Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 6

Vader silently opened the door and glanced inside to see Luke's sleeping face, lit by a soft light in the corner. He looked even younger in sleep if that was possible. The lights slickered on and Luke stirred before sitting up, looking around in confusion before he spotted Vader.

"Father?" the question was tentative, unsure.

"The Quartermaster sent you some packages in the night." He waved his hand and they floated in. I will see you for breakfast."

"Yes Father." The title was stronger this time and Vader nodded, leaving the room. Luke opened the packages and picked a shirt and pants before heading into the fresher to wash up. He left his room and went through the connecting door to Vader's.

Vader turned to see his son approach, the Quartermaster had done a good job with what was available, he would be commended for his work. The black pants fit well and the crisp white shirt had obviously been meant to be a medical tunic but had been altered well to fit him. He inclined his head in silent greeting and motioned to the table. Luke sat and ate the food, showing good manners much to his pleasure. Soon the boy was done and Vader lead him to a couch.

"What happens now?" Luke asked.

"We are returning to Imperial Centre, once there you will be presented to the Emperor." Vader explained, noting the boy pale some.

"Ben said he would kill me."

"There is risk but keeping you secret is impossible. While my troops are loyal I cannot speak for every member of the crew."

"Better to present me then try and hide." Luke bit his lip and then forced himself to stop.

"Indeed. We shall also do so during the Court and I shall present you as my heir. Many people we see and so it will be harder for anything to be done to you. There is still risk, for both of us."

"Both?"

"You are powerful Luke and not only younger than me but you are also uninjured."

"So I'd make a better apprentice? Oh."

"We must convince him that he has use of both of us."

"He'll want me to turn." Luke whispered, eyes wide and his Father nodded. "I won't...I can't…"

"There are many lessons and skills to learn young one, lessons that do not require you to choose either side. These can take many years." He offered, he did not want his son to know the pain he had… and that was not a Sith attitude at all but this was his child, Padme's child. Luke just nodded. "I am the Commander of the Imperial Navy, we will need to find a position for you to fill as my heir and second in line to the Throne, the more visible you are the safer you are. You said Kenobi allowed you to fly?" hopefully that was something he had inherited as it would be a good way to keep him occupied and sure enough his face lit up.

"I was the one flying when you caught us."

"You did extremely well."

"Thank you. I love flying, it feels so right."

"What did you learn to fly with?"

"T-16 Skyhopper. I used to work on it whenever I was done with my chores."

"I believe you should ask your escort to show you the Tie fighter hangers and the flight simulators. The controls are very different but I have no doubt you will learn them quickly." He praised and Luke smiled. "Your education will also need expanding, I doubt Tatooine's standards have changed for the better."

"Ben was teaching me, I packed my school work."

"We can go through it later." Vader agreed. "I have meetings today. Remember to stay close to the troopers." He warned and Luke nodded. "Very well, I shall see you later."

"Yes Father." Luke watched him go and then went back to his quarters to pull on his shoes, unfortunately the ones on board were far too big for him, leaving him his old boots. He frowned as he dug through the clothes, no jackets but some sort of half cape thing. It took him a bit to figure out how to wear it but he eventually got it and then went to his door, opening it to find two stormtroopers there. "Hello." They both snapped to attention at his words. "Father suggested I go see the Tie fighters and flight simulators?"

"Of course sir, please follow us." They moved so Luke was safely between them as they moved through the Star Destroyer.

"What are your names?" The teen asked and the troopers exchanged a glance over his head. According to the Commander this was their General's son so surely he would be much like their General had been when it came to them being individuals?

"Boomer sir, this is Hawk."

"Hello, I'm Luke Skywalker." He greeted them with a smile as they walked. They felt…odd, to him, almost the same…. "Are you clones?"

"Yes sir." Hawk answered crisply.

"I've never met a clone before; you feel different to other people. Most people feel really different to each other but you don't." he struggled to explain what he felt from them even as they entered a lift and headed down, when the doors opened he stepped out and froze, staring around in awe. The troopers were amused by his reaction before they led him over to the ships and then were left behind as Luke scrambled up one, wishing he could strip it down. Oh he was definitely the General, Lord Vader's, son. Soon some of the ground crew approached, not sure what to make of the trooper escorted teen but he soon had them chatting away and showing him the inner workings.

"He's so much like him." Hawk whispered in awe.

"Yeah, but also the Commander. She was always more open with new people." Boomer agreed.

"She would have loved him." There was grief in his voice and Boomer turned his head to glance at him. It was very rare anyone talked of her anymore, or talked of anything from before.

"She would have." He agreed very quietly. They stepped up when Luke and the crew moving towards where the simulators where and then watched as Luke was passed a helmet and then dropped into the round cockpit as the machine was fired up. The two pushed into the front to watch him run the combat sim. Soon several pilots had joined the crowd, all watching as he ran through the first go slowly, obviously unfamiliar with the controls. But by the second go they were all watching in shocked awe as his scores began to climb incredibly fast. They were so focused that only the two stormtroopers noticed Lord Vader join them, also watching the screens. They kept one eye on him and one on the boy and so saw the proud nod when the simulation ended. Luke hadn't set any records but for a beginner he had done beyond anything they had expected. Then again what else could be expected from a Skywalker. The looks of shock on the pilots faces when they saw who had been flying was amusing. Vader left before anyone else saw him.

"Who are you?" A lieutenant dressed in bridge officers uniform asked.

"Luke Skywalker." He answered as he handed the helmet back. Boomer and Hawk moved back in to flank him protectively.

"Lieutenant Firmus Piett. Why is a civilian aboard?"

"I'm with my Father sir."

"And your Father is?" Last he checked it was against regulations to bring your children on board.

"Darth Vader." That answer had the room falling silent until one brave pilot spoke up.

"Guess that's where you get your talent from, he's the best pilot in the Fleet. You could be his equal or better with more experience. How many hours have you logged in a Tie?"

"Just that simulation. I've flown a T-16 and a small personal craft but that's it."

"Incredible." Soon their nervousness over his Father wore off and they were talking shop, gravitating to the mess hall as they got hungry. Boomer and Hawk were content to follow along, glad the boy was fitting in so well with the crew.

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Luke walked to stand beside his Father on the bridge, able to hear the quiet of the crew as he walked past them, todays guards at his back, Draa and Lack, made sure no one approached as the teen walked across the bridge for his first look at Imperial Centre. Luke stared down at the planet in awe and some fear, despite trying to release it into the Force. He relaxed a little as his Father's hand came to rest on his shoulder in support. Soon they would take a shuttle down and his fate would be decided.

TBC….

where possible I am looking up known clones on sites and using ones they say survived the war or whose fate was unsure. otherwise I am using a clone name generator. So feel free to offer up names/info