Chapter 13: A Sith Vacation
Luke was still feeling raw over the deactivated Bloodfin and remained silent in the co-pilot's seat for the first hour of the journey. His father hadn't offered to let him pilot, as he'd normally have done if he was trying to coax him out of a mood. Threepio and Artoo were charging in a back compartment, and he was half-considering asking them to play dejarik with him, but then his father finally turned the pilot's chair towards him.
"Did you remember to pack the extra power generators?"
"Um … I found one, but we didn't have room for more."
"Didn't have room?" his father repeated. "Why?"
"Because of all those dusty old storage crates you insisted on bringing."
"Those are essential supplies. There was room for extra power generators."
"I … may have slipped in a few extras," Luke said, looking aside.
"If you have brought your gamebox or any holovid entertainment devices, you will find they are entirely useless. The power sockets at the retreat will not be compatible."
"Now you tell me." Luke frowned. "Wait, so … are you saying there's no HoloNet receiver? Is it too late to say I'd rather we went to Mustafar?"
"This is not a vacation, Son. You will be working too hard on your training to idle away time."
"This is more punishment for getting arrested, isn't it? Stars, my relationship with Leia is ruined. My speeder bike is disabled. Haven't I suffered enough?"
"What happened with the princess was the natural consequence of your decision to hide the truth. And one day you will thank me for disabling that bike. If I had spent more time communing with the Force, and less time riding speeder bikes in the service tunnels, I may have fewer regrets today."
Luke stared at his father in surprise. "You know about that? Wait, you used to ride speeder bikes in the tunnels?"
There was only silence from the pilot's seat, and Luke sunk back in his chair. He was kidding himself if he actually thought his father might open up about his life. A hyperspace trip with just the two of them should be an ideal time for such a conversation, but instead his father was pretending to be checking the ship's fuel efficiency. It had always been like this.
If he thought there was any point, he might ask him if one of those life regrets was learning to use the Force in the first place.
"I'm going to see if the droids have finished charging," Luke said, standing up.
His father didn't reply, and Luke closed the cockpit door after him as he left.
He walked straight past the droids, and made his way to the back of the ship. Opposite the cargo hold, there was a bunk room which also held a hyperbaric chamber for his father. It was a short climb up into the top bunk, and then Luke pulled a blanket over, deciding sleeping would be a better use of his time.
Some hours later, a jolt sent him flying awake and slipping half out of the bunk. He quickly made his way back to the front of the ship, struggling to keep his balance.
"Buckle in," his father said, as he entered the cockpit. "The atmosphere is turbulent."
"Is this Lygun?" Luke said, rubbing his eyes as he sat down. There was nothing ahead but clusters of bright green clouds.
"It is. The atmosphere is a thick layer of toxic hitrone clouds. A thin layer of breathable air is trapped underneath, allowing life to exist."
Luke watched, fascinated, as a cloud rushed past them. "Are those dangerous to the ship?"
"Yes. One molecule of that gas can penetrate the shields and burn right through the hull."
Luke looked at the vast arrays of clouds, and then turned to his father in shock.
"We can't fly through those without hitting one! That's impossible!"
"Not for a Sith. The Force will guide us through."
Luke felt his stomach churn as they began to descend further into the cloud layer. Every so often, his father would turn the ship, resulting in the avoidance of clouds Luke couldn't even see coming. He glanced at his father at one point, surprised at the ease at which he could do this.
"Am I right in thinking only a Force sensitive person could make this journey?" Luke asked, watching another patch of green fog sweep past the window.
"Yes. Which is why this planet served as a Sith retreat for many centuries."
Luke felt the ship suddenly drop, and an especially large toxic cloud flew over the top of them.
"Careful! That was close!"
"We are out of danger," his father said, calmly. They had dropped below the cloud layer.
Luke strained to see out the window, eager for his first look at the terrain. The surface was covered in lots of thick foliage, all a dull and sickly green. In the odd clearing he could see sandy yellow ground. And on the horizon—
"Is that ... an ocean?!" Luke asked, amazed. "Wow! I've never seen one in real life before!"
"On many planets, the entire surface is an ocean," his father said.
Luke couldn't take his eyes off the awesome site as they swept over the vast blue surface. So much water, and all in one place. It was hard to believe this was possible, after living on Tatooine.
"Maybe I can go for a dip after we land," Luke said. "I brought swim shorts and a breather."
"Unwise," his father said. "The water is dangerously acidic."
Luke frowned at his father. "I think you misunderstood what I meant when I said I wanted to go somewhere with a beach."
They turned left slightly, and Luke shielded his eyes from the glare of the setting sun. After his vision had adjusted, he spotted two dark shapes on the horizon. Luke squinted, finally deciding they were islands.
"That is our destination," his father said.
"Which island? Left or right?"
"It is one island. It separates into two regions when the tide is high."
Luke removed his hand from his eyes as the last slither of sun disappeared. It would be well into the night in Imperial City. It seemed he would have to adjust his body clock.
The island loomed closer, and Luke looked down as they skimmed over the top. It was coated with the thick plant cover he had seen on the mainland. He couldn't help but wonder what creatures were lurking down there, under the wind-swept canopy.
He glanced forward again when he felt the shuttle slow, and saw a flat yellow bald patch appear in the jungle. A solid black triangular structure stood in the middle, looking bizarrely out of place. It was shaped like an upside down pyramid, with its point buried in the sand and its corners supported by four towers.
"Weird looking place," Luke remarked.
"Legend tells it was built by the Sith Master, Darth Agony, as a place to hide from his apprentice, Darth Lucify, who had grown too powerful for him to control," Vader said, as he brought the shuttle around to the rear landing platform.
"However, his apprentice hunted him down and they dueled to the death on the beach. But the duel was cut short when a vast wave came and swept Darth Lucify into the ocean, where the acid waters burnt him alive. Apparently, at night, his ghost still roams the beach, flesh hanging from his bones and—"
"Thank you for that!" Luke said, disgusted. "I'll sure sleep easier tonight!"
His father turned off the ship's engine.
The interior turned out to be even more foreboding than Luke had imagined. It was utterly devoid of anything that could be remotely considered welcoming. Dark pillars stretched up to the high ceiling, and narrow winding staircases led off from the main entrance hall. His father waved a hand, and the torches came to life in the brackets, revealing eerie patterns carved into the black walls.
Artoo, rolling along behind him, made a low whistle. Threepio merely said, "Oh, dear."
"I take back everything negative I ever said about Mustafar," Luke said. "That is a five star hotel compared to—ahh! Monsters!" Luke ducked behind his father as two four-legged winged creatures came rushing through the far doors. Artoo screeched and Threepio declared they were all doomed.
"Calm down," his father said, annoyed. "They are gargoyles. Native fauna."
Luke peered around at the clawed, fanged, drooling creatures. One of them actually came up to his father and made a friendly noise, beating its tail on the ground.
"Stars," Luke said. "They like you. Wait … it knows you!"
"Yes. They were here when I visited previously. The young red one is Fode, the green one is Beed."
Luke smirked at his father. "You gave them names?"
He didn't reply, but Luke could sense some embarrassment over their bond.
"Ha! They're your pets!"
"No. They are wild animals."
The red one was bounding around his father in excitement, not helping his argument.
"If you like animals so much, why did you never let me have a pet?" Luke asked.
His father was saved from answering by yet another being entered the room. This time, Luke was relieved it was only a silver protocol droid.
"Oh, nice to see a familiar face," Threepio said.
The droid stared around at all of them and merely said, "Greetings, Lord Vader."
"This droid can give you a tour," his father said. "There are bedrooms up in the north tower where you can sleep. I will need to remain on the ship."
"I'm happy to sleep in the ship too," Luke said, turning away from the creepy stone staircase. "Is there a refresher down here?"
As he started to walk towards an adjoining room which actually appeared to have working lights, he found himself tripping against an energetic gargoyle. He tried to step sideways, but its long forked tail came sweeping around his legs. He sprawled onto the stone floor, and then quickly shielded his face from the enquiring wet nose that came snuffling into it.
"Father! Get it off me!" Luke called, eyes widening as its mouth opened and he was treated to a close-up view of its fangs. Not to mention the decidedly non-vegetarian breath.
"Fode appears to like you," his father observed.
"I'm flattered," Luke said, struggling to his feet.
Fode heard something out on the balcony, and ran off after Beed. Luke brushed himself off, and then picked up a torch for himself.
"This way," the droid said, leading him down a corridor. Artoo and Threepio followed, something Luke was grateful for. Every so often, he found himself glancing behind, hearing strange scuttling noises inside the walls. The wind whistled outside, adding to the eeriness.
"In this wing, you will find a refresher suitable for organic lifeform needs," the droid said. "There is also a charging station. It has been adapted for use by most modern droids."
"Thanks," Luke said, handing the torch to Threepio. "Give me a moment."
He walked into the refresher, closed the door, and then started at the sound of another creaking noise inside the wall. He quickly fumbled for the light controls. His fingers closed on something that felt promising, but nothing happened. He punched it, frustrated. The lights came on for a few seconds, and then flickered and died.
"I think this place hates me," Luke sighed. It was going to be a long month.
Despite the less-than-hospitable environment, Luke found he slept well in the ship's bunk, and woke mid-morning to find sunlight glinting around the edges of the window. His father was nowhere to be seen, but the silver protocol droid arrived with breakfast on a tray and introduced herself properly as JT-27.
"So you're here all the time?" Luke asked. "By yourself? Sounds lonely."
"I like it this way," she said. "To be entirely honest, I hate people."
Luke smiled, taking a sip of milk. "Maybe you just haven't met the right ones. Do you like other droids? Artoo and Threepio are friendly."
"Yes, your droids have been most helpful already."
"Do you know where my father is?"
"He left for a walk a short time ago. Your astromech droid went with him, but Threepio is assisting with unpacking some of the supplies."
Luke nodded, glad he had some time to explore by himself. After eating, he returned to the refresher facilities, and was pleasantly surprised to find clean running water. It even came in hot and cold varieties. The mirror was cracked and rusting, but it was good enough to shave by.
When he returned to the main hall, Fode trotted in from the balcony, carrying a large bone, which he then dropped at Luke's feet.
"Is this a gift for me?" Luke asked. "Or you want to play?"
Fode rose up slightly, and made an odd squawking noise.
"I guess that means yes, huh? Well ... go fetch!"
He tossed the bone out of the room, and Fode scampered after it, knocking furniture aside on the way. Judging by the racket, it had rolled into the corridor and was travelling down the stairs.
Luke followed behind, and eventually stepped out into the main hall. Broad daylight hadn't done much to lessen the general creepiness of the décor, but Fode's happy squawks certainly helped.
The game continued for quite a while, and Luke found himself enjoying the company of the overly-energetic gargoyle. He'd never had a pet before. Well, he'd had a few small things on Tatooine, but nothing like this. It finally ended when Luke heard heavy footsteps approaching. He turned to find his father emerging from one of the staircases.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah, nothing," Luke said. "Just playing with Fode."
Growing tired of waiting, Fode rushed up behind him, and ripped the bone from his grasp.
"Ah!" Luke said, shaking his hand. "Slobber! Yuk!"
Fode stood a span away, taunting Luke to try and get the bone back.
"Look what I've taught him to do," Luke said. "Come here boy! That's it! Now speak!"
Fode dropped the ball, and gave a half growl, half squawk.
Luke looked at his father, grinning, but he didn't seem impressed.
"How about this?" Luke said. "Roll over! Come on, boy, roll over!"
Fode obediently rolled onto his back, and stared up at them upside down.
"Aww, he's so cute," Luke said.
"Have you quite finished depriving that animal of its dignity?" his father rumbled.
"Well, I don't see anything else to do around here," Luke said.
His father turned back the way he'd come. "Follow me. We will begin your training."
Luke walked forward, feeling both nervous and excited. "What can I learn first? How to control people's minds? How to deflect blaster bolts bare-handed?"
"No." His father led him to a room entirely devoid of furniture, apart from two circular meditation seats. The walls were covered with carvings. Luke sat down on the edge of a seat, and looked up at his father in anticipation.
"First, you will learn to meditate," he said, taking a seat opposite.
"Boring!"
"It is absolutely essential. Before you can bend the Force to your will, you must be attuned to its presence. Meditation teaches mental discipline, and a strong mind is one of the three foundations of a Force user's journey."
He gestured at a large symbol on the wall, which depicted three interlocking rings.
"What are the other two?" Luke asked.
"The circles represent the overlapping spheres of mind, body and spirit. If strength is lacking in any one of those areas, your overall power in the Force will suffer. From now on, you will spend an hour every day in meditation, and another hour improving your physical fitness."
Luke nodded, trying not to sigh. He didn't mind exercising, but sitting around in silence was not his idea of fun.
"Now, we are going to try a simple meditation exercise. Make yourself comfortable."
Luke obliged, shuffling into the middle of the seat.
"Close your eyes, and focus on your inner self. Do not allow anything to distract you. Tell me when you are tuned to the Force."
Luke focused, gradually feeling calmer. He became aware of his own breathing, his father's breathing, the odd creak deep within the building. Straining his ears, he could even hear the sound of the waves breaking on the distant beach. Connecting all of this, he could feel something. He knew what it was—the Force.
"I can feel something."
"Describe it to me."
Luke pondered it for a moment, trying to think of a way to describe it without sounding stupid.
"It's all around me," Luke said, finally.
"And within you?"
"A little. But I can sense it stronger in you." Luke focused on the strong presence of his father, which overshadowed everything else in the room.
"Good. Do you remember the Emperor's instructions in using the Force to discern the future?"
"Yes," Luke said, becoming nervous. How could he forget?
"Relax. We are not concerned with the future today. Instead, you are going to use the Force to enhance your memories of the past. I want you to think of a very early memory."
"From Tatooine?"
"Yes. Recall everything you can about it, and then tune yourself to the Force, and analyse it carefully. It will take several attempts, but you will soon achieve results."
Luke cast his mind back, thinking about his earliest memories. There were many of them, but none of them seemed interesting enough that he wanted to know more. Just vague images of Tatooine's suns, digging a hole in the sand, drinking blue milk. And plenty of his aunt and uncle. There was one memory he had, that he wasn't sure whether it was real or a dream. He'd asked Uncle Owen about it once, and he had said it was a dream. Maybe it was, because it was not a happy memory. He was holding Aunt Beru's hand, as she lay unconscious on the floor. Her fingers were limp in his hand ...
But that's all he could remember. What was he supposed to do now? Tune himself to the Force. Luke reached out, feeling the Force respond to his query once again. But how was he supposed to use it to reveal more of his memory? It wasn't like using the Force to move an object, when you had something physical to focus on. Maybe he was supposed to focus on his memory.
Luke tried, but it was clear there wasn't much happening. He could see Aunt Beru was wearing a browny-red cardigan, that was about it. He was about to tell his father this was going nowhere, when he started to hear an odd repeating sound. It was some kind of alarm.
The distress beacon! That's right ... Aunt Beru had taught him how to switch it on a few months before, and he'd managed to climb up on a chair and reach it.
Then ... then ... Luke reached out to the Force, curious to know more. It responded to his call, and he began to hear voices.
"What happened, Luke?"
An old man's voice. He sounded gentle, like he was talking to a very young child.
"Don't be frightened. Your aunt will be all right. Let's see if we can wake her."
The Force was growing around him. Now he had an image. It was Ben Kenobi, but younger than he remembered him.
"You've done well, Luke. Can you bring me some water?"
The image suddenly changed. He was in the living room now, playing on the floor with some blocks. Obi-Wan and Aunt Beru sat on the couch. She was holding a cold pack to her forehead.
"Owen will not be happy about this," his aunt said, sounding weary.
"To the contrary, I should think he'll be glad for Luke's quick-thinking."
"It's more complicated than that, Obi-Wan. Luke was supposed to go with Owen today. He loves to go to Anchorhead. But this morning he refused to go, even to the point of tears. It was very out of character."
"Ah. I see. Well, I am sure Owen can accept the odd coincidence."
"He can accept the odd coincidence ... but not when they start happening every week. Will this happen more often as Luke grows older?"
"No. In fact, it will happen less. Luke trusts his instincts so readily because he hasn't learnt to rationalize yet. That is why we Jedi are trained from such an early age."
"I suppose I just can't help but remember the first time we met Anakin. He never did explain how he knew there was something wrong."
A bang sounded in the kitchen, and Luke dropped the block he'd been trying to stack on the pile. His uncle had returned.
"What are you doing here, Kenobi?!"
Luke didn't want to see any more, lest it tarnish his fond memories of his uncle. He detached himself from the Force and opened his eyes.
His father had gone. Strange, he hadn't heard him leaving, and his father was hardly quiet. He tried to stand up, but was met with a sudden pain. His legs were cramped. How long had he been sitting here?
Perhaps he had discovered exactly how his father managed to spend hours meditating.
Luke was vague about the results of his meditation when Vader questioned him about it later. It didn't concern him, however, as memory retrievable could be a very personal thing. They shifted on to telekinesis exercises for the afternoon, and afterwards his son went for a walk down to the beach with Artoo and Fode.
When he returned, Luke ate dinner in the dining room, while Vader sat opposite and busied himself with drawing up a list of everything he hoped to teach his son before they returned to Coruscant. Considering the risk the Emperor posed, learning how to defend himself against a Force user's attacks must be a high priority. But first he needed to equip his son with the knowledge to teach himself. That meant enhancing his ability to connect to the Force.
There was silence throughout the meal, and Luke rested his head on his hand, pushing his food around idly.
"Is it not to your liking?" Vader asked, finally.
"Huh? Oh ... no it's fine. I ... I'm just thinking about things."
Silence resumed. Vader was at the stage of considering whether to start mental manipulation after the meal, when Luke put down his fork.
"They knew."
"Who knew what?" Vader asked, confused.
"Everyone. Obi-Wan ... my aunt and uncle. They knew about my Force abilities ... so why didn't they tell me?"
That is glaringly obvious, Vader thought.
"Instead I learned to ignore it, because I didn't understand it."
"A situation easily rectified," Vader said. "Once you became aware of it, you have made much progress on your own."
"But I don't understand what was so wrong about me knowing about it in the first place."
"I can only assume they were worried I would sense your existence if you were awakened to the Force." Luke frowned, and Vader could sense his annoyance. "Perhaps it was for the best," he added.
Luke looked up. "What?!"
"You were raised in relative peace and safety, away from the Emperor."
"Away from you," Luke said, quietly.
"I thought I was the most embarrassing father in the galaxy," Vader said, lightly.
Luke rolled his eyes. He hadn't said that to his father in years.
"Son, there is little point dwelling on events past. Always move forward. My intent with the meditation exercise was to teach you to examine a memory with the Force, not to send you into melancholy."
"I guess you're right," Luke said, picking up his plate. "What are we doing this evening? I brought some sabacc cards."
"You can dispose of them. You will be practicing concentration."
"Hey, I did well today. I've earned a rest."
"You have done well," Vader agreed. "You may rest, then. Only because it is the first night. I will check my messages using the ship's comlink."
"Work? What happened to vacation?"
"I never said this was a vacation, Son. In fact, I believe I said the opposite."
"Well I say it's a vacation," Luke said, smirking.
Luke changed his mind after five days of adhering to his father's training schedule. Not even the most demanding teachers at school came close to his father's determination. He refused to accept the phrase "I can't do it." The words only caused him to push him harder. But his father remained patient, however, which was more than Luke could say for himself.
They'd been in the library all morning, moving books around with the Force. Four days ago, he'd struggled to make one book even tremble slightly. Yesterday he'd managed to raise one a meter into the air, and hold it there steady for a minute. But it wasn't good enough for his father. Now he was making him try and hold three books in the air at once.
"Try it again," his father said, after another failed attempt. "This time, concentrate."
"I am concentrating!" Luke insisted.
His father pointed at the first book, a huge fat volume that needed two hands just to open. Luke slumped back in his seat, closed his eyes and stretched out his fingers toward the book. It rose obediently into the air, and hovered above the table.
"Good. Now, the next one."
Luke opened his eyes, trying to find the second book. The first book began to waver.
"Concentrate," his father said. "You do not need to see objects to feel them in the Force."
Luke closed his eyes, and the first book stabilized. Now was the tricky part. He had to fork his focus, keeping one part of his mind on the first book, and the other part on the second.
Something must have worked, because he could hear it rising from the table. He opened his eyes, seeing the second book rise to join the first.
"And the third one," his father said, pushing it forward.
Luke glanced at it, and then felt the first two books begin to slip. Stars, this was difficult! It was like having an ice cream in each hand and being asked to pilot a speeder without spilling a drop. The books drifted up and down a few times, and then he finally had them sitting on the same level. Time to split his focus again, and pick up that elusive third book ...
It began to tremble in response, and Luke felt a rush of excitement. Maybe he was finally going to do it this time. He concentrated intensely on the third book, determined not to let it slip away. But another thought began to arise in his mind. Perhaps, after he achieved this, his father would place five books on the table, and insist he did the same with those.
"Focus," his father warned.
Luke saw the books were again slipping and pushed the negative thoughts away. He could do it ... if he just applied enough attention on the third book, while keeping the others in the air. But like a sweaty hand slipping from a climbing bar, Luke could feel his concentration dissolving. He quickly stood up, waving a hand in the air, but it was too late. The first two books slammed into the desk, causing a big cloud of dust.
"You didn't concentrate," his father said, calmly.
"Arg! Will you stop saying that!" Luke kicked the table leg. "I'm trying but I can't do it!"
"I am going to start a banned word list," his father said. "If you use any word on the list, you will do twenty push-ups. The first word on the list is 'can't'. The second is 'try'. Any derivatives of those words are included. Now, sit down and start over."
"No!" Luke said. "I already said I can't do it, I've tried enough today, and I'm not doing any push-ups, drill sergeant!"
"You are generating enough anger to lift every book in this library. Use it."
Luke had been about to respond with another protest, but he was stopped short with his father's words. He stared at the books, remembering how it felt when he choked Tyloid. He'd used his anger then ...
He started to do as his father suggested, but something made him hesitate. It felt wrong. He couldn't deny it.
"I need a break," Luke said, returning to his seat and burying his head in his hands.
"What is the problem?"
"The problem is that I'm a mere mortal and I get tired."
"That is not what I meant. I have observed you doing this before ... you come so close to releasing some of the power that I know you are capable of. Then you draw back. Why?"
"I don't know why."
"Then perhaps you need to meditate on it," his father suggested. "I will return in half an hour, and you will tell me what you have learned."
Luke didn't respond. He listened as his father stood up and walked past him. He closed the door on the way out.
After mulling over the situation for a while, Luke dragged the largest of the books towards him, curious as to what subject would fill so many pages. For that matter, who could be bothered writing so much? It must have taken a lifetime.
It was made of some ancient material and smelt like it was five hundred years old. The title had long since worn off the cover. He turned to the first page, and a large puff of dust came flying out.
He coughed, sweeping it away, and then looked at the elaborately decorated inscription on the inside cover. Maybe it was some kind of Jedi heirloom. His father had brought several crates filled with what Luke could only assume were his old reference materials, and this must have been one of the books buried under the stacks of holocrons.
Luke!
Luke looked around in surprise, wondering if his father had returned. The library door was still sealed tight. A warm feeling began to arise from the book, and he drew his hand away from it, sensing something wasn't quite right. Another cloud of dust puffed out from the book and began to swirl on the floor. Then, much to his surprise, it began to glow, and rise up into a pillar.
Luke jumped out of his seat and took a step back, throat going dry with fear. The glowing pillar was turning into the shape of a person. A middle-aged man, dressed in a hooded robe.
Once his features were fully formed, he smiled at Luke.
"Hello there. Don't be afraid—it's only me."
Luke blinked at the man in surprise. "Obi-Wan?! What ... what are you doing here? You're supposed to be dead!"
"I am what you might call a ghost, yes."
"What do you want?" Luke said. He glanced behind him, wondering if he should call his father.
"Only to talk to you. We are long overdue for a conversation, but unfortunately I've had a difficult time trying to get your attention. There are important things you must know."
"About what?"
"The Force." The ghost Obi-Wan sat in the chair that his father had occupied a few minutes earlier. He gestured for Luke to sit opposite, but Luke couldn't bring himself to move. He'd had a lot of bizarre experiences in his life, but this was eclipsing them all.
"You see, my young friend, your father and the Emperor have not been truthful with you."
"What do you mean?"
"There is more to the nature of the Force than what you have been told. The Force, in its natural state, is the harmony and balance of energy between all living things. A Jedi uses the Force for peace and knowledge. But the Force can be corrupted into the Dark Side, an energy which destroys life and causes evil and suffering. This happens when you give into the temptation to channel the Force through your anger and hate."
Luke's eyes widened at this revelation. "Is that why the Force feels so different when I'm angry? It makes me feel cold and empty."
Obi-Wan nodded.
"But I can also do things with the Force when I'm angry that I can't do otherwise."
"The Dark Side is a quicker, easier path to power. But once you have fallen into its grasp, it will consume you. Nothing of who you are now will remain when your journey into its fold is complete."
"That's not what I want," Luke said, feeling afraid at the idea. "Somehow, I've known it isn't right but … how can I avoid it? My father wants ..." Luke broke off, realizing the full implication of what Obi-Wan had said.
"Wait. You said the Jedi use the Force for peace and knowledge. What about the Sith?"
"Sith Lords and their agents serve the Dark Side of the Force. Luke, your father was a good man and a powerful Jedi. The Emperor saw his potential for power when he was just a child, and spent years cultivating a friendship with him. We did not know he was a Sith Lord until it was too late, and he had lured your father to the Dark Side. You must not follow the same path. I know you have anger inside of you, but you must not give in to temptation."
Luke shook his head. "I'm not tempted by … wait, what are you saying about my father? That he's been consumed by a power created out of evil and suffering? Why would any good person choose that?"
Obi-Wan looked down. "Luke, I loved your father as a brother. I trained him from when he was only a boy. He had sworn to destroy the Sith, and it broke my heart when he became one of them. I'm afraid the man you know as your father is only the monster the Dark Side has created out of the destruction of Anakin Skywalker. Your father, your real father, was killed by Darth Vader."
"That's not true!" Luke said, horrified at the idea. "I know my father does some terrible things but he's not a … a creation of evil, like you say. He thinks they are necessary to keep order. Why should I believe you anyway? Didn't the Jedi betray the Republic? Weren't you responsible for his injuries? You took me to Tatooine to keep us apart. How do I know you're not just trying to drive us apart again?"
"Luke, I—"
"Leave me alone," Luke said, turning for the door. "I don't need your help."
When Vader returned to the library after the generous allowance of a thirty minute meditation break, he was met with the sight of an empty room and the ancient books left lying askew. This was proving to be a problem when it came to training his son. The natural respect and obedience that should exist between a master and apprentice was absent. Instead he had to contend with the casual disregard a teenage son had for his father.
He finally located his son outside, standing up on a ridge and gazing at the distant ocean with a vacant expression on his face. Daydreaming.
"This doesn't look like meditating to me, young one."
Luke started, and then quickly turned around. He hadn't even been aware of his approach. They were five days into this attempt at a crash course and his son could have been taken down by one of the island's many predators because he was too busy staring at the horizon.
"I was just—"
Vader raised a hand, cutting him off. "I do not wish to hear your excuses. Follow me."
His son walked behind him, shoulders hunched and looking dejected. Vader waited for him to catch up at the door into the bottom of the south tower.
"Now, see how quickly you can run up to the top. Use the Force to enhance your speed. You need to burn off the attitude you displayed this morning because it is hindering your progress."
Luke obliged, quickly disappearing from sight up the winding staircase. Vader followed at a slower pace, listening to the echo of Luke's footsteps against the ancient stone. When he reached the top, Luke was hunched forward against the outer wall, hands on his knees and panting for breath.
"Come here," Vader said, walking over to the inner edge of the circular path that ran around the top. Luke straightened up and came to stand beside him, looking down into the center of the tower. It was completely hollow, with nothing but the round black wall all the way to the sandy ground at the bottom.
"What's the point of this tower?" Luke said. "Did they forget to build the rooms? Or was it meant for storing food?"
"Let me show you," Vader said. He gave his son a firm push, causing him to yelp in surprise and then scream as he found himself falling over the edge. Halfway down, his instincts kicked in, and Vader watched in satisfaction as he slowed down and hit the ground with surprising grace for a first-timer. He then jumped into the void himself, landing neatly beside Luke a moment later.
"I can't believe you did that!" Luke said, waving his arms dramatically.
"I would have helped if you hadn't managed on your own," Vader said, walking over to the side. "Well done. You have now learned to use the Force to fall safely. That is a requirement for your next lesson."
Vader pulled a lever in the wall, and a creaking noise echoed above, followed by a series of platforms jutting out from the walls.
"Oh, I get it," Luke said, grinning. "I've got this."
His son closed his eyes for a moment, and then did a running leap and launched himself into the air, easily making it to the lowest platform. He didn't stop there, immediately using his momentum to bounce back across the tower to the next platform on the opposite side. Vader felt a wave of pride at the sight. Perhaps the telekinesis would require a lot more work, but his son had already excelled with the Force jump.
Vader followed him up at a slower pace, watching to make sure his son landed squarely on each platform. He appeared pleased with himself once he reached the top.
"Impressive," Vader said, when he landed beside him. "This comes more easily."
Luke nodded. "I learned a lot in gymnastics at school. I never realised how much I was using the Force before."
"A fully trained Jedi would be able to do this backwards and blindfolded," Vader said. "I want you to practice safe falling and jumping back up. When I am satisfied, you can add it to your morning exercises and meditation routine."
Luke was about to drop back down, but he hesitated, and glanced up at him. "A fully trained Jedi?"
"A Sith Lord," Vader corrected, realizing his slip. "Go on."
Luke stared at him a moment longer, and then nodded and disappeared over the side. He would have to be more careful with his words.
After performing so well with the jumping lesson, his father didn't argue when Luke suggested he should turn in early. He did remind him to remember to practice his meditation when he woke, causing Luke to nod in a weary way. He didn't want to think about meditation right now.
Artoo was alone in the ship when he returned from showering, plugged into the computer system. He whistled in greeting at the sight of Luke, and then asked if he was all right.
"I don't know, buddy," Luke said, flopping down in the passenger seat and putting his hand on Artoo's dome. "I'm so confused. I'm not even sure who I should believe anymore."
Artoo made a short beep, and Luke glanced at the monitor.
Did someone lie?
"I saw Obi-Wan's ghost," Luke explained. "I know, I know. It sounds crazy. It is crazy! And he told me some things about the Force which made sense. But then he said bad things about my father and …" Luke slumped forward, putting his face in his hands. "I know he does terrible things, and I wish he didn't. But he's also my father and I love him. What do you do when all those things are true?"
Artoo only made a comforting chirp in response. Luke opened his eyes, staring at the droid.
"You knew my father when he still went by Anakin Skywalker."
Artoo beeped in agreement, and his words appeared on the monitor.
Before the Emperor reprogrammed him.
"Obi-Wan said he's so different now, he's a monster who might as well have killed my father. Even my father talks about himself back then like he was a different person. But if that's true, then who do I love? Is it just the same old fantasy father I used to dream about as a kid, who doesn't really even exist?"
Artoo whistled and chirped, and Luke read the translation slowly.
He still registers as the same person on my scanners. He still likes to fly and fix things. But now he follows a new master and has a different set of instructions. His ethical subroutine appears to have been deleted.
Luke felt a wave of pain in his stomach at the words. His dreams about himself in the future were also of a person who had lost their 'ethical subroutine'. Or conscience, as he might call it.
Artoo continued then.
But I'm sure Anakin hasn't been entirely deleted. He's most like his old self when he's with you.
"What was he like?" Luke asked, rubbing his head.
Anakin always treated me and Threepio like friends. He would spend hours repairing me and upgrading me after our missions. He risked himself to rescue me and called me his buddy. He defended me when other Jedi would complain about my mistakes. I wish I could repair him, because I'm sure he misses Anakin too.
"Oh, Artoo," Luke said, feeling a wave of emotion. His voice broke as he said something he'd been thinking ever since he'd met his father. "I wish he would tell me what happened to him to make him this way. Then maybe I could understand." He felt a wave of determination then. "I'm going to find out. And I'm going to find a way to help him. I don't care what Obi-Wan says. He's my father."
Artoo made an encouraging beep.
"If I want to understand why this happened, then I need to learn more about who he was back then," Luke said. "This is going to be tough, because he won't tell me anything. I'll need to find a way to trick it out of him somehow."
Artoo made a flurry of encouraging whistles, and then more words appeared.
Do you have a blank data tape?
"Sure. Why? You have something which could help me?"
Luke stood up and retrieved one from the storage compartment at the back of the cockpit. He inserted it into the ship's disk drive, and Artoo clicked and whirred while the data transfer light flashed. It took a good ten minutes, but finally the progress bar reached the end and the datatape ejected from the drive.
"What's this?" Luke said, picking it up and staring at the disk.
Some messages your father recorded while he was away at war. They were mostly for your mother.
"Are you serious? Why didn't you show me these before?"
Your father would have my memory wiped if he found out I still had all these recordings. But you need them now. You need to figure out how to protect yourself before the Emperor tries to reprogram you.
"I won't let him find out," Luke said, putting his hand back on Artoo's dome. "Don't worry."
He stared at the datatape, wondering if he was really ready for this.
"What are you doing?"
Vader watched as Luke jumped, and hastily switched off whatever mindless entertainment he was watching on the ship's holo projector. He was supposed to be using this time after his midday meal for meditation.
"Ah, just seeing if I can get a connection to the HoloNet."
"The HoloNet will not grow your connection to the Force."
"I know, but they ate half my lunch and now they're tired," Luke said, gesturing down at his feet. "So now I can't move."
Vader glanced under the table and saw Fode and Beed were sleeping against Luke's legs, using both each other and his body for warmth.
"Push them off. It is time to start a new phase in your training." Vader turned to enter the cargo hold, looking for a large crate he'd purposely hidden at the back, not wanting Luke to discover it. It required some shifting of existing crates to make space to activate its repulsors.
"What do you mean by 'new phase'?" Luke called.
"You will soon find out."
When he returned to the main room, guiding the crate ahead of him, he found Luke was still fighting a losing battle to shift the gargoyles. Vader stretched out a hand, and dragged Fode out using the Force. The young animal woke up immediately and then made a squawking noise and jumped up, bumping his head into his hand. Vader idly scratched between his ears, and Fode made a snuffling noise, twitching in pleasure.
"You know, you show them more affection than you've ever shown me," Luke said, raising an eyebrow.
"Then come here, and I will pat you. How hard and where depends on how fast you move."
Luke raised his hands. "Tell Fode to get his mate off my feet first!"
"They are not mates. Fode is Beed's son."
Luke glanced between the gargoyles curiously. "They're so different from each other. Fode is always bouncing off the walls and squawking, and Beed just lies around in the sun."
"All motivation he once possessed has clearly been broken by the demands of fatherhood. I can identify."
Luke rolled his eyes, and then looked down. "Can we talk about something for a moment?"
"Of course." He sounded serious, and Vader had intended to give Luke his full attention, but Fode had begun scrabbling at the crate, clearly thinking it contained food. The lid fell off just as his son began speaking.
"I'm having second thoughts about ... well, about all of this. I don't know if being a Sith Lord is right for me. This isn't just about my trouble with holding the books in the air ..."
Fode put one paw in the crate, and then jumped back in fright as a flat-packed droid unfolded and sat up.
"Using the Force doesn't feel right for me, sometimes," Luke continued. He was half-bent over, still struggling to push the snoring Beed off his feet. "When you tell me to use my anger ... it feels wrong. I used my anger when I choked Tyloid, and it felt wrong then, too. Is there something about the Force that you haven't—" Luke glanced up and his eyes widened in recognition of the droid that was now powering up and coming online.
A wave of panic echoed over their bond, and Luke frantically tried to shift Beed. "Can you turn that killer droid off?" he said, a tremor in his voice.
"It is of no danger to you in its current state," Vader said, flicking the droids off switch and folding it back into the crate. He used the Force to retrieve an additional object from the crate, and then sealed the lid. Luke was still radiating fear. Beed was starting to stir under the pummeling he was getting. Then Fode trotted over to paw at his father, and the larger gargoyle finally stood up and ambled off towards the ship's ramp.
Luke stood up, and then sat back down quickly and began rubbing his numb legs.
"You have made much progress this week," Vader said, moving closer until he was looking down at Luke. "You are now ready to learn the most essential skill for a young Sith apprentice. How to fight and defeat your enemies." Vader offered Luke a lightsaber. "This weapon is one I built when I was your age. You can use it until you reach the level of mastery required to build your own."
Luke did not accept the offered gift. Only stared at him with a weary expression and then said, "Did you listen to a word I said before?"
"Yes. You are feeling unsure and confused." Vader reached out to help him stand, and then left his hand resting on his shoulder. "I felt the same way many times during my youth. You do not have to use your anger to channel the Force if it makes you feel uncomfortable. You are only new at this, and perhaps the more ... advanced techniques can wait until later."
Luke nodded, looking down. Then his gaze shifted to the crate, and Vader again felt the echo of fear.
"If you work hard and practice every day, you could defeat one of those droids yourself," Vader said. "On their lowest skill level, of course."
"You think so?" Luke finally reached out to take the offered lightsaber and flexed his artificial hand around the handle. It was a good fit, as Vader had anticipated.
"You will undoubtedly be a natural," Vader said, guiding Luke towards the ship's ramp.