Across fictive worlds

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

LPOV

"I can't believe I'm doing this", Leia muttered just as the ship descended onto the landing platform.

"Hey this was your idea", Luke said from the pilot's seat next to her. "I can't believe I'm joining you!"

"Is it too late to turn around?" Leia wondered aloud, staring at the city that was opening up in front of her. Cloud City. Because of course it was.

"Yes it is", Mara Jade decided and rolled her eyes. "We're already here. Let's get going!"

The former Inquisitor had been disgustingly smug when Leia approached her about organizing a meeting with Darth Vader. Sadly, Luke had gotten wind of their plans and confronted them just before they were about to leave. Leia had refused to abandon her mission and tried to explain that she needed to do this because of you-know-what. Luke hadn't understood, not really but he'd refused to let her leave alone. Instead of sounding an alarm or something though, he'd decided to tag along instead.

"Why does it have to be here though?" Leia complained. She hadn't realized when Mara gave Luke the coordinates to put into the nav computer that it would bring them to this mining station.

"Cloud City is one of the few neutral places left in the galaxy. No Hutts, no Empire, no Rebellion", Mara explained. "I'm not sure if you've noticed but our Lord has more than half the galaxy against him right now."

"He's not our anything!" Leia hissed.

"I'd agree that it's really not the best place to meet though", Luke said thoughtfully. "Lando Clarissian from Cloud City is a two-faced prick that'll totally sell out anyone who seeks refuge to the Empire."

Leia shot him an incredulous look. How would he even know the name Lando!?

"What?" Luke said defensively. "I still remember that warning you gave me!"

Leia turned her face away, hiding a smile. She couldn't help but feel a kinship to this boy. He reminded her a bit of Bella, actually. She'd miss him when she was back in Forks. It was... nice, to have a brother.

"Let's not stay here longer than absolutely necessary", she decided.

The trio left the ship and was met with the sight of a uniformed man approaching them in a hurry. It was the dockmaster, sporting a smug grin plastered across his face.

"Ah, welcome to our spaceport," the dockmaster greeted Leia, who was walking in front, his voice oily with false charm. "Seems like you've got quite the fine ship there. Now, about those parking fees..."

Leia's expression tightened, her patience wearing thin. She just wanted to get the meeting over with and leave this city as soon as possible. "How much do we owe you?"

The dockmaster's grin widened slightly, sensing Leia's impatience. "That would be 50 credits per day, Miss."

50 credits was outrageous - more than twice the usual price.

"And I suppose you'll have the ship painted a new color for that price?" she scoffed.

"Lee, let's just pay him and go", Luke urged her, using a previously agreed upon nickname to disguise her identity.

But Leia was not in the mood to be played around with. Her resolve hardened as she decided she didn't want to play the dockmaster's game. With a subtle gesture of her hand, she focused her thoughts, channeling the power of persuasion that she had honed during the training with Master Kenobi.