parts to build his new lightsaber with. So far he found everything he needed minus the crystal. He had one cooking in a small oven Obi-Wan had tucked away for him. He found an instruction book with Obi-Wan's things. It appeared he had it imprinted to Luke's thumbprint.

Luke went to work on assembling certain pieces to together as he double-checked the blue prints. He looked up as Rex entered the dwelling. He gave the man a weary smile before going back to assembling his new lightsaber.

Rex didn't say a word as he headed into the kitchen to start on the midday meal most likely. As Luke finished assembling certain pieces, he realized he would have to wait until the crystal was done before he could finish assembling the lightsaber. He stood up and stretched as Rex walked back out of the kitchen.

"The midday meal is ready," Rex announced with a small smile. "You're finally working on a new lightsaber?"

"Yes I am," Luke answered with a frown. "I have to wait until the crystal is done cooking before I can finish assembling it. Obi-Wan left instructions."

"You should ask Ahsoka where she got hers from," Rex suggested. "I've asked her but she wouldn't tell me. She said it was a place of self discovery in a cave."

"Really?" Luke questioned with a frown. "I'll ask her when she gets back," he said as he walked to the kitchen table. "For now, we should eat."

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Rex said with a small smile as he sat down at the table and picked up a plate and filled it with bantha meat and some vegetables. Luke poured Rex a glass of blue milk before he poured himself a glass. He sat down and proceeded to fill his plate. So far waiting for Fett to make the drop was turning boring. He needed something to do. For now working on his lightsaber was something to do in the meantime.