Chapter Nine

A.N. I realize how much time passed between the end of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi; however for the purposes of this AU story, the elapsed time will be shortened in order to include some of the key events from ROTJ. I hope this doesn't unduly upset anyone.

Leia paced up and down in the small apartment, the heat stifling. Three days had passed since they had arrived at Mos Eisley, and there was no word yet from Lando. Not that she had expected to hear from him so soon; Leia realized it would take weeks before Lando would be in position. She realized that he was doing his best, but somehow that didn't make the waiting any easier.

I miss you Han, she thought miserably, fighting against the tears that were dangerously close to the surface. Leia had always prided herself on being tough, on being totally self reliant and strong. It had unnerved her to realize that she was in love with Han Solo; but no sooner had she come to grips with that astonishing turn of events then Han was stolen away from her. The sight of him manacled and helpless as he was lowered into the carbon freezing chamber was one she knew she'd never forget as long as she lived, and it was yet another image, another ordeal to fuel her nightmares.

Leia wasn't the only one suffering from Han's abduction; Chewbacca, one of the pilot's oldest friends, had not forgiven himself for allowing the storm troopers to take Han away the way they had. He felt that he owed Han a life debt, and felt he should have laid down his life in order to save Han's. Chewbacca was as anxious as Leia to hear from Lando, and with each day that passed without word, his anxiety and impatience grew. Both realized that they needed to focus on their plan in order to make the time pass, in order to keep from losing their minds with grief over the loss of the man they both loved.

Jundland Wastes

The work on Luke's new lightsaber was going slowly, far more slowly than Anakin was accustomed to. Anakin saw this as an unprecedented opportunity, however, and decided that he would rather take his time. After all, how often is a man afforded the chance to spend time with grown son twenty years before that son is born? And so Anakin took it slowly, in a way that would have made Obi-Wan proud, showing his son each step, explaining and teaching as he went along, encouraging Luke as he took the next steps towards becoming a full fledged Jedi Knight.

"The heart of any lightsaber is the crystal energy chamber," Anakin explained to his son as they sat cross legged on the floor. "It's responsible for primary energy conversion, and we use at least two crystals in the energy chamber."

Luke nodded as he carefully took the crystal from Anakin. He took a deep breath as he fit it into the chamber under the watchful eyes of his father.

"Good," Anakin said encouragingly. "You're doing very well, Luke," he added with a smile.

Luke looked up at Anakin, feeling proud that he'd earned the Jedi's praise. The three days they'd spent together had brought the two young men close, for they were finding that they shared many common interests and skills. But as much as he enjoyed his time with Anakin, he knew that it would not last forever; sooner or later he would return to his own time, and Luke would be left in this time to wrestle with the horrible truth of his paternity.

"Now this first crystal is the one that converts the energy from the power assembly," Anakin explained. "Then transfers its output to the focusing crystals."

"So is that next?" Luke asked. "The focusing crystals?"

Anakin nodded. "Yes, but that is the most critical part of the construction," he explained. "And the reason why all lightsabers are built by hand."

Luke frowned. "I don't understand," he said.

"Well you see it's imperative that you align the crystals perfectly," Anakin explained. "Because if you don't, you could end up blowing yourself sky high when you activate the weapon."

"Whoa," Luke said softly, looking down at the partially built weapon in his hands. "How do you do that?"

Anakin smiled. "Through the Force," he replied. "That's the only way to guarantee the proper alignment. That's why building a saber is usually only done in the latter stages of Jedi training."

Luke nodded his understanding, his admiration for Anakin growing by the minute. This was a Jedi, a real Jedi. If only he could stay here forever, Luke thought wistfully. I still have so much to learn, and Anakin could teach me so much, he already has.

"Come on," Anakin said. "Let's knock off for a while. I could use a break, what about you?"

"You bet," Luke agreed. "I'm all freaked out now that I'm gonna blow myself up," he added with a smile.

Anakin laughed. "You won't," he assured him. He looked at his son for a moment, paternal pride filling him. "The Force is very strong with you, Luke," he told him. "Don't forget that."

"I won't," Luke replied, heartened by the young man's words.

"So what did you do for fun when you lived here?" Anakin asked.

"Fun? Here?" Luke replied. "I thought you said you used to live here," he quipped.

Anakin laughed again. "Well, I was nine when I left, remember?" he replied. He thought for a moment. "I don't suppose they still have pod racing over at Boonta Eve," he remarked

"If they do, it's not legal," Luke replied.

Anakin raised his eyebrows. "Really? It's been outlawed?"

Luke nodded. "Did you go to races when you lived here?"

Anakin smiled. "I used to race in them, Luke," he replied.

Luke's eyes widened in amazement. "You did? You raced in the pod races?"
Anakin nodded. "Yes I did," he replied. "Even won once," he remembered. "I was the only human ever to race," he added, seeing how impressed his son was.

"That is so cool," Luke declared. "You want to go see if there's a race this afternoon?"

"I thought you said they were illegal," Anakin remarked.

"I did," Luke replied with a smile.

Anakin laughed. "Luke, I like your style," he said clapping his hand on Luke's shoulder as they left the small hut.

Boonta Eve race track was crowded with beings of every creature imaginable when Luke and Anakin arrived. Luke had always wanted to go the pod races, but had never dared to. Uncle Owen had been very strict, and Luke had learned from an early age not to cross him.

"It's been a while since I've been here," Anakin said as they looked around. "But it hasn't changed a bit."

"I still can't believe you raced here," Luke said.

Anakin smiled. "I did, many times," he replied.

"And your parents let you?" Luke asked.

"Well, my mother wasn't happy about it," he replied. "In fact she hated it. But she didn't stop me."

"Does she still live here?" Luke asked. "I mean, I wonder…in this time… if there's a chance she might."

Anakin shook his head. "No, no chance at all," he replied.

"How can you be so sure?" Luke asked.

Anakin sighed. "She died a few years back," he told Luke. "When I was nineteen."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Luke replied, feeling awkward. "I had no idea."

"No, of course you didn't," Anakin replied. "Look, the race is about to start."

Father and son took their seats, the smells and sounds hearkening Anakin back to his childhood. He looked over at Luke, whose excitement was clear. Anakin smiled and thanked the living Force for giving him this remarkable chance to become friends with his adult son.

Super Star Destroyer Executioner

Darth Vader sat reading over the datapad on the desk before him. The Death Star II, much larger and more powerful than the first one, was nearing its completion. Until he'd been sent the encrypted message, Vader had known nothing about the Death Star. No, Grand Moff Jerjerrod had been made commander of this new station, just as Tarkin had been the first Death Star.

It was so kind of the emperor to finally fill me in on these plans, Vader thought bitterly as he clicked off the report. Another slap in the face for my inability to find the Rebels…

Vader stood up and walked over to the window, his mind in turmoil. It seemed to Vader as though the emperor was squeezing him out, finding others to do those duties which ought to have been his. No wonder the old man is so anxious for me to find Luke…Vader reflected darkly. Only he won't win over the boy…I'll see to that. Luke is my flesh, my blood…all that I have left of Padmé, my precious Angel.

Ever since Vader had first heard the name Luke Skywalker he'd dreamed of Padmé virtually every night. Dreaming over her was like torture to him now, for with the memories of her came the agony of Mustafar, the unthinkable moment of madness when he'd actually turned on her, on his Angel. Vader closed his eyes, using every ounce of self control he had to keep the image of her from his mind, knowing, however that it would inevitably come to him in his sleep when he was helpless to stop it.

The sound of the com interrupted Vader's ruminations and he walked back over to the desk. "What is it?" he demanded.

"My lord, the emperor is demanding for you to make contact," Piett reported.

Vader frowned under his mask. "Very well," he replied. "I shall do so at once."

Tatooine

"That was amazing!" Luke declared excitedly as he and Anakin made their way to the exit through the crowds. "I can't believe you actually raced one of those things!"

"Not only did I race them, I built them too," Anakin told him. "That was my favourite thing to do when I was a kid."
"Building things?" Luke asked.

Anakin nodded.

"Me too," Luke told him with a smile. "I've always had a knack for fixing things too."

Anakin smiled. "Same here," he said as they approached their speeder.

Luke nodded as he looked up at the sky. "I hope we can get back before it gets dark," he remarked.

"Don't worry," Anakin said, climbing behind the controls of the speeder. "I have a reputation for being a speed demon," he assured his son with a smile.

Luke laughed as he slid in beside his father. "Good," he replied. "Here's your chance to prove it."

Despite Anakin's best efforts, it had grown dark before they reached the hut. As they approached, they saw a scattering of sand people loitering about, their banthas nearby.

"Great," Luke muttered. "Looks like we've got company."

Anakin nodded, his eyes fixed on the nomadic creatures as they turned to watch the speeder's approach. "Are you armed?" he asked Luke, not taking his eyes off of the raiders.

"I have my blaster," Luke replied.

"Be prepared," Anakin said. He looked at Luke briefly. "Here, take the controls," he said.

"Why? What are you…?" Luke started asking and then watched in astonishment as Anakin leapt from the speeder, his lightsaber springing to life as he did so. Luke brought the speeder to a halt and watched as Anakin approached the tuskens, who, upon seeing the lethal blade of his lightsaber, had started to back away.

"That's right, you'd better back off," Anakin warned them, brandishing his saber. "I'll slice every last one of you in two if you as much as look in my son's direction."

The tuskens, not known for their intelligence, attempted to surround Anakin, only to have two of them lose their gaffi sticks along with the hands that held them. They finally took the hint and ran off, clambering onto their banthas and riding off.

Anakin looked back at the speeder, where Luke sat in stunned amazement.

"You alright?" Anakin asked, clipping his weapon back onto his belt.

Luke nodded. "That was…incredible," he said.

Anakin smiled. "Not really," he said. "They were pretty easily scared off. Come on; let's get inside before they come back with reinforcements."