To Dwell In Dreams
Chapter Six - Extra story - Not My Father
AN: The first thing you need to know is that this story was inspired by a popular yahoo prompt – someone who calls himself Anakin Skywalker has been heard of, and we must see how both Darth Vader and Luke react to this. Since this is set in the universe of my story between the fourth chapter and the second big time skip, it will be very. . . different. . . take to any other version.
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Luke's eyes widened at the news and even uncle Ben seemed decidedly angry for someone who was once supposed to be a Jedi Master. But that was all right, because it was nothing toward how Luke himself felt.
It's an outrage! A scandal! It's – it's – not right.
"Luke -"
"I think I need some air," Luke said in a deceptively calm voice. He stood and walked out of Ben's modest abode, but wasn't immersed so deeply in his negative emotions to miss the swirl coming from his uncle that basically meant Please Force, don't do anything rash.
He ran, ran long enough that he was starting to tire, that the excess upset had been run out of his system.
Then he stopped, not stupid enough to find himself somewhere without shade in the heat of the Tatooine desert, breathing slightly laboured.
He collapsed, leaning against a rock for support, and called out to his father.
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Darth Vader had been standing at the bridge of the flagship of the Imperial fleet, the Super Star Destroyer Destructor. He had been supervising the deployment of the ships in a minor rebel stronghold and watching the crew while he was at it.
Then had come the unexpected shout, its force leaving him leaning slightly against the railing – well, that and surprise. It was the middle of the day.
Passing a significant glance at the Admiral in charge of the ship, he went to the commander's ready room. Which as they were empty due to the occupant's continued presence on the bridge, was perfect for his needs. After all, no one needed to see Darth Vader talking and gesturing to thin air, acting like Anakin Skywalker.
:Luke. What is the matter?:
Luke, seemingly flustered by whatever it was that he had to say, took a moment to answer.
:Father . . . have you seen the Holo news?:
Anakin was taken aback. He had been aware that Luke and his extended family had holonet access, but unless his constant worry that Luke had somehow become intimately aware of his more public persona had come true – and he did not actually think that his son would be talking to him in such a tone if it had – then he had never truly expected the drivel they reported to cause any true harm.
:I am usually quite aware of what is going on in the world,: he stated dryly as a reply. Most often because I am right at the centre of things. :But perhaps you have become aware of something that I have not been told of.:
:I should think so!: Luke retorted back vehemently. :Someone's been copying you!:
:Copying me?:
:Uh, well, kind of. I saw it on the news. They said someone was doing stuff using your name. . .:
Using the name of Anakin Skywalker, then, since his son knew no other. A cool sort of anger took over him. Anakin was a personality who only two people saw in person, and only they were able to bring him out of the mask that had become Darth Vader. If someone other than he was using it. . .
He closed his eyes and listened to his respirator modulating his breaths. They would pay.
:And how are you sure that it was not me, Luke?:
He received the mental equivalent of a shrug. :The Force, I guess. That and the fact that you've never actually done anything to put you on the holonet for the past however many years, so I knew then. Why'd you start now? Unless it wasn't you?:
Interesting, that his son had picked up on that. Yet he would still have to tread carefully. If he did not, then anything could happen. That did not diminish his pride in Luke for having picked up on the small clues, and reading what the Force told him like he had.
:Did the holonet say anything about what the imposter has been doing?:
:Um, no, not really. They said something about him mostly being in the Outer Rim, but I didn't understand most the rest of it.: There was an embarrassed feeling pause. :...Plus, I guess I got kinda annoyed and left before it said very much.:
Anakin sent his mental laughter across their bond. :That is quite all right. Though you should probably bear this in mind the next time someone insults a person you hold dear. If you stay calm, then you can get more out of them.:
He had the impression that Luke made some sort of face at that, but the general feeling was of a kind of grin-and-bear-it attitude that made him shake his head in wonder. In many ways, Luke was like him – he had his looks, the way that he would be loyal to people rather than causes, the way that if something or someone close to him were endangered, Luke would instantly rise to defend it passionately. Yet it was at times like these that Anakin realised that so much of Luke came from the boy's mother. He had been told that Luke's eyes were blue, yet his uncle 'Ben' had stated that sometimes it looked more like they were his mother's. While he was like his father in that his temper was quick to burn, it was also like his mother's in that it burned out just as quickly.
:Very well,: he said finally. :I will find the imposter and deal with them. I can assure you of that much, at least.:
Deep satisfaction could be felt from the other end of the conversation. Yet when he spoke, his thoughts were tentative. :You won't beat him up too bad, will you?:
Anakin sighed and thought. There was the very real likelihood of his losing his temper if he saw this pretender, and evidently that was not what would put 'Vader' in Luke's good books.
:I suppose. . . that there is someone else. That I could trust to do with him as they willed. . .:
Luke's smile grew as he realised who it was that his father was talking about.
:All right then, tell Jix not to beat him up too bad.:
:I'll do that.:
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A couple of months later, the holonet was turned on in uncle Ben's home once more, as the Lars and one Skywalker dined with the crazy old hermit who just happened to teach Luke.
When the report came on, Ben narrowed his eyes and mouth but said nothing. Owen and Beru cast startled glances at the other two, yet did not say anything.
Luke simply smiled as he ate and listened to the – albeit irritating – reporter.
"The recent disappearance of the man calling himself 'Anakin Skywalker' is being investigated, as it is apparently of great interest of both the Empire and the terrorist Rebels to have the man in their custody. Many believe that he is dead, that anti-Jedi sympathisers or undercover Imperials found and executed him. The question is still in the air however, since there has been no body found. The popular idea that the Emperor's second-in-command, Darth Vader, dealt with the situation in some way, is also a still unanswered question, since he has been unavailable for comment while on a mission of certain importance to the Empire. . ."
--END--
AN: ^_^ I enjoyed that. Please correct my use of the Destructor if it is wrong in the timeline, though... I think you get the picture about what happened - Jix found the imposter, promised pain, much pain, if he tried to do something like it again, and made him disappear. I don't think there's gonna be a repeat somehow. I see this as happening about one year after the last two chapters.