Chapter 12: A Final Plan

By all reasoning, Vader knew he should have reported his discoveries to the Emperor days ago. The night he had taken the boy to the medcenter had left no doubt in his mind that the Jedi were after the boy. He had promised himself he would tell the Emperor once he was sure. Yet now he was sure, and he still hadn't told him.

His master probably knew anyway. Very little escaped the Emperor's notice. There was little point in bringing it up.

And so, when he met with the Emperor that morning, he avoided the subject of the Jedi and the boy all together. They discussed routine matters of fleet movements and promotions, until Vader found a good moment to make an exit.

The Emperor had other ideas, however.

"There is one last thing I wanted to discuss with you, Lord Vader," he said, leaning back in his throne.

Vader waited, already guessing what this would be about.

"A report reached me concerning you taking an injured child to a medcenter earlier in the week."

"Yes, my master," Vader said.

"Is this something you normally occupy your time with, Lord Vader?"

Vader gazed around the dark recesses of the throne room, wondering how he was going to talk his way out of this one. "No, my master," he said.

"Perhaps there was something more to this boy that the report overlooked," the Emperor suggested.

Vader released a weary breath. This was really just a game the Emperor liked to play. He knew all too well who the boy was. He probably knew a lot more than Vader, but he liked to feign ignorance sometimes. Just to try and keep Vader's guard down.

"He is an orphaned boy in the care of Senator Lerrod," Vader explained. "He is also Force sensitive."

"Really. And you didn't see fit to mention this earlier?"

"He is not a danger to us, master," Vader said, a little more quickly than he'd meant to. He gathered his thoughts, sensing the Emperor wasn't pleased over this. "He is untrained. There is nothing about him to suggest he has had any contact with the Jedi."

"But he is strong in the Force?"

"I believe so."

"Then he must be destroyed. Immediately. You do not see anything suspicious that this boy should surface at the same time as Jedi long thought dead?"

"He could be useful to us, my master." The words had left Vader's mouth before he had a chance to consider them. It seemed as if someone else was talking, through his body. Since when did he become an advocate for this boy?

"How so?"

"If we keep him alive, he may draw out the remaining Jedi," Vader explained. "I will be ready for them."

"Your plan has great risk, Lord Vader. If the Jedi should succeed in taking the boy, the consequences could be dire."

"I will not fail, master."

"See that you don't."

Luke was miserable. The senator had put locks on the doors after the medcenter incident, and now he was confined to his room, except if the senator required him for something. He couldn't even talk to his friends in the cages next door.

He lay flat on the bed, staring at the stains on the ceiling. If you stared at them long enough they started to look like things. The one in the corner almost looked like a ronto. Luke sighed, desperately missing his aunt and uncle. He felt guilty for every time he had ever complained about being bored on Tatooine. Little did he know then.

Picking up a lightpen, Luke began to resume his latest letter to LJ, Crix and Val.

After I was shot, Lord Vader took me to a medcenter. Yeah, you read that right, Lord Vader. I still can't believe it myself. He was scary at first, but he wasn't so bad once I gave him a chance. He can fly a speeder like nobody's business.

Luke thought back, remembering. It felt wrong, somehow, that he had ever come to the man's attention in the first place, never mind that he had actually spoken to him. Darth Vader was so important, a lightyear removed from everything Luke had ever known on Tatooine. Vader had probably been to every star system in the galaxy, traveling in gigantic starships that could dwarf entire moons and who knew what else.

After Lord Vader left, the senator arrived and he acted like he was really concerned about me. Then when we were alone, he started ranting on angrily about how he was going to lose votes. I asked why, and he told me to shut up. We got into an argument then, and I told him I wanted to go back to Family Services. You guys are probably laughing right now, thinking about how much I wanted to leave when I was there. I guess it's the slightly better choice out of two bad ones.

Luke tapped the pen against his head, thinking back.

When we got home, Chilee told his father that he hadn't touched me, and I must have been hurt in a street fight. The senator believed him and told me to stop lying when I said it wasn't true. Do fathers always believe everything their sons say? Anyway, then he said he was putting locks on all the doors and I wasn't allowed out of my room. So here I am.

I'm so bored. At least my leg doesn't hurt so much anymore. The medical droid did a really good job of patching it up. I can't wait to show you guys my scar.

A noise at the door caused Luke to drop the datapad. He saw the food slot swing open, but no tray of food was placed inside. He looked out to see what was going on.

It was Chilee. And he was grinning. It was a twisted, corrupted copy of his father's smile.

"Hey Puke! Enjoying yourself?"

Luke didn't reply.

"I guess you must be hungry."

Chilee held up a tray. It held a steaming bantha steak, one of Luke's favorite foods. His mouth watered.

"I don't know if I should give this to you," Chilee continued. "After all, you haven't been very good lately."

Luke felt his anger swelling again. He quickly tried to squash it down, frightened of a repeat of last week's eruption.

"In fact, maybe I should eat this for you."

Chilee pulled up a chair and sat down, with the tray on his lap.

Luke returned to his bed. He tried to think of something other than the smell of the steak. He picked up his model T-16 and flew it back and forth.

When Chilee could no longer see Luke's face, he got bored with the torture. He spat on the remainder of the steak and shoved it through the hole.

"You know, you're lucky you're locked in there," Chilee said. "Because when you come out, I'm going to finish what I started before."

"Looking forward to it!" Luke called, shrugging off his fear.

"What are you doing?"

Obi-Wan turned at the sound of footsteps. It was one of the young padawans. A Leithian boy, who he'd since learnt was named Keth.

"I'm looking around to see if there's another way out," Obi-Wan said. "Other than the stream exit, which has a security lock."

"There isn't," Keth said. "I've already looked."

Obi-Wan pondered the words, before a startling idea occurred to him.

"You are a prisoner here too?"

Keth nodded. "I wish to return to my clan. I miss being among my brothers and sisters."

"You were not raised in the temple?" Obi-Wan asked, surprised.

"According to Masters Tis and Arperh, not one temple padawan survived. When I hatched, some of our clan leaders contacted the Jedi to have me screened for Force sensitivity. I was just under the minimum level."

"When did Master Tis bring you here?"

"It was Master Arperh who found me, sir," Keth explained. "She was assisting with a plague which had struck our clan ... medical help was in short supply, due to the Clone Wars, but she had obtained special permission from the Jedi Council to assist us. We became friends. After the Empire emerged, she returned to my homeworld and hid among my clan. I have learnt many valuable healing skills from her, which are of great use to my family."

"Master Tis never trained you?" Obi-Wan asked.

Keth shook his head. "He came to Leitha and found Master Isel and me. We have been traveling with him for two years now, but he has never trained me. I feel I could be of more use on my homeworld. He says the Empire will hunt me there, but I'm willing to take my chances."

There was a sudden splash of water beside them, and Obi-Wan jumped back from the stream. Tis had returned from his latest intelligence gathering expedition. Keth hastily ran off towards his private quarters, clearly not wishing to be caught conversing with Obi-Wan.

"Any news?" Obi-Wan asked, as Tis dried himself off.

"The boy is still alive," Tis said. "According to the tabloids, your former padawan even took him to a medcenter."

"Medcenter? Why, what happened to him?"

Tis clicked his claws together a few times, which Obi-Wan supposed was a shrug. "I believe a stormtrooper shot him while I was trying to reach him."

"And you never saw fit to mention this? Where is he now? Is he still in the medcenter?"

"It was only a graze. Now he's back at the senator's home, and Vader appears uninterested. All we need now is a good opportunity to go in and get him out."

Obi-Wan nodded.

Almost a week had passed since the hospital incident, when Luke was finally given a chance to experience the outside world again. The day also happened to coincide with another special event for Luke - today was his birthday. He was twelve standard years old.

He considered mentioning it to the droids who came to deliver food, in the hope he might get some cake or candy out of them. He doubted they understood the concept of a birthday, though. They were a dull lot, with no discernable personality. Even when they passed on the message that he should get ready to go out, their tone didn't change.

The senator had been invited to a concert at the palace, and, as usual, the media were lined up outside to get a statement from him. Luke found the entire process boring to the point of tears, but he was never given a choice about being paraded in front of their flashes and lenses.

Once inside the palace, Luke was instructed to wait outside the concert hall. The corridor surrounding it was circular and lined with a deep velvet red. Artificial torches rested in brackets, created a flickering illumination effect on all the walls.

Luke found himself an empty alcove and sat down cross-legged to wait. Other guests walked by and didn't even notice him. Not that he minded - it was better than being pointed and glared at.

He was just beginning to start another letter to his friends at Family Services, when the red boots of a royal guard suddenly appeared in front of him. Luke stared at them nervously and then glanced up.

"Are you supposed to be here, young man?" the guard asked.

"Uh ... I'm not ..." Luke stuttered for a moment, before suddenly recognizing the presence of the man in front of him. "Captain Jarnet?"

"Darn it," he said, reaching out a gloved hand to help Luke up off the floor. "Lucky guess. I was thinking I might have you going for a while there."

"It's not a guess," Luke explained. "I'm good at recognizing people. Even when they wear masks."

"You must have a sixth sense," he replied. "My own son can't even tell me apart when I'm in uniform."

He guided Luke out of the alcove and then stepped into it himself, turning so he was facing outwards.

"I guess I'll have to find somewhere else to make myself scarce," Luke said, realizing his alcove was in fact a guard station. "The senator said I have to wait out here until the concert is finished."

"You might find a few empty ones in that direction." He gestured down the corridor with his pike. "Watch out for priceless vases."

"Thanks," Luke said, grinning.

He took the guard's advice and trailed off in search of a new place to work on his letter. He'd barely traveled a quarter-way around the circular corridor, however, when he heard the unmistakable sound of mechanical breathing up ahead.

Luke swallowed. He knew that sound, and the person it was attached to. Darth Vader.

Logic said he should turn around and make a hasty retreat. But something made him hesitate. Vader had quite possibly saved his life the other day. Aunt Beru had always taught him to say thank you, and he wanted to honor her memory, even if it meant voluntarily speaking to someone as frightening as Vader.

Luke crept slowly around the curve of the corridor, reminding himself that if Vader wanted to hurt him, he had already had plenty of opportunities to do so. But despite his attempts to reassure himself, he still drew back when he first caught a glimpse of the black armor.

After taking a moment to catch his breath, he shuffled forward just far enough to observe Vader, without making himself conspicuous. He was standing opposite the main entrance to the concert hall. Just standing. Luke wondered why he didn't go inside. Maybe it wasn't his kind of concert.

Or maybe he couldn't go in because his breathing would disturb the other guests. The thought made Luke feel sorry for him. It must be horrible to have to wear a mask day in, day out and listen to yourself breathe. Maybe that's why he always seemed to be in a bad mood.

Luke finally found the courage to walk forward into the entrance way. Vader gave him a glance and then resumed watching the concert hall doors. Perhaps he was waiting for someone to come out.

"Why are you here?" he asked, sounding disinterested in the answer.

Luke cleared his throat. Despite his best efforts, his voice still sounded shaky. "S-senator Lerrod -" Luke started.

"Where is he?" Vader interrupted.

Luke pointed towards the concert hall doors.

"I see," Vader said. "He left you in the corridor for the duration of the concert?"

Luke nodded, glad Vader was doing the talking for him.

"When he returns, you will pass on this message," Vader continued. "Tell him the hallways of the Imperial Palace are not a dumping ground for publicity stunts you wish to avoid taking responsibility for."

Pub what? Luke thought. He'd never been called that before, whatever it was. It didn't sound like a nice message.

"Stay in the corridor," Vader said, waving a finger at Luke.

Luke nodded. He considered adding that he hadn't been intending to go wandering in the palace, but from what he'd experienced of Vader's personality, he'd likely take that as insolence. Perhaps it was better just to say what he'd come to say and then leave Vader alone.

"Sir ... um ...I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for taking me to the hospital. I didn't get a chance to say it the other night and -"

Luke broke off, remembering Vader's earlier remark about talking too much.

Vader suddenly turned, taking a whole lot more interest in him. He was staring at him like he was a specimen in a petri dish.

"Don't insult me with your pitiful gratitude," he said, angrily. "I only assisted you because you are serving a purpose. You are of no interest to me outside that purpose."

"I'm s-sorry," Luke said, backing away. "I didn't mean to insult -"

"And do not speak to me without my prior permission," Vader said, pointing at him again. "You are a child. I am a Sith Lord. You speaking to me goes against the natural order of things."

Luke turned and ran, concluding that he'd long overstayed his welcome.

As the days had dragged on, Obi-Wan had finally explored every centimeter of the network of caves. It was a fairly simple arrangement, with separate areas assigned for cleaning and laundry and others assigned for sleeping and meditating. The rooms were mostly bare, as dictated by the Jedi rejection of all possessions. There were a few notable exceptions, though. In the room where Tis slept, there was a glowing holo, showing a much younger, happier Tis standing next to his master.

It hurt Obi-Wan's heart to see it. Somewhere, in a hut in the wastelands of Tatooine, there was a similar holo of a reckless young padawan with a wise elder Jedi named Qui-Gon Jinn. There was also one of himself and Anakin, taken well before the clone wars. He doubted he'd ever see those particular holos again. Perhaps they would be found, centuries from now by a Tatooine archaeologist.

"Obi-Wan?"

It was Isel. Obi-Wan quickly left Tis' room and made his way back to the main cave.

"I'm here," Obi-Wan called, seeing Isel was standing by the riverside. He walked up to join her, and then was promptly soaked by the splash of Tis emerging from the water.

"Tis has good news," Isel said, turning to Obi-Wan. "There will be a campaign party at the senator's home to mark his two month anniversary as acting senator. The perfect opportunity to rescue Luke."

"Will Vader be there?"

Tis squeezed the water out of his robe, slowly. He spoke quietly and a little too casually. "Vader has been sent away from Coruscant on urgent business by the Emperor, and he -"

Obi-Wan stepped closer. "Then we should go immediately."

Tis stared at him for a few seconds, looking vaguely condescending. "As I was saying," he said, slowly and deliberately. "Vader has been sent away from Coruscant, and he leaves tomorrow morning. The party is tomorrow evening - that is when we will strike."

"I thought the plan was for Obi-Wan to distract Vader while you rescued Luke," Isel said. "If Vader won't be there, why risk both of you?"

"It will increase my chances of success if Obi-Wan distracts the guards," Tis said, walking away from them. "They have been led to expect a Jedi attack ... rumors have been circulating."

"I will be ready," Obi-Wan said.

"Good." Tis disappeared down a tunnel, and Isel immediately turned to Obi-Wan in concern.

"I think you should let him go alone," she said.

"Never," Obi-Wan said, calmly, as he sat down to meditate.

"I've known him for a long time, Obi-Wan, and I know he is not being entirely truthful about something."

"Most likely," Obi-Wan said.

"Look after yourself," she implored.

"The same to you," Obi-Wan said. "There is something I discovered recently, that I want you to know."

"What?"

"The passcode to the security door," he said. "I left it on a datapad in your quarters."

"If you discovered this, why have you not left?" Isel asked.

"I have come to the conclusion that Luke is safer if I know where Tis is. Once we have left tomorrow, you will be able to take the padawans and return to Keth's clan."

"But what if you are killed and Tis returns with Luke?" Isel asked. "Wouldn't you rather I was here, in that case?"

"That will not happen," Obi-Wan said, with finality. "The Force will not allow it."