AN-Reminder: Disclaimer: We all know that I do not own any recognizable characters in this story. However, Lonny and Maria are mine. This is definitely AU and written just for fun (and because I could not get the idea out of my head until I attempted to do something about it). I apologize in advance if anyone else out there has come up with this idea, but know that it would be purely coincidence, as I have never read Star Wars fanfic and have only recently seen the original trilogy, so it is very possible that I am entering territory that has already been explored.

Note: Truce at Bakura did not take place.

"Take strength from those that need you"

("Two Worlds" by Phil Collins)

Chapter 15

It was now getting dark enough for Lonny to be able to head out, but only if he was careful to stay in the shadows. Very carefully, he snuck out of the cave and headed down the hill. Ducking behind a boulder, he peeked back over his shoulder at the cave. There was no sign of life anywhere near it. 'Good. Maybe no one will go near it while I am gone.' He hid the canteen under his shirt to keep it from giving away his position, took a deep breath, and continued on, hoping that all three would be as he had left them upon his return…

Luke now knew what he must do. He could sense that his sister would not be here very soon, but why not? He replayed his last attempt to talk to her, to make her understand that he had encountered trouble. Then it hit him. He had not finished his description of the system! He realized that his only hope of being rescued, if he managed to escape, was to try to contact his sister through the Force again, though he was tired.

'Leia, can you hear me? If you can, you have to hurry. I do not know how much longer I can hang on… Oh, and Leia...'

"Which one is it?" she growled in frustration.

They had been looking through star charts, attempting to determine the location that Luke had described to her. 'A village burning on the seventh moon of a purplish planet, last of three. What did he mean? How many dozens of star systems out there could possibly match that description?' Already, they had found five such possible systems: three planets, the last one had at least seven moons, in each.

"Maybe he meant that he is on the seventh moon of the last planet in the system. Maybe there are three other planets in the system, placing him on the fourth planet, not the third," Han suggested. "Or maybe he meant that there are three purple planets in the system?"

"I know what he told me. He meant every word that he said, exactly as he said it. He would not waste time and energy doing otherwise, especially if he had to make his message brief," Leia countered. 'I sure hope that he is able to give more specific directions to me, and soon, before I do something that I will regret later. Han is really starting to annoy me, suggesting that I did not hear Luke correctly.'

"Leia, can you hear me? If you can, you have to hurry. I do not know how much longer I can hang on…"

"Luke?" She walked a distance away from the others. "What is going on? Where are you? I cannot figure out where you are. I have it narrowed down quite a bit, but do not know which one! You must tell me!" She was frantic and did not even know if he could tell if she had answered him or not. All she wanted were answers and reassurance that he was still alive for her to find.

"Oh, and Leia, look for a triple star."

With a new goal in mind, she ran back to the others and grabbed a star chart. Frantically, her eyes scanned over first one area, then another. Glancing up, she noticed that everyone was just staring at her. "Do not just stand there, help me look for the system that my brother went to!" she demanded. They just looked at her wearily. "Look for a system with three planets and a triple star," she ordered.

"A triple star?" Han asked doubtfully.

"You heard me. My brother is out there somewhere and needs our help. He went to a system that contains a triple star. How many can there possibly be?"

"And what if there is no such system?" he countered.

"There is." 'There has to be…'

AN: Sorry I didn't update sooner... I haven't been feeling the greatest this past week...(not to mention being busy with school... :-( ... Anyways, here's an update for you, and hopefully it won't take so long to get the next one up...

okanabe: WOW! Sounds like you've been really busy! "...the edge of my computer chair!" -blushes- Well, thanks! I didn't realize that it was that full of suspense... By the way, enjoying YOUR story... Keep up the good work!

AN -Remember- "Friendly Banter" is a series of replies (back and forth) between myself and a friend of mine... No one really gets hurt...just a bunch of senseless talk... -glances below- Uhh... Anyways...we sent these responses back and forth late at night, so we weren't really ourselves...-gulps nervously, hoping no one decides to take offense- Just a bunch of silliness, I mean it!

"Friendly Banter", part 5:

JCPuzzler: ----spins around suddenly---- WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET OFF THE STAGE! STOP TALKING TO -MY- AUDIENCE! ----takes several deep breaths---- ----smirks in satisfaction as 'friend' dashes off stage---- ----clears throats and turns to audience---- Now then, would someone please tell me -what- exactly this little ----glances back---- umm...friend of mine...has been telling you? ----smiles pleasantly at audience, before shooting an annoyed look in direction of said 'friend'---- ----yells at friend---- I heard that! -Now- you're gonna get it! ----remembers audience---- Oops...heh heh heh...just kidding... Okay, I'll see you all in a little bit... ----smiles nervously---- ----dashes off to tackle friend----

Arami: Aiii, hel...umphh! ----crowd hears the thud as JCPuzzler tackles friend---- ----The curtains suddenly warp from body rolling against it, rippppp.---- ----uh-oh, crowd looks on nervously at now ripped curtain, muffled screams being heard.---- ----Arami shrieks---- Get off of me! ----Crash/Splash!---- Haha! Arami triumphs over evil once again! ----Walks out slowly limping---- "I told you she wasn't innocent." ----looks out at the now silent crowd---- You heard her yourselves before she tackled me! ----crowd begins to murmur to themselves----