Biggs blinked, as he watched the Lars and that strange hermit that lives miles away enter the house. Why were they having such a private conversation in such an open place Biggs didn't know. Then again this was Tatooine, and people rarely stepped this far into the desert...unless you wanted to see Owen Lars, and not very many people wanted to do that.
They had told him that Luke had died. Something about the Imperials...Biggs didn't agree with it. He was certain that Luke was still alive. And it seemed that he was right. But Beru kind old Beru seemed traumatized at the idea of Luke being alive, shouldn't she be ecstatic?
"The last thing this galaxy needs is another Vader..."
"I don't think that Vader's killed him, but has a much more sinister action at heart."
That was what the old man had said. What did that mean? Why would Vader want anything to do with Luke Skywalker? True he was a good pilot, for an untrained sixteen-year-old any way. But then again there were all of those things that he did. Things no one could explain. ..much more sinister action at heart What could Vader use Luke for to be sinister. And that word. Jedi It seemed so familiar like something he had half learned. Must have taught him it at school...dam him for not paying attention!
Biting his lip Biggs tried to move towards the lounge where he could see their shadows, Owen was yelling, his hands were moving rather rapidly. The problem was there was nothing to hide behind. Slowly he crept and slid down on his stomach and peered down the pit and into the lounge. Surely someone would see him...he strained his ears to hear what they were talking about.
"...How do we know he won't?" Owen was saying.
"I won't allow him to." The old man, Obi-Wan Beru had called him, said stubbornly
Owen laughed. "Wasn't Vader your pupil? And look what happened to him! You came here with Luke and pled with us to care for him. 'He's Anakin's son, he's gone.' That's what you told us."
"But." Beru said and Biggs strained even more. Her voice was so quiet. "Didn't Vader kill all the Jedi? Anakin was killed by Vader wasn't he? And Luke adored his father worshipped him, even though he never knew the man. I have every confidence that he will not serve the man that slayed his father."
"Yes, however, that is not the case entirely. And I fear that Vader will not stop at telling Luke the truth." Obi-Wan sighed, and Biggs saw him pinch the bridge of his nose. "I should have told him a long time ago. You should have told him, then he would have expected something like this. But blame an old man and his mistakes."
"Obi-Wan." Beru said slowly, and Biggs saw Owen sitting down, his face in his hands. "What are you talking about?" she continued.
"Anakin, he turned to the Dark Side, I thought that I had killed him...I hadn't. He merely became Darth Vader forever. Luke longed for a father, and...perhaps getting him back will be difficult."
Biggs gasped. Vader was Luke's father? It couldn't be! But it did explain all of the weird things that he had done...
Beru was yelling at Owen. "Did you know..." Obi-Wan however was looking at Biggs Straight in the eyes.
X
Even though there were carpets in the throne room Luke's knees were still getting very sore. He was kneeling there for what seemed ages, Luke had to resist the urge to just get up an go, but Vader obviously sense that and glared at his son. Hard.
"Ah, Young Skywalker. I have been expecting you." The Emperor turned in his seat and Luke got his first look at the man who ruled the galaxy. He blinked. This couldn't be right. He knew that the Emperor was old, but this was just laughable. Luke had to suppress a giggle, but he didn't know if he was just nervous. "Your father has told me all about you." Luke flinched, even though he had been told a week ago, he still didn't like the idea of Vader being his father. In his eyes it wasn't a happy tale. But at least now he had a father, and a future off Tatooine. "Rise." Luke and Vader both did so.
"Now..." The Emperor said, slowly getting up from his throne and hobbling to the window, where there was a view of Coruscant. "I have entrusted Lord Vader with your training for he time being, as you will be aware, but after a certain time, I shall be training you." He turned and hobbled a bit closer to Luke. "Stand up straight and let me get a good look at you." The Emperor cackled some. "Ah...you look a lot like your father at that age. Of course that was before his, ah, little accident." Luke wouldn't have said that Vader injuries were a 'little accident' more attempted murder, but Luke was no one to argue.
"How are you enjoying you stay at Imperial palace?" The Emperor said returning to his throne.
"It's fine your Highness."
"Good, good. Dismissed Young Skywalker, I wish to speak to your father alone." Luke bowed and hurried out of the door and down the corridor.
There he lent against a wallpapered wall and took deep breaths. But then let go of the laugh that he had been holding in. A few maids looked at him rather funny. A boy, dressed in the finest attire, giggling like the stupid little farm boy he was.
"What, may I ask, do you find so amusing."
Luke stood straight again, he had a feeling that his father didn't approve of laughing especially girlish giggles. "Nothing, My Lord."
"Well stop acting like a child. You are a Prince of the Empire; it is time that you started to act like one." Then Vader walked away, and Luke was left feeling rather empty.
X
Now that he wasn't forced to read by teachers Luke found that he rather enjoyed it. He was learning, something that his father seemed to ignore, it was obvious that the Dark Lord of the Sith didn't approve of his son getting much of an education. Well, not going to school like most guys his age did. There were lessons, lots of them, with meditating and learning how to move things with his mind.
But suddenly for the first time in his life Luke craved to learn, so there he was lying on his back and for the first time in his life voluntarily reading a history book about the clone wars. He was getting to a particularly interesting part about the Jedi betraying the new Empire (which Luke doubted was entirely the case) when his father walked in, like normal not knocking.
"Tidy this place up, it looks like a star ship crashed in it."
Luke bookmarked the page, and sat up, like normal when lounging around he was in scruffy clothes that he had asked Izzy for. He could tell that Vader did not approve of his son's attire.
"The thing to do in polite society is the knock, I could have been…naked or something for all you know." The boy moaned.
"I could sense that you were fully clothed and not busy."
"I was reading! Peacefully!"
Luke heard what appeared to be a sigh from the Dark Lord, and he picked up Lukes' book. "Such educational books you read."
Luke snatched it back. "I have to know history, it's really important you know. I don't know a thing about the Clone Wars, quite interesting."
"All you need to do is ask me, I did fight in them after all. Now, if you require some books that have any value in reading there is a library with some books that would be helpful in your studies." Luke nodded, not caring.
"What did you want?"
"Excuse me?"
Luke sighed and rolled his eyes. "You barged in here uninvited and you started criticizing my reading material, why did you come here for the first place?"
"I do not barge, I walk at a pace." Vader protested, and if Luke didn't know better he would have sworn his father was pouting slightly.
"Whatever, now what did you want?"
"I am leaving for a few weeks on the Executor. For the first week, you are to stay here, under the watchful eye of the staff." Luke smiled, that meant he would be able to see Izzy some more. "She is a member of the staff Youngling." Luke frowned he hated getting his mind read. "For the second week you shall accompany me on the Executor and learn how to command an Imperial fleet."
Luke raised his eyebrows with interest. "Does that mean I'll be able to fly one of the 'Tie's"
"No." Luke snarled. "However, if you behave I shall see whether the Commander of the squadron will allow you to go on the simulator."
Luke nodded, it was better than nothing he guessed. With Vader now gone Luke was now able to continue with his book. He was getting to how the Jedi were slaughtered, and he found that he was absolutely disgusted, horrified and mortified at what he found out. They were all killed, every single last one of them.
Even the Younglings.
Children between five and ten.
All by his father.
R.E.V.I.E.W! Please?
A/N: Again I've left it with a semi cliffhanger, well, sort of. Sorry about the lateness of this chapter and the shortness of it. I shall try and make the next one longer, but I had major writers block, plus the G8's this week, been protesting, was at the demo in Edinburgh, 'twas amazing!
Schnickledooger: Luke's 16, but soon to be 17, I'm so glad that you want me to update so quickly, but unfortunately it's not possible with me. And I don't think I'm going to pair Luke up with Mara, I don't know her character well enough to write, but you never know, watch this space! And 'That old corpse?' LOL! I don't know, as you've (hopefully) read, Luke's just met the Corpse, but it might all change.
SygirlVALOR: I had to fantabulous word to describe to you how Luke's going to turn out but now I can't remember it! I am very annoyed at myself! Dark Jedi Luke? I must admit, ever since I read 'Dark Empire' I've been a dark Luke fan. But in this story? In the trilogy I always saw young Luke as very impressionable, (as we all are at that age.) What I'm trying to say is that the way Luke's being raised the way he is now is going to have a massive impact on how he turns out. That's all I'm going to say. And btw, thanx for pointing those mistakes out, but I now have Word with spell checker, so hopefully tis an end to bad spelling.
BreathingFlames: Auch, cheers mate! That made my day that did! Izzy shall make more appearances in this story, and well...wait and see.
Thanks for all your reviews, ask questions! I love mulling over them finding answers, plus, it gives me ideas!