A/N:I do not own Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Infinities.

A long time ago,in a galaxy far, far away…

STAR WARS

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

It has been a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy.

Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters led by Luke Skywalker has established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth.

The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding Young Skywalker, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of space…

Hoth. 3 ABY.

Luke Skywalker felt tired and alone, yet continued his patrol, as he rode a Tauntaun, the only other living being they found so far on the desolate ice planet of Hoth.

Just like his fellow members of the Rebel Alliance, Luke and his friend, Captain Han Solo, took turns exploring and patrolling the frozen wastelands of Hoth. The objectives of these trips were to find any signs of intelligent lifeforms on this cold planet as well as any signs of an Imperial invasion.

Hoth did not have a thing to offer anyone, and so, it was a good choice for the Rebel Alliance to set up a new base. The last one was abandoned. Three years ago, Luke, was a wide-eyed farmboy from his home world of Tatooine, in a couple of days became a Jedi, Rebel pilot, and then commander within the Rebel Alliance. It was he, who delivered the final blow to the Death Star, the Empire's dreadful superweapon, capable of destroying entire worlds. The battle station was destroyed above Yavin IV, just as it was about to annihilate the rebels' base, and with it, all of the Rebellion.

It was the Rebellion's first major victory against the tyrannical Empire. But it was short lived, the Empire knew the location of the base on Yavin IV, and so the rebels had to evacuate. For three years, the Rebel fleet travelled across the galaxy, with more and more oppressed worlds joined them. Soon, they managed to gather a massive force, only for it to be crushed by an Imperial agent within. Jorin Sol, a young rebel, was captured by the Empire, and the ISB, the Imperial Security Bureau, had programmed him into a sleeper agent after torturing and breaking him. Jorin gave away the hyperspace routes used by the rebels and the fleet was devastated by Imperial Star Destroyers.

After narrowly escaping the Imperial fleet, the high command decided to build another base. And so, the Rebel Alliance could not allow it to be compromised once again.

Luke pulled his fur-lined cap up once he brought his animal to a halt. They stood at the top of an ice slope. He wished for his mission to be finished by now. Spending all of his childhood on Tatooine, a desert planet, and feeling the constant heat of the twin suns, he wasn't used to the extremely cold temperatures like on Hoth. His body was nearly frozen, despite wearing warm clothes to protect him against Hoth's frigid winds.

Pulling off his dark-lensed goggles, Luke noticed an object streaking across the sky, leaving behind a trail of smoke, flying straight towards the frozen horizon. A distinctive sound of the explosion was heard once the object hid behind the horizon. The young commander tried to see what it was, but the binoculars did not help. It could be a simple meteorite, or a man-made object, perhaps even made by the Empire.

Luke knew very well that he had to check and pulled out his communicator. "Echo-3 to Echo-7. Han, do you read me?"

"Loud and clear, kid" the familiar voice of Han Solo cut through the interference. "What's up?"

"Well, I've finished my circle and I haven't pick up any life readings." Luke spoke into his commlink.

"There isn't enough life on this ice cube or any space cruisers." Han answered. "Sensors are placed, I'm going back."

"Right, I'll see you shortly." Luke replied. His eyes were still directed at where he saw the object last time. "There is a meteorite that hit the ground nearby, I want to check it out. It won't take long."

Once he clicked off his commlink, the Tauntaun suddenly began pacing, shifting from one foot to the other. It began making deep-throated roars. It was filled with fear.

"Whoa! Easy girl!" Luke said, trying to calm the creature by patting its head. "What is it? Did you smell something?"

Suddenly, a shadow crossed over him, and a deadly Wampa towered above him. Luke spun around, only to fall and roll down the snow-capped ground. The Wampa, a great, white-furred bulk, plunged its sharp claws and fangs into the Tauntaun's flesh. Luke tried to reach out for his blaster, only for the Wampa's huge claw struck him hard against his face, knocking him off on to the freezing snow, causing him to lose consciousness.

Snapping the Tauntaun's neck, the white-furred giant grabbed Luke's ankle and dragged his body, like a lifeless doll, across the snow-capped plain, towards its cave.

While this was happening, black smoke rose from the crater as something stirred within it. The thing moved, rising from its landing sight. The object consisted of a head, equipped with multiple cameras and sensors. Mechanical appendages, like tentacles, hung from below it as it floated in the air. The dark probe droid immediately began to float across the snowy plain.

While one Tauntaun rider got lost, another rider managed to reach the Echo Base on Hoth. Bundled in blue winter clothing, Han Solo passed the massive gun turrets and colossal power generators, guiding his animal towards the entrance of the enormous ice cave as the daylight on Hoth was diminishing.

Once entering it, Han felt the welcoming warmth radiating within the cave. The ice cave became a host to the subterranean base.

Jumping off of his Tauntaun, Han pulled off his hood, along with the cap and goggles. It was evening, and the activity taking place inside the cave was quite low. Rebels moved around the hangar, carrying supplies or repairing their vehicles, both land and space.

If anyone told him that he would end up with the Rebel Alliance, Han would have laughed at them with disbelief. He had no interest in the Rebellion, nor fighting the Empire. If he knew that he would have ended up like this, he would have never accepted the job of piloting old Ben Kenobi, farmboy Luke Skywalker and two droids to Alderaan, if not for one thing he needed desperately… money.

The Corellian smuggler owned a massive debt to Jabba the Hutt, the most powerful mob boss of not only the most powerful and influential crime family in the galaxy, the Hutt Cartel, but all of the galaxy too. This flight to Alderaan promised him a large sum that would finally cover the depth. Only to end up being called on to rescue Princess Leia Organa, the young princess of a now destroyed Alderaan.

Granted, he got the money on Yavin, yet something made him and his co-pilot Chewbacca to return and assist Luke and the crazy rebels on their suicide mission of destroying the Death Star. Maybe it was admiration for the kid? Or that he could not abandon his new friends? Now, he was tied to the rebels and made a dangerous enemy, in the form of the mighty Galactic Empire, for himself. Well, he made it long ago when he, an Imperial pilot, deserted and freed his friend, a slave, but since he had a role in destroying the Death Star, he was now one of the Empire's primary targets.

For three years, Han assisted the Rebel Alliance in their Galactic Civil War, but their fight was not a concern to the Corellian smuggler right now. Han admitted that he could have two death marks on his head. Not that long ago, he and his friends ran into a bounty hunter on Ord Mantell. Courtesy of Jabba the Hutt. The Hutt's patience was growing thin, and it did back on Tatooine. Immediately after accepting Kenobi's order, Han first ran into Greedo, before encountering the Hutt himself at his ship. Han had to work hard to encourage the mighty crime lord to give him one last chance.

He had to pay his debt to Jabba as soon as possible before Jabba got him.

Passing the several Rebel ships he found the spacecraft he was looking for. Among the X-wing starfighters stood his ship, the Millennium Falcon, famous for its speed; fastest ship ever to make the Kessel Run.

Looking up, Solo saw his Wookie co-pilot, Chewbacca, repairing the Falcon. Noticing him, the Wookie raised his face shield and growled in his native tongue. Not many could understand the language of the Wookies, but Han was one of the few who did.

"Cool isn't the word for it, Chewie." he replied. "I'll take a good fight any day over all this hiding and freezing. I'll give you a hand soon."

As the former smuggler was about to make his way towards the command centre, a familiar feminine voice called out to him. Sighing, Han spun around saw Princess Leia Organa approaching him. Her walk was graceful. She was followed by two droids; C-3PO and R2-D2. Despite wearing her white combat uniform, Leia was still as beautiful as she was when she wore that Alderaani dress during her rescue.

Although Han had no desire to have another conversation with the beautiful, but irritating princess, he immediately saw worry on her face. Something seemed to trouble her.

He crossed his arms once she reached him. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Is Luke with you?" Leia desperately asked. Something troubled her indeed.

"No, he stayed behind. Checking out a meteorite that hit near him." Han replied. "Why?"

Leia lowered her head, biting her lip. "Something's wrong." she told him. "I don't know how, but I can feel it… Luke's in danger."

Han became concerned too. The sky beyond the ice cave had grown darker. The temperatures would drop during nightfall and add to that, a snowstorm was beginning. Thinking fast, Han approached one of the rebels, with Leia following him.

"Are the speeders ready?" he asked.

"Not yet. Maybe by morn…"

"Blast it!" Han cursed. He could not waste any time. Once again, he put on his fur-lined cap and goggles before grabbing the reins of his Tauntaun. The temperature was falling too rapidly, but Luke was out there, probably dying somewhere on the desolate plains. Leaping onto the Tauntaun, Han guided his animal out of the cave, into the storm.

The roars of the Wampa was what awakened the young Rebel commander.

Feeling dizzy, Luke opened his eyes and immediately realized he was hanging upside down. His arms were dangling above the snowy floor. Looking up, he saw his feet frozen in ice at the ceiling. Groaning from pain, Young Skywalker observed his surroundings.

He was inside an ice cave, just like the one on Echo Base, but much, much smaller, and instead of a rebel base, it was the lair of a Wampa, which sat at a corner across the cave interior. The savage beast was busy feasting on the remains of his dead Tauntaun. With a determined effort, Luke pulled himself up and reached for the ice holding him. Sadly, he could not break it and fell back into his hanging position.

Luke looked around the gorge when his eyes darted at the shining object lying on a pile of snow. His lightsaber! More specifically, his father's lightsaber.

Spending most of his childhood on Tatooine, Luke believed what his Uncle Owen told him about his father; some spice trader. That was until Ben Kenobi told him the truth; his father was a legendary Jedi Knight and war hero of the Clone Wars, until he was killed by Kenobi's apprentice, a man named Darth Vader, who betrayed the Jedi Order. Clad in dark armour, the traitor was now the lackey of the malevolent Emperor.

In desperation, Luke tried to reach for the discarded weapon, but it was not enough. Then, he sensed a presence. A presence of a colossal energy that helped him destroy the Death Star. The Force. His eyes fixed upon the lightsaber. His hand reached out. In concentration, he closed his eyes. The Force flowed through his body.

Suddenly, the lightsaber, as of by magic, began shaking and sprang to Luke's hand. However, his actions brought the attention of the Wampa. Dropping the remains of the poor creature aside, the white-furred bulk ran towards the hanging Luke, who, releasing a blue-coloured bladelike beam, cut off his icy bonds. Acting quickly, Skywalker waved his weapon at the mass of white fur, severing the beast's hand off completely.

However, his victory was short-lived as another Wampa attacked Luke from behind. It stroke the young Jedi's back with its sharp claws, cutting through the thick coat and human skin. Yelling in pain, Luke spun around and sliced the Wampa's neck, killing it.

Racing outside the cave, Luke noticed that it was dark outside. And with it came colder and harsher winds. A snowstorm erupting. The harsh cold worsened his condition with the bad injury given to him by the Wampa. Making a step became to difficult for him as he stumbled. Finally, losing his strength, Luke stumbled down on snow. He tried crawling his way back to the gorge, but it as if he lost all mental contact with his body.

Luke could only feel the storms violently assaulting him as his consciousness was fading. He was out there, alone in the frozen wastelands of Hoth…

Luke…

Or so he thought.

With great effort, Luke lifted his head and saw what he thought was a hallucination. He was sure that he saw a hallucination. Ben Kenobi stood in front of him, still clad in his robes he had worn on Tatooine. His head was hooded, while he his whole body was illuminated with tinted blue.

"Beeeen…" Luke moaned in pain and exhaustion, trying to reach him. He was cold, so cold.

"Luke," the apparition spoke with the gentle authority Ben spoke to Luke before his death. "go to the Dagobah system. You will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master that taught me."

"Mmmm… B-Ben… Ben…" Luke groaned, trying to reach out to the ghostly figure.

His eyesight was failing. He was losing blood. Suddenly, before he could gather the strength to speak to his late mentor, the figure began to fade. And when the apparition completely vanished, Luke thought he saw a pair of human feet with boots and a familiar voice of a good friend.

"Luke!" Han cried out in horror once he saw his young friend, his body snow-covered and almost frozen. "I would've been here sooner, but my Tauntaun died."

He observed Luke's body, seeing that it was savagely torn by the Wampas.

"Hold on, kid" he pleaded, rubbing Luke's face. A low moan came out of his mouth before he spoke.

"Dagobah system… must go to Dagobah. Find Master Yoda… train as Jedi."

"Jedi?" Han asked, who was busy trying to patch Luke's injuries. But it was already too late.

"Ben, he told me…" Luke continued to mutter as he was losing consciousness. Han checked his pulse out of fear. It was barely alive.

"Luke! Don't do this buddy! Come on, give me a sign here!" he pleaded in despair. Suddenly Luke grabbed Han by his blue winter coat and scarf, looking at.

"You! Must go to Dagobah!"

And with that, Luke released one final breath before he closed his eyes. Han could only watch in sorrow and pain as his friend's frozen body was becoming lifeless. Taking off the shelter container from his back, Han quickly set of a tent for himself as the storm continued to rage. Once inside, all Han could do was shed tears as he mourned for Luke.

He didn't know when did he fell asleep or how long did the night or the storm lasted, but when an awakened Han looked out of his tent, it was daytime and the storm was long gone. The sky was bright, clean of any clouds.

"Commander Skywalker, do you copy? This is Rogue-2" a voice came out of Luke's commlink. Recognizing the voice of Wedge Antilles, Han picked up the device, still deep with sorrow.

"Rogue-2, this is Captain Solo. Come in, Rogue-2" he spoke in a voice full of hurt. It was at that moment, he spotted a couple of Rebel snowspeeders racing above the white landscape.

"Captain Solo, I read you loud and clear. Are you okay, captain?"

Han sighed heavily before pressing the button to answer. "Affirmative, Rogue-2. But Luke…" he did not want to say this. He did not want to believe this. "Luke is dead."

Eriadu System.

Elsewhere, somewhere in the Outer Rim, a colossal Super Star Destroyer floated in outer space. It was flanked by the smaller wedge-shaped Imperial Star Destroyers, while TIE fighters flew around them.

The Super Star Destroyer was the Executor, serving as the monstrous flagship of the Death Squadron, led by the much feared, but respected leader, Darth Vader.

The Dark Lord of the Sith stood tall with his black cloak and concealing black armour within the main control deck of the Executor, observing the Imperial fleet under his service. Deck officers and naval troopers were silently doing their duty behind his back. Only the sounds of the ship's controls and his own breathing did he hear.

He was watching the endless array of stars when he heard the voice of Captain Piett addressing the squat Admiral Ozzel.

"Admiral, I think we got something." Piett spoke loud so that Darth Vader could hear him. "This is only a fragment of a report from a probe droid in the Hoth system, but it's the best lead we have in…"

"We have thousands of probe droids searching the galaxy, captain." Ozzel remarked with distaste. "I want proof, not leads. I will not, for the sake of your whim, drive the squadron through…"

"Visuals indicate life readings." Piett argued, noticing the figure in black crossing the bridge, approaching them two.

"It could be anyone. If we followed up every lead…"

"But sir, the Hoth system is supposed to be devoid of human forms." Piett continued to remain stubborn. Admiral Ozzel was about to say something more when Darth Vader interrupted.

"Did you find something?" he asked in a voice slightly distorted by a breathing mask.

"Yes, my lord." Piett respectfully nodded. "We have visuals."

Ignoring the admiral, Darth Vader, with his masked face, turned toward one of the viewscreens. An image of some power generators and rebel soldiers were seen among the frozen wastelands.

"That's it." Darth Vader boomed. "The rebels are there."

"My lord," Admiral Ozzel protested. "There are many uncharted settlements in the galaxy. It could be smugglers, it could be…"

"That is the system!" the black figure insisted. He clenched his black-gloved fist. "And I'm sure Skywalker is with them. Set your course for the Hoth System, admiral." he turned toward an officer of the Imperial Army. "General Veers, prepare your men."

As soon as Darth Vader, his men set about to launch his plan, but not before Ozzel glared at Piett with disdain.