'Happy Rebirth Day'

Chapter 11

'Owww… don't you think that thing's dialed a little high," Han asked in protest as the Dr. grabbed his arm readying him for his personal tracker.

"I haven't even touched you yet, ya big baby." The Dr. answered.

"Big baby, big baby am I, Dr. do you see these red stripes on my pants, do you know what they mean?" Han asked insulted.

The Doctor eyed Han's pants then responded, I've seen pants like this before, the Candy striper at the hospital was wearing them, so you're a candy striper?" the Dr. asked in return.

"NO!" Han replied now very insulted, "These are Corellian blood stripes and not just any one can get them you have to earn them."

"Well even a candy striper has to earn their stripes, now sit still I'm about to inject your tracker." The Dr. shot back knowing he was getting Han's goat.

Han winced a little as the tracker was injected into him, rubbing his arm where the Dr. had injected him at. The Dr. then motioned for Luke to step up, then Chewie where Luke was the easiest to do; Chewie was a little angry and less co-operative than Han was. Twice he shoved the Doctor, and the third time he tried Han intervened telling the doctor that twice was too much and he'd better let Han do it.

"How can I be sure that you'll inject him if I don't do it?" the Dr. asked.

"Look you want to do it by all means go right a head but I can't guarantee that your arms will remain where you comfortable with them," Han replied.

The Dr., not sure what that meant got a clue as Han made a gesture letting the Dr. know that Chewie might rip them off.

"Oh I see," he said getting the picture, "no I like my arms just where they are, you know I was born with them."

"Really now and here I thought you had just bought them," Han said sarcastically, "if I may Dr. we have a job to do," Han asked pointing to the injector.

"Oh by all means, just let me get a better view so I can make sure you inject your friend.

"Yeah what ever you say, hold still Chewie," Han said to Chewie not waiting for the Dr. to get into position.

With that done Han, Luke, and Chewie left the med center not even wishing the Dr. a good day, but where were they to go, and more so where was the amnesiac Darth Vader. Stopping Luke was shaking his head as he asked the Dr. where they were to go.

"Um- Doc where is our subject?"

"I was wondering where you were going too, your subject is just in the other room, now we've had to make some adjustments to his suit and he may look a little different than your use to but I assure you gentlemen he'll be right as rain by the time he's ready to leave our quaint little planet," The Dr. replied.

"Different, how different could a guy in an all black suit look?" Han asked in return.

What they saw when they entered Lord Vader's room was shocking to say the least. His helmet which was and always had been shinny and black was now a bright and a dull orange. Han did all he could to hold back his laughter as did Luke and Chewie.

"I knew you'd react like this," the Dr. said, "Now he's in a delicate state and thinks that he has to where that suit while he heals from his injuries, I'd advise you… not to add to his trauma it could be devastating to him."

"Aw the poor little pumpkin head," Han replied, "what abot all the devastation he's caused."

"Never the less he is a VIP from the Empire and is to be treated as such—is that clear- gentlemen?" the Dr. stressed to each of them.

"Oh crystal clear," Luke replied with a chuckle still staring at Vader's helmet.

"Gentleman I'll give you all of three seconds to compose you selves before I call Lord Vader over—starting now," the Dr. warned.

The Dr. stood hands on his hips tapping his foot as though he were addressing three mischievous children, when he was satisfied that they'd control there comments and behaviors he called to Lord Vader.

"Milord if you wouldn't mind there are some people here that I think you should meet." The Dr. called over. But when Lord Vader stood up, what the Dr., Luke, Han, and Chewie saw was to say the least humiliating but hilarious at the same time.

"Hi guys," Lord Vader replied waving his hand, there was nothing funny about that except what the four hadn't seen was that Lord Vader had been finger painting and his hands were covered with paint- bright green paint, and when he wave to them it went everywhere. Even the Dr. found it difficult to contain his laughter but did so, turning to Han, Luke, and Chewie, and with a half smile, and clenched teeth he urged them not to laugh. Gathering all the composure he could he turned back to Lord Vader introducing the three he'd brought with him.

"Ah Milord these three fine gentlemen have agreed to escort you around Paulking during your stay here they will show you to your quarters and be at your command should you need anything."

Han surprised at what he just heard tapped the Dr. on the shoulder trying to explain that, that wasn't the deal.

"Um excuse me but the Grand Marshall said we could do this from a far, we're not his personal entourage."

"Well you are now, due to what I've just seen I am altering the deal, pray that I don't alter it more," the Dr. replied through clenched teeth not letting Lord Vader hear that he was not happy with Lord Vader's behavior.

"I don't think you can do that," Chewie chimed in.

The Dr. unable to understand the Wookie looked to Han and Luke for a translation.

"Ah, he says… that… you don't have the authority to alter the deal and we don't have to listen to you," Han translated.

"You're sure he said those exact word, because to me his sentence wasn't that long?" the Dr. asked in return.

"Well… basically that's what he said," Luke replied.

"Basically huh, hold that thought for a sec," the Dr. said pulling his comlink out.

"Grand Marshall this is Dr. Killemall there has been a development with Lord Vader it seems I have to alter the deal with our three friends here and they need to stay with him as in close by, is there a problem with that?"

The Grand Marshall heard the message then replied after a second, "what ever you feel is necessary Dr. if our friends disagree just remind them of the resort we can send them too should they refuse, Grand Marshall out."

"There you have it gentlemen, everything is authorized, any more questions?" The Dr. asked with a smirk.

"No," Han, and Luke answered while Chewie just gave the Dr. a hard stare picturing him with no arms.

"If you'll follow me I believe introductions are in order."

Han and Luke just stared at the Dr., then to Lord Vader, then at each other, Chewie was just looking at Han as if saying.

"You're the boss I do what you do."

"Aaa… gentlemen this way… over here, this way," the Dr. announced trying to get their attention.

Reluctantly the three followed the Dr. and as he made the intros Han, Luke, and Chewie waited to find them selves either dead, or on their way to being executed.

"Lord Vader I'd like you to meet the three gentlemen that have volunteered to be your escorts during your stay with us here," the Dr. said.

"Oh I'm to have escorts, hi guys," Lord Vader said looking past the Dr.

Han and his companions just waved back nonchalantly, half smiles on there face's, except for Chewie who looked like a rabid Bantha ready to strike.

"Ew what's wrong with that one he doesn't look very happy," Lord Vader replied seeing Chewie's expression.

Han elbowed Chewie who immediately stopped smiling, "Oh that's just the way a Wookie smiles Milord," Han answered with a slight bow.

"Oh-ok then you guys wanna finger paint with me it's lots of fun plus you get to get messy."

"Well you gentlemen seem to have things in hand, so I'll leave you to your duties," the Dr. said with a smile, "Oh and Lord Vader is too return here at the days end so we can get updates from his suit and monitor his progress," he added with a wink.

Walking away Luke could hear the Dr. talking to him self saying.

"Oh this just won't do he's regressing to a child… more tests-- oh much more test will be needed."

Luke watched as the Dr. left the room and then knew that this detail wasn't about to be a short one and that wouldn't do soon the Alliance would become worried when they didn't check in and knowing Leia and Mon Mothma, they'd sent a task force to find them. That in mind he tapped Han on the shoulder who was watching Lord Vader finger paint and he in turn was motioning for them to join him.

"Um," Luke whispered, "this may take longer than we thought we need to get a message through to home and let them know what's going on."

"No can do kid- ships locked up tighter than an air lock, you heard the Grand Marshall we even go near the spaceport and we're on a ship to the Kessel retreat, you're gonna have to think of something else," Han replied, giving Chewie a nudge he ordered-with a smile, "Chewie get in there and play with Lord Vader."

Emperor Palpatine sat at his desk, deeply enthralled with his fish. He had his finger on the side of the bowl moving it about and was over joyed that the fish was following his finger.

"Yes… that's my little pooky follow daddies finger around… would you like some food?"

He was just about to add a pinch of fish food to the bowl when his personal secretary entered the office.

"My Emperor, it's been several days sense we've heard from Lord Vader and I have it on good knowledge, well I heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who over heard it from someone else that an accident has befallen Lord Vader."

"Oh no that's not good; I hope he brought some band aids with him if he gets an infection, oooo just the thought of it sends a chill down my spine." The Emperor commented not taking his eyes of his fish bowl.

The secretary waited for several moments for an answer and one didn't come he reiterated his statement.

"Um hello there did you hear what I said, Lord Vader has had an accident, shouldn't we at least call to see how he's doing?"

"WHAT! Can't you se that I'm busy," the Emperor said startled, "Oh… the Vader thingy, yeah what ever- I have more important things to do right now, have you seen this, Pooky follows my finger around, he's so smart."

"He a regular genius, another two million years and he'll replace us on the evolutional scale, now about Lord Vader?" the secretary again asked now a little annoyed.

"Yes, yes do what ever is needed, now leave me I need to get back to Pooky," the Emperor ordered waving his hand.

"Do what ever? Ok so what ever we do you be sure and let me know what that is… my Emperor," the secretary replied totally disgusted and leaving.

"Oh yes very good Pooky won't Lord Vader be surprised when he returns and see's the new trick you can do, I'm so happy I may declare it a holiday." Emperor Palpatine said to him self.