The sun sank in Coruscant's metallic horizon, showing a picture as amazing as unreal. Luke raised his eyes to contemplate the sunset through the huge window. It came to mind the thousand of double sunsets he had gazed at in Tatooine. The memory surprised him, as always did. It was simply incredible that so many things had happened in such a short time. Only four years ago, he was an insignificant farmboy from a miserable, lost and desert planet. A teenager without past and future, slave of his labor and full of failed dreams. And now, here he was, sitting on a luxurious black leather chair, looking a privileged view of Coruscant, the very center of the galaxy.
The young Jedi shook his head, a laudable attempt to put aside his thoughts and turn back to concentrate. He looked down to the heavy book placed on the table and sighed for the umpteenth time. To tell the truth, at moments like this one, being a farmer was not a big deal for him. At least, in that case, he wouldn't have to study the history of galactic politics. It is true that, at first, he was intrigued to know thoroughly everything related to the Old Republic and the Clone Wars. All he knew about it was what Obi-Wan had told him in his old hut. He had searched the huge castle's library and on the Holonet for more information, but his interest decreased when he saw that all the written and holographic documents seemed to have erased that chapter in History. That book, like all the others, was only focused on the Senate and politics. There was merely a mention about the Jedi Knights and their function in the Old Republic. It was clear that Palpatine's censure covered everything.
Luke yawned one more time. He hated with all his soul the study hours. True, the training was exhausting, but frankly, he preferred it a thousand times before this. He lifted his eyes again, looking at the room, as he was looking for anything more pleasant to do. But remorse made him look down again, sighing. He tilted his head and stared at the book, without blinking. The heavy book started to go up...
"Could you tell what the hell are you doing?"
The young Jedi almost screamed, being suddenly very aware of his father's imposing presence, right behind him. The book fell down heavily on the table.
"How did you...?" Luke turned to look at the menacing black figure. "You scared me to death!"
"That doesn't answer my question."
Luke swallowed hard, looking at Vader.
"Ehm...I... Well, I..." He felt his father's gaze and he knew immediately that it was useless to come up with excuses." It is impossible to study such a... junk and I was trying to distract myself with... something." The young Jedi finished, dropping his shoulders with a gesture of defeat.
Vader continued to stare at Luke.
"I know I have to fulfill my schedule, but three hours of study of politics and Senate are... a torture. I don't mind training, or even meditating. Yes, even meditation is more interesting than learning about life and work of politicians from latest twenty years. Who the hell cares if Palpatine was a senator from Naboo before proclaiming himself emperor? If I have to study his life, I'd rather prefer you hand me over to him so he can kill me once and for all."
Of course, it was a joke, but for some reason, it was not funny for Vader in any way. And Luke perceived it. He felt the sudden outbreak of rage from his father immediately and he hurried to add.
"I'm sorry."
Vader looked at his son while the boy turned back to the tedious reading, resignedly. The Dark Lord tried to keep his anger untouched, but it was useless. His rage towards Luke always evaporated with too much easiness, and even though this infuriated him enormously, he could do nothing to prevent it. The boy had been living in Coruscant for only two months and, in that short time, he had already gained a place in the heart of his castle's staff. Vader had threatened every assistant, cleaning staff, cooks, and butlers with terrible consequences if he noticed any familiarity with the boy. He was a prisoner, not a guest, even though he enjoyed a relative freedom within the perimeter of the castle. But his threats had not worked at all. It is true that he had never witnessed any public show of affection towards the young Jedi, but it was clear that it existed. Luke had a natural charm. He was too much polite to everyone and he didn't distinguish between servants and masters. Vader would never forget that time when the boy had thanked an assistant simply for doing his job and cleaning his room. The assistant had remained paralyzed, not only by Luke's unexpected gratitude but also because Vader had just witnessed the scene. The poor and frightened man thought already feel the ruthless claws of the Dark Lord in his throat, and he would be right. That is exactly what would have happened if Luke's quiet plea had not prevented it.
Vader cursed in silence while still was observing his son. He had no reasons for getting angry with him, of course. Luke had done an excellent job since his arrival. The boy was fulfilling his training with iron discipline and he was never complaining about anything, no matter how hard it was. He never gave up. He always seemed to find enough strength to overcome every mistake. To tell the truth, he had not expected less from him and maybe that was the reason why he never praised his signs of progress. But it was clear that the boy deserved those praises. His power grew increasingly if that was possible. Luke had insisted on proving him that the Light Side of the Force was more powerful than the Dark Side and Vader had to admit that this maybe could be true... but only on this boy. Luke's affinity with the Force was simply extraordinary. It was incredible that there was no Jedi or Sith who could match the potential of a twenty-four-year-old boy. Not even Yoda... or Palpatine. Only Anakin Skywalker could keep up with him.
The weak flame of Anakin made appear Dark Lord's anger. Almost instantly, Vader smashed up the light with his Darkness. Then, he turned his attention to Luke.
"I hate politics and his history, too."
The deep baritone voice absorbed all of Luke's attention. The boy turned to look at him, surprised. Vader barely shook his head.
"I suppose that it's enough for today. You can have a break."
Luke jumped up as if the chair were burning him, while an enthusiastic smile lightened his face. Vader shook his head, although deep inside he was trying to hide a slight smile at the boy's reaction. He started to leave without saying another word when the boy's voice stopped him.
"Thank you, father."
Again the maddening kindness and gratitude... Vader barely snorted. If Luke turned to the Dark Side he would be the most courteous Sith in history, he thought, with a mixture of anger and black humor.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you by thanking you."
Vader stared at Luke, perplexed. He approached him relentlessly. Luke stepped back without being aware at the same second, but the Dark Lord raised his hand. He took the boy's chin and forced him to look at him. Luke held his breath unconsciously.
"Impressive... " Vader said with a sinister softness. "How have you managed to read my mind?"
Luke blinked, confused.
"I... I don't know... Have I done it?"
"Indeed."
Vader held with firmness the young Jedi's chin. He assaulted his son's mind with his darkness and he could feel the shield of Luke, really strong and brilliant. Vader pushed it down stronger to destroy it, but this time he felt his son's mind shield was incredibly strong. The Dark Lord unleashed his dark power with no restraints and Luke gasped, feeling it. Vader was testing him and this time he knew he would not stop like he had done on some previous occasions. The young Jedi gritted his teeth and called the light to dissolve the black darkness which was trapping him. He emptied his mind from fear and the warm Force's flame removed his concerns, caressing him and protecting him. Vader felt it too. Darkness seemed to diminish before the soft and powerful light which linked him to Luke almost instantly. The father-son link grew stronger than ever. Finally, Vader withdrew from the boy's mind.
"You are improving very much, young one."
Luke blinked without understanding.
"What... happened?"
"You have just resisted quite well mind's invasion," Vader informed him.
"I don't mean that," Luke shook his head. "I mean... Why do I feel more attached to you? It's like I could feel what you feel. Well, it's not that I couldn't feel before, but now it's too much... intense."
Vader glared at the young Jedi.
"The reason is the father-son link we share in the Force. A connection due to our family relationship. It has always existed, but grows stronger as time goes by, especially if we are not separate."
"Do you mean...that if I have grown up at your side, the link would have been much more powerful?"
The picture of a little Luke with huge blue eyes and messy blond hair crossed Vader's mind. The Dark Lord sunk that vision into the deepest part of his black soul.
"Indeed."
An uncomfortable silence settled between them.
"That means that... if I have grown up at your side, I would have been a loved son?"
Vader's eyes burned on him. The boy barely lowered his head.
"It's just that I always thought that... Well, that, as my uncle and aunt were the ones who raised me..."
The Dark Lord took again the boy's chin and forced him to look up.
"Luke."
The young Jedi finally raised his blue gaze, fighting to eliminate the traitor trace of tears which made his eyes shine like lightsabers. Vader felt anger and disbelief in equal parts.
"If I had known you were alive, nothing nor anyone in the whole galaxy would have prevented me from claiming you."
"You thought I was... dead?"
"Your mother died in childbirth." Vader gritted his teeth, trying to bury the memory. "I thought you had not survived either."
His mother's mention touched Luke's heart, but he could feel the deep conflict within Vader and decided not to investigate that subject, at least for now.
"I thought my father was dead," Luke said. "My uncle told me he was a navigator on a spice freighter and he was dead before I was born… And then Ben told me you've killed my father and…"
Luke's pain seemed to pierce through Vader. The iron hand, which held his chin, settled on the boy's shoulder with incredible softness.
"Lies." Vader spat out, angrily. "Dirty lies to keep you far from me."
The boy shook his head.
"They didn't do it with bad intentions. They only wanted to protect me."
Vader squeezed the hand which was holding Luke's shoulder, full of fury. There it was, the endless boy's naivety, always ready to find unreal goodness in the others. So similar to… Padmé.
"Protect you? From me? They rather wanted to use you as a tool against me, fueling your hate so you could destroy me. And what better way than convincing you that I killed your father." Vader shook his head. "And… This is the Jedi's style? It's a plan so evilly twisted as Sith's."
"Obi-Wan only wanted to prevent me from following your path," Luke justified his first master.
The Dark Lord felt his anger growing up at seeing his son exonerating Obi-Wan. The boy barely gasped before the pressure that the huge gloved hand was putting on his shoulder. Vader noticed it and loosened his hold.
"You shouldn't defend Obi-Wan so blindly," He said, fiercely.
The boy sighed, sadly.
"That doesn't matter now. Anyway, I would never be able to kill my own father."
That convincing statement made Vader's breath irregular for a moment. Father and son looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Chaotic feelings circled them, again. The Dark Lord released Luke and clenched his fist. He MUST not allow that those feelings could dominate him, but the knowledge that Luke was loyal to him… It was absolutely intoxicating. The boy had just admitted that he could not destroy him, not because he was not powerful enough, but because he LOVED him. Yes, it was absolutely ridiculous, but Luke felt filial love for Vader, nothing less. A major weakness. Vader smiled behind his mask. Love was the greatest weakness. The one that Anakin had felt for Padmé had caused his old self's fall. And the one which Luke felt for his father would do the same. Luke would fall to the Dark Side. He had just found the chance he needed for that.
"I really appreciate your loyalty, "Vader said, hiding masterfully his treacherous thoughts. "I promise you it will be rewarded… in due time."
The boy answered him with a naïve smile, which reflected on Vader's face but in a much more sinister way. The Dark Lord enjoyed in advance his triumph, ignoring the weak flame which trembled within him.
