Chapter One: Capture

Darth Vader's thoughts were only of his son when his shuttle settled on the Imperial landing platform of the Forest Moon. He could sense Luke nearby; Luke's presence hung over the small moon like a gentle fog over the forest, and with each step Vader knew that he was drawing closer. He headed straight towards it; Luke's presence signaled like a beacon, and as he drew nearer, Luke's force presence became more and more defined, slowly evolving into distinct emotions and thoughts. These emotions seeped in bits and pieces to Vader, and grew all the stronger as the distance between them narrowed. They would meet soon. Vader did not doubt it.

As Vader walked down the loading ramp of the shuttle, his thoughts returned once more to their last meeting on Bespin, which had been enough to confuse Vader immensely. Luke's choice of perceived death rather than cooperation had both stunned and shaken him more than he was willing to admit. He had offered Luke everything: riches, fame, ultimate power, a place by his side as his son, and yet Luke had refused. This unexpected rejection had cast him deep into fits of pensiveness and emotional unrest, and he had spent many of the months since replaying the scene in his head and brooding over its outcome. And now, as he was about to face his son again, he could not but help wonder how they would reunite. How will his son have changed?

Vader calmed his mind, narrowing it onto its present course. Cool. Calculating. He would need to release his feelings into the Force if he was to keep his emotions out of the situation and think clearly. Timing would be vitally important, and he could not afford to be unready.

Darth Vader headed across the illuminated landing platform towards the elevator that would take him down below into the Imperial outpost. He dimly observed the forest surrounding him, noting the dark pines that stood like tall buildings over him, their towering tops touching the darkening sky, and the cool night air that gently touched his suit, but his attention was already averted when he noted the Imperial Walker, an AT-AT, docking below.

Not stopping or hesitating, Vader stepped into the platform's elevator, which lowered him onto the level of the docking AT-AT, and headed across the small bridge. He could sense Luke's presence, this time closer than it had ever been since Bespin.

Vader was almost to the opposite end of the bridge when the door at the end slid open, and an officer and three stormtroopers stepped out. Luke was with them, just as Vader had anticipated, and his eyes were fixed on his father.

The officer immediately stepped up to Vader to address him. "This is a rebel that surrendered to us. Although he denies it, I believe there may be more of them and I request permission to conduct a further search of the area."

As the officer spoke, Vader studied his son, looking at the boy closely. He had grown little since they had last met, but his features had aged. Dressed in black, he seemed older and wiser than his years, and although his hands were bound in front of him, his blue eyes shone intelligently and fearlessly at Vader. There was no fear in them, as there had been before.

"He was armed only with this," the officer continued, handing a lightsaber to Vader.

Vader accepted the lightsaber, feeling his leather glove close over its hilt. His eyes still on his son, he replied, "Good work, commander. Leave us. Conduct your search and bring his companions to me." Luke had not come alone; Vader knew that. A whole group of rebels had penetrated the moon, and capturing them would not only force them to abort their mission, but it would also give Vader leverage over Luke. He knew how close Luke was with his friends, how far he would go for them. Luke had fallen into that trap before, at Bespin. Luke had done it before, and he would do it again. Of this, Vader was sure. Because more than anything, he was his father's son.

"Yes, my lord," the officer replied, and then bowed and retreated, the three stormtroopers by his side.

Not quite knowing how to initiate a conversation with the boy, Vader said simply, "The Emperor has been expecting you."

Luke did not look at him. "I know, Father."

Vader glanced at him. He had not expected his son to address the topic of their relationship, especially when their previous meeting had not gone ideally. "So," he replied, "You have accepted the truth."

Luke looked at him now. "I've accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father."

Vader turned sharply with a hiss, the name stirring up anger deep inside of him. "That name no longer has any meaning for me," he replied, shaking the hilt of the lightsaber at Luke.

Luke looked surprised at his reaction, but he refused to be intimidated by the reply. He shook his head firmly, dismissing Vader's statement. "It is the name of your true self, you've only forgotten," he said insistently. "I know that there is good in you; the Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully." Luke turned away from Vader then, and headed toward the railing of the bridge, putting his hands up on the metal railing. "That was why you couldn't destroy me. That's why you won't bring me to your Emperor now."

Vader watched his son closely, observing the Light Side whirling around him like an aura. He had grown stronger since their last meeting, of this Vader was certain. Vader's attention dropped down to the lightsaber in his hand, and he ignited it. Out burst a brilliant green blade, which hissed and hummed in his leather hands.

"I see you have constructed a new lightsaber," he said, turning the weapon to observe it. His eyes moved carefully across the hilt, noting the handiwork and mechanics of the weapon. It was an impressive model, and even though modeled closely after Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber, Vader begrudgingly acknowledged the time and skill needed to complete such a feat. Only one truly strong with the Force could hope to achieve the task. "Your skills are complete?" he asked Luke, but the boy did not reply. With a bit of surprise, Vader realized he felt immense pride for his son. Pushing the emotions back, he extinguished the blade, which slid back with a hiss, and he turned away from his son."Indeed you are powerful as the Emperor has foreseen," he said.

"Come with me," Luke said suddenly from behind him.

Vader felt a touch of anger at those words. Was he really so naïve? "Obi-Wan once thought as you do," he said slowly, and then turned to look at Luke. "You don't know the power of the Dark Side. I must obey my master."

Luke shook his head, once more refusing to be intimidated by Vader's rush of anger. "I will not turn," he said, his eyes fixed on Vader's mask. "And you will be forced to kill me."

A small burst of pain pricked Vader's heart, but he pushed it aside. "If that is your destiny," he replied simply, refusing to show Luke any attachment.

Luke stepped towards him. "Search your feelings, Father," he said insistently. "You can't do this. I feel the conflict within you, let go of your hate."

"It is too late for me, son," Vader replied. His anger resurfaced at these words. Luke didn't understand. Darth Vader motioned for the door of the elevator to be opened, and soon two stormtroopers approached them. "The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force," he informed his son. "He is your master now."

Luke shook his head. "Then my father is truly dead," he replied simply, and went away willingly.

Vader waited until the sliding door of the elevator had closed on his son, and suddenly he felt tired, wearier than he had felt in a long time. Is this what his son did to him? Made his thoughts confused like this?

Vader approached the railing that looked out over the Sanctuary Moon. In a way, Luke was right. It had been Anakin Skywalker, that Jedi Knight so long ago, who fathered him, who had given Luke his name. Was Vader's acceptance of Luke as his son an acknowledgment of this past self? He had spent much time denying Anakin Skywalker: clearing out his name from the records, erasing the identity from the archives, demolishing remnants of his past life, blocking out the memories he once lived… For the past twenty years, he had denied that he was no longer that man… but yet here Luke was: a remnant of that past life, a reminder that it had happened, and that once Vader had been truly happy.

It had all been taken away from him. That life. That happiness. Anger deep inside of him resurfaced as he redirected his thoughts to the one who had started it all. Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan had done this, taken everything away from him. He had turned his son against him. He had filled his head with lies, told Luke what wasn't true so the boy would become rooted against him. Obi-Wan had known, just as Vader did, that the boy would have joined him. Would have. If Obi-Wan had not planted those falsehoods.

Vader felt his heart burn with anger and pain inside of him. Let Luke believe that he was still good, but he wasn't. Luke would soon see the truth, the error of his ways and those of Obi-Wan. He would have to turn, or he would die.

Darth Vader spun from where he stood by the railing and walked with a determined gait towards the elevator. He would not fail this time. Luke would turn.

The elevator descended and opened at the shield generator bunker. As Vader stalked into the control room, Imperial officers and stormtroopers stood hastily, a sudden hush falling over them.

"My lord," said one of the officers hastily. His hands snapped from the datacomputer where he was working, and he awkwardly placed them by his side. "How fortunate we are to have you… We were not expecting your arrival-"

"My arrival was unannounced," Vader cut across him, and the idiot halted his bumbling, clamping his mouth shut. "A small group of rebels has penetrated this moon, whose intent is to disable the shield generator."

"My lord," the officer said, fumbling with his words, "We will take care of them immediately."

"I want extra squads to be sent out," continued Vader. "Use whatever means necessary to force them into surrender, but arrest their commanders and send them to me immediately."

"Of course, my lord," said the officer hastily.

"Use whatever means necessary," Vader repeated once more, "But do not harm them. If they are harmed, I will personally ensure your execution." If he were to use Luke's friends against him, they would need to be alive and well.

"Y- yes, my lord," the man gasped. He was beginning to perspire; Vader could see a line of sweat along his forehead.

Content that they were intimidated enough to carry out his orders, Vader turned, his cape sweeping behind him, and exited the control room of the bunker. The Emperor was waiting for them.