"So you're that rebel's Skywalker's girl?" sneered the stormtrooper, his grip on my handcuffed wrist vice-like, promising bruises as evidence of his cruelty. His words were laced with disdain, echoing the bitter resentment that festered within the Empire.
"I lost many good friends in the Death Star thanks to your little lover," he continued, his voice dripping with contempt.
I bit my lip, suppressing the urge to retaliate. My mind raced, desperate to find a response that wouldn't give him the satisfaction he sought. I knew Luke would want me to stay strong, to resist the anger that threatened to consume me. Channeling his serene determination, I forced myself to remain composed.
"War is a terrible thing, isn't it?" I said, my voice calm despite the pain shooting through my wrist. "So many lives lost on both sides of the field. I hope for the war to end soon so no more lives will be lost, and I know Luke feels the same."
The stormtrooper's reaction was immediate; he responded with a guttural growl, his fingers squeezing my wrist even tighter. A cry of pain escaped my lips involuntarily, but I refused to let him see any tears.
"Shut your stupid mouth," he snarled, his threat hanging in the air like a heavy storm cloud. "Another word from you, and I don't care if the Emperor commanded me not to do it, I'll kill you."
I tasted the metallic tang of blood as I bit down hard on my cheek, desperate to hold back the torrent of words threatening to spill out. Anger and hatred boiled inside me, but I knew I had to remain silent, to endure. Taking a shuddering breath, I reminded myself that I needed to be wise, to stay alive for Luke. I closed my eyes briefly, summoning his image in my mind, drawing strength from his unwavering belief in hope.
With that flicker of resilience, I steadied my trembling breath and waited, determined to survive this ordeal and reunite with the man I loved.
The stormtrooper, his duty fulfilled, pushed me forward and into Darth Vader's private quarters. The imposing figure of the Dark Lord sat in his meditation chamber, his presence suffocating. I held my breath, trying to gather my courage, as the stormtrooper barked, "Here is the rebel, delivered directly to you as you wished, Lord Vader."
Vader's mechanical breathing filled the room as he turned his masked gaze toward me.
"Excellent," he rumbled, his voice sending shivers through my core.
With a nod of approval, he dismissed the stormtrooper with a curt gesture.
As the door slid shut behind the retreating stormtrooper, I found myself alone with the Sith Lord, the man I knew could one day be my future father-in-law if I managed to stay alive.
The thought sent a shudder through me.
I stood there, a captive in Vader's presence, acutely aware of the danger I was in. My mind raced, searching for a way out, a glimmer of hope. Luke had spoken of the conflict within his father, the potential for redemption. I clung to that sliver of light, knowing that if there was any chance of survival, I had to appeal to the humanity that still existed within Vader.
Vader's deep voice resonated in the room, filling the air with a chilling intensity.
"Miss Cassiopeia. Luna Cassiopeia, isn't it?" he questioned.
I swallowed hard, my name sounding alien and threatening on his lips. His knowledge of me, of my identity, sent chills.
Then, I felt an unusual pressure on the top of my head, a sensation that crawled beneath my skin like a thousand tiny insects. It was as if an unseen hand was probing the depths of my mind, violating the privacy of my thoughts.
"My son has accepted then that I am his father, has he? Very good. And he's told you of our kinship too," Vader stated.
Anger flared within me, a fierce wildfire threatening to consume my composure. How dare he invade my thoughts, my most private sanctuary? I fought to keep my emotions in check, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of my fear or anger.
Vader's deep chuckle reverberated through the place.
"It's only easy to grab such thoughts from the mind like that when the individual is highly emotional," he said, his voice resonating with an eerie calmness. "Which, given your situation and circumstances, it makes perfect sense you are in such a state right now."
I tried to steady my trembling legs as Vader stepped out of his meditation chamber, his imposing figure casting a shadow over me. My heart raced in my chest as he lifted my chin, his gloved fingers cool against my skin. I met his gaze, putting on a brave face.
"I can feel my son cares very, very much for you," Vader continued, his voice taking on an unexpected warmth. "He loves you entirely, actually."
The unexpected inflection of warmth in his tone surprised me. It was as if for a fleeting moment, the impenetrable mask of Vader had cracked, revealing the essence of the man he used to be. Anakin Skywalker. My mind reeled at the realization.
Vader released my chin, his gloved fingers sliding away, and began to pace around me. His heavy footsteps echoed in the silence of the room as he circled, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on me.
"I can see why," he mused, his mechanical breathing a haunting accompaniment to his words. "From what I know, you are a brave one. Just as daring as he is." His acknowledgment of my courage was unexpected, and a glimmer of pride flickered within me. "The only reason we captured you this day was from a self-sacrifice you made, wasn't it? To keep Luke safe from the Empire's reach. Very honorable."
His words hung in the air, and I nodded, my throat tight with emotion.
"Yes," I said, my voice steady, despite the turmoil inside me. "I would do anything to keep him safe. To protect the people I love."
Vader's presence was oppressive, yet in that moment, I felt a strange bond formed in the air between us, a shared understanding of the lengths one would go to safeguard those they cared for.
Vader suddenly stopped walking, turning to face me once more.
"If you behave wisely, not a hair on your head will be harmed, for Luke's sake," he stated. "Out of honor for my son."
I was surprised by Vader's words.
He continued, "The cuffs around your wrists will keep you confined here. You will be unable to escape this living area. A bed and other necessities for you will be arriving shortly. It would be unwise to hold you in a prison in the Detention Block, where you could be mistreated by others who know of your relationship to Luke."
It was out of reverence for the love Luke bore for his father that I found the strength to address Vader.
In also recognizing the pivotal role he played in bringing Luke into the world, my words carried the weight of honor and gratitude
"Lord Vader, may I have permission to speak?"
To my surprise, Vader, the embodiment of darkness, looked momentarily taken aback by my manners. He granted me permission with a nod, his mechanical breathing filling the silence that followed.
"Thank you for your protection and for providing me with necessities," I said, acknowledging his unexpected benevolence. Taking a deep breath, I dared to tread into the uncharted waters of his emotions. "I want you to know, your son truly honors and loves you, the real you inside that suit. Anakin Skywalker, not Darth Vader."
There was a subtle shift in Vader's posture. His head dipped slightly, as though my words had pierced his suit. But the moment was fleeting, and he straightened, his tone biting with defiance.
"Anakin Skywalker is dead," he stated sharply.
I refused to let his denial dampen my conviction.
"That's not what Luke believes," I asserted firmly, my voice steady. "He sees the good in you, the father he lost to the dark side. He believes that there's still a chance for redemption, that you can find your way back to the light."
As my words hung in the air, a subtle shift seemed to ripple through Vader. His shoulders, once rigid with the weight of his darkness, seemed to lose their strength. The Sith Lord looked down, and I sensed a flicker of vulnerability beneath the mask.
Suddenly, the room turned cold, and Vader's tone changed abruptly.
"Who hurt you?" he demanded, his baritone voice laced with unexpected concern.
His question left me confused.
Before I could respond, his gloved hand shot out, gripping my wrist gently.
I gasped, my eyes widening in surprise at his unexpected touch.
Looking down at my wrist, I saw a large, sickening purple bruise forming.
I could feel Vader probing the depths of my mind once more.
He let out a hiss of anger and in the blink of an eye, Vader released my wrist, his grip vanishing as abruptly as it had come. My relief, however, was short-lived as his gloved hand moved toward the hilt of his lightsaber. My eyes widened in terror at the sight, my body trembling involuntarily.
The room seemed to close in around me, and I felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
But then, Vader's tone shifted, his voice carrying an unsettling calmness.
"Remember, I said I wouldn't hurt you, Luna." he reminded me with a gloved hand on my shoulder, his words meant to reassure me. "Relax, young one. Go sit down in my chamber until your bed arrives. I... have some business to take care of with a certain stormtrooper."
His words hung in the air as he began to walk away, and as the fear that had seized hold of my heart began to fade, it finally dawned on me what Vader was about to do. A wave of horror washed over me.
"Lord Vader, please no!" I cried out desperately, my voice echoing in the cold, empty place. But he didn't halt his relentless march. His imposing figure continued forward, his cape billowing behind him as he stepped out of the door.
