A/N: So I'm headed overseas for a bit, but decided I wanted to try and update this fic before I left :) So I hope you all enjoy!
Just, as an important note, the only pairing I have planned to be end game or to even happen is Han/Leia... if some of you have questions as you're reading this- it's just Han/Leia, so don't worry about anything else haha.

"Meltdown Café," Luke read the sign out front, why did he get a bad feeling from this place?

The siblings both wore robes with hoods, Leia's going down deeper to better hide her face. Of course hiding your face was not unusual in the establishment, it seemed. As it was filled with criminals, many wearing masks and helmets or – much like Luke and Leia – covered themselves with a hood.

They walked to the furthest part of the bar, nowhere near the crowded tables, and sat close enough so they could whisper.

"I have no idea where to start," Leia said, as Luke looked at the menu.

"I wonder what a Tatooine Sunburn is?" Luke had half a mind to order one.

"Luke!" Leia hissed, "We're here on a mission, not to get drunk."

"We don't even know if it's alcoholic!" Luke kept his voice low too.

"It has two shots of Starshine Surprise in it!" Leia read the ingredients, which were in a smaller font underneath the name of the drink, "There's no way either of us could keep that down. Han, on the other hand..."

"He can't hold his liquor as well as he boasts," Luke said, "He'd be out in ten minutes I bet."

"Five," Leia said with a smirk, and somehow the two of them now had a silent bet. Though they were never sure if it would come to fruition.

Luke was about to get back onto the topic of finding Aphra, when they were interrupted by a human man.

"This seat taken?" He asked, leaning against the bar beside Leia.

Leia had to turn slightly, "No," she said.

The man suddenly got a better look at Leia's face and smirked, "A beautiful woman like you shouldn't be sitting here without a drink. Maybe I could buy you one."

Leia automatically pulled her hood down lower and looked away, with an angry tone she said, "No thanks. Get lost."

Luke had to pretend to cough to hide his laughter.

"Alright, no need to get fussy." The man looked over Leia's shoulder and at Luke, "You with her?"

"Well..." Luke wasn't sure what he meant by that and said, "Yeah, I mean, we're siblings, so just hanging out."

"Siblings, huh?" The man said, and Luke was starting to get the feeling he had some kind of ulterior motive. The man gave a flirty smile, "I can see that. Well, I've got to buy somebody good-looking in this establishment a drink, so what about you?"

Luke almost took up the offer just so he could try one of those Tatooine Sunburns, it's not like he had enough credits to afford one himself anyway. But the strange feeling over the man was getting stronger and he said, "No, I'm good. But thanks for the offer."

"Ah, well," he said, "if either of you change your minds, I'll be all alone, over there," he gestured over to a table, and when he turned away Luke noticed his hair was long enough that it was put in a ponytail.

A human male, brown hair up in a ponytail. That was the description given by the Cerean they'd spoken to at Gamorr.

Luke looked back at his sister, who appeared disgusted.

"I'm so tired of this happening every time I go into a bar," Leia said, noticing Luke's confusion at her revulsion.

"Yeah, well there might be a reason this time," Luke said, whispering, "I think that was him."

Leia frowned, confused for a moment, but caught on quick, "The Jixton guy?"

"Yeah... Maybe... Human male, brown hair in a ponytail?"

"A lot of people could fit that description."

"But in the place we're trying to look for Aphra for? Seems coincidental, don't you think?"

Leia was silent a moment. Then said, "I'll go and find Aphra, you go to the guy and figure out if it is him."

"What? Why me?" Luke asked.

"It would look too weird if it was me, especially since I was so rude to him. You were nicer, it'll make more sense."

Luke almost argued back, but instead asked "And what if it is him? How do I figure that out even?"

"Just pry a bit," Leia said, "Or ask his name. If it's him, we might get information on Aphra."

"Fine," Luke agreed reluctantly.

"Call me if you find out anything," Leia said, getting up.

"You too," he said, "and stay safe," he added, but his sister was already headed to the door.

He stayed at the bar for a couple of minutes longer, clenching and unclenching his fists on the table. Finally, he got off the stool and slid into the seat across from the man who may possibly be Jixton.

The man smiled when he joined him, "You got a name, gorgeous?"

Luke smiled back, "Only if you buy me a drink first."

But he wasn't about to start with a Tatooine Sunburn, just in case.

Jix hadn't been able to leave Nar Shaddaa immediately after knocking Aphra out. Unfortunately, he was in desperate need of a thermal wrench and had been meaning to get one once he'd gotten Aphra. He'd found a tool shop he could visit in and out in seconds, but then he'd passed two people who look suspiciously familiar.

Not to mention just suspicious.

They'd been wearing hoods and had walked past, but had managed a glance at them.

It had been them. He'd seen under the hood, however briefly, the rebel pilot Vader had shown him a – albeit blurry – image of. His companion was short, definitely female, and though Jix wasn't entirely certain it was the Princess, it was enough to make him suspect it was.

With his new thermal wrench in hand (quickly attaching it to his belt), he had followed them into the Meltdown Café. Upon having gone up to them, he'd noticed the woman was definitely Leia Organa.

So now he sat across from the rebel, who'd come over accepting his offer for a drink.

Bingo.

Too bad he just wanted a normal beer, but that would do, Jix just had to play it safe and it would all be okay. Jix ordered the same thing, not wanting to have something too strong before he could figure out if this guy was the rebel Vader wanted.

He was a little younger than Jix would like, but at least he wasn't too young. That would be disturbing with how he was so far playing this.

"So where'd your sister go?" Jix asked, breaking the ice, wondering if the two really were siblings, but he didn't know the first thing about Leia Organa to know if she had a hidden brother stashed somewhere.

"Oh, she went to look for a friend," the rebel replied.

"You got a lotta friends here in Nar Shaddaa?"

"Not really," the man replied, "This one is just visiting here, it's not permanent."

The beer arrived and Jix let himself sit back, trying to figure this guy out. He could be talking about Aphra, or maybe Jix was thinking too much into it. It's possible they knew her, if the connection here is Vader. Maybe Aphra betrayed him and joined the rebels? Gave up some secret information?

No, that can't be it. Jix let himself calm a little, taking a sip from his glass. Good old refreshing Corellian-Styled Beer. The rebel made a face when he sipped his own.

"So, I was promised a name?" Jix asked, flashing a smile.

"Luke," the rebel said nervously, and Jix tried to pick up if he was lying, not seeing in his face that would give it away. It could be why he was nervous, but being a rebel he would have gotten used to lying. There was something else unnerving him.

Besides if Luke was Leia Organa's brother, the two names meshed well together. Luke and Leia.

"Well, I'm Dash," Jix said. Dash Pavan was a common alias of his, but since Luke didn't offer his last name, Jix knew it would be too much to give one as well.

"It's nice to meet you Dash," he somehow seemed calmer after names were said, and Luke drank from his cup, now swallowing down a huge mouthful, cringing again from the taste.

Why did he try and drink so much if he didn't like it? Was it because Jix had bought it?

Polite, that's what he was. "You know, if you don't like, I can buy you something else," Jix said, somewhat amused, "I can drink that."

"No, its fine," Luke said, going for another sip but spluttering it out.

Jix wasn't insulted, he just laughed. "You're too nice, hotshot. Come on, is there a drink you want? Like really want?" He sat forward, putting his elbows on the table and head in his hand, full attention on the blonde beauty.

Luke slid the glass of beer away from him and said, "Well I'm not sure if I'll like it, but I really want to try the Tatooine Sunburn."

"You'll be knocked out in a minute," Jix said, feigning concern, "No way. You wanna martini? Wine?"

"It can't be that strong," Luke insisted, "my sister said the same thing- not to get it, that is. But I'm sure I can handle it."

Jix was silent for a moment, "Do you drink a lot, Luke?"

After a pause he replied, sheepishly, "no."

"Let me start off with something easy, and maybe something you might like," Jix said, tapping at the table so the waitress would come over, "Hey, a Rylothian Cruizer for my friend here."

"Sure thing, hon'," The Togruta waitress took down the order and went off to get it.

Jix turned back to Luke, "So you're only here on holidays with your sister and a friend, huh?"

"Yeah I suppose so," Luke said, now staring at the table, then looked up, "What about you? You live here?"

"Nah," Jix said, knowing some truth had to be put in with the lies, "Here on business. The usual kind," he gestured around the establishment, considering it was very obviously for Bounty Hunter's, smugglers and the like.

"Right, okay," Luke said, nodding and smiling, "I'm not really in that business myself, but I've done some smuggling."

"Yeah, what'd you smuggle?"

"Nerfs," Luke said with a bit of a chuckle.

"Nerfs?" Jix was amused, he couldn't even form a sentence to ask from that.

"Yeah, my sister wasn't so impressed," He explained further, "considering my friend and I had an entire herd of them and were squeezed into the cockpit."

Now Jix couldn't help but laugh, "What!? How does that even happen?"

"You don't want to know," Luke was much more visibly relaxed, "But just imagine, a Corellian Light Freighter, filled with them!"

Jix was still laughing, and although on the outside he couldn't stop, he realised something. A Corellian light freighter, the Millennium Falcon was one such freighter.

Oh yes, Jix had done his research. The Princess Leia and unknown Rebel pilot – Luke, if he were to be believed – sometimes used that particular ship. Again, though, there were so many light freighters, especially of the Corellian sort, it would be stupid to jump too far ahead.

They managed to calm down once Luke's new drink arrived, and trying it, he smacked his lips and nodded, "yeah, that's good."

"Well smuggling Nerfs is a hell of a story to tell," Jix said, then trying to get back on track on the probing, "Got any other family other than your sister?"

Luke put his glass down and sighed, shaking his head, but then said "Yes, actually. Our father, but she'd rather not acknowledge him."

Father? As in Bail Organa? Jix was entirely certain the man was dead, so who could he be on about? Maybe it was a lie, it was probably a lie. But why the need to lie? Maybe it was just his father, and the two weren't actually siblings at all. That would make more sense.

"What about you?" Jix asked, "Your sister doesn't acknowledge him but you do?"

"Yeah, but unlike her I didn't grow up with a father," Luke waved his hand dismissively, "it's a long story – she was adopted and I was raised by our aunt and uncle, so I've never had a father. But he's... not a good person."

Okay, so maybe they were siblings, if Leia Organa had been adopted. Interesting. He wondered if that was noteworthy to tell Vader. Or maybe Vader already knew, considering he was after the both of them. And for what reason? Because they were brother and sister?

"A lot of people have crap parents in this galaxy, you're not alone." Jix knew he couldn't be silent for long, and downed the rest of his beer.

Luke gave a sad smile, staring down at his drink, "yeah, I guess. I just know he could do better."

"If you know that, then don't give up," Jix told him, "not to sound corny- but we need more people like you in the galaxy, who believes the good in people."

"Thanks," Luke gave a laugh, and also finished the rest of his drink. He slammed his glass down, "I'll keep that in mind."

Luke suddenly closed his eyes and shook his head a bit, "Damn it, it was a good thing I went with a light drink I guess."

"What? Drunk already?" Jix asked amused, knowing that wasn't the case, but it still must've gone to his head, at least a bit.

"Maybe I should get going, find my sister."

"But the night's just started," Jix couldn't let him get away until he knew for sure this was the rebel, "We're doing well, right?"

"Yeah, it's just, I don't think I should waste more time here," Luke stood up, "I thought you might've been someone else but maybe not."

Jix stood up with him. Someone else? "Have I offended?" Jix went through everything he'd said, he didn't think he'd said anything insulting. Or maybe Luke was hoping for a soulmate and had been utterly crushed by Jix somehow. Not that he cared, but a man has an ego to keep inflated.

"No!" Luke said quickly, "no, not at all, you've been great I was just," he put a hand to his temple, "it's just complicated to explain I guess."

"It's not the whole 'it's not you it's me' crap is it?" still doing his best to sound as hurt as possible. It wasn't too hard.

Luke smiled apologetically, giving his answer with that.

And it was as though the devils of the Spice Mines had decided to haunt Jix that night, as someone in the Café yelled out "Jix!? Jixton is that you? You're a dead man!"

"Ah kriff," Jix didn't even have to look, he recognised that deep voice. On the other hand, he kept his eyes on Luke, whose eyes widened when he realised the man was referring to him.

"You are him!" Luke said, "You're Wrenga Jixton..."

Oh? So Luke knew who he was. That wasn't good.

"Stay out of this, we don't want anyone messing up your gorgeous face," Jix said to him, turning to the white twi'lek who was aggressively coming towards Jixton.

"Come on, Tru'eb – Ebs – it wasn't me who screwed up your smuggling job I swear," Jix unattached the thermal wrench still on his belt. Although, Tru'eb was pulling out his blaster, firing at him. He almost got him too, if Jix didn't suddenly find himself lying on the floor, Luke lying on top of him, having pushed him aside.

"Where's Aphra?" Luke asked viciously, grabbing at Jix's vest collar.

"Not now," Jix kicked Luke off of him, jumping back up and swinging the wrench at Tru'eb, hitting him in the head.

That wasn't good, as whoever Tru'eb was with were now pulling out their weapons. But they didn't just go for Jix.

"Double kriff" another bar fight.

Everyone jumped on each other, some shots were fired before people threw their blasters aside and figured hand-to-hand combat would do. Some taking close-range weapons like knives or hydrospanners into good use.

The first hit didn't leave Tru'eb unconscious, so Jix punched him right in the jaw to knock him out. But the twi'lek ended up being the least of his worries, as Luke was now trying to make a grab for him.

"Where's Aphra!?" Luke yelled over the chaos, Jix ducking away from his grasp.

"No idea," Jix lied, throwing a punch at Luke, but he managed to dodge. Somehow the rebel's nose was bleeding, somebody else must've hit him earlier while Jix had attacked Tru'eb.

Luke tried to nail Jix to a nearby wall, but again he dodged, and spotting the door, ran for it, having to scramble around fighting bodies and stepping over unconscious people. But Luke was right behind him. Almost grabbing him by the wrist, but Jix managed to give it a quick turn so his hand couldn't grab it.

He stumbled out of the doorway and into the night air of Nar Shaddaa.

Something was wrong, Leia sensed it immediately. She hadn't found Aphra, but ran back to the Meltdown Café where Luke would be trying to see if the man had been Jixton. She'd have thought he'd been done by now anyway, until trouble started brewing in the back of her mind.

Now she just had to get to Luke, Aphra could wait. If this Jixton man was dangerous, she shouldn't have left Luke in the first place.

There he was, she saw him stumbling out of the café, slightly bruised but none the worse for wear. Luke was following after him, his face bloodied.

What the hell? Leia ran forward, grabbing her blaster out and setting it to stun. Jix hadn't noticed her yet. Good. But once he did it was too late, Leia put the blaster up and shot it at him, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Leia!" Luke smiled when he saw her.

"You okay?" Leia asked him, "I didn't find Aphra, but I sensed you were in trouble, you sure you're okay?"

Luke nodded, and said, "We should take him back to our ship, tie him up, see what info he's got."

Together they carried Jix back to their ship. They avoided any stares or looks towards them, but luckily nobody cared much for what they were doing, perhaps the locals saw things like this almost every day.

"This guy is ridiculously heavy," Luke said as they pulled him up the ramp of their ship.

"Well he looks it," Leia said, "Why do you think he doesn't wear a shirt?"

"How would I know? Maybe he likes showing off his abs?"

The two pulled Jix into a chair, tying him up with Fibra-rope they'd found in the supply closet.

"Let's just hope he can't get out of that," Luke said, pulling the ropes tight to make sure they weren't going to loosen.

"We need to get him awake," Leia said, "he must know where Aphra is."

Luke stared at the unconscious man, hardly believing he fell for his fake name. And Luke was goddamn Force Sensitive. What was the point if the force isn't telling him someone was lying? "Got any ideas on that?" Maybe shooting him with a shot of adrenaline would get him up, but he might manage pull the ropes off him.

"Yeah, I do," Leia pushed Luke aside, then without a warning, smacked Jixton in the face.

"Whoa, hold on!" Luke grabbed Leia's arm, "There could be other ways to do this?"

"Got any ideas?" Leia asked, Jix still lying unconscious, head stooping the other way.

Luke was silent.

"Thought so," Leia said, giving him another smack in the face.

This one woke Jixton up, the man sitting up straight, trying to stand, only to find he was tied up. After looking up at his captives he said, "Oh you've got to be kidding me."

"Alright, Jixton, my sister here has a bit of a temper," When Luke said that Leia shot him an irritated look which completely proved his point. "So you better tell us where Aphra is or this won't turn out well for you."

"Wow, really?" Jixton said, "There's a lot to unravel there."

Luke really didn't want to know what he was on about, and neither did Leia by the looks of it so they let him speak.

"So first off, you can call me Jix. Jixton... there's not much wrong with it, but everyone calls me Jix okay? Secondly, are you two really siblings? It's confusing the hell out of me. Thirdly, Don't know a thing about Aphra and finally I doubt you, handsome, are about to let anything bad happen to me. Sweet guy like you? Don't seem the type."

"You're lying," the twins said in unison, the one point in his speech capturing the both of them, the Force letting them know his lie.

Jix looked away, creases forming between his eyebrows, "about which part?"

"You know where Aphra is," Leia said, "Tell us."

"And why should I?" Jix looked from Luke to Leia several times, "Why do you need her? What's the deal?"

Luke knew this guy wasn't an evil person, emotion can be used... not against him, but for him to help them, maybe. Luke bent down so they were eye-to-eye and said calmly, "She's the only person right now who can help us. She knows the Empire well and can get us somewhere we need to go, to get through all the security."

It seemed to be working, for a moment. Jix gave a sigh, then said, "I don't know what problem she can help you with, but I'm sorry, it's not gonna happen."

"Why not?" Luke asked, his composure now disappearing, feeling like that Farm boy on Tatooine, "She's the only person who can help us and you're a sympathetic person, you can understand when people are desperate, right?"

"Just because you're desperate doesn't mean it's really that important," Jix said, twisting his wrists, trying to loosen the ropes.

Luke gripped his lightsaber, "Don't try."

Jix stopped moving.

"Why are you after Aphra anyway?" now Leia spoke, "Who are you working for?"

There wasn't a reply for a while, Jix looked aside and too the floor, as though ashamed by the answer.

"Vader," Leia said, then to Luke, "he's working for Vader."

That made sense. Of course it did, Aphra had been working for Vader who else would want her dead so bad?

"Vader asked you to find her and kill her didn't he?" Leia said, and Luke didn't sense rage now, but a grief. Not one akin to that of losing family or close friends, but some other loss, something he couldn't place himself. "Is she dead?" Leia finally asked.

"No," Jix said, and Luke knew he was being truthful.

"We need her," Luke said again.

"So do I," Jix said, "You don't get it, do you? If I don't deliver her to Vader, it's my life on the line."

"Well you should have thought of that before you took the job," Leia said darkly.

Now it was Jix's turn to get angry, it seemed, as he snarled out, voice going gravely, "No, no, you still don't get it. You weren't there when Vader slaughtered an entire bar full of people, dragging me through their blood and bodies – as drunk as I was I could smell the scorching of living parts from that lightsaber he carries, much like yours – and then he drags me into a kriffing horse trough-" Jix gave one aggressive pull of his hands to get out of the ropes but again they barely nudged, "-and I have to pull myself out soaking wet and he gave me an option. Either sign up, or get butchered in the middle of the street. So what in Kessel's Spice Mine's do you think I was going to do?"

"I'm sorry," Leia said, "We're sorry. We wish it could be easier."

She looked over to Luke, who wasn't sure either what to do. He could understand why Jix is doing what he's doing now, if he had little choice. Not every person was the same, not everyone could stand up to Vader and not be afraid to die. The twins got that. Luke nudged his head to the side, signalling they should go and speak in private. Leia gave a nod and the two walked out of the room.

"There's no way he's going to tell us where Aphra is," Luke said.

"I didn't have too many other places left to look," Leia said, "maybe I'll search the final two space ports in the sector and I'll come back when I've found her."

"I guess," Luke said, "but what to do with Jix? You think maybe we could offer him protection from Vader? Maybe he could help us get to Naboo too."

"I don't think that's a good idea, not right now," Leia said, "So..."

"You just get Aphra and I'll stay here, got it. Maybe I can get something else out of him."

"Sure, and we need to keep comlinks on us," Leia said, "keep them on, just in case something bad happens. The Force might not warn me next time."

Considering how their abilities seemed to fluctuate, Luke couldn't help but agree.

Leia was getting frustrated after almost another hour of looking. She couldn't find an open, unmanned ship where Aphra could possibly be.

"Last place," Leia said to herself, finding a smaller ship – definitely fit for one – its ramp down and nobody else around except for some droids.

"Hello?" Leia went up the ramp, there was no reply from the ship. No one in the cockpit, and when she went to the back, then she could breathe a sigh of relief.

Aphra was there, unconscious in a chair, tied up with chains, similar to how she and Luke had Jixton tied up.

"Aphra?" Leia went up to check her pulse, "Doctor Aphra?" but she didn't even stir.

He must have dosed her with something, there was no way somebody could stay out and in this deep a sleep in such an uncomfortable position. But it was best for Aphra to stay that way for the time being, there was no telling she'd agree to help them get to Naboo. In fact, she'd probably find a way to escape from them.

So Leia left her there for the time being, going back to the front of the ship, deciding to look through its data banks. This would be a good time to have Artoo with her, but unfortunately the droid was back with the Alliance.

It didn't take her long to find files on not just Aphra, but on herself and Luke as well. Looks like Vader had told Jix he wanted them too. Maybe they were on his to-do list after he'd gotten Aphra, she didn't know. Or maybe he found Aphra first by pure chance and decided to get her first. It didn't appear that he knew anything about them being twins, or that Vader was their father. The files just appeared public, or part of the larger Imperial network.

Leia left the computer alone, leaving the cockpit and going back to Aphra. The woman was still passed out, so Leia had to find a way to untie the chains and then flip her over her back and carry her. It didn't help that Aphra was taller than her... well Leia was quite small anyway, it seemed everyone was bigger than her in some capacity, even goddamn ugnoughts.

No time to wallow in self-pity though, she had to get back to the ship fast, back to Luke. Hopefully Jixton was still tied up in the ropes and Luke was doing just fine.

Jix was frustrated. He was beyond frustrated, in fact, but he was very good at controlling his feelings. He couldn't get mad at anyone else for this situation except for himself. He was so goddamn stupid.

He'd underestimated the two rebels, and he had to wonder why Vader wanted them. Because they were just so...

He wanted to say "skilful" but he didn't want to admit to any sort of inferiority to them. Or maybe it had something to do with the fact that the two of them were trying to get to Naboo.

Naboo. Of all places. They clearly hadn't realised how thin the walls of the ship were, and he'd heard their conversation. It was nice they hadn't considered throwing him in an airlock (he'd met too many people like that), but maybe Vader believed they could actually get to Naboo and... do what exactly?

They needed Aphra to do it. So get Aphra away, then it would be harder for them. And he concluded 'harder' as opposed to them not doing it at all because they seemed like the type to just go for it. It was admirable, really.

Luke was pacing up and down the room, sometimes his arms were crossed, other times he'd uncross them and swing them around, stretching them. He was nervous about something.

"You okay?" Jix couldn't help but ask, wanting to bite his tongue as soon as the words came out.

"Huh?" Luke stopped and looked at him, "uh, yeah, I guess."

Jix adjusted himself in his seat slightly, it was rather hard with the ropes, but he could still feel his comlink in his back pocket, the one Vader uses to contact him with. He could only hope the big guy wasn't planning on calling any time soon. Or preferably ever, because Jix was so damned screwed.

"What about you?" Luke asked, and Jix had to raise his eyebrow at that and the blonde quickly elaborated what he meant, "I mean the ropes, they're not too tight are they? No rope burns?"

"Uh, no I guess not," Jix said, "They're tight enough that I can't get out though, if that makes you feel better."

Luke put his hands into his pockets, continuing to pace, "Yeah, sorry about all this. Sorry you got caught up in having to work for Vader. It must be terrifying."

"You don't know the half of it," Jix said, and he saw a small smile on Luke's face. Maybe he did know, but wasn't willing to say anything. "So how'd you end up in the Rebellion?" small talk wouldn't be a problem, right? He barely knew anything about this guy, the file hadn't even had his name.

"By accident mostly, I guess," Luke said, "The Empire killed my aunt and uncle."

"I'm sorry," and Jix was. His own family was long gone, but the Empire had nothing to do with that.

"Thanks, but it's not your fault," Luke said stopping his pacing again, "unless you were the ones that torched their bodies until they were nothing but skeletons."

Yikes. Okay. Jix was starting to feel for this guy. "That sucks... sorry I'm working for Vader."

"Yeah, well, it was a hard decision, I get it," Luke said, "If it's worth anything, I hope Vader doesn't kill you for this failure."

"I don't think I'll get out of this alive, handsome."

Luke chuckled, "Well, I don't know if it'll work, but maybe you can say that Luke doesn't want you to die, and if he kills you, I won't be very happy with him."

Jix frowned, "How the Kriff is that supposed to work?"

"Hmm, you're right, it might not... but it might be the only chance you have," Luke looked down at the ground, slouching somewhat. He looked lost, confused. Jix felt sorry for him, as though he weren't the one looking death in the face right now.

Luke looked back up at him, his face grim and all serious again, "When Leia comes back we're throwing you off this ship. If you know what's good for you, go into hiding. Get away from Vader, the Empire. As far away as possible, okay?"

"I probably will," Jix said, it wasn't like any other ideas came into mind. It was go to Vader and die, or skedaddle, and fast.

"If we ever cross paths again some time, maybe you can join the Rebellion?" He looked hopeful, and Jix just wanted to roll his eyes, but decided not to, he liked this guy too much to want to upset him.

"I appreciate the offer, but I don't think I can," Jix said, "I'm sorry what happened to your family under the Empire, but we have different experiences you and I. The Republic was responsible for my family, what happened with them, what happened in my life... my early life, anyway. I don't want it, I agree with the Empire – I mean, to an extent. There needs to be order. Not the type of order we get from Vader, mind you. But if someone else, someone like you for example, were the Emperor or his hand, everything might be okay."

Luke was silent, and this time Jix had no idea what he could be thinking or feeling.

"I'd like to have you as a friend, Jix," Luke said, "if things were different."

Jix couldn't help but laugh at that, it was a genuine one too. He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed, "Yeah, if things were different."

"Luke!" and just like the calmness was gone, the atmosphere had changed. Leia was back, and with Aphra in tow. Now Jix was going to be thrown out and he had no idea how to stop this. He cursed himself mentally, he should have been thinking of a way to convince Luke to leave him on board or something, not getting friendly.

The Princess came into the room where they were, placing an unconscious Aphra on the floor.

"Right, so how do we do this?" Luke asked.

"I found these in Jixton's ship," Leia pulled out some needles all with fluid in them.

"Oh kriff," Jix said to himself, that was the drug he'd used to knock Aphra out. "Look, you really don't need to use those I'll go out quietly, I mean it."

"What are these? Are they dangerous?" Luke asked.

"Well it's not good I'll tell you that," Jix said, unable to take his eyes off any of the needles, worried any of them might magically fly into him.

"We'll find a way to untie him from the chair but keep his hands and feet tied up," Luke said to Leia, "I don't think uh... I don't think we need those."

"Well what if we just use a little bit?" Leia suggested, pushing the end of the needle, liquid dripping to the floor.

"I'd still rather not," Jix quickly argued, "it's... it'll... maybe... it won't..."

"Is this what you used on Aphra?" Luke asked.

Jix couldn't reply, knowing somehow that they'd know if he were lying or telling the truth.

"Well then," Leia said, holding up the needle, "sweet dreams," and she pushed it into his shoulder.

The last thing Jix saw was Luke and heard his apology, "sorry man."

A continuous screeching woke Jix up, and all he felt was cold concrete slab. His vision was blurred, but when it cleared he noticed he was in a docking bay, and the screeching was in fact just some beeping... from a comlink... in his back pocket.

Jix groaned, grabbing the device and turning it on. "Hey Uncle D." he definitely sounded out of it.

"Jixton... are you drunk?" and Vader didn't sound too pleased.

"No," Jix answered, "it's just they dosed me."

"Who dosed you?"

"Luke and Leia, the siblings or whatever... rebels..." Jix was trying to wrack his head, putting the puzzle pieces together, the memories coming back slowly.

"The twins, they were there!?"

Twins? Was that meant to be common knowledge? Did Jix know that? "Yeah, yeah, they were. Kriff," Jix had tried to move and in doing so felt some pain in his legs. It would pass soon, he just needed the drug to wear off properly.

"Jixton what happened?" and he knew Vader wasn't asking out of concern. "Where is Aphra?"

"Yeah, I lost Aphra to the twins," Jix told him, "I overheard them saying something about needing her help to get to Naboo..."

There was no reply from Vader's end, just his heavy mechanical breathing.

"If you ask me, those two seem really suicidal, more trouble than they're worth," Jix really wanted to know why Vader had such an interest in them. It wasn't healthy, he was sure, for any of them.

Vader finally spoke, "They're going to Naboo."

Jix wasn't sure what to make of Vader's tone.

"Naboo!? Of all the ridiculous-," there was a sudden string of foreign swear words from Vader's end. Sounded Huttesse, but Jix couldn't be sure.

"So uh... how exactly is this going to be handled?" Jix asked, realisation dawning he might not actually get killed for everything that's happened.

"What is going through their minds? Have they completely lost them?" Vader was still ranting.

Okay then. Jix decided to wait patiently. It sounded like some more swearing from Vader, then finally he addressed Jix with a very harsh tone, "Jixton is your ship working?"

"I hope so," he answered, "for all I know the Princess might've roughed it up pretty good."

"Get to Naboo, immediately. Find them. Do nothing else, access for you will be handled. Get the twins, get them, find them, then contact me immediately with their location."

"Sure thing, Uncle D."

"And Jixton," Vader said, and Jix suddenly had an overwhelming fear fill him. Oh god, he was going to die.

Vader said, "put on a shirt."