A/N Imperial!Luke AU.

Lord Vader and Prince Luke attempted to kill their master. They failed.

Luke surveyed the men surrounding them with cold, calculating eyes.

Their situation was… unfortunate, he decided. Neither Luke nor Vader were prepared for another fight today and now, after being shot down by their masters forces, were severely outnumbered by what appeared to be Rebel insurrectionists and revolutionaries.

Opposers of the Empire.

Certainly, not anyone with sympathies towards either of them. And whether they had been aware of who had crashed on the planet or not, they had come prepared.

There was all manner of weaponry being trained on them – blasters, set for kill and stun, electrostaffs, assassin droids, grenades… too many to count. For one brief moment, which lasted half a second, Luke took his eyes off his enemies and glanced ever so slightly behind him.

His father's breathing was strained and weak, even with that damn respirator pumping oxygen into his ruined lungs. Despite their current circumstances… he had yet to get off his knees. Luke felt his heart pound with unease and concern. He was not accustomed to witnessing weakness from his father. He had always been the pillar of strength between the two of them – they'd only managed to survive as long as they had because of him.

A lone figure took a step forward, separating himself from the rest. His face was familiar – it took a moment for Luke to place him.

Wedge Antilles. A brilliant pilot – and an Imperial defector.

"Prince Luke." Antilles addressed him with forced calmness. Luke almost smirked – he could practically taste his fear in the Force. The rebels may have numbers on their side but they were no more confident about their chances than Luke was. "Lord Vader. You are both injured and surrounded. This planet is occupied by the Rebel Alliance. There is no escape. We order you to surrender your weapons and get down on your knees."

No escape. In the end, that was the problem, wasn't it? There was no escape. Not for them. They'd tried to kill their master and had failed. Failed, injured and half dead, and had been forced to flee for their lives…only to wind up here. News of the assassination attempt would have likely been made public by now, if only to prevent them from effectively going into hiding.

Their master was done playing games with them.

And the odds were certainly falling out of their favor.

But all was not lost yet – they had contingencies and precautions already in place should their attempt to usurp Sidious go awry and loyal allies throughout the Imperial forces that they could count on for assistance. Piett would know where they had been shot down and would come retrieve them once it was safe to do so.

All they had to do was survive until then.

"Prince Luke – get down on your knees!" Antilles ordered again, raising his blaster and his voice.

"On my knees, you say?" Luke mused quietly. His yellow eyes flickered up to meet Antilles' and this time he did offer the other man a sharp, predatory smile. The fear in the Force grew thick and rich and Luke sank his Force presence into it, breathing it in and letting it fill him to the brim. He felt his father doing the same, preparing, once again, to assist him.

Their fear is your strength. Vader reminded him coldly. You are stronger than they are.

Power thrummed at his fingertips.

I can do this, Father.

"I will not ask again." Antilles warned, and oh, how frightened the defector actually was. Luke could almost hear his heart pounding in his chest. "On. Your. Knees."

"I have spent my life in chains and for too long have my father and I been forced to kneel at the feet of another." Luke straightened his back, standing tall and proud. The red blade of his lightsaber hissed and hummed as he switched it on. He raised it up, and the red color was bright and sinister in the fading daylight. Luke adjusted his stance to better guard his father behind him even as he prepared to do battle. "Do your worst." Luke dared coldly. "But I will not kneel for you."

A/N I have a thing for dark!Luke.

Also, thank you to those who expressed their sympathies for my dads passing. It was much appreciated.