A rough hand tapped against Leia's cheek. She groaned as the sedatives held
her in the deep sleep. Finally, she snapped back to consciousness. Her eyes
fluttered open groggily, and she found herself looking up at the stern face
of the man who had captured her. "Hey there. A little tired?" the man said
sardonically. "What, you didn't expect me to travel with you awake and give
you the chance to escape, did you? Especially wouldn't risk that around a
Jedi," he waved her lightsabre in front of her tauntingly. She set her jaw
and refused to reply. The man sighed and clipped the hilt to his own belt,
then reached into the speeder and grabbed Leia by the arm. He pulled on
her, though surprisingly gently. "Come on, we're here."
Leia surveyed their surroundings for the first time. She was surprised to find herself in the middle of the city, albeit in an alleyway. They were standing outside a backdoor to what appeared to be a warehouse. She wondered how secure the location really was. It was night, but there were still always people out at night. If she yelled for help...but then again, the man would probably kill her before anyone could help. Besides, she had all of her friends undoubtedly on her trail. It would be best to just wait it out and try not to anger her captor.
The man held her by the arm as he led her towards the door. After scanning his handprint on a pad, the door slid open. They stepped inside to a small room where two guards stood in ready positions. Leia noted with curiosity that, rather than blasters, they were holding archaic metal swords. When they saw their leader enter, they relaxed and tucked the swords back in their sheathes. "Good evening Commander Uratis," one of them said with a nod. "We heard of the attack on the outpost. What happened?" His eyes flicked over to Leia. "Who's this?"
"One of the attackers," Uratis said. He glanced at Leia appraisingly. "A Jedi," he added.
"Jedi," the other guard said with surprise in his voice. He had tensed noticeably. "This is very serious," he said with a look of worry.
"There's at least one more of them," Uratis replied, but smoothly added, "but they should be of no concern to us. We are going to carry on with our plan." The man fidgeted, but nodded.
"Sir?" the first guard asked, "what happened to the others."
Uratis' brown eyes darkened a shade. "They were all killed or captured." After a moment, he patted the young man on the shoulder reassuringly. "This is the price we pay for freedom."
"Yes sir."
"Now," Uratis said to Leia, "would you like to see where the enemy sleeps?" The guards opened the door, revealing a staircase descending into the ground. So the warehouse was just a front, Leia thought. That explained the back entrance. Uratis ushered her in front of himself, perhaps sensing that she wasn't planning an escape just yet, but still wanting to keep an eye on her. As she walked down the stairs, she heard unfamiliar clanging sounds coming from ahead. They entered a large, well-lit hallway. Leia was astonished to see groups of young men, and a few young women, engaged in practice sword combat. It reminded her of the lightsabre training she'd had with Luke, yet it was different. The swords seemed to hold a more primal power to slice into someone, accented by the loud clanging sounds they made as they crashed together. The light reflected off the whirling metal surfaces, dancing about on the walls in a mythical way. Leia, transfixed by the sight, had stopped to watch the duelists, almost forgetting about her situation. A voice by her side brought her attention back to the present.
"Wonderful, aren't they?" Uratis said as a smile played across his lips. "And to think, many people consider this a dead form of combat. Luckily, that includes the Alderaanian government."
She glanced up at him sharply. "What do you mean by that?"
"Ah, so you do speak. Very good," he grinned and paced away a few steps. "The government of Alderaan has, as I'm sure you're aware, banned the use of firearms for the last decade. That is, save for the use of their guards," he sneered angrily, turning back to face her. "And of course, their visiting Jedi friends. Tell me why it is-" he paused, obviously wanting her name.
She ground her teeth stubbornly for a moment before finally replying, "Leia."
"Tell me why it is, Leia, that the rulers who seem to advocate peace and disarming leave an exception for their own protectors?" It was obviously a rhetorical question. Uratis shook his head. "They've gone on too long. Senator Organa has been the biggest proponent of the disarming movement, making the regulations more and more strict each year." Leia tried not to tense at the mention of her adopted father. Uratis didn't seem to notice, though, now caught up in his own speech. "But, he neglected to think of one weapon- swords. The simplest of weapons, they can be made from any strong type of metal with relative ease. No one would notice that you were producing swords along with, say, speeder parts." He gave a sly grin and glanced briefly upward.
"But you're not the only ones with weapons. Senator Organa made a wise decision when he allowed his own guards to keep their weapons." Leia replied boldly.
Uratis continued to smirk, unfazed. "However the guards do not train constantly, all week, for months, do they? And why would they need to. If there are no weapons on the planet, who could possibly attack?" He noticed that Leia did not seem too worried still. "You look rather confident," he commented casually. "Perhaps you are thinking of your friends. They will make a bold attempt at thwarting our plans, no doubt." He smiled, a wickedly anxious gleam in his eye, "But we'll just have to let them in on our little surprise for the guards.
* * *
Obi-Wan had sent his message to Qui-Gon on Coruscant, and received a reply in a short time. The news was not good- due to preoccupations Qui-Gon wouldn't be able to arrive for another two days. That put him right at the time the assassination attempt was to play out. It was doubtful that he'd be able to help. Obi-Wan had given him the details, including references to Luke and the others (though he had carefully left the predicament with Leia out of his report for the time being). His master seemed certain that, with two Jedi and help, they would be able to succeed. Obi-Wan wasn't so sure.
While the others had gone to bed for the night in the Falcon, the Padawan had taken the opportunity to meditate in the main hold. He thought some added strength and concentration would be much needed in a few days. He had remained in a still, cross-legged position for an hour before he felt someone entering the room. Deciding it best not to say anything unless addressed, Obi-Wan kept his eyes closed.
It was only a matter of seconds before Han's voice broke into his thoughts, "Aren't there more comfortable positions to sleep in?"
The Jedi cracked an eye open and looked up at the smuggler. "I'm meditating," he replied.
Han leaned against a bulkhead. "Yeah, I know. Seen Luke do it once or twice. What's that supposed to do, help you rest?"
Obi-Wan opened both his eyes now and unfolded his legs. "It's used to center oneself in the Force, to gain concentration and strength."
Han sighed and raised his eyebrows a little. He was about to say something sceptical and sarcastic, but remembered that Luke had asked him to be kind to Obi-Wan. Sighing, he replied in a low tone, "Ah well, whatever helps."
The young Jedi studied the older man, then looked him evenly in the eyes. "I'm sorry about your wife, Han. It's my fault, and my responsibility to bring her back to you safely."
There was a solemn pause, before Han answered with a slight nod.
Leia surveyed their surroundings for the first time. She was surprised to find herself in the middle of the city, albeit in an alleyway. They were standing outside a backdoor to what appeared to be a warehouse. She wondered how secure the location really was. It was night, but there were still always people out at night. If she yelled for help...but then again, the man would probably kill her before anyone could help. Besides, she had all of her friends undoubtedly on her trail. It would be best to just wait it out and try not to anger her captor.
The man held her by the arm as he led her towards the door. After scanning his handprint on a pad, the door slid open. They stepped inside to a small room where two guards stood in ready positions. Leia noted with curiosity that, rather than blasters, they were holding archaic metal swords. When they saw their leader enter, they relaxed and tucked the swords back in their sheathes. "Good evening Commander Uratis," one of them said with a nod. "We heard of the attack on the outpost. What happened?" His eyes flicked over to Leia. "Who's this?"
"One of the attackers," Uratis said. He glanced at Leia appraisingly. "A Jedi," he added.
"Jedi," the other guard said with surprise in his voice. He had tensed noticeably. "This is very serious," he said with a look of worry.
"There's at least one more of them," Uratis replied, but smoothly added, "but they should be of no concern to us. We are going to carry on with our plan." The man fidgeted, but nodded.
"Sir?" the first guard asked, "what happened to the others."
Uratis' brown eyes darkened a shade. "They were all killed or captured." After a moment, he patted the young man on the shoulder reassuringly. "This is the price we pay for freedom."
"Yes sir."
"Now," Uratis said to Leia, "would you like to see where the enemy sleeps?" The guards opened the door, revealing a staircase descending into the ground. So the warehouse was just a front, Leia thought. That explained the back entrance. Uratis ushered her in front of himself, perhaps sensing that she wasn't planning an escape just yet, but still wanting to keep an eye on her. As she walked down the stairs, she heard unfamiliar clanging sounds coming from ahead. They entered a large, well-lit hallway. Leia was astonished to see groups of young men, and a few young women, engaged in practice sword combat. It reminded her of the lightsabre training she'd had with Luke, yet it was different. The swords seemed to hold a more primal power to slice into someone, accented by the loud clanging sounds they made as they crashed together. The light reflected off the whirling metal surfaces, dancing about on the walls in a mythical way. Leia, transfixed by the sight, had stopped to watch the duelists, almost forgetting about her situation. A voice by her side brought her attention back to the present.
"Wonderful, aren't they?" Uratis said as a smile played across his lips. "And to think, many people consider this a dead form of combat. Luckily, that includes the Alderaanian government."
She glanced up at him sharply. "What do you mean by that?"
"Ah, so you do speak. Very good," he grinned and paced away a few steps. "The government of Alderaan has, as I'm sure you're aware, banned the use of firearms for the last decade. That is, save for the use of their guards," he sneered angrily, turning back to face her. "And of course, their visiting Jedi friends. Tell me why it is-" he paused, obviously wanting her name.
She ground her teeth stubbornly for a moment before finally replying, "Leia."
"Tell me why it is, Leia, that the rulers who seem to advocate peace and disarming leave an exception for their own protectors?" It was obviously a rhetorical question. Uratis shook his head. "They've gone on too long. Senator Organa has been the biggest proponent of the disarming movement, making the regulations more and more strict each year." Leia tried not to tense at the mention of her adopted father. Uratis didn't seem to notice, though, now caught up in his own speech. "But, he neglected to think of one weapon- swords. The simplest of weapons, they can be made from any strong type of metal with relative ease. No one would notice that you were producing swords along with, say, speeder parts." He gave a sly grin and glanced briefly upward.
"But you're not the only ones with weapons. Senator Organa made a wise decision when he allowed his own guards to keep their weapons." Leia replied boldly.
Uratis continued to smirk, unfazed. "However the guards do not train constantly, all week, for months, do they? And why would they need to. If there are no weapons on the planet, who could possibly attack?" He noticed that Leia did not seem too worried still. "You look rather confident," he commented casually. "Perhaps you are thinking of your friends. They will make a bold attempt at thwarting our plans, no doubt." He smiled, a wickedly anxious gleam in his eye, "But we'll just have to let them in on our little surprise for the guards.
* * *
Obi-Wan had sent his message to Qui-Gon on Coruscant, and received a reply in a short time. The news was not good- due to preoccupations Qui-Gon wouldn't be able to arrive for another two days. That put him right at the time the assassination attempt was to play out. It was doubtful that he'd be able to help. Obi-Wan had given him the details, including references to Luke and the others (though he had carefully left the predicament with Leia out of his report for the time being). His master seemed certain that, with two Jedi and help, they would be able to succeed. Obi-Wan wasn't so sure.
While the others had gone to bed for the night in the Falcon, the Padawan had taken the opportunity to meditate in the main hold. He thought some added strength and concentration would be much needed in a few days. He had remained in a still, cross-legged position for an hour before he felt someone entering the room. Deciding it best not to say anything unless addressed, Obi-Wan kept his eyes closed.
It was only a matter of seconds before Han's voice broke into his thoughts, "Aren't there more comfortable positions to sleep in?"
The Jedi cracked an eye open and looked up at the smuggler. "I'm meditating," he replied.
Han leaned against a bulkhead. "Yeah, I know. Seen Luke do it once or twice. What's that supposed to do, help you rest?"
Obi-Wan opened both his eyes now and unfolded his legs. "It's used to center oneself in the Force, to gain concentration and strength."
Han sighed and raised his eyebrows a little. He was about to say something sceptical and sarcastic, but remembered that Luke had asked him to be kind to Obi-Wan. Sighing, he replied in a low tone, "Ah well, whatever helps."
The young Jedi studied the older man, then looked him evenly in the eyes. "I'm sorry about your wife, Han. It's my fault, and my responsibility to bring her back to you safely."
There was a solemn pause, before Han answered with a slight nod.