It's What Goes On In Here That's Hard (Star Wars AU Fanfiction)

Chapter 15. Trying & A Trap

"I knew you'd come back, I just knew it!"

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"Luke?" Han asked in horror, his throat becoming drying as he looked at his friend. This was a mistake, a trick of the light, this couldn't be Luke. But the more Han blinked and cleared his vision, the more he realized that what he saw was no illusion.

X-1 frowned, confused as his head began to pound. Luke? Who was Luke? It felt like something he should know, like an answer to a complicated mathematical equation.

But nothing came to him as the man before X-1 yanked against his binders again. "Luke! What are you doing?" Han asked, trying not to panic and clearly failing.

Something was wrong, very wrong with Luke, but Han didn't know what to do. Luke had beaten brainwashing before, but this time was different, there was a change in his friend that frightened Han so much as the boy who should have been Luke, stared at him with only confusion and what looked like stress, fear.

"Luke, listen to me," Han began slowly. "They've done something to you, but I can help you."

X-1's breathing had quickened rapidly as Han spoke, his body swaying slightly as his mind seemed as though it here on a slippery slope, clawing desperately to reach the top, but failing miserably as it fell towards a black abyss.

"Quiet." X-1 said softly, taking a step away from his prisoner, but Han did not quit.

"It's me Luke, Han, I'm your friend!" Han exclaimed desperately, hoping to reach Luke before he did something he would regret. He had to bring Luke out. "Kid, listen." He said softly, controlling his own tone so as not to frighten Luke.

X-1 squeezed his eyes shut, bringing a hand to his forehead, a horrific headache taking over as he stumbled to his knees.

"Luke?" Han asked in worry, frightened by Luke's behavior.

"Stop it." X-1 begged softly, whatever this man was doing, it hurt, it hurt so badly and X-1 didn't know why. His head was pounding like a drum, his blood pumping painfully and his face was red, having begun to sweat.

Han bit his lip, never had he seen Luke look so small, so lost, so desperate. He wanted to help. Han wanted, more than anything, that the binder would come off, that he could go to his friend and comfort him, take Luke back to Yavin 4, and see Leia. But that was a cruel fantasy that stood just out of reach.

X-1 slowly began to calm down, his rapid breathing finally evening out and slowing as he enhaled deeply before looking at Han, his blue eyes piercing the former smuggler with a cold expression, sending chills up and down Han's back.

X-1 was almost certain this man had used some form of a mental attack on him, how he had done it X-1 was not sure. But he was not about to be reduced to a begging coward again by this man.

"Listen to me." X-1 commanded, his sudden change in tone seemed unnaturally frightening as his hand gripped his saber hilt, the man who called himself Han, widened his eyes in fear considerably as X-1 pointed his still deactivated lightsaber at Han.

"You will not speak that name again, do not try lying to me, scum. It doesn't work." X-1 spoke lowly, getting his point across though Han was not about to just give up. Han nodded slowly, playing it safe for now.

X-1 returned his weapon to his belt and sat down in the piloting seat, watching as the Rigger continued its route in hyperspace.

Minutes ticked by before Han spoke, slowly and cautiously. "So, how long have you served the Empire?" He asked casually.

X-1 frowned. "How long have you run around with the Rebellion?" He countered, not sure why he was engaging in conversation with his prisoner.

Han shrugged, adjusting his sitting position awkwardly as his legs began to fall asleep. "About, four years." He answered after a moment, of course the fourth year was spent in carbonite, but he needn't discuss that with Luke, or Not Luke.