Thanks for all the reviews I got on the first part. This is my first
attempt at a Star Wars fic (if you don't count the dozens of unfinished
ones sitting on my hard drive) and encouragement definitely makes the words
flow. Reviewers - you gotta love 'em.
Rebirth
Chapter 2
The next morning, planning began in earnest. Teams were being sent to planets sympathetic to the Rebellion to recruit for a desperate strike at Coruscant. Corran, Obi-Wan, and Hobbie were Team One, sent to a planet called Cej, a small world in the Outer Rim that specialized in making proton torpedoes. They were to try to enlist new recruits and see if they could convince the manager of the main torpedo plant to give them some proton torpedoes dirt-cheap. It wouldn't be easy, especially since the manager was known for being a real hard businessman. The only thing they had going for them was that he was not known to have any love for the Empire.
Meanwhile, Wedge and Janson stayed behind and trained the new pilots.
Team One left that afternoon on a small ship called the Star Play. Borleias was only a day's journey away from Cej, so they didn't have too long to wait before landing.
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Leia Organa Solo stared absently out the window of her home on Cej. In the playroom, she could hear her children, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin, playing with a small droid she had given them to mess around with a year ago. The droid could now rival Threepio with his knowledge of languages, and it had many modifications that that model of droid was never meant to have. After all, cleaning droids generally did not have holo stations embedded in their eyes, or blasters in their fingertips.
Leia turned her gaze to the spaceport, where a small freighter was landing. As was her habit when she was bored, she Force-scanned the crew. It was rather interesting to discover what kind of emotions the passengers had. There was the time that a cargo freighter had limped in after a pirate attack, and one of its occupants had been ecstatic at finally seeing pirates up close - despite the fact that the ship was about to attempt a crash landing.
Searching the crew, she received no fear or exuberance. All she felt was a grim determination to do something and then get out. And then. someone familiar. Two someones, actually. The first she immediately recognized as Corran Horn. The other was harder to place. It felt like General Kenobi, and yet, at the same time, like someone entirely different. She glanced over at her children, only to see Jacen watching her intently.
"What is it, Mom?" he asked. "You okay?"
Leia smiled. Jacen was always good at picking up on her emotions. "I'm fine. An old friend just landed at the spaceport."
Jacen frowned suspiciously. "How old? Do you mean Rebel old?" Han and Leia had let the twins and Anakin in on the secret of their pasts as soon as they were old enough to keep a secret.
"Yes, I mean Rebel old. Corran Horn. Used to fly in Rogue Squadron." She gave Jacen a significant look. "He's a Jedi."
Anakin's head swung around on the word Jedi. "What? Who's a Jedi? Where is he? Is he coming here?"
Jaina's head turned toward her mother, too. "You mean there's a real Jedi coming?"
Leia gave her daughter a mock glare. "And what am I, chopped nerf?"
Jacen's eyes went wide with simulated surprise. "You mean you didn't know that? I thought it was common knowledge!"
Rolling her eyes, Leia placed her hands on her hips. "Very funny, buster. To answer Anakin's questions, Corran Horn is a Jedi, he just landed on the planet, and I don't know if he's coming here. I doubt it. I think that answers Jaina's question, too."
Frowning, Anakin asked, "Why don't you think he's coming here?"
"Because, first of all, we are too well hidden to be found so easily, and second of all, I didn't sense that they were looking for us in their intentions," Leia replied.
Jacen's eyes grew wide. "You used the Force? What if someone sensed you?"
"I don't think they can sense little amounts. I didn't really use it; I just kind of opened myself up to it."
"Oh." The children looked relieved.
"Now. Clean up this room and get ready for your father to come home. I want your rooms clean by the time he gets here." She cast a hard look at Anakin. "And that does not mean shoving all toys and dirty clothes under your bed or into your closet."
"Alright." Anakin sighed, defeated before the battle had even begun.
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Corran Horn strode confidently down the ramp of the Star Play. It was a beautiful day on Cej, with the sun just sinking behind the horizon, turning the sky into an artist's canvas. He stopped at the bottom of the ramp, waiting for the rest of his team. They arrived quickly.
"Alright. We're going to meet this Veit guy at his house. Too risky to meet him at work. Hobbie, you got the address?" Corran asked.
"Yep. Don't know what good it'll do, though. We're just going to get lost."
"Don't be so pessimistic." Corran replied.
"I'm serious. We don't have a map."
"Blast!" Corran groaned. "We'll just have to do this the old-fashioned way."
"Which is." Obi-Wan asked.
"We ask for directions. Follow me." Corran led them outside the spaceport to a street teeming with life. He stopped at a vendor selling some kind of exotic fruit. "Excuse me, could you tell me where Runi Street is?"
The vendor pointed down the street. "That way. Turn left at the first intersection, then take another left, and then a right, at the house with the green roof." He watched them hopefully, obviously wishing that they would buy some fruit.
They didn't. Corran turned, signally his group to follow, and set out in the direction the man had indicated. The vendor gave them an irritated glare and turned to the woman behind him. "Offworlders."
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Leia heard the whine of a speeder as it pulled up outside and a smile crept onto her face. Han was home! She could see him getting out of his speeder and hear the children come stampeding down the stairs.
"Dad's home!"
Han came through the door and was immediately tackled by his three children. "Whoa, are you guys trying to kill me, or is that just a side benefit?"
Leia grinned. "How was work?"
"Terrible. One of the new kids dropped a proton torpedo and nearly blew up the whole factory. We were lucky one of the veterans caught it before it hit the ground. I swear, I thought being manager of a processing plant would be fun. I did not intend to get blown up in the process!"
Leia gave him a peck on the cheek. "I think we need a vacation."
Han snorted. "Since when do we have time for a vacation?"
"We'll make time. You need to get away from work for a while."
"Well." Han was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Leia sighed. She had been so close! "I'll get it." She walked to the front door dejectedly. Just when she had been about to convince Han to take a much-needed vacation! She opened the door - and froze.
"Corran?" She breathed.
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Obi-Wan stared at the woman in the doorway. She knows Corran? How is that possible?
Corran seemed as surprised as Obi-Wan. "What are you doing here?"
Leia glanced down the street. "Come inside. Our neighbors are nosy Imperial loyalists itching to make trouble. What in the galaxy are you doing here?"
"Leia, you all right?" Han called from the living room. Leia could just imagine him getting his blaster ready. Five years as a proton torpedo plant manager had not softened his paranoia.
"I'm.fine." She turned to her guests and seemed to see Obi-Wan for the first time. "So, the Alliance is that desperate, huh? And I thought I joined the Rebellion young. Since when do you recruit thirteen-year-olds? My kids aren't much older."
Obi-Wan bristled. "I'm fourteen."
"Well, then you're just their age. That makes little difference. I wouldn't allow my children to be Rebels that young."
Corran sighed. "It's kind of a long story. Can we sit down?"
Gesturing toward the living room, Leia replied, "Be my guest."
They walked into the living room to see Han lounging on the couch, his hand out of sight on the other side of the armrest. Leia rolled her eyes. "Han, you can put the blaster away. They're friends."
Han's arm came up, his holdout blaster in his hand. "Good."
Leia collapsed onto the couch next to Han and gestured for her guests to have a seat. "Alright, explain. I know you two." She pointed at Corran and Hobbie. "But who's he?" She demanded, looking at Obi-Wan.
Corran grimaced. "I guess it's time for formal introductions. Leia Organa Solo, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Leia gave the colonel an irritated look. "Very funny, Horn. I'm not in the mood for games. Who is he, really?"
Corran rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not kidding. We got a time machine and pulled him. We were trying for a twenty-five year old, but the computer couldn't find him. It pulled the closest Obi-Wan in time - him."
"And you're letting him fight? He's too young."
Obi-Wan stiffened. Corran gave him a warning look and turned back to Leia. "He's a Jedi. He can fight as good as anyone."
Han broke in. "Now that we're all acquainted, how about we get down to business. Why are you in my home?!"
Corran winced. "We're supposed to be asking the manager of the proton torpedo plant for some proton torpedoes cheap and we have to recruit new Rebels. We're making a strike for Coruscant."
Han leaned back in the couch. "Well, are you going to ask me? The answer is yes."
"You mean you're the manager? I thought we'd just gotten the wrong house. Didn't think we'd get that lucky."
"Well, apparently you did. What's your recruitment plan?"
Corran opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by a yell from the back of the house.
"Gotcha! Hey dad, you want to see my new Diniz snake?" Jacen called, running into the living room. "Oh. Oops, I didn't hear the door bell." He looked curiously at Corran. "Do I know you?"
Corran laughed. "I assume you're Jacen Solo. I didn't think you'd remember me."
Jacen eyed Corran suspiciously. "My name is Jacen Veit. Who are you?"
Corran laughed. "Han, your son bears a striking resemblance to you." He turned back to Jacen. "I know what your name is, kid. I met you when you were about eight or nine years old. Your mother told me to watch out for you and your sister."
Jacen turned to his mother, and she smiled. "Corran's a Jedi, Jacen."
As if a magic word had been spoken, Jaina and Anakin appeared in the doorway. "Who's a Jedi?" Jaina demanded.
Han rolled his eyes. "Here we go again. I told you not to fill their heads with stories!"
Jaina rolled her eyes back at her father and then returned her gaze to Corran. "You're really a Jedi?" She breathed.
Corran grinned. "In the flesh. Obi-Wan here's one, too."
Jaina turned adoring eyes on Obi-Wan, then looked accusingly at Leia. "See, Mom, I told you I wasn't too young!"
This time, it was Hobbie that interrupted the argument. "Um, shouldn't we be going? They need those torpedoes as soon as possible."
Han nodded. "Right. I can get you into the factory tonight. We're too closely monitored to get them in the daytime. Can you pack them into your ship along with us?"
"Han!" Leia cried.
He turned to her beseechingly. "You know we have to. Once the Empire finds out about the theft, my factory will be crawling with Imps. It won't take too long to find out who I am. Besides, I can tell you've been itching to get back in the action."
Leia cast a significant look at their children. Han winced. "They'll be all right. C'mon, you weren't much older when you joined."
She glared at him. "That was different."
"Oh, really? How is that?" Han demanded.
"I was." she hesitated.
Jaina and Jacen burst in as one. "C'mon, Mom, please?" They chorused.
Obi-Wan spoke up hesitantly. "Uh, Mrs. Veit?"
"It's Solo, not Veit." Leia interrupted.
"Mrs. Solo, if we're going to get those torpedoes, it has to be tonight. Offworld visitors might draw too much attention."
"He's right." Corran said. "You're being watched closely. Those neighbors of yours are probably more than they seem."
Han ran his hands through his hair. "Okay. We'll need someone to take the kids to the ship. Leia, would you mind.?"
She sighed. "All right. I'll let you boys have your fun. When do we leave?"
"Tonight. Late. Does anyone work late at the factory?" Corran asked.
Han frowned. "Just watchmen. Sometimes I come in at night to fill orders or do paperwork."
Corran grinned. "Perfect."
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The entrance was flawless. Even Hobbie had to admit that. Han had the watchmen's route memorized, so they made it in without a hitch. Once they were in his office, Han went to work on the shipping manifests of cargo ships in dock, waiting for a shipment of torpedoes. From each one, he skimmed just enough torpedoes that it wouldn't be noticed, and then made a new manifest for the Star Play. With any luck, none of them would think to check the number they were getting. Grimacing, Han remembered something Obi-Wan Kenobi - the old one - had said. In my experience, there's no such thing as luck.
"Here's hoping that old fossil was wrong." Han muttered as he systematically erased all evidence of his work.
Obi-Wan prowled the corners of the room, trying to calm his jangling nerves. He had been trained as a Jedi, and one of the first lessons ground into him was to uphold the law. It didn't seem right to be stealing, yet these rebels acted as if it was the most common practice in the galaxy. Solo acted way too much like a smuggler, yet Corran had the feel of a security guard - albeit a Force-sensitive, sarcastic, and rebellious one. It seemed strange that the two of them worked together so well. He winced. Who was he to talk about strange? He wasn't even from this time.
Solo straightened up from behind his desk. "Everybody ready? Let's go recruit some rebels. I know some local men that have been itching to give the Empire a roughing up." His face became mockingly sober. "Of course, they're not the sort a law-abiding citizen like me would hook up with. I'm too loyal for that." He laughed.
Obi-Wan just stared at him. Corran was laughing along. "Feels good to be back in the action, doesn't it?" He agreed.
"Old men and their games." Obi-Wan muttered. Corran rounded on him, still laughing.
"I heard that, you scruffy little nerfherder. Who're you calling old?"
Han joined in. "Hey, Corran, I thought I was the only nerfherder around here. Don't go stealing Leia's pet name for me." Both men seemed to find this hilariously funny - even Hobbie.
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Can we go now?" He complained. "I thought we wanted to leave as soon as possible."
The men turned to him and blinked. "Right." Corran muttered. "Let's go." He started to open his mouth, then shut it again. "Yeah."
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Not many people would notice someone on a dark street in the middle of the night, but it's a little harder to go unnoticed when there's a large group of someones trying to do the same. However, it's a little easier with a few Force users involved - especially one that's good at influencing minds. Corran made sure that everyone was asleep before any of them crossed a street, and made anyone that was awake conveniently look the other way.
But the day had been long, and he could feel himself slipping. It had been years since he had used the Force so powerfully, and about as long since he'd tried any late-night missions. Once, he almost didn't notice a little girl staring out her window until it was too late. He had to convince her that what she had seen wasn't important - she should just go to sleep.
Before long, Obi-Wan noticed that Corran was lagging behind. He dropped back. "Do you need help?" he whispered.
Grateful, Corran nodded and withdrew from the Force. Only a second or two behind, Obi-Wan took over.
But that second had been more than enough. A shout from behind told them that they had been spotted. Obi-Wan chanced a look back. Just their luck - it was an Imperial!
It soon became obvious that Corran was not going to make it as fast as they were going. Obi-Wan slowed until he was running beside the older man, then passed him his lightsaber. "Hold this." He whispered.
Corran took it, wheezing. "Why."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Don't want to clue this emperor in to there being Jedi, do we? Now, run!" He turned and ran toward the Imperial and his reinforcements.
"No!" Corran yelled. He turned to run after the boy, but Han had noticed their predicament by now and pulled him away.
"Leave him. You won't change anything by getting killed. We can help him later!"
Obi-Wan mentally berated himself as he ran. What was he hoping to accomplish? At most, he could slow them down for a few seconds before they killed him. He could almost hear his Master's words in his head, "You need to learn better common sense, Obi-Wan!" It seemed so real, he almost replied before he remembered. Qui-Gon was dead.
He had no time to allow the grief to surface, because at that moment he was on the Imperials. It was then that he realized the extent of his foolishness. These guys were in armor. All he had was his fists.
Still, he made do with what he had. He never just focused on one stormtrooper; he made sure they were all busy so none could chase his friends or draw their blasters. It seemed to work. Seconds ticked away. Then, he turned to make sure his friends were gone - and instantly regretted it. Someone's fist slammed into the back of his head, and he dropped like a stone. He was still conscious, and he heard the men talking about him.
"Should we kill him?"
"Nah, we'll take this one in for questioning. Maybe something interesting'll happen. Sure be a change."
"Yes, sir."
Hands lifted him, and then the pain was too much. Obi-Wan slipped into oblivion.
TBC
If you want more, I need feedback and possible ideas. My plot bunny has gone on vacation and I have no idea when it'll return.
Sigil
Rebirth
Chapter 2
The next morning, planning began in earnest. Teams were being sent to planets sympathetic to the Rebellion to recruit for a desperate strike at Coruscant. Corran, Obi-Wan, and Hobbie were Team One, sent to a planet called Cej, a small world in the Outer Rim that specialized in making proton torpedoes. They were to try to enlist new recruits and see if they could convince the manager of the main torpedo plant to give them some proton torpedoes dirt-cheap. It wouldn't be easy, especially since the manager was known for being a real hard businessman. The only thing they had going for them was that he was not known to have any love for the Empire.
Meanwhile, Wedge and Janson stayed behind and trained the new pilots.
Team One left that afternoon on a small ship called the Star Play. Borleias was only a day's journey away from Cej, so they didn't have too long to wait before landing.
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Leia Organa Solo stared absently out the window of her home on Cej. In the playroom, she could hear her children, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin, playing with a small droid she had given them to mess around with a year ago. The droid could now rival Threepio with his knowledge of languages, and it had many modifications that that model of droid was never meant to have. After all, cleaning droids generally did not have holo stations embedded in their eyes, or blasters in their fingertips.
Leia turned her gaze to the spaceport, where a small freighter was landing. As was her habit when she was bored, she Force-scanned the crew. It was rather interesting to discover what kind of emotions the passengers had. There was the time that a cargo freighter had limped in after a pirate attack, and one of its occupants had been ecstatic at finally seeing pirates up close - despite the fact that the ship was about to attempt a crash landing.
Searching the crew, she received no fear or exuberance. All she felt was a grim determination to do something and then get out. And then. someone familiar. Two someones, actually. The first she immediately recognized as Corran Horn. The other was harder to place. It felt like General Kenobi, and yet, at the same time, like someone entirely different. She glanced over at her children, only to see Jacen watching her intently.
"What is it, Mom?" he asked. "You okay?"
Leia smiled. Jacen was always good at picking up on her emotions. "I'm fine. An old friend just landed at the spaceport."
Jacen frowned suspiciously. "How old? Do you mean Rebel old?" Han and Leia had let the twins and Anakin in on the secret of their pasts as soon as they were old enough to keep a secret.
"Yes, I mean Rebel old. Corran Horn. Used to fly in Rogue Squadron." She gave Jacen a significant look. "He's a Jedi."
Anakin's head swung around on the word Jedi. "What? Who's a Jedi? Where is he? Is he coming here?"
Jaina's head turned toward her mother, too. "You mean there's a real Jedi coming?"
Leia gave her daughter a mock glare. "And what am I, chopped nerf?"
Jacen's eyes went wide with simulated surprise. "You mean you didn't know that? I thought it was common knowledge!"
Rolling her eyes, Leia placed her hands on her hips. "Very funny, buster. To answer Anakin's questions, Corran Horn is a Jedi, he just landed on the planet, and I don't know if he's coming here. I doubt it. I think that answers Jaina's question, too."
Frowning, Anakin asked, "Why don't you think he's coming here?"
"Because, first of all, we are too well hidden to be found so easily, and second of all, I didn't sense that they were looking for us in their intentions," Leia replied.
Jacen's eyes grew wide. "You used the Force? What if someone sensed you?"
"I don't think they can sense little amounts. I didn't really use it; I just kind of opened myself up to it."
"Oh." The children looked relieved.
"Now. Clean up this room and get ready for your father to come home. I want your rooms clean by the time he gets here." She cast a hard look at Anakin. "And that does not mean shoving all toys and dirty clothes under your bed or into your closet."
"Alright." Anakin sighed, defeated before the battle had even begun.
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Corran Horn strode confidently down the ramp of the Star Play. It was a beautiful day on Cej, with the sun just sinking behind the horizon, turning the sky into an artist's canvas. He stopped at the bottom of the ramp, waiting for the rest of his team. They arrived quickly.
"Alright. We're going to meet this Veit guy at his house. Too risky to meet him at work. Hobbie, you got the address?" Corran asked.
"Yep. Don't know what good it'll do, though. We're just going to get lost."
"Don't be so pessimistic." Corran replied.
"I'm serious. We don't have a map."
"Blast!" Corran groaned. "We'll just have to do this the old-fashioned way."
"Which is." Obi-Wan asked.
"We ask for directions. Follow me." Corran led them outside the spaceport to a street teeming with life. He stopped at a vendor selling some kind of exotic fruit. "Excuse me, could you tell me where Runi Street is?"
The vendor pointed down the street. "That way. Turn left at the first intersection, then take another left, and then a right, at the house with the green roof." He watched them hopefully, obviously wishing that they would buy some fruit.
They didn't. Corran turned, signally his group to follow, and set out in the direction the man had indicated. The vendor gave them an irritated glare and turned to the woman behind him. "Offworlders."
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Leia heard the whine of a speeder as it pulled up outside and a smile crept onto her face. Han was home! She could see him getting out of his speeder and hear the children come stampeding down the stairs.
"Dad's home!"
Han came through the door and was immediately tackled by his three children. "Whoa, are you guys trying to kill me, or is that just a side benefit?"
Leia grinned. "How was work?"
"Terrible. One of the new kids dropped a proton torpedo and nearly blew up the whole factory. We were lucky one of the veterans caught it before it hit the ground. I swear, I thought being manager of a processing plant would be fun. I did not intend to get blown up in the process!"
Leia gave him a peck on the cheek. "I think we need a vacation."
Han snorted. "Since when do we have time for a vacation?"
"We'll make time. You need to get away from work for a while."
"Well." Han was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Leia sighed. She had been so close! "I'll get it." She walked to the front door dejectedly. Just when she had been about to convince Han to take a much-needed vacation! She opened the door - and froze.
"Corran?" She breathed.
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Obi-Wan stared at the woman in the doorway. She knows Corran? How is that possible?
Corran seemed as surprised as Obi-Wan. "What are you doing here?"
Leia glanced down the street. "Come inside. Our neighbors are nosy Imperial loyalists itching to make trouble. What in the galaxy are you doing here?"
"Leia, you all right?" Han called from the living room. Leia could just imagine him getting his blaster ready. Five years as a proton torpedo plant manager had not softened his paranoia.
"I'm.fine." She turned to her guests and seemed to see Obi-Wan for the first time. "So, the Alliance is that desperate, huh? And I thought I joined the Rebellion young. Since when do you recruit thirteen-year-olds? My kids aren't much older."
Obi-Wan bristled. "I'm fourteen."
"Well, then you're just their age. That makes little difference. I wouldn't allow my children to be Rebels that young."
Corran sighed. "It's kind of a long story. Can we sit down?"
Gesturing toward the living room, Leia replied, "Be my guest."
They walked into the living room to see Han lounging on the couch, his hand out of sight on the other side of the armrest. Leia rolled her eyes. "Han, you can put the blaster away. They're friends."
Han's arm came up, his holdout blaster in his hand. "Good."
Leia collapsed onto the couch next to Han and gestured for her guests to have a seat. "Alright, explain. I know you two." She pointed at Corran and Hobbie. "But who's he?" She demanded, looking at Obi-Wan.
Corran grimaced. "I guess it's time for formal introductions. Leia Organa Solo, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Leia gave the colonel an irritated look. "Very funny, Horn. I'm not in the mood for games. Who is he, really?"
Corran rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not kidding. We got a time machine and pulled him. We were trying for a twenty-five year old, but the computer couldn't find him. It pulled the closest Obi-Wan in time - him."
"And you're letting him fight? He's too young."
Obi-Wan stiffened. Corran gave him a warning look and turned back to Leia. "He's a Jedi. He can fight as good as anyone."
Han broke in. "Now that we're all acquainted, how about we get down to business. Why are you in my home?!"
Corran winced. "We're supposed to be asking the manager of the proton torpedo plant for some proton torpedoes cheap and we have to recruit new Rebels. We're making a strike for Coruscant."
Han leaned back in the couch. "Well, are you going to ask me? The answer is yes."
"You mean you're the manager? I thought we'd just gotten the wrong house. Didn't think we'd get that lucky."
"Well, apparently you did. What's your recruitment plan?"
Corran opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by a yell from the back of the house.
"Gotcha! Hey dad, you want to see my new Diniz snake?" Jacen called, running into the living room. "Oh. Oops, I didn't hear the door bell." He looked curiously at Corran. "Do I know you?"
Corran laughed. "I assume you're Jacen Solo. I didn't think you'd remember me."
Jacen eyed Corran suspiciously. "My name is Jacen Veit. Who are you?"
Corran laughed. "Han, your son bears a striking resemblance to you." He turned back to Jacen. "I know what your name is, kid. I met you when you were about eight or nine years old. Your mother told me to watch out for you and your sister."
Jacen turned to his mother, and she smiled. "Corran's a Jedi, Jacen."
As if a magic word had been spoken, Jaina and Anakin appeared in the doorway. "Who's a Jedi?" Jaina demanded.
Han rolled his eyes. "Here we go again. I told you not to fill their heads with stories!"
Jaina rolled her eyes back at her father and then returned her gaze to Corran. "You're really a Jedi?" She breathed.
Corran grinned. "In the flesh. Obi-Wan here's one, too."
Jaina turned adoring eyes on Obi-Wan, then looked accusingly at Leia. "See, Mom, I told you I wasn't too young!"
This time, it was Hobbie that interrupted the argument. "Um, shouldn't we be going? They need those torpedoes as soon as possible."
Han nodded. "Right. I can get you into the factory tonight. We're too closely monitored to get them in the daytime. Can you pack them into your ship along with us?"
"Han!" Leia cried.
He turned to her beseechingly. "You know we have to. Once the Empire finds out about the theft, my factory will be crawling with Imps. It won't take too long to find out who I am. Besides, I can tell you've been itching to get back in the action."
Leia cast a significant look at their children. Han winced. "They'll be all right. C'mon, you weren't much older when you joined."
She glared at him. "That was different."
"Oh, really? How is that?" Han demanded.
"I was." she hesitated.
Jaina and Jacen burst in as one. "C'mon, Mom, please?" They chorused.
Obi-Wan spoke up hesitantly. "Uh, Mrs. Veit?"
"It's Solo, not Veit." Leia interrupted.
"Mrs. Solo, if we're going to get those torpedoes, it has to be tonight. Offworld visitors might draw too much attention."
"He's right." Corran said. "You're being watched closely. Those neighbors of yours are probably more than they seem."
Han ran his hands through his hair. "Okay. We'll need someone to take the kids to the ship. Leia, would you mind.?"
She sighed. "All right. I'll let you boys have your fun. When do we leave?"
"Tonight. Late. Does anyone work late at the factory?" Corran asked.
Han frowned. "Just watchmen. Sometimes I come in at night to fill orders or do paperwork."
Corran grinned. "Perfect."
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The entrance was flawless. Even Hobbie had to admit that. Han had the watchmen's route memorized, so they made it in without a hitch. Once they were in his office, Han went to work on the shipping manifests of cargo ships in dock, waiting for a shipment of torpedoes. From each one, he skimmed just enough torpedoes that it wouldn't be noticed, and then made a new manifest for the Star Play. With any luck, none of them would think to check the number they were getting. Grimacing, Han remembered something Obi-Wan Kenobi - the old one - had said. In my experience, there's no such thing as luck.
"Here's hoping that old fossil was wrong." Han muttered as he systematically erased all evidence of his work.
Obi-Wan prowled the corners of the room, trying to calm his jangling nerves. He had been trained as a Jedi, and one of the first lessons ground into him was to uphold the law. It didn't seem right to be stealing, yet these rebels acted as if it was the most common practice in the galaxy. Solo acted way too much like a smuggler, yet Corran had the feel of a security guard - albeit a Force-sensitive, sarcastic, and rebellious one. It seemed strange that the two of them worked together so well. He winced. Who was he to talk about strange? He wasn't even from this time.
Solo straightened up from behind his desk. "Everybody ready? Let's go recruit some rebels. I know some local men that have been itching to give the Empire a roughing up." His face became mockingly sober. "Of course, they're not the sort a law-abiding citizen like me would hook up with. I'm too loyal for that." He laughed.
Obi-Wan just stared at him. Corran was laughing along. "Feels good to be back in the action, doesn't it?" He agreed.
"Old men and their games." Obi-Wan muttered. Corran rounded on him, still laughing.
"I heard that, you scruffy little nerfherder. Who're you calling old?"
Han joined in. "Hey, Corran, I thought I was the only nerfherder around here. Don't go stealing Leia's pet name for me." Both men seemed to find this hilariously funny - even Hobbie.
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Can we go now?" He complained. "I thought we wanted to leave as soon as possible."
The men turned to him and blinked. "Right." Corran muttered. "Let's go." He started to open his mouth, then shut it again. "Yeah."
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Not many people would notice someone on a dark street in the middle of the night, but it's a little harder to go unnoticed when there's a large group of someones trying to do the same. However, it's a little easier with a few Force users involved - especially one that's good at influencing minds. Corran made sure that everyone was asleep before any of them crossed a street, and made anyone that was awake conveniently look the other way.
But the day had been long, and he could feel himself slipping. It had been years since he had used the Force so powerfully, and about as long since he'd tried any late-night missions. Once, he almost didn't notice a little girl staring out her window until it was too late. He had to convince her that what she had seen wasn't important - she should just go to sleep.
Before long, Obi-Wan noticed that Corran was lagging behind. He dropped back. "Do you need help?" he whispered.
Grateful, Corran nodded and withdrew from the Force. Only a second or two behind, Obi-Wan took over.
But that second had been more than enough. A shout from behind told them that they had been spotted. Obi-Wan chanced a look back. Just their luck - it was an Imperial!
It soon became obvious that Corran was not going to make it as fast as they were going. Obi-Wan slowed until he was running beside the older man, then passed him his lightsaber. "Hold this." He whispered.
Corran took it, wheezing. "Why."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Don't want to clue this emperor in to there being Jedi, do we? Now, run!" He turned and ran toward the Imperial and his reinforcements.
"No!" Corran yelled. He turned to run after the boy, but Han had noticed their predicament by now and pulled him away.
"Leave him. You won't change anything by getting killed. We can help him later!"
Obi-Wan mentally berated himself as he ran. What was he hoping to accomplish? At most, he could slow them down for a few seconds before they killed him. He could almost hear his Master's words in his head, "You need to learn better common sense, Obi-Wan!" It seemed so real, he almost replied before he remembered. Qui-Gon was dead.
He had no time to allow the grief to surface, because at that moment he was on the Imperials. It was then that he realized the extent of his foolishness. These guys were in armor. All he had was his fists.
Still, he made do with what he had. He never just focused on one stormtrooper; he made sure they were all busy so none could chase his friends or draw their blasters. It seemed to work. Seconds ticked away. Then, he turned to make sure his friends were gone - and instantly regretted it. Someone's fist slammed into the back of his head, and he dropped like a stone. He was still conscious, and he heard the men talking about him.
"Should we kill him?"
"Nah, we'll take this one in for questioning. Maybe something interesting'll happen. Sure be a change."
"Yes, sir."
Hands lifted him, and then the pain was too much. Obi-Wan slipped into oblivion.
TBC
If you want more, I need feedback and possible ideas. My plot bunny has gone on vacation and I have no idea when it'll return.
Sigil