Darth Vader smiled behind his mask. The deadly scarlet blade went down in a second and approached Luke dangerously, close enough to reflect his brightness in the boy's icy blue eyes. The young Jedi let the Force guide his movements and his lightsaber blocked Vader's blow, causing thousand of sparkling lights. Luke stepped backward to balance himself and avoided the series of Vader's blows, who was fighting back non-stop, increasing the speed progressively. The boy had no difficulty in keeping the rhythm, even though he sometimes felt that, after certain movements, there was a kind of emptiness which made him feel helpless. But, fortunately, the Force was warning him almost immediately, right after every thrust, whispering the next motion. Darth Vader was a superb lightsaber duelist; from his point of view, the best of the galaxy. His knowledge of the Djem So, aka Form V, was unbeatable. The Dark Lord wielded the lightsaber like more than an extension of his arm… It was an extension of his dark mind. Even though he was doing it not too badly, Luke could not help but think that he was light years away from being a worthy rival for his father. He wondered if Palpatine was even better…
"Stop distracting yourself with your thoughts," Vader told him off, forcing him to jump to avoid a treacherous attack directed at his legs. "Forget Palpatine. Focus your attention on what you are doing now. The past and the future don't exist, only the present."
Luke gritted his teeth and tried to obey. He fought against his thoughts until they silenced totally and he gave himself to the Force. He wanted to feel it like never before. In his impatience for increasing his power, Luke called the light with desperation and demand. Suddenly, the same Light seemed to whisper him that that was not the right way. The Force shone inside him without effort and that would always be so. He had no more to do than letting it flow through him and trust it. Without doubts. Without concerns. He had to trust and erase the thought that if he could be able or not to beat a stronger rival. Vader had told him on some occasions that he was really powerful, much more than he could even imagine. More than the Emperor. Deep inside, Luke could hardly believe it, but he could feel the truth in his father's words. Perhaps it was about time to have faith in that possibility, as ridiculous as it might be. "No, do not think it's ridiculous," The boy closed his eyes tightly and, finally, his doubts disappeared.
The Dark Lord smiled again. Luke's power seemed a nova in that moment. The duel intensified and Vader could check that the boy carried out perfectly and without effort some motions he had executed before. He was learning fiendishly fast. The boy's brightness dissolved his own darkness with an overwhelming assurance. The Dark Side roared menacingly, but for the first time, the Light did not seem to be the weak one. He had never witnessed such power. The speed at which both moved, fighting and dodging mutually, was supernatural. The Dark Lord knew that was very dangerous. It was not a simple training anymore. It was a real combat and the possibilities that either of them ended up injured or dead were raising at every second. He had to end this now. But fighting against someone like Luke was so… stimulating. Vader had never felt as alive as he was in those moments. The Force in all its plenitude seemed to heal his wounds and he was enjoying it like never before. The duel intensified even more. Just a little more…
Suddenly, an extremely fast blow of Luke's blade crashed against Vader's with amazing violence. The boy's lightsaber bounced treacherously after the crash. Vader's breathing paralyzed inside his chest at seeing his old blue blade approached Luke's throat. He acted without thinking and hit again the blade in the opposite direction, just right before Luke's eyes. It was not a great idea, of course. The sky blue blade turned and fell down in his left shoulder, piercing his armor. Vader stifled a groan when he felt the burning blade cutting the already scarred skin.
"Father!"
Luke used the Force to push away the blade, taking her from Vader's shoulder immediately. The lightsaber shot out and fell down several meters away, already deactivated. The young Jedi ran to his father, who had fallen on a knee, trying to soothe the pain.
"Are you OK?"
Vader was motionless. Luke rested his hand on his shoulder carefully, avoiding touching the wound. The Dark Lord seemed to tremble before the soft touch. He lifted his head to look at his son, who was watching him anxiously. The pain disappeared, and perplexity took its place. Luke was worried about… him?
"It's nothing," replied Vader, standing up.
"Nothing? That should be checked by a doctor."
Vader repressed a growl of impatience. He reached out and his old lightsaber flew up to his hand.
"I'm perfectly fine. It was only a scratch."
"A… what?"
"Compared to other wounds, of course, it is. It's enough for today," settled Vader, cutting his son off and returning him the lightsaber.
Luke swallowed hard before the meaning of his father's words. The young Jedi took the lightsaber from Vader's hand and hung it off his belt.
"I'm sorry. It was my fault. I shouldn't…"
"Nonsense. That possibility could happen sooner or later. I think that both of us were getting more and more excited and the training turned into a real combat. I am the sole responsible. I should have stopped this before."
The boy blinked and shook his head.
"Anyway, I'm sorry. You got injured to prevent the lightsaber from hitting me," he concluded, looking at his father with a mixture of admiration and sorrow.
Vader started to feel really uncomfortable. He could not deny that the boy was right. Every time he felt that Luke was in danger, something stronger than him forced him to protect the boy. Luke felt immediately that discomfort.
"Calm down, I know you only do that because you are interested in protecting my life… for the moment. Don't worry. Your reputation of being the most frightening Sith Lord still remains untouchable."
Luke's bitter irony seemed to hit Vader. He stared at his son. He could feel his deep bitterness. The young Jedi barely bowed as a sign of farewell and started to walk away. Vader clenched his fist. Why Luke had to be… like this? He was as damned powerful as sentimental. His kind heart seemed to be full of wounds and deceptions and, even so, it never let to radiate that pure light. He was so much like Padmé… The amazingly beautiful face materialized again into his mind, torturing him. He could see her as clearly as she was right in front of him, with that smile which lighted up the whole galaxy. She… she would be so pride of Luke! She would adore him, literally. A slight memory fluttered inside him…
"I'm sure. It's a boy," she caressed lovingly her swollen belly. "A precious boy as handsome as his father…"
"No, it's a girl for sure. As bossy and beautiful as his mother."
Vader suppressed a painful groan which seemed burn into his ruined lungs. It did not matter that he was on the Dark Side. He knew he could never destroy the memory of Padmé and that caused him a terrible suffering. He squeezed his eyes tightly, trying to calm down the pain. She was still smiling at him in his mind, caressing him…
"Father..."
Vader opened the eyes a bit surprised. Luke was a few steps away, looking at him.
"Are you OK?"
Again that sincere concern. That warmth.
"Why do you care about it?"
"Because you're my father."
"That is no justification."
"It is to me."
And again that damned stubbornness. Vader's anger disappeared little by little. Having an argument was useless and, right now, he did not feel like it at all. For the first time, rage did not appear. He simply looked at his son and wondered for the umpteenth time how was possible that such light had born from his darkness. He did not want to fall to that powerful feeling which linked him to the boy. That feeling he did not even dare to name. He did not WANT. But fighting against it was more and more difficult. He could not even get angry at the thought of his helplessness. He knew that Luke was gaining power over him day by day and that was a very concerning thought. But he also knew that Luke would never betray him.
"I'm fine," he said, finally.
Luke sighed in relief. Suddenly, he felt a little embarrassed. What the hell it is supposed that he had to say now? He had expected that Vader answered him furiously, as usual. Seeing that it was quite the opposite, Luke had no idea of what to do. Vader seemed to notice it.
"Your training has finished for today. You can dispose of your free time as you wish."
Luke nodded. Suddenly, an idea came to his mind.
"Well, the truth is… I don't have anything important to do right now, so…" he looked at his father carefully. "We can use the time and you maybe can show me your ships' collection… If it isn't too much trouble."
Vader looked at Luke again. The boy was showing his best face of "butter wouldn't melt in my mouth". The Dark Lord had to make a real effort to contain a smile.
"Fine. I suppose that it is a good moment to do that."
Luke smiled full of enthusiasm and, without a word, he went out the door impatiently. Vader followed him; this time he couldn't suppress the smile.
