Okay, okay, I shouldn't post another WIP while having two open ones, I know, I know. Please don't be mad. But I found this really old story sitting on my laptop while cleaning out all those old once-begun, half-finished never-to-be-read-again stories. It's almost completely written and just needs some brushing up and a new ending. So there we go, I couldn't resist. It will be likely a three-part story and I hope to update fast and finish it soon.

ooo

"Hobbie?" a voice cut through the fog clouding Hobbie's mind. He opened his eyes a slit and winced as a throbbing headache made itself known.

"Hobbie?" the voice asked again. It was not much more than a whisper, but the urgency in it help Hobbie focus.

"Wedge?" he asked tentatively, trying to make out if the blurry form some steps away from him was his friend and fellow pilot. "That you?"

"Hobbie! Thank the stars."

Wedge's face was finally swimming onto focus.

"What? Where are w-?"

"Shhh, not so loud." Wedge warned.

Hobbie frowned and moved to rub his eyes to chase away the dizziness murking his senses, but found that his hands wouldn't move. Belatedly realised that his arms seemed stuck above his head. Hobbie blinked in confusion. It took him several more seconds to comprehend in what situation he was.

He sat with his back to a metal metal that dug uncomfortably into his spine. His arms over his head were fixed in a pair of nasty durasteel binders. He pulled. The loud rattling noise of metal against metal filled the room.

"Forget it," Wedge whispered from across the small, dimly lit storage compartment, tied up just like himself. "I am awake for a while and I tried everything."

"What happened?" Hobbie whispered. "Where are we?"

"I'm not sure. I think they might have put something into our drinks," Wedge replied, keeping his voice low.

Hobbie remembered. The two of them had gone into a bar to have a drink or two after completing their mission, before returning to the Alliance. They had kept a low profile, but by it seemed it hadn't been enough. Hobbie didn't remember anything from that point on when they had started drinking.

"Who captured us, and why?"

"Not sure, it's definitely not the Empire. A bit earlier someone came into this room to check, I made it look like I was still unconscious, I think it was a Trandoshan from what I could see of his feet."

"Maybe they are bounty hunters or slavers." Hobbie mused a cold feeling in his stomach and his spine. "Whoever they are we need to get out of here. We are definitely on a ship and by the sound of it the hyperdrive is going"

"I have tried everything, those binders won't budge." Wedge sounded dejected. "I think you are right, we are definitely not planetside."

The door slid open. The sudden harsh light from the corridor blinded the two pilots.

"Ah, they are awake at lasst."

Hobbie squinted and make out two figures in the doorway.

"What do you want with us?" Wedge asked.

A Trandoshan stepped into the room. He crouched and grinned baring his sharp teeth. "Two rebelss so far away from home. The Empire will pay well for you."

"The Alliance will compensate you, if…" Wedge tried but he was interrupted when the Trandoshan stepped into the room and waved his comrade.

"I doubt the rebellion can match Lord Vader'ss mosst generouss offer."

"Bossk, incoming transmission!" someone called from the hallway and the Trandoshan straightened after, giving Wedge a small pat on the head. He left and the door slid shut again.

Wedge and Hobbie shared a look.

" 'kay, lets not call it a Krayt dragon too fast," Hobbie tried to reason. "We need to figure a way to get out of these binders, and then we take them out and get back to the Alliance."

ooo

A tremor went through the ship, stopping Wedge and Hobbie short in their efforts to break free. The vessel was coming out of Hyperspace. Had they arrived at the rendezvous with the Empire, or were they merely changing Hyperspace vectors?

"Kark, I have a bad feeling about this," Wedge said.

Hobbie looked up at the binders holding his wrists. He pulled with renewed urgency. For ages they had been at it, trying to wear down the rusty screws holding the metal shelfs together, while avoiding to make too much noise so that the bounty hunters wouldn't hear them. It didn't matter now, anymore. It couldn't take much longer before they reached wherever the bounty hunters planned to deliver them to the Empire.

But so far their hours long efforts had not yielded any result. Wedge wanted point out to Hobbie that it might be better to conserve their energy, but in that instant the metal bar creaked loudly and Hobbie was able to break free.

"How-" Wedge began, but he stopped short.

A loud clanking noise came from overhead. The ship was docking. Hobbie scrambled towards Wedge, his hands still shackled but at least free from the shelf and tried to to the same to the bars Wegde's binders were wrapped around.

"No, Hobbie, get out of here, now!"

But it was too late. Outside they could hear steps and the door opened again. Bossk stood in the doorway looking surprised at Hobbie. The pilot lunged himself at the huge Trandoshan. Bossk shouted something in the floor behind him and then threw himself on Hobbie. Hobbie managed to swing in a kick, but he didn't seem to hurt the scaly alien at all. Bossk swung a punch at Hobbie and hit him hard in the stomach.

Hobbie grunted in pain, his breath taking from him, but he managed to swing his hands hard into the alien's face, the heavy binders increasing the impact. Bossk staggered back and roared in anger. He threw himself at Hobbie, pushing him down to the ground.

Behind him in the corridor were loud clattering footsteps and two more of Bossk's crew rushed in. One of them swung a stun baton, hitting Hobbie against the chest, before he could get back to his feet. Hobbie convulsed, the blue static crackling through his body. Wedge yelled and kicked as far as he could reach, but he only hit thin air instead of that blasted lizard.

Hobbie had collapsed to the floor, for a moment only half aware of his surroundings. Bossk's face was twisted in anger, the scales covering his cheeks bristled. He wiped a bit of blood from his lips where Hobbie had hit him.

"You'll pay for thiss," Bossk hissed, advancing on Hobbie. He kicked him viciously in the side. The sickening crack from breaking bones, chilled Wedge to the core. Hobbie groaned in pain.

"Don't, boss. Vader wants the twerps unharmed," one of the other bounty hunters warned.

Bossk stopped short before his next kick, aimed for Hobbie's head, could land. He spat out more blood, then lowered himself down to Hobbie gripping a fist of his hair and yanking his head up. Hobbie to gasp in pain as he was jostled.

"You will regret thiss, rebel. When Vader iss done with you there will be little left to execute," Bossk spat. Then let go, stalking from the room.

Hobbie lay on the floor, barely moving. He didn't resist as the other two bounty hunters grabbed him by the upper arms and dragged him from the room. A short while later the pair came back to take Wedge. They shackled his hands behind his back. Then he was hauled from the room through a short corridor and down the boarding ramp.

They emerged in a vast ship board hangar, crawling with Imperials. Wedge looked up at the cavernous ceiling above them. It probably could easily house all of the alliance's snubfighters and then some.

At the foot of the boarding ramp one the two bounty hunters gave Wedge a hard kick in the back of his knees, sending him to the floor next to Hobbie. Wedge eyed his friend with worry. Hobbie knelt bent over. He coughed and drops of blood fell on the floor in front of him. The bounty hunter must have caused some internal damage with his brutal kick.

"Hobbie, are you all right?" Wedge asked. Of course Hobbie wasn't, Wedge could see it for himself, but Hobbie still nodded without looking up. Movement caught Wedge's eyes. A bunch of Imperials had surrounded the ship of the bounty hunters, talking to Bossk and his companions. But that wasn't where Wedge's eyes were drawn to. A dark cloaked figure was approaching them fast, his features known and feared throughout the galaxy. Vader.

With long, determined steps Vader stalked closer. The hissing sound of his breathing apparatus sent a cold shudder down Wedge's spine. Vader ignored the group of bounty hunters negotiating with his officers and focused his gaze on the two bound rebels.

Wedge thought he could feel Vader's eyes on him. He glared up at him. How he wished he could do something, anything really to fend of Vader. Next to Wedge, Hobbie gave another pained cough. Vader's masked gaze honed in on Hobbie with the air of a Corellian Slice Hound sensing his prey's weakness.

No! Wedge shifted closer to Hobbie. He would rather take the brunt of Vader's infamous hatred for rebels than his friend.

"Leave him alone," Wegde snapped, but he could do nothing to stop Vader from reaching for Hobbie's chin. Surprisingly gentle Vader lifted his chin. Hobbie had looked shockingly pale and fear showed on his face even though he tried to give Vader a defiant look. Another shook him as Hobbie drew in a shallow breath, and Vader let go of his chin allowing him to spit the blood out.

"Wedge Antilless and Derek Klivian, ass ordered." Bossk approached them, sounding very pleased with himself.

Wedge heart beat faster. The bounty hunters knew who they were? He had hoped they had merely done a mistake to betray themselves to be rebels. Neither he nor Hobbie had ever been on the top of the Empire's wanted list to justify being hunted specifically. Not like Mon Mothma or prominent defectors like General Riiekan.

Or like Luke, who had been bumped up the list of the most wanted criminals of the Empire a few weeks ago with a bounty so large, they initially had thought the Empire had added too many zeros to the amount by accident.

Vader turned to the Trandoshan.

"Indeed." His deep rumbling voice let Wedge's insides twist and sent a shiver up his spine. "One of them however is injured. Quite severely so, too. Would you care to explain?"

Bossk however seemed unperturbed by Vader's dangerously low voice that made Wedge's hair stand on end. Bossk launched into a wild story of Hobbie getting himself injured in a bar fight. Wedge's hands curled up into fists, kriffing liar, he thought, But Bossk's rambling was stopped short abruptly. An invisible Force seemed to have taken hold of the Trandoshan. Wedge watched transfixed as Bossk rose a few feet in the air, clawing at his throat.

"Do not lie to me," Vader said coldly. "I have explicitly stated that I want the pilots unharmed, yet you were unable to follow this simple instruction, bounty hunter."

Bossk was gasping for air. His bounty hunter friends looked shocked, but they didn't move to help. Vader finally let go of Bossk who fell to the floor gasping heavily.

"Captain Piett, compensate the bounty hunter for Antilles."

The officer next to him nodded.

"I will keep the dying one," Vader said, indicating to Hobbie. "Defy my orders again bounty hunter and you will pay the price."

Bossk picked himself up from the floor nodded and practically fled to the ship. He and his friends seemed more than happy to leave with only half of the pay. Within a few minutes the bounty hunters were gone, cutting off the way out. Wedge felt strangely abandoned as the vessel behind them took off. He fixed his glare at Vader whose attention turned to him.

"Your friend is in need of medical attention," he said. "If he receives it or not depends entirely on you, Antilles."

Wedge scowled. "What do you want?"

"You will cooperate and answer my questions truthfully and promptly," Vader said.

"Forget it," Wedge hissed.

Vader seemed more amused than angry at his refusal. He motioned and two stormtroopers came forward who grabbed Hobbie by the arms and hauled him to his feet who gasped in pain at the sudden movement. Vader stepped leisurely closer, grasping Hobbie's chin.

"A broken rib seems to have punctured your lung, Klivian." Vader slid a gloved thumb over the small specks of blood around Hobbie's nose and mouth that became more with every exhale. Vader reached with his free hand for Hobbie's ribcage. Hobbie stiffened in anticipation of more pain.

"Leave him alone, you son of a hu-" Wedge half got to his feet, but another harsh kick, this time from one of the stormtroopers sent him to his knees again. The captain at Vader's side looked scandalized, but Vader ignored Wedge's angry jab. He let Hobbie go.

"If he is left alone he will slowly suffocate," Vader informed him the expressionless mask fixing on Wedge. "I will have his injuries treated, in exchange for your cooperation, Antilles."

Hobbie shook his head, Wedge could see it from the corner of his eyes. But he couldn't refuse, he needed to help him. Vader was right, Hobbie would die if he didn't get any help. Maybe Wedge could stall Vader long enough for Hobbie to get better and then find a way to whisk them both out of danger. "I'll do what you want," he ground out.

"Very well," Vader said. He nodded motioned and a hover stretcher was pushed forward. Wedge watched as Hobbie was placed on the stretcher. Someone put an oxygen mask on his face and he was scurried away.

The moment he was out of sight, Vader's hand snatched out and he pulled Wedge to his feet, his gloved hand holding firmly onto his arm. He dragged him off, in the same dorection the strecher, carrying his friend, had left. It seemed Vader would waste no time to get what he wanted from him. Wedge struggled to keep up with Vader's brisk speed, moving slightly awkward with his hands still bound behind his back, while thinking furiously what lies and half-truthes he could trot out instead of actual intel.

But it turned out that Vader hadn't had an interrogation in mind after all. Wedge stared around the room he was eventually pushed in by the dark Lord. He had expected a cell, or an interrogation room filled with torture droids and the like. But instead the room only contained a holo suite. What was the meaning of this? Vader released his upper arm when he had pushed Wedge into the middle of the projection field.

"Stand here," he ordered.

Wedge watched Vader key in a frequency into the comm-pad. A tense moment later the call was answered and Wedge suddenly understood what Vader's plan was.

An image of Luke's head lit up, grotesquely large. Luke's face mirrored Wedge's confusion, then be broke into a bright smile.

"Wedge! I'm so glad you call. I was worried when you and Hobbie didn't check back in and-" Luke broke off, the smile freezing on his face when he saw in Wedge's shocked expression that something was wrong. "Wedge? Are you all right?" he asked again.

"Tell him," Vader said. "Or Klivian will pay the price."

"Luke..." Wegde began awkwardly. "Hobbie and I have been captured by… by the Empire," he stated finally, avoiding Luke's eyes.

"I don't understand, how are you contacting me?"

"I..," Wedge swallowed but Vader waved him on. "Vader is making me call you."

Wedge raised his eyes to meet Luke's. Horror and shock were mixed in them. Vader stepped into the projection field himself. He seized Wedge's arm.

"Skywalker, your friends are at my mercy. I will give you the chance to keep them safe."

Luke' expression hardened. "What do you want, Vader?"

"You will leave the rebel base you are undoubtedly residing on, quietly and without informing any of your rebel friends and come alone to the rendezvous coordinates that I will send you," Vader said. "There you will surrender yourself to me. Your friends will be freed if you comply with all my conditions, but be aware that their life is forfeit if you chose not to come."

"No, Luke, don't do- ahh" Wedge's warning was broken off by a pain groan as Vader's twisting his arm.

"Tell him about Klivian," Vader ordered. Wedge shook his head, but Vader turned his arm further. "You will tell him if you wish your friend to receive treatment."

"Hobbie is injured, the bounty hunters that captured us broke a rib and it injured his lung." Wedge ground out, his face contorted with pain. Vader eased his grip slightly at his compliance.

"Your friend is receiving medical attention, but be aware that if you do not hand yourself over both of them will suffer the consequences. And you can be sure I will take my time with them," Vader said. The holo image of Luke disappeared before Luke could answer when Vader cut the connection.

"You son of a Hutt," Wedge snapped when Vader finally let him go.

"You understand nothing, Antilles," Vader hissed. He turned to leave.

Wedge glowered at him, rubbing his abused arm. "I understand enough. What is it, you want to finish the job?"

Vader stopped halfway to the door. "What job," he asked, his voice dangerously low.

"Kill Luke, like you killed his father and his guardians? You really are one for a wholesale slaughter, aren't y-" but Wedge was cut short by Vader seizing him by his collar. Wedge clawed at his throat, but he knew what was suffocating him weren't just the leather gloved fingers and that his struggles were in vain.

"You should not talk of things you do not understand," Vader hissed. "That boy is mine and I will not allow what is mine to be taken from me again."

Wedge thrashed, his lungs burning with the need for oxygen. Vader let go of him and Wedge dropped unceremoniously to the floor. Without another word, Vader stalked from the room. Wedge lay gasping on the floor, dragging in desperately needed air and trying to process what just had happened. Why was Vader so agitated, so possessive regarding Luke?

He had barely managed to catch his breath, the feeling of his invisible hands around his throat still lingering, when a shadow blocked the still open door.

"You have a low sense of self preservation, even for a rebel," Captain Piett said. "Are you planning to make a habit of pushing Lord Vader to his limit? The other officers and I could start a betting pool for when he will finally snap."

"Don't you have a ship to run?" Wedge said, his voice hoarse. He could really do without the Captains biting comments.

"I do, but I also seem to have to mind you, Antilles. Get up."

Wedge got to his feet, still nursing his throat. Piett watched him.

"You should try to tread more carefully," Piett observed. "Next time he might not let go."

Wedge swalloed his angry retort and stepped out into the hall. Outside two stormtroopers were waiting. On their trek through the ship, Wedge felt empty, all fight had left him. His thoughts strayed to Luke. He could only hope that he wouldn't fall for this obvious trap.

ooo

Luke sat on his bunk his comlink still clutched in his hand and his mind reeling. Wedge, Hobbie, kriff it all. They were in danger because of him. Luke had no doubt that Vader would follow through with his threat. He needed to do something. He skimmed over the rendezvous coordinates he had received just moments after that call was cut. Though Wedge's own comlink. Half of him wanted to call back, hoping that Wedge would pick up the call, saying he was alright and they would meet later at the base. But he then remembered the honest fear for Hobbie in Wedge's voice when Vader had him tell Luke what had happened to Hobbie.

Luke got to his feet, his decision made. It was late at night at the base. He didn't need to pack, no need to bring anything when Vader would take it from him anyway. He debated with himself whether to leave his lightsaber, when it would be surely taken from him too, but he couldn't bring himself to leave the weapon, the only link to his father behind either. A small bit of him hoped that maybe he could keep it somehow.

Like you are going to survive an hour in Vader's hand, a small, vicious voice in his head said. He tried to shake this feeling. This was the only right thing to do. Ever since he had destroyed the Death Star, Luke had lived on borrowed time. He had many close run-ins with bounty hunters and Imperials himself. And if this was it, then at least he could save his friends from suffering the same fate that he had brought upon himself.

Luke eased himself into the cockpit of his X-Wing. No-one stopped him when he left the base or even questioned his departure. No-one knew where he was going.

ooo