Title: Vader's Quest Chronicles
Summary: Darth Vader learns that he has a son and the search begins
Chapter 7
Timeframe: Beginning between ROTS and ANH
Disclaimer: Star Wars is the property of George Lucas. No disrespect is intended with this story.
Vader strode purposefully into the Death Star's command center, in search of Tarkin. His presence had been 'requested' at a meeting of commanders. What did his friend have in mind now? He looked around, elected to stand. Save Tarkin, he heartily despised all those present, and would not sit at the same table with them for any reason.
Tarkin spoke. "Lord Vader; glad that you could join us. It has come to our attention that lately you are a little...shall we say...tense. You haven't taken leave in several years, and we feel that you need a vacation."
Vader was startled. Leave? A vacation? In the middle of quelling a rebellion? Were they insane? True, a few days away would be nice, but to go where? And would the Emperor consent?
"A vacation? My Master will never --"
Tarkin interrupted with a smile. "But, Vader, he did consent when presented with our arguments -- that you were in real danger of facing a form of battle fatigue and loss of appropriate judgment; that you were becoming tense, irritable, and were prone to bouts of --" Tarkin hesitated, as if searching for just the right word -- "um... immature behavior. All are signs that you are in desperate need of time to relax and enjoy yourself."
Vader knew that his friend really meant 'childish behavior' -- he was aware that he had behaved so on several occasions lately, and was later thoroughly ashamed of himself. But he was a Sith lord, above admitting such small mistakes! "If you say so, Tarkin. And the Emperor has approved this leave of absence?"
"Yes, Vader," replied Tarkin. He looked around at the others. "Dismissed, Return to your duties." When they had gone, he continued. "My friend, I'm worried about you. Ever since we deliberately let the Millennium Falcon escape, you have become erratic, you aren't eating well, you spend entirely too much time in the shower, you wander the corridors at night... It's like you have lost your sense of purpose. So I took it upon myself to request a few days leave for you. You therefore have reservations at a small resort on Naboo -- yes, I know, you would rather not go there, but they cater to military and Imperial personnel."
"But, Tarkin, Naboo -- Padme -- she -- I -- we -- I can't!" Vader was suddenly short of breath, unable to get enough air into his lungs, his throat tightening as if caught in one of his own Force choke holds. He hit the button on his respirator for a release of his asthma medication, as Tarkin guided him into a seat. After a few minutes, his breathing eased and he continued.
"You see why I can't go there? How would it look if the feared Scourge of the Galaxy spent his entire vacation having one long asthma attack? I'd become the Galactic laughingstock!"
Tarkin laughed. "Yes, I understand, but this is a newer resort -- nothing that even existed when you were on Naboo before. In one of his rare humanitarian impulses, the Emperor commissioned its creation as a recuperative resort for battle weary Imperial troops. So you will go. Palpatine has ordered it so."
Vader nodded. If his Master ordered, he would obey, but he wasn't happy about going to Naboo, not happy at all.
His respirator firmly in place, Vader left the shuttle and looked around. It was Naboo, yet it wasn't. The sky, the lakes, the trees all sang of Naboo, but the architecture screamed 'Imperial budget modern.' He might get through the next few days after all. He motioned a waiting droid to take his bags and entered the lobby of the resort.
Check in was painless -- he signed in, was given a key card and some brochures, then followed the droid to his room. His room was surprisingly large and luxurious -- a suite, actually. It seemed that rank really did have its privileges.
Vader dismissed the droid and released the latches on his mask and helmet. Removing them, he breathed deeply, and was immediately assailed by the reality of Naboo... The scent of wildflowers, the sounds of water, the gentle warm breeze -- incongruous in a place furnished in Coruscant modern. Oh well, the bed was large, the water undoubtedly hot, and the food would probably be adequate. At least, it wasn't a Star Destroyer or the Death Star. Wilhuff had been right -- he really did need a vacation.
The shower was all he could wish for. He programmed it for 'massage,' set the water to 'hot,' and stepped in. Under the pulsating spray of water, he felt his tensions evaporate -- he didn't even have to worry about interruptions -- comlinks were banned in the resort. Ha! Let Palpy fume if he wanted to contact his apprentice. Vader suddenly decided to really enjoy the next few days.
He left the shower and, clad only in a towel, stretched across the bed... a real bed, rather like Padme's had been. He closed his eyes and fell asleep, with pleasant memories of his wife... He could almost smell her perfume. Dreams came then. Pleasant, very pleasant, indeed. He let his mind remember and relaxed his guard over his Anakin self; in his dreams, they were one whole person.
Anakin awoke and stretched, reaching for his angel, his love, his wife... And Vader clamped into place, firmly pushing him back where he belonged, in the deepest recesses of Vader's mind. How did that happen? How had he relaxed his guard enough to let Anakin emerge? Maybe this vacation thing was a mistake, after all. He could leave today. One night away was surely enough. He dressed and went to order breakfast and to investigate checkout procedures.
Vader thought things through as he ate. He could check out, all right, but there was no shuttle for three more days - part of the minimum stay package for Imperial personnel. If he checked out, he'd have to roam Naboo with no food and no place to stay. Palpy himself had surely designed the plan. Vader sighed and finished his excellent breakfast. Oh, well, if he had to stay, maybe he could do a little sightseeing.
He consulted the colorful brochure that he had received with his key card. Hmmmm. He had no desire to visit the capital; visiting Gungan ruins and holy places didn't appeal. And he liked water, but deep-sea diving to view the core monsters sounded as hideous as the monsters themselves were reputed to be... Aha! He'd take the lake cruise, he'd go incognito, so that he could enjoy the pleasant scents and fresh air of Naboo.
Imagining himself to be just another anonymous tourist, Vader booked a spot on the tour cruise leaving at noon. He elected to carry his respirator hung from his belt, just in case. But he didn't think he'd really need it. Using a women's makeup stick, he penciled a thin mustache on his upper lip, pulled the hood of a cloak well up over his head, and boarded the tour boat.
He stood alone at the railing, watching the coastline, absently listening to the perky little tour guide. She smiled and chattered on about Naboo and the lakes and how the resort had been established. His eyes were watching for familiar sights, wanting to see, yet dreading it also. He spotted the villa along the distant shore, heard the guide brightly announce that Varykino was owned by the Naboo government, but the Queen was currently in residence, so visitors weren't being allowed today, although the tour usually did include a visit there. Vader sighed in a mixture of relief and disappointment..
Today, the guide announced, they would visit a small village at the far end of the lakes, home to a reclusive widow known locally as 'Milady of the Lakes.' No one ever seemed to see her; the appeal was in the romantic suggestion of sadly blighted love. The town also had some interesting historic buildings. Souvenirs would also be available for purchase there.
Vader wondered briefly about the widow; she hadn't been there some twenty or so years ago, though her tumble-down estate had been. Padme had told him that it belonged to a distant relation who had let it deteriorate to near ruins. Either the widow liked it that way or had made some repairs. Anakin and Padme had wandered the grounds, hand in hand, investigating the ruins. Anakin had denounced it as a wreck; Padme had thought the place romantic. Women! thought Vader. From what he could glimpse, it was still pretty much a ruinous heap. He imagined his wife would still view it as romantic. He smiled and shook his head, then turned and continued his walk about the village.
He eventually returned to the dock with the other passengers. all of whom carried cheap mementos of the town. He wanted no reminders of this visit and needed none from his previous one -- Anakin could remember enough for both of them.
Returning to his suite at the resort, he found a message awaiting him -- if Lord Vader pleased, he was welcome to use the private baths of the Naboo government. Vader grimaced in annoyance. Who had told them that he was here? Probably Palpy, trying to keep him reminded of his official status as the Emperor's representative. And he would probably try to contact Vader there, also. Vader thought not, and sent regrets, declining the invitation. It was a first rate facility; too bad he had to decline. Palpy could just employ some of his so-called Sith patience, for a change. Vader vowed to remain out of contact for as long as possible. He was, after all, on vacation!
The resort offered entertainment in the evening -- holovids in the lounge or music in the nightclub. Vader elected to try the nightclub. He wished that he hadn't. The band had been imported from Tatooine. The so-called music set his teeth on edge -- some sort of dissonant cacophony that reminded him of mating banthas. He finished his sparkling mineral water and returned to his room. Maybe tomorrow night he would try the holovids -- it surely couldn't be worse!
Not being worse did not make it better. However, the room was dark, the chair comfortable and relaxing, the holovid a bit of mindless fluff. Vader had decided to try for anonymity again and wore the cloak and penciled mustache -- he rather liked the look of the mustache; maybe he could grow one -- he did have quite a lot of hair on his upper lip.
The third morning brought an engraved formal invitation to the Queen's reception that evening at the palace in Theed. At the Emperor's request, they would welcome Lord Vader as the Emperor's official representative at the receptionWhy that cheap, miserable misbegotten offspring of a bantha and a sarlacc's mating! No wonder Palpy had approved the leave -- he knew I would otherwise balk at attending a reception on Naboo! Now I have no choice, but to attend. Vader snarled in frustration. The Queen's office had arranged transport both to and from the event and had left no instructions on contacting to cancel or send regrets. Vader borrowed a few more curses from Leia's vocabulary in the attempt to adequately express himself. Then he shrugged and sighed. Oh well; he was leaving tomorrow, anyway, and had nothing else planned for his last night on the planet.
Vader dressed carefully that evening, making sure his 'Vader suit' was clean and wrinkle-free, his boots polished to a mirror sheen, the helmet and face mask unblemished. There was one thing that could be said for the 'Vader suit' -- he was never at a loss for appropriate dress for any occasion. With a wry smile, he donned the mask and helmet, and left his room; his transportation to Theed had arrived.
The little Queen was ornately robed. Vader expressed his pleasure at meeting her and extended the Emperor's greetings. He briefly wondered if, under the elaborate and bizarre facial make-up, she actually was the Queen of Naboo, or was perhaps one of the innumerable decoys that Naboo Queens were so fond of. He glanced at the attending handmaidens, and concluded that, in all probability, she was the Queen. That make-up, thoughIn more than thirty years it hadn't changed much. He smiled, recalling that, to the ten year old Anakin, even with the ludicrous face paint, Padme had been the most beautiful being in the Galaxy. And without the face paint...well, he'd rather not go there right now. He forced his attention back to the Queen.
"We understand that you are a guest at the Imperial resort? We would be honored if you would stay at our villa on the lake..."
Vader suppressed a shudder -- -uh-no-way-never-no-how- too many memories. He declined as graciously as possible, citing the fact that he would depart Naboo the next morning.
"But speaking of the lakes, your Majesty, what do you know of the reclusive lady known as 'Milady of the Lakes'?" Vader was curious, without quite understanding why. And it did provide a source of idle chit-chat.
The little Queen sighed. "So sad and so romantic. She was a grieving widow. So young. So beautiful. She lost both her husband and her children. Of course, it was long before I was born"
It would be, thought Vader as he recalled the Naboo penchant for teenage Queens. "Does she ever leave the estate?" he asked. He could understand her desire for solitude at first, but twenty years? A bit excessive, in his opinion.
"Qh, no! Never. She sends her servants on errands, and she rarely has visitors. She has said that the tranquility and solitude are soothing to her soul. Such a sad and romantic story." The Queen sighed again, smiled at him and then excused herself to speak to others. Vader watched her go.
He suspected a strong addiction to mushy, romantic holovids -- she was of prime age for the tendency.
He mused to himself, though. Tranquil and soothing... yes, the atmosphere certainly had been soothing there, much as Padme's presence had been to him. Too bad the widow didn't go out... she sounded like someone who could really relate to ...er... Anakin's sense of loss after all these years. Hmmm. Maybe when he became Emperor, he could order her to leave her seclusion and then meet her. Tucking that thought away, he heard a chuckle in his mind, suspiciously like that of Obi-Wan. He pointedly ignored it.
Idle, stilted conversation with assorted other dignitaries occupied the rest of his evening. Vader's mind threw a few more curses at his Master for his duplicity. Why, right now, he could be back at the resort, watching...um...oh yes, tonight's entertainment was exotic dancers and a cocktail party -- read that writhing Twi'leks in skimpy costumes and cheap booze. Maybe the reception wasn't so bad, after all... And it couldn't last much longer -- he watched the young Queen smother yet another in a long series of yawns. He sent a few more 'sleepy' suggestions to her. He couldn't leave before she did, and he wanted to get some sleep himself. He stood to one side and concentrated. Ah, yes, there she went. Vader excused himself and also left the reception.
In his rooms, he stripped off his clothes, hit the shower, and then retired. He should have done this long ago. Too bad he had to return to the Death Star tomorrow. He stretched across the bed, luxuriating in the sheer space of it. If only Padme were here and he drifted into sleep, dreaming of his wife.
"Well, Wilhuff, I do thank you. I did have a pleasant few days, despite the location." Vader was in an expansive mood. He had occupied his return trip with daydreams of one sort or another, nothing of any consequence -- he had certainly not desired to watch the available in-flight holovid. And he could catch up on Holonet News later.
"So I see, my friend. You look -- and sound -- much better! There is a certain spring to your step now, an upbeat tone to your voice, that had both been missing lately. It pleases me.
"And we are ready to move on the Rebel base on Yavin IV!"
"Ah," breathed Vader. "They are there , then? The Rebels and the Millennium Falcon?" He felt a surge of excitement inside him. At last!
"Yes," replied Tarkin. "Our spies have confirmed intense Rebel activity in and around the Yavin system, particularly on Yavin IV. The Rebels are believed to be hiding deep in the ruins of the Ancients, using those ruins to camouflage their base. Now that you have returned, the Emperor has ordered us to move the Death Star into position for a strategic attack. When we finish, the planet will, like Alderaan, cease to exist. And the Rebels will share its fate." Tarkin allowed himself a tightlipped smile.
"And so the Rebellion will at last be at an end and there will again be peace in the Galaxy. My Master will be pleased!" Vader made a mental note to somehow lure young Luke off the planet. No way that Vader was going to let the boy perish if he could possibly be his own son! Too bad about the Princess, but, as Bail Organa's daughter, she'd be a focus for any remaining Rebels in the Galaxy -- too dangerous to let live. He had begun to like the girl -- she had enough spirit and resourcefulness to make any father proud. But she was a Rebel. Oh, well. Vader mentally abandoned the Princess to her ultimate fate and concentrated on how to lure his presumed son to a position of relative safety.
The Death Star entered the Yavin system and began its progress toward the fourth planet, to an ultimate position where it could directly target the Rebel base on that planet. Tarkin and Vader knew that the Rebels were fully aware of the Empire's intentions, and were desperately searching for a way to stop the Death Star before they were themselves annihilated.
Meanwhile, Vader had been unable to think of any way to lure Luke off the surface of Yavin IV. Everything he thought of was, ultimately, ridiculous and impossible to implement. After all, he couldn't just send a message down saying Luke, come up here, I want to talk to you and, by the way, save your ass when Yavin IV gets blown into a new asteroid belt. (signed) D. Vader. Too bad; luring one insignificant Rebel from among many should not be all that hard to arrange...!
Fully aware of Vader's frustrated concerns, Sidious was himself unconcerned. He sensed that the boy's future lay with Vader, that he would survive the destruction at Yavin IV. And if he was somehow mistaken in interpreting his senses (which Sidious refused to even consider) well, so be it. There was always cloning; he would just have to put up with Vader awhile longer than he had anticipated. He absently scratched at his side as he contemplated how to further torment his hapless apprentice. He had thoroughly enjoyed Vader's reluctance to go to Naboo, but then Vader had the nerve to make the most of his stay there, and had successfully avoided contact. The reception in Theed had been timed so exactly for Palpatine's needs... But Vader had even managed his emotions at that!
Sipping from his wineglass, Sidious mused. Was he losing control over his apprentice? Or was Vader just growing more skilled at masking his thoughts and emotions? The likelihood of either possibility did not please the Emperor. He called for a refill of his glass, then continued to sip while he thought about his options.
The bulky behemoth rounded the planet, jockeying inexorably into a position where its full destructive force could be aimed directly at the Rebel base. Like gnats, the Rebels, in tiny X and Y -wing fighters, flew to meet it. Tarkin smiled. Inconsequential! What can they do against this, the Empire's ultimate weapon? They are just the Rebellion's final gasp of bravado. He watched the viewscreen intently. Strange. They apparently have a specific target in mind, aren't attacking at random. No matter. The Death Star is invincible! This will be the culmination of my career, the highlight of twenty years of dedication! Absently, he noticed Vader suddenly turn to leave, nodded in farewell.
"Bring my ship!" Vader ordered. "They are too small and quick for our fixed weapons. We must destroy them ship to ship!" He hurried from the Command Center.
In his ship, Vader suddenly felt... alive. Memories of other times assailed him -- the Clone War and Outer Rim Sieges, the rescue of the Chancellor from General Grievous, the excitement of the moment. This was so much better than avoiding asteroids! And now the fun begins! He briefly recalled saying something similar in another time, another life. He laughed in sheer exhilaration. With his two wingmen, he began to target X- and Y- wing fighters at random.
Gradually he began to sense a presence among the Rebel ships. By the Force, what is Obi- Wan's ghostly presence doing out here? Does it mean that Luke is one of the elusive Rebel pilots? Well, at least that means he is finally off the surface of Yavin IV! Using his feelings, Vader searched the Rebel fighters, at last settling on one particular small X-wing. Ah yes! That is Obi-Wan's young new padawan learner. Too bad his Jedi apprenticeship has been cut short, but it will make turning him to the Dark Side just that much easier...
Feigning attacks on Luke's fighter, Vader protected him from destruction by other Imperial Tie fighters. "This one is mine!" He warned off the others and continued to harass Luke. Oh, but the Force is strong in you, Boy. You will make a powerful Sith when your training is complete. And together...He aimed a few shots carefully in Luke's direction, missing him by the merest fraction, finally disabling the vaguely familiar astrodroid...
He followed Luke into the canyon-like depression, riding right on his tail. Luke, where are you going? What is your target? In his mind, he heard Obi-Wan caution Luke to "use the Force." With sudden clarity, he knew the target, felt the danger to the Death Star. At the same moment, one of his wingmen exploded and the other crashed, as the Millennium Falcon swooped overhead, running interference for Luke's fighter.
And in angry dismay, Vader realized that his own fighter was out of control, that he had lost some vital stabilizing mechanism. He turned his full attention to regaining control -- any control -- and hit the distress beacon. His fighter continued to spiral, but at least now he was headed away from the Death Star. He knew what would happen. Evacuate Tarkin, his mind screamed, Evacuate before it's too late!
Vader had a front row seat to the destruction.