[To the review concerning Vader killing Xizor from afar- Vader doesn't kill Xizor in this story for the same reason he doesn't in SOTE-PALPATINE. Now that I've attempted to establish that I'm not a complete idiot- on with the story.]

For the first time in twenty years- the Dark Lord of Sith was helpless.

He'd arrived on Coruscant ten hours ago, met with the Emperor (Which frustrated him in the utmost), and now he was pacing a hole in the thick carpeting of his on-planet quarters. Once again he began to review the information available to him.

-His son was no longer with the Rebels. His disappearance had been discovered soon after the departure of the Millennium Falcon- so, any fool knew with whom the young commander traveled.

-His son had not merely disappeared- he'd escaped. The Rebels had turned on him, and probably would have found some convenient way for the young Jedi to meet death- sooner or later. Therefore, Vader had no need to worry about him hiding amongst the Rebels. Traitorous scum, he scowled, turning on his son after the victories his son had claimed for them- and the sacrifices he'd made.

-SOMEONE had slipped this information to the media, and Vader had a very good idea who that someone was.

-He would find his son-and that someone would die.

He would die along with all who dare oppose the Dark Lord and his son.

~

"Commander Skywalker is gone- as are Solo, the Wookie Chewbacca, the princess, and Calrissian."

Mon Mothma suppressed a curse, "Find them," she instead bit out, "Find out where they went!"

Wedge smiled as he overheard the little exchange- and hurried back to the Rouge quarters to tell the others.

Vader-Skywalker-it didn't matter, he was still their commander- he was still Luke. They had all agreed on this, and the Rouges were determined that their commander and friend would make it through this all right.

Wedge slipped into the dim quarters- the other pilots fell silent at his entrance.

"What'cha got, Antilles?"

"He's gone. So are Han, Chewie, Leia and Lando."

Someone in the corner laughed, "They didn't waste much time, did they?"

Wedge smiled, "I figured they wouldn't."

"How long has the Flacon been gone?" Another shadowed face inquired.

"Five hours."

Laughter erupted throughout the room.

"If they would have been thinking- they would have checked Skywalker's quarters before they gave clearance."

Wedge laughed, "Yeah, but then Han would have just blasted his way out."

"True."

Wedge stretched out on his bunk. "Well boys, what's the plan?"

One of the younger Rouges pulled at a string hanging from his jacket, "Any of you have one of their commlink codes?" He asked quietly.

The room erupted into conversation once again.

~

"Hey, Kid."

Luke looked up just as Han tossed him his commlink.

"Thought you might want that too, picked it up when I got your lightsabre."

Luke smiled, "Thanks, Han. Though, I doubt anyone will be calling me-"

The commlink sounded. Luke threw an annoyed look at Han as the smuggler smirked at him.

"Skywalker."

"Luke!"

"Wedge?"

The other man laughed, "I didn't think you'd actually answer!"

"Wedge, what are you doing calling me?"

"Where are you, boss?"

Luke gave the commlink an odd look, "Well Wedge, considering the Alliance command wants me dead---"

"Yeah, and they're pissed about your escape-it was funny as hell."

Luke blinked. "You don't hate me then?" He couldn't hold back the awe that seeped into his voice.

"Hate you? Hell no! The entire squad deserted- we left a nice friendly note behind."

"You WHAT?"

"We deserted. Do you need an escort? We've got a squad of X-wings here and nothing to shoot at- you know how it is."

Han watched the younger man as he set up a rendezvous with the Rouge squadron, at last- the Kid was finally starting to realize just how much he meant to everyone.

~

Mon Mothma slammed the datapad onto the table before her, shattering it.

Madine entered her office just in time to witness the display; he cleared his throat, as not to startle the angry woman.

"Who now?"

Her eyes burned, "Rouge Squadron."

Madine's mouth dropped open, "The entire squad?"

"The ENTIRE squad," She stood and began pacing, "This is a disaster, our troops are dropping off faster than ever before- this is worse than a direct attack from the Empire."

"And we've done it to ourselves." The general mumbled.

"What?" the woman snapped, spinning to face him.

Madine swallowed uncomfortably, "Well, while the majority of our troops remain-our best have deserted--- our most dedicated. They're no longer dedicated to the Alliance--- they're dedicated to Skywalker."

"SKYWALKER is a sithspawn bastard!" she roared.

Biting his lower lip, Madine pressed on, "I don't think that's being fair to Luke."

Mothma trembled in rage, and pointed to the door, "Get-out." She ground out.

Madine nodded and left, not knowing what chasm the Alliance was falling into, but certain that it wasn't good.

~

The Millennium Falcon drifted, hidden in a pulsar star system, surrounded by several X-Wings whose markings had been scrapped from their bodies. In the cockpit of the Falcon, Luke leaned back in his seat.

"What do you need from us, Luke?" Wedge's voice said through the Falcon's comm system.

Luke pressed his lips together and glanced at his companions, he'd told them that he wanted to go to Coruscant- but he hadn't mentioned why or how.

"Well, Wedge," He began, "I'd like to borrow one of your ships and slip down to the surface while the rest of the squadron and the Falcon--- distract the Coruscant Fleet."

Silence followed his revelation- until Leia found her voice, "You want to what?!"

Luke sighed, "I need to get to the planet surface."

Han leaned forward, "Why do you want to take an X-Wing? Why don't we just go down in the Falcon?"

Luke twisted his lips, "I need to go alone."

"And what do you think you're going to do on Coruscant-- alone?" demanded Leia.

He shrugged, "Set things straight."

~

Luke inhaled deeply as he checked the gauges of his borrowed X-Wing, relieved to be back in a fighter- even if it wasn't his. His friends hadn't put up as much resistance as he'd expected, he smiled ironically, but that was because they didn't know his entire plan.

He felt the engines kick power into the thrusters as he shot towards the planetary city- sending his thanks through the Force to his friends he left behind.

~CORUSCANT~

Luke had never seen the city before, but now as he wandered through its streets- he realized that all of the rumors he had heard were true- the place was both amazing and horrifying at the same time.

He passed by a newsstand and came to a dead stop. His eyes flew over the headlines, his mouth slightly agape.

His father's name and his face covered every periodical.

He looked over his shoulders in uncertainty.

How could I be so stupid? He cursed at himself, coming to Coruscant without a disguise!

He slipped away, moving more quickly towards his destination-

If he was discovered- he was as good as dead.

~

Vader viciously kicked a broken chair out of his path as he continued to pace in his destroyed office. His son was nowhere to be found- and his patience was heading in the same direction. The news stations had begun to become too sure of themselves-and crossed a few lines--- but that had ceased after Coruscant's primer reporter had mysteriously choked to death on camera.

Vader smirked darkly- and that man had been let off easy.

He roughly kicked his overturned desk as he heard the door slide open-

"Who dares disturb me!" he roared and turned-

To face his son.

Luke glaced around the room and than back to his dumbfounded father,

"Redecorating?"

[HEHEHE- keep reviewing! Tell me what you wanna see! Maybe I'll give it to you! I love you all for reading! Thank You!!!]