Chapter 7 – For a Price
The cantina was dimly lit. Leia's eyes, inured to the vicious afternoon light of Tatooine's two suns, took some time to adjust. She followed Luke down a short flight of stairs. There was a U-shaped bar, tended by a gruff-looking man. Milling about the cantina was a diverse cast of aliens, dozens of species, some of which Leia had never seen before. She knew it was wrong of her, xenophobic, but she found them frightening.
It had nothing to do with their species, Leia told herself. This was a rough place. She had every right to be on guard. Tucked under her waistband was the DL-22. Her hand hovered by her hip.
"I don't know about this," Luke mumbled.
"This was your idea!" Leia hissed.
"It was, but…" Luke gulped. "It'll be fine. Let's get a drink."
They walked to the bar, assuming their spot at the only available opening, like a ship docking into port. They kept their eyes low, not wanting to draw attention to themselves.
The bartender came their way. In a gravelly voice, he said, "Whaddya want?"
"Two, um…" Luke looked at her. Leia looked at the bar taps, a complicated apparatus of dull metal cylinders and brass tubes.
"Do you have Paricha?" she asked.
The bartender blinked. "Paricha?"
"Yeah. Paricha."
"Never heard of it."
"Oh." Leia frowned. Why had that popped into her head? She hadn't had Paricha in years, not since she left Alderaan. "Never mind then."
"You've got to order something," the bartender barked.
"We'll take whatever's cheapest," Luke said.
"Strapped for cash, eh? Looking for work?"
"We're looking for a ride out of here. Can you help us?"
The bartender shrugged. "There's all sorts of folk that come through my bar," he said. "Ask around. I'm sure someone can help you out." He turned away to fix up their drinks.
"Thanks for nothing," Luke said.
"Maybe he would have been more helpful had we gotten a more expensive drink," Leia said.
"With what money?"
They had left the sack with the credits in the speeder. Luke assured her the odds of being robbed were slim since they parked in broad daylight. Here in the cantina, things were much dicier.
The bartender returned with their drinks. Luke paid with the spare change in his pockets. While he dealt with that, Leia attempted a sip. It was a frothy beverage, colorless and odorless. But this innocuous appearance belied its pungent taste, and Leia felt her eyes watering when the caustic liquid went down her throat.
"Ugh," she said, sputtering. Her sinuses flared up, and she wasn't sure whether to sneeze or cough. "That's horrible," she said when the bartender walked away. "What is this stuff?"
"No idea," Luke said. He didn't bother drinking, having delegated that to her. He leaned forward, swirling the glass in a circular motion, scraping against the dented table. He didn't seem to notice the grating noise it caused. Leia did, and she winced.
"Stop that," she said.
"Stop what?"
"That."
She pointed. Luke looked down.
"Oh I'm sorry, am I annoying you?"
"Yeah, you are."
Luke proceeded to swirl the glass even faster.
"You're an idiot," Leia said.
Luke assented with a grin.
"Hey!"
The two of them jumped. Absorbed in their banter, neither noticed a trio of aliens approach. The two on the left, bug-eyed creatures with grizzly whiskers and antennae, were saying something in a foreign language, their speech a sibilant staccato of clicks and growls.
"I'm sorry, I can't understand you," Luke said, and Leia was amused to see his arm extended in front of her defensively. He may be juvenile, but at least Luke fashioned himself a gentleman.
"My friends here have sensitive ears," said the aliens' human companion, a heavy-set man with a prickly beard.
"Do they?" Leia said. The insectoids had smooth heads without ears or even ear holes.
"They feel the vibrations," the man elaborated. "It upsets them."
"I'm sorry," Luke said. "I didn't mean to –"
One of the insectoids grabbed Luke by the collar with a three-fingered appendage.
"Let him go!" Leia demanded.
"You don't understand," the man said. "My friends don't take kindly to being toyed with."
"We weren't –" Luke tried to say, but the insectoid cut him off with an astringent hiss.
"I'm sure there's a way to make this right," the man said.
"We don't have any money," Leia said.
"Money? Who said anything about money?"
"Tell your friends to back off."
"Oh yeah? Or what?"
Leia was about to draw her blaster when a voice from behind startled her.
"There you are! I've been looking all over for you two."
Leia swung her head around to see a lanky man swaggering to the bar, thumbs hitched to the belt loops of his pants. He wore a cargo vest and a collared shirt held together by just two buttons, a V-shaped section of his bronze chest proudly on display. He had wavy brown hair, which he brushed aside as he smiled, strutting toward Leia and draping a casual arm around her shoulder.
"Alemay, is that you?" he said, squinting at the other man.
"Solo," said Alemay.
"What are you doing with my friends?"
"These are friends of yours?"
"Acquaintances," said Solo.
Alemay frowned.
"I know your hustle, Alemay," Solo continued. "Do me a solid and pick another target. These kids aren't worth your time."
"If you say so."
"I do."
Alemay scowled. Then he said something to the two insectoids. The belligerent one released Luke with a shove.
"Glad you can be reasoned with, Alemay," said Solo. "You good, kid?" he asked Luke.
"Yeah," Luke said, patting himself down. "Good."
"Come on, then." Arm still clasped to her shoulder, Solo steered her around and away from the bar toward a secluded alcove.
"Let go of me," Leia requested.
"What?" Solo said. "Getting a little hot under the collar, are you?"
Leia shoved him away. Solo, surprised by her strength, staggered a bit, running into the bar and cursing.
"Creep," she bit out.
"Leia!" Luke said, rushing toward her.
"Keep it cool, kid," said Solo, straightening himself out, even keel in a flash. "I just saved your ass, okay? That guy back there, Alemay. He's a con artist. Most of his sort are harmless. They'll rob you blind, but they won't hurt you. Alemay's different. He won't hesitate to kill you if you rub him the wrong way."
"But we didn't do anything!" Luke said.
"That's the point," Solo said. "Come on. Sit down."
He turned away. Leia seethed at him as he went. She didn't like this man, not one bit. Although she was grateful for his assistance, she didn't know why he had done it. He didn't strike her as the altruistic sort. He must want something from them.
"Are you okay?" Luke asked her.
Leia shrugged off the question. "Let's hear him out."
Solo sat at a circular table, reclining, his fingers playing at the cracks in the wall above his head. Next to him was a large, furry creature. A Wookiee, Leia realized.
"Sit," said Solo.
Luke sat, Leia belatedly followed.
"Who are you?" Luke asked.
"The name's Han Solo." He hooked a thumb to the Wookiee. "This is Chewbacca."
Luke nodded nervously to the Wookiee who growled something in greeting.
"What do you want from us?" Leia asked, getting straight to the point.
"Chewie overheard your conversation with Wuher at the bar. Said you wanted a ride out of here. We can help you with that."
Luke and Leia traded looks. It seemed too good to be true. "Really?" Luke said.
"For a price."
"We can't pay you," Luke said. "Not now, at least."
"How much can you put up front?"
"Five –" Luke began. Leia cut him off.
"– Thousand."
Luke's eyes bulged.
"We can pay you five thousand up front," Leia said. "We'll add ten thousand at the destination. Fifteen thousand total."
Solo nodded, his lips a moue. "That's a lot of money. You must want out of here real bad."
"You could say that," Leia said.
Solo leaned forward, lowered his voice. "So what's the deal? You're on the run, I take it? Who's chasing?"
"None of your concern," Leia said.
"It's not the Hutts, is it?" Leia didn't corroborate, but Solo was shaking his head. "No. If you were in trouble with Jabba, you'd be dead or in cuffs by now. Someone else, then." His eyes sharpened. "Hold on. Folks have been grumbling about stormtroopers on patrol. You're not in trouble with the Empire, are you?"
Leia's grim expression served as confirmation.
"Oh, that's just swell," said Solo. "Usually the Empire never comes near this rock. What did you two do to get them all riled up?"
"Can you get us out of here or not?" Luke asked.
"Evading the Empire can be tricky," Solo said. "Not to mention dangerous. It's gonna cost you extra."
"More than fifteen thousand?" Leia said. "You said yourself that was a generous sum."
"Depends on where we're going," Solo said. "You want to escape the Empire, right? I'd say the Outer Rim is your best bet, but you're already out here, and look what good that did for you? No, you've got to get out further. Wild Space, probably. Maybe even the Unknown Regions."
"We're going to the Core," Leia said.
"We are?" Luke said.
Solo hitched a brow. "Did you listen to a word I said?"
"We'll be safe there," Leia said. "On Alderaan. That's where we need to go."
Luke touched her arm. "Alderaan? Are you sure?"
"Completely," Leia said, not meeting his gaze. She felt very tense.
"That's your choice, sweetheart," Solo said. "But if Alderaan's where you're headed, I'm gonna have to tack on an extra five thousand to your fee."
"Twenty thousand? That's absurd!"
"Take it or leave it."
"But why?" Luke asked. "Alderaan's not far from here."
"It's in the Core, kid. That's a dangerous place for people like you and me."
"What do you mean?"
"You're a fugitive. I'm a smuggler. Let's just say, the Empire's not too fond of either of us."
"We'll be safe in the system," Leia said. "And it's a direct hyperlane journey. The only dangerous part will be getting off Tatooine. There's no reason to hike up our fee."
"There's no reason for me to give you a trip out of here in the first place," Solo countered. "I'm taking a big risk helping you two."
Leia chewed on her lower lip as she considered. "Twenty thousand?" she said.
"That's the offer."
"Fine."
"Five thousand up front. Fifteen when we get there."
"Sure."
"All right, then. You got the credits with you?"
"Uh… no."
"Then where are they?"
"In our speeder," Luke said. "We can meet you at the hangar and pay you then."
Leia realized what Luke was doing. They didn't have the credits. But if Solo was foolish enough to let them pay at the docks rather than here in the cantina, she and Luke could commandeer his ship and take off by themselves. After all, they didn't need Solo to fly the ship, since Leia was more than capable. It was a nefarious plan. One which Leia relished. She couldn't wait to see the smug look wiped off Solo's face!
"Give me some time to prep the Falcon," said Solo. "We'll leave at 1600 sharp. That's three hours from now."
"Great," Luke said, and Leia felt her spirits soar. Stupid Solo! He didn't consider them a threat. Think again, laser brain!
Solo must have seen the look on her face, because he frowned. "What are you so happy about?"
"I'm excited, that's all," Leia said. "I'm finally going home."
But now the smile faded. Dread replaced her giddiness.
I'm going home.
Δ Δ Δ
Vader approached the dais. He steeled himself with a breath. The air of the respirator tasted stale.
The communications room was dark. Blue lights shone from the base of the dais, bathing the shadows in cold colors. Despite the temperature control inside his suit, Vader felt the chill, not against his skin, but within his person. His spine tingled, his teeth chattered.
He kneeled.
And waited.
His master often kept him waiting. It was his way of flaunting the power he had over Vader. You, as my apprentice, must drop everything to answer my summons, but I, the master, may take all the time I need. Typically, Vader didn't mind. While it hurt to kneel, in waiting, in servile obedience, at least it granted him time to prepare, to shield himself, to allay his anger.
Today, Vader could not hope to calm himself. For he was furious.
"Lord Vader," he had heard over the com in his helmet, "the Emperor demands you make contact."
Not now! How could he interrupt him now? Vader was so close. He could sense it! The girl was near. He had to find her before she slipped away.
For a moment, for several in fact, Vader considered defying him. No, my Master. I will not make contact. I will not bow before you.
But that thought had been accompanied by a fiery fear. What was he without his master? Where would he be without his munificence? Nothing. Nowhere.
So he gritted his teeth and left Tatooine for the Prerogative. And here he waited, the seconds ticking by, the odds of finding his daughter growing slimmer by the minute.
Finally, the Emperor's hologram appeared. It was just his face, enormous and textured.
"Lord Vader," he said.
Vader bowed his head. "Master."
"I sensed a disturbance in the Force."
Vader was still.
"Do you know anything about this?"
"I do," said Vader. "Kenobi. I killed him."
The Emperor did not react. He stared at Vader, as if waiting for more.
"He was on Tatooine," Vader said.
"Tatooine."
"Yes Master."
"How did you find yourself on Tatooine?"
Vader tensed. "My arrival on Palaam precipitated an uprising by some of the students."
"An uprising, you say?"
"A small group of Rebel sympathizers. They were dealt with accordingly."
"Very well," said the Emperor. "And?"
"One escaped. A girl."
The Emperor waited.
"I tracked her to Tatooine. That was when I found Kenobi."
"This girl," said the Emperor, slowly, sinister. "You are intent to find her yourself. Why?"
Vader was ready.
"I believe she is Force-sensitive."
The Emperor was intrigued. "Is that so?"
"I know it."
Again, the Emperor waited. Vader continued.
"She is powerful, but untrained. With Kenobi dead, she does not pose a threat to us. The last of the Jedi are gone."
"You are arrogant, Lord Vader," the Emperor said. "Kenobi is irrelevant. He is a relic of old. This girl, the children of the Force, they are all our enemies. They represent hope for the Jedi, for the light side of the Force." He said the word, hope, with the utmost contempt. Vader flinched. "She must be destroyed."
No, thought Vader. You will be destroyed.
He hadn't meant to think it. And yet he had. How could he be so foolish?
And how could he be so brazen? He could not defy his master! He would never turn against him. He would lie to him, withhold the truth, but never betray him. He could not. He was unable.
"I sense… disquiet," the Emperor drawled. "You are agitated, my friend."
"I wish to resume my search for the girl," said Vader.
"And you will," said the Emperor. "But for now, you are needed elsewhere."
Vader wanted to leap to his feet, but he had neither the dexterity nor the requisite defiance to attempt such a stunt. Instead he merely asked, "Elsewhere, Master?"
"Yes," said the Emperor, and Vader detected a smug satisfaction. He knew Vader wanted to return to Tatooine, although he couldn't possibly know how desperately. He didn't know Vader was not pursuing some girl, but his own flesh and blood. Even still, the Emperor derived great pleasure from making sure Vader experienced none of his own.
"I am your humble servant," Vader forced himself to say. "Where must I go?"
"To the Death Star," said the Emperor, and the smugness turned into a snarl. "After the disaster on Jedha, Director Krennic needs to be put in his place."
Vader felt a second plunge of despair. This was what he was being called away to deal with? Petty politics? Perhaps he could wheedle his way out of this.
"Master, if I may. I am close to finding the girl. Give me a standard day –"
"Your presence on Tatooine is not needed, surely," the Emperor cut in. "Leave a blockade around the planet if you must. The girl is untrained, you say? She will not escape."
Vader knew very well that she would. If he left, his daughter was as good as gone. He had to stay. Yet his master would not accept this.
And then it occurred to him that the Emperor intended for the girl to escape. He knew as well as Vader did that a full planet-wide blockade could not be assembled in time. Vader did not command a fleet like a grand admiral did, much less a single starship. He had commandeered the Prerogative and its task force of lesser cruisers for his mission to Palaam. It was not nearly enough. He needed at least three more star destroyers to secure the planet.
Why would the Emperor deliberately sabotage his efforts to find the girl? Did he sense that Vader intended to train her? How could he possibly know that? Vader himself didn't even know if he wanted to do that! Yet his master had a penchant for augury. Perhaps he detected that the girl meant more to Vader than he was letting on, and he foresaw his apprentice using her to leverage power against him. That sort of paranoia seemed very much in character for a Sith Master.
"Report to the Death Star," the Emperor ordered. "This must be your only priority. Understood?"
"Yes Master," Vader intoned.
"Good." The Emperor's face stretched thin, his lips curled into a sickly smile. "Good luck, my friend. I know you will not fail me."
Vader could not be so sure. And yet he said, "No master. I will not."
The master signed off.
And the slave stood.
I will find my daughter, he thought. One way or another, I will.
Of all the things the Emperor had taken from him, this would not be one of them.
And so it was decided, without Vader even realizing it.
He would betray his master. When the time came.
And sure enough, the time would soon come.
