Author's Note: Chapter eleven, everyone!
Admiral Kendal Ozzel watched Vader exit the shuttle followed by Firmus Piett and the rebel, Luke Skywalker.
"Lord Vader, Captain Piett, welcome back. Shall I have a cell readied for the rebel?"
"No, Admiral. Skywalker is to be treated with respect."
The admiral stared at his superior as he walked by.
"What?"
"It's a long story, sir," Piett said.
Luke remained silent for the moment.
"Come on, Luke. Until Lord Vader says otherwise, you'll stay with me."
"Okay, Piett."
Ozzel watched them go, stunned.
Later on the bridge Piett came in trailed by an awed Luke.
"How do you not get lost on this monster?"
"Practice, my friend. A lot of practice."
The men weren't sure how to react to a rebel in their midst, but Piett's relaxed attitude calmed them.
Though only a captain, he was respected.
"Captain."
"Be right there, sir. Don't move, Luke."
The Jedi gave him an innocent look.
"What me?"
Piett gave him a look and went over to Ozzel.
"Yes, sir?"
"Explain this rebel's presence."
He glanced at Luke.
"Sir, Lord Vader will have to be the one to explain that. All I can tell you is that he's not here as our enemy."
The familiar, mechanical breathing and heavy footsteps announced Vader's arrival.
Luke watched each and every Imperial in sight stand or sit straighter at the approach of their commander.
"Luke."
He turned to face his father and smiled. Vader motioned him to follow, and he trailed the cyborg over to Ozzel and Piett.
"Admiral, Luke is here as my equal."
Luke, Vader, and now even Piett could sense everyone's shock.
"Until further notice Captain Piett is also our equal."
Ozzel was now staring at him in shock and humiliation, upon seeing himself above the younger Imperial.
Luke found himself disliking the admiral for that very reason.
"Lord Vader, I'm perfectly fine remaining at my current rank."
"Piett, if we are to complete our mission you must be our equal in every way, even aboard the ship."
Piett bowed.
"Yes, my Lord."
"Come. We must continue our training."
Luke and Piett then followed Vader out of the bridge. They soon found themselves in Vader's training room.
"Luke, it's now up to you and I to teach Piett to harness and use his power."
"But,... I haven't even finished my own training."
Piett looked at his young friend.
"You haven't?"
The young Jedi shook his head.
"Just because one may be a Jedi Knight or Sith Lord does not mean their training is complete. Throughout your entire life you learn new things. In a way, your training is never complete until your life is."
Luke and Piett looked at each other.
"Makes sense."
"Yeah."
So the training began. Vader did most of the instructing, though Luke did some as well. Piett proved to be a competent and quick learner, catching on the lessons quickly.
It was easily past midnight standard time by the time Vader declared the day of training over.
Piett turned to Luke only to discover that the young man had fallen asleep.
"Luke?"
He didn't answer.
"Luke?" he said louder.
Still no answer.
"Luke!"
The Jedi jumped.
"Wah! What?"
"We are finished," Vader rumbled.
He blushed and smiled sheepishly.
"Oh."
They left the training room.
"You caught on quicker than I did," Luke said as he and Piett got ready for better.
"Thank you,.. I think."
The young man chuckled.
"Yes that was a compliment."
Piett grinned.
"Hey, Piett."
"What?"
He was answered by a whack of Luke's pillow.
"Oh, it's on, Jedi!"
Within moments Jedi and Imperial were engaged in a wild pillow fight until they fell over laughing.
"Why do you bring out the kid in me?" Piett asked once he finally stopped laughing.
Luke shrugged, still snickering.
They got in their beds, as Piett had ordered another to be brought to his room for Luke.
"Piett."
"Hmm?"
Piett felt a brush at his mind. This time the presence was warm, friendly, and familiar.
/Luke?/
/Yep./
/How can we hear each other?/
/It's our bond./
The captain blinked.
/You mean like what… Sen was talking about?/
Each could feel the other's sadness at the loss of Sen and the other.
/Yeah. My father and I have a bond./
"Really?" Piett asked aloud.
"Yeah. You and he probably have on started. You know how you 'search' and 'reach' for a memory?"
"Yes."
"Well, 'search' for his presence."
Piett 'searched' his mind. He soon found the faint feel of a dark yet lightening, powerful presence. He sent a mental nudge towards it.
Surprise rippled back.
"Found him."
"Good."
/Luke?/
/Yes, Father?/
/What was-?/
/Piett./
/I see. Our bond is not yet strong enough for us to communicate./
/Well you two better work on that./
/Yes. Goodnight, son./
/Night./
"Luke?"
"Yeah?"
Piett was sitting up, looking at him.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I was just talking with Father. You surprised him."
The captain was surprised himself.
"I did?"
"Yeah. He wasn't expecting to get a nudge or really anything from you."
Piett lay back down.
"Well, goodnight, Luke."
"Night, Piett."
Piett's dreams were restless, filled with lightning, cries of pain, maniacal laughter, and pain. He screamed. Then came the shaking.
"Piett! Wake up! Piett!"
He could feel hands on him, shaking him. He tried to break free. Another pair of hands, larger, stronger, held him in place.
"DIE!" shrieked a crazed voice.
"Piett, wake up!"
He jerked awake with a final scream. He found himself covered in sweat, breathing heavily with a concerned Luke and Vader above him.
"Father, get him some water."
Vader, not minding the order from his son upon knowing it would a good one, went the 'fresher to do so. He soon returned and offered the glass to the captain.
Piett took it gratefully and downed the water.
"You were having some nightmare. I've been trying to wake you for nearly ten minutes," Luke said.
"You have?"
The Jedi nodded.
"Father arrived about five minutes ago."
"When I attempted to calm you with the Force you started screaming."
Luke nodded, and Piett realized the young man was a little pale. This must have rattled him.
"Yeah. You nearly went into convulsions, too."
"I did?"
Father and son nodded.
"What did you see that was so terrible?"
Piett told them his dream, and Luke turned his father.
"What do you think?"
"I'm not sure. I'll meditate on it."
The captain lay back down and was soon asleep again.
"Luke, come outside with me."
The young Jedi followed his father.
"His dreams are haunted by the Emperor."
He stared at the cyborg.
"But you said-"
"I know. I didn't want to worry him. I'll tell him, but not yet."
Luke nodded, seeing the reason behind his choice. Piett had already had once experience with the old Sith, and that had resulted in the destruction of the Anu temple. If he knew that it was the Emperor in his dreams… The young man shivered, not letting himself complete the thought.
"How come Piett's the only one with these dreams?"
"Now that is something I really am not sure about."
Luke sighed.
"If only Sen were still here."
"I know, son. Go back to bed."
The Dark Lord headed back to his quarters.
Luke lay in bed.
Why is it just Piett who has these dreams? Why must he deal with them alone?
Because he is balance.
The Jedi blinked.
Ben?
Yes, Luke. Piett is gifted with sight of mind, something your father has, though not as strongly as Piett. The more his powers develop the stronger his sight of mind will become.
Which means the more dreams he'll have?
Yes. Vader will experience a few himself, as will you, but Piett will have the most. You and Vader must always be ready to help him understand his dreams, especially in the beginning.
Luke smiled as he started to drift off.
Yes, Master Kenobi.
He yawned.
Sight of mind. Wonder what all it will… make him… see.
With that final thought, Luke fell sound asleep.
Vader meditated after having a similar conversation with Dooku, and Qui-Gon, who had had come to his old Master's aid against Vader's mental anger.
Sight of mind.
He wasn't entirely sure it all meant. All he really knew that this was only the beginning.
End Note: I did purposely bold every other word for Piett and Obi-Wan's thoughts and bond speaking. I'm trying to make each different for each character. Please review.