And this is the conclusion of this mini-story. Hope you enjoy it!

ooo

Their escort led them into the direction of the turbolifts the same way Luke had been led in by Vader. They spent the ride in the turbolift in an uncomfortable silence. Wedge looked just as unhappy as the officer. Luke was relieved when the doors opened and they emerged on a much friendlier looking level. The officer marched off, motioning them to follow him. Luke and Wedge trailed after him. The two of them attracted a fair bit of staring from officers and crew men they encountered.

They probably wondered what unbound two rebels were doing, marching through the Executor in the company of a detention center officer. A short while later their escort stopped at a large double door which he opened. He stepped in first. The scent of disinfectants and medication met their noses. Wedge gave Luke a surprised look. He seemed that he had still half expected this all to be a ruse and their journey to end somewhere other than the medcenter, as part of some cruel plan to raise hope in the prisoners only to break them by snatching it away.

They went down the corridor. Halfway down was a door guarded by two stormtroopers. Their escort produced some sort of ID chip. The guards opened the door and the officer took a step back, gesturing to Luke and Wedge to enter.

Once they had stepped inside the door slid shut again with a hiss, but Wedge didn't seem to mind it this time, his eyes were fixed on the figure on the only occupied bed. Hobbie was dressed in a light grey pajama and an oxygen mask was lying next to him.

"Hobbie!" he rushed forward,

Luke followed close behind.

Hobbie looked up from his pillow and gaped at Wedge.

"Boy, am I glad to see you," Wedge said. "How are you?"

"Wedge?" Hobbie's voice sounded weak and his breathing was labored. "That really you?"

"Yep," Wedge grinned.

"How did you get here? What do they want? Oh-" he broke off when he caught sight of Luke. "Oh no."

Wedge's grin faded, "Yeah, looks like we were good bait."

Luke stepped closer, again looking sheepish, "Sorry guys, that I put you through this. How are you?" he said gesturing to the bandages around Hobbie's chest that was visible through the unbuttoned Imperial issue jumpsuit he was wearing.

Hobbie gave a non-committal nod. "Better, I guess. I don't feel much of it, they gave me pain killers. Didn't thought they would, but they were actually quite decent. Except for…" he nodded to his right wrist pulling slightly so they could see he was shackled with one hand to the bedframe. "Guess I tried to leave one too many times."

Luke frowned, but Wedge nodded to the door.

"That's nothing, you got two troopers guarding you exclusively."

"I know, it annoys the kriff out of the CMO because even he always has to give them his ID every time." Hobbie laughed, but his laugh soon turned into a rasping cough and he heaved in a deep breath.

Wedge looked worried, "What do you mean, the CMO?"

Hobbie gave another slight shrug, and taking another uneven, shuddering breath, "I don't know why, but their giving me the VIP treatment, the Chief Medical Officer is in charge of me. Nice guy," Hobbie said sourly. Another cough shook him. "So, what's next?" he asked when his breathing had normalized again.

"I'm not sure," Wedge said. "They released me from the detention center, but who says they're not having second thoughts."

Hobbie's eyes narrowed. "What did they do to you?"

"Nothing much, except for boring me out." Wedge tried a grin but it failed. "I'm sorry guys I sold you out."

"Stop that nonsense," Luke interjected. "You didn't do anything wrong.

Hobbie looked confused.

"I helped Vader set up his trap for Luke, I'm sorry. He said he would stop them giving you treatment and let you die. So I did what he wanted and..."

"Stop it, will ya?" Luke interjected. "You have done nothing wrong. And it's good that I'm here, because that means you can both go."

"What do you mean?" Hobbie looked angry.

"Yeah, about that. Luke's got it in his head that he'll stay behind as exchange for us," Wedge joined in glaring at Luke.

"I'll be fine," Luke tried.

Wedge turned to Hobbie, "He's giving me that 'fine' nonsense all the time. You're a terrible liar, Luke. Whatever you say, I know Vader did something to you."

Luke bit his tongue at how close Wedge was hitting home.

Hobbie looked thoughtful, "Maybe we can think of a plan to get us all three out of here." He said mused, keeping his voice low. Then he stretched back. "I'll definitely won't be sorry to leave, I'm bored to-"

But before he could finish that sentence the door to the ward hissed open and a salt and pepper haired Imperial with a stern face entered.

"You are not leaving anytime soon, Klivian" he said with a humorless expression. "And put taht mask back on, stat."

All three of them jumped at his entry. Luke rallied himself first.

"But Vader sai-"

"I know exactly what Lord Vader has ordered." The Imperial interrupted him rounding on Luke. "I am belaying that order. Klivian is not fit to leave. He will leave this ward the moment I declare him fit and not a second before that. You are Skywalker?"

Luke looked stunned. "I… um, yes, sir."

"Very well, sit." He ordered curtly gesturing Luke to sit down in a chair. Wedge scowled at the Imperial. Luke was at a loss for words but sat down.

"What do you-" Wedge tried. But the officer sharply waved him to be silent.

"Lord Vader ordered me to give you a check-up."

"Um," Luke, "But I'm fine-" but before he could finish that sentence the Officer had already whipped out a medical scanner, that gave a sharp beep when he activated it.

"Take that flight suit off, pilot."

Luke hesitated for a second but then began peeling off the suit, he began to feel stuffy in it anyway. He threw it on the only chair in the room, but he misjudged and it soared to land in the corner of the room. The officer scanned him with a disapproving look and then pocketing his scanner and, ordering resolutely for them to stay exactly where they were, he left the room.

Once the door was firmly shut again Wedge and Luke exchanged a look.

"What was that?" Wedge said still slightly gaping.

Hobbie grinned, "That was the CMO. Told you he was a nice guy, eh?"

"Mother of moons, I'm glad we don't have them like that at the Alliance." Wedge grinned back, but the smile faded. "So, he won't let you go?"

"Seems so," Hobbie grit his teeth. "He runs the whole place. Don't know if he can ignore an order from Vader though."

"Well, he seems to think he can..." Luke grinned.

"If so, then you leave alone, Wedge," Hobbie said.

Wedge turned to look at him, slightly amused. "Are you mad? Maybe they gave you too many pain meds."

"I'm serious Wedge, the less of us are here the less the rest of us can be blackmailed into anything."

"Can it, Klivian, I'm not going anywhere without the two of you unless they space me."

Hobbie scowled at him for the use of his hated last name.

"Sithspawn," he cursed, causing Luke to jump. "I need to get out of here or I'll go stir-crazy."

"I agree, we need to figure out how we can all get out of here," Wedge said.

Luke swallowed. "I can't come with you," he said. Wedge rounded on him, "Why? What has Vader done to you? Is he threatening you?"

"No, it's nothing like that. I just can't…"

"How is it then? When we are all gone he can't make you stay, can he."

"You don't understand," Luke was getting angry at Wedge's refusal to drop the point.

Wedge opened his mouth to reply but in this moment the door to the ward opened again. The CMO was back and he wasn't alone, behind him he two more junior medical officers had entered. He raised his eyebrow at the somewhat comically halted heated discussion between the friends.

"Check on Klivian," he nodded to one of his junior officers.

"Yes, Sir." The officer moved to comply.

The CMO stepped resolutely towards Luke. The other junior officer lurking at the CMO's side immediately seized Luke's arm stabbed in a needle and began to draw some blood.

"Hey..." Wedge began, but the CMO rounded now on him.

"Keep quiet or I'll have you removed from the ward."

Wedge had to cede this fight, this guy was tough. With Hobbie partially out of commission and bound and Luke at the center of that CMO's attention he would better stay here to look after them. Privately he thought that that guy had missed his calling and should have better use for his talent as a General on a battle field than in command of a medical ward.

The junior officer tending to Luke had placed the blood sample in a medical scanner and handed it to his superior.

The other officer stepped to the CMO. "Sir, the treatment has not yielded the desired results. Klivian's lung capacity remains at only 18%."

"Very well, prepare a bacta tank and proceed." The CMO answered curtly turning his attention back to Luke.

"Yes, Sir," the officer nodded and left the ward. Hobbie and Wedge exchanged a stunned look. Bacta was expensive, the rebellion could only afford it in desperate cases. Wedge had to admit that it was pretty decent of the Empire to extend this amount of care to a captured rebel pilot. Considering Wedge had told Vader all he wanted to know -and gods knew, he would have told him more than just the petty questions about Luke, for Hobbie, his friend he would have betrayed all he knew of the Alliance- and Luke who was firmly in Vader's grasp, both Wedge and Hobbie now had clearly outlived their usefulness to the Empire.

But instead of stranding them on some asteroid or summarily executing them they continued to provide expensive medical treatment. Not money usually wasted on expendable prisoners. Something didn't add up. Was this why Luke was dead set on staying behind for Wedge and Hobbie. Wedge watched Luke thoughtfully. Something was up with the kid, Vader clearly had a firm hold on him, some leverage to make Luke agree to this.

The CMO looked over the datapad with the results, looking supremely disdainful."Deficiencies upon deficiencies. The general health care provided by the rebels is abysmally lacking. For a start, inject him with a full dose of Conergin."

"Yes, Sir." The young officer moved to comply. Luke looked confused but didn't complain. Wedge however opened his mouth to protest. But in that moment the CMO stood in front of him holding his scanner into Wegde's face.

"One out of three reasonably healthy, pathetic," the CMO huffed. "Give him a stim shot and then out with him."

Luke looked unhappily but he didn't say anything as each of them got a shot. Two navy troopers entered the ward.

"Remove that one form my ward," The CMO pointed at Wedge without looking at him, his attention again solely focused on Luke.

Luke peeked around him, giving him a small wave. "Bye," he mouthed, looking sad, yet determined.

"Hey-" Wedge began, but the troopers grabbed his arms and pulled him out of the ward. Wedge dug his feet in, but with one last look at Hobbie and Luke he was out of the door. He tried to break free of the Trooper's hold, but despite the stim shot he had received he couldn't put up enough resistance. They led him out of the medical bay and through corridors and turbolifts until they emerged in a hangar housing several troop transports, one of which was ready for boarding.

Understanding slipped home. No, he couldn't leave now, Hobbie and Luke were still aboard. He had to at least stay with them. While he eyed the troop transport with apprehension he hadn't realized where his escort was taking him. So he started when they abruptly stopped and he found himself in the all too close presence of Vader. Vader waved the Troopers off and Wedge was relieved when the pressure on his arms vanished.

To see Vader loom over him brought back horrible the hours that Vader had spent pumping him for information.

"Antilles," Vader managed to convey all his contempt for Wedge in just one word. "That transport will take you to Corellia. I suggest you do not seek to regroup with that pathetic rebellion. The next time you are captured no such lenience will be extended to you."

"I'm not leaving."

"Yes, you are. Consider this your only opportunity to leave this ship alive," Vader's voice dropped dangerously low.

"No, I am not, I won't leave Luke and Hobbie here."

"Klivian will be released once he won't die the moment he makes more than five consecutive steps," Vader remarked icily, "Skywalker on the other hand will remain here."

"Then I stay too," Wedge retorted.

"You will now leave this ship or I will terminate you here and now."

"Fine, you do that, I am not leaving Luke behind."

Vader took a step towards him, Wedge's stomach turned into ice. This is it, he thought. But leaving without Luke and Hobbie was not an option. He stubbornly refrained from taking a step back when Vader came uncomfortably close.

"What is that boy to you, Antilles?" Vader asked, his voice almost soft.

"He is my friend, and I am not leaving him hanging," Wedge shouted back.

Vader looked at him for a few more long seconds his fists closing menacingly. Then he turned on his heel and stalked off leaving Wedge standing alone in the hangar. Wedge stared after him bewildered.

Way to go fly boy. Looks like you just won an argument against Lord kriffing Vader. Only that this means that you basically stay a prisoner on board his ship, he thought,

Wedge looked around. Troopers were still boarding that transport. With a slight longing he looked at it. Bound to Corellia. Home. It was tempting. But no, staying here was the right thing to do. For Luke, for Hobbie. Wedge turned where were these stupid troopers that had brought him here and then disappeared. Just when he had concluded that he would have to try to find his way back to medcenter alone a voice called out behind him.

"You! What are you doing here?" A young-faced deck officer came closer, eying him suspiciously. His hand twitched to his sidearm. Wedge's heart sank. Explaining why a guy in rebel fatigues lurked around the hangar should be returned to the medbay and not the brig would be difficult.

"An excellent question," another voice sang out from behind. Wedge turned his head to see Captain Piett approaching them at a leisurely pace.

"What are you doing here?" Wedge said annoyed.

"Lord Vader was livid. I had to see for myself that you are not yet a cooling body on my hangar floor, Antilles."

The deck officer watched the exchange with interest. At the far side of the hangar the transport took off.

"Well, it appears to me like you missed your ride, pilot. The hospitality aboard must have left a lasting impression on you." Piett looked absolutely dead-pan.

"What can I say, you have nice facilities."

"Maybe I should acquaint you with our airlocks?"

Wedge scowled.

"You had your chance to leave," the captain said coolly.

"I have reasons to stay."

"Of course," Piett looked skeptical. "Have it your way, pilot."

He turned to leave and Wedge looked slightly stunned after him. Then he hurried after him, better not stay alone in the hangar with that twitchy, trigger-happy Imperial.

When they reached the corridor leading away from the hangar, Wedge spoke up.

"Can I go back to the med-center?"

Piett measured him up. "Are you sure that is wise? I was told that Commander Lears wasn't too happy with your presence there."

Wedge could imagine who the captain was referring to.

"Where are you getting guys like that?"

"We have several good and efficient officers on board that could teach even a ragtag band of rebels like you some semblance military discipline. If you intend to stay you should better try to fit in so I don't have to put up with you slouching through my corridors indeterminately."

Wedge scowled, but he swallowed a snarky retort.

"Fine, then where are you taking me?"

"Detention or airlock, your choice. You probably don't want to go back to detention though, I heard there was a lot of discussion why you were set free."

Wedge gaped. The captain had to be joking, hadn't he? He didn't seem like a man that would chuck random people into an airlock. Captain Piett now grinned at him surprisingly good-naturedly. He stopped.

"Ah, still easy to get a rise out of you, Antilles. He pointed out the turbolifts in front of them. "Deck 12, take two rights turns and then down the hall."

"Thanks," Wedge said.

"Don't mention it," the captain said. "I mean it, I've got a reputation to lose. And don't get lost, I'm not coming to bail you out again."

With the captain's directions, Wedge managed to find his way back to the medbay. It was easy to tell which ward was the right one, as there was only one still guarded. The troopers let him in, without bothering him. Luke, now changed into the same grey overall Hobbie had worn, stared up at the sound of the door opening, but he didn't look as happy as he should.

"I told you to leave," he said.

"And I told you I won't leave you behind."

"You don't understand, if you knew the truth you would wish you had gone. In fact, you still should leave, I'll talk to Vader and..."

"What truth?" Wedge asked confused. Luke looked dejected.

"You don't want to know."

"Hell I do, whatever Vader is threatening you with or doing to you-"

"I told you, its not like that."

Wedge looked at Luke's agitated face, he hadn't seen the kid ever like that. Something had changed his friend in the events of the last days. But what?

"Then tell me what it's like."

"If I do, you will hate me. You will wish you had abandoned me for good," Luke hung his shoulders.

"Kid, nothing you could say…" but Wedge broke off. Luke's desperate expression conveyed his conflicting emotions. Maybe conflicting loyalties. Could Luke have been a double agent? No, that did not make any sense, Vader would not have needed a trap like this then and Vader seemed to have been ready to actually go through with the exchange even when they had no collateral to make him.

Luke broke the silence very quietly. "He is my father."

Wedge's train of thought was abruptly stopped and he stared at Luke. "What? You mean..."

"Yeah."

"But you said he killed-"

"I know, Ben Kenobi, the Jedi who took me to the Alliance told me the lie in the hopes that I would one day…" Luke trailed off, looking miserable.

"Vader could be the one lying, he could just…" but Wedge stopped. The length Vader had gone to to catch Luke. The enormous bounty, alive only, or the fact that neither he nor Hobbie had been disposed of despite Wedge's talent to set Vader off. If Luke was Vader's son, all this made sense. It also explained why Luke had said he would stay here. Wedge rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I told you you'd hate me if I tell you the truth," Luke said dejectedly.

"Did he provide any evidence?" Wedge asked finally.

Luke looked at him surprised.

"I just say that you should double check to be sure," Wedge said. "A blood sample for instance."

"I am sure, I can feel it in the Force."

Wedge was quiet for a while, digesting all he had learned.

"When did he tell you?" he asked.

"Right when I arrived. Before he took me to you."

Wedge looked at him. "I need a drink," he said eventually.

"I told you, you better had left when you had the chance…"

"Luke, I said no matter what, I will not regret staying here with you. I mean it."

Luke dared to look at him for the first time since he had dropped the bomb. "I don't want to drag you into this," he said quietly.

"And I want to help you," Wedge retorted. "I'm not walking out on you and if that means I'll spend the rest of my life in grey overalls."

"Thanks," Luke looked right into Wedge's eyes. I hope you'll never regret that."

"If I do, I'll make you regret it in turn."

Luke was about to say something, but in that moment the door to the ward opened. Hobbie rushed through it and punched the button to close it quickly. He was wearing nothing but a bacta soaked, medical shirt with an open back that left no questions unanswered. Luke and Wedge gaped for a moment then they burst into ringing laughter.

"What," Hobbie asked, irritated. "I just escape the Imps before they could shove me back in that disgusting bacta and you laugh at me." He heaved in a deep breath, but he seemed to be able to breath already a bit easier.

"You had no time to put on any pants before escaping?" Wedge finally managed, wiping off the tears that had collected in his eyes.

Hobbie flushed violently. "Kriff," he cursed when finally discovering the open back. "So do we have a plan already to leave?" he asked, keen to change the topic fast.

Wedge answered before Luke had even opened his mouth. "We're not leaving! Luke's got it in his head to stay, so we stay, too."

Luke looked at them with dismay.

Hoobie looked from one to the other. "Can I ask why?"

"Because Luke," Wedge made a dramatic pause and flailed with his hands as if he was trying to shoo away a swarm of Bitz bugs, "is actually Darth Vader's son."

Luke cringed. Hobbie just stared at them for long moments.

"Uhhh… Okay then, sure," he said finally. "It sure explains a lot," he added after a pause.

"It does. Luke's fondness for lightsabers and the Force, his piloting skills-" Wedge said, grinning.

"His bad temper," Hobbie threw in.

"What do you mean, my bad temper?" Luke asked, exasperated.

"You snapped at me just the day before we left for Raaltiir," Hobbie pouted.

"Because you put your dirty socks on my pillow." Luke glared at him.

"See, there it is again!"

"Oh come on, Luke. Don't you see? We don't care who your father is," Wedge said before Luke could find his voice again.

"Yeah, lots of us have parents in the Empire. It's no reason not to be a rebel. Thel's father is a Moff and Dav's uncle is a Grand Admiral!" Hobbie added.

"Or so she says," Wedge grinned, wagging with his eyebrows.

Luke smiled despite himself. But his smile fell quickly. "Thanks guys, really. But you need to leave! It's bad enough that I have to stay."

"We're staying, Luke. And then we'll take the Empire apart from within!" Wedge punched his fist in the air in a heroic display of rebellion.

"Yes, we can undermine morale by eating all the dessert."

"Good thinking, soldier!" Wedge said in a surprisingly good imitation of Admiral Ackbar. "That reminds me, I am starving. What do you have to do to get food here?"

"Down the hall is a small mess for medical staff and patients that can leave the bed." Hobbie explained, throwing out his thumb in a vague direction.

Wedge was already on his feet before Hobbie had finished his sentence.

"Wait, maybe I should put on some pants, first," Hobbie grinned. He pulled out some pajama pants from a drawer and took after Wedge. In the door he stopped, looking back to Luke.

"Are you coming, Luke?"

Luke shook himself out of his stupor. His situation hadn't changed, but his heart felt a lot lighter. He got to his feet and followed his friends.

ooo