Luke Skywalker shot awake in a moment as he wiped at his eyes. The
dream had haunted him for weeks not. Whatever happened he wouldn't
believe it. Lord Vader was the closest thing he had to a true
father. He would have never have done anything like that. He had
lived on Coruscant for all of his eight years into the Imperial
Palace. He awoke early each morning for combat training, which was
exactly what he was supposed to be doing at that moment.

Luke jumped out of the bed and hurried to get ready and to the
training hall. When he reached there he already saw that Lord Vader
had been waiting for him.

"You're late." The tone of his voice and the disappointment in it
was enough to punish Luke.

"I'm sorry Master, it won't happen again."

"Make sure it doesn't. These dreams can not interfere with your
training."

"I'm sorry Master." Luke unhooked the Lightsaber from his belt and
handed it to Vader. "I disobeyed orders and caused problems, I
deserve to be punished."

"That is not your place young one." Vader took the Lightsaber from
the insistent child. He knew full well the child wouldn't give in
till he received the punishment he thought he deserved. Physical
injury no longer bothered the child as much and he could stand still
for a harsh beating where grown men would be screaming for mercy to
make it stop.

The red blade sprouted out of the silver handle. The Emperor had
insisted on Luke's training to be in the ways of the Sith of old.
Pain no longer existed along with emotions. Luke was being driven to
become a Sith Lord with no thought of any weaker things. Rage
controlled his actions and became his life. And Vader had made him
that way.

Vader held blade outwards and slashed across the boy's body as soon
as the boy removed his clothes. He could hear the skin singe with
every movement. The boy had learned to accept this as his life and
made no notion to try to lessen the pain. He stood still during the
punishment without a sound or movement knowing it would just make
the punishment worse. All he really feared now was his Master's
disapproval.

___________________

"Lord Vader," the glowing yellow eyes peered out of the decaying
face. "Your emotions are getting in the way of the training of the
boy."

"Master, I don't believe the boy needs to be punished to this
excess."

"It is the way of the Sith, Lord Vader. If you cannot train him in
this way then I shall."

"Yes Master," he said with a low bow.

___________________

"Lord Vader," one of the officers said with a curt nod of any
Imperial. "The boy has been identified."

"Thank you Lieutenant, proceed."

The officer handed Vader a datacard. "His name is Luke Skywalker,
born approximately around the formation of the New Order. Born on
the planet of Naboo."

Vader took the datacard and for once became uncomfortable as his
emotions rushed to the surface. Skywalker, the boy's name was
Skywalker. The boy was his son. Padmé had been pregnant and he had
never known. He knew now but if the Emperor discovered it the boy
would surely be killed. The Emperor would not stand for it. Vader
knew that some how he had to keep Luke away from him.

___________________

"Boy, come here," the Emperor leered at Luke.

"Master, Lord Vader is supposed to train me and my name is Luke
not `boy'. That's what Lord Vader told me."

"You dare defy me child? I saved you from death and you will serve
me." The blue bolts shot from his crooked fingers as he glared at
the boy. Luke doubled over in pain and cringed in a fetal position.
He was immune to most pain but not this. He knew he shouldn't be. He
knew he would be punished for it.

The pained worsened with each second until he could no longer bear
it and he lost consciousness.

___________________

The red headed girl swung at the huge man before her but to no hope
of defeating him as he grabbed her and held her against the
wall. "You're good at this Jade, but not good enough. Perhaps if you
had some one closer to your own age it would better prepare you."
The man stepped aside and brought in the boy. He grabbed the boy's
arm roughly and dragged him in. The boy tried to not wince as the
combat master's hand grasped at him and his burnt skin. It was still
tender since the Emperor's attack. Luke's hand tightened around the
small knife hidden under his shirt. He had been trained well never
to let down his guard or give up without a fight.

"A boy? He's not even big enough to do any harm."

Luke's eyes flickered to her face and his temper flared. Sure, he
was small for his age but he wasn't helpless, especially seeing as
it was only a girl.

He jumped at her and she flipped him onto his back. "Have to do
better than that little boy."

Luke swung the knife and held it up against her throat. "I have a
name."

"You're nothing more than a little boy here." She snarled as she
grabbed his arm and flipped him over again. He wasn't going to go
easy on her this time as he slashed at her and smiled as he drew
blood. His time spent as apprentice to the Sith Lord had taught him
a few things and he smiled as she winced in pain.

"Don't cross me, the Emperor has trained me personally in the
darkside."

Luke glared at her and scoffed. She seemed to be so certain of
herself as he drew the power of the darkside and sent her back
against the wall.

"Never call me `boy' again," he said in a low, cold tone.

"You think you're something? You're worthless!" She spat at him.

"Nice match, girl, we'll do it again."

"I'll beat you into the ground next time boy!"

"It's Luke, and you'd best remember that."

The combat master raised an eyebrow as the boy left.

"And it's Jade! Not `girl'!" She yelled at him but he was paying no
mind. Then he stopped and turned around.

"No, it's not. It's Mara, not Jade."

"How would you know that?"

He smirked, "I have my ways."

___________________

Darth Vader's menacing mask glittered in the suns of Tatooine as he
stood before the forlorn grave of his mother. He had never had a
father. The closest thing he had had to one had been Obi-Wan and
here was his own son. His son whom he had transformed into an
unfeeling being. A true Sith Lord who was to serve his Master, the
Emperor. A slave to the darkside as he was.

___________________

Luke Skywalker scanned the thick ancient looking book as the Emperor
peered over his shoulder. Luke knew what he was expected to do. He
was being taught to learn quickly from his mistakes but he was still
in pain from his last lesson. He would have proffered Lord Vader
teach him rather than the Emperor. But he didn't have much of a
choice in the matter. The Emperor decided what was to happen to him.
Luke had learned to take the punishment that the Emperor gave him
over time. He was taught the immense power of the darkside.

"Attack," the Emperor ordered him.

Luke gathered the Force around him and sent it outwards towards the
Emperor. Luke knew it was weak but he couldn't do anything. The
Emperor blocked the blow and sent Luke flying backwards. Luke pushed
himself up off the ground and tried again only to be dismayed by
failure. He would not give up though, not until he won. He would
win. He knew he would.