Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. If I did...Jar Jar probably wouldn't have made it into the picture.
A/N: Yay! New update! It's not terribly long, but I hope you guys enjoy it anyway!
The moment that the Millennium Falcon landed in the Rebellion's docking bay on Yavin was the moment that Luke, Han and Chewy were left standing in the dust as the princess began prepping the data on the Death Star.
Han turned to Luke. "What's your plan now, kid?"
Luke shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "I guess I could help the Rebellion…I'm not such a bad pilot…" his voice trailed off.
"You know," Han said slowly, "you could always come with Chewy 'n me. You're pretty good in a fight. We could use you."
Chewy let out a howl of agreement, and Luke smiled at the sincerity in the smuggler's voice.
"I'd really love to, Han, but don't you think there is something more going on?" Luke asked. He gestured to everyone around them. "Think about it. All of these people, all together for the same purpose. Don't you think the galaxy would be a better place without the empire?"
Han shrugged. "Sure," he said. "But Empire or no, I'm not a friend of the government. In case you forgot, I'm a smuggler. Not exactly your law abiding citizen."
Luke shook his head. "Han, now is the time to start over! The Rebellion could use your skills!" Luke said. He was about to continue when they were interrupted by a young rebellion officer.
"Captain Solo?" he asked.
Han nodded. "Yeah, that's me."
"The princess told that her rescue would not have happened without you and your ship, and we have prepared your reward," the officer said. "If you'll come this way."
Han frowned, and looked over the officer's shoulder. He saw Leia standing a few yards back. She was talking to a high ranking official, but her gaze was resting on him. When their eyes locked, a scowl escaped on her face, and she looked away.
Han nodded to the officer, and then turned towards Luke. "Look, I've got a Hutt to pay. Maybe…maybe when I return…"
Luke was shaking his head. "Han. These people need you."
Han's face hardened and he stood up straight. "See ya around, kid," he said, and took off after the officer. Chewy let out a mournful noise, put his giant paw on Luke's shoulder, and then followed the Corillian.
When Han was well out of earshot, Leia made her way over to Luke. "I see where his priorities are," she said, crossing her arms. Luke shrugged.
"He said he needed to go pay off Jabba. I tried convincing him to stay," he told her.
Leia turned towards Luke. "Look, with people like that, whatever is in their best interest is what they do. It's hardwired into their brain. Nothing you could have said would have changed his mind."
Luke let out a sigh. "Maybe you're right. But I can't help but feel like…there was this moment when he was going to stay."
There was an awkward silence between them, and Luke hurried and said, "so. The Death Star plans. Have you guys decided on a course of action?"
Leia nodded. "Yes. We're going to lure the Empire into a battle, and force them to bring the Death Star." Leia continued to tell him how a squadron of pilots would go up against the battle station, and ultimately destroy it.
Luke nodded. "Sounds like it might work. But a target that small is a difficult hit."
Leia drew in a sigh. "So I've been told by every pilot I have."
"It's not impossible, though. I used to target womp rats, and they're more or less the same size," Luke told her.
Leia uncrossed her arms and smiled at him. "Luke. How would you like to join the squadron?"
Han finished loading the lockers of credits onto the Falcon. Chewy was in the cargo hold, looking at the smuggler questioningly. Han looked up at him and scowled. "Oh don't give me any of that. You know as well as I do if I don't pay off Jabba, then every bounty hunter will be breathing down my neck. And if I stay with Luke and the princess…" Han trailed off. "Well, they don't need the extra blasters pointed at their face."
Chewy let out a questioning growl.
"After Jabba? I don't know…I suppose I could go back to smuggling," Han said.
Chewy let out a sharp howl.
"Alright, alright! As soon as I pay Jabba, we're heading back to the Rebel base. No need to get your fur in a knot," Han said, walking towards the cockpit, ignoring the triumphant growl from his co-pilot.
The TIE fighter pilot had one thing on his mind; get into his fighter and return the escape pod in one piece. With that said, he didn't notice the shadow resting just above the entrance to his TIE. When the pilot punched in the code to unlock the door, something heavy dropped from above and landed on him.
Ahsoka jumped off the pilot and checked him. He was dazed, but not out. She whipped out his blaster and hit him with it across the back of his head. She looked up to make sure no one was watching. When she saw they were safe, she lifted the pilot up, and took him into the fighter. It was crowded, but she couldn't very well leave him lying there.
The TIE started up, and she piloted it out of the hanger. At first, she followed the rest of the TIEs, but then she began to drift off, slowly at first, and when no one called her on it, Ahsoka took a sharp right and left the formation.
"IYH-900, why are you leaving formation?" she heard over the com system. Ahsoka chose to ignore it and just continued.
"Repeat, IYH-900, why are you leaving formation? Reply, or we will be forced to take action."
Ahsoka bit her bottom lip. Maybe this wasn't the best plan she had ever thought off. Two of the other TIEs broke formation and began to follow her. Ahsoka looked at her Navi-computer. They were about to enter the deep space; surely the TIEs wouldn't be foolish enough to follow her so far away from the Death Star.
She was right. The moment she passed through the 'safety zone' of the battle station, the two TIEs stopped, and she heard over the comm, "must be a faulty fighter. Return to your post."
Ahsoka let out a deep sigh. Truthfully, she had actually been surprised it had worked. The Empire must be scraping the bottom of the barrel in recruiting. Ahsoka looked at her Navi-computer and was pleased she wasn't too far away from Coruscant. It would only take her a few days to get there.
An uncomfortable silence floated in the briefing room. Tarkin was staring at the unblinking eyes of Vader's helmet, a small smirk playing on the grand moff's lips.
"And you just let her go?" Vader's words still echoed in the room.
Tarkin stood up. "Vader," he said. "The Emperor gave me a direct order to let her escape. He is no longer confident in your abilities to destroy her, and therefore has proceeded in dealing with her in his own way. You are hereby ordered to leave the death of Ahsoka Tano to the professionals."
Vader glared at Tarkin and left the room. Tarkin turned to the rest of the officers sitting at the table. "Now. We are to focus on the Rebellion and their newly acquired readout to the Death Star." Tarkin looked at all the officers, and sat back down.
Yay for a new chapter, fairly soon after the last one was updated! I hope you guys enjoyed it, and again, please leave a review telling me what you thought about it!
MLV