Chapter Dedication to Poet317: there's a surprise for you at end of this chapter, hope you enjoy.—DG45
Ascaron was sent to the planet of Nar Shaddaa to see about a plastic surgeon, obviously Lord Vader couldn't just walk into a medical clinic or else he would terrify not only the patients but the hospital staff as well. He also communicated with his crew of the Executor. Admiral Piett and General Veers had always been loyal to Lord Vader as was most of the staff; the men who were only loyal to the Emperor were transferred to the other ships or to Imperial Garrisons on distant planets. If it became necessary Lord Vader had a hidden ace up his sleeve, he had hoped that he wouldn't have to do it, but if the Empire were to completely fall apart without another government to take its place then entire galaxy would fall into anarchy and chaos. That wouldn't be good for the Rebellion or the Empire.
Luke was amazed by the high level of patience Lord Vader had with him. He rarely raised his voice, not that he really needed to, his appearance was still very intimidating. Anne had restored nearly full capacity of Lord Vader's lungs; he could now take off the helmet for hours at a time. When Luke saw his father's naked face he almost felt pity, but if there was one emotion that Lord Vader and Anakin Skywalker hated it was pity. He quickly squashed the feeling and instead saw a strong man that had literally saw hell and managed to tell the tale. His eyes held all the emotion anyway. "Quit looking at me and get back to work, Luke." Lord Vader ordered.
"Sorry, I was just . . ."
Lord Vader rolled his eyes at his son, exasperated.
"You and I have the same color eyes." Luke shyly admitted.
"Yes I know."
Luke smiled and returned to lifting several pieces of heavy equipment into the air.
Anne entered the training room with her data pad in hand. She handed it to Lord Vader and practiced lifting a cushion and throwing it at Luke.
"Anne, stop that." Luke asked.
She did the same thing. Luke managed to hold all the containers in the air as she felt herself being lifted as well. Anne starting turning somersaults in the air.
Lord Vader studied the data pad and lowered Anne to the floor and handed her the pad. "You have some corrections to make young one."
Anne sighed, "I hate this." As she scooted out of the room before she felt her father take a swipe at her behind. "Ha, missed me!" Anne ran out.
xXx
The former chef at the Imperial Palace was washing dishes and getting ready to close up for the night when a visitor came into the diner.
"Ascaron, what are you doing here?" Robinson asked pleasantly surprised.
"I'm here to see you my friend, how's business?"
"It's doing pretty good, how about some coffee?"
"Yes that sounds great." Ascaron smiled as Robinson poured two cups of coffee and sat across from Ascaron after locking the doors.
"How's our mutual friend doing?"
"He's doing well; his daughter sure is keeping him on his toes. He has recently found his son and is training him in the family business as his protégé. The boy is a fast learner."
"There's another friend of ours that seems to be stirring up some lizards in the onyx moon. He is a direct competitor to our friend; it seems that this competitor is after our friend's family, specifically the protégé. Only wants the protégé alive, and if the father of this protégé should interfere, he will be assassinated by the lizard of the onyx moon."
Ascaron knew exactly what Robinson was talking about the Emperor was sending Prince Xizor of the Black Sun Syndicate to take Luke and eliminate Lord Vader.
"Mm, interesting indeed; however, this lizard wouldn't be wise to interfere in our friends business, it might be the last thing he does before asphyxiates in the most unpleasant way possible."
"True." Robinson took a sip of his coffee and looked Ascaron, it appeared he something more to ask.
"I know I make a mean pot of coffee, Ascaron, but I ask what really brings you here."
"Another of our mutual friends is working with a healer and will soon be able to leave the Imperial hospital; they have found a donor to give our friend Anakin his life back. He has suffered so and lost so much. But now he wishes to find someone who can competently heal scar tissue and remove it. Also retrofit him with more life-like limbs, specifically legs and one arm. He is well known and wishes that this be done in complete anonymity."
Robinson smiled, "Yes, I believe I know just the perfect surgeon and I know our friend isn't prejudiced."
"What's his name?"
"Dr. Eeth Koth, he specializes in tattoos but I also believe he can help your friend with scar removal. Let me contact him first and I'll set up an appointment. You can stay with me or if you have other arrangements?"
"No, that's fine. I'll join you, if I'm not imposing."
"No you are not my friend."
Robinson locked up for the night and Ascaron followed him to his apartment.
xXx
Luke and Mara Jade dueled with each other, while Lord Vader looked on hardly saying anything. He was sitting on the bench watching as the two went at it. Only offering words of encouragement and correction of technique, both of them he observed were vicious warriors. As practice continued, Mara Jade lay on her back defeated. "Good. You both are excused to shower and get ready for dinner."
Lord Vader left the sparring room, Anne had made the necessary corrections in her math homework and the data pad was sitting on his desk.
"Lord Vader, there's an incoming transmission."
"Patch it through."
"Lord Vader, I've found a physician through our mutual friend, Robinson. It seems that there is a certain lizard looking for your protégé.
"Mm not surprised. Set up an appointment for me a week from tonight midnight local time."
"Milord, that's such a late hour, are you sure?"
"Yes, Ascaron; just arrange it. Pay him double if you must."
"Certainly, see you later."
Lord Vader turned off the hologram and heard loud whooping and hollering just outside his office door. Luke and Anne were sitting on the floor in the darkened corridor, running back and forth and sliding on the newly waxed black floor in socks.
"Luke and Anne get back to your quarters and go get ready for dinner, what's the matter with you too, acting like children."
"Father, I am a child." Anne reminded him.
"Luke isn't and should not encourage such disgraceful behavior in you Anne."
"But it was my idea." Anne replied.
"I do not care, Luke if you are bored there are several ships that could use some maintenance work."
"I'm not bored, really I'm not! I'll just um, go you know, get ready for dinner."
Anne entered her room and proceeded to send telepathic messages to Luke.
"Father you learn to love him, I just wish he would let up, you know? Why does he have to be so damn strict anyway?"
"It's because he was an old-school Jedi and Sith; they are born to have no sense of humor; only duty that's it."
"Yea, tell me about it. We need to let him release his funny side. Do you want to prank him?"
"I don't have a death wish, Anne. Pranks and Dark Lords of the Sith do not go together. It's akin to putting nitro and glycerin together."
"It'll be fun, come on." Anne coerced.
"What do you have in mind?" Luke wondered.
"Just keep him occupied okay?"
After dinner, Luke asked to be taken to the bridge to occupy Lord Vader while Anne and Mara Jade sneaked into the Dark Lord's chambers.
"You know if we get caught. . ."
"Don't worry, Luke's got father occupied at the bridge."
Luke asked all sorts of questions and even talked to Admiral Piett, who patiently described his duties.
After about thirty minutes, Lord Vader needed to leave, "Come on, let's allow the crew to do their jobs."
"Anne, we are heading down to our quarters."
"Stall him! He can't come yet!"
"How the hell am I supposed to do that?"
"I don't care! Just do it."
Luke was at a quandary as to what to do, so he lifted his father's lightsaber off his belt and turned it on, "Mm what a pretty red blade. This one is very similar to mine."
"Give it back, son." Lord Vader had his hand out.
"Oh, come on. You have my old one, let me keep this one."
"No. It is mine, give back right now."
"You don't share much do you?"
"A lightsaber is a part of your personality and it becomes a part of your identity. When you have become fully trained in its use, I will allow you to carry your own."
Luke backed away ever so slowly.
"Luke, I am not playing. Give me my lightsaber or else there will be consequences. . ."
Luke deactivated the blade and an impish grin came across the boys face.
"Don't even think about it, my son."
Luke gathered up the Force and ran down the corridor. Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, sighed deeply and stalked his only son as only he could, slowly and methodically. Luke managed to hide in the medical wing, until he felt his father's presence. He bolted out of the supply room door and managed to almost get away until Dr. Kelvin came out of his office ready to scold the young man, when he crashed into him.
"Sorry." Luke embarrassed helped the Doctor to his feet and then tried to run again, but saw the heavy black leather glove holding him in place.
"I have you now." Luke tried so hard to get out from Lord Vader's grip to no avail. The lightsaber was snatched from Luke's hand and he struggled against the Dark Lord.
"Do not make me carry you son, it would prove to be most embarrassing."
Luke felt a righteous fire of indignation consume him as he yelled, "You wouldn't dare!"
Lord Vader smiled beneath his mask and hoisted the young boy over his shoulder as Luke beat his father's back until his hands started to hurt.
"You have much to learn young one, I will be glad to teach you these lessons. It seems you are a slow learner, but that's okay, I have plenty of patience to deal with you."
"PUT ME DOWN!" Luke yelled.
"Such an errant child, that really needs to be put in his place."
"Put in my place? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Watch your mouth, son."
"You ain't gonna put me in my place!"
"We shall see."
Luke didn't like where this was headed, he caught wisps of laughter as Lord Vader seemingly took the most crowded corridors on this force-saken ship. Even Admiral Piett smiled at Luke's misfortune. Eventually they arrived in Luke's quarters, "You should learn to make your bed and put your clothes away." Lord Vader as he pushed the clothing onto the floor and sat on edge of Luke's bed, placing the young Jedi across his knee.
"You seriously lack in self-discipline Luke Benjamin Skywalker. I guess I've been far too lenient here lately."
"Lenient? You're kidding me right? You're lenient? I hate to see what you call strict!"
Luke noted that he wasn't on his feet that he was lying over Lord Vader's lap as they talked. It was the most disconcerting feeling the boy has ever felt, the last time he had been in this precarious position was when . . .
FLASHBACK
Luke had been forbidden to take the swoop bike to Anchorhead; he was only ten years old at the time. He had been grounded for a week. It was his best friend's birthday though; he just had to get away from the farm. He had sneaked out late that night and went to Biggs's birthday bash. When he returned, his Uncle Owen started swinging the leather strap. Aunt Beru tried desperately to intervene, but once Uncle Owen had his mind set on something, nobody was going to change his mind. End of Flashback
Luke struggled to get off Lord Vader's lap to no avail, the large hand descended and Luke cried out. "Nooooooo. Please I'm too old for this."
"Never too old to be taught a valuable lesson on taunting a Sith Lord; you should be grateful I cannot shoot out lightning bolts."
Anne looked at Mara Jade who also felt Luke's pain and humiliation.
"Um, let's forgo this shall we?" Mara Jade suggested.
Anne nodded her head affirmatively and the two cleaned up the soapy water with mops and buckets and just in time for Lord Vader to enter his quarters.
Luke's behind felt like it was three sizes too large and he thought the pain he received from Uncle Owen's strap was unreal. Luke decided that from here on out he would never take Lord Vader's lightsaber again or taunt him. Somethings just aren't worth the price.
Luke tried to meditate to heal himself until he received a telepathic message, "Do not make me come back in there and reaffirm the same lesson, Luke."
Luke was completely horrified, "Yes, sir." He mumbled frightened of the prospect. He lay on his bed still amazed that he had just been most thoroughly spanked by his own father.
Author's note: Okay, first thank you to all you kind reviewers for chapter 17; I was completely caught off guard and I'm glad you guys really enjoyed it. Just goes to show that once again I am my own worst critic. I do not own Star Wars or any of its characters therein.—Darth Gladiator45