Mara Jade arrived on Vjun and landed the Naboo Yacht that had been found on Geonosis which Lord Vader had confiscated it to add to his collection. Once it had been fully restored he had patiently taught Mara Jade how to operate the controls which were incredibly easy. Lord Vader was standing near the landing platform as Mara Jade exited.
"He's still unconscious, milord." Mara Jade stated as she bowed to Lord Vader.
"You have done well, Mara. Get some rest and something to eat. I will take care of my son."
"Thank you, milord." Mara Jade left the hanger bay and went to her quarters and after showering she ordered a small bowl of fruit to be delivered along with some cheese. Anne was in the training room working on her lightsaber skills; it was difficult as she did the painful maneuvers that her father had instructed.
Luke was carried to his room and laid on the bed with the utmost tender care, he was tucked under the covers and Lord Vader tousled the boy's blond hair that was so much like his own all those years ago.
Anne finished her lightsaber practice and ran to the indoor swimming pool to allow the warm water soothe her aching joints.
Luke awoke to find himself in a large bedroom; the bed he lay on was very comfortable as were the red silk sheets. He was incredibly thirsty and poured himself a glass of water swallowing it greedily. The last thing he remembered was Mara Jade pouring him a cup of hot herbal tea. He had a mild headache and she had given him some medicine to help. Obviously his trust was misplaced. Luke looked at his clothing and he was wearing black pajamas of very soft cotton. He went to the window and noted the dark green horizon with acid rain pouring from the clouds. "Well isn't this a pretty picture." Luke sardonically whispered to himself.
"Good evening, Luke." Mara knocked on the door.
"I thought you were my friend, Mara. I guess I was wrong to trust you."
Mara knew she had that coming so she didn't say anything in her defense.
"I'm still your friend, Luke. I just had to obey."
"Obey who? The emperor? Vader?"
"Yes."
"Thanks a lot Mara. Well I'll remember you when I'm dead."
"Lord Vader doesn't want you dead, Luke."
"How comforting! Let me guess he wants a freakin' family."
"Yes."
"You will watch your mouth, young one." Lord Vader intoned as he entered the room putting his hands on his hips.
Luke glared hard at the Dark Lord, "You have a lot of nerve to talk to me about cursing when Force-knows you've done far worse. You are one sick murdering son of a bi . . ." Luke found himself unable to finish his tirade as his voice was temporarily disabled.
"Watch your mouth; I will not tolerate cursing or insulting my mother."
Luke scoffed, "You had a mother? I'm surprised she didn't abort you, I would have encouraged her."
"Then you wouldn't be here either, son."
"I would consider that a good thing, father." Luke replied caustically.
The temperature in the room plummeted to record lows as Lord Vader's ire increased dramatically at his son's hurtful words. Luke noted that his wisps of breath burst forth with every breath and he physically started to shiver in sub-zero temperatures. Anne touched her father's hand and the warmth increased to normal levels.
"Its okay, father, Luke doesn't mean it. He's confused and angry; he still thinks that you have murdered his father Anakin Skywalker. He doesn't understand, but deep down he wants too, give him some time." Anne soothed Lord Vader's angry feelings as only she could. Anne felt her father's hand gently lift her head and wipe a tear from her eye. Luke was fascinated by the seemingly gentleness that Lord Vader had for the little girl.
Anne stayed as Lord Vader and Mara left the room, Luke noted how sweet the girl was and wondered if it too was an act. Anne sat in front of the fireplace and took some kindling to start a fire to warm up the small bedroom chamber. Luke sat in the black leather wingback chair watching her and the fire.
"You don't say much do you, little girl."
"I can't say anything at all, Luke. The Emperor took my voice and crushed it. I've been mute ever since." Anne noted with a great sadness.
"Yet you seem to care about Darth Vader, why is that?" Luke wondered.
"He is my father. The Emperor has taken everything from him, his wife, his son, his humanity and demanded a steep price to be paid for his loyalty; mostly he took a part of his soul."
"How is it that you know he is your father?"
"I've always known; I felt it; I knew it even before he did."
Luke listened as Anne told him her tale of being the Emperor's slave and the multiple beatings and the fateful day she lost her voice. Ascaron had saved her from the trash compactor and had taken her to Lord Vader's palace on Coruscant. She described her Force talents and abilities, including her ability to heal traumatic injuries, even old ones.
Luke found himself softening towards Lord Vader, he really did seem to be a victim in all this, but he still knew that Lord Vader was a powerful Sith and would be difficult to defeat, but now he wasn't so sure if he should.
"Anne, I really appreciate everything you have told me. I sense no deceit in you."
Anne smiled weakly, "I'll leave you to mediate it's about time for bed for me anyway."
"One final question, Anne; do you ever test the waters with Lord Vader or do you just obey him without question."
"No, I am allowed to be myself; sometimes I cause trouble with my pranks. Father is pretty forgiving, albeit strict. He hates it when people lie and curse, I once did a mind trick on a storm trooper and all he did was enter Lord Vader's chambers and keep repeating the words 'Echuta.' Fortunately for the storm trooper he was forgiven, but me, well let's just say that sitting a week later was still a problem. See ya." Anne ran out of the room as she heard Luke chuckle softly.
"Young one, you are supposed to be in bed."
"Yes, father. Come tuck me in?"
Anne felt herself being levitated to her father's mask and he wagged his index finger at her. Anne was taken over Lord Vader's shoulder and carried to bed, holding on to his cloak.
Anne was tucked into bed and Lord Vader allowed her to hold onto his cloak as she went to sleep. She had told him it kept the nightmares away.
Luke noticed a tray of food being pushed into his room, it was all his favorite foods, nerf steak medium-rare; broccoli, potato, and fresh pears. He also had a glass of blue milk. "Oh, brother; I could really go for a beer! I'm hardly a child anymore." Luke sent to Lord Vader.
"You are still growing, young one." Lord Vader responded telepathically.
xXx
Ascaron was questioned by high command about Luke's and Mara Jade's whereabouts. "Why are you asking me? I do not know, Mara Jade didn't confide in me."
"You are hiding something from us, Mr. Ascaron; we demand to know what it is." Mon Mothma firmly stated.
"I am not hiding anything, Ms. Mothma; I came to the rebellion willingly and without reservation, but if you rather not have me, I will return to my smuggler's life and leave you to yours." Ascaron stated and left the room even though he had not been dismissed.
Ascaron packed his bag and boarded his fighter and left for Vjun and Bast Castle. Lord Vader would not be pleased, but Ascaron didn't know what else to do.
xXx
Lord Vader stepped out of his room, he felt Luke's presence in the sparring room, and it seemed that he and Anne were bonding. When he saw Luke and Anne they were sitting across from each other comparing notes on their lightsabers. "I've never seen a purple blade before." Luke remarked.
"Father found it years ago and when he gave me a large box full of crystals, this one called to me." Anne replied.
Luke sighed; it seemed strange that he would be talking to a nine year old child so casually about Darth Vader. Most children were terrified of him, but Anne was not.
Anne smiled and her face lit up with excitement as Lord Vader entered the room and she ran to him and hugged him as he squatted down to her level.
"Practicing young one?"
"Well, not really. Luke came in to talk to me. He's curious as to what your plans are for him."
"Well let's show him what you can do, Anne."
Anne jumped into the center of the ring and after bowing respectfully to both Luke and Lord Vader, she ignited her lightsaber and started going through her drills. The random shots from the training remotes fired at Anne as she continued her aggressive posturing. Lord Vader increased the speed and accuracy of one of the remotes and had it attack Anne's weak side which zapped her in the backside.
She glared at her father and ruefully rubbed her bottom. Luke laughed, he experienced the same while on the Falcon with Obi-Wan. Anne deactivated her lightsaber and as another shot was fired it froze in mid-air, seemingly stopping she then sent it back to her father and he was zinged in the upper thigh.
"Anne Marie." The dark Lord warned.
"That's my name, don't wear it out!"
Anne leapt from the ring onto a large crate and Force induced a run out of the training hall.
"She's very good, who's been training her?" Luke asked.
"Me." Lord Vader responded simply.
"I see as a Sith or just a Dark Jedi to do your bidding."
"Never assume anything Luke. Do your Jedi ways indicate any darkness in her at all?"
"No and I find that strange."
"The Jedi have strengths and so do the Sith; she's being trained in both disciplines."
"How is that possible? Sith rely on their hatred and anger to call upon the Force, besides they only care about themselves, father."
"If that were true of me; you would already either be dead or you would be a Sith, Luke."
"How comforting; so tell me Darth Vader, which side of the Force were you using when you murdered the Jedi, especially Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi? Luke questioned hatefully.
"I did not murder Anakin Skywalker; do not accuse me of crimes that I have not committed."
"Okay, Vader . . ."
"Lord Vader to you, do not speak disrespectfully to me." Lord Vader interrupted.
"Excuse me, Lord Vader, but you'll pardon me if I believe respect is earned not given."
"It is unwise to anger me, Luke."
"Unwise? Did the Jedi anger you is that why you murdered them? Why did you have to kill Obi-Wan? What did he ever do to you? He was a great man."
"He allowed himself to be killed. He confronted me and then gave up allowing himself to perish."
"You could have let him go."
"He did not wish it, he wanted to become one with the Force so he could become a ghost and haunt me."
Luke laughed. "Obi-Wan haunts you? That's hysterical."
Lord Vader rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. Luke laughed until tears were pouring from his eyes.
"Are you quite through?" Lord Vader intoned with a bit of ire in his voice.
Luke smiled, "I'm sorry I just find it ironic that you thought that by killing Ben you would be forever rid of his presence."
Lord Vader sighed, "This is not going to be easy."
"What isn't going to be easy? If you think that I'm going to join you on the Dark Side you might as well kill me now." Luke replied.
"You are a stubborn, arrogant, naïve Jedi! Is that all you think about? I do not wish you to become a slave to Sidious or of the Dark Side. I lost everything the second I knelt to the Emperor. I thought that by joining him I could save my wife! The Jedi couldn't do it they could only give me empty platitudes about letting go and rejoice when loved ones join the Force."
Luke scoffed, "You had a wife? What in blazes did she ever see in you?"
"Luke Benjamin Skywalker!" Lord Vader bellowed.
Luke turned three different shades of red and stuttered, "How did you know my middle name? That's a secret that not even the Rebellion knows about! Krit! Don't say it so loudly!"
Lord Vader was amused by his son's antics and merely stated, "I will tell you when you accept me as your father." And with that Luke watched as Lord Vader strutted out of the sparring room. Luke crumbled to the floor with his head in his hands lost and confused. His middle name was rarely spoken even on the Farm; he only heard it a few times and had almost forgotten it entirely. He understood it now, for his name had meant, 'the right hand of the father.' Krit he was in some deep bantha poodoo now. So did Anakin Skywalker name him and that's how he knew? Too many long thoughts plagued the young Jedi as he sat there and pondered.
Author's Note:I took some obvious liberties with Luke's name but it seemed fitting to me. As always I do not own Star Wars, as I am merely playing in Lucas' galaxy. Hope you enjoyed this chapter—Darth Gladiator45.