The Way It Should Be
Chapter 5
Leia was brought back to the harsh reality of the present as she watched in growing horror the brutality taking place before her eyes. She willed Han to stay down when once again he collapsed after suffering a punishing blow to his midsection, and closed her eyes to avoid seeing him take a painful kick to his side when he didn't immediately stagger to his feet, but instead lay gasping for breath. She made herself open her eyes again, and watched through her tears as he grabbed at his bruised and abraded side, and bit his lower lip, obviously struggling not to cry out, and finally reached out with his right arm for the wall, trying to haul himself upright yet again. One eye was already purple and swollen shut, his cheek badly bruised and his mouth cut and bloody.
Leia could not understand why he continually pushed his way to his feet after each vicious blow, nor why he did not try to defend himself or retaliate in any way. Instead, he simply stood immobile, waiting, apparently resigned to the next blow or kick. Once or twice, she thought he might be looking her way, but he would not allow his eyes to rest on the window where she stood watching. He occasionally snarled something at his tormentors in response to a question, but each time they only laughed and hit him again. Leia was torn between wishing he would lash out at them, knowing how he had always defended himself, and hoping he would simply pass out and not suffer any more. In desperation, she tried once more to reach Luke with her thoughts
Luke and Chewie were growing increasingly frustrated. They had gone to the cantina where the meet was supposed to have taken place, but careful questions to a few patrons had revealed nothing of value. They were reluctant to ask around too much. Without knowing what had happened to the Princess and Captain Solo, they couldn't risk too much attention. Now they were outside the cantina, and Luke was using his force sense, trying to determine where they might have gone. As they neared an alcove set back from the alley, he slowed, and turned in a slow circle. "Here, Chewie," he said softly. "Whatever happened, it happened here." Chewie looked around anxiously, not knowing what Luke was talking about. He could see no evidence of either Solo or the Princess and no real signs of a struggle, yet he knew the Captain would not go down without a fight. Unless of course, Leia was being threatened. That was about the only way to guarantee the Corellian's cooperation. "What happened, can you tell?" he whuffed at Luke. Luke closed his eyes and reached out to touch the side of the alcove, trying to sense what had taken place. He cast out, trying to feel Leia and Solo's presence and was finally rewarded with a faint impression. "I'm not completely sure what happened, but this is where they were taken. I think Han was hurt some way, or maybe stunned, I can't get a feel for him at all, but Leia was terrified, and not for herself, I think." Chewie moaned, worried about his friend and Leia both.
"I'm going to try to reach Leia again," Luke stated. "It might be easier here, where I know they were." Luke closed his eyes again and sent his thoughts arrowing out, trying to find Leia. He was concentrating so hard, it came as a surprise when he suddenly felt Leia reaching for him as well. Luke! she shouted in his mind. Where are you? Help us! Luke staggered for a moment and Chewie quickly supported him, knowing enough to just hold him up, and not distract him.
Leia? Luke asked tentatively. We're in an alley, I, I think you were here. Was Han hurt? Leia's thoughts were coming fast now and were all jumbled together. Luke could tell she was on the edge of panic, and that wasn't normal for the self-controlled Princess. It worried him more and more. He's hurt now. Leia's sense was full of regret and self recrimination. Hurry Luke, we're in a warehouse, or, or, maybe an old prison somewhere. That's all I know. Han! Leia's attention obviously turned back to the Corellian and Luke could sense her frantic worry clearly. He decided to try to reach Han directly, knowing that if Solo was hurting, he was usually 'sending' whether he meant to or not.
He cast his force sense wider, trying to find the pilot's aura, knowing he was near Leia. Suddenly Luke staggered and would have fallen had not Chewie grabbed his shoulders and propped him up. Luke groaned and doubled over, clasping his ribs. He was overwhelmed by sensations he knew to be all Solo's. "Uh, Chewie," he managed to gasp out. "Han's hurt, he's hurt bad." Luke 'felt' a blow being delivered to ribs already cracked and broken and dropped to his knees, holding onto Chewie's arm to keep from toppling over. He wanted to desperately to break contact, but knew he had to try and get a sense of direction so they would know where to look. Han! he shouted through the force. Hear me! Where are you? Tell me more….
Luke concentrated fiercely, still grasping Chewie's arm and thought he heard a faint reply. Luke? That you? Wha…? Where are you? Help Leia! Han's sense of concern was obviously not for himself, in spite of the pain he was experiencing. He wanted Leia's safety, and Luke was aware through the link that Solo was paying a high price for it. Not sure of the details, nevertheless, he could tell Solo was suffering in order to somehow keep Leia from being hurt. Another blow and Solo's pain suddenly was too great to bear. Luke lost the tenuous link he'd had with Han.
Gasping with relief, Luke pulled himself upright, and leaned against Chewie. "I know which direction to head," he whispered. "Give me a minute," he breathed hard, still trying to assimilate all he'd learned. Finally, he leaned his head back and looked Chewie in the face. "North, we keep going north. They're in a large building, ah, a, a warehouse, or old prison or something. I think I can pinpoint them when we get closer. Maybe through Leia, but for sure through Han, if he stays conscious." "What is happening to them?" Chewie was afraid to hear the answer, but needed to know. Luke squared his shoulders. "I'm not completely sure, but I think Han is. . ." he hesitated, knowing how Chewie would react, "he's being beaten, Chewie. Badly. Somehow he's protecting Leia, I couldn't make it all out." Chewie wanted to roar out his anger and frustration at being unable to protect his bond brother, or Leia, but knew he had to keep quiet. He clenched his fists and just nodded at Luke. "Lead on, then, little brother. We must find them, and quickly."