"One, two, three, four."
In a bare, bland, and sterile room, a young boy of about sixteen years of age grunted out numbers as he performed pushups. Though they were not particularly stressful on their own for him, he had waited till last to do them, something which he was regretting.
His appearance was somewhat odd. Though evidently of high status, his skin seemed rather tan. Along with that, his sandy blonde hair was obviously longer than what was approved of in the Imperial court, at least for military brats.
"twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty!" The boy collapsed on the floor as he panted, savoring the feeling of being completely worn out.
Suddenly the door opened, and a KX-series droid scurried into the room. "Young Master!" It exclaimed. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"
The aforementioned master lay on the ground, listening to the droid's rambling. After a few seconds, he chuckled and said while still panting. "Sorry, K-4 didn't mean to upset you" after that, he sat up.
"Young Master, it was not me who was worried but your father, Lord Vader. He was very displeased upon hearing that you had skipped another one of your studies."
The boy groaned and lay on his back, spread eagle. "Those classes are completely useless," He retorted. "At least I'm doing something productive with the time I have from skipping classes, besides the fact is I already know most of the stuff anyway."
"Perhaps you should try telling Lord Vader that?" The droid enquired with a smug tone.
"I should perhaps wipe your memory." The boy grumbled. Slowly he got to his feet. His white t-shirt was soaked with sweat, proof of how hard he had worked the past hour. He hoped that his father would at least appreciate that.
"Perhaps, but then things would get boring around here for you. Lord Vader is hardly ever around due to their duties, and the servants and tutors are positively terrified of displeasing your father."
"Hey, at least sometimes I have lieutenant Solo come around!"
"By the maker, I don't understand why your father keeps that trash around."
"Because he's one of his best pilots?" The boy replied, one imperious brow arched, and his face pulled into an amused expression. "Besides, you don't like him because Chewbacca leaves hair everywhere."
The imperial droid grumbled about the inferiority of non-humans as the young master reached for a water bottle that he had placed on a table in one of the corners of the room. Along with a water bottle, various exercise equipment was stashed on the table, a kettlebell, a jump rope, and other things lay strewn about, not in the least was his lightsaber which had been beautifully crafted.
"You shouldn't talk about him so." He chided indignantly. "He's a good friend." He held up his lightsaber and inspected it. It was made primarily of Brylark tree, but it had been painted crimson and inlaid with gold. In all, it was a beautiful weapon, and it was one of his most prized possessions.
"Besides, he did give me the wood for the lightsaber."
"I was never made aware of the circumstances surrounding the gift." The droid said.
The young master snorted and looked away from the saber. "It was for vouching for Solo's character after he saved Chewbacca from Commander Nyklas. It was a courageous thing for him to do what he did."
"To save a non-human?"
"To do what he thought was right." The young master sighed, his shoulders sagged, and he looked somewhat forlorn. "A trait that as of late seems rather absent from the Empire, from me, from father. Perhaps that's how it's always been." For a second, the boy seemed much older than his body portrayed.
"That sounds an awful lot like you're having doubts about the Empire, a somewhat unwise thing to say out loud."
The young master's face turned into a sneer. "What are you going to do? Tell the venerable Emperor? I thought father programmed you better than that."
"Of course not! I hate the old coot almost as much as your father. But I would advise you to be careful, Master Luke, and that there are vipers everywhere here."
Luke's face changed to a somewhat guilty expression. After a second, he cleared his throat and looked away. "Of course, my apologizes."
The droid waved one overly long arm. "It is nothing, young master. I know that these last few weeks have taken a toll on you."
"Don't you know it?" Luke chuckled humorlessly. He would be soon taking on duties the Imperial Prince. It mostly involved diplomatic missions, for now. He was too young and inexperienced to be involved in military affairs, though he had been trained by the best.
Of course, the diplomatic missions had less to do with the tasks and more to separate Vader and Luke. At least, that was what the young master believed.
Palpatine had become more paranoid as of late, at least in his orders, for he had always been nigh impossible to read his thoughts. The growing rebellion had yet to strike any significant blow. However, the Emperor seemed to wish to crush it in his infancy, a wise decision, even Luke had to admit. But his paranoia seemed to be directing itself towards the Vader family as well. Thus Luke would be departing in a week to the planet of Alderaan, officially to learn from Senator Bail Organa as a gesture of goodwill on behalf of the Empire.
Unofficially Luke suspected that the move was motivated by Palpatine's growing suspicion of Vader, which wasn't particularly unfounded. There wasn't a man that Luke could think of that he hated more than his master. Even Kenobi had less ire directed at him.
However, Vader (as far as Luke knew) had made no moves, no plans to claim the throne for himself or at least kill Palpatine.
As much as he loved his father and cared for him, he saw that, after forty years of being dragged from master to master, had left him a broken shell of a man, a slave to his master, despite his hatred.
Luke shook off his sad thoughts of his father and smiled at the droid, though it didn't reach his eyes. He clipped the saber on his belt. "Well, I might as well go face the music." He said sardonically
"Indeed."
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Coruscant was a busy place even on the slowest days. But Luke paid the traffic no mind as he walked through his father's palace. It was a rather depressing place, Luke figured, mostly various shades of grey and black. However, the appearance was occasionally interrupted gold and purple, signifying the royal status of his father. Though Luke doubted that he cared, it was more likely that it was a taunt from Palpatine than any sort of aesthetic choice of his father's. He sighed. As usual, his father took it without argument.
"Luke!"
Luke grimaced as he was ripped away from his thoughts by his father's booming voice. His respirator and appearance didn't exactly help.
Darth Vader strode through the hallway, came to a halt just a few feet from Luke, hooked his thumbs on his belt, and loomed over his son.
"Hello to you too, father," Luke grumbled petulantly. Lord Vader had been away on a mission for a few weeks. For what, Luke didn't know.
His father held one imperious finger in front of him. "You have been skipping classes again." Vader accused.
Luke sighed. "Yes, I have."
"You will not even try to deny it?" his father retorted incredulously.
The boy raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Do you really want me to do that? Lie to you when we both know that you'd sense it in an instant?."
His father shook his head, though Luke could sense amusement emanating from his father.
"How do your preparations fare, my son?" Vader asked, changing the subject, realizing he would get nowhere.
"Things are preceding smoothly, father, though I must admit I do have my reservations about the whole affair."
"As do I, my son, I do not trust Senator Organa not to do something foolish."
"Nor should you." Luke chuckled. Senator Organa had been one of the most outspoken critics, not only of Palpatine but also of the Empire entire, something which had earned him few friends in the Senate.
"Nevertheless, he is one of the most experienced senators currently serving. I have no doubt that if Organa does his job correctly that you will learn much from him."
Luke cocked his head. "How long has he been a senator?" He asked.
"The Senator has been at his office since he was elected as chancellor."
Luke whistled, "Nearly thirty years then."
"Indeed, most politicians do not last even near half his time."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means, my son, that under that charismatic idealism, he is a very cunning and intelligent man. You would do well to be wary of him as much you can be without compromising your status and education." Vader pointed his finger at him again.
Luke snorted derisively, "His beloved republic was responsible for most of the messes we find ourselves dealing with. I don't particularly have any interest in learning political philosophy from the man."
"Good." Vader folded his arms and nodded slightly. "I do not fault his dislike of our Emperor. I would think less of any man who didn't, for being either a fool or a worm. However, his romantic view of the republic is tinted with roses and spice."
Luke dipped his head in agreement. "It is as you say, father. How was your operation?" He turned and gestured for his father to walk beside him as they passed through the hallways of the palace.
"It was acceptable. The pirates were eradicated, Solo performed admirably, and his Wookie companion, I have heard, provided exceptional tactical advice to Captain Piett."
"He is nearly two hundred years old. I'm sure he has been in many a battle against many an enemy. He's bound to have learned something." Luke offered.
"You so say." Vader mused. "I am thankful that you stood up for Solo on that trip to the military tribune. Your rhetorical skills far surpass your age."
Luke looked somewhat abashed. "It was nothing..." He mumbled, looking away. "Besides, someone else would have done it anyway."
"Yet as the heir to the Empire, you held more sway than any other man in the room. You were able to do far more for Solo than anyone. Do not discount that, Luke." Vader rumbled.
Luke cleared his throat. "Where are the pair currently?"
"I believe that Solo was last seen sneaking off with a few other men to celebrate planet-side, as for Chewbacca, I do not know."
He chuckled, "That sounds like Solo, alright." Luke said fondly.
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Coruscant, planet-side
Loud voices seemed to thrum through the pilot's body as he lounged in the bar booth that he had found himself in. The whole place was alive with revelers, drunks, and women serving drinks to any and all who were still sober enough to stand.
Han Solo grinned viciously as he surveyed the room watching the bar patrons get into fights, flirt with girls, and generally cause mayhem for the bar.
In another life, Han mused, this probably would have been his life had Luke not stuck his neck out for him. Speaking of which, what was he doing?
'Probably getting told off by his old man,' He thought. Vader wasn't what he considered a kindly man or even a good man for that matter. He was temperamental, violent, and hard to read, all in all not particularly a good leader on paper.
However, in practice, it seemed like the exact opposite. Despite Vaders psychotic qualities (And boy, did he know firsthand how murderous the black bastard was!), Han knew he would follow his commander to the seven hells and back.
Regardless of his commander's tactical ability, it was rather odd to see him have a soft spot for anything at all. Yet the last few times he had been invited over to Lord Vader's palace by Luke, Han could have sworn that he acted... fatherly towards his son.
Luke... was another matter entirely. Having a kid nearly half your age save your ass from a court-martialling is one thing. When he's the son of Lord kriffing Vader, it's another thing entirely.
Hell, that wasn't even the weirdest part of it. In fact, that might be the least odd thing about the entire affair. What was the most strange to Han was that Chewbacca had not only stayed with Han but that the Wookie was allowed to stay. Whatever that kid did, they were wonders when it came to Han. Never in a million years did he ever think that a kriffing Wookie would serve in the Imperial navy, yet here he was.
Of course, Chewie wasn't exactly thrilled that he was working with them, but in his words, he had a debt to pay to Han, and he was going to carry it out to the last.
Han shrugged. He was not a smart man, and more than that, he knew he wasn't a smart man, something which gave the Corellian an edge when dealing with both fools and those with a higher degree of intelligence than him.
Thus he accepted that the underlying principle of the entire affair was that Han Solo was not a smart man and never will be. And as such, he shrugged and took a sip of the drink in front of him. Whether the will of the Force, gods, fate or just dumb plain luck, Han had been saved by the Imperial prince and had gained two lifelong friends. "Accept it and move on, Lieutenant Solo," he mumbled, trying to take his mind off of it.
Fortunately, he was broken from his thoughts when two imperial peacekeepers walked through the entrance.
Usually, they only came when the local bars got too rowdy and were sent to calm things down, sometimes with less than savory methods. Of course, their entrances were almost always met with boos and moans.
Which was precisely how this pair was met by the career alcoholics and the "off-duty" pilots. One of the drunks tried to swing at the peacekeepers, but he was avoided and shocked by the Sergeant's stun baton. With a chuckle and the cadence of a drunk, he stood up and gave a lazy salute and bow.
"M'lord and Lady," Han cried in a mockingly polite tone. "What can we simple men do for your worshipfullnesses on this fair, beautiful night?"
The bar chortled at Solo's display of irreverence while the Sergeant rolled his eyes at his mocking. "Lieutenant Solo!" he growled. "It's been a blessedly long time since I've seen your ugly mug around these parts."
Han shrugged and gave the pair a grin. "What can I say? I've been busy doing actual work for the Empire. I'm sure you wouldn't know what that's like!"
The bar whistled and laughed at Solo's gall, which served to only make the pair angrier. "Could I see your clearance to go planet-side?" The other peacekeeper ground out, visibly trying to keep it together.
"Now come on, fellas, why would you ever need to see that?" Han returned, giddy at how mad the pair was.
"He doesn't have it, Crister. He never does," The Sergeant said to his subordinate.
"Hey, now that ain't fair!" Han exclaimed. "I've had it a few times, and besides, it takes those eggheads forever before they give you clearance, might as well take my chances, eh?"
"Well, you did," The Sergeant said, raising the stun baton, "Seems like your chances didn't help you this time" He pressed it against Han's stomach, and Han toppled to the floor unconscious.
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His back hurt. That was the first thing Han was conscious of. Distantly he could tell that someone was talking, but his head was pounding, and it was all he could focus on.
With a serious effort, the Lieutenant opened his eyes and sat up. Blinking, he took in his surroundings. Han was sitting in an imperial brig somewhere, probably on the planet.
The voices stopped speaking, and he could hear footsteps slowly marching his way. Suddenly the door opened, and Han covered his eyes as they adjusted to the new light.
"Ah, Good morning, Lieutenant." A crisp Coruscanti accent greeted him.
"Ahaha, Captain, what brings you to my humble little cell?" Han, ever the optimist, returned, he could barely see his superior, but his sight was becoming clearer. He could see that the smaller man was flanked by a pair of stormtroopers.
"Well, Lieutenant Solo, a member of Black Squadron, is an important asset, one that we happen to have to keep track of at all times while on duty." A hint of annoyance crept into Captain Piett's voice.
Han had the decency to look sheepish of that. "Ah, cmon, Captain, we just got done with an Operation. Can't a guy blow off some steam?"
"A guy may blow off some steam when he is cleared to go planet-side by his superior!" Piett barked at him, making Han's headache worse.
"Man, can you keep it down? Got a killer headache."
Han still couldn't see his Captain's face, but he got the distinct feeling that Piett was rolling his eyes at him.
"This is not over," Piett commanded. He turned to the stormtroopers. "Take him to the shuttle. We will return to the Accuser.
A few "aye sirs" later, Han was dragged upright and pulled towards the door.
"Hey, watch it, fellas! Hangovers are a helluva lot worse when you've been tased!
"Tch, whatever coffinjockey." The one to his right said, shoving him onward. "You can sleep it off in the brig on the ship."
"Yeah, yeah, real funny guys, just laugh it up," He snarled at the pair of chuckling troopers.
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"Faster Luke, and with more power this time!" Vader commanded as he flourished his blade, watching his son with expert precision.
Luke panted with bone-deep exhaustion. They had been at it for hours, from kata's to exercises to full-blown sparring. It was starting to take a toll on him.
"I'm trying, father!" He returned, annoyed.
"Not hard enough." His father's booming voice returned. "You must be ever vigilant. Vader approached him at a surprising pace. "As the Imperial Prince, there will always be threats to you, both from within and without."
His son gritted his teeth in response. With a yell, he charged towards Vader, his saber clutched in his hand with an iron grip. Luke came at his father with an overhead swing and was parried with embarrassing ease.
"You are sloppy!" His father raged as his lightsaber traveled in a horizontal arc aimed for Luke's stomach. Luke dropped to the ground and tried to sweep his father's legs, but even with the power of the Force to back him up, he couldn't seem to break Vader's footing.
Quickly Luke lept back, escaping his father's coming blade. Regaining his footing, he charged again. This time he jumped above his father's saber and kicked him in the facemask.
Grunting, Vader stepped back, and Luke sensing an opportunity, rushed forward. He batted his father's blade to the side and, summoning the Force within him, gave one almighty push that shoved Vader back several meters and sent him to one knee.
"Good, very good." His father finally said, and Luke, sensing that the spar was over, fell on his posterior.
"Thank you for the lesson, father." He wheezed out as sweat dripped down his weary forehead.
"You are most welcome, my son." Vader rumbled. "I believe that this was a suitable replacement for those lessons you have skipped.
His son chuckled and wiped the sweat from his face.
His father, however, brought his mirth to an end. "The Emperor requested a meeting with you before you leave for Alderaan." Vader intoned.
Luke's face snapped up, probing his father's thoughts on the matter, which were uncharacteristically hidden from him.
"To see me off?" He asked hesitantly.
"It would seem to my son."
The prince's gaze traveled to the grey floor, an unreadable expression upon it.
"Well, I suppose there's nothing I can do about that," Luke murmured.
It had been nearly a year since he had last seen the old man, Luke always saw him on Empire Day, of course, but sometimes The Emperor demanded Luke's presence for one reason or another.
However, he had been uncharacteristically distant from him for the last few months, much to Luke's relief, so why would The Emperor want to see him now?
He sighed as he shakily stood up. His father came to him, cape billowing behind him. "The shuttle to take you will be here in an hour. I suggest you go get cleaned up."
Blankly Luke nodded.
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Luke relaxed as he left the shower, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He thought about the coming meeting with The Emperor, about the coming years he would spend away from his home, away from his father.
He would be lying if he wasn't scared and upset about it, but it was a simple fact that it had to be done, that this was his destiny.
"Fate is not a matter of chance, but a matter of Will," Luke muttered to himself, still looking at himself.
Shaking his head, he turned to his undergarments and put them on.
Despite being the heir to the Empire, his room was surprisingly spartan. Of course, there were little decorations here and there, showing off that this room did indeed belong to him, but it paled in comparison to the rest of the house.
His clothes lay neatly on his bed, where he had laid them before taking his shower. A black, Imperial-style uniform with a cape was what he had picked.
'Let it never be said that Luke Vader did not have a sense of style,' He smugly thought as he put his clothes on, and soon enough, he was out the door and at the landing grounds along with his father, ready to greet his transport.
After a few minutes, a Lamba class shuttle landed on the pad in front of the pair. Four Imperial Guards came out with a redheaded girl about Luke's age. The Imperial Guards followed her as she walked up to the two of them and bowed low.
"The Emperor requests your presence, M'lord." She said, still bowing.
"Rise, please." Luke gently returned. "To what do I owe the honor of such an occasion?"
"The Emperor wishes to see the Imperial Prince before he leaves on his trip to Alderaan." The redhead airily replied, standing back up. "We will take you to the Opera house where he will greet you." She stepped aside and motioned for Luke to come aboard the shuttle.
"I thank your and the Emperor's kind generosity, and I accept his invitation," Luke said, surprised that this girl could play the game of Imperial politics.
His father had kept silent during the exchange, opting instead to observe the two teenagers. "You must be careful of that one." Vader's baritone voice echoed across Luke's mind.
"I know, father. She is Force-sensitive, I can tell." Luke responded.
"More than that, my son, she shows signs of being an Imperial Spy."
Luke looked sharply up at his father. "But she's so young! How could she possibly be that well trained already?"
"The Emperor is a man capable of doing many things," Vader cryptically said as he watched Luke board the ship.
"Are you not coming, father?"
"The request was for you and you only."
He swallowed at that and boarded the ship, waiting for his escort to join him.
Luke had been to the Courant Opera house a few times in his life, usually at the behest of the Emperor, but he had been other times as well. And just as the other times that Luke had been there, it was crowded with an obscenely wealthy audience milling about, waiting for the doors to the chamber to open.
"This way, to his Excellency's private chamber." Their guide beckoned to Luke.
It was a long way to his private booth, but Luke could feel the man's presence in the Force just the same. His dark tendrils flowed throughout the building, almost being physically manifested.
"He is inside, waiting for you." The redhead said to him, finally reaching their destination. "You must excuse me; however, I must be getting ready for the Opera."
She left the way she came, and Luke was left to contend with the Emperor himself.
He was just about to open the door when it slid open without being touched.
"Ahhhh Luke, come in, I was wondering where you were, come in come in!" A grandfatherly tone came from inside the dark room.
Luke gathered his nerves and entered the room.
His private chamber was spacious, opening up so that one could see the entirety of the Opera house. Already seated and watching the preparation of the show.
"Come, Come! Sit with me, my boy" The Emperor motioned for Luke to sit in the seat next to him. Luke could not see his face, but he could make out his ruined teeth and yellow eyes glinting in the dark.
"You are the most kind, my Emperor." Luke took his place.
"Such manners, my boy! Much more polite than your father was when he was your age." The Emperor cackled back.
"Mmm indeed?" Luke looked across to the stage, admiring the decorations being put up. "What shall be performed tonight?"
"Ahhh, well, in celebration of your first diplomatic mission as The Imperial Prince, I thought it only suitable that I arrange an Alderaanian waltz to be played in your honor." He crooned at Luke.
Luke kept his nerves and smiled warmly at the shadow sitting next to him. "Thank you, M'lord. This is quite the occasion for both of us, I daresay."
"Yes, Yes, of course, it is, my dear boy!" Palpatine replied, tapping his cane against the floor. "I have watched you with great interest after all, and I foresee that you're now taking your first steps into a much larger world."
Luke felt goosebumps rise all over his body at those last words.
"Yes, Yes, you are sixteen now? Soon you will be a man, such a sight I cannot wait to see!" His hideous grin on full display for Luke to see.
His reply was cut off as an announcer began to introduce the dance to the audience, who had been slowly but surely filling their seats in the Opera chamber.
The dancers came out, and Luke noticed one of them. Her red hair was done up elegantly. When he scrutinized her more closely, he realized that the same girl who had escorted him to The Emperor was now dancing on the Opera stage.
"I see your sharp mind away at work, my boy." The Emperor commented. "What is it that you see?"
"That girl..." Luke murmured, "she escorted me to your chambers."
"Ah! You've noticed Mara." The Emperor returned. "Yes, I had her come to bring you to me."
"Who is she?" Luke asked the old man.
"She is a gift?" The Emperor said simply.
Luke, slightly confused, faced and asked him, "To who?"
The Emperor laughed as if he found something hilarious. "To you, my boy!" he exclaimed as if he was saying the punchline to a joke.
Luke turned back to look at her. "She was force-sensitive. I remember feeling that on the way here."
"She is, indeed, although I have not had her trained in it other than to communicate with me." He admitted. "But she is skilled in many other things."
"What did you mean by 'a gift'?" Luke queried, still watching her dance.
"Because she will go with you to Alderaan as part of your entourage." The Emperor returned.
Luke looked sharply at his companion in surprise.
"Don't give me that look, my boy. You knew I was going to give you a few presents. After all, this is a special occasion for both of us, as you just said."
He slightly bowed his head in acquiescence at The Emperor's admonishment.
"Yes, Yes, I have one other gift to give you before you leave tonight, my boy." He said to Luke.
"What do you think of Senator Organa?" Luke said, changing the subject rapidly. However, Palpatine didn't seem to mind.
"Foolish, incredibly foolish but resilient, one would think with how much people hated him in the Senate we would be rid of him sometime soon, but he clings on to power with all he can muster." The Emperor responded.
"Mmm, Indeed? Father thinks much the same. I believe he thinks that Senator Organa is more cunning than you believe, Your Excellency."
"Is that so?" Palpatine sounded curious. "Perhaps Lord Vader is correct."
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The rest of the night passed by uneventfully. After that, Luke exchanged words with The Emperor. Yet he kept his eyes on Mara as she performed throughout the night.
From the way that Palpatine described her and how his father warned him, she was probably an assassin of some sort.
But if she was an assassin, why didn't Palpatine just bring Luke to his palace and have him killed there? Was he too high profile, even for The Emperor? If he needed something to blame on Senator Organa, why use such an important piece?
And most of all, why was it all out in the open?
Finally, the waltz ended, and the dancers retreated to somewhere hidden. The crowd applauded, along with Palpatine.
After a few minutes, Luke said, "I think I'll take my leave, Your" Excellency."
"Ah, before you go, my boy!" The Emperor suddenly sprung out and grabbed Luke's arm, making him shiver at the touch. "I still have to give you your last gift."
Luke stared at the shadow covering Palpatine's face. "I thank you for your generosity." He finally said.
From somewhere hidden, The Emperor pulled out a book and placed it in Luke's hands.
"This is something I have been working on for many years, my boy." I hope you will be able to use it." Palpatine grinned once more.
Again Luke shivered and quickly thanked him, moving for the door.
Outside, Luke's shoulders sagged, not realizing how suffocating his presence was. After a moment's pause, he looked at the book the Emperor had gifted him.
It was an elegantly decorated book and about as tall as his forearm. In elegant lettering upon the cover, it pronounced its name.
ABSOLUTE POWER
