Forbidden

DISCLAIMER: Not mine. No money made. Just for fun and love and smut.

PAIRING: Luke x Vader

WARNING: Slash/Incest/AU/Non-con

HINTS: Hey guys! Once again a ridiculously long time between updates, but that is going to change as my Smallville piece is completed and I am going to be concentrating on this piece almost full-time. Yay!

If you recognize the ysalamiri as coming from Star Wars books involving Thrawn, post ROTJ, and know all that history … you are correct, but obviously I am changing things around for my purposes. What? Me, change things? Never! Hee hee!

Oh … our boys get an ally in this chapter (I hope you like that I added this particular person, he’s a favorite of mine). Believe me, they need all the allies they can get. And some new and scary Force powers appear. Once again, I am really going AU with the Force powers, but that’s been the way all along with me, so why stop now?

There’s some smut, but it’s non-con. The Luke x Vader love-fest is coming hopefully in the next chapter, but I feared if I didn’t stop writing after 36 pages that this chapter would be like 60-70 pages and not done for another couple of weeks and that would be bad.

Thank you all again for your amazing support and interest. I will continue to do my darndest to keep you all entertained. Please let me know what you think!

Hugs and kisses,
Raythe:)

CHAPTER ELEVEN: SKYWALKERS AND FIRE

Vader’s POV

Vader knew he was going to be too late to save Luke from being burnt to a cinder.

Even as he let go of his Force line and plummeted down to the cavern below, he believed he would find only the corpse of his beloved son. The disturbance from the crystals was making isolating and killing the Krayt Dragon with his new powers impossible from where he was. Until he reached the cavern itself, he could do nothing.

He only half-saw the dirt sides of the tunnel whip past him as his sight flickered between his son’s view and his own. Through Luke’s eyes, Vader saw the Krayt Dragon’s scaly head rear back, its jaws stretch wide, and razor sharp fangs come into view. Boiling fire appeared in the back of its throat. As the flames poured from the beast’s mouth and flew through the air to engulf the boy, Vader caught Luke’s last thought, ‘Father, I love you. Forgive me for leaving you.’

Then there was a brilliant white flash just as the fire reached his child and Vader could no longer see through his son’s eyes.

The Dark Lord heard horrible screaming. It took him a second to realize it was from his own throat. ‘Not my son! Not my son burned! I cannot lose him. I cannot fail him like this … he cannot be gone … Nononononononononono NO!’ All thought left him as he exited the tunnel and dropped through the open air into the cavern.

He couldn’t see Luke. He was blinded by the roiling orange, red and yellow radiance of fire everywhere. It was too much like Mustaphar. Hate, rage and loss flared up in him like a river. His new powers clicked back online as the influence of the crystals faded abruptly. He directed all the blackness within him towards the beast, his emotions becoming a spear of pure Dark Side Force energy. ‘Destroy you! Destroy you! DESTROY YOU!’ The Krayt Dragon roared then made another sound, almost a shriek, as the spear of energy thrust into its heart. The organ exploded in its huge chest. The large body shuddered and collapsed into a heap of steaming flesh on the ground.

Vader landed softly on the cavern floor as he used the Force to slow his descent. His head whipped towards where he expected to find his son’s ruined body. The darkness of the cavern once lit in fiery reds and oranges was now illuminated only by a soft white glow. Luke was on the ground, unburned, his leg still broken, but he was otherwise unhurt. One hand was outstretched before him as if to block out the sight of the dead beast. Between Luke and the dragon’s body was the source of the white light. Vader watched as the light slowly began to break apart.

“Luke!” Vader yelled as he rushed across the cavern’s floor.

“Father!” Luke cried as Vader fell to his knees beside the boy.

They embraced. Vader held onto Luke so tightly that he feared he bruised his son’s tender skin. But the Dark Lord couldn’t let go. He had thought Luke gone. He had thought never to put his hands upon his son alive again. He ran his fingers through Luke’s silky hair. The boy’s panicked expression faded and his gaze became unfocused as Vader’s caresses soothed him and he relaxed more fully into the Dark Lord’s arms.

Vader felt most of the tension leave him as well. He could only now breathe again with Luke safe beside him. He pressed his lips against his son’s and the boy’s mouth opened beneath his in a tiny gasp of pleasure. Luke yielded to him so beautifully, so effortlessly, Vader ached with the need to connect their bodies and forge an even closer physical and spiritual bond. But here was not the place. He had to get them back to the Executor. He wouldn’t feel secure until Luke was safely aboard the flagship. Then he would waste no more time in making Luke his in every way. He had almost lost what was most precious to him. He would not risk losing Luke again.

“How did you survive? Luke … how …”

“He saved me.” Luke pointed to the light. “He stood between me and the flames.”

Vader turned his head to look at the light only to realize it was a Force spirit, but it was not Obi Wan. Vader felt something in his chest tighten.

It was Qui-Gon Jinn.

The Jedi Master’s eyes crinkled as he caught Vader’s gaze. His deep baritone voice rolled over them.

“Anakin … it is good to see you again,” Qui-Gon Jinn said.

Vader flinched at the use of his old name, but he didn’t sense any chiding behind it.

“And you, Master Jinn. Very good considering the fact that you saved my son from … from … the flames.” Vader couldn’t help the shudder that ran through him. His son had almost been consumed by fire like he had been.

The wry smile Vader remembered so well spread across the spirit’s face. “Skywalkers and fire have never mixed very well. Though somehow they seem to attract each other.”

Vader watched as more of the light that made up Qui-Gon’s form drifted away. His brow furrowed. Something was wrong with the Force spirit.

“I did not know the dead could act as you have,” Vader said.

Another rueful smile. “You are right. I’m afraid …” The spirit seemed to convulse as its light drained away.

“Father, what is happening to him?” Luke’s sweet voice was raised in alarm.

Vader contemplated Qui-Gon’s fading form, then said softly, “In saving Luke, you … you used up all the energy that binds you together, didn’t you, Master Jinn?”

“I’m afraid so. But … it was worth it. Luke is … is meant to be and so are you, Anakin. His light must not be extinguished out of fear.”

Qui-Gon looked even more translucent, the cave falling into almost complete darkness as his light waned.

“What will happen to him once all his energy is gone, Father?”

Vader bit his lower lip, but Qui-Gon saved him from answering. “I will rejoin the Force fully.”

“By that you mean you will cease to exist, don’t you?” The Dark Lord asked and Qui-Gon’s minimal hesitation before answering him told him volumes.

With a small sigh, Qui-Gon said, “You always cut to the heart of the matter, don’t you, Anakin? I … no matter what happens to me, Luke had to be protected from … from Obi-Wan and those he has enlisted.” Pain flickered across the Jedi Master’s face. “I always knew he feared change, but not enough to try and … do something like this.”

Qui-Gon’s statement confirmed Vader’s suspicion that the way the stone had broken beneath Luke’s feet was unnatural. ‘But no spirit could booby trap a stone like that. Not to mention the cave-in. Whatever living agency Obi-Wan has enlisted will rue the day they chose his side.’ There were so many questions Vader had, but he feared that the Jedi Master would be gone before he could ever ask them.

Luke cried out, “This isn’t right! You can’t lose your existence for me.”

“It is the natural progression of things, Luke, to rejoin the Force fully in the end,” Qui-Gon said gently.

“No!” Luke’s eyes became unfocused and a glimmer of light appeared in them. “It … it doesn’t have to be.”

“Luke, what are you saying?” Vader asked him, slightly uneasy by the unnatural light in his son’s eyes.

Qui-Gon Jinn’s form flickered for a moment and looked to be gone entirely, but then he came back, a faint spectral glow.

“I know what to do. I know how this can be made right,” Luke’s voice was both triumphant and tinged with a certainty that Vader recognized as coming only from the very essence of the Force itself. “Master Jinn, will you let me help you?”

“How?” Qui-Gon’s voice was so soft, a mere whisper.

“I could … bring you back. Let me?”

“Back? You mean back to life?”

“Yes!”

The strange light blazed brighter in Luke’s eyes, making the boy look more otherworldly than ever. Could his son do this thing? Conjure a man out of thin air? ‘He was able to form his hand out of nothingness but still.’ Something niggled at the back of Vader’s mind as if this act was terribly familiar, but the sensation was soon gone.

“Please, Master Jinn, imagine the good you could do if you were back in this world! You could set right those things you were unable to in your life. Please!” Luke extended one hand towards the spirit.

The spirit was silent for a long time, so long Vader believed that he had lost the power of speech. But with a sudden laugh, Qui-Gon said, “I think I might fancy living again. So much left undone. And I could make up for … so much as well.”

The spirit’s eyes slid to Vader and the Dark Lord felt a lance of pain from the Jedi Master. ‘Does he blame himself somehow for me turning to the Darkness? Foolishness. But then again … this could be useful in keeping him loyal to Luke and me.’

Luke shut his eyes and Vader felt a pulling on every part of his body, like pins were being drawn out of his flesh then the sensation was abruptly gone. He turned towards Qui-Gon. Behind the spectral figure, he saw the slumped body of the dead Krayt Dragon.

It began to disintegrate.

Scales lifted off its corpse like glitter and swam in the air towards Luke. They became translucent as they passed through Luke’s body. When they emerged again, they appeared to be pure flecks of light, no form to them at all. They swirled over to Qui-Gon. The flecks fed Qui-Gon’s fading illumination, making him grow brighter, more substantial. Soon the light that made up the Jedi Master was so blinding that Vader had to look away. He could see the blaze of light as a warm red glow behind his eyelids. Finally the glow began to fade.

“It’s done,” Luke’s voice sounded exhausted, but happy.

Vader himself felt slightly weakened like he did when he had been using his Force powers continually for a long time and needed to recharge. The cavern was in complete darkness. Even with their night vision, it would be difficult to see. Vader grabbed some glow sticks from a pouch at his waist and ignited him. The green light revealed a bewildered Qui-Gon Jinn standing completely naked on the same spot he had as a spirit. Awe streaked through Vader. ‘Luke has done it! What power! Force, what we will be able to accomplish together. Ruling the Empire is only the start!’

Vader’s hands shook suddenly as the siren song of the Dark Side sang even louder to him than it ever had before. It showed him tantalizing glimpses of his and Luke’s future: a flash of a battlefield where their soldiers rose from the dead as fast as they were shot down; waves of fire and ice forming before their armies destroying everything in their path … leaving only a desert. ‘Almost like Tatooine …’ Vader snapped out of the vision as the Jedi Master spoke.

“I’m … alive. I don’t know that I believed you could actually do it. Even though …” Qui-Gon whispered and held out one flesh arm in front of him, staring at the limb as if he weren’t sure it was his own.

Vader unclipped his cape and held it out to Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master gave a start and looked down at his naked form. Qui-Gon’s appearance was just as Vader remembered it, except he looked about twenty years younger. He was lean and muscled, his chest covered in a moderate dusting of bronze hairs that grew heavier as it led to his quiescent sex. The hair on his head was long and hung down past his shoulders. Luke had even given him back his goatee.

“Thank you, Anakin. It is a little chilly in here.”

Qui-Gon took the cape from Vader’s outstretched hand and wrapped it snugly around him waist, tucking in the ends to keep it in place around his slim hips. Vader turned back to his son. Luke was smiling up at him, but he looked wan, and his leg was still broken.

“Child, why do you not heal your leg?”

“I … I can’t. I’m so tired myself and … it’s like … there’s not enough Force energy here right now.”

Vader stretched out with his Force senses and sure enough the cave felt … empty, scrapped clean of energy. Where the Krayt Dragon had been was just the rocky floor of the cavern. No sign that the great beast had been there at all. He wondered a bit at his own sense of exhaustion. Had Luke used his own, Vader’s and the Krayt Dragon’s energy to resurrect Qui-Gon?

Luke worried his lower lip for a moment. “If the Krayt Dragon had not been so large and so infused with Force energy itself, I would not have been able to resurrect Master Jinn without … without draining … us … maybe even to death.”

“You would not have done that. You would have stopped before then,” Vader said and petted Luke’s head. He felt his son’s unease at the prospect that he could have drained another being’s life force accidentally and wanted to assuage it. ‘He uses the Force energy around him with his new powers along with his internal Force energy … that explains much.’ They would have to test his son’s powers in more controlled settings before … ‘Before that dream/vision of the battlefield could come true. Nothing can stop us once Luke has full control of his powers.’ Vader shivered both in dread and desire.

Qui-Gon hunkered down by Luke’s wounded leg. “Luke, let me have your jacket.”

Vader helped his son shrug the jacket off.

“I hope you are not too fond of this,” Qui-Gon said as he began ripping it into long strips and bracing Luke’s broken leg as well as he could with the torn material.

“I don’t seem able to keep on the jackets you got for me, Father,” Luke said with a small, rueful smile.

Vader squeezed Luke’s shoulder gently in response. He then turned to watch the Jedi Master tenderly minister to his son. Vader searched his feelings about Qui-Gon. What were Qui-Gon’s alliances? What did he know about Luke’s and his place in the Universe? What could the dead see that the living could not? While Obi-Wan had confirmed to him that the dead’s vision was not all powerful and all knowing, Vader still believed they could see more than the living. And there also was the question of whether Qui-Gon would try and interfere in Luke’s and his relationship. ‘I will find out all he knows and all he intends. If he becomes a liability … I will send him back to the Force.’

“We mustn’t tarry here too long,” Qui-Gon said as he finished up the makeshift binding on the boy’s leg. “Obi-Wan has enlisted the Rebellion in his cause. There are only a small number on the planet, but enough to cause us trouble. I believe there is only the one exit from this cavern so they are probably stationed near there to make sure the dragon or the cave-in did their work. We will have to fight our way out of here.”

“Black Heart is causing more of a disturbance with the Executor’s sensors than I realized if Rebel forces were able to land on the planet’s surface without our knowledge.”

“And our Force powers were more affected, too. I would have sensed Leia otherwise far before now,” Luke said. “She is here, isn’t she, Master Jinn?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Obi-Wan … made contact with her and is guiding her actions.” The Jedi Master shifted his stance as if mentioning Leia was uncomfortable for him.

“Does she h-hate me?” Luke asked.

Vader’s heart clenched to hear the boy’s uncertainty and hurt. The snip of a Princess should not be able to affect his son so, but Luke always felt things very deeply.

Qui-Gon’s lips pressed together in a thin line. “No, but I think it will only make it worse in the end.”

“What do you mean?” Luke asked, one small hand suddenly clutching Vader’s forearm. The Dark Lord wished he could take Luke’s pain away as the boy looked so forlornly at Qui-Gon for an answer he knew would hurt him.

Qui-Gon’s hawk-like face turned towards Luke. It was heavily laced with shadow and even with his night-vision, Vader had a hard time discerning the emotion it held.

“It is harder to defend yourself against someone who loves you, Luke,” Qui-Gon answered softly. “But defend yourself you must. And so will I.”

Luke shivered and drew closer to Vader. The Dark Lord had to stop the anger that surged at the thought of the Princess and the Rebellion. Both had betrayed their hero without so much as hearing his side.

“Why the elaborate traps?” Vader asked. “Why not just attack us outright?”

“They weren’t sure how large a group you would bring down with you. And the extent of your new Force powers concerned Obi-Wan. The thought was to get you in the cave system where the crystals would hamper your Force powers. They believed that the cave-in would trap you or kill you, but … the remote for the explosives didn’t work properly and you were well past the area when they exploded.”

“The other side to the coin of Black Heart’s interference with electronic equipment. Helping us instead of harming us this time,” Vader said.

“They booby-trapped all the passageways out of the caves through the temple underground as a backup.”

“I see. I’m surprised the Viateen did not try and stop them or at least warn us,” Vader said.

The Dark Lord clenched his hands into fists. He was going to find out exactly why the Viateen had failed him, and skin their scaly hides for not at least warning them of the Rebel presence while they walked, blithely unaware of the threat, to the crystal cave. Perhaps he would just blast the temple out of existence with the Executor’s ion cannons as their just reward.

“I believe the Rebels lost many people in their skirmishes with the creatures.”

Vader felt a flash of pain over his bond with Luke as the boy considered dead friends. He cupped Luke’s chin. He said softly, “They tried to hurt you. Hurt us. Do not mourn them.”

“I know … it’s just … they were my friends. People I risked my life for and now … now they risk their lives to take mine.”

“With your help, Luke, we can end these destructive conflicts more quickly, with less loss of life. Think on that,” Vader said softly as he stroked the boy’s silken hair.

Luke nodded slowly then pressed his forehead against Vader’s shoulder. The Dark Lord looked over at Luke’s destroyed saber and then down at the boy’s broken leg. His son could not move on his own, let alone fight. Perhaps there would be enough energy for Luke to heal himself closer to the exit. He would not leave his child in this horrible place while they scouted ahead. The shock of nearly losing him to the Krayt Dragon was still too fresh. Besides they might only have one chance to get out. He tried his com link, but only static greeted him. He picked up Luke’s broken saber and attached it to his belt. He then unhooked his own light saber and extended it towards Qui-Gon hesitantly. ‘He protected Luke at the cost of his own existence. I doubt he will now turn around and try to kill us.’

“You are the stronger swordsman, Anakin, you should keep it,” Qui-Gon protested.

“No, I will need both my hands free to carry Luke out of here. And besides, I have … other powers now that are more effective than my blade. Once we are out of the cavern I shouldn’t have any problem using them even my hands full.”

Qui-Gon’s gaze skittered over to where the dragon had been. Vader could see that he was contemplating the cause of the dragon’s death. It had been so easy to explode the beast’s heart. He wondered what other powers would surface. Qui-Gon nodded, showing he understood and agreed with Vader’s position.

Vader thought to himself, ‘Do you fear me, Qui-Gon?’

‘No, Anakin, I fear FOR you.’

Vader drew back as if struck. He had not sent Qui-Gon the thought. He hadn’t blocked the Jedi Master, but still Qui-Gon shouldn’t have been able to hear him. Other than Luke, Vader had never experienced any direct communication like this unless it was intended by both parties.

‘You can hear me, Qui-Gon?’

‘Yes.

‘How?’

‘We were to have been Master and Apprentice. Do you not feel the training bond between us?’

‘No, I …’

But then Vader felt it; a thin silver thread between him and Qui-Gon. A weak, paltry thing compared to the bond he and Luke shared, but it was there and it was far more than he had ever had with either Obi-Wan or Palpatine. With them, there had been only the barest awareness, but there wasn’t this sense of … closeness, connectedness that he had with Qui-Gon. Vader had almost come to believe that stronger training bonds were myth, but here was proof. Vader scowled.

‘I am my own Master now. I need no training bond with you or anyone.’

He consciously shut the other man out of his mind. Qui-Gon bowed his head, his expression neutral, but Vader wondered if he had wounded the Jedi, struck a nerve of regret in him, by reminding him that his chance to train Anakin Skywalker had been lost by losing a fight against another of Palpatine’s apprentices.

Vader started slightly when Qui-Gon gently took the saber from his still-extended hand. The Jedi Master ignited the blood red blade. It was strange for Vader to see the blade in another’s hand, but feel unafraid it would be used against him. And he realized what little else he might know of Qui-Gon’s motives, he was sure they did not include killing either him or Luke.

“This is a very fine blade,” Qui-Gon said as he made two quick slashes with it.

“Thank you. We now have new Force crystals, which will make even finer ones.”

“Oh!” Luke said suddenly and dug into his pocket. He took out the extra crystal he had rescued from the cave. It was glowing softly. “I wonder if the Force already knew that I would resurrect you. I think … this may be yours.”

Qui-Gon carefully took the crystal from Luke’s hand. It was a bright yellow. “I believe you’re right, Luke. I do feel a strong connection to this crystal. Hmmm, interesting.”

“Extinguish the blade and open the side compartment. You will be able to substitute the crystals easily,” Vader explained.

“Excellent design. Far easier than my old blade to exchange crystals. You always were good at creating mechanical marvels as I recall.”

Vader smiled uncertainly as his mind raced back to his meeting with Qui-Gon on Tatooine so long ago. “Oh, you mean the pod-racer and … Threepio. Although, I don’t know that Threepio could be considered a … mechanical marvel.”

Luke snickered. “He does have his moments, Father. I’ll have to tell you about his saving … Han, Leia and I from the garbage disposal on the Deathstar.”

“Now that sounds like quite a story,” Qui-Gon said.

Vader felt a spike of relief that Luke’s grim mood had lessened even though there was a slight hesitation in saying his former friends’ names.

“Especially when you hear what was living in the garbage disposal.”

One of Vader’s eyebrows lifted. “Living? Why do I think I don’t want to know?”

“It had tentacles. Lots and lots of tentacles.” Luke shuddered as he said it.

“The better to grab its prey with?”

“Yeah, but it thought I was its prey.”

“You have an unfortunate habit of being attacked by beasts intent on eating you, Luke. A tentacled monster in the garbage disposal and the Yeti you told me about earlier.” Vader chuckled.

“Oh, and I haven’t even told you about the Rancor yet! I’ve sort of wondered why they were all so interested in eating me.” Luke’s brow furrowed.

Over their bond, Vader said softly, ‘Because you’re so … sweet, soft, succulent. I want to devour you myself.’

‘Father!’ Luke went scarlet and dropped his head to cover the happy, embarrassed grin.

Qui-Gon was smiling as well, sensing both men’s lighter moods. He doused the blade and opened the compartment door on the hilt. He extracted the red crystal and handed it over to Vader then slid the new yellow crystal inside. He closed the compartment door and ignited the saber. A warm, sunny blade emerged. The Jedi Master practiced a few easy forms then graduated to more difficult ones. Luke and Vader watched the older man move like liquid steel around the cavern.

“You still have the grace I remember,” Vader commented. He had used many of Qui-Gon’s moves in his own later modified forms. It was strange to once again watch another Jedi fight. Qui-Gon was not as strong as either Vader or Luke, but he would be a very tough opponent nonetheless.

“I think I have been … improved. Luke, I feel quite a bit stronger than I remember, more limber,” Qui-Gon said, smiling largely.

“Everyone I’ve brought back has had improved physical and mental acuity.”

Shock was evidence on Qui-Gon’s face. “Everyone you’ve brought back? I knew you were capable of great healing,” he gestured towards Vader, “but I thought I was the first you had tried to resurrect.”

“Only the first one that didn’t have a body already,” Luke explained then frowned, “Perhaps that was why I was able to resurrect the troopers without draining another being … they were newly dead and their bodies needed little energy to be healed and … restarted, for lack of a better word, and there was enough Force energy present in the room.”

“Speaking of healing … Luke as soon as you sense any energy start to mend your leg. We’ll need you functional as soon as possible,” Vader said, and started to arrange Luke to lift him up into his arms.

“Understood.”

Vader felt a pull on their bond.

‘Father, are you all right? I sensed earlier that you were disturbed by something more than the close call with the dragon.’

He brushed back Luke’s golden hair from his forehead. ‘It is nothing really. Just seeing Qui-Gon again …’

‘He’s the one that saved you from slavery, isn’t he?

‘Yes.’

‘You know that YOU are the reason he saved me despite what he said about us being meant.’

Vader straightened Luke’s rumpled shirt as he contemplated the boy’s words. ‘I can’t imagine why. We hardly knew one another all those years ago. And I’m certain that he is aware of my part in the destruction of the Jedi.’

‘That doesn’t mean …’ Luke looked down at his hands in his lap, twinning them together as he did when he was nervous or depressed.

‘What?’ Vader tilted Luke’s chin up.

Luke’s too blue eyes searched his face. ‘Even if he knows everything you’ve done … it doesn’t mean he’d stop caring for you. And he does care and … love you.’

Vader just stopped his mouth from dropping open. ‘Luke, there was and is nothing between Qui-Gon and I. We met when I was six!’

Luke smiled, showing he did not believe Qui-Gon a rival. ‘Not that kind of love, but a … connection. Tell me you didn’t wonder what it would have been like if he had been your Master instead of Obi-Wan.’

Vader studied his son’s face. ‘Perhaps. But I have learned not to dwell on the past. It cannot be changed. The future is enough to contemplate.’

‘You’re right, but the past … sometimes it has such a hold on us.’

Vader pressed a tender kiss against his son’s furrowed forehead. Luke relaxed into the touch. The Dark Lord felt Qui-Gon specifically looking elsewhere to give them privacy. At least it answered one question that Vader had, namely, that the Jedi Master was not outright disapproving of what was between him and Luke.

“Let us be on our way,” Vader said as he stood up with Luke in his arms with ease as if the boy weighed nothing. As they began to walk, he asked Qui-Gon, “How exactly did Obi-Wan enlist the Rebellion in his cause? There aren’t any major Force sensitives in their ranks for him to appear to.”

“There is one.”

“Leia,” Luke said softly.

“Luke, I know you mentioned her as the contact Obi-Wan would seek out. But I have met the Princess and though she may have rudimentary skills, it would be unlikely Obi-Wan could appear to her as he did to us.” Vader cradled Luke tighter against his chest as he felt they boy snuffle closer to his neck. But his enjoyment was short-lived as the Force told him he was missing something, something basic about the princess.

Qui-Gon’s eyes slid past Vader’s as he motioned for the other men to follow him towards a large opening in the far wall. Vader could smell a trace of fresh air over the pungent scent of the Krayt Dragon’s feces.

“Normally, you would be right that one untrained such as her would not be able to see Obi-Wan, but … her family is unusually strong with the Force.” Qui-Gon did not look at him as he added, “It might be better if we had this discussion elsewhere. It might come as a shock—”

“I wish you to inform me now, Qui-Gon, before we face them in battle,” Vader interrupted him curtly.

The Jedi Master nodded. “Leia Organa is … your daughter, Anakin.”

“What?” Vader stopped moving. “That’s impossible! Since Padme I have exclusively sought out the company of men. I could have no other children!”

“She is Luke’s twin.”

Luke stiffened in Vader’s arms. The boy’s eyes were huge and troubled. Vader felt a mix of hope, despair and even jealousy as if Vader would suddenly choose Leia over him, flow over their bond from the boy.

Vader sent over their bond, ‘Luke, you are the only one for me. Believe that.’

The boy hung his head, ‘I … I want you to love her. She’s your … daughter … my sister. Forgive me for being so foolish. This news … it’s a shock. I always wanted a sibling, but … Obi-Wan has turned her against us. He has turned my hope to ashes.’

Vader had no answer for him. He wasn’t sure what his own reaction was to the news. He had admired the Princess’ pluck to a certain extent, but had been more exasperated with her than anything else. ‘Much like I felt with Padme, which is now not a surprising thought.’ Leia and Padme had always spoken of ideals to him of a Republic that had never existed except in books, but they had ignored the practical realities of running a cohesive group. Leia had been a thorn in his side ever since she joined the Senate and ever after as Rebellion leader. ‘And now she takes Obi-Wan’s side in this battle. Why am I not surprised?’ Leia reminded him too much of his traitorous wife. He realized that he felt no connection to her at all. Only Luke had a place in his heart.

“Do you think the fact that she is my … offspring … will change anything, Qui-Gon?” Vader asked.

The Jedi Master’s expression was solemn, “It might. It could.”

“It won’t. She was my enemy before and she is my enemy still.”

“Father,” Luke’s voice was pained.

Vader tightened his grip on Luke’s slender body in his arms. “She betrayed us, young one. The stone you fell through was purposefully weakened. She sent you to … to be burned. There will be no mercy for her.”

Luke’s POV

Luke knew the discussion was over. His father’s expression was closed. He had made his mind up and would not be swayed. Vader began striding confidently ahead, his Force senses stretched out to catch any trace of the Rebels. Qui-Gon gave Vader a gentle look of sadness and understanding before his expression slipped into the same neutral mask as Vader’s as he began to scan ahead.

Luke wished he could compartmentalize what he had learned so easily. The boy’s own emotions were mixed and uncertain. ‘She was my friend … is my sister … and now she is supposed to be my enemy.’ Luke snuggled tighter against his father’s strong chest as if Vader’s physical presence could banish his fears. In order to stave off thoughts of Leia, Han and Chewie, he threw his own Force senses out to find energy to repair his leg. The last thing he wanted was to be wounded physically when facing his old friends. He had a feeling that just seeing them again would hurt him enough.

The soft creak of his father’s leather armor and the swish of the cloak around Qui-Gon’s legs were the only sounds the trio made. Vader occasionally checked his com link, but he was unable to reach the troopers on the surface or the Executor. The Dark Lord suddenly frowned and his pace slowed.

“There is a … bubble of blankness up ahead,” he said suddenly. “I cannot … sense anything in it or past it.”

Qui-Gon nodded. “I’m experiencing it too. It as if my Force senses are being pushed back.”

“Perhaps more of the crystals?” Luke offered.

“It doesn’t feel quite the same. This is undoubtedly a trap,” Vader said.

“I agree,” Qui-Gon said. “I will scout ahead and see what there is to see while you guard Luke here.”

Without waiting for acquiescence to his plan, Qui-Gon fluidly crept forward and was soon out of sight. Luke couldn’t help but notice Vader’s deep frown at Qui-Gon’s taking the lead.

“He is as used to giving orders as you are, Father,” Luke teased lightly.

“Jedi Masters always think they are in charge.”

“Yes, they are almost as bad as Dark Lords of the Sith,” Luke said with an impish grin.

Vader’s tight expression loosened and he grinned back. “Almost.”

His father set him down on the ground gently then shaded the light sticks he carried so their location would not easily be discovered. While they waited, Luke gathered all the Force energy he could to himself and began to knit together the broken bone. He was halfway done when Vader stiffened. The Dark Lord was moving to pick him up before Luke sensed what was disturbing him. It then became all too apparent what the cause was. A young Rebel with dark hair feathered back from a sharp face was approaching carrying what looked to be a nutrient frame that housed a small, furry salamander-type creature about 40 centimeters long. The bubble of blankness his father had remarked on was advancing at the same rate the Rebel was. Twenty Rebel soldiers were lined up behind him, their blaster rifles drawn. Luke felt Vader send out a bolt of Dark Force energy at the one holding the cage, but it dissipated before reaching the Rebel.

The Rebels spotted the burst of dark energy and traced back its source to catch sight of Vader. There were shouts and the Rebels began to run towards them. Laser bolts flew through the air.

‘The creature is stopping our powers from reaching them!’ Luke intuited as another laser bolt passed close enough to singe his father’s cheek. He sent the thought over their bond.

‘Indeed. What I wouldn’t give for a blaster right now!’ Vader growled over their bond as he raced with Luke back down the cavern.

Luke realized they were going to be trapped. The cavern was a dead end and the bubble of Force protection the creature caused would probably fill even that large space.

‘Did they catch Qui-Gon?’

‘I don’t think so. But I can’t reach him over … our training bond,’ Vader answered as he dodged two more laser blasts.

Luke wasn’t surprised that there was a training bond between Vader and Qui-Gon. He had sensed something like that earlier. But his thoughts were soon snatched away as they reached the cavern. There was no where to hide. No boulders to crouch behind even. And the hole they had fallen through too high for them to reach with a Force jump. They were trapped.

“Hold right there or we’ll shoot!” One of the Rebels shouted behind them.

Slowly Vader set Luke down and turned to face the Rebel troops. He used his own body as a shield for his son. Luke didn’t want to hide behind his father, but his injured leg and his father’s stern expression kept him in place. There was slightly more energy in the cave as the Force replenished itself, but not enough to do any serious healing. So he peered between his father’s legs at the Rebel soldiers who were set to attack them. He didn’t see any faces he recognized and didn’t know whether he was happy or not about that. He noted that the Force bubble did not extend quite the length or width of the cavern. Most of the troops were within the protective bubble, but Luke sensed a few were beyond it. Vader and Luke were just outside of the bubble’s influence. The unprotected Rebels’ thoughts were broadcast to him.

One blonde Rebel, his rifle gripped too tight, was thinking, ‘That’s Lord Vader all right. But where’s his mask? Even without it … he’s scarier now than before. Those eyes …’

The slight Crimorian beside the blonde, was focused more on Luke than Vader, ‘Did Skywalker betray us? What of the Death Star? Would the Empire really sacrifice millions of lives to prove his allegiance to us when we were in their grasp? That makes no sense! But here Vader is protecting him like a Dagnar defends its young. This is a dark, dark day that we should lose our Jedi, our hope.’

Luke pulled back from their thoughts, shaken.

Vader’s absolute stillness should have clued in Luke that he was going to act, but it was still a shock when Vader actually attacked. Like a striking serpent, the Dark Lord sent out a Force lines towards the blonde and Crimorian Rebels. The men gasped and clawed at their necks. Vader used his Force powers to drag them across the rocky floor so that their bodies were between them and the Rebel troops. It happened so quickly, that not one shot was fired by the Rebels before the men were taken. Their reaction was to scrunch closer around the man with the creature, terrified that they would be snatched up by Vader as well.

“If you shoot … I will snap their necks,” Vader intoned.

Luke saw the rifles lower slightly. There was stirring in the back of their ranks as a slight figure in tan camouflage entered the chamber.

“Leia,” Luke breathed softly.

Luke could see the resemblance between them now and knew if that creature was not present that he would be able to identify his twin’s Force signature. He could also see the similarities between Leia and Vader. They had the same coloring, the same high cheekbones and deep eyes. Vader’s nostrils flared when he caught sight of her. She walked quickly to the side of the man with the creature that produced the Force bubble. She gazed at Vader for long silent moments. Luke wondered what she thought of Vader’s appearance. Did she know that he was responsible for healing Vader? What all had Obi-Wan told her?

Leia’s own appearance was ragged. She had dark circles under her eyes and there were deep lines around her mouth as she frowned at them. She looked like she had not slept or smiled in weeks even though just over two days had passed since he last saw her.

Her voice, when it came, rang out across the chamber, “There is no way out of here for you. Surrender peacefully and you shall have a fair trial.”

Vader let out a bark of laughter. “Fair trial? What are we on trial for? You are the Rebels! You are traitors to the Empire.”

Leia’s mouth became a thin line. “Then surrender because you have no other choice.”

“You would sacrifice these men’s lives?” Vader asked softly as lifted the two men off the floor with his Force powers and shook them. They looked like rag dolls.

“If it is a choice between their lives and setting both of you free … then yes, I will sacrifice them.”

Luke gasped. “Leia! You wouldn’t!”

He scooted out from behind his father, drawing his injured leg painfully behind him.

‘Luke, get back!’ Vader ordered over their bond, his eyes flashing gold.

‘I won’t hide behind you, father!’

‘Luke …’

The image of the dragon and fire and loss flashed across their bond then another image of hundreds of laser bolts hitting Luke’s body, making it jerk about on the ground like a marionette with cut strings. Luke met his father’s eyes and sent love and devotion back.

‘Do you think it would be any easier for me to watch you die?’

‘I can’t lose you!’

‘I feel the same. I don’t think she’ll kill us.’

‘Not now, but she intends to Luke.’

Vader reluctantly allowed Luke to get a clear view of the Princess. Leia’s eyes alighted upon him and he saw pain and love in their depths, but then her expression became shuttered. She turned back to Vader, not able to speak the words to her brother.

“You will either leave this chamber as our prisoners or … not at all.”

Vader glowered at her. Luke caught just a glimpse of his father’s thoughts, ‘We need time. Qui-Gon is still out there … hopefully. Even those blasted troopers are somewhere. The more time we have, the better our chance for our survival.’

“And how do I know the moment I release these two,” he shook the two gasping, purple-faced Rebels, “you will not turn your blasters on us?”

“I give you my word,” Leia said simply.

“Your word? Hmmm, a Skywalker’s word has meaning, but does yours?”

Luke was shocked at his father acknowledging his parentage of her and his prior identity. Leia grew very still.

“I give my word … as a Skywalker.”

Luke slumped. His hope was dashed that Obi-Wan had not told her of her heritage. Clearly the Jedi had learned something in his failures with Luke. But it also meant that Luke could not use the knowledge of their shared parentage, of Vader being their father, to convince her not to hurt them.

Vader’s expression was grim. The blonde and Crimorian Rebels suddenly fell to the ground in crumpled heaps. Both gasped and groaned as they drew in lungfuls of air. The cage with the creature was brought closer to Luke and Vader and like a light being extinguished, they were suddenly cutoff from the Force. Vader staggered, his eyes went wide and unfocused. Luke gave out a groan of pain. It was as if the world was drained of color, shape, texture. Without the Force, Luke could not access their bond. He almost went unconscious with the loss of both the Force and his father, but somehow he managed to remain awake and aware.

Several Rebels surrounded then. Luke’s gaze met his father’s as both had their hands cuffed behind their backs. The Rebels also stripped Vader of his com-link. It was at that moment that Luke heard a familiar voice. ‘Han!’ The smuggler shouldered his way through the throng of Rebels over to Leia’s side.

“Luke!” Han yelled.

“Han!” Luke cried back weakly. His heart lifted. Han didn’t seem to think badly of him. Han would help them.

Leia grabbed hold of Han’s arm as he began to run towards Luke.

“Sithspawn, Leia! Why are you having Luke tied up with … is that Vader?” Han froze

“Yes, its just as General Kenobi told me, Han. See what Luke has done? See what he’s capable of? And that’s nothing compared to the destructive powers that have awakened in Vader.”

Han shook his head. “Vader’s always been bad news, Leia, but the kid … c’mon, you know he’s good.”

Leia’s expression crumpled for a moment. “It … it doesn’t matter. He’s devoted to … to Vader. And that makes him too dangerous to … it must be done.”

“I don’t believe that. I can’t believe that!” Han moved again, but Leia increased her hold on his arm.

“Han … you know who Vader is to Luke and … me. And you know how Luke feels about …” Leia looked so tired suddenly and she leaned against the smuggler’s chest. “Luke’s a traitor, Han.”

Luke wanted to desperately plead his case, but he didn’t know the words. And even as he watched Han defend him, he saw the smuggler melt slightly against Leia. ‘He loves her. And if it’s a choice between her and me … I’ll lose.’ Luke hung his head.

“Princess … I want to hear Luke’s side.”

“You will. But not right now.”

Leia tugged on Han’s arm, trying to lead him out of the cavern. The smuggler gave Luke a pained look.

“Listen, kid,” he called over, “this will all get straightened out.”

Luke nodded tiredly, staying the urge to shout for Han not to leave them. Luke turned to look at Leia, but she had turned her back, as if she could not stand the sight of them. Han hustled out after her.

“His leg is broken. He cannot walk,” Vader growled at the Rebels that tried to haul Luke to his feet.

Two of the Rebels holstered their rifles and grasped Luke by the shoulders and calves. Luke let out a sharp cry as they lifted him, not careful of his still injured limb.

“Shut up, Imp!” One of the Rebels that was holding up his torso hissed in his ear, it was a red-haired youth that looked strangely familiar to Luke, but he couldn’t place him. The man’s breath smelled medicinal and Luke flinched away from it. “You’re lucky we don’t drag you on the ground behind us.”

Vader gritted his teeth and shot looks of pure hate at the two Rebels, but then his expression closed off and Luke became more disturbed by that. They were dragged out of the cavern and through the cave system. Luke had to shut his eyes as they finally exited into the forest. Even though the massive trees blocked out most of the sunlight and the sky was rapidly fading to dusk, the dim light was still too bright after so long in the caves. They were brought to what looked like a small base camp, hidden amongst the golden barked trees.

He caught sight of Leia entering a canvas tent. He thought he heard Chewie’s voice, but as the tent flap closed behind her the sound was cut off. No sign of Han or Threepio. He ached to see them, try to convince them that whatever Obi-Wan was afraid of, he needn’t be, but at the same time Luke was loathe to see the disgust or hate in their eyes. He was an enemy now. Not welcome amongst these people. ‘So much has changed in two days. But I cannot regret being with my father. Maybe Leia is right. I am a traitor.’

Luke gritted his teeth as the Rebels none-too-gently dropped him on the ground by the base of the largest tree, just on the outskirts of the circle of tents. The trunk alone was twenty feet wide. Tears sprang up in his eyes as the pain sliced through him. His father was shoved down beside him. Luke felt the press of Vader’s shoulder against his own.

“Are you all right?” Vader asked quietly.

“I’ll be fine.” And it wasn’t a complete lie as the pain had died down to more manageable levels. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“No talking!” The familiar red-haired Rebel growled.

The Rebel thrust the butt of his rifle viciously against Vader’s shoulder. The Dark Lord rocked back only slightly, his strong muscular shoulder absorbing the blow. Vader just gave the Rebel a carefully blank look that Luke knew promised ill for the man later. ‘If there is a later for us. I must have faith. Master Jinn is still out there and Artoo and the troopers.’

Luke pressed closer to his father. Just the warmth and weight of Vader’s body against his helped ease his fears of what would become of them. He noted that the Rebels were careful never to let him or Vader get out of the influence of the salamander-type creature. The cage was placed just five feet away. The red-haired Rebel and the dark wing-haired one that had carried the creature in the cavern, took defensive positions around them and the cage. The other soldiers spread out into the camp, giving them veiled hostile looks as they passed by. Luke looked away from them and ended up staring at the creature’s beady black eyes. Its tongue slid out of its mouth, wagged in the air and slid back in. Luke hated the little thing. The ache in his leg was nothing compared to the feeling of utter emptiness of being cut off from his bond with his father. This creature was the cause.

“Just look at him, Soel, the great Luke Skywalker. Not so high and mighty now, is he?” The red-haired Rebel said as he stared down at Luke. He tapped Luke’s bad leg with his foot and Luke grimaced.

“Leave him alone, Nattan,” Soel said and shifted his rifle uneasily as Nattan knelt down in front of Luke.

“You don’t even know who I am, do you Skywalker scum?”

Luke stared at his face and willed himself to remember. Nattan had a pug-nose, too wide lips and a smattering of freckles across both cheeks and forehead. His shock of red-hair was greased down. He looked about twenty. While the face was familiar, Luke couldn’t place it. Not even the name rang a bell.

“Too important to know who the lowly mechanic was who serviced your ship, right?” Nattan drawled. There was an ugly light in his brown eyes.

Luke said as mildly as he could, “I’m sorry I don’t remember you. It’s not because—”

Nattan interrupted as if Luke hadn’t spoken. “Hotshot hero, Jedi Knight, had every Rebel commander singing your Sithspawn praises when all the time you were a no good traitor.”

“That’s not true!” The words were out of Luke’s lips before he had a chance to draw them back in. ‘But isn’t it true now? Aren’t I a traitor to them?’

Nattan spit on the ground by Luke’s side. Luke felt his father shift slightly and wondered what the Dark Lord was up to. Nattan leaned into his personal space.

“I used to think you were so … perfect, you know? Someone to aspire to be, but … you’re nothing.” Nattan reached forward and touched Luke’s cheek. Luke flinched back, but Nattan gripped the back of his neck and held him in place. “I used to think you were so … beautiful.”

“Get your hands off of him!” Vader snarled.

Nattan drew back from Luke only to strike Vader across the face with his rifle butt.

“Don’t!” Luke cried out.

A bruise began to bloom immediately on Vader’s cheek, but his amber eyes showed no pain, just rage. Only Nattan didn’t see the warning expression. He was focused back on Luke. He touched Luke’s face again, running a calloused thumb across Luke’s lower lip. Luke trembled in disgust. The man’s hands were greasy against his skin. When the thumb circled the orbit of one of his eyes, the trembling increased. ‘This is wrong. Wrong. Oh, Force, what does he want?’

“I didn’t know sexual assault was part of the Rebellion’s arsenal,” Vader said coldly.

Soel grimaced and shifted from foot to foot. “Nattan, don’t …”

“What? You’re going to listen to Darth Vader? These two are scheduled to die anyway, so why can’t I take what I want from him? He’s so pretty and I always took such good care of his ship. I should be rewarded.”

Luke gasped. ‘We’re to be executed? But Leia said there would be a trial and …’ His gaze met his father’s and he saw that Vader wasn’t surprised by the revelation. But his internal thoughts were short-circuited as Nattan shouldered his rifle and grabbed Luke’s bound hands. He began to drag Luke over behind the tree.

“Nattan, what are you doing?” Soel asked.

“Just want a little privacy. Don’t worry, I’ll keep him within the radius of the ysalamiri.”

“No! Stop this!” Luke cried out, struggling futilely as he was dragged along the ground, his eyes wild, pain and fear racing through him. But no one from the camp heard him or cared to respond. “Please! NO!”

Vader used his free legs to trip Nattan. The Rebel shouted and landed down face first. When he stumbled back up to his feet, blood was running out of his nose. He lunged at Vader who head butted him in the mid-section. He gasped and fell back. Soel moved and pressed the muzzle of his laser rifle against Vader’s temple. Luke let out a cry of fear for his father. Vader froze, his amber eyes still glowing with rage.

“Move and I swear I’ll pull this trigger,” Soel said, his voice trembling slightly.

“Are you going to let him rape Luke?” Vader’s eyes were fixed on the Rebel’s face. His switch from violence to charisma was lightening fast.

“I …” The Rebel broke off, he bit his lower lip.

“Is letting a helpless young man be raped, a man that saved your life and the lives of all your compatriots, something you want to be a part of? What you stand for?” Vader asked, his voice calm, but beseeching at the same time.

Nattan got back up to his feet. He was holding a hand up to his nose. Blood was gushing out and staining the front of his uniform.

“Don’t listen to him, Soel! He’s a fucking sorcerer, too.”

“But … the ysalamiri should block his powers!” Soel said, his gun shook just slightly in his hands.

“Still … he’s got a golden tongue, Soel. I heard he convinced people on Naria to kill themselves, walk off the tops of buildings, just by talking to them.” Nattan struggled over to the other soldier.

“I don’t want any part of rape, Nattan.”

“You won’t. You’re just guarding him.” Nattan grabbed Luke’s arm and began moving him around the tree. “I’m the one doing what I’m doing.”

Vader’s eyes darted to Luke then back to the Rebel. “Soel, you are a part of this. While you stand here, he is hurting my … Luke. He is going to—”

“Shut up! I’m just doing my job! Skywalker … he shouldn’t have betrayed us! He … whatever happens to him … it’s deserved!” Soel shouted and pressed the gun harder into Vader’s flesh.

“He didn’t betray you!” Vader hissed. “Do you honestly think the destruction of the Death Star was a cover? The death of a million Imperials just a way to make you believe he’s on your side? He saved your lives!”

Confusion raced across Soel’s features, but then they hardened again as he sought something to hold onto against Darth Vader’s argument. “It doesn’t matter what he did before! He’s a traitor now! I saw how you were with him in the caves! You protected him! You were willing to risk your life for his! He must be on your side, must be vital to the Empire for you to do that!”

Vader’s eyes bored into the young Rebel. “He’s … he is important to me … to everyone. Leia wishes him dead because of that importance. This is bigger than the Empire and the Rebellion. This—”

“That’s not … that’s not what she told us. Anyway, you can’t say he isn’t helping you! And you’re … you’re the Emperor’s Monster … the Black Hand of the Empire! So long as Luke protects and serves you … he’s our enemy!”

“This is a mistake. A mistake you pay for with your life, Soel. I promise you.” Vader’s expression made the Rebel’s gun tremble.

Nattan wasn’t going to stay to see who won the argument. Luke lost sight of his father as Nattan tugged him around the side of the tree. Nattan had managed to staunch the blood coming from his nose and wiped most of it off his face when he crouched over Luke’s prostrate form. Luke tried to push him off, roll to the side, anything. But with his hands tied and his one leg practically useless, he was unable to stop Nattan’s attack.

“Don’t matter what Soel decides. I’m having you. You fight me or cry out, pretty boy, and I swear I’ll hurt your precious commander, Darth Vader,” Nattan hissed as he nipped and licked the side of Luke’s neck.

Luke froze at that. He wouldn’t risk his father’s life. He would submit in order to avoid that. Luke shut his eyes, but Nattan shook him.

“I want those pretty blue eyes open for all of it. I want to stare into them, while I fuck you,” Nattan said as he reached and undid the button of Luke’s pants.

Luke shivered with disgust as Nattan gripped his flaccid organ and gave it a few quick jerks.

“Not too big down here are you. Guess you’re made for taking it, receiving dick, and not giving. I promise, you’ll get hard and cum with my cock inside of you. Maybe I’ll even let you suck me. Last meal for the condemned man and all.”

“Please don’t do this!”

“It only makes it better when you beg.”

Luke clamped his lips together, determined not to give this man any more pleasure. Nattan laughed and yanked down Luke’s pants to his knees. ‘There is evil everywhere. Empire and Rebellion,’ Luke thought hopelessly. Luke’s pale skin was revealed as his clothes were wrenched from him. The injured leg was mottled with bruises at the break. He felt himself go weak with pain as it was jostled. Nattan leaned down and gave him a hard kiss, their teeth clacked together, and Luke’s upper lip began to bleed.

“You are so sweet!”

Nattan’s pupils had expanded, his rubbery lips were slick with saliva and a trace of blood, and there was a huge bulge in the front of his trousers. He fumbled with the opening to his own pants, ripped down the zipper and took out his large, blood-engorged cock. Luke shuddered at the thought of that inside of him. Only his father had ever touched him sexually. He only wanted Vader’s touch. No one else’s. And Luke knew that Vader would blame himself for not being able to protect his son. If they got out of this, Vader’s hatred and pain would grow, the Darkness in him would multiply.

“I’m going pound into your ass so hard, you’ll feel it for weeks … well, you would feel it if you were going to live that long.”

Nattan grasped his legs and pushed them up over his shoulders. Luke bit back a shriek, but it was enough to get Nattan’s attention.

“Oh, your leg hurts that bad, huh? Hmmm, maybe I’ll be … merciful. Screams would ruin the moment. Guess I can fuck you another way,” Nattan mused and then flipped Luke over, leaving his bare bottom exposed.

Luke felt sausage-shaped fingers pressing against his anus. Fingernails scrapped at his fair skin and he fought back a cry of pain and disgust.

“You’re so tight. So fucking tight. Wonder what you’re gonna feel like wrapped around my dick? I’m going to make you bleed, Skywalker. I’m gonna—“

Suddenly, Nattan’s voice and touch were gone. The stillness was broken by what sounded like a branch snapping. Luke held his breath.

Vader’s POV

Vader watched out of the corner of his eye as Luke was dragged from his sight. He swung all his attention back to the Rebel whose rifle was pressed against his temple. Rage and fear ate at his reason. He had to get to Luke!

Just as he was about to try a desperate maneuver to disarm Soel, he saw two things: first, a familiar golden protocol droid walking stiffly out of the tent the Princess had disappeared into and second, Qui-Gon Jinn in the branches of the tree above the Rebel’s head. Both Threepio and Master Jinn looked right at him.

“Master Anakin?” The droid asked and trundled over to where he was being held prisoner.

Soel frowned in confusion as the protocol droid called out to Vader again, using his former name.

“You shouldn’t be here!” Soel yelled at the droid.

Threepio was unimpressed with the Rebel’s authority, drawing back slightly to give what the droid imagined to be a stern look, but was more haughty and stiff than anything else. Then he turned back to Vader. “Master Anakin, can it be you? My, my, it is you!”

“You malfunctioning bucket of bolts! Get away from the prisoners!” Soel barked.

“I only see one prisoner. What have you done with the other one?” Threepio asked.

Soel went pale. “None of your goddamn business, droid! Now get out of here!” He shoved Threepio back.

“Well! There is no call to be rude. All I asked was a simple question—”

At that moment when the Rebel was distracted, Qui-Gon dropped from the tree and landed on top of him. The gun flew from the man’s hands as he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Threepio looked from one man to the other in disbelief while Qui-Gon sliced through Vader’s bonds.

“Master Jinn and Master Anakin? How is this possible? Artoo and I were told you were both dead!”

“Good to see you two, Threepio,” Qui-Gon said.

Vader’s eyes alone expressed his thankfulness for Master Jinn’s appearance, but he didn’t stop to speak to either man or droid. He was already moving to where his son had been taken. What he saw when he rounded the side of the tree made his stomach churn and rage cascade through him. Luke was on his stomach, pants pulled down to his thighs, his bare bottom being caressed by Nattan, who was also cooing obscenities into Luke’s ear. Neither had any idea he was present. Vader wasn’t conscious of moving to Nattan’s back, grasping the man’s neck, and with a savage twist, breaking his spine.

It sounded like a branch snapping in two.

For one long moment, Vader held the body, shaking with such anger that even ending the brute’s life had not assuaged it. He shut his eyes tight. It was only when he heard a suppressed fearful moan from Luke that he came back to himself. He shoved the anger down and tossed the body of the dead Rebel to the side like the trash that he was. He crouched down by his son’s side and brushed his fingers against Luke’s cheek.

“Child?”

Luke choked back a sob and turned his head towards the sound. “Father? Is it really you?”

“It’s me. Did he … did he injure you?”

Luke shook his head. “No, you … you stopped him.”

Vader gave a silent prayer to the Force for this reprieve. “Hold on one moment. I must get the saber from Qui-Gon to release your bonds.”

Luke nodded. Vader did not have to go far to find Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master was quietly talking to Threepio, catching him up on what had happened, while scanning the surrounding area for any Rebels. The soldiers seemed thankfully adverse to coming anywhere near the tree where Vader and Luke had been kept, superstition and fear working in the Force users’ favor.

“Saber,” Vader said and Qui-Gon tossed it over. The concern in Qui-Gon’s grey eyes was so great that Vader felt the need to reassure him. “He … he wasn’t …raped.”

Qui-Gon’s shoulders slumped in relief. Vader knew he had one more task before he returned to Luke. He stood over the semi-conscious Soel. The man looked up at him through bleary eyes that quickly focused with fear. Vader ignited the saber.

“Please, no!” Soel cried.

“Anakin, what are you doing?” Qui-Gon asked.

Vader plunged the saber through Soel’s heart. The man died with a quiet gasp. The scent of burnt flesh rose up to the Dark Lord’s nostrils. The Rebel’s death had been too easy in Vader’s view. He had deserved to suffer for allowing Luke to be hurt, but there was no time for true justice.

“Oh, my!” Threepio dithered as he looked at the dead Rebel.

“Anakin, why?” Qui-Gon asked.

Vader looked up at the distraught Jedi Master. The Dark Lord’s voice when he spoke was like an icy river, “I told him he would pay with his life for letting Luke come to harm. I was just keeping my promise. He deserved to die. He deserved worse than he got. They all deserve death.” He gestured with the blade towards the oblivious Rebel encampment. “And I will bring it to them.”

“You mustn’t listen to the Voice in your mind that tells you to destroy and kill, Anakin.”

“Voice?”

Vader stilled. How did Qui-Gon know about the Dark Side speaking to him? The Dark Lord mentally shook himself. Whatever Qui-Gon thought he knew, he was wrong this time. With the ysalamiri blocking the Force, he could not hear what the Darkness was saying. It was his choice to kill Nattan and Soel. Wasn’t it? But could it be that the Dark Side’s presence so saturated him that a trace of its desires remained inside of him even cut off from it like he was?

“All the Darkness wants is death, annihilation, obliteration of all life. It would make the entire Universe a desert if it could,” Qui-Gon pleaded, his expression tight with concern.

Vader felt something within him resonate with Qui-Gon’s words. This resonation came from a place so deep inside of him that the ysalamiri’s powers could not reach it. From this place, he received a vision generated by the Force. A brief glimpse of blowing sand and endless night skies.

“A desert … yes … a desert,” Vader’s voice sounded dreamy and disconnected to his own ears. “Luke would be … safe in such a place.”

Qui-Gon gripped his shoulders and shook him. “Anakin! You must fight against the Dark Side’s will! You must control it! Don’t let it control you! Use your love for Luke as a balance!”

Vader jerked away from Qui-Gon, but just that conscious act made him come back to himself. His head ached and the siren song of the Dark Side was more like a breathy whistle than the full-blown orchestra it had been for the past few moments. The ysalamiri’s powers reasserted itself and Vader felt empty of any connection to the Force, Dark or Light Side. ‘Could he be right? Am I being … controlled yet again?’

“You know nothing about the Dark Side, Qui-Gon.”

With a weary smile, Qui-Gon said, “I do know something about the Darkness, Anakin. Trust me … or at least give me a chance to earn your trust. I am speaking the truth to you.”

Vader gripped the saber, taking a defensive position with it. “But why should you want to earn my trust? I destroyed the Jedi. I killed Obi-Wan, your precious student, the one you died for. And I was glad he was gone. You know that I embrace the Dark Side and have no intention of leaving it. Why do you want to help me?”

“Because you need my help and that means the Universe needs my help.”

“You make no sense!”

“I will explain it once we are away from here. For now … please fight the Voice.”

Vader felt a prickle of unease at seeing Qui-Gon’s obvious belief in what he was saying. But he could not contemplate it any longer. He needed to free his son and get them out of this place. He jogged back to Luke. The boy had managed to turn himself onto his side. Forest debris clung to his naked thighs and sweet sex. Vader saw also the bruises from the earlier break and fall. He swallowed hard, wishing he could extinguish his son’s pain.

‘I will find a way to keep him safe and happy forever. Make this Universe a place where his innocence is protected. Even if it becomes a desert in the process.’

Luke gave him a wan smile as Vader ignited the now sun-colored blade and slashed through his bonds. With a sigh of relief, Luke rubbed his numb wrists then went to tug up his pants. Vader reached to help him. At first, Luke became so still that the Dark Lord stopped moving himself.

“May I help you, Luke?”

The boy nodded. “Please … I want you to.”

The Dark Lord tenderly brushed off the dirt, leaves and twigs from his son’s silken flesh and quiescent sex. Vader’s fingers longed to linger on Luke’s skin. He wanted to let his hand slide around his son’s soft cock, stroke it into hardness and watch as Luke spilled his seed against the black, rich earth.

Luke said softly, “All I could think about when he was … pawing at me was that … I only wanted you to touch me. That I was yours and no one else’s.”

Vader swallowed hard as Luke said those words. ‘Mine. He really is mine. Death was too good for the terrorist scum that harmed him.’ Luke gave a breathy moan when Vader’s fingers slid over his son’s cock to clean it. A small smile graced Vader’s lips. The experience with Nattan had not dulled his son’s sensitivity to his touch. But he stilled the desire to do more. The middle of a Rebel camp was not the place to pursue this. But Luke thrust into his hand, desperate for more contact. Vader had to use all of his willpower to pull up the boy’s pants and tuck Luke’s hardening sex inside.

“Sorry,” Luke whispered as a light blush stained his cheeks.

“Never be sorry for enjoying my touch, child of my heart. Believe me … if we were almost anywhere else … I would have given you the release you wanted and deserve.”

Vader leaned down and kissed him, the boy’s lips parting, and liquid warmth was all that was between them. He longed to touch every part of his son that Nattan had; wipe out the experience of pain with pleasure. Without need for further words, Vader lifted Luke up and brought him around to where Qui-Gon and Threepio were.

“Luke,” Qui-Gon’s rich voice was tinged with gratefulness to see the boy relatively unharmed by his experience.

“Master Jinn … thank you for not abandoning us,” Luke said softly.

“I never will. I swear it.”

Vader felt an unaccustomed tightness in his chest at the look of utter conviction on Qui-Gon’s face as he uttered that oath. Fear had always made people do as the Dark Lord commanded, made them obey, made them protect him. Loyalty … love … he had forgotten how strong those emotions could bond people. ‘But will they be strong enough? Obi-Wan, Padme and Leia prove that such bonds can break.’

Qui-Gon whispered, “I’m sorry I could not have stopped them from taking you in the first place. I got caught in the Force bubble and was knocked unconscious by it while hiding behind some boulders on the path. Luckily, I was out of sight when the soldiers passed. When I awoke, I found the cave empty and traced you back here.”

“It would have been suicide to attempt to rescue us before,” Luke said.

Vader nodded his agreement. Qui-Gon still looked disturbed that he had failed them somehow.

The protocol droid’s voice radiated happiness as it said, “Master Luke, it is so good to see you, sir! Oh, there has been such talk about—”

“Threepio,” Vader interrupted, not knowing what the sometimes tactless droid might say.

“Yes, Master Anakin?”

“Override code 3-25-74.”

The droid froze for a moment then came back to itself. “Master, what do you wish of me?”

The override code would ensure that Threepio would obey only him. Any loyalty the Rebels had over the droid was overwritten and could not be established again. Vader pointed to the ysalamiri cage. He had thought to kill the beast, but there looked to be some kind of sensor and he worried it the beast’s death might trigger an alarm.

“Take that thing and walk as far away with it as you can as quickly as you can. After that, I wish you to rejoin the Rebels. You will, in secret, communicate with me all you learn about their plans, bases, numbers … anything and everything you discover. You will tell no one of meeting us here or serving me. Understood?”

“Absolutely, Master Anakin, as you know my programming—”

“Yes, I do know, Threepio, I was the one to program you. Now get going, our luck cannot hold much longer,” Vader said and gave Threepio the secret code to contact him with the reports. As the droid grasped the cage and began to wander off with it into the trees, Vader added under his breath, “Why did I program him to talk so much? You’d think he ran on air rather than fuel cells.”

Luke and Qui-Gon both grinned at his last muttered comment.

“The safest way out of here is around the back side of the camp,” Qui-Gon explained softly to them both as he grabbed Soel’s blaster rifle.

Vader watched Luke’s expression as the boy realized the other Rebel was dead. Luke’s brows drew together and his lush mouth turned down at the corners. Finally, he turned his gaze away all together and pressed his face into his father’s neck.

Vader kissed Luke’s temple and said softly, “I … had to, my child.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I … know.”

“Do not blame yourself for—”

“It’s not that. I … I’m glad that they are both dead and I shouldn’t be!” Luke gripped his father’s neck tighter. “Don’t worry about me. Just … let’s get out of here.”

Vader nodded at Qui-Gon and indicated for the older man to lead the way.

“You came down in a ship, yes?” Qui-Gon asked.

“Yes, a shuttle. We landed near the front of the temple.”

“This way should lead us there,” Qui-Gon whispered as they began to strafe the very outside of the camp, using as much of the large tree trunks for cover as they could.

“I take it the Rebels did not find the ship earlier?” Vader asked as he ducked under some low hanging branches, eyes trained on the back of the tents, for any soldiers.

“Not by the time I had left them.”

“The troopers might have evacuated in it after the cave-in,” Luke offered, his voice still slightly muffled as he spoke into Vader’s shoulder.

“I no longer have a com-link, but I activated the emergency sensor in my boot as soon as we were captured. Admiral Piett should be sending troops down at any moment if he has not all ready. The area by the temple is the only nearby clearing for the ships to land so we’re going in the right general direction for rescue even if the shuttle is gone.”

The Force-resistant bubble the ysalamiri cast suddenly ended. The Force came crashing back in and all three men were staggered by having their connections to it restored so suddenly.

“I guess we’re far enough away from Threepio,” Luke remarked. He gave a little gasp of pleasure and Vader felt more than saw Luke’s leg completely heal. “You can set me down now, Father.”

Vader found himself loathe to let go of his son. He wanted Luke close, safe in his arms, but he knew it would be more prudent to let Luke down so the boy could fight with them if it came down to it. Luke sensed his struggle and Vader felt a pulse of love over the bond. He set Luke down gently on the ground and handed the light saber over to him. Luke offered it to Qui-Gon, but the older Jedi shook his head and patted the blaster he carried. Luke exchanged the crystals like he had seen Qui-Gon do and watched for the first time as his new blade ignited. It was a beautiful blue-white color, so pure and cold, like ice.

The shrill sound of an alarm sounding from the Rebel camp broke the stillness of the air.

“Looks like they noticed we’re gone,” Vader said and all three men began to run low to the ground towards the clearing around the temple.

They did not get far before the laser bolts began flying. Luke used his new blade to deflect many of them back on their targets. Qui-Gon let loose a series of deadly accurate blasts from the rifle. Vader felt a smile coming across his lips as the power of the Dark Side rose in him like a phoenix. He felt new abilities circulating inside of him, knew instinctively that there were so many ways he could bring death and destruction upon his enemies.

He started by sending a blast of Force energy towards the line of Rebels that had taken cover behind some trees. The ground erupted and trees upended, their roots suddenly pointing skyward. There were shrill screams of men and women being crushed beneath the weight of the ancient timber. Both Luke and Qui-Gon were standing, almost slack-jawed, as they stared at what he had done.

“Both of you … RUN!” Vader commanded.

Qui-Gon was the first to recover. He grasped Luke’s arm and began dragging him away.

“Father!” Luke cried out over his shoulder, reaching to grab Vader and take him with them.

At that moment, Vader caught sight of Leia. She had a bead on Luke with her rifle and as he watched … she squeezed the trigger. It took only a millisecond for this act, but it seemed so much longer. Luke merely deflected the laser blast she sent at him with a flick of his new blade, not even realizing who had sent it his way. ‘She tried to kill Luke … her own brother … her twin … such betrayal cannot … WILL NOT … be tolerated!’

He was filled with such heat, molten heat, as rage fueled the Darkness in him. He pushed that heat outwards towards her. The air in front of him suddenly became a wall of moving fire. Laughter bubbled out of his throat. ‘Skywalkers and fire! Now the fire will serve us!’

He thrust the fire away towards the line of Rebel huts and the last location he had seen Leia at. Wherever the wave of fire touched, it seemed to adhere like a sticky web and burned with a wild frenzy. Trees were suddenly towers of flame, the grass was burnt down to cinders and the dirt beneath it burned as well, stone began to superheat and melt, and when the firewall met flesh … the people were incinerated so quickly that they had no chance to scream.

As the flames spread outwards, they devoured everything in their path and created a wasteland. The Song of the Dark Side played in Vader’s mind, telling him to destroy and destroy and destroy and never stop until there was nothing left. Vader collapsed on the ground as power just exploded from him in wave after wave of terrible flame. Unconsciousness nibbled at the edges of his mind. ‘What have I done … Luke … Luke could be trapped by these flames … no! NO! NO!’ He could not find the link to his son. The Dark Side screamed at him, drowning out all else.

Vader fell unconscious.

Luke’s POV

A literal wall of flames swallowed Luke’s last view of his father. He knew Vader had created it, had somehow been able to set the very air on fire. As Luke’s powers in healing and life-bringing were increasing greatly, he wasn’t surprised that his father’s in destruction and death had grown exponentially as well. But still … the actual sight of that destruction took his breath away.

“We must get to him!” Luke shouted at Qui-Gon.

The Jedi Master’s dark eyes reflected the flames, his mouth pinched into a tight line. “How can we ever hope to control this?” he asked more of himself than Luke.

“I’m going back for him!” Luke shrugged off Qui-Gon’s grip.

“NO! Luke, you can’t make it through those flames.”

“Then what about over them?” Damon Tran’s voice asked.

Both Jedi whipped around to stare at the young trooper. Luke grinned as he caught sight of the three other resurrected troopers behind him and just beyond them, at the edge of the clearing, the shuttle with Artoo beeping ecstatically from the gangway.

“Damon!” Luke shouted.

Damon grabbed Luke’s shoulders and embraced him. The young Jedi froze in the embrace.

“I thought … I thought we lost you, Luke,” Damon whispered in his ear. “I don’t know if I … I could have survived that.”

“Yes … well … ah … I see. That’s … I really can’t talk about that now. I need to get into the shuttle and save my father,” Luke said as he extricated himself from the strong embrace.

“Of course. I’m just relieved your safe!”

Damon’s grey eyes were shining down at Luke. The look of overwhelming love for him was there for all to see. Luke caught Qui-Gon’s elegantly raised eyebrow at the young trooper’s actions. Luke sprinted past all the troopers, giving them glad greetings and headed for the shuttle. Everyone clambered in eagerly after him. He was at the controls and lifting the shuttle off the ground within moments. Artoo hooted at him impatiently as he brushed by the little droid.

“Keep the door open and rig two harnesses,” Luke ordered the troopers.

Qui-Gon was suddenly at his side, scanning the ground through the smoke and the flames for Vader’s distinctively black-clad figure. Luke continued to try and contact his father over their bond, but he kept being met by a dark wall. He shoved the panic and fear down that his father had been killed. ‘Even if he has can I not bring him back as I did Qui-Gon?’ But something told him that it might not be so easy, that circumstances that had allowed Qui-Gon’s rebirth might not play out again. This situation somehow felt all too familiar to Luke and he gripped the shuttle controls tightly.

“There!” Qui-Gon shouted and pointed to Vader’s unconscious form.

“Please let him be okay, please!” Luke whispered harshly under his breath. “Qui-Gon, take the shuttle controls. Hover as close to the ground as you can!”

They could not land as the fire raged too fiercely, so Luke knew there was only one other way to reach his father. Luke moved to the open doorway and strapped one harness around his torso, while he shrugged the other over his shoulder.

“Luke, what are you doing?” Damon asked, worry furrowing his brow.

“Getting my father.”

Luke turned from him and jumped gracefully through the shuttle’s open door, using the Force like a parachute to slow and control his fall. He coughed and wheezed as he passed through black smoke. Vader lay unconscious on top of a large stone slab. The air was so hot it felt like breathing in knives. Most of the forest was completely ablaze, even the large stones that had dotted the landscape were burning, melting, having become lava-like. Luke controlled his breathing to spare himself from too much smoke-inhalation.

Vader’s beautiful face was flushed and pale at the same time. His breath came in short quick gasps. Luke touched his cheek. He noted that most of Vader’s armor had burned away, but the flesh underneath was intact, unharmed, and terribly beautiful.

“Father? Can you hear me?”

Vader’s amber eyes flickered open, but there was no understanding in them.

“It’s going to be okay, father. I’m getting you out of here. I promise.”

Luke kissed Vader’s face lightly then quickly began belting his father into the harness. He struggled to lift the much larger body up in order to slide the harness around his back and to thread Vader’s other arm into one of the straps. After he had secured it tightly, he motioned for the troopers to begin lifting them up. Vader’s upper torso began to rise, but suddenly the upward motion stopped with a jerk. Vader’s metal prosthetic legs had fused to the stone he lay upon. Luke spared a thought that if the metal legs had melted then surely Vader’s flesh should be gone or at least marked, but the fire had not touched the Dark Lord’s skin and hair this time unlike Mustaphar.

Luke ignited his saber and said, “Father, forgive me, but you won’t need these anymore anyways. I’m going to make you whole again.”

Then he cut off the useless metal prostheses from Vader’s body. With a jerk on the rope, he indicated that the troopers should begin hauling them up again. Both men began to ascend into the sky. When they reached the shuttle, and the door was closed behind them, Luke tenderly placed a folded blanket from the first aide kit under Vader’s head and grabbed another to cover his mostly nude body. The only place for Vader to lie down was on the center of the shuttle’s floor. The troopers stood back at the edges of the shuttle to give as much room as possible. Davel joined Qui-Gon at the controls to give him the access codes for docking on the Executor.

The Dark Lord’s head rolled from side to side as he cried out Luke’s name softly.

“I’m here, Father. I’m with you.” Luke petted his father’s hair and face, trying to comfort the delirious man.

“Can’t lose … can’t lose my son … no … please no!”

Vader began to thrash about on the floor of the shuttle. Luke gently covered Vader’s body with his own, pillowing his head on Vader’s chest and drawing Vader’s arms around him. Immediately, the thrashing stopped and the Dark Lord’s breathing evened out. His father tightened his hold on Luke.

Luke tilted his head up so he could see how close they were to the Executor through the front plastiglas shield. He watched as the blue of Black Heart’s sky became the rich black of space as the shuttle breached the atmosphere. As he stared out the plastiglas, something in the far right corner of the shield caught his eye. He almost thought it was an illusion, but as it continued to move at a steady pace, Luke realized it was indeed another ship. A ship none other than the Millenium Falcon. He continued to watch it until it disappeared into hyperspace.

‘I wonder if Han, Leia, Chewie and Threepio are all right? Or if some of them … didn’t make it.’

Luke laid his head back down on Vader’s muscular chest. His father’s strong heartbeat soothed him like nothing else could. Below he knew that Black Heart burned and above them the Executor waited like a blade in the sky. Luke suddenly felt a pull on the Force and he knew who had made it. Vader moaned softly.

‘The Emperor. He is trying to call my father back to him.’

Luke gripped his father’s chest harder as if Palaptine had tried to physically snatch Vader away. His eyes narrowed and his mouth set into a hard line. Memories flickered like ghosts in his mind of another place, another time, when someone had tried to take his father from him before. Strength, and a streak of icy determination he didn’t know he possessed, traveled through him.

‘I won’t let you have him back, Palaptine. I won’t lose him ever again.’

He would make his father whole again and then … then they would be ready to confront their enemies.