NINETEEN
The Mon Calamari cruiser Liberty was abuzz with activity. Frantic officers hurried left and right, unsure of what to do. Leia had to dodge them carefully. The reason for all this was beyond belief.
Several hours ago, Rogue Squadron had intercepted an Imperial shuttle exiting hyperspace at the former rendezvous point. When questioned, a tired Luke answered the comm, though he was reluctant to identify the three passengers. After Wedge had fired on the vessel to render it harmless, Luke stopped answering his questions. The request for medics did nothing to alleviate Leia's unease.
Then the unthinkable happened. Once the shuttle arrived in Rebel space, none other than Darth Vader- or at least someone with his voice -answered the comm. After a heated debated it was decided to wait until after the shuttle had set down and Vader's identity confirmed before making any moves. It might even be some impostor with a twisted sense of humor...or a death wish. Every single pilot in the Rebellion wanted a clean shot at the Dark Lord and none of them would hesitate if given the chance.
But what if it wasn't an impostor? What if it really was Vader on that shuttle? If so, why would Luke bring him back? Had he been captured as a prisoner and then broken loose from his bonds? The idea that even a young, skilled warrior like Luke could take down Vader was ridiculous. This had to be some sort of ruse. Only Leia's concern for Luke kept the gunners from blasting the shuttle to oblivion.
That didn't mean the Rebels were going to take any chances. Every single security officer, sniper, and fleet trooper was sent to the hangar with orders to open fire if there were any moves of aggression.
Of course, if it really was Vader on that shuttle, blasters would be useless. The man could easily deflect the bolts with lightsaber and Force, disarm the troopers, and then march in, spreading death and destruction with each step. The contingency plan was a pair of snipers stationed at either end of the hangar. Rather than blasters they held tranquilizer guns such as were used for large animals. Assuming some part of Vader was actually flesh and blood, they could take him down with the element of surprise and enough sedatives to knock out a bantha.
The former Princess of Alderaan felt her heart pounding with anticipation and dread as she raced along the corridors toward the hangar. She wanted so badly to see Luke and know that he was going to be all right...but she was in no hurry to meet Vader again.
Presently Han, who was hard on her heels, gave her arm an encouraging squeeze.
Leia bit her lip. She'd told him not to come. He'd already gone against Vader and failed. But Han wouldn't take no for an answer. He wanted to see Luke just as much as she did. Leia was grateful for his presence and almost smiled at him.
Han's expression was grim as he hurried along beside her. While one hand rested in the curve of Leia's back, the other was on his blaster. His reaction to the news had bounced between anger and disbelief. He spoke with confidence that Luke had given Vader hell...though even he had to admit the idea of anyone dragging the Sith Lord along after physically defeating them was ludicrous. He wanted to know what had possessed Luke to leave Vader alive...unless things had gone sour and now Vader was the one with Luke as a prisoner, playing passive until the time was right and he could toss everyone aside like rag dolls. Even now, he could have been faking his 'defeat'. All this could be a trick to get inside and wipe out what was left of the Rebellion.
For this reason Han had insisted on Chewbacca taking both droids to the Falcon. While now an officer in the Alliance and dedicated to defending his fellow Rebels, Han's main concern was for Leia. If everything went to hell and it was every man for himself, Han planned to drag her and as many friends as he could grab back to the Falcon and beat a path out of there. No sense in everyone losing their lives...and he'd be damned if he saw Leia back in the clutches of that monster.
The shuttle had just landed a matter of minutes ago, but the hangar was already crowded. Everyone with a blaster was ready and waiting as the loading ramp lowered and the door slid open.
Leia found herself shaking as she edged in beside Madine. His blaster was already drawn. As he turned to her to get permission for the occupants to emerge, she saw how uneasy his blue eyes were. Leia suppressed a shudder as she nodded. Here we go.
Madine thumbed on his commlink. "Imperials coming out. Squad leaders, stand ready. Watch your friendlies." With a swallow he raised his voice. "Attention, shuttle crew and passengers! We have the ramp completely surrounded! Come out, one at a time, hands behind your head. Come quietly, and none of you will be harmed. Any moves of aggression, and we will open fire." He swallowed as a shadow entered the doorway. "Now...come down the ramp slowly..." He signaled the fleet troopers kneeling in the front row to aim their blasters at the ramp.
Wide-eyed with confusion and fear, a single black-garbed pilot edged down the ramp, hands behind his head. "H-hey...easy, don't...don't shoot. I'm unarmed, all right?"
Once the man was clear, a fleet trooper moved in with a pair of cuffs. He was marched directly to Leia. "You're in the custody of the Rebel Alliance. Cooperate, and you'll be treated fairly. Understood?"
The pilot gulped. "Yes, Ma'am. Stang..." he looked around at the serious company.
"All right, now I want you to answer me quickly and truthfully. How many more are aboard that shuttle?"
"Uh...th-three...another crewman...Vader, and...some blond commander I've never seen before. He must be one of you, 'cause he stunned us."
Han stepped forward hopefully. "What happened? The blond commander; what's his name? Is he all right?"
Leia held out a hand to slow Han down. The grilling would have to wait. "Not now, Han. Lieutenant, take this man to the brig. We'll send his companion to join him. Thank you, Commander," nodded Leia to the Imperial.
"I dunno who he is," gulped the pilot as he was led away. "All I know is he doesn't look too good."
Leia's stomach clenched and he had to hold Han back again from asking more questions. The second crewman came down and was taken into custody. He reconfirmed the news about 'Vader and the blond kid.' He also confirmed that both were hurt, and the last he'd seen, the 'kid' was unconscious. Hold on, Luke...she turned to Madine. "General, is the medical team down here yet?" he asked with a catch in her voice.
Madine nodded. "Standing by, Princess. Remaining passengers, exit slowly with your hands behind your head!"
After a long moment passed, the sound of filtered breathing entered the hangar. Every Rebel present gave an involuntary shudder. Several took a step or two back and checked the safeties on their blasters.
Leia stiffened as Darth Vader edged into view. Brief memories flashed in her mind. Torture aboard the Death Star...his iron grip on her shoulder as Alderaan was destroyed...his cold stillness in the carbon freezing chamber. The young woman took a deep breath to try and calm her ragged nerves. She felt Han stiffen in turn beside her, saw his glare out of the corner of her eye and heard the click of his blaster. On impulse she took his free hand.
Around them, every Rebel in the first two rows checked their aim, tensing and preparing to fire. A couple glanced at Leia for the word. Madine lifted his brows, asking the same question; So do we shoot him, or not?
The whole of them flinched when Vader spoke. "I surrender. Do with me what you wish, but… Commander Skywalker must have medical care."
"What'd you do to him?" blurted Han, his voice strangled with emotion. He aimed his blaster while knowing the Dark Lord could just rip it away with the Force as he had before.
"Come down the ramp...slowly," ordered Madine. He glanced desperately at Leia. "Princess, we have four security teams waiting, but if the rumors about him are true, no cell can hold him."
"I know..." Leia glared at the man in black even as she tried to see around him. "But we must keep our word. If we kill an unarmed man in cold blood, then we're no better than the Empire." The words tasted sour in her mouth, and she swallowed the bile that rose. "Do whatever you can think of to restrain him."
"Leia...this is Vader, we're talking about!" hissed Han. "Just let me shoot him."
"No," said Leia firmly. "It wouldn't do any good, remember?" She shuddered and tried to see past Madine. "Alert every level. Keep all corridors clear until Vader's in the brig. Back cell, solitary confinement, as much security as you can manage."
Vader edged clear of the door, one hand behind the head, the other in a sling.
Madine aimed his blaster again."Both hands, Vader. You can quit the injured act."
Slowly Vader lifted his left arm, wincing in the process, to bring it behind his head. The arm shook as he took further steps. He paused and glanced back inside. "Will you not see to Commander Skywalker?"
Han cursed. "It's a trap. He's using Luke as bait."
Leia grimaced. "Maybe. But hold your fire. That's an order," she glared. "General…are the snipers ready?"
Madine lifted a brow. "Both ready and waiting for word...but I don't know if those darts will make it though that armor."
"Aim for the bandage on his arm. I can see blood," gulped Leia. She prayed this gambit would work. "Give the word."
Madine picked up his comm. "Danson, you're clear. Aim for the bandage on Vader's left arm and fire when ready."
Two seconds later, a dart flew into Vader's left arm. He grunted in pain, looked down at the dart, and immediately began wavering on his feet. "Luke..." he muttered as the sedative kicked in. He collapsed to the ramp with a loud crash.
A full minute passed before Madine cleared the security teams to move in. Every type of restraint they had, from stun cuffs to simple leather straps, was used before the large, hulking prisoner was dragged away, a wide path clearing around them.
Once Vader was gone, Han and Leia didn't wait any longer. They hurried up the ramp, waving the medics in behind them. "Luke!" cried Leia when she found him. He was on the floor, stirring and looking disoriented. A nasty bruise adorned his head and his right hand was missing.
Presently the young pilot lifted his head, light filling his tired blue eyes. "Leia...Han?" He rose unsteadily to greet them. "Han...you're all right!" The boy's limbs shook, and he stumbled.
Leia and Han caught him and sat him back down, arms enfolding the tired, wounded youth. "Okay. Okay, buddy," murmured Han. A unexpected lump came to his throat as he and Leia hugged the young man.Poor guy's all beat up. Urgently he waved the medics over with a free hand.
"Han, I didn't think I'd see you again," said Luke in a hoarse voice. "Vader told me about the bounty hunter..." His voice broke completely, and quiet tears flowed.
"Hey," croaked Han, rubbing his friend's back. "Don't you start gettin' mushy. Whaddya, think some old buckethead'ed get the best of me? I'm all right, pal." He pulled back to give Luke a crooked smile.
Luke wiped his eyes, smiling back. "I'm just so glad to see both of you...glad to be back." He tried pushing to his feet, but his friends held him down. "I'm all right," he insisted, though his rapid blinks and grimaces were enough to tell anyone he was in pain.
Leia gently gripped his shoulder. "Shh. Luke, stay put. You're hurt." Her eyes darted to his vacant wrist. While it seemed healed, the sight was still a shock. His hand is gone...I can't believe his hand is gone. "What happened? How much can you tell us?"
"Um..." Luke's hand went to his aching head as the medics started looking him over. "Ow," he winced when they probed the large bruise on his forehead.
"Easy, Commander," steadied the medic as he ran a scan from a miniature unit. "You've had a hell of a knock on the head, haven't you?" Luke nodded ruefully.
"How bad?" Leia wanted to know.
"Moderate to severe concussion," frowned the medic, moving his attention to Luke's arm. "We'll know more once we get him on the Redemption. How about the hand, Commander? Do you remember how and when you lost it?"
Luke winced at the memory and closed his eyes. "Bespin. Vader...we dueled..." The boy's eyes flew open in alarm and he looked around. "Where is he? You didn't kill him, did you?"
Han narrowed his eyes. "Don'cha worry 'bout him, kid. We ain't lettin' him anywhere near 'ya." He laid a comforting hand on Luke's shoulder. "Shoulda killed him, though..."
Luke let out a heavy sigh. He'd been hoping to tell his friends the truth about Vader...the fact that it was Anakin they now saw...that he was Luke's father. Not now, he reflected sadly.They wouldn't understand. "No...that's all right." He waited as the medics completed their exam and frowned when he saw the hover-gurney. "I can walk-" Pushing to his feet only resulted in his fatigued legs giving out on him and a wave of dizziness overtaking him.
"Easy, buddy. Let the medics take care of 'ya," Han said quietly.
"No...I'm just tired-"
"Shh. Hold still," hushed Leia. "Whenever you need to talk, we'll be there. Just take it easy for now."
Luke frowned, but didn't protest further. I'm home. My friends are safe. My father is here. Maybe now he could sleep without worry.
When the hover-gurney was raised, dizziness once more overtook him. This time he didn't fight it and let the sweet bliss of unconsciousness return.