Disclaimer: George Lucas owns the entire SW universe. However, Jenna is my own... my precious...
Author's Notes: Please keep reviewing. It makes me very happy, and keeping authors happy is always a good thing. I'm gonna do the time switch thing again, so hang on to your hats folks!
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"Hey Luke, toss me that hydrospanner, won't ya?" A grimy hand reached up out of the engine pit and groped around the edge. After waiting a few minutes, an equally grimy face followed the hand.
"Hey, kid!" Han called, looking around the darkened compartment. "Didn't think I was workin' him that hard." The starship captain muttered as he hauled himself out of the greasy pit. Stumbling slightly on cramped muscles, he made his way over to the intercom.
"Chewie! You there?" Han called up to the cockpit. An answering roar echoed down the line. "Could you tell Luke to come back down here, I could use a hand." Han reached up to turn off the com when Chewbacca answered, his tone concerned. Han frowned at the com unit.
"What do you mean he's not with you? He's certainly not here!" Han waved his hand around, gesturing uselessly at the empty compartment. The wookie answered with a frustrated growl.
"Hey, this is not my fault! So don't you growl at me you oversized furball!" The reply was short, loud, and definitely to the point. Han leaned back against the bulkhead, sighing with frustration.
"Hey, no need to get your fur in a knot. Just... just look for him, okay?" Han was worried now. It was unlike Luke to simply leave in the middle of a project. That farmboy mentality of his wouldn't let him. Chewie grunted an affirmative and turned off the com system. Han grabbed a rag and began wiping the grease off his hands. There was no sense in getting the rest of the ship filthy just because his assistant wandered off.
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"Luke? Hey, kid, where are you?" Han called, ducking his head into the rear hold. A quick scan only showed Luke's X-wing. Han grimaced. It had taken some fancy flying to get that thing in there, and he wasn't relishing the thought of getting it back out. The Corellian shook his head. Luke had begged for hours to bring his snubfighter along. Not that he would need such a thing, the Falcon could handle herself in a fight, thank you very much. Plus, there weren't going to be any fights anyway. This was a vacation! Turning his back, he headed out of the holding bay. Checking every hatch, Han made his way forward towards the crew cabins. He frowned as he walked. He would have to re-check that main light circuit, those sith-spawned overhead lights were dimming again. He hit the light panel for the small medical compartment.
"Luke?" Han called out. He turned back toward the hatch and was about to leave when a soft moan erupted behind him.
"Luke!" The young jedi was collapsed in a corner, eyes shut, his face passive and emotionless. "C'mon Luke, snap out of it!" Han growled, and lightly slapped his friend's face. Luke did not respond. Chewie, hearing Han's cries, appeared in the hatchway.
"Chewie! Help me get him on the bunk, he's in some kind of trance or something." Han ordered, trying to raise his friend off the ground. Chewie gently pushed the starship captain aside and lifted the young knight as if he were a child. The hairy giant laid Luke out on the bunk and began activating the medical equipment. Han glanced up at the readout.
"This stuff is worthless! Everything normal it says! Let me tell you something pal, this ain't normal!" Han growled menacingly at the offending panel. Before Chewie could calm his captain down, Luke began to mumble softly.
"Yoda... no, don't go..." Han looked at Chewie in bewilderment. Chewie looked back at Han, equally confused. Han hissed at Chewie, "I thought that Yoda guy was dead?" Chewie just shrugged.
"Children... where are the... no, no, don't..." Luke began to twitch, fighting something in his hallucinations. Han tried to hold his friend down, worried that he might knock his head against something and cause worse damage. He fervently wished Leia was here, she had proven to be an excellent field medic if pressed. He snorted. He wished anyone with some medical training was here. Force, he'd settle for old goldenrod. Han knew his limited medical experience did not cover head trauma and brain damage. He just had to hope that his friend would be able to find a way back himself. He heard Chewie rummaging about in the storage locker above the bunk. There was a short triumphant growl, and then Chewie reappeared holding a small syringe.
"Good idea Chewie, that demerol should keep him quiet for a while, let us figure out what to do about this." Han agreed as Chewie quickly found a vein and injected the drug. Luke's mumblings subsided into silence.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Han moaned.