Leia Organa paced about the white room, her tan vest flowing behind her. Her sense that something was off about Cloud City was skyrocketing. Han entered the room for the first time since that morning.

"Where have you been?" Leia demanded. "Something is seriously wrong here. Tess has been missing for almost three standard hours, we haven't seen Threepio since we arrived, and no one has seen or heard anything about either of them."

Considerably calmer than the princess, Han took her gently by the shoulders and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Calm down a minute," he said softly. "Did Tess just leave out of the blue, or did she go out for a snack…?"

"We, um…" Leia began awkwardly, keeping in mind that she hadn't gotten the chance to tell Han about her familiar ties to Tess. Now wasn't the best time to bring that up. "We did have a bit of an emotional conversation."

"See?" Han assured her, as if that was the solution. "She's a teenager. She needed some time. I'm sure she'll be back soon."

Just then, Chewie walked in with a whine. He held a plasteel bin full of C-3PO's disassembled form.

"You found him in a junk pot?" Han asked Chewie, taking a look at the golden remains.

"Oh, what a mess…" Leia sighed. "Chewie, do you think you can repair him?"

Chewie growled an affirmative response.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," said Lando Calrissian from the doorway. Leia gave Han a look, hoping he took the hint not to ask Lando for any favors with the droid or otherwise.

"Not really," Leia told him unconvincingly. He walked up to the princess.

"You look absolutely beautiful," he told her. "You truly belong with us here among the clouds."

"Thank you," said Leia flatly. "Have you seen my sister Inna, by any chance?" Han looked confused for a moment. He was so bad at sticking to the code names when they had them. He forgot everyone's so easily.

"Yes," Lando informed her. "I saw Inna on the way over here and invited her to dinner, as I was planning to do with all of you as well. She's waiting in the dining hall, if you would care to join us."

Seeing Lando offer Leia his arm, Han came to the other side of her so the princess could take his arm instead. Lando managed to take a hint and lead the way rather than escort the princess.

Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and Lando made casual conversation as they neared the dining hall. Somehow, the subject of the rebellion and the Empire came up and Han asked why Lando was so sure that they were protected. Leia noticed Lando tense up a bit before his response.

"I just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever," he said shortly. At that, he opened the door to the dining hall. Darth Vader stood at the head of the dinner table with his black gloved hand around Tess' neck. Boba Fett stood menacingly in the corner and several stormtroopers surrounded them.

Adrenaline rushed through Leia's veins and she snatched Han's blaster. After three perfectly-aimed but Force-blocked shots right at Vader's head, the Sith used the Force to bring the blaster to him. Leia's heart stopped when he put Han's gun to Tess' head.

"We would be honored if you would join us," Vader said smoothly.

Han and Leia looked at each other, then Leia glared at Lando with nothing but hatred.

"I had no choice," he explained, mostly looking at his old friend Han. "They arrived right before you did. I'm sorry." The door closed behind him. They were trapped in this room with some of the most dangerous people in the galaxy.

Leia lunged forward towards Lando and could have easily choked him to death if Han did not hold her back. He wrapped both arms around her not just to restrain her, but to comfort her. Angry tears formed in Leia's eyes.

"Shh…now's not the time," Han whispered. "We'll get out of this."

Leia's heart broke as she glanced back at Tess, whose hands were tied in front of her. The fourteen-year-old mouthed 'sorry', tears streaming down her cheeks. Leia nearly broke down into tears, shaking her head, hopefully communicating that it was not her fault. Then, the princess turned to Lando with a cold glare.

"If anything happens to her," she muttered through clenched teeth. "Have no doubt in your mind that your life will end within a day."

"Such passion, Princess, for nothing but a rebel teenager," Vader mused. He removed the handcuffs restraining Tess, then pushed her over to a familiar-looking imperial officer. Tess looked absolutely terrified. "Now," continued the Dark Lord. "Please take your seats. We have business to discuss."