Darth Vader Goes to Therapy

Vader Makes a Decision

Luke slept for a long time, far more than the standard 8 hour cycle, but it was sorely needed. When he woke up, he felt far more rested and comfortable than he had in weeks. It helped that he'd slept in his own bed, and wasn't constantly worried about his or Piett's situation. He was home, and his father hadn't left his quarters the whole time he'd been asleep. He wasn't sure how he knew that, but when he woke up, he did.

A Force thing, probably.

He stretched, got up, showered, and dressed in his own uniform, savoring the feel of it on his skin. Then, with another stretch, he went out into his receiving room where, as he'd suspected, he found his father, staring out the viewport.

"Good morning," he greeted.

Vader turned, examining him for a moment. "You mean good afternoon." There was an edge of humor in his tone that made Luke smile.

"I was tired. It happens."

"Are you certain you do not need more rest?"

"I haven't felt this awake in weeks."

For some reason, he got the sense that Vader was examining him to make sure he was correct. Whatever he saw must have satisfied him, because he hooked his thumbs into his belt. "Good. Now, we must discuss our next steps."

Luke was certain he didn't mean next steps in therapy. Considering what he'd announced to what was essentially the entire Executor, since rumors spread fast among crew personnel, he had a feeling it had to do with the whole treason/his supposed "destiny" thing.

"We can do that," Luke said, "but I have something important to tell you."

Vader made a noise. "Yes, you keep bringing it up."

"I'm awake. We're in the safety of my quarters. Unless there's bugs in this room, I don't see why we can't talk about it here."

"Of course I had the bugs removed. I have no reason to violate your trust." Oh. So, who else on this ship had their room bugged? Luke didn't want to know. "You got this information from Kenobi. It could be a lie."

"I don't think it is."

"Did you consult with the Force to determine if this information was true?"

Luke made a face. "You know I don't know how to do that. I don't know, it just felt right, okay?"

"That would be the Force confirming the truth, then."

"It's that easy?"

"It is that easy."

"Huh." Luke frowned, then sat in one of his plush chairs. "Well. All the more reason to talk about it, then."

"If we must."

Luke didn't bother to wait for Vader to sit. He almost never did, anyway. "There are technically two things I have to tell you. Both involve my mother and the circumstances surrounding her death."

He was not surprised when the room grew colder as Vader's mood plummeted. He wasn't sure how Vader was going to take this, or even if he wanted to talk about it at all. Perhaps that was one of his motives for insisting on him resting. "So you said."

Luke took a deep breath. There was no easy way to do this...but his father needed to know.

"As you recently suspected, you didn't kill my mother."

Vader was completely still, staring at him.

Luke chose his words with care. "According to the droids that delivered us, she was medically healthy."