User:Drewton/Heart of the Giant

He stared out of his cockpit window, not knowing what he saw, nor caring to understand. Outside was darkness and cold, broken by only occassional glimmers of light from distant and pale stars. He should have been protected from this void through the thin metal that stood between them as a barrier, yet it was there, inside of him. The same darkness, cold, and feeling of loss pervaded his consciousness, and chased him down the hallways of his thoughts. No matter what he did, he could not shake the feeling of dread and anguish that had been there for the past two months.

Luke Skywalker sighed, and tried through a pure act of the will to return his thoughts to the present. It was no easy task. There had always been a feeling of loneliness in Luke’s heart, as if part of him were missing. After the death of his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, that hole inside of him had become bigger, with only Ben to keep it from consuming him. Then, Ben had been taken from him, snatched by the claws of Vader and sent to who-knows-where as he vanished before Luke’s eyes. With him vanished the last person Luke could consider family.

The hole had become a rift, and Luke had nothing to fill it with, except a busy schedule and a purpose. Luke would volunteer for extra duties, and work furiously to stay busy. Yet there came a time every day, if only in the time it took him to fall asleep, when Luke was forced to stop and think. He had never thought in his wildest dreams that thinking could be so painful. Only eighteen, he had his whole life before him – a life which promised to be full if struggle, pain, and death. He had destroyed the Death Star and saved countless lives, yet how many had died by his actions? How many widows would live without their husbands? Even though Ben had not taught him much of the force, Luke had felt every single death aboard the Death Star like a stab of pain. At first he forgot it in his joy and relief, but time continues to wear away at open wounds which are not easily closed. He could not forget; all that remained was to remember.

To leave the base he would do anything, or at least, so had he thought. The reality of being faced with hours of travel time trapped in his cockpit with his thoughts was becoming overbearing. If only he could scout his target quickly and return, he could continue his haunted life, resting so firmly on the depths of his inner strength that had been forged rapidly through death and conflict.

“How’s the scope look?” Luke queried of his astronomical droid. The little thing beeped mechanically in the negative, a sound so unlike the whimsical tones Artoo produced. Artoo was safely back at the base, assisting Leia.

Leia – his light in the darkness, his star in the night.

Suddenly the droid began beeping again speedily. Luke glanced quickly at his HUD screen, and quickly saw what lay before him. Instantly as his eyes caught sight of the vessel that had caused such a commotion, his expression turned to one of disbelief, and then anguish. Coming out of his shock, Luke muttered a curse under his breath as he reacted, moving his hands rapidly along the controls.

They had told him it was going to be a frigate! A lone, small frigate, hypering in! Observe it and get out of there, they said. No one had said anything about THIS.

There was no frigate. A squad of TIE fighters had just appeared from around the nearest planet, and was approaching. On the edge of his scanners Luke detected a capital warship approaching lackadaisically. Luke’s hands danced over the controls as he skillfully steered his ship beyond and away, trying to put as much distance between him and his attackers. Luke quickly ordered his droid, “Plot a course!” It mattered little anyway, he wasn’t going to be able to shake the fighters long enough to enter hyperspace.

One came around from behind him, firing rapidly trying to hit Luke’s X-wing as it danced before him. Luke banked as hard as his nimble craft would allow, which was more than the TIE pilot could do. Pushing his craft to the limit, Luke came out of his maneuver with a shot at the TIE, and fired. It exploded in a brilliant ball of light, but Luke didn’t dare catch his breath in relief. He had now only one proton torpedo left, and there were more TIE fighters closing fast. He was facing them now, and Luke raced towards them nearly headlong, before diving quickly as they fired upon him. Two fighters now dived with him, and Luke put his craft into a wild spin to make it a more difficult target.

Pulling out of the dive, he was confronted with a TIE directly ahead of him. Luke fired quickly, and scored another kill. To gain the shot had required staying relatively steady for long enough to take a clear shot. The TIE’s behind him availed themselves of the opportunity by firing upon him. His shields absorbed the first shot easily, but the second caught his droid. Over his comm, Luke heard the droid scream out before static claimed the line.

He’d hold out, Luke told himself, and then when he got back to his base he’d have Wedge paint all those TIE’s on his X-wing’s side, to decorate the Death Star already residing there. At that moment, Luke almost wished to cover his painted trophy on the X-wing’s side. Certainly the TIE’s in pursuit would not take kindly to the symbol!

The whole craft shook as another laser bolt crashed against the shields, brining them dangerously low. Grimacing, Luke killed his engines quickly, and rolled left, only to gun it and swing back around in a loop. He fired at the nearest TIE with his last torpedo. It tore apart the TIE, and sent its twin companion reeling away with obvious signs of damage. Luke fired with his lasers at the second TIE, and it too met its fate.

Now another TIE began to approach Luke, and the others suddenly backed off. Luke was puzzled, but glad for the odds. The TIE approaching his was of an irregular design, and Luke could almost swear he caught sight of hyperdrive modifications on it before he took evasive maneuvers. The other pilot was good, and stayed on Luke’s tail. His TIE was obviously not outdone by the X-wing’s superior maneuvering. This would be tough.

“Use the force Luke.” That voice...in his head...it was Ben. Before Luke had heard him at the Battle of Yavin, and he had helped him then. He didn’t understand how, but Luke trusted that Ben was in a way speaking to him.

And that was all the time Luke had for musing. He stretched out, navigating without aid of the computer. His flight stick became part of his hand, as Luke stretched out to the other TIE, to feel what the pilot was going to do next.

And then he was thrown back! It was like hitting a wall, something that had never happened to Luke before. It shocked him so much that for a split second he lost his focus, and a laser from the TIE struck him and depleted the remnant of his shields.

Gritting his teeth, Luke returned his focus to his opponent. It was just the two of them in that great big void, like lost children wandered too far away from home. They came at each other headlong and fired. The panel in front of Luke crackled, and he had to move his hand quickly to quell the burst of flame that arose. A red light flashed on dying control panel indicating his lasers were no longer functioning. He looked around desperately for his attackers, expecting at any moment to be destroyed. Yet the other fighter also appeared damaged! Smoke was pouring out of its engines.

Luke looked around him quickly, and spotted the nearest planet. He thought he could limp his way there before the capital ship could approach, as long as he didn’t pick up any new TIE fighters on his tail. Then...goodness knew what.

As he headed towards the planet, Luke could sense the problems in the modified TIE fighter he had fought. It was not very stable for sure, and the pilot didn’t seem inclined to stick around and wait for the capital vessel to come to its rescue. Instead, it chugged along to the planet behind Luke. Luke quickly secured his lightsaber, in case he was forced to fight once he crashed onto the planet. Assuming he survived.

The clouds of the planet’s atmosphere came none too soon and yet far too soon for Luke. His craft would hold out, but could he manage the landing? Luke fought with his flight stick for control as the land approached faster and faster, and tried to slow his descent.

“Stretch out through the force.”

Luke did, feeling the ship and the ground and everything in between. He closed his eyes, and tried to slow the ship down with his mind as well. He felt the ground come closer and closer, felt himself slow down, and then everything shook and heaved around him, and there was only blackness in his mind.

When Luke recovered himself, he was bent over the dashboard of his fighter, surrounded by smoke and the ruins of his fighter. Sitting up, his vision blurred, and as his hand went to his head he discovered a large gash. He was sore all over, but Luke was thankful he seemed to have suffered very few other injuries. For such a horrific crash it was surprising, but the force had protected him.

Now he had to deal with survival. Luke grabbed his supplies of ration bars and water. They would last him for awhile, but the more pressing need was finding somewhere to hide on the planet before the Imperials came and found him, and then finding some way to get off the planet and back to his base. The last one would be far harder.

Luke carefully stepped forward into the juggle growth surrounding his crash site. He winces as he placed his weight down upon his foot. Telling himself the pain and stiffness would go away, Luke continued on. There was no particular direction to head in. Luke saw that to his left a ways away the land began to rise above him, and chose to stay far away from there. He would be too exposed anywhere that open, instead he needed to find the darkest lowest place on the planet and stay there.

As Luke walked forward, he thought he heard a twig crack behind him. Luke stopped dead in his tracks, concentrating with what little force skills he had. ‘Any ideas Ben?’ Luke thought, but there was no reply from his teacher. A strange sensation ran down Luke’s spine, and he shivered despite the heat of the day. Without a second thought, his hand went to the lightsaber upon his belt, and he spun around to face the intruder.

No one was there. Luke tried to quiet his heavy breathing and listen. He could detect nothing; it was just his imagination playing tricks on him. Luke turned back around, and his blood froze.

A large black figure was blocking his path like a wraith. A blood red lightsaber protruded from the beings hand, pointed menacingly towards Luke. He knew who it was from the many holovids he had seen, but still Luke was shocked.

“Vader.” He said, his voice throbbing with anger. Here was the man who had taken away not only his father, but his teacher.

“The force is strong with you, young Skywalker.” Vader hissed back, pacing forward slowly.

Luke stood his ground, and ignited his own lightsaber. He barely knew how to use the weapon, and it felt like a clumsy tool in his hands. “What are you doing here?” Luke asked, almost breathlessly.

“It appears we shot each other down.” Vader stated, “You skill as a pilot is impressive. Your father would have been proud.”

Those words renewed the anger in Luke. Here the black monster could talk so calmly about the man he had killed, “If you hadn’t killed him.” Luke came closer to Vader slowly, his lightsaber ignited and ready.

“A bold move,” Vader responded, “but a foolish one. You cannot hope to win.”

“You’ll pay for my father’s death.” Luke told him, his eyes flashing.

“Revenge in not befitting of a Jedi.” Vader answered cynically, “Or are you not so weakened by their teachings?”

Luke tried to calm himself as his anger continued, “I’ll never turn to the darkside.” Luke himself took the initiative, and attacked Vader before he could respond. Vader seemed surprised at the boy’s boldness at first, yet quickly composed himself and blocked Luke’s blade with ease. He slashed at Luke, who barely managed to block the simple blow as he frantically tried to learn to fight with the unfamiliar weapon. The small training droids whose lasers he had parried were nothing in comparison to a Sith Lord.

“You are weak.” Vader taunted, “Don’t make me hurt you. Give yourself up.” For a response, Luke tried to slash at Vader again, but Vader easily side stepped and stabbed towards Luke, grazing his rib cage. Luke grimaced and pulled back quickly, while Vader calmly stepped closer to him as Luke retreated.

Luke looked up from himself to Vader, shaking slightly but holding his ground. He tried to attack again, but Vader’s blade met his with tremendous force, and it was thrown from his grasp. Luke jumped back and tried to grab it desperately, but it flew threw the air to Vader’s hand. “You’ve grown stronger, boy, but you still have a lot to learn.” Luke’s lightsaber was hooked tightly on Vader’s belt.

Luke glared angrily, seeing his father’s lightsaber in the possession of his killer, “You’ve won Vader. Get it over with.”

“As you wish.” Vader said mechanically, stepping forward with his lightsaber before him. Luke closed his eyes and tried to focus on the force for his last moments. He heard Vader’s steps and felt his presence come closer, but then Luke’s ears caught the sound of Vader’s lightsaber deactivating.

As Luke snapped his eyes open, Vader grabbed his hand roughly and placed a handcuff over him. Luke tugged away instantly and resisted him, but Vader used his grip on Luke’s one shackled hand and pulled him closer towards him, where he grabbed him roughly. The man in black was much larger, and easily pinned Luke, succeeding in handcuffing the rebel’s hands behind his back. That done, Vader gave him a shove forward.

“Walk.” He told him tersely.

“What do you want with me?” Luke asked without moving, rather confused.

“You to move.” Vader answered tersely.

Luke felt another hard shove to his back, but didn’t budge, “Why haven’t you killed me yet?”

For a minute all Luke could hear was Vader’s mechanical breathing. Finally, he answered, “I have no wish to kill you. I don’t suggest you give me one.”

Luke saw no other option, and seeing Vader would say no more, walked forward. Lacking even a lightsaber, he really couldn’t contend with Vader. Short of throwing a tantrum and hurling himself on the ground, Luke saw no way to delay his forced march.

As if knowing his silent musings, Vader prodded Luke in the back again, “Do not cause me troubles, child.”

“Where are we heading?” Luke inquired hesitantly.

“To signal to my ship our exact location on the planet.” Vader returned calmly.

“Then why are we heading back towards my ship?” asked Luke, perplexed.

“My ship’s comm was destroyed and I need the parts from yours.” Vader hissed, pushing Luke forward again. Luke continued walking, almost afraid to think for fear Vader would hear his thoughts. Yet in the back of his mind, he pondered. Vader would not be able to signal his ship for some time yet, and Luke would try every way he could to slow him down.

It was not a long walk back to the remnants of Luke’s crashed ship. The smoldering ruins did not look too hopeful, but Vader was undeterred. He pushed Luke to the ground, and began inspecting the ship’s control panel.

Luke eyed him carefully, wondering just how much attention the Sith lord was paying. He silently shuffled further away, and waited for a response from Vader. There was none. Wonderingly, Luke did the same thing again, and still Vader didn’t react. Taking a big breath, he jumped to his feet to charge away. And just at that moment, Vader spun around and punched Luke hard in the ribs, sending him flying back as if he’d been hit by a wall.

Luke was left on his back, gasping for air. Vader towered above him, “Do not fight me.” Luke had no air in his lungs to make a reply, and Vader returned to his work, leaving Luke to slowly get up. So much for that idea.

It had begun to rain, and the constant drizzle did little to raise Luke’s spirits. The gash on his forehead had turned into a constant throb on his consciousness, he was soaked from head to foot, and by far the worst of his problems, he was being dragged through the jungle by Darth Vader.

A few hours before, Luke would have laughed at the thought of his present scenario, crossing it off as impossible and ludicrous. After all, Vader was a thought more than a real person in the minds of most people. He was merely a scary figure to weave into ghost stories in the barracks when rookie pilots were left to their own devices at night. All the malice and evil of the Empire was condensed into one big black suit and shown off in holovids readily available to anyone connected to the Galactic Databanks. He was not supposed to be a living, breathing entity who could march through the jungle with his firm black glove wound around Luke’s arm.

Yet whether or not Luke’s mind allowed for his tangible state, Vader was there, and in charge to boot. “What do you want from me?” Luke asked tiredly, still perplexed why his captor had not yet conducted his execution.

Vader came to a dead stop, and his grip on Luke’s arm strengthened painfully. As he turned his mask to fix his unchanging gaze from behind his mask on Luke, the only sound that could be heard was the rhythmic hissing of his breath. Luke immediately regretted asking the question.

“I told you to stop asking questions, boy.” Vader growled. Intense pain began to shoot through Luke’s forehead that quickly spread. Luke collapsed to his knees, gasping. His reprieve came a moment later as Luke’s downcast eyes caught the swirl of Vader’s cloak as he moved away. The pain dissipated, and Luke slowly managed to sit up.

Vader stood a few feet in front of him, watching him impassively, “A transport will arrive within the hour to return us to my ship.”

Luke nodded sullenly, afraid to make any more questions or comments. Vader remained standing in front of Luke, motionless, as the minutes slowly ticked away. Luke gradually shifted uncomfortably as he realized several sharp rocks were underneath him.

His thoughts at that moment were in a tangle. Confusion and fear clouded his mind, while a growing sense of hate slowly grew at the back of his mind. It seemed perfectly natural to hate the man who had killed his father and teacher, and who had put him in this situation. Vader was a monster who possessed no moral reserve. Luke knew that if he had his lightsaber he would try to kill Vader without restraint, by any means.

But a Jedi was called to higher standards, wasn’t he? He wasn’t supposed to let his hate get in the way. Yet...wouldn’t it be a good thing if he killed Vader? Why could everyone else hate the Empire, and not him?

Luke closed his eyes and sighed. “Ben...” he called out through the force, trying to contact his old teacher who had managed to communicate with Luke despite being dead. In his most desperate times, he had heard his voice. Either that or Luke was going crazy.

“Who’s Ben?” Vader’s thunderous voice broke into Luke’s focus, and called him back to reality. The binders at Luke’s wrists hurt him as he jerked suddenly, opening his eyes.

“How...” he began, but Vader raised his hand up quickly to cut him off.

“Your thoughts are open to me Jedi. Who is Ben?”

Luke shifted uncomfortably again. He didn’t want to answer, but neither did he want Vader to hurt him again. “Kenobi,” he mumbled finally, not looking Vader in the eye (or where his eyes should have been under the mask), “Ben Kenobi.”

Vader let out an inhuman hiss, and Luke could feel the air around him grow tense. The hatred and anger in Vader’s heart surged, transmitting itself through the force.

“He’s dead.” Vader stated with finality, “And were he alive you would be a fool to count on his help. He lied to his friends and betrayed them.”

“What do you know!” Luke demanded angrily, “At least he didn’t- ahhhhh!”

Intense pain erupted in Luke’s head again, as Vader demonstrated his displeasure at his outburst. Luke fell to the ground again in the intense pain, his anger evaporating in the overbearing pain.

Vader strode closer to the downed rebel pilot, “More than you know.”

When Vader finally stopped the pain, Luke had to lie still, as a myriad of colours flashed before his eyes. He was too weak to move again, and there didn’t seem to be much point. Instead he let himself drift away, only half aware of his surroundings.

Finally, he felt rough hands grab his arms and pull him to his feet. Groaning, he collapsed to the ground at once, and a swift kick was delivered to his side with a sickening thud. “I instructed you to take him gently!” That...that was Vader’s voice. Why did he care?

As Luke opened his eyes, a trooper collapsed to the ground beside him, obviously dead, and he felt a wave of fear from the other stormtroopers. His mind was too foggy to understand what had happened, and he let himself be led to the waiting shuttle.

His treatment from then on was far less painful, and Luke drifted out of consciousness. He didn’t know how long he drifted, until Luke gradually began to wake up. Carefully he opened his eyes halfway, staring at the ceiling above him. It didn’t look familiar... Where was he?

Captured! Luke sat up with a start as the memory came back to him suddenly. He was on an Imperial vessel, with Vader! The sudden action brought Luke fully back to reality, and his head pounded fiercely. Groaning, he lay back down slowly. ‘Ben, please.’ Luke begged silently.

“I’m here Luke,” came a soft voice. Luke forced his eyes open once again, and was shocked at what he saw. The shimmering figure of Ben Kenobi stood beside him, gazing at him with concern.

“Ben!” Luke called joyfully, rising.

“Keep your strength Luke,” Ben told him, motioning for him to stay down, “You’re going to need it. I’ve come to tell you you’re in a lot of trouble.”

Luke couldn’t resist rolling his eyes, “I’ve noticed.”

“More than you know.” Ben answered, his voice laced with seriousness and a sense of urgency. Luke winced, remembering the last person who had said those exact words to him. However, Ben was not done, “Vader isn’t going to kill you; he’s going to keep you alive so he can train you to be a Sith.”

“A Sith...” Luke repeated, turning the word over in his head. He snapped out of his revere suddenly, “But I won’t turn to the darkside!”

Obi Wan nodded at Luke’s fervour. Even with the time Luke had spent with the rebellion under his belt, he was still very much a naive farm boy. “I know you won’t Luke. Vader will play many tricks, but you must control your anger. I will not always be able to help you. Vader would sense if I contacted you when he was near.”

Luke closed his eyes miserably, “Ben, I just feel so awful about everyone I killed on the Deathstar, and now I’m really loosing control with Vader. I want to hate him for everything he’s done.”

“You must have control, Luke!” Ben urged, his voice becoming more intense, “Show that you’re better than him but not giving in to hate.” He placed his see-through hand on Luke’s shoulder, “And don’t feel bad for the Deathstar. Every single person would have been participating in some way in the deaths on billions if the Death Star continued to destroy planets. They were on a battle station in war – they were in the war zone.”

Luke nodded slowly, and was silent for a moment. Finally he looked up at Ben, “Why does Vader hate you son much?”

Ben noticeably stiffened, “Another time Luke. For now, practice mediating, it’ll make you feel better.”

Luke opened his mouth and was about to protest, but Ben disappeared. Getting over his temporary annoyance, Luke closed his eyes and focused. He had been practicing meditating back home with his rebel friends, but it was hard without a teacher.

Yet the force seemed to be with him. He drifted deeper and deeper in meditation, feeling his pains soothed. Then, images began to flash before his eyes, at first too quickly to see. He relaxed and let himself go with the flow, and slowly they began to resolve into clear images.

Two men in robes like Ben wore stepped out of an elevator and walked towards a woman so beautiful and so like Leia Luke nearly lost control from the shock. “Ani? My goodness, you've grown!” The woman called with her sweet voice.

The younger of the two men appeared slightly flustered, “So have you, grown more beautiful... for a senator, I mean.” He answered, blushing a little.

Her voice changed a little under the strain, but she took it in stride, “Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine.”

The scene blurred, and images spun again. Colours merged, until the resolved into the young man and the woman seated together at a table amid a crowd of aliens. “It must be difficult having sworn your life to the Jedi... not being able to visit the places you like... or do the things you like.” The woman said sympathetically.

“Or be with the people I love.” The Jedi added, gazing affectionately at her.

Her brow folded in thought, “Are you allowed to love? I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi.”

Luke could see the truth in the young man’s eyes. He was very in love with his companion. He wanted to stay with the image and see what the young man said in response, but it shifted. Once again they were at table together, but this time in a beautiful house, with relaxed smiles on their faces. The Jedi levitated a piece of fruit to cut for the woman., and told her with a half smile, “If Obi-Wan caught me doing that, he would be very grumpy.”

Obi-Wan! Obi-Wan Kenobi? Ben!

The scene changed to show the young man in somewhere that looked that Tantoine, with pain so sharp it pierced Luke’s mind. “One day, I will become the greatest Jedi EVER! I will even learn how to stop people from dying!” he told the pretty woman through the pain, as she tried to comfort him.

Then they were in some sort of chariot, side by side. Once again the woman reminded him so much of Leia. The man and woman appeared to be in trouble, with binders around their wrists. Luke felt a wave of sympathy for them. “Don't be afraid.” The Jedi said softly.

“I'm not afraid to die. I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life.” She told him, her glowing eyes fixed on him.

“What are you talking about?” he asked in confusion.

”I love you.” A wave of emotion passed between the two so sweet that it overrode all their fear.

“You love me? I thought we had decided not to fall in love. That we'd be forced to love a lie and that it would destroy our lives.” Longing was in his eyes.

“I think our lives are about to be destroyed anyway. I truly... deeply... love you and before we die I want you to know.”

It was all so sweet and serene, and Luke was immersed in their happiness. The images changed and shifted, but the love remained. Then Luke felt a twisting in his stomach; he felt fear seize control.

“Anakin!” the woman’s voice cried out in torment.

With a start, Luke awakened from the vision. He was breathless from the startling scenes, feeling if he himself had lived through them. And then two names had been mentioned that he knew. Obi-Wan and Anakin.

There was not doubt in Luke’s mind that he had dreamed about his father when he had been Ben’s student. The most joyful part of the realization was knowing he had seen his mother. She was so beautiful! Yet at the end of the vision, she had been in anguish.

It was too much to take in at once. When he was safe, Luke would analyze everything he had seen, but for now he focused on the present – survival. It was what his father would want. Luke smiled. His father. The handsome Jedi Knight he had seen, no longer a simple name.

Hssssshhh.

The door to Luke’s cell snapped open with a whoosh. Before Luke stood the menacing figure of Darth Vader. The deep voice penetrated the room, “Come.”

Luke caught his breath and held it, unwilling to make a sound and join his breath in the mechanical tones of Vader’s mask. He briefly closed his eyes to center himself again, to find that calm he had achieved earlier in his visions. Yet now, there was an icy cold wall that barred his way, cutting off all his ways of retreat. It was Vader’s presence, Luke realized, that caused his lack of balance. Before the great expanse of darkness, he felt like a little boy staring into a vast empty sea.

Luke opened his eyes a few seconds later, and realized Vader was becoming impatient. Resisting the man in black did not appear a wise option, at least over something trivial. Slowly, reluctantly, Luke rose to his feet, and commanded them to step forward, one after the other. When he neared the door, his progress was suddenly increased as an iron hand wove around Luke’s arm and snapped him forward. Vader marched down the hallway at a pace that made Luke jog to keep in step.

Luke had a few moments to cast his eyes around the halls, and saw that they were all grey, sterile, and uniform. Even the blinking control panels that broke up the expanse of grey were evenly spaced in a highly deliberate and unimaginative design. Then he looked ahead, and a premonition suddenly struck him. He was being taken to a training room.

Luke dug his heels into the floor suddenly, trying to cause enough friction with the smooth floor to slow his progress, “You’re not training me Vader.”

Vader stopped dead, and turned to stare at him for a moment from his superior height. The sound of his breathing remained steady, but Luke was unsure whether he imagined i or it really became more threatening. He shook his head, and tried to think calmly. Vader was only a man, like any other.

“What makes you think you are powerful enough to be worth my time?” Vader asked in a monotone.

Luke was taken aback for a moment, but quickly noticed his surroundings and looked ahead, “This looks suspiciously like we’re heading to a training room to me.”

“If you show ability, perhaps I’ll let you train.” Vader said coldly, “Otherwise, I enjoy good sport in a lightsaber duel.”

The words danced through Luke’s mind, “perhaps I’ll let you train.” Perhaps, perhaps... What would his fate be otherwise?

“All rebels deserve a miserable death in the eyes of the Empire.” Vader told Luke, presumably reading his mind. Luke’s eyes flashed in panic, and he hastily tried to build up some mental shield around his mind, to block out Vader.

“Your training is miserably behind, Skywalker,” Vader announced in a harsh voice, “The Jedi would never have accepted you into their ranks twenty years ago. You can hide nothing from me.”

Luke fought to keep his heart from racing. There was so much he knew that Vader should not know - could never know. The locations of rebel bases, plans of attack, codes, and then... His own personal memories rose over him like a wave. Times spent with Aunt Beru in the kitchen doing his homework, with Uncle Owen learning how to fix his first moisture evaporator, and his first time flying through Beggar’s Canyon!

“Such thoughts do not concern me.” Vader’s voice told him flatly, breaking into his revere.

Luke’s temper flew at the thought of Vader seeing his personal memories. HIS memories, the memories his father should have shared with him; the father Vader had killed.

“Stay out of my mind!” Luke snapped, the anger behind his eyes flashing.

“Your mind is mine, Skywalker.” Vader answered possessively.

“You...you...” Luke was trembling with rage. He felt Vader’s mind entering his, and felt him probing through his childhood memories. At once, Luke mentally assaulted Vader, summoning all the strength his anger could muster to fling him out of his mind. Luke almost gasped at the power he mustered, while Vader was thrown backwards into a wall with a loud crash. For a moment, the mechanical breathing stopped, and Luke wildly hoped he had killed Vader.

Then he felt his feet pulled out from under him, and everything spun as he flew backwards, landing on his chest with a hard thump. All the air was knocked from his lungs, forcing him to lie there gasping while his vision went spinning. How dare Vader do this to him!

Several stormtroopers had run over, hearing the commotion. Somehow Vader had risen to his feet, and was standing with his hands clasped behind his back in perfect control. “Make our young rebel friend comfortable.” He ordered the troopers.

Luke ground his teeth together in anger as the troopers grabbed his arms and dragged him down the hall towards the detention center. While he was still dizzy, the stormtroopers shackled his hands to the wall above his head. “I hate you Vader.” He hissed as they left him alone in the silence.

Time passed very slowly, and Luke leaned back against the wall. Slowly as the adrenaline in his system dissipated, Luke’s self discipline kicked in. Reckless he might have been, but Luke naturally was not an angry person.

Luke slowly realized with chagrin that Vader had been baiting him, and he had bit at the trap. Everything said had been intended to arouse the righteous anger in Luke that still lingered in the back of his mind. Perhaps Vader had hoped that leaving Luke in a cell would give his anger time to ferment and become more potent. It didn’t.

His anger evaporated away, replaced with shame that he had fallen so easily. Luke hung his head, contemplating his own weakness. He was only a naive farm boy who had been cast into a word of wizards and emperors.

“Learn from your mistakes, Luke.” Ben’s voice in his head admonished him, “I had worse falls in my time.”

Luke’s eyes flashed open, “Ben?”

Only silence answered him, but the response was just as strong. There was a battle to be fought, and Luke wasn’t ready to give up after the first torpedo that crashed into his x-wing’s shields.

Shields... There was a place to start preparing for combat. “Teach me Ben.” Luke pleaded silently. He closed his eyes, and focused, and felt Ben’s mind touch his own, gently, yet do nothing. Luke waited a moment for instruction, but received only encouragement from Ben’s presence to go deeper.

Luke took a deep breath, and slipped into meditation. There he lost all sense of time, but whether it happened slowly or quickly, Ben showed him how to raise mental shields to protect his mind. Then Ben suddenly withdrew his contact, and Luke was left alone in the quiet and peace of his own mind. Unbidden, images rose to his mind, and another vision began. Far different from anything he had seen before, the shapes twisted and shifted, and all was dark. Luke grabbed onto the elusive threads, and tried to understand what was happening.

He saw his father sitting beside a little green alien, dressed in Jedi robes. The alien turned towards his father, and said in a thoughtful voice, “Premonitions, premonitions. Hmmmm, these visions you have...”

Hesitantly, his father answered, “They are of pain, suffering, death...”

“Yourself you speak of, or someone you know?” the alien asked inquisitively.

“Someone...” Anakin answered reluctantly.

“…close to you?”

“Yes.” Anakin answered carefully. Luke suddenly realized it was his mother who was being discussed.

”Careful you must be when sensing the future, Anakin. The fear of loss is a path to the dark side.” the other Jedi told Anakin, his voice full of warning.

His father’s face was set with stony determination, “I won't let these visions come true, Master Yoda.”

The alien, Yoda, replied with admonishment, “Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them, do not. Miss them, do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is.”

“What must I do, Master Yoda?” Anakin asked, fighting to hide his urgency from his voice.

“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” Yoda answered stoically.

Luke pondered the words, as the visions blurred. Had his father known about his mother’s death before it happened? Surely that must have been a terrible burden, and a temptation to the darkside. Yet if Vader had killed his father, surely he had resisted it.

The vision changed again, and he saw his mother in great anguish, and obviously expecting, speaking to his father, “ I don't believe what I'm hearing... Obi-Wan was right. You've changed.”

Luke’s heart broke as he saw her in pain, while he waited for his father to reassure her with words of love. What he heard didn’t soothe his anguish, “I don't want to hear any more about Obi-Wan. The Jedi turned against me. Don't you turn against me.” Anakin answered, his voice sharp with anger. That was all his mother could take before she broke into sobs, “I don't know you any more. Anakin, you're breaking my heart. I'll never stop loving you, but you are going down a path I can't follow!”

Luke snapped out of the vision, breathing hard as his heart raced. He gasped for breath, as he tried to control the emotions he had shared with his parents in the dream. He had felt the anguish and despair from his mother, as well as the conflicting hate and love from his father.

And above all, Luke was shattered and confused. What had happened to his father! Had he turned to the darkside?

Yet Luke had always believed that everything happened for a reason, and there must have been an important reason he had seen those visions. Was there something he was supposed to know about his father?

Luke shuddered, remembering how close he was to falling to the dark side. It was like a monster, waiting to snatch him up in its talons and carry him away into the darkness. Yet there was still a stubborn heart left within Luke, and the idea awakened an inner fire.

The darkside couldn’t just take him. He had a free will, he could make decisions! A glimmer of hope arose with that stubborn thought. Was joining the dark side a matter of choice, a giving in of the will? Could he remain strong and refuse?

Luke didn’t have any longer to think, for the door snapped open, and the guards came to claim him. He was glad to have the pressure removed from his wrists, and rubbed them to bring back the feeling. He expected to be put in binders, but the guards flanked him and led him down the hallways – to a training room.

Vader was fighting with training droids, equipped with lightsabers. The skill he demonstrated made Luke gulp, as he realized there was no way he could match Vader’s prowess in battle. In their fight on the planet, Vader had been holding back. “Are you ready to die, Skywalker?” Vader asked, turned towards him as he finished the last droid.

“Death is a natural part of life.” Luke answered, quoting Yoda, and smothering his fear in his determination, “I shall rejoice to be transformed into the force.”

Vader’s ever constant breathing for once faltered, before it resumed its normal course. “You are surprising, young one.” Vader answered at last.

“You’ll find I’m full of surprises.” Luke returned. Silently, he wondered what he had said that had surprised Vader. He felt the giant before him pry into his mind, but Luke’s newly prepared mental shields were ready.

“Very surprising.” Vader stated, his voice changing to a tone Luke could not identify. Was it pride?

He tossed Luke a lightsaber, which the Jedi nimbly caught. He eyed Vader warily, unsure of what to do. If Vader attacked him, he would have to defend himself or die, yet to fight would put him in danger of loosing control of his emotions.

Before Luke could finish his thoughts and decide on a course of actions, Vader charged him, his blood red blade at the ready. Luke parried his strokes, panting to keep up with Vader’s attack.

“The Jedi code weakens you.” Vader taunted.

Luke gritted his teeth, but decided to change tactics, and ask Vader the question that was on his mind, “How did you kill my father?”

It was obviously not the question Vader had expected. He took a step back for a moment, “Your father was weak, and constrained himself to the Jedi code. I did the universe a favour by ridding it of a weakling too full of youthful love.” Having said his part, Vader launched another assault.

Luke could barely hide his happiness, and could almost feel Vader’s puzzlement at his reaction, “Then...then my father didn’t turn to the darkside?” Luke asked, shaking with anticipation.

Vader froze in his place, and Luke himself stopped in confusion. Why had Vader reacted so? The lightsaber in Vader’s hand deactivated itself.

“Who told you he did!” Vader thundered.

Luke was more then confused, “N..no one.” Vader appeared unconvinced, “Look, why should you care, just tell me, please!” Luke told Vader, half berating, half pleading. He needed an answer.

“You would never love your father if you knew the truth, Luke.” Vader told him, his voice dropping to a whisper.

Luke tried to avoid cursing in the vilest Huttese he knew, “I’ll always love my father, something you’ll never understand. I must know, Vader, what happened to my father?” Luke stared at him for a moment, his deep blue eyes pleading where his words left off.

“Luke,” Vader answered quietly, “I am your father.”