Invisible Smoke ➵ l.s. (editing)

ONE ☾

The Tantive IV departed hyperspace with a jolt.

Elara Aldridge kept her eyes locked on the radar screen, ignoring the static that crackled across it. Her knuckles were white around the console's edge. The jump from Scarif had been too close. But they'd made it out. The data was in hand.

And it wasn't going to matter if they didn't outrun what certainly followed them.

The green blip of the Tantive hovered at the center of the screen.

Then a second dot appeared. Then a third.

Elara's stomach dropped. "Captain, we have a problem."

Behind her, Leia stepped forward without hesitation, eyes already scanning the radar; navigational charts.

"Deploy all defense mechanisms. Send the signal to your men. Prepare for boarding."

Leia didn't wait for a response. She turned and strode out of the cockpit.

Elara didn't hesitate either. She was already moving.

"Leia!" she called, catching up.

"You remember where to go?"

"I do."

They moved quickly through narrow white corridors. Beneath their feet, the floors vibrated with the low hum of Imperial fire striking the shields. It was nearly a full on firefight.

They reached a recessed corner near a maintenance junction. Without pausing, Leia pressed her palm flat against a smooth, nondescript panel. The wall clicked and slid open to reveal a narrow compartment with several small blasters lined inside.

Leia handed one to Elara, then took one for herself.

Elara checked the charge. "Lei," she said quietly. "I don't think we're..."

Leia didn't let her finish. "Shhh."

The ship lurched. Hard.

Elara braced herself against the wall. "That's a tractor beam," she muttered.

Leia gave a single nod, jaw clenched.

They descended quickly toward the auxiliary corridors. Here, where the ship's official guests never saw, the walls were less pristine. Narrower. Lined with steaming black pipes.

The sound of distant boots echoed above — not crew. Not friendly. Stormtroopers.

Then, at the far end of the corridor, a familiar figure emerged: a scuffed, blue-and-white astromech droid.

"Artoo," Leia breathed. "Come here."

The droid chirped urgently and rolled to a stop beside them.

Leia crouched quickly, reaching into the folds of her white gown and withdrawing the small data disc. Elara felt her breath hitch as the weight of that object settled between them again. This little disc was the reason they'd risked everything.

"This is the schematic to their new weapon," Leia said. "The Rebellion's only hope."

The droid warbled, a sound somewhere between protest and understanding.

"I know," Leia said. "But there's no time."

Elara finally spoke. "You're sure about this?"

Leia stood, her chin lifting. "If they find this on us, we're dead. The plans die with us."

"Then he has to make it," Elara said softly, eyes flicking to the droid. "You hear that, Artoo? You don't stop for anything."

The ship rumbled again.

But this time, it wasn't blaster fire.

It was the tearing sound of docking clamps. The tightening vice of the Empire as it latched onto its prey, shredding through its walls with laser fire.

Leia took a deep breath, and began to speak.
"General Kenobi. Years ago, you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that we are unable to present my father's request to you in person, but our ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid our mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're our only hope."

Leia lodged the disc within the droid, and ushered him back down the corridor.

Soon after the his departure, the sound of Stormtrooper boots clanking against the metal floors drew unmistakably nearer.

With her blaster ready to fire, Leia peeked from the crevice.

"There's two! Set for stun."

•••

Elara stirred to the harsh rhythm of boots on metal. Her body ached — a sharp, pulsing throb in her shoulder where she'd hit the floor — and the stun blast still rang in her ears like a distant hum. She was moving. No — being moved. Hauled upright by rough hands and forced to walk in time with someone else's stride.

The world was all haze and motion. Dim corridor lights. Smoke curling in the air. Cold binders locked around her wrists.

Another sharp shove between her shoulder blades made her stumble.

"Ow," she hissed under her breath, breathless and annoyed.

The stormtrooper behind her responded without pause. The butt of his rifle drove into her back — not enough to knock her over, per se, just enough to make the message clear. Get in line. "Shut up, rebel scum."

Beside her, Leia walked with her chin high and shoulders square, a bruise darkening along her jaw. Her gown was torn near one cuff, her hands bound like Elara's, but she moved with quiet defiance — as Leia always did.

They turned a corner. Smoke rolled low along the floor. Somewhere overhead, a pipe hissed and sparked — the sounds of the ship dying by the second.

Then he appeared.

A black silhouette cut through the smoke — 7 foot tall, cloaked, moving with mechanical contempt. The sharp rasp of his respirator was unmistakable. Even the stormtroopers around them stiffened as if the air itself changed.

Darth Vader.

Leia is brought to a stop a few steps ahead, and her voice rang out through the haze.

"Darth Vader," she said. "Only you could be so bold. The Imperial Senate will not sit still for this, when they hear you've attacked a diplomatic—"

"Don't play games with me, Your Highness," Vader cut in, his voice metallic and hollow. "You weren't on any mercy mission this time. Several transmissions were beamed to this ship by Rebel spies. I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you."

Leia didn't hesitate. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan—"

"You are part of the Rebel Alliance," Vader said, each word like a hammer, "and a traitor. Take her away."

a/n
I hope y'all enjoyed! If you did, don't forget to vote and comment! I appreciate everyone who reads this story. Have a lovely day! 💕

[partially edited and rewritten; 07/05/2025]