Forbidden

DISCLAIMER: Not mine. No money made.

PAIRING: Luke x Vader

WARNING: Slash/AU/Incest

Notes:

First, I apologize for the long wait and thank you all for your patience. I love these characters so much that I want to do them justice and that just takes me a heck of a long time. The chapter is 30 pages so at least it’s not paltry!

If you think you recognize the Kinrath, Krayt Dragon and the idea of Force crystals having particular sensitivities to certain individuals in this chapter as coming from the video game Knights of the Old Republic, you are correct. It’s my homage to a great game and I thought it would be fun to add them here. For those of you that don’t know, in the game the main character goes Light or Dark Side dependent on choices they make. One of the choices was whether the player squished Kinrath eggs or not. You can see where this is going …

Also, as most of you have already guessed, I’m taking great liberties with the nature of the Force and Vader and Luke’s abilities. This chapter is no exception. I hope you enjoy it even though it’s a much different take than George had or then other wonderful authors who write in this fandom have.

I hoped to be farther in this piece than I ended up being. Next chapter will end up introducing the person I thought this chapter would. Oh, and we find out about Obi-Wan and the Rebellion and the Emperor … whoa! Better not promise too much again.

Please let me know what you think. It’s difficult for me to write sometimes and every review or kind note spurs me to work as hard as I can on it. I am working very hard on Chapter 11 and AFF being up hopefully, I will be posting it next week.

Hugs and kisses,
Raythe:)

----------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER TEN: BENEATH BLACK HEART'S SURFACE

Luke’s POV

As they made their way to the shuttle that would take them down to Black Heart, all of Luke’s attention was centered on the feeling of Vader’s hand lightly pressing against his lower back. His father’s touch burned through his jacket and shirt like a brand, a brand that he imagined read: Property of the Dark Lord. He shivered despite the warmth. Whether it was out of desire or fear or a combination of both, Luke didn’t know. He wondered if the troopers understood the possessive touch for what it was. He wondered especially if Damon did and if that was why the young man’s gaze on him felt like a blade. But Damon’s presence faded, even the clicking of the troopers’ armored boots became muted, when Luke looked up at Vader’s profile.

Luke’s gaze followed the sculpted line of his father’s jaw, lingered on the plush lips and high cheekbones, and finally slid to the hair that spilled in luxurious waves down to the broad muscled shoulders. Vader’s beauty added to his aura of power, his place as commander of the Imperial Fleet, and also his role as father. ‘Father. That title always meant strength, security, and warmth. Now it means beauty, desire and darkness, too.’ If the mask had accentuated the fear that Vader could inspire, then his exposed face would heighten his enemies’ despair, because death should never be so terribly lovely. ‘Please let Damon’s interest in me be the passing, minor thing I believe it to be. For his sake, let me be right.’

As they drew near to the shuttle’s gangway, a frantic beeping caught Luke’s attention.

“Artoo!”

The small blue and white droid trundled between running troopers over to Luke. The boy dropped down to his haunches, which broke his father’s touch. The loss nearly staggered Luke and he had to balance himself against Artoo’s casing or risk falling over. The droid beeped and hooted happily at Luke.

“Yes, Artoo, I’m fine. Looks like you’re okay as well.” Luke said as he recovered himself. The droid seemed not to notice his momentary distress and Luke focused on listening to the droid’s quick rendition of his time aboard the Executor. “They upgraded your software? That’s great. And you’ve been cleaned up, too.”

Luke passed one hand over where carbon scoring used to be. Only the faintest trace remained. Suddenly Artoo caught sight of Vader. He gave a low moan and drew back a few inches as if to hide behind Luke.

“Oh, Artoo, there’s no need to be afraid! Yes, it is Vader, but … take a closer look.”

Artoo gave a tentative beep then hoot and trundled forward again. Vader dropped down in front of the droid so that Artoo could scan his face. After a few seconds, the droid beeped ecstatically.

“It’s good to see you again as well, Artoo,” Vader said and patted the top of its dome.

The droid gave out a long, complex combination of sounds, which Luke could only half understand without a translator unit, but Vader appeared to follow the droid’s questions easily.

“I didn’t die, despite what you may have heard. I am Vader now, Artoo. No longer …” Vader broke off and his eyes darted towards Luke. He held Luke’s gaze and the boy found himself holding his breath. “Not only Anakin.”

‘Father … thank you.’

Vader didn’t respond with words. There was just a wave of gentle warmth over their bond. ‘Does he really think of himself as Anakin or is he just saying this not to hurt me? Does it matter if he loves me just the same?’ Artoo made another few tentative, questioning hoots. Vader’s smile grew and he patted the top of Artoo’s dome again.

“Luke is my son.”

Artoo gave out a high-pitched beep of disbelief and a few hoots to explain why. Luke didn’t know if he should be amused or annoyed by Artoo’s reaction.

“I’m not that much shorter than he is Artoo!” Luke mumbled. “At least not without the prosthetics anyways.”

Luke blushed when he realized that he had stood up straighter at that moment. He frowned at the good-natured chuckles from the troopers. His father ruffled his hair affectionately.

“I assure you, Artoo, that Luke is definitely my son. His stature notwithstanding.”

Artoo’s dome shifted so could study Luke’s features. Another babble of sound issued from the droid.

“You see the resemblance now, do you? Good. So you needn’t worry about him. He’s safe with me.”

Luke saw Damon shift slightly at that comment as if he doubted that statement. Perhaps he had heard tales from his uncle about Vader’s temper or even had seen evidence of it himself. Luke willed the trooper to be still and prayed that Vader hadn’t seen the movement, but that was to no avail. Vader’s shoulders tensed for a moment and he turned his head slightly towards where Damon stood, but he did nothing more to acknowledge the trooper. Luke probed their bond for his father’s emotions, but Vader kept him out.

Vader turned all his attention back to the droid and said, “You’ll be serving Luke and me both from now on, Artoo.”

Artoo was silent for a moment while he digested all he had heard. As if satisfied that all computed, he gave a quick hoot then the droid turned its dome to look over at Luke. It questioned him where they were going. Luke felt the tug of anxiety.

“We’re going back down to Black Heart, Artoo.”

The droid wailed. It then made indignant hoots and beeps, turning its dome between Vader and Luke.

“It looks like he doesn’t want us to go,” Luke said.

Vader chuckled. “Well, that’s not terribly surprising. He didn’t exactly have the best experience down on the planet the first time.” Vader turned back to the droid and said to it, “We’ve got to go down there, Artoo. I know you don’t like it, but it has to be.”

Artoo hooted mournfully. Vader rose to his feet and Luke straightened up with him. The boy felt a little queasy as he remembered Artoo’s frightened cry as the Viateen slithered on top of his X-Wing and disemboweled the little droid. He wished they did not have to go back down to the planet’s surface, but he knew his father hungered to investigate the Archive that was located there. And if Luke was honest with himself, he, too, wanted to understand more of what they were becoming. Perhaps the Archive could explain things to him, ease some of the fear he felt and allow him to understand why Ben had turned against him.

“Sir,” Davel said from Vader’s elbow, “what type of hostiles should we expect down on the planet?”

“I’ll explain in the shuttle. Come, daylight fades fast on the temple and we have much to do.”

Artoo beeped at them causing Vader to stop walking. “Of course you may come, Artoo, although you may have to remain within the shuttle due to the rocky terrain.”

With a satisfied beep the droid rolled over to the gangway of the shuttle and slipped inside. Vader again lightly guided Luke with a hand on his back into the shuttle and finally into the co-pilot’s seat. The troopers hustled in after them and took their seats. Damon tried to sit nearest to Luke, but Davel waved him off. Damon stood there a few seconds longer than he should have, staring at his superior as if to demand an explanation, but finally the young man sat down elsewhere without a word. The tight smile Vader gave told Luke he had seen the silent exchange.

Vader took the shuttle’s controls and took them out of the hanger bay effortlessly. Luke marveled at his father’s expert touch, which made the lumbering shuttle fly as gracefully as any fighter. Davel leaned forward in his seat so that his head was between Luke and Vader.

“About the hostiles, Lord Vader?”

“The Viateen are the dominant species in the temple. I’m uncertain what other life forms we may encounter on the planet’s surface or in the caves.”

“What are the Viateen, sir?”

“They are snake-like creatures. They have humanoid torsos and heads with the lower bodies of serpents.”

Davel nodded, apparently unphased by the description, probably believing that the Viateen would be like most alien species: physically different, but nothing shocking. That was where Luke knew Davel was wrong. The aura of foulness that the Viateen exuded would make their unfamiliar and horrible visages far more disturbing than any other species the trooper had encountered.

“Father, about the Viateen … how did you kill them before? My light saber was completely useless against them. I would slash through them, but their bodies would just reform. It was like cutting through smoke.”

There was a small silence. Vader’s amber eyes were fixed out the viewport before he said simply, “I snapped their necks and removed their hearts. That appeared to keep them down.”

Luke blanched, shocked at the image and his father’s matter-of-fact explanation, but then the reason for both became apparent. Just for a moment, he could hear his father’s thoughts over their bond, ‘And if you keep shooting hot glances at my son, Damon Trans, you will experience EXACTLY what I did to them.’

Startled by breaching his father’s shields for a moment and the content of those thoughts, Luke stammered out, “You were able to … to remove their hearts without the light saber? But how?”

“With my hands.”

“Oh.” Luke swallowed hard at that.

“They appeared unable to phase in and out once I had a physical hold on them. I suppose the light saber would have worked once I grabbed them, but it was more efficient to use my hands at that point.”

Vader’s statements apparently affected the others as strongly as it did Luke, because he could suddenly hear Damon’s thoughts like a clarion bell: ‘How can that monster be Luke’s father? Poor Luke. Beautiful Luke. He doesn’t belong anywhere near someone so brutal. I could protect him. Help him. Love him.’ Luke snapped back from Damon’s mind as he heard the last.

The creaking sound from the controls drew Luke’s attention. His father was clenching them so hard they were set to break. Vader obviously had also heard Damon’s thoughts, too, and Luke quailed inside. He brushed his mind against his father’s to calm him. It was a tentative touch, but Vader’s response was anything but. The Dark Lord’s mind reached out and surrounded Luke’s. The boy’s eyes fluttered shut as he was enveloped in his father’s dominating presence. It was like every part of him was being held tightly.

‘You believe me now, Luke? He WANTS you.’

‘Yes, I … I see that.’

‘But he cannot have you! You are mine, Luke, only mine!’

‘Yes, Father. Yours. Only yours.’

His words of submission apparently worked to ease the Dark Lord’s anger as Vader’s mental grip on him lessened and Luke sank back against the co-pilot’s seat in relief.

“Sir, do you believe our blasters will be capable of hurting these creatures?” Davel asked, clearly unaware of their internal dialogue.

“I believe they will be almost useless against the Viateen, but your survival knives should work.” Apparently sensing Luke’s anxiety about the whole endeavor, Vader leaned over and gently caressed the back of Luke’s neck. The soft press of his fingers against Luke’s skin made pleasant chills run along his spine. “Young one, do not fear. I do not believe they will attempt to molest us this trip. They understand what the consequences will be if they do.”

Luke gave him a weak smile. He wondered if those “consequences” might extend to Damon as well if the young man continued to want Luke romantically. ‘I have to warn him to cease thinking of me like that. Otherwise … Force, I don’t even want to contemplate what Father will do to him! I just don’t understand his interest at all. And the extent of it. Could it have something to do with being brought back from the dead?’

All conversation ceased for a moment as Vader landed the ship in the clearing before the temple. Luke stared out the viewport at the strange alive/dead grass and the hulking malformed trees that ringed the clearing. Then his eyes were drawn to the temple itself. The blood color of the stone was even more livid in the early afternoon sunlight. The hiss and whine of the gangway lowering drew Luke’s attention.

The troopers were the first to file out. They placed their useless blasters in their holsters and drew out their survival knives. The blades were highly-polished carbonized durasteel about eight inches in length. They were beautiful, lethal things. The troopers took protective positions around the ship. As Luke stepped out onto the gangway, Artoo beeped that he would remain behind and guard the ship.

“All right, Artoo. Keep safe,” Luke said and the droid happily plugged himself into one of the ports and began communicating with the shuttle’s computer.

With a deep breath, Luke walked down the gangway. When he reached the bottom, he turned to wait for Vader to join him. Vader stood for a minute just inside the shuttle. His eyes were fixed on a triangle of sunlight that lit the center gangway. Luke watched as Vader extended his flesh and blood hand into the light. ‘Gods, this will be the first time Father has been in sunlight for 20 years! How amazing and strange and maybe even frightening this must be for him.’

As the sunlight fell over his flesh, Vader shivered slightly. Then he stepped fully into the light. As it hit his face, there was a wash of emotion over their bond, a kind of wild joy that made Luke want to cry and laugh at the same time. With a few great strides, the Dark Lord was on the grass. Sunlight bathed his entire form. A slight breeze stirred Vader’s honey-blonde locks. His cape flapped around him. He stood there on the stubby brown grass, his eyelids shut, his arms lifted from his sides and his fingers spread wide as if he could capture and hold onto that moment forever. Finally, his amber eyes opened and he smiled hugely at Luke.

“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” He asked.

“Yes, very.” Luke felt a tremulous smile break across his face. Over their bond, he said, ‘I’m so happy for you, Father.’

Vader stepped close and he cupped Luke’s cheek with his healed hand. “And I have you to thank for my ability to truly enjoy it.”

Luke colored under his father’s intense regard.

“Luke healed you as he did us, didn’t he, Lord Vader?” Davel asked, his voice tinged with awe, as if he finally realized that Vader was no longer wearing the mask.

“Yes.”

Vader’s thumb brushed over one of Luke’s cheekbones and the boy wished fervently for a moment that Vader would lean down so that they could kiss.

‘Later, young one. Kisses and touches and … anything else you desire.’

The warmth that cascaded through him at that promise was cut with a momentary pang of sadness that their relationship had to remain hidden. But this thought did not escape his father’s notice.

‘Even if our love were commonplace and accepted, it would be inappropriate to show it now in front of the troopers.’

‘Yes, Father, of course, you’re right.’

‘However, I am not ruling out being open about what is between us after the Emperor is taken care of. I have lived with a secret relationship before and it is not what I want for us. But that is something to discuss later.’

Luke couldn’t help the slight tremble that ran through him. His father didn’t want to keep him a secret! Even though he was as leery of other’s reactions to their relationship and knew it would be more prudent to keep it hidden, still a part of him yearned to have what other lovers did: the right to be free and open with the one they loved. His father stroked his cheek with his thumb one last time and then moved away. Luke smoothed down the front of his jacket in order to cover his need to compose himself. When he felt the slight warm press of one of Damon’s hands against his shoulder, he nearly jumped. His head jerked around.

“Are you all right?” Damon whispered as he walked past to a point position.

“Fine,” Luke hurriedly whispered back and flushed. He had to speak with Damon as soon as they got back to the Executor. The young trooper’s solicitousness was going to get him killed. He didn’t need to look at Vader to know his father was scowling.

“Let us go to the caves first,” Vader ordered, turning on his heels and setting a quick pace that everyone had to struggle to keep up with.

The Dark Lord brought them to a worn path that ran along the side of the temple and was about fifteen feet from the tree line. He finally slowed down enough for Luke’s smaller strides to match his. Vader made space for Luke to walk beside him nearer the temple than the trees. His father was guarding him from whatever might lurk in the forest. Luke couldn’t help but smile at that. But Black Heart seemed intent on disturbing any sense of peace Luke had.

Luke noticed the silence first. Their footsteps echoed in the stillness. ‘Where are all the animal sounds? Or the rushing of the wind through the trees?’ The impression of being watched by a cool, alien intelligence began as they reached the midway point of the temple. Luke found himself glancing between the trunks of trees to see if there was anything watching them from the dark depths, but he saw nothing, just the suggestion of black shapes that could have been his imagination or coiled Viateen hidden in the underbrush.

“Where is the cave?” Luke asked his father as he fought the urge to grab his light saber for protection against the shadows.

“About a half mile from the back of the temple. This path continues on into the woods towards a low mountain range where there’s an entrance to them.”

“And you believe there are light saber crystals within?”

Vader nodded. His eyes began to glow slightly as he explained further, “The Dark Side told me so.”

“The Force … it talks to you?” Luke heard a whisper then in his own mind, that terrible sound of cloth against cloth. He shook his head as if to clear it. He had never heard any words from the Force and somehow he hoped it would remain that way.

“Yes.” His father’s expression grew almost dreamy for a moment, but his amber eyes were clear and intent as they focused on Luke. “It told me that inside the cave, there are crystals so pure and so powerful … they are perfect. Far better than the ones that reside in our sabers now.” A small shiver ran through Vader’s form and a smile curled his lips as he apparently imagined the crystals they would find. “I wonder what colors our blades will be? I’ve had red so long … And you, this is your first time to actually chose a crystal, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I was just so happy before to find any crystal that would work, it’ll be strange having a choice.”

“You’ll find that one crystal will call to you.”

“What do you mean?”

“There will be one inside that will seem as if it is made just for you. It will identify itself. And it will bond with your Force energy better than any other. You will be shocked at the difference in performance with your weapon when you have installed this crystal.”

“I think I understand a little of what you mean. Your old blade was much easier to use somehow than the one I now have. It seemed … familiar to me. When I first made this new blade, it was so different. I felt no connection with it at all.”

Vader rested a hand briefly on his shoulder. “I’m glad my blade helped you. But the one you’ve made is quite good, Luke. Over time all crystals adapt to their user. So even the most recalcitrant crystal can become very powerfully attuned to you.”

Luke had been so caught up in their conversation that he hadn’t realized that they had left the temple grounds and were already deep into the woods and almost at their destination. The cave’s main entrance loomed before them, looking as forbidding as Luke assumed it would. It was black as pitch inside; even the light from the cave’s opening made little headway into the interior. The sound of dripping water echoed from deep within. Vader ignited his light saber. The hiss and thrum of his blade startled Luke. For a moment, he remembered it being ignited against him at Bespin and a tremor went through him. He unconsciously began to rub his right wrist. He only stopped when Vader stilled the movement by covering Luke’s hand with his own. Luke gave him a small grateful smile and ignited his own blade.

“Troopers, you will remain at the entrance. Guard our backs,” Vader ordered and forged into the cave’s interior with Luke at his heels.

Luke felt Damon’s desire to disobey like a wave. Luke turned his head to look back at the cave’s opening. Damon had seen his nervous movements and had misinterpreted his remembered fear as something current. The young man actually took a few steps into the cave’s interior to follow them before Davel grabbed his arm and asked him if his hearing was impaired, because it must be if he was about to contradict a direct order from Lord Vader. Damon shrugged off Davel’s hand, but did remain outside on guard. Luke turned back towards the cave’s interior, jogging to meet up with Vader.

“He walks a fine line, young one.”

“I will speak to him, Father. I will explain that there is nothing … that there can be nothing … between him and me. He is just grateful that I saved him. That’s all. It will pass.”

“But his disobedience and covetousness of what is mine will not be forgotten … nor forgiven.”

The red glow of Vader’s light saber was suddenly gone as he doused the blade. Luke was at a loss for why he did this until he felt his father’s hands slide around the back of his neck and thread through his hair. They were far enough within the cave that the troopers could not see them. Not that it would have mattered. Luke was unable to resist the pull of his father’s body. Luke quickly doused his own blade as Vader’s lips pressed against his. Luke opened his mouth in a gasp of pleasure and Vader’s tongue was inside, claiming him. Luke clutched the front of his father’s armor and pulled them closer together. The blackness and wet of the cave fell away and all Luke felt was his father’s heat and hardness. Vader’s hands slipped down Luke’s back and cupped his bottom, squeezing the globes of flesh as if to test their ripeness.

As he broke the kiss, Vader licked his lips. “Your mouth is so sweet, Luke. I yearn to taste the rest of you. Especially the most intimate taste.”

Vader’s fingers stroked between his cheeks and Luke shuddered as the fingers glided over his opening. He couldn’t imagine that his father would honestly touch him with his tongue there. Surely not. He must be misunderstanding. His inexperience showing. But the thought of his father’s tongue inside of him, even if only in his imagination, made a trill of heat run down his spine.

“You are not misunderstanding me, Luke, and you will find that your imagination is nothing compared to the real experience. I will use my tongue to prepare you for entry of something far larger of mine.”

Luke moaned and Vader dipped his head down to capture that sound with another kiss. Luke sucked on his father’s tongue, trembling at the thought of where it would be when they got off the planet. Vader ground Luke’s groin against his thigh and Luke shuddered. But both knew that this was hardly the place to make love so the kiss ended leaving both of them slightly breathless. Vader rested his forehead against Luke’s.

“I do not think Trans will give you up so easily, young one. You are worth fighting for.”

“It would be a vain fight for him, Father. Because I only want you.”

Vader laughed softly and gave Luke another quick kiss. They reluctantly released one another and ignited their blades again. The light from the cave entrance was all but gone as they began to trudge further into the cave.

“Young one, did Yoda or Obi Wan teach you how to see in darkness with the Force?”

“Yes,” Luke said then tripped over a loose stone in his path, muttering a mumbled curse that made Vader chuckle again. “But obviously I have not learned it very well.”

Vader turned and passed one hand over Luke’s eyes. “Here, this should help.”

“Oh wow, this is incredible! It’s as bright as day in here now.”

Vader briefly instructed Luke on how to accomplish this by himself. After a few more trial runs where Luke could turn on and off his enhanced night-vision quickly and easily Vader was satisfied that they could continue their journey. With his new night-vision, Luke was able to discern that the walls and floor of the cave had been widened and smoothed to make travel easier. The levelness and gentle downward slope was too perfect for it to have been natural. Luke imagined hundreds of naked feet padding across this same stone floor to seek the Force crystals. ‘Or perhaps slithering down here. Do the Viateen have any use for the crystals?’

The cave had no ophidian odor like the temple did. It smelled of water and earth and something slightly musky. ‘Almost like some of the caves on Tatooine where the elders claimed Krayt dragons used to live. But those were only stories and we’re far from Tatooine here.’ As they delved deeper into the cave system, Luke noted that their path was doubling back on itself as well as going down so that they were heading back towards the way they had come only far below the surface.

Vader grasped Luke’s hand and helped him over a relatively large fissure in the ground. The smell of sulfur wafted up and Luke thought for a moment he saw the golden glow of fire from far below. He was about to tell his father about it, but Vader began speaking again and the thought was lost.

“Do you hear that?”

Luke stopped walking and tilted his head to the side. “No.”

“It’s stopped, but I could have sworn I heard … a chittering.”

Both father and son cast their Force senses out, but Luke’s reflected back a confusing array of sights and sounds. ‘It’s as if my Force probes are being shattered.’ Vader turned to face Luke. The boy could tell that his father was having the same experience as he was from the furrowed brow. Luke was about to say something about it when he saw a spider-like creature begin dropping from the ceiling by a slender thread right over his father’s head. It had a black segmented body and eight jointed legs as long as Vader was tall.

“Father!”

Luke grabbed Vader and pulled him out of the creature’s descent path. With a twist of his wrist, he threw his blade at the monster’s pulsating lower abdomen. The creature gave a shrill scream as it was severed neatly in two. The lower half fell to the ground with a wet plopping sound while the top continued to dangle from the ceiling by the thread like some obscene ornament. Vader turned in Luke’s arms to stare at the creature neither had sensed until it was upon them.

With a curl of his upper lip, Vader hissed, “Kinrath.”

“What?”

“This is a Kinrath. They often nest in Force crystal caves, most times around the crystals themselves. Seeing one means we’re close.” Vader toed the creature’s severed belly with another grimace. “Thank you, Luke. Being bitten by a Kinrath would have been very unpleasant.”

“I can imagine.” Luke felt his heartbeat come back to normal and he reached with the Force for his saber. It flew over to him. He reignited it. “Are your Force senses scrambled, too?”

“Yes. Perhaps it’s the amount of Force energy the crystals are giving off.” Vader leaned down and brushed his lips against Luke’s cheek. His voice was a whisper as he said into Luke’s ear, “It is good to have you at my back, young one.”

“Any time, Father.” Luke blushed.

Another soft kiss and Vader drew away slowly. They proceeded forward now in silence. Both of them scanned the walls and ceiling for any Kinrath. As they rounded one last bend, the tunnel opened up into a large cathedral-like room. There was a soft, rainbow glow illuminating the space coming from huge crystal stalagmites and stalactites.

“We’re here,” Luke said.

“And so are they.” Vader pointed to nine huge Kinrath, each one as large as a speeder, advancing upon them. Luke felt Vader try to reach out with the Force as he had with the slavers, but just like their Force senses had been hampered by the crystals, it appeared the same was true of Vader’s new abilities. “I’m unable to access my powers to stop their hearts. Light sabers it will have to be. Try to avoid breaking the crystals.”

Luke nodded and moved lightly to meet the four Kinrath on the left while the Dark Lord took the five to the right. Fighting with Vader instead of against him was a joy. They worked in tandem, anticipating each other’s needs. Luke couldn’t help but marvel at how much power and control Vader had as he used a one-handed stroke to slice through the legs of one Kinrath and decapitate another. Luke used his speed and agility to almost dance between the Kinrath’s wicked fang strikes. He sliced off their legs to incapacitate them then plunged his saber through the top of their skulls to finish them off. In minutes all nine Kinrath lay prone, their attached limbs quivering in the air in their death throws. Luke wiped sweat from his brow. Vader looked cool and composed as ever.

“You’re not even out of breath! Yet you have to lift those heavy prosthetic limbs. I thought I was in shape but I’m not compared to you.”

“I’ll teach you to conserve your energy. You were beautiful to watch, Luke. Like a whirlwind.”

“Thank you. I love to watch you fight as well, Father. You’re so controlled … graceful.” Luke added tentatively, “Would you teach me your saber techniques?”

“It would be my pleasure.” Suddenly, there was a flash of white teeth and a wicked smile on his father’s lips. As if excited by the battle, the blood or their victory, Vader was suddenly in a predatory mood. “It will be a pleasure to teach you everything, Luke.” He paused as he rubbed his lower lip with one gloved finger as though contemplating a heavy question. “I wonder. Will you be a good, obedient student though?”

“Father, is that a rhetorical question?” Luke laughed, thinking he was being teased.

Vader began to stalk towards the young man, the Dark Lord’s eyes becoming hooded and intense. His voice was smoky and low as he said, “I am curious what your answer is, young one.”

Luke’s throat suddenly felt tight and dry. Half-aroused and half-concerned at his father’s behavior, he answered softly, “I would try to be a good student for you.”

“Only try?”

“No try, only do, right?” Luke gave another laugh, weaker this time.

Vader’s smile widened and Luke felt he would be devoured by the sensual mouth momentarily.

“You said nothing about obedient, Luke. Does that mean you don’t intend to be obedient?”

“I … I’m sure I’ll have my moments of obedience, but not always. I am your son after all.” Luke tried to lift his chin to look strong and determined, but he feared he only looked like a little boy playing an adult when compared with his father’s presence.

“Will you submit to my instruction though?”

“I will listen to your instruction and follow it—”

“Good attempt to evade the question Luke, but I asked if you would submit.” Vader’s black cape unfurled out behind him like a pair of massive wings, blocking out the light from the crystals.

To Luke’s chagrin he felt his face heat. He knew his father was playing a game of some sort with him. Testing this claim that Luke had submissive tendencies. ‘Why does he choose now to do this? When we’re deep underground surrounded by foes … to put me off my guard, of course.’ What was worse was at that moment, Luke felt his sex stir as Vader dominated the room and him. But he swallowed hard and stood straighter instead then said, “Submit? No … no, I won’t.” But Luke’s voice sounded breathless and lost to his own ears.

The Dark Lord cocked his head to the side. “I think you will, Luke. In the end, I believe you will submit to me.” He cupped Luke’s chin.

“No matter what I choose to do, one thing I can promise you, Father, is that your work will be cut out for you.”

Vader’s smile grew even greater, pleased by Luke’s response. “Good. I enjoy a challenge.”

With the dead Kinrath around them and the softly glowing crystals as backdrop, Vader’s mouth covered his, his tongue plunging inside, stealing Luke’s breath. The Dark Lord’s hands ghosted down Luke’s front, playing lightly over his nipples through the material of his jacket. His father’s thumbs rubbed slow circles over the hardening nubs and Luke whimpered. He wrapped his arms around his father’s neck so he could place more insistent kisses on Vader’s lips to offset the maddening touches on his chest. Vader’s hands finally slid lower to frame Luke’s slim waist and pull the boy flush against his body.

“When you give in to me completely, child, I promise you bliss.”

Luke’s mind was melting from his father’s closeness and his scent and the muscled planes of his body, and Luke knew if he didn’t say something to stop where this was going that they would end up making love on the cave floor, bumping into Kinrath corpses. He was able to force out one word, “Crystals?”

“Ah, my dutiful son, keeping us on track.” Vader gave a playful sigh and his eyes flashed gold. “Yes, crystals then the temple archive then back to the ship and then,” Vader kissed him deeply again, his tongue hot and slick against Luke’s own, “and then we shall see how good a student you can be.”

Luke almost pitched over when his father went from being pushed up against him to a few feet away in a second. Luke noted with some exasperation that his father looked completely unruffled, not as if they had been wound around each other moments before. Luke shook his head ruefully. His father was a mixture of control and wildness. He didn’t believe he’d ever be able to truly anticipate what the Dark Lord was going to do. He was drawn out of these ruminations by a sound of disgust and then a squish. His father was stomping on long white tubular masses that were nestled around the base of the stalagmite.

“What is it?”

“Eggs. Kinrath eggs,” Vader said, his lips drawing back from his teeth in revulsion as he ground another egg into a pulpy mess.

“Oh, don’t!”

Vader raised a disbelieving eyebrow up at him. “Why not?”

“Just … it’s an unnecessary destruction of life.”

“Eliminating the Kinrath in egg form is much more efficient than dealing with them in adult form if we come back for more crystals.”

“But that’s just it. If we come back. We may not return or we may come back after these eggs have hatched and the creatures have had their natural lives. We shouldn’t just wantonly destroy them based on a possible return.”

“Luke, you’ve seen how vicious these creatures can be. They are hardly poster-children for conservation.”

“I know, but they exist so … they should be allowed to continue to do so unless they threaten us.”

Vader stared down at the rest of the unscrambled eggs. “Your good heart may cause us future trouble, Luke.”

Luke toed the ground nervously. He understood his father’s point, but it seemed wrong to him to destroy the eggs. Vader gave a loud sigh.

“Since you feel so strongly about it, I will not destroy them. But I venture that the next time we come here we will have to wade through a million Kinrath to get to the crystals.”

Luke couldn’t stop the wide smile that spread across his face. His father had done a good thing, just to please him to be sure, but still Vader had relented. Maybe that boded well for other decisions in the future.

But it seemed that Vader was doing his mind-reading thing again as he said, “Do not convince yourself that I will be swayed in the future from my decisions just to please you. It is only because the possibility that we will return in the near future is remote and the danger relatively small that I have done this.”

Luke’s smile faded a bit, but he decided not to think of possible trouble in the future and instead to enjoy this minor victory. “Thank you any ways, Father. It does mean a lot to me … and the Kinrath.”

“They know not what you have done for them, young one,” Vader said with a wry smile. “Now try and find your Force crystal.”

Luke stretched out his Force senses and while at first all he got back were the fractured images and feelings like he had before there was a bluish-white glow that continually seemed to emanate from the farthest corner of the room. Luke walked over to it, only half aware that he passed his father, who was kneeling by a stalagmite with a pleased smile on his face. Luke reached the area where the glow was and he saw the shard of crystal that was making it. It was already half-detached from the main crystal shaft. There was a pulse of white light from it and Luke felt a warm wash of energy flow over him. ‘Yes, this is definitely my crystal.’ Luke removed the shard from the crystal stalagmite and held it in his palm for a moment. There was a tingling sensation from where the crystal touched his skin that shot through his system like a bolt that left him feeling both energized and at peace.

“Ah, I see you found yours.” Vader’s breath puffed against the side of Luke’s face. Luke had been so involved in his crystal that he hadn’t heard his father’s approach. Vader snaked a hand around Luke’s midsection and pressed them together for a moment while they looked at the crystal together.

“And you?”

“Yes, I found one for me as well.” Vader reached around Luke with his free hand and showed him a large crystal shard. “Mine is purple this time around, nearly black it’s so dark.”

“It reminds me of how the Force energy around you looks with your enhanced powers.” Luke traced the outside edge of his father’s shard. “My crystal’s appears to be white almost, with a blue cast.”

“It reminds me of the color of your eyes,” Vader remarked softly and kissed Luke’s cheek. “It’s beautiful.”

Luke leaned back into his father’s embrace for a moment relishing the safety and security he felt.

Then the ground began to tremble and a rumbling filled the air.

The crystal stalactites above them quivered then swayed wildly. They sounded like bells hit with a hammer as they fell and impaled the ground below them. Vader clutched Luke to his chest and ran across the room with enhanced Force speed to an area not overhung with stalactites. As the tremors finally subsided, Luke coughed as he drew in a lungful of crystal dust and dirt. They both turned simultaneously to the entrance to the tunnel they had used come in from. The ceiling had caved in, blocking the tunnel completely.

“Earthquake?” Luke asked.

“There was no evidence of any earlier seismic disturbance in the tunnel. And prior tremors would have disturbed the temple, too, but it looked quite secure.”

“You think it wasn’t natural then?”

“Well, it seems strangely fortuitous that there should only be tremors now that we are here.” Vader studied the debris. “It may be possible to clear the way with our Force powers even hampered as they are. But I fear there might be just another cave-in.” Vader tried to use his Com link, but only static met his efforts.

“Do you suppose the troopers felt the tremor and will come to investigate once they can’t reach us on the Com?”

“Quite possible. But they would have to get heavy moving equipment from the Executor sent down in order to get through this mess. That will take time. Potentially hours before they could get us out.” Vader brushed crystal fragments out of Luke’s hair and off their clothes.

Luke’s eyes alighted upon a smaller opening opposite the one they had entered. He pointed it out to his father. “There’s another tunnel out of this room.”

“Well, we have nothing but time so I suppose we should see where it goes.”

They made their way over to the clear tunnel, stepping over shattered Force crystals. Luke felt a thrumming through the soles of his feet coming from the broken columns as he stepped over them. It was a mournful feeling, as if the crystals felt the pain of being splintered into a million pieces. One of them seemed to call out to him not to leave it lying there like a wounded soldier. He picked up the crystal and held it tight in his palm then placed it gently in the pocket of his jacket. He felt sick when he realized the Kinrath eggs he had argued to save had been squashed into a jelly by the falling crystals. ‘Who would do this to us? Who knows we’re here? The Viateen? No, it does not feel like their doing. Then … oh, no … it couldn’t be …’

“Young one, what is it? You are in distress?”

“Do you think Ben could have done this?”

“Do you sense him at all?”

“No, but with the way the crystals are affecting us I might not.”

“True. I suppose he could be behind this. But I never knew that the dead could have so much power to affect the living world.”

“Are there any tales from the Jedi or Sith about the afterlife?”

“Not really. Perhaps it is because those that did come back and talk to the living refused to speak of their experiences on the other side so it seemed wrong to speculate.”

They reached the mouth of the clear tunnel. There was a blast of cool fresh air from it and Luke brightened.

“Perhaps this leads to a way out.”

Vader nodded slowly. “I hardly need tell you to be on your guard, young one.”

Vader’s POV

The Dark Lord tightened his hand on his light saber as they entered the tunnel. He did it to counteract the urge to touch the boy again. After the Kinrath battle, Vader had been unable to resist that desire. His blood had felt hot in his veins as the last Kinrath died. Killing normally left him in an icy place, but this time he was overwhelmed with heat. Even as he had slashed Kinrath limbs and decapitated Kinrath heads, his senses were attuned to his son’s movements.

Luke had looked so beautiful: his eyes bright with exhilaration, his breathing quickened, and his heartbeat strong and vital. The boy’s movements in battle were like liquid. It had been stunning to watch. Vader had forgotten what it was like to fight with another Force user; the unspoken communication that allowed them to anticipate the other’s moves and needs. And he had never been with a Force user as powerful or as perfectly in tune with him as his son. It had been absolutely addictive and made him want another connection with the boy, a more physical one, immediately.

As the last Kinrath had died, Vader had almost thrown Luke to the ground and covered that slim form with his own so he could feel the vital, brilliant light that was his son pulsing under him. He had settled for teasing the boy mercilessly, both physically and mentally. Luke had risen to the challenge. Vader could still taste his son in his mouth, feel the lingering warmth of where the boy’s body had touched his, and smell Luke’s sweet scent. But he couldn’t be distracted this way, he had to stay focused. The conveniently open tunnel could be a trap. ‘And if it is set by the Viateen, I will exterminate every one of their wretched hides. However, if it is Kenobi … how can I hurt a dead man?’

This tunnel was smoother than the last. It was also perfectly square. The tunnel abruptly ended in an equally square room made of the red-stone. What looked like a holonet station was sitting directly in the center. There were three other arched exits from the room. Clean, cool air came out from each of them. Vader sensed Luke felt relax as the boy realized they wouldn’t be trapped underground for hours waiting to be rescued.

“We’re in the temple.”

“I never believed that thought would give me comfort,” Luke said wryly.

Vader laughed and squeezed his shoulder comfortingly then turned his attention to the holonet station. The station drew Vader. The Dark Side whispered to him that he could access the Archive from here. The Dark Side’s voice was more insistent on the planet’s surface than on the Executor. It was like a song in his mind, telling him of the power and the glory that were to be his now that he truly was The Dark Lord and a part of the Balance.

His fingers played over the unfamiliar controls easily. He had always understood machinery, could figure it out intuitively since he was a boy. Even this alien technology was soon unlocked and a hologram appeared before them. It showed Black Heart slowly spinning in the darkness of space. This opening image was sharp and crisp, fully colored, not the hazy, blue-tinged holograms they were used to. Luke stood at his elbow staring at the green-gold world.

“It looks so real.”

“This technology is farther advanced than ours. Perhaps I should have the techs come and study it.” He connected a device that he hoped would be able to download the Archive. He felt relieved as the recorder began to hum and blink as it copied the data.

“It looks interactive.” Luke peered closer at the hologram and pointed at strange symbols that dotted the side of hologram.

“You’re right.” He touched one lightly and a voice filled the room. He would have sworn it was Luke’s, only the words were in a tongue his son did not know. And the tone of the voice was anguished, expressing emotions he hoped Luke never felt.

His son retreated from the voice physically, his body hunched over as he took a few steps away from the hologram itself. “Please … please turn it off!”

Vader quickly tapped the symbol again and the voice stopped. “Luke, what is it?”

The boy wiped a shaky hand across his forehead. “I don’t know. It almost felt for a minute like I could understand what he was saying and … it was awful. Something so sad and so horrible. It made me sick inside.”

Vader glanced back at the screen. He shelved the idea of pressing some of the other buttons, worried that Luke could have an even worse reaction. He would review the recorded material himself in private and tell Luke what he found or perhaps the boy would feel more able to listen and see the Archive when he was safely aboard the Executor.

“Do you feel better now?” He clasped Luke’s arm.

With a shaky smile, Luke nodded. “Yeah. Do you think the Viateen built this place and the Archive?”

“I doubt that. Did you notice how other than the slightly narrower doorways the temple appears to have been built for humanoids or at least bipedal creatures?”

“I recall seeing steep staircases. Beings that slither hardly need stairs. So I guess it wouldn’t make sense for them to design a building like this.”

Vader was pleased at his son’s answer. It demonstrated his quick mind. Also, Luke could only have seen the stairs while he was being carried to the altar, yet despite the horror of the situation, he had managed to note those details.

“What do you suppose happened to the people who built this? Do you think they were wiped out by war or disease?”

“Potentially. Although, during one of my missions to find a new source of Bacta, I did discover a world where a whole species had just left the planet for no apparent reason. Took to their ships, leaving their homes and goods behind, for parts unknown, never to return.”

“How creepy! For everyone to give up everything at the same time … what could have caused that?”

“Even creepier, there was evidence that they left food on their tables as if they simply got up in the middle of their meals and just … left.”

Luke shook his head. “You’ve seen some amazing things in all your travels. I can honestly say that though my own experiences on different worlds have been exotic, they haven’t exactly been … interesting. I mean Hoth is not exactly anything to write home about. Just ice, snow and … well, there was the Yeti—”

“Yeti?” Vader got the impression of a large, clawed paw coming at Luke’s face then the image faded as the crystals interfered with their bond again.

“I was going to be its lunch.”

“But you obviously managed to survive.”

“Yeah, with Han’s help and the body of his dead Taun-taun. Trust me when I tell you that they smell worse on the inside than they do on the outside, which I didn’t think was possible.”

Vader chuckled then sobered slightly. “You realize that I almost had you on Hoth.”

A flash of sadness ran across their bond, but the source was mysterious. ‘Regret for lost friends? Or missing the chance to connect with me earlier?’

“Did you know I was your son then?” Luke asked softly.

“Yes, after the destruction of the Death Star I had to know who the pilot was whose Force presence was so strong that he was able to evade me in battle. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw your name. I began looking for you immediately.”

Vader stared at the hologram, but he wasn’t really seeing the green-gold planet any more, rather he was back in the moment when he realized that his child was alive. He had been at his desk on the Executor, Luke’s name and brief history were laid out on the screen before him. The information told him everything and nothing. It stated: Luke Skywalker; Born: Tatooine; Parents: Unknown, presumed dead; Guardians: Owen and Beru Lars, deceased, killed by Storm Troopers in an action to recover droids containing Death Star plans; Joined Rebellion: date unknown, suspect it occurred after guardians’ deaths; Showed interest at Imperial Academy Seminar to become a pilot like his father.

‘Like his father.’ He had felt unable to breathe even with the respirator at full power as he read that last paltry line again and again. Flashes of Padme from their last meeting had filled his mind. How she had looked at him with such horror. How she said that he was breaking her heart. And he believed he had broken her body, too.

‘But I must not have! How else could Luke have survived? Palpatine told me I killed her and I assumed Luke was dead with her. But I didn’t check to see if that assumption was correct. And Luke suffered at the hands of the Lars.’

“Father?” Luke’s blue eyes were clouded with concern. One warm hand was on Vader’s forearm. “Are you all right?”

Vader shook himself. “I’m fine. Just … finding that you lived was a shock. If I had even the slightest idea that you were alive I would never have stopped looking for you. But I had no idea that you survived … that you could have survived …”

“Survived what, Father? Why did you think I was dead?”

Vader froze. Luke’s huge blue eyes were focused on his face and he couldn’t turn away from his son. For a moment, he believed all his shields were gone and Luke could see everything inside of him, but a quick check showed he was wrong and that the strange dissonance from the crystals was still interfering with their bond anyway.

Vader knew he had to answer his son, but words had left him. ‘I never thought I would have to tell him like this. Here. Now. Or perhaps ever.’ Vader frantically thought of all the ways he could obscure the truth from Luke. But he knew that it was harder to lose a person’s love than their trust and Luke had already been betrayed once that way. So he stalled.

“Young one, be very sure that you truly want the answers to those questions.”

Luke paled slightly. “You’re afraid to tell me. Why?”

“I fear it will change how you … feel about me.” Vader heard his voice break slightly and realized that he was afraid, truly afraid, that Luke would turn away from him once he knew. For one long moment, he thought of knocking Luke unconscious and taking him back up to the Executor where he could keep him locked up, a prisoner, but still Vader’s.

“You fear I would leave you now after all we’ve been through?” Luke gave him a ghost of a smile. “You tortured my friends. Had Han frozen in carbonite not knowing … and I’m sure not caring … whether it would kill him or not. You struck down the man I thought of as my mentor and teacher. You also took my hand.”

“Yes, but—”

“Wait, there’s more. I know that you will torture and kill those slavers once we get back to the Executor even if they have nothing of worth to tell you. And they won’t be the last people you hurt. Deserving or not. Those are only the things I personally know that you’ve done. The Rebellion was always quick to tell horror stories about you and even if only a fraction of them are true¬¬—”

“And if they are true? And worse things?”

Luke touched his father’s face before answering him. Vader’s eyes fluttered shut. He felt their bond clearly for the first time since they entered Black Heart’s interior. The bond felt so strong, like a durasteel cable, unbreakable. ‘But is that an illusion? Won’t he cringe away from me, horrified, just as Padme did when she understood exactly what I was capable of?’

Luke’s voice was soft as he said, “I don’t know what this says about the type of person I am, but … what you’ve done doesn’t matter. I mean it matters, but I won’t leave you because of it, Father. I know who you are. The good and the bad. So you can tell me or not tell me what happened. Either way, I’ll still be here. I’ll still love you.”

Vader’s eyes opened as Luke stopped speaking. Had he ever been so accepting of anyone as Luke apparently was of him? Did the boy love him so much? Vader looked away from his son, unable to face the purity in that gaze. He stared instead at his hands; the hands that had wrung the life out of his wife in a moment of overwhelming rage. He had left her lying there and gone to battle Obi-Wan, thinking her only unconscious. Not knowing until he was fitted with the prosthetics and the mask that he had snuffed out her and their child’s lives. ‘Or at least her life. Luke was alive.’ So alive and right there in front of him. Vader took a deep breath and began to speak.

“The reason I believed you to be dead was because ... I hurt your mother when you were in her womb. Palpatine told me that I killed her. And I believed you were dead with her. But you survived. So perhaps I did not kill her and she died some other way. Or perhaps she only succumbed to what I did after you were born. I don’t know.”

Vader stopped speaking. He realized he was holding his breath even as his hands fisted at his sides, waiting for Luke’s reaction. The boy’s expression gave nothing away. His eyes were unfocused, absorbing what had been said. Finally, the boy’s gaze became clear again and he looked up at his father.

“Why did you hurt her?”

“She betrayed me.” How easy to say, but how hard accept at the time. ‘And impossible to forgive.’

Luke swallowed. “How?”

“Palpatine and I … the purging of the Jedi had begun and … she told Obi-Wan of my location. Brought him there. To Mustafar. He came to reason with me. And if I would not follow him … to kill me.”

Something of what had happened to him on the fire planet must have come across their bond as Luke flinched and said, “You were burned there, weren’t you? Did Ben … oh, Force, Ben was the one to injure you?”

“Yes.” Vader’s voice was so small and soft he didn’t recognize it. He never had told another soul what had happened to him on Mustafar, keeping it locked within him, a vile memory to torture himself with. But now he was going to tell Luke. Perhaps telling would allow him to purge it out like Luke had done with his memory of Uncle Owen. Vader continued, “Obi-Wan had the higher ground and I … miscalculated.”

“What do you mean by miscalculated?”

“We were fighting. And ... I leapt towards him. He was on a rocky outcropping above me and ... I left myself unguarded, like the worst, newest padawan learner. He cut off my legs and part of my arm with one swing.”

Vader began to pace the room. Two steps to the right then two steps back to the left. His hands clenching and unclenching as he remembered that day.

“I fell right at the edge of a lava stream. I tried to crawl out, use my one remaining arm to drag myself from the fire, but I couldn’t!”

Vader ran his hands through his hair, gripping and pulling at it. His hair had been the first thing to go.

“I was burning and burning and … the rock was liquid beneath me. The lava adhered to my flesh and destroyed it in seconds … stuck to my bones and seared them. I could smell my own body cooking. Burnt flesh smells almost sweet.”

Vader choked for a moment, remembering the cloying odor that had pervaded his nostrils for months afterwards. Luke gave a small horrified sound, but Vader couldn’t stop talking. The memories were overwhelming him.

“I could taste ash in my mouth and heat. The fire scalded my throat and worked its way down to my lungs, scorching them.”

Vader took a shuddering breath. He was hot even in the cool dampness of the temple. He could almost feel the fire crawling over him and into him again. But he pressed on with his story, wiping the sweat from his face.

“Obi-Wan … he left me there to die! He didn’t even have the honor to end my misery with a stroke of his saber. He just turned and left me screaming. Palpatine came for me instead.”

Vader’s heart was thundering in his chest. His throat felt almost too tight to speak or even breathe. But the story had to be told in full.

“Then … then like some of kind of monster holonet show, Palpatine strapped me to a table and had droids attach the prosthetics you see on me now. He gave me no sedatives. No painkillers. I was awake and aware as they sutured, stitched and soldered the metal limbs to my burnt flesh. He then had them put me in my black leather armor.”

Vader grasped the top of his armor and pulled it away from his neck. It felt so constricting suddenly, cutting off his breath. But he still couldn’t get any air. And it seemed hotter. So terribly hot and cold at the same time. He felt lightheaded as well.

“And finally … finally, he had them cover my face with the mask.”

His voice was only a whisper as he finished. Black dots swarmed before Vader’s eyes. Suddenly, he swayed and began to pitch backwards. Luke was suddenly beside him, lowering him to the ground into a sitting position, placing his head between his knees. He rubbed Vader’s back in comforting circles.

“Father! It’s all right. You’re not there any more. You’re not burned. And I promise I’ll give you back your limbs. Now please … please, breathe! Breathe for me!”

“I can’t! I can’t! My lungs … they’re gone!”

“No! They’re healed, Father. They’re perfectly fine. Just take a breath for me. One breath.”

Vader tried and a trickle of air made it down into his constricted passageways.

“You’re just having a reaction to the memory. Your lungs are fine. I promise.”

Vader took a second breath then another. He was wheezing, but he was getting air into his lungs. Luke was touching his forehead. His son’s cool, smooth hands brushed the hair back from his brow. He yearned to have Luke run his cool hands all over his flesh. It would convince him that he wasn’t on fire, wasn’t being burnt to a cinder.

Vader flushed at his weakness as he took another harsh breath. ‘A panic attack. Me having a panic attack?’ He had never been one to let go like this, not even right after it had happened. Normally when he came close to feeling this much he destroyed something … or someone. But Luke was the only one there and he wouldn’t hurt the boy. 'Never again.’

“Forgive my … weakness, Luke.”

“There’s nothing to forgive. And you aren’t being weak. What happened to you … gods, I don’t know how you survived it!”

Vader laughed bitterly. “I just told you that I … that I killed your mother! And thought I’d killed you, but you are soothing me for injuries I … I justly received!”

“You need soothing.”

“I guess I do. Well, I suppose we each learned something unpleasant from this conversation then.” Vader scowled, hating the pity he feared he heard in Luke’s voice. He didn’t want the boy’s pity. ‘Although pity is better than hate.’ Vader struggled to get back to his feet, but Luke pushed him back down. He was too weak to protest.

“You need to rest for a moment. It was clearly a shock to talk about all that. I shouldn’t have asked. I knew it had to be a bad memory. I just didn’t understand how bad it would be for you.” Luke took a deep breath. “We don’t need to speak of it ever again.”

Vader wanted to take this boon of silence that Luke was offering him, never speak of the burning or Padme again, but he feared it would lead to a rift between them as Luke realized later after reflection the enormity of what Vader had done to Luke’s mother. After all, he had hacked to death the creatures that had killed Shmi. Vader forced out, “The burning … one telling is enough. But we cannot pretend that what I did to you and your mother did not happen, Luke. I can only imagine how … angry … how much you must ha-hate me for—”

Luke shook his head violently. “But I don’t!”

“What? Why not?”

Luke’s expression became pained. He gripped his hands together in front of him. The words when they came were rushed and clipped like he wanted to get them out as quickly as possible.

“You suffered for 20 years. I know you well enough to realize that. You thought you deserved what happened to you on Mustafar.”

Vader lowered his head. Perhaps Luke was right. Perhaps that explained why he had in the end accepted his shattered body so easily, never raged at the loss of his looks or mobility as much as he could have.

Luke’s hands trembled for a moment. But he gripped them tighter. “And … I never knew my mother. So I can’t really mourn her. She probably deserves better from me, but the reality is that I don’t want to use what happened in the past as a wedge between us now. I don’t want to hate.” Luke gave a bitter laugh. “And in a way, I don’t want to give her any place in our lives now. She’s … my competition for you. Don’t you see that?”

Vader lifted up his prosthetic hand to cup his son’s face. “Oh, Luke, there is no comparison between what I feel for you and what I felt for her.”

The boy went stiff beside him. “I … I understand. Of course. I shouldn’t have said …”

“Luke? What’s wrong?”

The boy began to stand, his gaze focused anywhere but on his father. “I shouldn’t have presumed to … to think I could take my mother’s place in your heart. It was a wrong thing to wish. Wrong.”

Vader gripped the boy tightly by the arms. “You misunderstand. I used to think that what I felt for Padme … your mother … was the ultimate love I could experience.”

“Yes, of course. You probably love her like that still. There were extreme circumstances that caused you to hurt her—”

“Luke, for Force’s sake, listen to me! I loved her, yes. I remember her mostly fondly now. But what I felt for her, even at our relationship’s zenith, is a weak and paltry thing compared to what I feel for you!”

“You … you’re just saying that.”

Vader resisted the urge to shake the sweet child. “Damn Owen Lars! That he could make you feel so worthless … Luke, you’re everything to me! How can I make you understand this?”

Vader studied the boy’s downcast face, felt the trembling in Luke’s limbs, and sensed self-loathing from the boy coming in waves even with his fractured Force senses. Then Vader knew what he had to say.

“I had a choice between power and Padme and I chose power. There was hardly a choice really. It was a foregone conclusion. But if the same choice was before me again and it was you instead of Padme … I would—”

“You don’t have to say—”

Vader grasped one of Luke’s hands gently and put it over his heart. “But I do. For both of us, I need to say this.”

Part of Vader was screaming not to tell the boy he would chose him over power. That part shouted that power was everything. He needed it. He had to have it. At any cost. But another part of him, the stronger part of him this time, knew that wasn’t true.

“I will always want power, Luke. But it is cold comfort when it is all you have.”

“You mean …” The boy’s eyes were filled with tears he was obviously struggling not to shed.

“My life has been empty since the day I lost you. My desire to become Emperor, my own master, was not enough to fill me. Not even close. For twenty years, I have lived a half-life, a shadow-life.”

“Oh, Father, I … didn’t know.”

“Do not pity me, Luke. I chose my path. And until I met you, I didn’t realize how vacant my life truly had become.”

Vader pressed a kiss to Luke’s lips. He was relieved when the boy kissed back and didn’t draw away. It was hard for him to comprehend that the child didn’t hate him. But it was true. Vader felt nothing but love and understanding from the boy. He framed Luke’s face with his hands. When the tears fell he brushed them away with his thumbs.

“The irony is that the only reason I have the power now to take the throne from Palpatine, to achieve any of my goals, is because of my love for you. After Padme’s death, I scorned love. Thought it only an illusion. Perhaps her and my love was just that. Not deep or true, at least not enough, not in the end.”

Luke rested his forehead against Vader’s. The Dark Lord traced the ridges of the boy’s cheekbones, the delicate orbits of his eyes and finally trailed down to the firm line of Luke’s jaw. His son was precious.

Vader’s voice was quiet, but sure, as he said, “If the same choice came again, between power and the loss of you … I refuse to lose you, child of my heart.”

Luke was still for a moment then with a little cry, the boy flowed into his arms. He felt their bond strengthen even more. He petted his son’s hair and back, rocking the boy for long moments. Vader marveled that a topic he believed would rip them apart had brought them closer together. The recorder interrupted their quiet moment as it beeped to indicate it was finished copying the Archive.

“I do not want to move, but … I think we would be more comfortable continuing this on the Executor.”

The boy snuffled against his neck slightly then nodded. Vader gently released the child and Luke got to his feet, offering Vader a hand up.

“I am too heavy. I will pull you down, Luke.”

The boy gave him a steady look and still offered his hand. “I’m strong enough. Trust me, Father.”

Vader took the outstretched hand and Luke pulled him to his feet with little effort. The Dark Lord lifted an eyebrow up in surprise.

“I see I underestimated you … in many ways.”

“I can be as strong as you need me to be, Father.”

Vader brushed Luke’s cheeks with his fingertips. The boy smiled, taking Vader’s hand and kissing it lightly. They walked over together to the recorder.

“I just need to check that we’ve got all of the information,” Vader explained, “then we can make our way out of here.”

Luke nodded absently, his gaze suddenly focused on one of the doorways. “Let me scout ahead a little. I think the freshest air is coming from that doorway.” Luke pointed to the doorway farthest to the right.

“All right, but be quick. This will only be a few minutes. And be careful, Luke.”

“Always.” Luke gave him a jaunty grin, unhooked his light saber and proceeded to the doorway.

It was hard to let the boy leave his sight. But Luke was strong and bright and Vader trusted his judgment for the most part. Plus, the Dark Lord was able to keep tabs on Luke over their bond at least at first, but then the interference began in earnest again. He grimaced. He tried calling Luke back, but his call was so scrambled he didn’t think Luke heard him. He was almost done checking the recorder. Just a few seconds more. He could take off after Luke and their bond would become clearer as they got physically closer to one another.

Vader thought he heard a faint crack then a cry. He froze, straining to hear more, but there was nothing.

“Luke?”

He tried calling over their bond, but he couldn’t reach his son. He ripped the recorder off the holonet station and began to run towards the doorway Luke had gone through. He continuously yelled Luke’s name as he rushed down the red hallways, following his son’s footsteps in the dust. Vader had a horrible sense of deja vu. ‘If the Viateen have touched one hair on his head … they will all die!’ The hallway abruptly opened up into a room with a vaulted ceiling and alien writing inscribed on all four walls. One of the large stone slabs that made of the floor was broken in half. There was a dark hole beneath it. Luke’s steps went straight to the edge and ended. ‘Was he standing here when the stone broke and fell inside? How deep does the hole go?’ Also something about the break did not look right to Vader. ‘Like it was purposefully shattered.’ The Dark Lord knelt at the edge of the hole, peering into the blackness.

“LUKE!”

There was a faint call back to him, but he couldn’t make out the words. And their bond was still being interfered with.

“I’m coming, Luke! Hold on!”

Vader anchored himself with the Force to the ceiling of the room. He used the Force like a rope to lower himself down into the hole. Just as his eyes were below the lip, he caught a glimpse of his son through the Force.

Luke was in a cavern far below him with a broken leg. His light saber lay shattered beside him. The boy was frantically scrabbling backwards, drawing his injured limb after him. At first, Vader did not understand the look of horror on Luke’s face or why the boy was not using his healing ability to restore his leg. But then Vader saw what Luke did.

A Krayt Dragon, as large as three fighters put together, was advancing towards his son.

And it was about to breathe fire.