They soon arrived on Yavin IV; it brought back many dark memories for Anakin as he remembered his dual with Asajj Ventress.
Luke sensed his father's distress, even though it seemed well hidden.
"Father, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Let's go."
"You seem worried about something."
"Just bad memories, Luke, I'll be all right."
Anakin smelled the warm moist air and pulled his hood up on his cloak. He needed to take a shower.
"Skywalker?"
"Yes?" Both Luke and Anakin replied simultaneously.
"Biggs Darklighter says you know how to pilot an X-Wing is this true?" Red Leader asked.
"Well, I've piloted my T-16 back home. I should be able to handle an X-Wing." Luke excitedly replied.
Anakin sighed deeply and rolled his eyes.
"What's your name, sir?"
"Anakin Skywalker."
"Are you two related?" Red Leader asked.
"Yes, you could say that."
"I feel I should know you, your name sounds familiar." Red Leader sighed.
Anakin merely smiled, he wasn't in the mood for any silliness.
"Do you pilot, Anakin?"
"I've been around the block a few times."
"Maybe we could use you, come to the meeting we are getting ready to discuss the Death Star plans."
Anakin and Luke followed him.
"Luke can you hear me?" Anakin sent telepathically.
"You are in my mind, can you really read it?"
"If I wanted, but listen, I don't want the others to know about my past okay? They might think I'm a spy."
"Why?"
"They might know that I'm Darth Vader, and I want to keep a low profile."
"Okay, I'll be silent."
"Good. Thank you, my son." Anakin tousled Luke's hair and they walked into the briefing room.
Darth Vader brooded as the Death Star approached Yavin IV, he really didn't like this exploding planets approach, and he rather fight hand to hand or starship to starship. This was too much, it gave an unfair advantage. He knew that it was going to be destroyed, and he also knew that Tarkin was too proud of this technological device along with Motti. He would fly off this rock as soon as he could, taking a few of his highly trained fighters with him.
Anakin was given a Y-wing and after getting cleaned up he started to make small changes including a fresh coat of paint.
"Yellow, really this is too much."
"Just along some of the borders, Luke."
"You are so unexpected; I thought you only liked black."
"It is very slimming, isn't it?" Anakin laughed as he twirled around.
"Yea, like you have to worry about that." Luke laughed.
After removing his smock, Anakin pulled up a crate and motioned Luke to do the same.
"Are you nervous?" Luke asked.
"It's common to be nervous before any battle, but more so if you have to lead it."
"Are you leading this one?"
"No, they asked me and I told them no. I want to remain a low profile. I'll fight and I'll provide cover fire for the pilots."
"Yellow might get Imperial's attention are you sure you want to go this route?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me about my mother?" Luke asked.
"She's was the most beautiful creature. I thought she was an angel when I first saw her. She was opinionated, strong-willed, and very outspoken. She was kind and would do almost anything to help a stranger." Anakin secured his lightsaber and boarded the Y-wing as the Death Star approached the rebel base. Luke hugged Anakin goodbye and boarded his X-wing, Artoo was loaded in the slot behind him. Leia went to the command center, Han Solo and Chewbacca had already left with their reward.
Darth Vader saw the small ships and knew that the turbo-lasers on the turrets wouldn't be enough. He went to the hanger bay with his five crew pilots and boarded his TIE-Advanced x1, with hyperspace capability. Anakin saw the ships leave the docking bay and he followed the specially selected fighters and picked them off one by one. Lord Vader was surprised by this pilot's actions; he must be strong with the Force to have the ability to destroy his specially trained pilots. The pilot was arrogant as well; he had certain parts of ships painted a bright yellow.
"Hmm, the Force is strong with this one." Vader stated as he attempted to target the fighter.
"What is this madness, how the hell does he know all my moves." Lord Vader grumbled.
"Lord Vader, do you know who this is?" Anakin sent telepathically.
"What?"
"Come Lord Vader; think really hard, not everybody can gain access to your shields, can they?"
"How the hell are you able to gain access to me? You must have survived the purge, Jedi!"
"I was there, when you killed the younglings, Lord Vader. You should be ashamed of yourself! Murdering innocent children, some kind of hero you are."
"Get the hell out of my mind, Jedi. You will die, if you don't leave me alone!"
"I died that day you landed on Mustafar to kill the separatists leaders and choked Padmé how could you! I loved her."
"You loved Padmé? What kind of trickery is this? Nobody loved Padmé more than me."
"You have a funny way of showing love and affection by choking her to death. With a husband like you she doesn't need any enemies."
Darth Vader's anger exploded and he went after the Y-Wing with a vengeance. He forgot all about following Luke to destroy the Death Star. Anakin quickly maneuvered to get away from the talented Sith Lord. They both crash landed on Yavin IV and Anakin leapt out of the ship and found the Sith Lord attempting to get out of his ship.
"Good afternoon, Darth Vader." Anakin greeted.
"You! How dare you mock me! Now you shall die."
"Here let me help you out."
"Get away from me, Jedi! I don't need anything from you."
"Okay. I'll just wait over here by the temple."
Darth Vader crawled out of his ship and activated his lightsaber.
"Come, let's not be hasty, Lord Vader. What would the Emperor think if you turned up dead?"
"Most men who mock me do not live to tell the tale, Jedi."
"Hmm, this is probably true. It burns my blood when men mock me too, especially Sebulba."
"What? How do you know about him?"
"I'm Anakin Skywalker, I know a lot about you Lord Vader."
"You dare to mention that name to me; I'll kill you where you stand."
"What would Shmi think, you murdering her only son?"
Lord Vader sighed deeply and deactivated his lightsaber.
"Whew, thanks." Anakin sighed deeply as he feigned worry.
"I'm going to give ten seconds to explain yourself and then if I don't like what I hear I will kill you."
"Deal, so was going to the dark side all you would hope it would be? Where's Padmé?"
"She's dead."
"So it looks like you have given yourself to the dark side and became a slave once more. I bet Watto was a kinder master than this Emperor Palpatine, at least with Watto he allowed us some time with our family and to have fun racing pods."
"Get to your point, Jedi." Darth Vader grumbled.
"So how did you end up in the suit and the helmet?"
"Obi-Wan did this to me."
"Hmm, I'd say he fought you because you left him no alternative."
"He was trying to take Padmé away from me."
"No, he wasn't, stupid fool. Padmé loved you; you are the one that pushed her away."
"There's nothing I can do about it now, Jedi. Now let's do this." Darth Vader activated his lightsaber.
"No, I won't fight you. It would be unfair."
Anakin pulled his hood over his head and blocked out Darth Vader from his Force-signature and disappeared into the jungle. Lord Vader returned to his ship and went to work on repairing it; he managed to get some parts from Y-Wing and vowed that he would have his revenge.
Luke and Han Solo were honored at the ceremony and Anakin stood in the back and sent a wave of congratulations to his son. Luke smiled. After spending the next few days celebrating, Anakin found Luke drunk on the Falcon he was laughing hysterically and Han Solo was telling him that he couldn't hold his liquor at all. Anakin carried Luke to his room and he passed out on the cot.
"You are going to regret this tomorrow morning, Luke." Anakin laughed, as he went to his quarters and also went to bed.
Darth Vader reported to his master and received many bolts of dark Force lightning and he passed out just before the lightning overloaded his system. He awoke in the medical bay and the doctor was attending to him. "Lord Vader, are you okay, sir?"
"Hard to breathe."
"Yes, I've had to retrofit a new breathing device for you. I have you on oxygen now. It will take some time before you are able to be back on your feet."
The next morning, Luke awoke to find his father standing over him.
"Morning, Luke. How's your head?" Anakin whispered.
"Ugh, I guess I shouldn't have had so much to drink."
"Come let's take a walk."
"Father, please, the room is spinning."
Anakin helped Luke to his feet and walked him to the corridor and to the jungle. Luke started to retch and Anakin helped him recover his stomach as he continued to vomit. Luke felt a warming, soothing calm come over him, like a bucket of warm water being gently poured over his head. His headache faded, his stomach stopped churning and he looked at his father's bright blue eyes.
"Father, what did you just do?"
"I healed you, feeling better?"
"Yea, how did you do that?"
"The Force, I'm not as good as Obi-Wan when it comes to healing others, though."
"What's your specialty?"
"Tactics, aggressive negotiations, and saving Obi-Wan every time he gets himself into trouble."
"Aggressive negotiations, what are those?"
"Negotiations with a lightsaber."
Luke laughed, "Are you going to train me in the Jedi arts?"
"I don't imagine I have much choice. I've never taken on a padawan, though."
"Why not?"
"Didn't have time with the Clone Wars, saving Obi-Wan was a full-time job."
"Cato Neimoidia doesn't count Anakin." Obi-Wan smiled as he appeared as a ghost.
"Obi-Wan, how is that you appearing before us now?"
"You need to take Luke to Dagobah."
"Dagobah, that Force-saken planet, why?"
"There's an old friend there, he would like to meet Luke and I'm sure he wouldn't mind seeing you again."
"Okay, we will leave as soon as we can."
"Good, may the Force be with you both."
"You too, my old friend." Anakin stated.