It's What Goes On In Here That's Hard (Star Wars AU Fanfiction)

Chapter 26. Facing True Evil

Leia brushed past the overgrowth, looking for Vader, she could feel his presence near, but also something else. Something wrong.

The night had come, the rebels, Chewbacca and Treebur along with his Wookiee and Ewok people were preparing to attack in the morning. Leia would be gone by then as she approached the Imperial base where Vader waited.

Leia frowned as she realized there was indeed a hole in their plan, she could not walk around with Vader freely in an Imperial base, but then again, perhaps Vader was waiting with armed men to take her prisoner. Leia sensed no immediate danger but the thought of Vader crossing her was definitely something Leia did not doubt Vader would do.

After all, like Luke, Vader may just want to use her. But, she couldn't leave Luke to die. Finally Leia accepted the risks.

***

Darth Vader waited on a bridge that led to a turbo lift which would then take one to the landing platform at the top of the structure as a commander and four troopers entered through the opposite turbo lift, their prisoner a young woman in Jedi robes, her hands cuffed.

"This is the Rebel that surrendered to us." The commander spoke dutifully. "Though she denies that I believe there may be more close by and I request a further search of the area."

The commander then handed over Luke's lightsaber. "She was armed with this." The commander continued.

Vader took the lightsaber, examining it before nodding to the commander. "Good work commander, conduct your search and bring her friends to me."

Once the commander and troops left Leia exhaled loudly. "I wonder if that was an act or if I just handed myself over to the enemy." She spoke boldly.

Vader turned, leading Leia down the bridge. "Allowing a search is mandatory. Otherwise they could suspect something is amiss if I did not order one."

Leia nodded slowly, still annoyed. "So how are we going to get Luke out?"

"I have seen to some arrangements. His body has been filled with microscopic droids which Sidious can use to control him, and kill him." Vader explained, watching as horror spread across Leia's face at the thought.

Vader continued. "But, like all droids, they can be knocked out."

"With an EMP?" Leia asked with a frown. "But if they're in Luke won't that hurt him too?"

Vader shook his head. "If there was a safer way to do it then we wouldn't be having this conversation. Here." Vader handed a small circular device to Leia who hid it in her hands.

"Just get it on his skin." Vader ordered.

"And then?" Leia asked warily, holding the little device in her palm.

Vader looked ahead with a sigh. "And then you get him home."

***

Chewbacca and Treebur looked out over the Imperial base. It was heavily guarded though Chewbacca had gotten through worse. Then again, he'd always had Han, Luke and Leia with him.

Now everything was up to the Wookiee, the rebels and his new band of friends led by the tall black and brown Wookiee Treebur.

Chewbacca was going over the plan with Treebur when an Ewok named Wicket started to speak, talking to Treebur excitedly.

Treebur roared and spoke to Chewbacca, explaining Wickets words before Threepio then translated for the rebels.

"Wicket says there is a secret entry point just a few miles from here, we should be able to infiltrate the base easily if we take that route." Threepio explained.