Darth Vader stood at the brigde of Executor with a comlink in his gloved hand. The private line, the one that he authorized only Obi-Wan Kenobi to use. He hasn't called yet, and this wasn't sitting too well with the Dark Lord. He knew that he'd landed on Tatooine, based on the credit account record that Vader had already checked through the Holonet. When would Obi-Wan find Luke? His old Jedi Master had better get a move on, Vader thought crossly. He of all people should know how impatient the Dark Lord of the Sith was.
It wasn't just his lack of communication from Obi-Wan that had him on edge. He'd been having those nightmares again: the ones where someone very close to him dies. First it happened to his mother, and then his wife. Now, he was dreaming about his son's death. The dreams had started on the very day that his master had told him that he knew about Luke's existence, and that the boy was to be brought to him, or he must die. Not long after that, Vader had noticed that there was an alarming number of bounties on his son's head, many of them wanting him dead.
Vader hadn't told his old Jedi Master any of this. No doubt, Obi-Wan was wondering just what he was about, sending him to help Luke complete his training. Especially since, unbeknownst to Obi-Wan, Palpatine had specifically forbidden that Luke become a Jedi. Well, Vader thought, to hell with him. He will not lose his son. Even if it meant bringing Obi-Wan back from the netherworld to save him. Nothing mattered now, except keeping Luke safe.
Perhaps Luke would train his twin sister in the ways of the Force? For reasons he didn't completely understand, he didn't want Obi-Wan anywhere near Leia. He hoped that someday, the two of them would be able to know who they really were. It would be preferable if he could tell them himself, though if his experience in Bespin was any example, maybe it would be better if he didn't.
He gazed out on the thousands of stars set before him. Just like possibilities, those stars. Vader had a feeling that someone was going to tip their hand, something was going to develop that would drastically change the rules of this dangerous game. Which player would it be? Prince Xizor, the Falleen Underlord of Black Sun, the most powerful crime syndicate in the Empire? If it was him, Vader mused, it would be by getting himself even more ingratiated with the Emperor, and trying to somehow unseat Vader as his right hand man. Normally, there would be virutally no chance of that, unless Xizor somehow shatters the Emperor's trust in him. It is a dangerous game played by an ignorant fool who knows nothing of the Sith.
Would it be the Emperor himself? With the construction of a new, improved Death Star close to completion, could he finally push the people of the galaxy too far? Could it lead to more people joining the Rebel Alliance, despite the imminent threat of destruction?
Would it be Luke? With his powers growing more and more every day, would he start getting ambitions to bring about some sort of Jedi Renaissance? That would not amuse the Emperor at all. Of course, if the boy turned to the Dark Side, it would depend upon who he sided with. Would the boy destroy him, and take his place as the Apprentice of Darth Sidious? Or, would the boy and his father join forces, defeat Palpatine, and become the new Master and Apprentice Sith Lords?
Or, could it be Leia? The Force was truly with him, that Palpatine knew nothing of Leia yet, but what if the Emperor found out about her? It wasn't likely; virtually no one ever suspected that Bail Organa had adopted Princess Leia. Only Padmé and himself had known that Organa and his wife were having trouble conceiving. Oddly enough, when Vader visited them on Alderaan later on, and he knew, just from hearing the name Leia, he knew that not only had Padmé not died when she was reported to have died, but that his daughter was alive, well, and loved. It pained him terribly to let her go, but he did, because he knew it was for her own good. He'd known the danger, even back twenty years ago, that his children would face if he had any. But now that Luke knew he was the son of Darth Vader, Leia eventually would have to be told that Luke is her twin brother.
What a damned mess his family was, Vader thought irritably. How much could he hope his children were going to understand why they were kept in the dark all these years? This dilemma made him think of Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of the major perpetrators. No doubt, he was angry and resentful (to say the least) at Vader for bringing him back to the realm of the living. Who was to say that in turn, he would not get some kind of nasty revenge? Few people knew Obi-Wan as well as Vader did. And Vader knew, all too well, that Obi-Wan had long, sharp fangs and didn't hesitate to use them if he felt he had to. Vader only hoped that his threats of eternal torment and Qui-Gon's revival from the dead were enough to keep the once proud Jedi Master on a short enough leash.
Of course, Vader mused, he himself could be the one who tips the scales. What if he managed to gain a potential Sith Apprentice? Stranger things have happened. Would it be Luke? Leia? Or someone else entirely? Someone no one suspected, someone no one would ever have thought of? The idea was tantalizing, to say the least. Why are these thoughts crossing my mind? he asked himself. Could he already have laid the groundwork for it without knowing? The Dark Side of the Force had so much potential, so many possibilities. If only Luke understood this. Ah, well, maybe someday, he would.
And, just as he glanced at the comlink for the umpteenth time, it beeped. Vader's heart skipped a beat. Obi-Wan's tiny holgram glowed in the palm of Vader's hand. "Yes," Vader answered softly.
"I thought you would like to have a report on my progress so far," Obi-Wan said almost as softly. Vader had to peer down at the image in order to hear him adequately. None of the officers on the bridge would give it a second thought that he was having a conversation on the comlink, but obviously, Obi-Wan was trying to keep things quiet on his end.
"Where are you?"
"Still on Tatooine, but not for long. I've made contact with Luke. And he has agreed to have me continue his training with him."
Vader's shoulders loosened abruptly, and he hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath. "That's excellent news! Was he excited?" Vader couldn't help asking.
"Oh, yes, quite excited. I only wish he weren't so excited..." Obi-Wan grumbled.
"I'm not even going to get into that argument with you again. You will train him, and I'm certain he will be the perfect learner that I never was."
"There's more. I had a run in with some low-lifes in Mos Eisely earlier. Not that there are anything but low-lifes in Mos Eisely anyway, but this was more serious than usual. They accidentally attacked me, thinking I was Luke. I'm certain that Jabba the Hutt sent them. It turns out that Jabba had paid a visit to Coruscant recently, to Prince Xizor. Do you know anything about him?" Obi-Wan asked.
"That Falleen snake? More than I care to, I assure you. What did Jabba and Xizor have to talk about?" Vader growled.
"Search your feelings, my former Learner..." Obi-Wan led him.
Luke! Vader thought suddenly. No wonder he'd been having those nightmares! "Are you saying that you know for certain that Black Sun who is threatening his life?" Vader asked.
"Not just to Luke, I'm afraid. We're going to Coruscant. On our very first mission as Master and Padawan..." Obi-Wan explained.
"Why?" Vader snapped.
"We can deal with this threat directly, rather than keep outrunning him. It's only a matter of time before one of these attempts is successful," Obi-Wan answered.
"Let me handle him!" Vader ordered.
"Vader, I warn you, don't get involved. Luke isn't so trusting of you just yet. Don't push so hard, like you always do. Let us handle this. Luke needs to learn, doesn't he?" Obi-Wan pointed out.
Vader just breathed in his usual ominous way, as though thinking it over. "There's something you're not telling me."
"Luke's powers increase, Vader. You underestimate him. Yoda has taught him well, so far. So let me now do the job you've assigned to me without interference, and we both will be most appreciative." And with that, Obi-Wan signed off. Vader grit his teeth. Like hell he was going to let Obi-Wan Kenobi order him around like he was still a Padawan himself!
Vader ordered the nearest officer, "Have my shuttle prepared. I have to make an emergency trip to Coruscant..."
Obi-Wan switched off the comlink. He'd just made a mistake, telling Vader that they were going to Coruscant. What was he thinking? Vader will be there before they got there. He must be very tired to make a slip like that... Well, at least he didn't know about Leia being Xizor's captive.
He wandered back into the docking bay where his ship, the Phoenix, was being refueled. Luke and Obi-Wan would be taking Lando and Threepio to Coruscant in that ship, since the Millenium Falcon was probably on every "wanted" bulletin in the galaxy. Lando Calrissian would fly the ship, since Obi-Wan was still not crazy about flying it himself. Once they got to Coruscant, they would meet up with the desperate Chewbacca, and the Wookiee would show them where Leia was being kept. It was as simple as a plan could get. Of course, just like when Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Leia were held captive in Cloud City to lure Luke there, this was a very simliar scenario. At least Obi-Wan felt confident that his Padawan was well aware of Xizor's game. Having himself land into a trap would not help Leia one bit.
If Leia hadn't gone to Coruscant in her misguided attempt to protect Luke, she woulnd't have needed rescuing, obviously. Evidently, Vader's daughter was every bit as headstrong as her father. And her mother, for that matter. She could do with a few lessons in the ways of the Force herself, mainly to curb that impulsiveness, Obi-Wan thought impatiently. Ah, what to do with these Skywalkers! What a group! He was such an obedient Padawan Learner to his master! If only Master Qui-Gon had known how lucky he was!
"You've got a mysterious look on your face, Master," he heard Luke comment as he came around to where Obi-Wan leaned against the wall facing the sleek Phoenix.
"I was just thinking about how I'm going to have to set everyone straight around here, and what a task that's going to be..." Obi-Wan mused. He noted Luke's expression of mild confusion while following him aboard the ship.
Sorry about the short chapter this time.