I've been debating for some time now if I want to make Mila more of a main character or not, and I think I've made my decision...kind of. I'm still pretty unsure, but it really doesn't matter at this point, so I think I'm just going to keep writing and see where it takes me and all the characters!

I also made a slight change from the last chapter, which if you go back now, you'll see is fixed. I finished this chapter differently from what I originally intended...well, only a little bit. So the Millennium Falcon is no longer in combat with the Slave One. Instead they're just facing the Empire by itself. You'll see why in the upcoming chapters.

I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please remember to review! I do respond to all of them (pending I am able to access a computer and have time...but I do eventually!)

Against all Odds

It was early when Lando pulled back on the handle of the Millennium Falcon that pulled them out of Hyperspace. The three of them were all, once again, sitting in the cockpit of the ship, and as the stars pulled back into their places, the beautiful planet of Naboo stretched out below them.

Mila, still sitting behind Lando, gazed at the planet with awe. It had to be the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Her entire life had been in one place...the small cantina and planet that was mostly filled with scum and the likes of people like Lando. Granted, it had been a fine life enough, but this was completely different. She had never seen anything like this.

The planet of Naboo, from their current altitude, was a mix of colors and landscapes. The rise of the mountains were off to one side, and the lush green of much of the other land was scattered over the entire sphere. But the large majority of the planet was covered in sparkling blue-green water, with light reflecting off of it from the nearest star. Even from this distance she could see the simple curves of the land against the ocean, and how the cities, scattered few and far between, lived with the land, instead of on the land like so much of the planet she had grown up on.

"It's beautiful" she said accidentally out loud.

"You could say that again. Sure beats Sullust, huh?" Lando answered her, his own eyes seemingly glued to the view.

She sighed, "yeah."

[If you two are finished daydreaming about Naboo, we should land and attempt to contact the Alliance. Plus, who knows if it's even safe around here.]

"I thought Naboo was peaceful, and that the Empire hasn't set up camp here" she asked.

[Well, no, not really, but if they have a reason to, the Empire will follow us.]

"But, we made the..."

"Yes" Lando interrupted their conversation, "We did make a second jump, but that doesn't mean they can't follow us at all. It's just less likely. In the end, they will eventually find us."

"And we need to make it back to the Alliance before that happens, right?"

[Exactly. Although I do hope that nothing has happened to them. If the Alliance had to move it will become quite difficult for us to find them again.]

"So basically we're stuck here until further notice?" Mila asked, and Lando replied with a nod. "Do you think I could try and contact my father from here?"

[Sounds fine to me, as long as you keep it short and you don't give out any details. The Empire could intercept the call.]

"He's right Mila. You'd better call before we try and contact the Alliance."

"Ok" she said simply before the comm came alive and they began the landing process. A few minutes later they found themselves in a hangar in one of the larger cities of Naboo, Moenia. The city, known largely as an artist's retreat, fell under the view of the Empire almost altogether. The lack of weapons and calm atmosphere left little reason for the Emperor and Vader to be concerned.

Luckily, it also made for a prime location for Rebels on the planet.

As they stepped off the ship, Chewie locked up the hull tight, intent in making sure that the Millennium Falcon would be secure, not that he was worried. Moenia was a beautiful city, perfect for painters and musicians and authors, not quite the area for the scum he was used to.

Lando and Mila were already walking ahead of him, talking to themselves like the old friends they were. It occurred to him then that Mila's attire didn't match the local attire, while Lando looked like the usual spacer...or Han Solo. Due to a lack of clothing, Lando had taken to wearing the Captain's clothing, something that Chewie knew would bother Leia to the ends of the galaxy if she ever found out.

[While we're here, we should get you both some clothing] Chewie spoke his thoughts as he caught up to them.

"I can't ask you to..." Mila started.

"No, it's fine. Chewie's right. We're going to stand out quite a bit here with this clothing."

[He's right, and plus, I know someone who might just be able to help.]

The shop they entered a few minutes later was small and cozy. In fact, it was the picture perfect shop for people who didn't want to stand out. At first, the front counter was empty, but soon enough an old man exited from a back room, rubbing his hands together. "How can I help..." he started, running through his old routine without looking at his new customers, but when he looked up, the words stopped. "Chewbacca?"

[I wondered if you would recognize me!] the wookiee responded happily.

"Recognize you? How could anyone forget you?" he continued, stepping out from behind the counter and pulling Chewie into a hug while Lando and Mila looked on with confused faces.

[Well, I have grown a bit older since the last time you saw me.]

"A bit? Last time I saw you I was the tall one!"

The two friends continued to catch up, but Lando had enough. "Excuse me" he said after clearing his throat obnoxiously loud. Chewie and the man stopped and stared. "I'm glad you two want to catch up, but I'm Lando and this is..."

"Mila" she responded for him before he could say her name. She stepped forward and shook the man's hand.

Lando scowled, "Yeah, Mila."

"And I'm Loman McConnell. It's a pleasure to meet you" the man returned. "What brings you to Moenia, and more importantly, my shop?"

[These two each need a new set of clothes or two.]

Loman looked at them for a moment, "I think we can do that. I have just the pieces."

Sometime later, both Mila and Lando were dressed in new clothing more suitable to both the climate and culture. Meanwhile, Chewie said a silent thank you to the Gods that Lando was no longer wearing Han's clothes.

"I've never worn anything this elaborate, are you sure that we can afford this?" Mila asked as she twirled a bit in the shop.

"No worries" Loman answered her. "Everything's on me. Plus, something tells me you're not here for the art."

Lando sat down on one of the leather chairs, "You've got that right."

[We've been searching for someone.]

"I see. Would you mind me asking who?"

Chewie looked to Lando before responding. [His name is Han Solo. He was captured by the Empire and the Bounty Hunter Boba Fett.]

"Solo, huh? Can't say I've ever heard of him. But I guarantee you won't find any bounty hunters here."

"Why not?" Mila asked suddenly. She had stopped twirling and was facing the three of them, looking confused.

"Well Mila" Loman began, taking his own seat across from Lando, "Naboo is peaceful. I can't remember once in my life seeing a real bounty hunter. I mean, I suppose if you go into the lower districts you might find some, but not here in Moenia."

[We're going to need to decide where we go from here, speaking of Moenia.]

"We should get going." Lando stood and went to shake Loman's hand, "Thank you for the clothing. It certainly is a help."

"Don't mention it. Chewbacca here is an old friend" he said, patting the wookiee on the arm.

"And thank you for the dress. It really is beautiful" Mila piped in.

"Well it looks beautiful on you. Now, you had all better get going. It's about time I close up this shop."

After some final goodbyes, they were out on the street again. It was calm, and the sun was setting. "I can see why artists come here" Mila said, "It's absolutely stunning."

[That's how most of Naboo is. It's one of the top vacation destinations in the galaxy. But don't let it fool you altogether. Some of the most important early battles of the Clone Wars took place here.]

"I thought..."

"It's peaceful? Right" Lando interrupted again. "It is. But that doesn't mean that stuff like that doesn't happen at all. Look what happened to Ald..."

[Don't say it] Chewie growled.

Lando smiled and backed away. "That's alright, I get the picture. So what's our next move?" She asked, walking slowly down the sidewalk.

[I suppose go back to the Falcon and attempt to contact the Alliance.]

"Makes sense" Lando agreed, following slowly behind them.

"And what if we can't reach them?"

[Then we try again tomorrow I suppose. We don't have much of another option right now. It's too dangerous for you to be out here.]

"Well I did pretty well during that last battle, didn't I?"

"Mila, you flipped a switch" Lando commented, unimpressed. "Anyone could..."

[I'd stop again if I were you] Chewie added, noticing the angry look MIla was giving him.

"Right. But still, I don't want you out here."

"Here doesn't seem so bad!" she argued sarcastically.

[Well sure not here. But what about out there] the wookiee continued, pointing to the sky. [There's tons of danger lurking out there.]

"I thought Leia was going to help me?"

"Well maybe, if she wants to. For all we know, Leia might not even be with the Alliance. She could be halfway across the galaxy."

[I hope not] Chewie said, continuing to walk.

Lando scowled for a moment before stopping and turning to Mila. "Look, if Leia wants you to come along, then you can, but if it was up to me I'd have you safe with the Alliance."

"Since when do you care so much?" Mila asked, pulling away from him. "Last I checked, I may not know everything about this galaxy, but I'm capable of taking care of myself."

"Mila, wait..."

"No, I'm fine by myself. I can do this, and I'll prove it to you."

[I wouldn't...]

"No Chewie. You two go back to the Falcon, I'm going to go see if I can contact my father and let him know that I've joined the Rebel Alliance" she finished, turning on her heel and heading back up the street.

"Mila!" Lando called out after her, "You have no clue where you're going!"

"Do I need to?" she called back before disappearing over the hill, her black hair the last thing they saw.

[Great. Now look at what you did.]

"You're the one who didn't run after her!" Lando threw back at him.

[Me? I'm supposed to follow her? You're the one that's supposed to follow her! Since when is it MY job?]

"Chewie."

[It shouldn't have to be my job. Do you think...] he continued on, ignoring the man in front of him.

"Chewie, I think you should stop and look."

[Whenever Leia was...wait, what?]

"Turn around, and fast" he continued, pushing the wookiee to look the other direction. When he finally did, as normal, Chewie didn't like what he saw.

The nerve of that man. Who was he to say she couldn't take care of herself. Sure, maybe she hadn't ever been off of Sullust, but that wasn't exactly like Naboo. This was a peaceful planet, Sullust was not. Her entire childhood had been spent behind the bar of a Cantina filled with smugglers and scum, although she guessed that it wasn't nearly as bad as some of the places in the galaxy.

Still, it wasn't like she was a baby. So maybe she wasn't real great with a blaster, but she knew a little. And sure, she had frozen up during that battle the other day, but that was just because it took her by surprise. If something similar happened now...

Mila suddenly turned. Whatever had just sounded behind her sounded a lot like blaster fire. In fact, it sounded a lot like Chewie's bowcaster. As if the wookiee had heard his name in her thoughts, he suddenly appeared over the top of the hill she had just walked down. Lando was running next to him, his arms up in the air, telling her to move and run as well.

"Mila, go! Now!" Lando called and Chewie turned and prepared to shoot. Suddenly a line of stormtroopers appeared over the top after them, and a few fell as the wookiee shot at the line.

Suddenly aware of the situation, Mila began to run. Lando was close behind her now. "We've got to get out of here!" he yelled.

And then an idea hit her. "Lando, I've got it!"

"Got what?"

Mila's plan, surprisingly enough, worked perfectly. While running from the stormtroopers that had been quickly advancing, Mila suddenly led them down one side street to another until they arrived back at the hangar. Somewhere along the line they had lost the stormtroopers, at least for the moment. In the distance you could still hear the cold sound of their boots hitting the pavement, and the electronic voices consulting one another.

Rushing into through the back door, Chewie closed it with a thud behind them, and they hurried to the Falcon, which Lando quickly unlocked. Just as the ramp hit the ground, the sound of a knock on the door rushed through the hollow of the hangar.

[Quick, get on] Chewie rushed them, oddly similar to only a few days before when they had left Sullust. Only this time they weren't facing a Bounty Hunter and Security Guards. This time they were facing something much worse. Not that they hadn't outrun them before, but unfortunately the odds couldn't be on their side all the time, and Chewie knew he didn't want to be around when that day finally came.

The startup sequence for the Millennium Falcon took a few minutes, but they still escaped from the area long before the Stormtroopers had figured out how to get the door down. At least, Lando realized, Vader hadn't been with them. The last time Stormtroopers had actually managed to break down a door, which had been back on Bespin, Vader had been right behind them.

Then again, based on what he saw now, Vader was behind them.

[It's a trap] Chewie moaned as they approached the line of Star Destroyers waiting for them planetside. And unlike the last confrontation with the Empire, the crew of the Falcon did not have the element of surprise.

"What are we going to do? I never got to comm. my father! What if we die!" Mila shrieked.

"Not now Mila" Lando returned. "You just got us out of a sticky situation, maybe you can do it again. Any ideas?"

[Lando...]

"How am I supposed to know! The only reason I came up with an idea to get us off that planet was because I paid attention to the city when we left the hangar. That and I saw a map in the shop. You were right Lando, I can't take care of myself..."

"You are outnumbered" came the distinct voice of an Imperial Officer. "Surrender now and you will be spared your lives."

[I don't think we can get out of this one] Chewie said calmly with a sigh.

"You bet we can!" Lando returned quickly. "Mila, you sit here" he said, getting up from the pilots seat.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah I'm sure. Chewie, help her with the main guns. I'm going to the turrets. We may be outnumbered but if we can just fend them off for enough time..."

[Lando. Stop. It isn't going to work.]

"Chewie, you're telling me that we've been searching all this time for Han just to give up and be murdered by the Empire?"

"But they said..."

"I know what they said Mila, that they'd spare our lives. But I know now that the Empire never sticks to what it says. If they did then we wouldn't be here right now. Han would be safe and we wouldn't have to be searching for him. Leia wouldn't be sitting back with the Alliance freaking out, and you, Mila, would be safe and sound with your dad."

"Lando" she said, breaking the tension in the cockpit. "I know that's what you think would be safest, and I know I've only been with you two for a couple of days, but I know I wouldn't be happy sitting with my father on Sullust forever. I'm glad that I'm here. Ok, maybe not here" she laughed. "But this is the biggest adventure of my life!"

[Sorry to break up the sweet moment] Chewie interrupted, [but we're gonna have company real soon if we don't do something. It isn't like the Alliance is just going to pop out of hyperspace and save us.]

"Uh, what'd you just say Chew?"

[I said, if we don't do something...]

"No, after that" Lando replied, looking out the viewport from between the wookiee and the girl.

[What? That the Alliance isn't going to pop out of hyperspace and save us?]

"Yeah, that."

[Why?]

"Because I've got some great news."

"Is that?" Mila asked.

"Yes, yes it is" he returned.

[It's Home One.]