Chapter 2: Princess Leia
"It's one of the smoothest ships I've ever flown."
Luke paused from his detailed description of the Dunesea, to take a bite from his lunch. His friend Ben sat opposite, working on his homework, and only half listening.
"It's got four wings," Luke said, his speech obscured slightly by the food in his mouth, "and when it's flying, they fold out. Like this."
Luke moved his fingers and thumbs into an X-shape.
"That's great, Luke," Ben said, distantly. "So are we still going to the library after school? I need to do some more research for my biology project."
"Sure. I need to start studying for my next history test."
"Have you finished the politics essay?"
"Oh, that reminds me," Luke said, reaching into his bag for his time planner. "I'm supposed to be going to the senate this afternoon. I'll have to forget about the library."
"The senate? What for?"
"One of the Emperor's political advisors is going to give me some practical lessons in senate procedure," Luke explained. "The Emperor requested it, according to my father."
"Sounds interesting."
"That wasn't my reaction," Luke said. "Why don't you come too? If I fall asleep, you can tell me what I missed afterwards."
"Sure, I'll come," Ben said. "I can get his advice on my essay. I'm stuck. I like the subject, but essay writing is not my thing."
"You only took politics in the first place because Ophelia is in the class," Luke said, grinning.
Ben turned slightly red. "That's not true."
Luke noticed Ben's gaze drift past him, so he turned around to investigate. Ophelia had just entered the cafeteria. She headed straight for her friends, not bothering to notice anyone else. Ben quickly pretended to be absorbed in his homework.
"She may be pretty," Luke said, "but that's all I can say. You deserve someone so much better."
"She may act stuck up, but it's just her way of shutting the world out," Ben explained. "There's more to her, I know there is. If it was just her and me, maybe shipwrecked on some isolated planet for a few months—"
"Too much information!" Luke protested, raising a hand.
Ben grinned. "Anyway, I know it's crazy! A Grand Moff's daughter and me—as though that would happen. You'd have a better chance with her."
"Not going to happen. We're too different. Besides, I don't want to go out with anyone from a rich or powerful family."
"That cancels out just about every girl in Imperial City."
"Well, there's a whole galaxy out there," Luke said. "That's one thing I'm really looking forward to after exams. Seeing the galaxy."
"You think you'll have time?" Ben asked.
Luke considered it. His father had never been clear about exactly what he'd be doing after he left school. When he prodded for details, his queries were always met with incomprehensible replies about fulfilling his destiny and following his chosen path.
"Well, I'm hoping I'll be allowed to go on missions with my father," Luke said. "He might finally let me fly a TIE fighter. I know what I don't want to do. Stay here and learn more about politics."
"Have you told your father this?" Ben asked.
"He knows. He told me last night he'd be proud of me no matter what."
"That's nice," Ben said. "I wish my father felt the same."
"What happened?" Luke said, munching on a piece of fruit. "Another argument about you going to medical school?"
"Last night he gave me a prospectus for a university that trains junior diplomats. It's so annoying. I made up my mind two years ago, and he still hasn't accepted it."
"What did you say?"
"I threw it back at him and told him I couldn't wait to move out. We weren't talking this morning."
"That's harsh," Luke said, surprised.
"He won't let it drop, otherwise."
Luke didn't reply. He liked Ben's father a lot, so it was hard to take Ben's side completely, as his friend always did when the situation was reversed. But it was difficult to see Ben and his father drifting apart like this. It had been getting steadily worse over the last few months.
Ben's father didn't seem to mind what his son did, as long as he was serving the Empire in some way. Ben had his heart set on being a doctor and wouldn't hear of joining the military.
"I'll meet you at the landing pad after class," Luke said, standing up as the end of lunch signal sounded in the distance. "Did I tell you I brought the MX speeder today?"
Luke grinned as his friend's eyes lit up. The MX was his favorite.
When Vader entered the Emperor's private hangar anteroom, he expected to find a group of dignitaries waiting to formally welcome the Emperor back to Coruscant. Instead, he found a few nervous royal aides, and a distressed protocol advisor.
"Where is the Grand Vizier?" he asked, half dreading the answer.
"I'm afraid he was summoned to an urgent call a moment ago , my lord," the advisor said, gesturing at the two aides. "Grand Moff Kinar was also supposed to be here, but he never turned up. Sate Pestage left twenty minutes ago to find him."
Vader released a weary breath. He had also been summoned to an urgent call, but intended to see to it after greeting the Emperor. Down below on the hangar floor, the royal guards, stormtroopers, and other military officers were out in full force. Outside, hundreds of escort ships were flying in formation, ready to form an aerial honour guard when the Emperor's shuttle was sighted.
Reluctantly, he picked up his comlink, deciding to take matters into his own hands.
Luke answered almost immediately.
"Hi, Father," he said, sounding like he'd just started chewing a mouthful of food. "Yes, I'm on my way to the senate."
"You are?" Vader considered it for a moment, before remembering the political lessons. "Good," he amended. "I hope you are not talking while piloting."
"We're stopped at Night Burger. I can't learn politics on an empty stomach."
"Then I hope you are not getting grease and salt on the speeder upholstery."
"I'll clean it when I get home," Luke replied, rolling his eyes.
"Goodbye, Son."
Vader cut the call, concluding that asking Luke to fill the missing place was out of the question. Besides, in hindsight, it was better not to draw the Emperor's attention to Luke's growing maturity.
A clatter of boots interrupted Vader's thoughts.
"The shuttle has just been sighted," Sate Pestage said, as he entered the room, "and I managed to convince Grand Moff Halifax to join the greeting party. With me, there will be enough of us."
Managed to convince? Vader eyed the sycophantic Grand Moff with disgust. He would likely have paid large sums of money for the opportunity.
"Where is Grand Moff Kinar?" Vader demanded.
"Captured—by the Rebels," Grand Moff Halifax explained. "They came out of hyperspace at a fueling station, disabled his ship, and took the crew prisoner. ISB are briefing the Grand Vizier."
Vader clenched his gloved hands together. More than anything, he wanted to be away from all this pointless pomp and circumstance, and out there making the Rebels pay for this insult.
"Very well," he snapped. "We will deal with this later. Hurry."
He strode away from the viewing area, and towards the elevator that would carry them down to the hangar floor.
The senate landing pads were crammed full, as was usual when a session was about to begin. Fortunately, his father's VIP parking permit on the royal landing pad was still valid, even when it was only his teenage son in one of his speeders, something Luke was grateful for.
Ben leaned back as he switched off the engine.
"These seats are so comfy. I don't want to get out."
"I like the cup holders," Luke said, removing a disposable cup and the leftovers of their fly-through meal.
"And the six channel sound system," Ben said.
"The in-flight HoloNet terminal," Luke added.
"I can't believe your father let's you fly this to school."
"It was a reward for fixing the engine alignment," Luke explained, while climbing out onto the pad. "Prototypes always have little things wrong with them."
Ben finally pulled himself away from enjoying the speeder's seats, and they walked across the plush red carpet that led to the intricately sculptured entranceway. Royal guards stood unmoving on either side, looking like works of art themselves. They didn't react as he and Ben walked past. A Senate guard met them in the corridor.
"Mr Skywalker, you're expected in the Prosperity Room." He glanced at Ben. "You have a guest?"
"This is my friend, Ben," Luke explained. "Just call me Luke."
"Ben—?"
"Jarnet," Ben supplied.
"Very well. Gentlemen, follow me and I will announce you."
The guard turned away, blue robes streaming behind him.
"You don't have to do that," Luke said, hastily walking after him. He hated being announced, as if he were some kind of royalty.
The guard didn't hear him, or maybe chose to ignore him. When they reached the room, the guard entered first. Luke followed close behind, but Ben pulled him back.
"You're not supposed to enter until after they announce you," he whispered.
"Too bad," Luke mumbled back.
He slipped in behind the guard, who was only just getting started.
"May I present Luke Skywalker, first-born son of his majesty's Imperial enforcer, Lord Darth Vader."
He paused for breath.
"And his guest, Ben Jarnet."
Ben stepped in beside him, and Luke hid a smile as the guard turned to them.
"Gentlemen, may I present Professor Nevi Graphas, member of the distinguished faculty of political science at the First University of Coruscant, and advisor to his most high Imperial Majesty, Emperor Palpatine."
The professor bowed in the formal greeting of the Imperial court. Luke froze for an instant, but soon followed suit as Ben immediately did the same. His father had taught him how to do this at one point, but all Luke could remember of the lesson was banging his head on something, and nearly losing his balance. Fortunately, that didn't happen now.
The guard departed, and Luke shared a glance with Ben.
"First-born son," Luke mumbled. "I'm his only child!"
"He made me sound like a random person off the street," Ben whispered back.
The professor moved closer at that point, causing them both to stop talking.
"An honor to meet you," he said, reaching out to shake Luke's hand.
"This is my friend, Ben," Luke explained. "He's smarter than me, and knows more about politics, so I invited him along."
"Pleasure." After shaking Ben's hand, he gestured at the table.
"Why don't you both take a seat, and we'll talk a little about what's happening in the Senate this afternoon. Then we can proceed over to the observation lounge, and watch it all take place."
Luke managed to pay attention throughout the first part, although Ben asked the most questions. The professor went over the basic rules of senate procedure again, to refresh their memory, and then talked about the various items on the agenda today.
When they stood up to walk across to the observation room, Luke saw a good opportunity to ask a question of his own.
"Professor, there's one thing I've never understood about the senate," he said. "For instance, you said the senators will be discussing new legislation designed to protect naval officers from lawsuits. Why does it matter what the senate says? The Emperor is the one who has the ultimate say on whether it's law or not. Why waste time discussing it if their opinion doesn't count?"
"Oh, their opinion counts very much, despite appearance," the professor said. "Their opinion represents fairness and justice to the galaxy. It is vitally important for a government to be seen as fair. If the senate votes in favor of this legislation, even those who disagree with it will accept that it was brought into effect with fair deliberation."
"But what if the senate votes to throw it out," Luke said, not quite understanding, "and then the Emperor brings it into law anyway? Then isn't all the senate discussion a bit pointless?"
"The Emperor would only bring in law the senate had rejected in an extremely rare situation," the professor explained. "For example, one vital to ensure galactic security."
"Didn't that happen just last week?" Ben asked. "With the amendment to the Sedition Suppression Act?"
"That was a slightly different situation. That was an example of a law that needed to be passed quickly, and so it bypassed the entire senate procedure, and fell straight into the Emperor's hands."
"But if it had gone before the senate, would they have voted in favour of it?" Ben said. "I'm not sure. Parts of it seemed a little ... controversial. To me, at least."
"And what parts would those be?" the professor asked.
Luke tuned out, deciding his question had already been answered. The senate was for show, because it made the population think the government was fair. The Emperor only let legislation be debated by the senate if he knew they would vote in favor of it.
The point of all this spectacle was still lost on him, but perhaps it had reached the limits of his political understanding. He pressed himself against the viewing glass, admiring the vast chamber. He'd been here plenty of times in the past, but it never lost its novelty. He always wondered if the senators ever got bored and started racing the pods around. But somehow he doubted they could travel very fast, given the small repulsors.
Ben and the professor fell silent as Rethera Eet, current chairperson of the senate, announced the first order of business. As the professor had said, it was passage of a bill to grant legal immunity to naval officers in any court but the Empire's own.
Luke watched carefully as a senator from some planet he'd never heard off launched into a long speech in favor of the bill. He described it as a small way to say thank you to all the brave and loyal women and men who protected the galaxy day after day. It was the least we could do, he claimed, to protect them from malicious and frivolous lawsuits designed to prevent them from doing their job. To not pass this bill would be placing lives in danger.
"Are they going to vote now?" Luke asked, as the senator sat down, in the midst of loud applause. "I think it sounds like a good idea."
"So does everyone else, judging by the applause," Ben added.
"No voting until we've heard from the opposition," the professor explained.
"And now, the chair recognizes the senator from the Alderaan system, her royal highness, Princess Leia Organa," Rethera Eet announced.
"Alderaan," Luke repeated. "I've heard of that. It's where—"
Luke's voice faded into nothing as he caught sight of the giant viewscreen on the wall.
"She's pretty," Ben remarked.
"She's beautiful," Luke insisted.
"And she's of an age with the two of you," the professor said. "Pay close attention to the princess. She will no doubt have something interesting to say."
He didn't need to tell him twice. Luke stood up and pressed himself against the window, wanting to get the best possible view.
"Honorable representatives of the Empire," she began, her young voice ringing over the room's audio system. "We cannot let this piece of garbage be inflicted on us. It is nothing but an insidious attempt to allow naval officers to torture, molest and pillage the citizens of this galaxy with no consequence."
"Whoa," Ben said, looking shocked.
The other senators erupted into boos and insults. They didn't phase the princess in the slightest.
"What we have here is an attempt to place naval officers above the law. One law for them, and one law for the rest of us. I ask you, fellow senators, if one of us were to abduct a random person from the street, lock them up and torture them to death, what would the consequences be? An appointment with a criminal psychiatrist? A lifetime in a penal institution? If this law comes into effect, the only consequences a naval officer will face is a token lawsuit in an Imperial military court, which has thrown out ninety percent of military misconduct charges brought before it in the past year alone."
The other senators were almost rioting at this point. Luke could see physical objects being tossed in the princesses' direction.
"I can't believe I ever thought this was going to be boring," he said, glancing at Ben. Ben appeared too surprised to reply.
"Senator, will you allow a question?" Rethera Eet asked.
"I will allow a question," the princess replied.
Another pod floated into the center, occupied by a bunch of tentacled people belonging to a species Luke didn't recognize. They did not speak basic, but an electronic translation sounded over the audio system.
"What proof does the senator have that torture exists within the Imperial navy? It is clearly outlawed by numerous pieces of legislation."
"He's kidding, right?" Luke asked the professor. "Everyone knows the Imperial military tortures people.."
"Officially, they don't," the professor explained.
Luke frowned in confusion. Was he saying that the Empire lied to the public, and pretended that torture didn't happen? Before he had a chance to ask further, the princess spoke again.
"The question here is not whether Imperial officers engage in torture," she said, "but the fact that this legislation allows them to do so with legal immunity."
"That's clever," Ben said. "She's redirected the focus of the question."
"The mark of a natural politician," the professor explained.
"I have to wonder," the princess continued, "if we have such faith in our military that any talk of crime is outrageous, why the need for this alteration in the first place? Are our officers being constantly dragged before planetary court systems? Are they being found guilty? Perhaps we should ask why this is happening, before we start rushing to outlaw it. Perhaps we should face the growing evidence that torture is common—even encouraged, at the very highest level of Imperial leadership."
The cries of 'traitor' were almost deafening. The chairperson was yelling for order, and the barrage of objects flying towards the senator's pod increased in intensity.
"I've never seen the cafeteria at school get this bad," Ben said.
"It's like a kindergarten," Luke agreed, staring at the viewscreen.
"I've seen far worse," the professor said.
Eventually, the senate chair called for a recess, and the shouting died down as the Alderaan pod withdrew back to its cradle.
"I'm surprised she even said those things," Ben said.
"But it was true," Luke insisted.
"Truth is often a point of view," the professor said.
After the welcome ceremonies were over and done with, the Emperor requested a private audience with Vader in the throne room. Privacy was becoming essential as the Death Star reached its final stages. There was more than a hint that Rebel spies had heard rumours of its existence. The Emperor was not willing to trust even his own royal guard, which Vader could readily understand. This project had cost billions of credits and nearly two decades of planning and construction. To risk a setback now was unacceptable.
"My master," Vader said, bowing as he approached the throne. "I hope the Death Star has lived up to your expectations."
"Indeed it has, my friend. Director Krennic has done well."
"How long until it is completed?"
"Not soon enough, it seems. I hear you had some trouble with the Rebels."
"They grow stronger," Vader admitted. "And bolder. Grand Moff Kinar has been taken prisoner by the Rebels, a mere hour ago. They are becoming increasingly well equipped ... there is an organized coalition of planets who are funding them, I am sure of it, my master."
"Not for long," the Emperor said, coldly. "Once the Death Star is operational, we will uncover those traitorous planets, and remove them from the map."
"Should I make arrangements to seek Kinar's release?"
"Do not bother," the Emperor said, calmly. "It is no great loss. We will promote someone else in his place. Doubtless one of his assistants has already moved into his mansion."
"Undoubtedly, my master. And if former Grand Moff Kinar returns?"
"Execute him. He was a tiring nuisance, anyway."
"Yes, my master."
Believing the conversation to be over, Vader was about to make an exit. But the Emperor continued.
"Lord Vader, while I was away, I felt an unusual disturbance in the Force."
Vader was silent, dreading what was coming next.
"So. How is young Luke Skywalker?"
"He is well, Master," Vader said, carefully. "He is at the senate as we speak, learning with Professor Graphas."
"Has he shown any aptitude for politics?"
Vader considered how to answer. "He is a smart boy, and a natural leader," he said, finally, "but he prefers action over deliberation."
"His father's son, in other words," the Emperor said.
"Yes, Master."
"What do you see in his future?"
"He will become a loyal servant of the Empire. A great asset."
"His fate is not so clear to me," the Emperor said. "I sense danger. I am not oblivious, my friend—I realize you would like to see him realize his Force potential. But you do not consider the consequences."
"I only consider the benefits for the Empire," Vader said. "The Death Star cannot be everywhere at once."
"That is true. But perhaps you should give your grand vision further thought. Is he emotionally strong enough to handle the power of the Dark Side?"
Vader was silent, considering the Emperor's question. He had handled the Dark Side. Luke could, too.
"Regardless, I will continue to observe him," the Emperor said. "If he proves mature enough, I will give your idea further thought. In the meantime, he must remain untrained."
Vader didn't protest. He expected as much and was pleased the Emperor had not dismissed his idea entirely.
"In the interim, I have a task for young Skywalker. The Archduke of Quasher will be visiting the Imperial court as my personal guest next week. He is bringing his son, who will be replacing their retiring senator. He is of an age with young Skywalker. I thought your son could befriend the young man."
"He will be happy to assist in any way he can," Vader said, pleased his master considered Luke ready for an official duty like this.
"And perhaps the young politician can be of assistance to your efforts in preparing your son. An ISB agent has vetted the young man several times, and finds him to be of great potential. Charismatic, confident, and as unswervingly loyal as a stormtrooper. A perfect choice for a senator."
Vader idly wondered if Luke would get on with such a person.
"Young Skywalker could learn a lot from him," the Emperor said, pointedly.
"So, what did you think of it?" Luke asked, as he and Ben departed from the observation lounge.
"Interesting," Ben said. "How often do you have to attend these lessons?"
"Once a week," Luke said.
"Do you think your father would mind if I came every week?"
"Why?" Luke asked. "Are you feeling your true calling? Politics?"
"I thought you were, the way you were staring at the princess," Ben said, smirking.
"Shut up!"
"Do you want to go and wander around her pod entrance," Ben suggested, mockingly. "In case we see her ...?"
"Stop it. Listen, do you want to get some food before we leave?"
"Good idea," Ben said, changing direction towards the nearby elevators. "We might see her in the cafeteria."
"Ben!"
"This is what you get for years of mocking me about Ophelia."
"That's different," Luke said, pressing the button to travel up. "Ophelia isn't like the princess."
"How do you know? She's a princess ... "
The elevator arrived, and Luke entered ahead of Ben. "That doesn't mean she's a snob."
"Even if she wasn't, I don't think you'd have much chance with her," Ben said. "I don't think she likes the Empire."
"She's not a snob!" Luke insisted. He studied the buttons, and then pressed one that had a tiny label saying 'food'. "And what makes you think she doesn't like the Empire? She's a senator, not a Rebel."
"Did you listen to anything she said?"
"Yes."
Ben shook his head. "Forget it. Let's just get food ... I'm so hungry."
Luke nodded in agreement. They rode the elevator in silence for a few minutes, watching the lights flash past as they rushed upwards. About halfway up, the elevator began to slow. Ben shifted over to Luke's side of the elevator, anticipating someone was about to enter.
When the doors slid open with a hissing noise, Luke's eyes widened in surprise. She was among those waiting on the other side. Her face appeared so much younger in close proximity. And she was short. Half a head shorter than him.
Ben nudged him, smirking. Luke could only stare.
The group of people entered the elevator, but Luke didn't notice anyone except her. She glanced at the buttons, and then rested against the opposite wall. Shortly afterwards, the elevator resumed its journey.
Luke felt a strange sensation in the back of his mind. Worry, mixed with a strong determination. These weren't his thoughts, and they certainly weren't Ben's. They were hers ... he could sense her thoughts. He'd never been able to do this before, certainly not with a complete stranger. Ben's thoughts were a mystery to him, unless his friend was feeling a particularly strong emotion.
The elevator stopped, and the people who had boarded with Leia departed, leaving the three of them alone. When they began travelling again, she turned her brown-eyed gaze towards him, and Luke felt a sudden spike in his sense of her. He couldn't tear his eyes away.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Uh ..." Luke heard a vague noise come out of his mouth, which didn't make any sense.
"We heard your speech," Ben supplied, coming to his rescue.
Luke rubbed his head, forcing himself to concentrate. "It was ... wonderful. I agreed with every word."
"Thank you," she said. "I only hope it makes a difference. Many lives depend on it."
Luke was silent for a moment, and then blurted out, "Are you really a princess?"
Ben looked at him like he was a few grains short of a sand dune, but Luke couldn't take it back now.
Fortunately, she only smiled. "You can call me Leia. What can I call you?"
"Uh ... Luke. Luke Skywalker."
There was a moment of silence, and then Ben spoke up. "I'm Ben Jarnet," he said.
"Where do you call home?" Leia asked.
"Oh, we live in Imperial city," Luke explained. "We're just here to study politics. It's ... a school project."
"Your parents want you to have careers in the senate?" Leia inferred.
"Mine does, but I'm not interested," Ben said. "I admire all the work politicians do, but I don't think I could handle the responsibility."
"It can be very hard," Leia admitted. "It's hard convincing people to take you seriously, especially when they see you as a mere child. How about you, Luke?"
"Me, oh ... well if it meant seeing you every day, I would consider this the best place to work in the entire galaxy."
There was a second of silence, and then Luke realized what he had said.
"I meant hearing you every day," he corrected. "Hearing your speeches!"
"Are you getting out here," she said, gesturing at the doors. Luke wondered how long they'd been sitting open like that.
He reluctantly stepped out, with Ben close behind. He turned back to say goodbye, but the elevator doors had already slid closed.
"Blast it!" he said. "I said something stupid, didn't I?"
"That was a study in how not to meet a girl, Luke."
Luke frowned for a moment, and then quickly brightened up. "At least she knows my name."
Vader withdrew to the ship hangar in the evening, deciding to continue with a modification project. Fiddling around with an engine always gave him focus. The conversation with the Emperor had given him much to think about, and he'd found his thoughts dwelling on his son ever since.
He was capable, no doubt of that. He had talent and passion to spare, when he put his mind to accomplishing a task. He would make a powerful Sith Lord, perhaps the most powerful the galaxy had ever known. When he passed on all his years of knowledge and experience, Luke would become everything he should have been. Put simply, Luke was brilliant.
If all this was so obvious to him, why couldn't the Emperor see it?
A distant rumble caused Vader to look up from his work. The MX speeder zoomed into the hangar, and squealed as it was forced into a ninety-degree turn. Finally, it reversed into a vacant spot and the engine shut off.
A moment later, the canopy popped open, and one youthfully exuberant Skywalker jumped out. He spied Vader immediately, and came running over.
"Hi!"
"How was the senate?" Vader asked, tightening a loose bolt.
"Fantastic!"
Vader felt a slight unease growing in the back of his mind. Had Luke developed a newfound interest in politics?
"What did you learn?" he enquired.
"Oh, something about something," Luke said, picking up a polishing cloth. "I forget. But I met this girl ... she was ... indescribable."
Vader almost smiled. His unease quickly evaporated. "I see."
"I felt ... happy," Luke said. "From the moment I saw her. Is that normal?"
"At your age, very normal," Vader said. "Was she the daughter of one of the senators?"
"Better, she was a senator!" Luke said. "She was about my age, and she's already a senator. Can you believe it?"
"What was her name?" Vader asked, having a sudden suspicion.
"Leia," Luke said, staring blankly into the distance. "Beautiful name."
"Princess Leia Organa?"
"Yes," Luke said, focusing back on Vader. "Do you know her?"
"Yes. Very brave ... and very stubborn."
"She's beautiful."
"Before you start planning your wedding, you should know that she spends her spare time throwing flaming darts at an effigy of me."
"I don't like her in that way," Luke protested. He paused for a moment. "She really hates you?"
"I believe she was once censored by the Senate chair after she referred to me as a personification of everything wrong with the Empire."
"Maybe she just hasn't taken the time to know you properly," Luke said, polishing a hydrospanner.
"Undoubtedly," Vader said, amused at his son's optimism.
"Do you like her?" Luke enquired.
Vader considered it. "I admire her dedication and emotional strength. She reminds me of ... someone." Vader returned to realigning a side panel. "But she is wrong about everything when it comes to politics. Her father is similarly misguided. I hold him more accountable, because he witnessed first hand the corruption of the Republic. To hear them talk, one would think they wish to see the galaxy returned to war and chaos."
"So ..." Luke said, "if by some crazy chance I happened to have the opportunity to invite her over ... would you have a problem with it?"
"Why would you invite her over?" Vader said, somewhat bemused. "To play hologames? To help you modify a speeder?"
Luke frowned. "I'm serious!"
"As long as she does not mislead you with her political ideas."
"You'd be polite to her?"
"When have I ever not been polite to your friends?"
"Let's see ... every single time you come into contact with them. The first time Ben came over here, you ordered Lev to take him away, like he was a piece of garbage."
"Considering he had just crawled out of a trash compactor, it was an honest mistake."
Luke groaned, and started to walk towards the elevators.
"Goodnight, Dad."
Vader stretched out with the Force, causing Luke to stop in his tracks.
"I meant goodnight, your lordship," Luke corrected.
"I would hope so. But I need to talk to you about something else."
Luke turned back, expectantly.
"The Archduke of Quasher will stay at the palace as an official guest of the Emperor. Part of the purpose of his visit is to introduce his son to Coruscant, as his son will be taking over the role of senator when the existing one retires."
Luke's eyes had glazed over.
"His son is of an age with you. You will befriend the young man, and ensure his stay on Coruscant is an enjoyable experience."
"Befriend who?" Luke said, quickly regaining focus. "The Archduke and senator of where?"
"Quasher. Not him, but his son."
"The son of the person who's going to be the next senator?"
"No, his son is going to be the next senator."
"And he's my age?"
"Yes. It is an honor that the Emperor is entrusting you with this task."
"It's a mistake," Luke protested. "I don't know how to entertain someone who's going to be a senator. Everyone is more mature than me. I've heard about two people my age who are already senators, and I'm ... still trying to figure out the difference between an amendment and an act."
"Luke," Vader said, walking over to place a hand on his son's shoulder. It seemed he was doing a lot of this fatherly reassurance lately. "Your talents lie on a different path. I have every faith that you can complete this task, and many more besides."
"I wish I knew what that path was, sometimes," Luke said, staring at his boots.
"Perhaps you will not have to wait long to find out," Vader said, cryptically. He didn't wish to build up Luke's hopes by elaborating further, no matter how high the possibility of Sith training was.