"Down here!" Han barked, yanking open a floor panel. I barely had time to process what was happening before Luke, Kenobi, and I followed suit, dropping into the cramped smuggling compartments hidden beneath the deck. Chewbacca crouched down last, the space barely accommodating his towering frame. The hatch sealed above us just as the boarding ramp lowered.
I held my breath as the sound of marching boots filled the ship. Stormtroopers. Their voices were muffled, but I could make out the sharp commands as they searched the Falcon.
"No life signs," one of them reported.
"Keep searching," another snapped. "Lord Vader wants a full sweep."
The compartment was dark, the air stale. I could feel the tension radiating off Luke, his breathing shallow. Kenobi remained calm, his presence like a steady beacon in the Force. My own pulse pounded in my ears, but I forced myself to stay still.
Minutes stretched into eternity before the stormtroopers finally left. The sound of boots faded, replaced by a mechanical hiss as the docking bay doors sealed once more.
Han tapped the hidden release, and the panel above us slid open. "Alright, coast is clear. Let's move."
We climbed out one by one, stretching stiff limbs. Kenobi's gaze was already focused on the corridor beyond. "We must disable the tractor beam. Follow me."
Han grumbled under his breath but fell in line as we slipped out of the Falcon and into the cold, sterile corridors of the Star Destroyer. The mission had begun.
The hallways were dimly lit, the sound of distant machinery humming through the ship. We moved quickly, keeping to the shadows. Kenobi led the way with careful precision, pausing at each junction to listen for approaching patrols.
After what felt like an eternity of weaving through identical corridors, we came upon a small control room. A soft glow pulsed from the monitors inside, reflecting off the polished black floor.
"Looks empty," Han muttered.
Kenobi shook his head. "Not quite."
A moment later, the door hissed open, revealing three stormtroopers standing over a set of control panels. Their helmets turned toward us, hands twitching toward their blasters.
Han didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, slamming the first trooper into the console with a loud crack. Luke followed suit, swinging the butt of his blaster into another's helmet before he could raise his weapon.
I ducked as the last trooper fired, the red bolt searing past my ear. Without thinking, I reached out with the Force. The blaster jerked in his hands, twisting upward. He fired again—this time at the ceiling. The moment's hesitation was all I needed. I drove my elbow into his chest, knocking the wind out of him, then swept his legs out from under him. He hit the floor hard, and I finished it with a swift punch to the side of his helmet.
Silence followed, save for the hum of the ship's systems.
Han dusted himself off. "Well, that was fun."
Kenobi stepped over one of the unconscious troopers, his face unreadable. "We must be swift. R2—access the system and find where the tractor beam controls are located."
R2-D2 whistled and rolled toward a control terminal, his scomp link extending and plugging into the port. Lights flickered across the monitor as he worked.
Kenobi turned to us. "I must go alone."
Luke frowned. "Why? We can help—"
Kenobi raised a hand. "No. Your path lies elsewhere." His gaze lingered on Luke, then shifted briefly to me. "As does yours."
I opened my mouth to protest, but something cold and oppressive suddenly slithered through my mind. I stiffened, gripping the console to steady myself.
Luke turned to me, alarmed. "Kai? What's wrong?"
I swallowed hard. "Something's here. Something dark."
Kenobi's expression was grave. He seemed to understand exactly what I was feeling.
"There is no time," he said firmly. "Trust in the Force. We will meet again."
With that, he turned and slipped out of the control room, vanishing into the maze of corridors beyond.
I exhaled, trying to shake the lingering dread creeping up my spine. Whatever was watching us… it was getting closer.
As Kenobi disappeared down the corridor, an uneasy silence settled over us. Luke stared after him, his expression troubled.
"You think he'll be alright?" he asked.
Han scoffed, crossing his arms. "The old man? He's got some crazy ideas, but he's got guts. Not sure how much good a lightsaber's gonna do against a whole Star Destroyer's worth of troopers, though."
Luke didn't respond right away. His hands clenched at his sides, and I could feel his uncertainty through the Force. I felt it, too—Kenobi's presence was strong, but so was whatever darkness was lurking out there.
I took a step forward. "He knows what he's doing. We need to trust him."
Luke gave me a sidelong glance but nodded.
Before we could dwell on it any longer, R2-D2 let out a series of urgent beeps, the lights on his dome flashing rapidly.
"Artoo says he's found something!" C-3PO announced, his voice laced with surprise. "Oh, my! A prisoner!"
Luke leaned over R2's dome, scanning the information scrolling across the screen. His eyes widened. "It's… Princess Leia! She's here!"
Han's brow furrowed. "Princess who?"
Luke spun to face him. "Princess Leia Organa! She's part of the Rebellion—she must have been captured by the Empire!"
I stepped closer, scanning the screen as well. The data confirmed it—Leia Organa, held in Detention Block AA-23. The Empire had captured a high-ranking rebel, and judging by how locked down this place was, they weren't planning on letting her go.
Han groaned, rubbing his temple. "Great. So what, now we're supposed to go on some rescue mission?"
Luke's determination flared. "She needs our help. If the Empire's holding her, it's for a reason."
I exhaled, thinking fast. "She might have information on the Death Star. If we get her out, she could help us stop this thing."
Han looked between the two of us, then rolled his eyes. "I knew it. I knew you two were gonna drag me into something stupid." He threw his hands up. "Fine! But we're gonna need a plan, kid. Just waltzing into an Imperial detention block isn't exactly my style."
Luke grinned. "Then let's come up with one."
I glanced at the unconscious stormtroopers slumped against the wall and felt a smirk tug at my lips. "I think I have an idea…"