A son's revenge – chapter 10
Still not mine...let's have fun...
Vader was anxious to punish the jedispawn for all those years of evading his capture. Luke was separated from his friends.
He endured five days of torture so far. He was on the verge of giving up but he held to the light.
/Ben! Help me/
He cried out to the Force…
Vader considered a public display of young Kenobi's execution, he was planning to broadcast Luke's execution through the Holo News throughout the galaxy, but he was buying time, taking his revenge and the young Jedi would also stand trial for the crime but he already predetermined the sentence: Guilty as charged for murdering emperor Palpatine.
When Vader arrived to his cell, Luke could barely open his eyes. He was in constant pain…
/You will wish for death…/
The voice of the menacing Sith played over and over within Luke's mind. That was true now. He wished he could just die and not to feel anymore.
Luke needed no restraints when he was left alone; he was weakened and never attacked any of the imperial crew caring for him. When the tortures were administered he was bound.
The hissing noise of the respirator gave chills to the young Jedi.
Vader entered the room and looked down on him. He was cornered at the end of the room, shivering in utter fear. His body ached from the tortures and weakened by near starvation.
Luke was sometimes bound and the food was left across the room, out of his reach, then the crew would pick up the tray which was full and Luke was punished for not have eaten. They played with his mind, Luke thought was going insane but he comforted himself with the Force and kept hope.
"Are you ready to die today?" Vader goaded.
"I will become one with the Force," Luke said in a low voice, almost a whisper.
Vader had played that torture technique over and over again.
He would come and announce Luke that it was the day of his execution but when Luke was about to be killed he would order to stop. Luke knew that one day he would take his life, Luke started to become uneasy each day. It had happened many times and the more that game was played more fearful Luke became.
Luke remained cornered looking up to the dark one.
"Why? Just kill me and take your revenge." Luke was pleading. He couldn't live any longer that agony. "Please lord Vader, y-you once told me t-that I would be begging for death." Luke paused than continued. "I am now. You are the emperor. You have the absolute power y-you want, why don't you let me die." Luke was pleading with all his breath. "You've k-killed my father…y-you have said that my father hurt you, I am s-sorry if my father destroyed your l-life. I didn't! Please, end this!"
Luke couldn't speak anymore. Tears wear pouring; he was on his knees.
He played other tricks. He brought Wedge and Leia to the torture room.
"Choose, young one? Who would like to see suffer first?"
Luke was in shock. "No…not them, please."
"Would you take their place, then?" Vader asked.
"Yes."
And so he did…
Vader felt a great disturbance in the force. He had been torturing the young Jedi for nearly ten days but he didn't feel avenged.
Luke's pleas started to bother him. They pierced through the dark heart of the Sith and he was surprised that he was considering Luke's desperate attempt to end his tortures but that consideration ended soon. Luke was struggling to remain still.
Vader pushed Luke to the standing position.
"Kneel before me!"
Luke slowly got on his knees.
"I wish your father were alive to see your suffering, young one."
Luke lowered his head in despair. Vader would keep him longer.
"You will live as long as it I allow. I own your very life. You and your friends are being held as an example to the galaxy of the consequences of your actions. I may be lenient and give you a life sentence."
"No…please." Luke whispered.
The light saber was lit.
Luke closed his eyes.
Vader wished to cut the Jedi with a swift move but he kept the blade closer to the young man's throat.
"Do you want to die?" Vader taunted.
Luke then realized. He didn't want to die. He felt that he was still needed but he also knew the choice was not his.
"No…my lord. I don't want to die, but my life is no longer mine. Only you decide my fate." Luke spoke humbly. There was no more pride in the desperate Jedi.
"I killed him too quickly…" Vader said.
Luke frowned because he didn't understand the statement.
Vader sensed the young man's misunderstanding.
"I wish your father were here to see you submitting to me as you had just done."
Luke was glad that his father wasn't there. He would be ashamed of him.
"You may stand trial, young one. It may start soon." Vader deactivated the light saber and started pacing around the cell.
"Why a trial if I will be found guilty already?" Luke thought and Vader hearing his thoughts smirked behind the mask.
"The alliance forces must have some sense of democracy. My new empire is not like the old one. Some pleasantries seem to appease the opposition, showing fairness for instance."
Luke knew it was a great deceit of the dark side. There was no intention in fairness in the Empire.
Luke was tired. His body was almost giving up the position he was. He was on his knees, showing submission and respect to the emperor. He forced himself not to fall but it was getting very hard.
Vader noticed the young man's ordeal.
"Stand up!" Vader ordered.
Luke used the wall to push himself up. His legs trembled from weakness and pain but he stood up as ordered and straightened himself. His respiration was fast paced. He was drenched in sweat but he knew one slight movement would be deemed disrespect and he would be severely punished.
"Are you hungry?" Vader asked suddenly.
"Yes, my lord." Luke answered truthfully.
Vader remained silent. Luke knew Vader had an agenda. He wouldn't come to visit him for nothing. He only feared what kind of agenda would be.
"I do have a purpose to be here." Vader responded to Luke's thoughts.
"I can give you certain comfort, like food, water, but you must earn it." Vader said.
"What do I have to do, my lord?" Luke asked dreading the answer.
"Whatever I ask."
Luke knew he was trapped. If he said no, more punishment would come for disobeying the emperor. If he agreed he would be signing a dark pact and perform actions he wouldn't dare to think.
"What is your decision, young one? I have the power to stop your trial. I can keep you alive. I may even keep your friends alive.
I can make your suffering go away, all you have to do is to obey me."
/He wants me as his slave.../Lukethought terrified.
"Precisely."
Vader had previously convinced himself that this action would be the ultimate revenge. He was convinced that killing the young Jedi wouldn't satisfy his rage. Something had to be done more permanent, therefore he had decided:
Young Kenobi would be his apprentice.
"What is your answer, young one?"
/What do I do/
"I will not ask again."
He was in such agony. He couldn't bear anymore.
He dropped to his knees. "Yes, lord Vader. I will do…whatever you ask."
"Good." Vader sensed the power surge coming the young man. "They Force is strong with you. You will make a powerful Sith.
You may sit now, I shall have you removed from here."
"Thank you, lord Vader." Luke spoke softly.
Vader left, Luke mind was in turmoil.
There was onlyone secret Luke was able to shield from Vader. He knew Vader was hurting him more because of Kenobi, he was proud of Kenobi he missed him. But then that was a question forming in his mind:
Should he reveal that he was not the son of Kenobi?