Disclaimer: I own nothing. Storyline is George Lucas, obviously. Song is from A Perfect Circle. Enjoy.

Don't fret, precious, I'm here,
Step away from the window
And go back to sleep

I smiled. My apprentice was becoming more mine every day. Even now, twenty years after I had originally enslaved him, he still served me as well as he could. Which was, I might add, very well indeed. The discovery of his son disturbed him to some degree, but I believe he will remain loyal. When the boy escaped, with the help of his "friends," my apprentice was bothered. He stood at the window, watching where the ship had disappeared. Pathetic gesture! He should have immediately shown his displeasure to who ever stood nearest him. Oh well. I merely told him to meditate. I had always told him this. He listened to me better when he meditated than when he allowed himself to be swayed by emotion.

Lay your head down, child
I won't let the boogeymen come
Count their bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
Pay no mind to the rabble
Pay no mind to the rabble
Head down, go to sleep
To the rhythm of the war drums

He had always had an interest in politics, possibly due to his wife. Fortunately, I was able to influence him early. Now, of course, he was vexed by the rebellion, as he had always been. He tried his best to quell it, but sometimes I had to calm him down. They will be ours in time, I had told him. Patience. They cannot stand against us long.

Pay no mind what other voices say
They don't care about you, like I do
Safe from pain, and truth, and choice,
And other poison devils,
See, they don't give a fuck about you, like I do.

When he was younger, it was harder to influence him. His master and his wife had presented competition for me. I was able to turn him against both of them. I promised to protect him, and to help him protect his wife. I knew that she would die, and her child would be the cause, but he did not see this. He feared how his Master was involved. This subconscious jealousy for his master was easily brought to life, when he believed it was for good. Good! Foolish boy. He does not possess such worthless thoughts now, I am certain. So, with the promise to protect him from everything, he has remained loyal.

Just stay with me, safe and ignorant,
Go, back to sleep, go, back to sleep

After facing his master on the volcanic planet, my apprentice was broken. He had killed his wife and been horribly scarred. I could understand the latter of those problems. The knowledge that he had killed the one he loved sealed him to me forever. He knew, or felt, that he could not trust himself with anything precious. I wanted him to destroy, and he was very good at that. So, he was content to serve my every whim.

Lay your head down, child
I won't let the boogeymen come
Count their bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
Pay no mind to the rabble
Pay no mind to the rabble
Head down, go to sleep
To the rhythm of the war drums

After the destruction of the first Death Star, my apprentice was troubled by the disturbance in the Force. I knew what it was: his son. I did not at first tell him this. I informed him that perhaps the Rebellion was being favored for a while. We would prevail, of course. They were a reckless rabble, and we were the Empire. And, of course, I had HIM. I told him this, and he was pleased. Always the arrogant one.

I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and all your demons
I'll be the one to protect you from
A will to survive and a voice of reason
I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and your choices, son
They're one and the same
I must isolate you,
Isolate and save you from yourself

Despite his bravado, I was aware that he had been disturbed by the reemergence of his former master. I am pleased that this master is no more. My apprentice destroyed him, his enemy of many years. When he discovered that his former master had hidden his son from him, he was very upset. He, of course, turned to me. I promised, as I always had, to keep from him what was painful to remember. The destruction of his "enemies" brought him ever closer to me. When he had freed all the slaves on his home planet, he discovered that they hated him. They are all dead now, of course. I told him, in a subtle way, that all must despise him, for he had power and they did not. He did not realize that destroying all those who had been allies further consigned him to his fate at my side. But I must keep him to myself completely, or I shall lose him. I fear his son.

Swayin' to the rhythm of the new world order
And counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
The boogeymen are coming
The boogeymen are coming
Keep your head down, go to sleep
To the rhythm of the war drums

The Rebellion is coming. I am on the second Death Star, greater than the first. But she will not crush the rebels. Only my apprentice and I can do that. Everything will change shortly. Vader is weak, I fear. So am I. Soon, our fates will be decided. The son of Skywalker will join us. If he does not, we will destroy all that is powerful of the opposition. If he should turn, it will not be long before he kills one of us. It will be Vader, I am certain. Then, I shall secure my position as Emperor! And I shall have a powerful apprentice.

Stay with me, safe and ignorant
Just stay with me
I'll hold you and protect you
From the other ones,
The evil ones don't love you, son,
Go back to sleep.

I feel that Vader's thoughts are troubled. He has felt his son, when I have not. Of course, the relationship between them is strong, but I fear how this shall end. I wonder why I told Vader of his son. Perhaps I should have kept it from him, and kept him completely mine. However, I am certain he would have discovered my treachery eventually. I cannot test the boy's loyalty twice in this manner. I doubt it will withstand a second time. I can only convince him of his son's hatred. I shall lose both of them otherwise. I knew the day would come where one of us would be destroyed. But I did not expect it would be by each other. I shall retain my apprentice until the end, I believe. His son must give into the hatred that he feels. Then, he shall fall, as his father did. And I will use him to destroy all that oppose us. Including my former apprentice.