The Skywalker Destiny (The Skywalker Dynasty) Chapter 3
Vader and Luke were together in Vader's chamber in his home in Coruscant, where Luke had just asked his father about his mother. Luke expected a simple answer, unfortunately, the answer wasn't simple. Or something his father could just blurt out. He was having such a good time getting to know Luke, and thinking they could make up lost time and be friends as they ruled the galaxy together. This was the last thing Vader wanted to get into. He tried to stall. "Let me get to that when I find it" He said in a shaky voice, using his only remaining hand to wipe his eyes. Then he turned around and showed Luke an image of himself as young Anakin Skywalker. He smiled. "I told you I was a handsome one" Luke looked at it and shook his head. Then Vader pulled out something strange, something hidden for many years. "This is all that's left of my hair, after the lava." He said with a groan. "It's my padawan braid. Yoda cut this off when I made Jedi Knight. You were lucky you got a crash course and didn't have to be a padawan, my son." He held the golden braid up next to Luke's hair. "I thought so" He smiled. "Almost a perfect match."
Vader was so full of joy to have his son with him, he didn't want to ruin it with the inevitable painful revelation. Vader himself felt unable to say the words, or feel the grief and guilt once again. It was there, buried beneath the dark side and the cold exterior, but in his heart, it was never gone. He did not want it to come to the surface, not yet. What would Luke say, what would he think, if he knew, he killed his mother? And the reason he had never been a father to him was because he thought he had killed him too? Even Palpatine was tricked into believing the offspring of Anakin Skywalker were not alive. Obi Wan and Yoda had hid them well. Vader felt anger at Obi Wan for that too.
Luke sensed his father was not ready to discuss his mother. Luke filled his father in on Leia, and Vader expressed regret at how their meetings had not been pleasant. They talked about Obi Wan, Yoda, Uncle Owen, and the droids. They told their whole life stories from their own points of view to each other, and joked. "So then I said to Han, there's nothing to see, remember, I used to live here!" Vader laughed. "Yes, Tattooine is farthest from the most scenic planet in the galaxy. Or the most comfortable" Luke agreed. They had this bond at least, growing up on Tattoine. Vader wondered why he had never gone back there searching, and why it took him so long to find his own son, even though he had his name and lived with his relations! Obi Wan did this. But this was not a time for resentment, and hate, this was a happy time, the reunion of father and son. Or could it ever be, with the tragic secret of Padme hanging thick in the medicated air of Vader's chamber?
Light years away, aboard the Millenium Falcon, Leia gazed out the window lost in thought. Lando had given the Correllian freighter back to Han, and now Han, Leia and Chewy were on their way to Coruscant to see what could be done in reestablishing order in the galaxy. "What's wrong?" Han asked. "Han, I sense something is wrong."
She could somehow feel Luke and Vader discussing her, and the force was moving quickly to gain strength in her. She would need it. "I know now that Luke is my brother, and Vader my father, and who is my mother? I feel so cheated. But mostly, I feel danger. I can't sense Luke the way I want to. There is another with him, another strong in the force"
Han stared at her. After all that had happened, he was sold, a believer now. He would never question the mystical energy force again! "But who? The Emperor and Vader are gone, they died on the Death Star. Who else is force sensitive who still lives?"
Leia turned and stared at him. "Me." She said. This almost freaked him out. But he loved her anyway. "Who is Luke with, concentrate, you can do it." He encouraged. "I know who it is, Han. It's my father. My father is alive, and Luke is with him."
Chewy bellowed loudly. The droids beeped and Threepio yelled "Oh dear!" Han was stone silent in shock. "Are you telling me that Luke, is with Vader?"
"Yes. And he is not being held against his will." She answered, and not in her most cheerful or positive tone. Han lowered his head. He couldn't believe that Luke would abandon them and take up with Vader! What would they find when they got to Coruscant, would they now have to battle Vader and Luke? What would Leia do?
Back in Vader's chamber, the reunion of father and son had slowed down, and Luke asked his father if he had a bed in which he could sleep. Vader told him that he did keep one such room, just in case of special company. It had never been used, but tonight it would be. Anakin Skywalker could at last put his boy to bed and tuck him in, as he should have done all his life. This feeling brought guilt, and guilt brought the memories. Luke did not dare ask about his mother now, though he desperately wanted to know. But now, Vader would tell him.
He broke down, sobbing, shaking, not good for his health, but he couldn't help it emotionally. "Luke, stay awhile." He begged."I want to tell you of your mother."
Luke's eyes widened, and his heart pounded. He put his hand on his father's shoulder, as they both sat down and faced each other, straight in the eyes.
Luke allowed his father to speak at his own pace. "Luke, her name was Padme." There. He had said it, for the first time in over 20 years that word had crossed his lips. "She was beautiful. She was...intoxicating." He closed his eyes and took a breath as deep as he was able. "I can still see her, I can still feel her against my body...I can taste her..." He opened his eyes and stared at Luke. "She was the best thing in the universe. She was everything good, everything I ever wanted, and needed. I loved her more than anything. And..." the tears came again, and he hid his scarred face with his only intact robotic hand. "...I...I killed her."