Chapter 3: Lost
Luke was surprised to find it was well into mid-morning by the time he woke. This bed was just so comfortable. It felt like every last spring had been tailor made just for his comfort. He rolled back and forth, enjoying the excess of room. He could get lost in here.
It was a while before the novelty of the bed wore off and Luke forced himself to get up. It took even longer for the novelty of the shower to wear off. He felt cleaner than he ever had in his life by the time he returned to the bedroom.
His clothes were lying over a chair, and he eyed them critically. He didn't want to put on any of his grey Family Services uniforms. They were nothing but bad memories. Besides, they needed washing. Unfortunately, his only other option were the pajamas he'd arrived from Tatooine in. He really needed some new clothes.
Eventually, he struggled into the only shirt and pants that passed the sniff test, and decided he should go and tell Vader about his problem. Hopefully his newly found father would be in a better mood than last night.
Once he was standing outside the door to Vader's private room, Luke wondered what to do. He'd been told last night he wasn't allowed in here, but was he allowed to knock on the door? The only other option was to sit out here until Vader came out, and that didn't appeal to Luke at all. He raised his hand, and tapped once on the metal surface.
There was no response. Luke then noticed an electronic door com, and he pushed the button marked with a chime symbol. After ten minutes of playing with it, Luke concluded that Vader wasn't inside. He'd have come out and yelled at him by now if he was.
Luke stared at the ceiling, wondering what to do next. Lev had told him he could contact him if he needed anything, but Luke wasn't sure if he could help over this. Besides, he might be busy with important Empire stuff.
Maybe he could go and find the laundry room. At least then he'd have something clean to wear tomorrow. Lev had mentioned something about putting laundry in a wall compartment, but he'd prefer to do it himself. He'd always helped Aunt Beru with the laundry on Tatooine, and the thought of doing something homelike in this otherwise impersonal place appealed to him. On the way, he could explore a little, and look around for Vader.
After stopping back at his room to pick up his other clothes, Luke set about checking each room he could find. It turned out most of them were either locked or empty guest quarters, much like the one he was now occupying. It began to get a little creepy, going from room to room, from corridor to corridor, and seeing no sight or sound of life. Not even a single guard. Perhaps Vader liked his privacy.
Eventually, he turned a corner and found he'd reached a transparisteel wall. There was a central, open court that stretched several floors above this one, and right down to the ground area. There were plenty of guards down there, and someone would know where to go. There was also an elevator bay nearby.
When he stepped out at the ground floor, the guards on either side of the elevator immediately turned to look at him. Luke felt more than a little self-conscious, but after a moment's hesitation, he turned to the one on the left and looked up at the red mask.
"Um ... do you know where Lord Vader is?"
"Identify yourself," was the sharp response.
Luke sighed. Vader obviously hadn't told anyone about the whole long lost son thing. That, or being his son still didn't qualify him for information on his top secret laundry location.
"My name is Luke. I … um … I was looking for the laundry room actually but—"
He broke off as he realized the guard on the right was talking to someone through his helmet comlink. He clearly heard the words 'child' and 'security'.
"I am actually supposed to be here!" Luke protested. "Ah, forget it. I'll just go back up—"
He made to go back into the elevator, but the guard on the left reached out to hold him back.
"Where is your security pass?" he demanded.
A droid had dropped in a temporary security pass yesterday afternoon, but he hadn't paid much attention to it. Lev had mentioned something about needing it for the elevators, but he'd got down here okay without it.
"It's in my room," Luke said, attempting to shrug off the man's hand.
"Stand still," the other guard said, pointing at him with his pike. "A security team is on their way."
"I don't need a security team, I just need—"
Before he could even finish his sentence, four stormtroopers arrived, led by a serious-looking officer in a green tunic. Luke slumped. This had never happened on Tatooine.
After several hours spent conversing with the newly uncovered spy, Vader concluded it would take several more sessions before he could extract any useful information from him. That meant delaying his trip to the Jadis Cluster, something he was now on his way to discuss with the Emperor. There were many sound reasons why he should stay and pursue this, but he was conscious of the fact that it would also be useful to have a few more days to make arrangements for Luke. He'd requested an assistant look into options for the boy's education, as a starting point.
The Emperor was in his main office this morning, a more ornate replica of the one at the senate. On the way towards the elevator, Vader passed two senators who were waiting for a promised audience that would never be granted. They didn't look pleased to witness the guards immediately stand aside for him. His master was in the opposite mood.
"Lord Vader," he said, smiling as Vader straightened after bowing in greeting. "How is the boy? You've brought him here?"
"Yes, master. He is well. I have learned more about his history."
"Oh? Please, enlighten me."
"He was raised by Skywalker's relatives on Tatooine. He had never been taught about the Force. It seems they did not allow Obi-Wan to have contact with him."
The Emperor leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "They were wise people."
"Yes. He had also been given a false account of my career."
"To think, he may have lived out his entire life in that Outer Rim desert, with no knowledge of his true heritage."
His master seemed to find that idea amusing. It unsettled Vader, for reasons he couldn't entirely explain.
"So is he like you, then?" his master asked. "Or like her?"
The question stirred up more discomfort. He didn't want to think about how Luke might be like her. Or like him, for that matter. He also didn't appreciate his master showing such interest in the child. But one subject seemed safe enough.
"He has a keen interest in flying."
"Ah. So like you, then."
Vader was silent, thinking on how little he really knew about this miniature human who now spent so much time in his thoughts. It was still difficult to believe he really was his son, despite what the Force confirmed every moment they were together. Finally, he replied with, "Time will tell." He rallied himself then. There were other, important things to discuss.
"An ISB investigation uncovered a spy on an orbital defense platform. I have been interrogating him. This has delayed my departure to join General Kanzati at the Jadis Cluster."
"Anything useful?
"Not yet. But I sense it is worth pursuing. The man is a repulsor lift service technician by trade and regularly travels to Alderaan. I am hoping he can provide evidence for the link you suspect exists between the Alderaanian government and the insurgents on Raltir."
"Anything that may bring Alderaan to heel is worth pursuing, my friend. The Jadis Cluster can wait. But keep an eye on the situation. If it deteriorates, be prepared to leave immediately."
Vader was careful to hide his relief. "Yes, master."
The palace security office was located down in the lower levels, which were even more dark and grim than the floor where Vader had his room. Luke looked around with a mix of fear and fascination as the troopers led him around corners and down long corridors. He wouldn't have a hope of finding his way back if they actually let him go.
The office itself was nice enough, filled with work stations and a wall of screens showing inside and outside views of the palace. The officer, who had orange hair, pale skin, and freckles like a human, but green eyes that were more like something from an amphibious species, gestured for him to sit down on a chair in front of his desk. Only two of the stormtroopers had entered the office and they remained by the door. Luke found himself looking at the man's collection of model TIE Fighters that lined the space behind the computer screen, but he didn't feel quite brave enough to touch them.
"So, young man," he said, studying him with his solid green eyes. Luke noticed he also had gills on his neck. "Where are your parents? How did you come to be wandering in a restricted area?"
"I don't have parents," Luke said, automatically. A moment later, he realized that wasn't true anymore. At least, technically it wasn't true. It was difficult to use the word 'parent' to describe Lord Vader. Somehow, the word didn't suit him.
"Um, I mean … I'm ... I'm here with Lord Vader."
The officer blinked a few times, which looked strange to Luke, as his eyelids moved from side to side instead of up and down. "What?!"
Why did people always react like that when he mentioned that name?
"Look, I was just looking for the laundry room," Luke said. "I didn't know I was in a restricted area. If you just show me where to go I'll be out of your way."
"The laundry room?!" the man repeated, leaning forward. "Do you have any idea where you are right now?"
"Sure," Luke said, frowning in confusion. "The Imperial Palace. Coruscant."
"And you are Lord Vader's guest?"
"Something like that," Luke said, looking down.
"Wait here," the man said, standing up. "I need to consult with the commander."
This sounded like a good idea to Luke. His boss might decide the best thing to do was call Vader, who would then hopefully come down here and get him released. But instead he returned with another officer, a woman this time. She was fully human, with deep brown skin and black hair in braids under her hat.
She looked down at him with a stern expression, and Luke shrank into the chair a little, clutching his bundle of clothes. But her tone was gentle when she spoke.
"What's your name, honey?"
"It's Luke." He looked down, fidgeting with the clothes.
"Do you have a second name?"
"Skywalker."
They both leaned over the computer and the male officer began typing.
"There," the woman said, pointing over the man's shoulder.
Then Luke heard footsteps behind him, and he spun the chair around to find another officer was approaching. This one had a dark grey moustache, light grey skin, thick eyebrows and an expression that looked vaguely superior.
"What's going on?" he asked, staring at Luke in a way that made him feel even smaller and more out of place that he already did. "Who is this child?"
"Sir, he was found by the guards in a restricted area," the male officer said. "We're trying to locate who gave authorization for his temporary security pass."
"I already told you," Luke said, standing up. "Lord Vader. I don't know why the guards were upset … I didn't break into a locked room! Look, can't you just tell me where the laundry room is?"
The latest officer to arrive actually smirked in response to this, and Luke sighed in frustration.
"Maybe he wandered away from some tour group," he suggested. "Have you checked the tour schedule?"
"No one has reported any missing children," the female officer said.
"Call Lord Vader if you don't believe me," Luke said.
"Unlike you, we don't have a death-wish, young man," the mustached officer said, causing Luke to raise an eyebrow. Death wish? Lord Vader was scary, but these were grown adults. Surely they weren't suggesting he'd actually kill someone just for using his comlink?
Luke suddenly had another idea. "Or you could call an officer I was with yesterday. Lev someone."
"Lieutenant Lev Dorany?" the female officer said.
Luke shrugged. He didn't remember Lev's surname, but a lieutenant sounded right.
She looked down at the younger male officer. "Did he mention anything about Lord Vader having a guest?"
"A guest would have been cleared with this office before they arrived," the older officer said. "Lieutenant Dorany knows that."
"I'll give Lev a call," the younger man said. "They're on full TSL protocol over there. If there's anything going on upstairs, he'll know about it."
Luke looked down, feeling like he'd done something wrong, but he wasn't sure exactly what. Maybe he should have known not to go wandering in areas where there were guards.
A blue image lit up on the officer's comlink, and Luke looked up in curiosity. He felt a rush of relief when he recognized Lev.
"Hey, you don't know anything about a boy named Luke, do you?" the officer asked.
"Oh, thank the Force," Lev said. He sounded on the verge of panic for some reason. "Is he with you?"
"Yes, he's right here," the officer said, glancing up at Luke.
"Just keep him safe. I'll be right there!"
Lev disconnected the call, and Luke sighed with relief. "See, told you!" he said.
"So you are really Lord Vader's guest?" the older officer asked, narrowing his eyes in confusion.
Luke nodded.
"It's just he normally keeps his guests at the detention centre," he added, stroking his chin. "They're usually also a lot older."
"Maybe he's his nephew or something," the younger officer said, smiling.
"It's more like son," Luke said, deciding he might as well come clean. Lev would tell them anyway.
There was a heavy silence for a moment, while they all just stared. Then, the female officer said, "Lord Vader is your father?"
Luke nodded.
"Are we talking about the same person here?"
"Really tall, dresses in black, wears a mask?" Luke suggested.
"So you're telling us that Lord Vader has a sweet little cupcake of a boy like you?"
Luke frowned, folding his arms. "I'm twelve years old!"
Lev came skidding into the room then, breathing heavily like he'd sprinted all the way. Luke grinned when he saw him.
"Boy, am I glad to see you! Remember me? Can you please tell these people I'm supposed to be here?" he gestured at the officers. "I was just trying to find the laundry room and now it's like I've been arrested. They think I'm lying about Lord Vader being my father."
"Luke," Lev said, looking like he was trying to force himself to calm down. "I'm sorry this happened. If you could just step out into the corridor for a moment, I'll be right with you."
"Sure," Luke said. On the way out, he noticed Lev mentioned something quietly to one of the stormtroopers, and the soldier moved to follow him.
Once in the corridor, Luke eyed the stormtrooper for a moment, and then decided he was safe to attempt to listen at the door. He quickly moved back when he heard shouting. Stars, this place was strange.
After a couple of minutes, the door opened again, and Lev gestured for Luke to come back in. Luke was reluctant, but Lev gave him an encouraging smile.
The three security officers were now standing in a row in front of the workstation. The senior one gestured to the other two, and said, "Luke, this is Lieutenant Hicks and Lieutenant Commander Julius. I am Commander Hogan. We're sorry for the misunderstanding regarding your security clearance. If you should ever need our assistance while you are staying here, please call me direct, anytime. Lieutenant Dorany can show you how to find my name in the internal directory."
Luke stared in confusion at the sudden change in tone, and then gave a small nod. "So … I'm free to go now?"
All three of them immediately started insisting he'd always been free to go and this was merely a routine security pass check, which momentarily baffled Luke. Then he looked down in embarrassment. A week ago, the idea of being treated with respect by adults would have been amusing, but now it made Luke feel uneasy. This didn't seem like respect. It felt like fear. It was a relief when Lev put a hand on his shoulder and guided him out.
Once they were back in the main corridor and walking back towards the elevators, Luke looked up at Lev.
"Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry. This place is so large and … I got lost."
Lev was busy rubbing his forehead, causing his hat to move slightly askew. Once he removed his hand, he looked down at Luke with a concerned expression.
"No, Luke. I got lost many times when I started working here. It's my fault … I should have made sure you received a proper tour yesterday and told you about carrying your temporary security pass."
"The droid who gave it to me did tell me about that, but by the time I remembered I was supposed to be carrying it, I didn't know if I could find my room again," Luke said. "So what were those officers shouting about?"
"That was actually me doing the shouting," Lev said, causing Luke to smirk.
"You don't seem like the kind of grown-up who yells."
"I'm not normally. But … I was worried when I found you weren't in your room or the hangar bay. I came to find you this morning to give you that tour."
"Maybe I should have told them I was Lord Vader's son straight away. But after the way you reacted, I didn't want to shock them."
Lev smiled. "Maybe it's best if you do hold off on telling everyone for the moment. I'm not sure if your father is ready to share information about your identity with all the palace staff."
Luke's eyes widened. "You think he's ashamed of me?"
"No, no, nothing like that," Lev said quickly. "I'm sure it's just been a big change, for you as well, and these things take time to settle in."
"You can say that again," Luke said, looking up as a roving security droid flew past. "I feel so out of place. I think I just need to go back to my room and stay there."
"Perhaps that's for the best, for now. I did want to take you for a tour, but … your father may not want that. Especially after this."
Your father. That still sounded so strange. More so, as Luke could hear a note of fear in Lev's tone as he said it.
"You think he'll be mad?" Luke said, worried.
Lev hesitated, and then said, in a careful way, "I'm concerned that Lord Vader will be upset if he finds out you were in the security office."
"Are you kidding?" Luke said. "I barely know him, but I know enough not to tell him about that. Are you going to tell him?"
Luke didn't get to find out. They turned a corner, into a wide corridor with red Imperial banners flowing down the walls. Lev's destination was clearly meant to be the elevator bay in the middle, but the subject of their conversation was between them and it. Lev immediately came to attention as the black form approached, while Luke hugged his bundle of clothes to his chest.
He came to a halt in front of them, and looked from Luke to Lev.
"What happened?!"
Lev started to reply, but Luke hastily interrupted, not sure he could trust Lev to spin the story properly.
"Nothing! I just got slightly lost looking for the laundry. This place is massive! But … I'm going back to my room now, so everything is fine. We're both fine!" While he was speaking, the pants he was holding nearly fell on the ornate, polished marble floor, and he hastily moved to secure his grip. "How was your morning?"
Vader didn't speak, merely stared at him until Luke looked away, feeling intimidated. Then Lev came to his rescue.
"I blame myself, sir. I didn't explain the laundry procedure thoroughly enough."
"It wasn't that," Luke said. "I know I could have put them in the wall thing, but I wanted to do it myself. I always helped with the laundry on the farm."
"I can see I need to assign a droid to mind you," Vader said, pointing at Luke.
A droid?! Luke had seen toddlers around Anchorhead minded by droids while their parents haggled over prices with the merchants. "I'm okay, I swear! I'll be independent ... just like you said, and—"
"Calm down," Vader said, sounding weary.
"In the meantime, sir, I can take Luke over to the mall to find what clothing and other essentials he needs," Lev said.
"Good," Vader said. "Did you find the information I requested?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Take him, and return before 18-hundred. I am returning to the detention centre, but I will return then to discuss it with him."
He returned to the elevator, leaving Luke feeling confused.
"What does he want to discuss with me?" Luke asked, glancing up at Lev as they walked across to a different set of elevators.
Lev looked away. "He'll fill you in, I'm sure."
They soon arrived at the ship hangar, which boosted Luke's mood. He should have just forgotten about the laundry and come straight here this morning.
"Can we take that one?" Luke pointed as they walked past a bright yellow convertible speeder.
"I think your father would kill me if I so much as breathed around that," Lev said, walking on towards the standard issue Imperial speeders.
He was quiet for a moment, and then glanced at Luke quickly. "I didn't mean that literally."
"Of course," Luke said, wondering why Lev would think he'd taken him seriously. "Can I at least have a turn at piloting?"
Lev grinned. "Nice try." He opened the passenger door, pointedly.
Luke sighed, wondering if all adults were in some kind of giant conspiracy to keep him from flying.
There was no more conversation until they were in the air and flying towards the gigantic Imperial City mall. The silence reminded Luke of a very pressing need.
"Can we grab something to eat?" Luke said. "I haven't eaten all day."
Lev looked at him with surprise and concern on his face. "Why not? Did you forget how to use the terminal?"
"I wasn't hungry this morning and then the whole thing with those security officers happened."
"It sounds like you've had quite the day. How about we take a restaurant detour, then? There's a nice place at a nearby hotel."
"I was thinking more like a burger and ice-cream from a food cart," Luke said, looking out the window. There were thousands of speeders in the sky.
"Let's not overspend," Lev said, with a grin.
"I wouldn't want to waste his credits," Luke explained.
"Waste his credits? Luke ... I can assure you, credits are not a problem. Money is something that regular people like me have to think about. See here—" Lev opened the speeder's glove compartment. Inside, there was another security pass. "That allows us to shop in a private floor at the mall. Only a select amount of people are even allowed to breathe the air outside that floor."
"He doesn't act like he's rich," Luke said. "The only things he owns are ships. Senator Lerrod's home had a swimming pool and lots of expensive looking statues." Down below, Luke could see a huge glowing sign that indicated they were at the mall. The surface was lined with holographic billboards, advertising every product under the sun.
Lev brought the speeder down onto a busy landing pad.
"Bring those VIP security cards," Lev said, gesturing. "Maybe we can find a good restaurant on the exclusive floor."
"No restaurant," Luke insisted. "Burger and ice cream. Come on ... please?"
"Perhaps they could make you a burger at a restaurant."
Luke sighed, wondering how he was going to make Lev understand.
"Listen ... this is all a little too much, too fast. I'm still trying to get used to the idea that I have a father. I've never even been to a restaurant before."
"I understand," Lev said. He reversed into a parking space, and switched off the engine. "So," he said, turning to Luke. "There's a burger chain called Galactic Guzzlebusters. They'll have an outlet somewhere in this mall."
Luke grinned. "I bet I can find it first."
"You're on."
Despite himself, Vader could see the humor in Luke's decision to go wandering about on the lower floors in the palace. Attempting to do laundry manually was painfully typical of someone from a primitive world like Tatooine. Luke had a lot to learn.
Another lifetime ago, he had arrived in this same place with no knowledge of how people lived on a world such as this, much to the amusement of the other young Jedi. There were still aspects of the local lifestyle that would never seem normal. A reason why he preferred to be on Mustafar.
If it wasn't for the boy, he would have taken the spy there and continued the interrogation at his leisure, but there were decisions to be made and he couldn't keep procrastinating. His master would not be changing his mind about training Luke to use his potential, and in any case, there was no longer a specialist school for training those strong in the Force.
The assistant had provided multiple options, based on research into the habits of other members of the Imperial hierarchy with children, and Vader found some time to read through them while waiting for the spy to be prepared for another round of interrogation.
He immediately dismissed the private Coruscant academies. There were many alumni from such schools in the elite officer corps of the Imperial navy, and they knew nothing of fundamental values such as loyalty or duty, or even basic common sense. They did appear to be masters of entitlement and sycophantic ambition.
An offworld boarding school would be a better option. That would give him time to see about making some modifications to his residence on Mustafar to make it a more appropriate place for a boy of Luke's age. He could then join him there in the semester breaks.
A brochure for a junior naval academy caught his attention, and he scanned the images of young girls and boys playing sports in a park-like setting and studying in specialised classrooms. Luke seemed to have energy to burn and a friendly, open nature. He would benefit from a place with extensive grounds and other young people who came from all worlds of the galaxy.
It was also located in the Kada system, which housed a large army base and was well-protected. It was even on the hyperspace route between Mustafar and Coruscant, meaning it would be convenient to visit Luke to ensure the boy was making progress. It seemed ideal.
A stormtrooper entered the room, coming to attention beside the door.
"Sir, the prisoner is ready."
Vader closed down the datapad, relieved that decision had been so straightforward. If only all his work could be so effortless.
Luke hadn't realized how hungry he truly was until he started eating. His ice cream was so big, that Lev had long finished his before he was even halfway through.
"Maybe you should order another one," Luke suggested, licking the chocolate sauce off his spoon.
"I'm more than full," Lev said, holding up a hand in protest. "I haven't eaten this kind of food in years. Not since I came to Coruscant. You don't come to the capital of the galaxy only to eat fast food."
Luke smiled. Most of the occupants of other tables were families, of many species and sizes. There were stormtroopers here and there, but Lev was the only officer seen so far.
"So when did you first come here?" Luke asked.
"I trained at the officer academy here. I spent some years as part of a bridge crew on a Star Destroyer, but that didn't quite work out, and Hicks, the security officer you met earlier, helped me join my current team at the palace. We were at the academy together, and we're roommates now. We share an apartment not too far from here."
"Does it have a pool?" Luke asked. "He looked like he'd be a good swimmer."
Lev smiled. "He hates swimming, actually, despite his mixed heritage. He wanted to be a pilot, but that didn't quite work out."
"I want to be a pilot too," Luke said, smiling.
"I could have guessed that one."
"So do you usually work with my father?" It still felt so weird to say that—'my father', but Lev would think it odd if he referred to him as Lord Vader.
"Mostly," Lev said. "When he's not on Coruscant, I'm assigned to assist senior officers at IMH or the Moffs who visit the palace."
"So I guess you know him pretty well," Luke said, digging deep into the ice cream to get at the jelly center.
Lev was silent for a moment. "Not really," he said, finally. "I don't know if anyone really knows your father. Well, perhaps the Emperor does."
"I've wanted to know him my whole life," Luke mumbled, staring blankly into the distance.
"Well," Lev said, leaning back in his seat, "I suppose I do know a few things."
Luke looked up, burning with curiosity. "Like what?"
"I've already told you he likes to modify ships. He also likes to fence."
"Yeah, I've seen him in action. Those laser swords are amazing!" He began to wave his spoon around, improvising sound effects.
"He practices with droids," Lev said, smiling.
"Do you know anything about his past?" Luke asked, putting down the spoon.
"Hmmm. He's been the Emperor's enforcer for as long as there's been an Empire."
"Before that?" Luke prompted. "I know he was a Jedi Knight. What do you know about Jedi?"
"That talking about them can get you arrested," Lev said, quickly. "I don't think your father would want me discussing that subject with you."
Luke sighed. It seemed there was a conspiracy to keep his father's past a secret.
"I've heard rumours he fought in the Clone Wars," Lev said, obviously deciding to change the subject. "He's still a frontline commander. He's always beside the troops, whether on the ground or in the air. I don't think he has a single failed mission in his command history. He prefers to be out there making practical contributions, actually, as the Imperial bureaucracy on Coruscant tends to put him in a bad mood. The Senate keeps a close watch on what he's doing. A lot of my work involves liaising with the government lawyers and the senator's assistants."
Luke was hanging on every word, but Lev pushed back his chair and stood up.
"If you've finished eating, we better start shopping. You're supposed to be back by eighteen hundred. One other thing about your father—he doesn't tolerate failure."
"You mean failure to get back on time," Luke said, with a grin.
"Exactly."
When they'd bought enough clothes to fill the speeder, Lev finally let Luke visit a store of his choosing. He headed straight for a place they'd noticed while looking for a food outlet, which claimed to sell the galaxy's most unusual pets.
After Lev had been licked by something under a sign which read 'invisible claw-monkeys' and Luke had scratched himself on a bird which resembled a cactus, they both decided it was time to head home. Their mission was accomplished with fifteen minutes to spare.
He said goodbye to Lev, who had found a droid to help him carry the shopping back to his bedroom. By the time the elevator doors slid open on his destination, Luke was feeling more than a little tired.
Just as he reached his door, Vader came out of his own private room.
"Did you find everything you require?" he asked.
Luke nodded. "I can't believe how big the mall is."
"When you are ready, join me in the conference room."
"Okay, I'll just ... put these clothes away."
Luke wasn't entirely sure which one was the conference room, but after he returned from his bedroom, he was right on the first guess. It contained a circular black table, surrounded by high-backed, armless chairs. Vader gestured for him to sit, even though he was still standing.
Luke chose a seat, feeling vaguely like he was attending a military briefing. The atmosphere of the room was so formal.
Vader sat down a quarter-way around the table from Luke, and placed a datapad on the table between them.
"We need to discuss arrangements for your education."
Luke looked up quickly. Education? Did he mean school? He hadn't been there since Tatooine ...
"I have investigated the possible options and narrowed down one which I believe would be best for you."
"Is it on that world where you said you live?" Luke asked. "Musta?"
"Mustafar?"
"Yes. Are we going there now?"
"There are no schools on Mustafar." He slid the datapad across the table, and Luke picked it up, curiously. It was a brochure for a school whose title was so long, it spread across two lines. The Junior Imperial Naval Corps Military Academy—Kada System.
"It is located on Kada IV, a moon of a nearby core world."
"That's a long way to travel every day," Luke said, confused.
"You will stay there during the term."
"Oh," Luke said, neutrally. Inside, he was churning with emotions. Was he so much of a pain that Vader wanted to send him away? Stars, they had just found each other, after twelve years apart, and now he wanted to separate them again?
"I will need to make some alterations to my residence at Mustafar before it is suitable for you to live there," Vader continued. "It is not a place that would appeal at present. When it is ready, you may stay there with me outside of the school semesters."
"When ... when will I leave?" Luke mumbled.
"Perhaps in a week's time. I will ask an assistant to contact the school and make arrangements."
A week?! They only had a week left together?
"In the meantime, I have arranged for this droid to mind you," Vader said, gesturing at the wall behind Luke's chair. Luke turned around in surprise. It was an RA-7 protocol droid, gun-metal grey with a white Imperial logo on the front. It looked like it had been pulled from some boring duty at the military center where Vader seemed to spend so much time.
"I don't need—" Luke started to say. He trailed off though. He knew Vader wouldn't appreciate arguing. He looked down for a moment, and then mumbled, "I … I better go finish putting things away."
"Then you are satisfied with this proposal?" Vader asked.
Luke, still facing away from Vader, stared at his feet, wondering what to say. If he said yes, he'd be telling a lie. If he said no, Vader would ask why, and he'd have to tell him that he didn't want to leave so soon after discovering his father was alive. Vader might call that an emotional attachment, though. He didn't want to make him angry again. And he didn't want to be a burden.
"Sure," Luke mumbled, sticking his hands in his pockets and crossing his fingers.