"Father, I don't think this is a good idea."
Darth Vader had dragged Luke out of bed early in the morning, threw some clothes at him, and demanded that he get dressed. Luke was so out of it that he barely registered his Father pulling him into a ship.
It was only when they landed on top of a tall building, and Vader demand that Luke jumps off it, that he really woke up.
"I have already told you, this is a simple exercise. All I want you to do is to jump off, and land on top of the Dauntless." Vader nearly pushed him off the edge—Vader was not a patient person, and right now he wanted to go back to his room and Meditate.
"Uh, but why? I mean like—"
"It is a simple exercise to ensure that your Force senses are working. If I did not think you were ready, I bot have brought you here. Now jump." Vader cut in angrily.
"Think rationally for a second here! I'll jump when The Dauntless is waiting for me! What hell? Who designed this anyway? It was a Jedi wasn't it—" Vader pushed him, and Luke shrieked as he found himself falling from the roof.
The only thought that was running through his mind was; I'mgoingtodieI'mgoingtodie…Luke knew that he had to focus on using the Force. After panicking, he closed his eyes and tried to find the Dauntless.
It was below him and on his left. He could sense his Father in it, he could almost hear the engine if he focused really hard…he lost it, and opened his eyes in a panic. He saw the roof of his ship, and focused on landing with a skilful roll on top.
Obviously, once he landed, Luke had actually rolled offof the vehicle. But Luke had calmed down a bit, and was able to grip onto the bottom before vaulting himself up whilst using the Force.
He found himself on top again, and gripped on for his life. It seemed that Vader was trying to kill him, because he kept trying to shake him off.
What sort of test is this? Seriously, the Jedi probably used this test on experienced Force-users! I'm like, only a beginner!
Luke decided that he'd yell at Vader once he was safely on the ground.
Meanwhile, Vader was feeling rather pleased with Luke's progress. Of course, when he had taken the test, he had finished it know problem, and Obi-Wan had treated him to ice-cream afterwards.
Luke was fairing rather well, though when he had rolled off the edge, Vader had felt panic grip at him—only to be replaced with pride as Luke pulled of a rather flashy move.
When Vader felt satisfied, he landed the ship in the Hangar Bay. He knew that Luke would be angry with him, but as a Sith, you needed to be prepared for anything.
That included being pushed off of a building.
"Before you start yelling at me…" Vader interrupted, raising a finger, "you will be pleased to know that you passed."
"You didn't need to push me off a building though! What sort of test was that I could've died and then what would you have done huh? You would've flown off and left me there what were you thinking and typical you're not even listening to me…!" Luke continued, his cheeks flushed and his hair windswept.
Vader waited for Luke to finish, briefly being reminded of himself when he was younger, arguing with Obi-Wan.
"Are you done?" Vader asked, and Luke scowled, knowing that Vader was finding this amusing.
"You're the meanest dad ever." Luke complained, crossing his arms and pouting.
Howchildish.Vader thought, and then he looked at Luke, and a thought crossed his mind. Heisachild.
How often had Vader looked at Luke and seen Padme, this was his only thing that remained of her, and he swore he would never let anything happen to Luke.
"Or I'm the most powerful." Vader replied, using the Force to juggle Luke around in the air. Luke squealed and squeaked the entire time, the Hangar-Bay spinning.
"What h-happened to: notusingtheForcetoamuseyourselforfriends huh?" Luke asked, quoting him.
Vader felt like shrugging, but opted to ignore Luke instead.
"How is your English coming along?" Vader asked as they walked along the corridors.
"Oh, uh, yeah it's fine…yeah." Luke ended lamely. Vader wanted to demand that Luke expand on that answer for him, but he decided that he could reprimand Luke when his report came.
Luke's mind trailed back to when Dorian had randomly attacked him in school.
That was so weird, why did he do that? He acted as if nothing was wrong after that as well…he's weird, maybe I should tell Father?
Luke bit down in his lip, and glanced ahead at Vader. No, he couldn't worry Vader about this. He could deal with it himself. He was nearly twelve; he couldn't be running to Vader about allhis problems.
"Let's go flying soon, okay?" Luke asked aloud, accidently voicing his thoughts. He blushed and ducked his head, embarrassed.
"When I have some free-time, perhaps." Vader replied, wondering why Luke had mentioned it so suddenly.
"O-okay." Luke sniffed and pretended to examine one of the blank walls.
"That wall must be very interesting." Vader commented. Luke's head snapped up and he shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess. I have to go now, I have…homework. Bye!" Luke rushed off, and Vader watched after him, confused.
Why did he run of so suddenly? Luke was nearly always pestering him for some attention, and Vader usually brushed him off. Here he was, trying to talkto the boy, and he just leaves for no reason!
Vader sighed, and stared up at the ceiling, deep in thought.
He still didn't have any leads as to who the General was. King Xiao was getting impatient, and kept barging in with body guards, disrupting all the peace. His loud voice would echo around the Palace—"Where's Vader?"—and then he would storm around, ranting and raving about how the Imperials were corrupted until Vader came.
Vader could feel a headache coming, do he decided not to dwell on anything. He would go to his chambers and catch up on some much needed Meditation.
"That was so embarrassing." Luke mumbled to himself, wandering around idly. He heard some shuffling, and peeked round a corner.
Ian.
Luke clenched his hands, and felt the need to confront him about why he was snooping around.
Ian had his back turned, so he didn't notice Luke sneaking up on him.
"Dorian Jackspiel huh? I think I've heard of that name before…" Luke froze, and started backing away.
Something weird was going on. He decided, and the word conspiracycame to mind.
"They're plotting against my dad!" Luke whispered. Frowning, he quietly slipped away to his room, mulling over everything that had just happened.
He knew that he should alert his Father straight away, but Luke was a sort-of Sith now! He could do it! He had a Lightsaber as well; it would be no problem to threaten an answer out of Ian. Dorian however…well, Luke wasn't even sure how he came into the picture.
"I still wonder what it would be like to be normal, with a normal family." Luke muttered, searching for a pen and paper. He needed to write everything down, he had to be logical.
He hadto do this.
"I'm Luke Skywalker, son of Anakin Skywalker; The Greatest Jedi Knight and Sith Lord ever! I'm invincible!" Luke said loudly, and he felt better already!
He would concoct a brilliant plan! His Father would think he was amazing, and perhaps he would spend more time with him. Everything would work out his way for once.
But then again, this isLuke Skywalker we're talking about.