Vader sat at his desk, studying the procedure for their supply stop in the system of Adritha. His son had not spoken to him since the night before, but the boy didn't need to speak. Vader could feel the anger flowing from him as clearly as he would if the boy were screaming. Raw, unharnessed, and very dark. Vader smirked again as he read the report, just as the door leading to his son's quarters opened.

Luke stood there, looking like a fallen angel, in the doorway.

Vader simply waited for his son to speak, wishing not to further provoke him.

Luke stepped forward, his face was set in stone. The Dark Lord couldn't help but be impressed.

His son had developed a dangerous edge in that past hours.

"Last night," he began, his voice low, "Leia contacted me."

Vader tried not to appear concerned.

"She and a few others are enroute to Adritha."

Vader stood slowly.

"You told her of our destination?" he demanded dangerously.

"Yes. She and a few others have left the Alliance," he paused, "They were going to Coruscant."

Vader slammed a fist onto his desk.

"You are not to associate with those Rebels! They are dangerous!" Vader closed the space separating he and his son and leaned over him, "They seek to destroy you."

Luke's face did not change.

"They will wait outside the system- we will 'capture' them," the youth informed his father evenly, as if the giant had never spoken.

"Do NOT ignore me, boy!"

"Or what? You'll raise your hand against me again?"

Vader stepped down, taken aback by his son's vengeful words.

The boy simply glared at him.

"Luke-"

"I, Lord Vader, am not a pawn, and I will not be treated as such," Luke growled, pushing an accusatory finger into Vader's chest plate, "Not by the Alliance, the Empire-nor you, MY Father."

The young man turned and retreated back to the solitude of his quarters, leaving a speechless Dark Lord to his thoughts.

~

"Lord Vader is certainly taking his time on this mission, is he not my Hand?"

"Yes, my Master." Mara Jade replied.

The Emperor leaned forward, leering maliciously at the red-haired woman next to him, "What do you suppose our friend is up to?"

I'd hate to imagine, Jade thought while answering, "I do not know, Master."

Palpitine leaned back into his throne in thought, his yellow eyes gleaming with spite.

"Why don't you go find out, the Executor is making a supply stop in the Adritha System. They should be there for a day or so at least, plenty of time for you to catch up and check on Lord Vader's---activities."

Mara knelt, "Yes Master." She moved to exit the throne room, when the Emperor spoke again.

"Oh, and Mara?"

She stopped and turned back towards her Master, "Yes Master?"

"See if you can't find out a bit about the rumors of Skywalker's disappearance from the Alliance fleet." His servant nodded, and he added darkly, "I have a feeling I know where he ended up."

She nodded in understanding, and disappeared.

The Emperor scowled, "He may be your son, Vader, but he is MINE."

~

Vader walked into his son's quarters to find him washing dishes.

"I can send a droid in to do that for you." Vader offered, stepping into the stylish kitchen.

Luke rinsed a fork and threw it into the strainer with such force that it bounced back and tumbled to Vader's feet.

"I must admit Son, I have never before been assaulted by eating utensils."

Luke dragged the back of his hand against his forehead, leaving a trail of soapsuds in its wake.

Vader smiled.

Luke looked up at him, feeling the shift in mood, "What?"

Vader stepped forward and gently wiped the soap from his son's brow.

Luke blushed, "Oh."

Vader did not step back, relishing the close proximity to his heir. Instead he brought a gloved hand to his son's cheek and stroked it lightly.

Luke grabbed his father's fingers with lighting speed, but he did not force him away- they simply stood there, drawing from the other's presence.

"You've been enjoying this- haven't you Father?" Luke finally spoke.

Vader bent his head in concern.

"What do you mean, Son?"

Luke gripped the leather fingers tightly.

"My turning." The trembling voice returned.

Vader's other hand went to the nape of his son's neck, pulling him closer.

"I find no pleasure in your pain, Son."

Luke's lip trembled.

"But you want this to happen."

"I cannot stop your destiny."

Luke drew back, but only by inches, "It is my lot to suffer then?"

Vader sighed, "You are but a child of light trapped in darkness, my Son."

Luke laughed softly, at the inquisitive tilt of Vader's head he explained, "Our relationship is so odd- How did your father deal with you?"

Vader was silent for several moments, his hands falling to his sides.

Luke stepped forward in apprehension.

"I'm sorry, did I say something to hurt you?"

Vader smiled at his son's naiveté, "No Son---- I did not have a father."

"He died like I thought you had."

Vader shook his head, "No, I simply did not have a father."

Luke opened his mouth in confusion.

"I was conceived by the Force, you had no grandfather on my side."

Luke leaned against the kitchen counter, stunned.

"No wonder you're so damned strong in the Force," he finally managed to mumble.

Vader inclined his head, "You don't know yet, do you?"

The young blue eyes moved slowly up to meet those of his father.

"Know what?"

"Luke-you're not exactly what one would call average in the rating of Force potential."

Luke frowned.

"I'm not that strong either- I trained like hell with Yoda, and still was no match for you."

"You blew up a table the other night without even realizing it." Vader quietly reminded him.

Luke dragged a hand through his sandy hair.

"That was--"

"True potential," Vader finished for him. "Without the restraints of the Jedi, you are unstoppable."

"Not exactly what I wanted to hear."

"Not exactly what the Emperor wants to hear either- but he shall--- and WE shall tell him," The Father imparted to son ardently.

Luke allowed a smile to crack his face.

"I'd never want to be on your bad side, Father."

Vader smiled, "No intelligent being would, Son."

[I know, I know- the chapters are impossibly short. Forgive my cruel heart- but hey, it's getting into the small hours-- do you want an update or not? - BTW, I LOVE you guys! Your reviews drive me to post what little I do- to be honest, I keep coming up with new stories, so I get torn between starting a new one and continuing my others--- THE TORMENT!]