"My father's on it," said Luke, turning to Han.

"That's the least of my problems," said Han tightly as he fumbled for the controls. "Chewie, what's the problem?" The wookiee responded with a worried roar. "What do you mean, ineffective?" Han shouted. "We're caught in a Tractor beam," Han told Luke. "We're not exactly gonna be able to sneak on board."

"At least they're not shooting at us," said Luke unhappily "Listen, when we get there, we've got to get ourselves arrested. Then we can rescue Leia."

"Why can't we just ask your dad?" Han asked, mystified.

"I can't," said Luke shortly. "And even if I could, she's his prisoner."

Han groaned. "Listen, kid, this entire harebrained scheme"—

"Will get us a nice profit," Luke interrupted.

"And if the cost is my life?" Han asked darkly. "I dunno 'bout this. Why save the princess anyway?"

"Han"—Luke groaned. "Let's just do it, okay?"

The Millenium Falcon flew through the port and alighted in a room bigger than even the main hangar on the Executor. His mouth dropped open. "Wow."

"I don't like this, Luke," said Han uneasily.

Luke grabbed his lightsaber off of his hip and slipped it inside his tunic. He would only use it if no other options were necessary—he didn't need to reveal himself as a Force-user on a ship full of people who would gladly give the information to the Emperor. "Unidentified freighter, lower your boarding ramp," came a mechanized female voice. Swallowing nervously, Han did so.

Luke stood. "Let's go."

Han and Chewie stood, Han's hand drifting towards the blaster in its holster. "Okay," he said finally. "Ready, Chewie?"

The wookiee roared to the affirmative and Luke nodded once. He turned and walked down the hall, Han and Chewie following him. They went down the boarding ramp to see several squads of stormtroopers marching in formation. Luke tensed as he saw his father striding towards him, cape billowing out behind him. Two men followed at his flanks.

Vader ignored his son and went straight to the smuggler. So, his son had stayed with the man for three years, instead of leaving to live on some obscure planet? Did that mean Luke had become a smuggler as well? The thought disgusted him. "Tell me exactly what you are doing here, Solo."

Han stared up at him. He knew exactly what the man meant, but still, he was terrified at the sight of the giant. He swallowed nervously. "Uh… your lordship," he began uneasily. "It's a bit complicated"—

"Quiet," Vader snapped. "Is it your practice to include children as part of your crew?"

Luke winced but said nothing, knowing that a "normal" person in this situation would be terrified out of his or her mind.

"Uh, no, not normally," said Han.

"Lord Vader, sir!"

Vader turned to the owner of the voice. "Sir, we've found illegal cartons of spice in a hidden compartment. What shall we do with them?"

Both Han and Luke grimaced.

"So this is the direction in which you have taken your lives," said Vader angrily, speaking to Luke rather than Han.

"It seemed the best option at the time," Luke mumbled, looking at the floor.

"Take them to a holding cell," Vader snapped. "Unharmed."

Three troopers walked up to them and placed binders on their wrists. Four more came for Chewie, whom they were unable to approach. Vader raised a hand and the binders closed over the wookiee's enormous arms with a click. Chewie let out an angry roar.

"Confiscate all illegal substances on the ship," Vader said. "But leave it otherwise alone. Understood?" He didn't wait for an answer, but instead walked off.

He had seen his son for the first time in three years and he had been unable to speak to him. Vader wondered if the smuggler had taken good care of him. Luke had grown taller, certainly, and more experienced. Hardened. Vader wasn't sure if that was a good thing. The question was, why were they here? They already had to be on their way to Alderaan, considering Luke had known about it as soon as the explosion had happened.

But how? Had he received a vision? Did he even practice the Force any more? Vader could have cursed. He knew so little about the goings-on of his son.

"Take it easy," Han snapped as a stormtrooper shoved him inside a cell after Chewie and Luke.

"Who's the prisoner, smuggler?" The stormtrooper retorted.

"Who's got a brain?" Han responded darkly, massaging his shoulder, where he had gotten caught on a bar. He turned to Luke as the door shut with a hiss. "What's the plan?"

Luke stood. "Come on," he said, removing his lightsaber from his tunic and clipping it to his belt.

Han stared at him blankly. "If you haven't noticed, we're in a cell," he said.

Luke rolled his eyes. "Surely you know me better than that," he said irritably, turning and opening the door with a wave of his hand. Han blanched.

"You know I hate it when you do that," he grumbled as Luke slipped out into the hall.

"Would you rather me leave me?" Luke countered. "Be careful. We don't want to get caught, then it'll be suspicious."

Luke stopped suddenly and cocked his head as if listening to a voice far away. "What are you doing?" Han asked, crossing his arms.

"This way," said Luke, turning and stalking down a different corridor.

"I don't like this," Han said, following the seventeen-year-old nonetheless. Chewie roared something and Han whirled on him. "Whaddya mean, you'd trust him over me in this situation?" he asked indignantly.

The wookiee responded something and Han marched off to follow Luke in a huff.

"Be a little less loud," Luke said, annoyed. "We are trying to escape, not trying to let troopers know where we are."

"I know that. You tell him," Han said, jabbing with a finger towards Chewbacca. "He's the one carrying on."

"Quiet, Han," said Luke, peering around a corner. He closed his eyes and felt for Leia's presence. She was close, but she was hurting and in pain, physically and emotionally. Luke went down to her quickly and found the door in front of which her presence was the strongest. Concentrating with a brief second, he reached out with the Force and opened it.

"Coming to kill me?"

Luke glanced at her in surprise and ducked inside. "Not today. We're here to rescue you."

Leia jerked her face up and stared at him, stunned. "What…?"

"Come on, princess, we didn't give up our cargo to have to argue with us," a new voice said. Leia looked over the blond youth's shoulder to see an older man with an irritated look on his face.

She stood. "I don't know what to say, but you two are making a mistake. You don't know Vader. If he finds that I'm gone, he'll track you down"—

"You don't remember me?" Luke said with some surprise. He shrugged. "Oh well. Come on. Trust me, I can get you out of here."

But Leia was staring over his shoulder. "Is that a wookiee?" she asked weakly.

"Yep. His name's Chewbacca," said Luke, walking inside and grabbing her risk. "Come on, Princess Leia."

"I'm scheduled for execution," she said desperately. "You don't understand, if they catch you"—

"For the love of"—Han said, stomping in and picking her bodily up. "We're here to rescue you, princess, whether you want to be or not."

"Put me down!" she said in surprise. "I can quite handle myself, thank you!" Han obeyed.

"Have you an extra blaster?" she inquired with as much dignity as she could muster.

Luke nodded and gave her the one strapped to his thigh. He had used the Force to make the stormtroopers forget about it. "Here."

"But you don't have a weapon," she said in surprise.

"He's fine," said Han shortly. "Let's go, all right? Pretty soon they'll figure out that we escaped, and I'd like to be far away when that happens."

Leia looked as though she was about to protest but she steeled herself. "Okay. Let's go," she said firmly.

Luke grinned. "All right."

They ran down to the main hallway and Luke used the Force to dull their senses. "Quick," he said, motioning with a hand for them to forward. Han used to his powers, did so and Leia followed him dubiously, her hand on her blaster all the while.

Once they were out in the hallway. "How...?"

"I'll answer your questions later," he said quickly. "Come on."

Deciding to trust him for the moment, Leia followed him as he took off running down a deserted hallway. "Where are we going?" she panted after a while.

"The hangar," said Han, running beside her. "He always knows the fastest way there!"

"Oh, goodness! Oh, Mistress Leia!"

Leia's mouth dropped open as C-3PO and R2-D2 walked and rolled around the corner. "Threepio! What are you doing here?"

"You know them?" Han asked in surprise.

"Yes!" said Leia excitedly.

"Mistress Leia, R2 seemed to think that you were in danger, so he set out to find you. I had to follow him, of course," said Threepio prissily. "I do hope you're not angry with him."

"Absolutely not! Hurry, come with us," Leia urged. The astromech and the protocol droid fell into step, Luke and Han exchanging bewildered glances.

"Are you sure, Princess?" Han asked dubiously. "I really don't think the golden one has been programmed for a blaster."

"A blaster, oh my! Mistress Leia, are we going into battle?" Threepio exclaimed nervously.

"No, Threepio." Leia turned to Han. "These droids are essential," she explained. "Once we get to your ship, I'll explain everything."

"HEY! YOU!"

The party whipped around to see ten stormtroopers running towards them. Han and Leia raised their blasters and Luke swore softly. "Go!" he shouted to Han, leaping over their heads and landing between them and the troopers. He ignited his lightsaber just as the troopers began to fire.

Leia stared at him as he blocked every bolt with the saber, until Han grabbed her arm. "He can take care of himself! Trust me!" They ran down a perpendicular hall and soon after, Luke followed them, the lightsaber at his belt once more.

"That way!" Luke told them, pointing down another hallway. They obeyed without questioning and miraculously found themselves entering the hanger just as the main shield opened for a squadron of TIE fighters. "Quick!" Luke shouted, feeling his father's presence nearby.

He reached out with a tendril of the Force and lowered the ramp and started up the engines. Leia, Han, and Chewie jumped inside and Luke turned to see his father enter the hangar. A wave of sorrow hit him. He called out, Come with me, Father!

He saw his father stop, as though surprised. I cannot. Go, my son, and please don't get killed.

Luke lifted a hand to give a half-hearted wave. A second later, he disappeared into the belly of the ship with the two droids and it lifted into the air, Han piloting it expertly through the hatch. Chewie set a quick course for hyperspace and they disappeared, leaving his father behind.

Luke slumped in his chair. He had finally gotten to see his father, and had had to deceive him. Had he betrayed him by rescuing Leia?

"Thank you," the one in question said, standing in front of Luke, her dress ruffled. She held out a hand. "I appreciate your kindness and selflessness. You are a true Jedi Knight."

"Luke? Luke's no Jedi," Had said with a laugh in the doorway.

Leia's jaw dropped open as she finally recognized the boy that she had been almost 3 ½ years ago. "Luke Vader?"

Luke shrugged. "More or less."

Her gaze immediately narrowed, and then widened in realization. "He didn't kill you?"

Luke stared at her in surprise. "What?"

"Vader! He didn't kill you! I learned from my contact on the Executor that you had disappeared!" she breathed. "I can't believe it!"

"Why would my father kill me?" Luke asked, truly bewildered.

"Because he's a heartless monster," she said coldly.

Luke stood angrily. "Don't talk that way about my father."

Leia bit her lip. "He allowed Alderaan to be destroyed, and he tortured me! And he killed my father! I think I can call him whatever I well please!"

"I'm sorry about your father," said Luke sincerely. "I felt badly about that. But my father couldn't do anything about Alderaan."

"Of course he could have," she said scathingly. "No matter what you did for me, I'll never forget that."

Luke said nothing for a few moments. "You know, I'm not my father," he said finally, standing. "I am sorry about everything. I came here to try and stop Alderaan from being destroyed, and I was too late. I'm sorry. But I can neither control my father nor change the past." With that, he turned and returned to his own room, leaving Leia in the lounge, ashamed of herself.

"Excuse me, Mistress Leia?"

Leia looked up to see C-3PO. "Yes, Threepio?" she asked wearily.

"I'm afraid that Sir Luke is upset," the droid offered helpfully.

"I'm aware," she said heavily, holding her head in her hands. She stood. "Stay here, Threepio," she commanded, and stepped inside the cockpit. "Excuse me, sir… I don't think we've been formally introduced."

Han turned around. "Hey, Princess," he said off-handedly.

"My name is Leia Organa," she said softly. "I am a princess of a planet that no longer exists."

"Gonna blame that on the kid, too?" Han asked bitterly, turning in his chair to view Leia more easily. "You know, it's not like I'm a huge fan of his dad either, but he's a good kid. And his father saved his and mine and Chewie's lives."

"I apologize"—Leia began stiffly, but he stopped her, raising a hand.

"No, lemme finish," he said. "Luke hates what his dad does, but he loves him. If you insult Vader, he takes it personal. But he's a good person, regardless of his father. You gotta remember that. He had nothin' to do with Alderaan or your dad's death."

Leia looked properly abashed. "I know, you're right," she said at last. "I let my anger overcome my manners."

"Anyway," Han continued. "I'm Han Solo from Corellia, and this is my first mate, Chewie."

"Nice to meet you both," said Leia humbly.

"Now I think that you oughta go and talk to him," Han said. "He's in the first door on the left." He turned around to view the controls and left Leia standing in the doorjamb. After a minute, she decided that he was right and left, walking down the hall. After a second of hesitation, she lifted her hand to knock on the door, but it slid open before she had a chance.

"It bugs Han when I do that," Luke's soft voice came from within. "Come in."

Leia stepped inside the small room and saw Luke sitting on his bed, legs crossed. His eyes were closed. "I'm sorry, am I intruding…?"

He opened his eyes. "No," he said. "I was meditating."

Leia raised her eyebrows. "Meditating?"

He nodded. "It's essential for a Force-user," he explained. "It helps to center yourself and to build your connection with the Force." He glanced at her. "Who taught you to create those shields?"

Leia stared at him, mystified. "I'm sorry, what shields?"

Now he looked confused. "When I first met you, your mind was guarded," he said. "And it still is. You're really strong in the Force, so I was just wondering who trained you."

"No one trained me," she said in surprise. "And I don't think that I'm very strong in the Force…"

"Yes you are," Luke persisted. "Trust me."

"Oh," said Leia uncomfortably. "Well… Luke…"

"Don't worry about it," said Luke easily. "I… overreact when it comes to my father. You have every right to be angry with him."

Leia clasped her hands together. "But not with you," she said gently. "I apologize for my conduct. It was entirely inappropriate, especially after you had just saved my life."

He shrugged. "Don't worry about it," he repeated. He grinned. "And by the way, my name is Luke Skywalker."

"Not Vader?"

"No. That'd raise some eyebrows, wouldn't it?" he said with a laugh. "I'm supposed to be dead, so I can't afford to attract any questions."

"Why are you supposed to be dead?" she asked uneasily.

"The Emperor ordered my father to kill me," Luke said darkly. "I don't know why." Leia grew decidedly uncomfortable with the mention of his father and so he changed the subject. "Do you have anywhere to go? I mean, I don't think that you can return to Coruscant…"

"No," she said heavily. "But, Luke…" she glanced at him warily. "I am a Rebel," she said, as though that clarified everything,

"So?"

"I would go to the Rebel base," she said delicately. "And you…"

"What?"

"You're an Imperial," she said finally. "I couldn't possibly let you know where the base is."

"I am not an Imperial," he said, as though shocked she had even thought such a thing. "I hate the Emperor. I hate him more than anyone you will ever meet."

"What?" Leia was stunned.

"Well, he tried to have me killed, Leia," Luke said wryly. He visage darkened. "And I have other reasons."

"Like what?"

Luke bit his lip. "It's complicated," he said shortly. There was no way he wanted to recount the tale of just what the Emperor had done to his father, and he doubted if it would generate any sympathy from the girl. "Just suffice it to say… I hate him. I've made it my life's goal to get rid of him, but…" He gestured around his surroundings. "What am I supposed to do? I'm a seventeen-year-old teenager, and a wanted one at that. I'm a half-trained Force user that doesn't know how to be the Jedi that he is supposedly destined to be."

"Come with me, then," she said finally. "I believe you. We just won't tell anyone about your father."

His gaze lit up. "You mean, join the Rebellion?"

She grinned. "Yes. I can't believe I'm saying this to Darth Vader's son, but yes, I think the Rebellion could use you."

"Would that work? To just… conveniently forget to mention that I'm third in line for the Imperial throne?" Luke asked doubtfully. "I won't fight my father under any circumstances, Leia. That's bound to raise suspicion."

"We'll work that out. We'll just tell Mon Mothma the truth, and she can help us," said Leia confidently. She stood and held out a hand to formally shake Luke's. He did so, grinning. "I welcome you to the Rebellion, Luke Skywalker."

"Thanks," he said.

She turned. "I'll go and tell Han the coordinates."

"What do you mean, Organa escaped?" Tarkin snapped angrily. "I thought you were supposed to have her under guard!"

"She was under guard," said Vader tightly. "She somehow managed to escape in the freighter that was brought to the ship with the Tractor beam you ordered, Tarkin."

"That would be General Tarkin, Vader," said the man angrily. "How?"

"I am sure that she offered money to the smugglers," said Vader coldly.

"The smugglers that you were supposed to deal with," Tarkin spat. "The Emperor won't be pleased with your failure, Vader. I intend to report it to him as soon as our next contact."

"Excuse me, General Tarkin, Lord Vader"—

They turned to see a messenger waiting, obviously terrified out of his mind. "What?" Vader asked shortly.

"We've just been informed, sirs, that the Emperor expects to hear from you if the Death Star is operational."

"Of course," said Tarkin smoothly. "Patch him in, boy."

The boy gave a quick little bow a frightened look to Vader—who was practically oozing rage—before retreating. "I'm sure you'll find some way to explain it to His Majesty, Vader," Tarkin said.

"What!"

Luke looked at Leia nervously. "I think it's for the best, Han," he said. "This way I can actually do something."

"Kid, are you out of your mind?" Han said in utter disbelief. "They'll shoot you on sight! You think they're going to just welcome you with open arms?"

"We're not going to tell them who he is," Leia said calmly.

"That doesn't matter! I can't let you do it, Luke," said Han firmly, turning to the blond. "We can drop the Princess off and then go back to our route. Just like old times."

"But… I have to save my father, Han," Luke said imploringly. Leia raised her eyebrows. "I have to try and get rid of the Emperor. This is the only way," said Luke.

"Whaddya mean, 'save your father?'" Han snorted. "Kid, your dad's got it covered, I think. I'm pretty sure he can take care of himself."

Luke gritted his teeth. "You don't understand," he said tightly.

Han groaned. "All right, kid, the Princess has got you all fired up to go be a Rebel, that's fine, but you should hear my point of view."

"Han…"

"No, listen," Han insisted. "What I see is some kid going off to risk his life in a fight no one can't win to try and resurrect his dad from a guy, who… let's face it, kid, he's not really the type to teach you how to throw a ball." Han stopped to see how Luke was taking it. Satisfied, he continued. "He wants you to be safe. Goin' off to play the hero on the opposite side isn't what he's got in mind, I think."

Luke slumped. "You don't get it, Han. It's the only way he can come back into the light. I've got to do this."

After a moment, Han finally sighed. "So I can't convince you otherwise, kid?"

Luke shook his head, and the smuggler rubbed his temple. "All right."

"Luke, we should construct your past," said Leia gently. "What do you want to tell anyone who asks?"

"Tell them I was a farmboy on Tatooine," said Luke quietly. "Tell them that my guardians were killed by Imperials and I decided to become a Rebel by rescuing you."

"That's the first time you've admitted it," said Leia with a smile. "You did rescue me."

"My father let us go," said Luke softly. "If he had really minded, he would have stopped us himself."

Leia sighed. "What about your lightsaber? And the fact that you're training to be a Jedi?"

Luke snorted. "How can I be training without a trainer?"

"You're still going to become one," Leia said reassuringly.

Luke shrugged. "My father was a Jedi in the Clone Wars. That's good enough." He stood. "I'm going to meditate," he told them, leaving and heading to his room. Leia made to follow him, sensing that he was upset, but Han stopped her.

"Don't bother him when he goes off to meditate," he advised her with a forced smile. "Gets all huffy, says the Force goes out of whack if you interrupt him."

"He told me that I'm Force-sensitive," said Leia, frowning. She sat down next to Han.

"I wouldn't know, Princess," said Han airily. "I don't believe in any of that anyway. It's Luke's thing, not mine."

"Lord Sidious," Vader said with a small bow as the holo of the Emperor was projected in front of himself and Tarkin, who glanced sidelong at the massive Sith. Only Vader called the Emperor by that name, and Tarkin knew it was to remind him of the fact that he was the Sith, and the next in line for the Imperial throne.

"Ah, my friend," came the croak of the Emperor. Tarkin carefully suppressed the shudder. "Tell me… Is my Death Star operational?"

"It is, Lord," said Vader. "General Tarkin saw fit to test its weapons upon the world of Alderaan." His voice showed no hint of his disgust of the act.

"Really…" said the Emperor slowly. "Excellent. This will crush the petty Rebellion once and for all. And what of the Death Star plans?"

"I believe that they are located inside a droid that was in the company of Senator Organa at the time of her capture, Lord Sidious," Vader said quickly. "I have it in my custody."

"Good, my friend," said the Emperor, completely ignoring the presence of Tarkin. "And what of the girl? Has she been executed?"

"No, my lord," said Vader immediately. "A smuggler's freighter was brought to the station and its crew managed to help her to escape."

The Emperor was silent for a moment. "This displeases me," he said finally. "But it is of no consequence. Soon the girl and her followers will be destroyed."

"Yes, my lord."

The Emperor was silent for a moment. "See to it that the Rebel base is found," he said finally. "And then send the Death Star into orbit."

"Yes, my lord."

The transmission was cut and Vader resisted the urge to smirk as he felt Tarkin's resentment and injured pride. "I will inform you when the Rebel base is found," Vader said blandly. "General Tarkin."

"Of course," said Tarkin tightly. "I look forward to it, Lord Vader."

Vader returned to his workroom, intending to complete the removal of the Death Star plans from Artoo, but he froze when he entered the room.

They were gone.

Silently, he swore to himself. He should have known—Artoo had no qualms about disobeying orders if they obstructed a mission. He clenched his hands. That meant they were with the Princess.

And Luke. He released all his anger at the thought of his son. Luke was safe, and had evaded the Emperor's notice once more.

"Where are we?" asked Luke as they descended onto a planet that he had never seen. "Yavin IV," said Leia. "It is our temporary base. We've been safe here from the Empire for some time," she explained.

Luke reached for the Force to calm his shaky nerves as they grew nearer to the base. Leia noticed and smiled. "You'll be fine, Luke. As soon as we tell them that you saved me, you'll be fine."

"It's not just them I'm worried about," Luke admitted weakly.

An image of Vader looming over her during her interrogation slipped into Leia's mind and she bit it back sharply. "I understand," she said gently.

Luke sighed. "Go on," he told her ruefully. Leia nodded and walked forward to speak into the outputter. "Yavin Base, this is Senator Leia Organa aboard the Millenium Falcon. I request an immediate meeting with Lady Mothma."

"Welcome back, Senator Organa," came a male voice over the transmitter. "You're set for landing pad 9."

Luke shut his eyes tightly as Leia directed Han to the correct spot. He bit his lip as the ship touched down and jerked away when he felt Leia's hand on his shoulder. He glanced up. "Come on, Luke," she said.

Luke stood to face Han. "Han, thanks for everything," he began slowly. "Once this is all over…" he let his words trail off.

Han grinned. "What're you talkin' about, kid? You think I'm gonna jus' let these Rebels have their way with ya?" He shook his head. "I'm stickin' around to watch your back."

Luke's jaw dropped open. "You're going to join"—

"No," Han said quickly. "No way. I'm not about to go risk my neck for some crazy cause," he said. "But I am gonna make sure you don't kill yourself."

Luke beamed. "Thanks."

Han smiled nervously. "Don' thank me. I'm jus' scared of what your dad'll do to me if you get hurt," he explained.

Luke frowned. "What?"

"Nevermind," said Han easily. "No more talk of your dad from here on out," he said firmly.

"Let's go," said Leia with a smile.

"It is good news to hear that you are safe, Princess Leia," said Mon Mothma gently. "I am so sorry to hear of Alderaan. It seems that the Empire's atrocities continue to grow."

Leia inclined her head. "Thank you," she said. Beside her, Luke winced almost imperceptibly.

"Please, introduce me to your rescuer," said Mothma, turning to Luke.

Leia smiled. "This is Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight."

Mothma paled. "A Jedi!"

"Training to be one, at least," said Luke uncomfortably and shooting a look towards Leia. "It's an honor to meet you, Lady Mothma."

"I extend you the gratitude of the Alliance for your efforts in saving the Princess, Jedi Skywalker," said Mothma.

"You're welcome, though I had a minimal effort in doing so," Luke responded, glad that his father's eloquency had rubbed off on him at least a little. He swallowed. "I would like to join the Rebellion myself, actually."

"That is good news," said Mothma warmly. "We welcome you heartily."

"But there is a slight complication," Leia said nervously. "I'd like you to keep an open mind, Mon."

Mothma furrowed her brow. "What's the problem?"

Luke bit his lip. "I have… certain connections to the Empire," he said uneasily.

Mothma frowned. "Many of the Alliance members have family members who are officers. That is not a problem."

Luke looked to Leia for help. "Mon… Luke desires to keep this one completely silent," she said slowly.

"What is it? Who is it?"

"My father…" Luke began apprehensively. "He's kind of high up."

Mothma waited for him to continue. She folded her hands on the desk, staring impassively at the two young people in front of her.

Leia sighed and made eye contact briefly. "Don't take this the wrong way, Mon."

"What do you mean?" Mothma's gaze narrowed. "Who is he?"

Luke stared at his hands and refused to say anything. Leia opened her mouth but shut it after a moment. "It's a bit difficult to explain, really…"

"Will all of you stop hedging?" Han finally exclaimed, exasperated. He strode up from the shadows. He faced Mon Mothma. "The kid's dad is Darth Vader."