This one's short, but it needed to be in its own chapter.



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The planet in front of him was typical in its motley swirls of greens and blues, and Luke stared at it dispassionately from his now-familiar vantage point on the bridge of the CONQUERER, his face the unreadable mask of a neutral expression.

The days that he'd been confined to this ship had stretched into weeks. He'd been quiet and melancholy, purposely avoiding everyone he could and keeping to himself. Three months ago-though it seemed like a lifetime-a certain Han Solo would have accused him of brooding. But now Luke was alone without another single person who genuinely cared for him; alone with his burning conscience that accused him of betrayal every time he took in the surroundings of the Star Destroyer, reminding him despondently that he had chosen this for himself-willingly promised to stay and be a traitor-for the well-being of friends who thought him long dead.

An unmistakable presence entered the vicinity with the sound of rhythmic breathing and loud footfalls, a fearful hush falling over the bridge. Luke didn't bother to turn around, but simply stared coldly at the planet.

Vader came up to stand behind him, respirator hissing loudly in the sudden quiet. "The glimpse of a planet from space has always held me in rapt fascination too, my son," he said conversationally into the silence. Luke didn't answer or move. He wondered what the crewmembers thought of their menacing Dark Lord discussing the wonders of the universe and calling this melancholy stranger 'son'. He then realized they probably would think nothing of it, since Vader would most likely wipe their memories of this event. All the better for them.

"This planet is called Mascaggani," his father informed him pleasantly. Luke frowned. The name rang a bell, but he couldn't recall why he seemed to recognize it.

"Yes," Vader rumbled, satisfied. "I thought it might sound familiar to you." He paused momentarily, ignoring the mild hostility from his son. "You will follow me," he told Luke. "There is someone important we need to meet in the main docking bay."

The Jedi turned at this, a determined scowl in his piercing blue eyes. "Who is it?" he asked.

"I'm afraid you'll have to come and find out for your self," the Dark Lord told him. He gestured casually to the viewport and Luke glanced back again, but this time, emerging from the dark depths of space and the camouflage of the planet, he saw the flickering lights of an approaching Imperial shuttle and its escort of TIE fighters rising from the swirling blue world to meet the Star Destroyer.

Vader gestured again. "Come, my son." Quietly, reluctantly, Luke followed.

They entered the docking bay just as the shuttle was settling, with hissing repulsorlifts, onto the cold, metallic floor. Several squads of Stormtroopers, standing at rigid attention, lined both sides of an aisle to the ship, through which Luke and Vader walked. They approached the foot of the lowering ramp, standing next to Mara Jade, who threw them a withering glare and then faced forward.

Four Imperial guards emerged from the shuttle first and moved to stand at their posts. Luke felt cold permeate his being as the person behind them came into view. With deliberate slowness he came down the ramp, seemingly aged and infirm as he leaned heavily upon the twisted black cane.

Vader bowed. Luke stood rigidly still. "Welcome to the CONQUERER, my master." Palpatine's piercing yellow eyes peered out from the black cowl of the robe and regarded the younger Skywalker.

"You may rise, Lord Vader," he told the Dark Lord. With a chuckle, he began walking again. "I see our young Jedi is ready to continue his training."

They followed him as his horrible laughter echoed throughout the hangar.









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