Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

29.

"If you'll excuse me." *jumps out of flying speeder* - Anakin Skywalker

"I hate it when he does that." - Obi-Wan Kenobi 

After giving Leia one last reassuring smile, Rain took off in the direction of the Tauntaun stables. The dim, cold light of the base's corridors gave way to the larger, more open area of the stables, where the smell of the creatures hit her with full force. The scent was a pungent mix of sweat, fur, and dampness—a stark reminder of the harsh conditions of the icy planet Hoth.

"God, why do you guys have to smell so bad?" Rain muttered under her breath, wrinkling her nose as she grabbed one of the thick snow jackets hanging on the side of the stable. The jacket was oversized and bulky, made to keep the cold at bay, but it was still a far cry from the Sith robes she once wore. Next, she grabbed a pair of warm gloves, a helmet, and slid some goggles on top of it. The gear felt strange on her, a constant reminder of how far she had come from her days in the dark side, but it was necessary for survival out here.

She approached a saddled Tauntaun, its large eyes blinking lazily as it chewed on some hay. The creature was already saddled and ready to go, but its smell was almost enough to make her reconsider. Almost.

"Someone open the gate, please!" Rain called out toward the gate controls. Within seconds, the massive door began to slide open, revealing the blinding white of the snow-covered landscape outside. A blast of freezing air hit her like a wall, nearly knocking her off her feet. She took a deep breath, slipping the goggles down over her eyes as she mounted the Tauntaun and settled into the saddle. The creature shifted beneath her, its warm, fur-covered body providing a stark contrast to the icy world outside.

"Let's do this," she whispered to herself, her breath visible in the frigid air. She steered the Tauntaun forward, leaving the security of Echo Base behind and venturing into the desolate, unforgiving landscape beyond.

* * *

Back in Echo Base, tension was building.

"She's going where?" Luke bellowed, his voice echoing through the control room as he turned to a very guilty-looking Leia.

"Someone had to go after him!" Leia shot back, her fiery spirit flaring up even in the face of Luke's anger.

"She'll die!" Luke's voice was filled with panic, his concern for Rain evident in his wide eyes.

"Luke, she's a Jedi Knight. They're trained for this, to face the Sith," Leia responded with a sigh, though the worry in her eyes showed she wasn't entirely convinced herself.

"Well, yes, but..." Luke hesitated, his face hardening with determination. "I'm still going after her. I won't let her get hurt."

Leia looked at him, a mixture of frustration and understanding in her gaze. Before she could respond, Han sauntered up, his usual swagger not dimmed by the tension in the room.

"Who are you going after now, kid?" Han asked, looking between them with mild amusement. "You two are making quite the scene, ya know."

"Leia let Rain go after Darth by herself," Luke said, his eyes never leaving Leia's, making sure she understood his anger.

"You did what? That's suicide!" Han's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to Leia.

"I didn't—argh! You two are impossible! Someone get a transport ready! We're going after her." Leia threw her hands up in exasperation, but there was no denying the urgency in her voice.