Little Miss Inalienable Rights

The ancient temple throne room had been cleared of creeping jungle growth and debris, and it was perfect for the celebration to honor the heroes of the Battle of Yavin. For the first time in thousands of years the spacious chamber was full. Hundreds of rebel troops and technicians stood assembled now on the old stone floor, all of them still filled with excitement over their recent victory.

( Death Star went boom! )

After the destruction of Alderaan, Leia had been taken back to her cell. She had the small satisfaction of knowing she'd sent them on a pointless search for the rebel base, but that was little comfort. Faces flashed through her mind whenever she closed her eyes as she lay on the cold, hard bench. Bail, Breha, Winter. Her heart ached for them and all the people of Alderaan, but she couldn't let herself lose hope. There had to be some way out of here. This wasn't going to be the end.

( I'm Luke Skywalker. I'm here to rescue you! )

[Adapted from "Star Wars: A New Hope" the movie and Star Wars: A New Hope the novelization.]

The holding cell Leia had been placed in had no way out from the inside, at least none she had found after hours of searching. She'd finally retreated to sit on the low bench along the far wall to think about her situation. Was this how things had happened for the other universe versions of herself, Luke's sister and Jaina's true mother? Had her father known and didn't warn her? But even if he had, it might not have changed anything. She'd still have risked everything to get the plans to the Death Star, and now she could only hope that somehow the droids had found Obi-Wan and delivered them to him, and he in turn to Bail Organa.

The metal door on the opposite wall began to rise. Two imperial guards stepped inside and assumed positions just inside the doorway. She eyed them defiantly, but that defiance gave way to fear when Darth Vader entered the cell, followed by the hovering black orb she recognized as an interrogation droid.

"And, now Your Highness," Vader said, "we will discuss the location of your hidden Rebel base."

Leia studied the contraption fearfully as it drifted closer to her. She had heard rumors of such machines, but had never really believed that Imperial technicians would construct such a monstrosity. A hypodermic needle emerged from the droid's body, and she tensed, preparing to do whatever she could to fight the thing off. Of course, she ultimately didn't have a choice when the soldiers at the door moved to hold her still to allow the the droid to inject her with drugs that would amplify her pain.

The drug also wouldn't let her escape into unconsciousness when the torture began. For the next two hours Vader questioned her as the droid did its work. But she refused to speak. She wouldn't even give him the pleasure of her screams.