Chapter 4 - Safety

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


Vader moves far faster than Luke had thought him capable, especially with a life-support suit weighing him down. There's no way it isn't ridiculously heavy, but not only does his father keep up with Luke's brisk pace, he's actually moving faster than him. He's totally using the Force, something which Luke would find intriguing sometime when they're not about to be blown up.

Luke spies a shuttle in the hanger ahead of them, and Vader strides up the ramp, sliding into the pilot's seat before Luke even has a chance to close the ramp. All around them, the Force is humming with tension, silently screaming at them to hurry, or it'll be too late.

The engines respond to Vader's command far more acutely than they ever have to Luke, and all he can do is watch with no small amount of awe as the shuttle flies away from the Death Star so fast that Luke can't even keep track of their surroundings. He feels the massive explosion behind them, the shockwave hurling the shuttle even further away, though it doesn't go off course because of Vader's steadying hand. In this, at least, Ben was right. Anakin Skywalker was an excellent pilot, and Luke doesn't think he could ever compete with him.

Neither of them speak as Vader guides the shuttle down to the moon where the rest of the Rebels are waiting, landing in a small clearing. Luke exhales slowly, exhaustion creeping up on him. The battle against Sidious was strenuous to say the least, and all he wants to do now is rest. He doesn't want to leave his father, but he knows that it's inevitable. The longer he takes to rejoin the others, the more likely it will be that they'll come looking for him.

"I cannot join your friends, my son," Vader speaks finally, helmet turning to regard Luke with something akin to regret. "You know they will seek vengeance over anything else. They will not care that I helped you."

He wants to protest the words so badly, but he knows that they're true. "I know," Luke mumbles glumly, rising from his seat. "I'll have to assure them that I'm safe… but, what will we do now?"

The respirator cycles in the ensuing silence, before Vader slowly stands, guiding Luke towards the main hold of the shuttle. "That is something we shall have to discuss," the Sith – former Sith? – concedes as the ramp lowers.

Luke inhales the fresh air eagerly, feeling a pang of wistfulness at the realization that his father cannot breathe on his own. Maybe that's something which can be fixed. Granted, Luke doesn't know much about organ replacements, but at least they can look into it. He'll mention it later, once they finish their discussion about the future. He'd been so focused on saving his father that he hadn't even considered what would happen next.

Of course, Vader can't stay with the Rebels. They'd probably kill him, never willing to acknowledge the risks he took to protect Luke. They probably wouldn't even care. For all Luke knows, his friends – except Han and Chewie – might shun him when they learn the truth of his parentage.

"I should return to Coruscant," Vader continues finally, watching as Luke sits down on the bottom of the ramp and stares into the darkness of the forest beyond. "The Emperor's death will create a power vacuum, which I can fill. No one will question my authority, and it will be easy for me to bring an end to the conflict which has consumed the galaxy since long before your birth."

It's the first time Vader has referenced the Clone Wars, and Luke perks up with interest before the words sink in. Leaving. His father will be leaving. Obviously. He should have realized it before. "I don't want you to go," he replies, the words sounding too much like a whine for his liking.

"Then you can come with me," his father answers, lowering himself next to Luke.

"And end the Empire?" Luke prompts. "Restore democracy?"

The noise which escapes the vocoder sounds suspiciously like a chuckle. "I am not a politician," Vader admits candidly. "I would not be able to rule the Empire and attend meetings without killing all the beauracrates. That was something I hoped you could do."

Luke gasps in horror. "I'm not a politician either!" he cries, "And saddling me with ruling over corrupt officials is cruel!" In the pause, he feels his father's amusement and smirks. "I think that would be a job you should save for Leia," he decides. "She would be happy to become Empress if she could convert the Empire back into a Republic."

"Leia?" Vader echoes, and there's a strange inflection on the name. "Is – is that your sister?"

Right. He'd almost forgotten that Vader doesn't know who she is. He nods, subdued, thinking about his twin. She hates Vader with a passion, and Luke knows how much that will hurt their father. "Yes, she is."

For a moment, Vader's breathing seems to hitch, and he doesn't move, helmet tilted towards the trees beyond them. "I should have seen it," Vader says at last. "She is the image of your mother, but I didn't realize…" Luke can feel the guilt and grief swelling, and his father doesn't hold them back. The nearby bushes sway as a shockwave echoes through the Force. "I believed you both dead," Vader hisses. "I had no reason to believe she was my child."

Luke remains silent. He doesn't know what to say. There's nothing he can say which would have any meaning and offering meaningless platitudes won't help. Maybe remaining silent is best. He can't promise that Leia will forgive Vader. All he can do is promise that he will never stop loving his father. He reaches out to Vader through the Force, letting him feel his love and support as he slowly shifts closer and presses himself against his father's side.

He feels a returning flare of protectiveness and fierce affection as Vader hesitantly wraps an arm around Luke, keeping him in place. He shifts sideways, winding his arms around his father, careful to avoid the control panel for his life-support suit. If they could stay like this, he would be truly at peace. He doesn't want this moment to end; he wishes it could last forever, but they have an Empire to destroy… just not yet. It can wait for at least one more day. Luke lets his eyes fall closed, savoring the feeling of being able to hug his father without anything keeping them apart.

Minutes pass, or maybe it's hours, Luke doesn't know or care. This is something they both desperately need, and he's unwilling to be the first to pull away. A branch snaps in the distance, followed by several more shortly thereafter. Luke stiffens, tilting his head to be able to better see into the trees in front of them, despite Vader sitting next to them.

"I believe your friends are looking for you," his father declares simply, though something in the sentence indicates something else.

Luke reaches out, pausing when he senses Leia. Of course, his twin would come looking for him; she's probably the only one who could actually find him. The realization that she's here makes him freeze. It's not that he doesn't want to see her – he definitely does – but he's not ready to explain the circumstances of Vader's presence. Apparently, he no longer has a choice.

Just as a familiar figure steps into the clearing holding a flashlight, Vader pulls away, holding himself stiff and straight, though he doesn't rise. Luke leans forward, watching as Leia approaches, Han and Chewie right behind her.

"Luke?" she asks cautiously, before freezing dead in her tracks, staring at the pair in shock. "W-what?!"

Chewbacca growls. "Kid, what's going on?" demands a very confused and worried Han.

"Luke!" she yells, sounding almost hysterical. "Get away from him! What – how – What has he done to you?!"

"Leia, calm down," Luke advises, standing up and approaching them. Trying to get them, his sister especially, to understand why he saved Vader is going to be harder than he initially thought. He really wishes Vader didn't have to be here throughout this conversation and hopes that his father will remain silent and let him explain.

"What do you mean calm down?!" cries Leia, "Darth Vader is standing right behind you, and you're telling me to calm down?!"

Chewbacca growls in confused agreement with her.

"Do you remember our conversation before I left?" Luke asks with a sigh.

"Someone like him can't just change!" Leia snaps angrily, glaring at him.

"He helped me kill the Emperor," Luke protests, "I never would have been able to do it alone."

"He should be dead along with the Death Star!" shouts Leia, ignoring Luke's words, "Have you already forgotten all the things he's done?! To us, to the galaxy?! How could you be so stupid?" Luke resists the urge to rub his temple, wishing they could have this discussion at another time when their father isn't there. He shouldn't have to witness this.

"He's turned back from the Dark Side, Leia," Luke insists, trying to stay calm.

"People can't change like that," she growls, "I can't believe this. Just when we thought we were finally free from the Empire – Can't you see what you've done?"

"Look, it's going to be okay –" he begins arguing.

"Okay?!" she practically screams, "We're all going to die! I don't know what to do. We need to evacuate immediately!"

"I think I'm missing something," declares Han, "But I'm inclined to agree with her, kid." Chewie growls his agreement yet again.

"You do not need to evacuate." Luke says firmly, "Really, you need to calm down. He's not a danger to us."

"Not a danger to us?!" snaps Leia, "Do you even know what you're saying anymore? Have you lost your mind?!"

"Leia! I need you to listen to me," Luke declares firmly, crossing his arms, and shifting so that he's blocking Vader from her sight. "I know that he hurt you, and I know that you're upset with him." He doesn't say hate, because he remembers all too vividly how Vader felt only minutes earlier. "But I know what I'm doing, okay? I need you to trust me."

"Luke… of course I trust you," she replies, much more subdued.

"Good." He walks over to her, searching her face. "I need to speak to the leaders of the Alliance and explain." He doesn't add that he'll be leaving with their father when he returns to take control of the Empire so they can dismantle it together. He wants to keep that revelation for when he speaks to the entire Rebel Council later.

Leia is about to say something when Luke feels a ripple in the Force, and he turns to see two shimmering figures appear a short distance away in the trees. Yoda and Ben.

"Yoda! Ben!" exclaims Luke, staring at them in surprise. He glances at Vader when he feels a surge of some emotion he can't quite name.

"Luke," Obi-Wan greets him with a gentle smile, though his eyes don't leave Vader. Luke suspects that it's mutual.

"Go with your sister back to your friends you should," suggests Yoda. "Much to discuss Skywalker and Obi-Wan have."

Vader's helmet jerks towards the dead Jedi Grandmaster. "We have nothing to discuss," he spits out.

"I think that we have a lot to discuss," Obi-Wan responds softly, moving closer to Vader. Luke knows that he should leave, but he doesn't want to go if Vader doesn't want him to.

"Father?" Luke queries, spinning towards the elder man. The respirator cycles twice, and Vader says nothing. "I know you want to talk to him," Luke presses through their bond. Vader twitches slightly before rising to his full height.

"Go," Vader tells him. "I shall be here when you return."

Luke gives him a bright smile, sending feelings of love to him before following Leia, Han, and Chewie through the dark forest back to the Rebel's camp.