Hey guys...I just wanted to thank everyone who responded so far! No flames ( and they're very constructive to boot!) I also want to apologize in advance...I have been struggling to post this for over a week now, and it won't stay edited with the breaks...I only post with the errors because I'm craving feedback (and thus, more direction) for the next part. I promise a cleaner version in the future!

At night on Naboo, the cities fell silent shortly after sunset. Residential areas would display brightly colored evening lamps and a myriad of colors would light the streets. Children would play out of doors in safety, their voices slowly fading as the night lengthened, until at last all were abed. Coruscant's nights were vastly different, as the skies were already aglow with every color in the spectrum; but in her desire to recreate that fond memory for her own children, Amidala had a similar night cycle created for them. Leia was silent; absently holding Sabe's hand in her own she seemed to be deep in thought. Sabe let her be for a time as she struggled to make sense of her own thoughts. Apparently paying no mind to her surroundings, the child came to a sudden halt as the lights dimmed completely overhead, an inky blackness so deep that Sabe felt Leia clench her hand fearfully and bury her face against her cloak.

"What is it, little one?" Sabe asked quietly.

"I--," Leia sighed softly, as the night time lights slowly came back up. Leia's tiny face was rimmed in red from a pastel light directly above them. Sabe could not completely hide her shiver of fear. "The darkness scared me, that's all."

"It's all right, Leia. It's okay to be afraid of the dark." Sabe said softly. The child nodded, and gave her a shy smile.

"Let's get you to bed." Sabe pushed Leia's bedchamber door open and guided her inside. While Sabe folded the bedding back, Leia changed into her nightclothes and snagged a brush off her nightstand before climbing into bed. Leia's cheeks were streaked with tears; she wrapped her arms about Sabe and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry, Sabe." She whispered, and Sabe gave a start.

"What are you sorry for, sweetheart? It certainly wasn't your fault." Sabe smoothed her hair back, and wiped her cheeks.

"That you had to kill Kinlaee. She was your friend, wasn't she?" Leia asked.

"She was once." Sabe took a deep breath. The security cams were still rolling overhead. "But when she became a traitor to the Empire, Leia, she had to be stopped."

"I know." Leia sat up all the way and climbed into Sabe's lap. "She shouldn't have said bad things about the Emperor. He was only trying to help Mother."

"That's right." Sabe took up the brush and made short work of the girl's wildly curly hair. She rolled the strands together and carefully braided her hair flat, the way her mother had always liked hers done at night.

"The Emperor's very nice, Sabe. He's always been nice to Mama and Luke and me."

"I." Sabe corrected automatically.

Leia grew thoughtful for a moment. "Why do some people not like the Emperor?"

"I don't know, sweetheart. Perhaps because they don't know him very well. There are very few who know him as you do." Sabe set the brush back on the nightstand and drew the covers up about Leia. "Do you need anything before you go to sleep?"

"No."

"All right then. Good night, sweetheart." Sabe pressed a kiss to Leia's forehead. Sabe made her way to the door and dimmed the lights.

"Is mother all right now?" Leia asked in the darkness.

"Yes, honey. She seems to be feeling much better now."

"I like it when she feels better." Leia said, shifting to lie down in her bed.

"Me too." Sabe hesitated for a moment, and then closed the bedroom door.

"Sabe?" Leia called softly, and Sabe leaned back to put her head in the door. The child was sitting up as though she had remembered something very important.

"Yes?"

"Do you think Luke is all right?"

"Oh, of course honey. Luke will probably be back in the morning." Sabe lied. "Sleep tight."

"Good night." Leia smiled warmly, and lay back down in her bed. Sabe slid the door closed, and started down the corridor again, only to falter the moment she was out of range on the security cam. One hand unsteadily sought the support of the wall, and Sabe let out one gasping breath before she managed to gain control of herself again. Straightening, she stared intently at the tiles on the floor, her smoldering gaze fixed in fury at the mark of the Empire laid in the center of each tile. There was no place left in the galaxy that evil could not touch if there was no one left to try and stop it.

Luke was never certain what to think when the Emperor commanded him to come. As a young child, their time together had been brief. His mother had cautioned him that the Emperor was too important a man to spend much time with young children. But as Luke had grown older, the Emperor had seemed to enjoy his company more and more. They played holochess, or talked about Luke's classes. The Emperor seemed most interested in helping Luke become a pilot—it had been his idea for Luke to take the steps to become an Imperial youth. And it had been his recommendation that had gotten Luke into the Imperial Academy a full two years before he'd have been of an age to apply. Luke had remained silent as he followed the Imperial Guard up the ramp of the Emperor's shuttle. He'd strapped himself in without a word, knowing from experience that whenever the Emperor wanted to speak with him, he would.

His curiosity peaked when the shuttle slowly lifted off the rooftop hangar of his mother's residence and began to make its way up into space, and not toward the Imperial Palace.

"Boy." A young lieutenant stood before him, waiting impatiently. "The Emperor would speak with you."

"Yes, sir." Luke hurriedly got to his feet and followed the officer down into the Emperor's private quarters. "Thank you, lieutenant--?"

"Needa. He is waiting for you."

"Thank you, sir."

"Good luck, boy." Needa said softly. Luke smiled at him.

"I don't believe in luck." Luke pressed the chime and waited for a moment as the door opened from within. Luke slowly entered, letting his eyes adjust to the ever present darkness. The red robed guards stood in silent vigil, and Luke acknowledged them before turning to face the Emperor and kneeling.

"Rise, my young friend." The Emperor commanded, and Luke rose to his feet. "Come, sit with me."

Luke moved to sit beside the Emperor, his back straight and shoulders square.

"Tell me of your time at the Academy this semester."

"I enjoyed this semester, my lord master." Luke began. "My classes were a bit harder this time around, but I tried my best to earn good marks."

"And did you?" The Emperor asked quietly.

"Yes, I did earn top scores in all classes."

"Well done." He commended. "And what of your time spent in the simulators?"

"That was the best part!" Luke could no longer contain his enthusiasm. "The sims this time were a lot harder than ever before. We actually got to simulate flying into an asteroid field! It was wizard! Even if the odds against flying successfully though an asteroid field were 378 million to one!"

"You have done well, my young friend." He congratulated, resting a hand on Luke's shoulder in momentary praise. "And yet I sense that is not all you wished to speak with me about."

"You knew about that?" Luke sucked in a deep breath. "I am sorry, my lord. I did not wish to burden you with my troubles."

"You are concerned about your training rotation aboard Vader's ship." The Emperor intoned solemnly.

"Yes, my lord." Luke felt his shoulders slump despite his best effort to hide his worries. "Is there something I have done incorrectly, my lord? Have I displeased you in some way?"

"You desire another assignment?" The Emperor asked mildly. Luke shot to his feet and bowed, deeply.

"Not at all, my lord! I only worry for my mother. She will be worried when she learns where I have been assigned. I don't want to make her fall ill again." Luke remained standing, his blue eyes cast to the floor. The Emperor watched him quietly for a few minutes, before extending a hand.

"Come here, my young friend." Luke reluctantly moved to stand before him. The Emperor's gnarled hand reached out to lift his chin, studying him intensely. Luke met his gaze fearlessly, and after a long moment of silence, the Emperor released him and slowly got to his feet.

"You will accompany me." He ordered, and made his way to an antechamber with Luke dutifully following behind. The room was dimly lit, and the Emperor made his way to the dais set near a window and sank down onto a throne. Somewhere behind him the door slid closed and plunged the room into darkness. Luke moved to stand before him, standing at parade rest with his hands laced behind his back. The Emperor leaned forward suddenly, and motioned for Luke to come nearer. He snatched Luke's hand and turned it so it lay palm up, and then pressed a button on the arm of his throne to reveal a lightsaber handle. Luke stared at it hungrily, and then blinked in surprise when the Emperor pressed it into his palm. Curling his fingers about the handle, Luke was surprised to find it was not smooth as he imagined it to be, but etched with tiny knicks, as though it had seen many battles. Luke longed to bring his other hand up to the handle, to press the switch and put the blade through its motions.

"How old are you now, Luke?" he asked suddenly.

"Ten, my lord." Luke answered without hesitation.

"And how many of your years have been spent in formal education?"

"Nearly six."

"Tell me, boy, what do you know of the Jedi?"

"They were power hungry. They destroyed the Old Republic with their sorcerers' ways and now they are extinct."

"Very good. I trust you know what this is?"

"Yes, my lord. Lightsabers were the weapons the Jedi used." The Emperor released his grip on Luke's hand, and motioned him back a step. Luke was delighted to find that the Emperor seemed to expect him to activate the blade, and after carefully turning it away from himself, he pressed the stud and the blade came to life. Holding it tight, Luke examined the ancient weapon carefully. The blade was a deep, vibrant red. It hummed faintly in his grip and he half expected the handle to heat up, but to his surprise the pommel remained cool.

"Wow." He whispered faintly. "Can I--?"

The Emperor cackled in laughter. "But of course."

Luke swung the blade in a long, delicious arc. The blade hummed loudly, until the buzzing seemed to fill his veins. Zigzagging, he stepped from side to side, pretending to strike out at an imaginary foe. He was a great Jedi knight—

The blade was wrenched from his hands abruptly, and Luke fell to the floor as his daydream ended abruptly. The Emperor was watching him, the pommel of the now extinguished lightsaber rested in his hand.

"What do you want, boy?" The Emperor asked suddenly, as he put the lightsaber back in the compartment he'd pulled it out of. Luke felt an inexplicable urge to try and take the blade back; he rose to his feet and stared longingly at it. Unable to stop himself, he even reached for it, and the Emperor laughed. Suddenly feeling ashamed, Luke hung his head.

"Did you like the power you felt?" The Emperor asked, although he made no move to return the blade. He fingered the ribs on the handle, and then pressed it down into the compartment. Luke nodded shyly, and returned to stand with his hands clasped behind him.

"Why?" he asked softly. "Why did you like it?"

"I.." Luke faltered, feeling suddenly afraid to answer the Emperor. "I was pretending I could be like a Jedi, my lord."

"Why would you want to be like a Jedi?" the Emperor's voice was low. "Was it because you felt powerful?"

"Yes, my lord. The Jedi were supposed to have power from a mystical energy field, and that's what I thought it would feel like." Luke admitted honestly. Now that the blade was out of sight, he felt calmer.

"Tell me, Luke. Tell me about this mystical energy field."

"I don't know much about it. But they were supposed to be able to draw from this energy field. It gave them their powers."

"What did they do with this power?"

"They were supposed to help others. They used it to fight."

"What would you do with this power?"

"I…" Luke swallowed uneasily. "I don't know."

"Would you serve the Empire?" he asked shrewdly, and Luke stood up straight.

"Yes, my lord!"

"Do you want the lightsaber?"

"To keep?" Luke felt the desire rise in him again, and he struggled to contain it. His fingers fairly itched to feel the pommel, and he clenched his hands into fists.

"It is yours, if you can reach in and take it." The Emperor promised. There was a strange smile playing about his lips. Luke started forward, only to find himself held fast. He blinked, and then squawked in protest.

"Reach, boy. See the lightsaber in your mind. You have only to think about wanting it, and it is yours."

Luke closed his eyes, visualizing the blade in his mind. The way the pommel thrummed in his hands, the way it felt when he twirled it in the air. In his mind's eye, Luke saw the button for the compartment. He reached for it, feeling the pressure of his thumb on the activator stud in the recesses of his mind. The lightsaber gleamed before him, the faint starlight reflecting off the metal casing. It called to him, the thrumming energy he'd felt from before washed over him. He felt powerful, desire washed over him and Luke answered the call. Without thinking, Luke extended his hand and called the blade. It flew from the compartment and landed in his hand so quickly that he did not have time to open his eyes before it clattered to the floor.

"Very good, boy. Very good."

Luke knelt to pick up the lightsaber. He clutched it tightly, running his fingers over the pommel.

"Thank you, my lord." Luke whispered.

"Do you feel fear now, boy, when you think of serving on the Executor?" The Emperor asked quietly. Luke considered it for a moment, feeling the reassuring weight of the blade in his hands.

"No, my lord."

"And why is that?"

"I don't know." Luke answered steadily.

"Is it because you now have a weapon to defend yourself against the likes of Darth Vader?" the Emperor was smiling; his yellow eyes were a glowing gold.

"I—no, my lord. I could never expect to be able to combat someone as powerful as Lord Vader." Luke floundered uncertainly. The lightsaber did make him feel stronger, but he was only a boy. Lord Vader was rumored to have once been a powerful Jedi. He still seemed to retain his power from the mystical energy field. Luke felt fear rise in him, he hugged the blade close and struggled to sort out his feelings. The Emperor waited, patiently. "I hope to serve my rotation in a way that will please Lord Vader so he doesn't—"

"Doesn't what?"

"doesn't choke me." Luke whispered, and to his shame, tears pricked his eyes. He blinked them away, rapidly, and clenched his hands into fists. "My mother would be most upset if Lord Vader killed me. Forgive me, my lord, but you might lose two servants to the Empire. Myself and Lord Vader. I know my mother would kill him." Luke declared boldly, and to his surprise, the Emperor laughed.

"Very good, boy. Very good." The Emperor motioned Luke close once more and reached out a hand to pat his arm. "You worry yourself unnecessarily, young Luke. I would never hear of you suffering at Vader's hands."

"I know, and I'm sorry for not believing you would keep me from harm, my lord." Luke began, only to pause when the Emperor reached out and took the blade from Luke's grasp. Drawing in a deep breath, Luke froze as the Emperor activated the blade and stared at it thoughtfully.

"This was once Vader's lightsaber, did you know that?" he asked suddenly. Luke furrowed his brow thoughtfully. Truthfully, he'd never bothered to consider where it might have come from.

"No, my lord, I didn't." Luke watched, transfixed, as the Emperor lazily twirled it around and around. "Did he not want it any more?" Luke asked absently, as the Emperor deactivated it and tossed it back to him.

"He had no more use for it."

"No use?" Luke caressed the pommel lovingly before clipping it to his belt. "Why wouldn't he want to use it any more?"

"It is a bit difficult for a lightsaber to find much use when the man who made it no longer exists." The Emperor admitted, and Luke turned to stare at him in confusion.

"My lord?" he stammered in confusion.

"What do you know of your father, Luke?"

"My father? He was a navigator on a spice freighter."

"So that's what your mother has told you?" The Emperor cackled. "No doubt she was only trying to spare you pain." He soothed at Luke's angry expression. "Your father was once a Jedi knight. One of the greatest the Jedi order had ever known."

Luke was floored. He unclipped the blade and studied it, thoughtfully. A Jedi, indeed.

"What happened to him?"

"He was thought to be murdered by a young Darth Vader. Or so I thought. Shortly after you were born, he proved himself very much alive. The few Jedi who remain are hiding him from you, and your sister and mother. They want to keep you all apart."

"Why?" Luke demanded. A longing awoke in him suddenly, a desire to meet his real father.

"I do not know their intentions. I cannot fathom of any reason a father should be kept from his son." The Emperor mused. "I am sorry to be the one to tell you all this, Luke."

"No, I'm glad you're telling me." Luke struggled to think through his tumultuous feelings. "What happened to Vader, though?"

"Your father dealt him a grievous blow. Vader is little more than a myth, now. He is a way to keep the outer systems in line. They fear Vader, and they fear the Empire. It is a matter of politics." The Emperor seemed almost lost in his musings for a moment, but then turned his attention back to Luke, who seemed lost himself.

"You will have to forgive an old man, Luke. I had not realized the time." The Emperor rose to his feet, and moved to stand before the window. "You are dismissed." He said softly, and Luke dropped to one knee for a moment before rising again.

"Thank you, my lord." He said solemnly.

It was late at night when Luke returned to his mother's residence. He snuck through silent halls to the privacy of his chambers. He readied himself for bed and reverently laid his lightsaber on the headboard before he slipped beneath the covers. Lying back in the pillows, he thought back through everything the Emperor had told him. About the Jedi. His father. Nearly asleep, he contemplated his father's duel with Darth Vader. A grievous blow, the Emperor had said. That was weird enough. Yawning, Luke turned to lie on his stomach and his eyes sought the reassuring curves of the lightsaber on the headboard above him. Strangely, he had never heard whether Vader lived or died in that duel.

Maybe even the Emperor had no way of knowing.