I DO NOT OWN STARWARS IT IS PROPERTY OF LUCAS FILM AND DISNEY
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18 BBY
Darth Vader stood menacingly on the bridge of his star destroyer. On his way, back from another successful mission in the name of the Empire.
The Sith Lord thought about the many things that have changed for him over the past year.
No longer the restricted being he once was.
People starting to bow down in fear in the name of Empire.
But none of it compares to the feeling he gets when he is with his son.
For the first couple of months, Vader held on to Luke in fear of disappearing, leaving him like everything that he loved.
Luke every day showed Vader his fear was wrong. And the bond they developed was proof of that.
The single father pushed himself to make time for all his obligations to Empire. Hunting down Jedi, showing the Empire's power, and making progress on the Death Star. While also creating a ruthless reputation to the galaxy.
Though, he has this soft spot for children. He does not know why but when he is spreading Empire rule, he sees Luke in every child he comes across. He also feels a small cloud of guilt for the younglings he has slain.
Vader would never admit that to himself.
The Emperor was pleased with Vader's progress on all fronts. Though he was still walking a fine line with him. Vader knows how much the Emperor tolerates Luke. It infuriates Palpatine that he does not have his incapacitated servant that he can control.
The Sith master knows how much Luke will keep that little light that is left in Vader's soul.
Lord Vader is aware how Darth Sidious will use Luke to replace him.
The former Jedi feels the uneasiness that Luke has brought his master. Darth Sidious was surprised at Luke's survival. As well as Darth Vader's survival on Mustafar.
Either way, Darth Vader will destroy him when the time is right. When he knows Luke will have an unwavering loyalty to his father, and the loyalty of the key players of Empire.
He smiled.
Still thinking back to the last year. How they spent the better part of it in space.
Vader still with a great love of flying, took his son out when he was big enough for the seat in he made for Luke in his personal fighter. He felt it through their bond how much Luke loved it.
Vader was right about having his future pilot
Vader also tried during that time to find Luke's life day. He got discreet tests done on his son and had his men search different medical centers on different planets the Empire was establishing a presence on. The ex-Jedi wanting to give his son the galaxy resided to the fact that he might not know his real life day.
It also hurts to think it was the day he lost his wife.
Vader then decided his life day is on the day he found him, on that wasteland of a planet. He had a small celebration that and his men knew not to disturb him. That was anytime Vader spent time with his son.
Luke in the year that he had him has grown in body and in the force.
His father was there for him every step of the way. Feeding him tucking him in, changing him, he even took some holopics of it.
Now after a long year in space father and son are heading back to their residence on Coruscant. The young Sith Lord hates baby-sitting politicians in the Imperial Senate, but he is glad for the much-needed break from space.
The Sith Lord is also glad for the break for the both of them. Life in space is a cold and lonely; no life for a young child.
"Sir we are coming out of Hyperspace."
"Good, prepare for landing," Vader said. He then made his way to his son's room and took his mask off before he went into his room.
The newly turned thirteen-month-old was lost in his own enjoyment of his blocks and toy spaceship.
Vader gave a smile. Happy to see his son doing the things that he never could. He reached out and took one of the blocks with the force. This startled Luke a little bit and the furniture in the room shook.
"Luke..." the Sith Lord said softly as his son turned over to see his father. He greeted him with a smile. Luke then tried to stand up and walk, but he stumbled and landed on his hands.
Vader noticed his resiliency as he made his way to pick up his son.
"Oh Luke, with that attitude I am sure you will be walking in no time."
This is the only place he shows his son affection. Away from the prying eyes.
"We are going to land soon, and we are going to be home." He said looking into his blue eyes and ruffling his hair a bit.
A home that something he would never thought he would have after he lost his wife. But that apartment and this ship have never truly felt like it. Perhaps home is where he is with his son.
As long as he had Luke, Vader was home.
The growing child gave a smile of approval and babbled a little bit in response too.
o-o-o
Darth Vader's star destroyer landed at the Imperial spaceport. He was greeted by his legion of stormtroopers as made his way to the Senate.
Vader went straight to his office the and sat his desk.
The Emperor gave Vader, a big office at the Impearl Senate building. The Sith apprentice thought it was unnecessary. He hardly did any productive work here.
He let out a sigh as sat down behind his desk. There was a rebellion in the works and they were quickly becoming a nuisance to him. Now it was his job to destroy them.
The Emperor left him a piece of legislation that was given to the Emperor from a group of senators who had the gull to force him to rescind his powers in the Senate.
Around the time Mace Windu and those Jedi fools tried to overthrow Empire and take the Senate for themselves.
Foolish Jedi
Even more foolish rebellion
The Sith Lord looked over the document for the next hour with little patience.
Really, Skywalker's were built for fighting not for droning on with legislation.
Finally, he made it to the end of the piece to look at the signers of it. The members foolish enough to question the chancellor's power.
At the sight of the first signer, his blood started to run cold.
There at the top, the distinct signature of his late wife. Another reminder of his failure to protect her.
He closed his eyes to try to stop the tears.
He thought he has gotten better with morning her. But the hole in his heart always had a way of creeping up on him.
Composing himself he looked at the rest of the signers of this document.
Interesting
Most of the signers he knows he will file away when he has to address the Senate and to keep an eye on. But two names, in particular, peaked his interest.
Mon Mothma, the representative of the Bormea sector. Vader saw how outspoken the young senator was.
She manages to pose a thorn at Darth Sidious side. Her endless debating is in her pod. Her ruthlessness when it came to defending her democracy. Makings of a leader. Definitely keep an eye on her.
Bail Prestor Organa the Alderaanian Prince. Another outspoken defender of democracy. In Vader's other life, he knew that man never liked him. The man certainly lacked a backbone when it came to fighting. But the Sith knew that his beliefs would be something he would die for. He was like Padmé in that aspect.
Vader knew that a visit is in the future for Bail soon. The Alderaanian prince has been absent from the Imperial Senate for more than a year.
Officially Bail is saying he is spending time with his family, his two adopted daughters. But the Sith lord suspected more.
He was going to visit him soon.
This legislature did provide the insight Vader needed for when he was addressing the Senate in the future. It gave him a starting point to find these loathsome rebels.
After another hour, he deiced he had enough politics for the day. So, he packed up his things and made his way back to his speeder.
Luke was taken back to his apartment by his trusted general. He felt through the force Luke to see how he was being treated. If he was safe, cared for and loved.
The force user knew that Luke disliked being separated from his father. He could feel it every time from Luke through their bond.
The Sith Lord suspect it was because he was near when Padmé died, or he was taken from her after she had given birth.
He wouldn't put it past the Jedi.
Vader still mulling over his thoughts made his way back up to his apartment to check in the caretaker looking after Luke.
o-o-o
Nova Auqom was a young human from Chandrila. She traveled to Coruscant before the Empire took a strong hold on the galaxy. She is a nanny that has experience with young children.
A year ago, she was picked up by Imperial officers. Not know what was going on, she immediately went on the defensive. She was cuffed, blindfolded, and brought her to a remote part of Coruscant that looked to be a detention center.
Then took her in a room in front of Darth Vader himself.
Nova was immediately terrified. She saw his figure on the HoloNet and the authorities he committed. She was surprised about what the Sith Lord wanted.
He told her that in lamens terms that she was the most qualified for the job he needed. She was unattached, unnoticeable, and will be compensated well. With her own apartment in one of the upper levels Coruscant, an air speeder, as well other amenities. Though she had her reservations about who he was, she was up for the job.
She didn't have a choice
Over the past year, she had grown to love the child… Luke. He is a sweet boy, but she also knew he was one of those force sensitives. The ones she knows that Vader hunts. (There had been some unexplained movements of objects and few breaking items)
But her employer is paying not have questions asked, just to do her job. Nova is always dedicated to her job.
She heard the door hiss open, she knows it the Dark Lord himself. He was dressed in his uniform and the mask that instills fear into any being in the galaxy.
Nova with her long strawberry blond hair and her green eyes tried to convey confidence in front of her employer as he came to greet her.
"How is Luke doing?" He said in a hushed voice with his modular.
"Lord Vader..." She said as she bowed respectfully. "Luke had a mild tummy ache, so I gave him the stomach soother that was stocked in the apartment. He is responding well to it and has been sleeping ever since." She said while not making eye contact with him.
The minutes passed with Nova waiting for a response from her employer.
Darth Vader stood there listening to the force. He felt the truth in her words. He also felt Luke's life force, still strong but a little distress there.
"Your actions are noted. I will contact you further when your services are needed." Said in a calm voice through his respirator.
Nova looked up said a hushed thank you and made her way out of the apartment.
Vader when he sensed she was gone he put his mask away and made his way back to his sleeping child.
Looking down he thought back to the first time Luke had a fever. It was two months ago when he was in the middle of disciplining a certain political leader about the bounds of the Empire.
While he was making some 'aggressive' headway with him he suddenly felt his son's distress through the force.
Luke was conveying it through their bond, that he was in pain and needed his father. Darth Vader not knowing what to do, he paused in the middle of his interrogation to message his caretaker on the ship.
He was told that Luke had a mild fever and the medical droids were tending to his needs.
Darth Vader felt completely powerless to do anything. To be there for him. To save him.
Finding the strength and renewed anger, he finally got the senator to agree to clear land on his planet to build more star destroyers, and TIE fighters.
It was nearly three hours till he could reach the ship to see that his son had fought off most of the infection. That day, with the doors, closed and generals went Vader let out a soft anguished fill cry at the sight of his sleeping son.
The Sith Lord was still lost on how to do this parenting thing on his own, but it had been a lesson for him.
With every pain that Luke was feeling at this age, was only making Darth Vader stronger with his son. Making Luke stronger too.
Vader is sure he would never leave him.
o-o-o
Vader, decide it was time he would have dinner so he asked his standard protocol droid to make him dinner. Vader knows in time he would build a better droid with his son.
Right now, it is easier to have a few of them for the apartment. For the household chores, the upkeep, and for cooking.
Vader really didn't trust anyone around his son in his apartment.
He was informed that his dinner was ready, and he took his baby monitor with him.
Vader sat down and started to eat. As he expected, he took two bites of his nerf stake and he heard his son's soft cries on the baby monitor.
He let out an annoyed sigh. Vader has not had a hot meal in months.
His stomach is probably still bothering him.
Vader was trying to get Luke on an eating schedule. The holobooks told him it was important to start him on a routine and on solid foods.
It also discussed some things that he should start thinking about like schooling, socializing and just getting them started on the right path.
Vader was sure he had time but did he really want Luke to go to school? He would have the best tutors in the galaxy, and his training will be an important priority. Also, he could not very well let the public know that Darth Vader has a son.
But there are doubts in his head. Does he really want to do that to Luke? Keep him locked up forever? Never experiencing the life of a normal child?
Vader never had that. Born into slavery forced to work at the age of three.
Then the Jedi made him strip himself of all the emotions that made him human. In return for mundane training and becoming a tool for the galaxy for their so-called peace. It was a different form of slavery.
That did change when he had gotten married. It gave him hope that he never had before. Happiness. Freedom...
When he found out she was pregnant there was a brief time that he felt his life coming together.
But when his entire galaxy was taken from him thought that dream was gone, when he woke up in that medical center bed.
But the force works in mysterious ways. He glad for once it took him to his son.
Pushing those thoughts, he made it to his son's crib to see his son's tear stricken face. Vader reached out and pick up his son.
"Do you want something to eat?" Vader asked.
Luke gave him look and said yes to father through the force.
"You know you can't answer through the force all the time…" Vader said as made his way to the dining room. He was sitting at the head of a small dining room table where had Luke's highchair close by to his right.
Vader told the droid to prepare Luke an Aurebesh soup. He sat down sat down and looked at his son. He felt Luke was feeling better but he wanted to give him something that would calm his belly.
Vader took another look at his son who still felt some effects of his stomach ache. Luke then started point at the stake that his father was eating.
"Oh, you want some this…" Luke eagerly gave a nod. "…I think you are still too young to have this..." Vader gave another smile and moved to ruffle his hair with his gloved hand. Luke quickly took his tiny hand wrapped it around one of his gloved fingers. Vader knew his gloved hand didn't bother him.
Vader was enjoying Luke playing with his hand. Vader his head turned looking for the droid that was making his soup. Luke wanting his full attention, opened his mouth, pulled on his dad's hand and said in his tiny voice "Dah."
Vader froze.
Not believing it Vader turned his head and asked. "Luke?"
"Dah...Dah…" Luke said as he pulled on Vader's gloved fingers
Vader feeling the tears of joy slightly leaking in his eyes "That's it Luke, dada, dada."
"Dada…dada" Luke said than said a lot more confidently. He felt his dad's pride through their bond.
The droid then delivered the soup. Breaking the moment.
"Here Luke…" said Vader taking the spoon making sure it was cool enough to feed him. Then he started to feed him with the spoon.
Vader smiled something he only did in front of his son.
He saw how loyal Luke was becoming. This beyond anything was the most appealing of all. Vader knows, together they will destroy the rebellion and Emperor. It will take time but if anything, Luke will teach him, patients.
Sith Lords are patient, waiting for the time to strike.
AN: I do not have a Bata reader but I am always trying to fix my story so as I updated the earlier chapter might change
AN: Please! Review, Review, Review! I want to know what you like and don't like about the story!