Exploring the Palace

Chapter 2

Luke finished his breakfast speedily and handed the tray back to Threepio, who put it down the kitchen chute. The two droids then left; Threepio said they were needed in maintenance. Luke jumped to his feet and went to Vader. "Father, can you show me around now? I want to see everything!"

"Son, I am too busy today. I had to leave my paperwork to stay with you, and the Emperor will not be very pleased."

"Can I go by myself, then? Please? You can't just keep me locked up all day!"

Vader thought carefully over the suggestion. How much trouble could even a five year old Skywalker get into in the Imperial Palace? There were stormtroopers at every corner, and if he needed help he could always call on the comm… "I suppose it will be all right."

"Thanks, Father! I guess that's almost as good."

"But be very careful. Don't go into any rooms that are guarded, and do not leave the Palace. If you get lost, call me and I will be there momentarily. Take this comm. chip." Vader handed the chip to Luke, stood from his seat, and marched out of the room. Luke followed closely.

"Okay."

"And, uh, have a good time."

Luke's blue eyes brightened. "I will." He turned and dashed down the corridor, nearly colliding into a patrol of stormtroopers on the way.

Vader turned with a sigh to head back to the conference room and finish his paperwork. His senses told him he had made a big mistake.

After a few minutes of walking down identical black hallways, wondering why this Emperor Palpatine person gave his father lots of work so he could never be with his son, Luke spotted another picture of him. This time, the Emperor was making a speech from a podium. The same acidic yellow eyes stared out from under the hood.

"I still think he looks yucky." Luke whispered to himself. Then he saw the stormtrooper that had waved at him last night. The trooper was marching down a hall alone. Luke ran up behind him. "Hi again!"

The trooper looked down. "Hello. You're the kid who was in the hangar bay, right?"

"Uh–huh. What's your name?"

"Commander LJ–1076."

Luke gave the commander a quizzical look. "Don't you have a name? Like, a real one?"

The trooper tipped his helmet. "Well, when I was in training on Kamino, the boys in my barracks called me TJ. You can call me that, if you want."

"That's what I meant. What do you do, TJ?"

"I'm in charge of security in Lord Vader's sector of the Palace. Tell me kid, what's your name and why is Lord Vader so interested in you?"

Luke smiled at the guard. "My name is Luke, Luke Skywalker." Then he gave a confused shrug. "I think it's 'cause he's my father."

"Lord Vader is your father?"

"I guess. I've never heard anyone call him that, but I just got here last night."

"Well, what does he look like?"

Luke thought for a moment. "He wears a mask and a cape that's really swishy, and–"

TJ nodded to himself. "That's Lord Vader."

"So this morning he said I could explore the Palace, and that's what I'm doing. I'd better get going so I can see everything." He started down another hallway, turning around to wave goodbye to the trooper. "See you later, TJ!"

The commander waved back before he marched off. Luke listened to the white boots resounding into the distance and jogged down the black hallway.

He soon came upon a gate that blocked the entirety of the corridor. Instead of stormtroopers, however, men in red dresses that brushed the floor were standing guard. This confused Luke, and he decided to figure out the reason for this apparent dress code.

"Excuse me," he said to the nearest guard, as politely as he could. "Why are you all wearing dresses?"

The man stared him down with cold gray eyes. Luke visibly shrank back. "We are the royal guards of the Emperor. Leave immediately."

Luke puffed out his chest and tried to look important. "Very well, sir." He turned on his heel and marched around a corner. Once out of sight of the "royal guards", he collapsed against the wall. I wonder where the hangar bay is. Maybe I could call Artoo and get him to show me around.

He took the comm. chip from his pocket and opened a link to the little droid. "Artoo, Artoo, are you there?"

A whistle in greeting answered his question.

"Can you come up to…" Luke looked around in desperation for a sign of his location, and then spotted a level marker on a wall corner. "level five? I need a little help."

An affirmative chirp sounded and Artoo closed the link.

Several minutes later, Artoo rolled out of an elevator far down the hall and up to Luke, who was staring at his reflection in the shiny black floor. "Hi there, little guy. Nice to see you again."

Artoo whistled.

"Can you show me to the hangar bay? I want to see all the cool ships my dad said he owned."

He made a cheery sound and rolled off toward the elevator. Luke hurried after him and made his way into the elevator. Artoo set it for level two and a moment later they were standing in the hangar bay. Ships of every size, shape, and model filled the enormous bay.

"Artoo, check out that TX–47! And there's a Firebolt 300!" Luke ran from ship to ship, looking through the glass and into the cockpit. Artoo followed as fast as he could wheel and soon Luke had seen every ship twice – and even more than that.

He went up to the shuttle that had brought him to Coruscant the night before and, since the exit ramp was still fully extended, he went inside to investigate. Artoo went after him, beeping nervously. There was a door on his left. Luke pressed the door release and then found himself in the passengers' lounge.

"Hey, Artoo, what's this panel for?" He reached up to touch it.

The little droid gave an anxious whistle.

"Don't worry, Artoo!" Luke assured him. "I'm not going to launch the ship or anything." He pushed a purple button and a strange clicking sound came from the door. "What was that?"

Something had happened to the door. Luke went up to the door and tried to exit; it did not open.

"Artoo, it's locked!" He pressed another button – a red button, and a sharp crackle ran through the panel. A puff of smoke came from the top of the panel. "I don't think that's supposed to happen."

Another anxious whistle.

"Hey, do you think you could tell the computer to open the door?"

This time an uncertain chirp replied. Artoo wheeled to an access port and plugged himself in, and a moment later, the door opened. Luke let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks, Artoo. Come on, let's go look at some more ships."

Morning was long gone, and Lord Vader was still stuck in the conference room with several more datapads to deal with. He was reaching for another pad when he sensed his son's happiness through the Force and felt his presence in the hangar bay. For some strange reason the Dark Lord couldn't explain, he wanted to be with Luke – to spend some time with his newly discovered son. I do not have much work left, and I could finish it later. Perhaps, just for a little while…

He chose to visit his son in the hangar bay and marched to the elevator. When he arrived, Luke was examining a speeder. "Do you like the ships, son?"

Luke looked up with a smile. "Yeah, Dad! Er, Father."

"I am pleased you are enjoying yourself. Do you need to eat?"

A loud rumble answered his question. "I am pretty hungry. Is it lunchtime already?"

"Yes, son. And I'll take you out for lunch in the speeder of your choice."

His son's eyes widened larger than Vader thought possible. "For real?"

Vader nodded.

"Let's go in the Firebolt!"

"Very well. Come, son." Vader led the way to the Firebolt and stepped into the pilot's seat. Luke jumped into the passenger's.

"This is so cool," Luke's voice was bursting with delight. "You're the best father ever."

Something tugged at Vader's long–forgotten heart. He cleared his throat hesitantly. "…Thank you, son."

Enjoying it so far? I sure hope so!

Remember to R&R!

–Ecilya