Chapter 13:

Han turned pale, and stared at his friends, helplessly. Chewbacca moaned, softly, his eyes never leaving Han's. Han couldn't bring himself to look at Leia; he could feel the hurt and confusion and…. yes, and fear, that was on her face. Finally, he pointed at Lando. "I- I choose him."

Luke chuckled, eyes glittering maliciously. "Very well."

At that moment, Darth Vader and Mara Jade entered, though not together. Vader turned towards Mara, and said, "Emperor's Hand, prepare an interrogation room."

Mara eyed Vader, briefly, then said, "Yes, Lord Vader." As she left the room, she muttered, "What does he think I am, a messenger girl?"

Vader then said, "You have chosen well, Captain Solo. We have need of the other prisoners."

Han looked at Leia and Chewie, anxiously, concerned for their safety. Luke cleared his throat, impatiently, so finally, Han dragged Lando to his feet, roughly. "Sorry, old friend, I have no choice." Han whispered in Lando's ear.

Lando's face registered shock and horror, as he tried to speak. "Han, I—"

Han cut him off, and pulled him in the direction of the door. "How does a scan grid sound to you?"

Mara met up with Luke and Vader as they led Leia to another interrogation chamber. She fell into step beside Luke, and asked, "So what are you going to do now?"

Luke turned to address her. "Father is going to teach me something."

Before Mara could ask what, they had arrived at the interrogation chamber. Luke locked Leia in a force cage, and turned to look at his father, expectantly.

Vader tilted his head, slightly. "I am going to teach you how to invade the mind of another, how to read their thoughts, and memories. Try, now, to enter the Princess's mind."

Luke closed his eyes, frowning in concentration. To his surprise, he ran into a barrier as strong as durasteel in Leia's mind, and his eyes flew open to find her glaring at him, determinedly. He looked at Vader, waiting for instruction.

"No, you won't get in that easily. The Princess has a strong will, and most conventional forms of interrogation will fail against her, even threats to her loved ones. You need to search for weaknesses in her defense." Vader informed him.

Luke closed his eyes again, this time probing Leia's barriers, looking for anything that might let him in. Suddenly, he stumbled upon a…. link, between the two of them. He wasn't sure what that was, or why it was there, but it provided him with an opening in her defense, and he forced his way through.

"Impressive, most impressive," Vader rumbled. "Now look for something that may be of use to us."

Leia's face creased with pain as Luke began, somewhat clumsily, to dig through her memories. Luke… Stop this, you're better than that. You don't…. you don't have to be like your father, you can be more! You're a Jedi, not a Sith—

Luke's thoughts darkened. Enough of your lies, Leia! I already know you despise me, because my father destroyed your home world. And I won't hear you speak ill of him, or me, ever again! He then began to rip through her mind, just to hurt her, cause her pain. With a sharp cry, she collapsed, falling unconscious, and Luke was thrust from her mind.

"I think that's enough for now," Mara said, firmly. "Besides, it's my turn to show farmboy here a trick or two."