Where Am I Going To?

Part Three

Chapter Six

There had to be a bump on his head from the fall he'd taken, and a least one bruise. Either way, he was tired when he finally tromped back into the clearing the rest of the Rebels were hiding in. Han stepped from behind a tree, quickly lowering his blaster. Slightly relieved to see him, he cried, "Luke!" And then after a frightening few seconds, "Where's Leia?"

If ever a question could make his blood run cold, that one could do it. He gulped, and said, "What, she didn't come back?"

"I thought she was with you," Han held slightly accusingly, but Luke was too tired and worried to rise to the bait.

Leia. Alone. Out there. In a forest she didn't know. Surrounded by Imperials.

The…The daughter of Darth Vader, however unknowingly, was out there. And Luke wasn't with her, and when it came to big shot Imperials, well….Luke was the only one who could protect her.

Were she to come within an inch of their father…Or were he to even let it slip for a moment! The consequences….Oh dear God….

"We got separated," he whimpered, wanting to tremble, instead trying to think. "Hey, we better go look for her." Han shot him a look that read, "Well, no, do you think?" but Luke ignored him. He had neither the time for the patience for this. Not right now….

…

Vader was rushing with his customarily long stride down the hall of the second Death Star, in quite a state. There was no mistaking it. He may not have been anywhere remotely near Luke for six months, but that glittering presence in the Force was always unmistakable to the father.

It was his greatest joy and sorrow in the entire world. Nothing outstripped the love and pain he felt for Luke. Nothing.

He stormed toward the emperor's makeshift throne room, still in control, but heart wildly panging in his chest. He had brushed very near Luke and he would not let him escape. He'd waited four years and while Emperor Palpatine was busy enjoying his soon to be victory over the Rebel Alliance, Vader was far more impatient to get his son back.

The two purposes could be multi-useful. Taking their prized Rogue Squadron pilot, Hero of Yavin IV, and Jedi Knight away from the Alliance would be a major blow in morale and in more material matters. Luke as a Sith would be even more powerful than he'd been before, if that was even possible (and the idea thrilled Vader to his core). And Luke was as filled with useful secrets against the Alliance for the Empire in the same way he'd been against the Empire and for the Alliance. So, really, all of this was justifiable to his master in many ways.

But Palpatine wasn't stupid. He knew he loved that boy. And maybe he didn't understand the emotion, or particularly like it, but he could twist it to his own purposes. He had for twenty one years.

And that was why Vader was not in the mood for games when two of the emperor's elite Red Guard stopped him at the elevator door.

"Halt! The emperor does not wish to be disturbed at the moment."

Vader really didn't like the Red Guard.

He raised his hand, implying a little manipulation and a lot of strangulation, snarling, "The emperor will see me, now!"

"The emperor will see you, now," was the choked reply, and the Dark Lord of the Sith released the man with little patience, sweeping into the elevator and pausing a few moments until it took him up and opened its doors. He swept into the room, kneeled for a brief few seconds to his master – sitting in a chair with his back to him – and rose again.

"I told you to remain on the command ship."

He was clearly irritated, and for several reasons. He was slightly impatient to be rid of the thorn in his side known as the Rebellion, and this business over his Hand was starting to irk him a bit. Mara had been off for two and a half years now, doing some private training or something of the sort, and Palpatine had approved. Initially, anyway. But now it was just getting bothersome, and while she dashed back to the Core as soon as her master called, she was obviously distracted. The emperor had just sent her on some mission and she had failed miserably. What it was Vader had not been allowed to know, and it made him feel it was something he wouldn't like, and made him want to know all the more desperately.

So neither one of the important, impatient men were in very good moods.

"A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor," he said very carefully, managing to sound as submissive as possible.

Palpatine wheeled slowly around, but Vader registered no shock or surprise of any kind. Not that that was so strange. "Yes, I know," he replied smoothly, waving a wrinkled hand slightly.

Vader hesitated. "My son is with them."

And Palpatine did not miss the inflection in the voice. Oh yes, Vader still loved that boy, he noted with narrowed eyes.

Only Luke wasn't a boy anymore and he obviously wasn't going to be terribly easy to manipulate.

"Are you sure?" he asked very coolly, still watching his Right Hand extremely carefully while the Sith shifted from foot to foot.

"I have felt him, my master."

"Strange that I have not."

It was a comment meant to make him bristle, and bristle he did. Really so strange? No, not at all. What sire shared with son was incomparable, Palpatine had never had anything like that, and nor did he want it.

"I wonder, Lord Vader," he was continuing smoothly, turning the chair slightly so that he was now in profile to the Dark Lord, "if your feelings on this matter are clear."

And there his heart trembled again. Oh, yes, they had to be clear…Luke was not his son until he bent the knee and called him father…He could not love him, miss him, need him, want him, until then.

So why did he?

"They are clear, my master," Vader insisted, still quiet enough to be suppliant.

"Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for him." The emperor's yellow eyes flickered in his direction, and Vader felt himself falter slightly.

"He will come to me?" he choked, trembling at the intense excitement the moment offered, the brief ray of glorious hope.

And Vader couldn't help but love the boy. He was too weak to stop such a strong feeling.

"I have foreseen it," Palpatine snapped now more quickly, his patience for the conversation worn out. "His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will come to you and then you will bring him before me."

This time Vader deeply bowed, in a slight daze. "As you wish." And with that, he left the throne room.

His compassion for me?

Why did he love him so much, even now, after four years without him? Especially after four years without him! Absence made his weak heart grow all the fonder, and the memory of his shinning light did not fade, as so many a beloved memory he'd shoved away had, but grew stronger and sweeter with each passing moment.

The promise of the idea thrilled him.

His compassion for me….

He stepped out of the elevator, past the guard he'd choked not too long ago, and walked on, not noticing his surroundings anymore than the first time.

I am coming for you, Luke.

…

"Leia!"

Han and Luke had cried it at the exact same time, smitten with the image of the princess, long hair combed straight and glinting in the light of the pale torches that flickered against the night.

And Luke had to quickly remind himself that she was his sister.

And that was an odd thought indeed.

She'd started to rush to them, but the Ewoks blocked her, spears raised.

"Your Royal Highness!" Threepio cried from his dais, raising a robotic arm.

"But these are my friends!" No go, and she glanced first earnestly at Luke tied to the pole and then Han slung over the spit before her gaze rested on the protocol droid. "Threepio, tell them they must be set free."

Threepio tried, but to no avail, and Han sarcastically commented as more wood was laid around his pyre, "Somehow, I got the feeling that didn't help us much."

But Luke had switched gears quite smoothly now, and effortlessly ordered in a calm, controlling voice, "Threepio, tell them if they don't do as you wish, you will become angry and use your magic."

"But Master Luke, what magic? I couldn't possibly-"

"Just…tell them," he cut off, his pale blue eyes flashing.

Threepio conceded, but the Ewoks did not. No dice. Threepio was whining again, but Luke wasn't listening. His eyes were closed, and he focused calmly and carefully, and….

There were cries of astonishment, and Threepio was at his wits end. Someone was cutting his bonds, and Luke opened his eyes, a grin spreading across his features as he slowly lowered the droid. Han was given the same courtesy, and Luke was able to enfold Leia in a relieved, protecting embrace before relinquishing her to Han.

She was safe, he breathed, feeling the tension from before ease….Thank the Force she was safe….

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders again, heaving a sigh. "Thanks, Threepio."

"I never knew I had it in me…"

Luke glanced at the woman tucked under his arm, and his heart beat sped up. Maybe it was dogged determination, or maybe the Force was for once being merciful and lending a hand, but he was finding it easier and easier to think of her as his sister instead of the love he'd lost. Or never really had to begin with.

She loved him. Just not the way he hoped.

His heart sped up at the excitement of the idea of family. And Leia was safe.

Now if he could only keep her that way.

To Be Continued….

Omg! This chapter was soooooo much fun to do! Especially the Vader Palpatine stuff. Wow. I loved this chapter. But all this updating is not helping my goal of finishing in February. Oh well.

You know, if any artistically talented people out there wanted to make me fanart, I'd be okay with that. I really would. And there's my shameless plug for the evening.

Stephanie C: Oh, really? Good I'd hate for it to get boring.

madame naberrie: That's okay, you don't have to log on. I'm glad you liked it, I'm trying to work on the new Luke Leia dynamics. Because they're going to have to change at least a little.