There was something wrong with Luke. Vader was certain of it.

The problem was, he didn't know how to address the issue. There were plenty of times he tried, namely in relation to Luke's eviction situation...caused by him in the first place. But every time he had Piett offer, Luke gave him a strained smile and firmly shut him down.

"I'm going to stay at a friends."

He wouldn't say what friend. And Vader couldn't figure out how to determine all of Luke's potential friends since he never talked about them. Piett tried following him covertly after they worked on their project, but he was pretty good at slipping away quickly, to the point where Vader wondered if in another life he could have been a good spy.

The only time things felt normal was when they were working on building their prototype. Things fell into an easy, comfortable rhythm. They'd begin talking about what needed to be done, then Luke would begin working, with him supervising (even after giving Piett a holobook called "Engineering Tools for Dummies" he still didn't fully trust the man not to screw it up). It felt as easy as it felt for him to use the Force. It felt natural. It felt right. Him and his son, working on a mechanical project together...it was where he should have been a long time ago.

But relationships with people were far more complicated than any droid or piece of machinery. When their time was done and Luke went off to go to "work," or wherever it was he ran off to, the feeling faded, and he was again confronted with the conundrum of his failure to fix whatever was bothering Luke. Maybe it was just that the results for the scholarship hadn't been announced yet?

Or maybe he suspected…?

No. How would that have been possible? Even if Luke thought Piett was hiding something, there was no way he'd suspect Piett was impersonating Darth Vader. As much as he hated to admit it, Kenobi was right. The situation he'd invented for himself out of boredom was ridiculous, even if it was entertaining. So no, that couldn't be it.

But then, what?

Now, unfortunately, he didn't have the time to give it the full attention it needed. The Devastator was enroute to Coruscant. Officially it was to reconvene with the Emperor. It had been scheduled for months, so there was nothing out of the ordinary about it.

At least, he hoped, to the Emperor's point of view.

By the end of his reconvening, Palpatine would be dead, and he'd be Emperor and on his way to pick his son up.

Maybe telling him the truth when this was all over would fix things? But how would he even begin that conversation?

"-or me to do it?"

Vader snapped his attention back to the view screen at the sound of Luke's voice. Today was also the day their project was to be turned in. He wondered if Palpatine knew this was midterms week for most universities in the galaxy. Was his meeting with him some weird Sith version of a midterm?

"Uh. Piett?" Luke's face was on screen and he was frowning. A common expression these days, and one Vader didn't like on his son's face. "Do you want to turn the project in, or do you want me to?"

He needed to focus.

"We should do it together." Vader replied. "I want to ensure nothing happens to our project on the way there."

Thankfully, Luke's lips twitched upwards into a small smile. Vader tried to contain his relief, knowing the actual root of the issue had not yet been fixed. "What, you think I'll drop it or something?"

"Or one of our classmates may try to sabotage us."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Okay...I'll bite. Why do you think that's even an issue?"

"Because they are jealous of our talent."

"Our talent, huh?"

Vader scoffed. "Do not play humble with me, young one. You are almost as talented as I am. Almost."

"High praise coming from you." The small smile widened into a bigger one, and Vader thought maybe, just maybe, he'd made a good step forward. "Let's turn it in together then, huh?"

Naturally, as Piett and Luke made their way to Professor Straton's office, a certain ghost showed up.

"You know you could get a holobook on parenting." He said in that stupid accent of his. "Or perhaps effective communication. Actually, I have the perfect recommendation: How to Make Friends and Influence People."

"The fact that you recommended it makes me think I should ban that book the moment I am Emperor." Vader snapped.

There was a choking sound from the holoscreen and Vader realized with horror that he hadn't muted the mic.

"Do not say anything if you value your life!" He immediately threatened, and thankfully Piett had the good sense not to respond...though Luke was now asking the captain if he was alright.

"Oh good, now you're threatening the guy who already is holding your most bizarre secrets." Kenobi sighed. "I highly doubt he'll suddenly turn on you for treason. Technically the fact that you're hiding Luke is already treason."

Vader clenched his teeth, hating the fact that Kenobi had a point. But still…

"I am quite alright, Luke." Piett assured the boy. "I assure you, I am...on board with the situation."

"...I would assume so since you suggested we go turn this in together?" Luke replied.

"See?" Kenobi gestured at the screen. "You're both crazy enough to be the perfect accomplices."

Vader muted the screen, whirling on Kenobi. "You are ruining everything all over again!"

"I do not see how you don't understand that you're the only one with that ability."

"Why are you even here?!" He demanded.

Kenobi stared at him for a moment, and Vader hated how even dead, the man seemed to strip his soul bare. "Luke would not make a good Sith."

Rage filled him...even as he knew he was right. Perhaps because he knew that. Luke had the power to become a powerful Sith, it was true. But the boy's demeanor was...soft. Kind. Bright.

The exact opposite of a Sith.

"He will not be a Jedi!"

Kenobi shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. But it is clear you truly intend to kill the Emperor to keep him safe, and I know you will come for him the moment the deed is done. My...primary concern is Luke's safety."

"You're not his father!"

Kenobi raised a brow. "You're right. I'm not. You are. And since I'm dead and I can't do much except annoy you, I need to make sure you'll do what's best for Luke."

"I always do what's best for Luke!"

"You've known about him for what, like two weeks at most?" Vader glared...though Kenobi didn't see it. He was certain he felt it though. "And in those two weeks Luke is on the verge of a breakdown and is getting evicted-"

"I will fix it!"

Kenobi sighed. "Right. Sure. Just...as I said. Luke is not Sith material. You know it."

He did. He wished he didn't, but he did and it made him angry-

But before he could level a scathing retort, Kenobi disappeared...and he was hearing the voice of Professor Straton.

"...I expected nothing less from the two of you." Vader turned to find that Piett and Luke were already standing in the professor's office, the computer on the table, being examined. "Your schematic was already impressive, but this is actually improved further."

"Thank you, sir." Luke said, and there was genuine happiness in his voice. Despite his fuming over Kenobi's meddling, he couldn't help but calm just a bit at the sound.

Professor Straton completed his review, sitting back in his chair with a smile. "Perhaps the two of you will get the highest grade in the class, after all."

"Naturally. I would expect no less." Vader chimed in, unmuting himself.

The smile on the professor's face faltered a bit. "Yes. Well. Very well done you two. You'll see your grade soon enough."

An incoming message lit up his comm unit. He glanced at it, reading the message: About to revert out of hyperspace.

Perfect timing.

"Piett." He said, stowing the comm away. "I will be with the Emperor over the next few days. Whatever you do, do not mess up with Luke. Only contact me if there is an emergency."

Piett couldn't reply directly, so in response to Professor Straton's comment, he simply stated, "Yes, sir."

Vader switched off the screen and stood, doing his best to put Luke and the troubles with his son out of his mind.

He had an Emperor to kill.


Treason.

Lord Vader was going to commit treason…

It shouldn't have been a surprise. Vader had said there were complications he had to take care of before Luke could be brought to him. Considering Luke had apparently inherited his father's...ah, powers, it made sense that the Emperor would see Luke as a threat and perhaps want him killed. The Emperor was not fond of most potential Jedi…

Still. The fact that he was part of the reason Vader had discovered his long lost son in the first place...did that mean Piett was indirectly involved in the coup?

When he got home that night, he didn't even bother with the caff machine. He went straight to the liquor.

He needed something far stronger than caffeine to deal with this. Especially since the idea of Vader becoming Emperor...didn't actually bother him. The guy was clearly socially inept, but he was a capable commander...aside from his odd methods of attending school.

And maybe, just maybe, if Vader became Emperor, he'd stop making Piett do this crazy mission.

It scared him to think that might be the main reason he was okay with Vader's plot. But...not scared enough to try to stop it.

He chose a particularly expensive brandy and tossed his cape onto the sofa before plopping down himself. Of course Vader had insisted he start wearing capes daily since Luke's compliment. If his superior became the galaxy's superior, perhaps he'd stop dictating his wardrobe long before he started ordering him to wear a mask.

Piett shook his head. When this was all done, he needed a vacation...assuming he would be allowed to live. He knew far more about Vader now than most of the galaxy. Who knew how the man felt about that?

So, since he couldn't go on vacation immediately, and wasn't sure he'd ever have the chance, he did something he rarely ever did: he turned on the holovision, found a mindless cooking show, and began to drink.

Sure enough, with every sip, and every new episode of whatever show this was, he began to relax. Marginally.

Until a pounding on the door broke it.

Fear filled him, and for a terrible moment it felt like his nerves had been electrified. Had Vader failed? He said it would be days-

"Firmus!" Luke.

Somehow, that didn't make him feel much better.

"I know you're in there, open up!"

Quickly, Piett tried to clear his head. He barely could handle Luke sober, let alone tipsy. If Vader found out, he'd be dead for sure.

But Luke's pounding wouldn't stop, and he wasn't about to get his neighbors into his business, so he stood and reluctantly headed to the door and opened it.

Immediately Luke stormed in, breathing hard. His hair was tousled, and he looked...he looked…

Furious.

Piett quickly shut the door. "What's wrong?"

Damn. Did he sound drunk? He hoped not-

Luke whirled, brows furrowing. "Are you drunk?"

Yes. Apparently, he wasn't good at hiding it.

"Uh. Celebration for completing midterms." It was a pathetic way to celebrate, but it didn't matter. Besides, he was completing sentences just fine. He wasn't really drunk. "What's wrong?"

Luke's eyes narrowed. "Craig is dead. Dead. Murdered. They found his body floating in the waste zone."

Kriff. That...wasn't good.

He tried to keep his expression neutral. "That's terrible."

His lips pinched together. "Law enforcement showed up to my apartment. Looking for me. Craig's roommates told them he'd gotten into a fight with me the last day they saw him. He's been dead almost two weeks!"

With each word, Luke's voice rose.

"And considering my landlord just died, they also started asking me questions about that death, too! Because apparently that wasn't natural, either!"

Kriff.

He needed to get in touch with Vader. This wasn't good. He thought Vader would have taken care of it, but maybe he'd only taken care of it with the local garrison, not the actual planetary law enforcement.

Or...or maybe…

"I'm pretty sure I'm about to get charged with murder!"

"Calm down, I'm sure we can work this out-"

"How?! How?! How are you sure?!" Luke threw his hands up in the air. "You know what else?! Because of course that's not all!"

He didn't want to ask. He kept his mouth shut.

Luke continued anyway, shouting now. "I came home to find I'd won that scholarship!"

"Congra-"

"No, don't you dare!" Luke pointed at him in such a way that Piett was reminded of Vader for one horrible moment. Instinctively, he flinched back. "That's way too convenient! They had their biggest amount to award in years and a bunch of people applied and conveniently I'm the one that wins?!"

"Stranger things happen-"

"I didn't actually APPLY!"

Kriff!

This definitely qualified as an emergency.

"Who are you?!" Luke demanded, gesturing wildly around the apartment that a maintenance guy absolutely could not afford, "Don't you dare say you're a maintenance officer! Is your name even Firmus Piett?!"

"It absolutely is my name." At least that he could say with confidence. "Luke. Please. Sit down." He pulled out a kitchen chair.

"I don't want to sit down, I want answers! I'm about to get arrested for murder and suddenly I'm filthy rich and all I wanted was to get my engineering degree!"

Luke was sucking in deep breaths far too fast, and it was increasing. "Luke. Sit down. I won't have you passing out on my kitchen floor."

"I don't care! I need to know the truth! The truth, not some insane cover story!"

Piett's head was swirling. He really wasn't prepared for this… "Look. Just. Sit down. I'll give you answers. Give me a minute to grab some info and I'll answer it. Please. Just sit."

Luke stared at him long and hard, strill hyperventilating...and finally sat, burying his head in his hands.

Piett wasted no time running to his bedroom and pulling out the comm unit he used to contact Vader between impersonation sessions. Making sure his door was firmly sealed, he dialed Vader's contact number. He listened to it ring, his heart pounding as his mind whirled so quickly, it was hard to concentrate.

As he feared, it went to message.

This really was the worst timing.

"My Lord." Piett said, keeping his voice low, "Luke is here. He's...he's panicking. Local law enforcement believes he had something to do with the murder of his landlord and that Craig boy. They haven't charged him yet but...there's something else. Luke didn't apply for the scholarship, and he was awarded the money anyway. He knows I'm not who I say I am, and I don't know what to tell him...I know you're busy right now. I'll try to calm him down, but I'm not sure he'll let me."

This was honestly the most rambling message he'd ever left Lord Vader, but how else was he supposed to communicate the insanity of the situation?

"I...I will await your call, My Lord."

Please call soon.

A horrible thought occurred to him.

Please don't be dead.

He hung up, took a deep breath, and left the room. He had no idea what he was supposed to say. He couldn't tell Luke the truth without Vader's permission, but he doubted the boy would leave without some kind of answers.

Maybe it wasn't even safe for him to leave.

Naturally, just as he thought that, he entered the kitchen...to find Luke gone.

And the front door open.

And suddenly, Luke wasn't the only one panicking.

If something happened to Luke, Piett wouldn't be the only dead man. He was certain the entire galaxy would feel his wrath.

Not bothering to waste time, Piett burst into a run, and began to search for Vader's missing offspring.