0 BBY
Tatooine
Luke Skywalker woke up early and got ready to head back to Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. He told his aunt and uncle he would return in a few days to help prepare for the harvest. After loading the two new droids into his speeder he headed off in the direction of the hut the Jedi's called home. As they pulled up Ahsoka was outside doing her morning meditations. As Luke was getting Artoo out of the speeder the little droid started beeping excitedly. Luke not knowing what was going on looked to Threepio for a translation.
"He says he knows the togruta. He keeps saying 'his padawan, his padawan' over and over" Threepio said as a puzzled Luke looked from the droid to his master, who had opened her eyes to see what all the noise was about.
"Artoo?" Ahsoka Tano asked not believing she was seeing her former master's droid after all this time.
"You know the droid Master Ahsoka?" Luke asked as his master got up
"Yes actually, I know both of them. Hello Threepio, it's been a long time" Ahsoka said greeting the protocol droid and causing Luke to wonder why Artoo would remember being owned by Obi-Wan but not Threepio.
"I'm sorry Madame, the only owner I've ever had was Captain Antilles" the protocol droid informed her.
"He must have had his memory wiped" Ahsoka informed her padawan much to Threepio's shock.
"Did you say memory wipe?" Threepio asked astonished.
Ahsoka laughed and suggested they go inside after Luke informed her of Artoo's claim of belonging to Obi-Wan. Inside Obi-Wan Kenobi was eating his breakfast when he saw Ahsoka and Luke walk in with two droids hadn't seen in twenty years.
"Master Kenobi, this Artoo unit says he belongs to you. My Uncle Owen bought the two of them yesterday" Luke said as he sat down in his chair the little droid began beeping excitedly again.
"I do know these droids though it has been quite a long time" Obi-Wan said causing Luke to sit up in his chair.
"Artoo says he has a message for you, but he wouldn't play it for me. Even after I took his restraining bolt off" Luke informed him.
As he said this Artoo once again started playing the message Luke had caught a glimpse of the night before. Luke sat up in his chair to take in the blonde haired girl as she spoke.
"General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now my mother and I beg you to help us in this struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my mother's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My mother will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to her on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope." The girl said until her message image flickered away.
"What do you think Obi-Wan?" Ahsoka asked
Obi-Wan sat back without responding thinking back to the vision he'd had of his old master who had told him he would know when it was time for them to leave Tatooine. "Tell me again, where did you come from?" Obi-Wan asked Threepio
Threepio relayed the story of belonging to Captain Antilles, a member of the rebellion, once more.
"If the empire is here they're certainly hunting these droids" Ahsoka said
Suddenly Luke shot straight up as realization of what Ahsoka's words meant hit him "The farm!" he yelled and ran out the door.
"Luke!" Ahsoka yelled running out after him and barely hopping in the speeder with him as Luke took off.
They sped through the canyons and across the Dune Sea as fast as Luke could push the controls. Somehow though he knew he wasn't going to beat the empire to the farm but maybe he could get there before they could hurt his aunt and uncle. Ahsoka didn't say anything to her padawan the entire time knowing nothing she said would detour him from going to check on his aunt and uncle. As they approached the farm their worst fears were realized. They could see a large black cloud of smoke rising from the homestead. Stopping the speeder Luke hopped out and ran up to the homestead.
"Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru!" he yelled even though he knew he wouldn't get an answer "Uncle Owen'"
Ahsoka was the first to see the burnt corpses of the farmer and his wife. Side by side, they had been executed and the farm burned to appear as if sand people had been behind the attack. Luke fell to his knees as the tears rolled off his cheeks.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO" he yelled as Ahsoka put her arm around him.
"Your father, used to react the same way when he lost those he loved" she said holding him close. "I don't know how much good it's going to do but I'm going to tell you the same thing Yoda used to tell us when our friends and comrades died. Rejoice for those who become one with the force"
"There's nothing left for me here now" he said as he got up and went to the speeder.
Imperial Star Destroyer Vengeance
The commander on the ground was reporting to Darth Vindicta that they had traced the droids to several farms but the none of the farmers were in possession of the pair. He said after visiting four farms, they had caught up to the sand crawler that they had tracked the droids to as it was returning to Mos Eisley but the droids weren't inside.
"Secure all the nearby settlements commander. Whoever has them well attempt to get off the planet next." She ordered
"Yes, Lady Vindicta"
Death Star I
Eight Admirals and Generals sat around a conference table on the massive space station arguing as Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader walked in.
"The rebel alliance is far more dangerous than you realize. This station is vulnerable until it is fully operational" General Cassio Tagge said.
"Dangerous to your Starfleet, not this battle station" Admiral Motti replied bitterly.
"The rebellion will continue to gain ground in the senate as long as…" General Tagge was saying before being cut off by Grand Moff Tarkin.
"I've just been informed The Emperor has done away with that legislative body. The remnants of the old Republic have been swept away" the Grand Moff stated.
This started an argument on how control would be maintained in the many star systems. Vader listened as the Admirals and Generals were informed of the regional governors being given more power. To him the only power that mattered in the galaxy was the power of the force. They were now arguing about how to protect the station with the plans still unaccounted for.
"The plans you refer to will soon be in our hands. Darth Vindicta is hunting them down. As we speak a rebel that was caught receiving the plans is on her way here. We shall soon know the location of the secret rebel base as well" Vader told the group.
"Who is this Darth Vindicta? Where did she come from to be placed in command over all of us?" Admiral Motti asked gesturing to the other Admirals and Generals seated at the table.
"She is someone in who the Emperor sees results" Vader said angrily. Motti was on thin ice "The power of this station is nothing compared to the power of the force, don't you forget that Admiral"
"Don't scare us with your sorcerer ways Lord Vader; your devotion to that ancient religion hasn't helped you or Lady Vind… "Admiral Motti said as he started choking.
"I find your lack of faith disturbing" Vader told the admiral.
"Enough! Vader, release him" Tarkin commanded.
"As you wish" Vader replied.
"Lady Vindicta will find those plans and Lord Vader will discover their base. Soon we will crush this rebellion" Tarkin told the group before ending the meeting.
Tatooine.
Back at the hut Obi-Wan, Luke and Ahsoka sat around discussing how best to proceed next. They all agreed that they needed to get off Tatooine and get the plans to Alderaan. They knew there was an imperial blockade in the system from what Threepio had told them. It would be hard to find a pilot willing to break through the blockade without being able to offer a great deal of money up front. They agreed the best place to find that kind of pilot was Mos Eisley and Obi-Wan sent Luke to prepare their things and the droids for a one-way trip. This made Luke smile somewhat as he left the room.
"There's nothing else I can teach him Master Kenobi. I've taught him all that I know" Ahsoka said as she watched her padawan leave the room.
"I agree Ahsoka, which is why I nominate you for the rank of Jedi Master" he said as she turned to him smile.
"Thank you Master Kenobi, since you're making me a Master does that mean you agree Luke is no longer a padawan?" She asked him.
"While I agree Luke is ready for the rank of knight, I only said I was nominating you, not bestowing. You need the Grand master of the order to do that" Obi-Wan said as Ahsoka got a puzzled look on his face.
"I don't understand, I thought the three of us were all that was left of the order" she said confused.
Obi-Wan leaned forward "Luke and I will go to Alderaan; once we've left I want you to go to Dagobah. There you will find Master Yoda; he will know if you're ready." He said.
"Yoda? He's still alive?" she exclaimed
"Yes, I would send Luke with you but I get the feeling I will need his help" Obi-Wan said
Death Star I
Winter sat in her detention cell staring at the lights. She wasn't sure how long she had beenin the cell, as soon as she had been brought on to the station she had been escorted straight to the detention block. She hadn't seen anyone yet and the lights hadn't turned off; they hadn't fed her or offered her any water either. They were trying to break her before the interrogation started by starving her and not allowing her to sleep. She wondered if her father had been kept in a cell like this.
Seeing Leia after all these years had unnerved her. She still remembered the day Darth Vader had come to the palace and taken her father and sister away. After the imperials had left Winter's mother, Queen Breha, had cried for days. A visit from an old friend of her father's had snapped her out of feeling sorry for herself and put durasteel in her spine. As she got older Winter learned that her mother secretly supported the rebels, both financially and with war material. Mostly medical supplies, rations and volunteers. Normally peaceful, the Alderaanian people didn't take to kindly to having their Viceroy and one of their princesses kidnapped. Naturally Winter herself joined the fight when she was elected to the senate at the age of fifteen.
After the people of Alderaan had elected their princess, the Alderaanian parliament having recognized her as the rightful heir after the abductions, Winter had arrived on Imperial Center with list of rebellion contacts. Chief among them was Chandrillian senator named Mon Mothma, who she later learned was one of the chief leaders of the rebellion. Mothma immediately welcomed her into the group and set her to task helping the rebellions spy rings in the outer rim. Which is how she now found herself a captive of the Empire. As Winter lay there staring at the lights wondering how, or even if, she would get out of this mess the door opened to reveal none other than Darth Vader.
She sat up trying to muster the best look of defiance she could but deep down Winter was scared. She had heard stories of the Sith Lord and the memories of her brief encounter as a child still haunted her.
"Now your highness, let's discuss the location of the rebel bas. Shall we?" Vader said as an interrogation droid entered behind him and the doors slammed shut.
Outside the cell two storm troopers stood guard as the princess's screams echoed throughout the detention block.
Tatooine
The speeder sped along the Jundland Wastes to Mos Eisley, it was cramped inside with the Luke and Obi-Wan up front and Ahsoka in back crammed between the two droids. They had packed up what few blogging they deemed necessary for the trip and destroyed everything that would identify them as Jedi to anyone who found it. As they approached the town Obi-Wan cautioned them to be careful amongst the scoundrels who might try to rob them and the imperials that were looking for the droids.
Luke brought the speeder to a stop as they came to an imperial checkpoint on the end of town. Two storm troopers walked up to inspect the vehicle.
"How long have you had these two droids?" the first storm trooper asked
"About three or four seasons" Luke replied squinting in the sunlight "they're for sale if you want them"
"Let me see your identification" the trooper ordered
"You don't need to see his identification "Obi-Wan said with a wave of his hand
The first trooper looked to his partner "We don't need to see his identification "
"These aren't the droids you're looking for" the jedi continued
"These aren't the droids we're looking for" the second trooper said
"We're free to go" Obi-Wan said with a final wave of his hand.
"Alright, you're free to go. Move it along" the first trooper said as Luke started to pull away
After finding a place to park the speeder the three made their way to the cantina to try and find a pilot. When they got inside the bartender yelled at them that droids had to wait outside so Luke suggested they go wait by the speeder.
"I think I see someone who might be able to help us" Ahsoka said with a smile as she discreetly gestured to a large Wookiee with a bandolier covering his chest.
"Do you know him master Ahsoka?" Luke asked
"Something like that. Luke, why don't you get a drink while I go introduce Obi-Wan." She said before adding "and be careful. With the blockade these guys seem more restless than usual"
Luke made his way to the bar and ordered a drink. He kept watching Ahsoka and Obi-Wan talking with the Wookiee as they kept gesturing back over to him. He was trying to relax and enjoy his drink but he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning he saw a hideously scarred human standing next to an Aqualish.
"He doesn't like you" the human said, obviously drunk.
"that's to bad" Luke replied.
"I don't like you either" the human said as his partner bellowed something in an alien tongue Luke was unfamiliar with. He noticed the patrons standing nearby had started to back away. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Obi-Wan and Ahsoka watching the scene unfold but they knew the boy could handle himself.
"You better watch yourself. We're wanted men, we have the death mark on twelve systems" the human said as his friend continued in the alien language.
"I'll be careful then" Luke replied turning back to his drink before being grabbed by the shoulder and swung back around.
"You'll be dead!" the human yelled as he and the Aqualish both pulled out blasters causing the bartender to yell.
"No blasters!"
Before they could get their blasters up and fire; Luke ignited his blue blade and slashed the human across the chest and brought it back around to sever the hand of the Aqualish that was holding the blaster. At that moment Luke noticed a third, rodent like creature, reaching for his blaster and cut him right down the middle of his chest. The Aqualish ran from the bar screaming in pain and Obi-Wan made his way over to the boy who stood looking for anymore threats.
Seeing Obi-Wan, Luke turned off his lightsaber and the cantina went back to normal as if nothing happened. Jedi master brought Luke over to the Wookiee he and Ahsoka had been chatting with and introduced him.
"Ahsoka knows this Wookiee, he's first mate on a freighter that can get us out of here" Kenobi told Luke.
They made their way to a table where a human male was sitting with Ahsoka laughing. As they approached Ahsoka introduced everyone.
"This is Han solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon, if anyone has a ship to get you two out of here it's him" Ahsoka told them as they approached.
"You're not coming to Alderaan?" Luke asked confused.
"No Luke I have something else to do but I'll catch up with you two when I get done" Ahsoka told him before turning to Han Solo "What will it take to get these two past that blockade?"
"A lot" Solo said
Luke was watching this all take place but u like Ahsoka he was unsure about the Corellian smuggler. "Is the ship even fast?" Luke asked
"You've never head of the Millennium Falcon?" Solo asked offended "It made the Kessel run in twelve parsecs"
Trying to dissuade the tension between them Obi-Wan tried to move the conversation back in a positive direction "Can you get us past the blockade?"
Han Solo sat back looking at them "Yeah I can outrun imperial cruiser. Not these local bulk cruisers mind you. I'm talking the big Corellian jobs. Cargo?" he said raising his eyebrow.
"Just these two and a couple of droids" Ahsoka replied before adding "We don't want any Imperil entanglements"
As they haggled on a price Han tried to ask for ten thousand up front but Obi-Wan talked him down to two up front and fifteen on arrival. After they settled the terms, a squad of storm troopers walked and the three jedi slipped out the back door.