Adrianne Palicki as Lilah Amidala
Shelley Hennig as Thalia Kenobi
We don't own Star Wars. (Only our plot points)
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The tractor beam pulled the Millennium Falcon straight toward the Death Star's docking bay. The Imperials had opened the magnetic field and allowed the ship to pass though as the Falcon began to hover into Docking Bay 327 as the tractor beam let the starship land. Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader were informed about the ship arriving.
"We've captured a freighter entering the remains of the Alderaan system. Its markings match those of a ship that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley."
Vader was already on his way. "They must be trying to return the stolen plans to the Princess." That was a naive move on the rebel's part. "Our two prisoners may still be of use for use." Then he headed down toward Docking Bay 327.
The Emperors enforcer entered the hanger that contained the Falcon. Stormtroopers stood guard on the hanger floor, and began to approach the ships lowed ramp. A gray-uniformed Imperial walked down with two Stormtroopers at his sides. He stopped before Vader and informed him, "There's no one on board, sir. According to the long, the crew abandoned ship right after takeoff. It must be a decoy, sir. Several of the escape pods have been jettisoned."
"Did you find any droids?" Vader asked, already knowing of what the reports from Mos Eisley and the finding on the desert planet.
"No, sir," the captain informed. "If there were any on board, they must also have been jettisoned."
"Send a scanning crew aboard," Darth Vader ordered. "I want every part of the ship checked."
"Yes, sir."
Vader turned and looked at the Falcon. He could sense something within the Force. No. Someone that he hadn't felt in years. No. That's impossible. "I sense something… a presence I've not felt since…"
He had to be mistaken. No. It was Kenobi.
Someone that man was still alive.
Vader quickly turned on his heel and went to inform Tarkin.
-8-8-8-8-
When the Falcon docked onto the Space Station (otherwise known as the Death Star), the five humanoids, two droids, and Wookiee all hid within the smuggler's compartments. Luke hid with Thalia in one part of the floor while the others hid in sets of two as well. He could practically feel his chest tighten as they waited. Tension rolled off him in waves and he knew it must have disturbed Thalia.
The tension that rolled off Luke in waves made Thalia try not to let her own emotions go wild within this situation. Now was the time to try and find a solution to figure out what the group would do about being trapped within an Imperial space station that was the new superweapon for the Empire. They needed to find a way to get the droid to the rebels and pray that the Empire didn't find R2-D2 on the Falcon.
The female Kenobi could only hope that Lilah could come up with an idea due to the female being a natural born leader when Thalia wasn't even close to the spot in any way.
"Who's with Lilah?" Thalia asked Luke after a moment because she couldn't remember who Lilah was hiding with. The droid's were hiding together. Her father must have gone with Chewie...which left Lilah with…oh no.
"Han. Why?" Luke answered and noticed the concern of Thalia's face.
Thalia could only hope that Lilah and Han didn't try and murder each other when it came to them being alone together. She let out a small breath and prayed to the Force that everything would be okay. Han wasn't like the men back at home that Lilah used to date, but the male knew how to get under Lilah's skin from what Thalia saw back at the bar. She could only hope everything will turn out alright.
"Thalia, it's going to be okay...right?" Luke wondered after a beat. He thought about the worry on Thalia's face and could only imagine it got worse from there. He also hoped Lilah and Han wouldn't murder one another since they were stuck together. Lilah seemed to have a temper-a fire that never went out-and she clashed with Han right off the bat it seemed. Both hot blooded people he could tell.
But he was more worried about getting caught than anything. He was too young to die.
Thalia eyes went wide like the Tatooine twin suns. "It would depend on what happens and what is said." She was almost nervously as she recalled the time a male tried to get Lilah to take an interest in him. The guy was force shoved nearly off a cliff, from what Thalia had seen of the situation, it was enough to scare the guy off due to young Kenobi never seeing him again.
"Why?" Luke asked with wide blue eyes. He had some fear for his new friend's life.
"Let's just say." Thalia moved closer toward Luke and whispered in his ear. "I never saw them again."
Meanwhile Lilah was all too aware of the tight space she was in with the older man before her. She was closer than she wanted to be, but it didn't matter. She wouldn't let her mind stray, she couldn't-not now. They were in a dangerous situation and she had to focus on the task at hand.
"Could you stop staring?" Lilah mumbled, shifting herself a little. Her voice was low as she strained her ears to listen to the boots of the troopers as they moved around. "I'm not happy with this either." She would have hid with one of the others. Thalia or Ben preferably, but it was just her luck she was with the smuggler.
Han grinned toward Lilah. It wasn't every day that he was stuck in a closed space with a gorgeous woman with pretty blue eyes and hiding for their lives. "Don't worry about it, sunshine. You're very cute and lovely to look at, but the troopers just left. Sorry we're out of time."
"Don't call me sunshine." Lilah grumbled as the last trooper left. Handsome or not, she was going to smack him upside the head.
Once the cost was clear she opened up the compartment and got out. She was never claustrophobic but she was glad to be free of that small space. She sent a deadly and displeased glare to Luke and Thalia as they got out followed by Ben and the Wookiee then the two droids.
"Boy it's lucky you had these compartments." Luke told Han as they got out of the smugglers compartments, trying to avoid the dark look cast his way.
"I use them for smuggling." Han explained to the group because he personally made the compartments for his job and nothing else. It helped keep things hidden if his ship had to be searched by Imperials or anyone. "I never thought I'd be smuggling myself in them." Now he had to focus and think about a matter to leave this place but his mind was coming up empty. "This is ridiculous. Even if I could take off. I'd never get past the tracker beam."
This entire job turned into more than Han bargained for with these people. That just made everything ridiculous at the moment. Here they all were trapped like scum rats.
"Leave that to me." Ben spoke up, remembering his wife's words to him and already knew this was his destiny.
"Damn fool," Han said, shaking his head. "I knew you were going to say that."
"Hey," Thalia snapped toward Han. "Don't talk to my father like that."
Lilah gave a vicious look to Han, shaking her head. Nobody ever talked about Ben like that and got away with it. Especially since he was the only remaining parent Thalia had in this world.
The plan was rather simple. While Ben was off trying to turn off the beam, the younger adult dressed up in Stormtrooper gear. It looked rather funny though on the shorter two-Thalia and Luke-while Lilah and Han were both tall. They fit in, while on the others it looked awkward.
Taking the control room was easy. The towering Chewbacca, had roared and easily took out the imperial men with a signal blow. Luke was the last in as Obi-Wan sat at one of the computers.
"You know, between his howling and your blasting everything in sight, it's a wonder the whole station doesn't know we're here." Luke spat roughly as he took off his helmet, glaring at the older man with slight distaste. Lilah took off the whole helmet and shook out her long messy hair.
Thalia took off her own helmet as well. Running a signal hand through her hair to try and straighten it out due to the helmet making it a mess. "I wonder how troopers can wear these helmets all day." She could barely see in the helmet and came to realize that might be the reason for their terrible aim with a blaster.
"Bring it on." Han challenged Luke, having already taken off his helmet, he sounded annoyed and glared toward the kid. "I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around." He was the kind of person to rather shoot first than to be shot at by anyone.
Thalia rolled her eyes at the pilot's comment. Of course Han Solo wanted a straight and forward fight against the Empire. It was in his character. Even if it would be a losing fight between him and a thousand of troopers that were on the base. It was a losing fight to attack first due to the station being the Empire's playing field.
"He's going to get us killed." Lilah muttered darkly to Thalia. And if that happened she would come back and haunt him for the rest of his days. She liked a good fight as the next person did, really, but they had to be smart about this one.
The droids' R2-D2 and C-3PO were over by the aide's vacated seat at the control console. The golden protocol droid turned toward his Master Luke Skywalker and said; "We found the computer outlet sir."
"Plug in," Ben spoke to the droids. "He should be able to interpret the entire Imperial network."
R2-D2 extended a manipulator arm into the computer outlet and started to beep toward C-3PO, who translates what his friend was saying to everyone within the room. "He says he's found the main controls to the power beam that's holding the ship here. He'll try to make the precise location appear on the monitor." Everyone's eyes were on the small view screen that displayed the series of green-colored readouts. R2-D2 beeps and makes noise once again which the protocol droid translates. "The tractor beam is coupled to the main reactor in seven locations. A power loss at one of the terminals will allow the ship to leave."
Obi-Wan studied the map as it flashed up, his face shifting subtly. "I don't think you boys or girls can help. I must go alone." He informed the group as he got up from his seat. He was counting on Lilah now to lead if need be, she was good at being objective while under pressure."
"Whatever you say." Han spoke toward the older male, sitting down on a chair with his feet sitting against a consol. "I've done more than I bargained for on this trip already."
"But I want to go with you." Luke frowned at the idea of leaving Ben alone. Lilah frowned just wondering what he was playing at exactly.
"Be patient, Luke." Ben explained to the young boy, who was a lot like his father. "Stay and watch over the droids."
"But the others can-"
Ben interrupted Luke, wishing for the young male to understand the mission. The one mission that none of them could fail or the galaxy will turn to ruin. "They must be delivered safely or other star systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan. Your destiny lies along a different path from mine."
Thalia looked toward her father, brown eyes were concerned for him. She could feel the tears form in her eyes only they didn't fall. "Daddy," Thalia said, moving forward across the room and hugged him. "Please. Let me come with you." If Obi-Wan didn't want Luke or Lilah with him, then maybe she can go with him?
Ben hugged his daughter back, tightly, he already knew that Thalia would be safer with Lilah because there were still several other things he had to do here. It was time to say goodbye. "Your destiny lies elsewhere Thalia. Not with me." He kissed his daughter's forehead one last time. "Remember that no matter what happens... you are one of the greatest things in life that I've ever done." He had broken a thousand Jedi rules once he went into exile and having Thalia and marrying Maria he would never regret. "I will always be proud to call you my daughter. I love you."
Thalia smiled a small one in return. Somehow this conversation sounded like a goodbye. "I love you, too. I'll see you soon. May the Force be with you."
Ben nods his head, moving toward the door. He turned back once more and stared at Luke, Thalia, and Lilah. The new hope of the Jedi Order and the last hope against the Sith. "May the Force be with you."
Thalia felt her father let her go. For the first time she felt alone with no parents in her life.
Chewie made a loud comment and Han snorted in agreement. "Boy you said it Chewie. Where did you dig up that old fossil?" He asked the trio.
"Ben is a great man." Luke snapped back, defending him quickly. Ben was a great man from what he knew about him. From what he saw, from the stories Thalia and Lilah told him. He had taken Lilah in to train her as his own. A lesser man would not have done that for anybody. "And he's Thalia's father." He exclaimed.
"And besides hotshot." Lilah said, voicing her own annoyance with the handsome man. Her tone was heavy with sarcasm as she walked the length floor. "I don't hear you giving off any brilliant ideas. Or are you just incapable of doing so?" She shot back at him.
"Well, anything is better than just hanging around and waiting for them to pick us up." Han complained to Lilah and Luke. The older male was great at getting them in trouble and now they were in the center waiting around until troopers came knocking or the older male came back.
Thalia wanted to say something to Han, only it wouldn't come out as nice. She wished to hit Han over the head for complaining about her father. The young Kenobi was glad Luke and Lilah were handling Han as she watched R2-D2 looking through files about the base. "What are you doing little guy?" She asked R2 as the droid gave a few little beeps.
"What is it?" Luke asked, turning away from Han and moving toward Thalia. His blue eyes drifted toward R2-D2 as it gave a whistle.
The droid was getting louder which caused everyone in the room's attention to stare at the droid. Everyone was curious about what the little droid found.
"I'm afraid I'm not quite sure, sir." C-3PO admitted to his new master, a perplexed look on his gold metal face. Could droids get confused? Because it sure seemed like they could at times. "He says 'I found her', and keeps repeating, 'She's here.'"
"Who?" Lilah questioned further walking over to the droids. R2-D2 whistled loudly, this time it was more excitement than distress. Who could this droid be beeping about so excitedly?
"Princess Leia," C-3PO responded to his Mistress.
"The women from the message?" Thalia asked the droid. She could remember the message that the little droid R2-D2 carried within his system along with the plans to the battle station they were currently on. "She's here."
"Princess?" Han Solo asked the trio and the droids before him. He was never told anything about a princess from this lot. They really didn't tell him anything when it came to the job he agreed too.
Thalia looked sheepishly to Han. "We may not have told you everything." They did agree to no questions after all with Han and the Wookiee. "Just a small bit that you agreed to know." Everything that had been said at the bar and on the Falcon. The female Kenobi turned back to R2-D2. "Anything else that can help us here little buddy?" Wondering how much more information that droid has found or could find for them.
"Where is she?" Luke asked, wanting to help the girl. If she was here, clearly she was in danger and that was not a good thing.
"Level five." C-3PO translated for them. "Detention Block AA 23. I'm afraid she is scheduled to be terminated." Looks of distress crossed the three young adults in a single flash.
"Oh no!" Luke looked horrified at the protocol droid's words. She was about to be executed? "We have to do something." He said looking at the taller women. Lilah and Thalia both knew what was going on and why they had to save her.
"Luke's right." Lilah agreed, looking at the others. "We've got to help her." She wasn't a hero, never pretended to be one. But she couldn't stand by and watch a woman, she knew who helped the rebels die. Not if she could have done something about it.
"What are you talking about?" Han asked the trio, the group of young adults that wanted to save that princess, once again. He was confused and wanted answers from them. He was out of the whole plan until he got answers to his own questions.
"The droids belong to her. She is the one from the message," Luke explained to Han, trying to get the older male to understand everything the others knew. Now how would they be able to save the princess? They needed a plan. "We've got to help her."
Thalia knew Luke was correct. If they could save the princess, then they would be able to maybe find the rebels that could use the plans that R2-D2 held within him. This was their own hope left at stopping the Death Star and completing the mission the group set out to do.
Han and Chewbacca had never heard anything about a message.
"No, look, don't get any funny ideas." Han Solo warned the group of young adults. Anyone plan that they come up with could get everyone killed by troopers on this station. They couldn't go wandering around without knowing where they were going. "The old man wants us to wait here."
"But he didn't know she was here," Thalia explained to Han. She had a feeling that her father would wish for them to save the princess if he did know.
Luke turned toward R2-D2 and asked, "Can you find a way back into that detention block."
Han sat down and put his feet up on the console. "I'm not going anywhere."
"They're going to execute her, damn it." Lilah pointed out to the other man. Which would not be good at all. "Weren't you just complaining seconds ago? About how you didn't want to just wait here?" She asked, trying to see past the selfishness.
"Better her than me." Han said to her with a simple shrug. He was not a knight in shining armor-not even for a pretty woman. He was only interested in paying off his debt.
"She's rich." Lilah said suddenly without fully thinking about it, moving a little closer. A half-smile was on her face and Chewbacca growled a little at her words. "She's a princess, so that means she's very rich and powerful. Think of the reward you'll be getting if you return her safely, it's more wealth than you could even imagine." She implored to Han with more of a smirk if anything on her face. She knew she was speaking something akin to his language now. Ben always says she was adept to that. Just like her mother was.
Luke honestly didn't know how rich this princess was-but he was starting to get a good picture and it left him stunned.
Money. Han grinned to himself. All the credits he could ask for if he helped save the princess. Han liked the idea, but there was no promise that he could or would get the money. He might have more than enough credits to pay off Jabba. "I don't know. I can imagine quite a bit, Sunshine."
Thalia rolled her tree brown eyes at Han's comment. The young Jedi could already tell that Han would want a lot of money if he had to help rescue the princess. Only the princess would be able to pay that kind of money. "You'll get it." She spoke to the smuggler.
"I better!" Han demanded, keeping his eyes locked on Lilah's.
"You will." Thalia let out a small breath. Now they needed a plan. She turned toward Luke and asked, "You think we can use the Wookiee in this operation?"
"Probably more useful than the man." Lilah muttered, irritated by Han. He would get his money for sure of that-if they all survived that was.
Luke agreed since they were short on time and the clock was ticking down. "Uh...3PO, hand me those binders that will you?" He said pointing to the electronic cuffs. The robot did so and Luke approached Chewie with extreme caution. "Okay. Now, I'm going to put binders on you." He told the Wookiee. But all he did was let out a dangerous warning growl at the younger man.
"Luke I wouldn't." Lilah warned, looking at Han and gesturing to Chewie and Luke. "Solo, some help?" She asked, and Luke gave the binders to Han.
Han came over and took the binders from Luke, he moved his head to Chewie and reassured the Wookiee. "Don't worry Chewie. I think I know what he has in mind." With that being said he put the binders on the Wookiee. Then Han turned his attention to the girls and the boy. "I hope this works, kid. And it doesn't get us killed."
"It might." Thalia stated bluntly. She turned toward the droid. "It's better you stay here and hope you're not blasted to pieces."
C-3PO agreed with the young lady's words. "Good idea. I am surprised you fear for my safety."
Thalia looked up from R2-D2, the droid she had been talking to. "I was talking to R2. Not you." The smaller droid needed to be saved due to being saved since he had the plans to the battle station when the golden one didn't. If one droid had to be destroyed, then it might have to be the golden one and not R2-D2.
C-3PO looked in distress to his Master and Mistress, the other women, Miss Kenobi did not do well by him. "Master Luke, Mistress Lilah, what should R2 and I do if we are discovered?" C-3PO asked them.
"Pray to the Force they don't have blasters." Lilah replied back with an airy tone and put on her helmet. She was gonna have to in order to get through this.
Lilah, Luke, Han and Thalia all left with the unhappy handcuffed Chewie. He may not have liked this situation, but he made no noise complaints.