Tallis sighed as she stared at the complicated wires and circuits above her, trying to remember certain tips and tricks a good friend once taught a silly child who needed to be entertained every five seconds. The x-wing was Luke's, and while he was at his meeting, Tallis had decided to help Artoo work on the ship that still needed a few tune ups before it could work at its best again.
At the moment, Artoo was doing most of the work while Tallis lay on her back under the ship, attempting to untangle a mass of wires.
So intent on this annoying task was she, that Tallis did not realize the x-wing's landing gear had not been properly set when she and Artoo got to work.
Suddenly the ship creaked and swayed. Tallis realized what was happening to late to get out and instead quickly pressed her hand to the metal belly of the ship, the Force taking only a second to stop the descent.
But it was heavy. Very heavy.
Tallis held her breath. While she could call upon the Force with adequate control she could not always so easily use it and focus on something else, even just shouting for help. She would count herself rather lucky when footsteps sounded near the x-wing. Booted feet suddenly climbed up into the ship and a moment later the landing gear was moving back in place. Tallis lifted the ship just a bit more, waiting til the gear was completely in place before finally relaxing.
"Thank you." Tallis breathed as she slide out from the ship, smiling up at a strange man in a Rebel pilot suit she had not met as of yet.
"No problem, kid. Just pay for attention next time or you might get squashed." The man said with a soft, humorous smile. "
The man was much older than Tallis, perhaps middle aged or slightly above, he had aged well despite that. Faint wrinkles showed around his eyes and mouth while he smiled, his skin was somewhere between being fair and being rather tan, his hair a pitch black and his eyes were a greenish brown and hooded. Overall, a rather handsome gentleman as he extended his hand to Tallis, who happily shook it.
"No, really, thank you. I'm Tallis, and if there's anything I can do for you Mister . . . ?" Tallis grinned slightly, to which the man shook his head in amusement and sighed.
"I'm Nico, Orkren. I'll keep that favor in mind." He said, tapping his temple for emphasis. "For now, just stay safe and be kind." Nico said gently before hurrying off, no doubt to tend his duties around base.
Tallis watched him go, and nodded. If that was the only thing he asked for now.
"Tallis!"
Tallis spun around, her heart nearly jumping up her throat. "Luke!" She snapped as Luke ran up to her. "Don't do that! You know I hate it when you shout." She scolded as Luke practically skidded to a stop.
"Sorry," Luke said in a sarcastic whisper as he grabbed her hand and pulled her off.
"Where are we going?" Tallis asked, not once resisting his abrupt grab and pull. If anyone else did such a thing Tallis would not have been very happy, but Luke was her friend, and this was obviously important as they left the temple's modified hangar bay, finding privacy among the junk outside.
"Luke, if this is about Leia, all you have to do is pick some flowers and write a cute poem. Girls love that kind of stuff." Tallis teased as Luke set her down on a crate and started to look around to make sure no one eavesdropped.
"What? No! Tallis focus!" Luke exclaimed in exasperation. "Where's Obi-Wan?"
"Resting." Tallis replied while raising an eyebrow at Luke. "What's going on?"
Luke sighed and sat down on a crate facing her, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion. Or exasperation. "The Empire put a bounty out."
Tallis tilted her head slightly. "On who?" She asked, although Tallis was pretty sure she had an answer already.
"Me." Luke replied, wringing his hands slowly as he glanced up at Tallis.
"For what cause?" Tallis continued to inquire.
Luke shook his head. "Well, they don't exactly know it's me, but they're offering a million credits for the pilot who destroyed the Death Star. Dead or alive."
Tallis felt a scowl covering her face. "What is the leadership doing about this?"
"They've already classified the details and you should be getting a notice soon to keep your silence." Luke explained with a sigh. "I just wanted to tell you and Han first. Do you know where he is?"
A soft smile touched the togruta's blue face. Luke really was attached to Captain Han Solo. Not only did he always step up to defend Han's honor, he also believed Han was true in every way, that Han was his friend and would never leave them despite threatening to every chance the smuggler got.
"He's with Chewie in the Falcon, something about faulty wiring they have to fix."
Luke nodded and smiled. "Thanks Tallis. I'll see you and Obi-Wan in a bit." Standing up, Luke started to head out but Tallis reached out and touched his arm.
"Promise to be careful? Secrets this big often don't take long to get out." Tallis reasoned, dropping her hand from Luke's arm as her friend nodded his promise and raced off to find the smuggler.
~~~
Luke climbed up the ramp of the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo's pride and joy for reasons unknown. The ship was worse off that Luke's burnt down home on Tatooine, but he'd never say such things to his friend. Poking his head into a corridor, Luke listened a moment before hearing a loud grunt of frustration.
Jackpot.
Luke walked down the corridor til he came upon a most strange sight. A panel in the lower wall was lifted away, exposing a small space inside where a pair of boots wiggled about. Chewbacca was nearby, taking tools out and sliding tools back into the small space as his human friend continued to tinker away in the no doubt claustrophobic area.
"Han? What're you doing?" Luke asked, forgetting his reason for being here as a thump sounded in the space. The shiny black boots moved out into the corridor, followed by the rest of the roguish scoundrel.
"Well, something burned out this side and the lights have been goin' on and off. So what do ya think I'm doin', Kid?" Han asked sarcastically, tugging his work gloves off and swiping away sweat as he spoke.
Luke grinned slightly. "Attempting to fix it?" He guessed as Han headed for the lounge area.
"Right." Han replied curtly. It did not bother Luke as he sat down at the dejarik table while Han went to the big surveillance console, most likely to see if his efforts had been in vain or not.
"So what brings you here Kid? Finally got your head on straight?" Han asked a bit more cheerfully as he turned to face Luke.
Luke grinned and shook his head. "Nah, I'm just here to say the Empire's gunning for me in a way, and you're my friend. I wanted to tell you."
Han frowned, more concern than Luke had foreseen flickered across the pirate's hazel brown eyes. "Well, it was only a matter of time." The concern vanished for humor. "Now you get why I hate Jabba's bounty on my head."
Luke shrugged. "Not really, I'm still going to stay here. I'm not running."
Han pinched the bridge of his nose and came to sit down across from Luke. "Luke, hey I ain't going to deny that I do give a damn what happens to you. So let me give you some advice." Han looked grim, about to say something important and Luke listened.
"Get out of here, as far away from the rebels as possible. It's only a matter of time before the Imps find out who you are and kill you. Pack your things and I'll get you to a different planet, any kriffing planet you want! Bring the old man and Blue along if you like! But it's suicide to stay here."
Han was serious. Very serious and genuinely worried. Luke could see it and it touched him to know Han did care and even showed it. And yet, this advice he gave was not what Luke wanted to hear, much less follow. He wanted to stay with Leia, he wanted to fight! His family was murdered by the Imperials and Leia's planet was obliterated because of them. He could not run away when he could do something, anything, to help those in need.
So slowly, Luke shook his head. "I appreciate it Han, I really do. But I can't go."
Han sat back against the flat cushioned seat and sighed. "Then all I can do is wish you luck."
"There's no such thing as luck." Luke replied with a slight grin.
Han snorted in half baked amusement. "Sure Kid, sure."
"When are you going to leave us?" Luke asked curiously after a small stretch of silence urged him to speak.
Han shrugged. "Once the ship is in tip top shape Chewie and I will go off to pay Jabba and get back to work. So soon I figure."
Luke smirked and stood up. "Sure thing Han."
"For real, Kid. Don't get your hopes up." Han scolded.
Luke grinned and raised his hands innocently. "Consider them normal
I'll see you at dinner." He said before heading back out.
Luke descended the Falcon's ramp with a slight jog in his step, eyesight given to the temple's hangar bay and an x-wing about to take off.
Distracted by the impressive metal bird, he did not notice a crate in his path until his hip bumping into the corner.
"Ow." Luke muttered, stopping to rub the sore spot. An alarm seemed to ring in the back of his brain. A warning. An instinct, like the instinct on the Death Star.
Luke acted as his hand hit the anti-gravity field on the crate. He then pushed it as hard as he could away from the Falcon. His efforts were not in vain when it came to saving the ship. However, the bomb Luke had sensed within was still strong enough to hurt people and items smaller than the Corellian freighter.
A blast of fire ripped apart the crate, the shock wave threw Luke back. His body viciously caught by fire and twisted metal shrapnel. Like a rag doll his body smashed into the ship's landing gear and lower haul. There he crumbled, completely unconscious. Dying.
