Holy crap! I am SOOO sorry for neglecting this poor story for nearly a MONTH! Gah! I feel horrible! AND this is a really short chapter! I apologize! Sheep in Wolf's Clothing has been flowing from my brain like crazy! (You guys should seriously check it out! It's waaaaaaayyyy better than this one!) Anyway! Thank you guys for staying with me for so long without an update on this! Lemme know what you think!

Chapter 10

The next morning Luke awoke well before the normal day cycle began. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he slipped into his coveralls.

"Huhmm..." A soft sigh of breath ruffled the silence of the night cycle.

Silently, Luke glanced over to the other side of the room. Satisfied that Clancy was still asleep, he grabbed his mechanic's satchel, and crept out the door.

Finding himself alone in the utilitarian hallways, Luke flitted through the halls, not bothering to stop until he had reached the Maintenance Hall. Panting slightly from the long sprint, he gazed around the room for any sign of unwanted eyes. Listening for any signs of pursuit.

Why we have to meet so early I'll never know.

Sensing nothing out of the ordinary, Luke made his way to a gleaming white shuttle, the crisp pearly sheen contrasting with the sultry darkness of the surrounding space. Clutching the small satchel close to his chest, the young Rebel bolted onto the ship.

"Ah, glad to see you are awake Luke." A deep mechanical voice welcomes, the boarding ramp closing as the ship's lift off cycle begins, "I was beginning to think you'd given up on me."

"Was I really that late?" Luke asked, surprised, at how early the Dark Lord meant when he said 'early.' "It's only 0430! How early did you wake up?"

"0200."

"See, I woke up not long after y-"

"Last week." Vader replied, to Luke's dropping jaw, motioning to the copilot's chair, "The thing about being a cyborg, is that you don't have to sleep. And as a Sith, you can't afford to."

"What do you mean 'can't afford to?' " Luke questioned, settling into the offered chair, "Everyone can sleep! You're head of the Imperial Forces after all! Certainly you could have someone-"

At this, his father simply turned and stared at him.

"You don't get it, do you."

"Get what?" Luke returned, shying away from the soul searing stare, "What is there to get about Sith having sleeping issues?"

"You see," Vader sighed, as they stealthily came upon his private hangar on the Executor, "The Sith follow the rule of two. One Master and one Apprentice, and while the Jedi have a trial they must pass to obtain Knighthood, a Sith Apprentice must rise up and kill his Master to take his place and obtain an Apprentice of his own."

"So why do you have to worry?" Luke questioned thoughtfully, "If you are Palpatine's Apprentice, shouldn't he be the one that can't afford sleep? If you're destined to kill him and all..."

"I wish it were the case," the Dark Lord replied, turning to the task of docking the shuttle, "Up until recently, I had been both Master and Apprentice. Doubling the danger of every moment, I couldn't afford much luxury such as sleep, my medical needs were enough of a weakness as it is."

"Oh..." Luke fell silent at this revelation. For some reason, he couldn't bear the thought of the Sith being in danger, the fact that Darth Vader was his father, only made matters worse as he learned more of the elder Skywalker's life.

Finally, the ship completed its landing cycle, and the ramp lowered to the empty hangar floor.

"Enough of this though... You came to be taught as a Jedi." Clasping his son's shoulder, the Sith lead his rebellious offspring to his personal quarters.

"Wow."

"I suppose so... These dueling chambers are quite nice."

Having found their way quickly, Luke now gawked at the incredibly well furnished training room they found themselves in.

This is definitely better than the cargo hold of the Falcon!

Enchanted by the racks of gleaming dueling droids, simulated terrains, and spacious floor. Luke couldn't help but drool a little bit, even in the presence of a Sith.

"What can I battle first?" He sprinted around the room, eagerly anticipating the use of any of his father's equipment.

The deadly hum of a lightsaber pierces the air behind him.

"Me."

In a sudden rush of adrenaline, Luke cast his mechanic's satchel away from him, lightsaber in hand as his father's crimson blade came shattering down on him.

"If you wish to be a Jedi," the dark form rumbled from behind the blood soaked blade, "Then you must learn one thing!"

"Which is?!" Luke gasped, twisting away from the fearful mastery of the saber the Dark Lord wielded towards him. In shock, he could only watch as his hilt spiraled from his grip.

Calling the silver hilt to his hand, Vader pointed his still activated saber at his young companion's throat.

"That it is a Jedi's duty to destroy the Sith."