Rescue for a Sith Princess

Chapter 5

"I'm going to be a Jedi?" Luke shouted. "Ha!" He shoved a finger in Han's face.

"Be quiet, kid! Do you want the whole base to know we're here?" Han snapped back.

Obi-Wan took Luke by the shoulders and turned him so they were face-to-face.

"Luke, this is serious business. The princess is in danger of far worse than death, and you may be the only person who can save her."

The young boy's face turned sombre as he realized how important his training was. It was not so he could prove to everyone back on Tatooine that he was more than a moisture farmer. Or to prove to Han that he wasn't just a "kid." He was becoming a Jedi so he could prove that the Light Side of the Force prevails, always.

"So we're all heading back to Alderaan then?" Han asked as casually as possible. "I can receive my reward and go home?"

Obi-Wan looked to the smuggler with a twinkle in his eye. "Not just yet, Captain Solo." Immediately Han's face fell into disbelief. "Luke and I will return to Alderaan, but we need someone to stay here and keep an eye on the Princess. Inform us of her state, what she is doing, how she is doing. I think her father would go crazy if he didn't know whether she was alive or dead."

Han shook his head rapidly. "No, this is insane! I am done! Through! I cannot play babysitter for a Sith princess, trapped on this forsaken battle station of destruction! Chewie and I will return you to Alderaan, but that is all."

Obi-Wan lowered his head and sighed. "You are aware that you will only receive a reward from Bail Organa if you bring Princess Leia home. If you return now, all of that wealth will be gone."

Luke had to stifle a laugh from witnessing the Jedi Master play upon Han's one major weakness. He could see the torment in Han's face, while Chewie grumbled something into Han's ear. Luke was particularly fond of the Wookiee, as he seemed to be on their side. And had something closely resembling a heart, unlike Han.

Luke leaned over, stared Han directly in the eyes, and said, "Remember her face, Han? If you care about anything, anything besides money, you wouldn't want that pain to happen again."

Han groaned, and he knew he was cornered on all sides. "I'll do it. But you're not leaving on the Falcon! I don't trust this farmer boy flying her."

"Wouldn't the Falcon be safer on Alderaan than in a hangar on the Empire's battle station? We will return with the Falcon when Luke comes to face the princess."

Once again, Han knew the old fossil was right. Chewie growled something to Han, and Han's eyes grew wide.

"I suppose, buddy. But I don't want to get separated," Han replied.

"What is it?" Luke asked.

"Well, Chewie is going to be hard to conceal on a battle station for an extended period of time. He thinks it would be safest for the mission if he returns to Alderaan with you two."

Luke could almost hear Han's voice tightening as he explained having to leave his close friend.

"I think Chewbacca is right," Obi-Wan said. "Will you be all right here on your own?"

Han scoffed. "What do you think my name is 'Solo' for? I can hold my own."

~~~

Once everyone else was gone, Han allowed a wave of terror to pass over him. He had felt alone many times in his life, but this was the most paralyzing loneliness he'd ever experienced.

"Shake it off, Solo. You need a plan...a plan..."

How was he supposed to check in on the princess without getting caught? Han's eyes passed over the stormtrooper helmet laying on the computer controls and his face lit up with realization. He immediately began playing around with the computer, trying to find Princess Leia's chambers. Once he found the information he was looking for, he slammed the stormtrooper helmet over his head and marched to chamber 715-O4.

~~~

It was only after Han knocked roughly on the chamber's door that he realized that it was the middle of the night.

Smooth buddy, now you've probably made the Sith princess angry on your first encounter.

Sure enough, the door whipped open to reveal a very irritated Princess Leia.

"What is it? What do you want at this hour?"

For a moment, Han was taken by the beauty of the princess. He had never seen her this close, and he found himself easily lost in her dark, brown eyes. They were full of fire, pain, and terror, but Han still found them captivating, as if layers of emotions were hidden in them. Her soft hair trailed down her back in a simple braid, and her skin looked as smooth as a porcelain doll's. Upon closer examination, Han noticed the remnants of tears drying on her face. His heart sunk a little at the thought of her crying from her torture earlier.

"If you have nothing to say, I'll go back to bed," she stated with annoyance.

Han registered that he had been staring at her for longer than he thought. "No wait, Princess Leia!"

Her eyes narrowed at him. "I was under the impression that I was only to be referred to as Lord Tochter by Imperials now."

"Of course, Lord Tochter, my mistake. I have...um...known you as Princess Leia for a long time, it's a little hard to switch."

Leia released a mirthless laugh. "I understand. Even I have a hard time remembering that Leia is not my name anymore. For some reason, some part of me finds it difficult to let go of." A brief wistful look passed over her features.

She scanned Han curiously and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Lord Vader has given me instructions to visit you each night to check in on your personal progress to the Dark Side. He wants me to make sure there is enough anger and hate filling your mind outside of training."

Leia nodded sadly. "Of course. After today's training, I've obviously let him down. He needs to know that I'm filled with enough rage for my next demonstration for the Emperor."

"Precisely. May I come in?"

"Yes, please." Leia sat down on her bed, while Han stood close to the doorway. Easy for a quick escape if something goes awry.

Han cleared his throat. "Lord Vader wants you to answer as honestly as possible. He will not punish you for anything you say to me."

"Proceed please," Leia said warily.

"How are you feeling?"

Leia gaped at Han in surprise. "Lord Vader cares about 'how I'm feeling?'"

"Only to observe how your anger is growing."

Leia's face fell a little, as if she actually desperately wanted someone to care about her. However, she put on a brave face quickly and continued.

"I feel like a lost cause. I feel like I'm not meant to be a Sith. I cry, I feel pain, I'm not mad enough. I should be fuming right now for what happened to me in the Emperor's chambers, but I only feel worthless and sad." She paused for a moment before saying, "I still have this pull to the Light, and I don't know why."

Underneath his helmet, Han's face lit up. "Why don't you return to the Light?" He tried to ask it as unemotionally as possible.

"I don't know...I just, have to obey my Master. I must be a Sith." She paused and said casually, "I honestly don't even remember how I turned to the Dark Side. The last thing I remember before I was called to be the Emperor's apprentice is the horrifying torture they put me through to reveal the Rebel base. I suppose that torture made me so angry, I turned. Why that can't happen again now, I don't know."

Han was at a loss for words right then, as he realized that they were so close to saving the princess, but also so far away.

"That is all," he mumbled. "I'll be back tomorrow evening."

Before Han rushed out the door, Leia said, "Excuse me? What is your name? Or operating number I should say?"

Think fast, Solo. Solo... "Number One!" He blurted out nervously. Good going, "Solo".

To Han's surprise, Leia laughed. "Must be nice being Number One."

She was smiling. Maybe there was hope after all. 

And after Han closed her door, he slid down the wall in a daze. He was completely enamored of her.