Fighting for Skywalker ↬ Star Wars

A Second Chance

As soon as Leia's son crashed onto the rebel base in an escape pod, she was on high alert. Her son had been hysterical, freaking out over the attack. He wasn't handling it much better than she did when her brother was kidnapped.

Chewbacca had set to work trying to track the Falcon, but it was proving difficult with the First Order's shielding. It had been a week, and still nothing. Now she was planning to meet with her brother for the first time since the accident. No word reached him since his only form of communication was with the enemy.

"Chewie, take good care of my boy," Leia said to her closest friend before she left, said wookie wrapping his arms tightly around her. He howled in confirmation and Leia offered a smile in return. The next goodbye was her son, Luke.

Luke had tears pooling in his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her torso. "Don't you leave me too," he muttered. Leia caressed his small cheek and tilted his head up so his eyes met hers.

"Never," Leia whispered in assurance, swiping her thumb underneath his eye, wiping away a stray tear. "I'll see you soon, I promise." And with that, the farewells were over and Leia made towards her ship, the Ambriel.

The Ambriel had been with her the day that Alderaan had been attacked. She also met Kiandra on the ship, when the young woman had helped her escort refugees onto the ship and helped find said refugees new homes. That day felt so long ago, but it had really only been two months. Time seemed to fly these days, unlike when she and her father spent years trying to find her mother and twin brother.

Now all she had was her brother and her son. Leia's husband, mother, father, aunt, uncle, mentor, and cousin were all long gone, memories in the wind, recalled only when her heart could take the pain. Her eldest son, Ben, named after her mentor, seemed to be too far gone, and she knew the next time she looked into his eyes, Leia would not see her son.

Years ago, she had told Ben the tale of his uncle, Luke. Ben had been completely fascinated by the story, and so was his little brother. That fascination ended for him when he heard the stories of Darth Starkiller, but he didn't make the connection that both stories were the same man. Ben only realized the truth when he fell.

R2 alerted her that they were about to exit hyperspace, that their journey was near completion. Leia's eyes widened at the thought. Had she really been that distracted that she didn't realize they weren't even at the base anymore? It would seem so.

Her faithful droid still remained thankfully. He was one companion she was always glad to have. He started the landing sequence, and as Leia stared out the viewport she realized how long of a trek was ahead of her. "Wow..." She muttered, examining her surroundings. "Well, I can see now why my brother chose to run away here."

R2 tootled in response, agreeing with her. "Now," Leia said, "let's go find my brother."

"Kiandra's gone?" Luke asked once she finished explaining what happened. The trek up the mountain had gone by quickly, she had been too occupied by her thoughts to worry about the time.

Leia nodded grimly. "A week ago. I've been organizing a reconnaissance mission in the meantime, I have soldiers awaiting my orders. We just came here to see if you were up to joining us?" She asked.

Rey stepped forward in front of Luke. "Kiandra's my friend. I'm coming with you. I've been a captive of Kylo Ren before and escaped. If anyone can help her, it's me," Rey spoke confidently, and Leia gave her a reassuring nod.

"Thank you, Rey, your assistance is appreciated."

"I...I will join you as well," Luke finally said, and then they were off.