- 5
Anakin awoke cold and cramped. The cramped part he could understand – he was in a very tiny cell. It was so tiny, in fact, that his knees were almost pushed against his face. He had woken up before, in a small shuttle, but had been quickly stunned. He was obviously in another ship, most likely a Star Destroyer, and he wondered whether Luke was in a cell close by.
He smiled weakly, looking around his cell. Welcome to The Lifestyles of the Sith! Here we have Darth Vader's room, isn't it lovely? To your left you will see a lovely grey/black wall, and to your right…another wall! Right here, we have what looks to be a door of some sort, although it could pass for a wall. And if you'll look to the back, you'll see the luxury 'fresher!..No, sorry…it's another wall. Well…this is poodoo, isn't it? I don't even have a toilet…
He groaned and struggled to his feet, realizing that his feet were tightly manacled to the wall. He shook the pins and needles out of his limbs and stretched out his arms, leaning his head back…
ZAP!
Anakin started in surprise as the ceiling gave his hands and head a sharp jolt of electricity. He glared at the ceiling for a moment and sat down again. He reached out for the Force and felt a cold nothing. Hey…why was he so cold all of a sudden..?
A freezing cold draft blew through the cell, making Anakin shiver. He scowled, I hate the cold!
He turned his head and saw the vent that was wide open, giving the frigid air access to the cell. The temperature in the cell plummeted, turning Anakin's breath into white vapor before his eyes.
He had been cold before…but never this cold!
He began to shake uncontrollably; all too aware of the pitiful protection his clothes gave him. Setting his back to the vent, he covered his head with his arms, burying his face in his knees.
He could only hope Luke was getting better treatment then this…
Luke woke up with a sleepy baby-yawn. He looked around the big room with large blue eyes. This wasn't the pretty place! The place were Da had taken him had those tall things…the things that were nice to sit under. The One who smelled nice had taken him to a place where there were lots of the tall things…
"Luke, look at this one!" the One who smelled nice smiled at him and took him over to a tall thing."This is called a Maple Tree, and in the fall, it's leaves turn red or yellow. I'll take you here then, Luke. It's beautiful."
Luke gurgled and batted at the funny shaped thing that hung from the…what had the One who smelled nice called it? Oh, a tree. It was pretty.
Luke grasped the bars on the small crib and decided to find Da. Maybe he was just outside.
Luke and Leia had long ago figured out how to open the crib when they wanted to get out, so Luke let the bars come down and jumped out of the crib. Walking over to the big door at the front of the room, Luke bumped into it. He frowned, usually these things opened when he did that! Then he saw the small panel that flashed. He backed up, eyeing the panel, then ran back to the crib. Grabbing a soft brown creature with a hard nose, he dragged it after him. He looked at the panel again, then hurled the creature at it. The creature hit the panel, and the door swung open.
Stepping out into the hall, Luke hesitated. How was he going to find Da? Crying usually worked when a grown-up was nowhere to be found, but somehow Luke knew he shouldn't do that just now. So he set out down the hall, looking into rooms or down corridors.
Sometimes big people in white suits came down the halls, but whenever they looked towards Luke, he pretended he was invisible. The white people would shake their heads, sometimes mumble to themselves, but would never come near him.
After another search of a big room with lots of boxes Luke frowned. This place was big, how was he going to find Da? He moved back into the hallway, then the hallway changed from having no people to having lots of people. All the doors were closed, and there were cameras and blasters everywhere. Suddenly he passed a closed door that seemed cold…but also seemed very right.
Luke stopped and looked at the door. Could Da be in there? In that cold room?
Why not?
Luke threw his faithful brown creature at the blinking panel and the door slid open. Retrieving the brown creature, Luke looked into the cell.
Da sat there, shivering, his skin a funny colour.
"Da!" Luke threw himself at the shaking man, hugging him tightly.
"L…L…Luke?" Da looked up at Luke, his eyes wide with surprise. Luke grabbed one of the tall man's hands and was surprised at how cold it was. He tugged at it, trying to get its owner to move. He tugged harder, then stopped when he saw the big shiny red mark on the larger hand.
Luke's anger rose; who had hurt Da?
"Luke, calm down, I'm okay." Da swallowed, "But you have to go. Run, Luke!" Luke shivered; feeling the really cold air hit his skin.
"Da?" Luke presented his best puppy-dog face and didn't let the older man push him out.
"Luke…please…you can't stay with me. I can't protect you like this."
Luke frowned; didn't Da know he couldn't leave? He had to stay with Da! It was just something he felt.
Luke shook his head, and heard his father groan.
Anakin sighed at Luke's defiance, then frowned. "Luke," he asked slowly "how did you get in here?"
Luke smiled mischievously and held out a small teddy bear. The nose looked scratched, as if it had hit the wall numerous times.
Anakin laughed shakily, then felt an idea begin to form in his mind.
"Luke, is there another panel outside? One that you didn't push?"
Luke ran outside, took aim, and threw the teddy bear.
The Force came rushing back to the two Skywalkers, and Anakin sighed in relief. Force, am I lucky that Luke catches on so quickly…he's so smart. Fatherly pride flooded him as the thought the last part. The manacles snapped open as he prodded them with the Force, and he got to his feet shakily. Careful not to bump his head against the ceiling, he crept out of the cell and scooped up his son. Luke cooed and snuggled contentedly against his chest. Shielding himself against the eyes of the stormtroopers and the cameras, he crept out of the detention ward.
He was almost at the hangar when a voice grated out behind him; "Did you truly think you could escape me so easily?"
Anakin turned slowly, "No, but there's no harm in hoping."
Palpatine laughed softly, "You have an intelligent son, Vader, he will be welcome in my ranks."
"Leave him alone." Anakin's soft voice carried more menace then even Palpatine had ever heard in it "Take me, I don't care, but hear me, old man: leave my son ALONE."
"You dare threaten me, boy? You will pay most dearly." Palpatine's fingers arched in preparation for his favorite kind of torment.
"Luke," Anakin placed his son on the ground, pushing him lightly with his foot, "get behind me."
The two powers, light and dark, began their war.
Well??? I know it's kinda short, but if you review, more will come!!!
Oh, yeah, the next part of TOS II should come out soon, so keep your eyes peeled.