{ .03 - something to prove - action post!

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Garage - Morning ]

[ Vader is at work today, filling the time with, well... actual work. Though it isn't unusual for him to not be talkative, his coworkers might notice he seems unfocused and distracted. More than once he's jammed a finger, walloped himself on the head or dropped a tool in an engine and had to fish it out, muttering vituperous imprecations in Huttese while he felt around for the wrench he'd been handling. He won't ask for help- his pride is a heavy, almost suffocating weight.

At the moment he's at it again, reaching deep into the engine of a Buick out front, the sun beating on his back. He minds the latter very little, Earth's single sun not a patch on Tattoine's twin stars. Metal bites against his knuckles, but he's not to be deterred, frowning in concentration. It would be so much easier if he had the Force at his beck and call. ]

[ 1127 Taylor - Afternoon ]

[ He nearly trips over himself going up the steps, pausing at the front door and ready to ring the bell. But...he finds himself drawing up short, uncertain. Despite his sudden excitement, his thoughts keep returning to the words of his former master, delivered from his wife. That was a day he wasn't soon to let himself forget. ]

[ Diner - Early Evening ]

[ Quite honestly he's not all that hungry, so he spends a great deal of time hemming and hawwing over what to order, ignoring anyone who might be behind him in line.

Darth Vader is not a great customer. Who knew. ]

[ 3474 Erwin - Late Evening ]

[ Neighbors might see a figure climbing his way out onto the roof from an upper window, before carefully scooching his way up to a spot where he can sit comfortably.

Vader's doing what he does best, brooding. Folding his arms over the knees he's pulled to his chest, he watches the moon rise, bright and shiny like a silver dollar hanging in the sky. ]

Comments

[dr_spengler]

[Egon has just returned from lunch and notices the young man Anakin is talking to. Wait a minute-- Egon pauses to get a better look. Is that Luke SkywalOH SHIT. Egon knows his scifi movies. The day Anakin first showed up at the garage, Egon knew who he was very, very well but didn't want to say anything. He's learned a thing or two about the timelines in other universes and how they shouldn't be messed with. Well, it looks like just that is about to happen.

He grabs the other mechanics and urges them to follow him to the back office where he'll lock the door behind them.]

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Well now that the other guy has also expressed recognition there's got to be something there. Luke opens his mouth to speak, at the same time taking a glance at the nametag on the guy's coveralls-- and freezes.








Luke can't recall how much time has passed. The name Anakin Skywalker embroidered on a patch before his eyes is the only thing on his mind before he's jolted back into reality by the sound of a car's horn out on the street.

He mutters the name quietly, as if to make sure it's the same thing as the name he's known all his life, the one thing he knew of his parents. His eyes finally meet Anakin's and suddenly it feels as if he's known this man forever. His father.]

Father.

[chosen_to_fall]

[ That's the last thing he expected to hear, and at first he thinks he's misheard Luke. Without the Force, even his best intuition falls well short of any confirmation, and he can't get a bead on him. What is this guy talking about? ]

What?

[ Corran Horn's words earlier this morning come back to haunt him with a vengeance. Surely it's not possible. ]

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[For a moment Luke's confidence falters. Wouldn't his father recognize his name? What was going on? Perhaps he was from a time even before Luke's birth. Determined to figure this out, he presses on.]

I'm Luke Skywalker.

You're Anakin Skywalker. My father.

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Anakin and Padmé had toyed with names, as all couples happily expecting do, rolling around this one or that one in joyful anticipation. "Luke" was one of many, something he had forgotten.

Vader feels as though he's had all the air knocked out of him.

It's impossible.

His heart contracts tightly in his chest. He almost wants to deny it, to insist vehemently that there must be some misunderstanding, but every instinct is screaming the very opposite. The resemblance is striking- Luke has his eyes, a similar facial structure that isn't quite so narrow as Anakin's, he can see it's rounded more by Padmé's influence. This is their child, alive and grown up and thriving.

Vader's -Anakin's- expression cracks. To have a family, that meant the very galaxy to him. He takes Luke by his shoulders, haltingly, wonderingly. ]

My son?

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Luke breathes a sigh of relief and a smile beings to form. He nods in affirmation.]

My mother, Padmé is also here and seeing her gave me hope that-- maybe one day I'd meet you, too.

[He can feel his throat tightening and his eyes getting glassy. The idea of actually knowing his parents is still bittersweet to him, knowing his time with them is limited, but he's slowly starting to realize that he wouldn't trade it for the world.]