"Tin"

"Yes?"

"I will be going on a field trip tomorrow," Luke said as he picked up a fruit from the bowl on the counter. "They need you to sign the permission."

"I've already signed it, young master," Tin said, turning to watch Luke threw his bag onto the cough and flopped down on it with a holopad in his hand. The boy hummed his response before started working on his homework with one hand, the other hand bringing the fruit to his mouth.

"Thank you Tin," Luke said, voice muffled by the fruit in his mouth. Tin sighed, and Luke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know I shouldn't talk while I've something in my mouth."

"I didn't say anything," Tin held up both his hand and shrugged. Luke glared at him before turning back to his homework, and Tin walked back to the kitchen.

Luke is twelve almost thirteen years old now. Years had passed since Luke first day at school. The boy had grown up to a smart, a bit cocky, and almost a teenager by now. He had grown from that little child, now Luke's height was around Tin's shoulder and kept getting taller and taller every day. The boy was also strong, both physically and mentally. White, whose compliment was as rare as a rain on a desert planet, had said one day that Luke would make a fine sharpshooter if he wished to be, and that the boy had a talent for it.

Lord Vader still visited his son once or twice a month. And during summer they would go back to Darim. Tin would train with his father when Lord Vader was there, or he would train alone in the garden or with the droids. The combat droids for Luke were now the sixth generation. The boy had developed his skill so quickly that the droids needed to be changed almost every year.

Tin hadn't seen much of Luke's training. It's Captain Coyote's job not his. He would only be called in if Luke was too injured to move, usually going in with a medic. Also, last year Lord Vader had allowed Luke to spar with his bodyguards. Tin was worried that the Stormtroopers might overdo it and Luke was just a boy. It turned out that Luke could handle himself well and even win some of the matches. Captain Coyote said to Tin one day that Luke would go far, and Tin had no doubt in it.

Tin's relationship with his boss was still the same, except that Lord Vader would use him only when they're on Darim. The only thing that changed was, since Luke's visit to Naboo, Tin had orgasmed almost every time his boss used him. Not as mind-blowing as that time, but enough to satisfy his need, making Tin collapse down on his bed as soon as he reached his room. But other than the sexual intercourse, nothing changed. Tin still gave his report every day. And if his boss was busy, Tin would write his report down for Lord Vader to read later.

"You should get change," Tin said, looking at the clock. "It's almost the time for your training."

"I don't want to," Luke pouted before he started talking about one of his best friends. "Ramie's father is an admiral but he doesn't have to train every day. He can go to an arcade after school. I want to go to the arcade with him."

"You're free on Sunday." Tin pointed out, still busy with choosing dinner's dishes as Luke crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yeah, but my friends are with their families on Sunday."

"I can accompany you to the arcade if you want."

"It's not the same," Luke groaned, waving his hand and walked out. Tin sighed. Luke grew up every day and was about to experience the hormones and all those shitty things about teenagers. Tin didn't experience much of that as clones had a very strict training programme that was enough to drain all of their energy every day. Tin still remembered falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow almost every day, back when he was a teenager.

"You know," White said as he walked into the kitchen. Tin guessed that the Stormtrooper had been standing close to the door for a while and wait for Luke to go out first. "It's like watching a mother dealing to with a teenage son."

"Don't ever…" Tin rolled his eyes. "I'm not his mother."

"But he cared about you more than his own father," White said, and his words made Tin abruptly turned to the Stormtrooper.

"What did you just say?" he asked even that he didn't miss what White had said.

"I said, he loves you more than he loves his father." White replied, voice calm. "You haven't seen when he's sparring with a robot or with us much. The boy is full with colourful language I guess he had picked them up from school. But he had never used one when you're near. Never."

This left Tin dumbfounded. "Really?" Tin asked, his voice quiet. "I mean; he's a boy. It's normal for him to curse, I guess. And I'm not his mother!"

"He's in his best behaviour when he's with you." White grinned.

"Oh Force, don't let Lord Vader know about this," Tin groaned, already imaging worst case scenario where Lord Vader walked in on them while White was talking about all of this. "He's going to kill us all if he knows."

"I doubt that," White said, turning to leave. "Kill me, sure. Kill you? Don't think so."

"What?"

"Nothing," and then the sharpshooter was gone, probably going to the basement to watch Luke. Since the boy turned ten, White and Coyote always worked together to train Luke.

Tin tried not to think about what White said. The 'you're like his mother' was a joke, or at least for Tin it's probably a joke, the squad had said too many time now, until Tin was too tired to argue. He still argues sometimes though, but with no hope that he would win.

Summer approached and Luke's about to turn thirteen. As the boy went to school, Tin dragged Captain Coyote out with him to find a present for Luke. Lord Vader didn't say anything when Tin reported about his first gift to Luke when the boy turned eight, so he guessed that it's okay. And when the boy turned nine, the boys received not just a present from Tin, but also from Captain Coyote and the rest of his bodyguards.

"Do you think he will like this?" Tin asked as he picked up the books from the shelves. They're old, probably older than Tin, but Luke loved books and reading.

"He will," Coyote replied. "And I'm going to give him a new shelf since he has like…thousands of books right now?"

"It's just one hundred and sixty-three, Captain," Tin rolled his eyes. Coyote's expression softened before he looked around and urged Tin to go on. The clone frowned but didn't say anything. He had a feeling that Captain Coyote had something he wanted to tell Tin.

"What is it?"

"What?"

"When we're in town, you looked like you have something in mind." Tin said. They're on the road and on the way back to the house. They had several hours before White and Coyote had to go pick the boy up.

"I…" Coyote started and then shook his head. "…I don't know how to phrase this."

"Just try," Tin frowned. Now he was concerned. Captain Coyote rarely had a problem to speak what's in his mind, unless it's a serious stuff or something he didn't want someone to know.

"The boy starts to rebel," Captain Coyote said. "I guessed it's a hormone thing. Now it's just me and the men, but I couldn't image what will happen to him if he rebelled against his father."

"Oh," Tin gasped. He understood what Coyote said. All of them loved the boy, maybe too much, and it's going to be hurtful to watch Luke got punished by Lord Vader. Knowing their boss, Tin knew that Lord Vader would never be kind. The dark lord of the Sith had started to train Luke harder or in the way of the Sith which wouldn't always be pleasant and enjoyable – Tin guessed.

"Well, I'm going to be optimist and say that he's not that foolish," Coyote shrugged and Tin agreed with him. However, Tin couldn't help but wondered if that scenario would happen someday. He shuddered and decided not to think about it. That's probably for the better.

Luke started to rebel after he turned fourteen. The first time it happened was the day after Lord Vader visited. They went out with Captain Coyote and his men. They came back with Luke, covered in bandages and already asleep. Lord Vader didn't say anything when he left, so Tin just let it passed. But the other day the boy just walked into the kitchen complaining about why his father had to put him through something horrible.

"I don't understand my father, Tin," the boy went on as he walked around the room. A bandage-covered hand balled into a fist. "The only way to rule is from the Dark side. I just don't understand him. Can't he see that there's people suffering from the civil war? Why the Empire spent so much money on weapons when there are people starving…"

Tin was surprised that day. He didn't know what to reply, and Luke just glared at him before walking away, saying that he's going to prepare for today's practice and he would go out for a walk after this. Seeing that Luke would have 2 hours after practice before his bed time, let Luke go.

The boy went back looking calmer than before. He didn't say anything and went straight to bed, so Tin settled down and wrote the report. However, this was the first time Tin left something out. He wrote about Luke going out for a walk but didn't write about Luke complaining into the report. Tin wasn't sure why he did that, maybe because he was afraid Lord Vader would punish his son and because Tin wasn't as afraid as when he had to report vocally to Lord Vader. His boss rarely had time for hologram call, nowadays he only read the report.

The next day was the same. Tin stormed of the training room, muttering something as he walked out, shouting that he would go for a walk. White walked out of the training room after the boy, he looked trouble.

"What happen?" Tin asked the Stormtrooper as the man readjusted his shirt. White sighed.

"That boy is having a tough ride with his hormones," White said, shaking his head. "I hope he won't behave like that when he's around his father."

And that made Tin decided that he had to talk to Luke about this. However, today he still didn't write about what happened to Lord Vader.

/

Weeks passed, Luke went out before going to bed every day. White and Coyote reported that the boy just walking around, sometimes just went to sit under the tree several meters away from the house. However, since Luke was calmer every time he got back, Tin didn't say anything. He didn't manage to talk to Luke yet. The boy was busy with his schedule and sometimes even sleepy after he got back from school, so Tin made sure that Luke ate and slept well. Luke still smiled at him and the others when he wasn't having a mood-swing though.

However, today Tin had a feeling that he needed to talk to Luke. Lord Vader was going to visit tomorrow, and Tin wanted to know what's going on.

"Tin, I'm going to go for…."

"Mind if I join you?" Tin said casually, knowing what Luke was going to say. The boy said this to him every time he was about to go for a walk. The boy was old enough that Captain Coyote and his men didn't have to follow him closely around. Well, they did follow Luke, but from a long distance.

"Of course not," Luke shook his head, smiling. But there's something behind his eyes. Tin had a feeling that Luke was hiding something from him.

They walked in silence. Luke leaded him through the grasses with hands clasped behind his back. Tin followed and tried to study the boy's expression. Luke seemed a lot calmer when he was outside.

The boy took him to the tree White reported Luke sitting under every time he went out. Tin sat down beside Luke and waited. He knew Luke would eventually say something.

"You know," Luke said, eyes looking forward. The boy was hesitated, but brushing his concern off and continued as soon as Tin turned to see why he didn't continue. "There are rumours that the Rebel is the right choice." Luke said and turned to look at Tin.

The Rebel? Tin frowned. They're traitors, they cannot be trusted. Where did Luke get that idea? The clone decided to ask Luke directly. "Where did you hear that?" Tin's voice was smooth and neutral despite his concern, and Luke looked relieved that Tin's voice stayed his same neutral and comforting tone.

"In the town, when I went to the arcade. There're people talking about them. About the Rebels." Luke said. "Who are they Tin?"

"They're terrorists," Tin answered almost on autopilot. He wasn't even sure if this what's he really thought, or what he should answer Luke. He just knew that the Empire would want him to answer like this, Lord Vader would want him to give this answer. "They claimed they're fighting for the greater good or whatever. But what they do is hurting people."

"But the Empire isn't better," Luke said. He stopped walking and turn to face Tin. The clone had a feeling that Luke had kept this buried within his mind for a long time. "I mean; the media tries to ignore the situations of many planets under the Empire's care. The fact is; they're not doing well and the Empire does nothing to help. It's like the Empire just took what they wanted and left."

Luke sounds…angry? Tin frowned. He had heard Luke expressed his concerns about how the Empire treats other planets before, but not like this.

"Diralo, Amidora II, Rjnuh, you name it." The boy went on, now he sounded angry. "Small planets with no choice but to obey the Empire. I just…" Luke shook his head, waving his hands as he talked. "I just…I just don't know who I should talk about this. I…" the young man looked at Tin in the eyes and Tin saw something new in that pair of clear blue eyes. It's something mixed between anger, frustration, and sadness. "…I just can't tell my father that his beloved Empire isn't doing a good job taking good care of the people. All father cares about is the army and what the Emperor wants him to do, not the Galaxy. Not the people the Empire promised to protect."

The boy wiped the hair that fell down to his forehead up with a tired sigh. Tin wondered how long Luke had been keeping this to himself. In one hand he was worried because his boss wasn't going to like Luke's opinion about the Empire. But on the other hand, Tin was relieved that Luke decided to blow of some stream here, not doing it in front of Lord Vader.

"What do you think Tin?" Luke asked, voice became quiet as if he was afraid of what the clone might reply. "What do you think about the Empire?"

Tin took several seconds, almost a minute, to consider this. He knew what Luke said was true. Most planets under the Empire were suffering, only a few – such as Naboo – would be cherished. But he's just a clone, what could he said?

"Honestly, young master, I do not know," Tin replied, voice quiet but he meant every word he said. "I'm just a clone, bred to fight a war. I was programmed to take orders, not to question them."

Luke's expression then became something unreadable. The boy seemed to be considering something before he shrugged and started walking again. Tin followed him. None of them said anything until Luke finally turned back and started to head home.

As they're about to reach the house, Luke spoke up. His voice was soft and sincere. "Thank you for being honest with me Tin."

"Thank you, young master."

That night Tin didn't write about the walk he took with Luke nor what the boy told him. He had a feeling that it's the right thing to do; even that skipping these details might get him killed someday.

Luke had a fight with his father several weeks after he turned fifteen. Tin wasn't sure what happened. It started with Lord Vader visiting them, taking Luke out and Coyote's men followed them, just like usual. However, only Lord Vader and Coyote's squad came back to the house, there's no sign of Luke.

"Where is Master Luke?" Tin asked Coyote as soon as he didn't see Luke anywhere. Coyote sighed and motion for Tin to follow him. Tin risked a glance and saw that his boss was reading a report, before following Coyote out of the house.

"Young master and Lord Vader have a fight," Coyote whispered, keeping an eye out in case his boss decide to take a walk outside the house. "I'm not sure what happened, but they talked and then Luke was yelling about Lord Vader being…uncaring about the fate of some systems under the Empire. They fought, and I meant with lightsabers and the Force thing. Master Luke was injured, and Lord Vader ordered all of us to go back. He said that Master Luke had to go back to the house by himself."

"Oh," Tin gulped. He wouldn't dare question his boss for why he did that; he's not that stupid. "How…how far did you go?"

"It might took several hours until Master Luke would arrive." Coyote replied. "Don't worry, White patrols the perimeters tonight, he will let you know as soon as Young Master is back."

Tin nodded and they went back to the house. Lord Vader was talking to some admirals on a hologram as they entered, so Tin quickly went to the kitchen to make sure the droid was working as it should be.

"Tin. Lord Vader wants you at the library, now."

Ten minutes after Tin entered the kitchen, one of the troopers showed up with an order to bring Tin to the library. Tin nodded and quickly walked out of the kitchen.

Lord Vader was alone in the library, looking out of the window. Tin entered and stood still, waiting for an order as he listened to the sound of the door sliding shut. He hoped that Lord Vader didn't call him here to torture. Tin had a feeling that his boss might have found out what Tin had been hiding.

"You didn't report to me of what Luke's opinions about the Empire are."

It's not a question, not an accusation. It's a declaration that Tin's going to be punished. The clone gulped. He knew that this day would come, but he hadn't expected it to be this soon.

"I didn't," Tin replied, he knew better than trying to know the way out of this.

"You know you're going to be punish for this," his boss continued, turning to face him. "What is your reason?"

Tin took several seconds to gather his thought. He had thought about the reason of his action for a while now. "I was afraid that you will try to make Master Luke thinks the way you prefer as soon as you find out." Tin spoke, voice smooth and honest. "Master Luke is not like me; he's not bred to follow the orders. I want him to think for himself of what he wants to do, what he prefers, what he likes, and what he doesn't like."

Tin straightened his posture and waited for the punishment to come. He knew Lord Vader wasn't going to let him go for this, and he hoped that Captain Coyote and others would take good care of the boy if Lord Vader decided to kill him. Also, deeper in his mind, Tin hoped that Lord Vader would think about what his reason. Deep down, Tin wished that Lord Vader would agree with him that Luke shouldn't be ripped of his free-will.

"Sergeant, I am impressed."

Lord Vader spoke, and Tin had to restrain himself not to show his surprise. He had been expecting punishments, the Force-choke, lightsaber striking down, or anything. But not…not this, not to hear Lord Vader said that he was impressed.

"Again, you have proved your loyalty toward my son." His boss continued as he took a step forward. Tin knew better than to back away. "You will remain at his side until he no longer needs your assistance." Lord Vader said, now he's standing in front of Tin. "But do not think that your action will not have consequences."

"Thank you, my lord," Tin bowed, he's surprised, but the feeling that was overwhelming him now was gratefulness. He had never, he had never thought that his boss would allow him to live, and to continue taking care of Luke. Tin was so happy that he didn't even care when his boss took his dry, in the middle of the library. He didn't even care when Lord Vader had Force-choked him during the time of the sexual intercourse. And he didn't care when he was left bleeding on the floor when it's over.

Tin was able to gather himself up before Coyote and his men came looking for him. Coyote saw him as Tin trying to get to his room as quick as he could to get change but said nothing, not even when he saw that there was blood on Tin's pants.

/

Lord Vader left during the night, and Tin stayed up the whole night to wait for Luke. He got everything ready as soon as White reported in that he saw Master Luke.

The boy didn't say anything as Tin got the medical droid to look at him. There were a lot of scratches on Luke's body. Nothing was fatal though, the boy would recover.

"Master Luke, I suggest a shower and a rest," Tin said as Luke didn't seem to be getting up from the chair he sat on while the Medical droid examined him. Luke just looked up and sighed. Tin raised his eyebrows. It looked like Luke wanted to say something.

"I'm sorry I've got you in trouble," Luke said, eyes looking at Tin's neck. The clone blushed slightly. Lord Vader had also grabbed his neck last night, choking him while he used Tin's body. "I…I'm so sorry."

"Please don't be, it's my job," Tin shook his head. "And I know that you're tired, young master. I suggest we talk later, after you've fully rested. Or do you want to eat something first?"

"Ngh, I'm good. I think I will go to bed now." Luke shook his head before he stood up. Tin just noticed that Luke was getting taller and taller every day. "Still, thank you." The boy said quickly and went out of the room.

Three galactic months later, planet Darim

"Siiloo I?" Tin raised his eyebrows as he read the description. "It's an industrial planet."

"Exactly," Captain Coyote nodded. "It seems like the Queen of Siiloo I is being…difficult in many negotiations regarding the important businesses with the Empire. The Emperor wants Lord Vader to attend the planet royal celebration of their newst princess or some sort, to make sure they will be more cooperative next time."

"Celebration?" Tin shook his head. "I've never thought that Lord Vader would be interested in something like that. He's likely to literally crush their party and beheaded the queen if she's stupid enough to say anything."

"I agree," Coyote replied, shrugging. He didn't seem to care much about where they're going. "But he's taking Master Luke and us with him, so I guess that he has another plan in mind."

"Oh, great," Tin nodded, sighing before he waved Coyote goodbye for the day. They're back on Darim now, just arrived here yesterday. And now Coyote came to tell him that Lord Vader was going to visit the celebration on Siiloo I, and he would like Luke to go with him.

His boss and Luke was in the garden right now, sparring. Tin went to make sure that dinner was ready and went to prepare for the trip to Siiloo I. By the schedule Coyote gave him, they would leave for Siiloo I in 48 hours from now and would be staying there for seven galactic days, unless there're some complications or they could finish the mission quicker than that. Tin guessed that it's going to be the later.

Luke was excited to go to Siiloo I, Tin could tell. To be honest, Tin was surprised that Lord Vader wanted him to go to Siiloo I too, at first he thought he's going to be left at Darim while Lord Vader took his son to around to attend the business. His boss had started taking Luke with him when he around 18 galactic months ago. Coyote told Tin that mostly they stayed on a Star Destroyer, but sometimes Luke'd got to see his father in action when they hunted down Rebels or wanted criminals. Tin had a feeling that Luke started to disagree with the Empire's method after he had seen their…absoluteness (?).

Now they're on an Imperial shuttle heading toward Siiloo I. Lord Vader was in the pilot seat with Luke as his co-pilot. Tin wasn't sure what he should feel about that nor the original pilot, so they all sat quietly and ignored the fact that Lord Vader was actually teaching Luke how to fly the shuttle in battle; they strapped themselves to the chair as soon as Lord Vader told Luke to do several flips he had taught yesterday.

The queen of Siiloo I and her subjects were waiting for them at the platform. She's a tall human with lovely golden hair and cunning bright blue eyes. But despite the cunningness, her expression was serious. Her oldest daughter was there beside her, along with her son. Her daughter looked like her, serious but cunning, while the son seemed to be more playful and innocent. The tree of the royalists dressed in light purple clothes and colourful head adornment, so different from Lord Vader and Luke who dressed in black. Actually, Tin felt like their choice of clothes were a bit stood out when everything in this city was so colourful.

"Greeting. Lord Vader." The queen of Siiloo I bowed slightly at Lord Vader, her children did the same.

"Queen Erre," Lord Vader said. "It's wise of you not to decline the Emperor request."

"How could I?" Queen Erre chuckled. "Come, let us take you around before the meeting begins."

The group continued toward the palace with the dark lord of the Sith and the queen of Siiloo I leading the way. Two Stormtroopers were behind Lord Vader, after that it was Luke who bowed to the queen's children and smiled as the princess and prince of Siiloo I offered him their polite welcoming smiles.

Tin was in the back of the group. His job was to take care of their luggage. And after taking in the view of the city surrounding the palace while loading the bags out of the shuttle, Tin was impressed. Despite their incomes were mostly from the industries, Siiloo I still managed to keep the city area clean and welcoming.

While the queen of Siiloo I showed Lord Vader and Luke around, Tin and another Stormtrooper took care of the luggage. They made sure that each of the bag were transported safely to each quarters. Lord Vader and Luke would be sharing the quarter while Tin would stay with the rest of the Stormtroopers.

Tin didn't see them until the afternoon that Luke called him through the comm.

"Tin, let's go,"

"Young master?" Tin was surprised by Luke's excitement that was obvious in Luke's voice. "Go where? Did…"

"Meet me at the front gate of the palace. Quickly, father let me go explore the capital." Luke replied. "Hurry Tin, I've got a speeder. White is going with us too."

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Tin said and he quickly made his way to the front gate of the palace. Luke was already there with a landspeeder, probably borrowed. White was also there, sitting at the back with his guns ready.

"Let's go, we have three hours." Luke winked, jumping into the driver seat. "I'll drive." The boy announced happily, and Tin started to have a bad feeling about this. He turned to look at White and knew that the other trooper was having the same thought.

Sometimes Tin wondered if his boss was like Luke when he was a child. Okay, Lord Vader is scary and unfriendly, but he must had gone through puberty, right? I wonder what he's like… Tin mused while trying his best to hold on. Luke was…speeding up…again. And Tin wondered if his boss in the past would drive as fast as this when he's a child.

"Lookout!" White almost screamed when Tin made an unnecessary flipped as they changed the channelled they're travelling on to the lower level. Tin grips on the side of the speeder tightened as Luke laughed and made another flipped, earning another silent curse from White.

"Chill, guys," Luke chuckled. "You're not going to be sick."

"Not yet, but probably soon," White groaned, earning another giggle from Luke. Tin shook his head, wondering what Lord Vader would do if he knew Luke almost made one of his own bodyguard vomit, and if Lord Vader had tried to make someone vomit by speeding and spinning the vehicles before.

However, despite the speed Luke was driving and the possibility of the boy ramming them into another vehicle or the building, Tin felt peaceful. It's like they're on vacation, just them, no need to worry about the politics, the Empire, anything. He looked at Luke and saw that the boy was beaming in happiness and wished that Luke would remain pure and happy for as long as possible.