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Chapter 18

When in a private location of the palace, both rulers of Alderaan sat, observing Vader most notably who intimated their movements. The group joined seats, except for the Wookiee, Threepio, and Artoo.

With a dismissive nod, the guards left.

For what felt like hours, no one dared to speak.

"I thought they had killed you," Breha eyed Vader.

"Not yet," Vader replied, catching the lie.

Another silence passed.

"Vader would not harm you," Luke assured confidently.

"Wait, Vader?" Han spoke up. "As in Darth Vader?"

Luke swallowed and murmured a curse that made Leia nudge him in the ribs and stare at him with disapproval. He smirked slightly and stared up. "Yes, Han, this is my father, whom you know as Vader."

"Oh kriff! What have I walked into?!" Solo demanded, looking at the Wookiee.

The Wookiee reacted differently with the promise of vengeance and hatred surrounding him. He pointed his bowcaster at Vader.

"Chewie!" Han exclaimed, astonished by his companion's aggression.

With a flick of Vader's hand, the Wookiee's bowcaster was sent flying into the wall.

"Be thankful for my mercy," Vader stated unsympathetically.

The Wookiee snarled, looking seconds away from charging forward.

"Buddy, calm down!" Solo jumped off of his seat and rushed forward in genuine concern, holding his hands in front of the Wookiee in an attempt to placate his friend.

"Your partner's anger is understandable. Vader devastated Kashyyyk," his daughter elaborated. "He killed so many Wookiees." She spat with contempt. "Rumored to have killed a survivor of Order 66."

"Kento Marek," Vader said.

The Wookiee growled and glared at the former Emperor's Enforcer.

"Chewie," Luke said, and his voice was so soothing it drew everyone to him, "your anger to Vader is understandable, but do you think killing him brings your people back? Vader hasn't threatened anyone in this crew, and if you give me time, I will personally ensure that he redeems himself and what he's done to the galaxy. But in the meantime, calm yourself or at least turn your anger onto the one in charge of the Empire..."

Vader resisted huffing at his words.

The Wookiee mewled and tilted his head, a sudden burst of calmness passing through his body.

"The Emperor..." Viceroy Organa started, his voice dripping with ire as he looked at Vader suspiciously. "Already conspiring to overthrow your Sith Master, aren't you?"

"I have an obligation to my children, Organa," Vader said dryly.

"Ah, so you do care? I guess Padmé's faith in you wasn't entirely misplaced, though I do question why I should entertain the idea of you being anywhere near us or the Rebellion. You have been sabotaging the Rebellion's efforts for years."

"You have no choice. You're powerless."

"And that's the problem. I will die before I give you the location of the Base, Vader."

Vader gave no emotion. "...Fang Zar paid for the consequences of treason. That may be your destiny if you stand in the way of our efforts, Organa."

"You murdered him, didn't you?" The Queen questioned, looking at Vader with disgust and terror.

"Indeed," Vader replied, still without pity.

Luke looked at him with an expression seconds away from facepalming. Vader's face remained apathetic.

He tilted his head back to the Organas and sighed, "I swear on the Force Vader will not bring any further harm to the Rebellion," Luke played the diplomat.

Organa's eyes were now weary.

"The Rebellion? The Empire? Two systems wanting control of the galaxy." Solo scoffed and rolled his eyes.

Organa took insult at the words from the scoundrel and chose to "correct" him. "The Rebellion believes in fair justice and wants to restore democracy."

"A Democracy, that I should add as non-existent, on the best of terms," Vader pointed out.

"Yes, thanks to you and the Emperor."

"I expected better of you, Organa. Do you really believe the Empire was born in one night?" He added tauntingly, relishing his anger.

"No, it was through the lies of your Master," Organa said in a clipped tone.

The fool fell for his trap. "With significant backing from local governments and the Senate."

Organa gritted his teeth together, "If it were not for the both of you, the Republic would have never collapsed."

"The Republic was in his favor. As were the courts and the Senate." Vader pointed out. "The Grand Plan was in motion for decades before. The Republic would have collapsed regardless."

"I don't remember Anakin Skywalker being a politician."

"Nor do I remember you overlooking the entire plan."

The tension in the room was grating for all else.

And it almost ascended when the door abruptly opened, a wave of protective anger surging through the Force. Recognition dawned across both of the older Organas. Leia was sulking, not even looking up, her stare fixed on him. Luke did, though, and a small sigh escaped his lips.

All Vader saw standing in the door was a young, white-haired individual, dressed in white robes.

"It's disrespectful to enter our office without permission," Leia reprimanded with a frown.

"That's disrespectful?! THAT'S disrespectful?!" the woman exclaimed, her voice dripping with ire. "YOU WANNA HEAR WHAT DISRESPECTFUL IS, LEIA?! You not heading back to Alderaan immediately after surviving the Empire and leave us all heartbroken? Then, when you do decide to rejoin the living, instead of telling me personally, I have to find out via a kriffing kitchen maid! Damn it, Leia, you should have at least commed someone! So yes, let's talk about disrespectful!" The woman was howling for all on Alderaan to hear.

Leia looked up, "Winter?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"No, it's Wilhuff Tarkin, and I'm bringing the Imperial fleet here! Yes, Winter!" The woman threw a blue pillow at Leia, who caught it. "Damm it, girl, I'm going to whoop you! Where the kark have you been?!"

Leia sighed, "Tatooine."

Winter's anger was receding, replaced with curiosity. "Why the hell were you on that wretched dust ball? Oh, and do you have anything to do with the Hutts and Empire at war?"

"Maybe," Leia said with an ounce of sheepishness.

Viceroy Organa sighed. "Winter, will you please sit down and be reasonable? We have much to discuss."

"We sure do," Winter replied sarcastically, her eyes darting over the strangers in the room as she took a seat.

"Well, since this hasn't brought up yet..." Leia looked at them. "He knows everything, Papa, about our connection."

"I expected as much." The Viceroy sighed and slumped his shoulders. The Queen fared little better, only looking down at the ground and shaking her head.

"There's more," Luke continued.

"What?"

He'd doubted that any of the Organas would be able to maintain control with this unexpected information.

"My Jedi training didn't just happen overnight," Luke paused, "I traveled back from thirty years in the future."

The reaction was anticipated.

"What?!"

"Wait a minute," Winter groaned, "you're a Jedi AND time traveler?!"

Luke allowed the episode to pass.

"How...?" The Queen lingered off, looking at him as if he'd grown a second head.

"Time travel...?" Bail mouthed, his hand falling over his lips in astonishment.

"This guy is crazy!" Han shouted.

"Hey, lay off of him," Owen spoke up protectively.

"My son is not crazy," Vader defended at the same time.

Surges of protective anger formed around the two. It was almost humorous.

"But that doesn't make sense. Time traveling is impossible as well as illegal," the Viceroy declared sharply.

"Don't underestimate the Force," Vader cautioned.

Both Organas slightly bristled at the anonymity. Winter flexed her fists. Han looked as if he had lost his mind. All looked to him for an explanation, save for Leia and Vader.

"Let's hear this out before we call him insane, dear," Breha Organa grounded her husband.

"Luke..." Vader nodded to his son.

"I cannot truthfully explain the anatomical situation," Luke told them, "but my father's settlement is ultimately correct. The Force has arranged this. It's done this for a reason. To - I presume - avoid the previous tragedies that have occurred."

"Where did it start?" Winter managed to regain at least some control.

"I honestly don't know. I was reflecting after a terrible war that killed millions and then I woke up at home on Tatooine, just when I started my journey. The reason I know my father is Darth Vader and Leia is my sister is because I have already witnessed it. I learned that Vader was our father and the fact that we are siblings in the other timeline from Grandmaster Yoda. Who, as far as I know, is currently living in exile on..." Luke stole a look at the intrigued Vader and shook his head. "Let's not go into that now."

"Vader?!" Winter interjected. "You mean he's Darth Vader?! The Enforcer to the Emperor?! He's your father?!" Her eyes altered from Vader to Luke and at last Leia. "AND you have a brother?!" Kriff, Winter's stoicism hadn't been this cracked for years in Luke's experience. It was that bad. "What type of kriffing company are you keeping around, sister of mine?!"

"It's not like I had a choice, Winter," Leia rolled her eyes. "Vader doesn't leave many options when you're related to him..."

"This is far too much to take," Organa stated honestly.

"I understand," Luke nodded in sympathy. "I do plan to go into greater detail with Mon Mothma, and Garm Bel Iblis about the threats eventually, but I'm aware that this information cannot reach... everyone. Nevertheless, in the meantime, Vader's Alliance can be incredibly helpful."

"Ain't that why you didn't want me to leave your side, kid, cause I stayed in this future of yours?" Han still didn't seem to believe him. The arrogance was still oozing off of him.

Oh, it was time to throw it back at him.

"I know you wouldn't do what Bria did and take all the credit for the Rebellion," Luke replied with a teasing smirk crossing his lips.

Solo became flabbergasted and the Wookiee barked a laugh, which relieved Luke. To know that he had been able to gain some goodwill with Chewie, even though Vader was very much a controversial figure.

Solo groaned. "Okay, so you know about Bria?! That's a easy one, kid. What about..." He paused and put his hand on his chin, clearly thinking of ways to quiz Luke. "Hmm, let me think..."

"Lando Calrissian?" Luke took up the challenge.

"Oh, out of all the people, you have to mention him," Han groaned, gripping his forehead.

"Oh, of course, the Millennium Falcon you've stolen-"

"He lost it fair and square!" Han replied indignantly.

"In a game of Sabacc. Trust me, I know. You two bickered about it for years. We all had to deal with it."

"Hmph... Well, that assumes I stick around this time. This sounds like too much work for even a active guy like me."

"Hmm, it shouldn't be different from a staged wedding. Oh, by the way, have you also gone and apologized to Salla yet for cutting and running as you did...?" Luke asked.

Hopefully, the cameras in here were recording Han's expression. It would help Luke sleep at night for sure.

The Wookiee let out a short laugh.

"Salla?!" Han vomited. "Oh kriff, you are from the future! And hey, don't give me that! It ain't my fault that the damn woman had crazy delusions in her head!"

"Oh, you were a real son of a gundark, Han. You've burned through everything and still is burning, though I will try to drag you out of the fire if it doesn't burn my hand again. Knowing you, no matter how extensive my knowledge is, that won't be possible." Luke snickered at the very surprised look on his face.

Han turned to the Wookiee, his expression accusatory. "Chewie, what the kark did you give me in my last drink?"

Chewie immediately defended himself, commenting on, "how your deeds have finally caught up to you."

"If you didn't do it, then who...?" Solo suddenly seemed to realize, his eyes lighting up. "Okay! Okay! I know exactly what's going on here!"

"Solo..." Leia started.

"I'm dreamin'!"

"Solo!" She tried again.

"You're all fragments of my imagination!"

"Solo!"

"Jabba ain't dead! Vader ain't here! And I'm goin-"

A paw slapped him in the back of the head.

"Hey!" Han glared at his comrade, gripping his forehead.

"Good morning. Was that a pleasant dream you have?" Luke laughed.

"Thank you," Leia rolled her eyes at the same time.

"Luke!" Beru scolded.

"Leia!" Breha chastised.

"What? He wouldn't shut up, mama." Leia shrugged.

The Wookiee waved at his partner as if to say, "You're making a fool out of us."

"Well, it ain't my fault! Damn kid I just met knows everything about me!"

Arched eyebrows and confused expressions were thrown at the smuggler.

Organa regained his composure and straightened. "Nevertheless, that does not change my opinion of Vader not being able to remain here. He's too dangerous."

"I will not be removed from my children's side, Organa," Vader asserted, a chillness filling the room at those words as his eyes became cold like steel. "You will not take them from me again and use them as tools to achieve your goals."

"Oh, and what would you have done, Vader?" Bail countered. "Train them to become monsters? Slaves to the Dark Side?"

"No," Vader growled, "my children would have been raised in a protective environment. If they were to learn the power of the Dark Side, it would be by choice, not through torture and manipulation."

"I doubt it, with how far you have fallen..." Organa said tersely.

"Your feelings betray you, Senator," Vader continued ruthlessly, still in a terse hate, "Leia belongs to me, not either of you."

"She belongs to no one, Lord Vader," Breha persisted. "You're supposed to be her father, monitor her, and protect her, until adulthood."

"I am her only remaining biological parent," he responded vehemently. "You have lied to her and kept the truth from her for decades. Your deceptions could have caused years of psychological problems had I been murdered."

Leia chimed in, "It seems like Vader has an extremely toxic doctrine to follow."

Vader's darkened eyes turned to face her. "You attribute my proclivity to protect you as baneful?"

"I wasn't going to bring this up, after what you've done for us, but I have to. What about some of the downright evil, ruthless actions you've caused."

Vader gave her an incredulous look. "Daughter?"

"Obviously," she scoffed. "You know what? I wasn't going to bring this up, not after what you've done for those poor slaves on Tatooine. What about some of the evil, insidious monstrous, methods you personally used since the birth of the Empire?"

Vader's eyes widened. "..."

"Murkhana," spat Leia with utter venom, "you want to know why I'm trying not to acknowledge you? I will tell you why."

The tension returned.

"I heard about how you hunted down Clones who served under you personally and executed them because they refused to follow the Emperor's orders. How could you do that to those who was slaves just like you?"

Vader paused, astonishment flaring through his body. "..."

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" Leia asked sharply. "How could you destroy loyal troopers who stood beside the Republic? That's not mentioning when you gave the order to assassinate Queen Apailana. How could you sack the woman you claim to love home world? Or slaughter those innocents on Kessel?"

"Good soldiers follow orders," Vader answered, his voice cooler, but not out of hate. Rather, a deep source of...

"What?" Leia asked.

"I had orders," Vader replied, lowering his eyes to the ground, "from the Emperor, to hunt down any surviving Jedi or rogue Clone Troopers. Those soldiers refused to follow the Emperor's orders and had to be terminated. Queen Apailana was harboring fugitive Jedi, and the 501st acted accordingly to the threat."

"No," Leia said, her remaining formal facade cracking, revealing youthful anger, "you had a choice. You could have come to the surface yourself and killed the Jedi, for at least, that would have been legally justifiable. Instead, you enslaved your wife's world under Imperial custody! You never gave Naboo a chance, and now Kylantha rules the planet, giving it over to the Empire and going against everything she believed and stood for. And you sit there and pretend that everyone wronged you."

Luke sighed. He wanted to interfere, but he knew this was going to come up eventually. Leia had her own feelings about this matter. She'd needed to sort her emotions out or she may struggle even more with the Dark Side in the long run.

Vader looked... hurt. It was okay. He would sort out the storm later. "But... you're my daughter. What happen to Naboo is a tragedy, Leia, but the Emperor would have been less merciful."

"I want to accept you just like Luke does," Leia nodded respectfully at her brother, "but that's easier said than done. How many people have you killed, leaving them unable to return to their parents or children? What gives you the right to have children when you can just walk off into happiness, having robbed others of that chance?"

Vader recoiled as if struck.

"I don't have a choice in being related to you, Lord Vader," Leia replied, bowing her head, "I thank you for your facilitation in destroying the Death Star and for saving my life on Tatooine..."

"He destroyed the Death Star?" Bail murmured.

"He saved your life?" Winter asked, shocked and pitying Vader.

"A story for another time," Leia answered simply. "However, you have doomed the galaxy in the name of the Empire, and as far as I'm concerned, several good acts doesn't redeem years of monstrosities. I can't trust you or refer to you as a father."

Vader's jaw fell open, eyes widening, revealing an emotion few expected to see. "You... don't trust me, Leia, even now..."

Leia responded without contempt, her eyes closed. "Bail Organa has always been there while you were out there terrorizing the galaxy. It would be a lie to say that I hate you. But I don't have any guarantees that you wouldn't hurt me or anyone I care about in your possessive stance on reality. I question if I would have been a good person with morals if I had been raised under you. I don't know if you don't know what that means anymore, Lord Vader..."

"Leia..."

She gave him a look of longing. "Would you have tortured me if I wasn't your child or you didn't know who I was?"

"I..." Vader began and stared at Luke in desperate need of help, who only stared down with regret.

"Don't look at Luke for help," her eyes hardened. "Please answer me. Would you have tortured me if I wasn't your child or you didn't know who I was?"

"I-yes," Vader answered, his voice lower. "You would have been a traitor to the Empire as far as I would have known, and so I would have seen it fit to extract answers from you, no matter of the consequence."

"And what makes me different from other children?" Vader opened his mouth, but Leia beat him to the punch, "Don't answer that. Children are to be protected and nurtured. As it is, you haven't demonstrated any compassion. Maybe I can even see them getting killed on the battlefield, for no war is bloodless. I learned that on Tatooine, but you've murdered many of them intentionally with your genocides throughout the years. You've slaughtered millions because of the Empire. Your actions must have consequences somewhere."

"Leia-"

"You are a manipulated and enslaved victim. I understand that you were groomed since the age of nine, and I pity you because what Palpatine did to you was horrible. You may have even wanted to amend things but lack the courage to actually do it because you believe you have lost everything. I know and I understand. But part of me feels like it's decades too late. At what point is enough, enough? There's no excuses you have. All over the galaxy, there are people who have lost family, suffered as much as you, and they're still trying to do the right thing. That's not true for all, but it's true for most."

"Would... would you ever acknowledge me as your father even if I prove myself?" Vader's throat tightened as if he were concealing emotion.

"I don't know," she answered honestly, though agony was in her voice. Due to their connection, a small part of her already did care about him. Both Force Users felt it. "Those people wouldn't ever get the chance to have those memories with those children again. As I see it, why should you?" she turned away, head turning to the side half-way. "At least, you have a family to go back to. Your son, and me-by genetics. But what about the families and friends of those people? Even if they still have people around them, they still have lost someone close to them because of you."

Vader's elbows clenched as she gave him a bold stare that undermined her feelings about the ordeal.

Luke wanted to interfere, but he knew it would be counterproductive. For now, he had to sit back and allow this to happen, if only, to help them come closer eventually. Maybe it would happen naturally. At least, she didn't hate Vader's guts like she did for a long time. More so, just was disgusted with his actions.

Leia heard about his story in passing, and while she pitied him, she wasn't entirely wrong either. While her anger wasn't as deep, it was still a burden for her to overcome, just as it had been for Anakin Solo, bearing the name and all of its consequences.

"Quarters will be arranged. Winter, escort them out, will you? Leia, we need to have a word..." Bail finally said.

The whole time they'd walked down the hall, his father said nothing...

"Give it time..." Luke finally said when they were alone in their quarters.

No reaction was given.