Star Wars: Dark Light

Chapter VIII: A Final Farewell

Koba braced a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder as the ship was drawn closer to a docking port. "Obi-Wan, I can't be here... I feel his presence."

The elder Jedi noticeably stiffened. He partially turned to her. "I feel it as well."

Her body grew rigid with each passing moment as the Millennium Falcon was pulled into the docking bay, and settled to the solid ground with a faint shudder. Han peered around the docking bay from the cockpit window, his brow screwed into a furrow.

"This is no good, there'll be troopers on us any moment." He said. Chewbacca barked something in response and Han shook his head. "No, that's no good. We wouldn't be able to make it across the bay in time..."

"You're a smuggler aren't you?" Luke inquired desperately. "Don't you have somewhere secret we can hide?"

Han was silent for a moment, then his face seemed to light with the spark of ingenuity. He bolted from his seat and shoved past and exited the cockpit. "Follow me, kid. I've got the perfect place."

Koba followed suit as, one by one, they all made to follow their captain down the corridors. She tailed the group until Chewbacca politely gestured for her to walk ahead of him. The Wookie earned a gratuitous smile and a quick word of thanks before she picked up the pace, Chewbacca now tailing the group.

Han stopped some place in the middle of the corridor. It was seemingly empty and uninteresting, but after a few knocks and taps against the floor, he found a handle and lifted the hidden floor door that led into the secret smuggling compartments.

"Now don't just stand there! Get in before we're blasted." Han gestured hurried hand to the compartments. Luke looked to Obi-Wan, helping the elder Jedi into the compartment, then gestured next to Koba. She looked at the young Skywalker for a moment, then to Han before ushering herself inside next to Obi-Wan. The rest followed swiftly after and Han closed the door, leaving them all in complete darkness and rather confined. Koba wasn't sure who was next to her now, only that someone was pressed against her back and a wall was directly in front of her. She sighed.

"Well, this is lovely."

"Don't like my company, darling?" Han's familiar rascally tone teased. Koba rolled her eyes. Of course it was Han, of course.

"Stormtroopers have better manners."

"Well then, by all means go out and meet them."

She cast a look over her shoulder and saw the faint outline of the roguish smuggler's charming smirk. Her elbow jerked back and jabbed him in the side, the unforeseen attack causing him to stagger back clumsily. Koba took the opportunity and slipped past him, coming to stand next to a furrier shape she assumed to be Chewbacca. His eyes undoubtedly more attuned to the darkness, the Wookie caught the exchange and began to make noises of amusement.

From above Koba suddenly sensed other life forces growing nearer. "They're coming." She said, and that was all it took for Chewbacca and Han to fall into silence. Above them the doors of the Millennium Falcon slid open, allowing for several pairs of footsteps to march above them.

Koba could hear them speaking, exchanging muffled messages as they searched the ship. Her heart was in her throat from feeling the suffocating presence aboard the battle station. If she or Obi-Wan were found... It would mean their slow and tortuous deaths. Her eyes found Chewbacca and Han. And those two.. She was sure Han Solo was a master of sweet talking his and Chewie's way out of tight situations, but just them being in their company put their lives in danger. Not to mention what was to be said for Luke Skywalker. What would be done if he was discovered?

Her reveries distracted her form making any kind of sound, and managed to distract her until the troopers quitted the ship and closed the door behind them. After another minute, Han lifted the door and allowed a cascade of light to momentarily blind Koba. She lifted a hand to rub at her eyes, removing it to find Han climbing out of the compartment and holding a hand out to her. Koba stared at him for a moment then silently took his hand and allowed him to pull her out.