Chapter Six: The Final Punishment
"Luke!"
"Marle'! I haven't seen you for days, are you all right? Whoa!"
Apparently, Marle' was all right. She was wearing a silk dancing outfit. The skirt was blue with silver trimming and the top was white, with little silver jewels hanging from the top of it. All in all, Luke actually thought that his 'little sister' looked cute. And above all, she looked healthy.
"Well it looks like you've been given enough to eat," Luke observed.
"What do you mean? Don't you have enough to eat?"
Luke deiced not to tell her that he was starving. It would only worry her for nothing.
"Oh, I have what I need to eat, if that's what you're asking."
"Okay." But Marle' didn't look as convinced as she sounded.
"So what have you been doing, Marle'?"
"I dance for Taska Kamein. I've always been a good dancer."
"Oh, so we're both experts at what we do," Luke noted sourly. But he was happy that Marle' seemed to be rather content.
"Really? What do you do?"
Luke pointed in the direction of the fields.
"I work out there, fixing vaporaters."
"Isn't that hard work?" Marle' asked, innocently.
"Maybe."
It was then that Marle saw the blood on the back of Luke's shirt. She lifted it to see the deep cuts and gashes by made by the electra-shock whip. And the wounds looked even worse since no one had bothered to treat them.
"Oh, Luke! You have scratches on your back!"
Despite the situation, Luke had to smile. Scratches didn't even begin to describe how his back looked.
But Luke wiped the smile off his face when Marle' began to cry.
"Don't worry, I'll be alright," Luke said, hugging her.
Suddenly, someone grabbed Luke, and spun him around.
"You! I thought you learned your lesson to mind your own business, slave!"
Two other men came, and dragged Luke away from Marle'. Marle' tried to follow them, but another person came, and took her back inside the main house.
"I AM NOT a slave!" Luke said defiantly.
"Well let's see how you feel about that after ten more lashes from the electra-shock whip, faced forwards!"
No! They were going to extend the pain to his chest and his face! How was he supposed to sleep now?
"Noooooooo!"
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Vader felt it, the deep, intense despair coming from Luke, followed by a series of sharp pain.
His son was being hurt by those slavers again!
Protective anger swelled up inside of him. He would be there in a few hours, and then those slavers would get what they deserved! No one would lay one hand on his son to harm him, and live! Not while Vader was still Luke's father, they wouldn't! They would learn what it meant to make a slave out of his son, and then harm his son!
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Luke was dragged to the slave's quarters, and then dropped on the floor. The men left him there, and Luke was too weak to move. He was in way too much pain.
I'm so hungry! Luke thought. Wait, is that all I'm worried about? I have just been whipped; with me facing where the whip was coming from, and all I care about is not having enough to eat last night?
Luke shook his head in disapproval of himself. But it was true. He was only nineteen, his life wasn't supposed to be like this! He should be back with the rebels, maybe helping Han fix up the Falcon. Luke grinned, remembering those times. And right there, in the middle of the floor, Luke fell asleep.
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"When will we be there, Han?"
An annoyed Han turned around to face Leia.
"You asked me that five minutes ago."
"When!"
"About half an hour, and don't ask me again!"
Half an hour.
Even though Han didn't want to admit this out loud, he was very worried for Luke. He knew how slaves were treated, and he hated knowing that the kid was being treated like that.
Han felt as though Luke were his little brother, always needing looking after. And if you weren't watching him every second, Luke would find some way to get into trouble.
Yes, even Han felt as though something was happening. Something that deserved his attention before it was too late……………..
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"My Lord, we have just reached the Ambrian system."
"Very good. Prepare my shuttle; I will be going down to the planet myself."
"As you wish, My Lord."
At last, he was here! He could end the slavers' torment on his son! He could rescue Luke, and take him some place safe! He could keep Luke under his watchful eye, and make sure no one could harm him. He could bring justice to those slavers!
At this, Vader smiled.
"Lord Vader your shuttle is ready."
Author's Note: Ha! A cliffhanger! Don't worry; I'm trying to finish the story as we speak!