Another insanely long chapter. Enjoy

Chapter 16

Luke was not smiling the next night as he quickly did his homework and got dressed for the party. Pooja had said she'd pick Luke up at 17-hundred, and she was probably not going to be late, which meant Luke somehow had to finish getting ready in- he checked his chrono- 5 minutes.

He didn't even know what to wear. His stuff from Empire Day was too nice, but everything else he owned wasn't nice enough. If this is going to be a regular occurrence I need to go shopping. He decided on wearing the Empire Day outfit minus the jeweled jacket, and instead put on his blazer from school. The red blazer brightened up the rest of it, and he felt like he looked reasonably appropriate.

Of course his hair was a mess when Pooja arrived, but Luke could do that on the way. He ran towards the landing pad, before stopping in his tracks. Okay, so he probably wouldn't need it, but his father had been letting Luke take his saber everywhere, even school, so long as it was hidden so…

Luke grabbed the saber and put it in one of the jacket's inside pockets. The bulge was slightly noticeable, but since his blazer was also slightly too large most people wouldn't notice. He could probably just unbutton it too once he'd been there for a little while, and then you wouldn't be able to tell at all.

"You look nice," Pooja told Luke the relief apparent in her voice. Apparently dressing himself was the first test and, since Luke had passed that one, he might be able to get through the rest of the function without looking like a fool. "Now when we get there I want you to stay by my side until the official after-party starts. Too many people know you as Lord Vader's son, so just say I'm giving you lessons at the Emperor's request and don't mention I am your cousin. I think your father likes having people wonder who your mother could possibly be, and we don't want questions about Anakin popping up…. There were a lot of rumors that he was the father to her child, Jedi Code or not."

Rumors had an odd way of being true, didn't they?

"Feel free to talk openly with anyone your age, they're all below you technically so it's no big deal. If an adult speaks to you be cordial, honest, but only say what they want you to. I'm trying not to make a big deal out of you being here, but surely people will want to speak to you. Your father is a very important man, and that makes you very important as well."

Pooja was fretting, and Luke didn't blame her. He was fretting as well. Coruscant's climate didn't really change from month to month, but Luke felt as if it was hot as Tatooine as he stepped from the speeder and followed after Pooja. He was sweating profusely, and he didn't normally get hot considering his upbringing. Face it, you're not hot, you're terrified.

He was terrified, up until the moment that he felt his lightsaber bump against him. It was the reminder Luke needed, a reminder that he was a powerful Jedi, that he was not alone. He had the Force.

Luke wasn't totally calm when he followed Pooja into the Senate Building, but he didn't feel like he was going to die. The Senate building was crowded, but Pooja had assured Luke the inauguration part was short. The reception would surely go on all night, but the boring part was short.

Or at least Luke assumed it would be boring up until the moment that the swearing-in was to take place. "I now call forward Princess Leia Organa to take the oath of office."

"Leia is the new senator?" Luke whispered, completely shocked. Of course she was! Now he knew why her mother was coming to see the inauguration. But Leia… Leia was his age. If Luke felt like he had a lot of responsibility it was nothing compared to being a senator at 15.

"You know the Princess?" Pooja asked, surprised.

"We met a couple weeks ago," Luke explained sure that explaining their shared treason was probably not a good idea. "I knew she was a Princess but a Senator… wow."

Pooja nodded, "It is most impressive. Now hush."

Luke did, mostly because he was staring at Leia. She looked exceptionally beautiful tonight. Her hair was pulled into an intricate braid that wrapped all the way around, and some hanging down her back. She wore a simple white dress with a sort of silver belt wrapped around it. She looked like… well Luke didn't even know but it sure was beautiful.

And she looked strong too, especially as she lay her hand on a copy of the Constitution. "Do you, Princess Leia Organa swear to always honor the will of the Emperor, uphold the sacred constitution of the Galactic Empire, be honest in all your dealings, never perform espionage in the Senatorial Offices, and always be true to your Emperor and the people of Alderaan."

"I solemnly swear so to do."

The crowd applauded as the ceremony ended, and Pooja pointed Luke towards the reception. The teen found it hard to tear his eyes away from Leia, but figured she would probably be at the party, since it was technically for her.

It took them so long to make it out of the Senate building that the reception was already in full-swing upon their arrival. Leia stood in mass of people greeting everyone, and Luke figured it would be impossible for him to talk to her any time soon. Pooja had told him that at the party he'd need to branch out and speak to people, so when he spotted Jes talking to some boys around their age he made his way over.

"Hello Jes," Luke greeted. Jes looked nice as well, but not as nice as Leia. She'd lost a lot of weight since they'd first met, but she was still quite large and the permanently snooty look on her face wasn't exactly attractive. She wasn't even that rude, to Luke at least, but she just always looked ready to be rude.

Or well, in this case, she looked surprised. "Luke! I've never seen you at one of these parties before. This is Ronrem Grevelli and Zainat Tozecurr, they're both in officer training at the Naval Academy. This is Rufaan Tigellinus, he's just been promoted to Commander and will probably be an Admiral before we even graduate. This is Luke Skywalker, Lord Vader's son."

The three other boys had been eyeing Luke with looks of suspicion, probably wondering if he was worthy of speaking to them if he didn't come to these sorts of parties often. At the mention of his father, however, all three men straightened right up. "It's an honor to meet you," Rufaan declared, grabbing Luke's hand before the teen could even offer it. "Your father is a great man."

"Thank you," Luke answered attempting to keep his handshake firm and appropriate. "It's nice to meet you all as well. It must be very exciting to be a part of the Navy."

"It certainly is," Rufaan, who obviously felt the need to dominate to conversation, agreed. "Your father is quite the flier, do you take after him?"

Rufaan was leading Luke away from the group, and Luke found it odd. Did Rufaan plan on dumping Luke, going back to his friends? Or was he actually just glad to latch onto Luke, onto someone higher?

I might know what to say and how to act, but I'll never get Court.

"I enjoy flying yes," Luke told the man, suddenly wishing he could get away and talk to, well, anyone else. Hopefully there was someone around who didn't have ulterior motives for speaking to Luke. "Of course I haven't had a lot of opportunities to fly in space." Or well any.

Rufaan nodded, "Well you're young yet. I'm sure the Navy will benefit from you greatly whenever your time comes to join us. Of course your father isn't officially part of the Navy. Do you think your role will be like that?"

Ah, so he was trying to pry information out of Luke. "I do not know what my future will entail. I do what the Emperor requests of me."

It was a thoroughly political answer, and Rufaan seemed annoyed that Luke was smart enough to deflect the question. "Yes, we all must do what the Emperor requests. If you'll excuse me."

Luke was surprised the man gave up so easily, but maybe he just didn't want to be seen with someone so much younger than him, Vader's son or not. Luke didn't mind and was going to go back to Jes's familiar face when he caught a face that was not only familiar, but friendly.

"Leah, what are you doing here?" Luke asked his friend going over to see her. "You realize this celebration is for Leia, not you."

"Ha ha," Leah said rolling her eyes at Luke's terrible joke. "And I could ask you the same question. I always go to things like this, but you don't. After all if you have a party in the palace it's hard to keep out those who live there."

Luke found it hard to imagine Leah interacting with these socialites often, but he figured there was much more to Leah than he knew. She'd already proven that once, and Luke knew she would again. He could probably spend a lifetime with her and still not really get her, but that was okay. Luke could be hard to understand at times as well. "I'm here as part of my training. Pooja thought the party would be big enough that no one would notice my presence, but small enough not to overwhelm me."

"Perhaps it would have been if the Emperor hadn't decided to come," Leah offhandedly said freaking Luke out. He looked around quickly for the man in question and found him at the center of a large crowd of people. Actually Luke couldn't see the Emperor amid his courtiers, but the red guard was visible enough.

"Does he, ah, normally come to stuff like this?"

Leah shook her head, laughing at Luke's obvious discomfort. "Really you need to start paying attention to your surroundings more, he's been here all night. But to answer your question, no, he was just bored tonight and decided that if he was going to rent out palace banquet halls to Senate functions he might as well come."

It was a logical explanation, but the paranoid part of Luke wondered if the Emperor simply knew Luke was coming and decided to stop in because of that. It would be a ridiculously self-centered conspiracy… if only Luke couldn't sense the Emperor watching him through the throngs of people.

"He's coming our way," Luke told Leah, but she obviously could tell as well. Not for the first time Luke wondered just how well Leah knew the Emperor, and just how much she truly had kept herself disconnected from the Force.

The Red Guard moved in such a swift way that Luke didn't even realize it had happened until it did. Suddenly the crowd around the Emperor was no longer on the other side of the room but next to them, and then suddenly Luke and Leah were in the middle of the crowd right next to the Emperor himself.

"Young Skywalker, an unexpected surprise. I see you and Leah have met."

There was an odd… excitement coming from the Emperor as he spoke. For some reason he seemed thrilled that Leah and Luke had met. It was completely irrational and yet, yet Luke couldn't help but remember that Leah was the one who'd mentioned an arranged marriage, and Leah always knew things. Surely…

No, it was too ridiculous a thought. Besides, if the Emperor really was going to marry Luke off it would be to someone with status, not a maid's daughter, even if that maid's daughter was Force-Sensitive. He was probably just surprised that Luke and Leah knew each other, or maybe he thought they were a couple and just thought it was funny to have someone to use against Luke…

"We actually attend school together Your maj… Master," Luke corrected quickly.

Palpatine smiled, his cracked lips curling disgustingly. "Yes, that makes sense. I had simply… forgotten. We cannot all be so young. I saw Senator Naberrie. Are you here with her?"

"Yes Master, as part of my lessons."

The Emperor nodded, seemingly bored already. Luke appeared to have that affect on him. "Good. Perhaps Leah here could add another element to your lessons. She's quite good at sneaking around court like she actually belongs. There are many here who see her finery and don't even realize it's stolen."

Luke had never seen Leah so incredibly thrown, and he didn't even realize he'd stepped between her and the Emperor until she stepped out to speak. "Not stolen, your majesty, simply borrowed," she stammered. "I will retire immediately and return it. I am sorry."

"It is no problem," Palpatine waved off despite the fact that he seemed to be purposely radiating darkness to scare Leah. "Remain here with Skywalker as long as you would like. I will inform your mother that she must actually spend some of her salary on you if she would like for me to continue paying it. Enjoy your evening Leah. I'm sure we'll speak again later Luke."

It was the first time the Emperor had called Luke by his real name, but he didn't notice it. He was too busy watching the color slowly return to Leah's face as the Emperor moved on. "Are you okay?"

"He does that all the time," Leah admitted attempting to get back her usual gusto. She still looked pale, but Luke felt comfortable that if he released her arm she wouldn't collapse. "But I don't think he's ever even spoken to me in public before. It was probably only because you were here."

Probably, but it made Luke wonder. "Leah, how well do you know the Emperor?"

"I've lived in the palace my whole life," she reminded him with a shrug. "It may be a big place but it's impossible never to see him around. Teaching me how to shield took a while so we talked then and…" Leah shut up, as if she'd said too much. "It's complicated, everything is with him. I should really get back to my room. My mother is probably drunk and I don't need her cracking her head open."

Leah so rarely spoke of herself it unnerved Luke. He considered them friends but it was a really one-sided friendship, probably because they never hung out outside of school. "Do you want me to walk you back?"

Leah let out a real genuine laugh, so Luke knew she'd be fine. "You don't even know how to get there. Don't worry I can get around. Like I said, I've been doing this my whole life. Just because you're suddenly here that doesn't make anything change."

"Well if you ever need me I would come. I don't care if the Emperor knows I'm here and questions me on it, I'll be here."

Leah smiled at Luke's offer and had begun walking away when she stopped. There was a new fear in her eyes when she turned to speak again. "Luke, does the Emperor have you calling him Master?"

Ah, so she had noticed that. "Yes. He told me to on Empire Day when he requested I have these lessons."

Leah nodded, probably having figured as much. "Be careful Luke. That lightsaber in your pocket can't protect you from everything."

Leah never missed a thing, did she?

With his friend gone Luke was seriously considering asking Pooja if he could leave or not, until he spotted Leia. She was alone for the first time all night and appeared to be taking a breather by the punch bowl. Luke felt a bit bad interrupting her me time, but he had a feeling she'd be glad to see him instead of the other senators she'd been stuck with all night.

"So, does your new oath of office mean no more secret passageways?"

Leia's eyes lit up bright and she actually hugged Luke. They barely knew each other, and yet it appeared she felt the same connection Luke did. It made him feel good. It was probably just their shared Force-Sensitivity, but it still made him feel good. "I am so glad you're here. Please, ask me to dance before someone else does."

Luke really was hoping he could avoid dancing, but how could he say no to Leia's big brown eyes? Besides, she would probably just laugh at Luke if he messed up, not get angry or something like say Jes would. "Would you like a dance Senator?"

Smiling brightly Leia took Luke's hand and led him onto the dance floor. There were a number of other people dancing as well, and Luke spotted Pooja with some guy. Remembering his lessons Luke carefully placed his hand on the small of Leia's back and move in rhythm with the music. It was a slow pace and after a few second he got a hang of it enough to feel comfortable speaking. "Congratulations Leia, really. Being a princess is cool but someone's born that way. Getting elected Senator is big news."

"Thank you," Leia answered blushing. "I would have told you the other day, but, well, I didn't want you to think I was some sort of psycho. I know Coruscant is more reserved about when people are considered adults. It probably seems weird to you that I could be a senator and you're still in school."

It was weird, but customs varied from world to world. "My mother was Queen at 14, and Princess of Theed at 12."

"Your mother is from Naboo?" Leia asked smiling. She seemed very pleased to have wormed some information out of Luke, but that left him feeling distinctly uncomfortable. "Your father is not the Emperor, right, because I've been trying to figure it out and he's the only one from Naboo."

Luke laughed. His father being the Emperor was quite possibly the only option more ridiculous than the truth. "No, no I'm pretty sure the Emperor doesn't have any children. Besides, why does it matter who my dad is? I liked you before I knew you were a princess or a senator and you like me before you know who I am. It's better to know the person than the station."

"That's true," Leia admitted, but she could clearly tell Luke was just avoiding the subject. "But really Luke, I already know your father is a powerful Imperial but that you are a bit more… relaxed when it comes to loyalty. Knowing who your father is won't change that."

Luke only wished that was true. There was a big difference between an Admiral or a Grand Moff having a slightly rebellious son and Lord Vader. Not even Tarkin instilled the kind of fear in the hearts of the Alliance that Vader did. "Yeah, it probably would. It wouldn't change me but it would change our fragile friendship."

"I don't know, I wouldn't consider any friendship based on shared treason to be fragile," Leia replied with a laugh, but it made Luke more uncomfortable. Their kinds of treason were very different. "Really Luke, I'm grateful. If that footage hadn't been deleted… well it might not be enough to put me on trial but I'd never be allowed to serve."

Serve. Luke knew a lot of Senators but he didn't know many who still seemed to remember that it was a position of service, not power. "I'm glad I did it then. I think you'll make a wonderful senator."

"You know I'll be on Coruscant a lot," Leia admitted her cheeks flushed red despite the fact that the pair was just standing in the middle of the dance floor not dancing. "We could, I don't know, get together sometimes?"

Luke could feel his palms beginning to sweat. Did Leia mean they should go out as friends or as… more? Surely she, a princess and a senator, wasn't looking to date Luke. He had a high position but she didn't really know that and…

"That sounds fun," Luke managed to gulp out. His throat felt dry and he was distinctly uncomfortable. Overly uncomfortable actually, overly uncomfortable even for the situation.

Luke looked over his shoulder and realized the Emperor was watching him, and he didn't seem as amused as with Leah. Luke tried to look away, but it was too late. Once again the Emperor saw fit to meddle with Luke's night.

"How lovely of you two to put aside your differences and be friends," he chuckled his voice dark and cold. Luke could feel the anger and hatred within Palpatine, and he was pretty sure it was directed all at Leia. "After everything her father did to you Luke it is very kind of you not to hold that against her."

"My… my father," Leia stammered obviously confused and more than a bit intimidated. "I'm sorry your majesty I don't… Did my father know Luke?"

The Emperor feigned a look of ignorance. "Oh, you didn't know. Well it's probably for the best. It would have been much harder for you to follow so blindly in your father's footsteps if you'd known that he was a kidnapper."

Dread built inside Luke as he realized exactly what the Emperor was doing, but it was too late to stop it. For some reason the Emperor wanted Leia to hate Luke, and it was apparent she soon would. "My father would never! What could make you say something like that?"

"Watch yourself Senator," the Emperor chastised coolly. "It might be hard for you to accept but it is the truth. When Luke was born your father took him from his mother's dead hands and handed him off to a Jedi to be smuggled away. It took a decade for Luke to be found once more. I do believe Lord Vader enjoyed bringing those responsible for the estrangement to justice. Excuse me…" Just as quickly as he'd come the Emperor left and Luke was faced with the fallout.

Leia no longer had her hands around Luke's shoulders. No, no her hands were on her hips and she looked furious. "Emperor or not how dare he! To imply that my father would kidnap a child, well if it was Vader's child then the child certainly was better off for it."

"Leia," Luke whispered softly.

"And to humiliate me by even suggesting it in front of you. That is an all time low. This is the cruelest form of torture the Emperor has ever engaged in. Even the dog Vader doesn't spread horrible lies like this! But now I have proof Vader killed my father, from the mouth of the Emperor!"

"Leia," Luke repeated again grabbing her shoulders. She stopped her tirade, and Luke looked down at his feet. "Leia I don't think it's a lie."

Her eyes held galaxies of fury as she pulled away. "How could you possibly know? You never met my father."

"Yes I did," Luke whispered his heart breaking. He'd really liked Leia, and now she'd hate him. "I met him when I first came to Coruscant. He gave me two droids, droids he'd gotten after my mother died. He was with her when she died… and that means he was there when a Jedi named Obi-Wan Kenobi hid me from my father."

"But that… that means…"

"You wanted to know why I thought things would change when you knew who my father was. Leia, Vader is my father. I was stolen by him when I was born, and your father probably did help. And that means… that means my father killed yours. Leia I'm so, so sorry."

"Don't touch me," she hissed pulling away. "You're right, things have changed. Vader isn't human, he's a monster, and so are you. If you'd just left those droids alone no one would have ever known! My father would be alive!"

She was yelling loud enough to attract attention, and so there was no way Luke could get her to stay long enough to understand. He wasn't even sure there was anything that could ever make her understand.

In a way her father had begun it. If he'd helped Obi-Wan steal Luke he was truly a kidnapper, and kidnapping was a crime punishable by death. But Luke's father should not have the ability to just offer that punishment without any sort of trial or deliberation. And Luke had no doubt that his father had killed Bail Organa. Luke had been too young at the time to think about it, but he remembered well enough. Luke got the droids, Vader paid Bail a visit, Bail was found dead. It was no coincidence.

So Leia's father had started it, but Luke's father ended it, and their children were the ones who faced the consequences of their war.