"Here, put this on princess" Han said, tucking her into her coat, closing it up all the way beneath her chin, before giving it a tug. "Don't want you to catch the royal sniffles, after all"

"Thank you" she said with a small smile, grateful for the extra warmth. "But it won't help much unless we get out of this rain" she added turning to face the stone archway. Vader was standing beneath it, talking quietly with Ahsoka. Sensing her he looked up, his eyes meeting hers. Embarrassed to be caught staring, she quickly turned away.

"Who is she?" Han asked, indicating Ahsoka with a tilt of his head.

"She was Anakin's apprentice, a long time ago"

"Hmm, she must be something else then, if she was able to survive him. Unless she is like him?" Han said, sending Ahsoka a suspicious glance, she couldn't really blame him.

"No I don't think so, somehow." Leia replied quietly. "Come let's head inside."

Just as they got there Vader stepped out into rain. Leaning down on one knee he picked up a head of one of the broken droids, inspecting it.

"Find anything?" Whatever was going on her, she got a feeling they were expected. The fact that Ahsoka was here, was certainly no coincidence.

Still kneeling on the ground he raised his head to look at her. His cloak was becoming soaked, large puddles forming at his feet, but he did not seem to mind. "These are the same type of droids used during the clone wars. I had thought most destroyed or spare parts by now." He replied narrowing his eyes, turning the head around, so it was looking directly at him.

"You think they were just made?" Ahsoka asked, stepping up next to him "If what you said is true, and this is a foundry, someone might have started it back up again"

Dropping the head, Vader picked up a torso instead, using a finger to pull out some wiring, rubbing it between his fingers. He shook his head. "No they are old, unused perhaps, but definitely old. An early model as well, by the look of it. My guess is someone found them intact, reactivating them"

"So there may be more" Leia asked, scrutinizing their surroundings, as if more could appear any moment. But besides the sound of the wind, and falling rain, the place was eerily devoid of life. Strangely enough there was hardly any signs of local wildlife either, but perhaps they were more sensible than her, and had sought out shelter.

Picking up the head Vader had dropped, she studied its elongated face. "Hmm, these things helped bring down the old republic, they seemed so— "

"Stupid?" Vader offered, getting to his feet" Believe me what the lack in intellect, they made up for in sheer numbers"

"So maybe not a good idea to hang around waiting for them then" Han said, moving over to the archway, peering down the entranceway, its stone steps leading away into the darkness. "I don't know about you, but I am not about the head into a dark pit without some light" he added, frowning.

Leia had to admit she didn't like this here either, something about this place felt wrong. Shuddering, she tried to shake of the feeling of invisible fingers reaching out to touch her. The presence felt eager, almost hungry. Vader stopped suddenly, standing utterly still, whatever it was, he had sensed it too.

The sound of Artoo beeping happily drowned out the shadow for the moment, but it was not gone, of that she was certain. Ahsoka leaned down towards the little droid, on hand resting on his doomed head, a delighted expression on her face. He cooed happily, as she offered him something.

"There you are, you useless blob of grease. I swear I won't offer you any more of my parts, if you keep insisting on this foolishness. Running into battle like that" Threepio told the little droid, having apparently decided it was safe for him to appear.

Artoo beeped a retort, spinning his head around looking at the mountain of droid parts scattered all around them.

"Useless inferior parts, nothing like what I am made of" Threepio said, sounding offended at Artoo's choice, at that Ahsoka started to laugh, looking over at Vader who was also looking amused.

"Threepio?" Ahsoka exclaimed, still laughing. "I can't believe it"

"Don't tell me he was also yours?" Leia asked Vader, this was getting beyond ridiculous.

"Oh, it's worse than that" Vader said, moving towards the droid, putting a black hand on one golden shoulder. "I made him myself, from scrap metal and spare parts"

Threepio swung his head towards her "It all lies, princess. He told me he would take me a part just like he had put me together if I did not shut up. But by the maker it's not true"

"I was not fully that harsh" Vader said, letting go of the droid

So that's why Vader made Threepio so nervous, she had wondered what happened between them, after she was knocked out. Though she understood Threepio's confusion to his origin, she felt it keenly herself.

"He has been wiped?" Ahsoka asked, still smiling "Kept his flair for the dramatic though. No wonder considering who programed him"

"Now what is that supposed to mean?" Vader asked, crossing his arms in a defensive posture, but his voice sounded friendly.

"Oh nothing" Ahsoka said innocently.

"Come on professor back to the Falcon" Han interjected before turning to Leia, clearly getting impatient, "I am going to get some lights"

"Good idea, and bring me a backpack." Han nodded, before dragging the droid towards the ship. When he returned he was alone. Handing her the backpack, he turned on one of the flashlights, as the Falcon took off, leaving them there alone. By now it was completely dark, the only light was the glow from Han's torch.

"Chewie and Threepio will keep her in orbit. Knowing us we will need a quick getaway" He told her before she had a chance to ask where the ship was going.

"Probably. So maybe someone should send a fast ship to rescue us then" she teased, taking the flashlight he offered turning it on. With one last smile at Han's put upon face she headed inside the archway.

Vader was already standing there, busy taking his breather of. Leia held her hand out for it, and with a pointed look at him, she put it in her backpack, before she swung it over her shoulders.

"Thank you" he said, before turning away from her to put the mask back on. There was a swooshing sound as it attached itself to the suit. Leia drew a deep breath, never before had she felt as grateful for her own lungs.

Lifting her flashlight up she peered into the arch, grey stone steps covered in a coating of green moss lead downwards, and she could just about make out traces of several footprint disturbing the dust. Likely from the droids, if she had to hazard a guess.

"Cosy" Han said, adding his light to hers. "Are we sure this is the right way?"

"These old tunnels should lead onto the new. Before I came here, I managed to track down a scavenger, that had been to this parts years before. Reluctantly he gave me a partial map to this place. Had a hard time to make him talk though, he seemed rather rattled, perhaps even a bit insane." Ahsoka said, putting a hand on Artoos domed head. "I gave Artoo a copy"

Han let his light trace the outline of the archway. "It looks ancient"

"Yeah as old as the Falcon" Leia whispered to Han giving him a gently nudge, his grumpy expression making her smile despite of the gloom.

"Did he say anything else about it?" he asked ignoring her, turning instead to Ahsoka.

"That this place is cursed" she replied with a shrug. Maz had said something similar, but not in quite those words.

"Great, just great" Han replied, waving his flashlight in the air "Being a smuggler was easy compared to all this mysterious nonsense"

"Since when do you believe in all this, anyways" Leia asked.

"Since I met you and your brother!" he said plainly, arching an eyebrow at her. Fair point.

"Before you say I was reckless for coming here alone, I couldn't leave him behind, enough people have been lost" Ahsoka told Vader when he stepped closer, as if she was expecting a scolding.

"Ahsoka" he started, seeming more worried than anything, but she just waved him of. Leia could relate to how she was to feeling, enough was enough. Her heart could not take any more loss either, it would surely shatter.

"But you did come alone, hardly wise" Han replied,

"You practically did yourselves" Ahsoka, shot back.

Han shrugged "We brought Darth Vader."

"Ahsoka can hold her own, even against me" Vader replied, before taking the lead, quickly vanishing into the shadows.

Leia hurried after, so not to lose sight of him. It did not take long before they were surrounded by damp stone on all sides, the only sound was the quiet drip of water, and the echo of their boots hitting the ground beneath their feet. Han made up the rear, followed closely by Artoo who had lit his own light, cooing uncertainly.

Leia took the opportunity to study Ahsoka up close, just about managing to resist the temptation to point the light in her face. Shouldn't a person trained by her father be evil. Or at least damaged in some way? Ahsoka seemed fine, nice even.

"I don't understand, by your own admission, you admit he tried to kill you." she asked after they had walked in silence for a while. Instead using her light to study the stone below, by now the footprints had stopped, strange. Now only Vader's large boot print disrupted the dust ahead. "Yet Vader asks nicely and here you are"

Ahsoka sighed, looking ahead towards Vader, but it was way too dark to make him out. The only evidence he was still there, was the quiet hiss from his respirator- "Anakin" she corrected her. "Anakin believed in me when no one else would, the least thing I can do is to believe in him now."

Leia frowned, whoever Vader had once been, he certainly inspired loyalty in those who had used to love him. Maybe still did.

"Anakin was worth knowing, even after everything" Ahsoka told her sadly, echoing her thoughts. There was no maybe involved she realised. Leia could not help but wonder if Vader realised that.

"His fall was tragic Leia, he used to be the very best of us. I am sorry you never got to know the amazing man your father once was" Ahsoka said, looking at her, and Leia knew she meant well. But she had lived her entire life beneath Vader's shadow. Seeing the very worst of him, nothing could ever erase that.

"I dropped a rock on him basically the first time we met, if that makes you feel any better" she said with a small smile, noticing Leia's bleak expression.

"Depends, was it a big rock?"

"Huge" she grinned. "But silliness aside, he feels different from the last time we met. The rage is gone. The dark side feels, well it feels wrong" she continued the smile quickly fading, as she stared at Vader's back. Who had come into range of Leia's light, as he slowed his pace.

"Kind of like this place" Leia replied, using the flashlight to look around. The stone wall was covered in strange markings, some reaching all the way up to the celling.

"Yes, just like this place "Ahsoka replied quietly, looking discomforted. Which was not reassuring. Should Vader even be here, if the dark side was so strong here.

"Who are you here for anyway?" Leia asked changing the subject. But not before reaching out with the force to Vader. It felt a bit like bathing in sludge in this place, the darkness repressive, but she found him there glowing steadily. He gave her a reassuring tug in return, startled she pulled back.

"Rex, he is an old friend of mine. And he was your father's second in command during the war."

Leia nodded, everything seemed to lead back to Vader. If this was indeed a trap for him, where they walking into it blindly? When she lifted her light to the ceiling this time she could see nothing but darkness. Apparently they had stepped out from the tunnel into a large cavernous space.

Artoo rolled ahead, his lantern lighting up the wall in front of them. Vader had stopped by a large boulder, the door she could barely make out behind looked much newer than its surroundings

"Well we won't be going that way" Han muttered.

Vader lifted one glove hand and the large stone made a crunching noise as it slid easily to the side, like it was nothing.

"Never mind I said something" Han added, as the door behind came into view, Artoo rolling forward to open it.

"Well we know the droids did not come this way" Leia said, indicating the lack if footsteps. It looked like nothing been down here for a while, dust covering every surface. There were several arched doorways next to the now exposed door. She had a feeling they lead further down below ground, not up where they needed to go. Every single one was bordered up, and by the look of it, it was deliberate. Had the passages simply collapsed or were the trying to keep something in. Leia wasn't sure she wanted to know. The door by the boulder looked newer at least so hopefully they were header in the right direction.

"They probably just hid inside the mouth of the tunnel, waiting to ambush Ahsoka. No one has walked this path for quite a while." Vader said, indicating for them to follow, as the door opened with a groan. The lit corridor on the other side was of metal, not carved from stone. Happy to be out of the damp tunnel, Leia packed her flashlight away.

Leading upwards the corridor went on for what felt like forever until they finally reached a cross road, separating the corridor into three branches. Artoo turned his holo projector on, displaying the map. It showed an array of tunnels, overlying a much larger older structure that was only partly mapped out. The one just ahead lead into the main part of the facility, the other two were side corridors, one leading further up, another around the back.

"I say we head up" Ahsoka said, "Get the vantage spot"

"But this is where they are keeping Luke" Vader said, pointing at the main part, and Leia knew he was right, she could feel her brother close by.

"It's a trap Anakin, you can't just barge in the front door!" Ahsoka replied sounding exasperated, before muttering more quietly "Somethings never change"

"I know Ahsoka" he replied, shaking his head. "So I say we split up. You head up, with Artoo, I'll go with Leia straight ahead, and Han goes in the backway" he added, pointing out the various spots on the map.

"Hold on a moment, shouldn't Artoo go with Han at least?" Leia asked, she didn't like the thought of splitting up.

Vader shook his head again "Ahsoka will need him to deactivate the turrets, and she can make the climb easily" Now he indicated part of the corridor that had collapsed, a force user would have no trouble, however she and Han would.

"I don't need a babysitter anyway" Han said, looking offended. "But I hate to break it to you, I don't think Artoo is quite limber enough for a climb" he added sarcastically to Vader.

"That will not be a problem" Vader stated simply.

"If you say so. But you are not taking Leia straight into trouble. Not without me" he said stubbornly, putting a hand on his hip, shooting Vader a dark look.

Vader sighed, straightening to his full height. "I doubt they want to hurt Leia, these are her people. At best, her bringing me in is giving them exactly what they want. Namely me. At worst they end up dead, not her"

"I don't want you to kill anyone for me" she told him aghast.

"Neither do I wish to, but if it comes down to you and Luke, or them, I will have to." he said holding his hands out. "But out of all of us, you stand the greatest chance to end this conflict peacefully"

Leia knew he had a point, perhaps she could talk them down. Whatever had brought them to this, she still held a high standing among her own, even now. She could only hope it was enough. "Alright" she nodded turning to Han. "It will be ok, just be ready to have my back if it goes wrong"

"You mean when" he replied, still looking reluctant. Leia put her hand on his arm "We have to get Luke, besides we have faced worse, haven't we?"

"Well that remains to be seen doesn't it?" He replied, before he turned and headed down the corridor, hopefully their luck would hold and it would be as empty as this one had been.

"Ahsoka, take Artoo and bring down those turrets, then remain unseen until needed. They may know we are coming, but they may not know how many we are. Not yet"

Ahsoka stood still for a moment, eyes fixed on Vader's mask.

"It's still me Ahsoka" he said in a way that was probably meant to be gentle, but his mechanical voice came out distant.

"I know" she smiled. "I know, I just have hard time believing you are actually here" she bent her head, clearly gathering herself. When she looked up again, her eyes were glistening with tears, but she was smiling all the same. "Stay safe Anakin"

"You too Ahsoka" he replied, inclining his helmet at her.

"Roger, roger" she replied with a mock salute, and Leia swore Vader laughed. "Come along Artoo" The droid beeped a friendly farewell, before heading up the corridor following Ahsoka closely

Vader stared at them walking away, until they vanished beyond sight. Even then he remained rooted to the spot, his helmet tilted upwards, like he was afraid they would leave him, and never come back. It hit her then just how lonely he really was.

"Come, someone else needs you now" she said after clearing her throat. He nodded, and together they walked side by side, into the corridor beyond. Luke's presence growing brighter with each step.

Notes:

Luke is close by I promise! (unless he has died from starvation or boredom by now, hehe)
I always thought it a bit silly Anakin made 3po, but it is what it is.
And don't worry Ahsoka will be back soon, but to many characters at once makes my head spinn:)

So many follower, I am amazed. And thank you for all your reviews, greatly appreciated:)