When the meeting was adjourned, Luke quietly followed his father through the halls. After a group of Stormtroopers passed them, Vader spoke, "I am proud of you, Son. You have finally begun to understand the Dark Side and use the Force's power the way it was meant to be used."

Now that the meeting was over, Luke was having misgivings, and he stopped and looked at his father with panic in his eyes. "But I killed a man...Just because he called me a few names! If I killed everyone who called me a name that I didn't like—"

Vader cut in, "Radtl was a fool that should have been killed long ago. The only reason he's lasted as long as he has is because his parents made generous donations to the Empire...Something the Emperor enjoyed."

Luke's eyes widened, but before he could speak Vader answered his question, "He will not mind the man's death. He was planning on having him killed soon anyway."

"That still doesn't make it right!" Luke exclaimed.

Darth Vader gave him a cold stare. "Life is not fair. You must kill or be killed. That is how it goes."

"That's how you think it goes," Luke mumbled.

"You showed no qualms about destroying the Death Star."

He should have known that that would be thrown in his face. "That was different," Luke defended.

"How?"

"The Death Star would have killed millions of people if I hadn't destroyed it, never mind that it already did with Alderaan."

"But by doing so you killed millions instead of it, making you no better than Tarkin, incompetent fool that he was."

Luke opened his mouth to reply but closed it. Vader was right.

Who was he to have a code of ethics? If he continued to live by his morals, then he would not survive much longer. With age came knowledge, and if he remained stubborn, then he would not be able to move on and embrace that knowledge. The Dark Side brought power, which would strengthen him. Only with true power could he hope to unite the galaxy. That was the problem with the Rebellion. It led with false hopes. The Empire used the power that was available to try to bring the inhabitants of the galaxy together.

The Light Side was powered by false, weak emotions. The Dark Side took advantage of the strong emotions that kept one truly living.

The Dark Side was not to be thought of as an aggressive state of the Force, but as a protective state. The Force was made by living things, and only the Dark Side seemed to be really alive.

Was it so wrong to use the power that was there for a Jedi, Light or Dark, to use?

His teachings went against this way of thinking, but then he considered his teachers. Ben, who had lied to him about his father, and Yoda, who neglected to reveal that he had a sister until after Vader said that he was Luke's father.

Only Darth Vader had spoken the truth. And if Vader weren't going to tell him something, at least he wouldn't lie to him.

Luke! This way of thinking must be stopped before all is lost! a voice seemed to tug at him.

But he ignored it. His mind was made up.

"You're right, Father. I'm sorry. It's just hard for me to let go of what I've been taught."

And it was a changed Luke that followed his father to the Emperor.

"So, young Skywalker, you have finally decided to truly turn. I always knew you were intelligent."

Luke remained bowed, silently seething. He didn't like the Emperor, and he was sure that his father wasn't exactly overjoyed at the thought of the tyrant controlling them. He wondered why his father hadn't overthrown him already...

But the Emperor was oblivious to these rebellious feelings, as Luke's thoughts were concealed by a powerful Dark barrier.

"Yes, my master."

Palpatine gave an evil grin. "Since you have behaved so well, I have allowed Jade a few days of freetime. I understand that you are...friends," the last word was said knowingly. He knew that they were more than just friends. "I am sure you would like to spend a little more time together. You are to be moved to new quarters, and she shall drop by later. You may have the day off."

"Thank you, my master."

"You are dismissed," the Emperor waved them away.

After they were out of hearing distance, Mara Jade stepped out from her well-concealed hiding spot in the shadows.

"You are to still stick with seduction. Should he ever change his mind and choose to rebel, we shall need something to hold against him. A female that he is in love with would be the perfect tool. And who better to do it than my well-groomed Hand?" Palpatine smiled at her sickeningly. He had felt a tinge of the rogue feelings that were at the back of Luke's mind, and he knew that they could be detrimental to his plans.

Mara nodded. She didn't like the thought of being just a pawn in his game...But that was what she was here for. She wasn't meant to feel emotions or have an opinion. She was simply supposed to carry out Palpatine's orders without question.

Then why did she feel like she deserved more?