Chapter 11

Once Vader finished his conversation with the Lars, he went to check up on Luke. None to his surprise, the boy was sitting in bed, but not asleep. The room seemed so bare, so empty. Vader decided he'd have someone pick up some paint. Luke would surely appreciate it.

"You're supposed to be going to sleep," Vader reminded, shutting the light. Luke's eyes still followed him though, and Vader suspected the Force was to blame.

"I'm sorry," Luke replied. "But I was thinking. A lot happened today." Yes, that was certainly true. "Father, are you sure Mother is dead? You thought I was dead but I'm not so maybe…"

Vader thought he'd already shut down that line of questioning, and wasn't amused by Luke continuing it. "I am sure. Do not ask again."

Vader shut the door a bit too hard, and Luke was left wondering how he could have messed things up already. Vader felt his son's turmoil, but attributed it to the changes in the boy's life. Boys needed consistency, Vader remembered that from the younglings and padawans. Once Luke got used to the changes though, he'd be alright.

Vader stood outside Luke's door until he was sure the boy had fallen asleep, and then went to work. He would surely have a few days on Coruscant before he had to set out after some rebels, but he had to be prepared for the inevitable. Luke was too young to be left alone overnight, and until Kenobi was found the boy was in danger. He had to find someone to watch Luke while he was away.

"Is there something I can get for you, Lord Vader?" Vader loved the fearful tone of his assistants. He loved that they were wise enough to know their deaths could come each time they answered his Com message.

But on that one instance, Vader did not need fear, especially not when he remembered that his newest assistant was a woman. "Please come to my apartment in the Senate Complex. I wish to speak to you personally."

The woman arrived quickly, and Vader felt her fear. She was not like his usual assistants, and he could not remember how she'd gotten the job. Normally they picked lacking members of the military, not kindly women. Still, it suited Vader's purpose. "What do you know of children?"

His assistant had seen Luke earlier in the day, but had not questioned it. She suspected, however, that the boy was why Vader asked. Poor kid. "I have two grown children sir, so a decent bit."

"I have a new job for you," Vader decided, feeling the warmth of the woman and knowing she'd do well. "I discovered today that my son, who I have believed dead for over a decade, is in fact alive. You shall move into this apartment and serve as a full time nanny for my son, caring for him when I am away, which will surely be often."

The woman seemed fearful, but held strong. "Me sir? Surely you would prefer I find someone who has experience caring for children."

"I thought you had children. Surely that counts as experience."

The woman opened her mouth to reply, and quickly closed it again. It was true that she did know how to be a mother, and a mother this boy would surely need with such a father. She couldn't help but pity the boy with a machine as a father. "Very well sir. Though I'm sure I could never replace you I will be honored to care for your son as if he was my own."

That was exactly what Vader hoped she'd say. "Good. Remind me of your name."

"Nila Difdin, sir."

"I need you to find a body guard for my son as well. The Jedi Master who stole Luke from me will surely be back soon, and Luke must be well protected."

Nila nodded, a smile on her warm face. "I know just the man for the job."

Luke awoke the next morning and was unsure about getting up. Would his father still be angry over Luke asking questions? Was his father always angry? Luke knew as a fact Vader killed people, so he had to be pretty angry. Why did he kill so many people though? He wasn't evil; Luke's father couldn't be evil. So why did he act evil then? Luke would have to stop his father from killing people. He could make his father good; Luke knew it.

With renewed hope, Luke climbed from bed. He realized he was still wearing his Vorus uniform and found it hard to believe. Had he really been there only the day before? Had Kes only been gone for three?

Kes-Luke wondered about his friend a lot. Had he actually been freed? Was he with the Rebellion that very moment? Or had they killed Kes. Worse, had Vader killed Kes? If Vader killed Rebels had he killed Kes? Luke didn't want to believe it, so he blocked it out.

He wandered out of his room and found, much to his surprise, a woman standing in the kitchen cooking. Panic flared inside Luke, but he batted it away. The woman was cooking-surely she wasn't evil. Plus she didn't look evil. Her hair was a soft red, with hints of gray in it. Her eyes were dark, but warm. And her smile… it was enough to make Luke trust her.

"You must be Luke," she greeted flashing that smile. "My name is Nila. Your father hired me to care for you while he was busy working. He's in the conference room now working, so I figured I'd make you breakfast."

Luke nodded, and slid into one of the stools lining a bar-like table. "I really don't need a babysitter you know."

Nila smiled. It had been years since her children were as innocent as Luke. "Well that's good because I do," she teased putting some strange food on Luke's plate. He looked at it for a moment before biting in- it was delicious!

"Thank you!" He told her with a smile. He'd never eaten something so great before. It tasted like… like… well Luke didn't even have anything to compare it to. "We don't have anything like this on Tatooine."

Nila filed away the boy's home world and smiled. "I'm glad we have it here then. Eat up, you need some food in you if you're going to be as tall as your father."

Luke found it impossible to believe he could ever be that tall. "Shouldn't we save some for my father?"

Nila pursed her lips, but quickly smiled. No need to worry the boy. "I don't think your father will be eating with you any time soon Luke. Most of the officers just drink nutrition beverages to save time." Nila actually was pretty sure Vader didn't eat or drink anything at all, but she wasn't about to say that aloud.

Good thing too, because at that moment the heavy breathing of Vader grew louder. Luke looked up to see his father standing in their kitchen. The Sith looked out of place, even awkward, but only Nila noticed. Luke was too busy grinning. "Hi!"

"Good morning," Vader greeted, trying to figure out how to make his mechanical voice sound less menacing. Luke didn't seem to mind it though, which was just a testament to the boy's naivety more than anything. "I see you have met Ms. Difdin."

Luke nodded. "You have to try this it tastes so good!" Vader tensed, and Luke felt it through the Force. Slowly the boy lowered his head. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry again."

"I am not angry," Vader corrected wishing the boy could see his eyes. It would make communication so much easier. Alas Kenobi had taken that away as well. "Did you find a guard for Luke?" He asked Ms. Difdin.

Luke threw his head back, somberness forgotten quickly. "I'm eleven! I don't need a babysitter and a guard!"

"Your Aunt and Uncle said that Kenobi was looking for you," Vader reminded the boy with a pointed look Luke could not see. "He took you once. I'm not going to let him do so again."

Now Nila understood the man's insistence. She'd be worried about losing her child too. "I know a guy. He's not military so he can be trusted. Money is a far better motivator for loyalty than pride in one's government. I've had some dealings with him before-he's a good man." Vader just approved of how the woman was smart enough to look beyond the military and find someone actually fit for the job.

Vader approved. "Good. I also need you to enroll Luke in school." Nila nodded and added it to her list.

"Do I have to go to school?" Luke pleaded. School was so terrible. "Everything they tell us is a lie anyways."

Vader grew dark at his son's words. They were true of course, Palpatine had been falsifying the history books for a decade, but Luke could not be saying such things. "As someone who was personally there for many of these 'falsified' events I can tell you the books are perfectly accurate. So yes, you must attend school."

"I bet you didn't have to attend school as a Jedi," Luke grumbled.

Vader looked over to the nanny, expecting some sort of reaction, but she just continued washing the dishes- smart woman. "Do not make me remind you a third time that we are not to discuss such things. For your information, however, Jedi Padawans are considered students day and night. I was always in school."

"Fine," Luke grumbled, getting up from his seat and heading towards his room. Halfway there he realized he'd have nothing to do in his room. Actually he had nothing to do at all. "What are you doing all day? Can I come?"

"No," Vader replied simply. "But when your guard arrives you can go to the shopping center to get whatever supplies you need. I've already given Ms. Difdin a card she can use to make purchases." Luke wondered if perhaps he could only get one pair of socks and use the credits for a hologame…

Vader sensed a certain brooding in Luke, and decided he needed to teach the boy to shield his emotions before Vader lost his mind. "What is wrong?"

"I was just hoping you'd spend the day with me," Luke admitted, his blue eyes wide and pleading. "I want to get to know you!"

And Vader wanted to get to know his son. "When I return from my work we can spend time together. I promise." Luke smiled and nodded, watching his father stalk from the apartment, cape billowing behind.

Once Luke's guard, one Han Solo, showed up, they headed towards the shipping center and found themes subjected to the manipulation of an eleven year old. "Can I pilot? My father said I could pilot." When I'm fifteen.

Luckily Nila and Han weren't thick. "I'm sure he did," Nila smirked. "But you won't mind if I wait and ask him tonight, right?"

Luke paled, and Han laughed. "Don't worry we won't tell. I would have tried the same thing."

"I just want to fly," Luke grumbled, peering out from the speeder. He still couldn't get pat how huge the city was, and his disappointment was quickly forgotten. "Do you think if I only get one pair of socks I'll have enough money to buy a hologame."

"Luke," Han chuckled. "You do realize that your father is the second richest person in the galaxy. He's the Emperor's heir."

He was? "Oh."

Han laughed again at Luke's dumbstruck face. The boy certainly looked fresh off Tatooine, even if he had been on Coruscant for months. "That makes you second in line for the throne, kid. Let's hope no one dies soon. I don't think you could reach."

"I'm not that short," Luke objected, reconsidering his assertion of liking Han.

Han, however, knew he liked Luke. "Yeah, you are, but don't fret it. I'm sure you'll get plenty tall in a few years." Vader was, after all, a giant. Luke surely would be too.

The wonders of Coruscant never ceased to amaze Luke. The shopping center was a dozen floors and packed with people. Nila parked their speeder, and immediately found a map. The whole third level was dedicated to kids' stuff, so she figured that was a good enough place to start.

First they bought a whole wardrobe full of clothes for Luke. The boy thought it was too much, and said so, but Nila ignored him. "We can't have you walking around naked, little Lord."

"But I'm not a Lord," Luke objected, tripping over a pair of shoes to prove his point. Lords were supposed to be noble, regal. But that was just something they learned.

Unfortunately, grace didn't determine much in an Empire. "Your father is a Lord, Luke," Nila gently reminded. "As his eldest son that makes you one too."

He seemed to be saying it a lot, but Luke's only response was, "Oh".

After letting Luke change into one of his new pairs of lose black pants and a clean shirt, they headed towards the furniture store. Luke's room was depressingly empty, and Nila wanted to fix that.

"What's your favorite thing in the galaxy," she asked the boy. Luke hesitated, as if expecting her to laugh. Finally though he answered.

"Flying in space! When we came to Coruscant that was so cool even if I was upset. There are so many stars! I want to see them all."

Han found himself wondering again how such a cruel man could father such a hopeful son. It wasn't his place to ask though. He liked his credits and he liked breathing.

"Maybe one of these days I'll get my ship fixed and can take you on a ride," Han suggested.

Luke's eyes grew wide, like new oceans forming across his face. "You have a ship?"

"Best in the galaxy. I could make the Kressel run in 12 parsecs."

Nila laughed at the boys nerding-out over their ships. "Why don't you and Han go pick out some paint and sheets. I'll meet up with you soon."

"Can we paint my room green?" Luke asked trailing behind Han. "It would look wicked."

Han wasn't a green person himself, but if the kid liked it… He helped Luke pick out a nice color and they met up with Nila who had already bought her things. Finally they headed to the last stop- the toy store.

They expected Luke to ask for everything, now that he knew the lack of budget, but he asked only for a model T-16 set and a piloting game. They were on their way out when Luke found the display.

It had everything: life sized cutouts, action figures, even a toy lightsaber that popped out with a spring. Luke stood staring at the images of Darth Vader, his father, that surrounded him. Why was this in a toy store? "On Tatooine kids didn't say his name 'cause he might come."

"He's a hero to the Empire. Many adults are wary, but for children who never knew the republic he's the one they want to be."

Luke had wanted to be like his father, but not anymore. Not now that he knew. "But he kills people."

"Rebels," Nila quickly reminded. Checking that none of the stormtroopers around had heard. How bad would that look? Vader's own son committing treason by criticizing Vader.

Luke shrugged, and headed away from the scene. "Still people. No one should want to kill."

"I am sure your father doesn't like it any more than you do," Nila lied. She'd heard enough rumors to know that wasn't true. Vader was a Sith, and Sith savored pain and suffering. Vader enjoyed killing far too much, but Luke didn't need to know that. "Lord Vader accepts the heavy responsibility of protecting the galaxy from Rebels. If they just stopped the war he wouldn't have to kill them anymore. He only kills to protect the children of the Empire… And I'm sure when he goes into battle next he'll be thinking about stopping the Rebellion before they hurt his son."

Nila had mean to make Luke feel better, but the boy felt worse. He didn't want more people to die because his father wanted to protect Luke. "If my father is training me to be a Jedi then will I have to kill people?"

The nanny decided she needed to have a conversation with Vader about Luke's loose tongue. He could get them all in real trouble. "The Jedi were the ones who tried to take over and kill the Emperor, but I don't think anyone ever has to kill. If you decide someday to follow your father's footsteps and join the military you may have to, but by then you'll be old enough to understand why it was right."

"Just like when I'm older I'll understand why it was right for my father to kill mother?"

Nila hadn't known that, but still managed to keep her composure. She would not let Luke down by failing Vader. "Yes. There are many things your father does that only make sense with maturity, a maturity you're lucky not to have to have yet. Now come on, we have a room to decorate."