CHAPTER TWO
Han pushed himself away from the wall, his eyes as wide. "Where... where'd they go?"
"Silence, rebel," a stormtrooper muttered, but it sounded like he had just said it out of habit. He was moving forward to get a better look at where the young rebel and his lord had vanished.
Han watched the stormtroopers all move forward as he frantically fought to pick the lock on his binders. He smiled as he felt the mechanism click. He pulled the blinders off and sent them gently on the floor, then began working on the blinders holding the wide-eyed rebel next to him.
The stormtroopers were moving in a semicircle towards the catwalk. They all had their weapons raised (since stormtroopers only know how to handle a situation by shooting at it). Han had freed the man next to him, and the two of them set out to free the others. About half of the group was free when a loud crack came from the white ball. Han looked up and frowned as it cracked again and then began pulsing more quickly. Faster and faster... then the globe of light blew, sending both the Dark Lord and the young rebel commander flying into the line of troopers.
Han and Rahyan ran forward and dragged Luke up from where he was sprawled over several troopers, his lightsaber was still clutched in his hand. Han pried the weapon loose and clipped it back onto Luke's belt, then he and Rahyan dragged him up and started towards the corridor. Han yelled for the others to follow.
"Not everyone is free, General Solo!"
"Your hands are bound, not your feet! Run!"
When Luke came to, he was instantly aware of a startling pain in his body. It was everywhere. Tears sprung to the corners of his eyes and he tried to take a deep breath to calm himself. There was a deep woosh, and he felt cool, pure oxygen burn at his throat. He opened his eyes wide and tried to look around. Everything was washed in a deep red. Panic rose in his chest and he tried to sit up.
"Please relax, we still don't know the extent of the damage to your life support systems," a cool voice said.
Luke jerked and looked at the man; his features were washed out by the strange red light.
"Where am I?" he asked, and started when he heard his own voice. Did he damage his hearing? Is that why it sounded so deep?
The doctor looked down at him his brow furrowed in concern, "Oh dear, what's the last thing you remember, Lord Vader?"
Luke stared at the man for a moment, before fainting.
Leia rushed to the landing bay as they brought Luke down the ramp of the shuttle on a hover bed. He was hooked up to an oxygen tank and looked very pale.
"What happened?" she asked as she reached them and began to help with leading Luke to the medbay.
"Vader was waiting for us," Han said grimly.
Leia met Han's gaze, "Again?"
Han nodded, his face with tight with a mixture of anger and concern.
Leia shook her head, horrified. "What happened to him? What did he do to him?" she asked as they got Luke into the medbay and onto the examination table.
"Actually, I think this one was Luke's fault, and he got Vader just as bad as he got himself."
Leia looked at him in confusion and waited for him to continue.
"The energy signature that we were pickin' up, musta been this weird glowing ball thing that we found in the complex. Luke and His Lordship were going at it with those lightsaber things and they fell into it. They were gone completely for a few minutes, then it spit 'em both back out. They were both knocked out, Luke hasn't woken up since."
"Well, Commander Skywalker looks completely unharmed," the 2-IB interrupted. "Whatever that light was, General Solo, it didn't do anything more than throw Commander Skywalker back."
Han was about to say something else when Luke moaned lowly and opened his eyes. Han and Leia both rushed forward.
Luke's eyes darted around the room and finally focused on Leia.
"Princess Leia?" he asked.
She nodded, "Yes, I'm here. How do you feel?"
Luke sneered, "Since when is my welfare any of your concern, your highness?"
Leia jerked back and stared at him. "Luke, are you all right?" she asked.
The young man went rigid, and looked around again, and then down at himself. He ran his fingers over his chest and then to his face. His eyes went wide.
"Luke?"
Luke smiled weakly, "I apologize, Leia," he said awkwardly, "I did not know who I was for a moment.
Leia smiled and hugged him. Han looked at him strangely.
Vader watched wearily as Solo and Organa left him to rest. Once the door shut, he sat up straight and jumped off the bed. His bare feet tingled as they connected with the cold floor tiles; he couldn't help but smile. He dashed to the 'fresher and leaned against the sink as he stared at himself in the mirror.
"How," he murmured in his new voice, touching his fingers to his cheek, "is this possible?"
Luke slowly sat up and turned on the medbay bed. He planted his feet firmly on the floor and steadied himself with his hands on the mattress. He looked down. Hands? Hardly. Now that he somewhat knew what to look for, he could feel that both hands were prosthetics. As were his legs.
Luke sighed deeply. The pain radiating through him was terrible. He tried to pull himself to his feet. If his father had to live with this pain every day of his life, he could understand why he was so pissed off all the time.
Slowly, Luke stood, feeling his bulk rise as if the body knew what to do on its own. Like a droid taking the autopilot controls; he realized with a start that that was exactly what had happened. His father's prosthetic legs had pulled him upright.
Luke tried to breathe to calm himself again, but the respirator would only go so fast. His hands shook as he released the bed. He stood still for a few moments, testing his balance. He seemed stable enough.
He took one step.
Then another.
"Oh, Milord, I have your cape."
Luke started at the sudden voice and turned, lost his balance, and fell against the bed.
The doctor stopped in his tracks and stared as Lord Vader clung desperately to the bed rails, looking up at him.
"Sha... Shall I attach it, Milord?"
Luke nodded and let the legs pull him upright again. He shook a bit, then regained balance.
The doctor stepped behind him and refastened the cape. He then stepped back and bowed. "Are you certain you are feeling well enough to leave, Milord?"
Luke stared at him a moment. What would his father say...?
"Give me one good reason not to kill you where you stand," he said in the most menacing voice he could manage. It came out, of course, the same as all his other words.
The doctor looked at him in confusion, "Pardon me, Milord?"
"Uh," Luke paused, maybe that was a bit overboard, "I feel well enough to stand," he amended.
The doctor nodded slowly. "Very good, Milord."
Luke lifted one foot, then the other, and soon he was walking down a long corridor of the Executor.
Luke?
Luke jolted as a voice cut through his thoughts. Suddenly he realized who it was. Oh, thank the Force! Where are you? Luke felt a strange ripple from his father.
I never imagined I'd be greeted like that by you, son.
Well, you might not have noticed, but things have changed a little.
Indeed. I suggest we play our prospective roles until we determine how to sort out this... development.
I'm not going to run the Imperial Navy! Luke nearly walked into a patrol of stormtroopers as the shock coursed through him at the thought. The small group scattered to avoid touching him, then hurried around a corner.
I would also suggest not making any contact with the Emperor.
Luke felt the blood drain from his face. What do I do if I have to...?
I do not know. But if you find yourself in a situation where you need to, I will guide you.
Speaking of guiding me, where are your quarters?
Luke suddenly felt an odd sensation, and realized that Vader was looking through his, or rather his, eyes.
You've passed it, child.
Luke turned on his heel and stalked back down the corridor. A bewildered officer stepped to the side to let him pass. Vader directed him to the correct door and helped him past the codes.
Luke strode into the room only to be jerked back suddenly.
What happened? His father asked.
Luke turned and glanced behind him, and groaned. Your cape got caught in the door. Luke hit the door controls to find the officer he'd passed in the hall outside, looking at the bit of fabric sticking out from the door.
The man straightened the moment he saw Luke. "Milord! I was just... I wanted to... are you all right, Milord?"
Luke felt Vader bristle at the officer's concern. Kill him for his insolence!
Oh, stop. He just wants to make sure you're all right. You're acting strange.
YOU are acting strange! Kill him.
Luke shut the door the man's face.
What was that? Vader seethed.
A compromise. Rather than kill him, I was rude to him.
Vader was silent as Luke moved to the desk at the other end of Vader's quarters, he sat in the chair and leaned his elbows onto the desktop and propped his fists against his head... or rather, his helmet.
Don't do that with my body.
Do what?
Slouch like that. You, I, we look ridiculous.
Luke sat up. Fine. Do you have any idea how this happened?
The energy globe. We were studying it. We still don't understand the nature of it, but apparently you and I have uncovered a piece of its mystery, young one.
Luke rolled his eyes, Great. Can it switch us back?
Possibly. There is one way to test that theory.
Luke nodded. We need to meet. You'll have to capture me.
Vader laughed. You will have to capture me.
Luke's eyes widened. How do I go about that?
Considering that you're a commander in the Alliance forces, it should not be difficult to hunt us down.
Luke's jaw dropped. I have to attack an Alliance base? No way!
Vader gave the equivalent of a mental shrug. I can easily stay here and gather intelligence.
Luke's eyes narrowed. Just remember, I can do just as much damage here as you can do there.
Vader laughed. If not more, young one, not to injure your pride, but you're in a better position to do damage as me, than I am as you.
What?
You heard me.
Yeah, but I'm me, and you're you, and we all know that you are better at causing damage no matter who you are.
Vader was silent for several moments. It would be wise for you to speak to as few people as possible.
Can't you just go somewhere? I'll meet you there?
No, Luke! Don't you understand? You, as me, cannot just run away from the fleet for a secret rendezvous and not stir suspicions, just as I, as you, can't get off this blasted base without your friends hanging all over me and trying to get me to "talk to them about my problems!"
Luke smirked. I see you're not being as cool-headed as you've let on.
If that princess of yours kisses or hugs me again, I may be forced to defend myself.
Oh stop. Where are you? Is the base still on Firenze? Luke asked, shifting the subject back to the matter at hand.
Yes, and it looks like we'll be here for some time. It's a quite interesting choice of a base; I do not think I'd look in such a place.
Don't you even think about picking up tips.
I cannot help it anymore than you can help going through my desk.
Luke slammed shut the drawer he'd been rummaging through.
So, can I do some psychotic thing like hold the base hostage and demand that they turn you over to me?
They will ask you why I did such a thing when you return.
Luke was quiet for moment. You're going to let me go after we switch back?
Good point.
Luke rolled his eyes. He couldn't worry about that now. He had to get himself out of the most feared body in the universe.
He felt Vader's amusement flood over him.
Ironic how one is so defined by one's appearance, isn't it?