Warning: Mild torture scene in the beginning. If you are sensitive, be cautioned. Thank you to How To Fight Write on Tumblr for some direction on descriptions used.
Thank you to my lovely Beta, SpellCleaver! She's the best!

When Luke opened his eyes, his vision was out of focus and a constant ringing filled his ears. He could hear his own breathing loud and clear, but the voices around him were distorted. For too long, he tried to make sense of what was happening-where was up and down? What position was he in?

Where was he?

He squeezed his eyes shut, releasing a groan. A split second later, a sharp pain reverberated at the top of his head, and his head was yanked up. A mustached man was right in his face, snarling something. Splittle flew from his mouth to hit his skin.

"Personal...space…" he gasped.

That earned him a swift punch to the face, and pain exploded through his jaw as his head whipped to the side, then dropped back to his chest. Coppery fluid-blood-filled his mouth, and he gagged, causing it to dribble out of his mouth and towards the floor.

Upright. He was upright.

And apparently, he'd pissed someone off.

Again.

The man was talking. He spat out more blood, trying to determine what he'd lost, why he was there with...with…

His arms were up. Chained up, reaching towards the ceiling.

And the feeling was coming back into his limbs far too quickly. He was suddenly aware of screeching pain tearing through his shoulders, but most especially through his left-

"I said," the man hissed, and Luke hardly had time to marvel that he could finally understand before something pressed into his bruised ribs. He gasped, gagged again on blood -tongue, he'd bitten his tongue-and coughed it out. "What is your name, little Jedi?"

Jedi. Mustache. Pirates. He was starting to remember, though everything was still a haze of agony…

"Black Sun," he managed. "You're...I know you."

A harsh laugh, and his head was being yanked up again by the hair. Tears sprang unwillingly to his eyes. "What, did you get brain damage in that crash?"

Crash. Right. That's why he was injured. His father was coming for him. Leia was coming for him. Where were they? He tried to remember the last conversation he had with them…

Come home, Luke.

"I thought you were dead," the man snarled, his face so close to Luke's that he could smell the rot in his breath. "If me and my crew had stayed aboard, maybe I'd be dead, too."

That's right. There'd been bodies. Charred bodies at the crash site.

"I figure, if they're dead, you're dead. Then one day some little girl comes lookin for you. And if she's lookin, then maybe you aren't dead. So I come back with my crew. Turns out we already got a base with resources, and we start searchin. Then you hand yourself over."

He was starting to remember the sound of the speeder, then the hunter, then…

He'd been stunned. This pirate had stunned him. And now he was hanging in...in some makeshift prison that looked more like a storage room…

"So. What. Is. Your. Name?"

"I already told your man," Luke spat. "Lars."

The man let go of his hair, and again Luke's head fell forward. "See, after the stunt you pulled, I find it difficult to believe anything you say."

"Then why bother asking?" The bleeding in his mouth seemed to be slowing down. At least, when he spat, there didn't seem to be as much blood.

"Because you're awfully familiar, Jedi."

Bile rose in his throat. What would this pirate do if he found out who he was? There were too many possibilities. Maybe, if he was lucky, he'd turn him in to Vader and unwittingly help him get home.

But then the pirate said, "That girl was familiar too. I looked her up. Turns out, she's Leia Organa."

Shit.

"Since I thought you were dead, I decided to take out my revenge on your friend. She escaped with the help of Darth Vader."

Again his hair was being yanked, and he groaned at the sharp pain at the back of his scalp. "Now. Why would Leia Organa, famed Rebel Princess, be working with Darth Vader to find a Jedi?"

He wasn't sure how to respond to that. At least not in a way that wouldn't get him turned over to the Emperor. Because that was the worst case scenario, right? What would his father do if he was handed over to the Emperor?

Sure, he'd planned on it at Bespin, but since then... he hadn't mentioned it.

In fact, Luke got the distinct impression he was trying to avoid it.

But he'd been wrong about his father before.

"Why the hell would I know?" was what he settled on. "Maybe you imagined Organa with him too-" he was cut off by a kick to the ribs, and without meaning to, he screamed. It felt as though his chest was on fire, and it was so damn difficult to breathe-

"Don't give me that bullshit!" the pirate snarled. "I know what you are. I know what I saw! You're a Jedi, and that girl was Leia Organa, and for some reason she and Darth Vader are working together and they're going after you! What is your name?!"

There were stars in his eyes, and he couldn't even think, let alone draw the breath it would take to answer.

"Answer me!"

"...Lars," he finally managed to wheeze out. "Moisture...farmer….Tatooine...ask anyone…"

He knew the lie would cost him, but he had a feeling the truth would cost even more. So he braced himself for the next blow, for the inevitable pain.

It didn't come.

The door opened.

"Rayner." An unfamiliar voice, heavily accented. He didn't have the strength to look up.

Rayner. Yes, that name sounded familiar.

"I'm busy."

"Prince Xizor requests you contact him."

There was a long pause. "I'll contact him when I'm done-"

"Immediately."

Rayner cursed. "Fine. I'm coming."

Luke remained absolutely still, partly hoping he'd be forgotten, but after a pause a fist was rammed into his stomach. Instinctively, Luke attempted to curl inwards, even as what little air he had in his lungs left him in a whoosh. It shot white-hot pain through his shoulder as his arms pulled on the chains.

He was going to be sick. He was going to be sick…

He threw up.

"Think on your answers, Lars. This isn't over." Rayner hissed, then Luke listened as his footsteps retreated away, followed by the sound of the door slamming shut. An electronic beep sounded, locking it.

Breathe, he distantly reminded himself over and over again, breathe!

He only managed short, painful gasps. But it was something.

How far away was his father? Leia hadn't said, other than they'd found possible planets. He'd thought his worst problem while he waited was starving to death, or maybe falling and injuring himself further, or getting eaten. Now he was captured by a pirate with a serious grudge against him, who suspected something major was going on, and he didn't know how long he had. A few hours? A day?

He had a feeling a week would be too much to ask for.

Though his mind was a haze of agony, and his spirit felt like it wanted to detach from his body just to leave pain behind, he knew he needed to take advantage of Rayner's absence.

Time to figure out what he was going to do. Time to clear his head enough to get the Force back under his control.

Time to figure out how to escape...and maybe contact his father on the way out.

It would take a few hours to get to the first planet: Brachi. Then, if he didn't sense Luke there, they'd jump to the other viable planet on the smuggler's route: Arorua. Thankfully, the jump between those two planets was only about a forty five minute jump, but to potentially be so close to his son…

He almost didn't dare let himself hope.

When it came to his son, things always seemed to go terribly wrong. It was as if the Force were trying to pry them apart.

But Leia's feeling hadn't been off. He'd sensed it too-as much as he hated Solo for being the one to suggest it, the smuggler's route made the most sense both logically and with the Force.

"Make sure quarters are prepared, Admiral. The west rooms, connected to mine." In the hologram over his comm, Piett frowned. Vader paid it little heed; he, Leia, Artoo and Solo were already loaded onto one of his Lambda class shuttles, sitting in orbit outside the Executor. "It had better be done by the time I return. Then I again want no one in my sector of the ship."

Sometimes, it paid to be the second in command of the entire galaxy. Let alone commander of the armed forces.

Still, as carefully controlled as his expression was, he could see the hesitation in Piett's eyes. He didn't need the Force to know what it was he was wondering: he'd been ignoring his work. He'd barely left his quarters in his preoccupation with Leia, Solo and the search for his supposed-dead son.

He would not explain it to Piett. Not now. Perhaps when his son was returned and well on his way to healing, he'd decide whether or not to include the Admiral on the knowledge of who'd been taking residence on the Executor.

But not when his son still needed to be found.

Luckily for him, the Admiral seemed to sense that questions would not be tolerated. "It will be done, My Lord."

He didn't sound happy about it.

Vader switched the comm off just as Solo entered the cockpit. "I can't believe I'm asking this," Solo began grudgingly.

"Then don't ask."

He doubted he'd ultimately need Solo's help with his son's rescue, but he'd decided it wouldn't hurt to surprise Luke. He didn't understand what his children saw in the smuggler, but if it made Luke happy...he'd allow the man to be there for his rescue.

"Lambda class shuttles are easier to fly with two people. I figured you could use the help of the best pilot in the galaxy."

Vader's lip curled, a million retorts leaping to his tongue at the ridiculous boast. Solo had managed to survive him in battle, but only barely. Perhaps when this was done he'd challenge Solo and best him, just to make sure it was clear who that title belonged to.

And maybe, just maybe, an accident would befall the smuggler, and…

He couldn't help but be pleased at the image of Solo's ship blowing to pieces on an asteroid as he waved a hand to Artoo, who was plugged into the system. "I have my navigator. I have no need of help from an insignificant smuggler. Now go strap in and do not lay a hand on my daughter."

He knew that last command was likely to be ignored, but he was throwing it out there anyway. He'd deal with Solo when he caught him disobeying later.

"Fine. Just thought I'd offer."

Vader scowled, turning around to rip into Solo again, but the smuggler had already left the cockpit. Vader sensed him approaching Leia on the other end of the ship.

Maybe he was looking for quality time, Artoo had the audacity to suggest, earning him a glare. Is it not tradition for significant others of one's offspring to attempt to forge a connection with their parental units?

"Leia is not his significant other. We are not discussing this. Plug in the coordinates for Brachi."

Denial. Artoo blew a raspberry but before Vader could lose his temper, the coordinates flashed across the console screen.

As troublesome as the little droid was, he was reliable. He didn't need Solo. Leia didn't need Solo. Luke didn't need him either.

And there was no way in hell he was bonding with the man.

Not when he could barely do so with his own children.

"You will not mention this again," he warned, ignoring Artoo's answering laugh before he launched the shuttle into hyperspace.

It was a very, very stupid plan.

But he didn't have many options.

Who knew where his father was? Who knew if he'd live until he arrived? Or worse, who knew if he'd be carted off to the Emperor, or fitted with a slave chip and…

Those risks were still there regardless of what choice he made. He wasn't about to sit there until the choice was made for him.

So while Rayner was gone for a few hours, Luke closed his eyes, did his best to ignore the pain, and buried himself in the Force.

The industrial village-district?-was definitely full of pirates. Rayner hadn't lied; this was an outpost of some sort. Not a single mind he brushed against was well intended enough to trust. Hell, even Han when he'd first met him felt more honorable than these thugs.

He considered potentially playing them against each other...but he wasn't great at manipulation. Besides, anyone who succeeded in a battle with Rayner, Luke wasn't sure he had the energy to take them. He quickly discarded that idea.

He did take note of potential exits, however. At least, the areas of the compound he sensed people coming and going through. It wasn't a perfect map, but he thought he had a pretty good idea of a mental layout after a while.

After a while, a shaky plan had formed, one that if successful, could get him handed back to his father. And if it wasn't…

Well. He had a back up plan too.

Which...might get him killed.

Just in case, he reviewed other potential exits until the door opened and he sensed the familiar grimy presence of Rayner.

Yes. He'd definitely sensed this man before, on Taris. How had he forgotten for so long?

"Times up, little Jedi," Rayner snarled. When Luke opened his eyes and lifted his head, he found him holding a baton, casually smacking the end of it into the palm of his hand. He grinned when he noticed Luke's gaze and gave it a particularly hard smack! "Who are you?"

Behind him, the door shut after admitting another man-a Quarren, who leaned against the wall and eyed Luke warily.

He took a painful, but calming breath.

Time for Plan A.

"Fine. You want to know why Darth Vader was with Organa?"

Rayner paused, the baton going still. "So it was Organa."

"Assuming you're right. I wasn't there." Rayner's grip tightened on the baton, and Luke quickly hurried on. "Organa is one of Vader's personal agents. She's a spy, infiltrating the Rebellion at the highest order."

It was such a blatant lie, one Leia would kill him for if she ever heard about it. But wouldn't that be what the Rebellion would think if they found out she and Luke were Darth Vader's children? So...in a way...it wasn't that much of a stretch, from a certain point of view.

He just had to hope Rayner didn't know much about Leia personally to buy the lie.

The pirate hesitated, disbelief clouding his Force signature. "How the hell would you know that? What, are you some kind of Rebel?"

Luke snorted. "Isn't that what Jedi do? They rebel?"

Sick delight washed over his face and he jabbed the end of the baton sharply into the center of his chest. "You admit it! You are a-"

"Not quite."

That was the truth. He'd barely had any training. Regardless of their apparent...progress (if he could even call it that), Vader had made the point quite clear. You are not a Jedi yet.

Yet.

But as far as Rayner knew, it was a lie, and his face yet again twisted as he raised the baton…

"Vader and Organa are looking for me because I'm his son."

Such a risk. He was playing with fire.

But it at least froze both Rayner and the Quarren. They stared at him like he'd grown a second head.

"Impossible." The Quarren shook his head, his tentacles quivering even as he denied it.

"I think we'd know if Darth Vader had a son," Rayner agreed, glaring at him. "You're a kriffing liar-"

"You want proof that I'm not lying?" Please work, please work- "I have Vader's personal comm number. Call him. He'll tell you."

There was silence in the room as the pirates stared at him. Clearly, this wasn't how either of them pictured this conversation would go. "You're lyin," Rayner whispered. His disbelief was obvious, but Luke could sense him start wondering what if…

Luke met his dark eyes, willing the calming light of the Force to fill each word as he said, "You will call Darth Vader and inform him his son is here."

The Quarren straightened, a glassy look in his eyes, but Rayner just frowned. "You can't be his son. He's a monster. He's a machine."

Damn.

"Like I said. Call him. Tell him I'm here. See what he says." And in the off chance it worked on his friend, Luke listed the comm number he'd repeated until it was practically tattooed on his brain.

The Quarren whispered the numbers to himself.

Maybe. Just...maybe it had worked.

But Rayner's expression darkened, and Luke only had the tightening of his hands on the baton as a warning before the vicious attack.

"Liar!"

Whack on the cheekbone.

"You're a Jedi!"

Side of the head. He saw stars.

"You're a Jedi!"

Slam on his injured shoulder. He screamed, instinctively trying to move away…

"Rayner, stop!" The Quarren. Luke was still reeling from the onslaught, bracing himself for more...but none came.

"If he's telling the truth, this will only damn us further!"

There was a silence. Luke's vision was still swimming, his cheek, head and shoulder throbbing and pulsing…

"When I come back," Rayner hissed finally, "I'll have decided what to do with you."

From his tone, Luke doubted it would be to announce Darth Vader was coming to pick him up.

Distantly, he could feel the conflict in the Quarren. Perhaps his plan worked. Perhaps Rayner's mind would be changed. He doubted he could afford to wait.

No, Luke decided as he was again left alone, the Force responding to his thoughts.

It was time for Plan B.

It was extremely awkward being stuck on a ship with Darth Vader and the boyfriend he didn't approve of. Not that she cared he didn't approve-after all, he didn't have the right to do so.

Still. That made her the one in the middle, and the atmosphere was so suffocating, she half wished they'd left Han behind. The other half, though, was glad for some sense of normalcy in the whole situation. It was nice to have someone with her who cared about her for who she was, not for...whatever it was Vader viewed her as.

Shortly after entering hyperspace, Vader joined them in the main holding area. He said nothing, other than throwing what Leia thought was a glower at Han (which he ignored), and instead pulled out a deactivated medical droid. Then he sat right across from them, as though trying to prove a point, and began working on the deactivated droid.

It definitely killed any conversation she might have wanted to have with Han.

She usually tried to steer clear of thinking about her friends from Alderaan. Most of them had died, after all. But she couldn't help but remember one of them complaining loudly that their father had done something similar.

"When he showed up, my dad was sitting on the porch literally cleaning his blaster! Who even does that?!"

Apparently, Vader. Except he was the weapon.

She didn't know long it was until she finally asked, "What are you doing?"

Anything to break the awkward silence.

"Fixing the droid," Vader replied flatly.

"Seems perfectly fine to me," Han grumbled, clearly annoyed. The fact that he was only annoyed when most men would have been terrified…

Vader definitely underestimated him.

"I didn't say it was broken." Vader didn't even look up from what he was doing.

She remembered the droid who'd worked on her injured arm. Vader had adjusted that droid before it had touched her, too.

I modified its patient handling personality.

He was preparing it to work on Luke. She'd figured it was for him anyway, but he was truly preparing it for his arrival. Given what he'd told her of Luke's state, he'd definitely need it, but…

"When we find your brother," Vader said, as though reading her thoughts. He probably was, and she shot him a look. "I have modified the captain's quarters as a temporary med bay."

The shuttle wasn't quite as roomy as the Falcon, but it did have at least one small private room near the cockpit. She had to admit, that was...ideal.

"You will stay with the droid and your brother while I take us back to the Executor."

She couldn't help but be pleased with the assignment. When they found him, she didn't ever want him out of her sight again anyway.

"What am I supposed to do?" Han asked.

Vader paused in what he was doing on the droid. "When I find a use for you, I will let you know." He pointed at him. "Don't get in my way."

She winced. She knew how good Han was at taking orders, even ones that made sense: he was terrible. And from coming from Vader, she half expected him to start calling him names again.

But Han did none of that. Though his mood darkened, he merely nodded and gave a somewhat sarcastic, "Yes, sir."

Either Han was learning not to mess with Vader, or he was too worried about Luke to cause unnecessary arguments. She wasn't sure.

She was just grateful when Vader stared at Han a moment more, then went right back to his fiddling.

Plan B had several steps.

The first step, and perhaps the craziest, was to wake the monster.

It was still daylight. At least, he thought so based on the activity around the compound. The Creature wouldn't be able to wreak havoc until nightfall. That would give him time for the other steps in his plan.

But it took longer than he thought to stretch his senses out and find the Creature. Evidently, he was further from it than he thought. Would it even be able to show up in time?

He didn't know, but he needed some sort of distraction. He wouldn't get far as injured as he was.

So when he finally sensed it, already on the cusp of alertness, he imagined his own presence shoving against the Creature's. Hard.

Get up, you kriffing monster! he mentally shouted at it.

He didn't know if it would work. It was, after all, in theory. He'd never attempted something like this. But he felt it shudder awake, confused at first, before dark tendrils latched onto his, and he felt its hunger.

And its fury at being woken up a tad bit early.

Come and get me!

He could have sworn he heard its snarl in his head as he retreated, taking his time to draw back so it could easily track him.

If he played his cards right, he'd escape before the Creature got through the pirates. If he was lucky, the pirates would kill the Creature.

And if he was even luckier, his father would show up and take him far away from any pirates or Sith Creatures.

Hopefully, Han's insistence that he was lucky would be true. Just for a few hours.

The next step was breaking free of the chains. He'd had some practice back at the crash site of using the Force to unlock doors, and the manacles around his wrists weren't much different. He focused first on his left wrist, wanting to ease the pain in his shoulder as soon as possible. It took a few tries, but soon the metal released, and his arm came crashing down.

He gasped, tears involuntarily spilling down his face as his shoulder both burned and stabbed at him, while the gasp made his ribs feel like they were jabbing into his lungs. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the pain to subside just long enough for him to continue...and once it did, he immediately set back to working on the right manacle.

When he was free, he crashed to the floor-but he was prepared. Instead of hitting hard on his left side, he twisted his body so his right would take the brunt of the impact. Still, when his injured leg and arm jostled against the floor, his vision blackened for a terrifying moment.

No, I don't have time for this, stay awake!

He forced himself to keep breathing, to ignore the injuries that made him want to crawl into a corner and sleep for a thousand years. If this plan was to work, he needed to keep moving.

Even if lying on the floor, even a cold, unforgiving one, made him want to stay.

The moment he could, he carefully crawled to the door and to the glowing panel on the side of it. It took longer than usual (his head was still reeling from the earlier blows), but he managed to identify the locking mechanism.

It was older, and he hadn't worked on this type as much as a result. In fact, if he remembered correctly, it was even a pre-Clone Wars era lock type. While he could splice into it, it would take way too long, and he definitely didn't have the right tools for it. So the easiest way would be to simply short it out. Most people didn't have those means when trapped behind a lock like this.

Luke looked down at his right hand.

But he did.

It would render his one good hand useless. He could technically use his other still, though not as adeptly and with a fair bit of pain… but it was too late to back out now. Not with an angry monster coming his way.

Maybe he should have called the Creature after he sprung himself free.

But no, that would have messed with the timing of his plan.

With a grimace, he used the Force to yank open the panel in his prosthetic, exposing the wires, then did the same to the lock mechanism. Then, he found the appropriate wire for each, ripped them out so they were exposed...then took a slow, careful, shallow breath before shoving them together.

He yelped as electricity zinged up his arm before the current between the wires shorted out his hand-and the door. The lights on the lock popped, died, and the door whooshed open, revealing a quiet hallway.

He frowned at his now useless right hand, hanging limply, and struggled to his good leg.

Well. He could still use it to help him brace against the wall.

Before he began moving, he reached into the Force, stretching out. He marked where the nearest pirates were, then beyond, towards where the Creature was…

It must have been dark, because it was headed towards him. And as it sensed him again, it moved faster.

He immediately retreated. He'd need to move fast himself to find a way to contact Vader. He'd probably need to use a mind trick, and with that thing coming for him, he didn't have long to do it.

Then he'd have to hope he could get away.

He started forward, hopping as silently as he could, using the wall to brace himself. Before each corner, he'd pause, stretch out with the Force to check for pirates, and when there were none, only then did he turn and continue forward. It was agonizing, and it was odd to not be able to move his right hand to a steadier position, but he made do. He'd have to, considering he was on a short timeline.

But finally, before he made his third turn, he sensed a lone man headed towards him. It wasn't a presence he was familiar with, and it flickered uncertainly in the Force.

He was pretty sure it was the right target...but he'd only successfully used a mind trick a few times. He wasn't exactly an expert on being able to tell who was susceptible and who wasn't.

So as the man turned the corner, coming face to face with him, Luke moved.

"Hey-!"

Luke allowed the calm light of the Force to infuse with each word as he lifted his left hand in the man's face. "You will give me your comm unit."

He held his breath.

The man stared at him, his gaze becoming slightly unfocused. "I...will...give you my comm unit."

Luke didn't dare rejoice, even as the man reached into his pocket and pulled out exactly what he'd asked for.

"You will tell me what planet we're on," he added with another wave. His shoulder was straining from the movement...

The man hesitated even as Luke took the comm from him. "Arorua is the planet we are on."

Arorua.

It was strange to finally have a name for the hell hole he'd been living on. It almost didn't feel real. In fact, he thought he'd probably refer to it later as Hell, but…

He had a location. He had a comm.

He had Vader's number.

"You will forget you saw me and drop your blaster," Luke finished.

"I will forget I saw you and drop my blaster." The man detached the blaster from his holster and dropped it to the floor, then turned and began walking away.

Luke watched him go, picking the blaster up with the Force and balancing it awkwardly under his right armpit. It was terrible form, and Han would have chewed him out for it…

But he had a call to make, and only one hand to do it with.

Maybe his luck was turning around after all.

It took him only a few minutes after dropping out of hyperspace to determine Luke was not on Brachi.

"How the hell do you know that?" Solo demanded when he'd announced it. "You just looked at it! Shouldn't we go down there and check?"

His hands clenched on the steering yoke.

Calm down, it is not like he knows. He is not like you and Luke, Artoo whistled at him.

Still. The fact that he was friends with Luke, Vader would have assumed Solo would know more. He had been hoping to find his son's presence the moment he dropped out of hyperspace; he wasn't in the mood to explain why he was yet again disappointed by his lack of a son.

But he didn't need to. Leia answered. "I think it's because he can sense him. It's...a bond thing, I think."

He turned his helmet towards her, regarding her. She sat in the copilot's seat, staring at the world below as if she too were searching for the bright star that was her brother.

"You are correct," he replied, and he couldn't help the swell of pride. If there was a day he was rid of the Emperor, perhaps he'd reconsider training her to be a Sith.

Maybe she'd change her mind by then, too.

"But it is also because Luke is a supernova in the Force. Even without that bond, I would feel him. It is a miracle he has evaded the Emperor's clutches for so long."

He didn't miss the way Leia paled, or the confused frown on the smuggler's face.

He scowled. Once again, Solo only showed he was not worthy of the time either of his children gave him.

But when Solo spoke, it wasn't another question. "Fine. So, if you're sure, then I guess onto the next-"

Vader's comm beeped.

His first instinct was that it was Piett, or worse, the Emperor. But when he rerouted it to the central comm unit...

The voice that answered was not either of those.

"Arorua."

Luke's voice.

All three of them tensed. If Vader could have, he would have stopped breathing.

His son.

His alive, breathing, non-Force-dream son.

Despite the fact that he'd spoken to him by dream only a few days before, he sounded so different. There was heavy exhaustion in his voice, and he sounded like he was trying to stay quiet.

And Vader did not miss the pain there as he added, "I'd like to get off this hell hole, please."

Arorua. That was the next planet he was to visit anyway. It would be a forty five minute jump. He'd thought it was short earlier, but now, hearing how Luke sounded…

He looked down at the console. Artoo was already in the process of setting course.

"We will be there within the hour," Vader promised darkly. "Stay out of trouble."

A pause...and Vader's unease grew. Next to him, Leia cursed, also interpreting that as a bad sign.

"Um. It's a little late for that."

He glared at the comm unit.

How?

How was it possible that things continually got worse for the boy every time he turned his back on him?!

There was a sound from Luke's end-something that sounded suspiciously like a roar.

"Shit, I gotta go, I'll try not to be eaten in the next hour-"

"Eaten?!" Leia demanded furiously. "Luke-!"

I have the coordinates, Artoo announced.

"I will be there within the hour," Vader repeated. "Do not, under any circumstances, be eaten."

How the monster was anywhere near Luke, Vader didn't know. He thought he'd told Luke to get away from it. If it harmed him in any way…

No. He wouldn't think about it.

"See you soon," Luke promised, and the comm cut off even as Vader made the jump to hyperspace.

"We have to call!" Terra insisted for the billionth time. "If he's telling the truth and he is Vader's son-"

"There's no way in hell that's Vader's kid!" Rayner snapped. Again. But even as he did so, he couldn't deny he wasn't unsure himself.

He didn't know much about Imperial elites. He knew some basics about Black Sun's relationship with the Empire, but that was about it. He'd heard horrifying stories from some of Black Sun's higher ups about what they'd seen Vader do. The stories...sounded a little like what that Jedi had done, except…

Well. They weren't usually done to save slave boys.

And that's what bothered him. The boy was too respectable. Sure, he looked like death at the moment, with all his injuries and being covered in filth, but Rayner had seen him on Taris. He'd been clean. He stood out in the crowd, and he went out of his way to try to help a child at the expense of his own life.

That didn't seem like something the son of Vader would do.

And didn't Vader hate Jedi? Hadn't he killed most of them? If the tales were to be believed.

But then again...what if he was telling the truth?

Prince Xizor would need to be informed. Rayner heard rumors that the man hated Vader, and he'd probably get a promotion for handing him a bargaining chip. But those were just rumors. Prince Xizor also had a strong alliance with the Emperor, and Vader was the Emperor's right hand.

If Vader was pissed his son had been harmed...that probably didn't mean good things for Prince Xizor. Which meant he'd be the one to be punished.

"We have to get rid of him," he decided. He'd come to this conclusion before, but Terra had vehemently protested against it. "We have to get rid of him."

"If Vader found out, he'd murder us-"

"He'd murder us for the condition he's in right now anyway!"

"You're just mad he's made a fool outta you! Seriously, Rayner, petty revenge isn't worth dying for!"

He couldn't deny that wasn't part of the reason he wanted him dead. Actually, he'd planned on turning a profit for the Jedi, but if he was telling the truth and Vader found him…

He didn't fancy waking up to one of Vader's magic sword things being stuck in his gut.

"We'll kill him. We'll shoot his body out into a dark corner of space. Vader will never-"

He was cut off by the distant sound of a roar.

"What the hell was that?" he demanded, but Terra shrugged his shoulders, eyes wide. "Well go find out!"

Terra hesitated. "You should come with me."

"I have to deal with the Jedi."

"You mean Darth Vader's son."

"He's not-"

Another roar. This time, closer...followed by screams and the sound of blaster fire.

"Go!" Rayner ordered. Terra again hesitated...then nodded.

"Don't sign your death warrant, Rayner," he said, then turned and fled out the door.

Rayner glared after him. He didn't know what the hell was going on, but he had a weird feeling it had to do with the Jedi. Or...perhaps Terra was right. His anger for the bullshit the Jedi had pulled was finally making him crazy.

It didn't matter. He'd been right. It was safer to cut the loss and kill the Jedi.

And hope he wasn't who he said he was.

He wasn't sure even Black Sun could protect him from the wrath of Darth Vader if it were true.

Hey! Luke got a (brief) real conversation! They're super close to each other! Let's just hope they get there in time, huh?
Arorua was a planet from the EU that had Sith Monsters on it. Such a pretty place with a pretty name...too bad it's a hell...

The song for this chapter is Not Gonna Die by Skillet
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Love,
LadyVader23