…The mighty doors to the dining room slide open and Leia, Han, Chewbacca and a dark skinned man enter an elegant room. At the far end of a huge banquet table sits, Darth Vader. At his side and slightly behind him is standing a bounty hunter.
Han gives the dark skinned man a mean look.
"Sorry friend, I had no choice. They arrived right before you did"…
…The door of a cell slides open and the muffled yells of Han Solo become sharp, piercing screams of agony and pain. Darth Vader exits the cell and is approached by the dark skinned man.
"What about Leia and the Wookiee?" he asks.
"You will find them well enough. But they must never again leave this city."
"That was never mentioned. Neither was a bounty hunter taking Han. I hope you haven't forgotten our bargain."
"I forget nothing, Calrissian. Perhaps you think you're being treated unfairly?"
…The door to the cell slides open and two Stormtroopers help a ragged Han Solo into the room. Chewbacca gives him a hug as the guards leave. Han is very pale, with dark circles under his eyes.
"I am all right. I am all right," he says as he staggers.
Chewbacca barks as the door slides open revealing Leia. She looks a little worse for wear also. The troopers shove her into the cell, and the door slides closed. The Wookiee helps her up and over to Han. The two hug each other in relief.
"I was worried about you," Han says.
"I am worried about all of us. I can't figure out what they're up to," she answers.
"Me either. They had me howling on the scan grid, but they never asked me any questions…"
The cell door slides open. Calrissian and two Bespin troops enter.
"Get out of here, Lando!" shouts Han.
"Shut up a minute and listen. I am doing what I can to make this easier for you," the dark skinned man commands.
"This ought to be good."
"Vader agreed to turn Leia and Chewie over to me. They'll have to stay here, but at least they'll be safe."
"What about Han?" asks Leia.
"Vader has given you to the bounty hunter."
"You don't know much if you think Vader won't want us dead before this is over," is Han's sarcastic answer.
"He doesn't want you at all. He's after two guys named Skywalker and Kenobi "….
Obi-Wan resurfaced from his mediation with a start, gulping air like a half-drowned man.
The visions he had just had where so filled with anguish and pain, from Leia, from Han, from Chewbacca.
Closing his eyes he slowed down his breath and released his anxiety in the Force. Then he analyzed what he had seen.
It looked like Vader had no idea who Leia was. He had captured her and Han because the last time he had seen them, they had been with Obi-Wan and Luke.
It was a trap that was clear. Vader was using them as bait to lure Luke and Obi-Wan away from their hiding place. That was why Han was tortured without being asked any questions.
Obi-Wan wondered grimly how long it would take before Vader decided to submit Leia to the same treatment.
Would he be able to resist her pain? Was this the first test of his control when Leia was involved? Would he fail and let his love take over his common sense? Or would he let his love suffer and put the good of the galaxy before Leia and Han? He knew he could not allow Luke to fall in Vader's hands but still…
Obi-Wan never had the time to test his convictions for the decision was taken away from him when Luke strode toward him, clearly agitated. Yoda hobbled as fast as he could behind the youth, looking very concerned.
Obi-Wan walked toward the distressed young man and asked, "What's happening, Luke?"
"I saw Han and Leia, Ben. They are suffering terribly…I must go to free them."
Obi-Wan took Luke by the shoulders and said, gently but firmly. "I have seen them too. But this is all a ruse to have us leave this place. Vader wants to capture you and kill me. We must not go."
"But Han and Leia will surely die if we don't!"
"You don't know that. Even Yoda and I cannot see their fate."
"I can help them!" Luke insisted.
"You're not ready yet. A Jedi's training lasts years. We are going as fast as possible with you, but you still have much to learn."
"I feel the Force."
"But you cannot control it. I won't lie to you, Luke, this is a dangerous time for you. You are now most susceptible to the temptations of the Dark Side."
"Yes, yes. To Obi-wan you listen young one," Yoda interjected. "The tree. Remember your failure at the tree! Heh?"
"I've learned so much since then. And I'll return to finish... I promise that, Masters," Luke insisted, stubborn.
"Will you? You underestimate the Emperor. It is you he wants, that is why our friends suffer." Obi-Wan tried to reason with the youth, but knew he was losing ground by the moment.
"And that is why I must go."
"Luke, I will not lose you to the Emperor, as I lost Vader," Obi-Wan said, his voice trembling slightly as he remembered the pain he had felt when he had watched the security records in the destroyed Jedi Temple and saw Anakin kills two young Padawans in cold blood. That image had haunted his dreams for years and now he felt like something as terrible was going to happen again.
"You won't," Luke declared, his eyes shining with conviction.
"Only a fully trained Jedi Knight, with the Force as his ally, will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil-- and the galaxy will be plunged deeper into the abyss of hate, despair and pain that you feel our friends suffering now."
"Stopped they must be. Do you hear? On this all depends," Yoda remarked.
"You are our only hope, Luke. We cannot defeat them, only you can—but you must be patient," Obi-Wan was putting all his force of persuasion in his words.
"And sacrifice Han and Leia?"
Obi-Wan could not speak as he felt a stab into his heart, but he nodded, as Yoda voiced the words he could not say.
"If it must be. Yes."
Luke was silent for a moment, warring with himself. But when the struggle finally ended, Obi-Wan knew he was not going to like the outcome.
"I cannot. I am sorry Ben, I must go. Now that I can see their suffering, I must help."
Obi-Wan took a deep sigh, knowing there was only one thing he could.
"Go to ready the ship, then. I will come with you."
Luke flashed him a grateful glance, then started toward the ship followed by Artoo.
Yoda looked at Obi-Wan with a certain irritation, and commented, "Told you, I did. Reckless is he. Now things are going to worse."
"I will do my best to protect him, as always," Obi-Wan said quietly as he watched Luke board the starfighter.
"Protect him forever, you cannot."
"I know. He will have to mature, but I still believe he is our last hope."
"No…there is another"
Obi-Wan was taken aback by Yoda's comment. What did the little Master mean? Who was this other hope? Leia? Or was Yoda referring to something completely different?
"Obi-Wan… there… is good in him… I know there is… still…"
Unbidden, Padmé's last words echoed in his mind. Was this the other hope Yoda was referring to? Did he too believe Anakin could be reached again?
Obi-Wan had not much time to ponder the matter, because the starfighter's engines roared to life and he had to rush to board it.
The last think he saw before the ship took off was Yoda standing alone in the clearing near his home, looking suddenly so very old and frail.