History Fanfic / LimpetAU

* DidntThinkThisThrough: Leia accuses Vader of this in "How To Succeed Without Really Trying" after he claims the throne of the Imperial Remnant so that he can retroactively accepts the peace treaty with the New Republic, and then abdicates in the span of two minutes. While it does help settle many of the legal issues regarding the ''Executor'''s status in the New Republic, it also raises several new ones when the Imperial Remnant tries to pass the throne to one of Vader's legal heirs, i.e., Luke or Leia.

* AsTheGoodBookSays: In "Meet the Skywalkers", an aggravated Piett starts talking to a stained-glass image of a woman, pouring out his heart about the stresses of working for Vader. Later, he finds an inscription of the image quoting 1 Corinthians 13:8 ("Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."). That woman? Padme Amidala.

** Anakin the Younger was intended as this, on similar grounds. However, it's made abundantly clear that Leia found her father much easier to deal with dead than alive - and even before they become friends, even with his UndyingLoyalty to Vader, Piett muses that he can't even remotely blame her.

The series currently six stories: five one-shots and one multi-chapter prequel, "Meet the Skywalkers", which told from Admiral Piett's point-of-view detailing the ''Executor''[='s=] unexpected return from the Unknown Regions and their transition into a New Republic life.

The [[https://archiveofourown.org/series/554200 Limpet AU]] is a series of ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' AlternateUniverseFic by frodogenic, in which Darth Vader and his entire crew aboard the ''Executor'' managed to survive the destruction of the second Death Star by hyperspacing into the Unknown Regions. After drifting across the uncharted space for twenty-five years, the ''Executor'' stumbles back into a galaxy where the Empire has fallen, the New Republic reigns supreme, and the last of the Sith Lord finds himself fulfilling a hitherto unknown role... Grandpa.

* IDoNotLikeGreenEggsAndHam: At first, Vader refuses to entertain Ben's persistent request to play flying with him, and does everything he can to distract the toddler with other activities so that he doesn't have to "play fly" with him. When he eventually gives in and agrees to play fly with Ben, he gets so carried away in the game that he fails to notice Luke and Mara arrive to collect their son until they're right behind him.

---> '''Han:''' You tell Brant Nobody if he puts one hand on you I'm gonna -- I'm gonna send your grandfather after him!\\

* OverprotectiveDad: Vader is this in regards to his children and grandchildren -- Luke is fond of it, Leia is infuriated by it, Jaina finds it amusing, and Anakin the younger finds it mortifying.
** In "Driving Lord Vader", he sincerely threatens to order a ''Tie Fighter escort'' from the ''Executor'' if he is not allowed to come with Anakin Solo on his practical driving test.
** The one thing that Han and Vader can agree on is that they're equally appalled by the idea of some ''boy'' getting too comfortable with Jaina.
---> '''Han:''' You tell Brant Nobody if he puts one hand on you I'm gonna -- I'm gonna send your grandfather after him!\\
'''Vader:''' He may count himself fortunate if I wait until I arrive at the academy to kill him.\\
'''Jaina:''' Between you two, I'll never get within half a lightyear of a male my age.

* AsTheGoodBookSays: In "Meet the Skywalkers", an aggravated Piett starts talking to a stained-glass image of a woman, pouring out his heart about the stresses of working for Vader. Later, he finds an inscription of the image quoting 1 Corinthians 13:8 ("Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.").

* CardCarryingVillain: Supposedly. In theory, Vader still sees himself as an evil Sith Lord, his internal monologue routinely mentioning his intentions to take down the Jedi and the New Republic and re-establish the Empire if ever the opportunity arises. Given that one of these mentions is in "Driving Lord Vader" about how Leia has boxed him in regarding Anakin Jr's driving test -- he can't refuse to take him, as that would establish him as a heartless monster who Anakin would never trust again and would therefore never trust him and/or join him on the Dark Side -- it's less than believable. In "Argos", he tacitly admits to R2 that he's moved firmly away from the Dark Side [[GoodIsNotNice (by irritably asking R2 if he is]] ''[[GoodIsNotNice trying]]'' [[GoodIsNotNice to push him back over the edge]]. In general, he spends most of time trying and miserably failing to deny the fact that he is, in fact, spoiling his grandchildren and that he has -- to his own disgust -- gone soft.

* DeadGuyJunior: Five years after the ''Executor'' disappeared and its crew was presumed dead, Piett's sister had another daughter named Wesla, after Piett's middle name, Weslerman.

** Vader has a very well hidden streak of charm, when he chooses to exercise it -- once, as Piett remembers, in terrifying, mocking fashion as he killed Lorth Needa, and in "Meet the Skywalkers" when he responds to Mara's WhatTheHellHero speech about his parenting (and tendency to chase off Luke) and her ultimatum that they pretend to like each other for Luke's sake by reaching out, taking her chin, and remarking that he was mistaken -- Luke did a good job when he chose his wife. Mara freaking Jade blushes like a sunset.

** The entirety of "Driving Lord Vader" is this, with Vader realising how much he unnerves his comparatively shy middle grandchild, Anakin (not so much for his sake, but for everyone else's) and how nervous Anakin is about his pilot's license, on the grounds that he comes from an entire family of legendary ace pilots, including the two best Force-sensitive pilots and probably the best non-Force-Sensitive pilot in galactic history, and he's terrified of disappointing his family. Vader comforts him on the latter by telling him that his father wants his son to join him precisely because he's proud of him already (avoiding a perfect opportunity to snipe at [[SitcomArchNemesis Han]] in the process), and boosts his confidence significantly by pointing out that, yes, he terrifies literally everyone in the galaxy -- so if Anakin can argue back at ''him'', without hesitation, why should anything else bother him? He even takes responsibility for the little training flight (and the ensuing mass destruction), and backhandedly offers future driving lessons.

* TookALevelInKindness: Vader's subordinates agree that the man has gone much softer after the Emperor's death, and even more so after reuniting with his family. Vader refuses to admit this of course, claiming -- to himself -- that he's merely forced to be more diplomatic in his dealings with others since he no longer has the Empire's backing against the New Republic. One gets the impression that even he doesn't really believe it.

* VitriolicBestBuds: Piett and Vader, sealed in "Meet the Skywalkers", with Vader realising that Piett genuinely is his friend, and saying that while he doesn't totally trust him, Piett has more than earned it -- the problem is on his end (residual Kenobi issues). Piett is also one of the very few people who isn't related to him who's willing to snark back at him, and whom Vader genuinely respects.

* CardCarryingVillain: Supposedly. In theory, Vader still sees himself as an evil Sith Lord, his internal monologue routinely mentioning his intentions to take down the Jedi and the New Republic and re-establish the Empire if ever the opportunity arises. Given that one of these mentions is in "Driving Lord Vader" about how Leia has boxed him in regarding Anakin Jr's driving test -- he can't refuse to take him, as that would establish him as a heartless monster who Anakin would never trust again and would therefore never trust him and/or join him on the Dark Side -- it's less than believable. In "Argos", he tacitly admits to R2 that he's moved firmly away from the Dark Side [[GoodIsNotNice (by irritably asking R2 if he is]] ''[[GoodIsNotNice trying]]'' [[GoodIsNotNice to push him back over the edge]].
** In general, he spends most of time trying and miserably failing to deny the fact that he is, in fact, spoiling his grandchildren and that he has -- to his own disgust -- gone soft.

** Vader has a very well hidden streak of charm, when he chooses to exercise it -- once, as Piett remembers, in terrifying, mocking fashion as he killed Lorth Needa, and in "Meet the Skywalkers" when he responds to Mara's WhatTheHellHero speech about his parenting (and tendency to chase off Luke) and her ultimatum that they pretend to like each other for Luke's sake by reaching out, taking her chin, and remarking that he was mistaken - Luke did a good job when he chose his wife. Mara freaking Jade blushes like a sunset.

* GargleBlaster: Due to supply shortages during their twenty-five-year pilgrimage through the Unknown Regions, the crew of the ''Executor'' took to a concoction they call "starshine" by distilling engine coolant. When Piett mentions this to Luke in "Meet the Skywalkers", the latter comments that he's used to the Rebellion's own dodgy alcohol, although he doesn't specify exactly how they made it outside of saying that "it's amazing how many things you can do with a tauntaun". Leia independently makes the same comparison when she swigs a large decanter after [[INeedAFreakingDrink a 'talk' with her father]], remarking that it reminds her of, "Echo Base vintage."

* AffectionateNickname: Ben Skywalker is referred to by the Solos as "the Skycrawler". Also, the Solo children call each other using pet names -- "Jasa" for Jacen, "Jaya" for Jaina, and "Nicky" for Anakin. They also refer to Ben as "Skycrawler".

The [[https://archiveofourown.org/series/554200 Limpet AU]] is a series of ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' AlternateUniverseFic by frodogenic, in which Darth Vader and his entire crew aboard the ''Executor'' managed to survive the destruction of the second Death Star by hyperspacing into the Unknown Regions. After drifting across the uncharted space for twenty-five years, the Executor stumbles back into a galaxy where the Empire has fallen, the New Republic reigns supreme, and the last of the Sith Lord finds himself fulfilling a hitherto unknown role... Grandpa.

The series currently six stories: four one-shots and one multi-chapter prequel ("Meet the Skywalkers") told from Admiral Piett's point-of-view detailing the ''Executor''[='s=] unexpected return from the Unknown Regions and their transition into a New Republic life.

** Vader has a very well hidden streak of charm, when he chooses to exercise it - once, as Piett remembers, in terrifying, mocking fashion as he killed Lorth Needa, and in "Meet the Skywalkers" when he responds to Mara's WhatTheHellHero speech about his parenting (and tendency to chase off Luke) and her ultimatum that they pretend to like each other for Luke's sake by reaching out, taking her chin, and remarking that he was mistaken - Luke did a good job when he chose his wife. Mara freaking Jade blushes like a sunset.
** More of an unexpected skill, but thanks to a quarter of a century guiding the ''Executor'' through the Unknown Regions, Piett can run complex navigational calculations off the top of his head with ease - which he demonstrates when helping Anakin Jr with his homework, impressing both Anakin and Han Solo himself.

** After Luke's first holo-call with Leia from the ''Executor'' in "Meet the Skywalkers", he more or less staggers out and explains Leia to a concerned Piett - "Imagine my father's temper compressed into a third of the volume, then pump it full of estrogen." Piett considers this horrifying image for a moment, then offers Luke a drink of the ship's GargleBlaster, which Luke desperately latches onto.
** Leia, after a 'conversation' with Vader, guzzling the decanter of said GargleBlaster.

* IrritationIsTheSincerestFormOfFlattery: Two-year-old Ben Skywalker thinks the world of his "gampa", and the epilogue of "Meet the Skywalkers" shows a scene of Ben copying Vader's intimidation pose and speech after he stole the latter's lightsaber. Vader, for the most part, wants nothing to do with the clingy toddler (since babysitting is beneath Sith dignity, and Ben's presence harms his intimidating factor) even as he develops a soft spot for his grandson -- from the very start, Piett notes that his claim that Ben is "impudent and demanding" is delivered with a certain approval and his exasperation is feigned.

* SitcomArchNemesis: Hilariously, this is more or less what Vader and Han's relationship has settled down to - Piett observes that despite Vader's occasionally longing caresses of his lightsabre in Han's presence, he only really sees Han as an annoyance (Mara, by contrast, he sees as a potential threat to Luke). The one thing they agree on is that where Jaina is concerned, boys are awful, to the point where Han threatens to set Vader on her Jaina's potential boyfriend and Vader not only agrees but doubles down.

* VitriolicBestBuds: Piett and Vader, sealed in "Meet the Skywalkers", with Vader realising that Piett genuinely is his friend, and saying that while he doesn't totally trust him, Piett has more than earned it -- the problem is on his end (residual Kenobi issues). Piett is also one of the very few people who isn't related to him who's willing to snark back at him, and who Vader genuinely respects.

* IDoNotLikeGreenEggsAndHam: At first, Vader refuses to entertain Ben's persistent request to play flying with him, and does everything he can to distract the toddler with other activities so that he doesn't have to participate in the activity. When he eventually gives in and agrees to play fly with Ben, he gets so carried away in the game that he fails to notice Luke and Mara arrive to collect their son until they're right behind him.

The series currently have five stories: four one-shots ("Lord Vader's Limpet", "Driving Lord Vader", "Four Letters, Starts With L", and "Argos") and one multi-chapter prequel ("Meet the Skywalkers") told from Admiral Piett's point-of-view detailing the ''Executor''[='s=] unexpected return from the Unknown Regions and their transition into a New Republic life.

* MoodWhiplash: "Meet the Skywalkers" have a chapter where Piett and Vader share a heartfelt FriendshipMoment, only for them to start bickering when they realize that Piett had let their shuttle veer off-course into an asteroid belt during that heartfelt moment.

---> '''Han:''' You tell Brant Nobody if he puts one hand on you I'm gonna-- I'm gonna send your grandfather after him!\\

* UnPerson: There are (almost) no existing records of Anakin Skywalker when Piett tries to find out more about his superior's former identity on the holonet. According to the author’s comments, Vader himself deleted the records, wishing to purge everything of his past from living memory. However, a clip from the Clone Wars is found in a back archive even Vader missed.

* AffectionateNickname: The Solo children call each other using pet names -- "Jasa" for Jacen, "Jaya" for Jaina, and "Nicky" for Anakin. They also refer to Ben as "Skycrawler".

* AllLovingHero: Luke Skywalker, as usual, although [[BewareTheNiceOnes Piett quickly spots that he has Vader's temper]], albeit on a much tighter leash. Piett spends most of "Meet the Skywalkers" wondering how the hell you put Darth Vader in one end of a reproductive cycle and get Luke out the other, repeatedly marvelling at what a woman his mother must have been.

* CardCarryingVillain: Even after everything, Vader still sees himself as an evil Sith Lord, and at one point mentions his intentions to take down the Jedi and the New Republic and re-establish the Empire if ever the opportunity arises. Or at least, so he claims. While trying to deny the fact that he is, in fact, spoiling his grandchildren and -- to his own disgust -- gone soft.
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Ben Skywalker, a very adorable and completely innocent toddler whose sweet and sunny nature leads Piett to observe that the genes of Darth Vader are in complete hiding (although he immediately disproves this by demonstrating an apparently perfect impersonation of his grandfather's "impress me, if you can" look). Since this renders him completely immune to intimidation by Vader, and also renders Vader himself far less intimidating, the results tend to be hilarious.

* GargleBlaster: Due to supply shortages during their twenty-five-year pilgrimage through the Unknown Regions, the crew of the ''Executor'' took to a concoction they call "starshine" by distilling engine coolant. When Piett mentions this to Luke in "Meet the Skywalkers", the latter comments that he's used to the Rebellion's own dodgy alcohol, although he doesn't specify exactly how they made it outside of saying that "it's amazing how many things you can do with a tauntaun".
* HiddenHeartOfGold: Vader absolutely refuses to admit that he TookALevelInKindness thanks to Palpatine's death and Luke's influence, makes up seemingly "pragmatic" excuses for his more merciful actions, and dismisses his doting treatment towards his grandchildren (including babysitting Ben and putting up with the kids' antics) as nothing but necessary diplomacy to survive in the New Republic. Absolutely no one believes him.

* IrritationIsTheSincerestFormOfFlattery: Two-year-old Ben Skywalker thinks the world of his "gampa", and the epilogue of "Meet the Skywalkers" shows a scene of Ben copying Vader's intimidation pose and speech after he stole the latter's lightsaber. Vader, for the most part, wants nothing to do with the clingy toddler (since babysitting is beneath Sith dignity, and Ben's presence harms his intimidating factor) even as he develops a soft spot for his grandson -- from the very start, Piett notes that his claim that Ben is "impudent and demanding" is delivered with a certain approval.

* MagneticHero: Luke and Leia, Luke especially -- a Jedi Master revered by trillions and capable of acting as a human shield between Vader and the galaxy as a result, the only person who can reliably keep Vader calm, and a mere couple of weeks on board the ''Executor'' has him thoroughly befriending all the officers. More than once, Piett is left astounded by the concept that ''Darth Vader'' could have produced someone like that (although he's a little less surprised when he sees a flash of Luke's temper and the shared Skywalker obsession with treating every ship like a fighter).

* OnlyFriend: Outside of his family, Admiral Piett is the only person that Vader can be considered somewhat close to. While arguing with her father-in-law, Mara claims that Vader has only one friend in the entire galaxy in reference to Piett, and Leia muses that Piett and Luke are probably the only two people who'll miss Vader if she kills him.

** The entirety of "Driving Lord Vader" is this, with Vader realising how much he unnerves his comparatively shy middle grandchild, Anakin (not so much for his sake, but for everyone else's) and how nervous Anakin is about his pilot's license, on the grounds that he comes from an entire family of legendary ace pilots, including the two best Force-sensitive pilots and probably the best non-Force-Sensitive pilot in galactic history, and he's terrified of disappointing his family. Vader comforts him on the latter by telling him that his father probably wants his son to join him, but is almost certainly proud of him anyway, and boosts his confidence significantly by pointing out that, yes, he terrifies literally everyone in the galaxy -- so if Anakin can argue back at ''him'', without hesitation, why should anything else bother him? He even takes responsibility for the little training flight (and the ensuing mass destruction), and backhandedly offers future driving lessons.

* VitriolicBestBuds: Piett and Vader, sealed in "Meet the Skywalkers", with Vader realising that Piett genuinely is his friend, and saying that while he doesn't totally trust him, Piett has more than earned it -- the problem is on his end (residual Kenobi issues). Piett is also one of the very few people who isn't related to him who's willing to snark back at him.

[[https://archiveofourown.org/series/554200 Limpet AU]] or Lord Vader’s Limpet is a series of Franchise/StarWarsLegends AlternateUniverseFic by frodogenic, in which Darth Vader and his entire crew aboard the Executor managed to survive the destruction of the second Death Star by hyperspacing into the Unknown Regions. After drifting across the uncharted space for 25 years, the Executor stumbles back into a galaxy where the Empire has fallen, the New Republic reigns supreme, and the last of the Sith Lord finds himself fulfilling a hitherto unknown role… Grandpa.

The series currently have five stories: four one-shots (“Lord Vader’s Limpet”, “Driving Lord Vader”, “Four Letters, Starts With L”, and “Argos”) and one multi-chapter prequel (“Meet the Skywalkers”) told from Admiral Piett’s point-of-view detailing the Executor’s unexpected return from the Unknown Regions and their transition into a New Republic life.

!!Limpet AU contains examples of:
* AffectionateNickname: The Solo children call each other using pet names – “Jasa” for Jacen, “Jaya” for Jaina, and “Nicky” for Anakin. They also refer to Ben as “Skycrawler”.
* AllLovingHero: Luke Skywalker, as usual, though [[BewareTheNiceOnes Piett quickly spots that he has Vader's temper]], albeit on a much tighter leash. Piett spends most of "Meet the Skywalkers" wondering how the hell you put Darth Vader in one end of a reproductive cycle and get Luke out the other, repeatedly marvelling at what a woman his mother must have been.
* AloofLeaderAffableSubordinate: Darth Vader, who is the de facto leader of the Empire after Palpatine’s death, projects himself as an inscrutable and untouchable force of nature; his second-in-command, Admiral Piett, is far more approachable and the latter would normally serve as a mediator between Vader and the rest of the officers. Vader himself muses on this at one point, when forwarding what he considers a particularly impudent requisition form to Piett, because everyone knows that Piett is the nice commanding officer.

* CardCarryingVillain: Even after everything, Vader still sees himself as an evil Sith Lord, and at one point mentions his intentions to take down the Jedi and the New Republic and re-establish the Empire if ever the opportunity arises. Or at least, so he claims. While trying to deny the fact that he is, in fact, spoiling his grandchildren and - to his own disgust - gone soft.
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Ben Skywalker, a very adorable and completely innocent toddler whose sweet and sunny nature leads Piett to observe that the genes of Darth Vader are in complete hiding (though he immediately disproves this by demonstrating an apparently perfect impersonation of his grandfather's "impress me, if you can" look). Since this renders him completely immune to intimidation by Vader, and also renders Vader himself far less intimidating, the results tend to be hilarious.
* DeadGuyJunior: Five years after the Executor disappeared and its crew presumed dead, Piett's sister would have another daughter named Wesla, after Piett's middle name, Weslerman.

* HiddenHeartOfGold: Vader absolutely refuses to admit that he’s TookALevelInKindness thanks to Palpatine’s death and Luke’s influence and would always make up seemingly “pragmatic” excuses for his more merciful actions, and would dismiss his doting treatment towards his grandchildren (including babysitting Ben and putting up with the kids’ antics) as nothing but necessary diplomacy to survive in the New Republic. Absolutely no one believes him.
* HonoraryUncle: Ben refers to all of Luke’s former squadmates (Wedge, Hobbie, Tycho and Wes) as uncles. Mara later adds Piett into the roster, to the latter’s horror – although by the end of the story the Admiral doesn’t seem to mind too much being called “Unca Peet”.
* IDoNotLikeGreenEggsAndHam: At first, Vader refuses to entertain Ben’s persistent request to play flying with him, and does everything he can to distract the toddler with other activities so that he doesn’t have to participate in the activity. When he eventually gives in and agrees to play fly with Ben, he gets so carried away in the game that he fails to notice Luke and Mara arrive to collect their son until they’re right behind him.
* InsistentTerminology: Whenever Vader gets sulky or pouty or idly bored, he would always insist that he’s “meditating” instead.
* IrritationIsTheSincerestFormOfFlattery: 2-year-old Ben Skywalker thinks the world of his “gampa”, and the epilogue of “Meet the Skywalkers” shows a scene of Ben copying Vader’s intimidation pose and speech after he stole the latter’s lightsaber. Vader, for the most part, wants nothing to do with the clingy toddler (since babysitting is beneath Sith dignity, and Ben’s presence harms his intimidating factor) even as he develops a soft spot for his grandson - from the very start, Piett notes that his claim that Ben is "impudent and demanding" is delivered with a certain approval.
* IWasQuiteALooker: When the Solo twins shows Piett a holovid of Vader while he was still Anakin Skywalker, the Admiral is surprised that the horrifically scarred and bald head behind the mask used to bear a face that could invite a lover’s swoon, while Jaina snarks to Jacen, "and you wonder why grandma liked him?"
* LastSecondWordSwap: While complaining about politicians, Han begins to say “ass” … before switching it to “asteroids” when Leia reprimands him for swearing in front of their son. Anakin doesn’t buy it.
* MagneticHero: Luke and Leia, Luke especially - a Jedi Master revered by trillions and capable of acting as a human shield between Vader and the galaxy as a result, the only person who can reliably keep Vader calm, and a mere couple of weeks on board the ''Executor'' has him thoroughly befriending all the officers. More than once, Piett is left astounded by the concept that ''Darth Vader'' could have produced someone like that (though he's a little less surprised when he sees a flash of Luke's temper and the shared Skywalker obsession with treating every ship like a fighter).

* OldShame: InUniverse. Vader finds his creation of C-3PO embarrassing, to the point that Artoo is able to use this fact to blackmail him into fixing Artoo’s rocket boosters.
* OnlyFriend: Outside of his family, Admiral Piett is the only person that Vader can be considered somewhat close to. While arguing with her father-in-law, Mara claims that Vader has only one friend in the entire galaxy in reference to Piett, and Leia muses that Piett and Luke are probably the only two people who’ll miss Vader if she kills him.
* OverprotectiveDad: Vader is this in regards to his children and grandchildren - Luke is fond of it, Leia is infuriated by it, Jaina finds it amusing, and Anakin the younger finds it mortifying. In "Driving Lord Vader", he sincerely threatens to order a ''Tie Fighter escort'' from the ''Executor'' if he is not allowed to come with Anakin Solo on his practical driving test.
** Also, hilariously, the one thing Han and Vader can agree on is that both men are equally appalled by the idea of some ''boy'' getting too comfortable with Jaina.
--> '''Han:''' You tell Brant Nobody if he puts one hand on you I'm gonna—I'm gonna send your grandfather after him!\\

** After returning to Coruscant after decades, one of the first things Vader does is give Piett a two-months holiday (although he calls it a “disciplinary leave order”) and calls Max Veers to escort the latter to his sister’s home.
** The entirety of "Driving Lord Vader" is this, with Vader realising how much he unnerves his comparatively shy middle grandchild, Anakin (not so much for his sake, but for everyone else's) and how nervous Anakin is about his pilot's license, on the grounds that he comes from an entire family of ''legendary'' ace pilots, including the two best Force-sensitive pilots and probably the best non-Force-Sensitive pilot in galactic history, and he's terrified of disappointing his family. Vader comforts him on the latter by telling him that his father probably wants his son to join him, but is almost certainly proud of him anyway, and boosts his confidence significantly by pointing out that, yes, he terrifies literally everyone in the galaxy - so if Anakin can argue back at ''him'', without hesitation, why should anything else bother him? He even takes responsibility for the little training flight (and the ensuing mass destruction), and backhandedly offers future driving lessons.
* ShoutOut: In “Argos”, Artoo quotes Gandalf’s line about wizards never coming late, replacing "wizard" with "droid".
* SpeedDemon: To Piett's despair and disgust, Vader and Luke are ''both'' like this, with Vader's lamentable tendency to treat every space-going vehicle like it's a TIE Fighter. Also, choosing Piett's shuttle to cannibalise and rewire while he's away, into something that - supposedly - he will find much better.
-->'''Piett''': I will find it much ''faster'', you mean, sir.
-->'''Vader''': That is what I said.

* TookALevelInKindness: Vader’s subordinates agree that the man has gone much softer after the Emperor’s death, and even more so after reuniting with his family. Vader refuses to admit this of course, claiming - to himself - that he’s merely forced to be more diplomatic in his dealings with others since he no longer has the Empire’s backing against the New Republic. One gets the impression that even he doesn't really believe it.

* VitriolicBestBuds: Piett and Vader, sealed in "Meet the Skywalkers", with Vader realising that Piett genuinely is his friend, and saying that while he doesn't totally trust him, Piett has more than earned it - the problem is on his end (residual Kenobi issues). Piett is also one of the very few people who isn't related to him who's willing to snark back at him.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: In “Driving Lord Vader”, Vader destroys a couple of media droids that were harassing Anakin on their way to the latter’s space license test, and denies his grandson’s accusation of murder by claiming that droids aren’t alive. When Anakin asks if he’d be that indifferent to droid life if it was Artoo, Vader dismisses the comparison by saying that R2-D2 is different.

* PetTheDog: After returning to Coruscant after decades, one of the first things Vader does is give Piett a two-months holiday (although he calls it a “disciplinary leave order”) and calls Max Veers to escort the latter to his sister’s home.
* ShoutOut: In “Argos”, Artoo quotes Gandalf’s line about wizards never coming late, replacing "wizard" with "droid".

* AloofLeaderAffableSubordinate: Darth Vader, who is the de facto leader of the Empire after Palpatine’s death, projects himself as an inscrutable and untouchable force of nature; his second-in-command, Admiral Piett, is far more approachable and the latter would normally serve as a mediator between Vader and the rest of the officers.

* CardCarryingVillain: Even after everything, Vader still sees himself as an evil Sith Lord, and at one point mentions his intentions to take down the Jedi and the New Republic and re-establish the Empire if ever the opportunity arises.

* ForbiddenFruit: After Luke introduces Rebel sabacc to the Imperial officers aboard the Executor, Vader puts it on the top of the list of Disallowed Recreational Activities roster, and Piett mentions that it has become the most popular activity on board as a consequence.
* HiddenHeartOfGold: Vader absolutely refuses to admit that he’s TookALevelInKindness thanks to Palpatine’s death and Luke’s influence and would always make up seemingly “pragmatic” excuses for his more merciful actions, and would dismiss his doting treatment towards his grandchildren (including babysitting Ben and putting up with the kids’ antics) as nothing but necessary diplomacy to survive in the New Republic.

* IrritationIsTheSincerestFormOfFlattery: 2-year-old Ben Skywalker thinks the world of his “gampa”, and the epilogue of “Meet the Skywalkers” shows a scene of Ben copying Vader’s intimidation pose and speech after he stole the latter’s lightsaber. Vader, for the most part, wants nothing to do with the clingy toddler (since babysitting is beneath Sith dignity, and Ben’s presence harms his intimidating factor) even as he develops a soft spot for his grandson.
* IWasQuiteALooker: When the Solo twins shows Piett a holovid of Vader while he was still Anakin Skywalker, the Admiral is surprised that the horrifically scarred and bald head behind the mask used to bear a face that could invite a lover’s swoon.

* MoodWhiplash: "Meet the Skywalkers" have a chapter where Piett and Vader share a heartfelt FriendshipMoment, only for them to start bickering when they realize that Piett had let their shuttle veer off-course into an asteroid belt during those heartfelt moment.

* OverprotectiveDad: The one thing Han and Vader can agree on is that both men are equally appalled by the idea of some boy getting too comfortable with Jaina.

* ThatManIsDead: When Artoo refers to Vader by his real name, Vader immediately says that Anakin Skywalker is dead.
* TookALevelInKindness: Vader’s subordinates agree that the man has gone much softer after the Emperor’s death, and even more so after reuniting with his family. Vader refuses to admit this of course, claiming that he’s merely forced to be more diplomatic in his dealings with others since he no longer has the Empire’s backing against the New Republic.
* UnPerson: There are no existing records of Anakin Skywalker when Piett tries to find out more about his superior's former identity on the holonet. According to the author’s comments, Vader himself deleted the records, wishing to purge everything of his past from living memory.

* WhatMeasureIsNonHuman: In “Driving Lord Vader”, Vader destroys a couple of media droids that were harassing Anakin on their way to the latter’s space license test, and denies his grandson’s accusation of murder by claiming that droids aren’t alive. When Anakin asks if he’d be that indifferent to droid life if it was Artoo, Vader dismisses the comparison by saying that R2-D2 is different.