The Skywalker Destiny (The Skywalker Dynasty)
Part III
"Through the past, darkly..."
Chapter 9
Vader was excited at the idea of walking out of the medical center as a free man. Free of his mask, free of his suit, free of Palpatine. He got out of his bed and was amazed at how much more light and lifelike his new legs were. He leaned back and stretched all his muscles. He didn't even have any pain at the spots where the false limbs attached to his stumps. They were all one now, he almost felt like they were his own. He took another breath. No pain from his chest, no tightness. He smiled again. He had surprisingly little trouble with his new limbs, they were so natural. He walked more normally than he had since he used his own legs.
As he exited the doors with Luke, he was eagerly anticipating seeing the city, and the sky, for the first time without his mask in so many years! The door opened, and the sunlight spilled in. He stopped for a moment, and held his hand up to shield his eyes. The light had stabbed into them like knives. He grunted from the pain. Because he couldn't look at it, he had to keep his eyes closed, he stopped walking. "Father, are you all right?" Luke asked. Vader, not taking his hands off his eyes, replied, "the sunlight hurts my eyes." He groaned, sadly. "I guess after all those years in that dark mask they've become sensitive to bright light. The only thing I ever saw without my mask was the inside of my chamber. The sun is a lot brighter than that." He still wouldn't open his eyes, he was afraid he would never be able to look at the sky again, and what a major disappointment that would be. He squinted his eyes open just a little, then blinked. His eyes just weren't used to the sun. It had been years. He remembered how long it took his eyes to get accustomed to having to see through the mask, now, they were going to have go adjust to not having it. He knew the longer he kept them closed the harder it was going to be to adjust to the light, so he tried again. It did hurt, and he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. But to his relief, after a few minutes, his pupils did indeed accept the sunlight, and let it in with no more pain and squinting. Vader was overjoyed. He looked over at Luke and smiled, then gazed up at the sky. He jogged as fast as he could on his newer legs, taking in all the scenes of the city as he passed them. "Oh Luke, this is incredible. You don't know how much I've missed the beauty of this world. The colors are amazing, the sky is beautiful. I had almost forgotten how much better it was without that hateful mask on my face." Vader breathed in the air. "Hmmph, the air stinks. Very nice." "Nice?" Luke asked. "Nice to smell anything at all, after all these years!" He laughed. "Luke, do you want something to eat? I mean, really eat, I want to." He couldn't wait to finally eat again like a normal person!
Then he thought, we'd better not go to a resturant, he didn't want to be seen in public just yet, until he knew how the public would accept him. Then he realized, Darth Vader is gone. The suit, the persona, were no more. He could freely walk about as an ordinary man. And few if any on Coruscant would immediately remember young Anakin, or know Luke. Even if they did, they would look upon them as heroes! They were indeed free. Vader persuaded Luke to join him for a sit down meal. "Mmmm" Vader delighted in every savory bite of food. "I haven't had real food in years. It's delicious, Luke, go on, eat up, don't take it for granted!" Luke just rolled his eyes, and finished his sandwich. Vader downed one blue soda right after another, and chewed up the ice cubes. He looked up at Luke and smiled. "That was wonderful! I want more!"
"Can we go now?"
Vader's smile vanished. "Oh, I'm sorry, Luke. I thought you were having a good time too. Endulge me, can you?" He winked at Luke, and Luke couldn't help but crack a smile. Okay, he'd be done with his revelry soon enough. Let him have it. They left the resturant and walked along the city street. They did get a few second glances and stares, but no one confronted them. As they passed a clothing store, an outfit caught Vader's eye in the window, and he stopped.
"Oh, Luke, check that out, how would that look on me?"
Luke just shrugged.
"Luke, I am so tired of basic black, you have no idea! I have never gotten to pick out my own clothes, and I've never had anything colorful. You know, I was a slave, then a Jedi, then in the suit..."
Luke sighed heavily. "I know, father, I know, so I've been told, again..."
Vader didn't let this spoil his fun. He entered the store and hurried about, picking up and examining various tunics, pants and boots, scarves, capes and accessories. He tried some of them on, while Luke boiled waiting for him.
"Which ones do you like best, Luke? What should I..."
"Look," he cut him off sharply, "if you want them, get them all!"
Vader didn't pick up on his aggravation and sarcasm, he was too happy. He thought he was serious. "Thank you, son, I knew you'd understand!" He bought two bags full and walked jauntily out of the store. Luke was losing his patience, but for Vader, the fun was just beginning.
Back in the Coruscant of the past, Leia looked up in the sky to see a flaming ship trying to land, surrounded by fire squads. Everyone on the ground was looking up and pointing, and those in tall buildings were hanging out windows for a better view. Speeders and ships flying the lanes in the air above the ground scurried to get out of the way in case it tumbled off course. Finally, it landed. She was relieved for whomever was inside. She thought to herself what an excellent pilot that must have been to have handled that landing safely. After the turmoil of the landing was over, she saw who emerged from it. She followed the scene as the people were transported to the Senate building. With no old time currency to hail a taxi, she was forced to make her way over there on her own. By the time she arrived, she found a place to look through the window as a tall, handsome young man was walking through the hallway speaking to a older, taller man. She couldn't hear them, but she recognized the older man, and it overwhelmed her with emotion. A lump came into her throat. "Father." She whispered. It was Bail Organa, her beloved adoptive father, who had died on Alderaan. Now that she was here, and he was alive, saving him would have to be one of her main priorities. She crept as close as she could without being detected and thrown out by security. Now she could hear as well as see. But her father soon took leave of the young man, before she reached him. She saw the young man trot rapidly over to a pillar, and a beautiful young woman emerged from behind it. They embraced. She had a hard time hearing their hushed conversation, but she picked up enough to know that this was Anakin Skywalker, and his wife. And she was pregnant. First her adoptive father, now her biological parents. They were so young, so beautiful, so in love. Leia gasped. She was so stunned she hyperventilated until she almost passed out. She froze in her spot, not knowing exactly what to do. There they were. So much would depend on what they did. As she knew, what her father did had not been good. But she was here now, and she believed there was a purpose for that. Could she find a way to change that, and save her mother? If she did, how would this affect the future?
Vader was still reveling in his new found freedom and happiness, strutting along the shopping district of Coruscant, while Luke was losing his patience. The next visit was to an electronic game store, and Vader wanted to get some of those too. He did manage to interest Luke briefly in a few new high tech video games, but once again, he grew weary and began complaining. Vader was having the time of his life, but it wasn't what Luke had wanted or expected from him. He thought once he was healed, he'd be stronger and ready to join in his plans. As he stood back and watched Vader playing the games, Luke was shocked at his father, the former evil Lord, acting like a giddy youngling. He understood what his freedom and healing meant to him, but Luke wanted to get down to business, the business of ruling the galaxy.