[FIC] The Protege' 6/? (Vader, ensemble, PG-13)

[jedinemo]

Title : The Protege'

Author : jedinemo

Rating and disclaimer : Rated PG-13. The Star Wars Universe belongs to George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd, and I have gained nothing but satisfaction from this fanfic.

Summary : Darth Vader has an unsettling encounter within the Imperial Palace that changes the course of Galactic history.

Timeline : A few

Comments

[indiefic]

YAY!!! I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to another installment of this story.

He might be able to solve the mystery simply by asking Luke, but that felt like an impossible task. How was he supposed to begin their relationship? Just walk up to the boy and say, Luke, I am your father? He swallowed hard. Perhaps. But not today.

*happy sigh* I love that section. I love Vader's hesitance. You can feel his trepidation, his fear of being rejected by his son. Not being rejected as the Emperor but as a father. Plus, the nod to canon is quite lovely. I get a glorious kick out of imagining Vader from ESB practicing that line in front of the mirror.

Should I pound my fist? Is that too much? What about the inflection ... LUKE, I am your father ... Luke, I AM your father ... Luke, I am YOUR father ...

*snicker*

And despite the pressure of the situation, Luke's expression remained open, his presence in the Force revealing tension, but not fear. Vader received an impression of sleeping strength, different from the coiled energy he usually sensed in Anakin.

Aww. Woobie!Luke. I love him so much. He's just so damn ... good. And strong. And I'm damned impressed with his lack of fear. Methinks Emperor!Vader would be enough to inspire a great deal of fear in anyone. Also, Vader contrasting Luke's Force presence with Anakin's is very interesting. And telling.

There was something...soothing...his son's presence.

Again with the awwwww. That is so incredibly touching to me and so resonates with my own take on Luke and Vader. I really think Luke was the only person Vader could ever really allow himself to love freely. Obviously they have issues, but you can feel how much Vader cares for this stranger, even if he can't admit it to himself.

He knew what terrible injuries lay beneath the black armor. Armor that was a crutch for broken flesh. He had beaten Vader at the height of his physical prowress, so he should be able to repeat it now. Luke's future depended on it.

Obi-Wan's perspective is rendered so expertly. Yes, Obi-Wan is one of the few people who can look at Vader's monstrous countenance and see it as a weakness rather than a strength. I'm also incredibly interested to see an Obi-Wan that is willing to live and conquer Vader for Luke, rather than die at his hand.

He was broadcasting his own feelings so loudly, he was surprised that Luke hadn't noticed him. Instead, his rival kept on working on the TIE fighter, without so much as a backward glance. He clenched his teeth as he approached Luke. He would not be ignored.

I love Anakin's strutting, his ego. I love that he just knows that Luke must be trying to intentionally goad him. And it's a lovely mental image of the toddler running back to his discarded toy once another child shows interest in it.

Now that he succeeded in provoking Luke, there was something terribly familiar about the fire that emanated from the other boy's presence. It reminded him of...Vader.

And I love how both Vader and Anakin can see echoes of one another, but they are both so damn oblivious to themselves.

And Luke being so very Luke and taking the time to show poor Anakin about mechanics.

(I have to split this in two because I'm too damn wordy)

[indiefic]

(continued from previous ramblings)

He just wanted to talk to her, and escape to the one part of his life that had nothing to do with Vader.

*chokes on the irony*

He didn't know why he allowed her to speak to him that way; such insults would have bought anyone else an introduction to his lightsaber. But the way she said it was so personal.

Now this is such a provocative look at how the Original!Anakin/Padme dynamic could have possibly turned out had things been different. What if they had been the same age? What if they had met when they were both younger and freer?

"Okay," she said finally, shaking her head, "but if we do get caught, it's all your fault."

I can only imagine how hard certain sphincters will pucker if/when these two get caught alone somewhere ...

"He hates this, you know."

*LOL*

"I see, " he said. "You question not only my orders, but my judgement."

"No, sir," Luke said emphatically. "Maybe I'll just be quiet now."

It's lovely to see Vader engaging in some recreational abuse. Obviously he intends Luke no harm, regardless of Luke's answers to his questions. And Luke adorably flounders around sticking his foot in his mouth. Had he tried this with Anakin, I suspect his clone would give as good as he got. Not nearly as much fun for Vader.

Luke's sadness resonated within him, and yet he felt warmed that his son spoke with such reverence. Perhaps the boy would be more accepting than he first thought. "You know nothing about them?"

- From Vader's dayplanner: Note to self: more practicing in front of mirror.

He grunted. Anakin.

BWAH! That is just glorious. I adore Vader's frustrations with ... erm, himself. And I suspect Anakin won't be getting over anything any time soon.

As usual, fabulous update. Can't wait for more!

[jedinemo]

Heee- Vader in the mirror is pretty damn funny!

Obi-Wan's perspective is rendered so expertly

I didn't have a good handle on him until I wrote That Which Remains. By writing him more as an extension of Ewan's Obi-Wan I see his stuffed away issues more clearly. I feel his sections have the most energy, I think because its all new territory for me.

And it's a lovely mental image of the toddler running back to his discarded toy once another child shows interest in it.

He never did share well, did he?