An Even Greater Sin

Chapter 16: ... and the pleasure is a scream

Emperor Palpatine was displeased. Vader knelt at his feet, blocking something.

"I told you to remain on the command ship."

"A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor."

In annoyance at being told the obvious, Palpatine snapped, "Yes, I know."

"My... son... is with them."

The emphasis that Vader always placed on the term he used for Skywalker irritated Palpatine to no end. There was something sly in the modulated voice, as though Vader was hiding something.

Well, Palpatine had somethings to hide, as well. He merely was more subtle about it.

"Are you sure?"

"I have... felt him, my master." Again, that strange accenting. Palpatine scowled.

"Strange, that I have not." Glaring down at his apprentice, the Sith Master mused threateningly, "I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader."

Were his feelings clear? The boy had tricked Vader once before, although he felt strangely hollow, as though he didn't believe that fact. But it had to be true. Why else would his son have held him so closely, so sensually, even knowing his identity? Why would he have hidden his own?

Vader's frustration knew no limits. He was at a loss in regards to his son. He wanted to protect the boy from the confusion that he must surely feel. He wanted to protect the boy from himself. He wanted to protect the boy from Palpatine.

But he couldn't do any of that if his master suspected betrayal. He cautiously replied, "They are clear, my master."

"Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for him."

Startled, Vader turned the possibility over in his mind. Meeting with Luke was the last thing he wanted- he didn't know if he could control his desire. But he also needed to see the boy, to shelter him, to guide him away from paths that would bring them only ruin. Uncertainly, he inquired, "_He_ will come to _me?_"

"I have forseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will come to you, and you will bring him before me."

Compassion? Vader's heart twisted around that long-forgotten concept. Was that the root of the boy's feelings? Vader remembered back to the era of the Jedi, when he had told the boy's mother...

//"Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is essential to a Jedi's life. So you might say we are encouraged to love."//

Unconditional love?

Suddenly he was no longer sure of himself. Exactly what did his dark heart desire?

He replied, "As you wish," and strode out of the throne room, his breath unusually loud in his ears.

He tried to silence the voice within him that murmured treacherous thoughts. He would break the boy's lust for him- or die trying.

Palpatine fumed, glaring out at the blackness of space. He had to get rid of Vader. And the sooner, the better. He needed young Skywalker.

Luke was afraid. His sister was nowhere to be found, even though they had seen three wrecked speeders and her helmet. Han, he knew, was just as worried.

With a frown, Luke saw Chewbacca wander into another clearing, to stop and gaze at a hunk of dead meat hanging from a tree. Luke sensed something was off, but before he could finish his warning to the Wookiee-

He found himself wrapped in a net, his face unpleasantly squashed into rough ropes, his back straining under the weight of his friends. His legs were in an awkward position, and his lightsaber was... somewhere... out of reach.

And then they were all dumped unceremoniously on the ground as Artoo's buzz-saw sliced through the ropes.

A plant was on his head. Carefully sitting up, he glanced around to find strange little furry creatures surrounding them.

Strange little furry creatures with spears.

He couldn't help but release a grin as they began worshipping Threepio. The critters seemed to dislike the other members of his party, however. Luke found himself bound hand and foot to a long pole, dangling as the furries lugged all of them through the forest, to their village in the trees.

When Leia emerged from the hut, he was immensely relieved. She would help them.

Or not. When she had Threepio translate her request, the Ewoks- as Threepio called them- just continued their plan for roasted Solo. Luke decided to take matters into his own hands.

It was quite funny to see Threepio levitating above the heads of the short creatures. It was even funnier to hear his cries for help. And, once the Ewoks had released them, Luke allowed himself to laugh quietly at Threepio's assumption that it was his own doing.

But as they met with the Ewok chief and shaman, Luke felt a darkness settle over his heart, with a morbid mix of anticipation and acceptance.

Vader was on Endor.

He fought the urge to reach out for Vader, to settle into that mental embrace that Vader subconsciously offered. Instead, he created a mask as impenetrable as Vader's own, to hide his deepest wishes.

But as he exited the Ewok hut, he sensed Leia about to follow him. Gazing up at the Death Star, where the Emperor waited to consume him, he struggled with how he would tell her.

He had to tell her. She deserved the truth.

She was his sister.

Leia approached Luke slowly. He seemed to be pensive, and oddly eager. She felt, somehow, that now was the right time to ask for answers.

Luke glanced at his secret sister- his twin who would no longer be a secret.

Leia saw a strange fire within Luke's eyes, hopeless, nervous, but in a twisted way, she knew that he was on the fine line between absolute bliss and pure misery.

Whatever he had learned, it was going to destroy him very soon- or it was going to save him.

Working up her courage, she entreated, "Luke, what's wrong?"