Millennium Falcon- On the way to Bespin.
Chewie sat playing Dejarik with Artoo while Luke practiced his moves on his lightsaber against the remote. He was relishing being able to practice, and he was so good at playing the remote that it almost bored him. He needed some real practice. As Han had pointed out so long ago that going against remotes was one thing, but going against the living was something else. Living beings were unpredictable and even though he had the occasion of going against the living with his lightsaber in his adventures with the Rebel Alliance, it wouldn't compare to facing someone like Darth Vader.
Luke was to go back into Dak Janson mode, and they even worked up a disguise for Chewie, though the Millennium Falcon was a well known ship, the way the x-wing was affixed on top, as well as a few things they had done on the jungle planet before departing gave the ship a slightly different look. Luke even painted the x-wing a bit to change it and make it look as if it were part of the ship, rather than just being towed by it. Still this Lando that Chewie knew would have to know who Chewie was, the ship, and they weren't really sure he would be willing to help them. Luke learned that Lando once owned the ship, and Han wasn't here so what if Lando made claim on it himself? He knew Han would never forgive him if something happened to his ship and they lost it completely. Han loved that hunk of junk more than just about anything in the entire galaxy as if the ship was person, a friend or something of that nature and he considered it his home.
Chewie told Luke it would take two days to get there as long as the patch and Artoo's calibrations held up. So Luke had a bit of time to figure out his plan and tried to meditate and contact Ben. While this usually rarely worked, as Ben would contact him rarely, Luke often tried. He felt as if he were watching him on occasion. He swore he heard his voice more than once, but on Hoth he saw him. He knew he saw him! He only hoped that Ben had not been watching him for the past couple of weeks. Maybe Luke needed to experience things like that to learn from them, or was he just kidding himself?
/
Dagobah-inside the shuttle.
On the floor, in the cabin of the small shuttle, Leia and Han were laying wrapped in the blankets together while Leia read some more of the story from Wes's datapad.
"The people were so tiny, that Flambal crushed a few as he walked through the street. Although he hadn't meant to hurt the tiny citizens, the crowds started a riot, shooting arrows into Flambal's ankles and heels. While it didn't really hurt him, it did make his feet itch." Leia read doubling over with laughter.
Han was laughing, too. He then took the datapad out of her hand, rolled over and kissed her and she held him tight wrapping her legs around him, with the blankets all intertwined among them. While they were embraced and involved in physical activities that were somewhere between wrestling and foreplay, they heard tapping on the ramp. Leia got up still laughing wrapped only in a blanket, and opened it up for Master Yoda. Master Yoda shook his head, groaned and hobbled his way up the ramp. Han was still laying on the floor eating a ration bar wrapped in the blanket and looking out of the cabin door. Han waved as Master Yoda hobbled over to a box and sat. Han shut the cabin door, and left Yoda and Leia alone in the cramped space.
"Time for training it is," Yoda said to Leia who stood before him a bit embarrassed wearing only a blanket.
"May I get you some tea, Master Yoda?" Leia offered.
"Hmmmph," Yoda replied and closed his eyes. He then opened them again. "Long time it has. Yes, tea nice it would be."
"How long have you lived here alone, Master Yoda?" Leia asked as she put the water on the small stove.
"Alone I am not. Here I have been since born you were," Master Yoda answered.
"But General Kenobi was on Tatooine? Who was here with you, Master?" Leia asked putting the tea on to sit.
"The Force. Visits from Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan's master he was. Learned beyond death, and to Obi-Wan he visited as well. The Force is quite mysterious. Wrong the Jedi were," Yoda shared.
Leia slightly burned herself as she fixed Yoda's tea and she put her finger in her mouth.
"Finger, show me," Yoda called to her.
Leia showed her finger. Yoda rubbed it and it healed.
"That's amazing!" Leia said.
"The Force it was," Yoda said taking his tea. "Bacta powerful as well though, no? Hee hee."
Leia smiled, "Yes, it is."
Han came out dressed and sat in the cockpit. Yoda gave him a look, "Talk with your friend I must, dress for training."
Leia went into the cabin to change into her clothes so she could begin training for the day, and Yoda brought out a gourd of rootleaf soup and gave it to Han.
"Eat, healthy this is. Smells bad I know, but good it is. Better than rations, no?" Yoda said with a slight laugh.
"Ah, thanks," Han answered.
"You, on trip I send. Return you shall. Leader of Rebel Alliance is whom?" Yoda asked.
"Mon Mothma?" Han answered.
Yoda closed his eyes, "Yes, for know of her I do. To her you go. Message I give you. Direct from Leia it will be, then you return. Distraction you are, but know she must that Leia is well."
"Look here, I don't mean to get in the way of whatever it is you are doing here? Got it?" Han answered angrily and turned around in the cockpit.
"Understand I do. Fly you must, Do you not need the stars? Here, you sit here you wait while training she does. Rebel Alliance will know she is well, you will have stars, and well she will be. Understand? Restless you are. Dagobah is no place for one such as you. Why you stay I know, but return soon you will. Important it is. For her it is," Yoda explained.
"I get it, I think. So I go off, send a message to Mon Mothma that Leia is fine, and come back?" Han says to Yoda trying to understand his words.
"Yes. Tell you where to go I will. Return soon you will. Needed here you will be," Yoda answered.
"Where's she going to stay?" Han asked with concern.
"My home. All will be well," Yoda answers. "Datapad you have?"
"Yeah, it's in the cabin," Han answered.
"Bring to me, and coordinates I give you to leave and return," Yoda says. "Root leaf you eat, eat, good food."
"It stinks," Han says smelling it.
Leia comes out of the cabin dressed and sees Han smelling the rootleaf making a face. "It really is good, I had some yesterday. It just smells bad. What did I miss?"
"Yoda's sending me to Mon Mothma to tell her that you are, alright, I guess. Do you want to tell her anything? I'm supposed to come right back. He says I'm a distraction," Han says looking at Yoda and then Leia. He takes a bit of the rootleaf. "Hey, not bad!"
"Told you I did," Yoda grunts and turns.
"Tell her I'm with Yoda, he says she will remember who he is. In fact, give the ship my special codes. You know them. Han tell this only to her, no one else. If she knows it's directly from me and me alone, then High Command will take it seriously. How will you find her?" Leia asked.
"Yoda knows or something, get that datapad," Han says.
"Know I do, watch I do," Yoda answers.
"Yoda, you are really creeping me out," Han answers.
"Hmmmmph," Yoda says getting up. He takes the datapad and puts a few numbers in the notes. He points."Destination, return."
"Yoda, have you ever flown a ship?" Han asked.
"Years ago, I flew. The tea? Leave if you will?" Yoda smiles.
Leia looks at Han and he shrugs. "You want the caf, too?" Han says in jest.
"Caf? Yes, caf nice it would be," Yoda says in a funny laugh.
Han grunts. "I hope I can get some from whatever ship Mon Mothma is on. At least leave me a little, OK?"
"We won't take it all, Yoda probably hasn't had caf in years," Leia answers.
"He says you're sleeping in his hut while I'm gone, sweetheart. Can you handle that?" Han laughs.
Leia's eyes get wide.
/
Crykon Spaceport Cantina
"I'm there working for Clevo, you know and we come up on this ship. Looked like it might be carrying something good by the size of it. So, this ship, right? I swear it was a YT-1300 freighter, but it looked different. Like some weird modification on it." The Toydarian described.
Bossk listens in as Dengar asks, "Did it look like this one? Without the modification?"
"Maybe, I don't know?" the Toydarian flits back and forth looking at the holo.
Bossk grabs the flying Toydarian by the neck and looks him right in the eyes? "Does this look like the same ship or not?"
"Maybe! I guess it could be? It's an old ship, how many of them are out there now?" The Toydarian struggles with the words.
Bossk throws the Toydarian across the room and he's able to catch himself in flight before he hits the wall.
"Call it in?" Dengar says talking to Bossk.
Bossk shakes his head.
"Yeah, Vader wants some proof. We could let Boba Fett know though. Let him know it might look different," Dengar says grabbing his drink.
"And let him get all the bounty?" Bossk sighs.
"Where is Fett anyway?" Dengar asks.
"Cloud City I think, probably living it up while we go digging in the dregs," Bossk answers.
/
The Executor- somewhere in the Mid Rim.
Darth Vader was spending more time in his meditation chamber. Somewhere out there, was a young woman who was very strong in the Force and had only come into his radar recently. He tried also to sense Skywalker, but doing so by meditation seemed futile. He tried to sense Yoda as well, he being the most likely Jedi to still be alive and most likely the Jedi the young woman was in communication with. It was so frustrating. Masking it from his master was becoming difficult and he sensed that the Emperor was starting to suspect something. As he came out of his chamber, Admiral Piett was waiting.
"Lord Vader, the Emperor wishes you to contact him when you are finished, sir," The Admiral said stiffly.
"Thank you, Admiral. If you'll take your leave, I'll be with you shortly," Vader answered.
"Yes, Lord Vader," Piett exclaimed while leaving the room.
Darth Vader bowed before the holocommunicator, and the image of the Emperor appeared.
"Yes, my Master," Vader said with the utmost respect.
"I'm sensing a greater disturbance in the Force, my apprentice," The Emperor said menacingly. "We must find Skywalker. I know I've reprimanded you in the past on your pursuit, but this disturbance, I believe it to be more than Skywalker. We may have a greater challenge on our hands. Find Skywalker! Have any of your leads given you any insight?"
"I have made some inquiries and have some leads, my master," Vader replies in obedience.
"My apprentice, you wouldn't disobey me would you, my friend?" The Emperor asked.
"No, my master," Vader answered.
"See that you don't!" The Emperor spit out and disappeared.
Vader stood up and moved towards the door of his chambers. At least he wouldn't have to be engaged in these menial activities anymore to appease the Emperor. He could dedicate finding his son, or the strange girl, or Master Yoda full time now.
He walked to the bridge. Admiral Piett, contact Boba Fett.
"Yes, Lord Vader," Piett answered, putting in the information into communications.
Boba Fett appeared, "Yes, Lord Vader?"
"Have you made any progress in locating that ship?" Vader said pounding his fist into the console.
"No, sir, but I believe I will soon," Boba Fett answered. "I believe it will come in for repairs at some point in the near future. I will keep you updated."
"What brings you to this conclusion!" Vader shouts.
"I have a contact who saw the ship go into hyperspace, sir," Boba Fett answered. "It was having problems."
"This is all you have?" Vader shouted. "Where is this ship? Who was your source?"
"A pirate by the name of Clevo, sir," Boba Fett answered.
"I'll give you one more week!" Vader said cutting off communication.
Boba Fett was sweating. He had expected that ship to turn up anytime now, he was sure of it. Of course, it was harder now that Jabba the Hutt was dead. Solo was worth even less. Was he staying under the radar? Back with the Rebel Alliance? He would have heard or seen something if that was the case. He hadn't heard anything from Dengar and Bossk, or IG-88 who probably would foul it up and obliterate the thing. Maybe that was even what happened. Boba Fett knew if he didn't deliver, he would find his end at Vader's fist.
/
The Rebel Fleet- The Edges of the Known Galaxy
"The ship, it is one of ours, but out of circulation, sir," Kyrell called out from his x-wing .
"The signal, could someone else have gotten it?" Yender called out to him understanding the meaning of it.
"It's doubtful," Rieekan smiled from his command in the Liberty. "Escort it in, but have security ready."
General Carlist Rieekan made his way to the hanger of the Liberty as fast as he could. Those were the unique codes of one member of High Command, but no vocal recognition sign was given. Rebel forces security were waiting in the hanger as the small shuttle flew in. Six armed men, with blasters aimed at the ship as a precaution with General Rieekan coming in towards them.
"General, don't you want to wait until we are sure? We've had no vocal confirmation or hail. Only the code, sir. It could be the worst outcome you know? Or an impostor?" the lieutenant warned.
"I'll take that chance," the General stood as the ramp opened.
A few seconds later, General Rieekan saw Captain Han Solo come down the ramp and a grin was on his face. Reading Solo's face, it wasn't one of humor, or sadness, but more of seriousness.
"General, I'm glad to see you. If I may have a word," Han asked before departing the ramp.
"Where's the Princess?" Rieekan asked.
"She gave me the code," Solo answered.
"Gentlemen, you are dismissed, report to your stations immediately," Rieekan ordered.
When they were alone, Han spoke, "She's fine, general, I need to see Mon Mothma. I have a message that is for her and her alone. Leia's not here, I guess I should tell you that."
"Solo, using her code is dangerous, I'm glad to see you though on a personal level. I'll call Draven, he'll get you to Mon Mothma," Rieekan said patting him on the back. "Where is she? The Princess."
"I can't tell you, just believe me, alright? She's fine," Han answered.
"She's not in trouble is she?" Rieekan asked.
"No, I told you she's fine. I can't tell you, she'd kill me, or something. I have to get back, that's important. Look, Rieekan, I trust you, but I can only tell Mon Mothma what she told me, OK." Han answered.
"Alright, Solo, I have to ask though. I have observed a lot in my time on base and knowing the Princess, and I know that the two of you have been alone for a while. She's not um," Rieekan could barely get the words out.
"What? Oh, you won the bet, we have Wes's datapad if you are asking." Solo smiled and clicked his tongue.
"That's not exactly what I mean. Is she hiding because of that?" Rieekan said stalling, "Because." Then he makes a C shaped motion over his stomach because he can't say the words.
"No! That's not it," Han answered nervously, "General, what do you take me for? "
Rieekan rubbed his forehead with relief.
"We were careful, I promise you." Han answered.
"That I didn't need to know," Rieekan said putting his hand on his face.
Rieekan called into his comm, "Draven, Rieekan here, where are you?"
"Home one," Draven answered.
"Is Mon on board?" Rieekan asked.
"She is," Draven answered.
"I have an urgent message for her, but you need to be informed first. I'll be arriving on a shuttle with cleared non-alliance personnel escorted by one of Corona squadron," Rieekan spoke.
"Will be there, escorts will be waiting in hanger, Draven out."
Han motioned for Rieekan to climb up the ramp as he himself reboarded the ship. Rieekan got on the comm to Yender for escort.
"Solo, Draven had intel on Chewbacca. He did a job for the Rebel Alliance not long ago, I thought you should know. Skywalker was with him," Rieekan informed Han as he got the ship ready to depart.
"Thank you, General. I needed to hear that," Han answered as they departed the hanger. Yender followed. "Wouldn't happened to have spotted my ship would you?"
"No sign of your ship. I'm sure it's out there though. Take it slow, it's close, just in another part of the fleet," Rieekan cautioned.
"I'm sorry about Hoth. I know that had to be a blow to you," Han said sadly.
Rieekan waved his hand as to indicate that he didn't want to speak of it, "So, you found Wes's datapad? We saw your note. He was with my team when we went back to look for survivors. Glad you got out, there were two still there, we were able to bring them back."
"I'm glad Janson made it. His datapad has been entertaining us, General. Would you believe Wes had books on there? Don't tell him we have it. I think she wants to give it back to him herself. General Rieekan? You bet on Leia?" Han laughed.
"Me? No never?" Rieekan laughed.
They landed in Home One's hanger and two of the deck officers were waiting in the hanger to escort them to General Draven.
"General Rieekan, sir," the man stood at attention.
"At ease," Rieekan waved him off.
"Follow us," the men, who Han didn't recognize stood behind him as he followed General Rieekan.
When they approached a door, one of the men stood and addressed Han and said, "Your blaster please."
Han looked at Rieekan who rolled his eyes and then shook his head to indicate it would be alright. Han handed the blaster from his holster rig to the men, and they placed it in a nearby receptacle for safe keeping. There was a knock on the door, and Draven said, "Send them in."
"Ah, I see why you were so secretive then Carlist. Have a seat, gentlemen," Draven pointed to the chairs. "Where's the Princess?"
"She's not here, but she's safe." Han answered.
"I'll vouch for Solo, Draven, but I'm bringing it to your attention that he used the Princess's codes to get here. He also knew the coordinates. As a matter of protocol, I know you needed to be informed," Rieekan explained.
"Should we have a debriefing then?" Draven asked putting his hands together with a rather annoyed look on his face.
"Solo is delivering a message to Mon Mothma from Princess Leia and only to Mon Mothma. It is of a classified nature," Rieekan said gruffly.
"And Solo knows this classified information? He's not even enlisted! He's a hired mercenary!" Draven shouted. "You know we can charge you with kidnapping!"
"That won't be necessary, if anything it was a rescue," Rieekan explained.
"Rescue? A member of High Command was rescued, then her rescuer is here without said member?" Draven insisted.
"Hey, I don't have to take this. General Rieekan will tell you that Leia gave me those codes to get here. She just wants you to know she's alright. She'll return as long as you let me leave again. She just has something she needs to do, and I can only tell Mon Mothma. Got it?" Han spoke up and then put his feet up on the table. Rieekan looked at him and shook his head no, and Han put them back down. Rieekan didn't want to irritate Draven further.
"Mon is on her way to her conference room. I told her that you had some information for only her, she just doesn't know it's coming from him." Draven said pointing to Han.
"Draven, the Princess trusts Solo, I know this. For whatever reason she sent him, I'm sure it's important," Rieekan answered.
"She thinks it's the Princess because of the code transmission," Draven said seriously.
"That's why I came to you first, Draven," Rieekan spoke gruffly.
Draven punched something into Mon Mothma's communicator. "There, it may even speed up your meeting. She'll think something has happened to her. Otherwise, she'd just keep her waiting if it was just her."
Rieekan laughed.
"What did I tell you, she's ready now. If you'll come with me," Draven said walking out another door inside his office and down a hallway.
Draven knocked on Mon's door and Rieekan and Solo entered. Mon Mothma stood there seriously calm."She's alive I hope?"
"Oh yeah, she's alive alright, she's just not here," Han answered.
Rieekan cleared his throat, "Captain Solo has a private message for only you, Mon. He arrived on my ship not long ago, and I brought him as soon as I could. He used her codes, which is why you may have thought it was actually her that arrived."
"Yes, I had hoped. Carlist, if you'll leave us, thank you." Mon commanded.
"I'll be outside, Solo," Rieekan said as he left.
Straightening her arm, Mon Mothma said, "Have a seat, Captain Solo."
Han sat down and said, "I've felt like a smashball since I got here, I swear I haven't done anything wrong."
Mon smiled, "Of course not, Draven can be a bit dramatic. So, you know where the Princess is, yet she isn't with you? And you have a message for only me? I take it she wishes it to be classified."
"Yeah, about that. She's with a Jedi," Han said leaning back in his chair.
"A Jedi? One that isn't Luke Skywalker?" Mon said with surprise. "I was aware of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but I know that he's dead."
"Yeah, well this one is Master Yoda. I can't tell you where she is or anything. She's coming back. She just has to visit with him for a few days. I think he just wanted to get me out of the way for a bit, said I was distracting her something," Han explained.
"Interesting, yes, I remember Master Yoda. So he's been alive all this time. I wonder if he would willing to come and help us?" Mon Mothma asked and then put her hand on her chin.
"I don't know about that, maybe that's what she's doing, I don't know. I got a feeling the old guy is staying where he is. I'm just here to tell you that Yoda is alive, she's with him, and I got to go back so she can come back. And she doesn't want anyone to know, only you," Han told her.
"Captain Solo, do you believe she is safe there?" Mon asked thinking about the situation.
"Safe? An old Jedi has been in hiding for twenty odd years and never has been found on a planet that was hard enough for me to find, and you wonder if she's safe? Plus, you do know Leia well, right? I wonder if this Yoda is safe from her!" Han laughed.
Mon smiled, "I imagine you are right, I appreciate you coming to tell me. Princess Leia has been gone for quite a while, has she been there this entire time?"
"No, ma'am, she hasn't, but you'll have to wait for her to tell you that herself. It's not going to be me, understand? Rieekan out there though wondered if I knocked her up or something, and Draven thinks I kidnapped her, so you might want to find something to tell the troops before they start making wild wagers and such. You must be good at that. Tell them she's trying to drum up funds for the Rebellion or something, anything. Do you know how these guys entertain themselves?" Han smiled and put both his hands up in the air as if he was in retreat.
"I may have heard a word or two along those lines, and usually have known the Princess to ignore most of it, but I may be able to make an announcement of some kind to High Command without giving away the truth. I imagine protecting Master Yoda is of great importance, as well as Princess Leia," Mon said stiffly.
"I have to ask, for my own curiosity, and you don't have to answer. I know why she's there, but do you have some idea yourself? I mean you knowing her dad so well, and all that?" Han asked.
"I may, but I'm not privy to everything. Her father did confide in me a few details, but not many. I had no idea Master Yoda was alive, or if he knew. I know enough that keeping this secret about Master Yoda is of the most importance," Mon answered.
"Great, well I'll go see General Rieekan then and be off. That is if that's alright with you. And I want you to know I'm checking that ship for trackers!" Han said pointing to her, "So don't be trying anything."
"You have no worries from me, Captain Solo. Thank you." Mon responded.
Han walked out the door with Rieekan waiting for him. "Do I get my blaster back?" Han asked.
Rieekan laughed, "Of course you do. Do you mind taking me back to the Liberty? Yender will follow."
"No problem," Han answered.
After they returned to Han's shuttle, Rieekan asked, "Still have that death mark?"
"Jabba? Nah, Jabba's dead," Han answered.
"So someone finally did him in? That must be a relief for you," Rieekan answered.
"Yeah, I suppose. Wasn't at the time though. It's hard to kill a hutt you know," Han answered with a grin and a wink. "You won't get that story from me."