Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 15

Luke sat at the table, listening to the other Admirals and Generals as they discussed strategy and he felt sick, though he hid it firmly behind his shields. Most of them were interested in only one thing, gaining power. Very few had any interest in truly defending the people they were meant to. Several were straight cowards and bootlickers. Why had his Father been sent to find the Rebels while he was stuck on Coruscant listening to this drivel? He didn't like the planet, or maybe it was the people he was exposed to while on it. The 212th was in barracks and he knew they deserved the down time, so did the various fighter squadrons and navy men. He wanted to leave to stay away from Sidious, who knew when he'd next be summoned to be punished for some small failing? Or to be pushed into using the Dark Side?

After what felt like hours but was actually only another half an hour the meeting finally broke up and Luke retreated to his quarters. He was just glad they didn't live in the Palace, he didn't think he could deal with living so close to Sidious. It was bad enough his Darkness cloaked the galaxy, the Palace was a million times worse.

He flopped on his bed, not in the mood to do anything. Sometimes he really missed life on the farm, it was hard work yes, but it was honest work. He loved his men, he had to protect them, he just hated what they were being used to do. He didn't want to subjugate the galaxy, he wanted to live with his family in peace, maybe get married and have his own family one day. A girl who would see past his titles, wealth and power… but what were the chances of that happening?

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Bail smiled as two hoods were lowered to reveal his best agents. "It is good to see you both, I had worried when word of the base reached us." He ushered them into the shielded room.

"We got away. I am sorry we didn't contact you sooner but I received some intelligence on an old friend I needed to follow up." Ahsoka explained as she took a seat, Rex at her side.

"Oh?" An old friend… had another Jedi survived? Or had she come across Yoda somehow?

"Master Kenobi." Rex stated and Bail paled, clutching the table.

"He lives? When we first saw the news of Luke Skywalker we all assumed Kenobi was killed to get to him." Leia's Father still lived? Of Force… what should they do? The had always planned to contact him and tell him about her if it was safe to do so.

"For keeping Luke safe, Vader allowed him to live. I think also he didn't want Luke to feel the death of his teacher. He has been living in exile since then." Ahsoka explained softly. Obi-Wan had shared Padme's last words and she didn't want to believe it and yet… in sparing Obi-Wan for Luke perhaps there was still some small sliver of Light within that suite.

"Then how did you find him?" Bail leant forward.

"During the base attack, we came across General Skywalker. He isn't a Sith, Bail, somehow, despite exposure to both his Father and the Emperor he is still light. If Draven hadn't sent an assassin after him… he killed one of Luke's bodyguards, a friend. For that I doubt he will work with the Alliance as a whole now. But he did not raise a hand against us when he found us. In fact, we had a civil conversation while Rex got to welcome one of his brothers back." She smiled softly and Rex nodded.

"His Commander is Cody. He is chip free but won't leave his General."

Bail sat back, this was a lot to take in. he would have to carefully attempt to work on at least a working relationship with the young Prince. If it was true that he had not Fallen then perhaps it would be safe to introduce Leia to him, give him someone his own age to relate to and a perhaps in time a way for him to aid the Alliance through Leia.

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Luke had fallen to his knees, fighting to breath, it was too much! Sweat soaked his shirt, plastering his hair down as he gasped for air. He was in a locked room, one that could only be opened from the outside, giving him no way out. Normally that would be no issue, he'd use the Force to open the lock, but in this room, that was impossible. The room was flooded by the Dark Side at Sidious' command and it was more than he had ever been exposed to in such a concentrated manner. He finally crumpled to the ground, curling into a ball as he trembled. He felt sick, like he was choking, he wanted his Father, he wanted Obi-Wan…he wanted Aunt Beru. But he refused to scream and he kept his shields locked tight.

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"General!" Cody rushed forward and wrapped an arm around the teenager, holding him up. "Sir, can you hear me?" he helped him over to a bench and then knelt, ripping his helmet off to look up into glassy blue eyes even as he hit his comm. "Kix, get back to barracks now." He ordered, glad Lord Vader had assigned the medic to his son. Hearing footsteps he looked over to see two stunned troopers. "Keep everyone out except Kix."

"Sir!" They left the room and moved into guard position.

Cody hesitated and then put a call through to the Avenger for them to forward his call. "My Lord."

"Commander?" Vader's voice came through as a small holo of the Dark Lord appeared.

"Forgive my interruption sir, but it's the General."

"What has happened?" he demanded and even half way across the Galaxy Cody was sure he could feel his anger.

"I am unsure Sir." He turned awkwardly so that Luke would appear in the holo.

On the bridge of the Devastator, Vader stared at the small holo of his son, concerned. He reached for him through their bond and found the normally orderly signature to be utterly chaotic and pained. "Where was he?"

"The Palace, he was summoned by the Emperor."

Vader closed his eyes, Sidious. What had he done to the boy. "Do you have orders Commander?"

"No Sir."

"Then I am ordering the 212th and its General to Alderaan. I shall inform the Palace of your coming myself."

"We shall leave immediately." Before anyone could think to countermand his orders. They cut the connection as Kix ran in with a medical kit, kneeling beside Luke to look him over. "Get him stable enough to move, we're shipping out now."

"What?" Kix demanded.

"Lord Vader commands us to Alderaan." He looked down at Luke and Kix understood. He went to work and soon they were on a shuttle, heading for the Avenger.

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Luke stepped into the Throne room, hiding the trembling of his hands beneath his cape as he walked across the beautiful floor, at least he no longer felt like being sick or passing out but he really needed a lot more time to meditate. Cody was at his back with Spark and Boomer a step behind him.

"Welcome to Alderaan Prince Skywalker." Queen Breha greeted calmly and he bowed to her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Breha studied the young man before her, she had never met the young Prince unlike her husband. He looked so much like the holo's of a young Anakin Skywalker but there was something, other than his height, that reminded her of her dear friend Padme. She glanced at her husband who smiled at her. she stood up and stepped down, walking towards him and reaching for his hands. She saw his eyes widen slightly but he slowly lifted trembling hands and she clasped them gently. "I see much of my dear friend in you young Prince."

"You knew my Mother?" He whispered and she nodded.

"She was one of Bail's staunchest allies in the Senate. Now come, you need rest and then tonight you will dine with us." She tucked his arm into hers and led the confused young man from the throne room, not worried about having three Stormtroopers, who she expected were all surviving clones, at her back. She led them into the family room and into one of the luxurious guest suites within before leaving him to settle in and rest before the evening meal. She knew Bail could handle the afternoon's business, she needed to speak with their daughter before she ran into the Prince without warning.

TBC…