Still don't own Star Wars. Or anything of importance, really, other than my own free will. And some textbooks.

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"Lord Vader, the Emperor demands that you make contact with him at once."

The Captain's voice cut sharply through Vader's thoughts, but his announcement was not unexpected. If he had felt the girl's acceptance of the Force, surely his master had. Without a word to the nameless officer, Vader swept off toward his communications platform. Certainly his master knew that another Force-sensitive being had discovered the Force, but did the Emperor know the identity of the girl? Vader didn't need to scan Luke's thoughts to know that the girl was his sister, but the Emperor might not have the same knowledge. Leia's presence (the name was easily enough plucked from Luke's mind) within the Force was so like Padme's that he would have recognized it had he nothing else to confirm it. He tried to probe further into the girl's – his daughter's – mind, but met with no success. He sighed in irritation, wanting to press further but remembering it was futile. During her captivity on the Death Star he had used every method of interrogation known to Jedi, Sith, and torturer to pry the location of the Rebel base from her mind, and yet she had held strong. He sighed again, more a growl of anger than a simple exhalation. Clearing his mind, the Dark Lord knelt upon the podium and the hologram of the Emperor flickered to life.

"We have a new enemy, Lord Vader."

"I have felt it too, my master."

"She must be found and terminated. You will find her when you find the Rebel fleet. You must ensure that she does not survive."

"Should we not turn Skywalker first, my master?"

"You will turn Skywalker while you search for the Rebel fleet and this girl. Use any methods you deem…appropriate, Lord Vader."

"As you wish, my master."

The hologram faded, leaving bare wall. Slowly, Vader rose. The Emperor had not mentioned the girl by name, nor had he connected her with Luke. Was it possible that the Emperor was indeed unaware of Leia's identity? Perhaps his strength with the Dark Side of the Force was waning. After all, he had missed Luke's presence on the forest moon when Vader himself had felt it.

He would think on this more. But now, he had more pressing matters to attend to. His son waited, discontent in his cell. Vader needed to turn him no matter what the Emperor's state. With a heavy breath and a swirl of black cloak, Lord Vader turned on his heel and strode off toward the detention block.

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Lying on a hard metal bunk several levels below, Luke was pondering Leia's sudden decision. His thoughts had betrayed her once before, but not by name – he refused to let his mind reveal anything more about her. She needed all the shielding and anonymity she could get. He'd wanted to reach out to her when he'd first felt her in the Force. He had longed to touch her mind, to let her know that he was confident that she could do it. He wanted to help her learn, to teach her and to support her like a brother should. But he knew that reaching out to her when he was so close to Vader (and so far from her) was dangerous. That was why he had shielded himself from the moment he'd seen the Alliance fleet jump into hyperspace. The shield wasn't just to protect her from his experiences, although he certainly didn't want her to know what Vader and Palpatine were trying to do to him. More importantly, he didn't want her to be able to send him any information or support. Her untrained mind might reach out to him without her ever realizing it and then be ensnared by Vader; he prevented that by putting up the barrier. She'd be able to sense that he was alive and his general whereabouts, but she wouldn't be able to send anything that might hurt her or the Alliance.

Of course, his shielding wasn't perfect. He knew that Leia had telepathically witnessed some of the more brutal moments of his torture, and he wished she hadn't. She didn't need the burden, especially now that she was walking the Jedi path. If she was angry, even on her brother's behalf, she would be that much closer to falling.

Luke rose to sit on the edge of the metal bunk, putting his head between his hands. He remembered how close he had come to the Dark Side only a few days ago. Vader had threatened Leia, and he had let his anger get the better of him. He'd beaten his father back with the Dark Side, using his anger and his aggression, forgetting himself entirely and cutting of his father's hand. He'd almost been ready to give the killing blow, but the Emperor's laughter had stopped him. He remembered the old man walking toward them, and then seeing the stump of his father's obviously mechanical right arm. He'd flexed his own right hand, feeling the circuits fire and the gears shift. And then, just as the Emperor announced how close he was to completing his journey to the Dark Side, Luke had felt the anger drain from him.

His next words had been simple enough: "You've failed, your highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me." And with that statement he had been prepared to die. But Palpatine had other plans. He'd simply snarled and turned away. "So be it…Jedi." The word had practically dripped with sarcasm. Luke had steeled himself for an onslaught, a death warrant, something. But Palpatine simply called to his attendants. "Guards! Take this 'Jedi' to a cell." On the way there the reactor had been hit; Luke had dared to hope for death for a moment, but Vader had been there instantly to bring him back to the Emperor and tell him how there would be time to evacuate. The station had exploded, but neither the Emperor nor Vader (nor Luke) had gone with it.

And there had been no death for Luke since their shuttle had landed on the Victory, just a never ending stream of tricks and pain to turn him. He'd resisted so far, but he could only hold out for so long. The Emperor could torture him to the brink of insanity and bring pain like none he'd ever known – torture enough that even Leia, strong, wonderful Leia, could barely discuss them when questioned directly by the Alliance High Command. He knew that he would break at some point. Perhaps he wouldn't turn to the Dark Side, but he would cease to be Luke Skywalker. As he saw it, only two things could save him: his father or his sister. He could only pray that one of them came in time.

So far, rescue by Leia looked more likely. Over the past few days Luke had seen little hesitation in his father, and that in turn had made every moment of his experience more painful. Vader could stop it. Vader could save him. And yet, his father did nothing. Luke's mind told him that he had to consider the possibility that Anakin Skywalker was truly dead, but his heart still he felt an undercurrent of good in the man. Anakin Skywalker was there, he had to be – he was simply buried beneath the metallic shell of Darth Vader.

The door opened with a hiss, revealing the Sith himself, flanked (as always) by the requisite two Stormtroopers. Luke did not rise to greet his father, nor did he speak; he forced calm onto his features and into his heart, making his mind blank and preparing for whatever new provocation he would be made to endure. Vader said nothing, dismissing the Stormtroopers with a wave of a black-gloved hand.

"Where are the Rebels hiding?" Vader's voice seemed more mechanical than usual.

"I've told you, I don't know." Luke was careful with his response, telling the truth with quiet calm. They had discussed this before, and both knew it.

"Is Leia with them?" Vader's voice lingered for a moment on his daughter's name. Hearing it, Luke started off of the bench and stood straight up. How had Vader found out Leia's name? Had Luke somehow betrayed her? He felt anger boil beneath the surface and remembered how mention of Leia had nearly sent him over the edge in the Death Star throne room. It took effort for him to center himself and regain some appearance of calm, but he refused to bend. If he gave in to his emotions now, it would be the beginning of the end. He had to fight it. He remained standing, but the belligerence of his first reaction ebbed away. The young Jedi looked straight ahead, examining the wall rather than looking at his father.

"I don't know." The statement was only partially a lie; Luke suspected his sister was with the Rebels, but his mental shields were strong enough to keep him from actually knowing.

"We will find her. We will find her, and we will turn her. She is not as schooled as you are, my son. You failed her by not teaching her sooner." Luke winced a bit at Vader's words. He knew that the Sith lord was baiting him, but the painful truth was still too real. If Leia was found and turned, it could spell disaster for the galaxy. She would prove to be as powerful as her twin; Luke alone could not destroy Leia, Vader, and Palpatine. Vader sensed his son's thoughts and knew he must use them.

"It will be all too easy to show her the power of the Dark Side of the Force. Her feelings for you run deep indeed…she would do anything to spare you pain. You, my son, will be her undoing." Vader's voice was flat, his words a knife he twisted into Luke's soul. He could feel the youth's pain and fear and sensed that he had found Luke's weakness. This girl was more important than the Emperor knew: she might become a threat, but she already was the perfect leverage to turn her brother toward the Dark Side of the Force.

Without another word Vader swept out of the room, leaving Luke in silent despair. Trapped as he was, there was nothing Luke could do save hope. His sister had to be strong. She had to be willing to sacrifice him for the greater good, if that was what was required. But even as he pondered, he remembered his own choice to leave Dagobah to save Leia and Han. He knew that Leia's actions wouldn't be any different if she had to make the same choice. She'd fly off just as he had. He could only pray she wouldn't lose her hand – or her soul – in the process.

Lingering outside the cell door, Lord Vader read his son's mind with ease, and a grim smile lit the face beneath the mask. Using Leia to turn Luke would take time, but it would succeed. He set off down the corridor, his black boots echoing on the metal of the floor.

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Author's note:

Wow, quite a few hits already! The idea only just popped into my head this morning, and it hasn't left me alone since. Sorry if these first bits were a little slow, but I needed to lay out the backstory of my little alternate universe. Expect more action and general excitingness in upcoming chapters. Much thanks to those who have already reviewed! I LOVE feedback, especially if it's constructive criticism.

Much love,
Ophelia