Chapter 2 - Planning

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who has favorited, followed, or reviewed! I love hearing your thoughts. :) As a final note, the next chapter will be out in two weeks. :P

~ Amina Gila


Luke steps back into the Ewok chief's hut to see the celebrations still going on, as they were when he'd left. "Leia?" he calls quietly as he approaches her.

"Yes?" she answers, looking up.

"I need to talk to you," Luke continues nervously.

"Of course," she replies, rising to her feet and carefully moving around the Ewoks surrounding her.

They step out into the dark night, the sounds of the forest filtering in on them. The Death Star shines brightly in the darkened sky, as if it itself was a moon.

"What is it?" she inquires anxiously, pulling him from his distracted musings.

He needs to tell her what he's planning to do, but first she needs to know who she is, that they're twins. He doesn't know for sure if he's going to come back from this, and he'd rather die with the peace of knowing that Leia is aware of her true heritage. Just how to start? "Leia, do you remember your parents? Your real ones?"

"I remember my mother a little bit," she murmurs quietly, "She died when I was very young."

"What do you remember?" he asks.

"Just… images, really," she replies thoughtfully. "Feelings."

"Tell me," Luke urges.

Leia sighs, giving him a sideways glance as she looks down. "She was very beautiful. Kind… but sad." Her gaze locks with his as she raises her head, her silky hair tumbling over her shoulders as the movement rustles it. "Why are you asking me all this?"

Now it's Luke's turn to avert his gaze. "I… have no memory of my mother. I never knew her."

She tilts her head, gaze searching him. "Luke, tell me. What's troubling you?"

He takes a sharp breath. "Vader is here. Now, on this moon."

Leia's eyes widen in alarm. "How do you know?"

"I have felt his presence. He can feel when I'm near, and I'm sure the Emperor has heard word of it. That's why I have to go. As long as I stay, I'm endangering the group and our mission here." He pauses for a moment, sighing quietly. There's no way he can tell her the entire reason he needs to go, namely to save Vader's life, but at least he can tell her most of the truth.

"I have to face them," he adds solemnly.

"But why?" Leia protests, confused, "When we blow up the Death Star, both of them will die anyway."

"I… I have to go, Leia," Luke insists, finally deciding to drop the bombshell. "Vader is my father. "

She gawks at him in shock for a speechless moment. "Your father?"

He nods. "There's more. It won't be easy for you to hear it, but you must. If I don't make it back, you're the only hope for the Alliance." He's not going to deny that what he's doing is extremely dangerous, and there is a high chance he — and Vader — won't get out alive, which is exactly why he has to go. At least with both of them there, maybe there's a chance that they'll survive.

Leia shakes her head, taking a step back. "Luke, don't talk that way. You have a power I - I don't understand and could never have."

"You're wrong, Leia. You have the power too. In time you'll learn to use it as I have. The Force is strong in my family. My father has it. I have it. And… my sister has it."

Leia stares at him for a long while.

"Yes, it's you Leia," he states.

She looks away for a moment before nodding slowly. "I know. Somehow…. I've always known."

"Then you know why I must go," Luke asserts. Well, she doesn't exactly understand, but it's close to whatever truth he can salvage enough to tell her.

"No!" Leia almost snaps, "Luke, run away, far away. If they can feel your presence, then leave this place. I wish I could go with you."

"No you don't," he insists, "You've always been strong."

"But… why must you confront them?" she demands, confusion evident in her tone.

"Because… " Luke begins, "There's still good in Vader. I've felt it. I can save him. I can turn him back to the good side. I have to try." He hesitates. "And I had… a vision. There was… bad things happening in the future. The only way to change anything is if I go to confront the Emperor."

"If… if you're sure," Leia replies softly, reaching out and pulling him into a hug. He swallows tightly, sadness threatening to overwhelm him. This could be the last time he sees her. He's simply glad that it's under truthful circumstances.

After a long moment, he finally lets go. Turning, he walks away down the path leading out of the village, into the darkness of the night. The one thing he knows for certain is that this will be a very long night.

**w**

Despite what Vader said, Luke is certain that he's wrong. They must confront Sidious now, without delay. The stormtroopers roughly push Luke through an exit and into the Imperial base on Endor, his hands cuffed in front of him. He's not afraid, not of how Vader will react anyways. He only fears what may happen when they confront the Emperor.

He feels his father approaching, presence a maelstrom of darkness, tinged with anger and — and is that fear? This isn't going to be a pleasant meeting, not when he openly defied Vader's demands, but he doesn't have time for regrets. As Luke is led deeper into the facility, the door in front of them slides open, and Vader steps through. The sound of his respirator echoes off the walls, seeming louder than normal.

"My Lord," the commander steps forward. "This is a Rebel that surrendered to us. Although he denies it, I believe there may be more of them, and I request permission to conduct a further search of the area." Vader doesn't answer, so he hastily continues. "He was armed only with this." He holds out Luke's lightsaber.

Only Luke can feel the barely contained anger in the Dark Lord, but he doesn't even flinch. Everything is going to be alright. It has to be. He keeps repeating that, though he's not certain how much he believes it anymore. "Good work, Commander," Vader finally rumbles, taking the lightsaber from the other man. "Leave us to conduct your search."

"Yes, my Lord," the commander replies, practically scrambling away along with the stormtroopers. Maybe they can actually sense Vader's bad mood after all.

The second the door slides closed leaving them alone, Vader rounds on Luke. "I distinctly remember telling you not to come," he hisses.

"I never agreed not to come," Luke says in defence. If his wrists weren't cuffed, he'd cross his arms. There's a pause, and Vader doesn't speak. "We might as well figure out what we're going to do," he continues slowly, looking at the impenetrable mask, "Because you can hardly send me back to my friends."

"I can imprison you aboard my Star Destroyer," Vader counters darkly.

Luke pauses. "And take the risk that the Emperor leaves the Death Star?" he queries, raising an eyebrow. "It worked out in the vision we saw. Why can't we just attack him together?"

"We already discussed this," Vader huffs. "I am not going to put you in danger."

"Father, we have the perfect opportunity now," Luke argues. "I know how to fight much better than I did during our duel on Bespin."

Instead of answering, his father turns the lightsaber hilt over in his hand. "I noticed you had constructed a new lightsaber," he comments, igniting it and observing the humming green blade before extinguishing it again. "Indeed, you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen."

"If I'm so powerful, then our combined strength should be enough to destroy the Emperor," Luke coaxes. He's not used to dealing with stubborn individuals, but Vader is definitely an exception. Unless luck is on his side, Luke is certain he'll never be able to change Vader's mind. Well, the least he can do is try.

"It is too big a risk right now," Vader insists. "You are not yet ready."

Luke frowns. "What happened to it being my destiny to destroy him?" he mumbles, remembering what his father had told him on Bespin. Vader, probably wisely, chooses to ignore the comment.

"If you take me to the Death Star, we can attack him together," Luke points out, mulling over their options. "You can pretend that I'm a prisoner, and I won't listen to anything he says," he wheedles as Vader continues to remain silent. "You fought the Sith as Anakin Skywalker, didn't you?" He hesitates as the temperature in the room seems to drop. His father clearly doesn't like being reminded of his past.

"That name no longer has any meaning to me," Vader intones, darkly.

Luke snorts. "If you're not Anakin, then how can I be your son?" It's a rhetorical question, so he doesn't expect a direct answer.

There's another pause, this one longer than before, and the respirator cycles four times before Vader speaks again. "It will be extremely dangerous," he warns, obviously opting to ignore Luke's prior statement. Again. "Sidious may suspect our plan before we have a chance to put it into motion."

Luke raises his chin, trying to project an aura of calm and determination which he doesn't truly feel. "That's a risk we'll have to take."

The noise that escapes the vocoder sounds like a sigh. "If we embark on this course of action, then you must know that Sidious is extremely powerful with the Force," Vader cautions. "He prefers using Force lightning over lightsaber combat, but if we do face him in a duel, we must be prudent to avoid serious harm."

"Force lightning?" Luke questions, uneasily. "I didn't know that was possible."

"There is much which you do not know," his father answers gravely. "This is why I am reluctant to take you with me to confront the Emperor. You are much stronger than he, though your training is sorely lacking."

Luke knows he could easily end up injured or dead if he goes, but he doesn't have a choice. He knows somehow that if they don't use this opportunity, they may not get another until it is too late. "It'll be easier here, Father, when the Emperor is away from the Imperial Center. You know I'm right."

"Yes," Vader admits reluctantly, "But I fear I will yet regret this." The respirator cycles once before he continues. "You can deflect Force lightning with your lightsaber or your hands with proper training. We do not have enough time for me to teach you the technique, but I can do it."

"Doesn't seem too hard," mumbles Luke tentatively, watching as Vader clips Luke's lightsaber to his belt next to his own.

"Your opinion will change when the Emperor shows you the true power of the Dark Side." The reply is far from encouraging, but at least Vader is willing to go along with the plan, however difficult it may be. Honestly, Luke wasn't certain that he'd be able to convince his father that they don't have a choice. Maybe deep down Vader agreed, but his desire to keep Luke safe overruled that knowledge.

"Come. If we will attempt to destroy Sidious, then we must hurry," Vader instructs, motioning for Luke to follow him. The Sith's back cape swirls as he turns and strides down the hall. Luke trails him at a quick pace so as to keep up with his father. Vader doesn't speak aloud, though he touches Luke reassuringly through their bond. "You're going to be alright," he says, sounding more like Anakin than he does Vader.

"Don't die," Luke begs silently. "I don't want to lose you."

"And I do not wish to leave you either, but it may not be a choice I will be able to make," his father answers. "If it comes to choosing between me and you, I will not hesitate to sacrifice myself for you."

Yes. Luke knows that, but that doesn't make the thought of losing his father hurt any less. He continues following Vader, offering up a silent prayer to the Force maybe, that both of them survive the encounter.