A/N: I don't own Star Wars. Only Arlia is mine.
Arlia was crammed in a compartment underneath the floor panels of the Millennium Falcon, uncomfortably wedged against Han, Luke and Chewie. Several units of stormtroopers had been up and down the spaceships corridors, searching for any signs of the crew. Finally, the last trooper exited.
"Let's go," whispered Han, he and Luke lifting up the panel, Obi-Wan doing the same to his.
"Boy, it's lucky you had these compartments," commented Luke.
"Even if they are cramped," muttered Arlia, complaining about the awkwardness of having to sit on top of three different guys, even if one was a Wookiee.
"Hey, I uses them for smuggling," said Han defensively, having caught her remark. "I never thought I'd be smuggling myself in them." Gazing around the Falcon, it seemed hopeless and he vented his frustration. "This is ridiculous! Even if I could take off, I'd never get past the tractor beam."
"Leave that to me," Ben told him.
"Damn fool. I knew you were going to say that!"
Once again, Obi-Wan got the last word. "Who's more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?" Arlia snickered at the dig as Han shook his head, muttering things in which Chewie expressed his agreement of.
"Don't you start!" Han told Arlia, annoyed at her amusement. "C'mon." He and Chewie stood by the entrance to the Falcon, with their blaster and bowcaster, respectively, at the ready. Obi-Wan, Luke and Arlia lifted out the droids, Threepio complaining of the considerable discomfort his metal body was subjected to.
"Shh," she said. Two men carrying a large object in the shape of a rectangular prism entered, Han and Chewie making quick work of knocking them out as silently as possible. It was quiet but the box dropping was enough to catch the attention of the two stormtroopers guarding the entrance ramp.
"Hey down there," called Luke, "could you give us a hand with this?" He lured the troopers into he Falcon, the droids, Obi-Wan and Arlia stayed out of sight whilst Luke, Han and Chewie ambushed the soldiers, taking them out with blaster fire.
"What do we do now?" asked Luke as they stood over the dead bodies. Ben appeared.
"You two," he nodded towards Han and Luke. "Change into their uniforms." For once, Han didn't express any displeasure at following this order, having realised what the old man had in mind. The pair dragged the troopers into the cockpit, hurriedly changing.
Luke started walking around in the armour. "How do you do anything?" he lamented how restrictive it was.
"Well old man," Han addressed Obi-Wan, "since you're the brains of this suicide mission, what's our next move?"
Ignoring the jab at his age, Ben went on with the plan. "We have to get to a command centre and get the doors open." There was silence whilst he thought. "Luke, you have a broken comlink." The group peered up through the interior of the Death Star, spotting a room in which several officers sat at the objects rather like old computers that flashed with lights.
All except Luke followed Han and Chewie up to the command centre. Arlia really didn't want to leave Luke behind, it made her nervous and she glanced back at his as the group ran along, Threepio and Artoo trailing as usual. An officer opened the door, Chewie tossing him aside like a rag doll, he and Han blasting the others in the command centre. Arlia was beginning to tire of sheltering behind people who knew what they were doing. She made a mental note that as soon as she was away from the action, she would get some combat training.
The others spread around the room. Arlia noted the officer Chewie had taken out and remembered something her dad had told her about the actor who'd played him. He was Australian, like her, His name being Peter Sumner. He was broke in England when he was paid 200 pounds for the role in Star Wars. Shame his character is dead, she thought. When Arlia had finished dwelling on the fact, Luke entered, irritated.
"You know, between his howling and your blasting everything in sight, it's a wonder the whole station doesn't know we're here."
"Bring them on!" retorted Han. "I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around."
"We're still alive aren't we?" Arlia was getting fed up with his attitude but the conversation that may have turned into an argument was disrupted by Threepio.
"We found the computer outlet, sir." Obi-Wan went over to them, inspecting a map, presumably of the Death Star. Realising something, Artoo let out a quick succession of beeps and whistles, Ben noticing it.
"Plug in," he said. "He should be able to interpret the entire Imperial computer network." Eventually the Jedi and the two droids managed to locate a power terminal where the tractor beam can be turned off. Obi-Wan worked out the route to the nearest terminal and started to leave, addressing Arlia, Luke and Han.
"I don't think you can help. I must go alone."
Arlia understood with a chill that Obi-Wan would never return. She froze, her eyes glazing over with tears.
"Whatever you say. I've done more than I bargained for on this trip already." Han, like the others, was oblivious to her sense of dread.
"I want to go with you," said Luke, standing determined in front of Ben.
"Luke," Arlia tried to stop him from trying but he only looked at her for a moment, turning back to Obi-Wan.
"Be patient Luke," Ben told him. "Stay and watch over the droids."
"But he can..."
"They must delivered safely or other star systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan. Your destiny lies along a different path than mine. The Force will be with you... always!" And Obi-Wan lingered for the smallest of moments, but enough for Arlia to give him a nod signalling a goodbye mixed with respect. All of a sudden, she knew he was aware of her future knowledge,of all she could tell the others. But that would be dangerous and she would never do that. All this was conveyed and Obi-Wan took off down the hallway, quickly disappearing out of sight, robes flapping. There was silence, then Chewbacca barked a comment that his friend was concurred with.
"Boy, you said it Chewie," Han agreed, looking at Luke who was still gazing down the corridor. "Where did you dig up that old fossil?"
"Obi-Wan's not a fossil," Arlia found herself defending him.
"Ben's a great man," Luke added.
"Yeah, great at getting us into trouble." Han wasn't convinced.
"I didn't hear you give any ideas," retaliated Luke. In her head, Arlia was cheering on the boy.
"Well, anything would be better than just hanging around for him to pick us up."
"Maybe you'd prefer to be dead." She called him out on his hypocrisy. The disagreement could have raged on, especially without Ben to stop them. Thankfully, they could also count on the droids to do the job, Artoo whistling loudly.
"What is it?" Luke went over.
"I'm afraid I'm not quite sure, sir. He says 'I've found her' and keeps repeating 'she's here'." Threepio translated.
"Well, who... who has he found?"
Arlia knew the answer before Luke asked. Quite by accident, she spoke out loud, saying "Princess Leia". Artoo beeped and Threepio looked surprised.
"She is here," confirmed the golden-coloured robot.
'The Princess? She's here?" Luke questioned the strangeness of Arlia knowing that. "How did you know?"
"I-I... guessed," she stammered.
"Princess? What's going on?" Han was ignored.
"Where is she?" Arlia was eager to move on from her slip of the tongue.
"Level five," said C-3PO. "Detention block A A-Twenty-Three. I'm afraid she's scheduled to be terminated."
"Oh no! We've got to do something." Luke looked to Arlia for agreement and she nodded to indicate it.
"What are you talking?" The smuggler raised his voice to be heard. Arlia then Luke explained things.
"They're her droids."
"She's the one in the message. We've got to help her."
"Now look," Han held up his hands in an attempt to get them to slow down. "Don't get any funny ideas. The old man wants us to wait right here."
"But he didn't know she was here," Luke turned back to the droids. "Look, can you find a way into the detention block?"
"I'm not going anywhere," said Han stubbornly. While Luke worked with Threepio and Artoo to find directions into the detention block, Arlia took the opportunity to appeal to the smuggler's humanity.
"They're going to execute her," she was almost pleading. "Didn't you say you hated waiting to be captured? Now all you want to do is stay!" Arlia was sick of trying to keep her mouth shut for fear of ruining things. Whatever the reason was for the Force to bring her here she could figure out later. Now, she wasn't going to be silent. Han noticed the evident change in behavior.
"She speaks!" He feigned shock.
"Well?" she demanded a response.
"Look, marching into the detention centre is not what I had in mind."
"But they're gonna kill her!" Luke was back.
"Better her than me."
The boy looked away in despair. Arlia waited for him to go on with the next bit of persuading but it didn't come when she thought it would. In fact, it seemed to delay and, worried it might not happen, went on with it herself.
"Han, she's rich."
Luke's eyes lit up when he understood what the girl was doing. It succeeded, Chewie grunting and Han suddenly appearing alert.
"Rich?" he asked.
"Yes, rich, powerful!" Luke hurriedly carried on what Arlia had begun. "Listen, if you were to rescue her, the reward would be..." His voice did away as he struggled to come up with a figure.
"What?" The smuggler was still interested, it made Arlia smile to see how easily his attention was captured at the mention of money.
"More wealth than you can imagine."
"I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit."
"You'll get it," Luke insisted.
"I better."
"You will."
Han was finally convinced or at least goaded into tagging along. "Alright kid. But you'd better be right about this." He glanced as the Wookiee for confirmation, but received only a growl that seemed to say 'whatever'.
"Alright." Luke smiled triumphantly at Arlia who returned it. The tactic had worked and she was relieved her impulsive actions hadn't messed things up.
"What's you plan?" Han asked.
"Uh," Luke thought for a moment, glancing at Arlia for an idea but she just shrugged, to caught up in what was going on to recall the course of action taken. Then, the boy spoke.
"Threepio, hand me those binders there will you." The droid did so dutifully and had them snatched, Luke moving towards Chewbacca. "Okay. Now, I'm going to put these on you." Chewie growled ferociously so that Luke instantly recoiled. "Okay. Han, you put these on."
Both Han and Arlia were silently laughing at Luke, the former scornfully, the latter good-naturedly. The smuggler stood up.
"Don't worry Chewie. I think I know what he has in mind." He but the binders on the Wookiee who, despite reassurance, seemed worried. Han, Luke and Chewie started heading for the door.
"So, I guess I'm staying here with the droids," Arlia said loudly.
"Sorry Arlia," apologised Luke, "there's, um, it's easier..." He slowly ceased speaking, knowing that whatever he could say would come out offending her.
"Look," interjected Han, "what the kid is trying to say is that you..." The smuggler also stopped, as tough as he tried to be, even he couldn't bring himself to say it.
"No, it's fine. I get it." She felt completely redundant but C-3PO didn't notice the three humans subdued manner.
"Master Luke, sir! Pardon me for asking, but, ah... What should we do if we're discovered here?"
"Lock the door," the aforementioned 'Master' Luke replied.
"And hope they don't have blasters," added Han.
"That isn't very reassuring," lamented Threepio. Luke and Han out on their stormtrooper helmets and Arlia watched them lead Chewie off into the hallways of the Death Star. They sure as hell better come back, she thought.
Arlia sat back in one of the chairs, slumped on one of the monitors spread around the control centre.
"I don't know why they were joking Artoo," grumbled Threepio to his small companion. "Our lives are no laughing matter." The blue droid gave a bleeping reply, something offensive judging from the response.
"How dare you say that?" exclaimed the golden-coloured robot.
"Don't worry Threepio," said Arlia wearily. "I have a blaster. They seem to have forgotten that." She patted her side where the weapon sat in her holster.
"Well," he said, "that does make me feel slightly better."
"I'd feel better if we could contact the others," she pounded a fist of frustration on the table.
"But Mistress Arlia, we can!" He raised his metal hand, in it was a small, white, tubular object.
"What is it?" she said, squinting at it.
"A comlink. Master Luke has the other."
She sprang up. "How on earth could I have forgotten? Why didn't you tell me?"
"But I just did!" C-3PO honestly didn't understand humans, they could be so illogical.
"Never mind," she shook her head. "Do you mind if I hang onto it?" It was happily passed along and Arlia examined to closely. As well as being white, now she could take a much closer look at it, she could see part of it was black. There was a microphone at one end and a button she assumed allowed you to speak.
"So I just press this button to talk to Luke?" she asked.
"Of course. I would have thought you knew that," he replied, surprised.
Arlia lowered her eyes in shame. "Try to keep up Threepio. I think it has already been established that I'm useless."
"Well in that case," C-3PO wittered on, "there's a small switch that you can use to mute it. It might be necessary if we have to hide."
"Yes," she nodded, lifting up the part of her jacket hanging over the blaster which she palmed, examining the weapon.
"Mistress Arlia, are you sure you can use that?" Threepio stepped forward, anxious.
"I've killed several stormtroopers with it. I mean, I'd never used one before than but I sure did manage some impressive flukes. I mean, I'm pretty certain they were flukes." She looked thoughtful, wrinkling her nose. "I wonder if it has something to do with the Force. That would explain a lot." Arlia went off on a tangent of her own musings, pondering what else she could put down tot his mysterious energy force although she couldn't come up with anything else other than her luck with the blaster.
She sat back and sighed. "How long has it been since they left?"
"It's only been a few minutes."
Arlia groaned, bored with waiting around. "This is taking forever. What are we supposed to do while we're here?"
Artoo made some comment, perhaps it was about Arlia and it shocked C-3PO. "You can't say that about her!" he cried. She rested her head back on the monitor with a thud, closing her eyes as she lay on her folded arms. Now she thought about it, she was exhausted, it had been and eventful day. Or was it two days? Not owning a watch was disconcerting.
"Mistress Arlia, do you think maybe you could get out your blaster? I'd feel more comfortable if you did."
"Relax Threepio." She slid to the floor, it's smooth surface pleasantly cool though it must have looked odd to the droids who made comments about the state of her mental health. Ignoring them, however, Arlia thought of home. What would I be doing? Going to school, probably. Boy, I hate that place. I like my friends but it's way to stressful. I miss my family. The girl remembered her parents and younger brother. Do I want to stay here? I wonder what happens next.
Suddenly, Arlia was alert and sat up, her legs crossed like she was in primary school. I think Luke makes contact with us soon. She swiftly produced the comlink and checked it wasn't muted. Then, she put it to one side and drummed her fingers on the floor. Even though she was expecting it, Arlia still had the living daylights scared out of her when the comlink turned on.
"See-Threepio! See-Threepio!" Luke's voice came crackling through the device and she stood up, taking it in hand.
"It's Arlia! What's wrong?" she said back, being careful to follow C-3PO's instructions on how to use it.
"We've been cut off! Are there any other ways out of the cell bay?"
"You heard him!" she looked desperately to the droids, Artoo bleeping wildly as Threepio translated. She held out the comlink so Luke could listen to what the golden-coloured robot said.
"Did you get that?" she asked, hearing a lot of blaster fire and shouting. A second later, the reply came through.
"What did he say? I didn't copy."
"He said all systems have been alerted to your presence." Arlia repeated. "The main entrance seems to be the only way in or out, all other information on your level is restricted."
There was a bashing at the door. "Open up in there!' called a stormtrooper.
"Oh no!" cried Threepio.
"Luke?" Arlia whispered desperately into the comlink but nothing came through.
"What do we do?" asked the protocol droid in a panic, even Artoo's beeps becoming frantic. Arlia spun around, recalling how in the film, the droids hid in a supply cabinet. But what about me?
"Quick, open this!" she pointed tot he small door. Threepio pressed a nearby button. "Now,I'll go in first, followed by Artoo, then you." She took out her blaster and backed into the cabinet, squished behind R2-D2.
"Okay, Threepio," she whispered, when the door was closed. "When they open the door, pretend we got locked in here by intruders. Say they went to the detention level. They, if they leave anyone behind, ask to take Artoo to maintenance. I'll hide behind him until the last second and then there may be a little blaster fire."
"What about Master Luke?"
"Damn!" She almost face-palmed when she remembered she'd left the comlink on the monitor in her panicked rush. There was no time to retrieve it, there was an explosion and then the stormtroopers entered the command centre.
"Take over!" shouted a trooper. "See to him! Look there!" The door to the supply cabinet flew open and Threepio stepped forward as Arlia stayed down, behind a lingering Artoo.
"They're madmen! They're heading for the prison level! If you hurry, you might catch them."
The stormroopers fell for the rouse. "Follow me! You stand guard." commanded the one that was clearly the ranking officer and the group marched away, leaving one soldier behind.
"Come on," C-3PO said to R2-D2 who began shuffling forward, Arlia behind him, weapon in hand. The golden-coloured robot has a blaster pointed at him as the stormtrooper stopped him. "Oh," he stepped back, concerned. "All this excitement has overrun the circuits of my counterpart here. If you don't mind, I'd like to..."
"He-" The trooper began as Arlia became visible from behind the smaller droid. She wasted not time in firing lasers at him before he could do the same to her. Arlia was astonished at how quickly she disposed of another human, promptly dragging the stormtroopers limp body into the supply cabinet. Another fluke, she thought. With delight, she sprung upon the comlink she had forgetfully left on the monitor, relieved it was still there and in one piece. If I'd lost it, I don't know what I would have done!
"Let's go," she told the droids and they finally left the command centre. Arlia was much speedier than the droids but it served to their advantage, for she would, blaster at the ready, go ahead and check the coast was clear. After a couple of minutes of that exercise, the group made it to the service panel in the main hanger, across from the Millennium Falcon, obscured by some boxes. The ship was being guarded by several armed stormtroopers.
"They aren't here!" said Threepio, having observed the same things Arlia did. "Something must have happened to them. See if they've been captured." Something in the girl's brain triggered pain and she began gasping for breath as Artoo spewed binary at C-3PO.
"The comlink!" she half-yelled, half-whispered, swiftly turning on the device. Artoo and Threepio were still trying to gain information from the computer but turned at her cry.
"They haven't been captured!" said the protocol droid urgently. "Ask them where they are."
"Luke! Luke, come in! What's happening?"
"Arlia, never mind. Just shut down all the garbage compactors on the detention level! Now!"
"Do it! Shut them down!" she shouted at the droids, ignoring the fact that if she'd remembered to contact Luke in the first place, he, Han, Chewie and now Leia wouldn't be about to be squashed to death. "Quickly!"
"Oh, hurry Artoo! Shut them all down!" Threepio also joined in as Luke repeated his instruction, groaning every so often. The small blue droid worked as quickly as he could and then, through the comlink, came screaming.
"We weren't fast enough!" C-3PO exclaimed, aghast.
"NO!" Arlia contradicted him. "They have to be alright." She was convincing herself more than anyone, knowing how the story ended didn't matter, any action of hers could disrupt everything. There was more hollering and Threepio cursed his 'metal body for not being fast enough'. To her eternal relief, Arlia was correct about their situation.
"Arlia! Threepio! We're alright!" Luke called, their yelling down to exuberance at having survived. "You guys did great!" Arlia handed the comlink to C-3PO as the boy told them to open the pressure maintenance hatch of the garbage compactor, Artoo obediently following orders.
She edged further away, furious with her faulty memory that seemed to be dominating her nature. Usually, neglecting something on Earth, at it's worst,was putting the keys down when retrieving something from the car then accidentally locking them inside. But here, more than ever, it could result in someone's death. How do people enjoy living here? I'll be lucky to survive a week and so will everyone else around me. I refuse to be the cause of Luke Skywalker's death! In her head, it was meant to be humorous but it just sounded morbid.
"Mistress Arlia! Mistress Arlia!" It was Threepio. "Master Luke is on his way."
"Thank goodness."
"Humans are very good at getting into trouble," C-3PO was fond of talking in a way that seldom required a reply and Arlia was perfectly content in allowing him to do so. "Master Luke, you and Captain Solo appear to have a knack for getting into life or death situation."
She expressed amazement at this. "I would have thought dangerous scenarios are part of the package."
"They are, it's just you three seem to encounter them more often."
"This isn't exactly a normal day for any of us. We're trying to save the galaxy!" Arlia never would have thought a droid could give her an unintentional pep talk but she suddenly felt some of her heavy emotional burdens lifted, knowing everyone else was as kamikaze as her. "So, when will the others get here?"
"Master Luke didn't say." They crouched out of sight, waiting in silence. Then,a noise that, for once, spelled doom. A lightsaber being turned on undoubtedly marking the beginning of the final battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader.
"Come on , Artoo, we're going." It was Threepio, stopping Arlia from trying to peer at the sight. The stormtroopers guarding the Millenenium Falcon suddenly moved away, going towards the fight.
"Go, go!" Arlia encouraged, herding them towards the ship. The two droids were just scurrying up the ramp when, quite by accident, she turned to the side and saw them! The girl was filled with unfathomable rage. Darth Vader, a man that so often amused her with his sadistic sense of humor, was about to kill his former master and best friend. How could you? She directed that question at Lord Vader, hoping that maybe, if he was force sensitive, he would hear her. Arlia couldn't tell, she couldn't sense anything and paused with her hatred for suddenly, Luke was beside her, having arrived with Han, Chewie and Leia.
Obi-Wan glanced over at them, spotting Luke then turning back to Darth Vader. And, with a serene look on his face, he removed his weapon from blocking the red lightsaber. The Dark Lord took advantage of it, quickly pulling back his saber and slicing the Jedi in half. Arlia felt her heart squeeze and gasped, hoping that he felt no pain as his body disappeared instantly, leaving his cloak to fall to the floor.
"No!" It was Luke, calling out in anguish, his cry catching the attention of the stormtroopers who began to fore at him. It took him a few seconds to register this but when he finally began to retaliate, Han and Arlia joined in, sending laser bolts that took out a some of the troopers.
"Come on!" Han shouted to Luke who seemed intent on staying.
"Come on Luke! It's to late!" Leia added.
"Blast the door kid!"
Luke fired and Darth Vader was prevented from advancing by the massive door closing. He continued to blast the remaining stormtroopers but Arlia didn't try to tear him away from his 'revenge'. She couldn't hear it but knew when Luke suddenly looked around, it was Ben's force ghost encouraging him to run. Arlia was already at the top of the ramp and as soon as Luke reached her, she gripped his arm and pulled him inside.
"Go Han!" she shouted to the smuggler who took it as a sign he could take off, closing the door. She and Luke toppled against the walls of the Falcon as it, thankfully, surged out of the hanger of the Death Star and into space, yet again under blaster. I swear, the Millennium Falcon never takes off under normal circumstances, thought Arlia with a smile.
A/N: I may have some difficulty doing updates as it is that time of term in which all the teachers give you assignments. I have to focus om those but I will try to update as often as possible :)