Darth Vader

Vader was deep in thought when he returned to the conference room. Despite the late hour, he had called everyone back, including the Major and his Shadow.

As everyone returned, Vader could not help the dread flowing through him. The child had inherited his Force visions – and powerful ones at that. Living a whole life through a vision? Vader at most had seen moments in time, but never how he had gotten there. He wasn't even certain that some of the most powerful Jedi Masters or Sith Lords had been able to do more than that with their Force visions.

Should the Emperor learn how powerful Luke was, he would never leave him alone. For Luke's own safety, Vader did not even want him to learn the word should the Emperor glean the information from his mind. It might even be necessary to try and lock those memories away where even Luke couldn't reach them, though Vader wished to avoid causing such pain if it was at all possible.

There were still bits and pieces that Luke had vaguely touched on – such as his last moments. Where was Vader while Luke was dying? Luke hadn't mentioned anything about him, just that the Emperor killed him with his Force lightning. It was possible Vader wasn't present, though that seemed unlikely considering Luke had turned himself in to Vader.

He also kept hinting around something, something big. Something that reminded Vader deeply of his Master's latest plan that had been in the making for nearly a decade now.

All of the men were watching him, some nervously, some sleepily, several having sloppily redressed after clearly having gone to bed.

"Now that the child is out of earshot, I desire to know in detail what happened on Tatooine."

An officer sat up straighter, pulling up a report on everyone's pads. "My Lord, I looked into what was reported. Apparently, several farms were suddenly raided by the Tuscan Raiders. They apparently seem to be migrating across the planet for unknown reasons, and took an unusual path this year."

Probably Obi-wan guided them around the farms before. Luke was correct about one thing – if Obi-wan had been there, the farms would perhaps have been saved.

"I see. How many died?"

"All of the farms were razed to the ground – some of the farmers managed to reach town, but it's chaos who is alive and who is not. The registries in the outer rim planets are rather lax as well."

Which is why Luke was never discovered until he sent that message to Sargent Kreel. Rarely are outer rim registries even checked.

"So it is possible the child's Aunt and Uncle are alive?"

"I find it highly unlikely, but it is possible. I can dispatch men to try and clear up the situation as quickly as possible."

"Do so. Send relief aide as well."

The room had already been silent, but no one knew what to say.

"Relief...to Tatooine?"

"Yes. Send food and supplies, and make sure the hutts do not receive them and barter them for more wealth."

"Very well, my Lord. I will do so at once."

"Major, did Luke get anything to eat?"

The Major tried to hide a grimace, but Vader saw it anyway. "No, my Lord. Tason found him asleep out on the balcony when he went to check and put him to bed."

Vader had not heavily considered the impact of Owen and Beru Lars as Luke's guardians. It was foolish of him to believe that his son would not have attached himself to them as the ones who raised him from a babe.

"How does one rectify this?"

It took a few moments for everyone in the room to realize that Vader was asking them a serious question.

"Rectify what, my Lord?" The Major timidly asked.

"Death. Pain. Sorrow. How do I fix this for him?"

Sith Lords did not feel pain. They shut it out, used it, fueled the power of the dark side to destroy anything that caused such emotions. When Vader first awoke, trapped in the suit he now had to consider his body, often entire rooms were annihilated in his stress and agony, especially when thoughts of her came about.

The Emperor had only encouraged such destruction, always finding a way to remind Vader of his wife, poking and prodding until Vader felt like his heart might outrace the respirator keeping him breathing.

But he did not remember when the memories had stopped causing such outbursts. Perhaps it was because he had locked away the memories of her until recent, refusing to acknowledge her existence and wiping her from history in any ways possible.

The Major, after noticing that no one else was going to even try and touch the subject, swallowed. "My Lord, I don't believe there is anything we can do to simply rectify this situation. He is going to have to grieve for them."

"That is unacceptable!"

Clenching his hands into fists, Vader felt them begin to tremble slightly from rage from how hard he was squeezing. Everyone in the room flinched, as if waiting for Vader to select his victim. In the past, Vader would have killed each and every person in this room. Their deaths would have been the penance of his rage, the toll that the dark side takes each time it is called upon.

But his son could not afford any more loss at the moment.

Releasing his insecurities into the Force, the room suddenly went dead calm.

"Call the school and tell them what happened – explain he won't be in for a few days. Probably at least a week."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Whatever he asks for, make it possible. Food, activities, anything within reason."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Leave me."

All but one flooded from the one, trying hard to hold their decorum but failing in the Force.

"Yes, Major?" Vader's tone made it clear: this had better be important.

"My Lord, I lost my father when I was young – I was about Luke's age, actually. Of course, I still had my mother, but there was nothing that could be done to take away those emotions."

"You are saying I cannot help my son?"

"No, my Lord. I'm saying that some things simply take time."

"My wife...I thought her and my child dead because she ran away after betraying me."

"M-my Lord?"

Standing slowly, Vader stood before the Major, arms crossed, glaring down at him. "The pain from her betrayal reminds me every day why this galaxy needs someone to keep it pieced together, whether from fear or loyalty."

"I…" The Major gulped, leaning back, but otherwise standing his ground.

Vader would not openly admit it, but he was impressed. "My son is a light in this otherwise blighted galaxy. I do not wish to see him afraid or in pain; I wished for him to believe this world is a haven for him."

"But…" The Major stopped.

"What? Finish your sentence."

"It's already too late. It was too late the moment you met him. I don't understand it myself, but sometimes Luke seems beyond mature for a twelve year old, and other times he still seems a child."

"Yes, it is far too late to save my son from the gruesome rebelliousness of this galaxy. He's seen far too much, yet still he remains by my side. I will do everything possible to keep it that way, Major."

"Yes, my Lord."

Leaving, Vader paused outside Luke's quarters but found his son at least fitfully sleeping. Summoning a tendril of Force, Vader absorbed the turmoil of emotions churning off his son, Luke falling into a slightly more restful sleep. Heading to his own quarters, Vader felt the sudden desire to destroy some dueling droids.

Luke

A chirping sound woke him the next morning. The unfamiliar noise grated on his ears, Luke finally rolling over to see Artoo by the edge of his bed, only the top of his dome visible.

"What?" Sleepily, Luke looked at his clock, sitting up in shock. School had started almost four hours ago – why hadn't anyone woken him?

Then yesterday's events punched him in the gut, and Luke was grateful no one had bothered him before now. Laying back down, Luke faced away from Artoo, trying to ignore the droid.

"Go away. Go deal with it yourself. I'm just a kid." Luke ordered, burying his head in his pillows.

Screeching, Artoo rolled around to the other side of the bed, running into it several times in protest.

"Go away, Artoo! Don't you get it? I'm of no use to anybody!" Luke rolled over again, wishing his bed would simply swallow him whole.

Wait. How had he gotten into his bed, anyway? Hadn't he been out on the balcony? Sitting up again slowly, he looked over to see the entire room in order. Tason or Hal had probably found him outside and brought him in.

Chirping again, Artoo kept nudging Luke's bed, trying to shake him awake. Huffing, Luke slowly got out of bed. The thought of seeing Artoo again had made him so hopeful, but after his Aunt and Uncle, Luke didn't want to lose anymore friends.

"Look, I'll help you get the plans at some point today, alright? Then I want you to go back to Bail."

Confused, Artoo spun in another circle.

"I mean it, Artoo – we get the plans, then I'm out. I'm going to just live like a normal kid, who goes to school, and forgets to do their homework, and whose friends won't die because of them anymore. Okay?"

The sudden decision to stay had occurred to him the night before as he watched the cars go by. If the universe could not be changed, than Luke was through trying. If everything was just going to happen anyway, then it didn't matter whether he stayed or left or tried or didn't. Even if he got the plans to the rebels, it seemed likely that something would go wrong and they would end up exactly how it had been before.

Not caring that he was in pajamas, Luke went to the door to kick Artoo out and go back to bed, Mac standing outside the door.

"Luke! How are you?"

Glaring up at Mac with tired, sleepless eyes, Luke pointed towards Artoo. "Who let him into my room?"

Glancing to where Luke was pointing, Mac shook his head. "I don't know. I just got on duty about a half an hour ago, and he didn't sneak past me."

"Don't let him back in – I'm going back to bed. I want to be alone."

"Wait, kid – do you want anything to eat? I'll order you some breakfast."

"I'm not hungry. I just want to sleep."

Going and collapsing back on his bed, the lights in the room dimmed again and Artoo was kept out, Luke burying himself away from the world again.

Only, as soon as his head went under, he heard the door open again.

"Go away."

"I'm sorry, Luke. But you have to get up and get something to eat." Hal entered, Artoo rolling in again with him, chirping at Luke in a very miffed off way.

Artoo rolled straight up to Luke's bed again, Hal following and pulling off Luke's blanket.

"Hey!" Luke protested, glaring at Hal in betrayal.

"Get up, kid. We are going to the mess hall for lunch."

Rolling over, Luke snuggled into his pillows. "No. I don't want to see anyone."

"Luke, please, just get up for lunch and then you can come right back here, okay?"

"I'm not allowed in the mess halls."

"I'll make an exception today."

Groaning, Luke finally sat up, accepting that neither Artoo nor Hal were just going to go away. Getting up, Luke eyed the clothes that Hal held out for him warily before grabbing them and heading into his refresher. At least he could take this opportunity to relieve himself.

Changing, Luke came out to find Hal still waiting. "Where did Mac and Tason go?"

"I sent them off duty."

Following Hal blindly, Artoo occasionally bumped into Luke to keep him on the right course. In the mess hall, everyone pointedly ignored Luke now. Normally, that would sting a little, but today Luke appreciated the distance.

Hal pushed Luke into a seat and went and got them both trays.

"I could have just ordered lunch to my room." Luke mumbled, pushing his food around the tray.

Humming in agreement, Hal swallowed a bite of food. "Yes, but it's not good for you to stay in your room. I thought it would be a nice walk for you. The medics want to see you about your arm in a bit, also."

"Where is my father?"

"In meetings. He's going to come check on you later."

Before Luke could reply, Hal's comm went off. Checking it, Hal cursed. "I have to go take care of this...Luke, I'm going to call Tason to come take over. Stay here until he gets here, alright?"

Watching him leave, Luke looked down when Artoo bumped him again, beeping.

"What?"

Luke's comm beeped. Pulling it out, a message was written on it. I got rid of the Major, let's go get those plans!

"You sent that message to Hal?" Chuckling, Luke stood up. "Alright, we better hurry."

The comm beeped again. No rush. Sent Tason to one of the other mess halls. It will take at least forty-five minutes to back track this way.

Shrugging, Luke and Artoo headed out of the mess hall, Luke following Artoo who had the blueprints for the Imperial Palace downloaded.

"Where are we going?"

But Artoo didn't reply, he simply lead them deeper into the palace. Finally, Artoo unlocked a door and lead them inside, Luke finding himself in an empty conference room.

"What is this place? Are you sure you can get to the plans here?" To Luke, it looked like an ordinary conference room.

This room is used by higher ups – the terminals in here have access to all the records in the palace. Most of the other conference rooms only have basic access.

"Really? And it's not guarded?"

It is guarded, normally.

Luke raised an eyebrow. "So, are we on a timeline here or what?"

I started a fire in the recreation room.

"When?! How big?"

Just a small one! It should keep them distracted for a few minutes, which is all I need.

"You know, my father's not going to be happy if he finds out I wandered off again – especially if he learns I'm with a fire starting droid that is sending everyone all over the palace."

Artoo beeped in what might have been a chuckle before plugging into a wall terminal.

"So what did you need me for if you could have just done this the whole time?" Luke sighed, going and sitting down on a chair and lazily spinning in circles. So far since running away from Tatooine, all Luke had really managed to accomplish was getting people in trouble or getting them killed. It would be better if he just stayed away from everyone, except maybe the Emperor. Maybe his bad luck would rub off on the man.

A message came on his comm again. You have to come with me, Luke. My orders are to get the plans and to get both of us back to my contact.

Pausing in his spinning, Luke watched Artoo in silence for several long minutes. "Artoo, I can't leave."

Why not?!

"Artoo, don't you get it? Of course you don't – you don't know about before. I can't change it. I can't fight it – maybe it will be a little different now, but the Force is just going to put everything back in order. It won't even matter if you get the rebels these plans – Alderaan is destined to be destroyed, just like everyone who died is destined to."

I don't understand.

"Of course you don't! No one does – no one believes me. But it doesn't even matter if they do!" Tears filled his vision, Luke turning away from Artoo.

Artoo, clearly still confused, said nothing. Rather, Artoo continued to search through the records, finally unhooking from the terminal.

"Well, did you get them?"

Yes, and I triggered an alarm.

"What?!" Luke glanced around them, but nothing seemed to be going off.

In the system. An alert went out that someone took the blueprints.

"Oh boy. Do they know it was us?"

Unlikely, though possible. I managed to turn off the cameras and delete the previous footage, but they will know it happened in this room.

"Let's get out of here for now. I'm going to go back to Tason. You need to go find Bail and get him the plans. And uh...it was good meeting you."

You make it sound like goodbye.

"Because it is. Once they realize you took the plans, they'll destroy you, Artoo. You have to go back to Bail and go back to Alderaan, okay? Promise?"

Screeching, Artoo rushed towards Luke, bumping into him gently. I can't leave you! This wasn't the agreement – you're supposed to come with me! What if they figure out you were with me?

"I'm sorry, Artoo."

Exiting the room, Luke left and headed towards Tason, not waiting for Artoo. Unable to look back, Luke shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and kept his eyes on the floor as he went back to the mess hall. Right as Luke came in front of the mess hall doors, Tason came from the opposite end of the hall.

Looking relieved, Tason came up to him.

"Were you waiting long? For some reason, my coordinates came across wrong from the Major."

"Just a little bit. I just finished lunch."

Nodding, Tason gestured down the hallway.

As they walked, Tason suddenly paused. "Wait...where is the droid?"

"Droid?" Luke pretended he didn't know what he was being asked.

"Yes, your droid."

"Um...he's busy doing droid things, you know?"

Clearly suspicious, Tason still respected Luke's privacy and didn't push for answers, though Luke could tell he was still mulling it over in his mind.

After a quick stop at the medics where they said Luke's arm was healing nicely, Tason lead them back to Luke's quarters.

When they rounded the corner to Luke's room, a man in a dark uniform was waiting in front of Luke's door, having a stare down with Mac who had returned to duty from his break.

"Who are you?" Luke asked as he approached, Tason inching in closer beside him. Luke couldn't help but notice that Tason had his hand near his lightsaber.

Bowing, the man had a sickening smile on his face. "Greetings, your highness. My name is Gortar Mishlen. His majesty the Emperor sent me to relay his condolences regarding your family."

"I see. Please tell him I said thank you."

"I also wanted to offer the opportunity to teach you to spar. His majesty sent me personally as I am one of the best hand to hand opponents available to you."

Now Tason did step in front of Luke. "Our Lord has ordered that Luke is not to be educated in such matters."

The smile did not waver on the man's face at all. "Of course. I did not mean to overstep any bounds. Please excuse me then."

"Of course." Luke watched as the man bowed again and left, feeling a shudder run through his spine when the man passed.

Tason whispered something to Mac as Luke entered his room, Tason following him in after.

"He can't protect me forever." Luke mumbled, mostly to himself though he knew Tason could hear him.

Tason paused, thoughtful. "You're twelve. You don't need to defend yourself yet."

"Yet? And how old were you when you joined my father as a Shadow?"

Looking uncomfortable, Tason didn't answer, which held all the meaning Luke needed. Going and slumping onto the couch, Luke twiddled with his thumbs aimlessly, feeling particularly meaningless in the moment. If his Aunt and Uncle died just like they had before, then who knew what would go wrong next. Artoo would either fail to deliver the plans or be caught, Alderaan would still be destroyed, and Luke…

Luke was still going to die a very painful death, but who knew when now.

"Would you like to do something?"

Glancing over, Luke realized his anxious emotions were bleeding heavily enough into the Force for even Tason to be able to pick up on. "Something? Like what? Walk aimlessly around the palace? Go back to school, where everyone avoids me? Lay on my bed and watch the holovid until my brain leaks out my ears?"

"Uh…" Tason, not expecting the animosity, was taken aback.

Flopping over on his side, Luke burrowed down into the couch, burying his head under a decorative pillow to try and drown out the daylight pouring in from his windows.

"We could go see a movie."

Slowly, Luke lifted the pillow, peeking out. "A...movie?"

Tason nodded. Luke realized in that moment that Tason must not have been much older than Luke was – sixteen, maybe eighteen at most. Though there was still a significant age gape according to Tason, Luke wondered what it would be like to go see a movie with a peer. Back at the rebellion, that was never an option, though on occasion one of the guys would manage to get an old holovid of some kind working if someone had an old disc that could be played. It was too risky to try and tap into any signals where the Empire could trace them.

"Sure."

Grinning, Tason went over to his closet and tossed a plain cloak at him.

Picking it up, Luke glanced at it curiously. "Where exactly is this movie?" He had automatically assumed it was inside the palace.

"Not far."

That was all he got before Tason simply winked at him and left the room. Shrugging, Luke was tired of the same palace walls. Slipping into the cloak, he pulled the hood up over his head and followed Tason out of the room, who was now waiting for him in the hall. Mac was now no where in sight.

Leading him out of the palace like they were going to school, Tason brought them to a speeder and got into the driver's seat. Hopping in the passenger seat, Luke watched out the window as they flew, Tason bringing them to a side of the city he hadn't been able to explore yet.

Landing in front of a movie theater, the parking lot was practically empty.

Entering, Tason waved a badge at the clerk at the front, who bowed to them and opened a door off to the side. "This way, your highness."

Leading them down a dark hallway, Luke found himself in an empty theater box seat, the screen not playing anything yet.

"Did they know we were coming?" Luke whispered to Tason while the clerk got menus ready for them.

"No, but they always have a special theater set aside for higher ups." Tason's eyes twinkled, Luke realizing he had taken advantage of this before.

"Just ring the bell if you need anything, your highness. A waiter will return shortly to take your order." The clerk bowed again after handing them menus.

"What movie is going to play?" Luke asked, scrolling through the food with a wrinkled nose. It was all fancy items that he didn't recognize being from Tatooine, and nothing sounded appetizing.

Tason handed him a shorter menu, Luke realizing it was a list of movies. "We get to pick?!"

Nodding, Tason also flipped Luke's menu over, revealing a list of snacks. Eyes lighting up, Luke grinned. This was much more his taste.

When the waiter returned, Luke selected what Tason described as a space adventure without too much of the "gross, sappy romance" Luke was trying to avoid, and a couple of boxes of candy with a drink.

The movie started a few minutes after the waiter left, Luke's candy brought to him almost immediately.

Settling back, for the first time in months Luke was able to completely forget himself as he fell into the movie. The main character reminded him a lot of Han, heroically dashing to and fro across the galaxy to save the planets. It was heavily influenced by the Imperials still, the main character a pilot for the Navy, but Luke found he didn't mind the propaganda for once.

As they left the theater, Luke tugged on Tason's cloak once. "Hey, thanks."

"You're welcome."

As they headed back to the speeder, it was much busier outside now. School had let out, Luke recognizing several kids from the school as they entered. Tason tugged Luke's cloak up over his head, making sure to keep Luke close beside him as they headed back to the speeder.

Only, once they got there, Luke found their speeder was no longer alone. Another imperial speeder was beside it, a tall figure in all black standing in front with his hands crossed before him.

"Father?" Luke pushed around Tason and headed up to him.

"Luke."

"What are you doing here? I thought you had meetings." Luke noticed they were starting to get stares from people who were passing by.

"I wanted to see how you were doing."

"Well, as you can see, I'm fine."

"Not according to everyone – you've been snappy and churlish all day."

Tensing, Luke saw Tason slip into the speeder they took here, clearly reading ahead as to what was about to happen. "Well, so what if I have been? My Aunt and Uncle are dead because of me! How am I supposed to feel? Happy? Joyful?"

"That is-"

"Not your fault, yeah, yeah. I've heard it before."

Vader's fingers clenched into fists. "Do not interrupt me."

Glaring back, Luke was too timid to actually talk back to Darth Vader.

"Come. We are causing a scene." Gesturing to the passenger door of the speeder, Vader got back behind the wheel. Tason was waiting to depart, watching Luke with careful eyes.

Without a choice, Luke slowly made his way around and got into the speeder, feeling the small piece of peace he'd managed to find fade away.

"As I was going to say, your Aunt and Uncle's...passing, is an extremely unfortunate event, but not one you can blame yourself for. I have dispatched men to Tatooine to...take care of...the Tuscan Raider problems."

"Take care of?" Luke questioned.

"You don't need to know details, just know your Aunt and Uncle will be revenged."

The word "revenge" sickened Luke. "I don't need revenge – I need for them to be alive. Why was their fate always to die when I left? If it wasn't for this stupid Death Star-" Luke stopped mid-sentence, his breath catching in his throat.

Vader suddenly went rigid. "Luke, how do you know about the Death Star?"

"Well, um…"

"Luke!"

"It was sort of the whole reason I left Tatooine before, you know, in my last life. Those were the plans that got stolen, and I joined the rebels to help blow it up…"

Vader was very quickly connecting the dots. "Luke...your shadow told me your droid disappeared earlier."

"Droid? Artoo? I don't know where he went." Luke shrugged it off, hoping his father didn't pick up on his discomfort.

"Artoo – do you mean Artoo Detoo? Luke, this is very important – did you tell anyone else about the Death Star?"

Gulping, Luke knew lying would get him no where. "I told Obi-wan, but it didn't seem like he believed me!" Which was mostly true – Obi-wan did say he was simply crazy the first time.

Gripping the steering wheel, Luke flinched when it started to crack under his father's fingers.

"Earlier today, someone broke into the Imperial Classified Database and stole the plans for the Death Star. The Emperor is furious. I actually came to tell you that I would have to leave off world soon because of it."

"Okay?" Luke feigned innocence.

"Did you convince your droid to take the plans because of your...memories?" Vader stopped himself at the last moment, like he was about to call it something else.

There was nothing Luke could say. Lie, and his father would know instantly. Tell the truth, and instant execution.

"No…"

"Luke."

"Well, I didn't convince him! He made most of the plan. I just...followed him." Luke finally spilled.

Vader groaned. "If the Emperor catches wind of this, you will be in grave trouble, child."

"If? You're not going to drag me straight to him?"

"There are many things you are too young to understand. But as is often the case, the Emperor and I do not always...let's say, see eye to eye on certain matters."

"So you agree with me then?" Luke looked towards his father hopefully. Maybe this was the first step towards the light-

"No. I must get that droid back and retrieve the plans for the Death Star. What is the droid going to do with the plans?"

"But why do you need to get the plans back? If it's going to be a bad thing, the rebels can just go blow it up!"

"Luke, there is a time and a place for everything. You have gone into this with very little thought and planning. The Death Star is still years away from being functional and my plans for it go beyond your comprehension at this age. I need to get the plans back and find a reasonable excuse as to why they were stolen to appease the Emperor so he does not look into things too closely."

"But...can't we just leave? If the Emperor is bad, why are we staying?"

Vader sighed. "The Emperor is not inherently bad, Luke. We simply do not see eye to eye on everything. He is not someone you should fear, nor would us walking away be what is best for this galaxy."

Luke suddenly had a greater understanding of his father – this was the sliver of good still left in his father. Vader believed that what he was doing was for the greater good of the galaxy and not just for the power that the Emperor craved.

"Luke, where is the droid taking those plans?"

Slumping down in his seat, Luke mumbled an answer.

"Luke, now is not the time to test my patience."

"He's taking them to the rebels."

The speeder stopped in the air, though it hardly mattered. They were already back in private air space, almost back to the Palace hangars.

"What?"

"I told Artoo to take the plans to the rebels so they could destroy the Death Star."

Vader let out a pent up breath. "So you have no ties to the rebels?"

"I mean, no? I don't know how to get a hold of them – that's why I sent Artoo." Back to Bail and Breha, anyway.

"Good. Keep it that way. As soon as we return to the palace, you are to stay with the Major and the shadow until I return. You will not leave the palace for any reason – not even school. Until I find a way to cover up your...involvement...in this, you are to stay out of sight and out of mind."

"But I want to help!"

"No! Absolutely not – you've already dug yourself into a hole. You don't need to start shoveling the dirt on top of yourself. I know you are trying to do the right thing, but there are consequences to your actions."

Falling silent, Luke shrank down in his seat. Obviously, considering his choices had already gotten his Aunt and Uncle killed.

The rest of the ride was in silence, Vader handing Luke off to Hal who was waiting for them in the hangar bay.

"Be good. Do as I say, and wait for me to return. Understood?"

Nodding, Luke leaned back into Hal, who placed a hand on his shoulder. They watched as Vader flew away again, Tason coming to join them. Escorting him quickly and quietly through the halls, they made it back to Luke's room in what Luke felt like was record time.

"I'll have the school send over your work so you can keep up with the rest of the kids." Hal offered.

Sitting on his bed, staring down at his feet, Luke nodded. "Hal...I thought I was doing a good thing."

Coming over, Hal sat down beside him. "Luke, you take a lot of responsibility upon yourself for only being twelve. Sometimes it's okay to come to us adults with your problems, right?"

"What if I messed up too far this time? What if I can't fix things?"

"Things will work themselves out. Sometimes, it's just not the way we expect. Tell you what, why don't I go scrounge something up for us to eat, and then we can find something on the holovid to watch?"

But, unlike other twelve year old boys that didn't have access to the Force, Luke could feel Hal's anxiety, Luke unable to shake off his own doubled with Hal's.

"Sure, why not?" Luke lay back on his bed to stare up at the ceiling, listening as Hal got up and walked away, murmuring something to Tason before heading out the door.

Artoo seemed pretty positive that this wouldn't get traced back to them, but Luke could see his father's point. A little more thought probably would have saved a lot of trouble in the long run...it was just a matter of "for who" that Luke couldn't be certain.

Darth Vader

How was it that every time Vader thought he could start trusting that child, he'd discover something else life shattering in a blink of an eye? How could the Force not warn him of something so momentous – his son knew about the Death Star, and wanted to stop it?

If he'd known about this sooner, he could have put a stop to it, although the plan wasn't terrible. The droid had done an excellent job in covering it's tracks, and as far as Vader could find no one would think Luke was involved at all. The droid had just been assigned to him as well, so Vader could easily play it off as a spy sending Luke a gift.

Or perhaps he could change it so the droid wasn't gifted specifically to Luke at all…

For Vader, the Death Star seemed a rather useless tool that would cause more destruction and dislike of the Empire than anything else. Though a Sith Lord should be feared, he should be feared for his own power, not a machines. It went against the Code of the Sith to allow anyone the kind of power the Death Star would contain.

Vader returned to the most urgent matter at hand. He would need a scapegoat for the leaked plans – who else would have known about the Death Star? There was no evidence besides Luke's word that he knew of it, but if the Emperor was suspicious, he could easily pull those thoughts from his son's mind.

Pondering deeply, Vader made up his mind: someone would have to be sacrificed for his son. Once he arrived on the Executor, he would speak in depth with Admiral Piett.

A knock came at the door.

"My Lord, a shuttle is here to take you to the Executor."

Exiting the room, Vader glanced in the direction of his son once before heading towards the shuttle, hoping nothing happened while he was gone.