Chapter 6 - Empire

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

Author's Note: There's only an epilogue left! Enjoy! :D

~ Amina Gila


Luke is still standing there, long after Leia walks off, probably to tell Han about the change in plans, when he hears someone clearing their throat behind him. He turns, confused to see an elderly man standing there. He vaguely recognizes him from the mission to Endor, but he doesn't actually know who he is.

"Do I know you?" Luke queries politely, unable to formulate anything else to break the moment of awkward silence.

"I don't believe we've actually been introduced," the man answers, a faint smile playing on his face, and Luke takes a moment to study him. He's old; his hair and beard are white, but he carries himself with the manner of a soldier. "I'm Rex."

"Luke Skywalker," he replies automatically.

Rex chuckles. "Yes, I know about you. I've been watching you," he admits. "I – I fought with your father during the Clone Wars."

Luke gapes at him. "You're a clone?" He nearly winces at the tactlessness of the question. Hopefully, it wasn't too offensive.

Rex nods. "I've heard rumors…" His voice trails off, and he sighs. "I know who your father is. I've known it for a while. I just thought you should know."

For several seconds, Luke can't speak. Rex knows that his father is Vader? And he never told anyone? He doesn't know how he feels about that, but he's more than a little elated that there's someone else – other than Vader – who can share adventures during the Clone Wars. "Can you tell me about him?" Luke queries curiously. "What did he used to be like?"

The look on Rex's face can only be described as wistful. "He was brave, loyal, caring, the best Jedi I never knew," the Clone Wars veteran relates slowly. "He never considered my brothers or I inferior to him, and he always led us into battle. His piloting skills were something we marveled over; he could crash but emerge almost entire unharmed even if the ship was wrecked."

Luke is about to ask something else when he hears the sound of an approaching shuttle, accompanied by his father's dark presence. "He's coming now," Luke informs Rex. "I need to go. We'll be going to Coruscant together, did you hear?"

"Rumors," the older man answers cryptically, the hint of a smile on his face.

"Would you like to meet my father when he arrives?" Luke asks, somewhat hopefully. He doesn't know exactly how Vader would react, but he doubts it would be too negatively.

Rex shakes his head. "I will, but not right now. The last time we had an extensive interaction was when he sent me on a mission with his former Jedi apprentice." He pauses for a moment, seeming thoughtful. "I would like to find her again first." Before Luke can say anything, an Imperial shuttle flies low overhead and begins to land in the clearing. Nodding to Luke, Rex turns and walks away.

Luke stands there, watching as the ramp lowers and his father strides down, right into the midst of the Rebel forces. The whispers begin all around them, and Luke can sense the rising tension, so he motions to the others to put down their weapons, before moving to greet Vader.

"Father," he says quietly. "The Rebel Council has agreed to form a tentative alliance with you, but Leia insists on coming with us."

"I had expected as much," Vader answers after a pause. "I came to retrieve you and pick up the captured stormtroopers. Then, we can depart. The Executor is waiting for us above the planet."

**w**

Somehow, Luke had expected that the Imperial Palace would be different, but he's not really sure in what way. While he knew that it used to be the Jedi Temple, all hints of light and goodness have long since been eradicated and replaced with almost tangible anger and hatred. "This place is creepy," he mumbles to Vader as they walk through the halls. They'd only arrived a few hours ago, but Vader was insistent that he give the speech to the galaxy before more chaos could occur.

Vader says nothing, stopping instead as his eyes presumably scan something. "What did it used to be like in the past?" Luke asks curiously, tracing his fingers over an elaborately decorated column.

"It was beautiful," his father replies finally. "It was a haven of peace, of light." His helmet finally turns towards Luke. "Come. It is time for me to declare myself Emperor." It's obvious that Vader is changing the subject, but Luke doesn't protest, silently following, their footsteps echoing in the empty halls. For a moment, Luke thinks he can hear and feel the traces of the inhabitants who once lived here, but he shakes it off. It's part of the past which no longer matters.

Together, they walk to the room where the news conference will be held. Reporters and cameras are all over, and Luke momentarily feels uneasy with all the attention. He doesn't know exactly what his father is planning to say, but now he gets to find out, along with the rest of the galaxy.

As is expected, Vader gets right to the point. "I am certain many rumors have been spreading in the wake of the Emperor's disappearance, and I will answer the questions you may have," Vader begins. He sounds more like the Dark Lord he is in this moment, than the other man Luke knows he can be.

"In the wake of a rebel attack on the second Death Star, the Emperor was killed. As per the late Emperor's wishes, I will accede to the throne." Vader remains perfectly still, almost statue like, hands resting lightly on the railing in front of him. "Some of you have likely heard of the Death Star, but it is not a research station as the Emperor claimed. It was a weapon capable of destroying an entire planet constructed and used on Alderaan against my wishes and over my protests. Never again will such an abomination exist in this galaxy."

He raises a hand, voice rising in intensity. "This galaxy has seen enough war for a millenium, and the bloodshed must end now. My first act as Emperor will be to reinstate the Imperial Senate. I have begun peace talks with the Rebel Alliance to foster the beginning of a new era of tranquility. I may be Emperor, but I will not let the voices of the people be silenced as did my predecessor."

He turns towards Luke. "This is Luke Skywalker, a commander in the Rebel Alliance, and he will be the voice of those who wish for the galaxy to be restored to a democracy. In the event that something happens to me, he will succeed me on the throne. Treat him with the same respect you would bestow upon me. With our combined efforts, the galaxy will once again be restored to an era without war, an era where peace reigns supreme."

To the cheers of the crowd, Vader turns, striding from the room with Luke right behind him. Luke's feeling almost giddy with excitement. He never thought to see the day when the galaxy reached this point, much less with his father leading it there. He has no doubt that given time, Vader's past actions will be forgiven in favor of the ones he's currently taking to establish peace. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that saving his father would change the galaxy for the better in so short a time.

"Well, how did it go?" Leia demands the second they round the corner. She's pointedly looking at Luke and pretending Vader isn't standing right there. Luke can feel the flash of hurt in his father, before he spins around.

"I will go sign the official orders," he tells him. "Update your sister." With those words, he walks away.

Luke watches him leave, sighing quietly as he looks back at his twin. "He gave the speech, and the Senate will be immediately reinstated. Weren't you listening?"

"I heard the beginning," she replies, then scowls, "But then… I just couldn't listen to it anymore. He was the enforcer of what the Emperor wanted! It was totally hypocritical. I don't see how the whole galaxy could even believe him. They probably won't. This is going to end up in a disaster."

Luke arches an eyebrow at Leia's pessimistic words. "Have a little faith, little sister," he teases. "Father knows what he's doing, and he's not going to betray us – or me at least."

Leia doesn't exactly look happy, and she certainly doesn't look like she agrees. That's the only thing the two of them may never agree on, and it hurts Luke. He – he wishes that his sister could forgive their father for all the pain he caused her, but at the same time, he understands why she's not.

He wants to say something, to defend their father, but instead, he only gives Leia a small smile before wandering away. The place is huge, so he hardly knows which direction he should head. Instead, he settles on tracking Vader through the Force. His father is seated inside an office, and Luke slides into a nearby seat and begins doing research on a datapad. He's certain that his father can be healed, but he wants to find more information before broaching the subject.

Luke doesn't actually know how long it's been before he hears Vader calling his name. "You should eat, my son," his father tells him. "It has been a long day for all of us, and you will also need some rest."

He stretches and stands up. "It'll probably be worse tomorrow," he declares with half fake annoyance. "I wish it wasn't so hard to fix the galaxy."

"It took many decades for it to deteriorate to this point," Vader answers as they walk into the hall, probably towards the guest quarters. "It is only natural that it take time to repair the damage."

"I suppose," Luke agrees, shifting almost nervously. He eventually found what he'd been searching for, but bringing up the topic to his father seems… weird for some reason.

"What is troubling you?" Vader asks at last. Well, so much for that. At least now he can answer the question without trying to figure out how to start.

"I was thinking," Luke begins hesitantly, looking up at the impenetrable mask. "Have you ever thought about undergoing a procedure so you don't have to have a respirator all the time?"

Vader hesitates for a long moment, which is probably an answer in and of itself. "Yes," he finally admits, "But it is not realistic. The – Sidious told me it was impossible."

Luke clenches his fists, a sudden fury sweeping through him. Of course, the former Emperor would do something like that so he could keep Vader under his thumb. "He lied. I did some research," he explains, "And organ replacements are not uncommon. They've proven to be as effective as the patient's natural organs used to be."

The swirling cloud of darkness thickens noticeably around them, but Luke isn't fazed. He knows Vader isn't angry at him anyways. "It is something I can investigate," he finally decides, "But there is not time right now as I am the Emperor. Any surgeries will, no doubt, require weeks if not months of time to heal. It shall have to wait until the transition is complete."

Luke frowns slightly. He definitely understands the reasoning, but he doesn't like the thought of his father having to endure so much more time in this condition. "In the meantime, you could at least have a physician look at you so we know what will have to be done," he suggests brightly.

Vader inclines his head in agreement. "I will leave the details of such matter up to you, my son," he replies, and there's definitely a smile in his voice now.

Luke doesn't care who might be watching them as he flings his arms around his father's body, hugging him as tightly as possible. In another universe, he might never have gotten this chance, so he wants to make the most of it now. Vader hesitates for but a second before wrapping his arms around Luke and holding him close. In a minute Luke will leave, but for now, he wants to stay just a moment longer.