Summery : Five years after Mustafar, Darth Vader is but a shadow of the powerful Sith Lord he should be. To the point where the emperor must use the apprentice bond to force Vader to act. But why?

Chalk it up to two undaunted women who will not let even death stop them from saving the soul of the man they both loved.

Based on StarWarrior72's "The strength to do for his child"

Force-Speech

*Thoughts*

Disclaimer - I neither own copyright or receive money for anything. I write to improve my ability and for enjoyment.

We all need something to fight for:

Chapter 7: Brought about by the Force

Luke:

He'd been right about going to Anchorhead to replace the part that had blown out. Not only that but Aunt Beru had gone along because she needed to do some shopping. So in the pre-dawn hours Uncle Owen, Aunt Beru and Luke were on their way into town. Luke was still a little sleepy, but he was getting excited. He'd be able to play with his friends, and most importantly his father was close. So he acted more sleepy then he really was. It was hard because he was impatient to finally see his father. And that meant he was restless.

But Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru hardly seemed to notice. And when they did, it seemed they didn't find anything unusual in his squirming. As they pulled into town, Uncle Owen dropped him off by the small courtyard where the children in town usually played. "Stay out of trouble. We'll be back for you in the afternoon," Owen told his nephew as they left. Luke looked around and spotted Fixer and Biggs. He happily ran over to them as they stood talking. "Heard the news?" Biggs asked the smaller boy as Luke was catching his breath. "The Imperials are in town today. Da told me to stay put 'cause he doesn't want me to see 'em." Luke nodded and his heart soared.

His father was near-by, he could feel it. He had to find him before Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru found out about his father being here. They wouldn't want him to find his father, why he couldn't understand. Grown-ups could be so dumb sometimes. Quickly turning and calling over his shoulder, "I gotta do something, " he left the area and started to duck around the buildings. He was going to find Daddy no matter what!

Obi-wan:

He'd been feeling uneasy all morning. Unable to concentrate on his pre-dawn meditation, he given up in exasperation and started his thread-bare morning meal. *It appears that I'm running low on provisions again. Oh dear.* he thought sourly. It was in that moment that Obi-wan felt a fierce tremor of Darkness in the Force. One that had to be on planet. And was distinctly like... *Vader! No, he mustn't find Luke or we'll all be doomed!* Obi-wan thought in desperation.

Kenobi was hardly once for such negative thinking normally. But the presence of his former padawan and fallen brother had shaken him to the core. Why in space had Vader come here? Surely Tatooine would be the last world he would ever want to visit. Unless.. *The emperor must have sensed Luke somehow. That can be the only reason that he would send Vader. To kill the Force-sensitive. Oh dear Force* Obi-wan shook his head and quickly finished dressing for the desert's harsh day.

He had to get to Owen and Beru before Vader. Or else Luke would be captured or worse, killed by the shell of the man who had been his birth-father. And there was were only a few options left open to him at this point. Including facing Vader again, so that the Lars family could escape. Hoping the Force would hear his plead that Owen would listen to him, he raced out of his small hut and found his speeder. Now he was in the race of his life.

Vader:

He hated this place. Hated the sand, the heat, the memories. Even that bright presence had seemed to dessert him the moment he stepped foot on this forsaken pit of sand. Stalking up and down the small town with a squad of Storm Troopers behind him, Darth Vader was actually as terrifying as the hologanda had made him out to be. The Imperial Governor, a simpering coward if ever there was one, all but shoved the Dark Lord in the direction of this backwater town as the best way to find the Hutts.

If Vader hadn't been so furious, he would have simply sent the fool packing. Yet when the Governor mentioned the Emperor's name, Vader backed off. Not that he believed the idiot, but perhaps the fool would dig himself a deeper grave sending him on a wild bantha chase. Anyone that had any dealings with the Hutts knew the best place to look was Mos Eisley or Mos Espa if they didn't want to go straight into the loins' den that was Jabba's palace. And this dusty little town was on the way to that spot.

Yet there was something else that called him out here, something Vader couldn't define. He didn't want to give into it, he instinctively felt that it would start something that he didn't want to face. But there was no help for it. He could not back out now if he wanted. He never had any choices anymore. And when he needed that support of his fantasy, it had disappeared. Again he'd been betrayed. *Should I have expected nothing less?* he thought sourly.

He turned, about to give the order to return to the trooper shuttle when he noticed a small form break from the shadow of a building behind the Storm Troopers. Curious, he watched it race forward like mad, suddenly revealing itself as a small boy. Unafraid, the child ducked and weaved around the Troopers' legs until he was standing in front of the Sith. And Vader felt like his heart had just stopped.

Luke:

*He's here, he's finally here!* was the only thoughts that were running though his mind. If he could only find his father before they could stop him, everything would turn out just fine! He knew this, knew this to the deepest core of his being. His father needed him! Luke duck and weaved through the buildings, looking for white armor. He knew Imperials wore that. He spotted his aunt and uncle hurrying back in the direction of the courtyard looking over their shoulders in fear. For a moment he felt bad, but then set it aside. Daddy need him, NOW!

Finally Luke came to a halt in the shadow of a small building. He was panting and starting to feel woozy, but he couldn't let that stop him. As he looked down the street he all but crowed. There they where! And the big man in front, the one in black had to be.. "Daddy!" Luke whispered and launched himself forward. He didn't remember how, but suddenly he was in front of the man his heart cried for. Squinting up in the bright light he wasn't sure that his Father recognized him. Then he felt his shock and with it, semi-conscious acceptance and joy.

Luke threw himself forward and grabbed his father's leg, shouting "Daddy, Daddy" at the top of his lungs. It would finally be alright!