To be honest, Clark's words meant next to nothing to Luke. All he heard was white noise and his own gasping, choking breaths. What he saw, however, was a stranger: a big stranger, with dark hair and broad hands. A stranger that was blocking he and his sister's way. A growl bubbled up in his throat, no more menacing than a kitten's, but just as sincere and frightened.
He looked like he'd stepped out of a horror film, with his mangled fingers, bruised body, and the evidence of flayed skin and stitching just visible beneath rips in his clothing. Blood had dried down his chin and throat, and still spilled down with every wheezing breath. --There was nothing alive in his eyes at all, leaving them as empty and unrecognising as a corpse.
And yet-- and yet, still, he stepped in front of his sister, small body trembling with fatigue, shock, and pain. His sister, the only kind person in his whole world, was hurt and this new Bad Man was going to try to hurt her more.
From above, Mantis stepped out of the Falcon and dropped with a brief, annoyed Sending--Ogre--to Clark, landing lightly on his feet and crouching, palms up and extended slightly toward the boy.
Little Bright One, his mental voice cooed, gray eyes wide and pained beneath the gas-mask. You remember me. Madness to madness-- touched. He was still, then, waiting.. and slowly, still shaking, Luke placed his hand in the palm of the telepath's. Long fingers closed around it, and Mantis glanced up at Leia. Family here. Father. Children. Husband. --Hurry, no time. Dark Man coming.
Indeed, from beyond, Dark power surged, and the doors and most of the wall blew out of The Witching Hour, raining brick and body parts. From the dust and screams stepped Exar Kun, eyes falling unerringly upon his two escapees, the alien, and the telepath.
"We'll have to play another time, then, Mind-Reader," he purred, gaze lifting and fixing on the Jedi. "I have another game to play at the moment." With a dark, anticipatory laugh, he lit his twin-bladed 'saber and shifted, waiting--he knew it wouldn't have to be for long.