Hi everyone! Happy late Thanksgiving to all my fellow American readers. Sorry for the two-week cliffhanger that I left you on. Meanwhile, last night's Resistance episode was AWESOME! I'm really getting into the character of Yeager and I have many theories...
Anyways, Tuesdays have now become the most busy day of the week for me, so I'll try to make posts every other Monday. Sorry. Blame school.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or any of its characters. Those go to Disney and Lucasfilm.
(Published 11.26.18)
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Failed Plan
3 BBY
Han calmly walked down the ramp of the Falcon. He and Chewie always got out of situations like this… although he was still unsure how they had found him. Besides, he had been told not to resist arrest. Not that he normally followed directions, of course. He was a smuggler. But today, it was different.
No, they was no way that they could have tracked the Falcon all the way to that rebel fleet…
He wanted to find out what this was all about.
The doors hissed opened and the partners were greeted with about a dozen blasters.
"Alright, let's get this blasted thing over with," Han yelled to the officer in charge.
"Yes, we will get it over with, once you kindly lay down your weapons and come with me," the officer said, revealing himself, and Han almost had to laugh.
He certainly didn't look like your average Imperial officer. Han knew them to be older and more sour, but this one looked as if he had something sarcastic to say at every second and was younger that he would have anticipated, with blonde hair.
Han scoffed. "Yeah, and why should anyone listen to you?"
He ignored him. "Troopers, bring them to my office. We'll have a little chat," said the officer, still with that dry attitude.
Before Han could even grasp his blaster, the troopers turned on him and Chewie and grabbed their wrists.
But they didn't know the power of a Wookie.
Chewbacca's fury came out, and the stormtroopers were flung across the hangar, flailing wildly.
Han saw his chance, and kicked the two troopers holding onto him. "Chewie!" he yelled. "Come on!"
But instead, he felt a pain in his back, no doubt the shot of a stun bolt (Don't ask how he knew the feeling, he had been hit with stun bolts many times).
The last thing he saw was Chewie being restrained and he heard the officer's sleek voice: "I thought I told you not to resist arrest."
"Your form is getting worse, Captain," Ahsoka teased.
Rex scrunched up his nose. "Oh, come on, I was never good at Sabacc."
Ahsoka put down her final card and smirked. "Exactly."
Rex cursed, then looked to Luke, who had been staring intently at the game the entire time.
"So that's sabacc?" he asked. "I only ever played dejarik with my friends."
"We only have limited credits, so most of it isn't used on stupid things like Sabacc," the clone pointed out. "If you've got enough credits, the game can be much more interesting that it just was."
"I'm reminded of a certain time the boys and us would play Sabacc, except it was for rations instead!" Ahsoka laughed, remembering the war.
"Ugh, those rations were disgusting."
"Rations?" said Luke.
Ahsoka nodded. "During the war, the GAR had to eat these gross rations, although some were better than others. So sometimes before eating, the clones would play Sabacc to see who would get the better rations. Even me and Anakin joined in sometimes."
"She's trying to brag. Ahsoka always won the best rations. Some brothers thought she was cheating, but then they saw your dad play." Rex and Ahsoka looked at each other and started laughing.
Ahsoka said, "Your dad is terrible at Sabacc! It was sad watching him play."
"Really?" Luke asked, laughing along.
Suddenly, footsteps came from down the hallway. It was Anakin.
"Well, speak of the devil. General - "
"Han Solo is in trouble," he said, not with concern, but purpose.
"Han?" Luke asked. "How do you know?"
"It doesn't matter, we have to find him."
"I thought you didn't like him," said Ahsoka.
"I like his copilot, but it's true, I don't like him," Anakin explained and, stopping Luke's protest, continued, "He knows where the fleet is. If he reveals it for his own sake - "
"Which he wouldn't," said Luke angrily.
"Yes, but if he did, it would compromise one of Bail Organa's entire fleets. Fighters, cruisers, it wouldn't matter. The Empire would wipe us out."
"They we have to go to Lothal. Han said that he and Chewie were going to Lothal," added Luke again.
"Then we're going to Lothal," smiled Ahsoka confidently.
Anakin grimaced. "Uh, no. I'm going alone. It's too dangerous."
"What do you think Rex and I have been doing the last fifteen years?" she asked incredulously.
Anakin sighed. "I'm going alone."
"I want to come," whined Luke, sounding much younger than his years.
"You're not coming. A Star Destroyer isn't the place for a sixteen year old kid."
"I was fourteen when I started fighting in the war," Ahsoka pointed out.
"And I was younger," said Rex, confusing Luke, but he didn't bother to ask.
Ahsoka continued, "Look, you should let him go. Luke should get the experience."
"Yeah, I should!" he said confidently, giving his father a glare.
"Fine! But if something happens, I'm blaming you," he told Ahsoka.
"Yes!" said Luke. "When are we going?"
Anakin shrugged. "As soon as possible. But there's one problem; we need a shuttle, and codes."
"We've got that covered," said Rex.
"Uh… how?" said the Jedi.
Ahsoka explained, "Captured, or stolen. Wherever we need them, they seem to be there."
"Then we're leaving now," said Anakin, and fireworks went off in Luke's head.
Han woke up groggily inside a dull gray office. His hands went for his side, but they were restrained by handcuffs. The heads of two blasters were lightly jammed into his head.
Then he remembered - Imperials.
He turned his head, the blasters still held close, and saw Chewie there as well, resigned, but still growling softly. About five or six stormtroopers stood there. They knew what the Wookie could do to them.
"You're awake," said the ISB officer who had greeted them. "My name is Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau."
"Somewhere out there, someone cares." Han said sarcastically, causing a trooper to bump him on the head.
Ignoring him, Kallus continued. "I had you scanned when you came in. Han Solo," he said, surprising Han. "You and your co-pilot are being charged with treason of the Galactic Empire."
"I don't really think that's anything new, but - "
"But is it new that you've been working with a group of rebels?" asked Kallus.
He didn't even tense. "I don't take orders from anyone."
"Not even the Hutts? Crimson Dawn?" asked Kallus, this time making Han wince. "That's what I thought. Your ship was tracked from Tatooine to coordinates in clear space near the Chommell sector, where you seem to have dropped off two passengers."
Kallus now got out from behind his desk and came around to Han, getting up in his face. "Now, Captain Solo, you will tell me where the rebels that you've been doing mission for are, and the Empire might just let you go back to your smuggling business."
"That's all we've been doing! Smuggling business!" he burst out, and Chewbacca growled in agreement. Stormtroopers saw this as a threat, so they advanced closer with their blasters.
"Stand down, troopers. The Wookie won't attack when he knows his friend will be killed as soon as he strikes," the Imperial said. "Now, again. You had two passengers. Who were they? Why were they on Tatooine?"
"I won't tell you anything, because I don't know anything," lied Han smoothly.
Kallus looked down with mock pity in his eyes. "That's too bad. I apologize for this, Captain."
A black droid floated over, showing off its many needles and prongs. Han looked down, true fear coming over him. This was an interrogation droid. He had heard about them. The few survivors were never the same.
Chewie growled in anguish and began to advance, but Han yelled, "Chewie, don't!" The Wookie reluctantly sank back.
The droid came closer, and closer, and closer… but it never pierced his skin. Instead, there was a bang, and the door of the room slid open, the controls fried. Stormtroopers began to shoot, but smoke filled the room.
"Han!" yelled a youthful voice. "Come on!"
"Luke?" he said in astonishment. Chewie let out a roar and began to knock out stormtroopers. Han grabbed his confiscated blaster, following the kid through the light layer of smoke.
"Me and my dad are here, we need to get you guys out," said Luke.
Han stumbled. "Why?"
"Why? Because… you're my friend!"
They stood there for a moment until a stun bolt came flying through, but missed Luke's head by a long shot.
"Come on!" Luke yelled, and they kept running.
Anakin and his droid were at an Imperial ship already. The Jedi, although not using any of those lightsaber things, was still very skilled at blaster use and shot down more stormtroopers than Han could count.
"Solo!" shouted Anakin, obviously frustrated that he was in this mess. "Get in. We're leaving."
Han nodded, running and trying to shoot at the same time. "Chewie! Get the Falcon. We'll send you some coordinates."
The Wookie growled back, however grudgingly, and ran to the freighter.
He arrived at the ship after what seemed like an eternity. The blue and white droid closed the door and Han came sliding in.
He didn't relax until he could feel the comforting sounds of hyperspace.
"Kid… why would you do that?" Han asked, out of breath.
Luke cocked his head. "What do you mean?"
"Why would you go out there and risk your life for us?"
The kid smiled. "I already told you."
The ride was particularly uneventful, except for the droid R2-D2's snide comments once in a while.
They came out of hyperspace near a planet that was unfamiliar to Han. The Falcon docked near a command ship.
"Thanks, Mr. Skywalker. I owe you a lot. You too, kid," Han said, looking towards Luke.
Anakin shrugged. "Yeah, just don't put us through that trouble again. Though, I can't say I didn't enjoy the action a bit."
Luke's eyes widened. Dad enjoying action? That seemed pretty unbelievable. He spoke, "Han, if you ever want to come help…" He tapped his jacket pocket, which held the comlink.
"Yeah, I know. Thanks."
"We need pilots like you. Oh, and don't get captured by any more Imperials!" said Anakin, leading him out.
Han laughed. "I won't, that's for sure."
When the smuggler had gotten to his ship, Ahsoka and Padmé walked in.
"We were just about to come get you," said Padmé.
"Sometimes I don't need saving," Anakin protested.
"Yeah, but most of the time you do!" Ahsoka said cheekily.
Suddenly, Luke's stomach grumbled, and he realized how hungry he actually was.
Padmé - his mother - put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry. There's some food in the mess hall."
Mother and son walked off in the direction of the mess, while Ahsoka and Anakin stayed behind.
"Anakin," she started saying. "I need some help."
"With what?"
"The Emperor has these Force-sensitive agents that have been a pain for a while," she explained. "They're called Inquisitors."
In the canon comic Star Wars Adventures, there's an issue where Han and Kallus meet. I've never read it (although I want to), but I wrote this chapter way before that comic came out. Anyway, this is AU and I can do what I want!
Also, I wrote this a long time before the Resistance episode "Synara's Score" came out, so the awkward part about "You're my friend!" was not taken from that episode. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, at the end of the episode, Tam saves Synara from pirates and she's like, "That's what friends are for!" and I cringed a lot. Reading this chapter again strongly reminded me of that moment.
CloneWarsNerdl Thanks! That moment is a particular favorite of mine.
Guest: Thank you for reading. I'm glad you find it interesting!
BooksAreEverything3: Thank you! I love writing sappy moments. I really hope that cliffhanger was worth it.
Also, if Just a Crazy-Man or gabeherndon308 is reading this, I will try to get back to you guys as soon as possible. I'm pretty busy right now, but you guys have some great ideas that I'm excited about.
Thanks to everyone who followed and favorited this story. May the Force be with you and God bless!
-HH