Friends and Enemies

My enemy is my friend, and my friend is my enemy.

Vader stared out the viewport. The recent incident at Bespin had been on his mind a lot lately.

"Join me, and we can rule the galaxy as father and son."

He had been surprised to hear the words come out of his mouth.

It was as if he had said, "Enemy, join with me, and we can overthrow my friend."

The situation was certainly familiar.

Join with his enemy, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, to overthrow his friends, the Jedi....

His choice the last time had ended in the death of one he loved. What would happen this time?

Luke had not accepted his offer, but his inner turmoil made him a prime candidate for the Dark Side....Would Luke fall as he had, or was he stronger?

And if Luke accepted his offer, would the death of a loved one occur, as it had to Vader?

Vader clenched a fist lightly. Luke was a Jedi, his enemy....The Emperor was a Sith Lord, his friend....Yet he wanted to kill the Emperor and join with Luke.

It was the first time he truly understood how twisted the ways of the Sith were. The struggle for power meant that trust was not an option. He had to look out for ways to overthrow his master, while his master had to look out for ways to replace him. There was no rest for a Sith Lord or for his apprentice....

But Vader was so tired....

My enemy is my friend, and my friend is my enemy.

Vader was stuck in a vicious cycle, and he could not release himself from it. He was too far gone.

Vader turned around sharply, his cape whipping the air.

Because he was stuck in the cycle, he had to try to pull his son into it as well. It was hopeless for him to fight against it. If he did not bring Luke into the cycle, the Emperor would.

And what was the true distinction between enemy and friend for a Sith Lord? There was only Light and Dark, and those in the Light were to be brought into the Dark or to be eliminated. But in the Dark there could only be two, so once one came to the Dark, one in the Dark had to be removed. There were no friends, there were no enemies.

Yet Vader still couldn't help thinking, My enemy is my friend, and my friend is my enemy.