69Summary: On Tatooine, Luke has a hard time shaking off one Han Solo who wants to use Luke's physical likeness with none other but Emperor Vader to present this farmboy as the long lost son the emperor has been searching for.
I don't know how we got here, but we have ended up with an Anastasia AU. So sorry to the Anon on tumblr asking if I knew of any story featuring Emperor Vader and Luke is still raised oblivious of his heritage on Tatooine. This for sure isn't what you were looking for but it's here now anyway.
Shout out to my writer tribe, this wouldn't be here without you guys!
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„Hey, kid."
Luke didn't stop.
„Kid, wait," the man, Han he had said was his name, sounded out of breath from jogging after Luke in the heat of Tatooine's noon for a while now.
„Not interested," Luke snapped without turning.
"Come on, kid," Han managed to captured Luke's hand and pull him back. "Why won't you give it a shot. Untold riches await you, think of it. Credits, gold, jewels. You could afford something better than those rags you're wearing."
"Well, thanks a lot." Luke shook of the man's hand to continue on his way.
"Hey, no offense, but you could do with some new clothes. I'd buy them, you only have to pay me back if it works out."
Luke darted into a narrow alley. The buildings gave a bit more shade and made the heat a little more bearable. But they also made it easier for the man to corner Luke in the alcove entrance to a house. "I told you I'm-"
"-not interested, you said it. I don't buy it, kid." Han seemed entirely unimpressed by Luke's annoyance and refusal. "What you got to lose, eh? All you gotta do is to tell the emperor 'hey pops, it's me, your long lost son' and, bam, you'll be a prince, raking in the money. And if not, think of it as an adventure. You'd get off this dustball, get to see Imperial center. Skyscrapers high enough that you need an atmospheric suit if you'd step out on your balcony, I buy you something fancy to wear and drop you back here and you can go back to dusting crops for the rest of your life, kid."
"But I'm not his son"
"Of course you're not, kid. You're just some farmboy, doesn't matter. You just tell him a sappy story on how you are an orphan-"
"I am an orphan."
"That's the spirit, kid."
Luke groaned. "That's not what- besides they'll just do a blood test and then he'd know I'm not his son anyway."
"Oh, don't worry about that, I know this guy. He gave me this." Han Pulled out a small vial filled with a crimson liquid. "Good, eh? That guy has his hands on Vader's genome, don't ask me how, but all we have to do is swap your sample with this and it's happy father son time."
"How long have you been preparing this?"
"That would be about a standard year," Han replied as if he hadn't heard the accusation in Luke's voice. "ever since Vader had it announced that he'll pay whoever brings him his son gets five million credits. I've held auditions, kid. But you beat all of them hands down, honestly, you really look the part."
Luke shook his head. "This is so wrong. I can't just claim to be his son."
"Come on, Luke, he's the kriffing emperor, he can deal with it."
"So your just after the money?"
"No, I want to reunite a grieving father and his son- of course it's about the money, kid. Money's what's making this galaxy spin."
Luke rolled his eyes. "What makes you even think that I could pass for the son of Emperor Vader?"
"Have you ever seen holos of that bloke? Blonde hair, blue eyes, your nose, that chin, you're the spitting image of him." Han skimmed Luke's appearance again. "Well, from chin up at least, your not exactly tall are you and those rags aren't quite giving you the air of being the imperial prince but hey, maybe your mother was a midget and-"
„I'm not interested," Luke repeated a lot more firmly and pushed past Han who followed him down the alley, still unperturbed.
„Come on kid, it's not like you're the first ever to pop by the imperial palace. You basically have an invitation. On the core worlds there are even official agents tasked with finding that lost boy. For all you know he could be your father."
„My father was a navigator on a spice freighter and my mother was not midget."
"How'd you know for certain? You could have been told lies in order to keep you from your rightful place in this galaxy."
"Han, really, leave me alone," Luke felt a hot flush on his face that had nothing to do Tatooine's heat and everything to do with Han.
Han raised his hands. "Fine, kid. You're not interested. I got it. Here I am offering you a shot at being a prince and the trip of your lifetime and you're not interested. Let me get you at least something to drink to make up for the hassle and I'll be up and about."
ooo
„No need to be nervous," Han said with a smile as forced as his tone. „You don't-„
„Quit it, Han, I know what I'm gonna tell him."
"I was about to say that you don't have to do it."
„What? First you won't stop harassing me about this and when I said no you kidnapped me and dragged me across the whole galaxy in that pile of junk of ship your flying to take me to frigging Imperial Center to this kriffing palace to see the karking emp-"
"Shhhh, I get it kid," Han waved him down looking hastily around for anyone listening in. "And I told you I'm sorry about that whole thing about putting drugs in your drink and all."
"Yeah, yeah, just let's get this over with," Luke didn't want to hear anything more. He forged down the seemingly never-ending hall way, plastered with fine marble with intricate inlays and artwork lining the walls. Luke felt incredibly foreign even in the black pants and tunic Han had bought him. He had never worn anything this dark in his whole life and he wasn't sure if he liked it or not.
They got to the large ante-room they had been told to wait in. Han took to nervous pacing but Luke didn't pay him much attention. His eyes were drawn to a larger-than-life portrait. It showed a beautiful brunette woman, returning Luke's gaze over her shoulder, her wavy hair falling down her back.
Han had shown him holos upon holos of the emperor but none of them had managed to draw Luke in like this painting did. None of them had given Luke the sense of familiarity besides the obvious features he shared with the Galaxy's sovereign. But the warm smile and soft brown eyes of this portrait, Luke was certain that he had met her before. He stepped closer to the painting. A small plaque next to it read: Padme Naberrie. Beloved Wife.
The door flew open making both of them jump. A stern looking man in an imperial uniform marched in. "You two, get out," he snapped without preamble.
Han flustered. "No we're here because-"
"I don't care. The Emperor is not seeing any more of you clowns fancying themselves to be a prince and thinking they could con him. He had enough-" his eyes fell on Luke. He looked at him with a deep frown. "Admittedly, you look a lot more like you could be his son than half of the other candidates." he said, sounding a lot softer. "But that isn't a high bar, considering there were even two Zabraks with filed down horns trying convince him. Take my advice and leave, now. You don't want to know what happened to the last few who came here."
"But-" Luke started, but Han grabbed his arm and pulled.
"Okay, okay we got it, we're out of here," Han said urgently.
"No wait," Luke pulled his arm back. He pointed at the portrait. "That portrait, is that his wife-"
"It was," the officer said very pointedly. "Now listen to your friend and get out, boy."
Luke let himself be dragged out the palace without stopping. The hover bus took them down to a pet of the city that was a lot less fancy than the government district and the ziggurate if the towering imperial palace wasn't visible anymore behind the many buildings.
Han pushed him into a small and dingy looking diner. He went to order some food while Luke tried to stop his brain mulling over the portrait in the palace.
„You know what, kid?" Han pushed himself into their booth with a tray with guzzleburgers. „You were right. This was a terrible idea and I had the feeling... I'm not superstitious but that place... I think we're lucky to be out of there. So tomorrow we head back and I'll dump you back on Tatooine-"
"I have to speak to him," Luke said.
"Who?" Han looked confused.
"Vader, I have to see him."
"He doesn't want to see anymore candidates and I think that bloke back there had a point about staying away. You know what they say about Vader?"
"What do they say?"
"He can kill with his thoughts alone! He just looks at you and then you just drop dead, gasping for air. Just tick him off a little and he'll start choking you."
"I don't care," Luke said with conviction. "I have to see him." That nagging feeling in his stomach did a small leap. Yes, this was the right thing.
"Look kid, you heard what they told us, we can't just get to him."
"Sure we can," Luke said. He stuck his thumb out to the holounit in the corner of the diner playing the news. The beautiful Twilek Anchor was gushing about the grand opening of the clone wars museum apparently featuring a whole collection of vintage star ships. And the Emperor himself was going to attend.
Han opened his mouth ready to object. But Luke was faster.
"You kidnapped me, Han. You owe me one."
ooo
"You are crazy, kid."
"Maybe I am, but so are you. You think they bought it?" Luke looked around, feeling very nervous.
"It seems so," Han said, listening hard if anyone would come down the maintenance hallway into the museum but there was nothing. "Okay, let's ditch these overalls and mingle with the guests before they notice we're not actually here for maintenance work."
Luke brushed over the expensive formal suit that he had hidden under the newly discarded mechanic's jumpsuit. Luke looked around the lavishly dressed people, feeling out of place like a bantha in a spaceship.
"Hey, I think... yes, that's him." Han whispered under his breath.
Luke followed the direction in which Han nodded. Sure enough, a think crowd of entourage and guards surrounded a man in dark robes. It was Emperor Vader. Thanks to studying holos of the emperor, Luke would recognize him anywhere.
"Just how are you gonna get to him? You just walk up at him and-"
"Yes."
Luke gathered his courage and forged ahead. As if Vader had sensed his intent he turned away from Luke and stride off, leaving his entourage behind. Luke follows through the mingling partygoers until the crowed thinned and they were alone suddenly In a vast hall displaying spaceships that Luke would have loved to have a closer look at. But there was no time now, he'd come here for another reason.
The emperor stopped and Luke could finally catch up with him.
"I know why you are here, boy," Vader growled before Luke had reached him. Luke felt an unyielding grasp of invisible fingers clamping down on his throat, cutting of his airways. "You have been warned and yet you insisted on coming here."
Vader stalked slowly closer.
"You might not have thought of it, foolish boy, but I had too many unworthy pretenders and wannabes prancing around, daring to be alive when my son is not, to stand one more of them."
Luke fumbled on his throat, panic dropping on him like a veil, but he could not break the hold of fingers that weren't there. Vader stalked closer to him until he was right in front of Luke.
"So if you want to be like my son, I suggest you start with dying." Vader sneered. His gloved hands replaced the disembodied fingers strangling Luke as he now reached fully for Luke's neck. The Emperor's eyes narrowed, focusing on something on Luke's neck. With one harsh tug, the little leather cord around Luke's neck came lose and Vader held the little japor snippet, the only thing his father had left him, in his hands. Vader was staring at the tiny piece of crude craftsmanship in his hand with an unreadable expression, but the sense of danger that had gripped Luke was tripling.
"What is your name, boy?" Vader demanded, the grip on Luke's throat actually letting up as Vader let go of him. Vader's attention was now back on him and Luke felt he'd burn up under the intense scrutiny. He was shaking in fear, unable to speak.
An almighty bang shook the entirety of the building. Shouts and screams erupted and people started running. Vader whipped around. A hand grasped for Luke's arm.
"Now, kid," Han hissed and pulled at Luke. "It won't distract him for long." Luke's feet unlocked from the floor. Luke's mind was spinning and he was uncertain how they had made it out when fresh cool night air hit his face. They didn't stop running until they could go no more.
ooo
They hadn't made it far. White armored troopers seemed to have flooded the city, and long before they had made it back to Han's ship their escape had ended at a checkpoint. The patrol speeder that had come to pick them up was on it's way straight back to the palace. The pyramidal structure loom forebodingly larger and larger the closer they came.
Han was kicking and struggling like a wild ronto. Luke couldn't bring himself to fight. He was going to die. Nothing could change that now. The soldiers' grips never let up as Luke was dragged from the landing pad and pushed through halls and hallways. Other than when he and Han had been here just hours ago they were barely lit. Their journey ended in the same anteroom he had waited with Han in. The troopers finally let go of him and the door shut behind them leaving Luke alone. Well, almost alone.
The lights were dimmed here too but Luke could see the unmistakable form of the Emperor lurking. He was standing right in front of the painting of the brunette woman that had sent Luke on this crazy and futile endeavor. Vader had his back to him but Luke still felt paralyzed in his presence like a womprat caught in the headlights of a speeder.
"She was my wife," Vader said softly. "She died in childbirth. I could not prevent it." Vader sounded bitter and sad. "Nor could I prevent that the Jedi stole my newborn son."
Vader turned around and approached Luke. Luke backed away from him until his back hit the wall and he was cornered.
"I thought him dead for many years. Otherwise I would have looked for him much sooner. Yet here you are now."
"I-I," Luke stuttered but words failed him when Vader reached for him again as he had done in the museum. This time they didn't not wrap around his neck though, but instead took hold of his chin to tilt Luke's head up.
"Your name is Luke Skywalker," Vader said. It was not a question. Surely his men that had arrested and frisked them had told him before Luke had reached the palace. "Tell me what you know of you parents, child."
Luke's voice still failed him. Say something, anything or he'll kill you, Luke brain yelled at him. But his tongue refused to move.
The door opened and the same officer that had turned them away earlier this day entered. "Apologies the interruption, my Lord. We had to stun the smuggler as he wouldn't stop trying to get to the boy."
"Han," slipped from Luke's lips.
Vader's hand let go of his chin and landed on his shoulder instead. He pulled Luke closer and into a tight embrace. "No harm will come to him, child. I owe him that at least, for he brought me my son."
ooo