Luke sighed, and tried to keep his head full of cool, calm poise. Did Vader really want to know about him? As much as he wanted to believe it, he highly doubted it. Luke brushed the idea off, feeling cynical. Cynical, Luke Skywalker! Han and Biggs would have laughed to hear that. Luke the day-dreamer..Luke with his head in the clouds…Not anymore. Was he really supposed to believe Vader had some sort of fatherly desire to hear about his long lost son's childhood? He rolled his eyes inwardly. Glancing about the striking architecture of the room, Luke turned his attention to the frigid beauty it held, trying to ignore his father's breathing. He knew he would somehow have to break through to Anakin...No matter how long it took. Vader could go to hell, but Luke knew he had to save his father. The Vader aspect was a painful reality of the situation; fate had played a grim joke. But why had Anakin turned? What made him into this...this thing?

"I believe I asked you a question, Luke. I will not ask again."

Vader's voice sounded quite irritated, and Luke felt a brief tinge of fear. He knew regardless if he and Vader were related or not, he was still a ruthless killer…better not to upset him.

"Master, what is it you would like to know?"

Vader clenched his teeth together, feeling blood boil to his face, He couldn't differentiate if it was pain, anger, or annoyance, but he did not like his new apprentice ( son….angel) calling him Master. Damn the boy for ignoring a basic question! Was it so hard for Luke to give some rudimentary, basic information? The boy clearly did not want to talk. He stared at Luke, using the force to jerk his face back to focus. He watched his son's face hungrily, the strange tightening painful in his chest. Damn Anakin! This was all Anakin's fault! With ice precision, Vader brought his son to full attention. Luke's blue eyes widened, than narrowed with revelation, and he begrudgingly began to speak.

"Raised by my Aunt and Uncle. On Tatooine. Trained by a great man, whom you killed. Joined the rebels. Decent pilot. Yes, that's my life so far".

Luke's emotions beat his chest inwardly. Let's see, he pondered. I'm also in love, killed a million imperials, and was betrayed by basically everyone…. Oh, wait, that's right! I recently have forsaken everything I believed in, and joined the dark side. My father more or less hates me, and is actually a ruthless Sith lord. I may never see my friends or loved ones again if Vader find's out I haven't turned.

"Is that adequate, Master?"

Vader's breathing encompassed the room. Although he hated sounding like Anakin, he wanted to warn his son anyways.

"I realize you are angry, Luke. This is excellent. Anger is the path to the dark side. But I suggest when speaking to your master, you show a little more…liveliness. You are lucky I take interest in you."

Luke's face remained unmoving. He gave a bitter half smile, his arms down at his sides, looking every bit as young as he was. The shadows cast along his cheekbones, the color of ebony against his golden skin seemed so familiar to Vader. His mind was drawn suddenly…to her. To her brown eyes and cascading hair, to her tiny waist, clad in a black gown, and her deep sighs, telling him they could never be together. Luke glanced up. Rather than scowl, instead, to Vader's shock, he smirked.

"Strange, most masters do not ask such personal questions…but maybe, this is customary to the Sith?

Something in him snapped. Anakin had been good up to that point, a mere whining he was able to drone out with practice. Suddenly Anakin rose up, boisterous and very upset. He tried to regain control, put up the wall, but Anakin could not be contained, much to Vader's disgust and dismay. He slammed his fist down, nearly breaking the table they sat at, in his fury.

"You are mine, and I shall ask any damned question I please. Is it so hard to answer a few basic questions? I am not interrogating you. I am simply asking about how you were raised."

Luke paused, and bit his lips. He closed and opened his eyes with care. (Keep it working. Do not give in. He can sense weakness…bravado…. You can do this. You can save everyone. Save Liea! Save you! Salvage the good!)

"With all due respect, My master, I feel such personal information is irrelevant to my training."

There! He said it. It was so hard, but he managed. Luke was not used to being so cold, especially with his…well, he had no choice. Vader's emotion filled the room. Sadness. Deep pain. Pain driven by frustration and anger. The conflict raged, and fury filled the room.

Vader's voice was low, made to sound threatening, but etched with anger and sorrow.

"Do not call me that."

Luke braced himself for his next sentence, trying to sound earnest, surprised. (Please work please work please work, please make it believable)

"I apologize. Do you prefer Lord Vader?"

Luke's smile was winning, his gaze steady, but the room began to shake, a violent throttle rattling the table, vases breaking, wallpaper peeling off. Luke steadied himself in his seat, instantly regretting playing such a hard game. How could he expect to win against his father? He had to try, didn't he? Maybe he was tied. Suddenly, Vader was next to him in a flash, the nightmarish breathing so loud, Luke could barely stand it, the machine's voice screaming human words, words Luke could barley comprehend, the blood was hitting his ears so hard. Like some sort of dream Vader was suddenly clasping the table, his breathing ragged, almost sobbing. The room was shaking with giant tremors, hatred rolling off Vader in waves. Luke motioned to help him instinctively, bending down, yet trying to keep a distance.

" Sir…I apologize. I didn't mean to upset you. I just didn't think trivial little things mattered, when one is becoming a Sith lord."

There! HA! He refused to give up, he wouldn't let Vader have his cake and eat it too. If Vader wanted him, he only wanted an apprentice, not a friend or son. That was an entirely different matter, and Luke was not going to give his father the comfort and happiness of having his son back. Force, he wished it wasn't like this! He needed his father too! But in order to save Anakin, he had to harm Vader. ( Ben, why didn't you warn me he was like this?)

Luke felt his airways close almost mysteriously, tremors shaking his form, as Vader stood up, shaking, and his breathing dangerously fast. He staggered towards Luke, grasping Luke's shoulders painfully. Vader's voice came out, and Luke couldn't help but listen, and internalize, hearing Vader's mechanical vocals trying to suppress pain.

"You claimed you joined me, you choose the dark side. Perhaps I am wrong, to asses you as my ally. Are you with me, my son? Did you join me? Or are your loyalties elsewhere?"

"I apologize, Master, of course I have turned. I am exactly as you wish: a loyal apprentice."

"THAT is not what I wanted."

Vader's voice had a naked and desperate quality to it, and Luke sensed his chance. Letting his shields down for a second, he gave his father a taste of what it felt like to have love, to have warmth, happiness, and security. Luke inched closer, allowing his warmth to penetrate Vader, allowing his vibrancy and energy to hit Vader in waves, and bounce off. Force, it hurt him to do this, to cause someone intentional pain, but it must be done. Luke felt his light and force presence being absorbed, and he let himself think of his love for Leia, friendship with Han, let every good aspect in his soul pour out.

" My lord, forgive me, but I don't understand. What else do you want?" His words were tempred with cold cruelty, but inside, Luke wanted to hear the answer. He needed to hear it. The little orphan inside longed to be needed.

" You."

Vader was losing his grip .Anakin was crying inside, crying like a child, feeling utterly weak and vulnerable, anger the only mask he had now, feeling his angel's love and passion hit him, feeling her presence after so many years. It was like cold water hitting his parched mouth after weeks in the desert, years without real water. He took it and yearned for it like a blind man seeing the sun, Anakin was greedy for Luke, greedy for Luke's love and light.

It didn't sound like Vader. The word was feverish and hungry, full of eerie emotions and need that gave Luke chills. Cloaking his feelings, shutting off all sources of light or comfort, he presented his sad and remorseful smile.

"Master, as my father is dead, I'm not sure what you could possibly want with me! I'm just a farm boy from Tatooine, son of a former Jedi, Anakin Skywalker. No one of vital importance!"

As Vader could hear Anakin start thrashing, the Emperor walked in. His hellish gaze rested on Luke, and Vader could sense him taking in every single emotion. All knowing. NO! His master could not come now. He was having a crucial moment with his rebel…he knew his master would try to twist Luke's mind further. Vader steadied himself, back in full control, in position to bow.

" My master, my new apprentice. Luke Skywalker"

The emperor held Luke's eyes, his yellow visage taking Luke in.

"Greetings, young Skywalker."

Luke bowed, his hands suddenly wet and clammy, trying to break through to his father. Vader was unreachable, so intensely guarded against all probing.

"Lord Vader, I wish to speak to your new apprentice within the day. It is rather imperative; you see that he and I become better acquainted".

Vader's laborious breathing. Luke's ears rang. He was close to Vader, the situation looked intimate and awkward.

"Certainly, my master. Skywalker will join you shortly."

The Emperor nodded his head, his eyes never leaving Luke's face. He gave a sly, malicious grin, and departed, his black robes trailing like blood on the hard floor. How much the boy reminded him of the damned senator, and of young Anakin Skywalker. He would make sure the boy was empty, hollowed out inside.

Luke sighed, his gaze wary, turning back to Vader. The dark décor of the room suddenly looked like an open cave.

Luke stood very still, his heart pounding. Normally, being this close to the man who maimed him would have upset Luke, but he felt too genuinely frightened to care.

Vader rose to his full height, seething in rage.

"You may have won this round, but beware, Luke. I will spend every waking moment with you to correct this behavior, and mold you into the proper mindset of the sith. You cannot play games and win against me. You seem to forget whom you speak to."

Luke moved towards Vader, pleading and sadness in his eyes.

" Goodnight….my…Lord."

As Luke turned to head back into his room, Vader blocked him by force, his brute strength digging into Luke's mechanical arm.

" Be wary of those who lie, my son. The truth is not always so simple."

Both Luke and Vader could hear Palpatine's chuckle in the darkness, a silent beacon that was all knowing. Anakin was pained, Vader angered, and Luke worried. None of them wanted the emperor involved. Luke sighed, and knodded his head, feeling ready to collapse.

" I know, father."

Luke did not regret the way he had acted, but he certainly felt like he could use some sort of reassurance against the emperor, and he dreamed of his old life, with flashes of his dead parents.

Anakin was more active than usual that night, his mind in a racing torrent of worry, concern and devotion for his son, while Vader kept trying to quiet Anakin. After all, the emperor always knew best. Or so, Vader kept trying to believe.