Hours passed and the tension in that small dark cell was growing worse by the minute. Cassian didn't trust the smuggler, nor his furry companion. Han was battling with his conscience while Reina was trying to figure out how to escape before the stormtroopers showed up. No one had spoken for nearly twenty minutes and Reina began to find the silence extremely unnerving.
She scanned the room for anything she could possibly use as a weapon to fight their way out. She jumped up from her seat, surprising both men and causing Chewie to let out a startled yelp. She quickly moved across the room to a small panel in the floor. She tried to lift it, but the metal was thick and heavy.
"Give me a hand with this, both of you." She ordered. Han shot Cassian a look and shrugged. K2 was absolutely no help. He'd been making snide comments that everyone ignored, though Chewier looked ready to tear his robotic arms off.
The three were able to pry up the panel, revealing a hole leading to a ventilation system. Han ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
"There's no way I'm fitting through that.' He pointed out. "And Chewie especially won't fit either."
"Neither will I." Cassian agreed mournfully. He laid a hand on Reina's shoulder. "We'll figure something else out." She stared down into the vent.
"I can fit." She looked up at Cassian. "I can get through and unlock the door."
"No." Cassian shook his head." You have no weapon and who knows how many crewmen are on this ship."
"Actually, they would have raided our ships by now. Any weapons will be in the storage room near the loading bay." Han noted. "Not heavily guarded either."
"You see," Reina hopped down into the hole, "I'll be fine." Cassian knelt down, grabbing her arm.
"I can't let you go down there." He ordered and the couple stared intensely at each other. Han patted his jacket pockets before making an 'aha' sound and reaching down to his boots. He pulled out two small metal rectangles from behind his ankles.
"Here." He handed one to Reina. "This will let you communicate with us and I might be able to guide you to the weapons from here. This isn't the first time I've dealt with these morons." Reina nodded, but he was getting death glares from Cassian.
"This is our only chance." She reassured Cassian, putting her hand on top of his. "I'll be back soon." Clutching the communication device in her hand, she crawled into the vent, leaving the two men in an awkward silence.
"So," Han started, "How long have you two been together?"
"Don't you think I know what you're doing?" Cassian snapped. "Pretending to help us so you can sell her off to Jaba? I know you saw the brand on her shoulder." He grabbed Han by the collar. Chewie stepped forward but Han held up his hand to stop him. "Well, I'm not going to let you take her back there."
"Will you just shut up for two seconds?" Han shoved Cassian off of him. "Look, I know you don't trust me but I'm really not a bad guy." Chewbacca made a sound and Han pointed angrily at him. "Nobody asked you!"
"I really don't see how the two of you fighting is going to-"
"Shut up K2!" Cassian stepped towards Han. "You have no idea what it was like for her."
"I'm not taking your girlfriend to Tatooine!" Han shouted. He took a deep breath to try and calm down. "I've made mistakes in my life but I'm not going to make her pay for them. Now can we please focus on getting out of here?"
"Is this on?" Reina's voice came through the device. Han gave Cassian a look before answering.
"Loud and clear." he began to lead her through the vents, K2 correcting him at every turn. Cassian was forced to stand by and listen.
"Reina crawled through what felt like miles of metal tunnels until she opened a hatch to the room above her. As she looked over their weapons that were jumbled together on top of a table, she smirked.
"Well done Solo."
Hand gave Cassian a grin, who proceeded to roll his eyes.
Reina tucked her blaster in her waistband and grabbed Cassian, Han, and Chewie's weapons, stuffing them into a bag and slinging it over her shoulder. Also lying on the table was her father's silver box. Just as she reached for it, two men walked into the room. Reina froze as they raised their blasters.
"Drop the bag!" The shouted. Hearing the commotion from the other end, Cassian snatched the device from Han.
"Reina, what's going on?"
"I said drop the bag!" They stepped further into the room and Reina slowly set the weapons down. "Now for yours." She took out her blaster and set it beside the bag.
"Reina!" Cassian's voice screamed.
As the two came towards her, a strange sound caught their attention. They looked at the box on the table and then back at Reina. Reina glanced at the shaking case and then back at them.
She instinctively reached out her hand and in a flash of gree,n the two crewmen were dead. She stared down in shock at the glowing object in her hand. The object that her father had kept in a sealed metal box for over twenty years. A lightsaber.
"Reina, if you don't answer, I'm coming to you. Cassian shouted into the communicator.
"You'd get stuck." K2 noted.
"I will personally disable you one obnoxious piece at a time if you don't shut up." Cassian barked. Reina felt something surge through her as she flipped the lightsaber in her hand. She lifted the device to her lips.
"Change of plans."
"She's probably dead," K2 noted as they listened to the sound of chaos and violence just outside the door. Cassian had his forehead against the wall, debating how many times he would have to bang his head against it before he died. He turned to Han with a dark glare.
"If anything happens to her-"
"You'll personally disable me one obnoxious piece at a time, I get the picture." Han said, throwing a rubber ball at the ceiling.
"Where did you even get that?" K2 asked. The commotion outside suddenly went silent.
"Stand back." A voice from the other side warned and a beam of light started to carve a hole through the door. The sheet of metal fell with a clang and standing in the opening was Reina. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and stepped over the creature's body at her feet. Everyone stared in shock. Cassian's eyes were locked on the glowing green blade in her hand.
"I'll explain later." She motioned for them to follow her. "Now come on." The two men gaped as they trailed behind her, looking around at the carnage of the fight they'd heard through the door.
"What happened out here?" Han muttered, stepping over a vile looking body. Reina skillfully tossed their weapons back to them.
"Evidently… she did." K2 commented. Cassina moved quickly to catch up with her.
"Reina." He jerked back as she turned towards him, the lightsaber nearly taking off his arm. She laughed.
"Sorry. I guess I'm not quite used to it." She shut off the weapon as Cassian watched her with a concerned expression.
"Reina, where did you find that?" He questioned. Lightsabers were extremely rare. They didn't just appear on smuggler ships. Her smile broadened.
"It was my father's." When his expression merely deepened in confusion, she explained. She pulled the metal case out of her bag and handed it to him. "When those guards found me, I thought I was done for. But then that box started to move and I just… I held out my hand and it flew to me. It was as if I knew exactly what to do."
"Your father was a…" he lowered his voice, "jedi?"
"Get them!" A voice shouted. Nira and a group of smugglers stormed towards them. Han gulped.
"Time to go."
It's back! I hope you guys enjoy the next chapter. I'm hoping to get this story rolling a little more since I do have a sequel in mind!
