Luke Vader Part 21

Luke Vader
Part 21: Leia Skywalker or Vader?
By SJ 21-11-00/12-12-00

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Disclaimers: Nothing in the Star Wars Universe belong to me; everything belongs
to George Lucas. I'm only writing stories for fun.
See my homepage for more details.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Quasar/3702

Special thanks to my shy, secret beta-reader and best friend, Adrianne, for her
help with the final editing of my new stories. Thanks for giving me some of your
precious time, my friend :)
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That evening, Luke brought Leia to his father's library. He had told her that
he wanted to take her out of her room for a change.

"I think I found something that will help you make the right decision for
yourself, Sister," he told her after a while.

"You mean to stay with you and Father," she pointed out sarcastically, turning
away from the array of shelves.

Luke shrugged his satiny-clad shoulders. "That's another way of saying it," he
conceded.

"Let me guess," she sneered, "the Emperor has jerked your chain, reminding you
that my death sentence is coming soon."

Luke was surprised by her intuition; even untrained, she was powerfully gifted.

"He asked for news about your progress, yes," he admitted truthfully, having
determined that lying to her was totally pointless and didn't help him in the
least.

His sister shrugged in turn and returned her attention to the books and the room
which were around her.

"Tell me," Luke asked softly. "Do you remember me as Father's slave?" he
queried.

She refocused on him, scowling. "What do you mean, remember?"

"We had seen each other a couple of times before we met on the Death Star; do
you remember any of those times?" he asked her again.

Leia scratched her head as she tried to remember the past.

"Are you sure?" she finally inquired.

"Yes," he answered her, stepping closer. "If you will allow me, I will guide
you toward those memories."

"Why can't I find them by myself?" she asked warily, taking a step away from
him.

"Because they are behind a wall," he explained softly. Father set it up for my
safety... just before I met you."

"What?!" she gasped, truly drawing away from him this time. "You mean to tell
me that my mind has been manipulated?" she asked, incensed.

"I will undo it, if you will let me," he answered seriously, trying to calm her
down.

Leia paced all over the carpeted floor.

Her mind had been manipulated, her privacy had been violated... Her father had
dared do this to her, well, he hadn't known at the time, she reminded herself,
but still, she continued to argue, he had altered her memories.

What else had he done?, she suddenly worried--- then an even more horrible
thought invaded her mind.

Who else had done so?

She refocused on her quiet, understanding brother.

"If I let you inside again, Luke, you will undo every wall, and I mean
everything that has been done to me, whether by Father... or someone else," she
finally managed.

Her request seemed to surprise him, but he didn't question her.

"Okay," he nodded. "Do you prefer to sit down before we start?" he offered her.

She plopped down on one of the comfortable chairs; her brother took the chair
opposite hers and offered her his hands like he had done the last time.

"Take a deep breath," he instructed her, "Relax as much as you can."

"Why?" she asked, suddenly worried anew.

"It'll make the walls less resistant," Luke explained in a strangely distant
voice.

Unlike the last time, her brother's presence didn't simply hover near hers; he
entered her mind, but not completely either. She was relieved to discover that
he didn't completely invade her mind.

Although she couldn't see him, she felt him poke around, testing this or that
part of his mind, undoing barriers when he was running into them and making sure
that he wasn't forgetting any walls when he wasn't blocked away.

The more he undid her blocks, the more familiar memories popped free in her
mind. She saw her younger self during a stuffy reception, heard her thoughts
concerning a certain dark lord and his slave, then she saw the boy in question.

She then saw herself, at an older stage, watch the same boy from the corner of
her eye as she tried to survive her first experience in the Emperor's court...
then later on, at her nomination as senator.

She had indeed always felt attracted to the silent, ghost-like youth, she
finally admitted; she had somehow managed to refrain from speaking with him, but
it had been hard---

Then she saw memories she had never, ever seen before. She was in her mother's
arms, herself nothing more than a baby probably... Her mother was speaking with
somebody.

'It is the only way, Padme. They must never know the past.'

'But Anakin wouldn't---' her mother began in a sad voice.

'He isn't Anakin anymore, Senator; his name is Darth Vader now... He
sacrificed his own humanity to serve the dark side...' the man stated darkly.
'He will sacrifice his children and wife if he has to. He won't hesitate to
destroy every one you love,' the Jedi finished seriously yet sadly.

*Kenobi,* her brother's hatred-filled voice informed her.

'He wouldn't have killed us, would he have?' she asked her brother.

'No, nor mother, but the Jedi fooled her with his lies... I'm done here,' he
told her before withdrawing from her mind.

"Did you remember this?" she asked him, still shocked by the truth of her
memory.

"No. It was the first time that I saw this," he answered, some of his anger
still inhabiting his voice. "You were right about another block," he then
nodded in approval.

"I wish I hadn't though... Gods, Luke, if his plans had come to be---" she
gasped in horror, forgetting her wariness with her brother.

"we would have killed our own father, or else he would have killed his own
children. And they called him darksider," he sneered sarcastically as he stood
up from his seat.

"Now I see why you are so upset with the Jedi order," she admitted.

"I wanted to help Father hunt them down, Leia," Luke told her, also forgetting
his mission or his status. He just needed to talk. "I wanted to avenge my lost
family. Unfortunately, I was too young."

"I've been raised to protect them as the Light in the Universe you know," she
commented in disappointment, "as the last hope for true peace."

"Have you ever studied the history of the Old Republic?" he asked her.

She nodded.

"It's chaotic," he pointed out in dismay. "The Jedis didn't accomplish anything
except confuse everybody," he finished in disgust.

"The Empire destroys and enslaves," she reminded him, some of her defiance
resurfacing at his comment.

"The destruction has mostly occurred because of the Rebellion," he pointed out.
Leia meant to argue, but Luke cut her off. "I am responsible for much
destruction, Leia, but I can tell you this: my targets had always done things
to deserve their treatment," he explained seriously. "Otherwise, we stole them,
we incapacitated their surroundings, but we didn't kill them. The mass-killings
that took place were brought about by the Rebellion because it fueled such
feelings into previously unconcerned population." He paused, then continued:
"Now that the Rebellion is not there anymore, peace 'has' returned to the
galaxy."

Leia hated to even think the words, but her brother was right.

The news had changed since the defeat of the Rebellion. So had the Fleet's
orders, she knew from her rare discussions with her father. And the Jedis---
the Jedis had sought her destruction; they hadn't cared about herself, her
brother, or even her father... only about their vendetta.

But her father and brother cared, she reminded herself; they cared about her,
her mother, each other, Luke's lover, the galaxy...

Only the Emperor didn't have any feelings for anybody but himself.

But what if she didn't take him into account in the portrait?, she hesitantly
wondered.

"Could you show me around?" she asked her brother, finally making up her mind,
at least as far as cooperation was concerned.

He stopped his pacing to look at her questioningly.

"I've been in this castle of two months now and I still don't know what it looks
like inside," she smiled at him.

"Sure, come with me," he smiled back.

******

That night, Leia didn't sleep. Instead, she laid on her bed and gazed at the
ceiling.

What would her life have been if she had been found by her father like her
brother had been?, she wondered. Would she have been like her brother, like
herself, or somebody completely different.

Even as she thought about the possibilities, an image came to her mind.

'She was with her mother, reading a story, while her brother was playing nearby
with small tie Fighters and other model ships, lifting them up with his Force
powers. Their mother quietly scolded him to not do that without his father
around to coach him. Then the door opened behind Luke and in stepped her
father, their father...

Darth Vader.

"Daddy!" she squealed in delight, trying to beat her brother in his run toward
their father.

They both threw themselves in his open arms, then he stood up as easily as if he
weren't carrying them ; he took a moment to look at his wife. This wasn't at
all like the Jedi had told her it would be, she heard her think.'

Then the image disappeared and Leia was back in her room. She shed silent tears
of sadness that they had all been deprived of such a life. But she was still
alive, she suddenly heartened herself, and so were her brother and father. She
could still live with them and have the family life she had been deprived
of, she resolved.

Tomorrow, she'd ask her brother to get her an interview with the Emperor.

******

The despot was surprised to see her this soon, this was sure, but, she
reflected, if she wanted to make her decision clear, she needed time to argue on
her terms.

She dressed in the fine clothes her brother had provided for her; they were not
a dark-side reminding uniform. Instead, he had found her a beautiful sky-
blue/dark blue suit and cloak.

As she walked beside him, she noticed the looks the courtesans and other
dignitaries were giving her, or was it to her brother, the dark lord? She had
to admit that he looked very impressive in his cloak and black uniform. She
knew thought that this was just window dressing. Under the appearances, he
was one of the nicest guy the universe had known.

He just had a nasty job.

They climbed up the long stairs, then both of them knelt in front of the
Emperor. Leia noticed that her father was already in the room, beside his
master's throne.

"Rise," the ruler told them. "You wished to speak with me, girl? Do so," he
instructed curtly.

"I have made my decision, your Highness," she told him as respectfully as she
could.

"Which is?" he prompted impatiently.

"I will stay with my family, but I will not be your servant," she declared
adamantly.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed her brother's wince. The Emperor, on
the other hand, didn't show any unhappiness except for his hand.

He tapped his right claws on his armrest. "Indeed? And do you think that this
can be acceptable?" he queried dangerously.

"I will do your bidding as far as your trust in me is concerned, your Highness,"
she continued bravely. "I will not get involved in any organization of any
kind, and I might sometimes help my brother and father, if I have your
permission of course," she added as the other turned to glare at her brother, "
but I will not serve you on a duly basis like they do."

The Emperor remained silent at this, obviously unhappy with the outcome. "What
is your opinion, Lord Vader?" he asked his older servant.

"If she behaves, Master, then I don't foresee any problems," the older Vader
commented seriously.

"Neither do I, Master," Luke spoke from her side. "You can also assign an
escort to her when we aren't planet-side," he added seriously.

The Emperor flashed an angry glare at his newest dark lord. That boy was
drawing him further down dangerous territories than he should have ever let him
do, he decided in growing annoyance. First, the child had mimicked as a good-
hearted farmboy for months, then had brought back his 'sister' of the Light into
his carefully balanced world of darkness, and now, the enraging girl was openly
defying him by choosing her family without bowing to his will.

For a very brief moment, he considered simply finishing it with the girl, once
and for all, then reconsidered. If the boy had managed to make her accept her
'family' despite everything they had done to her, then, he could consider that
given more time, the girl's potential for hatred would be his to mold into
another tool of his arsenal.

The challenge, he conceded, would be to manipulate her through the men without
risking to lose them to the care they had for the girl. At the moment, it was
under tight control for both of them, but he was aware that their control was
tenuous at most. He himself knew that sooner or later, he would have to take
actions to force that despising care of theirs back into very limited
boundaries.

Leia's eyes didn't leave the Emperor's shadowed hood as he pondered his
decision. While she truly didn't want to serve him, she admitted that she
didn't want him to separate her once again from her family----

The despot refocused on her.

"Will you accept whatever restriction I will establish?" he demanded coldly.

"Yes," she nodded truthfully.

"And you will behave properly now," he inquired warningly.

"Yes, I will," she nodded again, aware that he was asking her to be a princess
once again.

The Emperor hissed in barely disguised despise.

"You may stay with your family, 'Lady' Vader," he all but spat in contempt.

"Skywalker," Leia corrected seriously.

"What?" he growled instantly, making her cringe despite herself as she met his
sulfurous glare.

"My father's true name is Skywalker," she answered proudly, defiantly. "Hence,
my name will now be Leia Skywalker."

The Emperor literally drilled her with his venomous eyes for a full ten seconds,
then turned away from her, as if unable to bear her sight anymore. He locked
his gaze on her brother.

"Bodyguards will be assigned to her. She may be free to go where she pleases
when they are with her... but should she try to loose them," he warned acidly,
"she might not survive my wrath."

"I understand, Master," her brother bowed in answer. "Will she be allowed to
leave with us, Master?" he then inquired respectfully.

"Sometimes," was the short, almost dismissive answer from the obviously upset
ruler.

"Thank you, Master." Luke and her father replied as they bowed their heads in
tandem.

"Dismissed," he barely sneered at them.

While the two men bowed once again and turned to leave, Leia took advantage of
the silence to show her good will while slightly upsetting the despot a little
more.

"Thank you for your time, Emperor," she told him regally.

He barely motioned her away with his hand although his annoyance came clearly
through to her.

"Not you, dark Lord of the Siths," the Emperor suddenly called from his now
turned-away throne.

Leia exchanged a quick gaze with her brother; he shrugged and nodded toward the
double doors in her back. She left the room without any other incentive.

Once Leia left the room, the Emperor stood from his throne and looked from
father to son.

"Those were not the results you promised," he hissed warningly.

"They are a beginning, Master," the older Vader explained. "Leia's resistance
was deeply ingrained; we have only recently broken through it."

"My feeling is that she will eventually take part to some of our operations,
Master," Luke added earnestly. "She simply needs time to adapt to her new
life."

"I already gave her three months," their master reminded them darkly.

"Which taught her to accept her destiny, Master, but she hasn't embraced it
yet," Luke answered soothingly.

The Emperor threw him a vicious glare--- which was interrupted by his father's
deep voice.

"Luke is right, Master," his father agreed. "She was raised to fight against
us; even though she knows the truth now, she will need more time to become a
true Vader."

"Then I suggest you convince her to develop her Force abilities," the ruler
retorted curtly. "Now that she is trustworthy, don't delay anymore."

"Yes, Master," both Vaders said, bowing in acceptance.

The Emperor barely dismissed them.

*Do you think we have a deadline this time?* Luke asked his father through the
Force as they walked down the stairs.

*No, but I think we are better to show some progress as fast as possible.*

*I don't like to do that to her,* Luke admitted as they approached the double
doors.

The two of them exited the double doors; Leia was quietly waiting for them less
than a meter away.

"I take it that he's not pleased," she told them before they had uttered a
single word.

*Perceptive,* his father commented through the Force.

*You have no idea,* Luke sent him back. "Not really," he continued out loud,
"but it will do for the moment," he answered his sister.

"For the moment?" Leia asked with a slight frown, reflexively doubting her
brother's good intentions.

"When he will see how far he can trust you, he will be satisfied," her father
explained as she fell in step between the two men. "You are beautiful in those
clothes, daughter," he then surprised her with her comment. "You are perhaps
even more mesmerizing than your mother was," he added wistfully.

Leia gaped at him as she followed the two dark lords toward a nearby turbolift.

"Those were Mother's?" she asked although something didn't felt right in her
reasoning--- the trend of fashion, she understood.

"They weren't," her father nodded in agreement, "but she used to wear those
colors when she wasn't the Queen."

"Oh," she nodded in understanding.

They all entered the lift; the doors closed in front of her, leaving her alone
with two of the deadliest individuals in the galaxy: her brother and her
father... but she felt safe in their company.

She knew that she could trust them, that she could rely on them.

They were her family, and she had finally come home.

To be continued in part 22: Lady Skywalker