One Month Later: Deep in Space
Various probes were ejected from the hanger bays of the Executor and each and every Star Destroyer that made up the Death Squadron, the Imperial task force tasked with pursuing the Rebel Alliance. The Death Squadron was of course led by Emperor Vader himself.
Each Probe carried one probe droid that was perfectly capable of searching and surviving any terrain on any planet. Thousands were deployed with one purpose, finding the Rebel Base.
Hoth:
Luke awoke to his beeping alarm clock.
He wordlessly stood up and and dressed before leaving his room to the now familiar sight of his mother sipping on a cup of tea while reading through one of her reports.
She looked towards Luke with a smile, "Good morning Son."
"Good Morning Mother," Luke replied as he reached for a cup of caf.
"You certainly like to wake up early don't you?" Luke asked.
Padme smiled in response, "I've always been that way."
"Granddad is the same way, I would wake up and see Grandma asleep and he would be out in his garden while I was training or whatever."
"Sola took after My Mother in terms of her personality and her habits. I took after my Dad in in terms of his."
"I can see that," Luke replied with a smile.
"I can imagine that my Dad had a thing or two to say about your drinking."
"He certainly did and the same was for Aunt Sola."
"What did Sola say about it?" Padme asked.
"She said that you would never have allowed such behavior," Luke stated.
Padme smiled, "After Ryoo was born she never had anything, speaking of Ryoo how is she doing? How is Pooja?" Padme asked.
Luke smiled, "Ryoo was doing just fine when I last saw her and Pooja was the Senator of Naboo for a few years prior to the point when Palpatine liquidated the Senate."
Padme smiled with pride, "So she actually did follow through with what she said at age seven."
"That she wanted to be like her Aunt?" Luke asked with a smile.
Padme nodded, "She always said that, My Mom always said that it was ok for her to become a Senator as long as she didn't end up married to politics like me."
Luke found himself laughing in response.
"I'm surprised that she didn't say something similar to you before you left Naboo," Padme added.
"Oh she did, she said that she really wants me to find a wonderful young woman to marry. There were several nights when we discussed it she said that she just hopes that she will live long enough to see me with a wonderful young wife and maybe even my first baby," Luke stated.
Padme smiled, "That sounds like my Mom, I'm surprised that she didn't try to invite girls over."
Luke laughed, "She said that she didn't want to make the same mistake that she made with you. She said that you flipped out the last time that she tried to invite an eligible bachelor over for dinner and Granddad didn't approve."
Padme chuckled remembering the argument that had resulted in the young man fearfully running out of the house. She remembered all to well how embarrassed her mother was after her outburst, but all that she wanted was Anakin and they had been married for two years when her Mother had dared to invite the son of one of her longtime friends over for dinner. She recalled her Mother apologizing to her friend the next day as she prepared to sneak away from her family and off to the lake house for a secret meeting with Anakin.
"She was kind of shocked when I told her about what happened after that outburst of yours. I mean, Dad told me the story."
Padme shook her head as Luke spoke, "I told her that I wouldn't pursue marrying until after the war."
"That's a good decision," Padme replied.
"Let's go get some breakfast, I'm not training with Leia today because I'm going out on patrol immediately after breakfast."
"Ok, please be careful," Padme stated.
Luke nodded as his mother followed him out of their quarters.
After a brief breakfast, Luke parted with his Mother and headed off to begin his patrol.
From his tauntaun mount, Luke Skywalker noticed various meteors hitting the ground from his position. He immediately pulled out his pair of Electrobinoculars which he immediately used to observe what appeared to be a meteor shower.
At the same time he activated his wrist comlink as he spoke, "Echo five to Echo six, Han old buddy do you read me?"
"Loud and clear Kid," Luke heard an all to familiar voice reply.
"Well I finished my circle, I don't notice anything."
"There ain't enough life on this ice block to fill a space prison, sensors are in place I'm heading back."
"Right, right, there's a meteor that hit the ground, I'm going to go check it out and then I'll be on my way back," Luke stated.
At that moment Luke heard his tauntaun make several noises as she started to move as though panicked.
"Steady girl, what's the matter do you smell something?"
Luke had no time to look around as the Force warned him of Danger he force flipped off of the tauntaun lightsaber in hand as he heard the roar of a wampa. He also felt a large paw slam into his face as he was thrown onto his side. He then stood up and watched as the tauntaun fell to the ground dead.
At the same time, The wampa advanced upon the Jedi Knight. Luke wordlessly activated his lightsaber before using the force to jump over the wampa as he brought his lightsaber in to the creature's back. The Wampa at the same time turned and made a hard smack that sent Luke sailing off of his feet.
Luke stood up noticing a slight bit of pain from his cheek where the wampa had made it's first strike. Fortunately, his cap had protected him although he still had a few scrapes. At the same time, he frowned as he realized that his comlink was now damaged. He only had one choice, hiking back to base. Luke silently turned away from the carnage that was before him and started the long walk towards Echo Base.
Han Solo rode his Tauntaun into the main hanger of echo base where he immediately removed his cap and goggles, he instantly was greeted with the familiar sight of various Alliance Personal working on various ships and starfighters and various droids running errands.
He headed towards the Falcon where Chewie was working and looked towards his faithful copilot and spoke, "Chewie! Chewie!"
Chewbacca stopped his welding as he removed his goggles and looked towards Han, "I've been working here all day without any help, this is your ship cub," Chewie roared.
Han shrugged, "Alright alright I'll help you when I get back."
Han then headed off through the icy hallways and towards the command center.
As he entered, he didn't fail to notice Princess Leia staring towards him as General Rieekan approached him.
"Solo," Rieekan stated.
"No sign of life out there General, sensors are in place, so you'll know if anything comes around."
"Did General Skywalker report in yet?" Padme asked as she stood up from her nearby seat.
"No, he's checking out a meteorite that hit the surface not far from here."
"With all the meteor activity it's going to be difficult to spot approaching ships," Rieekan stated.
Han nodded as he bluntly spoke, "General I gotta leave, I can't stay anymore."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Rieekan replied.
Padme cringed from her seat, how could he leave just now? He can't Leia loves him, he's Luke's best friend he can't just leave never to return. He just can't Padme thought mentally.
"Well there's a price on my head, if I don't pay off that Jabba the Hutt I'm a dead man," Han replied.
"The Death mark's not an easy thing to live with, you're a good fighter Solo, I'd hate to lose you," Rieekan stated.
"Thank you General," Han replied as he shook hands with the General.
He then turned towards Leia and spoke, "Well your Highness I guess this is it."
"That's right," Leia coldly replied.
"Don't get all mushy on me so long Princess," Han stated with a sneer as he left the room.
Padme at the same time found herself swallowing her laughter, I can't wait to see where this goes, she thought with a smile from where she stood.
As Han walked down the hallway Leia ran after him as she spoke, "Han!"
"Yes your Highness?" Han asked.
"I thought that you decided to stay," Leia replied as she came face to face with the Corellian smuggler.
"Well the bounty hunter that we ran into on Ord Mantel last week changed my mind."
"Han we need you," Leia stated.
"We need?" Han asked, "Well what about you?" Leia asked.
Leia hating the fact that she was blushing spoke, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Han then turned to leave as Leia ran off arguing with the young pilot.
No one noticed Padme listening to the banter in complete amusement as she picked up various phrases that caused her to laugh one line that stuck with her was, "You're afraid that I'll leave without a goodbye kiss?"
"I'd rather kiss a wookiee," Leia replied.
Padme found herself covering her mouth as Han spoke, "I can arrange that, he can use a good kiss," Han yelled as he stormed down the hallways with Leia following him.
Padme then turned towards the Command Center as Leia ran towards her, "Where is Luke?"
Padme frowned, "I'm wondering the same thing," Padme replied.
"Why did you take it apart now when I was trying to get us out of here?" Han yelled at Chewie within the Hanger Bay as he heard the beeps and whistles of several droids as the droid that he hated the most approached him, C-3PO.
"Excuse me Sir," 3PO called out
"Put it back together right now!" Han yelled at the Wookiee before turning to 3PO.
"What do you want?"
"It's Princess Leia she's been trying to get you on the Com..."
"I turned it off, I don't want to talk to her," Han bluntly stated.
"Well Princess Leia has been wondering about Master Luke," 3PO replied.
"I don't know where he is," Han stated.
"Nobody knows where he is," 3PO replied.
"What do you mean nobody knows?" Han asked as something dawned upon him, What if Luke never made it back to base?
"Deck Officer, deck officer!" Han called out.
Within seconds, he was awarded with the presence of a young Officer as he covered 3PO's mouth.
"Do you know where General Skywalker is?"
"I haven't seen him, it's possible that he came in through the South Entrance," The officer replied.
"It's possible?" Why don't you find out, it's getting dark out," Han then turned and took his hand off of 3PO's mouth as the droid spoke, "Excuse me sir, might I enquire on what's going on?"
"I don't know," Han replied as he walked away.
"Impossible Man, come on R2 let's go find Princess Leia and Mistress Padme, between you and me, I think that Master Luke is in considerable danger," 3PO stated.
Han wordlessly headed towards the tauntaun pen and found himself frowning when he noticed a dead tauntaun that had no doubt died from the cold.
At the same time another Alliance soldier approached him and spoke, "Sir General Skywalker has not entered the South Entrance he might have forgotten to check in," the soldier stated."
"Not likely. Are the speeders ready?" Han asked.
"Not yet, we're having trouble adapting them to the cold."
Han at the same time looked over his shoulder to see Padme and Leia hugging one another in complete tears as they listened to the conversation.
"Then I'll have to go out on tauntaun," Han stated as he stared back at Luke's helpless Mother whom was in near tears. He knew that she had already been to hell and back with all that she had been through in the past months. The last thing that Padme needed was a dead son and nothing was happening to Luke if he had anything to say about it.
"Sir the Temperatures are dropping to rapidly."
"That's right and my friend is out in it," Han replied in obvious agitation.
"Your tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker," The skeptical officer added.
"Then I will see you in hell!" Han yelled as he mounted the tauntaun and rode out of the cave in anger and agitation.
Leia looked at her Mother in shock, "He really cares about Luke doesn't he?"
"It should be obvious Leia, we need to just work out a way for him to pay off Jabba without him having to leave the Alliance."
"Maybe he hasn't thought of that possibility. What if Jabba wants him to work for him again though, he is powerful," Leia stated.
And so is Luke with his various assassination skills, Padme thought mentally, she knew what Luke would do to Jabba if he threatened Han. Luke had told her of his various jobs and of how he had killed her former chief of security Moff Panaka, it horrified her and his stories had caused her to have many sleepless nights, she turned towards Leia and spoke, "How about we have a cup of Caf? I can't sleep and I can tell that you won't be able to sleep either."
"That sounds good let's go back to my chambers," Leia stated. Padme nodded as she looked back towards the now closed shield doors and the now distraught Chewbacca.
"Come on Chewie, there's nothing we can do, just come with us," Padme stated.
Chewbacca let out a roar as he followed the two women out of the hanger.
Luke ran stumbled through the blizzard as he felt the cold winds beating down upon him. He ran as he did his best not to focus on the cold. He knew that he had only one hope, making it to the base before the cold took his life.
At that moment, the young Jedi fell to the icy ground exhausted as he felt his life slipping from him.
Han Solo dismounted from his tauntaun mount as he reached for his scanner. He walked a few feet away from the mount and was soon awarded with a faint life sign.
Luke Skywalker found himself laying facedown in the snow as he opened his eyes and noticed an image of Ben appearing before him, "Luke the time has come, go to the Dagobah system and receive the trials from Yoda, he will deem you fully trained."
"Ben, help Me," Luke called out as he passed out.
Han Solo dismounted from his mount as he ran towards Luke's body noticing that the Jedi was half covered by snow. It was obvious to Han as he ran that Luke was unconscious, "Luke, Luke Luke!" Han yelled.
Han ran towards the young Jedi as he turned the boy over, "Don't do this to me. Come on give me a sign kid, give me a sign," Han stated as he knelt down and forced a breath into Luke's mouth .
At the same time Han noticed his Tauntaun falling to the ground as the cold overtook the creature.
Han then dragged Luke towards the dying creature as an idea came to mind.
Luke in his disoriented state spoke, "Ben, Ben. Yoda, Yoda, Dagobah system."
"Alright Kid," Han replied as he reached for Luke's lightsaber.
"This may smell bad kid, but it'll keep you warm until I get the shelter up," Han stated.
He then activated the green blade as he sliced a large hole into the belly of the tauntaun.
He then took the young Jedi and shoved him into the tauntaun as he did his best to ignore Luke's babbling. Han then turned and started to set up the shelter knowing that there was no time to loose.
Padme Amidala Skywalker emptied her third cup of Caf as she stood up, neither herself nor Leia or Chewie had managed to gain a single minute of sleep with the knowledge that Han and Luke were both locked outside of the base in the freezing cold temperatures of Hoth.
She set the cup down as the door of Leia's chambers opened to reveal Leia, "They found them."
Padme stood up within seconds as Chewie also stood up from the nearby couch, "Are they alive?" Padme asked.
"Both of them are, Luke had to be taken to the Med Center, he had a few scratches from fighting the wampa that killed his mount and all of the hours in the cold took it's toll on him."
Padme nodded as she stood up, "Let's go to the Med Center," Padme stated.
Han Solo watched as Luke was placed within the Bacta tank, at the same time he noticed Padme and Leia walking up to his side followed by Chewbacca, R2 and 3PO.
Padme immediately hugged him as she spoke, "Thank you so much for going after him Han."
Han smiled, "Anytime, there's no way that I'm gonna let that kid die if I have anything to say about it."
Padme nodded feeling grateful that Luke had such a loyal friend as she stared towards her Son.
Padme breathed in a deep sigh of relief, how horrible it would have been to loose her Son, she barely knew him and she hated the thought of losing him now when she had had not part in his life.
Padme then looked back towards Han with a look of gratitude, "Thank you so much for finding him, I can't imagine what today would have been like without him."
"At least you can sleep in peace now, you and the Princess both look like you can both use it," Han stated.
"Maybe after I get to give him a hug and a kiss," Padme replied as she looked back towards the bacta tank that contained her son.
Alright that is it for now, thank you for reading and reviewing.
-Fallen Jedi 79