Chapter 1 - Because of Who You Are
Plot: Killed on Tatooine by stormtroopers, Luke encounters the Son and Daughter. He has a connection to them, especially the Son, which is allowing him to stay partly in the physical realm, at least enough to get to know his father. But soon, he realizes he isn't the only one with a connection to the Ones.
Author's Note: This is a gift for IceyGemini on ao3. :D It'll be posted weekly on Saturday or Sunday. ^-^
~ Amina Gila
"Finish cleaning those vaporators first. I'm not having you wandering off again. It's enough that you already lost one of the droids."
Luke suppresses his annoyance, focusing on the vaporator in front of him, alongside the new droid, Threepio, working a short distance away. He still can't believe Artoo took off, and Uncle Owen won't even let him go searching for the thing.
To be fair, it was probably long since scrapped by Jawas anyway, who'll probably try to sell their own droid back to them the next time they come through. He can't believe he ever agreed to taking the restraining bolt off the droid. What was he thinking?
The distant sound of an approaching engine reaches his ears suddenly, and Luke glances up, frowning. Why is he feeling so unsettled? It feels like something's wrong, and he has no idea what. People come to the farm from time to time – maybe the Jawas are back with Artoo already.
Except then, something glints brightly in the sunlight, and he spots the approaching speeders. There's several of them, except they're full of stormtroopers?!
What?
What are they doing out here? It can't be anything good, because he knows the things the Empire does, and they wouldn't be here, unless –
"There's one of the droids," one of the stormtroopers calls, and they're all jumping out of the speeders suddenly, raising their blasters.
"What are you doing here?" Luke asks, raising his hands in surrender, fear coiling inside of him. What do they want? This is... bad. He knows something very, very bad is about to happen.
"Where's the other droid?" one of them demands.
"What?"
"We don't have time for games," the man snaps.
"I bought another droid from Jawas, and it took off somewhere. Are these... yours?" Maybe the Jawas stole them. That happens a lot. And stealing an Imperial droid would not go over well.
"Search the house," the leader barks, and they storm into the house just like that, ripping through everything in their way. He can hear Uncle Owen yelling, and Aunt Beru saying something, and then he hears her scream –
Something snaps in him, and he makes a move for the house.
A blaster shot rings out.
For a moment, there's nothing. But then, a blinding, all-encompassing agony is building up in his chest, and he feels himself falling face first into the sand.
He can't move. He can't breathe. Every breath feels like it's drawing in fire, and he can't get any air in, and it hurts.
And –
He's dying. He knows it instinctually, even if it weren't already obvious, because – because that stormtrooper shot him. And he can hear shooting in the house now, and –
No, he can't be dying now. He can't –
But darkness is already clawing at his vision, as he tries to choke in something other than sand. Not that he could breathe even if he weren't face first in the sand.
He –
He's dying. He's going to die here, right now, and –
He just wants to see his father. Just once.
But that's where he's going, isn't he? To... beyond. Afterwards. But he – he doesn't want to die. He doesn't... he doesn't...
"Father," he thinks, desperately, before it feels like he's floating, away from his body, and – and he knows it's over.
**w**
Sidious is expecting results, and Vader knows he'll have to do whatever he must, in order to secure the Death Star plans. The stormtroopers are searching down on the surface of Tatooine, and he can't believe that he's somehow ended up back here again. Of all places, why would the rebels head out here?
But if the stormtroopers can't find anything, there's only one person left who will know something.
Bail Organa's daughter, and he will have to get answers from her.
He's about to head for her cell when he suddenly senses something. He doesn't know what it is, but the Force is rippling strangely. It feels like something just... died, though why that would affect the Force so much, he doesn't know. It's as though the entire balance of the Force just tipped, to something increasingly unstable.
And – Vader doesn't know what it is, but something feels wrong. It feels like something's missing inside of him. Like he just lost something, someone, who he misses though he never knew they were there. It's entirely nonsensical, because there hasn't been a day in the past twenty years – except for a short time, ten years ago, when he searched for Obi-Wan in the foolish his hope he might still mean something to his master – that he hasn't felt empty and devoid of hope. (There was also that short time on Malachor, but his hopes were crushed just as thoroughly then as they had been before.)
But something is gone from the Force, something he never knew was there at all.
And then suddenly it feels like... like there's a presence in the Force lingering close by. It's elusive, as though from a different realm. Like it's dead, which... Yes, of course, as a Sith, he's sensed spirits before.
But this one is different, and he can't make sense of it.
It likely does not matter nearly as much as finishing the mission Sidious gave him, though, and that spurs him into motion again.
**w**
Leia knew this moment could come, from the moment she first agreed to get actively involved in the Rebellion. She knew in theory that she could be captured, but that doesn't make it any easier now that it's happening.
It doesn't stop the unbridled terror that's eating her inside out. She doesn't even know if there's a way out of this, or if she'll be trapped for – indefinitely, to whatever horrors the Empire can concoct to force her to talk.
But whatever they do, she won't. She will not betray her family. No matter what.
And then she senses... something. She couldn't even say what it is, but it feels like a shift of... something.
All her life, it's always felt like she's missing someone, and she's never understood what. It's a strange longing that comes and goes; sometimes, she thinks it's because she misses her birth family.
But now, it suddenly feels almost intolerable. Almost like she just lost whatever connection she had to this... thing. It doesn't make sense, seeing as she never knew what it was in the first place.
But at the same time, it also feels somehow closer at once. Ever present, but hopelessly out of reach.
It's weird, but... she frankly doesn't much care right now. All that matters is – is that she's trapped here, and she has no way out.
Does she?
**w**
Luke doesn't know what he expected death to be like – he'd never had a reason to think about it – but he's suddenly standing on a bluish white bridge that extends almost endlessly in every direction, in the darkness that surroundings him.
Up in front of him, there's a... something that almost looks like a portal opening, and he approaches it, warily. It looks like a battalion station?
Something shifts in the energy around him and suddenly, he's being sucked through the portal. Stormtroopers are swarming everywhere, but what really catches his attention is the towering, black-armored cyborg moving through the hall, respirator echoing.
What?
Why is Luke here? Where is here? It doesn't feel physical; he's not really standing on the floor, but at the same time, he's definitely present here.
But there's something about that cyborg. He feels... familiar, even if Luke can't say how. He doesn't even know what he's doing here. He just wanted to see his father, and –
"You have been given that chance," a deep voice rings out, and Luke spins sharply to see a strange figure standing behind him, radiating a disturbing level of darkness. It has the appearance of a man, with light colored skin, several red stripes along his face, and glowing red eyes.
Except the man feels much like the energy surrounding him, only darker. A cosmic force of the universe. He can't say how he knows that. He just... does.
"Who are you?"
"I am the Son, the Dark Side of the Force."
"The Force?"
"What you feel around you, grandchild of the Force."
Luke blinks. "What?"
It's weird that they're talking but no one even seems to see them. It feels like an invisible connection is keeping him floating along after the cyborg, as he moves through the halls. It's bizarre, and he wants to go home.
But he's dead. Isn't he? He can't go back. Are – are his aunt and uncle dead, too? Dead, gone? Will he ever see them again? Will he – He doesn't even know what's going on, and it instantly floods him with panic. He doesn't know where he is, and he can move on his own, but he's still trapped somewhere he doesn't know anything about.
This can't be permanent, is it? But it is. He already knows that. But –
"It is the energy field that flows through and connects all living things. Your father was the child of the Force," he replies, "And you, it's grandchild."
Luke doesn't understand what that means, but that's not what really catches his attention. Is he saying – "Is he my father?"
"He is."
Luke blinks, eyes going wide, turning to look at the cyborg with renewed interest. This is his father? Who's also on a Star Destroyer for some reason. "He's... Imperial?"
"Lord Vader," greets an officer, pausing to talk to him. Vader's – Anakin's? – voice is deep and mechanicalized, nothing like Luke imagined. But – but this means that his father is alive. Force, he's alive, but – Luke is dead now.
And this doesn't make sense. "Uncle Owen said he was killed in an accident," Luke protests, "How can he be alive?"
The Son laughs. "Your father was the most powerful Force user ever – he left Tatooine to become a Jedi, but eventually found his way to the Sith, where his true destiny lay."
"No," a female voice interrupts, and a woman, with long green hair, who's practically radiating light, appears. It's totally the opposite of the Son's overwhelming darkness. "I am the Daughter, the Light Side of the Force. And you know that Anakin was always meant for light. When the light is not appreciated, it will lead to darkness and pain, but that doesn't mean this is how it is meant to be."
The Son scoffs.
Luke looks between them, feeling increasingly confused. He has so many questions right now. "Why didn't he raise me? Why is he Imperial? And why am I here? I thought there was an... afterlife." At least, he assumed that's where he'd end up, if he were actually dead. He assumed he would just know what's happening, and that he wouldn't have this level of consciousness of his surroundings. Or just... something different than what's happening.
His excitement at seeing Anakin is at least somewhat overriding his fear and denial, but it's still there. He can't believe he's dead. That –
"You wanted to meet your father, and you have been given that chance as the grandchild of the Force," the Daughter replies, "And because the Force itself is... unbalanced. It is in turmoil, and angry over how it's... son has been treated. Balance must be restored, or the consequences will be severe, for everyone."
"There is a place beyond if you'd prefer to go there," the Son adds, flippantly.
To an afterlife or whatever. No, he – he doesn't want to be dead.
"I want to stay here. I want to know him," Luke says, immediately. Or maybe it's that the reality of his situation and its permanency hasn't sunk in yet.
"We can start from the beginning," the Son decides, looking almost smug. "I will show you his path to the Dark, where he always belonged."
And then, Luke feels the Force shifting around him again, blacking everything out.
**w**
Wherever he is now, it's almost as though he's viewing a holomovie, but in person. He's not physically here, but he's seeing it like he is. "Where am I?"
"Watch, and you will gain the answers you've always sought," the Daughter replies.
Whatever he's seeing, it looks like a shop's junkyard in Mos Espa. It's early morning, and a boy who might be nine – it's hard to tell, with how skinny and dirty he is – is working in the back.
It's Anakin, as a child.
Luke knows without being told. His heart clenches as he looks on. This is the kind of condition his father was raised in?!
A blue Toydarian suddenly flies into the back of the shop, yelling in Huttese, picking up an electric prod, and hitting the boy who's starting to doze off. He jerks awake, mumbling a frantic apology as he gets back to work.
Luke clenches his fists, anger coiling. He has never wanted to hurt someone quite so much before. If only he weren't just seeing the past. His father was a slave. He'd wondered, because his grandmother was, but Owen never talked about it. It's horrifying, to see this is what he went through.
The scene shifts again, showing Anakin somewhere in the shop, when a man, girl, and Gungan arrive.
... Wait a minute, is that Artoo?
Luke sees some fleeting interactions, before the scene moves onto a fight in the street between the Gungan and some slaver, and Anakin volunteers to take them home.
He's trying so hard to help people, even though he has nothing. He and Shmi obviously barely have enough food for themselves.
So, it shouldn't surprise Luke when, being as selfless as he is, Anakin offers to podrace for them. His owner made him do it all the time, despite the risk. It only makes Luke more sick and angry.
Yes, he's wanted to race his entire life and his aunt and uncle always told him no, but that's totally different than forcing a child to do it for money. Especially when they apparently regularly get hurt while doing so.
"Now go, and don't look back."
Seeing his father so young and innocent like this, hurting so much, hurts him too. But he's going to become a Jedi, and that's one good thing, right?
"But is it?" the Son asks, almost gleeful, as though waiting for his point to be proven right.
"They were never the Light they claimed to be," the Daughter agrees, sadly.
That instantly sets Luke on edge. He knows already he's not going to like what he's about to see.
"Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Wait – That's the person Artoo was talking about! Does he have any connection to Ben Kenobi? They look awfully similar. Are they the same person? He never imagined his father used to know old Ben. Why did no one tell him?
"He is to be trained, then?"
"No, he will not be trained."
What?! After everything his father just gave up, they're going to turn him down? Why? It doesn't make any sense. Luke doesn't know how none of them could notice – or do they just not care? – the devastated look on Anakin's face.
"He is too old. There is already too much anger in him." What? That's just stupid. Wouldn't that be all the more reason to teach him to control himself?
"The boy is dangerous. They all sense it. Why can't you?"
"Master Qui-Gon, sir, I do not wish to be a problem."
What the kriff is the matter with Obi-Wan? Does he just not care that Anakin's literally standing right beside him, or was that intentional? Luke doesn't really get what he's so sore about in the first place.
Luke doesn't know Ben – he's certain they're the same – personally, but he never imagined he could be so... unfeeling. Maybe he's not being entirely fair, because what Qui-Gon did would've stung, but he doesn't much care right now.
"Stay in that cockpit."
"We'll handle this."
Whoever that dark-robed figure with the lightsaber is, he has a similar darkness to what Vader does now.
They're Sith.
Why would his father have become like this? Despite what the Son claimed, after everything he's seen, Luke doesn't see anything remotely dark about Anakin. He's so light and kind, more than should be possible.
"What will happen to me now?"
"You will be a Jedi. I promise."
The sudden attitude change is surprising, but maybe there's more to Obi-Wan than he first saw. It's not as if he knows Ben nearly enough to say anything for certain.
And he still can't believe Qui-Gon is dead.
Anakin's about thirteen now, with a padawan braid. He's fighting off a training droid, defeating it impressively well.
"He's just a slave to his emotions," one of the other padawans whispers, loudly.
"Exactly, just a slave," the other stickers.
As though they have no idea what that word means to him, or maybe that's why they're doing it. There's a certain aching loneliness Luke can sense from Anakin, especially as he turns around and very understandably lashes out, shoving them back with the Force and yanking their lightsabers away.
Obi-Wan jumps down from the viewing balcony. "Anakin, enough!"
But apparently... the fact that the others were bullying him doesn't matter?
"Master, I –" Anakin looks down, turning off the lightsabers and passing them to the other padawans. "I didn't mean to frighten you. You're right. I do need better control of my emotions. Please accept my apology."
Lashing out with the Force like that might hardly be appropriate use, but why is he the only one who has to apologize?
Up above, on the balcony, Luke sees Palpatine talking to the other Jedi, asking to meet Anakin, before the scene fades to somewhere with him in the Underworld, taking Anakin to some bar.
What the...?
Palpatine explains to him how he comes here to help people on his own, because the Senate and Jedi aren't able to do it – whether lack of willingness or too many regulations. But Luke doesn't know what to think of that, given that he became the Emperor later. And a very bad Emperor. This can't possibly be entirely genuine.
Anakin trusts him, though.
"Your need for victory Anakin, it blinds you."
"Your need to prove yourself is your undoing."
"It's been far too long, Master Kenobi... Ani?"
"We will find who's trying to kill you, Padme. I promise."
"You will learn your place, young one."
It's drives Luke crazy, and it's sickening, to see the way he always talks down to Anakin like that. Owen never came close to that, even when he was in a mood about something.
"Stay with me, Mom."
"I love..."
Luke watches with numb horror. Uncle Owen mentioned this, once. Grandfather Cliegg hadn't lasted long after this, either.
He's not quite expecting it when Anakin attacks the Tuskens, killing everyone, but Luke can't entirely say he's horrified by it either. The Tuskens are... they do worse, all the time. They start torturing people when they're only children themselves. After what they did to Shmi, Luke can't even blame his father, even if he can hardly see how the fluffball of a little child Anakin was once before becoming a Jedi could do that. He's far darker than he ever used to be.
Because he's been trained as a weapon. He was only accepted into the Order, so he could be a weapon. Is it really that surprising?
"You have an immense heart. Never let the Jedi take it from you."
The worst part is that Luke can't deny what Palpatine's saying to Anakin in that regard, even if he still doesn't trust Palpatine's intentions. At least he's been supportive, even if it seems too... unreal. He's up to something.
"I've actually been assigned to Master Skywalker."
"What?!"
If this is a prank, Luke doesn't find it amusing, given the stress Anakin's already under, though he seems to bond with Ahsoka pretty quickly.
"I heard about your discussion with Admiral Yularen," Obi-Wan says, sitting down next to Anakin.
"Let me guess. He wants the Jedi who questions his orders off his ship."
"No, actually ... And you're not wrong. The people in the foundry aren't soldiers."
"Isn't that the whole reason the Jedi are a part of the war. To help save lives?"
"I wish I had a simple answer for you, Anakin."
"From everything I learned studying with the Jedi, as your padawan, slaughtering people like this is just wrong."
"You've come a long way, my former padawan. Trust your feelings, and trust the Force."
The people he's talking about are Separatists, presumably, working against the Republic, but Anakin still... cares about them. It's a lot more than Luke's seen from the other Jedi. And it's also nice to actually see sometimes, why Anakin's so attached to Obi-Wan.
From there, the scene shifts, to Anakin and Rex on a cruiser somewhere.
"I don't know what to think of this, sir," Rex is saying, looking oddly... lost. "I never thought a Jedi could do something like that."
"I cannot believe it either," he replies, an underlying anger to it. He lays a hand on Rex's shoulder. "I won't let anything like this happen again. I... will not have you work so directly under any other Jedi, again." Wait, what did the Jedi do?
"Thank you, sir," he replies, quietly. A sigh escapes him, and he shakes his head. "There's so many gone, and for what? How many of his own men did he have turn on each other, just to kill them because they were clones, too?"
Hold on.
A Jedi did what?! Anakin's very caring towards his clones, from the tiny bit Luke's seen throughout the war, and he can't believe what he's seeing, either. How could a Jedi do something like this, even if they are Fallen now?
"I'm not taking the fall for something I didn't do."
"In the opinion of the Jedi Council, padawan Ahsoka Tano has committed sedition against the Republic, and thus will be expelled from the Jedi Order."
"I'm sorry, Master, but I'm not coming back."
He can't believe the Council did this. Can't they sense she's not lying?! So why are they so blinded by the Senate that they're just listening to everything they're demanding? Maybe organization-wise that's how it's supposed to work, but still.
And Ahsoka's... leaving? He can understand why she wouldn't want to stay in the Order, but just cutting off contact with Anakin, even with the obvious devastation Luke can sense from him, is... He doesn't really understand. Maybe it's only his own emotions talking, because he's longed to be with his father for so long, but...
"Something wonderful has happened. Ani, I'm pregnant."
"You die. In childbirth."
"And the baby?"
"I don't know."
Obviously, Luke knows he didn't die, but that doesn't stop the anxiety suddenly twisting inside of him, as he watches. What's going to happen; what did happen to his mother? Whatever he's about to see will show why his father is a Sith – he's obviously extremely stressed over these visions, and...
"You are on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of master."
"The Council wants you to report on the Chancellor's dealings."
"That's treason!"
They're seriously asking him to commit treason, now? Luke can almost understand it, given the circumstances, because he knows Palpatine has to be up to something or he wouldn't have become Emperor, but after what happened to Ahsoka, this would be... extremely difficult for Anakin. And it's not as if they're even being nice about it. They never are.
"Did you ever hear the Legend of Darth Plaguies the wise?"
This...
Suddenly, Luke has a very sinking feeling he knows where this is going.
"My mentor taught me everything about the Force. Even the nature of the Dark Side."
"You're the Sith Lord!"
It makes so much sense; he shouldn't be so shocked at the news. Of course, Palpatine was a Sith, and... He deceived Anakin into believing he was his friend, all these years. Why is it that everyone just wants to use him?! Luke can't understand.
"Anakin, I told you it would come to this. I was right. The Jedi are taking over."
He doesn't believe a word of it; yes, it's treason, but Palpatine is no better. Anakin is obviously conflicted though, and when he's living in it, Luke can see why. The Chancellor was his friend, after all.
"It's not the Jedi way."
And that, Anakin is not wrong about either. But Windu doesn't seem to care.
"Power. Unlimited power!"
"What have I done?"
"I will do whatever you ask."
The sheer terror in Anakin's eyes is sickening. He – he doesn't think he has any other choice, even if he doesn't want to do this, and Luke... really doesn't know what else he could do. The Jedi aren't right, and nor is Palpatine.
"Henceforth you shall be known as Darth Vader."
"Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate."
Luke really, really wishes he didn't have to see what follows next, the march on the Temple, and... A few flashes of inside.
The worst part is that it's the Jedi's very indoctrination that led Anakin to this point. They trained him to do everything for the greater good, no matter how he feels, and who gets hurt, and that's what he's doing.
"Come away with me. Help me raise our child. Leave everything behind while we still can."
"Don't you see, we don't have to run away anymore."
Luke so wishes he would agree with Padme, but he can... understand why he won't. Anakin has always wanted to help people, and if that's what he thinks he's doing, he won't want to just leave. Even if Luke selfishly wishes he would. If he had, maybe they could've raised him as family. Maybe he'd still be alive right now.
Or maybe, they'd all be dead, killed by the Empire.
"Let her go!"
He feels frozen, caught off-guard at seeing Anakin actually lashing out at her like that. But Padme did just bring Obi-Wan there to kill him, didn't she? Luke never saw her side of it, but it's...
"I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the Dark Side as you do. I have brought peace, justice, freedom, and security to my new Empire."
"I will do what I must."
"It's over. Anakin. I have the high ground."
"You underestimate my power."
"Don't try it."
"I hate you!"
"You were my brother, Anakin! I loved you."
He thinks he's going to throw up. Or would if he were physically capable of it. How could Obi-Wan ever do something like that?! And he's just going to abandon him?!
"Where is Padme? Is she safe? Is she alright?"
"It seems in your anger, you killed her."
Given that Sidious is smirking at Vader's reaction, Luke can't believe it's the truth, but this must be when his mother died. He can practically feel Vader's devastation. No wonder he totally lost himself after this. He literally lost everything.
"Kenobi is all that matters. ... I know what it is you seek. Prove yourself, and the position of Grand Inquisitor is yours. Fail me, and you will not live to regret it."
He... wants to find Obi-Wan? Somehow, Luke doesn't have a good feeling about where this will go. It hurts so much, seeing how dark Vader is now. He can't even truly blame him for it, but it's still awful to see.
"What have you become?"
"I am what you made me."
"Now you will suffer, Obi-Wan. Your pain is just beginning."
Luke feels sick again, seeing this, because he can't believe Vader would do this, even if he can't say Obi-Wan doesn't deserve it. Except then, Vader puts the fire out, so maybe he never intended to go as far as Luke was afraid of.
He – he wishes Vader could be the way Anakin used to be, but with how lost and broken he is now, is that even possible?
"Have you come to destroy me, Obi-Wan?"
"I will do what I must."
"Anakin is gone. I am what remains."
"I am not your failure, Obi-Wan."
"Then my friend is truly dead. Goodbye, Darth."
"Obi-Wan! OBI-WAN!"
He's just going to walk away again?! Luke understands why he's angry but he's not even trying to understand, or... or anything. Really, he shouldn't have expected otherwise, not with how Obi-Wan's always treated him.
"Are your feelings on this matter clear, Lord Vader? Perhaps your feelings for your old master have left you weakened."
"I serve only you."
Vader seems strangely numb after that, with the same emptiness Luke felt in him when he saw him in person.
The scene fades at that, leaving Luke alone, floating in the Force. He can't believe everything he's seen.
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