Chapter Six - Purpose
"I am your Father."
Luke was frozen with horror, his legs rooted by no unseen force, but his own inability to move. Vader's spoken words kept repeating in his mind and instantly he denied this inconceivable claim.
"No…No. It's not true. That's impossible!"
Vader took a step into the hanger bay not taking his masked gaze from Luke. "Search your feelings, you know it to be true." The dark voice in his head was neither taunting nor showing any signs of deceit, and Luke wanted to keep denying this impossible claim, but he could somehow feel that the dark Lord was not lying to him. Putting that together with the way he had reacted when Luke had revealed his name and Vader releasing him from his grip and appearing to go into a state of shock. Then releasing him from the chair restraints claiming he would not allow him to die.
It all clicked into place and Luke felt his whole universe collapse. "NOOOOO! No!" His knees gave out and he clutched at a crate next to him on the floor dropping the blaster. Feeling tears of sadness and anger creep into his eyes he was about to give into his internal pain when Vader spoke once again in his mind.
"Luke! You can destroy the Emperor. At my side we will both destroy him and take control. Side by side we can rule together as father and son." He held out his gloved hand and Luke could feel the temptation to take it. It was swimming in his head along with his other conflicted thoughts.
He could not believe what Vader was imploring him to do. Along with the impossibility of this parental connection Vader was claiming. Was it even possible for him to have a son? Obi-Wan had claimed that Darth Vader had killed Anakin Skywalker and yet Vader himself claimed that he was his father. Plus Luke could feel no deceit in it. He was so confused that he couldn't think straight or make sense of anything.
Looking round towards the Falcon he caught sight of Princess Leia who appeared at the foot of the ramp. "Luke! Come on! Hurry!" she shouted holding her hand out to him just as Vader was.
Luke pushed himself to his feet and he glanced back at Vader who still had his hand extended out.
"Come with me!" He urged, the dark lord's voice no longer speaking inside his head. He took another step forward. "It is the only way to end this."
Without another thought, Luke bolted for the Falcon's ramp, amazed how quickly his strength had returned to his legs.
"LUKE!" Vader's voice roared from behind him and Luke turned to see him striding forward. And at the same, second a reinforcement of Stormtroopers had arrived in the hanger bay with their weapons raised.
He reached the Falcon's ramp and took Leia's outstretched hand. She ran with him up the ramp and into the ship just as the troopers opened fire on the ship.
"Now! Go!" Leia cried as the ramp rose back up and the ship accelerated away.
Luke kept his eyes on the floor the whole time as the Princess led him through the ship and helped sit him down in the seat by the holographic game board. He rested his arms on the surface and caught a glimpse of his droids who were watching him with what Luke could easily guess was concern.
"Are you alright, Master Luke?" Threepio asked. Luke shook his head slowly and looked down at the board, his mind replaying Vader's words in his head.
I am your Father.
He felt something soft being wrapped round his shoulders and turned to see that it was his poncho wrap and that Leia had seated herself beside him.
"What did he do to you?" She asked.
Luke looked down again. He couldn't possibly tell her the full truth. What would she think of him? Would she presume him to be in with Vader? Or even the Empire? Would she even believe him? But in that short time, Luke could feel that he was beginning to believe that what Vader told him was indeed correct. But what would everyone think? It was all unknown.
So he gave her a partial truth which was not a lie. "He forced me to tell him who I was. And when he found out…he tried to convince me to…join him just now."
"Did you tell him your name was Skywalker?" Leia asked and Luke nodded slowly. "I heard stories about the Jedi Anakin Skywalker who fought with General Kenobi in the Clone Wars. If you're the son of a Jedi, I can only imagine what Vader would have done to you. you're lucky to even be alive."
He closed his eyes. If only you knew.
Leia put her arm round him. "Your father was Anakin Skywalker, right?"
Panic spiked inside him but once again he spoke something which was neither truth nor lie. "I grew up with my aunt and uncle on Tatooine. Ben Kenobi told me earlier today that my father was a Jedi Knight and that he was killed." That was Obi-Wan's claim but what about Vader's?
"I'm sorry, Luke," she said gently and rubbed his shoulder.
"I never knew my parents growing up. Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru were all I had and the Empire destroyed them, my home and everything I ever knew."
Leia squeezed his shoulder. "They did the same to me too, Luke."
He turned to face her. "Alderaan, your entire planet destroyed. How can you live with that? How can you go on?"
She looked straight into his eyes. "You find a purpose to justify the sacrifice. Mine is to stop Vader, Tarkin and the Empire. We've lost so much Luke, but that doesn't mean we can't keep fighting."
Her words filled him with a new light of confidence. She was right, father or no father he wouldn't just sit back miserably while others suffered. No, he would find himself a new purpose. And that purpose was to save the galaxy from the evil of the Empire and fight for its freedom and peace.
Taking a deep breath he said, "You're right, I will find myself a new purpose and that purpose is to fight with you and the Rebellion for the galaxy's freedom."
Leia leaned forward and wrapped Luke in a hug which was the biggest comfort he could have asked for. He held her close and gave the droids and small smile. Threepio sat up straighter in his seat and Artoo let out a cheerful whistle.
Han came hurrying into the room and they both turned to face him. "Come on buddy, we're not out of this yet. I need you to man the belly guns while I take the tower. And you can assist Chewie in the cockpit, your Highness."
Luke jumped to his feet and followed Solo to the ladder. He knew the Princess was right. Despite having lost so much and the revelation he had been told, he would not just give up his faith and hope. He would join the Rebels and fight back for what the Empire had taken.
Author's Notes
Hello There my readers. I know there has been a bit of a break with this fanfic but ever since Lockdown I have been and still am doing another new fanfic "Path Of The Heart" which I'm sure some of you must have seen. But just the other day I decided to try and start the next chapter to this and I did get a good start and then yesterday I managed to complete it. When the next chapter will come, I don't know yet so enjoy and keep following and sending me your reviews.
Thank you Carrie2sky for your kind Beta Reading!
May The Force Be With You!
LouisaJane007
