Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

Vader's office was back to its normal state of barren neatness. Ikea boxes were stacked in corners, a new and heavier desk was in the center of the room and Vader had even sprung for a comfortable chair (black leather, naturally, with wheels) for himself

Comments

[southernbender]

Even after Katara had spent some time in the Common Room, she was still decidedly bored. She started wandering through the halls, still clutching her book. When she saw Vader's open door, she peeked in, wondering if he could answer her questions.

[sith_happened]

"Miss Katara," Vader said, looking up.

[southernbender]

Katara took that as an invitation and stepped inside his office. "I was wondering and saw your door open. You asked in class how far over the line one would go. I was wondering...is there actually just one line and where is it?"

[sith_happened]

"It's nothing physical," Vader said, "but there is very much a line." He tilted his head. "At least for Sith. And Jedi."

[southernbender]

"What are they?" she asked.

[sith_happened]

Vader clasped his hands together. "The Jedi--when they still existed--believed that when someone stopped using their powers to help others and focused instead on helping themselves, they'd crossed a line. They called it the dark side." Vader's voice was a bit scathing. "And once someone had crossed over to the dark side, it would dominate their lives forever."

[southernbender]

"That doesn't seem that far off. And besides, your question was asking what we'd do to save another. So that shouldn't cross your line," she said thoughtfully.

[sith_happened]

"It depends why you are saving another," Vader said. "Because they deserve to be saved? Or because you need them? Your focus determines your reality."

He could practically feel Obi-Wan peering over his shoulder as he lectured.

[southernbender]

"Because they're going to save the world?" Katara offered before shaking her head and moving to more of a generality. "But even if they weren't, you'd still be helping them by saving them." She sounded stubborn on that.

[sith_happened]

"Unless they die anyway. And you discover you've given your soul away for nothing."

Not that Vader had any experience with that.

"You ask interesting questions," Vader said grudgingly. "Would you like to be my assistant?"

[southernbender]

Katara's eyes widened. "I don't think you can give your soul away. You're stuck with that." She paused. "What does that mean?"

[sith_happened]

"You can very definitely kill the part of you that makes you human," Vader said.

He shook his head and his voice became brisker. "You would help me grade, assist me in handing out various objects I might bring in to add to class discussions."

[southernbender]

Katara looked sad. "Maybe the spirit is just lost in the Spirit World somewhere and is trying to find it's way back?"

"I could do that," she said, looking down at her book and deciding that she ought to learn how to read very quickly. "I can do my best."

[sith_happened]

What was with these students and their pointless hope that everything would turn out well?

Vader inclined his head. "You will not fail me."

It wasn't a request.

[southernbender]

Katara bowed slightly, hands and book clasped over her chest. "No. I won't."

She gave him a bit of a smile and turned to leave.