AN: I just want to say again thanks for the many messages of condolences that I have received following my husband's death. I continue to slowly heal and I have found that writing is helping. I apologise for taking so long to update this tale and I assure you that I am continuing to write it, but updates will be slow and sporadic simply due to Real Life. Sorry...

Many Thanks to Kazlynh for beta reading.

All previous disclaimers apply...

Dark Times:

Absolute

Part Two

The Millennium Falcon dropped from hyperspace on the edge of the small solar system. Luke watched with fascination as Han and Chewbacca took her around the outer planets and asteroid bodies floating dead in space, all too far away from the system's sun to support life, but he could see the bio-domes of mining operations dotting the surface of several of the larger rocks.

Coming around a particularly huge planetary body, the green and blue sphere of Horaarn came into view and Luke felt the familiar spike of excitement at the thought of stepping onto yet another new world. Despite being off Tatooine and out in the Galaxy for over two years now, he had still not lost that enthusiasm, that thrill and anticipation at the thought of stepping onto foreign soil – he hoped he never lost it, that he never became jaded by experience.

His feelings were cooled however by the familiar wedge-shape of an Imperial Star Destroyer locked against a huge space station that orbited the planet. He stiffened at the sight, felt Leia do likewise: despite their knowledge that this was a refuelling depot for the Imperials and that Horaarn was a supposedly neutral system.

As they approached he could see TIE fighters patrolling the area, could feel his pilot instincts kicking in and he itched to get into the cockpit of his fighter.

"Horaarn Control," Han spoke into the comm. "This is the consular ship, Millennium Falcon, on approach and requesting instructions and clearance to land."

Luke glanced at Leia, sitting behind Chewbacca, and smiled at her concerned expression. She had changed into a functional, but elaborate business suit, one more fitting to her rank and station as an Alliance representative and Princess. The dark green of the fabric suited her, accentuated her styled auburn hair and dark eyes, and he hadn't missed Han's reaction when she had stepped from the passenger compartment. The Corellian's mouth had literally hit the deck plates; even the sour faced Haslam had noticed the Princess' beauty.

Leia had ignored the stares of the men, had merely smiled graciously at Luke as he had tried to avert his gaze and nodded to the cabin stating, "Your turn, Luke."

Luke had changed into his dress uniform: a dark, almost black, grey outfit with pressed trousers and a long, stiff and starched, jacket that was belted at his waist by a band of gold and red trimmed fabric. The high collar rubbed annoyingly against his chin and, apart from his wings, his rank insignia and the ribbon representing the Alliance's medal of bravery that he had been awarded for the destruction of the Death Star, his uniform was unadorned.

It was probably the first, and the last, time he would wear it. It had been waiting on board the Falcon for him. The Alliance didn't have the need, or the resources, for dress uniforms for its personnel and Luke had no idea what the outfit's original purpose had been, or even who it had previously belonged, too.

He had stepped out of the cabin to be met with a "You scrub up good, kid," from Han and a soft kiss on his bruised cheek and a "you look very handsome," from Leia.

He had pulled on the jacket, self consciously playing with the collar and shrugged, noticing Thecla glancing away from him and Haslam staring with unhidden loathing.

Some things never changed.

"You look fine, Luke," Leia had assured him as he fidgeted with the sleeves.

"I'm just..." He touched the dressing on his face, a reminder of his altercation with Rhovan, of his recent emotional state. "I mean... I hope I don't screw this up."

Her eyes had darkened, her own concern flaring, briefly, but it was hidden behind the practised composure of Royalty and political finesse. "You'll be fine, Luke," she had assured him. "You only need to tell the committee what happened. Leave the explanations of the intelligence to me."

The two soldiers had likewise cleaned up and changed into fresh fatigues, but Han – ever stubborn – refused.

"They can take me how they find me," he had told Leia.

Now, watching Horaarn fill the cockpit window, Luke wasn't convinced of his ability to give explanations. He had no desire to sit in a room with a delegation of strangers and tell them of the battle of Cusrean. He had no desire to relive those chaotic moments of terror and indecision and explain why he fired upon the space station and killed over twenty thousand civilians.

But the Horaarns wanted to meet him, wanted to gauge him and listen to his account of the events. The Alliance was depending on him, and on Leia, to soothe the frayed ties with the Horaarns to maintain their vital support and supplies.

He caught Leia's eye and smiled nervously. She returned the smile, but it was fleeting as the tension mounted. Luke knew she was concerned for him, was concerned that Horaarn would pull their support from the Alliance and that they would need to seek aid and backing elsewhere in a Galaxy that had subtly stepped away from the Alliance following the battle of Cusrean.

And it was his fault; it was his actions that had lead them here.

The comm crackled to life. "Millennium Falcon, welcome to Horaarn. You are to take a standard arrival route to Rhuin. Vector Nine-Delta to land on platform five-nine-eight. Be aware of snow showers passing through and loss-of-speed windshear on final approach. First Minister Teraten and Ambassador Fuhret are waiting for you."

"Copy control," Han answered, bringing the Falcon down into the planet's atmosphere. The ship bucked as it hit turbulence. Chewbacca quickly compensated. "Vector Nine-Delta and platform five-nine-eight. Snow and windshear."

Luke grinned as the Falcon skimmed over thick dark clouds before plunging down through to find themselves in the midst of a heavy snow storm.

"Wow," Luke breathed, then stated the obvious. "Snow!"

Han threw him a dirty look before turning his full attention to bringing the Falcon down safely while muttering about ash clouds and snow storms and what was next? "Tornadoes? Ground quakes? I tell ya, sweetheart, you sure do pick 'em."

"Just bring us down in once piece, Han," Leia told him while patting his shoulder. She gestured to Luke. "Come on, Luke, let's get this over with."

He followed Leia to the hatch, activating See Threepio and Artoo Detoo as he passed them.

"Oh my, have we arrived?" the golden droid enquired as Artoo tooted and rolled after Luke.

"Get the bags, Threepio," Luke threw at him over his shoulder.

There was a slight jolt as the Falcon settled onto the landing platform, the hatch cracked open and the ramp lowered. Luke heard Leia draw in a breath of the cool air that blew into the ship, carrying with it a burst of snowflakes. She drew her shoulders back, glanced his way and smiled before starting down the ramp to meet the waiting dignitaries.

With his stomach churning, Luke did likewise, followed by his ever present escort and the two droids.

Waiting for them were two men. Standing in the steadily falling snow, the wind snapped the tails of their heavy black coats. It carried eddies of snowflakes to dance across the landing platform.

Behind them stood a formation of armed Horaarn soldiers.

Luke shivered in the cold, suddenly more concerned. "Leia..." he warned, needing to say no more.

"I see them," she told him as the two soldiers behind them stiffened. "Keep your weapons holstered," she cautioned.

The taller of the two men stepped forward. "Your Royal Highness," he gushed, raising his voice above the gale and bowed his head to her. "I am honoured to meet you again!"

"First Minister Teraten," Leia offered her hand. The First Minister took it and brushed his lips across the back of her fingers. "I trust you have been well."

"As always, Princess," he straightened, looked sober. "I have no words to express my sorrow for the loss of Alderaan."

Leia stiffened at the unexpected mention of her lost world. "I... thank you, First Minister, however..."

"Why is he not tethered?"

The sharp, bitter words drew all of their attention and Luke was horrified to find the second man staring at him.

Leia glanced between Luke and the man who had spoken. "Ambassador," there was a bite to her tone. "Lieutenant-Commander Skywalker is..."

"An unstable criminal, under arrest and escort by your own people. Horaarn law demands that he be..."

Luke blanched, shifted his feet in the snow. He hadn't even opened his mouth to speak and he was already causing trouble for the mission.

"Luke is not a criminal," Leia drew herself to her full height, indignant and angry and faced the ambassador. "He has not been convicted of any crime and..."

"He stands accused of..."

"Please!" Leia raised her voice, her tone clipped with anger. "Let me finish speaking, Ambassador Furet!"

The First minister stepped between them. "This is neither the time, nor the place for this," he placated. "We are all getting cold and should be indoors!" He looked sternly at the Ambassador who shot Luke another venomous glance and took a step back, capitulating to his superior with a small bow.

Teraten turned to Leia. He looked apologetic, embarrassed. "Your Highness, I am sorry. Feelings are running high since the deaths of our Cusrean cousins and we were given assurances that the Lieutenant Commander would be suitably restrained."

Leia sighed, shivered with cold. "I doubt that the Lady Mothma meant that he would be physically restrained. We have an escort for him and Luke is quite capable of..."

"What's goin' on?"

Luke groaned at the sound of Solo's voice from behind them. His tone suggested he knew exactly what was going on. This was could easily get out of hand now that Han had joined them.

Leia hid her exasperation well. "First Minister, Ambassador, this is Captain Han Solo."

The Horaarns both nodded their greetings.

Solo ignored them, kept his eyes on the ranks of armed soldiers and came around beside Leia, raising his voice to be heard over the growing wind. "So... why are we all waitin' in the cold?"

Luke noticed that Solo's holster was unbuckled and his blaster's safety was off.

"Han," Leia started, a warning clear in her voice. "The situation is..."

Giving very little thought to what he doing, acting purely on impulse, Luke stepped forward, addressing the First Minister.

"Sir," he began, his throat dry, not really knowing what he was doing or what consequences he faced for breaking protocol, just knowing he had to do something to ease the growing tension. "I am a visitor to Horaarn and unsure of your laws. If Horaarn law demands me to be..." he searched for the term the ambassador used, "uh... tethered, then I willingly submit myself to your authority."

"Like hell you will," Han told him.

"This isn't your call, Han," Luke glared back at the Corellian, willing him to back down.

Leia stepped in front of Han, keeping herself between the smuggler and the Horaarns and nodded at Thecla to come forward. Luke held his wrists out toward her, ready for the cuffs that the sergeant took from her belt.

"No," the ambassador protested stepping forward once more. "Skywalker clearly said Horaarn authority and as a..." he hesitated, seemed to consider his words before continuing with sarcasm dripping from his next word, "... suspected criminal he must be held in accordance with our laws." He waved at the waiting soldiers.

Luke swallowed, suddenly anxious, suddenly afraid as the soldiers came forward, realising that he had just made a potentially serious mistake.

Solo pulled his blaster, Thecla and Haslam likewise raised their weapons.

"Oh, my!" Threepio exclaimed, toddling backward as Artoo whistled.

The Horaarn troopers stopped and raised their own guns.

"Chewie!" Han bellowed.

There was a whine from behind them as the Falcon's hidden cannons dropped from the hull and turned in their direction.

"Shit..." Luke breathed, wishing he had kept his mouth shut.

"Han!" Leia started, trying to retrieve the situation, trying to reassert some semblance of control over her delegation. The last thing the Alliance needed was an interplanetary incident that could see them about-turned and sent home, or gunned down on this snow swept platform. "Stand down! We are on a diplomatic mission and..."

"Then shouldn't the kid be under diplomatic immunity?" Han pointed out waiving toward Luke with his free hand.

Leia shook her head, raised her voice over the growing gale. "Han, any argument we could have had for diplomatic status was given up as soon as Luke submitted himself to Horaarn law. We have to abide by his choice and the legal system of this planet!"

"Like hell we do!" Han told her. "The kid doesn't know what he's doing!"

"The kid does!" Luke burst angrily; temper frayed by Solo's well meaning interference and his own understanding of why Han was standing up for him. He knew what Solo was doing, he knew why and how he must have looked just a day ago – lost in a fugue, acting on instinct and feelings, alone, lost in the memories of his incarceration on Escaal, of the fiasco over Cusrean, lost in guilt over his actions.

"Han, I have to do this... the Alliance..."

Han's mouth turned down. "The Alliance bedamned, Luke. I ain't letting you do this, I ain't letting them lock you up again."

He didn't want locked up either, didn't want to sit in a black cell and wonder what was going to happen to him. However, he had made his choice, and the Horaan's were not the Empire – they were allies. The only questions he would face were those posed by the committee, the only pain he would suffer was being separated from his friends.

Luke forced a smile and a chuckle, trying to mellow the Corellian's ire. "They're not the Empire, besides how are you going to stop me? Shoot them and start a diplomatic incident?"

Han knew what the kid was doing. He knew what was at stake here, knew what the Alliance - what Leia - stood to lose here should shots be fired. He knew what the Empire stood to gain. But that didn't mean he had to like it – or be happy to go along with it.

He knew, too, what the kid was sacrificing by volunteering himself into Horaarn custody. He reluctantly thumbed the safety on and holstered his weapon.

"No, I'm gonna shoot you," he warned Luke as Thecla and Haslam likewise lowered their weapons and the Falcon's guns retracted.

The Horaarn First Minister nodded to his soldiers and they swarmed toward Luke, took his arms and moved him away from Han and Leia. He was turned around, a thick, heavy metal belt was secured around his waist, and his hands were brought behind him and cuffed into restraints that were welded to the belt. A line dropped and his ankles were likewise shackled.

He fought his initial panic, the rush of consternation, the whine of white noise that filled his senses and made clear thinking difficult. He had to fight it; he had to struggle to remain calm at the feel of cool fetters around his limbs once more. He had to keep telling himself this was not Escaal, these people were not Rhovan and that his tormentor was back on Adralii with the Alliance.

He could hear Leia and Han protest about the "excessive restraints," and Artoo shrieking as the locks were secured.

He was turned back around and pushed forward by the lead trooper toward the landing platform's exit and the speeders that sat there gathering snow.

"Master Luke!" Threepio exclaimed, helplessly.

"Wait!" Leia called, stalling Luke's removal. Turning to the First Minister she asked, "Where are you taking him?"

"The Lieutenant Commander will be taken to a secure facility," the First Minister explained to Leia. "He will be held there until the committee has convened to review the events over Cusrean." He seemed to see her concern, her worry and hastened to reassure her. "You have my word that he will be well treated and released back to your custody as soon as the proceedings are concluded."

"I want to be able to see him," the Princess demanded.

Teraten nodded. "Of course... although I feel the holding facility would not be appropriate for your highness. We shall have the Lieutenant Commander brought to your apartments before the committee meeting convenes in the morning. Will that suffice?"

Leia reluctantly nodded, knowing that was the only concession she was going to get at this point. Deeply uneasy and unhappy at this turn of events she turned to her friend. Luke seemed to be muttering to himself and something wrenched within her when she was close enough to hear what he was saying.

"I'm okay," he was whispering. "I'm okay...I'm okay..."

Luke felt a hand on his bruised and cut cheek and only then did he realise his eyes were closed. He opened them, looked down as Leia reached up and kissed his cheek. "You really are an idiot, Luke," she chided, softly.

He shrugged, tried to grin, and blinked away the snowflakes that landed on his eyes lashes. "I'll be fine." It was only a few days, a few days and they would be leaving this place.

"I'll see you tomorrow for the hearing," she assured him. "Then we leave, I promise."

His arms were taken as the phalanx of troopers closed in around him and he was half marched, half dragged across the snow-covered landing platform.

"I'm going with him," Han told them moving forward, his voice still tight with fury.

"I'm sorry, Captain," Teraten stopped him; "You shall remain here with your ship, as will the escort the Alliance provided for Skywalker."

Incredulous anger flushed Han's features. He looked to Leia for her support, but she shook her head, her eyes pleading with him not to take this too far, not to push the situation.

"My place is with Luke or the Princess," he argued, trying to temper his anger, trying not to let his gut instinct that this situation stank like a Gundark's nest override his common sense. There was more going on here than just a committee meeting. Luke being locked up was just a small part of it.

Han knew that if he pressed too far he could trip whatever trap the Horaarn's had them in. That would force them to show their hand before he was ready and that could be fatal for Leia, for Luke, for them all.

The Ambassador stepped in at Han's words, his tone demeaning and derogatory. "You are extremely lucky, Captain, that you are not accompanying your young friend to prison given your display of a few moments ago. Any further infraction on your part and you, the Princess and Skywalker will be expelled from Horaarn and our support for the Alliance will be withdrawn completely."

Han could hear the lie in the Ambassador's words and he knew that expulsion was not an option. He didn't know what the Horaarn's were planning but he had a feeling the Empire was somehow involved.

"Now, Fuhret," the First Minister admonished, "there is no need for that. The Princess and her friends are guests. Let us put this unpleasant incident behind us." He offered Leia his arm. "Your Highness let me get you out of this storm and to your accommodation, and may I invite you to dinner this evening?"

Leia shot a final warning glance at Han, caught his eyes, shook her head, kept her back to the Horaarns and mouthed "I know."

She turned then and took the First Minister's offered arm, smiling. "I would be delighted to join you, Minister Teraten." She glanced at the two waiting droids. "Threepio, Artoo, with me."

Han watched them go, pulled the collar of his coat up around his neck and shivered. There was a scoff behind him.

"That went well," Thecla observed, dryly.

Solo shot her a foul look and strode up the ramp of the Falcon. Chewbacca was waiting for him just inside the hatch. He raised an index finger and warned, "Not a word!" as he strode to the cockpit.

He threw himself into his seat, gazing out at the snow as it blanketed the landing platform and stole any view he may have of the surrounding city.

He was aware of Chewbacca and the two soldier's entering after him, listened as Chewbacca softly woofed his concern and Thecla asked, "What do we do now, sir?"

That was a good question. What did they do?

He had been separated from the Princess and Luke and he had feeling that this would have happened even if he hadn't drawn his weapon. He knew they had been played, the Princess knew it, and dammit even Luke couldn't be that naive.

And Luke was alone.

They could have tried to pull out, called Horaarn a loss and returned to the Alliance. But Han's instinct told him they wouldn't have been allowed to leave, knew that Leia had felt the same. He had a feeling that secured to the buildings surrounding them and hidden by the snow storm were turbo cannons pointing at his ship, at them.

This felt planned, felt like there was a lot more going on here than some diplomatic talks and negotiations.

This definitely felt like the Empire.

"Chewie," he said, making his mind up. "I want you to make sure the Falcon's a hundred percent, I have a feeling we'll be blasting out of here..."

The Wookiee barked, laughed.

Han grinned. "Yeah, just like Tatooine, only more intense."

"And us, Captain?"

Han glanced around at the non-com. "Sergeant, I want you and your Dug..." he paused as he sensed the larger man stepping forward and Thecla moving in front of him. Han grinned, not looking back. "... to patch into their communications, see if you can find anything in their transmissions."

"Anything, else?"

"Keep your weapons at hand and fully charged. For now we wait."

"For what?"

"For Leia to make contact with us and tell us what she needs or for the Horaan's to make their next move."

Haslam snorted, the sound setting Han's teeth on edge. "Any communications with us will be monitored," he pointed out.

"Yup," Solo conceded, with a nod, "but Leia has something they don't."

"What's that?" the sergeant asked.

"Artoo Detoo," Han told them, smiling at the storm that raged outside.

ooOOoo

Luke leaned the back of his head against the headrest of the speeder seat and drew in a slow, calming breath as he watched the pilot in front manoeuvre the vehicle through the billowing snow and into the traffic lanes of the Horaarn capital. He could barely see out of the window and had no idea of the route being taken. He knew very little about this world, these people and their customs and he didn't know where they were taking him.

He shifted slightly, trying to ease the chaffing of the cuffs on his wrists, aware of the wary glances that he received from the two soldiers sitting either side of him.

The city fell away to suburbs and then to open country and still the speeder continued through the snow.

Luke swallowed, feeling his anxiety levels increasing with each kilometre they travelled. It coiled in his belly, quickening his breathing. They could be taking them anywhere. They could be taking him to hand over to the Empire...

... "We will speak at length, one young."...

... they could be taking him to a quiet spot to put a blaster to his skull...

... "Wait! Not like this, not on my knees. Please."

He closed his eyes, willing away the sudden images of Vader and Taln: one leaning in with a warning, the other pointing a blaster at his head while he pleaded for his life.

He cleared his throat, gathered his courage and asked, "Where are you taking me?"

The soldier beside him regarded him for a moment and Luke had to wonder what impression he made; all dressed up in finery with a bandaged and bruised face.

To his surprise the soldier answered. "To the Rhuin Penitentiary. You are to be held there until the committee hearing has convened."

The man's words did nothing to ease his anxieties. Although each world had their own names for prisons, with the same words sometimes having different meanings, Luke knew that, on most, the word "Penitentiary" was generally used to house convicted criminals, ones who were to serve long sentences for violent crime. They were not generally used to hold prisoners on remand, or suspects during investigations, or guests at diplomatic negotiations.

He moved in his seat again, trying to lessen the discomfort of his bound arms and gazed out of the speeder watching the countryside rushing by in the thickening snow, wishing he could relieve his disquiet as easily.

Something was very wrong here.

ooOOoo

The tiny hologram flickered, almost died before the systems kicked in to compensate for interference.

"My...ord... Vad..."

Darth Vader's fists tightened with frustration at the minor glitch and he allowed his life support system to draw a breath and exhale, taking the time the cycle took to temper and calm his irritation, his desire to simply sweep down to Horaan and take his son by force.

However, that approach had failed in the past and Luke had escaped each time he had tried to grasp onto him.

A more surreptitious approach was required, one that Luke could not fight against, one where he would have little chance of escape, one that would necessitate his being placed into the Empire's custody.

One that would publically reveal to the Galaxy what his son was capable of, that would further damage the Rebellion's credibility to the population of the Empire and leave the Alliance floundering for support and his son in his father's care.

And it would be done legally, to the letter of the law and not hidden behind euphemisms or fabricated rationales for conquest and destruction.

There would be little, or no, blood spilled.

So here he waited, in the shadow of a huge planetary body, concealed behind a massive piece of rock where he had hidden as his son had passed by in the Millennium Falcon. All communications to planet below had been locked down and jammed, picked up only by the Executor's systems.

The Alliance had sent an urgent message to their emissaries imploring them to abandon the mission and to return, which meant that, somehow, the Rebels had got wind of something, that somehow they had figured out that the invite from Horaarn was not everything it had initially appeared to be.

He smiled beneath his mask, the message had not reached the Millennium Falcon and, as the ship had passed their hiding place, Vader had veiled his presence lest Luke's budding Force abilities had sensed him.

Although he was confident that the Alliance would not wish bloodshed on a neutral planet by sending a large scale force he had still put his forces on alert for any foolhardy rescue effort that the Rebels may attempt.

"Report," Vader barked at the hologram once the signal had been boosted.

"It was been done, my Lord," the figure told him. "Skywalker and his companions reacted as you predicted. He is currently incarcerated in our penal facility, the Princess Leia Organa is alone in the diplomatic apartments and the rest of the Alliance personnel remain sequestered on their ship. They are of course under observation and the landing platform is under heavy guard."

Pushing down the impulse to rush to the planet's surface and take Luke now, Vader smiled behind his mask. "You have done well. Ensure that all are well treated and come to no harm – especially Skywalker."

First Minister Teraten bowed. "As you wish, My Lord."

The hologram flickered and died, its light fading leaving his chamber in silence and in darkness.

ooOOoo

The spiralling lane of hyperspace raged beyond the cockpit of the A4 Y-Wing that the Alliance had given him for his journey to Horaarn. The Chief Technician had taken him through the foibles of this particular vessel and Rhovan had the distinct feeling that had his mission not been a rescue attempt, she probably wouldn't have taken the time to explain that the shielding needed constant oscillation to maintain its strength. Nor would she have told him about the sluggish acceleration or the missing laser cannon that would leave him vulnerable to his portside should he come under attack..

"...but, you know," she shrugged, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It'll get you there."

The unsaid implication was that it may get him to Horaarn but it might not get him back.

It seemed that Skywalker and his friend Antilles, had now told their entire squad and the tech crew who he was and what he had once been.

Not that it unduly concerned him.

He was what he was and he always did what he had to do no matter the cost to others, or to himself.

He yawned, winced as the movement aggravated his healing nose, tried to relax into the pilot's seat and closed his eyes. He should try to sleep now; he should get what rest he could as he had no idea when he would get the chance to do so again.

But his mind was too active, his thoughts racing over and over possible scenarios for whatever action it was that Vader was planning to take. Was it a simple lure, were the Princess, Skywalker and their companions simply going to be arrested on landing?

He shook his head. No, that was too overt.

The Empire had worked hard at building up the facade of providing relief at Cusrean, at being the caring benefactors to the displaced peoples of that planet, of retrieving bodies from the ruined space station to give back to grieving families.

They were, therefore, unlikely to march on to Horaarn and subjugate a planet that had close ties with the victim of the Alliance attack.

So why was Vader there?

Had he been invited to the negotiations, too?

And if so, for what purpose?

These were talks between the Alliance and the Horaarns – a meeting to salvage relationships. Why would the Empire be invited when their trade agreements and relationship remained good?

He sighed, fighting the pain in his face.

Vader was there for Luke. There was no doubt of that fact. Vader was there to take his son.

But how?

How was he going to accomplish that without aggression and without adding Horaarn to the Empire by conquest, therefore negating the facade they had worked so hard at Cusrean to create in their attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Alliance.

The Empire had no legal jurisdiction on Horaarn so how could the Dark Lord justify interrupting talks to arrest Skywalker? He had no grounds - unless the Horaarns had agreed to join the Empire after the Cusrean incident.

His stomach wrenched with cool anxiety, uneasiness settling over him.

No matter what the scenario, he had to find a way to get to Skywalker.

Get to him and get him out. Or, failing that, neutralise him.

ooOOoo