The Absolution- Chapter 3

- Chapter Three -

"Hey."

Anakin glanced up from his work to find a man smiling down at him; he rose from lying on the floor of the hangar where he had been peering up into an open hatch of his ship and offered his hand, "Captain Solo, a pleasure."

Han raised an eyebrow as he took Anakin's hand, "You know me?"

The man nodded, "Indeed, Luke has told me about you."

Han raised both eyebrows, "The kid? You seen him? I can't seem to find him…"

There was some shuffling and then Luke emerged from under the freighter, a smear of grease across his cheek, he smiled roguishly as he wiped his hands on his pants, "Hey, Han."

Han's jaw dropped slightly at how striking similar the two looked… but he brushed away the thought quickly, he patted the haul "You guys been working on her all morning?"

Both Luke and Anakin nodded.

Han smirked slightly, "Leia's been looking everywhere for you, kid."

Luke rolled his eyes slightly and opened his mouth to reply, but Anakin beat him to it.

"Luke's old enough to take care of himself, Captain Solo."

Han's brow rose in surprise as Luke chuckled softly, "Huh? W- we were just makin' sure he's okay s'all."

Anakin propped his elbow against the haul of his freighter, he smiled slyly at the smuggler, "I will ensure that Commander Skywalker is well kept."

Han's jaw dropped slightly, "You guys are doing that bonding… thing, ain't you?"

Luke and Anakin exchanged a mock chagrined look, then looked back at Han.

"You need something, Han?" Luke asked, leaning against the ship next to Anakin.

Han dragged his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable, "Um, Lando and me are havin' a game of sabacc; you guys want in?"

Luke glanced over at Anakin, seemed to grab an answer from the older man's eyes, then looked back at Han and shrugged, "Sure."

Leia crossed her arms and sighed. Days. The Imperial Fleet had hovered over the base for days, and still no attack.

She glanced at the small table around which Han, Lando, Anakin, and Luke were gathered playing sabacc.

"Why don't they attack?" she asked, not for the first time.

"I donno how the Empire thinks, sweetheart," Han mumbled, studying his cards.

She stepped closer to the table, really needing to spit out her frustrations, again. "Who do you think is commanding the fleet? Do you think Vader's up there?"

Lando glanced up at her, a bit puzzled, "I thought Vader went AWOL."

"He did," Han grumbled, still looking at his cards.

Lando frowned, "Then why's the Executor up there?"

"She's not at the head of the fleet," Anakin mumbled softly.

Luke looked up from his hand and frowned, more interested in discussing the siege than playing cards, "Wouldn't Vader take his flagship?"

Anakin looked up at the young man, "It depends on the situation of his departure."

A short, uncomfortable silence settled over the room, but was soon broken again by Leia, "You don't think Vader's up there?" she asked, clearly directing her question at Anakin.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Vader would not take the risks that Palpatine is taking."

Leia put her hands on her hips, "Well, maybe Palpatine is in command, and Vader is just being his lapdog, as usual."

Anakin seemed, for a fleeting moment, irritated by the princess's remark; but as quickly as the look was upon his features, it was gone.

"Vader commands the fleet," he said carefully, his words marked, "Palpatine would only take control in the event of his absence."

Han raised his eyes from his cards, "You seem to know a lot about this."

Anakin looked back down at his hand, "Know thy enemy."

Lando shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable with the unspoken challenges flying around the table, "So," he said, nonchalantly changing the subject, "Did'ja guys realize today is Father's Day?"

As soon as he spoke, all sets up eyes were upon him and he realized that that wasn't the best thing to point out. Leia's father had been killed with Alderaan, Han never knew his father, and Luke…

Was staring intently at Anakin.

"Where's your father?" he asked Anakin as if they were the only two in the room.

Anakin returned Luke's stare with equal intensity, "I never had a father."

"Neither did I," Luke said, wondering at the flash that passed over Anakin's eyes.

Anakin sat back, crossing his arms, "You had a father, Skywalker," You still do.

Luke straightened in his seat, "Did you just-?"

Anakin cut him off with a wave of his hand, "I mean, that… nevermind."

Luke peered at the older man intensely, clearly distressed, "Do you have any children?" he blurted out, blushing slightly.

Anakin's gaze settled upon the youth, his eyes screaming something that Luke could not quite grasp…

"Yes, I have a son."

"Oh, yeah?" Han sat back, propping his foot on the table, "You expecting to hear from him?"

Anakin seemed a bit perplexed by the question, and then he smiled awkwardly, "In a manner of speaking. If truth be told, he doesn't know who I am."

The four other occupants of the room stared at him in shock.

"Do you know where he is?" Luke asked, incredulous.

Anakin nodded.

"Why don't you go to him…?" Luke asked, his voice restrained, but he seemed to want to scream.

Anakin's eyes meet Luke's, two sets of icy storms faced one another in silent challenge, "I do not feel that he is ready."

Luke stood, his chair falling behind him as he did so, "How can you say that? You're his father! Do you know what I would do to have my father alive?"

Anakin did not move, he merely watched through narrow eyes, "What would you do, child?" he whispered, his voice had that edge to it again…

After nothing more than a moment's hesitation, he declared with conviction, "Anything."

A slight smirk crossed Anakin's features, "Indeed…?" He suddenly broke eye contact with the distressed young man and turned to look at Leia, "You'd better get to the command center."

She frowned, "Why-" she was cut off by a beep from her comlink, she eyed Anakin suspiciously as she switched it on, "Organa."

"Leia," Mon Mothma's voice sounded from the small device, "We need you at the command center right away."

"I'll be right there."

"Is Commander Skywalker with you?"

"Yes."

"Bring him with you."

"Very well," she whispered, and signed off, still watching Anakin with apprehension.

Part I | Part II | Part IV | Part V | Part VI