Luke?
Leia sat with her eyes closed trying to feel the flow of the Force as Luke had told her in a lesson. And she felt sure she had just felt Luke reaching out to her, but no matter how hard she tried to hang on to it it slipped away from her again.
Leia sighed and opened her eyes. Ever since the briefing from Cracken Leia had become very serious about practicing her Force skills. So serious that Han was a bit worried for her. But she needed to do this; it might very well be their best shot at finding Luke and getting him back, and why should she work any less hard than General Cracken, Admiral Ackbar, Winter, and Iella Wessiri and all the rest of Cracken's intelligence operatives? So she spent hours upon hours practicing her Force skills, in particular finding and identifying people she knew around the palace. And she was getting better at it.
That at least gave her reason to smile a little. Just earlier today she had managed to pinpoint Han while he was working on the Falcon with Chewie, making sure it was completely ready to go, and had stayed with him for half an hour as his mind was completely focused on the task at hand. It warmed her to feel how serious Han took finding Luke and working on the Falcon was his way of coping with the current inactivity.
She had then located Winter even further away from her and managed to get a read of Iella Wessiri, too, though that had been harder. Leia had quickly learned it was easier for her if it was someone she already knew and knew well, and she just didn't know Iella that well. But she was comforted by the fact that this method was to find Luke, whom she knew very well. She and Han just needed the go from Cracken and they would be out there looking for Luke themselves.
Leia took a deep breath and slowly unfolded herself from her cross-legged position. She had promised Han she wouldn't spend all evening meditating and she had to admit she was more successful when she wasn't ravenously hungry.
But the thought that she had felt Luke calling to her gave her new hope for this plan to succeed. Just keep alive Luke; we are coming for you.
§ §
Mara wanted to scream and smash something. He was still healing faster despite her not giving him anything but water for days. In frustration she punched a pillow, knowing it wouldn't make a lot of noise that might carry to the cave.
What will it take to break that man?! He has to become mine! He just has to!
Punching the pillow hadn't been enough, so Mara kicked it, too, for good measure and sent it flying from the bed. For a moment she stared at it angrily, then sat down on the bed, the tension draining from her as desperation set in. Was she tackling this all wrong? Did she need to change her strategy? But if so, to what?
She shook her head. No. He was obviously still too strong; changing her tactics would make her seem weak, as if she had given up and admitted defeat and she couldn't do that. Not to him. Giving up and defeat had never been part of Mara's life or philosophy and she wasn't about to change that now. No, she needed to break him, so she could build him up again as a proper Imperial and Emperor. And then she would stand by his side as the galaxy bowed to them.
She took a deep breath and nodded to herself. She could do this. She just had to stay strong in her belief and keep it going a little longer. Just a little longer, then he would truly be hers.
Taking a deep breath she stood and retrieved the pillow. Just a little longer ...
§ §
There was a knock on the door, before Wedge walked in.
"You wanted to see me, Admiral?"
Admiral Ackbar nodded and gestured towards a chair. "Please take a seat, Commander." He folded his webbed hands in front of him as Wedge sat in the proffered chair.
"What do you have for me?" Wedge asked, knowing better than to think this a social visit.
"You can start by telling me what the word is among the pilots and support personnel regarding Jedi Skywalker's recent disappearance."
Wedge sat up a little straighter at those words. He had wondered at Luke's failure to meet up with him on Folor, and had been worried ever since Leia had called to ask him about Luke. His worry had not lessened by the fact that he had still not heard from him; it was not like Luke to be out of touch for this long.
Wedge screwed up his face in a thoughtful grimace. "Well ... I can't speak for everyone, but the Rogues doesn't know he's gone missing, not yet. And it seems the news hasn't traveled to our support personnel either, at least I haven't heard anyone whispering about it, Admiral."
Admiral Ackbar nodded. "And you haven't talked with anyone about your own suspicions, Commander?"
Wedge shook his head. "I've only mentioned Councilor Organa's call to Captain Celchu, but not any details beyond wondering what might have held Luke up." Wedge gave Ackbar a level stare. "But I have a feeling you know where he might be and what has got in his way, Admiral."
Ackbar shook his head slowly as he leaned back in his chair. "Unfortunately, Commander, I do not know the current whereabouts of Jedi Skywalker. If I did I would not merely be sitting here chatting with you."
Wedge felt the hairs at the back of his neck rise. I have a bad feeling about this ... "What has happened?"
Ackbar sighed. "Some Imperials managed to get the drop on him and haul him off to the Force knows where."
"What?!" Wedge exclaimed.
"We do not have all the details, but we do know that a bomb was planted on his X-wing and that it was set to go off at a certain time and place. And we do now have a lead on where in the galaxy he might be, but we're still waiting for General Cracken's people to narrow down our search area."
Wedge stared at him in disbelief. "Some Imperials have taken him prisoner?" Wedge shook his head. "How are you sure he's been taken prisoner? Not to question you, Admiral, but the Imperials have wanted him dead since he blew up the first Death Star."
Admiral Ackbar nodded and sighed again. "True. And we know he's been taken prisoner, because our Imperial terrorists have sent Councilor Organa a message to let her, and us, know just how bad a situation Skywalker is currently in."
Wedge made a face. "Of course. They are arrogant enough to think we cannot find him, aren't they?"
"That they are," Ackbar agreed. "They think the ocean is too big to find a single drop."
Wedge felt his shoulders slump and rubbed a hand over his face. "Well, they aren't completely wrong, are they? It's a large galaxy and since we haven't gone out to free him yet I guess that's because we're having trouble finding the people responsible."
"Unfortunately, you are right, Commander. But General Cracken's people have managed to narrow down the area he can be in."
Wedge looked at Ackbar. "Enough to send some squadrons out to blow things up and give the Imps a nasty surprise?"
A ghostly smile crossed Ackbar's mouth before he turned serious again. "I hope it will be so very soon, Commander. But for now I wanted to brief you on the situation so you are ready to go when the call comes."
"Yes, sir. What do you want me to tell my people?"
"Nothing, Commander. Not yet. This is very sensitive and we want to keep everything to as few people as possible. The worst that could happen right now is for the Imperials to get an inkling of the fact that we have a lead on them and decide to kill Jedi Skywalker before we can get to him. We cannot allow that to happen."
Wedge felt a chill run down his spine. No, they definitely couldn't let the Imps kill Luke. "Understood, Admiral. I'll make sure the Rogues are ready for action whenever you need us."
"Very well, Commander. You will be given a proper briefing once we have something concrete for you. Until then; dismissed."
Wedge stood and saluted. No, they really couldn't let the Imps get away with this, he thought as he walked out of Admiral Ackbar's office again. As he made his way back to the pilots' section he didn't know what was worse; the unconfirmed worry that something had happened, or the knowledge that something had happened, but that he couldn't currently do anything about it, except canceling all leave and make sure the Rogues were ready to go at a moment's notice.
Before he reached his own office he decided it was probably the latter.
§ §
"All right, what have you got?" General Cracken did not waste any time once Iella and Winter were seated in his office and Iella did not blame him. Time was always of the essence in matters such as these so you didn't waste it on pleasantries.
"Through the latest data we have managed to narrow down the search area even further, General," Iella began. "We have managed to narrow down the main search area with 39 per cent, and the less likely search area with 57." As she spoke, Winter pulled the star chart up and had the areas displayed in green and yellow shrink appropriately.
General Cracken sat back in his seat at those words, clearly surprised. Then a smile spread on his face. "Excellent work, both of you. We are actually getting somewhere and our net is tightening."
"We cannot take all the credit for this, General," Winter added. "It was thanks to the data from one of the ground teams that we were able to cut it down so much."
"Of course. But someone still has to correlate all that data and come up with a list of likely targets. I trust you have done both?"
Iella nodded confirmation. "We have, General. Once we were sure of our new data we have come up with a list of targets to send other teams to. Some are in Republic space, some are in neutral, and a few are in Imperial space."
Cracken looked thoughtful at that. "Each of those places will require different types of teams. Our own planets will be easy; neutral and Imperial may be a bit trickier depending on the planet and government involved."
"Yes, General. That is why we have also listed different types of missions and teams for these targets," she said pushing a datacard over the table to him. "There are a couple of Imperial held planets we consider good targets both for information, but also for the fleet to pound at and possible create a diversion from our other activities."
Cracken smiled as he picked up the datacard. "Admiral Ackbar will be pleased to hear that. He is just waiting for the opportunity to show the Imperials we still have teeth and know how to use them."
Iella hesitated for a moment, then plunged on, knowing she had to include all of their thinking. "You'll notice that one of the targets on our list is not within the green or yellow search areas. We decided it might be better to spread the fleet's activities a bit, so the Imperials don't realize we are on to them. If Admiral Ackbar does not like our selected target he may choose another one, just as long as it is outside our actual target area."
General Cracken nodded. "That is a wise idea. I'm sure the admiral will agree with it though I can't speak to what he will think of your selected targets. I trust you have added your reasons for each choice to the card?" he said holding it up.
Iella nodded.
"We have, General," Winter confirmed.
"Good. Then we will leave it to the admiral to determine if any targets needs to chance if they are not important to gain more information." He looked at each of them in turn. "Do either of you have anything to add?"
Iella shook her head. "No, sir. All our data has been copied onto the datacard. Until we have more data it is limited what else we can do to narrow things down further."
"Iella is correct. There is currently little else we can do."
"In that case I order you both to to home and get some rest. Force knows you need it."
Iella nodded. She could feel the tiredness in her bones and muscles and was mostly kept awake through large amounts of caf of a dubious nature. She stood and saluted General Cracken, who returned it.
"I'll call you in when you are needed. Until then just make sure you are rested."
"Yes, General," Iella said.
Winter simply inclined her head in acknowledgement and walked out with her usual grace, Iella following close behind. She looked forward to getting some proper sleep in a real bed again.