Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 11

Luke stared at his reflection and bit back a sigh as he took in the grey cadets uniform instead of his normal clothes. He did not want to do this but there was no other choice, the Emperor had commanded and so they had to obey. He adjusted his jacket and then hooked his lightsaber to his belt, it may not be regulation but he was not taking it off. His luggage would be taken care of by others so he left his quarters and headed for the Bridge briefing room where he could sense his Father, Piett, Boomer, Hawk and two strangers. He stopped at the door and took a deep breath before the doors slid open and he stepped inside, instantly the centre of attention.

"Commandant Hux, this is my son, Luke Skywalker." Vader introduced them and Hux bowed stiffly to the young Prince.

"It is an honour to meet you Prince Luke. My Lord you are aware…he is rather young for our Academy."

"I am aware, it was the Emperor's command, I trust that will not be a problem Commandant."

"Of course, not Sir."

"Good. These two Stormtrooper shall accompany him for security and he will retain his lightsaber."

"Very well Lord Vader." Any Force sensitive could tell Hux did not like these arrangements at all but no one on board would risk the Prince. "My Prince." Hux indicated the doors and Luke sent a last look at his Father before leaving for the landing bay. The shuttle trip to the surface was silent and Luke and his guards followed Hux to the Commandants office. "While you are here Cadet Skywalker you will be treated as any other Cadet, understood?" He barked once they were inside and Luke snapped off a crisp salute.

"Yes sir."

"Good. Your room assignment and class schedules." Hux passed over the data pad and access key. "Due to security concerns, you will have a room to yourself. There is an extra bunk so the troopers can sort things out between them. Curfew is strictly enforced. Questions?"

"No sir."

"Dismissed." He snapped and the three quickly left the room.

"I get the feeling he doesn't like us." Boomer muttered just loud enough for his helmet to transmit out loud and Luke bit back a smile.

"He doesn't, I can feel it. I don't think he cares for Father either." They found the room and went inside to find two single beds against the walls along with two wardrobes and two desks. "I know, I get the one against the far wall with no window." He tossed his jacket down on it and went to see his few bags had been delivered so he swiftly unpacked even as the two stormtroopers checked the room was secure before hiding weapons throughout. "Guess it's time to meet everyone." Luke checked the schedules and found he had a galactic history class in fifteen minutes. He picked his jacket up and sighed, Happy Fourteenth Birthday to him.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Luke groaned as he collapsed on his bed, tossing his datapad aside. He hated it here! The workload wasn't the problem, he could do most of the work in his sleep. He was bored out of his mind and lonely. He'd gotten used to having the 501st and most of the pilots on board to chat with or train against. Here he had Hawk and Boomer only. Students who approached tended to want one of two things, either to cosy up to the Prince or to make sure he understood he'd never belong here. The teachers too seemed to have it out for him, his work was never graded fairly. His only hope was the computer given tests that were auto graded every six months. They would prove he was a good student.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"General!" The young communications officer panted as he caught up.

"What is it?"

"Intercepted Imperial communication sir, Prince Skywalker has been sent to the Arkanis Academy with only two stormtrooper guards."

General Draven stopped walking, mind racing. Getting an assassin near Vader or Palpatine was impossible, not only were they too well guarded but they themselves were far too able to deal with such things. But a fourteen-year-old boy? Anyone they sent could deal with two stormtroopers although the latest image showed the boy carrying a lightsaber, there was no way he had a lot of training with the weapon and there were ways to short them out. Whoever they sent had to be expendable, just in case it was a trap. Cadets died at Arkanis quite frequently so there wouldn't be too many questions raised. Yes, this was a chance to strike at the very heart of Imperial Power, they could remove the healthiest heir to the Throne. As much as he knew Andor would be the best at such a job he did not wish to lose the young man on such a job. But there were others…. He turned and headed back into the base, he had messages to send.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ahsoka froze as she saw the latest coded message. "Oh no."

"Ahsoka?" Rex leaned over to read it. "It has to be a trap."

"I don't think so. It would explain Vader's actions five months ago. He would not be happy with this."

"Then they kill the boy. I'm sorry Ahsoka but removing one of the heirs is a tactically sound move."

"He's just a boy! If they fail…this could be just the thing needed to push him right to the Dark Side. And if they succeed Vader will never stop until every rebel is dead."

"There's nothing we can do."

"I can." She kissed him and then went back to the bunk, sitting relaxed and closing her eyes. She reached into the Force, searching for the boy she had only met once. 'They're coming, danger.' It was all she could send over such distance and she only hoped he heard her.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Luke gasped awake, glancing around but other than the sleeping Hawk the room was empty. 'They're coming, danger.' He recognised the voice, Ahsoka. But who was coming? And why would she warn him? That was when the Force blared in warning and Luke threw himself from the bed, rolling to his feet even as his lightsaber flew to his hand. And he realised, Hawk wasn't sleeping. He felt a flash of grief and shoved it aside as his blade ignited and he moved, parrying blaster bolts until a quick slash unarmed his attacker, literally, making the man scream. He flicked the lights on and saw a young man, maybe nineteen years old, dressed in an Academy uniform that didn't quite fit. The door opened and Boomer ran in, blaster raised and aimed at the intruder.

"Sir?"

"Call security and the medics." Luke ordered, fighting the urge to be sick at the sight of the missing limb. Boomer nodded and then glanced at the other bed and Luke looked too, paling as he saw the blood-soaked sheets, Hawk's throat had been slashed as he lay sleeping. Luke's fisted hands trembled with rage, Hawk was his friend and now he was dead. He turned to the moaning assassin and the man was flung back into the wall, held there by the Force. "Who sent you?" He snarled and Boomer backed away to make the calls.

"Die imp." The man managed to get out and then he was tossed aside.

Luke pulled on his uniform, stomping his feet into his boots even as Academy security arrived and took him into custody. Luke stormed from his room, Boomer quickly falling into step as he stalked through the corridors, his anger clear. Now he knew why Ahsoka had called out to him, the Rebels had tried to kill him, had killed one of his Father's men, his friend. He'd always hoped that one day he could approach the Rebels, get their aide in taking down the Emperor but now he saw that wouldn't work, they wanted all three of them dead. He looked like an easy target but he wasn't and now they would learn that. He stalked into the communications room and saw those on duty freeze in fear even as he struggled to control his anger. He entered a private room, Boomer checking it first before standing guard outside the door. He punched in his Father's personal code and then stepped onto the platform to wait.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Vader froze as he stared out at the stars, feeling an echo of terror and then rage from his son. They were too far away for him to get more than that but it was enough to know something had gone very wrong.

"My Lord?"

"Captain." He glanced at Piett.

"There is a communication for you on the private channel."

"I will take it in my quarters." He stalked from the bridge, almost wishing he could still run. It could only be two people on that channel, the Emperor or Luke. He locked the door and activated the communications station, relieved when his son appeared in academy uniform and unharmed. "What has happened?"

"Hawk's dead." Luke whispered, hands clenched into trembling fists.

"Boomer?"

"Guarding the door." Luke closed his eyes and forced himself to take slow, deep breaths. "An assassin." He stopped and looked at the console to ensure the channel was encrypted to the point even the Emperor couldn't crack it. "I was warned through the Force…your old apprentice. He slit Hawk's throat, he never stood a chance."

"Another student?" Vader didn't think so, it didn't sound right a student would never get past his men to his son.

"Rebellion. That's how she knew to warn me."

Vader felt the anger and hate swell, they dared to threaten his son! They would pay for this. And yet…he felt a brief flare of gratitude and maybe even affection, she had warned his son. "We will come. Is the assassin alive?"

"I disarmed him." Luke admitted with a slight wince that let his Father know that was literal. The trembling was calming as the anger came under control. Ahsoka had warned him so the assassin wasn't approved by all the Alliance.

"We will be there soon, keep Boomer close."

"I will."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bail shook his head as he read the intelligence report. It had been a foolish move, one that never should have been attempted. They had lost a young spy and for what? One dead stormtrooper and a seriously angered Prince and Lord Vader. Vader had gone on the first rampage since the boy had been found and the results hadn't been pretty. There went his and Mon Mothma's plans of sounding the boy out in the Senate whenever he was introduced. The Prince could have been an ally if he hadn't turned and all evidence until now supported that. Now? He doubted the boy would want anything other than their destruction.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Vader stood, watching as the shuttle approached the landing bay. After what felt like a century it landed and the lamp lowered, Boomer exiting first before an exhausted looking Luke stepped out, still in Academy uniform. His son saw him and immediately walked towards him, Commandant Hux hurrying to catch up. Vader reached out to his son and felt Luke lower his shields, allowing his check. "Return to your quarters son. I will speak with the Commandant."

"Yes Father." Luke managed a small smile before moving off, one of the men falling in with Boomer.

Vader glanced at Hux and then began walking, forcing him to walk with him until they reached his office. "The prisoner?"

"Died in custody Lord Vader."

"How?" he growled and Hux swallowed nervously.

"Suicide pill while in medical. I take full responsibility." He knew what the cost may be for that answer.

"As you should. I trust you have Luke's records with you."

"Of course, My Lord." he handed them over and watched Vader read them over. "It appears to be as a I feared, he is not challenged by your curriculum. Therefore, you will give him the graduation exam."

"That has never been done before." He argued.

"There is a first time for everything Commandant."

"Of course, My Lord."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Luke could feel his Father's pride as he was handed the certification, he had officially graduated thanks to taking the exam. Hux saluted and Luke returned the move before grinning as the 501st saluted and then applauded him. he'd made a record too, graduating in just six months. He tossed his Academy cap in the air and watched it fall among the men, glad he would never have to wear it again. The Emperor may not like his fast graduation but he was willing to suffer punishment if he was away from that place. He glanced back and saw Hux slip out, presumably returning planet side. Soon a party began as food and alcohol was passed around, Luke careful to stick to the non-alcoholic stuff. Today they partied, tomorrow they would grieve.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Luke stood with Appo, dressed in his smart new Colonel's uniform as Hawk's body burned. The clones had picked up some of their funerary ceremonies from the Jedi who always burnt the body, freeing the soul to the Force. It hurt, he had been the target, not the trooper. He'd never even had a chance to defend himself. A single tear slipped free and he felt his Father's hand come to rest on his shoulder in comfort. Finally, it was over and Luke slipped away to one of the observation decks, staring out into space. He'd never had someone die because of him before and he didn't like it. But he knew it would happen again, he was being trained as an Army General, one day he would be expected to lead men into battle or there could be another assassination attempt that killed one of the men assigned to him.

"It is not an easy thing my son. But if you could ask Hawk he would tell you not to blame yourself. He knew the danger when he volunteered to accompany you." His Father spoke from the doorway.

"If I'd woken sooner…why didn't I sense the danger?"

"Your training is still incomplete son and even fully trained Jedi and Sith still miss danger at times." He explained to the traumatised teen. "We have set course for Alderaan. The Queen's Birthday is soon and I am the Emperor's representative. You may accompany me or remain on board, it is your choice."

TBC…