A/N: Like to thank of all of my readers first of all..Now…let's get this party started!
Disclaimer: Star Wars is the sole property of George Lucas.
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Prologue
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"BEN!"
Ben could faintly hear his father screaming his name. He sounded frantic; it was a state of being that was never closely associated with Luke Skywalker.
The youth wanted to say something, to call out to his father, but found he couldn't. He couldn't even move; couldn't feel. The only feeling he could feel was the icy cold seeping into his body. He wasn't even capable of shuddering. He worked his mouth, his vision hazy, wavering.
He tried to speak again.
"Da..." It came out in wordless croak.
He could feel a warm puddle of liquid pooling beneath him. It coated his fingers and his arm. It drenched his hip and his side. It spread across his belly.
His belly.
Unlike the rest of his body, it was on fire, throbbing painfully.
What had happened? Ben couldn't recall. He tried to get a handle on the situation but could only feel a faint haze surrounding his mind. He tried to fight it, but felt he was slowly losing to whatever this feeling was.
He tried calling out for Luke again.
Nothing.
"Ben!" Luke's voice was closer. "Oh, Ben,"
Ben could hear a broken timbre in his father's voice. It wavered. Strange. He frowned slightly. This wasn't how he remembered his father. What was wrong?
"Ben," He could feel a hand being slipped underneath his head with another wrapping around his shoulder. "Ben…"
Dad, his mind whispered.
"Don't…" His father hushed him. "You've lost a lot of blood, Ben."
Ben felt a twin wave of anguish and anxiety roll off his father. He heard the tears that entered his voice.
Dad's crying…why…
He didn't understand: couldn't move. He felt himself surrendering to the blackness.
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Luke held his son in his arms, looking down upon the teen's face with worry etched into his features. He surveyed the rest of the boy's body, taking in the mass amount of blood pooling about Ben. It had soaked through his son's tunic and transferred onto Luke's. He didn't care.
Lost a lot of blood...What an understatement.
In a daze, he reached out a hand, placing it over Ben's stomach, trying to hold back the intestines that threatened to fall out.
This couldn't be happening! This could not be happening!
Luke felt the boy's mind brushed against his, seeking his father out. It was clumsy, Ben's tendril in the Force awkwardly clawing for his father's touch. He could sense his son's confusion and his state of loss. He bit back a cry, willing himself to be strong. He was a Jedi Master… He was better than this!
But he was also a father, his other half reasoned. How could he not feel helplessness at the scene before him?"
Dad…
He desired to reach out to Ben but reigned himself in. No doubt, his feelings were already throwing the boy for a loop—if he could feel them at all. Other than the feeling of confusion, it was hard to decipher out what was coursing through Ben's muddled brain.
Luke stroked the boy's hair.
"It's going to be all right…" He whispered assuredly.
Was it? Could he really promise that?
The Jedi Master felt a warm feeling blanketing him. His son subconsciously was reaching out to him—to comfort him!
He stroked the youth's face. What could he do…? Ben's injuries were grave—and the Shadow didn't have the proper facilities to treat such injuries. Even if they did, Luke wasn't a medic! He couldn't handle this—no amount of Force healing could!
And they were so far from Coruscant.
His heart sagged despairingly. What can I do? What's going to happen to Ben? Please tell me!
Luke could feel Ben's Force aura growing weaker; could feel his boy slipping away; ready to fall prey to the darkness which threatened to engulf him.
No.
He couldn't lose Ben.
Please.
"Please..." Luke whispered brokenly, hanging his head. "Please don't take him from me…Please…you can do anything you wish with me, but not him." He shook his head, tears falling from his eyes. "Haven't I always done enough? Haven't I given of myself selflessly! Why are you doing this—trying to take away the only precious thing I have left in this galaxy!
"Please…don't do this. I'm begging you…he has to live…he's all I have left" He stroked Ben's face, holding the teen closely to him. "Please."
Suddenly, the room went cold, an icy feeling snaking its way up Luke's spine. He shuddered and turned his head. The Jedi stretched out with his senses, straining to feel what was happening. A dull haze then began to enter his mind. Luke fumbled briefly before batting it away swiftly, in a way one would shoo away a pesky insect.
What was this feeling?
He sat ramrod straight, alert. What was going on?
The haze returned in Force, engulfing his mind once more. Luke could feel himself losing his grip on reality. He swayed in place with his arms threatening to release Ben.
No.
He couldn't lose to…whatever this was…he had to save Ben…
A sudden scary thought struck out at him.
Can you really do anything?
Yes, he hissed.
The galaxy seemed to laugh at him. He felt incredibly woozy and his temple was beginning to pound painfully. His vision blurred.
Surrender, the voice seemed to whisper.
"No."
Yes.
Luke struggled against the forced suggestion. He couldn't succumb to this—whatever it was. He didn't care if things looked bleak. He had to fight for Ben! To save Ben!
Then with the Force he pushed against the presence that swathed his mind, urging it to withdraw. Go.
The feeling, however, failed to recede.
Again Luke could almost feel the galaxy's laughter.
"I can't…" He mumbled as the feeling swamped his brain. "Can't…hold out..." It was too powerful; he couldn't fight it. "Ben…I…."
Before he dropped into unconsciousness, he saw a bright flash of white light…then…
…utter blackness.
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A/N: *Grins* I am so EVIL. Yeah, looks like you guys are getting another story. Not just one-shots….I had this particular scenario running through my head, so I decided that instead of playing it over and over again within my brain...I'd write it. Hope you enjoyed—and don't forget to review if you did!