Chapter One

The ride back up to the Fleet wasn’t long, but the stares Luke was getting from their fellow passengers made it seem that way. He had a feeling he’d be bombarded with questions about what had happened on the Death Star II if Lisa wasn’t giving everyone a look that clearly meant leave him alone.

He was grateful. Ever since they’d stepped away from the Ewok celebration an hour ago, the ache in his bones had just gotten steadily worse. Holding Lisa’s hand, he tried to control his breathing and stave off the worst of it until they could get to Medical.

Luke’s pride had him not wanting to show weakness to the other Rebels. He walked with his head held high and, beside him, Lisa shook her head.

You really need to stop playing the hero, she said through their link. At his indignant ping, she continued. I know. You’re Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight. But you’re also human, and you’re hurt. What kind of example are you setting for the people who look up to you?

She had a point. The thought of some young crewman ignoring an injury to prove something because he saw Luke Skywalker push through the pain didn’t sit right with him. That’s how other people got hurt – or worse.

Sighing, he reached for her hand and leaned a little on her as they made their way through the corridors. Passersby eyed him with concern, but again a look from Lisa kept any questions at bay.

Surgical droid 2-1B greeted them when they entered, and a cursory scan with his ocular sensors already told the droid that Luke was not well.

“Step behind the scanner, sir,” he said, gesturing to the man-sized panel.

Lisa gave him an encouraging smile and stepped out of the way so 2-1B could do what he needed to do.

The machine whirred as a light traveled down Luke’s body from his head to his toes and back a few times. He was feeling very dizzy by the end of it, and 2-1B pressed a control that had a medical bed emerge from the wall.

Lisa was at his side the moment the scan was over, steadying him by the arm and helping him sit on the bed. “Well?” she asked, trying not to sound impatient. Droids, being mechanical, were beings that her telepathy didn’t work on. Luke squeezed her hand.

“One moment,” said 2-1B, analyzing the readings.

While they were waiting, the door slid open and in rolled R2-D2, beeping at Luke in what sounded like an admonishing tone. They had left him on Endor, and it seemed that the droid was annoyed at being left behind.

Luke winced. “Sorry, Artoo. We stepped away and then…well…” He looked at 2-1B, still going over the readings.

Artoo’s dome swiveled between Luke, Lisa, and 2-1B. He beeped worriedly, then pulled in his wheels, intending to stay put while they got the results. The couple exchanged amused glances and a shake of their heads. The little droid was almost as protective of Luke as Lisa was.

“Sir,” said 2-1B, “were you exposed to an electrical field?”

White lightning screamed through Luke’s memory, bouncing off the walls as he writhed on the floor. With a grimace, he explained to the droid about the lightsaber fight with Darth Vader, and then Emperor Palpatine assaulting him with his Force lightning that streamed from his fingertips. Lisa rubbed his back as he recounted the longest day of his life.

2-1B pulled up an image of Luke’s skeletal structure. To the untrained eye, nothing really looked amiss until the droid zoomed in on several areas that showed tiny fractures in the bones.

“Great Orion…” Lisa whispered, her hand on Luke’s shoulder. “The damage isn’t permanent, right?” she asked worriedly, the tips of her wings taking on a bluish-white tinge – Luke sensed she was simultaneously worried and scared. He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers.

“It is treatable,” said 2-1B. “I can administer treatment, or the alternative is bacta immersion.”

They both looked at the tube in the corner. Luke had already gone through that after being attacked by the Wampa on Hoth. It was not a pleasant experience, but at least this time he wasn’t delirious and nearly frozen.

“The condition will become chronic unless we act now.”

Luke pulled off his boots and lay back on the bed. Its cushion gave under his weight in a satisfying kind of way. Looking over, he whispered telepathically to Lisa, Stay?

Of course, she replied, taking a seat beside him. Artoo rolled closer, a mechanical sentry.

“Please rest, sir,” said 2-1B. “I shall begin treatment.”

With a heavy sigh, Luke shut his eyes and tried to relax.

Back *~*~* Chapter Two