Guys I am sooo sorry I haven't updated in a while, but my computer's been down with a virus so I haven't been able to get on! Nice LONG chapter to make up for it though!

iloveronnie21

Chapter 7: Yearning for Freedom

Dark Before Dawn

By iloveronnie21

When Kelcie awoke the next morning, much to her relief, Luke was no where in sight. She yawned, stretched, and headed for the small kitchen in Luke's chambers. After fixing herself something to eat, she decided to sneak around the star destroyer, and find a way out of here.

Luke had joined his father on the bridge early that morning. Or at least, he thought it was morning. It was hard to tell time in space. There wasn't much to do on the bridge, he and his father were usually just the overseers. And admiral walked up to them.

"Lord Vader," he said bowing. "You have a transmission from the Emperor."

Vader nodded and turned to Luke. "Keep an eye on things here. I will be back momentarily."

"Yes, father." Luke replied.

Vader walked off and Luke returned to the task of keeping an eye on things on the bridge.

Kelcie made it to the bridge with no problem. She had debated going to see if Vader had gotten Leia, but decided to make sure there was a way off of the Executer first. Lucky for her, Vader wasn't on the bridge, and Luke was preoccupied with an officer.

She quietly snuck over to a computer, knocked the young officer unconscious, and began to look at the map of the Executer. Suddenly, there was a movement behind her. Kelcie whirled around, and was faced by another officer.

"What have we here?" he sneered, grabbing her by the arm.

"Let me go!" she yelled.

Luke had been talking with Admiral Piett, when he heard some commotion on the bridge. He turned around to see an officer holding Kelcie by the arm. What in the worlds was she doing here? He marched over, and saw that she was struggling to get away.

"What's going on here?" he demanded.

"I caught her snooping around the computers!" the officer replied.

"Leave her to me." Luke said.

Kelcie glared, and officer shoved her roughly over to Luke. He took a hold on her arm, and muttered, "Don't try anything."

"I wouldn't dare." she retorted sarcastically.

Although he knew he should, Luke couldn't bring himself to hit her for her smart remark. Vader walked back up onto the bridge, and Luke felt his surprise at seeing Kelcie.

"I'm glad your . . .slave could join us." Vader said, walking up behind his son.

Kelcie turned to glare at him, but Luke's sharp jerk on her arm, stopped her. Kelcie's eyes darted around, obviously looking for a way to escape. Luke's hand on her wrist tightened, warning her not to try anything.

"You're hurting me!" she hissed.

His grip loosened a little bit, but not much.

Vader's gaze turned from space to her. "I take it she's behaving herself?"

"For the most part." Luke said. After all, it wasn't really a lie. He had her standing still and not making any smart comments or escape plans for the moment.

"Are you having trouble controlling her?" Vader asked.

Sithspawn! Luke thought. How had he known?

"Just a little bit." He admitted.

Kelcie squirmed, and Vader's mechanical hand make contact with her jaw. Luke grimaced as a faint trickle of blood came out of the corner of her mouth.

"It's really not that hard, my son." Vader assured Luke. "Just a bit of discipline and she should be fine. After all, she's nothing more than a weak Jedi."

Kelcie's gaze was on the floor, but Luke could see she had clenched her jaw. At least she wasn't mouthing off to his father.

"See," Vader said triumphantly. "She is tamable."

"At think I'll had back to my quarters now, Father." Luke said, before Kelcie got the notion to attack Vader.

"As you wish," Vader said dismissively. "You're no longer needed here."

Luke nodded, bowed, and left the command bridge, dragging Kelcie along behind him.

Once in his chambers, Luke released Kelcie. She darted away from him, and wiped the blood off of her mouth.

"What is the worlds were you thinking?" Luke yelled.

"I don't know!" she retorted. "Maybe an . . .escape plan?"

Luke ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"He could have killed you!" Luke snapped.

"But you wouldn't." she pointed out.

"You don't know that." he replied quietly.

She shrugged. "I'd rather take my chances with you than with Vader."

"You shouldn't take chances with either of us!"
"What I should do and what I do are two totally different things . . .Master." she said coldly.

Luke sighed. There was no point in arguing with her. He walked over to her and gently touched the side of her mouth. She jerked back in fear.

"Let me see." he instructed quietly.

"It's fine." she muttered.

"No, it's not. Now let me see." He reached for her face again, and she shuddered, but allowed him to look. She had a large cut on her lip, and it was bleeding freely. He ran a gloved hand over the cut.

"Someone needs to look at that." he murmured.

"I told you, it's fine." she said softly.

"Go sit on my bed. I'll go get a med-droid." he told her.

She eyed him warily, but obliged. He was being kind . . .for the moment.

Luke exited the room, and headed for the medical wing of the Star Destroyer. Her lip needed stitches, that was for sure. Provided she'd hold still long enough for anyone to get near her. The medical wing wasn't busy, and he easily found a medical droid that was willing to come back to his chambers.

Much to his surprise, Kelcie hadn't gone anywhere, and was still sitting patiently on his bed. She looked at him, worried.

"It's just a medical droid. I promise." he assured. "Your lip needs stitches whether you like it or not."

She took a deep breath, and nodded. The droid rolled over to her, and cleaned the wound. At the sight of the needle and thread, Kelcie paled.

"What's wrong?" Luke asked.

"I . . ." she cleared her throat. "Nothing. I just don't like needles, that's all."

Luke sighed, and sat down beside her.

"Don't cry." he told her sternly. "I can't stand it when women cry."

"I can't promise I won't." she retorted. "But I'll try not to, Master."

"Luke." he corrected. "Now be quiet."

She shut her eyes, and her hand found his. The droid began to stitch, and she squeezed his hand so hard it hurt. That's when Luke noticed the red marks his hand had left on her wrist. Not wonder she'd run away as soon as they got back to her chambers. He'd hurt her.

Stop being so soft! he scolded himself. She's just you slave!

She let out a small, almost undetectable whimper as the droid finished stitching her lip.

"All done, sir." the droid told Luke. Immediately, Kelcie's hand left his, and he felt a little bit of unwelcome disappointment.

"Thank you." Luke said standing up.

"You're welcome, sir." the droid replied. "The stitches will need to come out in about one standard week."

Luke nodded. "One week, I understand."

"Have a good day, sir!" the droid called as it left.

"Somehow your droids are kinder than most of your officers." Kelcie muttered.

"They're medical droids, that's how they're supposed to act." Luke told her, taking his cloak off and throwing it on the bed. "I have a meeting this afternoon, and I won't be back until this evening. You're not to leave this room or go with anyone other than myself, are we clear."

"Crystal." she replied, in mock sweetness.

"That smart mouth of your isn't going to get you anywhere." he told her.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Luke sighed. What was he going to do with her? He walked over to the door and paused.

"I'll be back in a little while." he added quietly. "Just . . .try not to get into any trouble while I'm gone."

"I wouldn't dare leave the room and venture out again." she replied.

Luke couldn't tell if she was being serious or sarcastic. At the moment, he didn't really care. If he didn't hurry, he'd be late. His Father didn't excuse lateness, especially if it was because of his pleasure slave.