Luke ran out the corridor down to the shuttle bay and locked himself into an Imperial Shuttle while other officers and stormtroopers ordered him out. He outright refused. Lord Vader arrived in the bay and dismissed everyone.
"Luke, you cannot leave. You must come out."
"No, I won't! You like everyone else has lied to me."
"You were unprepared for the truth, Luke; you were still quite naïve and I didn't want to completely shatter your innocence."
"Well, congratulations, you have! I want nothing more to do with you!"
"You are acting like a child, son. Come out and face me like a man."
"No! I hate you."
"No you don't; you are hurting. Come."
"Echuta." Luke cried out as he tried so hard to disobey and when he heard Lord Vader order him out by his full name, he had no choice. He left the shuttle and glared at the dark Lord, while he crossed his arms.
"Let's go."
Luke struggled as the pressure from Lord Vader's hand increased to his upper arm. When he was returned to his quarters, he fell to the floor.
"Meditate, I will return later."
Luke crossed his legs and calmly pulled the Force around him and silently meditated on the last few months of being in Lord Vader's care. It was obvious to him now that the Dark Lord had a soft spot for his son, despite everything he had ever done. He was patient albeit strict, he taught Luke more than the basic fundamentals of being a Jedi, but he never called upon the hate, anger, or fear that Sith used to manipulate the Force. Even when the Dark Lord slapped him, Luke didn't feel any true animosity, just a frustration or a disappointment. Was there a good man named "Anakin Skywalker" inside the man-made shell of Darth Vader? Luke gently tapped into Lord Vader's psyche requesting permission to enter, the gates flew open and at first Luke felt overwhelmed by all the feelings, hate, anger, fear, but above all those arose a beautiful feeling of true pure parental love and protection. He knelt to Darth Sidious not because of power, but to save a woman he dearly loved, Luke's mother. Well at first it wasn't because of power, but when he lost everything, he had nothing but the Dark Side and that was why he truly became Darth Vader the terror of the galaxy. Luke finally understood and although couldn't condone his father's actions, he did find a certain reassurance that he did love him and was certain that the feeling was mutual, even if it was grudgingly on Darth Vader's part.
xXx
Lord Vader allowed Luke some time away from him; he knew that when his son was ready he would seek him out. It was inevitable. One late evening, Lord Vader was working on his Tie Fighter Advanced with the help of Artoo, when Luke appeared in the bay clad in black pajamas and a robe. "It is late, you should be resting."
"I can't sleep. Tell me is insomnia part of being a Jedi?"
"Yes, for me it was and still is to a certain extent."
"Is there anything else I've inherited from you that I should be aware?"
"You have blonde hair blue eyes, but your stature belongs strictly to your mother." Lord Vader replied with a tinge of humor.
"Thanks." Luke knelt beside the Dark Lord as he continued to work.
"Need any help?"
"No, Artoo has been most helpful, I'm just about done."
"Artoo says he knows Anakin Skywalker."
"Yes, he and I had many adventures together."
"How did you know that mom was going to die?" Luke asked.
Luke knew that the question he asked would cause a reaction but he didn't expect to be thrown twenty feet away to land hard on his backside. He quickly scrambled to his feet and stood to watch the Dark Lord there was something going on that only a Force sensitive would be able to detect. There was a dark swirl of energy with heavy emotions, hate, anger, love; frustration of his condition, the lava of Mustafar burned the pure hatred into his father's skin.
"Dreams, deeply prophetic dreams; I loved her, she was my only light in an ever darkening galaxy, the darkness that my master loved. I sacrificed everything I had for her and she still died by my hand no less, ironic isn't it?"
"But she didn't die right away, I was born." Luke replied.
"True, but I didn't know that, when I went to the place where they buried her, I opened her casket and removed the japor snippet."
Luke remained silent as Lord Vader waved his hand and created an illusion that he was still working on his ship with Luke and gathered Luke into his arms. Luke was overwhelmed by the tenderness in which he was being embraced. "You are just about ready for your final trial my son and then you will be free to go."
"You would allow me to return to the Rebellion?"
"Yes, I cannot keep you here, if the Emperor should find out, he would want you for himself to displace me."
"I could never kill you, father."
"I know and for that alone you would die a slow agonizing death."
"Thank you for everything, especially for being my father."
"You are welcome, my son. I know I was tough on you."
"Yea, I never expected to be thrown into a pool of water, I thought I would drown."
"I would have prevented that, it was how I was taught to swim, I was very angry with Obi-Wan when he did it to me. I put a garden snake in his bed the following morning."
"Really?" Luke laughed.
"Yes, the man was petrified of snakes."
"What were you afraid of as a child?"
"Nothing, I was pretty fearless, except when it came to losing my mom and later Padmé. Return to your quarters and mediate while I prepare your final trial."
Luke said goodnight and returned to his quarters with a renewed hope, that his father did exist in the dark shell of Lord Vader.
xXx
Luke's final trial prior to leaving his father was going to be arduous at best, Luke knew this and he tried to prepare himself for it, not only physically, but emotionally and undoubtedly through the Force. Luke heard the gentle call of his father, "Come and meet me on the bridge, my son."
Luke responded, "I'm coming."
Lord Vader stood on the bridge near the windows as the stars were shining the brilliant white light in the expanse of darkness. "There is a Jedi Master in hiding, I've known his location for quite sometime, but I decided that since he was no threat to the Empire to allow him to live on his swamp planet. His name is Master Yoda, he will see to your last test. We will meet again my son and know that I've enjoyed our time together; you are truly a light in the darkness. There is something else you should know, the reason you were unable to disobey me is because a Sith Lord by the name of Exar Kun put an enchantment on you, to force you to obey me in all things. I've released you of this burden, while you were sleeping. I am proud of you and you are by far a better Jedi than even I could have ever been. Goodbye, my son. If you ever need me, call me. I will be with you always." Luke then felt a warm embrace enclose around his small frame and knew that it was Lord Vader giving him a hug through the Force.