The Shadow

Chapter Four: Trials

Part Two

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It was nearing night time when Luke heard the door to his room open. He sat up in panic, fumbling with the bed sheets to cover himself in case it was his father. Luke was very angry at him at the moment. Earlier in the day he'd taken a shower and cleaned up his scratches and bruises as best he could, dressed in the military uniform and had been ready to accompany Vader to wherever he was needed at sixteen-hundred.

First of all, the meeting had been exceedingly boring. Luke hadn't done much except shake a few people's hands and stand in the corner the whole time. Then, when it was over, Vader had forbidden him from talking all the way back to him room. At this rate, Luke was never going to know anything about his mother.

However, that was not his priority right now. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he saw that the person was not his father. It wasn't even a stormtrooper. Luke was certainly glad to see a familiar face. "Hello Harv!" He greeted as he sat up and reached for his trousers. He'd been sleeping in his underwear.

The medic seemed uneasy in his presence and didn't reply apart from a short, formal nod. He waited until Luke was all dressed before placing his briefcase at the foot of the bed.

"How are we feeling today, Luke?" Harv asked in a short voice.

"Good, but I wish you'd drop the 'serious doctor' role. It doesn't really suit you." Luke said this friendlily enough, but it was ignored. Harv went around the bed and drew a stool from the corner. He immediately started to inspect Luke's new hand, and seemed to decide everything was well because he soon moved to the bruises on Luke's face. Luke twitched under his touch, but didn't complain. It even felt good once Harv placed some much-needed bacta patches over his inflamed skin.

"Well, you appear to have cracked a cheekbone. It has been left untreated for over a week, but if you keep a bacta patch on it for the next few days it should clear up fine. Do you have any more discomforts?"

Luke blinked, and moved his arms and torso around, trying to figure out if there was any pain somewhere. "I don't think so… Perhaps in my stomach, but I haven't eaten for about two weeks, so I guess it's normal."

"Were you hit near your stomach recently?"

"Nope. I did have some internal bleeding two years ago due to an injury then, though."

"Caused by?" Harv asked professionally, taking out a pad and a stylus.

"Vader kicked me in the stomach." Luke answered. He saw Harv pause, but the medic didn't comment.

"Well, it should be fine now in any case. Tell me at once if you suffer any discomfort." Harv glanced briefly at him, finally meeting his eyes, but it didn't last long before he started to gather up his equipment.

"Wait." Luke said and Harv obeyed, though he didn't seem to want to. "Can I ask you a question?"

"I suppose." Harv answered warily.

"Why do you get so uptight when I talk about Vader?"

Harv hesitated. He certainly was silent for a long while, and finally he met Luke's gaze again as he answered. "It's because you refer to him so casually. Lord Vader is my boss; I've been his personal physician on board the Executor for two years now. I have seen him mercilessly execute countless people for trivial mistakes or the slightest show of incompetence, yet you, a young boy who appears out of nowhere…" He seemed incapable of finishing his thought, so he trailed away. But Luke knew what he meant.

"It's not the same." He explained to Harv. "Vader won't kill me. He's… I'm… I'm his apprentice." Luke winced even as he said it; it sounded so final when he said it out loud like that. Harv gave him a look that was plainly terrified and started to stand up, obviously keen to leave, and Luke couldn't help but ask; "See, that's the kind of reaction I mean! Why is everyone so… afraid of me? I'm not scary."

It was true. Even this afternoon at the war meeting, it had happened again. Luke had done nothing but remain standing silently behind Vader's chair the entire time, but he had caught people around the table shooting wary glances and anxious stares at him. It baffled him completely; Vader may say he was his apprentice, but he was still a just a boy from Tatooine who had only recently become an adult, and was covered in bruises.

"I don't think you understand what people like me see when they look at you." Harv said suddenly, sitting back down. He looked pale, but less likely to faint as earlier. "Most people are, I'll admit, terrified of Lord Vader. He kills people without a second's though, with barely a move of his hand. He never keeps prisoners longer than a few days. People see you walking around with all those injuries, it suggests he beat you, and you resisted. That you managed to stay alive under his means of torture… Only someone incredibly powerful could resist Lord Vader and live to tell the tale."

Luke was stunned. "There's no tale to tell." He said, "Vader didn't torture me at all! Well, he did leave me in a cold cell for a week, but that was only because I refused to eat his food."

Harv shook his head; "This is exactly what I mean. You're so blatant about it." He surveyed Luke for a long moment, before saying. "I saw you on the news this afternoon."

"What?"

" It wasn't about you, per se. It was just footage of Lord Vader leaving the Palace and you were with him. But I don't think anybody really noticed you standing in his shadow."

"Well, he does have a pretty big shadow." Luke said, grinning despite himself. Harv allowed himself a smirk. But then, Luke thought of something; "Do you know how far news on Coruscant is broadcast? In other systems I mean."

Apart from frowning slightly, Harv didn't seem to mind this question. "Probably as far as the beginnings of the Outer Rim, I imagine. Not everywhere, but certainly most places."

Luke bit his lip and stared at the floor, thinking. Was there any chance his friends had watched the news? Vader returning to Coruscant for the first time in years would be big news for the Alliance, because it meant one less enemy in space near them. But had they actually watched the footage and if so, would they recognize Luke? Walking around unrestrained behind Darth Vader wearing a military uniform had to be pretty incriminating. Is this what Vader had meant when he'd said that Han and Leia were no longer his friends?

No, he warned himself as he felt a pang in his gut. A cold feeling had started to spread through his limbs. Don't go there; it will only bring you pain.

"Are you alright?" Harv suddenly asked, providing a distraction for Luke from his dark feelings.

"Oh, yeah… I just… Listen, Harv, sorry if I've been making you feel uncomfortable. I just don't have anyone to talk to really."

"What about Lord Vader?" Harv supplied innocently enough, making Luke smirk.

"Except for him."

"I don't think it's wise for me to, um, discuss matters unrelated to medicine with you. Strictly professional environment, you know…"

"I won't tell Vader." Luke said with a smile, which Harv barely managed to return.

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A steady stream of pressurized air began to flow inside the hyperbaric chamber just as Vader's mask was lifted from his face. He'd so needed this today, after the pointless meeting with those officers. Vader imagined this feeling could be compared to that of sinking into a hot bath after a particularly tiresome day. He had no memory of ever doing so, and it was quite out of the question for him now, but people always said it was relaxing. Vader for one had no love for warm liquids of any kind after Mustafar.

He steered himself away from these dangerous thoughts quickly; he was here to relax. The impending conversation with his son was looming on him and it was quite uninviting. After two solid years of wishing his son could be by his side, he finally got his wish, but now he was a little apprehensive. Up until now he'd only imagined his son as, well… his son. A boy with no real personality whom could easily be bended to Vader's will. However, it quickly became apparent that Luke was not like that at all.

Just the fact that he was referring to the boy as 'Luke' in his mind proved there was something more to it. The more time he spent with him, the more he recognized himself… No, not me. It is Anakin I see.

The boy had immense potential. Being around him, and all that power just waiting to be moulded into something more, was nothing short of intoxicating. Strange, Vader had the distinct impression he'd once referred to someone else's presence as intoxicating… Ah well never mind that now; there were still pressing matters to attend to. Vader may not feel like confronting his son so soon again, but his master would be returning any day now. Time was lacking and their days were numbered. If Luke did not learn to conceal his true self behind a screen Palpatine could not penetrate, as Vader did, he would not live very long.

Vader would be forgiven for choosing a new apprentice on such short notice as soon as Palpatine sensed the boy's potential. He would not, however, be forgiven for concealing Anakin Skywalker's son from him. That was one thing Vader knew the Emperor would not tolerate. As much as the man thrived on lies and deception, his patience was short when such dishonesty came from those around him. He was taking an awful risk, but if it could grant him control over his son, it would be worthwhile.

Realizing he'd been sitting in his chamber for close to twenty minutes and he hadn't yet done a single second of meditation, Vader sighed. If he couldn't clear his mind now, he might as well leave it and get his meeting with his son over with. He knew the boy was anxious to have that conversation Vader had bribed him with him. Just as well; Vader would be less likely to let anything slip if he was feeling deprived of his meditation.

He punched in the controls for his mask and helmet to be reattached. Once this was done he stood and was relieved to find that he was feeling a little less tense. With a content sigh, he left his chamber and crossed the hallway to Luke's.

It dawned on him that he should have knocked only once he'd barged in. Thankfully, Luke was currently lying flat on his back upon the bed and did not appear to be up to anything except staring at the ceiling. Vader let the door slide shut behind him and took a few steps until he was in the middle of the room.

"I believe I asked you to stand up when in my presence." He said to the boy, surprised that his voice already sounded short. This was not going to be a very long discussion.

"I don't want to speak to you." Luke answered, still watching the ceiling. Vader growled inwardly, hoping his silence would be more threatening than anything else he could say. The boy continued to talk; "You ignored me all afternoon when I followed you to that stupid meeting. Why should I be in a good mood with you now?"

Vader briefly searched around for something to respond, but Luke had readily provided. "I see you share my opinion on that meeting." He said, watching in satisfaction as Luke's head shot up to look at him. The boy seemed to hesitate, but he finally decided to sit up, resting his back upon the headboard.

"Can I remain seated?" He asked suddenly.

Vader paused, but gave in; "You may."

"Can't you sit down too? I feel weird having a discussion when the other person is standing up. Don't you get tired standing all day?"

Vader sighed. "No. And what's this about a discussion? I thought you'd decided you weren't speaking to me. You're doing a very poor job of it at the moment."

"You're being impossible." Luke said, but his face wasn't entirely serious. Vader was slightly put off by his attitude for a moment, and had to readjust himself before speaking again.

"Now… I think, as you put it, I 'owe you a conversation'?"

Luke's eyes seemed to light up. "Sure! There's so much stuff I want to ask."

"I said one conversation, young one. There is no time for any life stories."

"Okay fine, just answer me already. You know what I want to ask. Tell me about my mother."

Of course Vader knew this would be the subject of discussion, but he hadn't quite been ready for it in that moment. He finally settled on saying; "Her name was Padmé Naberrie."

Luke was watching him eagerly, but when he realized Vader was going to stay silent, his face dropped. "That's it? I ask you about this woman who gave birth to me, and you say her name was Padmé Naberrie? Uncle Owen could have told me that much."

"Did he?" Vader asked, sceptical.

"Of course not," Luke snorted, "Do you know how hard it was just to get your name out of him? And he told me you were a navigator on a freight cruiser, mind you, so he couldn't even be truthful about that much. Look, I know maybe you don't want to think about her, but you did promise me."

"I promised nothing. I shall tell you about your mother, if you let me, but on a condition –"

"This was already a bargain!" Luke interrupted, "You can't add anything on top of that."

"I believe I am in the right position to be adding things to our bargain, quite unlike you. Now, I will tell you about your mother if you agree to a training session with me first thing tomorrow morning. Not only that, but you will do your best to assimilate my teachings and truly practice what I show you. Understood?" This condition seemed very difficult for Luke to accept. Vader saw his face tense in concentration, and felt the duelling emotions going on through the Force. The boy was conflicted between his fear of the dark side and his desire to know about his mother. Love and hate; two emotions Vader had had quite enough of for at least ten lifetimes.

At last, his son nodded so Vader began to speak, feeling unable to detach himself from the persona of Anakin Skywalker as he did so. "Padmé was born a Naberrie on Naboo and became Queen there when she was fourteen, where she took on the name Amidala. That's how old she was when we met. I was nine years old at the time, but already we had a strong connection. We did not see each other again until many years later, when we were old enough to marry. She was a senator and I… a Jedi. Our union was kept secret during the entire duration of the Clone Wars, but shortly before the war ended, Padmé announced to me that she was pregnant. She died several months later during the Jedi plague and I believed you both to be dead."

Luke appeared to be taking this all in slowly. His eyes were wide. "That doesn't tell me much about who she was though." He stated.

Vader sighed again, but obliged; "She was a very strong-willed individual; passionate and true to her beliefs. She helped avert catastrophes on many planets during the Clone Wars and was always ready to do her utmost if she believed lives could be saved. She was kind and compassionate, and probably the most genuine person I have ever known." To his greatest embarrassment, Vader realized his voice sounded like it had cracked. The last thing he needed was for Luke to think he still held strong feelings towards all this.

To further his humiliation, Luke said; "You must have really loved her." He sounded honest, and wasn't trying to humiliate him on purpose. Vader was surprised he couldn't sense even a hint of deceit coming from his son.

"Luke. You must understand that any feelings I may have had for your mother are overshadowed by those that make me what I am today: a Sith."

To his dismay, Luke's eyes did not lose any of their shine. "Did you love her?"

Before he could stop himself, Vader answered; "Yes. More than you could ever comprehend." When Luke beamed at him, Vader tried, in vain, to rectify this. "Anakin Skywalker loved your mother with his very soul. I am a Sith Lord. The dark side does not love. The dark side does not care."

"Everybody who has tried to explain this to me has failed." Luke said, shaking his head so his blond hair flopped about. "Anakin was my father. You are my father. You're both the same to me."

"Then you fail to understand something that is a crucial part of your training, young one. Being a Sith does not mean becoming somebody else entirely, only finding a part of yourself that was hidden deep within. It means fulfilling your destiny by seizing every ounce of power which lies dormant in you. Power only the dark side can help you see."

"I don't think I want anything to do with it then. I don't want to lose sight of who I really am."

"You won't lose sight, Luke, only better understand. There is a large difference."

Luke was silent as he looked down at his hands. Vader probed at the boy's mind gently, but found it wasn't so easy to figure out what he was thinking.

"Are you quite done asking about your mother?"

"I think so. Just one last thing; what made you turn to the dark side?"

"Nothing made me do it Luke. It was inside me all along and I was foolish not to give in to it before. If I had listened to its calling before, your mother might be here with us today. You too can wield that power, as you will learn in time." He watched with satisfaction yet again as Luke nodded briefly. Maybe his teachings would get through to the boy after all, and more quickly than he'd thought.

"I must leave now. Is there anything you require?" Vader said this as he turned slightly towards the door. He saw his son look sad for a moment, but it was gone like a trick of the light as soon as he paused to investigate it further.

"No. See you tomorrow." Luke said in a small voice and Vader left before the emotion radiating from his son got the better of him.

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Curled up into a ball in the middle of his bed, Luke was in deep thought. His father had only just left the room, but it felt like his dark presence was still with him. Their conversation hadn't gone exactly like he'd thought it would. He'd desperately wanted to know about his mother, and he'd had his wish, but it had only served to raise further questions about his father. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but the confirmation that his mother and father had been in love – even married – was startling. And until now, Luke had been hanging on to the thought that his father had never truly ceased to be Anakin Skywalker. It had reassured him whenever he was confronted with the man. But it was becoming increasingly obvious that he might be wrong.

Luke felt something squirm in his gut as he thought of tomorrow morning. He'd agreed to train with Vader and make efforts to understand his lessons. No doubt would he be once again confronted with the dark side. Even as these thoughts crossed his mind he could feel its manifestation inside him, building up within his core.

He had to admit that all this was looking to be a very bad idea. Such a bad idea in fact that he was sure he must really be crazy. Nobody in their right capacity would agree to any of this… But Luke had craved a father since before he could remember and somehow, no matter how evil the man got, he always would.

Perhaps that did make him crazy, but he knew something; his place was here. He had an important part to play in his father's life, he just didn't know what it was yet.

Luke suddenly noticed an unnatural light forming in the corner of his room, and he sat up warily. After a few moments, he recognized what shape the bluish haze had taken on so he smirked. "What are you doing here, Ben?"

"So, you faced your father and failed." Obi-Wan said without preamble. He sounded like he was on the verge of lecturing him, which Luke did not appreciate.

"I know it was against yours and Yoda's wishes, but the Force has revealed something to me. I have something to do here. Something important." Luke said, slightly annoyed. Whenever Obi-Wan appeared, it never boded well.

His old master sighed deeply. "I cannot force you to do anything you do not want to Luke, but you must know what danger you are throwing yourself into. You are meant for great things, but I highly doubt the Force means for you to stay with Vader and the Emperor. They will force you to do terrible deeds."

"I think that's for me to decide isn't it?"

"The Force shall take you wherever it decides your place may be." Obi-Wan stated vaguely. His manner of explaining things was grating on Luke's nerves.

"Then my place is here, if the Force has brought me here. Listen Ben, I want to believe you. I wanted to believe you and Master Yoda when you told me those things about my father, but I think I can understand him –"

"He is feeding you lies. The lies of the Sith. Remember Yoda's teachings! Once you cross over to the dark side, it will control your destiny forever."

Luke groaned and rubbed at his temple. "I don't intend to join the Sith, Ben. And I wouldn't expect you to understand what my plans are. Just leave me be –" Luke trailed off, interrupted not by Obi-Wan, but by someone approaching outside his door. He sat very still, awaiting the inevitable. Obi-Wan stayed put and did not disappear. A moment later, the door opened and the black mass of Vader stormed into the room.

"Who are you talking to?" He demanded.

Luke glanced to the corner where Ben had been standing but he wasn't there anymore. He then looked back at his father. "Nobody. Myself. Everybody does that sometimes." He shrugged for good measure, trying to look casual. Vader was not fooled.

"I was informed by a guard, barely a minute ago, that you were seen talking to someone invisible. Do not forget there are security cameras in here. I have yet to view the holograms myself but I think it would be in your greatest interest to tell me who it was. If you wait for me to discover it by my own means, you shall be punished as well as this mystery person." Vader was looking around the room, clearly at a loss to how somebody could have been in here a minute ago, only to vanish into thin air.

Luke sighed, closing his eyes. "All right, for star's sake, I'll tell you. But you won't like it."

"I'm listening."

"It was Obi-Wan. I was talking with him through the Force." As he said this he cracked open an eye to watch Vader's reaction, but of course there was none visible because of the black mask.

"And he was talking back to you?" Vader asked in a dangerously low tone.

"Yes. It's been happening ever since you killed him."

"I see." Vader let pass at least five or six of his breathing cycles before speaking again; "Son, this is yet another example of dangerous behaviour which would alert the Emperor to your identity."

Luke suddenly had a thought; "If this room is being holotaped, isn't it dangerous to even be having this conversation?"

"There are no recordings allowed while we both meet in here together. Otherwise, I review all the holograms myself every day and destroy them afterwards. The guard I have surveying you is extremely trustworthy, but depending on the nature of what has been said between you and Obi-Wan, he may or may not have to be disposed of."

"You're not going to kill someone just because I…" Luke stopped in mid-sentence, thinking back at what exactly he had been saying to Obi-Wan. He realized, in a moment of horror, that he had mentioned master Yoda's name. "You… You can't see the recording of just now! It's… between Obi-Wan and I."

Vader gave a low chuckle. "I'm afraid that is out of the question. If anything, it makes it even more important." And with that, the Sith turned away to leave. Luke stood and rushed to the door to stop him, but was too late. The door hissed as it shut in his face and Luke sank to the floor miserably. Ben had vanished, leaving Luke quite alone and in even greater trouble than before.

How could he be so stupid? Vader had told him he would be under constant supervision! He should have known that even saying the name Yoda would be suspicious. But talking to Obi-Wan to top it off, well that made it all ten times worse. He knew his father wouldn't be happy when he viewed those holos. He would surely demand to know where Yoda was. But Luke swore to the Force that he would never tell.

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Vader was still staring at the hologram once he finished playing the recording a second time. Behind him the security guard lay on the floor and was giving a last gasp for air, but Vader ignored him. This information was huge! If Yoda was still alive, Palpatine would never live it down. He would order Vader to hunt down the elderly Jedi Master at once. But it would also lead to difficult questions about Luke. If Luke was an orphan boy with no knowledge of the Force he'd found on Raxus Prime, as Palpatine was going to have to be made to believe, how could he know who Yoda was?

The boy would have to understand this fact. As much as it pained Vader, he simply could not go out hunting for Yoda. Doing so would immediately alert his master.

This was all Obi-Wan's fault anyway, Vader reflected bitterly. How dare he appear before his son through the Force? The old man's last words suddenly had meaning; 'If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine…' But Kenobi was dead! He had no business returning here.

The security guard gave a last twitch before dying as Vader stepped over him, leaving the room. He must remember to appoint someone else for the job now…

When he returned to his son's room, the latter was sitting in the middle of the floor, holding his knees to his chest like a child. "What do you think you are doing?" Vader demanded, resisting the urge to aim a soft kick at him. "Get up at once. We have important things to talk about that cannot wait."

"I'll never tell you where he is." Luke snapped at him, staying on the floor. Vader heaved a sigh.

"You are far too emotional young one. Now get up or I will pull you to your feet. Is that what you want?"

Luke hastily scrambled up but kept his head down, refusing to meet his gaze. Vader impatiently pulled the boy's head up with his hand. "I will not ask you any questions regarding the whereabouts of Yoda. Now calm down."

Luke's eyes were wide and fearful, but he seemed to calm down at this, even though he clearly didn't understand. "I am itching to find him and give him what he deserves, trust me on that, but his survival must never be known by Palpatine. You are an orphan boy with hardly any knowledge of the Force, whom I recovered on Raxus Prime. How would you explain the fact you know Yoda and Obi-Wan? This is the kind of information that you must work at keeping stowed away inside you. Am I clear?"

In an instant, Luke seemed immensely relieved. He nodded and Vader let go of his chin.

"Very well then. Now, I believe that's enough discussion for tonight. I expect you to be awake and alert for oh-seven-hundred tomorrow morning. Do not keep me waiting."

Luke didn't reply, so Vader understood it as his cue to leave. The boy had understood the warning, clearly. And he, Vader, was ready for some meditation, if only there were fewer distractions. Maybe now that Luke was going to bed he could have peace for at least a short while.

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