ACROSS THE STARS || STAR WARS AU

Failure To Launch

Before Han could even say anything, Leia dashed off into the crowd of students. For a few seconds, he kept track of the buns atop her head moving through the swarm. But when more students joined in, blocking his view, they disappeared altogether.

"Chewie." Han looked down to the dog, gesturing with his head to go find her. Immediately, the dog ran off into the mob, following the woman's scent. The poor students nearly tumbled over as the massive animal pushed through them, eager to find the woman.

"Excuse me. Sorry." Han apologized, several times. Struggling to maneuver through the crowd, he had to bump and push his way through. He could hear Chewie barking fervently in the distance, knowing it by its deep and guttural sound. He followed it, hoping that Leia had been found and that the dog wasn't barking at some squirrel.

Finally out of the throng of students, it didn't take long for Han to come upon what Chewie was barking at. Backed into a corner of a building by a monologuing Leia was-

"Luke?" Han stepped forward, recognizing his sandy blond hair.

"Han?" The younger man peeked above Leia's shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Han yanked Leia back from the obviously startled youth. "You can't just go cornering strangers-"

"You two know each other?" Leia interrupted, glaring at the man. "All this time, you've known my brother?"

"Hey, it's not like you gave me a police sketch to go by," Han retorted, returning her glare. "And it doesn't help you two aren't identical."

"Han, you know this woman?" Luke frowned, stepping away from the corner. "Who is she? And why does she keep saying I'm her brother? I've never met her before in my life."

"Because I am. We were separated at birth," Leia said, beginning to approach him. However, Luke drew back into the corner, eyeing her skeptically as he did so.

"You're scaring him," Han scolded. "Luke, this woman claims to be from space. Even more ridiculous is that she somehow knows you're related."

"It is not ridiculous!" She fumed, turning back to Han. "And if you don't mind, I can explain my own story. Thank you very much."

Turning her attention to Luke, Leia continued, albeit more gently. "Luke, who do you live with? Do you have any family?"

Luke nodded. "Yeah, I live with my aunt and uncle."

"What are their names?"

"Uh, Beru and Owen..." Luke trailed off, glancing between her and Han.

"What is your last name?" Leia asked.

"Is he going to need an attorney with all these questions?" Han folded his arms.

Leia ignored him, continuing to focus on her brother instead. "Just answer the question. It's very important."

"It's Skywalker." He paused, bringing his finger up to his chin. "But my aunt and uncle's last name is Lars."

A weary sigh instantly left Leia's lips when she heard the surname. "Then it's true. All of it."

"I don't understand. What is going on?" Luke demanded. Han could tell he had grown impatient with this whole interrogation and frankly, he had too.

Leia recollected herself, pressing her mouth into a firm line. "As I have said, we are brother and sister. But at birth, we were separated for our safety. I was raised on the planet Alderaan while you were raised here, on Earth."

Luke's eyes grew wider with each passing sentence and he pressed himself further into the corner until he no longer could. "I-I don't believe you."