She could feel a longing calling to her like a beacon as she trotted along behind the mysterious stranger who rescued her. Ben was what he called himself, but she knew he was lying, or at least hiding something. All shew knew was that her father had sent him and for now she would trust him. Perhaps he would tell her in time, but for now she needed his help getting off world and away from the dreaded empire. The trouble was, the more she tried to concentrate on the task at hand, the more this gravitational pull was felt in her very being. Leia would have to answer this calling.
Ben ducked down behind some crates as some imperial officers strolled down the city street, nose deep in their data pads. Leia followed closely, pulling her green hood over her head to further disguise herself. "We need to get off world." Ben stated seemingly to himself, not looking for an answer. "I need to get you home."
Leia nodded in response knowing full well that what they needed was a ship. She scanned the bustling street before her, neon lights encompassing the majority of the light source. There were species of all kinds walking peacefully to their night jobs, the cantinas, or homes. A spaceport did not seem to be in sight. Even when Leia looked toward the sky, it was impossible to see the stars through the smog from the city's pollutants. "Do you even know where you are going?" Leia asked with hands promptly placed on her hips. The old stranger rolled his eyes, clearly not feeling patient enough to deal with her antics.
"I'm taking a lesson from an old friend." Ben stated, realizing that improvising was never his strong suit. If only that friend was still alive, he would be able to get them out of this certain predicament. If only… Ben tried not to let his mind wander as it was treading on dangerous waters. It was treading on the most painful memory that he has ever harbored.
Ben was taught from a young age from a man he revered as a father figure to never dwell on the past. There is no past, there is no future, there is only now. That mantra played in his mind as he set out down the street with the young princess in tow.
"You have friends?" Came the snarky comment from the ten-year old's mouth. They began to walk at a somewhat quickened pace, avoiding all eye contact with the street mongers.
"I did once." He stated passively and without emotion as he ducked behind a wall of a nearby building to scan the horizon. While he used caution at all points, Leia stood in the open, not realizing the threat that lay before them. An imperial blockade was fortifying the street, stormtroopers stationed at all entry points. The image of Ben's face projected on some of the data pads that the officers held, issuing a warrant for arrest. The troopers conversed amongst themselves about capturing a rogue Jedi that was said to be on this planet, an air of excitement permeating the force around them. A powerful dread filled Ben as he realized that they could recognize him if he wasn't careful. Behind the blockade and troopers, sat a small fleet of tie fighters idling and ready for flight. That counts as a ship. Ben thought to himself. "Too risky."
"Do you see any other options." Leia said confidently as she started to move towards the blockade. Ben quickly grabbed hold of her coat and pulled her back behind the wall. Walking through the front door was foolhardy and would never work. "You must be patient." Ben stressed. "Follow my lead." Ben took a moment to contemplate his next move, gently taking his hand to stroke his beard as he was lost in thought. Leia thumped her foot against the ground impatiently as she waited for what the old man would do. She peered over to the blockade and recognized the projected face on the data pads. "Hey!" She exclaimed. "That's your face, they are searching for you." Ben sighed as she was stating the obvious.
"It is, that is why we must be careful and plan out our next move." Ben instructed.
"But they are searching for a Jedi." Leia thought out loud. Then it dawned on her and the sudden realization reached the features of her petite face. "You are a Jedi." She bounced with excitement. "You could use the force or something. Don't the Jedi play mind tricks?" She rambled on.
"I was a Jedi; I am not anymore." Ben stated matter of fact. Leia's eyes filled with wonder as she took in the news of her rescuer's heritage. Ben studied the troops movements, they all seemed to revolve around a figure of a woman in dark plate armor, passionately barking orders. She was an inquisitor sent to destroy any rogue Jedi armed with the iconic dual lightsaber across her back. She was not to be trifled with; Ben would make sure of that.
He turned around and found a small vendor set up on the side of the street selling droid parts of all manner of condition. That would have to do. He stood up, grabbed Leia's hand and led her over to the vendor to scope out his wares. There was nothing too fancy, mostly old separatist battle droid parts left over from the Clone wars. A lot of the parts seemed to be singed from blaster bolts, clearly having seen action. Ben studied these parts hoping there would be something he could rig together to cause some sort of distraction. Once again this was a skill better suited for an old friend. Ben never tinkered much with droids and often would rather them not be around.
"Looks like you could use some help." A gruff, yet familiar voice said from behind Ben. Instinctively, Ben placed a hand on the blaster hilt at his hip, ready for a struggle. When he turned around to see who it was it did not relieve the impulse to keep his hand tightly pressed around the grip and a finger on the trigger. An old gruff man dressed in beat up Clone trooper armor that was painted with blue lines, stood shoulders slumped and a grin beneath his beard. Ben knew this face very well; it was the face he fought alongside for many years.
The man looked down where Ben kept his hand and sighed. "There is no need for that, General." He spoke. "I am a friend."
"Is that what you said to the Jedi before you killed them?" Ben stated. Leia huddled closer to Ben after his comment, clutching closely to his clothing for some sense of security. Ben's gaze hardened and never faltered from the clone, but he still spotted a shiver that shook Leia to her core from the corner of his eye.
"I understand your skepticism, Sir." The clone stated. "But here is not the place to talk." The clone motioned his head toward the blockade and a band of stormtroopers dawning their blasters began moving forward to inspect and question civilians.
"You have a point." Ben agreed and released his hand from the blaster before following the clone into a nearby building. Loud music blared while Twi'lek slaves raved and citizens talked amongst themselves, casually sipping drinks. The clone led Ben and Leia to a booth toward the back of the cantina which had a good view of the front entrance. A strategic place indeed, as they would have enough time to run for the lives if a danger presented itself. It also shielded them from wandering gazes. No sign of the wanted poster for the Jedi seemed to exist, giving Ben some sense of relief. Leia sat on the inside of the booth bench while Ben sat next to her. He sat as closely to the edge of his seat as he possibly could, ready for this meeting to go poorly.
"Why are you on this planet, General Kenobi?" The clone began. "This is not a good place for a Jedi to be."
"You first." Ben said curtly. "Forgive me for my lack of trust, but your kind is responsible for the extinction of the Jedi order."
The clone nodded in understanding. "Not me Sir. I served under General Skywalker." Ben clenched both fists at the mention of that name.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Leia placed a hand on Ben's shoulder, trying to comfort him. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she knew it had to do with Ben's troubled past.
"I thought you and Skywalker were friends?" The clone said confused.
"I did too." Ben uttered under his breath.
"I guess that means you wouldn't remember me. I was CT-5555, often referred to as Fives. Back before us troopers were sent to kill the Jedi, I uncovered how an order such as that would be executed." Fives explained to Ben. "I'm surprised Skywalker wouldn't have told you. We found chips implanted on Kamino that would alter our thoughts if the right person were to trigger something. We never found what the chips were meant for until it was too late. I gave the evidence to Skywalker and he ensured that many of the 501st had their chips removed, believing them to be some sort of way to execute the troops. Similar to the chips implanted in slaves to keep them from running away."
Ben brought a hand up to his face to stroke his beard, attempting to hide the small smirk that appeared on his battle-hardened face. He always tried to save everyone. Ben thought.
"That brings me to my original question, why are you on Daiyu? And why do you have a youngling with you?"
"He rescued me." Leia butted in.
"I rescued her." Ben agreed. "I've been entrusted by her father to return her safely home. We need safe transport to Alderaan." Ben explained, being careful not to reveal too much information. If word got out who Leia really was, there would be a different face projected on the empire's data pad.
"That would be why you were eyeing those tie fighters." Fives concluded. "That's a bold move, Sir. Might I suggest something a little more subtle, such as ride on a space cruiser?"
"Public transport will be crawling with troopers. And worse, we would be trapped if someone happened to recognize us." Ben rattled off. "No, we need our own ship."
"I might be able to help you with that."
Fives led Ben and Leia down twisted alley ways that reeked of death and urine. There would be the occasional hooded figure leaning on a building wall, trying to stay out of sight. Each time, Ben noticed a lingerer, he held Leia close, creating a shield for her with his cloak. Fives moved at a steady fast pace, which indicated to Ben that Fives has been on this planet for a while. Every so often, Fives would pause his pace to glance back at Ben and make sure that they still followed. Ben kept a distance between Fives, a distance that ensured time to get away should this clone be leading him into a trap. Always expect a trap. Ben mused.
It seemed like hours, but was only mere minutes, before they stood before a large run-down hanger. Fives walked casually to the small door and punched in a door code into the console. The door slid open giving access to a very dark open space. "What are you waiting for?" Fives commented as he motioned them forward. Ben hesitated at the threshold before taking a step inside, his gentle hand placed on Leia's back urging her forward.
A motion sensor activated and lights began to flicker. After a few blinks, the lights finally remained on and revealed a dilapidated looking ARC-170 class starfighter. The outer coverings were dented in places and some plates were of different colors, clearly from parts of other ships. Leia's face lit up when she saw the ship, nearly bouncing up and down where she stood. She bounded over toward the ship to get a better look, ducking below the wings and reaching a hand out to touch the cool metal. Ben scanned the hanger to find that a small cot lay to the side with stacks of rations strewn about. An Astro-mech stood idly in the corner, plugged in and charging itself from an outlet. Many more spare parts were collected upon a workstation along with welding tools, wrenches, and sockets.
"Does it fly?" Ben asked skeptically.
"It should. Spent the better part of ten years piecing her together. I even modified her to have a cloaking device. I had hoped it would ensure that imperial trash would be unable to scan her. Picked up the technology from some smugglers. Won it off a bet. Those scum would wager anything for a thrill." Fives explained.
"Why are you helping us?"
Fives was taken aback for a moment, clearly stunned that such a question would be asked. "I have no allegiance to the empire. They were ready to toss aside a veteran to the streets to live a life of poverty, no thanks given to the life I served or the lives that were given for their ideological war."
"I have nothing to offer you." Stated Ben.
"Just get me off this rock when you get the chance. I can wait a bit longer, but something tells me you are in the middle of an important mission." Fives gave a slight bow toward Ben. "I will always be a friend to a Jedi, General Kenobi."
Ben smiled and patted Fives on the shoulder. "I go by Ben. Thank you, friend." Ben said before heading over to the old starfighter. He crouched under the wing to catch up with Leia who would have to be his copilot for this flight. He hoped she would listen to his direction and not give in to her impulses. "It's time to go." He told her, taking her hand and leading her to the side of the vessel where a makeshift ladder leaned against the fighter. "I need to get you home. You will have to help me navigate our way there."
"Really?" Leia burst with excitement and climbed her way to the cockpit. Ben sighed, clearly too tired for her enthusiasm. He climbed his way to the pilot's chair and began to work his fingers over the controls. It had been a long time since he had been at the controls of a fighter. With the press of a few buttons the repulsor engines roared to life and the hatch to the cockpit closed. Fives used a nearby computer console to open the above hanger doors. The Astro-mech that was idling earlier, rolled its way toward the side of the ship to push the makeshift ladder away from the fighter's hull. Ben had to crank the yoke harder than normal to get the ship to respond to his movements, but the ship lifted off. Ben fumbled around the controls to engage the cloaking device before directing the ship toward the above atmosphere. When they finally reached space, Ben could see from the corner of his eye, Leia's hands pressed against the glass in awe of the sight before her.
"Have you ever been in space?" Ben asked confused.
"I had never left my planet until now." She answered.
"You will need to enter the coordinates into the Navi-computer." Ben called back to Leia. It should be towards your left on the side console, do you see it?"
Leia fumbled around the back of the cock pit checking for something that looked like the computer Ben described. "I think I found it." Leia called. Ben began to prattle off numbers to her to enter into the computer. Leia tried her best to follow along, but that calling found her again. It was overwhelming her senses and she knew what she had to do. Leia's fingers danced across the console, a series of beeps bringing a certain cadence to the air. She herself had no idea what she was doing, but something guided her, something other worldly.
"What are you doing?" Ben exasperated, but it was too late. The coordinates were punched in and the computer was locked. They would be unable to change their jump to lightspeed.
"I'm sorry." Leia called, picking up her hands and holding them up in the air in defeat. "I don't know what just happened."
While Leia seemed confused, Ben knew exactly what happened. He could sense it with every fiber of his being, Leia had been guided by the Force. All this time he had been closely watching Luke, waiting for the day that he would show adept abilities, when his sister was being guided all along. Trust in the force. He told to himself. "What were the coordinates that you entered?" Ben asked more curiously than angry. Leia nervously prattled off numbers. "Naboo?" Ben exclaimed. "What the blazes is on Naboo?" She is testing me Master Qui-gon.
"I don't know. I'm sorry, Ben." Leia started. "I don't know what came over me."
Ben sighed. "It's alright young one. You are following the force. Buckle up back there, we are heading into imperial space. And Leia?"
"Hmm?"
"Please tell me the next time you feel a calling like that?"
"I will." She promised.
With that sentiment, the starfighter blasted into hyperspace, leaving Daiyu behind and a mysterious future ahead of them.