[AND. the populous has spoken (drum roll) No sex for Luke tonight! Despite that many of you wanted a slow development- or an implied encounter between them--- in Moyima's world it's all or nothing kids!---- Well, for this chapter at least.]



Luke raised an eyebrow at the woman advancing towards him with intent to seduce.

His eyes narrowed, Not today, Emperor's Hand.

He pulled the towel around his waist casually as he stepped by her towards the door, he turned and looked at her expectantly, "Can it wait until I'm dressed? Geeze, Jade."

He disappeared down the corridor, grinning to himself the entire way.

Leaving Mara Jade mentally on her ass.

Mara blinked; did he REALLY just do that?

Growling in frustration she stalked after him, as she entered his small room he was just pulling on a black shirt- matching the black pants he already wore.

He looked at her with a maddening calm, "What did you need, Jade?"

Mara's face curled in a snarl, "What do I need? Why you son-of-a-sith!"

He merely nodded, "true."

She stalked towards him dangerously, pointed a finger- inches from his face, "If you think you're going to play these games with ME, Skywalker- you'd better think agai-"

"What-games?" he whispered darkly over her finger.

Mara sucked her lips into her mouth, wetting them quickly.

Shit, what WAS she talking about? She shook her head to clear it, missing Luke's small smile.

"I'm going back to see how the hyperdrive readings are doing-do you-" she hesitated, "do you want to help me?"

He nodded, "I'll be right there."

Smirking darkly he watched Mara Jade's figure retreat- Oh, how fun it was to play with the heart of a woman.

[HAHAHHA! Mara didn't "fall" she was PUSHED!]

~

Leia had finally begun to grasp the concept of levitation, but she wasn't sure how many more times Artoo could handle being dropped.

Yoda shook his head as the droid hit the deck- again.

"Control- learn it you must."

Leia bit her lip and nodded, just as Han stepped into the gallery.

"We're just about there."

Leia felt her heart rise in her stomach- she was NOT ready to face Vader, not by a long shot.

Yoda nodded solemnly, casting a knowing look at her, "Face him we must."

The ship rocked slightly as Chewie pulled the ship into real space.

~

Vader stood gazing out the viewport as the Millennium Falcon dropped out of hyperspace- just outside the range of the so recently repaired tractor beam. He smirked lightly; So- Luke's friends had decided to show after all.

He watched as the ship moved within range and allowed itself to be harnessed by the mighty ship's tractor beam in mild surprise- Solo must be having a fit right now- reaching out with the Force he smiled as he felt Solo's pride waver, but his smile faded as he felt another Force presence aboard the freighter--- a strong presence.

He turned on his heel and stalked towards the landing bay-preparing himself for a nasty surprise.

~

"Han, stop fidgeting."

The smuggler glanced up at the former princess, "I can't help it. I'm LETTING the damn Executor just draggggggg her in!" he drawled on the "g" emphasizing his disgust.

As the ship set down, Leia touched his shoulder tenderly, "Just remember- it's for Luke."

Han nodded, his resolve strengthened.

As Leia turned, she halted suddenly to avoid walking over the small Jedi Master blocking her path.

"Master Yoda-"

He looked at her gravely- his size hardly hiding his wisdom, "Leia, HE must not know."

She looked out the viewport as her father approached, drawing mental shields around herself.

"On Luke his focus must remain- until too late it is to notice you."

She nodded with a confidence that she did not feel.

~

Vader strode towards the much resented ship as the ramp lowered. Stormtroopers filled the bay. He passed his motionless troops and walked aboard the ship without preamble- he felt surprise ripple-and ignored it- from the lines of men.

He immediately stalked towards the cockpit where the entire crew waited. He stood in the doorway, regarding them silently. Solo, the Wookie, and the Princess were not a surprise, but the pilot Antilles- he recognized from intelligence photos, and the traitorous Calrissian-he did not expect. His helmeted head froze- nor did he expect HIM.

"Yoda," he said simply, deliberately forgetting his title.

"Anakin." The Jedi Master inclined his head, seeing Vader's gloved fist clench. The Sith Lord didn't bother correcting him; instead he leaned against the threshold casually.

"I assume since you're here that you have not heard."

Even Yoda couldn't hide a small flash of disturbance. Only Han could not remain silent, "If you hurt Luke--" the smuggler began to rise.

Vader raised a hand equaling the airiness of his stance.

"Not even I would harm my own son, Solo."

Leia laughed in his face, "You cut off his hand!"

"He was not permanently damaged." The leaning giant commented.

Lando cringed at his wording.

As Vader felt Yoda reach out in search of his son, Antilles spoke, "Where is he?"

"One of the Emperor's agents infiltrated my ship--"

The wave of fear stopped his words-he smiled. He could certainly rely on this group where his son was concerned.

"Your concern is unmerited at the moment. Luke is cleaver. He has made both the agent and the Emperor believe that I was taking him to Coruscant as a surprise- that he is looking forward to serving the Empire."

The group cringed.

"But once he reaches Coruscant?" The Princess asked quietly.

"It is but a matter of time," Vader affirmed impassively- determined not to reveal the feelings he had developed for the child to these- rebels. His son's friends or no, they were still scum to him.

Vader glanced out of the viewport casually- the landing bay doors were still open as ordered.

"Now, if you'd be so kind as to oblige me and abduct me now--"

They all looked at him as if he'd just changed into a mynock, except Yoda, who nodded in understanding.

Hey, his Star Destroyer was junked at the moment- and he needed a fast ship. Didn't Solo always boast that his was the fastest?

And the Sith Lord needed the fastest.

Solo punched the control panel, "Not exactly the cargo I intended."

Vader favored Solo a glance around the crude cockpit, "Nor my ideal transport, Captain," he said as his eyes fell upon a pair of stuffed dice.

Solo gave him a lopsided grin-- Ah oh, the smuggler was going into smart- ass mode.

"General Solo to you."

Vader rolled his unseen eyes, "The rebels are more ignorant than I ever imagined."

Han chose to ignore THAT, instead opting to taunt the Dark Lord.

"You know, Your Lordliness, this is the first space ship your son ever flew in."

Vader nodded, "I know," Han suddenly grabbed for his throat as his windpipe constricted, "and if you speak to me with such disrespect again, you'll wish you'd never heard the name Skywalker."

Satisfied with the smuggler's quick nod of understanding he released him.

Solo turned back to his controls, muttering- not outside of Vader's hearing, "I might not need your help in that."

Vader turned- and just before beginning his stalk out of the congested cockpit he said, "You don't REALLY mean that, Solo."

Han cast a dirty look at his retreating form, and then looked down at Yoda, "Where does he think he's going?"

"To concentrate- distract his men he must, to allow us to escape while looking convincing still."

Han snorted, "I've out run this ship before."

"With their commander onboard, you have not."

He couldn't argue with that one.

Nor could he believe it.

[Sorry it's so short- and SORRY SORRY SORRY for the slow update. Some strange holiday came up that I had to deal with, I know, I have such NERVE! Please review, tell me what you'd like to see or not see- I love a challenge -will I TAKE a challenge? Hmm I donno- pride goeth before the fall - we shall see.]