[AN: A short chapter this time (well, shorter than usual), but I'm gonna try and get some more up later this month. I've got everything planned out, just gotta find time to write it all down~]
Through the Maw. The words hung in the air, suspended by the shock of the people in the room. Obi-Wan rubbed the bridge of his nose as he heaved a sigh. He opened his mouth to speak, but Marus beat him to it, words pouring out of the young man's mouth in a panic.
"So we're going to die? We're just stuck on this blasted ship until some black hole drags us into its hold and crushes us? This wasn't supposed to happen, I'm an officer of the Imperial-"
"Be quiet." Marus's mouth slammed shut as Darth Vader spoke. Obi-Wan took the momentary pause to give voice to his own thoughts.
"How long do we have?"
"A little more than three days," Cassandra replied, turning to the former Jedi.
"Well, that's something at least. Is there anything we can do?"
Cassandra glanced back at the controls. "Not from here. The primary controls are completely smashed; I was only barely able to get the navigation data. I'm not sure what else there is."
"Hmmm. Is there any way to manually access the hyperdrive? Is there an emergency shut down?"
"Not that will help us." Three heads turned towards Vader as he spoke. "This shuttle is an older model. The emergency shut down is routed through the primary controls."
"But I thought we were phasing out these models!" Marus exclaimed. Obi-Wan turned to see an expression of horror on the young man's face. "Why would you still have one, my lord?"
"I ordered my shuttle be the last replaced because I'm more than capable of escaping danger." Vader's voice was cold but the words carried a sentiment of the past, of when Anakin had looked after the clones even before himself. Obi-Wan mentally waved the thought away. Now was not the time for reminiscing, they had to escape this mess.
"We're doomed," Marus moaned, his head falling into his hands.
"Lieutenant!" Vader barked.
"Yessir!" the officer's head snapped up out of reflex.
"I did not ask for your opinion. You would do well to keep it to yourself." Marus paled at the veiled threat. "You used to work in communications. I see that the communication terminal in here is mostly undamaged. Use it to send a distress call over Imperial emergency signals."
"As you command, my lord."
"I suggest we give the lieutenant some space," Obi-Wan said. "There isn't a lot of room in the cockpit for all of use."
"I will take the boy to my chambers. You and the pilot will stay above." Tension shot through the air as Vader rose.
"I think not," Obi-Wan replied calmly, meeting Vader's icy glare without fear.
"I'll keep looking after the kid," the pilot said. The two men looked at her, and she continued. "Neither of you will be happy if he's with the other, and we can't afford to have you going at it right now. We all stay in the main cabin, that way we can all see what's going on and nobody has to worry."
Obi-Wan regarded her for a moment. "We are fortunate to have someone so clear headed with us. I think that will work." He stood up and gestured towards the door. "Shall we?" The pilot gently picked up Luke, still wrapped in one of Vader's cloaks, and made her way into the other room. Obi-Wan heard Vader stand behind him as he followed behind her.
