A Rumor in Coruscant

Summary: (Anastasia AU) Luke and Han are on a mission to Coruscant. They plan to pass off Luke as Darth Vader's long lost son, at least just long enough for them to get into the Imperial Palace to plant some spy devices for the Alliance. The plan goes a bit too smoothly, and soon Luke finds himself face to face with Darth Vader, who does not believe Luke is his son.

Luke couldn't help but gape as the Millennium Falcon lowered into Imperial Center's atmosphere and the small lights of the city-planet grew into towering skyscrapers and never-ending traffic lanes. There was nothing but buildings as far as the eye could see.

"That's the palace," Han said.

He hadn't pointed anything out, but Luke could tell which building it was. It wasn't as tall like many of the other impressive buildings, but it was large; a massive ziggurat that sat by itself. There were no lanes of traffic or other buildings crowding around it. The negative space around it pulled all attention to the building, and Luke couldn't look away.

He could also feel it. There was a coldness radiating from it. Even from this distance, it caused a shiver to run up Luke's spine.

"Alright," Han said. "Leia's contact will be meeting us in three hours. We've got to get you cleaned up and in some better clothes."

"I'm still uncertain about this," Luke said. "What if they recognize me? Or- "

"Kid," Han said, turning around in his seat to look at him. "They don't have a picture of your face, yet. They don't even have a name attached to that bounty of yours. The Empire has no idea who shot down the Death Star."

"Yeah, but this just feels wrong."

Han huffed. "Don't tell me you feel bad for Darth Vader? Have you forgotten everything he's done?"

Luke became very aware of his father's lightsaber hanging on his hip. "No, but pretending to be his lost son . . . Isn't that cruel? Even for him?"

Luke thought about what it'd feel like if the situation was reversed. How would he react if someone came in claiming to be his father? It would be heartbreaking. Plus, what would happen once Vader realized this was all a ruse?

"That may be so," Han said slowly and thoughtfully. "But this is a chance the Alliance can't pass up. All we need to do is plant one of these-" Han held up the small cylindrical device, "- to slice into the Imperial Palace's systems. Just think of what kind of intel we could get. Even if we only secure a link for ten minutes, that data would be invaluable."

"You're just repeating Leia's words," Luke grumbled. "What you're interested in is the reward."

Han smiled slyly and shrugged. "Credits never hurt, Luke."

Luke rolled his eyes. Rumor had it that Vader had a reward of millions of credits for the one who could find his son. It had created a lot of rumors and plenty of people claiming they were the fake Prince Vader. So far, none of them had succeeded.

Three hours later, Luke was pulling at the collar of his new stiff black suit. It was tight and very Imperial looking.

"Stop fidgeting," Han hissed as they rode the lift up to the apartment they were meeting Leia's contact at.

Han was also dressed in a suit. Luke was sure he felt as uncomfortable as he did, but neither one could dwell on it anymore as the lift stopped and the doors slid open. A sleek feminine humanoid droid met them.

"Hello," the droid said. "You must be Princess Leia's friends."

"Yes, we are," Han said smiling.

"Excellent, please come this way," the droid said as it turned and led them down a hallway.

The apartment was on top of a tall skyscraper and its large windows offered an impressive view of the city. In the distance, Luke could see the palace looming.

"Mistress Sabé," the droid said. "Your guests have arrived."

"Thank you, HP3-R," a woman said. She sat on a couch drinking from a teacup, which she sat down on a low table in front of the couch, and stood up. "Let me get a good look at you."

Sabé, Leia's contact, was a lovely middle-aged human woman with brown, curly hair. Her face was relatively wrinkle-free, but there was still the unmistakable weight of age and knowledge in her brown eyes. She wore a purple dress with silver beading that looked like branches or vines crawling down the dress and a matching cape that hung down to her knees in three cascading layers of see-through purple silk. The top had the same silver beading on it.

She walked around Luke inspecting him. Her eyes traveled up and down his figure. She stopped in front of him and leaned in, and tilted her head this way and that. Then she gently brought a finger under his chin and lifted it, then pushed it from side to side. Finally, she stepped back.

"I'll admit," she said, "you do at least look the part."

"He does?" Han said relieved.

She smiled and took a seat back on the sofa. She waved for them to sit as well in armchairs opposite her.

"You look a lot like him," she said.

"Never would have imagined Vader havin' any sort of face like Luke's," Han said. "No offense, kid. I just always imagined there was like a skull under that mask."

"He was quite handsome in his youth," Sabé said. "Blond hair, tan skin, and blue eyes. The same shade you have."

Luke couldn't help but blush. Han noticed, wagged his eyebrows and smiled.

"But you also you look like her," Sabé continued. Luke's heart skipped a beat. "The nose and the mark on your cheek. Not to mention your stature."

Luke's cheeks burned now.

"So you think this will work?" Han asked. "You can get us into the Imperial Palace?"

"Getting you into the palace is the easy part. Tomorrow night there will a large party at the palace." Sabé said. "However, getting you a personal meeting with Vader is another matter."

"That's fine," Han quickly added. "I'm sure we will think of something-"

"Luckily," Sabé interrupted him, "I can do that for you as well."

"You- you can?" Luke asked.

He exchanged a look with Han. Sabé didn't know the real reason for them wanting to get into the palace. She thought they believed Luke really was the lost son of Vader, but Luke would rather avoid the man if he could. Avoid the man who had killed his father. Eventually, he would face him, but not yet. He wasn't ready.

"Have . . . have there been others?" Luke asked with a lump in his throat. "Other people who have tried to pose as his son that actually met with him?"

"A few," Sabé sighed.

"What happened?"

"Vader quickly realized they weren't," she said with a shrug.

"Yeah, but what happened to them? What did Vader do to them?"

"Getting cold feet?" Sabé asked.

"No," Han said quickly. He gave Luke a hard glare.

"Well, then I think we should get going," Sabé said standing up. Han and Luke both looked up at her confused. "We're going shopping," she said. "You can't go to the palace wearing that. Much too scruffy looking."

"Hey!" Han shouted as he stood up.

"Oh," Sabé said. "I believe I have been rather impolite. What are your names?"

"Luke Skywalker," Luke said.

Han hissed. It was only then Luke realized what he had done; he had used his real name. Han glared at him with a clenched jaw. 'Sorry,' Luke mouthed silently.

"Luke . . . Skywalker . . ." Sabé said. She rolled the words around on her tongue as if she was tasting them. There was a twinkle in her eye. "Bold choice."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Luke asked. "That's my name!"

"I know," Sabé said smiling.

Han grumbled as the store clerks ushered him back to the dressing room. Luke smiled. He was alone with Sabé in the upscale clothing store. Finely tailored suits hung on the racks and were displayed on mannequins around them.

"So tell me about yourself, Luke Skywalker," Sabé said.

"I uh," Luke stuttered.

"Where did you grow up?"

"Oh, nowhere really," Luke said. Sabé gave him a look, so he quickly added. "Tatooine."

Sabé's eyebrows rose. "Tatooine?"

"Is there something amusing about that?"

"Your father was from Tatooine," she said.

Luke asked, "How did you know that?" Then he remembered he was supposed to be posing as Darth Vader's long lost son. They weren't talking about his real father, about Anakin Skywalker. "I mean . . . Darth Vader is from Tatooine?"

Sabé was quiet for a long moment as she stared intently at Luke. "Yes," she finally said. "He is. Though he hates the place."

"I can understand," Luke said under his breath.

"So can I."

"You've been there?"

"I spent some time there. Originally, I had gone there to find a slave woman who had let go of her son so he could be free and have a better life. I wasn't able to."

Luke smiled sadly. "Makes me think of my grandmother," he said softly.

"Oh?"

"She was a slave. My grandfather bought her, fell in love with her, freed her and married her."

"Was she the one to raise you?"

"Oh, no. She died before I was born. My aunt and uncle raised me."

"And what did they say about your parents?"

Luke shrugged. "Not much. My father was a navigator on a spice freighter. They didn't know anything about my mother."

Sabé laughed. "A navigator? On a spice freighter? Oh, that's a good one! But I don't know if I would tell Vader that to his face. He may get offended."

Luke nodded. He realized that once again he forgot they weren't actually talking about his father. They were talking about Vader. Yet it had been so easy to mix it up. Was it that much of a coincidence that Vader was born on Tatooine? Had he lived a similar life to Anakin Skywalker?

"Thank you for everything you're doing," Luke said. "For the clothes and the party and everything, but . . . I don't know . . ."

"If you can go through with this?" Sabé finished for him.

Luke nodded. He wanted to tell her the truth. That this was all some ruse so they could get into the Imperial Palace. Sabé grabbed his arm and led him over to the large floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the city. Far off in the distance, he could just make out the palace.

"This planet used to be called Coruscant," she said. "There is an old song about Coruscant. It goes: Welcome, my friends, to Coruscant. It has everything you could want. Forget where you're from. You're in the Core. Children, come! Coruscant holds the key to your heart. Come dance through the night, On the planet of light, Where one never knows what will start . . ."

She paused.

"I think," she said after a moment of silence, "that Coruscant holds the key to your heart. Your past and future."

"That's . . . a little corny," Luke said.

Sabé laughed. "It is. A little. But that song reminds me of your father. Before he became Darth Vader. When he was the man your mother fell in love with. Because that song . . . that song is what happened to him."

Luke blushed and looked back at the city. It was odd to think that Vader could have once been a normal person. Possibly more like Luke than Luke had ever imagined. What had happened to him? That had made him into Vader?

"Invitation and identification please," a stormtrooper asked at the steps of the palace.

This was the third time they had been asked that, and each time Sabé fished out a small code cylinder.

"You are clear. Keep moving," the trooper said, handing back the cylinder and waving them up the steps. Not once had they asked for Luke or Han's ID, though they both had a counterfeit one stuffed in their pockets.

Sabé had her arm looped through Luke's as they walked up the grand stairs. She was dressed in a long royal blue dress that trailed a bit behind her. There was a thick silver belt on her waist that was encrusted with white and silver beads. The dress was sleeveless but had a small capelet that hung down to her wrist. The material was see-through with silver leaves sewn on it, and had a thick silver hem to match the belt.

Luke was dressed in a dark navy outfit. He wore two layers of sleeveless leather tunics that crossed over his chest and were held together by a thick black belt with a small cord running through the middle. The tunics draped down to his legs. Luke had wanted something more like what Han wore, a simple but classic black suit in an Imperial cut. However, Sabé had insisted on this outfit.

"Trust me," she said as she smoothed the fabric on his shoulder. "It brings out your eyes. Plus, it's a style very similar to what your father used to wear."

"Did you know him?" Luke asked. "Vader? Before he was Vader?"

"I knew of him," she said. She walked away before Luke could ask any more.

But clearly, Sabé had some connection to Vader. When they had arrived in their speeder, they were ushered into an express VIP lane. They hadn't checked Luke and Han's IDs. Luke wished Leia had told them more about Sabé. She had only said that she was an old contact of her father's who could possibly get them into the palace.

After walking through a grand hallway lined with troopers, they entered a huge hall. There were long red banners with the Imperial cog symbol on them on the walls and large windows that stretched several stories up and gave an impressive view of the city. In a corner near the windows sat a podium with a band playing music as people danced. On the opposite wall was a large table filled with food. In the back corner was a bar.

"Now then, we need to find where Vader is hiding," Sabé said as she glanced around. "He actually hates being at festivities like these, and is most likely lurking out of sight."

She pulled Luke into the large room. Luke shot Han a glance, who smiled, gave him a nod, and then fell back into the crowd. He was going to carry out the mission. He would find a terminal or two to stick in the spy devices. Luke had three of the devices in his pocket as well as his father's lightsaber hidden in his jacket.

Sabé led Luke to one of the walls. Luke noticed there was a door here guarded by troopers. There was a small line to get through and they joined the others in the queue. As they waited, Luke felt eyes on him. He turned and saw a young woman nearby glaring at him. She was stunning with red hair and green eyes and wore a beautiful sleek black dress. But was she looking at him? With such anger? Why?

As they got to the front of the line, Sabé produced her invitation code cylinder. The troopers let her through. Luke glanced over his shoulder, and the woman was still glaring at him. Luke didn't have time to dwell on that as they walked up a staircase. They entered a tall but narrow hallway. There was nothing but a wall to their right, but large open doorways to their left. Each room had floor-to-ceiling windows, that were shaded grey, and Luke realized they looked out on the party hall below. They must be one-way, allowing the people upstairs to look down on those at the party below.

As they walked down the hall and Luke looked into each room, he examined the people inside. If they wore Imperial military uniforms, they were all high ranking. Captains. Admirals. Moffs. Grand moffs. Luke had no doubt those who weren't in uniforms were equally important. Perhaps senators, governors, or royalty. This must be a private VIP area.

They came to the last doorway. Two stormtroopers stood on either side. Sabé only nodded at them. They stayed at attention and let her pass. Luke's heart was pounding in his chest. He had meant to back out of this by now. He couldn't go through with this. He wasn't Vader's lost son. In fact, the reason why Luke was fatherless was because of Vader. He had practiced a short speech in his head to give to Sabé, but he had failed to stop and give it to her. And now they were here.

A cold sweat was forming on his neck and brow. There was a lump in his throat as they stepped into the dark room. The only light in the room came in through the wall of shaded windows. There were dark couches and low tables, but it was mostly empty. Four guards in red capes and red helmets stood at attention by the wall next to the door. There was only one person sitting on a couch near a window.

And it wasn't Vader.

"Your highness," Sabé said as she gave a deep bow. She pulled Luke down with her.

"Sabé," came a feminine voice. "I'm glad you're here."

Sabé straightened up and finally let go of Luke's arm.

"It is good to see you as well, Padmé," Sabé said as she walked over to the lady.

Padmé? Who was Padmé?

Luke hadn't followed Sabé, but instead stood quietly by himself. Sabé had taken a seat and was talking softly with Padmé. Luke tried to get a good look at Padmé, but the dark room and the angle prevented him from seeing much. He could tell she was a human female that looked similar to Sabé, but that was about it.

Luke glanced around for any terminals. If he could get one of the spy devices connected to one of these rooms, the Alliance might be able to obtain some really valuable information. The security clearance in these rooms had to be impressive. These were the people leading the Empire. The people-

"Who is this?" Padmé asked.

Both women were staring at him.

"Padmé, this is . . ." but Sabé's words trailed off as Padmé stood.

For the first time, Luke got a good look at her. She did look a lot like Sabé. Perhaps a sister? She wore an impressive red satin gown with gold beads and designs embroidered on the chest, waist, and hems. Her brown curly hair hung mostly loose, though the hair around her face had been pulled back. On her head sat a small crown of gold and rubies with a long red veil flowing down her back.

Her brown eyes were wide. Her pink lips partially parted as she stood staring at Luke. They stood like that for a moment, before Padmé came straight at him with Sabé on her heels. Padmé stopped right in front of Luke. She was a bit shorter than him, so her head angled up to look at him. Her eyes had yet to leave him.

"You . . . " she said softly. It was barely more than a whisper. "You . . ."

"Padmé," Sabé said gently placing her hand on Padmé's arm. "I want you to meet Luke Skywalker."

"Oh!" Padmé said as she put a hand up to her mouth. "Oh! It is you!" Her eyes started to get watery. She slowly reached out and placed her hand on Luke's arm. "It's you."

Large big tears rolled down Padmé's face. Luke desperately looked at Sabé for some sort of clarification as to what was going on. But Sabé was only smiling warmly.

"Look at you," Padmé said between soft sobs. "Look at you. All grown-up."

"I, uh, I'm sorry. I . . ." he said, trying to comfort her, but not even knowing where to begin. "Sabé?"

"Luke," Sabé said. "This is your mother. Padmé."

A sad smile spread across Padmé's face. Tears streamed gently down her cheeks. There was a lump building in his throat and his cheeks were starting to burn. She wasn't . . . She wasn't his mother. He wasn't her son. He opened his mouth, but his tongue felt like lead. He had to say something. Anything! This was going too far! He squeezed his eyes shut, took a sharp breath, and renewed his courage. He opened his eyes, ready to reveal the truth, but that was when a sharp cold pierced him.

Time slowed to a crawl. The door slowly slid open. Luke watched as a large black boot stepped into the room. It was connected to a large dark grey leg. Then in came an arm, clad in a leather glove. Luke's heart pounded in his chest. The lump in his throat grew larger. He watched as the rest of Darth Vader stepped into the room. He was tall. Taller than Luke had imagined. He towered over everyone else. The helmet instantly looked in his direction. Luke started to break out in a cold sweat.

Vader marched over to the group with swift long strides. It took only a matter of seconds for him to stop before them, but it felt so much longer to Luke. Each step vibrated in his body and rattled his very bones. The breathing of the respirator grew louder and seemed to hiss promises of death.

There was a man under there? A man that Sabé thought Luke resembled? This was madness. Vader wasn't human. He was some dark death god that could smite the unworthy where they stood with a flick of his wrist or a slash of his lightsaber.

Lightsaber!

Luke recalled his own lightsaber hidden in his jacket. It suddenly felt warm and heavy, as if it was pulling him down. Was it obvious? Could Vader tell? Luke's hands twitched as he thought about ripping it out, igniting it, and stabbing it into his father's murderer's chest. He was so close. All it would take was a few steps.

"What is going on here?" Vader asked. His voice was deep and rumbling. It hummed with power and instantly demanded attention. That's when Luke realized Vader wasn't looking at him. The helmet was titled down towards Padmé. Slowly, a black leather hand rose up towards her. "Padmé?" Vader's voice was different than it had been a moment ago. It was . . . tender. Concerned.

"I'm- I'm fine," she said as she wiped her tears with her hands.

"You are not," Vader said. He looked at Sabé and raised a hand. He pointed his finger at her. "What have you done?"

Sabé didn't cower. She raised her head higher, even stuck her chin out at him. She was glaring down Vader. Darth Vader! But before Sabé could say anything, Vader's mask turned to Luke. Luke couldn't see the eyes behind the black lenses. Were there eyes behind them? A face? A face like Luke's?

"Who is this?" Vader growled. His finger was now pointing at Luke. He looked back to Sabé. "What have you done?"

"Please," Padmé said. Her voice was soft and trembling.

"I've reunited a lost son with his mother," Sabé said. She crossed her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow as if daring Vader to argue or act against her.

She was insane.

That was the only reason Luke could think of for Sabé's behavior. She was insane to think Luke was Vader's son. She had no sense of self-preservation. She was going to die here. Luke, too. Both of them were going to be killed by Vader in a matter of minutes.

Vader's mask snapped back to Luke, who could feel Vader's gaze on him. The room seemed to be getting colder. Luke shivered.

"Please," Padmé said softly. She had stepped forward and placed a hand on Vader's extended arm. The one that was still pointing at Luke.

"I will not listen to these lies," Vader said. His voice was softer. He was clearly addressing Padmé. His mask had tilted down to look at her.

"They're not lies!" Padmé cried. "This is our son!"

"He is not!" Vader roared. Padmé flinched, but she didn't step back. Sabé's smug expression fell. Luke had taken a step back. "This boy is not our son!"

"He is!" Padmé pleaded. "Please, just calm down. Let me explain-"

"There is nothing to explain," Vader said. He took a step back and sharply withdrew his hand away from Padmé. "I have seen plenty of boys who claim to be my son. Enough to last me a lifetime. However, I never expected you to attempt this scam, Sabé."

"It isn't a scam," she said.

"She's right," Padmé said taking a step closer to Vader.

"You think I do not know who this boy is? You think I wouldn't recognize his presence? He's a rebel. The very same rebel who shot down the Death Star," Vader snarled.

The room was growing colder. Luke started to back away. This was going bad. Really bad. He had to get out of here.

"Please, stop," Padmé said. Fresh tears were falling down her face. "Just listen to me, please!"

"I will admit the Rebellion has done an impressive job this time," Vader continued. "But my men have already located your smuggler friend. A con artist by the name of Han Solo. He ran auditions for a Prince Vader lookalike on Nar Shaddaa. Then sold the boy off to some moffs using an elaborate story that this was the real prince, and that I would be very grateful to have my son returned to me."

Vader's hand slowly curled, his fingers like claws reaching out and grasping the air. There was a tightness growing around Luke's throat. He tried to step away from that invisible grasp, but only hit a wall. The sensation around his throat was getting worse. It was getting tighter and tighter.

"No!" Padmé shouted. She grabbed Vader's arm with both of her hands. "Stop! Please! He's our son! Your son!"

"He is not," Vader said. His voice was low and dripping with venom. "I will not have any more pain inflicted on us." He added in a gentler voice, "On you." But then his voice turned sharp and cold again. "I am done with these imposters. No more!"

"No!" Padmé screamed.

The coldness around Luke's throat tightened even more. He couldn't breathe. His hands grabbed at his throat, but there was nothing there. His mouth opened and closed as he desperately tried to breathe. Everything in his body was screaming for air. He was going to die!

No!

He wasn't. It was a true test of will to lower his arms away from his throat and dig into his coat. He found the lightsaber. His hands were slick with sweat and growing weak, but this was his only chance. He pulled out the silver hilt. He was sluggish and clumsy as his finger slid over the igniter, but eventually he pushed the button.

The beam sprang forth with a loud snap-hiss. It was the only thing Luke could see. He focused on its steady hum and soothing blue light. He realized the cold tightness was gone. He could breathe! He was going to live! He took in several deep breaths unaware of the shouts around him. It wasn't until he heard another snap-hiss that he finally lowered his blade.

Two of the red guards held Padmé by the arms. She was straining against their hold and screaming at Vader, who held his red lightsaber and pointed it at Luke.

"You hold that weapon like an untrained child," Vader said as he slowly started to approach Luke. "You have no right to it. You, boy, are no Jedi. Who are you? You are not my son."

"You killed my father!" Luke said as his strength returned. He gripped the hilt with both hands and held it up, ready to strike.

"I've killed very many fathers," Vader said. His lightsaber actually lowered. The message was clear. He didn't think Luke was a threat. Padmé was still screaming at Vader to stop. "You'll have to be more specific."

Luke screamed and lunged forward. But a simple swipe of Vader's blade sent Luke tumbling to the ground. Force! He was strong. Luke scrambled to his knees.

"This is most pathetic," Vader said. "You are not worth the second it would take to finish you. Who sent you here to die like this? That smuggler? The Rebellion?"

"I was there, on the Death Star," Luke spat. "I saw what you did to him. You killed Master Kenobi! And now I'm here to make sure you-"

Luke's lightsaber, his father's lightsaber, was ripped out of his hands. It flew through the air directly into Vader's hand.

"No!" Luke shouted.

"So Obi-Wan Kenobi gave you this lightsaber," Vader said slowly. "A shame he did not teach you how to wield it. He never did make for much of a master."

"How did you . . ."

"The Force will never be with you, boy. Your master has fallen. Your smuggler friend is imprisoned. What hope have you?"

"Please! Stop! Don't!" Padmé screamed. Her voice was shrill and heartbreaking.

"None," Vader said as he raised both lightsabers up.

Luke could only look up at the two beams. So this was it. This was truly it. This was how he was going to die. At the same hands who killed his father. By the same weapon, along with his father's. Tears were starting to build up in his eyes. He took a deep shuddering breath as he waited for the killing blow to come, but Vader had paused. His hands had lowered. He was looking intently at Luke's lightsaber.

"Wait . . . this lightsaber . . . " Vader said. His voice was distant as if he was lost in thought.

"It was my father's!" Luke shouted.

Vader's attention was instantly back on him. He could feel the sharp cold swirling around him.

"What?" Vader asked.

"That was my father's lightsaber," Luke said as he slowly stood up. If he was going to die, then he was going to face it head on.

"Stop!" Padmé continued to plead.

"What is your name, boy?" Vader asked.

"Luke Skywalker," Luke said. "My father was Anakin Skywalker. Do you recall murdering him?"

Both sabers fell as Vader's arms went slack.

"He's your son!" Padmé shouted. "He's your son!"

Vader deactivated both lightsabers and looked back down at Luke's saber. Then he slowly looked back at Luke. Luke was confused. What was going on? What was Vader doing? Again, Luke could feel Vader's intense gaze on him but this time it felt different. It wasn't sharp and indifferent, but curious. Luke felt like he was being analyzed.

"Anakin," Padmé said. Her voice was growing hoarse. "Anakin, please. He's your son!"

Vader looked over his shoulder at her. Then back at Luke.

"Ana . . . Anakin?" Luke asked. His eyes darted from Vader to Padmé to Sabé to the guards and back to Vader. Had Padmé just called Vader Anakin?

Vader clipped both lightsabers to his belt. Then in three large steps, he stood directly in front of Luke. Before Luke could act, Vader's hand reached out and grabbed Luke's arm. Vader's grip was tight and cold. Luke tried to pull away, but Vader was unflinching. He pulled Luke closer and his other hand grabbed Luke's chin.

"It seems, child," Vader said in a lower voice. It was that voice he had used on Padmé earlier. The softer voice. Luke also noted he had called him child instead of boy. "I was too hasty in my judgment, and I should have listened to my wife."

Luke's eyes darted to Padmé. The guards had let her go and she was running over to them.

"Luke!" she cried as she reached them. She placed her hands on Vader's arm. "Are you alright?"

"What . . . what is going on?" he asked. His voice cracked.

Padmé smiled. "We're your parents," she said. "You're our son."

"But . . . but . . . how . . . my parents are dead!"

"You've been lied to," Sabé said. She shook her head. "I realized you didn't know the whole truth, but I thought you at least knew something about who they really were, and that was why you were sent to me. Why you wanted to meet them."

"Who they really are?" Luke asked.

Sabé waved at Vader and Padmé and said, "Darth Vader, formerly known as Anakin Skywalker, and his wife, Padmé Amidala Skywalker."

Luke let out a small sob as he looked at his parents.

AN: This is a one-shot I've been sitting on for a while. I didn't post it yet because I wanted to write more, but I decided to go ahead and post this up. This one-shot was inspired by Slx99's own Anastasia Luke and Vader one-shot. So go check that one out too.