Work Text:
Luke knew many things about his father.
He knew his father’s name was Anakin Skywalker, that he was a Freed slave, and that he was a Jedi Knight who fought with Rex and the 501st in the Clone Wars. He knew that the press called him ‘The Hero With No Fear’, that he loved flying and building things, and that he hated sand and Tattooine.
He knew that Anakin Skywalker Fell and died, and that Darth Vader rose to take his place.
Despite all that, Luke had hoped that he could somehow still find good in Vader.
He was wrong. Very wrong.
Vader had wasted no time in Force choking him, which left him vulnerable to attack, and his hand paid the price.
Luke watched with dismay as his lightsaber, his father’s lightsaber, fell with his hand into the bellow of Bespin.
Vader wanted him to join him.
“N-not likely. I have people who depend on me, Vader, and unlike you, I will not leave them alone to suffer.”
“So. Be it.” Came the raspy reply
For a few horrifying moments Luke thought he was going to die.
“LEAVE MY GENERAL ALONE YOU MISERABLE SITH CLANKER!”
And there was Rex, flying with his jet pack, heavy duty blaster in one hand and Luke’s lightsaber in the other. Luke could feel the restrained righteous fury that flowed off his normally calm commander in waves.
Luke heard the sound of more jet packs, and saw Appo, who had gladly stepped down from his rank as a commander to let Rex lead and became a captain instead, as well as Fives, Echo, Kix and Tup, all with blasters charged and aimed at the Sith Lord in front of them.
Vader stepped back, and for a while the only sound was that of Cloud City’s perpulsons, jet packs, and Vader’s mechanical breathing.
“Captain Rex.”
Luke knew that Rex was probably scowling under his helmet.
“It’s Commander Rex actually.”
That horrible mechanical laugh that the whole galaxy knew to fear filled the air, followed by a set of wheezing breaths.
“Then allow me to offer my, congratulations, commander ”
And Vader lunged.
“NOO!” Luke screamed, and he tried to rush forward to help Rex, help the man who meant so much to him in ways that he didn’t know how to describe, but Tup was holding him back and suddenly Kix was there treating his, well, lack of hand, and Rex was using his lightsaber like he’d been welding it all his life and Fives and Echo were shooting at Vader between the gaps in his defenses.
Luke struggled in Tup’s grip, and Kix growled.
“Stop that general, you’re injured!”
Kix brought out his field kit and worked the best he could on his stump, grumbling and growling all the while, occasionally firing shots of his own at Vader (Luke noticed the medic didn’t miss a single shot, and despite what Master Yoda and Ben had told him Luke figured the fear he felt about his medic was justifiable)
“Tup, Kix, get the general out of here, we’ll cover your retreat!” Shouted Appo, who had been standing guard over Luke and the clones treating him.
Tup picked him up into his arms and he felt Kix inject a hypo into his arm.
“Rest general, we got your six” muttered Tup, even as Kix continued to rant about ‘foolish Jedi’.
The last thing Luke heard was Vader screaming in rage before he passed out.
——
Rex pushed back against Vader’s red blade, the lightsaber humming in his grip as he tried to keep the Sith from going after his vod’e and his general.
Rex had been patrolling the corridors when he had seen Luke’s lightsaber fall onto a platform far below the city. When he’d managed to get there with his jet pack, he’d seen the cauterized hand attached to it and froze.
He’d called his troops to him immediately and they’d found their general facing Vader alone, holding his handless arm to his chest.
He’d yelled, and while he had succeeded in getting Vader’s attention, he was now the one facing him head on.
Vader pulled back and attempted another strike, and Rex met the monster’s blow with the borrowed saber in his hands.
Rex pulled back this time and attempted to hit the black clad demon, and was blocked.
“How ironic,” he began, pushing back against Vader again, “that both of my general’s lost an arm to a Sith in a lightsaber duel”
Vader growled as he swung his saber towards Rex, who dodged.
“That boy may be powerful in the Force, but he is no general. He is certainly no Jedi. He has no experience.” Vader’s voice was gravelly and harsh, and Rex sneered under his bucket.
“Funny, I remember my first general was about the same age as my current general when he took command of myself and my vod’e”
Vader yelled in rage and his strikes became more violent.
They exchanged more blows, red and blue ‘sabers clashing together with buzzing and humming noises, casting a purple glow over the two armored fighters.
Vader finally used the Force to shove Rex away, shoving him against the railing, and Rex watched in fear as the Sith turned towards Fives and held out his hand. Fives suddenly dropped his blaster and reached towards his neck as he was lifted off the ground, choking in Vader’s grip.
“You know what’s even funnier, Vader?” Rex called out, and Vader turned away from Fives to look at Rex strait on.
“That both my generals lost an arm to a Sith who was once a member of their family.” At this, Vader dropped Fives and turned around fully to face Rex.
“My first general, General Skywalker lost his arm to his great grandmaster. My second general, also General Skywalker, lost his arm to his father.” Rex signaled to Echo and saw the three men drop down into the belly of Bespin to meet with the rendezvous, Echo supporting Fives as they went.
Vader was quiet for a moment, then roared at him.
“You lie!”
But even with the suit, the helmet, the voice modulator, Rex knew his general well, knew Anakin Skywalker well, and knew from his body language that the Sith was realizing the truth.
Rex had made it to the ledge, and in a moment of risky nostalgia, powered down the ‘saber, clipped it to his belt and took off his helmet, looking Vader in the eyes as best he could.
“General Skywalker, Anakin, was my brother in arms, family in all but blood. And I will never forgive you, Darth Vader, for killing him.”
And before Vader could react, Rex jumped off the ledge and quickly activated his jet pack, sliding his helmet back on his head to hide the tears forming in his eyes.
———
Vader watched as Captain, no Commander, Rex dropped into the clouds of Bespin, anger and fear running through his veins. He would have to report this to his master.
And deep down, wrapped in chains of hate and fear, scared and burned by anger and rage, Anakin Skywalker cried.
———
You, you’re gonna break my heart, you’re gonna tear it apart, no matter what you do, I’ll still be there for you. And, and when you call my name, I won’t be far away, no matter what you do, I’ll still be there for you. - TheFatRat ‘Never Be Alone’