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Author	Topic: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/23/06 5:02pm Subject: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Title: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation Author(s): Jedi Linewalker Timeframe: ESB Characters: Main canon cast Genre: AU, angst/humor/action/drama Keywords: ESB, AU Summary: This story continues to explore what would have happened, had Threepio’s mind not been wiped Notes: Possible ROTS spoilers Sworn to Secrecy 2 – Retaliation CHAPTER ONE The freezing winds tore across the ice laden barren wasteland that was the surface of Hoth with a vengeance. Only the most heavily protected life could survive direct contact with such winds. A lone figure, seated atop a Tauntaun, a shaggy, furred snow lizard, pulled to a stop at the head of a rise and peered across the white wasteland. The beast’s llama like head, with gentle curving horns, turned from side to side, buffeting away the fierce winds of the inhospitable planet as its rider surveyed the landscape around them. “Now this is what I call cold,” muttered the figure astride the Tauntaun. The thick scarf and other cold weather clothing muffled his voice, but twenty three year old Commander Luke Skywalker of the Rebel Alliance only had his faithful Tauntaun as a conversation partner at the moment. “This place is so desolate and out of the way, it has nothing to offer anybody, not even smugglers…nobody except us.” He was referring to the Rebel Alliance, of course, who’d finally made their way to the ice planet of Hoth only a month before. All this time had been spent fashioning a workable base from ice caverns and tunnels blasted from the mountain itself by Rebel blasters. In the three years since he’d left Tatooine and joined up with the Rebel Alliance, his life had changed dramatically. He was in training to be a Jedi Knight, when three years ago, he wouldn’t have known what a Jedi was if one had struck him across the face on the street. He’d become a legend as the young fighter pilot that had destroyed the Empire’s most fearsome weapon, the dreaded Death Star. Now, he was in a position of authority, a commander in the ranks of the Rebel Alliance forces. It was a position he wasn’t entirely comfortable with, but he’d taken to it well enough, and his men, though perhaps more seasoned than he, respected him and his abilities enough to follow his orders. It felt odd, but his uncle Owen and Obi-Wan Kenobi had both told him it was something he would soon grow accustomed to. He smiled slightly beneath the thick scarf protecting his lower face from the frigid winds. He was very lucky, he told himself. His family, namely his Uncle Owen, Aunt Beru, his sister Leia, and the strange old Jedi Master that had become like a second father to him were all here with him. Add to that the presence of his friends, like Han and Chewie, and Wedge, Biggs, and the others of Rogue Squadron, and it made for a pretty sweet deal. He was growing tired, cold and hungry. They hadn’t found any intelligent life forms on the planet in their month of patrols. Not even the most desperate of smugglers were desperate enough to stake a claim on Hoth, it seemed. Suddenly, the Tauntaun reared slightly and shuffled its feet in the snow. As Luke tried to calm the creature, he caught an object falling from the sky out of the corner of his eye. The object left a blazing trail through the sky, and he grabbed his electro binoculars to get a better look at it. Even though it was late in the afternoon, and the sun was rapidly going down, the light levels on the snowbound planet were very high, so he squinted through the polarized lenses, watching the object as it struck behind a blue tinged rise some meters distant. With a frown, he unwrapped his face and brought his comlink to his mouth. “Echo Three to Echo Seven. Han, old buddy, do you read me?” He continued to pat the Tauntaun’s head and stroke its neck. “Easy, girl. It’s just another meteorite. Take it easy.” The beast seemed to calm somewhat, but still shuffled unpredictably in the snow. The wind whistled around him as the comlink crackled, and finally, an older and somewhat sharper voice, a very familiar one, came across. “Loud and clear, kid. What’s up?” Luke smiled lightly at Han’s use of the appellation “kid,” realizing that though there was only a few years between them, truthfully, Han would probably always refer to him that way. Like an older brother, Luke thought. Still wearing the smile, he thumbed the communicator and glanced around. “I’ve finished my circle, but I haven’t picked up any life more complex than an ice newt.” He was still watching the dark smoke rise over the ridge where the meteor had struck, with an odd apprehension. Han laughed at the other end of the channel. “Kid, there’s not enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser,” he said, struggling to make himself heard over the whistle of the winds and dead roar that seemed to encompass the ice bound land. “My sentry markers are all set and in place. I’m heading back to base.” “Okay, then,” Luke replied, shifting in his saddle. “I’ll see you shortly. There’s a meteorite that struck not far from here. I want to check it out. I won’t be long.” Luke’s hand brushed down the back of the Tauntaun’s long neck, his eyes still on the twisting dark plume of smoke rising from the snow. Han groaned. “Another meteorite, kid? You’ll be out here forever if you try and check out every one that hits the ground. If Hoth has anything, its ice, snow and meteorite showers.” The wind whistled especially loudly for a second, making Han wait before saying anything else. Luke just chuckled softly. “I know, I know. But I’ve got a feeling. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. I’ll see you back at base.” He listened to his friend’s silence for a moment, almost able to feel the argument that had to have been welling inside him. He didn’t have to wait long. Finally, Han sighed, and his voice came across the comlink, “Okay, kid, but don’t dawdle. You know how antsy folks get when you’re out here too long. I don’t want to have to explain to your sister and the old man why you’re an icy treat instead of back at the base, all warm and cozy, got it?” The younger man laughed softly, and thumbed the comlink, “Got it, Han. Go ahead, I’ll catch up with you in a few.” Once the signal was broken, he started to urge the beast forward, but it shuffled its feet and turned at odd angles in the snow. He frowned. He knew that the Tauntaun’s instincts and senses were very sharp, and well attuned to its surroundings. That’s how they survived on the desolate world of Hoth. He had an odd feeling, himself. Finally managing to still the spooked creature, he withdrew his sensor and started taking life sign readings again. Before the device even started whirring, he knew it was a moot point. A massive shadow fell across him, and he whirled. It seemed as if the very snow and ice around him had suddenly came to life, for the creature standing before him was immense, and completely camouflaged with white shaggy fur against the backdrop of the pristine snow. The creature roared and startled the young Jedi. He reached for his blaster, but to no avail. The creature, something he vaguely recalled was called a Wampa, swung fast and hard at him, striking him across the head and knocking him from his mount. He hit the snow and ice hard, and his groggy mind tried to focus long enough to summon the focus he could achieve through the Force, but to no avail. Luke’s half unconscious and dizzy state didn’t even register the pitiful screech his Tauntaun let out as the vicious creature mauled it, snapping its neck like a dried twig. The creature gorged quickly on the fallen snow lizard, and Luke mercifully passed out. When finished, the creature grabbed Luke’s ankle and dragged him like a limp rag doll across the frozen wastes. ******* Dark smoke still filtered into the darkening sky long after the airborne object had struck the ground. A crater had formed around the object, a hole impacted deeply within the tightly packed ice and snow, nestled the black object in its embrace. The walls of the crater had been melted abruptly and just as abruptly refroze again by the savage winds of Hoth. The object rose, black, sleek and rounded. It resembled the head of some alien life form with a chitinous outer layer, peering over the edge of the crater it had created. As it rose more, an observer would note that it was not an alien at all, but a machine. Its cylindrical body was attached to a rounded head, complete with many appendages meant for different purposes. A whirring sound, beginning slowly at first, but gaining in speed and pitch, rose on the winds as the device rose from the crater. Its domed head swiveled about, taking in its surroundings. The appendages extended in different directions, and the many orbs that blistered its head took readings in different directions as well. From within the object, another sound issued forth, a rapid burst of sound, very chatter like in nature. It had broadcast a signal, as it was programmed to do. The black, sinister looking drone hovered over the crater for a long moment, then suddenly drew its appendages in, All at once, it began floating off over the icy plains. To any observer watching it, it would have disappeared in a matter of moments. ******* Another rider, also bundled in thickly padded winter gear, astride a Tauntaun, approached a carved out warren. Through polarized lenses, the man observed the massive power generators and other equipment, as well as the scurrying technicians, with no interest. He maneuvered on the creature’s back through the massive doorway and into the hangar. Once inside, he dismounted and pulled off the protective lenses, and surveyed the hangar around him. A couple of lower officers started taking care of his Tauntaun, unsaddling it and so forth, while he paid absolutely no attention at all. He was too busy peeling the hood of his jacket back, and walking towards the largest ship in the hangar, a dish shaped freighter that had seen better days, if one observed its hull. The freighter was the Millennium Falcon, his ship. She wasn’t fancy to look at, but she wasn’t known for her looks, anyway. She was the fastest ship to make the Kessel Run, even to this day, and the only freighter to outrun Imperial TIE fighters. Beneath the beaten and battered ship was a mountain of brown, shaggy fur, who’s face was concealed behind a welder’s mask, working on the central lifted for the ship. Han smiled lightly as he approached the only thing he could say that was truly his in the galaxy, and his friend, Chewbacca, the Wookiee. Chewie was largely responsible for the condition of the Falcon, and for how well she was maintained. The Wookiee’s technical expertise was nothing short of a miracle, most times. “How’re you coming on those lifters, Chewie?” Han asked as he approached his friend and the ship. Chewbacca lifted the mask and looked up at his friend, his face peeling back in a large, toothy expression that could’ve been a grin, or an expression of preparation for a feast, and growled out in a language few non Wookiees could translate, “They’re coming along just fine. I’m almost done, as a matter of fact. I haven’t even had to ‘convince’ anything to go into place, for a change. I’m ready to get out of this place. It’s far too cold here. Give me the jungles of Kashyyyk any day.” The Corellian smiled at his large furry friend’s answer, and looked around. Everywhere, people were bustling about, doing jobs he couldn’t even begin to name if he’d had to. A sardonic half smile crossed his face as he thought he must be mellowing with age. Three years ago, he’d not cared a bit less about what the Rebels or the Imperials did, as long as it didn’t interfere with his business. He was a smuggler, one of the best, and his life was both exciting and lucrative. Since he agreed to take the old man, Kenobi, and his money, not to mention the kid, on that charter flight, his life was still exciting, but not nearly as lucrative. He’d met a lot of people, mostly Luke and his crazy Rebel friends, and, of course, Luke’s sister, Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan. Now there was some excitement, all in one small, neat little package. Extremely beautiful, high spirited, spunky, full of fire and life, the princess had made life definitely exciting since he’d been tagging along with these rag tag Rebels. Han couldn’t understand why he was still with them after three years, however. The price on his head that Jabba the Hutt had put on him for bailing in the middle of a run had gotten higher and higher. That meant the opposition, and the trouble he occasionally ran across, was more and more dangerous. He’d finally come to the conclusion that that was about to change. There was only so much a man could do, that a man could deal with. Han Solo had reached his limits in that regard. Yet, his stomach still clenched up tightly at the very thought of it. It wasn’t going to be a pleasant encounter, he knew. The old man, Luke’s uncle, and Leia’s father, not to mention the countless others that had come to depend on him were all going to be up in the air over this, but he had to do what he had to do. It was time he started thinking about his own skin again for awhile, while he still had a skin to worry about. Han, snapping out of his tumultuous thoughts for a moment, nodded. “Cold isn’t the word for it, Chewie.” He rubbed his hands together vigorously as he inspected the work. “Good work, by the way. I’ll take a good fight any day over all this hiding and freezing.” He experimentally touched an area where Chewie had been welding not long before, and found it to be still warm. He greedily kept close to it. The Wookiee shrugged and gestured about him, glancing up at Han with meaningful eyes. His growls and grunts were easy to hear in the hangar. “Sometimes you have to hide for awhile, to lure your enemy into complacency, and then you can strike hard and at your best. The Rebels are doing the best thing they can do right now…namely building their forces. Some help would be appreciated, by the way, especially if you’re wanting to get out of here anytime this year.” His last statement had been delivered with a fond humor, and his animalistic chuckle was deep and rumbling. “All right,” replied Han with a hint of a chuckle himself. “I’ll go report in, then I’ll come back and give you a hand. As soon as these lifters are fixed, we’re history, buddy. We’re out of here.” He clapped his large furry friend on the shoulder, and walked away. Chewbacca let out a brief, somewhat happy sounding chortle, and returned to work. The Corellian wasn’t ten paces away before the massive Wookiee was back to concentrating upon the task at hand. Han dodged personnel as they came and went all around him. The closer he got to the command center, the thicker the concentration of people got. Nudging his way through several officers busily installing some sort of equipment or other, Han spotted the man he’d come to see. He and Bail Organa were standing behind a newly installed detection grid, inspecting readings on it intently. A stout hand gripped his shoulder for a moment, and as he turned, the owner of the hand patted his shoulder in an almost fond way. Owen Lars brushed past the smuggler, on his way, component in hand, towards the command center. As the older man squeezed by, he felt himself release a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding. Shaking his head, he came almost face to face with the old man, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The old Jedi was stroking his beard thoughtfully and walking around the command center, a contrast to the bustle of activity going on around him. The old man seemed at peace and serene, whereas the soldiers moving around him were hurrying so much they could barely draw a decent breath. Gathering up his courage, he advanced on General Rieekan. Though he wasn’t an official part of the Rebellion, he’d served enough that most accorded him the respect of an officer, even if he had no true claim to the title. Bail noticed Han first and nudged Rieekan’s arm, nodding towards the smuggler. As the general straightened himself to his full height, which wasn’t that imposing, in and of itself, the man nonetheless commanded respect with his very presence. Han cleared his throat and nodded at Bail briefly, then addressed the general. “General, there isn’t a hint of life in the area,” he reported almost stiffly. His hands were unconsciously picking at the fastener on his jacket. “But all the perimeter markings are in place and set, so you’ll know if anyone comes calling.” General Rieekan studied the younger man for a long moment. The man was brash, arrogant at times, and generally abrasive, but Rieekan had to admire a man who’d do what he’d done for the Rebellion and not be an official part of it. Solo had laid his life on the line many times for the troops of the Rebellion, and Rieekan respected him for that, alone, if for nothing else. Putting those thoughts aside for the moment, he decided to stick to business. “Has Commander Skywalker reported in yet?” he asked, clasping his hands behind him. “He’s checking out a meteorite that landed near him,” Han answered, watching the general’s face carefully. He was waiting for the objections he was sure would come. “He’ll be in soon.” Bail Organa made a humming noise in his throat and shook his head, looking at the display they’d been observing when Han had come up. General Rieekan turned to consult the readings as well. Flashing images littered the display, and Bail shrugged lightly, “With all the meteor activity in the system, it’ll be difficult to spot incoming ships.” His voice and expression were mild, but Han caught the undertones inherent in the statement. “I agree, Senator,” replied Rieekan thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. Han seemed, for the moment, forgotten. The two men continued to study the colorful display intently. Han finally felt he had to say what was on his mind. Clearing his throat, he engaged the general’s attention once more. “General, I…” Han hesitated, his eye caught by movement entering the command center. With a heavy breath, he finished, “I think it’s time for me to leave.” The movement that had captured Han’s attention was feminine, dressed in a white combat uniform. She was both graceful and determined, and the youth evident in her face was definitely out of place with the soldier’s uniform she wore. You didn’t have to be a Jedi to figure out that Leia Organa was upset, thought Han sardonically. The general, meanwhile, had apparently not noticed the princess’ entrance. “You’re good in a fight,” he said to Han, with a wistful smile. “I hate to lose you.” The words were plainly spoken, but Han could read between the lines to pull out the much deeper meaning behind them. He’d never realized just how highly Rieekan thought of him until that moment. Han released a breath and shrugged. “Thank you, General, but there’s a price on my head. If I don’t pay off Jabba the Hutt, I’m a walking dead man, and then I’m doing nobody any good.” He glanced at Leia, but her expression betrayed nothing but chaotic feelings, at best. General Rieekan nodded softly and clapped the younger man on the shoulder. “A death mark isn’t an easy thing to live with. You’re a good man, Solo. Be careful. Maybe we’ll meet up again sometime.” He patted Han’s shoulder and turned back to the display, conferring with Bail once more. Meanwhile, Han, never the sentimental sort, was aware that what he was feeling right now was anything but detachment. He was very emotional right then, though he struggled to hide it. He tried to smile, and failed, as he approached Leia, “Well, I guess this is it, your highness.” He paused, unsure of what sort of response to expect from her, or what he had been expecting as a response. Her response took him by surprise. Instead of being warm and full of emotion, it was very cold. “That’s right,” she said simply. Her beautiful face contorted slightly, and it was plain that her aloofness was rapidly evolving into a very real anger. Women, he thought with an air of defeat. He’d never understand them, regardless of whether they were human, near human, mammalian, reptilian, or some classification yet to be discovered. A woman was a synonym for mystery, he decided and it was best left to people far better suited and qualified to solve that mystery than himself. He had deluded himself into briefly thinking that there was one female that he had been learning to understand, and now he had that illusion shattered, quite rudely, yet again. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d been wrong. It probably wouldn’t be the last, either. Unable to say anything else, he let his wounded pride and ego do the talking, “Well, don’t get all mushy on me, Princess. So long.” With that, he stormed off down the corridor, which was relatively quiet in comparison to the bustle of activity the rest of the base was. He was headed for his ship, and freedom. He couldn’t think of any reason why he’d stop walking, especially if she didn’t come after him. “Han!” cried out Leia, slightly out of breath, having to hurry along to keep up with the taller smuggler. Her voice had a tone of urgency in it. “Yes, your highness?” he asked coolly, stopping in mid stride and turning to face her. He was struck by her beauty yet again, surrounded by the pristine white of the walls, even in the subdued artificial light of the lighting fixtures overhead. Seeming to pause just a moment, Leia regarded him and steeled her resolve. Her voice was soft, and even concerned sounding when she spoke finally. “I thought you had decided to stay.” Han thought he heard the concern in her voice, but then again, he couldn’t be sure. Nothing was ever what it seemed with Leia, he thought. His own voice took on a tone of forced acidity. “Yeah, well that bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind.” He started to walk away again, but her voice caught him. “Does my father know? Does Luke, or Obi-Wan?” she asked, her hand on his arm, restraining him from moving for the moment. Exasperated, Han drew a breath and turned back to Leia. “Your father was standing right there when I told Rieekan. There’s not a whole hell of a lot that the old man doesn’t know, and as for Luke…well, he’ll find out when he gets back.” His voice was gruff and seemingly selfishly unconcerned, but even he could hear the lie in that thought just from the sound of him. Leia stared up at him, her eyes narrowing. It was his imagination, but Han could swear the temperature in the corridor dropped by about a hundred degrees. He knew that look well, and for a moment, he felt like he would be in better company with one of the huge icicles that hung over the doorway to the base. “Don’t give me that look,” he said, dropping his voice a bit. He was trying to be stern, and was in full defensive mode. “Every day, more and more bounty hunters are out there, looking for me, looking to collect that sizable reward Jabba has on my head. I’m going to pay him off before he sends more of his remotes, Gank killers, and who knows what else out looking for my hide. I’ve got to get this price off my head while I still have a head. Otherwise, I’m not doing anybody any good.” Leia’s eyes changed slightly, a showing of the concern that sparkled in them was now visible to Han’s eyes. At least he thought it looked like concern. Her expression had softened, definitely. Why did she have to be so damned beautiful, anyway? Why couldn’t she have been an ugly princess, he lamented to himself. Just his luck. “But we still need you,” she said softly, her voice laced with thick undercurrents of emotion, of concern, of caring. He wheeled around once more, and regarded her. “‘We?’” he asked. The princess nodded her affirmation. “Yes,” she replied. Han’s finger found her chest, lightly, but a definite prod all the same. “What about you need?” he asked her. He wasn’t sure of what exactly he was doing, himself. Maybe he was just venting feelings he’d had since he’d known her, but had lacked the courage – or maybe it was the stupidity, he amended – to say to her before. Whichever the case was, it was too late to back out now. He’d done it, whether he’d wanted to or not. All he could do was suck it up, and take his chances with whatever she may say in return. “Me?” she asked, her voice rising in pitch slightly as she stared up at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her response was blunt, the shock of his words having given her no consideration for a response. Incredulous, Han shook his head and stalked off again. “No, you probably don’t,” he said with a tightness to his voice. He was concentrating on reaching the hangar, and right now, that was proving to be a struggle. Leia had dived after him again, the sound of anger rising in her voice, “And just what, precisely, am I supposed to know?” Han thought she was growing angrier because maybe she was finally starting to get the picture. He gave her a lopsided grin, full of smugness and attitude. “Come on, you want me to stay because of the way you feel about me,” he said, pausing a moment once again in the corridor. Once more, Leia’s expression softened and her tone fell to softer ranges. “Well, yes,” she replied. “You’ve been a great help to us. You’re a natural leader–” Han, however, wasn’t letting her off that easily. He once more whirled towards her and stopped. “No, your worship, that’s not it,” he said, regaining that smug look once more. Leia stared at him, her mouth open, unable to speak. Rejoicing in the fact that he’d finally rendered her speechless for once, he poked a finger towards himself, and insisted, “Come on…come on!” Leia’s eyes met his and from her expression, he could see pure understanding explode behind her dark eyes, and the resultant firestorm was awesome to behold, indeed. Unable to get a handle on herself, she started to laugh sardonically. “You’re imagining things,” she said with not a small amount of venom behind it. “Am I?” he countered, his voice rising again. He couldn’t understand what it was about this woman that could stoke his fire so high, but she definitely had the ability, no lie about that. “I think you were afraid I was going to leave without giving you a good bye kiss.” That only served to steel Leia in her position that much more. She laughed harder and more genuinely now. “I’d just as soon kiss a Wookiee.” Han stopped once more, his finger shooting up in a gesture of indignation. “I can arrange that!” he quipped, then he moved closer to her. She was even more beautiful and radiant now, here, in this moment, than he could remember her being before. “Believe me, you could use a good kiss! You’ve been so busy giving orders, you’ve forgotten how to be a woman. If you’d have let go a moment, I could’ve helped you out. But it’s too late now, sweetheart. Your big opportunity is flying out of here.” Leia didn’t seem in the slightest bit impressed. She calmly crossed her arms and regarded the stalking smuggler. “I think I can survive,” she mused, her eyes gleaming with something resembling mischief. Feeling himself deflating, though he wasn’t about to let on enough to let her know that, he shouted over his shoulder, “Good luck!” Switching gears, she tried to appeal to the good man she knew lay under all that bluster and arrogance. “You don’t even care if the–” Han was already waving his hands, and turning around. He knew what was coming. “Spare me, please!” he shouted, rounding on her again. “Don’t tell me about the Rebellion again. It’s all you think about. You’re as cold as this ice lump of a planet!” That kindled Leia’s anger again. Folding her arms tighter around herself, she glared at him and icily intoned, “And you think you’re the one to apply some heat?” “Sure, if I was interested,” replied the smuggler, still dawdling in the corridor. “But I don’t think it’d be too much fun.” With that, he stepped back away from her and regarded her coolly. “Don’t worry, your worship, we’ll meet again. Maybe by then you’ll have thawed out a little.” As Han moved away once more, he saw that her expression had changed yet again. He’d seen people bent on killing him with more congenial expressions and kinder eyes. Leia shook in unmitigated fury, her fists now clenched at her sides. When she spoke, her voice had enough venom in it to thaw half the base out. She snarled, “You’ve got all the breeding of a Bantha, but not nearly as much class. Enjoy your trip, hot shot. Take care of yourself, but I guess that’s what you’re the best at, isn’t it?” At that, she turned in pure rage and hurried back down the corridor, away from the smuggler. -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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RebelMom Title: TFF Secretary Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 7/23/06 5:37pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	I like the added conversation in Han and Leia's confrontation. Poor Luke. Still Wampa bait. -----signature----- Short Story: Pressure Point http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26961243/p1/?7 Jacen Solo and Anakin Skywalker - as it should have been. TFF: Cheryl
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Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/23/06 5:43pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	RebelMom Hey there. This one, like the first, will probably be very close to what we're used to, with a few subtle changes, and then they'll grow more and more as the story progresses. I hope you enjoy the ride. And as always, thank you for reading -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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Jedi_Liz Title: Former CR Lincoln NE, USA Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 7/23/06 6:39pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Knowing Luke is her brother will make for an interesting scene in the medical wing. I bet there won't be a kiss! Thanks for the PM. I had forgotten about this story's predecessor. -----signature----- Current Fic: Lightswords of Fury: Special Edition - L/M Romance http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/24270936/ Chapter 19 posted on 7/21/08 Coming SOON: Mara Jade of Chandrila Grove Coming SOON to SAGA Fanfic
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starwarsfan68 Registered: May '03	Date Posted: 7/23/06 7:20pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Thanks for the PM Please keep them coming. This is starting off great. -----signature----- There is only one true movie romance, the one between Han and Leia http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=13094011&replies=6 September 2003 teaser
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Aiel Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 7/23/06 8:45pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Wonderful start. Hugs for the PM. -----signature----- Master to TheOnlyJediPrincess and scarlet_shiv. Bar-Wench of The Meanders Inn Revolution of Fate: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29771499 "The Beatles saved the world from boredom." -George Harrison.
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Crazydan Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 7/23/06 9:53pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Just as the first "Sworn to Secrecy", the beginning is so familar, but almost different. I wonders what the gang had been up to since the end of ANH? Poor Luke. But I'm sure he know how to find a way out of this situation. I wonders who's the most worse "person": the wampa or Princess Leia?
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TorontoJediMaster Registered: Oct '01	Date Posted: 7/24/06 12:21am Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Finally! I've been waiting for the sequel to begin. We have, once again, the familiar yet different beginning. I guess Luke had to be ambushed by the wampa for the sake of the plot. I was surprised he was taken by surprise like that. After three years of training under Obi-Wan, you'd think he would have been more able to sense the danger. As for the search party that will be formed, I'm figuring both Obi-Wan and Owen would want to take part in it. It would be interesting to see Owen's take on Hoth after living his whole life on Tatooine. There, they had to draw moisture out of the air. On Hoth, the whole planet is frozen moisture that simply has to be melted to get water. I wonder if either of them is fond of the Hoth climate. Now, one thing I'm very curious about is how much Han knows of Luke and Leia's past. In the last story, Obi-Wan and Chewie filled Han in. What I'd like to know is just how much he was told. Was he told about just who Vader really is, and how the twins are connected to him? It would be interesting if he'd been keeping that secret for the last three years. (I'm presuming the time still hasn't been right for Obi-Wan to reveal it yet). The Han/Leia conversation was interesting. One thing I always think when I watch ESB, is why does Han want his departure to seem so permanent? If his sole purpose is to pay off Jabba, why doesn't he say he's going to do that and return to the Alliance? For that matter, he could just as easily electronically transfer the money to Jabba from any civilized system and be back on Hoth within a few days. (I guess when the Bearded One first wrote ESB, some of the modern processes we take for granted weren't even dreamed of back then. LOL) Well, I'm looking forward to the next post. Glad to see you're back.
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Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/24/06 12:38am Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Jedi_Liz Thank you for reading! No, no kiss to be had between Luke and Leia in the medical wing, but I'll definitely try and make it interesting. Glad to see you reading this one as well. You're very welcome starwarsfan68 Welcome back and thank you for reading as well! Glad you're enjoying so far Aiel Thank you for reading, and you're welcome! hugs Hope you enjoy Crazydan Thank you for reading and I'll try and fill in some of the holes left open between the two movies for you as the story goes along. That's a good question. laughs Glad to have you TorontoJediMaster Welcome back my friend! Sorry it took so long to get started, but hopefully I can be pretty regular on this one. Yes, the Luke and the wampa thing was plot preservation. Otherwise, that part of the story would've been pretty boring, probably. laughs And even training for three years, that can leave a lot, especially when your mind is otherwise occupied as Luke's was. Even Anakin was making "silly mistakes" after ten years of training (Losing his lightsaber in Attack of the Clones comes to mind). Owen and Beru's outlook on Hoth will be interesting, I'm sure, and I've often wondered the same thing. I think he got to feeling too good for his comfort level and had to prove he was still a sometimes outlaw. Glad to be back, and thanks for coming back aboard! Hope you like this one as well! -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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amidalachick Registered: Aug '03	Date Posted: 7/24/06 9:19am Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Woo-hoo! So glad to see this up, and off to such a great start! I can't wait to see how things unfold. Thank you so much for the PM! -----signature----- "So I can open my own can of pudding, can I? Shows what you know, Marge!"
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TorontoJediMaster Registered: Oct '01	Date Posted: 7/24/06 6:08pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Glad to be reading again. Incidentally, what -if any- training has Leia had over the last three years? I can imagine Owen and Beru's quarters. They likely have the heat cranked up the highest level...But still feel chilly. I'd imagine even Obi-Wan is less than thrilled with Hoth's climate. Can't wait for the next post.
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Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/25/06 5:09am Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	CHAPTER TWO A low rumbling sound, followed by a voluminous, angry sound woke Luke Skywalker from his impromptu nap. As his eyes fluttered open, he realized that the sounds were the noises of the Wampa, and they sounded as if they were getting closer. His head was pounding, an ache that traversed his entire skull. He could feel the blood caked up where the creature’s claws had slashed his face open during the attack. He shook his head slowly, trying to clear it, and that’s when he realized another reason for his headache. He was hanging upside down in the ice cave. His ankles felt frozen and numb, so he craned his head as much as he could stand. Sure enough, there were his feet, embedded into, and frozen over, the ice that made up the ceiling in the cave. The growls of the Wampa were getting closer. Luke knew his time was limited. His hand reached for the long cylinder hanging from his belt, but closed around air. There was nothing there. Frantically, he realized that all the equipment he’d been carrying was no longer on his person. He tried to will himself to relax and think, as Obi-Wan had taught him to do. Finally, he noticed the pack of equipment, jumbled into a useless heap on a mound of snow about a meter from where his fingertips dangled about thirty centimeters above the floor. “Oh, great,” he muttered to himself, and he started stretching towards the pack, especially when he caught sight of the handgrip protruding from the snow, half buried. Try as he might, he couldn’t get even close to his lightsaber. Going limp once more, he fell back to his normal position. He was too weak to break the ice from around his feet, and he couldn’t stretch far enough to reach his lightsaber. Through his fogged mind, a lesson learned fairly recently came to his thoughts. The Force could bring the lightsaber to him. He just had to focus and concentrate hard enough. Obi-Wan had showed him how the mind could move objects as effortlessly as a hand moved a game piece across a game board. All he needed to do was relax, and concentrate, which wasn’t easy as the sounds of the Wampa grew ever closer. Peeking up, he could see the white shaggy monster gorging on what remained of the Tauntaun. It was picking every bit of meat off the bones, moving back and forth along the snow lizard’s length. Soon, it would be ready for dessert, namely him. Deciding he wasn’t prepared to be on the menu for the feast the Wampa was having, he found his center, and focused his thoughts, relaxing. He visualized the lightsaber sliding from the snow into his grasp. His eyes fluttered closed as he concentrated, and the hilt of the weapon jiggled, slowly at first, but with increasing power. Suddenly, the lightsaber shot like a rocket from the snow mound to his hand. As soon as his fingers curled around the hilt, he pressed the button, sending the bluish white blade out, and swiped at the ice around his feet. It parted like water and Luke fell from the ceiling to the floor on his shoulder. The fall stunned him for just a second, but in that time, the snapping hiss of the lightsaber had attracted the Wampa’s attention, and it lunged towards him angrily. Instantly, Luke rolled to his feet and waved the humming lightsaber blade at the creature, driving it back. The creature’s animalistic intelligence didn’t know what to make of the bluish white blade, but it knew that it must be some sort of weapon, by the way his dinner brandished it. In a suddenly berserk frenzy, the creature slashed at Luke with it’s claws, and Luke’s weapon came down gracefully and true, severing its arm. The cauterized limb fell heavily to the ground, still smoking, and the creature roared in pain and rage, stumbling backwards. Luke took advantage of this, not wanting to kill the Wampa unless he had to, and shut the lightsaber down, scrambling for the entrance to the cave as rapidly as his feet and dizzy head would allow. He exploded from the cave into the harsh winds and fierce haze of approaching night. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been out, but knew that the temperature had dropped considerably. The sky was much darker, and he was freezing already, growing numb in the winds. He stumbled across a drift and fell down it, rolling, trying vainly to regain his feet. His goggles and comlink were gone, but his scarf was still there. He tried to wrap it about the lower half of his face to protect his skin and lungs from the searing winds and cold, but to no avail. The young Jedi regained his feet, only to lose his footing again just a few steps later. Once again, he tumbled down a steep drift. His thoughts raced, trying to remember survival techniques, Jedi techniques, anything that could possibly save him from what he was facing, but his mind, like his body, was starting to shut down. It became impossible to think, or to act. Sinking down into the snow, at the foot of the drift, he succumbed to human frailty, and unconsciousness. ********* A steaming mug of caf passed over Owen Lars’ left shoulder as he toiled endlessly, working to adapt the air speeders to the cold of the inhospitable world they were on. He paused and glanced up to see Beru standing there, wrapped up tightly in at least two coats, with her hands bound in gloves and a scarf about her neck. He put the tools down and took the cup gratefully from his wife and took a sip. Beru smiled a bit and turned towards the shield door, which was still open, at the far end of the hangar. The heating units even in the hangar kept most warm enough that they could dress in minimal gear, unlike Beru, who was bundled up as if expecting to be tossed out for the night. “Thanks, Beru,” Owen said softly, turning to face his wife. Even bundled as she was, she was shivering. Come to think of it, he was chilly himself, but he had been so wrapped up in working that he hadn’t noticed the cold much. He gestured towards the world outside the door, bathed in the white of thick snow and ice. “What do you think?” Beru smiled ruefully and shook her head softly. “I think they could’ve found a warmer, more friendly place to set up a base, that’s what I think,” she said softly, her eyes moving over the various people moving about in the huge hangar bay. “Yavin was humid and moist, but at least it had heat. This place isn’t fit for even the worst of the Empire.” She drew her coats about her more tightly, and settled back against the speeder. Owen chuckled softly, and continued to sip his caf. He wrapped an arm about Beru’s shoulders, and patted softly. “That’s the idea. This place is so remote and so desolate, the Empire would never think of looking for us here. Bail, Rieekan, and the others, they knew what they were doing when they decided to come out here.” A Rebel soldier was heading their way. Owen could tell it was a commander even at this distance, though he couldn’t recognize the man’s face. He finally stepped across several snaking power leads and over to where Owen and Beru stood. “Lieutenant Lars, how’s the adaptation coming? Hello, Mrs. Lars,” he said in a polite, but completely businesslike, tone. Beru nodded her greeting back to the younger man as Owen glanced back at the speeder, then up at the commander again. “Well, I think I’ve worked out the best way to keep the fuel lines and such from freezing, as well as how to keep the wind from stalling the engines out without overheating them. Given that works without any problems, we should be able to fit all of the speeders by about midnight, give or take,” responded Owen finally, scratching his chin thoughtfully. The commander assimilated this information and seemed to be thinking something over, and finally broke into a smile. “You’re a good man, Lars,” he said finally, clapping Owen on the shoulder. “General Rieekan was sure right about you. Good work. Let me know if anything changes.” With that, the commander turned around and walked back over towards another group of soldiers, and began dispersing them with orders. Owen turned back towards Beru, who was smiling at him, and shaking her head. Sipping another drink of the caf, he frowned up at her. “What are you grinning at?” he asked in a playfully rough voice. The past three years had definitely changed Owen. He’d learned how to live again. “Just you,” she said softly, still wearing the smile. “I remember a time when you’d cuss and fuss for hours at the very mention of the Rebellion, because you didn’t want to get involved.” She stroked his cheek softly with a hand, studying his face. “Now, look at you. You’ve become an important and integral part of the crew here. You make a difference, and not even you can find a way to say you don’t.” Owen just laughed softly with his wife, and sipped his caf. He didn’t comment, because he knew that Beru was right, ultimately. He had changed, a lot. Facing death often does that to a person, he thought as he stood with her, watching the goings on in the hangar. He just hoped they lived to see what would come once the Empire was defeated. ********* Leia was still seething from her conversation with Han in the south passage. She couldn’t believe his nerve sometimes. Her fists clenched and unclenched, and her jaw ached from where she’d been gritting her teeth. She paused at room after room, searching. Finally, she stepped through an opening door and within the room was the object of her search, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The old man was wrapped more warmly than most were in this part of the headquarters, sitting at a table, drinking a steaming cup of caf. His blue gaze rose when she entered the room and his expression was one of silent expectation, as if waiting for her to announce her business, or give some hint as to what she was doing. He never hurried his motions, merely waited. Gathering her courage, she finally drew a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then released it, stepping fully inside the room. The door closed behind her and she thumbed the key sequence in to secure the door against accidental or haphazard opening, requiring that someone ask the door to open before it would open. Her dark eyes found his face and she searched it for long moments. Finally, in a soft voice, she spoke, “General Kenobi, may I speak to you for a moment?” The old Jedi chuckled softly and took another sip of his caf, nodding. He indicated the seat on the other side of the table. “Of course, Princess. What can I do for you?” His manner was gracious and calm, and he leaned back in his seat, stretching a bit. Leia found this an odd gesture, but then again, why shouldn’t Jedi stretch like anyone else? The princess seated herself and folded her hands before her. Her gaze didn’t waver as she met his eyes, instead she fastened her eyes to him like an Ambrian shell mouth holding tightly its dinner. “Listen,” she began, faltering for just a moment, unsure of what she wanted to say, or how to say it. “I know there’s things you, my father, that no one has told me, things that I should know. Things I need to know.” The Jedi didn’t even blink at this statement. Instead, he leaned forward ever so slightly, and nodded, sipping the warm drink yet again. “Yes,” he replied. “There are a great many things that need to be told to you, and to Luke, when the time is right. There’s a great deal to be done, like getting your training started…but not now. Now is not the time.” Leia inwardly groaned, for she was impatient, and she hated waiting games. Intellectually, she understood Obi-Wan’s position, but that didn’t mean she had to like it, she decided. “You see, that’s another part of it all together, right there,” she said, shifting her position. “I don’t understand all this Jedi Force stuff. What makes you think I want to be trained, let alone that I need to be?” Her face grew more determined and she leaned a bit further across the table unconsciously. “But for the sake of argument, why isn’t now the time? It’s not as if we have a full schedule keeping me from it.” Obi-Wan regarded her in silence for a long moment. His hands folded and he looked her over with a compassionate and sympathetic gaze. “In the time of the Old Republic, at the height of the Jedi Order, it was customary that a Jedi take one student at a time, a padawan, to train.” His blue eyes roamed over her dark ones, picking out the sharp sparkles in them. “That padawan remained with his or her master until they were ready for the next level. Then the master was free to choose another padawan, once the previous one had moved on.” Leia listened to the old man as he spoke, and watched him drinking the caf as if there was no war going on in the galaxy outside this room. Finally, he settled into a new position and resumed speaking. “Now is a very crucial time. Luke is almost ready to move onward to the next level, and you’re almost ready to begin. But there’s other factors to consider as well,” he said mildly, stroking his beard softly. “Darth Vader will know you for who and what you truly are, once your training has begun, and you’re able to summon the Force to aid you, as Luke is. Exposing you both to possible danger from him at once is something I’m not prepared to do…because your safety, Luke’s safety, and the safety of the entire Alliance, depends on Vader not discovering these facts until its too late.” Leia scowled, clearly not liking what she heard. She felt an odd tingling in her mind, the same sort of tingling she’d always felt, off and on, her whole life. It aided her in diplomacy, helping her discover instinctively the best and worst cases, and so on. The more she thought about it, having discovered that she had a brother, and other things about herself, that perhaps it was this Force alerting her, instead of some deeply rooted instinct. “What is it about Vader that seems to tie him so indelibly to Luke and I?” she finally asked outright. The tingle in her mind told her this was the right question to ask. “I know he’s a Sith Lord, some sort of twisted and evil Jedi, and one of the chief enemies of the Alliance, but there’s got to be more to it than that.” As Obi-Wan looked into Leia’s eyes, he was startled to see how much like Padmé she’d become. She not only looked a lot like her, but she had also inherited many of her traits. It was a wistful smile that came to the old Jedi’s lips as he regarded the daughter of his once friend, from so long, long ago. “Your insight serves you well, Leia. Even instinctively, your understanding and use of the Force is strong.” He frowned, tilting his head a bit, and stroking his beard again in thought. “That, however, is a question best answered when your brother and yourself are both present. The truth will not be easy, for either of you.” Leia cast her eyes down at the table. She could see various scrape marks from different cutting tools and the like where people had used the table for a variety of functions. Her eyes still cast down, she whispered, “He’s our father…isn’t he?” Her face rose to meet his gaze again, the determined look still there, firmly in place. “Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker, isn’t he?” Obi-Wan shuddered at her words. The very words he’d hoped weren’t about to pass her lips had, and the silence that followed rumbled louder than thunder. He sighed softly and closed his eyes, nodding softly. “Yes, he is. I’d meant to make it easier on you both when I told you, but…” Leia frowned as the old Jedi trailed off, and seemed almost fit to have a heart attack. His face had gone ashen, and his eyes flew open, sparkling and slightly clouded, as if looking at something far, far away. “What is it? What’s wrong?” she asked in a worried tone, rising from her chair to clasp his shoulder with her hand. The old Jedi shook his head and clenched his eyes shut a moment, and then opened them again. His face was haggard and drawn, and he looked suddenly much older than he was. “It’s Luke,” he said weakly, still focused on something far away that Leia couldn’t see. “Something is terribly wrong. Terribly wrong.” That was all Leia needed to hear. She didn’t understand the Jedi’s ways and the cryptic and mysterious ways that they had, but she’d learned to trust Obi-Wan’s word and instincts, or visions, or whatever they may be. In a flash, she jerked her comlink from her belt and called loudly into it, “Han! Han! Damnit, Han, answer me. You can act childish later, this is serious!” ********* “It’s not my fault, you malfunctioning tin can,” prissed Threepio as he and Artoo came down the hall into the hangar. The golden anthropomorphic droid was turning towards his smaller utilitarian counterpart. “I did not ask you to turn on the thermal heater in the Princess’ chambers. I merely commented that it was freezing in there.” The two droids continued into the hangar, heading towards the Millennium Falcon at a steady gait. Artoo beeped and gurgled angrily as the both of them made their way across the cavernous floor. “What did you expect me to think you meant? You were complaining it was cold, I turned on the heat, like any rational being or droid with half a processor would do, you prissy over mechanized coat rack!” “But it’s supposed to be freezing in there,” grumbled Threepio, stepping over a power conduit and working his way under the wings of an X Wing fighter. “How else do you think we’re going to get all her things dry? And you’re supposed to be a creative problem solver. Really!” Artoo’s dome spun wildly and his lights flashed as he sputtered off a stream of beeping invective. The squat droid maneuvered around the conduits and followed Threepio, still beeping. “How was I supposed to know? I’m a mechanic not a laundry droid, nimrod!” Threepio finally stopped and Artoo almost plowed into him, so intent had he been on arguing with the humanoid shaped droid. “Oh, here we are,” said Threepio entirely too cheerfully for Artoo’s taste. Fixing his gaze on the beings by the ship, he called, “Master Solo, sir, might I have a word with you, please?” Han didn’t seem to be in an overly gracious mood, but Threepio never picked up on things like that. “Sure, why not?” he quipped, frowning at the golden droid, putting his hands on his hips. The anger in his voice and expression could only be lost on someone like Threepio. “What is it?” Threepio gestured about in his customary manner as he spoke with the human. “Mistress Leia has been trying to reach you on the communicator, but to no avail,” he stated, his perfectly modulated and accented voice lilting along. “It must be malfunctioning.” Han scowled even deeper and growled out, “I know. I shut it off.” Before Threepio could start up again, he bit out, in a show of anger, “I don’t want to talk to her. What does her royal holiness want now?” He was positively fuming by this point. It was all he could do not to box the protocol droid in the face plate. Threepio, however, was as oblivious as ever. “It’s Master Luke, sir. He hasn’t returned. She–” Han cut the droid off before he could go any further. “I don’t know where he is. I haven’t seen him since we left, and haven’t heard from him since he said he was going to check out that meteorite.” Han was exasperated. Now he was expected to be a nursemaid and babysitter, it seemed. “That’s just it, sir. No one knows where he is,” replied Threepio in a completely reasonable tone of voice. Artoo was amazed how a droid that was supposed to understand and mimic human behavior could miss so much. The smuggler’s face scowled even deeper. “What do you mean nobody knows where he is?” he demanded, his anger taking an entirely different tack. Anger gave way to concern as he glanced outside at the quickly darkening sky. It would be dark very soon, and night on Hoth was almost assuredly lethal to most life forms. He turned abruptly and shouted, “Deck Officer! Deck Officer!” Threepio started to comment further, but Han’s hand reached up and covered his mouth grille, effectively silencing him. The human brought his comlink to his mouth. “Security Control, this is Solo. Has Commander Skywalker reported back in yet?” The reply to his query was negative, and that only served to deepen the scowl. In the meantime, the deck sergeant had hustled over his way. Threepio was moving around, trying to free his mouth, but Han held fast. He addressed the sergeant, “Is Commander Skywalker back yet?” The sergeant shook his head, confusion showing on his face. “No, sir, I haven’t seen him,” he replied. Then, as an afterthought, he said, “It’s possible he may have come in through the south entrance.” Solo’s patience was wearing thin, as was the amount of time if Luke was still out there. “‘It’s possible?’” parroted Han in an aggravated voice. “Why don’t you go find out? It’s getting dark out there!” He jabbed his thumb towards the massive shield door, open to the harsh environment outside. Han released Threepio’s mouth as the deck sergeant rushed off to do as Han had ordered. A high pitched beeping and whine came from Artoo. “Okay, I’m lost. What’s going on?” asked the squat astromech droid. “I don’t know, Artoo,” replied Threepio, glad to be free of Han’s hand. He regarded the human curiously a moment, and if he could frown, he would have. “Sir,” he asked Han. “Might I inquire what’s going on?” Han ignored the droid and started pulling his cold gear back on. Threepio tried several times to gain his attention, but to no avail. Han simply wasn’t paying any attention to him. “Impossible man,” muttered Threepio, moving back the way they’d come. “Come along, Artoo.” The two droids left the hangar bay as Han stalked across towards the shield door. Several officers were trying to calm a nervous Tauntaun, who was about to bolt at any moment, from the looks of things. The deck sergeant came running back up to Han and saluted. “Commander Skywalker hasn’t come in through the south entrance,” he said. “He might have forgotten to check in.” “Not likely,” snorted Han, still putting on protective gear. His patience level had hit zero a long time ago. “Are the speeders ready yet?” he snapped the question to another officer. Owen stepped up, with a frown. “About a third of them are, son. What’s going on?” The other officer that had been speaking spoke up as well. “They may be ready, but they’re untested against night time conditions. They could still freeze up.” Han scowled along with Owen. It didn’t matter, Han had already made his mind up. The temperature was dropping far too rapidly for them to waste time debating whether or not the adaptations would make it or not. Every second brought Luke closer to death. “Then we’ll have to go out on Tauntauns until you can get the damned speeders tested. If they work, great, come give us a hand. If not, then we’re on our own.” The young officer lost all color in his face. “But, the temperature is dropping far too rapidly,” he half stammered. “That’s right,” growled Han, moving towards a Tauntaun. “You bet it is, and Luke’s out in it.” He swung up into the saddle of the Tauntaun and did a last second check. The young officer wouldn’t be brushed aside, however. “Your Tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker,” he said in an ominous tone. Apparently he hadn’t had much experience with Han Solo. Han pulled hard on the reins of the Tauntaun and looked back. “Then I’ll see you in hell,” he said venomously, and jerked the Tauntaun forward into the white wasteland beyond. Owen smacked the sergeant on the shoulder and jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “Come on, you’re going to help me get a few of these things ready to go.” He had a total no nonsense attitude and his eyes glittered with a dare for him to refuse. The young officer glanced at Owen as if he’d lost his mind. “They’ll never withstand the cold out there,” he wheedled, looking like a trapped wamprat. Owen glared at the sergeant and pointed to the lieutenant bars on his shoulder. “You see these, snot nose? Get your butt in gear. That’s my nephew out there. If we fail, we’re going to fail trying everything we can, not because you’re too damned afraid of a little cold.” ******* Han rode the Tauntaun hard across the barren wasteland of ice and snow. The beast reared its head and its breathing was very labored. The snow lizard was succumbing to the cold and exhaustion. Han just hoped it lasted long enough for him to find Luke. The hazy landscape provided little comfort or accommodation in the way of sight. The darkening sky didn’t help, either. He urged the Tauntaun on, apologizing silently for subjecting the poor creature to these extreme conditions, but he knew that the Tauntaun was his only hope of finding Luke before the cold claimed him. After a bit, he paused again, looking desperately across the ice for any sign of Luke, and listening for anything. The Tauntaun’s labored breathing had degenerated into mournful moans, and congested sounding rattling in its throat. He patted its withers gently and strained his senses. There was the faintest sound, carried on the wind. But it was a sound. Feeling desperation taking over, he spurred the beast onward, riding it hard across the drifts and slopes towards the source of the sound. ***** Luke lay in the foot of a drift, half buried by snow. His face and the blood over his wounds were caked with ice. His skin showed signs of advanced frostbite. He would be a corpse, food for the many scavengers of Hoth, long before the sun rose at this rate. His life left him a little at a time, oozing out with the howling and moaning of the wind. He lifted his head weakly, trying to force down a breath that wasn’t frozen solid. His entire body tingled and was numb from the cold. He could feel the ice in his eyelashes weighing his eyelids down, compelling him even more strongly to sleep and let death overtake him. The snow whirled about in front of him and the wind howled mercilessly, taunting him with their ghostly conjurations of sight and sound. His voice was ragged as he called out, “Obi-Wan!” His mind was barely working. It was the one coherent thought he could muster. Even through the haze of the cold and the hysteria brought on by the madness looming over him from exposure, he could feel the gentle touch in his mind of his teacher and mentor. “Hang on, Luke,” the voice of Obi-Wan said. “Don’t let go. Hang on. You must survive. The time has come for the next level of your training.” “Training,” murmured Luke. Looking up, he could swear he saw the old Jedi standing there, looking at him. “Next level…training,” he said again, rolling onto his side weakly. Just before darkness claimed him, he thought he saw the shape of a figure on a Tauntaun approaching him where he’d thought Obi-Wan had stood. ******* The Tauntaun skidded to a halt in the snow, wobbling on its thick rear legs as Han dismounted recklessly, and ran to the figure in the snow. “Luke!” he yelled, coming to his friend’s side finally and rolling him over. “Oh, no, don’t do this to me, kid. Give me a sign here!” He laid his head next to Luke’s chest and he heard the very faint sound of a heartbeat. The young Jedi was breathing, barely. His face was scarred pretty bad, and caked up with iced over blood. When he was satisfied that he had no open wounds, he picked him up and started heading back towards the Tauntaun, knowing that both their lives depended upon the animal’s ability to carry them back to base. Before he’d gotten halfway to the animal, it screeched pitifully and fell to a shaggy gray heap in the snow. The dropping temperatures and the harsh winds had gotten to be too much for it. The animal had made a valiant struggle, but it had gone as far as it could. Making a decision, he carried Luke to the animal and laid him alongside its corpse. The young man was moaning incoherently, saying Obi-Wan’s name over and over again. Han scowled and reached out, taking Luke’s lightsaber off his belt. It took him a second to find the switch, but he finally did and ignited the blade. The bluish white blade snap hissed to life and hummed in the turbulent air. He knew there was probably something very wrong with using a Jedi’s weapon for this, but it was the most precise and quickest tool for cutting right then that he had access too. It felt odd in his hands, but he finally laid the blade against the tough, thick hide of the Tauntaun and sliced it open from throat to hindquarters. Han nearly gagged on the overpowering stench that rushed to greet him from the opened animal. The stench was so strong it defied even the harsh winds of Hoth, lingering there with him. “This may smell bad, kid, but it’ll keep you warm…at least until I can get the shelter built.” He dragged Luke closer to the animal and stuffed him inside the snow lizard’s still warm innards. The guts of the creature pooled all around the young Jedi and it was all Han could do to keep from losing everything he’d eaten that day. Once he had Luke securely inside the belly of the creature, he leaned against the carcass, unable to stand for a moment. “Whew!” he exclaimed. “And I thought they smelled bad…on the outside!” When he could finally stand again, he pulled the shelter from the pack and began setting it up, slowly but surely. The chill winds and the blinding snow slowed his progress, but finally, the shelter was up, and he and Luke were safely inside, and still the stench of the Tauntaun lingered, like a solid thing. -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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TorontoJediMaster Registered: Oct '01	Date Posted: 7/25/06 10:04pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Wow. Two posts in as many days. Poor Beru. Cold doesn't seem to agree with her. I can imagine that she'd prefer the base at Yavin. Owen apparently has been given a field promotion and a commission. At least he doesn't have to salute Luke anymore now. I liked Leia's conversation with Obi-Wan. Nice touch that Obi-Wan was wearing heavier clothes than most others. After twenty years on Tatooine, following having spent most of his life on climate controlled Coruscant, the chill of Hoth would be a shock to him. So, Leia's figured out the truth of her heritage. I must say, she took it a LOT better than Luke did in canon. Now, the main thing she'll probably want to know now is just HOW Anakin wound up becoming Darth Vader. Of course, that will have to wait for now. Nice touch that Obi-Wan was able to communicate with Luke through the Force to give him something to focus on. It was a good replacement for him seeing the spectral image from canon. I would have thought by now that being able to pull something to his hand using the Force would have been simple, considering he's had three years of training. I suspect it's probably among the easiest of Jedi techniques to learn. Perhaps Luke was still groggy from the concussion, or something. I wonder who else from the Alliance went out on tauntauns to look? I'm sure Wedge and Biggs would have been raring to go, as their speeders weren't ready yet. Owen would surely want to go out too, unless he felt that getting the speeders ready gave them a better chance of finding Luke. Would Obi-Wan have taken a tauntaun out? Maybe the next chapter would have Obi-Wan returning to the base, after his own fruitless patrol (but, where he did manage to send a Force-thought to Luke). Once Luke is back, I hope Leia and Obi-Wan tell him about Anakin. Can't wait to see how the Battle shapes up. I wonder how incorporating Owen, Beru and Obi-Wan into things will affect the evacuation? (i.e. Would Obi-Wan go with Luke to Dagobah, or stay with Leia as he's starting her training? etc) Looking forward to the next post.
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Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/25/06 10:14pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	Glad you liked it, my friend. The next chapter is almost ready to post. I expect to do so within the hour! -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/25/06 10:40pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	CHAPTER THREE Artoo Detoo stood at the entrance to the base, with his scanner extended to its maximum. The small droid dutifully maintained an electronic vigil as the sky grew darker and darker, and the weather even more fierce than before. He was often described as stubborn, though many scoffed at such a description for a droid. Nonetheless, the droid could be exactly that, more often than not. Night had fallen some time ago, and the sky on Hoth only grew darker as the night grew longer. The winds had grown stronger and much colder as the little droid stood there, but he didn’t care. He was intent only on the readings his scanning equipment was picking up, which at the moment was nothing. His search for Luke and Han had come up empty so far. As the sounds of Threepio’s footsteps grew nearer, Artoo beeped softly in frustration and dejection. The protocol droid regarded his counterpart for a moment, amazed at his capacity to go far beyond the limits of his programming as he so frequently did. The concern in the astromech droid’s “voice” was real. “Come along, Artoo,” he said quietly, laying a golden hand on top of Artoo’s blue and silver dome. “There’s really nothing more you can do, though your effort is certainly valiant. You must come inside now.” He turned and started walking back inside the base, but noticed his squat companion hadn’t moved. Turning, he addressed the droid again, “Would you please come, Artoo? My joints are freezing up. Hurry…please?” But before Artoo could answer him, the golden droid was already well on his way back into the hangar. With a gurgling beep of frustration and annoyance, Artoo extended his third leg and turned, wheeling back into the hangar after his friend. The sky behind him had grown completely black now, and Leia stood near the landing strut of a carrier, shivering in the wind, but refusing to go away. She maintained her worried vigil as Artoo passed her, her expression determined, but her eyes were far away, for her mind was out there, on the ice fields somewhere, far away from here. Nearby, a concerned officer, Major Derlin, kept watch over the princess. He licked his lips nervously, glancing back and forth between her, and the work being done on the speeders behind him. He knew she was worried, he could feel the tension surrounding her like a protective cocoon, but he dared not approach her, not until it was time. Not far from the princess sat the massive Wookiee, Chewbacca. Even on his bestial features, the anguish and concern was easily read. First he, then Leia, glanced up in acknowledgement of Threepio’s presence as the two droids approached them. The protocol droid was beside himself with distress. His artificial voice filtered out through the grille meant to emulate his mouth. “Artoo has been unable to pick up any signals,” he reported, clearly fretting as he was wont to do. “But he does admit his own range is quite limited, and not sufficient cause for us to abandon all hope.” The princess barely reacted at all, other than to nod softly in answer to his words. Her eyes never left the shield door. The thoughts that raced through her head were of the two lost out on the ice, and she found her mind stubbornly returning to Han’s face more often than she liked. Threepio, for his part, milled about for a few moments, silent. Another Rebel officer approached Major Derlin as he stood by the silent vigil, and glanced at them, lowering his voice. “All patrols are in, except for Skywalker and Solo, sir,” he reported. The major frowned and nodded, and dismissed the officer. Finally, he turned and approached the princess. His face was heavy with sympathy, and his voice was weighted with regret. “I’m sorry, your highness,” he said quietly. “Nothing more can be done tonight. We must close the shield doors. I’m sorry.” Waiting just a beat, he turned to an officer and nodded. “Close the doors.” Chewbacca released a loud, mournful howl that echoed off the walls of the ice cavern that served as the base, and Leia’s eyes closed against tears. The grinding of the gears that powered the doors began, but suddenly the sound was shredded by the gruff voice of Owen Lars, smeared in grease, standing just a few feet away. “Like hell you will,” he said with a quiet force. “Those boys are freezing out there. We’re going to get them back, and we’re going to do it now, so keep that door open until I’m gone.” Derlin’s face showed the shock that was mirrored in his eyes. “The speeders aren’t ready yet. They haven’t been adapted-” Owen interrupted him with a stout finger in his chest. “Listen to me, kid,” he began dangerously. “I’ve survived the most hellish conditions the Force could put on a planet…droughts, sandstorms, rapid cold in desert nights, and more. I’ve made it an entire year with less than two hundred liters of water on Tatooine. I think I can survive a little chilly weather.” He paused, and then as if an afterthought, he added, “And the speeders are adapted. I just finished getting half your complement ready. The crew knows how to fix the other half.” Leia watched the exchange with interest, as did Chewbacca. They looked at each other, and then at the arguing men again. Derlin was returning the favor, poking a stout finger in his chest. “That may be all well and good and true, Lieutenant, but you’re forgetting, I outrank you. You’re not taking one of these speeders anywhere. The risk is too great. Its possible we’ve already lost two men. I’m not losing a third.” “True, but you don’t outrank me, Major,” said a new voice. Leia whirled to see Obi-Wan Kenobi, in full cold gear, approaching them. His face was mild, but determined all the same. “If Lieutenant Lars says the speeders are adapted, then you can rest assured they’re adapted. And he’s not going alone. We’re going together.” Nobody’s face registered more shock than Owen’s as he turned to regard Obi-Wan, who calmly came to his side, and crossed his arms, staring the major down. Chewbacca snorted softly, and though Leia couldn’t understand it, she got the intent. The big card had just been played. She couldn’t help but let a ghost of a smile curl her lips. “Two speeders? You’re going to take two speeders out, in the Hoth night, searching for two men who may be dead, without even a hope in hell of finding them?” asked Derlin incredulously. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Derlin was well known for being a good officer, but he was definitely cautious and by the book. It was evident from his voice he wanted more than anything to lend assistance, but his instinct was telling him that bitter disappointment was all that lay ahead, as well as the loss of more life. The clearing of a throat behind them all caused them all to turn. Leia shook her head in amazement as, standing on the other side of the X Wing, was the entirety of Rogue Squadron. Wedge Antilles and Biggs Darklighter stood at the head of the group, with the rest all behind them in formation. Wedge shook his head, “A squadron, plus two, major.” The young officer strode ahead, with his entire group behind him, and joined Owen and Obi-Wan. Wedge regarded Obi-Wan with a wry smile, and saluted. “Permission for Rogue Squadron to assist in the search and rescue attempt, General, sir,” he said with that determined tone that meant Wedge was all business at that point. Derlin was fit to be tied at this point, looking back and forth at all of them as if they’d all lost their minds. Obi-Wan glanced at the young man, then back at Major Derlin, who was moving his mouth, but nothing was coming out. A light smile crossed his lips and he nodded once. “Permission granted, Wedge,” he said softly, clapping the young pilot on the shoulder and squeezing. Turning back to Derlin, he winked at Owen and smiled. “I think perhaps you should open the doors again, just long enough for us to depart. We’ve got a busy night ahead of us.” Activity began with a flurry in the hangar as speeders were readied, and pilots made their way to them. Threepio had been about to translate Artoo’s estimation of the odds for survival when the tide had suddenly changed, and swept away with the optimistic excitement of it all, the golden droid had forgotten. Even Chewbacca’s mood seemed to have lightened, and he busied himself helping the pilots all prepare for what was coming. Leia was relieved that at least something was being done, but that dark feeling of dread hung just at the edges of her subconscious. When nobody was paying attention, she whispered an erstwhile prayer often spoken on Alderaan, praying for Luke and Han’s survival, and return. ******* A dark shape moved rapidly across the sky, which was growing lighter with the approach of dawn. Dawn was still a couple of hours away, but the light from the star of the Hoth system invaded the Hoth sky slowly, creeping its way through the day and suddenly retreating with great haste at night. Biggs Darklighter moved the throttle a bit more and eased the snow speeder into a gentle arc. “Commander Skywalker, this is Rogue Three, do you copy?” he intoned into the comlink. He knew it was a long shot, but after seven hours of flying over desolate icy waste in the dark, he had little other choice. It was either try everything, no matter how small the chance for success, or go mad. “Captain Solo, do you copy? This is Rogue Three, I repeat, this is Rogue Three. Please respond.” In the distance, he could see the other speeders, just dark blurs against a gradually lightening sky, veering off in search patrols. They’d covered a significant portion of ground from the base, but they had to go slow and painstakingly cautious to avoid missing something vital. He was just flying towards a wicked looking gulch, long ago carved by some mighty river, probably, before the ice age had settled onto this world, when his scanner picked up a peculiar beep. He frowned and double checked the reading. When it came up a second time, he knew it was for real. He thumbed his comlink and tried to keep the excitement out of his voice. It could just as easily be a marker blown out of place, but he was sure he was reading the scanner correctly. “Rogue One, Lieutenant Lars, General Kenobi, Echo Base, I think I’ve found something,” he reported. His voice was filling with hope, regardless of how hard he tried to keep it down. “It’s not much, but it may just be a life form. I’m heading at bearing 217 mark 17.” “Roger that, Rogue Three,” replied Wedge, also keying his speeder towards the coordinates Biggs had mentioned. “We’ll converge and provide assistance as necessary. Okay, Rogues, let’s form up.” Biggs fought the excitement building up from the reading. He angled the speeder in low over the gulch and pulled back on the throttle. “Commander Skywalker, Captain Solo, do you copy? This is Rogue Three,” he repeated. The transmission got a bit sketchy for a moment, the white noise of static coming back across the channel. Suddenly, a familiar voice called out through the static. “Good morning! Nice of you fellows to drop by, but it’s a bit early to come calling, isn’t it? It’s still dark. Breakfast isn’t even ready!” The mirth in Han Solo’s voice was plain to hear. Biggs couldn’t help the grin he felt moving across his face. He thumbed the comlink over a channel and called out jubilantly, “Echo Base, Rogues, and search party, I’ve found them. I repeat, I’ve found them. Setting down now.” He angled the ship down as Han stepped from the shelter, waving a light so he could see. Biggs was grateful at least one of the friends he’d thought lost was safe. With a little luck, both of them were. The ship settled into the snow, and he lifted the cockpit, slipping out. The speeder was a two man craft, but he was the only person in it, having no need for a gunner at the moment. Other speeders began preparing to land near them as he ran towards the shelter, relieved to see his friend. ***** A thick transparent wall, and a clear, slightly viscous liquid separated Luke Skywalker from his friends and family. The medical bay had been invaded when the young Jedi had been placed in the bacta tank. He was held suspended in the fluid, with an oxygen mask covering his face, allowing him to breathe. Han Solo, grateful for the relative warmth of the medical wing of the Rebel base, watched the medical droids work with his friend with unwavering interest. Luke had been delusional and out of it ever since he’d found him, but his vitals had been strong, considering the ordeal he’d been through. Han was thankful for that. Beside him, Chewbacca kept a silent vigil as well, his eyes never leaving the young human. In fact, Han mused, he barely blinked. Apparently, Chewie had extended the life debt he shared with Han to include several others, among them Leia and Luke. The mighty Wookiee would not be budged from his spot, and he snarled menacingly at anyone that suggested he should go somewhere and rest for awhile. Han knew better than to tempt fate by suggesting such a thing. Instead, he allowed his own worry and concern to guide him, and he stood by his shaggy friend. Inside the tube, Luke, who was clad only in a pair of white shorts, and the breathing mask, was mumbling incoherently. “Next level…must begin next level. Survive…” He thrashed about a bit in the liquid bacta as he rambled. The medical droids worked constantly, keeping his levels reasonable and applying medications to the liquid in which the young Jedi was suspended. Leia, the members of Rogue Squadron, Obi-Wan, and Owen and Beru had trickled into the corridor outside the medical bay as well. None of them, except maybe Obi-Wan, seemed to have an idea of what Luke was rambling about. They all looked towards the Jedi expectantly, but he simply curled his lips at the corners very briefly, and commented not at all. Suddenly, Luke stirred, and started thrashing even more so. His eyes had flown open and for a brief moment, he’d looked frightened. The medical droid had moved a control that lifted him out of the tank. After checking some readings and making some adjustments, it informed the onlookers that Luke was being moved to a room to recover. The crowd slowly started breaking up as Luke’s friends and family moved in the direction indicated by the droid. Obi-Wan felt a hand on his shoulder, and he stopped, turning. To his surprise, it was Owen that was bidding him to stay a moment. The others all walked onward down the corridor, leaving the two men to themselves. Owen fidgeted a bit, and scratched his cheek, where a rough growth of beard was forming. Even though they’d decided to be friends three years ago, Owen still had a hard time saying what he felt inside, more often than not. “Obi-Wan,” he began, looking the older man in the eye. “I want to thank you…for siding with me, and for helping me find Luke and the Solo kid. You didn’t have to, but you did. It…it means a lot to Beru and me…especially me.” Obi-Wan listened passively to his former adversary speak. He was surprised at the words that came from him. Stroking his beard thoughtfully, he replied, “You’re welcome, Owen. It’s the kind of things that friends do. Besides, I’m quite close to Luke, myself. I did the only thing I could do.” Owen Lars tilted his head and regarded the old man seriously for a moment. “But, what about all that stuff about attachments?” he asked. “I thought all good Jedi were supposed to let go of all that, and not let themselves fall into that emotional trap.” Obi-Wan smiled and shrugged. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he responded, “There’s no such thing as a perfect Jedi, Owen.” ******* Luke had no idea how long he’d been delirious and spouting random insanities, but at the moment, he was alert, awake, and completely in control of his faculties. The air was fresh, albeit cold, and much better than the filtered air he’d been breathing in the bacta tank. The medical droid was removing the bandages from his face, and he was a bit impatient. The white lights were all a blur, but they slowly started coming into focus, as did the face of his sister, Leia. She smiled at him and came to his side when the droid moved away. “Your scars appear to be healing well. Do they still hurt?” Before Luke could answer, the door slid aside to admit Han, Chewie, Threepio and Artoo. “Master Luke, its so good to see you fully functional again,” said Threepio in a cheerful voice. Behind him, Artoo whirred and beeped happily and rapidly. “Artoo expresses his relief, also.” “Thanks, Threepio, Artoo,” replied Luke with a faint smile. He was moving to sit up on the bed, but was having a bit of trouble finding a comfortable spot. “Hey, kid,” said Han with a relieved and happy smile. The older man was bent over him, and gripped his bicep. “You look strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark.” Chewie echoed the sentiment, along with a greeting, from beside them both. Luke smiled. He certainly felt that strong, and he knew why as well. “Thanks to you,” he replied, popping Han in the shoulder as well. Han had risked everything to come find him, and had saved him from certain death on the ice of Hoth. Han grinned and held up two fingers. “That’s two you owe me, Junior,” he said good naturedly, winking at both Luke and the Wookiee. Turning around, he affected a very smug smile on his face as he crossed his arms. “Well, your worship, it looks like you managed to keep me around a little bit longer.” The smuggler was completely insufferable at the moment. The door opened again, to admit Wedge and Biggs. They nodded silently at everyone, moving closer to Luke. They weren’t sure what they’d walked in on the middle of, but they weren’t about to interrupt it. They exchanged quiet greetings with Luke. Meanwhile, Leia was shaking her head and crossed her arms. “I had nothing to do with it,” she asserted plainly. “General Rieekan thinks it’s a bad idea for any ship to try to leave until the shield generators are operational.” The Corellian, however, wasn’t going to let things die down easily. He grinned even wider, and stretched out. “Oh, it makes for a good story, but I think you just can’t stand to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight.” He winked back at the two pilots in a playful manner as he prepared to crow. Leia’s lips tightened into a tight line and she shook her head sadly. When she spoke, her voice was full of acidic disgust. “I don’t know where you get your delusions, Laser Brains.” The two pilots almost choked, trying to keep from laughing. Chewbacca, however, had no such compunctions. He chortled and laughed openly, and loudly. Han turned incredulously towards his partner and stared at him in disbelief. “Laugh it up, Fuzz Ball,” he said slowly. He moved closer to Leia and stood alongside her, the smug look returning to his face. “But you didn’t see us alone in the south passage,” continued Han, wrapping his arm around Leia. “She expressed her true feelings for me.” Leia was seething. She jerked away from Han as he spoke, but he was already walking back to Luke’s side. Her fists balled tightly and she growled out, “Why, you low down, stuck up, half witted, scruffy looking…nerf herder!” Her face was a mask of anger and disbelief that he’d say such a thing. She was spluttering and seething, and the fact was lost on none of those in the room. Han turned suddenly as he walked back towards Luke. He wore a wounded expression on his face and he retorted, “Hey! Who’s ‘scruffy looking?’” His pride temporarily wounded, he edged up to the bed again, and beside Luke and the two pilots. The smuggler grinned again, though. “I tell you, sweetheart, I must’ve hit you pretty close to the mark to get you hopping like that,” he said without a trace of irony. He turned towards Luke. “Doesn’t it look that way to you, kid?” Luke glanced between his sister and his friend. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out. He figured silence was the best route to take in this little conflict. Leia glanced at Luke, and the rest of them with something vulnerable, almost childlike in her face. It was the oddest mixture of emotions Luke could remember seeing on her face. Then, suddenly, the iron clad mask fell back into place. “Oh, it does, does it?” she asked with less warmth than the coldest winter on Hoth. She was glaring at Han. “Well, I guess you don’t understand everything about women, do you?” Luke agreed with her, but wasn’t going to say so. Suddenly, Leia approached the bed and leaned over it. For a panicked second, Luke thought Leia was reaching for him with the intent of strangling him. Instead, she pulled Biggs closer over the bed, forming a tall triangle over the plane of the bed, and kissed him, soundly. Her fingers had closed around his jaws and drew him down to her height. After a couple of moments, she released the hapless pilot, who was blushing with major embarrassment. Leia stared at him for a second, and smiled. “Thanks for bringing my brother back safely.” Then, just as suddenly, she marched towards the door, and exited the room, the door sliding into place behind her. For a long moment, human, Wookiee, and droids, stared at each other in silent disbelief. Never would they have expected that response. Han stared at the door, then turned around and looked at Biggs, who was still blushing, and as confused as the rest of them. Finally, he fixed his gaze on Luke, and the younger man couldn’t tell exactly what was the expression he wore. It was a combination of anger, embarrassment, and just plain dumbstruck. “Take it easy,” he said tightly, then stalked out of the room, with Chewie close behind, after a growled farewell. Threepio, deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, moved closer to his master and tilted his head. “Please excuse us,” the droid remarked, and then he and his squat counterpart left the room as well. Luke looked up at Wedge and Biggs, who were, in turn, staring back at him. Finally, Biggs managed to mumble, “Well, that was interesting…” ******* The blaring alarm through the compound had brought Chewbacca and Han running into the command center. General Rieekan, Bail Organa, and a controller were going over communications and data when they arrived. Nearby, Leia, Threepio and Artoo stood near Obi-Wan, listening as well. The controller adjusted some controls and listened intently for a moment. Finally, he glanced up and called, “General.” Rieekan moved closer, as did Bail, and together, they studied the readings and information presented to them. Rieekan was grim as he straightened, finally. He turned towards Leia. “Princess,” he pronounced quietly. “I think we have a visitor.” Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Threepio, Artoo, and Obi-Wan gathered around the general and Bail, and studied the beeping monitors intently. The readings didn’t look good to any of them. “We’ve picked up something outside the base in Zone Twelve. It’s moving east,” said Rieekan with calm, controlled tones. “Whatever it is,” remarked the controller offhandedly, still adjusting equipment, “it’s metal.” Leia frowned and turned towards the rest of the assembled people. “Then it can’t be one of those creatures that attacked Luke?” She gave the impression she’d been hopeful that’s all it was. “Can it be one of ours?” asked Han, scowling at the readings. “A speeder or a carrier of some type?” The controller shook his head. “No, there’s no signal.” At that moment, a sound came from another monitor nearby. The controller started adjusting settings on it. “Wait,” he said. “Something’s starting to come in, something very faint…” The controller put the signal on audio. It was an odd sounding electronic code with no speech at all. Threepio listened intently for a moment, then finally ventured, “I’m fluent in over six million forms of communication. This signal is definitely not used by the Alliance. It could very well be an Imperial code.” Before anyone could speak up, the voice of a Rebel soldier cut in over the signal. The man seemed harried by the sound of his voice. “This is Echo Station Three Eight. Unidentified object is on our scope. It’s just over the ridge. We should have visual contact in about–” Without warning, the soldier’s voice went from apprehension to fearful. “What the…? Oh, no!” A screeching whine sounded, followed by static, and then the signal broke off completely. The entire command center fell into silence for a breath. Han frowned. “Whatever it is,” he said, adjusting his jacket. “It isn’t friendly. Let’s go take a look. Come on, Chewie.” As the two left the command center, Rieekan dispatched Rogue Ten and Eleven to Station Three Eight. ******* The mammoth, sleek star destroyer slid into position gracefully among the smaller classes of star destroyer and lesser ships that made up the fleet. The ship was impressive, and awe inspiring to those that viewed it. It also inspired fear in those with reasons to fear it. The monstrous ship was capable of obliterating almost any threat to it, short of a planet, that it brought its weapons to bear on. Every crewmember of this massive vessel was supremely confidant. However, alongside that confidence in their hearts also burned fear, fear of merely the sound of heavy footsteps echoing down its steel corridors. The men feared the source of those footsteps, but also respected the source. Those footsteps brought their leader. The distinctive hiss thunk of Darth Vader’s breathing apparatus was loud in the silence that accompanied his entrance. The towering figure wore a black cloak, and gleaming black metal headgear. He paused a bare instant and surveyed the room slowly before continuing along his path. He was walking towards a man in a gray uniform, squat of build and bald, with a mustache. Admiral Ozzel, the man Vader was advancing towards, cleared his throat slightly. A much thinner man, Captain Piett, also in a gray uniform, came towards him as well, bearing a message. “I think we’ve found something, Admiral,” Piett said quietly. Ozzel, who was completely at ease, feeling no fear in the presence of his superior, unlike the rest of the crew, turned towards him. “Yes, Captain?” Piett noticed the advance of Vader and swallowed slowly. “The report we have is only a fragment, from a probe droid in the Hoth system. But it’s the best lead we’ve had in–” Ozzel interrupted him, with a tinge of anger. “We have thousands of probe droids searching the galaxy,” he growled, balling up a fist. “I want proof, not leads. I don’t intend to chase around from one side–” Vader reached them and interrupted. His voice, low and modulated, reverberated through the corridor. “You found something?” The very tone of Vader’s voice suggested he was in no mood for arguments. Captain Piett swallowed again, and nodded slowly and respectfully at his master, who stood before him like a towering, dark cloaked engine of destruction, waiting to be loosed upon him. “Yes, my lord,” he said promptly, but carefully. Every word must be chosen with care, he knew. “We have visuals. The system is supposed to be devoid of human life forms…” Piett trailed off because Vader was no longer listening to him. Instead, the man in the black mask was staring at the screens as an image of massive power generators came across. Above them flew a modified speeder, arcing into the distance. “That’s it,” boomed Vader with finality. There was a clear certainty in his voice. “My lord,” began Ozzel, protesting the idea. “There are so many uncharted settlements. It could be smugglers–” Vader cut him off with a glance. The ice in his voice matched the landscape of Hoth perfectly. “That is the one,” insisted the former Jedi, closing a black gloved fist tightly. “The Rebels are there, and I’m sure Skywalker and Kenobi are with them. Bring in the patrol ships. Admiral, set your course for the Hoth system.” As Ozzel and Piett acknowledged the orders, Vader turned towards the man in green uniform. “General Veers, prepare your men,” finished Vader, stalking off. Behind him, there was a flurry of activity to carry out his orders. ********* The probe droid hovered over the snowy landscape, its dome turning back and forth as it scanned the territory. It’d already sent an initial report, and was moving forward to finish its fact finding mission. On the other side of snow drifts on either side of it, the probe droid had visitors that it was unaware of at the moment. To the south of it, Chewbacca moved stealthily along the edge of the ridge. Finally, he peeked his head over the ridge, his brown fur caked in ice, and roared loudly. The droid snapped its receptors around his way and fired at the Wookiee. As the red blaster beams struck the ridge, Chewie was already scrambling down the drift. The beam whined and growled as it struck snow, sending up an explosion of rock and ice. To the north, Han lunged over the ridge and fired a shot at it. He missed, but not by much. The beam went a bit to the left of the droid and struck a crag standing up in the snow. The droid whirled back around and fired his way, striking the spot he’d been on the ridge, sending up a shower of rock and ice again. A beam blasted into the back of its dome from Chewbacca’s bow caster. The beam had struck a glancing blow on the shell of the droid. With this distraction once again, the droid fired at the Wookiee, missing the second time as well. Han took his chance. While Chewbacca had it distracted, he lunged over the ridge and fired, hitting it almost dead center. Expecting it to take some damage and continue, he was surprised when it suddenly exploded, sending a shower of black metal fragments down over the area. Blinking, he laid back in the snow and breathed. Finally, he crawled up the ridge again and waved his Wookiee partner to him. Depressing the button on his comlink, he muttered, “I’m afraid there’s not much of it left.” In the base, Leia and Rieekan had stayed close to the communications panel. They looked at each other for a moment, then finally Leia asked, “What was it, anyway?” She hadn’t gotten a visual, but she was sure it couldn’t have been nice. “A droid of some kind,” replied Han, still looking at the black sooty spot where the mechanism had exploded in the snow. “I didn’t hit it that hard. It must’ve had a self destruct of some kind.” The princess drew a deep breath and looked up at Bail. He was echoing her thoughts at the moment, she knew. Nodding at him silently, she keyed over the comlink. “An Imperial probe droid,” she said slowly, with much trepidation. Her voice filtered through to the smuggler and he glanced at his Wookiee companion. Apparently, Chewie shared their opinion. “Whatever it was,” he replied, adjusting his jacket from where it’d wrapped around him awkwardly as he slid down the bank. “It’s a safe bet the Empire knows we’re here.” General Rieekan shook his head slowly and looked at Leia. His look said it all. There wasn’t a whole lot more that could be said. “Prepare for evacuation,” he said quietly, keying the command in to all stations and outposts. -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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Jedi_Linewalker Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/27/06 10:29pm Subject: RE: Sworn to Secrecy 2 - Retaliation ESB AU, canon characters
	CHAPTER FOUR In space near the Hoth system, six looming, ominous shapes appeared and started heading in a direct path for the sixth planet of the system. The massive wedge shaped star destroyers cut cleanly through space, clearly intent on unleashing the fury of their weapons upon the unwitting, supposedly, rebels located on the icy planet. Aboard the largest of the star destroyers, Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, sat in a spherical bubble of a room. A single shaft of light reflected off his black helmet as he sat in the meditation chamber, far from the chaos of the bridge of the ship. To an observer, he may have seemed lifeless and inanimate, as he made no motion whatsoever, however, nothing could be further from the truth. General Veers entered the room cautiously, approaching the bubble, which was opening like a jagged toothed jaw, revealing the form of Lord Vader within. To the general’s eyes, he hardly seemed alive, save for the aura of pure evil that emanated from the figure within the sphere. Swallowing nervously, he approached, uncertain of how far his courage would go. He had a message to deliver, but didn’t wish to disturb Vader’s meditations. He was prepared to wait for hours, if need be, to deliver the message. His fear was cut short, however. Vader spoke immediately, the steady rhythm of his breathing apparatus punctuating the question with ominous portents. “What is it, Veers?” The general swallowed again, nervously. “My lord,” he began cautiously, every word a carefully considered choice. “The fleet has moved out of light speed. Our scanners have detected an energy field protecting an area of the sixth planet in the Hoth system. The field is strong enough to deflect any bombardment.” Vader slowly stood to his full two meter height, and paused, then stepped out of the meditation chamber, his black cloak swirling about him lazily. “So, the rebels are alerted to our presence,” he said slowly. The Dark Lord was furious, but the only outward show of the emotion was the clenching of his fists, slow and methodical. “Admiral Ozzel came out of light speed too close to the system.” Alarmed, Veers spoke up in defense of Ozzel, but with great fear in his voice, “He felt surprise was a wiser–” “He’s as clumsy as he is stupid,” Vader cut him off smoothly, his breathing seeming even heavier. “A clean bombardment is impossible through their energy shield. Prepare your troops for a surface attack.” The finality of Vader’s tone convinced Veers that no further comment would be tolerated. Saluting sharply, he turned with military precision and exited the chamber. He was none to glad to be out of the same room with the Dark Lord of the Sith. The sweat that dotted his brow was a testimony of that fact. In the wake of Veers’ hurried exit, the enraged Vader was left alone in the chamber once more. He turned to a communications screen and activated it. On the screen was an image of his star destroyer’s brightly lit bridge. Admiral Ozzel responded to Vader’s summons almost immediately. He stepped forward so that his face almost completely filled the screen. His expression was one of trepidation, as if sensing he’d gone too far. His voice quavered slightly as he spoke, “Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of light speed–” “Captain Piett,” interrupted Vader, his voice ominous, more so than usual, it seemed, to the bridge crew. Piett had been standing directly behind Ozzel, and Vader had ignored Ozzel completely, from the looks of things. Piett knew better than to delay, so he stepped smartly forward, his eye having to do a double take as the admiral staggered back a step, holding his throat. The admiral’s eyes were bugging out and he looked to be in extreme pain. The captain tore his eyes from this spectacle and answered promptly, with a tone of respect, “Yes, my lord?” The sounds of Ozzel’s gagging were loud now as he fought to regain his breath and to keep his feet at once. He slowly sank down to his knees, still clutching at his throat. The admiral seemed in the grip of invisible talons, which were constricting his throat, making it impossible to breathe. As if nothing out of the ordinary was happened, Vader responded immediately and casually. “Begin preparations to land assault troops beyond the energy field,” he ordered. “Then deploy the fleet so that nothing can get off that planet. You are in command now, Admiral Piett.” Piett was simultaneously pleased and unsettled by this news. Pleased because he was an ambitious officer, wanting to make his mark in the Imperial forces. Unsettled because with added responsibility came the greater weight of failure, and the higher price of that failure, like Ozzel was paying right now. The former admiral gagged and gurgled a bit and finally pitched forward, rolling onto his back. His face was contorted and blue from lack of oxygen, and his dead eyes stared unseeing at the ceiling of the bridge. Piett carried out Vader’s orders with much accuracy and haste. ******* The Empire had entered the Hoth system. There was no doubt of that now. Rebel scanning equipment picked up six star destroyers and several other classes of capital ships on their way. Attack was only a matter of minutes away. Rebel troops rushed to their duty stations, making the preparations they’d been hoping not to make anytime soon, as the warning alarm sounded through the ice tunnels. Ground crews and droids of all sizes, shapes and makes scrambled about, performing various tasks, making ready to evacuate the planet Hoth. The response to the Imperial threat was being carried out efficiently, with as little fuss and complication as possible. The armored snow speeders were being fuelled as they waited in attack formation to blast out the cavern entrance and into their date with destiny. Meanwhile, in the hangar, Bail Organa was watching and listening to his adopted daughter, Leia, addressing a small group of Rebel fighter pilots. Some of Rogue Squadron were among them, he noticed. Leia was saying, “The large transport ships will leave as soon as they’re loaded. Only two fighter escorts per ship. The energy field can only be opened for a short time, so you’ll have to stay close to your transports.” Hobbie, a veteran of several space battles, and a member of Rogue Squadron, looked at the princess in disbelief. “Two fighters against a star destroyer?” he asked, his voice rising in pitch with the incredulity he felt. Bail smiled proudly as Leia fielded the question without missing a beat, and with some reassurance in her words and voice. “The ion cannon will fire several shots which should disable any ships in your flight path,” she explained calmly. “When you clear the energy shield, you will proceed to the rendezvous point. Good luck, and may the Force be with you.” Somewhat reassured, the pilots broke up, feeling the charge of excitement and the coming challenge. They hurried off to their respective ships, awaiting the order to take flight. Bail came out into the center of the floor and wrapped an arm around Leia’s shoulders. His expression was grim, but with a touch of pride and happiness in it as well. “You reminded me so much of your mother, your real mother, just then,” he said, the pride showing through his voice in a quiet, but strong manner. Leia paused at his mention of her real mother. Rarely, if ever, did he mention her. Looking up at him for a moment, she was searching his face and his eyes. Inside her mind, it was already twisting and churning, having come to realize that the greatest threat to the Rebel Alliance, the Dark Lord Darth Vader, was her father. She’d taken the realization much better than she expected. She was angry, very angry, at Vader, at everyone that knew that hadn’t told her what a monster her real father was. Yet, she knew she must go on, she couldn’t afford to let that anger, and that hurt, get in her way now. Besides, the man standing beside her was the only father she’d ever known. She’d known she was adopted since she was a little girl, but she’d never felt anything but love, and the feeling of home and security, with Bail and his wife. Her curiosity couldn’t be pushed down, however, and she finally asked quietly, still looking up at Bail, “What was she like, my mother?” Bail’s eyes grew cloudy for a moment and the smile grew wistful. Laying a hand on Leia’s shoulder, he guided her to a spot in the hangar out of the way of the bustle of activity going on around them. “She was beautiful, honorable, courageous, and afraid of nothing,” he said finally, running a hand back through his silvering hair. “She was my best friend, and one of the most honest and devoted Senators I’d ever had the opportunity to meet. Much like Mon Mothma, only far more vocal about what she felt and thought. She was an extraordinary woman.” Leia absorbed this description, hanging on almost every word. In her mind, a picture began forming of her mother. She could tell how close she and Bail had been by the way he talked. The admiration and affection was evident. The burning question rose within her and she felt she had to ask it, “How did she end up having children with someone as evil as Darth Vader?” The Viceroy of Alderaan frowned and tightened his grip slightly around her shoulders. He was staring down at the ice colored floor intently, obviously collecting his thoughts. “Vader…Anakin…wasn’t always evil, Leia,” he began, choosing his words with care. “He had been a very good Jedi, a hero, and he loved your mother, Padmé, very much. The Emperor got to him…he was a young man, easily swayed with the right words and circumstances. Palpatine was a master of misdirecting people, just like he is today.” He spread his hands in a helpless gesture, his frown deepening a bit. “We don’t know exactly how or what, but he machinated something that finally pushed Anakin over the edge, and since then, there’s been no going back. But Padmé insisted, until her last breath, that there was still good left in him. She believed in his redemption.” Leia absorbed this with an expression of awestruck horror. Even though she knew that Vader was her father, since she’d figured it out from her conversation with Obi-Wan, she’d never truly accepted and believed it. Not until now. Now, she had no choice, and to discover that her mother had believed he was still good, after all the things he’d done, after all the evil he’d wrought? She was stunned. Could her mother have possibly been so blind as to believe in something that could never be? Or was she right? Leia didn’t know. ******* Across the hangar, Han was on top of the forward hull, adjusting some mechanism for the Falcon. He thumbed the comlink, and spoke into it to Chewbacca, who was inside the ship in the cockpit. “Okay, Chewie,” he said, settling into a comfortable position. “Give it a try.” Leia was walking away from the conversation she’d just had with her father, as he went to prepare to get on his transport. She was watching Han for a moment, who spotted her and smiled smugly as he leaned against a projection in the hull. The sound of a mechanism starting up, and running smoothly, sounded, and his smile grew even more smug. Suddenly, though, the sound started sounding like someone torturing a Bantha, and sparks began flying everywhere. Han leaped to his feet, yelling, “No, no, cut it off, Chewie, cut it off!” The massive Wookiee struggled with the controls a second but finally shut the mechanism down. Smoke poured from the open hull plate and Leia mockingly arched an eyebrow at him as she continued on her way. ********* The Avenger, one of the Imperial star destroyers coming in range of the sixth planet in the Hoth system, loomed like a massive, wedge shaped angel of death over the planet. The icy planet was becoming clearly visible through the hundred meter wide windows stretching over the immense ship’s bridge and monitoring facility. Captain Needa, commander of the Avenger, gazed out the main port at the icy wasteland below. A controller came up to him, speaking with restrained excitement, “Sir, Rebel ships coming into our sector.” “Good,” replied Needa, with a hint of a gleam in his eyes. “Our first catch of the day.” ******* “Their first target will be the power generators,” said General Rieekan, with a grim look on his face. Leia, now in the command center, nodded. “First transport Zone Three approaching the shield,” one of the controllers said, tracking a bright image that could only be an Imperial star destroyer. “Prepare to open the shield,” a radar man called, moving controls on his console quickly. He was watching the images intently, timing things just right. Another controller, near the first two, said, “Stand by, Ion Control.” He, like the others, was moving his hands deftly over the control console. A large metal globe on Hoth’s surface rotated into position, and opened. A long barrel, thick and bristling with connections, protruded from the turret, and aimed skyward. “Fire!” came the order from General Rieekan. He was watching the scope intently, silently praying that this would work and that the transport wouldn’t be shot down before it even cleared the atmosphere. Suddenly, two bluish white beams of energy exploded from the barrel of the ion cannon, lancing upwards towards space. The beams easily overtook the Rebel transport, and struck the star destroyer blocking its path. White energy sizzled around the main bridge and control centers of the massive ship, and it suddenly lurched downward, losing attitude control. All its controls were ionized, rendered inoperative. The rebels in the command center cheered as they saw the results on their scopes. A controller, jubilant over the success of the strategy so far, opened a channel throughout the base. “The first transport is away!” he announced happily. “The first transport is away!” Muffled cheering made its way into the command center, and all the controllers and leaders smiled lightly. They knew they still had a long way to go, but this was a good start. ******* Luke Skywalker, in the midst of getting ready to go on his assault run with the rest of Rogue Squadron that hadn’t been assigned to transport escort, walked towards the Millennium Falcon as he fastened a fastener on his flight suit. He tucked the helmet under his arm as he approached the freighter. Han was on top of the aft section of the freighter, demanding that the repair droid check something again. Chewie was on the ground, adjusting settings on equipment down there. “Chewie,” Luke called with a smile as he approached. “Take care of yourself, and watch over this guy, will you?” He nodded up towards Han with a mischievous sort of grin. The massive Wookiee barked a farewell, and laughed, grabbing Luke in an embrace for a moment, then releasing him. Luke hadn’t learned how to translate his language yet, but he got the general intent of the grunted and barked statement. Finally, he turned and returned to his work on the ship. The two friends, Han and Luke, stood looking at each other, studying the other in silence, almost as if for the last time. Depending on how things turned out today, it could very well be the last time, they each thought, though neither would admit it. Finally, Luke broke the silence, “I hope you pay off the price on your head and make peace with Jabba.” The silence was still awkward between the two of them, hanging in the air like a palpable thing. The Corellian smuggler smiled and snapped off lightly, “Give ‘em hell, kid.” He watched the younger man start walking away, and called after him. “Hey, Luke,” his voice rang out across the hangar, even as busy as it was. Luke paused and turned, looking back up at his friend. “Yeah?” he answered, curious as to what more Han could possibly wish to say. Han paused a moment and fidgeting with the spanner in his hands, he said quietly, “Be careful. May the Force be with you.” Luke smiled at his friend, and nodded. “I will,” he replied. “Take care of yourself, too.” With that, he headed towards the other end of the hangar, where the snow speeders were. He could see his ready and waiting for him as he got closer, and he also saw the approaching form of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The old general saw him as well, and started heading in his direction. “Luke,” he said finally, coming to within an arm’s reach of him. “The time has come for you to progress to the next level of your training. It won’t be easy, but you’re ready. I must begin training your sister.” “Then it wasn’t a hallucination,” said Luke, realization dawning on him. “You really did call out to me and tell me it was time I progress.” Obi-Wan nodded at his words, but Luke’s face fell. “If you’re going to start training Leia, then…then you’re not working with me anymore?” “Luke,” began Obi-Wan with a smile, clapping the boy on the shoulders with his hands. “You have progressed to where you need a different type of training. After this is all over, I want you to go to the Dagobah system. There, you will learn from Yoda, one of the Jedi Masters that instructed me, long ago.” The old man’s eyes twinkled as he spoke, watching his young charge’s face. Luke was in shock, and aghast. He openly stared into Obi-Wan’s eyes, his brows creasing. “Yoda? Dagobah system? I’ve never even heard of the place. How do you know this Yoda is even still alive? And what about the Empire? What about Vader?” The old man walked along with the young Jedi, stroking his beard softly, and thoughtfully. “It’s a system out in the Outer Rim, Luke, and I’m quite sure he’s still alive. The coordinates will be in your nav computer.” The old Jedi took a deep breath and paused in the walk, facing Luke. “Luke, what I’m about to tell you is going to be hard for you to hear, and to understand, but you must trust me.” Luke nodded, albeit slowly. He wasn’t sure at what Obi-Wan was getting to, but he’d already decided he didn’t like it. It didn’t bode well, from his words, and the old man’s actions only made it seem that much worse. He looked the old Jedi Master in the eye, and held his gaze. “Luke, Darth Vader is…he’s Anakin Skywalker. He’s your father.” The words tumbled past his lips and he could see the instant shock on his face, the horror, the revulsion. “That’s why you and your sister are so important, why it’s imperative that he not know that you both are his children.” He grasped Luke’s shoulders again, holding firmly. “He already knows you are. Your name has most certainly gotten to him by now. However, he didn’t know he had twins. He only knew your mother was pregnant and only knew of one child.” Luke’s face stayed contorted in shock for a long moment, but finally he pulled himself together. “And he would take me to his Emperor, if he could capture me, alive.” The statement wasn’t a question. He could sense the danger mounting against him, against he and Leia both. “Yes,” answered Obi-Wan softly, stroking his beard again thoughtfully. “He would most likely try to turn you to the Dark Side of the Force, or kill you. In either case, you’d be in grave danger, my boy. You must be trained so that when you do face him, it’ll be as a fully trained Jedi Knight. Yoda can assure you will reach that stage far more quickly than I can.” Luke considered his words and looked at him, his eyes roaming the old man’s face. “If you’re sure…” he said lightly, trailing off. He wasn’t sure he wanted to think about the ramifications of what Obi-Wan had told him. “I’m sure,” reaffirmed the old Jedi, clapping his shoulder once more. “Now, go and help them fight off the ground assault until everyone is away, then head to Dagobah. I’ll keep Leia safe, don’t worry.” The pilot didn’t respond, instead just nodded, then ran towards his speeder. When he got to it, his fresh faced gunner, Dack, was waiting on him. “How’re you feeling, sir?” asked Dack enthusiastically. “Like new,” he answered, already in the process of getting into the speeder and getting her ready for take off. “How about you, Dack?” he asked, flipping switches and donning his helmet. Also donning his helmet as the cockpit closed on the speeder, and it lifted from the ground, Dack grinned. “I feel like I could take on the whole Empire by myself,” the young gunner said with far too much enthusiasm. “Yeah, I know what you mean,” responded Luke somberly as they arced into the sky, heading towards the advancing Imperial forces. Even though there were only a few years between he and Dack, right then Luke felt centuries older. ********* Threepio stood on the ice and snow covered plain watching Artoo be lifted and lowered into the droid socket on Luke’s X Wing fighter. As usual, he was fretting, for preparations were being made for everyone to leave, and the two of them would be separated when they did go. Looking up at his squat companion as he was lowered into the socket, Threepio said, “Take good care of Master Luke, Artoo…and take good care of yourself, as well.” He was waving his golden hand lightly as the magnetic lifter moved away from Artoo’s dome. Artoo beeped and whistled, “I will, Threepio. You be careful, and take care of everyone else. Don’t worry, I’ll see you soon, and you can tell me all about what happened.” The astromech droid was being especially considerate of Threepio’s feelings and fears. The last thing anyone needed was a fretful and unthinking Threepio, he thought. As Threepio walked away, an observer might have thought that the protocol droid had gotten misty eyed. However, it wouldn’t be the first time Threepio had gotten lubricant in his eye receptor. Finally, he disappeared over the ridge and back inside the base. -----signature----- Jedi Linewalker Proudly Knighted by, and former Padawan of, Rhonderoo For fics, see http://linewalker.0catch.com/fics.html Or see my sock #1 Daran Lightrider http://boards.theforce.net/ASP/user.asp?usr=1324229
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