When Mara heard the sounds of the duel she had turned and bolted. Luke would be all right. Mara on the other hand... well she might have stretched the truth just a little. Her right thigh had been shot through and she sustained several superficial wounds she could deal with easily enough. Most were simply burns from the lasers getting too close. But her leg was jacked. The best thing she could do for Luke was to find Darth Vader.

Hilariously enough that did not take long. She found the Sith Lord practically waltzing down the tunnels with his stormtroopers like he owned the place. Traps had clearly been set off. Darth Vader's cape was ripped slightly and his usually polished helmet was covered in dirt. Mara walked right up to him, ignoring the stormtroopers that pointed blasters at her.

"Took you long enough." She said in forced cheerfulness.

"Where is Illistus?" Darth Vader snapped.

"Right to the point then." Mara leaned against the wall and sighed. "We got separated. He's down that way. There's a Jedi he's fighting."

Darth Vader pushed past her before she could even finish. With another sigh Mara followed after the Sith. She had a job to do and her injury was not going to stop her.

~~~

Darth Vader knelt to inspect the ground, finding a lightsaber under a small stream of water, only just submerged. Taking it in his grasp, Darth Vader inspected the weapon. It was a long handle, made of slivian iron and obsidian accentuated designs and tiny carvings Luke had made in his spare time on Mustafar. Darth Vader stood and placed the lightsaber on his belt. Further investigation showed blood not too far from where the lightsaber had fallen. Luke seemed to have nearly won this battle. If the leg they had found was any indication. Clearly there had been more than one Jedi to catch Luke off guard so easily.

"Fan out, report back whatever you find." Darth Vader ordered, the stormtroopers began their wider search.

Mara Jade approached him. Darth Vader tilted his head at her. "What is it, Hand?"

Jade crossed her arms. "Have the Jedi contacted you yet?"

"I have received no transmission from them."

Jade chewed at her lip. "Milord, what if he's gone? That wasn't a promising scene we just looked at"

"He is not." Darth Vader said firmly. "I would have sensed it. Illistus is still alive."

"Luke, you mean."

"What?" Darth Vader asked, taken aback.

The red headed woman sighed. "Nothing, milord. I'll keep searching."

"As you should." Darth Vader stepped aside and let her pass. As Jade left him, Darth Vader glanced down at Luke's lightsaber. Luke was going to be fine. The boy was strong. He could hold out until Darth Vader found him.

~~~

"Hey, hey take it easy."

Luke scowled at the unfamiliar voice. Something soft was touching his forehead. He tried to raise an arm to push it away. But something metallic around his wrist kept him from doing so. Immediately Luke's heart skipped a beat. His other wrist was similarly bound. He lay on his back and felt cold. Luke forced his eyes open and frantically swiveled his head. The first thing he took notice of was a person leaning over him. It was a togruta female with orange skin and blue eyes. She was saying something, but Luke could not understand. There was a loud ringing in his ears and he could feel his heart hammering fiercely against his chest like it would pop right out. The togruta spoke again and laid a hand over Luke's shoulder. His bare shoulder. Luke tried to wrench away from her. His reaction got her to step back. Luke took a shaky breath, trying to get as much air as possible and focus. Focus.

The cuffs broke and Luke pushed himself up, finally taking in his compromised position. His shirt and jacket were gone. Bandages were wrapped around his chest and shoulder to cover the wound Kenobi had given him. The togruta had her hands raised. She spoke slowly, softly, Luke took another shaking breath and exhaled it with a shudder.

"It's okay." She was saying. "I'm sorry, I was only trying to stop the bleeding."

Luke slowly stood up. His throat felt so dry, he could not even swallow. "Who are you?"

The togruta smiled gently. "I'm Ahsoka."

"You with Kenobi?"

She hesitated. "Yes, but we're not going to hurt you."

A small, scornful laugh burst from Luke's lips. "You've already done that."

"I didn't have a choice." Ahsoka said. "You were going to kill my friend." Slowly she approached him. "Listen, I'm sorry. But everything is going to be fine. Are you thirsty?" She offered him a canteen.

Luke bit his lip. He was really thirsty. But he did not trust her. "You drink it first."

The togruta, Ahsoka, smiled and nodded. She took a long swill, wiped her mouth on the back of her hand and then offered the water again.

Convinced that at least this was not a trick, Luke took the offered drink. "Thanks." He muttered.

"You're welcome." Ahsoka turned and went to the other side of the cavern.

Luke, feeling much more calm now, was able to actually process his surroundings. It was a cave for sure. Rough natural rock everywhere and the only light was made by several artificial lanterns. The cuffs Luke woke up in had even been hammered into the stony ground. Ahsoka came back and offered Luke his shirt and jacket.

"I'm sorry I scared you." She said.

With a weak smile Luke shrugged. "You didn't." He lied. Ahsoka seemed to know it too but she did not comment on it.

"Where's Kenobi?" Luke asked as he pulled his shirt on.

"He had to take the Jedi you dismembered to his ship. He needs to be higher up to get a signal too." Ahsoka said. "He wants to trade you for a Jedi Darth Vader took hostage."

"Leia Organa." Luke asked.

"Yes." Ahsoka folded her arms. "She's a friend we can't afford to lose."

Luke inhaled then exhaled slowly. "I don't think I can afford to lose her either."

Ahsoka frowned. "Why not? It's a good trade."

"Has Kenobi been transparent with you at all, Ahsoka?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Luke nodded. "So he hasn't then. Seems like Kenobi is a pathological liar."

He could see Ahsoka swallow nervously. "Obi-Wan is many things, order 66 changed us all... but a liar?"

"Leia is my twin sister." Luke said promptly. "She's Darth Vader's daughter. Darth Vader doesn't know this since I haven't got the chance to tell him yet."

Ahsoka's jaw had dropped. But she was not denying it either. Luke sighed. "Kenobi has been manipulating you and Senator Organa and probably more Jedi for years and he's done the same to Leia. Don't you think Leia deserves to know the truth?"

"That can't be." Ahsoka snapped out of her dumbfounded state. "Leia is Anakin Skywalker's child. Not Darth Vader's..."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Kenobi really did not trust you."

"That's enough, boy."

Luke and Ahsoka turned to see Kenobi coming through the tunnel. "Don't listen to him, Ahsoka. Sith lie."

Ahsoka glanced between Kenobi and Luke. "Obi-Wan, you said Anakin died during Order 66. Died while helping younglings escape."

Kenobi reached out and touched Ahsoka's arm. "It was a noble death. Don't let this Sith brat tarnish Anakin's memory."

Ahsoka bit her lip and nodded. Kenobi sighed. "Why don't you go prepare the ship, a time and location has been decided upon for the trade." Again Ahsoka nodded and left.

Kenobi turned on Luke. Luke was not perturbed as he raise his chin defiantly.

"It's going to be a while." Luke commented. "For them to get Leia, I mean."

"However will we pass the time?" Kenobi said.

Luke exhaled slowly. "You're not even a little bit sorry."

"About?" Kenobi feigned innocence.

"About me." Luke snapped. "What else? You left me because you deemed me useless."

"On that I was wrong." Kenobi said immediately. "I admit you proved me wrong. You have grown beyond any foresight I had of your future. Perhaps you are even more powerful than Leia."

Luke scoffed. "Thanks, that really makes up for the whole 'my family was murdered so I got raised in slavery' thing."

Kenobi chuckled. "Bitter sarcasm does not suit you, little one."

"Don't call me that." Luke said.

Kenobi was approaching him. "What would you prefer? Slave? Or maybe whore?"

Luke felt his throat tighten. Kenobi smirked and suddenly laid a hand on Luke's shoulder. Luke tried to pull away but Kenobi clutched him tight. "You know all about control and power dynamics don't you. So until the trade happens you can consider me your new master." Kenobi's hand left Luke's shoulder only to reach behind Luke and clutch his long hair. Luke cried out and grabbed Kenobi's arm. His knees gave out as Kenobi pulled Luke's head back further. Luke was petrified, his heartbeat felt erratic, his neck was so bent back he could barely breath. Weakly he tried to pull Kenobi's hand from his hair to no avail. Luke had fallen on his knees, Kenobi towering over him.

"I chose Leia because you were nothing then. And you are nothing now." Kenobi said, his voice low. His other hand grasped Luke's jaw. "Look at you. You're pathetic. Just a slave boy playing Sith Lord, and failing horribly." Kenobi got on a knee, his mouth near Luke's ear. "Imagine this. Imagine you get the chance and tell Vader that Leia is his daughter. Now, you've already been tossed aside once for her. She's not burdened by the past. One touch and you're just a compliant little slave." Kenobi pulled Luke's head again, getting a small cry from him. "See what I mean? You're not Sith material. Given just a little more time Leia will be able to destroy Vader and the Emperor. But you? You could never. What will stop Vader from leaving you behind for Leia if he were to know the truth?"

Kenobi laughed as Luke squeezed his eye shut. "Face it. You're a slave boy, always have been and always will be. Nothing will ever change that."