Lord Vader sat across the briefing table with Ascaron, Luke and Mara Jade. The table was very quiet as both sides were hesitant to speak as they had been on opposite sides of this conflict for so many years. Lord Vader excused himself as he received an urgent call on his commlink. The Red Guard was arriving on the Executor.

"Lady Mothma and distinguished Rebellion Commanders, I must excuse myself as I have to see to my daughter's needs."

"You think we are just going to allow you to walk out of here Lord Vader? You are up to something everyone here knows it. Once you have used us for your dark maniacal purposes you will destroy us." Leia Organa hotly protested.

"Well, milady, if you do not believe me, you are more than welcome to join me."

"If you think I'm going anywhere with you alone, then you have lost it."

Lord Vader thought for a moment, "Then bring that smuggler Han Solo and his friend Chewbacca. Luke and Mara will remain here if that makes you feel any better."

"I don't trust you."

"I haven't given you any reason to trust me, Princess Leia. Your passion and your anger are completely justified, in fact you remind me of a lady I knew long ago."

xXx

Anne awoke in a medical bay she was laying on her side with a soft feather pillow tucked under her head. "Good morning, how are you feeling?" Lord Vader's private physician Dr. Kelvin asked.

"Where am I?" Anne telepathically asked.

"You are on board the Executor. Your father has been worried about you."

"I don't have a father, I'm a slave to the Emperor, and he's going to beat me again, when he finds that I escaped. Please send me back so that way he won't know I'm gone and if does find out maybe he'll be forgiving."

Dr. Kelvin didn't say anything more and instead watched as she tried to leap from bed. "I can't be here, please let me go. I'm not allowed to sleep on a bed or have a pillow. He'll beat me if he finds that I've been treated like royalty. I don't want another beating, its bad enough he makes me go without meals. Please, please." Anne sent a strong plea through the Force that Lord Vader felt the desperation of not wanting to displease her Emperor she was absolutely terrified of him. Princess Leia watched as the Dark Lord paled and ordered his pilot to hurry.

"I'm going as fast as I can, Lord Vader." The young ensign was lifted out of the pilot's chair and watched as Lord Vader pushed the throttle as far as it would go and immediately docked in his private hanger bay. Everyone on board gave Lord Vader wide berth as he exited the ship and literally ran using the Force to enhance his speed. Anne was sitting on the bed sobbing.

"Where did his Lordship go? Are we supposed to wait around for him?" Han Solo asked as they left the shuttle. "Come with me and I will escort you to the medical bay." Admiral Piett offered.

Lord Vader entered the medical bay and as Anne continued to beg and plead.

"Lord Vader, she has no memory of you she doesn't even know her name her identity has been seemingly erased. She only remembers being a slave and the multiple beatings. She doesn't even feel worthy to be treated humanely."

Lord Vader nodded his head and entered his private hospital room. Anne was terrified. She didn't remember anything. Except one thing had been left a fake memory of also having to be subservient to not only the Emperor but to Lord Vader as well. Darth Sidious knew that it would crush Anakin's spirit to have his own daughter afraid of him. "Milord." Anne immediately leapt from the bed and prostrated herself to him.

"Rise."

Anne knelt but kept her head lowered not daring to look into his eyes.

Lord Vader would have to start all over again; he would have to regain her trust and her love. She had no memory of who she was or all that he had taught her.

"What's your name?" Lord Vader questioned.

"I have no name, milord."

"Everyone has a name, tell me young one."

Anne cried, "I have no identity, milord. I live only to serve and to get my daily beatings. I try to be pleasing; I'll go without my meals."

Anne struggled as Lord Vader picked her up and gently holding her and looking into her sunken blue eyes. "You need not be afraid, young one; he will not hurt you again."

"He's good to me; sometimes he lets me eat his scraps."

"Dr. Kelvin, may I take her to my quarters?"

"Yes, it is safe to do so, but don't let her walk the long distance, she still needs to regain her strength."

Han Solo, Princess Leia and Chewbacca was mesmerized as they watch theirenemy treat this young girl with such tenderness and even Leia could feel the love he had for this young girl, she wasn't sure how or why, but she felt the strong emotions emanating from Lord Vader.

Anne cried as Lord Vader carried her he could feel her intense fear the bond that they once shared was a wasteland of emotional debris, she really didn't remember who she was and all that she had accomplished. Admiral Piett asked Lord Vader if the visitors could follow him to his quarters.

"Yes, Admiral Piett if they wish."

Han Solo cocked his eyebrow at Princess Leia, "Yes Han I know you are just dying to find out how Lord Vader lives, and we will go so you can see how dark and depressing it really is."

Lord Vader sat in his favorite recliner while still holding Anne on his lap. Han, Princess Leia and Chewbacca were amazed. The sitting room was richly appointed but simplistic. There was rare Alderaan crystal glasses with a matching decanter filled with rare Corellian Whisky. "Go ahead, Han, pour yourself a glass." Lord Vader offered when he saw Han looking hungrily at the Whisky.

"He is still on duty." Princess Leia angrily stated.

"Since when did that ever stop me, your highness?" Han scoffed as he poured himself a small glass.

"Do you want one too?"

"No. Maybe later, Admiral Piett would you go ahead and order a meal for us? I have my hands full currently."

"I make you a meal, milord." Anne jumped down and ran to the kitchen. Lord Vader followed her.

"She doesn't say much, does she?" Han Solo remarked.

"The Emperor crushed her larynx she can only communicate through telepathy." Lord Vader informed him.

Princess Leia gasped, "That's awful."

Anne was found kneeling on the floor; the scene would have been comical if Anne didn't feel like she was going to pay a steep price for her incompetence. Apparently she had attempted to pull down the flour from the shelf and the bag burst leaving her with a ghostly appearance.

"I'm sorry, milord. Please don't beat me too hard. I go without dinner." Anne immediately prostrated to Lord Vader's boots.

Anne felt herself being lifted to her feet, Lord Vader smiled at the flour covered girl, and she looked exactly like a ghost. Strange sounds were heard echoing from the kitchen, it sounded like laughter. Both Han and Leia ran to the kitchen and saw flour scattered on the floor a young girl and a Dark Lord of the Sith having a flour fight. Leia and Han looked at each other quizzically "What's this?"

Anne scooped up some flour and smashed it on Lord Vader's head. He laughed and it was highly contagious. Leia and Han Solo started laughing as well and joined in on the flour fight. When Admiral Piett entered the kitchen he saw two rebellion leaders rolling on the floor with his boss Lord Vader and young Anne. This wasn't something that he was used to seeing and he didn't think he would ever get over the shock of this event for the rest of his life.

"Milord, dinner is served. But you might want to clean up first."

"Thank you Admiral Piett. Send us some cleaning droids to clean this up, okay?"

"Yes, milord."

Leia was amazed being helped up by this very strange Dark Lord.

"Princess Leia, would you mind helping Anne getting a bath?"

"No I don't mind." Princess Leia offered her hand to the young girl who accepted it willingly.

Anne lowered herself in the warm water and she began to cry.

"Anne, honey, what's wrong?" Leia gently brushed away her tears.

"I ain't worthy; when the Emperor finds me he's going to beat me."

"I'm sure Lord Vader won't let anything happen to you sweetie. Its strange but he loves you."

"I don't know why, what makes me so special, Princess Leia? I'm just a stupid slave, I don't deserve this."

"Obviously, Lord Vader doesn't believe that. He is a man of deep convictions if he felt you were unworthy then he wouldn't care about you or love you."

Anne felt better by Princess Leia's words and when she finished her bath a large fluffy towel was wrapped around her scrawny form. Princess Leia quickly showered and found Anne sitting on the stool near the vanity.

Fresh clothes were provided for both ladies. Leia combed and braided Anne's hair into a single plait. Han Solo was dressed in a silk white shirt with black dress slacks he looked highly annoyed.

"General?"

"Don't you start Princess! It was his idea!"

"You look very handsome, nerf-herder." Princess Leia laughed.

Lord Vader was wearing a black silk shirt with matching slacks and he was sipping on a glass of red wine. His long blonde locks were nearly down to his shoulders. "I've been trying for years to get him to dress civilly, how did you manage it, Lord Vader?"

"Solo is a very tough nut to crack, Princess. But with a little aggressive negotiation he relented."

"You call those aggressive negotiations, forcing me to wear these snobby clothes at the end of a lightsaber? That was completely unfair!"

"Oh quit your whining, Solo. You've always been a sore loser."

"Sore loser, I don't believe you!" Han Solo glared at the Dark Lord.

"You want to get into a glaring contest with me?" Lord Vader's eyes shifted to a yellow with red highlights.

"Ah, no, on second thought let's just eat." Han Solo watched incredulously as Lord Vader's eyes shifted back to dark blue as he laughed.

Anne ate everything on her plate she was famished, she burped loudly and the whole table looked at her.

"I'm sorry."

"Good one kid." Han Solo laughed.

Anne smiled shyly.

After dinner, Princess Leia escorted her to her bedroom to get her ready for bed. A long flannel nightgown was pulled over her head and slippers were placed on her feet. Anne crawled into Lord Vader's lap and was afraid to leave him.

"You never cease to amaze me Lord Vader, what has happened since the Death Star?"

"Anne came into my life; she's my daughter and highly attuned to the Force. She has the ability to deeply heal people that she loves."

"She healed you?" Han Solo wasn't fully aware of Lord Vader's infirmities.

"I did not wear that suit for fun, Solo. It was my lift support. I lost my ability to breathe the day I had a duel with my former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I was trying to save my wife from certain death. It wasn't until nearly nineteen years later had that I learned that she gave birth to my son before passing. The Emperor has taken everything from me, my wife, my son, my humanity and most of all he nearly possessed my soul. He is even taken Anne a second time as she has no clear memory of our training or of our time together. It will take a great feat of the Force to undo all the damage that has been done."

xXx

Emperor Palpatine slowly walked down the plank from his private ship as Moff Jerjerrod knelt to his superior. "I would have much rather deal with Lord Vader then our Emperor." Moff Jerjerrod thought to himself. He soon found himself being flung far away from the Emperor and hit his head.

"Lord Vader has betrayed me! He is your enemy! If any of you dare to bring up his name again you will pay. Get this weapon operational or else I will kill every single last one of you!" Emperor angrily stated allowing his insanity to creep into his mind. Moff Jerjerrod was stunned at this revelation so were the rumors true? Moff Jerjerrod contacted Admiral Piett and informed him of the Emperor's presence. It was decided at that point that the entire Imperial Fleet would leave the Empire and join Lord Vader. They rather deal with an angry, overly strict leader than an evil, twisted, insane ruler. Darth Sidious watched as the entire Imperial fleet blasted off in hyperspace leaving him and the Death Star completely vulnerable. Lord Vader was always the stabilizing factor in the Empire; many believed that he alone held the power to hold it together. Especially since the Emperor had been isolated and was rarely seen and rumored to be completely insane and irrational. One always knew where you stood with Lord Vader and though he didn't tolerate any incompetence and punished those severely who dared to challenge him at least he was stable.

Author's Note: Thank you all my reviewers I'm glad you are continuing to enjoy this story. As always I do not own Star Wars or any of the characters therein.—Darth Gladiator45