Star Wars: The Padawan Menace

Lana Thorne

 Lana crosses her arms over her chest, frustrated. She's tired of arguing with Luke Skywalker, and really just wants to ditch the whole problem altogether. But she knows better. Dantooine is most indefinitely not a good planet for a Rebel base. Especially a hidden one.

"Consider this," Luke says. "What if the Empire decides to send out messenger droids to scout out all of the planets in the galaxy for a hidden Rebel base? Of all planets, which do you think they would skip?"
"Coruscant," Lana answers. "It's a huge city planet. No one would look there."

"Yes, they would. It wouldn't be hard to hide out in the old Jedi temple. That would be the Empire's first look."

"Kamino-"

"-won't work either," Luke cuts in. "It's a giant ocean. And it's run by criminals, for the most part."

"So is Tatooine," Lana says sweetly. "And that's where you're from."

Luke rolls his eyes. "You're missing the point."

"Am I?" Lana fires back.

Luke sighs. "Children. They can be so... so..."

"Infuriating," Lana suggests. "Irritating. Annoying. Oh, I totally agree."
"Is that right?"

Lana shrugs. "Sure. But consider this. You can't spell adult without 'dolt.'"

"Ha!" Han Solo, who has just joined them, laughs heartily and gives Luke a nudge. "I like this kid." His smile fades as his squinty gaze darts to the holstered lightsaber on Lana's belt.

"All right, farmboy," Han says, addressing Luke. "Haven't you quit even training to be a Force-user-mabobby? You know, since the old man died? How can you train someone else?"

Luke sighs. "I dunno, I think it might've been Ben talking in my head again."

"Through the 'Force,'" Han confirms, using air quotes.

Luke gives him an angry glare but keeps his cool. "Yeah. Exactly. We picked her up on Naboo, right before we left to go to Kashyyyk to look for another suitable Rebel base spot." 

Lana recalls the memory fondly. She'd been enjoying the Naboo sunshine when a shadow had blocked her view. She'd stood and realized that it was Luke Skywalker, the famous pilot who'd exploded the Death Star months earlier. He said he'd received a "message through the Force" that she could become a powerful Jedi one day. Then he'd asked if she would come with them on a mission to find a new planet for the Rebel base. The old Rebel base had been on the forest planet Yavin, but the Empire had found it and had almost used the Death Star on it when Luke had rushed in and saved the day. The Empire wasn't gone completely, though. In fact, the Rebels had barely scratched the surface of the Empire's power and authority by blowing up the moon-sized battle station. And now Darth Vader, the Empire's second-in-command (just below the hideous-looking Emperor) is trying to find Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and the rest of the ragtag crew in an attempt to put a stop to the Rebellion once and for all. The Rebels are currently staying in three or four different command ships while searching for a suitable planet for a hidden base to plant their new headquarters. Everyone is arguing; no one has a valid opinion. And at this time, it's vital that absolutely no Rebel get left alone somewhere, for fear that the Empire would capture them and then find out the location of the Rebel-

But suddenly Lana is overwhelmed by a voice screaming in her mind. In pain. In agony. It's a very familiar voice to Lana... it's the voice of her brother, Thorne.

"LANA!" The voice screams. "Please... help me!"

And then her mind is overcome by a harsh silence. Lana leans over, and Princess Leia, who has just showed up, catches her by her shoulder. "Whoa, there, Lana!" She says. "Watch out!"

Lana recovers and exchanges a look with Luke, a look that confirms that he's felt the voice, too. But the look in his eyes is masked with confusion; he doesn't know who's voice he's heard or why. Lana gives him a slight nod. She'll explain it to him later.

Luke doesn't understand it, of course. Nobody can, except for two twin siblings. Lana and Riq Thorne. Lana doesn't want to explain it to Luke. But she knows that if she talks about the truth it will feel like a hot spike has been pulled from her back. Freeing her.

Because, truth be told, Riq had been kidnapped from Naboo two months ago. And even though nobody else believed her, Lana knew it was true because she had felt it. Riq Thorne had been turned to the Dark Side.