Description: When a mission goes wrong, Luke Skywalker crashes on an uninhabited planet. While waiting for rescue, he makes an unexpected discovery.
A/N #1: I do not own Star Wars, but I do so enjoy playing in the Galaxy.
A/N #2: Thank you so much to my beta reader. Her help is immeasurable.
A/N #3: Thanks to everyone for all the many reviews and bits of encouragement. To say I am blown away is an understatement, but please do not stop. I do so enjoy reading them. I have tried to respond to your recent reviews individually. I truly hope you will continue to enjoy this story.
Chapter 5
The forest that lay before him was smothered in inky blackness. Unlike his home world, there was no radiant sand, nor trio of satellite moons to interfere the sterile shroud of night. The warm glow from the campfire mixed with illuminated glow sticks emitting from the cave above him offered the only relief to the all consuming gloom. Accompanying the darkness, a cacophony of sounds resonated from a myriad of unseen creatures around him. Nature's night music carried adrift by the crisp evening air.
Melding into the darkened surroundings, Luke Skywalker leaned heavily against the cold stone boulders as he sat on the damp ground in front of their forced refuge. He had remained here in silent contemplation for what seemed like hours. His self imposed exile due to his inability to tolerate the very sight of his prisoner at the moment.
Luke's task of gathering firewood had taken little time. He had found the forest floor heavily laden with dried brittle limbs. The young man had easily snapped them into shorter lengths using the ramming force of a well placed boot. Physical exertion had greatly helped him to release his frustration. It left him feeling spent and empty, as he did now.
When he returned to the cave, Vader had given him no notice. Luke had been glad of that. But even in the uneasy silence, the Dark Lord's overwhelming presence filled the cave with unbearable foreboding. Luke immediately noticed the disintegrated remains of the power generator that lay next to the deactivated form of R2D2. The rebel let it pass as there was no question as to the instigator of the damage.
Luke tried to think of a way to keep from listening to any more of the fearsome Sith's vile rhetoric. Wishing that Vader's injuries would render him unconscious until their rescue was probably a waste of energy. The young man was sure that there was a way to manipulate the Force to accomplish the same feat, but he did not have the knowledge to do so. A momentarily fantasy of gagging the menacing Dark Lord floated into his mind, but that option wasn't at all plausible. With no alternative, the rebel had retreated to the reasonable safety of the ferine wilderness. He almost preferred taking his chances with the natural predators that hunted among the trees. He doubted anything on the planet could be as dangerous as the man that resided in the cave above him.
As he sat in the deepening gloom, a sickening realization festered in the rebel's gut. It spread through his body with icy tendrils until it had removed all doubt from his mind. Despite Luke's feeble declaration of arrest, Vader's weakened state, and the rudimentary bindings with which he had tethered the armored man's wrists; the Dark Lord was only Luke's prisoner because he chose to be. How long this strange scenario continued depended totally on Darth Vader himself. Why the Sith had placed himself in this situation, the young rebel did not dare to guess. The only question that really mattered was what Luke was going to do now? As the night's temperature continued to drop, he realized it was high time to figure that out.
With a heavy sigh, the blond haired rebel looked down at his hands tightly clutching the smooth metal hilt of his father's lightsaber. It had been his most prized possession ever since Ben Kenobi handed it to him nearly a year ago. It was also the only tangible relic he owned that was linked to his heritage; a belated gift from a parent he had never known.
The image that Luke had created in childhood of his idolized father seemed almost palpable at times. He would often sense his father watching over him. Over time, that feeling had only become stronger, especially lately. It brought comfort to the young man; even if it was only a figment of his imagination.
Despite his Uncle's insistence that he was a navigator on a spice freighter, Luke had always felt there was more to the mysterious man that often filled his dreams. When old Ben told him about his father's past as Jedi Knight and war hero, it was only natural to believe without question. The impressive biography had instantly felt right to Luke; as if he had already known it to be true.
Luke had always felt compelled to make something of himself that would somehow bring pride to the man he could never meet. The fact that his father had been a Jedi, well that had just raised the stakes tenfold. Maybe that was the reason his heart had yearned so urgently to follow the old Jedi on Luke's first adventure away from Tatooine? Why he had been so eager to join the rebellion and take up the fight against the Empire? Why he continued to volunteer to lead the most dangerous and difficult missions? He really didn't know. He just never thought his chosen life would be this hard.
That was his problem, Luke silently chided himself. He never really 'thought' much about his actions at all. He had always been too hasty, too willing to act on impulse. He never gave much consideration to what consequences lay ahead, and would often put the safety of others before his own.
A true Jedi would never be so rash and careless. Luke was sure of that. If his all too brief encounter with old Ben was any indication, the Jedi of the Old Republic would have acted with patience and fortitude. Their actions would have been methodically planned, and would undoubtedly have led to well executed, , , successful results. It would have be a far cry from his seat-of-the-pants style. Sometimes Luke could almost hear his mythical father scolding him over his own recklessness.
He absentmindedly brought up a hand to his massage his throbbing temples. He tightly closed his eyes as the memory of another desperate time came to him. His and Ben's night time race across the cool desert of Tatooine. That journey to Mos Eisly had not only been a stepping stone to his future, but it had been his only window to a greater time that no longer existed. For hours, Luke had enthusiastically interrogated Ben about his father, about the Republic, and about the Jedi. The old man had answered most of his questions, although there were a few vague references that Luke still did not understand. At one point, Luke had asked why it was so important for Ben and his father to sacrifice so much to be Jedi. Why, after so long, had Ben been quick to jump back into service despite the imminent danger? The old Jedi's answer had been simple. 'We do what we must as we are among the few who can.'
Luke knew when he first heard those words that they would stay with him forever. More than that, he had continued to repeat the mantra to himself over these long lonely months. It gave him comfort when he questioned not only his future ambitions but his sanity as well. He tried to muster strength from those words now.
His birthright had provided him a destiny he could not avoid. He had inherited the ability to feel and wield the Force. He was one of the few, possibly the only one left, who could accomplish tasks that most could not. He had a duty to learn how to use his talent. He could make a difference in the galaxy, or at least he would try. For his friends, for his father, and most of all for himself, he could not fail.
The young man raised his head and looked up at the brilliant display of stars that twinkled down at him from the blackness of space. He hoped to see the distinctive red streak that would indicate the advent of the Millennium Falcon. Despite the Sith's negative words, Luke knew that his friends were on their way. He could feel their concern for him and sensed that they would be arriving soon. His rescue would be coming, but it wouldn't get here any sooner just by his wishing it to happen. He needed to rely on himself for now.
With new resolve, Luke exhaled deeply and rose up from the cold ground. He dusted the dried leaves and dirt off the back of his flight suit as he clipped his lightsaber back to his belt. He wouldn't flee or hide any longer. He would face his fears head on. If that meant confronting the Dark Lord again, then so be it.
Hopefully, the Corellian version of luck that Han insisted he carried would stay with him a little longer, or maybe his phantom father would continue to watch over him until he could find a way out of this nightmare. Either way, it was up to Luke to be strong enough to endure what was to come next. He was not afraid; or at least, he told himself, not that much.
Luke entered the cave with determination and sat himself down by the fire. He immediately noticed that the suffocating atmosphere had lightened considerably. A now alert Artoo tracked the rebel's movements with his photo receptor. He quietly rolled forward to stop next to his young master. Vader remained motionless against the cave wall, his head resting on the cold stone behind him. The young man hoped that it meant that the Dark Lord was either sleeping or unconscious. All too soon, that desired impression was dispelled.
"Luke," Vader's baritone voice echoed throughout the cave. "You are in great danger."
"I'm not afraid of you." The rebel glared defiantly at the Sith. His icy blue eyes flashed with burning resolve.
"It is not I whom you need to fear," Vader's tone was eerily calm.
That was not an answer that the young man had anticipated. His brow furrowed as he hesitated for a few moments and tried to decipher the Sith's mysterious comment.
"Who then?" Luke finally asked.
"The Emperor is your greatest enemy," Vader warned ominously.
A new chill ran down Luke's spine at the Dark Lord's words. "Why would he be concerned with me?" The young man warily questioned.
"Your destruction of his most prized possession would be enough to garner his wrath," Vader answered. "But your heritage presents a far greater threat to him."
"He knows who I am?" Luke was surprised by the information.
"Not yet," The Sith conceded. "But his spy network is extensive. He will soon learn of your existence."
"But not from you?" Luke narrowed his eyes as he tried to understand the Dark Lord's enigmatic counsel.
"No, young one." Vader turned his mask to directly face the rebel. "Not from me."
"But I thought you were the Emperor's enforcer," Luke protested. "Why should I be worried about an old man?"
"Do not underestimate the power of the Emperor," Vader cautioned. "It could cost you far more than your life."
At the Sith's gloomy warning, Artoo issued a short commentary of beeps. Luke didn't understand what he had said, but his actions seemed to cause the Dark Lord to turn away and lean back against the cave wall.
"You still have so much to learn, child." Vader shook his head resignedly.
"I know," Luke acknowledged. "But I will find a way. I will be a Jedi Knight someday, like my father."
"Your father?" At first, the Sith seemed startled by the young man's declaration. A strange noise followed that made Luke wonder if it was the artificial replication of a dismissive scoff. "Your father was misguided."
"Don't say that," the young man's voice flared with hot passion at the perceived insult.
"He was a great Jedi."
The Dark Lord slowly turned his helmet back to Luke's direction. "Anakin Skywalker was a damned fool." Vader's accusation dripped with contempt.
"You lie!" Luke shouted. His vision blurred slightly as angry hot tears welled in his eyes before he desperately willed them away. Luke refused to listen to any berating of his father, especially from the man who had killed him.
"Not to you," the Dark Lord's mechanical voice could barely be heard over the rasps of his respirator.
The two men continued to stare at each other intensely. The droning sound of Vader's breathing interrupted by tentative beeps from the near forgotten astromech droid peppered the silence. Artoo appeared to quiver with dread and anticipation.
"Luke," Vader's mechanized baritone strained with mounting tension. "Your arrogance blinds you. You must accept my offer to complete your training. It is the only way."
Luke smiled disdainfully and shook his head. "I want no part of the Dark Side."
"If you only knew the power…"
"I don't care!" The young man cut him off.
"Join me and we could rule this Empire," Vader's voice continued to rise in volume as well as intensity.
"I don't want to rule people," the rebel loudly objected. "I want to help them."
"You would be helping them, Luke," Vader countered. "Together, we can end this destructive conflict. We will bring order to the galaxy."
"Like what you've been doing already?" The young man accused mockingly. "If you are so set on ruling the Empire," Luke snapped, "why don't you just overthrow the Emperor yourself?"
The Dark Lord dropped his gaze from the incensed young rebel. His overbearing presence seemed to deflate as he leaned heavily against the cold stone and turned his helmet away.
"I have tried," the Sith declared darkly, "and failed."
"Then why do you think I have a chance to succeed?" The rebel questioned, his jaw clenched tightly.
"Alone, you do not," Vader admitted quietly. "Only by working together, can we defeat him."
A wary trill of whistles emanated from the little astromech droid. Luke was growing frustrated with Artoo's constant interruptions. At the young man's withering glance, the little droid fell silent.
"It won't happen," Luke averred. "I'll never join you."
Luke got the feeling that if Vader's respirator had allowed it, the armored giant would have heaved a weary sigh. As it was, the young man thought the could hear the Sith's exasperation conveyed through his enunciator.
"You do not yet understand your place, boy," the Dark Lord's mechanical voice seemed drained. Luke wondered at the perception of such an atypical trait. "It is your destiny."
"You're wrong," Luke argued. "I would die before I turned to the Dark Side.
"You may not have that choice," Vader retorted.
"We always have a choice," the young man straightened himself righteously. "We just need to be prepared to live with the consequences."
The psychic tremor that reverberated through the cave caused Luke to look around in concern. He was puzzled as to where the strange sensation originated. That was, until he turned back to his ebony clad prisoner. He knew it was not possible, but it almost appeared as if the mask Vader wore had paled. Maybe, Luke reasoned, the shaken reaction had only registered on the face that was hidden beneath it.
"You sound like your mother, boy," Vader's enunciator cracked uncharacteristically.
"You knew her?" Luke gasped in alarm.
Artoo's seemingly frantic reaction caused the rebel's question to go unanswered. The little droid rolled forward to place his cylindrical body between the two men. He spouted a quivering dialog of beeps and whistles that seemed to only heighten the growing tension in the air.
Luke stood to regain his view of the Dark Lord ignoring the little droid's tirade. "What was she like?" The question escaped the young man's lips before he could think better of it.
Vader dropped his helmet to his chest. Luke wasn't sure if he was experiencing pain from his injuries or if the cause of his discomfort came from a different source. An invisible heaviness mounted so thickly that it seemed to electrify the air. The rebel knew he could push no further for a reply.
"She was very beautiful," the Dark Lord's hollow baritone finally broke the silence. "And very stubborn," he added.
The odd reaction that Vader was displaying made Luke uncomfortably suspicious. Ben had told him that the fallen Jedi had once been his pupil. The fact that the traitorous Sith would have known Luke's father was understandable. After all, Anakin Skywalker had been one of Ben's closest friends. But the revelation that this malevolent villain was also aware of Luke's mother was disturbed him down to his very core.
The near forgotten astromech droid twittered nervously. He rolled closer to the Dark Lord as his chromed top swiveling worriedly between the two agitated men.
"It sounds like you cared for her." A myriad of dark scenarios rushed into Luke's vivid imagination. None of them were pleasant. Despite trying to clear his unwanted thoughts, the images refused to fade.
Vader remained silent.
"Was she the reason why you killed my father?" Luke questioned darkly.
"What?!" The Sith's helmet snapped up with great intensity at Luke's accusation. The sharp movement appeared to cause him a volatile stab of pain. The hiss that replicated from the Dark Lord's enunciator seemed to only heighten his surging outrage. "Who told you that?" Vader spat.
"Ben," Luke offered defiantly. "He said that you betrayed and murdered my…"
"Obi Wan lied to you," Vader roared. "I did not kill your father."
Luke began to feel the Sith's near palpable fury swirling around him. He hastily tried to tighten his defensive shields as he had clumsily done the prior night in anticipation of another mental attack. He unconsciously took a step away from the dangerous man.
R2D2's reaction was almost as immediate. He rolled himself back until he bumped protectively into his young master whistling frantically all the while.
The intensity of the moment continued unabated for what seemed an eternity, but in reality were mere minutes. The churning wave of dark emotion finally played out and dissipated as the atmosphere in the cave calmed.
Again, Luke felt that the little astromech had defused the confrontation. But instead of gratitude, his annoyance with the droid only increased. What could Artoo possibly be saying to the Sith that would consistently neutralize him like that? Luke silently vowed to start learning the droid's binary language as soon as he managed to get back to the Alliance.
The Dark Lord turned his mask away from the young man. He slowly dropped his head to his chest. "Your father lives," he uttered.
Artoo emitted a loud, mournfully long whistle. The rebel did not hear it. The shock of Vader's admission had totally dumbfounded him. He felt lightheaded and disoriented. Luke's vision blurred; a loud buzzing filled his ears. The young man began to stumble forward and placed a bracing hand on Artoo's domed head to stabilize him. It took him several minuets before he could find his voice.
"I don't believe you," Luke whispered hoarsely.
"It is the truth, S…child."
Despite Vader's vow, Luke's rational mind was screaming its absurdity. The Dark Lord had seemingly found a new way to torture the youth. Spewing more lies to weaken the young man's resistance and turn him to his bidding.
But Luke's heart told him different. It was more than just a son's fervent wish to believe the father he had never known still existed. The Sith's words were true. He knew it. An ethereal conformation radiated from the deepest part of his being. Luke sensed he should trust the feeling, but was oddly fearful to do so.
The rebel closed his eyes and desperately tried to swallow the lump of bile that had crept into his throat. He fought urgently for calm, yet began to tremble as he barely contained his spiraling emotions.
"If he was alive," Luke was hardly able to choke out the words. "Why has he never contacted me?"
The Dark Lord's even mechanical breathing was his only response.
"Where is he?" Luke's question echoed hauntingly off the stone walls.
Vader remained silent.
"Where is he?" Luke demanded again, his ice blue eyes shown like daggers in the firelight.
There was still no reply.
"WHERE IS HE?!" The distraught young man shouted with such intensity that even Artoo silently rolled away from him.
"The Emperor holds him," Vader's words came painfully slow.
"He's a prisoner?" Luke visibly paled.
The Dark Lord offered no elaboration.
"Where is he?" the young rebel was now pleading.
"He is beyond your reach him, boy."
"You're wrong," Luke shook his head defiantly. "If he is out there, I will find him."
"He resides in a place where you do not want to go." Again, the Dark Lord's words were sinister and vague.
Luke turned from the bound man in frustration. He took several juddering steps toward the fire. Dropping his blond head, the disconcerted young rebel and tightly closed his eyes. As he stood in the blackness of his own despair, a comforting sensation began to envelope him. It penetrated though him to soothe the depths of his soul. An inner potency that until now he had not been aware existed ignited and grew with intensity. With unquestionable clarity, he knew the Force was speaking to him. It compelled to do the unthinkable. It urged him on to ask the unspeakable. And he knew he could do no less than comply. With grim determination, he did.
"Then help me."
"What?!" Vader jerked away from the wall at the absurdity of Luke's words. The Dark Lord's actions caused him to groan loudly and fall back in pain. Luke turned back and responsively moved toward the Sith. A quick shake of the ebony helmet made him stop. Vader's pain was his own. He would neither share nor temper it with others. "You can not be serious, boy," he finally managed a strained reply.
"I am," Luke averred with steely resolve. "He's my father. I have to find him."
"Luke," the Dark Lord interjected. "You do not understand."
"No! You don't understand," the young rebel voice quivered with passion. "He's out there and he needs help." Luke took a deep shaky breath. "I have to save him."
The Dark Lord made no reply. He remained deathly still. The heavily tinted lenses of his fearsome mask fixed unwavering on the defiant young man standing before him. The rhythmic cycling of Vader's respirator was the only noise to permeate the intense standoff.
"You know where my father is," Luke broke the silence. "Please, help me save him," his voice strained taunt with emotion.
If the Dark Lord had any intention to reply, the response was disrupted when three fiery warning sensor lights began to flash ominously on Vader's chest plate accompanied by a high pitched alarm. Vader shuddered violently as he was seized by crushing waves of pain.
Without hesitation, Luke rushed forward and grabbed the Sith's biceps to help stabilize him. Luke watched numbly as Vader reached up with his bound hands and clumsily managed to flip several switches on his suit to new positions. The warning tone ended abruptly and the display lights dimmed and went back to their regular blinking pattern of green. Luke kept a supportive grip on the heavily padded leather suit; he barely noticed that the little astromech droid had rolled up beside them and was whistling nervously. Finally, the young man could feel the Dark Lord begin to relax as he slowly recovered from his agony.
"What happened?" Luke asked tentatively.
"It is none of your concern, young one." The Sith answered with great effort.
"You need help." Luke insisted.
"Leave me," Vader rebuked fiercely. "This will pass."
Luke wanted to insist that Vader allow him to help ease his suffering, but he knew the effort would be futile. He was sure that any continued attempt would be met by an impenetrable wall of resistance as solid as the Sith's encasing armor. Luke stared intently into the opaque lenses of the grotesque mask trying to see the man beneath. But both the reflective eyepieces as well as the tightly shielded mind within made it impossible.
"You haven't answered me yet," the young rebel held his steady gaze on the Dark Lord.
"Your tenacity is impressive, young one," Vader nodded slightly in deference. "I require rest."
Luke grinned optimistically as he released his hold on the man as he stepped back. At least Vader had not blatantly refused him. The young man turned and moved away from his bound prisoner placing a comforting hand on the top of the little astromech droid as he passed. Luke grabbed a few logs from the replenished stash of firewood and placed them on the fire. It would be enough fuel to keep the cave comfortably warm through the rest of the night.
Overpowering waves of exhaustion, both emotional and physical began to nag at the youth's body. Knowing he could not resist, Luke unfolded his bedroll and prepared himself for sleep. Settling down, he propped himself up on one elbow, and rested his head on his upraised hand. He stared mesmerized at the ravenous flames. The erratic emotions that had assaulted him earlier had extinguished; replaced by a calming sensation that Luke assumed was caused by the Force. It mended his ragged soul and filled him with feeling of warm inner peace.
Artoo silently rolled up next to him and hovered protectively by the young man's head. Luke could never stay upset at Artoo for very long. He smiled warmly as he glanced up at the droid that he considered a friend.
The young rebel looked back once more at his prisoner. Entrapped in his own private misery, the Sith remained motionless; his helmet bent heavily forward. Luke realized he was both terrified and elated by the Dark Lord's unexpected revelation. It made Luke wonder who exactly the mysterious man behind the mask truly was. Although he still wasn't sure he really wanted to know, something within him whispered that he would be finding out. Maybe Vader himself would tell him more when they got back to the base. 'When bantha's fly,' he wryly thought.
Not able to think clearly any longer, Luke rolled over finally ready to surrender himself to sleep. Long familiar images of a tall imposing man with wavy blond hair and intense blue eyes began to fill his numbing mind as conciseness slowly ebbed away.
As flames burned to embers, the little astromech droid kept a diligent watch on both his headstrong wards. He silently swiveled his domed head between his two companions. They both appeared to have finally powered down and were now regenerating. It gave him the opportunity to quietly process the day's data input. He would have much to relay to his friend C3PO when they returned to base. Of course, he was sure that the golden protocol droid would simply rebuff him and accuse him of exaggerating again.
He idly theorized why it seemed that humans were both determined and adept at making their existence so complicated. Skywalkers were by far the most proficient at that annoying ability. This little adventure had proven that undeniable fact entirely. Keeping their first encounter peaceful had been enough to fry his components. He had stopped hypothesizing future scenarios over an hour ago; as he was sure his processors were close to short circuiting.
The little droid slowly backed away from his sleeping young master. Confirming that he had not disturbed him, the astromech engaged his third leg and rolled quietly around to the fearsome Sith Lord. He still had more to say, and Artoo had determined that now would be the appropriate time to do so.
Arriving at the armored man's side he beeped softly to make his presence known. Receiving no answer, the little droid backed up several centimeters, and then drove forward into the man's thigh with force.
Darth Vader groaned in pain and uttered a choice selection of Huttese curses as he reacted to the abrupt interruption. He raised his helmet and turned his head to address the blue and white droid.
"What?" he growled.
The little droid trilled urgently.
"Yes, Artoo," Vader vocalized his scowl as he looked away. "You were right."
The astromech issued a rant of beeps.
The Sith turned to again face the droid and address him. "It is unbecoming for you to gloat."
The little droid did not relent with his electronic tirade.
"No," Vader acknowledged as he leaned his helmet back onto the cold stone wall. "He is not ready."
R2D2 whistled triumphantly in response.
"Yes, Artoo," disgust was present in the Dark Lord's mechanical voice. "But it is a lesson learned far too late."
Artoo whistled warily.
"I do not know," Vader paused momentarily. "But you have my word; I will do what I can."
The little astromech droid seemed bolstered by the Dark Lord's vow. He set off in a new intense rant of beeps.
"You know, of course," Vader rumbled menacingly, "you will have your work cut out for you. I may not be there to cover for you the next time." Vader looked to the sleeping form of the young rebel. "You will need to keep him safe despite his recklessness."
The blatant splat of the little droid's response needed very little interpretation.
"True," amusement apparent in the Sith's mechanical voice. "If you survived one, how bad could another be?"
At that, they both fell quiet. Artoo slowly backed up to sit snuggly against the Dark Lord. The little droid uncannily understood that they would not share such a moment again. He was pleased to continue their contact for just a while longer.
"So, Artoo," Vader finally broke the silence. "Tell me again. How, exactly, did the boy end up in that detention level garbage masher?"