I will try to get back into the swing of this story; sorry if this chapter is not as good as the previous ones.
Penpals 24: Darth Vader
Darth Vader nervously stood on the bridge of the Executor as the massive Star Destroyer and the rest of the Imperial Fleet rushed towards the ice planet of Hoth. To all outer appearances he was as calm as ever; an unmoving figure untouched by the gale force winds of a hurricane. Nothing seemed to bother the Sith Lord, except failure. The crew of Executor well knew his dislike of failure or sloppy work. To displease the Dark Lord usually meant death and those who served under him did their utmost best to keep him well satisfied. But now doubt gnawed at his mind.
/Am I doing the right thing/
He very much wanted to see Luke alive but fear nipped at his heals like hounds from the darkest depths of Tartarus. It was all fine and good to go charging to the boy's rescue, but what if the rescue itself resulted in Luke's death?
/I could not live with that on top of everything else. To loose him when I had just found him…/
The possibility of Luke dying in an Imperial attack was high. Confusion reigned during battles. People running this way and that, blaster bolts going astray, screaming, and clouds of smoke, fiery explosions, buildings caving in; why the list was almost endless. To top that off, the boy was basically young and inexperienced.
/If he is not dead already…/
Vader gazed out at the streaks of hyperspace that flew past his window, his heart heavy. It was a possibility he really didn't want to face or even think about, but face it he must. Every living thing must some day die, even the very stars themselves. Nothing was eternal except for perhaps the Force itself. But with the Jedi extinguished from the galaxy even the mighty Force would fade from memory until it, too, would be forgotten. Galaxies would turn to dust and collapse inward on itself compacting harder and tighter until another Big Boom would vibrate throughout the universe bringing new life. But would that new universe have the Force? It was a question no one could answer and Vader didn't feel like pondering it at the moment as more pressing things weighed him down. The fact was that his son was the last of the Jedi. Well, Luke truly wasn't a Jedi yet. In fact, he wasn't even close to being one. But he carried the Force in his blood and had the desire to learn. And more importantly, he wanted to learn from his father, Anakin Skywalker.
/Surely it couldn't all end so soon, could it/
But Vader knew many young lives have been snuffed out during the course of history. Not everyone lived to old age and these days living until you're old and gray was becoming increasingly rare. And it was clear something was wrong at Luke's end, on Hoth. And he felt certain that Hoth was indeed where the boy was.
/But surely that means he's alive./
Hope blossomed in his mechanical heart for a brief second, then faded and died. He still faced the same problem! Even if the boy had survived whatever calamity had befallen him, Vader didn't want to risk his only son's life in an Imperial attack. The very idea caused a slight shudder to pass through his tall frame. The Sith Lord turned slightly to peer at the bridge crew around him to see if anyone noticed the unaccustomed tremor, but all eyes were glued to their councils. A sense of satisfaction filled him momentarily at the sight of his crew. They were well trained, yet required supervision. If left to their own devices the ship would blunder and no doubt come to a hideous end and that would be a great waste.
/There must be something I can do…/
What good was his rank and position if it couldn't save the one he loved?
/I just need to figure out how…/
The privilege of command gave him total control of not only Executor but also the entire Fleet. At the slightest wave of his black-gloved finger, crew dashed to do whatever he wished. The power of command suited him well. His years of podracing and then Jedi training had honed his instincts until he could make snap decisions in mere seconds. Mostly he relied on his instincts and for the most part his instincts were right. And he had never abused the authority given him by the Emperor. Lesser men might have but not him. He had always been loyal to his Master. But then he had been well satisfied with his job and rank.
/I was born to command./
And that was true.
/So why can't I think of a way to save Luke/
Staring out at the passing star streaks once more, Vader ran the various facts through his lightning-quick mind. Luke and his Rebel companions were on Hoth. The Imperial fleet was rushing towards Hoth at the very moment. If the fleet followed standard Imperial procedures and attacked the Rebel base, Luke could be killed, as the other Imperials didn't know his importance. To everyone else he would be just another Rebel.
/I certainly can't tell them Luke is my son./
No, that would be foolhardy. Not only would word leak back to the Emperor but to other ears as well. There were people out there that resented the Sith Lord for various reasons. Some envied his high rank and the fact that he had Palpatine's ear. Others sought revenge for numerous reasons; everything from death of family members to imagined slights. Then there were the usual sorts of crazies that simply desired to kill famous people and really didn't care who he was just as long as their own name got onto the holonews channels. Yes, there were some real sickos out there and the last thing he wanted was to announce his relationship to the poor boy.
/I could say he is important to the Empire…/
Vader considered the possibility seriously. Yes, that route might work. He would have to make it quite clear to the crew that Skywalker was not to be injured. But that led to another problem. His crew would have no idea where Skywalker was in the Rebel base and he could get shot by accident. The image of finding Luke's bleeding body under a pile of wreckage was all too clear.
/Drat boy! Why did he have to hook up with the Rebellion/
Yet if it weren't for the Rebellion he never would have discovered that he even had a son.
/The Force works in mysterious ways…/
If only he could magically know where Luke was! Then they could attack the Rebel's hideout without him needlessly worrying of the boy's safety. Vader thought back to the countless times he had led attacks on various planets throughout his career in the Empire. Never had worry for someone on the surface clouded his mind like it did now. He felt pulled in two directions at once; an unsettling feeling for sure. Parts of him wanted to get the nerve wrenching waiting over while the other half wished that the ship could stay in hyperspace forever and never reach Hoth.
/Is this what fatherhood is like/
He had always dreamed of being a father and having a family but until now he never really understood what it really was. He had imagined closeness and warmth, changing of diapers and playful smiles. But this constant worry and tearing at his heart; it was unbearable.
/I would rather be the one in deadly peril, not Luke/
And that was true. Vader knew he had the training and experience not to mention the Force to survive almost anything.
/Please let him live/
Vader was unsure who the silent plea was being sent to; perhaps the Force itself. Did some mysterious all-powerful beings really exist and did they set one up with a destiny as some believed? He had never really considered the theory seriously. In his youth he had heard more than enough about being the Chosen One and how important that was. It was enough to drive him mad!
/Dumb fools! Didn't even know what I was supposed to do…/
Bring balance to the Force. Huh! A lot the Council knew. They knew so much that not one of them could say for sure exactly what that meant. Prophecies were a lot of foolishness.
Vader blinked his weary eyes behind the mask, forcing his mind to return to the task at hand. This was no time to get caught up in the past and a lost age. Yes, he could tell his crew how important Skywalker was. But then what?
/What will I do after I catch him/
IF he caught him, that is. Vader knew in all likelihood the Rebels would see the fleet come out of hyperspace and attempt to make a run for it.
/I must make note to tell Admiral Ozzel not to emerge too close to the planet./
Yes, if they emerged outside the Hoth system perhaps they'd have a chance.
/I could stop the fleet outside the Hoth System…./
That might work quite well. Then they could sneak in like a lion hiding among the tall grass until they were almost atop the prey. With a swift attack the victory would be won. The only sounds as Vader considered the plan was his loud mechanical breathing and the small chirps of the bridge machinery as they did their tasks. If luck was with them Luke would be captured uninjured and then he'd be safe…
/Safe according to who/
Darth Vader produced an especially loud and raspy breath as he imagined his son locked in a security cell aboard Executor. Most likely the boy would be frightened and possibly feel betrayed, a feeling that Vader remembered all too well.
/He may hate me…/
That would truly be ironic. Here he would race half way across the galaxy to save Luke and the boy would hate him for it!
/I always did have bad luck…/
But what alternative did he have? He certainly couldn't sit back and do nothing, could he? His poor son may be out there dying in that frozen wasteland!
/Obi-Wan would tell me to have patience…/
But patience wasn't always the right move. Indecision can kill just as easily as waiting too long.
/Padme would never forgive me if I let our only child freeze to death./
His beautiful Padme: she certainly wouldn't be sitting on her duff while their child was in danger oh no! She would be rushing to the rescue with a big blaster in her hand.
Yet she wouldn't want him locked in a cell, either.
/Aaahhhh! This is driving me mad/
Vader knew there was part of this problem he was forgetting; a very important part.
/He does not know I am Vader. Do I really want him to find out while he's locked in a cell/
Darth Vader considered the matter as he turned to survey his bridge crew. Everyone was busy at their stations, the work going smoothly without any hitches. The whole thing rested on how much Luke knew or suspected. If the boy suspected his true identity the revelation would go much smoother. But if he truly had no idea, well, it would be a very nasty shock. At best he'd accept it rather quickly. At worst he'd have a fit and refuse to believe the truth at all…
/I have no idea how the boy will really react…/
And what will happen to him afterward?
/What will I DO with Luke once I have him/
Vader's plans hadn't reached that far yet and for a moment he experienced a total loss of words. He was being driven by his simple desire to have his son with him and by his side; as he had been driven to marry Padme in secret all those years ago. That had turned out to be a disaster.
/I must not be blinded by my desire as I was before./
Lust could be a dangerous and deadly thing; whether it was lust for a woman, food or even the companionship of a son. The fact that Luke was listed as the enemy of the Empire would be a threat to his continued survival once he was caught.
/I can't let the Empire kill Luke/
No, that he couldn't allow. But he was Lord Vader was he not?
/I will take the boy into my personal custody./
Yes, that would be much better. With time spent together they could grow close and he could start training him. If need be, records could be falsified and who would dare say otherwise? Vader ruled Executor with the Force and the crew didn't dare disobey. They were loyal to him all the way down to the last man. It was a sheer privilege to serve aboard the fleet's flagship and only the best of the best got a berth aboard her. Palpatine would never need to know…
A thin smile lifted the very edges of Vader's pale lips under the mask. His plan for rescuing Luke was coming into focus. His mask focused on two gray uniformed officers down in the command pit. "Admiral Ozzel."
The man turned and quickly hurried over to the Sith Lord. He gazed fearfully up at the black expressionless breath mask. "Yes, My Lord?"
"Make certain the fleet emerges from hyperspace outside the Hoth System." Vader instructed in his firm voice. "I want no mistakes this time."
"Understood, My Lord!" Ozzel replied as he nodded.
"Make certain of it, Admiral. Then have the fleet wait SILENTLY until I return to the bridge. There are to be no unauthorized communications. Is that clear?"
"Very clear, My Lord!"
"Good." Lord Vader turned on his heel and left the bridge, his black cape flowing out from behind him. He entered the lift and emerged a short time later on the deck that housed his personal quarters. He knew there was enough time left to check his email one final time before they reached the Hoth System. Perhaps Luke had survived whatever ordeal had kept him from replying and had now recovered enough to send a new message. The irony of what he was doing hadn't escaped him. He knew his place was on the bridge when the ship was going into battle; yet his crew was competent enough to follow the simple instructions he had given them.
/And if I do receive an email/
Vader marched down the long hallway towards his quarters with purpose, his footfalls loud on the metal decking. He was not one given to double guessing, yet it seemed to plague him this day. Would he still attack Hoth if Luke had sent a new message and he knew the boy was well? Things were so much simpler before he had started the friendship over the galaticweb; before he had become addicted to Farmboy's letters. His mind was awhirl like the accretion disk of a super massive black hole as it spun burning star matter into oblivion. Whether he liked it or not, the boy was changing him and he couldn't go back to the emotionless being he had been for so many years of his adult life. Luke had very effectively wrapped his sandblasted fingers around his heartstrings and was tugging mercilessly. Where this would all end he had no idea but he hoped they could be together someday somewhere.
Finally reaching his quarters, he went inside and saw he had left his computer on from earlier in the day when he had been taking that photo. He noticed the chronometer on the computer's screen way at the bottom and momentary shock went through him. Had so little time passed? What had felt like endless hour upon endless hour had in reality been only a few hours? How time seemed to slow down and almost stop was a total mystery to the Sith Lord, even if he was accustomed to time running slow while he used the Force in combat or podracing. Black-gloved fingers flying across the keyboard, he signed onto the galaticweb and nervously clicked on his email box. Sweat beaded on his brow and his heart once more seemed to speed up, although he knew that was physically impossible. Finally the contents of his mailbox loaded and he scanned to the very bottom.
There! Two letters from his son!
/Luke is alive/
Happiness and joy spread throughout his battered body as he gazed at his son's email address in his mailbox. Then cold dread replaced the joy as he realized that thanks to him the entire fleet was posed to attack!
/Luke could be killed and it will be my fault! What have I done/
To be continued…
Well, hope this chapter was OK. I'll try to get the next chapter (also with Vader) up tomorrow.