Chapter IX: The Reunion

From inside his cell, Luke looked up from his place on the ground at the sound of the commotion outside. He'd probably been captured for a few days and hadn't realized that anyone would come looking for him- more so to rescue him. Then, in a single second, it was silent except for the humming sound of a lightsaber and his breathing. There was the crackling of the lock being broken an instant later.

The door groaned open, revealing a young woman his age. She had deep brown hair that looked as if it felt like silk. Her eyes were a deep shade of brown that made them seem nearly black with flecks of a deep navy blue. Her skin was lightly tanned beautifully. She wore completely grey with her long-sleeved shirt a light grey and her pants a darker shade of grey. Her black gloves were thin and to her elbows.

She walked up to his kneeled form and asked, "Can you walk? I'm getting you outta here." His vision was slightly blurred from being drugged so many times. After blinking a few times he asked, astonished, "Carmen?" She grinned at him and asked, "What? Did you forget I was in the Alliance?"

He smiled at her and asked, "If I could even stand, do you think I'd be down here? The floor's freezing." Carmen cringed as she lowered her gaze and saw the blood on Luke's right beige pant leg, more towards his shin. She looked back at him then tore away part of her light grey sleeve. He looked at her with an expression of confusion, "What are you doing?"

Carmen looked back at him and replied, "I'm bandaging you up. That is, if you don't mind." He looked at her and shook his head, "I don't mind, Carmen. Just- ow!" He winced as she tightly wrapped the torn part of her sleeve around his leg. She looked at him with a soft smile, with a slight shrug, "Sorry, Luke. I just needed to cut off the bleeding. You'll last until we get back to Base."

Luke nodded and said, "Alright." Carmen finished then Luke asked, "How are we getting out? There are troopers everywhere. Plus- from what I've been hearing for the last few days- Vader's here." Carmen cringed at the name and said, "Don't worry, Luke. I've already got a plan to get out." Luke nodded and said, "Alright."

Carmen helped him to his feet, receiving a wince from Luke. She looked at him and asked, "Are you gonna be alright?" He nodded then Carmen helped him to the doorway of the cell and out of the area.

Not before long, Carmen stopped dead in her tracks and growled, "Vader's close by. We really need to move a little faster." Luke nodded then they both sped up their pace.