Forbidden

FORBIDDEN

By Raythe

DISCLAIMER: Not mine. No money made.

PAIRING: Luke x Vader

WARNINGS: Slash/Incest/AU/Daddykink

RATING: NC-17

HINTS AND STUFF: I had to cut this chapter into two parts, because it’s too long for one chapter and it’s taking so long to write. I know you are anxious for the Rebel Prisoner Scene, but it comes … in the next part! I know, I’m evil and awful. But there is a very nice smut scene between our fav Force users and hints of a far greater mystery.

Please let me know what you think!

Hugs,

Raythe

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: VISION OF A TREASURED PAST?

Vader’s POV

Vader crouched down in front of the holonet. The face panel of the machine was off and he stared intently at the glassine wiring. He tapped a few lines of code into a handheld analyzer and gave a small sound of disgust at the readout. Vader rose up swiftly while he yanked the analyzer’s connections free of the holonet’s innards.

“Any clue as to how the Archive is allowing us to see this live image?” Qui-Gon asked.

The Jedi Master stood to one side, a few feet away from Vader, stroking his goatee. Luke was hanging slightly farther back his hands clasped tightly in front of him.

“No, nothing.” Vader glared balefully at the machine. “There is no indication that the Archive has enslaved or is piggybacking on the Executor’s systems in any way. Nor are there any subspace signals being sent or received by the holonet independently. However this is being accomplished it is so beyond our technology that we can’t even detect it.”

Vader swung towards Qui-Gon. The frustration was evident in the tight set of the Dark Lord’s jaw. Yet his expression softened slightly upon looking at the older man. It was strange to see Qui-Gon now after he had come to those realizations about him. If Vader hadn’t been angry, he would have almost felt shy around the Jedi Master. As it was, he knew that Qui-Gon sensed a difference in him, but was uncertain what it was. Vader kept his shields tight. He wasn’t quite ready to talk to the Jedi Master about this difference and the old wariness was hard to shake off.

Vader’s amber eyes skittered past Qui-Gon to his son. Luke was as tense as a bow and it was clear he was wondering exactly how angry Vader was about his having viewed the Archive alone and without informing the Dark Lord first. Artoo gave a mournful hoot in the corner as if the little droid could sense the emotions swirling in the room.

Upon Vader and Qui-Gon arriving in the quarters after being summoned by Luke on the com-link, the boy had haltingly explained what he had done and why, stammering out something about not being held captive by his fear. It was an explanation that Vader hardly heard and didn’t need to understand the specifics of. The Dark Lord simply knew Luke’s explanation involved something noble and foolish, which obviously meant something to be done without telling his father.

Vader had just stared at him silently during the explanation and Luke had lowered his head. The boy had then admitted softly that it was wrong not to tell Vader what he had decided to do before he actually did it. The child had wisely said nothing after that. But to add to Vader’s anger, Qui-Gon had then acknowledged that he had known about the boy’s decision to view the Archive alone before the child had gone and done it. Despite this fact, Qui-Gon had not stopped Luke.

The Dark Lord had not addressed either mans’ actions … until now.

“You should have told me what he planned, Qui-Gon,” Vader said suddenly, his anger flaring.

Luke stepped forward. “Father, I alone am responsible for my actions. Not Qui-Gon.”

Vader merely gave his son a look that had the boy slamming his lips shut as if they had been caught in a vise.

“This is something I should address, Luke.” Qui-Gon turned to meet Vader’s burning gaze. “Perhaps, I should have told you, Anakin. But he is very much your son.”

One of Vader’s eyebrows rose expressively. “Oh? And what does that mean exactly?”

“Once determined on a course of action, he will see it through. I feared if I informed you of his plan, you would have forbidden him to do it—”

“Absolutely! It was foolish and reckless and—”

Qui-Gon raised his hands in a calming manner as he interrupted Vader’s rant. “Yes, but I also feared that Luke would have gone forward anyway. And that would have led to … other unfortunate circumstances.”

Vader snorted. “Other unfortunate circumstances? What a quaint way of saying I would have punished him dearly for such disobedience!”

“Yes, that was my fear,” Qui-Gon answered mildly.

“And you think I will not punish him now?”

Luke gave out a gasp of dismay, but Vader hardened himself against that sweet sound of distress. He did not say he would punish Luke, he was only asking if Qui-Gon thought he would or not.

“I think your anger over his disobedience would have been greater than your anger at him now,” Qui-Gon answered slowly.

“So your theory essentially was that it was better for Luke to ask forgiveness from me rather than permission, correct?”

Qui-Gon gave a small pragmatic shrug of his shoulders. “Something like that. Yes. Either way posed … difficulties. This way seemed better at the time.”

“You did not see how affected he was by the Archive! It was more than merely emotional discomfort,” Vader broke off and swallowed dryly. “It was like a physical illness. He could have been overcome … perhaps even injured by it!”

Qui-Gon’s forehead furrowed and he frowned deeply. “I am sorry, Anakin. I did not realize the … seriousness of his reaction fully. You are right then … I should have informed you. Or at least accompanied the boy myself.”

Both men looked at Luke who had been struggling not to speak out during the entire conversation. Vader could almost see the words his son thought to say then discarded as he and Qui-Gon had argued about the child as though he were not present.

Vader clenched his hands into fists, not in anger, but to steel himself as he said to Qui-Gon, “I have entrusted you with my son’s well-being by allowing you to remain with us. Do not make me … regret … giving that trust.”

Qui-Gon met Vader’s gaze and nodded his understanding. “I will endeavor to live up to that great responsibility, Anakin. I will not fail in it again.”

Vader’s normal reaction would have been to throttle someone in Qui-Gon’s position, but he was proud to note that he had not touched a hair upon the Jedi Master’s head. He felt anger, but he stopped himself from acting out on it. Indeed, he felt no desire to hurt the other man. But his satisfaction was short-lived as his gaze landed on his sorrowful son.

“Qui-Gon, if you would wait outside for a moment.”

The Jedi Master hesitated only a second, before he left. Vader sensed the man’s desire that he be gentle with Luke. Though he bridled at first under the assumption that he would hurt his son … in the past it could have happened. The thought of harming Luke now made him feel sick.

Luke watched the Jedi Master leave with what could only be termed longing in his eyes. Clearly, he wished he could slip out with him or have the other man remain in the room as if that would save him from what was coming. Luke, realizing his father caught his yearning glance, straightened his shoulders and stood at attention. Worry and concern were radiating off the young taut body. Vader almost felt inclined to let him off the hook because of the pathetic picture he posed. Almost, but not quite.

Vader began to pace slowly, hands tightly held behind his back. “You know I am angry with you, but do you know why?”

Luke swallowed. “Because … because I accessed the Archive without telling you and … this happened.” Luke gestured to the still gliding image of the ship hologram.

“No.”

“No?”

Luke’s voice sounded sweet and hesitant. The blue eyes were wide and filled with a mixture of concern and confusion. Vader resisted the urge to comfort him. He had a point to make and he would make it.

“No, that is not why I’m angry. There will be many times where each of us must make decisions and take action without telling the other due to circumstances beyond our control,” Vader said.

He turned on his heel and began pacing back the other way. He strides were precise and clipped, his head lowered as he stared at the ground in front of him, catching brief glances of his son out of the corner of his eye. Luke shifted uneasily from foot to foot.

“And this …” Vader gestured towards the hologram of the ship, “could have occurred when Qui-Gon or I was viewing the Archive. We need to know what the Archive is capable of doing … even if we don’t know how it is accomplishing it.”

The boy’s blonde head raised and a streak of hope went through him. “So it’s a good thing then that I—”

“I wouldn’t go that far, Luke,” Vader cut him off, his glowing amber gaze raking over his son.

“Oh …”

Luke’s head lowered again. Vader stopped his pacing and moved to stand directly in front of his son. He put two fingers under Luke’s chin and tilted his son’s head up so that they were eye to eye. Those blue eyes that seemed etched in Vader’s soul looked into his own, waiting for judgment. Again, he felt a weakening of his resolve. He wanted to embrace the boy. Forget this ever happened. But it would serve neither of them well if he did that.

“What angers me is that you broke your word,” Vader said softly.

Luke went pale and his eyes impossibly wider. Shock flickered over their bond. The boy had not realized this aspect of his actions obviously.

“You agreed to leave this matter alone. You promised me that. But all the while you intended to do something else. You lied to me, Luke,” Vader said.

Luke wildly shook his head. “No! I mean … I didn’t exactly, Father. I meant what I said when I promised you. I just … afterwards … changed my mind.”

“Changed your mind? Before or after I left the room?” Vader asked.

“It was …” Luke’s shoulders slumped. “It was … before.”

“And you still chose not to say anything to me?” Vader’s voice was low and there was a hint of pain in it.

“I … Force … I didn’t think … I just wanted to help! And I knew you would say no to me looking at the Archive by myself, but I felt I had to and… and I … it was a mistake. A huge mistake. I’m sorry, Father. I didn’t think of it like a broken promise to you … or a lie of omission. But I see now … that it was,” Luke’s voice had gone from frantic and rushed to soft and slow at the end.

Moments ticked by in silence. Luke’s eyes were downcast and he was worrying his inner cheek with his teeth. His whole aspect reflected deep misery. The Dark Lord found his anger and hurt draining away. Luke was clearly sorry and it was also apparent he hadn’t thought of it as breaking his word … exactly. But Vader had to impress on his son the need for them to be honest with one another. They had enough enemies plotting against them as it was without adding the need to guess what each other was going to do. The Dark Lord let out a harsh exhale of air and the boy peered up tentatively at him through his bangs.

“Next time when you … change your mind … you will tell me. And if you disagree with the course I recommend … you will tell me that. We will not lie to one another, Luke,” Vader said. “Agreed?”

The boy’s whole body perked up. Hope and relief were shining in his eyes. He said eagerly, “Yes, Father.”

“Good. Now we can put this behind us.”

Vader felt the tension in his own body ease. Finally, he could respond to his need to comfort the child. His arms slid around his son. Luke was pliant in his embrace. Happy small sounds emitted from the boy as Vader rubbed his back with tender strokes. The child’s warm breath brushed against his neck. Vader kissed Luke gently on the forehead.

“Love you, Father,” Luke said softly.

“As do I you, child of my heart. Though you are a trial to me at times,” He added gruffly.

“I wouldn’t want you to get bored, Father.”

Vader laughed quietly as he drew back to look at his son’s beloved face. His expression became serious as love and desire for the boy flowed over him. He cupped Luke’s chin. The child’s eyes slid half-closed and his breathing began to deepen as Vader covered his son’s lips with his own. Luke moaned softly as Vader slipped his tongue inside his mouth, flicking it in and out. The boy’s hands clutched at his waist, trying to draw them closer together.

Vader broke their kiss and husked out, “I will never get bored with you, Luke. It seems every moment I find myself loving you more.”

Vader pressed another few kisses to Luke’s forehead before reluctantly releasing the boy and tucking his desire away. He had not gotten done half of what he needed in terms of reaching his contacts on the ground on Coruscant and in the Fleet for the change of power and his other tasks that were necessary in order to fulfill Luke’s fantasy.

While it was tempting to kidnap Luke now and imprison him, Vader did not want the shadow of his former anger to cloud their pleasure or cause Luke a moment’s fear of him. Besides he had a better plan. Something more … authentic … to start their play.

“You need to leave again?” Luke’s voice was tinged with yearning.

Vader stroked his cheek. “I’m afraid so. I promise we’ll be alone together soon.”

“I know. I just … miss you.”

“And I you.” Vader kissed the back of his son’s hand.

As they broke apart, Luke’s eyes then slid past him to the hologram of the ship. “Who do you suppose they are? Survivors of Black Heart?”

“Or their enemies,” Vader said softly.

Vader watched the hologram of the huge, unknown cruiser continue to play on the holonet. Though the picture was choppy, Vader was sure he did not know the ship type and was certain that it was nothing flown by the peoples in the known universe. It was as large as three Star Destroyers. The angles were harsh, not a rounded corner to be seen. The ship had the look of glass shards cemented together it was so sharp and angular.

This ship was clearly created for battle as it bristled with weaponry, but it moved ponderously. That could mean, like his own Star Destroyers, that it was supplemented with smaller more maneuverable fighters or that it was a planet destroyer with such heavy shielding that it did not require the ability to move quickly. The rays of a nearby star struck its shiny skin, sending spirals of light out into the darkness of space. Vader clenched his hands into fists. The ship disturbed and angered him on some deep level though he couldn’t say why. It felt like a vise was closing over his heart as he looked at it.

Vader shut off the holonet. But he could almost feel the Archive taunting him. For though the holonet was off, he doubted the Archive was sitting there idly. He reached to unplug the holonet from the Executor’s power supply for good measure and received a shock for his reward. He jerked back, dropping the cord as he did, and flexed his hand to shake off the icy feeling the shock had given him. But the chill crawled up his arm and flooded his body. He exhaled sharply and almost expected to see his breath frost.

“Father, are you all right?” Luke was grabbing his arm and he felt the boy use his power to scan him.

“I’m fine. Just an electrical shock, I think. I’m just so … cold.”

“You’ve been drained.” Luke frowned.

Luke’s warm hands on his arm though seemed to soothe the chill he felt in that limb at least. His son closed his eyes and Vader felt Luke sending power to him. At first, he wanted to tell Luke to stop and save his own strength, but as the warmth closed over him Vader relished it. It was like being wrapped in a sun-warmed blanket.

Luke smiled up at him. “Feeling better?”

“Yes, very much. Thank you, young one.”

Vader’s fond smile at Luke became a glare as his gaze turned from his beloved son to the holonet. It still remained plugged into the power supply. He used the Force to yank out the plug, not wanting to risk another shock. He tried to ignore the relief he felt at the fact nothing else untoward happened. He turned around to face Luke again.

“I don’t think we should try and view the Archive again until we are at the Jedi Temple,” Vader said.

“I think you’re right. It’s just full of … surprises, isn’t it,” Luke agreed softly.

“Yes. To master that technology though, Luke. Imagine the possibilities of it.” Vader shook himself and forced his eyes to leave the holonet. “While I am occupied, will you join Qui-Gon in training Joran and Damon?”

“Yes, but I think I am more looking forward to learning from Qui-Gon myself.”

Vader smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair, pleased that Luke would occupy himself with something that was unlikely to get him into trouble. Although Trans would be there.

“Good.”

Luke suddenly turned and grabbed him in a hard, desperate embrace. Vader leaned against the smaller body that was trembling slightly.

“Luke, what is it?”

“I am sorry, Father,” Luke said, his voice muffled as his face was pressed into Vader’s chest. “I never meant to hurt you by my actions. Never meant to … betray your trust.”

“I know, young one. It’s all right,” Vader whispered softly as he took in deep draughts of his son’s scent and felt the boy’s heartbeat thumping against his chest. Gently teasing, Vader said, “With your penchant for attracting trouble, Luke, how can I not worry about you?”

Luke laughed and Vader felt something in his release. He had not lost his temper. He had not struck out at anyone. His son loved him. Things were fine again. The fact that he still felt a hint of cold inside him after Luke had withdrawn his Force presence was only slightly worrying, but he was sure it would go away.

“Well, shall we go then?”

“Oh, wait! Now that I have a chance I want to get changed. I’m tired of smelling like fried droid parts,” Luke said with a grin as he stripped off his jacket revealing a scorched and ripped shirt underneath. “Can you stay for a minute?”

“Of course, I will stay with you.”

Vader looked down at his own torn clothing. None of his officers, excluding the late unlamented Captain Terellian, had dared to make a comment about the fact that he looked slightly singed, not to mention that his clothing, cut open as it was in multiple places, looked more appropriate for a seraglio than the Bridge.

“And I think I will join you in changing.”

Luke grinned wider in response.

Vader gestured for his son to precede him into their bedroom. It still gave him a wild thrill to call it their bedroom. It felt so natural to think of his son sexually and romantically available to him. Yet why was that so? Incest had not been commonplace or accepted on Tatooine and it was a crime under the rules of the Old Republic and the Empire. He knew there were planets where parents were the ones to introduce their children to sex, especially in the higher echelons where ruling families married often within their immediate bloodlines, but he had never had much contact with those cultures.

Was it just his mind justifying a forbidden desire he had to have Luke totally to himself that made him think this was normal? Or was it the Force itself trying to bind them together on multiple levels to ensure the Balance? Or what if his father was a Black Hearter, were they one of those cultures that encouraged incestuous relationships? Not that such a thing could be genetically imprinted on in him, of course. Or at least he didn’t believe so. Whatever the cause, the fact that he loved and desired his son was unassailable. It felt right and good. The best thing he’d ever experienced.

His thoughts skidded to a halt as his eyes were drawn down to his son’s hips as the boy moved into their bedroom a few feet ahead of Vader. Luke’s walk was like the rest of him: unconsciously sensual. Vader felt a flash of desire run through him as he stared at the boy’s firm, pert buttocks. He thought of the pink pucker that was between them. He yearned to sink inside that hot, tight flesh again. His cock throbbed.

Luke’s back was still to him as the boy pulled off the ruined shirt. The muscles rippled under the golden skin as the boy stood up straight and shook back his hair. Vader’s own hands hovered at the clasp to his pants, knowing he should strip himself, but he was transfixed by watching Luke undress. It was an everyday action for the boy, but it was sensually thrilling for Vader. He could watch. He was permitted to watch. And the body that was revealed beneath that clothing was his in all ways.

Luke froze when he finally felt Vader’s eyes upon him and slowly turned around. Vader leaned against the doorway of the bedroom, his thumbs hooked into the waistband of his own pants, his eyes heavy-lidded and glittering. Luke flushed but his gaze didn’t leave his father’s. Vader’s lips curled into a smile at the slight dare in his son’s expression. ‘Dare you to look away from me, Father.’ The look seemed to say. ‘Dare you to resist me right this moment.’ It said, too. ‘Dare you to touch me.’ That last was said the most of all. Vader had no inclination to resist whatsoever.

“Father, what is it?” Luke’s voice was whispery soft and it skated over Vader’s body like a caress.

“Son, you are so … lovely. I can’t seem to turn away from watching you,” Vader swallowed, his voice low and husky. “Undress for me.”

Luke shivered once. “Whatever you want, Father.”

Luke’s hands shook slightly as they went to the clasp of his pants. He unbuttoned the black clingy material and unzipped them. A flash of more gold skin and darker gold curls was revealed.

“You aren’t wearing any underwear, Luke,” Vader chided softly.

The boy shook his head. “It … binds.”

Vader laughed. “Yes, I can see how that would be true for you, my little wanton.”

“I thought you had to go,” Luke said, tilting his head down and to the side making himself look coy and sensual all at the same time. “To plan out your overthrow of Palpatine and organize the Fleet …”

“I have time. Always have time for you.” Vader them darkened his voice as he said, “Now I believe I gave you an order, Luke. Undress for me.”

Luke’s flush heightened and he sat heavily down on the edge of the bed almost as if his legs couldn’t hold him up any longer. The boy’s arms were behind him, holding his upper body above the mattress. His eyes flickered up to Vader and then down as he blushed even deeper, but his voice was steady as he said, “I need help with my boots, Father.”

He stuck one booted foot out. Vader moved from his spot by the door. Luke’s breathing became ragged as Vader sank gracefully down on his knees between the boy’s legs. Vader grasped one booted foot and smoothly slid the boot off and set it neatly to the side. He placed a soft kiss on the boy’s knee. Luke whimpered. Vader lifted the unshod leg up and placed kisses all along the interior of the calf down to the boy’s instep. He nuzzled the child’s foot gently and Luke moaned. The scent of leather and his son’s clean scent surrounded him.

Sprawled on the bed, legs spread, and with his flushed and leaking cock jutting up from his open pants, Luke looked like a vision of sex. Vader swiftly tugged the other boot off and massaged the foot gently. The boy was practically panting now.

“You’re so beautiful, Luke.”

“No, you are,” Luke whispered. “Can’t believe you’re mine.”

“Believe it,” Vader said as he shucked the boy out of his pants and tossed them to the side.

Satiny golden skin was spread out before him and Vader’s harsh exhale of breath hissed through his teeth. He crawled up the boy’s naked body, pausing mid-way up when his mouth was level with Luke’s cock. The boy whimpered when Vader blew gently on the head of the already dripping sex. Luke’s hips jumped from the bed when Vader ran one finger over the wet slit. He sucked the finger clean of his son’s precum.

“So sweet,” Vader husked out.

Luke groaned and he suddenly moved forward, fisting his hands in Vader’s hair and devouring his mouth. His son’s tongue was frantically twinning with his own. Vader felt Luke’s cock bump against his chest as Luke pressed them closer together. The Dark Lord growled when he couldn’t feel the silky organ against his bare skin. He broke the kiss so he could get his own clothes off. Luke whined when he pulled away.

“Not leaving you, baby. Just want to be bare with you.”

“Yes, Force, yes, Father, want to see you naked again.”

Vader went to undo the buttons of the shirt, but his hands felt uncharacteristically clumsy so he merely shredded the garment, letting the torn material flutter to the floor. Luke’s gaze latched onto the sight of his nipples and the boy licked his lips. Vader shivered at the thought of Luke sucking and biting on them again. They peaked just from the thought and he gasped as he grazed one with his right arm while reaching for the clasp of his pants. He toed off his boots while simultaneously sliding his pants down his hips.

“You aren’t wearing any underwear either, Father,” Luke said with a laugh from the bed where he had been avidly watching Vader strip. One hand was idly stroking his silken cock. He spread his legs wider when he realized Vader saw his self-pleasuring. “Will you punish me for touching what’s yours again?”

Vader growled, “I think I will remind you how my hands feel far better on your sinful body than your own.”

“I already know that. I just can’t wait any longer for your touch. Want you so much, Daddy,” Luke said the title slipping out of his sweet mouth.

Vader shivered at the title and the place inside of him that craved his own blood ignited with the word. The Dark Lord stalked over to the bed and pounced on his son. Luke was grinning and laughing. Then Vader pinned Luke’s hands above his and the boy’s mirth turned to pure desire again. His pupils were blown wide with it, his lips were parted and wet, a slight blush graced his cheeks and his breathing was sharp and quick.

“I can’t wait to have you helpless in a cell, Luke. At my mercy. How long will you fight? What will you say?” Vader mused as he ground his pelvis down on his son’s, loving the way Luke’s eyes rolled back in his head with the pleasure and how the young hips pressed up against him immediately.

“I’ll say whatever you want me to, Daddy. Just want to please you,” Luke huffed out. “Just want you to love me.”

“Oh, Luke, you own me body and soul. All my love is the least you have of me,” Vader said and covered his son’s mouth with his own, drowning in the taste and texture of his son.

The boy broke their kiss and trailed his mouth down Vader’s chest. The Dark Lord drew in a harsh breath and bit his lower lip in anticipation of where he hoped the boy’s mouth would fasten. He wasn’t disappointed as Luke’s tongue traced the soft areole of his right nipple. Vader hissed and bucked against the boy’s body as Luke began to suckle his nipple. Luke broke off, his eyes hooded, his lips wet with saliva.

“They’re so soft,” Luke said as one of his fingers circled the peaked nub.

Vader jerked at the touch. “You are teasing me, young one. As you know that is a dangerous thing to do.”

The boy gave him a sly grin. He leaned down and with a blush staining his cheeks he licked the other nipple. Vader gave out a strangled moan.

“You’ve got such sensitive nipples. I love to watch you come undone when I suckle them,” Luke whispered and latched onto the left tasty bud.

Vader’s body shook like a leaf in the wind as Luke sucked hard on his responsive flesh. He held the boy close to him. His balls felt heavy and full. His cock was brushing a white trail against his son’s belly. Vader buried his head against Luke’s shoulder and neck as the boy rasped the nipple with his teeth.

“Please, Luke, please baby, stop … stop … stop or I’ll cum!”

Luke let the nipple leave his mouth with a pop. “And your cumming would be a bad thing?”

Vader laughed. “Yes! I want to cum inside of you, Luke. Don’t you want that?”

The boy’s eyes glowed softly with desire. “Yes … yes, I want that.”

Vader slid Luke over onto his side and spooned their bodies together. He slipped one of his hands under the mound of pillows on the bed where he had stashed some lubricant.

“Father?” Luke asked, craning his head over his shoulder, clearly confused by how Vader had placed him.

“This is another position, Luke. It will let me get in deep and have more control of the angle. So I can hit your prostate with every stroke,” Vader explained as he moved Luke’s top leg up, revealing the sweet pucker.

Luke gasped as Vader slid two slick fingers in at once. The Dark Lord couldn’t draw his eyes away from his digits moving in and out of Luke. He was inside his beautiful boy. The child made hungry little cries with each inward push. Luke clawed the sheets when Vader grazed his prostate.

“Please, Daddy, please … can’t take any more! Need you inside me now!”

“Begging will get you everywhere, my little wanton,” Vader husked.

The Dark Lord gave Luke a searing kiss. His slicked his cock with lubricant and lined it up with Luke’s pucker. The boy had moaned in desperation when Vader had removed his fingers but the Dark Lord was going to fill Luke with something far more satisfying. He gripped Luke’s hips as he thrust inside all the way to the root. The boy gasped, arched and bucked against him.

“So good,” Luke cried. “So good to be filled with you. Connected.”

Vader’s eyes fluttered shut as the pleasure beat through his veins. His son’s inner passage was hot and tight. It throbbed around his cock as if made purely to draw his seed out. He could feel Luke’s life force surrounding his. Light that never burned or hurt pierced him. Never did he feel more alive or at one with the Force than when they were making love.

“Perfect,” Vader whispered.

Vader began to rock in and out of Luke, pressing the boy’s back to his chest. With each movement, Luke’s prostate was hit. The boy was mewling with the pleasure and scrabbling at the bed covers. Vader realized that Luke had placed a Force tendril around his own sweet cock to stop from coming too soon. But he could feel his son’s control slipping and took over for the boy just as Luke’s tendril frayed to nothing.

Luke reached back and grabbed one of Vader’s hands, lacing their fingers together and drew it up over his heart.

“Love you so much,” Luke rasped between his pleasured cries.

“You are everything to me,” Vader murmured into Luke’s ear and then released both their cocks from their Force tendril bonds.

He stroked his son’s beautiful sex just once before Luke shuddered, gasping harshly as his body arched against Vader’s like a bow. The boy’s seed gushed from him, spraying the sheets and even hitting the floor beyond the bed. His inner passage spasmed around Vader’s cock. The Dark Lord yelled as his seed shot into Luke’s interior, bathing the boy’s insides with his essence. He held Luke tight against him as they both panted and shook from the aftereffects of their orgasms.

“Gods, it keeps getting better,” Luke said shakily.

Vader nodded, pressing a long kiss onto Luke’s shoulder blade. “Amazing. Truly.”

The boy twisted around in Vader’s arms, causing Vader’s softened cock to slip out of his son’s passage. The boy moaned when it happened, but was more intent on kissing his father to mind. Vader smoothed Luke’s sweaty locks from his brow. He kissed Luke’s pink lips and licked a droplet of sweat from the boy’s temple.

“We need a shower, I think.”

“Will this shower be like the last one?” Luke asked boldly then buried his face against Vader’s neck.

Vader laughed softly. He continued to pet and kiss Luke until the boy was panting softly against him again. He froze though as he realized something he had forgotten.

“What’s wrong?” Luke asked as he drew back from Vader’s chest.

“Qui-Gon has been outside this entire time. Probably thinking I’m punishing you.”

“Or maybe he knows that we’re all right.” Luke’s blush went radioactive. “He could have heard our lovemaking. Or felt something over your bond.”

“I don’t think so. The walls are too thick and … my shields have been tightly up. I’ll let him know everything’s fine.”

Vader reached for the bond with the older man, but it was like moving through cold heavy fog. He wasn’t able to touch Qui-Gon’s consciousness. Vader frowned. He tried again, but once more the way felt blocked. Luke’s eyebrows drew together worriedly as he sensed his father’s inability to contact the Jedi Master. Both men rose from the bed as one. Vader grabbed a black silk robe that hung only to mid-thigh on him. He belted it securely but still felt naked under the thin, clingy material. Luke grabbed a robe as well.

“Luke, it may be nothing. I’d prefer if you remained here,” Vader said, feeling a wave of protectiveness for the boy.

Luke looked so fragile naked. Besides if nothing was wrong he didn’t want to embarrass the Jedi Master by having two of them tumbling out of their quarters half-dressed and smelling of sex. Although knowing Qui-Gon he’d probably just raise an eyebrow at them and get a good laugh out of it.

Luke was about to protest, but seeing Vader’s concern, he nodded instead and said, “Call me if you need me.”

Vader swiftly went to the doors to the hallway. What could have happened to cause their bond to go quiet like this? Was Qui-Gon injured or incapacitated? Had Palpatine somehow gotten to him with a rogue droid? Vader felt his heart clench at the thought that something might have happened to Qui-Gon while he and Luke made love. The man had already died once … and who knew if Luke could bring him back again if his body disappeared like most Jedi’s did in death.

It had taken all the Krayt Dragon’s life force, all the Force energy in the cave and some of Vader’s and Luke’s own energy to bring Qui-Gon back the first time. And Vader had a feeling that the Krayt Dragon had been more unique than its typical brethren, having lived in that cave with all the Force crystals above it for centuries. Vader’s breathing hitched as he realized how painful it would be to lose the older man. The doors to their quarters whooshed open.

Qui-Gon was standing there, leaning against the wall, arms folded over his chest. The Jedi Master’s expression went from mild worry to relief upon seeing Vader, a small smile playing over his lips. The tension fled Vader’s body when he saw that the older man was fine. There wasn’t even a hint of trouble in the corridor. Qui-Gon, having noticed his earlier anxiety, frowned and pushed off the wall to come towards him.

“Anakin, what is it? What’s wrong?” The man’s hands rose from his sides and carefully touched Vader’s shoulders turning him from side to side as if to look for some wound on him.

“I couldn’t reach you over our bond. I thought …” Vader broke off, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

“You thought something might have happened to me.” Qui-Gon finished softly. “I’m all right. Nothing more exciting happened than a phalanx of troopers walking by.”

“I’m … I’m glad for that,” Vader said and he grimaced by how grateful he did sound.

Vader stared at the floor, suddenly unable to look at Qui-Gon. He hadn’t cared for anyone for twenty years and now in less than a week he found himself caring deeply about two men: his son and the Master he should have had. It made him feel strange, almost brittle and yet stronger than ever before. Like he could shatter into a million pieces and also carry the weight of the universe on his shoulders. Qui-Gon tipped his head up. The Jedi Master’s eyes were filled with gentleness and warmth for him. Vader swallowed and wanted to look away. It took all his will power not to.

“I really am fine, Anakin. Thank you for worrying about me.”

“I merely thought Palpatine may have … made another move. That’s all. I wasn’t … I wasn’t really worrying.” Vader knew from Qui-Gon’s mild expression that his statement wasn’t fooling anybody.

“Of course,” Qui-Gon said. A slow, amused smile crossed the Jedi Master’s handsome face as he took in Vader’s attire at that moment. “Everything settled between you and Luke? Or do I even need to ask?”

Vader was surprised by the blush that colored his cheeks. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Everything is fine now. We became … involved … and I realized you were still out here probably fretting that I was punishing Luke.”

Qui-Gon laughed slightly. “Yes, I admit I was. You say you tried our bond to tell me all was well, but …”

“I couldn’t reach you over it,” Vader explained, a frown pursing his full lips.

The Jedi Master nodded and gently patted Vader’s shoulder. “Let’s find out what’s wrong.”

Vader felt a sense of relief that Qui-Gon was being so logical about this. His own feelings about losing the connection between them were more strained. He wanted it fixed. Now. The fact that less than a week ago he was horrified at the idea of a bond with this man or any other seemed an alien concept to him.

The Dark Lord tried to steady his thoughts and open his mind to the Jedi Master. Qui-Gon reached for their bond. Vader reached back. The chill that had retreated during his and Luke’s lovemaking suddenly expanded. It leapt across the bond into Qui-Gon’s mind. Vader tried to control it, tried to slam the bond shut, but the chill slipped through his defenses like water through a sluice gate. He wasn’t even able to warn the other man what was coming.

As he stared into Qui-Gon’s wide, shocked eyes, Vader thought he saw them shift from grey to gold then the air shimmered and rippled. The hallway of the Executor was stripped away like paper curling in a flame and another location altogether replaced it.

Vader was standing on a landing pad elevated high in the air. A heavy mist obscured the details of his surroundings, but Vader could see a few tree limbs loaded with thick, golden foliage spearing through the white haze. The air smelled of rain and ozone. The thrum of spaceship engines vibrated the tarmac beneath his feet. He could feel hot exhaust fanning his face.

The heat of the exhaust was the only thing warming him. His clothes were hardly up to the task as he wore only a thin black silk shirt and supple leather pants and boots. There was sweat on the back of his neck and his breathing came in shorter gasps as if he had run full out. He shivered in the chilled air as the sweat dried.

That was when Vader realized he was not alone.

A man stood before him. His back was to Vader. He was tall, a few inches over the Dark Lord, and strongly built. He wore form-fitting black armor that covered him from head to foot. It had the appearance of scales the way each flexible plate lapped over the next and fit the sculpted body.

The serpentine impression of the armor continued in a golden snake or dragon-like creature that was incised into the armor. The design wrapped around the man’s entire torso and glittered under the lights of the huge spaceships that hovered only a hundred feet above them. The ships’ engines burned hot and emitted a virulent green glow. The shape of the ships was sinuous and snake-like, too.

Vader felt a rush of excitement as the black armor that covered the man’s head retracted automatically into the body portion. Long dark hair, freed from the armor, cascaded down his back. Disturbed by the backwash of the growling ship engines, the air whipped the hair away from the man’s face just as he turned around to look at Vader.

The man was Qui-Gon Jinn. Only he was … different.

Waves of power washed over Vader from the visionary Jedi Master, lapping at the Dark Lord’s consciousness, making him feel languid and oddly, safe. Even though it was power laced with pure Darkness. He knew that this power would protect him, had protected him. There was nothing to fear. He breathed in deeply as if that power could have a taste or scent and he could make it a part of himself. But he could only smell rain-washed vegetation, the exhaust of the ships and very faintly the other man’s spicy cologne.

The visionary Qui-Gon was smiling at Vader, his head cocked slightly to the side, his expression pleased and almost … indulgent. Vader moved towards him. One step then another until they were only half a foot apart. The other man’s heavy-lidded golden eyes stared at him unblinking as he approached.

Then the visionary Qui-Gon extended one armored hand and cupped Vader’s face. The armor was icy against his skin. Vader felt a frigid electric jolt sizzle underneath his flesh at the touch just like he had experienced when he unplugged the holonet. Vader reached up in the vision and covered Qui-Gon’s hand with his own.

Then the Dark Lord heard that hauntingly familiar word again. But this time Vader knew he was the one saying it, “Aethro.”

The vision broke apart like glass shattering and Vader staggered forward. Qui-Gon stopped him from tumbling to the floor by clutching at Vader’s shoulders and bracing himself against the corridor’s wall. The Dark Lord closed his eyes tight for a moment to stop the world from spinning and swaying. Vader felt the solid muscle of the older man’s chest under his hands. Qui-Gon’s skin was thankfully warm not icy. He looked up at Qui-Gon’s eyes and let out a breath of relief when he saw the man had grey eyes rather than the burning gold.

“You saw it, didn’t you?” Vader asked.

Qui-Gon nodded, slightly pale yet with high color on his cheeks. “You and I and …”

“The ships in the mist.”

“You looked like you do now, but … with longer hair. Beautiful waves of it falling to the middle of your back,” Qui-Gon said softly.

One of his hands moved from Vader’s shoulders and extended towards the Dark Lord’s shorter locks. He brushed the edge of one gently then jerked his hand back. The color on Qui-Gon’s cheeks heightened further and he turned his gaze away from the Dark Lord. Vader frowned. The touching of his hair had been a tender gesture, like many Qui-Gon had made towards him, but it obviously had felt different to the Jedi Master who was staring resolutely at the ground now.

Vader struggled to stand on his own in order to give the other man the physical distance he seemed to need at that moment. The Dark Lord’s legs felt weak underneath him like a new-born colt’s, but he was finally able to stand on his own after a few tottering tries. Qui-Gon did not release him until he was steady and standing strong, but the older man still would not meet Vader’s gaze.

“Qui-Gon, what’s wrong? Why did you draw your hand away from me like that?”

The Jedi Master gave a shaky laugh. “I … I don’t know. I didn’t feel like myself for a moment and … I … I thought I should draw back before I … before I did anything else … out of character.”

“Are you feeling like yourself now?” Vader asked, not liking one bit the sense of evasiveness that was streaming off the other man.

Qui-Gon’s eyes were shadowed. “Yes. It was only a momentary thing. Are you all right?”

Vader waved away the question of his own health, more concerned with how the other man wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Are you sure you’re fine?”

The Jedi Master’s lips curled into a smile and he looked more himself. “Positive.”

Vader stared at him long and hard, but Qui-Gon did not look away and regarded him just as steadily back as he ever did. Perhaps the older man was fine now. The one thing Vader was sure of was that the Jedi Master wouldn’t admit to being anything else.

“What happened to us? Do you think … it was a vision of the future or …” Vader broke off as the thought didn’t seem right to him.

Qui-Gon ran one hand over the top of his head. “It didn’t feel like the future to me. It felt … familiar. Like a memory.”

“But that’s … impossible. You died when I was six and I was clearly … well, I was clearly an adult in the vision. And nothing like that has ever happened to us.”

Even as he denied the possibility of the vision being one of the past, Vader felt like Qui-Gon did that the vision was more like a memory than a foretelling. That niggling sense he’d been having ever since he’d gone down to Black Heart of half-remembering things that hadn’t happened to him, that couldn’t have happened to him, was brought to full bore.

Qui-Gon’s expression was thoughtful as he said, “You’re right. It didn’t happen … in this life. But perhaps in a prior one—”

Vader sputtered. “Reincarnation? I … I don’t believe in such things.”

The Jedi Master gave a small smile. “It doesn’t really matter if you believe or not if it’s real.”

Vader’s eyes narrowed. “Is this something you know to be true from your higher vantage point when you were a spirit?”

“No, not exactly. Although there were moments when I felt I had been on the other side before. But like I told you earlier, there was not the oneness with the Force that we were taught. There was no … great knowledge imparted when I crossed over. Not … truly.”

“Then why do you believe in reincarnation?”

Qui-Gon’s gaze skittered from his and he looked down at his robes. “Do you have a better explanation for what we just saw?”

Vader’s expression went grim. “The Archive.”

“What does the Archive have to do with this?”

Vader explained what happened with the shock he received from the Archive and the coldness within him, which was now gone. “The word I spoke in the vision was the same as that spoken by the warrior on the Archive. It’s … affecting us. Showing us what it wants to show us. Perhaps to manipulate us in some way. Who knows if it showed us the truth?”

“Did what we saw feel like a lie to you?” Qui-Gon asked softly.

Vader’s brow furrowed. “It felt as real as standing here and talking to you now does. But … Black Heart technology has already shown to be so far advanced from all that we know that I would put little beyond its capabilities. Perhaps it even uses the Force in some way …”

Vader glanced back at the doors to their quarters. He had determined after Luke’s discovery of the live feed on the Archive that no one should access it again until they were safely at the Jedi Temple, but now he felt an overwhelming need to hear the voice of the warrior on the vid he and Qui-Gon had viewed. He wanted to know if it was his own voice that they’d heard. And speaking of familiar voices on it, hadn’t he thought at one point that he’d heard Luke’s voice on the Force-damned thing?

Yet if he was even considering the possibility that his voice and Luke’s voice could be recorded on the ancient Archive then didn’t that mean he was giving credence to Qui-Gon’s theory of reincarnation? But how likely was it, even if reincarnation was true, that the person would come back looking exactly, or nearly exactly, as they physically had in their past life? Let alone sounding as they once had? The genetics nightmare that would entail made the likelihood of such a thing close to nil.

“Anakin, what is it? You look to be a million light years away,” Qui-Gon asked.

“I was just thinking about reincarnation …”

“What about it?”

“Only that you said that you drew away from me earlier, because you felt like someone else … I assume it was the vision that made you feel that way, yes?” Vader asked as he swung around to face Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon nodded. “I felt like I was still in the vision or rather I still felt like the person in the vision when I …when I reached for you.”

Vader nodded. “But if reincarnation is true then … how could you feel like someone else? Because, after all, the people we were in past lives are the same ones that we are now. Isn’t that how it goes? We’re reborn again and again, but we’re till the same people inside.”

Qui-Gon’s lips pursed for a moment. “Something like that. But there is supposed to be growth and … change … in each new life. And, of course, the circumstances of our lives have much to do with the making our characters.”

“So we could be totally different then in each life?” Vader smiled as he chose the most unlikely character for the Jedi Master. “You, for example, could have been … a vicious warlord bent on conquering the universe in a past life? More ruthless than Palpatine?”

Vader expected Qui-Gon to laugh or dismiss his suggestion out of hand, but the older man just looked more disturbed. The Dark Lord noted that tension lines framed the Jedi Master’s expressive mouth.

“I could have been that … or worse,” Qui-Gon answered softly.

“I don’t believe you capable of—“

“But that’s only because you know what my circumstances this life have made of me. Perhaps I do have a … core self … that could accommodate the personality you just hypothesized.”

“Well, I don’t believe either. Reincarnation or … that you could be like that,” Vader said.

Qui-Gon moved closer. One of his hands patted Anakin’s shoulder. “I’m flattered that you think so well of me, Anakin.”

“You have proven yourself to be a good man, Qui-Gon. It is not a grand bit of logic I have just spoken. It is the simple truth.”

But even though Vader believed what he told Qui-Gon, still his eyes darted to the doors of their quarters, feeling the Archive looming inside. Beckoning to him. Daring him to prove that it was not his and Luke’s voices captured in its ancient data. Daring him to disprove the vivid vision that he and Qui-Gon had experienced.

“Do you wish to go lie down, Anakin? Or are you worried about Luke?” Qui-Gon asked gently as he noticed where Vader was looking.

Vader’s gaze snapped away from the doors and back to the Jedi Master. The urge to see the Archive faded as quickly as it had come. In its place, Vader felt almost a crawling aversion to the thing and all it held. Vader realized that this was but a shade of the discomfort Luke must feel towards it and he was more than impressed at the boy’s courage or foolhardiness in wishing to confront the Archive alone.

“No, no. Just lost in thought again.” Vader tested their bond tentatively, ready to pull back at the merest sign of trouble, but no trouble came. “Our bond is open and … there does not seem to be any adverse effects from our experience. You don’t feel cold, do you?”

The Jedi Master shook his head. “Cold? No.”

The chill that had been with Vader since he was shocked by the Archive was gone. He hoped that granting them the vision was its only purpose and that it had dissipated altogether in both men without any lingering effects.

The doors to their quarters suddenly opened and a worried Luke was standing in the doorway in hastily put on clothes. He smiled hugely when he saw Vader and Qui-Gon seemingly well. Vader’s heart lightened just looking at him.

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t wait inside any longer not knowing if everything was all right. Is it … all right, I mean?” Luke asked as Vader gravitated to him, sliding his arms around Luke’s waist and pressing a kiss to the boy’s head.

Qui-Gon turned to Vader to see if he would bring up the vision.

“We had … a strange experience, but everything’s fine now,” Vader said, grimacing slightly as he heard himself minimize what had happened.

“I figured you would have signaled me if things were bad. But … what do you mean a strange experience and did you determine what was wrong with the bond?” Luke asked.

Vader shook his head. “I think the shock I experienced when I tried to unplug the holonet had something to do with our inability to communicate over the bond. As to the strange experience … it’s not that important. I’ll tell you about it later.”

Qui-Gon’s gaze met his, but the other man’s expression didn’t give Vader a clue if he was pleased or disappointed by Vader’s failure to explain what had occurred or the true seriousness of it. Luke’s brow was furrowed, but he nodded and allowed the matter to drop. Vader let out a small sigh of relief.

He knew he needed to tell Luke about the vision, but not now. He still needed time to figure out if Qui-Gon’s suggestion of reincarnation was at all viable or whether the Archive had the ability to cause hallucinations of the highest order. Luke already had an aversion and fear of the Archive, Vader didn’t want to increase that phobia to a full-blown paranoia. He was feeling enough paranoia about the Black Heart technology for the both of them.

He would wait to talk to Luke about it when his thoughts were clear and orderly. Not when he still felt the call to look at the Archive’s images as strong as a spice addict in need of his next hit. No, he would wait until he was fully in control. Only then would he tell him son of the vision. That was the best course.
_________________________________________________

Luke’s POV

Qui-Gon stood in front of the viewport on the Observation Deck. His hands slightly spread at his sides, his grey eyes glittering in the blurred starlight, as his voice rolled over the four other people and one droid in the room.

“There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no chaos; there is harmony. There is no death; there is the Force. This is the Jedi Code.”

Luke mouthed the words as Qui-Gon spoke them. They were a mantra he had said to himself many times. The last stanza was especially close to his heart. Or at least it had been when he thought his father dead. For the Jedi Code seemed to offer hope that death was not the end. That his father could be watching over him as he battled the evil Empire. Little had he known the irony of these thoughts at the time.

Qui-Gon’s voice went lower, almost richer in tone, as he spoke again, “Peace is a lie; there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me. This is the Sith Code.”

Luke stirred, his body almost itching to move with the feelings that flowed over him as he heard the Sith Code for the first time. The Sith Code evoked images of wild battles, the fervor one felt at the height of the most powerful emotions, and the rush of adrenaline that hit when death or victory waited around every corner.

Luke realized now why the Sith way had spoken so strongly to Vader. He could imagine that for a former slave especially, the idea of being freed from chains, even those of the supposedly benevolent Jedi, would have been incredibly appealing. And how many times had Luke himself felt the clarity of his purpose through his strongest emotions? That he had then also been blinded by them at the same time didn’t altogether diminish the charge of power he had felt when he accessed the Force that way. Luke looked to the other people on the Deck to see their reactions to the two Codes.

Joran’s eyes were wide and he was still on Salara’s lap while Damon was standing a bit away from the two of them, looking strangely naked without his armor on. He wore a gray tunic and black pants tucked into knee-high boots. His brow was furrowed. Artoo was wheeled in the corner, away from the hookup, humming softly.

“Which way is better? To be a Sith or a Jedi?” Damon suddenly asked.

“Neither,” Qui-Gon answered evenly.

“Well, how will we know whether we’re a Sith or a Jedi? I mean … their Codes contradict each other, don’t they?” Damon’s brow furrowed.

“We are still working on determining that. But I believe a closer look at the structure of your midichlorians will allow us to ascertain which side you are most aligned with in the Force.”

“Luke, you’re a Jedi, right?” Damon asked. “So you follow the Jedi Code?”

“I am a Jedi, but … I do not completely follow the Code. I believe there is value to both passion and peace. And that they can coexist in someone,” Luke explained.

“What are you, Master Jinn-Jinn?” Joran piped in suddenly, his little head cocked to the side as he struggled down from his mother’s lap. “Jedi or .. Si-sith?”

Luke had the urge to laugh. Not because Joran’s question was funny, but because it was exactly what Luke had wanted to ask himself.

Qui-Gon gave a warm smile and his eyes met Luke’s as he said, “I followed the Jedi Code when I lived before and … still do now to a certain extent. What moves me most is the Living Force, but that is a very long conversation and to get to that conversation we must begin more simply.”

Luke frowned. The Jedi Master had not answered Joran’s question exactly. He was going to press the issue when Damon spoke.

“Lord Vader is a Sith though, right?” Damon asked.

“Yes, but do not believe that whom you admire or … disdain … means you should try to be whatever they are or are not.”

The Jedi Master’s piercing eyes flickered at Damon and the younger man hung his head as Qui-Gon obviously intuited his feelings towards Vader.

“It does not matter what I am, or Luke is, or Anakin is. All that matters is that you listen to the voice inside of you. And follow your own path,” Qui-Gon explained as he knelt gracefully on the floor. “Regardless of what side you are most aligned with, for both Sith and Jedi … control is key. And that is what we going to start with today. Now each of you sit around me. We are going to begin with meditation.”

Damon and the boy sank down to the ground in a small circle. Luke sat between them. Salara remained on the couch, watching, but keeping herself quiet so as to not interfere.

Luke closed his eyes and tried to find his peaceful center, but it was eluding him. His thoughts were still jumbled by the belief that something major had happened between Qui-Gon and his father in the hallway. And the more disturbing aspect of it was that his father was keeping whatever had happened a secret from him.

The Dark Lord had been strangely quiet as they had gotten cleaned up and dressed after the conversation with Qui-Gon in the hallway. And though Vader had kissed Luke hard and long, happiness did not appear in his eyes. Their depths were shadowed with worry, but still he would say nothing of what had occurred even when Luke pressed him.

Luke was most distressed when he saw his father eyeing the holonet where the Archive was housed as if he fully expected it to attack them somehow. Luke had felt even less inclined to leave his father and go with Qui-Gon to train the others after that. But Vader had insisted, saying he had much to do, and promising that they would be together again soon.

As Qui-Gon and Luke had walked to the Observation Deck after taking their leave of Vader, Luke had asked the older man about what had happened. But the Jedi Master was just as tight-lipped as his father had been. Luke sensed his reticence had more to do with not interfering with Vader’s decision to keep silent on the issue rather than a desire to keep secret whatever had occurred.

Luke loved that Vader was protective of him, but his father needed to follow his own advice about them sharing things completely with one another. Luke didn’t know if he could help his father with whatever it was that was troubling him, but he certainly couldn’t if he was kept in the dark. He would get Vader to confide in him if it was the last thing he did.

Luke realized he was far from the meditative state and would stay there if he continued to think about this. He shook himself and tried to stay in the here and now. As he began to control his breathing, he heard Qui-Gon faintly instructing Joran and Damon on the basics of meditation then the whoosh of the doors to the Observation Deck distracted everyone.

Luke opened his eyes and turned to face the doors. Davel and Simok were standing there with their blaster rifles held in their hands. Their white armor gleamed against the black interior of the observation deck.

Davel’s clear voice was clear and cold as he said to Luke, “Luke Skywalker, we are under orders to take you to the Detention Block. You are now a prisoner of the Empire.”