Chapter 21

Polis Massa Outpost

After some discussion it was decided that Obi-Wan would remain with the Rebel Alliance and train Leia, while Luke would seek out Yoda in the Dagobah System. Neither Luke nor Leia wanted to leave their father; but realized that their absence would not go unnoticed. The Rebel fleet had assembled by this point, and was about to make its way to their new base in the Hoth System. The future was uncertain for all of them as they prepared to part ways.

"Do you have a plan for finding Mother?" Leia asked her father as they took one last meal together.

"I will go to Naboo," Vader replied. "It is logical that she would go there, it is her home."

"But if she has no memories of her past, would she know that?" Han asked.

"She would know instinctively," Vader replied. "Just as she would be able to walk, or eat, or fly a ship. Some things are simply ingrained and do not rely upon memory."

"Wasn't it Naboo in the vision you shared?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, I believe it was," Vader replied.

"Assuming you find her, how do you plan to get her to remember you?" Luke asked. "Is it even possible for the amnesia to be reversed?"

"The doctor described it as disassociative amnesia," Vader explained. "Which in layman's terms means she is blocking out memories that are too painful to deal with."

"I can't imagine what her life has bee like for the past twenty years," Leia said softly. "Hopefully she has been able to find some happiness."

Vader nodded. "She has family on Naboo," he told them. "That is where I plan to go first, her parents."

"A good plan," Obi-Wan said. "Assuming of course that they are still alive."

"Yes, of course," Vader replied.

"Will they even know you?" Luke asked. "If you and Mother's marriage was secret?"

"I met them once," Vader told his son. "When I was assigned to protect Padmé, before we were married. They knew nothing of our marriage, but I will not be a complete stranger to them."

"Well, I hate to be the voice of responsibility," Han said, "really; but if we're gonna meet up with the fleet, we need to get going."

"Yes, you're right," Leia said, looking up at Han.

Vader watched the way his daughter and the Corellian pilot looked at one another, decidedly disturbed by it. He's not good enough for her, he thought darkly. Not to mention that he's far too old…

"What are your plans once you find Padmé?" Obi-Wan asked as they walked to the hangar bay. "Will you join the Rebellion?"

"The Rebellion considers me their enemy," Vader replied. "As does the Empire. I have no idea where my destiny will take me," he admitted. "Right now all I'm focusing on is finding Padmé, and doing everything I can to bring her back."

"If anyone can do it, Anakin, it's you," Obi-Wan said.

Vader looked at Obi-Wan. "I hope you're right," he said.

Chewbacca exited the Falcon and announced that they were ready for departure.

"Well, looks like we're all set," Han said. He turned to Vader. "Good luck, sir," he said, not sure how he ought to address Vader.

Vader nodded at Han, part of him uneasy at the thought of his daughter being in Han's company, particularly now that Luke would be departing for Dagobah within a few weeks.

"Please consider joining us," Leia said to her father, taking his hand. "We need you on our side."

Vader smiled at her, touching her face with his hand. "I will consider it," he told her. "I promise."

Leia nodded. "Thank you," she said. "I will miss you," she told him.

Vader was touched by his daughter's words, and by the feelings behind them. He put his arms around her and held her close, kissing the top of her head. "I will miss you too," he told her. "But our destinies lie along different paths, Leia. At least for now."

"I know," she replied.

"Good bye, Father," Luke said as Vader released Leia from his embrace. "I hope our paths cross again very soon."

Vader smiled, and put a hand on Luke's shoulder. "I hope so too, Luke. May the Force be with you, my son," he said.

"You too," Luke replied. "I hope your search is a short and successful one."

"Yes, so do I," Vader replied. "I'll find her Luke; that I promise you."

"May the Force be with you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said next to Vader. "Good luck with your search."

"I didn't think you believed in luck," Vader observed wryly.

Obi-Wan laughed. "Well it's been my experience that with you, Anakin, anything is possible."

This comment made Vader smile despite himself. "I am trusting you with my daughter's training, old man," he said. "Don't make me regret that."

"Well if Leia proves to be half as stubborn as you, it will be me who needs the luck," Obi-Wan replied pointedly.

"I can't tell if they're friends or enemies," Han commented to Leia.

"I'm not certain they know themselves," she replied with a smile.

Vader watched as his children ascended the ramp with Solo and Kenobi. Leia turned back once more to look at him, and smiled when she caught his eye. Vader hated to see his children leave. Their presence in his life had been so unexpected, but it brought him more joy than he ever imagined he could ever feel again. They made him feel as though there was good in him still, even after everything he had done. If I had a part in creating them, there must be some modicum of good in me…

Vader watched as the Falcon lifted off from the landing platform and took off into space. And then he returned to the medical facility.

Despite his obvious impatience, Dr. Drii ensured that Vader remained at the medical facility for twenty-four more hours. If he'd had things his way, Vader would have remained for another three days; but he realized that he was lucky to get Vader to agree to one.

"Thank you again for the clothes," Vader told the physician as Drii performed one final physical on his most remarkable patient.

"Well I didn't expect that you would want to wear the breath suit anymore," Drii remarked.

"No, most definitely not," Vader replied. "In fact, do me a favor and destroy it."

"I will see to it personally," Drii replied. "May I ask you something?" he asked as he set down his diagnostic tool.

Vader, who was buttoning up the tunic Drii had provided him with, looked up. "Yes," he said simply.

"Who do you consider yourself to be?" Drii asked. "I mean, are you Vader? Or are you Anakin Skywalker now?"

Vader remained silent as he finished the buttons. "I am not entirely certain," he replied at last. "Both, perhaps; perhaps neither. But one thing is clear; I cannot use the name Darth Vader once I leave this facility. The emperor is no doubt scouring the galaxy for me."

Drii nodded. "Yes, that is true. But isn't the name Anakin Skywalker just as well known?"

"Yes, it is," Vader replied. "Clearly I cannot use either name. I will have to come up with a suitable pseudonym."

"A wise precaution," Drii replied. "Well, you are in excellent health," he decided. "And certainly the most remarkable patient I have ever had. Your recovery has been nothing short of miraculous."

Vader picked up the japor snippet from the small table beside his bed. "I have been motivated to recover," he told the physician as he slipped the chain around his neck. He tucked the pendant under his shirt. "Thank you for everything, Doctor. I owe you my life."

"I hope you find all that you are searching for, Anakin Skywalker," Drii replied.

"Thank you, Doctor," Vader replied, holding out his hand to the physician. "So do I."

Millennium Falcon-en route to the Hoth System

Leia sat watching her brother as he practiced with his lightsaber in the hold of the small freighter. He already handled it so easily, so effortlessly; it made Leia start to wonder if she would ever be able to catch up to him. But both her father and Obi-Wan seemed to think she had the same ability as Luke, something which Leia was still having trouble difficulty wrapping her mind around.

"Well done, Luke," Obi-Wan encouraged as Luke removed the blast helmet. "You've improved tremendously." He turned to Leia. "Maybe you'd like to have a turn now."

Leia's eyes widened. "Me?" she said. "I…I don't even have a lightsaber."

"Use mine," Luke said, handing the weapon to his sister. "It was Father's, you know."

"Was it?" Leia asked as she took the lightsaber from Luke's hands. She looked down at it, trying to imagine what her father was like when he built it. Was he still a padawan? Was he married to their mother? Had he begun his fall to the Dark Side?

"We will have to build you your own weapon, Leia," Obi-Wan said. "But for now, see what you can do with this one."

Leia frowned uncertainly. "Okay, if you insist."

She activated the saber and jumped a little when its bright blue blade jumped to life.

"How does it feel?" Luke asked, smiling at his sister as he sat down with Obi-Wan.

"It feels…different," Leia replied as she slowly moved the weapon back and forth, getting a feel for the heft and the weight of it. "I don't know that I'll ever be able to handle it as easily as you do, Luke."

"Well this saber was built by a man for a man," Obi-Wan replied. "Your father in fact. Every Jedi makes their weapon to suit them self."

Leia nodded in understanding. "Makes sense," she said. "I hope you intend on showing me how to build one," she said to Obi-Wan. "I'd have no idea whatsoever how to do so."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Of course," he said. "Just as I taught your father how to build his first lightsaber when he was a boy."

Leia smiled. "What was he like when he was a boy?" she asked as she slashed through the air with the saber, growing more comfortable with the feel of the weapon in her hand.

"He was extremely kind, loving, generous," Obi-Wan replied as he remembered. "He was gifted in many respects, particularly mechanics and piloting. All in all, a truly remarkable boy."

"And he was a slave?" Luke asked.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes, he and his mother both. My master, Qui-Gon Jinn, managed to free Anakin, but Shmi was left behind on Tatooine. I don't think your father every forgave himself for leaving her; you see, she was killed about ten years later by Tusken Raiders."

"That's so sad," Leia said, turning off the saber. "He's suffered a lot of pain in his life, hasn't he?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes, he has. No doubt it was part of the reason he succumbed to the Dark Side."

"But he has renounced the Dark Side, hasn't he?" Luke asked.

Obi-Wan sighed, running a hand over his beard thoughtfully. "I sensed a great deal of confusion in your father, Luke," he replied. "He isn't quite certain who he is at this point. But I have no doubt in my mind that he is on his way to redemption. Finding your mother will help him find his way back to the light."

"And what if he doesn't find her?" Leia asked. "What then?"

Obi-Wan frowned. "I don't know," he replied quietly. "I'm not certain he could stand to lose her a second time, and I fear it might serve to send him spiraling back into the Darkness."

"We can't let that happen," Luke said. "I didn't find my father only to lose him again."

"I won't let that happen," Leia vowed. "No matter what it takes."

Obi-Wan smiled. "You do your parents proud, both of you."

Han entered the hold at this point. "There's a message coming in for you, Princess," he said. "From Alderaan."

"Probably the Viceroy," Obi-Wan suggested. "No doubt he is worried about you."

Leia nodded. "I'm sure," she said. "I'll be right back."

She had not admitted it to anyone, but Leia had begun to feel conflicted by the situation she found herself in: namely, with two fathers. Bail Organa had raised her since she was an infant, had loved her as though she were his own child, and provided her with everything she could ever have wanted. He had been a good father to her, and she loved him dearly. But now her real father had returned to her life, and Leia would be lying to herself if she said that the bond between she and Vader was not a powerful one. She had felt it even before the Dark Lord had told her of their kinship; and since then, it had grown steadily stronger. He was a part of her, she a part of him. So how do I reconcile the fact that I now have two fathers? Who do I call Father now?

"Leia! Thank the Force you're alright!" Bail Organa began as soon as Leia seated herself before the comm. screen.

"I'm fine," she replied. "I have so much to tell you, I hardly know where to begin."

"I'm sure," he replied with a smile. "You can tell me as soon as you get home. I can't wait to see you."

"I…I'm not coming home," she told him, hating the look of disappointment in his eyes. "I've decided to stay with the Alliance. They need, me, Dad."

"Leia, you are nineteen years old," Organa replied sternly. "I hardly think you are old enough to make such a huge decision alone. Come home at once, and we will discuss this rationally."

Leia shook her head. "I'm not returning to Alderaan," she reiterated. "At least not right away. I found my brother, Dad; I found Luke."

The look on Organa's face told Leia immediately that his worst fears had been realized. "How?" he asked simply.

"He and I found one another on the Death Star," she explained. "He was with Obi-Wan Kenobi who had come to rescue me."

Organa nodded. "I see," he replied. "I'm just grateful they were able to do so. I had nightmares about the thought of you in the hands of those Imperial monsters."

Leia hesitated before saying anymore. Did he know who her father was? Of course, he must know…he had been there to adopt Leia mere hours after her birth. No doubt he knew everything, but had never thought it necessary to divulge any of that information.

"Why didn't you tell me about my real parents?" she asked at last. "Why didn't you tell me that Darth Vader was my father?"

Organa was too shocked to reply immediately, and so Leia continued.

"He is the reason I was able to escape the Death Star," she told him. "He is the reason Alderaan wasn't blown into a trillion bits of dust by the Death Star. I know that must be hard for you to believe, but it's true."

"Come home, Leia," Organa said in a low voice. "I'm begging you."

Leia shook her head. "No," she said. "I want to be with my brother; we are needed here. I will come home when I can."

"Leia please!"

But Leia did not want to hear anymore, and closed the transmission. She turned away from the screen, her hands trembling. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "But I can't be your little girl any more."