Adrianne Palicki as Lilah Amidala
Shelley Hennig as Thalia Kenobi
We don't own Star Wars. (Only our plot points)
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When they got back, Lilah and Han were bombarded by hugs from their friends. Lilah felt relief wash through her as she let go. "We're fine-we're all fine." She swore softly as Luke was taken off for some medical treatment. His core was dangerously low and he'd received some nasty blows from the Wampa, but he would live to see another day.
When it was all done, Luke was sitting up though in his bed in the recovery room, which was a good sign. C-3PO and R2-D2 were the first to enter the room, following by Lilah and the others, their faces full of worry and relief.
"Master Luke, sir, it's so good to see you fully functional again." C-3PO and as R2 expressed his relief through a series of beeps and whistles. "R2 expressed his good wishes as well."
Luke smiled weakly in acknowledgement and his eyes looked to over to the group. Lilah walked over to him and placed a light hand on his shoulder with a friendly smile of relief.
"You're alive." Thalia said to Luke with a smile on her face. "The little farm boy is alive and well once more."
Luke let out a small laugh at her words. Luke knew he was older than her and wasn't just a farm boy anymore. Though he worried that Cassian would be glaring at him for Thalia's words, but he guessed the man knew Thalia's words were only words to comment on Luke being alright.
"It's good to see you're feeling better." Cassian told Luke; he nods his head toward him. The rebel knew that Thalia loved Luke like a brother and nothing more.
"How you feeling, kid?" Han asked, coming closer to Luke. "You don't look so bad to me. In fact, you look strong enough to pull ears off a Gundark." Han admits to Luke.
Luke nods his head at the older male. "Thanks to you and Lilah." He couldn't help but to smile at that.
"Well, we like having you around Luke." Lilah offered a friendly smile. It was small and warm, but still it was nice to see something other than a scowl on her face. Then again, she hadn't had many reasons to smile lately.
Han looked over at Lilah and smirked. "Well General, looks like you managed to keep me around for a little while longer." He commented to the other woman and Cassian shook his head. He knew the pirate was trying to start something.
"I had nothing to do with it." Lilah claimed sharply, and truthfully for once. But she wouldn't lie to herself and say she wasn't pleased with this. "General Rieekan thinks it's dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we've activated the energy shield." She explained to the older man.
Thalia shook her head. There had been tension between Lilah and Han yesterday and now it was coming back at This was only going to get worst. She grabbed onto Cassian's hand. "This isn't gonna end well."
"That's a good story." Han told Lilah with a smile grin on his face. "I think you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight." He told her before looking at Thalia and Cassian. "See, Cassian doesn't let Thalia out of his sight."
Luke grimaced at Han's words. His friend was starting to do something and it would end badly. Even Cassian was glancing at Han now, deadly, hand on his pistol. Uh, oh.
"Excuse me?" her tone sharpened and raised an eyebrow. She knew he just wanted a rise out of her, and it was working a little bit. Master Yoda and Ben, and even Maria on the occasion, always told her that she was too hot blooded sometimes for her own good. "Did you hit your head? Because clearly your delusion fly boy." Lilah emphasized the word 'boy'.
Chewie laughed, amused by what Lilah had said to his best friend. Even Cassian, along with the others, offered an amused smile. He even let out a low chuckle, covering his free hand as he clenched the other in Thalia's.
Thalia let a tiny smile go to her face at Lilah's words. Of course, they would be fighting, but why did she feel that this one was doing to get much worse?
"Laugh it up, Fuzzball." Han told Chewie reproachfully. "But none of you saw us alone in the south passage." Han told his group of friends, moving toward Lilah and put his arm around her back. "She expressed her true feeling toward me."
Stunned, Luke's eyes darted from Han to Lilah and back to Han. Han couldn't be serious? Does Lilah really want him?
Thalia laughed at Han's words. "Oh really?" She smiled at him with a dark grin, one that said she knew something no one else did. "Does that involved the two or you yelling at each other for over fifteenth minutes, or do I not understand your feeling toward each other?"
"Now of you saw us out in the storm," Han replied with confidence. He could already see the icy glare Lilah was giving him about last night cuddles between the two of them. "We cuddled all night long."
Lilah flushed as she shook him off her, with embarrassment or anger one would never know. Cassian wisely chose to stay silent as he and the others shook their heads. She had confessed her true feelings? They doubted it, because Thalia was right. When those two went at it, they really went at it. He remembered their arguments could last well over an hour, neither faltering. And they both had a set of longs for sure.
One might dare an amused look, but with that would be like asking for someone to kick you. "Why you no-good scruffy looking son of a bitch," she snapped out at him. It was obvious he had hit a little too close to home for her comfort. Chewie began to laugh loudly again at his captain.
Thalia opened her mouth in surprise at Han's words about the two cuddling out in the cold last night and Lilah's words in return as her brown eyes looked at Cassian. "Now would be a good time to leave." She told him, if this kept this up any longer-oh by the Force. There will be freezing force hell to pay. Lilah might just explode at Han and everyone within the room. Unless the young woman chose to control her temper.
"Who's scruffy looking?" Han asked, looking genuinely insulted. Then he looked at Luke and said, "I must have hit pretty close to the mark to get her all riled up like that, huh, kid?"
But Luke couldn't meet Han's eyes. He was angry about this. Even the droids felt the tension in the air.
"Well, I guess you know everything about women, don't you?" Lilah snapped out sarcastically. She was fed up with Han right now.
And then without warning she grabbed Luke and kissed him on the lips. It wasn't a nice or friendly kiss either. It lasted for a good few second. When she stopped, she looked oddly satisfied with herself, and turned on her heels. Leaving the room with a flurry behind her with her own temperature rising
Everybody in the room was dumbstruck by this, including Luke. He hadn't seen that one coming. Cassian and Leia both gaped out, surprise washing over them all. Well, that had been a turn of events.
Thalia shook her head at the sight of Lilah and Luke kissing, 'Nice work Lilah, you just made a love triangle.' She thought to herself with her mouth opened even wider than before. Luke had a crush on Lilah ever since the two met on Tatooine, but Han and Lilah kissed after the Death Star attack which led to no relationship. Now that Lilah kissed Luke. Thalia grimaces and rolls her brown eyes. This could make everything worst.
Chewbacca made a curious whimpering sound. Han did his best to keep his expression relaxed and neural, as if seeing Luke and Lilah kissing only mildly interested him.
The kissed last for about three seconds.
He was stunned, but he didn't complain. Luke put his hands behind his head and leaned back in his bed, trying hard to fight a smug smile on his face. He knew Han liked Lilah, but Luke liked her, too, and... well, she has kissed both Han and himself now.
Before anything else could be said though... Thalia's comlink went off.
"Thank the Force." Thalia spoke out loud. It was a good thing the rebel base was always on the move when it came to information or the tension in the air would continue to stay with everyone in the room for a long while. The Kenobi answered it. "Report to command center everyone." Thalia told them from what her message said and she took Cassian's hand, dragging him along with her to the command center.
0o0o0o0
When Lilah's comm device went off, she rushed to the command center, as others began to trickle in. Han had been the first to arrive at the command center and was shortly followed by Leia, Thalia, Cassian and Chewbacca, with the two droids following after them. Everyone already gathered took notice of Lilah's arrival.
"Leia what's wrong?" She questioned her friend as she entered the command room. And it was just her luck that Han was in here as well. She dared not to look at him right now though. Not after that show she just gave for them. Kissing Luke. How reckless of her?
"We have a visitor," Leia commented almost dryly, full of worry.
"We've picked up something outside the base in zone twelve, moving east and it is metal." Cassian informed her with a concerned frown as he continued to watch the dot moving. This wasn't good at all. His feelings of concern were raised.
"Then it's definitely not one of the creatures that attacked Luke." Wampa's were all fur. Lilah shifted a little, feeling an uneasy sense going through her. Oh, she had a bad feeling about this.
"It could be a speeder, one of ours," Han explained to the group. With something being metal it could be anything.
Serper raised a signal hand to silent everyone before adjusting the control on the headset. "No. Wait-" There was a strange sound coming through. "There's something very weak coming through." He then switched on the audio speaker for everyone else in the room to hear the intercepted transmission audio
C-3PO looked toward Rieekan. "Sir, I am fluent in six million forms of communication. This signal in not used by the Alliance." It clearly wasn't from the rebels. Unless it was a group of locals or Imperial made.
Using the Force to track the moving dot through the planet made Thalia realized what their visitor was. She looked at Cassian, Lilah, and Leia and said, "Sounds like an Imperial droid." Since the code and noise was also coming off the computers within the room.
Cassian looked at Thalia. She was always right when it came to looking for things in the Force, but the Empire can't be here. "Are you sure?"
Before Thalia could answer Han said; "Come on, Chewie, Andor. Let's go check it out and see if Thalia's right." Someone had to go and look to make sure their concern is correct. The Empire might have found them, but if they could destroy it before the droid saw the base.
Thalia eyes Cassian with concern, he looked at her and smiled before kissing her forehead. "I'll be right back." He said before walked off to follow Han outside.
Everyone hoped that Thalia was wrong. No one wanted the Empire here.
"Imperial code." Lilah muttered, more to herself then to the others. "I'm gonna head out with the boys. Who knows what might be out there." She said, looking concerned, as she got on her comm to inform two of her Rogues to come to her.
Cassian didn't seem to mind Lilah joining them on this extradition. The same could not be said about Han though. Both her and Lilah were battling with themselves, trying to stay professional, as they had to be.
A few moments later about the group of six left, Thalia walked back and forth back in the command center waiting for a report about the mysterious visitor. She already knew it was an Imperial probe droid, but why was it here? It had to be looking for the rebel base, but something about Vader came to her mind.
Luke and Lilah were strong in the Force, more than Thalia was. Did that mean Vader is looking for them? The boy she thought of as a brother and the woman she thought of as a sister were in danger because Vader wanted them. Why was he interested in them? Because of their force abilities, but that didn't seem like Vader from what the female Kenobi has seen over the last three years being with the rebels.
That's what caused Thalia to think back to what she saw in Vader's memories about three years ago and remembered a woman that looked almost like Lilah. Something about the woman talking to a man and saying he was breaking her heart. Could that woman had been-
"Thalia." Leia said to the young woman for the fourth time. This time Thalia heard and looked up at her. "There about to engage it." she looked at her with concern. "You alright, you looked out of it."
"I'm fine." Thalia told the princess with a smile on her face. She hardly got any sleep last night because of her worry for Luke, Lilah, and Han. "Just exhausted from last night." One the princess nods Thalia watches the dot on the screen.
0o0o0o0
When they got to the area, they spotted the dark probe robot move past smoldering ruins of station three-eight. Suddenly it raised a large antenna from the top of its head and began to send out a piercing signal. The droid had discovered something of noteworthy for the Empire and sent off a message. Also trying to scan of the rebel's power generator.
"Rogues move, surround." Lilah signaled as they spread out through the snowy mountain. The Rogues did as they were told and kept low to the ground.
On the top of a low snowy mountain was a probe like droid. Black and steal, and no Imperial symbol on it. A spy droid. "Okay we have to capture this probe. Who knows what kind of data it sent out, for all we know this base can be compromised. Do you understand?" A course of 'yes general' "On my count." She ordered and started the count then ordered a move out.
Cassian was adjacent to Han and Chewie, sticking low to the ground as he looked at the droid. He knew Thalia had been right It was an Imperial probe.
The probe droid suddenly spotted Chewbacca, who was peeking over the snowy bank. Suddenly the droid swung around and fired a blaster shot. Han quickly took out his own blaster and exchanged fire, only not a signal shot hit the droid because Solo knew not to damage it on Lilah's order. Only for a shot to it hit, once, all the bolt did was leave a barely small dent on its metal plating.
The droid responded by quickly by rotating its cylindrical body in midair and fired back at the human male, who had already ducked behind the snowbank. "Now would be a good time to use the Force, Sunshine," Han ordered to the general, once he stopped firing his blaster.
Only, before another shot could be fired, the droid exploded into a thousand pieces.
Cassian got up, his face twisted with anger, ready to tear someone a new one. The objective had been to capture and analyze it. "What happened?" He asked, almost barking out, almost annoyed by what had just happened.
"It probably had a self-destruct," Lilah said, concern washing over her heavily. "It's an Imperial droid Leia. Thalia." She informed over the comm. She shook her head at the former metal probe. "They knew were here. Start evacuation-now."
0o0o0o0
Many light-years and star systems away from Hoth, five Imperial Star Destroyers and their respective TIE fighter escorts have assembled within the darkness of open space. The largest destroyed among the ones gathered was the super-class Star Destroyer, Executor.
At 8,000 meters long, the Executor was the largest traditional starship constructed by the Imperial Navy. Only the Death Star space station had been larger. Equipped with more than a thousand weapons, the Executor carried 144 TIE fighters and 38,000 stormtroopers, and all were at the disposal of commander; Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith.
The Dark Lord was always clad in black, with a helmet that completely concealed his head and a long cape than reached the floor, Darth Vader was considered darker than the deepest part of space by Imperials. He stood on the Executor's bridge; he stood before a transparisteel viewport and surveyed the fleet gathered. Because the ship was protected by a powerful shield force field, the bridge was positioned at the bow- usually the most vulnerable area of the starship-and offered Vader a panoramic view unconstructed by any part of his ship.
Behind the Sith Lord, a long and sleek black walkway extended to the captain's control station. The walkway was without rails on either side, and on the lower level of the floor dropped off to view the gray-uniformed Imperial technicians operated their console stations, and tried not to look up to find themselves eye level with Darth Vader's black leathered boots.
The sound of a door opened near the captain's station, and two of Vader's chief officers-the pompous Admiral Ozzel and the younger, powerfully built General Veers- entered the bridge. Like every high-ranking officer within the Empire the two wore gray uniform and caps upon their heads, along with the black leather gloves, belts and boots similar to Vader's. The two moved along the walkway toward Vader.
"Admiral," The Executor's captain called out.
"Yes, Captain?" Ozzel answered, turning with Veers to face Captain Piett, a lean man with eyes that appeared tired from staring at monitors over the last few hours.
"I think we've got something, sir." Piett informed. "The report is only a fragment from a probe droid in the Hoth system." Someone must have destroyed it before the full message could be reported by to the Empire. Plus, Hoth was a new star system they were search with the droids. "But it's the best lead we have." At finding the rebels that plan to bring ruin to the Empire that wanted to bring order to the galaxy.
Only Ozzel was unimpressed of the matter. The droid could've broken down or been destroyed by an unknown creature. "We have thousands of probe droids searching the galaxy. I want proof, not leads!" He wanted the planet the rebels were on with proof of them being there. Not wild rumors that could send the fleet half-way across the galaxy and discover nothing of worth.
"The visuals indicate like readings," Piett added. The planet did have strange lifeforms that didn't go with their planet's nature. It was odd, but a good lead.
"It could mean anything," Ozzel growled under his breathe, getting impatient with Piett. "If we followed up every lead..." They'll never be able to find the rebels.
"But sir," Piett interrupted, already knowing he was going to have a hard time if he was wrong about this. "The Hoth system is supposed to be devoid of human forms."
"You found something?" The voice of Darth Vader made the two slowly grow stiff the moment the they heard the mechanically tinged voice rumbled, his black mask looking down at Piett. Both officered were taken off guard and had trouble speaking because neither heard the Sith approach from behind them.
"Yes, my lord," Piett answered, nearly stuttering his words. He directed Vader's attention to a lower console monitor. It displayed a transmitted image of a snow-base power generator.
Vader stared at the image for a second before reaching out to the Force. "That's it. The rebels are there."
Admiral Ozzel saw nothing on the monitor that could specifically indicate a rebel presence on the icy planet, and he did not believe in expending time and energy on a mere hunch. Employing what he considered his most diplomatic manner, Ozzel still sounded condescending when he spoke; "My Lord, there are so many uncharted settlements. It could be smugglers, it could be..." Nothing of importance. No connection to the rebel alliance.
"That's the system," Vader interrupted, not wanting to hear the complaining. His tone was filled with restrained and menace, making it clear that he would not tolerate any questions toward his actions. "Set course for the Hoth system. General Veers, prepare the man." He ordered before turning and stalking off the bridge.
The rebels were there along with Vader and the Emperor's two main targets Skywalker and Amidala. He would find the two and destroy them or make them join the dark side of the Force. There was something about the two he didn't know about-something familiar about both them.
0o0o0o0
Instructions were being issued and alarms were sounding off. A flurry of activity was happening in the icy base as fighters and droids alike rushed to their alert stations. Others worked to pack things up and evacuate to the secondary base.
Luke had dressed so he could be ready for evacuation and to fight. He was healed enough, and given the okay by the medical droid. He would be fine. As he finished putting his shirt on, he heard a knock on said whoever it was could come in. Cassian revealed himself with Thalia, giving off a slight smile.
"We wanted to make sure you were alright," Cassian offered a slight smile to the younger man.
Thalia walked over to Luke and hugged the boy tightly, trying to be careful of his already injured body. "Luke, be careful out there." She whispered and kissed his cheek, sweetly. The young Kenobi wanted the Skywalker boy to be careful because Luke was still recovering from his injuries.
Luke nods his head at the woman. "You got it, Thalia. I'll be careful." He smiled at her in happiness because he knew he'll be fine. "You take care of yourself." He wanted his friends to get off the base without any trouble or problems caused by the Empire. Only that was wishful thinking.
"Of course." Thalia told him. They both were like a brother and sister when it came to the others safety. Or when Luke talked about Cassian to her, on how he wouldn't hurt the rebel if he should hurt her in anyway.
Luke nods at her because she would take care of herself just fine with Cassian, Lilah, and Leia. "Cassian, you'll take care of the others, right?"
Cassian nods his head at the boy, just like he had promised Han that he would take care of the team. "Of course." He said with confidence because he would die to protect them. He lost his first team, Rogue One, and he had been defenseless to do anything about it, this time he wouldn't be.
"Good," Luke said to Them. "Take care of each other." He said as he walked out of the room before shouting back, "Make sure you're on a transport."
Thalia smiled at Cassian before shouting back to Luke. "We will!" But deep down it feels like she was lying to herself when those words left the female's mouth.
Cassian noticed Thalia was off killer, her smile was a little too wide despite in being genuine. "You are worried." He stated as they walked down the icy hallways to get his room. He had to change into his pilot clothes and prepare to go out with the others to the snowy tundra to fight alongside them.
He often found himself piloting more and more now that he was a commander. It wasn't much different from when he was a Captain, except now he mostly outranked those he fought next to with his rank of Commander.
Thalia didn't want Cassian to worry too much when he was out in the fight. No, he didn't deserve to have her worries with his own. "It's nothing, really."
Of course, the rebel wasn't going to have her not tell him what was going on with her. "Thalia, I know when you're lying." Cassian told his girlfriend. Whenever the young Jedi lied, she bit her lip a little. "When are you going to learn that you can tell me anything."
She couldn't tell him about what happened with Vader. Thalia never told Lilah about what happened when she faced off with Vader in the Force. "I saw something-memories." She tried to say, only she didn't know how to find the words.
Cassian raised an eyebrow. He didn't know what she was talking about. "Memories?" He repeated, questioning.
Thalia let out a small breath. It was time to admit when she knew and hadn't thought about in over three years. "I saw what Vader did to you when you were on the Death Star."
Cassian's adoring face turned almost to stone, frozen like a snow rabbit. "You what?" He asked, not angry but more shocked. He knew she never would have looked at them on purpose. Sure, he told Thalia about what happened to him, but she actually saw it. All that pain he went though.
How for a moment he lost all hope and then gained it back the moment he and Leia were rescued by a group of crazy people. "Did you see..." He trailed off for a moment. "Did you see anything else?" he asked her.
"Yes." she said and looked more like a lost and confused child than ever. Her voice had gone quiet and shy toward him. "I saw my father, young, and he was fighting someone on the planet of Mustafar to the death. Someone thing about a chosen one that would bring balance to the Force. I even saw a woman that could have been Lilah's mother." Thalia told him as she watched his face carefully.
Waiting for a reaction of many emotions and questions from what she saw from Vader's memories.
"Lilah's mother?" He said, surprised even further then he has been. Cassian knew Lilah had no memory of her mother. That she died during her birth. She had been a great woman apparently though-a Jedi and Senator in one. "Are you sure?" he asked curiously and concerned at the same time. This didn't sound good to him.
"Yes, I know it was Lilah's mother." Thalia found herself explaining to Cassian. "They look alike in some ways," She could remember the woman she saw in the memories, the one that was heartbroken and crying in despair. The one difference between Lilah and Ivy was that Amidala had green eyes and a small height, when Lilah had blue eyes and a tall height. "I thought she was Lilah at first when I saw her, but she was heartbroken because someone-I think at the male that she was talking to on Mustafar, she looked pregnant." That would mean Lilah's mother might have died from another realize-heartbreak.
If the memory was one that took place before Lilah's mother gave birth to her daughter, it must have been a man that both her father and mother knew? The one that would bring balance to the Force. Did they turn to the dark side or die?
Cassian listened, drinking in the information he was given and then hesitated. "Thalia," he said her name carefully, like trying to figure out his next set of words. "Lilah must know. Not now, but soon..." His girlfriend was in a very precarious and awkward position right now. Not that it was her fault-but this didn't change the fact that it was odd. But if this was Lilah's mother, she deserved to know the truth about it.
Shaking his head, he leaned down giving her a quick kiss. "I have to go now." he whispered lovingly. "I love you." Cassian said and parted from Thalia with raging thoughts. Well, this was more complicated than he thought it was.
Thalia smiled a little at Cassian's words. "I Know. See you soon." She told him as he walked off. "Stay safe, and watch out for Imperial walkers- you know AT-AT's." With that said she turned and walked down the hall.
0o0o0o0
Lilah had changed into a black uniform and want to go brief the fighters with Leia. "All trooper carriers will assemble at the north entrance." The tall woman explained to them. "The heavy transport ships will leave as soon as they're loaded. Only two fighters per ship, we don't want to make obvious people." She stated and Leia said the rest.
"The energy shield can only be opened for a short time, so you'll have to stay very close to your transports." Leia warned them all.
"Two fighters against a Star Destroyer?" Hobbie asked shocked and a little scared, but tried not to show it. With all due respect to the General's before him, he was pretty sure they have lost their minds.
"We don't have a choice- this had too as covert as possible." Lilah told them. It seemed like they were pushing it, but that was all they could afford. "The ion cannon will fire several shots to make sure that any enemy ships will be out of your flight path, and the Rogues with you will take care of the rest." It was a narrowed path but they could do it. With her Rogues they could do it. "When you've gotten past the energy shield, proceed directly to the rendezvous point. No stops, no nothing. Understood?"
"Yes, General."
"Good luck," Leia spoke to the pilots.
As Lilah continued to be surrounded by the men, her mind drifted. Something was out there, she realized it was a mass of dark feelings and she fought the urge to shiver. Something dark was out there and whatever it was they were on the move fast.
When the mess of a combination-people all race, gender and age were dismissed. Lilah looked to Leia. Her face battle worn, despite being still young. One of the youngest General's, Mon Mothma had informed her.
"You know I don't think I'll ever get use to this." She admits to the Princess as they walked back down the hall to the command center.
Leia knew that Lilah was right in many ways than one. It was hard to get use to in war-they were young and experience in battle and what to do to win. They had a plan and they would use it to help save lives.
"You're right." Leia said to Lilah with a nod. "I never imagined myself doing this every day. It's hard to get use too, giving orders to everyone every day." Leia knows that Lilah was right in many ways than one. But she sometimes wondered how her father-Bail Organa- had done all this for years. Running a rebellion, giving orders that put lives at risk for a good cause. The princess sometimes wondered if what their fighting for would actually work, or will it only lead to a greater threat.
"I never imagined joining the main Rebel Forces-let alone being promoted to a General." Lilah knew they both were in strange positions. They were the ones giving orders now, but also taking them still. Still, they were authority figures, people looked up to them. "I have to go make sure everything is running smoothly Leia. I'll meet you in the command center." She swore then left to usher for commanders, wishing she could be put in the field.
She prayed to the Force to guide them and protect them. Because they would surely need it.
0o0o0o0
Luke walked out in full uniform and headed to his ship. On the way he stopped by to see Han and Chewie. Both of the men were making last minute, but much needed, repairs to the Falcon.
"Chewie, take care of yourself, okay?" Luke smiled and patted his furry friend on the arm. Chewie pulled the human into a hug, crushing him for a second before letting him go.
"Hi, kid." Han shouts down to Luke from his elevated position, then he turns toward a repair droid and scolded, "There's got to be a reason for it. Check it at the other end. Wait a second." Han told it before asking Luke, "You alright?"
"Yeah." Luke said up to Han. There were so many things he wanted to time him is so little time; What their friendship meant to him, how he hoped Han wasn't hurt by Lilah's rejection...for him to have all the happiness in the world.
"Be careful." Han told Luke. He wanted to kid to stay safe in this war, even when Han isn't around. The smuggler originally didn't plan to make friends with any of them, but times have changed. Now he did care greatly about all those crazy people from the desert.
"You too." Luke smiled back and walked off to where the other pilots were.
When Luke arrived with the other pilots the announcement that the first transport got away echoed through the base. He walked up to his ship and to his gunner, Dack, a fresh face and eager young man. Maybe two years below Luke himself, and then they climbed into the fighter.
0o0o0o0
The Executor and five other Star Destroyer had exited hyperspace to orbit over the Hoth planet, Vader was inside his meditation chamber. A dark spherical enclose with a black exterior, the chamber was pressurized to keep the Sith Lord comfortable, even when his helmet was off. The man sensed general Veer's entered his private quarters, which caused Vader to open his sphere as the clasped unlocked at the side, allowing the upper half to open up.
Vader sat in the center of the chamber's bright white interior. His black helmet on his face as the male faced the general. "What is it General?" He wondered out loud. Had something gone wrong?
"My Lord, the fleet has moved out of lightspeed," Veers reported to the Sith. "Comm-scan has detected an energy field protecting an area of the sixth's planet of the Hoth system. The field is strong enough to deflect any bombardment."
Vader knows it's a good time to strike on the ground because the rebel knew they were here. Admiral Ozzel had come out of lightspeed to close to the system. "The rebels are alerted to our presence. Admiral Ozzel came out of lightspeed too close to the system."
Veers began to speak, defending the Admiral's actions. "He felt surprise was wiser..."
"He is clumsy as he is stupid," Vader explained to the male, not wanting to hear a small defense to action. "General, prepare your troops for a surface attack."
"Yes, my lord," Veers answered, then left the room.
Vader rotated his seat, allowing him to face a wide viewscreen. It flocked on and displayed an image of Admiral Ozzel and Captain Piett on the Executor's bridge. Ozzel turned his face in the direction of the view screen and spoke, "Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of lightspeed, and we're preparing to-aaagh!" Ozzel couldn't finish speaking as his throat started to close up on him, his left hand going up to his throat.
Vader, using the force, had constricted Ozzel's windpipe. "You have failed me for the last time, Admiral." Ozzel took a step backwards but remained on the viewscreen. "Captain Piett."
Piett stepped forward, fearful. "Yes, my lord."
"Make ready to land our troops beyond their energy field and deploy the fleet so that nothing gets off the system." Vader explained as Ozzel fell to the bridges deck. "You are in command now, Admiral Piett."
Piett straightened himself. "Thank you, Lord Vader."
It was time to strike hard and fast. Don't give the rebels time to leave until he had Skywalker, Amidala, and Kenobi.
Vader felt a being that was already deceased and one with the Force. It was the force feeling of someone that he knew was now on the planet Hoth. A person he hadn't felt in a long time...Ivy.
He was told she was dead by the emperor himself after he first awoke from become Darth Vader. She died before their children could be born-
They were born.
Had been born somewhere within the galaxy before Ivy's death. Obi-Wan and Maria had made sure of that. The two Force users he was after were his own children. They would be able to rule the galaxy as a family after all.