Chapter Text
Leia Bowed her head, body tense. Even in the low light, she could tell Lord Zharenios' Great Hall was full of guards; his personal security was tight. Sweat beaded at her brow. She knew this mission had to maintain the appearance of a cordial negotiation.The Alliance had paid handsomely for an audience with Zharenios; this might be their only chance.
“Greetings, Councillor Organa-Solo. Kestra is honored by your presence.”
Zharenios smiled at her from his raised dais. His dark features betrayed a sense of superiority, and his lips curled into a condescending sneer. It took every ounce of diplomatic restraint within her to maintain a neutral expression. Inside, her heart pounded. Head buzzing, her mind raced.
“ Luke, are you here?”
She tried to reach out with the Force to feel her brother’s presence. When Luke first went missing, everyone assumed he’d been captured by the Empire. But Leia had not given up the search. She would not abandon Luke, even when the chances of rescuing him alive were almost unfathomable. Everything depended on her, and this mission.
She rose from her bow and met Zharenios' gaze clearly and confidently. His stone black eyes were indecipherable, but he carried himself as a man of great power. Leia wondered what world he’d been raised on.
There was very little official information available about Zharenios. He was human, but that was about all the Alliance had been able to ascertain. His mercenary operation, Kestra, somehow managed to exist outside the Empire. Leia wondered suspiciously what kinds of arrangements had been made to allow for that. Even the smugglers stayed away from Kestra.
Everyone had been skeptical when rumors of a Jedi captive at Kestra began to circulate. Zharenios may be independent, but what’s to stop him from tipping off the Imperials just to gain a favor or two? Leia shuddered as she remembered the cold metal walls of her Imperial Detention cell. Memories rushed to the surface- injections from the prison droid; the Mind Probe. Vader, forcing himself into her head.
Leia wondered what kind of treatment Luke had endured in this place. Kestra was more than a fortress. It was a compound, with many layers, many components. Luke could be hidden anywhere. Had they tortured him?
Zharenios had contacted her on her personal communication line, which was only known by a handful of people. Luke was one of them. A waiver of doubt flicked across Leia’s mind.Why wasn’t he there to greet them in the Main Hall? She had risked everyone’s life to come here. Han, Wedge, their security detail, all of them could be taken prisoner, or killed. They all knew it.
The memory of the imperial trap at Bespin still haunted her. Was she walking into a trap, just as Luke? But the risk was worth it to them, and to her.
What if Luke really had given Zharenios her contact line? What if he was here, waiting for her? What if he needed help? Leia couldn’t leave him prisoner here any longer. She had to save him! No matter what the cost. She pushed the doubt out of her head.
“Lord Zharenios, I believe you know why I am here.” Leia’s voice rang out clear into the elegant Hall. There was a moment of silence. Leia stared at Zharenios, unflinching. She must appear confident, as if the entire Rebel fleet was backing her up. Luckily Zharenios didn’t make her wait long.
“Ah, yes, you are indeed correct, Councillor. I believe you may be after a certain Rebel? A family member of yours perhaps?
Leia’s jaw tightened. That information was supposed to be confidential. Only a handful of the most senior officers in the Alliance knew Luke was her brother. Again, she wondered if this information had been given away freely, or through torture. Han cast her a sideways glance.
“Yes, my brother. Luke. We know you have him here. The New Republic is prepared to pay the bounty for him, and more, if required.” Leia spoke brusquely, ready for this diplomatic charade to end. She could sense Han’s growing irritation beside her. He blamed himself for Luke’s capture, for not watching out for him closely enough. Luke was the Empire’s most wanted prize, after all.
Zharenios smiled magnanimously. Not much was known about Kestra, except that it trafficked slaves and mercenaries. Leia knew enough about Imperial politics to know the Empire would only allow this if it benefited them, in some way.
Leia shivered, a vision of the Emperor sending chills throughout her body. Above all else He wanted Luke- to own him, to twist and bend to his will. He would not stop searching for him. He would use Luke against Vader, forcing the Sith Lord into continued submission.
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. So far she had not sensed any Imperial presence; they were safe for now. Zharenios’ personal bodyguards stood at attention behind his obsidian throne. There was a human woman seated to the side of him, silent. Her face was unreadable. Did she know about Luke? Had she seen him?
“Of course you may see your brother, Councillor. And as you will see, he is free to leave with you, if that is his desire.”
Zharenios motioned to one of the nearby guards, who turned briskly on his heel and left. Leia tried to peer past where the guard had left. What kind of facility was this? She shivered again, silent doubt nagging at her. She wondered if it was a warning from the Force.
Luke? Luke where are you?
Leia strained her senses, extending herself through the walls and tunnels of the compound, searching for his presence in The Force. But she was met with nothing but a cold absence. She couldn’t feel Luke anywhere. Perhaps her meager skills in the force were insufficient.
Still, she couldn’t shake the questions from her mind. Why was Luke on Kestra? What did Zharenios want with him, and why hadn’t he turned him over to the Empire? Han squeezed her arm, bringing her out of her reverie. He wanted to find Luke as much as she did.
Leia let her eyes wander around the Great Hall, this Hall where Luke had supposedly been kept for the past six months. It was truly palatial. Elaborate tapestries from many worlds were draped on every wall and from every rampart it seemed. The fine materials, many of them made of exotic sparkling threads. Rich jewels and crystals adorned the textiles, gleaming in the light.
She questioned if money would have any sway with Zharenios, as he was certainly not lacking in wealth. Surely he knew of the bounty on Luke’s head. So far that had not been enough to persuade him into turning Luke over to the Empire. She hoped he would be true to his claim, that Luke could leave if he chose.
But something just didn’t feel right. Her Jedi senses were still buzzing, on high alert for trouble. It wasn’t too much of a wait until the hiss of a turbolift opening echoed off the walls. Leia’s shoulders tensed as all eyes darted towards the sound.
First they heard the crisp clicking of boots on the marble floor as the mercenary guards led their prisoner down the walkway to the Great Hall. Leia grabbed Han’s hand, gripping strongly. She strained to see beyond the guards, scanning for any sight of Luke.
“Easy, Princess,” Han whispered.
His warm breath tickled her ear, and for a moment she let herself melt into his reassuring presence. Han was right, she had to keep her cool. This wasn’t some quick and dirty bust out operation. The Alliance has zero leverage against Kestra; they were lucky to have made it this far.
Finally a small group descended from a narrow bridgeway. Two guards in front and two in back, escorting their prisoner. Leia drew in a sharp breath when she spotted Luke between them, his blonde hair standing out against the black mercenary uniforms. Her heart leapt, and she was overcome with relief to see her brother alive, after all these months.
It wasn’t until now that she realized just how sick with worry she’d been. Palpatine and Vader explicitly wanted him alive, so they could poison his mind, and turn him to the Dark Side. Or turn him into a monster, like Vader. When Luke went missing, everyone had assumed it was the Empire. She shuddered, remembering that cold pit in her stomach every time she’d thought about him under Imperial control.
But here he was, alive before her eyes! She squinted and scanned his appearance. Flanked by Zharenios’s soldiers, she couldn’t get a good view of him. His head was bowed, so it was heard to catch any expression on his face that would give her a clue as to his state of mind.
When they finally entered the Hall a swell of excitement rippled through the Alliance delegation. He’s alive! Leia fought back the hot tears that were brimming in her eyes. The Empire hadn’t gotten to him yet! She could still save him. She squeezed Han’s hand; they could still save him.
But An icy chill swept through Leia once Luke was in full view. He was wearing a standard black uniform. It was clean, and he looked well groomed. But he was thinner, and he walked with a slight limp, his head remained bowed. What had they done?
Luke? Leia tried again. There was no answer. She noticed Luke was unbound, and the guards escorting weren’t restraining him. It was almost as if he were not a prisoner, except for a thick metal collar around his neck.
The collar was not like any she’d seen, which had been mostly standard Imperial shock collars. This one was silver chromium, glinting under the chandelier lights. Two buttons were lit up at Luke’s throat, one bright green, one bright red. A ring made of Haysian Smelt was fastened beneath the buttons. So he could be chained.
Leia shot a glance at Han. He raised his eyebrows, bewildered just as she was. But he was still playing it cool, trying to assess the situation. Something was not right. She should be able to sense him in the force by now. She clenched her jaw. It took all her strength not to rush forward, to embrace him.
“You may step forward, Skywalker.”
Zharenios motioned for the guards to part, making way for Luke. Luke stepped away from the guards, a solitary figure clad in black. He looked up from the floor, and briefly met Leia’s gaze. The moment of contact sent a thrill through her body.
Luke managed a little smile, but Leia could see the pain behind it. His eyes were still blue and clear, but there was a deep sadness in them that had not been there before. What was wrong?
“You see, Princess, your brother is alive and well, as promised.” Zharenios smiled at Leia again. Her Jedi senses prickled again and she felt a faint twinge of disgust. Who was this man, who’d had control over Luke for so long now? What kinds of things had Luke been subjected to at the hands of this smiling sadist?
She tried to clear the thought from her head. All that mattered was Luke’s safe return. Turning to look at him again, she tried to search his face for any sign of emotion. He still appeared subdued. Why did he just stare at the floor? Didn’t he want to see her? Didn’t he want to be rescued?
Luke remained still, silent. Confused, Leia looked back at Zharenios, only to catch his devilish grin fixed on her. Han must have sensed the tension, too. He finally broke the silence.
“So what do we have to do to get him back? We can pay the bounty ”
Zharenios smiled wide, revealing an array of perfectly white teeth.
“My dear General Solo, as I said earlier, I am no jailer. I have no dealings with bounty hunters or the likes. As I said, Skywalker is here because he chooses to stay. He can leave at any time.”
“Then what about that collar? What kind of fancy toy is that?”
Leia could sense Han’s growing frustration. She gently tugged at his shirt sleeve. Now it was her turn to make sure he kept his cool. But she was concerned about Luke. If he was free to leave then why didn’t he join them? Why was he still hanging back with the guards?
Zharenios ignored Han’s question.
“Skywalker, step forward” he spoke calmly and evenly. The guards parted and Luke stepped out from between them. He stood tall and faced Zharenios. There was still some spirit left in him. Leia held her breath.
“As you can see,” Zharenios continued, “Your friends from the Alliance have finally come to pay you a visit. They wish to take you with them.” Luke cast his glance over his old friends and allies again. He seemed sad. Then something clicked in Leia’s mind.
“It’s the collar! You’re blocking his ability to use the Force!” she gasped, glaring at Zharenios. There was a reason she hadn’t been able to sense him. Anger welled up inside her. Force Suppression Collars were very rare, but somehow Zharen had managed to come across one!
“An astute observation, Councillor,” Zharenios slowly clapped his hands, and grinned at her again. Luke stared at the floor, his face darkened. How hard must it be for him to be cut off from the Force? Just as Leia opened her mouth to object, Zharenios cut her off.
“And as I said, Skywalker is here of his own will. I can deactivate the collar at any time, if he decides to leave.”
Leia was practically on the tips of her toes, waiting for Luke’s response.She tried to fight off a horrible sinking feeling that grew with each second. Her heart ached for her brother. Whatever he had been through, she just wanted him back. Please Luke, come with us. Leave this place. She couldn’t help but reach out through the Force one last time,
Clenching his teeth, Luke stood still for a moment. This was his chance to escape, to leave Kestra and be free from Zharenios’ control. But his mind had been made up before Leia’s shuttle had even landed in the hangar.
Grimly determined, Luke drew in a deep breath. He limped down the steps of the corridor, passing by his friends. Han, Leia, Chewie, they had all shown up to save him.Tears stung at his eyes. It had been so long since he’d seen any of them.
Leia’s dark eyes questioned him imploringly. Luke almost found himself falling into them. But Zharenios was waiting. Luke knew she would never understand. Mastering his own inner turmoil, Luke finally met her gaze and flashed her a smile. His blue eyes were clear and true, and for an instant he looked like the hero he had once been,
It was as if he were trying to say a final goodbye with that smile, that glimpse of the real Luke. Even without the Force Leia could sense the finality of his decision. Her mind reeled as Luke continued limping towards Zharenios’ throne, Luke knew she must be confused and horrified.
As Luke passed the Alliance delegation, sheer panic ripped through Leia. This couldn’t be happening! Why didn’t he come with her? Why would he ever choose to stay? Should they try to take him by force?
Before she could game out some kind of plan to take Luke by force, Han’s knowing glance stopped her. He shook his head no. As much as he too wanted to save Luke, the Great Hall was too heavily fortified to blast out of. He knew they would all be shot dead if they tried, maybe even Luke too, in the process.
It wasn’t long before Luke reached the dais where Zharenios was seated. He didn’t need to see Zharenios’ self satisfied sneer to know how much he was enjoying this little spectacle. He gently fingered the collar at his neck. He’d given Zharenios complete control.
Leia stood frozen next to Han. It was as if she was watching a spaceship collision in slow motion. What was he thinking? Why would he stay? Anger rose inside her. He must be being coerced somehow. Somehow Kestra had found a way to keep Luke imprisoned, even now.
“What shall it be, Skywalker? Would you like to leave with your friends?
After a moment’s pause, Leia’s eyes widened in horror as she watched Luke kneel at the foot of the dais. Why was he silent? Didn’t he have anything to say? SHe just couldn’t understand. Didn’t he want to come home?
Steeling himself, he raised his head to meet Zharenios’ smug gaze. Luke knew how much pleasure Zharenios derived from his humiliation. Still, steadfast in his decision, Luke remained silently kneeling at Zharenios’ feet. There was no other choice.
“You see, Princess? I told you, he is choosing to stay. I granted you this audience because I knew you would not believe it until you saw it. In the future I may not be such a gracious host as this. I suggest you move along, and trust that your brother has chosen his fate.”
Satisfied by Luke’s submission, Zharenios motioned to the guards. They moved swiftly, pulling him to his feet. Luke cooperated and began following them to the turbolift. Leia could still not believe what was happening. She couldn’t let Luke go, not when he was so close!
“Luke, no! Don’t go!” She screamed. Luke continued on with the soldiers back to the inner layers of Kestra. He looked utterly defeated.
Leia would have thrown herself before him, blocking his way, but Han held her back. He knew Zharenios would be all too happy to fire on her for causing a disturbance. Tears streamed down her face as anger rose within her.
“Luke, please!” Her voice was ragged with desperation. But by the time her cries echoed off the bejeweled walls, her brother was already gone.