Part XIX -- Skywalker Family Reunion
The summer-night chill had long driven everyone inside by the time Han and Leia arrived. Liberty lay on the couch, recuperating from her performance, and the others chatted idly as they waited for Zack, Emily, and Amethyst to return from picking the Alliance leaders up. Upon their arrival everyone broke into applause.
Well, almost everyone. Fett stood in a corner of the living room, stroking his blaster, evidently not sure about these latest visitors. Vader sat in the chair closest to the couch and was in the process of reading a "Curious George" book to a half-asleep Rachel. He closed the book and waited as Luke embraced his friends.
"Luke!" sobbed Leia, clutching him tightly. "Trigger told us about your capture. We were so worried."
"Don't keep scaring us like that, kid," chided Han, thumping his back soundly. "You look terrible," he noted, taking in Luke's worn jeans and "Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas" T-shirt.
"It's great to see you all again," Luke replied, grunting as Chewie squeezed him in a bear hug.
Vader spotted Threepio at the heels of the pack and enjoyed a private smile. His childhood creation had survived -- and somehow found his way into the hands of his children. How was that for irony?
It wouldn't be long now, however, before the joy was shattered. Sooner or later one of them would see him and demand an explanation. He was not looking forward to that moment.
Han saw Fett first, and with a startled shout his blaster arm came up. Fett snapped his own weapon in Han's direction, but before either of them could squeeze off a round Patrick leaped between them.
"Don't shoot!" he cried.
"There's a moratorium on using weapons in this house!" Jason added, pointing at the slash in the ceiling.
Leia's eyes went wide as she stared at the hole. "That's horrible!"
"You think that's bad, you should see the bathroom," Trapper quipped.
"How did that happen?" asked Han, referring to the lightsaber scar.
"It's a long story," said Steve.
"None of you seem particularly surprised to see us," Leia noted.
Jason laughed. "Lady, we've had blaster shots go through mirrors, lightsabers go through ceilings, and for the past three weeks we've had a bounty hunter sleeping in the downstairs bathtub. Not much surprises us anymore."
Leia made eye contact with Vader, and her expression became one of steel. He held her gaze calmly. He only hoped she would listen when he apologized to her. The former Senator was a woman of strong emotions. As she approached him, knuckles whitening as she clenched her fingers around her blaster, he opened his mouth to greet her.
Then something inexplicably hit him -- Padme!
He'd seen those rich brown eyes before. He knew that resolute expression, that air of dignified authority, that visage that was beautiful without being delicate. It would have taken his breath away were he not on a respirator. Could the princess be a relative of his late wife's? It was a long shot, but most certainly not improbable.
That startling connection only delayed him a moment. "Good evening, your Highness."
She nodded, somewhat surprised at his cordiality but quickly recovering. "Good evening, Lord Vader." Her gaze moved to Liberty. "Is this your wife?"
Liberty cracked up. Leia stared at her, confused, and that only made her laugh even more hysterically.
"No, she is not," Vader replied. Why did Liberty have to be wearing her Lady Vader costume right now?
"We're here for Luke," Leia went on. "If you relinquish your captive, we will go peacefully. If you will not turn him over... we may not be able to defeat you in a fight, but we certainly won't make it easy for you."
Vader chuckled amusedly. "Luke is not my captive, Princess, merely a prisoner of this world and its limitations." He spread his hands. "If you want him, he is yours."
She stared at him, stunned. "Is this a joke?"
"Not at all. He is free to go. Upon one condition."
"There had to be," she murmured coldly.
He reached within his robes and withdrew a sealed datadisk. "You will deliver this to Mon Mothma. You will not tamper with it under any circumstances. Only Mothma may view its contents. Agreed?"
"That isn't too much to ask," Leia conceded reluctantly.
"Come on, Leia!" Darcy exclaimed, throwing her arms up in exasperation. "Do you two, like, have to be so uptight about this? Can't you at least pretend to be friendly? I mean, Leia, at least act excited that you've finally seen your brother again..."
/Brother!/ Vader felt his jaw muscles go slack with shock.
Leia's face went as white as her Alderaani dress while Luke held his head in his hands. Han gaped, and Chewie barked a confused inquiry. Fett muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "How many kids do you HAVE, Vader?"
Everyone else turned on the speaker.
"DARCY!"
She froze in mid-sentence, a sheepish look on her face. "Oops."
***
"And when exactly were you planning on telling me this?" Leia demanded of Luke.
He threw up his hands in protest. "I didn't know until Yoda told me right after we left Tatooine. And after that I was... well... occupied."
The Skywalkers had been granted some privacy in Patrick's bedroom to discuss their blood relations. Liberty and Austin were present to act as mediators. And Austin was heartily glad they were there, for Leia was on the verge of an explosion.
"This feels like a bad episode of 'Jerry Springer,'" Liberty commented.
"And the worst is yet to come," Austin muttered.
"Worst?" Leia repeated, giving him a bewildered look. "What do you mean worst?"
"On Cloud City, I learned who my father was," Luke replied quietly. "Our father."
"Your father... our father, I suppose... was Anakin Skywalker," Leia said. "You told me. Mon Mothma said he was a Jedi who disappeared during the Purges, presumed dead."
"Mon Mothma is in error," Vader corrected. "Anakin Skywalker was seduced by the dark side of the Force."
Leia stared. Luke swallowed nervously. Liberty clutched Austin's hand. Austin cringed. /Here it comes, he thought./
"I am... I was Anakin Skywalker," Vader went on. "I am your father, Leia."
All eyes were on Leia, anticipating her reaction. She could only stare, a shocked expression on her face. Austin wasn't sure if she was going to attack Vader or start screaming or both. He hoped the room was soundproof.
He hadn't expected her reaction -- she held her face in her hands and started crying.
"Leia..." Luke began worriedly, extending an arm.
"I knew..." she sobbed. "I knew you were my brother... somehow I always knew. But... I knew I was adopted... but I never imagined... I could be the daughter of... of..."
"Of a fallen Jedi," Vader finished. "Believe me, Leia, I am deeply sorry for the pain I have put my children through. I wish dearly that I could have been there for you both when you were children."
She shook with her sobs, and Luke cradled her gently in his arms.
"I know this is hard for you all to accept," Liberty said gently. "But you're a family, like it or not. And it's going to take time and effort to heal your wounds."
Leia looked up at Vader, eyes red and wet. "Did you know?"
"I learned Luke was my son when our information sources uncovered the name of the pilot who destroyed the first Death Star," Vader replied. "I did not know he had a twin sister until Darcy dropped the bombshell."
Austin handed Leia a box of tissues from the nightstand, which she accepted gratefully. "Vader... or Father..." she fumbled. "Which should I call you?"
"Whatever you feel comfortable calling me," he replied quietly.
"F-father," she whispered, wiping her eyes. "I... I wish you could tell me why... why..." She couldn't go on.
He stared at the space between his feet. "I turned to the dark side out of hatred, arrogance, and fear," he replied. "Hatred toward the Jedi for the death of my mother, which I felt I could have prevented if it weren't for them. Arrogance borne of being known as the Chosen One throughout my Apprenticeship. Fear that the Jedi would discover my illicit marriage to your mother and seek to end it." His shoulders slumped. "In the end it was I who destroyed your mother, as well as my friend and mentor Obi-wan and all else within my reach. I felt my pain gave me vindication in what I did. Recently, however, I have come to realize that I have only myself to blame for my fall. I must face the consequences of my actions and atone for what I have done." He looked up. "Leia, my daughter, will you forgive me?"
She gave the slightest of nods. "Tell me about Mother sometime."
"I will," he vowed. "You are so like her."
Austin heaved a sigh of relief. The expected fireworks had never occurred.
"Well," Leia said, standing, "you haven't introduced me to your friends here, Luke."
"Oops," said Luke with a guilty grin.
"I'm Austin Powers," Austin volunteered, shaking Leia's hand. "This is my girlfriend Liberty King."
"Pleased to meet you," Leia greeted. "Thank you for watching over Luke for us."
"Pleasure's all ours," Liberty answered. "Not a problem at all."
Luke took Leia's hand. "I suppose we should be going now..."
Leia placed a hand to his chest. "Let's stay awhile. I have questions." She shot Vader a knowing look. "And you haven't introduced me to the others."
"We'll tell you all about the gang," Austin replied eagerly. "Then in the morning I think some explanations and another movie marathon are in order."
***
"Don't you guys have separate homes?" demanded Han.
"Hey, it's Sunday!" protested Emily. "None of us have work! And we don't have anything better to do than hang here!"
It was Sunday evening, time to settle down after a long day of viewing Star Wars movies and explaining the whole phenomenon to the newest interstellar visitors. Han and Leia had calmed down considerably around Vader, though they still kept a wary eye on him.
"So it's agreed," Amethyst stated. "Leia rooms at my apartment, and Han, Chewie, and Threepio stay here at the Osmonds' with Fett."
"Han and Fett?" inquired Cody. "I dunno..."
"Hey, we'll make sure they keep their blasters to themselves," Jason promised.
"We won't be staying long," Leia promised. "A week at most. Then we need to be off. The war against the Empire isn't over yet."
"Stay two weeks," offered Austin. "You'll be able to meet the mastermind behind these movies, George Lucas. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to meet you."
Leia nodded. "Two weeks it is. Sounds reasonable."
"Great!" Trapper cheered. "Oh, and before you guys go I need autographs!"
Austin chuckled. "Two more weeks, and then life finally goes back to normal."
At that moment, Mike burst into the living room to show off his new outfit. "Hey everyone, look what I bought on e-Bay!"
Everyone stared at him in disbelief. Then Steve turned to Austin with a resigned grin and asked "Austin, is there such thing as 'normal' in this town?"
"Hey, isn't that Christina Aguilara's outfit from her music video 'Dirrrty?'" asked Zack.
The summer-night chill had long driven everyone inside by the time Han and Leia arrived. Liberty lay on the couch, recuperating from her performance, and the others chatted idly as they waited for Zack, Emily, and Amethyst to return from picking the Alliance leaders up. Upon their arrival everyone broke into applause.
Well, almost everyone. Fett stood in a corner of the living room, stroking his blaster, evidently not sure about these latest visitors. Vader sat in the chair closest to the couch and was in the process of reading a "Curious George" book to a half-asleep Rachel. He closed the book and waited as Luke embraced his friends.
"Luke!" sobbed Leia, clutching him tightly. "Trigger told us about your capture. We were so worried."
"Don't keep scaring us like that, kid," chided Han, thumping his back soundly. "You look terrible," he noted, taking in Luke's worn jeans and "Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas" T-shirt.
"It's great to see you all again," Luke replied, grunting as Chewie squeezed him in a bear hug.
Vader spotted Threepio at the heels of the pack and enjoyed a private smile. His childhood creation had survived -- and somehow found his way into the hands of his children. How was that for irony?
It wouldn't be long now, however, before the joy was shattered. Sooner or later one of them would see him and demand an explanation. He was not looking forward to that moment.
Han saw Fett first, and with a startled shout his blaster arm came up. Fett snapped his own weapon in Han's direction, but before either of them could squeeze off a round Patrick leaped between them.
"Don't shoot!" he cried.
"There's a moratorium on using weapons in this house!" Jason added, pointing at the slash in the ceiling.
Leia's eyes went wide as she stared at the hole. "That's horrible!"
"You think that's bad, you should see the bathroom," Trapper quipped.
"How did that happen?" asked Han, referring to the lightsaber scar.
"It's a long story," said Steve.
"None of you seem particularly surprised to see us," Leia noted.
Jason laughed. "Lady, we've had blaster shots go through mirrors, lightsabers go through ceilings, and for the past three weeks we've had a bounty hunter sleeping in the downstairs bathtub. Not much surprises us anymore."
Leia made eye contact with Vader, and her expression became one of steel. He held her gaze calmly. He only hoped she would listen when he apologized to her. The former Senator was a woman of strong emotions. As she approached him, knuckles whitening as she clenched her fingers around her blaster, he opened his mouth to greet her.
Then something inexplicably hit him -- Padme!
He'd seen those rich brown eyes before. He knew that resolute expression, that air of dignified authority, that visage that was beautiful without being delicate. It would have taken his breath away were he not on a respirator. Could the princess be a relative of his late wife's? It was a long shot, but most certainly not improbable.
That startling connection only delayed him a moment. "Good evening, your Highness."
She nodded, somewhat surprised at his cordiality but quickly recovering. "Good evening, Lord Vader." Her gaze moved to Liberty. "Is this your wife?"
Liberty cracked up. Leia stared at her, confused, and that only made her laugh even more hysterically.
"No, she is not," Vader replied. Why did Liberty have to be wearing her Lady Vader costume right now?
"We're here for Luke," Leia went on. "If you relinquish your captive, we will go peacefully. If you will not turn him over... we may not be able to defeat you in a fight, but we certainly won't make it easy for you."
Vader chuckled amusedly. "Luke is not my captive, Princess, merely a prisoner of this world and its limitations." He spread his hands. "If you want him, he is yours."
She stared at him, stunned. "Is this a joke?"
"Not at all. He is free to go. Upon one condition."
"There had to be," she murmured coldly.
He reached within his robes and withdrew a sealed datadisk. "You will deliver this to Mon Mothma. You will not tamper with it under any circumstances. Only Mothma may view its contents. Agreed?"
"That isn't too much to ask," Leia conceded reluctantly.
"Come on, Leia!" Darcy exclaimed, throwing her arms up in exasperation. "Do you two, like, have to be so uptight about this? Can't you at least pretend to be friendly? I mean, Leia, at least act excited that you've finally seen your brother again..."
/Brother!/ Vader felt his jaw muscles go slack with shock.
Leia's face went as white as her Alderaani dress while Luke held his head in his hands. Han gaped, and Chewie barked a confused inquiry. Fett muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "How many kids do you HAVE, Vader?"
Everyone else turned on the speaker.
"DARCY!"
She froze in mid-sentence, a sheepish look on her face. "Oops."
***
"And when exactly were you planning on telling me this?" Leia demanded of Luke.
He threw up his hands in protest. "I didn't know until Yoda told me right after we left Tatooine. And after that I was... well... occupied."
The Skywalkers had been granted some privacy in Patrick's bedroom to discuss their blood relations. Liberty and Austin were present to act as mediators. And Austin was heartily glad they were there, for Leia was on the verge of an explosion.
"This feels like a bad episode of 'Jerry Springer,'" Liberty commented.
"And the worst is yet to come," Austin muttered.
"Worst?" Leia repeated, giving him a bewildered look. "What do you mean worst?"
"On Cloud City, I learned who my father was," Luke replied quietly. "Our father."
"Your father... our father, I suppose... was Anakin Skywalker," Leia said. "You told me. Mon Mothma said he was a Jedi who disappeared during the Purges, presumed dead."
"Mon Mothma is in error," Vader corrected. "Anakin Skywalker was seduced by the dark side of the Force."
Leia stared. Luke swallowed nervously. Liberty clutched Austin's hand. Austin cringed. /Here it comes, he thought./
"I am... I was Anakin Skywalker," Vader went on. "I am your father, Leia."
All eyes were on Leia, anticipating her reaction. She could only stare, a shocked expression on her face. Austin wasn't sure if she was going to attack Vader or start screaming or both. He hoped the room was soundproof.
He hadn't expected her reaction -- she held her face in her hands and started crying.
"Leia..." Luke began worriedly, extending an arm.
"I knew..." she sobbed. "I knew you were my brother... somehow I always knew. But... I knew I was adopted... but I never imagined... I could be the daughter of... of..."
"Of a fallen Jedi," Vader finished. "Believe me, Leia, I am deeply sorry for the pain I have put my children through. I wish dearly that I could have been there for you both when you were children."
She shook with her sobs, and Luke cradled her gently in his arms.
"I know this is hard for you all to accept," Liberty said gently. "But you're a family, like it or not. And it's going to take time and effort to heal your wounds."
Leia looked up at Vader, eyes red and wet. "Did you know?"
"I learned Luke was my son when our information sources uncovered the name of the pilot who destroyed the first Death Star," Vader replied. "I did not know he had a twin sister until Darcy dropped the bombshell."
Austin handed Leia a box of tissues from the nightstand, which she accepted gratefully. "Vader... or Father..." she fumbled. "Which should I call you?"
"Whatever you feel comfortable calling me," he replied quietly.
"F-father," she whispered, wiping her eyes. "I... I wish you could tell me why... why..." She couldn't go on.
He stared at the space between his feet. "I turned to the dark side out of hatred, arrogance, and fear," he replied. "Hatred toward the Jedi for the death of my mother, which I felt I could have prevented if it weren't for them. Arrogance borne of being known as the Chosen One throughout my Apprenticeship. Fear that the Jedi would discover my illicit marriage to your mother and seek to end it." His shoulders slumped. "In the end it was I who destroyed your mother, as well as my friend and mentor Obi-wan and all else within my reach. I felt my pain gave me vindication in what I did. Recently, however, I have come to realize that I have only myself to blame for my fall. I must face the consequences of my actions and atone for what I have done." He looked up. "Leia, my daughter, will you forgive me?"
She gave the slightest of nods. "Tell me about Mother sometime."
"I will," he vowed. "You are so like her."
Austin heaved a sigh of relief. The expected fireworks had never occurred.
"Well," Leia said, standing, "you haven't introduced me to your friends here, Luke."
"Oops," said Luke with a guilty grin.
"I'm Austin Powers," Austin volunteered, shaking Leia's hand. "This is my girlfriend Liberty King."
"Pleased to meet you," Leia greeted. "Thank you for watching over Luke for us."
"Pleasure's all ours," Liberty answered. "Not a problem at all."
Luke took Leia's hand. "I suppose we should be going now..."
Leia placed a hand to his chest. "Let's stay awhile. I have questions." She shot Vader a knowing look. "And you haven't introduced me to the others."
"We'll tell you all about the gang," Austin replied eagerly. "Then in the morning I think some explanations and another movie marathon are in order."
***
"Don't you guys have separate homes?" demanded Han.
"Hey, it's Sunday!" protested Emily. "None of us have work! And we don't have anything better to do than hang here!"
It was Sunday evening, time to settle down after a long day of viewing Star Wars movies and explaining the whole phenomenon to the newest interstellar visitors. Han and Leia had calmed down considerably around Vader, though they still kept a wary eye on him.
"So it's agreed," Amethyst stated. "Leia rooms at my apartment, and Han, Chewie, and Threepio stay here at the Osmonds' with Fett."
"Han and Fett?" inquired Cody. "I dunno..."
"Hey, we'll make sure they keep their blasters to themselves," Jason promised.
"We won't be staying long," Leia promised. "A week at most. Then we need to be off. The war against the Empire isn't over yet."
"Stay two weeks," offered Austin. "You'll be able to meet the mastermind behind these movies, George Lucas. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to meet you."
Leia nodded. "Two weeks it is. Sounds reasonable."
"Great!" Trapper cheered. "Oh, and before you guys go I need autographs!"
Austin chuckled. "Two more weeks, and then life finally goes back to normal."
At that moment, Mike burst into the living room to show off his new outfit. "Hey everyone, look what I bought on e-Bay!"
Everyone stared at him in disbelief. Then Steve turned to Austin with a resigned grin and asked "Austin, is there such thing as 'normal' in this town?"
"Hey, isn't that Christina Aguilara's outfit from her music video 'Dirrrty?'" asked Zack.