((AUTHOR'S NOTE:This short story is Return of the Jedi reimagined for those disillusioned by the juvenile tone of the film. The tone and themes are congruent with Empire Strikes Back. Thoughts, opinions, and constructive criticism are welcome. I want to improve my writing style, but that can be difficult without feedback. I am also open to ideas for a potential sequel.))
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"Is Vader my father?"
"What does intuition reveal?"
"My mind's clouded. I feel it's true, but then I feel like he was lying."
"Vader's goal fulfilled. Distorted your bond with the Force, his lies have."
"What a relief."
"Relieved, are you? Your spiritual father, Vader may yet become. His consciousness is here, leeching from us."
Luke sat cross-legged in the cave, eyes closed and expression severe with focus. Crystals, mirrors, rods, and wires rotated in mid-air between his hands. The pieces searched for their assigned places, slow as evolution.
"Anakin was too weak to defeat me."
Luckily, moss cushioned the mirrors. He stood and wiped sweat from his brow. The voice was becoming clearer by the hour. Less than one day remained for Luke to construct a lightsaber in the manner of Jedi tradition. He had to employ the Force to overcome and master the physical. Failure meant that Yoda would deny him the possibility of knighthood.
I was a fool to challenge Vader so early, Luke thought. Most apprentices would probably be done by now, but I have an extra obstacle. One I put in my own path. Or Obi-Wan and Yoda were deceiving him somehow, and this was a stage in some ancient conspiracy. They were always so cryptic and dodged his questions until he pressed hard for them.
He let his awareness reach across light-years to find Leia as she neared Tatooine. Could she survive the streets of Mos Espa? What was her plan once she crossed the cruel deserts and entered Jabba's palace? If only he could be there; but he was more dangerous to her than any mercenary.
Prisoners shouted curses at the intruder, and rattled their cages like trapped animals. The dungeons had gone from quiet to frantic at the pull of a trigger.
They starved him. Leia felt her heart sink.
Han Solo seemed to have aged years in the space of weeks. He sported a beard, blood-shot eyes, and wrinkles.
"Who are you?" Han looked from his four stunned cellmates on the floor to the masked humanoid crouched in front of him.
She slid off the helmet and shook loose her hair. "Your favorite princess."
They kissed. Shackles weighed down his hands, but she pulled him close.
"How long have I been out of commission?"
"I'll explain everything when we're clear of this hell. Get up," She helped him to his feet.
"These things have detonators built in. We'll turn to splatter if I get too far from the palace."
"I know. We brought Artoo to disable the devices."
Blaster fire sounded in the distance, followed by an explosion that rattled the flagstones. Han lost his footing and fell onto Leia. She grunted as she pushed him upright.
"That's Lando and Chewie. They created a diversion on the upper floors, so I could slip down here."
On queue, both Lando and Chewie rounded a corner down the corridor. The wookiee supported the smuggler, who stooped forward, a stain on his front.
Leia squeezed the injured man's shoulder. "How bad is it?"
"Did what we could. Dozens headed down here."
"I think she meant the stab wound, pal," Han eyed his comrades despondently.
Leia, however, felt determined as ever. She had strategized for months, and given up vast resources to see this mission accomplished.
"Chewie," She said. "Blast these cells open. Every prisoner is to go free."
She next spoke into her comlink before the others could object to the order. "Threepio. You and Artoo rendezvous with us outside the north-eastern tunnel exit."
Lando grunted. "North-eastern tunnel exit? That's a sewage -"
"Quiet, Lando. Conserve your energy."
Leia took Han and Lando to a shadowed area, where she bandaged the latter enough to stop his bleeding. Chewie went to work.
Prisoners rushed from captivity, down the corridor, and threw themselves into battle. Leia supposed some would find palace personnel willing to release the det-shackles in exchange for their lives. The four rebels soon followed the trail of bodies and wreckage until they reached a circular grate in the floor. Chewie carried Han and Lando in either arm, while Leia led the way into waist-deep liquid that eventually rose above her chest. She felt nauseous the whole distance, and sympathized with the men's feeble complaints.
Sunlight blinded them. Leia stepped aside and Chewie kicked open the gate, which tumbled through air and crashed hundreds of meters below.
"Where are those droids?" Leia leaned over the edge and looked around to see empty air and desert. She tried them over the comlink, but received silence. Minutes passed.
"Anything might've happened to them. We have to move out."
They faced the cliff wall and walked sideways on an outcropping. She prayed to the Force that Chewie could manage his heavy load and cling safely to the jutting rocks. Leia was dizzy by the time they reached flat land. A hijacked skiff from Mos Espa awaited them nearby, but the deck was empty.
Han squinted up at the craft, frowning, apparently at a loss for quips. Lando had slumped over and gone silent a while ago, much to Leia's anxiety.
A shadow crossed over them. They looked up to see a figure silhouetted against the sun. It floated in place for a few moments, and then descended. Leia's already weakened stomach twisted in a knot. She recognized the armor well before he landed.
"Those droids," Boba Fett said. "Are now property of Jabba."
The bounty hunter stood between them and their skiff, posture casual, hand on the holster of his blaster.
Leia raised her hands in surrender. They were far outmatched in a fight, but she did have social skills.
"You can take us," She said.
Han clicked his tongue. "All that effort for nothing. Well, I got to see my favorite stalker before dying."
Boba snapped binders onto Leia, and gave her a shove off her feet. He next went for Chewbacca, but the wookiee had set down his burdens and made fists.
Chewie lunged at Boba and swung in a fury of blurred hair.
The bounty hunter ducked, leaned to the side, parried a fist with his elbow. He then let himself fall to the ground, where he sent two feet into Chewie's knee. The resultant howl made Leia cringe.
Their fight drew on and on, a cloud of sand and dust swirling around them. Chewie landed a few hits, but Boba's movements made him too slippery to grasp.
Han snuck over to kick while the enemy's back was turned. Boba, somehow hearing Han's steps, whirled and backhanded the man across the face. Blood and teeth shot out a gaping mouth. Chewie used this chance to rush Boba. The Mandalorian leapt sideways out of range, rolled, and sprang to his feet. Chewie rushed again and mounted another series of swings.
Eventually, Chewie left an opening at his face. Boba sprayed sleeping gas from a compartment on his forearm, and the wookiee crumpled.
"I studied the Mandalorians." Leia said. She knew diplomacy was their only chance of release. Boba seemed an astute individual. "Let me guess. It's never about money for you. You have riches to last you lifetimes."
"Right." Boba crouched down to bind Chewie's hands with cords.
"The code dictates that you accept any hunt, on the condition the credits match the societal value of a target. And you're devoted to the hunt until you apprehend your prey, or the prey dies. Or. . ."
Boba rose to his feet and faced her.
"Or the employer dies." Leia took a deep breath and waited.
Boba tilted his head. "Jabba is alive."
"You must have seen how many cut-throats were running around in there before you went after us," She stepped closer, letting her tone become urgent. "Check in. Confirm his survival."
He silently regarded her, thoughts ambiguous as his face. He responded by reaching for the side of his helmet.
"Boba here. Status report."
Leia chewed her lip in anticipation, knowing the reply decided her fate.
Boba lowered his hand and walked toward her. She stood her ground, but dreaded the attack.
Instead of a punch or kick, she found herself free. She massaged her wrists.
"Boba Fett. I want you to work for the Rebel Alliance."
