Chapter Thirty-two:

Eventually Anakin ran out of tears, dried his face, and accepted the fact that his son hated him. It hurt, a lot, but Anakin knew he deserved the cold shoulder from Luke. A few weeks of kindness could not make up for the years of hardship Darth Vader had caused Luke. There was nothing more Anakin could do except hope Luke would find a way to forgive Anakin.

Anakin turned his thoughts to something he could change: his daughter's circumstances. According to Luke she was in grave danger, and Anakin was determined to get her out of it, by whatever means necessary.

Picking his brain as to— in Luke's own words— huge junkyards, Anakin could name a few planets where there were sizable scrap heaps. There were even entire planets covered in junkyards, some with air that was volatile and unfriendly.

Anakin pursed his lips, knowing he needed help, and he knew just who to ask. Pulling out his comlink, he opened a channel. "Artoo?"

"Dooeep?"

"Meet me at the room in the hotel, right away."

Artoo whistled a confirmation and cut the connection. Anakin rose to his feet, glanced the direction Luke had gone and went to his room.

00000

Han leveled a hard stare on the Wookiee as they sat in the lounge of the hotel. "No, don't you go cheating, you hear?"

Chewie harned.

"You are too!" Han grouched. "You know the game is randomly set, so quit trying to hike things in your favor!"

Chewie and Han were playing dejarik, and Han had soon discovered that the Wookiee had a strong dislike of coming in second place. The Wookiee's bad temper on each loss had garnered smart comments from Han until the Wookiee had tried to make things go in his favor.

Now Han was tired of it, and he was putting his foot down. "Look, I've lost a fair amount of times. And in any case, there are no bets, so what are you losing really?"

Chewie grumped, looking away.

"You're just acting like a big baby," Han told the being.

No one else in the galaxy would dare insult a Wookiee, Han knew, and he was pushing his luck, but enough was enough. The Wookiee was a good friend, but he had a mean streak in him.

Han leaned over the game-table, studying his characters. He was about to move when the door to the lobby opened, and Anakin strode through, the look on his face one of determination. Han frowned, noticing the harried appearance of the man.

"Hey, what's going on?" Han called to the Jedi.

Anakin didn't break stride. "I've got a planet to find."

Han's frown deepened. "Okay then, well, did you see Luke this morning? How's he doin'?"

Anakin's step faltered and he did look at the young man then, a strange emotion crossing his face. "I don't know; he won't talk to me now."

Before Han could reply, Anakin turned and was gone. But Han wasn't deterred, concern for his brother winning over caution.

"Wait a minute," Han called, rising to follow after the man, "you two were doing just fine yesterday!"

Anakin glanced over his shoulder. "Yes, we were."

"And now you're not speaking?" Han pressed, trying to make sense of it.

"He doesn't want to be around me." Anakin's voice hitched. "Those were his words."

Han caught up, noticing the red eyes of the other. "Have you been crying? What's going on here?"

Anakin sighed heavily and stopped, looking to Han. "I told him the truth about me."

Han's jaw dropped before he could help it. "You did?"

Anakin scowled. "I wasn't about to lie to him for the rest of his life. Yes, I told him."

Han tilted his head. "And Luke didn't like that."

Anakin gave Han a look of strained patience. "Where are you going with this Han?"

The teen threw up his hands. "That's not like Luke that's what I'm getting at."

Anakin studied Han. "Did Luke ever tell you why he was on Corellia in the first place that day you met?"

Han opened his mouth, paused, and then shook his head. "No. He never spoke of his past, not even to me. But I knew it bothered him." Han paused again. "And now that I think of it, he was deathly afraid of Vader. The Kid was convinced Vader was going to find him."

Anakin's lips thinned. "A squad of lost and intoxicated stormtroopers murdered Luke's Aunt and Uncle, then set his home on fire while Luke was still inside. Luke almost didn't escape, and when he did he was taken to the governor, who called for Vader when she heard Luke's name. Luke panicked and fled."

Han's heart panged for Luke. "Stang, I never knew..."

Anakin looked down. "He blames me— Vader— for what happened."

Han ran a hand over his hair. "Let me talk with him."

Anakin waved a hand. "You'll need to find him." Han began to ask the obvious, but Anakin cut him off. "He's tired of his room, so he's wandering the facility."

He then turned and disappeared, with Han letting him go this time. He stood still for a time, processing, and then he sighed and returned to the lobby.

"I'm going to see Luke." He informed Chewie. "I'll catch you later."

Chewie stood. [I'll come too.]

"No." Han held up a hand to stop the other. "I need to see him alone."

Chewie hesitated, but then nodded. [Alright.]

Han waved his thanks and left, searching out his brother.

00000

Anakin got to the room he shared with Obi Wan, finding the man just coming out of the refresher, freshly showered and dressed. The elder man picked up on Anakin's temperament and came closer.

"Anakin, what's the matter?"

Anakin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can we not talk about that right now? Where's Artoo?"

The droid in question showed up moments later, beeping urgently. Anakin listened and nodded. "Yes, I know Luke's not in his room."

"What?" Obi Wan asked, but Anakin was still focused on Artoo. "We have a bigger problem at the moment. I need a list of every planet with a massive junkyard."

Artoo trilled and set to work, connecting with the room's computer so Anakin could see the list when he had it. Obi Wan placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

"Anakin..." he said purposefully. "Please, talk to me."

Anakin took a breath and turned toward his friend. "I just found out that Luke has been having nightmares. He told me about them and after he did so I am convinced he's seeing his sister."

Obi Wan shook his head. "No, Leia is on Alderaan with Bail Organa."

Anakin lifted a brow. "Not according to these visions."

Obi Wan crossed his arms. "Anakin, if something happened to Leia, Bail would have contacted me."

Anakin hesitated: Obi Wan had a point. "Well, Luke is still having visions.

Obi Wan's brow lifted. "Are you certain of this?" Anakin lifted his own brow, and Obi Wan lifted a hand. "I mean about him having visions."

Anakin inclined his head. "Yes. I spoke with him about it, and he isn't just seeing things, he is experiencing them." He paused. "Not unlike when I saw my mother."

Obi Wan was quiet for a moment, stroking his beard. "I trust your judgment, Anakin, though you are certain your feelings for Luke aren't getting in the way? You're not just determined to win him over, are you?"

Anakin closed his eyes. "I won't be winning him over anytime soon."

Obi Wan's surprise floated to Anakin on the eddies of the Force. "Why not?"

Anakin rolled his eyes. Here we go again...

But he was saved by Artoo, who tootled for attention, bringing up his gathered list. There were surprisingly many, and Anakin studied each name. They had to narrow down the list. Each of these planets was quite far from the others.

"Shift out the ones with a breathable atmosphere." He ordered.

Artoo did so, shortening the list considerably. Anakin ran a finger down the list, feeling Obi Wan's scrutiny like a ray of sunlight on Tatooine. At some point the Jedi Master stepped forward.

"Artoo, are there any planets that have living areas even with the poor atmosphere?" he asked.

Artoo rocked once, showing three candidates. The two men studied the list yet again, and Obi Wan looked to Anakin.

"Can you give any more details?"

Anakin thought it over. "Luke said a huge junkyard, dangerous circumstances... toxic air," Anakin's face darkened, "and slavery."

Obi Wan looked again, and then indicated one. "Raxus Prime fits that description, though I don't think they do slavery. It could be someone hiding a slave."

Artoo Detoo pulled up some images of the planet, and Anakin saw the domes, the piles of garbage... and felt in the Force this was the right place. "That's it."

Obi Wan turned to Anakin. "We have a planet. Let me reach out to Bail first, and see what's going on. I'm certain he still has Leia. Let me find out more."

Anakin breathed slowly, reaching for the Jedi calm that had so often eluded him in the Clone Wars. "Alright. Thank you."

00000

Han was having a difficult time locating the blond boy. Darned if Luke wasn't most adept at hiding... he had often slipped from danger by making himself invisible in some way or another, whether it was hiding in a barrel, fitting into a small space or simply blending in with a crowd.

Han had always been proud of Luke for his ability... but now he was grumbling about it because he couldn't find Luke.

"Come on, Luke, where'd you go?" Han muttered. It's not like there's many places to go in this facility, Han thought.

He stopped, trying to place himself in Luke's shoes. Where would he go if he'd just learned that Darth Vader was his father? Han grimaced, knowing where he would end up: the first cantina he could locate.

But not Luke: no, Luke would find some place to be alone, where he could vent his emotions with no witnesses. Han's heart went out to the private young man: Luke's heart had been wounded in his youth, and Han didn't know if it had ever really healed.

It certainly hadn't in Garris' care, Han knew that. And now that Han knew the full story, he was even more determined to find the lost boy. Han appreciated the double meaning in that, being a lost boy himself in many respects.

Finally Han decided to try the gardens, remembering how Luke had always loved greenery. Han had often teased the other boy, but he knew it was because Luke had grown up on desolate Tatooine.

Han reached the garden, small as it was, and paused to look around. He didn't see anything... but he could hear it. Locating the noise, Han turned, trying to figure out just what he was picking up.

As the sobs became clear to Han, his heart went out to Luke again. Slowly Han approached until he found the boy curled into a ball in a corner, head buried in his knees which were up against his chest.

Han bit his lip, and wondered what to do when Luke seemed to realize he had company. Luke looked up, his face wet and puffy from crying. Without bothering to wipe at his cheeks, Luke looked away, staring at nothing.

Han sat beside Luke and sought what to say. Where did he begin? He'd been so ready to talk with Luke, but now that he was here, words failed him. Giving up on trying when a long time passed, Han simply placed an arm around Luke's shoulders.

At first the other didn't do anything, but to Han's shock the younger boy leaned into Han. His weeping had slowed in intensity, but the tears still flowed. Han simply held Luke, grateful to be able to help the boy he called brother. They had fought, lived, survived and bled together: so in Han's mind that made them family.

He didn't know how much time passed before Luke stilled, his tears eventually stopping.

Luke sat up, looking to Han with a weak attempt at a smile. "Thank you."

Han nodded. "Anytime. So... I ran into Anakin earlier."

Luke wiped at his eyes to remove the tear stains, his eyes darkening a little. "You did?"

Han inclined his head. "Yeah. He also told me that he let the nexu out of the bag."

Luke looked to Han, studying him. "You don't say that like you're surprised. Did you know too?"

"Not until Vader rescued you and I demanded to stay with you no matter what." Han explained. "And before you ask, it wasn't my place to tell you, which is why I didn't."

Luke took that in, sniffling. "I guess you're right."

Han bit his lip. "Do you hate Anakin?"

Luke looked down at his hands, silent for a time. "Not Anakin. I... I never really hated Vader either."

Han tilted his head. "Why were you so afraid of him, Kid? I saw your expression when he helped you in that medical room."

Luke swallowed, fiddling now as he sought to deflect the subject. "I don't want to talk about it."

Han thinned his lips, annoyed. "Maybe not, but you need to. There's a difference."

Luke shot him a mild glare, but Han wasn't backing down, so the other heaved a world-weary sigh. "When I was still on Tatooine, before my Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen were killed, the subject of Darth Vader was a sore one. Even I knew that at such a young age." Luke shifted to a more comfortable position. "But that wasn't what had me so edgy."

He paused, and Han waited expectantly.

"There were times when I was with Uncle Owen or Aunt Beru, and if someone spoke of Vader, there was always this... fear that came into their eyes. Not only that, but they would shoot the barest of glances my way. I pretended not to notice, but eventually I worked it out: they were afraid of Vader coming and taking me away."

Luke shook his head some. "But I didn't know why they were so afraid. It made no sense: I was just a moisture farmer of no importance to anyone off the farm. But when I heard Vader was coming, the remembered fear of my guardians spilled over and I ran, determined to never be in the man's grasp." He twisted his lips. "Then I found out Darth Vader was my... father, and suddenly everything made perfect sense."

Han sat for a minute, taking that in, and also making sure Luke was finished with his story. Once he was certain, Han shifted to face Luke more. "I don't think Vader ever wanted to harm you, even before he went soft."

Luke offered a bewildered look. "Vader went soft?"

Han offered a momentary lopsided grin. "What an image right? Anyway, as soon as Vader heard of you, he had a man searching for you. Adriav was his name, and he's an okay guy in my book. Apparently he was on your trail for a while before he finally connected all the dots."

He could see that Luke was listening intently, and so Han continued. "After Dewlanna and I got you out of that lake, we were trying to get you off-planet. Garris and his goon were after us, and if Vader hadn't intervened, Garris would have gotten you back. Vader saved you, and then took you to be healed... and I told you the rest already."

Luke nodded, recalling the other conversation.

"But it was how gentle the man was with you that really stuck with me." Han added softly. "I hadn't thought that man had a heart under all that black armor and noisy breathing, but for you he absolutely had one. He's never had any thought but your well-being, Luke."

Luke swallowed, taken aback. As evil as Vader had been, he had never sought to harm Luke? If Han believed it Luke knew, then it was the truth. Han was a hard person to convince of such things. A feeling of security unlike anything he'd ever felt—even with Anakin—surged into Luke's heart then at the notion that the second most powerful man in the galaxy had wanted to keep Luke safe.

He turned to Han. "How did Vader become Anakin again? Did he look like he does now under the armor?"

Han pulled a face. "Absolutely not. He was... well, not healthy at all, believe me. The Force healed him. I believe it because I watched it happen. And I have seen how he hurts for all he did as Vader: he's truly sorry. He also told me that the Force wants him to help heal the galaxy as Anakin, and never bring up Vader again. The galaxy will never know the two are the same person." Han gave Luke an earnest look. "I agree, for what it's worth: the galaxy needs Vader gone and Anakin here."

Luke took a breath, absorbing all this new information at his own pace. It was only when he felt ready that he opened his eyes. "Thank you Han."

Han playfully socked Luke's shoulder. "Anytime Kid."

At that moment Luke's stomach rumbled, and they laughed in concert.

Han stood, offering a helping hand up. "Come on; let's get you something to eat.