Despite all Odds | Luke SkywalkerxOC| , |Han SoloxOC|

Chapter 6: The hunt

The alarm was still going off in the background as the walls were shaking under the assault of the Empire. Valerie grabbed her lightsaber tighter while running through the shaking corridors of the rebel base, running after Han and Leia. When they rounded another corner, she briefly closed her eyes, trying to sense her best friend through the force. To see, if she was still alive. She had to be.

When she found the familiar feeling of Claire's soul in the void she would have laughed if the situation wasn't so grim. She was alive. And she was not alone. Luke was with her. They would make it. With a relieved sigh she concentrated on her own situation.

"Through here!" She heard Han's voice when she looked up, the former smuggler standing next to a small door leading to a hangar. Leia ran through the door without hesitation and up the ramp of the Falcon, where the Wookie was already waiting for them, together with a golden protocol droid Valerie didn't recognise.

"Come on, princess, move your butt!" Han shouted as Valerie risked one last look behind her. She could sense the enemy getting closer. The feeling almost crushed her lungs. There was a particularly strong one with them, someone she had never wanted to meet again. She recognised it from the time her home planet had still been under the Empire's control. Now, a small part of her wanted to do nothing more than to fight one of the men responsible for the dark times of Alcitria.

But she forced herself to look ahead again. They really didn't have time for this. Had she been alone...maybe it would have been different. But these people needed her and she wouldn't risk their lives for her own revenge. Not even that of that arrogant smuggler, who was now reaching out for her, when she seemingly wasn't quick enough in moving to the ship.

"Don't you dare touch me again!" She snarled and sent him her best death glare, to which he only raised an eyebrow and followed her up the ramp. Once they were inside, he pushed a button, and the ramp closed.

While Han was running towards the cockpit with his Wookie, Leia and Valerie stayed in the ship's main area, inspecting it. It was in rough condition, that was clear. When Valerie met Leia's eyes, they had the same opinion: They probably wouldn't make it to hyperspace in that piece of junk.

When they stepped into the cockpit, Han and the Wookie were already busily pushing buttons.

The pilot cursed and hammered his hand against the wall, while Valerie rolled her eyes. That wouldn't work. To her surprise, the ship seemed to come to life, lights flickering.

"C'mon, don't leave me hanging." Han cursed under his breath.

"That doesn't seem to work," Valerie remarked dryly, crossing her arms.

Han looked up to her, clearly stressed. "You think so, princess? Why don't you come up with a better idea then?"

The Wookie gave out a low whining growl and Han turned to him. "Don't you dare say that, Chewie. This ship has saved our asses so many times, it will do out again!"

"Would it help if I went outside and pushed?" Leia chimed in and Valerie had to give it to her. She was beginning to like her.

"It might," Han responded sarcastically. Leia just sighed.

Valerie was about to say something in Leia's defense when she felt the suffocating presence of the Empire coming closer. They would be here soon. They had to get off this planet. Now.

"If you don't get that ship out of here in the next minute, it will be too late!" She shouted while she was already running towards the ship ramp, lightsaber ignited and ready. If they would truly breach the walls, she would be ready.