The Death Star 2
In orbit around Endor
Main docking bay
"And now I sense you wish to continue your search for young Skywalker," Emperor Palpatine said gravely, with a slight glance at his much taller apprentice.
"Yes, my master," Vader responded in a soft rumble.
"Patience, my friend. In time, he will seek you out. And when he does, you must bring him before me. He has grown strong. Only together can we turn him to the Dark Side of the Force."
"Yes, my Master."
"Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen."
The Emperor let loose with one of his patented evil laughs, and Vader used the Force to decrease his auditory inputs slightly.
That laugh had been annoying 20 years ago and now it grated on every last one of Darth Vader's remaining nerves. Nevertheless, he kept a close eye on his Master, prepared to obey whatever command he might give.
To his relief, as they reached the exit doors of the main docking bay, a man approached and fell to his knees before the Ruler of the Known Universe. Vader stopped and waited as his Master and the Unknown conversed, even as the younger Sith allowed his mind to slip into more pleasant places.
An image formed in his mind's eye, of himself on the Galactic Throne, with his son standing behind him. His son, strong, brave, courageous, determined. Stubborn. Short. Like his mother.
A smile, which he would never have admitted to being slightly beatific, crossed Vader's face.
Only to be rudely wiped away.
"And Lord Vader will provide you with every possible support, won't you, my friend?" Palpatine said, turning toward him, displaying an unpleasant sight of yellowed and decayed teeth.
Vader managed to pull a few vague phrases out of his short term memory. Shockball tournament. Celebration party.
"As you wish, my master," he intoned solemnly, even as his left foot twitched irritably. With a son to find, and a galaxy to conquer, he was going to spend valuable time and energy and resources on a party for a sporting event?
Apparently so.
/-
Main crew area
The Millennium Falcon
In orbit around Sullust
1 day later
"This is completely ridiculous," Luke Skywalker groused, then promptly felt ashamed.
Master Yoda had declared him a Jedi Knight only days ago. Surely a true Jedi wouldn't whine, would he?
Han Solo was leaning back on a med chair with his eyes closed, but these words made him sit up indignantly.
"Let me get this straight, Kid," he said in a menacing tone, "You are complaining about this mission? You don't wanna do it? I'll go, gladly."
"No, you won't," Leia Organa responded in a voice which brooked no argument.
Both men looked at her, Luke with a slight smile, Han with his trademark expression of wounded perplexity.
"It sounds like a cakewalk, Leia ..." Solo began, only to be cut off firmly.
"Cakewalk or not, you aren't going, Han. You're only 10 days out of carbonite and you still aren't 100%. The last thing you need is to traipse off to a shockball tournament to drink crummy Corellian whiskey and eat too much nerf sausage. You don't want to mess with your digestion at this sensitive point in your recovery."
Han Solo rolled to his feet and swaggered dramatically over to Leia, who tilted her head up towards him.
"Leia, I love messing with my digestion. Early and often."
"Not on my watch," she growled back, her eyes flashing.
Luke, though amused, fought to get the conversation back on topic.
"If it's a cakewalk, and it does sound like an easy mission, why do I have to do it?"
(Oops, that was still definitely whiny.)
Leia turned away from her glaring contest with Solo and bestowed a loving smile on her newly discovered twin.
"Amazing, that," Luke thought, with a rush of wonder. The confirmation from Master Yoda that Darth Vader was his father had been devastating but expected. But Obi-Wan Kenobi's revelation that the Princess of Alderaan, his precious friend Leia Organa, was his twin sister had been the best news of his entire lifetime.
Leia was equally pleased to claim him as a brother, though her longstanding loathing for the Dark Lord of the Sith had only flamed higher at the revelation of her parentage.
She'd have to work on that, but for now Luke was wise enough to realize that she just needed to cogitate on it for a season.
"So, this mission is actually a bit tricky," Leia explained gravely.
"It's just a hand off of a data code cylinder, isn't it?" Luke demanded.
She nodded, "Yes, but we can't beam the information in because the Empire is carefully monitoring transmissions, and our Rebel contact is one of the very few people who can safely mingle at the shockball tournament and then carry the cylinder into the high security prison on Coronet. Our sentient inside the prison can't go out safely as he's being monitored, though we don't think he is suspected of being a Rebel. It's just standard protocol for guards and technical staff in the prison."
"Still, a handoff?" Luke demanded, "I mean, I don't want to brag but ..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah I know, you blew up the Death Star and you're the last of the Jedi ... got it. But that means you'll be warned by the Force if something goes down unexpectedly. It should be a good place for the exchange with so many people wandering around, but Imperials could also sneak up on you if they are tipped off. There are going to be thousands of people there ..."
"Thousands?" Han interrupted, "Thousands? More like 100,000 people. This is the shockball game of the year!"
"Even though the Imperial Thrones will win, like they have the last 14 years?" Luke asked wearily.
Han's face drooped slightly. "Yeah. I mean, you're right. But usually they don't cheat 'til the second half of the game. And last year, the Caridan team took out three of the Thrones toward the end. That was pretty good, and I'm thinking the Corellian Brothers will do even better. Maybe take out five or six?"
Luke sighed, "Whatever. Shockball doesn't really interest me, you know. Now a good swoop race ..."
"Yeah, swoop races are awesome, Luke. I'm not arguing that. But what could be more exciting than a team sport where the goal is to knock every member of the opposite team unconscious? That's true excitement, better than any swoop race!"
"It's barbaric," Leia said coldly. "I can't understand why anyone would enjoy it. On Alderaan, it was expressly forbidden because of our views on violence ..."
Han interrupted by stepping forward and planting a firm and lengthy kiss on Leia's lips, one which she returned with fervor.
"So I guess this meeting is over?" Luke inquired, rising to his feet.
The two ignored him as they broke contact and began whispering sweet nothings at one another.
Luke grinned and walked toward the exit, only to stop when Han called after him.
"Hey, Luke?"
The young Jedi lifted an inquiring eyebrow.
"What do you think that black behemoth of a father of yours would think if I called him up and asked for his daughter's hand in marriage?"
Luke's eyes widened with Leia's, and then he chuckled reluctantly, "I'd pay good money to see his reaction, Han, I'll say that – if he didn't strangle you across the parsecs. But remember, Leia's a secret."
"I know, Kid, just giving you a hard time."
"It's fine with me if he finds out," Leia said coldly. "It might be good for him to realize that not one but two children of his think he's a despicable tyrant."
Luke opened his mouth, then shut it.
He didn't dare tell Leia of his own very conflicted feelings about Darth Vader, previously Anakin Skywalker.
Luke hated him, yes, he did, for all he had done. For torturing Leia, and Han. For taking his hand. But at some level ...
At some level, Luke Skywalker loved his father.
/-
The Death Star
In orbit around Endor
4 days later
"This is ridiculous," Darth Vader said out loud.
Coordinator Tontin drooped in clear distress, and tears actually formed in his eyes.
"You believe ... that the Emperor will be displeased?"
Vader waited two cycles of his respirator.
"No, you misunderstand, Coordinator," he said finally, forcing his voice to remain calm. "You have clearly done an excellent job. I am merely commenting on your decision to call me here, when I have many more vitally important tasks to fulfill."
The Coordinator's face took on the expression of a startled ferbil, "My Lord! The Galactic Shockball Championship is the premier sporting event of the year! And this year will be the 15th time in a row that the Emperor's Thrones will win the championship! This truly will be the celebration of the decade and it is my deepest desire that my liege will be pleased. I merely wish to know whether you think this room will meet his approval."
Vader allowed himself a jaded stare around the large banquet hall. It was a riot of blacks, grays, silvers, and whites, the colors of the Imperial Thrones shockball team. He'd already cast a dreary eye over the menu, which was of course composed of food he couldn't eat.
Ridiculous.
"The Emperor will be delighted," he forced himself to say.
Coordinator Tontin smiled with pleasure, "Thank you, my Lord."
"And now I must see to other vital duties," the Sith said, firmly turning on his heel.
Outside the banquet chamber, he heaved a soft sigh of relief. Seven more days before the championship game, and this ridiculously ornate party. He hoped he would not be required to attend.
And then he'd have a full year before he had to deal with shockball madness.
Perhaps in a year, Luke would be at his side, and his Master slain.
With that happy thought, Darth Vader strode toward his meditation chamber. A passing stormtrooper jerked in sudden surprise as he passed, and Vader hesitated briefly. He was used to terror, but not surprise.
And then he realized he was humming something. Humming. A song. A song from Naboo. One of Padme's favorites, about the ocean...
/-
The Emperor's Throne Room
The Death Star 2
In orbit around Endor
1 day later
"I have decided, my apprentice, to send you to Corellia for the championship shockball game," the Emperor said, steepling his hands together.
Darth Vader felt his jaw drop open.
"What?" he asked, then bowed his head still more, "I'm sorry, my Master, I didn't quite hear that."
"Are your auditory sensors malfunctioning, Lord Vader?" the elderly Sith demanded, a scowl forming on his face. "You will proceed to Corellia for the championship game, and present the Chromium Cup to the Thrones after their victory. It will truly be a tremendous moment as the Imperial Thrones win their 15th championship ..."
"In a row," Vader finished. "Yes, my master. I am concerned, however, that the Death Star requires my attention to keep the necessary schedule of operations."
The Emperor waved a careless hand, "I will deal with any issues personally, Lord Vader. It will be good for you to get away for a while. Think of it as ... as a vacation."
Many words filled Darth Vader's mind, none of them appropriate.
"Yes, my master."
Author Note: So this will not be long. Maybe 5 or 6 chapters?