Tarkin sat at the conference table with his hands neatly cupped in front of him, face void of emotion as Vader entered the room with an Imperial Officer beside him. The Sith Lord stepped forward and bowed slightly while the Officer shuffled. "Our scout ships have reached Dantooine.." Tarkin nodded for him to proceed. "They found the remains of a Rebel base, but they estimate that it has been deserted for some time. They are now conducting an extensive search of the surrounding systems."
Tarkin's fist came down upon the table and he gave an enraged growl. "That rotten Commander lied to us!" He placed his hand on his mouth.
The Officer quickly saluted and rushed out of the room with a nervous step.
Vader hummed deeply, not sounding all too surprised about the commander's deceit. "Rebels loyal to their cause would never consciously betray their people." He offered an explanation. The Dark Lord expected this type of perfidious behavior from Princess Leia, something about it was just so natural for her personality. Although he doubted Flores' intentions he had a good feeling that the woman held something else under her sleeves.
Tarkin didn't seem to take this excuse. "I want that princess terminated and Imogen Flores on the next shuttle to Coruscant… immediately!" He stroked his chin, eyes narrowing. "We'll see how the dear commander handles herself then."
Han leaned back in his seat, watching the streaks of hyperspace blindly. His feet on the pilots seat and arm rested on his knee. Mind not on the present but stuck in the past.
Ami entered the threshold of the cockpit, eyes squinting at her brother's slumped shoulders. She frowned. It wasn't like Han to let some farmers get to him, especially that snooty dame with the superiority complex. He usually shrugged these things off, waving a nonchalant hand in the air and rolling his eyes in a habit that she had picked up herself. Han wasn't weak nor stupid (depending on who you asked..) and he wasn't easy to break. Yet something about that blue eyed blonde out there seemed to be twisting him.
"You're acting funny,"
Han spared his sister a glance and a little huff. He was in no mood to deal with his sister's prodding. "I'm acting myself." He flicked a button and one of the various lights turned off, making him hum.
Ami sauntered over to the co-pilot seat, taking a more proper position compared to the man beside her.
"All I'm saying is that some woman gives you some lip and now you're all...gloomy." She stared at the streaks of hyperspace in front of her. "I don't like them, that boy is annoying and the woman is all-stuck up! That old man just broads and those droids are their own problem."
Han sighed. "I'm not enjoying this either but by the end of this, we'll be 17,000 credits richer and they'll be doing only gods knows what on Alderaan. No longer our problem."
In all honesty, Han wasn't all too fond of their guests but they weren't the worst either. They hadn't attempted to kill them to take the very apparent bounty on his head, they hadn't attempted to take his life, and hadn't really posed themselves as threats. He's experienced worse, Ami and Chewbacca could attest to that.
Something about that farmgirl frustrated him beyond belief.
"Do you think they actually have the credits?" Ami crossed her arms over her chest. "Those two- Luke and Rene seemed pretty shocked when their grandpa offered 17,000.."
Han gave the space in front of him a flat look, lips thin. "If they don't we'll have a problem."
An assortment of lights flashed up and let out a buzz. Ami reached upwards to press an orange button, glancing at Han who let out a huff and pulled the control lever for the hyperdrive down. The smuggler was ready to go back to his pouting when the Falcon shook to the side causing Han to quickly grab the bearings, jutting the ship side-to-side to avoid any meteors destroying his ship. Ami let out a breath once she activated the shields and Han successfully navigated them out of harm's way.
Ami had been to Alderaan once before and at that time, the planet had no asteroid field. Confusion and genuine concern made the Solo bite her lower lip; if there was no Alderaan in sight and one big asteroid field in front of them, there was just one question: what had happened to Alderaan?
The turbulence must've gained their guests attention because the cockpit was soon filled with the people, confusion making everyone sit on the edge of their emotions. Rene placed her hand on one of the seats while Luke sat down, Obi-Wan taking his own seat.
"Why are we having turbulence?" Rene asked shortly. The women knew something was off soon as they entered the system.
Ami glanced over her shoulder, her face dark. "There's no Alderaan in sight.."
Rene's eyes narrowed while Luke could only look on in confusion. "You've entered the wrong coordinantes?" The blonde boy let out an irritating huff. "It'll take us twice as long to get to-"
Rene placed a hand on his shoulder, effectively silencing the farmboy. "They didn't enter the wrong coordinates… Alderaan's been destroyed."
Han looked back with furrowed brows. "The entire starfleet couldn't destroy the whole planet! It'd take a thousand ships with more firepower than I've…" the smuggler trailed off as the scanner to the side let off a squeal, he leaned forward and pointed out. "Another ship coming in."
Rene held her breath as the TIE fighter came into view, swooping towards a growing grey dot in their vision. As if anyone could hear her heart fluctuate, she went eerily quiet while the cockpit flared up into questions. The woman could only wonder if the Empire had knowledge of her betrayal, that they would have every bounty hunter in the galaxy finding until the day she takes her last breath.
A sudden bubble of rage flared in her chest. Rene wondered if Vader still resided on the Death Star, if she could soon return and bury her lightsaber deep within his chest. Look him in his eyes for the first and final time, revenge her father's death. "Anakin Skywalker," is what she imagined herself saying as she watched the life slowly leave his eyes. The child of the Jedi he took from her would have the satisfaction of taking his own life, to end it all.
Rene would defeat Darth Vader in the name of her father.
"Maybe they know what happened?" Luke offered lamely, watching with fascination as the TIE skillfully wove through some asteroids. It was ironic to him that he was currently chasing the same pilot he wanted to become, he wondered what he would do if he was in the TIE and the Falcon came from behind.
"It's an Imperial fighter," Obi-Wan said gravely, hand stroking his white beard.
Chewbacca moved forward, barking at his friends with concern. He was not interested in losing his life simply because they wanted to show off; if they got out of here fast enough then the Imperials wouldn't be able to track them. They'd be long gone while the soldiers scrambled for some type of explanation as to who and what they were.
"It followed us!" Luke accused innocently.
Ami rolled her eyes. "Short range fighters can't stray too far from their bases." She frowned, rubbing her lips together. "So where is this base?"
"Has to be somewhere around." Han observed quietly, he pushed the Falcon forward to come up right behind the TIE. "Chewie, jam it's transmissions, will ya?"
The Wookiee let out an irritated huff as he flipped various switches.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "It's best to let it go. It's too far out of range."
Han smirked, lowering his chin. "Not for long."
Ami glanced at Han, nervous that his poor attempt to show off was going to end up with them in Imperial custody. "Han, maybe the old man is right." The smuggler looked to his sister as she quietly pleaded with him. "If we get involved with some random TIE then we won't be able to warn anyone that the Empire's got something big enough to destroy Alderaan."
Han seemed to contemplate this but it wasn't long because the farmboy interrupted with one of his slim fingers pointed out, past the TIE and towards the grey orb in the distance.
"He's headed for that small moon!"
Han blinked and strained his eyes to look at the moon the kid was looking at, shaking his head. "I think I can get him before he gets there...he's almost in range."
"Turn back." Rene said shortly, breathlessly as if someone had punched her in her gut.
Luke looked back at her with a grown but didn't question the growing dread on her face; he had only seen this type of expression twice. Once when Owen lost his temper and the other when Luke had dragged both of them into the desert to so gracefully get their water back. The wide eyed blue eyes and the pale face, lips parted slightly all things that told that Rene was truly frightened. Luke turned back to the moon with concern. What could possibly cause that much anxiety?
"Solo," Rene snapped when the man continued his route. "I said, turn back!"
"Calm down, sweetheart, this will be all over soon."
"That's not a moon!" She grabbed Han's chair and pulled it back from the steering, turning it around to stare into his hazel eyes. "That is the armoured space station that destroyed Alderaan."
"What?!" Ami squeaked.
Luke shook his head, gulping. "I have a very bad feeling about this."
Obi-Wan hummed. "The Death Star." He recalled from his and Rene's previous conversation earlier.
Han frowned at her, slightly off put with how close she was and the anger that seemed to seep from her pores. He pushed her back slightly. "And how exactly do you know this?"
Rene pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing loudly. "Because I work on that space station."
Han's eyes immediately narrowed while Ami let out a low whistle, Luke let out an exclamation. "I thought you said you couldn't go around saying that!" He had been her brother for almost 20 years and she had only revealed that she was part of the Rebellion hours ago. Meanwhile, Han Solo flashes a pretty smile and he gets to know private information in a few hours? It was outrageous, it was unfair!
"So you're an Imperial." Han eyed her, his hand waving his Wookiee friend forward. "Chewie, show our friends the exit."
Chewbacca gave a shake of his head, although he wasn't happy about the woman's deception, he wasn't prepared to throw them all out. Rene glanced at the Wookiee with little care, keeping level with Han the whole time.
"The moment you come into range of that station and no one answers the comms, you're dead. You need me." Rene pointed out rather confidently, daring Han to say otherwise.
Of course, the man being as cocky as ever denied needing her help. "Look, I've been at this type of thing since you were in diapers-"
Rene stared at him flatly. "We're the same age."
"-and I will continue to get along just fine the moment you exit my life." He said hotly, glaring at her now.
Rene's jaw moved side-to-side as she thought about what she could possibly retort with to this annoying and irritating man. She wanted to reach forward and strangle him, all the while turning them away from the Death Star and towards safety. If they stayed any longer someone was bound to notice that the ship was not one of their own; meaning they'd send a whole crew to search the freighter. Yet this smuggler sat with no care in the galaxy with what they were facing right now in this moment. Han Solo would be her demise.
Ami leaned forward, clearing her throat. "This is nice and all but I've got some bad news." All eyes turned to her as she gulped. "We've been caught in a tractor beam."
Chewbacca let out a roar while Han swung back and tried to pull his ship away from the Death Star while Rene crossed her arms. Luke's wide eyes met his sister, desperately trying to put this puzzle together: How could they possibly escape this?
Her eyes said one thing: Trust me.
"Is there anything you can do?" Obi-Wan asked, eyeing her oddly as if he was trying to decipher something within her.
Rene glared holes into the back of Han's head. "If our gracious captain would let me. Yes, there is."
"I'm not letting you touch my ship!" Han stood, finger in her face. "You've caused enough trouble for a lifetime, sweetheart."
Rene rolled her eyes and turned to Ami who shrunk in her seat at the cold eyes of the Skywalker woman. "Do you have compartments you can hide in?" Ami nodded, not wanting to say anything that would be considered betrayal from her brother. Rene hummed and turned to her own companions, eyes soft as she regarded her brother. "You all will hide in the compartments while I somehow convince that whole station that I've gained information.."
"What, you'll turn us over?" Han asked sharply.
Rene clenched her jaw. "Do you think I would tell you to hide with my brother if I was going to turn you in?" Han sputtered for a moment before Rene pushed him away and took a seat. "Now, what's the ship's specifications."
"Corellian YT-1300 light freighter," Ami spoke as she stood, ready to show everyone where they could hide. Obi-Wan was swift to stand and Chewbacca let out a soft growl, Luke and Han however wanted to watch the woman's actions. Luke purely because he had never seen his sister act so..Imperialy and Han because he didn't want this lady selling everyone out.
"Q!" Rene called loudly.
Moments later the ball droid zoomed in, bumping into the back of Han's leg giving a nasty string of binary. Rene smirked at her droid's anger but quickly got back on track as she held out her hand, Q's little metal arm came out and revealed a rank plaque. Something that was quickly observed by Han.
"A rank plaque." He sneered.
"Yes, something that'll let them know not to question me." Rene shot him a look over her shoulder. "Problem?"
"Everything about you is a problem-"
"What are you going to do with that?" Luke stood, his hands coming to play with each other in front of him. He was more interested in his sister's deception than he was in the arguing that was constantly pursued between Rene and Han. It was funny the first few times but now it seemed to be a chatter of who was bigger than the other. Physically, Han won by a long shot. Mentally, Rene was undoubtedly the winner.
Rene smiled at him. "Well, this will let them know that I'm superior. That was on a mission from Darth Vader himself and shouldn't question me without his discretion." She explained rather easily as if this was all a normal occurrence.
Han raised a brow and looked to Luke for some type of explanation on how insane this woman was but was only met with a glare similar to his sister's own. He could see the resemblance, the anger behind the blues and the dirty blonde hair that seemed to be unruly on their heads. If the smuggler had to spend any more time with these two he was sure they would turn him insane with their alike personalities. Although the woman had a spirit, he'll give her that. The kid though seemed ready to pounce Han if his sister so much as snapped her fingers.
Rene took a breath. "This is General Lars trying to make contact with the Death Star from the Corellian YT-1300 light freighter." There was no response so Rene gave them a moment, closing her eyes and hoping that she hadn't been seen on Tatooine helping them escape. "This is General Lars trying to make contact with the Death Star from the Corellian YT-1300 light freighter. Does anyone copy?"
Silence and static that raised the nerves of everyone in the cockpit.
"General Lars?" Asked a confused officer. "Why are you landing this ship?"
Swiftly, almost as if she had rehearsed this, Rene gave an explanation. "My ship was damaged by some Tusken Raiders during one of their raids on the hangars."
"They..raid hangers, ma'am?"
"Are you calling me a liar, Officer?"
To her chagrin, Rene was feared by many officers. Her no nonsense attitude and harsh punishment caused them all to be hesitant in questioning her orders. Sometimes she got satisfaction in making them uneasy but most times she felt guilt settling in her heart, she had hurt many in the name of the Rebellion. For peace.
"Of-Of course not, ma'am-"
Rene set her jaw. "Prepare a search team. With the Rebels out there I wouldn't doubt if they were hiding in one of these rooms." She lowered the landing gear and placed the Falcon down in the hangar just as Vader stalked into the hangar. Rene quickly masked her presence in the Force, hoping that the dark lord didn't feel her Force presence. She glanced back at her brother and Han, waving a hand at them. "Go hide with the others, I'll get you when it's safe."
Han eyeballed her before taking his leave and leaving to join the others, Luke frowned at her with obvious concern. "What if they figure you out?" He asked softly.
"There's nothing to worry about. I'm not one to give some cockamamie excuse." She half-heartedly reassured him, she pushed him out of the cockpit. "Please. Hurry along."
Luke vanished into the corridor leaving Rene to ponder the next events. She would face Vader, explain shortly that she was only led to dead ends and that the droids were nowhere in sight. She knew that Vader would be hesitant seeing as she was following a lead only hours ago, he'd question her possibly. Rene wanted nothing more to escape this hell, to get them all far away but she knew this to be some type of pipe dream.
They wouldn't have made it very far anyway.
"MISS RENE? ARE WE GOING?" Q's binary was soft and cautious as he looked back from the entrance of the cockpit.
Rene hesitated then pulled her blaster from her bag and placed it in its holster. "Let's go."
She entered the hallway and paused, distantly feeling Luke's presence under her. She smirked and then pressed the button to lower the ramp to the Falcon. She wasn't entirely too surprised when she saw a wall of Stormtroopers pointing their blasters at her, Rene raised a brow as they lowered them upon Vader's gesture.
Rene and Q reached the end of the ramp and a group of troopers were quick to board the ship. The woman didn't hesitate to step up to Vader, her hands clasped behind her back and eyes unwavering to the darkness of his visors.
"Lord Vader," she said hallowly.
"General Lars." Vader nodded once. He took a breath and turned his head to the Falcon. "How did you obtain this ship, Lars?"
Rene turned to it to admire the small details of the Falcon, she shrugged lazily. "Among the trash of Tatooine." She waved a flippant hand and clasped her hands behind her back. "We were unable to recover the stolen plans, my lord."
"Do you believe them to be on Tatooine still?"
"No, sir. I think they may have escaped."
Vader hesitated, hands clenching almost nervously at his sides. "I sense something...a presence I haven't felt since…" as quickly as he had started, he stopped and stalked out of the hangar.
Rene's breathing had stopped at that very moment. A presence he hadn't felt since when? It was probably Obi-Wan aboard the ship, the old man was probably so unused to shielding that he had forgotten to do so. Behind Vader's black, she glowered at him- wanting to reach under her tunic and stab a hole right through his chest.
Yet she faltered and turned back to the crew. "What are you waiting for? I want every part of this ship checked!"
Things broke into a flurry and as the stormtroopers stomped out of the Falcon, Rene pointed to two of them. "You two, names?"
"TK-421." Answered one.
"TK-422." Answered the other.
"Stand posted right here and I don't want you to move unless asked to do so, got it?" They nodded and stood at attention on each side of the ramp while the scanning crew entered, two men with big crates. Rene tilted her head and wondered if Ami could possibly squeeze into one of their uniforms.
She followed them up the ramp and as they opened the crate, Rene clasped the back of their necks and brought the lids down onto their heads. They were out cold before they even hit the floor. She knelt down next to them and tilted her head, Ami and Luke could fit into these...no, no. Luke would be jumpy and looking around, definitely blow their cover before they could get anywhere. That also wouldn't help explain Han or Obi-Wan, Chewbacca was easier.
Q let out a flurry of binary and bumped her knee. Her eyes brightened.
"I always knew there was a reason to keep you around, Q." She smiled as the droid let out protestful sounds. She cupped her hands around her mouth. "Hey, boys, I need some assistance up here!"
The troopers were up in moments and they paused upon seeing Rene over the bodies of the scanners. They raised their blasters but the woman was already in motion, she kicked one back sending him stumbling while she shot the other in the chest. TK-422 paused as she stood over him, staring down with furrowed brows. Rene tore off his helmet and looked him in the eyes, they were tearful and his lower lip seemed to wobble yet she felt no remorse- no regret.
She brought her fist swiftly across his jaw and the trooper fell to the ground in a heap. One dead and three others unconscious, she let out a sigh. They had to work quickly before the troopers woke up and realized one of their own had betrayed them. She walked to the first panel and lifted it, revealing 3PO, R2, Obi-Wan and Chewbacca. The Wookiee let out a soft growl at the woman, surely expecting her to have betrayed them at some point.
"You don't get rid of me that fast, big guy." She assisted the droids out of the area while Q pulled up the second panel revealing their other companions.
Han was quick to stand up and sit on the edge of the hole, glancing at the woman and then assisting his sister out who glared at a bright red Luke. The boy sputtered and his hands flapped around as she pointed a finger at him.
"You'll watch your hands next time, you little twerp!"
"I swear, it was an accident and it-it was dark!" Luke explained quickly,
"Yeah. Dark." Ami glared holes into his head. She turned her attention to Rene who seemed rather confused, not wanting to explain what had happened. "What now?"
Rene knelt down and pulled the scanner's uniform off, then threw it towards the younger Solo. The woman started to shake her head. "No way am I putting-"
"It'll look odd if you all come out at once with no explanation, even for me." Rene explained. She glanced at Chewbacca and snorted. "Especially you."
Chewbacca gave a bark and made a shooing motion towards her. Rene rolled her eyes, motioning for the men to move it along. She turned around as they fitted themselves into the outfits. She knew that if they took too long then the deck officer would soon realize that the men were no longer holding their posts and that they had been gone longer than they should've.
Ami huffed as she buttoned the last hole, fitting the hat over her head and looked to Han with a sad smile. "Just like old times, huh?" She asked him quietly while Han pulled the stormtrooper helmet over his head.
Han paused and then nodded, deciding to rather clap Luke on the shoulder which sent him stumbling a bit. "Looking a little short for a stormtrooper but I don't think anyone will notice." He teased.
Luke shot the older man a look, stepping away from his hand and clenching his jaw. He was growing rather tired of Han Solo's quips every moment, the man's arrogance was something that made Fixer's bullying seem like a walk in a park. The blonde boy was going to retort that his height shouldn't matter when a voice broke the tension in the Falcon.
"TK-412, why aren't you at your post?" Luke's eyes shot to Rene who stared at his helmet with assessing eyes. "TK-412, do you copy?"
Taking a deep breath, Rene gestured for her brother to follow her. "Put that on, keep quiet. All of you, make your way to the command office while we keep them distracted." She started down the ramp and Luke stumbled forward, pulling the helmet over his head and following her down. With the utmost ease, Rene used her comm to contact the officer. "Bad comm link."
The siblings could see the officer turn to his technicians and speak. Rene narrowed her eyes and prayed on the Force that he would buy it, that he hadn't noticed a whole group of people disperse from the Falcon and start making their way to the command office.
Rene knew this plan was a long shot and not exactly her best one but she also knew that this was their only attempt at going undetected in their mission to turn off the beams. She was hoping that Solo could home into that brain cell his sister seemed to have to use stealth as they moved a Wookiee, two droids, Obi-Wan, himself, and his sister to the room. He seemed to have some tactics to survive this long as a smuggler for Jabba the Hutt.
Just as she thought this she was cut off by blasters going off from the command office, making her shoulders tense. Luke beside her jumped at the suddenness of the shots, his hand shooting out to her arm. It was moments like these that reminded Rene that her brother had been unaware of the true wages of war, he hadn't held a blaster towards someone before and pulled the trigger without hesitation. She sent him a comforting look which he accepted with a soft smile.
"Let's go see what our kind captain has done this time." She tugged Luke along and they quickly made it to the office to find it an absolute mess.
Officers were strewn on the floor, one had their hand on a blaster and the others were slumped against the controls. Rene pinched her nose in irritation while Luke glared at Han. "You know, between his howling and your blasting everything in sight, it's a wonder the whole station doesn't know we're here."
Han shot a look back at the younger man, sizing him up. "Bring them on! I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around."
Rene pulled Luke away and got in Han's face, pointing a steady finger at him. "All this sneaking around has done me good in the past 4 years. So if you'll look past that big nose of yours and focus on what we're trying to do, we'll get along just fine."
Ami sighed heavily, pushing an officer from a seat and taking it. "You know, this is a terrible group to perform a stealth mission?" She asked the room and received glares from everyone- even Chewbacca who gave her a growl. She grimaced, pulling on the officer's collar. "Geez, talk about a tough crowd."
"Erm, sir, we found the computer outlet." 3PO decided to interrupt the arguments to inform Obi-Wan of R2's find. Q gave a protective chitter obviously saying that he had shown 3PO and R2 the outlet but ultimately went ignored.
Attention went to the screen as R2 flickered through the files until he reached information on the tractor beams. Rene decided to read it out. "See this?" She asked the room, everyone nodding at the images of different reactors. "The tractor beam that pulled us in is coupled to the main reactor in seven different locations. You take down one of these then you'll get your sweet ship out of here."
Obi-Wan studied the screen while stroking his beard, he nodded and walked towards the door. "I don't think any of you can help," he said softly. "I must go alone."
"Whatever you say," Han waved a hand joining his sister's side. "I've done far more than I bargained for on this trip already."
"Obi-Wan," Rene rushed forward, grabbing his wrist. "Let me come with you. I know this battlestation better than anyone."
"I-I want to come with you too!" Luke protested, joining the conversation.
Obi-Wan decided that he would first address Luke. "Be patient, Luke. Stay and watch over the droids."
Luke frowned in disappointment. "But they can-"
"They must be delivered safely or other star systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan." Obi-Wan watched the boy deflated and he stared at the older man with desperation. "Your destiny lies along a different path than mine."
Luke nodded slowly, accepting his answer but Rene didn't seem all too convinced. She felt a frustration take her gut like she hadn't for a long time. Obi-Wan was acting foolishly. If he went alone there was a big chance that he would be caught by some troopers or-or Darth Vader would sense him. If Vader took another member of her family from her then she would make sure he paid.
"Obi-Wan, let me come with you." She whispered, seemingly not there although all eyes were on her. She needed to see that the beam was shut down, that he came out safe, and they safely made it back to the Rebellion all in one piece. Obi-Wan could continue Luke's training and they could easily destroy the Empire.
Yet a part of Rene knew that Obi-Wan was not going to let her join him so easily.
As if he were a proud father looking back on his daughter's life, he smiled softly at Rene. "I've known you since you were a child, Rene, you've always been determined, driven, compassionate, and you continued to keep your promise. I couldn't be more proud and I know your parents would be as well." Rene's eyes watered as Obi-Wan placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, squeezing. "You no longer need me."
"I do!" Rene blurted, clasping his hand. "I'll always need you."
Obi-Wan studied her face and then whispered: "May the Force be with you."
As Obi-Wan departed, a part of Rene did as well. She knew full well that he wouldn't be returning.
With the slam of the door, it sealed the fate of the old Jedi.
Rene placed an unsteady hand on her mouth, staring at the door while her brother turned back to the group with no idea what to do next. He certainly wasn't the brains of this operation and wouldn't be able to carry this on his own. Yet Ben was counting on him, he had placed his trust in Luke to get the droids to the Rebellion. He had to contribute something to this team of oddballs.
Luke nervously rubbed his gloved hands together. He couldn't help but worry about what their next move was. He looked to Rene for some assistance but she was quietly murmuring to herself, her fingers tapping deftly against her lips. Sighing softly, he looked to the Solo's and the droids.
Han was one to cause problems, he spoke his mind and made sure to have everyone following his lead. He didn't seem to like Luke or Rene- not in the way that mattered. Not out of trust or compassion. More out of greed and desire (more Rene than Luke).
Chewbacca was loyal to Han and Amilie only and Luke didn't blame him. The three seemed to have a bond that would last life times, it reflected his own friendship with Biggs. Maybe on a less violent side..
Amilie was a mystery to Luke. She didn't seem to speak too much and when she did it was to give a snarky remark or even a soft scold of her brother. But she seemed uninterested, sending the boy and his sister a dirty look every now and again. Other than that she was a reserved person.
That's why Luke found it hard forming any type of plan.
Due to the prolonged silence, Chewbacca saw it fit to speak up causing Rene to tense. Han let out a chuckle, falling against his Wookiee friend. "Boy you said it, Chewie," Han raised an eyebrow. "Where did you dig up that old fossil?"
Luke glared. "Ben is a great man."
Han gazed at him flatly. "Yeah, great at getting us into trouble." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
Luke walked over to the taller man, trying to appear intimidating but the glint in Han's eyes gave off the obvious idea that he didn't look such. "I didn't hear you give any ideas!" He accused.
"Well, anything would be better than just hanging around waiting for him to pick us up!" Han snapped back.
"Who do you think-"
"Will you two shut up?!" Rene whirled around, glaring at the two men. Han and Luke's eyes widened and they stared at her while she addressed them both with a scary calm tone. "Our biggest concern is getting that piece of garbage out of here, with us on it alive. No one cares about who got who here because we're all stuck anyway. Now, you two will stop bickering or I will personally bang your heads together. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Luke said immediately, rather not trying to test his sister's limits right now.
Han worked his jaw. "You and your pops-"
"He's not my pops!"
"-have gotten me and my sister into a lot of trouble. I think you need to apologize."
Rene blinked, shocked that the smuggler had even said such a thing. "What? Apologize to you, you have to be pulling my leg." She laughed mockingly, ignoring Q's little head bumping her calf.
Han smirked, crossing his arms as he stepped forward. "I think I speak for all of us when I say that you've been untruthful. You didn't think it important to disclose that you're an Imperial?"
"Imperial spy," Rene corrected. "And I just met you, why would I tell you anything?"
"Out of common courtesy."
"You wouldn't know common courtesy if it hit you in the-"
Suddenly, R2 let out a flurry of panicked and ecstatic beeps. Ami looked over her shoulder at the astromech with a frown. She was soon joined with everyone else who seemed to question what was happening. Ami turned in her seat and sat forward with interest, her early years of working with droids seemed to go to good use as she peeked at Rene and Luke in the corner of her eye.
"Who is she?" The woman questioned, placing her thumb against her lips.
Luke shook his head, tilting his head as he walked forward. "She?" He repeated to her.
"Yeah, your little droid is going on about.." Ami listened for a beat longer and then her eyes widened, snapping her head to the two. "A princess and...a senator? Who the hell are you two hanging around?"
Luke's eyes brightened as he placed a hand on R2's top. "The princess and the senator are here?"
"Leia Organa?" Rene questioned, moving past Han and to the droids. She had known Bail Organa as a child, he was by her mother's side whenever they were on Coruscant and he loved to entertain Rene in the times that were dull. She didn't remember much about him but his voice and kind eyes...his eyes were always kind. The Skywalker never had the pleasure of meeting Bail's daughter but there was chatter around the Empire about her humanitarian work on rather unlucky planets. She'd heard some of her speeches yet she had never gained the pleasure of meeting her.
In ways, Leia was probably a lot like Bail.
"Princess? Senator?" Han said, for the first time, sounding confused. "What's going on?"
3PO tilted his head. "Level five. Detention block AA-23." R2 continued his panicked binary and that's when 3PO let out the droid equivalent to a sigh of pity. "I'm afraid Princess Organa is scheduled to be terminated. Oh, and Senator Flores is being transferred to a shuttle!"
Luke gaped. "Oh, no!" He turned to his sister. "We've got to do something!"
"I know. Just-Just give me a moment." Rene said, closing her eyes.
"What's going on?" Ami asked, for the first time since they had met, sounding interested in their tasks.
Luke turned to her, gesturing to the droids. "These droids belong to them! The princess is the one in the message...we've got to help them."
Han was quick to shoot the younger man down. "Now, look, don't get any funny ideas. The old man wants us to wait right here."
Ami rubbed her forehead. "There might be a chance to snag that Senator, play the facade of taking her back to her cell." She bit her lip and nodded, shrugging. "Might be able to do it."
Han shot his sister a look, waving a finger like a father with their child. "Don't you even get started- look what you've done, you've made her think." He accused Luke who huffed at him.
"Look, Ben didn't know they were here. We'll just find a way to intercept her transfer to a shuttle and then get to the princess." Luke shrugged as if it were easy.
Han shook his head. "You're all insane, I'm not going anywhere." He fell back in another seat.
"They're going to execute her!" Luke rushed forward, eyebrows pulled together and glaring deeply into Han's green eyes. "Look, a few minutes ago you said you didn't want to just wait here to be captured. Now all you want to do is stay?"
Han blinked at the pace Luke could talk but shook his head anyway. "Marching into the detention area is not what I had in mind!"
"But they're going to kill her!"
"Better her than me! Better her than my sister!"
"Han!" Ami scolded, sounding disgusted with Han's disregard for someone else's life. He looked to her as if she should understand what his point of view was, as if she should understand that he would give up anyone to save Ami. Even himself. Yet the woman wouldn't let him just let this go as if it were nothing. They might not know these people but they weren't savages, they weren't like Jabba. She had to prove this to herself.
"We're going to help them help their friends-"
Luke was quick and hesitant to cut in. "They're, erm, not our friends."
Ami gave him a look and then turned to Han with a soft look, as if mentally begging him to do this. If not for her but for the best of these people. "It's only right." She whispered, bumping his shoulder.
Han clenched his jaw. "As fun as it would be messing with Imps...I'm not putting you at risk." He turned towards the control panel, leaving the others to think.
With swift agility, Luke placed himself behind Han and said: "They're rich."
To Ami's disappointment (Chewbacca even let out a growl next to her, rather unimpressed with his best friend's behavior), Han perked up with interest. "Rich?"
Luke grinned at his plan, eyebrows raising. "Yes. Rich, powerful!" He assured, watching as Han slowly turned towards him. "Listen, if you were to rescue them, the reward would be…" he blew air from deep within, shaking his head.
Han raised a brow. "What?"
Luke huffed, annoyed. "Well more wealth than you can imagine."
Han glared at him. "I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit!"
"You'll get it!"
"I better!"
"You will.."
Han watched the excited glitter in Luke's eyes and the desperation that lay under them, he wanted nothing to do with any of these Imperials. He had served his time (even though he should serve time in prison for various other things) and he wasn't looking to reminisce on old times. Yet he couldn't help but feel bad for this Tatooine farm boy, he obviously didn't know what he was getting himself into and his sister wasn't very good at holding him back. He felt the urge to be protective of him, to tell him to return to whatever farm he had left and take care of it, he'll put in a good word for him to Jabba.
Yet the look in Luke's eyes just told Han that he wouldn't back down.
"..Okay, but if you're wrong about this it's your head not mine." Han said with a finger in his face.
Luke grinned at him, stepping back and clapping his hands together. He had successfully influenced the...uninfluencable? Eh, he'll get a trophy later.
Rene raised her brow, obviously interested in what her brother could possibly offer. "So what's your plan, Luke?"
Luke looked at her, his thumb going between his lips in a nervous bite. His eyes searched the room until he pointed towards the controls. "Threepio, hand me those binders will you?" The golden droid jumped a little as the attention was directed towards him. He reached over and grabbed the binders, then gave them to Luke who started towards Chewbacca. "Now, I'm going to put these on you-"
Chewbacca jumped back, roaring in anger at what the man was insinuating as his so-called plan.
Luke bumped into his sister and held out the binders for Han. "Okay. Han, you put these on."
Rene reached out and intercepted the exchange, snatching the binders. "Wait a moment, this is not what we're doing." She shook her head and closed her eyes. "I have an idea but I don't know if you guys are gonna like this."