Chapter 7:
Darth Vader turned and began walking down the corridor, with Luke falling into step beside him. "You will need to construct a new lightsaber, my son. But for now, I need you to tell me everything you know about your friends."
Luke frowned, uneasily. "M-my friends? What about them?"
Vader ignored Luke's uneasiness, and continued. "Anything you've discovered about their past, their significance to the Rebellion, and anything you can think of that will help us turn them to our cause."
Luke was silent for a long time, lost in thought. Finally, after much hesitation, he said, "Well, Leia's a leader and figurehead of the Alliance, I-I can't think of anything that would make her betray them. Han's already ex-Imperial, I think he deserted or something. He…. could probably be persuaded if the incentive was high enough." He frowned again. "Where is he, anyway? I don't remember seeing him on the Falcon, or afterwards."
Vader tilted his head, slightly. "Any deserter who joined the Rebellion should be made an example of. Currently Solo is in the possession of a bounty hunter called Boba Fett. Encased in carbonite. But perhaps we can arrange a more….. appropriate, punishment for him. But come, I will begin to show you how to construct a lightsaber. Once you have successfully done so, I will begin training you in lightsaber combat."
"Yes, father." Luke was eager to learn more about how to use a lightsaber. The training that Obi-wan had given him was very incomplete, as evidenced by his failure to best his father at Cloud City.
Vader led him through the maze of corridors that made up the Executor, and finally to one of the maintenance wings where tools and parts of all kinds were available. Vader cast an ominous glance around the room, watching as the technicians cringed, and snapped, "Leave us." They scattered, and Vader turned to his son. "Everything you need is here, except….." he drew out a translucent red crystal, and held it up. "I will show you how to begin, but then you will have to open yourself to the Force and let it guide you. When you have constructed a working lightsaber, come to me, and we will begin learning correct lightsaber technique." With that, Vader stalked out of the room, and issued orders that no one was to approach it.
Luke smiled a little to himself. He had always liked working with machines, and was skilled at it. He relished the challenge, and selected a hydrospanner and began working.
Luke had been working for hours, but strangely was not tired. He settled into a meditative state while he worked, letting the Force guide his fingers. Finally, he managed to tweak the set of the crystal enough so that his danger sense did not go off every time he brushed the ignition switch with his finger, and ignited it. His new lightsaber imitated his father's design, most useful for the Djem So technique which he had inherited from his father. The blade was a deep crimson red, and hummed dangerously as he twirled it back and forth. Satisfied, he shut it off again, and went to seek out his father.
Vader was awaiting his son in a lightsaber training room in his private quarters. "You have done well, my son. Now, we shall begin. Do not hold back, for I will not."
Luke's blade flicked into existence, and he dropped into a defensive stance. Vader lunged, saber igniting on the way towards Luke's chest. "Do not defend, that is weakness. Attack!"
Luke dropped backwards to avoid the tip of the blade, and rolled to the side, his own blade sweeping towards his father's legs. Vader flipped over it to land standing over Luke, and again launched a strike at him. Luke brought his own blade up, barely in time to block the assault, when the door flew open.
Mara stormed into the room, eyes flashing angrily. "What in blazes do you think you're doing? He's only been out of the recovery ward for a few hours, and already you've got him in life-or-death combat situations! Just look at him, he's pale as a sheet!" She eyed Luke, briefly, and said, "Go to your quarters and rest. That's enough for today."
Luke looked at his father, questioningly. Vader didn't turn, but said, "Go, Luke. We will speak more, later."
Luke got to his feet, lightsaber switched off. He watched Mara out of the corner of his eye as he left the room, curious about this girl who dared defy a Sith Lord.