Hi fellow Star Wars fans! Yep I'm back and the reason I was gone for so long is that I just started Collage and am still getting (quite unsuccessfully) used to it. First of all I want to thank each and every review, and second I wanted to tell you about this youtube video that I found recently and you should totally watch it, because it's so awesome (just type in I love Han Solo). Enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars, George Lucas does. Oh wait no he doesn't
Chapter 11 – Rebel attack
Han hurried through nearly empty halls of the Death star. He had to get Leia away. Tarkin had no more reason to keep her alive, since she told him the location of the rebel base and Han knew all too well what Tarkin did to his useless opponents and he couldn't allow that to happen. After Leia publicly attacked him with her accusations and not to mention fists, he went to his room and thought things over. His decision was for once an easy one – he had to help her escape. He waited some hours before he went to find her. He walked quickly and didn't respond to angry voices of the people that he happened to bump into on his way. He rushed into her cell and found her sleeping, curled in the corner beside the huge window. Han was like many times before stunned by her presence and he looked upon her face that had still visible stains made by tears. Leia awoke by the sound of Han's footsteps and his heavy breathing almost instantly. Her puzzled look kicked Han back to reality.
"We have to go" he said hastily. "Now!"
Leia didn't respond at first, anger rising in her eyes with each passing moment. "Look at it" she demanded and motioned to the window. "Look at it!"
Han realized what lay beyond the window glass and why Leia was brought to this place. "Leia" he spoke "I am so sorry about Alderaan."
"You're sorry?" she said her voice a mixture of exasperation, anger and pain. "That's all? It is all your fault."
"How can this be my fault?"
"You know perfectly well" she responded angrily. "You told Tarkin about Alderaan."
"What are you talking about? We don't have time for this..."
" I told you that Alderaan is what I love more than anything and you went straight to Tarkin with that piece of information. He of course knew how to use it and he succeeded. Are you happy now? Did you get your promotion?"
"I never did any of this. Hell I don't think I've ever even spoken to Tarkin in my entire life." said Han angrily, realizing what Leia meant when she attacked him before. How could she even think of that? Did she really think he was so corrupted? "I thought you trusted me."
"And look what happened." said Leia quietly
"Please Leia, you have to believe me. I would never do such a thing. Alderaan... Alderaan wasn't my fault."
"I know it wasn't." said Leia and added quietly: "It was mine."
"Leia I didn't tell Tarkin, or anybody else. You do believe me right?"
She looked in his eyes and remained silent. Thoughts raced through her mind, but there was something sincere in Han's voice and his eyes and she heard herself whisper: " Yes"
"Good" exhaled Han relived. "I'm gonna get you out of here. Let's go" he said and moved to the door. Then he turned and saw that Leia remained motionless. "Trust me" he said and offered her a hand. Leia bit her lip for a second and then accepted it.
Han pulled her after him and soon they ran together across the first hallway that was completely empty.
The Command bridge aboard Death star was silent.
"What do you mean we are under attack?" yelled Tarkin, who rarely ever lost his temper. Young officer that brought him the information was shaking with fear.
"Sir, there are about 30 fighters of unknown source approaching out battle station." stuttered the young man. "They might not have unfriendly intentions. We can't be sure. I mean... sir... We might not be under attack, but we assumed that..."
At that moment an X-wing fighter flew right past the viewing screen of the Command bridge, shooting red bolts of energy as it did so.
"So what do you call that?" asked Tarkin, not directly asking anyone. "Attack or something else?" He sighed and started to give orders: "I want all men on their battle stations." Then he turned to young officer who still stood beside him and said: "Order someone to bring here Senator Organa." He paused and added: "And contact the rebel general. I want to speak with him."
They ran side by side, though Leia started to fall behind due to dizziness and occasional pain, that sessions with Vader left her. She hated this weakness and didn't want to tell Han she couldn't last much longer. Luckily Han noticed it and said: "Do you want to stop?" Leia shook her head, but Han didn't buy it. "We'll just walk" he decided loudly. They slowed down, but continued their way.
"Why are you doing this, Han?" asked Leia breathing heavily.
"Tarkin would have killed you" spoke Han. "Now come on, we have to hurry."
"Yes, but that's not your problem. Why are you helping me? Why do you risk so much?"
"Maybe you'd like it back in your cell Your Highness?" asked Han harshly and that silenced Leia.
A couple of minutes passed and Leia started to slow down once more. Han didn't even ask this time. He knew she was too stubborn to tell him, if she couldn't do it anymore.
"Han, what are we going to do when we come to populated part of the station? Someone will surly suspect something."
"I don't know" responded Han. "I haven't thought about it."
"Men" said Leia under her breath and then spoke loudly: "Let's say we aren't noticed, then what?"
"We'll escape in my ship"
"I'm impressed" replayed Leia sarcastically thinking how things couldn't get much worse and before Han could answer, things actually got worse. A group of stormtroopers came around the corner, right in front of Han and Leia, who both stopped in surprise. But there was more. The man that led the group was none other than Colonel Ardens Odio. Han tried to get the hold of the situation so he saluted the man. Leia moved quietly behind Han, but she was sure Colonel noticed it.
"Colonel Odio" greeted Han.
"Commander Solo" replied Odio officially and asked: "What is your business here?"
"Transfer of the prisoner, sir."
"Well that's not what it looks like to me." Said Colonel and eyed him intensively. "I think I'll have to contact Lord Vader."
Leia was starting to panic. She knew something will go wrong.
"No need, Colonel" spoke the voice behind Leia and she knew who it belonged too. It was the voice she feared the most and would recognize it any time. She turned around and held her breath.
"Drop your weapon Commander" spoke Vader again. Han indeed withrew his blaster and was now pointing it at Colonel Odio, but he did it so quickly and quietly that nobody else noticed. "We don't want someone to get hurt."
Han glanced at Odio and then at Vader. He understood that Vader threatened him with hurting Leia, but how did he know and how much did he know? His blaster fell to the floor with a loud clank.
Nobody spoke and Leia forced herself not to look at Han. There still might be a way he could get out of this mess without any serious consequences.
"Colonel," spoke Vader "you and your troops will escort us. I am sure wrist bounds will not be necessary" he added and with that turned to Leia, who shook her head slightly. "Follow me," he said and walked away. Han and Leia followed him side by side. They were all silent for some time until Vader spoke: "Senator Organa, why are you so silent?"
Leia was so surprised she didn't answer.
"I thought," continued Vader after a pause not looking at her. "you might want to yell some more."
"My Lord" spoke Han to Vader's back "If you're talking about that incident earlier…"
"I was not talking about that, Commander Solo, and I most certainly wasn't talking to you."
And then Leia realized what Vader meant. She should have known that Vader had cameras installed in her cell. But the truth was she didn't bother to check her cell. Not after what happened to Alderaan. The thought of Vader watching her during her raging was somehow unpleasant. "Are you mocking me, Lord Vader?" she asked.
"No Your Highness, on the contrary. I am most impressed." said Vader truthfully. He thought it was such a waste of potential to keep her anger under control at all times, but most of all, he thought it was a waste because she used her precious energy for such a lost cause as Rebellion was. "That's not what I can say for you Commander" he spoke again. "A traitor… And as such you will be severely punished."
"My Lord? You must be mistaken" tried Han nervously.
"And a liar" spoke Vader. "Quite good one I have to admit, but not nearly as good as Princess over here." It was Leia's time to be puzzled again.
"Yes senator. I knew all along you lied about the base."
"Tarkin knows?" she asked hastily.
"He probably figured it out by now" answered Vader.
"Why didn't you tell him in the first place?"
"I too, didn't want Alderaan destroyed."
That was most certainly something Leia would never expect to hear from a Sith lord. Somehow be it because of Vader's appearance or his cruel actions, she doubted his humanity. But there it was, a man who opposed actions of his Empire to do something human. Surprise was all too soon exchanged by anger, which was like only hours before, boiling inside her. "Why didn't you stop him then?" she demanded.
"I will not discuss this matter with you, Princess" he spoke and even thought emotions were hard to recognize because of his breathing mask, Han knew he was angry.
Leia wanted to say something and had just opened her mouth to do so, when Vader spoke again. "That is final." He said impatiently.
Han and Leia exchanged worried glance. The fact that Vader knew when they were about to speak and such, seemed to fill them both with uneasiness.
So Vader knew we were about to escape, thought Han. Where is he taking us? Will he execute us? Many questions raced through his mind and he truly wasn't a person to wait for things to be answered. No matter how nervous he was, he determined that whatever happens, he wasn't going down without a fight.
They walked in silence until they reached their destination: Command bridge. There, on Leia's outmost disgust, awaited Governor Tarkin. "Lord Vader" he spoke. "I wasn't aware you were joining us."
"I just happened to run into Colonel you sent to bring the Princess" replied Vader.
"It's a good thing you're here" spoke Tarkin "This will surely interest you. Our battle station is under attack by the Rebel Alliance."
Leia's heart started pounding. They've made it, they got my plans she thought happily, but kept her expressionless mask on even when Tarkin walked to her. He leaned upon her and asked: "Princess Leia, what do you know about this?"
"Nothing" she replied, her face determined. "And even if I did, you would be the last person I would tell anything."
"Yes I have realized that by now. But I won't tolerate this anymore." He said, becoming angrier with each passing moment. "You lied to me."
"It is you, Governor, who lied…if you care to remember." Spoke Leia her chin raised a little bit, making her appear more royal and superior that ever.
"Are you questioning my honor?" Asked Tarkin as his eyes narrowed.
Leia looked him straight in the eyes and spoke: "No I'm not. I'm denying its existence."
Tarkin clenched this teeth and it seemed as if he wanted nothing more, but to slap the girl that insulted him deeply. Leia didn't even flinch and Han couldn't help himself, but to admire her courage. This was the battle of wits and Tarkin, though tough opponent never stood a chance.
Lieutenant at whom Tarkin yelled before broke the silence. "Governor Tarkin," he said "We have contacted their general. Do you want to speak with him now?"
"Yes" answered Governor, turned away from Leia and stepped closer to the large screen, through which she watched destruction of Alderaan only hours before. Within seconds and image of an older man appeared on the screen and Leia recognized him immediately. Seeing him was somehow soothing even though he couldn't see her.
"Governor Tarkin" greeted the rebel General.
"Ah yes, General Dodonna" Tarkin recognized the man and offered him one of his deadly smiles.
"What is the meaning of all this, Governor? Why did you want to speak with me?" asked Dodonna directly.
"I want you to stop this foolish operation of yours right now" demanded Tarkin.
"Did you think we will just stand by and do nothing after what happened to Alderaan?" spoke rebel General with disgust. "We will proceed with our attack and that's final. If that is all you wanted, I shall now bring an end to this meaningless conversation and devote my attention to more important things."
"Perhaps" said Tarkin slowly. "I have something that you might consider important." That of course caught Dodonna's attention. "Would you care to join us, Your Highness?" spoke Tarkin not looking away from the screen. Leia had no choice but to do as told.
"Leia" whispered visibly shocked Dodonna. "I mean Your Highness."
"General" she greeted him.
"We thought… "Staggered the older man "We thought you were dead."
"Oh what a touching reunion" interrupted Tarkin mockingly. "Sadly there is no time for such things as you said earlier General." Then he spoke again his voice serious and demanding: "Now… You will stop your attack at once and we shall later arrange the terms of your surrender. If you choose not to do so, Senator Organa will pay for it and we don't want something bad to happen to our little Princess, do we?"
Han wanted to strangle the man and had to use all control he possessed not to do it. Instead of killing his superior he looked at Leia, who appeared to be at peace. That calmed him down a bit, but he had no idea how long it would last.
"You wouldn't dare to kill her." spoke Dodonna
"No I won't kill her," confessed Tarkin "but believe me, she'll wish to be dead long before I finish with her."
"You bastard" said general angrily and the tone surprised Leia, who knew Jan Dodonna as loving and peaceful man.
"Now now General, watch your manners" spoke Tarkin again with his mocking voice.
Leia was paralyzed with fear that Tarkin's words brought upon her, but she knew she had to be brave. "General," she said quickly before anyone could stop her "Proceed with the operation. You must not stop, not now."
Tarkin taken aback by Leia's approach at once gestured stormtroopers to silence her and take her away. Two men in white armor dragged her out of Dodonna's visible field.
"I'm so sorry Leia" whispered the graying man and for a moment Leia feared he will surrender, but then he said: "Governor Tarkin I must decline your offer."
"Very well" spoke Tarkin coldly. "Take Princess back to her cell and prepare the interrogation droid." He made sure Dodonna heard these last orders before he dismissed him shortly with: "Goodbye General."
The image on the screen flickered and then disappeared.
"What now, Governor?" asked Vader.
"Now we'll get Her Royal Highness to reveal us the real location of the rebel base." replied Tarkin. "Will you take care of this Lord Vader?"
"Yes, I will see to it personally." Spoke Vader and bowed slightly.
The stormtroopers led by Colonel Ardens Odio started to take Leia away when Vader spoke again: You're coming with us, Commander Solo. As I recall we have some unfinished business."
That's all for now, but I have next chapter pretty much figured so it shouldn't take long. I am starting to question the existence of »Post Review« button, so please be so kind and try to find it for me will ya :D Oh and does anybody know what Ardens Odio means? Nobody noticed till now, but let me give you a hint: It indicates what Han thinks about this person. May the Force be with you all!