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Star Wars AU

A Hutt's Trap

Note: this story does contain some direct and indirect quotes from Return of the Jedi. I acknowledge the characters and the setting are a property of Lucas Film and Disney. I have will not make any money of this story. I hope you enjoy my take on an alternative Episode 6.

"You know you don't have to do this." Luke Skywalker said.

"Don't worry Luke. Like you said earlier Jabba's Palace is too well-guarded for us to storm on our own and the Alliance is spread too thin to risk a commando strike team to rescue one man." Leia Organa replied.

"Are you sure? Because it's not too late to call it off. I can contact Lando and..."

Luke was abruptly cut off when Leia inquired, "Luke what is bothering you? Just yesterday you were saying that this plan is our best and only chance of rescuing Han."

Taking a few steps around the common area onboard the Millennium Falcon, Luke sighed, shrugged his shoulders and said, "I just have a bad feeling about this. I feel like the Force is telling me that this mission is going to end badly for all of us."

"Relax Luke, you're just nerves. Just do some more Jedi meditating while Chewy and I are gone. We will be back with Han by sunrise."

Leia then donned her helmet, the last part of her bounty hunter disguise, and walked out into the burning dessert that was Tatooine.

Maybe Luke had been right, Leia thought to herself. At the beginning everything had gone according to plan. Leia had infiltrated Jabba's Palace by posing as a bounty hunter seeking to collect the bounty on Chewbacca. The next part of the plan had been for Leia to, later on after everyone had turned in for night, free Han. At the same time Lando would get Chewy and the driods out. Leia had managed to free Han from the Carbonite slab that he had been imprisoned in but somehow Jabba had cot on to them and had been lying in wait.

"Jabba, look I was on my way to pay you back. I just got a little sidetracked." Han pleaded, as he and Leia were brought before the large slug-like crime lord in his main audience chamber

Jabba, who lounged on a large dais with several members of his court, would have none of it. "You might have been a good smuggler once Solo, but you know the rules. Anyone that interferes with my profits is dead meat."

"Jabba, I will pay you triple. You're throwing away a fortune don't be a fool." Said Han as he tried one last ditch effort to persuade Jabba. Though at the same time, a set of guards dragged him away to the dungeons.

Leia, now left on her own, desperately tried to think of a way out of her situation. Jabba's thugs had taken her weapons that she had had on her, so no way of using those. The idea of overpowering one of the guards and taking his weapon came to mind. That idea was quickly dashed when Leia realized that were too many enemies to fight. She also came to the same conclusion with the idea of running for it. If there had been any idea that would have worked, it was made void when another pair of guards came up on either side of Leia. Following their boss's orders they brought Leia closer to Jabba for further inspection.

"We have powerful friends. You are going to regret this!" Leia boldly and confidently said, while she struggled to break free of the guards grip on her.

Jabba seem to take no mind to Leia's threat while his henchman held Leia in place: far closer to the Hutt then Leia ever wished to be. With frog like eyes almost the size of Leia's head, Jabba gazed at Leia

"So this is Sole's little girlfriend. Han did always have a fine taste in woman." Jabba said, more to himself then Leia, but 3P0 still translated it.

"Great mighty Jabba the Hutt may I have a word with you?" Said a member of Jabba's court who stood near the edge of the throne platform.

Despite feeling annoyed Jabba allowed the person to speak.

"Jabba the Hutt this woman that rests before you is more than the girlfriend of a smuggler. She is Princess Leia Organa; the last surviving member of the royal house of Alderaan and hero of the Rebel Alliances. While such a woman with a fine background and beauty as her would make a fine trophy of your power, I purpose another option. The Empire has placed a bounty on the princess's head. The way I hear it the sum being offered for bringing her in alive is great then the price of a star destroy."

For a few moments Jabba thought it over. Then he licked his fat lips and gave a bellowing laugh. Out of the numerous unquenchable appetites that Jabba had none was greater than that of his greed.

"Oh my goodness, this is dreadful!" C-3P0 cried.

Jabba then looked to his right hand man, the Twi'lik Bib Fortuna, and told him to contact the nearest Imperial garrison. He then turned to the Mandalorian mercenary Boba Fett. Jabba had a special job for him.

Hidden amongst the shadows of a set of stairs that led to Jabba's audience chamber stood a young woman with a dance's fighter and finery red hair: Mara Jade elite spy and assassin of the Empire. She calmly and patiently observed the events that transpired. Though, Mara was slightly taken back when she heard that Jabba planned to sell the princess to the Empire. She felt conflicted about these turn of events. For months Mara had been undercover at Jabba's Palace, posing as a servant of the crime lord, waiting for the day that Skywalker and his friends would try to free Sole. In this time she had observed Jabba commit hundreds if not thousands of cruel acts upon his servants and guest alike. It disgusted her that Jabba might actually make a profit off the Empire. On the other hand Princess Leia was a high ranking member of the Rebellion; if she could be captured it would prove a devastating blow. But there something else that bugged her, Mara's mission had been to kill Luke Skywalker; now, where was he?

This was too big of a situation for Mara to decide how to handle on her own. She needed to contact the Emperor directly. Moving up the stairs and down a few hallways, Mara found an unoccupied sleeping chamber. After securing the room Mara pulled out a small holo communicator that was hidden in her left boot.

"What is it you wish to speak to me about my child?" Said the old menacing voice of the Emperor as his hooded scared face appeared before Mara.

Setting the communicator down on the bed, Mara kneeled before the Emperor and answered him. "My master Jabba the Hutt has captured Princess Leia Organa and plans to sell her to the Empire. How should I prosed?"

"What of young Skywalker?"

"He has yet to show himself my lord."

"Then continue as before unless the circumstances change. Skywalker's compaction for his friends will be his downfall; I have foreseen it."

"Very well my master." Mara turned off the communicator and left the room. She had her orders now, and whether she agreed with them or not she would fallow them: for she was the Emperor's Hand.