Missing and Presumed Dead

An Old Friend

Luke sat down alone in the cockpit of the Falcon, sucked in a deep breath, and took the comm off hold. The image of Admiral Piett appeared, the image small and flickering, but clear enough.

"Admiral," Luke greeted, leaning forward in the copilot's seat. "I...it's good to see you again."

Piett gave a curt nod, and Luke didn't miss the way his eyes raked over him, as though checking for further injuries. Considering who his father was, he had no doubt the man was worried. "It's good to see you too, Luke. Please tell me you're well and safe?"

He nodded. "We're in a safe location, and I haven't done anything to get myself hurt. I'm even starting physical therapy."

Piett frowned, and he could tell he was doing the calculation in his head. "But...you shouldn't start that for--"

"It's Force stuff."

He didn't look particularly enthused at that answer. "I've already lost one of Lord Vader's children. If something happened to you--"

"It will be my own fault and not yours," he assured him, though they both knew his father wouldn't see it that way. "How have you been?" He didn't fail to notice that Piett looked like he was surviving solely on caff at this point, but then again, he'd always looked far too stressed for his own good.

"Monitored," he replied, and Luke supposed that would explain the stress radiating from him. "The Empire doesn't know I have this comm, but it's been hard to get somewhere I know is secure to contact you. I apologize that it's taken so long."

"You don't have to apologize. I didn't think you'd be able to contact me at all."

Piett gave him a strained smile. "Your father taught me a few ways to get around without being noticed, just in case I needed to contact him without fear of the Emperor or his spies noticing."

"You sound like a Rebel." Luke smiled back.

"Well. Not your kind of Rebel."

"From a certain point of view, though..."

"I suppose." The smile faded from Piett's face. "I'm sorry I lost your sister. I...she wanted to protect your father from the Emperor--"

He held up a hand. "I already know. She didn't expect that the Emperor knew so much."

Piett didn't ask how he knew. Maybe he was used to Vader knowing things with zero explanation why. "Still. I am sorry. If it helps, I do have resources looking into where Prince Xizor took your father." He hesitated. "Leia--"

"Was brought to the Imperial Palace. I know." The words were ash in his mouth.

He gave him a sympathetic look.

Luke ignored it. "So if you still have resources looking for Vader, that must mean you're still Admiral of the Executor?"

Piett nodded. "For now, though I have suspicions that the Emperor's spies are looking for any reason to accuse me of treason."

"...You don't think they'll notice you sent resources to find Vader?"

He snorted. "They're not my resources. I used Vader's. They're not completely invulnerable to being found out, but it usually takes a while for the Emperor to catch on. As soon as I know more, I'll reach out again and...perhaps you'll be well enough to do something with the information? I'm afraid I likely won't be in a position to be directly involved, but if I can help..."

Luke turned the information over in his head, thinking. "I'll keep this comm on me the next time you call," he said slowly, then tilted his head. "Say. Admiral?"