Amnesia

by Valerie Vancollie

He groaned as he slowly tried to claw his way back to consciousness. He couldn't remember what had happened; he couldn't even remember who he was! He tried desperately to get away from the swirling darkness in which he now found himself, to awaken, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't.

Finally he gave up, trying instead to remember how he had gotten into this state. How had he been knocked out? How badly was he injured? Who had injured him? Who was he? Where had he come from? Questions, questions and more questions, but no answers. Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?

He couldn't even remember what he looked like!

"Luuuuuuuuukkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeee?" a voice suddenly cut into his thoughts.

Who was that? Where was the voice coming from? Who was Luke? Was he Luke?

It didn't matter, there was somebody there. Somebody's voice whom he vaguely recognized, perhaps somebody who knew him, who could tell him who he was. Desperately he tried to fight his way through the mists and back to a conscious state.

Suddenly it seemed like the most important thing in the world that he awaken, not only to find out who he was and all the other answers to the questions he had, but just to be with this person, this person he felt some kind of connection with, some kind of bond.

"Luuuuuuuuuukkkkkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeee?" the voice asked again.

Again he started struggling against the darkness that wanted to keep him where he was, away from the voice and its owner. He was Luke, he was now sure of that, and this voice, this man, knew him and obviously cared for him.

Even as the darkness tried to pull him back he, Luke, pushed forward. Then, just as he was about to give up, he felt pressure on his. . .on his shoulder! He could feel, he had done it! But no matter how hard he tried he couldn't open his eyes, or were they open and was he just blind? He slowly lifted his hand to his face.

As soon as he lifted his hand the pressure left his shoulder and a strong, leather-clad hand took hold of his wrist.

"No, Luke," the voice said softly but firmly. "Rest, you must rest now."

"M. . .m. . .my. . .my eyes," Luke stuttered as he became aware of another sound, the rhythmic sound of a breathing respirator.

"Shhhh," the voice said softly as his hand was placed back on the soft silk sheets of the bed he was lying on. "Your eyesight can be healed, but it won't come without some pain."

He wasn't blind! He didn't care about the pain, he wanted to see, to see himself, to see where he was, and to see this man who stayed with him and took care of him. Suddenly another question popped into his mind, who was this man? Was he a friend? A brother? A father?

"W. . .who. . .ar. . .are. . .you?" he asked.

"I'm your father, Luke," the voice said. "I'm Vader, Darth Vader."

Yes, the name seemed familiar somehow. Frantically he tried to place a face with the name, but no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't remember the man's face, his father's face.

"My son," Vader said, "in order for you to regain your eyesight I shall have to give you a special kind of eye drops, but as I said earlier it will hurt. Do you want me to do it now or later?"

"Now," Luke replied instantly. "I. . .I want to see you. I can't remember what. . .what you look like."

Did his father know about his memory loss, his amnesia? Did he know what had happened to him? He had so many questions but almost no answers. He desperately hoped that his father had some to give him.

"Very well," his father replied and Luke thought that he could detect a smile in that deep, rich voice.

His bed rose slightly as his father got to his feet. Listening intently he could hear footsteps and then nothing for a moment before hearing footsteps coming back towards him. Then the bed sank slightly as his father re-seated himself on it.

"Now," his father began as Luke felt a big, leather-clad hand on his face. "Remember that this will hurt quite a bit for a short while, but then you'll be able to see again."

He nodded his head slightly in reply before he remained still as his father put a few drops of fluid into his eyes.

At first he felt nothing and was just wondering if the medicine would work when he felt a sudden, terrible pain in his eyes. There was no way to describe the pain. He felt like calling out, like screaming, and yet he couldn't. Then he felt his father's hand once again take hold of his and he just squeezed it, thankful of the reminder that the pain would soon go away.

Just as the pain started to retreat, Luke became aware of his father's hand on his forehead. The hand was gently pushing back his hair. Then, as suddenly as it had come, the pain was gone. Luke released some of the pressure on his father's hand as he slowly blinked his eyes. As he did so he became aware that some of the fluid was still there.

"Wait," his father ordered as he released his hand.

Luke lay still, his eyes shut, waiting impatiently. After a moment he felt a wet cloth rubbing the liquid out of his eyes.

"Done," Vader stated after a few seconds.

Carefully Luke opened his eyes and was relieved to see blurry colors and shapes swim into view. Immediately he looked towards where his father should be. Finally he saw a black outline of a well-built man sitting on the side of his bed. As he regarded him, his vision slowly cleared and he saw that his father wore both black body armor and a breathing mask.

"Can you see clearly now?" Vader asked sensing both confusion and joy radiating from his son.

"Yes, thank you," Luke replied, realizing that he was staring and quickly lowering his eyes. "I'm sorry, it's just that I don't remember anything, I-"

"It's okay," Vader interrupted. "I understand. Your memory will return in time as the poison wears off."

"Poison?" Luke asked, remembering all of his questions.

"Yes," his father replied. "You were attacked by a horangi before I got to you."

"A horangi?"

"Yes," Vader stated nodding his head. "It's a large predator with six arms, long fangs, and claws. The claws are filled with a paralyzing poison, so the moment a claw punctures your skin the poison disables you, both mentally and physically, so that you'd become an easy victim. One of the side effects of the poison is temporary amnesia."

"Another being the blindness," Luke guessed correctly. "How long is this temporary amnesia?"

"That varies from person to person," Vader replied, knowing that if Luke were to touch the Force he'd instantly regain his memory. But he decided to keep that knowledge to himself. "Some people regain their memory in two months, for others it can take up to six months."

Luke nodded his head, disappointed. He'd have no clue as to who had been his friends and his enemies for at least two months. He couldn't even remember being in this room.

"How did it happen?" Luke asked, looking up at his father. "How did I get caught by the horangi?"

"I don't know," Vader replied.

It was true. He could guess, but he couldn't be sure.

"I only arrived on the scene just before it was about to eat you."

Luke shuddered at the thought of his close call. If it hadn't been for his father. . .

"Now you must rest," Vader ordered. "Tomorrow we can discuss things further."

"Okay," Luke replied, realizing just how tired he was. "Where did it claw me?"

"Your upper right arm," Vader replied as he got to his feet.

Luke quickly rolled up his sleeve and saw the twin scars running across his arm.

"Thank you, Father," Luke said as he turned around on the bed.

"Sleep," Vader ordered softly as he left the room.

* * *

When Luke first awoke he didn't know where he was, but then it all came rushing back to him, at least that what had happened the night before. His memory before that was still a big blank. Quickly he glanced at the chronometer on the bedside table and saw that it was half past seven. Sighing, he lifted the sheets before he realized that the sheets themselves provided him with a clue about his life. The sheets were made of a delicate black silk, meaning that he, and his father, were rich.

Now that he thought about it, he realized that he had only seen his father. Didn't he have any siblings? What about his mother? Where was she? Had she died, or had his parents split up? And how had his father gotten the mask and body armor? Frustrated, he threw back the sheets and got up. Looking around he saw that there was a single closet in his room, a desk, a shelf which was almost bare, and the bedside table.

Walking over to the shelf he scanned the objects on it. The thing that caught his attention was a long, cylinder-like object which seemed to be a hilt of sorts with a button near the top.

Picking it up he instantly knew that he had held one of those often before. It felt as if it belonged in his hand. Turning it away from him, he pressed the button and immediately a brilliant green-white blade appeared with a loud humming. Looking at the blade he instinctively knew not to touch it. How he didn't know. He just knew. After examining the blade for a moment he pressed the button once more and the blade disappeared. As he studied the hilt of the weapon he remembered seeing a similar device hanging from his father's belt the night before.

Putting the hilt back on the shelf, he turned around and walked over to the window and pulled back the heavy, black velvet drapes. Looking out he saw a pathway leading away from the building he was in, down to the sea which he could just make out in the distance. To the far left of his view and close to the building he saw a landing pad. On it stood a single shuttle with its wings folded up.

Turning away from the window he walked over to the desk and found a datachip lying on it. Sitting down in the chair, he inserted the datachip into the holo player installed in the desk. Almost instantly a miniature blueprint of a castle appeared in the air above the player. Seeing a landing pad on the holo he realized that the blueprints were those of the building he was in.

Studying the blueprints he smiled to himself, knowing that his father had probably left the datachip here so that he wouldn't get lost in his own home. He had to admit, from what he could tell from the holo in front of him, the castle was huge and he'd definitely have gotten lost if he hadn't had those plans. As he quickly memorized the plan he noticed that it identified the planet he was on as Melca.

He got up and took a quick shower before he walked over to the closet and opened it. Looking inside he saw several pairs of clothes, some plain, and some long flowing robes. He also noticed that while most of the clothes were black there were some dark blue ones with silver trimmings. Looking over the clothes he quickly pulled out a black shirt and pants along with a dark blue robe with silver trimming. After putting on the clothes he reached back into the closet and pulled out a pair of black knee-high boots and a belt.

Glancing in the mirror, he smiled to himself. Whoever he was, he looked both handsome and important. Heading towards the door his eyes once again fell on the weapon lying on the shelf. Wondering if he had once worn it at his belt as his father did, he walked back over to the shelf and picked it up. Examining it once more he decided that he might as well carry it with him and then ask his father about it later. He hooked the weapon to his belt before he turned around and left the room heading downstairs for breakfast.

Using his memory the blueprints, he quickly found the dining room and had just seated himself at the large wooden table when a velvet-footed servant clad in gray entered the room carrying a tray with food. The servant silently set the food before him, after which he left the room as silently as he had come.

Looking at the food Luke shook his head as he wondered if he'd ever regain his memory. He didn't even recognize the food he was about to eat. Sighing softly, he began to eat as he studied the dining room. As he did so he realized that his father must be richer then he had thought. Although he didn't remember anything about the worth of the furniture and tapestries that decorated the room, he could clearly see that they were all very expensive.

He had just finished when the velvet-footed servant re-entered the room.

"Lord Vader requests your presence," the servant said as he stopped at Luke's right elbow. "He's upstairs in his chambers."

Luke nodded his head absently as he rose and exited the dining room. Lord Vader? Lord of what?

Shaking his head in frustration he stopped in front of the door to his father's chambers. Should he knock and wait, or should he go right in? Compromising, he knocked and entered. As soon as he entered the room he gave a small cough as the air that went into his lungs was different.

"It's pure oxygen," came his father's voice. "It will not harm you. It allows me to breath without my respirator."

Looking around Luke saw a big chair and, as he watched, the chair turned around to face him. Upon seeing the occupant's face he gasped involuntarily. His father was still wearing the body armor, but he had removed the mask, revealing a pale, bald, and scarred face. As he studied his father's face he noticed that he had inherited his father's ice-blue eyes. Suddenly realizing that he was staring, he quickly lowered his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he apologized as he felt his father's gaze upon him.

There was a moment of silence during which Luke shifted uncomfortably. He was wondering how badly he'd insulted his father when Vader spoke:

"That's all right," Vader stated, his voice emotionless. "I know it must be a shock to see my face for the first time."

"First time?" Luke asked looking up.

"First time since your accident," Vader replied as he studied his son. "I see you have your lightsaber with you."

"Lightsaber?" Luke asked looking confused. "You mean this?" He took the weapon hilt from his belt.

"Yes," his father replied, smiling. "It is the weapon of the Sith and the Jedi, although the Jedi are all but extinct."

"Extinct?"

"Yes, over twenty years ago I started the Great Jedi Purge. Now there is only one master and one student left," Vader explained, watching his son intently.

"Why?" Luke asked, moving forward and taking a chair close to his father. "Why the Purge?"

"There are several reasons, mostly political," Vader replied carefully. "But the two reasons that were most important to me was the fact that they opposed Palpatine and his reforms and the fact that it was a Jedi who pushed me into a lava pit causing these injures you see now."

Vader was pleased to see the anger and hate appear on his son's face as he heard this.

"So there's only one master and one student left?" Luke asked angrily.

"Yes," Vader confirmed. "I have no idea where the master is, but the student is with the Rebellion."

"The Rebellion?"

"Yes," his father replied. "Over twenty years ago the Old Republic ruled the galaxy, but it became corrupt. One of its Senators, a man named Palpatine, had had enough of it and decided to bring order back to the galaxy. He established his Empire and proclaimed himself Emperor. He has a big military and fleet. However, a few people think that the Empire is taking away the freedom of the galaxy and they fight the Empire, claiming they want peace."

"They attack to achieve peace?" Luke asked incredulously.

"Yes," Vader confirmed. "They call themselves the Rebel Alliance, but they are known as the Rebellion to most Imperials."

"What's your position in the Empire?" Luke asked remembering how the servant had given his father the title 'Lord.'

"I'm second in command of the Empire and my title is Lord Vader," Vader stated proudly.

"Second in command?" Luke repeated, impressed.

No wonder his father was rich. He was the second most powerful man in the galaxy! Looking around the room he noticed that, although sparsely furnished, everything looked just as expensive as the furnishings in the rest of the castle.

As Luke studied the room Vader studied his son. Until Luke regained his memory he would be able to introduce his son to Imperial ways and ideas without the Rebel ideas clouding his mind and judgment. It was a shame that he couldn't train Luke in the ways of the Dark Side, but any contact with the Force would bring his memory rushing back. He couldn't have that as Luke would then deny his destiny once again. If Luke spent the next two and a half months with him he'd come to see the truth, namely that he belonged at his father's side. Once the boy realized that, then he'd accept his Dark Side training.

"Father?" Luke asked, turning back to face him.

"Yes?" Vader replied, smiling slightly.

"What are the Jedi and the Sith?" Luke asked. "I mean what makes them different from others?"

"The Sith and the Jedi are people who are trained in the ways of the Force," Vader explained carefully.

"The Force?" Luke asked, looking confused.

"The Force is an energy field that surrounds us and all living things," Vader stated, carefully watching Luke for signs of recognition, but found none. "The Force is everywhere for Force sensitive individuals to touch and manipulate. There are two sides to the Force, the Light Side and the Dark Side. The Jedi use the sickeningly weak Light Side and so deny their true power while the Sith use the Dark Side and are very powerful."

"Are you a Sith?" Luke inquired.

"Yes," Vader replied. "And you have inherited my ability to touch the Force."

At this Luke raised his head and sent him a confused glance.

"Then how come I don't feel it?" he asked.

"You have forgotten your training along with your memory," Vader explained. "It will come back to you when your memory does. Until then you wouldn't need the Force."

"Okay," Luke replied just as there came a beeping noise from the control panel behind his father.

Vader turned his chair around and saw that it was the call he had been waiting for. He pushed a button and his mask and helmet slide back down and onto his head.

"There is some business I have to take care of," he stated, rising to his feet. "If you'll excuse me."

"Very well," Luke replied as he too got up. "I'll go explore."

With this Luke walked over to the door and left the room. Vader stood still for a moment, contemplating his conversation with his son, before he remembered who was calling him. Quickly he entered a room specially designed for contact with the Emperor. He stepped forward and knelt in the middle of the projecting circle before he opened the connection. Immediately the larger-than-life image of Palpatine's face appeared in the air in front of Vader's kneeling form.

"So nice of you to finally acknowledge my call," Palpatine stated acidly and noticed Vader shift slightly.

"My apologies master," Vader replied, keeping his head low. "I was busy with my son."

"Ah, yes, young Skywalker," Palpatine said. "How is my future young apprentice?"

"Thanks to the horangi's poison he remembers nothing but what has happened since he first awoke last night."

"Good," Palpatine stated, pleased. "He believes everything you tell him?"

"Yes," Vader replied, stiffening slightly.

He had no intention of lying to his son. That would only make Luke mistrust him when he regained his memory. No, it was much better to tell Luke the truth and then point that out to his son when he regained his memory. He had felt the boy's longing to know him ever since Bespin, but Luke had held back, thinking him evil. However, if he could prove to Luke who he was now, then he was sure Luke would join him voluntarily, which was much better then forcing him to the Dark Side for both him and Luke.

"Bring young Skywalker to me in several weeks," Palpatine ordered.

"Several weeks?" Vader questioned, glancing up in surprise. "He won't even have regained his memory yet."

"No matter," Palpatine stated. "You shall bring him to me then. You may still keep him with you until he's ready for his apprenticeship, but I wish to see him in several weeks."

"As you wish my master," Vader replied, once again lowering his head.

Seconds later the enlarged image of Palpatine's face flickered and vanished. Remaining in his kneeling position he thought. He had been planning on keeping Luke here until he regained his memory, just to make sure his son didn't start getting suspicious when people stared at him, wondering what a Rebel was doing with Lord Vader.

After a moment of consideration he realized that taking Luke to see the Emperor could only strengthen his Imperial perspective, provided that he didn't leave the Imperial Palace. Smiling to himself, he rose while reaching out with the Force to touch his son's mind. Without the Force Luke's mind was completely open and he could clearly feel the confusion and determination radiating form it, but he could also feel a sense of belonging. His smile broadened at this as he knew that Luke had never truly felt like he belonged anywhere before today.

* * *

Walking down the hall, Luke wasn't exactly sure what he was going to find in the next room. As he neared, the door automatically opened and he entered the room. As soon as he saw what was in the room, he froze. Books. All four walls of the room were shelves full of books. Although he couldn't remember certain things, he did know that books were very rare. Yet here he was standing in a room filled with thousands upon thousands of books!

Approaching the nearest wall he looked at the titles on the old covers, noticing immediately that most of the titles were printed in languages he didn't know. He also noticed that of the titles that were in Basic most of the books were old encyclopedias and listings of planets. Walking along the wall he also noticed that all the books about the planets had a mention of the Old Republic somewhere on their cover.

Making a mental note to ask his father about this, he walked over to another wall and saw, to his delight, that most of those books here were about the Sith. Carefully taking one of the books off the shelf, he walked over to the couch in the middle of the room, sat down, and opened the book.

* * *

Two weeks later,

Standing on the edge of the cliff overlooking the sea, Luke sighed. His father had answered most of his questions, but there were several that his father had said were better left alone and remembered instead of told. He let his frustration melt away as a strong wind whipped against his face and played with the black cape he was wearing.

He had spent the past two weeks reading in the library and exploring his home and the surrounding area. He had become particularly interested in the Sith books and desperately wished he could remember how to use the Force. He had watched his father practice with his lightsaber in the sparring room, hoping for something to come back to him, but it didn't help. He could remember absolutely nothing. It was almost like he was seeing everything for the first time, which was ridiculous considering that this was his home.

Suddenly his anger flared. He was angry at the horangi for poisoning him, angry at himself for getting caught by the horangi, and angry at his father for not answering all of his questions. He was just about to try to control his anger when he remembered what his father had told him the last time he had suppressed his anger: 'Let your anger flow freely my son, for anger helps the Dark Side.'

Taking his father's advice he whirled around, reaching for his lightsaber as he did so. He lashed out at the nearest object, a huge boulder. He kept swinging at the boulder until all that was left of it was a pile of small rocks. He just looked at the small rocks for a moment, breathing hard, before he suddenly began laughing aloud. His father was right. It did feel better to let his anger free.

Smiling to himself, he headed back in as the sun started to set.

* * *

Sitting in his room meditating, Vader smiled as his son's anger washed over him. Over the past two weeks he had slowly but surely linked his mind to Luke's, meaning that he could now sense Luke's every mood as the boy was not shielding his mind. Even after Luke regained his memory, he'd still be able to communicate with his son no matter where he was, although Luke would be able to block him out if he chose to do so.

Getting to his feet, he turned on the com.

"Yes, my lord?" Marcus asked.

"Tell my son to come up here," Vader ordered.

"He is outside, my lord," Marcus replied.

Vader shook his head at this. After having served him for several years Marcus was one of few people who dared question his orders.

"Tell him when he comes back in," he replied.

"As you wish, my lord."

Turning off the com, Vader stood still, thinking. Palpatine had contacted him earlier, saying that he wanted to see Luke next week. It was earlier then he had expected, but it was probably good that Luke would be seeing more of the Empire. The only thing he feared was what Palpatine might say to the boy. He knew that the Emperor wouldn't hesitate to lie to his son.

Pushing the thought from his mind he sat back down as he relaxed. The Force would work everything out. Just as it had given him this chance to get to know his son and for Luke to get to know him without there being any barriers of conflicting beliefs between them. He was still thinking of the Force and of how things had transpired since his first meeting with his son on Bespin when he felt Luke's approach.

When Luke reached the door to his father's he just entered without knocking, having learned that his father could sense his approach long before he reached the door.

"Yes, Father?" Luke asked as he approached his father and sat down in the chair he always used when talking to his father.

"I received another call from the Emperor this morning," Vader stated, turning to face his young son. "He wants to see you on Coruscant next week."

"The Emperor?" Luke repeated. "Why?"

"He wishes to see you," Vader repeated. "Probably to see what your condition is."

Luke just nodded his head. He really shouldn't be surprised, especially considering his father's position and the position he himself must have had before his amnesia.

"How long will we be on Coruscant?"

"That depends," Vader stated. "It could be a week or it could be three weeks."

Three weeks. He'd have three weeks to explore another part of his past and hopefully he'd be given some tasks to do to keep his mind off his accident and the results of it. Over the past few days it had become clear that the twin scars on his upper right arm wouldn't be going away, meaning that even after he regained his memory he'd have a permanent reminder of his run-in with the horangi.

"Luke," Vader said, snapping his son from his thoughts.

"Yes?" Luke asked, looking back up at his father.

"It would probably be best that you stay away from the Imperial Court as much as possible while we're on Coruscant as it is widely believed that you are dead," Vader said. "It would be most unfortunate should the Rebellion learn about the fact that you are still alive."

"Okay," Luke replied, seeing his father's logic. "Don't you trust the Court?"

"No," Vader stated flatly. "Besides, the news of your being are alive would spread like wild fire. Then, sooner or later, a Rebel agent will hear about it and inform the Alliance leaders."

Vader watched his son as he nodded, pleased that Luke accepted this explanation. It was getting harder and harder to phrase things so that Luke would assume that he was an Imperial without actually lying to the boy.

"How long will it take to reach Coruscant?" Luke asked.

"Two days," Vader replied. "We'll take a shuttle over to avoid any of the troops seeing you."

* * *

A week later,

"You take her down," Vader said as he got up from the pilot's seat and took the co-pilots chair.

"Me?" Luke questioned.

"Yes," Vader replied as Luke sat down. "You were a great pilot before your run-in with the horangi. It'll come back to you."

"Okay," Luke responded, a little doubtful but knowing better then to say so.

He looked at the controls before him and forced himself to relax. As he studied the controls he found that they did seem familiar. Quickly he ran the check he had seen his father do earlier, then he waited for the hyperspace clock to count down before he gently pushed forward the hyperspace levers.

Immediately the shuttle they were in jumped out of hyperspace and Luke saw Coruscant, the capitol of the Empire, lying before him like a brilliant jewel on a black satin cushion. Smiling at the beauty of the scene before him he turned his attention back to his piloting. As they neared Coruscant he began to wonder why they hadn't been hailed by the Coruscant traffic control.

"Why--?" he began, briefly looking at his father.

"The shuttle's identification beacon has my personal signal. They'll just work the other traffic around us," Vader explained reading his son's mind.

"Okay," Luke replied. "Which landing pad?"

"The south one," Vader stated as they entered Coruscant's night atmosphere.

Luke adjusted their course so that they were heading for the south landing pad of the Imperial Palace.

As he watched Luke manipulate the controls, Vader smiled silently behind his mask. Not only had his son inherited his ability to touch the Force and his lightsaber skills, but he had also inherited his piloting skills.

Quickly and smoothly, Luke set the shuttle down on the artificially lit south landing pad.

"Any other talents I need to know about?" he asked, looking over to his father.

Laughing, Vader shook his head no. It was obvious Luke enjoyed flying just as much as he did. Rising from his seat, he motioned for his son to follow him before he headed for the ramp. As he had expected, a messenger stepped out of the night and approached them as soon as they had descended the ramp.

"Lord Vader, Skywalker," the messenger said, bowing slightly. "The Emperor will see you first thing tomorrow morning."

"Very well," Vader replied, walking on past the messenger.

"Skywalker?" Luke asked as soon as they were alone in the halls of the Imperial Palace.

Looking down at his son, Vader cursed mentally.

"Yes," he stated aloud. "Before my own accident my name was Anakin Skywalker. However, once it became clear that I'd be confined to a breathing mask and armor for the rest of my life, both Palpatine and I decided that it was better for me to change my name and pretend that Anakin Skywalker had died. That way I'd have a small advantage over the Jedi for a short time at least. Over time the name stuck and everyone knew me as Vader, so I kept the name. Anakin Skywalker had no more meaning for me."

"Was this after I was born?" Luke asked. "Is that why my name is Skywalker?"

"No," Vader replied as they stepped into a turbolift. "Your mother was pregnant when I had my accident and she decided to name you Skywalker."

Luke nodded his head and Vader nearly gave a sigh of relief, glad that his son didn't press the matter any further. Then the turbolift door opened and they stepped out into a hallway that was completely deserted save for a few stormtroopers positioned at intervals down the hall. Silently Luke followed his father. Halfway down the hall Vader stopped in front of a door.

"These will be your quarters, mine are the next ones down," he stated as he stepped back to let Luke near the door.

Stepping forward Luke placed his right hand on the scanner next to the door. . . nothing happened.

"Use your left hand," Vader said softly. "Your right hand's a prosthetic."

"What?!" Luke exclaimed, looking first at his father and then down at his hand.

"You lost your right hand in a lightsaber duel in Cloud City, Bespin," Vader explained, carefully watching his astonished son.

Luke's astonishment quickly faded away into anger and hate as he opened and closed the hand a few times, trying to feel the difference between it and his left hand. After a few seconds he gave up, unable to tell the difference, but still, it was a prosthetic. Looking up at his father he opened his mouth to speak, to ask how he had lost his hand, but Vader cut him off.

"That is knowledge better remembered than told," Vader hastily stated.

Luke seemed to hesitate for a moment, anger and a need for revenge welling up inside him, but he knew that until he remembered how to use the Force he would be unable to do anything. Deciding to let the issue go for now he brought up his left hand and placed it on the scanner. Immediately a row of green lights went up and down the monitor before the door slid open.

Stepping into the room beyond Luke saw it was meant as a reception of sorts, a room where subordinates could receive orders. He also noticed the rich wine red carpet that covered the floor and sank beneath his feet as he walked on it.

"Meet me out here at eight tomorrow," Vader ordered from the doorway.

"Yes, Father," Luke replied as he turned back to face the door. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, my son," Vader responded before he left for his own quarters.

As soon as the door closed, Luke pushed up his right sleeve and studied his wrist. A few moments later he found the thin, almost invisible, line where his arm ended and the prosthetic began. Grinding his teeth in anger, he felt for the access panel that he knew must be somewhere. Finding it, he hesitated before popping it open. It was, after all, a part of him now, and he knew that he must have seen it before. Inside he saw a bunch of electronics, some of which bent back and forth as he flexed and relaxed his fingers. Quickly, he slammed the panel back shut and pulled his sleeve back down.

Hoping for a distraction, he walked over to the huge window and looked out. He gasped in spite of himself. Although he had seen Coruscant while flying overhead, he had not seen the Imperial gardens. There were several cobble stone pathways meandering through different bushes which were blooming with exotically colored flowers and fruits. Towards one end of the gardens he could see a small stream winding its way through the bushes and flowers. The whole scene was being illuminated by several powerful lights hidden in scattered places throughout the garden. In the distance he could see the tops of the tall skyscrapers that covered the entire planet.

After a few moments he tore himself away from the window and walked over to the door at the back of the room. The door automatically slid open soundlessly as he approached. Entering the room he saw that it was his bedroom and, like his bedroom at home, it was totally decorated in black. To his right was a huge bed covered with similar black silk sheets as his own bed, and to his left was another window, also over looking the Imperial gardens.

Realizing just how tired he was, he quickly changed and went to bed.

* * *

Silently, Luke followed his father up the stairs towards the throne which held the Imperial Emperor. Knowing that the Emperor could use the Force Luke knew that he had to be aware of their presence, and yet Palpatine kept his throne turned away from them. Reaching the top of the stairs he imitated his father and knelt at his side, his dark blue robe falling in a pool around him.

As soon as they kneeled, the throne slowly turned toward them.

"Master," Vader stated, keeping his head low.

Palpatine briefly eyed Vader before he turned his attention to the Dark Lord's son. As he studied the boy, his future apprentice, he reached out with the Force and entered the now defenseless mind. He smiled to himself as he found Luke's anger and momentary loyalty to the Empire and to his father.

"Rise, my friends, rise," Palpatine ordered as he retreated from Luke's unsuspecting mind.

Luke stood and lifted his eyes to study the Emperor. . . his master. Over the past three weeks he had learned, or rather relearned, not to underestimate the Force, but even knowing that he was surprised to see the form of an old man sitting upon the throne.

"Still under the influence of the horangi's poison are you, young Skywalker?" Palpatine asked, looking at the boy.

"Yes. . . my master," Luke replied.

Palpatine nodded his head, pleased.

"At least you haven't forgotten your loyalties," he stated, watching Luke for a reaction but finding none.

Vader on the other hand stiffened slightly at the falsehood. He had known Palpatine would lie to Luke sooner or later, but he was still against the idea. He knew that the more Luke was lied to, the harder it would be for them to get him to join them voluntarily. Suppressing an angry sigh, he turned his attention back to what was happening.

"We recently managed to capture a Rebel cell operating on Tarsfior IV," Palpatine was saying. "All of them non-human slaves. I wish for you to interrogate them and see if any of them know the location of the hidden Rebel base. You will find Commander Drake with his men waiting in the detention area."

"As you wish, my master," Luke replied obediently.

Vader noticed that there was no hesitation in his son's voice this time as there had been before.

Luke bowed slightly to the Emperor, nodded to his father, then turned around, heading down the stairs and out of the throne room. Looking at his master, Vader waited silently. Palpatine watched Luke go and then turned his attention back to his waiting servant.

"How long until he regains his memory?" he demanded.

"Perhaps seven more weeks, perhaps several more months," Vader replied. "The poison varies from person to person, however I expect it to be closer to seven weeks."

"Until then, he is ours," Palpatine stated smiling with evil pleasure.

* * *

Having memorized a plan of the Palace over breakfast, Luke knew exactly how to get to the detention area. As soon as he entered the detention area an officer waiting there snapped to attention.

"Commander Drake?" Luke demanded.

"Yes Sir," Drake replied, eyeing the boy before him.

How had this kid gotten so important? Heck, instead of the standard Imperial uniform he was wearing black cloths with an expensive dark blue robe trimmed with silver. Yet he had been sent down by the Emperor himself to oversee the interrogation of the Rebels. Looking back at the boy before him, Drake noticed he was being watched himself, by the boy's ice-blue, calculating, cold eyes.

"If you'll follow me," Drake said, turning around and leading the boy to the interrogation chamber.

Suddenly Drake realized that all he knew about the boy was that he had the Emperor's favor and that he was higher ranking than him. He didn't even know what form of address to use. Then they reached the interrogation chamber and he stepped into the room.

Luke followed the commander in and quickly scanned the room. In the center was a single Ithorian tied to a scanning grid. Standing behind the controls of the grid stood a storm trooper with a second storm trooper stood behind the Ithorian.

"The other Rebels are in their cells?" Luke demanded turning to the commander waiting at his side.

"Yes, my lord," Drake replied, knowing that he couldn't go wrong with that title unless Darth Vader was in the room.

"Good," Luke replied. "What kind of slaves are they?"

The Ithorian, Luke noticed out of the corner of his eye, bristled at his choice of wording.

"A Wookiee, a Sullustian, and another Hammerhead," Drake replied gesturing towards the Ithorian who bristled even more at the name.

"At least we're only Hammerheads, but you're Imperials," the Ithorian stated. "You slaughter people for fun, you no good monsters--"

With three steps Luke stood in front of the Ithorian and quickly backhanded him across the face.

"Silence, slave," he ordered icily. "You will only speak when spoken to. However, since you feel like talking, tell me where the Rebel base is."

The Hammerhead immediately shut his mouth, but his eyes looked up at Luke and shone bright with defiance.

"Very well," Luke said after a moment of silence. "Commence the interrogation."

Instantly the two storm troopers sprang into action. As Luke stepped back, the one behind the Rebel stepped forward and tilted the plank onto which the Ithorian was tied. The other storm trooper checked the scan grid one last time before he activated it. The Ithorian flinched in pain as the interrogation started but remained silent.

"Bring the pain level up two notches," Luke ordered, seeing the Ithorian's reaction.

The storm trooper behind the controls nodded as he did as he was ordered. Standing next to Luke, Commander Drake looked at the boy in surprise. Never in all the interrogations he had conducted or watched had they brought the pain level up so fast. They generally started out slowly, to give the prisoner the impression that it wouldn't be too bad, before they started to intensify the pain slowly but surely. Drake turned his attention back to the interrogation as the Hammerhead cried out in pain.

"Where is the Rebel base?" Drake demanded, stepping closer to the prisoner.

The Ithorian just looked at him through narrow slits as jolt after jolt of pain washed over him.

"Give us the location of the Rebel base and we'll stop," Drake promised.

"Never!" the Ithorian cried out through clenched teeth.

For the next twenty minutes Luke stood and watched as the interrogation continued. Finally he had enough. This was obviously going nowhere. The Ithorian was not going to give away his friends. Perhaps there was another way. Quietly, he stepped forward and immediately Commander Drake stepped back.

"Tell me the location of the base," Luke demanded, an impatient edge to his voice. "Now."

The Ithorian remained quiet until the next jolt of pain came and then he only opened his mouth to scream.

"Double the pain level," Luke ordered keeping his eyes on the Rebel.

"My lord," Drake commented, stopping the storm trooper who was moving to obey Luke's order. "He will last but a few seconds at that level."

Luke whirled around to face the commander, his robe swirling out as he did so, momentarily revealing his lightsaber, before it was once again hidden by his robe.

"I gave you an order Commander," Luke stated icily.

"As you wish," Drake replied, indicating for the storm trooper to obey.

He had seen the lightsaber hilt at the boy's belt and had instantly recognized it as a similar weapon to that Lord Vader carried around with him. If the boy also carried one then it was likely he also had Lord Vader's favor as well as the Emperor's, which meant that if he valued his life at all he'd obey the boy. The storm trooper quickly adjusted the pain level and started the scan grid again.

"You're a cold-blooded, sadistic monster," the Ithorian mumbled to Luke as he turned to face him.

Luke's eyes narrowed in anger, but he refrained from hitting the being, taking his revenge instead from the nonstop scream of pain that issued forth before the Ithorian slumped forward against the restraints, dead.

"Free him but leave his body on the floor," Luke ordered the storm troopers before he turned back to the waiting commander. "Have the other Hammerhead brought in here along with the Sullustian."

"As you wish," Drake replied, wondering what the boy had in mind.

Luke watched silently as the storm troopers undid the restraints holding the Ithorian's dead body to the plank before they dropped him unceremoniously to the floor. Moments later the door reopened and Commander Drake entered the room with four more storm troopers who were holding two struggling Rebels.

"Resistance will get you killed," Luke stated, indicating the dead body on the floor.

"Granzig, no!" the second Ithorian exclaimed seeing his friend's body.

"He resisted," Luke stated simply. "And your Sullustian friend will suffer the same fate unless you give us the location of your hidden Rebel base."

Realizing what the boy had planned, Drake motioned for the two storm troopers holding the Sullustian to get him ready for the scan grid. Immediately they moved forward and, despite the Rebel's struggles, attached him to the plank.

"No!" the Ithorian exclaimed, horrified.

"The location of the base and we will end this before it gets anymore unpleasant," Luke tempted.

"Don't!" the Sullustian stated in broken Basic. "Think of all the people who will die if you give them the information they want!"

"But can you watch your friend here die slowly? Can you watch him scream in pain and know that you can stop it?" Luke taunted as the two extra storm troopers left the room. "You can watch him die if you want, but if you choose to do so, you will also watch the Wookiee die, slowly and painfully."

"Don't!" the Sullustian repeated.

"Very well," Luke stated. "Begin."

"No!" the Ithorian exclaimed as he struggled to get free from the storm troopers who were holding him.

Luke allowed the Sullustian's cries to go on for several minutes before he turned his attention back to the Ithorian.

"You can stop this right now if you want to," Luke repeated. "Just give us the location of the base."

"No!" the Sullustian pleaded between screams. "Don't tell them!"

The Ithorian's eyes flickered from Luke, to the Sullustian, to the body of his dead friend on the floor, before they came back to rest on Luke.

"Damn you Imperials!" he cursed and Luke could clearly hear his indecision.

Knowing that he could get what he wanted, Luke stepped back and let the interrogation continue. Standing next to Luke, Drake started shifting uncomfortably until Luke, finally irritated, turned to him.

"Get the Wookiee ready," he ordered, his eyes flashing with irritation at the commander's behavior. "The Sullustian won't last much longer."

The taunt had its desired effect.

"No!" the Ithorian exclaimed. "Stop, don't kill him!"

"Tell me what I want to know first," Luke countered.

"Walp," the Ithorian stated, lowering his eyes. "They're on Walp."

"Good," Luke replied as he signaled for the storm troopers to stop the scan grid.

Instantly the screams were replaced by heavy breathing as the Sullustian tried to catch his breath.

"Take the Sullustian back to his cell," Luke ordered the storm troopers before he turned his attention back to Drake. "You will interrogate the Hammerhead and the Wookiee for any further information."

"What?!" the Ithorian exclaimed angrily. "You said you'd stop if I told you!"

Luke just looked at the alien in disgust for a moment before he replied:

"That's why your kind are slaves. You lack intelligence."

At this the Ithorian tried to lunge at Luke, but one of the storm troopers anticipated his move and hit him in the stomach with his blaster before the Ithorian had even managed to take a step forward.

Taking one last look at the Ithorian, Luke left the room and quickly made his way back to the throne room. As he neared the doors to the throne room one of the Royal Guards, recognizing him, opened the door and Luke entered. Quietly, he ascended the stairs and knelt before the throne, silently wondering if the Emperor always turned the throne away when people entered the room.

"Almost always, young Skywalker, almost always," Palpatine replied, reading Luke's thoughts as he turned to face the boy.

Luke tensed as he realized what had happened. Seeing Luke's reaction, Palpatine began laughing.

"You will never be able to hide your thoughts from me young Skywalker," Palpatine stated coldly. "It would be best if you remember that."

"Yes, master," Luke replied obediently.

"Rise, my young friend, rise," Palpatine ordered as he studied Luke. "You have the information?"

"Yes, my master," Luke responded as he stood.

"Well?" Palpatine inquired.

"Walp."

"Good," Palpatine replied, pleased. "You obviously haven't lost your touch when it comes to dealing with Rebels."

Luke remained silent at this, not knowing how to respond. Palpatine smiled mentally. The boy could be made to believe anything at the moment.

"You shall help your father make the necessary plans for the attack on Walp," Palpatine ordered. "Tell me, what is happening to the prisoners now?"

"It was necessary to kill one of the Hammerheads in order to get the information and the Sullustian will be useless for a while, but the remaining two Rebels are being interrogated for any further information," Luke replied.

"Good," Palpatine praised, inwardly smiling at Luke's reference to the Ithorian as a Hammerhead.

The boy was quickly falling into the Imperial ways. Silently he wondered how the boy would react when he regained his memory and realized what he had done. Dismissing the amusing thought from his mind, Palpatine turned his attention back to Luke.

"You may do what you like for the remainder of the day," Palpatine stated.

"Thank you, master," Luke replied as he bowed his head before he turned around and left.

* * *

Several hours later Luke stretched as he got out of the chair he had been sitting in. It hadn't taken him long to decide that it was better for him to learn as much as he could about the Empire.

Learn? He must be more tired then he had thought. Everything, all the information about Palpatine, his father, and how the Empire worked, that he had just studied had been relearned. Sighing, he put the holochips in small stacks on the table before he left the small room in which he had been studying.

Using the back halls of the Palace, he quickly reached the hall with his room. He was just about to enter his room when he decided to see if his father was in his quarters. Quietly he walked over to the door to his father's rooms. He was just about to knock when the door opened.

"Come in, my son," Vader's voice called from near the window of the reception room.

Luke entered the room and the door automatically closed behind him. Walking over to stand next to his father he thought about the Force. It was one of the things he wished for the most. Not that he could remember what it felt like, but just to watch his father and the Emperor manipulate it made him want to use it. They seemed so powerful and the fact that he couldn't use it put him at a disadvantage that he didn't like.

"You will remember soon enough," Vader replied and smiled as he felt his son's anger at the remark. "You did well to get the location of the base from the Rebels. They generally don't give that kind of information, even when put through an interrogation."

"They have a great weakness when it comes to each other," Luke replied as he looked out the window at the Imperial garden. "They can't bear to see each other in pain, even if they can bear it themselves."

"Compassion is a great weakness indeed," Vader agreed as his mind went back to Bespin and how he had lured his son to him there. "Tomorrow we shall see to getting the attack plans ready."

"I know," Luke replied as he looked up at his father. "Palpatine told me. Will you be going with the fleet when the attack takes place?"

"Yes," Vader replied. "I cannot trust the admiral of the Executor to do it. The Rebels have a nasty habit of turning even a bad situation to their advantage."

"How long will you be gone?"

"A week, perhaps a little more, if everything goes well," Vader stated.

"Okay," Luke replied as he turned away from the window. "Goodnight, Father."

"Goodnight, my son," Vader replied as he watched Luke leave.

* * *

Vader smiled silently to himself as he adjusted the Star Destroyer positions on the holo in front of him. He and Luke had been preparing the attack plans for a couple of hours already. While Luke didn't remember his time with the Alliance, his knowledge of the Alliance's attack and defense techniques remained, meaning that his son saw holes that he might have missed.

"Is that what you mean?" he asked looking at his son.

"Yes," Luke replied after studying the holo for a minute. "Exactly."

"Very well," Vader said. "However, if we do that then we must move the Executor a little more to the right in order to avoid letting any Rebel transports out."

Luke just nodded as he saw his father's point. Watching his father make the suggested change, he realized how good it felt to be working together. As he thought about it, he realized that a kind of bond had formed between him and his father over the past few weeks, or rather had reformed.

Suddenly he froze as he thought of how close he and his father must have been before his run-in with the horangi. From the bond they now had, after a little over three weeks, he knew that they must have been extremely close. It must have been terrible for his father to sit on his bed that first day of his memory and have to explain who he was to a son who had previously been so close to.

Closing his eyes he tried to image what his father must have felt like, but quickly shook his head at the emotions the thought brought.

"Luke? Are you--" Vader began but stopped as the door opened and a senior officer entered.

Admiral Piett froze as soon as he entered the room, realizing his mistake.

"Lord Vader. . ." he began, but then his eyes opened wide as they fell on Luke and recognized him from the Imperial warrant for his arrest. "S. . . Sky. . . Skywalker?!"

Luke's eyes narrowed as he looked at the admiral. He was about to reply when the admiral's eyes opened even wider and he started to gasp for breath. Confusion briefly filled the admiral's eyes before they rolled back and the admiral dropped to the floor, dead. Luke looked at the body for a moment before he looked up at his father.

"The Force?" he asked.

"Yes," Vader replied, looking at the admiral.

He should have killed him after Bespin, but he hadn't. He'd been too upset about losing Luke when it had just seemed like he'd had his son. He'd been lucky that he'd been on Lavendosp to inspect the new Imperial outpost there just when Luke and his friends had come and had been attacked by the horangi.

Motioning for Luke to move to the far end of the room, he walked to the door the late admiral had just come through and indicated for two passing storm troopers to enter.

"Take it away," he ordered, gesturing to Piett's body.

Immediately the storm troopers stepped forward, picked up the body, and left the room.

"Now, where were we?" Vader asked, turning back to his son and the holo.

* * *

Three days later,

Luke followed his father to the edge of the landing platform where a shuttle waited to take the Imperial Dark Lord up to his flagship.

"I should be back in a week or so if all goes well," Vader said as he looked at his son.

"Okay," Luke replied. He about to add 'good luck' when he remembered that his father didn't believe in luck.

"What's wrong?" Vader asked, probing his son with the Force.

"I don't know," Luke replied honestly. "I've got a bad feeling about something ever since I woke up this morning, but no matter how hard I try I can't figure it out."

As he said this Luke looked up at his father, hoping that he might know what was wrong. Probing Luke again, Vader frowned unseen behind his mask. Perhaps it was a warning Luke was receiving through the Force, but unless he showed his son how to use the Force he couldn't be sure.

"It might be nothing," he said aloud. "But just in case keep your eyes open and stay out of sight."

"I was planning on going back to the library anyway," Luke replied.

"Very well. Farewell my son," Vader said turning around and heading for the shuttle.

"Goodbye, Father," Luke replied as he watched his father board the shuttle.

Silently, he stood on the landing platform and watched the shuttle until it was no more then a black speck in the morning sky. Just as the shuttle disappeared from sight he felt a wave of unreasoning fear engulf him for a second, it was quickly followed by a sense of loneliness, before the feeling vanished altogether.

Shaking his head in confusion, he turned around with a swirl of his cape and re-entered the Imperial Palace. Using the back halls, he quickly reached the library and immediately headed for the area that contained the holochips he wanted. Walking there he realized that he was almost through the information on the general workings of the Empire and the brief history it included.

He smiled to himself as he thought of how easily Palpatine had become Chancellor of the Old Republic, and how he had then managed to gain total control. He knew that it must have been harder than the history records made it out to be, but still, the Old Republic and the Jedi must really have been weak for them to be swept away and forgotten so quickly.

Reaching the section with the information he needed, he took the holochips and quickly made his way to the room he had used ever since the second day he had been on Coruscant. Locking the door, he sat down and started to study the information before him.

* * *

Sitting back in his throne, Emperor Palpatine sighed. Although he enjoyed being the ruler of all the eye could see there were times when there was a lot of work. Especially with diplomats who always insisted that they had business that had to be dealt with by none other than the Emperor himself. Useless bureaucrats, all of them.

Turning his throne around so that he overlooked Coruscant, he turned his thoughts towards young Skywalker. The boy had lots of potential which, if manipulated correctly, could turn him into a very valuable asset, just like his father. It was too bad that Vader hadn't known that he had a son earlier, otherwise the boy could have been raised to the Dark Side.

Pushing that thought aside, he thought instead of the training Luke would require before he could become a Sith Lord. Perhaps it was better that the boy wasn't ready for his apprenticeship yet as he didn't have the time to train him at the moment.

Reaching out with the Force he brushed against his future apprentice's mind. The boy was in the library again. Good. Young Skywalker obviously understood the importance of knowledge. The more he learned about the boy the more he saw what a valuable asset he would be.

* * *

"Lord Vader," Captain Sigly said as Vader came down the ramp of the shuttle on board the Executor. "Admiral Piett has not yet returned and we've been unable to contact him."

"He will no longer be joining us, Admiral Sigly," Vader stated coldly.

"Th. . . thank you Lord Vader," the newly appointed admiral stammered.

"Set course for Walp," Vader ordered.

"As you wish, my lord," Admiral Sigly replied, silently wondering where in the galaxy Walp was.

"I shall be in my quarters should there be anything," Vader stated, his voice clearly indicating that there had better be no need for him to be disturbed.

Admiral Sigly nodded his head at which the Dark Lord left the docking, heading for his quarters.

* * *

Six days later,

Calling out in his sleep Luke tossed fitfully in his bed.

"Nooooooooo!" he called out as he awoke and sat up, breathing hard and sweating.

Wiping the sweat off his forehead he quickly looked around for anything out of the ordinary. He found nothing different with the exception of his sheets which were all tangled. Forcing himself to relax, he tried to remember what the dream, the nightmare, had been about. But, try as he might, all he could remember was fear and pain. He wasn't even sure if it was something he had once experienced or if it had been just a random nightmare.

Wishing his father were back so he could talk with him, Luke got out of bed and took a shower, knowing that he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep again tonight. Letting the cool water wash over him he wondered if the nightmare had anything to do with the Force, a warning perhaps.

Shaking his head he quickly dried himself, got dressed, and re-entered his bedroom. Walking over to the com unit, he requested a connection with the Executor, adding a special code his father had given him. This way the communications officer on board the Executor would know to transfer the signal straight to his father's quarters. A minute later and a life-size image of his father flickered into view before him.

"Father," Luke said.

"Son," Vader acknowledged.

"How did the attack go?" Luke asked, knowing it should have finished a while ago.

"Not good," Vader replied. "The Rebels were warned and had started an evacuation. Our estimates are that we destroyed about twenty-five percent of the Rebel fleet and personnel. However, the leaders were among the first to be evacuated."

Luke nodded his head, disappointed.

"Are you coming back now?"

"No," Vader replied. "We are still following some leads we have, but how are you? I thought that I felt a disturbance in the Force earlier. I was busy at the time and was unable to probe it any further."

"A nightmare," Luke replied shaking his head. "But I can't remember anything except fear and pain."

"A nightmare?" Vader repeated thoughtfully.

"Yes," Luke replied. "Do you know what it might be?"

"It could be one of three things," Vader stated. "It could be that your memory is starting to return, it could be just a random nightmare, or it could be that you unconsciously picked up on the disturbance in the Force caused when we destroyed part of the Rebel fleet."

Luke nodded, all those reasons made sense. Not daring to hope too much he looked back to the projected image of his father.

"Which of those reasons do you think it to be?" he asked quietly.

"I would doubt that it is your memory returning at this point," Vader replied, knowing what his son must be hoping for. "I also doubt that it would be a random nightmare, although you never know. If I'd have to guess, I'd say it was that you picked up the disturbance in the Force."

"Okay," Luke replied, trying not to look disappointed.

"I must go now," Vader said as he briefly looked behind him at something out of Luke's sight. "Goodbye, my son."

"Goodbye, Father," Luke replied before his father's image faded away.

He stood silently in thought. If he had picked up on a disturbance in the Force, it meant that he still had his Force abilities, not that he knew if he could even lose them. Shaking his head, he left his rooms and wandered through the deserted halls of the Imperial Palace.

As he walked, he saw no one with the exception of a couple of storm troopers on guard duty.

* * *

Vader watched the image of his son flicker and fade before he turned around and walked over to his pod. Sitting down he pondered the conversation. If Luke was picking up on disturbances in the Force, then there was the possibility of him accidentally using the Force and regaining his memory sooner then the poison would normally allow.

Angrily, he pounded his fist against the armrest. Luke had only been with him for a little over four weeks and already he had grown used to having his son around him. So much, in fact, that he didn't want Luke to leave. Blast Obi-Wan for stealing his son from him and poisoning his mind with Jedi ideals.

Pushing the thought from his mind, he turned his attention back to the present. The past was the past and he couldn't change it no matter how hard he wished he could. He would have to remind his son to leave the Force alone until he remembered how to use it. But he knew that would be hard for Luke, especially considering the fact that the boy saw the amount of power he and the Emperor possessed.

Suddenly a smile spread across his face. That was the only good point about Luke's attempts to touch the Force; he did it to try to quench his lust for power. The more he learned about his son, the more he saw himself in the boy. The smile broadened for a moment before it vanished as he got to his feet. He didn't have time to sit around. He had to lead the fleet in their search for the Rebels.

* * *

Several hours later,

Entering the throne room Luke walked forward and up the stairs. Reaching the top, he knelt before the throne, wondered about why he had been summoned. One of the Emperor's aides had come looking for him and told him that the Emperor demanded his presence right away.

"What is thy bidding, my master?" Luke asked as the throne turned to face him.

"There was a disturbance in the Force coming from your room last night," Palpatine stated angrily. "What were you doing?"

"It was a nightmare, master," Luke explained keeping his head low. "I was unaware that I was using the Force."

Palpatine glared at the form of the kneeling boy before him for a moment, feeling that his future apprentice was speaking the truth, but wanting him to know that he was still displeased.

"You are not to even attempt to use the Force until you have regained your memory," Palpatine ordered. "Is that clear?"

"Yes, my master," Luke replied lowering his head further.

Palpatine eyed him with a smile on his face. The boy would be so angry when he regained his memory and thought of this moment, of how easily he had been used.

"Rise," Palpatine ordered sharply and watched as Luke rose. "We managed to intercept a message sent from a Rebel cell on Jabralkan, however the message is in a code unknown to the Empire. You used to know a great deal about Alliance codes, perhaps you even had some knowledge about this particular code, so I want you to decode the message."

"As you wish, my master," Luke replied as he filed away the information Palpatine had just given him about his past.

So he had known a lot about Rebel codes? The more he learned about his past the more it seemed like he had known a lot about the Rebellion. Perhaps that was of some importance and maybe not. Silently he cursed the horangi, then he looked up at the Emperor, wondering if he had picked up on it.

Smiling silently Palpatine reached over and took a datachip from on the throne arm.

"Here is a copy of the message," he said as he held out his arm towards Luke.

Luke quickly stepped forward and took the datachip from his master's hand before he stepped back.

"Dismissed," Palpatine stated and watched Luke bow before he turned around and left the room.

Luke quickly made his way back to his room and sat down before the computer terminal, inserting the datachip into it as he did so. Calling up the information from the chip he scanned the encrypted message before him. Looking down the length of the message he frowned, the encryption didn't ring a bell, but then neither had anything else he had seen so far.

The frown quickly disappeared however as he realized that this might actually prove to be a challenge, his first real challenge since he had had his little run-in with the horangi. Settling back he called up a blank notepad on his computer and arranged it so that the blank notepad filled half the screen while the encrypted message filled the other half. Quietly he set to work.

Five hours later he got up with a sigh and walked over to the huge window. Looking out he ran a hand through his hair in frustration, he had looked at the message from every possible point of view but had been unable to decode even a single symbol. There seemed to be no consistency in the message, which meant that at certain intervals the code changed, making it almost impossible to decode.

Deciding to stop for the day he walked back over to the computer terminal and ordered it to shut down, but even as he did so he was determined to decode the message, he would not face his master in failure. Even as this thought crossed his mind he suddenly knew that failure would not only mean a loss of pride, but it would also mean a severe, physical, punishment. He briefly wondered if he knew that from experience or just from the Emperor's behavior.

Not wanting to think about it he turned around and entered his bedroom.

* * *

Several hours later,

Luke tossed in his sleep as images of his past floated just out of his reach. Unconsciously struggling to reach them he heard voices of people he must have known but now no longer recognized. Suddenly a single voice broke through the low, unintelligible, hum of the other voices.

'The key to the code is that it changes every five words,' a soft, but commanding, female voice said.

He awoke with a start and lay still as the meaning of the words sunk in. Then, throwing back the black silk sheets, he got up and put on his black velvet bathrobe. Looking at the chronometer on his bedside table he saw that it was half past two.

Entering the reception room he ordered the computer to restart. He now knew that the code changed every five words, but he still had no idea how many codes were used, but it was a start. Sitting before the computer he ordered it to insert a carriage return after every five words. Looking down the list he began to check to see if the third set of five words matched the first.

Two hours later he yawned as he looked at the chronometer and decided that he might as well get some more sleep as he had barely slept the night before. Besides now that he knew that there were four different codes it wouldn't take too long to decode them.

Getting up he decided that while he slept he might as well let the computer check the four codes against all the codes the Empire had in its computer system. Although he didn't expect to get any results it didn't hurt to check. Ordering the computer to run the check he got up and headed back to his bedroom.

* * *

Three hours later,

Sitting back in his chair Vader thought of his son. The fleet had just found and destroyed the last Rebel ship they had chased and now they were heading back to Coruscant. As he thought of Luke he hoped that Palpatine hadn't lied too much to his boy.

Shaking his head he decided to get Luke off of Coruscant as fast as possible. Using the Force he reached out and touched his son's mind. He was surprised to find that the boy was still asleep. Pulling back he decided that his son was probably catching up on the sleep he had missed the night before.

* * *

Luke awoke when the sunlight shone onto his face. Grumbling to himself about forgetting to close the drapes he got up and gapped as he saw the time. Quickly he showered and had breakfast before he re-entered the reception room.

As he sat down in front of the computer he saw that, as expected, the search he had ordered had proven fruitless. Settling back he prepared to start the tedious task of comparing the symbols and trying to decode them.

* * *

Several hours later,

Looking down at the kneeling form of his future apprentice Palpatine smiled. From young Skywalker's lack of fear he knew that the boy had made progress with his assignment.

"Rise, my young friend, rise," he ordered.

Obediently Luke rose and regarded his master, excited but restraining his emotions. Quietly smiling to himself Palpatine entered Luke's mind and made sure that Luke wasn't regaining his memory. He was pleased to see that Luke had not only not regained any of his memory, but that he also still had enough of the poison in his system to block his memory for some time yet.

"How far are you with decoding the message?" he demanded.

"I've found that the message is encrypted in four different codes," Luke replied as he handed the datapad he had brought with him to the Emperor. "The first code is used for the first five words, the second for the next five words and so forth."

Palpatine nodded his head as he looked at the datapad in his hand.

"And you've already decoded four of the letters of the first code," he said as he saw the aurek, the esk, the nern, and the resk in several places on the datapad.

"Actually I'm only sure of three," Luke replied. "I was still checking to see if what I think is the nern is really the nern when you had me summoned."

"Very well," Palpatine replied as he handed the datapad back to Luke. "Decode the message and then bring it to me."

"As you wish my master."

"Also, decode it before your father returns," Palpatine added knowing Vader wished to take Luke away before he was recognized.

"Master," Luke replied bowing before he left the room.

He had today and three more days to decode the message, he'd have to hurry.

* * *

Three days later,

"You have decoded the message?" Palpatine demanded as Luke entered the throne room.

"Yes my master," Luke replied as he reached the throne and handed the datapad to the Emperor.

"Good," Palpatine stated as he took the datapad and started reading the message.

Luke stood quietly as his master read the message. Most of it was unimportant but, at the bottom, there was a stolen Imperial code for a project code-named 'Al-kin.' Watching he saw the Emperor's yellow eyes narrow as he reached the part with the code, making him wonder what the project was, but he knew better then to ask.

"The code will be changed immediately," Palpatine finally stated before he was momentarily distracted. "Your father has arrived."

Luke looked up, confused for a moment, but then he dismissed it, knowing that the Emperor must have used the Force.

"Dismissed," Palpatine ordered and watched Luke bow before he left the room.

Luke immediately headed for the north landing platform where his father would arrive. When he reached the platform he stood and waited as he watched his father's shuttle descend and land. Once it had landed he walked forward while the ramp lowered.

Coming down the ramp Vader was pleased to find his son waiting for him. Smiling behind his mask he approached the boy.

"Father," Luke said as he fell in next to his father.

"Son," Vader responded as they entered the Imperial Palace. "Have you had anymore nightmares?"

"No," Luke replied. "But I have heard voices at night."

"Voices?" Vader asked. "What do they say?"

"Normally they're just a low hum, so low that I can hardly hear them, much less make out what they're saying. However, four nights ago a single female voice spoke loud enough for me to hear."

"And what did she say?" Vader inquired, a little fearful that Luke would regain his memory faster then he'd like.

"She basically said that the key to cracking the code was that every five words were encrypted in a different code," Luke replied.

"Code?"

"Yes," Luke stated. "Palpatine wanted me to decode a Rebel message that was intercepted."

"And you did it?" Vader questioned.

"Yes."

"Good," Vader praised. "Tomorrow we shall return home."

* * *

Three days later,

Luke smiled to himself as he pushed the hyperspace levers forward and brought the shuttle out of hyperspace. It felt good to be home again. They had been delayed on Coruscant for several hours as the Emperor had wanted his father to do a few more things before he left, but they had finally been able to go.

On the two day trip his father had told him exactly what had happened during the attack on the Rebel base and he had told his father what he had done on Coruscant during his absence. He still didn't know why, but just talking with his father about what he had done had made him feel extremely good. He had dismissed the feeling telling himself that he had just missed his father, but there was something more to it. Something that was just out of his reach, teasing him with closeness.

Shaking his head he turned his concentration back to his piloting. He was just entering Melca's atmosphere when his father entered the cockpit. He briefly glanced at Vader as he sat down in the co-pilots chair before he turned his attention back to the controls.

"What are you planning on doing now that we're back?" Vader asked watching his son's hands fly over the controls.

"I don't know," Luke replied. "Perhaps read some more of the books in the library."

"Very well," Vader stated. "I shall have to leave in two weeks time for a week and shortly after that I shall have to leave again."

"All right," Luke replied nodding his head as he set the shuttle down onto the landing pad.

As he looked out the viewport he noticed that there was a second ship sitting on the landing pad to their right. As he studied the ship he saw that it was a civilian ship with no Imperial markings on it.

"What's that ship for?" he asked turning to his father.

"When you regain your memory you will be able to use it and nobody will know who you are," Vader replied.

And it was true, should Luke choose to go back to the Alliance when he regained his memory he would be able to use that shuttle. Nodding his head in reply Luke got up and followed his father off the shuttle.

* * *

Two days later,

Vader awoke with a start and immediately reached out with the Force to find what had woken him. As soon as he did so he was assaulted by a mixture of emotions radiating from Luke. Instantly remembering the nightmare his son had told him about he got up, quickly put on his armor, mask, and helmet, and headed for his son's room.

As he neared the room he probed the boy and found that Luke was struggling against the poison in his system, unconsciously trying to regain his memory. The door to Luke's room opened automatically as he approached and he could see his son tossing fitfully on his bed. Quickly walking to Luke's side he sat down on the bed and took hold of his son's shoulders and shook him.

"Luke," he said softly but firmly. "Luke, wake up."

"Wha. . .what?" Luke exclaimed as he awoke with a start, breathing hard.

Looking around Luke saw his father sitting on his bed, hands on his shoulders.

"You had another nightmare," Vader explained, glad to see Luke didn't remember anything he might have seen during his dream.

"Do you think that was just another random nightmare?" Luke asked as he sat up.

"No," Vader responded getting to his feet. "The poison is very slowly starting to wear off and so you are getting brief flashes and feelings of your past, thus causing the nightmares."

"Will it happen often?"

"I don't know," Vader replied honestly. "However, with your Force abilities, I would guess so."

Luke nodded his head in reply as he got out of bed.

"Are you all right now?" Vader asked.

"Yes, thank you."

"Very well," Vader replied before he turned around and left the room.

Luke quickly took a shower before he decided to go to the library, perhaps if he didn't sleep anymore tonight then he'd be tired enough to get a good nights sleep tomorrow night.

* * *

Ten days later,

Luke followed his father out of their home and onto the landing pad where a third ship was waiting. As soon as they appeared the officer standing at the top of the ramp stiffened and stood still.

"I shall be back in a Standard week," Vader said drawing Luke's attention away from the officer.

"I know," Luke replied.

"Good," Vader stated as he studied Luke.

He wished that he didn't have to leave Luke. His son would be regaining his memory soon and even if he decided to stay straight away, which was highly unlikely, things would not be the same until Luke fully accepted the Dark Side. He had no doubt that Luke would turn to the Dark Side, but the boy might not realize his place right away and so he would go back to the Rebellion until he became unhappy and realized that his place was at his father's side.

He smiled behind his mask as he remembered how good it had made Luke feel to just talk with him. But then the smile turned to a frown as he thought about the increasingly bad nightmares that had been plaguing Luke almost every night for the past few days.

"Try to get some sleep," he ordered softly as he noticed the dark smudges under Luke's eyes.

"You don't have to tell me," Luke replied forcing a smile. "I want to sleep, but not if I get anymore nightmares."

Vader nodded his head, tempted to show Luke how to prevent the nightmares by using the Force, but holding back, not yet wanting his son to regain his memory.

"May the Force be with you," Luke said, his longing to remember how to use the Force returning.

"Thank you," Vader replied placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "And you will remember everything soon enough."

Luke nodded his head and watched his father walk away, ascend the ramp, and disappear inside the shuttle. He quickly backed away and watched as the shuttle lifted off and finally disappeared out of sight. Sighing he looked at the darkening sky, night was once again approaching and he dreaded it. He kept getting nightmares, but he never remembered anything of them, only fear, pain, and recently he also awoke feeling angry and betrayed.

Shaking his head he turned around and headed inside.

* * *

Three days later,

Luke awoke with a start, sweating and breathing hard. With an angry growl he threw the sheets back and sat up before he froze as a memory flashed across his mind like lightening. A memory that wasn't from the past few weeks, a memory from before his run-in with the horangi!

Relaxing he sat back, closed his eyes, and concentrated on the memory. After a few moments it came back to him. He seemed to be in a huge, Imperial, docking bay and there were storm troopers and ships everywhere. Then, as he turned, he saw his father, blood-red lightsaber activated, fighting another man who was dressed in the robes his father had described as the robes of the Jedi. As he watched the Jedi looked in his direction before lifting his lightsaber and allowing his father to cut him down. There was a loud cry of 'Nooooo!' from somewhere before the scene faded.

Puzzled Luke sat still as he thought about the memory, but, try as he might, he could not figure out why the Jedi had allowed himself to be killed or from where the cry had come from.

* * *

Four days later,

As soon as he descended the ramp of his shuttle and saw Luke, Vader could sense that something had happened. His son looked even more tired then he had when he had left and the confusion radiating from the boy was so strong that it crowded out all of his other emotions.

"What's wrong?" Vader asked as he neared the boy.

"I had another nightmare," Luke replied as he fell in next to his father.

"And you remembered it," Vader guessed.

"Yes," Luke said the word Vader had hoped not to hear.

"Tell me," Vader requested as they entered the castle.

"I seemed to be in some sort of docking bay and you were fighting an old man dressed in Jedi robes. Suddenly the Jedi looked up and allowed you to cut him down, then somebody called out 'Nooooo!' from somewhere," Luke stated.

"That's all you remember?" Vader asked hopefully.

If Luke hadn't remembered anymore then he would be able to explain things without lying, if not. . .

"Yes. Who was that you killed and who called out?" Luke asked.

"The Jedi I killed was Obi-Wan Kenobi, my former mentor and friend, he is also the one who pushed me into the lava pit," Vader explained feeling Luke's anger as he once again mentioned his own injuries. "The person that called out was the Jedi student I mentioned earlier."

"If he was there, then why didn't we kill him?" Luke asked.

"I didn't know, he had barely had any training and I was distracted by Obi-Wan's death, as were you," Vader stated remembering how his son had nearly let himself be shot after Obi-Wan's death when he had been trying to shoot every Imperial in sight.

"Where did all this happen?" Luke asked.

"In the main docking bay on board the Imperial Death Star."

"The Death Star?"

"Yes," Vader replied. "The Death Star was a space station the size of a small moon with the capability to destroy an entire planet with a single shot."

"An entire planet?" Luke repeated amazed. "But then why didn't you use it to destroy the planet the Rebel base was on?"

"We tried to do so at Yavin IV, however, the Rebels managed to get a copy of the blueprints of the station and they found a weakness in its design. Then, during our attack, they had the Jedi student exploit the weakness and destroy the Death Star."

"Him again?" Luke asked. "I hope you kill him soon."

Vader just looked at his son but remained silent, if only he knew, if only he knew.

* * *

Six days later,

Luke released an angry sigh as he turned around and entered his home. His father had just left, again, and just when he was regaining more and more memories every night. Actually they weren't full memories, only fragments and images, but still. Just two nights ago he had remembered a young woman whom his father had identified as former Senator Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan when he had described her to him.

However most of the time his father would tell him that it was best that he remember everything himself instead of hearing it all, but that response had only made him more frustrated. But now his father was gone, so, no matter what he remembered, he'd have no one to ask questions of.

* * *

Four days later,

Luke tossed fitfully in his sleep as images, voices, and emotions of his past fought to be seen, heard, and felt. One image after another bombarded his mind so fast that he thought that it would never end. One minute he was in what looked like a trash compactor with the former Senator of Alderaan, what was she doing there?, some man he didn't know and a Wookiee, the next minute he seemed to be hanging upside-down in an ice cave, and then he was hanging from a weather vane.

With a loud gasp he awoke, breathing hard and soaked in sweat. This had been the worst night to date! Slowly he sat up and closed his eyes, taking several slow breaths as he did so, forcing his whole body to relax.

Then, once calm, he reached back into his mind to look at the new memories the nightmare had brought back. Suddenly his eyes snapped open as he remembered. . . everything.

* * *

The moment his shuttle came out of hyperspace Vader reached out with his mind to touch that of his son, but instead of finding the comforting presence of Luke's mind he came up against a solid barrier. Vader frowned behind his mask as he probed the barrier, hoping to be able to pick up any of Luke's emotions. But it was no use, from this far away the barrier was doing what it was meant to do, it was concealing everything within his son's mind.

He wondered how long ago his son had regained his memory, it could have been the night he had left, or it could have been minutes before he had arrived out of hyperspace. The instant the shuttle ramp came down he descended it and headed indoors.

"My lord," Marcus said as he approached Vader.

"Later," Vader ordered.

Quickly he ascended the stairs, walked to Luke's room, and entered. As he entered he noticed Luke standing before the huge window, dressed in his black robes and cape. Smiling to himself he approached his son and saw that Luke half turned his head towards him before he looked back out the window. Stopping a few feet behind his son he waited.

There was a moment of silence which seemed to drag on forever for Luke, for although he seemed calm and controlled on the outside his emotions were like a black, raging, storm inside of him. He felt confusion, anger, disgust, horror, and love all at once. He was angry at the way his father had lied and mislead him to make him think that he was an Imperial, he was disgusted and horrified at the way he had behaved and what he had done since his run-in with the horangi. And yet the happiness he had felt with his father he had never felt before in his life, during the time when he hadn't known who he was he had at least felt like he belonged, like he was where he was meant to be. This was something he had never felt before in his life, not even with the Alliance. He had also come to love his father and known that he was loved in return, something else he had never experienced.

"You've regained your memory," Vader finally stated, shattering the silence.

"You lied to me," Luke accused as he looked out the window. "You said I was an Imperial."

"No," Vader denied. "Not once during your whole stay with me did I lie to you. On Coruscant Palpatine lied to you, but I never did. You merely assumed from my words that you were an Imperial like I am."

"No," Luke replied stiffening slightly. "That's not true."

"It is," Vader insisted as he reached out and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Think about it."

Quickly Luke shrugged the hand off of his shoulder. Thinking about the time spent with his father he couldn't find a single moment when he had been lied to, but that didn't mean it hadn't happened, he had after all been with his father for two and a half months! Two and a half months during which he had not only decoded a message of the Alliance and helped plan an attack on the base, but he had also tortured other Rebels and he had even ordered one of them killed! Closing his eyes at the thought of the torture scene he had so calmly stood through he leaned against the wall where it met the window.

"Luke," Vader said after a few moments. "Join me, stay here."

Slowly Luke opened his eyes, once again his father was asking him to join him, to stay with him, to learn from him, and to be with him; just like he'd always wanted. The fact that he was wanted and would feel like he belonged pulled at him, urging him to say yes, to have his childhood dreams and longings come true. But then he thought of the Hammerhead he had tortured and killed, of how he had helped his father create the attack plans that had destroyed one fourth of the Alliance.

"No," he stated but, to his dismay, he heard his voice shake with the uncertainty he felt inside of himself.

Feeling the conflict within his son Vader took a step forward.

"Why not?" he asked.

"You're evil, you take pleasure in hurting people," Luke stated. "I'm not like you."

"Did you not enjoy helping me make the plans to attack the Rebel base?" Vader inquired. "Or did you not enjoy getting the information from those slaves?"

Luke flinched visibly at his father's words.

"I. . ." Luke began. "Only because I didn't remember who I was, I didn't remember what and whom I cared about."

"If you stay here I can show you how to be like that again," Vader offered.

"No!" Luke exclaimed, but even as he said it he could feel part of himself wanting to accept the offer, to learn from his father as he had always wanted.

"Very well," Vader stated knowing that he couldn't win with the method he was using. "Goodbye."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Luke asked instantly as he felt a sudden wave of panic wash over him.

Vader smiled behind his mask as he heard the fear in his son's voice, although the boy claimed that he didn't want to stay he didn't want to leave either.

"It means whatever you want it to mean," he explained as he placed his hands on Luke's shoulders. "It can mean goodbye until later today, it can mean goodbye for a couple of weeks if you chose to leave for a little while and then come back, or it can mean goodbye forever if you chose to leave for good and return to the Alliance and your life as an orphan."

Luke felt his whole body stiffen and go cold at the last word. Feeling Luke's muscles tense under his hands Vader continued:

"The choice is entirely yours, I will not force you to do anything," he paused for a moment to let this sink in. "When I first learned of the after effects of the poison I decided not to tell you everything immediately as I wanted to get to know you and I wanted you to be able to experience what life would be like if you decided to stay. For how can you chose what you want if you don't know all your options? Now, if you still want to leave, you may take the second shuttle and go. You will find everything you need on board and, should you change your mind later on, you may come back whenever you wish."

With this he reached over and briefly caressed Luke's cheek with the back of his hand before he turned around and left the room.

As soon as his father left the room Luke collapsed against the wall and began to tremble. Why did he feel so torn? His father was evil, was Dark, why did he feel like he needed to be with him? He had lots of friends within the Alliance, why did he feel this pull towards Vader?

'Because he's your father,' a tiny voice within himself replied. 'You belong at his side.'

Pushing the voice away he thought about Leia, Chewie, Wedge, Lando, and all the pilots in his squadron. Where they still alive? Or had they died during the attack on the base? And what about Han? Was he still frozen in carbonite or had Leia and Lando rescued him already?

Looking at the second shuttle on the landing pad through the window he quickly made up his mind. No matter how much he longed to stay with his father he knew he couldn't. After all Vader wasn't the father he had longed to know as a child. . . was he? No, he wasn't.

Having made up his mind he quickly turned around and left the room. He made his way to the shuttle as fast as he could. He didn't want his father to change his mind and decide that he wasn't going to let his son go away. Besides he didn't want to give himself time to change his own mind.

Boarding the shuttle he closed the ramp and made his way towards the ship's cockpit.

* * *

Standing in front of one of the windows in his room Vader silently watched as the shuttle containing his only son lifted off. He watched it until it disappeared behind the clouds, then waited a few moments before he sent a final message to Luke:

'May the Force be with you child.'

* * *

Leaning forward in the pilot's chair Luke took hold of the hyperspace levers and was about to pull them back when he heard his father's voice in his head:

'May the Force be with you child.'

Quickly, before he could change his mind, he pulled back the levers and watched the stars streak into lines. Then he fell back into the chair. Why had his father done that? Why had he sent that message?

Frustrated he jumped to his feet and began pacing the cockpit. After several minutes he forced himself to relax by opening himself to the Light Side and letting it flow through him. Finally relaxed he walked out of the cockpit to explore the rest of the ship. Most of it was just like any other private ship he'd been on except for the fact that he found a change of clothes and a pile of credits in the bedroom.

Picking up the money he realized that he now held more money in his hands then he had ever seen before. Should he keep the money or not? His father had given it to him, but where had he gotten it from? The Empire? And where had they gotten it from? Probably taken from some hardworking individuals who had needed it for their own families. Disgusted he dropped the credits back onto the table, he didn't want money from the Empire.

Walking to the bunk he looked down at the clothes and blaster lying there. They were the kind of clothes Han and other space pirates liked to wear. A smile slowly spread across his face as he realized that if he wore those clothes when he returned no one would know that he'd spent time with Vader or the Empire.

The smile quickly faded however as he realized that the Alliance would probably put him through a heavy cross-examination when he returned and that he'd have to lie or else be sent straight to a detention cell. Sitting down on the bed in dismay he closed his eyes, he'd have to lie to Leia, Lando, Wedge, and maybe even Han just like Obi-Wan had lied to him about his father. If they were still alive.

* * *

Four days later,

Dressed in the pirate clothes, which had been exactly his size, Luke leaned forward and pushed the hyperspace levers forward, instantly bringing him out of hyperspace above Lantooine. Lantooine was one of the busier and more known Outer Rim Territory planets where he knew the Alliance often collected recruits. Which was why he was here, because as the Alliance base had moved he had no idea where it was now and the only way for him to rejoin the Rebels was to get in touch with one of the recruiters. They would then contact someone who could help him back.

"Zorga's Pride we now have you on our radar," a voice over the com stated. "Please state your destination."

"Mos Lispa spaceport," Luke nearly snapped, then blinked in surprise at his own attitude.

Why had he reacted like that? It was just a normal question, they had to be able to keep track of where all the traffic was going in the area. So why had he snapped at the person on the other end of the com? Then it hit him: he had gotten into the habit of being superior to almost everybody else.

Shaking his head he decided to think before he spoke, or else the whole lie he had made up to tell everyone would fall apart around him. After a lot of debating he had decided that, despite the way he hated to lie, it would be the best way to go about the situation. He had also decided that it would be better to use the money his father had given him then to throw it away, which would be a real waste. If he used the money to get back to the Alliance then the people whose money it had been hadn't given it up in vain.

"Okay," the voice replied stiffly. "Permission granted to land at docking bay 62 in Mos Lispa's spaceport."

"Docking bay 62, thank you," Luke replied and was sure that he had now completely confused the person on the other end of the com.

Guiding the ship his father had given him he quickly entered Lantooine's atmosphere and set her down in docking bay 62. Getting up from his seat he adjusted the blaster strapped to his right leg and made sure that the zipper on the pocket that contained his lightsaber worked well. Then he picked up the bag containing the clothes he had worn while with his father and the money he had gotten before he turned around and exited the ship.

Locking up the ship for what he knew would be the last time as well as the first he wondered again if his father had planted a homing beacon aboard it or not. Considering the fact that his father hadn't lied to him during his stay with him, and he was now sure that he hadn't, it was improbable that he would have planted a homing beacon on this ship. An honest Vader. If anyone had told him that before his run-in with the horangi he would have laughed, but not anymore. His father had shown him that he wasn't completely full of deceit.

Quickly he pushed all thoughts of his father out of his head. His father was an Imperial and he was a Rebel. They were enemies. Yet he couldn't just leave it at that. He had come to learn to love his father during their time together and now he felt a strong sense of loss. Suppressing a frustrated sigh, he walked away from the ship. He had to do what he knew was right and fighting the Empire was right. Walking down a street in Mos Lispa he looked around for a cantina where he might find someone to sell the ship too.

* * *

A week and a half later,

Sitting in one of the cantinas in Mos Lispa, Luke sighed as he took another sip of the Corellian ale he had ordered. He had found someone willing to buy the ship almost immediately and, after that, he had found a storage area in the spaceport where people could rent lockers. He had gotten one of the lockers and put the bag with his clothes and a little over three-quarters of the money his father had given him into it. The remaining money, along with what he had gotten for the ship, he had kept to rent a room and buy food. What he had left after that he could say he had earned while working for the pirate who had found and then taken care of him while he'd healed, the lie he had created to tell everyone who asked where he had been.

Looking around the cantina he wondered how long it would take for the Alliance recruiter to approach him. During his time on Lantooine he had dropped several subtle hints that he was interested in joining the Alliance. He knew, through the Force, that he had been followed for the past four days, a precaution step taken by recruiters to make sure that a possible Rebel wasn't really an Imperial in disguise. Still, the recruiter should be approaching him soon.

Taking another sip of his ale, he looked down at the hand holding the glass, his right hand, his prosthetic hand. He felt anger rise within him as he remembered how calmly his father had sliced off his hand on Cloud City. It was hard to imagine that that was the same father that had loved and cared for him for the past ten weeks. True, he had hurt his father first, but he hadn't known that it was his father he struck. His father had known who he was. But then his father had only taken his hand and not his life, as he easily could have. Thinking of this he suddenly remembered how he had told his father that he hoped he would kill the Jedi student soon. Pushing both unpleasant thoughts from his mind he took another sip of the ale.

He was just about to get up and go when he sensed the now familiar presence of the recruiter enter the cantina. Quickly he signaled for the waitress to come.

"Another Corellian ale," he ordered.

"Sure," the Twi'lek replied in heavily accented Basic as she left to get his drink.

Several minutes later the Twi'lek placed the drink before him just as a human came up and sat down in the vacant chair at his table.

"Hey," Luke said casually, just as if he knew the man well.

"Hello," the man replied as he quickly glanced around the cantina to make sure no one was listening to them. "I hear you're interest in joining the Alliance."

"Actually," Luke began as he took a sip of his drink. "I'm interested in rejoining the Alliance."

"What?" the man exclaimed as his right hand slid below the table to his blaster. "Rejoining the Alliance?"

"Yes," Luke confirmed as he probed the recruiter's Force aura, looking to see if he was planning on using his blaster or not. "The last mission I was on was a total failure. As if that wasn't enough, there were other complications and now I want to get back to the Alliance. Only the base has changed so this is the only way for me to get back."

It wasn't a total lie, it was only a brief overview of what had actually happened, minus all that he had done for the Empire. He felt a sudden chill go up his spine as he realized that this was exactly what his father had done to him.

"So, who are you then?" the recruiter asked.

"What?" Luke asked, snapping out of his thoughts.

"Who are you and what was your rank within the Alliance?"

"I am Skywalker, Commander Luke Skywalker," Luke replied, feeling like he was lying as he did so.

"Commander Skywalker?" the recruiter repeated skeptically.

"Yes," Luke replied, a little sharper then he had intended. "Look, take a retina scan and cross-checked it against the Alliance file. Although I wouldn't be surprised if my file is listed under the dead."

"Under the dead?" the man questioned, disbelief radiating from him. "Just how long ago was this failed mission?"

"Close to three months ago," Luke replied, getting annoyed.

Sighing, the recruiter seemed to hesitate for a moment, but quickly made his decision with a small mental push from Luke.

"All right," he said pulling out a small scanner from his pocket. "Hold this scanner up to your eye."

Nodding Luke took the scanner and quickly held it over his right eye.

"I will meet you here again some time this week."

"Good," Luke responded, forcing himself to remain calm.

Ever since he had left his father he had had problems controlling his anger, hate, and patience. He kept expecting everybody to instantly obey him and not to question him. As he watched the man leave he sighed inwardly and made a mental note of trying to rid himself of the bad habits he had learned while with his father. Closing his eyes he shook his head at the irony of it all. Once he had wanted nothing more than to have a father and to learn from him. Now that he had a father, he wanted to get away from him and unlearn what he had been taught by him.

Quickly he opened his eyes, finished his drink, and got up. Every time he so much as thought of his father his old feelings of longing and dreams unfulfilled resurfaced. Despite the fact that he knew his father was evil, even though he knew it would be betrayal, he still longed for his father, to be with him, to learn from him, to be loved by him, and to feel like he belonged, just like he had the past three months.

Leaving the cantina, he hoped that the recruiter would contact him soon. If he didn't he feared that he would find himself giving into his longing and return home. He froze at the thought. He had never really thought of any place he had been as home, not even Tatooine. Now he had spent ten weeks on a planet he had hardly ever heard of before and he was already thinking of it as home!

Clenching his hands in frustration he quickly headed back to the room he was renting.

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Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail me at valeriev84@hotmail.com