Warning: Dad Vader's questionable parenting skills.

''Common tongue''

''Alien languages''

Thoughts

Master, Apprentice

Chapter 2

''Here, try this on.''

Ensign Jastrinas handed him the clothes she had been working on. Luke stared at it, surprised that the sewing project had been intended for him. He was grateful though; his old clothes had been bloodied and ripped irrecoverably.

The blond went over to the small water-closet in his private medical room. Once inside, he first noticed the mirror and inspected himself. The bacta patches had done their job wonderfully. It had only been three standard days since his arrival on the ship and there was not a trace of his injuries remaining.

The child took off his clearly over-sized shirt and slipped on his new outfit. It fitted perfectly and the fabric was of a quality that Luke had never worn before. The style was sober and military-like, but practical and very well-made. It was a simple black tunic that buttoned on the side, a straight collar and long sleeves, a classic-cut pair of black trousers and a standard imperial belt that had been mended to fit him. There were no logos or embroideries of any sort.

When he came out, Luha nodded approvingly and handed him what looked to be his own pair of boots. Seeing his confusion, the ensign explained.

''I used wax to make them black, then I put on a protective coat of the varnish we use on our ships. That's why they are so rigid now. I also took a pair of soles from our spare boots and cut them out to fit your size, so they should be more comfortable.''

Luke tried them on –they stopped about half-way on his calves- and they were indeed much more comfortable. He looked down at himself, impressed by the quality of the work that had been accomplished in so little time.

''Thank you so much, Luha,'' Luke smiled brightly. ''This is really incredible!''

''Not at all,'' officer Jastrinas said humbly. ''We have been tailors for generations in my family. I had been working in the family business since childhood before I enrolled.'' Though she tried to hide it, Luke sensed nostalgia flowing through the ensign.

''Do you miss it?'' Luke asked softly.

''I'm happy to serve the Empire,'' the woman replied, not quite answering the question. ''Come now. Lord Vader is waiting for us.''

Luke got plenty of curious stares as they walked along the impressive corridors of The Executor. At last, the duo arrived in what could only be a tactics room. The highest ranking officers were standing around a large round table that was projecting the hologram of a planet Luke could not identify. Darth Vader was standing gravely with his arms crossed.

''Lord Vader,'' Ensign Jastrinas said, bowing respectfully as they entered. ''I've brought young Skywalker, as instructed.'' The lord merely nodded, then looked at the boy.

''Come, boy,'' the Sith lord said. ''Your training shall commence immediately.'' Luke stared and blinked in confusion. He looked at the other officers who seemed just as surprised by his presence, and even more so by their superior's words.

''M-my Lord, may I ask…'' Admiral Ozzel was not even sure what to ask. He was aware of the child's presence on board –though was not exactly sure why, as he had not dared ask the Sith- but to have him listen to their meetings?

''I have chosen Luke Skywalker as my apprentice,'' was all the reply Vader offered. He looked back at Luke. ''Don't make me repeat myself.''

Luke looked nervously at Luha, who pressed him to move along. The small blond swallowed thickly, then quickly walked over to the dark lord. The ensign left the room.

''I haven't agreed to being your apprentice,'' Luke said when he was beside Darth Vader.

''It is not your choice to make,'' the masked man replied curtly, then turned to one of his subordinates.

''Proceed, captain Piett.''

''Yessir.'' Piett tapped on the board and the map zoomed on a specific region of the planet. ''Subterrel is situated in the Outer Rim, near Kamino. It's a mining planet and is our most important Dedlanite supplier. We were informed that it has recently been taken over by a rebel group. Our mission is to take it back.''

''How shameful that the Empire could let this happen,'' Admiral Ozzel scoffed. ''How could some rebel group do this?''

''It's very remote and the only thing making it valuable is the mineral. Rebels have never attacked our resources before; just our military bases. Only a small troop was guarding the mines,'' Piett explained calmly.

''Huh, well, a useless and desperate move on the rebel's part. That Dedlanite won't be theirs for long,'' Ozzel spat, clenching his gloved fists tightly.

''You misunderstand the rebels' intentions,'' Darth Vader said, surprising the officers in the room. Luke listened attentively. ''They have probably destroyed the entire mines by now. They hope to slow down our weapons productions, not steal the material from us. They know that to be futile.''

''Then why the urgency if they are already destroyed? Why send our elite squadron to this mission? This is of no consequence to us.''

''I tire of your useless questions, Admiral Ozzel.'' Vader gripped his belt tightly taking a menacing step closer to the admiral. ''Let the captain finish without further interruptions.''

''Of course, my apologies, my lord.'' Ozzel bowed quickly, sweat dripping from his temple. Tension rose in the room and there were a few deadly seconds before Piett cleared his throat nervously to continue. Luke shivered under Vader's angry aura. He felt even smaller than he already was.

''It is believed that the group is being led by a lost Jedi. The group's attack was surprisingly fast and efficient, even if our forces there were few. We hope to capture their leader for questioning before they leave the planet and go on another strike.'' Vader nodded.

''We musn't let the rebels gain any more victories, no matter how insignificant. Their allies feed on hope and will get bolder,'' Vader said, disdain peaking his intonations. ''And this rumoured Jedi must be eliminated.''

Luke looked down at his boots, jaw tight and his brows creased into a frown. This whole situation felt surreal. He didn't know why he was here and what exactly the Sith Lord wanted; it couldn't be as simple as wanting an apprentice. One thing he knew was that he didn't belong here.

''We will discuss our battle strategy once we are closer to the system,'' Piett finished.

''You are dismissed,'' Vader declared. Once all the officers left, Vader turned to the nine-year-old, who was still very much upset. ''You will come with me on this mission and witness first-hand why the Sith is superior to the Jedi.''

''I will not be your apprentice,'' Luke said firmly.

''It is the will of the Force.''

''You're wrong,'' the boy insisted. Lord Vader crossed his arms over his chest and looked down upon the child for a moment. Luke felt his resolve waver, but not for long. He was not afraid of the man, he decided.

''I applaud your determination,'' Vader said at last. ''You will still come with me. Whether as an apprentice or a prisoner, you shall do as I bid you.''

''Will you hurt me if I don't?'' Luke asked defiantly.

''If you give me no other choice,'' the Sith answered. Luke narrowed his eyes, trying to see if the lord was lying, but he could not read him. The blond looked down again. Did he even need to? This was Darth Vader; of course he would hurt him.

''Why me?'' Blue eyes peeked at the Sith with confusion and despair. The boy's expression triggered another memory of Padmé that caught the dark lord off guard.

''You are unusually strong in the Force,'' Vader said slowly with marked impatience. ''As I have already told you.''

''It doesn't make sense,'' Luke spat frustratingly, turning his back to the man. ''It's unfair!''

''In time you will understand how the living Force works. For now, listen to me and you will remain unharmed. If you prove yourself trustworthy, I will let you enjoy more freedoms.''

The boy stayed silent and did not look at him.

''Perhaps a little incentive would help.'' Vader walked passed the boy then out into the corridor. ''Come.''

Luke sighed and followed the supreme commander. What other choice did he have?

OoOoO

Luke followed his self-proclaimed master until they reached a sort of platform, empty and surrounded by one immense window that offered a grand view of the hangar bellow. Dozens of small ships of all kinds –mostly TIE fighters- were being cleaned, inspected and repaired by different members of the crew. The blond glued his face to the window, eyes wide and bright with excitement. He wanted nothing more than to fly in one of these (and get out of here).

''Will I get to fly one?'' Luke turned his head towards the tall figure, hands still on the window. ''I've flown a skyhopper hundreds of times on Tatooine. I always race with my friends in the canyons. I know how to take care of them too. I'm good at fixing things.''

The familiarity of the boy's words unsettled the Sith yet again.

''I will allow my apprentice to fly under conditions.'' Luke pouted at that, but was far from surprised. He was not shallow enough to join the Empire simply to fly a ship, as fun as it was.

''I guess I'll never fly then,'' Luke said with a shrug, trying to seem as nonchalant as possible. It did not impress the dark lord.

''There is something else,'' Vader said. He brought his gloved mechanical hand under his cape and took a lightsaber off his belt. He activated it and handed it to the boy. Its ominous red light flashed and contrasted against Luke's wide blue eyes.

''What's that?'' Luke gasped, taking the weapon carefully and waving it around slightly, listening to the strange sound it made.

''A lightsaber. A weapon wielded by both Sith and Jedi. You must been trained with it.''

Luke's expression sobered and he looked carefully at the masked figure. It was clear that no matter how much he protested, the Sith lord would continue in his denial. He knew he was a prisoner and victim of the supreme commander's whims, but he would not simply do as told. He didn't know how the lord planned to force him into training, but it would fail undoubtedly.

Luke turned off the lightsaber and handed it back to Darth Vader.

''Keep it. It is yours.''

Luke kept staring, then sighed in defeat. He clipped the weapon to his belt and swore to himself not to use it.

''I'm surprised Obi-Wan Kenobi never introduced you to it, and the Force as well.''

Luke blinked in utter confusion, then looked to the side trying to recall anything. Was he supposed to know someone by that name? He looked up again when a thought truck him.

''Do you mean old Ben? Ben Kenobi? You know him too?'' Luke was getting more and more confused. Why did this strange and scary droid-like man know everyone around him?

''That must be the name he goes by on your home planet.''

''I only saw him a few times, and spoke to him once. My uncle didn't like him, but I don't know why,'' Luke said with a sigh. His uncle didn't like anyone, beside him and his wife. He usually disliked people for a good reason though, but Luke had never understood why his uncle antagonized the quiet old man so much. ''He saved my life.''

Darth Vader stared quietly at him. Luke did not budge.

''Tell me,'' the tall figure said at last.

''It was my first time piloting the skyhopper. There must have been a defect I hadn't noticed, because it malfunctioned and I crashed into the canyons. I managed to land without too much damage, but when I got out there were two Tusken Raiders coming towards me.''

Luke noticed the supreme commander clenching his fists tightly. The temperature in the room seemed to drop suddenly. Luke shivered, but continued his tale.

''Ben showed up before they could take me. He scared them away somehow and took me back home.''

''I see.''

Vader's synthesized voice sounded harsher than usual, like he was irritated. Luke wandered why.

OoOoO

Luke had considered protesting coming with Darth Vader to his mission, but the blond thought it might offer a good opportunity for escape. He knew nothing of the planet they were about to land on, but if there truly were rebels in the mines, then they might take pity on him and bring him back to Tatooine. As much as he despised the dusty planet, it was still home. He did not dare imagine how worried aunt Beru might be. There was also his uncle; he hoped he hadn't gotten himself in trouble trying to find him.

But now, surrounded by stormtroopers and sitting right next to the Sith lord in one of the cruisers for landing, Luke was beginning to doubt his chances. He was about to get caught in the middle of laser blasts between the Imperials and the Rebels. He'd be lucky to last even the first five minutes, much less survive the fight at all.

''I sense your fear,'' Darth Vader said beside him.

''You said you wanted me to be your apprentice, but I'll be dead by the end of the day. Is that why you never had one? They all died before you could train them?'' Luke was trying his best to keep the little pride he was allowed to have at nine years old. He wasn't sure mocking the Sith had been the best way to go at it, but Luke had never been very good at keeping his mouth shut. 'Brat' was practically his middle name.

''If you die today, young Skywalker, it simply means you were not meant to be my apprentice.''

Luke sighed and looked back down at his shiny boots. He folded his hands onto his lap and took deep breaths to try to calm himself. He felt Vader's heavy gaze on him.

''You should use your fear, rather than push it away,'' the dark figure spoke after a while. Luke looked up at him doubtfully.

''I don't understand,'' Luke replied.

''Your fear will push your limits. You will accomplish things you did not suspect yourself capable of. The living Force is strongest when unleashed and uncensored.''

''Is this my first lesson?''

''It is.''

Luke resumed his slow breathing and closed his eyes to suppress his fear even further.

''Clever child,'' Darth Vader said quietly, mostly to himself. He had been a very defiant and disobedient student himself; he supposed nothing less could be expected from his son.

Soon, the Imperial cruisers landed in a secluded region of Subterrel. Luke was handed a mask to wear over his mouth and nose, since the air on the planet could be dangerous for humans. The troopers –and Darth Vader- had their suit to protect them, while the other officers were wearing a mask similar to Luke's. The Imperials established a quick camp to review their strategy once more and prepare their arsenal before marching towards their destination. Darth Vader was at the very front of the small troops with Luke beside him. The boy felt his fear grow with each step forward but willed himself to try and contain it.

They stopped abruptly with Vader's hand sign when they were a little more than a mile away from the mines where the Rebels were suspected to be hiding. The dark-armoured man looked around slowly as if searching for something. Vader turned to one of the troopers and with another hand sign silently ordered him to shoot over the entrance of the mine, which was dug at the bottom of a small dry rocky mountain.

''B-but there's nothing there sir,'' the trooper said, rather confused. Quickly realizing his mistake, the trooper straightened his posture and positioned himself to aim before his superior had to choke him.

The blast seemed to only hit the rocks at first, but an explosion soon followed and the veil fell down. The Rebels had used some sort of chameleon-shield, Luke deduced, to hide themselves. He was impressed the Sith had found it out, but was not able to dwell on it as gun shots were fired almost instantly from both sides. Before Luke even had time to gasp, Vader was towering in front of him, spare lightsaber in hand and easily deflecting each shot coming their way. Then, the Sith stretched his other hand towards some cracked rocks in the mountain. They crumbled and rolled down to crush some of the rebels in their path. Around him, troopers fell dead under the rebels' fire.

Luke's eyes were wide and the fear he had been trying to control suddenly overwhelmed him. He was frozen into place and trembling all over. He felt his throat tighten and eyes started to itch from dust and to moisten with tears. Luke had known the Galaxy was at war, but now he was getting a taste of it. He wished he had acted more grateful for his aunt and uncle's peaceful shelter. Now, he would never get to see them again.

''I advise you to use the weapon I gave you if you wish to survive this mission,'' Vader said when they had moved over to take cover behind empty facilities surrounding the mine.

It took a moment for Luke to register what the Sith had said. He looked down at his belt where the lightsaber was still clipped to. If he was to die here, he would die an innocent and would not wield the same weapon as the oppressor.

The thought gave luke some courage. He wiped his tears with the back of his sleeves and looked quietly at the tall figure.

''Sir!'' an officer said urgently, pointing towards the entrance of the mine. Both Luke and the Sith followed the officer's hand pointing to the entrance. A silhouette –seemingly male- holding what could only be a lightsaber in his hand rushed into the mine.

''The Jedi wants to lure us into a trap. Let's humour him,'' Vader said coming out from behind the barracks. He deflected the shots with his saber and ordered some troopers to cover him. He turned towards Luke.

''Follow me and don't fell behind unless you want to get shot,'' the supreme commander said and started to walk slowly towards the entrance. Luke sped right behind him, nearly bumping into the man. He wanted to clutch the lord's cape, but he fought the urge and kept his dignity as unscathed as possible.

The troopers stayed outside at the entraince, letting Luke and Vader enter on their own. Once inside, no blasts could hit them, but Luke did not feel any safer. The mines were barely lit by some sort of phosphorescing mineral everywhere in the dirty walls of the mines. Vader's lightsaber offered some more light, but just enough not to bump into things. It was quiet and certainly not welcoming.

At last they entered some kind of antechamber that was much better lit. At the other end of the room, they saw two figures. One standing –a young man, no more than eighteen- with the green lightsaber, and another older female Tholothian sitting in a floating chair. The woman was crippled, but Darth Vader recognized her instantly.

''Adi Gallia. So you survived the purge after all.''

''I see you have broken the Rule of Two, Darth Vader,'' the Jedi Master replied, eyeing Luke calculatingly. ''Or perhaps I was not yet made aware that you assassinated your master.''

''Everything in its own time,'' Vader replied simply.

''We will take care of it ourselves. Today, you die,'' the teen said firmly, tightening his grip on his lightsaber. The young padawan charged with a scream towards the Sith lord, earning a loud protest from his master.

''Tarek, wait!'' The teen ignored his master and slashed his saber at his enemy, only to be easily blocked by the other's red blade. Luke took several careful steps aside to get away from the fight. Darth Vader did not want to waste his time with some petulant teen and promptly propelled him against the wall with the Force, effectively putting him out. Tarek fell limply to the floor. Luke's eyes widened and he ran towards the adolescent.

Meanwhile, the Sith lord approached the master Jedi with slow steps. Gallia might no longer be able to walk, but Darth Vader was not fool enough to underestimate her. He kept his saber pointed towards her.

''You will tell me who else has survived and where they can be found. In return, I will make your death quick and painless.''

Gallia spared her padawan and glance, but repressed well her surprise and concern. The unknown child's presence as well as he apprentice's sudden anger had not been expected at all. Her plan had taken a completely new turn and she was left to wander about the best course of action to take. She could sense that Tarek was still alive, but knew too well now that unwanted sacrifices would have to be made.

She set her eyes back on the dark lord. It should have been so simple. She had known Darth Vader would not have resisted following a Jedi. She had been supposed to distract the lord while Tarek escaped and activated the bombs. Knowing defeating Vader in a sword fight was impossible, burying both of them forever had seemed to be the only way. Now, however…

''Let me go!'' Both Sith and Jedi masters turned towards the high pitched voice. The teen had woken up and seized little Luke roughly with a fistful of blond hair. Tarek stood up and summoned his saber with the Force, activating it and threatening the boy with it to his throat.

''Tarek!'' Gallia's eyes widened. She did not recognize her padawan. The teen had always struggled with controlling his emotions, true… he was young and had started his training late –by Jedi standards at least- but he had never given her reason to worry. Now though, she could sense her student's sheer anger in powerful waves.

Darth Vader was not impressed and acted quickly. He extended his arm and from then on, the padawan was as good as dead. The teen could no longer move.

''What the-'' Tarek started to panic. He was not given enough time to try and ungrapple himself from the force grip nor to protest any further. With a sickening cracking sound, the teen's neck was shattered.

Gallia seized the opportunity as fast as her trained Jedi-reasoning allowed her to. While Vader was momentarily distracted, Gallia used the force to take the detonator from Tarek's pocket. It flew across the room before her padawan's limp corpse had fallen to the ground. `

Had she been younger and had she not suffered so much from the war, she might have felt guilt from pressing the deadly button and thus causing the death of an innocent child. But it was all too clear, in this very moment, that a child of such strong force potential under a Sith's care could not be left alive. By killing those two, the child and Vader, she would save countless other innocent lives.

She pressed the button just as Vader slashed his lightsaber and beheaded her.

The walls and ceiling began to shake violently as a faint explosion sound could be heard in the depth of the mines. Darth Vader had been right in the Rebels' intentions to destroy them. They were foolish if they thought they could destroy him with them.

But larges chunks of rocks started falling from around him and he was forced to remind himself that his untrained son was with him at the other end of the room.

''Luke!'' Darth Vader said suddenly, extending his arm again to keep a particularly large chunk from crushing the little boy.

Luke was still startled, like frozen, at the dead body beside him. The body of a young Jedi that had wanted to kill him. When he heard the Sith lord call his name, he was pulled out of his stupor. He looked, in awe, as the boulder was magically moved away from him. Darth Vader was beside him the second after and the tall figure picked him up like he had back on Tatooine. He was scooped up unceremoniously and thrown over a hard shoulder plate. Luke did not protest; he simply looked regretfully at the two dead bodies they were leaving behind.

It was arduous, but Vader made a way out of the deadly mines before they completely crumbled behind them with the help of the Force. Once outside blasts came their way but were easily deflected with the lightsaber. There were only many rebels remaining, and in a matter of hours, they were all dead from Vader's and the stormtroopers' blows.

The mission was a success.

OoOoO

After the mission, Luke isolated himself in his private medical room, which acted as his quarters until further notice. There, he pondered on the events that had taken place. It took hours for the shaking to go away completely. His thoughts, though, were running wild.

He recalled the way the Sith lord had called his name. Thinking clearly now, he knew the tone could not be described as anything other than panicked and concerned. He had also felt a strong feeling of fear and was now certain that it had not been his own. He had been too shocked to feel fear for his life when the rocks fell down. The fear had come from the dark lord.

Things began to make sense to the child.

His resolve hardened even through the conflict he felt, until a purpose was born.

He took deep calming breaths and hopped down from the bed. He walked through the maze of corridors, following the strange certainty that was guiding him towards Darth Vader's location. It was like something was showing him the way.

He stopped in front of a door which he managed to open by messing with the small keyboard beside it. Once inside the room, he could see a curious sphere-like airlock beginning to open, like a sharp-teethed mouth. He moved slowly around it and through the cracks, he saw what seemed to be Darth Vader's helmet come down the back of a scarred head, confirming without a doubt that he was truly a living man.

Darth Vader's distinctive breathing resumed and the tall figure stepped out of the airlock once it opened completely. Luke stayed completely quiet as the supreme commander walked towards him. The tall man stopped a few steps away and looked at him, waiting for the boy to say what he wanted to say.

Luke observed the tall man. The fear and reserve he had previously felt for the dark lord was completely gone.

''What are you going to teach me next, master?'' Luke said calmly. The boy found that he, somehow, could read the mysterious figure much better, as if a connection had been established between the two of them. He idly wondered if that was how he was able to find where, exactly, the man had been. Right now, Luke could feel mild surprise coming from his master.

''I see you have accepted your destiny,'' Darth Vader said at last.

''I don't know what my destiny is yet, but I know we belong together,'' Luke said cryptically, inciting deep curiosity within the Sith lord. For a moment, he wondered if his son had figured out their connection. Impossible, the Sith thought to himself, dismissing the ridiculous notion.

''You are right, my young apprentice.''