Title: Vader's Quest Chronicles
Summary: Darth Vader learns that he has a son and the search begins
Chapter 15
Timeframe: Beginning between ROTS and ANH
Disclaimer: Star Wars is the property of George Lucas. No disrespect is intended with this story.
Vader hurried to the Emperor's throne room aboard the Death Star. He paused briefly to compose his thoughts before seeking admittance.
Palpatine eyed his entrance with displeasure. "I told you to remain with the fleet, Vader. Why have you come here?"
"He's here, Master. I felt his presence!"
"Your son? Where? On the Forest Moon?"
Vader nodded. "Yes, Master." Come on, bantha breath! You surely aren't as slow as all that!
"Are you certain? Strange that I have not sensed his presence… Perhaps your relationship makes you more attuned to him. Are you clear in your feelings in this matter, Lord Vader?"
"Yes, Master, they are clear. I felt him. He has landed with a small Rebel force -- they were in the shuttle..." Of course, my feelings are clear, you senile old fool! He is my son, I have sought him for years, faced him once with lightsabers -- we have a connection that you can never share! And he is now so close...Vader's impatience was a palpable force, permeating the chamber.
"Patience, my young apprentice! Trust me. He will come to you. I have sensed this"
Right. Just like you sense everything after the fact. He's already here!
Palpatine continued, issuing a command. "You will go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait. Your patience in this will be rewarded; he will present himself to you. His compassion for his father will be his undoing, for you must bring him to me. Together we will turn him to the Dark Side and complete his training."
"I will do thy bidding, Master." And Vader bowed, then turned to go. Right. Like I am ever going to let you have any real control over my son! I will train him in the ways of the Sith, but tempered with Jedi discipline. I will bring him to you, only long enough to destroy you. Then together we, as father and son, will rule this Galaxy as it should be ruled!
Behind him, Sidious began to think on how best to control two Skywalkers, father and son. The son must destroy the father, true, but first he needed further training, and that could best be done by the boy's father, Lord Vader. The delicious irony tickled the Sith Master's twisted sense of humor and he collapsed in hideous cackling laughter.
Vader went directly to the shield generator on the surface, commanding the Executor to return to the fleet until called for. He paced the facility's interior, theoretically inspecting it, but seeing nothing except Luke's face, filled with pain and denial. He hadn't meant to harm the boy, just to disarm him. Could they get past that point without difficulty? Would Luke acknowledge their relationship? He sensed that things would work out... he would complete his son's training. He recognized in himself a longing for a close relationship with Luke, but it was all mixed up with Anakin's desires and doubts; he knew not where the difference lay, if, indeed, a difference existed at all. For perhaps the first time, Vader realized that he was more and more still Anakin Skywalker. You were right, Obi-Wan, old friend; you were right. I am still Anakin; we're no longer splintered into separate personalities, but are fast fusing into one single person again. And it is Luke who has brought this about…. Thank you, my son...
On the Death Star, Sidious frowned in annoyance. What was Vader doing? For Vader's Force signature was garbled, almost beyond recognition. He had a bad feeling about this... Concentrating his will, Sidious attempted to regain dominance over his apprentice, failure was not an option, for failure would signal a loss of his own powers, and there could be no loss there. He was Darth Sidious, Sith Master! Ah! There! Vader's signature was once more strong and clearly his own. Sidious smiled in relief and relaxed.
Vader shook himself. What was he thinking? He was Vader, Darth Vader, Sith Lord, apprentice to Darth Sidious...He forced himself to abandon his inner thoughts and continued with the inspection tour, until the comlink chirped for attention. The outer patrols were bringing in a lone Rebel who had surrendered himself to them. Something inside Vader lurched and his stomach went queasy. Luke! He awaited the patrol's imminent arrival.
A group of storm troopers exited the elevator and parted to reveal the figure in their midst. Dressed completely in black, his hands confined by binders, a calm and confident young man stood before Vader. One of the men spoke to Vader. "This is the Rebel who surrendered himself to us; he denies that there are more, but my men are searching the area. He carried only this."
Vader took the proffered lightsaber and activated it. He admired its pulsing luminous blade a moment, then moved it in a slow arc before turning it off. "Your skills are indeed complete, my son."
"Yes, Father; I have crafted my own weapon; I no longer use yours." Luke looked directly at him as he spoke.
Behind his mask, Vader felt pride in Luke's courage and smiled to himself. "So you have accepted the truth..."
"I have accepted that you were once Anakin Skywalker, the good man who was my father."
"That name no longer has any meaning for me, Son." But I lie, only I dare not say so aloud!
"It is the name of your true self, Father; you have only forgotten."
Forgotten? Never! I have just begun to accept that I always have been and always will be, at heart, Anakin Skywalker! But he remained silent, as Luke continued.
"I know that there is still good in you; the Emperor hasn't driven it completely from you. You will not destroy me. You could not do it before, you won't do it now. And you won't take me before the Emperor."
Vader felt the confidence of this young man before him, heard words that he ached to heed. "I must obey my Master, you don't know the power of the Dark Side, my son."
"I will not turn, Father; you will be forced to destroy meSearch your feelings; do not do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate..."
Hate? There is no longer any hate in me for anyone except my Master, the sarlacc's spawn who has ruined my life, kept me from normal love and affection…. And yet, such is his power that I must obey…. "The Emperor will show you the true power of the Dark Side, my son. He is your master now." He spoke softly, sadly. "It is too late for me, Luke." And perhaps for you as well... He signaled the guards to take Luke aboard his shuttle. Just before they reached the doors, he heard his son's sad quiet voice.
"Then my father is truly dead."
Within Vader, Anakin vowed "Never! Not until my last breath is drawn. I am here, my son. You see Vader, but I am here..." For once, Vader let the voice speak; there was no one to hear the nearly inaudible murmur, and it spoke words he wished himself to utter.
Palpatine waited. His senses had awakened him, told him that events were about to climax. At last, he would possess both Skywalkers, father and son. Destiny would play into his hands. And soon, the so-called 'Chosen One' would cease to exist. He cackled in mirthless glee. Sidious would train and control the son. There would be no need for fear once he had turned to the Dark Side; The son would then belong to Sidious, body and soul, more completely than ever had the father, for a part of Vader had always remained tied to the memories of his wife, something that Sidious had failed to foresee. And Sidious understood now the other mistake he had made with Vader -- he had allowed himself to develop a mild fondness for the boy. There would be no such nonsense with the younger Skywalker. He shivered as a chill of premonition swept down his spine. Surely that was Vader's demise he felt and not his own...Another chill swept over him. Perhaps it was just cold in here... and rather drafty. He wasn't losing any of his powers! He ordered the temperature in the already overly warm throne room be increased yet again, but the chill within himself remained. As the chill persisted, so too did the niggling fear inside him grow. Destiny approached.
Despite the continued churning of his stomach, Vader brought the shuttle into another of his flawless landings in the Death Star shuttle bay. With Luke beside him, displaying a quiet confidence that Vader admired and wished he could himself feel, they entered the elevator to the throne room.
Again Luke spoke quietly. "Don't do this, Father. Do not give me over to the Emperor. You do not wish to, I feel it. The conflict within you grows stronger…."
"The power of the Dark Side cannot be defied, my son, I must do that which my Master asks. Soon you also will feel its power. Join me, before it is too late -- together we can overthrow him, father and son. It is our destiny! He senses that your power grows stronger, and fears your potential..."
"Never, Father. I will never turn. You'll have to destroy me first." Luke was quietly firm.
"If that is your destiny, Son." Force, let that not be so! Vader thought in agonized fear. Please, let that not be so! I do not want to destroy my son! He looked at Luke as the elevator opened and quietly murmured a benediction he had nearly forgotten. "Then may the Force be with you." Luke gave no sign that he had heard; Vader thought that perhaps it was Anakin who had said it... but then, he was Anakin, wasn't he? He followed Luke up the steps toward the Emperor.
Ever a master of the dramatic pause, the Emperor for a few moments continued to gaze out at the distant stars, before turning in his chair to face back into the room. He studied Luke intently and then nodded. "And so, Lord Vader, this is your son, the fruit of your seed. There is a resemblance to yourself, before your unfortunate...mishap. Yes, I can see it. And I can feel it. The Force is strong in him..." He closed his eyes a moment, breathed deeply a time or two, then opened his eyes and gave an evil smile. "Yes. Very strong. Welcome, Young Skywalker. Your destiny awaits you!" He waved a finger at the binders on Luke's wrists. " You no longer need these." They fell to the floor and Luke, still silent and wary, massaged his left wrist.
After a puzzled moment, Vader recalled Luke's artificial right hand and his own part in the necessity for it. He glanced down at his own right hand, amputated by Dooku so many years ago, the only one now still totally artificial. How alike we are fast becoming...It only wants your turning to make the transformation complete, both of us Sith, owing allegiance to this cruel tyrant. I don't want to destroy you, but neither do I want him to control you. We must destroy him! I can't do it alone, Son. I need your strength…. As Vader's thoughts rambled, he was vaguely aware of the evil old man's slimy blandishments directed at Luke. He could sense Luke's wavering resolve, his sudden momentary vision of what could be -- destroy the Emperor and Vader, become Emperor himself...And then sensed it as suddenly pass, as the good within Luke reasserted itself. My son, you are a great Jedi, more powerful than even that old spawn of evil realizes...
Luke looked toward his lightsaber where it rested beneath the Emperor's right hand. It trembled slightly, and moved a fraction toward him.
"Ooooh, good! Good!" cooed the Sith Master. "You want this!" He patted Luke's weapon. "Go on, take it! Strike me down! Unleash your anger and hate. Then your journey toward the Dark Side will be complete!" His lips curled into the ugly mockery of a smile.
Luke stood still and confident. "You are wrong, Your Majesty. I'll never turn!" His voice rang with conviction. His eyes flickered to the developing view outside in space.
"Oh, you're thinking of your friends out there --" Palpatine gestured toward the Rebel fleet just coming out of hyperspace. "I'm so sorry, but they are in for an unfortunate surprise from this armed and fully operational battle station!" His smile at Luke's startled response sent chills even through Vader. The Emperor spoke into a comlink. "Moff Jerjerrod, you may fire at will!"
A steadily building subsonic hum culminated in a burst of energy that vaporized a Rebel ship; Luke's lightsaber flew into his hand in full blazing readiness. Finally allowing himself to react, Luke snarled and sprang at the Emperor, flourishing his weapon. Vader's eyes widened at the surge of anger in his son, but some inner compulsion forced him to block Luke's attack. Their lightsabers met with hissing energy above the Emperor's head. Palpatine had not moved, but his maniacal laughter gave unnerving accompaniment to the thrum and hiss of the lightsabers as Luke arid Vader dueled around him.
"Yes, Young Skywalker, the Force is strong in you, but so is your anger! Use it! Strike your father down and become my apprentice in his place!"
Vader felt Luke's will waver, the temptation again rising in the boy. No, Luke, don't listen to him! He's the slimy, manipulative sarlacc's spawn who has ruined my life and would do the same to you! He'll suck you in and bleed dry your very soul! His fear for his son caused him to lose concentration and a misstep, coupled with Luke's steady capable swordsmanship, sent Vader tumbling down ,the steps.
Luke followed, then paused, and powered off his weapon. "I will not fight you, Father!" As Vader rose, Luke quickly stepped into shadows beneath the raised platform.
The Emperor stood and moved forward, anxious to see and hear all. He smirked in satisfaction. The boy was indeed stronger than he had foreseen; he would make a powerful Sith, worthy of his training as the apprentice of Darth Sidious!
Unwilling to be a silhouetted target if he followed Luke, Vader paced at the edge of the darkness where his son lurked. "Come out, my son, join me. The Dark Side beckons you, I know it Together --"
Luke's voice repeated, "I will not fight you, Father, nor will I turn to the Dark Side."
"It is unwise to lower your defenses, my son. I do not want to destroy you, but if that is your destiny..." He sensed his Master creeping closer, the better to hear. Go away, Palpy! Leave us to settle this between us!
Luke's voice was moving as he paced in the darkness on silent feet. "I will not fight you, nor will you destroy me. I sense the conflict within you, Father. You could not kill me before, and you won't destroy me now!" Luke's voice drew closer. Vader could almost see him, one shadow moving among many.
Vader's voice was sorrowful as he replied. "You underestimate the power of the Dark Side, Luke. I must obey. H you will not fight, then, much as I might wish otherwise, you will meet your destiny!"
"H that is my destiny, then so be it, but I refuse to fight my own father." The quiet conviction in Luke's voice gave Vader pause. And then he sensed Luke's thoughts -- another? The second. vergence in the Force that Vader had felt! Sister? Oh, no, Luke! Anakin suddenly surfaced inside Vader. Hide your thoughts before he senses them...
Sidious, already aware of Luke's thoughts, continued his unnerving evil cackling, compelling Vader's unwilling cooperation. "Sister?" rumbled Vader's voice, sounding foreign to his own ears. "Your thoughts betray you. Now Obi- Wan's failure is complete! If you will not turn, perhaps she will!"
Leia? Princess Foul-Mouth? Leia of the Thousand Curses? She's my daughter? Incongruously, he wanted to laugh at the revelation, even as he wanted to bite back his words and hide her existence and identity from Sidious.
The implied threat to the safety of his twin did what personal danger could not Luke leapt at his father, his lightsaber furiously swinging, his anger and fear lending him the power to force Vader back, and back again. The Emperor remained safely out of harm's way, but kept alert, his insane chuctde the only sound other than the thrumming hiss of the lightsabers.
Whoa! Hey, Son! Please, I didn't want to hurt you, and I certainly don't want -
Luke's furiously slashing weapon sent his father to his knees and then suddenly found a target Vader's right hand, still clutching his red Sith blade, flew into the depths below. Vader collapsed in shock.
Luke stopped then, regarding his father's exhausted form. He looked at the remains of Vader's artificial hand, then down at his own right hand, still holding the hissing lightsaber. He lifted that hand, shook his head, and deactivated the weapon, throwing it aside. His arm fell to his side and he looked fully at the approaching Emperor.
"Good, Young Skywalker! Good! Your anger has made you powerful indeed! Kill him and your turn to the Dark Side will be complete!" His chilling smile held anticipation of a final triumph over the Chosen One of Jedi prophecy.
Again, Luke shook his head. "You are wrong, Your Majesty! You've failed; I will never turn to the Dark Side! I am a Jedi, like my father before me!"
As Vader struggled upright, his thoughts pleaded for the boy. Beware, my son. You do me honor, but the old man holds the power of the Dark Side. He will destroy us both, and then turn his will on Leia...
"Then, young Jedi." the Emperor derisively spat the words, "you will die!" He raised his hands as Vader watched in helpless horror. Sith lightning coursed from his Master's fingertips, attacking the defenseless and unsuspecting Luke.
At first, the young Jedi used the power of the Force to repel the attack, but as the vindictive Emperor increased the power and frequency of the bolts, he was overwhelmed and writhed in agony. The Emperor's eyes glowed with insane intensity, and his constant laughter sounded inhuman, as he prepared another onslaught on his victim.
"Help me, Father! Please"
Vader wanted to look away, but his eyes remained glued to Luke's pain-wracked form. Son, I'm so sorry! I never wanted this! Why are you so stubborn? Agree to turn, he'll stop! Inside him Anakin knew otherwise, and compelled Vader's steps behind the maniacal old man. Intent upon his task, Sidious failed to notice the cautious movements of his apprentice. Vader's thoughts continued to belie his movements. I can't really do anything, son! I know it hurts, I've been there. But it will fry every circuit in my body... And then we'll both die...
Again Luke's agonized voice cried out. "Please... Father...Help…."
The Emperor paused briefly, preparing for the final onslaught. "Young fool! Only now, at the end, do you recognize the full power of the Dark Side!" He raised his hands again.
"Father --!" Luke's cry was barely above a whisper, but rose abruptly to a scream as his body was once again assaulted by the powerful jolts.
Curse it all, I can't watch this! Vader closed his eyes, and finally allowed Anakin to take full control of the body they had shared for so many years. With fading consciousness, he heard Anakin's thoughts: You are my only son! If one of the Skywalkers must die, let it be me! I'm not afraid of death! Not for myself, not if it will save you, my son...All right, Emperor Palpatine, Darth. Sidious, sarlacc's spawn of Sith evil, prepare to meet your destiny!
And Anakin Skywalker reached for the unaware embodiment of evil.