A.N: WOO! You guys, I am so siked! For a couple different reasons: one, I got a lead role in this play my school's doing. Only a third of the people who auditioned got to be cast in the show. And the second reason I'm so happy is I get a three day weekend, starting now!!! … And that had nothing whatsoever to do with the story.

Chapter Seven

Vader had never enjoyed social gatherings. Usually, he wouldn't have to bother about going, but every now and then the Emperor would request Vader's attendance for various reasons… this was one of those times. It wouldn't be a lie to say that he hated these occasions. There were so many things he would rather do.

The only people who came to these parties were senators and sometimes their children. It was always worse when they brought their children because most of the time, the kids would parade around, thinking they were very important. It was so annoying to see that.

Hopefully there weren't going to be a lot of children this time.

…

Luke had resolved before they even got there that he was going to make as much trouble as possible for this couple. They hadn't shown the faintest sign of wanting to send him back and that began to worry him. If they didn't send him back soon, then Luke may actually start to like them. And as soon as he decided that he did like them, then they would send him back. That would be unbearable; he had to prevent this from happening.

They came into the large ballroom and Luke gaped at the sight of it. It was so big! At the far end there were two sets of huge doors leading to balconies outside. On either side of the room, there were stairs leading to indoor balconies overlooking the main part of the ballroom.

All over the place, he saw tables loaded with trays of food. There were waiters going around with more trays of appetizers. All about the room, there were people talking, dancing and enjoying themselves… it was the perfect scene for a disaster.

As soon as Lizzian and Japhonan were busy talking to people, Luke saw his chance to sneak away. He wormed his way through the crowds, heading to the closest table of food he saw.

He came to the very end of one of the tables and climbed under it. He crawled on the floor, hidden from the guests by the long table cloth. When he came to the center, he climbed out the back near the wall where no one would see him. Just as he thought, the large punch bowl rested there, just waiting to be tipped.

No one could see Luke from where he was. He knelt down behind the table with his hand ready to tip it as soon as he had a few people in front of it. It was a while, but finally he got the perfect chance. Luke couldn't suppress a devious smile as he tipped the bowl, causing it to fall and spill all over the unassuming guests.

The screams he heard on the other side of the table was very rewarding to him. He suddenly stood up when he saw some of the punch leaking its way to his side of the table. When he stood, Luke saw that his plan had succeeded even better than he could have hoped.

The punch bowl had been bigger than he thought. When he had tipped it, the punch had gone all across the floor and tripped the people dancing, causing them to fall. Everyone was screaming as they tripped and stumbled. The whole room had become utter chaos.

Luke put his hands on his hips and laughed as he enjoyed the fruits of his work. On a whim, Luke decided to go to one of the balconies overlooking the room so he could get a better view of the scene that was taking place.

…

Vader had to admit, this was one of the more enjoyable parties he had ever attended. Somehow, the punch bowl had fallen, causing nearly all the guests to fall. The way they tried in vain to get up and gain some dignity was just sheer amusement to Vader. Apparently he wasn't the only one who thought so.

Someone had come up the stairs and was now looking down on the scene with a devious smile on his face. It was the boy he had seen earlier that day. The boy hadn't noticed him so Vader decided to stay quiet and see how long it took him to figure out he wasn't alone.

Slowly, Vader realized that it had been the boy who had caused the scene below to take place. And now he was enjoying the results. Such a little trouble maker, that boy. He was nearly as amusing as the guests.

Vader decided to talk to the boy and see if he would talk this time.

"I see you have been up to some mischief," Vader observed.

…

Luke whirled around when he heard Vader's voice.

"Oh crap…" he thought, backing back towards the stairs.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Vader asked him, almost amusingly as he referred to Luke's little prank.

Luke bit his lip nervously. What was he going to do now?

He was so scared that he was almost relieved when he heard Japhonan coming up the stairs and walk behind Luke.

"Don't you think I didn't see what you did," Japhonan said warningly to Luke. "What possessed you to do something like that?"

But then Japhonan also noticed Vader's presence and he stopped rebuking Luke so he could focus on the Dark Lord.

"Lord Vader," he said in a neutral voice. "I wasn't aware that you were here."

"It was requested that I attend," Vader said in an equally neutral voice.

Luke, meanwhile, inched his way behind Japhonan. He wanted to get as far away from Vader as possible. Japhonan noticed this and felt slightly exuberant that the boy would seek refuge behind him.

Vader gestured to Luke. "Is he yours?"

Japhonan was taken back by Vader's interest, but answered without a pause. "Oh no. We're his foster parents."

…

Vader couldn't help but be interested when he heard this. If this man wasn't the boy's father, then who was? This boy undoubtedly had Force potential. Perhaps his father was a former Jedi who escaped the purges and tried to reproduce. There was only one way to find out.

"Really?" Vader said. "Who are his parents?"

…

Luke scowled when he heard Vader ask who his biological parents were. Why would he care anyway? Why couldn't he just leave him alone?

"We don't know," Japhonan answered. "The boy won't talk."

Vader cocked his head to the side. "You mean he can't talk or he won't talk?"

"He won't talk," Japhonan said.

…

Vader nodded. It may be important to find out…

…

Luke suddenly sensed something. An interest from the Dark Lord directed at him. This frightened Luke enough to want to jump out the nearby window. Instead, he grabbed Japhonan's hand and began pulling him toward the stairs.

Japhonan got the hint and began to follow.

"It was a pleasure, Lord Vader," Japhonan said politely.

"Yeah right," Luke thought to himself.

He was happy when they found Lizzian and left early. Luke couldn't stand being here any longer. Even the pleasure of his earlier prank had temporarily gone sour. Only back in the speeder did he think back and feel the urge to laugh.

A/N: Aren't you guys happy??? I know I am! Please review! Hopefully I will update again this weekend but don't get your hopes high if you don't review!!!