It is an honor to serve Lord Vader, Piett repeated to himself as he ignored the jelly his legs had become and strode into the engineering building at Eriadu University. It is an honor, it is an honor, it is an HONOR to serve Lord Vader, he has NOT gone insane, it is an HONOR!

And yet here he was. Dressed in normal civilian clothing, walking through hallways he'd previously memorized from the university's online virtual tour beforehand. To take a test. In the place of Lord Vader. Who'd stolen his identity with the promise he'd only get the occasional annoying pamphlet.

When he'd dreamed about going undercover, he'd imagined thwarting Rebellion operatives. Not taking tests he understood nothing of, with Vader breathing into an earpiece and viewing the world through a micro camera hidden in an Imperial logo pin on his jacket.

How long did these courses last? He was afraid to find out. Unless Vader got bored or sped up the process somehow, he could be stationed here for years. His dreams of moving up the ranks in the military were crumbling before his eyes. All because his boss decided he would heed the call of higher education.

It is an honor. It is an honor. It is an honor.

He arrived at the appropriate classroom right on schedule. Not too early, and definitely not late. He double checked the room number, and squared his shoulders.

Here it goes. His new, insane life.

"Do not forget what I taught you." Vader rumbled in his ear. "You are me, now. You will represent me as such."

Yes. Before his departure, he'd endured the worst lessons of his life: learning to walk, talk, and mimic Lord Vader's movements.

Hours. Hours of his life were taken up by these lessons. And even then, he was sure he wasn't living up to Vader's expectations. But how could he?! There was no one in the galaxy who could properly imitate the intimidation of the Dark Lord's presence!

He didn't dare respond for being overheard, and instead strode into the room with a confidence he did not feel, swinging his arms just right (he hoped), with his chest puffed out just the right amount (he hoped).

The room was full of long desks, stretching from one side of the room to the other. Most of the other students appeared to already be in seats, and a few gave him odd looks as he passed. His gaze spotted a seat at the end of an aisle, and he was already moving for it even as Vader hissed, "There! That is the ideal seat."

He tried not to wince as he quickly slid into it. Of course Vader was going to micro manage down to where he'd sit. After he'd forced him through intimidation lessons, he was starting to think nothing else could possibly surprise him.

"Do not look at anyone else. Keep your head down. If at all possible, you must avoid Lars."

Yes, he'd told him that. Repeatedly. He didn't understand why Vader was so eager to avoid the boy, since he'd gotten the impression Vader sort of liked him. At least, as much as he could like an inexperienced eighteen year old.

Thankfully, no one attempted to engage him in conversation, and soon the door at the front of the classroom opened and in walked a portly, elderly man with wide-rimmed glasses, carrying a stack of flimsiplast. The whispers in the room died as he cleared his throat. "Good morning, class. It is nice to see you all in person. You already know me as Professor Straton, but now you have a face for the name!"

"I did not realize he was so…" Vader trailed off. "A lot makes sense, now."

Did it? Did it really? Because Piett was still thoroughly under the impression that nothing in the galaxy made sense anymore.

Professor Straton began walking to the end of each aisle, counting out the needed tests, and handing them to the end row person to pass down. "You have exactly two hours to complete the test." He said as he did so. "When done, come and turn your test in at the front and you may leave."

"Wait, the test isn't on a datapad? That is stupid and inefficient! Tell him I said so!"

Piett wanted to die, right then and there. It would have been better if he'd been strangled. He was convinced now. But nonetheless, as Professor Straton approached and handed him the tests, he looked up and said in his quietest, most Vader-like voice, "Testing on flimsiplast is stupid and inefficient, don't you think?"

The professor paused, staring at him with a strange look. He was certain the students near him were also staring at him in horror. "Let me guess. You are Firmus Piett?"

He wanted to sink through the floor and into the very core of the planet. "That would be correct." Unfortunately.

The professor frowned, squinting his eyes at him. "What, can he not see through those pathetic glasses?"

No. No, Piett was certain he could see him just fine.

"You're not...how I pictured you."

Piett listened to Vader's response and had to refrain from sighing as he replied, "Neither are you."

The old man was probably picturing someone closer to Lord Vader, or Grand Moff Tarkin in terms of intimidation presence. Not an overly-exhausted and stressed middle aged man. He was certain he'd feel more confident disciplining him in front of the other peers now that he knew how un-intimidating he was, but the man just let out a long sigh and said, "Just take the damn test, Firmus. It's school policy. I don't like grading them this way any more than you like taking it."

Piett prayed to every deity he'd ever heard that Vader wouldn't make him respond, but his Lord only said, "Well at least the man has some backbone. Very well. Pass the stupid tests along."

So he simply nodded and did as he was told.

And hoped Lars hadn't noticed the exchange from wherever he was in the room.

Thankfully, he'd come prepared with the appropriate writing utensil. Unlike Lord Vader, he had friends who'd attended programs like this and he'd heard enough horror stories to suspect beforehand. Then, as the class settled in and the timer began, Piett pulled the flimsy close enough for Vader to see through the camera.

"How much torque can be applied to a 6 inch outer diameter pipe that has a wall thickness of 0.25 inches when the maximum shear stress is 20,000 psi?" The first question read. Naturally, Piett had zero clue.

"These questions are a joke." Really? "The answer is very clearly 250,000 in lbs."

Piett circled, and with each question, he listened to yet another comment on how it was far too easy, and circled whatever Vader told him. A few times he was worried someone could hear Vader's voice through the earpiece, but he'd tested and re-tested it to ensure that would not happen, and sure enough no one even so much as gave him a funny look.

They finished within thirty minutes. Piett turned it back to the first page, wondering how to signal asking Vader if he wanted to check his answers, but Vader simply ordered, "Turn it in. This test was a waste of my intellect."

He was glad Vader thought so, because he hadn't understood most of it. There were a few things he'd learned at the military academy that were necessary to working on a star ship, but not at this level. He made sure his name was at the top and stood to take it to the front.

When he reached the desk, Professor Straton looked up from his datapad and frowned. "Already, Firmus?" he whispered.

"If you doubt my capabilities, you can review it now for yourself." Piett repeated, trying to maintain the threat with a whisper. It didn't work, and the Professor just gave him an odd look before motioning to place it on the desk. He did so, and turned around…

Only to see a familiar blonde boy on the other side of the room standing with his test as well.

And his eyes were fixed on him.

He didn't think the camera had the range to show Vader whose attention they'd caught, so he made the decision to start walking quickly for the exit, his heart suddenly hammering in his chest. Lord Vader didn't want to talk to the boy, but Piett was certain that Lars wasn't interested in letting him escape.

He would try anyway.

The moment he was out the doors, he began walking as fast as he could without actually running towards the lift. "We have a problem." He whispered. There were other students in the hall, but not nearly enough for him to lose himself in the crowd.

"What problem?"

He opened his mouth to explain, but from behind him he heard Lars shout, "Firmus! Hey, Firmus!"

"...By the Force," Vader breathed, "Move faster! Go!"

He was already going as fast as he thought he could, but he tried to push it. A sweat had broken out on his forehead, and his breathing was becoming a bit erratic.

"Wait, Firmus! Firmus Piett! Oh-sorry…" There was a commotion behind him, and he hoped the boy was stopped by whatever it was. The lift was right there…

He slammed his fingers into the down button, repeatedly, over and over again.

"This stupid school needs faster lifts, I should send them a generous donation to install them, where is the damn lift?!"

He had to completely agree. But, blessedly, the doors made a calming ding! Noise and the doors opened and he all but threw himself in, turning to press the button for the ground floor…

Only to find Luke Lars sprinting full speed towards the lift.

He instead jammed the close doors button, then when it didn't immediately close, he rapidly continued doing so.

"Why does he want to be my friend so badly?!" he muttered, momentarily forgetting Vader could hear him.

"I have no idea, why aren't the damn doors closing?!"

Lord Vader sounded furious, but with an edge of panic and horror.

Thankfully, the doors began closing, and Piett let out a sigh of relief. The boy was still running, and it looked like he would make it…

But then he leapt, and Piett wasn't sure whether to be impressed or horrified as he threw his arm between the closing doors.

The lift was equipped to open the doors when encountering an obstacle, so the doors immediately sprang open, and the momentum of his jump had him sprawling to the floor of the lift, grunting in pain as he did so.

Piett stared at the boy, moving to allow Lord Vader to see what had happened. Surely, he'd strangle him later for failing to get away...but he was certain no one could have escaped Lars' pursuit.

There was only mechanical breathing in his ear.

The boy looked up, and despite the red face, he grinned. The doors closed behind them. "Hey Firmus! Didn't you hear me?"

He was pretty sure the whole building had heard him. But Piett dutifully waited for his Lord's response.

"...tell him no, and you must be Luke Lars."

Vader watched in stunned horror as the words only seemed to please the boy further and he stood.

"What gave it away?"

Force, the boy was short. Captain Piett was already reasonably shorter than he was, and this boy matched him in height perfectly. At least, he thought so. The camera angle wasn't exactly perfect.

"Perhaps your over enthusiastic greeting." He replied wearily.

"I told you I'd see you!"

"You are true to your word." He'd had a meeting he was supposed to be preparing for. He'd been pleased the test was so easy, hoping to get more time...but now he was stuck with the most enthusiastic chatterbox in the whole galaxy.

Luke grinned, then glanced at something. "Hey, are you wanting to actually use this lift or are we going to live in here from now on?"

Captain Piett hadn't had a chance to press the floor button. Wordlessly, he did so. It was probably obvious that he'd been trying to avoid the boy, but Luke didn't comment on it. In fact, he didn't even seem offended.

What had he done to deserve such attention?!

And of course, he was already talking.

"So the test was easy, huh?"

Piett continued to face him so Vader could see. Somehow he looked even younger in real life. He could practically see light shining in his eyes, in the very way he smiled at him. "Considering you completed it shortly after I did, I would say so."

He'd signed up to get a degree, not have his captain stand around making small talk with an innocent farm boy.

"Truth be told, I was kinda hoping to finish before you." The boy actually reached up and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. People actually did that?

"That will never happen."

"Hey, you said, and I quote," then his voice deepened in an imitating tone, "All assignments should be treated as a competition. That is how you succeed in life."

He would have been offended at the terrible imitation of Captain Piett's voice, let alone his own, but the boy had made such interesting faces while he'd done it he found himself more amused than anything else. Which was infuriating. The boy was infuriating. Why wasn't he ordering the captain to ignore him?

But instead he said, "It is good you remember some things I say. Maybe you will have a chance at beating me yet."

Piett tried to infuse the sentence with the sarcasm he'd intended it with, but he either didn't achieve it, or Luke didn't care, because he laughed. Such an easy, lighthearted sound.

But then the lift must have reached the level Captain Piett chose, because he turned and he was suddenly walking down a hallway and Vader could only hear Luke. "So are you really in the military? How'd you manage to come out for the test?"

Vader was already prepared for such an answer. "The military has a school leave program."

"Cool! You probably get great benefits." Actually, most of the people on his ship ended up losing their benefits due to short life expectancy. People tended to die around Sith Lords and most insurers labeled working for him as a pre-existing condition. "What position do you have?"

It would probably be weird that a captain was going back to school for an engineering degree, so he said, "Tell him you work in maintenance on a Star Destroyer."

He doubted the captain would like the serious demotion, but it wasn't official anyway. Simply a cover. But the captain revealed no discontent when he repeated the words.

"Wow, I've always wanted to tour one of those! Could you take me sometime?"

Vader tried to imagine this sunshine boy skipping through the immaculate halls of his star destroyer and cringed. "No. He does not have the clearance."

That, at least, was true, though Vader technically could have given it to him at any time.

Captain Piett delivered the bad news, and Vader half-hoped it would ruin the boys mood, but he didn't sound phased at all when he said, "Ah, figures. Oh well. Maybe one day."

"I thought your family didn't want you to join the military?" He didn't know why he bothered to remember that detail, but he'd asked the question before he could stop himself.

What was with this boy? He'd never felt so...disarmed. This was precisely why he hadn't wanted to deal with him…

"Yeah, but maybe I could change their mind after I get my degree. Besides, I'm an adult, I can do what I want, right?"

"That is a stupid question, don't answer it." He told Captain Piett, and he followed suit. As unintimidating as the captain was, despite his best efforts, he was great at following his orders. He made a mental note of the trait. It could be useful later.

There was an awkward silence, and Luke cleared his throat. By this time, they'd made it out of the building and sunlight made a glare on the camera. "Well, I should head in to work. Maybe I can pick up some extra time. Hey, you should stop by!"

"I have no interest in stopping anywhere. I still have work I must attend to." He quickly added, and the captain must have agreed, because he rushed to repeat it before the boy could tell them where it was he wanted them to go.

"Alright, maybe another time." Did this boy not take no for an answer? "I'll see you around, Firmus!"

Then, to Vader's immense relief, he watched as a blonde-haired boy ran off across the campus courtyard.

There was a brief silence. Vader shook his head, unsure how he'd gotten himself the attention of someone like Luke Lars. "Was that really all he wanted to talk to us about?" He asked the captain.

"Evidently so, My Lord." His voice was a whisper so no one would notice him talking to himself.

There hadn't been anything at all important in that conversation, but the boy had thrown himself into the elevator like it was a situation of life and death. Someone needed to give the boy a dose of reality...but he would not be that person.

"I believe we have concluded our business for today. I will contact you when you are needed again, captain."

"Yes, My Lord."

He cut the call and stared at the screen for a long while, replaying the conversation over and over again in his brain.

Ok so the part where Piett is trying to imitate how Vader walks, I imagined him walking in like Mulan did into camp while trying to "walk like a man" based on Mushu's advice and I laughed so hard I cried. Is it bad that I'm laughing at my own writing? Maybe. I'd be a terrible stand up comedian.
Thank you everyone for enjoying the story! I love you all!
Love,
LadyVader23