Calm...peace...stillness...Luke breathed deeply as he sat cross-legged on his bed; reaching for the Force and thinking back to his lessons with Master Yoda.

It was a rather silly notion, actually, to reach for the Force as if it was something far away to grasp by hand. The Force was around and in everything, good and bad. All one had to do was align themselves with it. Not everyone could.

The Force rested more strongly on certain people than in others. Such people were called to learn to control themselves and their abilities, lest they fall prey to the Dark Side. Anakin Skywalker had paid for that lesson with twenty-three years of imprison-ment.

Luke sighed as his thoughts wandered back to his father. I wish I could see him. Anakin avoided conversation about his well-being almost as much as his son did. He seemed to accept the pain that plagued him with a strange kind of resignation. It was almost as if he felt like enduring whatever came as a consequence of being Vader...like punishment. And Anakin accepted this punishment calmly. The guilt he felt over his actions was at times overwhelming. Luke felt as if the treatment of his father was far too harsh.

It's not fair, he thought, frowning. First his father had been stolen from him by the Emperor, now he was being stolen by the Rebellion. Luke understood their reasoning. It was hard to explain that Darth Vader was dead, and only Anakin remained. No one understood because all the Jedi were gone.

Luke had tried to contact the spirit of Obi-Wan several times, but Ben had not returned. That hurt, and made Luke doubt his senses. Obviously one did not call up the spirit of a dead man. Ben had appeared to Luke seemingly at will, which could only mean he did not want to come back yet.

"If you are to face Vader, you will do it alone. I cannot interfere..." Obi-Wan's words on Dagobah came back to haunt the young Jedi. Does that mean he's angry with me for not listening? Does he think me a traitor? Somehow Luke doubted it, but he still had many questions to ask of both Ben and Yoda. Why had they not told him the truth? Did they fear Luke's compassion?

Luke's eyes opened, his concentration gone. The young man glanced at his bionic hand with a frown. Is this why he won't speak to me? Does becoming part machine mean I'm following in my father's footsteps? He couldn't believe it did. His father had spoken of other Jedi who had gained bionic limbs and were no less Jedi because of it. Machines weren't evil. Artoo and Threepio alone were proof of that.

I made my decision, Luke thought, his blue eyes drifting closed again. Again, he reached for the table in the corner he had been trying to levitate. His telekinesis had gotten rusty over the last month and he needed practice lifting heavier objects.

Luke breathed deeply the warm touch of the Force and through it, saw the table. He imagined how light it could be, how lifting it was so easy. In his mind's eye, he saw it rise slowly into the air...

The entry buzzer sounded. Luke flinched, startled, and had to scramble to catch the table before it fell with a loud crash. He wasn't yet skilled enough to do so, but managed to slow it down and make sure it landed upright. "Control, control, you must learn control," Yoda's voice berated in memory. Luke winced at the noise from the table before rising to answer the now-insistent buzz at the door.

It was Leia and Han, both of whom looked worried. "Luke, are you all right? What happened?" asked Leia.

Han's eyebrows were knit. "Yeah, we heard somethin' fall."

Luke's ears burned in embarrassment. "Nothing. I just...dropped something."

Leia nodded. "As long as you're not hurt." She sighed, staring at the floor for a minute as if trying to think of what to say.

Han rescued her by speaking next. "Huh. Musta been somethin' pretty big to make that racket. Rearranging furniture?"

"No. I was using the Force," explained Luke. He noticed how disturbed both of his friends were and stepped aside. "Come on in."

"Thank you." Leia walked in, followed by Han. The door closed behind them. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," sighed Luke. Leia always avoided a difficult subject by asking about Luke's health...which by then was almost a rhetorical question. "Something's bothering both of you. What is it?" Normally Luke wasn't so direct, but seeing Han and Leia look so worried all the time concerned him.

"We need to talk," admitted Leia, staring at her hands.

Luke nodded. He could guess what the subject was. Quickly he sat on his cot and motioned to the two chairs at his table. "Want to sit down?"

Quickly Han and Leia took Luke up on his suggestion. They glanced at each other before Leia began. "Luke, do you know why there was a blood sample taken yesterday?"

Luke glanced at Han, briefly worried. The smugglers' expression made it obvious. "I can guess. It was a paternity test to see if Anakin really is my father."

Leia nodded. "Vader," she corrected. Nothing would change what she thought of the man now held in the high-security cell.

"It was positive, wasn't it?" Luke asked, glancing from Han to Leia.

Wordlessly Leia nodded.

Luke accepted the news calmly. In a way it was kind of a relief. The Force didn't lie. "I know."

Impulsively Leia reached for Luke's hand. "Luke, I'm sorry. I can't even imagine what you've been going through, and I wish you didn't have to know, but-"

"Why?" asked Luke with a frown. "I know no one believed me when I told them. I didn't believe it at first either."

"Don't blame 'ya there, kid," Han blurted. "Nobody should have parents like...like that."

"We just wanted you to know, Luke, that it doesn't matter who your father is," said Leia firmly.

Luke lifted his eyes to regard his friends with surprise. They don't mind? They hate Vader so and can't accept him as Anakin...at least not yet, but..."It doesn't...bother you?" he asked hesitantly.

Han grimaced. "I wouldn't put it that way. But he's who he is and you're who you are. Don't matter who your parents are. 'Ya can't help if one of 'em happens to be bad. That ain't your fault."

Leia gave a brief smile at Han's coarse speech before continuing. "What Han means is, that you and your father are two separate people. He's not the one who raised you; your aunt and uncle were. And you are nothing like Vader...you're kind and generous...Luke, you're our friend," Leia, said, taking Luke's hand and feeling her eyes sting. "We'd never hold something like this against you."

Han nodded and took Luke's shoulder. "Buddy, you're the best friend anybody could ask for...heck, kid. Sometimes I feel like your big brother, gettin' you outta all the messes you get into."

Luke chuckled. He thinks of me like a brother? "Come on."

"Naw, I mean it," insisted Han. He met Luke's eyes. "Stinks to have your family gone, or...anyway, I know what it's like to have a rotten father. Don't worry 'bout him. We'll be your family."

Leia nodded in agreement. "That's a promise, Luke. Any time you need us, we'll be here for you."

Hint, hint. Luke's smile froze. They don't understand... How was one supposed to react when one's best friends hated a father that had been reconciled with? He appreciated the sentiment, but- "I know that, but I still do have family." Luke lifted his hand for a moment. "Now, just...wait a minute. Hear me out. I'll be the first one to admit that Darth Vader was evil. For the first week on his flagship, all I could think of was escape. Whether he'd spoken the truth or not, I refused to accept him as my father."

Han grunted in agreement, while Leia shuddered. "Luke, what did he do to you?"

Luke shook his head. "Nothing," he insisted. "After the duel on Bespin, he seemed to do what he could to help me. The way he went about it was...strange..." Luke recalled the strangled medic and the Tatooine dinner. "But after a time I came to realize that even he wasn't completely evil. If Vader wanted me dead, he could have left me behind on Bespin, or he could have killed me any time it suited him. I thought that if there was even a little hope for him-"

Han glared. "Hope? For what? Luke, the guy's a murderer. Don't forget he killed your aunt and uncle...not to mention Ben, Biggs, and half a billion other people."

Luke nodded impatiently. "I know. There's no excuse for the evil that happened by Vader's hand, and I'm not trying to defend him."

"Good," said Han forcefully.

"But what I'm trying to tell you is that Anakin isn't the same person as Vader. Anakin is a Jedi. Vader was a Sith." Luke saw the confusion in his friends' faces and sighed. "Did General Madine tell you what I told him? When there was a groundquake on T'Prowa, I nearly fell to my death. Anakin, even though it meant putting his own life in danger, was able to defeat Darth Vader and save mine. Vader is gone, and he's never coming back."

Leia stared at Luke with nothing more than utter and complete confusion on her face. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Luke, but you're not making any sense."

Han didn't seem to understand things any better than Leia. He squinted, crossed his arms, and leaned against the doorjamb. "Whaddya mean, 'Vader's gone'? He's down in the brig right now."

Luke bit his lip. "It may look like Vader, but it isn't. It's Anakin Skywalker, my father."

Han made a sour face. "What the...you tryin' to tell us he was possessed or somethin'?" he demanded.

As in demon-possessed? Luke frowned and studied his hands. In a way, it was a good analogy. While Vader was in Anakin's body, Anakin had little to no control over his actions. But Vader had not been a demon. They're not going to understand if you bring the Force back into it, his common sense argued. Reluctantly Luke nodded. "You...you could say that. It's not completely accurate, but if it helps you accept-"

Leia was still shaking her head in protest. "Accept what? Luke, please. Stop defending him. Even if there was some sort of split personality involved, with two distinct people in one body...that's still no guarantee the Vader side wouldn't show itself again. Even then, he has to answer for his crimes, whether the 'good' part wanted to commit them or not!"

Luke's patience ran thin. His shoulders fell. "What is he going to have to do to convince you that he's changed? He's done everything you've asked, accepted his treatment without complaint, and given you all the information you want. Think about it. Would Vader do that?"

He's being completely unreasonable! Leia's cheeks flushed in anger. "Maybe, if it served his purpose. How do we know any of the information he's giving us is true, other than his word?"

"'Sides that, what about you?" Han asked, rising back to his feet and turning to his friend. "You hated the Empire more'n anybody when I met you."

"I still do, Han. Why don't you believe me?"

"Believe what? That Vader-"

"Anakin."

"-that whoever-it-is ain't bad anymore and everything's gonna be hunky-dory havin' him along for the ride? Don't that sound awful strange to you? Anyway, what made you suddenly care about him?"

Luke's shoulders fell and he leaned heavily against the headboard of his bed. His eyes closed on the forming tears. They were of hurt...and anger. None of that, now. The young Jedi took several deep breaths to calm himself. When his emotions had been brought under control, Luke opened his eyes again. "He's my father."

Han turned around and started pacing, trying to make sense of it all.

Leia stared at Luke for a long time. There was no lie, no deception, no hint of ill-intent in either his eyes or his mannerisms. Somewhere, deep down, she knew he was telling the truth. This she fought with vehemence. It's Vader! He can't defend Vader. Not after what he did.

But the fact remained that, sensible or not, Luke cared for his father. In a way, compassion was part of his makeup. He couldn't not care, especially not for family, however deranged they might be. Leia's conscience was pricked by this. The woman sank into the bed to sit beside him. "Luke, what do you want me to do? You know I can't just release him. Alderaan aside, the man can't be trusted."

Luke released his anger with one final sigh before turning to Leia. "He's suffering. He feels pain every minute, and not just because of his injuries. Anakin feels remorse over everything Vader did. I know it's difficult to accept him as Anakin, especially with the suit. He hates it. Could you at least see that he's a little more comfortable...maybe find some way to get him out of that suit?"

There was such pleading in Luke's eyes, it was impossible for Leia not to feel for him. She also felt a small prick of guilt. Every prisoner, no matter how rotten, had a right to humane treatment. The final amputation of Vader's arm had been done without any follow-up painkillers. That was tantamount to torture.

Leia closed her own eyes, battling the conflicting emotions within. If we can't show any respect for a sentient being's life, we're no better than the Empire. She glanced at Han, wondering what he would say. The man's arms were crossed and his shoulders were hunched, a sure sign he knew the truth but was too stubborn to admit it. Leia's eyes flicked to Luke with uncertainty. "Is that even possible? Doesn't he need that suit to survive?"

Luke grimaced. "To some extent...I know he can't breathe on his own. I'm sure Too-One-Be could find out. But there have to be things that could replace the functions on the suit."

Now Han turned around to stare at Luke. "Kid, I know he's your father and all, but... c'mon. Even he's gotta know he can't get off scot-free."

Luke shook his head. "He's not asking for that...neither am I. But the way he's being treated now is torture. I can't believe the Alliance condones that."

The word 'torture' made even Han flinch and look away.

I can't do what he's asking of me. I can't go into the brig as ask that the worst prisoner in the galaxy get better treatment. Leia's heart held too much hurt and resentment...and anger. Do it for Luke. Leia finally took a deep breath. "I'll see what I can do."

The light of hope that had been missing from Luke's face finally showed itself again. He smiled and gave a brief nod. "Thank you."

I can't believe I just told him that. Leia rose briskly from Luke's bed, trying to shake off her apprehension. "I won't make any promises...but I'll try." She turned back to Luke. "And I'll do whatever I can to see that Rogue Squadron gets back their wingleader."

Luke's smile widened, though this time it was strained. "I know you will. It's probably going to take a while to regain their trust now, but that's all right."

Han squirmed uncomfortably from the doorway. "Hey. For what it's worth, Chewie and me'll vouch for you any old day of the week."

"Thanks, Han."

"Take care, buddy."

Together Han and Leia made for the door. Leia paused midstride to turn back to Luke, who had risen to follow them. "Luke?"

Luke looked at her. "Hmm?"

Leia chewed her lip. "You're...you're sure he didn't hurt you?"

Luke gave a firm nod. "I swear. And he's not going to hurt anyone else."

The woman suppressed a shudder. "I hope you're right, Luke." With that, Han and Leia exited his quarters, both of them unsure of how to feel.

Han turned to her to with uncertainty. "You sure you wanna do that? I mean, you-know-who deserves everything he gets."

Leia shook her head. "No, I don't. But sometimes we all have to do things we don't want to."

Han glared. "What for? Why'd anybody want to make that monster comfortable?"

Leia shrugged helplessly. "Because it's right."

There was another reason, too. Vader- or, Anakin -had recently divulged a new piece of information. If it wasn't true, his credibility would be gone. But if it was true, perhaps better treatment could serve as a reward of sorts.

Though, with a second Death Star to worry about, there was a possibility that none of them- Vader/Anakin included -would get out alive anyway.

A/N: hang in there, guys! I'm hammering this thing out as fast as I can. There's no guarantee of when it'll be done, but it's getting close. I'm sorry for making so many people angry, but put yourself in the rebel's shoes for a minute. It'd be like the worst war criminal you can think of suddenly doing a 180.