Hey y'all! SOOOo sorry this chapter took forever! Unfortunately I got a bad
case of writer's block (yippee.) Finally my doctor prescribed the first
thirty minutes of A New Hope and a quick skimming of the Hoth battle scene
of the Empire Strikes Back script. Thank you all soooo much for the
reviews! I really appreciate the support and advice. It totally makes this
all worth it! Hope you like this!
Once again, this don't belong to me! All the characters are the property of George Lucas. My ideas, his world.
Chapter 3: Bespin
Before Jaina could even open her mouth, she was grabbed by the shoulders by Luke, who was gripped by intent.
"I'm going to go now. You stay here with Captain Solo and Princess Leia..." Luke suddenly looked struck.
"What are your intentions, Jaina? What do you plan to do? I need to know that before I do anything."
So do I, thought Jaina. All right, what to do now? Jaina tried her best to put on an expression of concentration demanding solitude and no comments.
Okay, after this Mom and Dad go to Bespin, where they meet Vader, Dad gets shipped to Jabba. Then Mom spends a year looking for him. The light finally shone. That's it! If I can go to Bespin and stop Grandpa, I mean, Vader from freezing Dad, oh the possibilities! I might even talk with him and get him to convert! A ray of darkness conflicted Jaina's inner-jubilance. That's means I'll have to leave Luke. Okay, after the Hoth battle Uncle Luke went to Yoda, and left early to... that's it! I'll go with Mom and Dad on the falcon, meet Luke at Bespin, and voila!
Jaina looked at Luke in the eyes. His impatience was growing with every silent second. But I need to know his intentions, now! They might have changed, with my arrival.
Jaina peered into Luke's mind, searching for a recent memory that stood out from the rest. Luckily he had no mind shields then. Leia immediately sensed something with Mom. Jaina pulled at it. Dad, Mom, and Luke were in a room just like the one Jaina had arrived in. Mom and Dad were arguing, Leia was leaning towards Luke... no way, he isn't gonna... oh force he just kissed her! Jaina felt her innards writhe with disgust as her Mom kissed her uncle right on the lips. Oh, that was so much more than I wanted to see! Uncle Luke never said anything about them being a couple!!! Oh this is bad. Jaina preferred not to think about the consequences of such a relationship. That's it. Luke is SOOOOO going to Yoda!
"Luke, you're right. I need to stay with Han and Leia. You need to go to Dogoboth and train with Yoda after this battle."
Jaina considered telling Luke exactly when to come to Bespin and help her duel Vader or whatever, but decided against it. If things went the way they were supposed to, he wouldn't need her instructions.
Luke once again betrayed his awe at Jaina's accurate telling of his intentions, but was militarily experienced enough to know that now was no time to gawk. Before she could wish him luck, he was on his way to changing history. Well, not really, thought Jaina.
Now that that was settled, Jaina lifted her head above her daydreams and immediately found Han and Leia busy talking with several people. Probably important people.
Jaina wandered hurriedly around the base while the Alliance held off the Imperials for the time being. The Rebels were too busy scurrying to their fighters and weapon storages to pay attention to the obvious stranger. It was therefore very easy for her to find the Millennium Falcon, looking just as beat up as it did in Jaina's time.
I'll just start this up, get it ready for Mom and Dad.
With that, Jaina climbed up the entrance and stepped into her second home. Same table, couches, manuals, even the same holographic chess board. In wonderment Jaina eagerly went inside the cockpit, which was just as familiar as the living room. She sank onto the pilot's chair and switched on the navigation computer. One by one Jaina studied current maps of Imperial star systems, looking for a particular one that was home to the planet Bespin. Come on, its got to be here. Come on... there it is! Overjoyed by her small victory, Jaina punched in the coordinates. The next thing she needed, a map of the Hoth rebel base, was easy to find.
Jaina was just about to leave when something just didn't feel right, like she was forgetting something. It's the force, what's it telling me? She tuned in with the energy field, and a pull almost jolted her... towards the hyperdrive. Swinging it open, she found wires melted, screws loose, a complete messup. Ahhhaa!!! So here's the problem! Jaina promptly brought out a tool kit from it's loyal spot in the lower compartment. Before she could break a sweat Jaina packed the tools and admired her work. Good as new!
As Jaina was preparing to jump off the Falcon the hangar walls seemed to shake. In panic she leaped off and landed on her hands. Ooouuuch!!! Looking up for debris and seeing none so far, Jaina carefully got to her feet. The Hoth Battle was pretty short. It should be over soon. I'll meet them outside the hangar nearby. Before Jaina was near the hangar exit dozens of people were beginning to board the ships to escape. Jaina quickened her pace.
"Come on, we got to go now!!!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," insisted Princess Leia. She struggled through the debris, almost tripping a few times. As she and Solo neared the hangar the same girl Luke had introduced them to ran towards them, panting.
"Come on, onto the Falcon!" she shouted, gesturing wildly for the princess and the captain to hurry their asses up.
The trio ran towards the Millennium Falcon with Jaina in the lead. When the ship was finally in sight, Leie's hawk eyes noticed that the door was already open. Now who would do that?
Jains ran inside and stood by the door, closing it just when Leia's petit foot left the last step. Han Solo was the first in the cockpit, and was about to start up the engines when he noticed they were already on. No matter. Gripping the steering, Han floored the brakes. Within 10 seconds they were out of the hangar, leaving the others in the dust.
As soon as he caught glance of the numbers on the coordinate screen he slammed on the hyperspeed. It didn't matter where they went, as long as it wasn't here! The stars zipped past them at last. Only then did Han breathe. Then he saw Leia peer at the navigation screen and almost scream. He stopped breathing.
Leia couldn't believe it. No, it couldn't be. The Falcon had been on hyperspeed for 5 minutes to some looser planet. Far, far, far away from the Rebel Alliance. Very far, far, far away. She hastily put on a diplomatic expression
"Okay, why are we going to a planet called Bespin?"
Leia couldn't help but notice the faint look on the new girl's face.
Meanwhile, in the Executor...
Darth Vader, with his terrifying darkness and hideously inhumane lack of emotion, sat calmly in his meditation chamber, his helmet off, waiting patiently for the subtle nudges and hints of the force. Something had been pulling at him the last few hours. He had been occupying himself with meetings, the necessary evil of such as bureaucratic government such as the Empire, and had had to delay his force immersion. With each breath he took, no respirator, no mask, just his good lungs, he spread his conscious across the dimensions. His efforts were fruitful.
Something had happened. A... journey. Someone had traveled, a force strong. But what kind of travel? Darth Vader furrowed deeper. Time. A journey of time. But who was the traveler? As strange as it seemed, it felt... close to him. Whoever this person was was somehow connected to him. Before he could reach further, an inner alarm sounded and held him. The emperor wished to speak to him. Damn. Just when he was getting somewhere. Darth Vader reluctantly set the mediation chamber on exit mode, the helmet once again masking his scarred face. He climbed out, set the connection, and kneeled.
"My master."
Mara Jade stood in a corner of the Emperor's throne room, her tight black jumpsuit the same shade of black as the shadows. She watched the holoprojection of Lord Vader, who was now bowing his helmet forwards. To anyone else it would have been foreign, weird, unnerving, and simply just terrifying, but to Mara Jade, the Emperor's Hand, it was familiar and unmoving. Her master, the Emperor, had told Mara to observe the contact and be ready for a long trip.
"Lord Vader, have you felt something, oh, 'unusual' in the force lately?"
The dark lord paused, not moving an inch.
"While meditating recently I had an unusual vision, involving time travel and a force-strong individual."
The emperor seemed to nod his head, though it was hard to tell.
"Yes, yes, that is quite similar to what I had. Whatever this is, it could prove to be a threat. Therefore," the emperor now gestured his sickly hand to the shadows, "my Hand shall accompany you on your pursuit of the Rebellion."
Although he showed no sign of it, Mara Jade knew Lord Vader wasn't none to pleased about the Emperor's instructions. Well, that was fine, because neither was she.
"Oh, and by the way, Lord Vader. How is your search for Skywalker faring?"
"It is faring well, master."
"Good, good. I expect a complete report tomorrow. Dismissed."
With that, Mara Jade took off for her personal shuttle and set off for the Executor.
Now, back to the Millennium Falcon cockpit...
I. Am. So. Screwed.
Jaina felt like pounding her head, but that would have only made matters worse. Amnesia was the last thing she needed.
How the hell did I miss it? If the hyperdrive is fixed, then why the heck would anyone need to go to Bespin? No, I've got to fix this. We have to go to Bespin. Bespin has to happen. I even told Luke. Okay, here's the deal. We're going to Bespin because, because, we need something. But we don't need anything. But we do need to... meet someone! Yes, yes! We need to meet Lando because he wants to join the Rebel Alliance and will donate... lots of stuff!
Well, it wasn't exactly the neatest solution, but if it could work... "Haven't you heard" Jaina asked, soundly slightly shocked. "Lando Calrissian, the baron of Cloud City, is joining the Rebel Alliance. We need to pick him up. Says the Empire might get suspicious if he leaves alone. But since cargo ships and transports are so common there, it'd be better."
"Lando? Lando Calrissian? He's a Rebel too?"
Han Solo's face positively twisted with disbelief. Although Leia had for a few moments believed Jaina, she know seemed uncertain. Not to worry, she thought.
"Look who's talking! You were a smuggler, and now you're a Rebel, too!" Jaina retorted.
Leia now smiled, apparently amused, and convinced, by the logic. Han shook his head, obviously defeated, yet not daring to show it. Jaina thanked the force for her political skills.
"So, when do we get there?" Leia asked, returning to her usual rushed, efficient state.
"Thirty minutes at most, if not sooner," answered Jaina without thinking. Han's earlier suspicions rose up again.
"So, how old are you, anyways?" was Han's lame excuse for a sly questioning
"Fourteen."
"Where you from?"
"Coruscant."
"So, where are your parents?"
"They're dead. They were Jedi."
Jaina had decided a while earlier that if she said her parents were Jedi killed in the Purges it would be the best explanation if she had to display her force abilities and independence, and would be a good parry against unwanted questioning. Judging by Han's fallen face, it seemed to have worked.
"I'm sorry," he managed to stammer. "You're not alone," added the loving princess. "Many Rebels have lost relatives because of the Empire."
Jaina nodded vacantly, trying to look like she was blocking memories, then she smiled.
"That's why I came!"
After a short lunch consisting of cold canned soup and a nutrition beverage, the toxic beauty of Cloud City came into view.
Once again, this don't belong to me! All the characters are the property of George Lucas. My ideas, his world.
Chapter 3: Bespin
Before Jaina could even open her mouth, she was grabbed by the shoulders by Luke, who was gripped by intent.
"I'm going to go now. You stay here with Captain Solo and Princess Leia..." Luke suddenly looked struck.
"What are your intentions, Jaina? What do you plan to do? I need to know that before I do anything."
So do I, thought Jaina. All right, what to do now? Jaina tried her best to put on an expression of concentration demanding solitude and no comments.
Okay, after this Mom and Dad go to Bespin, where they meet Vader, Dad gets shipped to Jabba. Then Mom spends a year looking for him. The light finally shone. That's it! If I can go to Bespin and stop Grandpa, I mean, Vader from freezing Dad, oh the possibilities! I might even talk with him and get him to convert! A ray of darkness conflicted Jaina's inner-jubilance. That's means I'll have to leave Luke. Okay, after the Hoth battle Uncle Luke went to Yoda, and left early to... that's it! I'll go with Mom and Dad on the falcon, meet Luke at Bespin, and voila!
Jaina looked at Luke in the eyes. His impatience was growing with every silent second. But I need to know his intentions, now! They might have changed, with my arrival.
Jaina peered into Luke's mind, searching for a recent memory that stood out from the rest. Luckily he had no mind shields then. Leia immediately sensed something with Mom. Jaina pulled at it. Dad, Mom, and Luke were in a room just like the one Jaina had arrived in. Mom and Dad were arguing, Leia was leaning towards Luke... no way, he isn't gonna... oh force he just kissed her! Jaina felt her innards writhe with disgust as her Mom kissed her uncle right on the lips. Oh, that was so much more than I wanted to see! Uncle Luke never said anything about them being a couple!!! Oh this is bad. Jaina preferred not to think about the consequences of such a relationship. That's it. Luke is SOOOOO going to Yoda!
"Luke, you're right. I need to stay with Han and Leia. You need to go to Dogoboth and train with Yoda after this battle."
Jaina considered telling Luke exactly when to come to Bespin and help her duel Vader or whatever, but decided against it. If things went the way they were supposed to, he wouldn't need her instructions.
Luke once again betrayed his awe at Jaina's accurate telling of his intentions, but was militarily experienced enough to know that now was no time to gawk. Before she could wish him luck, he was on his way to changing history. Well, not really, thought Jaina.
Now that that was settled, Jaina lifted her head above her daydreams and immediately found Han and Leia busy talking with several people. Probably important people.
Jaina wandered hurriedly around the base while the Alliance held off the Imperials for the time being. The Rebels were too busy scurrying to their fighters and weapon storages to pay attention to the obvious stranger. It was therefore very easy for her to find the Millennium Falcon, looking just as beat up as it did in Jaina's time.
I'll just start this up, get it ready for Mom and Dad.
With that, Jaina climbed up the entrance and stepped into her second home. Same table, couches, manuals, even the same holographic chess board. In wonderment Jaina eagerly went inside the cockpit, which was just as familiar as the living room. She sank onto the pilot's chair and switched on the navigation computer. One by one Jaina studied current maps of Imperial star systems, looking for a particular one that was home to the planet Bespin. Come on, its got to be here. Come on... there it is! Overjoyed by her small victory, Jaina punched in the coordinates. The next thing she needed, a map of the Hoth rebel base, was easy to find.
Jaina was just about to leave when something just didn't feel right, like she was forgetting something. It's the force, what's it telling me? She tuned in with the energy field, and a pull almost jolted her... towards the hyperdrive. Swinging it open, she found wires melted, screws loose, a complete messup. Ahhhaa!!! So here's the problem! Jaina promptly brought out a tool kit from it's loyal spot in the lower compartment. Before she could break a sweat Jaina packed the tools and admired her work. Good as new!
As Jaina was preparing to jump off the Falcon the hangar walls seemed to shake. In panic she leaped off and landed on her hands. Ooouuuch!!! Looking up for debris and seeing none so far, Jaina carefully got to her feet. The Hoth Battle was pretty short. It should be over soon. I'll meet them outside the hangar nearby. Before Jaina was near the hangar exit dozens of people were beginning to board the ships to escape. Jaina quickened her pace.
"Come on, we got to go now!!!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," insisted Princess Leia. She struggled through the debris, almost tripping a few times. As she and Solo neared the hangar the same girl Luke had introduced them to ran towards them, panting.
"Come on, onto the Falcon!" she shouted, gesturing wildly for the princess and the captain to hurry their asses up.
The trio ran towards the Millennium Falcon with Jaina in the lead. When the ship was finally in sight, Leie's hawk eyes noticed that the door was already open. Now who would do that?
Jains ran inside and stood by the door, closing it just when Leia's petit foot left the last step. Han Solo was the first in the cockpit, and was about to start up the engines when he noticed they were already on. No matter. Gripping the steering, Han floored the brakes. Within 10 seconds they were out of the hangar, leaving the others in the dust.
As soon as he caught glance of the numbers on the coordinate screen he slammed on the hyperspeed. It didn't matter where they went, as long as it wasn't here! The stars zipped past them at last. Only then did Han breathe. Then he saw Leia peer at the navigation screen and almost scream. He stopped breathing.
Leia couldn't believe it. No, it couldn't be. The Falcon had been on hyperspeed for 5 minutes to some looser planet. Far, far, far away from the Rebel Alliance. Very far, far, far away. She hastily put on a diplomatic expression
"Okay, why are we going to a planet called Bespin?"
Leia couldn't help but notice the faint look on the new girl's face.
Meanwhile, in the Executor...
Darth Vader, with his terrifying darkness and hideously inhumane lack of emotion, sat calmly in his meditation chamber, his helmet off, waiting patiently for the subtle nudges and hints of the force. Something had been pulling at him the last few hours. He had been occupying himself with meetings, the necessary evil of such as bureaucratic government such as the Empire, and had had to delay his force immersion. With each breath he took, no respirator, no mask, just his good lungs, he spread his conscious across the dimensions. His efforts were fruitful.
Something had happened. A... journey. Someone had traveled, a force strong. But what kind of travel? Darth Vader furrowed deeper. Time. A journey of time. But who was the traveler? As strange as it seemed, it felt... close to him. Whoever this person was was somehow connected to him. Before he could reach further, an inner alarm sounded and held him. The emperor wished to speak to him. Damn. Just when he was getting somewhere. Darth Vader reluctantly set the mediation chamber on exit mode, the helmet once again masking his scarred face. He climbed out, set the connection, and kneeled.
"My master."
Mara Jade stood in a corner of the Emperor's throne room, her tight black jumpsuit the same shade of black as the shadows. She watched the holoprojection of Lord Vader, who was now bowing his helmet forwards. To anyone else it would have been foreign, weird, unnerving, and simply just terrifying, but to Mara Jade, the Emperor's Hand, it was familiar and unmoving. Her master, the Emperor, had told Mara to observe the contact and be ready for a long trip.
"Lord Vader, have you felt something, oh, 'unusual' in the force lately?"
The dark lord paused, not moving an inch.
"While meditating recently I had an unusual vision, involving time travel and a force-strong individual."
The emperor seemed to nod his head, though it was hard to tell.
"Yes, yes, that is quite similar to what I had. Whatever this is, it could prove to be a threat. Therefore," the emperor now gestured his sickly hand to the shadows, "my Hand shall accompany you on your pursuit of the Rebellion."
Although he showed no sign of it, Mara Jade knew Lord Vader wasn't none to pleased about the Emperor's instructions. Well, that was fine, because neither was she.
"Oh, and by the way, Lord Vader. How is your search for Skywalker faring?"
"It is faring well, master."
"Good, good. I expect a complete report tomorrow. Dismissed."
With that, Mara Jade took off for her personal shuttle and set off for the Executor.
Now, back to the Millennium Falcon cockpit...
I. Am. So. Screwed.
Jaina felt like pounding her head, but that would have only made matters worse. Amnesia was the last thing she needed.
How the hell did I miss it? If the hyperdrive is fixed, then why the heck would anyone need to go to Bespin? No, I've got to fix this. We have to go to Bespin. Bespin has to happen. I even told Luke. Okay, here's the deal. We're going to Bespin because, because, we need something. But we don't need anything. But we do need to... meet someone! Yes, yes! We need to meet Lando because he wants to join the Rebel Alliance and will donate... lots of stuff!
Well, it wasn't exactly the neatest solution, but if it could work... "Haven't you heard" Jaina asked, soundly slightly shocked. "Lando Calrissian, the baron of Cloud City, is joining the Rebel Alliance. We need to pick him up. Says the Empire might get suspicious if he leaves alone. But since cargo ships and transports are so common there, it'd be better."
"Lando? Lando Calrissian? He's a Rebel too?"
Han Solo's face positively twisted with disbelief. Although Leia had for a few moments believed Jaina, she know seemed uncertain. Not to worry, she thought.
"Look who's talking! You were a smuggler, and now you're a Rebel, too!" Jaina retorted.
Leia now smiled, apparently amused, and convinced, by the logic. Han shook his head, obviously defeated, yet not daring to show it. Jaina thanked the force for her political skills.
"So, when do we get there?" Leia asked, returning to her usual rushed, efficient state.
"Thirty minutes at most, if not sooner," answered Jaina without thinking. Han's earlier suspicions rose up again.
"So, how old are you, anyways?" was Han's lame excuse for a sly questioning
"Fourteen."
"Where you from?"
"Coruscant."
"So, where are your parents?"
"They're dead. They were Jedi."
Jaina had decided a while earlier that if she said her parents were Jedi killed in the Purges it would be the best explanation if she had to display her force abilities and independence, and would be a good parry against unwanted questioning. Judging by Han's fallen face, it seemed to have worked.
"I'm sorry," he managed to stammer. "You're not alone," added the loving princess. "Many Rebels have lost relatives because of the Empire."
Jaina nodded vacantly, trying to look like she was blocking memories, then she smiled.
"That's why I came!"
After a short lunch consisting of cold canned soup and a nutrition beverage, the toxic beauty of Cloud City came into view.