Luke and Leia - Twins [1]

19: Escape Chats

Only when the Falcon was a safe enough distance away that the Death Star couldn't pull it into its tractor beam did Leia relax, and even then too many questions were buzzing around in her head for her to relax too much. She sighed and walked into what appeared to be the central hold area, and frowned in sympathy as she saw Luke sitting. "You alright?"

Luke started, looking up abruptly. But when he realized it was Leia, he relaxed and slumped back over. "I can't believe he's gone."

Leia sat next to him and grabbed the tunic next to him, wrapping it around him and rubbing his shoulders comfortingly. Apparently her brother had been closer to the old man than she'd realized, and based on his reaction at his death he'd obviously been a good man to Luke. Leia wished she'd known him longer than the few brief glimpses that she'd gotten of him. "There wasn't anything you could've done."

Artoo beeped, startling both twins and making them look up at him. "Speaking of which, care to catch me up on what exactly is so important about these two droids? I doubt the Empire came all the way to Tatooine just to grab some worthless droids it'd forgotten to pick up."

Leia heard Artoo give an indignant whistle at that last part she but chose to ignore him, instead focusing on Luke as he sighed and began.

"Well, first of all you know that space station we just escaped from?"

"Yes, the Death Star. Why?"

Luke gave Artoo a faint look of amusement. "That little astromech over there has the plans to the station, and the Empire wants them back while the Rebellion needs them desperately."

"Oh..." Leia trailed off, frowning. "Well how did those two get to us all the way out on Tatooine? It's pretty far out in the Outer Rim."

"Their ship was boarded and they had to escape through a pod, and Artoo had specific orders to deliver a message to Obi-Wan Kenobi to help get the plans back to Alderaan."

"Ben." Leia stated, the pieces clicking together. "That's why he was so involved in all of this; he was the mission."

Luke nodded, and continued. "But when we got to Alderaan nothing was there except for the Death Star, and we got caught." He smiled gently at his sister. "And I'm glad we did, or else I'd never have found you again. What exactly happened? I saw what happened to Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru and..."

He trailed off, and both twins were reluctantly reminded of their caretakers' untimely and horrific demise. Leia squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head mournfully while Luke leaned over onto the game table and picked at something on it absentmindedly.

"And I thought they'd gotten you, too." He said softly, sniffling slightly and keeping his head rested on his arm.

Leia looked down at him sorrowfully and rested her head on her arm as well so she could look at him better. "They didn't kill me, they thought that I knew where Artoo and Threepio were when our aunt and uncle didn't, so they took me hostage and transported me up to the Death Star as a prisoner."

Luke didn't move, but his eyes flickered up to hers in intrigue. Leia took this as a sign to continue, and leaned back into the booth. "And... Then he came in and at first I thought he was absolutely terrifying but then he actually offered me a position in the Imperial Academy, even as his personal assistant and offered to train me to use... To use..."