sHINI: While I'm glad you were honest about your opinion, I would appreciate it if you could tell me why you think the story is stupid. I'm sure there is a reason, after all, you can't just go around telling people their stories are stupid without giving some reasons behind it. Thank you for reviewing. Please give more reasoning behind your opinion next time, otherwise I can't make it better.
Nemesis' Arrow: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad my explanation made sense. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Sweetdeath04: I'm glad you like this story, too! Thank you for reviewing!
stocktonwood: Thank you for reviewing! I hope you like this chapters as much as the others!
Autumn's Fire: I'm glad you're enjoying the story, and I'll try to update again next week! Thank you for reviewing!
Tholhidhwen: Thank you for your review! It's great that you're liking the story so far.
Author's Note: I realize that some of the characters really aren't themselves in this chapter, but ther's a reason, so be patient! I will try to get everyone back into character in the next chapter.
Three days later, Luke was still stuck in a coma, his condition steadily worsening. Leia and Han had both checked out completely healthy, disregarding a few minor cuts and bruises that were inevitable at close quarters with Imperials. Leia sat by Luke's side constantly, only leaving when Han half dragged her out to get food. Luke's breathing had become irregular, and the medics had him attached to a breathing maching, hoping it would help.
Leia felt her stomach plummet as a voice called," We can't help him! We don't know what this disease is, therefore we cannot cure it! I'm afraid we will have to go to the Empire if we want to save him. However, I would only give him another day, at most. Decide quickly."
Glancing desperately at Han, Leia fled the medical wing. Han sighed and ran after her, asking her to wait. He followed her through the twisting hallways until finally they halted. After only a moment's hesitation Leia burst into Mon Mothma's office. Han followed, blushing slightly. He knew Leia was going to yell, and was feeling rather awkward, standing in the background.
Sure enough, the predictable yelling came. Leia's face took a purple hue as she demanded," We have to do something to help Luke! The medics say that only the Empire can help him, and I refuse to believe it!"
Mon Mothma never so much as flinched at Leia's fury. She calmly replied," We're working on it, Princess. However, communication with the Empire rarely goes well. We have only two options, Leia. We can allow Luke to die, or we can turn to the Empire for help."
Leia glared at her old friend, knowing it was true. She struggled to regain her composure as she announced," We cannot allow him to die."
"So you would have us sacrifice all we have worked to achieve to save one man's life," Mon Mothma started sadly, earning a cold scowl from Leia. More softly she continued," A man who would most likely die if we followed the Empire's wishes anyway."
As the words were spoken, Leia felt her eyes fill with tears. A comforting arm rested around her shoulders, and she looked over to see Han. She was surprised for a moment, having been completely unaware that he had followed her. He whispered in her ear, quietly enough that it was audible only to Leia," We will find a way. We always do."
The young woman met his eyes and a faint smile appeared on her face. Han quickly turned back to Mon Mothma, whose eyes were sparkling with sudden recognition. Blushing slightly, Han nodded a goodbye and led Leia out of the room. As soon as they were out, Han announced softly," I'm going to get the cure for Luke."
Startled, Leia looked up sharply and replied," How do intend to do that, Han?"
"I'm going to go have a little chat with our new friends," Han sighed, wincing at the expression of fury on Leia's face. He explained," It's the only way to save Luke. And there's no way I'm going to let you walk back into their hands."
Leia shook her head, then replied stubbornly," If you're going to walk into the hands of the Empire, you won't go alone. I will not lose the two people closest to me."
With a mischevious grin, Han sprinted toward the Falcon, and Leia was right behind him. Chewie howled a question to Han, who ineloquently replied," Just get on the ship, Chewie!"
Han shot his ship out of the bay, miscellanious rebels still yelling at him to come back. Paying them no heed, Han set the course toward the Imperial ship he had been imprisoned in. Leia was seated behind him. Suddenly, Han was filled with dread. A voice that was all too familiar came drifting down the hall. Slowly, he turned to see C-3PO wandering their way. Sadly, he thought, I thought we left him for once! Must that droid go everywhere with us?
Leia seemed to be having similar thoughts as she asked," Should I shut him off?"
"No, I just love listening to him ramble," Han replied sarcastically. Leia rolled her eyes as she shut off the droid. She did not, however, retort to Han's remark. Turning back toward Han, she knew he was just as worried about Luke as she was.
The medics gazed helplessly at the young pilot before them. They had tried everything to help him, but it had no effect. Suddenly, Mon Mothma broke the silence," Han, Leia, and Chewbacca left. I believe they have gone to retrieve the cure."
"What!" one medic cried,"That's insanity! Not even Han would do something so foolish!"
A look of deep weariness appeared upon Mon Mothma's face, and she replied," You would do anything for the people you love. That is why they went."
"We've got company!" Han cried suddenly. Chewie stuck his shaggy head out the hole he had crawled down while trying to fix yet another problem on the ship, and howled a question. Han's annoyed voice called," Imperials!"
Leia wasted no time finding her way to the laser cannons. She sat down and started firing at the TIE fighters that were swarming around the Falcon. Han was manuevering the old ship with unbelievable speed, and Leia's accuracy in firing was unbelievable. Everything froze, however, when a voice came over the comm," I know why you're hear, Captain Solo."
Han was slightly unnerved by the icy voice. He immediately tried to hide it while replying mockingly," And why am I here?"
"To get the cure for your rebel friend," the Imperial's voice responded, followed by cold laughter. Han's eyes narrowed.
The irritated man shot back," If you know what we're after, why don't you send it over?"
There was an audible sigh over the comm, and the voice replied," I cannot do that. We didn't infect Skywalker without a reason, Captain Solo. I would strongly suggest you cooperate, without sarcastic remarks. Skywalker's time is running out. I would say he has two days left, at most, without the medication."
Leia heard the last sentence and immediately ran up, asking," What do you want us to do?"
"Ah, I wondered when you would be joining the conversation, Princess Organa," the Imperial said softly. His voice was brisk and buisness-like when he answered," We want you and Captain Solo to join the Empire. However, you will not tell anyone that you have switched sides. You will be our spies, and when the time is right, we will destroy the Rebellion."
Turning to Leia, Han could see she was horrorstruck. He was in a state of disbelief himself. Neither of them had been expecting that. How could they betray the Rebellion, and Luke in the process? At the same time, how could they allow Luke to die when the cure was so close? Leia let out a heavy sigh before replying," We agree."
Han nearly died of shock at Leia's words. Never had he imagined Leia blantantly betraying the Rebellion to save one person, even if the person was her brother. Neither of them noticed the Imperial thanking them and informing them that a representative would be boarding shortly to deliver the counteracting substance. They also did not hear that the substance was only temporary, and if their loyaltly waned, they would not recieve the permanent cure. Their minds were completely blank with shock.
Moments later, Han came out of his trance, and yelled," What'dya mean, we agree?"
"We had to, Han," Leia turned toward him. Her voice was confident as she continued," Once they have given us the medicine, we will explain the situation to Mon Mothma. Luke will recover, and everything will go back to normal."
"They aren't going to let us off so easy, Leia," Han remarked with aggrivation," they will give us a temporary cure, and force us to work for them. We will be in this situation again."
"I already thought of that!" Leia snapped. Sighing, she continued," We can replicate it. It can be given to him as often as he needs it. Eventually, we will capture the scientist who created the disease and he will give us the permanent cure."
Han shook his head and mumbled," I hope you know what you're getting us into..."
A comforting hand rested on Han's arm, and Leia reassured him," I know, Han. Don't worry."
A small shuttle pulled up beside the Falcon, and a short, stubby man in a dingy Imperial uniform boarded. The man gave Han a murderous look as he handed over the tube of medication, and Han could tell that the officer was just as displeased to be on this ship as Han was to have him. As soon as the substance was safely in Han's pocket, the Imperial shuffled back to his ship, leaving Han and Leia free to go.
"That was easy," Han murmured, preparing the ship to go back to the base. Leia nodded, then sat down in the seat behind Han. They had gotten away safely from the Imperials safely, and had a temporary cure for Luke. Hopefully, the rebel scientists would be able to replicate it so Luke could take regular injections until they could find a more permanent solution. If not, Luke and all of the other rebels would be in a lot of trouble.
Author's Note: I'm going to try to have the next chapter up next weekend, but I won't garuntee anything...stupid teachers keep giving me too much homework...oh well. I'll try! Also, when you're reviewing, if you want to criticize, please tell me whats wrong with the story, don't just say "this story sucks!" Thank you!
