Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

28.

"Luke, you can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is your destiny. Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son." - Darth Vader

The ship descended through the thick, icy atmosphere, the viewport slowly revealing a world of stark, white wilderness. Hoth's frozen landscape sprawled beneath them—a desolate expanse of snow and ice stretching as far as the eye could see, interrupted only by towering glaciers and the jagged peaks of distant mountains. The sky above was a dull, steel-gray, blending almost seamlessly with the snowy plains below, making it difficult to discern where the horizon began.

As they approached the surface, the first signs of civilization appeared. Echo Base, a hidden Rebel fortress carved directly into the side of a massive ice ridge, came into view. The base's exterior was a maze of tunnels and small outposts, with only a few structures and communication towers visible above the snow. The entire installation seemed to be swallowed by the landscape, as if it were a natural part of the icy planet rather than something man-made.

The ship's landing gear engaged with a soft thud, the cold metal creaking slightly as it made contact with the frozen platform. A fine mist of frost quickly formed on the hull, the bitter chill of Hoth already making its presence felt inside the ship. The ramp lowered with a hiss, and the biting wind rushed in, carrying with it the sharp scent of snow and ice. The temperature drop was immediate, and the group braced themselves against the cold.

Leia was the first to step out, her expression filled with both pride and seriousness as she gestured to the snow-covered fortress. "Welcome to Echo Base," she said, her voice carrying over the howling wind. The cold air seemed to cut right through their clothing, and the group instinctively pulled their garments tighter around themselves, the chill already seeping into their bones.

Rain followed, her dark cloak billowing in the wind, contrasting sharply with the white expanse around them. The frigid air hit her like a wall, a stark reminder of how far she was from the warmth of Tatooine. She could feel the cold creeping in, but she pushed it aside, focusing instead on the sight before her.

Luke shivered beside her, rubbing his hands together as he glanced around the snowy landscape. "Why'd it have to be underground?" he muttered, his breath visible in the cold air.

Han, never one to filter his thoughts, voiced what they were all thinking. "Why's it so bloody cold in here? Couldn't you have picked a better place for a base, Princess?" His voice carried a mix of irritation and incredulity as he looked around, clearly unimpressed by their new surroundings.

Rain exchanged a look with Luke, both of them inwardly amused by Han's bluntness, while Chewbacca let out a low growl that sounded suspiciously like laughter. Leia, however, merely huffed in response, her expression one of mild exasperation as she led them further into the base.

Despite the biting cold, Rain couldn't help but be impressed by what she saw. Echo Base was a hive of activity, every corner bustling with Rebels going about their duties with a sense of urgency. Fighter ships—X-wings and snowspeeders—were being prepped for battle, their engines roaring to life as droids scurried around, making last-minute adjustments. The hangar was a cavernous space, carved directly out of the ice, with large heating units positioned throughout, trying their best to keep the worst of the cold at bay. Pilots moved quickly, their helmets under their arms, while technicians monitored the base's defenses from control stations scattered throughout the facility.

"Leia, how long do they think we have before the Empire makes their attack?" Rain asked, quickening her pace to keep up with Leia as they navigated the maze of icy corridors. The corridors themselves were narrow and lined with ice, the walls sparkling in the dim light as they passed. The floor was made of reinforced steel, cold and unyielding beneath their boots.