Adrianne Palicki as Lilah Amidala

Shelley Hennig as Thalia Kenobi

We don't own Star Wars. (Only our plot points)

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Three Years Later

All across the galaxy, small imperial probe droids landed on planets and moons, searching for any sign of the Rebel Alliance. Within the past three years, each and every passing day, the evil Emperor and his Sith apprentice, the powerful Darth Vader, grew more obsessed with finding their enemies, the determined freedom fighters who had dared to destroy the Empire's dreaded Death Star. But their hunt was also personal, as they sought the young man, Luke Skywalker, who had used the Force to strike at their battle station's only weakness. The other being the female, Lilah Amidala, who fought alongside Obi-Wan against Vader in a lightsaber duel using a lightsaber that once belonged to a female that Darth Vader once knew. The last one was Thalia Kenobi, the daughter of Obi-Wan and Maria Fairchild, not as powerful as Luke and Lilah but was still a great threat to the return of the Jedi Knights.

Though Obi-Wan Kenobi was deceased-his teachings still lived on with Luke Skywalker, Lilah Amidala, and Thalia Kenobi and as their power grew, the noble Jedi Order lived on, threatening the Emperor's rule. Unknown to the Sith Lord's Lilah had left the rebel's briefly to train with another surviving Jedi by the name of Yoda, already being proclaimed and given the title of Jedi Knight. If the Empire could only find the Rebel Alliance and the Jedi Knights, nothing would stand in the way of its ultimate galactic conquest.

The lone Star Destroyer traveled across interstellar space with the precision of a massive dart. It was an Imperial-class warship, it measured 1,600 meters long from its aft ion engines to its sharp-tipped bow, and was equipped with enough firepower to reduce a civilization to nothing more than ashes. Even within its sixty turbolaser batteries and equal number of ion cannons, the wedge-shaped starship looked like it was ready to cut through anything in its path. It's name was the Avenger; its commanding officer was Captain Needa.

The Avenger arrived at its designated coordinates that were given to the ship by the Empire, then deployed its cargo of hyperdrive pods from a recessed launch bay. Each 3.4 meter-long pod was programmed to travel thousands of light-years on a one-way trip to a specific destination, never to return to the Avenger or any other Imperial ship.

Many Star Destroyers all over the galaxy have been doing the same things over the last few years, the same task everyone within the Empire has been given, search the galaxy and find the rebels. Thousands of pods raced off across the stars and to many worlds, including planets and moons the Empire had not conquered yet. Each pod contained one probot, a probe droid that was engineered for long-range covert surveillance. Each one was programmed with one signal purpose; find the Rebel Alliance's new Base.

The Avenger's pods were targeted for three systems; Allyuen, Tokmia, and Hoth. The Empire only has very little information about the first two systems, and only slightly more about Hoth, a blue-and-white planet that orbited six planets with a very wide asteroid belt. It was thanks to the Imperial navigational chart which had age over time but held very important information about Hoth's inner five planets were lifeless; the outermost planet-also named Hoth-was covered entirely by snow and ice, and was orbited by three nameless moons. Because of the sixth planet's thin atmosphere and close proximity to the asteroid field, it was also frequently battered by meteors.

Now speeding through space the fate of the galaxy hung in the balance as one black probe droid descended to the icy planet Hoth. As a small pod arrived above the icy world within a matter of seconds. It's automatic emergency braking thrusters activate, allowing Hoth's gravity to pull it down through the thin atmosphere. The pod streaked downward like a white line that could be mistaken for a meteor falling down from space, heading downward until it's journey ended at the planet's surface, where it smashed through layers of ice and snow, impacted along the upper slope of a high ravine.

Smoak rose high into the sky from the impact which darkened the white snow around the impact site. The pod opened up and revealed Probot's armored form. Equipped with a repulsorlift and silenced thrusters, the probot had a wide, sensor-laden head that rested upon a cylindrical support body, under which dangled four manipulator arms and a high-torque grasping arm. Although the probot's primary function was to gather and transmit data for the Empire, it was also equipped with a signal defense blaster.

The droid activated its repulsorlift, the black probot rose up through the black smoke and snow and went to work. It used its sensors to scan for any sign of Alliance transmissions and surveyed the icy and cold terrain for any signs of life. The droid hovered in the air for a moment to gather information and analyzed the data it had collected before moving on ward, gliding noiselessly through the chilled air.

Unknown to the droid it was getting closer and closer to what the Empire was searching for.

0o0o0o0

After the evacuation of Yavin IV, the Rebel Alliance embarked on a search for a planet of the moon to serve as a new base of operations. Explorations by Luke Skywalker, Commander Narra, and others lead to the ice planet of Hoth, a world so remote as to be off the standard navigational star charts entirely.

The command center was constructed over the course of two standard years, under brutal conditions. Rebel engineers and constructive crews employ laser ice-cutting equipment to enlarge a series of natural caverns, excavate new ones, and fashion connecting corridors.

Sometimes Luke enjoyed leaving the base to explore many locations of the planet, even though the farm boy was not used to color weather and neither was Thalia, but the two made it work. Young Skywalker wore an Alliance-issued patrol suit, rode his two-legged snow lizard, a Tauntaun, over a windswept ice slope on Hoth. A thin layer of snow had built up over Luke's protective green-lensed goggles, so he momentarily released one gloved hand from the reins to swipe at the goggles to clear his vision.

The farm boy and slowly turning into Jedi Knight was looking for wild Tauntauns, Wampa ice monsters, and any other of the planet Hoth's indigenous creatures. The sensors were still being planted for the Alliance's regional warning network, which would anticipate Imperial or other alien intruders, and it was Luke's job to make sure that no native beasts' accidently damage them. Only Commander Skywalker could not see any sign of life amidst the frozen wastes, not even tracks. In every direction one could turn to all the male picked up were white and nothing seemed different about the planet.

Hoth was nothing like Tatooine. Even though the farm boy felt homesick at times since there was a great distance between the two planets which also made their climates very different. So much has changed over the course of three years ever since the boy joined the rebels. Luke was no longer that farm boy stuck on his uncle and aunt's moisture farm, who only dreamed of adventure on far-off worlds. He has slowly turned into a warrior, a fighter of justice for the galaxy, and a hero of the rebellion.

But he and those closest to him lost so much.

His eyes caught sight of a streak of light plummeting from the sky and slamming into a snowy slope nearby. Luke removed the electrobinoculars from his utility belt and peered through the lenses to see a magnified image of smoke rising from the impact sight. It could just be another meteorite from Hoth's orbit.

Only Luke didn't know that for sure which caused the boy to lower his electrobinoculars beck to his belt, then brushed the snow from the back of his left glove to reveal a comlink transmitter. "Echo Three to Echo Seven," Luke spoke in a calm and clear voice. "Han, old buddy, do you read me?"

Brief static came in through the link before the familiar voice of Han Solo sounded; "Loud and clear, kid. What's up?"

Luke looked up for a brief moment and tried to catch sight of Han's Tauntaun. Han's assignment had been different from Luke's own. Han was to plant more warning sensors across the snowy landscape.

"Well, I finished my circle. I don't pick up any life reading." Luke explained.

"There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser," Han commented over the comlink since the old smuggler has been out in the freezing cold for a while now. Luke gave a small grin, catching a brief glimpse of Han's figure before the man vanished. "The sensors are placed. I'm going back."

"Right." Luke agreed. "I'll see you shortly. There's a meteorite that hit the ground near here. I want to check it out." Because something about this meteorite felt different. "It won't take long." He didn't want Leia, Lilah, and Thalia worrying because those three women took care of Luke like three mothers. He switched off his comlink, and his tauntaun snorted nervously. "Hey, steady girl." he tried to pull the reins back. "Hey, what's the matter? You smell something?"

In that very moment-it happened very fast- a monstrous howl sounded over the snowy mountains. Luke had turned quickly only for his face to meet a massive furry white paw which slammed into him, knocking the kid unconscious before his back hit the snow.

0o0o0o0

Echo base.

That was the name of the Rebel's new base of operations within the Hoth system. It was a vast network of caves and passages built into the glacial mountains. Only some of the many chambers within the base that the rebel's use had been formed naturally over the years, but some of the pathways have been carved by the rebel Alliance over the last few weeks by engineers and industrial lasers. Making the base become a home to over several thousand rebel soldiers, technicians, and pilots over the last few years.

One of the large caves had been transformed into a low-ceilinged hanger for starships where dozens of Rebels worked on vehicles that could work in the cold and the snow on the planet. With a narrow-walled passage which leads down to the Echo base's command center.

In an icy and white command center Lilah stood with Leia, Thalia, and Cassian as they looked at the monitoring system before them.

The girls were huddled up together and in warm clothing due to the nature of the cold, frozen, planet they were on. Lilah had seriously decided she was never going to complain about heat again after being here on Hoth. At least she ran like a radiator. Not much could be said about Leia or Thalia. Cassian also seemed to run warm, which was nice.

General Rieekan straightened up from a console when he saw Han approach them. "Solo?" he questioned like he usually did with all the scouting team members. A gruff sort of manner causing female Jedi to look up.

"No sign of life out there, General." Han reported to Rieekan. "The sensors are in place. You'll know if anything comes around."

"Has Luke reported in, yet?" Thalia asked from where she stood with Lilah, Leia, and Cassian. "You didn't leave him again, did you?" She asked because Han had left Luke a few times by accident.

"No. Besides that was one time." Han told her, only to hear Cassian murmured five. "I wasn't asking you Andor." Then he looked at Thalia. "He's checking out a meteorite that hit near him."

Cassian pointed his finger at the screen before turning to all of them. "He's lucky that it was only one. The amount of meteors that crash every day on the surface is quite overwhelming." He looked at Thalia when she gave him a worried expression.

"Luke could have gotten hit by that rock." Thalia told them. She would never want harm to come to that little farm boy. Even though Luke was older then Thalia still treated Skywalker like a brother.

Lilah shook her head and looked up to Rieekan and Han at the mention of meteorites. "You know with all that meteor activity, it's a pain in the ass to spot approaching ships." She informed the men as the girls continued to huddle in a little closer together. She may as well put warmth she had good use. Cassian shifted, knowing the younger woman was correct.

"General Amidala is correct." Rieekan agreed and looked at Han with an old look. He spied the younger man taking a long deep breath, and he could see what was coming. The inevitable.

"General," Han said as he breathed out. "I've got to leave. I can't stay here anymore."

"What?" Thalia questioned where she stood near Cassian. Han was leaving them, but did that mean the old smuggler was going to leave them forever and never return? Surely Lilah wouldn't like this.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Rieekan told Han because Solo was a good soldier within the rebellion. The General would hate to lose someone with leadership skills like Solo.

Then Han mentions Jabba the Hutt and how he had to pay the Hutt back before he got killed. Han knew he could stay, but Hutt's weren't known for patience, it was only a matter of time until Jabba put a prince on his head.

Cassian, much to everyone's shock, went over to Han. Politely, the captain handed out his hand to Han. "Good Luck, Solo."

Han's eyes went wide at Cassian's attitude toward him. Sure the two of them had to be nice and get along with each other because of the women, but this was unknown. "Thanks Andor." He told the rebel captain as they shook hands. "You'll take care of the others." Han said as he looked at Thalia, Lilah, and Leia.

"I will." Cassian didn't get along with Han often. They butted heads on almost everything, and he thinks Han lacks respect. But they did agree on some things-like taking care of the others-their team. Especially when it came to Thalia and Lilah.

Thalia looked at Lilah and then back to Han. This was going to be bad, especially when Han learns that Chewbacca hasn't gotten the Falcon fixed yet. "Hope you have a good life." Thalia told Han, "But you should have told me, I would have thrown a goodbye party."

Peace and quiet for the first time in a long time at the Rebel base. Of course Thalia was joking and Cassian eyes her for a minute. She smiled at him with a small grin.

"Sure you would've." Han said to Thalia. It would have been one party he might not have survived.

Lilah's head had snapped up quicker than ever, and she looked briefly distressed before hiding it. Han was going to leave? Her heartbeat quickened and her mind snapped at her. This didn't sit well with her. She didn't want him to leave, not that she would ever tell him that.

Han wished he did not have to leave but he was putting everyone in danger by being here, which he did not want. He just wanted the others safe, especially Lilah. "Well, Sunshine. I guess this is it," he said to her and his voice showed that he was sad.

"I guess it is." Lilah replied with a sarcastic smile looking at him then back to the computers then back to the others. Her look was a little mean and obviously there was going to be no warmth from this young woman. Even if on the inside she was getting twisted up.

Then Han looked at Lilah right into her blue eyes, the woman that left without a goodbye to go finish her training to be a Jedi. At least Han would say goodbye. "Well, don't get mushy on me. So long, sunshine." Furious that Lilah was still giving him the cold shoulder ever since she got back from training. Stomping out of the command center and heading toward the Falcon.

Thalia looked at Cassian. They both knew what was going to happen next.

Lilah's eyes twitched at his words, as she heard his footsteps leave. For a split second something sharp stabbed her a little, and then unable to stop herself. Lilah followed the older man without even a second thought.

Leia shook her head at the two of them. "When will they just admit it?" She asked Cassian and Thalia, as she began to look at the screen again. Being part of a war was very busy and she was constantly looking at things and being kept on her toes. It was hard work, but it would all be worth it in the end.

"When the godforsaken planet starts to become warm." Cassian snarky said with some truth behind his words because it was true. Those two were quite the pair. Stubborn fire ran through them both, having no intention of backing off, along with having the worry of the entire command.

Rieekan was always worried about Solo, Amidala, and even Skywalker, the most. They were pains in the back for sure, but they were damn good scouts and Lilah made a heck of a leader.

"When they stop being childish and admit they love each other." Thalia told Leia as she went back to work.

Of course Leia eyes Cassian and Thalia for a second. The Princess had noticed the way the two seemed to be looking at each other now. "How long has this been going on?"

Cassian looked down at his work before looking up at Leia. She meant him and Thalia being together-in truth he didn't know when it happened. It had to have been on one of their missions together, they kissed in order to trick the Stormtroopers. Only the kiss turned into something more. "A while."

"Who else knows about you two?" Leia wondered.

"Lilah was the first to find out," Cassian admits to his princess friend. And that was soon followed by Han, and he's pretty sure that Luke knows already. "We appreciate you if you did not tell anybody." And it wasn't because he was ashamed about her or anything, but because it wasn't anybody's business. He liked to keep his private life just that, private.

But he doubted, despite how professional they were with one another when it was called for, that this would be a secret much longer.

Thalia knew that her relationship with Cassian would be known all over base sooner or later. They had kept it private in order to be professional for the Rebellion. But still, Lilah had figured it out the moment Thalia came home with a smile on her face, one that could bring the sun out on this ice planet. Han had figured it out when Cassian was shooting glares from across the room at any male rebel that tried to ask Thalia out. As for Luke, he found out when he saw Thalia and Cassian in the hallway about to kiss. Now Leia knew.

Thalia looked at Leia, she knew the princess would keep it quiet. "Yes, please keep it a secret. Call it a secret between friends."

"Of course," Leia swore to her friends with a slight smile. She wouldn't want her personnel business floating around, being used as fodder for gossip.

"Thank you." Cassian smiled and nodded to Thalia. He appreciated Leia a lot. She was a good friend and leader. Even if their friend knew about them, that was fine with him. They would have found out sooner rather than later anyway.

"Also just remember it took them three years to admit they were friends." Leia suddenly pointed out to Thalia. Lilah and Han were two of the most stubborn people Leia ever knew. Brash and determined, unyielding.

Thalia nodded her head at Leia's words because the princess was right about the past Lilah and Han had together over the last three years. "At least this one with Han lasted longer than the others." She told the princess with a small chuckle leaving her lips. "Let me see, Han and Lilah have kissed twice, he was mad when Lilah left, and now she's mad that he's leaving. Still better than the others."

"What others." Leia asked Thalia. Was there a past about all the people Lilah used to date?

"Let's just say," She looked back to her work. "I never saw the last one ever again."

"Why?" Cassian asked, she never told him about this before.

Thalia looked at her boyfriend and friend before saying; "He went off a cliff."

Cassian's mouth dropped a little bit at this. Like his brain was trying to process what his girlfriend just said. He didn't doubt Lilah was popular among men, and perhaps even women. Even he would admit she was attractive. But he never really thought about it. Mostly because he cared about Thalia very much and second Lilah was like a sister.

"Went off a cliff?" he asked, strangled with surprise and perhaps a bit concerned. Just who was this Jedi woman into. Better yet, why did Thalia look even remotely calm about this?

Everyone was always worried about Lilah's old boyfriends when Thalia brought them up, but they were fine. Mostly. "He did... Lilah used the Force and he went right off." Thalia admitted to him.

"Is he even alive?" Leia asked in concern. Did Lilah ever kill anyone by accident?

"There was sand at the bottom." Thalia told the princess as she got back to work. "He was lucky it was just his legs. Boys number 11-13 and 20-25 can't be so lucky."

Cassian's brown eyes were wide as moons now. "What happened to them?" He really started felt that he was going to regret asking in the first place soon.

"One Lilah shot, another one she smashed a bottle over their head and scarred them with her lightsaber, the next would have almost been eaten alive. As for the fourth, it was a good thing I was there or he would have been the first to die."

"May the Force help Han," Leia muttered, rubbing her temples. Suddenly she felt the need to mother her even more so then she did with them all now. If this is what happened to those boys, she could only imagine what could happen to Han. Or even to Luke-who obviously had a crush on her. That woman was a walking lethal weapon.

Cassian just felt downright frightened of Lilah a little more, hell hath no fury like a woman-Jedi-scorned. Still the big brother protection he felt toward her remained. "I commend you for living with her all these years now." He suddenly told Thalia.

"It was easy." Thalia admits with a small smile on her face. "We were the same when it came to getting rid of boys we didn't like."

Cassian looks at Thalia. If she had done the same things as Lilah, he was screwed.

Thalia bit her lip when she looked at him. "It was only once." She gave a small laugh before getting back to work. "At least I stopped myself from throwing him into the sun." It was true, one guy never left Thalia alone on Tatooine and she almost wished she was able to send him into one of the twin suns.

Cassian sighed with relief and looked at the screen. He was glad he didn't have to deal with that. Well actually he was surprised by that. Thalia was attractive-very beautiful- and it always surprised him when she was overlooked. But he didn't overlook her at all.

"Well I'm glad I don't have to fight for your affections." Purposely keeping his voice in a whisper. Not that he wouldn't do that for her.

Thalia smiled at him, sweetly. Cassian really was a gentleman when they were alone, but in front of others he had to be strict and determined to give orders. Hardly anyone saw this side of him. "As I said before; you're sweet." She told him before kissing his cheek, light and quick.

Cassian smiled at her. Thalia made him happy, happier than he has even been in a long time. Maybe he can have a normal life when the Empire is defeated.

0o0o0o0

"Han!" She called out to him in the empty icy corridor. Her footsteps were light and almost soundless, even in the combat boots she wore. "I thought you decided to stay." Lilah said with a frown on her face. She thought he was staying here to help them. To be their friend.

Han rolled his eyes. "Well, the bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind." He told her. It was the truth because almost every bounty hunter within the galaxy was out to get him because of the debt Solo owes Jabba. The Hutt was paying a very large bounty for Han being brought in warm or cold. The smuggler didn't want any more hunters to come after him or his friends. It's better that he left now for their safety.

"Well I-we need you here." And there it was again, despite the slip up. Lilah was using 'we' terms, meaning more than one. Making it seem like she just wasn't desperate for him to stay, but that the others wanted him here too. And it wasn't a lie of course either-they did all want him to stay.

She had a fierce and stubborn look of determination on her face. Those who knew her know that meant she wasn't giving up.

"We need?" Han questioned her. He heard this a thousand times before from the female Jedi Knight. "Oh, what about you need?" He told her and gave the Jedi a questionable look. "I see the way you look at me, Lilah. Just like the way Cassian looks at Thalia." It was no secret that the rebel and Kenobi were together because Han was by no means blind to love. "You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me." Even when those feelings were forbidden for a Jedi. That's what Lilah told him and now she was chasing after him.

"I need?" Lilah was mystified by his own words, wondering if she heard right. She looked at him as though he were a raving lunatic. He was very bold to ask that, but then again he almost had no boundaries it seemed. Bringing in Thalia, the way she looked at Cassian. Childish. "I don't know what you're talking about." She stubbornly shakes her head.

Without breaking his stride, Han kept his eyes on her. "Come on!" He pointed a finger to his face (at his lips) and grinned. "You know I'm not imagining it. After the Death Star you kissed me. Now you don't want me to leave without giving you a good-bye kiss."

Lilah's mind briefly shot back to the kiss she gave him three years ago. Her brief moment of insanity she liked to call it. Yet her face went a little red at the memory she thought of one too many times.

"Look you're my friend-a natural leader here." She signed the older man, trying to get back to the talk on hand. She was staring up at him now, and despite her being tall, he was still taller than her by a little. What she was saying were all true reasons, but not her main reason and they both knew that.

"A natural leader I am, sunshine." Han told her. "I just don't like the fact that nearly a year after we kissed I let you go off to train with a weird old Jedi Master, then when you come back as an all enlightened Jedi it's like we're not even a thing anymore." Han told Lilah as male looked at her furious.

How was this about her now? Lilah's face twisted up as she felt shock run through her. "Are you still mad about me going off and leaving?" She asked, shaking her head. This was insane. "I had to train. But I came back." And sure things were different now. A lot different now, but she was here with her friends. "And I'm sorry, but I've been a little busy. If you haven't noticed we're in a war!"

"You left without a good-bye." Han shouts at her. "I can see we're in a war, but I don't need to stay and be in it. Now do I? Or is it the feelings you have for me that's keeping me here, Sunshine? Let's be honest with each other for once."

Lilah's face twisted with a little bit of shock at Han's very bold implication towards her. "Han, you have lost your mind. The cold must be affecting you more than you thought." She blanched at him. Shaking her head, her long brown-sandy blond hair moved with her. "Also I'd sooner kiss Chewie." She snapped more.

Okay maybe that was mean... And a little bit harsher than she should have said.

"I can arrange that!" Han shouts back at Lilah harshly. If she wants to kiss Chewie, then he can make it happen. The smuggler began to move down the hallway without looking back, he added, "You could use a good kiss." A real good kiss was what Lilah needed. Maybe a good kiss could sweeten the girl up a bit.

"Go to hell!" Lilah yelled as he strode angrily down the hallway. She was fuming as she marched away from the infuriating man. Screw him. She thought snidely, she didn't need him. But even she knew that was a lie.