An Even Greater Sin

Chapter 20: ... is the contest of wills

The Death Star. Darth Vader detested the thing, preferring the use of more civilized machinery to intimidate. Sheer destructive power meant nothing: Vader had learned that the hard way when his own power had ripped HER from his life.

But it was the Emperor's newest plaything, and Vader strode through the corridors swiftly, dispassionately, his son at his side. He was proud, now, of the self-control and dignity Luke exibited. He truly performed well under pressure.

The boy kept all emotion in check, now, something which both pleased and disappointed Vader. He was furious with himself for longing his son's mental caress, but he didn't bother wasting his energy against himself. He needed his power conserved for the upcoming trial. He hoped that the boy would join him, so they could get rid of Palpatine. Then, the Death Star would be unnecessary. They would rule together, bringing peace to the galaxy with swift mercy.

Again Vader clamped down on the thought of ruling as lovers. He silenced his treasonous thoughts, now. Even though treachery was the way of the Sith, Palpatine would not permit it of him. And he would not be able to save his son.

Luke's mind buzzed with a kind of blank static, the string and synth riffs from "The Factory is Open" stuck in his head. His brain swarmed with the hormones of war, now- he was ready for battle.

His father's respirator now seemed calming, slow, even. It helped him temper his erratic heartbeat. He had no trouble suppressing his longing for Vader now. The Emperor's presence was strong, and Luke shut out everything but his training. He ignored the Dark side, so strongly evident here in this place of destruction, and focused instead on what he should do.

Absolutely nothing.

If he attacked either Sith, he would be at risk of losing himself to the Dark side. If he did nothing, then they would do nothing, and all three would die together.

It was simple. Too bad "simple" and "easy" didn't mean the same thing.

They entered the turbolift, side by side, and began the ascent to the Emperor's spire. Both men's minds were spinning, both had their minds anywhere except for on each other. They could not afford to think of each other in this time of fate.

Vader's thoughts were on keeping Luke free from Palpatine's grasp, Luke's thoughts were on freeing his father from that very same slavery. Neither man knew just how much in agreement they were- or how drastically different their methods were. Vader hoped to utilize Palpatine's own Darkness, Luke prayed that he could reach Vader's own Light.

The lift opened, now, and they saw, at the top of the stairs, a throne facing the viewports. Climbing the stairway, they stood, awaiting the Emperor's attention with mingled emotions of rage, fear, revilement, and defiance.

Vader wasn't sure just which feelings were his, or Luke's.

The throne spun slowly, as though moving through a viscous fluid, and Luke's eyes were assaulted by the image of the Emperor. He clenched his mental fist upon the memories of that horrifying time, when the Sith had taken the last remnants of his physical sanctity. He kept these thoughts from himself, and from Vader, and most importantly, from Palpatine, who would jump at the chance to manipulate him.

The robed, frail figure spoke, now, in harsh tones of command. "Welcome, young Skywalker. I have been expecting you."

'I bet you have,' Luke wanted to spit. He silenced his sarcasm, and merely observed. Palpatine's skeletal hand waved towards him, as he flinched.

"You no longer need those." Luke's binders fell away from his wrists. clattering uselessly to the ground. Luke stared down at his hands, now, free to move, free to act, free to kill-

Or free to keep still. He smothered the urge to strangle the Emperor, to punch him, to pound his face into a bloody pulp like Palpatine had pounded his arse-

Slamming the door on those ideas, he stood still as the Emperor gave commands to his red-robed Guards standing at attention at the sides of the lift. "Guards- leave us."

The tyrant rose, creeping towards Luke, and hissed, "I look forward to completing your training. In time, you will call ME master."

Smiling blackly, Luke returned, "You're gravely mistaken. You won't twist the truth to break my soul, like you did to my father."

"Twist the truth? Young Jedi, I merely told him what I felt to be true. If my opinion is different from yours, then it is certainly no fault of mine."

"Your overconfidence is your weakness."

The shadowed, bloodstained eyes narrowed. "Your faith in your friends is yours." An echo of the spiteful argument they had on Coruscant, before-

No.

Palpatine laughed, now, a sinister chuckle that gave off the feeling of a choking Hutt. Luke's mind was buffeted by a rush of images-

Himself staring up in hatred as bony hands gripped his jaw.

His body writhing in agony as blue lightning slammed into his nerves.

Himself, bare-fleshed and screaming in pain, terror, and sheer rage as Palpatine-

He shut his mind, now, shut his heart too. He had to keep Vader from his pain. If Vader knew how he had been overcome, he would never accept the way Luke felt about him.

Palpatine scowled, beneath the ebony hood, at Luke's attempt to shield himself. Luke permitted himself a tight grin.

"You cannot hide from me. You will turn, you will submit, and you will become one of us."

"You're wrong. Soon, I'll be dead... and you with me."

Laughing in gleeful mockery, Palpatine replied, "Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack by your Rebel fleet?" Luke froze. They knew? "I can assure you, we'll be quite safe from your 'friends' here." Returning to his throne, the Sith continued, "Everything that has transpired has done so according to MY design. Your friends, on the Endor moon, are walking into a trap. As is your Rebel fleet!"

Luke didn't like the emphasis Palpatine placed on the word "everything." Something was happening, something devious, something bigger than even Luke could comprehend. He had a feeling Palpatine knew even more about him than he thought. His emotions quickly slid from terror, to despair, to blinding rage kept at bay only by his need to prove himself strong. To prove
himself worthy of his Father.

"It was _I_ who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire LEGION of my best troops awaits them!"

Luke forced his gaze to remain steady, calm, unfeeling, but inside, his heart was shaking, breaking, pushed to the limit of his endurance. He needed reassurance, but the only ally he had on this Death Star was one who could not- WOULD not- aid him. He had only himself- and he didn't know how much longer he could keep himself.

Palpatine was on a roll, and kept speaking, goading Luke into rash decisions. "Ohh, I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive!"

Luke's eyes darted between the two Sith- one his worst enemy, one his worst love. He pleaded, now, desperately, that Vader would understand, would come and rescue him from his own fears. He couldn't help reaching out in need.

Vader's mind brushed it off like a sand-gnat.

In horror, Luke turned away, rejected. He needed to be comforted now, more than ever- needed the warmth and compassion he knew was deep within his Father. He longed for that contact, despaired to lack it. In anger at his Father for denying him that one, simple love, he turned his back on him.

"You see, young Skywalker? Your father understands- he understands that the true nature of the Force is not loving, is not kind. He knows that the Force is inherently cruel. He knows this because of the cruelty you dealt him twenty-two years ago!"

Spinning on the dictator, Luke clenched his fists. How DARE this fiend accuse him of cruelty- Palpatine was the truly malevolent one!

And then, Palpatine's fingers rested on Luke's lightsaber, resting on the arm of his throne. Luke hadn't noticed Vader hand the weapon to his master. Palpatine's hand stroked the hilt in a clearly suggestive way. Luke's face twitched in taut anger at the defilement of his weapon- symbolic of the Sith's filthy touch as he had raped Luke.

"You want this... don't you?" Palpatine's whisper sounded clearly sexual- intended to enrage Luke further. "The hate is _swelling in you_ now." Luke heard the minor accentuation of those covert innuendos, and fumed. "Take your Jedi weapon. Use it. I am unarmed."

Luke's anger faltered, for a moment- he realized that he was buying into Palpatine's trap. But this thought just reddened his face further, to find that he was so easily coerced into rage. Palpatine continued, egging Luke on. "Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger! With each passing moment, you make yourself more my _servant_."

That word had new, hideous undertones to it as well. In a heated denial, and an anxious need to defy, he muttered darkly, "No."

"It is unavoidable. It is your destiny. You... like your father... are now... MINE."

Luke's hatred rose to even consider what the Emperor hinted at.

Darth Vader watched his son struggle with the Darkness within him. Vader said nothing, merely observed.

He had no idea why his son was so full of rage- even he hadn't been so angry in over twenty years.

The last time Vader had been as enraged was at Obi-Wan's betrayal...

Luke's betrayal...

Vader had never felt so alone...

Luke had never felt so alone.