New Blood Strikes Back

By Michael Weyer

Freedom's Winter

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At the sound of a tauntaun grunting, Xander looked up from his spot on the Falcon. He was leaning over one of the conduits on top, a torch in hand, goggles on his face. Chewbacca was next to him with similar eye protectors, glancing to see Han walking past them. "How's it going?" he asked.

"Almost ready," Xander said. "We just need to finish the hyperdrive repair."

"All right, get it set," Han said. "I need to talk to Leia and the general." He walked past as Xander grimly gazed after him. The Wookie frowned and grunted to him.

Xander shook his head. "Just not happy with leaving the group like this." He bent over and went back to work, Chewbacca joining him.

Han paused enough to change into dark brown pants and a blue jacket over his white shirt before making his way to the command center. Leia and Willow were to one side, going over some radar screens when he entered. Rieekan glanced up to nod at him. "Solo," he said. "Where's Commander Skywalker?"

"He went to check out a meteor landing," Solo said. "He and Buffy should be back soon."

Rieekan grunted. "With all the meteor activity around here, it's going to be difficult spotting ships."

Han paused before speaking. "Look, General…this may not be the best time but I'm afraid I can't stay with the Rebellion anymore. As soon as we're ready, Chewie and me are raising ship."

Willow and Leia both looked up, startled by the sudden announcement. Rieekan rose, nodding solemnly. "I'm sorry to hear that. You're a good man in a fight, Solo. I hate to lose you."

"I don't have much of a choice," Han answered. "If I don't pay off Jabba the Hutt soon, I'm a dead man."

"Yes, a death mark isn't an easy thing to live with."

"Or through," Solo agreed.

Rieekan nodded before extending his hand. "Best of luck to you, Solo."

Han shook it and then turned toward Leia. "Well, I guess this is it, your Highness."

"I guess so," she said in a calm voice.

They stared at one another before Han snorted. "Well, hey, don't get mushy on me." He turned and stalked out of the command center. Leia started to move after him and Willow followed at a discreet distance. However, it wasn't discreet enough to fail to hear the words exchanged.

"Han, wait."

"Yes, your Highness?" Han asked as he turned around in the cold hallway.

Leia glared at him. "I thought you were going to stay with us."

"That bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind," Han snapped. "Finding myself under fire from all directions isn't my idea of fun."

"We're all under a death sentence is the Empire wins," Leia intoned.

Han snorted. "Yeah but you guys don't have a price on your head three times what I owe Jabba. Me and Chewie aren't exactly inconspicuous, you know. We set foot on any populated planet and we've got a target on our back. It's like being in prison and sooner or later, they'll find us."

"Then say goodbye!" Leia snapped. "It's what you're good at with all your practice!"

Han softened a bit. "Listen, we just need to pay off Jabba and then we'll be back, ok? It won't take long."

It was Leia's turn to snort. "Isn't that what you told Jabba when you originally left? Han, we need you."

Han raised an eyebrow. "You need?"

"The Alliance, yes."

Han shook his head as he moved forward. "No, no…what do you need, Leia?"

Her cheeks flushing, she shook her head. "I…don't know what you mean."

"No?" Han smirked. "Come on…you know…"

Leia shook her head. "You have a serious ego problem, Solo."

"Come on, why'd you come after me? Afraid I'd leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?"

Leia scoffed. "I'd sooner kiss a Wookie?"

"I can arrange that!" Han said, pointing a finger at her before marching away. "You could use a good kiss!" he called over his shoulder. Leia just crossed her arms and glared as he walked away.

Willow had a small smile on her face but hid it fast as Leia came up. "That man…ahhh!" the Princess said, rubbing her head. "He is so utterly infuriating!"

"I think you've mentioned that before," Willow noted. "But he has a point."

Leia turned a cool gaze on her and Willow shrank back a bit under its power. "What point?" the Princess snapped.

"Nothing," Willow said. "Nope, no point, he's an ass."

Leia nodded in agreement before marching off. As soon as she did, Willow let out a long breath. "They could so take lessons from Xander and Mara," she muttered.

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If she never saw another bank of snow again, Buffy Summers could die happy. She cursed as she stumbled in one of the larger banks and tightened the scarf around her. She glanced back at the Tauntaun pacing nearby and hoped it would understand it had to wait for her.

It was a relief to get into the large ice cavern, away from the bone-chilling wind, a bit of warmth seeping into her bones. Without the wind, the large tracks were much more clear, leading deeper into the cave. Buffy felt a different sort of chill go up her spine, one she knew all too well. She made her way carefully as her hand reached to one jacket pocket to pull out the lightsaber Kenobi had given her. Taking a deep breath, she plowed ahead.

She paused as she came to a large cavern and looked in. Her eyes focused on a shape hanging from the ceiling and it took a moment to realize it wasn't an ice spike but rather Luke. He was hanging upside-down, his feet somehow stuck in the ice. He appeared to be trying to reach for something in the snow beneath him.

Buffy was about to go to him when she heard a loud growl from the other side of the cavern. Turning, she saw a monstrous creature rising to its feet. It was taller and more bulky than a Wookie with white fur and brown tusks by its gaping mouth. Its huge paws were marked with claws as it started toward Luke.

Buffy moved in without hesitation, her lightsaber igniting as she moved in to attack. She tensed and leapt up, intending to leap by the beast and slash him with her saber. However, the bulky boots and the ice threw her off a bit on her lift-off and thus instead of sweeping by the creature, she ran right into its paw.

She gasped as the powerful arm smacked right into her mid-section. She was knocked back onto the ground, unable to stifle a cry as she heard a snapping from her ribs. She moved to her feet, ignoring the pain as she held the saber up and swung it in a wide arc. It drove the creature back, a snarl evident as it prepared to attack again.

There was the sound of another saber igniting and Buffy quickly glanced over to see Luke cutting the ice at his feet. He landed in the snowbank, getting to his feet quickly and swinging out with his saber. The monster moved in toward him, letting out a massive howl as Luke swung out. Saber met flesh and the creature's howl became even greater as its shaggy arm fell to the ground.

Buffy moved to grab Luke and helped him to his feet. Without a word, they began to run toward the exit as the creature's screams of pain echoed behind them. Buffy glanced at Luke, seeing a series of gashes across his face. "You ok?"

"Not sure," he grunted. "Come on…we gotta get out of here."

"No argument," Buffy replied as they entered the icy cold of the outside. By this point the storm was starting to hit and snow was whipping around in the air. Buffy glanced around but saw no sign of the Tauntaun she had left behind. "Dammit," she muttered as she rubbed at her aching side.

Luke did his best to keep up with her as they walked into the icy landscape before them. "Face hurts," he muttered under his breath.

"Just keep walking," Buffy said. "Just keep…" Her voice was cut off as they stumbled at the top of a dune and fell head over feet down the snow-covered slopes. "Okay…was calling for that," she muttered as the snow blanketed her face.

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Despite the fuss and business of Echo Base, R2-D2 and C-3PO still stood out. The tall, golden protocol droid and the short astrotech counterpart were familiar faces around the base. Despite their mechanical bodies, it was still easy for Willow to tell when something was bothering them. Threepio's tirade against Artoo as they went down the hallway confirmed it.

"Don't blame me for this, you little roving garbage bin!" Threepio snapped. "It's not my fault!"

Artoo whistled and Threepio's head swiveled slightly. "Oh, it most certainly is!"

"What's wrong?" Willow asked as she came up to them.

"Oh, Mistress Willow," Threepio sighed. "I must apologize and state for the record it is not my fault…"

Artoo let out a loud beep and Threepio turned to him but Willow held up her hands. "Wait, wait. What's not your fault?"

Threepio sighed. "Apparently, Artoo misunderstood a comment I had made on how cold Princess Leia's quarters are and in a rather inept attempt to aid her, adjusted the heating there."

Artoo let out a beep and Threepio turned to him. "All I did was mention how freezing it was in there! But it's supposed to be freezing! I don't know how we're going to dry out her clothes."

"Dry out…" Willow turned and immediately started to run off as the two droids made their way toward the Falcon. Han had come up and was barking orders to Xander, Chewbacca and Mara Jade. "Get it together! I want to get out of here before they shut the doors down tonight!"

"Why the rush?" Mara asked.

"Because I'm sick of this planet, that's why! Because Jabba's out for our heads! Because I'm good at saying goodbye! Pick one!" He moved to the ship. "Just get the engines warmed up."

Chewbacca was on top of the hull, letting out a series of grunts. Han stopped and stared at him. "You took what apart?! Why are you fine-tuning the hypderdrive now? Are you crazy?!"

Chewbacca angrily responded and Han held up his hands. "All right, all right, let's just get it fixed fast."

"Oh, Captain Solo! Captain Solo!" Threepio called out as he and Artoo approached.

His back to them, Han rolled his eyes. "Wonderful, just what we needed. The Loose Wiring Brothers." He turned to face them. "What is it, Goldenrod?"

"Well, Captain Solo…oh, switch off, you little runt!" Threepio snapped at Artoo before returning his attention to the man before him. "Princess Leia sent me to get you. You haven't been responding to your comlink."

"I turned it off," Solo answered. "I don't want to talk to her." He turned toward an open panel. "Jade, are you a saboteur? You wanna stay on this ice rock?"

She fired a glare as cold as the planet at him. "Don't start with me, Corellian!"

"Captain!" Threepio said. "The Princess sent me to tell you that she's worried about Master Luke. She doesn't know where he is."

"I don't know where he is."

"Nobody knows where he is. Or Mistress Buffy for that matter."

That got everyone's attention. "What do you mean nobody knows?" Han said. He looked around the cave. "Deck officer! Deck officer!"

"Sir----" Threepio was cut off as Han slapped a hand over his face. A Rebel officer came up to him. "Yes, sir?"

"Have you seen Commander Skywalker or Summers?" Han asked.

"No, sir," the officer said. "They didn't come through the main entrance. It's possible that they came in through the south."

"It's possible?" Solo repeated mockingly. "Why don't you go check? It's getting dark and cold out there, in case you haven't noticed."

"I did notice, sir," the officer replied calmly. "That's why I joined the Rebellion. I notice things." He moved off as Han removed his hand from Threepio's mouth.

"Sir, may I inquire as to what has happened to Master Luke?" the droid asked.

"Inquire all you like, Goldenrod. It doesn't do any good in this place." Han began to walk off. "Xander, with me! Jade, Chewie, seal up the ship!" Xander was quick to follow as Threepio let out an electronic sigh.

"Impossible man…come along, Artoo." As they walked off, Threepio leaned in. "Between you and me, I think Master Luke is in serious danger." Artoo let out a low whistle of agreement.

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Han and Xander moved into one of bays where Tauntauns were kept. A medical droid was checking on one beast whose fur was covered in ice. The deck officer from before turned to Han with a somber expression. "Neither Commander Skywalker nor Commander Summers have checked in at any of the entrances."

"Any word from them?" Xander asked.

"No. It's possible they may have forgotten to check in."

Han shook his head. "No. Where they grew up, you learned to be careful."

"Where were they?" Xander asked.

"Last time I checked, the north ridge," Han was already moving to grab a winter coat from a nearby rack. "I'm looking for them."

"I'm coming with," Xander said. He glanced to the officer. "Are the snowspeeders ready?"

"They're still having trouble adapting them to the cold," the officer said, concern on his face as he saw Han bundling up. "Sir, there's a blizzard coming in----"

"Yeah and my friend is out there in it," Han snapped as he moved to a tauntaun. "Xander, you're staying here, no sense in both of us getting lost out there."

"But-----"

"I mean it, Junior," Han snapped. He got ready to get on the tauntaun when the officer moved in. "Sir," the man said. "I can't let you do this. General Rieekan left strict orders-----"

Xander took the man's arm and pulled him away. "Ah, Lieutenant, you better let him go."

"But-----"

"Lieutenant, you ever see our co-pilot? Seven feet tall, brown fur, really mean temper?"

"Why, everyone on the base knows Chewbacca."

Xander nodded. "Good. Then you'd better know that if try and stop Han, there's gonna be a fight and Chewie's not going to take it well."

"But General Rieekan-----"

"You think the General wants a quarter-ton of howling mad Wookie rampaging around the base?"

The man swallowed. "I'm reasonably certain he doesn't."

Xander smacked his arm. "Smart man!" He turned to Han, who was adjusting his goggles. "Boss…be careful."

The officer tried one more time to talk some sense into Solo. "Sir, the temperature is dropping too fast! Your mount will freeze before you reach the first marker!"

"Then I'll see you in hell!" Han yelled back before riding off into the icy night.

Xander called after him. "Say hi to one of Buffy's old boyfriend while you're there!" He let out a long sigh as he watched Han leave, telling himself the chill in his gut was just the weather outside.

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Buffy hadn't believed it was possible to feel such cold. Every step sent needles of pain up her legs. The ache in her side was getting worse but she was still determined as she tried to help Luke along. He was obviously as bad but keeping it together as they marched through the snow.

"Come on…" she said, unable to stop her teeth from chattering. "Keep going…"

"Cold…" Luke sighed. "Hurts all over…"

"I know…" Buffy said, adjusting her position under his arm to help him up. "Don't worry…few hours in a bacta tank and you'll be fine."

"Too bad…nearest one if a few miles off…in a blizzard…"

"Stop being depressing. I can do that myself." Buffy grunted as they made their way over a snow bank. Luke suddenly stumbled, falling forward and pushing Buffy with. They both hit the snow face first, Buffy gasping as her ribs flared up once more. She lay there, trying to draw her strength but the chill sapped at her bones and muscles and made movement impossible.

She was dimly aware of Luke stretching out a hand and whispering "Ben..?" She closed her eyes, knowing he was hallucinating and that he was fading fast. She knew she had to get up and help but couldn't move, couldn't think. All she could do was let the snow cover her and maybe, finally, just give up and accept her destiny…

"Not yet, baby. It's not time yet."

Buffy slowly pulled her head up to stare out before her. Amidst the snow and ice, a shiny form of white seemed to stand before her. Golden locks framed that warm, smiling face as she looked to Buffy.

"Mommy?"

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I'll pick up the cliffhanger next chapter along with the introduction of the Dark Lord Pair. All comments welcome.