I allow the troopers to take my son away, back up to the Death Star. I remain on the moon until morning, planning to make an inspection of the bunker; but my mind is elsewhere and so I return to the Death Star ahead of schedule. I am anxious to get this over with, knowing my master is waiting for me to bring Luke to him. My heart is full of trepidation, not knowing what will transpire when they meet face to face. Luke is strong, but is he strong enough to resist Sidious? I was not…yet my situation was completely different...he led me to believe that I could save her…

An officer directs me to the holding cell where my son is. Jerjerrod is with him, for I hear the sound of his voice as I approach the cell. I stop to listen to the exchange.

"The Emperor and Vader have been expecting you for quite some time. How fortuitous that I should have the chance to bring you to them," gloats Jerjerrod.

"Vader knows that I am here," replies Luke calmly.

"That foolish sorcerer is of no concern to me. Once I deliver you to the Emperor, he might never be a concern of mine again," retorts Jerjerrod. I grow angry at his words, his patronizing tone, and the simpering smirk I can picture on his face.

"You speak quite boldly outside of his presence," is my son's reply.

"I would choose my words carefully if I were you, Skywalker," replies Jerjerrod testily. "Your trip to the Emperor could be made to be most unpleasant."

"It's a pity you will not live to see it," answers Luke evenly.

I hear the sound of a slap, and then Jerjerrod's voice once again. "I do not think you are in quite the position to be posing threats, rebel."

"It is no threat Lord Jerjerrod... I have foreseen it," replies Luke.

Jerjerrod has no reply. I have heard enough, and enter the room. He is at the door, and nearly crashes into me as he prepares to leave. His face is ashen as he looks up at me, and takes a step back. My son appears to be enjoying the scene before him, his face calm with a hint of a smile on it.

"Going somewhere, Commander?" I ask him as I step closer to him.

His eyes dart nervously about, as though trying to formulate an escape plan.

"Lord Vader!" he squeals. "Uh..." he swallows hard, "I was hoping to see you here... I... have brought Skywalker for you to... present to the Emperor."

I raise my hand, having no patience left for his simpering lies. He immediately grabs his throat as he feels it constrict in my grip.

"Please, Lord Vader!" he gasps as he falls to his knees. "My Lord, I... I would never betray you..." he stops to gasp for air, on all fours now like an animal. "I... I only wish to serve... you, my Lord…" his eyes roll upward, and he collapses to the floor, dead.

"Your service has been appreciated, Commander..." I say, looking down with disgust at his dead form. I look up at Luke, who also stares at the dead body.

"Come," I say simply. He looks up at me. "It is time."

I sense the fear in him, but only for a moment, for he has learned control very well. He steps over Jerjerrod's inert form and joins me.

Both of us are silent on the turbo lift, the tension between us palpable. Luke did not expect me to take it this far – I sense his disappointment that his faith in me was misplaced. His compassion for you will be his undoing...were the emperor's words. I feel an ache in my heart when I realize that he was right. I caused the destruction of my beloved wife; will I now be the instrument of the destruction of our only child too?

We arrive at the throne room, and the turbo lift doors slide open. Luke's stress level raises a notch, despite his best efforts to keep it in check. I notice him look around briefly, no doubt curious to see the monster who has kept me enslaved all these years.

Side by side we approach the stairs that lead to the throne, where Sidious sits waiting.

"Welcome, young Skywalker," he says as Luke and I reach the top of the stairs. "I have been expecting you. You'll no longer need those," he says, referring to the binders on Luke's wrists. With a slight movement of his hand, Sidious releases them, and the fall with a clatter to the floor. Luke stares up at the emperor, unafraid, defiant. "Guards, leave us," he commands the red robed sentinels, who immediately do his bidding.

"I'm looking forward to completing your training," continues Sidious. "In time, you will call me Master."

Luke finally speaks. "You're gravely mistaken," he replies calmly. "You won't convert me as you did my father."

Sidious is not put off by Luke's statement, and leaves his throne. "Oh no, my young Jedi," he replies slowly as he approaches us. "You will find that it is you who are mistaken, about a great many things."

"His lightsaber," I say, handing the weapon to Sidious.

"Ah yes," he replies, taking it from me. "A Jedi's weapon. Much like your father's. By now you must know your father can never be turned from the Dark Side. So will it be with you."

"You're wrong," retorts Luke. I turn to look at him. "Soon I'll be dead and you with me."

"Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of the Rebel Fleet," replies Sidious with dead calm. "Yes, I assure you, we are quite safe from your friends here."

"Your overconfidence is your weakness," declares Luke boldly. I turn to him again, shocked and yet somehow impressed by his audacity.

"Your faith in your friends is yours," retorts Sidious as he takes his throne once again.

"It is pointless to resist, my son," I tell Luke gravely.

"Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design," boasts Sidious now, seated up on his throne once again. "Your friends up there on the Sanctuary Moon are walking into a trap, as is your rebel fleet." I turn to look at the emperor, loathing him for the enjoyment he was clearing getting out of my son's torment.

"It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band! An entire legion of my best troops awaits them." He leans forward, a look of mock pity on his wizened, malevolent visage. "Oh, I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive!"

Sidious watches my son's agony, his sinister smile growing with each passing moment. He notices my son's gaze drifting towards the large windows that afford us a view of the battle raging on outside.

"Come boy," he says, "see for yourself." Luke and I step up the throne, me on one side, him on the other. He looks out the window, his pain and disappointment evident in the slump of his shoulders. Sidious continues his taunts. "From here you will witness the final destruction of the Alliance and the end of your insignificant Rebellion."

Luke turns and looks at me in his torment. I too have been watching the battle, but look down to meet my son's gaze. His eyes are full of desperation, as they look down and find his lightsaber sitting on the armrest of the emperor's throne. I can feel his hatred, his anger…he is weakening….Sidious knows it too…

"You want this, don't you?" taunts the decrepit old man, his hand resting lightly on the saber. "The hate is swelling in you now. Take your Jedi weapon. Use it. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger! With each passing moment you make yourself more my servant!"

I watch my son's face, his valiant attempt to resist this evil thing before him. "No!" he says at last, trying to sound defiant, but not quite managing this time.

Sidious smiles, sensing victory is near. "It is unavoidable. It is your destiny! You, like your father, are now mine!"