Once, Jo's father had attempted to teach her how to shoot a gun. He had said it was for self-defense practice, but as Jo held the heavy weapon in her hands it had felt like a death sentence. She had barely gotten through the lesson before her nerves got the best of her. Jo decided that she despised guns after that particular day. But guns and blasters were two totally different things. They were both equally dangerous, except Jo was more apt to figuring out how to fire a gun from Earth rather than a DL-44 heavy blaster that she had only seen used in video games.
Jo still stood in the Main Hold where Han had left her. She had pulled out the blaster from the holster of the belt. It was heavy and Jo had almost dropped it in surprise. Jo was positive that Han had left the safety off. Jo instantly thought of the two stripped stormtroopers that were knocked out somewhere in the ship. She gulped and cautiously placed the gun back into the holster.
She wondered briefly if Han and Luke had made it to Leia's cell yet. She had no idea how long it had been since they had left her in the dimly lit freighter. She was abruptly pulled from her thoughts when she heard a loud muffled thunk come from the corridor. Her heart quickened and she gripped the blaster tightly. Had Han stunned the two men or had Chewbacca hit them over the head? Did that actually work? She heard more noises and movement come from the corridor. Jo took a deep breath and summoned all of the courage she had left from within herself. She considered searching for the two men just to settle her nerves. She thought against it when the weight of the blaster gripped in her hands became a burden. She didn't know how she would defend herself.
Low voices echoed through the air. Jo limped forward and clutched the weapon to her side. She pressed herself against the corridor wall once she exited the Hold. There slumped over and wide awake, were the two men. One was a bald middle aged man who held his head in his hands. The other looked barely older than her and had buzzed brown hair. He was much smaller than the bald man. They both wore light colored t-shirts and pants that resembled sweats. The brown haired boy slowly stood and groaned in pain.
"Darth Vader will personally dispose of us once he finds out who let the fugitives roam free," spat out the older man as he clawed at the sides of his head.
"I feel like a rancor sat on my head!" whined the boy.
"Blast!" the man cursed and threw a fist against the wall he was currently leaned against.
"I heard that they had managed to capture the Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan." the boy looked down towards the man. "You don't suppose that the Rebs have launched a rescue mission, do you?"
The man glared up at the boy. "No. The Rebels aren't stupid. If one is caught, it is known that they are left to die. The Rebels won't come back for her. Her fate is sealed. Besides, I heard Lord Vader has ordered for her execution." There was a long pause as the boy looked almost remorseful.
"What will we do?" he implored eventually.
"We go to Grand Moff Tarkin ourselves and admit to our mistake. Then we await our judgement." the man said and sat up on his knees.
Just as the boy opened his mouth to speak, the sharp wailing sounds of the Death Star's alarm erupted around them. The boy shut his eyes tightly and the man flashed an unsettling grin.
"They've found them!" the man hissed.
Jo gasped and instantly regretted it when the boy's head snapped to her direction.
"What was that?" the boy asked.
Jo reached one hand behind her and felt against the wall. She shuffled backwards in an attempt to get away. "There's more of them!" the man whispered and pulled himself up to his full height. The boy started walking towards Jo.
"Oh no. Oh no!" Jo muttered under her breath. She held up the blaster in defense and gripped it tightly in both of her palms.
"Hello?" the boy crept closer. "Who's there?"
"Dispose of the pleasantries and find them!" shouted the man.
Jo picked up her pace and stumbled blindly backwards. Her right foot snagged itself in Han's baggy pant legs and she tumbled back. She let out a shriek. The boy ran to her and gaped in disbelief.
"Sir, it's just a girl!" he called out to the man.
Jo hastily searched for Han's blaster that had slipped from her grip when she fell. She found it discarded a few centimeters away and crawled to it. She snatched it up and shakily pointed it at the boy.
"You stay away from me!" she growled. Tears fell from her eyes in fright. The boy backed away but stopped when the man arrived next to him. Jo pointed it at the man and then back at the boy. "I'm warning you!"
The man's nasty smile reappeared. "Go ahead!" he laughed mockingly.
Jo showed him her teeth and straightened her arms. "You don't have the posture of a killer. You are no threat to us," he made a move towards her and Jo put a finger over the trigger. He stopped.
"I'll do it." she said hoarsely. The boy looked anxiously at his friend.
"Sir," he protested. The man rolled his eyes and snatched at Jo. Jo shut her eyes and pulled the trigger. The force of the blast that followed jerked Jo's hands back and a red laser bolt zipped out. The men jumped apart and the bolt shot through the wall of the Falcon. Han would not be happy about that later. The man let out a growl and reached forward. He snatched Han's blaster from Jo's loose grip. He thrust it into his companion's hands.
'Oh God,' she panicked. The man had a dangerous glint in his eye as he hauled her up by her wrists. She struggled against his hold, but he twisted her left wrist behind her back. He pushed her forcefully against the wall she had shot at.
"Where are your friends?" he gritted out in her left ear.
Jo shook her head violently and wailed. He twisted her wrist tighter and she cried out. "Where are they!" he shouted.
"I don't know!" she choked out.
"Sir! Why don't we just take her to Tarkin ourselves?" the boy stammered. It was something he clearly wasn't about to enjoy.
The man contemplated the boy's words and shoved Jo. "If not Tarkin, Lord Vader will surely want to see her." he adjusted his other hand on the back of her neck. "Looks like you're coming with us," he whispered into her ear. Jo threw her head back in desperation, but the man yanked a handful of her hair. "None of that now!" he pulled her against him and led her away from the wall. "Go to the Loading Doors and make sure they are open!" he barked at the boy.
"Yes, sir!" the boy ran ahead as the man trekked on with Jo in his clutches.
Jo was sure Han and Luke were dealing with the giant trash compactor by now. If they weren't getting crushed, it would still be a little while more before they made it back up to the upper level. Nobody would save Jo now. Darth Vader could not get a hold of her. He would know that Jo was not of this world and had the knowledge of the galaxy. It was not wise to lie to Darth Vader.
She would have to save herself. She threw her head back again and caught the man in the chin. He cried in pain, but did not relinquish his hold. She leaned all of her dead weight against him. He was ready for her this time and tugged on her hair as hard as he could. She screeched and turned her head at an angle where she could see half of his face. She spat at him and attempted to head-butt him once more. He released her wrist and brought a fist down on her nose. He then buried his hands into her hair and led her out. Her scalp felt like it was on fire and her nose started to bleed. Her entire face felt like it was bruising.
"You kriffing harpy! I'll kill you myself!" he screamed viciously. He tugged on her hair, forcing Jo to bend over and follow his quick steps.
He got to the Loading Doors where the boy stood waiting. "Don't just stand there! Grab her!" the man bellowed. He yanked her up by the hair and twisted her left wrist back behind her. Blood poured into her mouth as the boy stared wide eyed back assessing the state she was in. He caught the look the bald man gave him and jumped into action. He latched on to her right arm. She was pushed roughly down the Loading ramp and into the bright light of the Death Star. She squinted as light flooded her vision.
"You there!" someone called out. "Halt!"
"My designation is TK-421 and this traitor belongs to the rogue fugitives! We were attacked by a wookiee and his companions. Our armor was stolen!" the man answered. Jo's eyes adjusted to the light. She let out a gasp when she found that at least ten stormtroopers surrounded them with their blasters drawn.
A few broke away from the group and marched forward to take Jo. Jo felt the boy release her. She shut her eyes briefly and said a prayer to anybody that was listening. She took a deep breath and swung her free arm at the boy. Her sharp bony elbow dug into his nose and he stumbled back in shock. She then threw all of her weight one last time against the older man and he teetered backwards. He released her hair and she swung around. She formed a fist and gave him a sharp right hook into his windpipe. He turned a deep shade of red and struggled to breathe. She whirled back around and ran towards the band of stormtroopers whom looked completely unsure of what to do.
She dove under the legs of one particularly large trooper that stood between her and the Main Bay's door. The troopers awoke from their daze and shot at her. Red laser bolts zipped around her. She ran in a zig-zag pattern to insure their missings.
"Don't kill her! Keep her alive!" TK-421 coughed out.
A stray blast barely missed her left ear. It singed a bit of her hair and she screamed. She sped up. She pattered under the big hanger door. The hallway was clear. There were four other hallways she could take. She descended down the nearest hallway to her left.
"HALT!" the stormtroopers' voices carried down the hallway, but she didn't stop. She wouldn't.
She felt her sides protest form her venture. She wished she still had Han's blaster. She would have blasted the door panels to cut off the hallway. She glanced behind her and found that she was ahead of the party. She saw the hallway end into two pathways. She took the right and collided with a metal body. The two bodies fell to the floor and Jo's forehead came down roughly onto a cool metal surface.
"Why I never!" the metal object exclaimed. Jo sat up wildly as she quickly registered C-3PO's voice. In a moment of relief and euphoria, she could have hugged the droid.
"C-3PO!" Jo cried. She began to laugh despite the tears that flowed freely.
"Mistress Jo!" the droid's voice raised. "I thought Han Solo ordered you to stay on the Millennium Falcon! R2 and I have only recently made contact with Master Luke. They should -," Jo interrupted hm and scrambled off his body. She pulled him up. He was rather heavy, but in a moment of distress she felt like the Hulk.
"They found me! I'm in trouble. You have to hide me or we will all die here!" she panted and gripped his arm.
"Oh my! We cannot move from this spot! This is the service panel. Master Luke may need us again!" Threepio explained. R2-D2 nudged Jo's leg and let out a series of beeps. "That may work, Artoo! Mistress Jo, Artoo believes he is big enough to shield you if you crouch against the panel!"
Jo gave the panel a once over. There was a corner in between the two machines. She was the exit to the Docking Bay where the Falcon was a distance away. The droids had a clear view of the ship. She nodded giving Artoo the okay and crammed her body in the tiny space. She brought her knees to her chest in the tiny space. She tried to make herself as small as possible. Artoo rolled in front of her and Threepio stood in front of the smallest droid to cover where her body could be clearly seen from behind Artoo.
She thought this was a bit silly for a hiding spot. But they didn't have any other options. It was better to hide in plain sight than to continue to run around the space station.
"There seems to be more stormtroopers gathered around Han Solo's ship now. Mistress Jo, you have alerted an entire squadron!" Threepio murmured to Artoo and Jo.
'We've alerted the whole damn space station!' she bitterly thought cursing Threepio's ability to state the obvious.
A buzzing sound vibrated through Threepio's hand. "C-3PO, do you copy?" Luke's soft voice sounded from the tiny comlink.
"For the moment," Threepio replied. "We are in the main hanger across from the ship."
'We're right above you. Stand by." Luke's voice crackled out.
Jo's nerves calmed at the sound of Luke's voice. Her sides and her chest still burned from the activities of the day. Her head ached from the collision with Threepio and she felt the dried blood crust against her mouth.
Something felt wrong. There was no way the troopers from earlier had stopped searching for her. She knew she hadn't evaded them so easily. The fact that they hadn't marched past their post unsettled Jo.
"Where could they be?" Threepio fretted after a while. Artoo's head swiveled around to face Jo. Jo jerked back in surprise. He beeped to alert Jo to give him room to access the panel she was up against.
"Oh right." she said aloud and scooted away to give him space. He plugged in to the computer socket and turned his dome back around to face Threepio. He beeped a response and Threepio raised his arms.
"Thank goodness, they are not in harm's way!" he said joyfully. Artoo beeped a few low beeps. Threepio's arms fell to his sides. "Mistress Jo, I regret to inform you that there is an order out for you. They have a description."
Jo nodded numbly. She didn't know what to think or how to react. She was now a known traitor in an unknown galaxy. "Might I suggest we leave for the Docking Bay?" Artoo whined and Jo used his dome to help herself up.
"I lost Han's blaster. I don't have anything to defend us." Jo said sorrowfully.
"We would not need it. R2 and I shall go ahead of you. Follow at a distance and if there should be any danger, we will create a diversion." Threepio turned and the droids left for the exit.
Jo gave them a two minute head start. She followed closely behind them. As they neared the exit, she observed her options for a swift escape if she should need it. The droids stopped in the center of the Docking Bay. Threepio twisted around to see how far back Jo was. When he calculated that she was close enough, he twisted back around.
"Come on, Artoo, we're going!" he assured. He stepped forward, but changed his direction when seven stormtroopers rushed away from the Falcon. He ducked out of sight momentarily and made Jo panic. He reappeared and pulled Artoo to make him roll faster to the ship.
Jo knew the stormtroopers were running to the aide of Darth Vader. Threepio ducked under the Falcon's entrance. Artoo followed and rolled up the ramp. Jo drew closer and froze. Across the Docking Bay; Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewbacca ran for the Falcon. Leia and Han ducked under the Falcon to enter the ship. Luke slowed to a walk and observed the duel between Vader and Obi-Wan. Jo couldn't see the duel for she wasn't close enough.
"Luke!" Han hissed loud enough for Jo to hear. Luke's face contorted into a look of sheer horror as he witnessed Obi-Wan's downfall.
"NO!" he screamed and raised his blaster. The sound of his mournful cry pierced Jo's heart.
Suddenly, the Death Star was filled with blaster fire. Luke stayed put and returned in rage. Han drew his blaster having no choice but to join in.
"Come on!" Han yelled over the fire.
"Luke, come on! Luke! It's too late!" Leia called out gripping the side of the ramp to balance herself as she leaned forward.
"Blast the door, kid!" Han threw his head back and happened to catch Jo standing in the center of the Docking Bay. "JO!" Han's voice was distinct amid the chaos and impossibly louder. This alerted Leia and the princess followed Han's gaze.
Jo rekindled all of her energy and ran toward the ship. Blasts of red flew all around her and hit the floor near her bare feet. Leia moved up the ramp and into the ship. Han stayed and kept an arm outstretched toward her. Jo made it to the ramp and Han pulled her to his side. Her face squashed against his right shoulder. He tugged her inside and dumped her off in the Main Hold where Princess Leia waited. Han rushed out of the Hold and presumably to the cockpit.
Leia crossed her arms and gave Jo a scrutinizing glare. Luke picked that moment to appear in the Hold. He rid himself of his stolen blaster and walked over to Jo.
"Oh Jo," Luke scolded and placed a cool hand against her cheek to observe her bruises. Jo blushed at his proximity and her foolishness. Blood caked her nostrils, lips, and the front of her once white t-shirt.
"I'm sorry." she croaked. And she was. About Obi-Wan. About endangering everyone. She felt immense guilt. Luke picked up on her change in behavior and gave her a half weary smile.
"I thought Solo said she was supposed to stay here on the ship." Leia spoke up.
"I was found," Jo answered and hung her head in shame. Luke released the side of her face and groaned. Jo knew he was remembering the two troopers.
"Then it's lucky that you managed to escape." declared Leia with a hint of surprise.
"There is an order out for Mistress Jo's capture." C-3PO vocalized from his place by the dejarik table.
"As is all of ours, I'm sure." Leia muttered.
"I thought Han gave you his blaster?" Luke inquired. He ignored Leia's grim statement.
Jo refused to look at either of the two. "He did. I-I just didn't know how to...use it. It was taken from me."
"You don't know how to defend yourself?" Leia blurted. Jo shook her head in shame. "A blaster is very simple to operate! Why didn't you hide? How very careless of you! Do you know that Darth Vader would have gladly cut you down where you stand?" Jo blinked away tears. After all, not everyone could be a warrior princess. She was tired of crying and feeling pitiful.
"Excuse me," Jo whispered and pushed past the pair in humiliation. She exited out of the Main Hold to the Main Corridor. She made out Han's voice that echoed down the corridor. She sheepishly made her way to the cockpit. Chewbacca and Han dutifully sat in their pilot chairs. Through the windows and above her was the vastness of space. Jo's mouth fell open in awe. It was like looking up at the night sky from Earth. Jo stumbled to the nearest chair and slowly sank into one.
Han heard her come in and glanced behind him. "You look terrible."
Jo snapped back to reality and looked down at her hands.
"I lost your blaster," she wrung her hands. She prepared herself for the scolding of her life, but it never came.
"You look like you could use a wash. I have one refresher in my quarters. Use it to clean the blood off of your face. I don't have enough water for you to spend all day cleaning in storage. The sonic is faulty and it's on my list of repairs. Chewie here should have enough time to show you where it's at." Han offered not bothering to turn back around to face her. Chewbacca stood and towered over Jo. He reached out one furry paw. "And take that jacket off before you wash. That's actual bantha hide and water ruins it. It was a gift!"
Chewbacca helped Jo upwards and led her out of the cockpit. His paw gently grasped her right hand. His furry paw was enormous. He led her to the Main Corridor and paused when Jo stopped. He cocked his head to the side in confusion and gave a questioning sound.
"Please...erm, don't take me through the Hold." she stared at her feet. She couldn't face Leia and Luke again.
Chewbacca caught on and led her the opposite direction through a new set of corridors. They finally came to the Crew Quarters. Chewbacca messed around with a nearby control panel. The door to the left whooshed open and he nudged her inside. It was not as small as the tiny room she had found herself in when she woke, but it was considerably cramped. The bed was much larger in comparison and clothes were strewn haphazardly around. Chewbacca gestured for her to sit on the bed. She obeyed and he opened another door that was in the room. She assumed it was the refresher. He was gone for a few minutes and returned with a damp cloth. He dropped it into her lap and left. She stared blankly at the cloth.
Leia was scarier than Han. Han wasn't mad that Jo had lost his blaster. Why would Leia be mad and Han was not? She scrubbed furiously at her face with the cloth and felt the dried blood disappear. She had forgotten to take off Han's jacket, but at this point she didn't care. She was useless. She threw the cloth to the floor and laid back on the bed. She put her arms over eyes and wished she were home in her own room. Her family were probably worried sick. She wondered of the grocery store she worked at had replaced her with Susan from the bakery. Susan had been after Jo's register position from the start. Who would feed her fish? Who would walk Toby? Her family hated Toby. Her siblings were allergic to dogs. Were there even dogs in Star Wars?
Jo was quite literally jerked from her self-pity when the Falcon shook. The TIE Fighters! she shot up and ran into the Main Hold. Threepio and R2-D2 were seated at the game table.
"Mistress Jo, I believe we are under attack!" cried Threepio. Threepio stood to give Jo some room. When he did, the Falcon lurched violently and sent him flying back into a cabinet. Jo dashed past the scene and to the Main Corridor. Sounds of laser blasts from the outside could be heard.
"GOT HIM! I got him!" Luke's celebration could be heard from above her.
Jo ran into the cockpit where Chewbacca and Leia watched two TIE Fighters loop around the ship. A parade of laser bolts coming to and from the ship ignited outside. One TIE Fighter exploded as a green bolt form the ship's guns made contact with it. The explosion reminded Jo of a firework. The last TIE loomed in and fired. More green bolts from the ship tore into the lone fighter. Its combustion was similar to its companion's.
"We did it!" Leia jumped up and hugged Chewbacca. Jo felt a genuine smile appear for the first time in ages. She giggled and ran back into the corridor to meet the boys.
Han climbed down the ladder and met Jo's smile with one of his own. "Enjoy the show?"
She nodded eagerly. "It was amazing!"
He laughed at her reaction and gave her shoulder a squeeze as he passed her to get to the cockpit. She waited for Luke. Not long after Han, Luke descended from the ladder to find her there.
"Did you see my shot?" he asked.
"Yes!" she said excitedly. "You were awesome!" As always.
Still unfamiliar with the term, his smile still grew. "I didn't think I was going to make it for a minute there."
"But you did! We're alive!" Jo waved her hands.
Luke observed her for a bit and his smile reached his eyes as he gave her a soft attentive look. "You look better." he confirmed.
Jo rubbed the back of her neck and blushed. "Uh, thanks. Han made Chewbacca take me to his quarters to use his refresher."
"Good. That's good." there was an awkward pause. Luke looked uncomfortable like he wanted to say something more. "Erm, Jo." he finally broke the silence. "I could teach you how to use a blaster...if you want me to, anyway."
Jo smiled softly. "I would like that."
"Great! Once this is all over, I'll help you!" he promised. There was another awkward silence. He looked uncomfortable as if he were debating on what to say. "Well, I'm going to go check and see if Han could use anymore help." he decided. He gave her once last friendly smile and walked to the cockpit.
She stood there a moment longer in complete happiness until Leia pushed past her. She didn't so much as glance at Jo to acknowledge her presence. Jo sighed.
What do you do when your childhood heroine hates you?
A/N: I want to hurry up and get through a New Hope. All the amazing things will happen after a New Hope. I've decided to use elements from the Princess Leia Marvel comics, Heir to the Jedi, Marvel's current Star Wars comic series (I'm going to use the Vader Down crossover and probably all of the Star Wars issues that lead up to the end of Rebel Jail), and possibly the Han Solo series. This will get a nice timeline going until Empire Strikes Back. Please let me know how I'm doing so far! I'll doctor this up later, I'm nearly falling asleep as I type this lol