"Be seated" the metallic rasp reverberated in the small dining room. The Rebels, still in a state of shock, complied without thinking.
Han's eyes were fixed on Lando as he took the seat to Vader's left, guiding Leia to the next one, keeping himself between her and the dark lord.
The princess looked from Lando toward the impassive figure at the head of the table, reaching for the smuggler's hand under the table.
"You know we won't give you the fleet Vader" Leia said evenly, her voice controlled and as even as she could muster in the circumstances.
"Or anything else without a fight" growled Han, leaning forward in his chair despite the presence of numerous stormtroopers. Chewie echoed his friend's sentiment with a sharp bark.
"Perhaps you think I bear a grudge, your highness" boomed the voice "do not flatter yourself. The force decrees a far higher purpose than bringing an end to your pitiful resistance"
"Then why chase us halfway across the galaxy" offered the princess, glancing at Han who looked similarly mystified.
"My plans are none of your concern, princess, it suffices to say that your presence will nevertheless serve my purposes for the moment".
Vader raised a hand to beckon Fett to the table.
"Your reputation as a tracker proceeds you, bounty hunter. You will have your prize, when I have no further need of him"
Leia looked at Han, a sudden fear in her eyes, what was this all about, she knew of the debt Han owed to Jabba but what interest could Vader have with the Correllian, he was a hero of the alliance but no Flag officer or Rebel Strategist.
Han gave her a small lopsided smile, trying to re-assure her and turned to the dark lord.
"No food first? Still with the mask n all, I guess that makes sense"
The stormtroopers stepped forward to flank Han's chair. "Take Captain Solo to the detention area, do not damage him unless he insists on being unco-operative. I will join you shortly"
Suddenly with a howl of rage Chewie shot up out of his chair and scattered the troopers around Han's seat. One of the imperials recovered quickly enough to bring a stun stick to bear on the maddened Wookie. Fett raised his rifle.
"Enough" boomed Vader rising from his chair to his full imposing height.
"Easy Chewie!" Han said, "Pick your moment pal". Chewie grumbled and cocked his head in confusion. Han winked at his long time companion and protector and then glanced at Lando. The Administrator looked shamefully down at his empty plate, unable to meet his friend's gaze.
Placing manacles on his wrists, the troopers began to maneuvre the brave smuggler around the table. Leia, in desperation went to block their progress, another trooper grabbing her by the arm in the process.
Han looked squarely at her,
"Don't, you'll only get yourself hurt"
"But what about you"
"I'll be alright, just don't give them a reason to start on you OK?" he smiled his familiar sardonic smile but his eyes echoed the uncertainty in hers.
"Chewie will look after you" he added and then the troopers dragged him away.
"Han!" Leia shouted after him, her mind racing, trying to think of a way out of their dire predicament. The Sith Lord, unmoved by these events strode around the table, his cape flowing expansively from his broad shoulders.
"Take them to separate holding cells, if they offer any resistance, stun them".
Leia looked coldly at the impassive visage and then at Lando and her gaze softened, tempered with the bitter disappointment of the betrayal. Lando fiddled with the chain holding his cape around his neck.
He couldn't expect her to understand, it had been his life and the independence of this city at stake. That against loyalty to a friend he hadn't seen in years but nevertheless a friend who knew Lando as well as anyone ever had and a friend who was now to be tortured, for reasons Lando couldn't begin to fathom.
Han's eyes were fixed on Lando as he took the seat to Vader's left, guiding Leia to the next one, keeping himself between her and the dark lord.
The princess looked from Lando toward the impassive figure at the head of the table, reaching for the smuggler's hand under the table.
"You know we won't give you the fleet Vader" Leia said evenly, her voice controlled and as even as she could muster in the circumstances.
"Or anything else without a fight" growled Han, leaning forward in his chair despite the presence of numerous stormtroopers. Chewie echoed his friend's sentiment with a sharp bark.
"Perhaps you think I bear a grudge, your highness" boomed the voice "do not flatter yourself. The force decrees a far higher purpose than bringing an end to your pitiful resistance"
"Then why chase us halfway across the galaxy" offered the princess, glancing at Han who looked similarly mystified.
"My plans are none of your concern, princess, it suffices to say that your presence will nevertheless serve my purposes for the moment".
Vader raised a hand to beckon Fett to the table.
"Your reputation as a tracker proceeds you, bounty hunter. You will have your prize, when I have no further need of him"
Leia looked at Han, a sudden fear in her eyes, what was this all about, she knew of the debt Han owed to Jabba but what interest could Vader have with the Correllian, he was a hero of the alliance but no Flag officer or Rebel Strategist.
Han gave her a small lopsided smile, trying to re-assure her and turned to the dark lord.
"No food first? Still with the mask n all, I guess that makes sense"
The stormtroopers stepped forward to flank Han's chair. "Take Captain Solo to the detention area, do not damage him unless he insists on being unco-operative. I will join you shortly"
Suddenly with a howl of rage Chewie shot up out of his chair and scattered the troopers around Han's seat. One of the imperials recovered quickly enough to bring a stun stick to bear on the maddened Wookie. Fett raised his rifle.
"Enough" boomed Vader rising from his chair to his full imposing height.
"Easy Chewie!" Han said, "Pick your moment pal". Chewie grumbled and cocked his head in confusion. Han winked at his long time companion and protector and then glanced at Lando. The Administrator looked shamefully down at his empty plate, unable to meet his friend's gaze.
Placing manacles on his wrists, the troopers began to maneuvre the brave smuggler around the table. Leia, in desperation went to block their progress, another trooper grabbing her by the arm in the process.
Han looked squarely at her,
"Don't, you'll only get yourself hurt"
"But what about you"
"I'll be alright, just don't give them a reason to start on you OK?" he smiled his familiar sardonic smile but his eyes echoed the uncertainty in hers.
"Chewie will look after you" he added and then the troopers dragged him away.
"Han!" Leia shouted after him, her mind racing, trying to think of a way out of their dire predicament. The Sith Lord, unmoved by these events strode around the table, his cape flowing expansively from his broad shoulders.
"Take them to separate holding cells, if they offer any resistance, stun them".
Leia looked coldly at the impassive visage and then at Lando and her gaze softened, tempered with the bitter disappointment of the betrayal. Lando fiddled with the chain holding his cape around his neck.
He couldn't expect her to understand, it had been his life and the independence of this city at stake. That against loyalty to a friend he hadn't seen in years but nevertheless a friend who knew Lando as well as anyone ever had and a friend who was now to be tortured, for reasons Lando couldn't begin to fathom.