So did someone ask for a really super long chapter? You did? Good.

Chapter 10

Luke was smiling when he fell asleep in a mess of his father's letters, but he was certainly not smiling when his alarm went off. He groaned and went to snooze it, but didn't mange to before his father called out, "Do you really want to face the Emperor without meditating first?"

Luke groaned loud enough for his father to hear, but swung out of bed. The one advantage of his Tatooine trip being cancelled was that he could take a real shower instead of a sonic one. The teen let the water drip off him steaming up the fresher before actually turning it off and dressing. Sometime while Luke had been inside his father must have entered Luke's bedroom because an outfit was lying out on the bed. Luke had never seen it before; probably his father had it made especially for the occasion. It looked soft enough and so Luke didn't hesitate much in putting it on.

Once Luke looked in the mirror, however, he wanted to pull it right off. The soft silk was, of course, all black, but what Luke hadn't noticed before were the traces of gold stitched in. The buttons appeared to be solid gold and even had the Imperial emblem pressed in. Jewels ordained the outfit lavishly, and Luke felt just plain ridiculous. Sure it was a very formal event, Empire Day with the Emperor, but surely this was excessive. The last time Luke had spent Empire Day with the Emperor he'd been wearing a prison jumper…

"Don't tug on your collar like that," his father chastised as Luke made his way into the kitchen. "You'll wrinkle it all and look like a fool."

Luke shot his father a glare as he took a piece of burnt toast 3PO had made. "I already look like a fool! Who even dresses like this?" Luke's father was certainly dressed no different than normal. At most his cape had been pressed. (Suddenly Luke understood where his outfit came from. His father did wear a cape after all. At least Luke wasn't wearing a cape.)

"Luke, I know you and I have not often discussed this but the fact remains that you are the Imperial Prince," his father answered sounding physically pained. Luke shivered internally at the thought, and figured his father probably did too. After all Luke didn't have to be Emperor until both Palpatine and his father died, which seemed to the teen as something that could never happen. Vader would be Emperor upon his master's death, and everyone knew Palpatine was celebrating his eightieth birthday that year. Vader acted more as a commander-in-chief than a Crown Prince, but the realities of the situation remained. Sooner or later Luke would have his father's job as his father would have Palpatine's.

Luke liked the idea of his father as Emperor, it was true. His father truly wanted peace and justice in the world, even if he sometimes went too far to get it. Palpatine was selfish and horrible, but Luke's father wanted to bring the galaxy to peace. No the thought of Emperor Vader made Luke smile.

But the thought of himself as the supreme leader of the Navy? Or worse, as the Emperor himself made Luke feel sick. Rickon would be a much better Emperor, or even Leah for that matter. The reign of Emperor Skywalker would be a terrible one indeed.

"Luke, are you even listening to me?" His father asked, pushing against Luke with the Force to rouse the teen. "I was informing you that you need to be on your absolute best. I wish I had more time to teach you the ways of Court, but you have probably learned more at school than I will ever know. I am no politician and because of my position no one expects much of me. They will be looking at you, waiting for you to be a mistake and prove you are the weak link in the Empire. You must have perfect manners, speak only when spoken to, and under no circumstances say what you are actually thinking. Understood?" Luke nodded, and his father poked Luke through their training bond. "Answer questions with a yes or a no, not a nod. Understood?"

Luke went to nod, but caught himself and clearly said, "Yes Father."

The added 'father' gave Vader enough hope that they could make it through the day without a complete disaster, and so he did not follow through on his plan to 'accidentally' crash their speeder so neither had to go to the celebrations. He just led Luke to the speeder, encouraged the teen to meditate on the way, and hoped that some side of the Force had sympathy on his son.

Luke couldn't help but be nervous as he followed his father from the speeder towards where the Emperor was waiting. For one, his last meeting with the Emperor hadn't gone too well, but also Luke just didn't want to have the whole galaxy watching him. He wasn't anyone special. He wasn't any prince. He was just an average-to-intelligent teenage boy who loved Holos and games and happened to be training in the Force. That didn't make him truly special. It didn't make him worthy to be seen as someone above the rest of the galaxy, and yet that was exactly what his clothes said he was. Luke had worn ragged farmer's whites for over a decade; he didn't need gold to feel like he's moved up in the world.

"Ah, Lord Vader, young Skywalker, I'm glad you could join me," the Emperor greeted as the pair turned the corner. His robes were a crimson red, but, as always, covered his deformed face underneath. Luke had no idea what happened to the Emperor to deform him, but he wondered if perhaps that was part of the Sith thing. Every Sith Luke knew was deformed; another reason the teen wasn't so sure of that path.

"My master," Vader greeted with bowed head. Luke followed suit quickly with a bow, but it must have looked ridiculous because the Sith Master laughed. Luke blushed quickly, which only made more tendrils of glee mix in with the Emperor's dark Force presence.

"No need to worry boy, I'm sure someone has informed you by now that I do not want to kill you."

Luke blushed again, but finally got up the courage to speak despite Palpatine's sickening presence. "I want to apologize to you personally for my comments. They were said in anger and very unfair and wrong."

Palpatine stopped laughing, and Luke could tell he was trying to break past his shields. For a second he considered letting the old master in, but found himself repelling Palpatine. The Sith Master didn't seem to like that all that much, but he put on a smile for his apprentice's sake. "Your son has grown strong in the Force Lord Vader. Does it concern you that he shall soon surpass you?"

"It is a fact I am resigned to," Vader replied simply, probably wondering what had occurred to spark such a comment. "Kenobi deprived me of much of my power when he destroyed my body. Luke is strong; he will be able to succeed where I have failed."

Luke almost commented that his father his still much better than him, but remembered to hold his tongue last second. Both adults noticed, but didn't ask him what was on his mind. They did not want to know.

"Come then, the ceremonies await. I was going to introduce young Skywalker to the galaxy officially, but perhaps we should just let them gossip about what his presence means. It will be far more interesting," Sidious suggested.

Luke loved the idea, but he could feel his father's annoyance. Vader did not want his son to be the spectacle of gossip as it would surely go far beyond anything the Emperor could ever imply in an introduction. This was a punishment for Luke's strength of will, and the boy hadn't even come close to showing his true self. Surely it was going to be a very long day.

The three of them moved towards the platform, and were almost in sight of the people when Palpatine stopped once more. "I know how much you hate these things, old friend. Young Skywalker and I will fair fine alone if you were to go and participate in the Tie-Fighter show. You have often commented that you would prefer to be involved in that extent."

Vader had of course been saying that for 14 years, and he was furious that his master chose now to take him off on that offer. It was obvious that he was trying to separate father from son, probably to turn Luke against him. It wouldn't be difficult considering what Luke was just getting over; surely Palpatine had heard of Vader's deadly mistake.

"I do not mind Master," Vader answered coolly fully aware that he couldn't just outright refuse no matter how much he wished to protect Luke.

But it was this desire to protect Luke that the Sith Master was using to control his apprentice, and while the teen was oblivious, both adults knew it full well. "I insist. Your Tie-Advance prototype is being unveiled today on Lothal, so this will be your last chance to fly the old model."

Luke had to admit he didn't like the idea of his father leaving. It wasn't that Luke was particularly dependent on his father normally; he simply couldn't be. Yet on this day… with this person… well Luke needed all the help he could get.

But his father apparently would not be offering that help, because he got to go flying while Luke was stuck with the Emperor. It was so beyond unfair that Luke didn't even care. He was used to unfairness when it pertained to his father.

Do not let him corrupt you. Remember the truths you know.

Luke was shocked to hear his father's voice in his head, but managed to keep still enough that the Emperor wouldn't know the exchange was possible. Luke hadn't even known the exchange was possible, but he should have. Everything was possible with the Force.

"Come now Skywalker, the galaxy awaits."

The Emperor was walking onto the platform towards the thunderous crowd and Luke had no choice but to follow. He tried to keep his pace relaxed and channeled the way his classmates acted the best he could. He even thought he was doing a fairly good job, up until the moment that the Emperor indicated he should sit at his right.

This is my father's seat. I didn't know that last time he asked me to sit there but this is my father's seat. He knew even then, and yet he lied to me. Everyone always lies to me.

Luke hadn't thought much about that first encounter with the Emperor, but he couldn't help it as he sat in the same seat as before. It was still too big, though not to the same extent. Luke would probably always be smaller than his father by at least a foot, but at least it was no longer two feet.

"Citizens of the Empire," Palpatine called out to the crowds below and live feed streaming to the galaxy. (Not that most of the galaxy watched. Perhaps the Inner rim would, but in the Outer Rim half the time no one mentioned it being Empire Day. They knew though. They always knew.)

"Today marks the 15th anniversary of when peace came to the galaxy. This great government is no longer a child. In fact, was it a sentient, it could get a Speeder's License today."

The crowd laughed, but Luke could feel the Emperor was not trying to be funny. In fact the Emperor oozed deadly ferocity that made Luke slightly nauseous. "Slavery and corruption are non-existent and the only violence comes from those whose feeble attempts to resist us result in their own destruction. The Jedi abused the Force, and in the end it destroyed them, but now the Force smiles upon us. Let the festivities begin!"

Palpatine sat back down as the Imperial Anthem began to play. A large parade filled with floats of Star Destroyers, Tie-fighters, the Emperor, and even Vader began to make its way around the royal courtyards and the city center. Luke had once thought Coruscant had no ground, but it did… it was just artificial and only extended where it was convenient. The poorer areas of Coruscant would have whole segments of buildings without any real ground supporting them, but not in the Senate and Palace districts. There it looked like… well actually a lot like Theed, which made sense considering the Emperor's history.

"What are you thinking about?"

Luke was startled by the Emperor's attempts at conversation, and considered quickly whether or not this was one of the many things he shouldn't say. It seemed like a relatively safe topic; Palpatine didn't hide his past the way Vader did. "I was thinking of Naboo your majesty. I went there earlier this week on a class trip and I couldn't help but notice that your palace is quite a bit like the one in Theed."

Beneath the cloak Luke could make out a sick smile, but he wasn't deceived. The Force told him how Palpatine truly felt, and that was evil and, well, dark. "Ah yes. I will admit to the influence. Did you enjoy seeing your mother's home? Much nicer than your father's if I do say."

It was true, Naboo was nicer than Tatooine, but Luke felt a certain loyalty to his home. He'd hated Tatooine while there, but now… well he would prefer being there than where he was at the moment. Luke couldn't say that though; he didn't need his father around to know that. "Naboo is beautiful your majesty, and I enjoyed seeing my mother's portrait and grave."

"Such a shame young Padmé's death," Palpatine added wistfully. "She was younger than you when we first met, but twice as bold. I dare say it's a good thing you have inherited a mellowness unlike either of your parents. You've had your moments, but most could not forgive their father for leaving them motherless."

Luke's stomach twisted. He'd suspected something like this would come up, but he'd expected it to be more than a few minutes in. Apparently the Sith did not value patience the way the Jedi did. "I do not wish to judge him without knowing the full story. He admits that he was wrong to hurt her, but I do not truly believe he was responsible for her death. After all she lived long enough to deliver me without his knowledge, so she must have been alive when Kenobi took her. If anyone is responsible it's probably me."

Palpatine let out an insidious laugh, and Luke wondered for a second if he was about to get murdered after all. "You are truly a naïve and foolish child."

"Perhaps," Luke admitted, growing bolder but still feeling completely engulfed by the Dark Force the Emperor radiated. "But I know how often the truth can be manipulated. After all, it was four years ago today that you told me that Darth Vader had killed my father. I would have killed him if I'd been able to and all because you and I had different definitions of death."

Neither could believe the words that had come from the teen's mouth, but for very different reasons. The Emperor realized that he had vastly underestimated Luke who might be mellow but had all of his parent's ferocity. Luke was just horrified and quickly stammered out an apology, "I'm sorry your majesty. I didn't mean any disrespect I…"

"Do not worry," the Emperor told Luke shocking the teen. The Emperor didn't seem to mad. He actually seemed kind for a moment. If not for the Force's warnings Luke might actually have believed it, but either the Emperor's shields had grown weak since the defeat of the Jedi or Luke was far more powerful than either imagined. "You are correct. I knew you would encounter your father sooner or later and sowed a seed of distrust. It was for your own good though. You would be right to distrust your father. He loves you, but he is not against destroying what he loves. Your mother could attest to that, as can you if what I hear is correct."

Luke wasn't surprised that the Emperor knew about the incident after the play, and he rubbed his neck subconsciously. "It was an accident. He didn't want to hurt me, but he can't always control himself."

"Yes, he always has allowed the Force too much control over his actions. Yet you forgive him so easily?"

"I don't think I'm capable of hate your majesty, not the prolonged sort at least," Luke admitted with a shrug. Perhaps the Emperor wouldn't like that; Sith were hate after all. That didn't mean it wasn't true though. Luke couldn't really hate anyone or anything, not even the Emperor. He just couldn't muster up the emotion anymore. Perhaps it had something to do with his Jedi training or maybe Luke was broken. He didn't know.

Palpatine obviously didn't either because he seemed surprised by the possibility. It was very likely that the Sith had never heard of someone who didn't hate anything. "Well, as I said you are very young and naïve."

Luke smiled, almost certain that that had nothing to do with it, "Perhaps your majesty."

"I want you to call me master, young Skywalker," the Emperor declared actually turning to look at Luke for the first time. He may be young, but he was not a child. He needed to begin his training if he was to be prepared by the time the Death Star was. "It will be a few years more before you are ready for me to train you in the ways of the Sith, but you are not my subject, you are my apprentice."

The idea sent a shiver down Luke's spine. Sure he knew where his training was headed, but he did not want to think of himself as the Sith's apprentice. He was very much a Jedi and while his father might let him continue as one the Emperor surely wouldn't. Still, Luke didn't want to face the punishing power of the Dark Side, so he let the words stick to his mouth. "Yes my master."

"Good," the Emperor assured with a nod. "I think perhaps it's also time you expand your training. Your skill with the Light Side is impressive and while you're not ready to accept the power of the Dark Side you are probably capable of learning more about the Senate and Court. Your cousin is Naboo's senator, is she not? Get in contact with her and have her give you lessons."

Luke probably would not like the idea of these lessons no matter what, but considering his awkward meeting with Pooja on Naboo he dreaded them. Still, this was the Emperor, "Yes Master."

"Good," Sidious replied, his voice sounding like a snake devouring its prey, and Luke knew exactly who the prey was. "Perhaps I can make a Sith of you yet."

They did not talk much more after that. Luke listened to the painful speeches and the (fake) pardoning of a youth in silence. The only fun part of the whole bit was watching the Tie-Fighter show. It was always spectacular, but with his father flying it was something else. Who would dare be a rebel against that?

Luke found it hard to enjoy though because he felt terribly sick. He knew it was the Darkness of the Emperor and tried to use the Light Side to push it away, but it was nearly impossible. There was just so much Darkness. By the third hour of the event Luke could think about nothing but the desperate voice screaming inside his head- I need to get out of here! I need to get out of here! I need to get out of here!

Finally Luke couldn't take it anymore, and he stood quickly, "Excuse me Master but I need to go to the fresher."

Luckily the Emperor no longer cared much and just waved the teen away. It took all of Luke's power not to run from the platform. Once away from peering eyes Luke did run, though not towards a fresher. He didn't actually need to go, he just needed to go away from there.

Slam! Luke tumbled to the ground as he turned a corner and smacked into someone. Blinking Luke accepted the hand he was being offered, and almost fell back down when he saw who he'd run into.

"Kes?"

Kes had grown up since Luke last saw him. He was almost 22 of course, so it meant sense, but it was odd to see. He looked more put together, more in control. The four others with him all looked as if they were following his lead, and, Luke noticed, had their hands on hidden blasters. (Nothing is hidden to the Force.)

"Luke?" Kes seemed as surprised to see Luke as Luke was to see Kes, but the older man was beaming. "Sith's Hell that is you! What are you doing here? I went back to Vorus to try and find you and I heard that Vader had gotten to you!"

Kes had come back for Luke? "It's a long story," Luke told his once-friend. Kes had been the opposite of Brandon, the person Luke had gone to once everyone thought he was a rebel. Now Luke was still too much of a rebel for Brandon and would certainly be too much of an Imp for Kes. Speaking of which… "I can't believe you're even alive!"

"Same with you!" Kes admitted actually pulling Luke in for a hug and hair ruffle. "After they let me go they had me followed hoping I'd lead them back to the Alliance, but I was smarter than them. It took me a few months but I lost the spy and made it back." Kes waved to the others around them. "My squadron. It's okay guys Luke has the fight of the Princess. Vader killed his parents personally."

That seemed to make the other rebels relax, which just made Luke feel terrible. If only they knew. "Look, Kes, not that I'm not glad to see you but what are you doing with a rebel squadron in the Imperial Palace!"

Before Kes could answer, Luke heard the sound of an explosion and some screaming. The smile on the rebels face that was all the answer Luke needed, well that and the yells of stormtrooper. "Yeah, no time to talk," Kes decided taking off at a run.

"This way," Luke told them figuring that all the spies would be out in the ceremonies not in the palace passages. "I know a way out of here."

The others seemed to doubt Luke, but not Kes. Kes could see nothing but the stupid little kid who'd been terrorized for something he hadn't even done. Now this, this was actual treason. It was good to know Luke was still a Rebel at heart. Kes and the other rebels followed Luke, and stared as the boy somehow opened up a passage in the wall.

"Follow this down until you reach a three-way fork. Take the right passage and then the next left and you'll reach the city's underground. No one will be able to find you down there," Luke told them not even responding to their stares. "Go! The troopers are dumb but do you want Vader finding you?"

That was enough to propel the other rebels into the hidden passageways, but Kes lagged in the back. "You weren't kidding about a Jedi coming to get you, were you?"

Luke had completely forgotten his and Kes's first conversation, but apparently Kes had not. "Look, it's a really long story you don't have time for. All that matters is I am where I belong and so are you. So just stay safe, okay?"

"You could come with us you know," Kes offered even as his friends called for him to come on. "We could use a Jedi, or whatever you are."

It was so very tempting, and yet, at the same time, it wasn't tempting at all. Luke wasn't sure how he felt about the rebels. They were right in a lot of regards about the Empire, but they were wrong to think the Empire was pure evil. The Emperor had terrible tactics, the Emperor was terrible, but a lot of them, but Luke's father, just wanted what was best for the galaxy. And Luke was in a position to do that. "I can't. It's better for everyone that I am where I am. I'm in a position to do real good. So I need you to punch me. That way it will look like I was trying to stop you and no one will question it too much."

Kes looked hesitant, but there was a certain determination in Luke's eyes that shouldn't belong to any 14-year-old. Even if Luke was deciding to stay with the Empire he sure had a rebel spirit, and, despite everything, Kes trusted him. So, he punched Luke flat in the face actually knocking the teen out.