The boy only blinked without moving, refusing to be drawn.
"Very well, the choice is yours," Palpatine turned to nod at the servant, who stepped forward to fill the goblet before him with wine, his counterpart doing the same beside Luke.
When they had stepped back, Palpatine glanced at them and the Red Guards who had remained behind his Jedi. "Leave," he commanded simply, turning his eyes on the boy as the guards walked from the room, followed by the bowing servers.
The moment hung for a long time, expectant...
.
.
It had, of course, occurred to Luke that there were now no guards to stop him either turning and making an escape attempt or launching himself across the table at his captor. Preferably both.
But the fact that Palpatine had allowed this meant that he had also planned for it. One didn't rise to rule an Empire by failing to consider consequences, and whatever else he thought the Emperor, Luke didn't for a moment think him stupid. And the truth was that at the moment he doubted very much whether he could reach the door at the far side of the cavernous room, even without intervention.
So he remained still.
Finally, when the Emperor had seen that Luke had worked this moment through, he settled back, content. "Apparently you have learned something."
Luke remained impassive, allowing the conversation to be led. Palpatine had presumably brought him here to say something, and he believed he knew what. Still, the silence hung heavy for a long time, until finally Luke felt himself pressured to speak.
As was his nature, he came straight to the point. "What do you want?"
Palpatine smiled pointedly. "Want? I already have everything that I want."
Luke recoiled slightly at the inference, but held his peace, surprising himself at his calm. "Then I presume there's something you have to say to me?" He wanted this over--wanted Palpatine to ask the question so that he could refuse. No delaying of the inevitable. He would rather deal with the reality of his situation than play these mocking games.
"No," the Emperor said simply without further elaboration, leaving Luke to frown, uncertain now.
"Then why am I here?" he asked across the divide.
"I simply wished to meet Lord Vader's son."
.
.
Palpatine watched closely this time, noting the subtle changes in the boy's stance as he tensed at the designation, his hackles rising automatically. Sensed the more obvious play of emotions through the Force. There--there it is!
"I understand that you were unaware of your lineage?" he pushed, searching for further confirmation. Aside from tightening his jaw, the boy offered none visibly this time, though his sense in the Force boiled. "It would seem a rather...glaring omission on the part of your previous Master, Kenobi. You did know he was also your father's former Master."
The boy didn't react, but then it had been a statement rather than a question.
Palpatine smiled, making no attempt to hide the mocking derision in his voice. "One must begin to wonder whether he had ever intended to tell you your pedigree. Perhaps...perhaps after you had unwittingly committed patricide for him."
The boy's eyes hooded, voice tightening. "You know nothing about it. They wouldn't--"
"He used you," Palpatine dismissed, cutting him off. "Don't be naïve. It's unfitting to your station."
.
.
Luke had stopped dead, but not for the reason Palpatine presumed. He had made an error, and now was terrified that the Sith would spot it, chiding his own impulsive outburst. He forced his mind to work, to cover the mistake and reinforce Palpatine's assumption. "I'm not naïve. I understand what he did--and why he did it."
"Then since you defend him, one must assume you think him right?" The Emperor pushed, apparently searching to clarify whether Luke's anger was disillusionment at Ben's pretence, or resentment of Vader's harsh truth.
And for the first time, Luke smiled too, in realization. Subtly, and it was gone in an instant. But the awareness that Palpatine wasn't infallible--that he wasn't all-knowing or all-seeing--gave Luke some flicker of confidence, even here. He leaned back just slightly, relaxed almost imperceptibly.
"You may assume what you wish."
.
.
Palpatine remained still, noting the change in the boy, aware that something, some perception, had subtly shifted. That his Jedi had reassessed. He stared in silence for a long time as the fire crackled in the grate, releasing a high-pitched hiss as moisture burned from the logs. The boy didn't speak further this time; felt no need to fill the silence or substantiate his vague words.
Chose not to speak further.
He paused, mentally reassessing his own strategies accordingly. "And failing any information to the contrary, I shall, Jedi."
"You're mistaken--I'm not a Jedi."
Palpatine raised his eyebrows, setting his head to one side. "Did he teach you nothing at all, your pitiful Master? You are a Jedi when you are acknowledged as such by your peers." He paused, a thin smile splitting his lips. "Though it is amusing...that your cognizance should be acknowledged by a Sith. Fitting, I think."
"You'll forgive me, but I don't consider your opinion particularly relevant in this." The boy's confident voice belied his patent uncertainty as to whether Palpatine lied, but he seemed resolved of this fact, either way.
"Then whose blessing do you seek, Jedi?" Palpatine asked, grinning knowingly into the boy's silence. "Kenobi's? Because I can promise you that you are already more powerful than he ever was."
"Power isn't everything."
"No?" Palpatine said. "It keeps you here."
"I haven't tried to leave yet."
Palpatine laughed out loud, appreciating the boy's spirit despite the gravity of his situation; perhaps he was more like his father than he realized.
"What am I to do with you, my friend?" he finally asked into the boy's wary countenance, his voice amicable, as if indulging an old acquaintance who had committed some minor misdemeanor. "What should I do with a known insurrectionist who makes open war against me, challenges my rule and destroys my armies?"
"I believe the penalty for sedition is death."
.
.
Luke was surprised by how little emotion sounded in his steady voice. The Emperor leaned back, amused, almost laughing.
"Yes...but what a waste!" Luke held silent, so Palpatine leaned forward, still grinning. "What a waste on both our parts."
"That would depend on what you have to lose."
"And what you have to gain."
Luke leaned back, arms resting on the huge carved chair, eyes tightening. "What are you offering?"
The Emperor almost, almost spoke out...then paused, ocher eyes narrowing dangerously, the change mercurial. "Don't ever think to lie to me."
The threat in his words was chilling despite the heat of the fire. Still, Luke would not blink. "I thought that was the nature of the game."
"You should not be so eager to play games when your life hangs in the balance, my friend."
"I'm not your friend."
Palpatine stared for several seconds then sighed, the slightest of smiles tugging bloodless lips from darkened teeth, but never reaching his eyes. "You do make it so very difficult for yourself, child."
"To do what?"
"I am offering you everything. Everything you've ever desired. Things you do not even realize you want yet."
"You have nothing I want," Luke said simply, very sure.
.
.
Palpatine shook his head slowly, taking again the opportunity to slowly pull his Jedi into discussion and call into question those he trusted. Nothing too contentious at first; he didn't wish to push him away but to lure him in further. Enough to entangle, though--to make him consider, make him question. This would be a slow attrition, a thousand carefully placed allusions and insinuations about his unknown past, leaving the boy always waiting for and wanting more.