Dancer Girl

Chapter 3- Unbeknownst

The cottage door opened. Out stepped a figure no one would suspect. Or at least, no one who had been informed of what had taken place on the Second Death Star.

HO-PAH. HO-PAH. HO-PAH.

He looked like Darth Vader, but he wasn't. He hadn't been Vader since he had been banished by his former master, the former Emperor Palpatine, to this desert wasteland. No. Thanks to his son, he was once again his rightful self. Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker's father. Of course, news of what had happened on the Death Star had finally reached him and many things were revealed. He was also father of Leia Organa.

So many things had happened before that victory battle of the Rebellion that neither Luke nor Leia were aware of. Vader, as he was when he had first revealed himself to Luke, had begun to question his loyalty to the Emperor after he had faced off with his son the first time in Cloud City. Anakin began to reemerge, and he hated what Vader had made him. But, at the same time, he forgave Vader.

The Emperor knew that Luke, although he did not yet know what or how, had already won the battle for his father's true loyalty. Anakin nor Vader could have ever harmed his own son. He had summoned Vader to his palace on Coruscant, and, against the failing Dark Lord's will, cloned him. Made another exactly like Darth Vader, only with a few slight differences. Palpatine told his master cloners to make sure that this Vader was totally loyal to him and only him. He did not want the actual Vader dead, however. He simply wanted him to know how wrong about his own life Vader was. So he dropped him off in the home of his former Jedi master, Obi-wan Kenobi.

But the clone wasn't good enough. With the exact memories and altered feelings, the clone still turned to the light side...and had saved Luke's life. But the clone died, and Luke gave him a hero's burial...for he would do no less for his father. With the death of the clone, the victory of the Rebellion, and the Return of the Jedi Order, Vader truly died, and Anakin was reborn in his mangled body.

He had never wanted to seek out his daughter and son. Best to leave himself dead and not to interfere with their lives. But now, matters were different. There was a disturbance in the Force. Another power was emerging with it...a power Vader didn't have and didn't understand. Luke was in danger. And as he watched Han Solo's ship fly away, he knew it was eminent. He had to emerge and faced whatever lay ahead for him. But he wouldn't do it alone.

Anakin turned and entered the quaint home.

"Kitster! Kitster, are you finished yet?" he called in his deep voice in the direction of the kitchen.

Kitster, Anakin's childhood friend from this planet, stepped forward from the kitchen. His dark hair that Anakin remembered so well was white with age, but his skin was still as dark was anyone worked on Tatooine should be. He was wearing a ridiculous pink apron he had found somewhere earlier in life.

"What's wrong, Ani? I'm trying to finish my meal," he said.

"We're leaving. The both of us. Take off that stupid thing and get packed," Anakin said, waving his hand and opening a nearby chest.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on! Where are we going and why?"

"Luke is in danger. I feel it. We have to help him,"

Anakin was already packing for the both of them. Kitster untied his apron and laid it aside.

"Your son? The one that thinks your dead, right?"

Anakin stopped and looked at his friend.

"Yes."

"Um...yeah, that's going to work. How in Hell are you going to explain all this to him? Your living and all?"

"I'll not go to him directly. I can't. I don't know where he is going, clearly."

"So, where are we going?"

"To Coruscant. To Leia. She'll help us help her brother."

Kitster laughed. Although no one could see it, Anakin lifted his eyebrow at his friend.

"Wait, let me get this all straight. We're going to your children, who think you dead, and we're starting at the capital of the New Republic, who'd sentence you to death in a heartbeat?"

Anakin sighed, which was hard to do on account of his breathing apparatus.

"I know this sounds strange and possibly idiotic."

"Possibly?"

"But we have to help them."

Kitster shook his head. "Well," he said after a moment's silence, "I have been telling you that you should be coming out of hiding. But one more question..."

"What now?"

"How are we getting out of here? We don't have a ship and our speeder barely runs,"

Anakin gave a short laugh. He hadn't thought of that.

"We'll work out the details on the way. Let's get going."

.....................

Luke sighed and eyed Lorelei. This witch seemed trustworthy, but experience taught him never to judge anyone by looks.

"I've heard of you before, Luke. Everyone has heard of Luke Skywalker and his defeat of the Galactic Empire. However, no one knows the details. You're a whispered legend, inspiring fear in the Underworld just as my brother, Harry Potter, inspires hope in all good witches and wizards of my world," Lorelei said, a faraway look in her eye as she watched the stars whip by.

"Your brother?" Luke inquired.

Lorelei smiled mysteriously. "Your story first, sir."

Luke couldn't explain it, but he could feel a slight blush on his face. Giving her a mischievous grin, he said, "Well, my story is a long one."

"Don't we have the time?" she asked.

"We do," Han said.

"Well then, I'll begin," Luke nodded.