Chapter Twenty-six

Han was forced into yet another room inside the Hapan Palace. This room made his heart start pounding in fear and his knees feel a bit weak. The area was small with rounded walls, but in the center was a flat, upright panel with red blinking lights along the top edge. When he'd been subject to the scan grid, it was obvious that Vader had modified its original intent to create a device to inflict pain. This panel was obviously built with that exact purpose in mind.

The panel was about two and a half meters tall and a meter wide. A metal ring at the top indicated where the victim's head was to be placed. Metal rings at the sides and the bottom were obviously meant to restrain arms, hands, legs and feet. Coils with attached needles dangled from sides of the panel.

Isolder gave a wicked grin at his victim. "Do you like what you're seeing, Daysun? This device is used to interrogate our enemies. They all tell us what secrets they are keeping, and usually confess within a few minutes." Isolder gave a pretend pout. "They assume once they tell us everything the pain will stop. They are quite incorrect. The pain only stops upon death or when they slide into insanity. Five levels of pain - most of them make their confessions at level one - before they proceed to die or go insane at level three. Sometimes, if they are young and strong, they can make it up to level four." The Prince turned to his guards and ordered, "Strip him and put him on the rack."

There was no way in all the multiple Corellian Hells that Han was going to go meekly to his death by getting strapped onto yet another torture device. He dropped down to the floor, twisting his torso and, even though his wrists were still bound, simultaneously grabbed the nearest blaster away from one of the Hapan guards, firing it directly into the man's face. Still on lying on the floor he twisted again, firing at another guard, getting a surge of satisfaction as the man fell to the ground. It was all he had time to do as yet another stun blast, this one from Isolder, hit him squarely in his back.

In Hapan space

"Will we make it?" Mara asked Luke, who was sitting quietly beside her in the Jade's Fire, looking grim.

"I'm not sure," Luke replied softly. "If Han dies, it will destroy Leia this time. That, along with losing Isabell... it could turn her to the dark side."

"Is that what the Force is telling you?"

"The Force doesn't have to tell me that. I know it. I know Leia. She's a good person, a strong person, but she can't lose the two people she loves the most in the galaxy, not again."

"She lost Alderaan without turning to the dark side," Mara pointed out.

"Leia wasn't trained in the Force then, like she is now. There is only so much loss a person can take, Mara. Leia can't keep losing everyone without eventually losing herself." Luke took a deep breath. "We have to arrive in time to rescue Han, that's all there is to it. I won't let him die again, and I refuse to let my sister turn."

"Are they coming, too?"

"Yes," Luke responded. "The three of them, Leia, Corran, and Chewie left on the Wookiee Princess at the same time we left Corellia."

"So I guess Solo's Wookiee has recommitted himself to the Corellian again, even if Solo is now Daysun?"

"Han is still Han. If he weren't, he wouldn't be in the predicament he is right now," Luke said wryly. "I'm glad Han finally worked up the courage to tell Chewie the truth."

"So what are the plans? Do we even have a plan?"

"As soon as we drop out of hyperspace, Leia is going to contact Isolder, demand to see Isabell and claim she has a Court Order that allows visitation from the New Republic. It's not true, but she had to try and delay any torture Isolder has planned. We're going to drop out of hyper and I'm going to use the Force to shield our presence. Then we can land near the Palace and take things from there."

"Huh." Mara shook her head. "What if Isolder refuses to allow Leia's ship to land?"

"I'm guessing he will," Luke replied, a slight grin showing on his face.

"You have something up your Jedi sleeve." It wasn't a question.

"Wait and see."

The second time Han woke up from a stun blast he was strapped firmly to the upright slab, the metal binders cutting painfully into his wrists and ankles. The cool air against his flesh indicated his clothing had been removed, although he could only look straight ahead since the head restraint prevented any ability to check. He strained to look down with only his eyes and saw the multiple needles were still dangling loose, waiting like thin, black coiled snakes ready to strike.

Isolder and the Queen Mother entered his field of vision. "I will wait elsewhere while you conduct your interrogation, my Son," Filamina said primly. "I do not care to get sweat or spittle on me, and this room is too small to prevent such unpleasantness."

"Most woman really like my sweat and spittle," Han managed to say to the Queen, despite his dry mouth and tongue. ""Sides, I see you finally got your nasty eyes to get a look at my manhood, Your Royal Witchiness, body hair an' all."

Shocked at Han's taunting and insolence, Isolder stepped forward and struck Han across his jaw with his fist. The crack of bone was loud inside Han's head, and he tasted blood in his mouth. A broken jaw. My first casualty of this so-called interrogation, he thought wearily. At least my mouth ain't so dry anymore.

The Queen Mother disdainfully spoke as she left the room, "Make certain you record every moment of his interrogation. I will enjoy watching him die."

"You didn't actually succeed in killing my Guards, Daysun," Isolder mocked. "Their blasters were set on stun. I had no intention of allowing you to escape your fate that easily." He waved toward the left, and a tall, older Hapan male with dark bags under his eyes stepped forward, looking up at Han's face in disinterest. "Allow me to introduce Hurmus, our long-time Interrogator. Normally, he handles the actual controls that dispense the spice chemicals into your veins, as well as the shock charges that follow. Today, sadly, he will only be inserting the needles, since I will enjoy handling the controls that cause you agony, and finally your ultimate release from that agony - death. Although, given a choice, I'd rather just have you enter into a vegetative state for the remainder of your worthless existence."

"Sure you can handle it, Prince Slime Bucket?" Han snarled in defiance. "Those controls might be too complicated for your tiny brain cell to figure out."

Isolder was about to step forward and strike Han again when his comlink beeped. Annoyed, he snatched it off his belt and spoke harshly, "Yes? Can this wait?"

"Sir? This is Officer Poss'lli. A Corellian Freighter has dropped out of orbit, a YT-2000 I believe it is. Queen... err... I mean Princess Organa is demanding to speak to you regarding her, err, your daughter."

"Right now? Tell her I'm busy!"

"Sir, she won't take no for an answer. She won't obey commands to stay in orbit, either. The ship is making its way to the surface."

"Then shoot her down! You should have done that immediately, anyway!"

"Uh...Sir?"

"WHAT!?"

"She has an entire X-Wing squadron accompanying her, Sir. I'm not sure shooting her down is a viable option without starting a war with the New Republic."

"Kriff!" Isolder turned to the Interrogator and ordered, "Insert those needles. I'll be back in a few minutes." He glared at Solo, who was smiling despite his throbbing jaw. "You've only earned a short reprieve. Don't think she's going to be able to stop this."

My Princess, Han thought in sheer happiness, sensing her make a mental connection with him the second he thought about her. Leia's here.

Somebody has to rescue you again, Flyboy, he could hear her thinking back.

Jade's Fire

"Is it too late?" Mara questioned as they dropped out of hyperspace, aware Luke was concentrating on shielding their ship with the Force and allowing them to head to the surface without resistance.

"Not yet," Luke replied, his eyes shut. "Leia's temporarily diverted Isolder, but he won't stay diverted very long. Rogue Squadron is allowing the Wookiee Princess to land."

"Rogue Squadron?" Mara asked, surprised. "They're here?"

"Rieekan cares very much for Leia," Luke said, smiling slightly. "He pulled strings."

"So that was the mystery that was up your sleeve," Mara said, smirking. "I hope Solo appreciates everything we're doing for him."

"He will."

"We'd better hurry."

"Yes. Hurry."

Han grimaced as the Interrogator placed the needles near every pressure point in his body... shoulders, elbows, hip sockets, knees. Then the man hurriedly exited the room, leaving Han alone with his thoughts and worries.

I wonder if I can use the Force to get out of these restraints," Han pondered, shutting his eyes then trying to concentrate and use the Force like he'd seen Luke do countless times. Nothing happened. He opened his eyes, and gave a sharp intake of breath. In front of his vision stood the ghostly form of Anakin Skywalker.

"Lemme guess...you had so much fun on Bespin, you came to watch me suffer again?" Han snarled, much less startled this time at the Blue Apparition. "You must get some real sick kicks outta watchin' me scream."

"I am not here to enjoy your suffering, only to give you some reassurance," Anakin replied. "Your friends are arriving soon."

"Soon enough to stop me from gettin' tortured?"

"Isolder is returning," Anakin replied, glancing at the door. "Stay strong, Han. I am truly sorry that you will suffer pain before Luke and the other's free you, but the Force will not let you die."

"It'll just let my brains fry into mush."

Anakin gave a sad smile. "That won't happen, either. Leia will be your rock this time. Don't push her away to spare her your suffering. Allow her to help you through this."

"Why can't you just use your stupid powers and free me now, before Isolder gets back?" Han snapped in frustration. "Do you know what having spice injected into your body does to you? I've lived on the streets... I've seen it. If they're using the nastiest spice there's on the market, all it takes is one time and you're an addict!"

"You must allow events to run their course, Han. From your pain will come Leia's desires."

"That doesn't make a shit's worth of sense. You tellin' me that Leia desires my pain? That she wants me to be turned into a spice addict?"

"Things will work out," Anakin said, dissipating as Isolder re-entered the small room.

"Now," Isolder said with a feral grin as he stepped forward, holding a small black control box. "Where were we?"