I promise I haven't forgotten you. And a big thank you to everyone reviewing. I haven't had time to answer everyone, but I really appreciate it. With AP tests and my musical all within the next 2 weeks, I'm swamped, but knowing you're all still enjoying makes me feel better.


Chapter 12

Nila wouldn't let Luke into his room while she worked, so he and Han set up the hologame. Luke had never played in his life, but his unnaturally quick reflexes made it so he quickly conquered the older pilot.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to be a Rebel flying against you," Han announced as Luke's tie fighter blew up his X-wing.

Luke grinned. "Yeah. I am pretty great at this aren't I? I'm gonna be the best pilot ever."

"I doubt that," Luke and Han jumped as Vader snuck up on them. How he could sneak up on anyone was a mystery considering his breathing, but the boys had been too wrapped up in the game to notice. "Where is Ms. Difdin?"

"She's painting my room and I'm not allowed in there because of the smell being dangerous," Luke answered, a crooked smile on his face. He was glad his father was home. Finally they could get to know each other.

"I see," Vader answered, amused by his son. The boy had roped his bodyguard into playing a hologame, and his nanny into decorating a room. That was certainly a feat. "Well you need to change into something nicer. The headmaster of your new school wishes to speak with us."

Luke sighed. He'd rather be playing hologames than in an interview. And he'd certainly rather his father begin that Jedi training. Still, Vader had said 'us' which Luke quickly realized meant they'd be going together. He'd finally get a chance to spend more time with his father!

Upon realizing this, Luke quickly changed, and met his father up on the landing pad. When he realized Han wasn't there Luke was even more thrilled-finally some alone time with his father.

"You're enrolled in the Emperor's Academy," Vader informed his son as the two of them sped over Coruscant. "It's the most prestigious school in the galaxy- all the Grand Moffs send their children there." The Sith sensed a dark depression radiating from Luke, and sighed. He had no idea what to do about these childish emotions. "What is wrong?"

Luke blinked, and remembered how much his father knew because of the Force. "I won't fit in there! Everyone is going to be rich and snobby and I am just a farmer from Tatooine."

"You are far more than that," Vader reminded his son. "Are you aware that you are second in line for the Imperial Throne?"

The boy nodded hesitantly, "Han said something about that earlier. I thought he was kidding though. I can't be Emperor!"

"Not yet, no, but you don't have to be. The Emperor has many years left and I have more after him. By the time that is a possibility you will be properly trained as a Sith and a politician. That is why you must attend this school though- it will teach you how to handle yourself at court."

"Court? I thought I was cleared of the Rebel charge."

Vader chuckled, "Not a Judicial Court, the Royal Court. Various governors and others are constantly competing for the Emperor's favor. It's a sniveling pathetic place, but one you must learn to deal with."

"Do you have to go to court?"

As if. "The members of court find me… unnerving. They prefer it when I'm on the other side of the galaxy fighting rebels."

Luke's blue eyes were wide and pleading. "But you're not leaving now, right? You're not gonna leave me to go chase rebels."

Vader was glad for the first time in his life that no one, that Luke, could not see his face. The boy was breaking him. Luke looked so sad, so pitiful, so insecure, and all because of Vader not being there for so long. "I told you already that I would have to go sometimes, but not right now. Our meeting was delayed for months because I was on the other side of the galaxy dealing the rebels a crushing blow. That should buy us time before I have to leave again."

But he would leave, Luke realized. For a moment his mood grew dark, but suddenly he realized that some time with his father was better than none, and grew cheery again. The rest of the ride Luke spent pestering his father with tales of stupid speeder stunts Luke had tried back on Tatooine. By the time they arrived at the school, Luke didn't need to see beneath his father's mask to know Vader was smiling; he could feel it.

"Lord Vader," A man, old and balding, greeted as he stalked along the landing pad the greet them. "We our honored you would consider us for the education of our son.

Luke felt his father grow annoyed, and figured this was the kind of 'sniveling' his father hated. "You are the best school in the galaxy," Vader simply replied, annoyed when it caused the headmaster to beam.

"Indeed. I'm Mattpran Reybag, headmaster of the Emperor's Academy. Please follow me and we can sort out the details of Luke's enrollment."

Luke trailed behind the headmaster and his father, ogling at the school. Back on Tatooine all the children crowded into an old, dusty room with one teacher and a few pencils. Even Vorus hadn't been all that nice, despite being exponentially better than Tatooine.

The Emperor's Academy was nice. It had dozens of classrooms, all sparkling with imperial flags hanging on the walls. Lockers, the size of Luke, lined the hallways without a chip of paint or pencil mark across them. At the end of the hallway, there was even a glistening fountain, with an onyx statue in the middle.

Luke moved closer to study it, as was shocked by the sight. The statue depicted the emperor, large than life on his throne and on his left stood Luke's father. Vader looked so cold, so callous- much like how the media betrayed him. Luke didn't want to believe it could be possible, but he still didn't know. He'd barely been with his father for a day.

"Luke," said father called from a doorway. The boy looked up and quickly ran over to where his father and the headmaster waited. Along the way, Luke stumbled a bit, but made it to the door without falling over completely. The only sign of the event was the rosy blush in the boy's cheeks.

No one made a comment of it. The headmaster gestured for them to sit, and Vader ignored him, deciding instead to pace in the back. Luke did sit, and found the chair too large, but quite cozy. The kind he wanted to pull his feet up on. (He didn't though. He suspected his father, like Uncle Owen, would consider that rude.)

" Let us just get right to the point. I know you are a busy man Lord Vader. I have to confess that I was slightly concerned when we sent for Luke's record and received it from Vorus detention center. Now I'm sure…"

"It was simply a misunderstanding," Vader interrupted, all his self control devoted to not crushing the headmaster's throat in front of Luke. How dare he imply that Luke was actually a criminal! How dare he make such an accusation against Vader's son!

"Luke was not even convicted. He was simply being held under the suspicion of being a rebel. Surely you can see why that would be a ridiculous assumption."

The headmaster let out a big, hearty, nervous laugh. "Darth Vader's son a rebel. Ha! You're sight sure completely ridiculous. I just had to ask."

Luke was reminded of how much he'd wanted to be a rebel as they declared it a ridiculous idea. He had wanted to be a rebel as recently as the day before, and perhaps he still did. Maybe Vader hadn't killed his father, but that didn't automatically mean everything the Empire did was right. Did it? Still Luke kept his mouth shut. If he could get in trouble at Vorus for saying seditious things, surely he'd get in even more trouble at a school with the Emperor in its name.

"So then, it's just a question of classes. Now at Luke's age we generally just have standard classes in history, English, math, science and politics. We also have a cultures class. We offer Mandalor, Corellia, Naboo, Alderaan."

"Luke shall study the culture of Naboo," Vader interrupted before Luke could voice his opinion. (He wanted to study Corellia. That was where Han was from.)

The headmaster typed something into his datapad, nodding as he did. "That's our most popular choice- the Emperor's home world."

"I don't want to learn about…" Luke began, but his father quickly cut him off before the loose tongued boy got himself in trouble.

"Your mother's home world," Vader offered. He knew he'd regret giving Luke clues to his mother's identity but he could not deny Luke the chance to study his heritage.

Luke shut up, eyes glistening as he processed the information. Padme of Naboo- his mother. Oh. Right. Okay."

"We also have a sport's requirement, for after school," the headmaster continued. If he was aware of how odd the pair before him was, he did not show it. "We find that being part of a team as well as getting good exercise is important to development."

The headmaster handed a list of offered sports to Luke, but the boy barely got a chance to look at it before his father spoke again, "You will find yourself adept at gymnastics Luke It will be helpful for you."

Luke's blue eyes grew wide as he understood. Gymnastics were the kind of spectacular movements Jedi needed. "Wicked."

"Well then, sign here Lord Vader and Luke Vader will officially be enrolled here at the Emperor's Academy."

"Skywalker," Luke and Vader corrected as the same time. "Luke Skywalker, not Vader."

The headmaster's smile finally faltered. "I had assumed Vorus's records were simply faulty. Lord Vader, it is not my place but I must admit that the name Skywalker still exists in the memories of many. Surely it would be better for Luke to carry you name?"

"Skywalker was Luke's mother's name, the name he was born under. I do not intend to change it because of a long dead Jedi. There are other Skywalkers in the galaxy, I assure you. Besides, I do not want Luke's connection to me to be public knowledge. It could be… problem some."

The headmasters mind spun as he drew dangerous connections, but he was wise enough to just smile again. "Of course Lord Vader. I shall inform no one of Luke's heritage unless absolutely necessary Welcome to the Emperor's Academy, Mr. Skywalker."

Luke, as little as he wanted to admit it, was exhausted by the time they got back to the apartment. Nila had prepared a dinner for him, and so Vader excused himself immediately. Han and Nila attempted to fill the silence, but Luke didn't mind it all that much. Everything was always so noisy on Coruscant. Back on Tatooine he'd been able to go for walks in the silent dunes, but not on Coruscant. Luke doubted anywhere was silent on the city-planet.

"You look ready to fall asleep on your plate," Han teased, poking the boy. Luke grinned, but it was true. His eyes were dropping and his mind had hit overload hours before.

"Good thing your room is ready," Nila answered with a smile. Luke suddenly sat up; he'd forgotten all about his new room. "Come on, I want to see your face." Luke practically dashed from the kitchen to his room. Once he turned on the lights, however, he knew it was worth it. The room looked spectacular.

The walls were the green Luke picked out, but it didn't look cheesy on the larger surface. No, it looked like rolling hills and peaceful serenity. His sheets, a darker green, offset the walls perfectly, and gave it a safe feeling. But the impressive bit was the thing Luke didn't know was coming.

Nila had painted a star destroyer on the largest wall, across from the windows. It looked to be popping right off the wall, and around it were sketches for tie fighters and x-wings. "I'm not 100% done, and I was thinking about doing some on the other two walls if you'd like," the woman admitted, smiling sheepishly. "And we can paint over it if you don't like it but…"

Luke hugged her tightly, and, after a moment of surprise, she reciprocated the action. For a moment Luke marveled in the warm embrace-something he hadn't felt in months. Finally though, he forced himself to let go, well aware of the fact that Nila would hug him as long as he needed. "It's perfect. Thank you so much."

"It's nothing. I'm just glad you like it," she replied sheepishly. "Han suggested I do his ship on the other wall. Do you have any requests for the third?"

Luke thought for a moment of all the cool ships in the world. "You should do a pod racer! They're illegal in the Empire but a traveling museum once came to Anchorhead and they had old podracers and showed us videos. It was so dangerous! Humans couldn't even do it because we don't have fast enough reflexes."

Considering the way Luke's eyes were lighting up talking about them, Nila couldn't say no. "I'll look up some pictures and do it while you're in school."

"Ugg, I don't want to go to school," Luke complained under his breath, but Nila pretended not to hear as she left the room. Luke crawled into bed, and only then realized that she'd painted the roof as well to look like the night sky. It wasn't the Coruscant view either, not that the stars could be seen from Coruscant with all the light. No, it was the view of the stars from Tatooine, the same one he'd looked up at a million times while wondering about his father, the pilot.

Well now Luke knew his father, and it certainly wasn't what he'd expected. So far it had been good though. It had been really, really good, and Luke hadn't even begun his Jedi training, which was what he was the most excited for. As Luke fell asleep, that was all he could think about- Luke Skywalker, Jedi.