But then Palpatine was a master of manipulations, playing complex mistruths and malicious misdirections and veiled suggestions with subtle ease and devastating effect, some glimpse of which had been afforded Hallin in discussion with Luke earlier that year.
It had followed yet another internment in the cell beneath the Palace - his most recent, though that was now five months ago. When first they'd happened, and Luke had no-one whom he particularly trusted here, no-one had known the specifics of where Luke disappeared to, often for days or weeks at a time, always following some antagonism or challenge of the Emperor on Luke's part, be it private or public. The official line - and one quickly learned never to question the official line here - was that Luke had been retained on a classified assignment by the Emperor, and would return when it was complete. Slowly though, without ever needing to address the facts directly, Hallin had realized the truth, though it had been years before he'd dared to ask others in Luke's close retinue whether they too knew. Jade knew - had always known; was in some way involved, Hallin suspected - though neither she nor Luke ever made mention of it.
All Hallin knew for sure was that when he returned Luke remained quiet, reserved and introvert for days, as much out of exhaustion and injury as from the trial of facing off against Palpatine one more time.
But the onerous ordeals which had once been common lessened over time, in number if not in content, as the Emperor found new ways to control or chastise. This last time had been no different, Luke reappearing after four days, battered and scuffed, walking slowly and painfully from the main entrance, where Clem had announced his unexpected arrival, to his private quarters, one hand to the wall, ordering anyone who came forward away in clipped, breathless tones. Hallin had long since learned not to go; to let Luke make his own way back no matter what his condition, knowing that it was a matter of principle for Luke that he walked even this last stretch alone.
When he'd first been returned to the cell beneath the Palace fro chastisement, Palpatine had set in place the that on his release, Luke was always taken, unconscious, to the Emperor's apartments, the first medical treatment he recieved always by Palpatine's medics. The established routing became that until Luke was capable of standing and walking the long distance from the Emperor's apartments back to his own under his own power, he was not allowed to leave. If he tried too early and failed, Luke was returned to Palpatine's apartments exhausted, his recovery that much delayed for his exertion. Another little trial put in place for no other reason that Palpatine's amusement, Nathan suspected. Another little wordless battle of wills between himself and his Jedi.
So tonight, as he always did, Nathan forced himself to wait in Luke's private quarters, biding his time and making what little medical diagnosis he could from six paces away, and biting his tongue against the need to offer solace. It was well past midnight, and Luke collapsed down onto his bed still-dressed, Nathan leaving him exactly as he was, knowing better than to try to help undress him, instead sitting down on the chaise to the far side of the huge room. Just once, Luke had glanced to Nathan, daring him to make comment, but Nathan had looked away with a self-effacing 'we both know this game' shrug, and Luke had let his eyes drift closed, giving in to exhaustion as Nathan had remained, quietly watchful throughout the night.
Nathan had remained close fro the next few days, though Luke would seldom tolerate any attention, medical or otherwise. Instead he'd remain silent and insular, clearly playing the same thoughts over and over in his head, and all Nathan could do was wait for the explanation which it took Luke almost another two days to put into words, and even then in only the vaguest terms to begin with.
He remembered distinctly sitting in patient, attentive silence, watching the warm orange glow as the sun slowly settled to dusky copper. Remembered wondering if he would have to wait out another long day in silence until Luke had put his thoughts in order sufficiently to voice them, when Luke looked up to Nathan and, as if this was the continuation of a long-standing discussion, asked, "Do you believe it's possible to spontaneously create life?"
Nathan blinked, momentarily taken aback by the question which had clearly been running endlessly through Luke's thoughts for days now.
"I suppose...." Nathan considered, pulling his thoughts together, aware of expectant eyes on him. "I suppose scientifically I must- at some point, life was created from the random interaction of certain molecules which maintained integrity. A single-cell organism came into being. Every life-form is another expression of that random interaction; the biological creation of a new species, the driving force of nature to evolve. The whole galaxy is a manifestation of the spontaneous creation of life."
"But do you think it's possible to spontaneously create complex life- a human life?"
"Human life? No, I don' believe so. If it were, there would be documented cases."
"But you said yourself that nature seeks to evolve- to push the boundaries of potential. And even a human life begins with the division of a single cell."
"But there must be an outside catalyst which stimulates that cell division. It can't happen in isolation."
"There are species which can spontaneously conceive."
"But they're not human. Their physiology is very different; it's taken literally millennia for that ability to evolve. Human physiology requires an outside influence."
Luke had moved uncomfortably against aches and pains, his bruises still darkening from angry scarlet to deep purple. "What if that outside influence were the Force?"
Nathan set his head to one side, prepared to continue the debate because it had so clearly been praying on Luke's mind, though he felt he was charting unknown territory, "Now you're asking me to comment outside of my field of expertise. I suppose my answer would have to be, you tell me?"
Luke looked away, forehead furrowed in thought, seeking to follow the argument through to its natural conclusion; "We're talking about the division of a single cell... the Force can operate at a molecular level within the body- that's how we heal ourselves."
"So then, are you saying that a Jedi would have the potential to create life within their own system?"
"But we can use the ability to heal on others too. The Force is, at its most basic level, a molecular entity. I don't make a conscious decision to work at a molecular level and I'm not specifically aware of doing so, but if I can reach into another body and manipulate the organisms within at that level to destroy an infection or disperse a drug, with the proper knowledge surely I would be able to divide a single cell?"
Nathan shifted uncomfortably, "Are you intending to do so?"
Luke glanced up, shocked that Nath would even consider him willing to try such a thing, "Me? No- no of course not. I'm just..." He trailed off, leaving Nathan to gaze at him uneasily, searching the reason for this sudden intense preoccupation.
Luke remained silent for a long time, lost in thought again, mind clearly racing. When he finally looked up it was with another question, "If, theoretically, a Force-sensitive were able to do that- to manipulate the Force and induce life in another human being... would the life which had been created have any real link to its creator? Would it carry its creator's characteristics as if they had been a physical donor, good and bad? Or would it be solely a creation of the Force- and if so, would it carry the fingerprint, the orientation, of that which had been used to create it?