Sabine thumbed the comlink without taking her eyes off the target. “I’m on it, Spectre-2.”
The stormtroopers had reached the access panel at the far end of the hangar. Now was her chance. She had to capture Princess Leia before they took her into the corridor beyond. Running in a practiced crouch, Sabine skirted the walls until she was within bomb range.
She eyed the troopers, then raised her arm and pitched the bomb into their path.
They grunted and hit the floor, their armor clattering against the metal. “Princess, get back!” one of them shouted, whipping his blaster toward Sabine. Leia spun, her robes swirling around her, and pressed her back against the access panel.
Suddenly, a fibercord shot out. Leia felt it lasso her around the waist, almost knocking her off balance. She was yanked through a doorway. This was it—the figure must be Sabine. She had to make it look real. “Trooper! Help!” Leia yelled, trying to inject fear into her voice.
Before the troopers could react, there was a massive boom and a dense cloud of yellow paint shot from the bomb on the floor. The troopers yelled as the paint splattered in their faces. Sabine—if that’s who it was—dragged Leia backward into a corridor. Sabine blasted the door control panel, and with satisfaction, Leia watched the troopers run toward it as it slid shut in their faces.
“Bounty hunters!” one shouted between coughs. “They’ve taken the princess!”
The other trooper was looking at his armor. “Is this…paint?”
Panting, Leia rested briefly, her back against the cold metal wall. The rebel took off her helmet. Blue hair, sharp eyes. It was Sabine, all right. She stuck out her hand. “Hi! I’m Sabine Wren. I was sent here to capture you. Do you have the datatape?”
”Yes,” Leia said. “I had to hide it though so the Imperials don’t know I’m working for the Rebellion.”
A crash came from the other side of the door and the control panel flickered. The troopers were trying to break through.
Sabine replaced her helmet and ran Leia down the corridor and into another one, lined with pieces of machinery.
“This way!” Leia called to Sabine. “I hid it in this panel.” She pulled the cover off and removed the tape. “Here. The datatape of the Imperial base locations. Use it well.” She held Sabine’s gaze.
But before she could hand off the tape, a humanoid figure loomed at the end of the corridor. Metal creaking and lights blinking, it stomped toward them.
Leia’s eyes widened. “What is that?”
Sabine shook her head. “IG-88. An actual bounty hunter. Also probably interested in your datatape. He’s good—one of the best in the galaxy. And he’s a surprise. Take cover!”
They both dove for a doorway as the droid opened fire. “What’s the plan?” Leia panted, pressing herself against the shallow opening. “You strike me as the type of woman who usually has a plan.”
“No fear. I do have a plan.” Sabine pulled a paint bomb from her belt. She only had one left though. And if it didn’t work—well, she was good with a blaster. But IG-88 was good, as well. “Hang on.” She slammed the bomb against the metal wall, where it stuck and started ticking. The droid walked toward them, its metallic footsteps magnified in the tubelike metal corridor. Red blaster fire zinged around them. Closer. Just a little closer and the droid would pass the bomb.
Boom! The bomb exploded, showering the droid in purple paint.
“Go, go!” Sabine shouted.
They skidded to a halt in front of the jammed door. Screeching metal signaled that the troopers were almost through. “Hide!” Leia hissed.
Sabine darted behind a pile of boxes. The screeching noise grew louder and a section of the metal door thunked to the floor as the troopers cut their way through. “There she is!” one of them shouted. “Senator! Are you unharmed?”
Just then, IG-88 clumped into the corridor, straight toward Leia—and the doorway blocked by troopers. Leia looked from the droid to the troopers and her eyes narrowed. Sabine suddenly saw Leia’s plan as clearly as if she’d drawn it out.
“It’s about time! Blast that bounty hunter!” Leia shouted, pointing at IG-88. The troopers immediately fired, their blaster bolts ricocheting off the droid’s armor. The droid stomped forward inexorably, blasting the troopers in return. One of them hit the floor, groaning. The other flew back over some crates, thrown by the force of IG-88’s blasts.
“Come on!” Leia said to Sabine. Under cover of the chaos, Sabine slid from behind the crates and ran after Leia down a corridor to the right.
Halfway down, Leia stopped and caught her breath. She pushed her hood back and wiped her forehead. “I have to go back before they realize I’m missing again.” She handed the tape to Sabine, holding her gaze.
Sabine nodded. “This means a lot to the Rebellion. Thank you, Senator Organa.” She paused. “I mean, Princess—no, I mean—”
Leia placed her hand on top of Sabine’s. “Leia.”
“Leia,” Sabine repeated.
Leia glanced back down the corridor. The shouts of the fighting echoed through the doorway. “I better go back now.” She turned away.
Sabine watched her run lightly down the hall, robes billowing behind her. “Leia!” she called suddenly.
The princess turned back.
“You keep fighting on the inside, I’ll keep fighting on the outside.”
Leia smiled. Her eyes met Sabine’s again—fighter to fighter. “I hope one day we can fight together.” She raised her hand and tipped Sabine a salute. Then she disappeared through the opening.
A Message from Maz
Do you feel the spray of the water? Can you see how it crashes over the rocks in the light of the torch? I am glad you are sitting with me, here on this damp grass. You trusted me—and now we are friends, aren’t we? That is good. Friends carry me through my days. They have carried me through my life. You have found that, too, haven’t you? Friends fight for us and they fight with us. We want to be heroes—and with friends, we always are. Friends are heroes to each other. And we see that as strong as we thought we were alone, we are stronger with our friends. And sometimes we need to humble ourselves before our friends, too. Friends bring out these good qualities in us—these qualities that make a hero, you might say. You know that now. By letting go, we will be more like the river: flexible, everlasting, and always flowing ahead. Gentle sometimes, powerfully angry other times. Hold the torch up. See how the light glows on the water. I am glad you have come to talk with me. I see that you must go. I understand. But remember—find friends wherever you go. They will bring out the hero in you. And safe journey.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
EMMA CARLSON BERNE has written many books for children and young adults, including historical fiction, sports fiction, romances, and mysteries. She writes and runs after her three little boys in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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