It has been a few weeks, since they left Cloud City. Lando and Chewie were able to figure out Jabba's location and they all just hoped Han was indeed still there. Everyone has already doing there part of the rescue mission leaving only Padme and Luke on the Falcon.
She watched as her son was getting ready to leave. She thought back to a few days ago, when Luke was finishing putting together the finall pieces of his new lightsaber. She remembered watching as he ignited it. He swung it around testing it making sure it worked. He looked so much like Anakin, it was crazy to her. Seeing him swing the lightsaber, it was almost like watching Anakin again. She grew sad as she found her self doing often thinking about him.
She saw Luke stand up finally read to leave. She smiled to herself, thinking how in just these couple weeks, how much he has grown. Not in height, but just in his over all demeanor. No longer was he a young boy from Tatooine, he know looked like a man and most importantly a Jedi.
"Are you sure you don't want me to help or doing anything?" Padme asked.
"No. Leia has yet to return yet, so I assume Jabba figured out her identity. He is probably keeping her there, so I must go now, but alone. You need to stay with the Falcon and be ready to pick us up. I imagine Jabba isn't going to take too kindly to my presence. We need some way out." Luke told her with such maturity in his voice.
"I understand. I just hate sitting her waiting not knowing what is happening." Padme said.
"Trust me. I think I know how this is gonna play out. You shouldn't have to wait very long." he said smirking putting his Robe on.
"Can I ask you something before I go? I've been wanting to ask for a while, but with everything." Luke said.
"Oh. Oh yes of course." Padme said.
"Leia told me, you were close with some of the Jedi during the Clone wars." Luke started to say, as Padme knew he was talking about Vader. "Ben told me, my father was a Jedi and fought in the Clone Wars. He didn't tell me much about him, before he died. I was just wondering if you knew him."
Padme was lost for words, not sure what to tell her son. She hesitated thinking back to his father, Anakin. She sighed and smiled thinking back to him. She moved her hands to the necklace she had around her neck that she has worn everyday since the moment it was given to her by that young boy on Tatooine, so long ago. "Yes, I knew your father. He was one of the best Jedi I and really anyone have ever seen. They called him the hero with fear." She laughed at that name knowing how untrue it was. Anakin was full of fear, just not in the way the people thought. "He led so many people into battle barely losing one, which might have led to his arrogance. Even with that arrogance thought, he was kind and cared for his friends above anything else. He also had this sense of humor, that could make anyone laugh. That smirk never leaving his face. I met him for the first time on Tatooine when he was just a boy. He saved my life there, for the first time of many." She looked up at Luke realizing she was rambling. "I'm sorry, I just haven't thought of your father in a long time."
"No, no it fine." He said smiling a sad smile. "Maybe when all this is done, you can tell more stories about him."
"I would love too." She said standing up and walking over to him, hugging him before leaves. "Just be careful okay and bring back everyone safe."
"I will, just be ready for R2 signal." He said before putting up the hood on his robe and walking out, leaving Padme alone with her thoughts of her lost love.
In the past few weeks, Vader has barely left his room and has spoke to no one. He did nothing, but sit in his hyperbaric chamber, thinking about the last 45 years of his life and all the mistakes he has made. It amazed him to think, he spend nearly as much of his life as Vader as he did as Anakin.
He thought back on all the pain he caused, but he didn't care. The only pain he cared about was that of Padme and his son. He even thought about Obi-Wan a bit, having his voice constantly haunt him. He thought back to Padme holding her throat back on Mustafar, with tears in her eyes, begging him to stop. He thought how shortly before that, she was willing to forget about all he had done and run away with him still. She was willing to leave everything behind for him. What did he do? He became over whelmed with the power, the power he thought he would be able to control to save her. The power was great, but was it worth it now. Was it worth ruining his chance of a family with Padme and Luke? Luke. My son. The son who would rather die than join me. The son who cried out in pain, not over him dismembered arm, but over the fact that his father was Darth Vader.
Being alive for 45 years and what did he have to show for it? The love of his life hated him, his son wanted nothing to do with him, he couldn't breathe on his own without a suit. A suit he didn't have to wear anyone, but was choosing too cause he enjoyed the fear in brought into everyone eyes. He should look into fixing his lungs, it would be nice to see and hear things with his own eyes and ears. To just breathe with his own lungs.
He sighed as he was alerted of an incoming transmission. He didn't even have to look to know it was his master. He has been putting off contacting his master for weeks. He figured he might as well get his punishment over with.
He hit the button to bring the call forward and looked up as the Hologram figured of his master was before him.
"Lord Vader, I was beginning to think you were avoiding me." Sidious said menacingly.
"I am sorry, Master." Was all Vader could say.
"You are turning out to be more of a disappoint than I expected. I sense sadness and remorse from you." He glared at Vader. "None the less, I have an assignment for you. I need you to go to the Death Star above the Endor System. I need you to make sure everything is running smoothly, with the construction of it. I want you to put them back on schedule. I feel it is not nearly as ready as it should be."
"As you wish, Master."
"Lord Vader, do not disappoint me this time. I will be arriving soon after you, so make sure everything is ready." He said before signing off.
Another perk of my life, always being a salve to someone. He thought thinking how, he started as a slave to Watto, then to the Jedi, and now to Sidious. It seemed to be a never ending cycle, that he wasn't sure he could escape from.
He finally open up his chamber and stepped out, walking to the bridge to inform his officers, of their new destination.
It has been a day since Luke left and Padme has done nothing but worry. She hated this was the job she was given. She should be with them, but she knew she must do what needs to be done. She just hoped everything was going as Luke said it was.
Finally she heard it, a transmission was coming through. She looked and saw it was R2 giving her the location of where to pick everyone up at. Finally, she sighed in relief. She started up the Falcon and punch in the coordinates.
She finally got to the coordinated R2 sent her and of course a sand storm had to start at this very time. How was she supposed to see anything? She angerly thought. No wonder Luke and Anakin hated this planet. She wasn't to fond of it at the moment either.
She looked and saw these where the coordinates, but she didn't see them. She really didn't see much of anything besides sand and brown. Finally she sat up and looked closer and saw something flying to her. She put her hand to her blaster afraid, it wasn't them for she couldn't see who was in it. Finally as they got closer, she smiled seeing Luke, Leia, Han, and the others where indeed the ones riding the skiff. She quickly jumped and ran to open the ramp to let them in.
They all quickly ran in practically covered in sand. She ran over to Luke and Leia hugging them both. She pulled away from Leia seeing she was wearing some slave girl outfit that barely covered anything.
Having seen her confused look, Leia just shook her head. "It's a long story, but I'd rather change first before talking about it." Leia said making her way to the back.
"So I'm the one that was captured and frozen in carbon freeze, but it seems you only care about their return." Han said smugly looking over at Padme.
"I was just thinking how quiet it has been the past few weeks, boy do I miss that now." She smirked over at him before laughing. "I'm glad you are okay."
Han looked around his ship, probably making sure, nothing was wrong with it in his time away. "Well, I'm about ready to get off this hell hole." Han said.
"I'll meet you guys over at the rendezvous point." Luke said making his way back outside.
"Wait, what do you mean? You are going to meet us? Are you coming with us?" Padme asked.
"I have to make a quick stop. A, um, promise to an old friend. Don't worry, I made sure R2 brought my x-wing. I'll see you soon. " Luke said as he made his way back on the skiff.
She sighed. What was it Anakin used to say Obi-wan told him? Oh, always on the move. She shut the ramp, as watched her son fly off.
Vader looked out of his shuttle's window after they landed on the Death Star. He was impressed with how much they have gotten done, in a short period of time. Sadly, they were not finished yet and he knew his master was not going to be happy when he saw that.
The shuttle landed and he saw many officers and Imperial Troopers standing waiting for his arrival. He lowered the ramp and walked out as his commander stood there waiting for him. He could sense the fear and confusion. He guessed they forget to inform him of his arrival.
"Lord Vader, this is an unexpected pleasure. We're honored by your presence." The commander said walking with Vader as he walked away from his shuttle.
"You may dispense with the pleasantries, Commander. I'm here to put you back on schedule." Vader said, looking around impressed by how much it looks like the old one, but he can't say that. He was sent to strike fear in all them, to make them work faster.
"I assure you, Lord Vader, my men are working as fast as they can."
"Perhaps I can find a new way to motivate them." He said turning around to look at the man.
He watched as the commander, gathered his thoughts. "I tell you this station will be operational, as planned."
"The emperor does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation."
"But he asks the impossible. I need more men."
"Then perhaps you can tell him when he arrives."
"The emperor's coming here?" The commander asked wide-eyed with the fear in his rising.
"That is correct, Commander, and he is most displeased with your apparent lack of progress."
"We shall double our efforts."
Vader was glad he was finally getting through to him, for he was getting annoyed. "I hope so, Commander, for your sake. The emperor is not as forgiving as I am."
He walked away leaving the man stunned and frozen with fear. He laughed to himself for the first time in a while as he made his way to the bridge to see what else needed to be done for the emperors arrival.