Disclaimer: Luke, Han and all StarWars Universe belong to George Lucas. (sorry, forgot to put this in the previous chapter...)
Rating: M
Time period: Shortly after ROTJ
Warnings: Slash. Luke/Han pairing.
Chapter 3: Taken
There was a man hidden in the woods, less than a klic from the safe house. He was tall and strong, and his silver gray hair fell lightly over his shoulders. The pale skin shone unnaturaly in the shadows, and a slow, ferocious smile curved the thin lips.
The Jedi is no more.
Luke Skywalker would never be able to use his powers to the fullest again. No medical art in the Galaxy would find a way to exterminate the virus in less than 50 years; Palpatine had seen to it. All the scientists and lab personnel involved in the making of the D-101 virus were executed; all the records of the research, destroyed. And without said records, no matter how much money, efforts and will power they invested, they would take at least 5 years only to start to understand how the thing worked... To make things worse a few fake records were planted here and there – they would lead any scientist who found them to nowhere and delay his or her work even more. Everything carefully planned decades ago, long before that pathetic Jedi child was born.
How wicked the late Emperor was... how could one not admire such cunning?
Do you hear me, Falcon? The Jedi is no more. He is to fade into nothingness. He is to become a shadow...
Han almost jumped off the couch. For a moment he thought he was back in quarantine, watching Luke fight for survival and hearing that cursed voice in his head again. Then he remembered where he was and what happened – they were watching a holo and, at some point, he had fallen asleep. With a deep sigh of relief the Corellian stood up and looked around. Luke was leaning against the window sill, staring at the view outside.
"It's getting dark." Han flung an arm around his young friend's shoulders. "I think it's dinner time."
Luke frowned a little, as if trying to concentrate in something... then shook his head with a small, irritate snort.
"Your mumbo-jumbo's not working, is it?" the arm around the young Jedi tightened. "Why don't you relax and forget about it for a while? Maybe it'll come to you if you stop forcing."
"Who could ever imagine that one day Han Solo would lecture me about the Force!" Luke laughed in spite being exhausted after that attempt to reach the Force.
"Well, well, well...here I am, generously blessing you with the gift of my wisdom and this is the thanks I got. Laughter! Irony!"
"I know, I know... You are right. I shouldn't be pushing. It's just that I thought I saw someone out there, near the woods and I wanted to check."
"A human being near here?" the Corellian shook his head. "Security would have warned us. That damn tin can of yours would have come here blinking and howling like a freakin' Life Day Surprise Box!"
"Yeah, guess you're right again, General Solo, sir." Luke gave his most impish smile and rested his head on his friend's shoulder. Han was a little surprised when the kid all but sagged against him.
"You OK, junior?"
"Just hold me tight... yeah, and touch my hair the way you were doing before... mmm boy, this is good..."
Luke snuggled closer and started to breath light kisses on Han's neck. The Corellian felt his pants growing tight and uncomfortable. Gods, how could that kid affect him so much by doing so little?
"I love you."
Han Solo froze to the sound of these words.
"Han?" Luke blinked. Had he said something wrong?
"Han?"
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The man in the woods stood up in one fluid movement. It was night already. He had been waiting patiently crouched next to a tree for hours, so still that one could mistake him for a statue. He was a Dark Hunter after all.
Artoo Detoo greeted the man with a happy chirp. He knew that Julian Dronn had been one his Master many years ago.
"Hello, Artoo." the Dark Hunter talked in a surprisingly gentle voice.
The small droid made some interrogative sounds.
"Yes, I know it's awful but I have to do it... Yes, probably your Master Luke will die...I'm sorry my little friend but there's nothing you can do."
It was spring in that part of Corellia. That meant while the days were pleasantly warm, nights and early mornings were foggy and chilly, especially near the sea.
Luke shivered and wrapped himself tighter in his cloak. In spite of the uncomfortable chill he liked to walk on the beach and watch the sunrise. It was beautiful and quiet. Quiet... the thought made him smirk. When had Luke Skywalker, the reckless brat who was always dreaming about adventures, taken to long for quiet?
When I found out who my father was.
When I lost my right hand.
When I gave up counting casualties because I couldn't stand it anymore.
When I saw that things changed so little after we won the war.
When I realized I loved Han...
Seven hells, why had he opened his big, huge mouth and said those three little words? It was too soon, he knew it, but couldn't help blurting out like a stupid teenager... and that probably scared Han stiff. His reaction said it all: after a moment of awkward silence he had smiled half-heartedly and patted Luke's shoulder.
"I said I wanted to go slow, remember? Things are still kinda fuzzy after all that happened. Feelings can change once you're back in business."
What did that mean? That Han thought he could simply change his mind after he was recovered? Or was the man uncertain about his own feelings?
The young Jedi gave a frustrated snort. Two days had passed since that cursed confession and they had returned to the old buddy-routine. It was as if all the happened – the kiss and the time they had spent deliciously cuddling – had been a dream.
"May I ask what causes a child so young to frown before such wonderful sunrise?"
Luke all but jumped in alarm. Even without his Jedi abilities he hardly was taken unawares so easily; whoever it was, had approached in absolute silence.
The man was more than a head taller than Luke and stronger; although he was smiling and apparently unarmed, the young Jedi sensed danger.
"I am sorry if I startled you." the Dark Hunter bowed lightly. "My name is Julian Dronn. I am... a neighbor."
"Han said this area was restricted." under the cloak, Luke slid a hand to his blaster.
"Han? Ah, you mean your guardian. It's... Solo, isn't it? One of the oldest clans of Falcons. But as far as I can see he knows nothing about his heritage, so he cannot do much to protect you."
"What are you talking about? Who are you?" Luke drawn out his blaster. Julian Dronn raised his hand mockingly. Then his face turned into a cold mask.
"I have work to do on you, child and I can't do it here in the open. You will come with me!"
Luke pulled the trigger once, twice, and nothing happened. The blaster was discharged! When he realized that, Dronn was alreadyon him, strong arms catching him in a steely embrace. Luke kicked and punched with all his might, to no avail. It was like fist-fighting with a brickwall. Then he felt a strange smell, and knew he was lost.
Julian Dronn kept his grasp on the boy until the drug kicked in. He didn't have to wait much. Soon the punches became weaker and aimless. Blue eyes glazed.
"Han... help..." Luke tried desperately to shout but the words came out as a slurred whisper. He wanted to break free from those hateful arms and run home,find Han and... but his body was now so heavy and his head so light...
The Dark Hunter sighed as the child slumped unconscious in his arms.
"So beautiful. So innocent in spite of all the scars war had left. He is so like you, Anakin... so like you and so different from you!"