Chapter 3-Choosing Sides

Vader flexed his cybernetic arms carefully as his internal mask censors told them that his tinkering fixed his arms regardless of a few missing pieces. The same thing went with his legs as he slowly walked towards a startled Luke who realized that Vader since their talks could have freed himself at any time. "Well...choose young Skywalker," said Vader as he reached out to the Force and summoned his Lightsaber on the table near the corner of a wall.

"You ant me to choose?" said Luke who was still startled knowing that Darth Vader was free, armed, and dangerous.

"Choose to stay with your corrupting Rebellion or choose to join me and the Empire to crush the opposition. Those are the choices young Skywalker and I suggest you hurry for there is a time limit since the 501st will be storming this base any moment now," said Vader as he ignited his Lightsaber with its red blade making Luke's eyes go wide with fear.

"I don't what side to take anymore. I can't give you an answer right now since I don't know what to believe in," said Luke who felt that after what Vader told him it was difficult to choose sides whether they were right or wrong.

"It may difficult now, but if you search through the Force and your feelings you will find the truth is there. Open yourself up to the Force and let your heart find the truth you want to so desperately seek," said Vader putting a hand on Luke shoulder as a way of showing confidence to the confused boy.

"I'm not afraid of you if that's what you're thinking," said Luke who was partially lying when he said that.

Vader could only smile as his boy showed immense courage despite the fear that was echoing off of him. "You're lying to me young Skywalker. In fact I think you've been afraid of the truth all your life because of the pain it would bring. Just try it and no matter what you decide I respect your decision," said Vader who turned off his Lightsaber as a sign he wouldn't hurt his son.

"I'll...I'll try Lord Vader," said Luke as he closed his eyes and called forth the Force and opened it to his heart as he ignored Vader's black cybernetic gauntlet of a hand rising on his shoulder.

Vader watched as Luke filled his entire being with the Force to guide his heart and was impressed how quickly it filled him with power so easily. Vader knew he could easily manipulate the Force to get his son to join him, but he knew that if he did it may come back to harm his relationship with his son later. Besides he had faith in the Force that it would lead his son to choosing his side rather then staying with the Rebellion. 'The Force will show him the way. I know it,' thought Vader as the echoing sounds of blaster fire and explosions were heard though out the Yavin 4 temple.

Luke found himself in a plain of existence he had never seen before as walked with an aura of white light around him. It was then he saw a familiar face appear in front of him that was Obi-wan Kenobi with a blue aura surrounding him. "Ben?" said Luke quite surprised at seeing his former teacher where he was.

"Hello Luke I'm actually quite surprised that you're even here though I suppose I should be thanking Vader for that," said Obi-wan who had seen everything up till now that was happening between Luke and Vader.

"Why didn't you tell me everything? Why did you keep so much from me? Why didn't you tell me when you knew it would hurt even more then it does now?" said Luke who could help, but feel angry Obi-wan.

Obi-wan frown at Luke's words knowing that even though he had hid things from the boy it was in his best interest and the future of the Jedi Order. "Luke what I told you was from my perspective and before I could tell you even more about you're legacy I was in a duel with Vader that you yourself saw I had lost," said Obi-wan though he knew that he had lost willingly not because he was surrounded, but because it was for Luke.

"You died willingly I saw you look at me with those all knowing eyes of yours before Vader struck you down. You died intentionally and I don't need the Force to tell me that much," said Luke who felt that Obi-wan was hiding something from him important that was making his distrust for the Jedi Master turned hermit grow even more.

"Luke I wanted to tell you, but you're still young and naïve to fully understand all the complications that happened between your father, Vader, and your mother. It was a difficult time with resources strained beyond the capable limits we were given. Paranoia was everywhere with eyes being forced to grow in the back of our heads knowing the enemy could attack any moment. In time Luke you will have to do the same Luke and sooner then you know. Vader wants you to join him and become his Sith apprentice and join the Dark Side," said Obi-wan.

"Vader has been nothing, but honest with me. How can you expect me to trust you when you won't give me a straight answer like he has? Compared to what you told me to what he said, his story has more credibility then yours does and he's the Sith Lord," said Luke wanting to join Vader with each passing second.

"Luke I...," said Obi-wan, but Luke cut him.

"Just save it Ben. I don't want to hear this. To be honest I'm not entirely sure about Vader right now, but compared to you I know with him I can take my chances," said Luke as he left the plain of existence he was in back to his body before Obi-wan could stop him.

Vader had felt his son's presence return back to where it was and he was quite surprised at his son's skills and to you his instincts to command the Force the way he did. "So what did you decide young Skywalker?" said Vader though he had a feeling through the Force he knew the answer.

"For now...for now I will be with you, but I don't think I'm ready to use the Dark Side of the Force and be you're apprentice just yet," said Luke as the sound of an explosion came near the room they were in.

Vader was surprised his son was thinking along those lines of things, but then again deep in Vader's mind he had been secretly wanting his son to join him and become the Force strong apprentice he dreamed of having. "It's all right young Skywalker I know you are not ready for that, but if you trust me now to follow me I know in time you will trust me enough to have me train you," said Vader as he saw Luke put his Lightsaber at his hip.

"I guess we should get going then before Leia, Han, and Chewie start looking for me only to find me here with you," said Luke giving a small smile on his face he imagined his friend's faces seeing the two together talking like this without Vader being restrained.

"Yes we should. Follow me," said Vader as he walked out of the room to find the corridors filled with debry while the sound of fighting was heard near them.

(In the hanger)

Han, Leia, and Chewie were all aboard the Falcon waiting for Luke to arrive, but got worried after he didn't show up for some time. "Where the hell is that kid? If we don't get out of here soon were going to be the prized target for the firing squad of Vader's personal army. How they learned about us I still can't understand?" said Han as he prepped the Falcon for take off.

"Vader must have used his powers to contact the 501'st and told them where he was and to have them engage us while we were considering what to do with him. Oh no! What if Vader somehow got free and has Luke?" said Leia as she felt that something was wrong with the Rebel's newest hero as C3PO made his way up the ramp.

"Where is R2D2? I swear that stupid astromech droid will be the death of me if he hasn't killed himself already with that logic paradox," said C3PO even though everyone was currently ignoring the gold plated protocol droid at the moment

"How could Vader move when Chewie and I messed with his cybernetic implants? If he used that Force thing or whatever I doubt he used it to materialize spare parts and fixit himself. And besides I doubt Luke would even get involved with that psycho Sith Lord since he killed that old Jedi Master," said Han who thought the whole Force thing was nothing more then a belief from an old worn out religion.

Just then the doors leading to the hanger bay were blasted apart and a legion of 501st came swarming in blaster's firing at anything moving. "There's that ship! Don't let it get away!" said the 501st commander as they opened fire on the ship.

"Ah Sith spit it all to hell! Sorry Leia, but Luke is resourceful and will probably get away once he's in the clear. Hopefully he'll find one of the Rebel contacts and get in touch with us down the road," said Han as he jumped into the pilot seat and fired up the engines for take off leaving the 501st in their engine dust trail.

Shortly after Darth Vader with Luke by his side appeared in the now controlled yet, now empty hanger bay getting the Stormtroopers attention. "Report commander," said Vader in a commanding fashion.

"Lord Vader sir the ship called the Millennium Falcon was here before it got away, but not before we damaged it before it escaped. We believe the smuggler, co-pilot, the traitor Princess, and possibly one if not both droids were aboard," said the 501st Stormtrooper commander hoping he wouldn't get punished for letting the ship get away.

"Very well then commander. I want transport ship sent down here to retrieve me...and very special guest to take us abroad the Star Destroyer above the planet. What is the ships name commander?" said Vader as he looked at his son to the commander, who hesitated out of surprise as the commander realized that Luke was their.

"The ship sir...it is called The Dominance and the shuttle in already being sent down with another deployment of troops that should be arriving in 5-10 minutes Lord Vader," said the Stormtrooper commander.

"Good. Tell the pilot to land near here so we can begin our ascent to the ship," said Darth Vader seeing the commander giver a salute and began setting up a communication link up with the shuttle.

"What do I call you since it seems wrong to just call you Vader?" said Luke in a whisper so the Stormtroopers would not hear him talk and no one noticed a small astromech droid moving within the shadows waiting for its opportunity to stow aboard the shuttle with his former and current master.

"You will address me as Lord Vader," said Darth Vader though apart of him hoped that one day Luke would call him...father.

(20 minutes later-Aboard The Dominance)

Luke had been escorted by a small squad of troopers to his own private quarters not far from the infamous Dark Lord of the Sith. He had everything he could ever want in the room with new clothes, a refresher with a shower unit, and a small workbench used to tinker with different electronic pieces whether to put things together or take them apart. "I hope I'm making the right choice here. I still feel torn by all this," said Luke feeling that something still wasn't being told to him whether it was Vader or Obi-wan.

However, it seemed to Luke that Vader was more trust worthy then Obi-wan yet he was the Sith Lord who had murdered his father. Was it wrong to serve the man who killed your father and not hate him for it because he tried to save your mother? It was not a simple question, but rather a complex one that he didn't have time for nor could he as the more he thought about it the more his head hurt. 'I need some sleep,' thought Luke as he went to his bed and went to sleep.

Lord Vader felt his son through the Force go to sleep and he smiled to himself at how wonderful his son had it to actually sleep without worry. Worry that someone was trying to secretly assassinate you or having your own respirator and cybernetics preventing you from enjoying sleep unless it was through mediation. Even then though meditation was only second best compared to the actual thing, which was something Vader had not done in years. Just as Vader headed to his new quarters aboard the Star Destroyer, the Admiral that was formerly in charge of the Imperial ship appeared rather reluctantly to in front of him. "What is it Admiral I'm busy?" said Vader who had little time for sniveling boot licking officers even if they were the ones getting their boots licked.

"I'm sorry to approach you like this Lord Vader, but I jut received a communication from Corusant and it is rather urgent sir," said the Admiral.

"Who is it Admiral?" said Vader as he let his anger subside at the moment as he felt that the communication was from someone of great importance and there was only one person in the Empire who overruled him.

"The...the Emperor sir and he demands that you speak with him immediately about the destruction of the Death Star...and something involving in a disruption of some thing that the Emperor said was none of my business," said the Admiral knowing not to question the Emperor just you don't make a Sith Lord angry.

"Very well I want the communication to be set up in my private quarters and I don't want to be disturbed. Is that clear?" said Darth Vader making the Admiral nod slightly as if doing anything more would make him receive the wrath of the mighty Sith Lord.

(Vader's quarters)

"What is the bidding my master?" said Darth Vader as he had done so many times before in the past.

"I have sense a great disturbance in the Force Lord Vader. The destruction of my Death Star is, but the first wave I felt after the next," said the Emperor in a bellowing voice that filled the room.

"I know my master I felt it too. I was there and even though the Death Star is gone my master I have discovered something of great promise," said Darth Vader making the Emperor's wrinkle eye brow go up with curiosity.

"You did? What exactly Lord Vader and be mindful of your feelings," said the Emperor ho watch his loyal servant carefully through the projector.

"I found a Force sensitive boy among the Rebel's who has had very little training and is confused on what his life holds for him. He is currently sleeping in a room near my own and he is very powerful with the Force," said Vader hoping to keep the fact that the boy was is son out of the picture.

"What else is there Lord Vader I know you're hiding something from me?" said the ever scowling face of the Emperor as he became more suspicious of Vader for not even killing the boy, but bringing him onboard an Imperial ship without restraints.

"The boy...he...he is my son...my master," said Vader with a heavy heart and feared he might have to kill his own son.

You're son! I didn't your wife was with child all those years ago? When did you learn of this Lord Vader?" said the Emperor and it was then that Darth Vader sensed a hint of fear in the Emperor's words.

"Only recently before the Death Star was destroyed by him," said Vader sensing his master's anger that it had been his son to destroy what was precious to the Emperor.

Then the Emperor's anger seemed to change in a calm state and began to think with the look of it on his face, which puzzled Vader as to what his master was thinking. "To do such feat would require great strength indeed...and for so strong, but I wouldn't expect anything less from the son of a Skywalker. Does he know you're his father?" said the Emperor curiously.

"No, my master. He believes me to be a former acquaintance of his father that grew up with him during his tine as a Jedi till near the end of the Clone Wars and when Obi-wan crippled me," said Vader calmly.

"Yes I would imagine that the boy is not ready to know such a truth just yet. I also sensed that the life force of that very same Obi-wan Kenobi leave this world. Did you kill him?" said Palpatine wondering whether the Jedi Master died of old age or Vader's own hands.

"Yes my master. Obi-wan Kenobi is no more. What of my son my master?" said Vader hoping for a good outcome.

Palpatine looked curiously out in the distance thinking for a moment before answering. "You say he strong and is untrained so for now I will allow him to live and be put under your teachings Lord Vader before he goes under mine. After all the things I can teach the boy you can't do to your cybernetic...condition," said the Emperor sensing that Vader was happy with the decision then he wanted hi to believe.

"Thank you my master I will boy's training shortly once we meet up with the Executor and head to Naboo for a secluded spot to train in secret," said Vader who sensed a mild irritation from the Emperor at the mention of his old home world.

"Very well Lord Vader, but remember when I say be mindful of your feelings," said the Emperor as he killed the communication with Darth Vader who rose from his kneeling position not knowing that a certain astromech droid was listening in after hacking into the system from the hanger area.

'This doesn't bode well for me at all. I have a duty to protect my master, but still serve my old one at the same time. For now they are both on the same side so there is nothing to worry about since there is no conflict of interest. Where is C3PO when I need him I wish he were here...I miss him,' thought R2D2 as he pretended to be one of the imperial droids working at a terminal imputing information.