CHAPTER 4 – THE DRAFT

Disclaimer: Not mine…

This is a work of fanfiction…

Commander Veers was apprehensive when he got news that the dark lord wished to inspect the recruits. He scrambled up everybody to line and give a welcome to the unexpected visit of the Sith Lord.

"Make sure they are dressed up too."

"Yes, sir," the imperial guard rushed to gather the recruits to be properly inspected by Lord Vader.

Luke dressed up in the imperial uniform, he felt eerie with the feeling he had felt before. He had a bad feeling about something…

Once the ship landed the recruits lined up and remained still.

Luke was surprised with the heavy silence in the hangar, it seems deserted but there were about two hundred people there. No one dared to move or make a slight noise. Their commander had ordered, rather nervously, that they would be inspected by the Second man in command of the galaxy, Darth Vader himself!

Obi Wan refused to talk about Vader much, he did say that he

was a powerful man and very dangerous.

Suddenly, Luke's senses flared a dark feeling as soon as he heard a hissing noise… seconds after he saw the dark lord approaching the hangar, he had two storm troppers at his side.

The guards saluted as Lord Vader passed by them and approached the frightened recruits. The man was intimidating!

Luke's senses started to drift, he tried to remain calm because he himself was very nervous. The dark one presence was very intriguing, he was….o no! Luke somehow felt rather uncomfortable,

he sensed that the dark man could somehow use the Force!

Luke started to shiver when he realized what he had done…

He was using the Force and that made another Force user to identify him. He closed his eyes trying to calm himself, but the sound of the respirator was way too close for him to concentrate. He opened his eyes and saw the dark mask staring right at him.

Luke swallowed and remained staring at the horizon. Vader stood by General Veers and the two stormtroppers and scanned the recruits.

"Where are their assigned posts?" Vader asked without taking his eye from Luke.

"We have one hundred for the Devastador one hundred for the Death Star and ninety-eight to the Executor, milord."

"Why my shuttle was short staffed?" Vader asked and turned his face to the general who lost all the color of his face.

Luke sensed the anger growing in the dark lord, he was feeling crushed by the power…it was the dark side!

"Milord, we just took their assignments a-according to their skills, sir. W-we had two hundred ninety-eight recruits and…"

"Enough!" Vader cut him. "I will need more crew next recruitment."

"Yes, milord."

Vader started walking again amongst the recruits who were not moving. Luke's heart was still beating faster than usual because he sensed danger… somehow he knew, the dark lord had sensed him as a Force user, the dangerous man Obi Wan had told about…

Luke started silently pray to the Force:

/Oh Force! What should I do? What if he finds that my father was a Jedi/

Vader stopped suddenly.

"Let me see how your new recruits are capable, General Veers,

I want to talk to at least one of them."

"As you wish my lord."

Vader returned back to where Luke was. Luke almost felt he was going to faint in fright.

"I want to talk to this young man." Vader pointed to Luke.

"Take him to my quarters!" Vader ordered.

"General Veers, good work, you may proceed with your duties."

Vader left with the troopers and a frightened young recruit walking by him.

/Oh gods…he knows…/ Luke swallowed.

TATOOINE…

Obi Wan was sitting at Mos Eisley Cantina, drinking Corellian wine with a smuggler Han Solo and his Wookie partner Chewbacca.

"So you want to go to Alderaan, old man…I got the fastest ship in the galaxy." Han boasted.

"Is that so?" Obi Wan replied.

"Yeah, old man, you said you are in a hurry I got the ship, I am doing some adjusting but it will be ready tomorrow before the suns rise, it will be one thousand credits."

"Tomorrow? I thought you have a ship now." Obi Wan replied.

"I told you, old man, I am doing some adjustments, nothing major, I can't fly without maintenance..." Han replied.

"Very well, I see you tomorrow early morning then."

"Docking bay 94…" Han replied.

Obi Wan left the Cantina and entered the speeder Owen Lars had lent him, he immediately headed to the Lars homeastead to give some hope to the Lars… He was going to ask for Bail Organa's help in tracking young Skywalker…

DEATH STAR – VADER'S CHAMBERS….

Luke was left alone with the dark lord. He was nervous but he maintained his posture.

"Young one, you know why I brought you here, don't you?"

Vader's voice had great anger, Luke flinched at it.

Luke knew he could not lie…but wouldn't the truth be dangerous?

"Y-yes, milord." Luke replied, he had his head bowed in respect to the high ranked imperial.

"Tell me then."

"I think it is because…I am a Force user…" Luke replied cringing from the words. He had just confessed to a Sith he was a potential Jedi…

Luke's fears grew exponentially when he heard the hissing of the lightsaber behind him. He dared not to look.

"You are a spy." Vader replied full of hatred. The red light saber was pointing to the frightened young man's throat. Luke's eyes were filled with tears, his forehead sweating and he was trembling in utter fear.

"N-no, milord…I swear I am not…"

Vader moved the light saber away, Luke felt on his knees.

" I swear to you I am not a spy…I am a farmer from Tatooine…" he lowered his head and started to sob.

"Tatooine?" Vader turned abruptly to the name of that hated planet.

"Y-yes, sir…I…" Luke didn't know what to say. He was dreading each moment with the dark lord.

"You know how to use the force, who is training you?"

"B-Ben…Kenobi."

Luke was terrified when the things started flying across the room and crashing against the wall.

"You are Obi Wan's padawan!" Vader hatred was crushing the young man. He immediately attacked the young man with the light saber, Luke placed his hand up trying to avoid the blow, but the light saber cut him by the wrist sending his hand across the room.

Luke screamed and terror and pain and crawled away from the dark monster.

"P-please! I am no spy! I swear to you!"

"You will tell me everything about him, Jedi!"

"I…am…no…Jedi…sir!"

Luke cradled his severed arm and cornered himself by the wall.

"I swear milord, I am not a Jedi…my f-father was sir!"

Vader stopped suddenly the young man's cries and suffering were becoming very disturbing….it was affecting him!

"Who was your father!"

"I…I never met him…s-sir…his name was A-Anakin Skywalker."