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In which I take forever to update, and no one is surprised.

0900 standard hours, Executor

Piett thought he was a rather good officer. He had a stellar record, and he hadn't even been threatened with disembowelment once in his three years on the Executor. (Which, according to the drunken patrons of the Executor's secret bar, was a highly ranked accomplishment.) He hadn't even been strangled with invisible fingers, even lightly. (He had taken to calling this method the Invisi-choke in private, as it sounded like one of the animated powered characters he had watched on the holonet as a boy, and he wasn't sure what the technical term was.)

He was respectful and competent, and he knew when to take initiative to spare his superiors hassle. Most times, this meant that he was able to manage the Executor as the highest-ranked officer when Darth Vader went on a self-imposed break, as he frequently did.

Piett was so good an officer that he was a large reason the Emperor hadn't snapped and tried to murder Darth Vader yet. Because Piett got things DONE, even without a commanding officer onboard. He may not be able to lead troops to battle or strike terror into the hearts of future investors, but he was able to sweet-talk said investors and, well, the only major threat was the rebels. Piett, along with the rest of the Empire, usually ignored the rebels until they blew something up.

One duty Piett would admit to failing was the unspoken rule of having to look after Luke Vader. Normally, he could be excused for this oversight, as the boy was quiet, obedient, and permanently glued to either Vader's side or his own rooms. But now, staring in a catatonic manner at said empty rooms, Piett could admit that he had royally failed in his duty and would likely die via invisible choke or disembowelment in the near future.

Over his shoulder, Wrenga Jixton was cursing up a storm.

1000 hours, Alderaan

Luke did a mental headcount. Twelve adult Falleen with blasters. One ten year old.

Luke wasn't helpless, but he was mainly trained to fight with lightsabers and the Force. Incidentally, he never went anywhere without at least a practice lightsaber on him, but lightsabers were rare, and he didn't want to be recognized unless the situation became dire enough that he'd need to hide behind his father's name. So that left him with... A sonic screwdriver.

He considered this. Well, he'd faced worse odds before. Like that time Anakin left in the middle of a training session and the battle droids just kept coming in droves until Artoo managed to override the controls...

The Falleen were a reptilian species. Their senses were different from humans, sharper in a way.

Which was how half of them were able to leap out of the way when a large, driverless ship came careening their way.

The other half were sandwiched between the wall and the ship, and promptly turned into chunky paste.

In the confusion, Leia Organa woke up, saw the splattered bits of reptile, and scrambled out of the way as a hail of wooden crates attacked the remaining Falleen.

She dove out of the way of a stray crate and landed in front of a pair of small black boots, which lead upwards to a sheepish, round face.

"Uh, hello," the boy who was likely her rescuer from the way his gestures appeared to control the floating objects said. "I thought you might need assistance?"

The Force-user had big eyes and bigger odd style reminded him of some kind of pastry, glued to the sides of her head. Her clothing was tailored and made of similar material as his was, which likely meant she was well-off. He vaguely remembered Alderaan having a monarchical system. A princess or noble, maybe.

Her wide-eyed stare quickly became suspicious, although she allowed him to help her up.

"Who are you? What do you want with me? Were you the one who caused this?" She gestured at the unconscious and dead group of Falleen.

"Luke, answers, and yes," he said quickly, well-used to rapid fire questions at this point.

The girl eyed him warily. "What kind of answers? And how did you do that?"

"Well.." He hadn't actually had a plan beyond satisfying an abstract curiosity. "How did you end up in that box?"

"I was kidnapped," she said impatiently. "How did you beat up the Falleen?"

"I used the Force," he said, heading for an exit. After a moment of hesitation, the girl followed. "It's something you should be able to do as well - although perhaps in a different way."

"You mean move things without touching them?" She said curiously. "You can do that too?"

"So I guess that means you can?" Luke said, leading them to a back door while the other occupants were preoccupied with several prone Falleen bodies.

In response, she raised her hand, and the durasteel doors slid open with a pained screech.

Not the best control, Luke noted the way the door frame crumpled slightly, but definitely powerful.

The girl turned to him with a wide grin. He returned the smile, although his own was somewhat confused and not particularly enthusiastic. After several moments, he realized that she was waiting for a response.

"You lack discipline. You could have opened the doors without damaging them," he said finally. The girl - he suddenly realized he hadn't asked for her name yet - huffed and trudged out the ruined doorway.

Luke frowned, wondering what he had done wrong. Pointing out faults was a way to improve, not something to be upset over.

Reprimands were his father's - Vader's - method of teaching. When he didn't comment, Luke knew he had perfected what ever technique they were currently working on. Anakin on the other hand was more inclined toward positive reinforcement, but Luke hadn't seen his methods as an accurate way to judge Luke's progress, seeing as Anakin handed out compliments like candy - notably to the female staff, now that he thought about it.

...He resolved to not think about it again.

Shuddering, Luke caught up to the girl. "Right. I don't believe I caught your name."

"It's Leia. Um, Organa," she said, then looked at him warily out of the corner of her eye. Obviously, the name meant something. Technically, Luke was supposed to know the names of important people, so he would know who to be polite to and who to not cause intergalactic incidents with. Since he was rarely out, and no one except the Emperor was more important than his father, Luke hadn't seen the point in remembering said names.

"That's a nice name," Luke offered lamely. She snorted. "So, where to?"

"Didn't you have a plan?" Leia frowned.

"Nothing beyond getting you out, I'm afraid." And come to think of it, perhaps those Falleen had been important people with whom he should not cause intergalactic incidents for his bone tired father to deal with. Oh well. Nothing to be done now. Except maybe to go back and turn the remaining witnesses into chunky paste...

1500 standard hours, Executor

The distress signal blared loudly, and the pandemonium that had broken out at Luke's disappearance grinded to a halt. Every eye turned to the blinking light.

Barely breathing, Piett turned on the holocomm. Luke Vader's visage materialized.

"Piett! Thank the Force. I need you to -"

"Luke," Piett breathed. He couldn't speak.

Fortunately, Jixton could. "WHERE THE KRIFF HAVE YOU BEEN?"

The boy had the gall to look exasperated. "Jix, put Piett on the line."

At that moment, the air rushed back into Piett's lungs, and he pushed Jixton aside to glare at his semi-charge.

"We've been searching the entire ship for you, do you know what Lord Vader would have done to us if we had told them his son was missing? Possibly dead? Do -"

Luke opened his mouth to respond, when the image jarred violently. There was a loud crack as Luke's head snapped back. The air shot right out of Piett's lungs again. Beside him, Jixton cursed.

"Where are you?" Piett asked, mouth dry.

"Somewhere near Alderaan, I don't know the exact coordinates." The image shook again, and Luke pulled up the throttle, face twisted in concentration.

"What's going on?" Jixton demanded.

"Fallen," Luke said tightly. "They've been - " he cut off and shot at something they couldn't see. "I can't talk now, just get me out of here."

"Talk me through what's happening." Jixton ordered. "How many hostiles, and where?"

Luke's eyes flickered to them. "Three, no, four - one on each side, two behind. Right one's shooting at me -"

"What type?" Piett asked, ignoring the glare Jixton threw at him. If they knew the ships' weak points, maybe-

"Some kind of attack shuttle - " The image jumped, and this time remained fuzzy. Even with the holocomm's flickering blue image, Piett could see him pale. "... trap..."

"What's happening?" Jixton snapped. Luke turned to them, eyes large and panicked.

"...r Cruiser... tor beam...in..."

The holocomm image flickered and died.

Piett's heart seemed lodged in his throat.

Jixton turned to the deck and snarled, "Someone get me Luke's last coordinates! Now!"

Piett dimly registered the flurry of activity behind him, Jixton barking out orders, as he stared vacantly at the dead holocomm.

He was getting Invisi-choked for sure.

three days after, 1200 standard hours, Executor

In retrospect, taking that many pills to calm my nerves may not have been the best plan... I do not believe I am functioning at maximum capacity..

Vader was lying slumped against the hard mattress, his head leaning against an intricately carved and wholly uncomfortable headboard. He didn't think he'd ever laid down, except during medical situations, since he'd adopted the suit. It was a new feeling.

The bed was also new. He hadn't needed it before, and come to think of it, he couldn't even remember ordering it... Anakin must have bought it at some point, probably at the same time he deemed it necessary to undergo a full-body surgery. He'd never cared for subtlety.

Vader was exhausted, but it wasn't like he would sleep any time soon. There was still plenty to do. Like manage the Executor. Make sure the Emperor was appeased. A lot of other things.

Things he should do. Likely soon.

He absentmindedly ran a mechanical hand through his hair - he could feel the tug on his scalp. That, too, was new.

What are you doing?

One of those things was tune out Anakin. Anakin was the source of horrible decisions.

Why aren't you going after Luke?

Now there was another thing he should be doing. He needed to go after Luke. After all the time he had spent on the boy - a notable amount, although not abundant by any standard - as well as the free reign Luke had to any information, it was imperative that he found him before any secrets were spilled to that damnable Falleen...

Oh Force, Anakin said, and Vader could hear the incredulous and mocking note. You're scared of Xizor.

What makes you think that, Vader thought blandly, reaching for the bottle of pills the medics had given him. He wasn't certain how many they'd told him to take, but he had an inkling that he'd probably taken a higher dose than recommended. Perhaps that was why the room spun and everything felt unimportant.

Because you are.

That isn't an argument. Vader replied out of reflex, knowing that Anakin would never make sense. But I don't see anything wrong with that. Xizor has the Black Sun at his command, adequate reason for despising me and therefore plotting specific attacks against me, the Emperor's favor, and a host of things we aren't privy to or in any way ready to face.

It seemed like a sensible argument.

The hand in his hair splayed and gripped the side of his head. Anakin continued to push, and Vader could feel how very fragile bone was compared to the durasteel fingers and all he had to do so his counterpart would shut up was press down -

Metal hand tore away from blond strands, ripping out several in its haste.

Anakin felt Vader recede into that dark, cold corner in his mind and scowled.

"Painkillers make me suicidal and stupid, got it," he said to no one in particular.

Barely remembering to slip on the helmet, he hurried onto the deck. Which was in a bigger mess than it had been when he'd left it.

"Alright," he announced, and stifled a laugh at the simultaneous way every head swiveled toward him. "We're going to find Xizor, give him hell, and get my son back. So. What have we got?"

I had to move the segment between Luke and Leia meeting and Luke contacting the Executor to the next chapter since it's incomplete, and I didn't want to make you guys wait any longer.

In exchange, the last Vader scene that was supposed to be in the next chapter made its way here.

Vader: What makes you think anyone was looking forward to this, stupid child?

Alana: Shut up and let me be happy.

re-editing will be done in the next few days.

Hope you enjoyed.

RnR!