A smile crossed Tarkin's face as he watched Vader cross the docking bay, heading towards his shuttle. The medical technician who had informed him earlier of the existence of Vader's brat had just informed him that the boy had been moved to the shuttle, disguised as a technician.
As Vader disappeared up the ramp and into his shuttle, Tarkin could feel a strange sensation creep through his being. Actually it wasn't that strange, it was the same feeling he had every time he won. It was the taste of victory. Only it was strange in that he had never felt it to this magnitude before.
Sure, he had won his share of significant battles, he had even beaten Vader at times. But never like this. No. Soon he would not only be the one responsible for the destruction of the Alliance and prove his doctrines right, but he would also win a major personal power struggle as well. With Vader out of the way his chances of getting the galactic throne for himself some day would be greatly increased, if not assured.
All he had to do after ruining Vader was to keep an eye on the other Grand Moffs and Grand Admirals and strike at them before anyone became a serious threat or competition. He was nearly there. Just a few more days and he would be returning to Coruscant and then Vader would wish that his son had never been born.
Tarkin wiped all emotion off his face as he turned around and signaled an officer over to him. "Contact Commander Gribley in the medical department," Tarkin ordered. "Tell him to report to my office immediately."
Without waiting for a reply, Tarkin left the control room he had been in and headed back to his office. Now that Vader was leaving he could take care of the doctor who would have left him in the dark concerning the true identity of the Rebel they had caught. After that he would have the Death Star head straight for Yavin IV. As that was were the freighter with the princess had gone, and was the probable location of the Rebel base. Seeing no one was around Tarkin couldn't help but smile.
Garret paced outside of Vader's room on board the shuttle as he thought. Skywalker absolutely hadn't wanted him to mention his back injuries to anyone, not even his own father. However he knew that it was his task to inform the Dark Lord of his son's condition, he did after all work for him and not the young man.
But he was going to have to share a room with him for the next few nights. Having seen the fury Skywalker was capable of he didn't like the idea of having him mad at him. There was no telling what he was likely to do. At this another thought entered his mind. Did the young man posses whatever ability Vader had that allowed him to do some of the things he did? The Force, he believed his lord called it.
He sighed in frustration. He had known that working with the Dark Lord wasn't going to be easy and that it could well be very dangerous, if not lethal, if he screwed up. So far, though, he had managed to not only remain alive, but to move up in that the Dark Lord trusted him more and more with jobs and assignments of greater value. Like this one. The question with this particular assignment, if it could be called that, was that he could end up in trouble either way he handled things.
His decision was made for him when Vader came down the hall from the direction of the ramp.
"He is on board and ready?" Vader questioned as he caught sight of the young officer.
"Yes, my Lord," Garret replied and then hesitated.
"What is it?" Vader demanded as he sensed the hesitation.
"Your son," Garret began and then wondered if he should refer the young man like that. "While he was changing clothes... I... uh..."
"You what?"
"I noticed blood on the back of his shirt," Garret said. "It seems he had five back injuries as well as the blaster wound on his leg. At least five that weren't healed, one of which was infected."
"Back injuries," Vader hissed slowly. "From what?"
"He claims he fell several times while climbing. However I didn't believe him and he threatened me when I told him I was going to have to inform you," Garret said, knowing he was better off revealing all. "The reason I don't believe him is because the edges of the cuts are far too even to be scratches from a fall... I'd say they were inflicted by a whip. The old scares on his back indicate that he was whipped on a regular basis."
Vader stood frozen in place as he heard this. Whip lashes?! His lips curled in fury at the thought. Someone had dared to use a whip on his son! Feeling a hot fire of rage burst into life inside of himself he turned around and headed back down the corridor. Reaching the door to the room where his son was, he paused. "Tell the pilots to depart," he hissed as the doors swished open.
Garret sighed and headed for the cockpit. Skywalker was going to be furious, but what else could he have done?
Garret came up behind the two pilots who were running the preflight checks. "Weng, Harrow, you may leave as soon as you are ready."
"Sure." Weng replied, his salt and pepper hair showing his age. He had been flying shuttles for years, and had been assigned to Lord Vader for the last five. "Heard we have a passenger. Burk said we had to share a room."
"Yes." Garret replied, unwilling to share more.
Darth Vader entered the small room, eyes instantly swinging to his sleeping son. Even in sleep, pain was tightening the tanned face. Vader's respirator hissed as he stepped forward, the door swishing shut behind him. He raised the light level in the room halfway.
The boy woke. He was swinging himself into a sitting position on the end of the bed before the sleep completely left his body. Vader could feel that habitual fear poured off him, and mentally growled. The movement had been so telling- someone entering his room at night was seen as a threat. Luke feared such a mundane thing. When the boy recognized who was standing in the room he relaxed slightly. Darth Vader's anger rushed in his ears then. His boy feared a Sith Lord less than his previous caretakers? The very idea infuriated him. What had they done to his son?
The young man began to stand, and Vader could feel the agony that lanced his leg and back. The Sith realized he was becoming more sensitive to Force disturbances that the man projected. It was to be expected. He waved the young man back down.
"You may sit." Vader growled. He paused as the boy adjusted himself on the bunk. "I have been informed of your injuries."
Vader watched the young man as his jaw clenched. Shame, then anger washed over Luke. The slightest tremors shook his shoulders as the rage inside him woke. Vader silently watched as Luke buried his shame with anger. It was interesting. This anger would be very helpful during future training.
Luke took a deep breath. "I fell while climbing."
Vader felt slightly stunned. His boy would lie to him? He replied, "That was not my understanding."
The young man's eyes narrowed at the far wall. "Damn Garret," he whispered.
'Garret?' Vader thought. 'Oh, my lieutenant.' Out loud he replied, "He is my officer. He is required to report everything of interest to me."
"It's none of your business." The boy stated.
"None of my business?" Vader growled, infuriated. "It is my business. I will need to know everything that has happened to you."
"Nothing happened." The boy replied. His face was carefully blank.
"Do not lie to me, boy. I can sense it." Vader snapped back and then silently cursed as Luke flinched. The young man fully expected to get punished now, Vader could feel the expectation rolling off of him.
Vader tried a different track. "I need to know the names of your former... caretakers."
"They're dead." Luke replied, Vader just stared at the boy. "Owen and Beru Lars. But they're dead. Stormtroopers killed them."
"How?" Vader was slightly stunned. The Lars' had done this? Kenobi's brother had hurt his son?
"I came home, and the house was burned. There were two charred bodies in front." Luke's voice was wavering. "It was the droids, I'm sure of it. I would have died too, if I hadn't have been out."
"Droids?"
"Yeah. The ones the stormtroopers were looking all over for, back on Tatooine. We bought them from some Jawas. They must have been scavenged from where ever they landed. I didn't know they had the plans for the Death Star until later. Ben was taking them to the Alliance when we got caught."
"Where are they now?"
"I dunno. I think they got back on the Falcon. The Alliance probably has them by now."
Vader almost sighed. 'What's done is done.' He thought before he continued. "Phosphor bombs. Common stormtrooper issue for domestic disputes. Not as destructive as thermal detonators. Painful, but quick."
"I'm sure you find that tidy." Luke growled.
"No. I would have wanted to have them interrogated. I want to know if they knew who you are."
"I dunno. Aunt Beru was always nice enough. Uncle Owen was... he was a lot more strict."
Luke could feel the coldness that rippled off the dark form in his dimmed room. "They were not your family. Owen was Kenobi's brother. Neither was related to you. They lied to you."
"He raised me." Luke replied, suddenly angry. "He could have sold me into slavery. I know he got offers. Everybody does, if you're poor enough."
"That does not prove his goodwill. Especially considering your injuries."
"They cared for me. And nothing happened." The muscles on Luke's neck began to bulge as he clenched his teeth.
"Take off your shirt. Prove it." Vader would have no more of his son's denial.
"No." The boy snapped. Vader was amazed at the strength of the building rage.
"Show me."
"It's none of your business." Icy eyes flashed at Vader.
Vader took one step forward and reached down, grabbing his shirt and pulling Skywalker to his feet. The young man gasped as his shirt bit into the wounds on his back. Luke forced his unsteady legs under him to get the pressure off the slashes.
"Now," the mechanical voice grated, "you will stop lying to me. And you will admit what Owen Lars did to you."
"No." Luke growled, as his back throbbed. His hands fell on the black gloves as he unsuccessfully tried to pry them loose.
"He whipped you, didn't he?" The respirator rasped.
The blue eyes flashed at the black mask again, the look thick with anger. "So what? I had no where else to go! Nobody else wanted me!" The man almost screeched at the black clad form that held him.
"So you admit it?"
Luke shuddered, fury and shame washing out over him and the entire shuttle. Vader loosened his grasp, curious as to Luke's next response. Luke dragged himself free, stumbling toward the door. The young man was gasping in pain, his throbbing back keeping time with his heart. Vader could feel each twitch of agony through the Force as Luke leaned himself up against the door frame. "Well?" He grated.
"Yes." Luke said, the fury in his eyes directed at Vader. "But it's no worse than what you just did." He growled as he slapped the door controls and stumbled into the hall.
Vader waited until Skywalker had staggered out of sight before he returned to his own quarters, deep in thought.
Luke limped down the narrow corridor and around the corner, desperately trying to ignore the throbbing in his leg and back. His father! It wasn't his uncle who was responsible for the pain he was feeling this time, but his father. The man he had always dreamed of knowing and of being with. How could his father have done this to him? He was Darth Vader... but still!
Could it be that he had been wrong all along? Could it be that his father didn't care about him? Luke leaned against the wall and squeezed his eyes shut as the nightmarish fear of rejection washed over him. What if his father decided that he didn't like him, that he was disappointed in him? What then? Would he abandon him?
As he felt his heart start to race in his chest, Luke pushed himself away from the wall and staggered towards the nearest door, entering the room without looking what was in it. Walking in a daze he found a chair and sat down, trying not to think of his father. But he couldn't. He had longed and dreamt too much about the man to ignore him now.
But why did he have to stick his nose into his business? Why couldn't he just have left him alone when he had seen that he didn't want to discuss his injuries? It was none of his business! Luke felt his blood rush to his face as he thought of the whippings. The shame he had felt earlier had returned as well. Shame and helplessness. Whenever his uncle had gotten out the whip there had been absolutely nothing he could do to stop him. Owen Lars was a lot stronger than he looked and trying to resist punishment had always doubled it.
Luke swallowed as he thought back to the one time he had seriously resisted. He had just come back from winning a race in Beggar's Canyon and had felt extremely proud of himself as he had beaten one of the pilots known as the best in the area. When his uncle had seen the small trophy he had won he had exploded. He had said that he wasn't allowed to race, that it was a waste of time and dangerous. He hadn't cared that he had won something, but had instantly ordered him to his room and had later entered with the whip. At this he had protested and, feeling heady over his resent victory, had argued and tried to get out of the room. He hadn't been able to get out of bed for two days after his uncle was through with him. He could remember the pure agony it had been simply to crawl into bed. He had lost the trophy as well.
"Skywalker?" a voice suddenly cut into his thoughts. "Are you all right? Are your wounds bothering you?"
Luke looked up and saw that Burk was standing next to him, peering down at him with concerned eyes. Briefly he wondered whether the man was truly worried for him or simply worried of the consequences of not treating him properly.
As he let his eyes drift around the room, Luke saw that he was in a dining room of sorts. Sitting not too far from him were two men, one blond and one brown haired, both looking at him. They seemed to be studying him. Did they know he was Vader's son? And if so, what did they think? Or had they not been informed... just like Garret had told him to be quiet about it in the medical bay?
He then saw Garret enter the room and his eyes instantly narrowed in pure anger. He got unsteadily to his feet, knocking the chair over as he did so.
"Whoa!" Burk exclaimed as he took hold of his lower arm and steadied him. "I think we had better get you back to bed."
Luke simply shook his arm off as he took a step towards Garret, instantly regretting it as pain tore through his leg and he nearly lost his balance.
"Liar," Luke said, the word dripping with pure fury.
Garret couldn't help but wince inwardly as he looked at Luke. This anger was even worse than what he had seen in the medical bay. Only now Skywalker seemed to be the worse for wear and was clearly unsteady on his feet... there was no chance of him rushing at him now. Seeing the startled expressions on the faces of Salw and Kin, the other two pilots, he shook his head.
"You need to rest," he said as he neared the boy.
"You said you wouldn't tell him," Luke accused, his anger building.
"It is--" Garret began and stopped when Burk gasped.
"Your back," Burk exclaimed as he caught sight of the blood soaked back of Skywalker's shirt. "That's it. You are going to your room so that I can take a look at you."
"I'm fine," Luke snapped as he turned to look at the man standing next to him.
"That's an order," Burk replied as he looked into the young man's eyes, wondering if he could order him around.
The eyes were a surprising mixture of emotions. He could detect anger, hate, pain and... shame. What was that all about? Quickly he pushed the thought aside as he signaled to Garret to help him. Nodding his head, Garret approached even more, but stopped as Luke's lip curled in anger.
"Salw, give me a hand," Burk said as he saw the reaction.
The blond haired man quickly got to his feet and approached the two, taking Luke's other arm. His green eyes widened in alarm as he saw the blood stains on the back of the youth's shirt. Feeling the pain getting worse, Luke reluctantly allowed himself to be led away. He did, however, keep his eyes glued to Garret until he left the room, sending a silent promise that this wasn't the end of the issue.
Burk released Luke's arm as they entered the bunk room and nearly sighed in relief as the young man lay down on the bed by himself. Nodding to Salw, he dismissed the pilot as he took out a pair of scissors from his pocket. Quickly he cut open the blood soaked shirt and winced as he saw the wounds. He instantly noticed that one of them was infected as the datacard had said.
Quickly treating the wounds he then gave the young man a fast acting sedative.
"How is he?" Garret inquired as he entered the room and saw Skywalker asleep.
"Okay, considering his injuries," Burk replied as his interest flared once more.
He wished he knew more about the young man. How had he gotten the wounds? His first thought had been that they had been the result of an interrogation, but if that was true then it would mean that the man was a Rebel, meaning that he wouldn't be able to roam free. He'd be locked up.
"I gave him a sedative so he should sleep for a few hours."
"Good," Garret replied.
This would mean that he could sleep himself. Then, after he awoke, he'd be able to see to trying to repair his relationship with the young man.
In his quarters, Vader felt Luke slip into an uneasy and drugged sleep.
'Yes.' Luke's confession rang through his head. 'But it's no worse than what you just did.'
He quietly shook his head. The boy didn't know what he was talking about. Sure, if the boy disobeyed he deserved punishment, but not in a way that would leave scars behind that would bleed again and again. If he stepped over the line he would be punished for it once and that would be the end of it unless he did it again. The boy would have to learn that... along with many other things.
What did please him, however, was the strength of Luke's rage and the way he tried to push aside the helplessness he felt. Both would be invaluable in his Sith training. His anger would cause him to grow into the Dark Side quickly and his helplessness would make him grasp the power and control the Dark Side gave with both hands.
But even as a smile started to form on the Dark Lord's lips, Vader thought of something else. He would have to learn more about what had happened to the boy up until he had appeared on the Death Star before they got to Coruscant. Palpatine would want to know as much about the boy as possible when he heard of his existence.
And he himself also wanted to get to know the boy better before they reached the capital. To know what kind of man his son was, what his beliefs were, and, most importantly, what his views of the Empire were.
Luke came awake groggily, the pain of his back had reduced to a dull throb. He was in his cabin, and he looked over and saw the doctor sitting on the opposite bunk. The doctor's brown eyes pulled away from the datacard he had been reading. Luke let his mind fish around for the doctor's name. Oh yeah, Burk.
"You're awake, I see. Can you sit up? I've got some food and drink for you." Burk gave Skywalker a friendly smile.
Luke was ravenous, and quickly started forcing his protesting body into an upright position. "Whoa!" The doctor said, "Let me help you. Food's not going anywhere, calm down." The man reached over and gently helped Luke into an upright position. He then handed Luke a tray of food and a tall glass of an orange liquid. Skywalker immediately started tearing into the food washing it down with generous amounts of drink.
"Careful, you'll get sick if you eat too much." Skywalker didn't even pause as he shook his head negatively. Burk let him eat. As soon as he was finished, Burk took the tray.
Skywalker sheepishly smiled. "Thank you, Burk."
"Just doing my duty. Lie back down now, you need your rest." Skywalker moved to comply, but then stopped as the door swished open to let Garret into the room. Luke's eyes narrowed into slits as he gathered himself to lunge. The doctor reached over and grabbed Luke's shoulder, holding the weakened man down.
Burk looked at the furious young man, and then at Garret. "Listen, Garret, I don't know what's going on, and I don't want to know. But he is obviously more than a little angry with you. He's also very sick and in a lot of pain. He's starting to develop a fever and I'm worried about him getting worse. If I have my way, I'll dope him to the gills till we get to Coruscant so he can get some rest. I've got responsibilities to our Lord, and I'm not about to risk punishment if he gets sicker. So, what I'm asking is that you let someone else take care of him till he calms down."
"I would like to talk to him briefly." Garret tried to make it sound like a command.
The doctor looked down at Skywalker in the cramped space. "Fine. But I'm staying, and if you try anything Skywalker, I'm sedating you again. You're pushing yourself too hard."
Garret came into the room, briefly wondering what he was going to say. Skywalker was staring at the floor, eyes burning with fury. Garret sighed. "I brought you a new shirt." Garret held it out. Luke didn't move, so Garret put it on the bunk beside him. Garret sat down across from Luke. Not for the first time this afternoon, he had wished that he had not told Lord Vader about Luke's back. But even now, the prospect of withholding information made him shudder.
"Luke, I'm sorry." Garret whispered. "But I had to do my job. I report directly to him, you know. I had to tell him. He would have been displeased with me if I hadn't."
Burk suddenly had the disquieting feeling they were talking about Lord Vader. But tell him what?
Luke's head rose till his eyes met Garret's, they glowed with hatred. "I didn't want him to know."
"He would have found out eventually. You can't keep secrets from him, no one can." Garret continued, trying to explain himself, "And you can't lie to him, he can tell. He hates lies, Luke."
Luke winced and softly replied, "I know." The betrayal whispered in his mind again. He couldn't believe that his father had hurt him like that. He had always thought that his father would never treat him the way Uncle Owen had.
Garret winced with sudden understanding. "He asked you about it, and you wouldn't admit it." Garret breathed a shuttering sigh. "It's my fault. I should have warned you on how he hates any type of lie. He sees lies as a personal insult since he can tell that the person is lying."
"Yes, that would have been nice to know." Luke sarcastically replied without heat, his anger was beginning to evaporate.
Garret sighed again. "I'm sorry. But I had to tell him." Garret paused, thinking. "You don't know much about him, do you?"
Luke weakly laughed, "No, not much at all." Luke felt his anger trickling out of him, drying up. He sighed, and then gave Garret a small smile. It really wasn't his fault. Working for Darth Vader probably didn't give Garret many choices. And Luke didn't have any friends here, he shouldn't alienate the few people who had been nice to him.
Garret smiled back, he was curious about the extent of Luke's knowledge, so he asked Skywalker, "What do you know?" Burk found himself curious as well, and tried to blend into the wall. It looked like Skywalker was starting to forgive Garret for whatever he had done.
"I've learned a lot in the last 24 hours, but I assume you mean before I got shot?"
"Yeah." Garret said, tilting his head as he brushed the brown hair out of his eyes.
"I assume you'll take everything straight to him." Luke sourly replied, not quite willing to forgive and forget everything yet.
"I'd have to." Garret replied apologetically. "But I have to be easier to talk to than him."
"True. I don't know much at all- just that he's second in the Empire and a Sith Lord, whatever that means. And he has a reputation for being ruthless. Plus all the things Kenobi told me. But most of those were lies, so I don't know what to believe."
"Kenobi?" Garret asked.
"The Jedi Knight I was traveling with." Luke was surprised by the horrified expression on Garret's face.
"Jedi?" Garret breathed, looking repulsed. "What were you doing running around with a, a filthy JEDI?"
"Uh, going to Alderaan." Luke was stunned at the vehemence of Garret's response. "I didn't have anywhere else to go, the farm had been burned down by stormtroopers. It felt right."
"You were hanging around with a Jedi because it 'felt right'?" Garret was truly horrified. Vader's son had been with Jedi! Jedi were the worst enemy of the Empire and not to be trusted, everyone knew that!
"Yeah, like when you know how to find the fastest path through an unfamiliar canyon in a swoop race. It felt right." Garret's face revealed total and complete incomprehension at that remark, but before Luke could explain it, the doctor interrupted from the corner.
"Uh, excuse me. But what happened to the Jedi? Where is it now?" Burk looked terrified. He had heard plenty of stories about the Jedi, and he wanted nothing to do with them. Weren't they all dead anyway?
"Darth Vader cut Ben in half in the Death Star's hangar." Luke's voice was subdued. He was still trying to determine if he should mourn Kenobi since the man had so obviously misled him. Ben had been nice, but Luke was beginning to suspect the Jedi had dark motives for lying to him.
Both of the Imperials breathed a loud sigh of relief.
Garret piped up, "I heard that Lord Vader had actually dueled someone briefly on the Death Star. But the story made it sound like it wasn't much of a fight. Maybe he wasn't much of a Jedi after all."
"He turned off the tractor beam on the Death Star single-handedly so they could get away. And I've seen him control stormtroopers' minds by just waving his hand." Luke shrugged. He may not look up to Kenobi anymore, Luke decided, but it was no reason to disregard the man's abilities.
Burk shivered. "I'm just glad that it's dead."
Garret bit his lips. "What did that thing tell you about Lord Vader anyway?" Garret wanted to know for himself, but he also felt the need to refute any lies that Luke may have been told.
Luke's gaze swung downward. "He told me that Darth Vader was a young apprentice of his that betrayed and murdered my father." Luke sighed. "He was going to train me to be a Jedi. I think I'm beginning to figure out why."
Both Garret and Burk were stunned at this announcement. Burk was horrified at the thought of being in the same room as anyone who would admit to the possibility of becoming one of the hated Jedi. And this man had almost admitted to having a grudge against his lord. Burk was deciding what to do when Garret reached out and squeezed Skywalker's shoulder.
"He lied, Luke."
"I know." Was the quiet reply. "He was going to use me, wasn't he?" Luke sadly asked.
The doors chose that moment to open again, revealing the Dark Lord. Burk and Garret leapt to their feet, snapping to attention. Luke glanced at the dark form and sighed.
"I'm getting sick," Luke softly said, "of being told stories and not knowing what's really going on."
"Doctor, Lieutenant." the mechanical voice hissed, "Out." The Dark Lord stepped aside briefly, to let the two men leave the cramped room.
Burk looked over his shoulder once he crossed the threshold, seeing the Dark Lord walking straight up to the small blond man sitting on the edge of his bunk. Skywalker didn't even look up before the doors snapped shut.
"Garret," Burk whispered, "what is that boy doing here?"
"I can't tell you, Burk." Garret sounded tired. Inside, Garret felt sick to his stomach. The Jedi had Skywalker all these years. They had put those scares on his back, Garret was sure of it. And they had told him all those lies. They must have been trying to turn him into an assassin or something. Turning him against his own father like that, it was disgusting. It was amazing that the young man had held up as well as he had.
"Garret, don't tell me that. I'm expected to care for him. And if he's some Jedi." The overwhelming disgust in Burk's voice for that name spoke volumes. Lord Vader had the best for his shuttle's crew, and the Imperial best hated Jedi. It was expected for any good Imperial to hate the Empire's worst enemies.
Garret spun on Burk putting his face only inches away from the shorter man's. "He is not Jedi, Burk. Lord Vader would probably kill you for suggesting that. Don't even think it. He's the Empire's by rights, and don't you forget it."
"He doesn't act like it."
"Don't push, Burk. Don't push." Garret pulled back, walking to the dining hall without looking at Burk.
Burk just stood there and watched until his com beeped, summoning him back to the room with Skywalker and Lord Vader.
Burk entered the room, wondering what he would find. Everything was just as he left it, neither of the two had moved.
"Doctor, I want you administer 1cc of Drezaline to Skywalker."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Will it interact with anything else you have given him?"
"No, my Lord. But he will be practically inebriated for 24 hours after I administer the dosage."
"Very well." The Lord Vader turned to the puzzled Skywalker as the doctor quietly walked around the towering black monolith towards the younger man. "Drezaline will lower your natural shields, it will make it easier for me, and completely painless for you."
The doctor held the hypospray to Skywalker's neck, and then stepped back. Vader motioned to Skywalker, who scooted over on his bunk, closer to the wall. Vader then sat on the edge of the bunk next to Skywalker.
"Lie down on your back." The ebony clad warrior said as Skywalker suddenly broke into a small giggle. Luke almost flopped down, making the doctor wince for Luke's wounds.
Skywalker was grinning now. "It feels like flying. You know- on those really good days, right before a sandstorm. When the air's so still you can cut the corners close enough to touch the canyon walls."
The Sith Lord just reached a black hand up, carefully touching Luke's face. Skywalker slipped into unconsciousness without another sound. The doctor watched it all, fascinated. He knew that Lord Vader was reading Skywalker's mind right now. He had seen it done once before, when Lord Vader wanted more information from an Imperial Agent than the man could verbally give, but Skywalker had seemed unafraid. The agent had been terrified, and hadn't stopped shaking for days.
The room was silent for over an hour before Darth Vader finally rose. Burk was surprised to see the black form's hand shake slightly as he pulled away.
"He will sleep for a few hours." Lord Vader announced. "He'll be talkative. Tell my lieutenant to keep him away from the rest of the crew." And with that, the Sith left. Burk was almost positive he heard him curse under his breath as the door swished shut.
What was going on? Burk felt the rather unhealthy feeling of curiosity.
"Garret," Burk said as he approached the table Garret was sitting at with Weng and Harrow.
"What?" Garret asked with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Lord Vader wants you to make sure Skywalker stays away from the others," Burk stated, catching Weng's surprised look at the words. "I had to give him Drezaline and Vader doesn't want him talking to anyone."
"Oh, right," Garret instantly replied drawing Weng and Harrow's attention to him.
"That important?" Harrow cautiously asked, knowing his place.
"Yes," Garret stated, knowing that neither Weng nor Harrow would start acting the way Burk had earlier. They knew the routine too well.
"Well I guess we'd better go relieve Salw and Kin in the cockpit," Weng said as he rose to his feet.
Garret nodded, watching them go. Even though they were in hyperspace Vader insisted that there were always two pilots in the cockpit at all times. Just in case something went wrong. Therefore Weng and Harrow switched with Salw and Kin from time to time even though Salw and Kin were primarily the ships technicians and gunners.
He turned his head to watch Burk leave the room. Garret frowned to himself as he thought of the doctor. Burk had only recently been transferred to the shuttle and while he seemed more than capable as a doctor, he seemed to be slightly lacking in military discipline. He was too curious for his own good and Garret knew that sooner or later it would get him into major trouble.
Vader sighed, taking off his mask as he sat down. Some of what he had seen in his son's mind had caused his blood to boil, like the endless beatings for trifle things. And not all of them had been with a whip. Lars had used any hard object he could get his hands on if the whip hadn't been nearby.
The reasons for the beatings alone would have been enough to make him kill Lars. A wrong word here, an inappropriate laugh there, or any number of wrongs he knew kids did all the time had been the cause for blood to be spilled.
'It was bad blood to begin with,' Owen Lars' words echoed through his mind as he saw once more his boy's memory of cutting himself and his caretaker's reply to it.
Bad blood! He knew he had a reputation for being ruthless, and he was proud of it. But he didn't beat a helpless child for simply acting like a child. He had his reasons for what he did, valid reasons. He killed for the Empire. Besides, he was also the one who had pressed and nagged Palpatine until the Emperor had agreed to start funding for schools and hospitals within the Empire.
Those that fought the Empire claimed to do it for freedom and peace, and yet they were destroying the peace by taking up arms and starting a war. They complained the Empire didn't look after its citizens and that it didn't provide them with anything. What they didn't realize was that the money that would normally be going to fund all that they wished to see appear was being channeled into the military because they attacked. They didn't see this; Luke didn't see this.
While going through the boy's mind he had seen his views on the Empire; he was against it. But he had also seen that Luke didn't truly understand what the Empire was, what it could be. All he would have to do would be to show the boy what the Empire truly was and then he knew Luke would see it differently. But Luke was only an example of how ignorant the people were, especially in the Outer Rim Territories where Alliance propaganda ran ramped.
Suddenly a smile twitched the corners of his mouth as another of Luke's memories came to mind. It was about that which Luke had been talking about just as the Drezaline had taken full affect. Flying. He had found many memories of Luke flying his battered T-16. The memories Luke held most dear were those of him racing through various canyons at top speed, oblivious to the danger as he turned and twisted his small ship around the sharp bends. Then there were memories of winning races and the heady feeling he had felt at the time of the race and after it.
The images brought back memories of Vader's own youth. He could clearly remember flying his pod in the various pod races that had once been held on Tatooine. He could remember the rush of the wind against his face as he flew through canyons and caves at breakneck speed. Almost always managing to come out without a scratch while the pods of opponents went crashing into the walls with loud screeches of protesting metal or explosions as their engines were consumed in colorful balls of fire.
Quickly Vader shook his head, pushing the memories back. They were memories of another time and place; of another person. Yet he couldn't help but marvel at the similarity of his pod racing and the racing Luke had done on Tatooine. The fact that his son had made it out of all those races alive clearly showed that the Force was strong in him and was already being used, even if only subconsciously.
And it showed another connection between father and son. Their ability and love of flying. Vader had to admit to himself that even now, after all that he had achieved in his life, he still loved to take out his TIE Advance and simply fly for the fun of it. It was in areas like this that it was clear that Luke was his son. In this and the Force.
He could remember all too clearly Skywalker's shocked and overjoyed expression when he had heard that he intended to ask the Emperor permission to train him when they reached Coruscant. Even though the youth didn't know what Sith training was, he had been immensely pleased with the fact that his father wanted to train him. That his father wanted him. Upon reading this emotion radiating from the young man he had made a mental note to check the memories and feelings the boy had for the past few days.
After looking at all the things his son had experienced that were of importance to him on Tatooine, including what Kenobi had done and said to the boy. This had caused his anger to boil, only to be satisfied with the memory of his saber cutting through the body of the Jedi. Vader had looked at Skywalker's emotions for the past few days and had been surprised at the strength of the betrayal he had felt about their last meeting. Seeing this he had made a mental note of avoiding giving future punishment that would cause the boy to compare him to that abominable Lars. Vader was determined to make the boy see that he was not like him.