Kenobi felt Darth Vader's presence as soon as the tractor beam set them down in the docking bay. He scrambled, his mind whirling. He had to get Luke out of here. He had to get Luke out of here, without Vader discovering who he was.

-000-

Han and Luke, disguised as stormtroopers, got on the elevator, holding Chewbacca between them. They were off to rescue the princess.

Two stormtroopers were already in the elevator. They snorted in disgust as the Wookie entered, but just backed away. As the elevator went down to the detention level, the two men started chatting between themselves.

"Have you heard about the princess?"

"No, what's up with the princess? I thought she was scheduled for execution."

"Yeah, well, Vader decided that he would personally see to it. She was escorted to his rooms. I can't imagine what he wants with her."

"I knew he was more man than machine. I guess even he has needs," the other man snickered, "She is a pretty little thing, but I doubt she'll hold up long under him,"

Chewie growled. Han and Luke's hands tightened around their blasters. Han reached out and hit the stop button on the elevator.

"Hey, what's going on?" one stormtrooper asked.

Luke snatched their blasters and punched one of them; the man's helmet smacking against the wall and he was out. The other stormtrooper had a blaster up under his chin before he could even blink; Han pinning him to the wall as Luke demanded to know where Vader's quarters were.

"Where are Darth Vader's quarters? Where is Princess Leia?"

"Vader's quarters are on F75," said the stormtrooper shakily, "But if you think you're going to get up there and rescue her or something, you're out of luck. There's no way that you can get into his personal wing, never mind getting into his rooms!"

"Well, someone had to put her there, so someone has to have a way in. And that someone might as well be you." Han said.

They forced the stormtrooper to tell them how to get there and marched after him, threatening that Chewie would rip his arms off if he so much as made a peep for help.

They successfully made it to Vader's wing of the ship, but then they were stalled. There was no way in that wasn't locked, and the stormtrooper they had hostage did not have a key.

"I told you so," said the stormtrooper.

Chewie knocked him upside the head, and the man fell to the ground, out like a light.

"I can hotwire it," said Han, removing his helmet, "but are you sure you want to go up against Darth Vader for this princess? I don't think we can take him."

"Don't worry about it," said Luke, shaking out his hair as his helmet fell to the ground by his side. "He's not close."

"How do you know that?!"

"I just know."

"Fine," Han said, "It's not like we have anything else to lose."

He hotwired the door and it finally sprung open. They made their way quickly and quietly to the room that had the nameplate Darth Vader.

"Well, here we are," Han said, looking around warily.

"Yes," said Luke confidently, "Princess Leia is in there, and she's alone."

"I hope you're right about this, Kid." Han shook his head, but hotwired the door; Luke and Chewie keeping a lookout.

Finally, the door to Vader's quarters slid open. Entering the room, they looked around curiously and saw the princess, garbed in a disheveled white dress, lying on the bed.

Luke ran her side and tried to wake her.

She wouldn't wake.

"Come on, Princess Leia. You have to get up!" Luke said quietly.

Her eyes cracked open and she looked up at him groggily.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Luke Skywalker, we're here to rescue you. We came with Kenobi."

"Kenobi!" she said, sitting up, her balance still a little off.

"Let's go, let's get out of here!"

"You said it, princess!" Han cut in, blaster at his side as he headed out the door.

The two men, one woman, and one Wookie, raced their way out of Vader's wing as fast as they could, hoping against hope that they wouldn't run into anyone on the way.

"Where is General Kenobi?" Leia asked.

"He's taking down the tractor beam for us so we can get out of here," Luke said.

"Vader is after him! He knows he's here!" She said, snatching a blaster from Luke.

"What do we do?" asked Luke, alarmed.

"We have to help him," she said, "We have to get him out of here! He's our only hope."