Days pass by, with only the tedium of the day to day running of a star destroyer to pass the time. Below us on the forest moon there is a constant stream of shuttles bringing work crews and soldiers. I envy them having something to do, something useful to occupy them with. As I watch the moon below, I am tempted to go down to the moon myself to inspect the situation, when suddenly I am struck by something...a tremor in the Force. I walk over to the monitoring station where Piett is standing behind a technician. A shuttle is waiting for clearance- and I am certain that Luke is on it.

"Where is that shuttle going?" I ask.

Piett leans forward and activates the comm switch. "Shuttle Tyderrian, what is your cargo and destination?"

A disembodied voice responds at once. "Parts and technical crew for the forest moon."

I consider this for a moment. "Do they have a code clearance?" I ask suspiciously.

Piett looks up at me and nods. "It's an older code sir, but it checks out. I was about to clear them."

I look up, out at the shuttle, my son's presence clear to me as a bright Tatooine sun. He is here…and he knows that I am close...

"Shall I hold them?" asks Piett.

I turn back to him. "No," I reply at last. "Leave them to me. I will deal with them myself."

"As you wish, milord," he answers. "Carry on," he instructs the technician.

I return to my vantage point and watch as the shuttle makes is approach to the moon, and then disappears into the foliage below. Then I turn and leave the bridge.

I feel it necessary to tell Sidious what has transpired, though I am quite certain he already knows. He is mistrustful of me since he learned of the existence of my son, and I cannot give him any reason to suspect me of any duplicity. Reporting my son's presence will hopefully throw him off the scent, and make me look like the dutiful apprentice he believes me to be.

I return to the Death Star, excited and yet apprehensive to deliver this news. I enter the throne room. Sidious is alone, for a change, with his back to me as he sits in his throne, surveying the scene outside his large window.

"I told you to remain on the command ship," I hear him say, his voice edged with anger.

"A small rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor," I tell him.

He slowly swings his chair around to face me. "Yes, I know," he replies confidently.

"My son is with them," I add, enjoying the reaction I sense in him. He didn't know!

"Are you sure?" he asks, his yellow eyes narrowing suspiciously.

I cannot help but allow myself a brief moment of triumphant pride. "I have felt him, my master."

Sidious is not pleased with my answer. "Strange that I have not," he replies icily. He leans forward in his chair. "I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader."

"They are clear, my master," I reply at once, reproaching myself for the brief moment of egotism.

"Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for him," is his reply.

Time to boost the old man's ego… "He will come to me?" I ask, managing to sound sufficiently incredulous.

Sidious is pleased, and sits back in his throne. "I have foreseen it," he replies calmly. "His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will come to you, and then you will bring him before me."

"As you wish," I reply, bowing before him.

Sidious turns back to the window, dismissing me. I leave his presence, my heart full of anticipation as I go to meet my son.

Night has fallen on the forest moon as my shuttle lands. The platform seems out of place amid the verdant splendor that surrounds it, and it makes me feel that we have no business here, desecrating the native beauty of this moon. Yet, the Empire has its needs; who am I to question them?

I enter the glass walkway, leaving the troopers behind to wait in the lift. As I approach the end of the short corridor, the doors at the opposite end slide open, revealing a small band of soldiers, an officer whom I don't recognize, and my son.

My son…he it dressed in black, as befits a Jedi Knight. He looks at me calmly, examining me inside and out. This is not the same brash youth I met on Bespin; he has matured in the months since we've seen one another. And what is more, I sense in him an acceptance of me. He doesn't hate me...I realize to my own astonishment, and it confuses me. I look away from Luke as the officer addresses me.

"This is the rebel that surrendered to us," he informs me. "Although he denies it, I believe there may be more of them, and request permission to conduct a further search of the area. He was armed only with this," he concludes, handing me a lightsaber.

I take the weapon from him. "Good work, Commander," I commend him. "Leave us. Conduct your search and bring his companions to me."

I sense the surprise in Luke at my words. He is taken off guard, not knowing what to expect from me perhaps. Nor I you, my son…

Alone now, we start to walk down the corridor, side by side. We are silent for a few moments, neither one quite knowing what to say, both of us trying to feel the other out. I speak first.

"The emperor has been expecting you," I tell him, watching him for a reaction.

"I know, Father," he replies calmly. Father…

"So, you have accepted the truth?" I reply simply.

"I have accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father."

Anakin Skywalker! My mind explodes; images and memories too painful to speak of are conjured up in my brain and the mere mention of that name…

"That name," I retort angrily, pointing at my son with his own weapon, "no longer has any meaning for me!"

Luke remains nonplussed by my outburst. He stares at me, his eyes, so much like my own eyes, burning into my very soul. "It is the name of your true self, you've only forgotten!" he declares passionately. "I know there is good in you! The emperor hasn't driven it from you fully." He turns away from me now, leaning on the railing and gazing out into the night. "That was why you couldn't destroy me. That is why you won't bring me to your emperor now."

His words have made me uncomfortable, and I don't know how to respond to them. How is it that he sees something in me that no one else has in 20 years? I am anxious now to change the subject, and look down at the lightsaber in my hand, admiring its craftsmanship.

"I see you have constructed a new lightsaber," I say, igniting it. I examine the grip, impressed by my son's skill. "Your skills are complete," I tell him. I turn off the weapon, and turn away from him, suddenly disturbed by what all of this means. "Indeed, you are powerful, as the emperor has foreseen."

Luke is silent for a moment, and then he speaks, his words reaching out to me. "Come with me," he says simply. Though I stand with my back to him, I can feel his eyes boring into me, pleading with me.

I am silent, the conflicting emotions within me growing. This is not what I expected, this is not who I expected.

"Obi-Wan once thought as you do," I tell him, remembering a time before my former master turned on me…. I turn around to face him, to add emphasis to my words. "You don't know the power of the Dark Side. I must obey my master!"

Luke's demeanor doesn't change, and he stares at me steadfastly, almost as though he can see into my very soul. "I will not turn," he replies calmly. "Then you'll be forced to kill me."

"If that is your destiny," I reply, matching his calmness.

I sense the desperation in him now, his need to reach me somehow. "Search your feelings, Father!" he implores. "You can't do this! I feel the conflict within you, let go of your hate!"

I sigh, saddened by his words. If only it were so easy…

"It is too late for me, son," I tell him. This conversation has become too personal; he is touching nerves that I thought were l long dead. Time to end this, now. I signal for the troopers to come and take him away, unsure how much longer I can hide my emotions from him. "The emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He is your master now."

Luke nods, considering my words. "Then my father is truly dead," he replies, his blue eyes full of emotion, his heart heavy.

I watch him as he is taken away, his words like a knife in my heart. Perhaps he is at that, Luke…