Penpals 25: Darth Vader
/What am I going to do?./
Luke was alive and here he had the fleet posed to attack the Rebels hideout. He certainly couldn't send the fleet back to where it had been. No, it was part of his job to wipe out the Rebellion. The Sith Lord took a large mouthful of air and forced himself to calm down. Luke was playing havoc with his emotions and that wasn't good.
/I will read the letters./
Yes, that was a good idea. Pulling out the chair, the Sith Lord settled himself down before his computer and clicked on the first letter. He was a bit anxious to discover if he had been right; that his son had in fact been in danger and needed rescuing.
/Or am I flying off my rocker and imagining things?./
Slowly the words formed on the screen and he leaned forward eagerly to see what his son had written. Then his heart practically leaped up into his throat as a cold sweat covered his body. The three words 'I almost died' reverted and repeated in his mind over and over.
/My son almost died!./
How could the Rebellion be so careless with the boy's life? Didn't the leaders know any better than to send a boy from a desert planet alone out into artic conditions! That was sheer foolishness! It was irresponsible! It was, it was … horrible!
/Those Rebel scum! How dare they treat my son that way!./
Anger flowed through his body as he imagined the leaders of the Rebellion sitting in a warm room with a hot drink chatting among themselves while his poor innocent boy froze to death outside! It was the carelessness and lack of respect he had come to expect from the ragtag bunch of criminals. They lured the young adventure seekers in with false promises, saying they were fighting villainy or doing it for the common good. Huh! It was nothing more than propaganda polished so it appeared shiny and clean. The simple truth was the Rebellion was a group of criminals. They were nothing more than power-hungry terrorists that enjoyed attacking the government and blowing things up. They didn't care how many innocent lives they ruined or lost, as there were always more eager young men hot for adventure and thrills in space.
/They tricked my son into joining them!./
If they really cared about the members in their group, they would have given the boy proper training. But they hadn't even bothered. The anger surged through Vader's body and he felt his power grow until it seethed in the room like an angry thundercloud. It affected the crew on nearby decks as the Dark Side flowed out from Lord Vader's quarters. Crewmembers grew anxious and uneasy as they nervously glanced about, unsure why they felt that way. An artic chill seemed to settle over the entire ship and even the bridge crew was affected by it. Admiral Ozzel fidgeted and Piett kept glancing fearfully at the turbolift door, frightened that at any moment Vader would stride in and kill someone. Yes, Vader was furious at the Rebellion so being so careless with their personnel. They seemed to lack the basic understanding of command: that the life and death of those under your command was your responsibility. They had practically boasted their deliberate ignorance in his face, laughing. Heat gushed through him until he was certain that the wires of his mechanical parts would melt into slag. His heart pounded rapidly within his chest, mechanical or not. His black-gloved hands tightened into fists and a red haze danced before his eyes.
/I'll kill those Rebel fools!./
Yes, they deserved to die for what they had put his poor boy through. Now it was perfectly clear that he had been right to move the fleet here. There was no way his son could remain with the band of outlaws and have his life risked so carelessly. The Rebels didn't really care for him, not really.
/Not the way I care for him. He is my son!./
The red hazed slowly faded and Vader blinked his eyes to help clear away the last traces. Slowly ever so slowly he unclenched his fists. He needed to read the rest of the first letter to see what else had happened to his wayward child.
/Soon you will be with me, Luke./
Vader read about the snow beast, his anger growing again. What right did the Rebellion have to send Luke out looking for life in such an environment? What good would it do the Rebellion to know that a snow beast exists? Nothing!
/My son would have died for nothing/
The thought made his blood boil within his veins.
/At least his friend saved him…./
A slightly warm feeling filled Vader's heart as he thought of the smuggler and he mentally forgave some of the man's past indiscretions. Although Solo may be a smuggler, he was obviously a good friend of his son. Vader had no doubt in his mind that the smuggler had risked his own life to save Luke's. Yes, Solo will live. He had just guaranteed a place for himself in the Empire. But the others…
No, Vader cared nothing of the other Rebels as they had not cared one bit for Luke.
Scrolling down the page, Vader read more of Luke's letter. It was interesting that Luke had seen Vader in his delusional state.
/Does he know the truth about me?./
Still angry, Vader wasn't in the mood for philosophizing about it. He quickly clicked the letter closed and opened the second. He started to read the first paragraph, shaking his helmet sadly when he saw something as simple as a meteorite had distracted the boy and had allowed a snow beast to attack him.
/That is inexcusable!./
Luke was too honest and simple yet, too lacking in training to be traveling around with those blast Rebels! He was still a boy at heart, amazed at the strangeness of a new world around him. That much was very clear. Why else would he gawk openmouthed at a stupid meteorite?
/And his inattention had almost cost him his life!./
Yes, Luke needed to be brought under his protective wing, taught the proper way of how to be alert and watchful of things around him. With proper Jedi training, Luke would have sensed the snow beast approaching before it was even near. The Force was far better at detecting life forms than relying on the natural senses of his mount; which is no doubt what he had been doing. The Force was the best radar in the entire galaxy and the boy definitely needed to learn how to use it correctly.
/I will not loose my son through carelessness/
The poor boy didn't even know the Emperor was a Sith! What in the galaxy do they teach in school these days? Vader fumed but continued to read. A bolt of pleasure zipped through him when he read that Luke wanted to meet him somewhere so they could begin his training. Yes, they would meet very soon!
/Let us meet on Hoth, my Son./
It was practically an invitation and one Vader very much planned on accepting. He had thought to drag the letters out longer until he felt Luke was ready to be told the truth, but now it was clear things would have to be rushed. Luke would just have to accept the fact of who he really was. The boy wished to be with his father and his father was a Sith Lord. And that certainly was better than associating with a gang of terrorists!
/Those fools have filled his head with nonsense!./
If he had learned one thing about his son, it was how loving and helpful he was. In this very letter he had showed his kindness for a stranger whom he had never met, a stranger who was supposed to be the 'enemy', yet he was willing to forget about sides in the war and be friends – just because he cared. He was generous and the Rebellion fiends were taking advantage of that! And the worst thing was, the boy didn't even know they were doing it! One of the next paragraphs proved just that point. Luke had wanted to leave the moisture farm but kept staying because he hadn't wanted to hurt his Uncle's feelings. Vader shook his fist at the invisible Rebel leaders who would reap an award at the boy's loss.
Vader sighed. Why couldn't Luke see they were the rule breakers and the wrong side to be on? Couldn't he see they were attacking the government? Didn't he understand the Empire existed for the common person's benefit? True, Palpatine had gone off course a bit lately but still…the Empire represented the law! The stormtroopers were there to protect the innocent and put criminal scum in jail!
/I will need to save Luke myself before he gets in too deep with those felons…/
In truth, the war was nothing more than a struggle for power. Many of the leaders of the Rebellion were sore politicians who couldn't accept they were now powerless. So they obtained weapons and started blowing up government installations, creating false reasons. The lies they spouted attracted followers and the movement grew until it had escalated into a full fledge war. But the real losers were the poor saps that believed the lies the leaders spread and actually thought the government was corrupt.
/Ah, how sweet. He wants me to be happy…/
And it was another example of how young his son really was.
/I will be happy when you are safe here with me…/
Yes, Luke would be safe on Executor. In time the crew would grow to accept him. The Dark Lord was certain of it. The ship, after all, was filled with young men. What would be one more? A bit of a hair cut and a proper uniform and the boy would fit right in. Of course, that was much later after they had gotten to know each other and he knew for certain Luke wouldn't do anything stupid. Youths were always doing the most stupid things for the most insane reasons. Still, Vader felt sure Luke could adjust to a new life in the Empire.
/And then we can rule the galaxy together…/
It would be wonderful!
/Palpatine will have to go…./
Yes, the man was old and senile. His dream for law and order had decayed into something else. It was regrettable.
/I am the one holding this Empire together…./
Vader had now reached the end of Luke's second letter and he considered what kind of reply he should send. Flexing his black clad fingers, Vader began to type a reply.
Dear Luke,
This may sound hard for you to believe, but I sensed you were in peril these last few days. It was not just the lack of your letters, although that did concern me, but my sleep had been disturbed as well. I did not exactly have nightmares as I did when my mother was in danger, but slept restlessly. Upon waking in the morning, I felt groggy with burning eyes and was practically asleep on my feet. Inexcusable behavior for an Officer, yes, I know. But you have grown to be the most important person in my life and I fear loosing you. I cannot describe the powerful emotion that swept through me when I saw two new letters from your email address! It was pure undulated joy, something I have never experienced before. And then I read of your encounter with that snow beast. I admit I'm angry that the people you travel with have been so careless about your safety. You do not belong in an artic environment! You could have died and for what? What do you gain by learning these snow creatures exist? Nothing!
You will be pleased to hear that I now have a modern photo for you. Taking that photo has been one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life and I have done it for you. I am sending it with this letter. I hope you can accept my awful appearance. And yes, I have finally faced myself in a mirror. It was very hard to do, but I did it for you. Please remember that. Truthfully, I'm glad that it's over. My appearance was not as bad as I feared, but I fear you may think it utterly horrible. People put so much on how they look…
Yes, the Emperor is really a Sith. And yes, I know him. I knew him since I was a child and freshly brought to Coruscant. He had always treated me kindly, but that does not mean he hasn't lied to me. He is a master at manipulation. I know he may seem harmless and look like an old man, but that's what he wants you to think. It's how he got to be Emperor, you know. He fooled everyone into thinking he was innocent and doing stuff for the common good while he had dreamed of power in secret. Does that surprise you? People can do that, you know. You think you know someone and you really don't. Please remember that.
I'm very grateful that your friend saved you. Please tell him for me, will you?
Yes, I would very much like to meet you! I'm sure I can get away from the ship for some time. It would be like a dream come true to finally see you with my own eyes, to hear your voice! You have no idea what that means to me. I'm very much looking forward to it.
Have you ever considered leaving the group you are with? It does not seem very safe where you are and although you are OK now, I worry about your continued safety. Would you do that for me? You told me to be brave and change my life so that I may be happy, about leaving the Empire. Are you willing to do the same?
Hoping to see you very soon,
Your Father,
Anakin
Darth Vader read over his letter, and then hit the button that sent it on its way. Shutting down his computer, the Sith Lord stretched his legs and headed out of his room for the bridge. It was time to get rid of those Rebels once and for all! He would inform the crew that Skywalker was to be captured alive as was Solo. The man had earned his life that much was clear and he intended to keep his word. Within a few short hours Luke would be safe within his grasp and then the real training could begin.
To be continued…
Hope that was OK.