Chapter 5: Accident
It took some careful mental calculations to figure out the best way to get back into the Imperial Palace and get the alcohol soaked shirt in the cleaning unit before Lev came within smelling distance of it. Fortunately, it was a big place, and Lev had many skills, but Force sensitivity wasn't one of them.
As well as the telekinesis, Luke was finding he was becoming more aware of when people he knew well were on the other side of walls or doors. He could tell when Ben walked into the library at school, even when it was full of students. It came in handy when he wanted to avoid Lev.
But after another night of broken sleep, with stray thoughts of Captain Yahza slumping to the floor still intruding in his mind, he felt more determined than ever to find a way to eliminate this entire problem from his life. He had more than enough to worry about without the thought of accidentally hurting someone next time he lost his temper.
Maybe that's how it had started for his father. He knew he'd been through some terrible things when he was younger. Had this cold attitude to killing started as something that happened in a fit of anger which he later regretted? Had he then slowly become so used to it, now it was almost second nature to him?
The thought weighed on him throughout the day, and he found himself wishing he could talk to someone who knew his father in the past. Someone he could trust. He was sure such a person could answer all his questions and more. There were many people who had told him a little, like his mother's family, but they didn't know everything. He suspected the Emperor knew, but he couldn't trust anything he said on the subject.
Ben had asked him a few times what was wrong, but it wasn't something he could talk about with his friend. He had enough of his own problems right now, and none of them involved becoming a remorseless killer.
His doctor responded to his request for an appointment in the middle of the afternoon, inviting him to come to his office as soon as he was free. It was a relief, but Luke also found his palms were sweating as he walked the distance from the landing pad to the medical centre in the Senate office building. What if there was a way to end this, but it was long and painful? Or worse, what if there wasn't? What if his doctor didn't even believe in the Force? He'd met more than one person who dismissed the entire concept as superstition and magic tricks.
But as soon as Doctor Leeson had greeted him with a friendly smile and waved him into his office, Luke felt a rush of relief. Maybe this was part of his latent Force sensitivity as well, but there was something so reassuring about his doctor's presence. He flopped down into the comfortable chair beside his desk, and his doctor brought up his patient record.
"Well, Luke, it's been a while since I've seen you," he said, scrolling past some clinical notes with a gesture. "Which is a good thing, going by some of these entries."
Luke smiled. "Yes, I'm wiser. More mature. My hoverboard has grown dusty."
"I'm glad to hear it. So what can I do for you today?"
"I don't know if you'll even be able to help with this," Luke said. "But I didn't know who else to ask and I know you'll … keep it confidential." Without being aware of it, he realized he'd picked up one of the stress toys on his doctor's desk.
"Of course, Luke. You can discuss anything that's worrying you."
Luke put the stress toy back and began meshing his fingers together. "Okay. This is hard to explain. Um … do you believe in the Force?"
"I consider myself open-minded about such things. When I was a child, there were many stories told about what those who had a strong connection to the Force could do."
"Like reading people's minds?" Luke suggested. "Predicting the future?"
"Yes."
"Moving things without touching them?"
His doctor nodded. "I have also heard stories about what your father can do."
"He can use the Force to do all those things," Luke said. "And … here's the thing. So can I. Not like he can, as I haven't been trained. But I have the potential." Luke stood up, feeling the need to pace around the room. "Most of the time, I don't really notice … it's just part of who I am. But as I've grown older ..." Luke stretched out a hand towards the stress toy. It twitched slightly and then leapt through the air into his hand. "It's getting stronger."
His doctor jumped at the sight, and his eyes grew wide.
"I'm sorry, I've freaked you out, haven't I?" Luke quickly put the stress toy back where it belonged. "I shouldn't have done that."
His doctor didn't move for a few seconds. Then he reached out and activated the comlink on his desk.
"L-160, can you please cancel my next appointment?"
"Certainly, doctor. What should I state is the reason for the cancellation?"
"Just cancel it." He shut off the comlink.
Luke sunk back into the chair, slouching forward. "Sorry," he mumbled.
Doctor Leeson ran his hands through his hair, leaning back. "No, Luke. Don't apologise."
"I'm a freak."
"No. Don't say that. So … this telekinetic ability. It's been happening more often?"
"Yes. And the other day, for the first time, it happened when I wasn't even trying to do it. Normally I had to concentrate really hard and I felt drained afterwards. Like I'd just climbed a few flights of stairs. But I'm not so worried about that. Moving things around isn't so bad, unless it were to happen at school. What I'm really worried about is that I'll lose my temper and use this same ability to hurt someone. My father, he … well … he can actually kill people." His voice broke on the word 'kill'.
His doctor nodded, and his tone was back to his usual calm reassurance. "I've heard about the choking."
Luke nodded. "Yes. That. So … is it possible to take away this power? I've heard about microscopic cellular life forms that scientists think is the reason why some people have a stronger connection to the Force. Can they be removed with an operation? Or maybe there's another way. A pill or something."
"Luke … this is a hard thing for me to admit, as my wife will confirm, but I am way out of my depth on this subject. I've heard of the theory you speak of, but any research into the role they play in the … manifestation of unusual abilities—" he gestured to the stress toy. "—has long been outlawed. When it wasn't illegal, it certainly wasn't a topic I was familiar with."
"That's okay," Luke said, trying to hide his disappointment. "I know you'd help me if you could."
"Have you spoken to your father about your worries?"
"Yes. He says I can choose how I want to use my power."
"That sounds like good advice. You're a good person, Luke. You're not going to start hurting people just because you have some unusual abilities. You don't go around hurting people now, do you?"
"No," Luke agreed. "But I don't think my father started out like he is now either."
"Well, between us, Luke, I've long thought your father suffers from severe post-traumatic stress. He shows many classic symptoms. Irritability, agitation, emotional detachment."
Luke cringed as he remembered the sight of the choking captain, and his doctor didn't miss it.
"Did something happen? Did you experience some temptation that has you so worried?"
"No, I ... " He hadn't spoken about this with anyone. Not even Artoo, who was the best listener out of anyone he knew. But maybe he should. "The other night, he … he choked a captain to death because he withdrew from a Rebel attack."
"And you witnessed this?"
Luke nodded, and his eyes filled with tears he'd been struggling to hold back. His doctor immediately handed him a tissue.
"Oh, Luke. No wonder you're feeling scared. I can't believe your father would do such a thing in front of you."
There was a rare note of annoyance in his doctor's voice, and Luke found himself remembering one crucial detail.
"Well … I wasn't actually supposed to be there. He'd told me to go back."
For the first time, it suddenly occurred to Luke that his father had known then exactly what was going to happen when he met with Captain Yahza. And he'd wanted to protect him.
"He knew it was wrong," Luke said, having a sudden revelation. "No matter what he says, there's still a part of him that knows it's wrong."
"I have no doubt. Your father cares about you and wouldn't have wanted you to be hurt. Witnessing such an event would be traumatic even for an adult who had served in the military for some years. Have you had trouble sleeping?"
His doctor was taking notes now. Luke found himself nodding.
"I've barely slept. Today I dozed during my history class."
"Appetite?"
"I feel nauseous whenever I think about it."
"Have you been indulging in any risky or self-harming behaviour since this happened?"
"No," Luke said, quickly. Racing around on a speeder bike didn't count.
His doctor turned to stare at him, and Luke hastily changed the subject.
"I'm okay. It's not easy, but I've seen stuff like this before. When I was just a kid, I had to learn to use a blaster to defend the farm from sand people. I saw my first dead body when I was only six. A few years ago, I was on a ship and I saw the aftermath of a firefight, and there dead soldiers just lying where they fell."
"That's different from seeing someone you love and respect execute someone in cold blood."
"Yeah, you're right," Luke admitted, twisting the damp tissue in his hands. "It's not only that. It's just … before that happened, I was at a diplomatic dinner where I was supposed to be representing the Empire. I don't know when I ever agreed to do any work for the Empire, but somehow it happened anyway. And everything about that night is exactly what I've always been saying. There are two versions of the Empire. There's the one you see on Empire Day, and on the HoloNet, and the one I was participating in at that dinner. Then there's what goes on out of sight and in the darkness and it's cold and brutal and I don't want to have anything to do with it!"
It felt so good to finally say it out loud. His doctor listened to all this with a concerned expression, and then said, "Perhaps you should try negotiating."
"Huh?"
"If you're being asked to represent the Empire, then you must have gained the support of the highest levels of the Imperial leadership. Outside of your father, I mean."
Luke nodded. "The Grand Vizier is nice to me. And most of the Moffs will smile and say hello if they see me around the palace."
"Clearly they see great potential in your leadership ability. You should use that to your advantage. If they want you to represent the Empire, then they need to accept your terms."
"You mean … I should say I won't participate in diplomatic dinners until my father stops executing officers?"
"It's worth a try." Doctor Leeson hesitated, and then said, "Just don't tell any of them I put you up to this."
Luke smiled. "Of course not. Maybe I could ask for other things too. No more torture or public executions outside the detention centre. And let the HoloNet news report on something other than how great the Emperor is."
"You should make a list. You might not be able to achieve all of them just yet, but don't underestimate how important you are." He returned to his computer and began scrolling back through his notes. "Luke, I'm going to refer you to a counselling service that I believe will help you develop some strategies for working through all this."
Luke raised his hands. "I can't do that. I've got my final exams coming up, and … and other things." Telling his doctor he needed to work on his new speeder bike so he could compete in an underground race wasn't a good idea. "Besides, I know what they'll say. That I should talk about it with my father. He's not even here … he's away dealing with some Rebel attack that never gets reported on the HoloNet."
"I can't make you do it if you don't want to. But I think it would help. It worries me that your first reaction to this was to want to erase part of yourself. It speaks to a lot of internal conflict."
"I'm okay," Luke repeated, starting to wish he'd never approached his doctor about this. "I better get going, anyway."
As Luke stood up, his doctor did the same. "Luke, before you go … I may not know anything about the Force, but I do remember what it was like to be seventeen. That age is confusing enough as it is, and you are dealing with heavy responsibilities on top of it all. I'm here anytime you need help."
"Thank you," Luke said. "I … I'll remember that."
Despite his discomfort at the suggestion of counselling, Luke found speaking with his doctor had helped a little, even if it just meant getting some reassurance that he wasn't overreacting by being upset about what his father had done. And the idea of negotiating to try and change how things worked around here was a good one.
He wasn't ready to entirely give up on the idea of finding a way to neutralise his Force sensitivity, however. His doctor might see it as erasing part of himself, but it was more about protecting himself from supernatural powers that he could tell would quickly overwhelm him if he wasn't careful.
Information about the Force and the Jedi might be suppressed and illegal, but the Imperial Palace contained a vast library of ancient Jedi texts on the subject. Luke recruited Artoo and Threepio to help him, and soon they were roaming the archive, Threepio rattling off subject headings that might be useful.
Luke was in the middle of browsing through a resource written by a Jedi healer, about conditions which diminished a Jedi's connection to the Force, when he heard the sound of the main doors opening.
"Oh, it's the Grand Vizier," Threepio said, bowing as Mas Amedda approached, his robe flowing behind him. "Greetings, your excellency."
"Hi," Luke said, not looking up from the text. There was a paragraph about some bio-engineered virus which attacked midichlorians, but one victim of it ended up dead. The healer noted that even the virus itself required a connection to the Force to survive, and it died along with its host. "If you're looking for an update on Tyloid, don't worry, I have it sorted."
"May I ask how?" the Grand Vizier asked, sounding skeptical.
"Some friends from school took him to one of their fancy exclusive nightclubs yesterday, and I haven't heard from him since, so I'm guessing that means he had a good time."
"It was intended that you be the one to entertain him, Luke."
"He didn't find me entertaining. I can't help that." He glanced up then, having a sudden idea. "Hey. You were around when the Jedi lived in this place, right?"
Mas Amedda gave him a wary look like he wasn't sure where this line of questioning was going. Luke chose to get to the point.
"Did you ever hear if there was a way to take away someone's ability to use the Force? So they became just like everybody else."
"Both the Separatists and the Republic did extensive research into the possibility," Mas Amedda said. "Any attempt to reduce a person's Force sensitivity was only temporary at best."
"Oh," Luke said, sighing as he closed down the databook.
"Exactly whose Force sensitivity were you hoping to take away?" Mas Amedda said, sounding amused. "Does your father practice his mind interrogation on you?"
Luke rolled his eyes. "My own."
The smile faded from Mas Amedda's blue features. After a moment, he said, "Why?"
Luke tapped his fingers on the table. "Did you know my father when he was still called Anakin Skywalker?"
He didn't answer him, but Luke could tell from his expression that the answer was yes.
"Would you want to lose yourself in your own power? Lose your own name?"
He looked uncomfortable then. "One always loses oneself in power, young man. We have a saying on Champala. Perhaps you've heard it: power corrupts. To be called to power is a call to sacrifice yourself for the greater good of your community."
"My mother had a lot of power," Luke said. "Was she corrupt?"
"She is dead," he replied, in a tone that made Luke feel cold. Even Artoo made a fearful whistle.
In the awkward silence that followed, he seemed to realise what he'd said.
"My apologies," he said. "I did not mean to be so blunt."
Luke looked down. Regardless, he'd said it. And he could see his point, too. His mother refused to go along with corruption, and so she didn't survive. Was that his inevitable fate as well?
"I can see you have some heavy questions on your mind," Mas Amedda continued. "I think the Emperor could answer them better than I could."
"Oh sure," Luke said. "I'll just waltz on up to his office, shall I? Or is he in the throne room?"
"You jest, but he would welcome you. You underestimate your importance to the future of our great Empire. I fear we are losing the support of your generation. You could change that."
Luke rubbed his head. If he did want to negotiate for some changes, then who better to negotiate with than the Emperor himself? As he'd pointed out to his father, everything that happened was by his command. But he'd have to be careful. He knew from past experience how manipulative the Emperor could be. How easily he could get under his skin and make him doubt everything. But he was older now. Wiser.
"I guess I could talk with him," Luke said. "I do have some things I'd like to discuss. But I can't just walk up there. Don't I need an appointment? I mean … not even the Moffs are allowed to speak to him without an invitation."
"No. But you are far more important than a mere Moff."
Luke raised an eyebrow, but the Grand Vizier had turned away.
"The guards will let him know you're there, and he will soon decline your visit if he's too busy to speak with you. This is a good time if you intend to do so."
"Uh … thanks," Luke said.
After the Grand Vizier had gone, he glanced at his droids. "Do you think I should?"
Artoo immediately burst into a flurry of beeps and whistles that needed no translation.
"I'm afraid I must agree with Artoo, Master Luke. I don't think you should do such a thing without first consulting your father."
"He can't help," Luke said, looking down. "I need answers, and he won't give it to me straight. The Emperor is the only other person I know who understands the Force."
"Oh, dear. Well, if you insist, Master Luke, then at least take Artoo with you."
"Sure," Luke said. "That's a good idea. If he kills me, you'll be able to avenge my death."
Artoo made an angry noise, and Luke reached out to pat his dome. "Just kidding."
It was completely silent on the upper levels of the palace, and the whirr of Artoo's wheels sounded unusually loud. Luke tried to breathe evenly, reminding himself of every time an adult had told him he was more important than he realised. Maybe it was time he started believing them.
But all his confidence disappeared in a flash when he approached the elevator that led up to the Emperor's office. He was about to turn around and tell Artoo this had all been a mistake, when the guard on the right spoke.
"Luke?"
It was Ben's father. Of all the unfortunate coincidences.
"Uh, hi," he said, clenching and unclenching his fingers. "I … uh … have a meeting with the Emperor."
"We weren't informed," the guard on the left said.
"It's sort of … impromptu," Luke said. "The Grand Vizier sent me."
That was sort of true. Mostly true. He really hoped he wasn't turning as red as their uniforms.
Captain Jarnet spoke again. "Luke, are you sure you should be attending a meeting alone? Is your father aware?"
"Yes, I'm sure," Luke said. "Could you just tell him I'm here, please?"
They didn't need to. Luke heard their comlinks crackle, and the muffled sound of the Emperor's voice.
"Let young Skywalker through."
They had no choice then but to stand aside, but the guard on the left waved Artoo back as soon as Luke had passed.
"Your droid will need to wait down here. No unauthorized droids in the royal office."
Artoo whistled in protest, but the elevator door was already sliding closed. There was no turning back now.
Luke couldn't help but think of the very first time he had come here. Nervous and scared and completely clueless about who this ruler of the galaxy was. Now, five and a half years later, he still wasn't entirely sure. His father seemed both devoted to and disdainful of the man at the same time. Even the men and women who had dedicated their careers to protecting him, the royal guard, seemed fearful of him. Every Empire Day, he was credited with saving the galaxy, but in other places, deep in the lower levels, there was graffiti decrying him as a heartless tyrant.
The doors slid open, and through the ante-room, Luke could see the Emperor sitting behind his desk, chair turned away towards the windows overlooking the city. The guards on either side of the elevator didn't move as he walked through, silently coming to stand at the entrance to the office. The room was bathed in the deep orange light of the setting sun.
"Good evening, young Skywalker," the Emperor said, sounding pleased about something.
"Your highness," Luke said, trying to sound confident. "I'm … uh … sorry for interrupting you."
"Not at all." He rotated the chair back to face him, although Luke could hardly see his face in the depths of the hood. "Please, take a seat. I knew it wouldn't be much longer before you sought me out."
Luke came forward and chose the red chair on the right, which had been left slightly further back from the desk than the other.
"Um … you did?"
"Yes. Your power in the Force is growing. It is only natural you would seek a mentor to teach you to control it."
"That's not … wait, you know about that?" Luke said, feeling nervous. "I … uh … I didn't mean for it to happen."
"I know. It is nothing to worry about, I assure you."
"The truth is, I don't want to be trained at all," Luke said, keeping his gaze focused on the red carpet.
The Emperor was quiet in response, and Luke wondered if he'd said something offensive.
"I don't want to be responsible for hurting anyone," Luke explained. "I've seen how my father loses his temper and kills without thinking. I've heard many times about how dangerous the Jedi were."
"Interesting," the Emperor said, bringing his hands together and rippling his fingers. "I'm afraid, young man, that you have no choice in the matter now. You have become open to the Force, and your power grows naturally with each passing day. You already possess the ability to hurt others with your power, if you so desire."
Luke felt a rush of fear. "I don't desire. What can I do?"
"You must learn to control your abilities. Did your father ever explain why I didn't want you to be opened to the Force when you were a child?"
"No, I … I don't think he did."
"The Jedi trained children from a young age. Your father was only nine years old when they took him from his mother and even that was considered old to begin training. I believe it makes a Force user unstable. I began my training as an adult, and I have never experienced such problems. I will help you learn focus and control. Any suffering you cause others will be by your choice alone."
"I don't want to cause anyone suffering. I want to make things better for the galaxy."
"That is a goal we share."
Luke swallowed. This was a lot harder than he imagined. Now would be an ideal moment to start talking about some of the things he wanted changed. No more executions. No more torture. But somehow, staring right at the ruler of the galaxy and complaining about the way he ran the Empire wasn't as easy as his doctor and the Grand Vizier made it seem. Perhaps that could wait for another day. Or he could discuss it with his father first.
"I would like to learn how to control my power," Luke said, surprised at how steady his voice sounded. "I'm open to what you can teach me."
"Excellent. We can start immediately."
Behind him, the last rays of sun dipped below the horizon. Luke began to feel cold at the sight.
"I … I've had a long day, your highness. I'm not sure I'll be able to focus much. Perhaps when I'm more rested ..."
"You already know far more than you realise, young man. I would like to teach you something you may find very useful at this stage of your life."
"Slowing down time?" Luke suggested.
The Emperor smiled. "No. Discerning the future."
"I ... is that possible?"
"Oh, yes. In fact, I have mastered it."
Luke had never felt so enthusiastic about the idea of being trained in the Force since he'd first learned of it.
"That's exactly what I need," he said, shifting the chair forward.
There was a door chime sounding nearby. Luke watched his hand reaching up to press the door release button.
It was Ben on the other side. He smiled warmly.
"Hi, Luke. I was just here to visit my father, and I thought I'd drop by."
"Come on in," Luke heard himself say.
Ben occupied the bean bag in front of the holovid, and Luke sat on the edge of his bed. There was a moment of silence, and then Ben spoke.
"So. How are you doing? How's your training?"
"It's great." His voice sounded stilted, though. "I'm becoming more powerful every day."
"Sounds good," Ben said, although his eyes shifted away from his gaze, as if he felt a little uncomfortable. "I love medical school. Being too smart isn't a social stigma anymore. In fact, I'm one of the average ones."
There was more silence. Luke felt himself tapping his fingers against the bed cover.
"Guess who I saw last week?" Ben said, suddenly looking back.
"Who?"
"Ophelia. She was visiting a friend on campus. She actually said hi to me ... can you believe it?"
Luke didn't respond.
"She asked me if I had spoken to you recently," Ben continued, sounding concerned. "She said you'd changed."
"I have," Luke agreed.
"In what way?"
Luke looked away, staring out the window. "In every way. The Emperor is showing me my true potential. Remember when we used to talk about all the problems in the galaxy and what we'd do if we were in charge? Soon, I'll be able to do all those things. I'll be able to do anything I want."
"Where is your father?" Ben asked, sounding like he wanted to change the subject.
"I don't know. I haven't spoken to him since last month. He's away looking after military projects."
Ben raised an eyebrow. "You haven't spoken to him in a month?"
"The Emperor says it's time for me to become my own person ... move out of his shadow. I guess he's right."
"That's a shame," Ben said. "You two were always so close. When you weren't arguing, I mean."
"Yeah ..." Luke felt sad for a moment, and then brightened up. "He's going to be impressed with my power when he returns."
"You should stop by and see me on campus sometime," Ben said. "When was the last time we went cruising?"
"I don't really have time for that anymore. I'm training twelve hours a day. I should get back to the dueling room."
"I'll see you some other time, then," Ben said, standing up.
Luke turned away, not bothering to see him out. His friend left in silence.
"Luke?"
Luke jolted upright, staring around in confusion. The computer screen on his desk had shut down through lack of activity. All around him, students were packing up and leaving the room. Beside him, Ben was frowning in concern.
"That's the third time today you've zoned out. What's wrong?"
"Uh … nothing," Luke said, glancing out the window.
He could barely recall much of his lesson with the Emperor the night before. Something about letting his mind slow down and focusing on his connection to the Force, to the point where all the outside world disappeared into vague images and feelings. Then he'd told him not to discuss this training with his father, which wasn't a problem. They hadn't been on speaking terms since the night his father had killed Captain Yahza. His father had left a comlink message for him, as he usually did when he was away, but he'd been too busy to listen to it.
Artoo and Threepio had endless questions for him about his meeting with the Emperor, but he didn't feel like discussing it. Then he'd woken up with the strangest feeling he'd been having a dream about the future. Now it was happening again when he was awake.
Except that couldn't be the future. There was no future in which he would treat his friend so coldly. No future in which he wouldn't speak to his father in a month.
He stood up, sweeping his datapads into his school backpack.
"You free tonight?" Luke said. "I want to go visit the Speedsters again and hopefully see a race."
"Are you sure you're safe to drive?" Ben said, raising an eyebrow. "Or even fly home."
"I'm fine," Luke snapped. He immediately regretted it. "Sorry," he said. "You're right, I've been a little distracted. I'll walk home, have a rest, and then pick you in a couple of hours or so, okay?"
The speeder would be safe on the school landing pad until then.
Ben nodded in agreement. He stayed late in the school library most nights, and went off quickly to get a good study space. He really should be joining him.
But the walk home did him good, as did a nap and then doing some tuning work on the speeder bike engine. Afterwards, he was on his way down to the security office when he bumped into Tyloid in the elevator. He was clearly dressed up for a night out.
"So you've found the good nightclubs?" Luke enquired, figuring he might as well be polite.
"Yeah, and one of those girls from your school isn't half bad. I think we've hit it off."
"You're not talking about Ophelia, right?"
"No way, she's an ice-queen. The other one. Armith."
"Oh … has a lot of plaits. Quiet?"
"She's not so quiet when she's away from Ophelia. I know how to make her purr."
Luke cringed.
"So why don't you come out with us?" Tyloid asked. "This is my last night at the palace. My father leaves tomorrow and I'm moving into a new apartment near the senate."
"Thanks, but I need to study."
Tyloid looked baffled. "For what? To get a degree you don't need because your father is the kriffin' second-in-command of the Empire?"
"Well, you never know," Luke said, looking aside. "He might disown me, and I'll need to get a job somewhere else."
That wasn't the real reason. If he was really going to expected to work for the Empire in a powerful job simply because of who his father was, he at least wanted to have passed his high school exams.
Tyloid smiled. "That actually happened to a cousin of mine. All right. I might see you around the Senate."
"Night," Luke said.
Tyloid left at the main exit floor, while Luke continued on to the lower level where the security office was located. Lieutenant Hicks sighed when he came through the doors.
"Luke. Luke, Luke, Luke. What mischief are you up to tonight?"
"No mischief," Luke said, grinning. "Look! I brought you a bag of cosmo crunchies for the snack bowl." He popped open the bag and began emptying it into the largely empty bowl.
"Which I can't eat because I'm on a wedding diet," Lieutenant Hicks said. "So you want to get that bike out the service exit again?"
"Yes, and could you give me access to the controls to get it back in later tonight? Pretty please?"
"You realize I could get fired for this?"
"You always say that," Luke said, sitting in the chair in front of his desk. "But you're still here. I think it's because you're the best security officer in the palace."
Lieutenant Hicks smiled at that, and soon handed over a special key card.
"Whatever you do, just don't get injured on that thing, or I'll never hear the end of it from my boss."
"Of course not," Luke said. "I'm the safest driver around."
Ben had messaged him to say he was at his apartment now, and Luke enjoyed timing himself to see if it was faster to get there on the bike than with a speeder. The bike won by a good minute.
His friend went off to rummage in his bedroom for a jacket, while Luke sat on the main couch in the lounge, enjoying the normality of his friend's home. A half read Coruscant Daily news flimsi lay on a chair, and a HoloNet program guide was resting on a stack of databooks. It was all lightyears away from his experience in the Emperor's office.
"Let's go," Ben said, returning. "I'll just leave a note for my father in case he comes off shift early."
Luke stood up, leading the way back to the elevator.
"You know, he asked me if you were okay this morning," Ben said, casually. "Did something weird happen at the palace?"
Luke immediately remembered his short conversation with Captain Jarnet outside the elevator. He was about to explain, when he stopped short. He didn't want Ben to know about the Emperor, and it wasn't just the Emperor's desire to keep it secret that motivated him. He wanted it to stay secret himself. It felt shameful, for some reason he couldn't pinpoint.
"Why, what else did he say?" Luke asked, carefully.
"Nothing. He just seemed worried about you and said I should keep an eye out for any unusual behaviour. I said you'd been acting weird since the day you showed up with Tyloid."
"I guess I've been thinking a lot about the future lately," Luke said, as they rode the elevator down to the street-level parking lot. "It feels like everything is changing. And everyone has more expectations of me."
"Well, not everything changes," Ben said. "We're still friends."
Luke felt a wave of emotion. He rested a hand on the Bloodfin, needing to steady himself.
"Just try and keep your speed somewhere near legal," Ben said, climbing on the back. "No more traffic droids."
"Whatever you say," Luke said, swinging a leg over. He started up the engine, and then paused before hitting the accelerator. "We're always going to be friends, right?" he said.
"Of course. Why?"
"I don't know," Luke said. "Just idle thoughts, that's all. I'd hate it if we never had time to do things like this anymore."
"Even if we didn't, we'd still be friends," Ben said.
"Yeah," Luke said, feeling better. "You're right."
It was late by the time Luke returned to the palace, much later than he intended. They hadn't seen a race, as the Speedsters and Novas had apparently gone to participate in another race in a different neighborhood, but Han and Chewie were in Brock's Cantina, still trying to win money to replace their hyperdrive motivator.
Luke and Ben had picked up the rules of sabacc just by watching a few games, and then Chewie had humored them with a few rounds, where they bet with bar nuts and breath mints. Luke had won two in every three rounds, much to Chewie's surprise. Han had begun pleading for Luke to sit in for him in the real game, but Luke had refused, despite the smuggler's attempts to bribe him. Considering Han had put the Falcon's cooling regulator on the table, Luke didn't want to risk leaving Han another few thousand credits out of pocket.
After dropping Ben at his apartment, he'd gone for a few laps around Imperial City, enjoying the adrenaline rush of pushing the Bloodfin to its top speed. Weaving in and out of the traffic was exhilarating, and went a long way to calming the stress of the last few days. He was almost feeling back to normal by the time he pulled into the service entrance of the Imperial Palace.
Unfortunately, he wasn't so lucky at avoiding Lev this time. After he'd stripped off his gloves and hung up his helmet in the ship hangar, he left the workroom to find his friend waiting by the elevators. Not only him, but Artoo and Threepio as well. This wasn't going to be pretty.
As soon as he was in shouting distance, Lev folded his arms.
"Luke! Do you have any idea what time it is?!"
Artoo followed this with a flurry of angry whistles and chirps.
"Time for me to be in bed?" Luke suggested. He pushed the up button to summon an elevator.
"We've all been so worried, Master Luke!" Threepio said.
Artoo launched into another long string of beeps, and the parts of it which Luke understood sounded like he was saying that he should have taken them with him.
"Artoo, Threepio, why don't you leave this to me?" Lev said. "Could you please go and contact Lord Vader and let him know Luke is now home safely."
"Of course, sir," Threepio said. "Come along, Artoo."
Artoo gave one final annoyed beep and then rolled after Threepio. Lev turned back to face him.
"It's two hours after your curfew."
"My curfew." Luke rolled his eyes. "One moment I've got people telling me I'm the future of the Empire, and now I'm being treated like a child."
"Then act like an adult. Be responsible. Your comlink was off and you didn't let anyone know when you'd be back. I've had the city guard out searching for you."
"I needed a break. Why are you even here so late, anyway?"
"Because your father contacted us, concerned that you hadn't responded to his last message and now you weren't answering your comlink. Hicks told me you'd gone out on some speeder bike."
"I was just over at Ben's," Luke tried.
The elevator finally arrived, and Luke stepped in. Unfortunately, Lev joined him. He stood beside him with his hands clasped behind his back, until the doors slid closed.
"You smell like cheap Corellian brandy," he remarked.
"I haven't been drinking!" Luke protested. He stared down at his shirt, wondering when he'd picked up that particular odour. Maybe the bar stool he'd sat on had been drenched in it.
"It's just you don't usually smell like that after being at Ben's apartment."
Luke was silent, unwilling to lie any further, yet knowing the truth would cause even more problems.
"You know, when your father returns, the first thing he's going to ask is if there's been any problems with you. What am I supposed to say? This is the second time you've stayed out late and been evasive about where you've been. You've been ignoring that Quasher senator you were asked to entertain. I don't want to get you in trouble with your father, but there's only so much I can forget to mention."
Luke sighed. The last thing he wanted was to have to endure a father-son discussion about his behaviour. But he didn't want Lev to have to lie for him.
"Tell him what you need to," Luke said, finally.
"I think I know what this is about," Lev said. "You witnessed something terrible this week, and this is your way of dealing with it. Acting in risky and self-destructive ways is not going to help you work through your emotions. Why don't you call your father and talk about your feelings?"
"As if I want to listen to his excuses!" Luke snapped. He put his face in his hands then, feeling weary. "Sorry. I just … I feel under so much pressure. What you said the other day, about me making better choices. What if I don't?"
"You're a good person, Luke. Hold on to that and you'll make the right choices."
"Sure," Luke sighed. He stepped out when the elevator arrived at his floor. "Goodnight, Lev."
"Catching up on the homework you should have done over the weekend?" Ben enquired.
Luke looked up from his lunch table, which was covered in datapads and viewscreens.
"How did you know?"
"The Force, I guess," Ben said, sitting down.
"I was too busy working on the Bloodfin," Luke said. "Didn't have time for homework."
"Nice priorities." Ben was shuffling a pack of cards. "Want to play some sabacc? We could bet using candy from the snack machine."
Ben had become a big fan of sabacc since Han and Chewie had taught them to play, and he'd read all the books in the library on different techniques.
"I'll play if I can bet my homework," Luke said. "If I win, you have to do it for me."
"No deal."
"Speaking of sabacc, Han said there was a race this evening," Luke said. "I think the Bloodfin is finally ready for it. Tonight is the perfect opportunity."
He'd stayed home for a few nights to make Lev think he was busy thinking of ways to be more responsible. Then, as luck would have it, tonight was Lieutenant Hick's suit fitting for his upcoming wedding, and Lev was his best man.
"Sorry, Luke, I can't," Ben said. "Medical school scholarship interview. I've got a really good feeling about this one … it's for sons and daughters of members of the military, but they include the royal guard corps as well. They give out hundreds of them, and the careers advisor said as long as I talk a lot about how I want to serve the citizens of the galaxy, I should be an obvious choice. Actually, my interview appointment isn't until 18:30 … maybe I can come over and you can help me practice."
Luke smirked. "Sure. Why don't you also talk about your new sabacc skills?"
"Not likely."
The Imperial Palace was the perfect place to practice for a scholarship interview, with the galaxy's pre-eminent advisor on etiquette and protocol on hand to give Ben advice on word choice and posture, and a ready supply of snacks to keep them fed throughout the process. Artoo found a list of common scholarship interview questions on the HoloNet.
Once he had a good handle on what he was going to say, Ben asked if there were any friendly officers around that he might be able to do a practice run through with, just to make sure he didn't sound too rehearsed. Luke suggested they try the security office, as Commander Julius would likely be there, covering Lieutenant Hicks shift while he was out seeing to wedding preparations.
"So you haven't practiced with your father at all?" Luke asked, as they travelled down to the lower levels in the elevator.
"No. He doesn't even know I'm applying for this … he still hasn't accepted that I'm going to medical school. He's been doing the evening shifts on the upper floors this month, so he won't be home until later."
Luke found it hard to believe Captain Jarnet would have refused to help Ben prepare if he knew about this, but maybe Ben didn't want to risk it, in case it started another argument. Luke could well understand that.
As soon as they walked into the quiet security office, Commander Julius glanced up from her desk, and her typically serious expression changed to a warm smile.
"Ah, if it isn't Cupcake and the junior Jarnet. No, I'm not giving you access to the roof."
Luke smirked. "Lieutenant Hicks already gave me that years ago." He sat backwards on the chair in front of her desk. "Ben has a scholarship interview this evening, and he was hoping you could run through these practice questions with him. He's worried he sounds too rehearsed."
"Scholarship interview?" she said, accepting the offered datapad from Ben. "For what?"
"Medical school."
She shook her head, and looked from Ben to Luke. "When did you two get so old? I'm going to come in one day and they'll be an office memo announcing you are now to be addressed as Lord Cupcake, aren't I?"
Luke laughed. "Not likely."
"That would be the worst Sith Lord name ever," Ben said.
Commander Julius was about to ask the first question, when the doors to the security office opened again. Luke spun the chair around and found himself facing a royal guard in full uniform, her robes fanning out as she crossed the floor. To his surprise, she passed him a holoprojector.
"The Emperor wishes to speak with you."
"The Emperor!" Luke said, staring at the projector in fright. He tried to pass it back. "Uh ... tell him I'm busy."
She tilted her masked head as if to say 'you're kidding, right?'.
"You can't refuse to take a call from the Emperor," Ben said, sounding shocked. He looked at Commander Julius. "Can he?"
"No, junior Jarnet is right," Commander Julius said, standing up. She gestured to the room behind her. "Come, Luke. There's no one in the comms room."
He felt a vague panic in his chest as she put a hand on his shoulder and led him into a room off to the side."
"You want me to stay?" she asked. I can keep out of sight."
"No, I … uh … don't worry I can handle this."
"All right, Cupcake. Remember to kneel until he tells you to rise."
Luke stared at her retreating back in surprise. Kneel?
His father hadn't covered this in his brief etiquette lesson around royal protocol. Probably because he'd never imagined he would be speaking to the Emperor alone.
Behind his back, a voice whispered in his mind, and he pushed away the resulting feeling of shame.
As soon as the doors closed, he plugged the projector into the main terminal, and it activated as he stepped into the field. Feeling completely self-conscious and more than a little awkward, he bent down on one knee. He saw the shiny black floor light up blue with the reflection from the hologram, and heard the Emperor's throaty voice above him.
"Greetings, young Skywalker. You may rise."
"Your highness," Luke said, as he climbed to his feet. He couldn't bring himself to look directly at the hologram.
"Have you been practicing your foresight?"
Just the thought of trying that again made him feel sick. He couldn't say that.
"Um ... not really, your highness. I've been busy with studies and ..." he trailed off, not wanting to elaborate further.
"Perhaps the seeing of the future is not where your interests lie."
Spending time with you isn't where my interests lie, Luke thought. It had been a mistake to go to him in the first place. No matter what would come of his growing sensitivity to the Force, he knew it would be worse if he accepted more guidance from him. Just the memory of the cold manner in which his vision self had treated Ben ...
"Come and see me," the Emperor said. "We will work on something else. Perhaps you would like to learn how to use the Force for self-defence. Or to enhance your piloting skills."
The mention of piloting caught Luke's attention. He'd even tolerate the Emperor's company to learn something to help him with piloting. But tonight he was racing, and nothing would get in the way of that. His father was due home tomorrow, and this might be his last chance.
"I ... I would like that, your highness," Luke said. "But ... would another time be okay? Maybe tomorrow? I have a lot of important homework to finish."
The Emperor was silent, and Luke wondered if he'd just made a mistake. Maybe his words had implied his own convenience was more important than the Emperor's. Stars, he hadn't thought of that.
"I'll come up straight away," Luke corrected.
"No, that isn't necessary, young Skywalker. We will meet at some other time. Not tomorrow. Your father returns tomorrow, and you must not tell him that we have been talking. I will explain the situation to him in my own time."
"Sure," Luke said. He considered asking why this was so secret, but he didn't want to annoy the Emperor any further.
"Your highness," Luke added. He kept forgetting that part.
"Have a good night, young Skywalker."
"Goodnight, your highness."
Luke switched off the projector, and let out a loud sigh of relief. When he returned to the main office, Ben was practicing with Commander Julius, and the royal guard was still waiting. Luke returned the projector, feeling glad to see the last of it.
Both Commander Julius and Ben fell silent as she left, and looked at him expectantly.
"So …" Ben said. "What was that about?"
Luke shrugged. "Oh … nothing."
"Nothing? I didn't know you were on speaking terms with the Emperor."
"Neither did I," Commander Julius said. "You sure I'm not supposed to be calling you Lord Cupcake?"
"Ha ha," Luke said. He glanced at the time on the wall-sized screen, currently showing views from all the interior and exterior security cameras. "What time is your interview, anyway?"
"18:30," Ben said. "Plenty of time. It's just at the university."
"Are you kidding?" Commander Julius said, raising an eyebrow. She picked up a remote and switched the view on the big screen to an overhead view of Imperial City traffic. "It's going to take you an hour just to get out of the government block. There's a big vote on at the Senate and they've closed most of the entry points due to bomb threats."
"What?!" Ben said, staring in dismay. "That wasn't on the HoloNet news."
"It never is," Luke said. "Don't worry. We can take the Bloodfin."
"Is that the ancient speeder bike you've been sneaking out the service exit?" Commander Julius said. "Street traffic will be even worse."
Luke frowned. There was another option … one he couldn't mention to Commander Julius.
"Come on, Ben. Let's see if I can find some shortcuts."
Commander Julius frowned. "What are you planning, Cupcake?"
"Uh … I won't tell you so you can deny all knowledge later."
She sighed. "Just be safe, okay?"
"Always."
"Are you sure about this?" Ben said, as Luke ran through the warm-up sequence on the Dunesea. I thought you weren't allowed to fly ships alone?"
"I'm not alone," Luke said. "You're with me. And you're not going to get there on time otherwise."
Ben slid into the co-pilot's seat and buckled up his seat restraints.
"Wow," he said, looking over the controls. "Look at all these lights. Are you sure you can fly this by yourself?"
"No problem," Luke said, engaging the main repulsors. The ship lifted off the ground, and he pulled the lever to retract the boarding ramp.
A few rocks and engine tremors, and then they were airborne. Luke pushed the throttle in and they swung out into the city and rose up far above the congested traffic lanes. Luke pressed a switch, and the shuttle's wings extended into flight mode. Ben was staring around in wonder.
"I can see the Senate from here."
"I know," Luke said. "You should see what it's like up in space. Coruscant looks like a grey desert."
"Do you know any tricks?"
"My father taught me a spinning trick," Luke said. "But my favourite trick is this—"
His friend gasped as Luke cut off the engines, and the shuttle dropped out of the air. He waited a few seconds, before pulling up.
"Okay, no more tricks!" Ben said, gripping his armrests.
Luke laughed. He accelerated towards the horizon, passing through the security shield around Imperial City. His father had VIP transponder codes on all the ships, and they were ignored by all the protective squads of TIE fighters, flying protectively around the senate. Ben directed him to the university block, and within a few minutes, Luke had brought the shuttle down gently on a protruding landing platform.
Ben glanced at the ship's chrono, unbuckling his seat restraints. "Thanks Luke. I've got plenty of time to find the interview room now."
"Maybe I should come with you," Luke said.
"No, you go and watch this race you've been pining for," Ben said. "I'll let you know how it went tomorrow."
Luke nodded. "Bye, buddy."
Luke waited until Ben had safely departed the shuttle, and then he rose back into the air, swinging above the traffic. There was no hurry to get back, as the race didn't start for another hour, and he was enjoying the freedom of being out alone.
He pushed the throttle in, and headed out to the industrial districts. There were vast arrays of abandoned factories out there, and the skies were largely empty. The perfect place to practice a few manoeuvres, now that he didn't have his father constantly telling him to keep his speed reasonable and fly sensibly.
The sun had dropped below the horizon by the time he saw the protruding chimneys, emitting toxic waste from energy cores well below the surface. He accelerated towards them, seeing how close he could weave between them. It reminded him of a narrow gap in Beggar's Canyon, known as the Stone Needle. A lot of the older boys used to break wings off their skyhoppers, trying to fly through it as fast as possible.
When he shot past the last one, he brought the ship into a three-sixty turn. The stabilizers whined, but still held out. Luke grinned, knowing such a manoeuvre would have destroyed the ship when it first arrived in their ship hangar. It was his father's modifications that had made the Dunesea so stable under intense pressure.
Luke was about to dive down into a trench, when a flicker on the scopes caught his eye. He sat forward, studying the display. There was a ship behind him. He stared at the radar in surprise; the small craft appeared to be following him.
It was a sleek one-person fighter ... according to the scopes it had dorsal and ventral gun turrets, missile bays—Luke began to feel nervous. That was no family passenger craft. What was it doing out here in the industrial wastelands of Coruscant? He grabbed the controls, steering the ship back towards Imperial City. Whoever was flying that thing, Luke had a feeling they weren't friendly.
He jumped as the alarms came on, blaring warnings that he was being targeted.
"No!" Luke quickly turned on the shields. His speed instantly began to fall, as energy sapped away from the engines.
"Come on," Luke said, pushing on the throttle. He couldn't afford to lose speed.
A loud bang shook through the shuttle, and Luke was thrown against his seat restraints. The shields glowed yellow outside the windshield.
Luke breathed quickly, trying to get control of his fear. A thought briefly crossed his mind—the Emperor had suggested using the Force to improve his piloting. He could use it now, if he could just concentrate enough to focus—
Another explosion sent him twisting off to one side. There was no time to think about the Force!
Luke dropped down into the buildings, hoping they'd offer him some protection. Another shot hit one of his wings, and the craft almost entered a spin. Luke began to sweat—this was nothing like dogfighting in the training simulator! He barely dodged another shot by swooping left, but then the next one hit the engines.
A warning light began to flash indicating the rear shield was about to fail.
"Blast it!"
Luke grabbed the trigger, suddenly realizing he might have to use it. He fired a test shot, and two measly green laser bolts left from the tips of the front wings. Only two forward guns! What was his father thinking? A blast rocked the ship from the side, indicating his assailant was not hesitant to use the more lethal weaponry at their disposal.
Luke turned the ship around, and suddenly found himself flying straight towards the other craft. He pumped the trigger as fast and quickly as he could. The small craft hastily looped away, but not before Luke saw one of his shots strike the ship's underbelly.
"Ha!" Luke called. "Take that!"
He looped away, entering a narrow gap between two buildings. More ships had begun to appear in the sky at this point, indicating he was getting closer to Imperial City. Once there, he'd be safe behind the outer security shields. All those TIE fighters protecting the senate and the palace might come to his aid.
There had been no sign of his assailant for the last thirty seconds, and Luke wondered if the other ship had abandoned the chase. Perhaps he could switch off the shields and gun the engine in order to reach safety.
A sudden warning alarm on the radar put an end to that idea. Missiles! Luke made a sharp right and pulled the stick back. The Dunesea climbed up into the sky, releasing him from the narrow confines of the buildings. He launched into a spin as the missiles approached, not caring whether the shuttle could handle it or not.
Something told him to drop down, and he momentarily cut the engines. The missiles swept over his cockpit window, then looped around, close enough for Luke to stare straight into their glowing sensors. He closed his eyes, called on the Force, and gripped the trigger as hard as he could.
A few tense seconds passed, where the world seemed to slow down, and he could hear his heart beating in his head. Then an explosion lit the sky, and he opened his eyes to find the missiles gone and the ship still intact. He'd done it!
His elation was short-lived. Once the smoke and debris cleared, a giant mall filled the window. It was too late to turn—he'd crash right into it!
Another blast rocked his ship, and Luke turned desperately, seeing his pursuer streak past out the rear window. The Dunesea's shield flashed and disappeared, its energy completely drained. Another hit would destroy him!
He stared back in front, seeing a landing pad rushing towards him. He'd never survive the impact. A single word lit up on the control panel.
Eject!
You don't say, Luke thought. He shut his eyes tight and yanked the ejection lever as hard as he could.
The front windshield exploded in front of him, and he was launched through it like a blaster bolt. Luke was sure he was dead. The wind roared in his ears and battered his body, pushing against his ascent until he finally slowed to a stop. He opened his eyes and looked around in terror. He was floating in the middle of the sky, supported only by a repulsorlift pack attached to his seat restraints.
Gravity took hold, and he began to sink slowly towards the ground, gaining momentum as rows and rows of tiny lights rushed past. Luke couldn't help but gaze around in wonder. If his stomach wasn't twisted into a knot, he might have enjoyed the ride.
He dropped past several people in speeders on his way down, and they stared at him in shock. A hover-train passed directly below him, missing him only by a body length. As it roared away, Luke saw a mid-air pedestrian walkway rushing up below him. There was no avoiding it.
"Slow down! Slow down!" Luke yelled, hoping that the pack would obey voice commands.
No such luck. His feet slammed into the permacrete, followed by the rest of his body. His right shoulder and arm took the brunt of the secondary impact, but his body was crushed under the weight of the repulsor pack. Pain flared in every part of him that could still feel something. Just when Luke thought it couldn't get worse, a piece of ship wreckage fell onto his head.
He lay still for a few seconds, wondering if it was safe to try and move. Finally, he rolled onto his back, letting the metal slide onto the ground. The white helmet of a stormtrooper came into view, staring down from above.
"What are you looking at?" Luke said, annoyed.
"You fell out of the sky," the trooper observed.
"So what?"
"Let's see some ID."
Luke groaned. He fumbled around in his pocket for a moment, and then produced something that felt promising. The trooper looked at his card, and then threw it back at him. He started to walk on.
"Aren't you going to help me?" Luke asked, incredulous.
The trooper didn't hear him or chose to ignore him. Luke struggled into a sitting position, ignoring the renewed aches in his body, and then looked around the deserted walkway. What in the name of the Force was he going to do? Lev ... he could call Lev ... Luke again reached into his pockets, but this time, he came out empty handed. Either his comlink was still sitting in the hangar bay, or he'd lost it in the explosion. He was alone in this one.
He looked down at his chest, seeing the Dunesea's seat restraints still tightly buckled. The spent repulsorpack fell away as he released the catch. Now it was time to stand up. His ankle burned at the mere thought, but Luke didn't have time to argue about it. The longer he stayed here, the more chance he could be found by someone even less friendly than the stormtrooper.
One ... two ... on three, Luke struggled to his feet. He remained upright for a few seconds, and then his ankle collapsed under him, and he sunk to his knees. In front of him, a single word on a piece of metal glinted under a nearby streetlight. Dunesea. The shuttle's nameplate. The only thing that remained of a one-of-its-kind prototype ship, which had taken months and months of design and engineering work. His father was going to kill him.
That is, if he wasn't dead already by the time he found out about this.