Darth Vader waited once again for Luke to catch up with him. He had thought he had reduced his stride enough so that his much shorter son could keep pace, but he had obviously misjudged the degree of Luke's disability. And he did not want to get too far ahead of the boy.
He watched as Luke and Solo slowly approached. The smuggler was following almost directly behind his son, as if he wished to stay in catching distance should the boy stumble. Vader knew this was probably wise - the jungle was a harsh place and would soon turn against those who made even a casual misstep - but it still annoyed the Dark Lord that Solo remained so close to his son.
Vader looked pointedly at the obviously struggling Luke, then fixed his gaze again on Solo.
The smuggler stared back at him, raised his chin, and the dark eyes flashed defiance.
Vader held the smuggler's gaze, but didn't bother to punish him for his impudence. You may keep your secrets for now, Solo, but there is something besides a wounded leg and mere smoke inhalation afflicting my son, and I will discover its cause with or without your cooperation.
Luke stopped a careful distance from Vader and coughed again. The dry, hacking sound was quite clear even amidst the clatter of the birds and diurnal mammals in the forest canopy above. When Luke saw Vader staring at him, the boy made a conspicuous effort to stifle the cough.
He was only partially successful.
Luke looked around, clearly trying to find something to distract Vader from his overly labored breathing. The boy shook his head. "It's strange," he finally said.
They had been traveling along a broad ridge on one of the taller mountains of the rainforest, although the pervasive mist and semi-darkness obscured that fact from those who were not Force-sensitive. Vader looked around at the vista of moss-covered ground and mammoth trees and decided to humor the boy for now. "In what way, child?" As he spoke, Vader stepped closer to Luke just to see what his son would do.
The boy's eyes widened, but he didn't make a move to step back.
Brave child.
But Vader was beginning to realize that Luke had inherited much of his mother's courage as well as her particular brand of stubbornness.
Luke looked up at Vader's mask, seeming to search for something, before he finally spoke again. "It's just so open. I thought a rainforest would be . . . I don't know, more cluttered, more overgrown?"
Vader paused before replying. He, too, had been amazed at the forests, both rainforest and temperate, that he and Obi-Wan had visited when Vader had first escaped from the barren deserts of Tatooine. It was disturbing to revisit those feelings of wonder through his son.
Disturbing enough that he didn't think through his reply carefully enough. "You equate openness with lifelessness, child. This is not the Jundland Wastes - the climate conditions are quite different here."
The boy's fatigue and curiosity were such that he didn't catch the slip, but the Corellian obviously did. Solo glanced sharply at Vader and his eyes narrowed significantly.
Vader decided to merely ignore him. The smuggler could surmise what he wished about Vader's knowledge of Luke's homeworld.
He gripped his son's elbow carefully and turned him to face the nearest of the immense trees. The boy jerked briefly in his grasp, but it seemed as much in surprise as in consternation. Luke looked up at him warily though, and again Vader felt that brief flash of fear through the Force. Did his son now suddenly fear Vader himself, or was it merely the physical contact that distressed him so?
Vader tried unsuccessfully to ignore the wave of disappointment that passed through him. While he normally thrived on the fear that his mere presence generated in others, he was vaguely disturbed that his own son should fear him as well.
The Dark Lord briefly considered the thought of simply telling Luke of his parentage, but the time was not yet right. While the boy obviously longed for his father, the possibility that the boy would merely attempt escape rather than submit to the truth was still far too likely. Unless that balance between flight and longing tipped in his favor, Vader couldn't risk telling Luke. Balen'ar was far too dangerous for the injured or the unwary to traverse alone.
Moving up close behind his son, Vader gestured with one hand over the boy's shoulder. Luke trembled visibly, but he didn't make an immediate effort to move away. His eyes obediently followed the direction of Vader's pointing finger.
"Light is life, at least as far as the flora of the rainforest is concerned. Even with the warm temperatures and excessive rainfall, the canopy and understory below it block the light necessary for most plants to grow on the forest floor."
Luke took a step forward, probably uncomfortable at Vader's continued close presence. "But the trees are covered with plant life. . . " Luke began, as he took another step and reached toward a vine hanging negligently from the nearest tree.
Vader pulled the boy back against his chest and stepped backwards quickly out of reach, just as the Trella vine uncurled suddenly, snatching violently at the prey that had wandered into its path.
The vine waved back and forth through the air for a few moments, seeking, searching, until it realized the prey was no longer close enough and placidly returned to mimicking a mere vine again.
The boy was trembling in earnest now, and Vader found that he was reluctant to release him. "But then, some of the plant life does not rely on photosynthesis for its survival," Vader said.
"Really? I never would've guessed," came Solo's sarcastic reply from immediately behind them. Vader turned his head to find the Corellian glaring at him steadily, his gaze accusatory.
The Corellian was almost amusing in his protectiveness toward the boy, but Vader felt no desire to reveal that he hadn't actually planned that little demonstration. Vader had merely discovered that the boy's curiosity was perhaps a little stronger, and more reckless, than his own had been at that age.
If that were even possible.
Vader looked down at the boy. "Do you see now why it is important to stay close to me, child?"
Luke started to say something, but he was interrupted by Solo. "If memory serves, Your Imperial Forgetfulness, Luke didn't run into trouble until he did get close to you." Solo flicked an imaginary speck of dust off his shoulder, then glared at Vader again. "A little coincidental, don'tcha think?"
"Solo, I have come to the reluctant conclusion that you do not 'think' at all." He gripped Luke's shoulder tighter when his son made a move to step between them. "I have no desire for the boy to come to harm . . . .yet." Vader pointed a finger at the smuggler and added, "Fortunately, I have no such constraints when it comes to you."
The Corellian straightened to his full height, then leaned in closer to Vader and pointed his own finger. "Fine, then. Why don't you and I. . . ."
"Stop it, both of you!" Luke shifted down and away as he spoke, breaking Vader's grasp on his shoulder. He moved to stand between Vader and the smuggler, glaring at both of them with bright eyes that flashed like his mother's.
Vader pulled back and dropped his hand, bemused.
"If we want to survive this trip, perhaps we ought to consider cooperating a little instead of trying to rip each other to shreds." His son held up his hand when Solo opened his mouth to reply. "At least long enough for us to get to. . . ." Luke turned to Vader, hands crossed forbiddingly over his chest. "Just where the hell are we going, anyway?"
Vader cocked his head to one side, considering. There was no urgent reason to keep their destination a secret anymore. Luke would be leaving with Vader when he departed from this planet. And Solo - Solo would find himself unable to disseminate the information, even if he so wished.
"There is a settlement," Vader said, bowing his head in ironic capitulation to the boy. "The TIE security force is also based there."
Solo frowned. "Settlement? The planetary survey team said the native population had completely died out." His words weren't quite an accusation.
"I did not say it was a native settlement."
Luke was looking at him intently. "But it's not an Imperial outpost."
Vader hooked his thumbs in his belt, stalling for time. It wasn't a question. The boy had insight, if not outright manipulation of the Force yet. "No," Vader said.
"Just what is it then?" Solo snapped.
Vader almost responded in kind to the smuggler's caustic tone, but the look in his son's eyes forestalled that. It wouldn't hurt to gain some of the boy's trust by at least attempting to be civil to the man. But Vader directed his reply to Luke instead. "It was started as a research facility."
"Research?" The boy frowned, looking over at the innocent-appearing Trella vine before glancing back up at Vader. "Research into the local plant life?" he asked.
Vader nodded gravely. "Your intuition serves you well."
Solo snorted loudly. "Darth Vader and his Dreaded Army of Killer Vines. At least you wouldn't have to worry about uniforms."
"Han," his son reproved softly, before turning again to Vader. "Medicinal research?" Luke asked him.
Vader merely nodded again.
The Corellian came up close behind his son and laid a proprietary hand on the boy's shoulder. "Luke, that's just as bad. Even on Tatooine, you must have heard about Vader's pet biologic warfare project on Falleen . . . and the number of Falleen who died when he destroyed an entire city to contain his little mistake."
Vader still directed his comments to his son, ignoring the Corellian. "That particular project was by the Emperor's order."
"But you supervised it," Solo retorted.
Vader decided that Luke or no Luke, the smuggler was not likely to survive the journey. "Even I must bend my will to the Emperor's wishes, Solo."
"Only when it suits your purposes, would be my guess."
As Vader stared at the smuggler, he revised his opinion of the man. Annoying, but dangerously perceptive.
Luke's sigh cut through the ensuing silence. Even the birds had gone silent as if sensing an oncoming storm. "Can we just get moving again?" His son sounded suddenly fatigued. "How far is this settlement?"
"At this pace?" Vader said, eyeing his son's slumped shoulders. "At least several days' journey."
"Wonderful." Luke started off, but then stopped, turning his head to face Vader. "Let me guess - that vine isn't the only carnivorous plant on this world."
"No, it is not," Vader replied.
Luke sighed again. "I think I'd have preferred a krayt dragon. At least on Tatooine it's fairly obvious what's planning on eating you." He gestured to Vader. "I guess I'll just follow you then."
Vader heard the amusement creep into his mechanized voice. "That would be the wisest course, child."
As they started once again on their journey, Vader detoured around another Trella-laden tree. He heard Solo mutter something about a "wager" under his breath, but Vader had already resigned himself to simply ignoring the man.
And he told himself he wasn't at all interested in the specifics of that wager, either.
