Chapter Twenty-Six: The Truth is a Two-Edged Sword
To say that the twins were civil with Vader the next day would be an exaggeration. Even Luke, who usually worked hard to control his emotions and divorce himself from feeling, was unusually cool. They both were cool: speaking in small but clipped phrases, giving frosty and defiant glances, and taking every moment to hint to Vader that they were not on pleasant terms.
Leia could not bring herself to feel any sympathy for the man, no matter how confused or irritated he became at their treatment of him. Because now she saw every move, turn, or word from his mouth as manipulation. She hated him because of it.
Vader had taken them to the practice room, as usual, and was trying to instruct them to use the dueling droids present in the complex. He seemed to have noticed their different attitude, but did not comment on or criticize their cold silence, instead continuing his instruction as if he was not bothered.
"The droids are on medium settings," he informed them once they had both pulled out their lightsabers and stood facing two tall dueling droids. "They are tools, not enemies, that are meant to hone skills and improve endurance. Destroying them is unnecessary. Concentrate on lengthening duels and predicting next movements." He reached his hand out, using the force to switch on the power of the two droids.
Leia saw the droid spring to life and ignite its lightsaber, but she did not make any effort to spring into battle. Instead she raised her lightsaber vertically and waited for the droid to strike. When it did, she blocked the strike with her blade, and continued to block the next three successive blows. At each block, she grew progressively irritated. As her irritation built up, she decided to take a stand. Knowing that it was a blatant act of defiance against her father, she suddenly took the offense, returning with a strike of her own. She sliced off the droid's limb, then through its body. The droid crumpled to the ground.
Beside her, Luke, who was still continuing to practice his own defense, glanced over her in surprise. Anticipating trouble, he disabled his own droid and deactivated his blade. He looked at her, and Leia could read it in his eyes that he knew exactly what she was going to do.
Vader noticed immediately and approached them, seeming irritated. Leia had finally broken through his calm, and part of her was smugly pleased. The other half, the one she did not chose to show, was afraid of the consequence of her rash action.
Vader seemed to notice immediately that the cause of the action was not because Leia had forgotten not to destroy the droid, but out of defiance. "Would you care to explain your actions, Organa?" he thundered. Leia noticed he did not use her first name, or even her title.
"Would you care to explain yours, Father?" she returned like a slap.
"Those droids are expensive, inferior in technique, and on a medium setting," he returned angrily. "There was no need to destroy it. You've lost both control and concentration."
"And I suppose you've lost your integrity and honesty," she snapped. "Although I doubt you ever had it."
"Child," thundered Vader. "I do not know of what you speak, but you shall repeat this exercise now."
Leia dropped her lightsaber from her hand and stared into the dark lens of her father's mask. "No," she said defiantly. "Not until you explain why you lied."
Vader seemed incredulous. "What is this nonsense?" he rumbled, and Leia could feel anger rising like a wave inside of him.
"Leia," she heard Luke's voice say warningly, but she ignored him.
"You told us you did not know the location of Han Solo and Chewbacca, and yet we find that you were in charge of their imprisonment," Leia exclaimed angrily, and her voice rose at the injustice, trembling slightly with frustration. "You lied."
Vader raised his chin, as if realizing the root of Leia's unhappiness. There was silence for a few beats. "Leia, listen to me," he finally said. "I did not lie to you. I-"
"No, Father," snapped Leia, and suddenly she found her throat was tight. She did not know why, because she hated this man more than anything right now, and she didn't want to listen. Shaking with anger, she turned to leave, not waiting to see if her brother would follow.
This seemed only to aggravate Vader's wrath. "Leia, turn around and listen to me!" he thundered.
Something inside of Leia snapped, and she whirled around to face her father. "You have no right to address me by my name!" she yelled.
"I gave you your name!" he thundered, shaking Leia to the core. "Do not presume to tell me how I can or cannot address you!"
There was a silence in which all parties stood shocked at the outburst. Leia struggled to resume her own poise, trying to calm her frantic heart.
"I did not lie to you," repeated Vader after a beat. His angry tone softened a bit, but it retained its strict nature. "When I told you I did not know of their whereabouts, I told the truth. I did not learn of their imprisonment until they had escaped, as which point I learned that a communication error had prevented me from receiving that assignment from the Emperor." His voice suddenly grew angry once more. "But yet I was still punished for the failure, one that was not my own."
Leia was shocked at the revelation. Not only had Vader revealed his innocence, but also he had indirectly revealed the source of the pain she and Luke had experienced the previous night through their mental bond. The knowledge that the Emperor 'punished' Vader for his failures was sickening and revolting, and it was something Leia had never considered until now. She berated herself internally. It made sense now. How else was Vader to be kept on a leash, under control, kept on track? She would never have considered the fearsome Darth Vader to be a slave of the Emperor, but he was. They all were.
Luke, beside her, seemed to be just as shocked as she was. "The Emperor punishes you?"
Vader seemed to realize what he had unintentionally revealed, and chose not to respond to Luke's horrified question.
"Father, you don't let him do that to you," Luke said. He seemed to be in disbelief.
Vader must have realized he was cornered, and he snapped, "What choice do I have?"
Leia watched Vader pace angrily, like a caged animal, and for the first time she noticed the small limp in his right leg. It was a recent impediment, one that Leia was fairly certain the Emperor had caused. She wondered what other injuries he had sustained over the years, and was sure that they were plenty. Her heart softened, and for the first time since she learned of Vader's involvement in Han and Chewie's imprisonment she opened up once more the mental bond between them. Although Vader kept his emotions safely guarded and closed behind walls, Leia could still sense leaks now and then when he broke concentration. Even now, though he was trying to hide it, she could sense that he was in a great deal of pain, both emotionally and physically.
"You can fight back," Luke insisted.
"You underestimate the power of the Dark Side yet again, my son," Vader replied angrily. "It is your flaw, and will lead to your downfall."
Luke shook his head, refusing to believe it. "Father, why did you even turn in the first place if you knew the nature of this man?"
Something in Vader snapped, and his pacing halted abruptly. "We are not here to discuss the nature of the Emperor," he barked. "Doing so is treasonous." He paused momentarily, and then continued once more, this time in a more subdued tone. "The Emperor demands our presence on the Death Star tomorrow. He expects everything to be prepared."
The news added yet another shock for the twins, who started at this information and stared at Vader in incredulity.
"Tomorrow?" Leia echoed in astonishment. She was not ready to face the Emperor. She had learned so little!
Momentarily, Vader's mask cast downward, as if in regret. "It is better that you do not mention your escaped friends," Vader warned them. "The consequences may be severe."
The consequences may be severe? Leia watched as Vader turned to exit the room, worry spreading through her. The consequences would be severe whichever path they chose in front of the Emperor. Deep inside of her, Leia knew they could not all survive the encounter with the Emperor. And she knew that Vader knew it too.