A/N: Here you go, a little holiday gift. I may not update until after the holdiays, so hang in there! I really appreciate all the feedback...please do let me know what you think.
Emerson
Part XXII
Technically, the throne room was designed for him, like the ship had been. But, being that everything within the Empire belonged to the Emperor, Vader could hardly raise an objection. The Executor was Lord Vader's in name only. As it was, Palpatine was waiting for him now, in that very throne room. Waiting for what, Vader was unsure. He was still uncertain if the Emperor was aware of Luke's presence onboard or not. In his mind, Vader was formulating a desperate plan; there had to be a way to cure Luke and keep him from Palpatine's clutches. And Leia too. Having been summoned to meet his Master, Vader was unable to return to his children...and that weighed heavily on his mind. He had yet to see that scheming little spy Jade either. Surely she was prowling the ship now, seeking out her prey.
The turmoil of the situation roiled through his mind as he strode down the corridors. Even if he saved them, even if they could overthrow the Emperor, he could not say what fate lay ahead. It was unlikely that the Rebellion would welcome him with open arms...and there would still be remnants of the Empire to consider. Perhaps the two factions could merge, become one under the reign of himself and Luke. It was something to strive for.
He just had to live through this first.
The Emperor's malevolent presence emanated from the throne room like a foul stench...some rotting beast full of the Dark Side. Whereas it used to comfort him, surround him with a dark warmth, Vader found it repulsed him now. He preferred the bright radiance of Luke, the soft glow of Leia. Strange...what Luke had been able to accomplish. Perhaps he had always been teetering on the edge of Darkness, never fully immersed. He'd truly believed he would never turn back to the Light, and in some ways he still had not...but he was close. Some grayer shade of twilight would be the best description for where his soul dwelt now.
He steeled his resolve. The Executor, the men on board, his status and his titles may only have been Vader's in name only, but Luke and Leia...his children, belonged to him and him alone. Because of that name. Not Darth Vader, not Dark Lord of the Sith...but Skywalker. He would not allow Palpatine to possess their birthright, not after everything that had already been taken from him.
Black cloak billowing around him like the wings of some dark creature borne of a nightmare, Vader swept into the throne room and knelt on one knee before his Master. His mind was blank, empty...cloyingly obedient.
Palpatine regarded his apprentice with a darkened critical eye. Nothing outwardly marked his Second in Command as a traitor, no swirling undercurrents of doubt or lies, no conflicting ambiguous thoughts. Vader had learned well from him to be able to hide his feelings so completely. Perhaps he had trained him too well. That was a mistake he would attempt to rectify with young Skywalker. All he needed was to use the boy's love for his Father turn him to the Dark Side...let the hate wash over him and burn out the virus lurking within him. The cure...the only cure was hate. And Palpatine was convinced that the boy would be the echo of his Father. It never ceased to amaze the Emperor that the Skywalker clan was unable to avoid that most revered of Jedi code.
A Jedi feels no attachment.
They were living proof that the Dark Side was stronger, to be corrupted so. The foolish tenants of their weak faith shackled them and dragged them down into the very aspect of the Force they wished to avoid. It was beautiful, really, the simple poetry of it.
Vader was kneeling still, awaiting the command of his Master. Palpatine inwardly wondered just how anxious Vader was. Well, he had every reason to be worried, for himself more than his son.
"Rise, Lord Vader," the Emperor stated. May as well start things off with some semblance of normalcy. The Dark Lord rose, obedient, and Palpatine scowled at him from under his dark hood.
"We are honoured, as always, Master, to have you onboard the Executor." It was the safest way to go, start off on neutral ground. Time would tell where he stood. Vader kept his mind blank and his senses sharp...he searched for any sense of mal-intent from his Master. Considering this, Vader knew a moment of irony. The Emperor was nothing but mal-intent and vicious treachery. How could he expect anything else?
"Yes, I know," Palpatine replied, irritated. "But I will inform you of my displeasure, Lord Vader, at not being met by yourself at the landing bay. What kept you?" He was attempting to draw Vader out, make him confess his sin himself. That Luke was onboard.
"I apologize, Master. Shortly before your arrival we intercepted a Rebel fleet attempting to escape Iskander. Our attack on the base was successful, and the Executor was of assistance in cleaning up the remnants of the Alliance members who managed to escape off-planet." He paused, gauging Palpatine's reaction. Impossible to read. "I was about to interrogate several of them when I was informed of your arrival." Vader bowed his head, hoping the half-lie would be enough.
"What value did you see, Lord Vader, in capturing these Rebels?" Palpatine's voice was dangerously low, and the Dark Lord could sense his displeasure.
"I believe that several high-ranking members may be among those taken. They could prove valuable in negotiation or blackmail, your Highness." Vader again tried to craft a persuasion around what he said. If this was only a cursory visit, then maybe that would be enough for Palpatine and he would soon be on his way.
Deciding to play along, the Emperor asked, "Indeed? And who are these 'high-ranking members'?"
Sithspawn...Vader thought, then regretted his choice of words. Never before had that particular insult bothered him, but now hit too close to home. "General Solo, General Antilles," he listed, "and two droids who may have pertinent information, Master."
Vader regretted having to name Solo. He knew how much the pilot meant to Leia, but there was nothing to be done. Perhaps he could distract Palpatine with familiar names, with the promise of obtaining information.
"No others, Lord Vader? Is young Skywalker not among them?"
Palpatine leaned forward, to better hear Vader's reply.
Stang...
Caught.
He knew he was found out. The next words out of his mouth may damn Luke or himself or them both. Calm...he needed to stay focused, for the sake of his children. He could still salvage this...he could.
"Yes, milord. My son was with them." He claimed Luke with a resounding, clear finality that Palpatine did not miss.
Deathly stillness from his Master. Palpatine raised his hands and pressed his fingers together. "And you chose to keep this information from me, Lord Vader?" He sank back in the seat, voice a whispering accusation. Silk over cold steel. "Why would you withhold this from me, my friend? Are your feelings in this matter entirely clear?"
"They are clear, my Master," Vader lied. That was true from a certain point of view...He was entirely clear concerning his plans for he and Luke, and disposing of his Master. Better to make Palpatine believe that he was still trying to turn his son. "I have only just separated him from his friends. My next step would have been contacting you." Believe it, believe it, believe it...
But the Emperor did not. He knew. In that brief moment where they stared each other down, Vader realized it. Palpatine knew everything...and the twisted old man was going to make both Luke and his Father pay for their treachery. It was all a game to him.
"Oh, no, my friend. Your next step was going to be mutiny, was it not?" His voice changed from silky steel to grating iron. "Even you are not above suspicion, Lord Vader. I am well aware of your little treaty with the Alliance. My Jade has told me of Skywalker's deflection to your care." He cackled bitterly. "And I know he is ill. I am unable to hide my joy at this convenient turn of events." He stood up, came down a few steps, and leaned maliciously toward Vader. "The Eryoundi virus...it really is too perfect." He slowly straightened, hand tightening on his walking staff. "My most fervent desire is to turn Skywalker to the Dark Side, and the boy has been foolish enough to contract a disease in which the only cure, the only chance at salvation...is damnation itself. To turn to the Dark Side." He gestured dramatically. "To live, your son must give in to darkness. But that is not what you had planned, is it, Lord Vader? You were going to use the boy against me, were you not? Rule the galaxy as Father and Son?" He returned to the throne now, his anger at Vader's deception palpable.
Vader knew it was pointless to deny it. Somehow, word had reached his Master...everything that had happened, Palpatine knew. Now he had to find a way out of the situation. "Master, my son is..."
"Your son is now mine, Lord Vader, and I, not you, will decide his fate. You may consider yourself fortunate I do not dispose of you here and now. But I have other plans for you, my friend." The Emperor's tone was icy, and Vader realized the depth of danger they were all in. "Ahhh, here he comes now."
Stretching out with the Force, letting down the barriers that he was keeping up to protect Luke, Vader could feel his son approaching. Not just Luke, but Leia as well...and that blasted spy Jade. He could feel Palpatine's confusion over the presence of Leia...so he didn't know everything. This was going to be even harder now, with his daughter involved. Things were not looking well.
Again that terrified feeling overtook him, one that hadn't reared its ugly head in many years. Not since Padme had he felt it. The fear of loss. The fear of losing someone he loved. Fear leads to suffering, suffering leads to the Dark Side...and he had come ironically full circle. Back to this decisive moment from twenty odd years ago. Only now it was his son he would have to watch fall. And that was something he could not do.
Vader would have to find a way to catch him.