It's What Goes On In Here That's Hard (Star Wars AU Fanfiction)

Chapter 17. Force Bond

Darth Vader awaited Inferno Squadron's return to the Executioner. They had sent word ahead of their success in capturing X-1 without causing any excessive harm to the assassin, which pleased Vader.

The shuttle landed in the docking bay of the Imperial Destroyer, the squad escorting X-1 down the ramp slowly.

The assassin's hands were bound and he held a grim expression as he came forward before his master.

Vader's mask hid emotional facial expressions, but his body language, breathing and anger coming off him in waves was enough to have make X-1's knees shake, though the assassin held himself together, not wishing to show his fear in front of the troopers.

Vader nodded to the squadron, dismissing them now that he had X-1 in his custody. The troopers saluted before marching away to their quarters.

X-1 bowed his head as Vader turned, silently X-1 followed after the Dark Lord.

Together they walked in silence for several minutes before coming to an empty hallway, from there Vader spoke.

"What did you find?" He asked darkly, though there was curiosity as well in his voice.

"I went after a Jedi, a girl." X-1 explained softly, his voice soft.

Vader frowned, a Jedi? X-1 ran off to find a Jedi, a girl, was she the same as the one in his vision? If so, Vader wasn't sure what to think and decided to change the topic, he would meditate on this revelation later.

"The Emperor is greatly displeased with your defiant actions." Vader said, his voice flat.

"I know." X-1 answered softly, fear evident in his voice.

Vader clenched his fists, hating what would come next as they finally entered Vader's chambers, coming towards the hologram display of Sidious waiting patiently for their arrival.

"X-1 has been found then." Sidious stated when the boy came into view beside Vader.

"Yes, my master." Vader answered, emotionless as he and X-1 kneeled before the Sith Lord.

Sidious turned his full attention to X-1 who had begun to tremble fearfully. Sidious couldn't help but smirk at the boy's fear, it was something he loved to see, two Skywalkers, bowing before him in fear and submission. It was truly a wonderful thing as Sidious spoke.

"It seems you have forgotten your place young one, perhaps you need to be reminded." Sidious spoke lowly, musing as X-1 shook and trembled in his kneeling position, unable to move anymore than that, unable to even speak as he breathed through quivering lips.

"Lord Vader, you know what must be done." Sidious said with a commanding tone, earning a slight bow of the head from Vader.

"It will be done, my Master." Vader answered softly as the hologram flickered out.

X-1 remained still, shaking harshly and breathing as if he had almost drowned. Vader felt his heart twist at the cowering, frightened form of his son, but it had to be done.

Gently, but firmly, Vader took hold of X-1's arm and hauled him up before they began to leave the chambers, X-1's steps shaky as he walked by Vader's side.

They soon came to the cell block, where Vader took X-1 to a cell, small in size. He took X-1's binders before placing him inside the cell.

X-1 looked back towards Vader, pleadingly as the lights were turned off. "Master, please." X-1 begged, his hands shaking at his sides.

Vader lowered his head slightly in shame as the door closed, locking X-1 inside as the temperature in the cell began to drop.

X-1 ran forward, slamming his fists on the closed door, sobbing desperately in the darkness, his heart racing as his knees finally buckled. He fell to the floor, catching himself on his hands just barely before finding the wall. Slowly he crawled into the first corner he found as the cold began to seep through his clothes, the boy shaking and crying.