Chapter 5- Hope and the Attack
A/N: This is the end of "Rogue One" and the beginning of "A New Hope." Lena would be with Leia on the consular ship when Leia receives the Death Star plans. I'm thinking of changing the idea that I had a few years ago when Luke and Leia's sister would be captured with Leia. I'll see how this part goes before I write that. It'll be the end of this part where Lena decides to stay with the ship and her sister or be with Luke and Obi-Wan on Tatooine.
Lena carefully moved her lightsaber, her eyes shielded as the probe moved. The only sound that could be heard was that of her lightsaber. Lena had felt the urge to put in some practice with her weapon. Her father had drilled into her at an early age to be mindful of the Force when it gave warnings. He had told her that the Force could give visions and he had told her to tell him whenever she had one. Being a Jedi her father had always understood them. He would say that the Force was telling her now to practice her lightsaber skills. That the Force could see the future and see that she was going to need her lightsaber for some battle ahead.
Lena looked up as Leia entered the room. Even in the middle of war, her cousin looked calm and unruffled. Leia was strong in the ways of the Force, but she had refused to learn to be a Jedi. But with her calm demeanor Lena wondered if Leia had been learning secretly. "How's the practice, Cousin?" Leia asked conversationally.
"Good. I'm just glad we resolved that matter on Melida/Daan without me using a Jedi mind trick or my lightsaber. At least no one objected to food or medicine," Lena said, powering down her lightsaber.
"Me too. Father would say that Uncle Cail's and your Jedi ways wouldn't work in this case," Leia said and both women smiled and laughed.
"Uncle Bail is usually right about everything in the galaxy," Lena teased.
"Along with Uncle Cail, Mother, and Aunt Cena," Leia said, naming off Lena's father, Leia's mother, and Lena's stepmother.
"But they all mean well. I'm just glad to be going home. Being up all night in negotiations takes a toll on even a Jedi," Lena said with a yawn.
"Why don't you go sleep for a week?" Leia suggested.
"I'll go do that," Lena said with a wan smile and prepared to leave when she heard Captain Antilles in the hallway.
"Make sure you secure the airlock. And prepare the escape pods," Lena heard the door slide open behind them. "Your highnesses. The transmission we received," Leia and Lena turned to see a disc in Antilles's hand. Leia took it and smiled serenely at it. "What is it they've sent us?" Antilles asked.
Leia looked at Lena and Lena smiled back. "Hope," Leia said.
"She is right, Captain. Set the course for Tatooine. Uncle Bail wants us to find Obi-Wan Kenobi and then we'll make way to the rebel base on Yavin," Lena ordered.
"Yes, Master Jedi. Your highness," Antilles said, bowing deeply to both.
"The Force is always in motion. I just hope we get there before Vader or the Imperials know what we are doing," Lena said as she left the cockpit and made her way to her quarters.
Lena was woken out of a deep sleep at klaxons and running down the corridor. Lena clipped on her lightsaber and pulled on her Jedi boots and cloak over her rumpled black and brown Jedi robes.
"Soldier, what's happening?" Lena asked as one of the soldiers came running down the corridor.
"We are under attack, your highness. Star destroyers," the man said, slightly out of breath. Lena felt a cold chill on her spine and dread. This much of the dark side had to be Vader or Palpatine. The dark side had always had a coldness to it while the light felt warm and comforting. The two things the dark side never had. "Where's Princess Leia?" Lena asked, her hand going to her lightsaber.
"In the escape hatch," the man said, continuing his run down the corridor.
"Good. Leia, be there," Lena begged as she ran down the corridor to the escape hatch. Her heart was filled with relief as she saw her cousin put a disc in an astromech unit.
Leia looked up. "Lena," Leia said, hugging her.
"Are you all right?" Lena asked.
"Are you?" Leia asked.
"Yes. I was just told. Are we at Tatooine?" Lena asked.
"Yes. I put the information in this R2 unit. He's going to find Obi-Wan Kenobi," Leia said.
"I'll go with him. Obi-Wan might not listen as Jedi shun technology and droids," Lena said.
"Are you sure? What if they have scanners? They can detect you in the pod," Leia said nervously.
"Not if I shield myself with the Force. Their machines can be fooled if they can't detect me," Lena said.
"All right. Good luck," Leia said.
"No such thing as luck, Cousin. May the Force be with you," Lena said, kissing her cousin's cheek and making her way to the pod as Leia stooped down to record a message. Lena stepped into the pod and pushed a button, releasing the pod from it's moorings. A tawny yellow planet filled her viewscreen and she looked back, hoping that Leia got out of this alive. If Vader was on that star destroyer, like Lena felt he was, then he might kill her. Lena had seen the times Vader was merciless to his enemies. He could be ruthless and wasn't above breaking people to get what he wanted.