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*
It is merely unfortunate timing.
Some day, soon, all Rebel scum against the Empire will come to understand… they are outnumbered and outmatched.
Centerpoint Station, easily invaded, surrenders. Most are farmers. Low-level workers. The civilian populace remain ignorant. Hollowtown, and its entire Executive Secretariat, do not raise their eyes or voices or even a accessible weapon on their visitors. An administrative officer welcomes Darth Vader himself, briefly informing him of a skirmish between other 'much less expected' visitors through Conical Six's gate.
Darth Vader feels the thrum of agony. Not his own. Inherent; blood-borne and melding slowly within veins. He feels it settling in the base of his neck, like a physical manifestation. One of the Black Squadron immediately informs him of their prisoner — a boy, a Rebel pilot, a Jedi.
He orders to be shown to the closed-off quarters used as a temporary interrogation room.
Several bodies of Rebels, piled up, dead. Newly dead. Various species, it seems. It is no matter to the Emperor. But in the room's corner, a Black Squadron member uses an electroprod on the middle of Luke Skywalker's torso, jamming it. His eyelids fall shut. Unresponsive.
With another powerful jolt, all of Luke's muscles quiver visibly.
And violently.
"Enough," Darth Vader commands. He stays the hand of the torturer with only the presence of himself.
Luke hears the rumbling vocal-amplifier this time, dazedly forcing his eyes open.
He opens his mouth, too.
Shining crimson, Luke's wet and dark blood, flows out.
"Nnnnnn — "
When there's collapsing, Darth Vader uses one massive hand to catch Luke's half-fainted form. That golden head hangs forward. No Med Unit available, but there is a larger of the medpacs underneath the table. Darth Vader orders those of the Black Squadron remaining to leave them.
The one holding the electroprod, Black Leader, tenses.
"My Lord Vader?"
Instead of repeating an order to be obeyed without question, Darth Vader's arm not holding Luke extends.
He sends out a wave of the Force.
Black Leader clutches his helmeted head. Neural Storm — extreme but momentary disorientation as a punishment for insubordination.
Everyone retreats fearfully, withdrawing with their disoriented crew member.
Darth Vader heaves an unconscious Luke against him, lifting up, carrying Luke to the table. Soft flesh on dense life-support armor.
He lays Luke out.
The son of a former Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala, and a man long since dead. Dead as the Rebels.
Unfortunate timing, yes.
He minds the shadow-shields keeping out the Glowpoint's light, examining for injuries, taking Luke's vitals.
The mouth-bleeding appears to be Luke's tongue he bit during the torture. Considerate blood loss, however it is not severe. Partial consciousness. Dehydration. Rapid heartbeat. Exhaustion. Darth Vader's thickly gloved black finger rubs against Luke's upper lip, wiping it off. The bloodless white of Luke contrasting. Darth Vader rubs again, separating lips, intending to feel the barrier of heat kept from him.
Luke moans softly, thrashing. He resembles her. The curve of Padmé's white and defiantly beautiful mouth.
Could this boy taste as Padmé once did?
"Nnnn… …"
Darth Vader ignores any furthering protest, thumbing Luke's cheek roughly, grasping on. It is useless. It is useless to lower himself down, to press entirely against Luke's warm, devouring mouth, to bring back to life the man called Anakin Skywalker, the man long since dead.
"Nno…"
"Look at me," he rumbles, and Luke moans another "no, no," before Darth Vader's hand jerks Luke's face in the desired position.
Bright blue eyes go wide.
Through the Force, it…
It is everything…
"Consider this a mercy… of which I do not easily give…"
Darth Vader's empty palm cups against Luke's forehead, holding. Sweaty strands of gold pushed back.
He quiets Luke's mind.
Like a dark, insistent nudge into the cortex.
The astonishment fades out of Luke's expression, his eyes welling with tears.
He slumps.
When he's certain the other man has passed out, Darth Vader locates the healing field generator beneath the table with the now opened medpac. Thirty minutes and injuries sustained by Luke during this mission he volunteered himself on… they will have vanished completely.
And then, departing on the Imperial Star Destroyer shall involve the boy, Padmé's son, under Darth Vader's guardianship.
They will serve the Empire well.
Fortunately.
*