Chapter 3

Soon after taking in the Skywalkers, Vader adopted a simple style of clothing to blend in with the locals and avoid drawing attention to himself. He now wears a black desert-colored tunic, robe, and pants, with a pair of sturdy boots. His garment is akin to the black traditional Jedi garb, but more practical for living in the harsh desert environment. Now no one shall be able to distinguish the differences, his lightsabers concealed in his boots.

In truth, Vader has no idea how Obi-Wan was able to live on this desert planet for so long, yet he'd respected his former Jedi Master's efforts and survival skills. Aside from the countless reminders of his past, Vader is plagued by nightmares of his past; the ragged defeated form of his mother, the Tuskens as they are cut through. Being on a planet who one hates surrounded by those who you live is poetic suffice to say.

However, there have been moments of... peace, even on this sand-wreck planet. In the first few days of his arrival to the mother, Vader soaked in the presences of Anakin and Shmi Skywalker, merely watching as the latter is allowed to be the mother she'd always wanted. He can't remember in his foggy memories if he'd ever seen his mother that happy, that... free. There are certainly scars both physically and mentally, that much obvious by the scar on the back of her neck as well as her young son due to their respective surgeries.

Vader knew that sustaining the Homestead would come with hard work. After some time - like with his own Toydarian master before him - Vader built his own junkshop. Contrary to what he once believed, his time as a slave taught him a lot of survival mechanisms that he'd even used during the Clone Wars and throughout the era of the Empire.

Watto's shop is a dilapidated structure made from salvaged materials and scrap metal. In his foggy memories, the shop was constantly expanding, as the Toydarian was always bringing in new junk and expanding his inventory. In that regard, Vader would be different, making sure the stocks was properly organized.

Initially, he was tempted to go to Watto's shop and claim it for himself but he knows that would be unwise and may tip off unnecessary conflict so instead he begins his own business in an abandoned spot just outside of Mos Espa, quickly finding ways of advertisement to attract the natives of Tatooine. It is no secret that Watto's shop is regarded as the best on this dust ball and he would have to be patient. This shop is a testament to his resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit.

It took weeks with having to watch over the Skywalkers and ensuring that the Hutts doesn't try to re-enslave them, but customers began piling in once the shop gained the attention that he wanted. While Tatooine is known to be disdainful in the Outer Rim, there are some decent folks who are just trying to make a living.

While there are similarities between his and Watto's shop like living quarters in the back that Vader also established himself and a huge section in the back for the bigger parts, no one would be able to distinguish the similarities besides maybe the Toydarian himself, that mere thought filling the former Sith with a bit of amusement.

Though even Vader would admit, as far as cruelty goes, Watto ranked low on the list compared to other slavers. Unlike Gardulla who wanted every task she demanded done, some downright life-threatening and stealing much sleep from his mother and eventually himself, the Toydarian at least had the decency to allow him and his mother to sleep... much more occasionally. Despite Watto's slimy ways, Anakin Skywalker have been with Watto countless times to know that the Toydarian knew how to run one of the best shops in Mos Espa if not outright the best on Tatooine no doubt due to the Skywalkers, precisely why he was never targeted for assassination in the other timeline - along with his favour with the Hutts.

The soft sound of a door chime catches Vader's attention and he stands up. It feels so good not having those bulky legs and instead being able to walk like a normal human. There have been times where Vader often touched his own hair, being in awe of his now fresh as foolish as that may seem - sans his prosthetic right arm.

He moves behind the counter, looking down at the man. Something about the man is strikingly familiar. He has short brown hair which seems to have seen better days as well as a somewhat unkempt facial hair.

"Can I help you?" Vader asks in Huttese, scrutinizing him with narrowed blue eyes. Where has he seen this man before?

"Welders and plasma cutters, please," the man responds in the same language, albeit it sounds slightly butchered compared to the common natives on Tatooine. Odd...

Although he doesn't sense any ulterior motive on the older man's behalf, Vader still is keeping his senses up. He immediately complies, collecting each of the parts after briefly rummaging and returning to the counter, before giving him his price.

After the payment is paid off, he begins speaking yet again. "I heard things about this place."

Vader tilts his head down at him, nonverbally telling him that he is listening. Typically, transactions go smoothly with small talk being out of the question, yet this man... is different than the rest. Whilst most who came before are individuals that Vader knows to watch intently, a murmur in the Force tells him that this man can be trusted. Yet, decades of betrayal and hypervigilance is still immersed within him. People in this galaxy are untrustworthy and would betray one another for credits or other methods of currencies to gain a extra buck...

He trusts the Force to will the galaxy into the right path, yet not everything always goes as the Force plans. Even now, the future is always in motion.

Hmm, Yoda... as always having to be right in his just wisdom...

"My friends has come here," the man continues. "Other shop owners is known for boosting up the prices, however they told me you give reasonable prices as well as guarantee functional products. It appears that I don't have to worry about being swindled."

Vader isn't the type to conversate much, except when it comes to his mother and touching upon the Force with his younger self. He will try to keep this short and straight to the point.

"You need not concern yourself about my products," Vader responds without care. He made sure of that personally. What other way to gain more money - rather credits, peggats, or other such currencies than to go against what is viewed as the status quo on this Force forsaken planet?

It also provides light in such darkness, possibly showing that there is hope on this dust ball...

The man's lips curl. "I would see that for myself."

Vader remains phlegmatic. "You will not be disappointed."

"Hmmm, for the time being, I believe we should have a proper introduction." The man extends a hand to Vader. "My name is Cliegg Lars."

Vader's breath catches in his throat, having to fight a strange instinct within to snap his hands up to his chest. Force, he has not been expecting that! His thoughts go to Owen and Beru, the people who raised Luke despite the dark shadow of the Empire looming over the entire galaxy.

He did get the report after the Stormtrooper Squad found the Lars having been in possession of both Artoo and Threepio. Mod Terrik, a ambitious Stormtrooper Captain responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Rebels, ordered the termination of Owen and Beru. It had been a shock at the time about him dying in the crossfire between them and Captain Solo, given his mastery in tactician and having survived worse.

Yet, he can't fault the man for following his own orders. Despite how he hadn't been directly responsible for their deaths, Vader feels a wave of anger consumes him directed at himself yet again, remembering the turmoil that surrounded his son when he saw him cut through Obi-Wan on the Death Star, doubled by the lost of his adopted parents. For so many years after Shmi Skywalker's death, they kept her gravestone intact and made sure her memory was remembered, as well as giving her a loving home for the last years of her life. Undoubtedly, his son wanted to know about his grandmother growing up, and the Lars most likely answered his questions to the best of their abilities.

Snapping out of his intrusive thoughts, he can see the older man's hand is still outstretched to his direction.

"...Vader," he replies, accepting the hand, only half in mind as he contemplates. What would happen now that he has interacted with Cliegg Lars? Is this the result of his time traveling to the past?

Say something, a voice murmurs in the back of his head. No longer is he that intimidating force of power, a giant towering above all others like a dark god casting judgement on those who dare to doubt his power, his ever-booming voice serving as a factor of producing results. This reminded him of the early days of the regime of the Empire where there were instances when Vader struggled with his communication skills, particularly when it came to expressing emotions or dealing with interpersonal relationships. He often found it difficult to communicate with his subordinates and was just as frustrated by their inability to understand his commands. Just as often, he'd took out his anger out on the enemies as well as his allies.

But this is even more complicated because Vader have been voided from any source of decent human conversation for two decades. Even now on Tatooine, he'd tried to keep interactions at a bare minimum and as simplistic as possible with each purchase. Each individual seems to have a non vocal respect about that, likely summoning it up to the fact that this is Tatooine and even socializing can lead to conflict. Even so, Vader isn't the type to be deceived and would ensure that they pay off to completion.

"So are you the only worker here?" Cliegg asks now in Galactic Basic, narrowing his eyes in interest.

After a moment of reflection, Vader considers him with a sharp expression. "I work satisfyingly enough alone."

"You done all this work by yourself?!" he exclaims, disbelieving.

Vader almost actually smirks at that. "Engineering is a feat that comes easily to me."

Cliegg hums and says, "Tatooine is full of people looking for jobs. You can find assistants quickly."

Vader scowls at that. "I don't require assistants. Hard labour is the natural way of life when it comes to planets like Tatooine."

"Excuse my bluntness but the other shop owners have assistant workers, some..." he struggles to find a appropriate way to continue, "unwilling so we say-"

Vader glares at him, gritting his teeth at the obvious implication that he is giving, albeit he senses no disrespect intended from the man. "I do not owe, need, or approve of slaves. Those who do are weak and foolish. They take away another's independence in order for them to feel strong when they can hardly even know how to wield a weapon themselves."

"Well, that's a interesting opinion," Cliegg replies, looking at him as if he has grown a second head, "and what about their slaves?"

Vader looks at him in the eyes, feeling uncertain about how should answer this question. The man was seemingly kind enough with the young Anakin Skywalker and have given his mother some of the best years of her life, but this is before he met his mother and people can change if Rebel and Imperial defectors is anything to go by.

For all he knows, Cliegg Lars can be - at least the Cliegg Lars at this point in this timeline - another slime ball. Or, perhaps he is being negativistic and allowing his cynicism of others to motivate him even now, despite how the Force itself is telling him that the man is all but harmless currently.

"They're meritorious," the former Sith retorts, evidently bemusing the man in regard.

"What?" Cliegg inquires, arching his left eyebrow.

"Unique," Vader declares, mentally cursing at his authoritative speech patterns, knowing that he would have to adjust his idiosyncratic vocabulary eventually - most of all on this dust ball. "Remarkable."

"Remarkable?" Cliegg asks with no small hint of incredulity.

Vader folds his arms across his chest. "There is a hope within all slaves. Despite being embedded in a life of pain and suffering, they adopt survival methods and could in actuality receive freedom through time. All they need is something that sparks off that hope. On the contrary, the foolish slavers are animals hounding for control. They know nothing of independence and are insignificant worms."

Cliegg's lips curl as he tilts his head to the right, apparently trying to read him. "Well, my friend, that is a unexpected sentiment."

Vader probes him through the Force, finding no argument on his lips nor... disagreement, despite his astonishment radiating around him. Perhaps he should have gotten to know the man in the other timeline then.

"...You don't disagree about the slavers," Vader states simply.

"I admittedly don't," Cliegg replies after a moment, nodding in acknowledgement. "Not every one of us who live here agree with nor support the slavers, but we have to respect the laws of Jabba, the Hutts, and the slavers. I hope you understand that."

Vader's eyes burn intensely. "Respect them?" His eyes look as if he is burning holes into the man. "No, tolerate them yes. I do not respect the Hutts and their imprudent laws."

Cliegg's eyes go wide. "Are you insane? They can make anyone enslaved, and the possibility of freedom will be out of realm-"

"You underestimate the slaves and their will," Vader interjects simply, already shaking his head, "they know that there is a galaxy out there, they have the humanity within them to fight on for the lives that they care about. Remove the slave chips, and they united can overthrow this tyrannical system. The slaves do not fear the slavers because they already know pain and abuse of all type, but rather the slavers fear the slaves because they know that the slaves care little about the possibility of death if their loved ones are allowed freedom. Daily risk of death already enlightened that some of them may never be freed but their off bringing, perhaps..."

Cliegg opens his mouth to respond, only to close it yet again, soon settling with another response after a minute. "You better hope that they don't hear you say such things, let alone someone who support their ways," he states, looking around them and finding no bystanders who seem to be in ear-shot. Upon seeing none, the tension in shoulders calm.

"The Hutts do not intimidate me," Vader replies flatly. He can kill them all, even though that is not preferable right now. Time...

"With all due respect, sir, I have family and I don't want them to be targeted because of disagreements," Cliegg says in a severe tone, obviously not taking the threats of the slavers lightly.

Vader looks pointedly at him. "Will you turn me into the Hutts, Cliegg Lars?"

Cliegg returns the look, although he doesn't seem to fear him, but rather a distant respect in his eyes and shrug. "What the Hutts don't know won't hurt them. Me turning you in would take away what is referred to as a decent shop."

Vader actually feels his lips curling, almost into a smirk that can be presumed as arrogant. "Excellent, you are a wise man." he retorts, briefly glancing at his concealed lightsabers in his boots.

Cliegg's lips curl up into a grin at the almost biting comment. "Ha, you are one of the first people to say that."

"Assumptions can be called into question however." Vader blinks. By the Force, what is wrong with him? Is he now quipping with the man who his mother married in the other timeline and didn't even know?

Cliegg murmurs a curse under his breath before stating. "Blast my big mouth."

"You should leave now," Vader takes the moment of silence to end the conversation, not wishing to continue this discussion with him.

"Oh, I was enjoying our conversation," Cliegg replies, sounding a tad bit disappointed. "Surely, you don't have-"

Vader fixates him with a pointed stare, telling the man he is being serious.

"Okay. Okay. I'm going." he picks up his parts with what would be a impressive show of strength had Vader not witnessed plenty of spectacular things in his life. Time traveling is impressive alone.

He stops and turns to look at Vader with observing eyes, "But I am not lying in saying that I hope we can become friends. You are someone with a interesting outlook."

Vader looks at him, attempting to give him a cold front, whilst recalling what happened to all those who he have been close with. It is one thing to protect Anakin Skywalker and his mother, yet allowing others close to him may only cause more pain for them. As Anakin's powers grow, it would be difficult enough to protect both of them from Sidious or any other possible threat in the galaxy.

"I do not need friends, Cliegg Lars. I am simply doing a job as a shop owner." Vader responds stoically, though he wonders what should happen if Cliegg meets Shmi.

Cliegg stares at him for a few more seconds before he is gone.

The Force sings as always in silence, and Vader closes his eyes, clenching his hand up into a fist, fighting against the warmth feeling that being around the man brought.

Arthur's note: One thing that bothered me about the OT was that Luke nor Leia ever mentioned their adoptive parents. EU novel: Tatooine's Ghost had Leia go through a journey of her forgiving Anakin, lashing out at his Force ghost and saying that Bail Organa would always be her real father, despite later doing so with her naming her third child after Anakin. But not even the EU mentions Luke thinking about his adoptive parents aside when he traveled to Nam Chorios in the year 13 ABY and called himself Owen Lars, to hide his true identity from the local population. The Organas are remembered, but the Lars are pretty much forgotten and that's just a tragedy.

In Ultimate Star Wars book which is apart of the Disney Canon and conflicting EU material "The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader" by Ryder Windham it is explicitly stated and shown in the latter Vader ordered the Lars to be killed in retaliation for their alleged involvement in aiding the Rebel Alliance and anger for them not being able to protect his mother. In older EU material; "Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina", specifically the short story "When the Desert Wind Turns: The Stormtrooper's Tale" by Doug Beason, it was a Stormtrooper Captain by the name of Mod Terrik who ordered their termination - but from the perspective of an Imperial Stormtrooper named Davin Felth. I went with that because it fleshes out a narrative that needs to be known...

Stormtroopers are people just like the Clones. They have their own thoughts and feelings about matters. From while there are obedient soldiers like Terrik, Cody, and Bacara, there is always troopers like Felth and Rex who has independence and realizes when they need to put their weapons down and realize when it is right to say "No". Not all obedient soldiers are bad people, just have different interpretations. It's all about interpretations.

May the Force be with you all always.