Luke Vader Part 17

Luke Vader
Part 17: Luke Vader
By SJ 21-11-00/12-12-00

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Disclaimers: Nothing in the Star Wars Universe belong to me; everything belongs
to George Lucas. I'm only writing stories for fun.
See my homepage for more details.
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Special thanks to my shy, secret beta-reader and best friend, Adrianne, for her
help with the final editing of my new stories. Thanks for giving me some of your
precious time, my friend :)
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As Leia reluctantly followed her 'brother', she noticed the new intonations of
his voice, the new vocabulary; Luke Vader, she realized, had indeed fooled her
and the whole Rebellion, expertly leading them to think that he had been nothing
but a naive farmboy. In fact however, 'they' had been the naive ones, but never
ag----

"I did, didn't I?" he agreed with her, obviously reading her thoughts. "I've
been thinking about staring an acting career once this was over," he then
commented lightly as if they were still best friends.

Instantly seeing red at his making fun of her torment, she moved to trip him in
answer, but he was faster; he avoided her leg and tripped her instead. If not
for his strong hold on her arm, she would've fallen face first on the steel
Floor, but Luke held her fast and steady. She thus realized that the muscles
she had seen on a few occasions had not been an illusion; the darksider 'was'
strong, very strong in fact.

She refocused on the present and became aware that they were walking inside
private quarters. Feeling as if her doom was waiting for her in these rooms,
she tried to resist, but to no avail; the young man easily forced her inside,
then the doors closed behind them... as if sealing her fate, she reflected in
growing despair.

When Lord Vader left her alone with his son, she glared at the young man she had
called her friend up to now.

How could this be possible?, she wondered in thorough confusion. He had blown
up the Death Star... had fought valiantly against the Empire... could something
have happened to him during the time he had spent in Vader's claws?

"Luke," she began, "what has he done to you to twist you like that? I... I
won't believe that you were always like that," she added earnestly, hoping
against hope to hit his sensitive chord.

"And why not?" he asked with some amusement in his voice.

"You... you blew up the Death Star," she reminded him, desperately clinging to
her last hope. "Why would you have done that if you were an imperial?" she
challenged him, although doubtfully.

"To save you for the rest of my mission, Leia," he answered her coolly, almost
angrily, she noted. "If you had left the planet like any other sensible being,
I wouldn't have had to do it, and I wouldn't have angered the Emperor," he
explained, his animosity growing with each new word.

She threw him an incredulous, bemused yet hateful look. It had really been
nothing but a ploy?? He had really been playing her since the beginning, and
had willingly angered the Emperor?

"Why do you think I was tortured for real?" he asked her in a definitely
more dangerous voice than what she had ever heard him use up to now.

Even as she cringed slightly in growing unease, the reason for that particular
event became clear in her mind: when she had thought that he had been a captive,
he had, in fact, been punished. She threw him an askance glare over her
shoulder.

"It served you right, you little brat," she spat.

"No more bratty than you are, Leia," Vader cut in as he returned--- with a
syringe, she saw and was instantly assailed with memories of the last time she
had seen him with such a device nearby. "You were quite a pest yourself aboard
the Death Star," he commented as he walked closer, tormenting her even more with
the mention of that cursed place.

She remembered the last time the dark lord had injected her; she still
remembered it quite vividly in fact. She tried to cringe away, but she ran into
the strong body of the younger man, much like she had backed into Vader's body
when she had last seen Alderaan, she dimly remembered. Like his father had done
back then, the youth held her still against himself, but one detail was
different this time and it truly frightened her: his arms were around her hips
and arms, effectively immobilizing her. She instantly fought against him.
"Let me go!" she snapped. "I won't tell you anything anymore, you bastards!!-
ah!" she yelped.

"Stay still or you'll hurt yourself," Luke advised her, his voice taking in the
softer ranges she was used to.

Even as it unconsciously reminded her of his promise to not let any harm come to
her as long as he would live, she herself 'felt' his genuine desire to save her
from any injury; thanks to the double 'assault', she calmed down.

By the time she had finished puzzling over that weird fact, the dark lord had
stepped away from her with a sample of her blood.

"Don't you cover the prick with something?" she asked him sarcastically while
she tried to ignore the sting that still remained in her arm.

"It won't be necessary," the dark Lord answered her coolly. "Luke?"

She expected the youth to hurt her, or take her away, but to her astonishment,
he momentarily brushed his left hand over her slightly bleeding skin--- and it
healed by itself.

What the?.. she mentally gasped in disbelief.

"You're welcome," the young man commented before slightly pushing her forward,
indicating that she should resume her walk.

Still puzzling over what she had just seen... and 'felt' again, she didn't
resist him. They walked past Vader, who was checking something on his computer,
then they stood near the back of the strange bubble that was in the middle of
the room.

Now she was lost, she admitted. First, the dark lord hadn't hurt her,
just taken a sample of her blood, then the darksiders weren't questioning her,
and other than crowing slightly about his success, Luke wasn't torturing her
psyche either.

What in Hell was going on?, she wondered in frustration while she continued to
glare from one man to the other.

"You'll know soon enough," Luke answered in her ear.

She gasped once again as she realized that he had yet again invaded her mind,
but before she could vehemently tell him off, the dark lord came out of the
bubble, freezing her ardor. Despite all her bluster, she secretly admitted to
herself, deep down, that 'thing' truly scared her out of her wits.

However, her eyes remained hard, defiant as she watched him exchange a nod with
his son, then the older man walked away and knelt on some kind of circular
device.

A huge holo of the Emperor appeared almost instantly in front of them. Leia
would have run away in fright if not for young Vader's presence behind her.
Strangely enough, she noticed, the young man's steady breath seemed to calm her
down.

"Lord Vader, Young Vader," the despot greeted them coolly. "Congratulations on
your success, both of you," the galactic monster commented in contentment.

"Thank you, Master," both Vaders said while they bowed their heads in respect.

The Emperor's gaze then found her and the ghost of a mean smile seemed to graze
the dry lips of the ugly man.

"I see you have the girl, Lord Vader," he said in the silence. "Is she yours?"
he queried, much to Leia's horror as she finally understood why Vader had taken
a blood sample from her.

Vader's daughter???????

"Yes, Master," Vader nodded before she could ask a single question. "Former
princess Leia Organa of Alderaan is my daughter," he declared.

Leia's breath was knocked out of her chest upon hearing those most unwelcome
news. 'Never!', she mentally spat at the darksiders for lack of voice due to
her complete shock.

"Welcome in the Empire, child," the Emperor smiled meanly once again, focusing
his yellow glare on her while affecting a gentle voice.

"You can shove your welcome where I think, Palpatine," she snarled defiantly.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." the Emperor scolded less happily.

Luke suddenly surprised her by leaning closer until he could whisper in her ear.

"Leia, for your sake don't do anything foolish... Don't defy---"

He frustratingly drew away when she tried again to head butt him.

"Haven't you told her yet, Lord Vader?" the Emperor inquired in playful rebuke
as he turned his attention back to his kneeling servant.

"No, Master. I wanted to inform you first," Vader answered in deference.

As if news of this importance, Leia raged inwardly, were more important to the
Emperor than the concerned person.

"Like you did for your son, of course," the tyrant reflected out loud.
"Speaking of whom," he added, "I understand that you revealed his full
identity now."

"Yes, Master," Vader answered with a touch of pride in his voice.

"Good," the Emperor approved. "I want the galaxy to know who they have to fear
now. Young Vader?"

"Yes, Master?" Luke answered, straightening his stance even more while
maintaining his grip on her.

"You may choose the reward you wish for your achievement. You are now lord
Vader," he told him solemnly.

"Junior," Leia added with a mocking, sarcastic sneer, ruining her 'brother's
elation.

He threw her a dark glare but didn't answer her barb.

"Thank you, Master," he answered instead, bowing his head in respect.

Unable to resist the temptation of his being in a vulnerable position, Leia
tried to hit him in the knees with her heel, but he blocked her and easily
forced her to her knees. The scene seemed to amuse the dark Emperor.

"Lord Vader," he commented once the scuffle was over, "I suggest you teach your
daughter good manners before you bring her in my court," he ordered maliciously.

"As you wish, Master," Vader assured him.

Leia wanted to retort another defiant thing, but she found herself unable to
make a single sound. Belatedly, she understood that her 'brother' had done
something to her with his powers, effectively keeping her silent.

The despot threw her a last, amused glare, then the holo dissolved; she
instantly recovered her voice. However, before she could berate her brother for
his actions, the dark lord walked closer, looking quite threatening from her
lower position. For a moment, she felt as if she were back in her cell aboard
the Death Star.

"You were lucky that he is in a merry mood, Leia," he informed her coolly, but
non-threateningly. "Otherwise, he might have been upset by your behavior."

"Yeah right, like he hasn't minded your lie," she spat in anger.

Luke shook his head in slight frustration and crouched beside his sister. He
didn't exactly like to do what he had done to her, he conceded, but he hadn't
had any choice either. He couldn't trust her yet.

"Leia, we're not making this up," he tried to comfort her. "Do you remember
what you told me about your feeling my intense experiences?" he asked her
gently.

"I was tired and weak, Vader. There is nothing between us." she defied,
pointedly avoiding his piercing gaze.

His father called a pad to his hand with the Force; Leia, who had yet to really
see the Force in action, saw this new every-day use of the Force. Her eyes
bulged so much that Luke reflected that they were going to fall from their
orbits if she remained like this for a few extra seconds. He sent her soothing,
unconscious thoughts that it was normal and not harmful; she recovered her
previous dispositions while he helped her back to her feet.

"Not according to this, Leia," their father told her seriously.

Their father showed her the data that the analysis had revealed; Luke smiled as
he saw the good news that she really was his twin sister. However, his smile
was short-lived when he saw how his 'sister' reacted to this. Leia scowled at
the pad.

"You forged this, it's not true," she argued caustically.

Luke exchanged a gaze with his father; his father motioned toward the far bank
of computers.

"Come on, we have to show you something," Luke told her, gently guiding her
toward the computers.
She shrugged him off.

"Dont touch me, bastard," she growled menacingly.

Luke decided that she deserved a break and let her go while he followed her.
Leia threw him a surprised glare at this, but ignored the implication of his
gesture; she walked toward the computers, her head held high, her shoulders
straight. Behind her, Luke recognized her attempt to look as proud as she could
manage under the circumstances, but he wasn't fooled. He knew that at her first
occasion, she would try to escape them. However, it wasn't a serious danger
considering his and his father's presence with her.

They finally stood just beside the activated data bank; the screen was primed to
show her the data his father had gathered for this crucial moment. Luke had
known that Leia wouldn't accept the truth, but, he had estimated that if they
could at least show her the truth, her defiance would be less dangerous. His
father had agreed with him and had gathered the information he had about himself
and his wife.

"First of all, princess, do you recognize this woman?" the dark lord inquired
as she walked closer.

She stopped in her tracks as an holo of their mother appeared on the monitor.
She was dressed in a rich wedding gown and was standing near a lake, in some
kind of garden. His sister's gasp informed them that she did recognize the
woman.

"This is your mother," his father identified, "Padme Amidala 'Naberrie'... my
wife."

When Leia's lips parted in silent shock, Luke knew that they now had her full
attention. Nobody was supposed to know the secret last name of her mother...
but his father did. No matter what he would say next, Leia couldn't deny
anymore her belonging to the family.

He pressed slightly closer to her, hoping to offer her comfort like he used to
do during their rebel episode. She seemed to accept it since she didn't flash
him one of her steel-bending glares.

The next picture that came on screen showed the image of a tall, dark-blond
Haired, dressed-as-a-Jedi man who was standing happily beside his new wife.
Leia quickly turned her head around to throw a look at her brother, then at the
dark lord, then she refocused on the screen.

"And this is myself, before I became Darth Vader," his father said seriously,
almost shamefully, Luke noted slightly.

"His name was Anakin Skywalker," Luke supplied his now stricken sister.

"Sky---" she gaped, then tried to recover her harder edge.

Luke knew that she had just put yet another piece of the puzzle in its place.
That was why his false name had somehow rung a bell with her, a sensitive one...

Their father continued. "That was before I was betrayed by the Jedi Council and
Survived their assassination attempt, at the hands of my own master," he
informed them seriously.

"Why should I---" Leia began.

Vader walked closer, careful not to terrify his now fragile daughter.
Both Vaders knew that they could either win her or loose her within the next
minutes. Luke was careful to remain close enough for support, but not for
anything else that could be interpreted as detention or pressure.

"You have grown without your family, Leia," his father began gently, "because
the Jedi council hid you from me, just like they hid your brother, but fate
wanted me to recover him in time," he finished, relief obvious in his voice.

A feeling Luke could easily relate to; he too was glad that he was done with
the Jedi's lies. Otherwise, who knew if his father would ever have been able to
free him from their hold?..

He refocused on his sister. Leia gazed from one Vader to another, then to the
screen where the holos were adding up to create a more complete picture of the
past...

"No... the Jedis wouldn't---" she tried to argue.

"They did, Leia," Luke told her, walking around her to look in her eyes. "Look
at us. I was raised as a Skywalker by adults who had no link whatsoever with my
real family, raised like a poor farm boy without any amenities of any kind...
and prohibited to talk about my true parents... while you yourself have been
raised as a princess on a planet that was already a supporter of the
'Rebellion'."

He paused to give her time to see the picture of their disruptive family.

"Yes, the Jedis were as cruel as they seem to be in father's story. They wanted
us to grow as orphans, to be as far apart from one another as possible, then
they hoped that we would fight against our father and kill him," he continued,
his voice growing angry at the thought of what Kenobi had dared tell him in his
hut. "They didn't want to let Mother and us live with him; they lied to her
about Father, and when she began to see the truth----"

"Stop!" Leia snapped, obviously feeling more confused and distraught than ever.

"How do you think Mother died?" Luke asked her.

"He killed her," she answered, some of her anger creeping back into her voice as
she tilted her head in her father's direction.

"No, they killed her," Lord Vader corrected. "I tried to save her, but I was
too late..."

"Leia..." Luke continued, resting his hand on her shoulder. "I know the truth
is shocking, but you have finally found your true family. Can you please give
us a try?" he asked her earnestly.

Leia's mind was spinning too wildly to think straight.

First, she was related to the dark lord of the Sith who had destroyed her foster
family, then her up-to-now unbeknown brother had betrayed her cause, and now...
they were trying to convince her to join them?!

"No," she answered adamantly, shrugging off Luke's hand while taking a step
away from them. "I am not a Vader, never will be," she stated with finality.

Luke sighed, as did his father.

"Then, we have no choice but to restrain you until you change your mind,"
Vader stated.

"I will die before it happens," she snarled contemptuously.

"You might be surprised," Luke commented cryptically at this before he took hold
of her arm once more.

He turned her away from the dark lord; her 'audience' seemed to be over, she
noted mentally. Thanks the gods for that.

The young man led her toward a secret door that was inset in a wall, then down a
corridor and toward a small closet that was at the end of the corridor. He
silently opened the door.

"I'm sorry, Sister," he told her before giving her a light push to make her
enter her cell.

"For what?" she sneered as she resisted his prodding. "Darksider that you are,
you'll probably enjoy this," she snarled, trying to kick him yet again.
It didn't work; instead, she only made it easier for him to step inside the
cubicle with her.

"You're wrong," he shook his head as he stepped away from her. "And I'm sorry
that I didn't find you earlier. That way, I wouldn't have hurt you as much as I
have... but it was my duty, I had to do it," he tried to apologized.

"It's too late for regrets, 'brother'," she snarled.

"In my experience, it is never too late for anything," he answered her in
surprising, most unusual wisdom. "I will see you later," he told her kindly,
releasing her from her cuffs before stepping outside.

"Don't bother." she muttered as her cell's door closed between them.

Luke stood in front of his former slave quarters and quickly meditated in the
Force.

Leia had to change her mind, he thought in rising worry. She couldn't refuse
the heritage that was hers...

And indeed she wouldn't, he saw with startling clarity, but it would take time
and dedication, he then understood. He reopened his eyes, resolving to set to
work on her as soon as he was back to normal.

He returned in the anteroom where his father was gazing at the holos of the
past.

"You miss her, don't you?" Luke asked him softly.

"Every day..." his father nodded slightly before turning off the screen that was
displaying heart-poking holos of the past. "Has she calmed down?" he asked him.

"Not really..." Luke shrugged. "She tried to attack me once again."

His father shook his head as he chuckled slightly. "I've heard that siblings
bickered between them, but this is getting slightly ridiculous," he commented
wryly.

"Yes," Luke agreed more seriously, "but you have to consider the more than
particular situation," he reminded him even as memories of his own first meeting
with his father came back to him. Back then... Vader hadn't learnt how to be a
father yet... " If you remember," he began in slight sorrow, "I wasn't that
happy to be with you at the beginning," he reminded him while he himself took a
deep breath to forget those memories once again.

His sole consolation in them, he still thought glumly, was that his own
experience had served him and his father so that they wouldn't repeat the same
mistakes with his sister.

"Yes, I remember," his father nodded slightly, walking closer until he could
stand very close to him. "But you learnt to accept it, then embraced your
destiny," he reminded him as he stepped closer to him.

"Yes, by discovering the real you," Luke nodded, closing his eyes against the
painful memory of 'what' had been necessary to bring out his father in Vader.
"So will she, Father," he promised him as he reopened his eyes, "but give her
time." he finished wisely.

"I will," his father reassured him. "However, I cannot foresee how much time
the Emperor will give her." he pointed out seriously.

He was right, Luke conceded. There was no telling how long their master would
tolerate Leia's lack of collaboration, but, he reminded himself, the crisis was
over now. The danger that was the Rebellion was over and done with.

"I think he will give her time, Father," he said in his voice that always made
him sound wiser than his years. "He won't feel threatened by her as long as she
don't know how to use the Force, and with his latest victory, he might give us a
free hand with her."

"For a while, perhaps," his father agreed, then stepped slightly closer to him.

Luke felt a change in his father demeanor, then could swear that he saw his
gentle blue eyes despite his mask. Suddenly unsure as to what he had in mind,
Luke stood silently; his father set his large hand on his still white-clothed
shoulder.

"It's good to have you back, Luke," he finally told him warmly in the cool
silence. "I missed you."

For a moment, it was Luke's turn to not know how to react to his father's
actions, then he hesitantly set his hand on his father's hand even though a very
small part of him couldn't help but remember what this man had done to him not
so long ago.

"It's good to be back, Father," he smiled softly. "I missed you too," he added
truthfully.

"I'm so proud of you, Son" his father continued, pride gushing out of his voice
as he spoke. "No other servant would have been able to do what you have
achieved," he commented, tightening his hold on his son's shoulder.

For the briefest of moments, Luke wanted to hug his father like he had done when
he had been younger, but he hadn't done so for years now, his more rational side
reminded him. Ever since his graduation, they had forbidden it to keep him out
of trouble, he suddenly remembered as some elements of his life returned to his
more conscious mind now that he wasn't 'Skywalker' anymore.

"I know, Father, but I won't do it again for a while," he added more
lightly. "I feel like being myself for a while."

"Of course." his father chuckled slightly in answer. "I don't think your taking
a short break will be a problem, and I doubt that you will continue your career
as an agent," he finished more seriously.

"Why do you say that?" Luke asked him, frowning at this new element.

No more missions as an agent? Then what about his team work with Mara, he
instantly thought even as he realized that he had yet to see her as she had
promised.

"With your new identity, and the responsibilities that come with it," his father
answered him, "I doubt that you'll spy like this anymore," he pointed out.

"Well, you never know..." Luke mused out loud. "With a good hair cut, a dye and
a few other changes, nobody would recognize me," he said even as he hoped that
this mission, which he had so wanted to get and accomplish, hadn't been his last
one on the field.

He didn't want to be separated from his lover like this. The last months had
been difficult enough to bear.

"Perhaps," his father shrugged, "but do you really want to do that again? Take
such considerable risk?" he then pointed out grimly. "I would think that you
have had enough already," he finished very seriously.

Luke knew what had just crossed his father's mind: their latest, common
challenge.

"Father," he began gently, lightly touching his father's forearm in reassurance.
"it wasn't your fault, nor was it your doing, I know that now," he told him
warmly even though a very small part of him hadn't made that dichotomy yet.
"Just like I was the master's tool in this mission, so were you," he reminded
him gently. "Besides, I was not well prepared---"

"Luke," his father interrupted him, setting both of his hands on his shoulders,
"there was no possible preparation for what you suffered at my hands. If I had
truly cared about you," he then berated himself out loud, "I wouldn't have
caused you as much physical torment as I did... I would have found another way
to do it," he finished in genuine regret.

For a moment, Luke didn't know how to answer to his father's comment about not
caring enough. What did he mean by this, he wondered? For years now, he hadn't
questioned himself whether his father loved him or not. They only used the word
care so as to keep 'him' out of emotional trouble, but, he admitted, deep down,
they both knew that they more than cared about each other. Their relationship
was a father/son love, nothing less. Sure, he then conceded, their latest
mutual challenge had put this love to test, but they also both knew that they
equally resented being the cause of pain for their loved one.

"You did care, Father," he finally reassured him, locking his gaze with his
father's. "You stopped it before the master's dead line... And you did
intervene when the troops disobeyed you," he reminded him while he himself tried
once again to not dwell in his bad memories. "I shouldn't have called you
names..." he finished, lowering his head in shame as he remembered the insults
he had screamed at his father, the hatred he had felt when he had vented his
feelings on him...

His father delicately lifted his chin with his fingers. Even though his mask
was unexpressive, Luke could feel his sadness, his desire to make it up to
him... his compassion.

"I have forgiven you weeks ago, Son," he reassured him in turn. "Will you
someday forgive me for what I did to you?" he inquired gently.

Tears instantly gathered up in Luke eyes, the little scared boy inside him
finally finding the comfort that no one but his father could offer. He wanted
to tell him that yes, he would forgive him, but his throat was suddenly choked
up by his intense feelings of remorse, forgiveness and happiness. Then, he was
so emotionally unbalanced that he didn't resist when his father drew him in him
embrace, as if he were a little boy once again. But in a way, he reflected
dimly as his scarred psyche reveled in the balm of comfort that finally
enveloped him, he was.

As he silently hugged his father, shameful tears continued to flow down his
cheeks; he didn't try to contain them, he now knew that they were necessary.
The longer his father held him, and the more he understood just 'how' he had
truly reacted to their last meeting. The small, vulnerable part of his mind,
which he could compare to a six-year-old child, had not only been unable to
differentiate his father from the Emperor's tool, but he had also awakened his
long-forgotten fear of him, like when he had terrified him from ever angering
him ever again... And unconsciously, he had remained that scared little child
until now.

"I understand, Son," his father crooned reassuringly as he held him close and
shared his thoughts with him.

Luke remained silent, feeling totally safe in his father's hold. That was
something he hadn't felt since his bad experience, afraid that it would
never be the same between them, he admitted, but he had been wrong. Things
would continue to be the same now that he was back. It had only been a mission,
and his master's punishment for his misbehavior.

"I forgive you, Father." he sobbed. "I'm sorry and I forgive you," he repeated,
feeling the need to say it again.

His father still didn't comment on his emotional display; he simply held him
while mentally reassuring him that he was still his one and only favorite son.
Luke finally drew away from his father's hold, quickly brushing his shameful
tears from his eyes. Dimly, he made a note that those were the last ones he
would ever shed; dark Lords didn't cry.

As if to lighten the mood, his father said: "If you ever have another mission
like this, Luke, I'm not letting you destroy anything that belongs to the
master."

Luke understood his attempt and flew with it.

"Don't worry, Father, I learnt my lesson," he assured him, quickly recovering
his cooler edge. "I won't even have any urge to ask for a new mission for a
long while," he then added seriously.

"Understandable," his father nodded, glad to be help him change the subject.
"You probably have had your fill of rebellions."

"That I do," Luke nodded in agreement even as he remembered some particular
things he still didn't know how he had bore with.

"I must have been disgusting," his father commented in the new silence.

"Barely less than the garbage compactor we were stuck in," Lukee commented
wryly, "except that it lasted for far longer."

He then sighed and brushed his hair with his hands. All the things he had been
Through, he thought wistfully, but they were completely behind him now.

"You know what?" he inquired, locking his gaze with his father once again. "I'm
really glad that this mission is over," he smiled in satisfaction. "And not
just because I was very eager to get out of their pitiful world."

"I know," Vader nodded in understanding. "I brought you some appropriate
clothes; they are in your assigned room."

Luke's eyes lit up at the idea to not only be back to his old self without
delay, but to also dress as who he truly was, not as a slave anymore.

"Thanks, I'll get those off then," he informed him even as he turned away to
leave.

"I will be on the bridge to supervise the destruction of the last ships," his
father told him behind him.

On his way to the inner door of his father's quarters, Luke reflected that he
was glad that his father was here to take care of these last details. He
himself didn't want to deal with anything that would remind him of his rebel
experience, at least for a while. Of course, he then amended, he would
eventually have to face his sister, but she was another matter. She wasn't a
rebel anymore, only a misguided family member.

Luke had almost reached the secret door when his father spoke again from the
other side of the room.

"Once again, congratulations, Son, and welcome back."

"Thanks, Father," he smiled proudly, then disappeared inside the secret
quarters.

******

On Coruscant, the Emperor turned off the audio function of his
transmitter, then steepled his fingers together and considered what he had just
heard.

First and foremost, there was no turning back; the boy was now out of the
shadows, with all the consequences it would have for him. However, considering
the emotional moment he had just 'witnessed' between father and son, he doubted
that the boy would 'please' him long enough to truly take command of troops. He
might have twirled the Rebels around his little finger, he thought in contempt,
but it only proved that he was in control of his abilities. He hadn't proven to
him that he could take the responsibility of a complete battalion of troops, let
alone command the fleet like his father did.

For a moment, he debated whether to devote his energies on making him fail and
publicly humiliate him, which would then explain his disappearing once again,
then he reflected that it would be much more entertaining to watch him trip on
his own. On the other hand, once it would happen, he would take severe actions
against him and would shove him back in the shadows, where he belonged given his
sickening Jedi compassion.

Second in his mind, he then continued, was the discussion he had just heard
between the two Vader. The child was softening his father, he thought in
disgust. When he had specifically ordered Vader to conduct the boy's
punishment, his motivation had been to teach him to never put the boy's fate in
front of his devotion to their master, him, but instead, he had the feeling that
he had strengthened the bond that existed between the two of them. He made a
note to keep them apart upon their return. He would not lose the control he had
on his right hand because of the son, he resolved angrily. Instead, he would
tighten his grip on both of them, but separately, and would keep them apart for
as long as they hadn't banished 'love' from their----

His glorious train of thoughts came to a halt as yet another new element entered
his world of perfect control: the girl. Considering how the two men had spoken
about her and how they would try to convert her, he understood that trying to
make them banish love from their lives would be useless as long as she would
live. The boy already had brotherly feelings for her, he knew, and Vader... The
fool would probably fall for her just as he had fallen for his wife years ago.
That new child, he decided with irritation, could very well ruin everything he
had planned for his 'two' dark Lords, but no, he silently challenged the vision
of her getting through to her family members, he would 'not' allow her to
destroy what he had been preparing for years.

He resolved to take actions against her the moment she would be 'brought' to
him.

To be continued in part 18: Brother and Sister