"Lee!" Rya jumped to her feet at the sight of him approaching the droid depot. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "I heard about the Market Sector and feared the worst."
"Rya. I'm glad to see you," Lee hugged her back.
The last twenty four hours had been mayhem. Him and Lenore were still shaken by the events of yesterday. He had told Toja what had happened that morning, which was no easy task. Toja surprisingly took the news well, but Lenore said he was probably waiting for them to leave so he could grieve. The next order of business was figuring out how to help their father. Lee felt that leaving Tarkintown for the rest of the day would give him some clarity on what to do about Riv. But the truth was he wanted to escape from the responsibility. Seeing Rya and clinging to her embrace did help comfort him for all the things he knew he would face next.
"What is it?" She asked, sensing there was something wrong.
"My father's been arrested…my friend Stobo was killed…" he spoke the words that he still hadn't come to terms with.
"I'm so sorry," she said, cupping his cheek with her hand. She could see the terror in his eyes. She had seen it before in others who had a brush with the Imperial Forces.
"It's just like you said. The Empire will do anything to keep their hold on us," Lee confirmed. "They called a Walker in to shoot us. Something has to change. We can't go on like this," Lee sighed defeated. He felt cornered. What was there to do? He was only a sixteen year old boy from Tarkintown, with no home, no parents, and a sister who was a thief. What could he do to make a difference?
"If you really want to make a change, Lee," Rya said, taking his hand, "Going to University is not going to do anything."
"What will?" Lee asked desperately. Rya smiled and lifted her shirt collar revealing a pin. It was the emblem of the Rebel Alliance. She was a rebel.
"Rya?" He said, stunned. It didn't make sense. How could she be a rebel? She was in all the Imperial Policy classes. She had talked about working for the Imperial Senate. Unless what she meant was infiltrating it.
"I know you've been through a lot. I can't imagine how you are feeling," she said calmly. "I understand if this is a lot to take in, but I'm telling you this because I trust you and I want to help."
It was true. Revealing she was part of the rebels was a huge risk. Especially since the Empire was still on the hunt for the local Spectre crew. He knew she truly trusted him and oddly enough he trusted her completely. But how was she going to help him? He took a few steps back from her and then nodded. "Ok. What do we do?"
"Follow me," she said walking toward a speeder in the depot. "Get on."
"That's Borta's."
"He's got wings. He'll manage," she replied. Lee got on and tried to ignore the bad feeling that was rising up in his stomach as Rya sped out of the university grounds.
On the outskirts of Lothal in the grasslands, where there was no civilization in sight for miles, was the perfect place to hide a rebel cell. He had never been out this far before. He wondered if Lenore had with all her ventures. But strangely enough it was his mother who entered his mind as they pulled into the base. She had headed this direction when she left, into the openness, looking for something in the nothingness of the grasslands.
"I'll introduce you and see if there's anything we can do for your father," Rya said, dismounting the speeder. She was almost like another person; cool, commanding, and collected. Lee was apprehensive of who he had been spending all his time with. "It's alright. There's no reason to be afraid."
Lee reluctantly got off the speeder and followed Rya into the cell base. There was a collective of eight members, all students.
"Hello everyone, sorry I'm late. This is Lee," Rya greeted. The group nodded at him and waited for Rya to continue. Was she their leader? "I haven't heard anything from Bail about the Princess's trip to Lothal. I'm afraid it might have been canceled due to the unrest. On that note, Lee was in the marketplace yesterday, his father was arrested and he needs our help."
"We're rebels not mercenaries. We can't just coordinate a jailbreak," a boy about Lee's age said smugly.
"I'm not asking for a jailbreak," Lee curtly said. "I just don't know what to do."
"Neither do we," the boy replied. "We kinda make it up as we go."
"This is Denz," Rya introduces the two. "He's our lead scout."
"Denz Loncak," the boy smirked and winked at Rya as he extended his hand to Lee. "Rya recruited me from university. Where'd she pick you up? The farm?"
"Rya, how is this going to help? What is all of this anyways?" Lee was annoyed and growing angry. Was she a recruiter for the rebels? Was the time they spent together her screening him to become a potential member? Did she even care about him? He was trying his best to keep it together but at the moment he wished Lenore was with him to teach this Denz Loncak a lesson.
"We're an intelligence cell," Rya said, pulling up a map of the Outer Rim that had markers. "See these? These are all the rebel groups starting to form around the Outer Rim. We've been monitoring them and reporting their activities."
"Reporting to who?" Lee asked.
"The Rebellion is growing, Lee," She avoided his question even though she trusted him, she knew she was giving him too much information. "If we can join focus with the other cell, we'll become a force to be reckoned with. Soon the Empire will have to recognize us as an organization that won't allow it to go on treating people the way it does."
"Should you be telling the new recruit all this information Ry?" Denz said. "How do you know he's not an undercover buckethead?"
"I'm not a buckethead!" Lee lost his temper and shoved Denz down to the floor. The other rebel members grabbed their blasters and pointed them at him. Rya held up her hand to command them to stop. If they only knew what Lee had seen, what had happened to Stobo, they would think twice to joke of Lee's allegiance to the Empire.
"Geez he's touchy. I was only playing. Lighten up," Denz said, standing and dusting himself off.
"While you're out here hiding in the middle of nowhere playing spy, people are dying. I saw a stormtrooper unit gun down citizens as though they were loth-rats," Lee described. "So don't tell me to lighten up. If this rebellion of yours is going to make any difference you need to realize it's not a game."
"No it's not," a voice came over the transmission as a hologram of a teenage girl appeared. Rya pressed a few buttons on the transmitter to clear up the noise on the call.
"Princess Organa," Rya addressed her. The others quickly fell silent as Rya took the call. "I was beginning to think you and your father had forgotten about us."
"Not at all," she said, looking around and adjusting the volume of her voice. "But we heard of the unrest in the Capital yesterday and with the evacuation of Garel we have been scrambling to regroup."
"How can we help," Rya offered and shot the group a serious look.
"I'm afraid my father fears for your safety. The Imperial presence on Lothal is being increased daily and all resistance intelligence is at great risk. We can't afford to lose you. He wants you to move your cell to Atollon," the princess said. The group exchanged looks. Things must be getting dangerous for the Senator to ask them to leave their home. Rya looked torn at Lee. She wanted to help him but how could she if she needed to leave? She had a feeling he had no intention of leaving until he figured out how to help his father.
"Is that really necessary, your highness? We've been extremely cautious and some of us have families here. Your upcoming visit would be a good opportunity to discuss intel and strategies in person," Rya tried to negotiate.
"I'm afraid so. My upcoming visit is still scheduled but I have another contact who will be escorting and assisting me with my assignment," Princess Organa said as empathetic as she could. "Arrange your transports as soon as possible. And may the force be with you."
The transmission cut abruptly. Rya turned and looked at her recruits. She didn't want to worry them but she sensed things were going to get worse before they got better. "I'll see what arrangements I can make with our off world transport contact. The rest of you get your affairs in order. I'll send the travel information when it's available."
"I guess this means you're leaving," Lee said to her as the other members began to leave the base.
"You and your sister should come with us," Rya suggested. "Lothal isn't safe."
"What about my father?" Lee asked. "I can't leave him behind."
"I know," Rya sighed. "There's an appeal you can file with the jail to have him under home arrest, but you have to do it quickly. After a week's time he most likely will be transferred to a labor camp. I'm sorry I thought I would have more time and resources to come up with a better plan."
"Then I better get going," Lee said and walked back to the speeder they had taken from the depot.
"Lee, wait," Rya called out. "I promise I won't leave until you file the paperwork."
"Why would you do that?" Lee asked, surprised.
"Because," she took a moment before speaking the truth she had been struggling with, "I care about you. You mean a great deal to me."
"You weren't just trying to recruit me?" Lee asked sharply. Rya's face fell. She didn't want to answer him because in a way it was true. She had started following him after a class where he had made a passionate argument about the Empire's shortcomings. She watched him from afar until she had calculated the perfect moment to try and recruit him. She just didn't count on becoming emotionally involved with him. Lee leaned over and kissed her on the cheek as he had the other day, only this meant goodbye."I gotta go. Be careful."
He drove back to the capital and headed toward the jail. He needed to get a start on the appeal and wanted to see his father.
Lee arrived at the city jail once he returned to the capital. Luckily for him he had collected all the paperwork he needed to file and hadn't missed visiting hours. The jail didn't have the greatest conditions and he was on edge looking around the mix company in the lobby.
"Visitor for Prisoner 497-RT" a droid called. Lee stood up and walked to the visitor's window.
"Son," Riv said, sitting across from Lee with the energy force window between them. "What are you doing here?
"I came to tell you not to worry," Lee began. "I'm taking care of this. I'm filing an appeal to get you transferred to house arrest."
"I'm fine, son." Riv lied to his son. He knew this was his end but didn't have the heart to tell Lee the truth. "Don't worry about me. Worry about your sister. And look after yourself."
"Don't lose hope. I'm going to get you out of here." Lee promised. "I've just got all the paperwork I need and I have a week to file. With some friends from University and Lenore–"
"Listen to me son," Riv cut him off. He had to try to at least discourage his son from wasting his time. "You get your wisdom from your mother and your imagination from me. That is a powerful combination and I know you will have a bright future even if it looks dark now. But if I can do anything for you now, let my experience speak louder than anything. Leave Lothal. Don't return. There's nothing for you here but loss and death. I'm sorry about Stobo, but if you and your sister stay here, sooner or later you both will meet the same end."
"Time," said a stormtrooper and reached for Riv's arm to escort him back to his cell.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of it," Riv said and nodded to his son. Lee watched as his father was led away. He had to work quickly. Something told him in a week's time it would be too late.
"So what's the plan?" Lenore asked, looking over her brother's shoulder as he worked.
"We've got a week to make an appeal," Lee said, annoyed. He flipped through some other files on a data pad he had borrowed from the university library.
"Have you gotten a chance to check the air filter?" She said changing the subject.
"I've been a little busy," he said, getting up and pouring himself some blue milk.
"I'd offer to help but I don't think it would do much good," she admitted looking over some of the files. "Geese these Imperials sure love their paperwork."
"You could come with me. I can't figure out half of this stuff, so I'll need to go to the University library and see if I can find a way to understand it. We could visit dad during visiting hours," he suggested.
Lenore kept quiet. She didn't want to tell Lee he was wasting his time or that she wasn't interested in seeing Riv. In her opinion he had met his fate and finally needed to face the consequences. She was more concerned with how she and Lee were going to make a living. She was considering all her options, even the unpopular ones.
"What's this?" Lee asked, holding up a brochure for the Imperial Academy. He turned around quickly and repeated his question, "Lenore, what is this?"
"Oh those," Lenore sat on the table with her feet dangling. "They're handing them out everywhere to kids. Guess pickings are slim."
"Did you read it?" Lee questioned as he saw one of the page corners folded down marking the spot of the Imperial Stormtrooper's salary bracket.
"Same old propaganda on those Imperial Trooper join posters. 'Be part of the Empire. Do your part. Join'," she mimicked the Imperial Announcer from The Imperial Daily Newscast that was broadcasted twice a day now.
"Lenore," Lee said, taking a seat. "Do you remember the day we were evicted from the farm?"
"Is that supposed to be a rhetorical question?" She smirked.
"I'm serious," he stated. "Don't you remember what dad made us promise? Never comply with the Empire and never lose hope."
"Look where that got him. Besides, you made that promise, I didn't," Lenore said sternly. It was true. As Riv tried to inspire his children and give them hope that things would turn out alright, Lee was the only one who had made the promise. Lenore stubbornly stood her ground and made no such promise.
"Just the same, we have to figure out a way to get him out. We're family."
"You're my family Lee. We need to figure out a way to survive. And that means considering all our options," Lenore said, hopping off the table. "It's not as though I like the fact that dad is in jail, I hate it but there's nothing we can do about it right now. That appeal isn't going to do anything but give the Imperial Jail 150 credits just to file."
"Then what do you suggest? What are our options?" Lee asked desperately. He knew that the appeal most likely wouldn't do much good but he had to try something.
"Enroll in University for real," Lenore said. "You're smart and you know how to lead. You could make a difference as a senator or consultant or something."
"How do you suppose we do that? We don't even have enough credits to buy scrap metal to build another air filter."
"Imperial Cadets get a family stipend," Lenore said. Lee glared at her for the suggestion and threw the brochure angrily on the floor. "It's just an idea. Don't freak out."
"An Imperial Trooper killed Stobo. Are you seriously considering joining?"
"At this point, why not?!" She argued.
"What's the use in surviving if you have no morals," Lee coldly stated returning to his paperwork.
"It was just an idea," Lenore said quietly. " Aren't you tired of losing? Sometimes you just need to do what needs to be done."
"At what costs?" Lee questioned, trying to focus on the appeal. He was tired of losing but he wasn't going back on his promise.
"Good luck," she said, putting on her jacket and utility belt.
"Where are you going?" Lee quickly asked before she went out the door.
"Out," she said, turning to look at him from the doorway.
"Be careful," he said.
"I'll try," she winked at him and left.
Lee solemnly turned back to the table full of paperwork. He was disappointed. He could feel something had shifted between him and Lenore. Things were not the same between them. He was headed down one path and she another and he feared they were in completely opposite directions.
By the end of the week Lee had the paperwork prepared. Lenore had made it back to Tarkintown from a job in time to go with him to file the appeal. When they arrived at the jail they were informed by a CZ droid working the window that Riv had died and left them with 30,000 credits in debt.