Title: Ghost of the Past
Author: Spirit White
Summary: Luke Skywalker died at thirteen years of age. Abruptly, the threads of the future were torn to pieces and remade, and Leia Organa and Lord Darth Vader must deal with the consequences.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by George Lucas, Lucasfilms Ltd. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: Revised Saturday, December 8th, 2007. Much of the dialogue in this chapter was taken directly from A New Hope, but I will endeavor to not make it a habit.
Chapter Eleven: Solo
Vader stalked along the hallways of the Devastator, his cape billowing back behind him. Around him, the Force boiled with his anger…but beneath all of that anger was fear…and sadness.
Ever since that day…almost two days ago, now, when Alderaan had been destroyed, he'd found himself hard-pressed to keep his mind on his work. Oddly enough, he continually saw that moment in which he'd last seen his son.
It was split-second, really. He'd heard a faint, echoing scream, had turned to look in time to see his son shimmer slightly into view and physically fall backwards and down. His face had twisted in anguish, one more scream had sounded…and he'd vanished with the rocking death cries in the Force. He hadn't seen him again since.
It was not as if Luke hadn't been gone for far longer than this before. In the years since he'd first seen his son, the boy had been random and unpredictable, sometimes he'd see the boy several times in a period of a few days, other times he'd wait for a week or two before he'd see him again. This time, however, he rather felt that Luke wouldn't be coming back for a while.
"We're coming out of hyperspace in a moment," Solo called from the cockpit. Threepio looked up from where he sat beside Obi-Wan.
"Oh, good. I was beginning to think we'd never get off this ship," he said. Obi-Wan smiled as he stood and made his way to the cockpit. The ship shuddered and a low whirring sounded, and Obi-Wan was just in time to see the patterns of hyperspace melt away into the velvet blackness of realspace – and feel the ship lurch as it was pummeled by rock.
"What the – " Solo said distantly, staring out at the viewport. Obi-Wan looked…then blinked in shock and horror. The Wookiee was growling something.
"We're at the right coordinates," Solo snapped. "But…no Alderaan," he finished quietly. Chewie growled again. "I don't know," Solo snapped. "The Empire couldn't have done this, destroying a whole planet would take a dozen ships with more fire-power than – what's that?"
"TIE fighter," Obi-Wan replied, blinking past his horror.
"That can't be right," Solo said in bewilderment. "A TIE couldn't make it this far on it's own." Chewie growled again. "Yeah, you're right, Chewie, but not for long," Solo said in determination.
"What are you doing?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Destroying that fighter before it gets to that small moon," Solo pointed. Obi-Wan looked, and sure enough there was a gray sphere in distant view. A thrill of foreboding crawled down Obi-Wan's spine, and he suddenly knew without a doubt…
"That's no moon," he whispered. "It's a battle station."
"Impossible," Solo said in disgust. "It's far too big to be a…" Then the crater-like indentation came into view, and Chewie gave an alarmed roar. Han trailed off. "Yeah," he said. "I think you're right. Lock in the auxiliary power, Chewie."
Chewie started flipping switches, and the ship shuddered. Han's uneasiness grew. "Lock in the auxiliary power, Chewie!" He shouted. Chewie roared, his enormous paws grasping the sides of his head. In dismay, Han looked at the growing space station out the view port. "We're caught in a tractor beam," he said. "We have to shut down the main engines, but they're not going to get me without a fight!"
"You can't win," Obi-Wan said. "However, there are alternatives to fighting."
Deep in the Death Star's depths, Leia Organa sat up quickly. Beside her, Luke seemed duller in the brilliant white light of her cell. She could barely see him, but his eyes seemed to smile at her reassuringly. Relief to see him again overcame her, and she sat up fully, releasing a breath. She was about to speak to him when he lifted a faint hand and pressed his finger to his lips in a hushing gesture. She quieted.
"We're working on it, Leia," he said, and his voice seemed clearer than usual to her. She hadn't really realized it, but over the years his voice had gotten weaker, more wavering. Now, however, she thought he was…almost stronger looking than he'd been when she'd last seen him. She nodded slightly to his words, feeling a surge of hope. "I must go to Ben," he continued. "They were on their way too…well, they're almost here. I must speak with him…but Leia, don't worry," he smiled at her gently. "We'll get you out of here."
Leia nodded again, feeling tears prick behind her eyes. She violently pushed them away, clinging with every ounce of her strength to her fraying composure. Luke seemed to understand, and smiled at her one last time before fading into faint wisps of blue and vanishing.
Beneath the floorboards of the Millennium Falcon, two men, a Wookiee, and two droids huddled silently together, listening to the pounding footsteps above them as officers and stormtroopers inspected the Millennium Falcon with no regard to her delicate machinery. Deep within her hull, Han Solo sat seething, listening to the crashes as the troopers destroyed who-knows-what.
Finally, silence settled back over the Falcon, leaving the hiding passengers with their ears ringing. Straightening, Han slowly eased the floorboards up and peered cautiously over the rim. The ship was empty.
Cursing quietly, Han slid the panel back and heaved himself out, tapping three times on the other panel as he went. A moment later, it opened as well. Han moved over to help the old man out, but before he could the gray head poked out and the man gracefully pulled himself out. Both of them turned, and with Chewie's help, managed to haul the droids out quietly.
"All right," Han said under his breath while they settled the droids upright. "Here we are, undetected, like you wanted. Now what, old man?"
"Now...we fight in a different way than blasters and explosives. It might be something foreign to you, but I'm confident you can pick it up. We're going to fight using our heads."
"Hey - " Han started angrily, but was interrupted.
"Shhh," the old man said. "They're coming."
Death Star, Conference Room
"We've captured a freighter entering the remains of the Alderaan system," an officer said over the intercom. "Its markings match those of a ship that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley."
Tarkin looked up at Vader, looking slightly smug.
"They must be trying to return the stolen plans to the princess," Vader said to the man. "She may yet be of some use to us." Tarkin frowned, looking irritated. Finally, he nodded reluctantly, and Vader moved for the door of the room. In the hangar bay where the ship sat, looking like a flying junkyard, several officers and stormtroopers stood to attention. Vader approached one of the commanders.
"There's no one on board, sir," the officer said, snapping a quick salute. "According to the
log, the crew abandoned ship right after takeoff. It must be a decoy,
sir. Several of the escape pods have been jettisoned."
"Did you find any droids?" Vader rumbled.
"No, sir. If there were any on board, they must also have
jettisoned." Vader paused, thinking. Something tickled at his senses, a familiarity…
"Send a scanning crew on board," he said finally. "I want every part of this ship
checked."
"Yes, sir," the officer replied smartly, snapping another salute. Frowning behind his mask, Vader reached out his senses. A niggling feeling of familiarity came from that ancient ship, despite the fact that he had never seen it before. A presence, masking itself...
He turned abruptly and left.
In the Falcon, Obi-Wan's attention was suddenly caught by a blue glow in a corner shadow. He glanced over at Luke, who stepped forward to speak with him. Unlike in the cantina, Luke's voice was clear and strong, making Obi-Wan wonder if it was simply something on Tatooine that caused Luke's image to waver and shake like that. He shrugged it away when Luke started to speak, and Han glanced over at him, wondering why the old man was suddenly still and silent, as if listening for something.
A moment later he nodded, and turned back to Han and Chewie.
"Here is the plan," he said quietly, and started to explain. Eyebrows raised, Han thought it might just be crazy enough to work.
"Ship's all yours," the trooper said to the scanning crew. "Report immediately if your scanners pick anything up." One of the officers nod, and he and his partner carry a large, unwieldy trunk up the ramp and into the Falcon. Han struck quickly, using the butt of a blaster to knock one of the officers out as Chewie slammed the other one's skull into the trunk itself. The heavy case crashed down, and Han winced as he called out, hoping this crazy plan would work.
"Hey down there, can you give us a hand with this?" He held his breath, hoping…yes! The troopers glanced at each other and then turned, striding up the ramp. Han and Chewie were ready. Instantly, they fired, killing the troopers. Han dragged one of them away from the hatch and yanked the plastisteel armor from the body, revealing a clone of Jango Fett. In disgust, he pulled the trooper armor on himself, ending with the helmet just in time to hear the irritated tones of an Imperial officer inquiring his whereabouts. He hurried down the plank, looked up at the control room, and tapped the side of his helmet. Dimly, he saw the officer sketch him a salute of acknowledgment. Turning, he moved back up the ramp. His voice was tinny and flat when he spoke through the helmet.
"Lets go."
Chewie led the way, followed by Han. They arrived at the door to the control room just as the gantry officer opened it. The man looked up at Chewie in shock, reaching for his blaster. Chewie roared and flattened the officer out on his back. Behind him, the officer's partner looked up, surprised, and reached for his blaster. Han took care of that one.
They ran into the room, Han pulling off his restricting helmet. Chewie growled something.
"Bring them on!" Han snapped in reply. "I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around!" Behind him, Threepio and Artoo set to work at a computer outlet, trying to find the location of the tractor beam. Obi-Wan moved up to them and tapped something into the outlet, making a map appear. He indicated to the droids to move aside.
Artoo began to inspect the control panel curiously, and Threepio watched from behind him. A moment later, Artoo began to bleep wildly, making the others jump.
"He says that if he plugs in, he can try to find a precise location of the tractor beam," Threepio said. Obi-Wan straightened with a nod, and Artoo plugged his arm into the socket, twirling it around. A moment later, a blue holographic map appeared, a spot of red indicating the location of the tractor beam's controls. Obi-Wan examined them for a moment before looking up.
"You can't come with me," he said to Han and Chewie. "I must go alone."
"Fine by me," Han said. "I've done more than I've bargained for on this little trip…" Abruptly, Artoo started squealing louder than ever, rocking back and forth.
"What is it?" Han demanded, and Obi-Wan paused to hear.
"I don't know what to make of it, sir," Threepio said apologetically. "He keeps saying 'She's here, she's here', over and over."
"Who?" Han demanded.
"Princess Leia," Threepio replied. Obi-Wan stilled in surprise.
"The Princess?" He said faintly. "Where?"
"No, Ben," a voice said behind him. Obi-Wan turned in surprise, eyes seeking a familiar blue glow…the only person who called him 'Ben'. Luke stood before him, looking up at him from his thirteen-year-old height, eyes turbulent and frightened. "You have to disable the tractor beam…you can't rescue Leia only to be caught again at once. Han's got to get Leia out."
"He won't," Obi-Wan replied, ignoring the consternation on Han's face as he apparently spoke to midair. "He doesn't care."
"I know," Luke said, "but he has a weakness. What does he care about? He has a bounty on his head, Ben, and unless he can pay an ton of credits, he will die." Breathing deeply, Obi-Wan thought for a moment, then nodded, turning towards the smuggler.
"The Princess is due for termination," Threepio was saying, and Obi-Wan's heart lurched.
"We must rescue her," Obi-Wan said to Han.
"What are you talking about?" Han demanded uneasily.
"The droids belong to her," Obi-Wan explained. "She is why I'm here."
"Hey now, don't get any funny ideas," Han said warily. "We should just stay right here…"
"They will terminate her," Obi-Wan said intensely. "Do you want her to suffer like that?"
"Better her than me," Han retorted. Obi-Wan looked at him sadly, wondering yet again why Luke had chosen this man.
"She's rich," Obi-Wan said after a pause, sighing. Chewie perked up with a growl.
"Rich?" Han asked with his interest piqued.
"Rich, powerful," Obi-Wan said with a smile. "If you were to rescue her, the reward would be…" Obi-Wan trailed off suggestively.
"What?" Han demanded, looking greedy.
Sorry, Leia, Obi-Wan thought with an inward wince. "Astronomical," he said. "As much as you can imagine."
"I can imagine a lot," Solo said.
"You'll get it," Obi-Wan replied.
"I'd better," Solo retorted.
"You will," Obi-Was assured. There was a pause, where Han thought in silence.
"All right, old man," he said finally. "You'd better be right about this. Put on those binders, Chewie…we're getting that Princess out."
Smiling, Obi-Wan eased out the door of the hatch, making his way for the tractor beam. Beside him, Luke shimmered into view and gave him one small, knowing smile. Obi-Wan smiled back, knowing it was one of the last times he'd ever see Luke as a glowing blue figure.
"Okay, let's get this over with," Han said to Chewie. The Wookiee nodded, growling.
"Sir," Threepio said. "What should Artoo and I do if someone comes?"
"Lock the door," Han replied. "And hope no one finds you."
"That isn't very reassuring," Threepio lamented as Han and Chewie moved out the door and in the direction of a lift.
Han took a deep breath, trying to look inconspicuous. He was slightly taller than a stormtrooper, so he had to scrunch down a little in the armor, making his breathing restricted, but he dealt with it as he had so many other things – with grit. Once in the lift he glanced once and Chewie, glad to have his partner with him. He nodded once as the lift glided smoothly to a stop at the detention levels, where the supposedly rich Princess Leia was being held. He straightened up and took a firm grip on Chewie's arm, holding the blaster at an angle to make it appear as if it were pointed at Chewie, but wouldn't hit him should he actually pull the trigger. The lift door hissed open, and he strode out as if he did it every day, prodding Chewie forward despite the protesting growls.
Obi-Wan fought a shiver. He'd spent a long time on temperate Alderaan, and before that, many years on arid Tatooine. Space was cold. Despite that, his shiver was not entirely of cold. A black presence hovered on the edge of his consciousness – utterly familiar yet horribly not so. Twisted, dark, evil.
He gestured quietly towards a squad of troopers, and they obediently turned away, conveniently not seeing him. He made his way silently towards the power controls, where the tractor beam's energy levers were located. As he used the Force, the feeling of darkness grew stronger. Vader knew where he was.
He made his way out onto the platform and around it, pulling down one lever. A low hum sounded, signifying the draining of energy from the beam's resources. The machine would need hours to get up the proper energy again. Satisfied, Obi-Wan moved forward to the rest of the levers, watching the red column on the computer screen lower to nothingness with the low dying hum of the tractor beam. Nodding to himself, Obi-Wan snuck away, giving one more gentle Force-push to the troopers, ensuring that they remained safely oblivious as he made his escape.
The time was near.
"Where are you taking this…thing?" The officer demanded, looking up at Han and Chewie. Han prodded Chewie with his blaster, thinking fast.
"Prisoner transfer," he blurted, starting to sweat. Oh, why hadn't he thought of what to say first? "From block…one-one-three-eight." He continued, guessing at the terminology. Please let this work…
"I wasn't notified," the officer said, belying his bewilderment. "I'll have to clear it." Alarmed, Han looked up at Chewie. We're done for…
"Let him loose," a faint voice seemed to whisper to Han. "Take off the binders…"
Good idea as any, Han thought, punching the button on the binders. Instantly, Chewie flung them off and grabbed Han's blaster. Yes! He thought triumphantly. This is more like it! "Look out!" He yelled gleefully. "He's loose!" The guards and officers within the room were momentarily astounded. "Go get him!" Han shouted, not realizing that his words were not that of a stormtrooper. The real troopers didn't realize it, but the officers gave him a surprised look. Grinning beneath his mask, Han leaped for a laser pistol and started firing towards his co-pilot. Unfortunate for the Empire, his shots missed, instead hitting the other officers, the security cameras, and laser controls. Along with Chewie, he demolished the room…officers and guards included. Grinning still, Han pulled his restricting helmet from his head. "Okay," he told his co-pilot. "Here's this Princess…cell two-one-eight-seven. You go get her…I'll get the comlink…" Chewie growled an agreement and hurried down the hall.
Swallowing, Han pressed the squawking comlink. Anxious and trying to sound firm and official, he spoke into it. "Everything is under control. Situation normal." Oh, Force, let this work...
"What happened?" The voice over the comlink demanded.
"Uh, we had a slight weapons malfunction," Han said, sweating. "But – uh – everything is perfectly all right now. We're fine…we're all fine here, now, thank you," Han winced. Heart pounding, Han blurted out the next line. "How are you?"
How are you? Han thought, dismayed. Is that all you can think of? Now we're really in trouble. Good going, Solo! How are you!
"We're sending a squad up," the voice over the intercom said decisively.
"Ah, ah – " Han stammered, "negative, negative, we have a reactor leak down here now. Give us a moment to lock it down." There was a pause. "Very large leak," Han said desperately. "Very dangerous."
"Who is this?" The voice demanded. "What is your operating number?" Han winced, wavered, and finally blasted the comlink altogether.
"Stupid conversation anyway," he muttered, annoyed. "Chewie," he shouted down the hall. "We're about to have company!"
"Leia."
A soft voice woke Leia from her sleep, making her blink in the blinding light of the cell. She looked up curiously, happy to see her brother again. His presence soothed her.
She smiled at him slightly, and he returned it. "Leia," he said again. "We're going to get you out of here. Help is coming," he smiled. "In fact, I should say that they're already here."
Leia jumped when a loud blast sounded outside her door, and said door bounced and warped. A second later, it was flung open with such force it nearly cracked in half. An enormous figure emerged from the smoke of heavy blaster fire, causing Leia to give a little cry of alarm.
"It's okay, sister," Luke assured her. "That's Chewie…he's here to help."
"Some rescue," she said weakly, staring up at the tall Wookiee. The creature gestured wildly and roared something at her. Leia could feel her eyes growing wide.
"Go on," Luke said. "He wants you to go with him."
"I hope you're right about this," she said, standing. Chewie looked at her questioningly, and she shook her head at him dismissively as she followed him.
Death Star, Conference Room
Vader paced restlessly, his senses searching the Force. A familiar presence shivered at the ends of his senses, taunting him with memories best left forgotten. "He is here," he said faintly to the other man in the room. Governor Tarkin looked up at him, gaunt face taut.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," he said, his voice sneering. "What makes you think so?"
"I have felt him," Vader said distantly. "A tremor in the Force. The last time I felt it was in his presence."
"Surely he must be dead by now," Tarkin said derisively.
"Don't underestimate the power of the Force," Vader rumbled, shaking a finger in Tarkin's direction.
"The Jedi are extinct!" Tarkin retorted. "Their fire has gone out of the universe. You, my friend, are all that remains of their religion." A blinking light on his comlink followed Tarkin's words. "Yes?" He said, activating it.
"Governor Tarkin," the voice on the other end replied. " We have an emergency alert in detention block A23."
"The Princess," Tarkin said, angry. "Put all sections on alert!"
"Yes sir," the voice replied.
"Obi-Wan is here," Vader rumbled. "The Force is with him."
"If you're right, he must not be allowed to escape." Tarkin said.
"Escape is not his plan," Vader said distantly. "I must face him alone."
He strode for the doors, preparing to face his old master. As he did so, however, he once again found his mind reaching out through the Force. Not for Obi-Wan, no, but for his absent son. And once more, his longing call went unanswered.
Death Star, Detention Hallway
"Get behind me!" Han shouted, hearing the sounds of troopers in the elevator in front of them. A moment later, the doors opened and nearly a full squad of troopers came tumbling out. For a moment, Han was astonished that so many could fit in there without dying of asphyxiation. A moment after that, though, he'd forgotten all about it as he raced back down the hallway in pursuit of Leia and Chewie, lamenting that he wasn't getting paid enough for this.
"Can't get out that way," he said when he caught up.
"Looks like you've cut off our only escape route," Leia said derisively.
"Maybe you'd like it better in your cell, Your Highness," Han retorted sarcastically. Leia gave him a dirty look as she ducked in an alcove, out of the way of incoming blaster bolts. Thinking rapidly, Han continued exchanging fire with the oncoming troopers, hoping to hold them back. He ducked behind an alcove periodically before shoving his comlink in the Princess's direction.
"Call Threepio," he ordered her. "And ask him if there is another way out." The Princess looked momentarily surprised before she raised the comlink to her glossy lips and pressed the 'send' button.
"Threepio!" She ordered. "Come in Threepio, its Leia."
"Mistress Leia, I am so relieved to hear you are all right," Threepio's voice came on.
"Threepio," Leia interrupted. "We've been cut off. Are there any other ways out of the detention level?"
"Let me check, Mistress Leia," Threepio replied, and there was a flurry of beeps and whistles and a few insults from Threepio while blaster-fire bounced through the hallway. A second later, Threepio returned. "All systems have been alerted to your presence, Mistress," Threepio said. "The only way in or out appears to be the main entrance. All other information is restricted."
"There isn't another way out!" Leia called.
"I can't hold 'em off forever," Han said, gritting his teeth. "What now?"
"This is some rescue!" Leia said angrily. "You mean that when you came in here, you didn't have a plan for getting out?"
"Hey!" Han said angrily. "The old man is the brains in this outfit, sweetheart!"
"Leia," Luke's voice said beside her. Instantly, the shouts and blaster fire seemed to recede into the background as she turned to look at her brother. He didn't continue speaking, only smiled cheerfully at her and pointed across the hallway. She followed his finger, seeing him point to a large grate near the floor. She stood up and snatched Chewie's blaster, blasting away the grate with one shot.
"What are you doing?" Han demanded, ducking away from a barrage of fire.
"Someone has to save our skins," Leia retorted. "Into the garbage chute, flyboy."
Chewie growled in protest as he smelled what was down there, watching the Princess slip down the chute lightly.
"Get in there!" Han ordered, kicking at his co-pilot to make him go. "I don't care what you smell!" Ducking backwards, Han shot a few more blasts before leaping headfirst down the chute.
"Wonderful girl," he muttered to himself. "Either I'm going to kill her or I'm beginning to like her!"
He tumbled out of the chute and into a rank smelling room, filled with garbage floating on top of brackish water. Instantly the stinking water soaked his pants and boots. Han looked down with a grimace of disgust. "What a lovely smell you've discovered!" He sneered at the Princess. "Lets get out of here. Chewie, get away from there…"
"No!"
Zing!
Zing! Zing! Zing!
Han ducked beneath his ricocheting blaster bolt in surprise, just in time to avoid it singing his hair off.
"Sith!" He shouted.
"Put that thing away," the Princess ordered. "Before you get us all killed."
"I had everything under control," Han yelled. "Until you led us down here! It's not going to take them long to figure it out!"
"It could be worse," the Princess retorted. Then a low moan sounded through the room, causing the occupants to stiffen in surprise.
"That wasn't mechanical," Han said, sounding uneasy. He glanced at the Princess. "It's worse," he said. Chewie roared in terror, leaping up on top of the garbage. "That's your imagination," Han replied. "There's nothing alive in – "
Chewie vanished.
"Chewie?" Han yelled, shocked. "Chewie, where are you? Chewie, Chewie!"
"Luke!" The Princess shrieked. "Luke!" Han looked over in bewilderment. Luke…? "You have to help him!" The Princess yelled, and instantly there was a horrible thrashing and Chewie resurfaced, looking terrified and soaked.
"What happened?" Han yelled, grabbing the Wookiee's arm and hauling him up on the garbage. Chewie roared something. "Let you go?" Han yelped, disbelieving. "Why would it…"
The walls of the magnetically sealed garbage room groaned and moved a couple inches, rendering Han silent. Leia froze. So did the walls.
A moment later, they started moving again, scooping the garbage up to smash it flat into one large sheet. Leia's eyes went wide, and she started struggling to get on top of the garbage, but her long senatorial dress hampered her efforts. Han scrambled over to help her as Chewie frantically struggled to open the maintenance hatch. The Princess seemed distracted, Han noticed. She wasn't focusing on the walls, but on something right in front of her…
Then her gaze snapped over to him.
"Give me your comlink," she ordered, and he complied. She switched it on.
"Threepio, come in!" She ordered. Waited a moment, and tried again. "Threepio, it's Princess Leia, come in." Nothing. "Artoo?" She demanded, sounding nervous. "Artoo, Threepio, come in! Do you copy?" Only silence. "Now what?" She demanded to no one in particular. She seemed to listen to the silence before she shook her head skeptically and continued speaking into the comlink. A moment later, her efforts paid off.
"Oh my, Mistress Leia!" Threepio's voice came on, just as the first restricting pressure of the garbage and walls ground against her ribs. "I am so sorry!"
"Threepio!" Leia interrupted frantically, scared now. "Shut down all the garbage compactors on the detention level! Do you hear me? Shut them all down! All the garbage compactors on the detention level!"
"Shut them all down," Threepio could be heard over the comlink. "No, all of them, you garbage can! Hurry!"
A moment later, to Leia's great relief, the crushing walls groaned to a stop. Han and Chewie exploded into shouts of relief, and beside her, her infuriating brother smiled broadly at her. She would have hit him had he been solid.
"Threepio," she said. "We're all right. Thank you. You did great." Laboriously she moved over to the hatch, looking for a number. "Open the pressure maintenance hatch on number…three-two-six-eight-two-seven." When it opened a moment later, Leia hauled herself out into a dusty, unused hallway. In relief, Han and Chewie followed.
"Now, if we can just manage to ignore any female advice, we'll be okay!" Han said, shifting his grip on his blaster. "Lets get moving." Leia stepped forward and grabbed him, whirling him around to face her.
"Listen," she ordered. "I don't know who you are, or where you came from, but from now on, you do as I tell you. Okay?" Stunned, Han could only watch her stalk away down the hallway, soaked to the skin in mucky water and still walking like a Princess.
"Hey!" He said finally. "Look, your Worshipfulness. I take orders from one person! Me!"
"It's a wonder you're still alive," Leia retorted, already halfway down the hallway. Chewie followed her.
"No reward is worth this." He muttered to himself. Beside him, Luke grinned broadly, wishing once more that Han was Force-sensitive so he could speak to him.
Obi-Wan felt Vader approaching swiftly; a cloud of dark anger, so familiar and so strange to him. He turned down yet another hallway, knowing confrontation was inevitable, wanting to stall it just a few more moments to give Leia and Han time to get out. He would have worried for them had Luke not been there with them, but he knew in his heart the Luke would get them all out.
He knew his life was near its end. Soon, very soon, he would join Luke in an incomplete death. In his mind, he saw his past. His life as a youngling in the Jedi Temple. His Master Qui-Gon, and his years as a Padawan. The wonderful time before the Sith really rose…before Qui-Gon died.
Before he met Anakin.
He'd been so young then...so full of life, and so high on the Force. Ready to take on anything that came his way. He was strong and clever and arrogant, and he got carried away with it from time-to-time. Arrogant enough to think he could train an apprentice just as good as Qui-Gon had.
Ironic, really…Count Dooku had been Qui-Gon's Master. How could one who turned evil train such a good apprentice? Granted, Qui-Gon had always been a bit of a rebel Jedi…Dooku's words came back to him from so many years past. Would Qui-Gon have joined him?
What makes a dark Force user? Obi-Wan hadn't followed Anakin. Qui-Gon had been different than the other Jedi…but would he have gone dark?
Obi-Wan's musings spiraled in a circle, making his mind cloud. He didn't know if it was age or merely his impending death.
He was not scared though. No. He'd be with Luke again.
"You came in that?" Leia asked, aghast as she pointed out a viewport overlooking the bay where the Falcon was docked. "You're braver than I thought," she said, glancing at Solo.
"Nice!" Han said sarcastically.
"Threepio," Leia said in the comlink. "Do you copy?"
"For the moment, Mistress Leia," Threepio replied. "We're in the main hangar across from the ship." Leia stood on tiptoes to see where they were.
"Good. We're right above you. Stand by," she said.
Giving the Princess a dirty look, Han grabbed her arm and began to drag her down the hallway. Oddly enough, she didn't protest. Chewie followed behind them, blaster ready. A squad of stormtroopers turned the corner just as they did, and both groups stopped, surprised.
"It's them!" A trooper said. "Blast 'em!"
"YAAAAH!" Han shouted, drawing his blaster pistol. Abruptly, he was charging the startled stormtroopers, who scattered. Wide eyed, Leia moved to follow, thinking that this smuggler was one hell of a rescuer.
"Leia, that way!" Luke shouted from behind her. She turned and looked. Her brother was pointing frantically down a side hallway. She stared at him, eyebrows raised, and gestured down the hallway after Han and Chewie. Luke shook his head. Sighing, she hurried down the hallway he indicated, hoping that he'd get her out once more. "They're going to meet more than just one squad of troopers down that hallway," Luke explained hurriedly. "Go this way, you'll have a better chance. Find a utility closet. On a weapon like this, they'll probably have blasters in every cupboard."
"All right," she said, starting to run, holding her skirt.
"Get a utility belt as well," Luke said, running beside her. "You'll need it."
"Right," she gasped. She skidded around a corner and found several doors, two on one side and one on the other, which she headed for. Right in one, she thought to herself, opening it. There was a rack of blasters hanging in there, and extra power cells. She grabbed a nasty looking blaster and a few extra cells, and in a box on the floor reached in and hefted out a heavy utility belt, equipped with standard tools used on a starship…or in this case, a star moon. Rushing now, she hooked it around her hips where it sagged loosely, far too large, then hefted the blaster and followed Luke down the hallway. Shouting behind her told her that she had been spotted.
Groaning, she tried to run faster, dodging blaster fire and firing over her shoulder. A hatchway at the end of the hallway catches her attention, and she hit the controls and ducked underneath it. Then she froze, staring at the abyss in front of her.
"Blast the controls!" Luke shouted, jerking her from her stupor. Turning, she jabbed the controls to shut the hatch and blasted them, melting the door shut.
"Now what?" Leia asked, ducking as more blaster fire sailed over her head. She returned fire to a pair of troopers across the chasm and a floor higher than her. In reply, Luke pointed at her utility belt. "Wha – " Leia asked, looking down. She stopped. There, on her belt, lay a grappling hook. "You're crazy!" She snapped, staring at the thin metal. "I could never hit anything with that!"
"No," Luke said, nodding. "But I could."
"What do you mean?" She demanded, and in answer, Luke smiled up at her and moved up to her. He slid his hands into Leia's.
"Don't control your hands," he commanded, and Leia obeyed, letting her hands go slack. But they still moved. In shock, she watched them move to her belt and pull the grappling hook out, aim it, and fire. It wrapped around a protruding pole and tightened strongly. Luke released her. "Go!" He ordered, and Leia obeyed, still shocked. She jumped, sailing out across the chasm. She skidded and almost slipped when her path eased her right onto the other part of the retracted bridge.
The sound of blaster fire followed Han and Chewie down the long hallway, Han in the lead. Chewie ran behind him, firing behind them at the trailing troopers. He growled something in disgust, causing Han to falter in his stride.
"I did not lose the Princess!" Han retorted. Chewie growled again. "She ran off!" Han protested. "That's not my fault!" They skidded around a corner, seeing a set of open blast doors.
"Close the blast doors!" The lead trooper ordered, and in alarm Han saw the doors start to do just that. Exchanging a look with his co-pilot, Han strained all his muscles and tendons to make the running leap, with Chewie beside him, just as the blast doors slammed shut in front of the pursuing troopers. "Open the blast doors! Open the blast doors!" The trooper shouted. Triumphant and laughing, Han and Chewie raced away, heading for the hangar bay where the Falcon perched.
There was the Falcon, perched like a large flat crab on a rock, looking in deceptively bad shape. Obi-Wan felt his heart sink. Han and Leia weren't there yet, and down a side hallway stood a tall black figure holding a glowing red lightsaber.
It was time.
In a way, Obi-Wan was ready to die. Ready to end the constant pain of failure, ready to relinquish control. First, however, he needed to distract Vader, keep him away from the escaping prisoner and her rescuers. He only hoped Luke would get them out in time…
He lit his lightsaber.
"I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan," Vader said, his voice deep and resonant. "We meet again at last. The circle is now complete." Obi-Wan lifted his lightsaber, waiting. "When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master." Vader rumbled.
"Only the master of evil, Darth," Obi-Wan said, but deep within his heart he was aching. He didn't want to do this…didn't want to fight. Memories of the last time continued to haunt him. It had to be done though, he knew. He had to keep Vader away from Luke and Leia. Had to give them time…
He swung. Vader parried and attacked in turn. Obi-Wan went on the defensive, blocking repeatedly.
"Your powers are weak, old man," Vader taunted. Heart in his throat, Obi-Wan thought of what he was about to do.
I'm so sorry, Luke.
"You can't win, Darth," he said, keeping his voice emotionless. "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can imagine."
True, in a way…
In his peripheral vision, Obi-Wan sat a gleam of white, a flash of gold…Leia and Threepio, obviously with Artoo and Han and Chewie…and a soft, nearly invisible gleam of blue. Beyond that, a squad of seven stormtroopers spotted Obi-Wan and Vader, and instinctively rushed towards the fight. Obi-wan could feel Luke's tense feelings, and flicked his eyes towards the glow of blue. Vader was distracted; his fury all consuming, and only Obi-Wan saw the sad blue eyes, saw the nod of the head.
I'm sorry, Luke…
He straightened his stance, let his lightsaber fall away…the glowing red blade descended on him, searing a pain through his chest. A flash of white seemed to fill his vision, and the last thing Obi-Wan saw was Han grabbing Leia and forcing her to run.
…so, so sorry…
"Blast the door, Chewie!" Han bellowed, dragging the Princess along with him. She was staring aghast at the pile of brown robes that had once been occupied by the old man.
"No!" She cried. "Obi-Wan!"
"It's too late!" Han yelled. "Get on the ship!"
"Now, Leia," Luke echoed frantically. "Get on, hurry! There's nothing you can do!" Acknowledging his words, Leia turned and ran for the ship, scrambling up the ramp after Han and Chewie, with Luke just behind her. She jabbed the controls, causing the door to rise and close tightly as Han started the ship up, powering up the shields as the troopers realized what was going on and started firing wildly. The ship's engines whined in protest at the abrupt start, with no warm-up sequence, but she held together.
"I hope the old man managed to get that tractor beam out of commission," Han growled. "Or this is going to be one short escape." The ship swooped upwards and out of the hangar, clear of the blaster fire. Leia sighed and slumped in relief. "Don't get comfortable," Han said grimly. "We're not out yet. We've still got the sentry ships." Chewie growled, and Han stood up quickly as the computer readouts began to bleep, signifying enemy ships approaching. "Angle the deflector shields, Chewie," Han ordered. "I'm going to power up the main guns." He turned to look at Leia. "Can you shoot a ship?"
"Yes," Leia said.
"Then come on!" Han yelled, already heading for the gun ports. "Take the bottom," he ordered, climbing the ladder. Leia slid down into the lower port, slithering into the harness behind the laser cannon. She slid the headset over her head in time to hear Han's voice. "You in, Princess?" He asked. "Okay, stay sharp, here they come."
Leia took a deep breath and adjusted her grip on the cannon, nodding her head. A TIE zipped across her field of vision and she traced it, spitting green lasers. Missed. Took another deep breath. In the upper port, Han followed a TIE with his lasers, back and forth across the gun port as the TIE spun crazily to avoid the fire. A moment later, it exploded in a brilliant mushroom of flame.
"Yes!" Han laughed.
"Don't think," Luke said in Leia's ear. "Just feel." Leia took another deep breath, closing her eyes. She opened them again just as a TIE blasted towards her port, lasers spitting. As if in a dream, she fired once. The lasers sliced into the ship, causing it to blaze apart. She swiveled in the seat, scanning for the other two. Moments later, she scored another hit, the TIE bursting into flames and snuffing out abruptly. Han scored the last one just seconds later, and abruptly the Falcon was clear. Han whooped in delight and relief.
"Good job," Luke said, smiling at her. Leia let out a long breath of relief and smiled back.
"Boy," she said, releasing herself, "am I glad to be out of there."
"I'm sure," Luke said, grinning at her. He looked oddly…tired, she thought. Strange… "Come on," Luke said, standing up. "There is something you need to have." Curious, Leia followed. Luke pointed at the floor. "The panels open," he explained at her puzzled look. "Pull that one up." She did so, prying it up with her long fingernails. Underneath was a deep space.
"Smuggling holds," Luke said. He pointed at the old brown bag within. "Ben's bag. He would have wanted you to have what is inside it." Luke stared at her, his face unreadable. "It was my father's," he said quietly. Blinking, Leia jumped in and grabbed the bag before heaving herself out. Opening it, she saw an extra pair of clothing and a long silver cylinder. It was a lightsaber.
In surprise, Leia looked up at her brother, and then blinked.
He was gone.