The Rebellion
Luke Skywalker, raised by a farmer on the hot dusty planet of Tatooine, had never been anywhere but home, much less a space station. Nonetheless, he found himself running though corridors of the Death Star with a princess in tow. Princess Leia, she was the one who had gotten him into this. If it wasn't for the message in Artoo-
Blast, he thought, nearly turning down a corridor filled with troopers. Got to start paying more attention. Rescuing Leia had never been part of the operation, but Luke liked to think that it was implied that Obi Wan would want them to save her. After all, the old jedi didn't know she was here. Did he?
Leia grabbed his arm, and the two dodged behind a column waiting for a group of troopers to pass them by. Luke took the opportunity to gather his bearings. They still had to get to Han's ship . . . alive. There was still the matter of the tractor beam. No one had seen Obi Wan since he had left them in the control room, but Luke trusted the old man, though he barely knew him.
Even as the troopers' footsteps were still fading around the corner, Leia gave Luke a light shove. "Now or never," she whispered. Luke paused long enough to nod, before once again racing down the corridor.
Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon, and his first mate, a Wookie named Chewbacca were waiting for the farmer and the princess. They were slightly relieved when they saw Luke and Leia finally turned into the hall. As they joined him against the far wall, Han couldn't help but ask, "What kept you?"
Leia didn't miss a beat, "We ran into some old friends." Luke reflected that even sarcasm couldn't bring him to call troopers friends. Han thought the ship seemed alright, but there was a horde of troopers between them and the Falcon.
All three humans began trying to think of a plan to get across the landing dock alive, but Chewie broke their thoughts, drawing the captain's attention the troopers, who were now moving off to the further interior of the bay.
"Now's our chance," Han said. "Go!"
Running they crossed the bay and were joined at the base of the ramp by the two droids. Luke, however had hesitated, seeing, at last, what had drawn the troopers' attention. Obi Wan was locked in battle with a figure Luke could only assume was Darth Vader. Watching tensely, waiting for Ben to somehow escape or . . . or something, he was shocked to his core when Ben raised his sword in salute and allowed himself to be struck down.
"No!" Luke cried, forgetting all covertness.
The troopers turned, opening fire. Standing at the base of the ramp, Leia was calling for him to run. Han was returning fire and also calling for him to get into the ship. Returning fire, Luke didn't seem to hear them. It wasn't until he had blasted a door and sealed off the another squad of troops on the other side, that he turned and ran to join his friends in the ship.
It wasn't until he was safe in the Falcon, that he realized why he had ran. A voice, but not Han or Leia's. Run, Luke, Run. It had sounded just like Ben.
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Thoughts were spinning in Jerica's mind. She had a thought to blame Kirn. She was certain this never would have happened if she hadn't told him. He must have told the Imperials. Yet even as she turned to accuse him, she couldn't find the words. Alderaan, Bail, everything that was familiar, was gone. Leia was gone and now her father. All Jerica's plans had been ruined. What would she do now?
"Hey," Kirn said, breaking a silence that had lasted for what felt like days. "There's a ship."
"Coming from that moon?" Even as she said it, she realized that it wasn't a moon.
"It's a space station. Imperial. They call it the Death Star." He said it so matter-of-factly that Jerica didn't appreciate the truth of what he was saying. The weapon of destruction, that had been rumored for a few years now, actually existed.
Jerica was aware that their ship was turning. "What are you doing?"
"Following them," he said simply.
Jerica thought maybe he was out of his mind. "Why?"
"Look," he said. "We don't know how we're going to find the Rebels. That ship is Corellian and obviously not Imperial, I don't see how it could hurt to follow them."
Jerica didn't saying anything, as she realized, she really didn't have a better idea.
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The Imperials hadn't let them go without a fight. At least, Han had thought it was a fight. Leia had insisted it was just a diversion, a trick. She insisted that the Imperials had "let them go" that they were being "tracked." Han shook his head. No one tracked the Falcon.
Yet, when they pulled out of hyperspace and entered orbit of Yavin, Han noticed at strange signal on the scanner. Another ship was entering the system just behind them. Han harrumphed, deciding that he would never admit the girl was right. Besides, it was the rebels' problem now. Just as soon as he had his reward, he would be out of there.
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Jerica shifted uneasily in her seat. The moon of Yavin drew closer into the view, and Jerica leaned forward as if she could peer all the way down to the surface.
"Relax," Kirn instructed. "We'll be fine."
"How can you be so sure? You don't even know any of these people. Now that Alderaan has been destroyed . . . neither do I."
Landing on the planet had not been a problem, but the Rebels had an strong ground security force. The second Kirn and Jerica stepped down the ramp, they found them surrounded by several rebel guards, who were looking at them down the barrels of their blasters.
Having been ordered to surrender all weapons, Kirn handed over his blaster and, reluctantly, his lightsaber. Jerica had been unarmed, so without further delay, the rebels escorted them, as prisoners, to the base.
It was an odd twist of irony, Kirn decided. He looked down at the binders around his wrists and considered that this was the fate he was hoping to escape. Had the Imperials found him, he would be a prisoner. Now in the custody of the rebels, he was a prisoner. What was the galaxy coming to?
The base that held the rebel forces seemed by outer appearances to be primitive. However, once within the walls of the great temple, the technology betrayed its current function. A great military force was held here. As they were lead through the main level, a hanger, they were amazed by the assortment of ships and vehicles. One in particular caught their attention. It was the Corellian freighter they had followed here. It was surrounded by a group of officials and soldiers, who all seemed to be very glad for the ship's arrival.
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Leia had been hugged by nearly every official in the entire rebellion. They all seemed to be saying the same thing, expressing their relief for her safety and their sympathy for the fate of Alderaan. Han had been escorted off to discuss his reward, and Luke went off to enlist among the pilots. That left her to fend off the all the officials on her own.
Through the sea of people, she saw a familiar face, which gave her the excuse to leave this assembly. "Jerica! Jerica!"
Her friend and fellow senator, turned and looked back at her, "Leia?"
At the appearance of the princess, the guards escorting Jerica and Kirn stopped, allowing Leia to approach. "It is you," she said. The princess wasted no time in ridding Jerica of the binders before hugging her childhood friend. "I'm sorry about the welcome party," she said, gesturing to the guards, "but I never thought I'd see you in a rebel camp. What are you doing here?"
"Well," Jerica began, "it's a long story. But . . . I just can't believe you're here. I'm so glad you're alright."
Leia had heard the same thing from so many people, but coming from her best friend, it seemed sincere. She nodded, "Well, I'd love to hear this story, but there are more urgent matters."
Jerica nodded, understanding.
With a smile, Leia took her elbow, "Well, come on, you can meet some of the other senators that are helping the cause. Unless of course, you ran from the senate to get away from politics."
Leia saw an odd look of sadness come into her friend's eyes. "No, I guess you could just say that I'm out of work. The Senate has been disbanded."
Leia was about to question further, when a guard interrupted her asking, "My lady, what about this prisoner?"
Leia and Jerica looked back at Kirn, still in the custody of the guards. He looked at Jerica with a sort of impatient frown, expecting her to bail him out.
"Ah yes," Jerica said. "Leia, you should meet my kidnapper."
Kirn shook his bound hands in a show of frustration, "For the hundredth time, I saved you, I did not kidnap you."
Leia couldn't help but laugh. "It looks like we've both had our share of . . . rescuers." She nodded to the guard. "Let him go."
Kirn's hands were unbound, as Jerica continued, "He said he wanted to join your cause, though I'm not sure of what help he might be."
Leia was watching the stranger nonchalantly, as upon being freed, he insisted that his blaster and lightsaber be returned.
"Is he a jedi?" Leia asked.
"I don't think so," Jerica began, realizing that she hadn't really considered it. "I suppose he might be, but I thought the jedi were extinct."
Kirn, having recovered his weapons, joined them. Extending his hand to the princess, he said, "Kirn Torek, I've come to join your cause."
"So I've heard," Leia said, with a raised eyebrow. "These guards will show you to General Dodonna. He's assembling the next strike and will know where you are needed."
Kirn gave a slight bow of his head and followed the guards. This time not as a prisoner.
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Leia and Jerica came to a council room, filled with senators and generals. "This is where we diplomatically discuss our plans," Leia said, a note of amused sarcasm in her voice. "Like the senate, we don't always all agree, but our cause has united us on most grounds."
Jerica nodded, "I see."
"Ah," Leia said, "I'd like to introduce you to General Rieekan. General, this is Senator Jerica of the Naboo."
"Yes," Rieekan said. "You look so much like your mother."
Working in politics gave one a social grace, the ability to mask one's emotions. However in this moment, Jerica could not hide her surprise. "My mother? You knew my mother?"
"Of course I did," Rieekan said, just before he turned away to talk to another official. "She was a great help to us."
Whatever else was said to her, she didn't remember. The answer to the question she had asked for more than fourteen years had been given to her. Why had her mother left? To join the Rebellion. In light of this information, new questions came to mind, questions that would not have easy answers.