CHAPTER SIX

Luke sat on the sofa, dejectedly, with his arms hanging between his knees and his black boots tilted towards each other as if the toes contained magnets. His father paced the floor before him with his hands clasped behind his back.

"You... you didn't do anything awful at the base, did you?" Luke mumbled at his agitated father.

Vader looked up from the floor at him; his lips pressed tightly together, pushing the blood from them, "I won quite a bit of money from your smuggling friends in a Force assisted Sabacc game."

"I bet Han loved that."

"I told off your secret girl-crush, who was plotting to kidnap you and sell you to the Empire."

"I forgave you for that, just not for trying to kill her—or for killing her friends."

"Co-workers," Vader corrected.

"It was murder."

"Execution." The Dark Lord corrected, and resumed his pacing.

"Well, in any case, I'm mad at you."

Vader paused again and looked at him seriously, "I think that with all of the humiliation you've caused me, you can find it in your heart to forgive me," he bit out sarcastically.

"You must have almost given yourself away to my friends while you were with them!"

"Almost? Perhaps, young Luke, but you sent Miss Talamaur back to the surface with that very information! "

Luke tilted the unwieldy helmet, "...Yeah, I might have done that."

Vader could not delay the attempt to switch back any longer. He couldn't stand the burning humiliation every time Luke had to masquerade as him. He was able, however, to act like a convincing prisoner, due to all of his pent up frustration. He had Luke order the fleet back to the tiny installation where the mysterious orb was still being held; that, he deduced, would be their only hope of reversing the curse they'd stumbled into. And his only hope of retaining his dignity.

He stood, with his jaw locked, as Luke fastened a pair of binders on his wrists. Piett had offered to get a trick pair (as he was none too eager to restrain his commander), but his offers were silenced when Vader wordlessly displayed the binders worthlessness on his wrists, even when occupying another's body.

The trip to the surface was silent and uneventful. Luke managed not to trip and Piett managed not to faint as the group exited the shuttle and Luke dragged Vader by the arm towards the installation. When the stormtrooper escort moved to follow, Luke waved them back to the shuttle.

"Stand guard," he ordered and then turned his back to them, dragging Vader with him.

Han, Chewie, Estrie, and Leia crouched in the foliage near the entrance of the Imperial compound and watched as Vader, Luke, and an officer approached.

"Are you sure that's Luke?" Han asked, staring at Vader's form dragging Luke towards them.

Estrie pursed her lips and nodded, "I know Luke and I'm pretty sure I know Vader, and I'm fairly certain that Vader doesn't fidget."

Her three companions watched as Vader picked at his cape while Luke keyed in a code to open the door to the compound.

Han nodded, "And Luke doesn't know the Empire's codes..."

Luke's head suddenly turned and looked straight at the group concealed in the underbrush. His blue eyes narrowed as he grabbed Vader by the collar and dragged him into the complex.

"He saw us!" Leia cried, jumping up and running towards the door.

"Leia!" Han stumbled out and ran after her. Chewie and Estrie exchanged glances then charged out behind Han.

Leia got to the door just as it began to slide shut. She threw her body against the door frame and propped her feet onto the closing door, wedging it open with her body. Han came sliding in next and helped her hold the door for the remaining seconds before Chewie and Estrie arrived. The Wookiee simply shoved the door back and jammed it, leaving it permanently opened.

Han nodded and stepped back, "Good enough. Let's go."

Estrie grabbed Han by the elbow as he stepped through the doorway behind Leia and Chewie, "Han, I think I should tell you..."

"It'll have to wait," he said offhandedly and moved to go into the complex.

Estrie didn't let go, jerking him back, "But I know why Vader..."

"Yeah, so do we, sweetheart, Luke blew up his little toy." Han pulled him arm away and disappeared into the dark corridor.

Estrie swore softly, "You don't deserve to know anyway, you brute."

Luke groaned and tried to pry Vader's fingers off his collar, "Come on! I can walk on my own! I want to switch back just as badly as you do!"

"Yes," Vader snarled, stalking down the dark corridor, "But you'd also like to stall and give your friends a chance to catch up."

Luke couldn't argue with that. He tried to gain some leverage to fight back, but he had to fight just to stay on his feet. "How come you're just as strong in my body?"

Vader looked back at him and smiled darkly, "That's my body, I know its weaknesses. I know that when their center of gravity is thrown off, the droid legs must fight just to keep their feet on the ground."

"Well," Luke spat back, "I'll have to remember that."

Vader kept dragging him forward, "Oh, there will be no need. The days of us being in opposition are at an end."

Luke tried to jerk back as sudden desperation washed through him. He knew that Vader wasn't going to just let him go, but he hadn't spoken about it freely until now. The trapped Jedi looked at Piett who was walking calmly at his side while he was dragged awkwardly down the corridor. Piett had a nasty looking blaster clenched in his right fist.

The corridor ended and the three stepped into the control room housing the sphere. It sat serenely, just as it was the last time Luke saw it. Vader dragged Luke all the way to the still fractured railing and gave him a slight shove, letting him drop to the floor. Luke crashed against the twisted metal and gasped as his respirator missed a beat.

Vader turned away from his fallen son and gestured to his admiral, "The Rebels have followed us. Call the squadron in behind them. We shall trap them."

Piett nodded and pulled out his commlink.

Luke was trembling. He clutched at the warped railing trying to pull himself to his feet. Awkwardly the droid legs began to pull the bulky body up. As he began to rise, Luke caught sight of something dangling from his father's hip.

Two lightsabers.

Without thinking, Luke reached out and yanked his weapon from the belt.

"Luke!"

Han burst through the doorway, followed by Leia, Chewie and— Luke blinked—Estrie.

Vader's head snapped from Han to the weapon that had just fallen into Luke's outstretched hand. Blue eyes narrowed, Vader slowly, deliberately, pulled the second lightsaber from his belt. Luke ignited his weapon, casting a green glow over the room; Vader followed suit, mingling it with the red tint of his own.

Luke's friends froze and watched as the Dark Lord and the young Rebel moved towards each other.

"Oh no, not again," Han muttered.

Luke struck down hard, remembering how incredibly powerful the Dark Lord's blows could be. Vader easily blocked and shoved him back. Luke stumbled and stared at his body, dumbfounded.

Vader sneered and pointed the tip of his blade towards Luke, "You think it is physical strength that gives me my power, young one?" He shook his head, "No... it is the Force."

Vader balled his fist then flung it in Luke's direction, spreading his fingers as he thrust his hand out. Luke felt an incredible burst against his chest and he tumbled backwards onto the catwalk. He gasped, feeling panic spread through him for the few seconds that it took for the respirator to readjust from the blast. He grabbed the thin railing and pulled himself up.

"Stop using the Dark Side in my body!" he screamed.

Vader just laughed and hopped nimbly out onto the catwalk.

Luke backed away as Vader advanced. Suddenly Vader stopped and yelled, "Admiral, remember we will both be unconscious when we emerge. Be sure that we both are on that shuttle when it leaves this planet!"

"NO!" Luke yelled as Vader plowed into him. The two stumbled together then pitched into the brilliant orb.

"No!" the princess tried to run forward, but Solo grabbed her and held her back.

"They'll come back out on their own," he said quietly, his eyes on the glowing ball.

Piett watched the Rebels, and fought back a smile as he heard the sound of running feet echo down the corridor. The Rebels turned and looked behind them. They had heard it too.

Solo grabbed the princess and dragged her behind him as he positioned himself so that he didn't have his back to the approaching stormtroopers or Piett.

"Why?" the Rebel general asked, "What does he want with Luke?"

Piett stood calmly, dignified, biding his time. He knew the troopers were moments away. He could see the princess peeking out from behind the man. Her brown eyes were wide and desperate. They just wanted answers. They wanted to know why they were going to lose their friend.

The stormtroopers suddenly burst into the control room. The squad leader looked to and fro as if looking for something to shoot. He saluted the admiral.

Piett casually waved his blaster in the direction of the Rebels. "Restrain them."

As the troopers moved toward the four, moving cautiously and watching the howling Wookiee closely, two bodies were suddenly spit from the free-floating orb.

Like dolls, the bodies of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker were flung into the line of troopers. Piett immediately sprung into action.

"Get them back to the shuttle! The rest of you, hold off the Rebels!"

The troopers moved to obey their admiral, but were flung back by the swinging arms of Chewbacca while Han and Leia fought their way through the pile of troopers towards their unconscious friend.

In the chaos, Luke was hefted up by his arms and dragged down the corridor.

Estrie watched with relieved satisfaction as Lord Vader and Luke Skywalker were settled into the medbay. She crossed her arms and suggested to the medic that they secure both of them to their beds until they knew if the switch was successful.

She slumped down into a chair between the beds and started to contemplate how they were going to figure out who's who. She sighed deeply just as a low groan came from her right. She turned and watched as Luke's blonde lashes fluttered and then opened. Bright blue eyes stared at the ceiling for several moments before turning towards her.

Luke felt like he was swimming. The darkness was thick and warm; he felt like he could sleep forever. The darkness was breaking, however, and he felt the comforting sleep being dragged away. His eyes cracked open and he struggled to focus and remember where he was. He looked up and saw a familiar face.

He frowned, "Estrie?"

She smiled, "I'm here, Luke, you're all right now."

Luke's frown grew deeper, "What happened?"

"A squadron of troopers made it to the complex before you were thrown from the sphere, it was a mess, but I was able to get to you and drag you out of there," Estrie explained softly.

"And Vader?"

She smiled, "We got him too."

Luke's eyes widened in amazement, "But... what will we do with him?" He moved to sit up and found himself pinned down by thick straps. Eyes wide with panic, Luke began to frantically pull at his restraints.

"Shhh, Luke, its okay, it's just a precaution," Estrie explained.

Luke's head fell back onto the pillow just as Piett stepped into his line of vision; his thin lip's pressed into a humorless smile.

"Yes, just a precaution." He turned towards the medic, "Release Lord Vader."

Fin.