AN: As I'm going on vacation next week, I thought I'd try and get the full story up before I leave. So I'm going to try and post two chapters a day, hence the reason we're now back with Han and Leia...
Thanks again for the feedback!
All previous disclaimers apply...
Missing
XI.
The silent, burning white, chaos of hyperspace raged outside the cargo barge's cockpit window. The barge's two occupants, who had witnessed it countless times before, ignored the spectacular sight. Their run was coming to an end, and both were looking forward to getting back to their own ship, which sat alone in an Ahana hangar, waiting for them to return with her much-needed parts. Both figured they'd come out ahead: a nice fat lump sum, and spare components for the Falcon's navi-computer. Once she was repaired, they could wave goodbye to the Alliance and rocket back to their old life, the life they preferred.
Still, neither of them could shake off the feeling that they had been used. Leia hadn't mentioned anything about having to show the replacement fighters the way. Han didn't like the responsibility of looking after twenty X-wing fighters and their pilots. Perhaps he could argue more money from Her Highness for the extra duty.
But it had been a good trip, with a minimum of danger, and staying on Raymar for a few days had given them a change of scenery. Dodonna had certainly seemed pleased to see them; the old general had been waiting to greet them personally.
"Captain Solo, Chewbacca - this is a delight!" Dodonna beamed as they shook hands… "I'm pleased to see you're still with the Alliance."
"Not for long, General." Han gazed around the base. It was larger than Ahana; its buildings were in better condition, there were more personnel and better facilities. He had winked at a passing female pilot and sighed; this place certainly seemed to hold a lot more potential than Ahana.
The general laughed. "You said that last time I saw you." He looked over the barge the pirate had arrived in. "But where is your ship? Surely—"
"She's on downtime just now. That's why we took this job," Han explained, as they walked together toward the nearby building. Both he and Chewbacca hoped it would provide them with some refreshments. "The princess said we could get the parts we need here."
"Of course, of course." Dodonna motioned them through the door. "But there's plenty of time for that; you'll join me in the commissary?
Chewie barked readily and Han smiled. "That'd be great. Thanks, General."
"Tell me, how is everyone? The Princess Leia?"
"She's fine; still bullying folks around. I tell you, General, if you were to stick her in the same room as Palpatine for an hour, your Rebellion would be a sure thing. She could argue anyone into submission."
The two men laughed, their chuckles echoing with heavy grunts from Chewbacca.
"Somehow, that reminds me." The general looked thoughtful; the heavy lines on his brow deepened. "Tell your young friend Skywalker to watch himself. I'm afraid it didn't take too long for the Empire to trace him and identify him as the pilot who shot up their toy." He raced on with his information, not noticing that both of his companions had grown quiet. "Lord Vader himself has issued the warrant for his arrest. He's wanted alive, too. I just don't know why…"
"General," Han cut him short, "you don't need to worry about Luke; he's dead."
"That's sad news indeed." Dodonna answered looking vexed; he had liked the enthusiastic youth. "A sad loss. The boy was a born pilot."
"Yeah, "Han responded tightly, "but not a born ground-fighter."
"You'll accept my condolences, and convey them to Her Highness?"
"Thank you, General."
The moment they had entered the commissary, their grief had been forgotten. Raymar proved to be livelier than Ahana, and Han and Chewbacca had both made the most of it. They had also made the most of Ahana's stores, taking just a little more than they needed; but who would notice?
A light on the barge's control console blinked for attention, and a tone sounded in the cockpit, jerking both partners from their reveries. Han sat up first, nudging Chewbacca's large arm.
"Come on, Chewie; we're back."
They assumed their roles of pilot and co-pilot as they prepared for reversion to normal space.
"Shields up," Han ordered.
The stars outside streaked and slowed to their customary pinpoints. The barge settled into sub-light speed as Han checked to be sure the fighters he was accompanying had done the same. A quick account assured him that they had. The small planet of Ahana was now visible, glowing blue in the distance.
The comlink opened, crackled, and a pilot's voice filtered through. "Captain Solo, I've picked up something on the scanner; a large shape, over the third planet of this system. Can you confirm?"
Han quickly scanned his own instruments. The third planet? That was Ahana! The shape was there and the nearer they got the larger it became. It was obviously a ship, but the Alliance didn't have anything that size.
"Sir," another pilot voiced his concern, "something's jamming the scanners!"
Han's heart chilled as they drew nearer, and a young pilot gasped out what he had feared: "Imperials!"
The Star Destroyer sat, hovering like a bird of prey, over its victim. Streaks of green death sought the tiny Rebel ships that swarmed like flies around it. The destroyer's own TIEs spewed from its bowels in squads of eight, prepared to obliterate all opposition in the area. Large Imperial bombers ran over the planet, delivering their packages of destruction onto its surface. Flashes of explosions lit up space and, as Han neared the battle zone, screams of the dying echoed over the comlink.
"Form up!" Han yelled to his companions. "Keep 'em off our backs!" Recklessly, he headed straight for Ahana. "We've gotta get down there, Chewie, or the Falcon's junk!"
"Solo!" a familiar voice howled at him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Hi!" Han was deliberately flippant. "Just delivering your fighters to you, Commander!" He winced as Chewie manned the single weapon on the barge, bringing down an Imperial vessel.
"Get your ass out of here—now!" Narra growled. What he didn't need now was a stubborn Corellian with a creaking old barge entering into things. Clearing a path for the evacuation was going to be difficult enough without Solo causing trouble.
"My ship's down there, Commander, and I'm not leaving here without her." He paused, pointing out an enemy fighter to his co-pilot. "Get that one, Chewie!" he grinned as the TIE exploded. "That's it!"
"May I remind you, Captain," Nara returned with all the coolness of a seasoned warrior, "that you're carrying vital medical supplies?"
The barge rocked as it took a hit.
"I wouldn't care if I was carrying Mon Mothma herself—I'm not leaving my ship!" He turned to Chewbacca. "We're going down."
"Solo, I—"
Han switched off the commander's protest. Chased by several TIEs the barge plunged through the fighting.
Narra watched in amazement as Han piloted the lumbering ship through the battling fighters, dodging and evading any bursts that came near. Miraculously, the barge reached its captain's goal. He knew the ships still evacuating below would have to plough through the battlefield in a similar fashion if they wished to save this section of the Alliance and that Solo was the least of his worries.
"Renegade Squad lets clear a path!"
ooOOoo
The Imperials' shots were too precise, too accurate; they knew where to hit. It was this thought that plagued Leia as she evacuated the command centre. She pressed herself into the corridor wall, shielding herself, as part of the ceiling caved in. Dammit, they knew the base layout! How? Who had told them?
"Come on!" Leia yelled to the personnel around her. She grabbed the arm of a woman who had stumbled over the debris and pulled her to her feet. "Get to your ships!"
She ran on, only one of a crowd fighting to reach their passage off world before they were overrun by their foe. Luckily the Imperials had given them enough time to relay the emergency evacuation code signal before they had unleashed their attack. Hopefully the Alliance could salvage something from this disaster. She paused, bending over a soldier who had dropped in front of her, down by falling masonry. He was dead. She lifted his blaster, saying a silent thank you to his nameless body.
"Your Highness!"
She turned in response to the call. See Threepio and Artoo Detoo fought their way toward her. The golden droid was overjoyed to see her. "Your Highness, I'm so glad to see you're unhurt. Artoo and I…"
"Where did you two come from?" Leia didn't know whether or not to be relieved to see them.
"We were at the data centre," Threepio started to explain. "Artoo wanted…"
She cut him off again. "The data centre!" Her stomach plunged with sudden fear. "Were the data bases wiped?"
"There was no one there, Your Highness."
"Shit!"
Threepio was somewhat taken back by the Princess's profanity.
Leia was furious. "Threepio get to the ship. Tell the general if I'm not there in fifteen minutes, to forget about me. Artoo, you're with me." She started back the way she'd come.
"But, Your Highness!" Threepio shrieked after her. She ignored him as Artoo blooped a forlorn farewell. "Artoo?" The ground shuddered, the building shook under another barrage. Threepio stumbled on toward the evacuation point.
Leia knew that what she was about to do would probably amount to suicide. But she had to erase all information from the databases; otherwise the Imperials would gain every piece of Alliance knowledge they contained, including the attack on Minoan. She pushed her way through the throng of retreating Rebels, knowing every minute she was kept from her goal was another minute in the Empire's favour. Several of her comrades warned her of the danger she was heading into, but she threw their concern for her to the wind. A hand caught her arm, halting her in mid-stride.
"Princess!" Wedge Antilles gasped, puffing from his exertion. "You're going the wrong way!"
"Lieutenant, you should be in your fighter!"
Guilt briefly flitted across the pilot's face. "My fighter was destroyed in the first strike. I've been trying to find Kandi."
An explosion blew out a wall further along the corridor. Wedge grabbed Leia and covered her body with his own as debris spattered down around them. There were screams and howls of pain from among the fleeing rebels.
Leia pulled away and stared in horror at the sight before her. Bodies of those injured and dead lay among the bricks. Those able to pulled themselves up and staggered on.
Wedge tried to lead her toward the evacuation site. "Your Highness, please… they'll be landing soon!"
She shook herself, tearing her eyes away from the smashed corpses. "I can't, Wedge. The databases haven't been wiped. They have to be erased," She glanced around. "Artoo!" She smiled as the little droid trundled toward her. "Otherwise we lose everything."
Wedge fought against two conflicting desires. She wanted to go on and find his wife and get the hell out of there. But he knew of the importance of the data banks, and of the princess's concern. He shook off his personal needs; the Alliance was more important than he or Kandi. "I'll go with you."
Leia smiled, grateful for his help. Together they picked their way over the wreckage with Artoo following behind.
ooOOoo
Han left the barge engine running in his hurry to get to his own ship. Chewbacca ran behind him, carrying the heavy equipment case full of the parts they had scrounged on Raymar. The hangar was a mess. Several X-and Y-wings lay shattered under a ton of ceiling, their pilots either crushed to death in their ships or next to them.
So much for the reinforcements. Han dashed toward his ship. She sat, looking quite at home, among the ruins.
"Come on, Chewie!" Han shouted at his friend as he ran up the freighter's ramp. The rumbles of explosions sounded too close for comfort. The sooner they patched in the new parts and closed her up, the better.
Han dived under the controls as soon as he entered the cockpit; he howling at Chewbacca to shut up aft. Quickly, he tore out the old Navigation system and Chewie lumbered in the new. He threw the system together, fingers flying as he tied bare wires together. The Falcon rocked as more bombs fell from above.
"How we doin', Chewie? " He roared as he pushed himself into his seat and started her up. He grinned as the engines throbbed to life. He knew she wouldn't let him down.
Chewbacca dropped in the seat by his side.
"Get those deflectors up, charge up the guns!" He pushed the throttle open. "They're gonna need some help up there!"
ooOOoo
Narra watched in despair as another Imperial troop shuttle headed for Ahana's surface. So far, only six Rebel ships had made it into light speed, and he doubted that with his depleted fighter numbers he could protect any more. How many were still down there; stranded and alone; facing annihilation.
"Renegade flight, stick close. Three, watch the port side you…" He blinked in surprise as a white conflagration flared where the Imperial shuttle had been.
"Hey, Commander," Solo's voice crackled over his headset, "you in some difficulty here?"
Narra smiled for the first time during the battle as the battered freighter appeared. Never had he been so glad to hear the Corellian's sarcastic tones. "I hate to admit this, Solo, but I'm actually pleased to see you!"
"It's mutual. Where do you want us?"
"We need to protect the ships coming through."
"Are there many more to off?"
"No, I figure there's only four ships left." As Narra spoke, another barge appeared from surface.
The Falcon swooped in to give it cover "Okay, Chewie," Han roared gleefully, "let's bake some Imperial butts!"
The commander was more at ease now. With Solo's crazy skills, the remaining ships had a better chance of making it. He almost felt sorry for the Imperials.
ooOOoo
Wedge groaned in dismay as an Imperial troop carrier lumbered overhead. Their chances of escape were growing smaller with every passing second. He pulled the princess on, knowing the data centre was not far. No longer did they have to fight against a tide of panic-stricken beings. Everyone who had sense had gone to the hangars and now there was an almost eerie silence, split only by the occasional bomber or shuttle.
Breathless from their sprint, and with Artoo trailing behind, they reached their destination. The door lay open, jammed by a large block of concrete. Wedge lifted Leia over it.
Leia cleared the small fragments and dust from the console and punched in her personal code. The computer's screen remained blank. She cursed and gave it a thump. She repeated the code still nothing. "Artoo!"
Twittering nervously, and with Wedge helping lift him over, Artoo fought his way into the room.
"I need you to plug in," Leia told him breathlessly as Wedge waited by the door anxiously watching for Imperial troops. "Erase all information."
Wedge groaned as he spotted the first white-armoured soldier pass by a hole in the corridor wall "Your Highness, they're here!"
"Artoo!"
The little droid worked as quickly as he could. He bypassed commands re-routed commands around damaged areas and deleted all he could. He whistled happily as he withdrew from the mainframe.
"That's it, Wedge!" Leia almost shouted with relief.
The trio left the room, picked their way gradually over debris and exited into the compound.
"We ain't gonna make it." Wedgegroaned as he saw the enormity of their situation. The base was crawling with soldiers. Small arms fire could be heard coming from the back of the commissary and infantry dorms.
"Don't be such a pessimist," Leia scolded him. "You're just like Luke was… Damn!" She stopped and stared at him as she suddenly remembered something.
What is it?" Wedge's anxiety grew.
"Luke." She saw his uncomprehending look, and tried to explain. "I've left his lightsabre in my room; he'd never forgive me if I left it."
The pilot experienced a fleeting moment of panic. "Your Highness," he said, as gently as he could under the circumstances, "Luke's dead; he doesn't need his lightsabre any more. We should try to get back to the hangar."
Leia could almost read Wedge's thoughts. "Lieutenant, you go on to the hangar if you want, but I'm getting that weapon." She ducked out of their hiding place, heading toward her quarters.
"Princess!" Wedge called after her, but she was gone. Wedge looked at Artoo as the astromech droid trundled after the princess. He cursed and followed. With the condition she was in, she would need his help more than ever. There was no telling what she might do next.
He found her raking around in the rubble that had been her apartment. Smiling, she placed a couple of holo-pics in her pocket and lifted the Jedi weapon out of the corner it had obviously been knocked into. She glanced up at his worried countenance as he helped her to her feet. "Okay, Lieutenant, get us out of here!"
Slowly, avoiding the growing numbers of Imperial troops, they picked their way back to the hangars. Both of them knew that by now all the transports would be away; but since Han had yet to return they hoped the Falcon may prove them with their only means of escape; if they could patch her up quick enough.
The noise of running engines lifted their hearts. Had someone waited for Her Highness, despite her orders to the contrary? Climbing over the remains of the surrounding wall, they entered the hangar. The Falcon was gone, but a cargo barge sat a few yards from the area where the freighter had been.
Wedge gave a whoop of delight. "Han must have made it!"
A red burst of light flew over their heads. The Imperials had spotted them…
Wedge grabbed Leia's arm, pulling her quickly toward the waiting ship, as she squeezed off a few shots of her own. He immediately closed the hatch behind them, giving them the safety of the ship. Han had clearly left her running in his haste to reach the Falcon.
From the cockpit, they could see the Stormtroopers piling into the hangar; but both of them knew the ground soldiers were no longer their concern. What they had to worry about were the fighters above the planet, who would be waiting for them. Wedge opened her up and left the Imperials alone in the hangar, amid the Rebel dead.
ooOOoo
"Renegade flight." Narra prepared to give the final order to his squad. "Form up on the Falcon. We've done what we can; it's time to high-tail it out of here!"
"Leaving without out us, Commander Narra?"
Narra turned quickly to look out his starboard side. The cargo barge that Solo had taken down appeared from the planet's surface. The feminine voice identified one of its passengers as the Princess Organa. He blasted a TIE as he welcomed her into the flight. "I'm glad you could make it, Your Highness!"
Wedge banked the ship to avoid more Imperial fire, but the ship rocked under a salvo. Leia shot him a foul look as she answered Narra. "We nearly didn't, Commander!"
"Can we quit the socializn', and get out of here while we still can?"
Leia grinned at Han's dry remark. "Whenever you're ready, Captain."
The remaining Rebels fighters surrounded the barge, giving it protection. And, with the Falcon taking the lead, the assembly jumped to light speed, leaving Ahana to its Imperial conquerors.