Author's note: Well, it's been years and I wish I had a good excuse, but life happened and I did a lot of growing up and living. To be honest, I lost my inspiration to write for a bit, and it got harder to pick it back up the longer I stayed away. But…seeing the Obi-Wan series brought all the excitement and imagination back. I've always been fascinated with young Luke and Leia, as well as early Vader. So it really was the push to return to Dark Father. I reread it, pondered giving it an overhaul, but ultimately decided to stay true to the story and finally give it the ending it deserves. Thanks to all of y'all who poked me through the years, I know I never answered but I read every message (with a little guilt). Don't know if anyone will read this, but if I can make one of y'all happy with this update, I am happy to post! Enjoy.
Thanks to Kolodey.
It was with a sinking feeling that Senator Organa answered the imperial communication. The blue projection of Emperor Palpatine did nothing to reduce his unease. Clearing his throat he gave a slight bow. "My Emperor, to what do I owe this honor?
"Senator Organa, I am sure you are aware that due to a very dangerous traitor being on the run, I have my imperial command surrounding the ports of major planets. I have received a disturbing report that someone from your palace staff evaded the boarding protocols that were put into place, in order to conceal a person of suspicion . This is not acceptable, Senator"
Bail frowned, he had just been alerted that Padme had returned to Alderaan. Surely she hadn't tried anything? She wouldn't be that reckless. "I apologize, I wasn't aware of the situation. It may be a misunderstanding. I'll be happy to personally discipline my staff on the matter and…"
"Oh no Senator" Emperor Palpatine cut him off "I am already sending a team to locate the perpetrators. I want them and anyone aboard that vessel found and turned over to the imperial command. They broke imperial laws and as such must be dealt with by the empire"
"But your majesty…" Bail began.
"This is not a request or negotiation, Senator. I am being courteous and informing you that your palace may be subject to a thorough search by my men. This is a bit of unfortunate business but with your compliance, it should not take more than a few hours to resolve"
The communication ended before Bail could articulate a response and he stood dumbfounded for a second. This was not good at all. While Breha had been adamant that the Rebel Alliance be kept away from the palace, if Padme and Obi-Wan were to return, they would be in a delicate position. Hiding a Jedi would ensure death, and if Padme truly had evaded imperial protocols, there was no telling who she had onboard with her to do so. Bail suddenly felt sick to his stomach as a sudden realization dawned upon him. She wouldn't.
There had been whispers of Vader's imprisonment and a more recent report had mentioned his escape from said prison. The tightened imperial security presence was proof that something was going on. And given how erratic Padme had been after reconnecting with Vader, there was no guarantee his headstrong friend wouldn't be crazy enough to bring the dark lord to Aldera Royal Palace. Giving a grunt of frustration, Bail dialed his direct comm with Obi-Wan. He was hopeful since the Jedi Master had vanished with Padme, perhaps he could calm and assure Bail.
After what seemed like an eternity, the familiar holographic form of Obi-Wan appeared before him. His grim face was enough to sink Bail's heart. "Obi-Wan"
"Senator"
"I just received a personal comm from the Emperor. Please tell me she didn't" She wouldn't, he tried to assure himself for the second time within the hour.
Obi-Wan's brow furrowed and he glanced around before replying in a low tone. "I am afraid so, Vader and two of his men who are no doubt on the wanted list themselves"
Bail sighed. "You cannot come here, the Emperor has sent men to search the palace. They are looking for you. Someone must have recognized him"
"I was afraid that was going to happen, I'll have the transport reroute to one of the safe houses, we will lay low for a while."
"A wise idea friend, I will put together a decoy team and hope that will be enough to satisfy them. Give Padme my best, but tell her I am really saddened by the way things have played out"
Obi-Wan gave a slight wince at the senator's disappointed tone and nodded before he vanished. Moving quickly, Bail hurried out to inform his wife and get together a decoy team. Hopefully the Emperor would buy the story, which would give them time to ensure they were safe. He hated to put his people in potential harm's way, but it couldn't be helped.
Vader stood by the speederbus window, watching the speeders whiz by. As they neared Aldera, he couldn't help the small tingling of excitement that began to form inside him. Luke and Leia. It had been so long since he had last seen his children. His plans for grandeur meant nothing in comparison to his love for those two. He would do everything in his power to ensure their safety and wellbeing. As well as Padme and their unborn child. This new baby would not suffer as Luke and Leia had, he would protect them all.
Hearing Obi-Wan speak in low tones, he dragged himself from his thoughts and tuned into the conversation he appeared to be having via his commlink.
"...You cannot come here….They are looking for you…"
"I was afraid that was going to happen, I'll have the transport reroute to one of the safe houses, we will lay low for a while." he heard his former master say.
"A wise idea…Give Padme my best, but tell her I am really saddened by the way things have played out"
Vader scowled when he recognized Bail Organa's voice. How dare he presume to say such a thing. He could not get past the fact that Organa and Obi-Wan had been instrumental in keeping his wife from him. They had no right to do so and he would deal with them as soon as the opportunity presented itself. He realized he had been glowering at Obi-Wan and turned away in a huff. He walked to where Padme sat, her hands clasped around her belly protectively.
"Padme"
She looked up and gave him a small tired smile. "I can't wait to see the twins," She said. "I know they will be overjoyed to see you, it's been so long."
Vader shook his head. "I don't think we will be reuniting just yet, Angel. From what I just heard Obi-Wan is having us reroute to a safe house."
Padme frowned. "No! Why? What happened?"
"I think it has something to do with the Emperor, I noticed several imperial vessels around us. Alderaan is surrounded, someone must have recognized me."
Padme bit her lip and stifled a sob. Vader gently pulled her head against his chest. "I'm just so tired," she whispered. "I just want this to be over…and our family together and safe"
Vader pursed his lips. He wished he could reassure her, tell her that it would all be alright, but the cynic in him knew better. He would not give her empty promises, although he desperately wished he could destroy everything causing her pain. After a few moments, he released her and stood. "I should inform Piett and Veers of the new developments, try not to worry Angel." Seeing her move to stand he offered her his hand.
Padme smiled weakly and allowed him to help her stand. "I learned from the best," she said, almost playful, laughing when Vader scowled back at her. "I'll go talk to Obi-Wan and get the details"
Vader watched her walk over to Obi-Wan in distaste, frustration growing in his gut. It seemed he would not be free of him just yet. His plans for his family were delayed, yet again.
Leia sat on the firm couch clutching a holobook. Moments ago, Breha had ushered the twins, Atina and Winter into one of the palace's smaller living rooms. It had been mostly quiet but Leia could not quell the anxious feeling she felt. It was almost as though she was frozen in fear. She consciously sought her brother's comforting connection and allowed his calmness to wash over her. He looked at her from where he sat by the door and offered her a cheeky grin.
"It's alright" he mouthed.
Leia nodded, acknowledging his assurance.
The doors slid open as Breha then Bail entered with four troopers and a strange man. Leia felt a flash of fear when she recognized Linux from Imperial Capital. What was he doing here? And why did the Organas seem so uneasy? The troopers entered the room and began opening closets and looking behind doors.
Luke immediately rushed to Leia's side and stood resolutely in front of her. Winter ran to her father and clutched his robes "Daddy, what's going on?" she asked quietly.
Bail gave them a strained smile. "Children, Atina. This is Mr. Zed and his men. They are here to make sure everything is alright and safe. A dangerous person tried to enter the palace" He said gently."
Leia unconsciously reached for Luke's hand and squeezed it hard as Bail continued talking, this time to the troopers and the young man. "As you can see there are only our guests in this quarter, so there is no reason for this invasion of our privacy to continue."
Linux, who had been introduced as Mr. Zed, stepped further into the room. His eyes immediately fixed on Luke and Leia and he headed straight for them. Atina frowned when she noticed this and stepped between them. "Can I help you?" she asked him.
He smiled at her thinly and gestured to Luke and Leia. "Is this Luke and Leia Skywalker?" he asked.
Bail gasped and Atina's frown deepened. "Who wants to know?"
"I am a special envoy of the Emperor's, I have an imperial warrant for them. Given recent events and to ensure their safety, they must be removed from your care and put in a safe location"
"No!" Leia couldn't stop the scream that escaped her lips as she darted to Atina.
Atina hurriedly grabbed both children and held them to her. "That is not going to happen. I'm not allowing you to take them"
"Ma'am, this is not a request. The Emperor himself signed off on this warrant." At the mention of this the troopers stopped their search and closed in around the small group.
Bail stepped in quickly. "I am afraid this will not do. These children are guests of the royal family and are here under my protection. Also they are not the children you seek. They belong to the house of Naberrie. Thus they are not Skywalkers."
The man smirked. "I have an identity probe that can verify this in a matter of seconds." He clicked his fingers and one of the troopers left the room. He returned shortly with the small device and Luke and Leia instinctively stepped backwards.
A look of panic crossed Bail's face and he once again tried to reason with the young man. "I am sorry, I cannot allow this. These children were left in my care and I cannot allow them to be harmed."
"Senator, all I need is a tiny blood sample to confirm they're who you say they are. It's a small needle. It will not harm them in the slightest."
Further protests fell on deaf ears as two troopers stepped forward and restrained the twins. Leia's screams echoed through the chamber as the small needle pierced her flesh.
After a few seconds a confirmatory beep sounded and Zed gave a triumphant smile. "Luke and Leia Skywalker. I am afraid you will have to come with me"
Luke grabbed his sister's arm and pushed her behind him. "'Tina don't let them take us" he begged his nanny desperately.
Before Atina could respond, the troopers moved in to grab the twins once again. Atina attempted to push them aside indignantly.
"Ma'am please step aside, I would prefer not to frighten the children." Zed said, pulling his robe back to reveal a taser staff.
"Bail do something!" Breha said as Luke and Leia were placed in binders.
"You cannot do this to them, they are children" Atina yelled even as she herself was pulled back and restrained by a trooper.
"I beg you, please, allow their mother to return before you take them" Bail pleaded as he tried to block the entryway.
Zed shook his head. "I am under imperial orders, Senator Organa. You need not worry. They will be well cared for. I am simply restraining them to make their removal easier". Gesturing to the troopers he signaled for them to leave. "We will be on our way, senator. My men will question your staff members and return them if they are found guilty. Thank you for your cooperation"
Leia was reduced to cries at this point and struggled helplessly as she was picked and taken out of the room. Luke fought his restraints violently, yelling and kicking as a trooper attempted to pick him up as well.
"Atina!" he yelled. "'Tina get Dad! Please!" The boy continued to struggle as the troopers carried him and his twin sister out of the room.
The twins' last image of their nanny was the woman reaching out for them struggling against the strength of two remaining troopers.
It was instant. Feelings of fear that were not his own washed over Vader so strongly he felt sick. Luke and Leia.
He had been getting dressed in the medic bay after their arrival at one of the safehouses. There hadn't been many people in place except for a few competent droids. Padme had ushered everyone to the medic bay for a wellness check despite their protests. He had barely put on his shirt when he was struck with the strong feelings. Something was wrong.
He grabbed his cloak and stalked out of the med area to where he could sense Padme and Obi-Wan. He found the two huddled together over a comm device. Padme turned to face him, her face as white as a sheet. No.
"Ani, it's…"
"Are Luke and Leia safe?" Vader asked, even though he knew the question was redundant. But a small part of him hoped his fears would not be confirmed.
Padme's lip quivered. "I don't know, we received a report that the palace has been stormed by troopers, even though Bail turned over a decoy team to present as us. The troopers are led by a man who identified himself as Zed, an envoy of the emperor's"
Vader's stomach dropped and he growled. "We are going to the palace now!" He turned to leave and was stopped by Padme.
"Anakin we can't do that! It's too risky for you to be seen"
Vader jerked his arm out of her grasp. "Padme, these are our children. You don't expect me to sit back and allow them to be taken by the Emperor?"
Padme shook head. "No, of course not. Let me go, of all of us I have the least to lose, I am dead in the eyes of the empire."
Vader glanced at her and scoffed "Padme, you're pregnant!" his wife's condition was not far from his mind.
"And you are injured!"
Vader frowned at her. "I'm fine"
Padme gave an exasperated sigh. "Do you even have enough use of the Force to fight?"
"I have enough," Vader retorted, annoyed at her bringing up his weakness in front of Obi-Wan. His sharp words hang awkwardly in the air, as Padme and Vader glared at each other.
Obi-Wan stood watching them silently. "I can help. If you are willing to accept my help that is" he offered a brief silence.
"Absolutely not," Vader spat. As if he would ever accept the help of his former master. He'd rather die.
"Anakin!" Padme sounded frustrated.
"Never! I would rather die than accept his help" Vader said with as much bitterness as he could muster. "I can take care of my own children"
Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow and spoke in an annoyingly calm voice. "I am sure I need not speak to what would happen if the Emperor were to possess your children. They are already stronger in the Force than many, and if he were to…"
"Do not dare speak as if I am stupid" Vader hated his former master's patronizing tone. "I know what the Emperor is capable of and that is exactly why wasting time discussing this is ridiculous."
Padme gave a sigh of tiredness and sat down. "We have to be strategic, we don't even know if they are in danger."
"They are" both Vader and Obi-Wan spoke together. Vader glared at his former master and turned back to his wife. "I can feel their distress in the force"
Padme's face fell and she bit her lip. "For Force's sake, will this never end?" She said exasperatedly, putting her face in her hands.
Vader wanted to comfort her but began to pace instead. They didn't need to be stressing her like this. He also couldn't just sit back and wait while the twins may have been captured or worse. Just then a loud beep sounded from the comm device next to Obi-Wan. The Jedi master gave the couple a look before he answered it. A blue holographic image of Bail appeared.
"Obi-Wan, it's not good news," the senator said grimly.
"The children" Obi-Wan said quietly and Bail nodded. "What can you tell us?"
"They've been taken, I have sent you a copy of the warrant. I also was able to get the ship details that they will be departing on. I am afraid I don't know where they are going"
Vader released a series of curses under his breath and walked to where Padme was trying to hold in her tears. He embraced her quietly, taking comfort in her and their unborn child's force presence.
"Thank you Bail, I know you did everything you could" Obi-Wan could be heard saying and Vader resisted the urge to retort and instead focused on reaching into the force to feel for his children. He found them instantly, and felt a pang of relief. Good. They felt fine, physically at least.
Padme pushed away from him and walked to where Obi-Wan and Bail spoke. "Bail" Padme said "I hate to ask this, I need a ship. I cannot let them take my children again. Not after I just got them back.
Bail nodded. "Already done, I have one headed to Alderaan spaceport, and transport to take you there should be arriving at your location shortly. Please be careful old friend. I'm sorry I couldn't prevent this from happening."
Padme smiled gratefully at her longtime friend. "Thank you so much, do not blame yourself"
Vader frowned at her words. While he knew logically there was little the senator could have done to prevent Sidious from getting the children, a part of him felt anger at his incompetence. He stood by sullenly as they ended the communication.
His mind worked furiously, preparing for a thousand scenarios that they may encounter. He wondered if Piett and Veers would be willing to assist him once again, he knew he could command them to, but preferred if they wanted to do so of their own volition. He would need all the strength he could muster, if he were to face the Emperor. While their last encounter left a bad taste in his mouth, he was now a trapped animal with nothing to lose. He would stop at nothing to save Luke and Leia.
"Darth Vader" Obi-Wan's voice brought him back to the present. The Jedi Master held out a lightsaber in his hand towards his former padawan.
Vader turned to him. "What?" Seeing the weapon, his hand flew to his belt where he still had the Jedi Master's lightsaber. He stilled as he recognized the familiar black grips and silver hilt of the lightsaber Obi-Wan held out to him.
"You'll need a weapon you're familiar with if you are going to do this" the Jedi Master said "My offer still stands, for the children, I am willing to help"
Vader stared at his former master, a part of him wanted to accept his help, but he couldn't force enough of the emotion to speak the words. Instead, he placed Obi-Wan's lightsaber in his hand and reclaimed his old lightsaber from his former master.
It felt so natural in his hand despite the fact that years had passed and his arm prosthetics had changed since he had last held it. He had always been proudest of this weapon. It was the most powerful one he had ever built, even the sith lightsabers he had constructed paled in comparison to this one. This weapon had been his life at one point and it seemed fitting that it had once again come into his grasp for such a time as this. He clipped it in his belt and squared his shoulders. He would save his children.
"This is something I must do alone," he said. Padme's mouth opened to protest but he stopped her. "I need to know you are safe Padme, if I am to do this, I cannot worry about anything else."
She looked a little defeated but nodded.
Vader gave Obi-Wan a short glance. Keep her safe. Obi-Wan stared back at him evenly as if he understood. Vader turned to leave them room. He located Piett and Veers shortly. He wasn't surprised when they immediately got ready to help him. He would not put them in unnecessary danger, but he knew the three of them had the best chance of navigating the imperial armed command together.
Padme gave him the documents Bail Organa had sent and rode with him to the spaceport, her hand clutching his as they rode in silence.
True to the senator's word, a sleek fast vessel awaited them in the hangar after Vader had done a quick once over of the controls, he turned to where Padme stood watching him. "It will be okay, angel. I won't fail this time" he said.
Padme hugged herself tighter. "I know, but still be careful and please…" her voice cracked. "I just want to see them again."
Vader walked to her and placed his arms around her, "I know" he whispered. He would not, no he could not fail her or Luke and Leia. He had to succeed this time and defeat the emperor. His family depended on it.
Hours later, aboard the Emperor's Shuttle
A holo projection of Zed bowed before Sidious, "My emperor, we will board your shuttle in the coming hour."
Sidious smiled. "Good, good. And the children?"
"They are sedated and will be for the next few hours. Unfortunately they proved to be a bit of an issue."
Sidious expected no less from children of Vader's. He ended the communication and bided his time till he was informed of their arrival. He watched as droids carried stretchers with the children and took them to a secured cell. They were young, but that just meant they were malleable. He could train them, or he could use them to render Vader into the perfect apprentice. He was sure this would not go unnoticed by Vader. He could already feel the Force pulling in the mysterious way it did whenever Vader drew upon it, but he was unconcerned. The effects of the drug he had given Vader would not wear off so easily, the powerful sith lord would need a miracle if was to survive facing Sidious again.
Leia looked around her and her heart clenched in fear. She was in a room, it was dark and cold. The floor felt wet to the touch, but it was just cold. A tiny light flickered and she rushed to it. A door. Banging on it, she began screaming frantically. "Luke! Luke, are you there?"
The little girl was met with silence and shuddered. "Luke! Atina! Anyone?!"
Leia could feel an eerie yet familiar dark presence. It seemed to encompass everything around her. Like a scene right out of her nightmare. No. It couldn't be. Terrified, she hugged her knees to her chest and began to rock herself. After what seemed like hours. A beep sounded and her door swished open. Shrouded in the light of the hallway stood a hooded figure.
Leia gave a scream and scooted to the back of the room as she realized her worst fear stood right before her.
The hooded figure approached the little girl and sneered. "It's of no use to try and escape young one." it sneered.
He stepped closer revealing ugly orange red eyes inside the darkness of the hood. "I will have you yet" he reached out a hand and grabbed her.
Leia's terrified screams echoed down the hallway.