Chapter 3

Luke's father was already meditating in their gym when the boy got home and plopped down. The teen was steaming in annoyance, frustration and anger making the Dark Side mill about. Vader was not particularly concerned when Luke touched the Dark side, not in the way most would be, but it was odd. Luke was normally astoundingly good at controlling his emotions. Vader wasn't even sure he'd be able to turn Luke when the time came Luke was normally so good at keeping calm. "What is wrong?

"I have mounds of Homework, the Force is ruining my floor routine, everyone I know things I painted that Rebel thing just to bother you, you probably killed that reporter, I haven't even started packing, and I can't even ask Nila where everything is because she's gone."

Of all the things Luke vented about, it was only the second to last bit that Vader clung to, "Pack? Where are you going?"

That question, of course, served only to annoy Luke further, and the teen stood, giving upon the possibility of meditation. "Naboo dad, I'm going on an overnight trip to Naboo for culture class. You were offworld when I told you, so Nila signed the permission form."

Ah, that explained it, for Vader knew he'd never had agreed to this trip should Luke actually have held his attention while asking. He knew he could still forbid his son from going, but that was not a fight he wanted to have. Plus, he'd signed Luke up for Naboo culture to give him a taste of his mother, and Luke could never know his mother without seeing her home.

So, he settled on the simple answer while rising himself, "I saw C-3PO putting your clothes in your closet, but if you're looking for anything black I would check my chambers. That droid never seems to follow it's housework programming correctly."

"Or maybe his creator just didn't wire a few things correctly," Luke muttered, smiling to himself. He had known for years that the Maker 3PO constantly thanked was his father, but his father did not appear to know that Luke knew. Therefore the boy could get away with lots of comments about 3PO's creator, and couldn't even be punished for them. It was a great stress release.

Plus, as much as Vader pretended to be annoyed by such comments, he wasn't really. "Just go do your work and pack, we can attempt to assess why the Force is 'ruining' your gymnastics after you return." Luke was grateful to be let out of training, as he really did have far too much to do. Just as he was about to leave his father called out, "Oh, and Luke, if you should find yourself in any of Naboo's meadows, pick some leia flowers. Your mother told me once that they were quite valuable."

Luke stared at his father for a minute, wondering where in the galaxy that information sprung from, but he had too much to do to dwell on it. He just stored the information in the back of his mind, and went to pack.

Field trips were fun, until Luke had to be at their transport ship by o-five-hundred. Utterly exhausted, he climbed into the ship and found a chair by the window where he could at least meditate. The other students had surely had a cup of caf from the way they chattered, but Vader didn't permit Luke to have it. "If you need energy, call on the Force" was his motto, and Luke had no choice but to try it.

The annoying thing about parents is how often they are right. By the time they were in hyperspace Luke had all the energy he needed, and everyone else had begun to pass out. Everyone but Leah that was, who sat with a Databook in hand like always. In four years Luke had never seen her without a book, and he honestly wondered how she had yet to run out of things to read. Luke could barely get through what he had to for class, never mind add on reading for pleasure. But then Luke didn't know everything in the galaxy, and Leah seemed to, so perhaps reading paid off.

"What is that about?"

Leah's eyes didn't flicker up as Luke moved next to her. She simply spoke while continuing to read, "Imperial trade routes through Hutt controlled territory. You'd love it, it mentions Tatooine."

Luke wondered if it also mentioned his father, recalling a certain mission report during the Clone Wars that involved a baby Hutt and a similar problem. Reading his mind as always, Leah flipped to the beginning, and showed Luke the passage.

"Such trade routes build upon those formed by the Republic during the Clone Wars. The Outer Rim was originally a bed of crime and slavery, but the work of then-Chancellor Palpatine and the once-loyal Jedi ensured that Republic ships could pass. These war-time routes eventually gave way to Imperial control throughout Hutt territory."

Luke was always amazed by how authors could tint things in favor of the Empire. He'd seen it throughout his life, and it still amazed him. "Why do I feel like that is a vast oversimplification and the truth involved a lot more violence?"

"Because you, my friend, have a brain in your head," Leah chuckled, going back to her page. Luke didn't even know that to say to that genial acceptance of treason. Granted Leah was about as respectful to the Empire as Luke, perhaps less so, but she normally didn't make outright comments like that when there were teachers around.

But the teachers were drifting same as the students, and so Leah wasn't afraid to speak freely. Still, her ability to do so confused Luke, because he realized why she seemed so out of place. "Wait, you're not in Naboo class. Why are you here?"
Leah stopped a timer on her chrono, "Congratulations, it took you less than an hour to figure out. I bet it will take another three before anyone else does." It was a fair bet; no one ever seemed to pay attention to Leah. She simply wasn't important enough for them, but it was their loss. Rickon and Luke were well aware of the fact that being friends with Leah meant having knowledge, and knowledge was power. Leah was probably the most powerful kid at school, even if her mother was just a maid.

"Your mom is from Naboo, right? Does it have something to do with that?" Luke probed a minute later after realizing Leah had gone back to reading without answering his question. She'd do that sometimes, refuse to answer a question before he offered the first part of the answer. It was actually something Luke's father did as well, but Luke didn't like to consider the similarities between his Sith father and friend.

Apparently he'd gotten enough right though to win her attention, because Leah actually shut the book instead of just looking away. "Ding, ding, ding. It's where both my parents are from, but because of my mom's banishment, I've never been, so the school let me come with you."

"Wait, banishment?" Luke's mind reeled over the words. Why would Leah's maid mother end up banished? And since when did Leah ever speak of her father?

The girl raised her chocolate eyebrows, and gave Luke an amused grin. "You're surprised that my mother is more than she seems after knowing me for four years?" Okay, when she said it like that… Yeah, Leah had a way of making Luke feel dumb. "Before I was born my mother worked for Naboo's senator and was banished for espionage. Actually, it was your mother she worked for."

"Oh," Luke didn't know what to say to that. Why was it that Leah always said things that left Luke with nothing to say? "Um. Sorry? Is that why your mom always gives me that look, because of what my mother did?"

Leah laughed, flipping her hair ever so gently that Luke doubted she even noticed. "Force no. She gives you that look because of your father, not your mother. No, it's really not that big a deal. She was spying on your mother and telling Palpatine everything. Where she went… who came into her apartment… what size dress Padmé was wearing…"

Luke stared. He'd known Leah for four years and the girl had never thought to mention this? "Your mother told Palpatine about my father and me, didn't she?"

"And he set her up at the palace as a live-in maid to thank her. Good thing to, because I came along seven months later and would hate to have been raised homeless."

Leah existed on a plane of reality Luke could never understand. How she could just be so chill about such insane things he would never understand. But she honestly did not care that his mother was the reason she'd almost been born homeless. It wasn't just a farce. Luke could feel the sincerity of her nonchalance in the Force. She truly didn't care. Damn if she wouldn't make a good Jedi. Talk about letting go of all emotions.

A few hours later, everyone re-awoke, and the ship grew a lot louder. Leah was onto her second book, and reading it far too intently for Luke to dare interrupt again, so he was glad when Rickon sat up, blinking his eyes. "What did I miss?"

"Your father showed up and paid the pilot to sell you to pirates when we get to Naboo."

Rickon rolled his eyes, punching Luke hard enough for it to actually hurt. Luke just laughed though, rubbing his arm because, well, he deserved it. "Naw, actually I just found out that my mom knew, and banished Leah's mom because Leah's mom told Palpatine about my mom being pregnant."

"I shouldn't be surprised, but I feel like this might be a whole new level of insane coincidences, even for you."

Luke chuckled. What was his life but a series of insane coincidences? "Tell me about it."

Rickon looked ready to, but they were interrupted by Nil walking back to where they sat. "Hey, so, um, Luke, I hate to ask because I know you do gymnastics and that season just started but this would be during school so it wouldn't interfere and..." the eternally-nervous teen broke off for a minute to catch her breath before handing Luke a pile of papers. "Well putting on a play for Empire Day, and I was hoping you'd be willing to play your father. It's sort of a tradition for people to play their parents."

Luke stared down at the papers, the script, in his lap. It appeared to be little more than a short skit, and one he vaguely remembered from years past. "I would, but I'm not actually going to be on Coruscant for Empire Day."

"Well actually it's the Friday before so…"

So it appeared Luke didn't have a viable excuse, and it actually might be fun. Still, it was probably a really bad idea. His father would probably not appreciate Luke dawning the mask for a school play. But then again his father wouldn't have to know…

"You should do it," Leah apparently wasn't as into her book as Luke had assumed, because she was eavesdropping. She looked up at Luke, a mischievous light in her eyes that assured Luke that this was a very, very, very bad decision. Whenever Leah thought someone should do something, it was usually because she was looking forward to laughing at the consequences.

Rickon knew that too, which was why he was giving Luke that look, the look that was probably what Vader referred to when saying Rickon was Luke's temperance. Still, Luke could be too tempered sometimes. What was the harm in agreeing to do a stupid skit? His father didn't need to know, and it was for the benefit of the Empire. Surely Vader couldn't argue about that?

Of course he could, but Luke convinced himself otherwise while telling Nil "sure."

The girl walked away, clearly pleased, and Rickon just rolled his eyes. "I've said it before, I'll say it again. I'm going to laugh at your funeral." Now it was Luke's turn to hit Rickon. "Hey! Anyways, what's this about not being around on Empire Day? It's like the one fun day to live on Imperial Center."

It was always so weird for Luke to hear Coruscant called by its official name, especially when Luke knew as a fact that the Emperor usually called it Coruscant. Still, Admiral Cassel was a respectful guy, and Rickon picked up a lot of his dad's quirks. Luke wasn't sure if he wanted to know whether or not he'd picked up any of his father's quirks. "I'm going to Tatooine for a week. I haven't seen my Aunt and Uncle in years, and my father agreed."

"A week? But your birthday is only two days after Empire Day. Doesn't your father want to spend that with you?"

Luke normally didn't think much about how odd his family life was, but sometimes the comments Rickon made stung. Sometimes Luke was reminded of just how many things he missed out on because of his father. It wasn't so much that Luke blamed him, because he understood, but it made the teen sad. "Well even the couple times we've both been on Coruscant for my birthday he hasn't really spent time with me… He usually spends the entire trinity of days stewing in his hatred."

"Well on the first day he killed everyone he knew, on the second his best friend left him to burn to death on Mustafar, and on the third his wife died. I wouldn't like to celebrate those days either," Leah muttered, and Luke found himself in agreement. He couldn't blame his father for hating the days, Luke did too. How could he really celebrate his birthday knowing it was also the day his mother died, the day his father killed his mother. (Okay, to be fair, Luke didn't actually know for sure what killed his mother. Both Kenobi and Palpatine blamed Vader, and he didn't deny it, but Luke didn't want to believe it. He couldn't believe it.)

"Exactly, I don't celebrate my birthday, never have, but going back to Tatooine and seeing everyone there will be a nice treat. By the Force, I wonder what Biggs knows! Last time I saw him was before I was arrested… Do you think my aunt and uncle told him the truth?"

Luke doubted it. Most likely his aunt and uncle didn't want anyone to know their relation to Vader. It wasn't exactly the kind of thing that would make them popular among moisture farmers. No, Biggs probably knew nothing, because it wasn't like he kept up with the HoloNet. Tatooine barely even had HoloNet access, which was probably good. Luke would enjoy a week as just a normal teen and not Lord Vader's son. He loved his father, but it could all be a bit much.

"Whatever, get me some souvenir sand or something."

Luke chuckled, "Oh no, my father threatened me with meditation for a month if I brought back even a speck of sand. He hates it more than he hates Jedi. I'll bring you back some broken vaporators though."

"Oh, for joy," Rickon chuckled, and the trio laughed at his horrified look. Yeah, Luke was really glad for this field trip. They hadn't even arrived on Naboo yet and it had been plenty eventful, but it was good. Yeah, it was good.

AN: I've been rambling for a page trying to find a way to end the chapter, but yeah.