I DO NOT OWN STARWARS IT IS PROPERTY OF LUCAS FILM AND DISNEY
AN: Thank You: risingxsun26, sole11, waaaaaaa, Adelicya de Raizel, Ella Kelly, ATran, LukeSkywalker55, orion kuroi, Helen Delia, Where-is-my-Hogwarts-Letter, ShatteredDestiny, the dark emperor, for Fav/Following
AN: Special thanks to padme-sky, riml, For4ever and ThunderSphinx for reviewing
AN: I have been a Star Wars fan for a short time, but I grew to love the original, prequel, and now sequel cast. Princess Leia character was the embodiment of who Carrie Fisher was as an actress, writer and activist. She will be missed but we must also realize she is one with the force now. R.I.P Carrie Fisher always our Space princess and Mother.
AN: I am soo sorry it has been more than a month. One reviewer pointed out how the grammar in my story was a mess so I overhauled the story. Then I had to write this chapter along with the business of the holiday season. So here it is now and I hope you like it.
16 BBY
A TIE fighter different than most buzzed through the deep vacuum of space. The pilot was less reckless than usual. Considering the passenger, he had on board.
Being among the stars though, still screamed in his soul how much he enjoyed it. Being in control and free.
"Spin! Spin!" said the three-year-old passenger. He looked so cute in his black toddler flight suit.
This drew a chuckle from the blonde-haired pilot. Who opted for the normal Imperial uniform and long hooded black cape. He left the mask in his quarters, he preferred not to wear it in front of his son. "I think that we had enough spins for the day. How about I do a star maneuver."
"Yeah!" Luke says with all the enthusiasm in the galaxy.
Vader beamed at his son, he was thrilled that he had his space little pilot. Something he could share with his son.
The Sith lord propelled his fighter up, to reach a high point in the sky.
"Ok Luke…. hold on!" Vader then speeds up to his star destroyer. Then he spiraled his TIE fighter to the top of the destroyer. When the Sith reach the top of the docked flagship. He then sent the ship into freefall.
"Wahooo!" Luke beamed as his father maneuvered his fighter down into the endless vacuum of space.
Vader started to slow down his fighter. He knew he had to dock in soon. He took a turned to approach the hanger on the Imperator-class Star Destroyer.
Vader managed to get three hours to take Luke on a well-deserved flight.
"Aww wanna go longer." Said Luke in a disappointed voice.
For all the time, they spent together in meetings, meal time, and tucking him in at night, it was never enough for him.
Luke in his three years of life had not socialized with anyone besides his father.
He behaved for his caretaker, but he couldn't connect with her. She was more terrified of what his father would do if she upset him.
The officers had a duty to protect him, and keep him a secret from the galaxy. Still, the officers were terrified to play with the child in fear of what their commander would do to them.
Which left Luke dependent on his father for attention and love. While Luke felt, loved and wanted by his father, he was incredibly lonely.
The little prince felt the fear of any adult he was passed off to. There was not anyone who could feel the force like he did, except his father.
Of course, his father had noticed this too. The demands of Empire aside this was bothering him.
Vader knows what is like to be alone, venerable with that tremendous burden of power.
Vader has been putting this been this issue on hold for longer than he should have. He needed to find a solution soon.
The Sith Lord landed in the hanger and started to talk to his son. He also noticed how tired his son was.
"I know you want to go longer buddy, but I will be there to tuck you in tonight. I promise." He suddenly felt Luke starting to drift off to sleep.
"…ok…daddy." said the little force user with a yawn. He always slept well after his father took him out flying.
Vader gave a smile and lowered his hood and made his way out of the cockpit of his fighter. He then picked up his son who started to fall asleep in his seat behind him.
The stormtroopers and officers moved out of Vader's path as he made it Luke's room.
Luke has a regular bed now. He still has his starfighter wallpaper on his wall. Vader has updated some of the furniture in Luke's room to reflected his age.
Vader had a panel by his son's bathroom that has his different heights.
The security droids greeted him at the door, as Vader entered. He saw toys scattered across the floor as he made his way to put Luke in his bed.
Luke stirred a little bit as he put him under his Imperial comforter. Vader lowered his hood to revile a soft expression on his face.
He briefly studied his son's sleeping face. Admiring the sheer innocence and peacefulness of it.
The Sith Lord then reached out with his flesh hand touched his son's forehead and gave him a light kiss on the top of his head.
"I will see you later, my son," he whispered to the sleeping toddler. He quietly made his way to his quarters.
o-o-o
Dressed in his Sith robes, with his face covered by the mask. He went to the holocommunicator that was in quarters. It had a special lock on it.
Darth Vader immediately started mentally blocking out Luke from their bond, so his sleep is not disturbed. He also doesn't want his son to feel any pain that might be inflicted upon him.
Pain the Sith apprentice has become accustomed to.
Darth Vader winced at the memories of punishments at he had received over the last three years.
The worst so far had to be when he left the unconscious Grand Moff at the Death Star spaceport.
Darth Vader finished up dinner with his son. He gave Luke a bath and read him a story that put the little force user to sleep.
After putting Luke to sleep he dressed in Sith uniform.
The Sith Lord made his way to the private chamber of his quarters that is only accessible to Vader on the star destroyer.
Doing his necessary preparations, he then typed in the code to the holoprojector and bowed down.
The image of Darth Sidious materialized in front of the Sith apprentice.
Vader stood still as the enormous figure pulled his hood back to reveal an angry expression on his wrinkled face.
Vader knew he was in for it.
"Rise Lord Vader…" the figure clad in black rose to see into eyes the Sith Lord. "…. you have good news I presume…about the empire's ultimate weapon…," he said in his damaged voice.
"…Construction on the battle station has proceeded at a faster pace. We were able to secure a more efficient way to build the main firing gun, master…" Vader said not betraying emotion.
"Good news, but I am still displeased."
Vader stood there and braced himself for his punishment.
Darth Sidious raised a hand and started to use Sith lighting on his apprentice.
"Remember your place, Vader. You are not to lay a hand on any of my Grand Moffs. Especially Grand Moff Tarkin…." Darth Sidious said as he tortured his apprentice.
"...Is that clear Lord Vader!"
Vader was trying to keep himself from screaming. But the pain from the lightning seems to be more severe than usual.
"Ah!"
Amidst the pain, Vader knew he earned it. He let his temper flare on the Emperor's favorite Grand Moff.
Now he is paying the price.
After almost five minutes of the agonizing Sith lightning, Darth Sidious finally stopped and spoke.
"You will never defy me like that again. Or I will not hesitate to punish your son. Do I make myself clear!"
Vader still in a tremendous amount of pain, looked up to the big Hologram of his master. He took a deep breath from his emergency respirator built into his Mask.
"I understand…master." Vader said in a broken voice.
Darth Sidious looked pleased. Almost as pleased when he finally pushed Darth Vader to the dark side…Yes, that little brat is more useful he initially thought.
o-o-o
The punishment left Vader in the Bacta tank for a day and in the medical bay for nearly a week.
Luke during that week was impossible to deal with. He kept breaking things, refusing to eat and doing things with his force abilities. Nova was a bit overwhelmed for the first time with Luke.
When Vader finally made it back to his room for the rest of his recovery, Luke stopped his mini-rampage once he felt his father.
Vader who was still very sore from all the Sith lightning he received, slumped into his bed face first. The Sith Lord was greeted by a mop of blonde hair who just short of the bed's height.
"Daddy…" Luke said in a soft voice while reaching out his growing hands to get pulled up.
Seeing this Vader gave a small smile, the first one since his punishment. Still sore he outstretched his arms and pulled Luke up to the bed. Then Vader placed him down to lay him next to him. They both lied down on Vader's bed, facing each other.
Luke finally smiles and gave his father a big hug. But stopped when he heard and felt his father's pain.
"Daddy huort?" Luke asked in an innocent voice.
Vader frowned. He hated being weak. Especially in front of his son. He had to show how strong he was. How strong he needed Luke to be.
"No just a couple scratches, buddy." He tried to lie. With his body, still sore from the pain, he reached out with his flesh hand to ruffle his son's hair. It earned another groan of pain from the Sith Lord.
"Not tlling tuth…" Luke took his finger and tapped his dad's nose "Daddy huort."
He looked at his young child, he was amazed at how determined and caring Luke is for his age.
Like someone else he knew.
"Okay…" Vader said followed by a sigh "…daddy is hurt." A look of shame crossed his face. "But daddy is strong…just like you are…"Vader gave a smile, looking at son and continued.
"…I want you to know no matter how badly I get hurt…you need to be a big boy…. you need to be strong…." His face became serious. "…you have to know that everything I am doing, is to protect you; to keep safe….and no matter what happens I love you."
Luke not fully grasping the gravity of his father's words responded with goofy gin and responded with "I love daddy."
At those words, Vader felt the part of him that was Anakin come alive. Completely taking over his soul, for the briefest of seconds.
Withdrawing out of his thoughts, he dialed the Emperor's code. The Sith Lord is already kneeling by the time the projection of the Emperor materializes into the air in front of him. Vader can feel his eyes blazing into him from behind the black hood that is eclipsing his face.
"Lord Vader you may rise."
Vader rose and looked up at his Master and conversed for 20 minutes. It brief and painless. (Vader was relieved about this.) His master gave him insight of a force presence on Mandalore that he felt. A powerful presence.
Like a Jedi.
After the meeting, the Sith apprentice then rested in his quarters for the next two hours. Mentally, the Sith Lord was preparing for a meeting with generals later.
His thoughts moved to his assignment.
The Duchess of Mandalore. She was brewing up trouble in the Outer Rim and was rumored to be hiding Jedi on her planet.
Vader's lips curled into a cruel smile.
He could think of one Jedi the Duchess was particularly infatuated with…
o-o-o
The generals filed into the conference room. They all waited for Vader to show up.
Ten minutes later, the Sith donned in his back uniform. The generals in the room rose to show respect to their commander.
"We have much to discuss..."
The second-in-command of the Empire convened over the next two hours, with them on strategy, the state of the different systems in the galaxy, the upcoming attack on Mandalore, and Vader's favorite topic…
The Rebellion.
The Rebellion had been gaining a lot of support through back channels. The leaders of the movement they had-though he could not concretely prove it-their leaders were quietly having a small success. In former separatist worlds, outer rim worlds and in the Senate.
Granted, over the past year, Empire was gaining the upper hand over the galaxy. The Sith Lord had a feeling through the force, that those leaders had to have something or someone that was influencing this power. This hope the rebellion has. Inspiring and encouraging the people in this dark Empire.
The leader or leaders must be a true believer in this cause.
The Jedi, Vader was hunting down, they had become more passionate and hopeful. Less accepting of the darkness that is swallowing the galaxy. Or accepting in the will of the force.
"All of you are dismissed." the generals bowed with respect to their commander and made their way out.
Once the generals vacated the room, the Ex-Jedi took a deep breath, that sounded ailed through his voice modulator. He thought about when he told the Emperor about what happened on Alderaan.
When Darth Vader left Alderaan, he told the Emperor of the meeting between him and Bail.
The Sith master was initially angered about the senator's refusal to take a Moff. But he heard Darth Vader's reasoning. How they still had to save face for everyone in the early stages of the Empire.
Though the Emperor made it very clear that a stormtroopers patrol was to be dispatched right away. Where the headquarters will be built.
Darth Sidious made Alderaan Vader's responsibility. Along with the rest of the troublesome rebellion. On top of his others.
In the empty conference room, he reflected on that force presence he felt on Alderaan.
He never did tell his master about it. It was something that he wants to keep to himself. Something he knew he couldn't trust his master with.
It was a faint presence, but it was something that he felt tugging at the very part of his being.
So, Vader had his own secret team on Alderaan considering it. Watching Aldera Royal Palace. Looking for anything that was out of place.
Or too normal.
Hearing the ring of his comlink, Darth Vader broke out his thoughts and answered it.
"Lord Vader, is it an appropriate time for an audience?" the hologram asked.
"Yes, be up to conference room 325 on D deck on the sublevel of the ship." Lord Vader responded.
"Yes, milord." Said the figure on the hologram. It materialized after that and Vader put the device away and started making his way to the conference room.
Stewing in his thoughts for his next meeting.
o-o-o
Vader walked with confidence and purpose to the conference room. It was where he had his more sensitive meetings at.
In the room, a young Lieutenant rose from his seat and bowed to his leader.
"Lord Vader." Lieutenant Firmus Piett greeted the Sith Lord as he made his way to the head of the conference table. There were datapads laid out to for the meeting.
"I trust you have information on that is valuable to me," Vader said in his commanding voice.
Ever since Luke came into his life, after everything he lost, Vader had to find a staff, officers, anyone who came on and off the ship that he could trust.
Luke had to be a secret they would keep until their death.
Darth Vader had also started training his own private assassin team.
"While Aldera royal palace remains an anomaly to us…" The young captain flinched a little. "…there was something that we were noticing though…" Vader perked at this. "…a speeder appeared to be on autopilot… it comes and goes into the mountains… we suspect there is a place but we always lose them in a dense fog…and our sensors could not trace anything."
This was news to Vader.
A place in the mountains.
This must be where the force presence was.
Perhaps it was a Jedi, or force a sensitive.
Whatever it was it had to be found out.
"…there is something else, sir." Still unsure of what his commander was feeling. The mask made his mood impossible to predict.
"…continue." Like he was ordering some of the ship operators.
"…I know you requested pictures of the princesses when I first was assigned… well, I finally have some." Lieutenant Piett still could not read Darth Vader's expression through his mask. But behind it, was a smile.
Vader knows Bail was hiding something, besides his involvement with the rebellion. The dark lord knew his daughters had something to do with it.
He has been watching the activity on Alderaan since his visit. The Sith Lord had noticed the children hardly go out in public.
They are mostly kept inside the palace. Even when there are sightings of them leaving the palace, safety precautions were taken. The same speeder was never taken twice in one trip.
The first officer gave him excuse after excuse on why his team could not get any pictures. It caused Vader to become staidly annoyed. To the point where he killed the first officer, he assigned to the task.
The captain gave the Sith Lord a datapad with a holopic of the first daughter. It was in a distance, she was holding Queen Breha's hand walking down by the water, splashing as the water came up.
Winter. She had beautiful white hair, pure blue eyes, and he can see she had a little shy disposition. He cannot deny how adorable she looks in her silver bathing suit on the beach, walking with her mother.
The next picture was not as good as Winter's; it was just her face out of the water with her father holding her. She was clearly enjoying the water.
Leia. This child had Vader more entranced than he had ever anticipated. She had cascading brown hair, doe eyes, and a beautiful smile. She looked like she was Luke's age.
A picture of pure innocence.
There is also something about her. She looks almost like…Padmé. In that face, that smile.
But that is impossible. He thought
She is gone. She only had one child. Their son.
It's just the trick of the light. The photo is the best either, taken in the distance.
That had to be it.
Vader still started to grow angry at the sight of Bail holding the little girl. He should've had a daughter. He should be holding her in the ocean. Brushing her long brown hair.
Anakin was never one to play favorites. It was just the influence his mother had on him. Being around that maternal bond. Being with Padmé, having a girl would have been a natural fit. He was also sure that she would've looked like her. It would've been the greatest seeing her grow up.
Luke is amazing though. Three-years-old and the Sith Lord was seeing Padmé's features in him. His shy smile, his determination, his charisma.
Anakin knows how much life hated him, how cruel it is to him. That why he is grateful every day that he has his son.
Still, …he wants it all, his wife, his son and possible daughter. But deep in his heart, he knew he could not have it…or deserve it.
The young captain was about to start speaking again but was interrupted by the hiss of the door opening.
A bouncing mop of blond hair, his father does not have the heart to style differently, still in his black flight suit, came into the room with the same commanding presence of his father.
o-o-o
Luke woke up from his nap an hour ago. Since then, Nova had been watching him play with his toy spaceships. Luke was normally well mannered, was not too much of a hassle.
But Luke tends to be stubborn, and reckless in his endeavors. When he wants something, he is determined to get it.
He knew his father was done with his more important meetings, (Luke could pinpoint his father's level of agitation.), so interrupting him now won't make him too mad.
So, the ambitious three-year-old started to think of a way to distract or trap Nova long enough to get to his dad. Noticing what time, his was he spoke to the caretaker
"Va…" started Luke with an innocent voice.
"Yes." She said in a soft voice looking up from her datapad.
"Gotta go potty…" it was the term he used when he had to go.
It had been the combined effort of Vader, Nova and two generals to toilet train the Imperial prince. Now it finally Luke seemed to grasp the concept of going to the bathroom.
Nova went take him over to through the living room to go to the bathroom. Nova normally followed behind Luke. She crossed the threshold to the bathroom, expecting Luke to follow behind.
Then the door closed behind her in a loud hiss. Starting to panic, she tried to override the door. But it stayed ironed shut.
Like a force keeping it from moving.
Then she quickly realized who was doing it.
"Luke!" She shouted and banged on the door. But was answered with a giggle. She then heard him leave the room.
Minutes later the doors finally opened and she immediately went to her comlink to call lord Vader.
But she hesitated.
Luke has never done this before. If anything, Luke was going to see his father. And she knew she was a secret on this ship. So, she had to risk his wrath and started to contact him.
She knows how attached Vader is to Luke. It just makes her believe more and more that Darth Vader is more human than the galaxy knows.
o-o-o
Darth Vader was drawn out of his internal rant. By the hiss of the doors opening. A figured entered and he immediately knew who it was.
Luke? How...
Vader saw his son in his black flight suit walking with the same strides as him. It made him proud, to see him walking so strong at this age. But was immediately agitated at Luke for interrupting his meeting.
The captain was at loss for words as he saw the child stride in confidently to his commander and stretched out his arms, signaling he wanted to be picked up. Lieutenant Piett tried to control the look shock at his commander picking him up and put him on his lap.
Lieutenant Piett was about to speak again until the loud beep of Vader's comlink rang through the room. He moved the child forward to grab the device out of his suit.
"Yes…" it was on audio only. "Yes, he is with me now…No stay there until I am finished…I will find out." The conversation ended.
"Proceed..." The Sith Lord said as if the last few moments had never happened.
Once again the young captain was interrupted but now it was the dark lord. "To answer what you are practically screaming in your mind; this is Starkiller…." The shock made its way the young captain's face.
Starkiller was a weapon that everyone swore an oath to protect with their life when they were assigned to work on this star destroyer, or with Vader personally.
"…. your mind restricts your perception on things…" he says unmoving "…some of the best weapons take years of molding and craftsmanship… they are not always full of technology." Vader knew all too well how true that statement is.
How the Jedi used him, how Palpatine used him, he would be damned if that would happen to Luke.
Vader is just doing this to keep him safe. He needs the captain's loyalty. Till he could overthrow the Emperor. He needs to show Luke how to control people.
It's part of that constant contradictions that Vader is having when it comes to raising his son. The part of him that wants Luke to be a good person that his mother was. To not end up like he did.
There is also another part of Vader that wants him to be strong. To have lesser beings bow down to his power. To show the galaxy the full extent of his power.
This struggle is ripping the Sith Lord apart.
"I apologize m'lord," Looking away from the child. "Getting back on track, our spies in the rebellion have only a name to this mysterious leader that is a new player on the scene." yes finally thought the Sith.
"No one has seen her personality but she works tirelessly to increase morale and encourages everyone to work together, the name that was found was Ara Curran, but nothing has turned up in our database about her sir,"
Smash!
The chair behind the standing captain fell over and made a loud noise. This caused the young lieutenant to jump a little bit at the action.
Luke giggled in response.
"Rebel scum." He said playfully.
Vader smiled behind the mask but told Luke through their bond to be quiet.
"Lieutenant Piett, I am pleased with your work. you seem to have a good future ahead for yourself." Lieutenant Pitt stood still.
"But I suggest you do not repeat what you have seen today, remember the oath you've taken," Vader said in his commanding voice. It didn't faze the child.
"Yes, milord." Without hesitation, he said he then bowed and took his datapad and left.
Leaving Vader and Luke alone in the conference room.
Luke still had a smile face and Vader could not fight the one budding behind his mask. The little force user turned his head to face his father and his mask. He took his fingers and stuck into where his eyepieces are.
"Mask off, wanna see daddy fave," he tried to pull of the mask through the eyepieces.
Vader noticing this pulled his son off his face and put him on the floor. This earned a sour look from Luke.
"You know the rules Luke….and I think you are breaking one of them right now..." Vader said through his modular.
Vader had started instilling discipline in his son. Luke is good in that aspect, but he still is his father's son.
There is bound to be some serious rule breaking. Like today and he can tell from the call that Nova was on edge.
Luke had done something to her. Luke also had a guilty look on his face too.
"Come, Luke, it is time for dinner." Vader encouraged and let out a hand the little blonde took.
o-o-o
Father and son entered the living area of their quarters on the ship.
Nova was sitting on the couch reading on her datapad with nervousness. This spiked when her employer and the child entered the room. She rose to greet him and started to apologize for her mistake.
But she was interrupted when the Sith Lord started to speak.
"Nova," he spoke and she braced herself to get punished.
"I believe Luke has something to say to you," she looked down to the little force user with shock in her face.
"I swory ova, I promiss not to se the force on you." Luke said in an apologetic voice.
Nova looked stunned at Luke's apology. She expected to get punished or made an example of. But this stunned her to silence.
"Why don't you go and wash up for dinner," Vader said as he ruffled Luke's hair.
"Okay, Daddy," Luke said with a smile.
"Nova," the dark lord said drawing her away from her thoughts.
"Yes, Lord Vader,"
"I would like to speak with you later, at 2100 hrs," Vader said through his modular.
Still a little surprised "Of course Lord Vader."
o-o-o
After a quiet dinner, watching a pod race, Luke settled into an easy sleep.
Looking at the Chronos, it was almost 2100hrs. Vader in his mask and black suit thought back to the conversation he had with Luke.
Still, in the conference room, Vader kneeled to be at Luke's level.
"Tell me what you did to Nova," Luke felt the look his father was giving him. He gave him a guilty look. "I wanted to see you, daddy. I ussed the force to keep the oor shut, Va would've aid no."
Vader was mad about this. Luke needed to learn a lot of when it comes to the power he wields.
Loyalty being one.
Loyalty was very important to Vader. It was hard to gain and it was cultivated over a long period. That man had put his loyalty in the wrong places and it cost him everything.
He had to make his son understand that doing things, like trapping your caretaker using your powers is not a way to do it.
Luke being the ever-stubborn one that he is, tried to argue that his daddy uses his powers to punish people who make him mad.
Vader trying to end the argument quickly. Used the when you are older you will understand excuse.
Luke finally gave in and said he would apologize to Nova for trapping her in the bathroom.
While Vader did not want him to be soft, making enemies this early was not a good thing.
He needs his son to learn that.
Vader needs Luke to be loyal to him. Without Luke, he would have nothing. All Anakin sacrificed would be for nothing.
And that was unacceptable.
The Sith Lord turned to see the door open to revile Nova.
Not sure what to do, she approached the chair opposite Vader. The silence was broken by Vader speaking.
"You have done nothing wrong…" he started he feel her fear through the force. "…. I called you here because I wanted to discuss Luke…"
She breathed a sigh of relief but was confused by this request. She has been in Luke's life since he was a month old. She understood what the job was when she took it. It frightened her to be in such close contact with one of the scariest men in the galaxy.
But over time she grew more comfortable in his presence. Luke had been a good baby to care for. But Nova is a little surprised that he wants to talk to her about the wellbeing of Luke.
"…you are the only one that has been in my son's life since he was young…" Vader looking her intently through his eyepieces. "…there are very few people that I can fully trust you with him…. you are one of them. I know you will give me an honest answer when it comes to Luke's wellbeing…." Vader took a breath "…I also know that other than me you see firsthand what goes on with him…" Nova gave a nod.
"…I have noticed over the last couple of months that Luke has become…alarmingly attached…" it came out detached through the mask.
Nova agreed with that statement "...I've noticed too. Especially when you are gone for days at a time." Vader was silent so she continued. "I feel Luke needs to be around other children his own age or with the same…abilities." She said in a conversational tone. It made her feel good that she trusted her with Luke. She also was not dumb enough to screw it up.
"…. Luke is a sweet boy and do worry for him. Are you going to enroll him in school?"
This has been a question in his mind for a while. Where will he educate his son? Private tutors were the best method with the amount traveling he must do. But the other side is socializing, being a kid, did I he wants to take that away from Luke?
"I have not yet made my decision on that matter, but thank for bring it to my attention. I want to do what is best for my son…" he felt Nova wince a little bit at that. He felt that every time Luke said dad in her presence.
" …. I know what you see of me outside this setting, away from Luke…" He gave her a hard stare through the eyepieces. "Before the fall the republic I had a wife…I was lead to believe along with her our child died…Luke is biologically my son…" felt her surprise again. "…very few people know that along with my past…. I trust you explicitly with this information…and I trust you will not use it against me…. I am sure you are aware of the consequences if you tell anyone this information." Vader stated in a commanding voice, leaving no room for argument.
Nova looked over in surprise. She knew it Vader at some point was he was human. There is no way a true monster could love that little boy like he does.
"I made a promise when I agreed to take care of Luke. I will protect him until my last breath, that doesn't change with the information you told me." Said Nova.
Vader felt the truth in her words. It made part of the burden easier to bear with Luke.
They talked in depth for an hour and he touched on other important things with till he finally dismissed her.
Issues with Luke aside, for now, he had an attack on Mandalore to lead. Vader was positive Obi-Wan was hiding there.
Obi-Wan that man who ruined his life.
He is the one that kept him from visiting his mother. He conspired with the Jedi to take over the Senate.
Obi-Wan kept him from his Angel. The only light in his world. But none of them compared to when he tried to take Luke away from him. He left his son at that mercy of that horrible planet. After he took his Angel away from him.
Vader could only use that slow burning hate destroy him one day. And he can start by taking away the woman he loves.
He knows the Duchess is a pacifist and the woman would die to protect her world.
o-o-o
Satine Kryze the Duchess of Mandalore stared out on her window on to the Palace grounds. The night sky added the impending dread in her heart.
She underestimated the pull of the Empire.
Over the last month, she had become vocal in her stance against the Grand Moffs, the stormtroopers and the Empire rule.
That, unfortunately, put her on the radar of the Emperor. She knew that meant a visit from his loyalty servant.
Darth Vader.
Satine was dreading the meeting for several reasons.
She knew everything about Padmé, her children, and Anakin. The Duchess did not know where she was, but the truth about her being alive will put her in enough danger.
She was no Jedi and there were things she had to protect from that thing.
"Mommy." A soft voice broke her inner turmoil. Her daughter, her beautiful gift from the man she loved. Obi-Wan Kenobi
A month after he left she discovered she was pregnant. Satine knew she should have told him but the galaxy needs him now. That is what stopped her every time she reached for the comlink he gave her.
Mara Jade Kenobi-Kryze walked to where her mother was sitting, feeling her distress.
At eighteen months, old her little girl was walking, talking, and going to the bathroom by herself. She also showed signs of her paternity very early on.
It is what is driving her mother to fight so violently against the Empire. But now Satine feels it is only creating more problems. Now her latest stunt could ruin everything she has worked for.
Satine being the defender of her beliefs, publicly defended the Jedi and declared Mandalore a safe place for them. She thought the reach of the Empire wouldn't reach the stretch to Outer Rim, like the old Republic.
She couldn't have been more wrong.
"Mommy scord?" She so attuned to her mother's emotions it is frightening.
"Mommy is scared…but I will fight till my last breath to keep you safe…" she picked her daughter up and rocked her.
"Sleep with mommy?" Mara asked with her blue-gray eyes shining innocently, and her flame red hair framing her face.
This caused her mother to smile. Satine and her daughter always enjoyed snuggling together. It was always a joy for her.
"Of course my little star." Satine then carried her daughter to her room to changed her into her yellow Mandalorean night ware. After that the Duchess changed into her own night ware, she had one of the servants make her some warm bentha blue milk.
Mother and daughter enjoyed a HoloTV show with their beverages. They made their way to Satine's bedroom.
The Duchess carried her sleeping daughter and placed in her big four-poster bed. She placed her underneath the silk red sheets that shimmered in the low lighted room. She gave a small smile at the sight of her daughter.
Her bright star in the galaxy full darkness.
Satine thought as she lied down next to her daughter. She pulled Mara into her arms and continued gazing out through the window. She slowly fell into an uneasy sleep.
Fearing for what the next day would bring.
o-o-o
The daybreak on Mandalore gave off a dark air that penetrated the deepest corners of the Outer Rim planet.
Darth Vader along with the 501st Legion marched to the doors of the Royal Palace.
With his mask in place and lightsaber in hand, the Sith apprentice watched as the stormtroopers blasted the doors open they parted ways to let their leader through.
The Sith Lord walked with confidence and power of his title gave him to where he felt where the Duchess will be.
He finds the Duchess of Mandalore in the throne room.
She was standing in front of her throne with the biggest look of defiance he scene since his wife.
"I know you are hiding him!" said Darth Vader in a commanding voice.
Satine not betraying her fear, looked into the eyepieces of the mask that cloaked the face that once was Anakin Skywalker. "I feel a presence here does not lie to me. You gave a public declaration to defend the Jedi. I know one in particular that you would give that oath to!" Snarled Vader he felt that she was hiding something.
Satine gripped her blaster, her daughter was safe now. Far away from the Palace. She destroyed the comlink Obi-Wan gave her, he is better off not knowing.
There is nothing left for her to do but fight.
"There are no Jedi here. They are gone you made sure of that…Anakin!" The air in the room seemed to drop even farther.
Darth Vader felt his fury spike as took his blade and pierced the heart of the woman in front of him.
Looking into her eyes he said to her "I am sure Obi-Wan will feel this pain as I have for the rest of his life ..." as cold as he could muster through his mask.
Satine closed her eyes with her last breath in her mind said "…Be well, my daughter…I love you…I always will..."
Her body fell along with the other stormtroopers in the room. Vader could not have them know about him.
"Prepare the Moff and inform the Emperor the duchess has been taken care of…," he said into his comlink. As soon as he was finished with the conversation he immediately felt a powerful presence in the Palace.
Darth Vader reached out through the force and felt the fear radiate from it. He followed it to a room that was decorated for a little girl. It was painted a light pink with a white toddler crib. The room had white furnishings and toys. It was warm and beautiful.
Vader swallowing his rage, focused on the signature.
It was just behind the closet door…
The Sith Lord open the door and saw a little girl with her arms around her legs, clearly frightened. Her short hair was a mess, she looks like she had an accident, and she was radiating fear of her signature.
Vader directed the troopers to wait outside the room. He then did something that he has never done in the middle of a mission. His gloved hands reached up to his mask and clicked it to revile his tired face.
He placed his mask next to the closet. Then he reached out with the force to the little girl close by.
This broke the little girl out her distress.
She slowly got out from the corner of the closet and crawled carefully to meet the eyes of a young man. He was in an all-black suit. He looked tired with the lines on his face, slightly pale from lack of sunlight, his hair was styled in a military cut. But his smile, light in his eyes, she touched the force and she felt the light radiating from, it was a little cold but light none the less.
"You a jdi?" her mother every night told her about the guardians of the light. Someone who feels the force like she does. Like she said her daddy did.
Vader paused for a second, he just killed her mother, and he knew that lying to her will be detrimental from the start.
"No sweetheart, But I am a force sensitive just like you…" he levitated a toy on the floor. He felt the girl drop her defenses a little more.
"Whers mommy…" she asked with her eyes watering, already knowing the answer.
"Your mommy had to go, but I know she wants you to be safe…" he took the glove off his flesh hand "…you can come with me if you would like…I promise to keep you safe…." he kneeled and left it out for her to take.
Mara still lost in a sea of despair was trying to think about what her mother would do. She felt light from this person in front of her and she didn't want to be alone. So, she went out and gave her hand to his.
He clasped it and then gently pulled her in for a hug.
"Looks like someone had an accident…" he saw a changing table nearby. It was filled the necessities to tend for a young child. He gently picked her up and put her on the table.
He then changed her into a clean outfit and diaper.
Tired, the little girl fell into a well-needed sleep on the table. When he heard her soft breaths Sith lord retrieved his mask and put it on. He then dialed the Admiral that was present on the ship.
"…Leave word to Grand Moff Magus Nafeel that the Duchess is dead. I will also need a team to dispose of her body…" He hung the device up and put it in his suit. He went to the table then picked her up and cradled the little girl in his arms. Just like he did with Luke when he rescued him from Tatooine.
He closed his eyes and felt her power.
It was strong…and familiar. He looked into her mind to find her name.
Mara Jade Kenobi-Kryze
Yes.
His child. Now he can take her away like Obi-Wan took his child and his angel.
Darth Vader then strode out of the Palace with the child in his arms. Feeling smug about the destruction left in his wake.
AN: I do not have a Bata reader but I am always trying to fix my story so as I updated the earlier chapter might change
AN: Review, Review, Review! I want to know what you like about the story!
AN: May the force be with you Carrie Fisher!