Chapter 13: A Sith Vacation
Luke was in the midst of packing when he heard the chiming sound of his door-com. Lev was on the other side.
"Hello, Luke. I was just going off-duty, and thought I'd say goodbye. You're off early tomorrow, I hear."
Luke nodded, stepping back to allow Lev to enter his room. "I'm still trying to pack."
From what little information he could extract from his father, the planet they were going to was completely uninhabited. In anticipation of this, his floor was stacked high with portable holovid equipment. Lev stared at his efforts for a moment.
"You're not taking all of this, are you?" he asked.
"Most of it."
"You do realize Lygun is without civilisation?"
"I heard something like that."
"There's no orbital HoloNet receiver. You'll be fortunate to get a decent comm signal."
Luke's mouth fell open. "No HoloNet? What about Galactic Bandits?"
"I'm sure you'll manage," Lev said, picking up a discarded sock.
Luke looked around at the equipment. "I suppose the power sockets will be four hundred years old and not compatible."
"Power?" Lev said, with mock surprise.
"I wonder if it's too late to say I'm not going," Luke said, quickly.
"You'll be having too much fun with your father to worry about the lack of technology," Lev said.
"Did you just use the words fun and my father in the same sentence?" Luke asked.
Lev smiled.
They took the Dunesea. His father had aimed to be in hyperspace by 0900, but things didn't quite go to plan, and it was nearing lunchtime by the time they finally left Coruscant behind.
First there was a list of last minute Imperial things his father had to deal with, and Luke sat around in boredom while his father spent a good hour at the palace. Then, when he returned, they got into an argument over the amount of luggage in the Dunesea's storage compartment, which descended into a philosophical discussion over possessions and materialism.
Finally, his father accused him of being as stubborn as his mother, and then, upon realizing what he'd said, disappeared into his meditation chamber for some 'alone time'. At least, that's how Luke described it. His father called it 'sanity maintenance'.
They left the hangar at 1120, then returned ten minutes later when Luke realized he hadn't said goodbye to Artoo and Threepio. On their second departure attempt, they were held up while his father searched for the Lygun coordinates, which he seemed to have misplaced between boarding the ship and sitting in the pilot's seat. When they made it into hyperspace, Luke broke into applause, while his father mumbled something about a miracle.
Luke spent the next few hours napping in the co-pilot's seat, as the dawn start and drama of the morning had left him sleepy. His father promised to wake him once they reverted, but in the end, he didn't need to. The jolt sent him flying half out of his seat.
"Buckle in," his father said. "The atmosphere is turbulent."
"Is that Lygun?" Luke said, rubbing his eyes. A planet was fast approaching.
"It is."
"It's green!"
"It is covered in a thick layer of toxic hitrone clouds. A thin layer of breathable air is trapped underneath, allowing life to exist."
Luke watched, fascinated, as the atmosphere came rushing towards them. As they entered the atmosphere, Luke saw the greenish appearance was caused by clusters of green clouds, drifting quickly across the planet's surface.
"Are those dangerous to the ship?" Luke asked.
"Yes. One molecule of that gas can penetrate the shields and burn right through the hull."
Luke looked at the vast arrays of clouds, then turned to his father in shock.
"We can't fly through those without hitting one! That's impossible!"
"Not for a Sith. The Force will guide us through."
Luke felt his stomach churn as they began to descend into the cloud layer. Every so often, his father would turn the ship, resulting in the avoidance of clouds Luke couldn't even see coming. He glanced at his father at one point, surprised at the ease at which he could do this.
"Am I right in thinking only a Force sensitive person could make this journey?" Luke asked, watching another patch of green fog sweep past the window.
"Yes. Which is why this planet has served as a Sith retreat for many centuries."
Luke felt the shuttle suddenly drop, and an especially large toxic cloud flew over the top of them.
"Careful! That was close!" Luke said.
"We are out of danger," his father said, calmly. They had dropped below the cloud layer.
Luke strained to see out the window, eager for his first look at the terrain. The surface was covered in lots of thick foliage, all a dull and sickly green. In the odd clearing he could see sandy yellow ground. And on the horizon -
"Is that ... an ocean?!" Luke asked, amazed. "Wow! I've never seen one in real life before!"
"On many planets, the entire surface is an ocean," his father said.
Luke couldn't take his eyes off the awesome site as they swept over the vast blue surface. So much water, and all in one place. It was hard to believe this was possible, after living on Tatooine.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Luke said. "I could have brought swimming gear!"
"Unwise," his father said. "The water is dangerously acidic."
"Oh," Luke said, disappointed. They turned left slightly, and Luke shielded his eyes from the glare of the setting sun. After his vision had adjusted, he spotted two dark shapes on the horizon. Luke squinted, finally deciding they were islands.
"That is our destination," his father said.
"Which island? Left or right?"
"It is one island," his father explained. "Although it is separated into two regions when the tide is high."
Luke removed his hand from his eyes as the last slither of sun disappeared. It didn't feel like twilight to Luke, as it would still be afternoon in Imperial City. It seemed he would have to adjust his body clock.
The island loomed closer, and Luke looked down as they skimmed over the top. It was coated with the thick plant cover he had seen on the mainland. He couldn't help but wonder what creatures were lurking down there, under the wind-swept canopy.
He glanced forward again when he felt the shuttle slow, and saw a flat yellow bald patch appear in the jungle. A solid black triangular structure stood in the middle, looking bizarrely out of place. It was shaped like an upside down pyramid, with its point buried in the sand and its corners supported by four towers.
"Weird looking place," Luke remarked.
"Legend tells it was built by the Sith Master, Darth Agony, as a place to hide from his apprentice, Darth Lucify, who had grown too powerful for him to control," Vader said, as he brought the shuttle around to the rear landing platform.
"However, his apprentice hunted him down and they dueled to the death on the beach. But the duel was cut short when a vast wave came and swept Darth Lucify into the ocean, where the acid waters burnt him alive. Apparently, at night, his ghost still roams the beach, flesh hanging from his bones and -"
"Thank you for that!" Luke said, disgusted. "I'll sure sleep easier tonight!"
His father turned off the ship's engine.
The interior turned out to be even more foreboding than Luke had imagined. It was utterly devoid of anything that could be remotely considered welcoming. Dark pillars stretched up to the high ceiling, and narrow winding staircases led off from the main entrance hall. His father waved a hand, and the torches came to life in the brackets, revealing eerie patterns carved into the black walls.
"Hmm. I'm guessing there's no swimming pool around here," Luke said.
"This is a retreat, Son, not an amusement park."
"You can say that again."
Luke jumped as two four-legged winged creatures came rushing through the far doors.
"Ahh! Monsters!" Luke said, running behind his father.
"Gargoyles," his father explained. "Pets."
Luke peered around at the clawed, fanged, drooling creatures. "Pets?" he repeated, in disbelief.
"Yes. The young red one is Fode, the green one is Beed."
Luke stared at them in surprise as they bounded around his father in greeting. Somehow he'd never thought of his father as an animal lover. He quickly looked up as yet another being entered the room. This time, he was relieved it was only a silver protocol droid.
"Greetings, Lord Vader." The droid turned its head towards Luke.
"Hi, I'm Luke," Luke said.
"May I take your luggage, Master Luke?" the droid asked politely.
"I don't know where I'm sleeping yet." Luke looked across at his father, who had lifted a torch out of its bracket.
"Up in the north tower," his father said. "Follow me."
Luke started to follow, but found himself tripping against an energetic gargoyle. He tried to step sideways, but its long forked tail came sweeping around his legs. He sprawled onto the floor, then quickly shielded his face from the enquiring wet nose that came snuffling into it.
"Father! Get it off me!" Luke called, eyes widening as its mouth opened and he was treated to a close-up view of its fangs. Not to mention the decidedly non-vegetarian breath.
"Fode appears to like you," his father observed, from the base of the stairs.
"I'm flattered," Luke said, struggling to his feet.
Fode heard something out on the balcony, and ran off after Beed. Luke brushed himself off, then picked up a torch for himself. As he followed his father up the dark staircase, he found himself glancing behind every so often, due to the strange scuttling noises inside the walls. The wind whistled outside, adding to the eeriness. On the uppermost floor, his father led him to one of the rooms.
"You can sleep in here."
"Okay. Where will you be?"
"Across the hall. It is the only room equipped with a hyperbaric chamber."
Luke nodded. "Well, I guess I'll unpack."
"I intend to meditate. I will see you later this evening."
His father disappeared into the darkness, leaving Luke alone.
Meditate? Luke thought. We just got here!
Luke heard another creaking noise inside the wall, and quickly fumbled for the light controls. His fingers closed on something that felt promising, but nothing happened. He punched it, frustrated. The lights came on for a few seconds, then flickered and died.
"I think this place hates me," Luke sighed. It was going to be a long month.
When Luke awoke the next day, he found it was almost midday. His father was nowhere to be seen, but the protocol droid arrived with breakfast and lunch on one tray. The droid introduced himself as JT-27.
After eating, Luke investigated the refresher facilities, and was pleasantly surprised to find clean running water. It even came in hot and cold varieties. The mirror was cracked and rusting, but it was good enough to shave by. Fode arrived while he was cleaning his teeth, and dropped a rubber ball by his feet.
"You want to play?" Luke said, picking up the ball.
Fode rose up slightly, and made an odd squawking noise.
"I guess that means yes, huh?" Luke said, "Well ... go fetch!"
He tossed the ball out of the room, and Fode scampered after it, knocking furniture aside on the way. Judging by the racket, it had rolled into the corridor and was travelling down the stairs.
Luke followed behind, and eventually stepped out into the main hall. Broad daylight hadn't done much to lessen the general creepiness of the décor, but Fode's happy squawks certainly helped.
He crouched down as Fode began to rush back towards him, deciding it was better to brace himself than be bowled over.
"Here boy! Come on! Come on, that's it!"
Fode scampered towards him, but then did an abrupt turn before reaching him. Luke was confused, until he saw what had distracted the gargoyle. Beed had just wandered in off the balcony. He exchanged a few odd noises with Fode, and then flopped down in a patch of sunlight.
"Don't worry about him," Luke said, walking over to retrieve the ball from Fode. "He's just lazy."
Beed twitched his tail in response.
Fode finally dropped the ball, and Luke picked it up. Fode began to beat his wings in anticipation, rising a few centimeters off the ground.
Luke pretended to throw the ball, and Fode sped off to search for it. He chuckled to himself, wondering when he was going to realize it was still in his hand. It turned out to be a good ten minutes.
The game continued for quite a while, and Luke found himself enjoying the company of the overly-energetic gargoyle. He'd never had a pet before. Well, he'd had a few small things on Tatooine, but nothing like this.
The game finally ended when Luke heard heavy footsteps approaching. He turned to find his father emerging from one of the staircases.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah, nothing," Luke said. "Just playing with Fode."
Growing tired of waiting, Fode rushed up behind him, and ripped the ball from his grasp.
"Ah!" Luke said, shaking his hand. "Slobber! Yuk!"
Fode stood a span away, taunting Luke to try and get the ball back.
"Look what I've taught him to do," Luke said. "Come here boy! That's it! Now speak!"
Fode dropped the ball, and gave a half growl, half bark.
Luke looked at his father, grinning, but he didn't seem impressed.
"How about this?" Luke said. "Roll over! Come on, boy, roll over!"
Fode obediently rolled onto his back, and stared up at them upside down.
"Aww, he's so cute," Luke said.
"Have you quite finished depriving my pet of its dignity?" his father rumbled.
"Well, I don't see anything else to do around here," Luke said. "Unless I can take the Dunesea for a joyride?"
"Wishful thinking," his father said, turning back the way he'd come. "Follow me. We will begin your training."
Luke followed, feeling both nervous and excited. "What can I learn first? How to control people's minds? How to deflect blaster bolts bare-handed?"
"No." His father had led him to a room entirely devoid of furniture, apart from two circular meditation seats. The walls were covered with carvings. Luke sat down on the edge of a seat, and looked up at his father in anticipation.
"First, you will learn to meditate," he said, taking a seat opposite.
"Boring!"
"It is absolutely essential. Before you can bend the Force to your will, you must be attuned to its presence. Meditation teaches mental discipline, and a strong mind is one of the three foundations of a Force user's journey."
He gestured at a large symbol on the wall, which depicted three interlocking rings.
"What are the other two?" Luke asked.
"The circles represent the overlapping spheres of mind, body and spirit. If strength is lacking in any one of those areas, your overall power in the Force will suffer. From now on, you will spend an hour every day in meditation, and another hour improving your physical fitness."
Luke nodded, trying not to sigh. He didn't mind exercising, but sitting around in silence was not his idea of fun.
"Now, we are going to try a simple meditation exercise. Make yourself comfortable."
Luke obliged, shuffling into the middle of the seat.
"Close your eyes, and focus on your inner self. Do not allow anything to distract you. Tell me when you are tuned to the Force."
Luke focused, gradually feeling calmer. He became aware of his own breathing, his father's breathing, the odd creak deep within the building. Straining his ears, he could even hear the sound of the waves breaking on the distant beach. In the background of all this, he could feel something. He knew what it was - the Force.
"I can feel something."
"Describe it to me."
Luke pondered it for a moment, trying to think of a way to describe it without sounding stupid.
"It's all around me," Luke said, finally.
"And within you?"
"A little. But I can sense it stronger in you." Luke focused on the strong presence of his father, which overshadowed everything else in the room.
"Good. Do you remember the Emperor's instructions in using the Force to discern the future?"
"Yes," Luke said, becoming nervous. How could he forget?
"Relax. We are not concerned with the future today. Instead, you are going to use the Force to enhance your memories of the past. I want you to think of a very early memory."
"From Tatooine?"
"Yes. Recall everything you can about it, and then tune yourself to the Force, and analyse it carefully. It will take several attempts, but you will soon achieve results."
Luke cast his mind back, thinking about his earliest memories. There were many of them, but none of them seemed interesting enough that he wanted to know more. Just vague images of Tatooine's suns, digging a hole in the sand, drinking blue milk. And plenty of his aunt and uncle. There was one memory he had, that he wasn't sure whether it was real or a dream. He'd asked Uncle Owen about it once, and he had said it was a dream. Maybe it was, because it was not a happy memory. He was holding Aunt Beru's hand, as she lay unconscious on the floor. Her fingers were limp in his hand ...
But that's all he could remember. What was he supposed to do now? Tune himself to the Force. Luke reached out, feeling the Force respond to his query once again. But how was he supposed to use it to reveal more of his memory? It wasn't like using the Force to move an object, when you had something physical to focus on. Maybe he was supposed to focus on his memory.
Luke tried it, but it was clear there wasn't much happening. He could see Aunt Beru was wearing a browny-red cardigan, that was about it. He was about to tell his father this was going nowhere, when he started to hear an odd repeating sound. It was some kind of alarm.
The distress beacon! That's right ... Aunt Beru had taught him how to switch it on a few months before, and he'd managed to climb up on a chair and reach it.
Then ... then ... Luke reached out to the Force, curious to know more. It responded to his call, and he began to hear voices.
"What happened, Luke?"
An old man's voice. He sounded gentle, like he was talking to a very young child.
"Don't be frightened. Your aunt will be all right. Let's see if we can wake her."
The Force was growing around him. Now he had an image. It was Obi-Wan ... but younger than he remembered him. More like the poster in the Emperor's private museum.
"You've done well, Luke. Can you bring me some water?"
The image suddenly changed. He was in the living room now, playing on the floor with some blocks. Obi-Wan and Aunt Beru sat on the couch. She was holding a cold pack to her forehead.
"Owen will not be happy about this," his aunt said, sounding weary.
"To the contrary, I should think he'll be glad for Luke's quick-thinking."
"It's more complicated than that, Obi-Wan. Luke was supposed to go with Owen today. He loves to go to Anchorhead. But this morning he refused to go, even to the point of tears. It was very out of character."
"Ah. I see. Well, I am sure Owen can accept the odd coincidence ..."
"That's the trouble, Obi-Wan. He can accept the odd coincidence ... but not when they start happening every week. Will this happen more often as Luke grows older?"
"No. In fact, it will happen less. Luke trusts his instincts so readily because he hasn't learnt to rationalize yet. That is why we Jedi are trained from such an early age."
"I suppose I just can't help but remember the first time we met Anakin. He never did explain how he knew there was something wrong."
A bang sounded in the kitchen, and Luke dropped the block he'd been trying to stack on the pile. His uncle had arrived home.
"Beru! What is he doing here?!"
Luke didn't want to see any more, lest it tarnish his fond memories of his uncle. He detached himself from the Force, and opened his eyes.
His father had gone. Strange, he hadn't heard him leaving, and his father was hardly quiet. He tried to stand up, but was met with a sudden pain. His legs were cramped. How long had he been sitting here?
Perhaps he had discovered exactly how his father managed to spend hours meditating.
Luke was vague about the results of his meditation when Vader questioned him about it later. It didn't concern him, however, as memory retrievable could be a very personal thing. They shifted on to telekinesis exercises, and afterwards his son went for a run with Fode and Beed.
When he returned, Luke ate dinner, while Vader busied himself with drawing up a list of everything he hoped to teach his son before they returned to Coruscant. The emphasis should be on equipping his son with the knowledge to teach himself, rather than teaching him specific tasks.
There was silence throughout the meal, and Luke rested his head on his hand, pushing his food around idly.
"Is it not to your liking?" Vader asked, finally.
"Huh? Oh ... no it's fine. I ... I'm just thinking about things."
"I see."
Silence resumed. Vader was at the stage of considering whether to start mental manipulation after the meal, when Luke put down his fork.
"They knew."
"Who knew what?" Vader asked, confused.
"Everyone. Obi-Wan ... my aunt and uncle. They knew about my Force abilities ... so why didn't they tell me?"
That is glaringly obvious, Vader thought.
"Instead I learnt to ignore it, because I didn't understand it."
"A situation easily rectified," Vader said.
"But I don't understand what was so wrong about me knowing about it in the first place."
"I can only assume they were worried I would sense your existence if you were awakened to Force." Luke frowned, and Vader could sense his annoyance. "Perhaps it was for the best," he added.
Luke looked up. "What?!"
"You were raised in relative peace and safety, away from the dangers of Coruscant. Away from the Emperor."
"Away from you," Luke said, quietly.
"I thought I was the worst father in the galaxy," Vader said, lightly.
"I haven't called you that in years," Luke said, rolling his eyes.
"Son, there is little point dwelling on events past. Always move forward. My intent with the meditation exercise was to teach you to enhance your thinking with the Force, not to send you into melancholy."
"I guess you're right," Luke said, picking up his plate. "What are we doing this evening? I brought some cards."
"I need to answer my messages."
"Work? What happened to vacation?"
"I never said this was a vacation, Son," Vader said. "In fact, I believe I said the opposite."
"Well I say it's a vacation," Luke said, smirking.
Luke changed his mind after five days of adhering to his father's training schedule. Not even the most demanding teachers at school came close to his father's determination. He refused to accept the phrase "I can't do it." The words only caused him to push him harder. But his father remained patient, however, which was more than Luke could say for himself.
They'd been in the library all morning, moving books around with the Force. Four days ago, he'd struggled to make one book even tremble slightly. Yesterday he'd managed to raise one a meter into the air, and hold it there steady for a minute. But it wasn't good enough for his father. Now he was making him try and hold three books in the air at once.
"Try it again," his father said, after another failed attempt. "This time, concentrate."
"I am concentrating!" Luke insisted.
His father pointed at the first book, a huge fat volume that needed two hands just to open. Luke slumped back in his seat, closed his eyes, and stretched out his fingers toward the book. It rose obediently into the air, and hovered above the table.
"Good. Now, the next one."
Luke opened his eyes, trying to find the second book. The first book began to waver.
"Concentrate," his father said. "You do not need to see objects to feel them in the Force."
Luke closed his eyes, and the first book stabilized. Now was the tricky part. He had to fork his focus, keeping one part of his mind on the first book, and the other part on the second.
Something must have worked, because he could hear it rising from the table. He opened his eyes, seeing the second book rise to join the first.
"And the third one," his father said, pushing it forward.
Luke glanced at it, and then felt the first two books begin to slip. Stars, this was difficult! It was like have an ice cream in each hand, and being asked to pilot a speeder without spilling a drop. The books drifted up and down a few times, and then he finally had them sitting on the same level. Time to split his focus again, and pick up that elusive third book ...
It began to tremble in response, and Luke felt a rush of excitement. Maybe he was finally going to do it this time. He concentrated intensely on the third book, determined not to let it slip away. But another thought began to arise in his mind. Perhaps, after he achieved this, his father would place five books on the table, and insist he did the same with those.
"Focus," his father warned.
Luke saw the books were again slipping, and pushed the negative thoughts away. He could do it ... if he just applied enough attention on the third book, while keeping the others in the air. But like a sweaty hand slipping from a climbing bar, Luke could feel his concentration dissolving. He quickly stood up, waving a hand in the air, but it was too late. The first two books slammed into the desk, causing a big cloud of dust.
"You didn't concentrate," his father said, calmly.
"Arg!! Will you stop saying that!" Luke kicked the table leg. "I'm trying but I can't do it!"
"I am going to start a banned word list," his father said. "If you use any word on the list, you will do twenty push-ups. The first word on the list is 'can't'. The second is 'try'. Any derivatives of those words are included. Now, sit down and start over."
"No!" Luke said. "I already said I can't do it, I've tried enough today, and I'm not doing any push-ups, drill sergeant!"
"You are generating enough anger to lift every book in this library. Use it."
Luke had been about to respond with another protest, but he was stopped short with his father's words. He stared at the books, remembering how it felt when he choked Tyloid. He'd used his anger then ...
He started to do as his father suggested, but something made him hesitate. It felt wrong. He couldn't deny it.
"I need a break," Luke said, returning to his seat.
"What is the problem?"
"The problem is that I'm a mere mortal and I get tired."
"That is not what I meant. I have observed you doing this before ... you come so close to releasing some of the power that I know you are capable of ... then you draw back. Why?"
"I don't know why," Luke said, resting his head on his hand.
"Then perhaps you need to meditate on it," his father suggested, standing up. "I will return in half an hour, and you will tell me what you have learnt."
Luke didn't respond. He listened as his father stood up, and walked past him. He closed the door on the way out.
After mulling over the situation for a while, Luke dragged the largest of the books towards him, curious as to what subject would fill so many pages. For that matter, who could be bothered writing so much? It must have taken a lifetime.
It was made of some ancient material, and smelt like it was five hundred years old. The title had long since worn off the cover. He turned to the first page, and a large puff of dust came flying out.
He coughed, sweeping it away, and then looked at the elaborately decorated inscription on the inside cover. It appeared to be a list of people who had owned the book, although he hadn't heard of half the names listed. Yoda, Dooku, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. Maybe it was some kind of Jedi heirloom.
Luke!
Luke looked around in surprise, wondering if his father had returned. The library door was still sealed tight. A warm feeling began to arise from the book, and he drew his hand away from it, sensing something wasn't quite right. Another cloud of dust puffed out from the book, and began to swirl on the floor. Then, much to his surprise, it began to glow, and rise up into a pillar.
Luke jumped out of his seat and took a step back, throat going dry with fear. The glowing pillar was turning into the shape of a person. A middle-aged man, dressed in a hooded robe.
Once his features were fully formed, he smiled at Luke.
"Hello there. Don't be afraid - it's only me."
Luke blinked at the man in surprise. "Obi-Wan?! What ... what are you doing here? You're supposed to be dead!"
"I am, what you might call a ghost, yes."
"What do you want?!" Luke said. He glanced behind him, wondering if he should call his father.
"Only to talk to you. There are important things you must know."
"About what?"
"The Force." The ghost Obi-Wan sat in the chair that his father had occupied a few minutes earlier. He gestured for Luke to sit opposite, but Luke couldn't bring himself to move.
"You see, my young friend, your father has not been entirely truthful with you."
"What do you mean?" Luke asked.
"There are two sides to the Force, Luke. One stands for good. The other side, the Dark Side, works to bring about evil and suffering. You must choose which side you will serve, and stand by your choice."
"Why would I want to choose a side which works for evil and suffering?!" Luke said, incredulous.
"That is the choice your father made."
Luke blinked at the blue form in surprise. His father ... chose to serve something that stood for evil and suffering? Why? It made no sense. "And the Emperor?"
"The Emperor is the very embodiment of the Dark Side. He is the one who corrupted your father and he would do the same to you. Unless you stop your training now, you will become a servant of evil."
"But ... but you were a Jedi," Luke said. "The Jedi were traitors ..."
"So you've been taught," Obi-Wan said. "In truth, we served the Republic ... we served democracy. But we could not serve an Empire, ruled by Palpatine."
"I agree that Palpatine is evil," Luke said. "Everyone would be better off without him. But the Empire isn't completely bad. It does many good things ... same with my father. I know he's done some bad things, but he's not a ... a servant of evil, like you say."
"Ask him about the Dark Side, Luke. Perhaps you should also ask him about the Death Star."
Luke frowned. "Why should I believe you?" he said, suddenly. "Didn't you and my father have some kind of disagreement? Weren't you responsible for his injuries? How do I know you're not just trying to drive us apart?"
"Luke, I loved your father like a brother. He was a good person. A hero. It broke my heart when he made his choice. I only seek to stop you from going down the same path. A path which leads to inhuman suffering, and from which there is no return."
Stars, he sounds like my father, Luke thought. Do all Force users talk like this?
"If he was a good person, then why would he choose the Dark Side?" Luke asked. "I still don't believe you."
"A question I have wondered for the last seventeen years," Obi-Wan said. "Search your feelings, Luke, and you will find the truth."
The ghost began to fade. "Remember, Luke. You must choose. Anger, aggression, hatred ... that is the Dark Side. If you choose to resist it, I will be there to help you."
"Wait!" Luke said. "I don't understand!"
Now there was only a voice. "Look inside the book, Luke. You will find more answers there."
Luke lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Had he really just seen a ghost, or was he just going crazy? Some part of him wanted to talk the whole thing over with his father, but then, what if Obi-Wan's story was true? The Dark Side? It sounded plausible. And it explained so much about his father. Why he was moody all the time, why he had such a short temper ... why he had no problems with killing officers when they made mistakes.
But Luke knew something else too: his father wasn't totally evil. He did care about him, Luke was sure of it. He smiled to himself, remembering some of the moments he had shared with his father.
Maybe he should try reading the book. It couldn't hurt. He leaned over the side of his bed, and struggled to drag the ancient book from the floor to his lap. It fell open at the first chapter, and Luke used his growing Force abilities to flick on the lights.
"Chapter one," he mumbled to himself. He strained to make out the title, which was printed in some fancy lettering. "Origins of life and the Force."
How that was supposed to give him answers about his father, he didn't know. Still, that's what Obi-Wan had said. He read the first paragraph a few times, and then wondered if he was going to need a five hundred year old dictionary just to make out the first sentence.
A tremor in the Force alerted him to the imminent arrival of his father, and Luke quickly shoved the book under his blankets. He'd have to look into it later on tonight.
The door slid open, and his father's tall frame filled the door.
"This doesn't look like meditating to me, young one."
"I was just -"
His father raised a hand, cutting him off. "I do not wish to hear your excuses. Follow me - it is time for you to eat."
Luke sighed, and obligingly followed his father from the room. Now was not the time to ask him about the Dark Side, obviously. He had a sneaking suspicion that the right time would never come, but he would bide his time.
His father didn't stay to watch him eat. Once satisfied he had all he required, he moved towards the exit.
"I am going to my private chambers, Son. After lunch, proceed to the training room for some exercise. I suggest you burn off the attitude you have been displaying this morning, because it is hindering your progress."
Luke sighed. He'd love to make a smart response, but they still had several weeks to go before they returned to Coruscant, and spending it arguing with each other didn't sound enticing. He picked over his lunch for a while, and then decided to continue eating in the training room. Maybe he could kick a ball around with Fode for a while. Anything to take his mind off good, evil and the fate of the galaxy.
"What are you doing?"
Luke jumped. He turned around, and found his father was standing behind the training room couch, on which Fode and Beed lay sleeping. How his father had managed to sneak up on him like that, Luke didn't know. Another Force trick he had yet to learn.
"Ah, just connecting up this old monitor to the HoloNet."
"The HoloNet? This is a dueling room. You are supposed to be getting some exercise."
"I did," Luke said, gesturing at Fode and Beed. "See. They're worn out."
"Yet you are not."
"There's still plenty of room to duel," Luke said, connecting up the last wire. "This won't bother you."
"Yes, it will. It is bothering me right now. Unless you want it turned into shrapnel, I suggest you disconnect it."
"But I've just got it working!" Luke tweaked the cable behind the device, and switched it on. The picture was grainy and the colors were too bright, but other than that it was a working HoloNet terminal. It was currently receiving a cooking channel. Luke pushed Beed off the couch, and sat down to admire it.
His father came forward, and inspected Luke's handiwork.
"You are routing this through the only communications link this planet is equipped with. Now we have no way of receiving off-planet calls."
"I know," Luke said, switching the machine to play one of his own vids. "Isn't it great? The old corpse could die, and you could be named ruler of the known galaxy, and we wouldn't even know."
Luke turned up the volume as the holovid started. "I thought I had forgotten to bring this one. It's my favorite!"
"What is this rubbish?" his father asked, glancing at the screen. "We only have three weeks left on this planet, Son. You are not going to waste it on idle entertainment."
"It only lasts for an hour. Besides, it's not rubbish. It's called 'The Time Master'. It's about a Kalee who builds a machine that can transport him through time. So he goes back and tries to change the past. For instance, his father was killed in a starship accident when he was a baby, so he goes back and makes sure his father lives. Then he goes back to his own time, and finds all kinds of things have gone wrong as a result ... "
"I would imagine," his father said.
"Anyway, so then he has to go back and try and fix everything again, and he just keeps getting into a bigger and bigger mess."
"And how does he eventually solve the problem?"
"You're going to have to watch it if you want to know the end."
Luke grinned at his father, who looked from the monitor to Luke, as if trying to decide between making a snide remark, or giving into his curiosity.
"If I allow you to watch this," his father said, eventually. "Then you must promise to cooperate for the rest of the day."
"Absolutely," Luke said.
His father joined him on the couch, sitting on the other side of Fode. They watched the vid mostly in silence, interrupted only by the odd remark from his father about the stupidity of the plot, and exasperated sighs from Luke.
When the end credits rolled, Luke stretched his arms, yawning. He glanced down at his feet where Beed had fallen asleep.
"Looks like I'm stuck here," Luke said.
"Perhaps you could try going back in time and preventing him from falling asleep in that position," his father suggested, dryly.
"Must you ridicule everything I like?" Luke said, "Come on, you were young once. Right?"
"The Jedi led simple lives," his father explained. "We were not encouraged to indulge in frivolous entertainment."
"It's not just entertainment," Luke said. "It makes you think about things. Like what I would like to change in the past."
"You are far too young to have life regrets, my son," his father said.
"Well, what would you change, then?" Luke asked, seeing a good lead in to asking him about the Dark Side.
His father appeared to be deep in thought. Luke waited in anticipation, but Fode, who had been sleeping between them, suddenly awoke with a loud grunt. His father idly scratched the animal's head, and Fode made a snuffling noise, twitching his ears in pleasure.
"You know, you show them more affection than you've ever shown me," Luke said, accusingly. "And while you're patting him, can you tell him to get his mate off my feet?"
"They are not mates. Fode is Beed's son," his father said, standing up.
Luke glanced between the gargoyles curiously, trying to see any family resemblance.
"They don't seem to much have in common," Luke said. "But then, you could say that about us too." He was quiet for a moment, thinking. "Father, can we talk about something for a moment?"
"Of course."
His father was doing something down the other end of the room, and didn't sound particularly interested. But it had to be said.
"I'm having second thoughts about ... well, about all of this. I don't know if being a Sith is right for me. This isn't just about my trouble with the books ..."
Luke was silent, wondering if he should just tell his father about the entire conversation with Obi-Wan. He looked up, and saw his father was opening a supply closet.
"Using the Force doesn't feel right for me, sometimes," Luke explained. He struggled to push the snoring Beed off his feet. "When you tell me to use my anger ... it feels wrong. I used my anger when I choked Tyloid, and it felt wrong then, too."
The only response to his admission was the familiar snap-hiss of a newly ignited lightsaber. Once again, he turned his head towards his father, and was met with a horrible sight. The supply closet contained dueling droids! One of them was already activated, and moving into an attack position. He frantically tried to shift Beed, feeling his heart begin to race.
He poked and prodded but Beed refused to budge. He began to sweat as he desperately tried to yank his legs out from underneath.
"Can you turn that off until I've left?!" Luke shouted. His father knew he didn't like dueling droids.
His father turned to observe him, his own red saber ignited. "It is of no danger to you, Son. Come here and watch."
"Turn it off!" Luke repeated, his voice beginning to shake. Beed was starting to stir under the pummeling he was getting.
"Very well." His father raised a gloved hand and pointed at the droid, which immediately froze. He then walked over until he was beside Luke, and gestured at Beed.
The gargoyle quickly woke up and shuffled off. Luke stood up, then fell back down as he discovered his feet were numb.
"Hang on," Luke said, rubbing his feet as he made a second attempt to escape. "Don't turn it back on. Wait until I've gone."
"I intended for you to join me," his father said. "It is important you learn how to defend yourself."
"Did you listen to a word I said before?" Luke asked.
"Yes. You are feeling unsure and confused." His father reached out to help him stand, and then left his hand resting on his shoulder. "I felt the same way many times during my youth. You do not have to use your anger to channel the Force if it makes you feel uncomfortable. You are only new at this, and perhaps the more ... advanced techniques can wait until later."
Luke nodded. This would give him time to investigate Obi-Wan's claims further.
"Now it is time you reacquainted yourself with the weapon of the Sith." His father stretched out a hand towards a side cabinet, and a lightsaber flew across the distance and floated in front of Luke.
"Put that ... killer droid away first," Luke said, eyeing the frozen droid warily. He knew from past experience that igniting a lightsaber in the presence of a dueling droid tended to produce immediate results.
His father obliged, triggering the droid into returning to the supply cupboard. Luke picked the lightsaber out of the air, and switched it on. A light blue blade filled the air in front of him.
"After three weeks of training, you could defeat one of those droids yourself," his father remarked, moving into the center of the floor. "On their lowest skill level, of course."
"You think so?" Luke found the idea appealing. The droids had haunted his nightmares ever since his accident. He flexed his artificial hand around the lightsaber handle, and then made a few practice swings, enjoying the sound it made as it cut through the air.
"You will undoubtedly be a natural," his father said, gesturing at the space in front of him.